1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 1: This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What is up, 2 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: Straight Fire Fan, It's the Jason McIntyre Straight Fire for Thursday, 3 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: January nineteenth. We've got a great podcast today. Kurt Healing. 4 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: He is an NBA blogger for NBC Sports. Nos his stuff, 5 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,319 Speaker 1: we could dig into the NBA. It's one of those 6 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: weird weeks in the NFL where lines came out almost 7 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: no line movement, everything static, no real injuries to report. 8 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: It's to the point where like, all right, here we go, 9 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 1: you know, sharp markets, not a lot of movement. However, However, 10 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: the one interesting thing I saw this morning when I 11 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: woke up as forty Niners, they were three and a half. 12 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: Some people thought, oh they got to head down to three. 13 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 1: It's brock Purty one the other way to four Niners 14 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: now four point favorites at home with the rookie quarterback. 15 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: And we will dig into the games, obviously deeper tomorrow. 16 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: But I'm just gonna ask you this, who has the 17 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: advantage between former guys on the same at staff in Atlanta, 18 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:15,960 Speaker 1: Kyle Shanahan or Dan Quinn. Dan Quinn saw the Shanahan 19 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: offense every day in practice. Shanahan saw the Quinn defense 20 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: every day in practice. The only meeting they've had since 21 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: they both left Atlanta was last year in the playoffs, 22 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 1: and what happened. San Francisco dominated for three quarters. They 23 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: were up thirteen nothing twenty three seven. The run game 24 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: was working, Dallas had no offense against Himiko Ryan's unit. 25 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 1: The only way Dallas made that game interesting was Jimmy 26 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: Garoppolo had that bad interception. And I actually had to 27 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: look this up this morning. So with like ten minutes 28 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: left in the game, Dallas had a four yards of 29 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: total offense. That's it. They couldn't move the football and 30 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: then they get the short field and Alice creeps back 31 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: into it. Oh, by the way, that San Francisco offense, 32 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: which ran all over Dallas in the playoff game last year, 33 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: now has Christian McCaffrey. And is it big? Is it 34 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: a big downgrade going from Jimmy Garoppolo to Brock Birdie. Now. 35 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: I haven't seen Garoppolo practice this week. He was slated 36 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: to maybe be eligible to play next week coming back 37 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: from his injury. I think that becomes the storyline. Does 38 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: Garoppolo see what's happening and say, Yo, I'm gonna rush 39 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:30,799 Speaker 1: back or does Coyle Shanahan SAYO said this one out, 40 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: brock Purty, He's got it. I know a lot of 41 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 1: people hitting me up and saying Jay san Fran has 42 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 1: beaten nobody. Look at the schedule, Okay, I could, I can. 43 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 1: We can play this game with Dallas too, and don't say, 44 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 1: well we beat Tom Brady. The Tampa offense was terrible 45 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:49,919 Speaker 1: and broken. They were average at best under The week 46 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: before that, they lost with most of their starters to 47 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: a backup rookie quarterback in Washington. The week before that, 48 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,079 Speaker 1: they faced Josh Dobbs in his first career start of 49 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: the Tennessee game, and the week before that it was 50 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: Gardner Minshew backing up Jalen Hurts. So it's not like 51 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,119 Speaker 1: Dallas to be a murderer's role here. Not that brock 52 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,239 Speaker 1: brock Purty belongs on the murderers row. But I'm just 53 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: gonna point this out. Gardner Minshew and Philly bet up 54 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 1: and down the field six point four yards per play 55 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:21,359 Speaker 1: if not for some bad Philly turnovers, and Minshew was there. 