1 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:09,959 Speaker 1: This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. 2 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 2: What is up, straight Firefam, It's me Jason McIntyre. Straight 3 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 2: Fire for Monday, April twenty second. NBA playoffs are underway 4 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:25,280 Speaker 2: and kind of lacking for drama on that front. We'll 5 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 2: get to the playoffs obviously very shortly. It was a 6 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 2: long chaotic weekend for your boy. My oldest buddy had 7 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 2: a at a birthday party and he decided to have 8 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:38,279 Speaker 2: it in Nashville over the weekend. So I did one 9 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 2: of these like sixty hour trips into Nashville, and man, 10 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 2: it was one of those like debauchery filled weekends where 11 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,840 Speaker 2: it was essentially like, show up, here's some alcohol, don't 12 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 2: stop drinking, barely eat, go to bed at like, you know, 13 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 2: way past like three in the morning, which is way 14 00:00:56,480 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 2: late for your boy. Wake up early. Let's go lunch 15 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 2: to start drinking again. And then it's just like do 16 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 2: I just my body can't take that stuff. Your boys 17 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 2: getting old. But ran into a couple of HERD fans 18 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 2: out there, and it was let's just say it was 19 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 2: a good time. I'll say this. I had never been 20 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: to Nashville. Obviously, the guys, you know, the trip was 21 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,960 Speaker 2: pretty awesome, and they're already we got to do this 22 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 2: annually or or you know, twice a year, which is 23 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 2: there's no way my liver would survive that. But it was. 24 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 2: It's one of those cities where you hear hype and 25 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 2: you're like, oh, bachelorette capital the United States. It's the 26 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 2: New Vegas, nash Vegas, and it lived up to its name. 27 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:35,479 Speaker 2: I'm not gonna lie it was. It was pretty awesome 28 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 2: and I would recommend it, especially if you're a male 29 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 2: under thirty five years old. You got to get to 30 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 2: Nashville almost asaph. I'll leave it at that. I was 31 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 2: able to while we were day drinking and bar hopping 32 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 2: in Nashville. Watched some of the NBA game Saturday, and 33 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 2: obviously we'll cover a couple of those. I'm not gonna 34 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 2: go in every game in depth. The over arching macro 35 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 2: themes from the first weekend are very simple. Number one 36 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 2: home teams dominated just absolutely rolled, but even more impressive 37 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 2: than that, and not Dame Lillard, who was hella impressive. 38 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 2: I thought the biggest storyline was teams that were hugely 39 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 2: motivated came out and kicked a major ass. And I'm 40 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 2: not gonna go deep because this game is now two 41 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,080 Speaker 2: days old. But you had me pick the Sons. You 42 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 2: had everybody picking the Sons. Sons swept the Timberwolves in 43 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 2: the season series. I think they won every game by 44 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 2: more than ten points. Anthony Edwards struggled big time against 45 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 2: like Grayson Allen and all the Sons and Timberwolves. Can 46 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 2: we play go bear and cat. Timberwolves come out massively 47 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 2: motivated and they just wiped the floor with the Suns. Now, 48 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 2: that series kind of got interesting. I thought the Sons 49 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 2: were put up a fight. I thought they win the opener. 50 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 2: Interesting to see them kind of roll over like dogs 51 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 2: in game one. Did not expect to see that from 52 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 2: a KD team. But yeah, the Knicks. Soon as the 53 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 2: Sixers scraped by Miami, everybody and their mom uh oh, 54 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 2: Nicks in trouble. Joel embiid, it's gonna be a problem. 55 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 2: Sixers have two of the three best players in the series. 56 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 2: How was the Knicks gonna do this? And the Knicks 57 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 2: win and looked really really good. Now Joel Embie did 58 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 2: get hurt again. Even the Nuggets Lakers to a lesser 59 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 2: extent of the motivation. A lot of people, including you, 60 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 2: think the Lakers one of a couple, maybe a few, 61 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 2: but I think the biggest two were on Sunday. Obviously 62 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 2: the Bucks. No Johannis, Oh my goodness, they're in deep trouble. 63 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 2: I told you. I bet the Pacers Pacers the series 64 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 2: price was it was. They were not big underdogs, and 65 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 2: of course what happens. Dame Lillill comes out with one 66 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 2: of the greatest has we've seen in the last twenty 67 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 2: five years, drops thirty five and is totally dominant, and 68 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 2: the Bucks roll. I don't think the Pacers are dead. 69 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 2: I don't. I don't hate the parlay A Pacers from 70 00:03:57,760 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 2: the series. It's just one game. But the Bucks were motivated. 71 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 2: They've been playing like ass coming down the stretch. No 72 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 2: 'ah honest. I mean, the motivation was there, But I 73 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 2: think the biggest one was the team. You know, listen, 74 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 2: I said they're going to the finals, And obviously I 75 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 2: tried to stay off social media over the weekend. I 76 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 2: just looked at my timeline in the afternoon and it 77 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:17,280 Speaker 2: was just a bunch of Clippers fans. Oh j Mack 78 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 2: thought the MAVs were going to the finals. By man, 79 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 2: I was like, guys, let's is one game. Let's settle down, 80 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 2: think about this perspective. No Kawhi Leonard, by the way, 81 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 2: how scary is this? Kawhi Leonard has not done contact practices. 82 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:36,799 Speaker 2: How's he playing anytime soon? I don't know. This reeks 83 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:38,679 Speaker 2: of what happened with him at the end in San Antonio. 