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I hope all of you guys had 37 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: an awesome weekend. Today. It was NBA Media Day and 38 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: it was good to see all of the players in 39 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:39,399 Speaker 1: their jerseys. Getting their picture taken, interviews, all the good 40 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: stuff to Twitter. Timeline was full of NBA basketball. Felt good. 41 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: That is the day that kicks off nine months of 42 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: NBA basketball going through mid June, and I could not 43 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: be more excited. Here's the plan for this week. Today, 44 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: We're going to cover Media Day, but inevitably I'm gonna 45 00:02:57,720 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: miss some stuff because there's just hundreds of different quotes, 46 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 1: some pieces of information that we're gonna get today. Tomorrow 47 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: we're gonna focus on the Warriors Media Day as well 48 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: as anything that I missed today. Today it's gonna be 49 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: a lot of Lakers, a lot of nets will also hit, 50 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 1: some sixers will hit, some suns will hit, some Pelicans. 51 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: Tomorrow is gonna be Warriors and anything else that I missed. 52 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,639 Speaker 1: We're also going to continue our Power rankings this week. 53 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: Number four will be tomorrow, and then three to one 54 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 1: will go on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Then a week from today, 55 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: we'll have eight games worth the preseason basketball to react to, 56 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: so we'll be back into our game breakdowns at that point. 57 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: But today is gonna be NBA Media Day, largely focused 58 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: on the Lakers and the nets. You guys know, the 59 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: drill before we get started. Subscribe to the Volumes YouTube 60 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 1: channel so you don't miss any more of our videos. 61 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: Follow me on Twitter at underscore Jason lt so you 62 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: guys don't miss any show announcements. Last, but not least, 63 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: if you miss one of these shows and you can't 64 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 1: get back over to YouTube to finish them, you can 65 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: always find them wherever you get your podcasts under Hoops 66 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: tonight quickly before we get started. As you gear up 67 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: for fall, it's never been more important to have the 68 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: right people on your team to make sure your small 69 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: business is humming on all cylinders. LinkedIn Jobs is here 70 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: to help you find the right people faster and for free. 71 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 1: My wife helps run a small business here in Tucson, 72 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: so naturally I hear about it every single day when 73 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: she gets home from work. That's the job, But uh, 74 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:24,359 Speaker 1: I can't tell you how much it makes a difference 75 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 1: for her in her day to day operations. When she's 76 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,160 Speaker 1: got the right person in the right job, that will 77 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: go miles towards making your business run smoother. 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Then add 81 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:47,280 Speaker 1: your job and the purple hashtag hiring frame to your 82 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 1: LinkedIn profile to spread the word that you're hiring, so 83 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: your network can help you find the right people to hire. 84 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 1: Simple tools like screening questions make it easy to focus 85 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:58,039 Speaker 1: on candidates with just the right skills and experience, so 86 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: you can quickly prioritize who you'd like to interview and hire. 87 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: It's why small businesses rate LinkedIn jobs number one in 88 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: delivering quality hires versus leading competitors. LinkedIn Jobs helps you 89 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: find the candidates you want to talk to faster. Did 90 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,479 Speaker 1: you know every week, nearly forty million job seekers visit 91 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 1: LinkedIn post your job for free at LinkedIn dot com 92 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: slash timph. That's LinkedIn dot com slash timph to post 93 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:25,599 Speaker 1: your job for free. Terms and conditions apply. And on 94 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: that note, let's talk some basketball. We're gonna start with 95 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 1: the Lakers, and we're gonna start with Russ. But it's 96 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: gonna be quick because, as you guys know, I have 97 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: a rule. We'll get to that in a second. So 98 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: there were two quotes in particular that stood out to 99 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: me from not just this media David, also from this 100 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,479 Speaker 1: weird article that came out from ESPN. I think it 101 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 1: was last night or the night before that was kind 102 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: of like an interview from him going over this offseason. So, 103 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: first of all, the quote from Media Day, he said, 104 00:05:56,080 --> 00:06:00,279 Speaker 1: whether they want me here or not doesn't really adder. 105 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 1: My job is to be a professional and show up 106 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:08,719 Speaker 1: to work as I've always done. Emphasis there on as 107 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: I've always done. End quote. In the WOAE article, he 108 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: had a very similar quote, responding to a very similar question. 