1 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: Hey, what up. I'm Doug Gottle. This is all ball man. 2 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: We got a great part three for you, hard three. 3 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: Stanley Johnson, l a Lakers although potential free agent, Um 4 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 1: uh we we we have. We got some pods up 5 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: coming for you that you're gonna love. We will do 6 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: a pod breaking down uh these NBA playoffs right as 7 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: they take place, and we'll get those out to your 8 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:31,720 Speaker 1: next day. But I want to make sure you got 9 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: this because I did dig in with Stanley on the 10 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 1: state of the Lakers and on Russell Westbrook specifically. Was 11 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: he a good teammate? Does he think Russ should be back? 12 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: Or was it just a bad fit from the start. 13 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: Let's let's just listen in. Here's Stanley Johnson, of course 14 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:50,840 Speaker 1: been the league for half a decade, trying to figure 15 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: out where he can stick this year, next year. But 16 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: his thoughts on the Lakers, his thoughts on Russ al right, 17 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: So after the exit interviews yesterday, Russ he what what 18 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: he said was, Hey, basically like Franklin like never liked him. Yeah, 19 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: and he couldn't figure that out. What was the dynamic 20 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 1: like from your perspective? Right? And you know the craziest 21 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: part is like I feel like everyone and like he said, 22 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 1: I saw some things he said, and it's like it's 23 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 1: like when does he get an opportunity to like he 24 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: gets a fair shot, Like we're all competitive, like we're 25 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 1: all athletes, like we're's our profession. So, um, Russ is 26 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: a really great dude. Not a good dude, A great dude, 27 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: like a great person, a great athlete, a great teammate, 28 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: like all over the place. So a lot of times 29 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: when when there's criticism, just like as athletes, it's just criticism. 30 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: It's not like the dude hates here what I'm saying. 31 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: It's not like X, Y and Z. It's like, obviously 32 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: we had a tough season, and that's how he expressed 33 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 1: his emotions. But it doesn't to me. It's like it's confusing. 34 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 1: Like a lot of times, like at the end of 35 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: the day, if he didn't, if Russ Russ, like I 36 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,800 Speaker 1: said before, Russ is an honest person. If he didn't, 37 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: like Frankie would have said it, it would have been 38 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: already out there, you know what I'm saying, Like if 39 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: there was a real problem, it would have it would 40 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,239 Speaker 1: have been there. Like he's not gonna go in the 41 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: locker room every day, and like, you know, be around 42 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: a guy he doesn't like, Like it's all competitive, it's 43 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 1: all business, it's not has nothing to do personal at all. 44 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,799 Speaker 1: You know, I I under I understand, but but he 45 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 1: but he laid it out like he didn't get a 46 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:43,359 Speaker 1: fair shot and he wasn't used the right way. You can't. 47 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: You're not gonna play with Lebron James and be the 48 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: primary ball handler. And when you when you shoot as 49 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: poorly as he did, it makes it really hard for 50 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 1: you to be the primary ball handler because there's just 51 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: no space for everybody else. Well, I think the thing 52 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: that people don't realize for Russ is every other game 53 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: he had a new responsibility. If Lebron's playing, he has 54 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 1: this role. If Anthony's playing, he has this role. If 55 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: Anthony and Brown are not playing, he has this role. 56 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 1: Like we expect Russ to be like Superman. We expect 57 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: him to be like, you know, don't ever turn it 58 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 1: over twenty ten and ten every game, like he's human too. 59 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: He's trying to figure it out the same way we're 60 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: trying to figure it out. Um and the instability of 61 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: the lineup and all these things that we had no 62 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: control over, which is no no excuse. By the way, 63 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 1: this is not like reality. That's it's it's just really reality, 64 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 1: Like that's a that's a reason, not an excuse, but 65 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: not an excuse, but even news. But but stand even 66 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 1: the most ardent Russ fan will tell you, like it's 67 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: there's different kinds of turnovers like bro, you just dropping 68 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: the ball off the court, dribbled out of bounds, like 69 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: come on, and then and then you know when when 70 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: you know when the he struggled, he's all he's never been. 71 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: I think one of the things is, and this is 72 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: interesting that I know from talking to NBA coaches and 73 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: I'm sure you know, is reputation wise is different than 74 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: the reality. And sometimes you know, when you're in Oklahoma City, 75 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: people just look at box scores and highlights. Right, you've 76 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: never been You've never been a great finisher in terms 77 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: of um the analytics of of how he finishes at 78 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: the rim. And so I think people freaked out because 79 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 1: they saw some of it in person for the first time. 80 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 1: They're like, why is the guy so crazy athletic and 81 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: getting to the rim and then he misses Like it's 82 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 1: kind of who he's always been. The turnovers have kind 83 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: of always been there. The one thing that did change 84 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:42,279 Speaker 1: is the shooting's got worse, not better, Like there was 85 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: some and most of you guys mostly like that. I 86 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: have so much respect for NBA players because an NBA 87 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: player at an empty gym makes like eight five out 88 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: of a hundred minimum, Like there, you guys are ridiculous. 