WEBVTT - #thisleague UNCUT: Two teams that impress -- and concern -- us

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<v Speaker 1>Two teams that impress us at this embryonic stage of

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<v Speaker 1>the NBA's seventy eighth season, two teams that also concern us.

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<v Speaker 1>And should the NBA Draft be expanded into a two

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<v Speaker 1>night affair United States against the rest of the world

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<v Speaker 1>in the NBA All Star Game? Is that even sooner

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<v Speaker 1>in the future than we expected, we get into all

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<v Speaker 1>that next here on this League uncut.

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<v Speaker 2>Welcome to this league uncut can rule.

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<v Speaker 1>A twenty four hour NBA News. This's you, Chris Haines.

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<v Speaker 1>It's time, Marks time, it's some time. This league uncut

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<v Speaker 1>is underway and on fire. This should be a good one.

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome in everyone to another edition of this league uncut.

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<v Speaker 1>Mark Stein here with Chris Haynes on a somewhat sleepy

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<v Speaker 1>Thursday night as we record only two games on the schedule. Tonight,

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<v Speaker 1>Indiana edging Milwaukee Jannas on Tetekunpo fifty four points not

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<v Speaker 1>enough with Dame Lillard out of the line of Indiana

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<v Speaker 1>off to a surprising six and three start. As Chris

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<v Speaker 1>and I record this, Atlanta and Orlando are playing in

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<v Speaker 1>Mexico City, what has become the league's annual regular season

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<v Speaker 1>game early in the regular season in Mexico City. I've

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<v Speaker 1>made a few trips myself to Mexico City for these games,

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<v Speaker 1>not for this one. Stayed home just to do this podcast,

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<v Speaker 1>just to make sure that Chris Haynes gets this podcast

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<v Speaker 1>recorded and he gets a good night's sleep before tomorrow

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<v Speaker 1>when the in season tournament returns, his beloved in season

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<v Speaker 1>tournament that he was so geeked up for. I know

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<v Speaker 1>he's been home studying everybody. These home court the new

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<v Speaker 1>home court designs we're gonna see tomorrow night. Very exciting, right,

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<v Speaker 1>Oh okay, Well, people, people couldn't see. People couldn't see

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<v Speaker 1>the look on your face that I could see when

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<v Speaker 1>when I.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, I'm gonna say, I think you're adding more to

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<v Speaker 2>it to my enthusiasm towards the end season tournament. I'm

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<v Speaker 2>just of the mindset that I embrace some type of

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<v Speaker 2>experimental change. So that's what I'm just giving it the

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<v Speaker 2>benefit of the doubt right now and we'll see how

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<v Speaker 2>it plays out. But just to say, I'm just I

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<v Speaker 2>understand there's some people out there who have to might

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<v Speaker 2>be lead partners, who have to say this is the

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<v Speaker 2>greatest thing, so excited this is going to do this.

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<v Speaker 2>We don't know what it's going to do, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>So I'm not gonna go all that out like that,

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<v Speaker 2>but I am interested in seeing how this is gonna

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<v Speaker 2>play out. So yeah, but I think you just add

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit extra on my enthusiasm for this.

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<v Speaker 1>Time, just trying to I'm just trying to get you

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<v Speaker 1>riled up before we really get going here. We're gonna

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<v Speaker 1>play a different game. We're not gonna spend too much

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<v Speaker 1>time talking about the N Season Tournament. I think everybody

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<v Speaker 1>who listens to this podcast knows where I stand on it.

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<v Speaker 1>You have, you are giving it more of a chance.

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<v Speaker 1>Let's see what happens. You're right. It is only the

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<v Speaker 1>second night of ND season Tournament games on Friday night,

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<v Speaker 1>and yes there are nine games on the schedule. But

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<v Speaker 1>let's let's do something different.

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<v Speaker 2>Stein. Let's yeah, before we do something different, hold on,

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<v Speaker 2>give me a few seconds. Just listen to this.

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<v Speaker 1>You heard that I did not good.

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<v Speaker 2>That's that was the plan. Stein. I have changed the

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<v Speaker 2>batteries in my smoke detector. I finally did it. You

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<v Speaker 2>hear you will hear no beeps. So I'm sorry all

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<v Speaker 2>the people who love listened to my smoke detector go

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<v Speaker 2>off every other minute or so. But I have changed

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<v Speaker 2>the batteries. And you may ask, well, Chris, how come

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<v Speaker 2>you didn't do that months ago? Because I mean, you

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<v Speaker 2>could argue me.

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<v Speaker 1>I was just going to ask that. I'm glad you

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<v Speaker 1>anticipated that question.

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<v Speaker 2>Will have a very good answer for you. It might

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<v Speaker 2>not suffice, but I have an answer for you. My

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<v Speaker 2>ceilings are really tall, Starn really tall, and so it

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<v Speaker 2>is a pain and ask to try to get up

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<v Speaker 2>there and change that, change that smoke detector. But I

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<v Speaker 2>got a ladder because I don't have a ladder personally

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<v Speaker 2>a letter that tall. So I got a ladder next

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<v Speaker 2>to my next door neighbor allowed me to use this ladder,

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<v Speaker 2>and so I changed two smoke detectors, one downstairs, one upstairs.

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<v Speaker 2>So I am fine for the next month or so.

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<v Speaker 2>So that's all I'm gonna give you, probably the next

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<v Speaker 2>month or so. Then we'll see what happens from there.

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<v Speaker 1>What kind of batteries did you use that only last

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<v Speaker 1>for a month?

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<v Speaker 2>Triple A batteries. You know what I'm gonna tell you.

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<v Speaker 2>I asked my wife this time. I'm glad you asked

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<v Speaker 2>that question. Very great, astutid question. These batteries were called Warriors.

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<v Speaker 2>Have you heard of these batteries? They called Warriors. I've

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<v Speaker 2>never seen it before. They're called Warriors battery batteries. I've

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<v Speaker 2>never seen it before. We had a couple of door

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<v Speaker 2>seals in there, but it wasn't I didn't have enough.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, this smoke detective they take. My smoke detect

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<v Speaker 2>takes four triple A batteries. But the batteries are called Warriors.

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<v Speaker 2>But they're definitely not living up to be warriors because

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<v Speaker 2>it don't seem like they're lasting very long.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, you know what, as you once, as you sometimes

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<v Speaker 1>say to me when I go off on my tangents,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm just gonna. I'm not gonna. I'm gonna leave it alone.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm gonna just let those comments.

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<v Speaker 2>Understand them, understand I'm gonna.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm just gonna let it go. I'm the least I'm

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<v Speaker 1>the least handy person in America, so I shouldn't say

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<v Speaker 1>anything because I'm not.

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<v Speaker 2>Who changes your smoke detectives.

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<v Speaker 1>But man, missus Stein might run in here to jump

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<v Speaker 1>on this pod and shout to the world that she

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<v Speaker 1>she is the one who does it. She even has

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<v Speaker 1>some sort of I don't know, some sort of device

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<v Speaker 1>that helps her reach up that you know, she's she's

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<v Speaker 1>very prepared.

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<v Speaker 2>My wife got mad at me, Starn. I have to

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<v Speaker 2>after admit she got mad at me because she said,

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<v Speaker 2>because I thought once I changed the smoke detectives that

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<v Speaker 2>I was going to get some kudos around the house,

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<v Speaker 2>get some praise, and I did it. It was an

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<v Speaker 2>exact opposite. She was like, the only reason you're doing

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<v Speaker 2>it because people are criticizing you on Twitter. That's the

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<v Speaker 2>only that's that.

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<v Speaker 1>I was just gonna say, is she aware that this

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<v Speaker 1>has become a subject on the podcast?

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<v Speaker 2>I've told her, which I guess I shouldn't have told

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<v Speaker 2>her because that's why I didn't get any praise when

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<v Speaker 2>I did change the smoke detective batteries. But you can't win,

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<v Speaker 2>so people, you know, that's what you need to know

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<v Speaker 2>when you get married. Winning goes out the door. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>you just there's just.

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<v Speaker 1>Ties, surviving advance, surviving advance.

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<v Speaker 2>Surviving advance. There's only ties and losses. There's no there's

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<v Speaker 2>not many wins. So if you get a win, cherish it,

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<v Speaker 2>cherish it. I'm done.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, we're gonna we're gonna not so gracefully move from

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<v Speaker 1>our home improvement and home maintenance tales. Two We're gonna

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<v Speaker 1>try something different early in the season. Two teams that

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<v Speaker 1>impress us, two teams that concern us. We get to

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<v Speaker 1>You and I both get to pick one in each category.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm gonna give you first pick in the draft for

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<v Speaker 1>both categories. So thirty teams on the board. Who is

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<v Speaker 1>the team we're basically three weeks in. Who are the who?

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<v Speaker 1>Who is the team that most impresses Sacramento based Chris Haynes.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, let me go to the opposite side of the country.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm going over there to Philly. You have to give

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<v Speaker 2>them props for the season that they've started off with.

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<v Speaker 2>They are six and one, they're the top is in

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<v Speaker 2>the standings over there, and you know, everything they they

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<v Speaker 2>would have to deal with it already, you know, with

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<v Speaker 2>the James Harden situation, you know, people felt like they

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<v Speaker 2>didn't as of right now, felt like they didn't get

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<v Speaker 2>adequate value as far as players now in return for

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<v Speaker 2>James Harden, they still can try to flip some of

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<v Speaker 2>those assets that they got for another trade, the first

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<v Speaker 2>round picks. But Jorlan Beidens playing phenomenally Tyrese Maxie. You

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<v Speaker 2>kind of knew he was going well. You knew he

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<v Speaker 2>was on the verge of having a breakout season, whatever

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<v Speaker 2>that be this season or the next season, depending on

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<v Speaker 2>if James Harden was still in that roster. But they

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<v Speaker 2>are clicking, man, they are looking really good. They just

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<v Speaker 2>took care of the Boston Celtics, who had were the

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<v Speaker 2>top was the top team in the Eastern Conference. Again,

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<v Speaker 2>this is all early. It's only seven games in for Philadelphia,

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<v Speaker 2>but just the way things started with a new coach

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<v Speaker 2>and Nick Nurse, the way you know, it was just

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<v Speaker 2>a soap opera over there for the first few weeks

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<v Speaker 2>of camp and the first you know, first week or

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<v Speaker 2>so going into the NBA season. So I would have

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<v Speaker 2>been surprised if you would have told me that they

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<v Speaker 2>were going to start off as good, considering everything that

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<v Speaker 2>they would have to go through behind the scenes.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, we're not even three full weeks in if I

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<v Speaker 1>correct my own math. And let's face it, when the

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<v Speaker 1>season started, Boston and Milwaukee had just made these splashy trades.

