1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: This is straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What's up, party people, 2 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 1: It's me Jason McIntyre. Straight Fire. Friday, July, final weekday 3 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: of the month of July. How fast is the summer gone? 4 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, it's gonna be August when you wake 5 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: up on Monday morning. That is absolutely bananas. Also bananas. 6 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: The Light Cards got Russell Westbrook, Oh my gosh, unbelievable 7 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:36,199 Speaker 1: turn of events. Will obviously do a little bit on that, 8 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,639 Speaker 1: and by that I mean all the entire podcast will 9 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: be Russell Westbrook, now most of it. Um. Hey, guys, 10 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: I have to say I am absolutely floored by the 11 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: reaction to my Simone Biles take in yesterday's pot. It 12 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: was one of those weird ones. Um. Wednesday, we both 13 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: Rob and I had a lot of stuff going on, 14 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: so I went rogue and I went Simone Biles, um, 15 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: and I just dropped it. And I didn't know how 16 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: it would re act. Um. I think every guy that 17 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: played basketball I mentioned it to them and they listened 18 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 1: and they said reaction and uh, they enjoyed it. Um. 19 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: And some of your d m s. I think I 20 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 1: posted one or two on the Graham. I gotta say 21 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 1: I'm stunned. You know, I really thought there would be 22 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: more reaction. I didn't want to get canceled. Actually, I 23 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: don't really give a shit about getting canceled. I think 24 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: I'm uncancellable, um, if that's even a word, if that's possible, Um, 25 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: because I believe everything I say. I'm authentic. I'm not 26 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 1: making it up to try to stir the pot. I'm 27 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 1: not purposely trying to anger one side or the other. 28 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: And when you do that and you're authentic, it cuts 29 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 1: through you. You don't have to worry about that other crap. Um. 30 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: Now what you have to worry about as a slip 31 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 1: of the tongue and you say the wrong thing. Um. 32 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: But at any rate, thank you for the shout out. Also, UM, 33 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: kudos to the people who sent me kind words for 34 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: the speak for yourself with LaVar Arrington and Rick BUKERU. 35 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: We will be running that back today. I think that 36 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: will be ninety minutes on the Russell Westbrook Trade. Uh listen, folks, 37 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: I'm out here in l A. I'm going to start 38 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: the pod with this. Are you ready? Um? And I 39 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: don't hope, I hope I'm not over sharing here. I'm 40 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: not trying to get anybody in trouble. Um, my son 41 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: has a friend whose dad is a Lakers executive, goes 42 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: to my son's school. He plays basketball in the league. 43 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: And of course, after my son's basketball game on Thursday, 44 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: we had an easy twenty point when my son played 45 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 1: pretty well. Um, a kid talked trash to him, because 46 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: we're trying to turn my son into like a lockdown 47 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 1: defender and he's certainly not. He will follow a lot, 48 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:36,239 Speaker 1: but he's willing to hustle and listen and that's half 49 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 1: the battle. And the kid actually said to you can't 50 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:42,919 Speaker 1: guard me, and he had, he had scored pretty well 51 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:44,239 Speaker 1: early in the game, and then my son went on 52 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: him and he only had one bucket. The rest of 53 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: the way we pulled away and one by twenty plus 54 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 1: the game after us is the kid whose friends with 55 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: my son. It was in his class last year. There, buddies, 56 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: It's not like the kid's been to our house or anything. 57 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: I mean, hell, nobody's been to our house during COVID. 58 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: But his works in the Lakers front office. I'm not 59 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: gonna say his name. He's pretty high up in the 60 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,079 Speaker 1: food chain. This is not like some guy who's way down. 61 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: So he shows up at his son's game last night 62 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:10,799 Speaker 1: and he's wearing a Laker jacket. And I will tell 63 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:13,079 Speaker 1: you this. First of all, a lot of people know 64 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 1: that the guy works for the Lakers. And I was 65 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: close to going up to him and saying, what are 66 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:22,119 Speaker 1: we doing with Russell Westbrook? Like, what are we doing? Um? Now, 67 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: I've never really spoken to this guy. Um, you know 68 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: we Halloween trick or treated his house. Um and said 69 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: high and because my son's friends with his son. And 70 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just I don't get what the Lakers 71 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: are doing. And I know Rob gis geeked. He's got 72 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: like a twenty minute speel on hashtag future Laker Russell Westbrook. 