1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. Ladies and gentlemen, 2 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: It is a glorious Monday morning. Thank you for joining 3 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: us for week three of the Straight Fire Podcast. I'm 4 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: a little worried that this may be the best episode 5 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:24,240 Speaker 1: we've had. I don't know if that's possible yet. I mean, 6 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: we've had some pretty darn good episodes, but so much 7 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: happened in the sports world Sunday, particularly the NBA. I 8 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: want to obviously thank you guys for following me on 9 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: the Best Bet now five and two after Friday Nights 10 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 1: win and also for subscribing, rating and reviewing. Remember this 11 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: is the week we want to get to a hundred 12 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: and at that point, Rob G and I will come 13 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: up with something to uh thank the listeners who give 14 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 1: the most creative comments on iTunes and Spotify. Remember tell 15 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: all your friends. All right, let's get down to the 16 00:00:53,360 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: good stuff. Um. I figured we'd start with the Raptors, 17 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: just a little humor on a Monday morning. Raptors beat 18 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 1: the nets. Nobody cares. Nobody does except for the city 19 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: of Toronto. But we have to start with Luca don 20 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:11,479 Speaker 1: Chech and I don't know, guys, I've been an NBA 21 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: fan for a long long time, and as far as 22 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:19,639 Speaker 1: I know in the last forty years, I count four 23 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: seminal NBA playoff performances. Four. That's it. And before anybody 24 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 1: scrambles to look up the dictionary, what is seminal? Jason 25 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: highly influential in an original way? Four seminal playoff performances. 26 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: Luca donte it is Sunday was the fourth. That's how 27 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: good it was what he did to the Clippers going 28 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: for well, let they look at this. Forty three points, 29 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: seventeen rebounds, thirteen assists, the game winning step back three 30 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: over Reggie Jackson, which is comical that Reggie Jackson found 31 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 1: itself guarding Luca donte Itch multiple times, by the way, 32 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 1: late in that game. So four performances and lucas right there. 33 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: The other three, I'll buzz through them quickly. Number one, 34 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: Magic Johnson at twenty years old in Night Okay, fills 35 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: in for Kareem abdul Jabbar at center. Jabbar was injured. 36 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: My dad's favorite player, Creem abdul Jabar. Magic at forty two, 37 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 1: fifteen and seven as a rookie. That's seventy team, by 38 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: the way, had darryld Dawkins, Chocolate Thunder and Julius Irvin 39 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 1: Magic and the Lakers win second seminal performance NBA playoff 40 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: history last forty years. Michael Jordan's sixty three in the 41 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 1: Boston Garden overtime lost. Now that's the only of these 42 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 1: four games where the performer lost, But that was the 43 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: game afterward where Larry Bird goes. That was God disguised 44 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: as Michael Jordan's. Jordan's hung sixty three on the Celtics, 45 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:53,919 Speaker 1: who were in the midst of, like, you know, their 46 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: eighties dynasty, and nobody could guard. Jordans just cooked everybody 47 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 1: who stepped up. And Michael Jordan's arrived on that day. 48 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: We knew he was good. He was winning dunk contests 49 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,799 Speaker 1: and all that fun stuff. That was when it was like, whoa, 50 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:09,799 Speaker 1: this dude's gonna take over the league. He's going to 51 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 1: wreck the league. And you know, four years later he 52 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:16,679 Speaker 1: started that amazing run with the championships. Okay, so Magic one, 53 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: Jordan's two, and Lebron James was my third. He was 54 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: twenty two years old in two thousand seven. He was 55 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: going up against the Pistons, who you remember had ended 56 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: the Kobe Shack run. And then they had three years 57 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: later they were a little older. But as memory serves, 58 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: that Pistons team was the number one seed. Lebron went 59 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 1: for forty eight points, had the final twenty five points 60 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: for the Caps, and that night I'm watching that game 61 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: just in awe. He's a twenty two year old, Like, 62 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: what's going on? Who is this guy? I mean, is 63 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 1: he that good? We knew he was awesome coming into 64 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: the league, but Lebron taking down a team full of champions, 65 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: scored twenty five straight points and the game he just 66 00:03:56,240 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: willed them to victory. Mesmerizing performance we saw from Luca 67 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: on Sunday. Guys, that's in the realm of magic, Michael 68 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: and Lebron. And I'm not even exaggerated. There's no way 69 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 1: around it what Luca did on that And let's not 70 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: even forget okay, Game three, he has to leave in 71 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter with an ankle injury, hobbled off the court. 72 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: I stopped ice up son Andy didn't have Porzingis their 73 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 1: second best player. It's still really unexplained how Porzingis can 74 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 1: go for thirty four points in Game three and then 75 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: he's hurt and out in the next game. Some some 76 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: knee injury, and I'm just in all, I don't care 77 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: if Luca doesn't win this series. They they're not expected to. 78 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: And I know what you're gonna say, Jason, come on, 79 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: come on. Magic took down a championship worthy Hall of 80 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: Fame team with that Sixers group. Okay, Lebron that pistancy, 81 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 1: they want a title. Michael took down Larry's Celtic and 82 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: Matt Michael lost that game. By the way, Luca, who's 83 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: he beating on the Clippers? Oh, I don't know, the 84 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: team that was favored for a large chunk of the 85 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: season to win the title to a team that, Oh, 86 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 1: I don't know. When the season started, everybody was saying, Oh, 87 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,280 Speaker 1: it's just the greatest team since Michael Jordan's Bulls. I'm 88 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:18,479 Speaker 1: not even making that up. That seriously, I put the 89 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: graphic on my Instagram like people were making Oh, look 90 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,359 Speaker 1: at this Paul George Kauai Montrose, Herold. This team is 91 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:27,919 Speaker 1: stacked the l A Bulls. They were. They were seriously, 92 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 1: that was the hype for this team, and Luca just 93 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,239 Speaker 1: took him apart. And now we've come to the portion 94 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: of the program where I need to just take a 95 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 1: dump on Paul George. I know Rob G loves to 96 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:42,160 Speaker 1: just smash Paul George because he's a gigantic playoff fraud. 