1 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 1: The volume. It's the Colin Coward Podcast presented by Fan Duel. 2 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: The NBA season kicking into gear Baby. No better place 3 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: to get in on the action than Fan Duel. FanDuel 4 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: app is safe. You get paid fast, A lot of 5 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: ways to play the spread, the money line, team totals, players, props, 6 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff over unders, jump into the action, 7 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: same game. Parlays are my favorite. Just use the promo 8 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: code Colin and download the Fan Duel app today. This 9 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 1: is Prime Cuts. The best of the Colin Coward Podcast. 10 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: Super Bowl in the Book's Baby. NFL insider Tyler Dunn 11 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 1: stop by details on what he's hearing in Buffalo trouble brewing, 12 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: the story behind Josh Allen his beef with Stefon Diggs. 13 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: Also so Hoops the night host Jason temp Katie to 14 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: the Son's AD's future lack there over the Lakers first though, 15 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:13,399 Speaker 1: my top takes of the week. All Right, So I 16 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: want to start with this. If I get upset with 17 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:24,680 Speaker 1: my kids or my wife and I express my disappointment, 18 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: the reason I do that is because I want to 19 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: be heard, and I want you to respond. I want 20 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:37,399 Speaker 1: some sort of visceral connection. I love you, I'm committed 21 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: to you. Are you committed to me? I want to 22 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:46,119 Speaker 1: be heard, and everybody wants to be heard. That's why 23 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 1: I've never taken criticism personally. If I don't want to 24 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: go to a restaurant anymore, I don't write them a letter. 25 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: I just stop going. When people really leave my show, 26 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 1: they just stop listening. They don't form me of it. 27 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: I thought it was interesting that the Super Bowl had 28 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:09,799 Speaker 1: its biggest rating in years. One hundred and thirteen million 29 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: people watched it, third most watched TV program in American history. 30 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: This comes, of course, after the boycott from Colin Kaepernick 31 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 1: taking a knee. All I heard for eighteen months and 32 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: the words used by all the boycotters I'll never watch 33 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 1: the NFL again. They didn't say they'd come back. Eventually, 34 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: they said I'll never watch it again. They all came back. 35 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: What are you going to do for twenty Sundays in 36 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: the fall? What do you guys, farmers? In the end, 37 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 1: it's the NFL. We bet it, we watch it, we 38 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,799 Speaker 1: love it. Many of us played it not particularly well, 39 00:02:55,480 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: but you wanted to be heard. Conservatives overwhelmingly wanted to 40 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: be heard. Remember when the CEO of Goya Foods. G 41 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 1: Oya Foods backed Donald Trump. There was a boycott. Liberals 42 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: were outraged by the comments, we are going to boycott 43 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: Goya Foods. Actually sales went up twenty two percent. In 44 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 1: the following weeks, Goya reported sales of some beans apparently 45 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: Goya loves their beans rose four hundred percent. I remember 46 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: when Kaepernick did that first Nike ad ooh. People wanted 47 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: to be heard. I will never buy Nike again. The 48 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: stock price at the time was sixty eight. It is 49 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: now eighty four percent higher at one hundred and twenty six. 50 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: Actually rose to almost one seventy. Nike's never been stronger. 51 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: NFL's never been stronger. Goya Foods is fine, by the way, 52 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: Because of the platforms, the number of platforms I'm on today, 53 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 1: I get more hate, more ugly comments, more threats, more 54 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: boycott tweets than ever before. January was my most watched, 55 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 1: most listen to, most downloaded month of my thirty year career. 56 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 1: And that's okay, yell scream, call me an idiot. People 57 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: want to be heard. Liberals wanted to be heard with 58 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 1: Goya Foods. Conservatives wanted to be heard with Kaepernick and Nike. 59 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,040 Speaker 1: In the NFL. That's why I don't take things personally. 60 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: When people really leave brands, restaurants, leagues, TV. By the way, 61 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: teens do not watch linear TV. Teenagers don't watch it. 62 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: It's down seventy four percent from I think like a 63 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 1: decade ago. You know what I've never received in the 64 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: history of social media, a teenager saying I'm no longer 65 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: watching linear TV. I'm out. They just leave. To all 66 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: my media brethren don't take the insults personally. Roger Goodell doesn't, 67 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: the CEO of Goya Foods doesn't. Phil Knight at Nike doesn't, 68 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: all of us. When you're connected to something, when you've 69 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: been a customer, a fan, of viewer, a listener, sometimes 70 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 1: you just pissed and want to be heard on the 71 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 1: same way. So Aaron Rodgers is about ready to go 72 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 1: on his darkness retreat for four days. According to reports 73 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 1: from legitimate sources, he's considering filming it little irony there, 74 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 1: an isolation trip. Hey, let's make sure the camera guy's 75 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: got it. The light guys over here. It's supposed to 76 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:11,479 Speaker 1: be isolation. Thinking you by yourself. Aaron wants attention, ripping 77 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 1: Adam Schefter, ripping Ian rappaport the vaccine. Aaron Rodgers wants attention. 78 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 1: He wants to feel important. Right, No, kids, never married, 79 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:28,479 Speaker 1: may not have a pet. It's why he needs to 80 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: do these weekly hits. Aaron needs to be the center 81 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:37,839 Speaker 1: of attention. It just cracks me up. Like when you 82 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: go on these retreats, you go to oh Hi, you're 83 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: looking for peace. You're not supposed to be making another 84 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: state farm commercial during your isolation trip. You know, people 85 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: myself included, have odd habits. I tend to be a 86 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 1: creature of habit. You know, three or four things for breakfast, 87 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 1: my entire law fruit, early, fish, late. I eat the 88 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: same way, I exercise, the same way, same time of 89 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: the day. Very much a creature of habit. And I 90 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 1: understand not everybody has the same habits. You know, my 91 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: kids are quirky. I'm quirky, and I've had friends that 92 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: have you know, mannerisms or things that are I consider odd. 93 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: But the one thing I've dropped friends and people in 94 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:30,679 Speaker 1: my social circle over high maintenance slash neediness. Fuck, Aaron 95 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: is needy. He is really really needy. Okay, we bring 96 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: him on a few times a year, Tyler Donne. He 97 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: has that newsletter. Sign up for it at go longtd 98 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 1: dot com. Through the years, he's been spot on on 99 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: a number of Packers stories. He's got a Packer story 100 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 1: he's working on. He's also been writing about the Buffalo Bills. 