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<v Speaker 1>The Bucks obviously acquired Damian Lillard. Boston manages to swipe

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<v Speaker 1>Drew Holliday away from Portland after the Dame deal, and

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<v Speaker 1>so Milwaukee and Boston make these just league shaking transactions,

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<v Speaker 1>and there's Philly that has to sit there basically leading

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<v Speaker 1>the league in drama before a single ball is thrown

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<v Speaker 1>up for an opening tip. And now they ended up

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<v Speaker 1>finding a hardened trade, I think, quicker than a lot

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<v Speaker 1>of people expected once the season started, and they, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>the season started without them finding a hardened trade, to

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<v Speaker 1>find one that they were willing to make so quickly

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<v Speaker 1>after that, and you know, you're already hearing Joe l

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<v Speaker 1>Embiid say how happy everyone is, how together this group is,

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<v Speaker 1>and these are obviously all little, thinly veiled shots at

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<v Speaker 1>the drama that the Sixers have left behind, and Nick

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<v Speaker 1>Nurse's arrival seems to have energized this group. There are

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<v Speaker 1>many Sixers fans, vocal Sixers fans who are quite active

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<v Speaker 1>in my sub stacked chat room, and almost universally, when

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<v Speaker 1>I hear from Sixers fans who are in that chat room,

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<v Speaker 1>they're all saying how they have hope again, they like

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<v Speaker 1>what they're seeing again. Their fandom has been rekindled and

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<v Speaker 1>revitalized because there was just so much negativity around this

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<v Speaker 1>team and yes it is. It is super early, and

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<v Speaker 1>like I've registered complaint already a couple of times. I mean,

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<v Speaker 1>we the rush to judgment night tonight. In the NBA,

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<v Speaker 1>it seems to get louder every single year, and it's

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<v Speaker 1>just such a long season and we can't make declarations.

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<v Speaker 1>So even this, you know, I'm kind of contradicting myself

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<v Speaker 1>here because we've chosen this exercise of who impresses us,

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<v Speaker 1>and especially when we talk about who concerns us, we're

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<v Speaker 1>rushing to judgment a bit as well. I mean, it's

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<v Speaker 1>it's difficult to try to exercise some restraint, but iah,

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<v Speaker 1>Philly's won six in a row. They could easily be

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<v Speaker 1>seven to zho. They had a shot to win opening

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<v Speaker 1>night in the game you covered in Milwaukee. It's it's

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<v Speaker 1>hard not to be impressed by what Philly is doing

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<v Speaker 1>and how swiftly they've left chaos behind.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, and you know again, yeah it is. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>it's ironic we're doing a segment like this considering, you

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<v Speaker 2>know what, they teams only played a handful of games.

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<v Speaker 2>But you know, just from this standpoint, man, just the

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<v Speaker 2>way Philey is playing, how well they're playing, you can

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<v Speaker 2>see that you can see their tangible evidence of these

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<v Speaker 2>guys getting along on the court, and there seems to

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<v Speaker 2>be some chemistry. So I don't think it's too early

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<v Speaker 2>to be able to tell that those guys kind of

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<v Speaker 2>actually like playing with each other. So that's fine.

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<v Speaker 1>My nomination. Honestly, I'm tempted to just say to Denver Nuggets,

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<v Speaker 1>who are eight and one, and Jokic has started the

0:12:31.559 --> 0:12:38.840
<v Speaker 1>season in just ridiculous form, you know, just he he's

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<v Speaker 1>started the season in peak forb somehow, and you know,

0:12:43.640 --> 0:12:46.480
<v Speaker 1>Jamal Murray's got this hamstring issue. I mean, the word

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<v Speaker 1>is that he might actually miss the rest of the month,

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<v Speaker 1>and it just hasn't slowed Denver down at all because

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<v Speaker 1>Jokic is just so damn good. I mean, they've you know,

0:12:59.440 --> 0:13:04.520
<v Speaker 1>they inflicted Dallas's first loss. They beat Golden State last night.

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<v Speaker 1>Just you know, whatever early challenges have been thrown at them,

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<v Speaker 1>they've handled them. And the Nuggets would be a very

0:13:13.559 --> 0:13:16.760
<v Speaker 1>worthy nominee. But I'm actually gonna go I'm you know again,

0:13:16.800 --> 0:13:20.240
<v Speaker 1>now I'm violating my own rules, and we'll make this

0:13:20.320 --> 0:13:23.960
<v Speaker 1>overreaction Thursday, and I'm gonna go with the team. The

0:13:24.040 --> 0:13:26.480
<v Speaker 1>only team in the NBA that can say it has

0:13:26.559 --> 0:13:30.160
<v Speaker 1>beaten the Denver Nuggets, and that's Minnesota. And I know

0:13:30.240 --> 0:13:33.200
<v Speaker 1>you were scoffing at me in your house when the

0:13:33.240 --> 0:13:38.040
<v Speaker 1>fire alarm was still blinging about my decision to simulate

0:13:38.080 --> 0:13:44.280
<v Speaker 1>the season with my beloved Stratamatic, the Managerial Strategy Game.

0:13:45.240 --> 0:13:49.080
<v Speaker 1>And I did a complete simulation of the season, and

0:13:49.160 --> 0:13:54.040
<v Speaker 1>Stratamatic was ridiculously high on the Wolves, saying Minnesota would

0:13:55.080 --> 0:13:58.880
<v Speaker 1>win the West, post the most regular season wins in

0:13:58.920 --> 0:14:01.079
<v Speaker 1>the West, and go all the way to the finals.

0:14:01.120 --> 0:14:04.800
<v Speaker 1>And maybe people thought that was wild and outlandish and crazy.

0:14:04.840 --> 0:14:09.160
<v Speaker 1>And look at the way the Stratamatic blessed Timberwolves have

0:14:09.280 --> 0:14:15.080
<v Speaker 1>started the season wins over Denver, over Boston. Again, very

0:14:15.080 --> 0:14:18.560
<v Speaker 1>small sample sizes, very early in the season, but the

0:14:18.600 --> 0:14:22.280
<v Speaker 1>Wolves are tops in the league in defense. Aunt Edwards

0:14:22.280 --> 0:14:26.520
<v Speaker 1>has been ridiculous. Rudy Gobert looks like he's moving well again.

0:14:26.560 --> 0:14:30.480
<v Speaker 1>I mean, he looks much more fluid in his movement

0:14:30.520 --> 0:14:35.000
<v Speaker 1>than we saw last season in his debut season in Minnesota.

0:14:35.080 --> 0:14:39.520
<v Speaker 1>And so I think, again, if we're going to if

0:14:39.520 --> 0:14:43.120
<v Speaker 1>we're going to go through this exercise and jump to

0:14:43.200 --> 0:14:47.840
<v Speaker 1>early conclusions, the Minnesota Timberwolves get my hat tip ahead

0:14:47.880 --> 0:14:50.360
<v Speaker 1>of Denver, ahead of Golden State in the West, and

0:14:50.480 --> 0:14:51.960
<v Speaker 1>you already took Philly in the East.

0:14:54.920 --> 0:14:58.040
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, and Chris fsh is one. I think Chris Finnish

0:14:58.120 --> 0:15:01.240
<v Speaker 2>is an excellent coach. I've always loved him. You know,

0:15:01.280 --> 0:15:03.480
<v Speaker 2>I was glad when he when he got his opportunity,

0:15:03.560 --> 0:15:06.840
<v Speaker 2>got a shot at the head coaching gig. And you know,

0:15:06.880 --> 0:15:09.720
<v Speaker 2>it's like I've gotten to be able to talk a

0:15:09.760 --> 0:15:11.960
<v Speaker 2>little bit extra and those with him behind the scenes,

0:15:12.000 --> 0:15:15.880
<v Speaker 2>and you know, just to hear some of his basketball

0:15:15.880 --> 0:15:19.320
<v Speaker 2>philosophies on both ends of the floor. You know, I

0:15:19.400 --> 0:15:23.160
<v Speaker 2>was really, I really impressed and just you know he's

0:15:24.160 --> 0:15:27.240
<v Speaker 2>and it's it's cool like for me style. I don't

0:15:27.240 --> 0:15:31.040
<v Speaker 2>know about you, but like when when guys first, you know,

0:15:31.040 --> 0:15:36.080
<v Speaker 2>when they when they get that opportunity. And you would

0:15:36.120 --> 0:15:40.120
<v Speaker 2>think that players, for the most part, they don't know

0:15:40.160 --> 0:15:43.400
<v Speaker 2>a lot of these coaches that are out there unless

0:15:43.440 --> 0:15:46.640
<v Speaker 2>they've been an assistant with them in some other stops.

