1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to this League Uncut in the rule of twenty 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 1: four hour NBA News. This's you, Chris Hanes. It's time, 3 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 1: Mark Stein. It's so time. This League Uncut is underway 4 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: and on fire. 5 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 2: This should be a good one. Everyone. Welcome in to 6 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:31,720 Speaker 2: a brand new and overdue, brand new edition of this 7 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 2: League Uncut. Mark Stein here with his old friend Chris Haynes. 8 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 2: It was not by design, but we got separated for 9 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 2: a week and change, Chris says, I'm sure you guys 10 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 2: are all aware by now. He was in Atlanta for 11 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 2: the whole Western Conference finals doing an alt cast for 12 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 2: TNT with Adam Lefko and Vince Carter and Bomani Jones 13 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 2: and man, we don't go this long without talking. But 14 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 2: we didn't connect really for I don't know, six seven, eight, 15 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 2: nine days because I was in London. It's a long story. 16 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 2: I don't even know, Chris Haynes. If you know the 17 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 2: whole story, I can run you through it if you 18 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 2: want all of the background. But it's good to be 19 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 2: with you again, my friend. 20 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 3: But yeah, I mean, I think you owe it to 21 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 3: me and you owe it to the listeners to run 22 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 3: it back. 23 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 2: So here's what happened. Okay, I have two sons, as 24 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 2: you know, one is out of high school and one 25 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:31,559 Speaker 2: is nearing the end of high school. And my younger son, 26 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 2: like me, a die hard Manchester City fan. So we 27 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 2: had the opportunity to sneak over to England to see 28 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,839 Speaker 2: the FA Cup Final and All Manchester FA Cup Final. 29 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 2: The less I say about the actual game will probably 30 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 2: be the healthier for me to help me get through 31 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 2: the rest of this podcast. But the point was, Okay, 32 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 2: this opportunity arises in the midst of the Western Conference 33 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 2: Finals that feature the team in the city where I live, 34 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 2: in Dallas, But there was no way I was gonna 35 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 2: pass up the chance to go to London for a 36 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 2: few days with my son Aaron see this game. We 37 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 2: actually got to go to Wembley Stadium two days in 38 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,800 Speaker 2: a row because we saw the All Manchester FA Cup 39 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 2: Final and the Lead Southampton Championship playoff final to decide 40 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 2: which of those two teams goes up to the Premier 41 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 2: League and which has to return to the Championship for 42 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 2: another whole grueling season in the second division of English soccer. 43 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 2: So my thinking was, Mavericks Wolves, this thing is going 44 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 2: at least six, very well could go seven. We're gonna 45 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 2: sneak to England. We're gonna watch these two soccer games. 46 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 2: We're gonna have a few more days in London after 47 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 2: that incredible father and son trip, but we'll be back. 48 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,959 Speaker 2: I'll get back on the night of game five. I'll 49 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 2: cover Game six in game seven if necessary, in person, 50 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 2: and I won't miss all that much. And I was 51 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 2: still here when Game one happened. I did not go 52 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 2: to Minneapolis, but I covered Game one from home. Dallas 53 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 2: wins Game one in Minneapolis, land in London, MAVs go 54 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 2: up two oh, hold on a second, and then the 55 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 2: MAVs go up three to oh, and I'm just like, 56 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 2: this is unbelievable. How are the MAVs gonna sweep this thing? 57 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 2: We actually did look into should we abort the rest 58 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 2: of the trip and come back. We explored it, and 59 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 2: then I was like, no, you know what, No, the 60 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: MAVs are up three to zero if they sweep this thing. Okay, 61 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 2: I'm gonna miss the sweep, but they're gonna be in 62 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 2: the finals. I'm gonna see the whole finals. We're not changing. 63 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 2: And it ended up going five, not six. We got 64 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 2: back in the country just a few hours before Game five. 65 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 2: Thought I was going to be covering a Game six 66 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 2: in Dallas. There was no Game six in Dallas. All right. 67 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 2: Now you have the very long winded and complicated and 68 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 2: probably TMI explanation why it was so hard to get 69 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 2: a hold of me for a few days. But I 70 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 2: know you were busy, man, that Atlanta thing. You looked 71 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 2: like you had a lot going on. Shooting contest with 72 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 2: Vince Carter, interviews with Rich Paul, and all kinds of 73 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 2: NBA luminaries and guests. It looked like you were busy. 74 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 3: We had fun. 75 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 2: How was your Western Conference Finals in Atlanta? 76 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, we had fun. It was a nice you know, 77 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 3: change of pace of an assignment for me. I would 78 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,719 Speaker 3: have been that. You know, they moved me from what 79 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 3: they asked if I wanted to if I was interested 80 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 3: in doing this atcast for the Western Conference Finals and 81 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,480 Speaker 3: I was on the Eastern Conference Finals, I was going 82 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:53,040 Speaker 3: to cover that for the for the company, and so yeah, 83 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 3: I agreed to do it. And then you know, they 84 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 3: asked if I bring some guests on as well, So 85 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 3: you know, Dame was my first guess for Game one, 86 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 3: which Paul was Game two. I had Jordi Fernandez, the 87 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:12,039 Speaker 3: new NETS coach, for Game three, and I had Desmond 88 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 3: Bane for Game three as well. Game four. Who did 89 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 3: I have Game four? Excuse me? I had Jordy Fernande's 90 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 3: Game four. I had desim Band game three, and then 91 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 3: I had Nicholas Patun for Game five and that was it. 92 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 2: That was it. 93 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 3: STN. 94 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 2: That's a good run. Did any of those NBA heavyweights 95 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:38,679 Speaker 2: say they would come on this league? Uncut? 96 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 3: We've had all them on except now. 97 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:44,720 Speaker 2: We had Batomb for sure. 98 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 3: But was on Wetune. We had Dame games come on. 99 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 2: But Tom came on last year to do the Victor women, 100 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 2: y'am in a preview. But we have not had Desmond Bane. 101 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,600 Speaker 2: We have not had we have not had Jordi Fernandez. 102 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 3: Yeah, okay, well Jordi, Yeah, that was probably Jeordie's first, 103 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 3: you know National TV in the interview right there. So 104 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 3: you can't count hill. 105 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 2: We have not had Rich Paul on this podcast. You 106 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 2: gotta make we got to make that happen. 107 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 1: Huh. 108 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 2: Okay, I think I would have remembered if Rich Paul 109 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 2: was on this podcast. 110 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 3: Okay, I thought we had Rich and you're right with 111 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,279 Speaker 3: with debt with des I've had DEAs on my pod, 112 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 3: the pod before this one that I had before, four 113 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 3: different times. 