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All right, John, Obviously, 10 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: the story of the draft with Shnur Sanders had just dominated. 11 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: Milkiper lost his mind. So I want to I want 12 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: to throw, I want to start with this and you 13 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: know this so well. Basically I would have drafted Shadhor 14 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 1: Sanders if I was the Pittsburgh Steelers. So I don't 15 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: think they needed a defensive lineman as much as they 16 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: needed in a division. With Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson 17 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: in the Conference, with Josh Allen, Justin Herbert and Patrick 18 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: Mahomes and c J. Stroud, they don't have a quarterback 19 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: room of note. I think Will Howard's are backup in 20 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 1: the NFL, So congratulations on getting another defensive lineman. But 21 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: I would have drafted Shadhor Sanders. That said, once he 22 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: started falling in the draft, I started making calls. I 23 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 1: went on the internet and it was very interesting. So 24 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: two general managers who I hold in sort of my 25 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: like circle of trust and I think are really as 26 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:45,839 Speaker 1: good as general managing gets in this league. Not Howie Roseman, 27 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: but there's another eight guys or so that I really like. 28 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: You know, a couple of them had said to my 29 00:01:54,440 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 1: friend Steve Kime Goud. Steve Kime had asked, because he 30 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: had Jalen Milroe as a client for Clutch Sports, and 31 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: he had asked a couple of Jim friends, Hey, about 32 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,359 Speaker 1: a month ago, what do you make of Shador Sanders? 33 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 1: And both said, you know, his tape isn't great. Uh, Like, 34 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: you know, there's a lot of stuff you don't like 35 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 1: on his tape, and he's not a great athlete. But 36 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: that said, I still think he's accurate enough to be 37 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:28,279 Speaker 1: a you know, in a bad quarterback draft class to 38 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: to not fall to where he fell. But I'm gonna 39 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 1: I'm gonna start with this, which I talked about on 40 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: my own YouTube. Uh you know pod this weekend is 41 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:43,239 Speaker 1: that when a guy does fall and you're seeking answers 42 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: for it, you start going back and examining things, and 43 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 1: things also start to surface after the first round. Stories 44 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: start to surface that we're not talked about pre first round. 45 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:05,080 Speaker 1: Clearly the interviews were worse then. It wasn't just a 46 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: story that bothered people. It was true and there were 47 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: more than one instance of a bad interview. But I 48 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 1: had said this too, is that once you didn't see 49 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: Shador Sanders as a starter because of the smoke and 50 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: noise around him with Dion basically his dad at Super 51 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: Bowl week saying we're going to control this. There are 52 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: certain teams were not going to play for Travis is 53 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 1: going to go one, my son's going to go three. 54 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: That I did wonder John like the t Boar Cam 55 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 1: Newton effect. If he's not the starter. Do you want 56 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: the Dion noise as a backup for a year? Do 57 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: you think that is what teams thought about once you 58 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: got to the second round? Is okay, now he's a 59 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: backup and I'm not sure teams love that t Bow 60 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: level noise celebrity quarterback backup stuff. 61 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean obviously, like you, I did a lot 62 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 2: of dig in these last couple of days because I 63 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 2: liked him as a player, and I just assumed he'd 64 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 2: go somewhere between like ten and forty five. Yeah, somewhere, 65 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 2: maybe in the first round, maybe in the second round. 66 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 2: So when he precipitous fall of the fifth round, you 67 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 2: get to start texting around. And You've said this for 68 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:21,160 Speaker 2: a long time. Quarterbacks are held to an unfair standard. 69 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 2: It's also why they make fifty million dollars a year, 70 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 2: you know. I mean, it's also why I would say 71 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:29,239 Speaker 2: they are now viewed as the biggest celebrity in sports, 72 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 2: right up there with like, I mean, a level of 73 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 2: like Lebron and Steph Curry. Immediately, yes, So I would say, 74 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 2: from what I've heard, he had one of the worst 75 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 2: off seasons that these teams have ever seen from a 76 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 2: quarterback prospect. And that could be from a first rounder 77 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 2: to a seventh rounder, right right, Because they're all they 78 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 2: all act you are a product of your class. 79 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:51,040 Speaker 3: Right. 80 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 2: So if I'm a good looking girl and I walk 81 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 2: into a bar and there are ten supermodels, I'm not 82 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: going to be viewed as highly as if I walk 83 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 2: into a room with a bunch of ugly people, and 84 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:02,919 Speaker 2: in this class, it was a bunch of high level cats. 85 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 2: Cam Ward, I know people with the Titans. 86 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 3: They loved him. 87 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: Yeah. 88 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 2: Drew Brees said this a long time ago. Playing quarterback 89 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 2: is like seventy thirty intangible off the field upstairs thirty 90 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 2: my physical qualities. Peyton Manning couldn't beat me or you 91 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:17,679 Speaker 2: in a race. He didn't have a big arm. Tom 92 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 2: Brady said he I couldn't play any other position in 93 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 2: high school football beside quarterback. So this class from Jalen Milroe, 94 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 2: people love the guy. Dylan Gabriel, he had to be 95 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,279 Speaker 2: one of the favorites when it came to the coaching staffs. 96 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 2: Obviously the Will Howard's, the Riley Leonards. These guys are 97 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 2: the most impressive people. 98 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 3: Of the entire draft. 99 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 2: When these coaches and these gms are meeting with them, 100 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 2: they leave the room and these coaches go, God, I wish, 101 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 2: I wish Riley Leonard, Will Howard were better players. 102 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 3: They went. 103 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 2: They get drafted in the fifth, sixth, seventh round. Most 104 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 2: people think, yeah, he's probably not gonna be in the 105 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 2: NFL long, but we love the guy. And shadors Off 106 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 2: the field. It's not bad, never been in trouble or anything. 