97 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: And I like Paul George. I'm serious, I really do 98 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: like him. I wanted him to go to the Lakers, 99 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:50,119 Speaker 1: but of course he wanted to team up with Kawai Leonard, 100 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: and now Kauai looks kind of like an idiot, right, 101 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 1: I mean, it was like, hey, do you want to 102 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: come play with Anthony Davis and Lebron and totally dominate 103 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: the league and be like a massive super team. No, no, no, 104 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: I just want to I want Paul George to run 105 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,359 Speaker 1: with me and Paul George. I got the numbers. Are 106 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 1: you ready? Paul George, who has been an abomination, averaging 107 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: fifteen a game through four, shooting twent from three. His 108 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:18,839 Speaker 1: points have gone down every game fourteen eleven nine. He 109 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: was invisible, invisible in game four. Lou Williams was like 110 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: an offensive machine. Problem with Lou Williams is the MAVs 111 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: just match up hunt him every single time down the court. Now, 112 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: Rob G, I'm gonna bring you in here, but first 113 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,480 Speaker 1: I've watched the final few minutes several times I've watched 114 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 1: the final play at least a dozen. I showed it 115 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:41,919 Speaker 1: to my kids, and then I went out and started 116 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 1: shooting baskets Sunday night. I just needed to. I mean 117 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: just I watched Luca, just all his moves. I'm just 118 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:50,919 Speaker 1: like dribbling between my leg doing all this nerdy stuff. 119 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: This is I'm a nerdy basketball fan. Okay. By the way, 120 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,479 Speaker 1: quick note, it was so hot in Los Angeles this 121 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: weekend and we don't have air conditioning. I convinced the wife, well, 122 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 1: you know, the wife kind of convinced me, let's get 123 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 1: out of our house. Go to a hotel where there's 124 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 1: air condition Our first hotel stayed during the pandemic. So 125 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 1: we went to Santa Monica. It's kind of nearby ten 126 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: miles and I'm watching the game on my phone at 127 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 1: the pool. Of course, I gotta watch this, and I'm like, 128 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: this is crazy, and my phone's running low, you know, 129 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: the batteries like low. I'm like, i gotta go up 130 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: to the room. I'm out, sorry, and I go through 131 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: room and like it was just madness. I was just 132 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: in the room just screaming when this is going down. 133 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: I'm a big sports fan. This is what I do, 134 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: and watching the Clippers choke was just so much fun. 135 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: Rob G? How on earth just Kauai not get totally 136 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: trashed for just going off the screen on the final 137 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: play when Luca we knew he was getting the ball 138 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 1: and he just switched onto Maxi Kleiber, who was a 139 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: big decoy. I don't know, Rob G, how are we 140 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: not crushing Kawhi Leonard. I know Paul George is getting hammer, 141 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 1: but Kauai does. There's a lot of blade here. I 142 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 1: feel like you've been reading my my Twitter. That's what 143 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: I feel like, because that's exactly the question that I 144 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: put out yes on a Sunday evening Kawai Leonard, and 145 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: he was great, you know, thirty two points nine rebounds forces. 146 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 1: He was what Kauai is. But it's not like he 147 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: didn't have help, like you said Lou Williams at thirty six. 148 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: Reggie Jackson, for all of his faults, had fourteen off 149 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 1: the bench. Zubias had fifteen, So it's not like guys 150 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 1: didn't go with him. The only one who didn't really 151 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: show up at all was Paul George. And somehow Kawhi 152 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 1: Leonard escaped complete criticism after blowing a twenty point lead 153 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: and refusing to stick on Luca at the seminal moment 154 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: of the game. I don't understand how he can, on 155 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 1: one hand, by our good friend calling cawhard friend of 156 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,719 Speaker 1: the show, can possibly be top five all time with 157 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: another championship, will also not being good enough to wear 158 00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: a loss like this on his shoulders as the leader 159 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:02,079 Speaker 1: and the player on the team. I don't get it. Yeah, Paul, 160 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 1: I mean, Paul George is playing awful, There's no doubt 161 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 1: about that. And listen, they can easily bounce back and 162 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 1: win the next the next game. But this series is 163 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: too too And if Porzingis comes back, and you've gotta 164 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: wonder how shook the Clippers are. I mean, defensively, you're 165 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 1: giving up a buck twenty five, a buck thirty without 166 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:21,559 Speaker 1: Patrick Beverley. I know he's a dog, and I my god, 167 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: Chris Bussard loves to say the Clippers got all these dogs. 168 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: I mean, you want a dog like Marcus Morris is 169 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 1: a dog. He can't guard anybody. Mantras Harrold shrinking under 170 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 1: bond villain Boban By the way, fun note, I was 171 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: eating dinner with my family pre pandemic and Boban was 172 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: like walking around and my kids are like, oh my gosh, 173 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: look at that guy. Who he must be in the 174 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: circus and I was like, no, no, that's this guy 175 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 1: on the Clippers, Bobond He's he's a giant. And of 176 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: course that was, you know when bobab was on the Clippers. 177 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 1: Now he plays for the Mats, and I mean he 178 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 1: is literally just turning around and dunking on Montros Harrold. 179 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: I mean, Rob Gee, I keep hearing about the dogs 180 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: in Marcus Morris and Montrez Harrold and Kauai and Paul George. 181 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: I'm not seeing it. I was so upset yesterday after 182 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:10,599 Speaker 1: the game because the first thing I wanted to do, 183 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: because you know, I produced the odd couple of chrisp 184 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:16,679 Speaker 1: We saw Rob Parker Weeknight seven, a MPMT shameless plug. 185 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: But Chris specifically has said all season the difference beween 186 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: the Lakers and the Clippers is the Clippers have all 187 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 1: these dogs in them, and last game in particular, they 188 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:30,959 Speaker 1: look like poodles. They don't look anything like these German 189 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: Shepherd pit bulls. I've been led to believe, and I 190 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:35,679 Speaker 1: wanted to call him out and clown Cris Brusstar is 191 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 1: so bad for what he's been saying. But the problem 192 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:41,559 Speaker 1: is is that he's also said that Luca don Ch 193 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 1: has like top ten all time potential, So he covered 194 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: his bases on both sides. So if I talk to 195 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: him about the Clippers, he can be like, well, I 196 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 1: told you Luca can do this. So it's kind of 197 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: frustrating because I really wanted to get into him, but 198 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: it's just it's just really bothered me on a a personal level. 