114 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 2: So that's I see. I got posting up posted posting 115 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 2: up with Yes, you don't have a post up game. 116 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 3: Posting a post up game. Impeccable footwork in the post. Yeah, 117 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 3: that pod is posted down now. So yeah, but no, 118 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 3: it was fun. It was fun. 119 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 2: I had I had a posting up with three point 120 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:46,679 Speaker 2: gunner Chris Haynes. 121 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 3: Had a really good time. Man, it was funny staring. 122 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 3: So you know, all of us, most of us except 123 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 3: for Bomani, we're all salaried employees. So bo was the 124 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 3: only one that was getting paid by the game. So 125 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:07,599 Speaker 3: he was hoping that the series extend, you know, extended. 126 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 3: And I've been there for two weeks because I got 127 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 3: there like four days before the cast because my daughter graduated. 128 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, the last two pods we did were in Atlanta 129 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 2: before I left. 130 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 3: So I've been there for a while, and so I 131 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 3: was trying to get home as soon as possible before 132 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 3: the final start. If I get home late, like say, 133 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 3: this series ends early this week, then I come home. 134 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 3: I'm home for about a day or two before the finals. 135 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 3: You married people. You people that's in in long healthy relationships. Y'all, 136 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 3: y'all know your significant other is not going to tolerate that, 137 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 3: or at least you're going to hear about just coming 138 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 3: in and out. You've already been going for two weeks, 139 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 3: then you come home for a little bit, and then 140 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 3: you back out. So I was hoping to get back 141 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 3: kind of early. And plus, my wife's birthday was Saturday, 142 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 3: which is yesterday, and Stein, we'll get an NBA talk. Stein. 143 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 3: She pulled a fast one on us this year. She 144 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 3: pulled a fast one on us. And what I mean 145 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 3: by that is for her birthday present, which was yesterday. 146 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 3: For her birthday present, she wanted everybody in the house 147 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 3: to clean the house. So she assigned cleaning assignments for 148 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 3: everybody in the house. I had the closet, I had 149 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 3: to wash the clothes, I had to fold the clothes. 150 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 3: I had to fix some electrical issues in the house. 151 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 3: And there's nothing about me that's electric, that's electrical or electrician. 152 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 3: That's just not me. 153 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 2: And how many of your four daughters were home? 154 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 3: Everybody's home, everybody's own, Stein, I would very much rather 155 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 3: to spend a ton of money on gifts a big 156 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 3: birthday bash than to be at home cleaning up and 157 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 3: doing chores. Oh, it was the worst birthday experience ever. 158 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:07,319 Speaker 3: She pulled a fast woman. Oh, but I'm done. That's 159 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:09,839 Speaker 3: what I've been doing over these last few weeks. I'm 160 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 3: pretty sure people want to hear basketball now, Star. 161 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 2: I think the reason we can get away with that 162 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 2: off the court extended intro is because if things go 163 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 2: to plan, this will be just the first of multiple 164 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 2: preview pods to get you set for the twenty twenty 165 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 2: four NBA Finals, a matchup that I don't think many 166 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 2: predicted coming into the season, and even at the start 167 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 2: of the playoffs to suggest that the Dallas Mavericks would 168 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 2: come through the gauntlet that is the Western Conference. Not 169 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 2: a lot of people, I know we're touting the Mavericks 170 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:52,839 Speaker 2: as finals material, but here we are. It's the Mavericks. 171 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 2: They have dispatched the fifty one win LA Clippers, the 172 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 2: fifty seven win Oklahoma City Thunder, the fifty six win 173 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:06,720 Speaker 2: Minnesota Timberwolves. The Mavericks beat all those teams, didn't need 174 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 2: to go seven in any of the first three rounds. 175 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 2: But now they've got to deal with the mighty Boston 176 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 2: Celtics sixty four and eighteen the team of the regular season. 177 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 2: The Celtics really did assemble one of the most impressive 178 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 2: regular season resumes we've ever seen. But as I'm sure 179 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:33,439 Speaker 2: you guys talked about on that ALT cast, I didn't 180 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 2: see any of the ALT cast, but I'm guessing this 181 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 2: had to have come up once twice three times for Boston. 182 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 2: It's all riding on the finals. How they will be 183 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 2: judged this season will depend on what happens in this series. 184 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 2: So look, I think Vegas has the Celtics as pretty 185 00:10:55,960 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 2: clear favorites. I think the NBA consensus would have the 186 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 2: Celtics going into this series's favorites. But I want to 187 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 2: hear it from Chris Haynes. I picked Mavericks and six 188 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 2: in an upset. What does the Chris Haynes Crystal ball say, 189 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,319 Speaker 2: who is going to win the twenty twenty three to 190 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 2: twenty four NBA Championship. 191 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 3: If you would have asked me this question a week ago, 192 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 3: a few weeks ago, I'm definitely leaning towards the Boston Seltis. 193 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 3: It's not even leaning towards I'm picking the Boston Celtics, 194 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 3: probably picking them in five, six, not seven. But you 195 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 3: asked me today and my answer is I just don't know, 196 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 3: Stein I don't know, But that just shows how much 197 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 3: Dallas has convinced me over this past week. Again, remember, 198 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 3: look at what, look at what and Kyrie had to 199 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:04,959 Speaker 3: go up against leading up to getting to the NBA Finals. 200 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 3: They had to deal with some tough DEFENSI of US 201 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 3: defensive matchups, Lou Dork, physical guys, somebody who's strong, who's 202 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 3: not going to just allow you to get to where 203 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 3: you want. Luca Kai still got with it where they wanted. 204 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 3: Minnesota Anthony Edwards, Jade mcdaims no problem. And then their 205 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 3: role players are stepping up, and it's strange. It's weird 206 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,439 Speaker 3: to see Tim hardaway out of the rotation. 207 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 2: Completely out of the rotation. 208 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 3: Completely out of it, and yet they still got guys 209 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 3: coming in stepping up. Darrin Jones Junior is hitting those 210 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 3: corner threes. PJ. Washington. Then they got the live threat. 