109 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: He said, quote, I think the most important thing is 110 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: that I show up for work and I do the 111 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 1: job like I have always done it. Be professional and 112 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: go out and play my ass off and compete. End quote. 113 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: So before we go any further this season, I'm gonna 114 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 1: have a one minute rule for Russ. And we don't 115 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 1: actually have that little timer things set up yet, but 116 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,279 Speaker 1: it's just I can. He's a very frustrating basketball player 117 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: for me, and I coached the game, and so I 118 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 1: my job is to pay extra close attention to the 119 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: little details of the game of basketball, and those specific 120 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 1: things are things that Russ struggles with mightily, and so 121 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: I find him to be a very frustrating basketball player 122 00:06:57,240 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: to cover. So I could spend a lot of time 123 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: complaining about him this season, but I really don't want to. 124 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 1: It takes away from the show. I think it's actually 125 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: a bad thing. I'm not interested in that. So we 126 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: have a rule this year. When Russ stuff comes up, 127 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go for a minute and then it's dead 128 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 1: and we're not allowed to talk about him for the 129 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: rest of the show, at least not in a focused way. 130 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: So here's my quick, like two cents on this Russell 131 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: Westbrook Media Day and article from last night. What I've 132 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 1: always done, which is the keyword or key phrase from 133 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: those two quotes that I gave you What I've always 134 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: done means that he still hasn't acknowledged the problem. All 135 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: of the other quotes from Media Day, quotes about his role, 136 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 1: whether or not he's gonna start or come off the bench, 137 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: conversations he's had with Lebron James and Anthony Davis, conversations 138 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: he's had with Darvin Ham, friendship with Patrick Beverley, any 139 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: of that doesn't mean anything unless Russell Westbrook acknowledges the 140 00:07:56,680 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 1: acknowledges the problem, and he has not done. So he 141 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: is in denial in that aspect. He was in the 142 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: season ending press conference to end last year, and he 143 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 1: was this year in the season starting press season starting 144 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: press conference as we expected him to be. What does 145 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: that mean. I do not expect him to change. I 146 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: expect this year to be more of the same. I 147 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: think he thinks that if he makes more of his layups, 148 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: or if he makes more of his pull up jumpers 149 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,119 Speaker 1: and he has fewer turnovers, that means that he's fixed 150 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: the problem. That is not the case. The problem went 151 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: so much deeper than any of that, and I'm not 152 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: gonna get into it here because, like I said, the 153 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: time limit. So the bottom line is he has not 154 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: acknowledged the problem. Therefore, I don't think there will be change. 155 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,679 Speaker 1: If he does change, it will be because he's acknowledged 156 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: that problem. And that's all I'm gonna say about us 157 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: for right now. Um we're gonna move on to Rob 158 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: Polinka because he was the one I was most interested 159 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 1: in hearing from today, mainly just because he he's the 160 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: he's the guy in the chair, he's the guy holding 161 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 1: the steering wheel, guiding this thing down the road. And 162 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: he had a job this summer, and that job was 163 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: to get better role players around Lebron James and Anthony Davis, 164 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: which he has done a little bit of, and to 165 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: get Russell Westbrook off the roster, and he did not 166 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 1: accomplish that goal. And so I was really curious to 167 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: hear what he would say today. And we're gonna get 168 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 1: into that right now. So a couple of quotes quick 169 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 1: quickly about the Russell Westbrook thing from Rob Polinka. He said, quote, 170 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook is a great part of our team, one 171 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:32,560 Speaker 1: of the greats to ever play the game, and I 172 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: think Coach Ham is going to bring another level out 173 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 1: of him. End quote. That is a continuation of that 174 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 1: denial of reality on Rob's part. If you're banking on 175 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: things like Russ figuring it out or Kyrie Irving coming 176 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: next summer to fill up your cap space, that's a 177 00:09:56,400 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 1: severe case of wishful thinking. Yes, they both might happen, 178 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 1: and if they do, you'll be in great shape. Like 179 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: if if Russ does figure it out this year, like, yeah, 180 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,679 Speaker 1: that's gonna solve a lot of the Lakers problems. If 181 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:13,480 Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving comes and signs next year for whatever cap 182 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 1: space they have, that's gonna solve a lot of their problems. 