1 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: The volume Hi, It's Prime Cuts, the best of the 2 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: Calling Coward podcast. Great week, My buddy Nick Wright, absolutely fantastic. 3 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 1: Has has taken the value of college for NBA players. 4 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: Also how he can tell a guy's a star and 5 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: not a superstar. Rick Buker on why John Morant should 6 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 1: have been the number one pickover Zion. Then Frank I 7 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 1: Sola New York Knicks Baby, But first my top takes 8 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 1: of the week. So about seven years ago. Aaron Rodgers. 9 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: Eight years ago, he was the toast of the league, 10 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 1: and I hated his body language and I thought he 11 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: came off as sort of, you know, a little condescending. 12 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: And you know, I've been doing this long enough, so 13 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: everybody accumulates sources. So I had two Packer players, an agent, 14 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: and somebody very close to the Packer executives tell me 15 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 1: that he was prickly difficult and not necessarily as beloved 16 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: as far didn't he didn't connect with people as much 17 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: as far, but he was a huge talent. So I 18 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: went out in the air and I talked about that 19 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 1: and all the cheeseheads and the bloggers in the local media. Predictably, 20 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,480 Speaker 1: he doesn't have any sourcing, you know, that's what it was. 21 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: And then about two years later, a couple of teammates 22 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 1: of Aaron Rodgers had called him out, a family member 23 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: had called him out, and I doubled down at it 24 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 1: and I said, this is what I've been hearing for years. 25 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: Then Bob McGinn, who covered him for years, left and 26 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: went to the Athletic and acknowledged, yeah, he's difficult, and 27 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 1: there's there are people in the building that don't like him. 28 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: Well now, and this is why I've never sought validation 29 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: from fans. Now, as I listened to a radio show yesterday, 30 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: all the Packer fans, all of them, one after another 31 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: on Chris Russo's show. Well, you know he's never gotten 32 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: along with his family. It was obvious years ago he's 33 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:11,839 Speaker 1: very difficult. And I'm thinking, yeah, that's what I said 34 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: seven years ago and got crap. And what it proves 35 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 1: is something I talk about. You've got to trust your sources. 36 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: I do this for a living. I always I heard 37 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: it from multiple players. Jeff Saturday came out and validated 38 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:26,359 Speaker 1: it by saying, yeah, I used to roll his eyes 39 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: in the huddles at Mike McCarthy. So this is whenever 40 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: I get hate mail. I say, if I have a 41 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: super strong opinion like Baker Mayfield's a reach at a 42 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 1: number one pick, it's because I have multiple people in 43 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: the industry telling me Baker Mayfield's a franchise quarterback, but 44 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 1: he's a reach is a number one pick, which when 45 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: you watch Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes is pretty clear. 46 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: So what I find funny in on the Aaron Rodgers 47 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 1: front is this stuff's been available to everybody for like 48 00:02:54,919 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: eight years. He's gifted, but he's prickly, he's difficult, he's loof, 49 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: he's California cool, and he doesn't really relate to a 50 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: lot of things in Milwaukee. Although I'll give him credit, 51 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: he's done a really good job to put on the 52 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: badger hat, you know, invest in the box. I think 53 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 1: he's done a really good job actually to try to 54 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: be part of the community, but he's not really part 55 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: of the community. So my earliest memories Sunday night television 56 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: has always meant a lot to me. So I remember 57 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: being a kid and I had to take a bath 58 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: on Sunday and there was The Wide World of Disney 59 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 1: was a very popular show for about thirty years on 60 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: ABC NBC. Then CBS, so when I was a kid, 61 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: it was on NBC. It had been on ABC, so 62 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: I can remember the Peacock Wide World in the Disney 63 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: in the seventies. Sunday Night TV's the only TV I 64 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: remember then in the eighties, I started really watching sports 65 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: in the late seventies eighties, and I remember the Raiders 66 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: playing those late West Coast games with Kenny Stabler, often 67 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: against the Steelers, often against the Dolphins, and Don Shula 68 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: those games, so they're so embedded in my mind. It 69 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: was when I really became a huge, huge NFL fan. 70 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: Those the Raiders were. They were a power, The Steelers 71 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 1: were a power, the Dolphins were a power, all sorts 72 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 1: of simultaneously. And I remember those games, the late sun 73 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 1: coming down in the seventies, and you know, then in 74 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: high school and in college, you know, Sunday Nights were 75 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: about you know, probably homework. But then I remember from 76 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 1: about ninety six to twenty ten the Sopranos impact on 77 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: Sunday Nights and Tiger Woods. For about six or seven 78 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: years with Sopranos, about twelve years with Tiger Woods, that 79 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: sort of special Sunday night that just I gravitated to 80 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 1: the television, and obviously over the last ten years the 81 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 1: NFL Sundays have been a gift that keeps on giving. 