199 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 1: I don't want to say only Luca was responsible for 200 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: this win. It's not just that a twenty one year 201 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: old European kid is destroying and eviscerating this allegedly great defense. Um, 202 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: let me give a shout out to Seth Curry, who 203 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 1: was pretty great again. Seth Curry story, by the way, 204 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:17,319 Speaker 1: is great. Undrafted in He's been on six different NBA teams. 205 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 1: I don't see how he's not a major contributor everywhere 206 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: in the league. This kid can play. And how about 207 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:25,320 Speaker 1: Trey Burke. Trey Burke had twenty five points in the 208 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 1: spots start for Porzingis. He's got to get a big 209 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 1: money deal next year. By the way, folks trade burd 210 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 1: is gonna get paid in he was on the Westchester Knicks. 211 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:38,640 Speaker 1: That's an n B and G League team. I mean, 212 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:40,560 Speaker 1: this guy was a lottery pick back in the day, 213 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,640 Speaker 1: bounced around teams the G League, and he just hung 214 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: twenty five on the alleged dog Clippers. I'm stunned at 215 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: this development. Like the Clippers are just a total embarrassing 216 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 1: by the way, guys, if they lose, oh my god, 217 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: if they lose this year, I don't even know. I 218 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: need to start to prepare mentally. If the Clippers lose 219 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: this year, I'll be just so geeked. All right, We've 220 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 1: we've done enough hammering of the don't want to cut 221 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 1: you off real quick. Can I just pour one out 222 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: for all the Doc Rivers apologists who have been telling 223 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 1: me for years that he's a great coach, you know, 224 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 1: discounting the fact that I think could I could be wrong, 225 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 1: but I'm almost positive I'm right. He has two separate 226 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 1: nineteen game losing streaks on his record, and he also 227 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: is the one of the originators of the blue A 228 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: three one lead with the Chris Paul lobsy D Clippers 229 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 1: against Houston. That's right, But I've been told he's this 230 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 1: great coach and he's the you know, the difference maker 231 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 1: for the Clippers. Rick Carlyle's coaching circles around him in 232 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: this series. I mean at the end of regulation on Sunday, 233 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: basically the Clippers had like eighteen seconds with the ball 234 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:45,960 Speaker 1: and it was Kauai pounding, pounding, and then he took 235 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 1: like a twenty ft fade away, fade away jumper for 236 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: the win. Like, what kind of play is that, Doc Rivers. 237 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:52,839 Speaker 1: Let's be real here, guys, And I said this about 238 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 1: Kevin Garnett Paul Pierce, Like, seriously, if you don't put 239 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 1: to if Danny Agan doesn't put together a dream team 240 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: with KG Pierce, Ray Allen, did he did? None of 241 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: those guys have titles. They put together a dream team 242 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:12,199 Speaker 1: to stop Lebron And that's for another podcast. But I mean, 243 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: other than that great team assembled by Danny Ains like 244 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: Dyack Rivers, I don't see it now. He's very well 245 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 1: liked in l A. He's a super nice guy, apparently 246 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 1: very popular among the media. Knows how to play that game, 247 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: so he's he gets a lot of passes. But you're right, 248 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 1: no doubt about rings half of those guys don't have jobs. Yeah. 249 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:31,840 Speaker 1: I like Kendrick Perkins, but he's not an NBA last 250 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 1: with that, With that ring, Paul Pierce probably is doing 251 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: like a local Kansas Jayhawks game if he doesn't have 252 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:42,319 Speaker 1: that ring. Alright, briefly elsewhere Sunday, as I said, Raptors 253 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 1: took down the nets Um guys. On on my Saturday 254 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: radio show last July, I did this fun rant blasting 255 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,199 Speaker 1: the Raptors because Kauai was leaving and Danny Green was leaving, 256 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: and I said, it's back to the basement, back to 257 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:59,560 Speaker 1: the seller. Nobody cares about the Raptors, and it was funny, um, 258 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 1: And of course they're not in the basement. The Raptors 259 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 1: are now in the second round, and I swear every 260 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: time they do something good tending with game winning streak, 261 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: somebody in Canada pops that and my Instagram and Twitter 262 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: is just flooded with responses and the video has got 263 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 1: like eight dred thousand views, which is I want to 264 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 1: get into a million, let's do that. So I think 265 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: I'm gonna have to have a guest from Toronto. I 266 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: keep going on these Toronto radio shows because you know, 267 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 1: people love to call in and just crush me. Oh 268 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 1: it was so wrong. Yeah, the Raptors are gonna face 269 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: the Celtics. I'm not giving away my pick now. The 270 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: season the series starts Thursday. Um, just for point of reference, Celtics, 271 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: did you know ding them up a little bit in 272 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:46,280 Speaker 1: the regular season, beat them three and one. Obviously Boston 273 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 1: has no margin for error without Gordon Hayward. But the 274 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: only Raptors advantage is the bench. We will talk about 275 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: that series much later in the week. Uh, and quickly 276 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 1: elsewhere Sunday. And I know there's some people out there, Jason, 277 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: what are you guys gonna do? NFL? And before I 278 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: get to the Nuggets Jazz breakdown, Like, let's be realistic. 279 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: There's no NFL games. Did you see the news that 280 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: there were seventies seven false positive and NFL COVID tests 281 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 1: over the weekend? Like that's where we are in the NFL. 282 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: There's no games to talk about. Hard knocks is boring. 