84 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,919 Speaker 2: What we'll see. So, no Kawhi. Everybody picked the MAVs 85 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 2: mas hottest team in the league. And when I say 86 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 2: everybody picked the MAVs, it wasn't just in game one. 87 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 2: It was to win the series. MAVs I think they 88 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,919 Speaker 2: were seventeen and two in the last nineteen games, Luca 89 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 2: getting first place MVP votes. It was like all the 90 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 2: talk was MAVs not Clippers. And what happened. MAVs came 91 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 2: out I think started two of eighteen from deep Clippers 92 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 2: couldn't miss uh and the MAVs get smoked. And now 93 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 2: it's like, oh, and the overreaction is, oh, come on, 94 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 2: MAVs are overrated. They'd be Tomato cans jay. All I'll 95 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 2: say is, let's just pump the brakes on making any 96 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 2: sweeping statements about the NBA playoffs. I will say this, 97 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 2: a lot of these results kind of lopsided, can give 98 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 2: you gambling opportunities for Game two. As soon as I 99 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 2: see the MAVs getting smoked, I said, well, you got 100 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 2: to load up on MAVs first quarter Game two against 101 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 2: the Clippers. That's got to be a must that's got 102 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 2: to be an auto bet. You don't kick Luca and 103 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 2: Kyrie's ass. I mean badly. They were up twenty most 104 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 2: of the game, and expect the MAVs not to give 105 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 2: a max effort of their own in Game two to start. 106 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 2: I think the same applied to the Suns. But I 107 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 2: don't know, Robi. I know you're mister Lakers, but that 108 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 2: game was Saturday. I'm just curious if you saw anything 109 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 2: else from a macro perspective and opening weekend in the playoffs. 110 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, for me, the biggest one was the Milwaukee 111 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:00,559 Speaker 3: Bucks and we'll get to the Clipper in a second. 112 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,359 Speaker 3: But I immediately wrote them off in this series against 113 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 3: Indiana so much. I think I had Indiana in five. 114 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 3: That's how confident I was with the Pacers offense and 115 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 3: no Giannis. And again you mentioned they've been scuffling down 116 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:16,919 Speaker 3: the stretch and Damian Lillard, who has been underwhelming, to 117 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 3: put it, politely this season in Milwaukee, whether it was 118 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 3: on the court, off the court, health issues distract and 119 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 3: I don't know what it was, but he has not 120 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 3: been Dame time for a hot minute there in Milwaukee. 121 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 3: And for him to explode the way he did in 122 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 3: the first half and basically just take the PACER's heart 123 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 3: in the first twelve minutes of the game was something 124 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 3: that I would have never expected to see happen. If 125 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 3: Damian Lillard, I'm not saying he's gonna score thirty five 126 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 3: points in and a half, but if he can be 127 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 3: the best player in this series moving forward, then not 128 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 3: only should this be a long series, but Milwaukee should 129 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 3: probably win it just based on the experience factor and 130 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 3: Dame bing Dame is something that Indiana she doesn't have 131 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 3: right now because you're such a young team. So that 132 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 3: was one that really took me by surprise. The Clippers 133 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 3: and the MAVs one. I mean, I was even watching 134 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 3: the halftime show and Stephen A. Smith said exactly what 135 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 3: I was thinking. It's so hard to take something from 136 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 3: that game because Dallas scored eight points in the second quarter, 137 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 3: Like that's just not who they are, That's not what 138 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 3: you can expect to happen. It wasn't like the Clippers 139 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 3: were playing this extreme four pistons lockdown defense out there. 140 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 3: It was just they could not make a shot to 141 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 3: save their lives. And by the time they got things 142 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 3: going there in the second half, they were already in 143 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 3: such a deep hole it didn't really matter. So for Dallas, 144 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 3: I again, like you, I had to go out in 145 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 3: the limb. I picked them to come out of the 146 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 3: Western Conference. I don't feel great about it after what 147 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 3: Denver did to my Lakers, and they easily look like 148 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 3: the best team this whole weekend. But if I'm a 149 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 3: Dallas fan, I'm not worried at all aboutting down Oh one. 150 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 3: I think that that was such a fluky quarter for 151 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 3: them that kind of did them in that when we 152 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 3: see them again, the next time we speak about a 153 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 3: Clippers MAVs game will either be talking about it being 154 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 3: one to one or the mass feeling really good about themselves, 155 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 3: even mcdando two because of the way that they match 156 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 3: up against this Clippers team. 157 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 2: And you know that Clippers. The shooting was just unbelievable. 158 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 2: They were so on fire. Eighteen of thirty six from 159 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 2: Deep James Harden and Paul George made ten three pointers, 160 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 2: which is as many as the entire MAVs team. Now, 161 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 2: Luca did not have a great game. I'll be honest. 162 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 2: Luca left a lot of shots short. Thirty three points 163 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 2: on twenty six shots. Kyrie Irving, Listen, you guys know 164 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 2: I'm not the biggest Kyrie Irving fan. He seems to 165 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 2: have cleaned up his act. I'm just saying, Rob, if 166 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 2: you're just like rating individual performances from the weekend, I listen. 