1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 1: This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What is up 2 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 1: straight Fire? Fam, It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight Fire for Tuesday, 3 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: July sixth. Hope everybody had a phenomenal July fourth weekend. 4 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: I'm sure some of you are upset no podcast Jason 5 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: on a Monday. Were you big time on us now? 6 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: Not doing a July four holiday podcast? What's up with that? Well? 7 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: You know? Um, I the plan initially was maybe to 8 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: do one. Rob and I were talking about it, and 9 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: then your boy had a few too many um vodka 10 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:46,919 Speaker 1: SODA's on Sunday. Ended up taking a nap in the 11 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: middle of the afternoon, a little too much sun and 12 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: day drinking. I hadn't done it in a while post Hawaii. 13 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: Tried to chill back with the alcohol and start to 14 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: work out hard to get back on that summer grind, 15 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: and um, I just had too much to drink. Was 16 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: kind of took a nap, then went to see some 17 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: fireworks and I was texting Robin like, listen, I don't know, man, 18 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 1: can we can we just can we not do one? 19 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: He's like, it's a holiday, man, of course we don't 20 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: have to do one. I was like, yes, Like you know, 21 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: sometimes you just need to take a day and do 22 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 1: some day drinking. So we had a fun, safe July four. 23 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 1: It was actually a pretty great weekend all around. I 24 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 1: will say this, I do have my mind on something 25 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:28,839 Speaker 1: else besides the NBA Finals and um, boys and girls. 26 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: Both my kids start Summer League basketball this week, and uh, 27 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: we're meeting the teams tonight, Yes, tonight. Very excited for that. 28 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 1: I think I've talked about this. I'm not coaching for 29 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: the first time in the summer. I want my kids. 30 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: You know. I hadn't been doing some coaching throughout the pandemic. 31 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: We called the pandemic buckets at my house out here 32 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: in California. And I'm just a little drained from it. 33 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: And let someone else take the reins. I'll be the videographer, 34 00:01:54,520 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: slash um assistant to the assistant regional manager. Um, what's 35 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: the corner guy who's always pumping up the troops? Come on, 36 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: we got this, We got you know. I'm so very connected. 37 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 1: So um when I got my daughter a new basketball Um, 38 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: you know, very excited for the league. So I'll be 39 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: focused on that and listen, there is a bit of 40 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: a brain drain on the NBA Finals, Like people are 41 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 1: checked out. You know. I talked to Rob about potential guests. 42 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 1: He's like, yeah, that guy's on vacations. Guy, I think 43 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: he's on vacation. It's like, Bro, it's the NBA Finals. 44 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: Oh wait, it's the Sons and Bucks. So we will 45 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 1: do a little preview, um, more gambling centric than anything, 46 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: because you know, when you've got a team that hasn't 47 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 1: been to the finals since and the other since nineteen 48 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: seventy four, well you can understand it if there aren't 49 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: a million fans clamoring for this matchup. Um, so we're 50 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: actually gonna do that. Second in the podcast, UM, I 51 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 1: have a topic. I don't know if many of you 52 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 1: are gonna like it a little out of many of 53 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: your comfort zones. But it used to be near and 54 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: dear to my heart. But my my stat that got 55 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: me a little disappointed about the NBA Finals. Are you ready? 56 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: For the first time in a decade, the NBA Finals 57 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: will not feature Lebron James or Stephen Curry ten straight years. 58 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: I had to. I was stunned. Somebody said this to 59 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 1: me on text. I was like, what, so I go 60 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: look this up? Okay, Uh, Lebron last year, year before that, Curry, 61 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 1: and then you know the eight prior Lebron, Uh and Curry, 62 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 1: and it was I mean every year these two have 63 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 1: dominated the league. I know everybody wants to say Kevin 64 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: Durant the best player, and he's clothes. He's amazing. You know, 65 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: I'm a big fan. Curry and Lebron have dominated this 66 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 1: sport for a decade. I don't know if it's quite 67 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: messy and Ronaldo, but the fact of the matter is 68 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: in the championship the last decade, Lebron or Curry were 69 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 1: representing the finals. That is domination. You don't see that 70 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: in the NFL. You don't Peyton Manning and he had 71 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: great runs ten straight years. One of these two in 72 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: the finals. I know NBA is a little different than 73 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: the NFL, but nevertheless, so I am a little down about. Um. 74 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: You know, none neither of those two stars in the 75 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: in the championship, but there are a lot of gambling opportunities. 