73 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: It's finally come true? What does finally come true? He 74 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: got Russell Westbrook. He's so geeked. Um, I don't know, guys, 75 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: I listen. I don't want to. I'm not ready to 76 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: jump off the deep end. But I did vomit in 77 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: my mouth a little bit when Woes fired that it's happening. Now, 78 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: let let me just say this free agency doesn't start 79 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: till Monday, so there is some scuttle button that the 80 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 1: deal that's out there as it's been reported, is not 81 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: going to be the final deal. Now, I know that 82 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: doesn't make a ton of sense, but last summer there 83 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: was a report about Bugdanovich going from the Kings to 84 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: the Bucks or was it Yeah, it was from the 85 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 1: Kings to the Bucks and he ended up going to 86 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: the Hawks. I'm pretty sure that's what happened. And they 87 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: got slapped on the wrist because you could not have 88 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:36,039 Speaker 1: made the deal before free agency, you know, one of 89 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: these like wink wink, not not, but that they were 90 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: dumb and put it out there. So the Lakers apparently 91 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 1: are still going to get or try to get Buddy 92 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 1: healed from the King's and that what will happen is 93 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: the Lakers will send Kuzma and Harold, they will be 94 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 1: rerouted from the Wizards to the Kings, and the Wizards 95 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: will get down a shrewder. That's what's being talked about 96 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 1: late last night early this morning. Again, that won't be 97 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: final until Monday. Now, I know that doesn't make a 98 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: ton of sense, but I'm reluctant to totally take a 99 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: dump on what the Lakers did acquiring Russell Westbrook, because 100 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 1: if they're able to get healed in Westbrook, that is 101 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:25,479 Speaker 1: much better than just Russell Westbrook on the surface. And 102 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: we'll get to the draft a little bit. It wasn't 103 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,279 Speaker 1: a great draft. I mean, Russell Westbrook sold the show. 104 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: That's bottom line. Um, the Lakers as this deal is 105 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 1: right now, Kuzma, k CP Harrold and they pick for 106 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook. Okay, the Lakers traded depth, youth and three 107 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 1: point shooting for an intense, one man, wrecking crawl, wrecking 108 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:51,359 Speaker 1: ball who is not a team player and is not 109 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 1: a winning player. And I know that's gonna sound crazy, Jason. 110 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 1: He just averaged a triple double against the Wizards of 111 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: the playoffs, Wizards against the seventy sixers in the first round. 112 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: He just avage triple double. What do you mean? He 113 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: shot thirty three percent from the field from three. And 114 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: this is a recurring theme with Russell Westbrook. I pulled 115 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 1: all the numbers. Are you ready for this? Okay, there's 116 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,119 Speaker 1: a lot of numbers I'm gonna throw at you since 117 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant left, Okay, Ce, And that's another theme. People 118 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 1: play with Russell Westbrook and then are like, no, I'll 119 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 1: just quickly run through those real quick. Kevin Durant Peace 120 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: Paul George. Oh, I've got a better offer from Kauai. 121 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: I'm out. James Harden, Yeah, yeah, let's bring in Westbrook. No, 122 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: it didn't work out. I'm out. I'm out of here. 123 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: I can't you know. And now Bradley Beale, Now there's 124 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: no I don't know that Harden doesn't like Westbrook. I 125 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: don't know the Bill is saying, get him out of here. Um, 126 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: maybe we don't know. Maybe Bill said, hey, if you 127 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: trade him, I'll stay. We don't know. But bottom line is, 128 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook is basically getting passed around. Um the NBA. 129 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: That's what's happening. This is the third straight offseason he's 130 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 1: been dealt Okay. Remember he signed that contract with okay 131 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: See because he was staying I'm gonna stand Okay. He's 132 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: been traded from okay See to Houston, Houston to Washington, 133 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: Washington to the Lakers, and that's on a terrible contract. 134 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: Here is what Russell Westbrook has done in the playoffs 135 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: since Kevin Durant left lost to Houston. That was the 136 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: yearie average of trouble double. He shot thirty eight percent 137 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: in that series. From three A theme is happening here 138 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 1: from three the next year with Paul George. Remember they 139 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 1: lost to uh Utah. Joe Ingles was like talking trash 140 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 1: to Paul George. It was an awesome series. I remember 141 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: because I was camping that weekend with my kids and 142 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: all the dads, and I was like getting a bad signal, 143 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 1: um to to watch the game on my phone, and 144 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 1: it was I was just loving every minute of Utah 145 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: beating beating up on Okay. See rush shot from the 146 00:07:56,560 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: field thirty five from three. The following year with Paul 147 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 1: George again, this was the series where Damian Lillard hit 148 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 1: the epic walk off and waved Russell Westbrook from the 149 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 1: field from three. Two thousand twenty Russ it was in 150 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 1: Houston and they beat Okay See shot from the field 151 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 1: sixteen percent from three. And then in the next round, 152 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: of course they got they lost to the Lakers in 153 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: the bubble. That was when gen Rondo's brother was talking 154 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: trash to Russell Westbrook like a thrown out of the game, 155 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: Ruth from three. This past season, I already mentioned it, 156 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 1: first round lost to Philly from the field from three. Guys, 157 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook cannot shoot three pointers. He cannot. That's an 158 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 1: undeniable fact they traded