0:15:46.680 --> 0:15:50.240
<v Speaker 2>But you know, I remember when when Fence first got

0:15:50.280 --> 0:15:54.880
<v Speaker 2>the job and I talked to Anthony Edwards to the

0:15:55.000 --> 0:15:57.480
<v Speaker 2>side for once. It wasn't a story, but we were

0:15:57.520 --> 0:15:59.640
<v Speaker 2>just talking and he was just telling me like how

0:15:59.680 --> 0:16:04.720
<v Speaker 2>he was along away with how Finch came up with

0:16:04.920 --> 0:16:09.240
<v Speaker 2>different sets that would that would free him up, and

0:16:09.280 --> 0:16:11.480
<v Speaker 2>he was like man like, he was just talking about

0:16:11.600 --> 0:16:17.040
<v Speaker 2>just how innovative and creative he was and particularly just

0:16:17.080 --> 0:16:21.120
<v Speaker 2>free and Anthony up. And you know that that that

0:16:21.160 --> 0:16:24.360
<v Speaker 2>took him by surprise. And so you know that was

0:16:24.400 --> 0:16:27.280
<v Speaker 2>a few years ago when we had that conversation. So uh,

0:16:27.360 --> 0:16:30.680
<v Speaker 2>you know, he he has the pizazz like he has

0:16:30.840 --> 0:16:34.880
<v Speaker 2>the he has the ear of the players. And so

0:16:35.200 --> 0:16:38.320
<v Speaker 2>I'm I'm just glad to see coaches when you know,

0:16:38.320 --> 0:16:41.520
<v Speaker 2>when they get that shot and then when they get it,

0:16:42.080 --> 0:16:44.800
<v Speaker 2>I like seeing how they can prove to the players

0:16:44.800 --> 0:16:47.800
<v Speaker 2>that they're coaching that they're ready for that task. So,

0:16:48.200 --> 0:16:50.880
<v Speaker 2>you know, we'll see if this is sustainable. We'll see

0:16:50.880 --> 0:16:53.520
<v Speaker 2>if the Minnesota timbulls off for real and ship very

0:16:53.560 --> 0:16:57.120
<v Speaker 2>early on. But definitely, you know, I'm surprised. I'm surprised

0:16:57.840 --> 0:16:59.840
<v Speaker 2>they've they've gotten off to this such a such.

0:16:59.680 --> 0:17:02.840
<v Speaker 1>A good Yeah, I mean, it's definitely. I think it's

0:17:02.880 --> 0:17:05.520
<v Speaker 1>it's probably the most eye catching when we look at

0:17:05.520 --> 0:17:09.040
<v Speaker 1>the teams that again have posted the best record so far.

0:17:09.080 --> 0:17:11.560
<v Speaker 1>I mean, it must be said. Five of Minnesota's seven

0:17:11.640 --> 0:17:15.080
<v Speaker 1>games to start have been at home, but they've won

0:17:15.119 --> 0:17:17.320
<v Speaker 1>all five. Haven't won a road game yet, but they

0:17:17.359 --> 0:17:22.359
<v Speaker 1>are five and zero at home. And you know, in

0:17:22.480 --> 0:17:29.679
<v Speaker 1>the West, in this West, where you know Portland and

0:17:29.760 --> 0:17:34.960
<v Speaker 1>San Antonio have already proved to be tougher routes than expected.

0:17:35.000 --> 0:17:37.880
<v Speaker 1>I mean, can't you can't get off to a good

0:17:37.960 --> 0:17:40.399
<v Speaker 1>enough start in the West. You can't bank enough early

0:17:40.440 --> 0:17:42.800
<v Speaker 1>wins in the West. Houston. I mean, we saw what

0:17:42.920 --> 0:17:47.000
<v Speaker 1>happened when Sacramento lost to aeron Fox and the Kings

0:17:47.119 --> 0:17:49.840
<v Speaker 1>went to Houston for a two game baseball series and

0:17:49.880 --> 0:17:52.280
<v Speaker 1>the Rockets won both games. So I mean, there's just

0:17:52.880 --> 0:17:56.440
<v Speaker 1>there is no there There are pretty much. I mean,

0:17:56.480 --> 0:17:59.920
<v Speaker 1>obviously Memphis is a mess right now with no job

0:18:00.080 --> 0:18:02.720
<v Speaker 1>and all their injuries, but I mean there are there

0:18:02.760 --> 0:18:06.840
<v Speaker 1>just are no gimmes in the West. So five and two, Yes,

0:18:06.880 --> 0:18:10.440
<v Speaker 1>it's early, but it does grab your attention. Let's go

0:18:10.800 --> 0:18:15.560
<v Speaker 1>to the other side, the other extreme of overreaction. Thursday night,

0:18:16.320 --> 0:18:20.240
<v Speaker 1>Can you be concerned six seven, eight games in what's

0:18:20.280 --> 0:18:23.600
<v Speaker 1>the team out there that causes the most legitimate concern

0:18:24.600 --> 0:18:25.399
<v Speaker 1>in your eyes?

0:18:26.280 --> 0:18:28.440
<v Speaker 2>There are a number of teams that you could pick

0:18:29.000 --> 0:18:32.600
<v Speaker 2>for this category right here. So I'm I'm gonna go

0:18:32.640 --> 0:18:38.040
<v Speaker 2>with this team. There's concerns. I wouldn't say it's dire,

0:18:38.119 --> 0:18:41.280
<v Speaker 2>but it's concerns because again we're only about six or

0:18:41.320 --> 0:18:44.560
<v Speaker 2>seven games into the season. But I'm gonna go with

0:18:44.640 --> 0:18:49.320
<v Speaker 2>the Los Angeles Clipperstein because they're trying to figure this

0:18:49.680 --> 0:18:52.639
<v Speaker 2>all out and there's a lot of talent over there,

0:18:53.119 --> 0:18:58.040
<v Speaker 2>but nobody knows if this collection of talent, if they

0:18:58.080 --> 0:19:01.560
<v Speaker 2>can play together and win at high level. We don't know.

0:19:02.160 --> 0:19:05.120
<v Speaker 2>There's a bunch of good pieces put together. We don't

0:19:05.160 --> 0:19:09.640
<v Speaker 2>know if these pieces fit James Harden. So far since

0:19:09.640 --> 0:19:11.880
<v Speaker 2>he's been a Clipper, the Clippers are zero to two.

0:19:12.840 --> 0:19:16.800
<v Speaker 2>Can James Harden and Russell Westbrook play together in the

0:19:16.880 --> 0:19:20.560
<v Speaker 2>backcourt at this stage of their careers? Do they need

0:19:20.600 --> 0:19:25.600
<v Speaker 2>a Terrence Man in their in that start lineup? Do

0:19:25.600 --> 0:19:28.080
<v Speaker 2>they need somebody who's just gonna do the dirty work,

0:19:28.160 --> 0:19:30.800
<v Speaker 2>somebody who doesn't need the ball? Right now, there's a

0:19:30.840 --> 0:19:34.600
<v Speaker 2>lot of players in the start lineup the way they've

0:19:34.640 --> 0:19:38.080
<v Speaker 2>been starting as a right now, four of those five

0:19:38.119 --> 0:19:43.240
<v Speaker 2>players need the ball in their hands. Is that sustainable?

0:19:44.800 --> 0:19:47.080
<v Speaker 2>So I'm gonna go with I'm gonna go with the

0:19:47.080 --> 0:19:49.280
<v Speaker 2>Clippers right now because there are a lot of question

0:19:49.359 --> 0:19:52.400
<v Speaker 2>marks on that team and they have to figure it out.

0:19:52.400 --> 0:19:56.480
<v Speaker 2>Because also there's just desperation on the side of the Clippers,

0:19:56.480 --> 0:20:01.520
<v Speaker 2>because they have to do everything within their power to

0:20:01.680 --> 0:20:05.359
<v Speaker 2>try to win a championship and to go into next

0:20:05.359 --> 0:20:09.920
<v Speaker 2>season in that New Plus arena, right they they got

0:20:09.920 --> 0:20:11.800
<v Speaker 2>to go in there with some good will because I

0:20:11.920 --> 0:20:14.200
<v Speaker 2>mentioned this a few a few you mentioned this about

0:20:14.240 --> 0:20:17.359
<v Speaker 2>a year ago on our podcast Dying about how the

0:20:17.400 --> 0:20:19.960
<v Speaker 2>Warriors faced one of their biggest nightmares when they went

0:20:19.960 --> 0:20:22.240
<v Speaker 2>into Chase Center. But they thought they were going to

0:20:22.480 --> 0:20:24.560
<v Speaker 2>bring a championship team back, and they thought they were

0:20:24.560 --> 0:20:29.359
<v Speaker 2>going to bring KD back. Well KD left, they had injuries,

0:20:29.640 --> 0:20:32.640
<v Speaker 2>Clay Clay Thompson's injury, and you know, I remember going

0:20:32.680 --> 0:20:36.000
<v Speaker 2>into those first couple of Chase Center games and it

0:20:36.200 --> 0:20:40.240
<v Speaker 2>just wasn't it wasn't the same. That's not what they

0:20:40.800 --> 0:20:43.879
<v Speaker 2>had anticipated. So you know, the Clippers. That's why I

0:20:43.880 --> 0:20:47.119
<v Speaker 2>picked the Clippers for the numerous numerous reasons.

0:20:47.920 --> 0:20:51.159
<v Speaker 1>Well, look, I gave you first pick, and you you

0:20:51.160 --> 0:20:53.639
<v Speaker 1>you swipe my choice. I would have also gone with

0:20:53.680 --> 0:20:56.000
<v Speaker 1>the Clippers first earlier this week, I wrote a whole

0:20:56.000 --> 0:20:58.679
<v Speaker 1>column about it. The Clippers, to me, have become the

0:20:58.720 --> 0:21:02.240
<v Speaker 1>most desperate team on the NBA map, with what they've

0:21:02.280 --> 0:21:06.439
<v Speaker 1>given up to put together, to add James Harden to

0:21:06.520 --> 0:21:11.200
<v Speaker 1>the Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Russell Westbrook core what they

0:21:11.200 --> 0:21:14.240
<v Speaker 1>have given up to put this team together, and because

0:21:14.280 --> 0:21:17.000
<v Speaker 1>they're going into that new arena next season, because we

0:21:17.119 --> 0:21:21.600
<v Speaker 1>know that Steve Balmer as the owner, is not gonna

0:21:21.640 --> 0:21:24.879
<v Speaker 1>sign up for a teardown anytime soon. I mean, to me,

0:21:24.960 --> 0:21:27.480
<v Speaker 1>the Clippers are probably gonna have to bring back at

0:21:27.560 --> 0:21:33.280
<v Speaker 1>least three of these guys no matter what happens this season. Kawhi, Leonard,

0:21:33.320 --> 0:21:38.440
<v Speaker 1>Paul George. They possess player options. James Harden cannot extend

0:21:38.600 --> 0:21:41.720
<v Speaker 1>during the season, so both he and Russell Westbrook are

0:21:41.720 --> 0:21:45.320
<v Speaker 1>on expiring contracts. So basically, to me, they're gonna have

0:21:45.760 --> 0:21:50.840
<v Speaker 1>They've they've surrendered so much draft capital first to put

0:21:51.160 --> 0:21:55.280
<v Speaker 1>the Kawhi and PG tandem in place, and now to