167 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 2: Obviously Dame's got to be there. Anthony Edwards has to 168 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 2: be there. I don't know how you keep Kyrie out 169 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 2: of it because he single handedly I think he had 170 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 2: twenty in the third quarter and the game was you know, 171 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 2: they were down big, but he was unstop, like there 172 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 2: was I know he's really really good and we know 173 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 2: he could finish among anybody, but like he was locked 174 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 2: in on defense. He was like playing that. I was like, wow, Kyrie, Now, 175 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 2: if you want to get real spicy, Rob And again, 176 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 2: this is what we do. We do do the hot takes, 177 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:15,679 Speaker 2: this speculative stuff. Let's just say hypothetically, Okay, it's just 178 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 2: one game. We're just off the board here. MAVs lose 179 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 2: the series four two. Okay, they missed the playoffs last 180 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 2: year after the trade for Kyrie, and they lose in 181 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 2: the first round this year. Is Kyrie on the MAVs 182 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:36,959 Speaker 2: next season? And if not, like what happens? Because guys, 183 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 2: we know this. When things go sideways with Kyrie, teams 184 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 2: usually tumultuous off seasons follow. And how angry is Lucas 185 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 2: gonna be? We lost to the to the Clippers three 186 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:50,839 Speaker 2: times and I got one time, I had Brunson, one 187 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 2: time I had Porzingis, one time I had Kyrie? Like, guys, 188 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 2: what are we doing? And I know people say you 189 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 2: just got to be patient? Jay, Remember Michael Jordan couldn't 190 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 2: get buy anybody for this first like six years. I 191 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 2: think things are a little different, like the free agency 192 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 2: and the forcing your way to certain teams. That stuff 193 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 2: wasn't as hot back in the eighties or even nineties 194 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 2: than it is now. Things go sideways in the playoffs 195 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,959 Speaker 2: quickly for teams and rob you know that. Listen, I 196 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:22,440 Speaker 2: don't care what happened over eighty two games. Largely nobody does. 197 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 2: Regular seasons do not matter. You can hype them up 198 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 2: in Baseball NFL, they just don't matter. The playoffs are 199 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:34,199 Speaker 2: where the offseasons discussion really begins. We can have fun like, oh, 200 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 2: could this guy ask out? That's fine. I can see 201 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 2: something happening with Kyrie Irving if the Maps get bounced, 202 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 2: especially if Kawhi doesn't play at all and the Maps 203 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 2: still lose. 204 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 205 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:50,679 Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio 206 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to 207 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 1: listen live. 208 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 3: That's spicy. That's very spicy for a Monday morning. I'll 209 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 3: tell you, I disagree with you. I don't think that 210 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 3: if they end up getting unceremoniously bounced out in this 211 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,560 Speaker 3: series that Kyrie you would ask how or something like that. 212 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 3: I think more likely is you would see them kind 213 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 3: of double and triple down on the duo. Because one 214 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 3: thing that's kind of played itself out here in this 215 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:21,599 Speaker 3: first weekend of the playoffs is you need a team nowadays, 216 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:24,439 Speaker 3: Like just having two guys three guys doing all the 217 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 3: heavy lifting is not gonna get it done anymore. This 218 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 3: is not twenty twelve, it's not twenty fifteen. Like that, 219 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:35,319 Speaker 3: that's just not gonna work anymore. Kyrie and Luca are 220 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 3: not the problem. 221 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 2: So you're saying they can add a third guy. 222 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:41,080 Speaker 3: No, I'm saying that you're not gonna be looking for 223 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:44,080 Speaker 3: another star player. What you're gonna be looking for is 224 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 3: to upgrade the Tim Hardaway junior minutes. Right, you're gonna 225 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 3: be looking to upgrade the Dante Exe minutes. You're gonna 226 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 3: be looking to upgrade the Derek Jones junior. Like, that's 227 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 3: what you're gonna be looking to do. Because the same 228 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 3: thing happened with the Lakers, right, because Kyrie and Luca 229 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 3: were at least offensively, they were fine. I know Luca 230 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 3: wasn't the most efficient, that what you expect from him, 231 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 3: but you could do a lot worse than what he did. 232 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:09,199 Speaker 3: The same thing happened with the Lakers on Saturday night. 233 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 3: Lebron and Ad were fantastic for most of that game 234 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 3: Aad was easily the best player on the floor. Luca 235 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:20,080 Speaker 3: was second. I think Lebron was easily the third best player. 236 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 2: Wait, wait, hold on, you thought Ad was the best 237 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 2: player on the floor Saturday night, Yes, I think so. Wow. 238 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 3: Anthony Davis had the same thing in Game one of 239 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 3: last year. Anthony Davis was a monster in game one 240 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:33,079 Speaker 3: and they still lost. Anthony Davis was a monster last 241 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 3: night and game or Saturday night in game one. 242 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 2: Can I give you my only gripe with Ad Sure? 243 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 2: I mean, I know, forty five minutes, thirty two points, 244 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 2: I get all that four blocks, blah blah. I don't 245 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 2: like when he takes so many three pointers. He attempted 246 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 2: four to threes, which is almost as many as like 247 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 2: Lebron or Austin Res. You want Ad to attempting maybe 248 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 2: one or two at max Sure, and it just it 249 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 2: feels lazy, And I know that's not nice. He played 250 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 2: forty five minutes and he was really heroic and pretty 251 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 2: damn awesome. I just I don't want him shooting the 252 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 2: three and again like he I know what you're gonna say. 253 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 2: Dangelo Russell was the key, obviously your boy former Laker 254 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:12,319 Speaker 2: or not. I can't well. 255 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 3: Look, I mean, I agree with you about the shooting threes. 