1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: This is straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What is up, everybody, 2 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight fire or Friday May seventh, 3 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: heading into the final weekend of the NBA regular season. 4 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 1: I hope everybody's fired up for that. This time last 5 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: week we were geeked about the NFL Draft. Feels like 6 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: the NFL has taken a brief hiatus, although Aaron Rodgers 7 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: will continue to dominate the news cycle. Um, anybody in 8 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 1: his orbit who's ever played for him is now opening 9 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 1: their mouth and they become a storyline. James Jones, one 10 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 1: of the guys in Green Bay opened his mouth, said 11 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: something on Thursday was a mini brush fire. I think 12 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: they could figure this out in Green Bay. Yeah, obviously 13 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: we know that. Thank you for adding to the discourse, 14 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: James Jones. Um, but we have no Rogers, not nothing 15 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,279 Speaker 1: real that we could sink our teeth into now. So 16 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 1: it's interesting. Rob and I were spitballing ideas for a 17 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: topic today and he noticed a quirk in the All 18 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 1: NBA voting that Nicoleiokich, who is your m v P, 19 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: is listed at forward slash Center, which is the same 20 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: as Joel Embiid, which to me is absolutely comical, Like, 21 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: how seriously can you take the league with Joel ebad 22 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:27,839 Speaker 1: Is suddenly listed as a forward slash center. He never 23 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 1: plays anything but center. Yoki only plays center, and I know, 24 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: position less basketball. Yeah, I get that. Do you want 25 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: to just go big instead of center? Fine, you could 26 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:40,679 Speaker 1: do that. I'm I'm on board with that, But I 27 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: don't know Rob has this crazy idea. I mean I 28 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: actually had to like stop and be like look around. 29 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: You know how you look to this guy like wait, 30 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: what is this real that his first team is missing? 31 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: You know, arguably the greatest scorer in the NBA this season, 32 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: he by the way, leads the league in scoring, and 33 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: I don't know, I can't imagine that he'll be left 34 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 1: off first team. But if you start looking at all NBA, 35 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: it becomes a wacky deal. I mean, listen, there are 36 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: gonna be contracts tied to this um. Whether or not 37 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: you're eligible for the Super Max. You have to be 38 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: an All NBA player, And if you look at the 39 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 1: amount of injuries that have happened, I'll be honest, right 40 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: off the top, I didn't put Lebron as an All 41 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 1: NBA player, and he's missed twenty two games he may 42 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 1: not play another one the rest of the season. And 43 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant has missed twenty nine games. James Harden's if 44 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: you count his Houston games, which I guess you kind 45 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: of sort of have to, He's missed a million games. 46 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:43,239 Speaker 1: So I just didn't put Lebron, Durant, and Harden on 47 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 1: my All NBA list, which opens the floodgates for a 48 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: lot of guys who are having really good seasons to 49 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: sneak in there. The third team is difficult. I'm just 50 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: gonna say this, Rob, before we get started. I don't 51 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 1: like this idea of have to have a center on 52 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: the third team, because it's either gonna be you split 53 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: up your kitchen embiid on one is the first team 54 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 1: centers one is the second team center, or you end 55 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: up crowbarrowing a guy like Clint Cappella, who has been 56 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: outstanding in Atlanta, no doubt about it. Clint Capella has 57 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 1: been very, very good in Atlanta. But under no circumstances 58 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: does anyone with a pulse. I think he's a top 59 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,679 Speaker 1: fIF team player in the NBA. ROB, you would agree 60 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 1: with that, right, agree with that? So that's why this 61 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 1: is a difficult exercise All n b A and frankly, 62 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: with so many teams eligible for the playoffs here with 63 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: about seven games left, it's silly to break down who's 64 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: going where. I mean, I think we'll get a clearer 65 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: picture of that after the weekend. And I'll be honest, like, 66 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: I've got a couple of guys on here that I 67 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: think are gonna surprise some people. And let's get started 68 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: with first team All NBA. And again, not a ton 69 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: can change here in the final seven games. Maybe someone 70 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 1: gets bumped up or down. I mean, if someone misses 71 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: seven more games that that could hurt their cause, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi, 72 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: Leonard Um. Let's start with first team, Rob, I'll rattle 73 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: off a player. You tell me if you have him 74 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: first team or not. Ready, let's do it. Okay, I 75 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 1: have at center Yokich I got him there too. Yeah. 76 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: I don't think there's no disagreement there. There's also gonna 77 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 1: be no disagreement that Luka Dante is here. I have 78 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 1: him at forward. Where do you have him? I have 79 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 1: him as a guard? Interesting, I have Chris Paul as 80 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: a guard. Do you have Chris Paul? I do? And 81 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: let's not forget that I talked him into you. I 82 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: talked to him into you about a week ago. First 83 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 1: Team Chris Paul. I didn't want to put it. I 84 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 1: could full full disclosure. I don't spend a lot of 85 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 1: time pondering All NBA, so I didn't realize this whole 86 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 1: guard forward stuff. Um, Luca Dante is for me as 87 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 1: a forward, for you as a guard. So by process 88 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 1: of elimination, shin you have you don't have Steph Curry 89 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: on your first team All NBA. But real quick, do 90 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: you have Janice on first team? Okay, so we have 91 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:11,040 Speaker 1: four of five. I'm going to give you the floor 92 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: because you were so disrespectful to my favorite player in 93 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: NBA history, the greatest shooter in NBA history, the man 94 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: who leads the league in scoring, the man who is 95 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 1: having a arrival a season statistically that rivals when he 96 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: was the unanimous m v P. That's how good of 97 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 1: a year he's having. His player efficiency rating is higher 98 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: than any guard in the NBA. He's currently eight in 99 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 1: player efficiency rating. I called Jimmy Butler forward. I called 100 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: Kawhia forward. I don't know how you, in good conscience 101 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 1: can leave Steph Curry off first team All NBA. Is 102 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 1: this supposed to be like a tough question, um, because 103 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 1: it's not, and it's not you know, anything against Steph Curry. 