1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 1: The Indiana Pacers get a shot at the in season 2 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: tournament title against Lebron James and the Lakers. We're gonna 3 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,800 Speaker 1: talk about the two teams that made it to the 4 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: IST title game. We're gonna talk about the two teams 5 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: that lost in the semifinals. What is going on with 6 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 1: the Milwaukee Bucks, and what is going on with Zion 7 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. Should the IST champion 8 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: hoist up banner? We get into all of that next 9 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 1: here on the latest edition of This League Uncut. Welcome 10 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 1: to this League Uncut in the world of twenty four 11 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: hour NBA News. This's you love, Chris Hans. Let's go, 12 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: time works time, It's so time. This League Uncut is 13 00:00:52,720 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: underway in on fire. This should be a good one. Hei, everyone, 14 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: Welcome in to the latest edition of This League Uncut. 15 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: It's a jealousy tinged edition of This League Uncut because 16 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,759 Speaker 1: we are taping this on Friday evening. It's still afternoon 17 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: time in the desert where Chris Haynes is. Yes, Chris 18 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: Haynes is at the nd season Tournament. He got to 19 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 1: see both games Thursday, saw him all over NBA TV. 20 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 1: On Friday he'll be there Saturday when the Pacers and 21 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 1: the Lakers play for the first Ist crown. I am 22 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: jealous because I am not there. I hate missing out 23 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 1: on Vegas, but due to a number of reasons that 24 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: I don't want to bore you with. Despite our best 25 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: attempts to reunite in Vegas, like we did in July 26 00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: when we did a live edition of this podcast with 27 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 1: Lakers coach Darvin Ham at a very well known sports 28 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: book on the Strip, we couldn't quite make that happen 29 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: this time. It's my fault. That's my those are that's 30 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: supposed to be my department. I couldn't get it done. 31 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: And so Haynes is there amid all the glitz and glamour, 32 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 1: and I'm just fifteen hundred miles away. No, not fifteen hundred, 33 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: I'm a thousand plus miles away and very envious, very envious. 34 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 2: But so you felt the need style style, You felt 35 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 2: the need to correct yourself right there. You went from 36 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,639 Speaker 2: fifteen hundred miles away to a thousand As if anybody 37 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 2: would have called you out on that. 38 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: I just like to I have to be accurate at 39 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:48,959 Speaker 1: all times. I mean, it's Dallas to Vegas. Is not 40 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: fifteen hundred miles Dallas to Dallas to Cali or Dallas 41 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: to New York, is you know, in the fifteen hundred ballpark. 42 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: But it's more like it's a thousand plus. 43 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 2: Okay, I think it would have been fine. 44 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: But striving for accuracy. How is how is the strip 45 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: treating you? Rub it in? Tell me what's going on? 46 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: How's it been so far? 47 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 2: Well? This is? You said it that the Vegas is 48 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 2: the desert, and I don't know what desert is. Fifty 49 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 2: degrees it's cold, stein you know, I've never been to 50 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 2: Vegas and it's been this cold. This is the first 51 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 2: I haven't been on the strip. I haven't walked. The 52 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 2: only time I've walked. I've walked a few times back 53 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 2: and forth to the arena. I'm staying at the Aria 54 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 2: and the hotel is like a block away. It's about 55 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 2: a seven minute walk if that. So, I've been doing that. 56 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 2: But stiin this cold man. 57 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: Cold Vegas is wonderful? How could what you like it better? 58 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: When it's one hundred and ten? I mean, what's wrong? 59 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: Throw on a fancy TNT jacket and you're good. 60 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 2: I didn't bring a jacket. I didn't bring. I have 61 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 2: one sweater. I have a hood hooded sweater, but it 62 00:03:57,840 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 2: doesn't go with all my outfits, so I can't be 63 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 2: wearing it all the time. But no, Star, I mean, 64 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 2: this is this is the desert, right, So in December, 65 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 2: I expect it to be seventy five plus give me 66 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 2: seventy five to eighty eighty five. That sounds about right cold. 67 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: But man, cold Vegas. Like I said, cold Vegas sounds 68 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: wonderful to me. 69 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 2: I'm not feeling it. And in the arena stein t 70 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 2: Mobile Arena, it is super cold in that arena, super cold. 71 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 2: You know they got that ice under there for hockey. Man, 72 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 2: So god, I hate freezing. I hate freezing. But look, 73 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 2: I'm in Vegas. I'm enjoying getting to see my comrades 74 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: out here. Miss you out here. Stein. 75 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,159 Speaker 1: But uh, it sounds like a big media contingent is 76 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: on the scene. 77 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 2: You know what. I wouldn't say. No, I wouldn't I 78 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 2: wouldn't call it big. It's not that, it's not that, 79 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 2: it's not that many. You know, I would probably say 80 00:04:54,720 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 2: there's probably the same amount of foreign media here than 81 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 2: American media. I'll say it's probably more forim media than 82 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 2: American media. There's not there's not a large contingency here, Stean, there's. 83 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: Not bad info apparently. 84 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, well it doesn't from from my eye, you know, 85 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 2: from the naked eye, doesn't look that way. 86 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:19,679 Speaker 1: Well, look, before we get into the Pacers and the Lakers, 87 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: and of course we're going to talk about the Bucks 88 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: and the Pelicans too, before we get into all that, 89 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: just tell me your impressions of being in the building 90 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 1: last night. Again, we're taping this Friday, almost seven pm 91 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 1: Eastern time. 92 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 2: So. 93 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: It was last night, you know, the Bucks, especially that 94 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: Bucks Pacers game five pm Eastern tip off, two pm 95 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: local tip off. And I can't imagine that a slew 96 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: of Bucks and or Pacers fans made their way from 97 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 1: the Midwest all the way to Vegas on short notice. 98 00:05:56,520 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 1: So I saw Damian Lillard said something like neutral was 99 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: a good word because it had a neutral atmosphere in there. 100 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 1: I mean, what was the noise like. 101 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 2: Noise? The PA announcer was making a lot of noise. 102 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,720 Speaker 2: He probably made the most noise. You know during that 103 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 2: Pacers Bucks game, there was a lot of seats available. 104 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 2: I say that you could have grabbed the seat last 105 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 2: minute and probably had you a really good seat, A 106 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 2: lot of seats available for that two o'clock local time 107 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 2: start between the Pacers and Bucks. The wasn't really an atmosphere. 