89 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,119 Speaker 1: But but the some of the mrs were so bad. 90 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: I mean, I mean, let me ask you this question, then, Okay, 91 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 1: do you want to play against us? Hell no, I dode. 92 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,359 Speaker 1: I saw him in the playoffs the Spurs, and I 93 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: was like, I don't know how you guard him? Thank you, 94 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 1: thank you. That's this dude. Dude, dude, dude, dude, dude 95 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: is a Hall of Fame top seventy five before this thing, 96 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: before his career has even over. With some way we're saying, oh, 97 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: Russ is bad. Come on, come on now, come on now, 98 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: hold on, now, hold on. Is Carmelo hall of Fame player? Okay? 99 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: Was he a Hall of Fame player this year? What 100 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: I think? So? Come one know, honestly, I think I 101 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:46,480 Speaker 1: think in his role at what he did this year, 102 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 1: dude's a savant like he like he gets is sold. 103 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 1: He like he gets the ball, we thought to him 104 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:57,839 Speaker 1: with seven seconds on the clock, they run a double 105 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,479 Speaker 1: team at him. He turned over his lefttholder, right soler. 106 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: Every time everyone knows it's coming, it's going in. No, 107 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: he doesn't have the role. No, No, he doesn't have 108 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,359 Speaker 1: that he had. No. Well, he's not that guy anymore. 109 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 1: He's in his mid thirties, right, nobody, But we cannot 110 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 1: grade him off that because he doesn't have the opportunity 111 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: to do that as well. Well, I I would just 112 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 1: agree with the opportunity, like the opportunity be worse, like 113 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 1: you guys, the defensive even worse. My point is that 114 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: my point is that if I'm not arguing that Russell 115 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: Westbrook's a Hall of Fame, not a Hall of famer. 116 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: Of course he's a Hall of Famer. My argument is 117 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: how he's playing basketball this year. He's not even close 118 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: to being a borderline All Star. You'd have a tough time. 119 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: I mean, the proof is in the pudding. Nobody wants. 120 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 1: People don't want to trade for him. If we if 121 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 1: we were, if we were, if we were the four 122 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 1: seed this year, he would have been an All Star. 123 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: If I had two heads, I'd be in the circus. Okay, 124 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: so like he would not he would not be he 125 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: would not be an All star. A lot more to 126 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:08,160 Speaker 1: do with team success than all personal success. So so 127 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: you think, hey, we're gonna run you run it back 128 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: with Russ and if the lineup is more stable, he'll 129 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 1: be He'll be much better next year. I bet my 130 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 1: contract on it. Now. The story that everybody else likes 131 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: to tell is Frank is the guy who wanted to 132 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 1: keep him in the starting lineup and other people the 133 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: organization soured on him. What what was the dynamics like 134 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: when when he's frustrated because all we see, all we 135 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:37,239 Speaker 1: see is his body language, which at times isn't great. 136 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: But if you're frustrated and you're struggling, and that's right, 137 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: and that's that's the thing, right, that's the thing where 138 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: I don't like either, where it's like like Russ is 139 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: one of these hyper competitive dudes, like super hyper competitive, 140 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: Like Russ can't even talk before games, Like he's like 141 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: locked in, Like you know, he's locked in, Like he's 142 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 1: locked in, Like I'm telling you that as his teammate, 143 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 1: like you he's so locked in. It brings the locker 144 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: room up. It brings everything, you know, Like you look 145 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 1: at him and like, oh, this this motherer gonna play tonight, 146 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: Like you know what I'm saying, This dude, this dude 147 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: right here, he's gonna he's gonna do something tonight, like 148 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: I gotta, I gotta, I gotta. You know, you know 149 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. It's no laughing so joking, like it's 150 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: cool and stuff, like obviously we can talk to him, 151 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: but he's he's locking in. It's like a slow gradual 152 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 1: lock in, Like I get there early every game. He's 153 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: there as early as anybody else, like he has. I 154 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: watched him. I watched him. I watched all the Hall 155 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: of Famers go through their process every game this year. 156 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 1: It's been that consistent every game, playing or not playing. 