256 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:15,679 Speaker 3: That's not eighties game. He shouldn't be relying on that 257 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 3: kind of thing. Credit to Denver. They gave him all 258 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 3: of those shots, and they said, hey, if he's gonna 259 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 3: hit him, he's going to hit him. But we don't 260 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 3: think he's going to and obviously he didn't, so but 261 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:25,839 Speaker 3: what we saw in that game, the same thing we 262 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 3: saw with the Clippers and the MAVs is two guys 263 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:29,959 Speaker 3: are not enough to beat. 264 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:30,440 Speaker 2: A good team. 265 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 3: In today's NBA, Lebron and ad were great, nobody else 266 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:36,839 Speaker 3: went along for the ride with him. D'Angelo Russell, you mentioned, 267 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 3: was terrible. Six out of twenty. Austin Reeves was basically 268 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 3: only pulling twenty seven foot threes until the fourth quarter, 269 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 3: like all he was doing was shooting d threes and 270 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 3: ha Chamura. I don't know if he was worn out 271 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 3: from being the primary defender on Jogic, but it looked 272 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 3: like he was even offensively involved in that game. So 273 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 3: what you're going to see, I think, especially the way 274 00:13:55,520 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 3: these playoffs play out, is the days of having two 275 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 3: stars and a bunch of guys is just not gonna 276 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 3: cut it anymore. You need to have a team of 277 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 3: very good to very good players across the board. The 278 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 3: Celtics a obviously the blueprint for that. They got above 279 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 3: average players one through six. Well, Denver has the best 280 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 3: player Jokic, they have one of the best postseason players 281 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 3: of all time in Jamal Murray, and three other guys 282 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 3: who may or may not be All Star level talent, 283 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 3: but they are such good playoff performers and they're such 284 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 3: good fits alongside their two main guys that it makes 285 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 3: their starting five the best in the NBA. And I 286 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 3: think that's where you're gonna see play out as this 287 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 3: postseason goes on. 288 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 2: Well, I guess my only thing is Jamal Murray, no 289 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 2: time All Star, who you know, I love, probably one 290 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 2: of my favorite players. Yes, Like what's gonna happen when 291 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 2: it's contracts up, Because like Jalen Brown's deal was up 292 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 2: and they gave him max money and like he's gonna 293 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 2: be making like fifty million dollars in short order, and 294 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 2: I don't know how sustainable that is. When you have 295 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:04,520 Speaker 2: Gordon and Michael Porter Junior on reasonable deals, that's really good. Now, 296 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 2: I think that'll things will get a little tricky with 297 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 2: Jamal Murray. But my one big takeaway is I thought 298 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 2: this was a really good Lakers defensive team, and yet 299 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 2: the Nuggets had four turnovers in the entire game. That 300 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 2: was one of the most alarming stats was they only 301 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 2: had four turnovers in the entire game. Like, I know 302 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 2: you like d'angela Russell, and he is a X factor. 303 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 2: I'm just being real with you. I think Darvinham needs 304 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 2: a quick hook and he needs to seriously look at 305 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 2: Gabe Vincent minutes in Game two for the Lakers. This 306 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 2: is a big one tonight. You don't want to go 307 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 2: down oh two, You just don't. I think you gotta 308 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 2: have I D'Angel. Russell's not hitting. Listen, we could get 309 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 2: offense elsewhere, right Austin Reeves. We know he's capable. I 310 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 2: think you need to go Gabe Vincent for more defense 311 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 2: because after that first quarter, they just couldn't get any stops. 312 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 2: Like Nuggets got whatever they wanted, and that's probably gonna 313 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 2: be the case with the great start offensive. They're straight 314 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 2: great start in five. But like Lebron had seven turnovers, 315 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 2: the Nuggets had four. YEP. I don't know, Robert. Are 316 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 2: you how are you feeling optimistically heading into Game two 317 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 2: to night? 318 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 3: Not very And it has less to do with the 319 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 3: Lakers and more to do with I thought if they 320 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 3: had any chance of winning this series, they'd have to 321 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 3: win game one because they have all that time off. 322 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 3: You're playing at altitude Lebron and ad no matter what 323 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 3: game it is, they're going to have to play forty 324 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 3: plus minutes because Denver is going to require you. You're 325 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 3: not going to get any blowouts against Denver. You're not 326 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 3: gonna be able to put it in cruise control in 327 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 3: the third quarter against them. Ever, So I don't believe 328 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 3: that Lebron and ad are going to be able to 329 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 3: put on en core performances from their Game one, and 330 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 3: in that case, now you're banking in game two on 331 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 3: Ruy Reeves d Loo gave Vincentorian prints all of them 332 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 3: elevating their play to a level that I don't know 333 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 3: if they can get to it. As far as the 334 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 3: Angelo Russell goes, obviously he didn't shoot it well. Six 335 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 3: to twenty is terrible. The issue I had with the 336 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 3: way that he play was a lot of those attempts 337 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 3: were like good shots for him, shots that he had 338 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:09,360 Speaker 3: been making, you know, for the past six whatever since 339 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 3: the trade deadline, shooting at forty plus percent clip from 340 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 3: three and if he's gonna get seven, eight, nine open threes, 341 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 3: I'm trusting him. I'd rather him shoot it than not 342 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 3: shoot it, you know what I mean. It's just happens 343 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:24,120 Speaker 3: he didn't make any of them, is the problem. Well, 344 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 3: that's that's the problem. The postseason is a different animal. 