82 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: But one of the things that always pulls me back 83 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: in is the aging golfer Tiger at the Masters a 84 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: few years ago and Phil Mickelson at fifty winning the PGA. 85 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: There have been stretches in my life where I'm just 86 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: not that fascinated with golf. I wasn't really a Jack 87 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: Nicholas devote I wasn't. It was generationally I missed him. 88 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,359 Speaker 1: I didn't pay attention to golf. I grew up in 89 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: a small town. We didn't have a golf course that 90 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: was a rich person's sport. Tiger really pulled me in, 91 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: to be honest with you, a little Greg Norman before him, 92 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: then Tiger, then Phil. But golf always pulls me back in. 93 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 1: There's just this once in a decade guy. And it 94 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 1: made me so happy to watch Phil Mickelson. He kept 95 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: the ball on the greens, he didn't take as many 96 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: big risks. It was a well lubricated crowd, which made 97 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 1: it even better on a Sunday, so that for me 98 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 1: was already special. That was a really fun night. And 99 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: without I bring in nick right. Deviner is now and 100 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 1: what his sixth season, and he's like twenty four years old, 101 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 1: twenty five years old. He's a kid. If he was 102 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 1: an NFL player, he'd be in year two and we 103 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: would not ask him to be a leader. So this 104 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 1: is my problem with the G League is if you 105 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: go this morning and you look at many of the leaders, 106 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 1: Draymond's a leader, regardless of what you think of him. 107 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 1: Four years of college, d Wade three, Chris Paul two, 108 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:33,160 Speaker 1: Damian Lillard four. Lebron's the exception. How about Steps leader? 109 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 1: Step went in three years? Yeah, Kyrie eight games gone, 110 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:43,279 Speaker 1: Katie one year gone. So AAU basketball is not about culture. 111 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 1: It's about talent. You spend nine months in the college campus, 112 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 1: that's not about culture. You start looking at the leaders 113 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 1: in the NBA. Lebron is the exception. Most went from 114 00:06:54,800 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 1: high school into a very good college culture. You know, 115 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 1: you got to see it to be it. Sometimes with leadership. 116 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: Duane Wade three, four years at Marquette. You come out 117 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: of that culture. You're a smart kid, you've been in 118 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: college for several years. You gravitate to the more mature 119 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: veteran players. It rubs off on you and your last 120 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: nine years in the league. You're a leader. Devin Booker 121 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: is a prime example. He is high school Kentucky, NBA. 122 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 1: He's been great since year two, but the minute Chris 123 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: Paul is hurt, they're not They're not the same, and 124 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 1: they don't they can't get into what they need to 125 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 1: in their sets. This is why I'm ANTIG league. You'll 126 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: make your money, you'll make your extra four hundred thousand dollars, 127 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: But the guys that get the shoe deals and the 128 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 1: promotion in the marketing are generally the leaders, the steps 129 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: and the guys who we view is not just talent. 130 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:59,679 Speaker 1: Trey Young is not on billboards everywhere. He's just talent, 131 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: whereas Steph is viewed as sort of a friend. He's 132 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: a quarterback. So I yeah, so I think the G 133 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: league path. I think if you are trying to be 134 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: one of the ten best players in the league, you 135 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 1: almost assuredly should go to a big time program in 136 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: college ye like, and get at least as much of 137 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: that experience as you can. I think for guys that 138 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: are trying to make the league and carve out seven 139 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 1: to nine years, you know what I mean, I think 140 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: that the idea of I'm not going to be a superstar. 141 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: I don't know if I'm going to get hurt. I'm 142 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: I'm if I can add a year of half a 143 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: million earnings potential, I'm doing it, you know what I mean? 144 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 1: Like the so the kid that one of the first 145 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:49,439 Speaker 1: kids to do it, he SUPs to go to Syracuse. 146 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: Darius Baisley, to me, he's a great example. That makes 147 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: sense for him. He was no district. To him, he 148 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:57,719 Speaker 1: was never going to be the best player on a 149 00:08:57,760 --> 00:08:59,679 Speaker 1: team NBA team all the time. It's like, hey, this 150 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 1: is an extra year where I can make a million bucks. 151 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 1: That's a million bucks that if I'm smart, I can 152 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: put some of it away, and by the time I 153 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: do retire from the NBA, that's more than that I've got. 154 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 1: So that there's a couple of things you said there 155 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 1: that spurred some of my brain. You said Lebron's the exception. 156 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 1: Lebron might actually prove your point because Lebron was an 157 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:25,319 Speaker 1: unbelievable player in Cleveland. He was not the first time around. 