1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 1: This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What is up 2 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 1: straight Fire, Fam, It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight Fire for Friday, 3 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: February third Focus. This is the first Friday podcast in 4 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: five months where we do not have an NFL gambling focus. 5 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: You know, throughout the season every Friday we bring on 6 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: usually a gambler to talk NFL. I think some of 7 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 1: them we did college football, but without fail, our weekend 8 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: podcast is the biggest, mostly because it's up days um 9 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: on the weekend, and well it was a big one 10 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: we did. We did blew out NFL all the time, 11 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: and this weekend no, no NFL. So uh. I know 12 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: a lot of guys who are like, hey, wife is happy. 13 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: NFL not happening this weekend. So we're going out of town. 14 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: There's a big weekend for skiing. Husbands are like, oh yeah, 15 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: let's jump on, let's go skiing. We are not going skiing. 16 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: We are not. You guys know, I don't like skiing 17 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: at all. I am gonna be going on a ski 18 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: trip with the kids in the family after the Super Bowl, 19 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 1: but um, I won't be skiing. I'll be chaffering them around, 20 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: probably working out finding other stuff to do recording the 21 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: podcast probably that week. We'll we'll see. It's a little 22 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: TVD Actually we do. Despite not having an NFL Friday 23 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: weekend show, we got some really good NBA storylines. We 24 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 1: do have one f NFL story. But before I get 25 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 1: to any of that, just a quick update on some things. 26 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:40,839 Speaker 1: So cow Herd put out a tweet yesterday about how 27 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 1: January was the largest viewership month on TV for The 28 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: Herd since it began at the network. And you know, 29 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: throughout January we had been doing really well and they've 30 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: been saying, hey, we're up year over year, We're on track, 31 00:01:56,120 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: like this is pretty good. And last year was very 32 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: good for the network for everybody because the NFL playoff 33 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 1: games were ridiculous. The Divisional round, every game was decided 34 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:13,279 Speaker 1: by three and Chiefs Bills went to overtime. Conference championships 35 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:17,799 Speaker 1: both decided on a late field goal. Super Bowl decided 36 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: by a couple of points late. Like all, the final 37 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 1: seven games of the season were insanely good, great games, 38 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,519 Speaker 1: equal big numbers. This year, the games have not been amazing, 39 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: but the numbers are up. What do you attribute that to. 40 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: I don't totally know. Obviously, I'd like to pat myself 41 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: on the back and I'd say, hey, I'm eight percent 42 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: of the reason we're up, but you know I can't. 43 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 1: Obviously I'm joking, but it is good that not only 44 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:43,839 Speaker 1: on the Herd are we up? But this podcast, Rob 45 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: g hits me up with the numbers and we are 46 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: having our biggest month of the football season. Now, they 47 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 1: did change tracking from last season, so we can't compare 48 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: year over year, but the numbers are up, and I 49 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: would attribute some of it to the World Cup, but 50 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: that was over in December. So NFL has really been 51 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: a strong suit. Obviously. Thank you to the loyal listeners. 52 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: I'm sure the Seattle Seahawks stunt my first and last. 53 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:11,360 Speaker 1: I will not I guarantee you. I will not say 54 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: ever I'll do anything to my hair. It's just idiotic, moronic, 55 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: you know, if you wanna get silly and say, oh yeah. 56 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: I tried to go coward into saying, hey, if Kyrie 57 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: Irving with the title you were a Kyrie Irving jersey 58 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: on the show. I tried to get him to bite 59 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 1: on that, but I don't I don't know. I don't 60 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: know if you will. But I learned my lesson the 61 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 1: hard way. I did think it was a little sticky. 62 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: Then I got my hair cut. Twenty four hours it 63 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: was up and and now we're back to normal. I 64 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: look like I'm going to basic training. Um. But now 65 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: that we've got the pats on the back out of 66 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: the way, let's start with a not great story in 67 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: the NFL. And this is funny because I've floated here 68 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: in the last couple of weeks. I spent way too 69 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: much time getting ready for my mock draft for Fox Sports, 70 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: which I submitted last week, and they haven't posted it. 71 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: I don't know why. If they're listening, and I'm sure 72 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: some of them are, we're waiting. I did. I do 73 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: look at spot track, which posts all NFL contracts, which 74 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: is incredible, and one interesting guy from the Cincinnati Bengals 75 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: popped up. So Joe Mixon, the running back who has 76 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: been pretty good. Um, you know, he gotta he