183 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: But what is the more likely scenario. Is it more 184 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: likely that those things happen, or is it more likely 185 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 1: that Russ is more of the same this year and 186 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: that Kyrie ends up resigning with the Nets or with 187 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:32,199 Speaker 1: somebody else who will be able to offer him more 188 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: money next summer. That's far more likely. So you're banking, 189 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 1: You're putting all your chips in the middle for two 190 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 1: very unlikely variables, and to me, that's just bad management. 191 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 1: It's a dangerous gamble. After that, he did he went 192 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: on his long, kind of meandering rant, talking about how 193 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:56,440 Speaker 1: Lebron James and him recommitting to the franchise via the 194 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 1: extension for three years was the signaling of their partnership 195 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 1: and how the two of them were in this together 196 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:08,080 Speaker 1: and that there was a mutual trust. Any In that rant, 197 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 1: elaborated about how he understands the pressure of having Lebron James, 198 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: one of the greatest basketball players of all time, under 199 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 1: roster control, and he talked about how that implied that 200 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 1: he inevitably is willing to spend the draft picks, but 201 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: he said he's going to hold back and wait to 202 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:35,320 Speaker 1: do so until the right deal comes around, and that's 203 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:38,719 Speaker 1: that's been the company line all summer, we won't give 204 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: up the picks unless we become a contender. You know, 205 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 1: we're waiting for the right deal. We we we don't 206 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 1: like the Indiana deal, we don't like the Jazz deal. 207 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 1: We think we're gonna get something better if we wait. 208 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: I've even heard untel from people who were involved in 209 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: those trade negotiations that the Lakers seeming that seemed to 210 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,959 Speaker 1: believe they can get Kyrie Irving via trade during this season, 211 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: and which again, is that's just that's a really pie 212 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 1: in the sky type of mentality. But the reality is 213 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: is the pursuit of the perfect deal is costing the 214 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: Lakers elsewhere for starters. The pursuit of the perfect deal 215 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 1: is unrealistic because Russell Westbrook is involved, and that actively 216 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 1: hurts your negotiation position. The Lakers are desperate, and that 217 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: actively hurts your negotiation position. The Lakers don't have the 218 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:33,560 Speaker 1: leverage to get a great deal, to get great value 219 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 1: for those two draft picks. It's the reality because those 220 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: two draft picks are attached to a negative asset in 221 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook, a player that none of the other twenty 222 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 1: nine teams want, it would likely buy out or send home. 223 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: If they got him in a trade, that takes away 224 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: from the value of the draft picks. You know everyone 225 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 1: talks about, like, oh boy and Pagdanovich. He ended up 226 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: going to the Detroit Pistons and they didn't even send 227 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 1: a draft pick. Yeah, that's right, because Boyan mcdonovits Boyan 228 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:07,559 Speaker 1: Bogdanovitch's market value is very different from what the Lakers 229 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 1: prices because there's two different things that set the price. 230 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 1: Market value helps set the price. How good the players are, 231 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 1: that's that sets the price. But your leverage also sets 232 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:24,719 Speaker 1: the price. Sometimes market value is different from leverage. I've 233 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: been dealing with this. I don't work in real estate anymore, 234 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 1: but that's what I did before this, and I worked 235 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: in real estate during the crazy boom over the last 236 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,560 Speaker 1: couple of years, and the market value of a house 237 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: might have been to fifty But if there are fifteen 238 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: people negotiating and the leverage is in the hand of 239 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 1: the seller because he's got fifteen offers, then it's going 240 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 1: to inevitably bid things up above what market value is. 241 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 1: And the truth of the matter is the Lakers, because 242 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 1: they were desperate, because they have Lebron James in your 243 00:13:55,760 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 1: twenty and because they're offloading Russell Westbrook, those three things 244 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 1: undercut their leverage and made it so the market price 245 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: for these deals is different for them than it is 246 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 1: for other teams. And that's why they can't get boy 247 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: On mcdonovitch for the same price that the Detroit Pistons can, 248 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 1: and that's why they might have to include their draft 249 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 1: picks in order to get a deal. But that's the 250 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: only one side of this. Let's say that there is 251 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: