1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. 2 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 2: What is up fire, Bam, It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight 3 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 2: Bowyer for Tuesday, February the twenty fourth. Got a great 4 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 2: guest today, Mark Medina. I've known him for a while, 5 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 2: covered the NBA. We talk about basically everything except Piston Spurs, 6 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 2: because that was going on while we were recording. I'll 7 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,599 Speaker 2: open with that shortly. Mark's a great guy. We disagree 8 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 2: a little bit on the Lakers. We don't only talk 9 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:38,160 Speaker 2: about the Lakers. I know you guys are probably getting 10 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 2: sick of them, except we look at the analytics and 11 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 2: we know you like the Lakers, So you could say 12 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 2: you're getting sick, but you're still listening. You guys will 13 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 2: like it. Let me quickly first dive into this Spurs 14 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 2: one fourteen Pistons one oh three. I saw that it 15 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 2: was hyped as a potential NBA Finals meeting. Yeah, I 16 00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 2: don't know. This is everything I'm worried about regards the 17 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 2: Pistons when it comes to the playoffs. Cad Cunningham goes 18 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 2: five for twenty six, could not buy a three or 19 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 2: two of nine, five for twenty six against the just 20 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 2: unbelievable defense of Steph Castle. Who I is that rapidly 21 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 2: rising the charts, one of my favorite players in the league. 22 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,839 Speaker 2: Such a baller. So Caid goes five for twenty six, 23 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 2: and I heard even the announcers in the third quarter 24 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 2: the coach was desperate. Brickerstaff's like, what do we do? 25 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 2: Caid struggling? Uh, Tobias Harris not his night. You know, 26 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 2: thirty minutes played, attempt six shots, four points. You know 27 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 2: he's out there getting cardio. Essentially, it's like the announcers are, oh, 28 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 2: he swapped everybody out. No Duran, no Caid. Where's the 29 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,839 Speaker 2: offense coming from? And that's the problem with the Pistons. Again, 30 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 2: Duran had a solid game, you know, twenty five and fourteen. 31 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 2: But in a playoff series, you need someone besides Kate. 32 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 2: If Caid's shooting like he is in this one against 33 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 2: the Knicks, against the Celtics, against whoever who steps up, 34 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 2: I don't want to hear Ron Holland. I don't want 35 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 2: to hear Dennis Jenkins. Paul Reeve, solid player, but again 36 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 2: he's not creating his own shot. Usar Thompson only played 37 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 2: eighteen minutes. The guy can't shoot. Detroit, By the way, 38 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 2: from three seven of thirty six. Yeah, that's right, seven 39 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,080 Speaker 2: or thirty six, nineteen percent. Duncan Robinson was actually their 40 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,079 Speaker 2: best three point shoot or we know he can't guard anybody, 41 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 2: and it was just really ugly for the for the Pistons. 42 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:26,519 Speaker 2: Now you could argue, hey, well it's ugly because the 43 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 2: Spurs are amazing. Yes, they frickin are. So the strategy 44 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 2: from Detroit was to go, hey, let's go Jordan rules 45 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 2: on one Binyama, let's rough him up, let's be physical, 46 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 2: and they were in the first half. One Banyama did 47 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 2: not handle the physicality. Well, he wasn't a huge factor. 48 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,119 Speaker 2: I don't know what happened at halftime. Maybe we'll see 49 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 2: some good quotes about it from the coach firing up 50 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 2: the troops or challenging everybody. But Victor we Minyama was 51 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 2: totally dominant defending the rim. I think he blocked Cade 52 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 2: three times. It might have been four. Wemby finishes with 53 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 2: twenty one to seventeen and six blocks. Folks. You know, 54 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 2: it's fun to be like, hey, who's the face of 55 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 2: the league in the NBA, It's Victor webin Yama, Like 56 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 2: that's just who it is. He is now, he's twenty 57 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: two years old. He will forever be the face of 58 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 2: the league. The guy is unbelievable and if we're being 59 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 2: honest with ourselves, Victor webin Yama, he's going to be 60 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,920 Speaker 2: here to stay. He is so freaking good, just an 61 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 2: unbelievable talent at both ends. When he needed to step 62 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 2: up and be physical, he was, and when he's getting 63 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 2: help from guys like Devin Vassal seven of eleven from deep, 64 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 2: Champagne five of eight from deep. The Spurs eighteen of 65 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 2: forty from three shot forty five percent. They're not losing 66 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 2: any games. They will sweep. Okay, see if they shoot 67 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 2: forty five percent from three in the playoffs, that obviously 68 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 2: won't happen. But I mean, this team is just so 69 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 2: ridiculously stacked. It's castle. It's Vassal Vassel, Vassal deeron Fox 70 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 2: h it Off Night four of seventeen for dearon Fox 71 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 2: four seventeen, only had ten points, missed all those threes, 72 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 2: but didn't matter because everyone else stepped up. They are 73 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 2: insanely deep. Harrison Barnes is a vet coming off the bench. 74 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: Keldon Johnson had a solid game. He's tough. I like 75 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 2: the Carter Bryant kid, the young kid out of Arizona. 76 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:17,359 Speaker 2: I'm just the Spurs treated this as if it were 77 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 2: an NBA finals game, a conference finals game. Obviously it 78 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 2: can't be conference finals because the business playing the East. 79 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 2: But you know what I mean. There guys logged heavy minutes. 