1 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: The NBA's version of March Madness, which really means the 2 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: night to night jockeying for playoff positioning in both the 3 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: West and the Eastern Conference. Plus a deep dive on 4 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: the intricacies of voting Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, 5 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: and other year end award categories, and a Pat Bev 6 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:33,840 Speaker 1: story as only Chris Haynes can tell it all. Coming 7 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: up next on the latest edition of This League Uncut. 8 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: Welcome to this league, to the rule of twenty four 9 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 1: hour NBA news, Chris Haynes, Cork Stein. It's some time 10 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: this leagueln Cut is underway. In on fire. This should 11 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: be a good one. Hey, everyone, welcome in to another 12 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: edition of This League Uncut. Mark Stein here with Chris Haynes. 13 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: March Madness is fully underway. But I'm not sure that 14 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: either one of your co hosts on this trusty podcast 15 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:44,400 Speaker 1: can bring too much insight to you. On the collegiate front, 16 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 1: I am an absolute NBA snob who once Cal State 17 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: Fullerton season is over, my college season is over. So 18 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 1: my college season ended March ninth. I do not fill 19 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: out a bracket. Chris Haynes, how is your bracket looking. 20 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 2: There's nothing on it. I haven't filled out a bracket. 21 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 2: I don't think I ever have. I just, you know, 22 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 2: it's cool to see all the hoopla surrounding March Madness 23 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 2: and seeing all these contests and all that stuff, and 24 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:18,800 Speaker 2: I like to hear about it. I like to hear 25 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 2: about how everybody's bracket is. But I've never participated in one. 26 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 2: I did want two years ago, a few years ago, 27 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 2: I wanted to start a trend with my wife. She 28 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,399 Speaker 2: doesn't watch college basketball at all. I wanted to start 29 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 2: a trending with her and where we would you know, 30 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 2: have our bracket and the winner of the bracket would 31 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 2: would make the other do something that the other one 32 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 2: once done. But we never got that off the ground. 33 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 2: So but yeah, I mean it's fun for everybody else, 34 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 2: but I just never really got involved into it. 35 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, we're kind of I probably should move on because 36 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: we're people love this time of year so much, and 37 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: I do not do not want to bring people down. 38 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 2: We're we're being with a couple of grints. 39 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 1: And so look when my school's in it. You know, 40 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: cal State Fullerton has made the NCAA Tournament four times 41 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 1: in school history, three times in the twenty first century. 42 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 1: Whenever we make it, the three times we've made it, 43 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,799 Speaker 1: most recently, I was there and proud to be in attendance. 44 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 1: The first time we made it, I was just a 45 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 1: young kid, so still years away from actually attending cal 46 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:27,959 Speaker 1: State Fullerton. But yeah, let's just politely say that neither 47 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: one of us is a college hoops expert. So let's 48 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: move on to the NBA's version of March Madness, which 49 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: certainly isn't known for capturing the nation's attention with the 50 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: same fervor. But for our jobs, this is a very 51 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: important time of year because what's really happening. There's the 52 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: jockeying for playoff seatings, which is a night to night 53 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: scoreboard watch that is very important. Last night, we're recording 54 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: this on Friday afternoon. Last night I was watching Utah 55 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: in Dallas to play the Mavericks and just a stunning 56 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: result the Sacramento Kings on the second night of a 57 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: back to back. But even so, you would have never 58 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:18,239 Speaker 1: expected Sacramento to lose at Washington, but the Kings did, 59 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 1: and the Mavericks, with a win over the tanking Utah Jazz, 60 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 1: were able to move up and take the number six spot, 61 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: which is not just surprising, but look, it's only one night, 62 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: it's only one game for both teams, but leading into 63 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: next week in your neighborhood, in your backyard, the Mavericks 64 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:40,799 Speaker 1: play the Kings in a huge two game baseball series. 65 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 1: Huge for the purposes of that race for number six. 66 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,039 Speaker 1: In the West. The two kinds of March madness that 67 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 1: I'm really focused on. It's the jockeying for the seedings 68 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 1: like that, and then the MVP race. This is when 69 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 1: the MVP race really comes in to focus. We'll get 70 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 1: to the MVP stuff in a minute, but you know, 71 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: I know you're not even gonna be there. You're on 72 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 1: the road next week, so you are gonna miss I mean, 73 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: these are two huge games the way I look at it. 74 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:09,160 Speaker 1: Really in the West, we're talking about three races. Really 75 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 1: in the West, you could even say maybe four, because 76 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: the Houston Rockets insane. Even after losing Alpa and Shngoon, 77 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,359 Speaker 1: the Rockets have won seven in a row. Okay, some 78 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: of that is favorable schedule, but the Rockets have kind 79 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: of thrust themselves into the playing race when it was 80 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: thought that their season was over. So we got these 81 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: three races in the West, the race for the number 82 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: one seed thunder Nuggets, Timberwolves. Then there's this battle for 83 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 1: four or five with the Clippers and the Pelicans, and 84 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 1: the Pelicans had got within a half game I think, 85 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 1: or at least got within one game of the Clippers, 86 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: and now the Pelicans are dealing with the terrible news 87 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,040 Speaker 1: that Brandon Ingram just went down with a hyper extended 88 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:58,159 Speaker 1: knee and will be out for at least two weeks 89 00:05:58,200 --> 00:05:59,679 Speaker 1: before he's evaluated again. 