there two. This is saggery. The 159 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 1: Lakers traded their two guys who made the most threes 160 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: on their team, Kuzuma and k c p, and they 161 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 1: added a guy who cannot shoot threes. Lebron has always 162 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 1: needed three point shooters. He's now gonna be playing with 163 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis on the surface, I don't 164 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 1: get it. It just makes no sense. You can't play 165 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: the three of them down the stretch. You cannot. Russ 166 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,559 Speaker 1: is not a half court player. Open floor, Oh he's awesome, 167 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 1: open floor. He will tear it up. Great stat from 168 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: his time in Washington. Remember, Russ for about a six 169 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: week stretch got the Wizards out of the seller and 170 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 1: got them into the playoffs. Average fen and thirteen for 171 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 1: six weeks. And that was by attacking the basket. A 172 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,199 Speaker 1: great stat from I don't I saw. I don't know 173 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 1: what website. This was Russ led the NBA in assisting 174 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 1: shots in the paint. Led the NBA on assisting shots 175 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 1: in the paint. That's a pretty great stat. Now, a 176 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: lot of that is rim running drive, handoff, dunk, blah 177 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: blah blah. I don't know how much of that is 178 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 1: in the half court. But I'm assuming not a lot, 179 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: because in the half court he's a mess. Someone made 180 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: a smart comment to me on the Graham I'll read 181 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: it to you, okay, because I had to take a 182 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:18,079 Speaker 1: picture of it. I don't know this guy, but he 183 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 1: just said a nice note. I know you're not a 184 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 1: Westbrook fan, but thinking optimistically, he could help the Lakers 185 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: grind through the regular season with thirty seven year old 186 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: and fragile a D. Thirty seven year old Lebron and 187 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 1: fragile l D. Lebron Russ could have a similar impact 188 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 1: Toronto playing off the ball. Believe me, I'd rather have 189 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 1: Lebron with Courier Bell, but Russ can have a positive impact. 190 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 1: And then when I went to my son's basketball game, 191 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 1: a couple of people were like, well, here's where the 192 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 1: win is. Lebron needs a night off. In February, Russell 193 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 1: Westbrook plays runs up and down the court places but 194 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 1: Off gets a trouble double, Lakers get a win, Lebron 195 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 1: gets rest. A week later, a D needs that rye off. 196 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: Russ does the same thing because he tries so damn hard. 197 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 1: Like I just my problem is, how are you gonna 198 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,839 Speaker 1: tell Russ, Hey, Bro, we're gonna have you come off 199 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 1: the bench? Is six man like? He's not gonna do 200 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: that when there's five minutes left in a close game 201 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 1: in Game six of the playoffs, is Russell on the court? 202 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: Are you really gonna put a non shooter out there 203 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: with Lebron and Anthony Davis to what clogged the lane? Like? 204 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: That's where it gets complicated. Yes, in the dog days 205 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 1: of January and February and Lebron needs a night or 206 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 1: two off for a week, Russ can get you a 207 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: three in one stretch, no doubt about it. He hustles 208 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: hard and tries his hardest. But I don't know how 209 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 1: you keep him on the court in crunch time minutes 210 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:49,199 Speaker 1: in a league where pace and space matters, three in 211 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: d matters. I just don't know how Russell Westbrook is 212 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 1: that winning guy. I just don't. I don't see it. Um. 213 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: Now where it gets interesting is if you can add 214 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:01,319 Speaker 1: Buddy healed in some way shape before that's a massive win. 215 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 1: I put out a tweet that everybody hated. I would 216 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 1: rather have Ricky Rubio and Buddy healed and retain my 217 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: depth than have a rust A west book depth matters, 218 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:15,599 Speaker 1: and again, thirty seven year old Lebron a d s 219 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 1: hurt all the time. I think depth matters. Obviously, depth 220 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: matter to a team like the Sons, a team like 221 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: the Bucks were able to withstand an injury to a 222 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 1: starter because they had a pretty solid bench led by 223 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 1: Bob Bobby Portis. But one of the salary cap guys 224 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: was looking at it and said, the Lakers are still 225 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 1: able to add a shooter via their taxpayer mid level 226 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:45,640 Speaker 1: exception five point nine million. I know that's so boring. 