1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: This is straight Fire with Jason McIntire. What is a 2 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: straight Fire fan? It's me, Jason McIntire, Straight Fire for Monday, 3 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: May thirty. A Happy Memorial Day to everyone I know. 4 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: We said there would be no podcast today because obviously 5 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: the Celtics were gonna win Game six to be nothing 6 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: to talk about. I did enjoy the holiday and a 7 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: last Jimmy Butler had to go bananas bonkers in Boston 8 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:39,199 Speaker 1: on Friday, forcing a Game seven. So guess what I 9 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: had to interrupt the holiday. I did not bring my 10 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: podcasting equipment. I'm recording this from a bathroom at the 11 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: place where the family staying. We got out of l 12 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: A for a couple of days to unwind the nice 13 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: little bac and Um, of course I'm a podcast first 14 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 1: kind of guy. You know, big Game seven gotta have 15 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: got to have the content. But first, before I get 16 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: to game set, I just have to say, you guys 17 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: need to go see Top Gun Maverick. Okay, we saw it. 18 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: I think it was a nine thirty a m showing 19 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: on Sunday. Um, the wife and I forced it. Let's 20 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: just say the kids did not want to see it. 21 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: They came out of the movie saying, oh my gosh, 22 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: that was amazing. And you guys know, one of the 23 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: reasons that I've had a nice little whatever career I've 24 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: had is so far is because of authenticity and being honest. 25 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: And I am not kidding. Number one, this movie is 26 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: better than the original. And that's a thousand percent sure. 27 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 1: I think I would be stunning if you vote if 28 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: you Rob when you're gonna see it too, I'll be 29 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: shocked if you say the original is better. This movie 30 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: was really good and the second one, and I did 31 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: not expect this. There were a couple of moments where 32 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: I was getting choked up in the movie. That's what 33 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: I didn't I'm like, what's going on here? Why am 34 00:01:55,920 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 1: I almost crying in a top gun? Uh? Sequel? What hell? 35 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: And I was I was starting the movie? Is that good? 36 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:08,799 Speaker 1: It's real powerful? And maybe you know what it could be, Rob, 37 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: It's just that getting back to a movie theater for 38 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:13,959 Speaker 1: the first time in a while. I think I've seen 39 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: like one movie in the theater since COVID and between 40 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 1: Dad and like, you know, the movie being really good. 41 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 1: Tom Cruise was tremendous. Um the airplane battle, it just was. 42 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: It was awesome. I would highly recommend it. I'll say this, 43 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: the movie was better than anything in the Boston Miami series. 44 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 1: It just was not a great series. Game seven was close, 45 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: We had some crunch time minutes thanks to Boston trying 46 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 1: to choke the game away, and the Celtics win. Miami 47 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 1: had a shot late. I'll just say this, the biggest 48 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: two takeaways. The obvious one is Boston gagging this one away, 49 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 1: just like they did Game five against the Bucks. You 50 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: can't do that against the Warriors. They are a great 51 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: closing team. They do not blow these close games. Veteran team. 52 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: Boston cannot have these milkdowns late. And a lot of 53 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: it has to do with Marcus Smart. Dude just not 54 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: playing smart basketball. Marcus Smart and I just I it 55 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: was like Miami was saying, bro, do whatever you want. 56 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:17,359 Speaker 1: Take the dribble, the shot, the mid range, the layoup. 57 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: They just gave Marcus Smart all the rope to hang himself. 58 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: He kept making mistakes in the final three minutes. It 59 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: was a thirteen point lead with three and a half 60 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: to go, and there's like, I don't know, like fifteen 61 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: seconds left and Jimmy Butler is on a breakaway and 62 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:34,519 Speaker 1: it's like a three on two fast break and he 63 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: pulls up for three to take the lead. I was like, 64 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 1: oh my gosh, this is really happening because I was, 65 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: you know, rooting for Jayson Tatum given our guests last 66 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: week um Drew Hanlon, which you guys seem to really 67 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: really like that podcast, But you know, I thought it 68 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: was a fine shot by Butler. And I see all 69 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: these people after the game. You go on social media 70 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: and like I was, people are yelling, what is Jimmy 71 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: Butler doing? Excuse me? Your best player who carried you 72 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: games and by the way, I had twenty four in 73 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: the first half of game seven, your best player a 74 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: good look in transition? What's wrong with that? This is 75 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: silly to question Jimmy Butler. And I'll and I'll raise 76 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: you this the reasons because when they're down four with 77 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: like eleven seconds left, Max Strusce is who they drew 78 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: up the three four in the huddle. Max strus that 79 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: that really happened. He missed the three. It was like 80 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: a twenty nine quarter and then he got another crack 81 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 1: at it and missed that too. And with Tyler hero hurt, 82 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: I assumed p J. Tucker was hurt Um In an 83 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:37,119 Speaker 1: odd twist, while on vacation we were we actually went bowling. 