104 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 1: Steph Curry has had a great season relative to where 105 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: they are positionally in the standings, and that would have 106 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: comes down to if once once we go through the 107 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: rest of these three All NBA teams first Team, second 108 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: and third team, you'll notice I only have two guys 109 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 1: on here who are not currently slotted in the postseason. 110 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 1: When I say currently slide, I don't mean in the 111 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: play in tournament. That does not count as you make 112 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: Wait a minute, a minute, how is the play in 113 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: tournament not the playoffs? Because you're not in the playoffs yet. 114 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: The playoffs are the top eight teams. Okay, if you 115 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: are in the n c A tournament and you're in 116 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:31,840 Speaker 1: the first four, are you in the n c A 117 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 1: tournament you are in the first four? Okay? What are 118 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:42,840 Speaker 1: you talking about? Math? What's going on here? So if 119 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: you're in the play in, um, you don't think they're 120 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 1: in the playoffs? No? Not not according to the way 121 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 1: I would vote. Now, now we only had to play 122 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: in last year. I'm pretty certain that one of the 123 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: like nine or ten playing teams did not like win 124 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 1: in the first round. Right, That did not happen. That 125 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: did not happen. Even though I was told that the 126 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: Portland Trail Laders were the greatest eight seed in NBA 127 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: history and they were very very good eight seed and 128 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 1: they won Game one against the Lakers, and that being said, Um, 129 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: I don't see it happening this year again. But it 130 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: doesn't mean they're not a playoff team. I mean the 131 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 1: Golden State Warriors are the team that could pull an upset. 132 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: I know that you scoff at that because you know 133 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: they're not that good. Um, san Antonio Spurs, I don't 134 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 1: think anybody believes in And in the East, it gets 135 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: interesting with the Wizards. Um if Westbrook continues to play 136 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: at this rate and Beal continues to do damage and 137 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: Rui Hachimura continues to put up double doubles like it's nothing, Um, 138 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: pacers aren't doing anything. But you know this idea that oh, 139 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: I'm only taking team players from playoff teams, like I 140 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: don't know. Zion is the only guy I have who 141 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: has basically no shot of getting in the playoffs. And 142 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 1: it's currently eleven in the West. But he's only on 143 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: my second team. UM, so let's go to the team 144 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: you can't. Oh no, wait, hold on, hold on. You 145 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 1: did not fully explain why Curry's out, while it's because 146 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: I have decided, even though it makes zero sense to 147 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: me to have both Yokich and m Beat on the 148 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 1: first team. I think throughout this season there's been three 149 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 1: guys who have been pretty clearly at the front of 150 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: the m v P race, Yokich, m Beat, Janice because 151 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: once Lebron got hurt, I think Joanna's kind of leap 152 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: frogged him, and he's he's been in that that range 153 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: most of the season. And because of the quirk, and 154 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: I'm allowed to put both Yokichen and Beat on the 155 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 1: first team, even though I think it's stupid, I have 156 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: no choice but to put them both in because I 157 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 1: can't make a case for anybody that have on the 158 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 1: second team having a better season than either of those two. 159 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:53,599 Speaker 1: And I can't bump your honest so by process of elimination, 160 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 1: I'm running out of spots. And for that reason alone, 161 00:08:57,559 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: I got em Beat and Yogi both on the first team, which, 162 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: as you mentioned right off the top, makes my third 163 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 1: team look really stupid, but it's what it is. We'll 164 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: get to that in a minute. Okay, So I need 165 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 1: to back up. So Joel Embiide makes the first team? Okay, UM, 166 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 1: I am curious for you. You know, seventy two games season, 167 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: a lot of guys injured. What percentage of games is 168 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: a guy needs to play and to make your All NBA? 169 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: Is it? Is it seventy? Is it ninety? Because Lebron 170 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,719 Speaker 1: James has missed a million games and we I think 171 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:33,439 Speaker 1: we both left him off. I don't know if you did, 172 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:36,440 Speaker 1: But Kevin Durant has missed twenty nine games, virtually half 173 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 1: the season. Is he on one of your lists? No? 174 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,839 Speaker 1: But he was a late scratch. Okay, So what is 175 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 1: that number? If a guy plays seven out of every 176 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: ten games, is that sufficient? And what if you play 177 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 1: sixty six out of every ten games? Of the games? 178 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 1: I don't really have a hard and fast rule. I 179 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:58,839 Speaker 1: would definitely say if if you've missed of the season 180 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 1: or more, I'd have a really really hard time putting 181 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 1: you in. You'd have to be exceptional, you know. I 182 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 1: think that. Um. To me, the se number sounds about right. Um, 183 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 1: But again, it's not a hard and fast rule for me, yeah, 184 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: because it it sort of feels like if you're missing 185 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:20,079 Speaker 1: thirty percent of the season, you know, like, how can 186 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: you you're getting extra rest? You know other players are 187 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: jamming in games left and right, because you know what, 188 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 1: we play to win the game. We don't sit out 189 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 1: and hope our teammates and bench warmers do it. Again, 190 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:36,439 Speaker 1: I'm I'm pro load management. I'm not pro Hey man, 191 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: you can miss thirty five percent of the regular season 192 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: and still get honored and make a lot of money 193 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: with All NBA, because you know, we're setting a bad 194 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: precedent here, Rob if you could play sixty five or 195 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 1: sixty six percent of the games and all of a 196 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: sudden you're eligible for All NBA, because all that's gonna 197 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: do is incentivize guys to miss more games. And I 198 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:57,719 Speaker 1: know you want to go to a Lakers game coming 199 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: up right, and you want to go there, and you 200 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: show up and there's like guys sitting out, load managing. 