101 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: We have been highly critical of Sean McDermott on my 102 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: radio and TV show. In an offensive pivoting league, they 103 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 1: really feel like they're playing nineteen eighty three football. Let's 104 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: first start, though, with your Green Bay updates. So there 105 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: are certain things that are already out that the Packers 106 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: are willing if Aaron wants out to move, they are 107 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: happier today than a year ago. With Jordan Love, they 108 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,959 Speaker 1: would send him to the AFC, not the NFC. That 109 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 1: stuff's all out. Mark Murphy said last week, we'd like 110 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: him to give us a decision sooner than later. Those 111 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 1: four things are all out. My take has been a 112 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: pretty simple one that if Jordan Love is a B 113 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: level quarterback, that this is a pretty good roster. With 114 00:08:53,640 --> 00:09:00,079 Speaker 1: an additional first round pick, maybe a third, Packers have 115 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: to develop at a pretty high level. They need an 116 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:09,319 Speaker 1: edge rusher, another tight end. They're pretty good, so any 117 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 1: apprehension would lead me to believe they have huge concerns 118 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: about Jordan Love. So let me start with this. From 119 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: what I can tell, it does feel like they feel 120 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: pretty good about Love as a potential starter. Is that 121 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: is that what you garner from you know, recent discussions? 122 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: You know, I've tried to talk to as many players 123 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: as I possibly can these last couple of weeks, Colin, 124 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: because it does harken back to what two thousand and seven, 125 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight, when Green Bay went from Brett 126 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: fare to Aaron Rodgers. They could make that move. Ted 127 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 1: Thompson saw it every day in practice. And if anybody 128 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 1: knows if Jordan Love is ready, it's those players. It's 129 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 1: the teammates, It's it's who sees this quarterback day in 130 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 1: and day out, because they haven't really seen much on 131 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: game day. What they have seen has been they're really 132 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: promising to that Philadelphia game and to a man, player 133 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: to player, guys who have been on the scout team 134 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: have faced him in practice. They insisted Jordan Love as 135 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: ready to be a starter in the NFL. Um and 136 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: I guess it kind of dates back. Even a Jamal Williams, 137 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 1: who was just with him that that rookie season, he 138 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 1: held up his hand when I saw him in Arizona. 139 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 1: He's like, look at this pinky and it's all busted 140 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 1: up because yeah, that's from Jordan Love. You know, he's 141 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: zipped it to my finger there. As a rookie, they 142 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: got the guy can sling it. He's got some rare 143 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:35,599 Speaker 1: physical gifts. That that's the reason they drafted him. That 144 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: that's what popped. But since that point forward, I think 145 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: he's learned the offense and I think he's learned how 146 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 1: to read defenses and he's putting it all together. You 147 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 1: saw in that Philadelphia game he hit that backfoot and 148 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: the ball was out. He can run Matt Laflour's offense. Yeah. Um, 149 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 1: you know there's concern in San Francisco that Trey Lance, 150 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 1: it was reported this week, isn't as athletic as San 151 00:10:55,720 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 1: Francisco hoped and he struggled with accuracy. My takeaway, Jordan 152 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 1: Love right now is a more refined Trey Lance. He 153 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:07,680 Speaker 1: is athletic and he is accurate. Now does he have 154 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: the juice? The it? Very few do? Right? Like that's 155 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 1: like eight on the planet. Um. I also believe, and 156 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 1: I don't have this sourced. Um. I did see two 157 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:24,079 Speaker 1: different packers at the Super Bowl. I'm not ready to 158 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 1: go public with what one of them said yet. I 159 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 1: may soon, so I'll hold off, but I'm not ready 160 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:40,960 Speaker 1: to go there yet. But um, the Packers were an 161 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 1: irrelevant franchise for most of the seventies and eighties, and 162 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: I do feel like there's there's almost a fear in 163 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 1: the building to be irrelevant. I I sense that. But 164 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: I'm on the outside. You tell me you used to 165 00:11:55,200 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: live there. You still cover him this this feeling of oh, 166 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 1: and I argue tie the NFC, even the two loaded rosters. 167 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 1: Philadelphia has got so many free agents. Niners don't have 168 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: the quarterback. Probably in September, this is the time to 169 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: rip it off. This is not the AFC with five 170 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 1: or six seven generational quarterback towns. Do you think that 171 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 1: fear is just holding them back from ripping the band 172 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 1: aid off? I think it absolutely has been. How Mark Murphy, Malafloor, 173 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: Brian Good against everybody back from just if moving on. 174 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 1: And we've talked about this for two years. I thought 175 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 1: they should have done it. You know that that first 176 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: summer when Aaron is kind of dragging the team out 177 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: to the public square and you know, dispatching his legion 178 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:52,839 Speaker 1: of surrogates and allies to flaw green Bay. I mean 179 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 1: that for four or five months, all you heard is 180 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:57,560 Speaker 1: how could Green Bay let it get to this point? 181 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: But they begged, they pleaded. Your Matt Lafloor at the 182 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 1: podium is just every possible way begging Aaron Rodgers to 183 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 1: come back. They have that meeting, they have some backdoor promises. 184 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: They give him a seat at the table, They trade 185 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: for a washed up Randall Cobb. You know, they do 186 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 1: all these things, give him what he wants because of 187 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 1: that fear. I think they're terrified of life on the 188 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 1: other side of Aaron Rodgers. And you do see a 189 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 1: lot of teams that live in that purgatory. But I'd argue, 190 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,559 Speaker 1: I mean, look at the New York Giants hanging on 191 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 1: to Eli Manning and maybe a year too long. The 192 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Steelers hanging on the Ben Roethlisberger a year too long. 193 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 1: That's the bigger mistake is it's just tricking yourself into 194 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,959 Speaker 1: thinking that this guy might pull off a Tom Brady. 195 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 1: There's one Tom Brady. There's one quarterback who can go 196 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 1: to forty five doing what he did, And we saw 197 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 1: it last year with Aaron Rodgers the inevitable physical decline. 