a better deal in the future. Let's say that around 252 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: the deadline there's a better deal or next summer they 253 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: think they can get more for some combination of picks 254 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: or cap space or whatever it is. Whatever you view 255 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 1: in the future as the better outcome. Opportunity cost still 256 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: plays a role here. Losing training camp as an opportunity 257 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 1: to build continuity with your players that hurts you. That 258 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: is a loss of value. There's not a lot of 259 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: practice during the regular season. If you make a deal 260 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: at the deadline, you might get four or five practices 261 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: the rest of the season to sort things out. So 262 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 1: not getting the deal done this summer cost you in value. 263 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 1: You're losing a season of Lebron's prime, especially if you 264 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: wait into the end of this if you wait into 265 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: this summer, or if you wait to the deadline, and 266 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: it hurts your seeding so much that you lose in 267 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 1: the first round series against the Warriors because you're seven 268 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 1: seed or an eight seed and you didn't take this 269 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 1: regular season seriously with an eye towards the future. That's value. 270 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: You're twenty of Lebron, your twenty one of Lebron, and 271 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: your twenty two of Lebron will experience significant declines in 272 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 1: all likelihood. That's just father time. That's just how it works. 273 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: That's part of the value. And you waiting, how much 274 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 1: does that counteract the value proposition of an alleged deal. 275 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 1: If I factor in Lebron's age and continuity and all 276 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 1: of those things, it hurts you. So maybe you can 277 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 1: get something better than Boyan Magdanovitch, or let's just say 278 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 1: Myles Turner because he's gone. Now, let's just say Miles 279 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: Turner and buddy he Maybe you can get something that's better, 280 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 1: but you're gonna lose in value in Lebron aging and 281 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 1: continuity and all of those things. That's what I don't 282 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 1: understand about this approach. And the bottom line is I 283 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: think it's because they want to start. I think as 284 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: they think that a star is going to fix their problems, 285 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: and for whatever reason, they've never been able to wrap 286 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: their brains around the concept that Lebron James, Anthony Davis 287 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 1: and good role players equals a basketball team that has 288 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: a chance to win an NBA championship. It's always been 289 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: that simple. The one year it all worked out was 290 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: the year they didn't chase after Well. They tried, and 291 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: they literally tried to. They tried to go after Quiet 292 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 1: and it didn't work out, and as a result, they 293 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 1: had Lebron James, Anthony Davis, a bunch of role players, 294 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: and they won an NBA Championship. Ever since then, they've 295 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 1: been looking for the third guy. First it was Schroeder, 296 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 1: then it was Russell Westbrook, now it's Kyrie Irving. Their 297 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: endless pursuit of that in the face of evidence that 298 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 1: is to the contrary, is why they're in this predicament. 299 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 1: So the whole thing surrounding Rob Polinka's in his strategy 300 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: with these trades does not make any sense to me, 301 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 1: and I think it's actively hurting their prospects moving forward. 302 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: One last note on the Rob Polinka front. There was 303 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 1: a little a little moment where him and Darvin Hammer 304 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 1: talking about shooting, which is, you know, look, in the 305 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:24,440 Speaker 1: Lebron James Anthony Davis era, the Lakers have never had 306 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 1: good shooting. You know. This past season they had some 307 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:30,359 Speaker 1: good shooters, but they still didn't actually perform to that 308 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:32,679 Speaker 1: extent because of the fact that they often had to 309 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 1: divert to defensive players. Right this this year is gonna 310 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: be worse than all of them. This is gonna be 311 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 1: the worst shooting roster in the NBA this year. This 312 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:43,399 Speaker 1: is gonna be the worst shooting roster that the Lebron 313 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 1: James Anthony Davis era has ever had. This is probably 314 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:48,440 Speaker 1: the worst shooting roster that Lebron James has ever played 315 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 1: with a player that has consistently played well alongside good 316 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 1: three point shooters. And this was Rob Polinka's answer when 317 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:58,120 Speaker 1: he was asked that he said that he expects players 318 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 1: on the roster to grow and improve. Well, okay, then 319 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 1: I hope they do, because if they don't, it's going 320 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:08,680 Speaker 1: to be a problem. Darvin Ham, when he was asked 321 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 1: the same question, said quote, We're not trying to find specialists. 