107 00:05:56,760 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 2: But when you act, there are only so many teams 108 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,679 Speaker 2: right supply demand thing. Well, six teams last year drafted 109 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 2: quarterbacks in the top six. They're immediately out. There are 110 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 2: several quarterbacks on rookie contracts. They're not going to be 111 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,719 Speaker 2: in the mix. And then the veteran teams Andy Reid, 112 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 2: the Bills, the Ravens, they're just consumed. We're trying to 113 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 2: win the Super Bowl right now. So it's a small, 114 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 2: small group. Yeah, right, So the small group, well, those 115 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 2: were the people he met with and clearly turned them off. 116 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 2: And mcshay's been coming out with this report what happened 117 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 2: with the giants of like I don't need you. That 118 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 2: never happens, And I think it's become popular because if 119 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 2: you look at these comments online, it's like, go against 120 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 2: the establishment, go against the man. It's like, guys, this 121 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 2: is a business that if you're decent, you will make 122 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 2: forty million dollars a year. Find me another industry that 123 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 2: pays that level. And if you're like cam Ward, who 124 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 2: was viewed as a fifth round pick, comes back, does 125 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 2: all the right things, plays well, people love the guy 126 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 2: he's a first round pick, he's gonna get forty million 127 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 2: dollars guaranteed. So if he stinks, if he's Trey Lance 128 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 2: a good example, people love the guy couldn't play, but 129 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 2: he made forty million dollars. You know, So this to 130 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 2: carry yourself. Listen, we all look up to our parents, 131 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 2: right or whoever raises us. And he looks up to 132 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 2: his dad. His dad is one of the greatest players 133 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 2: of all time, right, and his dad can act however 134 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 2: he wants, just like great players can always act however 135 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 2: they want, because in a business like pro sports, they're 136 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 2: gonna there are only so many of them. His son 137 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 2: was not that, and I think that really turned people off. 138 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 2: The other thing that really bothers me is this narrative 139 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 2: of like this is the NFL pushing back against nil. 140 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 2: It's like, guys, Kim Ward just made like three million 141 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 2: dollars playing at Miami the NFL, every GM's a millionaire. 142 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 2: Every assistant coach now is probably a millionaire. And obviously 143 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 2: the head coaches are all making ten to fifty. They 144 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 2: don't care at all. Travis Hunter, I googled his NIL deal. 145 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 2: I mean it was reported between four and five million dollars. 146 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 2: It's not being a good person. I mean all these 147 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 2: kids in college, the entire first and second round, they 148 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 2: were driving rain drovers in g wagons last year in college. 149 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 2: It's not about the money or the nil was just 150 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 2: like one. There were a lot of red flags guys 151 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 2: that were drafted well above Shador Sanders. Those guys are 152 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 2: viewed as good players. 153 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 3: Now. 154 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 2: I think chadors a solid prospect. So but what I've 155 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 2: heard about the way he's acting like he would be 156 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 2: an immediate turn off to any human being right in 157 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 2: any industry. That's not how young people act. And I 158 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 2: think that they tried to change their tactics from what 159 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 2: I've heard the last months, but it was too late. 160 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 2: It's hard to pivot. And again, you're just compared, like 161 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 2: they view you in a group with Jalen Milroe and 162 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,439 Speaker 2: Dylan Gabriel and so that's who you're compared to. You're 163 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 2: not compared to cam Ward. He has nothing in common 164 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 2: with you, but he already people like him. 165 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 3: On and off the field. 166 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:41,720 Speaker 2: So the group you're compared to, it's like, well, we 167 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 2: love the people, what's up with this guy? Anytime it's like, 168 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 2: what's up with this guy? And you play quarterback. Yeah, 169 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:49,199 Speaker 2: that's a problem. 170 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 3: Yeah. 171 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:53,199 Speaker 1: So I talked to an NFL general manager yesterday and 172 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: he said, he said, Colin, he said, the conversation we 173 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,839 Speaker 1: talk about players in this league, the conversation with quarterbacks 174 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 1: is a separate conversation we talk about We talk about 175 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: quarterbacks like I would as a GM talk about coaching prospects. 176 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: I'm talking about your temperament, your leadership. One of this 177 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 1: gms said, when I hire coaches, very rarely will you 178 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:26,080 Speaker 1: get Andy Reid or Kyle Shanahan's scheme excellence. You're hiring CEOs. 179 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: Mcvey's a CEO. Dan Campbell's not a scheme genius. He's 180 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 1: a CEO. And he said, that's what you're So he goes, 181 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,680 Speaker 1: that's what a quarterback is. He's your CEO on the field. 182 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: So temperament, maturity, Do guys rally around him? So the interview, 183 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: how do you hire Sean mcvah Not let him out 184 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 1: of the building. It's not his resume, it's his interview. 185 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 1: And so I do think and this stuff. You know, 186 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: obviously Brian Dabole the Giants is going to say it. Oh, 187 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 1: the interview was great because Brian Dable has to go 188 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:00,719 Speaker 1: back on that Colorado campus over the next four or 189 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 1: five years or next ten years. So you'll never hear 190 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: a coach bang on a university or a coach because 191 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 1: that coach is going to have four to five NFL 192 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: players the next year. So you just swallow it and go, yeah, 193 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:15,959 Speaker 1: that was a great interview. But I think there's more 194 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: than enough smoke here that that that process wasn't great. 