90 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 2: Could have been worse THI yeah, for sure, that was Yeah, 91 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 2: that looked bad. 92 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: It looked bad. So yeah, I mean, if it's only 93 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: a matter of weeks and if Ingram can indeed come back, 94 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: not to say he'll be back in two weeks, but 95 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: reevaluated in two weeks, certainly that was best case scenario 96 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: news for the Pelicans. Then we got this race from 97 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: six through ten and again if we want to extend 98 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 1: it even a little further, nine, ten, eleven, because Houston 99 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,480 Speaker 1: is now decided that their season is not over and 100 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: even without Shnghu and the Rockets are still trying to 101 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 1: steak into the play in zone. If I had to 102 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:41,479 Speaker 1: ask you, you know, who do you think gets the 103 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: sixth seed in the West, which is so important because 104 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: it keeps you out of the play in tournament. So 105 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: you got Dallas, Phoenix, and Sacramento. Those really are the 106 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 1: three teams in battle for six through eight. Then the 107 00:06:57,760 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: Lakers and the Warriors. It just doesn't look like they're 108 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 1: to be able to lift themselves out of the nine 109 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: to ten range. So you know, if you asked me 110 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 1: before last night, I would have said Sacramento. But that 111 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: was a bad loss for the Kings, who on top 112 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: of everything, the Kings have also lost Kevin Herder in 113 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: definitely to a separated shoulder. 114 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 2: It's tough. It's tough. I mean, you got the Mavericks 115 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 2: playing playing really well, the Pelicans with the brandon ingram 116 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 2: you whether how to ask going the effect the rest 117 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 2: of their season. Phoenix, you just I can't get a 118 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:36,559 Speaker 2: firm grasp on if they're legit or not. They're good, 119 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 2: they're a threat, but you know, well they play it 120 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 2: consistent enough basketball. Who is last threats to get into 121 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 2: that sixth spot? I don't know. So if I had 122 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 2: to guess the Pelicans suffering that injury, Phoenix being kind 123 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 2: of hit and miss, the Kings, I will probably lean 124 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:03,520 Speaker 2: towards saying I'll probably give the ads to Dallas. They're 125 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 2: playing really good basketball right now. I had Jason Kidd 126 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 2: on my Bleacher Report live stream. 127 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: I was just gonna say, that's the reason, that's the 128 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: reason you're picking the Mavericks at six, because you on 129 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: your live stream. 130 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 2: No, I'm looking at I'm looking at that stile, I'm 131 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 2: looking at the Pelicans. I'm looking at the Suns and 132 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 2: the Kings, and the Dallas Mavericks are playing better ball 133 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 2: than all three of those teams. So I think I 134 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 2: have to go there. I just don't have the comp Like, 135 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 2: I don't know camp Pelicans sustain what they've been doing. 136 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 2: Potentially possibly the Suns again, they you know, they've been 137 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 2: hit and miss. And the Kings right now, I don't 138 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,679 Speaker 2: know what. I don't know what's going on. So I 139 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 2: think Dallas is probably the easiest bet right now. But 140 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 2: you know, I don't know for sure, but I like 141 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 2: the way they're playing. One thing about the Mavericks, man, 142 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 2: they're athletic. Now they got that aerial threat, you got 143 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 2: Kyrie and Lucas. Seems like they figured out a good 144 00:08:57,040 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 2: balance of how to attack angst each other. So they're 145 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 2: looking good right now. But yeah, I am. I am 146 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 2: kind of pissed at the fact that I won't be 147 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 2: able to be in attendance for the MAVs Kings Matt 148 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:13,199 Speaker 2: Day next week. 149 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 1: The schedule is bizarre that basically on Monday night, Dallas 150 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:27,319 Speaker 1: and Sacramento are both playing, the Mavericks are in Utah, 151 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 1: and then Tuesday night, on the second night of a 152 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:32,680 Speaker 1: back to back for both teams, the Kings will host 153 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 1: the Mavericks for the first time. I think you will 154 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: be in far away Milwaukee, your second home to cover 155 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:43,959 Speaker 1: Lakers at Bucks on Tuesday night. Miss second, you will 156 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: miss the first of those games. But then there's two 157 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:50,839 Speaker 1: days off. The Mavericks have two full off days in Sacramento, 158 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:55,559 Speaker 1: and then the teams play again on Friday night. Now, 159 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: Sacramento has already won the first two meetings in Dallas, 160 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:00,959 Speaker 1: and so the Kings only to win one of these 161 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,839 Speaker 1: two games to clinch the head to head tiebreaker. But again, 162 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 1: there are so many interesting little intricacies when we look 163 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: at this race, and just just to hit you with 164 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: a few of them, because this this actually shocked me. 165 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: My sub stacking pal Tom Ziller came up with this one, 166 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: which I was not aware of. Only three teams in 167 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: the league this season have lost to Charlotte, Detroit and Washington. Charlotte, 168 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 1: Detroit and Washington. Only three teams have lost at least 169 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: once two those three teams at the bottom of the. 170 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 2: Standings are these are these good teams. 171 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:49,440 Speaker 1: Only one of them is Portland Brooklyn. And sorry, sorry, 172 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:51,200 Speaker 1: I didn't know you. I did not want to do 173 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 1: trivia time. 174 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, I did want to do trivia, but I might 175 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 2: have got I might have gotten sacer Midal because you 176 00:10:58,640 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 2: said Zilla. 177 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, probably that's that just happened. But like, if 178 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:09,079 Speaker 1: Sacramento doesn't get the sixth seed, they're really going to 179 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: point to those losses to the Hornets, Pistons, and Wizards 180 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: at what probably cost them. And now when you go 181 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 1: to Tankathon and you look at remaining strength of schedule, Phoenix, 182 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: with twelve games to go, has the second hardest remaining 183 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:28,359 Speaker 1: schedule in the league in terms of opponent winning percentage 184 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 1: five seventy four. Sacramento is third thirteen games left for 185 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: the Kings a five sixty two opponent winning percentage. Dallas 186 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: is all the way at number twenty two. The Mavericks 187 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: remaining schedule. In their final twelve games, the opponent winning 188 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 1: percentage is four to seventy seven and Dallas needs a 189 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 1: nine to three finish to get to fifty wins. So 190 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 1: it's funny that you were talking about the Pelicans before 191 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: because I had basically, you know, the Pelicans have been 192 00:11:57,480 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 1: so good since February, first of the best teams in 193 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 1: the league, with Zion Williamson playing as well as he 194 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 1: ever has and most importantly just playing just being out there. 