WEBVTT - #thisleague UNCUT: On Julius Randle, Trae Young and The Final Countdown (at least for the regular season) 0:00:01.840 --> 0:00:05.120 The twenty twenty three to twenty four NBA regular season 0:00:05.240 --> 0:00:08.639 is down to its final six days, and we've got 0:00:08.760 --> 0:00:13.119 updates on year end award ballots, a comprehensive look at 0:00:13.119 --> 0:00:16.280 the Eastern Conference for a change rather than the West, 0:00:16.520 --> 0:00:20.480 and more North American solar eclipse talk than this show 0:00:20.720 --> 0:00:24.239 ever planned or imagined. All that's next. You're on a 0:00:24.440 --> 0:00:28.600 brand new episode, a brand new edition of This League Uncut. 0:00:28.760 --> 0:00:32.920 Welcome to This League Uncut in the rule of twenty 0:00:32.960 --> 0:00:38.240 four hour NBA News. This's you love, Chris Haines. It's 0:00:38.280 --> 0:00:46.680 go time, work's time, It's so time. This League Uncut 0:00:46.800 --> 0:00:48.400 is underway and on fire. 0:00:50.040 --> 0:00:56.600 This should be a good one. Hey everyone, welcome in 0:00:57.040 --> 0:01:02.440 to the latest edition of This League Uncut. Mark Stein 0:01:02.600 --> 0:01:06.640 here with Chris Haynes. It is late on Monday night 0:01:06.840 --> 0:01:10.240 as we record this. There were no NBA games tonight 0:01:11.240 --> 0:01:16.800 as the professionals let the collegians have the stage. Of course, 0:01:17.360 --> 0:01:21.440 Yukon won the National Championship. Of course, Chris Haynes and 0:01:21.480 --> 0:01:25.160 I combined to watch so little of it that any 0:01:25.240 --> 0:01:29.280 attempt at analysis from us would be an affront to 0:01:29.360 --> 0:01:31.520 the game of round ball. So we are just going 0:01:31.560 --> 0:01:34.760 to talk about the stuff that we know about, and 0:01:34.760 --> 0:01:39.280 that of course is the NBA. But I have to say, guys, 0:01:39.319 --> 0:01:41.360 and producer Ryan is here as well. I mean, this 0:01:41.560 --> 0:01:45.240 was quite a day in Dallas. Here in the path 0:01:45.319 --> 0:01:50.600 of totality, we had a full on solar eclipse. Obviously 0:01:50.640 --> 0:01:53.920 it was a big deal all across the country, but 0:01:53.960 --> 0:01:56.480 I don't know, I guess in California, where you guys are, 0:01:58.360 --> 0:01:59.880 I mean, you tell me how big a deal it 0:01:59.920 --> 0:02:01.920 was in your lives, because, like I said, for you know, 0:02:01.960 --> 0:02:04.960 we had I had the glasses, my kids at school, 0:02:06.920 --> 0:02:10.960 with all kinds of high tech photo equipment taking pictures 0:02:11.000 --> 0:02:14.200 of this thing. And I'm you know, I didn't. I 0:02:14.280 --> 0:02:17.560 wasn't expecting to, but I really did get swept up 0:02:17.560 --> 0:02:20.480 in the moment here seeing a full blown eclipse. 0:02:21.200 --> 0:02:23.440 I mean, I think there were people who were definitely 0:02:23.440 --> 0:02:28.160 intrigued with it and set up their day and planned 0:02:28.200 --> 0:02:31.400 around to plant around their schedule to make sure they 0:02:31.400 --> 0:02:34.120 could make it. I wasn't one of them. I was 0:02:34.240 --> 0:02:36.840 actually in the air, flying to LA. 0:02:36.919 --> 0:02:37.560 You're in the air. 0:02:38.200 --> 0:02:40.720 I was in the air, and no, I didn't look 0:02:40.720 --> 0:02:43.320 out the window to see if I can see the clip. 0:02:43.560 --> 0:02:47.200 I didn't care, you know, no, really, I have no 0:02:47.360 --> 0:02:49.839 you know, listen, no ill will towards you people who do. 0:02:50.560 --> 0:02:54.160 I just didn't didn't care, so missed it. 0:02:55.800 --> 0:02:58.520 And Ryan was probably on the Herd. Of course, producer 0:02:58.600 --> 0:03:03.200 Ryan is part of the army that produces and runs 0:03:03.200 --> 0:03:07.080 Colin Cowherd's daily show. I'm guessing you guys couldn't just 0:03:07.680 --> 0:03:10.040 hit the pause button on live TV so