283 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 1: I can't get into Antonio Brown maybe getting a look. 284 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously the Earl Thomas released from the Ravens 285 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: is a big story. But we're talking about a guy 286 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: who's over thirty. Um, his big his big claim to 287 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 1: fame outside of being parts of the Legion of Boom, 288 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 1: was that he was in an orgy this summer with 289 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: his brother during a national pandemic. Earl Thomas ditches his wife, 290 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: get some Instagram chicks and his brother and they have 291 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: an orgy. And then Earl Thomas his wife shows up 292 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: with a gun and puts a gun on him. Like, 293 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 1: that's the big story right now with Earl Thomas. I 294 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: personally think that's hilarious. It's one of the top five 295 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: of sports wacky, off the court, off the field stories 296 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 1: of the year. And then Earl Thomas went to Ravens 297 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 1: camp this week. I guess he was running his mouth 298 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: again and got in a fight with a teammate and 299 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: like the rest of the team was like, Yo, we 300 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 1: don't want this guy in the walker room. He's a 301 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer, no doubt, but he's a problem. Okay. 302 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: So that's the biggest story in the NFL. So we're 303 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 1: gonna do plenty of NFL right now. It's just the 304 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 1: NBA is hot and we do hot stories on here. 305 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: Hence the title straight fire. Okay, real quick um Okay. 306 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: First of all, seventy sixers are eliminated I'm sure we'll 307 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: get into that more later in the week. Actually, we 308 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 1: have a guest coming up, Rick Buker, the Great Rick Buker, 309 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: who will talk to you about a little seventy sixers action. 310 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 1: Who do you trade? But I just want to say, 311 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 1: real quick, nuggets Jazz and I don't know if you 312 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: feel the same way, rob G. But like, on the surface, 313 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 1: I wouldn't really care about this series, and then you 314 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 1: turn on a game and watch for like five minutes, 315 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: and guys, the ability of guys to make shots in 316 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 1: this league is off the charts. I know people want 317 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: to say the NBA is like too much scoring, no defense. 318 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 1: It's not just like there's layups. You've got like Jamal Murray, 319 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: who's not even a top twenty player in the league. 320 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:15,640 Speaker 1: He went for fifty on Sunday night. Donovan Mitchell had 321 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:20,199 Speaker 1: I think fifty one. I mean, yeah, like, these are 322 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,720 Speaker 1: guys who are not superstars and they're dropping fifty because 323 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: they don't miss. The shot making in the NBA right 324 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 1: now is incredible. The Raptors scored a hundred fifty on Sunday. 325 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 1: Hundred fifty. I mean, I love daties basketball. I grew 326 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: up watching Magic and Larry I was a magic guy obviously, 327 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:39,920 Speaker 1: and Jordan and the basketball in the eighties was great. 328 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 1: Basketball in the the nineties is a little more rugged, and 329 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:44,920 Speaker 1: you know, ninety point scoring games because they let people 330 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 1: tackle one another and a lot of fights. The the 331 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:51,920 Speaker 1: shot making in the NBA right now is absurd. Even 332 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 1: if you don't love the NBA and you're just listening 333 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: to this because you like me, I'm you like to 334 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 1: cut of my jib. I'm kind of funny. I put 335 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 1: things a perspective. Whatever. Just watch, okay, just watch a 336 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 1: little bit tonight and let me know, Holy cow, the 337 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:12,959 Speaker 1: level of that that the guys are really good and 338 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:16,439 Speaker 1: Nuggets Jazz was fun. Jamal Murray hit a three at 339 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 1: the buzzer for the cover. I didn't give it out here, 340 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: but I did bet it in game because I was 341 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: down thanks to the Clippers loss. But that's neither here 342 00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 1: nor there. Guys, coming up next, we got a great interview. 343 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: I'm talking to Rick Buker. He's FS one, he's bleacher, 344 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 1: he does a podcast, he used to work at ESPN. 345 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 1: He's got more jobs than I do. He knows the NBA. Well, 346 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: we'll talk to Rick Buker right after this. Jason likes 347 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:42,880 Speaker 1: to think he knows everything when it comes to sports. 348 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:46,440 Speaker 1: I know what sports fans want, but for everything he doesn't. 349 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:49,679 Speaker 1: He knows a guy who does. Let's just say I 350 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: know a guy who who knows a guy knows another guy. 351 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: All right, I'd like to welcome in a special guest 352 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:59,880 Speaker 1: to straight fire the great NBA veteran reporter. He's on TV, 353 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 1: he's got a podcast, he writes. I like to think 354 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: I have a lot of jobs, but Rick Buker has 355 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 1: me beat the great Rick Buker. How are you, Rick? 356 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 1: I'm doing well. How are you, Jason? Yeah, I'm enjoying 357 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: the NBA playoffs, that's for sure. We will get to 358 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:18,199 Speaker 1: UH Sunday's recap shortly, but I want to start with 359 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 1: the big game tonight. Lakers trying to take a three 360 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: one lead against Portland's You know, when Portland took that 361 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 1: one oh lead, there was some consternation among the Laker 362 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: fan base, Rick, and now everything seems to be okay. Hey, 363 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: Lebron's playing great, Anthony Davis is showing up k cps 364 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: making shots. Are the Lakers finally starting to look like 365 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:43,120 Speaker 1: the championship contender that many think they are I don't 366 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: know that they're looking like a championship contender. They are 367 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 1: looking like a team that should beat the Trailblazers, and 368 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 1: that there was some real question about that after Game 369 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 1: one and the way Game one went. But I'm still 370 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 1: seeing a lot of things that would worry me as 371 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,959 Speaker 1: are as their ability to to to win a championship. 