80 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 2: Webin ya. I'm a thirty six vassal. Thirty six folks, 81 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,039 Speaker 2: This Spurs team is legit drem my pick to win 82 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 2: the title. I and here's the wacky thing. I didn't 83 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 2: like the Tim Duncan, Parker Gennobli Spurs. I thought they 84 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 2: were boring. There was not a lot of flash, there 85 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: was no sizzle. Yeah, as a young guy, I liked 86 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 2: that stuff, Sue me. I liked Kobe and Shaq. I 87 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 2: like the Sacramento Kings with white chocolate and Chris Weber. 88 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:56,840 Speaker 2: I like Grand Hill, I like Shaq and Penny, I 89 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 2: like Lebron. I just did not find those Spurs teams appealing. 90 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 2: Obviously they were phenomenal, nobody's doubting that. But when we're 91 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 2: looking at are they likable? I mean, Castle, I believe 92 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 2: is the guy's ridiculous. Wembin Yama is awesome. Everybody easily likable, 93 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 2: Deer and Fox one of the best handles in the league, 94 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 2: so quick, and the other guys just basically I would 95 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 2: love to be on our team like this. You get 96 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 2: to talk a lot of trash because you're getting carried 97 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 2: by studs and you get a lot of open threes. 98 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 2: That's like the perfect team. This is a very likable 99 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 2: Spurs team. I've got him winning the title. Guys, I'm 100 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 2: fired up about it. If it's not the Lakers or 101 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 2: the Knicks, I'll gladly take the Spurs, all right. Without 102 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 2: further ado, let's get to our guest, Mark Medina. 103 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 104 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio 105 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to 106 00:05:53,800 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 1: listen live. Jason likes to think he knows everything when 107 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:02,159 Speaker 1: it comes to sports. 108 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 2: I know what sports fans want, but for. 109 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 1: Everything he doesn't. He knows a guy who does. 110 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 3: Let's just say, I know a guy who knows a 111 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:12,359 Speaker 3: guy who knows another guy. 112 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 2: All right, let's welcome back to straight Fire. 113 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 4: You know him. 114 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 2: He covers the NBA, lives out here in La married Now, 115 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 2: writing for essentially sports, Mark Medina, How you do it, Mark, 116 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 2: Jay Mac. 117 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 4: I'm on cloud nine, you know why, because we got 118 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,799 Speaker 4: to talk some hoops, give some takes and have fun. 119 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: Yeah. 120 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,039 Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure, very exciting time in the NBA. I 121 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 2: will say, Mark, I'm a little disappointed that now that 122 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 2: everybody's paying attention to the NBA, football's in the rearview mirror. 123 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 2: The takes are a little over the top. Luca has 124 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 2: a bad game, the Lakers get smashed. Can you win 125 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 2: with Luca donches? I don't know. You know, Denver Nuggets 126 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:52,840 Speaker 2: lose to the Curry List Warriors. Nobody says a peep 127 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 2: about Jokic. SGA has been missing an action for what 128 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 2: is that, like three weeks now a month? Nobody says anything. 129 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 2: It's weird how how the media likes to pick and 130 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 2: choose who they go after. As we record this year 131 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 2: on a Monday afternoon, I'm about to fire up Spurs Pistons. 132 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 2: Are there any I would say anything that anything that's 133 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 2: jumping out at you here as we get to late 134 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 2: February early March, about twenty ish games left in the season. 135 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 3: J Mac, Well, first off, it's interesting what you mentioned 136 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 3: about the NBA and all the takes. 137 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 4: The good thing is our takes are going to be correct, 138 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 4: so no one has anything to worry about. 139 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 3: What shumped out to me at the NBA is that 140 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 3: literally everything is going on at once. You have the 141 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 3: jockeying on who are the true contenders in the East West. 142 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 4: You can make a. 143 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 3: Case for Boss and for Cleveland, for Detroit and the 144 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 3: West the Thunder, the Nuggets, the Spurs, and then all 145 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 3: the talk about the tanking and how terrible some of 146 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 3: these other teams are with improving their lottery odds, and 147 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 3: you're looking at Indiana, Utah, Washington, Brooklyn, so it's and 148 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 3: then obviously Lakers are always fascinating, the Clippers are always fast. 149 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 4: I feel like literally every single team has a notable storyline. 150 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, you mentioned kind of like a lot there. I 151 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 2: want to get specific. Let's go over some random season 152 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 2: before we get to like the popular Lakers and all 153 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 2: that stuff. I want to start with the team probably 154 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 2: the biggest disappointment in the league. Who would you characterize 155 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 2: as the biggest disappointment. And I know my answer, but 156 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 2: I'll let you go first. 157 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 3: Well, it could be because that's disappoint My biggest disappointment 158 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 3: has also been the biggest surprise, and that's the LA Clippers, 159 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 3: because I did not foresee them going six to twenty one. No, 160 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 3: I did not foresee them digging out of a hole now. 161 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 4: To be in the playing tournament. So it's almost like 162 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 4: a self inflicted wound. 