1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:18,600 Speaker 1: M m all right, Welcome to Stage with the Lakers, 2 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 1: presented by DAS Radio Happy New Year Edition. First of all, 3 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: I want to extend welcome to our friend Jason Maples 4 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: who was kind enough to hop in for RAJ who 5 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 1: is celebrating elsewhere tonight. You deserve a much deserved night 6 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: off since he's been working his butt off all season. Um, 7 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: but Mr Maple's, how you doing, man? I sincerely appreciate 8 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:42,160 Speaker 1: you taking the time to come hang out tonight. That's 9 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,519 Speaker 1: all good, you know. And I'm not going on for 10 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: New Year's man to West COVID out there, So I'm 11 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: telling what's going on with I'm doing. I'm doing good. 12 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:53,520 Speaker 1: I'm wa get up, wa, get up at four o'clock 13 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: in the morning to drive up to Flagstaff to go skiing. 14 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: So I'm excited about that. But it's gonna be a 15 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: funky that's for sure. That said, I feel good. I'm 16 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: excited to talk to the Lakers, but I'm gonna come 17 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 1: at you with the curveball to start. So, so I 18 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: am aware of the fact that the Blazers have been 19 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 1: dealing with a lot of unfortunate circumstances. They've been hit 20 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 1: by COVID recently, the CJ McCollum injury is weird. Dame's 21 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: clearly been dealing with something. He doesn't look like himself. 22 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: That said, they look like every time I've seen them 23 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: play this year, which maybe a half dozen times, they 24 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: look like an extremely poorly coached, an extremely poorly organized 25 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: team that doesn't have any sort of buy into what 26 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:45,680 Speaker 1: they're trying to accomplish and no feasible way to get better. 27 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: So so my question for you is this, what is what? 28 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: What what is your opinion on the Blazers and and 29 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: what in the world would you do if you were 30 00:01:56,200 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 1: running that team? What was hard and right? You know, 31 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: it's hard to throw that all on the coach, honest. 32 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: A lot of that is, you know, Billips walked into 33 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:10,399 Speaker 1: a bad situation. Um. You know, Dame pretty much called 34 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: the season and failure if you remember his comments before 35 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: going any pretty much set free agency and the draft 36 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: was a failure before they even got to train again. 37 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: So that's hardy and everybody's head from the jump. And 38 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: then on top of that, they're already not that good 39 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: day and came out struggling. It's just it's just that 40 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: the worst thing that happened that team was making that 41 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 1: two thousand nineteen Western Conference Finals. That's the worst thing 42 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: that happened to that team because it gave them a 43 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: false sense of reality and like where they were as 44 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: a franchise, which it really should have been blown up 45 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: two years ago. Um Dame keeps saying he wont the 46 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: ass out. We give reminded every two weeks that he's 47 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: not running from the grind. I mean, it sounds great 48 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: for a loyalty story, but that team is not. It's 49 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: not going anywhere. That's the worst. The worst place to 50 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 1: be in the NBA's in the middle because you're never 51 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: gonna be bad enough to get that marquee player. You're 52 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: never gonna be good to compete. Is just they got 53 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 1: to blow it up man like C. Why isn't C 54 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: C should have been trained two years ago for a win. 55 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: The fact that the biggest failure to means they never 56 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: got game a feasible wing in all his entire danger 57 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: there never got a win. And it's the most important 58 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: position in the n b A you could argue, and 59 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 1: they never got to a wink in ten plus in 60 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: ten years, never had this. This is a good win 61 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: for him to play with, not to mention the fact 62 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 1: that c J, because of this long situation and because 63 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: of the underachieving, his value is probably the lowest that 64 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: has been in a long time in terms of in 65 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 1: terms of on the trade market. But I look at 66 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: it from two perspectives. Because from from Dame's perspective, the 67 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: part that's confusing to me is the weird game he's 68 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: playing in the media, because because he's like, he's saying 69 