84 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: It was fun, um and I wasn't able to hear 85 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: the game until the final few minutes when I was, 86 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: you know, in front of the TV. But I don't 87 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: know if p J Tucker got hurt. It's weird that 88 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 1: he would call out Draymond Green after Game six saying, hey, 89 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 1: you put Boston the finals, thanks for the motivation. And 90 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 1: then p J. Tucker did not play in the second half. 91 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: As as best I can tell, I assume it was 92 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: an injury. But this is a beat up Miami tea 93 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 1: right lowry shell of himself hero. You know, we barely played. 94 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: I don't I don't know if he even scored. Um. 95 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: It was just a tough one for Miami and Boston prevails. Rob. 96 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 1: I think the league has to be happy getting the 97 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:22,799 Speaker 1: coastal matchup, Miami out Boston in Golden State in and really, 98 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 1: you get two of the marquee rising stars in the 99 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: league in Brown and Tatum against you know, Steph Curry, 100 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: who is you guys know, my favorite player of all 101 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 1: time and pretty much the face of the NBA. I 102 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: think it's gonna be a great finals, absolutely, and I 103 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 1: haven't looked at the current conference finals numbers in depth yet, 104 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 1: but you know, coming into this round, sixteen of the 105 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: twenty highest rated games in the playoffs were Celtics or 106 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: Warriors games, and we talked about last week. Five of 107 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: the top eight alone were the Warrior game. I'm sure 108 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: this one from last night it's probably going to be 109 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: the top because it's a Sunday night and it's a 110 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: game seven. But they got to be extremely excited to 111 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: get this finals matchup. I think this is the one 112 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: that everybody is kind of secretly hoped for ever since 113 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: Boston beat up on Kevin Duran and Kyrie Irving round one. 114 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 1: Because as much as we like be honest, there's there's 115 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:18,840 Speaker 1: just something about a brand name in the championship round. 116 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: And so to have the Boston Celtics, who I hate 117 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 1: other than future Laker Jackson Tatum, you know, it's good 118 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: to see them from a basketball perspective, to see them 119 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: in the mix sense here and again, Steph Curry is 120 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 1: the face of the NBA, so of course anything with 121 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: him in it is gonna do big numbers. Um. I 122 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: totally agree with you on that, Jimmy Butler shot. Look, 123 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: in an ideal situation, would you like for him to 124 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: maybe set something up or get to his patent mid 125 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:51,799 Speaker 1: range shot? Sure, but you know he played the entire game. 126 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: You think Jimmy Butler wanted to go another five minutes 127 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 1: of overtime? And if not, let's say that, Okay, you 128 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 1: know what, Jimmy, You're better off maybe setting somebody up. Yeah, 129 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: we want you want to set up a four for 130 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: twelve Kindle Lowry three for ten, Max Shrew's four for twelve? 131 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: Victor who was he gonna pass to that? You you 132 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: feel more comfortable with then Jimmy Butler in his transition 133 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 1: three even if he if he obviously missed it. But 134 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 1: if you're a Heat fan, you gotta say, I'll take 135 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: that shot nine times out of time. He's been the 136 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: best player went healthy this entire series, arguably the best 137 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: player this entire postseason went healthy. So I don't know 138 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: why anybody would be too upset about him deciding to 139 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: put the game in his hands when he's the only 140 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 1: reason you're in his position to begin with. Because the 141 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: rest of that Miami roster outside of Bamana Bay, and 142 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: we talked about this, you know, early on in the 143 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 1: post season may have made the regular season. The Miami 144 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: Heat are arguably the best draft and developed franchise in 145 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: the NBA. They are able to find guys, undrafted guys, 146 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 1: second round guys, and developed them into legitimate NBA players, 147 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: in some cases high end role players that every team 148 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: is looking for. And yet all of the good things 149 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 1: that they've done, Tyler Hero drafted late, bam at a 150 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: Bio drafted late. Uh, you know, Gabe Vincent, Max Schus 151 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: and I had an off game. But those guys are 152 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 1: real contributors and they are making basically less than the 153 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: NBA minimum, Like that's what they're working with. And for 154 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: all the good that they did, they're not in the 155 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 1: NBA Finals right now because they decided to give Kyle 156 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: Lowry at age thirty six, three years, eight five million, 157 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: and to pay Duncan Robinson, who was living off of 158 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: basically one good