76 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: I have gone four and over my last four plays, 77 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:21,039 Speaker 1: closing out the Bucks and the Suns, so up to 78 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 1: fifty in the playoffs. Not a great run like last year. Um, 79 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: but I do feel good about the finals I think 80 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: I've got some things that other people haven't seen. But 81 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 1: before we preview the finals, there was a story on 82 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: July four in the New York Times that sent shock 83 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 1: waves throughout sports media. Now, I know a lot of 84 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: people could probably care less about the inner workings and 85 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: sports media, but if you guys know my history, um, 86 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: I was working at a newspaper in New Jersey and 87 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:57,040 Speaker 1: I kind of realized that it was like, just as 88 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 1: newspapers were losing relevance and the Internet was popping, I 89 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 1: decided to start a blog. So I leave the newspaper, 90 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: going to magazines full time job at a magazine. On 91 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: the side, I started a blog. And of course at 92 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: the time, I was like, you're starting what what? What 93 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,679 Speaker 1: the hell's a blog? It was like two thousand and six. 94 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: I was like, I'm just gonna, you know, put up 95 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 1: my pithy sports opinions, um my, my takes, my drafts, 96 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 1: my ranking players lists. You know, we were early on 97 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: this and this I popped and I realized what was 98 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 1: crushing was inside sports media gossip, who was moving where, 99 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 1: who didn't like who? You know, that stuff really resonated. 100 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: And the reason is because now nobody else was doing that. 101 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: You know, dead Spin did a little bit of that, 102 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:48,919 Speaker 1: but they I think they tried to be too cool 103 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 1: with their original guy in there. Um And I was 104 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,719 Speaker 1: like reporting on this stuff because I was doing the 105 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: blog anonymously, so people really wanted to like, Oh, let's 106 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 1: find out who's here, So they were just emailing me 107 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: and I'd see their name. I'm like, holy cow, there's 108 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: a big name. And I started to break a lot 109 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: of stories and sports media was my trojan horse, if 110 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 1: you will, into FS one. I started that everybody at 111 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: ESPN and that Fox was reading me. I gotta interview 112 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 1: at ESPN, sat in the room with Skipper, met all 113 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,559 Speaker 1: the people there, we had some talks. This was way 114 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 1: back twenty fift um. The website had been sold, and 115 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,280 Speaker 1: you know, I knew some people at ESPN and things 116 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:40,039 Speaker 1: were looking decent there, like it might happen. And then 117 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 1: of course Fox decided their starting FS one, and a 118 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: bunch of people left ESPN to go to Fox. And 119 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: those are the same people who wanted to bring me in, 120 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,919 Speaker 1: So they ended up bringing me to FS one. Fast 121 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 1: forward to this weekend big story in the New York Times, 122 00:06:54,920 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 1: The headline a disparaging video prompts explosive fallout within ESPN. 123 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:05,359 Speaker 1: Now there are topics that can be too radioactive to touch. Jason, 124 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: are you sure you want to do this? Are you 125 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: sure you want to talk about two women fighting at 126 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: ESPN over NBA coverage potentially racist racial comments from Rachel Nichols, 127 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: who is white, about Maria Taylor, who is not white, um, 128 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: and like, do you really want to get into that? Well, 129 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: I think there's a couple of interesting angles to it, um. 130 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: And I will never ever forget this. But many many 131 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: years ago, First of all, I don't know Maria Taylor, 132 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: never met her. I do know Rachel Nichols a little bit, 133 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: not not well. I do not text her. Uh. And 134 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: as a matter of fact, the last time I saw her, 135 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: she did not acknowledge my presence. Um. It was at 136 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: the NBA All Start weekend out here in l A. UM. 137 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: I was meeting up with a buddy, Adrian will Gnarowski, 138 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: and he was texting me with, uh, we have the 139 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: same agent. Um. And they were at a dinner and 140 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: a bunch of people were there and they're like, hey, 141 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 1: come meet us at the dinner and then we'll go 142 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: to this party. So they leave the dinner, and of 143 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 1: course this huge entourage walks out. I see Whoad talking now, 144 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: you know, I look and other people, Um, I don't 145 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 1: know rob g. What's the guy's name who's on with 146 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: Jalen Roses? Jalen and Jacoby? What's Jacoby's last name? Jacoby? 147 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: What his last name is Jacoby? What's his first name 148 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 1: is it? Dave? Dave? Okay, Dave Jacoby? So I like 149 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 1: didn't know him. He's in their crew, but I knew 150 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: of him, you know, And he was like, oh, ship 151 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: the big league, got what's up? So, you know, I 152 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: talked to who would you talk to? David Jacoby? Other people. 153 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: Rachel Nichols right there does not acknowledge me. We're in elevator. 