158 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 1: He was not an unbelievable leader. He came out of Miami, 159 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: which he called my college experience as this leader. It's 160 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 1: only been this half, this part of his career where 161 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 1: he has been the ultimate leader. And it's what you're 162 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:42,959 Speaker 1: talking about. These guys need. He got from pat Riley 163 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 1: and spoke. He didn't necessarily love all of it, but 164 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:49,199 Speaker 1: that's where he got it. He didn't. He was a 165 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:52,959 Speaker 1: magnetic personality and a great player in Cleveland the first 166 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: time around, but he was not this guy even though 167 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: he was the best player the other thing when you 168 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 1: said Booker and there's a total left turn so you 169 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: can get us back on track after. But I came 170 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 1: up with what I called a superstar test, and I 171 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: want to run it by you. Okay, okay, because we 172 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: talk about in the NBA all the time this guy stars, 173 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 1: he a superstar? What is Jason Tatum? What is to me? 174 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: It's I think I figured it out. Can you have 175 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 1: an awful playoff game and skate not get crushed by 176 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: folks like us? If you can, you are not a superstar? Yeah, 177 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: Jimmy Blood is a star, not a superstar, Bingo. Julius 178 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: randall star, not a superstar, that's right. Anthony Davis superstar, 179 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 1: no doubt about it. He was terrible game one, killing 180 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 1: got annihilated on all fronts Jason Tatum's nine for thirty 181 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 1: two in the series Against the Nets, no one cares 182 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: he's a star. He is not a superstar. Now, there 183 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: are a few guys like Paul George who because of 184 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 1: the team he's on, he gets criticized like a superstar, 185 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: even though he's probably more of a star. But when 186 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:06,080 Speaker 1: Paul George was in Oklahoma City, he could have a 187 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:08,840 Speaker 1: terrible game and nobody killed him for it because he 188 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 1: was a star, not a superstar. Clay has been in 189 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: this perfect place his whole career where when he's awesome, 190 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:17,319 Speaker 1: he gets all the love. When he's terrible and he's 191 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:19,959 Speaker 1: not terrible off and nobody kills him. That's the test. 192 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 1: Can you be awful in a big spot and get 193 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 1: a pass? If you can, you're not a superstar. That's 194 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 1: by the way, Jannis gets crushed when he plays. So 195 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 1: he's a superstar and he didn't used to three years 196 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:35,599 Speaker 1: ago in the playoffs prior to the Toronto series the 197 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 1: year before that's a twenty eighteen, he was a star. 198 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: He was not yet a superstar because if he's bad 199 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, nobody killed him for it. It's like, oh, 200 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: Yannas he'll get there, he'll be good. I'm curious to 201 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: see where Luca lambs in this, because Luca, amazingly has 202 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: never had a bad playoff game, so we don't know 203 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 1: play eight games. He's been awesome in all of them, 204 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: so we don't know what's going to happen. And he's 205 00:11:57,480 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: never been on a team that was supposed to win 206 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 1: the series. He's always been the underdog. But I think 207 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: lucas a guy who's already good enough to where he'll 208 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:06,559 Speaker 1: get crushed, Like if he plays bad, you'll kill I 209 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 1: think Luca is in the rare space. He'd have to 210 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: have back to back bad games. You'd probably you'd give 211 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 1: him a bad game if he had back to backs. 212 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 1: It's a trend. But I do think we give him 213 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 1: a little bit of a holy crap, he's good for 214 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: his age, like insanely good for his age. We're going 215 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: to give him a couple of you know, tomatoes. You'd 216 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 1: give him a pass and see what it is. But 217 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 1: I think that's the simplest way to do it, because 218 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:33,199 Speaker 1: I thought you mentioned Jimmy Butler immediately, and that's exactly 219 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:35,599 Speaker 1: that's what spurred this in my brain because I was 220 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 1: like Jimmy Butler. I know he tied the game. He 221 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: was awful in game one, he was not better in 222 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 1: game two, and no one's killing him because they know 223 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:50,720 Speaker 1: he's actually not a superstar. The Colin Coward Podcast proud 224 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: to be presented by FanDuel. Never played FanDuel Fantasy before. 225 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 1: Great FanDuel's offering users the chance to play free, no 226 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:01,319 Speaker 1: deposit required at all. Pluck for those folks who want 227 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 1: to deposit. Fandel's offering up to a five hundred dollar 228 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 1: bonus instantly instantly when you make your first deposit with 229 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 1: their twenty percent deposit match. 