1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Up next on this edition of this League Uncut, Chris 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 1: Haynes and me Mark Stein, we will provide you an 3 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: in depth look ahead at the NBA's inaugural in season tournament. 4 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: Will weave in some transactional news out of Philadelphia in 5 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 1: the midst of some ranting from yours truly, and we'll 6 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: go just as deep on the All Star Game, which 7 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: this season in Indianapolis will revert to an East versus 8 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: West format, no more player draft, and we'll look at 9 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: what's ahead for the future of the NBA All Star 10 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: Game and the next possible format change. All that to 11 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 1: come here on this League uncut. 12 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 2: Welcome to this league uncut. 13 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: Rule of twenty four hour NBA News. This you, Chris Hans. 14 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 2: It's time, work's time, it's some time. 15 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: This league is underway, in fire. This should be a 16 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: good one. Let's do it. Welcome in everyone to another 17 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: edition of this League uncut. Mark Stein here with Chris 18 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 1: Haynes of Turner Sports, the same Chris Haynes, who can 19 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 1: hardly contain his excitement because the in season tournament. We 20 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: are recording this on a Thursday night. Of course, TNT 21 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: games they're on Tuesday nights during the early part of 22 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 1: the season, so TNT Thursdays don't start until after the 23 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 1: calendar flips and don't have to go head to head 24 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 1: with the NFL. So Chris Haynes safely operating from Sacramento 25 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 1: as we speak, and he half of this podcast very 26 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: intrigued and excited by the n season Tournament. The crotchety 27 00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: old man not so much say that. I'm I mean, 28 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: I guess I'm intrigued to see how it is received, 29 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: because that's really the mystery. How will fans react to 30 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: this thing. You know, we've seen all week long. You know, 31 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:17,800 Speaker 1: they've unveiled the new courts that teams are gonna use 32 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 1: and the special jerseys that teams are gonna use. And 33 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: of course, cynical people like myself would say the reason 34 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 1: they have to introduce all these different things is because 35 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 1: the actual games themselves are very much not different, which 36 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: a in season cup stickler like myself cannot overlook. But 37 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 1: and I'm just really, I'm really just giving Chris a 38 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: hard time. But he said on a recent podcast that 39 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: this was something he was looking forward to, So I'm 40 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: never gonna let him forget it now and keep keep 41 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 1: giving him a hard time, Chris Haynes. 42 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: Yes, well, start, I'm looking forward to it just to 43 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 2: see how is going to be received. That's it, that's it. 44 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 2: I don't know what to expect. Yes, you talk about 45 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 2: the changing of the jerseys, new jerseys, new floor designs 46 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:12,359 Speaker 2: on the court, that's all good. But is the play 47 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 2: going to is the play going uh? Is the play 48 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,799 Speaker 2: going to display desperation? Because ultimately that's what you're looking for. 49 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 2: You're looking for that n CUAA tournament feel. You're looking 50 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 2: for that, that's the kind of atmosphere that you want, 51 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 2: you know, for those do you know do you know 52 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 2: the rules? Not the rules, but do you know the 53 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 2: breakdown of this? Do you want to explain that? Stile 54 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 2: the breakdown of this play? 55 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 3: In turn? 56 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: Excuse me later today, later today. I also have a 57 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 1: TV essay coming out, so I have been studying it 58 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: intently because I've got a TV say looking at it. 59 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: I knew we were going to get into it on 60 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: this pod. I know we're going to get into it 61 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: as well on the radio show that I do Saturdays 62 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: in Dallas. Because you know, the big national televised game 63 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 1: late Friday night, Mavericks at Nuggets, that is the N 64 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: season tournament debut for both teams, Luca versus Jokic. So 65 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 1: you know, that is the you know, the big first 66 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,160 Speaker 1: or one of the first two marquee games from an 67 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: ESPN perspective. But here's the thing and the reason that 68 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,039 Speaker 1: I've been such a naysayer about it, and I can 69 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 1: criticize myself too. I'm even a snob about it. 70 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 2: You know. 71 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: You know, I'm a huge soccer fan, so I've been going. 72 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: I've had the great privilege of going to Cup games 73 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 1: in England for almost thirty years, so I'm really familiar 74 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 1: with what this is supposed to look like. And my 75 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: biggest quarrel with it is you can do the fanciest 76 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: court designs you want, you can come up with the 77 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: sweetest new uniforms you want, but this thing isn't a 78 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: tournament until the quarter finals at best, and for my money, 79 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: it's not really a tournament until the Semis, when two 80 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 1: teams go to Vegas. If my math is correct, it 81 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 1: takes sixty seven games to stage this in season tournament. 82 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: Sixty of them are gonna be group stage games that 83 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: are basically regular season games that are counted twice. The 84 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 1: games that are played on this Friday night and basically 85 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: every Tuesday and Friday through November, four games each for 86 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 1: all thirty teams. They're regular season games that they're counting twice, 87 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 1: and the four quarter final games same thing, will be 88 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 1: regular season games counted twice. It's really only going to 89 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 1: be those last three games in Vegas when teams go 90 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: to the desert for the Semis and Finals. That's going 91 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: to have a tournament feel, and it's really just that extra. 92 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 1: The final is the eighty third game for the two 93 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 1: teams that reach the final. I do think when we 94 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: get to that portion, when we get to sending four 95 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 1: teams to Vegas to contest the Semis and the Finals, 96 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: at that point there will be a novelty factor and 97 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 1: it will be a tournament feel. But you again, I 98 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 1: you know, I'm just being mister negative here and you know, 99 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: old man yelling at clouds and get off my lawn. 100 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: But you know, the NBA came out with this hype 101 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 1: film this week, the Heist, and it's it's very well done. 102 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:33,159 Speaker 1: It's a play on the Whole Ocean's eleven franchise. And 103 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: you know, Michael imperiole e outstanding actor who does the narration, 104 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,920 Speaker 1: and you know it's got the version we've seen. I 105 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: think it comes in installment, so I think there's more 106 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 1: versions to come. But you know A d is in it, 107 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 1: and Draymond Green is in it and a few other stars, 108 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,679 Speaker 1: so you know they've got Kawhi's in it. I think. 