198 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: His legs really aren't there, his arm is average to 199 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 1: maybe above average. He wasn't really willing to work with 200 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 1: those young receivers until it was too little, too late. Hey, 201 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: look when Patrick Mahomes has bringing guys down to Fort Worth, 202 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 1: what was Aaron Rodgers doing. I don't know. I was 203 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 1: good taking trips and hey, we can mock OTAs all 204 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 1: you want. I talked to one player who said it 205 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:14,840 Speaker 1: would have been really nice to have Aaron Rodgers's OTAs 206 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 1: they were working on stuff, because they got it. They 207 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: turned that corner, but by then they were what three 208 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 1: four games below five hundred. To answer your question, I'm 209 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 1: shocked that it's taken this long, but I think that 210 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: the court of public opinion has kind of changed. I 211 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 1: think fans by and large are getting a little tired 212 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: of Aaron Rodgers act and the drama and you know 213 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: him saying, oh, I didn't know that this Darkness Retreat 214 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 1: was really going to take off like it did get 215 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: out of here. I think that fans are smart enough 216 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 1: to kind of read through it, and they saw it. 217 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: Most importantly, they saw what Jordan Love could be, just 218 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 1: like they saw what Aaron Rodgers could be in that 219 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: Dallas game in two thousand and seven. So the fact 220 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: that it's kind of turned, you know, remember it's it's 221 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: community owned, the fans owned the team. It's a little 222 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 1: different with the Packers. The fact that that's kind of changed, 223 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 1: I think it's going to kind of be let me 224 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: get Murphy and Good against La floor to a spot 225 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 1: where they finally once and for all trade Aaron Rodgers. 226 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: Maybe my egos too big, but I feel like words matter. 227 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: And when Aaron said I'm gonna go on a retreat, 228 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 1: a darkness retreat, which is fine, meditations, fine, that will 229 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 1: get me closer to a decision, that's kind of FFing 230 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 1: with people. That would be like telling my wife, listen, 231 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: I'm either way in the marriage. I'm gonna go on 232 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 1: a four day Vegas trip with the boys. That'll get 233 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 1: me closer to a decision. She would say, bullshit, I 234 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 1: want an answer when you get back. Like, we know 235 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: Aaron's petty, we know he cares, he's thin skinned. That 236 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: kind of feels like to me, tie, he's kind of 237 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: offing with him. It really does. You would never tell 238 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 1: somebody you were in business with, hey, listen, I'm gonna 239 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: Mark Murphy came out publicly and said sooner the better, 240 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 1: and you're like, yeah, I'm gonna go hide for four days. 241 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: It'll get me closer. Like, to me, that's you've moved 242 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: into poking in the ribs. That's what it feels like 243 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 1: to me. It would align with previous action. I mean 244 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 1: that this is what he's done for a few years now. 245 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 1: So yeah, we have to read between the lines because 246 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 1: he's kind of speaking in code and beating around the 247 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: bush and nobody really knows and he's going on the 248 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 1: darkness retreat. I had the same reaction to this. It 249 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 1: feels like he's kind of messing with the team at 250 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 1: this point, delaying it when you know, there's that scene 251 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 1: in Seinfeld where George Constanza's telling you know that the 252 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 1: girlfriend I invented the it's not you, it's me. That 253 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 1: the team and Rogers are kind of going back and 254 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 1: forth in this like well, I don't I don't really 255 00:16:57,480 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 1: want to trade you, but I want to trade you. 256 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 1: I don't want to be here, but I kind of 257 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 1: want to be here. Somebody's got to step up and 258 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: be like enoughs enough. The Packers they have that power. 259 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 1: They could go on the offensive here hell and do 260 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 1: something talk to teams while he's on this darkness retreat. 261 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 1: They haven't done it to this point. They're trying to 262 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: be delicate. They know he's a future Hall of Famer, 263 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:20,200 Speaker 1: he's been the face of the franchise. I get all 264 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:22,199 Speaker 1: of that, but at some point the lines were going 265 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: to cross. Right. This isn't the first time that Aaron 266 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 1: Rodgers has done some things that have ruffled feathers and 267 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:30,920 Speaker 1: you know, made management think a certain way, coaches think 268 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: a certain way. But he's been winning MVPs, he's been 269 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: taken to the conference championship game. It's always been worth it. 270 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 1: Now that ability isn't there, that talent isn't there, at 271 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:44,119 Speaker 1: some point, you don't tolerate it, right, I mean you 272 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: tolerate it because he's so damn good and he's been 273 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 1: good for so long. I think those lines have crossed now, 274 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,200 Speaker 1: and that management, if I you know, if you read 275 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: what Murphy has said with the team has said, with 276 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:59,159 Speaker 1: the kind of leaked to the media, it seems like 277 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 1: they're ready to move on. And I say that gingerly 278 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 1: because you never really know, but I think that maybe 279 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: even the Packers are a little tired of this act, 280 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:11,159 Speaker 1: and then they are in a spot too once and 281 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,679 Speaker 1: for all move on to a different quarterback. He's not 282 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: as mobile as he was three years ago. He's also 283 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,360 Speaker 1: not quite as committed in the offseason. Has anybody inside 284 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: the organization ever hinted or acknowledged to you that they 285 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 1: do see a decline in his overall ability now turning 286 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:32,399 Speaker 1: thirty nine soon. No, it's hard to get people to 287 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 1: that spot, you know, even even for background. I think 288 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:39,160 Speaker 1: it's it's been hinted that. And when they talk about 289 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:42,120 Speaker 1: Jordan Love and how excited they are about Jordan Love, 290 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:45,160 Speaker 1: how the ball just spins off his hand, how he's 291 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: so athletic and fluid and as a command of the offense, 292 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: because let's face it, teammates people in the organization. They're 293 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: they're scared to say a negative word about Aaron Rodgers 294 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: because they don't want to be cast off to the wornfield. 