201 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 1: And again I'm I'm pro load managed, but not pro 202 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: thirty of the game sitting out. And that's why I 203 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 1: bump Kawhi Leonard way down the list. And I don't 204 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: have Lebron or any of my teams. I think that's fair. 205 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 1: I mean, I even though I have a difference of opinion, 206 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,680 Speaker 1: I could totally understand where you're coming from. What makes 207 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 1: this season so weird is that sev of the guys 208 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 1: that you would say preseason these are all NBA players 209 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:37,839 Speaker 1: are by that standard basically ineligible. That means you can 210 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:42,599 Speaker 1: include Durant lebron A d James Harden, which to me, 211 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 1: start before the seastart, I would say that was probably 212 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: my first team guy. Fer five first teamers right off 213 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 1: the top. So I I understand exactly what you're saying, 214 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:58,200 Speaker 1: and it's unfortunate that it's come down to this because 215 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:00,320 Speaker 1: I don't want to get to a situation and like 216 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:02,680 Speaker 1: we had I think I want to say it was 217 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:05,559 Speaker 1: two maybe two thousand four, maybe before that, where like 218 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: Jamal mcglore made a third team All NBA and it's 219 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: because the rules were so strict that it was center, forward, guard, 220 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:15,559 Speaker 1: There was no hybrid positions. You just had to pick 221 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: these guys, and that's where that's kind of where we're 222 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: at right now. I think that might be part of 223 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 1: the reason why they listed and beat In Yoki has 224 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:26,200 Speaker 1: guard forward, Luca Lebron things like that, specifically because they 225 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: don't want you to have to leave these guys off, 226 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:31,559 Speaker 1: so you can put in a Trey Young or someone 227 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:35,079 Speaker 1: like that who maybe doesn't really deserve it. Fox Sports 228 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. 229 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 1: Catch all of our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot 230 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: com and within the I Heart Radio app search f 231 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:47,559 Speaker 1: s R to listen live. You know, I obviously had 232 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:52,200 Speaker 1: Curry first team. I I mean, and Beat has been tremendous, 233 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: Like he's an excellent player. Nobody would argue that he's 234 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: second in the league in player efficiency rating, But again, dudes, 235 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: missed ninth teen games. He's played in the sixers games. 236 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 1: If he plays in all six or seven left, that's 237 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 1: obviously helps his cause. He probably bumps up the closer. 238 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 1: Got a strong case for first team, But because I 239 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:15,559 Speaker 1: don't believe in putting a guy like Clint Compella on 240 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: third team, I put em Beat as my second team center, 241 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: my second team forwards. Julius Randall shout out to the 242 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: Knicks and Zion Williamson. And I'm sure people are gonna 243 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 1: complain about Zion and say, oh, come on, he's not 244 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: even in the playoffs. How good is he? Okay, he's 245 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 1: fourth in player efficiency rating. He has the most points 246 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: in the paint in the league. The guy is a 247 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: automatic bucket. It do not penalize him because the GM 248 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 1: put together a bad group around him, and because the 249 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: coach has done an awful job, Like I'm never can 250 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: a guy after one year, but Stevan Gutt he has 251 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:55,079 Speaker 1: been terrible, awful, and I don't like the supporting cast, 252 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: and I'm not penalizing Zion. Zion Williams has been undeniably 253 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: of the ten best players in the NBA. I don't 254 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: think you could get if you asked every GM, all 255 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 1: thirty g M, do you line them up? Has Zion 256 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: been a top ten player in the league this year? 257 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 1: They would, I guarantee you twenty seven of thirty would 258 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 1: say yes. That's how dominant and unblockable, unstoppable Zion Williamson 259 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: has been. So I cannot in good conscious leave him 260 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 1: off my second team. My guards as such are Paul George, 261 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 1: who is a forward but he's listed a guard, and 262 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: Damian Lillard, who has been excellent. Um, you know, Portland 263 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: kind of staggering to the finish here once again. They've 264 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 1: had injuries. But I mean, Damian Lillard is just such 265 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: an excellent player. Um, Frankly, if you asked me who 266 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 1: would rather have Damian Lillard or Chris Paul, I would 267 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: take Damian Lillard. Um. He's more durable, he's a better 268 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: three point shooter. He's obviously not the great defender that 269 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 1: Chris Paul is. But Lillard just puts teams on his back. 270 00:14:56,880 --> 00:15:00,080 Speaker 1: He has ended two playoff series in his career with 271 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 1: buzzer Beaters series. Nobody's ever done that. No, he's got two. 272 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 1: I think Lillard is is on my second team. I'm curious, Rob, 273 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: of my five, how many do you also have on 274 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: second team? At least two? I think I should have 275 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: wrote some of them down where you were, right, Randall 276 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: and George, Yes, I got both of those two. Um, 277 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 1: you obviously put in beat on second team. I put 278 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: him on first team, So fault. I have Rudy Gobert 279 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 1: my second team center. Now, this is what's tricky. Is 280 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: the Jazz are the number one or number two, depending 281 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 1: which time of the day you're looking at the standings, 282 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 1: because you keep fluctuating when one team wins and one 283 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: team loses. You know, the top They've been top of 284 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 1: the Western Conference and which the whole season, and I 285 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 1: don't think there's anybody on their team who's really like 286 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: worthy of being an All NBA player. I don't know 287 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: if that's so. Here's here's the solution. Rob. You give 288 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 1: Quinn Cider Coach of the Year, you give Jordan Clarkson 289 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 1: six man, and you'd say congrats on home field, home 290 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 1: court advantage, but sorry, like Donovan Mitchell's having a Donovan 291 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 1: Mitchell year, has Gobert been better than he's ever been? 292 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: I don't think so. You're right, you know from the schedule. 