195 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 1: And I know, I'll say it again, I do not 196 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 1: like and again I did not think this would be 197 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 1: an issue, but I was forced to talk about it. 198 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 1: Once he's dropping out of the first, the second, the third, 199 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,839 Speaker 1: the fourth, then I'm forced to talk about it. And 200 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 1: my take was, well, if you're really making me pick, 201 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: what's a problem. I do think Dion during Super Bowl 202 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:44,959 Speaker 1: Week exclaiming this is on our terms. It wasn't until 203 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 1: mid to late March that Dion went Okay, he can 204 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 1: go anywhere. And I think it pissed people off. I 205 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:53,680 Speaker 1: know I know one team that was totally turned off. 206 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 1: And remember, you go into a draft, John, as you 207 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: noted earlier, there's usually, like, for instance, to Rams, the 208 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,719 Speaker 1: Rams decided before this draft they were going after a 209 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 1: quarterback next year that the Rams made a decision in house, 210 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 1: we probably need to get one in house, but we're 211 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 1: going to go for it next year. That's why they 212 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,839 Speaker 1: made that trade with Atlanta to get two first next year, 213 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: because their first will be deep. So they're looking for 214 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:20,680 Speaker 1: a top twelve to fifteen first and if they have 215 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: to use both to get like the second pick, because 216 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: you're going to have Drew Aller Clemson's quarterback arch Manning, 217 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: so if they want to get up to like third 218 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 1: or fourth in the draft, they need a second one. 219 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 1: So the Rams. There's about seven teams a year that 220 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: need a quarterback, either as a starter or a backup, 221 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 1: and the Rams immediately decided with their trade, we're getting 222 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 1: ours next year. 223 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 2: I think if you just looked at all the starters 224 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 2: in the league that teams are either obviously elated to 225 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 2: have or feel good about, I don't think you would 226 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:58,080 Speaker 2: find one that isn't basically an A plus off the field. 227 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 2: And I think the one guy who's clear nearly mature. 228 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 2: I don't know if Kyler Murray would fall under a plus, 229 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 2: but he's clearly matured. I mean now living in Arizona, 230 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 2: seeing the comments from him and from a talent standpoint, 231 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 2: I mean, you're older than me. He's got to be 232 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 2: one of the most unique talents in the history of 233 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 2: pro sports. I mean, he's one of the great blue 234 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 2: chip physical attribute talents in any sport. Ever, we won't 235 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 2: see a guy again get drafted in the top ten 236 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 2: and number one over court. He's TIPE ninth. So it's like, yeah, 237 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 2: it was a learning curve in his maturity. He's matured. 238 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 2: Some guy's mature slower. We've seen Baker and some of 239 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 2: these guys, but for the most part, they are a 240 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 2: plus everything in terms of leadership, in tangibles, work ethic, 241 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 2: people just like being around. There's no question. It never 242 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 2: comes up. The last unit in the building I want 243 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 2: to think ever about is my overall quarterback unit, not 244 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 2: even just my starter, just the group. I know I'm 245 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:51,320 Speaker 2: going to have a couple d line issues, maybe a 246 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 2: wide receiver, the quarterback issue. It's the last thing on 247 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 2: my mind beside like an injury or something that I 248 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 2: have to make like a tangible transaction for He basically 249 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 2: handed him like they started seeing what they see in 250 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:06,839 Speaker 2: other positions and they're like, this is insane, and this 251 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 2: notion that like the collusion and stuff. It's just it 252 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 2: was honestly kind of embarrassing by a lot of people 253 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 2: around the NFL. I think, you know, former players and stuff. 254 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:16,679 Speaker 3: I think it was. 255 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 2: Bad luck by a lot of people that have no 256 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 2: fucking clue what they're talking about. 257 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: So I asked Jimmy Johnson once in the green room 258 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 1: at Fox. I would get there early and it Pepperham 259 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: with questions, and Jimmy taught me more football than anybody 260 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: I've ever met. And I said, what's the most important thing? 261 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: The number one quality? And I was surprised by because 262 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 1: you know, those Miami programs were considered renegade. And he goes, oh, intelligence, 263 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,679 Speaker 1: he goes, Colin, I think I'm a good coach. If 264 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 1: you don't take to my coaching, I'm just an average coach. 265 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 1: If you don't take to Andy Reid's coaching or Sean 266 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: mcvay's coaching, well then those are less successful coaches. You 267 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: have to get people that can you can insert stuff 268 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:05,559 Speaker 1: and they can pick it up quickly. I can remember 269 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: when Randy Moss came to the Patriots. Dude, it was 270 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: one practice and they were like, yeah, he knows the offense. 271 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: It's like Randy just knew the game of football. 272 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 3: And it was funny. 273 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 1: I remember people asking. I mean, I can remember the interviews, 274 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: and it was just like, yeah, yeah, he just kind 275 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 1: of picked everything up. He didn't have to tell Randy 276 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 1: Moss anything twice, Like he just instinctually knew what to 277 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: do as a football player. 278 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 2: You know, obviously this guy, you know, can be a 279 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 2: pain sometimes and you know, got some stuff going on 280 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 2: right now Tyreek Hill. But I remember talking to Andy 281 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 2: Reid years ago picking his brain on draft players or 282 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 2: you know, it was like a month before the draft, 283 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 2: and we started talking about stuff like this, and he says, 284 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:46,280 Speaker 2: people don't understand how smart Tyreek Hill is in terms 285 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 2: of offense. I tell him one thing, He's picked it 286 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 2: up for the rest of the year. So it's like, 287 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 2: why did they have so much success? Obviously he's got 288 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 2: special physical skills. They could do everything with them. Why 289 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 2: do some guys that are these great talents, like, why 290 00:14:57,960 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 2: aren't they using them more? He doesn't know what he 291 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 2: he's doing. He's like a Randy Moss of Tyreek Hill. 292 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 2: You tell him one time in the middle of August, 293 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 2: I pull that out in November and a tie game 294 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 2: in the fourth quarter when it's freezing cold against the 295 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 2: Ravens Boom, He's like, yeah, coach, no problem, run it, 296 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 2: run it again. He comes to me with ideas, and 297 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 2: that separates these guys. Most of the best players you 298 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 2: look around at positions I'd even say historically are football geniuses, 299 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 2: from Ed Reid to Ronnie Lott, any position right. Look 300 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 2: look at Travis Kelsey, Him and Patrick Mahomes make up 301 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 2: routes on It's like, why can't anyone cover Travis because 302 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 2: they're not running place He runs whatever you go the 303 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 2: opposite way. And it's from a football intellect standpoint, And 304 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 