season of shooting the basketball, a five 159 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 1: year deal with almost like million dollars. So because this 160 00:08:55,520 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 1: season they had forty five million dollars, tied a been 161 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: a guy who shot for the postseason at another guy 162 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: who couldn't get off the bench in the championship round, 163 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 1: they're going to be sitting at home watching Boston and 164 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: Golden State in the NBA Finals. Yeah, and listen. It's 165 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,199 Speaker 1: a great point. Um. I also want to add and 166 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 1: less I do agree with Sposter one of the best 167 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:20,439 Speaker 1: coaches in the league. Rob This is an interesting stat 168 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 1: that I dug up. So Spost has now been to 169 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: seven game seven. Oh no, I'm sorry, this is his 170 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 1: sixth game seven. He has never won one without Lebron 171 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: James Lebron with the heat uh dominant with obviously with 172 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 1: Sposter three and Roland game set without Lebron going three, 173 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: and it kind of showed you know, you're they're extremely 174 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 1: limited with no Tyler Hero and you know they just 175 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 1: ran into a team with the Tatum and Brown show. 176 00:09:50,559 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: Those guys are incredible. Fox Sports Radio has the best 177 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our 178 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: shows at Fox Sports Radio dot com and within the 179 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: eye Urge Radio app search f s R to listen live. 180 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: I saw something about this being like their revenge tour 181 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: because in the twenty nineteen playoffs they lost to Milwaukee. 182 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: If you remember that one, Kyrie won Game one and 183 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: then they got destroyed and the rest of the series 184 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:17,199 Speaker 1: and then Kyrie left, they lost to Miami in the bubble, 185 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: and then last year they lost to Brooklyn. They ended 186 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 1: up taking all of those guys out. I don't you know, 187 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 1: you never want to get too excited. People are always 188 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: getting caught up robin this need to make like mass 189 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: and sweeping statements about some player or franchise or something, 190 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:39,440 Speaker 1: and like that's not always there. I'm just gonna say, 191 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: like Jason Tatum as I believe twenty four years old, 192 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,079 Speaker 1: I think he's got a massive, uh future ahead, and 193 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: he's a great player. But rob, let's be a little 194 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 1: bit realistic here as well. Things kind of broke for Boston. 195 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:56,719 Speaker 1: Did they not opening in the opening ground? Like people say, 196 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 1: this is other words, this is not an Alcolm Boston 197 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:02,319 Speaker 1: listen quote, So don't come after me on social. Okay, 198 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,679 Speaker 1: they played a Brooklyn team that did not have Vincent 199 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 1: and did not have Joe Harris, so basically your third 200 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: and fourth best player not even there. Then they played 201 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: Milwaukee and Middleton gets hurt. Okay, and Milton as an 202 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 1: All Star, I think he's been all NBA. I don't 203 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 1: have that in front of me. And then against Miami, uh, 204 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler missed a game or did he just sit 205 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: out the rest of the game. Maybe he missed the 206 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 1: second half of the game. Tyler Hero, I think missed 207 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 1: two or three games. Um, the injuries kind of mounted. 208 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 1: Cole Lowd we missed a game or two, like they 209 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: got kind of fortunate. And I know people can with 210 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 1: little Robert Williams and what about Marcus Martin. Yeah, I 211 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: get that, but in every series, Boston got kind of 212 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: lucky and the NBA is just stacked. Now, this idea 213 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 1: of super teams is just I don't think it happens 214 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 1: anymore unless the Lakers somehow that like Damian Lillard would 215 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 1: have Um, but Rob, it's just it's really tough to 216 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 1: just see a team dominate. I mean, if everybody's at 217 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 1: equal health next year, I don't think Boston is coming 218 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:07,959 Speaker 1: out of the East to you. I mean the Milwaukee 219 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:11,319 Speaker 1: Brooklyn those two alone at full strength are going to 220 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: be DYNA line. We don't know what the Sixers will 221 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,440 Speaker 1: end up doing. Joel Obeat of course, goes down with 222 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: the broken face in these playoffs against Miami, So injuries 223 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 1: are a factor. I can't make these sleeping statements. I 224 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: know that's not cool and you've got to come in 225 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: super hot and off the top rope with the most 226 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:30,559 Speaker 1: amazing stuff. But the people who do that burnout quickly 227 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 1: because they get exposed as frauds. Uh. And I know 228 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 1: a bunch of guys who would try that, and it's 229 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 1: verily very obvious they have nothing left in the chamber 230 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 1: when every week they're making these massive statements. So Rob, 231 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: I don't know. I think Boston is really good. They 232 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: survived the East, and I mean if they get by 233 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: Golden State, now now you can talk about great runs. 234 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:54,960 Speaker 1: You take down Kevin Durant, Janice, Jimmy Butler and Steph Kourie. 