293 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 1: I actually was listening to a Zach Low podcast Who's 294 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: Who's Great and big fans of Zach Low, and him 295 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: and Howard Beck were discussing the sixth Man of the Year, 296 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: and they were saying, while I might vote for Joe 297 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: Ingles over Jordan Clarkson, at this point of the season, 298 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: you know they think that he may have been a 299 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 1: better six man than Clarkson. Mc Clarkson gets more the 300 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: headlines because he's a scorer, and so that you know, 301 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 1: they may they might cliper it up and get the 302 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 1: first and second place winners and sixth Man of the year. 303 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 1: Maybe we'll give that to him as like a consolation prize, 304 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: like a Lou Williams mantras head exactly. Um, but I'm 305 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 1: glad that you got former Laker Julius Randall on the 306 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 1: second team. I was. I was so close. If had 307 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: I not been able to have m Beat and Yokich 308 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: together on the first team, I may have put him 309 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 1: on the first team. I think Julius Randall is having 310 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: a fantastic season for honestly one of the field good 311 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 1: stories in an otherwise bleak NBA season. Well, it's interesting, 312 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 1: like Julius Randall's putting up monster numbers. Guess what he's doing, Rob, 313 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:21,399 Speaker 1: He's leading the league in minutes played per game. You know, 314 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 1: he's basically taking all the shots. And like, guess what 315 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 1: availability not a bad thing? Like he's playing, he's putting 316 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 1: up numbers and he's he's dominating. To get back to 317 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:34,920 Speaker 1: Donovan Mitchell quickly, just to look at his numbers, He's 318 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: is minutes from last year, are down a minute. Um, 319 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: he's shooting worse than he did last year. Uh, he 320 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: is from three he's up at tick thirty eight percent 321 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 1: verse thirty six last year. And he's attempting eight threes 322 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 1: a game. Wow, free throw shooting is you know, down 323 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:56,479 Speaker 1: one percentage point rebounds are identical, assists are up for him, 324 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: which is impressive, and his points are up, but at 325 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: what point up? And you've mentioned this at nauseum, like 326 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: this is the greatest offensive season in NBA history. Nobody's 327 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:08,160 Speaker 1: really playing d So if his numbers are just up 328 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: a little bit, does that mean Donovan Mitchell should get 329 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 1: on because the Jazz are steam rolling, steamrolling people have 330 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 1: had no real injury issues. Uh, Mitchell has missed I 331 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:20,879 Speaker 1: believe about a week lately with that ankle, maybe ten days. 332 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 1: But like everything's fallen in line. All the other teams 333 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 1: have injuries except basically the Sons and the Jazz, and 334 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: they're running away with the West. So do we just 335 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 1: give Donovan Mitchell extra credit? Because the Jazz are really 336 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: really good even though he hasn't up to his game 337 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 1: and I do like Donovan Mitchell. Well, that's part of 338 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 1: the reason why I had to have Gobert in there 339 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: instead of Mitchell. I knew I had to have at 340 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 1: least one Utah Jazz member now, and it kind of 341 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 1: worked itself out because I haven't been in yogis on 342 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 1: the first team, so I was able to get him 343 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:51,400 Speaker 1: in his second team. But I just think it would 344 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: be borderline irresponsible to have nobody from arguably the best 345 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 1: team all season on the NBA team. Like, I just 346 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 1: don't think that that's possible. I don't think you can 347 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:06,920 Speaker 1: do that in good conscience. And and and say, we're 348 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: rewarding the guys who are having the best season. We're 349 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: impacting waiting as opposed to just the guys who were 350 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:14,679 Speaker 1: the best stats. And that's one you hold on. You 351 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 1: just said something as opposed to the guy with the 352 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:20,439 Speaker 1: best stats. Okay, give me your criteria for all NBA 353 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:26,439 Speaker 1: the guys having the best seasons, which is what record wise, 354 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 1: status wise, I mean, Chris Paul is not having a 355 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 1: great statistical season. He's probably what back half of the 356 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: top ten just in point guards if we're doing statistics, 357 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:38,679 Speaker 1: But he impacts winning in a way that not a 358 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:40,639 Speaker 1: lot of guys in the NBA do. And because of that, 359 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:43,960 Speaker 1: I have no issue making him first team, even though 360 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:46,160 Speaker 1: his numbers, if you just put him toe to toe 361 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 1: with Luca Steph Dame Kyrie like he's dwarfed by all 362 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 1: of them. But to me, it wasn't that much of 363 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: a of a debate on whether or not he deserved 364 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 1: to be first team over the other guys. And and 365 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 1: in that same line of thought is why I could 366 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: not put Zion on the second team. I have him 367 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,920 Speaker 1: on third team because, like you mentioned and we've talked 368 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: about on the podcast, offensive numbers are through the roof 369 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 1: this season. You know, of the eight greatest offensive rating 370 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:23,159 Speaker 1: team seasons in NBA history, seven of them are taking 371 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 1: place this season. So the Golden State Warriors, who you 372 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:30,920 Speaker 1: and I think is probably the greatest offensive team we've 373 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 1: ever seen, with Stephen Kdie and Clay and that peak 374 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:37,920 Speaker 1: Warriors seventeen team, they're all the way down at eleven 375 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 1: all time statistically. The Los Angeles Clippers, who do not 376 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 1: get to the rim, have a an offense that is 377 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:51,040 Speaker 1: nine places higher than that Warrior's team all time. Heavily 378 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 1: reliant upon the three point they lead the league in 379 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 1: threes three point percentage, which I didn't know until I 380 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:58,440 Speaker 1: wrote a piece for Fox this week about who's coming 381 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 1: out of the West. We'll talk about that in a 382 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,400 Speaker 1: little bit, but I didn't realize the Clippers were actually 383 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,159 Speaker 1: shooting that well. Now we have not shown a lot 384 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 1: of love to the Clippers on the all NBA teams, 385 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: I have no tourists. They called them frauds. Caught a 386 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:13,400 Speaker 1: lot of heat from it. I said it on Undisputed 387 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: and guys have come after me for weeks. Who will 388 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 1: Clipper Darrell or whatever his name is threatening to want 389 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,680 Speaker 1: to fight me on Instagram? I'm sure you guys saw 390 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:25,959 Speaker 1: that post. I was like, Okay, got it, Clipper Darrell, 391 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:30,160 Speaker 1: got it. Um, But I have Paul George second team. Um. 392 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 1: I think Kauai, who's missed eighteen games, um, is a 393 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:38,639 Speaker 1: little tougher. He's in my third team discussion. So just 394 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 1: to round out your second team, I fear now it's 395 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 1: it's Gobert, Julius Randall, Paul George as a guard, Kauai 396 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:54,160 Speaker 1: is a forward, is my second forward, and Steph Curry. Okay, 397 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:59,679 Speaker 1: So the team that is leading the East are there? 398 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:02,639 Speaker 1: Is it? Nets? No? No, it's the Sixers. You have 399 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: em Beid team that is second in the East. The Nets. 400 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: You have nobody right now? Team okay, first, first in 401 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: the West, Jazz you have Gobert. Second in the West. 402 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 1: You have CP three. Okay, So I guess there's some 403 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:19,640 Speaker 1: balance there. Um. Now we get to the third team, 404 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: which is extremely difficult because I mean, how how much 405 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 1: do you penalize Kauai for missing eighteen Lebron's miss twenty two? 406 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 1: Like what I mean, that's kind of close Kyrie's miss seventeen. 