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So you're a 239 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:43,079 Speaker 1: sports fan, right, that's why you're listening. But if you're 240 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: considering getting in on the fun of sports scambling, I 241 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: want to let you know about a great resource, the 242 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: Action Network. The Action Network is where fans go when 243 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:55,199 Speaker 1: they're ready to bet smarter and turn a profit betting 244 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: on sports. In fact, their free Action Network app free 245 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: recently named the best app in sports betting. With the 246 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 1: Action App, you can want see the latest picks and 247 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 1: articles from the Action Network. Gambling experts too, compare odds 248 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: from different sports books, and three track every bet you 249 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 1: make so you always know how your picks are doing. 250 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 1: So if the game means more to you, download the 251 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: free Action Network app and start betting smarter. We bring 252 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: in my friend Rick Buker must have been ten fifteen 253 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: years ago. There was a movie made called My Big 254 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: Fat Greek Wedding. It had a bunch of people that 255 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: you really didn't know. I think John Corbett may have 256 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 1: been kind of known, but it was sort of this 257 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:42,119 Speaker 1: starless movie. It was a massive hit and you immediately 258 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 1: fell in love with the family. The Knicks have a 259 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: little bit of this with them. I'm rooting for Alec 260 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 1: Brooks and an old Derrick Rose cast off Julius Randall 261 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 1: from the Lakers who didn't play well. But the Knicks 262 00:14:55,720 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 1: are wildly entertaining because they've bought in to Tom Thibodeau. 263 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 1: And they're not a great team. These are not championship teams. 264 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 1: This game, this series is going to be back and forth. 265 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: But I find myself and I'm not from New York, 266 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 1: I lived in and around New York for ten to 267 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 1: eleven years. But there's something about teams that buy into 268 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: playing hard even if they have an incredibly low ceiling. 269 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: And Atlanta outplays him in the first half. RJ. Barrett, 270 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 1: big dunk, big left handed sweeping dunks sort of change 271 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 1: the temperature in the garden. I find the Knicks. They 272 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: don't have stars. Julius Randold's not a top twenty five 273 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 1: player in the league, despite the year he's not. But 274 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: I find that I find the Knicks to be a team. 275 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: They know they need each other, they know their limitations, 276 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: and I mean, listen when Alec Burke's you know again, 277 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: when he's leading you and Derek Rose and old Derreck 278 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: Rose off the bench. By the way, the Knicks bench 279 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 1: was great, you know, that's kind of it's giving you 280 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 1: pretty obvious signs of their ceiling. So don't get too 281 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: low on the loss. We know this is not going 282 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: to end with Tom Thibodeaux hoisting a trophy. We know 283 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: it's not going to end that way. But your team 284 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: has a soul. You may be down oh one, but 285 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 1: your team as a soul. And if you come back 286 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: and win this series, and I think you can, the 287 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: key is don't overreact. They could overspend on Julius Randall. 288 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: That's a date. That's a mistake. I mean, that's not 289 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: a date, that's no question. Okay. Second thing though, is 290 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 1: when you look at Tibbs history and your thoughts on this, 291 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 1: he grinds the shit out of his players. They play 292 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 1: hard in the regular season and players by end. But 293 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: I have watched so many I know what he is 294 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 1: in the postseason. Teams get tired, teams wear out, and 295 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 1: there's this joyfulness with Nick fans like we're back, We're here, 296 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 1: and I feel like, no, no no, you are here. Right. 297 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 1: There's going to be so much pain over the next 298 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: two to three years on the Randall contract and the 299 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 1: TIBs ceiling. And I do think you can kind of 300 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: sense it when you'll watch this Atlanta series and you'll 301 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: be like, what do we do with Randall? Yeah? What 302 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 1: what is TIBs? The classic Kirk Cousins can win a division? 303 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: And that's it? Yeah. He, I mean, he's a culture changer. 304 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 1: They needed to change their culture. They needed to get 305 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:34,200 Speaker 1: back to attention to detail and being tough. And and 306 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,960 Speaker 1: I'm you know, honestly, Scott Perry, who was kind of 307 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 1: moved down the latter Ron Rose, came in. Scott Perry 308 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:47,160 Speaker 1: gave them a team perfect for Tips. He comes, I mean, 309 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:51,120 Speaker 1: he took the Detroit model what they built. He built 310 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:54,480 Speaker 1: as an assistant GM with Joe Dumars, with Chauncey Billups 311 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: and Rip and Tayshawn Prince and Rashid and Ben Wallace 312 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: and and he basically said, you know, I want to 313 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: have a team that's going to be tough and it's 314 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 1: going to have depth. And and that's what he gave Tips. 315 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: And that's perfect for Tips because he is going to 316 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 1: grind guys. He wants guys who are tough, he wants 317 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:18,119 Speaker 1: veteran guys, he wants smart guys. And so this is 318 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: a good team for him. But TIBs is going to 319 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 1: maximize what you are every game when he played, they 320 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:32,399 Speaker 1: were three and two and what they were playing the Lakers, 321 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:35,919 Speaker 1: I believe, and they'd rather than going home three and 322 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:39,439 Speaker 1: three on the on the road trip, Tibbs wanted to 323 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: go home four and two in the worst way and say, 324 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:44,679 Speaker 1: you know, we finished it off and we beat the Lakers. 