235 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 1: Now I'd have to do some homework to see where 236 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: that is. But for my money, that's for the best 237 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 1: players in the league. Yeah, I feel like you're taking 238 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 1: a shot at me. And just because you're on vacation 239 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: doesn't mean that you know, next time I see you, 240 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 1: I won't put hands on you. But it's okay. Uh, 241 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: But look, okay, let me just couch you by saying this. 242 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: The Boston Celtics from January two on, we're head and 243 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: shoulders the best team in basketball, Number one in offense, 244 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: averaging a hundred and twenty per hundred processions, number one 245 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 1: defense averaging hundred and five hundred processions. They were dynamite, 246 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 1: lights out. It wasn't even close. We were talking not 247 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 1: just the best team this season in that stretch of basketball. 248 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 1: Arguably if you look at the numbers, the greatest team 249 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:41,839 Speaker 1: of all time over like a three three month stretch. 250 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: They were that good. But I agree with you, like 251 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:49,839 Speaker 1: if and this is not just a Boston thing, this 252 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 1: is a Golden State thing as well. Look, Boston got 253 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 1: the uh, the Brooklyn Nets again without Ben Simmons, and 254 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 1: you had the Kyrie Katie or mostly Kyrie situation where 255 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 1: he's just they had no chemistry whatsoever, Middleton and her 256 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:06,640 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butlan missing the game whatever. Golden State, they get 257 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 1: the Denver Nuggets with other second and their best player, 258 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: They get John Morant missing half the series, and then 259 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: they get the Dallas Mavericks who were missing hardaway most 260 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 1: of the them. Not gonna count that one, but we 261 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 1: all knew that they were kind of in over their 262 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 1: heads at that point. It was clearly that Dallas Dallas 263 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: was ahead of schedule. They were not supposed to be 264 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 1: the last. Let me press pause, though, how on Earth. 265 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 1: I still don't know how did the Demands beat the 266 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 1: Suns by forty in Game seven? And feet you know 267 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 1: that was more about Chris and I think anything else 268 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 1: that was a Chris Paul situation. Um. But you know 269 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: that is unfortunately the way the cookie has crumbled the 270 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 1: last two post seasons, which is why over the weekend, UM, 271 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: I was exchanging tweets with our good friend, um Nick Right, 272 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: not the one in FS. Remember at Fox Sports Radio. 273 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 1: Nick Right used to run the board for us back 274 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: in the day on the weekend show. Yeah, the one 275 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: who had the Tinder Nick you listen to the radio. Yes, 276 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: he was. He worked with us and would tell us 277 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: about how his Tinder dates were and and he's engaged now, 278 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 1: so I don't think we can do tinder Nick anymore 279 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: him in any event, You know, we were exchanging tweets 280 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: back and forth, and I told him, if you're Lebron 281 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: James and Kevin Durant, you have to be kicking yourself 282 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 1: right now, knowing that you let your teams be sabotaged 283 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 1: from within. While in this postseason it's clear there is 284 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 1: no super team. There is nobody who is Oh my gosh, 285 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 1: how are we going to beat them and the Russell 286 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: westbrook I don't know about sabotage. Okay, the trade itself, 287 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: the trade itself with this was a sabotage. Like the 288 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: all the lakers biggest issues were self inflicted, All of 289 00:15:57,280 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 1: Brooklyn's biggest issues were self inflicted. And this postseason, not 290 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: only was there was there no clear obvious super team, 291 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: but it seems as though the teams that were able 292 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: to get through to the finals, which we saw in 293 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 1: Golden State and now we see with Boston, it wasn't 294 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: necessarily they were the best team. It's like, hey, they 295 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 1: got the right draw, the things broken their favorite and 296 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: a lot of guys were hurt. Same thing that happened 297 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 1: last season with with Milwaukee and Phoenix. And so it's 298 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 1: not not to take away anything from either of these 299 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: two teams that made it, because you've got to give 300 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 1: them credit from making and being available is half the battle. 301 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: In a lot of cases, that's the best ability there is. 302 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: But I don't I don't see either of these teams 303 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: as being whoever wins this one, well, they definitely got 304 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: to be the favorites next year. Like I don't get 305 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 1: that vibe at all at all. That's a good point. 