372 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:07,400 Speaker 1: Their transition defense is really lazy. They are still giving 373 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:11,400 Speaker 1: up a lot of uh straight line drives to a 374 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:15,199 Speaker 1: team that certainly has great ball handlers. But there's a 375 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 1: size disadvantage to me. There's just some things that they're 376 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 1: gonna need to tighten up, and they're gonna have to 377 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 1: be more efficient with if if we're talking about winning 378 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: a championship. The other thing that concerns me is that 379 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 1: it's requiring a lot of energy from Lebron James. They 380 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 1: don't play well unless Lebron James plays well. And it's 381 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: been my contention if you look at some of the 382 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 1: other teams that are vying for a championship, their best 383 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 1: player doesn't can doesn't, can't play poorly, But there are 384 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 1: other guys who can pick up the slack and can 385 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:54,159 Speaker 1: play big and play big at the end of games 386 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 1: and win games. We've seen everybody's like knocking Paul George 387 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,719 Speaker 1: for the fact that he's been up and down, and 388 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 1: yet the Clippers continue to play well without because Kawhi 389 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: Leonards playing well. Uh, they're They're getting contributions from a 390 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 1: lot of different places, and that, to me is the 391 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,959 Speaker 1: biggest concern with the Lakers is are you going to 392 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:18,640 Speaker 1: get enough guys contributing on a regular basis if we're 393 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 1: talking about winning a championship, not beating the Blazers, but 394 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 1: winning a championship. Okay, okay, I jumped ahead. Championship. Let's 395 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:27,800 Speaker 1: back up to the second round when they get by 396 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: the Blazers. Um, you know they've really struggled. Containing Lillard 397 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 1: and McCollum made one of the best backcourts in the league. 398 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: They're gonna face another pretty good backcourt duo next round. 399 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: Assuming James Harden and Russell Westbrook, well, James Harden by 400 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 1: himself puts away. Okay see, um, I don't know. I 401 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: keep thinking that the Rockets are way more dangerous than Portland, 402 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:52,720 Speaker 1: and maybe even more dangerous to the Lakers than the Clippers, because, 403 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:56,400 Speaker 1: for whatever reason, Frank Vogel loves the big double centers 404 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:59,399 Speaker 1: and Anthony Davis hates to play the five. The Rockets 405 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 1: pose a see sgnificant threat. That's accurate, Right, I'm gonna 406 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: say yes. And I didn't always feel that way. I 407 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: wondered whether they could survive, and I still I guess 408 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:14,879 Speaker 1: the question still remains. When you ask so much of 409 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: one guy in James Harden, can he give it to 410 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:22,439 Speaker 1: you night in, night out, as the competition increases and 411 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:27,160 Speaker 1: as the playoffs go on, can he maintain this? That 412 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 1: is the biggest question that I have. But the way 413 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 1: they've been able to function playing super small and the 414 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 1: way that there I mean, Ben McLamore is hitting open threes. 415 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:43,639 Speaker 1: P J. Tucker, as we know, is the king of 416 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:47,879 Speaker 1: the corner three. Just watching them against okay See, like 417 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:54,240 Speaker 1: okay See hasn't played poorly, but nobody shoots the three 418 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 1: like Houston does. And so even when you're being efficient 419 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:01,719 Speaker 1: in your half court sets as a bigger team and 420 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 1: you're getting to the cup or you're getting it to 421 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,880 Speaker 1: your big and Steven Adams is core scoring, he's scoring, 422 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 1: you go to the other end and somebody's hitting a 423 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 1: wide open three and you've you you think you've done well, 424 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:16,919 Speaker 1: but you have lost in the exchange three to two, 425 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 1: and I think there's a pressure that comes with that 426 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 1: to start shooting threes the way Houston shoots threes, to 427 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:28,880 Speaker 1: to keep pace, and as a result, you end up 428 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:32,639 Speaker 1: doing something that they're ultimately better at. Yeah, and so 429 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 1: okay See struggle with that. It's a great point. They 430 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:38,320 Speaker 1: fell into the three point shooting uh in Game three. 431 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 1: But Rick, let me, I don't want to say that 432 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,160 Speaker 1: the Rockets are locked to get by okay See, because 433 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 1: I wonder in that overtime, for the first time in 434 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 1: the bubble, Harden looked a little bit tired. He did 435 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 1: take twenty seven shots, he missed, uh, fifteen of them 436 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: fouled out. He looked a little gas and okay Se 437 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: went small. I mean, it would be huge for the Lakers, 438 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:58,639 Speaker 1: obviously if they beat Portland for one and okay See's 439 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 1: able to push Houston. But do you think that the 440 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 1: Lakers have enough to get by the Rockets in the 441 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: second round. Yes, I do believe that they have enough, 442 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:12,880 Speaker 1: but they are going to have to play a lot harder, 443 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 1: more consistently than they have. And what's really interesting this 444 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 1: is one of the elements that I'm watching is everybody 445 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 1: has these. First of all, Alex Caruso became like a 446 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:32,840 Speaker 1: regular season hero, right, And people have high expectations for 447 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:36,199 Speaker 1: Kyle Kuzma because of his athleticism. Right, he's kind of 448 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 1: the the young gun among the top players with the 449 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:43,919 Speaker 1: with the Lakers, he compensates for what is otherwise a 450 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:49,200 Speaker 1: very old team. Right. But as the player like Alex 451 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:53,879 Speaker 1: Caruso is is being exposed as, oh, he's a really 452 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 1: nice regular season player, but now you get to the 453 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 1: playoffs and now you have to be a fishing or 454 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:04,159 Speaker 1: now you're not getting those calls, or now they have 455 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 1: to lean on him a little harder to make plays 456 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:11,160 Speaker 1: in big spots, and now you're not seeing it. You're 457 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:14,880 Speaker 1: not you're not seeing the same thing. And Kyle Kuzma's 458 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: erratic decision making like suddenly you go, oh, that's like 459 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:25,479 Speaker 1: that hurt. It Just the expectations and the level of 460 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 1: play goes up another level. And those guys who look 461 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:31,320 Speaker 1: good in the regular season because you could kind of 462 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: get get away with their mistakes and you could glorify 463 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 1: their successes, now the successes you have to have. That 464 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:40,440 Speaker 1: has to be part of the equation, and you gotta 465 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:42,399 Speaker 1: be able to get rid of some of those those 466 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: mistakes and and so that's that's where I'm concerned, is 467 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:52,919 Speaker 1: you're relying on guys in Kuzma and Caruso. I mean, 468 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:55,200 Speaker 1: it's I'm not making this up right, If you look 469 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:59,920 Speaker 1: at them, you're expecting contributions, Jason, You're expecting those guys 470 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:05,680 Speaker 1: to contribute in some significant way, right kind of. I mean, 471 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:08,720 Speaker 1: Caruso was solid in Game three. He was forgettable in 472 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 1: the first two games. He had ten point seven assists 473 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:13,480 Speaker 1: in that Game three win. But I think that's probably 474 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 1: exceeding what you're saying the Lakers should expect. So so 475 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:19,680 