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You're at the volume. 34 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 2: Hope all of you guys are having a great day. 35 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 2: I've got a dozen Team USA basketball questions for us 36 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 2: to go through, mailbag questions for us to hit today. 37 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 2: You guys know the drill before we get started. Subscribe 38 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 2: to the Hoops Tonight YouTube channel so you don't miss 39 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 2: any more of our videos. Follow me on Twitter at underscore. 40 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 2: Jason lts you guys, don't miss any show announcements, don't 41 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 2: forget about our podcast feed wherever you get your podcast 42 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 2: und Hoops tonight, and then keep dropping mailbag questions in those 43 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,799 Speaker 2: YouTube comments so we can keep hitting them throughout the 44 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 2: remainder of the summer. Last little programming note before we 45 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 2: start the show. I am recording this on Saturday the tenth, 46 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 2: when I go out of town tomorrow morning and I'm 47 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 2: gone until the eighteenth. We're going up to the Pacific 48 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 2: Northwest to kind of get away from the heat a 49 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 2: little bit and relax, which I'm very much looking forward to. 50 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:31,919 Speaker 2: I do have new content coming out while I'm kinda've 51 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 2: recorded three I've recorded the first three videos in our 52 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 2: player ranking series, so those will all be releasing while 53 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 2: I'm out of town next week. Don't forget that. In 54 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 2: those videos, I want you guys to comment if you 55 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,399 Speaker 2: disagree about a ranking and provided basketball case for why 56 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 2: you disagree, preferably as in as short a format as possible. 57 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 2: Because what I'm gonna do is on the fourth player 58 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 2: Rankings video when I get back in town, I'm gonna 59 00:02:57,760 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 2: actually add a segment at the end where we can 60 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 2: had a debate. I'm gonna read your guys's mail bag 61 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 2: responses where you guys tell me why you disagree. We 62 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 2: get into the basketball, we'll have like a little debate 63 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 2: segment at the tail end of those shows, So make 64 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 2: sure you guys get that in there. But yeah, quick 65 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 2: trip out of town. When I get back, we'll finish 66 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 2: the player ranking series and then we'll be heading into 67 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 2: the season. Had a little bit of a funny slash 68 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 2: sad story in Vegas. I don't ever book a flight 69 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 2: that is an afternoon flight on the same night that 70 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 2: you have concert tickets, because I had on Thursday a 71 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 2: five and a half hour delay getting out of Tucson, 72 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 2: which caused me to have to fire sale my Dead 73 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 2: and Company tickets from a dingy bar in the Tucson airport, 74 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 2: which was a huge bubber. As you can imagine, I 75 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 2: wasn't in a great mood, but a valuable lesson. Like 76 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 2: we monsoon season here in Tucson, we just get these 77 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 2: like crazy storms that come through in the afternoon, and 78 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 2: I played with fire and ended up losing some money 79 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 2: on it is what it is. But thankfully the very 80 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 2: next day I had tickets again and so my wife 81 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 2: and I had a really nice day yesterday. It was 82 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 2: actually my birthday. We had a really nice day in 83 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 2: Vegas and celebrated and then went to go see Dead 84 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 2: and Company that night. So thankfully I had two nights 85 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 2: worth of tickets and just was unbelievable. John Mayer played 86 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 2: the whole show without his left index finger, and like 87 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 2: you could barely tell the difference. And he's obviously my 88 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 2: favorite musician, but I also think he's the best guitar 89 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 2: player to ever play. And it was just a really 90 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 2: cool experience to get to see him in a situation 91 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:31,040 Speaker 2: where like a primary physical like digit that he needs 92 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 2: to play was out of commission, and yet he still 93 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 2: provided like the same type of experience that you've grown 94 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 2: accustomed to getting when you go see him in Debt 95 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 2: and Company. And concert was really really cool. It was 96 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 2: a great birthday. It was a great celebration. But very 97 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 2: excited to get out of the heat for a little bit. 98 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:48,280 Speaker 2: But yeah, valuable lesson learned. If you live in an 99 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 2: area where they have where they have storms that come 100 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 2: through the rainy season, don't don't don't be an idiot 101 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:57,720 Speaker 2: like Jason and by concert tickets, the same night as 102 00:04:57,760 --> 00:04:59,599 Speaker 2: your flight, or you could end up very upset in 103 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 2: a two on international airport bar. Anyway, let's get into 104 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 2: that mail bag first question. Is it fair to say, 105 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 2: when we look back on the final years of Curry 106 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 2: and Lebron that we will strongly question what in the 107 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 2: world these front offices are doing for Golden State in 108 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 2: Los Angeles. My hope is that you guys have already 109 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 2: kind of seen that Golden State started trying to run 110 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 2: this two timelines thing all the way back in twenty 111 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:28,359 Speaker 2: twenty two, and they've never gotten any sort of championship 112 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 2: level contribution out of any of the young players. And 113 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 2: in the meantime, Steph Curry and Draymond Grain have both 114 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 2: aged a certain amount, Klay Thompson has aged a substantial amount, 115 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 2: and now their title window is precariously close to being closed. 