came 77 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: into the league. Remember he had the incident in college, 78 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: and he came into the league and he's been pretty 79 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 1: damn good. Last year he had thirteen touchdowns on the ground, 80 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: a career highds Uh missed a couple of games this year, 81 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: so his numbers were depressed a little bit. But here's 82 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: where it gets interesting. If you look at the Joe 83 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 1: Burrow contract, it doesn't kick in yet, but you have 84 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: to start planning for the future. Right if you're the 85 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: Bengals and you look at the running backs, some j 86 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 1: p run by the way free agent this offseason. They 87 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 1: cannot lose him because if you watch the Conference championship game, 88 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 1: Burrow was sacked three times in the first quarter, and 89 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: if you look at it, if you run it back 90 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,040 Speaker 1: and look on YouTube at the sacks, you can see 91 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,919 Speaker 1: one big difference from the first quarter onward. Joe Mixing 92 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: in on the field because he's not good at blitz 93 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 1: pick up. P Ryan out snapped him, I believe by 94 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 1: nineteen snaps. And I know that sounds eye opening, but 95 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: it's also telling going forward, Mixing can't blitz pick up. 96 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:21,360 Speaker 1: He's not as dangerous a receiver as p Ryan out 97 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: of the backfield. This is where it gets interesting. Do 98 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: they make signing p Ryan a priority and think about 99 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 1: cutting loose Mixing. Well, even if they were thinking about that, 100 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: Joe Mixon did no favors by whipping out allegedly a gun. 101 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: I shouldn't have said whipping out by pulling a gun 102 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 1: allegedly on somebody in the streets the day before the 103 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: Bengals Bill's Divisional round playoff game. According to the arrest word, 104 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:53,160 Speaker 1: he pointed a gun at an individual and said the 105 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: person should be popped in the face. It happened at 106 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: downtown Cincinnati, and iviously, Mixon's agent is trying to talk 107 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: his way out of it. Folks. You know some of 108 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: these NFL players, especially running backs, you give a team 109 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: a reason to cut you, and you're gonna be gone. Now. 110 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 1: I'm not saying you cut him over pulling a gun 111 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: on somebody. Again, it's just alleged to I don't know 112 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 1: if there's video or whatever not, none of that yet, 113 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 1: but you can see a situation the other the third 114 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 1: running back that they have, Chris Evans, both, I want 115 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 1: to say, out of Michigan has some He's got some pop, 116 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: he's got some juice. You have an Evans p Ryan backfield, 117 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 1: and I know that doesn't sound as good as Joe Mixon, 118 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: but if you can make up his numbers in the aggregate, 119 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: and oh, by the way, you don't have the off 120 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 1: field crap. Assuming Evans and p Ryan are clean and 121 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: don't have incidents with a menacing charge, arrest warrant. Then yeah, 122 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 1: it makes it easy to move on from Joe Mixon 123 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: and of folks, I'll be spending a lot of time. 124 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: I just NFL free agency's getting exciting. You saw the 125 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: cap is going up, got a lot of quirky quarterback 126 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: situations on the horizon. So very excited going forward for 127 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 1: the NFL free agency, the Draft of Senior Bowls going 128 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: on this week. I have texted a couple of agents 129 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: who are down there just to get their vibe on 130 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: what's going on, and um, but we'll just wait for 131 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: next week to unleash anything that's super interesting or good. 132 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 133 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox Sports 134 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: Radio dot com and within the I Heart Radio app. 135 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: Search f s R to listen live. All right, let's 136 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: pivot to the NBA. I've got to confess I don't 137 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: really care too much about what the hell is going 138 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: on with the NBA All Star Reserves James Harden Mr 139 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 1: at the Outrage. No, I don't particularly care. I do 140 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: like Trey Young a lot. I'm a Hawks guy this season, 141 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:43,239 Speaker 1: I don't like what's going on with Young and his coach. 142 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: I'm not shocked that he didn't make it. Jimmy Butler 143 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: left off the list. Deer and Fox feels like the 144 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: only snub given how good the Kings have been. But hey, 145 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: if it's going to motivate him just a little bit more, 146 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: go for it. I'm all in. Darius Garland's been good, 147 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: Jalen Brunson has been outstanding, So there are some snubs 148 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: and happy for Haliburton obviously to make it. Lori marking 149 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: in as well. Um, I don't know how the hell 150 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 1: Jaren Jackson Jr. Got on, but whatever. Again, I can't 151 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: get worked up about that. What I can get worked 152 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: up about is some of the ancillary stuff going on 153 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: around the league. And again, it is January. You don't 154 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: want to overreact. Lakers had an awesome win against the Pacers. 