56 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: There was an unlucky fumble, the ball bounce Dallas's way. 57 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: Dallas just scoring drives in that game against Minshew late 58 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 1: in the game, thirty one yards, thirty one yards in 59 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:33,799 Speaker 1: thirteen yards. It's not like they were going up and 60 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: down the field. Dallas led the league in takeaways, and 61 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: a lot of you will say, oh, we just what's 62 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: what we defense? Darws, we create turnovers? Did do they? 63 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: Or did Tom Brady just throw an awful throwaway interception 64 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: in the end zone? No? Less, did really flipped that 65 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: game last week in the playoffs. I just it's tough 66 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: for me to make a case for Dallas. I know 67 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: everybody's banking on brock Purty's gonna turn into a pumpkin. Okay, 68 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: that's possible. I would say the biggest advantage Dallas has 69 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: is that Damiko Ryan's is interviewing for four head coaching 70 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: jobs this week. I don't like that at all. I 71 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: understand he's gotta do what he's gotta do. That's wonderful. 72 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: Hey Houston, if you want me that bad, can you 73 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: wait till the game's over? This is kind of my priority. 74 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 1: What are you gonna go hire Frank? Right, Okay, you're 75 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: gonna go hire fine, I'll just look to Carolina or whatever. 76 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: I don't love that. I understand he's got to do 77 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: what he's gotta do. But I think of all the 78 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 1: four sides, I think the San Francisco for Niners probably 79 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 1: my best one. At this juncture, it was Chiefs, but 80 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 1: I think it's now Niners at any rate. Let's get 81 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 1: to our guest, Kurt Healing of NBC Sports. Fox Sports 82 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 1: Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. 83 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,840 Speaker 1: Catch all of our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot 84 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,839 Speaker 1: com and within the I Heart Radio app search f 85 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: s R to listen live. Jason likes to think he 86 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: knows everything when it comes to sports. I know what 87 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: sports dance want. But for everything he doesn't. He knows 88 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 1: a guy who does. Let's just say I know a 89 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 1: guy who knows a guy he knows another guy. Let's 90 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: welcome into straight fire. He's been here before. We need 91 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: to talk NBA. He's one of the best, a long 92 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: time NBC Sports, NBA columnist, blogger, insider. He does it all. 93 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 1: Kurt Healan, How you doing, Kurt? I'm doing good. Yeah, 94 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: I've started doing shoo titles. Just yeah, whatever whatever you 95 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: want to call me right now, like, as long as 96 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: the checks clear, call me. Yeah, I've been there, but myself, 97 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: my man, um, it's been a weird NBA season, So 98 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: NFL started to slow down. You've got seven games left 99 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 1: in the season. More eyes starting to turn to the NBA. 100 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: And I'm just guessing, Kurt, But if you ask the 101 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: casual fan, hey, here are the standings, and people look 102 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: in the West and Sea Denver, in Memphis, New Orleans 103 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: and sacrament those are the top What the hell's going 104 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: on in the league? And then you're blanswer is the 105 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:07,359 Speaker 1: best teams have started really taken time off, really started slow, 106 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 1: really gone. Um. So I'm trying to think of the 107 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 1: right word. The Warriors are simply just not taking the 108 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 1: regular season seriously, right, They just but they don't care whatever. 109 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 1: Um And they've had obacently curious misstime with an injury. 110 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: He's back now, but they're going through the regular season 111 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:28,279 Speaker 1: like champions often go through the NBA regular season like 112 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 1: looking at their watch trying to decide when the games 113 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 1: get serious. But after that, it has looked Denver's always 114 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: had potential. They've started to put it together. I'm not 115 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:40,600 Speaker 1: sure Memphis was the top seed last year. It took 116 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: them a little bit to get healthy and get des 117 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 1: been baying back and get Jaren Jackson Jr. Back But 118 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:47,159 Speaker 1: they're clicking now. Frankly, I think those have been the 119 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 1: two best teams. Like I really, the Warriors are gonna 120 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: have to They've got some work to do to catch 121 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 1: up to those guys, even though we all know like 122 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 1: they can kind of flip the switch. But it's it's 123 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: there's a changing of the guard coming out West because 124 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: the Warriors and keep this up forever. Interesting Now, how 125 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: imminent do you think we're talking? Like if I said, hey, Kurt, 