109 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 1: So they got some high wattage players to participate. But 110 00:06:57,760 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 1: very early on, I want you to take a listen 111 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:04,040 Speaker 1: here to the first four sentences of this short film. 112 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 3: I got something something that's never been done before. All 113 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 3: thirty teams, single elimination one NBA Cup, all leading right here, 114 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 3: the most unpredictable city in the world. 115 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: The movie talks about something that's never been done, a 116 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: tournament for all thirty teams. But it says single elimination tournament. 117 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: And that's the thing. If it was a single elimination tournament, 118 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: I think people would be hyped. But it is not 119 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: a single elimination tournament. It is not. It does not 120 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: until the quarterfinals. When we get to the final eight, 121 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: it becomes single elimination. But it isn't single elimination for 122 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 1: sixty of the sixty seven games that comprise the NBA tournament. 123 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 1: For the whole month of November. It's going to be 124 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: regular season games that count twice, four for each team, 125 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 1: two at home, two away, and the results of all 126 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: those will give us six group winners and then two 127 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: wild cards, and that's how we're gonna get down to 128 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: a quarterfinals. And like I said, that is as a 129 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 1: as a champion of cup competitions, as someone who loves 130 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: cup competitions, and like I said, I've been going to 131 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: them myself for almost thirty years. There's just there are 132 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: very few soccer elements to the NBA's version of an 133 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: nd season tournament. And that is my quarrel. And look, 134 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 1: hopefully everybody's gonna come back and say that I was 135 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: just overly negative naysayer, old man didn't want to give 136 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,439 Speaker 1: this thing a chance, and it was great. And if 137 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: that's the way it is and people end up loving it, 138 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: I'll be the first to say I'm glad I was wrong, 139 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: because it would be great if this thing became something new, 140 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 1: a new tradition that livened up the regular season. Because 141 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 1: all of this is designed to try to make the 142 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,559 Speaker 1: regular season more interesting. That is what the end NBA 143 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: is constantly working on. That's what the player participation policy 144 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 1: is about. And that's what this is about. You know what, 145 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: mister Haynes, it's your you really should I've rambled on 146 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 1: long enough here. You please react to my old man 147 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:20,200 Speaker 1: rantings because you are not a Soccer Cup snob like 148 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: I am. So just all you've heard, you've heard you. 149 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,839 Speaker 1: I think you've got the gist of my various complaints, 150 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:30,560 Speaker 1: and like, give me your perspective now after hearing me 151 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 1: run through all that. 152 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 2: Well, yeah, I mean you have some valid you made 153 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 2: some valid points, you know, particularly about particularly about wanting 154 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 2: to get the NBA season a little bit more interesting 155 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 2: throughout the course of season. That's definitely been a complaint 156 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 2: by fans is that, you know, the saying is the 157 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 2: NBA doesn't get serious until after the All Star break 158 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 2: and so and then also when you're talking and with 159 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 2: talking about league partners, you're talking about TV partners here 160 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 2: where where guys are sitting and they're resting, you know, 161 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:13,079 Speaker 2: T N T and ESPN uh. You know, they've always 162 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 2: had a problem with that, you know, and then fans 163 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 2: have complained even more so this is something that not 164 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 2: only can get the interests of the fans or get 165 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 2: the you know, get fans intrigued, but also with your 166 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 2: TV partners, you can tell them, hey, we have some 167 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 2: important games that we now can associate with the regular 168 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:42,200 Speaker 2: season that will hopefully help with ratings and revenue and 169 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 2: things of that nature. Then you add in the player 170 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 2: the new player available availability protocol in there. You know, 171 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 2: this is all you know, All this, one way or 172 00:10:52,559 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 2: another is geared towards incentivizing the existing TV part and 173 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 2: the new partners where that's going to be a stream 174 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 2: a streaming company coming on board the next TV rights deal. 175 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:11,479 Speaker 2: So again, I don't always like some of the ideas 176 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 2: the NBA throws at at the league. The All Star game. 177 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 2: I didn't like the mixing up the different players off 178 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 2: of East and West because then it was never East 179 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 2: and West anymore. And then the you know, so going 180 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 2: putting the All Star back in this traditional format. I 181 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 2: love it. But what I was going to say is 182 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 2: that I kind of like that they at least try 183 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 2: new things, and then they're not afraid to go back 184 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 2: to the way it was. You know, we tried it 185 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 2: for three or four years, didn't work, Let's go back. 186 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 2: That's fine. I think they I think they had to 187 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 2: try something for the regular season. I think everybody was 188 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 2: kind of fed up with the way it was. 189 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 1: And see, I think you you raise a great point there, 190 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 1: because you know, for years there were you know, it 191 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 1: wasn't even whispers. We would hear suggestions from Adam Silver 192 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 1: that hey, maybe we're going to call this thing the 193 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 1: Stern Cup. There is still nothing at this point that 194 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 1: is named after David Stern, who not only was Adam 195 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: Silver's mentor, but is widely recognized as the greatest commissioner 196 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: this league has ever had. Whether you're a fan or 197 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: not a fan of David Stern, and certainly David Stern 198 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 1: had his detractors, but when you look at the overall resume, 199 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 1: you know he is regarded not just for the NBA, 200 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: I think he is regarded as the signature commissioner of 201 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: major league team sports in North America. He certainly had 202 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 1: the longest reign thirty years. And there's you know, the 203 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: NBA has There's been all kinds of trophies named and 204 