195 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: Zion Williamson, as we're recording this, has played in fifty 196 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 1: eight games. His career high is sixty one, so he 197 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 1: is on pace to set a career high in games play. 198 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 1: People will obviously point to the fact that his rebounding 199 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 1: numbers are still sub part. Zion is only pulling down 200 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: five point eight rebounds per game, that is a career low, 201 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 1: but the balls in his hands more. He's up to 202 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 1: five assists a game. Scoring's a little bit down. His 203 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: minutes are a little bit down. He's only playing thirty 204 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: one minutes a game compared to thirty three minutes the 205 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 1: previous two seasons, and there was a season in there 206 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 1: that he lost completely to injury. But they've cut his 207 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 1: minutes down just a little bit, and they're getting the 208 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:01,439 Speaker 1: most all around productive play that the Pelicans have ever 209 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: had for Zion Williamson, and he's headed for a career 210 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 1: high in games played and his first playoff appearance. But 211 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: I had the Pelicans, I basically had just considered them. 212 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: They were going for fourth in the West to try 213 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,000 Speaker 1: to bump the Clippers down. And now with this brandon 214 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 1: Ingram injury, that could drag the Pelicans back down with 215 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 1: the MAVs and the Kings and the Suns in the 216 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 1: six to eight race, because the Mavericks, as of the 217 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: Friday standings were only a game and a half behind 218 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 1: New Orleans. I mean, this is what I'm talking about. 219 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 1: This is again, It's not the kind of March madness 220 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 1: that leads to office pools all over the country and 221 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 1: commercials on your TV all day long. But every night 222 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: in the NBA you have to dial into the standings 223 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 1: because weird stuff is happening and things are changing. 224 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 2: A couple of weeks ago, Stein, you know, talking about 225 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 2: the Sacramento Kings. I don't have the numbers on me 226 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 2: at hand right now, but you know they struggle against 227 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 2: lower level opponents, and they exceed against the high level opponents. 228 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 2: So my brother, who Mark Kings, who covers the Kings 229 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 2: for the Sacramento Observer newspaper, he asks, Dearon Fox a 230 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 2: couple of weeks ago, does it concern you guys that 231 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 2: you guys don't seem to play with the ferber needed 232 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 2: and energy level needed to beat these lower level opponents, 233 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 2: but then you guys rise to theication against high echelon teams. 234 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 2: And Fox said, yeah, there is a concern. You know, 235 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 2: we definitely need to take our opponents seriously. But uh, 236 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 2: you know, on the other end, you know, we're playing 237 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 2: good against high level teams. So if we get in 238 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 2: the playoffs, I guess we'll be playing good because all 239 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 2: the days of the playoffs. So Kings just want to 240 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 2: get into the playoffs. They feel like they would be 241 00:14:57,560 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 2: in a good shot. They just got to get past 242 00:14:59,880 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 2: the the Washington's and the Toronto's and the Charlottees. Once 243 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 2: they get past that, they feel like they'll be in 244 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 2: good shape when they have to face Denver and OKC 245 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 2: in Minnesota. 246 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: Well, I'm not sure that I can echo that pretty 247 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 1: optimistic view from the Yaron Fox, but look, he is 248 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 1: correct what you cited about your brothers reporting and just 249 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 1: the Kings in general. Look, it is true there are 250 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 1: only eight teams in the league with winning records against 251 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: five hundred or better opposition, and the Kings are one 252 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 1: of those eight teams. The Kings are twenty two and 253 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: twenty one against five hundred or better opposition, And again 254 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 1: that's true, there are only eight such teams. Sacramento can 255 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: feel good about being one of those eight. But like 256 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 1: I said, if they end up seventh or eighth or 257 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: just and look, if they end up seventh or eighth, 258 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 1: they're gonna have to go through the playing round, and 259 00:15:55,400 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 1: that playing round is brutal. They're really going to rue 260 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: the fact that they dropped games to the Charlotte Hornets 261 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 1: and the Detroit Pistons and on Wednesday night in Washington 262 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 1: to the Wizards, like you just you know, those are 263 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 1: particularly damaging losses. And no bracket here but scoreboard watching, 264 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 1: and I feel like I click on the NBA standings 265 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 1: like ten times a day looking for hints, clues, trends 266 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: that might tell us what's going to happen next, because 267 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 1: I mean, this is another crazy stat. The Chicago Bulls 268 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: thirty four and thirty five before they lost Thursday night 269 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: to Houston, so that loss dropped the Bulls to thirty 270 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: four and thirty six. But Chicago is now flirting with 271 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: getting over five hundred if the Bulls can finish eight 272 00:16:56,520 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: and four, which is probably optimistic given their injury woes. 273 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 1: No Zach Lavine, no Patrick Williams, obviously no Lonzo Ball, 274 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 1: although this week our guy Casey Johnson and Chicago reported 275 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: that there's some kind of the first rumblings of positivity 276 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 1: about Lonzo coming back next season, which I think, obviously 277 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: people would love to see. But if let's just say 278 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 1: the Bulls can muster an eight and four finish, if 279 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:27,399 Speaker 1: they do, that will give the NBA nineteen teams with 280 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 1: a winning record this season. That would be a single 281 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: season record. There has never been more than nineteen teams 282 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: in the NBA with a winning record in one season. 283 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: I mean, even with eighteen, that would tie the records. 