163 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 3: I know, obviously there's injuries to account for with Bradley 164 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 3: Beale and Kawhi Leonard, but that that team just has 165 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 3: so many different jeweling personalities, and you know, obviously that's 166 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 3: investigations hovering over them. So there there's always been a 167 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 3: lot of potential turbulence, but a potential upside for them 168 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 3: as well. 169 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 2: I was gonna go Orlando Magic. I know they've had some. 170 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 4: Yeah that's fair too, but I mean after they. 171 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 2: Made the move to get Desmond Bain, I had them 172 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 2: top four, like, oh, I think this gream is sleeper 173 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 2: for the Eastern Conference finals. This could be the new Indiana, right, 174 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 2: and they're now languishing seventh in the East. Wagner no 175 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:23,439 Speaker 2: timetable for his return. Bancaro has been I don't think 176 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 2: he's made the lead people thought he would after that 177 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:28,320 Speaker 2: pretty damn good series against Cleveland last year. I am 178 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:30,559 Speaker 2: curious Orlando heads into the offseason like they're going to 179 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 2: be in the luxury tax. They've got some stars. Hasn't 180 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 2: totally panned out yet. I've been saying they are a 181 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:41,199 Speaker 2: logical landing spot for Giannis. Do you think Orlando, I 182 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 2: don't want to say blows it up, but try something 183 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 2: outside the box here in the offseason if they you know, 184 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 2: a luxury tax team that doesn't even make the first round. 185 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:53,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, I think let's separate these two things here. Yes, 186 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 3: the Magic have had a disappointing season. I remember talking 187 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 3: to different people on the team, including Desmond Bane. They're 188 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 3: all thinking they're part of the championship contention mix. Now, 189 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 3: does that mean. 190 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 4: They're going to blow it up now? 191 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 3: I think that their main calling card has been trying 192 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 3: to have some continuity but also keeping some money on 193 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:15,439 Speaker 3: the table so that they can get someone. Now different, 194 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 3: completely different comparison, but you may recall a few years 195 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 3: ago they had cap space carved out for Klay Thompson. Now, 196 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,719 Speaker 3: Clay is not the same powerber player when he was 197 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 3: weighing his future, but it is his idea that they 198 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 3: do want to have continuity around Powell, be Caro and 199 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 3: a good Gore. 200 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 4: But also have enough assets to try to make some moves. 201 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 3: But I think that they made a pretty significant move 202 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 3: already with you know, trading so many first round picks 203 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 3: bor Desmond band that now it's about trying to improve 204 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 3: from within. But yeah, this has been disappointing across the board. Pale, Bencerro, 205 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 3: Bronz Wagner, Jalen Subbs. They've all had different injuries at 206 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 3: inopportune times. But even when they've been healthy, you know, 207 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 3: ben Caro's gone through a lot of different struggles with 208 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:02,679 Speaker 3: inconsistent performance, is getting more attention on the scouting report, 209 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,559 Speaker 3: but in theory they're supposed to have enough depth around 210 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 3: him so that it wasn't that big of an issue 211 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 3: with the Wagner brothers, with Desmond Bain addressing their main 212 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 3: weakness last. 213 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 4: Season with three point shooting. 214 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:18,439 Speaker 3: So it's very confounding that they're you know, where they 215 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:20,319 Speaker 3: are in the East. They're not out of it as 216 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 3: far as the playing picture. But to your point, this 217 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 3: is a team that we were talking about potentially, you know, 218 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 3: knocking on the door as an actual contender, and. 219 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 2: I bring that them up. I'm sure some people are like, Orlando, 220 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 2: what the hell are you doing? Jake. I bring them 221 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 2: up because I'm looking at next year's estimated salaries Cleveland 222 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 2: Cavaliers number one, two hundred and eighteen million. There's going 223 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 2: to be pressure on them to deliver in the postseason. 224 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 2: Number two Orlando Magic two hundred and fifteen million dollars. 225 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 2: That's going to be unacceptable. Now you could say, well, hey, 226 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 2: we'll give it another shot, we'll pay we'll fire the coach, 227 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:55,960 Speaker 2: we'll bring in some new guy, and maybe that'll be 228 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:59,440 Speaker 2: the elixir again. Like this postseason feels wide open in 229 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:03,680 Speaker 2: the East. Calves, Nicks, Celtics, Magic, I don't know who's 230 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 2: coming out. If I had to ask you right now, 231 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 2: as Detroit is playing the Spurs and Detroit is down 232 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 2: big early, who would you think is coming out of East. 233 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 3: I don't think there's a predominant favor because of what 234 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 3: you just mentioned all those teams. But if I had 235 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:21,839 Speaker 3: to rank at order, I would say Nick's, Piston, Celtics, Nicks. 