108 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 2: There wasn't really a Pacers fan contingent or Bucks fans contingent. 109 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 2: You know, obviously there were some of those fans there, 110 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 2: but nah, it was pretty Yeah, it was. It was neutral, 111 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 2: but it didn't have much of an atmosphere. Really. 112 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 1: It was a good game, though, so I mean, it 113 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 1: looks like it didn't have any real impact on the game. 114 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:01,799 Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, the players are playing art because everybody's trying 115 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 2: to get that money, so you know, the product didn't suffer. 116 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 2: But that was my concern starting a having a two 117 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 2: o'clock game start at start on a SAT on a Thursday. 118 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,119 Speaker 2: So that was my my, my baby, excuse me, stein 119 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 2: my baby. She is facetiming me right now. Jada cannot 120 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 2: call you back, baby. Your hair looks nice. I love 121 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 2: your baby. Hear my daughter's Styn She said, hy Mark 122 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 2: sty always said bye my bad okay, bye bye baby, 123 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 2: love you. That's my third youngest daughter right there. She 124 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 2: is thirteen. She just got a new hair. Deuces. She 125 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 2: facetimed me right now avid podlistener, Yes, big blistener subscribes 126 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 2: and everything to this league uncut but no, yes, Stein, 127 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 2: so she would show me her hair, her new hair, dude. 128 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 2: But Stein, Yeah, it was like it was, you know, 129 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 2: it wasn't really an atmosphere now, the six o'clock game, 130 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 2: the six thirty game or whatever. It was, Lakers Pelicans, 131 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 2: definitely Lakers fans all in the building much more. The 132 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 2: arena was much more packed, much more of an atmosphere, 133 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 2: an environment. I would have liked to have seen a 134 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 2: more competitive game, but yeah, it was night and day 135 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 2: were talking about the atmosphere and the environment from the 136 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 2: two o'clock game to the six o'clock game. 137 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 1: Well, I think we knew that was gonna happen. Vegas, 138 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 1: of course, well known as a Laker town, so we 139 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: knew there were gonna be no issues in the night game. 140 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: And look, the league, honestly to me, has gotten everything 141 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: it could have hoped for with this championship game matchup 142 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 1: Saturday night because the Pacers and you know, you've had 143 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 1: to hear these lectures for me about how the league 144 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:57,199 Speaker 1: is trying to make this. You know, the league has 145 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: used soccer tournaments abroad as the guide for this, but 146 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: there are so few soccer elements to it, and that's 147 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: something that has bothered me from the start. But this 148 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: is the Indiana Pacers have made a classic Soccer Cup run, 149 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: exactly what the NBA would have hoped, because you know, 150 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:21,839 Speaker 1: they're beating Boston in the quarterfinals at home. They're beating 151 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 1: Milwaukee in the semifinals in Vegas. If it's a seven 152 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: game series, the Pacers are obviously not going to be 153 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:35,079 Speaker 1: favored against either one of those teams. And you'd struggle 154 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:37,959 Speaker 1: to imagine a scenario where the Pacers won a seven 155 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 1: game series against the Celtics or the Bucks. But this 156 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 1: is supposed to be a knockout competition, a cup competition. 157 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: Mama said, knock you out, and that's what the Pacers 158 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 1: have done. They're six and oh in these knockout you know, 159 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: they went four and oh in the group. They won 160 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 1: their two knockout games. They beat two of the Eastern 161 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 1: Conference powers in Milwaukee and Boston. And that is what's 162 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: supposed to happen in a cup. Those are the kind 163 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:10,559 Speaker 1: of magical things where a team gets hot and catches 164 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 1: fire and goes farther than it normally might have because 165 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:18,319 Speaker 1: they've only got to win. You know, anybody can beat 166 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 1: anybody in one game. And then on the other side 167 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: of it, it's the Lakers, and of course this is 168 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 1: the NBA's dream, this is what Adam Silver wanted. Unfortunately, 169 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 1: it comes with the assist of a very disputed ending 170 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: in the quarterfinals against Phoenix, when a call was clearly 171 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: missed and the Lakers got a timeout they shouldn't have. 172 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: But obviously the Lakers left no doubt with the way 173 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: they destroyed New Orleans in the Semis, and Lebron James 174 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: is on the final stage, and you know, for the 175 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:55,719 Speaker 1: league office, that is huge beyond words, because again you've 176 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:58,959 Speaker 1: got the Cinderella Pacers on one side, and you've got 177 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: Lebron to attract the national TV audience and legitimize this 178 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 1: thing because he clearly wants to win it. It's something 179 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 1: that means something to him. So honestly, to me, the 180 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: NBA couldn't have drawn it up better had they tried. 181 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 1: Although again, there will be cynics out there who will 182 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 1: point to the way that Lakers Suns game ended and 183 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 1: say that, you know, the league, the league did have 184 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:28,440 Speaker 1: a role here. Although look, I'm I'm by no means 185 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 1: suggesting that there was league intervention. It was a bad call. 186 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: It shouldn't have happened. It was a missed call. It 187 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 1: was it was a mistake, but it did help the 188 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: Lakers on this path. And again, full credit to the 189 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: Lakers for taking advantage of that and blowing New Orleans 190 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: out in the semis Stein, I'm slow. 191 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 2: I'm slow, and I probably shouldn't be acknowledging this or 192 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 2: saying this, but I'm gonna say it because this is 193 00:11:55,960 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 2: this league uncut Starn, I'm slow. I'm listening to you, 194 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 2: and you're saying, this is exactly what the NBA wanted. 195 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 2: You know what single game elimination knockout scenario. When you 196 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 2: said that, Stime, I've came to the rezation. I understood now. 197 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 2: That's why they played that ll COOJ song. Mama said 198 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 2: knock you out, the knockout round. That's why I never 199 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 2: knew exactly why. 200 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:32,440 Speaker 1: I thought, you remember my big rant when we got 201 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: the news that the league had convinced LL COOLJ to 202 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: do a freshened up version of Mama said knock you out. 203 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: And I thought that was a great idea. But what 204 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: bothered me so much was that was the anthem that 205 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: is the NBA's official anthem for the nd season tournament. 