295 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 1: I mean, if you're honest enough to say what you 296 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: really think, hell to just relive your experiences literally, just 297 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 1: say what happened in a game against the San Francisco 298 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:12,680 Speaker 1: forty nine ers like a person you know very well. 299 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 1: And Greg Jennings. He might just call you, call your names, 300 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,439 Speaker 1: call you this, call you that, and next thing you know, 301 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: you got Packer fans at your neck for the next 302 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: five to ten years. So players, they tread very lightly 303 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:29,879 Speaker 1: in that department. I do think though, and how excited 304 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 1: they are about Jordan Love that kind of tells you 305 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: everything you need to know. So you live in upstate 306 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 1: in New York, right, so you cover the Bills. I 307 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 1: think two things are happening with the Bills. One, the 308 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 1: Chiefs are relentlessly getting better. They're drafting better, They're rebuilding 309 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:59,439 Speaker 1: the offense receivers. They pay all of their receivers combined 310 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 1: twenty mi million dollars Tyreek Hills making you know that 311 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 1: and more. Just with the Miami Dolphins, they rebuild their 312 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: old line overnight. The Bills four or five years with 313 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 1: McDermott still can't get the old line right. So that's 314 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,199 Speaker 1: part of it. And they're losing, right, So they're losing 315 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: big games. But I really thought, and you have, you've 316 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 1: been writing about this the Skylar Thompson game in the 317 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:29,199 Speaker 1: two A game, and they both came to Buffalo and 318 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:32,199 Speaker 1: they both ended the third quarter. In the fourth, you 319 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: had a real game on your hands, warm Weather, Miami, 320 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 1: cold Weather, Buffalow Skylar Thompson. Game was bizarrely competitive in 321 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: the second half, and I felt like in both games 322 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:48,200 Speaker 1: Mike McDaniel worked Sean McDermott. He was more clever, more 323 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: of an identity. I still don't think the Bills have 324 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 1: an offensive identity. I think they just called plays how 325 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 1: They're winning a lot of games. But how much heat 326 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:03,879 Speaker 1: is on McDermott. I think the fear is that Sean 327 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:09,400 Speaker 1: McDermott is Marty Schottenheimer, Marvin Lewis. You know a coach 328 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: who is a good offensive mind? Yep, Chuck Nahaks, there's 329 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 1: a good one, right, go right down the list where 330 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: you know John Fox not a bad coach, right. He 331 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 1: turned the defense around a big picture that that building 332 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 1: needed to be fumigated. I mean it got really bad, 333 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:30,920 Speaker 1: really fast with Rex Ryan, and so they did need 334 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 1: a pendulum swing to somebody who was more of a disciplinarian, 335 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: who wasn't wasn't gonna put up with you know, certain 336 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 1: types of players, certain type of personalities. So that that worked. 337 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:45,120 Speaker 1: They ended the drought. They build a winner, but at 338 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 1: some point the franchise is identity needed to change from 339 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 1: Sean McDermott disciplinarian defense ball control to holy hell, we 340 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:57,880 Speaker 1: have Josh Ellen. This transcendent talent that's six five two 341 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:01,920 Speaker 1: forty seven leaps over your line backers and is something 342 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 1: we've never seen at the position. And they're still kind 343 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: of operating in that old mindset. Look at this. Look 344 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:10,199 Speaker 1: at every single playoff game that they've lost. I mean, 345 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:13,120 Speaker 1: the same stuff repeats itself over and over and over again. 346 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:16,720 Speaker 1: The AFC Championship game, the chip shot field goals. I mean, 347 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 1: you kick a field goal from whatever it was, the 348 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: one or the two before halftime to cut into twenty 349 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: one to twelve against the Chiefs, only to get waxed 350 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 1: in the second half thirteen seconds the end of that game. 351 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 1: I was told didn't want the squid, he wanted the touchback. Whoops. 352 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 1: And then you have your dbs lined up in another 353 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:37,920 Speaker 1: zip code. It's it's very not to lose. It's it's 354 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 1: not aggressive, it's not a tenacious we're gonna win this 355 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 1: game mentality. And then you saw it again against the 356 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:47,479 Speaker 1: Cincinnati Bengals. They're gonna lose that game. Ten out of 357 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:49,919 Speaker 1: ten times they didn't come ready to play. I just 358 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 1: talked to a player today who said we were not ready, 359 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 1: like we had no energy, we were lethargic. But Sean 360 00:22:56,760 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 1: McDermott again, fourth down, end of the first half, a 361 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:03,680 Speaker 1: chance to get a two for one. You're in Cincinnati's territory. 362 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 1: Your defense can't stop anybody, but you have a chance 363 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:09,119 Speaker 1: on fourth down to go for it, score touchdown, to 364 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:10,560 Speaker 1: get the ball at the start of the third quarter, 365 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,639 Speaker 1: re dictate the terms of this game into a shootout. 366 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:16,400 Speaker 1: And they punted, and Joe Burrow almost Scott the midfield 367 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 1: courage and edit the fourth quarter, fourth and two deep 368 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: in your own end, you punt, I get it. The 369 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:24,359 Speaker 1: game ends right there if you don't get it. But 370 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: you're not gonna get two stops in the fourth quarter. 371 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 1: That isn't gonna happen. You haven't stopped the nosebleed all games, 372 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:32,160 Speaker 1: so I don't know. I mean, for if the Bills 373 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 1: are ever gonna get over this championship hump, Sean McDermott 374 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:37,639 Speaker 1: has to change the way he coaches in the playoffs. 375 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 1: I'm worried it's not going to happen. I think that 376 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 1: they left. They let the better coach in Brian Dable 377 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 1: leave the building. I think Brian Dable will win Super 378 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,920 Speaker 1: Bowls and then Sean McDermott. I have a hard time 379 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 1: seeing him win one with the way he operates. 