236 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,559 Speaker 3: I give the edge because even though they've been kind 237 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 3: of up and down, it seems like there's been better 238 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 3: versions of Cat, better versions of Brunts and their dynamic 239 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 3: and their continuity more than their weaknesses. I think also 240 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:36,719 Speaker 3: Mike Brown's a great coach. I know that there's been 241 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 3: adjustments to his system, but I think that that faster 242 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:43,359 Speaker 3: pace is going to help them in the postseason. 243 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 4: But Detroit, they're the real deal. 244 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 3: They're not the bad boys Pistons, but but they play 245 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 3: a very physical brain of basketball. I think Kay Cunningham 246 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 3: is an MVP candidate, two way player, Osar Thompson's a 247 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 3: great plimeter player. They have a lot of I think 248 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 3: youthful depth, and if they are going to fall shorts, 249 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:03,199 Speaker 3: not because they're overwhelmed, They're not afraid. 250 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:04,119 Speaker 4: It's just tactical. 251 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 3: Boston I should probably elevate them because they've proven us 252 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 3: all wrong this entire season, and Peyton Pritchard is playing 253 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 3: out of his mind, and Jaylen Brown has got an 254 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 3: MVP Dorston and from Lebron James and Jason Tatum might 255 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 3: come back. But I do wonder at some point will 256 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 3: this catch up to them, Not in the sense that 257 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 3: they're not the real deal. 258 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 4: They are the real. 259 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 3: Deal, but just the idea of any of these scenarios 260 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 3: that you have to rely on their supporting cast a 261 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 3: Jail and Brown in a playoff series, or Jason Tatum 262 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 3: comes back and even with the ramp up of conservative 263 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:43,319 Speaker 3: minutes playing time in the last month of regular season 264 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 3: for the playoffs, it seems like that might be too 265 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 3: many juggling pieces. But look, they're at least getting to 266 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:52,320 Speaker 3: the second round. And I don't think anyone anyone thought 267 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 3: that was going to happen. I think a lot of 268 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 3: people thought this is a gap year, you know, to 269 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 3: just develop guys and then pave the way for next. 270 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 4: Season when Jason and It's going to be fully healthier. 271 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 2: So my only question is, so the gambling lines to 272 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 2: tell a totally different story. The Calves have better odds 273 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 2: in the Pistons. You didn't mention the Cavs just now? 274 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 2: Is this because are we mark falling into the trap 275 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 2: of oh Detroit looks great in the regular season, that 276 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 2: team is dangerous. And I used this on the Herd 277 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 2: last week. I said, you know, remember the Toronto Raptors 278 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 2: with Lowry and de Rosen every year fifty five sixty wins? Right, 279 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 2: how many? 280 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 4: Paul George also ran against Lebron and Cleveland. 281 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, Pa, Paul George ran up against Lebron as well, 282 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 2: and there was another Oh last year's Calves. You know, 283 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 2: we just see these teams in the East, these Tripards 284 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 2: do a really great job in the regular season and 285 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 2: flame out. 286 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 3: Now that's a really good point, and there's a lot 287 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 3: of examples with that. I think the Phoenix Suns a 288 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 3: few years ago, or another perfect example the season after 289 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 3: they went to the NBA Finals twenty twenty one. 290 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:51,160 Speaker 4: The thing is, it's really. 291 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 3: Hard to predict any of these scenarios. It's like choose 292 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 3: your own adventure. The thing that I have with Cleveland 293 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 3: is that even though I think that the fit can 294 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 3: work with Donovan Mitchell James Harden, mostly because Donovan Mitchell 295 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 3: is considered such a selfless player on the Cavaliers and 296 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 3: James Harden he's a great pick and roll player. So 297 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 3: I'm just thinking out loud what that looks like for 298 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 3: jailing Allen Evan Mobley. I just can't get past the 299 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 3: playoff resume that James Harden, whether it's because of injuries 300 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 3: at the wrong time or just him. 301 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 4: Shrinking the biggest moments, that is his resume. And yeah, 302 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 4: so that's that. 303 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 2: Well, it's tough because Harden has He's had some great games. 304 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 2: I mean, hell, in the last last time he was 305 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 2: in the playoffs, he was excellent, I believe against Philly. 306 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 2: The problem is, you know, we highlight his mistakes. What 307 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 2: about the Pistons. They don't have any playoff history, like 308 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 2: Kate Cunningham has won anything in the playoffs two games. 309 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 2: I think they haven't won a home playoff game since 310 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 2: like two thousand and eight, and and that's I don't know. 311 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 2: I feel like people are really overrating the Pistons or 312 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 2: they're just happy that, like the bad boys are back, 313 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 2: you know that kind of area. 314 00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, I might be the latter two. 315 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 3: I think it's also the fact that they're a young, 316 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 3: up and coming team. They're growing organically from within. 317 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 4: JB. Bickerstaff as a really. 