306 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 1: I forgot about Phoenix last year and being down at 307 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: the Lakers UM, and of course then Anthony Davis gets injured. UM, 308 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 1: and you know that was big for Phoenix obviously, quick 309 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: pop quiz. Who did Phoenix be in the Western Conference Finals? Oh? 310 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:07,200 Speaker 1: Wasn't that without Kauai? Right? Yes, because the Jazz were 311 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 1: facing the Clippers and then Kauai goes down and everybody 312 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: myself and could have thought, oh my gosh, did Jazz 313 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: have this? And I don't know if it was Paul 314 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 1: George taken over, the Jazz is choking. No, it was 315 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 1: Terrence Man right. He had like seven threes or something 316 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: like that. And you're like, oh, the Clippers without Kauai 317 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: pushed them to six anyway, Yeah they did. Yeah. I 318 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:29,680 Speaker 1: think the favorite next year has to be the Clippers. 319 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 1: And I hate that, you know, I don't like to 320 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: say that, but I do have a couple of friends 321 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 1: who are season ticket holders for the paper Clips. So 322 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: I do need to actually three people I know now 323 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: have season tickets. I need to curry favor with them 324 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 1: a little bit because the Clippers are gonna be stacked 325 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:46,120 Speaker 1: next year. They're gonna be a problem um, let's see 326 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 1: what the Lakers can do. Fox Sports Radio has the 327 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 1: best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of 328 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 1: our shows at Fox sports Radio dot com and within 329 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 1: the I Heart Radio app search f s R to 330 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:01,680 Speaker 1: listen live. So I did this on calhern show Friday, 331 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: and he didn't think it had any chance of happening, 332 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:08,639 Speaker 1: and of course Portland's fans hated himself. There was some 333 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: small news NBA on Friday. ESPN has this draft guy, 334 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 1: Mike Schmidts, who has been like covering international basketball and 335 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 1: travels around the globe. He has covered to New Zealand 336 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: and covered our New Zealand team and knows um Jan 337 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:28,440 Speaker 1: pretty well. And he actually is like the head coach 338 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: of like you Gonda or something like that. I don't know. 339 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 1: This is like a white guy who's like thirty years old. 340 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:38,159 Speaker 1: He got hired to be the assistant GM of the 341 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 1: Portland Trailblazers. Okay, they hired a guy from ESPN who 342 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 1: does like international hall and recruiting. Basically, rob is that 343 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:51,399 Speaker 1: not a huge sign to you that this franchise is 344 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:54,880 Speaker 1: basically getting ready to press the reset? But okay, and 345 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: based on that and obviously the fact that it's gonna 346 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 1: be impossible to get Dame too much help. And you 347 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 1: look at their drafting seventh in this draft, right uh 348 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 1: In in like four weeks, I looked at the number 349 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,440 Speaker 1: seven pick. In that thirty years, there have been four 350 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,120 Speaker 1: guys who maybe I'll start team from the seventh pick. 351 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: That's it. Jamal Murray will eventually be the fifth. That's it. 352 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 1: Four guys from the seventh spot. Like, you're not going 353 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: to be expecting to get an All NBA guy, so 354 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: you want to trade that pick, but who wants it? 355 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 1: Knowing the history at seven? And this draft is like 356 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 1: a three guy draft. So all all this to say, like, 357 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,719 Speaker 1: if I'm Portland's I look in the mirror and say, man, 358 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: we were terrible last year and we only got the 359 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: seventh pick, and that was without Dame. With Dame, like, 360 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 1: we're definitely not gonna be top eight. I'm just telling 361 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 1: you right now, with Dame and their roster healthy, they're 362 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:44,119 Speaker 1: not top eight. We know this, Okay, So now you're 363 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:46,959 Speaker 1: like we're playing team Well, at that point, you got 364 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: a new GM, new assistant GM who's really good on 365 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: the international scale. Why not just press the reset button 366 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:57,159 Speaker 1: and instead of doubling down with Damian Lillard and whatever 367 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 1: pieces you can get for Nurkic or whomever. You know, 368 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: why don't you just say, you know what, we're gonna 369 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: roll with Anthony Simon's for a minute. We're gonna deal 370 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 1: with being awful for I don't know two or three years. 371 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: But Lakers, do you want, Dame? Okay, give us Russ's expiring, 372 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: give us your two future first, give us th HT 373 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: or whatever salaries match up, and you know what, we 374 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: will take two future first, you know the Okay, see 375 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 1: thunder have Like I think it's something I've seeing, like 376 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:30,360 Speaker 1: twelve future first in the next like five drafts, They're 377 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:32,119 Speaker 1: gonna get a lot of bites at the Apple and 378 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: that's what you need. And if I'm Portland's and I 379 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: know my ceiling with a thirty one thirty two year 380 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:41,520 Speaker 1: old Dame is like I don't know, forty two wins 381 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:43,880 Speaker 1: and being the eighth, being the ninth seed in the plan, 382 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 1: like what am I doing? So? And that was what 383 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 1: I was trying to get. Obviously you can't float all 384 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:52,120 Speaker 1: that on counter show, But in my eyes, if I'm Portland, 385 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 1: I'm looking to move data. Now, maybe the Lakers don't 386 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 1: make sense, and someone's willing to offer you three future 387 00:20:57,320 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: ones per day. I don't know if that's gonna be 388 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: the case, but I do think if I'm Portland, I'm 389 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 1: looking a movement. I'm the Lakers, I am looking to 390 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 1: get that deal done quickly here on the two first. Okay, 391 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 1: So let me just present that presented that way to you, Rob. 392 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:15,280 Speaker 1: You know, is that a quick fix potentially for the Lakers. 