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Six 405 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 1: seven three six nine in New York, Tennessee Redline eight 406 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 1: nine nine Tennessee visits one eight hundred gambler dot in 407 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 1: West Virginia. His name is Jason Temp. We were able 408 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:30,720 Speaker 1: to grab him a couple of years ago. He's gonna 409 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 1: be with us for a long time. Hoops Tonight podcast 410 00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:38,200 Speaker 1: on the Volume Network. So I was talking about this 411 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 1: Jason about the Kansas City Chiefs. If you were gonna 412 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:45,120 Speaker 1: beat him, it probably should have been this year. Kind 413 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 1: of a makeshift Receiving Corps six rookies played. UM old 414 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:54,439 Speaker 1: line is still pretty young, not great at tackle. UM. 415 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: Now this year they've got eleven draft picks, all the 416 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 1: rookies at running back in the secondary, we'll have a 417 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:06,679 Speaker 1: year under their belt. Mahomes is only getting better. And 418 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,119 Speaker 1: you know, this could have been the vulnerable year, right 419 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:12,480 Speaker 1: because they were very, very young. And I feel the 420 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:16,160 Speaker 1: same way about the Warriors last year Clay Thompson at 421 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 1: seventy young guys weren't ready to play. Now they've got Peyton, 422 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 1: he'll be ready by the playoffs. Clay's better pools emerged 423 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 1: as more consistent. Dante de Vincenzo's actually a perfect fit 424 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:31,560 Speaker 1: for that system. Now they're actually really deep in the 425 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:35,879 Speaker 1: next two months, really really deep, and Kuminga is at 426 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 1: least now a contributor. And so as they go back 427 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 1: and forth, we know they're not the same team without 428 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:45,160 Speaker 1: Steph Curry. But I really believe Milwaukee's the best team 429 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 1: in the league. And I really believe in two and 430 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 1: a half three months, Golden State, a team that's in 431 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:55,840 Speaker 1: Boston's head, will be second. How much of a believer 432 00:26:56,600 --> 00:27:01,200 Speaker 1: or a cynic are you of these Warriors going forward? Well, 433 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:04,879 Speaker 1: generally speaking, I'm always going to be very bullish on 434 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:09,680 Speaker 1: championship cores that still have their core that we've seen 435 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:11,720 Speaker 1: show what they can do on that level, because the 436 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 1: NBA regular season is so monotonous and boring, and they've 437 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:19,479 Speaker 1: had issues, like even the core of this team has 438 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:22,679 Speaker 1: struggled to close games this year, which is super unusual 439 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:25,160 Speaker 1: for a team that you'd expect to execute super well. 440 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: And obviously they've had issues with the bench. But college 441 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 1: did you know that there are twenty seven five man 442 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 1: lineups in the NBA this year that have played at 443 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:37,360 Speaker 1: least two hundred minutes and Steph Clay, Andrew Wiggins, Raymond Green, 444 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:40,439 Speaker 1: and Kevan Luney are still by far the best in 445 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 1: the league. They're outscoring teams by twenty two points per 446 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 1: one hundred possessions, five and a half points better than 447 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 1: Denver starters, who are treating this season every game like 448 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:53,679 Speaker 1: it's the last game of their lives. Now, again, the 449 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:55,359 Speaker 1: bench was a little concerning, but at the end of 450 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:57,959 Speaker 1: the day, there's two things that give me optimism there. 451 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:00,560 Speaker 1: First of all, Gary Peyton will be available for playoffs. 452 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:03,639 Speaker 1: Last year, in the playoffs, they outscored teams by three 453 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:06,160 Speaker 1: points per one hundred possessions when Gary Payton was off 454 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:10,360 Speaker 1: the floor, and by sixteen points per one hundred possessions 455 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:12,199 Speaker 1: when Gary Payton was on the floor. So you know, 456 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:14,399 Speaker 1: to their credit, they made the Wisemen mistake, but they 457 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: were like, hey, we're gonna undo two mistakes in one 458 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:18,840 Speaker 1: move here and bring back Gary. Now. It sucks that 459 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:20,639 Speaker 1: he's not going to be available for this next stretch 460 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:23,280 Speaker 1: of the regular season, but if he's available for the postseason, 461 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: that solves a lot of problems. And then Jamichael Green. 462 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 1: There's been all this talk about them going after a 463 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 1: backup big, but he's shooting the laces off the basketball 464 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:34,159 Speaker 1: since he returned from injury, and that kind of alleviates 465 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:37,120 Speaker 1: that issue. Give me Gary Payton, give me jem Michael Green, 466 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 1: give me Jordan Poole and Dante di vincenzo. With that 467 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:43,080 Speaker 1: starting lineup we just talked about in a Western conference, 468 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:45,719 Speaker 1: that's super flawed. I mean, as anybody is safer bet 469 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 1: no I And that's what I go back to. I 470 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 1: do think when you have a veteran team and you 471 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 1: have a long playoff run, you're talking about twenty more 472 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:59,600 Speaker 1: intense games. This is not Tuesday against the Pelicans at 473 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:02,880 Speaker 1: home Oracle right like these are these are play forty 474 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 1: minutes of playoff basketball, and so I don't think it's surprising. 475 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:12,760 Speaker 1: The Warriors were flat defensively, frankly awful defensively until about, 476 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 1: I would say, about two weeks ago. It feels like 477 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 1: there's moments now I think they've gotten They're not great, 478 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 1: but they've gotten better. Probably his Kur's been barking at him, 479 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 1: Draymond's been barking at him. But I tend to I'm 480 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 1: with you on this, until you have a ring, teams 481 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 1: play really hard. Those Chicago bull teams with Derek Rose, Jesus, 482 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:39,920 Speaker 1: every game was Game seven. You'd go into the United 483 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:42,760 Speaker 1: Center and Lebron would go in there, and then the 484 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: playoffs show up and Lebron shut down d Rows. Speaking 485 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:50,160 Speaker 1: of Lebron, I had a scout I trust say the 486 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:54,120 Speaker 1: body language by Ad wasn't a coincidence. He's had, as 487 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: you've pointed out on your podcast, a series of bizarrely 488 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 1: ineffective games, like strangely ineffective first half against the Warriors 489 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:10,280 Speaker 1: was weird, like not there. And I had a scout 490 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:12,840 Speaker 1: tell me last week, Dallas is going to make a 491 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:18,000 Speaker 1: run at him. Anthony Davis has sort of kind of 492 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 1: believes he's lost the trust of Lebron, That's what I'm hearing, 493 00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 1: and that they're going to try to get their way 494 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:26,680 Speaker 1: into the playoffs. And I do think if you, if 495 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 1: you gave me Lebron and that roster seven gamer play, 496 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:33,360 Speaker 1: let's get that's a series against Denver, I'd take my 497 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:36,480 Speaker 1: chances with Lebron. What do you believe of somebody that 498 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 1: watches every minute for the Lakers? What do you make 499 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:42,880 Speaker 1: of the last five to six games of Anthony Davis. 500 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:46,480 Speaker 1: The Anthony Davis thing is truly bizarre because all of 501 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:49,880 Speaker 1: the intel is is that his foot is fine. Now 502 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 1: generally speaking, with foot injuries, there's a difference between fine 503 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:56,760 Speaker 1: and I trust myself to explode off of this foot 504 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 1: when I need to. The numbers are really bad. So 505 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 1: he's back for nine games, twenty two points and thirteen rebounds, 506 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:04,960 Speaker 1: which is the weird thing with Lebron and a d 507 00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:07,760 Speaker 1: there's always such a disconnect between what their box score 508 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:10,440 Speaker 1: production is and what you actually see on the floor. 