154 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 1: He doesn't even say anything. So I'm not I didn't 155 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 1: say anything. I'm not gonna be like, hey, how are 156 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 1: you rape? You know? So I don't have anything with 157 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: either of these two, okay. Um, And this story really 158 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 1: is fascinating because I was texting a lot of a 159 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: lot of people in sports media, whether you uh know 160 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: them or don't. This story is going to have a 161 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: couple of major losers and there will be significant fallout 162 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 1: from Um. I will say, the first thing that I 163 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 1: got that was interesting was um Petaro, who's running ESPN 164 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: is going to need the jaws of life to survive 165 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: this disaster. Essentially, if you haven't read the New York 166 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: Times story, Rachel Nichols went to the Bubble last summer 167 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 1: to cover the Bubble, UH and the NBA Playoffs. She 168 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: was the NBA Countdown host, you know, and that that's 169 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: the show before the game that you know nobody. It's 170 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 1: not as good as the Charles Barkley Show with Ernie 171 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 1: and Shack and all those guys, but it's a show 172 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: before the ESPN uh NBA Finals. And Rachel Nichols had 173 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 1: been doing that for a while. I was in a 174 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:44,719 Speaker 1: contract and all of a sudden she gets to the 175 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 1: Bubble and given the I guess climate is the word, 176 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: given a climate around America and what was happening at 177 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 1: the time. For whatever reason, ESPN made the decision to 178 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: move Maria Taylor into the host of Countdown, and of 179 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 1: course Rachel Nichols was not happy that was her job. Um. 180 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: And so in the Bubble, Rachel Nichols was in her 181 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: hotel room and of course you have cameras in your 182 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 1: room that you, you know, do your hits from And 183 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: Rachel Nichols was off camera but didn't realize her camera 184 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 1: was still recording and the feed was live, and she 185 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 1: was on the phone with someone who, um, you know, 186 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 1: is in I don't can I say he's in Lebron 187 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:32,079 Speaker 1: James's circle. I think he runs UM, I don't want 188 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: to say pr for Lebron's group, but he is. His 189 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: name is Adam Mendelssohn. He's a longtime advisor of Lebron 190 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: and Rich Paul, so he's in that crew. And Rachel 191 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 1: Nichols is talking to him about the situation with Maria Taylor, 192 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:51,839 Speaker 1: and you know, she makes some comments that depending on uh, 193 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 1: your point of view, and Rob and I have discussed this, 194 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 1: we kind of see them slightly different. But this is 195 00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 1: what Rachel Nichols said. I wish Maria Taylor all the 196 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: success in the world. She overs football, she covers basketball. 197 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 1: If you need to give her one more thing to do, 198 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: or you need to give her more things to do 199 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: because you are feeling pressure about your crappy long time 200 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 1: record on diversity, which, by the way, I know personally 201 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:15,679 Speaker 1: from the female side of like, go for it, just 202 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: find it. Somewhere else. You're not going to find it 203 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: from me or taking my thing away. So she's saying 204 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 1: a lot there, right, She's saying, Yeah, ESPN, you guys 205 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,319 Speaker 1: have screwed up and being done diversity very poorly over 206 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: the years. I get it. Just don't take don't give 207 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,679 Speaker 1: Maria Taylor something out of my plate, don't have her 208 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 1: eat mine. And of course that's what ESPN did. And 209 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 1: depending on how you view the comments, you either think, oh, 210 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: Rachel Nichols is racist, or Rachel Nichols hates Maria Taylor 211 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 1: or something else. Now, I guess my big takeaway is 212 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 1: it's a shoulder shrug, no big deal. But the problem 213 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:57,959 Speaker 1: is that you know she was being recorded because her 214 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 1: camera was live. Multiple people, I guess saw the feed 215 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: coming through at ESPN. Somebody put on the recording on 216 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 1: their phone and then they started to send it around. 217 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 1: Somebody sent it to Maria Taylor, people said it to 218 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 1: ESPN heads blah blah blah, and it's like WHOA Nelly, 219 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 1: And all of a sudden, it's just these two hate 220 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: each other, and um, Maria Taylor felt like she was 221 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:24,200 Speaker 1: being aggrieved and rob I guess from there, I don't 222 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:25,840 Speaker 1: want to go down in the next six months of 223 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 1: what happened between these two. But that being said, it 224 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 1: feels like both of these want the job. I don't 225 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 1: think you can split the baby and say, Rachel you 226 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:39,840 Speaker 1: take Tuesdays and Maria you take Friday. You know, I 227 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 1: don't know that that's gonna work. Um, And I can't 228 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: find a resolution other than getting completely radical and saying, 229 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: you know what, I don't care. This is what we're doing, 230 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 1: and we're gonna have two hosts. We're gonna have you 231 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 1: to share it. And that just seems dumb and I 232 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 1: haven't fully thought that through, But could you see a 233 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 1: scenario where they both share it because somebody's gotta get it. 234 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: There's going to be a winner and a loser here. 235 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 1: And Maria Taylor, of course, is in the middle of 236 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: contract negotiations, her deals up during the finals, and according 237 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:14,520 Speaker 1: to multiple outlets, The New York Post and Sports