everybody could 0:03:10.080 --> 0:03:11.560 go outside and check this thing out. 0:03:12.120 --> 0:03:15.200 I had had to do it live. No, we were preoccupied, 0:03:15.200 --> 0:03:18.000 Although I will say I'm a little surprised, Chris. Were 0:03:18.040 --> 0:03:22.840 you a window seat and you just very much avoided 0:03:23.320 --> 0:03:25.560 looking out the window or were you at least an 0:03:25.600 --> 0:03:26.119 aisle guy. 0:03:26.760 --> 0:03:28.720 No, I'm an aisle guy. I like to stretch my leg. 0:03:28.800 --> 0:03:30.639 Yeah, yeah, a little bit, all right, So. 0:03:30.639 --> 0:03:32.640 I get that maybe you didn't have a clear view. 0:03:32.440 --> 0:03:35.800 Of it, Ryan, Ryan, that had absolutely nothing to do 0:03:35.880 --> 0:03:39.559 with it. If I was sitting in a window seat, 0:03:39.800 --> 0:03:41.640 my shades would have been down and I would have 0:03:41.640 --> 0:03:45.160 been sleep just like I was on this On this flight, 0:03:45.200 --> 0:03:48.400 I usually sleep. I knock out like I And I 0:03:48.440 --> 0:03:50.440 love that about myself because it, you know, it makes 0:03:50.480 --> 0:03:54.160 the makes the flight go by quicker. But uh, yeah, 0:03:54.200 --> 0:03:57.680 I just had no desire to. I'm sorry, don't judge me, 0:03:57.800 --> 0:03:58.560 just had no desire. 0:03:58.680 --> 0:04:00.200 No, we're not judging you at all. No, I'm just 0:04:00.440 --> 0:04:02.400 I just have to say, like I said, even from 0:04:02.400 --> 0:04:06.280 my perspective, I was not expecting to get swept up 0:04:06.320 --> 0:04:08.760 in the moment. But you know, here in Dallas again 0:04:08.840 --> 0:04:12.760 being in the quote path of totality. It last happened 0:04:12.920 --> 0:04:17.960 in the Greater DFW area in eighteen seventy eight, and 0:04:18.000 --> 0:04:20.560 it is not projected to happen again like it did 0:04:20.600 --> 0:04:25.400 today with four minutes of darkness just intruding upon the 0:04:25.480 --> 0:04:31.160 afternoon at one forty pm. It's not supposed to happen 0:04:31.200 --> 0:04:35.560 here again until twenty three seventeen. So I don't think 0:04:35.720 --> 0:04:40.000 this league uncut will still be in existence in twenty 0:04:40.040 --> 0:04:40.920 three seventeen. 0:04:41.600 --> 0:04:44.479 Hold on, man, you don't think we'll have a show 0:04:45.279 --> 0:04:47.839 good enough that it will stand the test of time. 0:04:47.920 --> 0:04:50.880 And that's somebody else like our family, as somebody our 0:04:51.000 --> 0:04:54.320 kids will take over the program, on our grandkids and 0:04:54.360 --> 0:04:56.800 their grand kids. You don't think it has survived of 0:04:56.920 --> 0:04:58.640 survivings in staying power. 0:04:59.160 --> 0:05:01.919 Maybe do you think AI is so advanced that it 0:05:01.960 --> 0:05:06.600 could replicate your stories about the rec League and everything 0:05:06.600 --> 0:05:08.800 else that happens in your life. Is that possible? 0:05:10.080 --> 0:05:13.240 Hey, listen, I've been looking at some you know, I 0:05:13.360 --> 0:05:17.360 spent quite too much time on social media, and I've 0:05:17.440 --> 0:05:21.040 seen what AI can do already. It's tricking some folks 0:05:21.160 --> 0:05:27.000 is writing stories for people. AIS was having their own conversation. 0:05:27.200 --> 0:05:29.520 So I wouldn't be surprised what we could see, you know, 0:05:29.600 --> 0:05:30.440 at that juncture. 0:05:30.480 --> 0:05:33.880 But yeah, twenty three seventeen, Yeah, I'm gonna be I 0:05:33.960 --> 0:05:36.760 will be able to tell the story just like Chris 0:05:36.800 --> 0:05:40.480 Haynes about storming out of the car at Popeye's. 0:05:42.680 --> 0:05:45.640 Twenty three seventeen. So that's why everybody was all up 0:05:45.680 --> 0:05:47.640 in arms about this eclipse. 