116 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 2: And that was a move that they probably should have 117 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 2: looked to make years ago, and they would be in 118 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 2: a situation now where like had they looked to make 119 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 2: those more aggressive moves in that twenty twenty two campaign, 120 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 2: they might have had a larger margin for victory in 121 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:02,359 Speaker 2: the Celtics series. They might have had a better chance 122 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 2: to repeat in twenty twenty three, just in general, the 123 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 2: entire aura around the team might have been more, It 124 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 2: might have been more positive. Not to mention the fact 125 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 2: that Jonathan Kaminga at that point in time had multiple 126 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: years left on his rookie contract. Now it's like, you 127 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 2: trade for Jonathan Kminga, you have to maxim And we 128 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 2: saw a report the other day that he's looking for 129 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 2: over two hundred million dollars, And so that's the type 130 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 2: of you know, we're actually now on the other side 131 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 2: of this where it's barely even a two timelines plan anymore. 132 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,039 Speaker 2: They don't really have a lot of options and where 133 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 2: they can go. And I won't get into it right 134 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:34,599 Speaker 2: now in the mail back because I could just you know, 135 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 2: bitch and moan for an hour. But the stuff that 136 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 2: the Lakers have done over the course of the last 137 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 2: half decade is it's been a miserable waste of what Lebron, 138 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 2: James and Anthony Davis bring to the table. And so, like, 139 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 2: I hope everyone already kind of knows that. But I 140 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 2: think that's Curry and Lebron being the two obvious best 141 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 2: players on this team USA, I think are a strong 142 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,679 Speaker 2: indicator of just the top end talent that they still 143 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 2: present to bow with Golden State and the Lakers, and 144 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 2: I'm hoping that that drives some amount of aggression from 145 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:08,720 Speaker 2: those two front offices, quite frankly, because I want to 146 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 2: see them play in other big games. I really hope 147 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 2: that today against France is not the last time I 148 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 2: get to watch Steph Curry and Lebron James playing a 149 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 2: big basketball game. Wouldn't that be a huge bummer? And 150 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 2: like they're both right now. I mean, I think the Lakers, 151 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 2: if they stay really healthy, could potentially be in that 152 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 2: you know, four or five six range, but they could 153 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 2: be a playing team. I think the Warriors team is 154 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 2: like like right around that same area, if not a 155 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 2: certain playing team. So like that that both of those 156 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 2: rosters are not good enough to win a championship right now, 157 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 2: and that's just a real bummer, and I'm hoping that 158 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 2: they can address that before the deadline. Next question, is 159 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 2: it possible that this is the last time the United 160 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 2: States dominates in the Olympics. With the talent level of 161 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 2: the world rising and many of our greatest players being 162 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 2: most likely to retire, how do we fare moving forward? 163 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 2: What's the potential team? First of all. I mean, we 164 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 2: didn't dominate this year, and that is a reminder of 165 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 2: just how close these teams are. The reality is is 166 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 2: like TM USA is still a sizable margin better than 167 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 2: everyone else, but any single game sample size, there's variants, 168 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 2: and that gap is closed to the point where now 169 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 2: it's like, you know, USA plays a bad defensive half, 170 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 2: Serbia shoots it really well, and suddenly it's like neck 171 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 2: and neck and anything can happen, right, And so I 172 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 2: think the days of the Team USA dominating are over 173 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 2: just simply because of the fact that single elimination the 174 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 2: gap is too small. Now there's enough variance that there's 175 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 2: gonna be a close game in there. I mean, hal 176 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 2: France was within three with three minutes left before Team 177 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,959 Speaker 2: USA pulled away. As for twenty twenty eight, I am concerned, 178 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 2: though mainly just because the young guys weren't really able 179 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 2: to flex their muscles on this stage the way the 180 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 2: old guys are and like have been. And Steve kerk 181 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 2: gave these guys plenty at burn like I've seen so 182 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 2: much talk, like like Steve Kerrz made this Olympics about 183 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 2: Steph Lebron and kd or that the old guys are 184 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 2: just like getting all the shine. It's like no, no, they're 185 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 2: taking the damn shine, like they're yeah, you're right. Like 186 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 2: Tatum got some DMPs here in the Olympics. You know 187 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 2: what else though he was subbed in in line shifts 188 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 2: for all the exhibitions and he wasn't playing very well. 189 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 2: Like all of these