Business 238 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: Journal and all this, she wants like seven million dollars 239 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 1: a year, which is insane. Um, like three people in 240 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: sports media make anywhere near that. You know, two guys 241 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:27,959 Speaker 1: I know obviously who work at this one and Stephen A. 242 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 1: Smith and now Maria Taylor who hosts a couple of 243 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 1: shows wants that kind of money. Rob, I'll let you 244 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: take it from there. Thanks dude, appreciate that. Um, I 245 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: agree with you. There is not going to be a 246 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,319 Speaker 1: winner in this unless you think that Maria Taylor is 247 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 1: gonna win, because I think she's going to secure the 248 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: bag in a big way. I think, And you can 249 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: you understand how this works, not just in sports media, 250 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 1: but in any line of work, whether that's professional sports, 251 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 1: whether it's news, whether it's local government. Certain stories get 252 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 1: leaked at certain times to benefit one side or the other. 253 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 1: And we saw maybe a week ago was when we 254 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:13,719 Speaker 1: found out that Maria Taylor was looking for an eight 255 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 1: million dollar a year salary and they offered her five, 256 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: which was still a huge raise considering where she was at, 257 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 1: and she turned it down. So immediately you saw all 258 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: of these well, oh my god, Maria Taylor, how because 259 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: she asked for this much money. She's not Stephen A. Smith, 260 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: Nobody's worth that kind of money outside of you know, 261 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: two or three people. And then three days later you 262 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: have the bombshell come out from New York Times, which 263 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 1: apparently dead's been had first, but they decided there was 264 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: nothing there, so they didn't report on it, and then 265 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: New York Times came in there and swooped on it. Um, So, 266 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 1: I think if you're gonna say there is going to 267 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: be a winner, I think she is going to be 268 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 1: the winner, because I don't believe ESPN is going to 269 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: be able to withstand the backlash that will come if 270 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 1: they don't get a deal done with her. Yeah. I 271 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 1: don't think she's gonna get the seven eight million that 272 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: she's looking for, but she will stay with ESPN. I 273 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: never you never want to be looking in somebody's pocket 274 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: and worry about what kind of money they're making. Hey, 275 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: if she can get that money, great. Fox Sports Radio 276 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 1: has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch 277 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 1: all of our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot com 278 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: and within the I Heart Radio app. Search f s 279 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 1: R to listen live. Do you remember Michelle Beatle? Yeah, 280 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 1: So we were friends back in the day, and um, 281 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: she had always made a point to tell me that 282 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 1: the worst people in the industry to her, the worst 283 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: people who treat her the worst or other women they did, 284 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: they were worse than any of the treatment she got 285 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 1: from guys. Women were the worst to her, And those 286 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: words stuck with me and you know, Beatle and I 287 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 1: ended up not you know, I don't talk to her, 288 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: I don't follow her anymore. Whatever. But she was able 289 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 1: to secure the bag, as you said, and got a 290 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 1: lot of money to host a show called Get Up 291 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 1: in the Mornings and with you know, within six months 292 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: they realized, oh, she doesn't really likes sports that much. Um, 293 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: this is not a good fit. Let's move on. UM, 294 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 1: and Michelle Batle left ESPN. I don't know what she's doing. 295 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: I have no idea. It's a it's a real it's 296 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: a tall order to host a couple of shows and 297 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 1: ask for five million dollars a year. UM. That being said, 298 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 1: Nichols has been there forever. She has a lot of 299 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 1: people in her corner. And at this point I would 300 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 1: just refer to the podcast we did a few weeks 301 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: back with Henry Abbott, who knows a little bit about 302 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 1: ESPN politics. Uh, if you guys remember that, UM, I 303 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: would check out that podcast. Super interesting stuff, Henry Abbott. Um, 304 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: I think it was in was it in June or May? 305 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: Maybe I might have been early June, early June. Yeah, 306 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: really good stuff. He he had seen the politics firsthand. UM, 307 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 1: politics happens everywhere. Good luck to Nichols and Maria Taylor 308 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 1: and Pataro, the president of espn UM. There's there's just 309 00:16:58,000 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: no way to come out of this one a winner. 