407 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 1: So I kind of hedged a little bit. I kicked 408 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 1: Gobert to a third team center. He's been good, a 409 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: career high in block shots per game, you know, high, high, 410 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 1: high player efficiency rating. He's been very good. It's just 411 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:47,159 Speaker 1: that it's not like he's made a quantum leap the 412 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,360 Speaker 1: way some of these other players have. Um, and we'll 413 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: get to one of them. Why don't we just start 414 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 1: with one of them? A guy I don't know if 415 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: you have, but I think Devin Booker needs major love 416 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: because this is a guy who at juting guard is 417 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 1: really becoming one of the league's perier, premier perimeter players. 418 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 1: Try saying that three times fast. I mean deep, book 419 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 1: twenty four years old, was a bench player at Kentucky. Okay, 420 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 1: he has morphed into a guy who you know, had 421 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: to see it a little bit of his game when 422 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 1: Chris Paul came over, right, because you know, Chris Paul 423 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:25,200 Speaker 1: is gonna need to get fifteen points a game, and 424 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:28,800 Speaker 1: Booker has not missed a beat from the field, thirty 425 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 1: four from three, eight six from the line. He's getting 426 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,960 Speaker 1: to the line less and is a sister down because 427 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 1: he's not making he's not doing as many things. But 428 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 1: at twenty five points per game, I have Devin Booker 429 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:47,040 Speaker 1: firmly on my thirt team, and for whatever reason, the 430 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 1: league doesn't want to give the guy a lot of respect. 431 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: Maybe it's the whole Kendall general thing, like, oh is 432 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 1: he dialed in? Like dating Kendall Jenner and Chris Paul 433 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 1: gets there and now they get to the playoffs. Um, 434 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: which you know, Mitchell versus Booker is interesting. Who would 435 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:07,680 Speaker 1: you give the lean to Rob Devin Booker versus Donovan Mitchell. Oh, 436 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: I'm not as high on either one of those guys, 437 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:14,400 Speaker 1: but as far as which one I think is more 438 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:17,280 Speaker 1: of the driving force for their team, I guess I 439 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 1: would have to lean Mitchell, so therefore he would get 440 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: my vote. Well, it is interesting because neither of them 441 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 1: are probably the most important player on their team this year. 442 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:28,880 Speaker 1: Right we just had Rudy Gobert. I would say he's 443 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:32,720 Speaker 1: more important than Donovan Mitchell and then Chris Paul, who 444 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 1: impacts winning as you know, one of the better point 445 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:38,879 Speaker 1: guards in the history of the league. And you know, 446 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:41,399 Speaker 1: Booker and Mitchell kind of get disrespected. I went Booker 447 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 1: over Mitchell. Um Phoenix could get the number one seed. 448 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 1: By the way, the number one seed is so important 449 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:54,640 Speaker 1: if you can avoid Lakers Clippers until the conference finals. 450 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:56,400 Speaker 1: Otherwise it looks like you're gonna have to go through 451 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:58,879 Speaker 1: both of them. You don't want to have to go 452 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: through both of them. I will say, Rob, if the 453 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 1: Sons get the number one seed, they will play the 454 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:07,719 Speaker 1: Lakers sooner. Right, Uh, it looks like the Lakers are 455 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:09,520 Speaker 1: gonna be the four or five. We both think they're 456 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 1: gonna take down Denver. I would rather face the Lakers 457 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:16,119 Speaker 1: sooner than later, later they could get fully healthy. I 458 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:18,040 Speaker 1: mean a d lebron have how many games do they 459 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:22,439 Speaker 1: play with Drummond one too? Maybe three? And how many 460 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,920 Speaker 1: of they play with Drummond, Shrewder, the whole gang. I 461 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:27,439 Speaker 1: don't know the answer to that, but it might be 462 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:30,160 Speaker 1: zero because Shrewder just went into health and safety protocol. 463 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:34,680 Speaker 1: So if you can catch the Lakers early, I think 464 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:36,440 Speaker 1: that's your chance of taking them down. So the Sons 465 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:38,919 Speaker 1: are trying hard for that one seed, and I do 466 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:41,440 Speaker 1: believe they'll get it, which is part of the reason 467 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 1: why I have book or third team. My guards on 468 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 1: the third team, this one was tough. I reluctantly went 469 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 1: Kyrie because I need a Brooklyn net on there. I 470 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 1: don't have hard and I don't have to rent and Um. 471 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 1: The other guard was Booker, and at forward I have 472 00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 1: Kauai and Tatum. Just a quick word on Jayson Tatum. Yes, 473 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 1: he's one of my favorite players in the league. And 474 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 1: I've hated the Celtics. Being born in New York, I've 475 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 1: never liked any Boston teams, don't like the Patriots, don't 476 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 1: like the Celtics. Jayson tatums probably my favorite Celtic player ever. 477 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 1: I'm just I just love watching this guy. The footwork 478 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 1: is impeccable, I mean inside outside. I think he gave 479 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 1: gave somebody sixty last week like Jayson Tatum for me, 480 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: I you know, top ten player in the league for me. Seriously, 481 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 1: I am extremely bullish on Tatum's game. I love him. 482 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:36,320 Speaker 1: I'm a fan like I wouldn't wear a Boston jersey. 483 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:40,040 Speaker 1: Rob We're talking about a twenty three year old who 484 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 1: has been to the conference finals I think three times 485 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:46,200 Speaker 1: in his out of four years. He's up to twenty 486 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:49,240 Speaker 1: six points per game. He's shooting better from three on 487 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 1: more attempts than Devin Booker from three from the field 488 00:26:55,920 --> 00:27:00,000 Speaker 1: career high, and rebounds career high and assists. Um he's 489 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:04,480 Speaker 1: twenty six, seven and four and he's twenty three years old. 490 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:06,400 Speaker 1: I mean, I I don't know if you could buy 491 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:10,680 Speaker 1: Jayson Tatum stock, but for me, he's definitely third team 492 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:15,040 Speaker 1: and joined at the forward position by Kauai. Jimmy Butler 493 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,440 Speaker 1: narrowly missed. You know, I'm team Zach Levine. He missed 494 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:22,639 Speaker 1: a bunch of games here late Bradley Beale deserves some 495 00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 1: credit and listen, I had Russell Westbrook in the conversation. 496 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:29,879 Speaker 1: If I was going to drop anybody, I think I 497 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 1: would probably drop Kyrie first because he only played seventeen 498 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:36,160 Speaker 1: and second, I would drop Kauai, and I would nudge 499 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:40,359 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler or Donovan Mitchell in there. But um, yeah, 500 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 1: you sounded surprised on Jayson Tatum. Dude. He his game 501 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:45,240 Speaker 1: is like if you just had a one on one 502 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:47,439 Speaker 1: contest and I know that's not the NBA, it's team basketball. 