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: renamed for greats in this league, and there's still nothing 205 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:57,680 Speaker 1: that bears the name of David J. Stern, the commissioner 206 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: from nineteen eighty four through twenty fourteen. But so that 207 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: this is called the This is all it is. It 208 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: is only called the n Season Tournament. That is the 209 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,200 Speaker 1: official name of the event, and the teams are playing 210 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: for the NBA Cup. That's all it's called. Now. My 211 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,839 Speaker 1: take is the reason that is you can't name this 212 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 1: thing the Stern Cup in the event that it doesn't work, 213 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 1: and that and that in two years, three years, five years, 214 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 1: one year, whatever it is, they have to scrap it. 215 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: And I agree with your other point here. It doesn't 216 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:34,319 Speaker 1: do any harm to try this. I can list all 217 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:39,840 Speaker 1: the things about it that I personally question and find 218 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 1: very unsoccer like, but there's no harm in trying this. 219 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 1: Maybe this clicks, I know one league source told me 220 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: during the summer. You know, you can never be sure 221 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 1: what resonates with younger fans. Maybe they're gonna love it. 222 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: And if and if people love it, I'll be the 223 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: first one to put my hand up and say I'm 224 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 1: glad I was wrong. And it's you know, it's here, 225 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: and none of the complaints I'm voicing are gonna land. 226 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,680 Speaker 1: And the league office is new, they've heard my take 227 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: on this for months and they're well aware of my 228 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 1: stance on the whole thing, and the messaging I always 229 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 1: get back is you're too impatient. You got to give 230 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 1: the NBA a chance to see if it can make 231 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:25,239 Speaker 1: this thing work. And Adam Silver publicly always says traditions 232 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: are not built overnight, and that's fine, and so give 233 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 1: it a whirl, give it a try. There's no harm. 234 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 1: And look, I understand why the NBA did it this way. Basically, 235 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 1: my complaint is, this is not a tournament. It's not 236 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: a separate tournament from the NBA schedule, and that's what 237 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: I wanted. I wanted a separate tournament. And the league 238 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: is saying, with all the problems we have with our 239 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 1: schedule now playing eighty two games and players not playing 240 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: eighty two games anymore, and with the league feeling it 241 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: needed to institute a player participate a patient policy to 242 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 1: try to get more players and more stars to play 243 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: more often, they didn't want to create a separate tournament 244 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 1: for a secondary trophy that teams and fans might not 245 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: consider important. Because the fear then is, if this is 246 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 1: completely separate from the NBA standings, would the LA Clippers 247 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: be playing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George all out to 248 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 1: win a separate secondary championship and potentially risking their availability 249 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. No, they wouldn't, and to 250 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: be honest, that is something that happens in England as well, 251 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 1: with both the FA Cup and the League Cup. The 252 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: best teams in England don't always play their best guys 253 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 1: in those competitions because they're focused more on winning the 254 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 1: league championship and the Champions League. So that was a 255 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 1: valid concern. That's why the NBA didn't do this. The 256 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: NBA said, we're going to make these regular season games 257 00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 1: that count twice to make sure that teams take it seriously, 258 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 1: because if you don't take it seriously, you end up 259 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: hurting your playoff chances. But I guess all of this 260 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: ranting is meant to say, I think for this thing 261 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 1: to succeed ultimately, it's going to have to overtime work 262 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: in some of the elements that we see in soccer competitions, 263 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 1: in in season tournaments abroad. Because we just saw it 264 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 1: this week in Germany and England. In the German Pocal 265 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: the German Cup, Sarbruken from the third Division upset Mighty 266 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: Bayern Munich and that is Soccer's version of the fifteen 267 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: seed that knocks off the number two seed in the 268 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: NCAA tournament. And that's what this thing doesn't have. In 269 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 1: the League Cup in England, they are moving now to 270 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: the quarterfinals Arsenal and both teams from Manchester are out. 271 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: They those three huge teams have already been knocked out 272 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 1: and Chelsea and Newcastle play in the next round, so 273 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: one of them won't even advance to the semifinals. And 274 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 1: there's still a team in the English League Cup, port 275 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:20,119 Speaker 1: Vale from the third division, And so that's really where 276 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:24,880 Speaker 1: you get the romance and the intrigue. And in this version, 277 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:28,919 Speaker 1: the NBA's version, it's the same thirty teams we already 278 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: see in the standings. It's East and West separated until 279 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: the championship game, just like we see in the NBA finals. 280 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 1: So there are no new teams participating, no one else come. 281 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,480 Speaker 1: It's the same thirty teams we always see. I just 282 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 1: think down the road for real success in this thing, 283 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:49,359 Speaker 1: to really generate interest, there's going to have to be 284 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 1: other teams, whether that's you know, is it. Do two 285 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 1: Euro League teams somehow get thrown in the mix? Do 286 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: teams from elsewhere. Come in. Do you have a G 287 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:02,120 Speaker 1: League all starts team that gets to participate? You need 288 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 1: some other teams just to give we need something different. 289 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 1: And then another idea would be, if you really want 290 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 1: to make this thing a tournament, take all thirty teams, 291 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:23,920 Speaker 1: time out. Chris Haynes is tweeting during our podcast, unbelievable, unbelievable. 292 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 1: I'm like, I'm really in a rant. I'm getting all 293 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:35,160 Speaker 1: wild up. I'm toggling between. I'm toggling between. I'm toggling 294 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 1: between soccer and the NBA and what the NBA needs 295 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: to do to make its n season tournament better and 296 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:47,159 Speaker 1: what happens and what happens while we're taping. Chris Haynes 297 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: has the temerity to tweet be our sources cold. While 298 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 1: Danny Green was disappointed by how the final days of 299 00:18:55,640 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 1: his tenure in Philadelphia unfolded, there remains an affinity between 300 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 1: the three time NBA champion and the seventy six ers organization. 