206 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: But because there are sixty group games only seven games 207 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 1: in this tournament, can you actually get knocked out? That 208 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: was my issue. The song is awesome, but like, yeah, 209 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 1: and you've always you've seen this week when they're when 210 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 1: they're when when there is a knockout, We've seen great 211 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,959 Speaker 1: We've seen great stuff. You know, the indie crowd was 212 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 1: great when the Pacers beat the Celtics, and then obviously 213 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 1: that was you know, Pacers Bucks went went all the 214 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 1: way down to the wire. I mean that that's what 215 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: we want. That's that's the the novelty and the newness here, 216 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 1: because nothing in the NBA is single elimination, nor you know, 217 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: obviously in the playoffs there shouldn't be single elimination. I 218 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 1: remember being a kid, and you know, in the first 219 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: round of the playoffs, they used to have the mini series, 220 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 1: which was two out of three, and that was considered 221 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 1: too short, and then we had three out of five 222 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: in the first round and they even did away with that. 223 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: And I think there are some people who do miss 224 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:55,200 Speaker 1: the playoffs when the first round was just best of five. 225 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 1: But obviously now in the playoffs it's best of seven, 226 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 1: all four rounds. So if the playoffs are gonna be 227 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 1: best of seven, all four rounds, let's make the end 228 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: season toment. Let's have even more single elimination games. Let's 229 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 1: get crazy. 230 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 2: Yeah that I'm down for that. I'm not opposed to that. Yeah, 231 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:17,199 Speaker 2: I'm just slow. So I had I had to admit 232 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 2: that I'm slow. It makes sense now. 233 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: Well it was a bold admission, because yeah, it makes sense. 234 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: You know, I've been I've been harping on that one. 235 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: But I think it also just proves that you're not 236 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:34,200 Speaker 1: you're not reading. You're not reading my substock as close. 237 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 2: I on the other, hold on, I got a question 238 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 2: for your style. First of all, I do read. Second 239 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 2: of all, I got let me ask you this. Would 240 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 2: you rather I read all your work or would you 241 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 2: rather I subscribe and pay for a subscription? You pick one? 242 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: Sty Oh, I'd much rather you pay for the subscribe. 243 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 2: Okay, thank you, all right, because I do pay. 244 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 1: But difference is Last night, when Chris Haynes posts a 245 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: story for Bleacher Report about some post game tensions in 246 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 1: the Bucks locker room, I click on it instantly and 247 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 1: read every single word of it. 248 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 2: I do. I do the same as well. Most of 249 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 2: the time I do. They're reciprocated. 250 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 1: Most It's fine. All I want. All I want is 251 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 1: to sum it's fine. 252 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 2: You got that check out, let's check it. 253 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: Let's talk about your Buck story. I don't want to. 254 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: I don't want to make a huge deal of it 255 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: unless you tell me I should. But I mean, I 256 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 1: do think it's worrisome. Now. Look, the Bucks, even after 257 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 1: losing the Semis to Indiana, they woke up on this 258 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: Friday at fifteen and seven. They've got the second best 259 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: record in the East. They've been, you know, very good 260 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 1: lately when Dame's been in the lineup. So I mean, 261 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 1: it's you know, it'd be overstatement to suggest that there's 262 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: some kind of crisis going on, but there has just 263 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: been you know, Adrian Griffin is basically a quarter of 264 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: the way through his first season with the Bucks, and 265 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: there's been a lot. I mean, it's been you know, 266 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 1: Terry Stotts leaves the coaching staff before the regular season 267 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 1: even starts. You reported how various Bucks players went to 268 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: Adrian Griffin lobbied him to reinstate more of last season's 269 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: drop coverage schemes on defense, and the Bucks did that. 270 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 1: There was the game against Boston recently where Jannis did 271 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 1: not look thrilled about being taken out of the game, 272 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: and there was some back and forth between Giannis and 273 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 1: the rookie coach. And now this story that you reported 274 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 1: last night, and I should probably let you expound on 275 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 1: what you actually reported instead of assuming that everyone read 276 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: it as closely as me. 277 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 2: Well, if you look at the game, look at how 278 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 2: it and it was it was a collapse on the 279 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 2: offensive end. You really didn't see any structure, You didn't 280 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:12,719 Speaker 2: see any plays being called, and it definitely were not executed. 281 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 2: So I went, you know, I'm waiting by the Bucks 282 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 2: locker room and I just I noticed it. You know, 283 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 2: it's taking a little bit more time than usual to 284 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 2: get out, and you know, usually when that's the case, 285 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:31,600 Speaker 2: you know, okay, something might be going on. And you know, 286 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 2: I got word, you know, numerous people. I got word 287 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 2: that Adrian Griffin went in and you know, he started 288 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 2: harping on rebounding, on their lack of aggressiveness and losing 289 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 2: the rebounding battle, and you know, Bobby Portis I heard 290 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:54,199 Speaker 2: interrupted and was like, nah, we got to you know, 291 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 2: we got to have more structure on offense. We got 292 00:17:56,840 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 2: to have more sets called. You need to called more 293 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,879 Speaker 2: sets to get us, you know, running the right offensive sets. 294 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:07,440 Speaker 2: We're out there, not not doing anything, We're just going. 295 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 2: And you know, there's one play that sticks out the 296 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 2: last two minutes of the game where where Giannis imbounds 297 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:19,159 Speaker 2: the ball but he inbounds it to he inmbounded it 298 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 2: to Chris Middleton. Damian Little was coming over to bring 299 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:27,400 Speaker 2: the ball up, but Chris Milton kept the ball to 300 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:29,440 Speaker 2: bring up, bring it up the court, and emotion for 301 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 2: Dame to go opposite. So Dame goes. You could tell 302 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:36,439 Speaker 2: Dame's a little bit confused. So Dame goes, and then Chris, 303 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 2: once he passes half court, he starts looking for Dame 304 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:44,159 Speaker 2: and Bruce Brown is just hovering Damon and Chris throws 305 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 2: it and Bruce Brown picks it off and Dame stops 306 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:50,120 Speaker 2: him from scoring. But nobody got back and Buddy Hill 307 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 2: was able to get the offense rebound and put it 308 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 2: back in. And so there was a couple of plays 309 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 2: just down the stretch where there was really no plays called. 