2: he's a good example, and this is why the draft 305 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 2: is so hard. He was a major red flag coming 306 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 2: out of college. He's even talked about it, and he's 307 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 2: he matured as a human, but in terms of his 308 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 2: football IQ, like, you know, it's why some of these 309 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 2: guys are going to fail. They can play, it's because 310 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 2: they're not going to mature or they're not going to 311 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 2: be able to handle football. And some of these guys, 312 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 2: like the Ohio State crew of guys, I think it's 313 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 2: a bunch of on defense, bunch of higher care are tough, 314 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 2: physical guys, yeah, but I think a lot of people 315 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 2: viewing their their physical attributes aren't elite. You watch, I 316 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 2: bet the group the middle linebacker, the couple pass rushers 317 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 2: play in the league for like a decade, right, because 318 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 2: that's that stuff usually matten. Now, I don't know how 319 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 2: good of a players are going to be, but they're 320 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 2: going to be around for a while, guarantee it. 321 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I went. When I watched Cody Simon play for 322 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: Ohio State, it was amazing. He it was as if 323 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: he knew where it was going. You would watch teams 324 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 1: run motion and Cody Simon would just fill a gap, 325 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: move and the ball always came to him. That was 326 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: one of the players. He was one of my favorite 327 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 1: players in the draft. I think Ohio State has so 328 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: many good players. And to your point, these Ohio State guys. 329 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 1: Simon is such a character guy and Mecca at Buka 330 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: like a plus plus plus plus. 331 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 2: Kis JTT that crew. 332 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, just you know that's and so credit to Ohio 333 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 1: State and Ryan Day and because they've got they have 334 00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: created a program with those guys come out and they're 335 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:05,119 Speaker 1: ready to go, highly functional, very coachable. Boxing's biggest weekend 336 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,640 Speaker 1: is here in Draftking Sportsbooks. Heating Up It All kicks 337 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:11,399 Speaker 1: off Friday in Times Square. Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, and 338 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:14,920 Speaker 1: Tiafimo Lopez light up New York City. 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On over agent eligibility varies 358 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:10,120 Speaker 4: by jurisdiction Voyd and Ontario. New customers only. Bonus bets 359 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 4: expire one hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance. Four 360 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 4: additional terms and responsible gaming resources see dkang dot co 361 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 4: slash audio. 362 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 1: So I think it's interesting. So Houston is a team 363 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,160 Speaker 1: that I said this today on FS one is that 364 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:34,479 Speaker 1: Oklahoma City is a similarly young team but better, and 365 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:37,679 Speaker 1: they've got a ton of draft picks. You're not going 366 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 1: to leapfrog them. Whereas every one of their young players 367 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: to me, has sort of a defined role. Houston has 368 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: Jalen Green, who's athletic, but I still don't know what 369 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:50,440 Speaker 1: his offensive game is in the half court. He's just athletic. 370 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:52,919 Speaker 1: And so I do think Houston's going to have to 371 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:55,160 Speaker 1: make take a swing. I think Kevin Durant fits well, 372 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: maybe they get into the I mean they may have 373 00:18:56,920 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 1: more than anybody for Giannis. We're talking about this. Jason 374 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 1: McIntyre and I were talking about this and I said 375 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: I would, I would. Houston has told people Amen Thompson 376 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: no chance, and it's funny watching him tonight with five 377 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: steals in the first half. When I watch M. N Thompson, 378 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: I absolutely know what he is. He's a physical, tough 379 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 1: defense often is the best part of his game, hustle. 380 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:28,720 Speaker 1: He has a defined even though he's a kid, he 381 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 1: has a defined game, and that's one of the first 382 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 1: things I look for. Actually, if Zion could have stayed 383 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:36,399 Speaker 1: in shape, I thought he had a very defined game, 384 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 1: Like I knew what he was. Jalen Green, I don't 385 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 1: know what he is, and I always feel like I 386 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: don't care if it's a talk show host or a 387 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 1: basketball player or a politician. If you don't, if you can't, 388 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:52,879 Speaker 1: kind of what are you? And if I'm struggling with 389 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: that three years into your political career, it's like, I'm 390 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: not sure you are anything other than maybe smart or 391 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 1: aspirational or driven. So I think I look at it 392 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 1: and I think if they went into the Yannis sweepstakes, 393 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:11,120 Speaker 1: you'd have to give up two really good players. Would 394 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:15,880 Speaker 1: you give up sham Goon, Jalen Green and two firsts? 395 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:19,359 Speaker 1: Because I think if I'm Milwaukee, I'm going to have 396 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:23,120 Speaker 1: multiple suitors. I'm going to get a Malik an og 397 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 1: and four. You know, I don't think the Knicks. You know, 398 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: I gave up so many first for Michale Bridges. Let's 399 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: just talk Houston. What would Houston give up in your opinion? 400 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:34,880 Speaker 1: You run the Rockets for Yannis. 401 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:37,919 Speaker 5: Well, first of all, Colin at the rig, I'm going 402 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 5: to try not to be too insensitive here, but I'll 403 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 5: tell you what Jalen Green is. He's salary filler. That's 404 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:44,679 Speaker 5: what he is. At this point in his career. He 405 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:48,399 Speaker 5: has demonstrated through multiple years with Houston that there are 406 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:50,920 Speaker 5: certain things that he just hasn't figured out and tries 407 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 5: to how to bring consistent winning impact every single game. 408 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:55,880 Speaker 5: When he's got his pull up three point shot going 409 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:58,400 Speaker 5: and he's making good decisions at the rim, he looks 410 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:00,679 Speaker 5: like an all star caliber player that can lift that 411 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 5: team to greatness. But two out of three games he 412 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:07,200 Speaker 5: struggles to accomplish those things, and then suddenly the inattentiveness 413 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:09,879 Speaker 5: off ball, the poor decision making, all that just rises 414 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 5: to the surface. And so he needs to go somewhere 415 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 5: where he can go make mistakes for a while because 416 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 5: he just needs a lot of time, right and you know, 417 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 5: Amn Thompson, to me, should be untouchable. I would not 418 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:25,879 Speaker 5: give up a mental honest, I think that unlike the 419 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:27,960 Speaker 5: only reason I would ever consider giving up a player 420 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:30,200 Speaker 5: of a men Thompson's caliber is if I was certain 421 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:32,639 Speaker 5: that we would be a runaway favorite the next season, 422 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 5: you know, like like, for instance, if OKC wanted to 423 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:38,680 Speaker 5: make a move for Yannis, they should be more willing 424 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 5: to part with someone like a Jalen Williams for instance, 425 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 5: when when you consider the fact that they would immediately 426 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 5: become a runaway championship favorite, right, But Houston with Jannis 427 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 5: is still like they'd be very good defensively, but it 428 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:54,400 Speaker 5: wouldn't be perfect, right. A Men Thompson is the level 429 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:56,479 Speaker 5: of prospect that I think has the potential to be 430 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 5: like the Scottie Pippen of this era, most the most 431 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 5: devastating perimeter athlete defensively that we have in the sport. 