211 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 3: I can't call it, I really can't. I don't want. 212 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 3: I don't mean this kind of sliver out of answering 213 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 3: your question. But that's just how impressed I've come away 214 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:01,559 Speaker 3: with with the Dallas matters of this last week and 215 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 3: a half. 216 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, because that had to be, like you said, a 217 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 2: new experience for you that you were not. You know, 218 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 2: first and second round, you're always on the road. You're 219 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:14,520 Speaker 2: in these arenas, you're having your gourmet burgers, your clandestine 220 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 2: gourmet burgers at MSG. But in the conference finals you're 221 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 2: in Atlanta. You didn't go to Minnesota or Dallas even once. 222 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 2: But you're also watching these games with three colleagues. You know, 223 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 2: you're probably dialed into the games in some ways. You 224 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 2: can watch the games more closely, just taking it in 225 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 2: that way as opposed to being in the arena and 226 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 2: having reporting duties and worried about where you need to 227 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:46,719 Speaker 2: be for a live shot or where you've got to 228 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 2: go to get some intel for your notebook. You could 229 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 2: really just sit back and watch these games. So sitting 230 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 2: there with Vince Carter to watch that whole Wolves MAVs series, 231 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 2: like it sounds like you have a new appreciation for 232 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 2: these MAVs. Who I have to say, I've been saying it. 233 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,200 Speaker 2: I've been saying it for weeks now, but like what 234 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 2: the Mavericks have done since the trade deadline to change 235 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 2: their identity completely, this statement will only hold up if 236 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 2: they actually go on to win it all. But we've 237 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 2: never seen a second half surge like this what this 238 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 2: team has done after making two trades on deadline day. 239 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 2: The MAVs were only twenty eight and twenty three on 240 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 2: the morning of the trade deadline, and they make these 241 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 2: moves and they've transformed themselves into a completely different team 242 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 2: that to support Luka and Kyrie, who your friend stan 243 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 2: Van Gundi continues to label the most talented offensive backcourt 244 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 2: that this game has ever seen. In support of that, 245 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 2: Dallas now has this elite defense and for much of 246 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 2: the year they had a bottom ten d and now 247 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 2: since the deadline, they have an elite defense. And you 248 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 2: just don't often see in the NBA. You don't see 249 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 2: it come together this quickly after a trade. It's very rare. 250 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 2: So take me back to the altcast and like, what 251 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:17,800 Speaker 2: is Vince Carter telling you when he's watching this team? 252 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 2: The way the mas are flying around and it's crazy. 253 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 2: The Wolves won three times in Denver, which was insane, 254 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 2: and then the Mavericks turn around and they win three 255 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 2: times in Minneapolis in the space of nine days. Craziness. 256 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 3: Craziness, Yeah, I mean, it was cool, you know, just 257 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 3: being able to talk the game with the Hall of famer. 258 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 3: Who's going to be ducked into the Hall of Fame 259 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 3: this summer shot off to Vince Carter. Vince will be 260 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 3: joining us pretty soon at some point too, Styn. 261 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 2: So yeah, I was going to say, we need that 262 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 2: we have not had Vince on this show. 263 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 3: He'll be coming on. So you know, it was really cool. 264 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 3: I mean, one thing, I think Hilmy, including everybody on 265 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 3: the panel, and not just everybody on our panel, but 266 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 3: I think probably the basketball masses of fans, well, you know, 267 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 3: just frustrated with Karl Anthony Towns is up and down. 268 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 3: Play just was never consistent. It was it was almost 269 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 3: as if he didn't understand what was the best way 270 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 3: to attack, because he kind of went about attacking in 271 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 3: different ways in different games. And you know, sort of 272 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 3: like when you're when you're a go to score or 273 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 3: you're a primary scorer, you know, you have the nuts 274 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 3: and bolts of how you're able to produce and be 275 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 3: productive scoring the basketball. It just seemed like he was 276 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 3: just all over the place and she could never find 277 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 3: any consistency, and so you know, there was frustration with 278 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 3: him and his play, which made it tough. It started 279 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 3: before I finished my thought, before I want to add this, 280 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 3: I forgot Game two. Also, a guest that I brought 281 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 3: on an all cast is Grant Williams, and so he 282 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 3: has some you know, he has his ties to the 283 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 3: Boston Celtics and has his ties with the Dallas Mavericks. 284 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,640 Speaker 3: He came on and he was he was basically saying 285 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 3: the Mavericks are going to to win the series and 286 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 3: get to the championship. He had nothing but glowing remarks 287 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,879 Speaker 3: for the Dallas Mavericks. And you know, he even talked 288 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 3: a little bit about you know how people say he 289 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 3: talks too much. He said, well, I'm a competitive That's 290 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 3: what I do, you know, alluding to the reports out 291 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 3: there that that kind of him talking all the time 292 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 3: kind of drove him out of Dallas. And you know, 293 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 3: but he had nothing but growing remarks but Luca and 294 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 3: especially Kyrie. He had so many, so many good things 295 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 3: to say about Kyrie, and he said it was a 296 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 3: great trade. He was able to go back home, Dallas 297 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:51,200 Speaker 3: was able to get what they wanted. And he said 298 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 3: he's pulling for him. It's kind of a tough situation 299 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 3: for him being that he was on both of those teams, 300 00:17:57,359 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 3: and now both of those teams are in the NBA Finals, 301 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 3: so he was on But Minnesota, I think, you know, 302 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 3: you can look at it, producer Tim. He's a die 303 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 3: hard Minnesota Timberwalls fan, so you I think most of 304 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 3: their fans are looking at it like, hey, we got 305 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 3: to this point, we should be happy now that it's 306 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 3: something you can we can build upon. I get all that, 307 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:24,160 Speaker 3: I understand all that, but I don't necessarily like that 308 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:27,680 Speaker 3: train of thought, you know, because there's clearly things that 309 00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 3: need to be worked on with that team, and Kat 310 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:36,439 Speaker 3: has to he has to improve, he has to step 311 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 3: up and be a force, a consistent force. I like 312 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:42,439 Speaker 3: the fact that they came together, you know, the report 313 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 3: that they came together and refused to do a the 314 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:52,200 Speaker 3: TNT postgame interview with Inside the NBA because Draymond Green 315 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 3: was critical of Rudy Goberle and Cat. But you got 316 00:18:57,040 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 3: to produce him a court at the end of the day. 317 00:18:59,040 --> 00:18:59,959 Speaker 3: That's that's what really mean. 318 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:05,199 Speaker 2: So because you had Grant Williams on that early in 319 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,360 Speaker 2: the series, again, I couldn't see any of this from 320 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:10,959 Speaker 2: far away London, I guess it was too soon at 321 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:13,399 Speaker 2: that point to put the question to him, who would 322 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 2: he pick in a series Dallas versus Boston or did 323 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 2: you guys? Did you guys? 324 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:21,640 Speaker 3: Actually, we couldn't do that. We couldn't do that because 325 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:23,439 Speaker 3: I think I picked Minnesota. Matter of fact, I did 326 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:25,960 Speaker 3: pick Minnesota win the series. That's not even going to 327 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 3: be a question. That's just that's even in my mind 328 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 3: because I'm still even though Dallas was the first game, 329 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 3: I'm still like, Okay, then Saul's going to figure this 330 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 3: thing out. So though, that wasn't even a question in 331 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:42,639 Speaker 3: my mind. But yeah, yeah, I would have been curious 332 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 3: the way he was talking so glorially of Dallas. I 333 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 3: think he would have said, Dallas, well. 334 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 2: Look, the MAVs really do have so many things going 335 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:53,679 Speaker 2: for them. Derek Jones Junior has become I mean, he 336 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:59,160 Speaker 2: was basically the last guy signed, wasn't signed until August fifteenth, 337 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 2: man on the ross. He's become an incredible defender. Derek Lively. 