126 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 1: I got a Hunter Bucks, give me a team to 127 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:09,479 Speaker 1: put it on in the West to win the title, 128 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: and you look at the odds, the Warriors still have 129 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: the best odds in the West. That's crazy. So like 130 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 1: Vegas not totally respecting Denver and Memphis or perhaps um 131 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 1: giving too much respect to the Warriors. I don't know. Look, 132 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 1: just last June, we saw what they can do. Like 133 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: I'm not afraid to say, yeah, you know, like, oh, hey, 134 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 1: they could totally turn this thing around, because they could 135 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: totally durn this thing around. But Memphis, when you talk 136 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: to the Warriors last year, like m during the playoff 137 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: run and even during the finals, they talked about how 138 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: much trouble Memphis gave them like maybe as much or 139 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: more than um Boston and Jogg. It's injured and they 140 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: don't quite get there. But I think this is a 141 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 1: team that's come together. Like if if I were going 142 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: I don't think i'd pick anybody over the field in 143 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: the West right now. If I were gonna pick one team, 144 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: it would be Memphis, just because I think they've got 145 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 1: the defense with Jaren Jackson Jr. They've got the elite 146 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: offensive problem that I don't know how we match up 147 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 1: with John on the postseason. Desmond Bain is just flat 148 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: out underrated by everybody. I think this is a deep, 149 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: good team that can cause you a lot of postseason trouble. 150 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 1: And I think they figured out how to start pointing 151 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: in the half court, which kind of that's one of 152 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: the things that didn't come along. They used to the 153 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: transition and chaos and defense and we're gonna get points. 154 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: That way doesn't work as well in the playoffs, but 155 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 1: I think they've learned how to play in the half court. Yeah, 156 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: you mentioned Desmond Bain and I'll never forget. We had 157 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:38,839 Speaker 1: fran for Shell on the podcast leading up to the 158 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: draft and he mentioned Baine as a kid out of TCU, 159 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: who's you know, well built for the NBA. Body can 160 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: come right in and play. I gotta be honest, Kurt, 161 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 1: you look, he's averaging twenty one points a game. Now, 162 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: the risk of pivoting too much, Desmond being putting up game. 163 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: You're like, what, but there's an They're currently on pace 164 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: to set a record for most most twenty point scorers 165 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 1: in the season. Desmond baying one of them. I mean, 166 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 1: Jordan Clarkson's putting up twenty. The list is a little incredible. 167 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: I mean, Paula ban Carroll, we knew you would be good, 168 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 1: but twenty, Jalen Green twenty one, Keldon Johnson twenty one, 169 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:15,439 Speaker 1: I mean hell uh, Kelly Oubre, who has been an afterthought, 170 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: a reserve twenty a game? What the hell is going on? Well, 171 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: first off, nobody can stop Kelly. You great, He's an 172 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: unstoppable force of nature. I mean obvious. That has been 173 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: maybe the biggest question around the league. Like, what the 174 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: heck is going on? Scoring is first off? Scoring is up, 175 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 1: Like generally across the board, teams are scoring more. They're 176 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 1: scoring more and scoring efficiently. Um, they're knocking down more threes. 177 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: That's part of it, but they're not what the league 178 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: started doing with with advanced statistics, and oh the death 179 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: of the mid range game is. It's not the death 180 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: of the midrange game. If you're Kevin Durant, you can 181 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: take all the mid range talks you want. Yeah, wide 182 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: open buffet, Steph Curry, go ahead. You know the good 183 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: mid range shooters. And if you get to your spot, 184 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 1: man Bamana Bio wants to hit a floater from right 185 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: about where the dotted circle is. That's money for him. Now, 186 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: it wasn't a couple of years ago in the playoffs 187 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: it was a problem he made that. He's like, all right, 188 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 1: I've got to solve that. They'll teams will give