325 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:50,920 Speaker 1: So we played Derek Rose almost twenty two minutes straight, yes, 326 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: five minutes of overtime. I mean, it was insane. I'm like, 327 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:57,439 Speaker 1: do you know what you were around for Derek Rose 328 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 1: when he broke down, Like what are you doing? But 329 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 1: that's tips you can't help himself. Like every game he's 330 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:10,359 Speaker 1: an NFL coach. Every game, it means everything, and so 331 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:14,879 Speaker 1: he's he can he can change your culture. He builds 332 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 1: your foundation. But when you want to go to the 333 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 1: next level, you have to get somebody who knows how 334 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 1: to coach talent, and he knows how to how to pull, 335 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: push and pull, no one to go hard, no one 336 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 1: to pull back. Tims doesn't know how to do that. 337 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:35,439 Speaker 1: And so, um, yes, you're you're you're one hundred percent right. 338 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: I've been saying this with the Knicks. Knicks fans easy 339 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:41,640 Speaker 1: easy when they got, you know, they became the fourth seat. 340 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:43,879 Speaker 1: It was like, oh, hey we could win a series. 341 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,680 Speaker 1: Hey we might be contenders, you know, like Julius Randall's MVP. 342 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 1: I'm like, no, no, no no, no, no, no, no, no no, 343 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 1: no no. You're a great regular season team. Enjoy that 344 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: you're in the playoffs. Enjoy Let you get to see RJ. 345 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:56,200 Speaker 1: Barrett and and some of you your young players and 346 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 1: see what they're made of again in the postseason. But 347 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,160 Speaker 1: there's a lot of work to be done here. Now. 348 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 1: Your thing about because I knew where you were leading. 349 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,399 Speaker 1: You didn't actually say it, but I think what you 350 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 1: were leading to was the Knicks have to find a 351 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,679 Speaker 1: way to get Zion Williamson. Zion Williamson needs to be 352 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: in New York for the good of the league and himself. 353 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:19,159 Speaker 1: And in one respect, this is what I agree with 354 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:26,360 Speaker 1: you on. The dynamic game and the personality. I just 355 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:28,920 Speaker 1: and he's well spoken. I mean, he's got this yeah, 356 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 1: this just this everything. Yeah. I really like the magnitude. Yes, 357 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:39,679 Speaker 1: there's this this, this personableness about him matched with the 358 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 1: just the amazing athleticism that he has in control. He's 359 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 1: such a we talking about unicorns like Porzingis is a 360 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,359 Speaker 1: unicorn and that you can't find him. Zion is a 361 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 1: true unicorn, and that we have not seen anything I think. 362 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: I think people make the comparison of Charles Barkley is 363 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 1: probably the closest thing, But Zion's another step up in 364 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:06,879 Speaker 1: terms of just dynamic moves with the ball. Oh yeah. 365 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:12,440 Speaker 1: The problem is the problem is that if you're going 366 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 1: to build a if you're going to build a team 367 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:21,120 Speaker 1: around him, he's going to be your point forward. He 368 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:24,120 Speaker 1: had the ball has to be in his hands. He's 369 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:27,239 Speaker 1: going to be your playmaker essentially, which means that he 370 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 1: has to become a much better passer and reader of offenses. 371 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 1: And then I'm just going to surround him with three 372 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:40,159 Speaker 1: point shooters. Now I also need a three point shooter 373 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:45,360 Speaker 1: at the other big spot because he's a terrible defender. 374 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 1: He has to get better as a defenders. He's so 375 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 1: dynamic and so good at one thing, which is getting 376 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 1: to the rim, but he really there's nothing else about 377 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: his game that is extraordinary. He's not a good rebounder, 378 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 1: he's not a good defender. Um. I think he is 379 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:09,119 Speaker 1: a great handle and he's a good passer, but his 380 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: like I would love to see him evolve and then 381 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:17,639 Speaker 1: build a team around him. But if it depends on 382 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 1: when he gets to New York, because if he gets 383 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:23,400 Speaker 1: to New York before he evolves, New York's a tough market. 384 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:26,159 Speaker 1: Like well, I don't even I don't even think he 385 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: has to. I think New York has to be very 386 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: cautious about Julius Randlin over paying him. And I wasn't 387 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 1: really linked. I mean, I love to see Zion in 388 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 1: New York, but I would love to see it, But 389 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 1: I don't, you know, he's not the Only thing I 390 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 1: would say is because of his shoe deal, he may 391 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 1: be the first player who doesn't and the first player 392 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 1: in league history does not. Also, he also doesn't need 393 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 1: to sign his second contract with the Pelicans. Yes, he 394 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: doesn't need to. That was built so that players wouldn't leave. 