227 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:48,679 Speaker 1: Your eyes just glazed over. You don't care that being said. 228 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: Can you find a good shooter who's willing to take 229 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:55,559 Speaker 1: a little less to be part of the Lakers? Bey 230 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 1: on board with Lebron and a D and all you 231 00:12:57,920 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: gotta do is come in and knock down some shots, 232 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: and oh yeah, you get to live in California. Taxes 233 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: are high. It sucks, But as you've seen with Jared Dudley, 234 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: and we've talked about this on the podcast, you can 235 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:11,320 Speaker 1: come here in the twilight of your career, partner up 236 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:14,959 Speaker 1: with Lebron, get in the Hollywood ecosystem, You get a 237 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 1: lot of more media opportunities. You play your cards right, 238 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: you set yourself up for later. So can the Lakers 239 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: convince someone to take that mid level because right now, 240 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 1: I mean, Rob, g I'm looking at this Lakers roster 241 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 1: and they just don't have guys. I know they're able 242 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: to keep talent Horton Tucker, but let's be real, he 243 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:35,680 Speaker 1: can't shoot the basketball. I mean the the right now 244 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: on the Lakers roster the guy who made the most 245 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: threes for them last year was Lebron James. Alex Carusoe 246 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: is not a three point shooter. Wesley Matthews, I don't 247 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: know if he's even coming back the bad Morris twin. 248 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: I mean, can you count on Ben McLamore, Like I know, 249 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:52,839 Speaker 1: he had like a half or one good game and 250 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: like march Um, I don't know what the answer is, 251 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: but I'll just I'll I'll leave it to you like this, Rob, 252 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:07,319 Speaker 1: I don't love the Russell Westbrook deal. I and I 253 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:10,599 Speaker 1: I don't want to totally shoot on the Lakers and 254 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 1: say they're not going to win the title, um, because 255 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 1: I gotta see what else they can do. But I 256 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:18,839 Speaker 1: look around the West and like Way is out for 257 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 1: the whole season pretty much, and Jamal Murray's out for 258 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: like much of the season, and I don't think the 259 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 1: Sons can run it back. And I don't I'm still 260 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 1: not a full believer in the Jazz, so I'm not 261 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 1: going to count the Lakers out. I just don't love 262 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 1: this deal. Of all the things they could do to 263 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: get better, this was not it for me. Fox Sports 264 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. 265 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 1: Catch all of our shows at Fox sports Radio dot 266 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: com and within the I Heart Radio app search f 267 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: s R to listen live. I wouldn't say I disagree 268 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: with you. I mean, I wouldn't say that Russell Westbrook 269 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 1: was my ideal addition this offseason. You know, I was 270 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: hoping a bey for like a Malcolm Brogden type of 271 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: guard that maybe they could pick up. But oh, I 272 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 1: would take him in a heartbeat. Yeah, I mean, but 273 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 1: the problem is what you gotta keep up to get him. 274 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: And and and if you I know, it looks bad because 275 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: they gave up their depth, But if you peel yourself back. 276 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: Kyle Kuzma was as soon as he signed that contract 277 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: was going to get traded because that he had the 278 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: perfect range where it was like, hey, we are going 279 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 1: to uh need to fit in another twelve thirty million 280 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 1: to get to a million dollar player or thirty million 281 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 1: dollar player. Mantraz Harrold was a bad fit from the beginning. 282 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 1: We've talked about this before at nauseam. You can't play 283 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: a a non rim defending, paint bound guy next to 284 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: Lebron and n E D like you just you just 285 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: can't do that. And KCP is a good shooter. Um, 286 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: he's a decent three and D guy. The problem is 287 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:53,800 Speaker 1: that he's a six ft five two guard trying to 288 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: check big wings and that was never his case. That's 289 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 1: why he got consistently lit up by guys like was 290 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 1: the third best player in the Bubble title run? Was 291 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: he not? Yeah, because he was on fire. He was shooting. 292 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 1: But here's here's the thing, though, I know that the 293 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 1: spacing is clunky, and I'll totally agree with you. The 294 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 1: last three NBA Championship champion teams in the playoffs Raptors, Lakers, Bucks, 295 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: buckshot from three in the playoffs Lakers thirty five, Raptors 296 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: thirty four. So yes, shooting is very hold on. Is 297 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 1: that in the entire playoffs or that is in the 298 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: playoff run, that is in the playoffs, Okay, so none 299 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: of the last three championship teams shot the ball well 300 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 1: from three in their postseason run. However, what helped the 301 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: Bucks and what helped the Raptors is you had one 302 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 1: guy on each of those teams that got hot, even 303 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: the Lakers. You had KCP out. For the Lakers, you 304 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 1: had um uh, the guy comes off the bench. For 305 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 1: the Bucks, what's the the Brent Forbes. No, the white 306 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: guys con I'm sorry, yes, thank you, content got white hot. 307 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 1: And for the Raptors flight remember Fred VanVleet like did 308 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 1: not miss for two straight series and the routes to 309 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: their title. But the key in any team when it 310 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,440 Speaker 1: comes to spacing is not necessarily you need guys who 311 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:17,399 Speaker 1: can who are dead eye shooters. You don't necessarily need that, 312 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: but you need guys that people are gonna respect. So, 313 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 1: for example, I'm just gonna say, Buddy Hell, can you 314 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 1: talk about Buddy Heel a lout there. Buddy Healed is 315 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:31,199 Speaker 1: a career like shooter from three. So whether he is 316 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:34,439 Speaker 1: six or six from three or over six from three, 317 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 1: You're not gonna leave him to to go double down 318 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 1: on Lebron. You just can't because you know, history says 319 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 1: he's gonna make those shots. What the Lakers need and 320 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 1: which is completely viable now even if they don't, you know, 321 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:50,960 Speaker 1: use their mid level exception, even if they aren't able 322 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 1: to sign and trade and get themselves buddy healed. Is 323 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 1: guys who are a career three point shooters who can 324 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 1: stand still and at least have a guide within three 325 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,440 Speaker 1: ft of them, because you know you can't leave them alone. 