338 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 2: Everybody remembers the way the MAVs tanked at the end 339 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 2: of last season, when it became apparent that the best 340 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:13,440 Speaker 2: they could do was the playing tournament. Lost the last 341 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:17,240 Speaker 2: two games, fell into the lottery, made a Draft night 342 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:21,239 Speaker 2: trade with Oklahoma City. And remember first, you know, the 343 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 2: MAVs have benefited from a lot of moves that didn't 344 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:28,400 Speaker 2: come to fruition in recent years, and among them, they 345 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:33,199 Speaker 2: had very serious talks going into the draft a year ago. 346 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:38,480 Speaker 2: They wanted Atlanta's Clint Capella. The teams were very deep 347 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 2: in discussions. The talks ultimately broke down because Atlanta wanted 348 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:48,440 Speaker 2: to send number fifteen and Capella to Dallas, but they 349 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:51,639 Speaker 2: wanted not only the number ten pick, they wanted Josh 350 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 2: Green as well. The MAVs thought that was too much 351 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 2: to give up for Capella, so the MAVs did a 352 00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 2: deal instead with Oklahoma City, where the Thunder took on 353 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:08,720 Speaker 2: the contract of Davis Berton's. The teams traded the number 354 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:13,399 Speaker 2: ten and number twelve pick. Cason Wallace ends up with 355 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 2: the Thunder, but Derek Lively ends up a Maverick, and 356 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:23,160 Speaker 2: then at the trade deadline, the Thunder helped the Mavericks. Again, 357 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 2: it was costly for Dallas. We can't forget that it 358 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 2: was costly. Dallas had to surrender swap rights to its 359 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 2: twenty twenty eight first rounder. Oklahoma City now controls the 360 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 2: mavericks twenty twenty eight first rounder, but that deal gave 361 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:45,119 Speaker 2: Dallas an extra first round pick in this June's draft. 362 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:49,680 Speaker 2: Dallas used that to acquire Daniel Gafford from Washington, the 363 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:52,680 Speaker 2: only other tradable first round pick that the Mavericks had. 364 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 2: They use that to get PJ. Washington in the Grant 365 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 2: Williams trade that you've referred to. Grant Williams, Yes, gets 366 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 2: to go home to Charlotte, but PJ. Washington, who had 367 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 2: never played in a playoff game, he goes to Dallas 368 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 2: and is now a cult hero because of the pos 369 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 2: he struck standing and facing the Clippers bench with his 370 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 2: arms folded. He's had some major moments in these playoffs. 371 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 2: So it's Lively, it's Gafford, it's Derek Jones Junior, it's 372 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 2: PJ Washington. Maxi Kleba was out for almost two full 373 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 2: rounds after a really hard fall in the clinching game 374 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 2: of the Clippers series. But now he's back, and so 375 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 2: the Mavericks have all these defensive minded players who are 376 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 2: making incredible contributions on that end in support of Luca 377 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:52,880 Speaker 2: and Kyrie, who their first few months together as teammates. 378 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 2: Everybody remembers it did not go well only five and 379 00:22:55,960 --> 00:23:00,680 Speaker 2: eleven with both of those guys in uniforms, and sixteen 380 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 2: eighteen months later, you've got stan Van Gundy and Reggie 381 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 2: Miller talking about how much offensive damage these two can 382 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 2: reak as a doubles team. So, yeah, the MAVs have 383 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 2: tons and tons and tons going for them now. But 384 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 2: this again, this Boston team, this Boston team has really 385 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 2: been the team of the season. I know you've spent 386 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 2: a fair bit of time around them. Jason Tatum's going 387 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 2: to be texting you when he hears something on this pod. 388 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:36,480 Speaker 2: He doesn't like talk to me about the Celtics. I've 389 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:38,399 Speaker 2: gone on and on and on about the MAVs. We 390 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 2: shouldn't slight them because they they obviously have a lot 391 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 2: going for them too. 392 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:47,879 Speaker 3: Yeah, Championship of bus that's the only result. Anything else 393 00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 3: will be considered a failure. 394 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:52,360 Speaker 2: And how's that pressure? What will that pressure do to them? 395 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 2: Because I guess I can't put all my trust in 396 00:23:56,840 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 2: this team yet. Something is holding me back. 397 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,199 Speaker 3: With Jalen Brown a few weeks ago about that, and 398 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:07,479 Speaker 3: he said for us to still have doubts or for 399 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 3: people to still be skeptical on if we can win 400 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:15,640 Speaker 3: the whole thing. He said, that's a valid reaction. He said, 401 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 3: we haven't done it yet, and the only thing on 402 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 3: people's minds are how they've come up short or how 403 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:28,959 Speaker 3: they've lost games, whether it be turnovers, bad shots, selection. So, 404 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 3: he said he understands that way of thinking when people 405 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 3: are talking about if the selfish can win the whole 406 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:38,920 Speaker 3: damn thing. He said, but this is a new team, 407 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:43,199 Speaker 3: completely different team. He said. He believes they're a better team. 408 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 3: And he said, so only time will tell. But they 409 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 3: really do feel like this is it start. They feel 410 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 3: like this is it. They're well prepared, they're well equipped. 411 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:58,360 Speaker 3: They've been to the they've been to the mountaintop. They 412 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 3: haven't got over the hunt, but they've been there. They 413 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 3: haven't won the whole thing. So they feel like they're 414 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 3: prime for this opportunity. So that's what they're sayding up 415 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 3: in the locker room like they already. But I will 416 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 3: tell you right now, it's going to come. There's more 417 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 3: pressure on the Boston Celtics than the Dallas matters. 418 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:19,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, and that's the thing. How will they actually handle 419 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 2: that on this stage? Because the Celtics have been under 420 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:28,639 Speaker 2: the microscope throughout these Eastern Conference playoffs. They went twelve 421 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:31,920 Speaker 2: and two, but the two times they lost to Miami 422 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 2: and Indiana. And the Miami loss, I mean, the heat 423 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:38,359 Speaker 2: shooting that night was from another galaxy. They were so 424 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:43,439 Speaker 2: scalding hot that night. But you know they also lost 425 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 2: a game to the Calves, and you know the Calves 426 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:50,439 Speaker 2: were not at full strength in that series. But the 427 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:55,400 Speaker 2: way this is gone when the Celtics win, it's the 428 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:58,560 Speaker 2: East is too easy. The teams they're playing are too 429 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:02,159 Speaker 2: banged up. They're not being tested and that's going to 430 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 2: hurt them in the finals, when undoubtedly they will be tested. 