503 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:50,719 Speaker 1: Blah blah blah. I think Tatum would have a really 504 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 1: good chance to win the whole damn thing. The best 505 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 1: one on one player in the league. I think he's that. 506 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:58,400 Speaker 1: I mean, listen, Kevin Durance obviously up there, not even 507 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:02,640 Speaker 1: the best in his own division. Well again, how healthy 508 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 1: is Durant? I mean, the guys hard and hard and 509 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 1: one on one very good, no doubt. But I'm just 510 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:14,280 Speaker 1: going no, Tatum is fantastic. I'm glad you did mention 511 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 1: that he's twenty three, because I've seen on Twitter that 512 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:18,080 Speaker 1: he's been nineteen years old for like five years now, 513 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:20,880 Speaker 1: and so I'm glad that someone admit, yes, he did 514 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 1: finally get older. He's no longer nineteen year old Jason 515 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:28,720 Speaker 1: Tatum that people kept saying at nauseum. But he's great, 516 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:31,640 Speaker 1: and you made a good point about the uh Well, 517 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:34,600 Speaker 1: first off, about Lebron James and the Lakers and what's 518 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:37,399 Speaker 1: going on with him. It was reported on Thursday by 519 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 1: Sean Serenia that Lebron is going to be back next week, 520 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 1: so he's gonna play in some more games in the 521 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 1: regular season. Sold so Ward said the day before that, 522 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:49,640 Speaker 1: Lebron may sit out the rest of the regular season, 523 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 1: And now Sean's just saying he's gonna play next week. 524 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 1: How would anybody know much less Lebron like, you can't 525 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 1: say right now, Okay, I'll be ready for Tuesday, like 526 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:01,920 Speaker 1: four days from now. That's that's not how it works. Well, 527 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 1: I mean, in all fairness to Whoah, he did kind 528 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:07,640 Speaker 1: of couch it because once he made that statement, the 529 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: follow up question I think it might have been on 530 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:11,040 Speaker 1: get Up. They said, oh, so you're expecting him not 531 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:13,880 Speaker 1: back to the playoffs, and he did say, while Lebron 532 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 1: is gonna try to get some games in in the 533 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:18,280 Speaker 1: regular season, he doesn't want to go zero to sixty 534 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: like that. So he did qualify it later in the 535 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:25,840 Speaker 1: segment when he talked about it. So, if Lebron is 536 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 1: back by Tuesday, Wednesday next, we can think you play 537 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:32,240 Speaker 1: the Knicks on Tuesday. That should give him a large 538 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:35,520 Speaker 1: enough percentage to get that seventy percent imaginary threshold. I 539 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:39,000 Speaker 1: guess that I have. So that's why, Yeah, it's seventy 540 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,800 Speaker 1: on a normal year, it's probably right. Oh yeah, on 541 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:44,960 Speaker 1: a normal season, when it's not condensed like this. I 542 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:47,000 Speaker 1: mean you can have guys miss a month and not 543 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:50,680 Speaker 1: miss twenty games. You know they'll miss fourteen or something 544 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 1: like that. So um. But even still, even even if 545 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:57,040 Speaker 1: he didn't play another game the rest of the season, 546 00:29:57,240 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 1: I don't think I could in good conscience leave Lebron 547 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 1: On off the l NBA team because he isn't a 548 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 1: disrespectful Putting him on the third team is a little bit, 549 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:08,480 Speaker 1: I think when it when he's on his Wikipedia page 550 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 1: twenty years round, he's looking at his awards and he's like, oh, 551 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:12,880 Speaker 1: oh yeah, what the hell is the third team? Only 552 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 1: he throw that season aside. He's like that that season 553 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:18,600 Speaker 1: din't count. Um. But you know, I mean, he was 554 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:23,240 Speaker 1: head and shoulders runaway favorite for the m v P 555 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:26,200 Speaker 1: before he got hurt, as good as Yoki has been, 556 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:29,960 Speaker 1: and as I've been told, it's the greatest statistical season 557 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:35,680 Speaker 1: offensively for a center in NBA history. Yes, as as Janice, 558 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:38,479 Speaker 1: who I think his numbers are up pretty much across 559 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:41,000 Speaker 1: the board from last season when he won the m 560 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:43,520 Speaker 1: v P, and he was a runaway winner on that one, 561 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:48,280 Speaker 1: and even still Lebron James before he got her, at 562 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:50,920 Speaker 1: least according to the ESPN Straw Poll, which features a 563 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 1: lot of guys who actually vote on this. They had 564 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:59,200 Speaker 1: Lebron James winning, so I don't. I don't think him 565 00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:04,040 Speaker 1: missing was it a third of the season would be 566 00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:07,080 Speaker 1: enough to knock him completely off the All NBA teams 567 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 1: for me, So that's why I have him on third team. UM, 568 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:13,560 Speaker 1: as we mentioned before, really screwed myself with the Mbi 569 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:17,040 Speaker 1: Yokis pairing and on the first team and as a result, 570 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:20,760 Speaker 1: shout out to Clint Cappella making All NBA on my 571 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:24,960 Speaker 1: ballot as the center. I'll say this, he's been really 572 00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:26,920 Speaker 1: damn good for the Hawks. Nobody knows there's the fifth 573 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:30,320 Speaker 1: seed in the East and half game behind the Knicks 574 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:33,320 Speaker 1: for four. But Clint Cappela has been a revelation. By 575 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:35,840 Speaker 1: the way, this team was all Trey Young. Remember the 576 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:37,760 Speaker 1: last couple of years. It was like Trey Young, Trey Young, 577 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:41,080 Speaker 1: Trey Young, and they were horrible. Yeah, they didn't get anywhere. 578 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:42,640 Speaker 1: And I mean, I don't want to say Capella has 579 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:47,400 Speaker 1: a Chris Paul impact, but he's been unbelievable for this team. 580 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:53,040 Speaker 1: Let's John Collins playing good book boog Don Bogdanovich. It 581 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:55,800 Speaker 1: really installed a structure to their team. That they didn't 582 00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:58,120 Speaker 1: have before. Before it was just, hey, Trey Young, do 583 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:00,200 Speaker 1: what you do. Everyone, you're in a dribble gewel ruble. 