318 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 3: Good coach, and so I think he's instilled that tough 319 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 3: and it's talking to people around the Pistons organization these 320 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 3: last two years, they feel that JB's really set the 321 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 3: tone with having that workman like attitude but feeling very empowered, 322 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 3: like he is considered a player's coach. So I know 323 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 3: that some of it has to do with the fact that, hey, 324 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 3: they're a new story. It's a shiny new toy, but 325 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 3: they do have a legitimate roster and look, James Harden 326 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 3: magnificent player. He is part of the reason why the 327 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 3: Clippers had their turnaround this season to begin with, but 328 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 3: even last season with the playoffs, like against the Denver Nuggets. 329 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 3: With the Clippers, he has this amazing game six, you know, 330 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,320 Speaker 3: to force a Game seven, then completely shrinks in Game seven. 331 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 4: He had a. 332 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 3: Struggling series earlier, and so I just lean on the 333 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 3: fact that he showed us so many times and times 334 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 3: again that now I'm in the motive. 335 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 4: You know, I'm crossing my arms to prove me wrong. 336 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 2: Wait, I must have been thinking of hard with the 337 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 2: sixers against the Celtics. Was that that long ago? 338 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 3: Yeah? You know what seasons go by fast, so many 339 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 3: different teams. 340 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 4: I mean James harden pedomizes that. 341 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:14,679 Speaker 3: I mean it was only six years ago that he 342 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,680 Speaker 3: was with the Houston Rockets, and you know he made 343 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 3: stops in Brooklyn, Philly, Clippers. 344 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 4: Now Cleveland. 345 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 3: I mean he's he's racked up the frequent flyer miles, 346 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 3: that's for sure. 347 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:27,879 Speaker 2: It's weird. I mean he has such the narrative, and 348 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:30,400 Speaker 2: I feel like the narratives build around NBA players way 349 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:33,200 Speaker 2: more than NFL. I mean, if you asked fifty NBA 350 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 2: fans about James hard Oh, he sucks in the postseason. 351 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 2: You know, he doesn't play any defense, he's selfish. Meanwhile, 352 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 2: his numbers and for his career, he's like one of 353 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 2: the most productive guards in NBA history. People don't want 354 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 2: to hear that though. 355 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 3: Oh, j Mac, I think both things can be true. 356 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 3: He is a really incredible regular season player. He has 357 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 3: also had incredible playoff performances. But he's also laid. 358 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 4: A lot of eggs when you need them the. 359 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 3: Most, whether it's because of an unforeseen injury or just 360 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:06,400 Speaker 3: fatigue at the best of them, or just blanking off 361 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:09,440 Speaker 3: the rim. I mean, that's the thing that's so complicated 362 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,440 Speaker 3: but also very clear about James Hardens. There's a lot 363 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 3: of versions you're going to get from him, and he's 364 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 3: kind of outlined a pretty predictable pattern on how you 365 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 3: know which version. 366 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:21,800 Speaker 4: He will show of himself depending on the season. 367 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 2: Do you think this whole rings culture nonsense perpetrated by 368 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:28,399 Speaker 2: Barkley and Shack and all them. I mean, do you 369 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:31,159 Speaker 2: think that hurts a guy like James Harden Because there 370 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:34,160 Speaker 2: were so many guys in the eighties and nineties who 371 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 2: didn't win titles and we never said oh, they're not 372 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 2: that good, or maybe there wasn't enough media or social 373 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:41,640 Speaker 2: media to say, oh that guy's he's just not good. 374 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 2: He's just a playoff flopper. I mean, how many times 375 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 2: are the Cavs losing the playoffs the Bulls in Jordan 376 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 2: before they finally broke through after playoff failures against the 377 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:54,439 Speaker 2: Pistons and Celtics. I mean, a lot of guys just 378 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 2: didn't win titles. It's okay. I mean I would personally 379 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 2: put hard in among the twenty five thirty top players 380 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 2: in the history of the league, would you, Or is 381 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:05,680 Speaker 2: that you'd have to do too much of a deep dive. 382 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:09,679 Speaker 3: Well as far as they connect order that I'd have 383 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 3: to do it a little bit of a deeper dive. 384 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 4: But yeah, he is. 385 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:14,879 Speaker 3: He's a generational player. I think that he can be 386 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:19,360 Speaker 3: considered in that mix. You know, he's also like the 387 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 3: second best shooter of all time behind Steph Curry from 388 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 3: a statistical standpoint. When he talked to people around the league. 