431 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 2: But then on the two occasions that the Celtics lost 432 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:13,360 Speaker 2: in the playoffs, it unleashes all the criticism. I told 433 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:15,720 Speaker 2: you so, I told you these guys weren't ready. I 434 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 2: told you that they're going to falter at the final hurdle. 435 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 2: And they're getting Porzingis back. I think that's pretty clear. 436 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 2: So they're going to be pretty close to full strength. 437 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:30,440 Speaker 2: Porzingis is obviously going to have to work through some rest, 438 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:35,040 Speaker 2: but we'll see. Well, I mean, they are unlike the Timberwolves. 439 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 2: The Timberwolves had the best defense in the league all season, 440 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:44,040 Speaker 2: and I don't think there was any dispute about that statistically, 441 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:47,280 Speaker 2: but when it came to matching up with the Mavericks, 442 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:51,879 Speaker 2: the Wolves did not have the kind of options on 443 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:55,400 Speaker 2: the perimeter that Boston has. The Celtics will be able 444 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 2: to throw Drew Holliday and Derek White for starters, and 445 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:02,080 Speaker 2: then Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum will also be I'm 446 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:05,680 Speaker 2: sure getting turns on Luca and Kyrie, So the Celtics 447 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 2: would appear to have many more perimeter defensive options to 448 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:13,880 Speaker 2: counter the two great Dallas guards. I mean it should be. 449 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:17,920 Speaker 2: I mean this should be. It should be a fantastic finals, honestly. 450 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, the Clippers felt that way as well. They felt 451 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:24,920 Speaker 3: they had a lot of defensive players on the perimeter. 452 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:26,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, you're right to. 453 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 3: Slow them down. It hasn't happened, so I don't envision 454 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:32,840 Speaker 3: it happening. I think for the Mavericks, if they are 455 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:36,160 Speaker 3: to win, it's going to take a collective It's gonna 456 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:38,439 Speaker 3: take guys stepping up doing what they've been doing to 457 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:41,399 Speaker 3: get to this point. But I'm very, very excited. I 458 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:48,040 Speaker 3: don't know how a Celtics MAVs matchup. I don't know. 459 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 3: You think this is going to be a ratings like Blockbuster. 460 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 3: How do you think is gonna be? 461 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:54,159 Speaker 2: I do, but I do, And the reason why is 462 00:27:54,960 --> 00:28:00,439 Speaker 2: I think obviously there is huge interest in the Luca 463 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:04,879 Speaker 2: and Kyrie duo. I mean, these are two undeniable marquee 464 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:07,960 Speaker 2: stars and that is obviously one of the advantages the 465 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:10,920 Speaker 2: MAVs are going to have in the series. With apologies 466 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 2: to mister Tatum, to mister Brown and the resurgent Kyrie irving, 467 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:19,360 Speaker 2: Luka Doncic is the best player in this series. He's 468 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 2: a global superstar, and I think Luca alone is a draw. 469 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:27,360 Speaker 2: And then the Celtics, as one of the marquee franchises 470 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:34,600 Speaker 2: in the league from a massive Eastern Conference market chasing 471 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 2: the elusive eighteenth championship. The Celtics have such a huge 472 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:45,480 Speaker 2: following that I do think, yes, the ratings because of 473 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:49,360 Speaker 2: those combining factors are going to be pretty damn strong. 474 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:52,040 Speaker 3: I'm looking forward to it, but. 475 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 2: If I have my facts right, it looks like I 476 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:59,200 Speaker 2: will not be in person in attendance for one or 477 00:28:59,240 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 2: two in Boss and you're the same, right, like we 478 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:05,719 Speaker 2: will both be in person in the flesh picking up 479 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 2: these finals with Game three in Dallas. You and I 480 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 2: together again first time? Is that the first time we'll 481 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:13,480 Speaker 2: be in the same arena since. 482 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:17,600 Speaker 3: The All Star YEP, Since All Star YEP. I always 483 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 3: like coming to Dallas, seeing how you control your territory, 484 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 3: and the territory that is American Airlines Arena. You know 485 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 3: every cracking cranny in that building, you know where everybody leaves, 486 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:35,560 Speaker 3: you know where bodies are buried in that place. 487 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:40,680 Speaker 2: So that's all true. It is all true, except the 488 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 2: finals is a different beast. I mean there are literally 489 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:48,400 Speaker 2: literally thousands of reporters in the building. I mean it is, 490 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:50,480 Speaker 2: It's a whole different ballgame. 491 00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:54,320 Speaker 3: Do you still get those damn near court side seats 492 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 3: for finals? 493 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 2: That is a great question. I'm a little bit afraid 494 00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:05,360 Speaker 2: to ask because I have been undoubtedly spoiled from the 495 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:10,640 Speaker 2: moment the American Airline Center opened. The mavericks first season 496 00:30:10,680 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 2: in that building was two thousand and one, two thousand 497 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:19,840 Speaker 2: and two. I have basically had the same seat for 498 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 2: twenty two to twenty three years, and in both the 499 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:29,680 Speaker 2: two thousand and six and twenty eleven finals, the NBA 500 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:35,440 Speaker 2: allowed me to keep that seat for Mavericks home games 501 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:38,760 Speaker 2: in the finals, which meant a great deal to me. 502 00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:42,920 Speaker 2: But in both of those finals, I was still working 503 00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:48,560 Speaker 2: for ESPN, So you know, I missed Game three and 504 00:30:48,760 --> 00:30:53,320 Speaker 2: Game four in the Western Conference Finals because of my 505 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:58,480 Speaker 2: little six day soccer getaway with my son. And my 506 00:30:58,560 --> 00:31:04,800 Speaker 2: sources say that at longtime NBA communications are Tim Frank 507 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:12,080 Speaker 2: took my seat for those two games. So will I 508 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:16,080 Speaker 2: Will I be able to reclaim that seat for a 509 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:22,520 Speaker 2: Game three, four, and six of these NBA Finals. It's 510 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:26,200 Speaker 2: definitely definitely what I'm thinking about every night when I 511 00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:27,720 Speaker 2: try to put the head down and get a few 512 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:29,960 Speaker 2: hours of sleep. Am I going to be able to 513 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 2: hang on to that seat? 514 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:34,520 Speaker 3: It's up in the air. But I will say, you know, 515 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:37,400 Speaker 3: you might have been with ESPN before it just kind 516 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:41,040 Speaker 3: of helped you keep that seat. But since then you've 517 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:44,280 Speaker 3: become a Hall of Famer, So I think that comes 518 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:48,680 Speaker 3: with some pretty cool perks, and I think one of 519 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 3: those perks should be you keeping your courtside seats. So 520 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:56,040 Speaker 3: hopefully that works out for you. 521 00:31:55,240 --> 00:31:58,960 Speaker 2: You are a beautiful friend, and I hope, I hope 522 00:31:58,960 --> 00:32:02,320 Speaker 2: you prove correct. But I have to say. Brian McIntyre, 523 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:05,080 Speaker 2: NBA pr Legend He was the one, I think in 524 00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:08,200 Speaker 2: six who decreed that I get to stay there for 525 00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:12,920 Speaker 2: the MAVs home games, and I think it was Tim 526 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 2: Frank's call in twenty eleven when the MAVs and Heat 527 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:18,880 Speaker 2: hooked up again. You know, this is new territory for 528 00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:21,560 Speaker 2: the MAVs. The only two times that the MAVs have 529 00:32:21,680 --> 00:32:24,320 Speaker 2: been in the Finals, they opposed Miami. So this is 530 00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:30,080 Speaker 2: this is new ground to take on the storied Celtics. 