157 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 1: That dude is hyper competitive. Now how that translates out 158 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: to other people, Okay, take your opinion, all right, especially 159 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: how to how a camera cuts it. Sometimes you only 160 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 1: get the worst of it. I'd say, like what you do. 161 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 1: There's times when he's not up cheering on the bench. Okay, 162 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:06,839 Speaker 1: there's times in which he's always it feels like he 163 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: creates friction with the media when they asked him about 164 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 1: the turnovers, I'm allowed to turn the ball over. You know. 165 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 1: It's like, I mean, just just give give give me 166 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: a little something, dude. It's like we're not trying. Most 167 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:26,440 Speaker 1: guys who do the job of covering the NBA idolize 168 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:31,079 Speaker 1: the NBA players, but he puts makes everything defensive. Yeah, 169 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: which I feel like it's it's like everybody has like 170 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: different ways to take things. Um And honestly, like I 171 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: think he's right in saying like I don't think you 172 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: gotta I don't think you got a fair shakeout with 173 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: with with the media stuff. Um, I personally don't. That's 174 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:51,439 Speaker 1: that's how I personally feel. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm right, 175 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: Like you know, who knows right. But for me in general, 176 00:09:55,760 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 1: there's this like there's this like uh x x tation 177 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 1: or or some type of thing. And how I learned 178 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 1: things about growing up as a Christian is you know, 179 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 1: you you tell God what you're gonna do, and God's 180 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 1: gonna show you something different. So like, if he says 181 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 1: he has no expectations, that doesn't mean he doesn't mean 182 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 1: he's not saying he might not be saying his expectations 183 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 1: or or the expectation that he has. He maybe not. 184 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: He might not word it as an expectation, but like 185 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: I've been in the locker room in play situations where 186 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 1: the dudes like, man, I want to win, Like what's up? 187 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 1: I want to win? I want to win. I hate this. 188 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,079 Speaker 1: I want to win? Like how do I win? How 189 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: do we win? I want to win? Like he said 190 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 1: that many of times, like so like like you know, 191 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: like for him to go to the media and and 192 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: and and and and and and massage somebody's you know, 193 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 1: emotions or something like that. Some people do, some people don't. 194 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:58,439 Speaker 1: Since he didn't, Okay, that's fine with me, that's fine. 195 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:00,839 Speaker 1: But the end of the day, to dude, play what 196 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 1: eighty two games he averaged, you know, double figures and 197 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: points probably like what like twenty eight and eight something 198 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,079 Speaker 1: like somewhere around there. His effort level, you can never 199 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 1: say he didn't give effort like he might as an 200 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 1: anybody makes a mistake, Like it's like you can watch 201 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: you can watch a highlight clip or something or a 202 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: low light and it looks so bad. But at the 203 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 1: end of the day, like when you're in the locker 204 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: room and you're watching the film, like as a player, 205 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: you can understand those things. You can understand those things 206 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: like you can you can really understand those things. Like 207 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:35,839 Speaker 1: some games, he'd go in the game and he'd have 208 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: the responsibility on the ball. Then Lebron's playing that he 209 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 1: can delegate the responsibility. Then when a d s playing, 210 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 1: he can delegate the responsibility as well, and then the 211 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: next game is like he's back at game. It's like 212 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: it's hard to catch a rhythm when you're doing stuff 213 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:54,079 Speaker 1: like that. It really is. But it's also hard for 214 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:58,559 Speaker 1: those he he struggles to play without the basketball and 215 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 1: last time I checked, you guys only play with one. Right, 216 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 1: He's just he's used to. I mean, look, he's been 217 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 1: a ball dominant role and playing off the ball and 218 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: Lebron has to have the ball. Anthony Davis has to 219 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:14,719 Speaker 1: have the ball. That's really hard and then becomes to 220 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 1: it's become a it's become a league of shooting to 221 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 1: do what you said, right, there's a there's a I'm 222 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 1: not gonna say no names, but there's a bunch of 223 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: guys that are in the same position. But I don't 224 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,680 Speaker 1: hear nothing about it like this. You don't hear nothing 225 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: about it like this. You don't hear you don't hear 226 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: it like this, No one gets their character shot at. 227 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 1: No one gets there there, don't think nobody attacked. Nobody 228 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 1: attacked his character. Come on, man, like, I mean we 229 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 1: just you just said, you just said, Oh, he looks 230 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 1: like a bad teammate. He didn't cheer. Yeah, for a 231 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 1: person like him who prides himself on being a good 232 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: man and a good teammate, that's attack on his that's 233 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:56,679 Speaker 1: attack on his character. But then how come we one 234 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: standing up chering. He didn't care where the camera was on. 235 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,439 Speaker 1: But as a teammate, I'm telling you, he's a great teammate. Like, 236 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 1: what do you like? I don't like ask ask anybody 237 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: in the locker room one to fifteen one or seventeen 238 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 1: what about Russ? No, no, no one's gonna say. I 239 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 1: guarantee you know what's gonna say. Oh we don't. We 240 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 1: don't like you know what I'm saying, And not even 241 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:19,959 Speaker 1: not even know some pc not even like being like 242 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:21,680 Speaker 1: what's right and what's right and what's wrong? It's wrong? 