393 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: Let me just say that you're not crazy, okay, because 394 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: well it's not just I'm a Laker fan. It's that 395 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 1: I'm a realist. I understand like and and is it 396 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 1: realistic that the Lakers find ways to get the best 397 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 1: players every couple of years? Sure? So that's why, even 398 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:36,399 Speaker 1: though it sounds crazy on his face, crazier things have 399 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: happened with the Lakers, Okay. I mean, I know it 400 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 1: didn't work out, but the getting them getting Dwight Howard 401 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:44,479 Speaker 1: and Steve Nash in the same offseason, and all they 402 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 1: really gave up was Andrew Binham. Like things like that happen, okay, 403 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 1: And just looking ahead, you know, Portland's got all this 404 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 1: cap space, that's what they're saying. At cap space. They 405 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:55,679 Speaker 1: got the number seven pick. They're gonna make some moves 406 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 1: that there there their team to watch. Okay, they have 407 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:02,879 Speaker 1: to read sign Affhreny Simmons, who is twenty two and 408 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: showed during the second half of the season. I don't 409 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:07,360 Speaker 1: know if he's an all Star level player, but he's 410 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:11,399 Speaker 1: definitely someone that he has the potential to be an 411 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: all Star level player. Yeah. I think he's better than 412 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:17,200 Speaker 1: Jordan pol Yes, absolutely, he's done it longer now. Jordan 413 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 1: Pool could end up better right now. So so you 414 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: gotta pay him. So that dips into your cap space 415 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:26,359 Speaker 1: right there. But let's say you didn't say you wanted to. 416 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 1: You know you're gonna keep Simons. Let's say I don't 417 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 1: know what their capsituation is, Belizziever, move for another Max guy. 418 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 1: I'm looking at the upcoming free agent list. James Harden, 419 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:40,399 Speaker 1: no Russell Westbrook View opts out, No Bradley Bill. So 420 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 1: you're gonna tell me Damian Lillard, Bradley Bild and Afreny 421 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: Simmons is gonna stop anybody. So, no, you're not gonna 422 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:48,959 Speaker 1: do that. Kyrie Irving. We don't know Zach Levine. I 423 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: like like zach Levine, but is that is a three 424 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 1: guard lineup where you know two of them absolutely don't 425 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 1: defend the third one. Only kind of defense is going 426 00:22:57,040 --> 00:22:59,680 Speaker 1: to do anything. Probably I want to stay in the 427 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: sure but but let's I mean, I'm just trying to 428 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 1: play the game just so our listeners can can hear 429 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 1: what it is that they're working with. And then after that, 430 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,160 Speaker 1: this is where it gets down to Ricky Rubio, Andre Goodala, 431 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:13,400 Speaker 1: Faddy Is Young, Joe Ingles, Torrean Prince, t J. Warrant 432 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 1: like there there. This is not the best free agent 433 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 1: class that you could think of. This is not the 434 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 1: year to have a ton of cap space. All right, 435 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 1: this is not the one that you're looking for. So 436 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:26,000 Speaker 1: if you're Portland's and you've brought up Mike Treman, so 437 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 1: I think it was great with the draft profile. By 438 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: the way, I'm gonna miss reading and stuff at ESPN. 439 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 1: You you have to have some level of honesty with 440 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:35,879 Speaker 1: your best player and say, look, damn, I know you 441 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 1: want to be here. We appreciate everything that you do 442 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:42,159 Speaker 1: for this franchise and have done for this franchise. The 443 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:46,480 Speaker 1: reality is we are not anywhere close to competing at all. 444 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: If you're if you're saying competing for a playoff spot 445 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 1: cool that you know, if you're happy with that, this 446 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 1: is the place for you if you want to get 447 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 1: beyond the first round. I don't think it's gonna happen. 448 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:00,920 Speaker 1: And so at that point, you're if you're the Lakers 449 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 1: or any other team that wants Damian Lillard, you're hoping 450 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:07,560 Speaker 1: that he has this Kevin Garnett come to Jesus moment 451 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:14,119 Speaker 1: where you know what, I've done a lot for this franchise. 