395 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 1: You know. The bottom line is he had a bigger 396 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: shoe deal out of the gate than Lebron So he 397 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:08,119 Speaker 1: doesn't need that money. He can make it if he 398 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: remains healthy. He can make it. Make up that market, 399 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: make up that money. But but I do think it's 400 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:18,119 Speaker 1: interesting because the Knicks are gonna, you know again, Knicks 401 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:20,919 Speaker 1: in Atlanta this weekend. Doesn't mean a ton, It really doesn't. 402 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 1: But I think going forward, New York has to be 403 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 1: very cautious here to not overexaggerate what Randall is and 404 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: not overlook what TIBs can be as well. Except that's 405 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 1: what New York does with every team in every star. 406 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 1: If in New York they go crazy at the least 407 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:47,479 Speaker 1: bit of success, it means, oh, a championship is just 408 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:51,880 Speaker 1: around the corner. There's no there's no temperance in New York. 409 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:55,199 Speaker 1: It's it's it's and the expectation is as soon as 410 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 1: they get a little bit good, now we're going to 411 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:02,119 Speaker 1: be great. And that's not how they are built. The 412 00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 1: other thing is we're you know, we're talking about Zion 413 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:09,239 Speaker 1: and we're talking about the Pelicans, and I just you know, 414 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 1: the dynamics of sports. You know the business of sports 415 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: as well as anyone and I and I understand it too. 416 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 1: But there's a part of me that the fact that 417 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 1: we talk about Zion and the Pelicans and we don't 418 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 1: talk about John Morant and the Grizzlies at all. And yeah, 419 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 1: like for me, if you're asking me which guy I 420 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 1: would build around, and I said it when I said, 421 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 1: you know, nobody's gonna take John Morant number one, but 422 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 1: they should because you're not worried about the injury history. 423 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:46,159 Speaker 1: He plays the most important position. I mean all of it. 424 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:52,119 Speaker 1: It's it's and and now seeing that he's for real, 425 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,240 Speaker 1: I mean, led a team to the eighth seed last 426 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:58,120 Speaker 1: year and then the bubble kind of took them under um, 427 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 1: got them in and got them past the Warriors. I 428 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 1: like the they have. They've built the right kind of 429 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 1: players around him, Guys who don't need the ball um, 430 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:12,440 Speaker 1: guys who are physically tough. I mean, Dylan Brooks next 431 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:16,120 Speaker 1: to John Morant is as close to Clay Thompson next 432 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:18,160 Speaker 1: to Steph Curry as you're going to find right now 433 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,880 Speaker 1: in the league. So I love what they've I love 434 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 1: what they've built. The problem is they're in Memphis, so 435 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 1: nobody cares. Like nobody's going to get behind the Grizzlies. 436 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:31,320 Speaker 1: But I just think they've done such a better job 437 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 1: than the Pelicans. It's a they're a mess. Like I am. 438 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:41,000 Speaker 1: I playing Steven Adams next to Zion Williamson, I now 439 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:43,960 Speaker 1: means I have two players who can't shoot the three 440 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:47,879 Speaker 1: in a three dominant league, and I yeah, it like 441 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:51,120 Speaker 1: that team, and then I draft Jackson Hayes, who like 442 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:55,360 Speaker 1: is a rim runner. It just doesn't it doesn't make 443 00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:58,879 Speaker 1: any sense. And so but we like, you know, in general, 444 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:02,720 Speaker 1: because Zion is there, because he is so electric, we 445 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:05,200 Speaker 1: spend a lot of time looking at the Pelicans when 446 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:08,880 Speaker 1: I feel like, you know what, Grizzlies are in much 447 00:26:08,920 --> 00:26:12,240 Speaker 1: better shape. They have a star that I would trust 448 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:16,919 Speaker 1: on evolving more than the Pelicans star, and they deserve 449 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:19,880 Speaker 1: more of our attention if only they weren't in Memphis. 450 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 1: And with that, let's bring on Frank Is Solo. The 451 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:26,239 Speaker 1: reincarnation of Derrick Rose is fascinating. I said this on 452 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 1: the air earlier this week. If he wasn't wearing a 453 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:33,400 Speaker 1: jersey that said Derek Rose and you didn't know who 454 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:37,920 Speaker 1: he was. He doesn't even play like he used to play. Like. Yeah, 455 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 1: he is literally a different player. He is more willing 456 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:44,880 Speaker 1: to fill the lane in the break, be patient. He's 457 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 1: got more confidence in his jumper. It's almost if he 458 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:50,119 Speaker 1: doesn't feel he needs to score twenty five. He's trying 459 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:53,359 Speaker 1: on the defensive end. He's I think he feels like 460 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:57,159 Speaker 1: a smarter player. His tempo and his pace is more 461 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:59,800 Speaker 1: in line with the rest of his teammates. Early in 462 00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 1: his career, he and John Wall were almost too fast 463 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:04,240 Speaker 1: for teammates. I mean, it just fly up the floor. 