guys got extended burn, extended opportunities 190 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 2: to show how they fit, and certain guys played well, 191 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 2: certain guys didn't. You know who are the three guys 192 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 2: who played the best that deserved to float to the 193 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 2: top were Kadie, Stephan Lebron. They earned the burn that 194 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 2: they got, they earned the opportunities that they got. It's 195 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 2: their consistent impact, winning in ways that extend beyond even 196 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 2: shot making, that are that allowed them to be on 197 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:33,679 Speaker 2: the floor as consistently as they had and they made shots, 198 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 2: and so again, like I think, I think the concerning 199 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 2: part is that when we got into these high stakes 200 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 2: basketball environments, we just didn't get a lot of consistent 201 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 2: contributions from some of the younger guys. Now, the potential 202 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 2: team it really just depends on like the health of 203 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:50,439 Speaker 2: some key guys, like if Anthony Davis at age thirty 204 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 2: four is like healthy and ready to go. That'd be 205 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 2: big because the front line is where I get concerned, 206 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 2: Like it's the losing of a big, strong forward like 207 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 2: Lebron James could be detrimental for a team that has 208 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 2: a lot of thin guys on the horizon, a lot 209 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 2: of guards on the horizon. Right, if Anthony Davis can 210 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 2: come back and play, and you can have something like 211 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 2: Jason Tatum, Anthony Davis, bam Adebio, Jalen Brown, that's still 212 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 2: a pretty formidable front court. But like, is John Morant 213 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 2: gonna be on this team? That would be interesting, right, 214 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 2: Like is Devin Booker still gonna be on this team 215 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 2: or is he gonna be too old? At that point, 216 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 2: we'll see Anthony Edwards. Is he competing for the best 217 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 2: player in the world at that point? The main thing 218 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 2: is is will Team USA have the physicality to hang 219 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,839 Speaker 2: against these bigger European teams And a lot of these 220 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 2: American players are not as physically imposing and the older 221 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 2: group is starting to phase out, and so that's the 222 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 2: main piece. I think a lot of key guys like 223 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 2: Jason Tatum suddenly becomes vitally important. I've seen all this 224 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 2: talk about logo. Is Tatum gonna boycott the Olympics because 225 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 2: he didn't play? I love God, I hope not. They're 226 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 2: gonna need him like Jason Tatum. Here's the thing. Jayson 227 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 2: Tatum won a good fit on this team because he 228 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 2: couldn't shoot zho for sixteen on jump shots in all 229 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:07,719 Speaker 2: the exhibitions combined with the actual Olympic tournament games. As 230 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 2: a result of that, he kind of had to function 231 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 2: more as a big and Bam and Ad are better 232 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 2: at being bigs than Jason Tatum is at being a big. 233 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 2: When Jason Tatum has his jump shot and he's like 234 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 2: actually a normal functioning perimeter player, he becomes a very 235 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 2: useful player. And I do believe that this Tatum stretch 236 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:28,200 Speaker 2: is just a glitch. I think it's just a random, 237 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 2: extended slump that he's in. I do think he's going 238 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 2: to fix it, and I think that he's gonna be 239 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 2: fine in the long run. And if he is in 240 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 2: twenty twenty eight, he suddenly becomes a vitally important player. 241 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 2: But I thought, I really thought it was just a 242 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 2: simple decision from Kerr from the standpoint of, like, this 243 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 2: guy can't shoot right now, I'm better off going with 244 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 2: Bam and Ad, and I really think that's all it was. 245 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 2: I think if Tatum had shot the ball better, I 246 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 2: think he would have gotten a considerable larger opportunity to 247 00:11:57,520 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 2: play in the actual rotation. But he's going to be 248 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 2: vitally important. Jalen Brown becomes vitally important because he's one 249 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 2: of the more physically imposing wings. And really it's gonna 250 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:06,719 Speaker 2: be about decision making, like the way that Steph and 251 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 2: Lebron and KD were able to out execute teams in 252 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 2: the half court at the end of games, whether it 253 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,680 Speaker 2: was spamming a Lebron' Steph two man game against France, 254 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:18,079 Speaker 2: or it's you know, the give and take that Lebron 255 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:20,679 Speaker 2: Stephan KD demonstrated at the end of the game against Serbia, 256 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,960 Speaker 2: timely transition attacks, good off ball action for Steph, like 257 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 2: trusting KD in key situations. As long as the Anthony Edwards, Tatum, 258 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,600 Speaker 2: Jah Morant trio can kind of like figure that out, 259 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 2: then they should be fine. But I would say it's 260 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 2: hard to tell too, because what are the other FEEDBA 261 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 2: teams gonna look like? Is Joki still playing at that point? 262 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 2: Is Rudy Gobert is still playing at that but there's 263 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 2: so many different angles that make that complicated. That Germany 264 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 2: team could be really really good at that point when 265 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:50,960 Speaker 2: Franz is in the heart of his prime, right, like 266 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 2: Victor women Yama could be a world beater at that point. 