531 00:32:31,640 --> 00:32:34,440 Speaker 2: We shall see. You'll be a rare turn of events. 532 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:37,960 Speaker 2: If in Games three and four, like I'm sitting courtside 533 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:41,200 Speaker 2: and Chris Haynes is farther away from the floor than me, 534 00:32:41,280 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 2: that would be an unexpected turn. 535 00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:46,880 Speaker 3: I'll send you a picture from my seat from there'll 536 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:49,600 Speaker 3: be a picture of the roof of your head. I'm 537 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:52,760 Speaker 3: pretty sure that'll be my banners point. 538 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:56,520 Speaker 2: Something tells me you'll end up on the floor somehow. 539 00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:58,520 Speaker 3: After the game. 540 00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:15,920 Speaker 2: No pre game, pregame predayes. I don't want to do 541 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:21,840 Speaker 2: all of our Mavericks Celtics discussion in this Sunday night 542 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:26,440 Speaker 2: to publish Monday taping because we hope to have some 543 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:30,320 Speaker 2: special guests before Thursday night's game one that we can 544 00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:34,960 Speaker 2: continue to preview these finals with So we will come back, 545 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:38,360 Speaker 2: certainly to MAVs Celtics, which we'll be talking about, let's 546 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:41,520 Speaker 2: face it, for the next week plus, we'll be talking 547 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:44,200 Speaker 2: about that series a ton. I do want to take 548 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:49,240 Speaker 2: it back to Atlanta. So again, I was on the 549 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:51,479 Speaker 2: other side of the Atlantic and couldn't really keep up 550 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:54,080 Speaker 2: with you. You will not be surprised to learn that 551 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:58,520 Speaker 2: the altcast was not available on British television. So when 552 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 2: you had Rich Paul on any he surprises, any disclosures 553 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:05,800 Speaker 2: anything interesting there? Did he tell you who the Lakers 554 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:11,160 Speaker 2: next coach would be? Who's drafting Bronny? Where's Lebron going 555 00:34:11,160 --> 00:34:12,040 Speaker 2: in free agency? 556 00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:16,239 Speaker 3: Yeah, well that's one thing he did touch on. He 557 00:34:16,400 --> 00:34:19,880 Speaker 3: said Lebron is a free agent. And so when he 558 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:23,080 Speaker 3: said that, Stott, there's a clip, you know, people can 559 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:25,680 Speaker 3: find a clip of him saying that. He said it 560 00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:29,480 Speaker 3: like in passing, and he just continued on talking as 561 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:32,520 Speaker 3: if that wasn't news. And so I'm tripping Stein. So 562 00:34:32,520 --> 00:34:34,600 Speaker 3: when he said he said, you know, Lebron's a free agent, 563 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:36,960 Speaker 3: you know he's going to blah blah blah blah blah. 564 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:40,239 Speaker 3: So as he continues on talking. You can see I 565 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:43,560 Speaker 3: look down and I'm on my phone and I'm thinking, 566 00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:46,640 Speaker 3: I'm looking start. I'm like, did I miss Over the 567 00:34:46,719 --> 00:34:49,640 Speaker 3: last few days Lebron said he was opting out and 568 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:52,120 Speaker 3: becoming a free Like, did I miss that part? So 569 00:34:52,200 --> 00:34:54,120 Speaker 3: I'm googling, like did I miss anything? 570 00:34:54,280 --> 00:34:54,320 Speaker 2: No? 571 00:34:54,760 --> 00:34:59,160 Speaker 3: I didn't, So I wait till Rich Finch's talking. Then 572 00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:02,319 Speaker 3: I interject say, hey, Rich, hold on, I'm just I 573 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:05,600 Speaker 3: want to make clarify. I heard you say Lebron's a 574 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:08,759 Speaker 3: free agent. So are you saying that he's going to 575 00:35:08,760 --> 00:35:12,879 Speaker 3: decline his player option? You know? Rich came back. You know, Chris, 576 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:17,120 Speaker 3: you know, I don't negotiate on TV. Lebron will make 577 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:20,319 Speaker 3: a decision when he's ready, blah blah blah. So he 578 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:22,360 Speaker 3: kind of, you know, seemed like he kind of revealed 579 00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:25,719 Speaker 3: what they plan to do. It's basically, you know, we 580 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:28,160 Speaker 3: knew he was going to pretty much opt out of 581 00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:31,160 Speaker 3: his contract and become a free agent from everything that 582 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:34,000 Speaker 3: we all know. The belief is that Lebron James is 583 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:36,000 Speaker 3: going to be signed on a multi year deal, so 584 00:35:36,040 --> 00:35:38,680 Speaker 3: it's not a but at the same time, becoming a 585 00:35:38,719 --> 00:35:42,000 Speaker 3: free agent does come with scare tactics. Does come with 586 00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:46,520 Speaker 3: some concerns, possibly especially when you got Brownie James out 587 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:52,400 Speaker 3: there with his draft draft status unknown. Uh uh. You know, 588 00:35:52,520 --> 00:35:55,640 Speaker 3: Rich Paul came and he elaborated on because I did 589 00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:57,560 Speaker 3: an interview with Rich Paul. It was that the day 590 00:35:57,719 --> 00:36:00,759 Speaker 3: of I put a story out of my interview with 591 00:36:00,840 --> 00:36:05,880 Speaker 3: Rich Paul the morning of that same morning, and then 592 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:08,440 Speaker 3: Rich Paul came on our All Cast that night. But 593 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:12,520 Speaker 3: in the story, Rich Paul said he will not allow 594 00:36:12,719 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 3: Bronnie James to sign a two way contract, and so 595 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:21,680 Speaker 3: that that part kind of blew up. Aggregators and whatever. 596 00:36:21,760 --> 00:36:24,080 Speaker 3: That kind of blew up, and people started taking it 597 00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:28,040 Speaker 3: taking taking it to mean that Rich Paul won't will 598 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:31,200 Speaker 3: not allow Bronnie to play in the G League because 599 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:33,799 Speaker 3: we all knowing two way contracts, you kind of play 600 00:36:33,880 --> 00:36:36,719 Speaker 3: half half your time in the NBA and the other 601 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:40,279 Speaker 3: half of the G League. And so Rich Paul came 602 00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:44,040 Speaker 3: on our All Cast and elaborated on that, explaining, no, 603 00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:48,200 Speaker 3: he has nothing against Bronnie playing or spending time in 604 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:52,440 Speaker 3: the G League, but rather his client be drafted, be 605 00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:56,200 Speaker 3: drafted or you know, you can even do a sign 606 00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:59,680 Speaker 3: an undrafted free agent contract, get three or four years 607 00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:02,960 Speaker 3: Gearant team, and that way that a team is invested 608 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:07,360 Speaker 3: in the player, they're invested in seeing the player improve 609 00:37:08,120 --> 00:37:10,520 Speaker 3: over a year to year basis opposed to a two 610 00:37:10,560 --> 00:37:15,120 Speaker 3: way deal that can be that can be as early 611 00:37:15,120 --> 00:37:18,160 Speaker 3: as a one year deal. Then you cut your tie. 612 00:37:18,239 --> 00:37:20,279 Speaker 3: So that's what he's trying to do. He's trying to 613 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:23,840 Speaker 3: get an investment from a team in Bronnie James. So 614 00:37:23,920 --> 00:37:25,719 Speaker 3: he touched on that, he touched on, he touched on 615 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:28,920 Speaker 3: Lebron said, Lebron is going le Bron is not influenced. 616 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:33,480 Speaker 3: He said, Lebron's not influencing the coaching the coaching process 617 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:37,719 Speaker 3: of the Lakers, and he said Lebron's not involved when 618 00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:42,600 Speaker 3: it comes to JJ Reddick. Uh. He said, Lebron will 619 00:37:43,440 --> 00:37:47,399 Speaker 3: come to camp with whoever coach the Lakers shoes higher. 