464 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:06,879 Speaker 1: And I'm watching him now and I'm like, I didn't 465 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 1: like his game initially, though everybody else loved it, and 466 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 1: I'm like, he's out of control, he can't shoot. I 467 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:15,520 Speaker 1: watch him now and I'm like, he really understands the 468 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:19,360 Speaker 1: game now. Is that a TIBs reality? Yeah, I think 469 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:21,360 Speaker 1: a little bit. Also, he's thirty two, so I think 470 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 1: he's obviously grown up. And you know, when you watch 471 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 1: the way that he played in the injury that I 472 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:28,520 Speaker 1: got hurt on against Philadelphia in the playoff series, what 473 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,560 Speaker 1: was he doing. He was driving hard to the baskets, 474 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:35,439 Speaker 1: stopping and exploding. You know, he played so hard, his 475 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 1: jumps were hard. It was just a matter of time 476 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:40,239 Speaker 1: before something like that happened. And I think he's so right. 477 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:41,640 Speaker 1: Look at some of those shots that he makes. He's 478 00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:43,680 Speaker 1: a much better three point shooter. Yes, he gets that 479 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:46,320 Speaker 1: floater in the lane as well. Plus, Derrick Rose has 480 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: been through a lot in his career, youngest MVP in 481 00:27:49,359 --> 00:27:51,439 Speaker 1: league history. You know, then some of the off the 482 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:53,240 Speaker 1: courts stuff then bounced around. You know when I was 483 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:54,960 Speaker 1: thinking about it last time, when I'm watching the game, 484 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:56,520 Speaker 1: and it's hard to believe that it's Derek Rose on 485 00:27:56,560 --> 00:27:58,480 Speaker 1: the Knicks because I was there that first time that 486 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:00,680 Speaker 1: he came around. I'll never forget. And Phil Jackson was 487 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 1: running the team, and of course the Knicks had to 488 00:28:02,119 --> 00:28:04,119 Speaker 1: run the triangle because it wasn't going to be the players. 489 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:05,679 Speaker 1: It wasn't going to be the triangle that was going 490 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 1: to win them, you know, an NBA championship without Michael 491 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:11,679 Speaker 1: Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Anyway, after the first game of 492 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 1: the season, Derrick Rows, I don't know if I could 493 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:16,680 Speaker 1: play in this system. This was after the first game 494 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:19,159 Speaker 1: and then they reached the point that year where he 495 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:21,280 Speaker 1: left the team. And I love Derek Rose, that was 496 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 1: out of line with he did. You gotta tell your 497 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:25,399 Speaker 1: bosses that you're you're not in it right now. And 498 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:28,119 Speaker 1: he went back to Chicago. But here he is. He 499 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:31,960 Speaker 1: followed Tom to Minnesota. Now he wanted to get traded 500 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:35,879 Speaker 1: to the Knicks. He was he was a backup on 501 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 1: the Detroit Pistons, one of the worst teams in the league, 502 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:42,800 Speaker 1: and here he was in Game two at Madison Square 503 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:45,520 Speaker 1: Garden where the Knicks needed a win, and who's leading them, 504 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 1: Derek Rows. It really is a pretty remarkable story, It 505 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:51,800 Speaker 1: really is. You know, we were saying this, the advantage 506 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:55,240 Speaker 1: to being a big brand is you can just be 507 00:28:56,200 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 1: really a disaster. Alabama football before Saban was as yeah, 508 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 1: Oklahoma football before Bob Stoops. For briefly it was a mess. 509 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:11,600 Speaker 1: But big brands recover quickly because we remember how good 510 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:14,600 Speaker 1: they were. They have this sex appeal, this clamor, and 511 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:16,800 Speaker 1: I swear to god, it's like the last twenty five 512 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:19,080 Speaker 1: years didn't exist. I look at the Knicks now and 513 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: I'm like, oh my god, the gardens nuts, Frank. It 514 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 1: feels like they may be able to go on the 515 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 1: free agent market and attract somebody yeah who who and 516 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 1: the obviously Frank. They need juice offensively, YEA. Julius Randall 517 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:36,480 Speaker 1: should be your third best player, RJ. Barrett. Hopefully it 518 00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:39,680 Speaker 1: becomes your second best player if he just keeps working, 519 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:41,840 Speaker 1: and then then Derrick Rose can be your fourth or fifth, 520 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:44,000 Speaker 1: and then you got a championship level team. Is there 521 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:49,800 Speaker 1: anybody in the next year that is an offensive minded 522 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 1: guy that you think they'd have a shot at Well, 523 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:54,520 Speaker 1: there's a guy who's not too far from you. If 524 00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:57,040 Speaker 1: I'm the Knicks and I'm Nick fans, I am rooting 525 00:29:57,040 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 1: like crazy to the Dallas Mavericks to beat the Clippers. Now, 526 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 1: who knows with Kawhi letter he had, you know, he 527 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:05,120 Speaker 1: had to move heaven and Earth to go to La 528 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:07,640 Speaker 1: And I understand he's a California guy who knows how 529 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: this whole thing could shake out. All bets could be 530 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 1: off if they end up losing in the first round. 531 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:14,320 Speaker 1: The issue with the free agents, and I think this 532 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:16,800 Speaker 1: is one of the reasons why Tom Thibodeau really wanted 533 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:20,080 Speaker 1: Gordon Hayward, because he knows those players don't come around 534 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 1: that often. Look at Jana Santeta Combo, a lot of 535 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 1: people thought, oh no, he won't resign with the Milwaukee Bucks. 