guys 189 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 1: those shots, but they stop trying to take the bad ones. 190 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: And I think the efficiency is part of it. But 191 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 1: the other part of that is with floor space. And 192 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: I talked to a scout about this recently and he's like, 193 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 1: with the floor spacing, everything spread out. Now you're getting 194 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 1: back to a little bit more isolation basketball. Because if 195 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: I've got John Morant or I've got any of the 196 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 1: guys you were just look, Baine can beat you one 197 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 1: on one. It's really hard to bring the double because 198 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: the five is spread you know, everybody's spread out, and 199 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: if I leave this guy there, two passes away from 200 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 1: a wide open three. And it's causing an ability to 201 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 1: for guys to just be able to get to the 202 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,839 Speaker 1: basket and finish or get to their spots and finish 203 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 1: in a way they kind of couldn't before because defenses 204 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 1: could collapse. But is the shooting has gone up in 205 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: the league. It's just you look at Boston, but you've 206 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,199 Speaker 1: got a bad defender out there your toast. Yeah, there's 207 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: zero places to hide against Boston, and not every teams Boston, 208 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 1: but there's less places to hide those kind of defenders now. 209 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 1: So haters of the NBA will say, oh, that's the 210 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 1: scoring is up. Everybody's averaging twenty because nobody plays any defense. 211 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 1: And to that, Kurt, Listen, I've been sparring with people 212 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: on this on the internet for a while. I counter that, Listen. Sure, 213 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 1: maybe they're the defense isn't as great, but I would 214 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,839 Speaker 1: argue the offense is better than it's ever been. We've 215 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: never had this much offensive talent and depth. I mean, 216 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 1: the league leaders in double doubles. Kurt Demontes Sabonis Nicolea Yoki. Yeah, 217 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: the foreign infusion of talent in this league. We've never 218 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 1: seen anything like this before. So are you on just like, oh, 219 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 1: it's a no defense era, or are you like, listen, 220 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, Jordan era Kobe Erat is the best the 221 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 1: NBA has ever been. I I think defenses are more complex. 222 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 1: I you know it for your entertainment dollar, it's what 223 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: you enjoy. I would prefer this to everybody's like, oh, 224 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 1: every looks back lovingly on the nineties and the Jordan era. Yeah, 225 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: go watch a Nicked Cavaliers game, and get back to 226 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: you from the nineties. Go go watch Mike for Tello 227 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: and pat Riley games for a while and then come 228 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: back to me. Those were slug fests and people fondly 229 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 1: remember them somehow. I'm like, no, I was clutching and 230 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: grabbing and slow and boring, and it doesn't work for me. 231 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,679 Speaker 1: But my counter on the defense thing also is simply 232 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 1: that the defenses are are have had to get better 233 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,199 Speaker 1: and more complex. There's only so much you can do, though, 234 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 1: Like I said, I think the floor spacing and you 235 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 1: mentioned it, the infusion of talent from overseas helps. I mean, 236 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 1: I mean who's our top. Who's our top? It's Janice 237 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 1: and Luca and your kitch for the m v P. Like, uh, 238 00:12:56,679 --> 00:13:01,959 Speaker 1: Tatum is like the first American you mentioned, But even 239 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 1: just down the list, it's just the skill sets make 240 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: it much harder. I was talking with somebody about, like, hey, well, 241 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: what if they bring back hand checking, right if they 242 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 1: you're always like I used to be able to know 243 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: Gary Payton used to hand check guys. That sounds great, yeah, 244 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: because back then four guys were on one side of 245 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 1: the floor and Gary Payton's isolated on Jordan or whoever 246 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: on the other side of the floor, and everybody could 247 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 1: see where the help was coming could eventually have to 248 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: come from. But you could hand check and hold him 249 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 1: until the defense got there. It's not gonna be quite 250 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 1: the same because if you hand check Curry, he's going 251 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 1: to put a little dribble on get by you, and 252 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: now your help is way too far away. There too 253 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 1: many shooters everywhere. We're back to that, so I don't think. 