310 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 2: They were just they just going freely. And so what 311 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 2: you have to understand not you, Stein, but I'm talking 312 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:07,640 Speaker 2: about people have to understand about the Bucks is that 313 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 2: they're in win now mode. You know, the stakes are high. 314 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:16,920 Speaker 2: And yes, Adrian Griffin is a rookie head coach. Yes 315 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 2: there's going to be it's going to take time. But 316 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:25,239 Speaker 2: you know, this is the situation, this is it. You know, 317 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 2: there's pressure, there's a miss pressure. Players feel it. And 318 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 2: their record is good Stein for fifteen and six you said, 319 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 2: or fifteen and seven. Really they have a good record, 320 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:43,960 Speaker 2: but they haven't been winning games by large margins. You know, 321 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:46,360 Speaker 2: a lot of these games have gone you know, I've 322 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 2: been going down the stretch and they they're closing based 323 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:53,160 Speaker 2: off of their talent. Dame has heroic plays, or Giannis 324 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 2: has hero plays or Chris Middleton lately, you know, they 325 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 2: continue to struggle in the first half. They start games 326 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 2: off slow. They're always like finding their way back, you know, 327 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,880 Speaker 2: climbing out of large deficits. Like so they haven't been 328 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 2: playing good, you know, so that the standings can be misleading. 329 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 2: So I think what it was, you know, but it 330 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:18,919 Speaker 2: look and so in my report as well. Excuse me, 331 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 2: you know, Bobby Porter's harped on that and then Adrian 332 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:24,920 Speaker 2: Griffin I was told, was like, you know, I can 333 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 2: take that criticism. I'll accept it. I'll embrace that. So, 334 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:31,159 Speaker 2: you know, Griffin has been receptive to listening to his 335 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,920 Speaker 2: players to hear what they have to say, and he's 336 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,879 Speaker 2: changed some things because of it. But Bobby Porters, you 337 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 2: have to remember, he's one of the leaders of the team, 338 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 2: one of the vocal leaders of the team. You know, 339 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 2: he he has huge respect in that locker room and 340 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 2: around the league. So if anybody is going to say something, 341 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 2: or if anybody sees something, you know, he's well within 342 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:50,920 Speaker 2: his right to do so. And so you know, not 343 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 2: only did he Chinese Griff, but he challenge the players 344 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 2: to be able to execute. So but yeah, uh, nothing 345 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:00,879 Speaker 2: to get too big off of it. I wouldn't you know, 346 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:03,160 Speaker 2: I wouldn't jump over a cliff if I'm a Bucks fan. 347 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:05,159 Speaker 2: But you know, I think what it points to is 348 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 2: just the urgency that players feel about having, you know, 349 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:11,920 Speaker 2: trying to get this season right and trying to make 350 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 2: the most of it even though they're only in December. 351 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: Well, I think it's something we're gonna have to keep 352 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:19,920 Speaker 1: our eye on because it's just again there have been, 353 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:24,120 Speaker 1: I mean, there have just been a slew of these 354 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: kind of stories, headlines, however you want to term it, 355 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:32,679 Speaker 1: since mid October, and it's a lot for a rookie 356 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:34,880 Speaker 1: coach to have to deal with. Again, like you said, 357 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 1: because the Bucks are on that list of teams that 358 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:41,119 Speaker 1: they are judged by championship or bust if the Bucks 359 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: don't win a championship this season. Obviously, I think we 360 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 1: all remember Yannis at the podium last year taking issue 361 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: with that kind of championship or bus talk. But that 362 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 1: is the reality. That is the way that the Bucks 363 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 1: are going to be analyzed by the outside world, especially 364 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 1: when you make a trade for someone as good and 365 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 1: as accomplished as Dame Lillard. So I mean, I think 366 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:09,199 Speaker 1: that is one of the early stories of the season 367 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 1: that you know, how is Adrian Griffin as a rookie 368 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 1: coach adapting to this high pressure situation because there have 369 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 1: been last night's story from you was not the first. 370 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 1: Let's shift gears now and focus on the absolutely splashiest 371 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 1: Morning after headlines because Zion Williamson put under the microscope 372 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: like never before after New Orleans got absolutely trounced by 373 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 1: the Lakers in Thursday Night semi final, and you know, 374 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: this worked out for the Pelicans in precisely completely opposite 375 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 1: fashion to what they were hoping. Of course, Zion Williamson 376 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:57,080 Speaker 1: has never played in a playoff game in the NBA. 377 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 1: He hasn't even played in a play in game the NBA, 378 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:04,400 Speaker 1: So this was the foremost stage he has ever been 379 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 1: on since leaving Duke and coming to the NBA. And 380 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:13,920 Speaker 1: this game was, you know, the Pelicans against the Lakers, 381 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:15,960 Speaker 1: the two teams who were at the heart of the 382 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis trade. And you know, this was probably the 383 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 1: you know, the most the most the game with the 384 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:27,399 Speaker 1: most stakes between these teams since the Anthony Davis trade. 385 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:30,440 Speaker 1: And you know, New Orleans had so impressively gone to 386 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:35,639 Speaker 1: Sacramento and won in Sacramento to book their spot among 387 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 1: the four teams in Vegas. And then Zion Williamson just 388 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:45,640 Speaker 1: absolutely punchless in this game. Lebron James guarded him, sagged 389 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 1: off him, nothing went right for Zion, and after the game, 390 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 1: just an absolute torrent of criticism sent Zion's way. And 391 00:23:57,359 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 1: we're going to take a listen to some of it. 392 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:03,119 Speaker 1: We're gonna start with this was Charles Barkley on the 393 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 1: TNT postgame show talking about Zion and his own career 394 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:13,200 Speaker 1: and repeating challenges that Barkley has issued to Zion in 395 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 1: the past. But both both Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neil 396 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 1: were really critical of Zion. And then we have another 397 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 1: clip from JJ Reddick right after that. JJ Reddick, of 398 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:29,280 Speaker 1: course he's an ESPN analyst now, but JJ Reddick played 399 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 1: with Zion Williamson in New Orleans, so really interesting and 400 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:37,159 Speaker 1: must listen stuff to me to hear Charles Barkley and 401 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:41,119 Speaker 1: JJ Reddick analyze Zion Williamson in this manner. 