Speaker 1: here's the thing. So you we have Danny Green, you 476 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 1: have k c you have Kyle Kuzma, and you uh uh, 477 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:28,000 Speaker 1: and you have Alex Caruso, Like you have to have 478 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:32,120 Speaker 1: at least two of those guys show up every game, right, 479 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:38,679 Speaker 1: at least two, at least two. Are you confident that 480 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:42,040 Speaker 1: you're going to get something out of two out of 481 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:47,199 Speaker 1: the four every game? I mean, Rick, I'm hopeful that 482 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: Rondo's back spasms, uh, you know, subside and he's able 483 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 1: to chip in because I think him as a secondary 484 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 1: ball handler would be massive, and then Dion Waiters. I 485 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 1: don't know what's going on with Deon Waiters. He's somehow, 486 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:02,000 Speaker 1: uh fallen out of favor with Frank Vogel. I mean, 487 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:04,680 Speaker 1: he's behind j R. Smith in the rotation. I don't 488 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:07,080 Speaker 1: have you heard anything as to what Waiters did or 489 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:09,080 Speaker 1: said that's got him kind of in the doghouse. I 490 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:11,800 Speaker 1: I don't. I don't know that it's anything that Waiters did. 491 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:14,840 Speaker 1: I honestly, I feel like they needed to get j R. 492 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:18,480 Speaker 1: Smith in the shape and then to see what he has. 493 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:22,080 Speaker 1: You're seeing the same thing with the Clippers. They started 494 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 1: Reggie Jackson, they started Landry Shammont. I was really amazed. 495 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:29,359 Speaker 1: I was like, why is Doc still playing Landry Shammont? 496 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:32,680 Speaker 1: He was so bad in the bubble. He could not 497 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:34,760 Speaker 1: hit a three, he could not hit the three. He 498 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:37,000 Speaker 1: had wide open threes that he was missing left and right, 499 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 1: And I'm like, at some point, don't you have to 500 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:41,439 Speaker 1: put this guy on the shelf. But I think what 501 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:44,679 Speaker 1: the what what coaches are doing is they're looking at 502 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 1: the fact that this schedule where you're playing every other 503 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:55,200 Speaker 1: day without a break, and you're playing playoff level basketball. 504 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:58,880 Speaker 1: It's like they're trying to protect guys from getting hurt 505 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:03,399 Speaker 1: having to play at this level this frequently with the 506 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 1: relatively short run up. So it's like, you know what, 507 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 1: I'm going to continue to go onto my bench. I'm 508 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:11,080 Speaker 1: gonna continue to try to milk minutes from different places. 509 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:15,400 Speaker 1: And when we get to a place where the series 510 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:19,480 Speaker 1: is two two or three two, or we're we're we're 511 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:23,680 Speaker 1: in a need situation, then I'll tighten up my my 512 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:27,399 Speaker 1: my rotation. But for now, it's like I need to 513 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:30,880 Speaker 1: just be able to utilize everybody so that I'm not 514 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:34,240 Speaker 1: putting too much stress on any one player. And we 515 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:37,120 Speaker 1: saw that with the Clippers on Sunday, right Porzingis had 516 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:40,160 Speaker 1: thirty four in game two. Sorry, Game three was great, 517 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:43,160 Speaker 1: and then he couldn't go, you know, in game four 518 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 1: because of Nis Sortists, and I wonder, you're right if 519 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 1: you're onto something with the injuries, Rick, let's quickly move 520 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 1: on to a team Sunday that you know, they had 521 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:53,480 Speaker 1: the loss of Ben Simmons and they never looked right. 522 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 1: You could argue they never were in a game really 523 00:28:56,960 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 1: against the Celtics. I mean they had a couple of 524 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:01,640 Speaker 1: moments here and there, but you know, we we were 525 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:03,880 Speaker 1: kind of early on this rick last week we said, like, listen, 526 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:06,200 Speaker 1: the process is over. You're gonna have to look at 527 00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 1: Dustin Brett Brown. I think Elton brand is gonna face 528 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:11,959 Speaker 1: some scrutiny here for the contracts he gave out like 529 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:16,160 Speaker 1: candy last summer. I'll start you off big picture here. 530 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 1: Where do you go from here? If you're the Sixers 531 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:22,720 Speaker 1: you got swept by the Celtics, who goes, who stays? 532 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:25,520 Speaker 1: And who do you put on the trade block? The 533 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:29,480 Speaker 1: difficulty is what can you get back for Ben Simmons 534 00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:33,400 Speaker 1: or Joel Embiid. At this point, that's going to be 535 00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 1: It's gonna make you appreciably better. First of all, they 536 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 1: have huge contracts and now not one, but both of 537 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:43,960 Speaker 1: them have injury questions. So like, if I'm another team 538 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:49,200 Speaker 1: the talent, yeah, like I I I could see wanting 539 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 1: either guy, But is either am I giving away healthy 540 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 1: pieces for these guys? I mean, let's let's flip it around. 541 00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:01,040 Speaker 1: I'm a GM who acquires Joel m bead and then 542 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:03,680 Speaker 1: he gets hurt, I might as well just hand in 543 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:07,720 Speaker 1: my top, my my resignation, right, and because I can't 544 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:10,600 Speaker 1: go well, I didn't see that coming or or Ben 545 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:13,680 Speaker 1: Simmons at this point, like the in the patel a 546 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 1: tendon injury that he has, the back injury. These are 547 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:20,840 Speaker 1: not like rolled ankles. These aren't like torn meniscus, These 548 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:25,880 Speaker 1: aren't stand These are the kind of injuries that raise 549 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:32,040 Speaker 1: red flags as far as having long term issues. So honestly, I, 550 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:34,400 Speaker 1: you know, the the easiest thing is to change out 551 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:37,400 Speaker 1: the coach. I would fully expect that that that that 552 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 1: that that that's going to happen at this point. But 553 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:43,360 Speaker 1: because but it's and it's not so much that Brett 554 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 1: Brown couldn't coach them, it's that now you need to 555 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 1: turn the responsibility on Ben and Joel and say, look, 556 00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:58,600 Speaker 1: all right, coaches gone, we got a new coach. You 557 00:30:58,640 --> 00:31:01,880 Speaker 1: guys need to oh that that was the problem and 558 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:07,120 Speaker 1: that you're not the problem. I, on one hand, becomes 559 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:09,880 Speaker 1: Elton brand I love the fact that he decided, you 560 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:14,280 Speaker 1: know what, everybody's playing small, We're gonna go the other direction. 561 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:18,240 Speaker 1: We're gonna go big, and we're gonna we're gonna beat 562 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:21,520 Speaker 1: people up and we're gonna we're gonna we're gonna zig 563 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:24,240 Speaker 1: when everybody's aggs. I I don't I don't have a 564 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:28,560 Speaker 1: problem with that. I think that's I get it. It's 565 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 1: kind of the way they did it, like Al Horford 566 00:31:31,880 --> 00:31:35,560 Speaker 1: giving him that kind of money at his age, if 567 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:37,760 Speaker 1: he was a big and he was twenty seven and 568 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:41,560 Speaker 1: you still had that that like he had that market value. 