432 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:07,920 Speaker 5: Intimidate but he has exactly but he has a lot 433 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 5: more offensive pop than people realize, and wait till he 434 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:13,480 Speaker 5: starts to piece some of these parts of his game together. 435 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 5: He can handle the ball a little bit. He's got 436 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 5: a pretty decent set of moves in one on one situations. 437 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:23,120 Speaker 5: Once he polishes up mainly the short range mid range 438 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 5: shot making and adds a little bit of muscle, he's 439 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 5: gonna be a guy that can easily average twenty points 440 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 5: a game in this league, very efficiently, potentially more. 441 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:34,879 Speaker 1: And he is really a physical I mean most young 442 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:39,160 Speaker 1: players Jason are not that physical. He has a twenty 443 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:41,239 Speaker 1: nine to thirty three year old physicality to him. 444 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:44,479 Speaker 5: When I watch him play, it's it's the type of 445 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,480 Speaker 5: athlete that is most valuable in the modern MBA, which 446 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:50,879 Speaker 5: is rangy but also strong because there's a lot of 447 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 5: rangy dudes that can get shoved around. But like there's 448 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 5: a when you can bring physicality and the ability to 449 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 5: cover ground. I mean, that's what made Draymond, you know, 450 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 5: the best defensive player of this era, as he could 451 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 5: cover ground, but he was also big and strong and 452 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:06,000 Speaker 5: could win ground battles and there's there's a ton of 453 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 5: value there. So like if I was running the rockets, 454 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 5: I would literally I would negotiate earnestly, but I'd get 455 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:12,959 Speaker 5: a deal done. And what I mean by that is 456 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,360 Speaker 5: everything's on the table. But Aman Thompson, if you want 457 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 5: shanguon Jabari Smith Junior and Jalen Green will make it happen, 458 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:21,199 Speaker 5: you know, like whatever it is you need to do 459 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:22,919 Speaker 5: to make it happen. Because one of the things that 460 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 5: Houston has is depth. They just have a lot of 461 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 5: good players. They can afford to give up three rotational 462 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 5: players for Giannis and not be in a situation where 463 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 5: they don't have the requisite talent to compete next year. 464 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:36,439 Speaker 1: I want to throw something at ja. This was my 465 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: take on the Knicks Pistons is a year ago, the 466 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: Pistons were in a rebuild and the Knick stop McHale 467 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 1: Bridges was going to get them right up next to Boston, 468 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:49,360 Speaker 1: and yet five point separates he seems in five games. 469 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 1: And my take is they gave up a little too 470 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:54,640 Speaker 1: much for mcale Bridges. Though I think everybody, myself included, 471 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 1: kind of liked the deal. But the problem was when 472 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:03,200 Speaker 1: you're talking VSA v Nicks Celtics, is that Jalen Brunson 473 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:07,880 Speaker 1: og and Michale Bridges and Cat we know what they are. 474 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: Tatum made a leap and Peyton Pritchard went from Nina 475 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: game to the best guy in the league off the bench, 476 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 1: and so two of the Celtics because Jalen Brown has 477 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 1: established what he is. Tatum is playing with a confidence 478 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: today that we thought he should have been playing with 479 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:26,720 Speaker 1: four years ago. I don't think his skills necessarily that 480 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: much better, but go look at his first quarter scoring 481 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:33,360 Speaker 1: against Orlando. He's a much more aggressive player. And by 482 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:35,760 Speaker 1: the way Steph's been burned by this is that Steph 483 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 1: sometimes defers. Steph's smart collaborative, a great teammate. NBA fans, 484 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:45,920 Speaker 1: and it's not a criticism, it's a reality. They reward 485 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 1: aggressive even if it's like over the top Westbrook aggressiveness, 486 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:52,919 Speaker 1: like they just I mean, and Westbrook jumps off the 487 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 1: TV much. I mean, just you can't when he's on 488 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:58,960 Speaker 1: the floor, you can't. Okay, Westbrook's right there, there could 489 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 1: be a seven footer. That's just I always said with 490 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,119 Speaker 1: Andrew Wiggins, is he on the floor? Is he playing? 491 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:03,680 Speaker 3: Does he have? 492 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:07,240 Speaker 1: I mean? So, my point being is is that the 493 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:09,320 Speaker 1: problem that the Knicks face and I think they have 494 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:13,480 Speaker 1: to swing big, is they thought McHale bridges really bridge 495 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 1: the gap. They were inches behind Boston, Tatum Pops, Pritchard pops, 496 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:23,160 Speaker 1: and it's like, oh god, they did they lost ground? Actually, 497 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:25,639 Speaker 1: so I look at the Knicks and think let's not 498 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:30,320 Speaker 1: waste our time here. Cleveland and Boston both got significantly better. 499 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 1: New York is what. They just have good players. They've 500 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:36,120 Speaker 1: got to take a big swing. 