0:05:47.880 --> 0:05:50.280 Oh yeah, man, last week in Dallas we had like 0:05:50.360 --> 0:05:53.800 I saw reprint of how the papers covered it in 0:05:53.839 --> 0:05:55.839 eighteen seventy eight. I mean, like I said, I just 0:05:56.320 --> 0:06:01.279 I've never been you know, I've never really gotten wrapped 0:06:01.360 --> 0:06:06.279 up in previous eclipse viewings. But this time, because it 0:06:06.360 --> 0:06:08.760 was such a big story here for days and days 0:06:08.800 --> 0:06:14.200 and days and so much, so much, I guess pessimism 0:06:14.240 --> 0:06:15.760 that the weather was going to mess it up, and 0:06:15.760 --> 0:06:17.360 then the weather really didn't mess it up. 0:06:19.279 --> 0:06:21.640 I have a question, then, when was the last eclipse 0:06:21.800 --> 0:06:22.400 before this. 0:06:22.320 --> 0:06:28.919 One, well, I know there was a significant one in 0:06:29.000 --> 0:06:31.440 twenty seventeen. But like I said, I am not the 0:06:31.480 --> 0:06:33.919 authority on these things, So I mean to quote anything 0:06:33.960 --> 0:06:38.320 I say on the matter is probably probably a mistake. 0:06:38.760 --> 0:06:39.960 I can only speak to it. 0:06:40.760 --> 0:06:41.760 You can only speak to what. 0:06:42.440 --> 0:06:45.360 I can only speak to it. Like I said, from 0:06:45.400 --> 0:06:50.599 this opportunity that Dallas had to have a total eclipse, which, 0:06:50.680 --> 0:06:52.680 like I said, in this area, you know, I know 0:06:52.800 --> 0:06:55.560 the because it's been talked about so much here that 0:06:55.600 --> 0:06:58.000 people were saying, yes, we have not been we have 0:06:58.080 --> 0:07:02.920 not had this opportunity since eighteen seventy eight, and so in. 0:07:02.960 --> 0:07:05.120 Dallas, got you Okay, I'm about to say, because this 0:07:05.160 --> 0:07:10.960 is this is a really uh an erotic trend here. 0:07:11.040 --> 0:07:12.800 So the last one was about seventy. 0:07:12.480 --> 0:07:13.800 One kind of trend? 0:07:20.600 --> 0:07:26.080 Can can I fish my point? Start? About? Allowed to 0:07:26.080 --> 0:07:26.840 fish my point? 0:07:26.920 --> 0:07:29.680 I guess yeah, I mean, sure, finish. 0:07:29.640 --> 0:07:32.920 The last one was seven years ago, and now you 0:07:32.960 --> 0:07:36.520 said the next one won't happen until twenty three seventeen. 0:07:36.760 --> 0:07:39.320 Like what Like I said, like I said, I I 0:07:39.880 --> 0:07:41.840 don't even know. Don't listen to me. I don't know 0:07:41.840 --> 0:07:45.240 what I'm talking about. I know, my knowledge is very 0:07:45.560 --> 0:07:46.680 very very surface. 0:07:46.880 --> 0:07:48.640 I mean, if I don't know about I don't know 0:07:48.640 --> 0:07:50.840 about erotic trends. 0:07:52.560 --> 0:07:55.360 I'm sticking with that erotic I did. 0:07:55.520 --> 0:07:58.640 I did listen to Uh they did a daily episode 0:07:58.640 --> 0:08:03.160 on it today. So they do happen every several years 0:08:03.280 --> 0:08:06.040 or so, right, because there's a guy who's an expert 0:08:06.120 --> 0:08:12.400 and he goes to like every single full eclipse based 0:08:12.440 --> 0:08:15.320 off of where they are on planet Earth. So he's 0:08:15.360 --> 0:08:20.400 been to like once on Antarctica, Australia, India, Canada. So 0:08:20.560 --> 0:08:25.680 to Stein's point, specifically, the one that passes directly over 0:08:25.840 --> 0:08:30.560 Dallas will only happen every few hundred years, but if 0:08:30.560 --> 0:08:32.800 you're willing to go to a different part of the world, 0:08:32.880 --> 0:08:36.320 they do happen more or less like a munch a decade. 0:08:35.960 --> 0:08:39.400 Is kind of I think the cadence of it gotcha. 