402 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:44,520 Speaker 3: The thing that disturbs me is he's not a young kid. 403 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:46,960 Speaker 3: When Moses told me I was fat and later I 404 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:49,680 Speaker 3: was a rookie. He's been in the league long enough. 405 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 3: He's got two guys a team that a better player 406 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 3: to him, and they shouldn't be shouldn't be. 407 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:55,399 Speaker 2: He should be. 408 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:57,159 Speaker 3: He was the number one pick in the draft. He 409 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 3: should be a better player to. We like ingram Ovis, 410 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 3: we love CJ. He should be the best player and 411 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:05,119 Speaker 3: he's not even close number one. He's got to get 412 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 3: in shape. I've told you, I've been very disappointed he's 413 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:11,760 Speaker 3: averaging six rebounds a game. He's only had two double 414 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:16,680 Speaker 3: doubles all season. Man, if my grandmother was alive, she 415 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:18,160 Speaker 3: used to call me up to every game OU didn't 416 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:21,360 Speaker 3: get double faker rebound and just kill me. A big 417 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:24,200 Speaker 3: guy that talented should never get less than ten rebounding. 418 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:26,879 Speaker 3: He should be averaging eleven twelve rebounds games easily, but 419 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 3: he doesn't run. 420 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:28,359 Speaker 2: The floor at all. 421 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:32,879 Speaker 4: I was disappointed, and overall I've been disappointed in Zion 422 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:36,119 Speaker 4: this season. And look, we can certainly point to counting 423 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 4: stats and say he's having a fine season, but you 424 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 4: can be in the building, you can watch on TV, 425 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:44,640 Speaker 4: you can be court side, and you can see he's 426 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 4: not in shape. He's still not in shape despite everything 427 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:52,680 Speaker 4: that he's gone through, despite numerous conversations with legends of 428 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 4: the game about being in shape, he gets called out 429 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:59,919 Speaker 4: on national television once or twice a year for this thing, 430 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,440 Speaker 4: this very thing. And earlier this season he had a 431 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 4: press conference where he was talking about trying to buy 432 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 4: into what the team wanted. And the reality is Zion 433 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 4: Williamson has not bought into his own career yet and 434 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 4: that is disappointing. 435 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:18,840 Speaker 1: So this game that was supposed to be this huge 436 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:24,480 Speaker 1: opportunity for Zion Williamson to really on a significant stage 437 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:29,680 Speaker 1: show us what he's got, and it just turns out disastrous. 438 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:37,480 Speaker 1: And I do wonder though, if this actually somehow becomes 439 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:44,040 Speaker 1: a blessing for the Pelicans because the organization's attempts to 440 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:48,720 Speaker 1: urge Zion Williamson to get in better shape, to take 441 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:52,040 Speaker 1: better care of his body, to address these things. I mean, 442 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:54,600 Speaker 1: Charles Barkley has told the story so many times, and 443 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 1: it's such an important story in NBA history when Charles 444 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:03,359 Speaker 1: talks about Moses Malone, legendary Moses Malone getting on a 445 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 1: very young Charles Barkley in Philadelphia and basically telling him 446 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:10,640 Speaker 1: the way you take care of yourself is unacceptable. You've 447 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:14,680 Speaker 1: got to change to succeed in the NBA. The Pelicans 448 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:18,640 Speaker 1: as as an organization, they've tried to convey this message 449 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:22,400 Speaker 1: to Zion Williamson in a variety of different ways over 450 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 1: the past few seasons. It's never worked. And you know, 451 00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 1: let's see now, let's see if such widespread, loud public 452 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 1: criticism has a different impact on Zion Williamson. Because I 453 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:41,800 Speaker 1: have to think from his perspective, it's one thing to 454 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:45,320 Speaker 1: hear it from guys like you or me. It's a 455 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 1: whole different thing to hear Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neill, and 456 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:52,600 Speaker 1: a former teammate like JJ Reddick speaks so pointedly. 457 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:58,520 Speaker 2: Stein, I was talking to my foot well FaceTime and 458 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:02,920 Speaker 2: my youngest daughter, she's years old as we're FaceTime, and 459 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:06,399 Speaker 2: I had my laptop on and I was listening to 460 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:13,959 Speaker 2: people criticizing Zion Wilson basically saying it has to get 461 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:17,119 Speaker 2: in better shape, just all the things that you you 462 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:20,520 Speaker 2: know what JJ alluded to, what Charles Barkley, Shack and 463 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:23,720 Speaker 2: others have said. Right, So it was like this compilation 464 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:27,280 Speaker 2: I was I was listening to and my daughter heard it. 465 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:29,639 Speaker 2: And you know, Stein, we live in a different era. 466 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:34,280 Speaker 2: Things that we were able to say, the terms we 467 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:38,360 Speaker 2: were able to use, the words we were able to 468 00:28:38,760 --> 00:28:42,240 Speaker 2: say back then was nothing. But you use those words, 469 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:46,840 Speaker 2: those same words, those same phrases now and it's something 470 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 2: really negative in today's world. So I'm saying this to 471 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 2: say this. So she's talking to me, but I'm not 472 00:28:55,960 --> 00:29:00,400 Speaker 2: really knowing. She's picking up on what they're saying about Zion, 473 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:04,640 Speaker 2: and she said, Dad, are they fat? Sham and Zion 474 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 2: I said, I said, what said? How they gonna tell 475 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 2: him he needs to lose weight and get in better shape? 476 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 2: Maybe he's happy, you know how he is? Stop. So 477 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:23,680 Speaker 2: I didn't know how to start. I didn't know how 478 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 2: to explain. I didn't know how to explain this because 479 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:31,520 Speaker 2: I get in trouble. Could. I have a daughter who 480 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 2: is just turned twenty, and she is like, she'll always 481 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:39,920 Speaker 2: correct me on like the proper terms, what you can 482 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 2: use and cannot use, like according to this new generation. 483 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:49,080 Speaker 2: And so I told my daughter, my youngest ones, we're 484 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:53,720 Speaker 2: talking about Zion. I was like, well, I said, baby, like, 485 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 2: you know, there's just a level of I guess there's 486 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:02,480 Speaker 2: a level of fit and being a professional athlete that 487 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:07,840 Speaker 2: you're supposed to uphold, especially if you're like a player 488 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 2: that's the face of a franchise. And she didn't get it. 489 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:15,160 Speaker 2: She was like, it still doesn't matter. She's like he 490 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 2: made it there like that, why is he being fat shame? 491 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 2: And I couldn't tell her it wasn't fat shaven. Well, 492 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:25,800 Speaker 2: I can't say. I couldn't tell her. I just didn't 493 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 2: want to go down that role. I didn't want to 494 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:29,840 Speaker 2: have an argument because you can't argue with the youngsters nowadays. 