322 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: We want basketball players. End quote. You know what's funny, 323 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 1: I percent believe in that. That basketball ideology is one 324 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:26,199 Speaker 1: that I believe in very strongly. You know, especially as 325 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: the game has gone towards five out and driving kick 326 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: has been the best way to get good shots, It's 327 00:18:31,119 --> 00:18:33,920 Speaker 1: been more important ever to have guys that are well rounded. 328 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:36,440 Speaker 1: You know. A great example of this is like a 329 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 1: andre I Guadala versus a Kyle Korver And I'm not 330 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:42,479 Speaker 1: even and I'm not even talking about the defensive end. 331 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 1: On the offensive end of the floor, it helps to 332 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: have a guy that can put the basketball on the 333 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:51,160 Speaker 1: floor and finish at the rim or driving kick two 334 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: players and consistently make the right reads. I agree, it's basketball. 335 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 1: You need basketball players. You need guys that are well rounded. 336 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: Here's the problem. Not only does this team not have 337 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 1: great shooting, they don't have great basketball players outside of 338 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,639 Speaker 1: Lebron James, Anthony Davis, Patrick Beverley, and Dennis Schroeder. The 339 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: role players, the guys playing on the wing. Like I 340 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 1: like Austin Reeves. I think he's gonna be a good 341 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: fifth starter in this league for a long time when 342 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 1: he figures out his shot that he's good there. But 343 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 1: Troy Brown Jr. Want to Skano Anderson. If you're relying 344 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:30,359 Speaker 1: on those guys to be good basketball players, meaning consistently 345 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: making the right decisions as driving kick players on offense, 346 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:39,440 Speaker 1: I don't. I think you're setting yourself up to be disappointed. Look, 347 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 1: Austin Reaves is a great example of this concept. Austin 348 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:46,719 Speaker 1: Reeves did not shoot exceptionally well last year, but he 349 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,439 Speaker 1: was great attacking close outs and he always made the 350 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:53,159 Speaker 1: right read. That's being a basketball player. That's value. But 351 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:56,200 Speaker 1: you need that. If you're not looking for shooters, fine, 352 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:59,160 Speaker 1: but find more of those guys. That's why I wanted 353 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:02,040 Speaker 1: them to make the d whether it was the Utah 354 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 1: deal or the Pacers deal, bring in some more basketball 355 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 1: players that can come in and help you on the 356 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 1: offensive end of the floor. The bottom line is is 357 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:14,919 Speaker 1: this team is not good enough. You had an opportunity 358 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:17,719 Speaker 1: to make them better. Rob Polinka did and they didn't. 359 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,200 Speaker 1: Even if your reasoning was sound, which I don't believe 360 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:23,919 Speaker 1: it is, this team is still not good enough. So 361 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 1: that means you're punting. You are punting Lebron's age thirty 362 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:35,160 Speaker 1: eight season with Anthony Davis flanking him. Any perceived improvement 363 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 1: by a more measured approach, by waiting for the future, 364 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 1: and something that might be better is undercut by the 365 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 1: opportunity cost of losing training camp, of potentially losing a 366 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 1: season of Lebron James's career. Even if you get something 367 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 1: a little better, it's undercut by the loss of time. 368 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:55,920 Speaker 1: So and this team has been set up to fail. 369 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,120 Speaker 1: And so I you know, it was a frustrating media day. 370 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 1: I had a feeling Rob Blincoln would come out and 371 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 1: say the things he did and he did, and you 372 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:06,640 Speaker 1: know what, like, maybe it all work out. Maybe maybe 373 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook will you've all of him become a winning 374 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 1: basketball player. Maybe Kyrie Irving comes at the deadliner, comes 375 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:15,639 Speaker 1: next summer, and then everything works out. I just find 376 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 1: it extremely unlikely there was a more likely outcome. Give 377 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: me Lebron James, Anthony Davis, Patrick Beverley, Dennis Schroder, Austin Reeves, 378 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: Kendrick Nunn, Miles Turner, you know, Damien Jones, Buddy Healed. 379 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 1: I can win a championship with that group, But the 380 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: hypothetical of Kyrie, I can't take that to the bank. 381 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: And that's why I didn't understand the approach one last note. 382 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: On on D Day Lebron James and Anthony Davis. Lebron 383 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:49,119 Speaker 1: was asked about his most important thing coming into the season, 384 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:52,200 Speaker 1: and he said, quote unquote, availability is the most important 385 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:54,919 Speaker 1: thing in this league. End quote, Lebron James and Anthony 386 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:57,919 Speaker 1: Davis is availability is going to be the thing that 387 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,159 Speaker 1: determines the outcome of this season, regard list of anything else. 388 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:03,159 Speaker 1: Even if they did make a deal and bring in 389 