0:08:40.360 --> 0:08:42.640 Right, So yeah, I think I think the story that 0:08:42.720 --> 0:08:45.360 Ryan is. You know, there's been talk about this Texas 0:08:45.400 --> 0:08:48.800 gentleman who is one hundred and five years old and 0:08:49.080 --> 0:08:55.160 this was his thirteenth total solar eclipse. So they do happen, 0:08:55.200 --> 0:08:56.920 and it just, yeah, like that thing. I think that 0:08:57.000 --> 0:08:58.760 was the other reason why it became such a big 0:08:58.800 --> 0:09:00.760 deal here is that you know, there were stories of 0:09:00.800 --> 0:09:04.120 people coming here from New Zealand and all over the 0:09:04.160 --> 0:09:08.160 world to see this thing where you know, Dallas again 0:09:08.280 --> 0:09:10.880 was in the that's you know that that much. I 0:09:10.920 --> 0:09:13.559 have learned that they do call it the path of totality. 0:09:13.559 --> 0:09:15.480 But you know what we've probably can. 0:09:17.280 --> 0:09:19.679 We learned. We learned something new every day, and I've 0:09:19.760 --> 0:09:22.760 learned like if I you know, it's bigger in Dallas, 0:09:22.800 --> 0:09:25.719 because had I known that I'm only going to see 0:09:25.760 --> 0:09:29.240 this once in my lifetime, I probably would have planned 0:09:29.240 --> 0:09:30.240 my schedule around it. 0:09:30.320 --> 0:09:31.200 So that's what I'm saying. 0:09:31.280 --> 0:09:34.400 If mygift to you Dallas folks out there, but. 0:09:34.679 --> 0:09:38.160 If Sacramento ever, if Sacramento ever ends up in the 0:09:38.200 --> 0:09:41.480 path of totality, you it will it will, you will 0:09:41.480 --> 0:09:43.880 hear tons about it, and I am sure you will 0:09:44.440 --> 0:09:47.280 get yourself a special set of glasses like I did. 0:09:47.080 --> 0:09:52.920 To Okay, now, let's define eratic, not even or regular 0:09:53.160 --> 0:09:56.280 in pattern or movement, unpredictable. 0:09:57.440 --> 0:10:01.280 So what Whatyes, I do know what the word erratic means, 0:10:01.320 --> 0:10:04.760 but that's not what it sounded like you said. That's 0:10:04.840 --> 0:10:12.680 that was my that was my concern slash confusion. I'm 0:10:12.720 --> 0:10:17.240 pretty sure Producer Ryan and our listeners and I know 0:10:17.320 --> 0:10:22.680 the meaning of erratic E R R A T I C. Unfortunately, 0:10:23.400 --> 0:10:25.480 that's not what it sounded like you said. 0:10:27.080 --> 0:10:29.880 Sorry, I've been watching too much of social media clips. 0:10:29.920 --> 0:10:30.720 By my pause. 0:10:32.840 --> 0:10:35.040 Should we talk about should we try? Should we try 0:10:35.040 --> 0:10:38.439 to salvage this show and move on to basketball? Let's go, 0:10:40.040 --> 0:10:42.120 because there was even though this was a day that 0:10:42.160 --> 0:10:44.880 belonged to the collegians, there was a little bit of 0:10:44.960 --> 0:10:50.040 news earlier in the day. I checked with the league 0:10:50.080 --> 0:10:53.040 office because I heard a rumble over the weekend. I've 0:10:53.400 --> 0:10:57.000 said at least once or twice publicly being asked by 0:10:57.080 --> 0:11:00.760 readers by listeners to kind of go over the award 0:11:00.840 --> 0:11:04.480 ballot process and award ballots. I'm sure we've talked about 0:11:04.480 --> 0:11:09.520 it here on this League uncut. When do ballots go out? 0:11:09.720 --> 0:11:15.920 When are awards due? And the voting for year end awards. 0:11:15.920 --> 0:11:18.600 For as long as I can remember, ballots were always 0:11:18.679 --> 0:11:23.960 due the day after the season, and ballots typically would 0:11:24.000 --> 0:11:26.600 go out, you know, today with like a week to go, 0:11:27.200 --> 0:11:29.920 and then again, you know, in this year, I even 0:11:29.920 --> 0:11:33.680 wrote about it because tax Day is April fifteenth, and 0:11:33.720 --> 0:11:37.520 that's the day after the regular season, so it was like, oh, wow, 0:11:37.600 --> 0:11:40.200 April fifteenth this year is going to be tax Day 0:11:40.240 --> 0:11:42.840 and the day that year end award ballots are due. 0:11:42.840 --> 0:11:46.400 But no, the league is actually implementing a new system 0:11:46.480 --> 0:11:49.760 this season for the first time in years and years, 0:11:49.800 --> 0:11:52.720 and the reason is the sixty five game rule, and 0:11:52.760 --> 0:11:55.320 it really does make sense when you kind of get 0:11:55.320 --> 0:12:02.120 the explanation, but basically, in five different award caps that's 0:12:02.160 --> 0:12:06.080 where the sixty five game rule applies. Only for five 0:12:06.160 --> 0:12:13.400 different awards MVP, All NBA Most Improved, Defensive Player of 0:12:13.440 --> 0:12:17.479 the Year, and the All Defensive Team. So for example, 0:12:18.000 --> 0:12:20.719 the Rookie of the Year Award, the All Rookie Team, 0:12:20.800 --> 0:12:24.319 the sixty five game rule does not apply in those categories. 