326 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: So you can have a Wayne Alancton type, a Reggie 327 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:11,199 Speaker 1: Bullock type. Like guys who are not house is going 328 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:16,359 Speaker 1: to free agency. They're not household names. They're not gonna Comarado, Anthony, no, 329 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 1: somebody who could play defense but the Carmelo. If you're 330 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 1: just because what everyone's ripping this move forward is the 331 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 1: offensive and no one's anything about defense because you know what, 332 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 1: you have Athony Davis on your team. Anthony Davis is 333 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 1: the bigger racer for a lot of these things. Anthony 334 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,399 Speaker 1: Davis is to the Lakers what Rudy Gobert is to 335 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 1: the Jazz. There's no great defenders. Are you think Joe 336 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 1: Ingles is checking guys one on one? You think uh 337 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: boyon Bogdanovis is checking guys one on one Donovan, but 338 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 1: that the teams that can, the teams that win historically, 339 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 1: at least in the last fifteen years minus this season 340 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: when everyone got hurt is Lebron, James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant. 341 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: It didn't matter what all the ancillary parts were. If 342 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: you have the best player in nine times out of 343 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:07,239 Speaker 1: tend your team is going to win that series. And 344 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 1: the Lakers are still going to trot out two of 345 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:13,360 Speaker 1: either the best or two of the three best players 346 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: in every series that they're in. Safe for a match 347 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:19,160 Speaker 1: up with Brooklyn, and they're gonna have Russell Westbrook who's 348 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: gonna be able to attack off anytime you double team 349 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 1: Lebron in a d I like that positive spin robbed. 350 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: But here's the one thing that should be factored in. 351 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 1: Two out of the last three years Lebron has been 352 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 1: hurt in the regular season. He the one year he 353 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 1: wasn't hurt was the COVID You're we had like a 354 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: three month hiatus. Anthony Davis's injury history is rich. They 355 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: don't have a lot of room for error. I know 356 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: they were up on the suns to when I'm with you, 357 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 1: they're still gonna be one of the three best teams 358 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:51,359 Speaker 1: in the league if healthy. But this doesn't give them 359 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:53,879 Speaker 1: any wiggle room. And like, should Lebron go down, Like 360 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 1: I'm not confident at all that Russ and Anthony Davis 361 00:19:56,640 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: can get them anywhere? Are you? If anywhere you mean 362 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: like to the second round? Sure, but you could say 363 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: the same thing about Brooklyn Kevin Durant, Stay what you 364 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: want about Anthony Davis. Kevin Durant is more injury prone 365 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:12,159 Speaker 1: throughout his career to look it up than Anthony Davis. Like, 366 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:15,920 Speaker 1: check the stats. He broke his foot, you know he 367 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:18,880 Speaker 1: got COVID three times last year or something stupid like that. 368 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:21,359 Speaker 1: James Harding is durable, so I'm not gonna say a 369 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: name about him. But Kyrie Irving has always been nicked up. 370 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 1: He threatened to get surgery so that he wouldn't have 371 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:30,879 Speaker 1: to resign in Cleveland, like any team that is top 372 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:33,639 Speaker 1: heavy like that. Of course, if if one of the 373 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 1: guys goes down, it's gonna get the only differences Kyrie, Harden, 374 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:42,360 Speaker 1: and Durant are all younger then Lebron and Russell Westbrook 375 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: right E d S I think is a little younger 376 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 1: eighties in his twenties, Yeah, Um, well, Kyrie's in his twenties, 377 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:53,399 Speaker 1: isn't he? I think I was turning thirty three. I 378 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 1: haven't written down here in my notes November. Russ is 379 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:59,479 Speaker 1: younger than k D but older than Harden. The Lakers 380 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:05,400 Speaker 1: Big three are Russ thirty three in November, Lebron seven 381 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:09,439 Speaker 1: in December. And I'm afraid to look up Anthony Davis's 382 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:12,440 Speaker 1: age because he might get hurt. Um. That's a joke. 383 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 1: Didn't laugh anyway at any rate. Um, So that's like 384 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 1: the biggest story. I don't. I mean, I'm just a 385 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 1: little Uh. It's just kind of a gut punch. And 386 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:26,399 Speaker 1: I know you guys are gonna say, oh, you just 387 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:28,359 Speaker 1: don't like it because you've been bagging on Russ for 388 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:33,480 Speaker 1: years kind of sort of, I and this is weird, guys. 389 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 1: I don't want to be a guy who's negative Nancy. 