243 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: Like the dudes are really good. Dude, I'd rather just 244 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 1: not comment on it. Didn't say a lie. I've never look, 245 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: I've never heard anybody saying he's a It's like Mellow, 246 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: Mike Mellows a great everybody likes Mellow. For a couple 247 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:34,439 Speaker 1: of years there, what was Mellow? What was mellow? Mellow 248 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: was like, oh, Mellows a bad locker room guard. No 249 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 1: is Mellow doesn't play any defense, okay. And and Mellow's 250 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: almost like it's almost like Mellow for rust and Mellow. 251 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 1: It's almost like, it's not this reason, You'll find a reason. 252 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 1: If it's not this reason, we'll find another reason. No, no, no, no, 253 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: I I don't I don't think that. Like, look, I 254 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 1: tried myself. I try to be super fair, okay, and 255 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 1: I will tell you that again. Like Russ, I've never 256 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:01,439 Speaker 1: heard anybody say Russe is a bad Okay. But in 257 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:07,079 Speaker 1: Org and Mellow, people love Mellow like guys love Mellow, 258 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 1: But Mellow for if we're real about it. He when 259 00:14:10,679 --> 00:14:12,359 Speaker 1: he was in New York and he was a superstar, 260 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 1: he wasn't in shape to start the year. Okay, other 261 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 1: guys do that, Okay, But his game the NBA evolved 262 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 1: kind of away from his game. You know, he was 263 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 1: a go to score in the mid range and in 264 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: the post. And he's become he's made himself into a 265 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 1: prolific three point shooter. But when he was at his 266 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 1: peak and he was the best score in the league, 267 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: he was really still not a three level score, right, 268 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 1: He's more two level. So I gotta I gotta hold 269 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: you there, Chap. Okay, Mellow, Mellow, I mean, I mean mellow. 270 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: When it comes to scoring, he hasn't it. He has it, 271 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 1: he has a doctor in it. I'm not doing what 272 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 1: I'm telling you. Was the three the three pointer? That's 273 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: a recent addition. Okay, you know you don't remember Olympic Mellow. Yeah, 274 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: remember Mellow. Okay, So I'm not I'm not saying let's 275 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: not say you can't. Let's let's not say he's he's 276 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 1: not always been a prolific three point shooter, because I mean, 277 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 1: I think the thing that I think, the thing that 278 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 1: we could always say, like you know, we're laughing, you 279 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: know when mellows hot, because when she was a three, 280 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: he'll push you off the same time. You know I'm 281 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: talking about, yes, exactly, and those are like, you know, 282 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 1: we think about Mellow, What do you think about what 283 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: do you think about? First him banging his three fingers 284 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: up against his head. Yes, so you can't. He wouldn't 285 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 1: be doing that was that was post. That's post out 286 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: of the league Mellow when he remade himself into try 287 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: and be a you know, three point shoot off the 288 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: bench and just be a great teammate. And he's accomplished that. 289 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 1: Last night I watched him. Last night, I watched a 290 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:45,800 Speaker 1: highlight of him scoring sixty two in the garden. I 291 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: saw like eight threes going listen, he was the best 292 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: scorer in the league for about a five or six 293 00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: years stretchka, he was the best score in the least 294 00:15:54,800 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: but that was uh, probably ended seven years ago, six 295 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 1: years ago, right, And so the the issue is, like 296 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 1: that guy Mellow can still be really affective, but you 297 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 1: gotta have four other dudes that can defend and can 298 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: hide the fact that he's in his mid he's never 299 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: a good defensive player, and he's in his mid thirties. 300 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 1: So let me ask let me ask you a question, then, Yes, 301 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: how many guys are in that same position, which position 302 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: that one that their strength is offense and their weakness 303 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 1: is probably defense the best player on many of these teams? 