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: all the right stuff about this loyalty, but there's also 70 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: like all these leaks, and then there's that really weird 71 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: Chris Haynes piece where he basically talked about how he 72 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: flirted with the the Lakers this summer. So and I 73 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: actually got in big trouble with Blazers fans earlier this 74 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: year because I just pointed out the obvious, like, look, man, 75 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: if this guy is clearly looking elsewhere and this is 76 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: clearly not a good situation for him, why don't we 77 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 1: just cut the bs and just skip ahead to the 78 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 1: part where everybody's happier, now, you know what I mean? 79 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: That that was what was frustrating. And then from the 80 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: team's perspective, I I look at it as as simply 81 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: as this, Like I I saw the Bucks throw the 82 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:28,359 Speaker 1: chicken sinc excuse me, the kitchen sink to try to 83 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: get to try to get Drew Holiday, even though they 84 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: overpaid for him. I look at what the Bulls did 85 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: last summer, you know, I look at I look at 86 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,839 Speaker 1: these teams doing everything in their power to try to 87 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 1: put talent around the guy they perceived to be the one. 88 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: In this case, Dame, and the Blazers just haven't. Like 89 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:49,920 Speaker 1: I mean, I like Larry Nants it's a good player, 90 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:53,479 Speaker 1: and I also like child like Normant, but you and 91 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,160 Speaker 1: I both know that those it was all about the 92 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: fact that c J, as much as I like c J, 93 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: is overqualifiy it is a number two unless you have 94 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: an unbelievable defensive front line, which they've never had. So 95 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: I just I look at it like the Blazers are 96 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: clearly incapable of putting Dame in a position to succeed, 97 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: and Dame is beating around the bush and it's a 98 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: waste he's capable of, especially as he's getting to the 99 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: age where you know he's in his crime right now. 100 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 1: But you know, small guards, they get to the parties, 101 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: you know, it becomes you know, a matter of time 102 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: at that point. I just always felt people got credit. 103 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 1: The trade that most makes sense was the c J 104 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: for Dame and then you know, kind of make it 105 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 1: work with picks and stuff to make it even on 106 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: one side. But I thought that, yeah, c J for 107 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 1: Ben Simon jc J as I said that it felt 108 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: like it was feasible for both chains and served the interest, 109 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:57,280 Speaker 1: like the feeling like really needed shot making in the playoffs. 110 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: Si this guy who can score from all three levels. 111 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: The Blazers need somebody who can play some defense, it 112 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 1: can play make and put game off the ball sometimes 113 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: and that like it just felt like it felt like 114 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: too perfect of a trade to happen. But more feels like, 115 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:13,799 Speaker 1: you know, Beta is going off for for a franchise 116 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 1: player at this point, and we'll see what happens. But 117 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 1: the appointing gotta do something, man, just you can't waste 118 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: Damian Lillard's prime like like this, you gotta do something 119 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 1: or free him. I think Ultimateple Images they kind of 120 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:29,480 Speaker 1: do what Minnesota did with Kevin Garnett I after twelve 121 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: years and like all right, man, we we kind of 122 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 1: failed you here, Uh tell us where you want to go. 123 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 1: And that's kind of just give it. Just give us 124 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 1: a list. We'll do the best we can what offer 125 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 1: we get. I think that's what the end game is eventually. 126 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: But it's time for something to happen. Yeah, I could 127 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 1: see them trying to be aggressive at the deadline to 128 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: build a round Dame, But unless they find traction or 129 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 1: something like that, then Dame like knocking on the front 130 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: office door and being like once the next time, you 131 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: know what I mean. Um, So okay, So let's move 132 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: on to the Lakers. So, you know, I wanted to 133 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:08,160 Speaker 1: touch base of you about the Rust the rust fit 134 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: in particular, and I know tonight it's a little bit 135 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: of a tricky night for that because he played so well. 136 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: But at the end of the day, that was kind 137 