155 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 1: You know, Halliburton came back. I had a bunch of points, 156 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 1: but it wasn't very efficient. Here's why you can get excited, 157 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: and I'm not. I know we did Lakers earlier this week. 158 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna do much here. So when you can 159 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: win on the road in the NBA, when Russ is 160 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: two for sixteen shooting and the Lakers as a team 161 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: are six for twenty two on threes. That's a good thing. 162 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 1: You Lakers can't be given up any games anymore. Again, 163 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 1: this is a team that let me see if there's 164 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: still thirteenth in the West. Bottom line is they can't 165 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: be giving away games against the Pacers at this point, 166 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: like you can't be losing to the Detroit Pistons. Okay, no, 167 00:08:54,920 --> 00:09:00,040 Speaker 1: Lakers have uh surged into a tie? I guess no. 168 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: I'm sorry about percentage points. They are ahead of the 169 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:08,199 Speaker 1: Okay Sea Thunder for twelve, but more interestingly the Son's loss. 170 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 1: The Warriors lost again. We'll get to them shortly. The 171 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 1: Lakers two games back of the sixth seat. They do 172 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: have to leap draw a lot of teams. I get that, 173 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 1: but they're still in striking distance the Pelicans, by the way, 174 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: I've lost ten games and road Zion is hurt. Remember 175 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 1: when the Pels were were rolling and dangerous and I 176 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: put a couple of shekels on them? Not a lot 177 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 1: to win the West. They've lost ten straight. Brandon Ingram 178 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 1: does not look right since returning um, But again, nobody 179 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 1: really cares about the Pells, especially without Zion Williamson. It 180 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 1: just so happens that my brother was in Dallas this 181 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 1: week and went to MAV's pells last night. Luca got hurt, 182 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:47,439 Speaker 1: so he instantly has texted me. I'm like, no, he's 183 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: just resting because they're up twenty five and they're like, 184 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 1: now Luca bruised heel. This is how awesome Luka Dante 185 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: just thirty one points in twenty three minutes on nineteen shots, 186 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,199 Speaker 1: the height of efficiency. The Alikins right now are a 187 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: dumpster fire. Again. I don't think the Lakers are the 188 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 1: biggest story last night. The MAVs certainly are not. I 189 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 1: do believe the biggest story last night is the punk 190 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 1: ass Memphis Grizzlies who seemed to think that there's suddenly 191 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 1: the bad boy Pistons from the late eighties early nineties. 192 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 1: I mean, you want to go, who's Bill Mbier and 193 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: who's Rick Morn. Dylon Brooks is all of them because 194 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 1: he is becoming like public enemy number one in the league. 195 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: Remember when Coach k had some words for Dylan Brooks 196 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,839 Speaker 1: in college Duke Oregon, Like, Dylon Brooks is a really 197 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: talented player. He's the kind of guy you want on 198 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: your team, but you don't want to go against him 199 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,839 Speaker 1: and he basically hit Donovan Mitchell in the nuts. I 200 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 1: don't see how the ref didn't see it. They had 201 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:44,679 Speaker 1: to go to the replay, but both of them got 202 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 1: tossed for fighting. And folks, nobody likes the Memphis Grizzlies. 203 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: They've lost seven of eight and I don't remember who 204 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 1: it was who dm me this on Instagram, but since 205 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: the incident with the Memphis Grizzlies and Shannon Sharp out 206 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: here at Crypto dot com arena, the Grizzlies have lost 207 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:03,199 Speaker 1: seven of eight. And it's crazy because that night the 208 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,960 Speaker 1: Lakers ended their eleven game win streak, and it was 209 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: weird because they these guys talk a lot of trash. 210 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 1: John Moran his father who follows him around all the games. Listen, 211 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: if my kids were in the NBA or w n 212 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: b A, I'm followed every game. Okay, I'm not running 213 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 1: my mouth like John Moran's dad, but John Moran's dad's 214 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: chirping Dylan Brooks just talking trash about the only likable 215 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: guy on that team. And I know a lot of 216 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 1: people like John Moran is Desmond Baine, who I love, 217 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:30,840 Speaker 1: and a shout out to uh, you know, we're gonna 218 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:32,679 Speaker 1: get him on the pod this month. Frand for Shilla 219 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: college basketball expert who told us before the draft. Frand 220 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: for Silla did that Desmond Bayin is the guy to 221 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 1: watch coming out of TCU. He is an awesome player. 222 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 1: I like Desmond Bain. I root for him. He's a 223 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 1: three and D guy on the wing. He's just a 224 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: really talented player. He I don't think he runs his mouth. 