584 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:02,280 Speaker 1: Neither you're gonna shoot three or you're gonna throw a lot. 585 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 1: That's pretty much at the extent of our offense. And 586 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 1: once they decided that we're going to do a couple 587 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:09,240 Speaker 1: of things different. To be honest with you, one Trede 588 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 1: Young got hurt and it made Bogdanovich the de facto 589 00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:14,440 Speaker 1: point guard for that team because Rondo was in was 590 00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:17,680 Speaker 1: with the Clippers. They really took off because then the 591 00:32:18,080 --> 00:32:21,520 Speaker 1: free agent guys that they picked up, Bogdanovich Gallo started 592 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:25,200 Speaker 1: to get more buckets. UM, Clint Capella, as we mentioned earlier, 593 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:28,360 Speaker 1: he's been the unsung hero pretty much all season. So 594 00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:32,000 Speaker 1: his numbers have pretty much stayed the same, but he's 595 00:32:32,040 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 1: been good the whole season. UM, I don't know why 596 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:36,440 Speaker 1: we're talking too much about the Hawks. The Hawks are 597 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:40,680 Speaker 1: now we're talking about I'm sorry Hawks, I'm sorry America. UM, 598 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:42,760 Speaker 1: let's get back to the All NBA teams. Okay, So 599 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 1: you had Zion's second team. I had him third team. 600 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:47,120 Speaker 1: And again, as we said right in the beginning, I 601 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:49,200 Speaker 1: have a hard time rewarding guys who put up good 602 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:52,040 Speaker 1: numbers on bad teams, even though his numbers are fantastic 603 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:54,320 Speaker 1: and I do believe he is probably one of the 604 00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:57,680 Speaker 1: fifteen best players in the NBA. Um the fact that 605 00:32:57,720 --> 00:33:00,200 Speaker 1: their team is so disappointed, I would think I would 606 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:03,760 Speaker 1: say that they have been the most underwhelming team in 607 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:08,440 Speaker 1: the NBA this season, fairly accurate. So I got him 608 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:11,680 Speaker 1: on the third team with Lebron as my forwards, Kyrie 609 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:14,920 Speaker 1: as my guard, and again it's only because I needed 610 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:17,840 Speaker 1: to get a Brooklyn net in there. They should have 611 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:20,800 Speaker 1: three guys on the All NBA team. They should probably 612 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:22,880 Speaker 1: have two guys on the first team, just based on 613 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:27,200 Speaker 1: raw talent. Unfortunately, they've all missed massive chunks of the season. 614 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:30,760 Speaker 1: I before we started recording this podcast, I had Kevin 615 00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:33,120 Speaker 1: Durant my third team until I did a little bit 616 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:35,200 Speaker 1: more research, because Kevin durd has been awesome this season. 617 00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:38,360 Speaker 1: When he's been on the court, he's been fantastic. And 618 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:39,840 Speaker 1: then you look at it, you're like, oh, he only 619 00:33:39,840 --> 00:33:44,720 Speaker 1: had played thirty games and to this point, so you know, 620 00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:47,120 Speaker 1: it's really tough to leave him on there. So Kyrie 621 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:49,440 Speaker 1: was my, uh, one of my guards. On the third team, 622 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:53,320 Speaker 1: and then Dame Dollar as the other guard. I guess 623 00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:55,080 Speaker 1: the one guy that neither of us had on was 624 00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:58,680 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler. He's missed about seven or eight games and 625 00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:01,680 Speaker 1: he's been excellent. I know the Heat aren't doing as well. 626 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:04,120 Speaker 1: They went to the finals last year. They got out 627 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:07,000 Speaker 1: to a horrible start. Zach Lavine got no love from 628 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:10,680 Speaker 1: either of us. Brad Beale, who's second in the league 629 00:34:10,719 --> 00:34:12,960 Speaker 1: and scoring to Steph Curry, who is first team All NBA. 630 00:34:13,080 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 1: For me second, if it was if I had to 631 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:20,400 Speaker 1: pick one of them, well, it's so. It's clearly you 632 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 1: value winning a ton over just the stats, because um, 633 00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:28,440 Speaker 1: you know, Balu was lightening up. They were winning nothing 634 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:31,799 Speaker 1: Westbrook joints and all of a sudden they have a 635 00:34:31,840 --> 00:34:34,680 Speaker 1: second guy and now Westbrook is leading them to the 636 00:34:34,680 --> 00:34:37,440 Speaker 1: playoffs or I should say the play in since you 637 00:34:37,440 --> 00:34:40,160 Speaker 1: don't want to count nine ten teams as a playoffs. 638 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:42,440 Speaker 1: But listen, it's gonna be a tough year for all NBA, 639 00:34:42,520 --> 00:34:44,600 Speaker 1: no doubt about it. I think it's gonna be a 640 00:34:44,640 --> 00:34:47,080 Speaker 1: tougher year to handicap the playoffs again. I I wrote 641 00:34:47,080 --> 00:34:49,719 Speaker 1: a piece for Fox Sports about the West and Rob 642 00:34:49,800 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 1: I am curious as to your thoughts. So when you 643 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:55,320 Speaker 1: look at the all NBA, all our guys from the 644 00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:58,040 Speaker 1: West again except Scion are in the playoffs, in the 645 00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:03,760 Speaker 1: air quotes, and you know, let's say that the West 646 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:11,240 Speaker 1: goes Phoenix, Utah, Denver. I'm sorry, Phoenix, you talk, Clippers, Denver, Lakers. 647 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:14,520 Speaker 1: How do you of of those five who do you 648 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:19,839 Speaker 1: have getting out of the West? Are the Lakers full 649 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:24,279 Speaker 1: confidence if every if Lebron is even eight percent healthy? Oh, 650 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:30,440 Speaker 1: the Lakers really, because no credit to Lebron, who happens 651 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:33,279 Speaker 1: to already be old. But he perfected the all the 652 00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:35,040 Speaker 1: old man game, and we saw it last year in 653 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:38,520 Speaker 1: the finals. What he did to the Miami Heat had 654 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:41,400 Speaker 1: nothing to do with his high level skill, had nothing 655 00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:47,480 Speaker 1: to do with his peak athleticism. He was dribble, dribble, 656 00:35:47,680 --> 00:35:51,000 Speaker 1: shoot a three, or I'm just gonna bulldoze my way 657 00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:55,239 Speaker 1: to the basket because I'm six eight seventy pounds. And 658 00:35:55,600 --> 00:36:00,520 Speaker 1: unfortunately for Utah and Phoenix, neither one of them has 659 00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:02,239 Speaker 1: a guy who can match up with someone like that. 660 00:36:03,320 --> 00:36:08,840 Speaker 1: Let's not let's let's not forget Jake Crowder. Jay Crowder 661 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:13,320 Speaker 1: not on the Miami Heat team that got he indeed 662 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:18,480 Speaker 1: was Um, you know, you know Jake Crowder pretty darn 663 00:36:18,520 --> 00:36:22,480 Speaker 1: good defender. Obviously against Lebron it's, you know, you need 664 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:25,040 Speaker 1: to be the best of the best. But you're given 665 00:36:25,040 --> 00:36:27,400 Speaker 1: the Lakers a lot of credit here, like it's automatic 666 00:36:27,480 --> 00:36:29,600 Speaker 1: that they're that they're the team to come out. It's 667 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:33,680 Speaker 1: tough to say for me that they're gonna steamroll Nuggets, 668 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:38,759 Speaker 1: then the Suns, then the Clippers. Um, that's a brutal path. Man. 669 00:36:39,200 --> 00:36:42,000 Speaker 1: That's that's really difficult for a team that has not 670 00:36:42,040 --> 00:36:45,279 Speaker 1: played together a ton. I actually think and I know 671 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:48,359 Speaker 1: you're gonna scoff and I wrote this the I think 672 00:36:48,360 --> 00:36:51,200 Speaker 1: the Phoenix Suns are going to get to the finals 673 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:53,839 Speaker 1: out of the West. Yeah, and now I know it's 674 00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:55,520 Speaker 1: all Hey, they don't. They have been in the playoffs 675 00:36:55,560 --> 00:37:00,880 Speaker 1: in eleven years. Monty Williams has never won a playoff series. Um. 676 00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:06,960 Speaker 1: By the way, the Sons have I think swept the Nuggets. Um. 677 00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:14,239 Speaker 1: I do believe they haven't played the Jazz since it 678 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:17,040 Speaker 1: might be like the first of January or the first 679 00:37:17,040 --> 00:37:20,960 Speaker 1: week in January, so they haven't seen them in forever. Um. 680 00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:24,360 Speaker 1: It's very strange in the West, but for some reason 681 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:29,920 Speaker 1: this Chris Paul breakthrough year booker. They've got Bridges and 682 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:32,759 Speaker 1: crowd are on the wing, they have some depth with 683 00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:37,000 Speaker 1: Sarah cho off the bench. Um, it's just I don't 684 00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:43,000 Speaker 1: totally trust Denver without Murray, I don't trust Utah. Um. 685 00:37:43,120 --> 00:37:45,040 Speaker 1: I just I mean, you talk. They've never gotten out 686 00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:47,360 Speaker 1: of the second round. They're not that much of a 687 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:50,600 Speaker 1: better team, are they. I don't think they are than 688 00:37:50,640 --> 00:37:53,319 Speaker 1: they were the last couple of years. And then the 689 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:57,520 Speaker 1: big one is can the Clippers finally breakthrough? And where's 690 00:37:57,520 --> 00:38:00,919 Speaker 1: your faith level and the Clippers right now? Uh, if 691 00:38:00,960 --> 00:38:04,080 Speaker 1: they could get anybody but the Lakers, I could see 692 00:38:04,080 --> 00:38:06,919 Speaker 1: them making the run to the Western Finals. I think 693 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:09,640 Speaker 1: that they what they have and with their two wings 694 00:38:09,640 --> 00:38:14,120 Speaker 1: with Kai and Paul George is something that Utah cannot handle. 