452 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,399 Speaker 1: I've kind of maxed out my potential here. Can you 453 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 1: guys do me a solid and send me where I 454 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:22,960 Speaker 1: want to go? And if I I promise you. Because 455 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:25,720 Speaker 1: the way Damian Lillard has carried himself in Portland, what 456 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:27,399 Speaker 1: he means to that city and what he means to 457 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 1: that franchise, They're not just gonna sell him to the 458 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:32,679 Speaker 1: highest bidder. They're gonna do something to work in his 459 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 1: favor so that he ends up going to where he 460 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:38,320 Speaker 1: wants to go and he's happy. Which is why the Lakers, 461 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:42,400 Speaker 1: with the massive expiring contract and two unprotected first round picks, 462 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: suddenly is not that bad of an offer. They might 463 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,399 Speaker 1: have to try to get another one some way. I 464 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: don't know, but I just looked at the maybe last 465 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:56,880 Speaker 1: year UH Portland's depth chart. Holy hell, this is the backup, 466 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:01,640 Speaker 1: the second unit guy, Brandon Williams, Keyon Johnson, young kid 467 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 1: out of Tennessee NS, your little trendon Watford and Drew 468 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: eu Banks. If you told me all those guys started 469 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 1: last season in the G League, I would not I 470 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,119 Speaker 1: would I would probably like it. Right they did, they did. Um, 471 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 1: this roster is far even the starters. You know. I 472 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,800 Speaker 1: don't know what's gonna happen with NRK Justice Winslow, Listen. 473 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:23,680 Speaker 1: I was way wrong on him, just like everyone else, 474 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 1: including Boston, who I think offered like multiple picks for Winslow. 475 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 1: Josh Hard, solid role player, He's like a six guy 476 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 1: on your team, maybe seven. Um, they don't have any 477 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 1: and and Dames should certainly want out now. I don't 478 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:41,880 Speaker 1: know if if you're Philly, you know, do you get 479 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:44,399 Speaker 1: into Dame sweepstakes and dump Arden? But why if why 480 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:46,120 Speaker 1: are you taking on Arden the field if you're poor, 481 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 1: like he's not gonna want to play there. I mean, again, 482 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:51,080 Speaker 1: the Lakers need to make a move. But I guess 483 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:54,119 Speaker 1: this was my roundabout ways of saying will like the 484 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 1: West is brutal. I mean, if you told me that 485 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:59,159 Speaker 1: Phoenix crater him was like the sixth seed Knicks, I 486 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:01,199 Speaker 1: would I would be like, I can see that happening. 487 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 1: I mean that collapse they had, Like it's weird. I 488 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:06,800 Speaker 1: haven't heard any I haven't heard Jack squad from the 489 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:09,800 Speaker 1: Christ Paul camp. You know, Devin Booker has been like 490 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:12,400 Speaker 1: radio silent on social media that that would have to hurt. 491 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:15,120 Speaker 1: And you know, to see Dallas go on and get 492 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:19,359 Speaker 1: smoked by Golden State. We know Denver's coming strong. We 493 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:22,280 Speaker 1: know the Clippers, as I said, they're going to be 494 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 1: really good. I mean even Memphis, right Memphis in Minnesota there, 495 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 1: they're not total jokers. We'll see what happens with D'Angelo Russell. 496 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:33,800 Speaker 1: But um NBA's just so stacked. Um asked for the finals. 497 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: I saw a Golden State open as three and a 498 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 1: half point favorites in game one. Um, I think everybody 499 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 1: and their mom is gonna be on the Warriors in 500 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 1: game one. You know, Boston coming off as grueling seven 501 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:47,159 Speaker 1: game series. They had a seven game series against Milwaukee. 502 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 1: I'm fairly certain I don't have an in front of 503 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 1: me that they lost both game ones in the last 504 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:55,400 Speaker 1: two rounds. There are a couple of extra days off 505 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:58,679 Speaker 1: here for Robert Williams a company to get healthy. But 506 00:26:59,080 --> 00:27:01,800 Speaker 1: Golden State at home, I think has to be decide. 507 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:04,359 Speaker 1: And then you start looking at game too. Um. The 508 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:06,919 Speaker 1: Celtics have not lost back to back playoff games this year, 509 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 1: which is kind of a staggering stat and it's why 510 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 1: I liked the game seven. Part of the reason. Um, 511 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:17,080 Speaker 1: I think here's my last thing, Rob. I thought I 512 00:27:17,119 --> 00:27:19,480 Speaker 1: was talking about Boston last week, giving bull Golden State 513 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 1: a lot of problems. I thought I was ahead of 514 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:24,200 Speaker 1: the curve and everybody be like, no, no, no, Rob. 515 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 1: I don't know about you, but in the last couple 516 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 1: of days I've been reading online. You know, well, while 517 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:32,399 Speaker 1: I'm pool side with the family, of course, Um, a 518 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:36,119 Speaker 1: lot of people like the Celtics. Heare almost too many, 519 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 1: Like a lot of square types are like, oh yeah, 520 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:40,639 Speaker 1: Boston's got it, but this is not that good of 521 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:44,880 Speaker 1: a Golden State team, and people are forgetting like, hey, guys, 522 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:50,159 Speaker 1: Chris Milton didn't play and Milwaukee still pushing the seventh. Um, 523 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 1: I think it's a really strong Golden State team getting healthy. 524 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: Mit the mitten was cleared now for for a basketball activity. 525 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:58,880 Speaker 1: It sounds like he'll be ready to go for Game one. 526 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:02,959 Speaker 1: Don't know about a goodalla out of portal will be healthy. 