345 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 2: In the regular season, you're just shooting, you know, you're 346 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,880 Speaker 2: just firing away, jack and playoffs are not. Everybody's built 347 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 2: for this, you know. And De'angel Russell knew, Hey, my 348 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:37,400 Speaker 2: time to shine. I was awful in the series last year. 349 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:40,359 Speaker 2: I got to show up and he's getting the looks. 350 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 2: He didn't. I didn't think he forced that much. 351 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:43,480 Speaker 3: Didn't that much either. 352 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 2: He missed fourteen shots at some point. And again, listen, 353 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:50,200 Speaker 2: I am I am a shooter. And the cool part 354 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:51,639 Speaker 2: about being in the men's league. By the way, we 355 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,159 Speaker 2: seasoned tips off this week with some new recruits. We'll 356 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:57,919 Speaker 2: see how that goes. But I'm being honest with you, 357 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:00,920 Speaker 2: this is on a small scale. I ain't getting paid 358 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:02,880 Speaker 2: to play in erect league. But Rob, if I missed 359 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:06,199 Speaker 2: like my first two shots, I'm a little hesitant to 360 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 2: pull the trigger on the third. And that's when I'm like, 361 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:10,440 Speaker 2: I got to get a defensive stop. I got I 362 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:12,440 Speaker 2: gotta make a play elsewhere, because if the SHOT's not 363 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 2: falling for me, I know, like, all right, you know what, 364 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:17,159 Speaker 2: just shit this one out. We've got other guys. But 365 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:19,679 Speaker 2: if you're like D'Angelo Russell. You don't, you can't have 366 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 2: that mentality. But you know he's got to be thinking 367 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,160 Speaker 2: about it. Rob. Just like your golf game, you shank 368 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 2: a couple drives in a row hooking and it's like, 369 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 2: all right, here we go again. It's a day's shot. 370 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 2: Drive is ft. You know, screw me, screwed. This is 371 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:37,240 Speaker 2: normal for humans. Now, if you're built like Lebron ray Dean, 372 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 2: you could just utterly dominant. Sure, but Diezel Russell just 373 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 2: ain't that guy. They're seven point dogs tonight. I would 374 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 2: look at Lakers first half. I think they could come 375 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 2: out again. They know what's at stake here. Lakers first 376 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:52,879 Speaker 2: half plus three and a half for the Lakers, I 377 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:54,440 Speaker 2: would maybe try to bump that up and try to 378 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 2: get four. But I think that's got to be their best. 379 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 2: They've got to come out knowing the urgency here, and 380 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:02,119 Speaker 2: this is going to be I would say a Lebron 381 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:05,159 Speaker 2: ad and frankly, Rob, I think he's gonna be Austin 382 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 2: Reeves game. He's got. I don't I'm not selling all 383 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 2: my trust in Russell because he did build it up 384 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 2: with a great season. I just it's a tough one 385 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:15,400 Speaker 2: for me, Robin. 386 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it kind of has to be an 387 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 3: Austin Reeves game for them to even have a chance, because, 388 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 3: like I said, I don't think Lebron and a d 389 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 3: are going to combine for was that seventy five points 390 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 3: and thirty twenty rebounds, and like that's just not You 391 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 3: can't expect that on a night to night basis, playing 392 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 3: at altitude against the defending champions. Then they might be 393 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:35,680 Speaker 3: able to that two or three times in a series, 394 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:38,679 Speaker 3: but not every single game. So Austin Reeves on his 395 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 3: own would probably have to give you between fifteen and 396 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 3: twenty points for this game for the Lakers even have 397 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:46,640 Speaker 3: a chance in this one. The issue though, that they 398 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 3: have and they're going to continue to run into with 399 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 3: this team, is that to your point about the men's league, 400 00:19:55,440 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 3: what's worse de'angelo Russell missing open threes or him just 401 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 3: not taking him at all. 402 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:04,120 Speaker 2: No, he's got to take him, you got it exactly. 403 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 3: And so the thing is is that if he doesn't 404 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:10,359 Speaker 3: take him and they pull him out of the game, 405 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:15,199 Speaker 3: they then don't have the requisite players behind him that 406 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 3: can score. Like I saw a stat and this one 407 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:19,680 Speaker 3: kind of blew my mind. Spencer didnt with he didn't 408 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:23,960 Speaker 3: play a lot, but he played. His uh usage rating 409 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 3: in Game one, he's a guard, was zero point zero percent. Like, 410 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:34,000 Speaker 3: I don't even know how that's possible. That basically means 411 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:37,679 Speaker 3: he's out there doing cardio and playing defense right like 412 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 3: he There is no good reason why anybody who is 413 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 3: a backcourt player in the NBA should have a usage 414 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,680 Speaker 3: rating of zero. That means that as soon as he's 415 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 3: getting the ball, he's looking for ad He's looking for 416 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:53,439 Speaker 3: D'Angelo Russell's looking for Lebron. He's not even looking to 417 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:56,159 Speaker 3: make a play. And there are too many guys on 418 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,879 Speaker 3: their team right now, at least in Game one, that 419 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 3: we're acting that way. They don't have. They didn't look 420 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 3: like they had the confidence. They didn't look like maybe 421 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 3: that was part of the game plan and unless things 422 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:09,160 Speaker 3: change in a big way, this could be another short 423 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 3: series for the Lakers. 