695 00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:18,480 Speaker 1: It's something that I don't think Denver definitely can't handle, 696 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:23,640 Speaker 1: and Phoenix could. Unfortunately, my only reservation with Phoenix, even 697 00:38:23,640 --> 00:38:25,759 Speaker 1: though I think they're a really good team, is they 698 00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:28,000 Speaker 1: just don't have enough skins on the wall. Like there's 699 00:38:28,040 --> 00:38:30,920 Speaker 1: only one and a half guys in a series for 700 00:38:31,000 --> 00:38:33,040 Speaker 1: that team that I would count on to not get 701 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:36,640 Speaker 1: a tight tookis that's Chris Paul and Jay Crowder. Wow, 702 00:38:36,719 --> 00:38:39,200 Speaker 1: you didn't even give Devon Booker the problem. Devin Booker, 703 00:38:39,239 --> 00:38:41,640 Speaker 1: before this last season had never won more than like 704 00:38:41,680 --> 00:38:45,080 Speaker 1: thirty four games. And it is interesting because even the 705 00:38:45,120 --> 00:38:47,160 Speaker 1: Warriors had been to the playoffs a couple of times, 706 00:38:47,160 --> 00:38:48,400 Speaker 1: and they want a series. I don't know if you 707 00:38:48,360 --> 00:38:50,960 Speaker 1: remember they beat Denver, yes, I do remember that. Um 708 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:54,120 Speaker 1: and then they lost to I think the Spurs in seven, 709 00:38:54,960 --> 00:38:56,880 Speaker 1: maybe it was six, but it was a tough series, 710 00:38:57,480 --> 00:39:01,680 Speaker 1: so they had some pedigree. These sons would be totally uncharacteristic. 711 00:39:01,719 --> 00:39:04,480 Speaker 1: I will remind you the last two years, two teams 712 00:39:04,480 --> 00:39:07,360 Speaker 1: came out of nowhere to get to the conference finals. 713 00:39:07,840 --> 00:39:11,080 Speaker 1: Portland two years ago they got swept by the durant 714 00:39:11,120 --> 00:39:13,960 Speaker 1: less Warriors, and then last year the Nuggets, who, by 715 00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:17,160 Speaker 1: the way, we're down three one to the Jazz and 716 00:39:17,200 --> 00:39:20,719 Speaker 1: Mike Conley in Game seven has this three ball that 717 00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:23,839 Speaker 1: goes halfway down and out, and I wonder, what, how 718 00:39:23,880 --> 00:39:26,359 Speaker 1: how our view of Denver is if that Conley three 719 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:32,239 Speaker 1: ball falls? You remember that? I mean I thought I 720 00:39:32,239 --> 00:39:34,400 Speaker 1: thought that was going in. Umah. Well, the thing is, 721 00:39:34,560 --> 00:39:36,840 Speaker 1: I'm not giving Denver the respect because of their experience 722 00:39:36,880 --> 00:39:38,640 Speaker 1: in this case, I'm giving it because it just comes 723 00:39:38,640 --> 00:39:42,680 Speaker 1: out of the matchups and outside of the Lakers, who 724 00:39:42,680 --> 00:39:45,480 Speaker 1: are huge in the front court, nobody really matches up 725 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:49,840 Speaker 1: whell with Nikolaok. Like if the Clippers and if the 726 00:39:49,880 --> 00:39:53,200 Speaker 1: Clippers and the Nuggets were to face each other, Kauai 727 00:39:53,239 --> 00:39:55,600 Speaker 1: and Paul George would eat on one end and Yoki 728 00:39:55,920 --> 00:39:57,640 Speaker 1: on the other end, And it's just who's who do 729 00:39:57,640 --> 00:39:59,560 Speaker 1: you count on? Because the Clippers got two guys that 730 00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:01,719 Speaker 1: are one That's where we're lean with the Clippers. But 731 00:40:02,320 --> 00:40:05,439 Speaker 1: the Lakers, to their credit, they can't guard a wing 732 00:40:05,480 --> 00:40:06,880 Speaker 1: to save their life, which is why I think the 733 00:40:06,880 --> 00:40:09,879 Speaker 1: Clippers are the toughest matches for them. They are very 734 00:40:09,960 --> 00:40:13,640 Speaker 1: qualified to to defend your kich and that's why I'm 735 00:40:13,640 --> 00:40:16,520 Speaker 1: not as worried about them. Boy, all this Clippers slander 736 00:40:16,560 --> 00:40:20,000 Speaker 1: I've been serving up all season listening to you explain 737 00:40:20,040 --> 00:40:21,960 Speaker 1: the Clippers. I mean, maybe I have a blind spot 738 00:40:21,960 --> 00:40:24,560 Speaker 1: just because I don't personally like them, even though a 739 00:40:24,640 --> 00:40:27,120 Speaker 1: buddy of mine is on the assistant one of the coaches, 740 00:40:27,200 --> 00:40:30,840 Speaker 1: Dante Jones, friend of the podcast. Yeah, I worked with 741 00:40:30,920 --> 00:40:34,640 Speaker 1: him plenty at Fox Fox Sports Radio. Dante Jones a 742 00:40:34,640 --> 00:40:37,319 Speaker 1: great guy and and then all of a sudden, you know, 743 00:40:38,360 --> 00:40:41,480 Speaker 1: I remember, like, oh he follows me on Instagram, He's 744 00:40:41,520 --> 00:40:45,479 Speaker 1: seen me just totally trash this TV's coaching god. And 745 00:40:45,800 --> 00:40:49,439 Speaker 1: oh wait a minute, like Clippers are kind of good. 746 00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:54,560 Speaker 1: I just I can't bind the Luke Kennardi anyway, So 747 00:40:54,560 --> 00:40:56,640 Speaker 1: you're why don't who? Okay, fine, we'll we'll close with this. 748 00:40:57,000 --> 00:41:00,680 Speaker 1: Who are the closing five for the l A Clippers 749 00:41:00,680 --> 00:41:02,759 Speaker 1: in a close game, final five minutes? Who's on the 750 00:41:02,760 --> 00:41:08,319 Speaker 1: floor for them? H Kauai, Paul George Um one of 751 00:41:08,360 --> 00:41:11,080 Speaker 1: the more I twins. I thought you were gonna go 752 00:41:11,080 --> 00:41:16,160 Speaker 1: with Rondo as your third one. No, Uhbaka, well have 753 00:41:16,239 --> 00:41:19,600 Speaker 1: we seen him in months? Will an ideal situation, he'd 754 00:41:19,640 --> 00:41:22,320 Speaker 1: be your closing guy, and then the fifth one would 755 00:41:22,320 --> 00:41:26,200 Speaker 1: probably be Rondo, even though I think that Beverly is 756 00:41:26,200 --> 00:41:28,080 Speaker 1: a better player at this point in their careers. I 757 00:41:28,080 --> 00:41:32,439 Speaker 1: think Rondo they would need his veteran savvy. Ibaka has 758 00:41:32,480 --> 00:41:36,120 Speaker 1: not thirty nine games played. Looks like he hasn't. I mean, 759 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:40,680 Speaker 1: you know, he's thirty one allegedly, you know the shadow 760 00:41:40,760 --> 00:41:44,720 Speaker 1: that he may be older. He has last um played 761 00:41:44,840 --> 00:41:49,360 Speaker 1: on March fourteen against New Orleans. So the idea that 762 00:41:49,400 --> 00:41:51,960 Speaker 1: he's going to go into the closing lineup instantly. Um, 763 00:41:52,000 --> 00:41:54,600 Speaker 1: I'm gonna have to just say pick another guy, because 764 00:41:55,080 --> 00:41:59,360 Speaker 1: are you Are you gonna pick former Laker the centerbots. No, 765 00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:01,360 Speaker 1: I don't think they trust them at all to be 766 00:42:01,400 --> 00:42:03,319 Speaker 1: a credit. Well, if it's if they're playing Yokis they 767 00:42:03,320 --> 00:42:08,440 Speaker 1: have to play him. Yeah, probably, so is Reggie Jackson 768 00:42:08,480 --> 00:42:14,160 Speaker 1: in there. This is one of the major questions. And 769 00:42:14,200 --> 00:42:16,600 Speaker 1: that's why I'm saying that Denver on one end, Yoki 770 00:42:16,680 --> 00:42:18,960 Speaker 1: would kill them. On the other end, I think Kawai 771 00:42:18,960 --> 00:42:22,360 Speaker 1: and Paul George would dominate. Uh, Michael Porter Jr. And 772 00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:26,319 Speaker 1: whoever else they put on the wing. Yeah. Um, I 773 00:42:26,400 --> 00:42:30,720 Speaker 1: just think with with Phoenix, you know who you're closing with. Um, 774 00:42:30,840 --> 00:42:34,040 Speaker 1: with the Lakers, everybody healthy. You know the deal at 775 00:42:34,040 --> 00:42:37,040 Speaker 1: the end of the game. Utah Jazz, you know the deal. 776 00:42:37,520 --> 00:42:39,799 Speaker 1: You just do so much uncertainty. With the Clippers, I 777 00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:42,320 Speaker 1: can't buy them. I mean, what are we doing in 778 00:42:42,360 --> 00:42:49,200 Speaker 1: the NBA if we get a Clippers Bucks final? Is 779 00:42:49,239 --> 00:42:52,839 Speaker 1: that attractive to you or no Clippers Bucks? No, it's not. 780 00:42:52,880 --> 00:42:55,560 Speaker 1: I mean I listen, if the NBA wants anything, it's 781 00:42:55,560 --> 00:43:02,719 Speaker 1: got to be nets Lakers yet hard hardened k D 782 00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:11,560 Speaker 1: and Kyrie against lebron A D and Dennis Shrewder Caruso 783 00:43:13,840 --> 00:43:16,359 Speaker 1: th h T baby, All right, this is we've gone 784 00:43:16,400 --> 00:43:21,080 Speaker 1: long talking all NBA talking the West. Um about ten days, 785 00:43:21,120 --> 00:43:24,480 Speaker 1: twelve days left in the NBA regular season. Um, we 786 00:43:24,560 --> 00:43:27,520 Speaker 1: will be back on Monday. I don't know. I mean, listen, 787 00:43:27,560 --> 00:43:30,080 Speaker 1: We've got other options besides just NBA. We might talk 788 00:43:30,160 --> 00:43:32,480 Speaker 1: some baseball. Got a couple of guests lined up potentially. 789 00:43:32,920 --> 00:43:36,120 Speaker 1: We obviously have NFL all day every day, but NBA 790 00:43:36,160 --> 00:43:37,799 Speaker 1: players are coming up. We love those. Would do a 791 00:43:37,800 --> 00:43:40,360 Speaker 1: lot of gambling on those as well. So Rob, you 792 00:43:40,360 --> 00:43:42,680 Speaker 1: have a safe weekend out there. You know, I would 793 00:43:42,719 --> 00:43:45,040 Speaker 1: to keep one eye on Jason Tatum this weekend. He 794 00:43:45,160 --> 00:43:47,839 Speaker 1: like that. Maybe he cracks your third team. And that 795 00:43:47,880 --> 00:43:50,480 Speaker 1: guy named Curry who plays for the Warriors, just keep watching. 796 00:43:50,520 --> 00:43:53,640 Speaker 1: Maybe he'll eventually win you over the Curry slander which 797 00:43:53,640 --> 00:43:57,080 Speaker 1: you came into the season hoping for. Was that was 798 00:43:57,120 --> 00:44:00,880 Speaker 1: your preseason day. He is the ninth seed right now? 799 00:44:01,760 --> 00:44:02,960 Speaker 1: All right, we'll talk to you next week.