284 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:41,399 Speaker 1: I mean not just think about that that it's a 285 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 1: thirty team league and there's a chance that nineteen of 286 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 1: the thirty teams are going to post a winning record 287 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:50,919 Speaker 1: this season. It just kind of also shows you what 288 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:54,879 Speaker 1: the bottom of the league the Charlottes, the Detroits, the Washingtons, 289 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: the San Antonios have just been so bad and have 290 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 1: struggled so much. You got through Portland in there as well. 291 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 1: Whereas in Memphis, I think Memphis, which has had this 292 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 1: hollacious string of injuries, obviously John Morant only playing in 293 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:12,959 Speaker 1: nine games, the Grizzlies play super hard and are a 294 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 1: tougher out, But these the bottom five have just been 295 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:21,480 Speaker 1: such bottom feeders that it's certainly contributed to the possibility 296 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 1: that night. I can't believe nineteen teams in the league 297 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 1: the winning record, it's probably gonna end up eighteen. I 298 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 1: don't think Chicago really has an eight and four finish 299 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,239 Speaker 1: in them, but let's see, let's see if they can 300 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: surprise us. 301 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 2: I have a question for you regarding that. So the 302 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:39,399 Speaker 2: eighteen and nineteen, whatever number it is, do you think 303 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:42,439 Speaker 2: the play in format has anything to do with that? 304 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:47,640 Speaker 1: Well, I think yeah. I mean, I guess you would 305 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:51,400 Speaker 1: have to say more teams are trying. You know, teams 306 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:55,679 Speaker 1: that are in range of the tenth seed certainly have 307 00:18:55,840 --> 00:19:00,440 Speaker 1: more incentive to play all the way through the eighty 308 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 1: two game finish line. And that's one of the things 309 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 1: that the league definitely prioritized and why the league loves 310 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:11,159 Speaker 1: the playing tournament because you know, the NBA loves to 311 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 1: put out lines that say, so, what is it now? 312 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 1: Eleven teams in the West, and this is actually, you 313 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:22,120 Speaker 1: know what, it's actually low for this season. Normally at 314 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: this point in the season, you know, the league would 315 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:27,119 Speaker 1: love to say there are still twenty four or twenty 316 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 1: five teams who are still alive, and it really is 317 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: only there are only twenty one teams available for the 318 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 1: twenty postseason spots. In the West, you know, again, Utah 319 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 1: has you know, they are not trying to win games 320 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: right now, Memphis, Portland, San Antonio, they're already out of it. 321 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 1: So in the West, Houston has made this unexpected surge 322 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: that they're still in the play in mix. But in 323 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:57,359 Speaker 1: the East, you know, we know our ten teams. Mathematically, 324 00:19:57,440 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 1: you could say Brooklyn is still in the race for 325 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 1: the number ten seed, but the Nets were four and 326 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 1: a half games behind number ten Atlanta entering Friday's play 327 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 1: and the Nets have been trending in the wrong direction 328 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:15,239 Speaker 1: since December. So again, mathematically, the Nets are still in 329 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: the race for a top ten spot. But I really 330 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 1: think in the East, our top ten is decided, and 331 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:25,119 Speaker 1: again in the West, I think most people thought that 332 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 1: the top ten was decided until the Rockets kind of 333 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 1: went on this late surge, and I have to say, 334 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 1: like Coach of the Year, I don't think emy Udoka 335 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 1: is gonna win, but to have Houston this competitive this 336 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:43,440 Speaker 1: late in the season, he should at least be mentioned. 337 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 1: You know, Coach of the Year I think is probably 338 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:54,400 Speaker 1: I would say Orlando's Jamal Moseley, Oklahoma City's Mark Dagnault, 339 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: and Minnesota's Chris Finch. I think they're probably at the top, 340 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 1: But I would say Willie Green in New Orleans, Emi Udoka, 341 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 1: and Houston JB. Bickerstaff in Cleveland. I think these guys 342 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 1: deserve shout outs too. And then you know Joe Missoula 343 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 1: kind of like Jason Tatum's MVP case. The Celtics are 344 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: so good that in a weird way, that's probably gonna 345 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: work against Joe Miszoula in the Coach of the Year chase. 346 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:25,679 Speaker 1: When it comes to Coach of the Year, we typically 347 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 1: see teams that overachieve in surprise and win more than 348 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:35,639 Speaker 1: they were supposed to. It's it's rarely given to a 349 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 1: team with the runaway best record. But I guess we'll see. 350 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:41,920 Speaker 1: I guess we'll see how it plays out. 351 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:43,679 Speaker 2: All right. So I'm glad you brought that up. I 352 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 2: agree with what you said just now, and it reminds 353 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 2: me of a conundrum that I've been thinking about contemplating 354 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 2: over the last couple of days. So this new award 355 00:21:55,880 --> 00:22:00,199 Speaker 2: has been around for last few years, the Clutch Player 356 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 2: of the Year award. Right, So, just like all other awards, 357 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 2: different writers or different coaches or who's ever voting, they 358 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 2: have different requirements, They're looking at different things, they evaluate 359 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 2: the game differently, they're looking at different metrics, so to 360 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 2: each his own. But with this clutch award, right, so 361 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 2: you got leaders, you have players who are the leaders 362 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 2: in clutch points. I believe Steph is number one. I 363 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:36,200 Speaker 2: want to say DeMar Derozi number two, Damian Lillard maybe three. 364 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:42,359 Speaker 2: But my question to you Stein, obviously there's value in 365 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 2: having the most clutch points, but are you really clutch 366 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 2: if your team doesn't make the playoffs, Because the way 367 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 2: I'm looking at it, I would look at it. Yeah, 368 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 2: clutch points definitely you have to have. You have to 369 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:02,439 Speaker 2: be top five clutch points. But then I'm looking at 370 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 2: your team as well, and so how how do you 371 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 2: think most people are how do you evaluate that role? 372 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 1: Stan normally, as you know, I like to think that 373 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 1: I've got an answer for anything you're gonna ask me. 374 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 1: But it's interesting, I have not officially voted since twenty seventeen. 