0:12:24.920 --> 0:12:27.680 But for the five categories that the sixty five game 0:12:27.760 --> 0:12:33.199 rule does apply, we're not going to know the full, exact, 0:12:33.320 --> 0:12:42.320 precise list of eligible winners until the season is completely finished. 0:12:42.880 --> 0:12:49.440 So basically, the league office confirmed today that ballots won't 0:12:49.440 --> 0:12:52.520 be able to go out to voters until after the 0:12:52.559 --> 0:12:55.320 regular season, and it sounds like the voting process is 0:12:55.360 --> 0:13:00.839 going to be conducted and completed between April sixteenth and nineteenth, 0:13:01.400 --> 0:13:04.200 when the play in tournament is going on. And that 0:13:04.240 --> 0:13:08.040 means Chris Haynes, in addition to working the sideline for 0:13:08.120 --> 0:13:10.959 a play in game or two for TNT, you are 0:13:10.960 --> 0:13:13.120 gonna have to do your ballots then, because, as we 0:13:13.200 --> 0:13:16.600 have previously discussed here on this league uncut, you are 0:13:16.720 --> 0:13:20.000 again an official voter. I am not an official voter. 0:13:20.120 --> 0:13:24.960 But that's the newsy slight change to the award situation 0:13:25.120 --> 0:13:30.880 that ballots will go out and be completed between April 0:13:30.920 --> 0:13:34.400 sixteenth and nineteenth, now the week. This will all take 0:13:34.440 --> 0:13:38.040 place during the week after the season, as opposed to 0:13:38.120 --> 0:13:41.400 in the past where it had to be wrapped up 0:13:41.440 --> 0:13:44.200 immediately the day after. It really is not that big 0:13:44.240 --> 0:13:47.160 a deal. I don't think it's going to change things dramatically. 0:13:47.240 --> 0:13:50.080 What it does is, though people who like to vote early, 0:13:50.400 --> 0:13:53.439 you can't. You can't even get started until the league 0:13:54.240 --> 0:13:56.480 sends out the ballot, which again is not going to 0:13:56.520 --> 0:13:59.280 happen till next week. So you got a little You've 0:13:59.280 --> 0:14:01.360 got a little X for time to get ready with 0:14:01.920 --> 0:14:04.560 your various awards elections. 0:14:04.960 --> 0:14:07.400 Yeah, that's true. I mean they give you three days 0:14:07.480 --> 0:14:09.760 from what you reporter, You got three days from when 0:14:09.800 --> 0:14:13.360 they give you your ballot. You got three days to 0:14:13.559 --> 0:14:17.480 submit it. That's different. But yeah, I mean you don't 0:14:17.520 --> 0:14:21.480 need your ballot to to you know, have you know 0:14:21.600 --> 0:14:24.840 to already have your picks in mind or have them 0:14:24.880 --> 0:14:27.760 written down. So yeah, that's not going to change anything. 0:14:28.360 --> 0:14:30.840 Have you begun that process to any serious degree? 0:14:30.960 --> 0:14:31.680 No? I have not. 0:14:31.920 --> 0:14:37.480 No, I have not, right, and I'm not going to 0:14:37.560 --> 0:14:39.200 press you. But I'm sure if we said, hey, you 0:14:39.240 --> 0:14:41.320 need to tell us your MVP right now, you could 0:14:41.320 --> 0:14:43.520 at least give us two three names that you're looking at. 0:14:43.760 --> 0:14:50.840 Yeah, I mean Joker, Shaye. Those the top two. 0:14:51.760 --> 0:14:53.600 Man, you are still you don't even have Luca in 0:14:53.640 --> 0:14:56.840 your top two yet. Man, top two over say and 0:14:57.000 --> 0:15:02.440 Joker you are tough. Hey, it's your ballot. It is 0:15:02.480 --> 0:15:03.760 your ballot again. 