527 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 1: I think Boston can play very good defense. I just 528 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 1: don't know if they'll be able to keep up. You 529 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:10,679 Speaker 1: saw how tired and fatigued they were. They didn't go 530 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:14,159 Speaker 1: deep into the bench in Game seven. Um, you know 531 00:28:14,320 --> 00:28:17,919 Speaker 1: Derek White can show up against Gabe Vincent, Max s Truss, 532 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:21,640 Speaker 1: but try doing that against Steph Curry and Clay Thompson 533 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:26,240 Speaker 1: and Andrew Wiggins. Um, I think Golden State wins it. 534 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 1: I was gonna say five, but I think I've got 535 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:32,239 Speaker 1: to stick with six. Yeah, you know, last week I 536 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:35,960 Speaker 1: was kind of thinking leaning Celtics, and even you know, 537 00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: late into the game on Sunday, I was leaning Celtics 538 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 1: until the last three minutes happened and I saw how 539 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 1: they almost self combusted there at the end. And Golden 540 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:47,320 Speaker 1: State is not a team that's gonna self combusted like that. 541 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:49,480 Speaker 1: You know, even if this isn't the best Golden State 542 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 1: team we've seen, they are mentally tougher and more experienced 543 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 1: than pretty much anybody who was in this postseason. So 544 00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:00,440 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go Golden State. I still is gonna be 545 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 1: a long series. I think it's going to go at 546 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 1: least six games. Um, But right now, I guess I 547 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:07,920 Speaker 1: would say Golden State and seven where they get it 548 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 1: done their home floor. Rob a quick question. How many 549 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:16,840 Speaker 1: rotational players on Boston are over thirty years old? Oh? 550 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 1: Gosh too, I'll go with one. Al Horford thirty five, 551 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:27,760 Speaker 1: finally makes the finals. Daniel Feast nice whatever is thirty. 552 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:30,240 Speaker 1: I don't even know if he's considered rotation. This is 553 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 1: how young this team is. Robert Williams is twenty four. 554 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 1: Great Williams is twenty three, Dereguy Tatum twenty four, smart, 555 00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 1: pretty um, Jaylen Brown. There is a whiff of the 556 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:52,000 Speaker 1: okay S team with hardened book and durant to this 557 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 1: Celtics team. Just a whiff because that team was stacked offensively. 558 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 1: This Boston team really wins with mostly defense but has 559 00:29:58,640 --> 00:30:01,680 Speaker 1: good offense. Uh. I just think they're a little bit young. 560 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:05,720 Speaker 1: I don't see. The thing is they're young, but they're 561 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:08,440 Speaker 1: very experienced. You know they are, considering those guys have 562 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:10,520 Speaker 1: been in through a lot of playoffs themselves. It's just, 563 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:13,200 Speaker 1: you know, in the final minutes of a game when 564 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:16,760 Speaker 1: everything's tight. He wanted to be Jayson Tatum. And you 565 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 1: saw how quickly he was passing out of double teams 566 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:23,440 Speaker 1: last night. So eventually he's going to get to a 567 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 1: point where he can screw it. I'm gonna go full 568 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:27,480 Speaker 1: Kobe vote. I'm gonna shoot it over to you guys, 569 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:28,840 Speaker 1: which he had to. Did you notice he had the 570 00:30:28,920 --> 00:30:31,680 Speaker 1: Kobe Bryant wristband in the game. If he's telling you 571 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:33,960 Speaker 1: Laker fans that he's coming in like three years, I 572 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: don't know what you're watching because he's coming future Laker 573 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:41,160 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum. But if you look for a guy to play, well, 574 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:44,480 Speaker 1: sorry last Jalen Brown. Um, this guy who went to 575 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:48,160 Speaker 1: cal he was training for the draft, only because I 576 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:50,440 Speaker 1: know some of the guys who worked him out training 577 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 1: a little bit up north and some down right where 578 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:55,880 Speaker 1: I live at my gym. I saw him training with 579 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:58,719 Speaker 1: some of the guys um. And while he was training, 580 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 1: he went to the finals that the Warriors were in 581 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 1: against the Cats. So I think Jalen Brown has a 582 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:09,360 Speaker 1: really good series here. Um. I don't want to say 583 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:11,320 Speaker 1: Tatum might struggle, but I think they're gonna throw the 584 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,760 Speaker 1: kitchen sink at him. Um, you know, like Miami did 585 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:16,800 Speaker 1: in Game six. You see that he get one shot 586 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:22,640 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarters. Design by design, he was same deal, right, 587 00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:26,480 Speaker 1: exactly exactly. I think that they're going to be all 588 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:29,200 Speaker 1: over him. They're going to force other people to beat them. 589 00:31:29,280 --> 00:31:31,960 Speaker 1: And and even though I think I think Boston topped 590 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 1: the bottom probably has more talent than Golden State, I 591 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:39,640 Speaker 1: think that they're much better defensively, but you just the 592 00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:42,480 Speaker 1: Golden State. The experience factor is something that I think 593 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:45,680 Speaker 1: is just really hard to bet against. Also, Curry getting 594 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:48,040 Speaker 1: his finals MVP. I can't wait for that. You know 595 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:49,800 Speaker 1: it's going to be the summer of Curry. All right, Well, listen, 596 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:54,440 Speaker 1: we've gone long here on a special holiday Game seven 597 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:57,240 Speaker 1: edition of Straight Fire. Listen. If you guys have to 598 00:31:57,320 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 1: miss Friday's interview with Drew Handlon, I suggested back and 599 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:02,480 Speaker 1: listen to it. Just incredible stuff. He works closely with 600 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:05,160 Speaker 1: Tatum and Beat. I heared from a lot of folks 601 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 1: via text message, uh and social media. You guys really 602 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:12,240 Speaker 1: like that, So thanks for listening, and we're back Wednesday. Yes, 603 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:16,280 Speaker 1: I will be taking tomorrow off and there's really no games. 604 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:19,160 Speaker 1: I'm sorry. Not talking hockey on the pod. Sorry buddy. 605 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:22,040 Speaker 1: Um so we will be back on Wednesday. Talk to them.