424 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 2: I actually think this, uh well, I don't know if 425 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:17,160 Speaker 2: it's a bigger one, but Sixers next tonight is enormous 426 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:22,479 Speaker 2: on many fronts. Obviously the Embeide injury, obviously, the open 427 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 2: salary cap in the offseason. You know they could go 428 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 2: after another Max Guy. But also, and I think we 429 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 2: touched on this last week, Rub, how is it gonna 430 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 2: play for Embiid? If the team that wants you, we 431 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 2: all know the next one Embiid And there's probably a 432 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 2: bit of a mutual feeling there. How's it going to 433 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:45,399 Speaker 2: feel if you go down two to them and the Knicks? 434 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 2: You know, the garden was rocket. Oh, I forgot to 435 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,920 Speaker 2: add this. One thing that jumped out on the TV 436 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 2: screens was the Minnesota game. The crowd was unbelievable. I 437 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 2: could feel the energy. I didn't have like goosebumps or anything, 438 00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:59,440 Speaker 2: but I could feel like I was extra exciting early 439 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 2: when it was like guys just going at it. The 440 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:05,400 Speaker 2: crowd pumped up, the garden obviously rocking. I know people say, 441 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 2: you know, the NBA needs the Knicks and the Bulls 442 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,440 Speaker 2: and the Lakers to be good. Yeah, that's kind of true. 443 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:15,400 Speaker 2: Let's just remember Nicks haven't won a title since forever ago. 444 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:16,959 Speaker 2: I mean I wasn't born the last time they won 445 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,480 Speaker 2: a championship. I they haven't been to the finals what 446 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 2: once this century? So like when their first round games 447 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 2: are that lit and Josh Hart is delivering daggers, you know, 448 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:30,119 Speaker 2: I think it was breeding on the call, and you 449 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,879 Speaker 2: know there's there's a feeling like, man, this is this 450 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 2: is something special. Imagine if and that's what I mentioned, 451 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:39,359 Speaker 2: the MBAT stuff, you go up too enough. And I 452 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 2: know the Sixers con Maury's gonna have Moury's got all 453 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:44,119 Speaker 2: the cards ready. He's the next level guy, one of 454 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 2: those blue flame thinkers who's ready for steps two, three, four, five, six, 455 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 2: like a total chess player. Okay, well this is what 456 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 2: we sell embid. Hey we lost to the next It's fine. 457 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 2: You were injured, you missed a lot of games. We 458 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:57,399 Speaker 2: were hurtling toward a top two seat. Now we have 459 00:22:57,480 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 2: to go on the road. We were in the playing. 460 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 2: Let's not freak out, Joel. Let's not overreact. I didn't 461 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 2: see anything from the Sixers. It scares me. I just 462 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:09,159 Speaker 2: didn't I see all. Now, what was it? Heart and hustle? 463 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 2: What was it at the Clippers motto? Remember when I 464 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:14,360 Speaker 2: think they pushed the KD Warriors like four to two, 465 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 2: and I feel a heart and hustle vibe from Thibodeau's team. 466 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 2: I don't know if you're feeling it. Yeah, you're not 467 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:21,120 Speaker 2: as much of a Knicks guy as I am rob. 468 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 2: But it's a big one tonight. If the Knicks can 469 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 2: pull this out. I'm not betting it because I'm gonna 470 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:29,200 Speaker 2: be emotionally invested. But it is mildly interesting that the 471 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:32,119 Speaker 2: Knicks have pushed out to five point favorites in this 472 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:36,199 Speaker 2: one Joel Embiid and Maxie. Again, they were on their 473 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:37,639 Speaker 2: way to being a top two or three seed in 474 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:38,640 Speaker 2: the East before you got hurt. 475 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 3: I actually I think I prefer the GrITT and grind 476 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 3: of the Memphis Grizzliest to describe as current New York's team. 477 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:48,840 Speaker 3: And I will say, and I've said this publicly one 478 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 3: hundred times, I wish at times that I was a 479 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:55,400 Speaker 3: Knicks fan only because the vibes around them when they're 480 00:23:55,440 --> 00:24:00,440 Speaker 3: good is unlike any other sporting team that at least 481 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:03,199 Speaker 3: that I pay attention to. Like the bing bong they're 482 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 3: still doing f Tray Young in the streets. Trey Young 483 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:07,400 Speaker 3: has been relevant in New York for like three years, 484 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:09,439 Speaker 3: and they like that's cool. You don't get that too 485 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 3: much in Los Angeles, only because real fans can't afford 486 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:14,600 Speaker 3: to go to the games, right because they're so expensive. 487 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:16,919 Speaker 3: I know, you get the comp tickets because you're someone special, 488 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:20,360 Speaker 3: but not the rest of us. My big takeaway though 489 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:22,959 Speaker 3: from that game was you mentioned it. I didn't think 490 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:26,960 Speaker 3: the Sixers looked all that great, but Joel Embiid specifically, 491 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 3: Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, maybe even not this week, 492 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 3: but at some point in the next two three weeks, 493 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:38,879 Speaker 3: maybe a month, you and I are gonna have a 494 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 3: dialogue about whether or not Joel Embiid is as good 495 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:46,120 Speaker 3: as everyone thinks he is, because for the fourth time 496 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 3: in his last eleven playoff games, he shot under thirty 497 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 3: eight percent from the field. Like James Harden's got a 498 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:58,720 Speaker 3: reputation for being a terrible playoff performer, right and deservedly so, 499 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 3: because he's had so many games where he just did 500 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 3: not show up, point blank period. 501 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 2: It happens way. 502 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:09,040 Speaker 3: Way too often for a guy at Joel Embiid's skill 503 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 3: level and resume to just have these clunkers in the playoffs. 