375 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:24,199 Speaker 1: The Clutch Award did not exist when I did it, 376 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:27,639 Speaker 1: So I have to confess I haven't given huge thought 377 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:29,880 Speaker 1: to the Clutch Player of the Year, which is now 378 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:34,120 Speaker 1: heading into year two, I believe because I never had 379 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:36,239 Speaker 1: to do it before, and so I didn't, you know, 380 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 1: and then last season, I just remember Dearon Fox was 381 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: a runaway candidate in that award, Like it was just 382 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 1: so obvious. Fox's clutch numbers were jump off the page, 383 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 1: and so it was so obvious that he was gonna win. 384 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 1: But there has been a lot of Derozen talk in 385 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:57,919 Speaker 1: the Clutch Player of the Year conversation. And you know, 386 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: your point is obviously valid because the Bulls, whether or 387 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 1: not they can get to forty two and forty at best, 388 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: they're going to be a playing team, so they might 389 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:10,639 Speaker 1: not even make the playoffs. And then yeah, there's your 390 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: you know, there's your conundrum. Should DeMar DeRozan be the 391 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: Clutch Player of the Year if the Bulls don't even 392 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:21,639 Speaker 1: make the playoffs and ballots have to be turned in 393 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 1: April fifteenth this year is not only National Tax Day, 394 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:29,240 Speaker 1: April fifteenth is also the day that voters have to 395 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 1: turn their ballots in the day after the regular season, 396 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 1: so the ballots for all the regular season awards will 397 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: be turned in before the play and round takes place, 398 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 1: so we won't even know if the Bulls are a 399 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 1: playoff team. I tend to think DeRozan is going to 400 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: win it. There's just been I just keep hearing his 401 00:24:47,960 --> 00:24:53,160 Speaker 1: name for this award more and more. But I don't 402 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: know that I have a great answer on this one. 403 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:57,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's that's one that I'm stuck with. And I 404 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:00,640 Speaker 2: haven't voted in the last few years, but I will 405 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 2: vote this year. 406 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:04,639 Speaker 1: You will, so one there will be There will be 407 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 1: one official end of season awards ballot cast by the 408 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:11,360 Speaker 1: cast of this league uncut. 409 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 2: Yes, I'll represent both of us. I haven't did much 410 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 2: digging on numbers in stats and metrics yet, but I'm 411 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 2: just trying to figure out for this award, should winning 412 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 2: be a high priority or not because you can score 413 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 2: a ton of points in the clutch and your team 414 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:39,439 Speaker 2: still loses. You know, you can score a lot of 415 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:42,440 Speaker 2: points from the five minute mark to the two minute mark, 416 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:45,159 Speaker 2: but the last two minutes or the last one minute 417 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:46,200 Speaker 2: you go over. 418 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:50,360 Speaker 1: Well. Look, I think winning and success should and has 419 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:53,440 Speaker 1: to be a priority. If we're talking about clutchness, can't 420 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:56,040 Speaker 1: we make the case that the Bulls have been shorthanded 421 00:25:56,240 --> 00:26:01,520 Speaker 1: all year long, no Lonzo ball at all, barely any 422 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 1: Zach Levine, and so DeMar de Rosen has had to 423 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:10,560 Speaker 1: carry a huge load without the two guys that were 424 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:14,719 Speaker 1: supposed to start next to him in the backcourt. And 425 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 1: I would say he's been clutch enough to deserve it, 426 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:22,440 Speaker 1: even though the Bulls are again just a thirty four 427 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 1: and thirty six team. 428 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:28,240 Speaker 2: Okay, I'm not disqualifying Jamar. I'm not. I'm trying to 429 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 2: for the first time having to vote and evaluate this 430 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:35,360 Speaker 2: award process, Like I'm trying to figure out, like what 431 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:38,120 Speaker 2: do I really value or what should be valued when 432 00:26:38,119 --> 00:26:42,679 Speaker 2: it comes to this award. So, using your example, you're saying, hey, 433 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:45,119 Speaker 2: Jamar is doing a hell of a job with the 434 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 2: team that he has available because a lot of their 435 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 2: big guns haven't been able to suit up. Okay, now, 436 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:58,199 Speaker 2: take a player who's averaging thirty five for the season, 437 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:01,679 Speaker 2: is clearly probably the best player in the league, but 438 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 2: his team hasn't shown up. He had key players injured, 439 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:10,960 Speaker 2: But you can make a case that he's the MVP 440 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:13,640 Speaker 2: because he's the best player. So I don't I don't 441 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:15,800 Speaker 2: know that that Like, I don't know that I buy 442 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:19,399 Speaker 2: credence to that argument stint of a person that is 443 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:22,800 Speaker 2: doing you. You play with what you have, You play 444 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 2: with what you have. I don't know that I'm evaluating 445 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 2: based off of who's not in the lineup. You play 446 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 2: with what you have and the results speak. So again, 447 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 2: I'm not disqualifying tomorrow. I'm trying to figure out, Okay, 448 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 2: how do I evaluate this award? How do I evaluate, 449 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:44,920 Speaker 2: like what really matters? 450 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:46,760 Speaker 1: I'm glad that you voting and not me. 451 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:52,439 Speaker 2: I'm trying, you know, I want to you know, I 452 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:55,439 Speaker 2: want to do my due diligence, that's all. This is 453 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:58,119 Speaker 2: just a tough one because if you you know, you 454 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:01,040 Speaker 2: could be clutched on again said you can be clutched, 455 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 2: but your team is not in the playoff picture. I'm like, 456 00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 2: were you clutch enough, Like I don't know, I'm just 457 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 2: thinking out loud. Just think it out loud. 458 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:12,159 Speaker 1: Look, clutch is a hard one. And again I'm fully 459 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:15,919 Speaker 1: admitting here that I haven't studied it super closely or 460 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:19,560 Speaker 1: formulated what my philosophy would be on it because I've 461 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:23,080 Speaker 1: never had to do it. Whereas MVP, even though I 462 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:25,159 Speaker 1: have not voted, this will be the seventh year in 463 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 1: a row that I haven't officially voted. But I do 464 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 1: have a better idea when it comes to what I 465 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 1: consider the six traditional individual awards that I've always voted 466 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 1: on MVP Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year, 467 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 1: Defensive Player of the Year, most Improved Player of the Year, 468 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 1: and six Man of the Year. So I'm much better 469 00:28:51,160 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 1: versed in those six and I'm gonna let you figure 470 00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 1: out Clutch Player of the Year. You you can come 471 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 1: up with formula, you can come up with you. 472 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:03,440 Speaker 2: I appreciate that. 473 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 1: This league uncut formula, unclutch Player of the Year MVP. 474 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:10,360 Speaker 1: Now I did earlier this week, I did a whole 475 00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 1: tvessay for Bally Sports Southwest on the MVP race. I 476 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 1: really feel as we've now moved inside a month to 477 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:25,240 Speaker 1: GOO basically, as of Monday, there were four full weeks 478 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:28,800 Speaker 1: left in the regular season, so we're almost down now 479 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:31,960 Speaker 1: to three full weeks left in the regular season. My 480 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 1: feeling at this point, I think only three guys can 481 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:42,959 Speaker 1: win MVP. I think Jokers in the lead. SGA is 482 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 1: his closest