310 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: It's there there. There will be collateral damage everywhere all 311 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 1: right now to what everybody actually cares about the NBA Finals, 312 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 1: And I did write up a piece for Fox sports 313 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,439 Speaker 1: dot com about how to bet the NBA Finals. I 314 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: will come out on the record and say right now, 315 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:20,680 Speaker 1: it is extremely difficult to make any series wagers or 316 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: m v P futures um given the fact that we 317 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 1: don't know if the best player in the series you 318 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: can play. You know, to be blunt, nobody has a 319 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:32,359 Speaker 1: damn clue if Janice is gonna play in Game one 320 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 1: or two or three at all. There's they're hopeful, but 321 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 1: the reality is I don't think he's gonna go anytime 322 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 1: early in the series. And even if he does, what 323 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: is you guys have to remember a guy like Janice 324 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 1: anything less than I don't want to say he's useless, 325 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 1: but he can't shoot to begin with, And if now 326 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:59,399 Speaker 1: his athleticism is limited because of the hyper extended knee, 327 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: what good is he can he move? Defensively on the 328 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: pick and roll. I I would guess no, offensively, you 329 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:10,199 Speaker 1: don't give him any shot outside of fifteen feet that 330 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:14,400 Speaker 1: he wants. So I it's difficult for me to envision 331 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: a path to success for the Bucks here. Frankly, I 332 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: would not be surprised by his son sweep. I think 333 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: sons in five makes sense, and pick and roll is 334 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:25,879 Speaker 1: going to be everything in the series because without Janice 335 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:29,719 Speaker 1: to defend it, you're not gonna be putting brook Lopez 336 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:32,359 Speaker 1: in the pick and roll. And do you guys remember 337 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 1: what happens when the Hawks did that to brook Lopez 338 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 1: in Game one? They said, oh, the Bucks and Buddenholder 339 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: are the worst ad Justin coach in the NBA the 340 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 1: last couple of years among good teams. Buns said, yeah, 341 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:44,880 Speaker 1: we're gonna drop on all pick and rolls of Trey Young. 342 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 1: And Trey Young had forty eight points in the first 343 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 1: game and the Hawks won forty eight. Drew Holiday was 344 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 1: guarding him, and they just went pick and roll based 345 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: basically every single play. Okay, Chris Paul is a better 346 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 1: shooter in the mid range and Trey Young, Trey Young's 347 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 1: like floater guy. Chris Paul is mid range jumper guy 348 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 1: who is one of the best midrange shooters. I don't 349 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 1: know in the league. I don't have stats to back 350 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: that up, but um, I surely would challenge anybody to 351 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:16,480 Speaker 1: find me guys who shot, you know, a certain amount 352 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 1: of shots and were better than Chris Paul. They can't 353 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: be many. He is one of the best in the 354 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 1: pick and roll. So I expect that early and often. 355 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:26,440 Speaker 1: I don't know if the if budenols are early adjusts 356 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 1: or say, yeah, we'll give it a game and see 357 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: what happens. And maybe they tried p J. Tucker at 358 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:35,439 Speaker 1: the five and then they go with Bobby Portis in 359 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:38,919 Speaker 1: the lineup and then no Lopez or Janie that that 360 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,199 Speaker 1: is an option. I it would not shock me if 361 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:42,920 Speaker 1: we saw a lot of p J. Tucker at center. 362 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 1: So I scoffed at Bobby Portis prop bets uh in 363 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: game six and I think for some reason it was 364 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:56,719 Speaker 1: sixteen and a half UM for his point total UM 365 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: and it was like how he had a career game 366 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 1: in game five. There is zero chance that he duplicates that. Uh, 367 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 1: I'll bet the under. And you know, Bobby Portis had 368 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 1: like zero baskets in the first half, and um, he 369 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:11,359 Speaker 1: was basically all around a nightmare until it became a 370 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 1: runaway track meet in the in the second half. And 371 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: Bobby Portis is able to eat at the foul line. 372 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 1: But listen, I'm not I don't think he's the guy 373 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:23,920 Speaker 1: who determines this series ultimately. Obviously Janice's health is everything. Um, 374 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:28,919 Speaker 1: But I there there who has the advantage in on 375 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: the bench with the Sons for sure. I mean they 376 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 1: have the better players on the bench, no doubt, especially 377 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 1: with the honest injury. Without Janice, who were the best 378 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:38,960 Speaker 1: four players in the series. I would go number one, 379 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:43,640 Speaker 1: Devin Booker. I would go number two Chris Paul. Yes, 380 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:45,880 Speaker 1: I would take both of them right now over Middleton 381 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: and Holiday and hell, I don't know. I mean DeAndre Ayton, 382 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 1: given the way he's been playing in the playoffs. The 383 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 1: guy faced Anthony Davis and then face the m V 384 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 1: P NICOLEA Yokis. Do you think he's nervous about Brook Lopez? 