504 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 3: And you want to play the game that you know 505 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 3: he was heard and he banged up his knee and 506 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 3: so on and so forth. Sure, but you kind of 507 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:28,840 Speaker 3: almost have to bake that into his performance anyways, because 508 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 3: he's been hurt basically his entire career off and on. Like, 509 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:34,800 Speaker 3: I don't think there's been a single playoff run where 510 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 3: Joel Embiid was not dealing with something whether remember he 511 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 3: had the bubble guts for one series and he couldn't 512 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:41,439 Speaker 3: play well, and then he had a knee, and then 513 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 3: he also had like an ankle and a hand, and 514 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 3: it's like, at what point you say, you know he's 515 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 3: always going to be hurt and he's kind of deal 516 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 3: with it so until proven otherwise, I think that Joe L. 517 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:57,679 Speaker 3: Embiid has a lot more to prove, especially if his 518 00:25:57,760 --> 00:25:59,639 Speaker 3: goal or if people's goal is to get him to 519 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:03,200 Speaker 3: New York to some other big market. Until I see 520 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:04,920 Speaker 3: him do it in the playoffs, I don't know how 521 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 3: excited I would be to throw three hundred million dollars 522 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 3: at him. 523 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 2: Yeah no, no, Remember I didn't want to throw twenty 524 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:13,400 Speaker 2: million at Clay. You think I'm throwing three hundred a A. 525 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:16,760 Speaker 2: But no, your ear spot on. Because he is a 526 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:19,880 Speaker 2: great regular season player, totally dominant, and then you get 527 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:21,760 Speaker 2: to the playoffs and it's just a little different. The 528 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 2: defense is ratcheted up. People could say nobody plays defense 529 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 2: in the NBA. That's fine. Did you look at the 530 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 2: games this weekend, like the scoring was way down from 531 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:32,719 Speaker 2: the regular season. People were actually locking in and trying. 532 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 2: I mean, I don't know if you saw the the 533 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:38,399 Speaker 2: Nemhard Damian Liller moment, but like Nemark's picking him up 534 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:40,440 Speaker 2: full cord, not quite arm barring him, but he's like, listen, 535 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:42,359 Speaker 2: I'm not letting you get the ball, and like, you 536 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:44,640 Speaker 2: don't just see that in the regular season. I love 537 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:47,360 Speaker 2: the intensity and defense and listen and beats. I thought 538 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 2: Kevin Durant was the guy facing the biggest pressure of 539 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 2: this postseason. That still could be true, but it might 540 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:56,480 Speaker 2: be a beat because those are two guys who need 541 00:26:56,520 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 2: some postseason. W's the other game tonight? Is it that Calves? Yeah, 542 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 2: it's Calves Orlando, you know, basically the NBA TV game 543 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:11,160 Speaker 2: and the NBA TV series, I should say, but Donovan 544 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:15,639 Speaker 2: Mitchell looked really, really good. I mean, rob that that 545 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 2: was my first though watching the game. I'm like, holy cow, Donovan. 546 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:22,440 Speaker 2: These Laker fans want Trey Young over Donovan Mitchell. And 547 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 2: again it's one quarter, it's one half. I mean, Mitchell, 548 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:27,640 Speaker 2: I think I had thirty three and Cleveland doesn't look 549 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:30,600 Speaker 2: like munch without him. But man, he is a bad 550 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 2: boy holy and remember he's a playoff guy. He's the 551 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:36,400 Speaker 2: opposite of himbiid right, Yes, in the playoffs, he turns 552 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 2: it up a notch or two. I'm I'm big on 553 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 2: Donovan Mitchell. And now I'll say this, if the Lakers 554 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 2: can somehow get Donovan Mitchell, you can just lock up 555 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:50,280 Speaker 2: a title next year. Mitchell, A d and Lebron. I'm 556 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:51,960 Speaker 2: not even kidding. Now, you'd have to give up my 557 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:54,440 Speaker 2: guy Austin Reeves. But if there's any world where you 558 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:57,399 Speaker 2: could give up Ruy D'Angelo, Russell, a couple of draft picks, 559 00:27:58,040 --> 00:27:59,919 Speaker 2: I mean, I guess I would part with Gabe Vincy. 560 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:02,000 Speaker 2: I'll tell you what. 561 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:03,880 Speaker 3: I'm at the stage now where even if we get 562 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 3: they're not hypothetical Donovan Mitchell without having to give up, 563 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:09,200 Speaker 3: without having to give up the whole team, and it's 564 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 3: just Reeves and you know, Hatchimura and Vanderbilt whatever. I 565 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 3: won't be saying, you know, get the parade ready. I'll say, oh, 566 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:21,000 Speaker 3: maybe we'll get six games against Denver and like that. 567 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:21,959 Speaker 2: That's where we're at right now. 568 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 3: I'm feeling very defeated this Monday morning talking. 569 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 2: About one game. Bro come on. Yeah, it's right, They're good. 570 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 2: Every game is the same. 571 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:36,280 Speaker 3: That's why when you said, oh, let's take the first half, Lakers, 572 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:38,720 Speaker 3: you know spread of course, because every game starts the same. 573 00:28:38,760 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 3: The Lakers thought off, really well, do you think they 574 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:40,920 Speaker 3: have them? 575 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 2: Think they have them? 576 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 3: They get to the third and fourth quarter and it's 577 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 3: just this tidal wave of Denver nuggets. 