pursuer, and if the Thunder end up with 483 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:49,080 Speaker 1: the number one seed in the West, that is certainly 484 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:52,800 Speaker 1: going to help SGA's case and maybe sway some votes 485 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:54,960 Speaker 1: away from the Joker. And then I think Luca is 486 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:59,080 Speaker 1: the only other candidate who could get in there and 487 00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:03,440 Speaker 1: real realistically, even though the Mavericks had a slew of 488 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:06,480 Speaker 1: injuries for the first part of the season before the 489 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:10,640 Speaker 1: trade deadline, before they changed their roster. And you know, 490 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 1: this speaks to some of what you were talking about 491 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:15,640 Speaker 1: with the Clutch Player of the Year award. You know, 492 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:18,560 Speaker 1: should Luca be punished for that that he was playing 493 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:23,480 Speaker 1: with such a severely understrength roster around him, because Lucas 494 00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 1: gonna win his first scoring title. But typically, you know, 495 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 1: I hear a lot of talk the question gets posed 496 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:33,200 Speaker 1: often in Dallas. What seed do the Mavericks have to 497 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:36,239 Speaker 1: be for Luca to win the MVP Award? And I 498 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:40,479 Speaker 1: have to say, in my experience, at least voters my age, 499 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:44,200 Speaker 1: or what I would consider my generation, I never really 500 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 1: heard voters focusing on the seeding, whether a team was fourth, fifth, sixth, seven, third. 501 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:54,080 Speaker 1: The bar always was fifty wins. Does a player have 502 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:58,480 Speaker 1: fifty wins to be in the MVP conversation? And Dallas, 503 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:01,200 Speaker 1: as I mentioned before, the Mavericks would need a nine 504 00:31:01,240 --> 00:31:04,640 Speaker 1: to three finish to get to fifty wins. But there 505 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:08,360 Speaker 1: are then the two very recent examples that people cite 506 00:31:08,440 --> 00:31:12,400 Speaker 1: of MVPs who were not on teams that won fifty. 507 00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 1: One of the Jokers two MVPs, they didn't win fifty. 508 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:19,400 Speaker 1: I'm pretty sure that was the year though he had 509 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:23,480 Speaker 1: to play a lot without Jamal Murray. And then Russell 510 00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:28,520 Speaker 1: Westbrook is the even more prominent example because Westbrook won 511 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:32,200 Speaker 1: MVP on a forty seven win Thunder team the year 512 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 1: after Kevin Durant left, and of course, Russell Westbrook averaged 513 00:31:36,280 --> 00:31:39,040 Speaker 1: a triple double. He was the first player to average 514 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:41,480 Speaker 1: a triple double going all the way back to the 515 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:45,120 Speaker 1: Big O Oscar Robertson, and with forty seven wins and 516 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:50,120 Speaker 1: a triple double average, that was enough for Westbrook to 517 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:51,560 Speaker 1: get through and win the MVP. 518 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:56,880 Speaker 2: So I think for the most part time for me, 519 00:31:57,240 --> 00:31:58,680 Speaker 2: I would speak for me, and I think a lot 520 00:31:58,720 --> 00:32:01,480 Speaker 2: of voters feel this way. That you know, winning is big, 521 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:06,320 Speaker 2: winning is its significant. That's why most should I say 522 00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 2: most Without knowing the numbers, I would say a lot 523 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:13,360 Speaker 2: of MVPs have come from teams who hold the number 524 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:18,440 Speaker 2: one seed in either conference whatever. So with that being said, 525 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 2: winning is important. But there have been seasons where as 526 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:27,040 Speaker 2: you mentioned, the Joker won with a team that was 527 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 2: in the high forties and wins Russell Westbrook his year. 528 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:34,840 Speaker 2: But I think those years right. Whenever an MVP comes 529 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:40,200 Speaker 2: from a team that's in the forties in the win category, typically, 530 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:43,480 Speaker 2: to me, that means that there just wasn't a clear 531 00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:50,720 Speaker 2: cut another MVP candidate out there, Like it was open. 532 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:53,280 Speaker 2: It's wide open, just like this one. I think it's 533 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 2: pretty open. Yeah, I think the favorite right now is 534 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:03,480 Speaker 2: the Joker, but there's room. Like we see scenarios if 535 00:33:03,520 --> 00:33:06,560 Speaker 2: this played out, if this played if this situation played 536 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:10,000 Speaker 2: out this way, if this other situation over in the 537 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 2: East plays out that way, then we can see this 538 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:18,080 Speaker 2: player leap fraud the Joker hypothetically, right, so we see 539 00:33:18,120 --> 00:33:22,440 Speaker 2: scenarios of which where things can happen, you know, But 540 00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:26,200 Speaker 2: a lot of times when again, when you see players 541 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:29,600 Speaker 2: that win from the team from the mid forties and 542 00:33:29,640 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 2: in the victory category, a lot of times there's just 543 00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:36,920 Speaker 2: not a clear cut MVP opponent out there prospect, I 544 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:40,120 Speaker 2: should say, so, I think that's the case. But this year, yes, 545 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:44,840 Speaker 2: I think the Joker is his to lose. There's still 546 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:47,000 Speaker 2: time for him to lose it. I don't know if 547 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:51,480 Speaker 2: he's going to lose it though, And Luca, I don't know. 548 00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:55,719 Speaker 2: Stein I would like to give Tatum, show Tatum some 549 00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:58,920 Speaker 2: love over there, what they're doing with Boston. You know, 550 00:33:59,120 --> 00:34:04,160 Speaker 2: I know he's not probably in people's most people's top three. 551 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, how mad is he? 552 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:10,480 Speaker 2: I wouldn't say he's mad. He he he gave credit 553 00:34:10,920 --> 00:34:16,080 Speaker 2: to the Joker. He he actually called him out, unprompted, 554 00:34:16,280 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 2: called out the Joker, said what he's doing, he's having 555 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:23,560 Speaker 2: an unbelievable year. You can't dismiss him. He called out 556 00:34:23,719 --> 00:34:27,400 Speaker 2: SGA as well. So his problem is just like with 557 00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:30,560 Speaker 2: a lot of other players, it's that like he wants 558 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:33,239 Speaker 2: to know, how are you judging? He said, because for 559 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:37,440 Speaker 2: a long time the trend has been the MVP is 560 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:42,160 Speaker 2: mostly coming from the team with the best record, and 561 00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:44,960 Speaker 2: he was like, and then something changed, He said, so 562 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:47,640 Speaker 2: what is it now? You know? So, and that's hard, Like, 563 00:34:47,680 --> 00:34:50,799 Speaker 2: that's hard to answer because each voter has their own 564 00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:55,360 Speaker 2: different set of requirements that it takes to get their vote. 565 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:58,000 Speaker 2: So you know that that's that's what he's frustrated about. 566 00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:02,680 Speaker 2: But he gave credit and he acknowledged those two in particular. 567 00:35:03,640 --> 00:35:05,799 Speaker 2: He definitely believes he should be in a conversation though. 