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: of more like a pickup game that involved Lakers players 138 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: than it was a real nbas Some of the defensive 139 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: breakdowns I'm seeing from the Blazers tonight were worse than 140 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: in l a fitness. But anyway, so so let's just 141 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:31,120 Speaker 1: cut to this point. So after the crazy game against Memphis, 142 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: I was just as frustrated as you because I thought 143 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 1: there were a couple of pivotal mistakes down the stretch 144 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: of that rusts made and admittedly, coming up front before 145 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: we even talked about this, I didn't like to move 146 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: to begin with, and so it's taken the better part 147 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: of my being to try to force myself to see 148 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: the things that he does well, to try to remain 149 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: as open minded to it as I could. Um. But 150 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: and there have been stretches this year where he looked 151 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: really good. Actually, i'd say that he looked good most 152 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: of the season. I'll even clarified to their but I've 153 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: been pretty frustrated. After the Memphis game, you tweeted out 154 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: that the Lakers needed to get off of him and 155 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: trade in this deadline because they can't beat good teams 156 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: with him, was what you had said in the tweets. 157 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: So I wanted to give you an opportunity to clarify 158 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: that and to elaborate it on a little bit and 159 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: then I'll give you my two cents. All right, So 160 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: this is what this this, this is where I'm coming. 161 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: So I kind of, like rog as explained before, like 162 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: I saw the Lakers vision as far as like why 163 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: they wanted this, while Lebron kind of pushed for it, 164 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: and you know, I think it was to try to 165 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: bring his workload down a bunch, which which it hasn't. 166 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: Now if you look at it, which you know it hasn't, 167 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 1: which is five is lebron Is is a tank. So whatever. Um. 168 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: The other thing was just um, you know, lebron Is 169 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: always wanted more playmaking around him, like he's always pushed 170 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 1: for not being the main guy to make decisions him 171 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: and I understood it from that standpoint, But dude, just 172 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: and I was to I was like, I'm against it. 173 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:03,199 Speaker 1: I want to see if it works first, because this 174 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 1: is the first time in the rest of his career 175 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: that he was going to be asked to be a 176 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:08,959 Speaker 1: number three, you know, not number one. Got a number two, 177 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,199 Speaker 1: so that's what I was kind of hoping for. Maybe 178 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 1: this time could possibly be different. But just the decision 179 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 1: making Layton basketball games, I'll say that he has eliminated 180 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: those little mirror range pull ups, the early shot talk 181 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: pull ups that I hated to stop doing that. He 182 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: he has become so much self aware, like I'll give 183 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 1: him that much like the bad shots are are aren't 184 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 1: there anymore. It's just the decision making, the dad turnovers. Um, 185 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: He's got an adjust to maybe not being the same 186 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: supreme athlete. He was as far as going to the basket, 187 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 1: Like the bad lay piments against Memphis, I think he 188 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: jumped from beyond the dotted line, and I was like, 189 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: you're not You're not twenty four anymore. But like you said, 190 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:49,959 Speaker 1: it's been mostly good. I have to be honest, it's 191 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 1: been mostly good. I just I don't see them. I'm thinking, 192 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 1: I'm like, you know, six games against Phoenix, six games 193 00:09:55,720 --> 00:10:00,560 Speaker 1: against Golden State, Um, even Utah like can rely on 194 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 1: him to make good decisions in a long series like that, 195 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: And I'm still leaning no on that. Just unfortunately, that's 196 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:11,199 Speaker 1: I'm being honest. I'm still leaning a note on all 197 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: that stuff. Um, you know, he could prove me wrong. 