578 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 2: All we can wrap up with this. Is it a 579 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:52,280 Speaker 2: darvinham substitution pattern. Is it guys wearing down? Is it 580 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:54,960 Speaker 2: simply a matter of Denver executing better when it matters 581 00:28:55,000 --> 00:29:00,440 Speaker 2: most all of the above. Is it a Ron johnn 582 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 2: do too much? I mean they did have a bunch 583 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 2: of mislayups there. I don't know. I think they just 584 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:08,760 Speaker 2: need a guy who's going to be a creator. And 585 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:11,720 Speaker 2: I keep coming back to it in that half court office, 586 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:13,840 Speaker 2: you've got to get buckets. And I know people are 587 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:15,440 Speaker 2: not gonna like when I say this, but when I 588 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:18,320 Speaker 2: watch Austin Reeves in the pick and roll, he manipulates 589 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:20,959 Speaker 2: defenders I think better than anyone on the Lakers. And 590 00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:23,600 Speaker 2: I don't think he takes bad shots. Now, he did 591 00:29:23,640 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 2: jack a couple deep threes in the opener, but I 592 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:29,720 Speaker 2: think that was. It felt like a concentrated effort. We've 593 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:32,080 Speaker 2: got to get D'Angelo Russell off. We've got to get him. 594 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:33,840 Speaker 2: I shouldn't say that, but we got to get him going. 595 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:36,160 Speaker 2: We got to get him cooking. Let's get that confidence up. 596 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:39,760 Speaker 2: And it felt like Reeves was a little passive towards 597 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 2: Russell A great or no, Yeah, okay, I'd agree with that. 598 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:47,360 Speaker 2: Austin Reeves Game two. I'm not going money, libe, but 599 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:50,560 Speaker 2: first half Lakers plus three and a half. I don't know. 600 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:53,520 Speaker 2: I'm a little leery of this Cavs team, like just 601 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:55,800 Speaker 2: putting too much confidence in these guys, because they do 602 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 2: seem like front runners por Orlando. Orlando's got some grit. 603 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,000 Speaker 2: Five and a half might be a little too big, 604 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 2: but Orlando ain't great at all. Holy how did they score? 605 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 2: That's the point? Watch any of that game? 606 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:07,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, I watched a lot of it. I wasn't proud 607 00:30:07,560 --> 00:30:08,760 Speaker 3: to say, but I did watch a lot of it. 608 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 3: Outside of ban Caro, none of those guys could score 609 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:14,000 Speaker 3: in a playoff setting, at least in that game. 610 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:16,520 Speaker 2: Thugs, But I don't know that I trust him yet 611 00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:17,560 Speaker 2: to be like a score. 612 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:22,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, and and Cleveland's not even a great defensive team either. 613 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:26,720 Speaker 3: They just you know, they don't have the requisite creators, 614 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:28,520 Speaker 3: it seems like on their offense outside of ban Caro 615 00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 3: and in the playoffs, where everybody for whatever reason plays 616 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:35,520 Speaker 3: half court offense. You know, that was one issue I 617 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:38,280 Speaker 3: thought that the Pacers had, is they weren't looking to 618 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:40,640 Speaker 3: run nearly enough early on to kind of set the 619 00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 3: tone and set the pace of that game. Instead, they 620 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:45,400 Speaker 3: were just like, Yeah, let's play this half court playoff 621 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:48,680 Speaker 3: basketball because everybody's doing it. And obviously it came out 622 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:50,760 Speaker 3: to bite them, and and and Orlando had the same problem. 623 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 2: It's tough to play a full season where it's just 624 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:56,160 Speaker 2: running gun, you know what. The basically the Pacers are 625 00:30:56,200 --> 00:30:58,640 Speaker 2: like the Suns with Steve Nash with eight seconds or 626 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:01,680 Speaker 2: less or something. They say, what they were seven seconds 627 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:04,000 Speaker 2: and it's just an offensive juggernaut. And then you get 628 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:06,280 Speaker 2: to the playoffs and you're like, oh, wait, we've got 629 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:08,560 Speaker 2: to slow it down. We can't run and get layups 630 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:11,600 Speaker 2: all day. And then we've got to have TJ. McConnell's 631 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:14,760 Speaker 2: shooting in big spots in the half court offense. Yeah, 632 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:17,600 Speaker 2: that's not working. So a lot of back to the 633 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:19,640 Speaker 2: drawing board placers are fun though. I'll give them that 634 00:31:20,040 --> 00:31:23,720 Speaker 2: they were a plucky team. But I'm I think, you know, 635 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:25,800 Speaker 2: I know some people are anti NBA, and I see 636 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:28,000 Speaker 2: people driving all the ratings were down. Do you say 637 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 2: they care about the ratings being down? The new TV 638 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:34,560 Speaker 2: deal does not impact me or you were anybody complaining 639 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 2: about it at all. Now. The only thing that could 640 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:38,240 Speaker 2: suck is the players are going to get less money. 641 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:41,520 Speaker 2: But it doesn't impact me. You know, I'm just enjoying 642 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:46,200 Speaker 2: the games and wagering on them good talking points, you know. 643 00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:48,080 Speaker 2: I mean I could, I could have probably done fifteen 644 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:51,240 Speaker 2: minutes on Anthony Edwards versus kd I. That had to 645 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 2: be the moment of the weekend, right Rob. That was awesome. 646 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:55,040 Speaker 2: That was so awesome. 647 00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 3: I love some trash talk, some animossy, and especially because 648 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 3: both of those guys really respect each other. But the 649 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:03,520 Speaker 3: fact that they can say it all out on the 650 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:05,240 Speaker 3: court and leave it there and still be able to 651 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:06,240 Speaker 3: be cool about it afterwards. 652 00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:09,480 Speaker 2: I thought that was great. Yeah, you know, Anthony Edwards 653 00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:11,920 Speaker 2: is extremely likable. I'm not ready to go face of 654 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:14,480 Speaker 2: the league going forward, but he is certainly going to 655 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:16,800 Speaker 2: be one of the tent pole guys in the NBA 656 00:32:17,440 --> 00:32:20,560 Speaker 2: for a while. He's just an electric player. He's always smiling, 657 00:32:20,640 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 2: he's got a good attitude. And you could just see 658 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:26,680 Speaker 2: with Kevin Durant and was okay, respect, you just got me. 659 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:29,440 Speaker 2: You gotta scored on me three straight times. I think 660 00:32:29,480 --> 00:32:31,800 Speaker 2: it was three in a row. And I think what 661 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:33,600 Speaker 2: Mark Jones had the call and he was just like 662 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:36,760 Speaker 2: aunt man and just that was bonkers. NBA playoffs is fun. 663 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:38,680 Speaker 2: I got a get out and hoop. All right, that's 664 00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:41,480 Speaker 2: all for today. We are back Maniana. Talk to you then,