495 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:32,480 Speaker 2: So why did I bring that up? Stein? I just 496 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:34,720 Speaker 2: brought it up because you brought up Zion and this. 497 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:38,720 Speaker 2: But really stin my personal opinion, my personal critique is 498 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:42,960 Speaker 2: he has to get better. However way he needs to 499 00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 2: get better, it's up to him. But he has to 500 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 2: be able to play thirty five plus minutes and be 501 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:57,840 Speaker 2: able to do it consistently and be able to do 502 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:02,240 Speaker 2: it and be able to do it and play to 503 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:04,960 Speaker 2: his best. And in order to play to your best, 504 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:09,480 Speaker 2: you have to be in good physical shape. Now I 505 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:13,520 Speaker 2: will say this, good physical shape as far as your stamina. 506 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 2: Maybe he can still have that same physique, Maybe he 507 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 2: can still have that same body stature, Maybe he can 508 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:25,440 Speaker 2: still be the same way. I don't know most people 509 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:28,040 Speaker 2: that most people are saying he needs to lose weight. 510 00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:29,960 Speaker 2: I'm not gonna go out there and say that. But 511 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 2: he needs to be able to play thirty five minutes 512 00:31:32,360 --> 00:31:36,040 Speaker 2: and do it and dominate. And so however way he 513 00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 2: needs to get to it, that's what needs to happen, 514 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:41,680 Speaker 2: or else there's gonna be more of this and staring 515 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:46,720 Speaker 2: with this n season tournament. This gave him a platform, 516 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:49,160 Speaker 2: just like it gave the Pacers a platform to see 517 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 2: how special this team is. The Pelicans had that same opportunity, 518 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 2: but it worked in the opposite for them. And you know, 519 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:01,800 Speaker 2: it can item make you or break you. Right now, 520 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:03,840 Speaker 2: I broke Zion, but he has a chance to pick 521 00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:06,400 Speaker 2: up the pieces and get it back together. But he's 522 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:08,360 Speaker 2: going to have to do so because people are paying 523 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:10,360 Speaker 2: attention now. And that's one thing I like about this 524 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:11,280 Speaker 2: this season tournament. 525 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:15,760 Speaker 1: I look, it's not comfortable to talk about, and he is. 526 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 1: His potential is so ridiculously high, and that's I think 527 00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:25,320 Speaker 1: what disappoints people. They want, you know, they they want 528 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:29,760 Speaker 1: to see him play to his maximum ability or something 529 00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:33,320 Speaker 1: close to it, because you know, we've seen peek Zion 530 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:38,080 Speaker 1: can be a destructive force. But I mean he's not 531 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:41,400 Speaker 1: rebounding either, you know, I mean it's he's he they need, 532 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:45,760 Speaker 1: they just need they need more from him to go somewhere. 533 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 1: They've got a lot of interesting, good players on that 534 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:55,080 Speaker 1: team and and a lot of good, complimentary players, but 535 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:59,080 Speaker 1: you know, you need your star twosome to function well. 536 00:33:00,040 --> 00:33:03,680 Speaker 1: And you know, this week, even in even in the quarters, 537 00:33:03,720 --> 00:33:08,440 Speaker 1: when they beat Sacramento, you know, Zion had a very 538 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:12,280 Speaker 1: quiet game. So you know, when it's when it's fellow 539 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:17,240 Speaker 1: pros and you know, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neil, who have 540 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:21,120 Speaker 1: been in that same position as Zion as face of 541 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:24,680 Speaker 1: the franchise, when they say it, I mean, there's no 542 00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:26,600 Speaker 1: way people are going to tune it out. It's going 543 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:28,440 Speaker 1: to be discussed and it's going to be talked about, 544 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:31,000 Speaker 1: and you know, we'll see what kind of response now 545 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:36,480 Speaker 1: we get because I'm sure this in season tournament trip 546 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:40,600 Speaker 1: to Vegas was not a memorable and pleasant one for 547 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:41,880 Speaker 1: Zion and the Pelicans. 548 00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:45,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, and and it speaks, it speaks volumes coming from 549 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:49,080 Speaker 2: Shaq and Chuck because those guys know that they had 550 00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:52,320 Speaker 2: to get in better shape to be able to play 551 00:33:52,360 --> 00:33:55,800 Speaker 2: their best, and so they're speaking from experience and somebody 552 00:33:55,840 --> 00:33:59,320 Speaker 2: that's probably that's gone through what Zion is going through 553 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:03,120 Speaker 2: right now. So I still I like, again, you know, 554 00:34:03,440 --> 00:34:06,760 Speaker 2: Chuck and sometimes Shack, but Chuck a lot of times 555 00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:09,520 Speaker 2: gets a bad rap for being too hard on players. 556 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:12,880 Speaker 2: I really do think that it's been constructive criticism as 557 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:15,280 Speaker 2: far you know, they're speaking from a place of experience 558 00:34:15,320 --> 00:34:17,520 Speaker 2: of going through what Zion is going through now, so 559 00:34:18,239 --> 00:34:21,360 Speaker 2: hopefully Zion takes he and A and he's able to 560 00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:24,040 Speaker 2: take his game to the next level. However way he 561 00:34:24,160 --> 00:34:24,640 Speaker 2: needs to do it. 562 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:32,480 Speaker 1: All Right, before we go, let's get into something that 563 00:34:33,040 --> 00:34:35,880 Speaker 1: It's a topic both you and I have been interested in. 564 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:39,920 Speaker 1: I actually saw you on NBA TV today asking DiAngelo 565 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:44,200 Speaker 1: Russell about this because there is the question, and we 566 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:47,759 Speaker 1: don't have clarity yet, what how will the team that 567 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:51,640 Speaker 1: wins the nd season tournament celebrate. On one hand, you've 568 00:34:51,680 --> 00:34:56,279 Speaker 1: got the Pacers. They've won three ABA championships, but they've 569 00:34:56,400 --> 00:34:59,359 Speaker 1: never won an NBA title. They went to the NBA 570 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:02,359 Speaker 1: Finals one famously in two thousand. They played the Shaq 571 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:08,080 Speaker 1: and Kobe Lakers lost that finals in six They you know, 572 00:35:08,239 --> 00:35:12,120 Speaker 1: have won a division here and there. You know, they 573 00:35:12,840 --> 00:35:15,200 Speaker 1: won the conference in two thousand. Obviously they were Eastern 574 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:17,960 Speaker 1: Conference champions. If you make the NBA finals, but the 575 00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:22,000 Speaker 1: Pacers don't have a building full of banners. The feeling, 576 00:35:22,080 --> 00:35:24,040 Speaker 1: I think is that if the Pacers win this thing 577 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:27,239 Speaker 1: on Saturday night, they will hang a banner. And it 578 00:35:27,360 --> 00:35:30,279 Speaker 1: is it is not definitive. I actually spoke to Rick 579 00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:34,480 Speaker 1: Carlisle today and asked him that very question. And he 580 00:35:34,640 --> 00:35:38,359 Speaker 1: said that for me to ask him such a thing 581 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:41,920 Speaker 1: right before the championship game, he said, Stein, that is 582 00:35:41,960 --> 00:35:45,320 Speaker 1: a karmically flawed question. I'm not going to answer it, 583 00:35:46,239 --> 00:35:49,160 Speaker 1: but uh, you know, he left me with the strong 584 00:35:49,239 --> 00:35:52,160 Speaker 1: impression that, yes, if the Pacers can win this thing, 585 00:35:52,239 --> 00:35:54,360 Speaker 1: they're gonna make a big deal about it. Then on 586 00:35:54,400 --> 00:35:57,520 Speaker 1: the flip side, you've got the Lakers. The Lakers do 587 00:35:57,760 --> 00:36:01,759 Speaker 1: not hang banners when they win conference championships. They do 588 00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:05,440 Speaker 1: not hang banners when they win the Pacific Division. They 589 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:08,440 Speaker 1: only hang banners when they win it all. They've got 590 00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:15,239 Speaker 1: seventeen titles tied with Boston. And I discovered that we've 591 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:18,520 Speaker 1: both reported separately. We didn't realize that we were doing this, 592 00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:21,360 Speaker 1: but I think both you and I have reported that. 593 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:24,960 Speaker 1: The official word we're getting is the Lakers have made 594 00:36:25,120 --> 00:36:29,040 Speaker 1: no determination yet one way or the other what they're 595 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:32,360 Speaker 1: going to do. But I think the expectation is that 596 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:35,880 Speaker 1: an end season tournament championship is not enough for them, 597 00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:39,200 Speaker 1: because even Lebron you saw him postgame with your colleague 598 00:36:39,280 --> 00:36:42,840 Speaker 1: Ali LaForce, and Lebron played so great against the Pelicans. 