304 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 1: Or so, why are why are we sitting here acting 305 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: like everybody supposed to do everything I understand. But the 306 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 1: problem with the and the problem was with the construction 307 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: of the team and with the age of some of 308 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: those guys we're talking about. How we're talking about us, 309 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 1: we're talking about Russe and Mellow. I agree, but us 310 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 1: is not. You can defend. You can defend Melo. He's 311 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: he was a bad defender in his prime. He's a 312 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: swinging gate now just can't move like you just don't 313 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: move the same. Right. So if you're again, if that 314 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: guy is gonna play fifteen minutes a game and you 315 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 1: got put a bunch of dogs out there with him, 316 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: he'll be fine, it'd be great. But if you put 317 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: them out there with some other dudes that are in 318 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: that same age bracket or have the same kind of 319 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:19,520 Speaker 1: liabilities defensively, it's gonna be bad. You know, you know, 320 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 1: let me say something. Let me say something to that. Right. So, 321 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 1: when me and Melo play together, I love playing with Mellow. 322 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 1: My man loves that, loves to sag off me, and 323 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: his man loves to play tight to him, right, right, 324 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:36,120 Speaker 1: So it's like it's like, okay, well, my man's loves 325 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: just like oh me, I can do a lot of things. 326 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: I can I can shoot my three in the corner. 327 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 1: I can dribble flip to Mellow and my man's not 328 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 1: gonna be able to get up on this three. And 329 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: Mellow can also hit me in the pocket if my 330 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:49,679 Speaker 1: man was the switch. So it's like more of a 331 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:52,719 Speaker 1: thing where how do I highlight our strengths as a 332 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: team and low light our weaknesses other than highlighting our 333 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: weaknesses and low lighting our and that's a team thing. 334 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:05,440 Speaker 1: Like you said before, Mellow, you as you think Melo 335 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 1: has never been a good defender. Okay, well, since he 336 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 1: hasn't been a good defender, and what you say that 337 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 1: how how has he had this much success this long? 338 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 1: How has he been able to be a swing? And 339 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 1: you know, well, I mean there's there's two parts to it. One, 340 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:25,399 Speaker 1: it's one of the greatest scorers in the history of 341 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:28,360 Speaker 1: the sport. Too, he actually hasn't had much team success, 342 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 1: and I would say that's one of the reasons why 343 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 1: that would that would be the reality to it, right, 344 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 1: is that is that that that that that had a ceiling? 345 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 1: You know, And what makes Lebron great is Lebron can score. 346 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:45,880 Speaker 1: And that's probably the third best thing that he did 347 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,879 Speaker 1: in his prime with score right like, it's passing and 348 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: the ability defensively to not only play four or five 349 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 1: positions but also get everybody else where they're supposed to be, 350 00:18:56,080 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: right like, That's that's the difference between Lebron and even Durant, 351 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:04,120 Speaker 1: right Like, Durant is ever bit the score. Now that 352 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: Camello was in his prime, obviously a better shooter, not 353 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 1: the same post up player just because of strength, right, 354 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:13,439 Speaker 1: but still sick post up player. But the difference is 355 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 1: that Durant has is the better passer and as they 356 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:20,160 Speaker 1: has made himself, has committed himself to being a much 357 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: more effective defender. Now, part of that is also Durant 358 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: seventy tall with long arms, so he can block some shots, 359 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 1: but part of it is just in mentality and that 360 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:31,199 Speaker 1: never that switch didn't really go on for Mellow And 361 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:33,879 Speaker 1: so I would say, if you look, he's been on 362 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:37,880 Speaker 1: some good teams, and the conference championship, the conference finals 363 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 1: was the furthest he went with I think Denver once, right, 364 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 1: and with New York once. So I would I would 365 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 1: push back on, you know, the difference in him and 366 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 1: all those other guys, every one of those other guys 367 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:51,399 Speaker 1: on that list of top seventy five players. Is all 368 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,120 Speaker 1: those guys playing mbient finals and most of them want 369 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: it so and and it's not all his fault, but 370 00:19:57,320 --> 00:19:59,360 Speaker 1: there's a portion of it that's because he was never 371 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,120 Speaker 1: really bought in. Defensively, I'm not gonna I'm not I'm 372 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 1: not gonna push back on that, Like I feel like 373 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:08,640 Speaker 1: that's like totally like opinion as an athlete, like as 374 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:11,679 Speaker 1: in the in the tundra um. When I was in college, 375 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 1: I wanted to go back for a year and I 376 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 1: had had a conversation with Sean Miller and Sean told me, Stanley, 377 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 1: you can come back, right, long story short, he said, Stanley, 378 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 1: you can come back. But the end of the day, 379 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:22,120 Speaker 1: like I know you want to come back to win, 380 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:26,879 Speaker 1: But what happens next year? You get posted I again, Like, 381 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 1: what's gonna happen next year? You're gonna want to come 382 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: back for a third year, like you know at some 383 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:34,399 Speaker 1: point in time, like life is life, the game is 384 