0:21:55.400 --> 0:22:00.680
<v Speaker 1>bring in Harden. I mean, they they've they've got tons

0:22:00.760 --> 0:22:03.760
<v Speaker 1>riding on it. Obviously, they didn't have a training camp

0:22:03.880 --> 0:22:08.840
<v Speaker 1>to work on things and build anything together because they

0:22:08.840 --> 0:22:11.800
<v Speaker 1>added hard on the fly They're already thin in the

0:22:11.840 --> 0:22:15.560
<v Speaker 1>front court, and they've lost Mason Plumbley and definitely so

0:22:15.560 --> 0:22:19.080
<v Speaker 1>they're gonna have to try to manufacture another big man

0:22:19.280 --> 0:22:24.879
<v Speaker 1>because they're now counting exclusively on Aviza Zubach. And even

0:22:24.920 --> 0:22:28.560
<v Speaker 1>with Zubach and Plumbley, there were questions about whether the

0:22:28.560 --> 0:22:33.679
<v Speaker 1>Clippers had enough size, enough rebounding to cope in the

0:22:33.720 --> 0:22:38.200
<v Speaker 1>West and frankly measure up against the Denver Nuggets and Jokic,

0:22:38.400 --> 0:22:42.760
<v Speaker 1>So tons of questions about the Clippers. My primary disappointment

0:22:43.440 --> 0:22:46.680
<v Speaker 1>right now, though, is more disappointment than concern. The Clippers

0:22:46.680 --> 0:22:49.040
<v Speaker 1>are in Dallas as we speak. On Friday night they

0:22:49.119 --> 0:22:53.160
<v Speaker 1>play Dallas. It's the mavericks first in season tournament game

0:22:53.240 --> 0:22:57.560
<v Speaker 1>at home. And I was originally all set to attend

0:22:57.560 --> 0:23:00.520
<v Speaker 1>that game, and I was really easy to see the

0:23:00.560 --> 0:23:03.760
<v Speaker 1>Clippers with my own eyes tomorrow night, or I should

0:23:03.840 --> 0:23:06.199
<v Speaker 1>say tonight by the time this pod drops. But I

0:23:06.320 --> 0:23:12.800
<v Speaker 1>have since been assigned to some Pelicans work and because

0:23:12.840 --> 0:23:16.040
<v Speaker 1>of that, I will not be in attendance Friday night

0:23:16.119 --> 0:23:18.480
<v Speaker 1>at the AAC in Dallas, so I will not get

0:23:18.520 --> 0:23:21.560
<v Speaker 1>to see the Clippers with my own eyes when they're

0:23:21.600 --> 0:23:24.600
<v Speaker 1>here in my city. So that is I'm a little bit.

0:23:25.000 --> 0:23:28.800
<v Speaker 1>You know, it's a it's a double edged thing because,

0:23:28.800 --> 0:23:30.560
<v Speaker 1>of course, like I said, I'm gonna be I'm gonna

0:23:30.560 --> 0:23:33.800
<v Speaker 1>have my hands full with the Pelicans and their in

0:23:33.920 --> 0:23:36.960
<v Speaker 1>season tournament game against the Rockets. But there's only one

0:23:37.000 --> 0:23:39.320
<v Speaker 1>of me, so I won't get to see the Clippers.

0:23:39.359 --> 0:23:42.119
<v Speaker 1>But again, now I've rambled on way too long about

0:23:42.160 --> 0:23:46.040
<v Speaker 1>your selection. I look, I thought about Cleveland.

0:23:46.040 --> 0:23:46.280
<v Speaker 2>Here.

0:23:46.440 --> 0:23:49.600
<v Speaker 1>The Calves look great against Golden State, but that's it.

0:23:49.720 --> 0:23:52.320
<v Speaker 1>I mean, they've you know, they've had tons of injuries

0:23:52.359 --> 0:23:55.520
<v Speaker 1>as well, but they've they've been very up and down. Memphis,

0:23:55.600 --> 0:23:58.040
<v Speaker 1>of course already mentioned off to a one and seven start,

0:23:58.359 --> 0:24:03.119
<v Speaker 1>those Pelicans for four, but you know, so many injuries

0:24:03.160 --> 0:24:06.320
<v Speaker 1>for New Orleans already, and it's just the what is

0:24:06.359 --> 0:24:10.320
<v Speaker 1>gonna happen next? Are we ever gonna be healthy? Discussion

0:24:10.720 --> 0:24:14.720
<v Speaker 1>has to be just smothering that group of players as

0:24:14.720 --> 0:24:19.160
<v Speaker 1>we speak. But saying all those things, I'm staying in LA.

0:24:19.320 --> 0:24:23.720
<v Speaker 1>I'm going with the Lakers. I mean, they they're zero

0:24:23.720 --> 0:24:28.520
<v Speaker 1>and five on the road. They've been outscored their first

0:24:29.280 --> 0:24:31.680
<v Speaker 1>what is it, They've been out scored by nearly seventy

0:24:31.720 --> 0:24:34.760
<v Speaker 1>five points in eight first quarters. So far, they're falling

0:24:34.880 --> 0:24:38.359
<v Speaker 1>way behind. I mean, this is not as bad as

0:24:38.520 --> 0:24:42.240
<v Speaker 1>last season's two and ten start, but Lebron has already

0:24:42.280 --> 0:24:44.560
<v Speaker 1>had to play tons of minutes. When the Lakers came

0:24:44.560 --> 0:24:47.479
<v Speaker 1>into the season hoping that he would be more of

0:24:47.520 --> 0:24:50.760
<v Speaker 1>a twenty eight to thirty minute player, that's already gone

0:24:50.760 --> 0:24:55.280
<v Speaker 1>out the window. AD dealing with health issues already, AD

0:24:55.560 --> 0:25:00.240
<v Speaker 1>not embracing the long distance shooting that Darvin Ham was

0:25:00.280 --> 0:25:03.040
<v Speaker 1>hoping for. And Austin Reeves. I still I'm old enough

0:25:03.040 --> 0:25:08.640
<v Speaker 1>to remember Darvin Ham sitting with us at Caesar's Palace

0:25:09.720 --> 0:25:14.800
<v Speaker 1>in what might be the most eventful pod we've ever done.

0:25:14.920 --> 0:25:17.560
<v Speaker 1>Certainly it's it's in the it's got to be in

0:25:17.600 --> 0:25:20.440
<v Speaker 1>the top three at worst. Darvin Ham was so candid

0:25:21.119 --> 0:25:26.840
<v Speaker 1>and just you know, so good with us, as I mean,

0:25:26.840 --> 0:25:29.280
<v Speaker 1>you see, sat there with us for an hour. There

0:25:29.400 --> 0:25:31.960
<v Speaker 1>was there was nothing he didn't say, And among his

0:25:32.160 --> 0:25:35.600
<v Speaker 1>many headline comments was you know, he says he thinks

0:25:35.600 --> 0:25:37.919
<v Speaker 1>Austin Reeves will be an All Star. And Austin Reeves

0:25:37.960 --> 0:25:40.040
<v Speaker 1>is not off to an All Stars start. So the

0:25:40.119 --> 0:25:44.040
<v Speaker 1>Lakers have a lot of things going on already. I

0:25:44.040 --> 0:25:46.320
<v Speaker 1>guess the good news is that they because they went

0:25:46.359 --> 0:25:50.520
<v Speaker 1>through two to ten last season that they have experienced

0:25:52.320 --> 0:25:55.159
<v Speaker 1>bouncing back from this. But I think I think a

0:25:55.200 --> 0:25:59.000
<v Speaker 1>lot of eyeballs league wide, to be honest, are already

0:25:59.480 --> 0:26:02.919
<v Speaker 1>on both both LA teams. How the Clippers are going

0:26:03.000 --> 0:26:06.359
<v Speaker 1>to build a squad after making their big move, and

0:26:06.400 --> 0:26:09.760
<v Speaker 1>then with the Lakers, what kind of move can they make?

0:26:10.320 --> 0:26:14.720
<v Speaker 1>You know, they have such limited flexibility to change things

0:26:14.800 --> 0:26:18.720
<v Speaker 1>after all their off season moves? Can do the Lakers

0:26:18.760 --> 0:26:21.480
<v Speaker 1>just have to get healthy? And is that going to

0:26:21.520 --> 0:26:26.600
<v Speaker 1>be enough? Or will the Lakers try to seek out

0:26:27.080 --> 0:26:32.320
<v Speaker 1>a change because their hopes and aspirations coming into this

0:26:32.400 --> 0:26:35.000
<v Speaker 1>season have already been challenged.

0:26:35.040 --> 0:26:38.399
<v Speaker 2>To put it mildly, yeah, I mean I think you

0:26:38.480 --> 0:26:41.760
<v Speaker 2>definitely still have to see what they look like as whole.

0:26:42.320 --> 0:26:45.520
<v Speaker 2>But even with that, I mean, we're just talking Jared

0:26:45.600 --> 0:26:50.440
<v Speaker 2>Vanderbilt being back, and you know, offensively, he's not going

0:26:50.480 --> 0:26:53.480
<v Speaker 2>to add much to the equation there, And so you

0:26:53.600 --> 0:26:58.240
<v Speaker 2>still have the dilemma of can Austin reason d'ezel Russell

0:26:58.840 --> 0:27:03.159
<v Speaker 2>play together. Austin reeves for him to be himself, to

0:27:03.200 --> 0:27:07.600
<v Speaker 2>be to be as effective as he can, has to

0:27:07.640 --> 0:27:10.160
<v Speaker 2>have the ball in his hands. And then at certain

0:27:10.200 --> 0:27:12.720
<v Speaker 2>point Lebron James, even though he's been deferring over the

0:27:12.800 --> 0:27:16.280
<v Speaker 2>last couple of years of relinquishing ball handling, do these

0:27:16.320 --> 0:27:19.280
<v Speaker 2>to others. He's still somebody who needs that ball in

0:27:19.320 --> 0:27:22.199
<v Speaker 2>the fourth quarter to make plays. And so D'Angelo. You know,

0:27:22.240 --> 0:27:25.000
<v Speaker 2>Deangel had a great preseason. He had a really great

0:27:25.119 --> 0:27:27.800
<v Speaker 2>He probably played the best. He probably the best Laker

0:27:28.280 --> 0:27:31.359
<v Speaker 2>in the preseason. And his play thus far as you know,

0:27:31.400 --> 0:27:36.760
<v Speaker 2>it's up and down, But you know it. Do you

0:27:36.920 --> 0:27:43.200
<v Speaker 2>need multiple primary ball handlers when you're playing alongside Lebron James.