267 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 2: There's so many different variables at play, So it's too 268 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 2: early for me to like project what's gonna happen in 269 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 2: twenty twenty eight, but like I do think that the 270 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,199 Speaker 2: Team USA team that we field in twenty twenty eight 271 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 2: will be substantially more vulnerable than this year's was. I 272 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 2: think that goes without saying. Next question, what can Team 273 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,079 Speaker 2: USA do in the future to get consistency and allow 274 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:18,959 Speaker 2: for guys to have chemistry before FEBA play. I'm worried 275 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:22,560 Speaker 2: about twenty twenty eight. So it's just impossible because of 276 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 2: the various commitments that these guys have. These guys are 277 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 2: all their own business in and of themselves, and so 278 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 2: it's hard to get them to play in the three 279 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 2: off years. Right, there are a couple of different things 280 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 2: you could try doing a camp that might be something 281 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 2: worth looking into. I think they actually do something like 282 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 2: that already, But the main thing is and the reason 283 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 2: why I pulled this question. I actually think the answer 284 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 2: is pretty simple. The Team USA decision makers have to 285 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 2: be very very particular about who they bring from now on. 286 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 2: It was the stars that dragged it home for Team 287 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 2: USA this year. It was Steph KD and Lebron, right, 288 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 2: But you don't have that type of star power in 289 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 2: twenty twenty eight. So I do think at that point 290 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 2: it becomes vitally important to have star role players involved. 291 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 2: I'd be extremely picky about lineup construction and be willing 292 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 2: to bring guys that aren't necessarily big names, but that 293 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 2: are like professional role players, guys that make their living 294 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 2: doing the dirty work. Because when it comes to that 295 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 2: chemistry piece, and we're gonna talk about this a little 296 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 2: bit more with Lebron and Steph here in a minute, 297 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 2: because I had a specific question about it. But there 298 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 2: is a like a earned chemistry or like a that's 299 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 2: like the continuity piece. But then there's also like a 300 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 2: natural organic chemistry that can happen between basketball players. And 301 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 2: so when you don't have the continuity from year over 302 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 2: year consistency, then you have to have that natural and 303 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 2: organic chemistry. So you need to get you need to 304 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 2: have it streamlined to where you have some stars who 305 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 2: like playing without the basketball, you have guys that specialize 306 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 2: in playing roles, you have a clear higher so guys 307 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 2: aren't fighting over the basketball. You have to try to 308 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 2: craft a situation in a basketball situation. And we'll kind 309 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 2: of take a closer look at that when we get 310 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 2: to twenty twenty eight, because that'll be a much more 311 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 2: fun roster to try to put together in the summer 312 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 2: leading up to it. But I think they're just gonna 313 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 2: have to do way more picky about who they include 314 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 2: on that team and try to make sure they bake 315 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 2: in as much natural chemistry as possible. What are your 316 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 2: expectations for Anthony Davis coming into the twenty twenty four 317 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 2: to twenty twenty five NBA regular season Top ten Player, 318 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 2: Defensive Player of the Year MVP. So I have super 319 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 2: high expectations for Anthony Davis. I will just warn you 320 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 2: guys right now. I have him super high in my 321 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 2: player rankings, and I am just a huge believe. I 322 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 2: think he's been playing at a borderline MVP level basically 323 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 2: this entire calendar year. I thought he played Jokic to 324 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 2: a standstill in the first round series, which is not hard. 325 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 2: That's that's the best player in the world. In my opinion, 326 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 2: That Anthony Davis went punch for punch, blow for blow 327 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 2: with and arguably outplayed in the first round series like 328 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 2: that was, That's how good I think Anthony Day is 329 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 2: capable of playing so top ten player, yes, defensive Player 330 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 2: of the Year. Media is never going to give it 331 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 2: to him because they don't like the Lakers MVP. I 332 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 2: don't think that's something that he has a real chance 333 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 2: to get, but I'd love to see Anthony Davis get 334 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 2: a top five MVP finish. That would be something that 335 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 2: I think would be a strong indicator of just him 336 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 2: putting seventy plus games in at the level that he's 337 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 2: been in at twenty twenty four. I think that's something 338 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 2: that he can do. And if he does, if AD 339 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 2: plays seventy to seventy five games and plays the way 340 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 2: he did in this calendar year, the Lakers will be 341 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 2: a top four seed and they will be a team 342 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 2: that's good enough to put Anthony Davis in MVP contention. 