390 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:41,880 Speaker 1: I'm trying to be positive vibes only. I just don't 391 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: see Russ as a winning player. I just don't he 392 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:49,920 Speaker 1: he does he make other people better? Or is he 393 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 1: only out for Russ to stat pad and put up 394 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 1: numbers and like hustle hert. Yeah, that stuff matters. I 395 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 1: just how many doors have to not want to play 396 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:05,400 Speaker 1: with Russell Westbrook. For you to realize like something's off here, well, 397 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:08,160 Speaker 1: that's not fair. The only one, the only the only 398 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: one who didn't want to play with him was Kevin Durant. 399 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: Paul George decided almost stay and then two years later, 400 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:17,679 Speaker 1: after two he wanted to be in l A. From 401 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 1: the beginning, they were favored in the first round both 402 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: times against Utah and Portland. They lost both those series. 403 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 1: Do you remember what happened to Paul George against Utah? 404 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:30,200 Speaker 1: I think it was Game six where rest had to 405 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 1: take forty five shots because Paul George was scared. You 406 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: did you forget about that? Because was it because he 407 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 1: he was scared because Russell want to want this game 408 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,120 Speaker 1: to lose. You're big. Go on YouTube and watch it 409 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:43,639 Speaker 1: and tell me that Paul George wanted any parts of 410 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 1: that game. He was shook. If he was on the 411 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,400 Speaker 1: road in Utah, fans are yelling at him, Mormon people 412 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 1: are yelling racial slurs at him, and he was like, no, 413 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:58,960 Speaker 1: thank you, Paul George. Look it up. Um, the Sun 414 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:02,400 Speaker 1: shot thirty eight percent from three, the Bucks thirty five 415 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:06,440 Speaker 1: in the finals. This was a bit surprising. Um, Cameron 416 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 1: Johnson from Deep Jake crowd of forty one, Bridges forty two, 417 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:15,680 Speaker 1: Chris Paul fifty two, d Book twenty six and they 418 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:19,119 Speaker 1: lost the series four two. So maybe there is a 419 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 1: little something to three point shooting in the playoffs. But um, 420 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 1: but even then, Okay, So Devin Booker shot from three. 421 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 1: Is anybody leaving Devin Booker to double on Chris Paul? 422 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 1: There's a double on campaign? No? No, maybe they maybe 423 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:38,479 Speaker 1: the double Deondre Eyton definitely not all right, Um, so 424 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 1: we kind of disagree here. I guess when russ has 425 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:45,159 Speaker 1: headed to l A, it's happening. Well. I think with 426 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:47,040 Speaker 1: or without Russell Westbrook, they were probably going to the 427 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:50,120 Speaker 1: finals anyways because the west is shaping up perfectly for them. 428 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:53,119 Speaker 1: Kauai is out, Jamal Burry may or may not come 429 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 1: back from a c L unless you think Utah is great. 430 00:23:56,880 --> 00:24:00,119 Speaker 1: You know, they were probably finals. They were probably get 431 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 1: to the finals anyways. Yeah, I mean, come on, Anthony 432 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:06,240 Speaker 1: Davis versus Gobert. No. Fox Sports Radio has the best 433 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:09,160 Speaker 1: sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our 434 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:12,679 Speaker 1: shows at Fox sports Radio dot com and within the 435 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio app. Search f s R to listen live. Alright, 436 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 1: So other topics, real quick, congrats to the USC beating 437 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 1: Cutter one nothing on a late goal. They will face 438 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 1: Mexico and the Gold Cup final. I am geeked for 439 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: that match. I don't know what it is. I think 440 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 1: it's this weekend, but it'll be on FS one. I'm 441 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:34,720 Speaker 1: fired up for it. USA Mexico is always so much fun. Um. 442 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 1: In other news, Oh yeah the draft? Um not Kate 443 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:44,440 Speaker 1: Cunningham one. Uh, Jalen Green to Evan Mobley three mild 444 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:49,480 Speaker 1: surprise our guests from Basketball News dot com. Yeah, Basketball 445 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: News dot Com. Matt Babcock coming through, said Barnes for 446 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:57,440 Speaker 1: to Toronto, and Barnes went for I personally think that's 447 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: insane to take Barnes over Jayla Suggs. I'm extremely bullish 448 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 1: on Jalen Suggs, really big fan of his work. Um, 449 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 1: he goes to Orlando, or I got a lot of 450 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:11,119 Speaker 1: relatives in Orlando, so I'm I'm like, if you ask me, 451 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 1: like my five favorite teams, the Orlando Magic would have 452 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 1: to crack the top five. Um, just simply because all 453 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:20,399 Speaker 1: my relatives begging me, Jay, when are you gonna talk 454 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:23,199 Speaker 1: about Orlando on the podcast? When are you gonna talk 455 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 1: about Mo Bamba, Wendow Carter, Come on, I said, I'll 456 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:30,520 Speaker 1: check with the producer, and um that that's on those 457 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:32,720 Speaker 1: I just toss it and say, hey, the producer was like, 458 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: there's no way that we can talk about the Orlando Magic. 