254 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 1: I don't think like being more physical on defense would 255 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 1: have this the dramatic effect. Guys would learn to play 256 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 1: through it and it wouldn't have the dramatic effect people 257 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 1: think it will. Yeah, all these guys who long for defense, 258 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: go look at the finals where it was who was 259 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: it Spurs nets and it was like, that's like a 260 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 1: third quarter score right now. And everybody that the complaints 261 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: about the league now and again, I really do think, 262 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: and Kurt, I don't want to go on a tangent. 263 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 1: I feel like a lot of it is politically driven, 264 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 1: like oh, the NBA and China and like, you know, 265 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 1: it's just all these dumbass haters on the Internet, and 266 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 1: it's like, really, I can't I haven't noticed them on 267 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 1: a Elon Musk's Twitter at all. I don't know what 268 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: ye never at all? Um, But yeah, I'm with you. 269 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 1: I think the league is incredible right now. Now. The 270 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: problem is, Kurt, as much as I love the NBA, 271 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: I've got a couple of kids, I got a wife, 272 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 1: we got a dog. I can't watch the NBA for 273 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 1: six straight months. It's just not part of It's not 274 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 1: sustain about from my marriage, my health, you know, raising kids. Like, 275 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 1: I don't know what your situation is, but can you 276 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 1: watch the league every single night? Well, my situation slightly 277 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 1: different because I get paid to Yes, Um, yeah, my 278 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: wife is not a huge fan of coming home to 279 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 1: watch Minnesota versus Orlando on a Tuesday night, like you know, 280 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: and can't get into we haven't all we have enough. 281 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: We have a television set up now that allows my 282 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: wife to watch I don't know, Gilmore Girl reruns in 283 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 1: one room, my kids to watch some god awful reality 284 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: show in the other room, and like I can go, 285 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: I can sneak into my bedroom in the office and 286 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 1: catch and and and watch it on my computer or 287 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 1: watch on the third screen or something. So fortunately, but 288 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 1: that said, like outside now that the trip you didn't 289 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: need into my life. I think it. I think part 290 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: of the NBA's trouble challenge going forward is, yeah, the 291 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: regular season. The regular season is too long. It's not 292 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: interesting every night. It's it's it's like, hey, why do 293 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 1: I want to watch this? And it's not easy to solve. 294 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 1: That's that problem. That's scarcity issue. Like, hey, but let's 295 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: just have fewer games, which is what all of us 296 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: thinks should happen. But that creates a whole financial problem, 297 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: and I don't quite know how the NBA solves it. 298 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: Although note to Adam Silver, mid season tournament isn't going 299 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 1: to be the answer. I huh, I just maybe I'm wrong. 300 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 1: I just maybe I'll learn to love it. But my 301 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: gut reaction is that that I don't think American fans 302 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: are gonna be that into it. I'm not into the idea. 303 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: And I'm a soccer guy, like I'm I'm sitting here 304 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 1: talking to you. Nobody can see. I don't know. He's 305 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: got the video and I've got my Newcastle United sweatshirt 306 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 1: on little epl action. Yeah, I've been a Newcastle fan 307 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: for decades, which is a whole different discussion, But that's 308 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 1: baked into soccer, right, the f A Cup and the 309 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: and the Champions League and on and on, all the 310 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: cups and stuff. That's just kind of baked into that culture. 