501 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:37,679 Speaker 3: You know. 502 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 5: I think I think people have missed the point on 503 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:43,480 Speaker 5: Boston in a lot of ways, in the sense that 504 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:45,919 Speaker 5: they look at them as a team that's led by 505 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:48,679 Speaker 5: all these big wings that are super versatile, and I 506 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:50,879 Speaker 5: think that was the direction that the Knicks were trying 507 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:53,639 Speaker 5: to match. That's right, but it's much more of a 508 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:57,360 Speaker 5: team wide concept of the ability to piece together these 509 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:01,440 Speaker 5: lineups where everyone can guard. That's really the foundational concept 510 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:05,160 Speaker 5: that makes the Celtics so unbeatable if you look at it. 511 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 5: Mikale bridges og Andnobi and Josh Hart in theory, are 512 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:11,199 Speaker 5: these three rangy wings that can do a lot of 513 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:15,200 Speaker 5: work defensively, but because they're bracketed by these two week points, 514 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:18,960 Speaker 5: there's almost like a diminishing return and having that type 515 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 5: of defensive talent because of the way teams can still 516 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:24,479 Speaker 5: get them in rotation, like it's still the Pistons in 517 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:28,120 Speaker 5: the half court, Kate Cunningham bringing Jalen Brunson's man into 518 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 5: the action and getting great looks attacking even though he's 519 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:34,680 Speaker 5: got ogn and Obi on him. Whereas if you're with 520 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 5: the Celtics and you run that exact same thing at 521 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:39,400 Speaker 5: a Derek White good luck, you run that exact same 522 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 5: thing at a Drew Holliday good luck, and Peyton Pritchard 523 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 5: competes his ass off defensively. And so that really is 524 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:47,960 Speaker 5: the foundational trait that everybody's missing. Is like you're seeing 525 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 5: this situation where the Knicks copied almost on the margins 526 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 5: in a way that has a diminishing return because of 527 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:58,120 Speaker 5: their bill. They almost would have been better off looking 528 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 5: for like waiting, holding their firepower for a better player 529 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:05,120 Speaker 5: than putting all their cards in the McHale Bridges type 530 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:08,040 Speaker 5: of basket, because McHale Bridges would have been more valuable 531 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 5: if Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony Towns were replaced by 532 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 5: more versatile, defensive minded stars, and they're just not. And 533 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 5: so I think the ultimately it doesn't matter how good 534 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:20,439 Speaker 5: you're on ball defender is if I can put him 535 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 5: in an action that gets me an advantage. 536 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:24,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I kind of fell for it. I thought McHale 537 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:26,440 Speaker 1: Bridges got him close. I didn't think he would be 538 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:28,679 Speaker 1: better but I thought, oh, they'll compete. They could win 539 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:31,360 Speaker 1: a game, maybe a second in a seven game series, 540 00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 1: or you know, you know, and it's like, no, okay, 541 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:40,520 Speaker 1: I have to mention this. As I've always said, in 542 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:43,720 Speaker 1: our business, and you're in this business, is I'm not. 543 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:47,400 Speaker 1: It's not flip flopping. If you give me new stuff, 544 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:50,840 Speaker 1: I'll have a new opinion. I have never liked six 545 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:56,879 Speaker 1: four and under players Derreck Rose, John Wall Westbrook that 546 00:27:57,040 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: can't aren't pure shooters, Nash Curry, the little guys don't 547 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:06,600 Speaker 1: lead the titles anyway. Historically, Curry's an outliar. Isaiah Thomas, both, 548 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 1: by the way, really good perimeter shooters. Therefore, when you're 549 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 1: six four and under and can't, especially with no hand check, 550 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:14,919 Speaker 1: you get to the rim and you get hit by 551 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:17,399 Speaker 1: the redwoods and you just hit the floor too often. 552 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:20,880 Speaker 1: Now Dwayne Wade had a little bit of this because 553 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:23,200 Speaker 1: he was never a gifted outside shooter. But Dwayne was 554 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:25,400 Speaker 1: built like a like a running back. I mean, he's 555 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:28,639 Speaker 1: he looks like an NFL player. So I was always 556 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:32,159 Speaker 1: like with Westbrook, I'm like, listen, man, this is just 557 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:36,000 Speaker 1: it just doesn't work for me. But I said, I 558 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 1: watched him last night, and I thought he was last night. 559 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 1: The tone center of every great player in that game 560 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 1: is that Jamal Murray would have an amazing second half. 561 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 1: Jokic was off. I never trust Gordon or Porter offensively, 562 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 1: although I really love Gordon as a player. He is 563 00:28:55,840 --> 00:29:01,960 Speaker 1: so relentless that he almost makes team mates guilty if 564 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 1: they don't play with energy. Like I mean, you can 565 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:08,320 Speaker 1: see why, like Harden and Westbrook, they're good buddies. They 566 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 1: go to Houston, they didn't get along, and I think 567 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:14,800 Speaker 1: part of it was Westbrook is like, bro, I know 568 00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 1: you were out last night, but you can't bring that 569 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:20,719 Speaker 1: last game for the Clippers. I mean, Harden might as 570 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 1: well have been a hologram. I mean, he was invisible. 571 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:25,840 Speaker 1: But I watched Westbrook and I think, all these years later, 572 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:29,920 Speaker 1: what I appreciate about him is he plays so hard. 573 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 1: He almost forces you as a teammate to play harder 574 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:36,840 Speaker 1: because you and I know this, some nights, this is 575 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 1: asking a lot eighty two games playoffs. I mean, Yokich 576 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 1: last night just doesn't have it. And I was like 577 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:46,960 Speaker 1: kind of blown away by Westbrook last night and this 578 00:29:47,040 --> 00:29:50,040 Speaker 1: new found ability to hit a three, but it's his 579 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:53,080 Speaker 1: energy was just ridiculous last night in the first half. 580 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's infectious. 581 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:58,480 Speaker 5: It. I'm so glad you said it like that because 582 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:01,480 Speaker 5: I've always felt that way in team basketball, Like when 583 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 5: there is somebody on your team that is busting his 584 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:07,760 Speaker 5: ass on defense, you look like an idiot if you're 585 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:09,840 Speaker 5: out there next to him not doing the same thing. 586 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:13,760 Speaker 5: It screams on film, and like, trust me, like these 587 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:16,280 Speaker 5: film sessions, like I remember when I was in college, 588 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:18,720 Speaker 5: Like it's embarrassing when you're sitting in the room and 589 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:22,719 Speaker 5: you're not doing your job, like and the coaches pausing 590 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 5: the screen and like you're jogging back in transition defense 591 00:30:25,280 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 5: and he's standing up there pointing at you in front 592 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:27,640 Speaker 5: of your teammates. 593 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:28,160 Speaker 1: Like it. 594 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:31,560 Speaker 5: Laziness stands out on the TV, it stands out in film. 595 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 5: It especially stands out juxtaposed with an energy bunny and 596 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 5: like that there's a ton of. 597 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:37,320 Speaker 3: Value there, you know. 598 00:30:37,520 --> 00:30:41,400 Speaker 5: I've like really grown to appreciate Russell Westbrook in this 599 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 5: phase of his career in a way that I didn't 600 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 5: in the past. Yep, a couple different things. He is 601 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 5: a guy that his motor and physicality actually translates in 602 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:56,360 Speaker 5: the postseason really well because he's a very physical player. 