0:15:03.800 --> 0:15:08.000 And again I have it dissected, the numbers and crunched everything. 0:15:08.280 --> 0:15:11.040 So you know that can change once I do a 0:15:11.080 --> 0:15:13.840 deep dive. But as of right now, just looking at 0:15:13.880 --> 0:15:17.360 things from a glass, Yeah, those are my top two 0:15:17.440 --> 0:15:19.120 Shayan Joker right now. 0:15:19.560 --> 0:15:23.280 So Harrison Fagan, he's the NBA manager at ESP Nation, 0:15:23.640 --> 0:15:29.920 works with all kinds of NBA team sites under that 0:15:30.240 --> 0:15:33.640 ESP Nation umbrella. And I know he is a he's 0:15:33.680 --> 0:15:37.160 a very loyal listener to this podcast and he tweets. 0:15:37.320 --> 0:15:40.960 He tweeted after the last episode. This pod is great 0:15:41.120 --> 0:15:45.040 because every episode is basically like dot dot dot Stein, 0:15:45.680 --> 0:15:49.600 who is your MVP? Haines? I got mad. My wife 0:15:49.640 --> 0:15:51.880 picked Popeyes for dinner, so I got out of the 0:15:51.920 --> 0:15:55.000 car and walked three and a half miles home. That's 0:15:55.040 --> 0:15:57.359 the way he summed up this league, uncut. 0:15:58.600 --> 0:16:04.280 That sounds like a natural. That's a natural progressive on 0:16:04.320 --> 0:16:07.240 a conversation. That's how totally normal to me. 0:16:08.200 --> 0:16:11.040 All right, today I'm gonna rant about something, and we'll 0:16:11.040 --> 0:16:12.200 see what kind of reaction I go. 0:16:12.360 --> 0:16:15.160 Oh, hold on, hold on, stop, hold on, hold on, 0:16:15.760 --> 0:16:19.200 hold on, ladies and gentlemen, hold on, ladieship, before he 0:16:19.280 --> 0:16:21.920 goes here, before he goes there. I want y'all to 0:16:22.120 --> 0:16:26.960 understand and appreciate how big of a pull this is 0:16:27.000 --> 0:16:30.160 to get this out of Stein. Stein doesn't tell you 0:16:30.280 --> 0:16:33.360 much about I've just I've just found out about his 0:16:33.440 --> 0:16:35.320 family about a year ago, and I've been knowing a 0:16:35.360 --> 0:16:36.520 guy for ten years now. 0:16:36.560 --> 0:16:38.880 So this is how this is. I didn't want to 0:16:38.880 --> 0:16:40.440 get your hopes up too much. This is not a 0:16:40.480 --> 0:16:43.880 personal rant. This is this is NBA related. 0:16:43.960 --> 0:16:47.040 You fooled us all even producer Ryan was ready go ahead. 0:16:47.880 --> 0:16:49.920 If you wanted a personal rant, you should have seen 0:16:49.960 --> 0:16:53.360 me about ten minutes before we started, because I wanted 0:16:53.360 --> 0:16:56.400 to throw every piece of equipment I own into the 0:16:57.000 --> 0:17:00.600 into the garbage because nothing was working, so that that 0:17:00.680 --> 0:17:02.640 actually would have been a good You guys would have 0:17:02.680 --> 0:17:05.399 been quite amused had you seen that. It was not 0:17:05.520 --> 0:17:09.320 pretty okay. If Missus Stein ever comes on here, like 0:17:09.359 --> 0:17:12.360 Missus Haynes did last week, she'll probably tell you how 0:17:12.920 --> 0:17:16.199 dismayed and disgusted she was by my behavior because it 0:17:16.240 --> 0:17:22.600 was a John McEnroe esque throwing tantrum, my horrendous equipment. 0:17:22.640 --> 0:17:25.080 But that is not what I came here to rant today. 