343 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 2: I don't think he can win MVP, but I do 344 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 2: think he can get a top five finish, and I 345 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 2: do think that's something that's on the table for him. 346 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 2: Next question, what does this Olympic Finals performance mean for 347 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 2: Steph Curry in top ten all time conversation? Also, why 348 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 2: do you think Steph and Lebron have such a great 349 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 2: understanding of each other on the floor when they've always 350 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 2: been rivals for much of their careers. So that last 351 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 2: part I want to hit that first. The reason why 352 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 2: Lebron and Steph so naturally played together, It's two things, 353 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 2: in my opinion. The first piece I talked about extensively 354 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 2: in the instant reaction to the gold medal game. It's 355 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,679 Speaker 2: all about the fact that Lebron and Steph both do 356 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 2: very different things. So when you deploy Lebron and you 357 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 2: deploy Steph, they accomplish different goals, which then piece together 358 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 2: to make even easier roles for all of your teammates. Right, 359 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,280 Speaker 2: So that piece of it is the first part. They're 360 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:28,360 Speaker 2: just very complimentary in their skill sets. The second piece 361 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:30,679 Speaker 2: of it is that organic and natural chemistry that I 362 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 2: was talking about. One of the things I've noticed when 363 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 2: I play with people that I haven't played with before, 364 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 2: when they are smart basketball players, it's easy. When they're 365 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,120 Speaker 2: guys who don't know how to play. It's hard even 366 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 2: if I have a long time to play with them. 367 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 2: A huge portion of it is that natural chemistry. Lebron 368 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 2: and Steph are two of the smartest basketball players of 369 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 2: this era, so of course they figured out how to 370 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 2: do it immediately. That type of chemistry is the type 371 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 2: of chemistry Temosa needs to hunt down in order to 372 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:59,159 Speaker 2: increase their margin for error. In twenty twenty eight, what 373 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:01,439 Speaker 2: do you ranked Tatum in the NBA after this Olympic run? 374 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:03,400 Speaker 2: Guess you'll have to watch the player rankings videos which 375 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 2: are going to come out starting next week. 376 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 1: Preparing for your upcoming fantasy football draft, do you wish 377 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 1: that you could wave a magic wand and somehow know 378 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 1: who exactly your league mates are going to take? 379 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:14,760 Speaker 3: Well? 380 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: With Draft Intel from Fantasy Pros, you'll know exactly how 381 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: your league mats draft better than they do. Draft Intel 382 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 1: will automatically analyze your league's history to see who rushes 383 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 1: to the draft board first to take a quarterback, who 384 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 1: takes too many rookies, and who is going to reach 385 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 1: for their favorite teams players over and over again. Everybody 386 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: hates a homer and every league has one of them. 387 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 1: But right now, you can put all that intel to 388 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 1: the test by bringing those patterns directly into a mock 389 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 1: draft and make your mock draft feel like the real thing. 390 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: Check out fantasypros dot com slash volume today to get 391 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 1: an edge over your league mates right now and forever. 392 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Pacific Northwest. Mister T. Who is best 393 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:09,679 Speaker 2: current non NBA player who played in the Olympics that 394 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 2: NBA teams can sign. Maybe someone from the South Sudan 395 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 2: team or YABUSELEI I think I by the way, I 396 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:19,400 Speaker 2: love the Pacific Northwest. I cannot wait to get back 397 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 2: back up there. I am doing an Alaskan cruise next 398 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 2: year too with a couple of my friends, so that'll 399 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:26,920 Speaker 2: be three of the last four years that I've spent 400 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 2: up in the Pacific Northwest in the summertime. I absolutely 401 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:32,159 Speaker 2: love it up there. So Gushan Yabuselli, I think, is 402 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 2: a guy that absolutely can play in the NBA. The 403 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 2: big thing I think about with him is like every 404 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 2: backup center that you see in the NBA kind of 405 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 2: looks vaguely like Gershaon Yabuseli, where it's like, yeah, if 406 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,200 Speaker 2: you have him defending in a drop coverage, he's gonna struggle, 407 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:47,919 Speaker 2: like he's gonna bring a ton of defensive limitations. But 408 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:51,159 Speaker 2: the dude just plays super damn hard and has a 409 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 2: lot of positive impact in the in just his motor 410 00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 2: and his size and his strength and his athleticism. So 411 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 2: I look at him as like two potential things, like 412 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 2: do I think he could play backup center for a 413 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 2: really athletic bench group. 