0:27:44.359 --> 0:27:47.600
<v Speaker 2>I don't know the answer to that. I know Lebron

0:27:47.640 --> 0:27:53.159
<v Speaker 2>can play with another ball handling guy, but two I

0:27:53.160 --> 0:27:56.360
<v Speaker 2>don't know. I don't know, But I know for one

0:27:56.400 --> 0:27:59.560
<v Speaker 2>thing it's for sure whenever you play with Lebron, even

0:27:59.560 --> 0:28:04.520
<v Speaker 2>if you're just second Darry primary handler or member for

0:28:04.680 --> 0:28:08.000
<v Speaker 2>the third option, you got to be able to just

0:28:08.080 --> 0:28:10.919
<v Speaker 2>catch a shoot. You got to be able to find

0:28:10.920 --> 0:28:15.560
<v Speaker 2>the pockets within the offense so guys can find you.

0:28:15.560 --> 0:28:17.919
<v Speaker 2>You got to be that adaptable. You can't just be

0:28:18.040 --> 0:28:21.560
<v Speaker 2>somebody who needs the ball in their hands to be effective.

0:28:22.040 --> 0:28:24.959
<v Speaker 2>You got to be able to find those seams and

0:28:25.440 --> 0:28:28.880
<v Speaker 2>find those crevices to where you can make an impact

0:28:29.240 --> 0:28:31.800
<v Speaker 2>by just catching and shooting. And that's a skill set

0:28:31.800 --> 0:28:35.640
<v Speaker 2>in its own right there. Because most ball dominant players

0:28:35.960 --> 0:28:39.000
<v Speaker 2>are used to shooting off the dribble. There's a comfort

0:28:39.120 --> 0:28:43.040
<v Speaker 2>level with shooting off the dribble and just catching and

0:28:43.040 --> 0:28:47.240
<v Speaker 2>shooting that is that's not easy to do if you're

0:28:47.280 --> 0:28:51.440
<v Speaker 2>not if you're not used to just being being in

0:28:51.480 --> 0:28:54.040
<v Speaker 2>that role. So it's tough. It's always been tough. But

0:28:54.560 --> 0:28:56.400
<v Speaker 2>they're got to figure it out. And you know what

0:28:56.440 --> 0:29:01.160
<v Speaker 2>the Lakers do. Stein if it's not working, there will

0:29:01.240 --> 0:29:04.920
<v Speaker 2>be some trades. There will be some trades. And uh,

0:29:04.960 --> 0:29:07.800
<v Speaker 2>you know this. It's this one guy played basketball with

0:29:08.440 --> 0:29:10.880
<v Speaker 2>out here in the sacrament of the area. His name

0:29:10.960 --> 0:29:14.960
<v Speaker 2>is Manny, Big Laker fan, Big Laker fan, And every

0:29:14.960 --> 0:29:18.000
<v Speaker 2>time I walk in the gym, he always asked me, Hey,

0:29:19.200 --> 0:29:21.520
<v Speaker 2>is Dame coming to the Lakers? Who the Lakers gonna

0:29:21.520 --> 0:29:23.800
<v Speaker 2>trade for? Who's you know? Who can we get? Who

0:29:23.800 --> 0:29:25.720
<v Speaker 2>can you get? I'm like, hold on, Manny, I said, Mannie,

0:29:25.760 --> 0:29:30.160
<v Speaker 2>can can your team just draft for once? Can y'all

0:29:30.200 --> 0:29:33.200
<v Speaker 2>just draft a guy for once? Can y'all build? He said,

0:29:33.200 --> 0:29:35.720
<v Speaker 2>Oh no, no, no, Lakers, we don't draft. We still

0:29:35.760 --> 0:29:40.880
<v Speaker 2>are the players, he said, we still are the players.

0:29:41.240 --> 0:29:43.400
<v Speaker 2>That's what we do. He said, So who can we get?

0:29:43.400 --> 0:29:46.640
<v Speaker 2>Who can we get? So I bring him up to

0:29:46.840 --> 0:29:49.160
<v Speaker 2>just to say that, you know, you know, the Lakers

0:29:49.360 --> 0:29:52.400
<v Speaker 2>if they're struggling. You know, Lebron James is not gonna

0:29:52.400 --> 0:29:56.080
<v Speaker 2>tolerate a losing squad. If they're struggling, they will be

0:29:56.120 --> 0:29:57.120
<v Speaker 2>out the marketing fire.

0:29:57.560 --> 0:29:59.600
<v Speaker 1>Laker fan in sacked. They don't like that.

0:30:01.680 --> 0:30:04.000
<v Speaker 2>I said, can y'all build for once many? Can y'all

0:30:04.000 --> 0:30:06.320
<v Speaker 2>build through the draft? Oh no, no, no, we don't

0:30:06.320 --> 0:30:07.880
<v Speaker 2>do that. We still other players.

0:30:09.480 --> 0:30:13.200
<v Speaker 1>So I should know this, but I've already forgotten. So

0:30:13.320 --> 0:30:15.600
<v Speaker 1>next week, you know, we've mentioned a lot of teams here,

0:30:15.640 --> 0:30:18.160
<v Speaker 1>and we've lasered in kind of on the Sixers, the Wolves,

0:30:18.160 --> 0:30:21.200
<v Speaker 1>the Clippers, the Lakers. Who you see in next week?

0:30:21.240 --> 0:30:23.880
<v Speaker 1>Are you seeing any of these teams that we're discussing?

0:30:25.040 --> 0:30:26.760
<v Speaker 1>Who do you got next?

0:30:27.320 --> 0:30:32.040
<v Speaker 2>Clippers? Nuggets in Denver Tuesday? Nice? Cool.

0:30:32.080 --> 0:30:34.640
<v Speaker 1>We'll come back with some good stories, some good tales.

0:30:35.320 --> 0:30:37.680
<v Speaker 2>That's the plan. That is definitely the plan.

0:30:38.080 --> 0:30:40.120
<v Speaker 1>You'll be able to tell us if our concern about

0:30:40.160 --> 0:30:43.120
<v Speaker 1>the Clippers was well placed or premature. But I mean,

0:30:43.200 --> 0:30:45.480
<v Speaker 1>let's face it, James Harden's first two games. They haven't

0:30:45.480 --> 0:30:47.600
<v Speaker 1>cracked a hundred points yet, and they're supposed to be

0:30:48.320 --> 0:30:52.280
<v Speaker 1>an offensive juggernaut. Again, they've had, you know, very limited

0:30:52.320 --> 0:30:55.440
<v Speaker 1>practice time. Harden's joining them on the fly. Harden hasn't

0:30:55.480 --> 0:30:59.520
<v Speaker 1>played full speed basketball since May. But hey, when you

0:30:59.560 --> 0:31:01.800
<v Speaker 1>make a train like that, you're going to be under

0:31:01.800 --> 0:31:03.880
<v Speaker 1>the microscope. You're not going to get much of a

0:31:03.920 --> 0:31:06.640
<v Speaker 1>grace period from us. No, it all's here in the

0:31:06.680 --> 0:31:11.160
<v Speaker 1>basketball public. I want to shift and before we go,

0:31:11.200 --> 0:31:14.240
<v Speaker 1>I want to talk about a couple league issues. It

0:31:14.440 --> 0:31:17.959
<v Speaker 1>emerged this week. The talk has restarted again. Not a

0:31:18.040 --> 0:31:22.080
<v Speaker 1>new topic, but it sounds more serious, probably than we've

0:31:22.120 --> 0:31:25.120
<v Speaker 1>ever heard it of a lot of teams behind the

0:31:25.120 --> 0:31:28.400
<v Speaker 1>scenes want to turn the draft into a two night

0:31:29.000 --> 0:31:32.600
<v Speaker 1>affair and you know, split it up so first round

0:31:33.120 --> 0:31:35.600
<v Speaker 1>would be like on a Thursday. You know, it's either Wednesday,

0:31:35.640 --> 0:31:38.880
<v Speaker 1>Thursday or Thursday Friday. First round on the first night.

0:31:39.360 --> 0:31:42.760
<v Speaker 1>Second round gets a night to its own. And you know,

0:31:42.920 --> 0:31:46.760
<v Speaker 1>usually I am so I'm such a traditionalist, I'm so

0:31:46.960 --> 0:31:50.160
<v Speaker 1>resistant to change, but I love this one. To me,

0:31:50.360 --> 0:31:55.000
<v Speaker 1>I see no downside. I feel like the draft is

0:31:55.080 --> 0:31:59.400
<v Speaker 1>too long. The second round is too rushed. No better

0:31:59.440 --> 0:32:04.320
<v Speaker 1>illustrate than Jokic, the greatest second round pick in NBA

0:32:04.480 --> 0:32:08.760
<v Speaker 1>history that was announced during a commercial in twenty fourteen,

0:32:08.800 --> 0:32:12.600
<v Speaker 1>because they were rushing through the second round. Teams say

0:32:12.640 --> 0:32:17.600
<v Speaker 1>they want more time to think about their first round picks.

0:32:17.640 --> 0:32:20.800
<v Speaker 1>A second night of the draft probably creates an opportunity

0:32:20.920 --> 0:32:25.239
<v Speaker 1>for potentially more trade action. It certainly is going to

0:32:25.240 --> 0:32:29.840
<v Speaker 1>give the guys who are in the second round more attention.

0:32:30.040 --> 0:32:33.960
<v Speaker 1>Like I said, I cannot find a reason to argue

0:32:34.000 --> 0:32:36.760
<v Speaker 1>against it. But that said, when I put that question

0:32:37.320 --> 0:32:39.600
<v Speaker 1>on my sub stack, I did get a lot more

0:32:39.640 --> 0:32:44.440
<v Speaker 1>resistance from readers than I expected. And you know, I

0:32:44.520 --> 0:32:48.480
<v Speaker 1>hear this chatter. Nobody cares. Nobody cares about the second round.