568 00:35:06,719 --> 00:35:08,440 Speaker 1: All Right, I've got to do a little bit of 569 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:12,520 Speaker 1: clarifying here because I made the mistake of trusting my memory, which, 570 00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:15,480 Speaker 1: as you know and as listeners of the show, no, 571 00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:18,799 Speaker 1: probably never a good idea at this point because my 572 00:35:18,920 --> 00:35:22,000 Speaker 1: memory continues to fade by the day. So it was 573 00:35:22,080 --> 00:35:27,279 Speaker 1: actually the second of Jokic's MVPs in the twenty one 574 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:32,240 Speaker 1: to twenty two season that the Nuggets only won forty 575 00:35:32,239 --> 00:35:36,520 Speaker 1: eight games and Jokic won the MVP. Yokic beat out 576 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:40,120 Speaker 1: Joe l Embiid in the twenty twenty one to twenty 577 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:45,240 Speaker 1: two MVP race, and the Nuggets did not have fifty wins. 578 00:35:45,320 --> 00:35:48,120 Speaker 1: They were only a six seed, So why did Yokic 579 00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:52,600 Speaker 1: win MVP that year. It wasn't just because he averaged 580 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:57,120 Speaker 1: twenty seven and fourteen and eight. The Nuggets played the 581 00:35:57,200 --> 00:36:01,200 Speaker 1: twenty one to twenty two season without Jamal Murray at all. 582 00:36:01,360 --> 00:36:06,000 Speaker 1: Murray missed that entire season, and also they were largely 583 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:09,879 Speaker 1: without Michael Porter Junior. So that's why again the two 584 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:17,200 Speaker 1: times it's only happened twice since the early eighties. Before 585 00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:22,640 Speaker 1: Westbrook in twenty seventeen and before the second of Jokic's 586 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:25,640 Speaker 1: two MVPs, you had to go all the way back 587 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:28,840 Speaker 1: to the early eighties for an MVP who did not 588 00:36:29,560 --> 00:36:31,880 Speaker 1: play on a fifty win team, and that was Moses 589 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:36,720 Speaker 1: Malone in Houston early nineteen eighties. After that, every MVP 590 00:36:37,480 --> 00:36:42,200 Speaker 1: to Tatum's point came from a fifty win team. The 591 00:36:42,239 --> 00:36:46,440 Speaker 1: two exceptions in that forty ish year span. The two 592 00:36:46,480 --> 00:36:50,920 Speaker 1: exceptions Russell Westbrook on a forty seven win Thunder team 593 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:54,400 Speaker 1: averaging a triple double for the season, the first triple 594 00:36:54,480 --> 00:37:00,319 Speaker 1: double since Oscar Robertson, and then Nikola Jokic on a 595 00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:03,320 Speaker 1: forty eight win Denver team. Okay, fine, they were seeded 596 00:37:03,360 --> 00:37:06,239 Speaker 1: sixth if you want to focus on seedings, but they 597 00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:09,800 Speaker 1: won forty eight games, playing the entire season without Jamal 598 00:37:09,920 --> 00:37:15,640 Speaker 1: Murray his main sidekick. So that's why Russ and Jokic 599 00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:19,760 Speaker 1: won those MVPs. And look, I feel sympathy for Tatum 600 00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:21,920 Speaker 1: because he's had a great season, He's had a great 601 00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:26,239 Speaker 1: leadership season. And I'm sure this isn't fair. I said 602 00:37:26,239 --> 00:37:28,239 Speaker 1: similar stuff when we were talking Coach of the Year 603 00:37:28,719 --> 00:37:33,200 Speaker 1: about Joe Mizzoula. But the Celtics have been so good that, 604 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:36,120 Speaker 1: just as an observer, I think it's going to work 605 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:40,239 Speaker 1: against Tatum in MVP voting because when you look at 606 00:37:40,239 --> 00:37:42,239 Speaker 1: Tatum's team, not only does he have an All Star 607 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:46,000 Speaker 1: next to him and Jalen Brown, you've got Porzingis and 608 00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:50,800 Speaker 1: Drew Holliday, former All Stars that are flip flopping between 609 00:37:50,840 --> 00:37:53,400 Speaker 1: third and fourth best player in the league. Derek White 610 00:37:53,480 --> 00:37:57,799 Speaker 1: as your fifth best player is he's an incredibly valuable 611 00:37:57,800 --> 00:38:00,799 Speaker 1: player as your fifth best guy. And so I think, 612 00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:05,040 Speaker 1: both for Tatum and MVP discussion and Missoula in Coach 613 00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:09,480 Speaker 1: of the Year discussion, Boston has such quality in its 614 00:38:09,520 --> 00:38:12,479 Speaker 1: top five to six guys and we haven't even gotten 615 00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:17,000 Speaker 1: to Al Horford as the sixth man. Old head. My 616 00:38:17,160 --> 00:38:19,600 Speaker 1: suspicion is. It's probably going to work against him. 617 00:38:19,760 --> 00:38:23,120 Speaker 2: Peyton Critch is pretty good too. Uh yeah, no, it 618 00:38:23,160 --> 00:38:26,480 Speaker 2: probably will. And I think he could largely understand that. 619 00:38:26,520 --> 00:38:29,080 Speaker 2: He just wants to like, Okay, what's the criteria? What 620 00:38:29,160 --> 00:38:30,960 Speaker 2: do you guys? How are you guys evaluate? 621 00:38:31,640 --> 00:38:36,279 Speaker 1: Well, and look, he's asking the question that voters have 622 00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:40,560 Speaker 1: been asking for decades. There is no criteria. Yeah, you know, 623 00:38:40,640 --> 00:38:42,960 Speaker 1: you've seen the ballot, you get it. You know there 624 00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:46,120 Speaker 1: is no listed criteria. It is an eye of the beholder. 625 00:38:46,520 --> 00:38:49,560 Speaker 1: Every single voter can bring their own rules to it, 626 00:38:49,760 --> 00:38:52,600 Speaker 1: and so there are no rules, and it really does 627 00:38:52,719 --> 00:38:57,239 Speaker 1: change season to season, and every voter has their own criteria. 628 00:38:57,320 --> 00:39:01,440 Speaker 1: So that does complicate the process. And I do certainly 629 00:39:01,560 --> 00:39:03,440 Speaker 1: understand Jason Tatum's frustration. 630 00:39:15,640 --> 00:39:18,759 Speaker 2: Did I tell you about my running with Pat Bev 631 00:39:19,640 --> 00:39:23,520 Speaker 2: a few days ago? Starn? No, you did not, So 632 00:39:24,640 --> 00:39:27,520 Speaker 2: do you remember recall because I did this, I think 633 00:39:27,560 --> 00:39:30,799 Speaker 2: we were doing this podcast then we might we might 634 00:39:30,840 --> 00:39:35,799 Speaker 2: have missed it. So when Pat Beab was with the Lakers, 635 00:39:36,400 --> 00:39:38,160 Speaker 2: when he had just signed with the Lakers, so I 636 00:39:38,239 --> 00:39:41,880 Speaker 2: was doing media day for NBA TV, and you know, 637 00:39:41,960 --> 00:39:44,879 Speaker 2: you get to when I'm doing media. When I'm doing 638 00:39:44,920 --> 00:39:48,880 Speaker 2: media day for NBA TV or TNT, they'll arrange for 639 00:39:49,080 --> 00:39:51,319 Speaker 2: players to come over and spend some time with me 640 00:39:51,360 --> 00:39:54,560 Speaker 2: and give me some interviews. So that year I got 641 00:39:54,640 --> 00:39:58,239 Speaker 2: Lebron to come over. I got a d and they 642 00:39:58,280 --> 00:40:01,319 Speaker 2: had just signed Pat Bev and I got Pat and 643 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:04,960 Speaker 2: so there was a question that NBA TV needed me 644 00:40:05,080 --> 00:40:09,239 Speaker 2: to ask players about Lebron. So the question was I 645 00:40:09,280 --> 00:40:12,040 Speaker 2: had to ask each player who came over, what's your 646 00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:17,200 Speaker 2: fondest memory of Lebron James? No, no, no, no no. 647 00:40:17,280 --> 00:40:23,160 Speaker 2: The question was what is your best highlight moment by 648 00:40:23,239 --> 00:40:25,799 Speaker 2: Lebron James. So everybody had to come and say, hey, 649 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:29,400 Speaker 2: it was the time he blocked equal dollars shot in 650 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:35,120 Speaker 2: the finals, it was the posterized dunk over Jason Terror whatever. 651 00:40:36,520 --> 00:40:39,960 Speaker 2: So I asked everybody. Everybody's cooperating. Then I go to 652 00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:44,080 Speaker 2: Pat Bell. I asked Pat Bell, same question, was your 653 00:40:44,080 --> 00:40:48,719 Speaker 2: favorite highlight of Lebron James? And Pat Bev says the 654 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:52,280 Speaker 2: block I had against him last year. So he talked, 655 00:40:52,840 --> 00:40:55,960 Speaker 2: he's talking about he knew what he knew what I 656 00:40:56,080 --> 00:40:58,880 Speaker 2: met with my question, but he goes, he flipped it. 657 00:40:58,920 --> 00:41:01,160 Speaker 2: Talk about the block he had against Lebron. That was 658 00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:06,319 Speaker 2: the best highlight you've seen of Lebron. So and this 659 00:41:06,360 --> 00:41:09,120 Speaker 2: is where I have to take some blame for this 660 00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:11,439 Speaker 2: because this is where me and Pat kind of got 661 00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:14,600 Speaker 2: into it. So I go Lebron. Lebron's the last player 662 00:41:15,560 --> 00:41:20,080 Speaker 2: I get on media day, and I told him what 663 00:41:20,160 --> 00:41:22,080 Speaker 2: Pat Bev said. But the way I said it, I 664 00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:27,319 Speaker 2: was like, Hey, Bron, I'm asking players this question and 665 00:41:27,440 --> 00:41:30,760 Speaker 2: everybody's saying this. And then I said, in this food, 666 00:41:30,840 --> 00:41:33,560 Speaker 2: Pat Bev is going to say, Hey, the highlight I 667 00:41:33,880 --> 00:41:37,759 Speaker 2: like the most is when I blocked him last year. 668 00:41:38,800 --> 00:41:41,960 Speaker 2: And so that went on. Lebron laughed. It was whatever, 669 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:46,520 Speaker 2: it was right, funny moment, and I'll tell you why 670 00:41:46,560 --> 00:41:49,000 Speaker 2: I take some blame. I got too comfortable, That's what 671 00:41:49,080 --> 00:41:53,600 Speaker 2: it was. I just got too comfortable. Anyways, about three 672 00:41:53,640 --> 00:41:58,799 Speaker 2: weeks later, the Lakers come to Sacramento and they played 673 00:41:58,800 --> 00:42:03,600 Speaker 2: the Kings, and after the game, I forgot who won 674 00:42:03,760 --> 00:42:05,839 Speaker 2: or not. After the game, I'm going to the Lakers. I 675 00:42:05,920 --> 00:42:08,160 Speaker 2: was doing this. I was doing something. I believe it 676 00:42:08,200 --> 00:42:10,799 Speaker 2: was destroyed with the earn. So I didn't have time 677 00:42:10,800 --> 00:42:12,399 Speaker 2: to go in the Lakers locker room after the game, 678 00:42:13,280 --> 00:42:15,600 Speaker 2: and so I was like, dang, okay, it's late. I 679 00:42:15,640 --> 00:42:17,560 Speaker 2: know the Lakers are probably gone. Let me go in there. 