225 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: He he doesn't fit the d n A of this 226 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 1: Memphis team, which is just a bunch of jaw jack 227 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: and punk's. Now here's the interesting thing. They are number 228 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 1: one in defensive efficiency, and depending on what you put 229 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: in defensive stats, historically, if you're top ten defensive efficiency, 230 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: your chances to go into the final skyrocket. Last year, 231 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 1: the top two teams in defense, we're Boston in Golden 232 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: State and they met in the finals. Now, two years 233 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 1: ago it was Phoenix and Milwaukee. Both of them were 234 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 1: top ten. I think they were nine and ten. So 235 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:23,960 Speaker 1: I can I can besmirched the Memphis Grizzlies name all 236 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 1: I want. I know they don't have Steve but Adams 237 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:30,079 Speaker 1: right now, and um, I just I don't know that 238 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:32,439 Speaker 1: anybody is afraid of these guys because they run their 239 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 1: mouth so much. I feel like all they do is 240 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 1: talk trash and they think they're better than they are. 241 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:41,479 Speaker 1: Remember that awesome series they had against the Minnesota Timberwolves. 242 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 1: I was rooting Timberwolves hard in that one, and the 243 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 1: Timberwolves are in a similar vein because you know, Karl 244 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: Anthony Towns loves to run its mouth, but Memphis just 245 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: seems unlikable. I know this won't be a popular thing 246 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 1: in Memphis, and I'm sure somebody's gonna clip it off 247 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 1: and try to make me look like a bad guy. Listen. 248 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,440 Speaker 1: I'm all for some trash talk, but with these guys, 249 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 1: it's every noight. And the Dylan Brooks ejection is a 250 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:05,199 Speaker 1: bad look. I mean he's straight up hit Donovan Mitchell 251 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: in the nuts. Well, you can't do that. That should 252 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:10,839 Speaker 1: be a suspension. Come on, dude. Um. And now it's 253 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 1: interesting because the second biggest story is that number one 254 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 1: team in the West, memphisis two Sacramentos three. The number 255 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:18,320 Speaker 1: one team in the West is Denver, and they're starting 256 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: to get some separation. They went into Golden State and 257 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: blitz the Warriors. Folks, I listen, I know Draymond Green 258 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 1: didn't play. I get it, Clay Thompson didn't play, But 259 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 1: I don't know if you're ready for this Yoki stat line. 260 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 1: And there is a push among the stat heads and 261 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 1: the NBA twitter nerds to get Yoki another m v 262 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:49,439 Speaker 1: P two sixteen assists and fourteen boards. And it's funny 263 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 1: because when I, you know, we had to discussion with 264 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 1: Mitch Lawrence the other day on the pod, and I 265 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:55,559 Speaker 1: heard from some of you, Hey, wait, way to bite 266 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: your tongue when Mitch Lawrence is saying that the lebron 267 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 1: title doesn't count as a full title. Listen, Mitch Lawrence 268 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:03,319 Speaker 1: knows a lot about the NBA's covered the league for 269 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:05,439 Speaker 1: a while. I thought that was an awful take. Um. 270 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 1: I didn't want to, you know, you know, to call 271 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:08,599 Speaker 1: the guy out and get an argument with him. I 272 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: think you could have a nice reason conversation, which I 273 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: think we did. But I did say also like, who's 274 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: afraid of your Ki? And I also did balance it 275 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: out with listen, Yokich has already had a better career 276 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: than Patrick Ewing, who's on the shortlist of greatest centers 277 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: in the history of the sport. This guy, Yokich is 278 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: kind of sort of dominating right now, Like the passing 279 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: was ridiculous. Also Nuggets too, and oh against the Warriors 280 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: this season. I do believe the Warriors of the side 281 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: in a series, but healthy Jamal Murray, healthy Michael Porter Jr. 282 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: It's we're getting to the point for Golden States who 283 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 1: felt a twenty six and twenty six by the way, 284 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: it's always for them, one step forward, two steps back. 285 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 1: And I this is gonna sound terrible. I think it's 286 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: time to move off James Wiseman because when you think 287 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: about team building, and the Warriors have been built incredibly. 288 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: They're pivotal guys off the bench. Used to be like 289 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 1: andre Igu Dolla, Leandro Barbosa, the guys that would come 290 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: off and make winning place. And I want to go 291 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 1: off on a bit of a tangent because this is nerdy, 292 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 1: but I do believe it applies to the Warriors here 293 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: for sure. And again I liked the Cominka pick. I 294 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: like the Moody pick. We were expecting things from Weisman. 295 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: It hasn't happened. I would not be surprised if he's 296 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 1: traded here in the next six days leading into the deadline. 297 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: So you guys know, I have this wreck league basketball 298 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 1: team that that I put together. I'm like the GM. 299 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: You know, I I love hoops if I could listen, 300 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 1: if I if I want a fifty million dollar lottery tomorrow, 301 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 1: and I'm not working obviously, I'm trying to play hoops 302 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 1: two or three days a week that I find so 303 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 1: much fun in competing and just playing said awesome workout. 