0:32:48.640 --> 0:32:51.000
<v Speaker 1>We don't need it to go two nights. Nobody's going

0:32:51.080 --> 0:32:52.960
<v Speaker 1>to watch it. I ain't buying it. I do not

0:32:53.120 --> 0:32:55.920
<v Speaker 1>believe when people say nobody's going to watch it. This

0:32:56.080 --> 0:32:59.760
<v Speaker 1>is the NBA in the offseason. I feel like fans

0:32:59.840 --> 0:33:03.600
<v Speaker 1>are getting worked up and fully invested in who's getting

0:33:03.640 --> 0:33:06.320
<v Speaker 1>the two way deals on their roster. So I am

0:33:06.400 --> 0:33:10.440
<v Speaker 1>not buying at all. People who say if the second

0:33:10.560 --> 0:33:14.000
<v Speaker 1>round is moved to a second night, we're not going

0:33:14.080 --> 0:33:17.320
<v Speaker 1>to tune in. No chance people will people I think

0:33:17.360 --> 0:33:18.400
<v Speaker 1>people will eat it up.

0:33:20.280 --> 0:33:22.640
<v Speaker 2>I don't know about that stuff. I don't know, you know,

0:33:22.960 --> 0:33:25.280
<v Speaker 2>I don't know the answer to that, Like is the

0:33:25.320 --> 0:33:31.400
<v Speaker 2>second round must see TV? You know? Or a better question,

0:33:32.360 --> 0:33:36.600
<v Speaker 2>would you put the NBA Draft on the same level

0:33:36.680 --> 0:33:39.680
<v Speaker 2>as the NFL Draft, because you know there are NFL

0:33:39.880 --> 0:33:45.560
<v Speaker 2>draft parties, like there are rituals that people have, Like actually,

0:33:45.600 --> 0:33:49.400
<v Speaker 2>I've been invited to actual NFL draft parties where the

0:33:49.520 --> 0:33:52.480
<v Speaker 2>spread the food like it's a religion to have that.

0:33:53.280 --> 0:33:58.479
<v Speaker 2>I don't. I've never been to a NBA draft party, Like,

0:33:58.520 --> 0:34:02.320
<v Speaker 2>I don't know that it has that level of interest.

0:34:02.760 --> 0:34:05.800
<v Speaker 2>And so with that the second round, like, okay, are

0:34:07.120 --> 0:34:10.480
<v Speaker 2>not to say that people tuned in to watch Adam Silver,

0:34:10.600 --> 0:34:13.400
<v Speaker 2>but you know Adam Silver won't be a part of

0:34:13.200 --> 0:34:17.719
<v Speaker 2>the second round. I don't. I don't know. I don't

0:34:17.719 --> 0:34:19.680
<v Speaker 2>know stein, I don't know what the interest is I get.

0:34:19.760 --> 0:34:23.399
<v Speaker 1>Well, look, I think one kind of criticism or question

0:34:23.480 --> 0:34:26.359
<v Speaker 1>I've seen thrown out is second round you don't need

0:34:26.400 --> 0:34:28.759
<v Speaker 1>a big TV production like we get for the first round.

0:34:28.760 --> 0:34:31.640
<v Speaker 1>But who's to say that the second round would be

0:34:31.760 --> 0:34:35.200
<v Speaker 1>the exact same TV production? Maybe it would be a

0:34:35.239 --> 0:34:41.719
<v Speaker 1>more serious basketball, nerdy kind of you know, very serious

0:34:41.760 --> 0:34:46.000
<v Speaker 1>basketball show as opposed to the draft, the first round

0:34:46.000 --> 0:34:49.440
<v Speaker 1>of the draft, where obviously we're you know, the stories

0:34:49.440 --> 0:34:52.359
<v Speaker 1>of the draftees and their families. That gets a lot

0:34:52.400 --> 0:34:55.319
<v Speaker 1>of focus. And you know, there's even a draft, there's

0:34:55.360 --> 0:34:59.439
<v Speaker 1>even a broadcast version that's supposedly marketed for the more

0:34:59.680 --> 0:35:03.919
<v Speaker 1>general role fan who aren't NBA junkies. I just think

0:35:05.120 --> 0:35:08.319
<v Speaker 1>second round picks. People do care about that stuff, and

0:35:08.800 --> 0:35:09.880
<v Speaker 1>you know, I.

0:35:11.840 --> 0:35:15.759
<v Speaker 2>People, Yeah, people do care about it. But you know,

0:35:16.080 --> 0:35:17.759
<v Speaker 2>will the numbers be there? Is it enough?

0:35:17.880 --> 0:35:19.600
<v Speaker 1>Well, let me ask you, I mean, let me ask

0:35:19.640 --> 0:35:22.680
<v Speaker 1>you this because I know you always the draft, the

0:35:22.760 --> 0:35:25.960
<v Speaker 1>draft as long as it is first round, second round.

0:35:25.960 --> 0:35:29.160
<v Speaker 1>I mean, it takes well over four hours to get

0:35:29.200 --> 0:35:33.280
<v Speaker 1>through the whole thing. And then what do I always

0:35:33.320 --> 0:35:36.360
<v Speaker 1>see what happens right after the draft. There's Chris Haynes

0:35:36.400 --> 0:35:42.520
<v Speaker 1>tweeting about all these players who are you know, basically yeah,

0:35:42.600 --> 0:35:45.080
<v Speaker 1>undrafted free agents who they're signing with. I mean, there's

0:35:45.160 --> 0:35:47.520
<v Speaker 1>there's interest in that. And so if you do it,

0:35:47.640 --> 0:35:50.560
<v Speaker 1>if you break it up into two nights, that's happening

0:35:50.560 --> 0:35:53.520
<v Speaker 1>at a much better hour that people can tune in

0:35:53.520 --> 0:35:57.240
<v Speaker 1>instead of happening you know midnight one a m. Eastern time,

0:35:57.680 --> 0:36:00.359
<v Speaker 1>and there's you know, after the second round, there's there's

0:36:00.360 --> 0:36:04.399
<v Speaker 1>a whole there's there's fifty more transactions. And like I said,

0:36:04.600 --> 0:36:07.600
<v Speaker 1>I mean, we know, I mean this is our life.

0:36:07.640 --> 0:36:10.680
<v Speaker 1>People love every transaction there is in the NBA.

0:36:11.280 --> 0:36:16.440
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, but social media track, the social media tracks that

0:36:16.520 --> 0:36:21.879
<v Speaker 2>you see doesn't equate to television interests. And so that's

0:36:21.920 --> 0:36:26.640
<v Speaker 2>that's my only concern. Obviously, if they did extend this draft,

0:36:27.040 --> 0:36:31.320
<v Speaker 2>extend the draft out, what is it good for? For sure,

0:36:31.920 --> 0:36:36.440
<v Speaker 2>the teams, they have more time to make their decisions

0:36:36.440 --> 0:36:39.000
<v Speaker 2>because second round everything is going so fast. You know,

0:36:39.040 --> 0:36:42.200
<v Speaker 2>a lot of times these teams already have agreements with

0:36:42.440 --> 0:36:46.280
<v Speaker 2>undrafted free agentcy even before the draft is over, because

0:36:46.280 --> 0:36:49.399
<v Speaker 2>they know these guys aren't going to slip. I mean,

0:36:49.480 --> 0:36:52.440
<v Speaker 2>these guys aren't going to be drafted. And as well,

0:36:52.840 --> 0:36:55.799
<v Speaker 2>there are players right and just take people behind the

0:36:55.840 --> 0:36:58.359
<v Speaker 2>scenes there are saying, say there's a team that has

0:36:58.400 --> 0:37:03.879
<v Speaker 2>pick number fifty four, and that team might call that

0:37:03.920 --> 0:37:07.200
<v Speaker 2>player's agent and say, hey, we got a chance to

0:37:07.239 --> 0:37:10.520
<v Speaker 2>take you at fifty four. He wants to take you,

0:37:11.440 --> 0:37:15.640
<v Speaker 2>or you know, let you go, or we'll sign you

0:37:15.680 --> 0:37:21.320
<v Speaker 2>as a a undrafted free agent, and so all these things,

0:37:21.400 --> 0:37:25.839
<v Speaker 2>all these conversations are happening rapidly during the draft and

0:37:25.920 --> 0:37:28.120
<v Speaker 2>they're trying to see who's going to fall off the

0:37:28.120 --> 0:37:30.480
<v Speaker 2>ball who's not. And so it gives these teams to

0:37:30.520 --> 0:37:33.359
<v Speaker 2>general managers more time to have these conversations to make

0:37:33.480 --> 0:37:38.640
<v Speaker 2>more of an informed decision, and so it's good for them. Still,

0:37:38.719 --> 0:37:40.719
<v Speaker 2>I just don't know again, social.

0:37:40.400 --> 0:37:43.279
<v Speaker 1>Media and those are the things that I that that's

0:37:43.320 --> 0:37:45.560
<v Speaker 1>the stuff I care about. I'm not proposed or I'm

0:37:45.560 --> 0:37:49.759
<v Speaker 1>not I'm not backing the proposals because I think that

0:37:49.880 --> 0:37:52.840
<v Speaker 1>the broadcast of the second round is going to be

0:37:52.920 --> 0:37:58.839
<v Speaker 1>some revolutionary TV product that draws some monster rating. I mean, look,

0:37:59.000 --> 0:38:02.560
<v Speaker 1>the TV brought cast of the Draft for years has

0:38:02.680 --> 0:38:06.600
<v Speaker 1>just been it's getting worse and worse and worse, and

0:38:07.000 --> 0:38:11.920
<v Speaker 1>it's not watchable. And you hear so many fan complaints

0:38:12.360 --> 0:38:18.880
<v Speaker 1>about the Draft broadcast but saying saying all that, but people,

0:38:18.960 --> 0:38:23.480
<v Speaker 1>it's still Draft Night and people are still incredibly invested

0:38:23.480 --> 0:38:27.200
<v Speaker 1>in it. And I just think because the transaction games

0:38:27.239 --> 0:38:29.239
<v Speaker 1>I like to call it, is such a big deal

0:38:29.320 --> 0:38:33.720
<v Speaker 1>in the NBA that all these machinations that you're talking

0:38:33.760 --> 0:38:38.160
<v Speaker 1>about this, you know, the second round selections, the undrafted

0:38:38.200 --> 0:38:40.680
<v Speaker 1>free agents, and the teams they land on after the

0:38:40.719 --> 0:38:45.879
<v Speaker 1>second round is completed. That could easily carry a night

0:38:46.080 --> 0:38:50.120
<v Speaker 1>onto itself, especially when you know draft the way we're

0:38:50.160 --> 0:38:52.960
<v Speaker 1>set up now, the NBA Draft is kind of like

0:38:53.719 --> 0:38:58.080
<v Speaker 1>the prelude, the appetizer for free agency. And so I

0:38:58.160 --> 0:39:03.720
<v Speaker 1>just think two nights of draft action and potential trades

0:39:04.360 --> 0:39:09.640
<v Speaker 1>is better than one before we move into free agency.