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 1: better players, if Lebron and A d combined to play 390 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:07,920 Speaker 1: ninety games, they're gonna be a playing team or miss 391 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 1: the playoffs. But if they both play seventy plus games, 392 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,879 Speaker 1: that covers a whole lot of stuff. It keeps Russ 393 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 1: in an ancillary role, which gives him at least a 394 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:20,680 Speaker 1: better chance of becoming a better role player. It also 395 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 1: demonstrates to the front office that this group is something 396 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 1: that they can believe in and invest in more by 397 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 1: making the trades. And the big guy I want to 398 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:32,199 Speaker 1: watch in this department is Anthony Davis. He said in 399 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:33,920 Speaker 1: the press conference that he plans to have a chip 400 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:37,199 Speaker 1: on his shoulder this season. I had him eighteenth than 401 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:40,400 Speaker 1: my player rankings. ESPN came out and had him twentieth 402 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:43,800 Speaker 1: in their player rankings. I think that's fair. He doesn't 403 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 1: deserve to be above the players that are in front 404 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 1: of him, not with the way he's played, even when 405 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:50,439 Speaker 1: he's healthy the last couple of years, and when you 406 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:52,399 Speaker 1: factor in health, you could argue he should be lower. 407 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:56,920 Speaker 1: This is the season that will define Anthony Davis's career. 408 00:22:57,840 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 1: It's either go where you're either gonna look back at 409 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 1: this as Anthony Davis, the guy who quickly became one 410 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,120 Speaker 1: of the best power forwards of all time, who had 411 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:09,639 Speaker 1: a dominant NBA Championship winning run in who then had 412 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 1: a couple of bad years with injury, and then went 413 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 1: right back to kicking everybody's ass, or the story is 414 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: going to be he won the title in twenty and 415 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,679 Speaker 1: he never was the same player. This is the season 416 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:23,359 Speaker 1: where we find out, because once you've done that three 417 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:26,159 Speaker 1: times in a row, that's just who you are. If 418 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 1: you don't take care of your body and you come 419 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: into camp out of shape and you play overweight and 420 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:33,159 Speaker 1: you end up suffering a bunch of injuries and you 421 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 1: do it, then that's who you are. But if he 422 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: comes back this season and he kicks everybody's ass, he 423 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 1: will categorically explain the previous two years as an outlier, 424 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 1: and so the pressure is on a d to get 425 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:55,040 Speaker 1: it done. Moving on to the nets. So Kyrie said, quote, 426 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 1: I didn't appreciate how me being unvaccinated came to be 427 00:23:59,880 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: a stigma within my career that I don't want to 428 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:08,160 Speaker 1: play end quote. Said later on, I gave up four 429 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:12,879 Speaker 1: years and a hundred something million dollars to be unvaccinated 430 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:17,399 Speaker 1: end quote. And and this is just kind of more 431 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: similar to the rest thing, just another example of a 432 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 1: lack of self awareness. We were all here watching you, 433 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:29,400 Speaker 1: watching the team when you took two leaves of absence 434 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:32,360 Speaker 1: for personal reasons, when you were healthy during the season 435 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:36,439 Speaker 1: without telling Steve Nash, just off the face of the earth, 436 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 1: forcing your coach to answer tough questions, forcing your teammates 437 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:43,639 Speaker 1: to answer tough questions, disrupting the continuity of the team, 438 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:47,160 Speaker 1: hurting them in seeding. All of those things are true 439 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:52,680 Speaker 1: that happened in you were healthy, when the bubble was organized, 440 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 1: in you could have gone to play. You chose not 441 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 1: to any one of those things. In a vacuum you 442 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:02,639 Speaker 1: get away with for instance, if he didn't play in 443 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 1: the bubble, but he played through his contract the next 444 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 1: two years. No one's gonna give a damn about They 445 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:11,560 Speaker 1: will explain it away. Hey, the bubble was weird, the 446 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:14,400 Speaker 1: nets weren't very good, Katie didn't want to play because 447 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:16,880 Speaker 1: he wasn't done rehabbing yet, you know what, it wasn't 448 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 1: worth it. Cool, bam. You'll get the benefit of the 449 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:23,400 Speaker 1: doubt there. If you just did what happened in one, 450 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:25,720 Speaker 1: but you played in the bubble, and you played the 451 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 1: entire season vaccinated in two, then everyone's gonna go like, 452 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,479 Speaker 1: hey man, he just had a rough year, mental health stuff, 453 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 1: needed to spend some time with family. They'll get it. 454 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:41,000 Speaker 1: But no, it's all of them. It's the bubble, it's 455 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:45,119 Speaker 1: the it's the first leave of absence, it's the second 456 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:49,400 