569 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:46,080 Speaker 1: But moving out at this point, like who has taken 570 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:49,920 Speaker 1: on that money, especially with the salary cap potentially going down? 571 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:53,560 Speaker 1: They just handled themselves in the corner. How about this, 572 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:56,200 Speaker 1: if you're the Atlanta Hawks, I think you had the 573 00:31:56,280 --> 00:31:59,600 Speaker 1: youngest team in the league, You have no veteran presence 574 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:02,000 Speaker 1: in that locker room, you have a ton of salary 575 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 1: cap space. Obviously don't want to take on a bad contract. 576 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 1: But it's rick It's not like the Hawks are luring 577 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 1: any top tier free agents there. So if you're Atlanta, 578 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:14,280 Speaker 1: do you consider Al Horford as a potential mentor to 579 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:18,760 Speaker 1: the likes of Clint Capella, John Collins, even a trey 580 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:21,560 Speaker 1: young DeAndre Hunter learned how to be a professional, how 581 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 1: to show up for work every day, do the right thing. 582 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:26,360 Speaker 1: I mean, is that crazy to say? I'm sure Hawks 583 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:28,640 Speaker 1: fans would hate taking on a bad contract, but the 584 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:31,320 Speaker 1: reality is nobody's they're They're not getting anybody to go there. 585 00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:34,680 Speaker 1: In free agency that the Hawks have seen Al Horford 586 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:39,280 Speaker 1: as I know. I know that yet and well, and 587 00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:41,360 Speaker 1: this is the tricky part when it comes to Al 588 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:44,760 Speaker 1: is that Al is the consummate professional. He is a 589 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:48,800 Speaker 1: lead by example guy, but he's not a voice in 590 00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:51,560 Speaker 1: that locker room. And he's and and there are times 591 00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:55,400 Speaker 1: where that's what you need. And that's that's the that's 592 00:32:55,440 --> 00:32:59,400 Speaker 1: the misnomer in in thinking that Al is going to 593 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:04,520 Speaker 1: provide that, and honestly, it's what Philadelphia desperately needs. Like 594 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:10,200 Speaker 1: losing JJ Reddick, losing Jimmy Butler, those were the veteran 595 00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:14,080 Speaker 1: vocal guys in the locker room, and that's what they 596 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:18,320 Speaker 1: do not have. And the tricky part is, I don't 597 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:20,760 Speaker 1: know where they're going to get it. Owl's not that 598 00:33:20,880 --> 00:33:25,800 Speaker 1: Tobias is not that Joel is is is a goofy kid. 599 00:33:25,920 --> 00:33:28,480 Speaker 1: He's still a goofy kid. He still plays like a 600 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:33,520 Speaker 1: goofy kid. Ben doesn't hold anybody accountable, like he doesn't 601 00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:36,600 Speaker 1: call himself accountable. Yeah, And I mean, that's that's the 602 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,040 Speaker 1: heart of it. When you have a guy in Ben 603 00:33:39,080 --> 00:33:46,200 Speaker 1: Simmons who has resisted developing a jump shot when that 604 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:51,080 Speaker 1: is critical to the success of the team, and that's 605 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:55,840 Speaker 1: your leader. The excuse that gives everybody else when you go, hey, 606 00:33:55,840 --> 00:33:57,720 Speaker 1: you listen, you gotta do this. You gotta develop this, 607 00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:00,320 Speaker 1: you gotta develop your left hand. You gotta be able 608 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:03,320 Speaker 1: to like whatever it is. Every guy's gonna look at 609 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 1: and go he's not You're not making him do it, 610 00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:09,040 Speaker 1: and he's more critical than I am. Like it. It 611 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:13,279 Speaker 1: eats away at the fabric of your team. When your 612 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:17,640 Speaker 1: best players, when Joel Embad is not getting in in 613 00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:24,200 Speaker 1: premium shape, when Ben Simmons is not completing his talent 614 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:28,080 Speaker 1: his skill set like this, that the example that sets 615 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:31,440 Speaker 1: for the rest of your team is crushing. If you 616 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:33,680 Speaker 1: want to win a championship, there's just there's Like you 617 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:36,879 Speaker 1: can blame Bett Brown all you want. When your two 618 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:40,960 Speaker 1: best players are setting that example, there is no chance 619 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:45,080 Speaker 1: of you winning a championship. I mean double zero. Rick. 620 00:34:45,160 --> 00:34:48,120 Speaker 1: I wish that that shot by Kauai last year, that 621 00:34:48,200 --> 00:34:50,840 Speaker 1: Game seven buzzer beater had not gone in, because I 622 00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:53,360 Speaker 1: would have loved to see what would happen six Ers Bucks. 623 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:57,839 Speaker 1: We're right, we would have got Embad versus Janice. I 624 00:34:57,880 --> 00:35:01,760 Speaker 1: love that Jimmy Butler wing with the you know jj Reddick, 625 00:35:01,760 --> 00:35:03,280 Speaker 1: As you said, like that would have been the series. 626 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:05,400 Speaker 1: It felt like that was the end of the process. 627 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:08,880 Speaker 1: And then a bunch of clownish decisions in the off season. 628 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:11,759 Speaker 1: And and that's the thing is, like, so say they 629 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:15,399 Speaker 1: go to the next level, say they say they say 630 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:18,719 Speaker 1: they played for a championship. Don't you think Philadelphia takes 631 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:22,200 Speaker 1: a completely different approach to the to the offseason. I 632 00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:27,399 Speaker 1: mean it really is like the direction of teams can 633 00:35:27,560 --> 00:35:32,400 Speaker 1: change on a on a game like that, and you 634 00:35:32,440 --> 00:35:35,879 Speaker 1: can go from this is what we could have been. 635 00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:38,279 Speaker 1: I mean, it's funny because I'm I'm working on a 636 00:35:39,239 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 1: working on a book with Brian grant Um his memorials. 637 00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:51,400 Speaker 1: He's battling Parkinson's now and he played on the Portland's 638 00:35:51,400 --> 00:35:56,399 Speaker 1: team that was really good and got stopped in its 639 00:35:56,400 --> 00:36:00,000 Speaker 1: tracks by San Antonio with the miracle shot by shot 640 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:03,799 Speaker 1: on Elliott and the San Antonio Spurs go on and 641 00:36:03,840 --> 00:36:08,279 Speaker 1: they play the Knicks in the in the finals, that 642 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:11,000 Speaker 1: eight seeded Knicks team that beat the Miami Heat in 643 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:17,319 Speaker 1: the lockout year. San Antonio wins its first championship and 644 00:36:17,440 --> 00:36:23,720 Speaker 1: totally different approach. Portland loses and they move some pieces, 645 00:36:23,760 --> 00:36:27,160 Speaker 1: they bring some veteran guys in like Steve Smith and 646 00:36:27,280 --> 00:36:30,520 Speaker 1: uh And and Scottie Pippen. And then they go for 647 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:33,640 Speaker 1: it and they lose the game seven to the Lakers. 