0:39:09.840 --> 0:39:13.200
<v Speaker 1>Not because, like I said, not because it's going to

0:39:13.239 --> 0:39:16.799
<v Speaker 1>become some great TV product. I don't really even care

0:39:16.840 --> 0:39:21.239
<v Speaker 1>about that, And I think, you know, I just think, yeah,

0:39:21.320 --> 0:39:23.080
<v Speaker 1>we got a lot of there's a lot of things

0:39:23.120 --> 0:39:25.200
<v Speaker 1>to fix on the on the TV broadcast, but that

0:39:25.239 --> 0:39:28.680
<v Speaker 1>ain't our problem no more so we can let other

0:39:28.680 --> 0:39:31.560
<v Speaker 1>people worry about that. Another league issue that I wanted

0:39:31.560 --> 0:39:34.239
<v Speaker 1>to bring to your attention because this happened Monday night

0:39:34.280 --> 0:39:37.440
<v Speaker 1>and I thought it was really interesting. In a recent podcast,

0:39:37.520 --> 0:39:40.799
<v Speaker 1>you and I talked about how, yes, this season for

0:39:40.920 --> 0:39:43.440
<v Speaker 1>the All Star Game in Indianapolis, they're going back to

0:39:43.480 --> 0:39:46.800
<v Speaker 1>an East versus West format. But I wrote a whole

0:39:46.840 --> 0:39:52.040
<v Speaker 1>piece almost two weeks ago now about how Deputy Commissioner

0:39:52.080 --> 0:39:58.640
<v Speaker 1>Mark Tatum says that an United States against the rest

0:39:58.680 --> 0:40:01.960
<v Speaker 1>of the World All Star format. Mark Tatum's quote was

0:40:02.760 --> 0:40:07.120
<v Speaker 1>that it's very, very possible down the road, without specifying

0:40:07.239 --> 0:40:10.800
<v Speaker 1>how soon. This Monday night, a week after my piece,

0:40:11.520 --> 0:40:14.160
<v Speaker 1>the NBA announced that the twenty twenty five All Star

0:40:14.239 --> 0:40:17.640
<v Speaker 1>Game will be in the Bay Area. It's in San Francisco,

0:40:19.560 --> 0:40:23.200
<v Speaker 1>making it a nice easy drive for you. And at

0:40:23.239 --> 0:40:26.600
<v Speaker 1>the press conference to announce this, Adam Silver the quote

0:40:26.640 --> 0:40:31.480
<v Speaker 1>from the commissioner quote, people are out there talking about

0:40:31.520 --> 0:40:35.760
<v Speaker 1>concepts about a Ryder Cup type format, maybe thinking about

0:40:35.920 --> 0:40:40.319
<v Speaker 1>US players playing against global players. I just know we're

0:40:40.360 --> 0:40:43.680
<v Speaker 1>looking at all different approaches to All Star and this

0:40:44.640 --> 0:40:48.560
<v Speaker 1>referring to San Francisco is a great market to try

0:40:48.640 --> 0:40:51.600
<v Speaker 1>new things. End quote. And so when I read that,

0:40:51.640 --> 0:40:54.319
<v Speaker 1>when I heard that, I'm like, man, the commission is

0:40:54.400 --> 0:40:59.040
<v Speaker 1>all but saying that USA against the rest of the

0:40:59.040 --> 0:41:02.319
<v Speaker 1>world is gonna have up and don't be surprised if

0:41:02.320 --> 0:41:06.239
<v Speaker 1>it happens a year from now, in twenty twenty five.

0:41:06.360 --> 0:41:09.919
<v Speaker 1>So you know, we the last time we talked about this,

0:41:10.120 --> 0:41:12.520
<v Speaker 1>I mean, you know where I stand. I love the

0:41:12.560 --> 0:41:16.520
<v Speaker 1>international game covering it has been a huge part of

0:41:16.560 --> 0:41:20.680
<v Speaker 1>my life for more than thirty years. But I'm really

0:41:20.760 --> 0:41:23.799
<v Speaker 1>curious that when they announce this, when it is announced,

0:41:23.800 --> 0:41:26.480
<v Speaker 1>whatever year it is, whether it's twenty twenty five or

0:41:26.520 --> 0:41:29.880
<v Speaker 1>somewhere in the future, I'm really curious what the reaction

0:41:30.000 --> 0:41:36.399
<v Speaker 1>will be from the NBA's American stars because unless they

0:41:36.440 --> 0:41:39.319
<v Speaker 1>have a roster format that we don't know about that

0:41:39.440 --> 0:41:43.160
<v Speaker 1>expands the rosters, if it's twelve v twelve like it's

0:41:43.360 --> 0:41:46.799
<v Speaker 1>always been, like the All Star Game has been for decades,

0:41:47.640 --> 0:41:50.640
<v Speaker 1>that would be only twelve All Star spots for more

0:41:50.680 --> 0:41:54.680
<v Speaker 1>than three hundred American born players and twelve All Star

0:41:54.760 --> 0:41:58.520
<v Speaker 1>spots for one hundred and twenty five ish international players.

0:41:58.960 --> 0:42:02.040
<v Speaker 1>And so there are going to be some major snubs

0:42:02.520 --> 0:42:05.160
<v Speaker 1>among the American born stars. And I'm just not sure

0:42:05.680 --> 0:42:09.719
<v Speaker 1>how that's gonna go over. I mean, from a watchability perspective,

0:42:10.440 --> 0:42:13.360
<v Speaker 1>a USA versus rest of the world All Star format,

0:42:13.480 --> 0:42:17.040
<v Speaker 1>it's it's it is the most intriguing we haven't seen

0:42:17.080 --> 0:42:19.880
<v Speaker 1>it yet. I think there would be massive interest in that,

0:42:20.080 --> 0:42:23.799
<v Speaker 1>but again, I'm not sure that it's going to be

0:42:24.920 --> 0:42:27.040
<v Speaker 1>a unanimously popular decision.

0:42:28.360 --> 0:42:31.600
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I just don't know how that could work. And again,

0:42:31.760 --> 0:42:36.680
<v Speaker 2>if if the concepts. If the structure is built where

0:42:36.880 --> 0:42:39.680
<v Speaker 2>it can be a level playing field and cool, But

0:42:39.840 --> 0:42:43.120
<v Speaker 2>I don't see it right now. I mean, think about

0:42:43.400 --> 0:42:49.920
<v Speaker 2>the global team. How many lock of Global All Stars

0:42:49.960 --> 0:42:53.080
<v Speaker 2>are there? You know, let's let's talk about this. Well

0:42:53.160 --> 0:42:57.319
<v Speaker 2>you came out, isn't be he can't be global anymore? Right? Well? That?

0:42:57.400 --> 0:42:59.600
<v Speaker 1>Yeah? I mean that right there? Is he gonna now

0:42:59.640 --> 0:43:02.320
<v Speaker 1>count as he can't if.

0:43:01.680 --> 0:43:03.120
<v Speaker 2>He's playing for the United States?

0:43:03.239 --> 0:43:06.120
<v Speaker 1>Like I just a Re Irving, same thing. Kyrie Irving's

0:43:06.120 --> 0:43:10.400
<v Speaker 1>born in Australia, and when the NBA talks about international players,

0:43:10.719 --> 0:43:14.080
<v Speaker 1>it always includes Kyrie Irving on that list. But Kyrie Irving,

0:43:14.360 --> 0:43:17.120
<v Speaker 1>he's played internationally for the United States. So it's a

0:43:17.120 --> 0:43:21.600
<v Speaker 1>great question. I mean, I think if we really you know, there's.

0:43:21.440 --> 0:43:25.080
<v Speaker 2>About four four global docin.

0:43:25.200 --> 0:43:27.879
<v Speaker 1>I think it's usually like seven you seven or eight,

0:43:28.120 --> 0:43:33.040
<v Speaker 1>you know, six seven, eight guys that you Let's let's

0:43:33.080 --> 0:43:35.320
<v Speaker 1>keep Embiid there for now because he hasn't played for

0:43:35.360 --> 0:43:41.760
<v Speaker 1>the United States yet. So Jokic, Embiid, Luke j Luca,

0:43:42.280 --> 0:43:46.560
<v Speaker 1>that's five. Bonis was all NBA last year. You know,

0:43:46.680 --> 0:43:51.120
<v Speaker 1>Wemby is we we expect Wemby to get there eventually.

0:43:51.920 --> 0:43:53.680
<v Speaker 1>I mean, so that's it there.

0:43:54.040 --> 0:43:56.399
<v Speaker 2>I'm not counting sa bonusonas would have made said, I'm

0:43:56.400 --> 0:43:59.719
<v Speaker 2>not count Sabonus, but that's six because I believe those

0:43:59.719 --> 0:44:04.040
<v Speaker 2>six are locks. And I'm still not counting Embiid. I

0:44:04.120 --> 0:44:05.000
<v Speaker 2>just don't think he can.

0:44:05.680 --> 0:44:07.440
<v Speaker 1>Like I said, let's count him for I mean, we

0:44:07.719 --> 0:44:12.480
<v Speaker 1>left out Yannis. I mean, so we have not had

0:44:12.520 --> 0:44:17.560
<v Speaker 1>an American born MVP since James Harden in twenty eighteen, Yannest.