304 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 1: I like soccer. I'm not as good as I am 305 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: at basketball at soccer, and soccer is also just the injuries. 306 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 1: There's so much easier, it feels like. But at any rate, 307 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 1: so when I'm putting together this team for the league 308 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 1: last year, my number one thing is I want winning players. 309 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: That that isn't necessarily the best players. So when like 310 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 1: James Wiseman's coming out of high school, James Wiseman looks 311 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 1: like I mean, he looks like he's chiseled from Grantite. 312 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: Look at the guy's body is like a nineteen year old, 313 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: huge rip seven footer who runs like the wind dunk 314 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 1: sla like he's honest, I mean, he looks the part. 315 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: But finding a winning player is very, very difficult, and 316 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 1: that's a problem a lot of these NBA teams have like, 317 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: you can find good players, you can find some uh 318 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 1: put star potential guys, but can you find winning players? 319 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 1: And so when I'm building our rec league team, obviously 320 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: I know a lot of guys because I've been playing 321 00:16:57,280 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: basketball here. Uh we play up pick up at the 322 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 1: Clippers old facility. And you could identify winning players easily. 323 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 1: If you come down the court and you go tendribles 324 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: between the legs behind the back trying to get by 325 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 1: somebody and you do a no pass possession and you 326 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 1: take a shot that I don't want you on my team. 327 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:18,040 Speaker 1: That's not my kind of guy. I don't think. I 328 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: don't feel that as a winning basketball player. So when 329 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:24,680 Speaker 1: I'm building our team, we got guys who drill it up, 330 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 1: pass and screen the opposite way. I'm talking straight up 331 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: fundamental stuff. Screen off the ball, that's a huge win. 332 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: Talking on defense, that's a winning player move. I'm gonna 333 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: mention a winning player in the NBA who went in 334 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:41,120 Speaker 1: the draft last year. I guarantee you, uh you guys 335 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 1: have not heard of this guy. Um so, and I'll 336 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: never forget the game where I would notice it, because 337 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 1: I you know, I watch some sec I'm not gonna 338 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: pretend like I'm watching the SEC Network in January and February. 339 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 1: I'm gonna keep it real with you guys, in authentic. 340 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 1: I like college basketball. I bet on college basketball last 341 00:17:57,280 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 1: night to know how about that two and O off 342 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: the floor A win? Totally have erased that clunker. The machine, 343 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: I I full credit. The machine is the one that 344 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:07,879 Speaker 1: gave us the O and three the other night. Um 345 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 1: no machine the last two days. Fox Sports Radio has 346 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 1: the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all 347 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 1: of our shows at Fox sports Radio dot com and 348 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: within the I Heart Radio app search f s R 349 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 1: to listen live at any rate. I watched some college 350 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: basketball in jinior in February on the SEC Network. There's 351 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 1: a guy by the name of Jalen Williams who went 352 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:33,160 Speaker 1: to Arkansas, and I knew he was a good player, 353 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 1: pick and pop uh like kind of not a chubby 354 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:40,399 Speaker 1: like six ten guy, but a brawny not quite beefy 355 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 1: good player. And then he faces chet Home Grin in 356 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:50,719 Speaker 1: the n c A Tournament and I don't know if 357 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 1: you remember the drew to me chet Home Grin against 358 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: Arkansas game famously, you know I had Gonzaga in the 359 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 1: Cow cuta and you know, Gonzaga got bound. So that 360 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 1: cost a lot of money. Thankfully, Kansas won the whole 361 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 1: thing and we still made money at anyway, Jalen Williams 362 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: is like a beefy forward, brawny beef whatever you want 363 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 1: to say, for Arkansas. And in that game against Gonzaga, 364 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:19,679 Speaker 1: if you go and watch it on YouTube, who is 365 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:25,360 Speaker 1: making plays for Arkansas on the front court, whether it's defensively, passing, 366 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,119 Speaker 1: stepping out and hit in the three, it's this guy 367 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 1: Jalen Williams. He had fifteen and twelve three assists, totally 368 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:34,640 Speaker 1: outplayed chet Homebrun and you could argue he went toto 369 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: toe with Drew Timmy, who's really really really good college player. 