0:17:25.119 --> 0:17:38.359 I came here to rant about the Eastern Conference. Your 0:17:38.440 --> 0:17:43.480 Eastern Conference, Chris Haynes. Seriously, I've been debating. I did 0:17:43.480 --> 0:17:45.760 this in print as well. Do I need to bring 0:17:45.880 --> 0:17:49.960 back my Leastern Conference tag that I used for years 0:17:49.960 --> 0:17:54.600 and years and years in the power rankings? This is ridiculous, ridiculous, 0:17:54.920 --> 0:17:58.040 and your Milwaukee Bucks are a big part of this. 0:17:58.240 --> 0:18:02.280 I mean, do you realize on Tuesday morning, when this 0:18:02.400 --> 0:18:07.679 pod drops and when the season resumes, the Celtics of 0:18:07.800 --> 0:18:13.080 Boston will enter the Final six days of the regular 0:18:13.200 --> 0:18:19.640 season with a fifteen game lead over the number two 0:18:19.720 --> 0:18:28.400 seeded Bucks of Milwaukee. Fifteen games. That is outrageous. That 0:18:28.560 --> 0:18:31.880 is unbelievable. And I'm gonna put this to you both. 0:18:31.920 --> 0:18:37.520 Producer Ryan can also participate trivia time. When was the 0:18:37.640 --> 0:18:43.480 last time we saw a conference race that was this 0:18:43.680 --> 0:18:47.000 out of hand, this lopsided? And listen, do not be 0:18:47.040 --> 0:18:49.240 ashamed if neither one of you can get this answer. 0:18:49.520 --> 0:18:52.679 Because I didn't know either. I had to turn to 0:18:53.720 --> 0:18:56.560 Justin Kubatko, a good friend of mine who keeps he 0:18:56.600 --> 0:19:00.320 does incredible NBA research. I needed his help to look up. 0:19:00.800 --> 0:19:03.200 I give you, guys, pretty much a zero percent chance 0:19:03.200 --> 0:19:06.000 of getting it unless you read my piece tonight, and 0:19:06.040 --> 0:19:08.359 I'm guessing neither one of you did. So tell me, 0:19:08.440 --> 0:19:13.439 do you have any clue when the last time we 0:19:13.520 --> 0:19:16.359 saw such a gap between one and two in any 0:19:16.440 --> 0:19:19.800 conference in NBA history, any season. 0:19:21.200 --> 0:19:23.440 I have I do not have a clue. 0:19:24.080 --> 0:19:28.080 None whatsoever. That is totally understandable, because you guys know, 0:19:28.400 --> 0:19:32.359 I fancy myself to be a pretty decent NBA historian, 0:19:32.400 --> 0:19:35.439 and I had no idea. No, guests, you have to 0:19:35.480 --> 0:19:38.920 go all the way back to the nineteen seventy five 0:19:39.200 --> 0:19:43.159 seventy six season when there were only eighteen teams in 0:19:43.200 --> 0:19:47.080 the NBA as opposed to thirty in nineteen seventy five 0:19:47.240 --> 0:19:55.199 seventy six Golden State defending the first championship in franchise history. 0:19:55.800 --> 0:19:59.560 Those Warriors, led by Rick Berry fifty nine and twenty three. 0:20:00.840 --> 0:20:05.480 In nineteen seventy five seventy six, Seattle sixteen games back 0:20:06.040 --> 0:20:09.680 at number two in the West at forty three and 0:20:09.760 --> 0:20:12.920 thirty nine, and Phoenix ended up going to the finals 0:20:12.920 --> 0:20:16.200 that year and losing to Boston. Of course, that series 0:20:16.240 --> 0:20:21.960 feature the game with Garherd forcing overtime with one of 0:20:22.000 --> 0:20:26.240 the most memorable shots in NBA history. Celtics, though, did 0:20:26.240 --> 0:20:30.000 win that series over Phoenix in seventy six. So I mean, 0:20:30.640 --> 0:20:33.480 the point is Boston has been so good this season 0:20:33.600 --> 0:20:36.400 and the dominant team of the regular season that the 0:20:36.440 --> 0:20:41.199 Celtics presence that does give me some pause in throwing 0:20:41.240 --> 0:20:47.520 out Leastern Conference rampantly on this podcast. And obviously injuries 0:20:47.520 --> 0:20:51.240 have been a factor up and down the East, with 0:20:51.440 --> 0:20:55.400 more teams than not in the East top ten. There 0:20:55.480 --> 0:21:00.719 is an injury situation with note, but still none Chris, Please, 0:21:00.920 --> 0:21:03.080 I've ranted long enough. Please tell me what's going on 0:21:03.119 --> 0:21:05.479 with the Milwaukee Bucks. I mean they are, I mean 0:21:05.520 --> 0:21:09.440 to be fifteen games behind Boston. And what we witnessed 0:21:09.520 --> 0:21:14.840 last week from the Bucks consecutive losses in Washington then 0:21:14.880 --> 0:21:19.480 at home to Memphis at Toronto, those teams are combined 0:21:19.720 --> 0:21:23.600 sixty seven and one sixty eight. What in the world 0:21:23.720 --> 0:21:25.639 is going on with the Milwaukee Bucks. 