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:37,159 Speaker 1: the game. We talked about no team success, but that 385 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 1: man has two gold medals. So if I thinks to 386 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 387 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,520 Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox Sports 388 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: Radio Dot com and within the I Heart radio app 389 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: search f s R to listen live. If if Rob 390 00:20:55,040 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 1: calls you and says Stan listen, tell you. If you 391 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 1: give me your honest opinion, I'm gonna guarantee you pick 392 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 1: up your your your team option, guarantee your deal. But 393 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: you have to be you have to be honest with Yeah, 394 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: what do we do we keep Russ or do we 395 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: move us keep them? Okay? If if Rob asked you, okay, 396 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:23,440 Speaker 1: you can't. You don't have to name a name. Okay, 397 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:28,679 Speaker 1: but what's the style of coach that this group needs? 398 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:34,400 Speaker 1: That's a good question. Um, can I give you my outside, 399 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: outside non NBA opinion? Yeah, for sure. You're not gonna 400 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: unless Lebron respects you. You got no shot, right, you 401 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:48,919 Speaker 1: got no shot. Lebron has to respect you, and and 402 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 1: so and obviously if you're gonna keep Russ, you gotta 403 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: build a bridge there. Like it was one of the 404 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 1: reasons I thought they should have hired Scotty Brooks. Not 405 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 1: because there's anything wrong with his or anything wrong with 406 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:00,639 Speaker 1: anybody else and the staff that they that they that 407 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 1: they moved around, but Scotty, Scotty has a great thing 408 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 1: with with with Russ and I thought they should have 409 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:08,880 Speaker 1: hired him as an assistant, you know, for that relationship, 410 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:14,159 Speaker 1: for that that that bridge book. But um, but you 411 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:17,640 Speaker 1: have to end. So the guys that he respects are like, like, look, 412 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 1: you want Howard Lebron respects? You want Howard? I don't know. 413 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,199 Speaker 1: You know, there's a lot of talk obviously about Mark Jackson, 414 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:30,399 Speaker 1: but it has to be whether it's Calipari or go ahead. 415 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 1: So like a guy like all stories, right, he's from Arguransas, right, 416 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:36,919 Speaker 1: comes in you know, the I test is the right, 417 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 1: Like say, say Lebron doesn't respect him when he first season, 418 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,399 Speaker 1: but we respect we respect him because we're all obviously 419 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: you're in the NBA, you're you're here for a reason. 420 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 1: Who who do you say? I didn't hear what you said, 421 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 1: Austin Reeves? Okay, yeah, right, And I think about I 422 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:57,159 Speaker 1: think I think respect is is you earned that? You 423 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:01,359 Speaker 1: earned that? How do you guy who is serious what 424 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 1: they want to do, Any guy who was serious about 425 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,159 Speaker 1: their job, anybody who puts to work in, anybody with 426 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:12,200 Speaker 1: good sense will respect that man, you know what I'm saying. Yeah, 427 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:19,400 Speaker 1: So it's like not about like obviously it does help 428 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 1: credentials do help, but like there has to be like 429 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:26,439 Speaker 1: there has to be uh honesty and being able to 430 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 1: work towards your job. Like at the end of the day, 431 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:32,360 Speaker 1: like everyone has to like LEBRON'SO and Lebron because every 432 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:34,120 Speaker 1: year he goes out and does the same thing every 433 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: year seven and seven this year, thirty seven and seven 434 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: every year. If Bron didn't do that every year, then 435 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 1: people will start respecting him differently. So it's amount of earning, 436 00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 1: Like we all have to earn our respect, earn our 437 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:55,680 Speaker 1: respect every year, everybody to a man. Now, obviously we're 438 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 1: relationships and obviously like getting things done, having traditionals, having 439 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:02,360 Speaker 1: his three Lebron has been around for twenty years, so 440 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 1: he knows all the guy. He's seen all these coaches, 441 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:06,880 Speaker 1: he's seen the Championship, He's been in almost every final 442 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: other than the last two or three years. Right, So 443 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 1: like obviously, if there's a Papa bitch in the world 444 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: and they can get in the in the room, okay, 445 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:17,119 Speaker 1: then it's a little easier conversation. But I don't believe 446 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 1: that any coaching can come in here and earn their 447 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:22,919 Speaker 1: respect and get their respect because in my opinion, all 448 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 1: I've seen in the Lakers locker room are guys that 449 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 1: really want to win basketball games. That's it. There's no 450 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 1: there's no there's no pretty way, there's no ugly way. 451 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:35,160 Speaker 1: We all just want to win. And that's ugly, so 452 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 1: be it. And that's pretty, so be it. But it's 453 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 1: not about like, oh, like we need Erik Spoelstrap like 454 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 1: it'd be great, don't get me wrong. But at the 455 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:48,800 Speaker 1: same time, there's a lot of great coaches. Like, there's 456 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 1: a lot of great coaches. I didnt the Coach of 457 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:52,400 Speaker 1: the Year with the head coach in Memphis this year. 458 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:55,399 Speaker 1: A lot of people don't even know what the guy is. 459 00:24:56,200 --> 00:25:00,440 Speaker 1: He's a great coach, their system is awesome. He earned 460 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:03,440 Speaker 1: his but he got a chance to earn his respect. 