389 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 3: When he talks to people around the league about James 390 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 3: Harden and his legacy, they mentioned how he's really changed 391 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:35,640 Speaker 3: how the game is played. Steph Curry has that distinction, 392 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,640 Speaker 3: but so does James Harden. Because the thing about when 393 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 3: James Harden went to the Houston Rockets and played for 394 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 3: my well, he played for Kevin McHale, but when he 395 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 3: was with Mike D'Antoni, it wasn't seven or seconds or 396 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,959 Speaker 3: seven seconds or less Phoenix suns Mike D'Antoni. It was 397 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:55,680 Speaker 3: let's run isolation. James Barden sets and have fall away shots, 398 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 3: and he really extended the range on the court and 399 00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 3: all also really made teams uh more discipline on how. 400 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 4: They defend the pick and roll and and. 401 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 3: Prioritize, you know, handle how they switch everything. So yeah, 402 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:13,879 Speaker 3: he's definitely changed the game. He is going to be 403 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 3: seen as a historical player. But I think the thing 404 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:22,159 Speaker 3: that's you know, complicated today's age is that the positives 405 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,400 Speaker 3: and the criticisms can all be true. It's just how 406 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 3: you melt it together and put into context here. So 407 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:31,920 Speaker 3: just because he hadn't won a championship doesn't mean that 408 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 3: he's not a great player. But there have been tangible 409 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 3: factors beyond just things outside of his control that have 410 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 3: contributed to his respective team coming up short. 411 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 2: He's also changed the way they officiate. I think there was. 412 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 3: Rules yea, he has many times, so much that the 413 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 3: NBA has had to change the rules on that, on 414 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 3: the on the on the landing space and the flopping 415 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:57,400 Speaker 3: all that. 416 00:20:57,560 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, speaking of checkered history, we haven't done on Kevin Durant. 417 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:03,879 Speaker 2: First of all, did you bother dig into the burner stuff? 418 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:07,360 Speaker 2: And if so, your thoughts and if you didn't, I'm 419 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 2: just curious how you think the rockets handle like allegations 420 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 2: like this, you know, like I don't know, working together 421 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 2: on a team toward a specific goal. And meanwhile, this 422 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 2: guy's trashing you in text messages saying, you know, Jabari 423 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:23,920 Speaker 2: Smith is retarded and alprean Shoon can't plass or play 424 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:28,359 Speaker 2: defense or shoot like that's I'm sorry, not shoot, not passed. 425 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 2: He said he couldn't shoot or play defense. I mean, 426 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 2: that's kind of hard to look your teammates in the face. 427 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:36,160 Speaker 3: After that, right, Well, without a doubt, and look, it's 428 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,679 Speaker 3: your question, have I done a deep dive. I haven't 429 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 3: probed every single thing, but I've certainly read some of 430 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:47,919 Speaker 3: the things. And while we can't definitively prove that is 431 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:51,200 Speaker 3: Kevin Durant, it just seems lausible that it is. First 432 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:54,399 Speaker 3: his non denial, Denile is fairly weak saying that I 433 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 3: have not into the Twitter nonsense. If that wasn't him, 434 00:21:57,600 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 3: I would think that he would be a lot stronger 435 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 3: with making it clear that wasn't him. And then secondly, 436 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:07,119 Speaker 3: you know, sadly, this is part of a pattern that 437 00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 3: we've seen with Kevin where he is an incredible player 438 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 3: and don't get me wrong, and the personal interactions are great, 439 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:16,639 Speaker 3: and he has these like healthy give and takes, not 440 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 3: just with media but with teammates about talking about the game, 441 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 3: that's fine, but when he's getting into really, you know, 442 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 3: talking negatively about guys, I'm not going to say it's 443 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 3: here's the distinction. They can still proceed as if nothing's 444 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 3: happened in the short term, but those things are always. 445 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 4: Remembered, They're never forgotten about it. And I can't help 446 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:41,560 Speaker 4: but think that when. 447 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 3: There are going to be moments of adversity moving forward 448 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 3: and there already have been, like, it's hard to really 449 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:50,919 Speaker 3: rally around and have these heart to hearts when you 450 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:53,199 Speaker 3: know what's being said behind closed doors. 451 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:57,199 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 452 00:22:57,240 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox Sortsradio 453 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 1: dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to 454 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 1: listen live. 455 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 2: You know how I know that Duran is implicated here 456 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:12,520 Speaker 2: is he went and you know, usually you have to 457 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 2: do uh and you're seeing this in politics anytime like 458 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:16,639 Speaker 2: some bad news comes out, Hey we got to do 459 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 2: damage control. Let's give an exclusive interview to somebody and 460 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 2: let's say some crazy stuff. So he went and spoke 461 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 2: the ESPN and came out and was like, oh, I'm 462 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 2: playing in the Olympics in twenty twenty eight. And also 463 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 2: we cruss France. I don't want to hear about these 464 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:30,640 Speaker 2: you and he's saying all this outlander stuff to take 465 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 2: the shine mark away from the text messages. I mean, 466 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 2: maybe I'm being too conspiracy theory, but go ahead your 467 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 2: thoughts on that. 468 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:40,680 Speaker 4: Yeah, well, I don't. 469 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 3: Know the timing of when ESPN did those interviews. That 470 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 3: some of those things take a while to do, so 471 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 3: that may have happened before. 472 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 4: Oh that's fair, Burgercus. But I am abused a little 473 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 4: bit of. 474 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 3: The comments that it's one thing for him to say, hey, 475 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 3: I'm playing to play as long as you know, I'm 476 00:23:57,040 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 3: still playing at a high caliber level. 