509 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:13,240 Speaker 1: Because I think he's been bad by his standards. He's 510 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:16,800 Speaker 1: shooting just sixty one percent in the restricted area since 511 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:20,240 Speaker 1: coming back, which is awful for a big that's that's 512 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:23,320 Speaker 1: okay for a point guard. To give you some perspective, 513 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:26,120 Speaker 1: DeAndre Ayton is shooting seventy nine percent in the restricted 514 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 1: area this season, So he's just getting manhandled around the basket. 515 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:31,800 Speaker 1: He's not running up and down in transition. He's losing 516 00:31:31,880 --> 00:31:35,760 Speaker 1: box outs everywhere right and left. Now, I if he's 517 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:39,000 Speaker 1: dealing with something up here. The reality is is this 518 00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 1: roster is so talented now because they've they've really addressed 519 00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:47,480 Speaker 1: their two biggest weakness backcourt offensive skill size on the 520 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 1: perimeter with the with Ruey Hatchmer and Jared Vanderbilt. So yeah, 521 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:53,000 Speaker 1: if they if they get Lebron back and he's playing 522 00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:55,320 Speaker 1: at an MVP level, at a certain point, ad will 523 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:58,479 Speaker 1: have no choice but to lock back in. And I 524 00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:01,200 Speaker 1: believe that he will, But you know if he does not, 525 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:04,440 Speaker 1: because one of the biggest subplots of this Laker's era 526 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:09,120 Speaker 1: is Anthony Davis's inability to remain at his ceiling. Since 527 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:12,600 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty playoffs, It's been like two games against 528 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:15,200 Speaker 1: the Suns in the first round where he looked really good, 529 00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:18,600 Speaker 1: like maybe ten fifteen games earlier this season, but that's 530 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:20,960 Speaker 1: about it, and if he can't stay at that level, 531 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:23,640 Speaker 1: the Lakers will have to look seriously at whether or 532 00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:26,520 Speaker 1: not he can be a foundational piece for them. Well, 533 00:32:26,520 --> 00:32:28,720 Speaker 1: the source told me, Dallas will make a run on 534 00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:32,640 Speaker 1: him because Kyrie and Luca have huge defensive efficiencies and 535 00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:36,240 Speaker 1: they don't trust Christian. Would it would make sense. What 536 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:38,920 Speaker 1: can you get in your opinion for an Anthony Davis 537 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:41,720 Speaker 1: at the end of the year. Man, Okay, So if 538 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:44,920 Speaker 1: he does not ever in this season return to Form, 539 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:50,800 Speaker 1: I think he becomes He's got similar value to Lebron James, 540 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:53,200 Speaker 1: meaning like you're looking at him and you're like, yeah, like, 541 00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:57,040 Speaker 1: I might get some top tier superstar production here, but 542 00:32:57,080 --> 00:32:59,440 Speaker 1: I also might not. I'm not going to give away 543 00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:02,560 Speaker 1: three four first round picks and two three swaps and 544 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:04,800 Speaker 1: a good young player. I was. I actually pitched this 545 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 1: idea to Ryan, our producer, earlier today. But like, if 546 00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:13,760 Speaker 1: if Ad cannot return to Form, you start to look 547 00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:17,960 Speaker 1: at potentially him being the vehicle for a Kyrie Irving 548 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:21,440 Speaker 1: sign in trade, which kind of which satisfies both needs. 549 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:24,080 Speaker 1: Maybe you get a Josh Green out of Dallas as well. 550 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:27,080 Speaker 1: Maybe you get one other first round pick and the two. 551 00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:29,960 Speaker 1: You know, Jared vanderbuilt such a good work hard forward 552 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 1: for them. If they can get one other center, you 553 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:34,840 Speaker 1: start to look at them as a more offensively focused 554 00:33:34,840 --> 00:33:38,120 Speaker 1: team behind Kyrie and Lebron. And Lebron when he's surrounded 555 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:40,840 Speaker 1: by really good ball handlers and shooters, he does devote 556 00:33:40,840 --> 00:33:42,680 Speaker 1: more energy to the defensive end of the floor and 557 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:45,160 Speaker 1: he can be really impactful there. Just look at the 558 00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:48,160 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen calves. So that would be an interesting direction 559 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:50,320 Speaker 1: for them to look if Anthony Davis can't return to form. 560 00:33:50,360 --> 00:33:51,840 Speaker 1: And here's the thing. Call it if I ask you, 561 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:54,880 Speaker 1: what are the percentage chances that Anthony Davis returns to 562 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:56,959 Speaker 1: MVP form before the end of the season. It's like 563 00:33:57,000 --> 00:34:00,720 Speaker 1: a coin flip or worse. Oh, as Saluli, it is. 564 00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:03,440 Speaker 1: And I think, as you pointed out, it may be 565 00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:06,000 Speaker 1: a little physical, some of it's mental, and I think 566 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:09,120 Speaker 1: that's where he struggled. You know, there's some things you 567 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:14,320 Speaker 1: can teach and some things you can't. Passion like Patrick 568 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:22,120 Speaker 1: Mahomes visibly in intense pain during the Super Bowl and 569 00:34:22,320 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 1: sprints for twenty six yards in my opinion, his greatest 570 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:29,879 Speaker 1: moment as a pro player, and he is wincing pain 571 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:33,240 Speaker 1: tolerance as a skill, playing through injuries as a skill. 572 00:34:33,680 --> 00:34:36,799 Speaker 1: Dwyane Wade was banged up almost the last ten years 573 00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:40,879 Speaker 1: of his career. He was constantly on the deck. So 574 00:34:41,200 --> 00:34:43,520 Speaker 1: let me start with this premise. I think Milwaukee when 575 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:45,320 Speaker 1: healthy is the best team in the league. Do you agree? 576 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:50,200 Speaker 1: I do. I just don't trust Boston to close games. 577 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 1: And then everybody in the West is significantly more flawed, 578 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:56,120 Speaker 1: and Milwaukee kind of flowed under the radar as they 579 00:34:56,120 --> 00:34:59,080 Speaker 1: were consistently near the top of the standings despite Chris 580 00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:01,880 Speaker 1: Middleton being out Andrew Holiday being in and out of 581 00:35:01,880 --> 00:35:05,120 Speaker 1: the lineup, like Jannis has been sneaky, like a favorite, 582 00:35:05,160 --> 00:35:07,200 Speaker 1: one of my favorites for MVP this year and not 583 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:09,920 Speaker 1: getting enough credit for it because he's been floating a 584 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:13,560 Speaker 1: really limited roster. And so yeah, I again, it's to me, 585 00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:15,880 Speaker 1: it's about the safeness of the bet. And I just 586 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:18,120 Speaker 1: can count on Milwaukee in a way I can't anybody 587 00:35:18,160 --> 00:35:22,840 Speaker 1: else out East. So that brings me up too. And 588 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:25,479 Speaker 1: you watch the NBA and a more consistent level, because 589 00:35:25,480 --> 00:35:27,640 Speaker 1: I'm kind of a generalist than half the cherry pick stuff. 590 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:30,400 Speaker 1: But I've watched the Celtics. I get on a Treadmill, 591 00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:32,000 Speaker 1: and I watched them as much as I can. I'm 592 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:35,600 Speaker 1: going to watch them tonight when I we hang up 593 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:38,040 Speaker 1: here and I'm gonna go watch their backups play Milwaukee. 594 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:40,680 Speaker 1: My daughter's actually at that game totally. Abo. Hew, things 595 00:35:40,719 --> 00:35:45,120 Speaker 1: aren't starting anybody. So one of the things I've noticed, 596 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:47,560 Speaker 1: and a game that a lot of people watch, was 597 00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:51,560 Speaker 1: the Laker game, which was a fantastic night of NBA basketball. 