385 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:05,359 Speaker 1: I I just I don't see it. Um. Now, p J. 386 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:07,440 Speaker 1: Tucker is the kind of guy who can give him fits. 387 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:10,520 Speaker 1: Because p J. Tucker just I d g a f 388 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 1: for the young twenty one year olds. Out there. That's 389 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 1: p J. Tucker style. I'm gonna value and get in 390 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:17,719 Speaker 1: your face, and I'm not afraid to mix it up. 391 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:20,640 Speaker 1: He's Patrick Beverley with a conscience. Is that a nice 392 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:23,920 Speaker 1: thing to say? Rob? Like? Patrick Beverley's out here trying 393 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:25,680 Speaker 1: to hurt people. P J. Tucker's not outf you're trying 394 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: to hurt anybody, right? I would agree with that. And 395 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 1: I look at this matchups and I say, okay, well, 396 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 1: how are you guarding Booker? Holiday is gonna have to 397 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 1: guard Chris Paul? Okay, advantage Chris Paul? Who are you 398 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: putting on Booker? And then I texted someone. They were like, oh, 399 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:40,920 Speaker 1: it's got to be Middleton. I was like, wait, wait 400 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 1: a minute. Your two best guys are gonna be guarding 401 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: their two best players who are offensive juggernauts. What Middleton's 402 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:52,199 Speaker 1: gonna chase Devin Booker around screens and the pick and 403 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:55,920 Speaker 1: roll and then go and initiate offense? So I don't 404 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 1: know what am I missing here? Rob? I like the 405 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:02,680 Speaker 1: Son's convincingly here. Um. I think they've got the better bench. 406 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:06,159 Speaker 1: I think they've got the better backcourt. Uh nice, I 407 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:09,720 Speaker 1: don't see one advantage for the Bucks. Um. I will 408 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: note this, um in the postseason. The number one defensive 409 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: team in the league is in Milwaukee Bucks. And then 410 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:21,879 Speaker 1: he'll say, well, Jay, they played the Heat, who I 411 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:23,879 Speaker 1: did like in that series if you remember, ha ha ha. 412 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:28,159 Speaker 1: Then they played like the injured Nets and then they 413 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:30,439 Speaker 1: played the Hawks, of which what a game and a 414 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:34,720 Speaker 1: half or without Trede Young, the Bucks are the number 415 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 1: one defensive team. The Sons are number two. Okay, you 416 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 1: could just forget about the regular season matchups. They don't 417 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 1: matter at this point. Um. But when I say those 418 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 1: are the two best defensive teams, I say, no, Janice, 419 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:50,639 Speaker 1: I'm looking at the under. I saw it at to 420 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: eighteen uh to eighteen and a half. I would look 421 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 1: under in Sons in game one. UM, I like, I 422 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 1: like Devin Booker two pretty much roast whoever's guarding they 423 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: do they will in this series, Miss de Vincenzo, that 424 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 1: that is going to be a loss. Uh. Last series, 425 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,680 Speaker 1: it's like, oh, you don't have to guard Bogdanovich. By 426 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: the way, did you see what the Hawks did in 427 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 1: the final two games? All they did was bomb threes. 428 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: That's it. Without Trey Young, they were like, we're just 429 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 1: gonna jack a million threes, and they were actually able 430 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:24,119 Speaker 1: to hang a little tough. The Souns don't need to 431 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 1: do that because they know how to run offense. And 432 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 1: don't give me Trey Young played in the final game. 433 00:23:28,119 --> 00:23:31,120 Speaker 1: He was four of seventeen um over six from deep. 434 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:34,399 Speaker 1: That was not Trey Young, all right. I like the 435 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:37,480 Speaker 1: Sons would not be surprised by sweep. I'll give the 436 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 1: Bucks one game in casey Ana shows up, but give 437 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,159 Speaker 1: me the Sons, um m v P. I mean you 438 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 1: flip a coin, Chris Paul or Devin Booker. I mean, 439 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 1: I guess you could take a long shot on Eton, 440 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 1: but I don't know that that's happening. But I definitely 441 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 1: like the Son's Sons in the series. Fox Sports Radio 442 00:23:56,880 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 1: has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch 443 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:03,120 Speaker 1: all of our shows at Fox sports Radio dot com 444 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 1: and within the I Heart Radio app search f s 445 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 1: R to listen live. Way to go out on the 446 00:24:08,359 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 1: limb there, Jason, you know, I know that you're a 447 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 1: guy likes to go out on the limb, and you 448 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:16,119 Speaker 1: pick the chalkiest pick ever by going sons in five um. 449 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 1: But I will agree with you in this regard. There 450 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,800 Speaker 1: may not be a worst matchup for Milwaukee in the 451 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 1: playoffs than the Phoenix Suns. Not that the Guns are 452 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:27,439 Speaker 1: the best team that they would have faced or the 453 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,080 Speaker 1: most talented team they would have faced, but what they 454 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:34,200 Speaker 1: do better than anybody else in the league is attack 455 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 1: the creases and the mid range game. Between Booker and 456 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 1: Chris Paul, they live at the free throw line, you know, 457 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 1: and extended out to the three point in that little 458 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:45,120 Speaker 1: area of the floor. They do a lot of work. 459 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 1: And Milwaukee, for whatever reason in today's NBA, insists on 460 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,639 Speaker 1: running a drop defensive scheme. I know, they try to 461 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 1: mix it up a little bit. Sometimes they hedge pick 462 00:24:56,520 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 1: and roll things like that, but predominantly they like to 463 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:03,879 Speaker 1: have Briock Lopez out there for offensive spacing and on 464 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: defense he's dropping every pick and roll. So what you're 465 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: gonna have happen is Devin Booker and Chris Paul pulling 466 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 1: up right there at the elbow with the free throw line, 467 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:15,880 Speaker 1: with like five ft of space in front of them. 468 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:18,159 Speaker 1: And those two are two of the best midrange shooters 469 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 1: we have in the NBA right now. So I imagine 470 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:23,880 Speaker 1: that Phoenix is gonna win this series. I have them 471 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 1: in six, not because I think six, yes, and not again. 