311 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 1: I don't think any Americans are gonna care. And and 312 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: by the way, if Boston wins the first whatever it is, 313 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 1: Commissioner's Cup or whatever we're calling this thing next year 314 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 1: or two years from now, you think they're hanging up 315 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 1: bad Like, yeah, maybe a motivated team. I'm just I'm like, 316 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: I'm not opposed to trying it. I'm just not sold 317 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: it's gonna work. Yeah, I don't know what the incentive, 318 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: incentivization is that's not even a word. But you know what, 319 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 1: I'm trying to the play more games and we'll try 320 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:19,479 Speaker 1: to make it interesting. Yeah, it's a it's a bit 321 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 1: of a tough sell. Hey, um, Kurt, I did look 322 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:23,679 Speaker 1: at the gambling odds for to win the title and 323 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 1: currently the top three are all in the East. Yeah, 324 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,199 Speaker 1: that was a little surprising to me. I mean, I 325 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 1: just it's been the West dominating the NBA for the 326 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:34,640 Speaker 1: better part of a decade, right, and Lebron is playing 327 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: in the jokey East, right. It was it was well, 328 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:40,159 Speaker 1: that's what it was. It was Lebron got out of 329 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: the East for a few years because they were just 330 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 1: but the Lebron and he could lift his team past 331 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:50,360 Speaker 1: I mean that first team he took to the finals 332 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 1: against the Spurs had no business in the finals. They 333 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 1: got they got run out of the building. Um right now, 334 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:00,200 Speaker 1: I mean nobody. I don't trust anybody in the West. 335 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:01,959 Speaker 1: I mean, like I said, I'd pick Memphis. I can 336 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: make a case for Denver. Obviously the Warriors got their case. 337 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 1: But I know Boston's good. I know they're playing with 338 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:10,440 Speaker 1: a little chip on their shoulder and they've got a 339 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 1: little they're not. They haven't been this good yet. But 340 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:18,119 Speaker 1: they've got a little Spurs wounded pride in them right 341 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,399 Speaker 1: where the Spurs remember where that was the year after 342 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 1: the Ray Allen shot and they lose in the finals, 343 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:26,679 Speaker 1: and they came back next year and one or sixty 344 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: games and just right teams in the playoffs. They've got 345 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 1: a Boston's got a little of that. Hey we're better. 346 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 1: They believed, and I don't think they were totally wrong, 347 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:36,880 Speaker 1: all things being equal, that they thought they were better 348 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: than the Warriors. They just didn't know how to execute 349 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 1: it yet. I think they do now. The Bucks can win. 350 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 1: I would say that Bucks Celtics, and um, I think 351 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 1: the Nets of the top three. Also, the Sixers recently 352 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 1: passed them. Sixers are coming on strong. Yeah, they are 353 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:58,719 Speaker 1: coming on strong. I've got in fact, I was just 354 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:03,199 Speaker 1: writing up for Power Rankings that after watching them in person, 355 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:05,359 Speaker 1: one of the things that leaps out is and the 356 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 1: thing that could take them deep into mayor June, is 357 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 1: that James Harden, Joel and being pick and roll is unstoppable. 358 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:17,680 Speaker 1: I don't know what you do with that, because and 359 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: Being can roll or pop, Harden can hit the three 360 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: or drive and drop like, and they've got some athletes 361 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 1: around them now and shooters and Tyrese, Maxie and and 362 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:32,360 Speaker 1: some of the spacing they've got. I worry about. Thank 363 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: if you're gonna put Harden and Maxi out there at 364 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:36,440 Speaker 1: the end of the games, I've got a place to target. 365 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 1: Um it. I think the Sixers problems are second round 366 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 1: of the playoffs and beyond the problems like the elite 367 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: teams can expose this um So we'll see what happens. 