598 00:35:51,719 --> 00:35:55,759 Speaker 1: It felt like a playoff game. Is that I think 599 00:35:55,800 --> 00:36:00,960 Speaker 1: Golden State remains in Boston's head is even though they 600 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:03,600 Speaker 1: won that game and that had a playoff feel to it. 601 00:36:04,600 --> 00:36:07,520 Speaker 1: This is and you played college basketball at a high level. 602 00:36:07,640 --> 00:36:13,160 Speaker 1: We're good late in the shot clock, in late in games. 603 00:36:14,320 --> 00:36:18,360 Speaker 1: The body language tells me that Jalen Brown is really 604 00:36:18,360 --> 00:36:22,720 Speaker 1: the alpha. He wants the ball. He's more aggressive seeking 605 00:36:22,719 --> 00:36:26,440 Speaker 1: the ball. Now when they design or set screens for 606 00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:30,160 Speaker 1: Jason a play, he'll come get it, but he won't 607 00:36:30,239 --> 00:36:35,400 Speaker 1: take over a possession. I always feel like Jalen's the alpha. 608 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:39,200 Speaker 1: Tatum's more talented, and I think when you get into 609 00:36:39,239 --> 00:36:43,919 Speaker 1: these huge games that may only rear its head three 610 00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:47,680 Speaker 1: possessions in the last six minutes. That's the difference between 611 00:36:47,719 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 1: beating the Warriors and not there's something it's almost like 612 00:36:52,200 --> 00:36:55,759 Speaker 1: Tatum's two nice a guy. That's my takeaway. It's like, 613 00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:59,160 Speaker 1: I don't want that. When Steph wants to score, there's 614 00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:02,920 Speaker 1: nobody else on the floor. Steph. Do you see this 615 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:09,279 Speaker 1: ever with the Celtics in big possessions, in key spots, 616 00:37:09,320 --> 00:37:11,880 Speaker 1: some of it is skill set, Like I think Jalen 617 00:37:11,920 --> 00:37:16,200 Speaker 1: Brown is much more of an improvisational score. He can 618 00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:19,040 Speaker 1: score in the sense that, like every basket looks different 619 00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:22,359 Speaker 1: than the last, Jason Tatum is very much your modern 620 00:37:22,520 --> 00:37:27,399 Speaker 1: MBA analytical offensive approach. Like he's he's toned way back 621 00:37:27,440 --> 00:37:29,960 Speaker 1: on his mid range jump shooting, He's taken a ton 622 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:32,160 Speaker 1: of threes, he's finishing better at the rim than he 623 00:37:32,239 --> 00:37:34,399 Speaker 1: used to be. But he's kind of becoming a more 624 00:37:34,560 --> 00:37:38,560 Speaker 1: predictable offensive engine. And at the end of games, nothing 625 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:40,919 Speaker 1: goes the way you want it too. There's so much 626 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:44,200 Speaker 1: contact that goes on called there's random double teams and 627 00:37:44,239 --> 00:37:48,240 Speaker 1: weird schematic things, and having a player that's an improvisational score, 628 00:37:48,320 --> 00:37:51,399 Speaker 1: a guy that can take and make weird shots ends 629 00:37:51,480 --> 00:37:53,040 Speaker 1: up being a huge advantage there. And I think that's 630 00:37:53,040 --> 00:37:55,200 Speaker 1: a huge part of why Jalen Brown thrives so much 631 00:37:55,239 --> 00:37:57,640 Speaker 1: in those settings. But it's funny because I would agree 632 00:37:57,640 --> 00:37:59,719 Speaker 1: with you that Golden States in their head when the 633 00:37:59,760 --> 00:38:02,359 Speaker 1: even when they won this last game, they kind of 634 00:38:02,520 --> 00:38:06,360 Speaker 1: backed into that win. Yeah, they won, because Golden State 635 00:38:06,440 --> 00:38:09,440 Speaker 1: also made a bunch of mistakes, like even on that 636 00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:11,600 Speaker 1: final possession when Jalen Brown got open, it was a 637 00:38:11,640 --> 00:38:14,319 Speaker 1: transition cross match and Jordan Poole got lost and they 638 00:38:14,560 --> 00:38:17,320 Speaker 1: left Jalen Brown open. Like again, we talked about this earlier, 639 00:38:17,320 --> 00:38:19,800 Speaker 1: but Golden State has struggled with like game execution. Jason 640 00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:22,799 Speaker 1: Tatum was awful down the stretch and regulation of that game, 641 00:38:22,840 --> 00:38:27,160 Speaker 1: including having Steph Curry on a switch on the left wing. 642 00:38:27,560 --> 00:38:30,759 Speaker 1: No double team, dude, you've got the advantage, and he 643 00:38:30,880 --> 00:38:33,680 Speaker 1: ended up just like kind of like trying to step 644 00:38:33,719 --> 00:38:36,520 Speaker 1: sideways into a three, and Steph was all over it 645 00:38:36,560 --> 00:38:38,440 Speaker 1: and he ended up turning the basketball over. And you 646 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:40,959 Speaker 1: could tell there's something going on up there. To be clear, 647 00:38:41,200 --> 00:38:44,200 Speaker 1: Boston's even better than they were last year. Malcolm Brogden. 648 00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:47,040 Speaker 1: We talked a lot after the NBA Finals about them meeting. 649 00:38:47,080 --> 00:38:50,160 Speaker 1: Backup ball handling Malcolm Brogden was a home run trade. 650 00:38:50,360 --> 00:38:53,319 Speaker 1: He's been amazing for them. But at the end of 651 00:38:53,360 --> 00:38:56,080 Speaker 1: these games, if I would feel so much better about 652 00:38:56,080 --> 00:38:58,520 Speaker 1: Boston if they just kicked Golden State's ass in those 653 00:38:58,520 --> 00:39:00,959 Speaker 1: two games, I would be in a completely different places 654 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:03,880 Speaker 1: mentally with them if they just close the deal in 655 00:39:03,880 --> 00:39:07,960 Speaker 1: those two games emphatically, and instead they lost one and 656 00:39:08,040 --> 00:39:10,560 Speaker 1: they fell asked backwards into a win and the other. 657 00:39:10,640 --> 00:39:12,440 Speaker 1: And so that just puts me in the same position 658 00:39:12,440 --> 00:39:14,560 Speaker 1: where it's the same type of flaw when they get 659 00:39:14,640 --> 00:39:18,440 Speaker 1: to that big stage. Yeah, and that's why Golden State. 660 00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:23,759 Speaker 1: Golden State picks its spots the Boston game, that Memphis game. 661 00:39:24,719 --> 00:39:28,560 Speaker 1: You know this, there's about for defending champions. There's about 662 00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:31,560 Speaker 1: six nights a year their national TV games or they're 663 00:39:31,560 --> 00:39:36,359 Speaker 1: the cocky upstart Memphis. It's like, okay, guys, don't have 664 00:39:36,400 --> 00:39:40,839 Speaker 1: to be talked into it. So I think everybody, I've 665 00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:43,439 Speaker 1: probably seen Phoenix play six times this year. Chris Paul 666 00:39:43,560 --> 00:39:45,680 Speaker 1: is not what he was two years ago. Let's start 667 00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:50,400 Speaker 1: with that. Mkaal Bridges really valuable wing defender, no question, 668 00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:54,400 Speaker 1: that's where they're not as good. Kevin Durant remains, however, 669 00:39:54,440 --> 00:39:59,920 Speaker 1: when healthy about the best easiest bucket in the league. 670 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:02,560 Speaker 1: Tend to think it's going to work because in the NFL, 671 00:40:02,640 --> 00:40:05,399 Speaker 1: I always feel in pro football an offense needs an 672 00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:09,279 Speaker 1: identity can overcome lack of personnel. If you have a 673 00:40:09,400 --> 00:40:11,400 Speaker 1: New York Giants won a playoff game, they knew what 674 00:40:11,440 --> 00:40:14,160 Speaker 1: they were and what they weren't, I don't worry about that. 675 00:40:14,200 --> 00:40:16,480 Speaker 1: In the NBA, what I worry is, do you have elements? 676 00:40:17,520 --> 00:40:20,440 Speaker 1: Two great wings, a big that runs the floor, a 677 00:40:20,560 --> 00:40:26,239 Speaker 1: smart distribution, veteran point guard, a respected coach. Situationally, I 678 00:40:26,280 --> 00:40:28,319 Speaker 1: look at Phoenix and I think there's a lot of 679 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:32,719 Speaker 1: elements here. I like, now, they're not deep, but you know, 680 00:40:32,800 --> 00:40:36,480 Speaker 1: Golden State plays eight guys like depth is a tad overrated. 681 00:40:36,520 --> 00:40:38,760 Speaker 1: I think Phoenix could mow through some of these teams 682 00:40:38,760 --> 00:40:42,279 Speaker 1: in about five six games. I think the Suns it 683 00:40:42,400 --> 00:40:47,680 Speaker 1: works for me. But now in three years this could 684 00:40:47,719 --> 00:40:51,239 Speaker 1: be a disaster if they fall apart. But just for 685 00:40:51,440 --> 00:40:56,960 Speaker 1: this year, does it work for you? Well? Overnight they 686 00:40:57,000 --> 00:40:59,120 Speaker 1: have the most talented top four in the NBA. In 687 00:40:59,160 --> 00:41:02,920 Speaker 1: my opinion, I'm putting them ahead of Philly in Boston. 688 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:07,879 Speaker 1: There's also schematically a supernatural fit for Kevin Durant. Kevin 689 00:41:07,960 --> 00:41:10,400 Speaker 1: Durant has been by far the very best pick and 690 00:41:10,480 --> 00:41:14,279 Speaker 1: roll ball handler. This year, he is having one of 691 00:41:14,280 --> 00:41:17,400 Speaker 1: the very best pull up jump shooting seasons in NBA history. 692 00:41:17,680 --> 00:41:20,400 Speaker 1: In all pick and roll coverages in the NBA concede 693 00:41:20,400 --> 00:41:22,279 Speaker 1: pull up shots, so every team in the league has 694 00:41:22,280 --> 00:41:25,120 Speaker 1: just been like, let's just double KD and play four 695 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:26,680 Speaker 1: on three in the back end, which is why the 696 00:41:26,760 --> 00:41:28,800 Speaker 1: Nets have been so good this season. When he played, 697 00:41:29,200 --> 00:41:32,000 Speaker 1: Phoenix is the pre eminent pick and roll team in 698 00:41:32,040 --> 00:41:34,520 Speaker 1: the NBA. That's what they run every single possession down 699 00:41:34,560 --> 00:41:36,960 Speaker 1: the floor. They run a variation of it called Spain 700 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:39,880 Speaker 1: pick and roll, where they include a shooter that replaces 701 00:41:39,920 --> 00:41:42,240 Speaker 1: to the top of the key while eighton is rolling. 