477 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 4: And I'm deserving of it. Et cetera, et cetera. 478 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 3: But he was casting kind of aspersions on hey, where 479 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 3: did this whole narrative come from that Lebron's not playing 480 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:10,960 Speaker 3: or stuff stop playing after the Olympics. I think Lebron 481 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 3: pretty much made it clear he's not playing, like kind 482 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:17,400 Speaker 3: of hedged and suggested unlikely. So it's not like this 483 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 3: is being manufactured out of thin air. And also the 484 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:24,639 Speaker 3: fact that you know, it's very unprecedented for players to 485 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 3: be playing well past their forties and still being considered 486 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:31,679 Speaker 3: for the Olympics. Now, that is a testament obviously to Lebron, 487 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:34,200 Speaker 3: James and Kevin Durant except Curry, that they're still playing 488 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:35,920 Speaker 3: this high of a level. But this idea of hey, 489 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:38,359 Speaker 3: where did this all come from? And why are you 490 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 3: assuming anything? No one's assuming anything here. They've already suggested 491 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:45,880 Speaker 3: that after the Olympics were done in Paris. 492 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,920 Speaker 2: All right, we can wrap up with a little bit 493 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 2: of Lakers. I know a lot of people are getting 494 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:53,439 Speaker 2: sick of it, but to me, they're the most interesting 495 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:55,959 Speaker 2: team in the league, and this whole Lebron cloud hovering 496 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 2: over the franchise, they really are in a holding pattern. 497 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 2: I would just like to put back against the critics Mark, 498 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 2: who say, well, well, Lakers can't win. Look at this 499 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 2: crap team around Luca. Guys, they had a team built 500 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:12,480 Speaker 2: around Lebron and Ad. A year ago they traded for Luca. 501 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:17,119 Speaker 2: It's like moving the Titanic. With these new rules and aprons, 502 00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:21,239 Speaker 2: you can't just instantly flip your roster totally. A lot 503 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 2: of guys were locked into contracts. They were built around 504 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:26,040 Speaker 2: Lebron and Ad and so I just feel like people 505 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:28,240 Speaker 2: are overreacting to this. Oh well they don't have the 506 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 2: roster that Detroit has or Oka. See Mark, those teams 507 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 2: have been garbage for years. They get high picks in 508 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 2: the draft. Kid went one, Chet went two. Okay, now 509 00:25:38,359 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 2: they're really good. Yeah, the Lakers weren't crap. They were 510 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 2: competing for titles for the last five years. I know 511 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:46,080 Speaker 2: they weren't close other than the Bubble one, but they 512 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:49,439 Speaker 2: ran into Denver, which won the title in Jokic. I 513 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:51,440 Speaker 2: just feel like it's blown out of proportion and people 514 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:53,399 Speaker 2: are just taking shots at the Lakers. Do you agree? 515 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, so, I think the reality when you're looking at 516 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 3: this team, I don't think they're a championship contender right 517 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:01,639 Speaker 3: that they can get to the second round. But it 518 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:05,200 Speaker 3: has nothing to do with any criticisms about Luka Doncic 519 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:08,840 Speaker 3: or Lebron James and to a lesser extent, Austin Reeves. 520 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:11,159 Speaker 3: I think it has more to do with the roster 521 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 3: construction around them. And look, this isn't to make an. 522 00:26:15,359 --> 00:26:16,840 Speaker 4: Excuse for the Lakers. 523 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:19,800 Speaker 3: It's actually to highlight the reality is that ever since 524 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 3: the Russell Westbrook trade, they've been digging themselves out of 525 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:27,280 Speaker 3: that mistake as well as laying Alex Caruso leave because 526 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 3: of luxury tax concerns they've made. They've seen that during 527 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:34,640 Speaker 3: the Anthony Davis Lebron James era that their best pathway 528 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 3: toward competing for a championship or winning it is to 529 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 3: have the right roster depth around them instead of a 530 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:45,199 Speaker 3: quote unquote third star. And so they've made course corrections 531 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 3: with the Westbrook trade, but they haven't quite found the 532 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 3: correct roster combinations around Lebron and ad and now that 533 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:55,840 Speaker 3: they got Luka Doncich, same thing and last summer. I 534 00:26:55,880 --> 00:27:00,040 Speaker 3: think that there are fair criticisms through each offseason and 535 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 3: through each trade deadline on how acceptable is it for 536 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:07,440 Speaker 3: Ropelink in the front office to be deliberative with the future. 537 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:10,679 Speaker 3: When you have a generational star with Lebron James, it 538 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:13,400 Speaker 3: should be about, you know, going all into half championships. 539 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 3: But the problem is, to your point, their second apron 540 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:21,359 Speaker 3: concerns there's more leverage when you have draft picks leaning 541 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 3: into the draft as opposed to now they don't have 542 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 3: as many draft picks as they will in June, and 543 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:30,200 Speaker 3: so yeah, I think in the short term, even if Luca, 544 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 3: Lebron Austin play more games together, I think they're ceiling 545 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:34,640 Speaker 3: second round. 