370 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 1: Timmy had five turnovers in that one. So I remember 371 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:42,680 Speaker 1: that game, and then you know, I do mock drafts 372 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:45,399 Speaker 1: for Fox Sports, and I had Jalen Williams kind of 373 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:47,679 Speaker 1: like fringe first round at the end. I just you know, 374 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: you could see him not as like a Boris di oo, 375 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:55,400 Speaker 1: but in that mold. Okay, so take a guess who 376 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:58,119 Speaker 1: drafts this guy Jalen Williams. Well, it's a team that 377 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 1: loves to crush the draft. Oklahoma City Thunder, and again, 378 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,439 Speaker 1: I know nobody cares about Okay. See, although they have 379 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:09,399 Speaker 1: been playing well, uh three games under five, totally in 380 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 1: the mix for for a play in spot. And you 381 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 1: know who's been pretty good for them, guys, Jalen Williams. 382 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: He's a winning player. It's tough to come into the 383 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:24,919 Speaker 1: league at twenty years old and be an impact player. Now. 384 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 1: I know you look at the stats, JA, he's averaging 385 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:29,639 Speaker 1: four and four. He's twenty years old in a rookie 386 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:31,880 Speaker 1: in a second round pick. Do you know many second 387 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 1: round picks are in the G League right now? Guys, 388 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 1: this guy knows how to be a winner in limited 389 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 1: time and he was in the G League in limited 390 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 1: time shooting from deep and he's making plays. He's a 391 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 1: smart high i Q player. Now, to bring it back 392 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:51,119 Speaker 1: to my rec league, I look for winning players when 393 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 1: I'm playing pick up and it's not I'm not above saying, hey, dude, 394 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 1: we got we got a league. Um, you you ever 395 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 1: want to play with us? And I You'll get this 396 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:03,680 Speaker 1: guy to the team. I used to play a half 397 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 1: court game at this UM, at this Clippers facility, and 398 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: you know a bunch of guys I would play with 399 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 1: and I know a lot of them and we play 400 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: pick up and there's only two of them that I 401 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 1: have asked to come to this team. I mean, there's 402 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:17,399 Speaker 1: like a dozen of the guys. Some of them are 403 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,119 Speaker 1: really good. What two of them are better than the 404 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 1: guys that I've asked. But those guys are that are 405 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 1: better are not winning players. That's what I want. Winning players. 406 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:29,400 Speaker 1: You know who's a winning player? You ready, Alex Caruso. 407 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:32,159 Speaker 1: Here's a fun stat. So I go to NBA dot 408 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 1: com and I look up deflections. It's not like a 409 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:40,840 Speaker 1: huge stat. It's not offensive rebounds or blocks per forty 410 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 1: eight minutes or whatever. Deflection says you're active defensively. You 411 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 1: have one eye on the ball, one eye on the uh, 412 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,320 Speaker 1: on your on the guy you're defending. You know what's 413 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 1: going on. Deflections is a key stat. I'll read off 414 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:58,639 Speaker 1: a couple of guys at the top of deflections. Number one, 415 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 1: O g N and Obi, who is one of the 416 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,920 Speaker 1: most coveted guys here approaching the trade deadline. Three and 417 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: D Wing. You love to get some O g n 418 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:07,120 Speaker 1: And will be very good defender. I believe he played 419 00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 1: in Indiana. Alex Cruso second this may surprise you. Paul 420 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 1: George three, Paul George regular season Paul George is very 421 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:17,240 Speaker 1: very good. Let's just leave it at that. Kelly Ubre, 422 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:22,360 Speaker 1: that surprised me as uh. Fourth, Fred van Fleet certainly 423 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 1: a winning player. You don't get where you are being 424 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:28,640 Speaker 1: U What does he make a million a year at 425 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 1: under six ft playing at Wichita State. You don't get 426 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 1: here without doing that extra stuff. Deflections Jimmy Butler, next 427 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 1: de Jon to Murray Shagil, just Alexander Nicole Yokich like 428 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:44,080 Speaker 1: deflections is a great stat for winning players. For instance, 429 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 1: my son play in sixth grade hoops Direct League. Finally 430 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: after two years, Damn COVID shut it down. They the 431 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:55,640 Speaker 1: league's happening. And I talked to my son about who 432 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 1: we want on our team at the draft. And you know, 433 00:22:57,600 --> 00:22:59,680 Speaker 1: I listen, We've been playing pick up hoops at our house. 434 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:02,720 Speaker 1: I a lot of the sixth graders. We know who 435 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 1: the best players are, but we want winning player. You 436 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 1: know what a winning player is a good kid in 437 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 1: sixth grade, that's what a winning player is. And I 438 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:14,640 Speaker 1: know there's a bunch of dads who listen to this 439 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 1: and are in the league. And also coaching at their 440 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 1: kids around the country, because you guys tell me about 441 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:24,680 Speaker 1: on social media winning players. Your kids know the winners, 442 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: not just the guys who stay on all the time, 443 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 1: the guys who are nice, the guys who aren't ball hogs, 444 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 1: the guys who are friendly outside of the basketball court. 