680 00:42:18,160 --> 00:42:21,879 Speaker 2: So I go in the Lakers' locker room and Pat 681 00:42:21,880 --> 00:42:25,480 Speaker 2: Bead is only there. Nobody else is there. And so 682 00:42:25,520 --> 00:42:28,040 Speaker 2: I looked in there all right, seeing nobody was in there. 683 00:42:28,320 --> 00:42:31,719 Speaker 2: Then I took off. Pat bad was like, come call 684 00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:33,800 Speaker 2: me a food of my face. Come call me a 685 00:42:33,880 --> 00:42:37,439 Speaker 2: food of my face. And I'm like, what like, I'm 686 00:42:37,440 --> 00:42:39,880 Speaker 2: not thinking nothing, thinking nothing, nothing, But it didn't hit me. 687 00:42:39,960 --> 00:42:43,960 Speaker 2: I'm like, oh, oh okay. So I go in there right, 688 00:42:44,680 --> 00:42:47,800 Speaker 2: so it's me and Pat. So Pat was like, you 689 00:42:47,880 --> 00:42:50,359 Speaker 2: calling a grown man a fool. You call a grown 690 00:42:50,400 --> 00:42:52,759 Speaker 2: man of fool on TV? I said, Pat, you know 691 00:42:52,800 --> 00:42:55,239 Speaker 2: I didn't mean it like that. Pat, you know that's 692 00:42:55,280 --> 00:42:57,680 Speaker 2: not the way I intended it. No, man, you don't 693 00:42:57,680 --> 00:42:59,720 Speaker 2: call no grown man of fool. You know he talking 694 00:42:59,840 --> 00:43:03,000 Speaker 2: like Pat, I apologize. You took it like that, But 695 00:43:03,400 --> 00:43:06,800 Speaker 2: I didn't mean no disrespect. I got too comfortable, blah, 696 00:43:06,840 --> 00:43:09,400 Speaker 2: you know that's what Nah. Don't don't don't give me 697 00:43:09,440 --> 00:43:12,600 Speaker 2: that apology here. You know you said that on TV. 698 00:43:12,880 --> 00:43:16,760 Speaker 2: Apologize on TV? I said, Pat bro I'm into it here, man. 699 00:43:17,239 --> 00:43:20,040 Speaker 2: You can take my apology or not that's it, man, 700 00:43:20,160 --> 00:43:22,360 Speaker 2: I slipped up and got too comfortable. That's on me, 701 00:43:23,239 --> 00:43:25,520 Speaker 2: all right, all right, And so you know, walk we 702 00:43:25,640 --> 00:43:28,279 Speaker 2: go our separate ways. I leave, and so Pat ends 703 00:43:28,360 --> 00:43:31,560 Speaker 2: up talking about it on the on his podcast by 704 00:43:31,600 --> 00:43:33,920 Speaker 2: probably a month later, say yeah, I had to check 705 00:43:34,000 --> 00:43:36,759 Speaker 2: Chris Haynes and blah blah blah whatever. So it's funny whatever. 706 00:43:36,960 --> 00:43:39,160 Speaker 2: I even shared the clip. I even shared the clip. 707 00:43:39,480 --> 00:43:42,560 Speaker 2: So anyways, I say all that to say that was 708 00:43:42,600 --> 00:43:45,080 Speaker 2: what two years ago, year and a half ago, when 709 00:43:45,120 --> 00:43:48,439 Speaker 2: he was with the Lakers. So he's in Sacramento last 710 00:43:48,480 --> 00:43:52,680 Speaker 2: week and it's pre game and every all the players 711 00:43:52,680 --> 00:43:55,240 Speaker 2: are shooting shooting out on the court before the game. 712 00:43:55,880 --> 00:43:59,319 Speaker 2: Pat bears out there shooting for the Bucks Bucks Kings game. 713 00:44:00,200 --> 00:44:05,920 Speaker 2: And he gets done shooting and he walks by me. 714 00:44:06,160 --> 00:44:10,920 Speaker 2: I'm sitting down front road. He walks by me. You 715 00:44:10,960 --> 00:44:13,680 Speaker 2: ready to cut work for a fool? I'm like, what 716 00:44:15,160 --> 00:44:16,840 Speaker 2: you say? You're ready to cut work for a fool? 717 00:44:17,600 --> 00:44:19,400 Speaker 2: You know I got money over here, you know TNT 718 00:44:19,560 --> 00:44:21,480 Speaker 2: and I may pay you what you should be paid. 719 00:44:21,840 --> 00:44:23,360 Speaker 2: I got money over You're ready to cut work for 720 00:44:23,400 --> 00:44:26,319 Speaker 2: a fool? Okay, Well, if you're ready, you know where 721 00:44:26,320 --> 00:44:33,759 Speaker 2: to find me. He took off. Sam ain't been sitting 722 00:44:33,800 --> 00:44:36,640 Speaker 2: next to me at this time, Like Sam was that 723 00:44:36,680 --> 00:44:38,280 Speaker 2: passed Wayam offered me a job. 724 00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:44,640 Speaker 1: You know, we made that offer to Draymond Green, which 725 00:44:44,920 --> 00:44:47,880 Speaker 1: you know last season I think I think clinched me 726 00:44:47,920 --> 00:44:50,400 Speaker 1: a podcast Executive of the year war. But we offered 727 00:44:50,400 --> 00:44:54,759 Speaker 1: that lopsided trade to Draymond Green come on our podcast 728 00:44:55,160 --> 00:44:59,520 Speaker 1: and will come on yours. And Draymond Green did join 729 00:44:59,640 --> 00:45:03,960 Speaker 1: us on this league uncut, but I don't think he 730 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:10,799 Speaker 1: feels like he needs us. We haven't been invited to 731 00:45:10,920 --> 00:45:13,319 Speaker 1: fulfill our half of that trade. So basically we got 732 00:45:13,640 --> 00:45:16,000 Speaker 1: we got a Draymond Green appearance. We didn't have to 733 00:45:16,000 --> 00:45:19,719 Speaker 1: trade anything. Do we dare? Do we dare? Do you 734 00:45:19,760 --> 00:45:21,839 Speaker 1: want to? I mean, I don't even know if Pat 735 00:45:21,840 --> 00:45:23,799 Speaker 1: BEV would want me, but maybe he would want you 736 00:45:23,840 --> 00:45:25,759 Speaker 1: to come on his pod and then he comes on 737 00:45:25,800 --> 00:45:28,240 Speaker 1: our pod. Should we should we make that trade offer? 738 00:45:28,320 --> 00:45:31,279 Speaker 2: Well, we were talking about dra Ma. I don't I 739 00:45:31,320 --> 00:45:33,200 Speaker 2: think it's safe to say. I don't think he's holding 740 00:45:33,320 --> 00:45:35,759 Speaker 2: us to the other end of that that deal. I 741 00:45:35,800 --> 00:45:39,640 Speaker 2: think I think his long gone is forgotten about, I think. 742 00:45:39,480 --> 00:45:41,440 Speaker 1: Which makes it an even better trade for us. 743 00:45:43,640 --> 00:45:47,440 Speaker 2: I think, Okay, I'll be in Milwaukee early next week. 744 00:45:47,960 --> 00:45:50,600 Speaker 2: I'll bring it up the PET. I know Pat does 745 00:45:50,680 --> 00:45:55,279 Speaker 2: his He has a co host he does his pod with, 746 00:45:55,800 --> 00:45:58,920 Speaker 2: and they usually when I see them, they usually do 747 00:45:59,000 --> 00:46:01,600 Speaker 2: their pod when together. 748 00:46:01,800 --> 00:46:03,319 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think you have to. I think I think 749 00:46:03,400 --> 00:46:06,000 Speaker 1: you have to be in person to be on his podcast. 750 00:46:06,360 --> 00:46:09,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I think so. I think. So it's start. 751 00:46:09,680 --> 00:46:13,000 Speaker 2: You know, I only see you twice a year, if 752 00:46:13,040 --> 00:46:15,799 Speaker 2: that so, I don't know, if you know, that would 753 00:46:15,840 --> 00:46:17,360 Speaker 2: be hard for both of us to be there. 754 00:46:17,480 --> 00:46:20,840 Speaker 1: Well, because let's not forget that you've been to Dallas 755 00:46:20,920 --> 00:46:23,640 Speaker 1: once this season. I saw you for about seven minutes total, 756 00:46:24,280 --> 00:46:26,839 Speaker 1: and then you were assigned to a second Mavericks game 757 00:46:26,880 --> 00:46:28,440 Speaker 1: and somehow you got switched off it. 758 00:46:29,160 --> 00:46:29,759 Speaker 2: Yeah. 759 00:46:30,040 --> 00:46:33,279 Speaker 1: Maybe I'll see you in the playoffs hopefully. But we did. 760 00:46:33,360 --> 00:46:35,080 Speaker 1: We did get to spend time together at the All 761 00:46:35,080 --> 00:46:35,720 Speaker 1: Star weekend. 762 00:46:35,920 --> 00:46:38,280 Speaker 2: That was cool. That was cool. That was cool. Yeah 763 00:46:38,320 --> 00:46:39,239 Speaker 2: we did. 764 00:46:39,320 --> 00:46:42,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, Well that's a good question. Will we Will we 765 00:46:42,400 --> 00:46:44,480 Speaker 1: end up in the same place. I mean, you obviously 766 00:46:44,520 --> 00:46:46,600 Speaker 1: have no idea yet where you're going for the playoffs. 767 00:46:46,920 --> 00:46:47,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, and. 768 00:46:49,880 --> 00:46:52,880 Speaker 1: You know, I have to be honest traveling for the playoffs, 769 00:46:52,880 --> 00:46:55,840 Speaker 1: I just don't know how much of that I'm really 770 00:46:55,880 --> 00:46:58,800 Speaker 1: doing my old age, but we'll see, we'll see what happens. 771 00:46:58,800 --> 00:47:01,480 Speaker 1: We'll see what the matchups are. Let's before we go, So, 772 00:47:02,160 --> 00:47:07,719 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, you have Lakers at Milwaukee and then Tuesday. 773 00:47:07,280 --> 00:47:09,879 Speaker 2: And then I have Tuesday and then the next day 774 00:47:10,120 --> 00:47:15,680 Speaker 2: I'm joining the NASAs on his podcast, Oh live the 775 00:47:15,719 --> 00:47:16,960 Speaker 2: next day that Wednesday. 776 00:47:17,400 --> 00:47:20,160 Speaker 1: But is it the analysis podcast podcast? 777 00:47:20,200 --> 00:47:24,520 Speaker 2: That's all right, analysis. So I'm looking forward to Uh, 778 00:47:26,200 --> 00:47:29,000 Speaker 2: I'm looking forward to getting with my other cousin doing 779 00:47:29,000 --> 00:47:29,840 Speaker 2: our pod together. 780 00:47:30,640 --> 00:47:38,200 Speaker 1: Man. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Yeah, all right, So we will have 781 00:47:38,280 --> 00:47:41,080 Speaker 1: plenty to talk about next week when we do this again. 782 00:47:41,120 --> 00:47:44,799 Speaker 1: We're working on some special guests as well. Were we're 783 00:47:44,800 --> 00:47:49,759 Speaker 1: in talks. We're in talks with three prominent guests. I 784 00:47:49,800 --> 00:47:52,840 Speaker 1: don't want to spoil who they are, but hopefully at 785 00:47:52,920 --> 00:47:56,520 Speaker 1: least one will come to Fruition very very soon. That's 786 00:47:56,600 --> 00:48:01,480 Speaker 1: going to do it for this edition of this League. Uncut, 787 00:48:02,200 --> 00:48:05,200 Speaker 1: Stein and Haynes will be back with you again. We'll 788 00:48:05,200 --> 00:48:09,680 Speaker 1: be back together again very very soon. Until then, remember, 789 00:48:09,760 --> 00:48:12,680 Speaker 1: please leave us a five star review. Please remember to 790 00:48:12,880 --> 00:48:17,440 Speaker 1: rate and review the show. Follow us via Apple podcasts 791 00:48:17,480 --> 00:48:21,600 Speaker 1: or Spotify podcast wherever you get your pods, and thank 792 00:48:21,640 --> 00:48:26,359 Speaker 1: you everyone so much, and that'll do it for us. 793 00:48:26,640 --> 00:48:30,799 Speaker 1: See you next time. This League Uncut is an iHeartRadio 794 00:48:30,840 --> 00:48:37,920 Speaker 1: production Chris Hanes and Mark Stein