620 00:37:48,040 --> 00:37:50,319 Speaker 3: So in a nutshell, those are some of the things 621 00:37:50,320 --> 00:37:51,680 Speaker 3: he talked about on the Doll cast. 622 00:37:52,560 --> 00:37:55,919 Speaker 2: Well, since you mentioned the existence of a clip from 623 00:37:55,960 --> 00:37:57,960 Speaker 2: this exchange with Rich Paul, you know what, let's go 624 00:37:58,040 --> 00:38:02,040 Speaker 2: ahead and take a listen to that clip right now. 625 00:38:03,080 --> 00:38:05,759 Speaker 3: And you know, look, Lebron's a free agent. You have 626 00:38:05,800 --> 00:38:08,800 Speaker 3: to decide, and I got to focus on his business 627 00:38:08,840 --> 00:38:12,120 Speaker 3: and who should be focused on his business and let 628 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:14,040 Speaker 3: the Lakers hire whoever they want to hire. And he's 629 00:38:14,080 --> 00:38:17,720 Speaker 3: always he's always showed up and played for whatever coach 630 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:20,359 Speaker 3: is there. Hold Baba is gonna come hold, hold, hold 631 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:23,400 Speaker 3: on real quick. You said something rich. You said, Lebron's 632 00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:27,000 Speaker 3: a free agent. So I take it Lebron's going to 633 00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:31,400 Speaker 3: decline that player option because you know, doing my business over, 634 00:38:34,040 --> 00:38:35,520 Speaker 3: I don't know what he's gonna do. It's gonna do 635 00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:37,759 Speaker 3: what we do every year. We're gonna we're gonna evaluate 636 00:38:37,920 --> 00:38:40,440 Speaker 3: the situation and we're gonna make the best decision. 637 00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:43,760 Speaker 2: I think when we listen to that, though, we're both 638 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:51,760 Speaker 2: arriving at the same conclusion. Lebron declining his player option 639 00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:54,319 Speaker 2: to become a free agent sounds like that is the 640 00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:58,960 Speaker 2: likely option, but it's a decline to resign kind of situation. 641 00:38:59,080 --> 00:39:03,560 Speaker 2: We still both expect him to stay with the Lakers. 642 00:39:03,640 --> 00:39:07,440 Speaker 3: Yes, yeah, I'll be surprised if he's not the Lakers 643 00:39:07,560 --> 00:39:08,080 Speaker 3: next season. 644 00:39:08,680 --> 00:39:10,680 Speaker 2: I did catch just as I was getting back into 645 00:39:10,680 --> 00:39:13,840 Speaker 2: the country, you appeared on the Dan Patrick Show, and 646 00:39:13,880 --> 00:39:15,279 Speaker 2: I think you said the same. 647 00:39:17,520 --> 00:39:22,080 Speaker 3: And what I just said that that just now I 648 00:39:22,160 --> 00:39:24,960 Speaker 3: thought to myself, hold on, this is how you got 649 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:26,319 Speaker 3: yourself in trouble last week. 650 00:39:29,160 --> 00:39:30,360 Speaker 2: That's what you said. 651 00:39:30,440 --> 00:39:33,160 Speaker 3: What was the quote it was? It was privately say 652 00:39:33,239 --> 00:39:36,280 Speaker 3: exact same way. I would be very surprised if JJ 653 00:39:36,400 --> 00:39:38,960 Speaker 3: Reddick is not the Lakers, sayd coach. 654 00:39:39,640 --> 00:39:42,319 Speaker 2: I still you're not alone there, man, you're not. 655 00:39:42,880 --> 00:39:47,399 Speaker 3: I still believe that. I'm not reporting they're hiring them 656 00:39:47,440 --> 00:39:50,480 Speaker 3: tomorrow or anything like that. They're still going through their process. 657 00:39:50,719 --> 00:39:52,799 Speaker 3: I believe that they're meeting with the candidate. Met with 658 00:39:52,840 --> 00:39:58,200 Speaker 3: the candidates face to face last week in La. So yeah, 659 00:39:58,520 --> 00:40:03,000 Speaker 3: but that's that's what I believe to be on the horizon. 660 00:40:03,920 --> 00:40:09,320 Speaker 2: And look, I think again, only the Lakers know their 661 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:13,839 Speaker 2: precise plan. But around the league, we've been saying it 662 00:40:13,920 --> 00:40:16,920 Speaker 2: almost from the start. If you had to pinpoint a 663 00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:23,080 Speaker 2: favorite for the job, it would almost universally come back 664 00:40:23,920 --> 00:40:29,360 Speaker 2: as JJ Reddick. I do think Pelicans associate head coach 665 00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:35,319 Speaker 2: James Barrego is the other top candidate here. But as 666 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:38,920 Speaker 2: I reported more than a week ago now, there's been 667 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:44,799 Speaker 2: chattering coaching circles about what the assistant coaching lineup might 668 00:40:44,880 --> 00:40:49,319 Speaker 2: look like if JJ Reddick indeed gets the job, and 669 00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:52,800 Speaker 2: I don't know that they would be successful in finding 670 00:40:52,840 --> 00:40:56,400 Speaker 2: a way to hire James Barrego away from the Pelicans. 671 00:40:56,440 --> 00:41:00,560 Speaker 2: But I'm sure that if JJ Reddick is indeed the 672 00:41:00,640 --> 00:41:06,160 Speaker 2: Lakers choice to replace Darvin Ham, I'm sure they would 673 00:41:06,160 --> 00:41:10,719 Speaker 2: try to get James Brego on the staff, essentially as 674 00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:17,319 Speaker 2: his offensive coordinator. I wrote about a week ago that 675 00:41:18,080 --> 00:41:23,440 Speaker 2: Sam Cassell, currently a Boston Celtics assistant, also a candidate 676 00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:28,400 Speaker 2: who was interviewed for this Lakers opening. He's another assistant 677 00:41:28,840 --> 00:41:32,160 Speaker 2: who would interest LA if Reddick is indeed the choice. 678 00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:37,920 Speaker 2: Ditto for Jared Dudley, who's a prominent assistant coach with 679 00:41:38,040 --> 00:41:41,760 Speaker 2: the Mavericks. Our friend Dan Woiki of the La Times 680 00:41:42,120 --> 00:41:45,480 Speaker 2: says Scott Brooks, of course, formerly a head coach with 681 00:41:45,560 --> 00:41:49,760 Speaker 2: the Thunder and the Wizards and most recently a member 682 00:41:49,880 --> 00:41:54,000 Speaker 2: of Portland's coaching staff, that Scott Brooks would be another 683 00:41:54,120 --> 00:41:57,239 Speaker 2: name who would interest the Lakers. So it's interesting that 684 00:41:59,080 --> 00:42:04,120 Speaker 2: names for potential assistance to JJ Reddick have already been 685 00:42:04,160 --> 00:42:07,879 Speaker 2: circulating for more than a week now, and as we've 686 00:42:07,880 --> 00:42:12,239 Speaker 2: been talking on this podcast now for really throughout the 687 00:42:12,280 --> 00:42:17,719 Speaker 2: month of May since the Lakers job opened up. You know, 688 00:42:17,760 --> 00:42:20,560 Speaker 2: one of the interesting variables here with JJ Reddick if 689 00:42:20,560 --> 00:42:24,840 Speaker 2: he is indeed the choice. ESBN needs JJ Reddick to 690 00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:30,520 Speaker 2: complete the NBA Finals. This is year one post Jeff 691 00:42:30,560 --> 00:42:33,759 Speaker 2: Van Gundy and Mark Jackson next to the Hall of 692 00:42:33,760 --> 00:42:40,200 Speaker 2: Famer Mike Breen and Doc Rivers was hired to be 693 00:42:40,360 --> 00:42:43,399 Speaker 2: on the A team with Mike Breen and Doris Burke. 694 00:42:44,400 --> 00:42:48,960 Speaker 2: ESBN lost Doc Rivers to the Milwaukee Bucks in late January. 695 00:42:49,360 --> 00:42:53,919 Speaker 2: They promoted JJ Reddick to replace Doc Rivers, and they 696 00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:56,680 Speaker 2: need jj Reddick to complete the finals. It would be 697 00:42:56,800 --> 00:43:03,000 Speaker 2: major egg on ESPN's face to lose another member of 698 00:43:03,040 --> 00:43:07,040 Speaker 2: its A team before the finals are complete, but that 699 00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:12,920 Speaker 2: doesn't mean Look, the Lakers could still hire JJ Reddick 700 00:43:13,040 --> 00:43:16,160 Speaker 2: before the end of the Finals. We saw this in 701 00:43:16,239 --> 00:43:20,720 Speaker 2: twenty eleven. If you remember in twenty eleven, the Golden 702 00:43:20,760 --> 00:43:26,200 Speaker 2: State Warriors hired Mark Jackson during the NBA Finals, Mark 703 00:43:26,280 --> 00:43:30,200 Speaker 2: Jackson it was confirmed and announced that he was the Warriors' 704 00:43:30,280 --> 00:43:33,760 Speaker 2: choice to become their new head coach. That happened about 705 00:43:33,800 --> 00:43:38,440 Speaker 2: halfway through the twenty eleven Finals, in which Dallas defeated Miami, 706 00:43:39,239 --> 00:43:43,319 Speaker 2: and Mark Jackson still went on to announce games four, five, 707 00:43:43,360 --> 00:43:46,000 Speaker 2: and six, even though the world knew he would be 708 00:43:46,080 --> 00:43:48,640 Speaker 2: joining the Warriors after the finals, so I don't think 709 00:43:48,680 --> 00:43:53,720 Speaker 2: the Lakers have to wait until the finals are over. 710 00:43:54,640 --> 00:43:59,719 Speaker 2: But even if they did announce that JJ Reddick was 711 00:43:59,719 --> 00:44:02,200 Speaker 2: the choice, I think we will see. I think it 712 00:44:02,280 --> 00:44:04,880 Speaker 2: is pretty safe to assume that we will see JJ 713 00:44:05,000 --> 00:44:10,040 Speaker 2: Reddick announce these NBA finals from start to finish before 714 00:44:10,160 --> 00:44:15,320 Speaker 2: actually taking that job. If again, he is indeed the choice, 715 00:44:15,640 --> 00:44:21,600 Speaker 2: as so many people around the NBA, not just Chrispy Haynes, expect. 716 00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:27,239 Speaker 3: Thank you Star. Since we're on coaches, let's give a 717 00:44:27,239 --> 00:44:30,520 Speaker 3: shout out to Mike Brown. Got his extension worked out, 718 00:44:30,920 --> 00:44:35,760 Speaker 3: kind of went through a chaotic negotiating period. 719 00:44:36,080 --> 00:44:41,400 Speaker 2: And overdue extension for Mike Brown, the most successful coach 720 00:44:42,160 --> 00:44:45,920 Speaker 2: in King's history not named Rick Adaman. Mike Brown has 721 00:44:45,960 --> 00:44:50,120 Speaker 2: been there two years, They've won ninety games. Go look 722 00:44:50,200 --> 00:44:54,400 Speaker 2: up what's happened between Rick Adelman's tenure and Mike Brown's 723 00:44:54,440 --> 00:44:57,640 Speaker 2: tenure and ask yourself, should he or should he not 724 00:44:57,760 --> 00:45:01,320 Speaker 2: have been extended. He obviously deserved the deal he got. 725 00:45:01,440 --> 00:45:03,879 Speaker 3: For sure. I know there's not a lot out there 726 00:45:03,960 --> 00:45:08,279 Speaker 3: on what happened or what was going on behind the 727 00:45:08,320 --> 00:45:13,799 Speaker 3: scenes to where they negotiations were had and then they 728 00:45:13,840 --> 00:45:17,680 Speaker 3: were stalled and picked back up last minute. You remember, 729 00:45:17,719 --> 00:45:22,160 Speaker 3: so Mike Brown, he was on a four year deal 730 00:45:22,280 --> 00:45:24,680 Speaker 3: and the contract that he was on, it was a 731 00:45:24,719 --> 00:45:28,640 Speaker 3: contract that was less. He was being paid less than 732 00:45:28,719 --> 00:45:32,880 Speaker 3: Luke Walton, the previous coach, So you know there's a 733 00:45:32,960 --> 00:45:35,960 Speaker 3: problem there. But whatever, Mike Brown came in he accepted 734 00:45:36,000 --> 00:45:40,759 Speaker 3: that contract. Now, the fourth year of that contract, the 735 00:45:40,800 --> 00:45:46,200 Speaker 3: fourth year was a mutual option, which means the team 736 00:45:46,440 --> 00:45:50,920 Speaker 3: and the coach has to agree to pick up that 737 00:45:50,960 --> 00:45:54,600 Speaker 3: fourth year option. And so that was part of the contract. 738 00:45:54,960 --> 00:45:58,879 Speaker 3: And so as they were trying to negotiate and get 739 00:45:58,920 --> 00:46:03,960 Speaker 3: things done, it looked like it wasn't going to happen. 740 00:46:04,160 --> 00:46:08,960 Speaker 3: It looked like a deal was not going to transpire. 