301 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: Neither side has ruled out a return should a roster 302 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: spot become available. You so happy, you loved you loved 303 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: breaking my flow there with that news. 304 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:18,400 Speaker 2: Hey, I was looking at you. I was gonna see 305 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:20,679 Speaker 2: let me see if Stott is gonna break. Let me 306 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 2: see if he just knowing you, you can't focus, You 307 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:27,119 Speaker 2: couldn't just finish your rant. You had to stop mid sentence. 308 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:28,680 Speaker 2: Don't let this stop. 309 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: Okay, okay, So so I'm you've heard me, now go on. 310 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:33,360 Speaker 1: I don't know. I don't know how long we've been going, 311 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: fifteen minutes, twenty minutes, whatever it is? So am I am? I? 312 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 2: Just? 313 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 1: Am I wrong? Am I? Am I being too like? 314 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:44,479 Speaker 1: I don't think I am like We I want this 315 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:45,400 Speaker 1: thing to be good. 316 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 2: I would love but Stein. What you have to remember 317 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 2: is Stein. Also, the NBA can still tweak it after 318 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 2: that's this. 319 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 1: That's true, that's true. But here here was the point 320 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: I was getting at before your before your Danny Green news. 321 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 1: If we want to make this thing more of a tournament, 322 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:05,679 Speaker 1: and it's only gonna be the thirty NBA teams we 323 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: already see, then why don't we just carve two weeks 324 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:13,360 Speaker 1: out of the season and take everybody to Vegas and 325 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:17,879 Speaker 1: play a thirty team, single elimination tournament in Vegas. So 326 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:21,400 Speaker 1: it's part of the schedule, but it can be done 327 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 1: in two weeks so it doesn't drag out over six weeks. 328 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 1: But I'll tell you why that's not gonna happen. Cause 329 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,920 Speaker 1: the teams that make a lot of money with their 330 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: home dates, your Warriors, your Lakers, the teams that really 331 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 1: make big bank on a home game, they're not giving 332 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:41,360 Speaker 1: up multiple home dates to go play a tournament in Vegas. 333 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:44,679 Speaker 1: So I don't think that version's gonna happen either. Teams 334 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:48,200 Speaker 1: will fight that, and so that's what I'm saying. Somehow, someway, 335 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 1: this is year one. Try it any way you want it. 336 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 1: Let's see how it goes. Let's see if court surfaces 337 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 1: and New Jersey's really hook fans. I don't think so. 338 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 1: But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe you know, maybe I'm not 339 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 1: the demographic that they're targeting. Maybe these floor designs are 340 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 1: just gonna wow people and mesmerize them. 341 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 2: But that it's not. It's not a maybe you're not 342 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 2: the demographic. You are not the demographic. 343 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:15,479 Speaker 1: I'm gonna ask you then, have you how many games 344 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: have you watched in your life because the floor was 345 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 1: so cool? 346 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 2: No, it's not my it's not I don't think it's 347 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 2: my demographic either. It's not out of one of us. 348 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:28,880 Speaker 1: For the twenty year old twenty one year olds. 349 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 2: I think, yeah, it's for the teenagers, you know, to 350 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 2: the twenty year olds, you know, who are fascinated by 351 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 2: just different colors. Like with me, Stein like, I'm a 352 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 2: stickler for tradition. I'm like all these before you had 353 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 2: two different jerseys you at home, and you had a 354 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:52,400 Speaker 2: way maybe here and there there was alternative, maybe there's 355 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:56,400 Speaker 2: a third jersey. You know, growing up in the nineties, alternative. 356 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 2: Now it's like how many jerseys teams have. It's like, damn, 357 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 2: they got six, about six of them. So like, I 358 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:08,120 Speaker 2: feel you in that regard, But you know, these kids, 359 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:09,679 Speaker 2: you got to think about the shoes, and I know 360 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:12,679 Speaker 2: we're going off a little bit. Think about shoestn remember 361 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 2: when players had their own signature shoes. Those signature shoes 362 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 2: were the same colors as their uniforms. Think of the 363 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:23,879 Speaker 2: Penny Hardaways back in the day, the Jason kids, Michael 364 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 2: Jordan's red and black, red, black and white. Those are 365 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 2: pretty much his colors. Now with color ways, they would 366 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 2: you know, there's all these different colors and players, the 367 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 2: prop the NBA players, they wear shoe colors that are 368 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:44,080 Speaker 2: mismatched from their uniforms from their jerseys. So it's just 369 00:22:44,119 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 2: a different era that we're in. And it's not my 370 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 2: demographic their targeting. It's the demographic that's coming up, the 371 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:56,640 Speaker 2: demographic that consume NBA content and other content in different ways. 372 00:22:56,680 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 2: You know, I still I watched most NBA games on 373 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:06,879 Speaker 2: my phone, but I still feel much more comfortable watching 374 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:10,600 Speaker 2: it on TV. I think that's probably the opposite for 375 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 2: the younger generation. So you know, hey, it's worth a try. 376 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 2: I think you have to try. 377 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:20,240 Speaker 1: I'm about fifteen years older than you, but if that 378 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 1: means your mindset is closer to mine than the kids 379 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:25,680 Speaker 1: of today, I'm worried for you. 380 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 2: I'm an old soul Stein. I'm an old So. 381 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 1: You talk about shoes are religion, and shoes always have 382 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,919 Speaker 1: been religion, Like I mean, I just had such a 383 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, I've talked about this about ten times. 384 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: I had such a good time recently interviewing George Gervin, 385 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: like he has a new book out with our friend 386 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:46,480 Speaker 1: Scoop Jackson, and I just I mean, I could have 387 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,560 Speaker 1: talked to George Gervin for two hours. And I remember 388 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:51,399 Speaker 1: the last time I went to the Hall of Fame, 389 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 1: going through the exhibit Hall, and they got it. They've 390 00:23:56,080 --> 00:24:00,119 Speaker 1: got a pair of nineteen seventy seven Nike high top blazer. 391 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:01,679 Speaker 2: That's cold. 392 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:03,959 Speaker 1: I mean they like, I wanted to crack the glass 393 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: and take those shoes. Liked. 394 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:12,400 Speaker 2: H It's it's just different, stun. It's a different time man, 395 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:16,960 Speaker 2: different time man, and it's you know usually you know, listen, 396 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,920 Speaker 2: I'm not complaining because again that they're trying to reach 397 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:23,399 Speaker 2: an audience that's not us, and so for that, I 398 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:25,240 Speaker 2: will have to say, let's give it some time. Let's 399 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:28,280 Speaker 2: give it a few years. Remember, they'll continue to tweak it, 400 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:32,240 Speaker 2: you know, from year to year before finally saying, hey, 401 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:34,960 Speaker 2: this is something we're doing permanent, or hey we're going 402 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 2: to scratch it like they did the All Star for Matt. 403 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:40,159 Speaker 2: So I have to PLoud them for trying, because you 404 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:43,399 Speaker 2: they did have to do something to make the regular 405 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:47,679 Speaker 2: season much more compelling, especially the early part of the 406 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:48,399 Speaker 2: regular season. 