461 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:05,199 Speaker 1: That when I was in the Lady he was he 462 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:07,480 Speaker 1: was an interim head coach. Now with teams in the 463 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:10,479 Speaker 1: playoffs when they when people thought they wouldn't be, he 464 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:14,160 Speaker 1: earned his respect. Like why why why wouldn't a guy, 465 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 1: Why wouldn't a guy be able to come here and 466 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 1: have the opportunity like this to earn their respect. I 467 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:23,840 Speaker 1: don't see why that's impossible, man, I think Frank did 468 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 1: I think I think Frank, you know, the first year, 469 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:29,359 Speaker 1: I think there's a lot of caution about Frank, and 470 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,959 Speaker 1: I think he earned people's respect and I think the team, 471 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 1: you know, really responded to him, especially defensively. Um, but 472 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 1: it didn't work. Obviously didn't work this year. Yeah, and 473 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 1: I'm sure injuries are a portion of it. Plus lack 474 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:44,920 Speaker 1: of consistency when you have all these moving parts is 475 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 1: a portion of it. Um. Okay, you mentioned system. What's 476 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:54,159 Speaker 1: the type of system because the system has kind of 477 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:57,080 Speaker 1: always been the same when Lebron's on a team though, right, 478 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:58,879 Speaker 1: Like it's coaches here, like, well, you gotta be in 479 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:01,359 Speaker 1: a st asystem, like what's the to you know, the 480 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:04,440 Speaker 1: team win championship with Lebron was a point guard. Yeah, 481 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: that's that's gonna be a tough one for us because obviously, like, um, 482 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:13,399 Speaker 1: the system is gonna go around who's here? And and 483 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:17,040 Speaker 1: we're talking to hypothetics. I mean, what you can't even 484 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:20,119 Speaker 1: talk about because I mean, I'm not sure what the 485 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:22,159 Speaker 1: roster looks like. My agent will know more than me, 486 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 1: but from what I know in my conversations is only 487 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:28,880 Speaker 1: what two guys in the three guys in the roster, 488 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 1: right now a d Braun russ Um Taylor four and 489 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:43,160 Speaker 1: then me Austin winning have options team Options, and after that, 490 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:45,960 Speaker 1: I mean we're gonna have a whole you know, we're 491 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:48,600 Speaker 1: gonna have a little bit of a different group next year. 492 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 1: Say we all were to say, you know, those groups 493 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,160 Speaker 1: every year, it's been a different every year even after. 494 00:26:56,880 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 1: What's your level of confidence that you'll be back? I don't. 495 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:03,600 Speaker 1: I really don't know. UM, I really don't know. I 496 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 1: couldn't put a number to it. Um. The NBA is 497 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:11,960 Speaker 1: so crazy, Like it's so crazy. UM, I believe that 498 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 1: I did enough in Chicago to to make that team, 499 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 1: but I didn't. UM, So to say that I think 500 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 1: I did enough or didn't, I don't even know what 501 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:24,199 Speaker 1: is enough anymore. UM, it's up to this, up to 502 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:27,560 Speaker 1: the powers that maybe, UM do I feel like I'm 503 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:29,960 Speaker 1: I should be on an NBA roster next year. I'm 504 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:33,120 Speaker 1: confident that if I had to go get it out 505 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:35,359 Speaker 1: the mud and earn it, I'm Hunderson confident I can 506 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:38,879 Speaker 1: I can do that again as well. UM, what I do? 507 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 1: I think that I have a better opportunity to help 508 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:44,200 Speaker 1: an organization if I had a whole summer to learn 509 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:48,159 Speaker 1: their philosophies and get in the gym with them one 510 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:54,000 Speaker 1: percent as well. So you just never know, Like you 511 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 1: never know, especially with with with the coach geting fired, 512 00:27:56,760 --> 00:28:01,119 Speaker 1: it's even more healthless kilter, you know, sure, um, because 513 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:03,280 Speaker 1: you never know who the guy they're gonna hire, like 514 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:06,680 Speaker 1: it doesn't like what the guy that hired doesn't like people, 515 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 1: people that their names start with the S, you know, 516 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:12,600 Speaker 1: Like it's just like maybe i'm you know what I'm 517 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:14,200 Speaker 1: saying that I want to play well at that point 518 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:16,119 Speaker 1: in time, then I might use it. Well. It's also 519 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:19,240 Speaker 1: guys will coaches will bring in, you know, their bench 520 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:20,719 Speaker 1: guys will be a lot of guys that they know 521 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:24,400 Speaker 1: that they coached with before. Right, that's just the reality, 522 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:28,359 Speaker 1: you know. To be your eyes and ears and to 523 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:32,919 Speaker 1: to buy into the system. Um, you told me when 524 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: we first talked about doing this, it was it was 525 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:37,480 Speaker 1: not long after you guys lost to the Bucks and 526 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 1: Lebron said to many nice things about the Bucks. They 527 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 1: were they were playing great basketball. Then do you think 528 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 1: they win that they come out of the East. Oh, oh, 529 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:56,400 