0:44:18.000 --> 0:44:23.239
<v Speaker 1>But we all get to Janis, Jokic, Embiid have won

0:44:23.280 --> 0:44:27.240
<v Speaker 1>the last five MVPs combined. Luka Doncic is a future MVP.

0:44:27.400 --> 0:44:29.960
<v Speaker 1>He hasn't won it yet, but he's considered right there

0:44:30.000 --> 0:44:32.439
<v Speaker 1>with those guys. So you start with those four and Shay,

0:44:32.560 --> 0:44:37.759
<v Speaker 1>I mean, that is a tremendous fivesome. I tried to

0:44:37.760 --> 0:44:39.080
<v Speaker 1>do this off the top of my head, but I

0:44:39.120 --> 0:44:41.200
<v Speaker 1>had to look it up because, as you know, I'm

0:44:41.239 --> 0:44:44.040
<v Speaker 1>old and washed and I can't remember stuff anymore. So

0:44:44.680 --> 0:44:47.279
<v Speaker 1>in my story, which is like I said, almost two

0:44:47.320 --> 0:44:49.839
<v Speaker 1>weeks ago, now, had the note in here that there

0:44:50.239 --> 0:44:55.640
<v Speaker 1>were fourteen international players on Opening Night rosters who have

0:44:55.920 --> 0:44:59.200
<v Speaker 1>been All Stars. Not all of them are currently All

0:44:59.200 --> 0:45:03.600
<v Speaker 1>Star level, but it's a good group. You've got Jannis

0:45:03.920 --> 0:45:09.200
<v Speaker 1>Luca and Beide, Shay, Rudy Gobert. Al Horford is obviously

0:45:09.239 --> 0:45:11.640
<v Speaker 1>no longer an All Star contender, but he has been

0:45:11.840 --> 0:45:15.600
<v Speaker 1>an All Star. Jokic Lowry Marketing, Porzingis has been an

0:45:15.640 --> 0:45:18.840
<v Speaker 1>All Star. SA Bonus was All NBA last season. Pascal

0:45:18.920 --> 0:45:23.600
<v Speaker 1>Siakam has recently been an All NBA selection. Ben Simmons

0:45:23.640 --> 0:45:26.920
<v Speaker 1>not in the All Star mix anymore. Nikolavucevich has been

0:45:26.960 --> 0:45:30.000
<v Speaker 1>an All Star fairly recently, Andrew Wiggins an All Star

0:45:30.040 --> 0:45:33.160
<v Speaker 1>fairly recently. So you throw Wemby in there with all

0:45:33.200 --> 0:45:35.239
<v Speaker 1>the names we've mentioned, and I think it's you know,

0:45:35.320 --> 0:45:40.000
<v Speaker 1>you can credibly say six, seven, eight, you can get

0:45:40.320 --> 0:45:45.040
<v Speaker 1>you can get to eight of twelve with strong arguments.

0:45:45.080 --> 0:45:48.040
<v Speaker 1>But but yeah, I mean, then then we're we're reaching.

0:45:48.719 --> 0:45:51.480
<v Speaker 1>And that's where I think the American guys are gonna say,

0:45:51.480 --> 0:45:55.000
<v Speaker 1>hold on a second, we are we reaching to get

0:45:55.040 --> 0:45:58.120
<v Speaker 1>to twelve Rest of the World stars, and then there's

0:45:58.160 --> 0:46:01.480
<v Speaker 1>three hundred plus American born players who now have to

0:46:01.960 --> 0:46:04.479
<v Speaker 1>scrap for twelve spots.

0:46:05.239 --> 0:46:07.680
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that wouldn't be fair. It would not be fair.

0:46:09.160 --> 0:46:11.920
<v Speaker 2>So they got it. I don't know if you can

0:46:11.960 --> 0:46:15.359
<v Speaker 2>have an All Star game and have another game over

0:46:15.360 --> 0:46:17.600
<v Speaker 2>the weekend. You know, maybe Saturday night.

0:46:18.040 --> 0:46:19.600
<v Speaker 1>I don't see that.

0:46:22.040 --> 0:46:26.120
<v Speaker 2>Maybe Saturday night is the US versus the World. I

0:46:26.160 --> 0:46:32.239
<v Speaker 2>don't know. But you can't eliminate twelve all stars, you know.

0:46:32.440 --> 0:46:36.160
<v Speaker 2>You can't do that just and you can't make it

0:46:36.200 --> 0:46:41.040
<v Speaker 2>a reach to add on seven other All Stars for

0:46:41.080 --> 0:46:43.120
<v Speaker 2>the world team if they don't deserve it.

0:46:43.440 --> 0:46:46.080
<v Speaker 1>And you said, the Embiid question will be a great

0:46:46.120 --> 0:46:49.239
<v Speaker 1>one because if Embiid plays for the United States at

0:46:49.280 --> 0:46:50.440
<v Speaker 1>the Paris Olympics, like.

0:46:50.400 --> 0:46:54.040
<v Speaker 2>We will tell you, yeah, Stan, he will be criticized

0:46:54.120 --> 0:46:56.520
<v Speaker 2>if he plays on that world team. Where if the

0:46:56.600 --> 0:46:58.839
<v Speaker 2>NBA tries to make him play for that world team,

0:46:58.840 --> 0:47:01.480
<v Speaker 2>he will be criticized. You can't flip flop. You should be.

0:47:01.680 --> 0:47:05.600
<v Speaker 2>It should be whoever you play in the last Olympics,

0:47:06.120 --> 0:47:08.239
<v Speaker 2>whatever team you played for, whatever side you played for,

0:47:08.360 --> 0:47:11.120
<v Speaker 2>you should that should be a side you represent in

0:47:11.200 --> 0:47:14.400
<v Speaker 2>a supposedly US versus World type format.

0:47:14.600 --> 0:47:17.840
<v Speaker 1>So it will be interesting to see how it's gonna

0:47:17.840 --> 0:47:20.840
<v Speaker 1>happen someday it I think we have to start treating

0:47:20.880 --> 0:47:26.319
<v Speaker 1>that as an inevitability. But how soon, how soon? How

0:47:26.400 --> 0:47:31.239
<v Speaker 1>soon can we come up with twelve All Stars for

0:47:31.400 --> 0:47:36.319
<v Speaker 1>a theoretical Team World where all twelve players on the

0:47:36.440 --> 0:47:42.360
<v Speaker 1>roster are unquestioned All Star selections. Because I totally agree

0:47:42.400 --> 0:47:45.160
<v Speaker 1>with you. We are not. We can argue about certain guys,

0:47:45.160 --> 0:47:48.320
<v Speaker 1>but we're not at twelve. There are not twelve World

0:47:48.560 --> 0:47:52.160
<v Speaker 1>clearcut players who on Team World who should be All

0:47:52.160 --> 0:47:53.200
<v Speaker 1>Stars and Stein.

0:47:53.320 --> 0:47:55.440
<v Speaker 2>But but the thing is, you know, to their to

0:47:55.520 --> 0:47:59.360
<v Speaker 2>their quotes, you know their comments Adam Silver and Tatum.

0:48:00.160 --> 0:48:04.160
<v Speaker 2>Soon you know the world is coming, The world is coming,

0:48:04.520 --> 0:48:09.520
<v Speaker 2>you know. So maybe they're talking about, you know, eventually

0:48:09.600 --> 0:48:11.480
<v Speaker 2>when it does get to that point, it might take

0:48:11.520 --> 0:48:14.480
<v Speaker 2>two years, it might take three years for there to

0:48:14.560 --> 0:48:19.480
<v Speaker 2>be twelve to fifteen Louck World All Stars. And so

0:48:19.920 --> 0:48:22.359
<v Speaker 2>if they're waiting, if they're talking about then, and I'm

0:48:22.360 --> 0:48:25.759
<v Speaker 2>fine with that, But we're not there now. I don't

0:48:25.760 --> 0:48:27.080
<v Speaker 2>know we'll be there next year either.

0:48:28.080 --> 0:48:31.360
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, And like I said, beyond what you or I

0:48:31.480 --> 0:48:36.520
<v Speaker 1>might say, I'm really interested to hear when this question

0:48:36.640 --> 0:48:40.040
<v Speaker 1>gets thrown more at players. And something tells me that

0:48:40.120 --> 0:48:43.480
<v Speaker 1>at this All Star Game in Indianapolis, when we go

0:48:43.560 --> 0:48:45.920
<v Speaker 1>back to an East and West format, this will be

0:48:45.960 --> 0:48:49.400
<v Speaker 1>a question that comes up for the All Star participants,

0:48:49.440 --> 0:48:53.160
<v Speaker 1>and I'm really curious to hear what veteran All Stars

0:48:53.200 --> 0:48:58.320
<v Speaker 1>have to say about a USA against the World format

0:48:58.440 --> 0:49:02.200
<v Speaker 1>and how close are we. I really want to hear

0:49:02.239 --> 0:49:05.439
<v Speaker 1>the player's opinions on that one. All right, I think

0:49:05.480 --> 0:49:09.240
<v Speaker 1>that will do it for this edition of This League Uncut.

0:49:09.320 --> 0:49:11.600
<v Speaker 1>We will be back with you very very soon. We

0:49:11.680 --> 0:49:15.120
<v Speaker 1>got to sort out exactly when we will tape the

0:49:15.160 --> 0:49:18.880
<v Speaker 1>next episode. We'll be working around Chris's schedule as he

0:49:18.960 --> 0:49:24.320
<v Speaker 1>makes his way to Denver for Clippers Nuggets on Tuesday night. Everyone,

0:49:24.800 --> 0:49:27.960
<v Speaker 1>thanks a miil for joining us. As always, please remember

0:49:29.120 --> 0:49:34.360
<v Speaker 1>to rate, review, and subscribe to This League Uncut wherever

0:49:34.400 --> 0:49:38.560
<v Speaker 1>you get your podcasts, Apple, Spotify, any other podcast provider.

0:49:38.600 --> 0:49:43.520
<v Speaker 1>If you haven't already, please do so. Please join us

0:49:43.560 --> 0:49:47.600
<v Speaker 1>soon again, and that'll do it for us. See you

0:49:47.680 --> 0:49:57.080
<v Speaker 1>next time. This League Uncut is and iHeartRadio production. Chris

0:49:57.120 --> 0:50:10.399
<v Speaker 1>Haines and Mark Stein