368 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: But like, I think they're very good. I just think 369 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 1: we'll see if they can overcome that problem and the 370 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 1: nets like physicality and defense. Will you know, they're they're 371 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:03,440 Speaker 1: a bit untested, but they have Kevin Durant. Um, you 372 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: got Kevin Durant You're Fox Sports Radio has the best 373 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,679 Speaker 1: sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our 374 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:14,199 Speaker 1: shows at Fox Sports Radio dot com and within the 375 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio app. Search f s R to listen live. 376 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 1: I know not many people care about the Sons. I 377 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: have a buddy who's like a die hard Suns fan. 378 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 1: What the hell is going on with those guys? I 379 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: know Devin Booker goes down, but you know, they had 380 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:26,680 Speaker 1: like a two year run where they were arguably the 381 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 1: best team in the league, and now they're, uh, they're 382 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:33,400 Speaker 1: in Lakers territory. I mean, they're really struggling. They're getting 383 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: Cam Johnson back this week, but this is not a 384 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:38,160 Speaker 1: good team right now. They're getting Cam Johnson back tonight, 385 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:41,959 Speaker 1: it looks like and there was Donator next game and 386 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: they will get Booker back. That's part of it, I mean, 387 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:48,159 Speaker 1: but part of it is that they couldn't step up 388 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 1: with Booker out because Father Time has really started to 389 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:54,439 Speaker 1: win the race with Chris Paul. Chris Paul has just 390 00:20:54,600 --> 00:21:01,639 Speaker 1: not been the same guy. And beyond that, the chemistry 391 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 1: issues have just not been There's just not this cohesion 392 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:07,120 Speaker 1: for a couple of years. Like you said, the year 393 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:09,440 Speaker 1: they reached the finals. That next year when they won 394 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 1: sixty four games and looked like they were unstoppable up 395 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: until the point they ran into Luca don chech Um, 396 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 1: there was a great chemistry and blend with that team 397 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:22,800 Speaker 1: that right now is just not there. They're just do 398 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 1: not look they they they look like they need some 399 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 1: roster shifting, and that might be at the point guard spot. 400 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 1: That might be some more athletic athleticism on the wing. 401 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:37,439 Speaker 1: Although they and twenty nine. Other teams are looking for 402 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:42,919 Speaker 1: more athleticism on the wing. Um, everybody is, but it 403 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,680 Speaker 1: kind of reached that point whatever whatever that experiment was, 404 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:50,880 Speaker 1: it's it's really I'll just say that, the the rumors, 405 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: the buzz you hear around the league talking to people 406 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:57,400 Speaker 1: about what's going on in the chemistry in in in 407 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 1: Phoenix has really gone wrong and is just not there 408 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: just coming apart. Yeah, it's just whether that's the deyondret 409 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:07,879 Speaker 1: in situation. You've got Jay Crowder being out now, remember 410 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:11,879 Speaker 1: he left, Um, Yeah, he didn't get the extension he wanted, 411 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:14,399 Speaker 1: was told he's probably not going to start, and just left. 412 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 1: And the whole thing is now it's not smooth, it's 413 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 1: not it's not speed bump free as it was for 414 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 1: a couple of years. Conspiracy theory, Kurt Um. We haven't 415 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 1: seen anyone go full on tank for one Bin Yama 416 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:33,439 Speaker 1: because the league spoke to every team and said, I 417 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 1: don't want to see this crap with everybody trading to 418 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 1: get in race to the bottom that Wodanarowski was as 419 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 1: my dog barks and freaks out. We don't want to 420 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,399 Speaker 1: see a race to the bottom in the NBA. Don't 421 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 1: do this, so a lot of teams are waiting to tank. 422 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:57,159 Speaker 1: Is your dog wearing a tinfoil hat, he's not. Um. 423 00:22:57,240 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 1: I think that there absolutely was pressure from the league. 424 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 1: I wouldn't or it wouldn't be shocked that if there was, Hey, 425 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: let's not overdo this, let's not go to Earlie. But 426 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:11,000 Speaker 1: I am surprised we're this deep and we haven't seen 427 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 1: a team really pivot yet um and go that direction. 428 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 1: I mean, the Spurs are bad Houston's, but they didn't 429 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: have to. They didn't have to try. Houston. Yeah, not 430 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:26,880 Speaker 1: taking a step forward this year. Orlando wasn't ever gonna 431 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 1: win a lot of games. Like some of the teams 432 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 1: we knew would be bad have been bad even though 433 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 1: they've Hey, like you said, man, Carroll's fantastic, but you 434 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:37,680 Speaker 1: you put the ball in the hands of a rookie, 435 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:40,600 Speaker 1: it's like, given the ball rookie quarterback, you know, good luck? 436 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:43,680 Speaker 1: How fun man? I mean, more like the Jazz, that's 437 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 1: the