198 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:16,680 Speaker 1: I'd be happy to be wrong, but I'm just it's 199 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,599 Speaker 1: this as a whole, you know, decade plus, like the 200 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: playoff appearances and like recently it's been really bad. But 201 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,679 Speaker 1: the only my only hope is that Lebron and a 202 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: D knocked him down to pick where he's the doctor's 203 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 1: first or second. He's the third option. So maybe it's 204 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: not that much on his plate where he's not in 205 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:37,080 Speaker 1: the position to possibly make those mistakes. Um, maybe he 206 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: gets better. I'm guessing he gets better when a d 207 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: gets back because then he's the ball doesn't find him 208 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:44,199 Speaker 1: late in his late game situations, like as much as 209 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: it has, which is I think he's putting him in 210 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: position to fail. That's not who he is anymore. But yeah, man, 211 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:54,959 Speaker 1: I'm just you know, the my original do not trade 212 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 1: for this guy? Like I'm feeling that bubble to the 213 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: top right now, so me too. It hasn't bubbled. It 214 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 1: hasn't bubbled over yet. And the main and the main 215 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 1: reason why I would, I'm the main reason why I'm 216 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: slow to reach that point is because of the total 217 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: catastrophe that a Westbrook trade would be. So like, just 218 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: thinking about that's the salary filler that the Lakers would 219 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 1: get back, you would have to believe in that trade 220 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 1: purely as an addition by subtraction to go that route. 221 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:26,680 Speaker 1: Now here's the deal. I when I when I was 222 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 1: trying to talk myself into the Westbrook fit to start 223 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 1: the season, I centered around the Dennis Schroeder Cup because 224 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:37,680 Speaker 1: I'm like, Okay, here's a relatively inconsistent shooting point guard 225 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 1: who is very aggressive to the basket. And in theory, 226 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:46,679 Speaker 1: you know, Russ could replicate some of his on ball defense. Um, 227 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 1: the big thing that I like completely miscalculated with that 228 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: is Dennis for all of his flaws, and Dennis wasn't 229 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: my favorite player that I've ever watched, But Dennis didn't 230 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: make a ton of mistakes. He on the defensive end 231 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:05,719 Speaker 1: always did his job. You could count on him to 232 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 1: be where he was supposed to be, whether it was 233 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 1: on the ball or off the ball. And then on offense, 234 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 1: he was very reserved to only attack in specific matchups, 235 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: especially at the end of games, and just in general. 236 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 1: Like I can't even think off the top of my 237 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 1: head of a specific moment last year where he made 238 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: a critical late games mistake, and I'm sure there were, 239 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 1: but we already have several loud mistakes from Westbrook season 240 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:36,079 Speaker 1: in the situations, And so my my concern is, like 241 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:40,960 Speaker 1: I sent out a poll today and damn near, I'm 242 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: just asking about the fit, and I think Brussel Westbrook 243 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: is a much better basketball player than Dennis Schroeder was. 244 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,320 Speaker 1: But what concerns me with this fit is I think 245 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 1: when specifically, when you're the third guy, it's so much 246 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: more critical that you don't screw things up. Then then 247 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 1: in another position, And what scares me is like Maple's 248 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 1: him losing him, him losing Patty Mills on Christmas Day 249 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: at the end of that game. That's not related to 250 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis and him being in a tertiary role. That's 251 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 1: just him pushing the ball in transition against Memphis. That 252 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: same play could happen in a clutch playoff game, even 253 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: if a d and Lebron are on the floor, because 254 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:26,319 Speaker 1: you want Russ to push the ball in transition. I 255 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 1: fear that his decision making could be fatal in that 256 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: type of environment. And and that gets me to the 257 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 1: point where where like if if he can't show strides 258 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: in that specific department, where I would start to contemplate 259 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 1: whether or not addition by subtraction would be sensical, if 260 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: that makes sense. See I mean, and all this in 261 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:50,680 Speaker 1: my and all this in my opinions, I just blow 262 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:52,559 Speaker 1: the ad Rips because they're they're they're not going to 263 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: trade it. I don't think they are. The only time 264 00:13:57,320 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 1: on the reason I think they would trade him, as 265 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 1: I gif, it was like the Simmons deal came up, 266 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: but that like feel he's not trading at all the 267 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:05,959 Speaker 1: trades they turned down, feel he's not gonna take him 268 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: for Russell Westbrook, right, So I don't think he's getting traded. 