445 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:36,199 Speaker 1: And I would say chiefly the guys who listened. We 446 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:40,640 Speaker 1: have practice every week, um for for my son's team, 447 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:44,679 Speaker 1: and attendance is great except for one kid who goes 448 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:46,439 Speaker 1: to different school and it's really tough for him to 449 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:50,800 Speaker 1: make the practice on time. But there's nobody screwing off. 450 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:52,560 Speaker 1: And I've got to say, okay, you guys gotta run. 451 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: You're not listening, or there's none of that, none of it. 452 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 1: The kids are really good, and of course we're undefeated 453 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: and probably the best team in the league. Winning players, 454 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:05,119 Speaker 1: to me matters a lot. And I go on this 455 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,359 Speaker 1: winning players rant because I look at the Warriors bench 456 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:12,680 Speaker 1: and I just don't know if they have enough winning players. 457 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,239 Speaker 1: I mean, Jonathan Comingo to me is kind of in 458 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:18,640 Speaker 1: that bucket, but I don't know that they trust him. 459 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 1: I don't think Wiseman is. I like Moses Moody a lot, 460 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 1: very good player, in college. He's not there yet. So 461 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: can you run it back with the Warriors in the 462 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:32,160 Speaker 1: playoffs without any winning players coming off the bench providing 463 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 1: huge pop and key minutes. Dante de Vincenzo I like him. 464 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 1: Can he be that guy? He's kind of new to 465 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 1: the team, tied Jerome kind of falls in that bucket 466 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:44,639 Speaker 1: former uv a kid, And I'll wrap up this little 467 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: mini winning player rant with one. I've got a question 468 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:49,879 Speaker 1: about guys. I do not have the answer, and I 469 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:53,440 Speaker 1: know when I mentioned his name, you guys are gonna 470 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 1: instantly say, no winning player. So currently the Chicago Bulls 471 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:03,640 Speaker 1: are fading in the East. They are tent narrowly out 472 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:08,360 Speaker 1: of the Pacers, behind the Wizards. They're not as good 473 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:12,680 Speaker 1: as the Hawks, and they're not catching the calves nets heat. Okay, 474 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: so the Bulls are like, damn, what are we gonna do? 475 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 1: Salary cab future, Like this isn't working. We gave it 476 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:23,160 Speaker 1: a shot, made the playoffs, and uh, let's move on. 477 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:28,639 Speaker 1: So I mentioned to you Zach Levine, who no cap 478 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:34,359 Speaker 1: as my kid likes to say, had the best NBA 479 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 1: slam dunk contest performance that I've ever seen. And yes, 480 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:41,720 Speaker 1: I do remember vaguely. The Michael Jordan Dominique Showdown that 481 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 1: was amazing, but the Zach Levine Space Jam Dunk contest 482 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:51,919 Speaker 1: was off the charts. I've watched it on YouTube more 483 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 1: than any other dunk contest I've ever watched. I was 484 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:59,760 Speaker 1: obsessed with it. There's something about Zach Levine. He looks cool, 485 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 1: and he looks effortless sinking threes. I love to bring 486 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 1: him up with these gabrones online who are like, come on, 487 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 1: You've got to respect these guys who played in the sixties, 488 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 1: And I just I brought it up a lot. I'm like, 489 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 1: so you look at zach Lavine. Now, you transport him 490 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:21,840 Speaker 1: into the sixties when there was like twelve teams or 491 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 1: thirteen teams. Zach Levine is averaging game. There is nothing 492 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:28,639 Speaker 1: he can't do on a basketball court, unless you want 493 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:31,679 Speaker 1: to say stay healthy. He's had some injuries, but he 494 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:35,119 Speaker 1: is an awesome talent. And I'll ask you this, Lakers fans. 495 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:40,920 Speaker 1: Is Zach Lavine a winning player? And I don't think 496 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: you can automatically say no. And here's why he's been 497 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 1: on trash teams. Came into the league at nineteen, really 498 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:48,879 Speaker 1: young kid out of U C. L A and he 499 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:51,840 Speaker 1: had to go to Minnesota. He's just just trash franchise, 500 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 1: total garbage. Then he goes to Chicago and we know 501 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:58,520 Speaker 1: the Chicago franchise has since Jordan's left, has just been 502 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 1: utter chaos. Yeah, he's never been on a winning team, 503 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:06,880 Speaker 1: and by winning, I mean going anywhere. So I click 504 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:11,680 Speaker 1: on playoffs on Basketball Reference and I'm like, oh my gosh. 505 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:14,840 Speaker 1: Last year was the first year zach Lavine has made 506 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: the playoffs. Now, this is where it gets interesting. Zach 507 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:23,000 Speaker 1: Lavine has been the number one guy probably on his 508 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 1: last five years he's been in the league, on his teams, 509 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:28,400 Speaker 1: on these bad Bulls teams. I mean it's five straight 510 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 1: years he's averaged twenty three or more points. A guy 511 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 1: can get buckets, we know that. But he's not a 512 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:40,919 Speaker 1: number one. He's not. And that's okay. As Laker fans, 513 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:44,159 Speaker 1: can you see Zach Levine, we don't know if he's 514 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 1: a winning player or not. Coming to the Lakers and 515 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:50,679 Speaker 1: going from being a number one in Chicago to suddenly 516 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 1: being well, Lebron's one eight d S two, so that 517 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:03,080 Speaker 1: Zach Lavine will be three, and folks, I think that's 518 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:06,400 Speaker 1: a perfect spot for a guy like Zach Levine, no pressure, 519 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 1: sinks of threes. You're gonna be open and hustle your 520 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 1: butt off. I think the Lakers really really need to 521 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:17,359 Speaker 1: make a move to bring on zach Levine. It's gonna 522 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:21,679 Speaker 1: cost him probably the two picks, probably Beverley, probably Westbrook. 