536 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:27,480 Speaker 1: He's off the board. A lot of these players tend 537 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:29,440 Speaker 1: to resign with their teams. While the Knicks are in 538 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 1: good position is because they do have draft picks, so 539 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 1: there's always that, and they have cap space they could 540 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:37,840 Speaker 1: trade for maybe a disgruntled player at some point. But 541 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:40,240 Speaker 1: what you just said about the brand is interesting because 542 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:43,160 Speaker 1: I think that's really true. What I think what Leon 543 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:46,000 Speaker 1: rose Wes and Tom have done. I think for the 544 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:48,400 Speaker 1: rest of the NBA they look at the Knick organization 545 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:52,240 Speaker 1: as now a competent organization that when they watch the 546 00:30:52,280 --> 00:30:54,960 Speaker 1: team play, it's organized. So even while they might have 547 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:57,920 Speaker 1: questions about the owner, now they're thinking, it looks like 548 00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:00,680 Speaker 1: the owner is more on the outside and they has 549 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:04,040 Speaker 1: any has basketball people running it. So when you don't 550 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 1: look dysfunctional for a year and they haven't, that is 551 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 1: a huge benefit to the franchise. And I think that's 552 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:13,000 Speaker 1: why Tom Leon and West and the rest of that 553 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:15,160 Speaker 1: staff there they should be complimented because I think they've 554 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:18,000 Speaker 1: done a lot to change the perception of a franchise that, 555 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:20,320 Speaker 1: as you know, it was a punchline for a lot 556 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:21,760 Speaker 1: of people. It was a punchline for a lot of 557 00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:23,520 Speaker 1: people here in New York, and I think they've changed 558 00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:25,440 Speaker 1: the perception, which is what they needed to do. And 559 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:27,280 Speaker 1: how do you do it. You do it by winning well. 560 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:30,520 Speaker 1: I mean, USC hired Pete Carroll, so they had Paul Hackett, 561 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:33,360 Speaker 1: they finished last in the PAC twelve. To hire Pete Carroll, 562 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:37,480 Speaker 1: people mocked the choice. He'd been fired twice in the NFL. 563 00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:42,960 Speaker 1: By the second year, they basically got any recruit west 564 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:46,800 Speaker 1: of Austin, Texas in the country. These dead big brands. 565 00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:49,840 Speaker 1: I mean, they recover in a minute and I'm sitting 566 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:53,880 Speaker 1: there watching the next and I'm like, hell yeah, the energy, 567 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:57,800 Speaker 1: just the way the crowd looks. What do you do 568 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:01,160 Speaker 1: with Julius Randall? Because you know, I was saying, I 569 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:04,280 Speaker 1: told Chris Broussard, I said, the best case scenario they 570 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:08,640 Speaker 1: beat at Lanta and Randall plays poorly, so the Knicks 571 00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:11,600 Speaker 1: can go, hey, we love you, but we can't break 572 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 1: the bank for you. And even Julius psychologically knows, hey, man, 573 00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:18,280 Speaker 1: I didn't live up to it. What is what's the 574 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:20,440 Speaker 1: best case scenario for the NIXT You give him a 575 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:22,920 Speaker 1: four year deal? I mean, what do you do Because 576 00:32:23,440 --> 00:32:26,080 Speaker 1: Frank he's a number three, He's not a one. He 577 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 1: just played like a two this year. He did. He 578 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:31,120 Speaker 1: absolutely did, and I think that you know, you look 579 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:33,080 Speaker 1: at the way that he played in those first couple 580 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:35,480 Speaker 1: of games to start the playoffs, and it was almost 581 00:32:35,520 --> 00:32:38,080 Speaker 1: as if he didn't have the mentality of you're the 582 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 1: best player. Now it's up to you. You have to 583 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:42,800 Speaker 1: raise your level. Look at Trey yone, he never been 584 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:44,280 Speaker 1: a playoff game. How about the way that he played 585 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:46,840 Speaker 1: in game one? Look at Devin Booker had never been 586 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:49,240 Speaker 1: in a playoff game, DeAndre at and the same thing. 587 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:51,960 Speaker 1: It's almost like for Julius Randall, it's like he needed 588 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:53,720 Speaker 1: someone to tell him, no, no, no no, no, you have 589 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:55,960 Speaker 1: to play better. This a lot of this who is 590 00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:58,360 Speaker 1: riding on you? And it never For whatever the reason, 591 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:00,800 Speaker 1: it seemed like maybe he's succumbed to the pressure a 592 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:03,880 Speaker 1: little bit. And I think that's the way that he 593 00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:05,840 Speaker 1: played during the regular season. You're right, I think you 594 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 1: have to be impressed with it. I actually believe I 595 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 1: voted a fifth in my MVP because he played seventy 596 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 1: one games and he lifted the next fourth place. But 597 00:33:13,520 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 1: it's going to be a major concerctcause you're right, he's 598 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 1: not your franchise player, second guy, maybe third guy. I'm 599 00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:24,840 Speaker 1: more along those lines. Yeah, it's like baseball. It's you know, 600 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:29,440 Speaker 1: there's just there's just very few Garrett Coles, and it 601 00:33:29,480 --> 00:33:32,000 Speaker 1: really comes down to everybody's got to pay Garrett Cole. 602 00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:34,320 Speaker 1: Now there's not a salary cap in baseball, but the 603 00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:38,160 Speaker 1: question isn't paying your ace, it's don't overpay for your 604 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:42,440 Speaker 1: third starter, and Julius should be like Draymond Greene in 605 00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 1: his prime. You can win a championship if he's your 606 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:49,000 Speaker 1: third best player, and yeah, and then and then and 607 00:33:49,040 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 1: then he became your fourth when you adited Kevin Durant. 608 00:33:51,440 --> 00:34:01,920 Speaker 1: That and then you become an all time team. That 609 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:03,760 Speaker 1: wraps it up for the week. We're heading into another 610 00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:06,280 Speaker 1: big week here at The Volume. Make sure to subscribe 611 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:11,080 Speaker 1: and follow us at the Volume Sports on Twitter and Instagram. 612 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:12,040 Speaker 1: The Volume