407 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:51,920 Speaker 1: Okay, fair enough, Like I said, I want I want 408 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 1: your perspective. 409 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:53,000 Speaker 2: I don't. 410 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 1: I don't want this to just be Mark Stein's traditionalist 411 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 1: rantings because he's so set and stuff and doesn't like 412 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:02,879 Speaker 1: change and wants everything to be like it was in 413 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 1: the eighties. But I do you know, we'll see, We'll 414 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 1: see how it evolves over time. I do think one 415 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 1: way or the other somehow, it's got to become more 416 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 1: like a tournament for people to get excited about an 417 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 1: nd season tournament. When Michael Imperioli is doing the video 418 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:25,919 Speaker 1: and saying, you know, thirty teams, single elimination, this has 419 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: never been done before. Yeah, if it was thirty teams 420 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:31,160 Speaker 1: in single elimination, that would get I think that would 421 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 1: get much more attention because the NBA definitely does not 422 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 1: have that. I'm so glad though, you brought up the 423 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:39,320 Speaker 1: All Star Game, because we didn't talk about that in 424 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:42,239 Speaker 1: our last pod. When the week started, I had a 425 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 1: piece about that. Okay, back to an East versus West 426 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:52,879 Speaker 1: format in Indianapolis in February. The target score in the 427 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:57,199 Speaker 1: fourth quarter is gone, The player draft is gone. And 428 00:25:57,240 --> 00:26:01,479 Speaker 1: I think players really, they really didn't enjoy the draft 429 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 1: as much as we wanted it. On the outside, I 430 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:10,120 Speaker 1: told everybody, I told Stein from the moment. 431 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:16,960 Speaker 2: They introduced that format, introduced the player draft, ninety percent 432 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 2: of America was on board, ninety percent of media was 433 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:24,919 Speaker 2: on board. I was one of the long people was 434 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 2: saying I don't think this is a good idea. I 435 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 2: said it, and this is back when I because it 436 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:32,440 Speaker 2: started when I was at ESPN. I said it when 437 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:35,320 Speaker 2: I was at ESPN, when I was on Sports Center, 438 00:26:35,359 --> 00:26:38,520 Speaker 2: when I was on the other show, NBA show back 439 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 2: in the day. And this is why, this is why 440 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 2: I said it, Stein, I said, these are all All Stars, 441 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:49,440 Speaker 2: all twenty four players that are selected, they're All Stars. 442 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:53,720 Speaker 2: But with this draft, now you're putting them in tiers. 443 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 2: They already know there are tiers to it, but now 444 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:03,400 Speaker 2: you're publicly put them in tears where you know, there's Lebron, 445 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:09,520 Speaker 2: there's Gianni's but now it's like nobody wants to be 446 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 2: picked last. Nobody wants to be picked second to last. 447 00:27:14,359 --> 00:27:18,439 Speaker 2: These are players with egos, So it goes from being 448 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 2: you're being happy that you're one of twenty four that 449 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:26,679 Speaker 2: you're All Star to now having to stress about like 450 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:29,639 Speaker 2: where I'm going to get picked at I saw it 451 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:32,919 Speaker 2: from day one. It was not It was not a 452 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:36,680 Speaker 2: comfortable situation for the guys, for the All Stars who 453 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:40,919 Speaker 2: are probably the on the you know, the bottom portion 454 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:44,400 Speaker 2: of the All Star tality. Lebron doesn't have to worry 455 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 2: about that. Giannis doesn't have to worry about that, you know, 456 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 2: Steph doesn't have to worry about that. You know, it's 457 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:53,120 Speaker 2: the it's the French players who probably don't make it 458 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 2: every single year. And I just knew. I'm like, yes, 459 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:58,159 Speaker 2: it's good for fans because they want to see it. 460 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:03,080 Speaker 2: You want to see what the players expression from being 461 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 2: picked last and all that. But I just I just 462 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 2: knew it was not going to be a good idea. 463 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 2: I was against it from day one. 464 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:12,760 Speaker 1: Well you have been proven right, And I was definitely 465 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:15,960 Speaker 1: on the other side saying, you know, a player draft 466 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 1: is going to be awesome, It's going to be so 467 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:20,800 Speaker 1: great to see these guys. Let's let's please do it 468 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 1: playground style with reversible jerseys. But it was clear last 469 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 1: I mean last year's All Star draft in Salt Lake 470 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 1: City is going to go down as a very newsy 471 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 1: and memorable one because a Jannis with his first pick 472 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:42,480 Speaker 1: selected Damian Lillard, and in retrospect, that became a hint 473 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 1: that we all kind of missed at the time of 474 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:51,680 Speaker 1: just how much, you know, how fond Jannis was of 475 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:55,160 Speaker 1: Dame and it has now led to them being real 476 00:28:55,200 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 1: life full time twenty four to seven three sixty five teammates, 477 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 1: and so that was a very handy hint that didn't 478 00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:07,240 Speaker 1: get it was not described that way when it happened 479 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 1: at the time. And then at the end of the 480 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 1: player draft, we saw a chagrin Nikola Jokicic clearly feeling 481 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 1: that discomfort that you just described, assigning himself to Lebron 482 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 1: James's team before Lebron could even make the last pick 483 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 1: and sticking Lowry market In with dreaded last pick in 484 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 1: the draft status because Jokic didn't like it. And the 485 00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:38,000 Speaker 1: man then went out and led his team in Denver 486 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:41,320 Speaker 1: to a championship and showed how laughable it is that 487 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: he lasted that long in that player draft. But yeah, 488 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:47,800 Speaker 1: I think that that really will that will be remembered 489 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:52,239 Speaker 1: as the illustration of just how uncomfortable it actually was 490 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:54,600 Speaker 1: for the players involved. 491 00:29:55,640 --> 00:30:00,560 Speaker 2: But why O by listen to me? Listen? First of all, 492 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:03,440 Speaker 2: it was nobody. Nobody listened to me Stein. I was 493 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 2: saying it from day one, and largely I was saying 494 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 2: it because that's what I thought. Anyways, Because remember, guys 495 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:19,400 Speaker 2: don't participate in the dunk contest because of social media today, 496 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 2: because of the criticism. They would take the FLAC, they 497 00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 2: would take the means that would come about, you know, 498 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:32,520 Speaker 2: if they were to lose, if they're missing all these dunks. 