603 00:30:56,960 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 5: So like and we've seen so many examples of this 604 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:01,680 Speaker 5: in NBA history, the big, strong athlete who plays hard 605 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:04,280 Speaker 5: just has a lot of utility when it's a rock fight, 606 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 5: when it's like super super physical. During the regular season 607 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:11,280 Speaker 5: with the Lakers, there was just so much time where 608 00:31:11,320 --> 00:31:13,080 Speaker 5: he was asked to do more than he was capable of. 609 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:15,840 Speaker 3: But as this has shifted towards. 610 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:18,480 Speaker 5: Him being in a smaller role, he's polished up his 611 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:21,200 Speaker 5: jump shooting, like you mentioned earlier, like he put in 612 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:23,680 Speaker 5: work behind the scenes. He understood, oh, if I'm going 613 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 5: to stay in this league, I'm going to need to 614 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:27,440 Speaker 5: be able to hit a corner three. And so he's 615 00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:29,200 Speaker 5: put in a lot of work behind the scenes. The 616 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:31,560 Speaker 5: second piece of it finding a fit that works. So, 617 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:34,880 Speaker 5: for instance, Jokics, we've talked about this on the show before, 618 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:38,880 Speaker 5: inverts your spacing. He brings the center away from the basket. 619 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:42,160 Speaker 5: That makes it so there's fewer redwoods around the basket. 620 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:45,479 Speaker 5: And so Russ is Russ had a layup missing problem 621 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 5: over the years, and he's missing fewer layups in Denver 622 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:51,800 Speaker 5: because he's getting easier cuts right around the rim. And 623 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:54,320 Speaker 5: so when you combine the little bit of corner three 624 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:57,520 Speaker 5: point shooting, the ability to finish because of the lack 625 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:00,480 Speaker 5: of congestion under the rim with the Yolkic team, and 626 00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:03,480 Speaker 5: then you add to it just the way his physicality 627 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 5: translates to the playoffs. He's become a very useful player 628 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:09,880 Speaker 5: for the Nuggets now, like a flat out important player. Yes, 629 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:11,000 Speaker 5: championship goals. 630 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:11,920 Speaker 3: No question. 631 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:15,320 Speaker 1: And I know this isn't the be all end all, 632 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:20,600 Speaker 1: but there is something about when you turn a television 633 00:32:20,680 --> 00:32:25,280 Speaker 1: on and you come into the second quarter, the players 634 00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:29,400 Speaker 1: that add something you can usually spot in like two possessions, 635 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:32,960 Speaker 1: Like you're like, oh, you like amen. Thompson's a great example. 636 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:36,239 Speaker 1: You're like, shit, man, that dude is physical. He's an 637 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:43,440 Speaker 1: intimidating presence. Obviously, great scores almost all have that. Russell 638 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:46,320 Speaker 1: Westbrook jumps to the TV screen. He is just straight 639 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:48,560 Speaker 1: gin on the rocks. It's like pow, it hits you. 640 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:53,320 Speaker 1: It's who's this guy? Like cutting? And Jimmy Butler's got 641 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:55,640 Speaker 1: that too when he's really into it. So it's like, dude, 642 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:57,640 Speaker 1: who is like he? When you're a pro athlete and 643 00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:01,040 Speaker 1: can kind of intimidate other pro athletes and a man's 644 00:33:01,080 --> 00:33:03,400 Speaker 1: got it, Butler's got it, Russell's got it. No, And 645 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:08,040 Speaker 1: you know, it's funny watching Westbrook. I'm thinking, could he 646 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:11,720 Speaker 1: have always shot threes like this? He's now shooting him 647 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:15,280 Speaker 1: because he's probably a little less, you know. I mean, 648 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:18,000 Speaker 1: everybody comes down a little bit athletically, and he was 649 00:33:18,040 --> 00:33:18,920 Speaker 1: so hyper athletic. 650 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:20,040 Speaker 3: But it is. 651 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:22,360 Speaker 1: Amazing to me to watch him shoot threes. I don't 652 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:26,680 Speaker 1: know if his the shooting style has changed, but last 653 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:31,360 Speaker 1: night I'm like, it looked smooth, it looked confident and comfortable. 654 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 1: The Mavericks shouldn't have traded Luca. But and Zack Lowe 655 00:33:39,280 --> 00:33:42,640 Speaker 1: was talking about this with on the Ringer is that 656 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:47,520 Speaker 1: I would never trade Mahomes, Alan Lamar Jackson, but I 657 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:49,960 Speaker 1: would now take a call on Joe Burrow because of 658 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:53,240 Speaker 1: two major injuries. I would take a call. I'm not 659 00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:55,600 Speaker 1: looking to trade him. I would take a call on 660 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 1: Jalen Hurts, who I still think small and okay in 661 00:33:58,120 --> 00:34:01,680 Speaker 1: the pocket. But there are players, you know, like Lebron 662 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:06,240 Speaker 1: in his prime got you guaranteed finals. MJ got you 663 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:11,960 Speaker 1: guaranteed titles. Kareem got you titles in Lucas prime, he 664 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:16,320 Speaker 1: guarantees you buckets and those are great, but there is 665 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:21,120 Speaker 1: a difference between the lebron and his prime and I 666 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:24,040 Speaker 1: think now he'll be in better shape next year. The 667 00:34:24,160 --> 00:34:27,719 Speaker 1: Lakers won the trade. I'm not in any way insinuating 668 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 1: they didn't crush it, but I think this little peak 669 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:36,200 Speaker 1: at Luca, Let's face it, when he's on your team, 670 00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:38,919 Speaker 1: you just watch him more. Even if you love the NBA, 671 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 1: you watch it more. Can you look at him now? 672 00:34:42,480 --> 00:34:45,120 Speaker 1: And you watch as much NBA as anybody, But is 673 00:34:45,160 --> 00:34:47,479 Speaker 1: there a part of you, even ten percent that goes 674 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:52,279 Speaker 1: I get Houston, I get Dallas and Nico taking the call. 675 00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:58,040 Speaker 5: So just because there is a reason to do something 676 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:01,680 Speaker 5: doesn't mean it's reason enough. And like I see the 677 00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:04,320 Speaker 5: reason like they call it, I'm I'm I don't. I 678 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:07,720 Speaker 5: don't want to be overly critical of Luca here, because 679 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:09,279 Speaker 5: it is tough to come into a team right in 680 00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:11,000 Speaker 5: the middle of the season and to do all of 681 00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:12,640 Speaker 5: the things that he's being asked to do. But let 682 00:35:12,680 --> 00:35:15,040 Speaker 5: me just pose it, like, let me just present it 683 00:35:15,160 --> 00:35:19,520 Speaker 5: like this. If Luca outplays ant, do the Lakers win 684 00:35:19,560 --> 00:35:27,960 Speaker 5: the series? Let me let me give you one more. 685 00:35:28,880 --> 00:35:30,960 Speaker 1: Literally, the last game and it was like six of 686 00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:34,040 Speaker 1: seven against him. So I think that is they don't 687 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:37,120 Speaker 1: put Luca on ant a Ton because for obvious reasons. 688 00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:39,480 Speaker 1: So I'm not sure what the answer is to that. 689 00:35:40,440 --> 00:35:43,400 Speaker 3: So in the fourth quarter in this series, which is 690 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:45,080 Speaker 3: where the games have been decided. 691 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:47,560 Speaker 1: Yes, the guy way, because Minnesota was in these close 692 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:50,160 Speaker 1: games all year long. They did I mean, so it's 693 00:35:50,280 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: like that is who they They're not pretty enough offensively 694 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:55,279 Speaker 1: to blow good teams out there in all all their 695 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:56,080 Speaker 1: games look like this. 696 00:35:57,600 --> 00:36:01,719 Speaker 5: Luca has five made field and one assist in the 697 00:36:01,760 --> 00:36:04,239 Speaker 5: fourth quarter in the series, and has ten made field 698 00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:06,440 Speaker 5: goals and seven assists in the fourth quarter in the series. 