472 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 1: Everything you said it is true, even though I was 473 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:31,320 Speaker 1: joking with you about you being very chalky. That what 474 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 1: you said it's true. The problem, though, is with Phoenix 475 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 1: is some of the things that the Clippers exposed on 476 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 1: their defensive end with Paul George. Milwaukee can do the 477 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 1: same things with Chris Middleton, not as well, but they 478 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:48,119 Speaker 1: can do a lot of this. They they are the 479 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 1: similar mean, Paul George is a better version of Chris 480 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 1: Middleton's basically and homeless man. He's a homeless and Paul 481 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 1: George that not even poor. He's he's homeless. But we 482 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: saw Chris Middleton in Game six against Atlanta. He looked 483 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:06,560 Speaker 1: like Paul George. I mean, he was getting to his spots. 484 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 1: He's a big wing. He can handle the ball a 485 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:12,399 Speaker 1: little bit. And because everybody runs so much pick and 486 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:16,959 Speaker 1: roll or you know, there's no such thing as isolation 487 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 1: basketball in the playoffs, you're it's not gonna matter if 488 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 1: Jay Crowder starts, it's not gonna matter if if Macowbridge 489 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:25,359 Speaker 1: starts off on him. They're gonna match up Hunt and 490 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:28,000 Speaker 1: most likely it's gonna be Devin Booker and Devin Booker 491 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:29,919 Speaker 1: is just too small to really bother a shot. So 492 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:32,400 Speaker 1: it's just gonna matter whether or not you get good 493 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: Chris Middleton or bad Chris Middleton. And I think you're 494 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:41,639 Speaker 1: gonna get at least two good Chris Middleton gamest. Wow. Okay, Um, 495 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 1: you know here's a fun fact. So I knew Middleton 496 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:45,760 Speaker 1: was the second round pick. Did you know he was 497 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:50,240 Speaker 1: taken by Detroit? I did know that. I was stunned. 498 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: I saw that was like he spent a year in 499 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:54,919 Speaker 1: Detroit and then got shipped in Milwaukee. Um, there is 500 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 1: you're gonna hear this element. I'm gonna give you this 501 00:26:56,840 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 1: before it comes out. Oh, these are great finals because 502 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:05,400 Speaker 1: everybody's home grown, right Janice. I know they traded for Holiday, 503 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:12,520 Speaker 1: but Janice, you know, um, Devin Booker's homegrown, DeAndre Ayton's home. 504 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:15,200 Speaker 1: You can win through the draft and then this will 505 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:18,360 Speaker 1: become uh an indictment of super teams. You know that's 506 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 1: what we're headed, rob People love to bash the super teams. Um, 507 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 1: I'll just say this, I wish two super teams were 508 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 1: playing in the NBA Finals. I'm not gonna lie to you. 509 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 1: I wish they were two super I mean nets. I 510 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:31,960 Speaker 1: would love to see the nets here, I would I 511 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:34,560 Speaker 1: want to see stars. This is the NBA Finals, the 512 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:36,479 Speaker 1: pinnacle of the season. I want to see the best 513 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:39,160 Speaker 1: players and the best teams. We're robbed at that this year. 514 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 1: You know, it's we don't even know if I mean, 515 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:44,360 Speaker 1: like I said, people think that because they're in the final. 516 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:48,800 Speaker 1: We've seen a lot of puff pieces, ESPN, CBS, Fox, everybody. Oh, 517 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:50,840 Speaker 1: look at Chris Paul and and the way that he 518 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:53,679 Speaker 1: got to the NBA Finals, and and and Jannice. You know, 519 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 1: he's he's cementing his legacy with his finals run. And 520 00:27:57,680 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 1: it goes back to what you talked about last week 521 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:05,399 Speaker 1: when when Phoenix one against the Clippers, is we've already 522 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:07,680 Speaker 1: gotten to the point where no one's even mentioning that 523 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 1: both of them had arguably the easiest paths to the 524 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:14,520 Speaker 1: finals in the last decade. Yeah, the in the in 525 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:17,080 Speaker 1: the in the Son's case, probably ever, because every team 526 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:20,000 Speaker 1: that they faced was down at least one star. And 527 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 1: so it's disappointing as a basketball fan because they might 528 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 1: be the two best teams. We don't know. But the 529 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:30,680 Speaker 1: problem is we don't know because we never saw them 530 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:34,960 Speaker 1: face a legitimate full team and competition. Every time that 531 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:37,919 Speaker 1: I heard somebody say the Sons of one nine straight, right, 532 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 1: they beat the Lakers three, then they beat the Nuggets four, 533 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 1: and then they won the first two from the Sons 534 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:49,360 Speaker 1: of one nine straight, will time out like Anthony Davis 535 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:52,320 Speaker 1: went down. That's why they won those final three games. 536 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 1: Like we get that. I'm not not taking away from 537 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:56,640 Speaker 1: the Sons, That's just reality. Now to go back to 538 00:28:56,960 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 1: uh Rob's gassing up of his guy, Chris Middleton. Chris 539 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 1: Middleton against the Hawks in the first two games combined 540 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:09,880 Speaker 1: two of sixteen from deep, and he had fifteen points 541 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:12,960 Speaker 1: in each game. In the first two games in Brooklyn, 542 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 1: Chris Middleton a combined three or thirteen from three. He 543 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:19,640 Speaker 1: had a combined thirty points. Chris Middleton is a notoriously 544 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 1: slow starter. Do not I would say bet unders on Midlton, 545 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:26,040 Speaker 1: but I hate unders because if it goes over time, 546 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:30,040 Speaker 1: you're probably gonna lose it. Chris Middleton is a slow starter. 