702 00:41:42,480 --> 00:41:46,040 Speaker 1: So KD offensively is a just an incredibly natural fit 703 00:41:46,120 --> 00:41:48,840 Speaker 1: with him. He's also probably the best plug in play 704 00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:52,800 Speaker 1: star in NBA history because his off ball offensive talent 705 00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:56,000 Speaker 1: is every bit as effective as his on ball offensive talent, 706 00:41:56,239 --> 00:42:00,080 Speaker 1: and he makes quick, predictable decisions, like compared to lou 707 00:42:00,320 --> 00:42:03,160 Speaker 1: where it's like there's nine seconds of dribbling and you 708 00:42:03,200 --> 00:42:05,560 Speaker 1: don't necessarily know where he's going. That can be tough 709 00:42:05,560 --> 00:42:08,239 Speaker 1: to play with sometimes, but when you're playing pickup basketball 710 00:42:08,480 --> 00:42:10,400 Speaker 1: and there's that dude where you know exactly what he's 711 00:42:10,440 --> 00:42:13,359 Speaker 1: gonna do and he makes that decision quickly. It makes 712 00:42:13,360 --> 00:42:15,120 Speaker 1: it easy to play with that type of guy. So 713 00:42:15,160 --> 00:42:17,400 Speaker 1: that's why he plugs in so well. On the defensive 714 00:42:17,480 --> 00:42:19,279 Speaker 1: end of the floor. He's actually having one of his 715 00:42:19,360 --> 00:42:21,920 Speaker 1: better defensive seasons of his career as a help defender 716 00:42:21,920 --> 00:42:24,360 Speaker 1: on the back line with his length and DeAndre Ayton. 717 00:42:24,880 --> 00:42:26,680 Speaker 1: One of his biggest issues is he can be a 718 00:42:26,840 --> 00:42:29,400 Speaker 1: kind of up and down defensive player from his motor. 719 00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:31,600 Speaker 1: From the perspective of his motor. Now, they're not a 720 00:42:31,640 --> 00:42:34,560 Speaker 1: perfect team. They're going to be probably the worst perimeter 721 00:42:34,680 --> 00:42:38,279 Speaker 1: defense team out of the high level playoff teams, and 722 00:42:38,480 --> 00:42:40,520 Speaker 1: that will put them in some trouble against driving kick 723 00:42:40,560 --> 00:42:43,480 Speaker 1: teams like the Clippers or Golden State. With Jordan Poole 724 00:42:43,560 --> 00:42:46,360 Speaker 1: constantly putting downhill pressure on the rim, they're gonna have 725 00:42:46,400 --> 00:42:48,560 Speaker 1: some issues. But again I go back to what I 726 00:42:48,560 --> 00:42:51,279 Speaker 1: said with Golden State. In a Western conference where everybody 727 00:42:51,400 --> 00:42:54,480 Speaker 1: is flawed, you'd be foolish to write them off. And 728 00:42:54,640 --> 00:42:57,120 Speaker 1: you gotta look at the buyout market, like they snatched 729 00:42:57,239 --> 00:43:00,400 Speaker 1: Terrence Ross away from Dallas, will be surprised if they 730 00:43:00,440 --> 00:43:02,680 Speaker 1: go after someone like Patrick Beverley as well, Like they're 731 00:43:02,719 --> 00:43:05,480 Speaker 1: gonna be there, and I think Kevin Durant might be 732 00:43:05,520 --> 00:43:06,839 Speaker 1: the best player in the world right now, So they're 733 00:43:06,840 --> 00:43:09,640 Speaker 1: gonna be a pain in the ass for everybody. Yeah, no, 734 00:43:09,840 --> 00:43:13,919 Speaker 1: I think you really put it well. He's the best 735 00:43:13,920 --> 00:43:16,520 Speaker 1: plug and play guy in the world. Like I love 736 00:43:16,640 --> 00:43:19,640 Speaker 1: Lebron or Janis, but you have to sort of build 737 00:43:19,680 --> 00:43:24,000 Speaker 1: around them, Luca, because he's so ball centric, you can 738 00:43:24,239 --> 00:43:27,080 Speaker 1: he's I think he's a much better, not much better. 739 00:43:27,160 --> 00:43:31,120 Speaker 1: He's a better version of Harden, But I mean, at 740 00:43:31,200 --> 00:43:36,520 Speaker 1: his best, James was hard to play with. Like Chris Paul, 741 00:43:36,960 --> 00:43:40,920 Speaker 1: for all the misgivings, kind of works in every era. 742 00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:43,239 Speaker 1: He would have worked in the seventies, he works now 743 00:43:43,280 --> 00:43:45,040 Speaker 1: in the three ball here and doesn't shoot him like. 744 00:43:45,560 --> 00:43:48,440 Speaker 1: He's a really effective player with a lot of personalities. 745 00:43:49,120 --> 00:43:51,879 Speaker 1: I mean, Blake Griffin to me, sort of disappeared when 746 00:43:51,960 --> 00:43:57,080 Speaker 1: Chris Paul left his side. DeAndre Jordan. That offense dried up. Okay, 747 00:43:57,080 --> 00:43:58,680 Speaker 1: I'll give you a team. I want you to give 748 00:43:58,719 --> 00:44:03,480 Speaker 1: me a team that you just don't buy. Okay. I 749 00:44:03,560 --> 00:44:07,279 Speaker 1: love watching Memphis, but if Jaws off and I just 750 00:44:07,280 --> 00:44:09,160 Speaker 1: had dinner of the other night, with an NBA scout, 751 00:44:10,239 --> 00:44:13,920 Speaker 1: Jaws probably a better. I don't like hyper athletic guards 752 00:44:13,920 --> 00:44:16,400 Speaker 1: that can't shoot. Never like John Wall, don't like Westbrook. 753 00:44:16,520 --> 00:44:18,560 Speaker 1: Derrick Rose wore me out. I think Jaws a better 754 00:44:18,560 --> 00:44:22,279 Speaker 1: shooter than those guys. But Jason, he's one hundred and 755 00:44:22,280 --> 00:44:27,040 Speaker 1: seventy eight pounds, He's tiny. I don't know if I 756 00:44:27,160 --> 00:44:30,040 Speaker 1: buy Memphis. I just I like their depth, I like 757 00:44:30,120 --> 00:44:33,719 Speaker 1: their coach. Do you I don't buy this team as 758 00:44:33,719 --> 00:44:37,120 Speaker 1: a championship contender, do you? Yeah? Memphis is who I 759 00:44:37,200 --> 00:44:39,479 Speaker 1: put down as my most overrated team in the league. 760 00:44:39,520 --> 00:44:41,719 Speaker 1: So to give you an idea, these are the top 761 00:44:41,760 --> 00:44:44,200 Speaker 1: four teams in the league and their records against teams 762 00:44:44,239 --> 00:44:47,040 Speaker 1: that are five hundred or better. Boston is twenty two 763 00:44:47,120 --> 00:44:50,399 Speaker 1: and nine against winning teams. Milwaukee twenty one and ten, 764 00:44:50,840 --> 00:44:55,600 Speaker 1: Denver nineteen and eleven, Phillies sixteen and ten, Memphis sixteen 765 00:44:55,640 --> 00:44:59,520 Speaker 1: and fifteen. Once again against Boston. On Sunday, shortly before 766 00:44:59,560 --> 00:45:02,440 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl, they competed. They were in the game, 767 00:45:02,520 --> 00:45:05,319 Speaker 1: it was close late and they backed way off of 768 00:45:05,400 --> 00:45:07,360 Speaker 1: Job and made him shoot threes that he couldn't make. 769 00:45:07,400 --> 00:45:09,200 Speaker 1: You went over four and on the other end of 770 00:45:09,200 --> 00:45:12,880 Speaker 1: the floor, they could not contain Derek White driving to 771 00:45:12,960 --> 00:45:15,239 Speaker 1: the basket, which put them in rotation, no stopping. They 772 00:45:15,280 --> 00:45:17,200 Speaker 1: gave up a bunch of wide open threes and they lost. 773 00:45:17,280 --> 00:45:19,920 Speaker 1: This is a phenomenon I've seen several times in NBA 774 00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:23,560 Speaker 1: history where there's a team that has an outstanding regular 775 00:45:23,600 --> 00:45:28,279 Speaker 1: season machine to produce wins. My favorite example this is 776 00:45:28,280 --> 00:45:31,560 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty one Jazz. They were third in defensive 777 00:45:31,640 --> 00:45:34,239 Speaker 1: rating in the regular season, and then they ran into 778 00:45:34,280 --> 00:45:37,480 Speaker 1: the Clippers without Kawhi Leonard and it turns out that 779 00:45:37,760 --> 00:45:40,760 Speaker 1: it turns out Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell couldn't guard anybody. 780 00:45:40,760 --> 00:45:43,040 Speaker 1: They gave up one hundred and twenty eight points per 781 00:45:43,040 --> 00:45:45,600 Speaker 1: one hundred possessions against the Clippers and lost. And so 782 00:45:45,800 --> 00:45:48,359 Speaker 1: what happens is in the regular season you can set 783 00:45:48,440 --> 00:45:51,640 Speaker 1: up a baseline scheme and you can hide guys. But 784 00:45:51,680 --> 00:45:54,319 Speaker 1: then you get to the playoffs and it becomes so 785 00:45:54,920 --> 00:45:58,600 Speaker 1: the game slows down and it just teams target your 786 00:45:58,760 --> 00:46:01,960 Speaker 1: entry points. And what it is is John Morant is 787 00:46:02,040 --> 00:46:04,680 Speaker 1: one of the easiest entry points in the NBA to 788 00:46:04,760 --> 00:46:07,719 Speaker 1: a defense. If you attack him, you can quickly get 789 00:46:07,760 --> 00:46:09,880 Speaker 1: them in rotation, and then it doesn't really matter what 790 00:46:09,960 --> 00:46:11,719 Speaker 1: kind of personnel you have in the back end, if 791 00:46:11,719 --> 00:46:13,839 Speaker 1: you're playing four on three and then on the other 792 00:46:13,960 --> 00:46:15,479 Speaker 1: end of the floor, they just don't have any shot 793 00:46:15,520 --> 00:46:18,759 Speaker 1: creation behind Jaw. And so they're actually a bottom ten 794 00:46:18,880 --> 00:46:21,760 Speaker 1: half court offense in the NBA according to Cleaning the Glass. 795 00:46:21,800 --> 00:46:23,840 Speaker 1: And so if they can stay up and down in 796 00:46:23,880 --> 00:46:27,120 Speaker 1: transition and in funnel guys to Jaren Jackson in the 797 00:46:27,120 --> 00:46:29,800 Speaker 1: regular season, they're fine. But they get to the playoffs, 798 00:46:29,920 --> 00:46:32,799 Speaker 1: the game slows down. It's entirely in the half court. 799 00:46:32,840 --> 00:46:35,680 Speaker 1: On both ends, they're attacking Jaw, they're on the other end, 800 00:46:35,680 --> 00:46:37,640 Speaker 1: they're back and way off of him. And that's why 801 00:46:37,640 --> 00:46:41,439 Speaker 1: they struggle against good teams. Those clutch situations and those 802 00:46:42,120 --> 00:46:45,080 Speaker 1: games against the good teams, those are what mimic the 803 00:46:45,239 --> 00:46:48,440 Speaker 1: playoffs most closely. And this is the final stat I'll 804 00:46:48,480 --> 00:46:51,160 Speaker 1: give you. The Jazz are third in regular season defensive 805 00:46:51,200 --> 00:46:54,840 Speaker 1: rating this year. They are twenty fourth in clutch defense 806 00:46:55,000 --> 00:46:57,399 Speaker 1: this season. So when the game slows down at the end, 807 00:46:57,840 --> 00:47:18,279 Speaker 1: they just can't get stops. The volume, make sure to 808 00:47:18,400 --> 00:47:22,160 Speaker 1: check out the Draymond Green Show. I brought Draymond Green 809 00:47:22,200 --> 00:47:24,760 Speaker 1: into the volume because one of the more entertaining voices 810 00:47:24,760 --> 00:47:29,320 Speaker 1: in sports, unique perspective understands behind the rope. Also chops 811 00:47:29,440 --> 00:47:32,960 Speaker 1: up with guests like Gary Peyton, Zach Levine, Tracy McGrady. 812 00:47:33,080 --> 00:47:36,919 Speaker 1: Make sure download The Draymond Green Show wherever you get 813 00:47:36,960 --> 00:47:41,520 Speaker 1: your podcasts, only on the Volume podcast Network