546 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:35,480 Speaker 4: I think it. 547 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:39,840 Speaker 3: Lebron almost conceded that back when I asked him at 548 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 3: All Star availability, what does he think the team can 549 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:44,160 Speaker 3: do if they're reasonably healthy, and you say, he doesn't 550 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 3: know because of all the newness with everything, and the 551 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:49,960 Speaker 3: team's been inconsistent this season. Sometimes it's been great in 552 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 3: clutch games, sometimes they've gotten blown out a lot. They 553 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:57,320 Speaker 3: haven't won against playoff caliber teams as much. So they're 554 00:27:57,320 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 3: an ultimate Jeckyll in high But the reason why they're 555 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:03,399 Speaker 3: Jekyl is they have an inconsistent supporting cast. So this 556 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:06,040 Speaker 3: summer will be about seeing what they can do to 557 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:09,920 Speaker 3: address that. Why they're either it's scanting involved with Giannis Sweepstakes, 558 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,600 Speaker 3: or just finding the right you know, roster pieces that 559 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 3: could hit three pointers and defend at a more consistent 560 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:18,159 Speaker 3: right than the current options they have. 561 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:20,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, don't you think at the same time last year, 562 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:22,879 Speaker 2: at this time, if somebody said Indiana Pacers, can they 563 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 2: go to the finals, you would have said, no, I 564 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:27,200 Speaker 2: probably go second round. I'm not a lot of people 565 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:29,359 Speaker 2: mark in the media had them beating the Caves. I think, 566 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 2: you know, ESPN does like twenty five people picking. I 567 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 2: think like twenty four picked the Caves in that series. 568 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 2: Now I was open. I love the Pacers. I thought 569 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:38,840 Speaker 2: they could beat the Caves. I didn't think they beat 570 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 2: the Knicks. They go to the NBA Finals, go to 571 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:43,720 Speaker 2: Game seven. It's like, I know people are down on 572 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 2: this Lakers team, and I get it, but you know, 573 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 2: this league, things happened. Not many people had the Knicks 574 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:52,120 Speaker 2: beating the Celtics and they were in control of that 575 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:55,120 Speaker 2: series when Tatum goes down. So like it just the 576 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 2: idea that the Lakers see the second round. I think 577 00:28:57,400 --> 00:29:01,720 Speaker 2: that's totally reasonable. Right, Rockets are Timberwolves are going through 578 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 2: some stuff, but we'll see. I mean Aaron Gordon SGA 579 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 2: like a couple of guys injuries could easily swing things. 580 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 4: No. 581 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:13,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, and look when I'm giving this Christen with the Lakers, 582 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 3: it's not as strong as when Charles Barkley was saying 583 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 3: the other day, like there's no way they can be 584 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 3: X teams X teams With the Indiana Pacers, Uh, you know, 585 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 3: I didn't foresee them get in the finals, But it 586 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:26,920 Speaker 3: didn't have much to do with Hey, I have big 587 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:29,440 Speaker 3: picture concerns about the roster. It had more to do 588 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 3: with just I was really high on Cleveland, really high 589 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:34,520 Speaker 3: in New York with the Lakers. You know, I said 590 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:36,800 Speaker 3: what I said about, you know what their deficiencies are. 591 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:38,719 Speaker 3: But to your point, we have to keep in mind 592 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:41,640 Speaker 3: there's always injuries that can impact a team, and there's 593 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:44,600 Speaker 3: a lot of question marks, uh, you know with different 594 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:47,440 Speaker 3: teams in the West as far as their durability. Number two, 595 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:51,200 Speaker 3: Even with the deficiencies I mentioned about the Lakers, all 596 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 3: it takes is Luka Dacic and Austin Reeves and Lebron 597 00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 3: James to really produce at a high offensive clip in 598 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 3: a series, and they have the potential to do that. 599 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:03,040 Speaker 4: So for me, I don't. 600 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:05,880 Speaker 3: Think it's sustainable enough for a seven game series. But 601 00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 3: you can't rule that out because that. 602 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:10,920 Speaker 4: Trio is very offensive. 603 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 3: They have so much offensive brilliance and talent that if 604 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 3: they're able to lean into that and minimize misshots turnovers, 605 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 3: that can camouflage some of those defensive shortcomings that I mentioned. 606 00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 2: No, no doubt, no doubt. All right, Mark Medina, obviously 607 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 2: he's on TV all the time. I see him out 608 00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 2: here in La on that is it NBC? 609 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 3: I think it's NBC, right, CBSL for Central Spectrum Sportsnet, 610 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:37,720 Speaker 3: and you all want me to go to the FS 611 00:30:37,800 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 3: one studios, I'll hop on by nice. 612 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:42,400 Speaker 2: Who's the guy that you do the CBS with? Is 613 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:43,000 Speaker 2: it Jim Hill? 614 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 4: Jim Hill? Yeah, the great legendary Jim Hill. 615 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:47,160 Speaker 2: I mean, that guy's been around for a while, dude. 616 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 2: It's good. 617 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:51,280 Speaker 3: Now we've been celebrating the fifty year anniversary the great 618 00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 3: Jim Hill. 619 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:53,479 Speaker 4: It's been a pleasure to work with him. 620 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:57,080 Speaker 3: It's just got so much enthusiasm, work, ethic, talent, he 621 00:30:57,120 --> 00:31:00,400 Speaker 3: knows everybody, and he's it almost feels like, well that 622 00:31:00,480 --> 00:31:03,920 Speaker 3: feels like he literally is at every major sporting event 623 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:07,760 Speaker 3: here in Los Angeles while also doing this fourth Central 624 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 3: show on the on CBSLA. 625 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 4: It's amazing. 626 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:12,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, all right, buddy, good to see it. Take it easy. 627 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:15,080 Speaker 4: Jmac likewise, appreciate you.