269 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 1: So I think it's a matter of, you know, put 270 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 1: in Westbrook in the best position to succeed. And I 271 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: think a lot of that is gonna have to a 272 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 1: lot it's gonna be on you know, the five that 273 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 1: Frank puts out there, Like you can't play him with 274 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 1: th ht, you know what I mean. You can't play 275 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 1: him with DeAndre and a D at the same time, 276 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. It's like you got to 277 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: really pay attention with who he's on the court with 278 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 1: two to put him in the best to succeed. And 279 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: I want to say that's Westbrook. He's still like even 280 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 1: if with all the bad plays and or whatever, he's 281 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: been a top five playmaker in basketball, like his high 282 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:43,240 Speaker 1: quality assists numbers and this shock creation, it's still at 283 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 1: the tip top of the league. So I will give 284 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 1: him credit for that. So like that that that's a 285 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 1: good thing he's done. Like he's helped a lot of 286 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 1: guys um get a lot of good looks. We just 287 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,239 Speaker 1: you know, we want that and then want to eliminate 288 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: the crucial era. And I think we we've got something 289 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 1: like that's feeds from playoff basketball. So I mean a 290 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: lot of it is against his his nature, so it's 291 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 1: kind of hoping against hope, But I just want to 292 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 1: point out that that is something good that he's done. 293 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: He's still one of the five best playmakers in basketball 294 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: this season. Absolutely, you know. I think the way that 295 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 1: I looked at it was so Pete from like a 296 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 1: film room always talks about the idea of a responsible 297 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: adults lineup. It's the line up, the lineup that you 298 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 1: would go to in a moment where you need guys 299 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 1: to execute. And the way I've kind of come around 300 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: this way of describing Russ, I think he's a fantastic 301 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: basketball player who is not a responsible adult. That's the 302 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: way that I look at it, Because you're right, his 303 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: his ability to pressure the rim and create high quality 304 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: three point shots and drop offs and things like that 305 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: are in the near if not the top tier, in 306 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 1: the second tier that you'll find in the league. He's 307 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: just flat out really good at that. So and then 308 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 1: then you watch like a play like those two plays 309 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 1: at the end of game against Memphis in isolation defense 310 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 1: against John Morant, who has been lighting us on fire, 311 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:08,359 Speaker 1: all night and he gets too crucial stops and you're like, Okay, 312 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: that looks like one of the better guard defenders in 313 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: the league. But that inability to trim the fat, that 314 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 1: inability to you know, find a way to replicate what 315 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: he does well and minimize what he does poorly, to me, 316 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: is that lack of that responsible adult basketball character. And 317 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 1: so what scares me is that big pivotal playoff moment 318 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: where you've got four responsible adults on the floor. You know, 319 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: you've got Lebron, Anthony Davis, Trevor Ariza and call it 320 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: Austin Reeves, and then you've got this one gigantic wild 321 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 1: card in there that at any given moment could go 322 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: rogue and do something silly. So that that's kind of 323 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 1: the way that I would describe it. But you're right, 324 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: it's very important to emphasize that there is a ton 325 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 1: of good that comes with Russ. The wrinkle here is 326 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 1: the bad and how do you how do you evaluate that, 327 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: how do you plan for that, how do you prepare 328 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 1: for that, and how do you try to coach him 329 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: or help him to avoid that? If that makes sense? Alright, guys, So, 330 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: unfortunately I have some bad news we had some technical 331 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: difficulties with Mr Maple's phone. No fault of anybody, just 332 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: some bad New Year's luck. So unfortunately this conversation got 333 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: cut short, which is a bummer for me because Maple's 334 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:26,119 Speaker 1: is one of my favorite guys. I appreciate having him 335 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 1: on and I love talking the game with him. But 336 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 1: I hope you all have a happy New Year, and 337 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: I apologize for the unfortunate circumstances, but we will be 338 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 1: back with our normal postgame show on Sunday.