459 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:38,679 Speaker 1: You know, there's just no nobody cares. Um, they got 460 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:42,280 Speaker 1: Jalen Suggs otherwise, Rob, I gotta be honest, like, this 461 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 1: draft was and not a horrible player draft, but the 462 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:48,880 Speaker 1: draft itself was terrible because there were so many trades 463 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:53,360 Speaker 1: and because none of the websites were able to update 464 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:57,199 Speaker 1: where the trades were. If you just look, even if 465 00:25:57,240 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 1: you go to like the Wikipedia for the NBA draft, 466 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 1: they don't have any of the trades in there. So 467 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 1: she could be like, oh, that guy went fourteen, and 468 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 1: before you say anything, it's like, oh no, no, no, 469 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:09,160 Speaker 1: he was traded, but it's not updated there. No website 470 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 1: has it, and it's like, I don't know where these 471 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 1: guys went. You have to like click three or four 472 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 1: times to see where they were traded to. And I'm like, 473 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:19,639 Speaker 1: I don't have time for this. Um. I am stunned. 474 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:22,160 Speaker 1: Though Josh Primo, the youngest player in the draft went 475 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:24,959 Speaker 1: to the Spurs at eighteen. The Spurs, who have a 476 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 1: ton of guards, drafted an eighteen year old guard. They 477 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:30,640 Speaker 1: have no big men. I don't know what the Spurs 478 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:33,679 Speaker 1: are doing. Maybe Popovich is off his rocker, Rob. Do 479 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 1: you know when the USA Czech Republic basketball matchup is? 480 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:41,199 Speaker 1: I'm two and oh gambling giving out picks on the 481 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:43,240 Speaker 1: USA basketball team. I need to go through you now 482 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:46,400 Speaker 1: when I know that, I know that it's sometime on 483 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 1: Saturday for our local time, I believe, and I play 484 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:52,200 Speaker 1: in the Czech Republic. Let me pull it up while 485 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: you're talking and give it to you here. It's say, 486 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go to my one of my gambling accounts. 487 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:59,440 Speaker 1: Obviously you have to have multiple um websites because they'll 488 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:02,920 Speaker 1: be playing eight am Eastern Time on Saturday, so that'll 489 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:08,680 Speaker 1: be five am Pacific. UM. You know, uh, real talk. 490 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:11,840 Speaker 1: The best team to watch at the Olympics. Do you 491 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:13,159 Speaker 1: want to guess who I think? Do you think it is? 492 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:17,720 Speaker 1: You think? Oh yeah, Luca Donte just making these dudes 493 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 1: look awesome. They beat Japan. They were not favorite over 494 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,720 Speaker 1: Japan by much. They beat him by like thirty I'm 495 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 1: telling you, guys, Donte is the best player in the world. 496 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 1: UM Luca don Che versus Spain. Slovenia is favored UM. 497 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 1: August one, my gambling site says one twenty. I think 498 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 1: that's a m geez. I don't know how I'm waking 499 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:43,920 Speaker 1: up for that. So USA Czech Republic USA twenty three 500 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:50,360 Speaker 1: and a half rob. I'm leaning to taking the points here. 501 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:51,840 Speaker 1: I don't feel as confident as I did in the 502 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:54,040 Speaker 1: first two. I just think after beating I ran by 503 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:57,160 Speaker 1: a million, the USA is feeling itself and all they 504 00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: need to do is win to advance, and I think 505 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:01,040 Speaker 1: they might rest their eyes if they go up twenty 506 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 1: and yeah, their backups are so better, but I would 507 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:09,639 Speaker 1: probably take to twenty three and a half points. The 508 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:12,920 Speaker 1: US is not as good as beating I ran by fifty, 509 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:15,159 Speaker 1: and they're not as bad as losing to France in 510 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:18,840 Speaker 1: that late choke job. UM. I would not be surprised 511 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:21,280 Speaker 1: if you know the players spent the time watching the 512 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 1: draft and the trades and probably not focused on the Olympics. 513 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:27,119 Speaker 1: That I would not be stunned if the Czech Republic 514 00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 1: UM not pulled the upset but was able to stay 515 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 1: within the number or or cover Um. Do you have 516 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 1: any action on that game? Rob Let me just say 517 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:39,440 Speaker 1: that anybody who was willingly betting on Team USA Basketball, 518 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 1: given what we've seen from them in the last three weeks, 519 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:44,640 Speaker 1: is a degenerate. I don't know how you can watch 520 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 1: them and think, yeah, I kind of have a feeling 521 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 1: how they're going to play in this game. I got 522 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 1: a good vibe from what they've been doing the last 523 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 1: two and a half weeks. You have no idea what 524 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 1: team is going to show up. By the way, is 525 00:28:56,160 --> 00:28:58,440 Speaker 1: Jamian Lillard locked into the Olympics or is he locked 526 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 1: into tweeting? And Henry Abbott, were you following that yesterday? 527 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: I was, what the hell? Like? It seems like it's 528 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: almost personal. It totally is personal. I don't know what 529 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 1: happened like, it's weird, and I'm not gonna spend too 530 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:12,920 Speaker 1: much time on this and and I know a lot 531 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:14,880 Speaker 1: of you guys don't even get Twitter or go on there, 532 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,480 Speaker 1: and it's probably good for your mental health. But Henry 533 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 1: Abbots a guy who came on this podcast a couple 534 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 1: of weeks ago and said Damian Little was going to 535 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 1: demand a trade, and then he said, Damian Willards willing 536 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:28,040 Speaker 1: to forego money, and Damian Little went at him and 537 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 1: said you need to be careful or I don't remember 538 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:34,040 Speaker 1: what the exact words were, but basically was like coming 539 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 1: after the guy, and Henry abbotts like, don't question my integrity. 