Speaker 1: leave of absence, it's the vaccination thing, all of those 457 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: combined to make your reputation. I have no doubt that 458 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 1: he would have got his contract that he wanted had 459 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:57,560 Speaker 1: he just done the end, had he just gone unvaccinated 460 00:25:57,640 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 1: last year. There are a lot of players around the 461 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:02,720 Speaker 1: lead did that. Jonathan Isaac did that. It's not like 462 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:05,840 Speaker 1: the Magic are trying to dump Jonathan Isaac, at least 463 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:07,640 Speaker 1: not not yet. And if if they do, it's gonna 464 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:11,680 Speaker 1: because of his knee injury. The reality is is his 465 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 1: reputation is well earned and he doesn't see that. And 466 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:17,600 Speaker 1: that's that's the biggest thing that stands in the way 467 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:20,360 Speaker 1: of Russell Westbrook and Kyrie irving in their own self 468 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:24,000 Speaker 1: improvement in this league is acknowledging their own shortcomings. They're 469 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:26,440 Speaker 1: just they go down with the ship. They're in denial, 470 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:30,679 Speaker 1: you know, in general NETS training, our NETS media day. 471 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:32,639 Speaker 1: I was looking at the drama, the drama between Katie 472 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: and Kyrie, right, and everyone said the right things. You know. 473 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 1: They asked Steve Nash about it. He said the right things. 474 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:43,879 Speaker 1: You know, Katie and I are family. This kind of 475 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:46,399 Speaker 1: stuff happens with family. We sort it out. You know, 476 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 1: Sean Marks, this is a partnership. If Katie wanted to 477 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:53,679 Speaker 1: be gone, he'd be gone. Kad I understand the dynamics. 478 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 1: I have a ton of trade value. It was gonna 479 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 1: be tough to move me. Everyone said the right things. 480 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:02,399 Speaker 1: But the reality is that damon was done. The Kyrie 481 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:05,399 Speaker 1: stuff caused damage, That Kevin Durant stuff caused damage. The 482 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:10,119 Speaker 1: ultimatum surrounding Shawn Marks and Steve Nash that caused damage. 483 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:13,959 Speaker 1: All of it's still there. How much damage, I don't know. 484 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 1: They only know, but there's some amount of damage that 485 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 1: was done there emotionally and and for the people involved. 486 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 1: If they win right away and often these issues will 487 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 1: sink under the surface. But if the losses start to 488 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:36,360 Speaker 1: pile up, everyone will immediately revert back to that damage 489 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: and remember that damage. So the risk is not gone. 490 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:43,240 Speaker 1: Even though they say all the right things, even though 491 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:47,360 Speaker 1: everyone is allegedly bought back into this thing, the damage 492 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 1: is not gone. If the losses pile up, everyone will 493 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 1: circle back to this summer. So it's on the basketball 494 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:58,399 Speaker 1: players to erase this thing. If Ben Simmons, Kyrie and 495 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: Katie come out and they beat everybody's ask, no one's 496 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:04,119 Speaker 1: gonna care about this summer. But make no mistake, the 497 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:06,840 Speaker 1: damage is still done and it is not gone. It 498 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:11,360 Speaker 1: just can be hidden as long as they're successful. So 499 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:12,920 Speaker 1: there were a couple of quick hitters I want to 500 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 1: hit before we get out of here. Philly James Harden 501 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 1: said he's been dieting and that he's lost a hundred pounds, 502 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 1: said tweet that obviously he's joking, but I have been 503 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:24,840 Speaker 1: the first guy on the James Harden Revenge Tour take 504 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:28,439 Speaker 1: and I like what I'm seeing so far. Obviously we 505 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 1: need to see real basketball, but I like what we're 506 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:34,600 Speaker 1: seeing so far. He did specifically mentioned dieting. He did 507 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 1: specifically mention him being healthy and being able to work 508 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 1: out this summer. I did think that was a little 509 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 1: uh strange though, because the reality is is a lot 510 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 1: of his health issues were associated with his weight, in 511 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:47,200 Speaker 1: my opinion, but I like what I'm seeing from James Harden. 512 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 1: I think he's poised for a big season. And if 513 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 1: it's true that he's lost weight, that's the first step. 514 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 1: Speaking of losing weight, Zion Williamson looks good. It's got 515 00:28:56,960 --> 00:29:02,320 Speaker 1: some muscle definition less Doughey, And for him in particular, 516 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 1: it's important on a couple of different levels, specifically health, 517 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:10,440 Speaker 1: he's his body will continue to break down if he 518 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:13,960 Speaker 1: plays heavy. You know foot injuries like you had, that's 519 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:18,360 Speaker 1: associated with weight. That's your that's impact, that's you landing him. 520 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:21,480 Speaker 1: Being slim will help in that department. And the big 521 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:24,720 Speaker 1: one is defensively, I never looked at Zion's weight is 522 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:26,719 Speaker 1: an issue on the offensive end