0:21:26.280 --> 0:21:32.440 Before I touch on the Bucks, Stein, Stein and Ryan producer, Ryan, 0:21:34.359 --> 0:21:37.440 I want to stay on the Eastern Conference because you 0:21:37.440 --> 0:21:40.640 you're calling it the Leastern Conference, and you're pointing out 0:21:40.720 --> 0:21:44.240 the travesty that is at the top of the Eastern 0:21:44.240 --> 0:21:48.040 Conference standings in which the Celtics hold a fifteen game 0:21:48.160 --> 0:21:51.720 lead over the number two Bucks, which is a valid 0:21:51.760 --> 0:21:55.680 point to bring out. But I would like to take 0:21:55.720 --> 0:22:01.640 your attention downward. Let's go down, Let's go Let's get 0:22:01.680 --> 0:22:05.359 to the eighth seed, nine seed, tim seed. This is 0:22:05.400 --> 0:22:08.879 where it's a travesty in my opinion, Ryan, Ryan, and Stein, 0:22:09.520 --> 0:22:12.159 you're talking about the play in situation. This is the 0:22:12.200 --> 0:22:15.879 problem I have with the play in under this circumstance 0:22:15.880 --> 0:22:18.560 and when this scenario happens, and I think you know 0:22:18.600 --> 0:22:22.880 where I'm going with the stun You have the Miami 0:22:22.920 --> 0:22:26.080 who excuse me, you have the Miami Heat, who sit 0:22:26.119 --> 0:22:29.280 at number eight right now. They will be in the 0:22:29.320 --> 0:22:35.480 play in situation most likely. But behind them or below them, 0:22:35.520 --> 0:22:41.040 I should say, are the Chicago Bulls. And they are 0:22:41.400 --> 0:22:46.679 six games above the Chicago Bulls. So what you're telling 0:22:46.720 --> 0:22:50.280 me is this a team that is six games above 0:22:50.840 --> 0:22:54.679 the next team. You're telling me all it takes is 0:22:54.680 --> 0:22:59.680 for that team below to win two games, just two 0:22:59.760 --> 0:23:03.480 games in the play is scenario to make it to 0:23:03.520 --> 0:23:08.640 the playoffs. I think that is totally unfair. I love 0:23:08.720 --> 0:23:11.600 the play and I think has been great, But I 0:23:11.680 --> 0:23:16.080 think if you're a seventh seed or sixth seed or 0:23:16.119 --> 0:23:19.080 whatever I mean seventh seed or a seed and you 0:23:19.280 --> 0:23:22.240 have I think there needs to be a number like 0:23:22.440 --> 0:23:27.320 if you're six games are more above the next team, 0:23:28.440 --> 0:23:32.640 you should get an automatic birth to the playoffs because 0:23:32.680 --> 0:23:33.840 it doesn't make sense that. 0:23:34.160 --> 0:23:36.440 I think some people would back you up on that 0:23:36.440 --> 0:23:42.080 that you know, should there be a games behind limit 0:23:42.960 --> 0:23:47.400 or minimum requirement? Should teams nine to ten do they 0:23:47.400 --> 0:23:50.640 have to be within three games of number eight or 0:23:50.680 --> 0:23:53.639 four games of number eight? But I hear what you're saying, 0:23:53.720 --> 0:23:58.000 the Bulls will enter Tuesday's play six games behind number 0:23:58.000 --> 0:24:02.600 eight Miami. The Hawks will enter Tuesday's play seven games 0:24:02.680 --> 0:24:08.399 behind number eight Miami, and if playing matters go in 0:24:08.600 --> 0:24:12.800 a haywire fashion, a team like Philly or Miami could 0:24:12.840 --> 0:24:16.800 be knocked out by a team that's well under five hundred. However, 0:24:17.720 --> 0:24:19.879 I don't know that it was appropriate for you to 0:24:20.160 --> 0:24:24.360 distract from my initial rant when I suspect that your 0:24:24.400 --> 0:24:28.440 real complaint here is you want to be in Miami 0:24:28.920 --> 0:24:31.520 and that's really all you care about selfishly, which you've 0:24:31.520 --> 0:24:35.919 admitted on this podcast numerous times, and you're just upset 0:24:36.359 --> 0:24:39.239 that because of the play in the Heat could get 0:24:39.320 --> 0:24:42.159 knocked out early and you might not get any games 0:24:42.160 --> 0:24:45.920