741 00:46:10,120 --> 00:46:16,160 Speaker 3: I was actually told that Mike Brown himself declined that 742 00:46:16,280 --> 00:46:20,759 Speaker 3: fourth year mutual option. So just by him doing it 743 00:46:20,880 --> 00:46:25,520 Speaker 3: himself meant that the twenty twenty four to twenty five 744 00:46:25,600 --> 00:46:29,799 Speaker 3: season was going to be his last because he declined 745 00:46:30,239 --> 00:46:34,240 Speaker 3: that fourth year option. And so now you have the situation. Okay, 746 00:46:34,320 --> 00:46:40,080 Speaker 3: Now a coach with the pedigree and the success of 747 00:46:40,200 --> 00:46:42,920 Speaker 3: Mike Brown was going to go into a season of 748 00:46:42,960 --> 00:46:46,480 Speaker 3: one year under his belt. That's not the ideal situation 749 00:46:46,680 --> 00:46:49,799 Speaker 3: for a franchise, you know, same with players. You know, 750 00:46:49,800 --> 00:46:52,200 Speaker 3: when you got to star players, not the ideal situation. 751 00:46:52,400 --> 00:46:56,359 Speaker 3: So whatever happened outside of that picked the negotiations back 752 00:46:56,440 --> 00:46:59,160 Speaker 3: up and they got a deal done about three years, 753 00:47:00,400 --> 00:47:04,719 Speaker 3: about three years close to ten million a season, so extension. 754 00:47:04,800 --> 00:47:07,680 Speaker 3: So I'm happy if Mike Brown glad it all worked 755 00:47:07,719 --> 00:47:12,000 Speaker 3: out and he's actually getting compensated for what he has 756 00:47:12,120 --> 00:47:15,760 Speaker 3: done for the city of Sacramento and the King's Organization. 757 00:47:17,000 --> 00:47:19,960 Speaker 2: And it's so amazing to think about what has happened 758 00:47:21,000 --> 00:47:26,640 Speaker 2: in the last year on the coaching carousel. Literally one year. 759 00:47:26,719 --> 00:47:30,480 Speaker 2: You and I are recording this on Sunday night. It 760 00:47:30,600 --> 00:47:36,000 Speaker 2: is June second, one year ago today, Mannie Williams was 761 00:47:36,040 --> 00:47:42,080 Speaker 2: officially named coach of the Detroit Pistons. And remember he 762 00:47:42,239 --> 00:47:47,759 Speaker 2: was ousted in Phoenix. He said no. Mannie Williams said 763 00:47:47,760 --> 00:47:50,879 Speaker 2: no to the Pistons more than once. The Pistons had 764 00:47:50,880 --> 00:47:55,279 Speaker 2: to make multiple runs to ultimately convince him to take 765 00:47:55,320 --> 00:47:58,439 Speaker 2: that job, and the Pistons gave Monnie Williams the six 766 00:47:58,560 --> 00:48:06,640 Speaker 2: year deal worth nearly eighty million. Revolutionary contract change the 767 00:48:06,680 --> 00:48:12,840 Speaker 2: coaching market, completely change the entire salary scale for NBA coaches, 768 00:48:12,880 --> 00:48:16,040 Speaker 2: and since then, I'm going to put Greg Popovich in 769 00:48:16,120 --> 00:48:21,080 Speaker 2: his deal aside, because Greg Popovich he operates on rules 770 00:48:21,080 --> 00:48:23,840 Speaker 2: that are he's on a planet unto himself when it 771 00:48:23,880 --> 00:48:26,240 Speaker 2: comes to coaches. Pop is going to coach the Spurs 772 00:48:26,640 --> 00:48:29,920 Speaker 2: until he decides he no longer wants to. But just 773 00:48:29,960 --> 00:48:31,799 Speaker 2: think about all the things that have happened in the 774 00:48:31,880 --> 00:48:36,800 Speaker 2: league coaching wise, since Mani Williams deal, Eric Spolster in Miami, 775 00:48:37,080 --> 00:48:40,840 Speaker 2: Steve Kerr and Golden State, they get mega deals. Jason 776 00:48:40,920 --> 00:48:43,879 Speaker 2: Kidd in Dallas got a sizeable raise and a two 777 00:48:43,960 --> 00:48:48,520 Speaker 2: year contract extension through twenty twenty six twenty seven, immediately 778 00:48:48,640 --> 00:48:52,160 Speaker 2: after the Mavericks won their first round series against the Clippers, 779 00:48:52,800 --> 00:48:56,000 Speaker 2: because the Lakers would have gone after Jason Kidd if 780 00:48:56,040 --> 00:48:59,120 Speaker 2: there was no extension in place. Then the Suns they 781 00:48:59,239 --> 00:49:02,680 Speaker 2: hire Mike bo Sudenholzer to a five year deal in 782 00:49:02,800 --> 00:49:07,280 Speaker 2: the ten million a season range. And that's after firing 783 00:49:07,360 --> 00:49:11,000 Speaker 2: Frank Vogel. Frank was just one year into his own 784 00:49:11,080 --> 00:49:14,600 Speaker 2: five year deal that was paying about six million annually. 785 00:49:14,719 --> 00:49:18,000 Speaker 2: So the Suns and their new owner Matt Ishpia, He's 786 00:49:18,040 --> 00:49:22,200 Speaker 2: going to be paying coaches with an s sixteen million 787 00:49:22,239 --> 00:49:26,560 Speaker 2: per season for the foreseeable future. Then this week, early 788 00:49:26,600 --> 00:49:29,560 Speaker 2: in the week, ty Lou finally gets his new deal 789 00:49:29,600 --> 00:49:33,600 Speaker 2: with the Clippers, five years, a reported seventy million. Mike 790 00:49:33,680 --> 00:49:37,560 Speaker 2: Brown he finally gets his deal in Sacramento on Friday night, 791 00:49:38,360 --> 00:49:43,840 Speaker 2: and Tom Thibodeau in New York. Everyone I talked to 792 00:49:44,760 --> 00:49:47,319 Speaker 2: says he will be next and that he's getting an 793 00:49:47,360 --> 00:49:51,839 Speaker 2: extension that will likely land in the ten million per 794 00:49:51,880 --> 00:49:58,760 Speaker 2: season range. So you've seen all these huge contracts signed 795 00:49:58,920 --> 00:50:03,359 Speaker 2: by coaches around the league since the Mani Williams deal 796 00:50:03,400 --> 00:50:07,600 Speaker 2: in Detroit. But here we are a year later, it 797 00:50:07,719 --> 00:50:13,320 Speaker 2: is not yet guaranteed that Mani Williams will be back 798 00:50:14,160 --> 00:50:18,160 Speaker 2: next season. Trajan Langdon is the Pistons new president of 799 00:50:18,200 --> 00:50:24,759 Speaker 2: basketball Operations. He officially took charge of the Pistons basketball 800 00:50:24,800 --> 00:50:30,520 Speaker 2: department on Friday. The Pistons immediately parted ways with GM 801 00:50:30,600 --> 00:50:35,960 Speaker 2: Troy Weaver. But now Langdon, I'm told he immediately will 802 00:50:36,000 --> 00:50:41,880 Speaker 2: begin an evaluation phase, and that includes assessing whether Mani 803 00:50:41,920 --> 00:50:46,640 Speaker 2: Williams will continue as coach. And remember again, Mani Williams 804 00:50:46,680 --> 00:50:51,120 Speaker 2: is only he only just completed year one of a 805 00:50:51,239 --> 00:50:55,280 Speaker 2: six year deal worth nearly eighty million, So it's crazy 806 00:50:55,320 --> 00:51:01,160 Speaker 2: that Mani Williams sparked this whole coaching salaries revolution. But 807 00:51:01,320 --> 00:51:04,880 Speaker 2: now we await official word to see if he will 808 00:51:05,400 --> 00:51:08,120 Speaker 2: be back on the sideline with the Pistons next season. 809 00:51:08,800 --> 00:51:13,280 Speaker 3: Stein on another episode, I would like to dive not today, 810 00:51:13,520 --> 00:51:16,400 Speaker 3: but I would like to dive into the reputation of 811 00:51:16,560 --> 00:51:20,680 Speaker 3: head coaches in the modern NBA, because you remember stin 812 00:51:21,440 --> 00:51:25,160 Speaker 3: If you are a head coach eighties, nineties, early two thousand, 813 00:51:25,360 --> 00:51:29,840 Speaker 3: if you got one championship, just one, you were regarded 814 00:51:30,200 --> 00:51:34,200 Speaker 3: very highly in the coaching profession, very highly. You know, 815 00:51:34,239 --> 00:51:36,120 Speaker 3: look at somebody like Rick Carla who got you know, 816 00:51:36,239 --> 00:51:39,360 Speaker 3: got a champion one championship in Dallas. I know he 817 00:51:39,480 --> 00:51:43,799 Speaker 3: was successful tenure with the Indiana Pacers as well, went 818 00:51:43,880 --> 00:51:47,080 Speaker 3: deep into the playoffs. But if you get a championship, 819 00:51:48,040 --> 00:51:52,680 Speaker 3: you're in a rare company and you you you can 820 00:51:52,760 --> 00:51:58,839 Speaker 3: pretty much have job security for an extended time. Now 821 00:51:58,880 --> 00:52:04,280 Speaker 3: we're seeing coaches get a championship fire the next season, 822 00:52:04,960 --> 00:52:08,600 Speaker 3: or a coach that has a championship only get one 823 00:52:08,680 --> 00:52:13,799 Speaker 3: season and there fired Botenholzer, Frank Vogel. It's like a 824 00:52:13,880 --> 00:52:17,719 Speaker 3: championship doesn't mean much anymore when it comes to head 825 00:52:17,760 --> 00:52:21,520 Speaker 3: coaches like I want to one episode, I want to 826 00:52:21,600 --> 00:52:24,000 Speaker 3: kind of break down when did the shift of this happen? 827 00:52:24,560 --> 00:52:28,280 Speaker 3: Or is this is this something that needs to continue 828 00:52:28,320 --> 00:52:33,000 Speaker 3: happening because I think you know, you know, we get 829 00:52:33,000 --> 00:52:35,920 Speaker 3: into it letter, but I just think the shift has changed. 830 00:52:47,520 --> 00:52:51,440 Speaker 2: We've been apart so long, we got so rusty, we 831 00:52:51,560 --> 00:52:53,160 Speaker 2: kind of lost track of the clock and went a 832 00:52:53,200 --> 00:52:56,080 Speaker 2: little bit too long here. So we will we will 833 00:52:56,120 --> 00:52:57,919 Speaker 2: get back into that, and I think you know we did. 834 00:52:58,400 --> 00:53:00,760 Speaker 2: We did touch on some of that with Van Gundy 835 00:53:00,800 --> 00:53:03,960 Speaker 2: when Stan joined us recently, and we talked about how 836 00:53:04,640 --> 00:53:07,880 Speaker 2: the blame factor that coaches have to deal with, you know, 837 00:53:07,920 --> 00:53:11,600 Speaker 2: that's like factored into where salaries have gone now that 838 00:53:12,360 --> 00:53:16,600 Speaker 2: coaches know more than ever that they will be the first, second, 839 00:53:16,640 --> 00:53:19,040 Speaker 2: and third ones to take the blame. I think you 840 00:53:19,120 --> 00:53:23,200 Speaker 2: aptly described it as the scapegoat clause, and we're definitely 841 00:53:23,239 --> 00:53:26,759 Speaker 2: seeing it. All right. That is going to do it 842 00:53:27,160 --> 00:53:31,600 Speaker 2: for this edition of this League uncut. As always, please 843 00:53:32,000 --> 00:53:35,440 Speaker 2: follow the show, rate the show, review the show. We 844 00:53:35,480 --> 00:53:40,000 Speaker 2: would love to get a five star review from you 845 00:53:40,080 --> 00:53:43,279 Speaker 2: if you see fit. That would be wonderful. And like 846 00:53:43,360 --> 00:53:46,279 Speaker 2: I said, Chris and I, we're both going to be 847 00:53:46,320 --> 00:53:50,560 Speaker 2: working the phones trying to bring in a guest or 848 00:53:50,680 --> 00:53:55,960 Speaker 2: two for another special episode or two before Thursday night's 849 00:53:56,440 --> 00:54:01,799 Speaker 2: Game one of the NBA Finals, Dallas at Boston. The 850 00:54:01,880 --> 00:54:05,000 Speaker 2: Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals for the third time, 851 00:54:05,800 --> 00:54:11,960 Speaker 2: seeking championship number two in franchise history. The Boston Celtics 852 00:54:12,080 --> 00:54:17,480 Speaker 2: going for championship number eighteen. Can they finally win one? 853 00:54:17,640 --> 00:54:21,879 Speaker 2: Stunning that since Larry Bird's retirement in nineteen ninety two, 854 00:54:21,960 --> 00:54:25,160 Speaker 2: the Celtics have only one at once at title in 855 00:54:25,239 --> 00:54:29,040 Speaker 2: two thousand and eight. Can they finally get number eighteen? 856 00:54:29,160 --> 00:54:34,800 Speaker 2: Can Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown win one together at last? 857 00:54:34,840 --> 00:54:39,240 Speaker 2: We will continue to preview the Finals all week leading 858 00:54:39,320 --> 00:54:44,200 Speaker 2: up to Thursday's series opener, and it won't be long. 859 00:54:44,520 --> 00:54:47,960 Speaker 2: Like we said before, Haynes and Stein are even in 860 00:54:48,080 --> 00:54:52,399 Speaker 2: the same building for Game three. Everyone, thanks so much 861 00:54:52,440 --> 00:54:55,239 Speaker 2: for listening. We'll be back with you very very soon, 862 00:54:57,680 --> 00:54:59,960 Speaker 2: and that'll do it for us. See you next time. 863 00:55:01,520 --> 00:55:03,640 Speaker 2: This league uncutters an iHeartRadio production 864 00:55:08,600 --> 00:55:10,320 Speaker 1: Chris Hanes and Mark Stein