499 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:40,480 Speaker 2: Social media has just created this. It's created this worrisome, 500 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:49,720 Speaker 2: toxic feeling, you know, amongst not not just professional players, 501 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:54,360 Speaker 2: people in general, you know, And that's something that wasn't 502 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 2: around back in age and ninety. So if people are 503 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:00,960 Speaker 2: uncomfortable with social media, handling social media and what comes 504 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 2: with that, come on now being picked last, Like that's 505 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 2: just I just saw that. And then secondly, Stein, I 506 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:13,360 Speaker 2: talked to players. They didn't like it. And I'm not 507 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 2: talking about Lebron's and stuff I'm talking about I'm talking 508 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:25,960 Speaker 2: about your players fifteen to thirty ranking. They didn't like it, 509 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 2: you know. So I seen this coming. I didn't know 510 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 2: that I thought the league was going to reverse its 511 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:39,200 Speaker 2: decision this soon, but I just seen it coming. And 512 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:43,640 Speaker 2: one more things starin about the All Star Hopefully people 513 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 2: will listen to me because I was saying it from 514 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:49,800 Speaker 2: day one. Listen hear me out about this starn. This 515 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:53,000 Speaker 2: goes back to something I told Damian Lillard and CJ 516 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 2: McCollum back when I was covering the Portland Troublizz back 517 00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:59,240 Speaker 2: in my beat days. Hear me out, Stein, tell me 518 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:00,880 Speaker 2: if I'm being an old man, tell me if this 519 00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:01,520 Speaker 2: is dumb or not. 520 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:03,240 Speaker 1: I hope I'm not a bad influence on you. 521 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:09,920 Speaker 2: I and see, I'm kind of I'm going to kind 522 00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:13,280 Speaker 2: of contradict myself because I like the East West format. 523 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:16,840 Speaker 2: But check this out. I was of the I was 524 00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:22,000 Speaker 2: a proponent of let's just pick the top twenty four. 525 00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:28,160 Speaker 2: The reason I say that because Stein, Dame and CJ. 526 00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:31,560 Speaker 2: CJ hasn't made an All Star game at all. You 527 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:35,240 Speaker 2: could make the case that if CJ McCollum was in 528 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:39,480 Speaker 2: the East his whole career, he might have had a 529 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:43,920 Speaker 2: couple of All Star appearances, right, and Dame he believed 530 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:46,440 Speaker 2: he's an eight time All Star. He would definitely be 531 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:49,200 Speaker 2: ten time All Star if he was in the East 532 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 2: his whole career. East just wasn't that strong in the 533 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 2: Guard the guard area for most of their career. Because Stein, 534 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:03,400 Speaker 2: at the end end of their career, take somebody like 535 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:05,280 Speaker 2: who would you say, Let me give you an example, 536 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:11,640 Speaker 2: Kimba Walker. Compare Kimba Walker to CJ McCollum, Who would 537 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:13,200 Speaker 2: you say has had the better career. 538 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:20,480 Speaker 1: I see the point you're making here. Should Kimba Walker 539 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:25,880 Speaker 1: have four career All Star appearances and CJ. McCollum have none? 540 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:27,840 Speaker 1: Is that fair? 541 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:32,320 Speaker 2: That exactly, That's that's the question I'm raising that. But 542 00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:35,080 Speaker 2: because at the end of the day, style hall of 543 00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:38,080 Speaker 2: Fame not to say that these are Hall of Fame players, 544 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:41,280 Speaker 2: but when you're looking for looking at Hall of Fame credentials, 545 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 2: what is going to take People are gonna look even 546 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:46,480 Speaker 2: if it's not Hall of Fame credentials. You could just 547 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:48,720 Speaker 2: spout out, hey, I was a four time, five time 548 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:49,160 Speaker 2: All Star. 549 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:53,280 Speaker 1: Look, all Star snubs have always happened and will always happen. 550 00:33:53,320 --> 00:33:55,400 Speaker 1: I mean another I mean, if we're gonna go down 551 00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:59,320 Speaker 1: this road, this is a thirty team league now, I mean, 552 00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:03,400 Speaker 1: shouldn't all star teams be expanded in a thirty teen league? 553 00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:08,200 Speaker 1: You know, a twelve twelve man All Star roster that 554 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:10,480 Speaker 1: worked fine in the eighties when I was a kid 555 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:12,719 Speaker 1: and it was a twenty three team league. But you've 556 00:34:12,719 --> 00:34:16,040 Speaker 1: added seven teams and the all Star rosters have gotten 557 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:19,200 Speaker 1: no larger. So I mean that that argument has been 558 00:34:19,239 --> 00:34:21,960 Speaker 1: made now for a while that should it be expanded 559 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:24,359 Speaker 1: to fifteen. But would that be fit? You know, I 560 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:27,680 Speaker 1: remember in the eighties. You know that the seventies is 561 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:29,520 Speaker 1: when I fell in love with the NBA. But the 562 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:31,480 Speaker 1: eighties is what I mean. I was in high school 563 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:35,200 Speaker 1: and it was just the league was erupting with you know, 564 00:34:35,360 --> 00:34:38,040 Speaker 1: Magic and Larry and then the arrival of Michael Jordan. 565 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:43,719 Speaker 1: But I remember two of my favorite players, and then 566 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:48,840 Speaker 1: two guys I ended up covering pretty closely and share 567 00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:51,960 Speaker 1: the same last name, Derek Harper and Ron Harper. Zero 568 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:57,319 Speaker 1: All Star appearances between them. That's happened because competition for 569 00:34:57,480 --> 00:34:59,640 Speaker 1: All Star spots is so tough. 570 00:35:00,200 --> 00:35:04,080 Speaker 2: Snubs old, but it happened because the All Star competition 571 00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:06,440 Speaker 2: is tough, or because of the conference they were in 572 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:07,360 Speaker 2: at the time. 573 00:35:07,840 --> 00:35:10,759 Speaker 1: Well, I mean in those days they were you know, 574 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:14,120 Speaker 1: Ron Harper was was all East in those in the eighties, 575 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:15,799 Speaker 1: and Derek Harper was in the West. So I mean, 576 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:18,040 Speaker 1: it really wasn't it. It really wasn't a conference thing. 577 00:35:18,200 --> 00:35:20,480 Speaker 1: I guess it's just the point when there's only twelve 578 00:35:20,520 --> 00:35:23,680 Speaker 1: spots a year, there are always gonna be at least 579 00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:26,520 Speaker 1: two or three deserving guys who get left off, and 580 00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:29,200 Speaker 1: it's very unfortunate. Okay, that's very unfortunate. 581 00:35:29,280 --> 00:35:32,719 Speaker 2: But that's fine, that's fine. Stop But okay, say you 582 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:35,560 Speaker 2: add three right, Still there's still going to be a 583 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:39,080 Speaker 2: scenario where a player in another conference who is not 584 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:42,279 Speaker 2: the calibery player of somebody else, they're going to get in. 585 00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:44,840 Speaker 1: They can they can expand they can expand the rosters 586 00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:47,640 Speaker 1: to fifteen in the East and fifteen in the West. 587 00:35:47,920 --> 00:35:49,800 Speaker 1: And we're still going to be screaming about who is 588 00:35:49,880 --> 00:35:53,160 Speaker 1: number thirty one and thirty two. It's just and that's 589 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:53,759 Speaker 1: the way it is. 590 00:35:53,880 --> 00:35:56,680 Speaker 2: Well why don't we, well, why don't we just pick 591 00:35:56,920 --> 00:35:59,680 Speaker 2: the top twenty four regardless of idle comf. 592 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:02,640 Speaker 1: Because even if even if we do that, we're still 593 00:36:02,719 --> 00:36:06,480 Speaker 1: gonna have snubs. We're still gonna be screaming about who 594 00:36:06,520 --> 00:36:10,080 Speaker 1: is twenty fifth, twenty sixth, twenty seventh, and twenty eighth. 