599 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:44,239 Speaker 1: I mean, he was the best player on the court 600 00:36:44,360 --> 00:36:47,520 Speaker 1: at almost thirty nine. But he told Ali he's not 601 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:50,480 Speaker 1: going to get too out of control happy because it's 602 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:53,520 Speaker 1: only December. So that's my long winded way of saying, 603 00:36:53,640 --> 00:36:57,160 Speaker 1: what do you think happens if the Pacers win it 604 00:36:57,239 --> 00:36:59,520 Speaker 1: all or the Lakers win the. 605 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:03,480 Speaker 2: Highest Pacers are putting up a banner for sure, you 606 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:06,719 Speaker 2: know what I think. This is my feeling, and this 607 00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:09,480 Speaker 2: is I have no sourcing on it whatsoever. I haven't 608 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:13,120 Speaker 2: spoken to anybody on it, aside from getting the message 609 00:37:13,120 --> 00:37:15,680 Speaker 2: from the Lakers that they haven't made a decision. But 610 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:20,279 Speaker 2: this is what I think. I think a team like 611 00:37:20,360 --> 00:37:27,600 Speaker 2: the Lakers or Celtics might feel obligated to do so 612 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:31,560 Speaker 2: at some point because I think this is going to 613 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:35,239 Speaker 2: be something that gets bigger, right, I think this is 614 00:37:35,280 --> 00:37:38,000 Speaker 2: going to be something that's going to continue and it's 615 00:37:38,080 --> 00:37:41,719 Speaker 2: going to be a big thing. It has yet to 616 00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:44,239 Speaker 2: register to me at stein because you know, I'm not 617 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:48,200 Speaker 2: into the the soccer culture and I don't understand you know, 618 00:37:48,480 --> 00:37:50,920 Speaker 2: the different cups and tournaments, you know what I mean. 619 00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:54,960 Speaker 2: But if this becomes ingrained, you know, this is this 620 00:37:55,160 --> 00:37:57,920 Speaker 2: is this tournament is going to speak to the younger 621 00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:01,880 Speaker 2: generation coming up who are going to come up watching this. 622 00:38:02,920 --> 00:38:08,120 Speaker 2: If this really is, becomes not equal but pretty close 623 00:38:08,239 --> 00:38:14,080 Speaker 2: behind winning a Larry O'Brian Trophy. I can see the 624 00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:16,359 Speaker 2: Lakers saying, you know what, this is gonna be here 625 00:38:16,440 --> 00:38:19,920 Speaker 2: to stay, even though we don't feel the significance of 626 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:23,440 Speaker 2: it now. We might want to throw something up there, 627 00:38:23,640 --> 00:38:27,200 Speaker 2: or maybe they can wait stein the Lakers. That's what 628 00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:29,760 Speaker 2: I would do. If I'm the Lakers or the Celtics 629 00:38:30,080 --> 00:38:32,680 Speaker 2: and I win the first or the second nd season tournament, 630 00:38:33,719 --> 00:38:35,800 Speaker 2: I'm gonna make a banner, but I'm gonna just hold it, 631 00:38:35,960 --> 00:38:38,520 Speaker 2: put in the closet, leave it the storage. Let's see 632 00:38:38,560 --> 00:38:41,759 Speaker 2: how big this thing is. Then about a tenth year. 633 00:38:41,800 --> 00:38:43,960 Speaker 2: If this thing is huge, go ahead and throw up 634 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:46,919 Speaker 2: that batterer from eight nine years ago. Ahead, go ahead. 635 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:49,239 Speaker 1: I'm in the other camp. Every team should hang a 636 00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:53,719 Speaker 1: banner for this. And the reason is, you know, the 637 00:38:53,880 --> 00:38:56,640 Speaker 1: league came up with this. Adam Silver has wanted this 638 00:38:56,760 --> 00:39:00,560 Speaker 1: for ages for really two main reasons. 639 00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:01,319 Speaker 2: Yo. 640 00:39:01,680 --> 00:39:04,319 Speaker 1: There's the business reason, of course, the one that they 641 00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:06,640 Speaker 1: don't like to admit, but the one we all understand 642 00:39:07,280 --> 00:39:11,280 Speaker 1: that if this thing goes well, and by all accounts, 643 00:39:11,360 --> 00:39:13,200 Speaker 1: people don't grade it as hard as I have, so 644 00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:16,520 Speaker 1: I think the reviews have been more positive than negative. 645 00:39:17,440 --> 00:39:20,240 Speaker 1: The league would love to sell the inn season tournament 646 00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:24,640 Speaker 1: as a separate TV package to a media rights partner 647 00:39:24,719 --> 00:39:26,640 Speaker 1: down the road. That's what it's hoping to do on 648 00:39:26,760 --> 00:39:30,240 Speaker 1: the business side. But on the competitive side, Adam Silver, 649 00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:33,520 Speaker 1: and this is the part he does take from soccer. 650 00:39:33,600 --> 00:39:38,399 Speaker 1: He's always said, this is a league where there's one 651 00:39:38,480 --> 00:39:41,840 Speaker 1: winner and twenty nine losers because unless you win the 652 00:39:41,960 --> 00:39:45,120 Speaker 1: Larry O'Brien Trophy, you're a failure. And the thing he 653 00:39:45,320 --> 00:39:48,520 Speaker 1: did really want to take from soccer is, let's create 654 00:39:48,680 --> 00:39:52,839 Speaker 1: a second trophy opportunity that teams are excited to chase. 655 00:39:52,880 --> 00:39:55,319 Speaker 1: Because there are teams in the league that when they 656 00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:57,560 Speaker 1: win a division they hang a banner because they're not 657 00:39:57,719 --> 00:39:59,919 Speaker 1: the Lakers and they're not the Celtics and they don't 658 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:04,239 Speaker 1: have seventeen championship banners. So to certain franchises, winning the 659 00:40:04,360 --> 00:40:08,759 Speaker 1: division or winning the conference's that is banner worthy. And 660 00:40:08,920 --> 00:40:11,640 Speaker 1: the you know, basically what I'm really looking forward to 661 00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:14,520 Speaker 1: Saturday before the game, Adam Silver is going to have 662 00:40:14,600 --> 00:40:17,480 Speaker 1: a press conference and I hope someone asked the question. 663 00:40:18,080 --> 00:40:22,400 Speaker 1: I hope someone asks, what is the league's stance on banners, 664 00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:25,399 Speaker 1: And even as I talk, as I say this out 665 00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:27,560 Speaker 1: loud and start thinking about it, Adam will probably say 666 00:40:27,600 --> 00:40:29,600 Speaker 1: something along the lines of we don't want to be 667 00:40:29,640 --> 00:40:32,160 Speaker 1: in position of telling our teams what to do. But 668 00:40:32,800 --> 00:40:35,680 Speaker 1: my gut instinct is the league office wants to see 669 00:40:35,840 --> 00:40:39,800 Speaker 1: everyone whoever wins this thing hang a banner and treat 670 00:40:39,880 --> 00:40:42,440 Speaker 1: it like a big deal. Because the league's goal here, 671 00:40:42,520 --> 00:40:44,360 Speaker 1: and you know, you can't say they're there yet in 672 00:40:44,520 --> 00:40:47,560 Speaker 1: year one, but the league's goal here is that this 673 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:52,279 Speaker 1: is the second most valuable prize a team can win. 674 00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:56,719 Speaker 1: The league wants this to be bigger than a division 675 00:40:57,400 --> 00:41:01,080 Speaker 1: title or even a conference title. That the league is 676 00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:05,400 Speaker 1: hoping to establish this as the number two prize for 677 00:41:05,560 --> 00:41:08,280 Speaker 1: teams in the NBA. So to me, if the Lakers 678 00:41:08,480 --> 00:41:12,880 Speaker 1: won it and didn't hang a banner, that's a slap 679 00:41:12,920 --> 00:41:13,919 Speaker 1: in the face to the league. 680 00:41:14,719 --> 00:41:16,920 Speaker 2: Well remember look what you say, Stan, you said. The 681 00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:22,240 Speaker 2: league is hoping this becomes the second most significant award 682 00:41:22,920 --> 00:41:26,959 Speaker 2: during the regular season, hoping, hoping, hoping. What if it isn't, 683 00:41:28,080 --> 00:41:32,359 Speaker 2: what if it doesn't make it to sustainability, So then 684 00:41:32,440 --> 00:41:36,399 Speaker 2: the Lakers are or the Pacers, they're just they're stuck 685 00:41:36,480 --> 00:41:39,080 Speaker 2: with an inn season tournament that doesn't in season tournament 686 00:41:39,120 --> 00:41:41,080 Speaker 2: banner that doesn't exist anymore. 687 00:41:41,320 --> 00:41:43,680 Speaker 1: I guess you know what it is. I just I 688 00:41:43,800 --> 00:41:45,759 Speaker 1: can't see it going away now, Like I. 689 00:41:45,920 --> 00:41:47,680 Speaker 2: Don't think so either. I don't think so either. I 690 00:41:47,719 --> 00:41:48,440 Speaker 2: think I don't think so. 691 00:41:48,880 --> 00:41:51,440 Speaker 1: Like again, I think I've been as critical of this 692 00:41:51,640 --> 00:41:54,320 Speaker 1: thing as anyone. And and you know, all of my 693 00:41:54,520 --> 00:41:58,200 Speaker 1: almost all of my criticisms are based on group play 694 00:41:58,400 --> 00:42:01,360 Speaker 1: and counting these regular seas and games twice and the 695 00:42:01,440 --> 00:42:04,359 Speaker 1: fact that the nd season tournament is not separate enough. 