540 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:39,160 Speaker 1: I've been doing this for too long. You need to 541 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:41,520 Speaker 1: like check your people or whatever, and it got like, 542 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:44,880 Speaker 1: I don't know, it's it's a little uncomfortable, you know, 543 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 1: because I'm gonna be honest, Rob, I don't think Henry 544 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 1: is getting fed bullshit. He's not the kind of guy 545 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:53,080 Speaker 1: who just throws crap up against the wall. He's well sourced, 546 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 1: he's he's talking to people at the ownership level. And 547 00:29:56,320 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 1: I think Portland he's trying to get rid that my sneaky. 548 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 1: It's too hot for this. I'm burying it late in 549 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 1: the podcast. I'll save it for next week. I think 550 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 1: Portland's ready to move on from Dane and is leaking 551 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:12,360 Speaker 1: this stuff to Abbott in hopes that it will Dame 552 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 1: will be like, you know what, I'm out of here. 553 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:17,760 Speaker 1: This is that to incendi or a take that's pretty spicy, 554 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:19,720 Speaker 1: that's pretty spice. But I will just say this for 555 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:22,240 Speaker 1: Henry Abbott, like you mentioned He's not in the business 556 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:26,560 Speaker 1: of throwing out So if he's reporting something, it's been 557 00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 1: thoroughly vetted and reported from somewhere. And these guys I used, 558 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:33,320 Speaker 1: you know, they don't mind, like, oh, this guy, he's 559 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 1: just giving me something. I'll gonna run with it instantly. 560 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:37,560 Speaker 1: You know, there's a lot of people who do that exactly. 561 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 1: And let me also just say that if you've read 562 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:42,760 Speaker 1: anybody our listeners who has not read the Henry Abbott 563 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 1: true who call him detailing about Damian Lillard possibly foregoing 564 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:50,320 Speaker 1: paychecks if he doesn't get traded, it's not just that 565 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 1: he had that big headline like hey, he's willing to 566 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:56,360 Speaker 1: skip paychecks. He had details about what restaurant they ate at, 567 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 1: who was at the dinner, what kind of topics they 568 00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:05,200 Speaker 1: were talking about. So he must have somebody who's around 569 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:09,320 Speaker 1: Team USA, probably right now as we are recording this podcast, 570 00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:12,680 Speaker 1: that Dame Lillard can not trust because that person is 571 00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:16,240 Speaker 1: sharing details about him personally. This is interesting. Um, well, 572 00:31:16,280 --> 00:31:19,200 Speaker 1: first of all, how did you read this if you're 573 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:23,040 Speaker 1: not a subscriber. That's a really dumb question, Jayson, How 574 00:31:23,040 --> 00:31:24,800 Speaker 1: do I watch the pay per views if I don't 575 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:28,440 Speaker 1: pay for the pay per views. Did somebody aggregate all that, Yeah, 576 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:32,600 Speaker 1: it's not that hard to find, um, because I just 577 00:31:32,680 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 1: went there and like, what if, Okay, this is my 578 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:37,600 Speaker 1: second big take and we'll wrap up after this. What 579 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:40,760 Speaker 1: if Damian Lillard is being a double agent and trying 580 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 1: something new, Hey leak the stuff to make me look bad. 581 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:47,720 Speaker 1: I'll push back super hard and at the end of 582 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:50,040 Speaker 1: the day people will be so surprised. I'll be able 583 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:52,520 Speaker 1: to get my way, like a like a double mind 584 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:56,160 Speaker 1: f where Damian Lillard is trying something that hasn't been 585 00:31:56,200 --> 00:32:01,640 Speaker 1: done before that that's also a very ice He's take, Um, 586 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:05,240 Speaker 1: something's going on here that's unusual, This is uncharacteristic. My 587 00:32:05,360 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 1: initial read is that he honestly doesn't know he I 588 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:11,200 Speaker 1: think he knows he's going to demanda trade. But because 589 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:14,080 Speaker 1: he's one of those guys who until you hear me 590 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:17,880 Speaker 1: say it straight out, then don't say I said it 591 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:20,200 Speaker 1: because I can give you just like go back to 592 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:22,560 Speaker 1: his press conference, He's like, well, I never said I'm 593 00:32:22,560 --> 00:32:24,360 Speaker 1: going to demand a trade. But then he goes in 594 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:27,160 Speaker 1: gives you a series of reasons why he would demand 595 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:29,360 Speaker 1: a trade if he were to do it. So he 596 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:31,680 Speaker 1: seems like he's in that situation where he's just afraid 597 00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:34,080 Speaker 1: to pull the band aid off, and he's talking all 598 00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:38,840 Speaker 1: about his unhappiness and his frustrations and him knowing that 599 00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:42,600 Speaker 1: they're running in quicksand over there in Portland. But until 600 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 1: he says the words I want to be traded, he 601 00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:46,320 Speaker 1: can go to sleep and I knowing that I haven't 602 00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:47,840 Speaker 1: demanded to trade. I don't know why you would say 603 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:50,200 Speaker 1: I would that, but it's not hard to read between 604 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:52,680 Speaker 1: the lines of what he's doing and saying, yeah, this 605 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:54,880 Speaker 1: is kind of fascinating stuff. I mean, it's weird. Did 606 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:56,400 Speaker 1: draft happen? I thought we would do a lot of 607 00:32:56,480 --> 00:33:01,040 Speaker 1: draft and then Russell Westbrook got traded and UM, yeah, alright, guys, 608 00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:04,960 Speaker 1: so have a phenomenal weekend. We will be back Monday. 609 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:08,479 Speaker 1: Um obviously you know, playing your Monday morning early around 610 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:12,120 Speaker 1: me being on the disputed I'm so ecstatic, very very 611 00:33:12,120 --> 00:33:15,200 Speaker 1: fired up. Should be a lot of fun and um, 612 00:33:15,280 --> 00:33:16,000 Speaker 1: we'll talk to you then.