414 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:05,359 Speaker 3: Yeah. 415 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 2: The other thing too, is he kind of plays that 416 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:09,800 Speaker 2: big forward position, Like he'd be an interesting guy to 417 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:12,280 Speaker 2: add to a team just to have a body, a big, 418 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 2: strong body to bang with a Nikole Jokich, so you 419 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 2: can put your center behind him or something along those lines. Like, 420 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 2: I think he just brings a lot of really valuable 421 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:23,360 Speaker 2: basketball skill, especially in big games, and so I think 422 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 2: he could be a guy that could play Wanyan Gabriel 423 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 2: is a guy from Sausu Dan who, by the way, 424 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 2: has played in the NBA, who like is just the 425 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 2: opposite version of Ghorshaan Yabuseli's the Goorshaan yabusel is more 426 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 2: of the offensive minded backup big. But I look at 427 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:43,399 Speaker 2: the that Whenyan Gabriel is the exact same thing as 428 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:47,680 Speaker 2: more the defensive minded kind of guy, and like, he 429 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:50,159 Speaker 2: just brings a ton of energy on the glass and 430 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 2: runs the floor in transition. He's another guy that, like, 431 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:55,200 Speaker 2: I've seen him play next to Anthony Davis at the four, 432 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 2: and there's a lot of layered athleticism benefit there. Mary 433 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:02,159 Speaker 2: Al Shayak shot the ball extremely well. There's always an 434 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 2: appetite for shooting in the NBA. I think there are 435 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:06,080 Speaker 2: a bunch of guys like that. The reality is, though, 436 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 2: and this is something that I've seen a lot. I've 437 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 2: seen a lot of people say things like, oh, how 438 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:12,679 Speaker 2: did Team USA barely win the goal when they have 439 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:15,400 Speaker 2: all this NBA talent? Blah blah blah. The gap between 440 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 2: NBA players and the lower level pros is smaller than ever. 441 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 2: It just is the entire basketball world is getting better. 442 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 2: The gap, the gap between all levels is shrinking as 443 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,040 Speaker 2: just we as we just get better at playing basketball. 444 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 2: And so, like, I think that there are a lot 445 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:35,639 Speaker 2: of guys that played in that tournament that are eighty 446 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,640 Speaker 2: ninety percent of what an NBA player is and they're 447 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 2: just not quite good enough to be part of that 448 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:43,439 Speaker 2: that four hundred and fifty players, right Like that to 449 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 2: me is what makes it so like I always talk 450 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 2: about on this show like I have a certain responsibility 451 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:53,639 Speaker 2: to be critical because that's just authentic, Like I can't 452 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 2: only compliment people without being critical or vice versa. At 453 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 2: that point, I'm just a propagandist, right. But I always 454 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 2: feel a little bit uncomfortable when I'm criticizing NBA players 455 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 2: because they've accomplished something that is something that every basketball 456 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 2: player dreams of accomplishing, Like every one of you guys 457 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:13,080 Speaker 2: who played in high school played in college, like there 458 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 2: was always at least a small part of you that 459 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:16,160 Speaker 2: was like, man, it would have been really cool if 460 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:19,120 Speaker 2: something went differently and I made it to the NBA, right, 461 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:22,360 Speaker 2: Like we all have that aspiration, and yet only four 462 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:25,119 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty people get to do it. And so 463 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:27,719 Speaker 2: when you get to put that jersey on and you 464 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:29,879 Speaker 2: check into an NBA game and you actually get to play, 465 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 2: it is such a remarkable accomplishment. And I think that 466 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 2: seeing how many really truly great players are not playing 467 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 2: in the NBA is just another reminder of that. It's 468 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:44,159 Speaker 2: something I've been aware for a long time. Obviously. I 469 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:45,679 Speaker 2: I am friends with and work out with a ton 470 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:47,879 Speaker 2: of people who play overseas and guys who play at 471 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 2: the high major college level, like that's the amount of 472 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:56,400 Speaker 2: talent that exists in the basketball world is incomprehensible, and 473 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 2: it's it's just a reminder of what makes the NBA 474 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 2: so special, and that's why we're and that's why we 475 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 2: love watching the games, and that's why I love talking 476 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 2: about it on the show. People always say peak over 477 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:11,119 Speaker 2: longevity for Lebron and MJ. When they explain peak, it 478 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:14,639 Speaker 2: always goes back to Jordan winning six rings. In terms 479 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 2: of level of play, twenty eighteen, Lebron reached the highest 480 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:20,399 Speaker 2: command of the game. Ever, does that not make his 481 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:25,920 Speaker 2: individual peak higher? Lebron is the goat? So a couple things. 482 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:28,639 Speaker 2: First of all, I agree that twenty eighteen Lebron is 483 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 2: the best basketball player that I've ever watched in any 484 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 2: individual moment in time. The main near reason why for 485 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,159 Speaker 2: that too is I just tend to think that players 486 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,199 Speaker 2: are always getting better. So I think there will be 487 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 2: a version of Victor wemb Minyama that we see in 488 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 2: you know, potentially in twenty thirty or something like that, 489 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:46,199 Speaker 2: or maybe some other player in the future where we're 490 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:47,920 Speaker 2: gonna look back and be like, this is the best 491 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:51,399 Speaker 2: basketball player that has ever taken the floor in an 492 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 2: NBA game. I don't think Lebron is like some random 493 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 2: peak in player history and then we're gonna dip back 494 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 2: down and Lebron will always be the goat. Like I 495 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:02,399 Speaker 2: think we're allways is getting better. Twenty eighteen, Lebron was 496 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 2: one of the best athletes in the league. Remember that 497 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 2: was the year that he had that dunk on Nurkic. 