648 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:37,080 Speaker 1: And then and the Lakers turn the corner and they 649 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:41,400 Speaker 1: become a championship team, and the Blazers have to go 650 00:36:41,480 --> 00:36:44,759 Speaker 1: back to the drawing board again. And and it's like, 651 00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:48,640 Speaker 1: you look at what you know, how close certain teams 652 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:51,680 Speaker 1: get to that point, they get to the top of 653 00:36:51,680 --> 00:36:55,160 Speaker 1: the mountain and they can't take that last step, and 654 00:36:55,200 --> 00:36:58,400 Speaker 1: then it's like it's almost like it never happened. Okay, 655 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:00,560 Speaker 1: so that's perfect. Let me wrap up with this. So 656 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 1: the Golden State Warriors, of course, we're on track to 657 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:06,839 Speaker 1: win the title. Last year, Durant goes down, Clay goes down. 658 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:08,799 Speaker 1: They're a train wreck. This year they now got to 659 00:37:08,800 --> 00:37:10,440 Speaker 1: have the number to pick in the draft. But Rick, 660 00:37:10,480 --> 00:37:12,600 Speaker 1: what's interesting to me is there's a lot of talk 661 00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:16,840 Speaker 1: about this trade exception that they have seventeen million dollars. Okay, 662 00:37:16,840 --> 00:37:22,040 Speaker 1: they've got Draymond Wiggins, Clay Curry. I know we're in 663 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:24,080 Speaker 1: a pandemic and a lot of owners are stretched thin. 664 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:28,040 Speaker 1: But if I'm Curry and Clay and Draymond. I'm saying, hey, listen, 665 00:37:28,040 --> 00:37:29,880 Speaker 1: we've got the core to make a run. Look at 666 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:33,560 Speaker 1: the West, Okay, Lebron and the Lakers look susceptible. Uh, 667 00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:34,960 Speaker 1: You've got a lot of teams that are on the 668 00:37:34,960 --> 00:37:36,719 Speaker 1: come up. The West is gonna be stacked next year. 669 00:37:36,719 --> 00:37:40,359 Speaker 1: The Sons could be players. Let's make a go. Do 670 00:37:40,480 --> 00:37:44,640 Speaker 1: you think the Warriors make any dramatic changes in terms 671 00:37:44,719 --> 00:37:47,000 Speaker 1: of some kind of package of Wiggins in the number 672 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:49,560 Speaker 1: two or making a move on someone for the trade exception? 673 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:53,080 Speaker 1: You know, I know it. It feels like the end 674 00:37:53,120 --> 00:37:55,719 Speaker 1: for the Warriors, but I feel like their ownership is 675 00:37:55,760 --> 00:37:59,920 Speaker 1: gonna make one more play. I don't see it. Oh good, 676 00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:05,319 Speaker 1: this it's and it's simply because one, I don't know 677 00:38:05,440 --> 00:38:09,640 Speaker 1: who you're going to get with the Wiggins draft pick 678 00:38:10,520 --> 00:38:14,759 Speaker 1: package that is going to make them demonstrably better, like 679 00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:17,520 Speaker 1: that are gonna put them in that category. And the 680 00:38:17,560 --> 00:38:22,439 Speaker 1: other part is you need you need that. You need 681 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:25,600 Speaker 1: that rookie salary. You know, you need a good player 682 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:30,879 Speaker 1: on the rookie salary because they are very expensive. They 683 00:38:30,920 --> 00:38:34,480 Speaker 1: have a brand new arena that Joe Lacolb financed. You're 684 00:38:34,480 --> 00:38:37,040 Speaker 1: not you don't have any concerts in there. You don't 685 00:38:37,080 --> 00:38:41,120 Speaker 1: have any fans in there like they For as brilliant 686 00:38:41,320 --> 00:38:45,719 Speaker 1: as they have been and as great as that was, 687 00:38:46,800 --> 00:38:51,080 Speaker 1: uh financially to create that, they are hurting in the 688 00:38:51,120 --> 00:38:54,279 Speaker 1: biggest way possible. So I just don't see where you 689 00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:58,719 Speaker 1: go that. And quite honestly, now you're putting yourself in 690 00:38:58,719 --> 00:39:01,680 Speaker 1: a position where you're whole team is going to get 691 00:39:01,719 --> 00:39:04,680 Speaker 1: old at the same time you need and they have 692 00:39:04,960 --> 00:39:08,400 Speaker 1: no young players to develop on like I'm I I 693 00:39:08,480 --> 00:39:11,320 Speaker 1: have to, I can't look at I'm gonna throw everything 694 00:39:11,360 --> 00:39:14,680 Speaker 1: against the wall in order to get one last stab 695 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:19,239 Speaker 1: with Clay Steph and Dre And then what then I 696 00:39:19,280 --> 00:39:24,839 Speaker 1: had what Jordan's pool Eric Paschal. No, they don't, they 697 00:39:24,840 --> 00:39:28,279 Speaker 1: don't have no they I mean they they haven't. And 698 00:39:28,280 --> 00:39:31,160 Speaker 1: and it's funny. I just did this piece on t J. 699 00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:35,920 Speaker 1: Warren sent to the Pacers for cash considerations, and I 700 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:39,560 Speaker 1: was thinking, that's the guy that the Warriors needed to 701 00:39:39,600 --> 00:39:43,560 Speaker 1: get because he's a scorer. He can play that three 702 00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:46,279 Speaker 1: four position, but he's a scorer with a conscience. He's 703 00:39:46,280 --> 00:39:49,160 Speaker 1: a kind of guy who can fill it up, but 704 00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:52,040 Speaker 1: he wants to play the right way, so he would 705 00:39:52,080 --> 00:39:56,280 Speaker 1: have no problem He has the same mindset as Steph 706 00:39:56,440 --> 00:40:00,000 Speaker 1: and Clay and Dre, which is I want to play. Yeah, 707 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:01,680 Speaker 1: so I could score, Yeah, I can do my thing, 708 00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:06,400 Speaker 1: but I want to play team basketball. And that's the 709 00:40:06,560 --> 00:40:09,040 Speaker 1: kind like if they were really light years ahead of 710 00:40:09,080 --> 00:40:13,520 Speaker 1: everybody else, as Joe like a once said, that's the 711 00:40:13,560 --> 00:40:17,040 Speaker 1: guy that you find who is at that age and 712 00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:19,960 Speaker 1: has that ability where you find that diamond in the rough, 713 00:40:20,640 --> 00:40:23,719 Speaker 1: and they missed on that, and and it's now it's 714 00:40:23,760 --> 00:40:26,840 Speaker 1: like now you'd be chasing the dragon. You're trying to, 715 00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:29,719 Speaker 1: like trying to get something that I just don't think 716 00:40:29,800 --> 00:40:32,680 Speaker 1: is there to be got. All right, Rick Buker obviously 717 00:40:32,719 --> 00:40:35,279 Speaker 1: follow him on social media, knows the NBA as well 718 00:40:35,320 --> 00:40:37,360 Speaker 1: as anybody. Rick, Thanks a lot for your time. Enjoy 719 00:40:37,680 --> 00:40:45,840 Speaker 1: the rest of the playoffs. You gotta chasing YouTube. The 720 00:40:45,880 --> 00:40:48,959 Speaker 1: only thing better than sitting on your couch watching the game. 721 00:40:49,640 --> 00:40:58,239 Speaker 1: He's making money while you do it. Here's your best bet, right, 722 00:40:58,320 --> 00:41:02,600 Speaker 1: best bet moved to five and to Friday night with 723 00:41:03,800 --> 00:41:06,440 Speaker 1: a victory, and I've already forgotten more game it was. 724 00:41:06,480 --> 00:41:09,200 Speaker 1: There's a million games over the weekend. Forgive me for that. 725 00:41:09,440 --> 00:41:12,560 Speaker 1: I looked really hard at Houston bouncing back up. But 726 00:41:12,640 --> 00:41:14,959 Speaker 1: I'm let me just put the concern out there now. 727 00:41:15,560 --> 00:41:17,560 Speaker 1: James Harden for the first time. We know he's got 728 00:41:17,600 --> 00:41:21,640 Speaker 1: some history of wearing down in the postseason. He's looked 729 00:41:22,080 --> 00:41:25,960 Speaker 1: fresh throughout the bubble restart. But James Harden late in 730 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:29,160 Speaker 1: that okay, see game, looked a little tired. Twenty seven shots, 731 00:41:29,239 --> 00:41:32,480 Speaker 1: no rush to defer to, he did foul out and 732 00:41:32,640 --> 00:41:35,640 Speaker 1: UM shot selection wasn't great. I don't think I can 733 00:41:35,760 --> 00:41:38,200 Speaker 1: ride Houston. I told you I'm done with the double 734 00:41:38,200 --> 00:41:41,560 Speaker 1: digit favorite, so obviously that rules out in Milwaukee. I 735 00:41:41,600 --> 00:41:44,399 Speaker 1: wanted to get cute into a Portland's first half bet 736 00:41:44,400 --> 00:41:46,680 Speaker 1: because I think that's their best bet. They show up 737 00:41:46,680 --> 00:41:49,560 Speaker 1: early in the first or maybe first quarter, Lakers those 738 00:41:49,560 --> 00:41:53,479 Speaker 1: slow starts. But I'm gonna ride my guys the Miami heat. 739 00:41:53,600 --> 00:41:57,319 Speaker 1: I think if you're Indiana and you're now down what 740 00:41:57,440 --> 00:42:00,880 Speaker 1: is it? Three oh? In this series, it's like, what 741 00:42:00,960 --> 00:42:03,040 Speaker 1: are we doing here? I've been in the bubble for 742 00:42:03,600 --> 00:42:06,200 Speaker 1: six seven weeks. I get to go out and see 743 00:42:06,239 --> 00:42:09,239 Speaker 1: my family. I'm sure guys are lining up some you know, 744 00:42:09,320 --> 00:42:11,439 Speaker 1: some of these Instagram girls they like to date, they're 745 00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:15,080 Speaker 1: already setting stuff up. Is the focus on Duncan Robinson 746 00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:19,040 Speaker 1: and Tyler Hero and Jimmy Butler and bam At of Bio. 747 00:42:19,719 --> 00:42:24,880 Speaker 1: I think Miami beats down Indiana. I also think Miami 748 00:42:24,920 --> 00:42:28,359 Speaker 1: will watch what Milwaukee does to to Orlando and say, yo, 749 00:42:28,480 --> 00:42:30,520 Speaker 1: we need an extra day off. We gotta take him down. 750 00:42:30,640 --> 00:42:33,440 Speaker 1: So give me the Miami Heat favored by six and 751 00:42:33,440 --> 00:42:37,120 Speaker 1: a half over Indiana as my best bet for Monday Night. 752 00:42:37,560 --> 00:42:39,959 Speaker 1: All right, guys, thanks a lot for listening. Another show 753 00:42:39,960 --> 00:42:43,000 Speaker 1: in the books. This one got a little long, but hey, Luca, 754 00:42:43,080 --> 00:42:46,839 Speaker 1: as we said historic stuff on Sunday, I can't wait. 755 00:42:46,880 --> 00:42:49,000 Speaker 1: This week is just gonna be awesome. Remember tell all 756 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:51,759 Speaker 1: your friends, subscribe, rate, and review. And I do see 757 00:42:51,760 --> 00:42:53,480 Speaker 1: all the tweets. I can't reply to all of them 758 00:42:53,560 --> 00:42:56,239 Speaker 1: or the Instagram d ms, but trust me, I see him. 759 00:42:57,000 --> 00:42:59,879 Speaker 1: As the show continues to game steam and momentum, I'm 760 00:43:00,040 --> 00:43:01,520 Speaker 1: is so excited and having a lot of fun, and 761 00:43:01,560 --> 00:43:04,320 Speaker 1: I'm glad you guys are on board. We'll talk tomorrow.