Speaker 1: I mean Brooklyn is an unknown because we don't know 530 00:28:56,440 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: if Simmons plays or how you know, it's crazy. You 531 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:04,840 Speaker 1: know what's crazy is ah not playing against the Eastern 532 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 1: Conference teams as much as I used to. I have 533 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:11,880 Speaker 1: no idea like how that thing is flowing over there? Okay, 534 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:15,720 Speaker 1: how about this, let's be fair. I will let me. 535 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 1: I will say, like there when I played against them, 536 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:22,040 Speaker 1: that what after we talked the game, after we talked, 537 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 1: they were they were moving at a high level, like 538 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 1: they were moving at a high level. Like they were 539 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:32,280 Speaker 1: moving at a high high level, like Yas was playing 540 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 1: like thirty minutes and still like m v P numbers, 541 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 1: which usually you're at thirty eight minute. You know what 542 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:39,920 Speaker 1: I'm saying, How do you have don't get to your 543 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 1: best player out for a quarter? Like you know, you 544 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:45,920 Speaker 1: don't get a quarter to half of your best player 545 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:47,560 Speaker 1: doesn't play. Your team is playing that well, like that 546 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 1: doesn't really happen that much. But yeah, I really like Brooklyn, 547 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 1: like all those teams, Like I'm just so unfamiliar, Like 548 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:56,680 Speaker 1: I'm obviously a big Toronto fan, so I kind of 549 00:29:56,720 --> 00:30:00,960 Speaker 1: like Toronto. I said, they bring problems and and and 550 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:02,719 Speaker 1: I know being in that locker room, like I know 551 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:04,640 Speaker 1: their game plans are probably gonna be the best, the 552 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:07,640 Speaker 1: best I think Nick is probably like I think Nick 553 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:11,960 Speaker 1: has the better I think this is, I think Nick 554 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: has the best game plans are the best strategies, um, 555 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:22,720 Speaker 1: league wide. To be honest, Um, he's just he's he's 556 00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:25,840 Speaker 1: the type of person that there's never a no like 557 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:29,479 Speaker 1: he has to figure it out. So with that and 558 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 1: and seeing how how switchable they are and how they 559 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 1: shoot the three, and knowing about the grit that these 560 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 1: guys have, they already have championship um cash over there. UM. 561 00:30:41,560 --> 00:30:43,200 Speaker 1: I say, Like for me, if I was like, I 562 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:47,400 Speaker 1: don't you know, I don't bet at all, but um, 563 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:51,960 Speaker 1: I trust Toronto. And that's obviously from I'm biased, but 564 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:54,520 Speaker 1: I trust Toronto. Let me let me get get let 565 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:59,080 Speaker 1: me get the real quick. Um. Okay. So I think 566 00:30:59,160 --> 00:31:04,320 Speaker 1: one of the big questions is playoff Memphis as opposed 567 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:10,360 Speaker 1: to regular season Memphis. You know, what do you think? 568 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:13,880 Speaker 1: What do you think playoffs? Like? Will will they be? 569 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:15,480 Speaker 1: I mean, that's that's a big question, right, like what 570 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:17,800 Speaker 1: will they be like in the playoffs? Because I think 571 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 1: I think I think I think I think it will 572 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:26,200 Speaker 1: be a great opportunity for Dillon Brooks, John Moran, Jaren Jackson, 573 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:31,400 Speaker 1: Desmond Bane, Kyle Anderson. You know all these guys. Steven 574 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:35,280 Speaker 1: Adams is the coming out party for him. I think 575 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:37,760 Speaker 1: I think they do this as an opportunity more than 576 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 1: they view it as like, you know, oh my god, 577 00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:43,200 Speaker 1: like you know what's gonna happen. Like they were one 578 00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 1: of the better teams all year. So I don't know 579 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:48,600 Speaker 1: why they wouldn't have confidence to get in a seven 580 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:54,440 Speaker 1: game series with anybody and say we can't beat them. 581 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:56,360 Speaker 1: And by the way, when you play in Memphis, you're 582 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:58,160 Speaker 1: not you're not getting your you're not getting your salmon 583 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 1: and brocklet for the game. So it's a little uncomfortable funny, 584 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:09,640 Speaker 1: by the way, just see it. Just you know, you 585 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:13,840 Speaker 1: missed a really good yoga hot yoga session. Man. I 586 00:32:13,880 --> 00:32:18,280 Speaker 1: went there one time. That thing killed me. Come on, man, 587 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:21,200 Speaker 1: I'm going to I'm going to I'm going I'm going 588 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:24,480 Speaker 1: to core powder core, power off. That's like any five 589 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:31,480 Speaker 1: degrees hot outside inside. All right. I appreciate you doing this, 590 00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:35,320 Speaker 1: enjoying your night, of course, and we will talk soon. 591 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:37,720 Speaker 1: I'll get you in the hot room. Yes, sir, let's 592 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:43,840 Speaker 1: do it right. It was pretty good, wasn't it. That 593 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 1: was great? You can tweet him tweet at him on 594 00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:48,640 Speaker 1: his on his Twitter hand. We can check us out 595 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:51,080 Speaker 1: at Gottlieb Show or of course the Doug Gottlieb Show 596 00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:55,520 Speaker 1: Facebook page, or at Gottlieb Show on Instagram. Remember The 597 00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:57,880 Speaker 1: Doug Gotlip Show is three to six Eastern twelve three Pacific, 598 00:32:57,880 --> 00:33:00,000 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio app, Fox Sport Radio, Fox Sport Trade 599 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 1: dot Com. Thanks so much for listening. Don't forget to download, subscribe, rate, 600 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 1: write a review. I'm Doug Gottlieb. This is all ball