498 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 2: Like he was still like at his peak. Athletically, he 499 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 2: was the best passer in the league. He was a 500 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 2: deadly jumpshooter, had incredible footwork in the mid post. He 501 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 2: had just ridiculous scoring moves. And that you have eight 502 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:21,440 Speaker 2: forty point games in the playoffs, a dominant defensive player, 503 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 2: dominant rebound That was the best basketball player that I've 504 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:27,159 Speaker 2: ever seen. The reason why I had MJ as my 505 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:31,639 Speaker 2: goat before then, I should say before this particular show, 506 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:36,160 Speaker 2: is you can't judge a player based on what the 507 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:39,120 Speaker 2: future holes. That doesn't make any sense, Like it doesn't 508 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 2: make sense to judge Lebron up against thirty years from 509 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 2: now that what the technology will look like in terms 510 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:52,119 Speaker 2: of health and in body management and a surgery for 511 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:54,119 Speaker 2: injuries and all the different things in the future, just 512 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 2: the way the game is played will just be better 513 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 2: at playing basketball in the future. Right, Like, it doesn't 514 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:01,199 Speaker 2: make sense to judge that MJ was so ahead of 515 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 2: his time. He was so ahead of the curve, that 516 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 2: he was so dominant that no player was even considered 517 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 2: in the same tier as him, and they won six 518 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 2: titles in eight tries. So like, I still think that 519 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 2: that's the most dominant stretch that we will ever see 520 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:20,320 Speaker 2: from an NBA player. I don't think we'll see I 521 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:21,919 Speaker 2: think the league is too deep now. I think the 522 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 2: teams are too good. I don't think we'll see a 523 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 2: player truly separate himself. And maybe that'll happen. And it's 524 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 2: very possible that when the dust settles on the NBA, 525 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 2: if it ever settles, that MJ will still be considered 526 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:36,480 Speaker 2: the most dominant player. Right But that dominance for me 527 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 2: for a long time superseded any of the Lebron longevity stuff. 528 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 2: But here we are in twenty twenty four and Grant 529 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:49,679 Speaker 2: Hill was able to call thirty nine year old Lebron 530 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:54,640 Speaker 2: James and ask him to bring it in the summertime, 531 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:57,920 Speaker 2: and not just bring it, but to play a massive role, 532 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 2: and Lebron came in and crushed that massive role in 533 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 2: one MVP of the tournament at age thirty nine, damn 534 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:12,439 Speaker 2: near about to turn forty. It's insane to me that 535 00:26:12,560 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 2: the same player that was drafted over twenty one years ago, 536 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 2: that as soon as two thousand and six he was 537 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:23,120 Speaker 2: taking that Detroit Pistons team. Mind you, the same Pistons 538 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 2: team that won the title in four and came close 539 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:28,240 Speaker 2: to doing it again at five. He took them to seven. 540 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:32,680 Speaker 2: One year later, you beat them and went to the finals. 541 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:38,600 Speaker 2: Then seventeen years after that, Grant Hill was able to 542 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:41,720 Speaker 2: call on him to lead a basketball team, and he 543 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:48,000 Speaker 2: did on the biggest stage in world hoops. I can't 544 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:53,360 Speaker 2: argue that anymore. If you were starting a franchise tomorrow 545 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:57,680 Speaker 2: and you could pick any basketball player in the history 546 00:26:57,680 --> 00:27:01,359 Speaker 2: of the game from their rookie year to lead your team, 547 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:06,200 Speaker 2: you take Lebron ten times out of ten, and at 548 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:10,200 Speaker 2: that point that just makes him the greatest basketball player 549 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 2: to ever play the game. The longevity is extended too far. 550 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:20,400 Speaker 2: The reliably great basketball that he consistently brings every time 551 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:23,719 Speaker 2: there's a big game, it's still going. It's still going, 552 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 2: I can't argue it anymore. Is MJ the most dominant 553 00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:31,600 Speaker 2: basketball player compared to his peers in his era? Yes, 554 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:34,359 Speaker 2: I don't think. As I mentioned earlier, I don't actually 555 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 2: think that's even a situation we could recreate without depth, 556 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:39,960 Speaker 2: with how much depth of talent there is in the league. 557 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:43,639 Speaker 2: But the greatest basketball player to ever play the game, 558 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 2: the guy that you would pick every single time to 559 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:50,080 Speaker 2: start a franchise with from day one, is Lebron James. 560 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:53,240 Speaker 2: And you know, if this ends up being the cherryot 561 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:54,639 Speaker 2: on top of his career, and I hope it's not. 562 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 2: I hope he gets to play in more big games. 