of the floor. If anything, 523 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 1: when you put on weight, you just become more difficult 524 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,960 Speaker 1: to keep away from the rim. But on the defensive 525 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:34,480 Speaker 1: end of the floor, if he's gonna cover ground in rotation, 526 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 1: containing on the perimeter, if he ever is going to 527 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 1: be a good back line defender, and if he's gonna 528 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:40,960 Speaker 1: be able to hold up over the course of an 529 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 1: eighty two game season and a playoff run, he needed 530 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:45,720 Speaker 1: to keep his weight down in order for him to 531 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:48,800 Speaker 1: be able to do that. He looks good again, say 532 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:51,200 Speaker 1: with James Harden when it comes his eye on and 533 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:53,719 Speaker 1: when it comes to James, it's not about the stories. 534 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 1: It's not about what you see in media day. It's 535 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:59,120 Speaker 1: about what happens on the court. But I like what 536 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:04,479 Speaker 1: I'm seeing so far. Last, but not least Phoenix. Uh, 537 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:06,920 Speaker 1: there was this awkward moting moment where one of the 538 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:11,479 Speaker 1: reporters asked DeAndre Ayton what he thought when the Sun's 539 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:15,160 Speaker 1: matched the Pacers offer to him this summer, and he 540 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:17,200 Speaker 1: said the right thing, but he said it in kind 541 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:19,760 Speaker 1: of an awkward way. He's like, I'm glad, I'm glad 542 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:22,440 Speaker 1: it was over, glad to be here. And then the 543 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 1: reporters like, z that all and he's like, yeah, just 544 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:27,920 Speaker 1: kind of like dead Pan, and there's kind of a 545 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:30,440 Speaker 1: weird energy hanging over the Phoenix Suns this season, and 546 00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:32,520 Speaker 1: we talked about them in the in the Sea. In 547 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:34,400 Speaker 1: the season previews, I had them at seventh in my 548 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:38,600 Speaker 1: power rankings. All the talent is still there, you know, 549 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 1: Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Michael Bridges, and Jold, Jake Crowder. 550 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 1: I guess it's gonna be traded, Cam Johnson, whoever it 551 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:47,280 Speaker 1: is that slides into that spot in Deandreton. They're gonna 552 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 1: kick a lot of people's asses. Are gonna win a 553 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:52,320 Speaker 1: lot of regular season basketball games, I believe, but there 554 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:54,600 Speaker 1: is a lot brewing under the surface. There's the lack 555 00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 1: of faith and Chris Paul in his weight or his health, 556 00:30:57,840 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 1: excuse me, whether or not he can hold up over 557 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 1: the course of the play out run. There's Devin Booker, 558 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 1: who had another injury in the playoff run last year 559 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:05,480 Speaker 1: and he's been dealt with dealing with injuries over the 560 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:08,680 Speaker 1: course of his career. The DeAndre In situation, Jay Crowd 561 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:11,360 Speaker 1: are demanding a trade. There's a lot of just stuff 562 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:14,440 Speaker 1: underneath the surface, and it's very similar to Brooklyn. If 563 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 1: they come out and they win it'll be fine. But 564 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:19,200 Speaker 1: that's another team to watch where if they start three 565 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:23,240 Speaker 1: and five, if they start five and ten, if things 566 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:26,040 Speaker 1: get ugly for whatever reason, which I don't think is likely, 567 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:29,280 Speaker 1: but if they get off to a rough start, everyone's 568 00:31:29,280 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 1: gonna circle back to the summer. Everyone's gonna circle back 569 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:35,160 Speaker 1: to the issues. That's just what happens when things go bad. 570 00:31:35,240 --> 00:31:40,760 Speaker 1: You look for reasons, you look for scapegoats, and you 571 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:43,040 Speaker 1: know what, if it's bad, everyone's gonna look at DeAndre 572 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:45,120 Speaker 1: and be like, he's not playing defense, he got paid now, 573 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:46,880 Speaker 1: he's not working hard, he didn't even want to be here. 574 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:49,560 Speaker 1: That's gonna be the kind of stuff that comes out 575 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:51,800 Speaker 1: when this kind of stuff starts to go south. So 576 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:55,280 Speaker 1: that's a team to keep your eye on. Alright. So, 577 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:58,000 Speaker 1: like I said before, any other Media Day stuff that 578 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:00,840 Speaker 1: I see today, we're gonna touch on tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll 579 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:04,240 Speaker 1: be covering Warriors Media Day and whatever else I see, 580 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:07,520 Speaker 1: and then we'll also in the evening have number four 581 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:09,640 Speaker 1: of our power rankings coming out. Keep an eye there, 582 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 1: and then Wednesday, Thursday, Friday this week will be number 583 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:14,400 Speaker 1: three to one, and the next Monday we'll be starting 584 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:17,680 Speaker 1: our game breakdowns As always, I sincerely appreciate your guys 585 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:20,600 Speaker 1: to support. I'm super stoked for full NBA season. We 586 00:32:20,680 --> 00:32:24,200 Speaker 1: got nine months of basketball on the horizon. I'm looking 587 00:32:24,200 --> 00:33:20,160 Speaker 1: forward to it. I will see you guys tomorrow. The 588 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:20,760 Speaker 1: Volume