699 00:36:06,680 --> 00:36:10,360 Speaker 5: He has dramatically outpaced Luca's output when the games have 700 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:13,239 Speaker 5: been on the line late. Luca is shooting five to 701 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:16,920 Speaker 5: seventeen in the fourth quarter in the series, and he 702 00:36:17,120 --> 00:36:22,000 Speaker 5: looks blatantly exhausted every single time down the stretch of 703 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:25,120 Speaker 5: these games. There's been so much focus on the fact 704 00:36:25,160 --> 00:36:27,200 Speaker 5: that he had to play twenty four straight minutes. You 705 00:36:27,280 --> 00:36:29,480 Speaker 5: know who else played twenty four straight minutest in that game, 706 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:34,040 Speaker 5: Anthony Edwards. He looked fantastic. Julius Randall played twenty three 707 00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:36,440 Speaker 5: and a half of the twenty four available minutes. He 708 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:39,279 Speaker 5: looked fantastic. He's guarding Lebron, grabbing rebounds, doing all that 709 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:42,839 Speaker 5: kind of stuff. Lebron, who's forty years old, had three 710 00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:46,160 Speaker 5: of the most absurd defensive plays I've seen. Like Lebron 711 00:36:46,200 --> 00:36:49,239 Speaker 5: almost single handedly stole that game with defense. Yeah, stretched de. 712 00:36:49,320 --> 00:36:51,839 Speaker 1: Vincenzo block and then Fitty Smith shot in the only 713 00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:52,359 Speaker 1: over end. 714 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:53,200 Speaker 3: Yeah. 715 00:36:53,239 --> 00:36:55,400 Speaker 5: And then he stripped Nasried on the very next possession, 716 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:58,000 Speaker 5: got another stop, and then he did strip Anthony Edwards 717 00:36:58,080 --> 00:36:59,400 Speaker 5: on what was kind of an iffy call. It was 718 00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:01,360 Speaker 5: kind of already slipping when he was like, but it 719 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:03,600 Speaker 5: was good defense on that play. The point being like, 720 00:37:04,080 --> 00:37:06,440 Speaker 5: there were four stars in that game that all played 721 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:08,800 Speaker 5: basically the entire second half. Three of them looked like 722 00:37:08,840 --> 00:37:11,440 Speaker 5: they were spry. For the record, they're all better athletes. 723 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:13,640 Speaker 5: I'm not expecting Luca to be out there flying around 724 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:16,000 Speaker 5: like a six to eight freak athlete in those situations, 725 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:18,680 Speaker 5: but I would expect him to look like Luca. 726 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:21,560 Speaker 3: I would expect him to look like Luca. 727 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:25,080 Speaker 5: And the bottom line is is every single time a 728 00:37:25,160 --> 00:37:27,560 Speaker 5: game has been hanging in the balance in this series late, 729 00:37:28,040 --> 00:37:31,759 Speaker 5: Ant has looked like Ant and Luca hasn't and the 730 00:37:31,800 --> 00:37:34,440 Speaker 5: Wolves have immediately taken control and won the series. So 731 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:37,919 Speaker 5: I don't think it's negotiable at all at this point 732 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:40,279 Speaker 5: whether or not Luca's conditioning is standing in the way 733 00:37:40,280 --> 00:37:41,760 Speaker 5: of whether or not they could have won the series. 734 00:37:42,080 --> 00:37:46,120 Speaker 5: The Lakers controlled the first three quarters. They are capable, 735 00:37:46,239 --> 00:37:50,560 Speaker 5: They are capable of beating this team in the biggest Like, 736 00:37:50,840 --> 00:37:52,879 Speaker 5: for instance, I saw some criticism of Lebron for having 737 00:37:52,960 --> 00:37:55,320 Speaker 5: zero points for the record. Lebron does deserve some criticism. 738 00:37:55,360 --> 00:37:57,080 Speaker 5: He had a bad turnover late. I didn't like the 739 00:37:57,160 --> 00:37:59,759 Speaker 5: three he took off the left wing. Zero points like 740 00:37:59,800 --> 00:38:02,440 Speaker 5: five a way to score something. But he only took 741 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:04,360 Speaker 5: two shots in that fourth quarter. You know why, because 742 00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:07,759 Speaker 5: this team has a construct. The construct is we need 743 00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:10,439 Speaker 5: Luca to create offense for us. That's his one job. 744 00:38:11,200 --> 00:38:14,200 Speaker 5: This is one job everyone else, like Lebron's job on 745 00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:16,600 Speaker 5: this team is to be Draymond Green on the other 746 00:38:16,719 --> 00:38:19,480 Speaker 5: end of the floor, you know. And like, yes, Lebron 747 00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:21,600 Speaker 5: could have and should have done more. But I left 748 00:38:21,640 --> 00:38:26,319 Speaker 5: that game very disappointed because I felt like Luca, when 749 00:38:26,440 --> 00:38:29,080 Speaker 5: the series was hanging in the balance, didn't even look 750 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:33,839 Speaker 5: remotely like himself. If he makes that layup against nas Reed, 751 00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:36,319 Speaker 5: which by the way, is just maybe a little bit 752 00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:38,680 Speaker 5: more conditioned athlete than he is right now. It doesn't 753 00:38:38,680 --> 00:38:40,839 Speaker 5: even have to be in peak condition, just in good 754 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:43,600 Speaker 5: enough shape to get the lift to get that ball 755 00:38:43,719 --> 00:38:44,680 Speaker 5: up off the backboard. 756 00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:46,719 Speaker 3: They win. They did, don't win the series. They win 757 00:38:46,760 --> 00:38:47,040 Speaker 3: the game. 758 00:38:47,120 --> 00:38:49,520 Speaker 5: It's two two, but instead he smoked it and then 759 00:38:49,560 --> 00:38:51,960 Speaker 5: didn't get back and transition defense and left nas Red open. 760 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:53,160 Speaker 5: He hit a three, and all of a suddenly seven 761 00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:55,160 Speaker 5: point game was a two point game, right right, so 762 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:59,120 Speaker 5: like so, like I I am a huge believer in Luca. 763 00:38:59,239 --> 00:39:01,640 Speaker 5: I genuinely think he could be the best player in 764 00:39:01,680 --> 00:39:04,000 Speaker 5: the league. There's a version of this if he gets 765 00:39:04,040 --> 00:39:06,400 Speaker 5: in shape where he is the best combination of scoring 766 00:39:06,440 --> 00:39:09,200 Speaker 5: and playmaking talent in the NBA after Jokic age is out, 767 00:39:09,800 --> 00:39:11,600 Speaker 5: and if he is and he also gets in good 768 00:39:11,640 --> 00:39:15,040 Speaker 5: shape and becomes just an above average defensive player, that's 769 00:39:15,080 --> 00:39:18,080 Speaker 5: the best basketball player in the world. It's an achievable 770 00:39:18,120 --> 00:39:20,239 Speaker 5: outcome for him. He just has to put in the 771 00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:21,680 Speaker 5: work behind the scenes. And by the way, it's not 772 00:39:21,760 --> 00:39:23,960 Speaker 5: too late. Maybe he can flip the script. But the 773 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:26,840 Speaker 5: Lakers are not winning tonight and Friday and Sunday unless 774 00:39:26,920 --> 00:39:30,480 Speaker 5: Luka Doncic outplays Anthony Edwards and he he has to 775 00:39:30,560 --> 00:39:31,320 Speaker 5: win that matchup. 776 00:39:31,800 --> 00:39:33,680 Speaker 1: Yeah. No, I think that's really well put. Is that 777 00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:39,960 Speaker 1: any Listen, It's just years ago, I said, and I 778 00:39:40,040 --> 00:39:43,200 Speaker 1: got so much pushback. I said, he's a better version 779 00:39:43,239 --> 00:39:46,520 Speaker 1: of Carmelo. He's a better version, There's no question. But 780 00:39:46,680 --> 00:39:49,759 Speaker 1: Carmelo is one of the great I mean, one of 781 00:39:49,840 --> 00:39:53,200 Speaker 1: the great offensive talents we've seen in fifteen years. Like 782 00:39:53,560 --> 00:39:57,760 Speaker 1: he was an absolute bucket against every defender in the league. 783 00:39:58,239 --> 00:40:02,000 Speaker 1: And the truth is SOA's Luca. But I say this, 784 00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:06,359 Speaker 1: most great players, at least for about a seven year 785 00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:10,040 Speaker 1: window in their prime, were great defenders. Now you can 786 00:40:10,120 --> 00:40:13,800 Speaker 1: be Bird and Staff where you're trying really hard but 787 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:17,279 Speaker 1: you're limited. That's also okay in the locker room. But 788 00:40:17,600 --> 00:40:23,640 Speaker 1: mailing it in sends a message, Harden, Luca Mellow. It 789 00:40:23,880 --> 00:40:27,160 Speaker 1: sends a message like you guys, take it from here. 790 00:40:27,840 --> 00:40:29,520 Speaker 1: And you know, a lot of times in the NBA 791 00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:32,319 Speaker 1: you don't face a profound offensive player on the other end. 792 00:40:32,960 --> 00:40:35,280 Speaker 1: But when you and Aunt are matching up and aunts 793 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:38,200 Speaker 1: this ascending, dynamic player that you can't take your eyes off, 794 00:40:38,400 --> 00:40:43,600 Speaker 1: you notice, like Luca's defense is noticeably awful, and I 795 00:40:43,680 --> 00:40:44,800 Speaker 1: think it was well said by you. 796 00:40:46,800 --> 00:40:47,400 Speaker 2: The volume