696 00:42:04,440 --> 00:42:06,520 Speaker 1: But I think I'm in the minority. I think this 697 00:42:06,680 --> 00:42:10,960 Speaker 1: has generated many more fans than foes in year one, 698 00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:14,680 Speaker 1: and the fact that Lebron has taking it so seriously 699 00:42:14,760 --> 00:42:18,120 Speaker 1: in year one has certainly helped it. So I I 700 00:42:18,200 --> 00:42:21,279 Speaker 1: guess I'm just I'm kind of skipping steps here and 701 00:42:21,400 --> 00:42:24,520 Speaker 1: operating under the premise that I think. I think it's here. 702 00:42:24,840 --> 00:42:25,839 Speaker 1: I think it's here to stay. 703 00:42:26,680 --> 00:42:30,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I believe so too. I still will tell the 704 00:42:30,200 --> 00:42:34,600 Speaker 2: Lakers make the banner, believe it in storage. Well, let's 705 00:42:34,680 --> 00:42:36,200 Speaker 2: let's wait, let's wait to see what. 706 00:42:36,280 --> 00:42:38,879 Speaker 1: Well, you know what's gonna happen. You're right, because again, 707 00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:41,520 Speaker 1: now that you know someone is gonna ask Adam Silver 708 00:42:41,719 --> 00:42:45,520 Speaker 1: and he's probably gonna say, we don't want to tell 709 00:42:45,560 --> 00:42:47,360 Speaker 1: teams what to do. And if the league does not 710 00:42:47,520 --> 00:42:50,320 Speaker 1: compel teams to hang a banner for this, maybe the 711 00:42:50,360 --> 00:42:52,480 Speaker 1: Lakers won't. Maybe the Lakers will do exactly what you 712 00:42:52,600 --> 00:42:55,720 Speaker 1: said and take a wait and see approach. 713 00:42:56,160 --> 00:42:58,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, take a wait and see approach. STEI. Before we 714 00:42:58,400 --> 00:43:01,960 Speaker 2: get out of here, STEI, have you ever and Producer 715 00:43:02,080 --> 00:43:04,200 Speaker 2: Ryan feel free to chime in. We don't let producer 716 00:43:04,280 --> 00:43:06,359 Speaker 2: Ryan chime in enough. He has a lot to say. 717 00:43:06,440 --> 00:43:14,080 Speaker 1: He's putting out too many fires, airs, gaffs, controversies. The 718 00:43:14,200 --> 00:43:14,920 Speaker 1: man is busy. 719 00:43:15,640 --> 00:43:20,640 Speaker 2: Star. You know, it's what I experienced yesterday was the 720 00:43:20,800 --> 00:43:24,880 Speaker 2: equivalent to me of experiencing Is it called the solar 721 00:43:24,960 --> 00:43:29,160 Speaker 2: clips Is that what it's called? Where? Where? What the Earth? 722 00:43:32,160 --> 00:43:38,319 Speaker 2: How does what the Earth rotates around the sun? Moon 723 00:43:38,520 --> 00:43:48,400 Speaker 2: or sun? It blocks out the sun? Yeah, it blocks 724 00:43:48,440 --> 00:43:50,480 Speaker 2: off the Sun and it's like you only see at 725 00:43:50,520 --> 00:43:53,440 Speaker 2: that what time. I've never seen it before, but what 726 00:43:53,640 --> 00:43:57,719 Speaker 2: I experienced last night is the equivalent equivalent of that. So, 727 00:43:58,080 --> 00:44:00,960 Speaker 2: Producer Ryan and STEI, have you ever been in a 728 00:44:01,080 --> 00:44:03,600 Speaker 2: high riser hotel like I am right now? I'm in 729 00:44:03,640 --> 00:44:06,560 Speaker 2: a high Riser hotel, are you and you justly hear 730 00:44:06,640 --> 00:44:13,040 Speaker 2: a loud thump at the window. You hear a loud thump, thump, thump, thump. 731 00:44:13,760 --> 00:44:16,040 Speaker 2: Have y'all heard that never? 732 00:44:16,600 --> 00:44:17,840 Speaker 1: I don't know where you're going with this. 733 00:44:18,200 --> 00:44:23,239 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm gonna tell you so all the time, 734 00:44:23,680 --> 00:44:27,439 Speaker 2: every time I'm in high Risers, I hear a loud 735 00:44:27,520 --> 00:44:31,640 Speaker 2: thump at the window, bump, thump, like every now and then, 736 00:44:31,840 --> 00:44:35,879 Speaker 2: like probably three or four times a day. So y'all 737 00:44:35,920 --> 00:44:41,760 Speaker 2: need to pay attention. So those thumps are birds hitting 738 00:44:41,800 --> 00:44:44,720 Speaker 2: the glass window because they don't see the glass window. 739 00:44:45,000 --> 00:44:49,279 Speaker 2: And I always, for years, I'm forty two, I've never 740 00:44:49,480 --> 00:44:53,759 Speaker 2: actually seen the bird hit the window. I finally saw 741 00:44:53,880 --> 00:44:57,319 Speaker 2: the bird hit the window and drop all the way 742 00:44:57,440 --> 00:45:03,239 Speaker 2: down to the road. I saw it finally, after all 743 00:45:03,320 --> 00:45:06,200 Speaker 2: those thumps I heard all these years, I finally just 744 00:45:06,320 --> 00:45:09,160 Speaker 2: happened to be looking out my window and I seen 745 00:45:09,200 --> 00:45:11,600 Speaker 2: a bird going straight for the glass. It was like 746 00:45:11,640 --> 00:45:15,160 Speaker 2: the glass like ten feet away from mop building. It 747 00:45:15,320 --> 00:45:17,719 Speaker 2: was just going straight. I'm like, what this bird doing? 748 00:45:18,320 --> 00:45:21,720 Speaker 2: Where's this bird going? It kept going fast, it didn't 749 00:45:21,719 --> 00:45:25,480 Speaker 2: slow down and boom, and it just slid down the 750 00:45:25,560 --> 00:45:27,480 Speaker 2: rest of the glass window. 751 00:45:27,480 --> 00:45:31,880 Speaker 1: Onto, and that was your solar eclipse. 752 00:45:33,200 --> 00:45:36,919 Speaker 2: That was my solar I finally saw it after years 753 00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:39,839 Speaker 2: of hearing that. So y'all never heard a thump when 754 00:45:39,880 --> 00:45:41,560 Speaker 2: you had a high where you had a high rise 755 00:45:41,600 --> 00:45:45,680 Speaker 2: of hotel glass windows, You've never heard those thumps at 756 00:45:45,719 --> 00:45:46,080 Speaker 2: the window? 757 00:45:46,200 --> 00:45:48,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, I had. I mean I just experienced similar 758 00:45:50,120 --> 00:45:54,439 Speaker 1: during a stay at JW. Marriott, LA live right across 759 00:45:54,560 --> 00:45:57,719 Speaker 1: the street from yes, the building formerly known as Staple Center. 760 00:45:57,800 --> 00:45:59,840 Speaker 1: But I did not deem it podcast worthy. 761 00:45:59,880 --> 00:46:00,320 Speaker 2: I did not. 762 00:46:01,160 --> 00:46:04,080 Speaker 1: I didn't. I didn't know that. I didn't know that 763 00:46:04,200 --> 00:46:07,640 Speaker 1: that was the story that would that would be good 764 00:46:07,719 --> 00:46:10,920 Speaker 1: for the pod. And that's because you only heard it. 765 00:46:11,040 --> 00:46:12,840 Speaker 2: You didn't see it. You didn't see it. 766 00:46:13,239 --> 00:46:15,480 Speaker 1: Now you gotta see it true too. I did not. 767 00:46:15,719 --> 00:46:17,480 Speaker 1: I did not see the bird. 768 00:46:18,040 --> 00:46:21,279 Speaker 2: I am looking at this bird and it is speeding 769 00:46:21,880 --> 00:46:23,040 Speaker 2: and not slowing down. 770 00:46:23,200 --> 00:46:26,200 Speaker 1: Could you could you identify what kind of bird it was? 771 00:46:26,360 --> 00:46:28,320 Speaker 2: It was? It was like a black crow, like sometime 772 00:46:28,400 --> 00:46:30,759 Speaker 2: a black crow. It was a black bird, but it 773 00:46:30,920 --> 00:46:33,760 Speaker 2: was speeding, it was not slowing down. I'm like, doesn't 774 00:46:33,760 --> 00:46:37,680 Speaker 2: this see this building? This glass And I'm like, hold on, 775 00:46:37,840 --> 00:46:42,000 Speaker 2: is this gonna be swat and just slid all the 776 00:46:42,040 --> 00:46:42,520 Speaker 2: way down. 777 00:46:42,800 --> 00:46:47,040 Speaker 1: Who knows, Maybe now we're gonna get some bird watching 778 00:46:47,160 --> 00:46:50,800 Speaker 1: traffic on this pod instead of just NBA listeners. 779 00:46:52,719 --> 00:46:55,320 Speaker 2: Hey, we're here for everybody. I just know that. I 780 00:46:55,440 --> 00:46:57,520 Speaker 2: just know there are people out there that hear those thumps. 781 00:46:57,719 --> 00:47:01,040 Speaker 2: And then there's some people like producer Ryme who didn't 782 00:47:01,080 --> 00:47:04,800 Speaker 2: actually know what that thump was. That's what the thump was. 783 00:47:05,000 --> 00:47:08,359 Speaker 2: It was birds that they think. They don't they don't 784 00:47:08,400 --> 00:47:10,840 Speaker 2: see the window. They think it's they think it's a 785 00:47:10,920 --> 00:47:14,040 Speaker 2: clear shot to get wherever they're trying to get until 786 00:47:14,080 --> 00:47:15,120 Speaker 2: they get where they're at. 787 00:47:15,400 --> 00:47:18,800 Speaker 1: Producer Producer Ryan doesn't get to go to any hotels 788 00:47:18,840 --> 00:47:22,080 Speaker 1: because his full time job is keeping this pod glued 789 00:47:22,160 --> 00:47:26,200 Speaker 1: together and troubleshooting all of our messes. So he yeah, 790 00:47:26,560 --> 00:47:28,279 Speaker 1: we can't even remember the last time he was in 791 00:47:28,360 --> 00:47:28,800 Speaker 1: a hotel. 792 00:47:29,440 --> 00:47:32,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, he listens to us go splat, That's that's what 793 00:47:32,600 --> 00:47:32,960 Speaker 2: he does. 794 00:47:33,200 --> 00:47:38,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, and then yeah, all right on that note, that 795 00:47:38,640 --> 00:47:41,640 Speaker 1: is going to do it for this edition of This 796 00:47:41,880 --> 00:47:46,560 Speaker 1: League Uncut. The next time we are with you, Chris 797 00:47:46,640 --> 00:47:51,240 Speaker 1: Haynes will be back from Vegas with certainly more stories. 798 00:47:51,280 --> 00:47:55,279 Speaker 1: A notebook full of stories from the NBA, and who 799 00:47:55,400 --> 00:47:59,200 Speaker 1: knows what else he'll see an experience on the strip. 800 00:47:59,320 --> 00:48:01,640 Speaker 2: I'm coming. I don't forget about that, but. 801 00:48:01,680 --> 00:48:03,600 Speaker 1: At least he won't be in Vegas any longer by 802 00:48:03,640 --> 00:48:06,440 Speaker 1: the next time we speak, and so my jealousy factor 803 00:48:06,560 --> 00:48:13,520 Speaker 1: will have declined significantly. And yes, Tuesday Night Lakers at Dallas, 804 00:48:14,520 --> 00:48:19,400 Speaker 1: Chris Haynes on the sidelines for TNT, wearing some fresh 805 00:48:19,480 --> 00:48:23,400 Speaker 1: new gear for sure for the national TV audience, and 806 00:48:24,200 --> 00:48:26,719 Speaker 1: I will be in the building critiquing his every move. 807 00:48:26,880 --> 00:48:31,479 Speaker 1: It'll be our first time in the same place since July, 808 00:48:31,840 --> 00:48:37,280 Speaker 1: almost basically five months since he and I were together. 809 00:48:37,520 --> 00:48:41,960 Speaker 1: So definitely looking forward to that Lakers MAVs game and 810 00:48:42,239 --> 00:48:45,640 Speaker 1: what sort of mayhem ensues. And we're working on a 811 00:48:45,719 --> 00:48:48,200 Speaker 1: special guest next week as well. Don't want to jinx it, 812 00:48:48,239 --> 00:48:50,560 Speaker 1: but I think we're gonna have a very high profile 813 00:48:51,080 --> 00:48:54,320 Speaker 1: NBA newsmaker join us as well. So we got lots 814 00:48:54,360 --> 00:48:57,400 Speaker 1: of good stuff on the way. Please remember, as always 815 00:48:58,520 --> 00:49:04,320 Speaker 1: rate review, subscribe to this League uncut via Spotify or 816 00:49:04,440 --> 00:49:08,120 Speaker 1: Apple Pods or wherever you get your pods, and Chris 817 00:49:08,200 --> 00:49:10,920 Speaker 1: and I will be back with you again, Harry Larry soon. 818 00:49:11,520 --> 00:49:18,680 Speaker 1: Enjoy the ist final everyone, and that'll do it for us. 819 00:49:19,000 --> 00:49:23,160 Speaker 1: See you next time. This League Uncut is an iHeartRadio 820 00:49:23,200 --> 00:49:30,280 Speaker 1: production Chris Haines and Mark Stein.