547 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 1: Just be careful. Remember I said that Okay on the 548 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:38,600 Speaker 1: road against Brooklyn, really sore his pants. At home against Atlanta, 549 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 1: really did not look good. I know he was good 550 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 1: in the final at thirty two. I know he was 551 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:48,479 Speaker 1: pretty good in Game seven against Brooklyn. Ten Um, just 552 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:53,800 Speaker 1: be weary of a homeless fans, Paul George. That's all 553 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 1: I'll say. Um, can you find Rob g Just two 554 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:00,440 Speaker 1: other questions? Can can the Bucks fire bo noals? Or 555 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:02,360 Speaker 1: if they lose this series four four O or four 556 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:07,480 Speaker 1: one no, which is a bad thing? I think I 557 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:10,360 Speaker 1: think that that. I think them beating Brooklyn is the 558 00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:11,520 Speaker 1: worst thing that could have happened to them in a 559 00:30:11,560 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 1: long term, because they gave them this idea that they're 560 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:17,640 Speaker 1: closer to a title than the way what they really are. Um. 561 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:19,360 Speaker 1: And even if they win the title this year, I 562 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:21,320 Speaker 1: still think they're not as close to actually being a 563 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:24,960 Speaker 1: title team, you know, because this is such a weird season. 564 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: You can't count on all of these teams that you're 565 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:31,520 Speaker 1: going through being hurt. Yeah, and you know, kudos to 566 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: these guys, you know, for staying relatively healthy and capitalizing 567 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:37,479 Speaker 1: on it. But either one of these teams could win 568 00:30:37,520 --> 00:30:40,360 Speaker 1: the championship. And I promise you that when the Vegas 569 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 1: lines come out for next season, none of them are 570 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:44,120 Speaker 1: better than like third or fourth best thoughts. And it's 571 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 1: it's funny because remember you know, the Miami Heat go 572 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 1: to the Bubble finals and I fell for itself. I'm 573 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:53,600 Speaker 1: not trading Tyler Hero for anything. Are you kidding me? 574 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:55,880 Speaker 1: I'm not giving up Tyler Hero for it. Was it 575 00:30:56,000 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 1: Janice or something? Forgot um kid ro you maybe I'll 576 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:06,400 Speaker 1: throw in duncan you know? And the Heat bubble was great. 577 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:09,040 Speaker 1: And then this year, you know, they struggled and they 578 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:11,440 Speaker 1: got swept in the first round and playoffs, and it's like, oh, 579 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 1: so can we get Kauai, can we get Dame? We'll 580 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:18,320 Speaker 1: give up anybody on the roster. You know, it's like 581 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:21,120 Speaker 1: you get blind and remember the Portland Trail buzzers and 582 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:24,320 Speaker 1: name they get to the conference finals. Sure there was 583 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: some luck involved, got very fortuitous. We got something here. 584 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:32,760 Speaker 1: We cannot break up Damon c J. Next year, losing 585 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 1: the first round and that was a bad series loss 586 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:38,000 Speaker 1: to the Nugs. Oh wait a minute, that was fool's gold. 587 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:40,520 Speaker 1: Let's fire the coach and let's see what else we 588 00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 1: can do to shake up this roster. So just don't 589 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 1: be like and Atlanta Hawks fans, you are the next 590 00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 1: test case for this. The Atlanta Hawks just went to 591 00:31:50,600 --> 00:31:53,480 Speaker 1: the conference finals. They were a little different because they 592 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:56,240 Speaker 1: were a little younger, but they had like the mid 593 00:31:56,280 --> 00:31:59,560 Speaker 1: season coaching change. I all of Cam Reddish, you know, 594 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:02,840 Speaker 1: it was incredible. In game six, Oh, they got up 595 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 1: with Cam Reddish and DeAndre Hunter was did not play, 596 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:07,840 Speaker 1: and he's very good. Yeah, they don't need John Collins. 597 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 1: Let's move on from him. And I think the Hawks 598 00:32:10,080 --> 00:32:13,600 Speaker 1: top five in the East next year. Just just you know, 599 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:18,280 Speaker 1: we've seen this movie before. Um, so I'm taking the 600 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:21,160 Speaker 1: sons in game one. I'm taking the under. I'm taking 601 00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 1: the over two and a half threes for d Book. 602 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 1: I think I'm gonna go over sixteen and a half 603 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:29,000 Speaker 1: points on DeAndre Ayton. I think he has a good game. Uh, 604 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,120 Speaker 1: and I'm going over nine and a half assist for 605 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:34,680 Speaker 1: Chris Paul Um a lot of sons there. I know, 606 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:36,600 Speaker 1: I know it's risky, but I don't know if you 607 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:38,480 Speaker 1: honest is playing. I guess we'll find out later today. 608 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 1: Also a programming note, if you're hearing this early enough, 609 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:44,040 Speaker 1: your boy's gonna be hosting The Dan Patrick Show again 610 00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:46,960 Speaker 1: with um. A gentleman by the name of LaVar Arrington, 611 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:49,959 Speaker 1: former Penn State great played for Washington. Good dude, We've 612 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:53,360 Speaker 1: worked together plenty on Undisputed on the radio, so that 613 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:56,440 Speaker 1: should be good. Check us out on the Dan Patrick Show, 614 00:32:57,080 --> 00:33:00,320 Speaker 1: UM later this morning. And uh, you guys in Joy 615 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:03,280 Speaker 1: Game one of the finals. Um, we'll talk to you 616 00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:06,920 Speaker 1: tomorrow m hm.