523 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 1: It will be the last bullet you can fire at 524 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 1: ahead of the deadline. You can go big with zach Levine, 525 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 1: or you can do you know, in another middling trade 526 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 1: and get bow Yon Bogdanovich. I'll say, right now, zach 527 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 1: Levine only turns. I looked it up. What is Yeah, 528 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 1: zach Levine turns twenty eight in March. He doesn't have 529 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:45,840 Speaker 1: a lot of tread on his tires. He has a 530 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 1: lot of injuries. He's only been in the playoffs once. 531 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 1: That I know you're gonna be always not built for it. Guys, 532 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:54,640 Speaker 1: just stop. Matt Stafford had no playoff wins first year 533 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 1: in the playoffs with the Rams. They get to the 534 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 1: super Bowl and win it, like, let's settle down now. 535 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 1: In the end, be a I think of a guy 536 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:04,800 Speaker 1: like C. J. McCollum, who was a really, really, really 537 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:07,440 Speaker 1: good number two to Dame in Portland. They got to 538 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: the conference finals once, but that was it, that was 539 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:14,200 Speaker 1: their ceiling. C J McCollum is now a three with 540 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:17,680 Speaker 1: the Pells, and I know, despite their recent slide, with 541 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:20,840 Speaker 1: a healthy Ingram and a healthy Zion, c J is 542 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 1: now your third guy. As a third guy, c J 543 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:27,360 Speaker 1: McCollum is deadly and there is some value in that. 544 00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:31,960 Speaker 1: C J. McCollum. I love him as a three. I 545 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 1: liked him as a two. I love him as the three. 546 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 1: Zach Levine liked him as a one. Love him as 547 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:38,040 Speaker 1: a three. I don't think there's a better three in 548 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:40,880 Speaker 1: the league. And by three, I mean like third best player, 549 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:46,120 Speaker 1: third scoring option. Remember Drew Holiday, wasn't he number two? Two? 550 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:48,880 Speaker 1: I think it was a d in New Orleans and 551 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:50,760 Speaker 1: they kind of had a ceiling for a second round. 552 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 1: Drew Holiday goes to Milwaukee, he's he's number three, and 553 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:55,320 Speaker 1: all of a sudden he's, Oh, this guy's making please 554 00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 1: look at it, Drew Hollett. There's less pressure, So you 555 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 1: guys can take a crap on Zach Levin. All you 556 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:01,960 Speaker 1: want to say, Oh, he's never want anything. I don't 557 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:06,840 Speaker 1: think he's a winning player. Circumstances are so crazy, guys, 558 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 1: where you go from everything's on you every night. You 559 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:13,400 Speaker 1: gotta carry the scoring load. I know Derosin has kind 560 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:15,960 Speaker 1: of shifted that a little bit. FU ain't that guy? 561 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:18,960 Speaker 1: And then all of a sudden you're like, Okay, Lebron 562 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:20,360 Speaker 1: a d you guys run the show, let me know 563 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:22,240 Speaker 1: what to do, let me know where you need me. 564 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:24,960 Speaker 1: And then now you can have Reeves and Walker coming 565 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:26,960 Speaker 1: off the bench, and you've got some juice and some legs. 566 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 1: Levine could play some heavy minutes, you play zach Lavine 567 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 1: and Anthony Davis, Lebron takes the night off. Come on, 568 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:37,240 Speaker 1: come on, you could go big with zach Lavine, or 569 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 1: you can, you know, try one of these middling moves 570 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:43,040 Speaker 1: that may or may not do something. If I'm the Lakers, 571 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:45,720 Speaker 1: there's no doubt about it. I've got a swing for 572 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:49,160 Speaker 1: the fences and bring on zach Lavine. And I don't 573 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:51,239 Speaker 1: know that that makes him the favorites. I think, you know, 574 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 1: in the West, I think people are still gonna favor 575 00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:55,520 Speaker 1: Denver a little bit. But I mean the matchups for 576 00:30:55,560 --> 00:31:00,200 Speaker 1: the Lakers aren't bad. Anthony Davis against your kitch, I 577 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:03,120 Speaker 1: don't really. I guess Aaron Gordon kind of on Lebron 578 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:09,600 Speaker 1: Jamal Murray. You gotta find a lockdown guard day. It 579 00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:13,840 Speaker 1: ain't Dennis Shrewder, but I think the Lakers certainly enhance 580 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 1: their chances. And oh, by the way, you need another 581 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:19,920 Speaker 1: wing if you were to face the Clippers in the playoffs. Now, 582 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 1: I don't know that Zach Lavine can lock down Paul George, 583 00:31:23,640 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: but you need a wing because Russell Westbrook garden Paul George. 584 00:31:27,160 --> 00:31:29,920 Speaker 1: All right, that's just not happening. I think the Lakers 585 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:32,360 Speaker 1: need to go big or go home, and this is 586 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 1: the week for it. Six days to the trade deadline. 587 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:38,680 Speaker 1: Make something happen. Except for this week, guys, We'll talk 588 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:39,920 Speaker 1: to you on Monday.