595 00:36:10,520 --> 00:36:16,880 Speaker 2: So you don't think, you don't think CJ. McCollum zero 596 00:36:17,239 --> 00:36:20,160 Speaker 2: All Star appearances. I'm just using them as example because 597 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:22,319 Speaker 2: that's what I was talking about with them back in 598 00:36:22,360 --> 00:36:28,400 Speaker 2: my Portland days. It matters, It matters, like it matters 599 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:30,919 Speaker 2: on your resume. Even if you're not Hall of Fame, 600 00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:34,640 Speaker 2: it matters on your resume. That you're a fourth. Nobody's 601 00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:37,160 Speaker 2: gonna look at Stein when their career is done. Nobody's 602 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:40,000 Speaker 2: gonna say, oh, he's a four time All Star in 603 00:36:40,040 --> 00:36:43,400 Speaker 2: the East. They're gonna say in the East when it 604 00:36:43,520 --> 00:36:47,600 Speaker 2: was a weaker tier compared to the West, nobody's gonna 605 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:51,440 Speaker 2: say that. Nobody's gonna give context. It's just this person 606 00:36:51,719 --> 00:36:52,480 Speaker 2: your time. 607 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:55,760 Speaker 1: On two or three or ten guys who got snubbed. 608 00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:57,200 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't think that. 609 00:36:57,280 --> 00:36:59,480 Speaker 2: I just think it's more fair that that way, if 610 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:02,200 Speaker 2: you pick the top twenty four regardless of conference. 611 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:04,799 Speaker 1: Well, the reason I even wanted to bring this up once, 612 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:06,799 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm so glad you're the one who kind 613 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:09,400 Speaker 1: of brought All Star the All Star Game into the discussion, 614 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:12,160 Speaker 1: and you reminded me that because I wrote about this Monday, 615 00:37:12,200 --> 00:37:13,840 Speaker 1: and this has been such a crazy week in the 616 00:37:13,920 --> 00:37:16,920 Speaker 1: NBA that Monday feels like two three weeks ago now 617 00:37:16,920 --> 00:37:21,719 Speaker 1: because so much has happened with the Harden trade. But look, yes, 618 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:25,440 Speaker 1: they're going back to East West for this season, but 619 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:32,040 Speaker 1: it's becoming increasingly clear that we are very likely in 620 00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:36,120 Speaker 1: the near future, and you know, put near in air quotes. 621 00:37:36,160 --> 00:37:40,680 Speaker 1: I don't know exactly how long but USA versus the 622 00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:44,200 Speaker 1: rest of the world, that is a format that is 623 00:37:44,239 --> 00:37:47,160 Speaker 1: going to get a tryout too, And I think this 624 00:37:47,239 --> 00:37:50,640 Speaker 1: might surprise you. And you know, I think people who've 625 00:37:50,680 --> 00:37:52,359 Speaker 1: read me for a long time know that. You know, 626 00:37:52,480 --> 00:37:57,239 Speaker 1: international basketball is what started my career as an NBA writer. 627 00:37:57,360 --> 00:38:00,400 Speaker 1: The first NBA story I ever did was a summer 628 00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:05,640 Speaker 1: league story about the Lakers drafting Vlade divots. The so, 629 00:38:05,880 --> 00:38:09,440 Speaker 1: you know, covering international players coming to the NBA has 630 00:38:09,560 --> 00:38:13,320 Speaker 1: always been one of my favorite aspects of this job. 631 00:38:14,560 --> 00:38:16,600 Speaker 1: I think I'm gonna surprise people here. I would I 632 00:38:16,640 --> 00:38:19,799 Speaker 1: would argue against it. Even though the NBA and now 633 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:23,480 Speaker 1: opening Night rosters there were one hundred and twenty five 634 00:38:23,640 --> 00:38:30,200 Speaker 1: international players, a record most in league history, but that's 635 00:38:30,280 --> 00:38:35,040 Speaker 1: still only ten percent. If you're gonna give twelve All 636 00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:38,279 Speaker 1: Star spots to one hundred and twenty five players and 637 00:38:38,320 --> 00:38:40,839 Speaker 1: then the other three hundred plus players have to fight 638 00:38:40,880 --> 00:38:44,439 Speaker 1: over twelve roster spots, it's just not fair. So even 639 00:38:44,480 --> 00:38:50,080 Speaker 1: though yes, the international team continue, the theoretical international All 640 00:38:50,080 --> 00:38:53,919 Speaker 1: Star team gets stronger and stronger and stronger every year, 641 00:38:54,360 --> 00:38:57,319 Speaker 1: and we probably could come up with a list of 642 00:38:57,560 --> 00:39:01,440 Speaker 1: twelve very good international players who would be All Star worthy, 643 00:39:01,880 --> 00:39:05,960 Speaker 1: but that's not fair either, Like you can't if there's 644 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:09,759 Speaker 1: only one hundred and twenty five players from abroad and 645 00:39:09,880 --> 00:39:13,560 Speaker 1: three hundred plus American born players, it just wouldn't be 646 00:39:13,640 --> 00:39:17,800 Speaker 1: equitable to split up the All Star spots that way either. 647 00:39:18,080 --> 00:39:21,479 Speaker 1: So I but again, I do think we are gonna 648 00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:25,520 Speaker 1: see that format tried here in the in the near future. 649 00:39:25,719 --> 00:39:28,360 Speaker 1: I had a chat recently with Mark Tatum, the NBA's 650 00:39:28,360 --> 00:39:34,000 Speaker 1: deputy commissioner, and his quote was very very possible. So 651 00:39:34,280 --> 00:39:37,719 Speaker 1: that's not an ultimate promise that it's happening, but it's 652 00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:40,920 Speaker 1: a pretty strong indication that down the road, at some point, 653 00:39:41,040 --> 00:39:43,600 Speaker 1: and maybe not too far down the road, the league's 654 00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:47,080 Speaker 1: gonna try USA versus the rest of the world. And 655 00:39:47,800 --> 00:39:51,239 Speaker 1: I think some people will love it because obviously, look, 656 00:39:51,280 --> 00:39:54,440 Speaker 1: we haven't had an American born MVP since James Harden 657 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:59,440 Speaker 1: in twenty eighteen. Jokic, Jannis, and Bede have won the 658 00:39:59,520 --> 00:40:03,759 Speaker 1: last five MVPs, Luca hasn't even won one yet, Shay 659 00:40:03,840 --> 00:40:06,360 Speaker 1: Gil just Alexander. I mean, these are like all the 660 00:40:06,520 --> 00:40:10,720 Speaker 1: MVP favorites are international players, but there's a difference between 661 00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:15,760 Speaker 1: four or five international players dominating MVP voting and twelve 662 00:40:15,840 --> 00:40:20,520 Speaker 1: international players getting an All Star spot. So I wonder 663 00:40:20,560 --> 00:40:24,200 Speaker 1: what the uproar is going to be like when that happens. 664 00:40:25,160 --> 00:40:28,640 Speaker 2: I've never thought about that. I don't know. I might. 665 00:40:29,080 --> 00:40:31,759 Speaker 2: I might be in favor of that stun definitely for 666 00:40:31,800 --> 00:40:34,320 Speaker 2: the trial period. Yeah, I might be definitely for a 667 00:40:34,360 --> 00:40:41,200 Speaker 2: trial period. And that is a game that I would 668 00:40:41,200 --> 00:40:42,600 Speaker 2: think everybody would get up. 669 00:40:42,560 --> 00:40:43,280 Speaker 1: For, no question. 670 00:40:43,320 --> 00:40:49,040 Speaker 4: That's Look, what if we're talking watchability, Yeah, if we're 671 00:40:49,080 --> 00:40:53,320 Speaker 4: talking watchability and interest and an All Star game, that 672 00:40:53,360 --> 00:40:57,160 Speaker 4: would get people fired up, no question. That would be 673 00:40:57,719 --> 00:41:02,120 Speaker 4: incredible to see a team of American stars against the 674 00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:04,280 Speaker 4: twelve best international stars, no question. 675 00:41:04,400 --> 00:41:07,080 Speaker 2: That's the That's like the second coming of the Olympics. 676 00:41:07,160 --> 00:41:09,560 Speaker 1: Right, what do you say again, what do you say 677 00:41:09,680 --> 00:41:13,160 Speaker 1: to you know, what do you say to the CJ 678 00:41:13,239 --> 00:41:15,840 Speaker 1: McCollums if CJ McCollum can't make an All Star team 679 00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:19,200 Speaker 1: as it is, you know, when there's only twelve spots 680 00:41:19,200 --> 00:41:21,680 Speaker 1: for Americans. Now, now you have to say, I mean, 681 00:41:21,719 --> 00:41:24,279 Speaker 1: the math is the math fair here? 682 00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:29,520 Speaker 2: Yeah? I mean I don't. I don't think there's a right, 683 00:41:29,719 --> 00:41:33,880 Speaker 2: right or wrong answer. I was throwing out a suggestion 684 00:41:34,320 --> 00:41:38,680 Speaker 2: years ago, and but I'm listen, I'm happy that East 685 00:41:38,680 --> 00:41:42,280 Speaker 2: and West is back, because it just didn't make sense 686 00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:46,200 Speaker 2: that you pulled twelve from the East and twelve from 687 00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:48,520 Speaker 2: the West and then you mix them all up and 688 00:41:48,600 --> 00:41:51,319 Speaker 2: let players pick, and it was it really wasn't East 689 00:41:51,360 --> 00:41:53,799 Speaker 2: or West, you know. So I was like, That's why 690 00:41:53,840 --> 00:41:55,439 Speaker 2: I came to that conclusion. I was like, if they're 691 00:41:55,480 --> 00:41:58,440 Speaker 2: just mixing up the players anyway, let's just pick the 692 00:41:58,480 --> 00:42:05,279 Speaker 2: top twenty four regardless of conference. That way, the proper players, 693 00:42:05,760 --> 00:42:11,040 Speaker 2: well well well more so, the proper players will be 694 00:42:11,080 --> 00:42:12,160 Speaker 2: selected for the game. 695 00:42:13,080 --> 00:42:14,520 Speaker 1: Will you be an Indie? Are you going? 696 00:42:16,080 --> 00:42:18,239 Speaker 2: Yes, I'll be there. I'll be there. That will be 697 00:42:18,280 --> 00:42:21,120 Speaker 2: the last cold We went through what we what do 698 00:42:21,200 --> 00:42:24,040 Speaker 2: we do? We went to what were were first cold cities? 699 00:42:24,440 --> 00:42:27,719 Speaker 2: Chicago first? Or were we at a cold city before that? 700 00:42:27,800 --> 00:42:29,680 Speaker 1: Caago was twenty twenty twenty. 701 00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:32,000 Speaker 2: There was Cleveland. 