563 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 2: But if he gets to put a cherry on, if 564 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:00,719 Speaker 2: this is the cherry on top of his career, it's 565 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:05,159 Speaker 2: a pretty damn good one. Age thirty nine, most stacked 566 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:09,120 Speaker 2: Olympic field ever, over sixty NBA players playing for other teams, 567 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:14,240 Speaker 2: and he was MVP of the team. I will also say, 568 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:16,960 Speaker 2: just even as a fan, I've rooted for Lebron through 569 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:20,880 Speaker 2: a lot of games, a lot of wins, and this 570 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:23,600 Speaker 2: was top three or four for me in terms of 571 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:27,120 Speaker 2: Lebron moments. Like I just I loved watching him play 572 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 2: with this team. It was so much fun for me. 573 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:32,680 Speaker 2: Who should have won MVP Lebron or Curry? So I 574 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:34,879 Speaker 2: talked a little bit about this yesterday. I thought Lebron 575 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 2: had the best case to win MVP, but I also 576 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:39,760 Speaker 2: thought Steph Curry had a case to win MVP. Lebron 577 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 2: impacted winning more than any other player on TSA during 578 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:47,240 Speaker 2: the Olympics. Curry hit most of the big shots towards 579 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 2: the end. Those are the two cases. You don't win 580 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 2: the tournament without either of them. You need them. So like, 581 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 2: I don't really care. I thought Lebron deserved it, but 582 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:00,160 Speaker 2: if Curry had gotten it, I would have thought that 583 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:03,600 Speaker 2: was completely acceptable. Warriors fans who think Curry should have 584 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 2: won it, they're not wrong necessarily. That said, I know 585 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 2: Lebron and Steph don't care. All they care about is winning. 586 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:14,640 Speaker 2: That is why Curry allowed or asked Kevin Durant to 587 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 2: join him in Golden State. That is why Lebron is 588 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:18,600 Speaker 2: the kind of guy who, like, in a big moment, 589 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 2: will let Kyrie take the big shot or let Steph 590 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:23,760 Speaker 2: Curry go when he has it going. It's a big 591 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 2: it's a big part of ego. In order to win, 592 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:28,800 Speaker 2: you have to let go of that. What if Lebron 593 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 2: had tried to co opt possessions away from Steph at 594 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:33,080 Speaker 2: the end of the game when he was on his heater, 595 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 2: that would have been bad for the team. But he 596 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:38,240 Speaker 2: doesn't care. He just wants to win, right. Curry could 597 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:40,960 Speaker 2: have earned more in the court of public opinion if 598 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:43,880 Speaker 2: he ranted it back against Lebron in twenty seventeen without 599 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:47,120 Speaker 2: Kevin Durant, but he didn't care. He just wanted to win. 600 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:50,800 Speaker 2: That's what has allowed those guys to win eight of 601 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:55,600 Speaker 2: the last thirteen NBA championships. So like, yeah, Lebron should 602 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:57,719 Speaker 2: have won in my opinion. Curry also had a really 603 00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:01,320 Speaker 2: good case. I said yesterday, I let the kids argue 604 00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 2: about it on Twitter. That's an argument for other people. 605 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:07,640 Speaker 2: I'm not really interested in it. Do you think Lebron 606 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:09,360 Speaker 2: should try to be the full time point guard on 607 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 2: the Lakers again like twenty twenty, Yes, but it requires 608 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 2: a certain level of offensive talent In order for Lebron 609 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:17,600 Speaker 2: to operate the way he did for Team USA, you 610 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:20,480 Speaker 2: need to have high level players flying off of screens, 611 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:22,840 Speaker 2: and so that's where it gets tricky. Like if adding 612 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 2: Dalton connect to the situation as a movement shooter can 613 00:30:25,280 --> 00:30:28,000 Speaker 2: help if Dlo's willing to work more off the ball. 614 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:30,720 Speaker 2: I think there's a lot of benefit that can come 615 00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 2: from that, but it requires high level offensive players. Again, 616 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:36,600 Speaker 2: I'm not really worried about the Lakers on the offensive 617 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:38,200 Speaker 2: end at all. They just don't really have a player 618 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:39,640 Speaker 2: that can play both ends of the floor other than 619 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:42,600 Speaker 2: Lebron and eighty. That's the main issue. Would you've had 620 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 2: an issue with Jokic winning Olympic MVP, Yes, for the 621 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:49,239 Speaker 2: same reason I went added an issue if Lebron won 622 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:52,720 Speaker 2: MVP the twenty fifteen finals. Like, I think it's okay 623 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:54,520 Speaker 2: for us to talk about how great Jokic was, and 624 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:56,280 Speaker 2: I do think he's the best player in the world 625 00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:57,520 Speaker 2: still and I thought he was the best player in 626 00:30:57,520 --> 00:31:02,360 Speaker 2: this tournament. But MVP goes winner and Timosa one. I 627 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 2: don't think Lebron should have won MVP in twenty fifteen. 628 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:07,160 Speaker 2: I think step should have so like, yeah, I'm a 629 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 2: huge Jokic fan, but yeah, like I think giving him 630 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:14,040 Speaker 2: the MVP would have Again, winning has to mean something, 631 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:16,360 Speaker 2: and it's a prerequisite in my opinion when it comes 632 00:31:16,360 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 2: to MVP. All Right, guys, that is all I have 633 00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:20,440 Speaker 2: for today, very much looking forward to a little bit 634 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:22,000 Speaker 2: of a break. I hope you guys enjoy the beginning 635 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 2: of the player ranking series. I'm excited to argue about 636 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:25,800 Speaker 2: it with you guys when I get home. I'll see 637 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:26,080 Speaker 2: you guys. 638 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:33,840 Speaker 3: Then the Volume, the NFL season's right around the corner, 639 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 3: will be breaking down all the off season storylines on 640 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:39,720 Speaker 3: the Colin Cowherd podcast, my best Takes guests like my 641 00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 3: buddy Nick Wright. Check out the Colin Coward podcast, part 642 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:47,640 Speaker 3: of the Volume Network, available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever 643 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:49,200 Speaker 3: you get your podcasts.