702 00:42:32,040 --> 00:42:36,800 Speaker 1: He wasn't Atlanta in the COVID year was COVID? That 703 00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:41,520 Speaker 1: was twenty one the COVID The season after COVID when 704 00:42:42,920 --> 00:42:45,120 Speaker 1: arenas had to be empty. I think that was Atlanta 705 00:42:45,160 --> 00:42:47,400 Speaker 1: in twenty one, mm hmmm. 706 00:42:48,480 --> 00:42:51,360 Speaker 2: I then Cleveland was after Cleveland. 707 00:42:51,000 --> 00:42:54,600 Speaker 1: Cleveland twenty two and Salt no, Salt Lake. Yeah, salt 708 00:42:54,640 --> 00:42:56,719 Speaker 1: Lake was twenty three, so Cleveland was twenty two. 709 00:42:56,800 --> 00:43:00,960 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, So this is the last cold city before 710 00:43:02,239 --> 00:43:05,719 Speaker 2: my area, the Bay area. So yes, I'll be there. 711 00:43:06,239 --> 00:43:08,359 Speaker 2: I made it this far. I went to all. 712 00:43:08,280 --> 00:43:13,600 Speaker 1: Those cold love Indianapolis. I haven't been there in ages. 713 00:43:13,640 --> 00:43:16,600 Speaker 2: I can't wait to go there now to indian One 714 00:43:16,600 --> 00:43:19,680 Speaker 2: thing about Indiana, people might not be you know, they 715 00:43:19,800 --> 00:43:24,080 Speaker 2: might not be excited to go. But Indiana they know 716 00:43:24,280 --> 00:43:27,520 Speaker 2: how to host big events. That's one thing about them. 717 00:43:27,560 --> 00:43:30,720 Speaker 2: They know how to hold big events. So I'm looking 718 00:43:30,760 --> 00:43:31,759 Speaker 2: forward to seeing how they do. 719 00:43:31,960 --> 00:43:33,879 Speaker 1: I am excited to go. It's been way too long 720 00:43:33,920 --> 00:43:36,319 Speaker 1: since I made a visit to Saint Elmos. Please tell 721 00:43:36,360 --> 00:43:39,960 Speaker 1: me you've had the fame shrimp cocktail at Saint Elmos. 722 00:43:40,320 --> 00:43:43,239 Speaker 2: Never heard of it. I don't eat shrimp either, so yeah, 723 00:43:44,880 --> 00:43:45,640 Speaker 2: not more Forte. 724 00:43:50,080 --> 00:43:56,919 Speaker 1: That's like NBA. That is NBA religion right there, having 725 00:43:56,920 --> 00:44:03,640 Speaker 1: a shrimp cocktail with incredibly spicy cocktail sauce. 726 00:44:04,719 --> 00:44:10,200 Speaker 2: I'll have a sprite cocktail. How about that, Stan? You 727 00:44:10,239 --> 00:44:13,120 Speaker 2: know what you said that that's NBA religion. What about 728 00:44:13,160 --> 00:44:18,200 Speaker 2: this podcast religion? This league uncut whoever tweeted at us 729 00:44:18,719 --> 00:44:21,480 Speaker 2: and was talking about my fire alarm going off. I'm 730 00:44:21,480 --> 00:44:23,719 Speaker 2: gonna tell you right now, you did not hear one 731 00:44:23,800 --> 00:44:28,759 Speaker 2: fire alarm going off on this episode this podcast. I 732 00:44:28,840 --> 00:44:30,080 Speaker 2: made sure it was taking care of. 733 00:44:30,080 --> 00:44:32,680 Speaker 1: It was good. That was actually fantastic that one of 734 00:44:32,680 --> 00:44:38,120 Speaker 1: our loyal listeners said, hold on, I'm looking up exactly 735 00:44:38,160 --> 00:44:43,560 Speaker 1: what he said, Carlos Scarcia on Twitter. Such a devoted 736 00:44:43,600 --> 00:44:48,680 Speaker 1: listener to This League Uncut that Carlos tweeted, quote, the 737 00:44:48,760 --> 00:44:53,000 Speaker 1: sound of the NBA truly being back is the beep 738 00:44:53,080 --> 00:44:58,680 Speaker 1: going off on Chris Haynes smoke detector during the podcast. 739 00:44:59,080 --> 00:45:03,560 Speaker 1: Truer word about this League uncut have never been spoken. 740 00:45:05,760 --> 00:45:07,840 Speaker 1: But you fixed it. You got the ladder out and 741 00:45:07,840 --> 00:45:08,400 Speaker 1: you fixed it. 742 00:45:09,719 --> 00:45:11,680 Speaker 2: Oh no, I just went upstairs. 743 00:45:13,520 --> 00:45:16,239 Speaker 1: So so if you were downstairs, it would still be 744 00:45:16,280 --> 00:45:22,920 Speaker 1: going off. Yes, Oh my goodness, so when we were 745 00:45:23,760 --> 00:45:25,680 Speaker 1: So when we record our next pod, you're gonna go 746 00:45:25,719 --> 00:45:27,200 Speaker 1: downstairs and we might hear it together. 747 00:45:28,239 --> 00:45:30,160 Speaker 2: On what type of mood I'd be, But honestly, it 748 00:45:30,239 --> 00:45:31,840 Speaker 2: depends on who's in the house. 749 00:45:31,920 --> 00:45:35,160 Speaker 1: Well this, I mean, look this podcast. I had to 750 00:45:35,200 --> 00:45:38,680 Speaker 1: do so much ranting and naysaying about the nd season tournament, 751 00:45:38,760 --> 00:45:40,719 Speaker 1: and then you got us going on the All Star 752 00:45:40,800 --> 00:45:43,640 Speaker 1: Game that we're gonna leave it there for now and 753 00:45:43,760 --> 00:45:46,640 Speaker 1: there there are. We're gonna be back again together soon. 754 00:45:46,680 --> 00:45:49,640 Speaker 1: I'm sure we're gonna record something on Sunday night or 755 00:45:49,680 --> 00:45:52,879 Speaker 1: Monday night at the latest. But we've gone We did 756 00:45:52,920 --> 00:45:55,279 Speaker 1: too much ranting in this episode and we haven't left 757 00:45:55,360 --> 00:45:58,600 Speaker 1: enough time because we need time. We need time. We've 758 00:45:58,640 --> 00:46:01,640 Speaker 1: got to talk about the Milwaukee Bucks who got routed 759 00:46:02,840 --> 00:46:07,920 Speaker 1: in Toronto. As we're recording this thing. I see Phoenix 760 00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:10,759 Speaker 1: is making a fourth quarter run. So the Spurs were 761 00:46:10,760 --> 00:46:14,160 Speaker 1: a big in Phoenix going for a sweep, but you 762 00:46:14,200 --> 00:46:16,239 Speaker 1: know that game hangs in the balance. Who knows, maybe 763 00:46:16,239 --> 00:46:20,160 Speaker 1: Phoenix comes back and wins it. They've cut a twenty 764 00:46:20,200 --> 00:46:25,520 Speaker 1: point deficit in half. Miami could have easily started oh 765 00:46:25,600 --> 00:46:29,799 Speaker 1: and five if they didn't squeeze out an opening night 766 00:46:29,880 --> 00:46:32,799 Speaker 1: win over Detroit. The Heat have been a mess. The 767 00:46:32,840 --> 00:46:36,400 Speaker 1: Memphis Grizzlies are a mess oh and five with no 768 00:46:36,600 --> 00:46:41,120 Speaker 1: John Morant and having lost Steven Adams and Brandon Clark 769 00:46:41,200 --> 00:46:46,320 Speaker 1: still rehabbing from an achilles injury. So there are several 770 00:46:46,400 --> 00:46:50,560 Speaker 1: high profile teams that haven't started well. Then. Entering Friday's play, 771 00:46:50,600 --> 00:46:53,680 Speaker 1: we had just two unbeatens left, both Boston and Dallas 772 00:46:53,680 --> 00:46:56,680 Speaker 1: at four and oh, so we are going to get 773 00:46:56,719 --> 00:47:01,440 Speaker 1: into all of that as well as set up James 774 00:47:01,440 --> 00:47:06,520 Speaker 1: Harden's debut, which is expected Monday, his Clippers debut which 775 00:47:06,560 --> 00:47:11,000 Speaker 1: is expected Monday. So we will get back to all 776 00:47:11,080 --> 00:47:14,640 Speaker 1: those team specific issues on the hardwood. We're gonna get 777 00:47:14,640 --> 00:47:17,560 Speaker 1: into all that next time. But we did so much 778 00:47:17,640 --> 00:47:22,239 Speaker 1: ranting here that we we consumed more. We consumed more 779 00:47:22,280 --> 00:47:23,840 Speaker 1: airspace than we expected. 780 00:47:24,920 --> 00:47:26,480 Speaker 2: That's what old people do, they rent. 781 00:47:26,800 --> 00:47:29,480 Speaker 1: So I found out tonight that you. I found out 782 00:47:29,520 --> 00:47:32,120 Speaker 1: tonight that there's two old men on this show. It's 783 00:47:32,160 --> 00:47:36,000 Speaker 1: not just me that you can that you consider yourself 784 00:47:36,040 --> 00:47:39,200 Speaker 1: old now until I start asking you about your game 785 00:47:39,280 --> 00:47:41,720 Speaker 1: and how you know, you know, can you still dunk? 786 00:47:41,760 --> 00:47:43,480 Speaker 1: And you're getting getting enough shots up? 787 00:47:43,600 --> 00:47:44,719 Speaker 2: And yeah? 788 00:47:44,800 --> 00:47:48,200 Speaker 1: Then suddenly how many games a week you playing? These days? 789 00:47:48,200 --> 00:47:50,040 Speaker 1: Now that the season is starting? Can you can you 790 00:47:50,080 --> 00:47:50,600 Speaker 1: even play? 791 00:47:51,480 --> 00:47:56,799 Speaker 2: I play about five five days a week. Really, yeah, 792 00:47:56,840 --> 00:47:59,040 Speaker 2: I have a league. So the only day I don't 793 00:47:59,040 --> 00:48:01,360 Speaker 2: play is on a Friday. Because I have a league. 794 00:48:01,719 --> 00:48:04,920 Speaker 2: I have league game on Saturday and Sunday, So Friday 795 00:48:04,960 --> 00:48:06,560 Speaker 2: is for rest rest of my body. 796 00:48:07,400 --> 00:48:09,839 Speaker 1: And when you travel, they just they just deal with it. 797 00:48:10,160 --> 00:48:12,839 Speaker 2: Travel, No, I just I don't. Yeah, well I try. 798 00:48:13,160 --> 00:48:15,439 Speaker 2: Usually I'm not going on the weekends. It's only during 799 00:48:15,440 --> 00:48:18,359 Speaker 2: the week for TNT, so I make all my league 800 00:48:18,400 --> 00:48:21,120 Speaker 2: games on the weekend. But uh yeah, when I'm on 801 00:48:21,160 --> 00:48:25,719 Speaker 2: the road, obviously I can't play play my pickup that 802 00:48:25,960 --> 00:48:28,600 Speaker 2: I like to play. But yeah, I'm in Cuche. 803 00:48:28,719 --> 00:48:30,920 Speaker 1: Somehow, We're gonna have to get some footage and do 804 00:48:31,000 --> 00:48:35,520 Speaker 1: some analysis on this pod. Put your game under the microscope. 805 00:48:36,160 --> 00:48:38,879 Speaker 1: Put Chris Haynes twenty twenty three under the microscope. 806 00:48:39,360 --> 00:48:41,520 Speaker 2: I don't run from the spotlight. You let me know. 807 00:48:43,920 --> 00:48:46,279 Speaker 1: I know you don't. You want it, You want to 808 00:48:46,280 --> 00:48:47,680 Speaker 1: do a whole pod on it. 809 00:48:47,680 --> 00:48:50,040 Speaker 5: All right, everybody that is gonna do it before we 810 00:48:50,160 --> 00:48:53,520 Speaker 5: before we go deep in the weeds here on Chris Haynes' 811 00:48:53,640 --> 00:48:57,479 Speaker 5: stat line in the Sacramento Pro Am League. 812 00:48:57,560 --> 00:48:59,560 Speaker 1: Before we before we end up doing that, We're gonna 813 00:48:59,560 --> 00:49:03,520 Speaker 1: We're gonna all of a show. Please, if you haven't already, rate, 814 00:49:03,760 --> 00:49:08,359 Speaker 1: review and subscribe to this league uncut wherever you get 815 00:49:08,400 --> 00:49:12,800 Speaker 1: your podcasts. And as I said, Sunday night or Monday 816 00:49:12,880 --> 00:49:15,840 Speaker 1: night at the latest, we will have a new pod 817 00:49:16,080 --> 00:49:19,399 Speaker 1: recorded for you. Maybe we should wait till Monday night 818 00:49:19,480 --> 00:49:22,920 Speaker 1: so we can see James Harden's first game as a 819 00:49:22,920 --> 00:49:26,840 Speaker 1: Clipper and really break that down. That decision TBD, but 820 00:49:28,280 --> 00:49:31,439 Speaker 1: enjoy this one. Stick with us, stay with us, and 821 00:49:31,480 --> 00:49:36,319 Speaker 1: we will be back with you very very soon. And 822 00:49:36,360 --> 00:49:40,160 Speaker 1: that'll do it for us. See you next time. This 823 00:49:40,280 --> 00:49:48,840 Speaker 1: league uncut is and iHeartRadio production Chris Haynes and Mark Stein. 824 00:50:01,400 --> 00:50:05,480 Speaker 1: I didn't