one they had to start. They started fast. The 438 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 1: the everybody kind of kept looking at the bulls, like 439 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:55,360 Speaker 1: with the bulls, right, and well, that's what happens. He's 440 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:57,639 Speaker 1: just keep winning just enough to keep their heads float, 441 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 1: but I'm a little surprised that we haven't scene, especially, 442 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:02,280 Speaker 1: like I said, now we're three weeks out from the 443 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 1: trade deadline. Somebody just go screw everybody's available, because then 444 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:09,879 Speaker 1: you know that's going to cause a domino effect, right, 445 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: and suddenly it's a race. And by the way, it's 446 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:14,679 Speaker 1: it's not is a pretty deep draft. It's not. I 447 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:18,680 Speaker 1: mean we talked about when Byama, but Scoot Henderson gets 448 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 1: mentioned in the Derek Rose level. I saw that, but 449 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:25,000 Speaker 1: I gotta be on he hasn't played the injury right 450 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:27,960 Speaker 1: a little bit, but I think he's being really cautious. 451 00:24:28,359 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 1: Yeah to he knows where he is in the draft. 452 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:34,879 Speaker 1: He's not falling and even beyond him, like, hold me 453 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 1: now that Thompson Twins are good, that's my band reference today, 454 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 1: But I'm not ready to get that excited about some 455 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:44,440 Speaker 1: of these other guys. But yes, I would have bottom draft. 456 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:47,439 Speaker 1: So even if you if you tank and you end 457 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:49,639 Speaker 1: up fourth, you're gonna end up with a quality player 458 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 1: out of this out of this group. So I think 459 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:55,680 Speaker 1: that that I am a little surprised we haven't seen 460 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 1: it yet. And crazier things that have happened than the 461 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 1: league saying, hey, hold off on this, but I still 462 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 1: think at some point somebody's gonna start pulling the plug 463 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:07,920 Speaker 1: and going It's just the the reward is too high 464 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:10,639 Speaker 1: not to take the risk, right, like the reward of 465 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 1: getting when Yama, especially in a draft with a Remember 466 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:15,360 Speaker 1: they flattened the draft odds a couple of years ago, 467 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 1: So if you have the six or seventh worst record, 468 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 1: you still have a reasonable chance. You only have like 469 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 1: a fourteen percent chance if you're the worst. Why not, Yeah, 470 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:29,520 Speaker 1: because the the reward is the reward of This isn't 471 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: the This isn't the Mega millions lottery. Your odds are long. Man. 472 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 1: If your odds are of getting a guy, you can 473 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 1: build the franchise around for a decade minimum you do it. 474 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:43,960 Speaker 1: That's if you're gonna be bad, Let's be bad and 475 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 1: do it. Yeah. Fun, fun parlor game I played with 476 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 1: a couple of buddies recently, spurred by a conversation we 477 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 1: had on here, how many teams do you think would 478 00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:59,760 Speaker 1: um ultimately trade their best player for one Bin Yama? 479 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:03,520 Speaker 1: And did three definite I would not trade them? Are 480 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:08,400 Speaker 1: you honese? Luca? And then the third one was well, 481 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:13,880 Speaker 1: the other two but Yokich is a little older. Um, 482 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:18,399 Speaker 1: I's still he's still under thirty. Um. And you know, 483 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:21,240 Speaker 1: I could argue that that one playoff run they had 484 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:26,120 Speaker 1: in the bubble was very Jamal Murray aided. Um, I'm not. 485 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 1: Is obviously awesome, though I agree in the sense that 486 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:35,440 Speaker 1: if you're going to if you're picking them to make 487 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 1: a finals run, what you're really also saying is Jamal 488 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 1: Murray's back and by the way, Michael Porter's back is 489 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:46,440 Speaker 1: gonna Junior's back is gonna hold up and get through 490 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:49,680 Speaker 1: the playoffs, right, Like, they're not good enough without all 491 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 1: three of them, all three of them together, they have 492 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 1: the best offense in the NBA, and they might be 493 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:57,320 Speaker 1: able to Their defense has been better of light, but 494 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:01,080 Speaker 1: they might be able to score themselves all the way. 495 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:03,600 Speaker 1: So I'm trying to think if I were Philly, would 496 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 1: I do it? Joel Well, That Joel Embiad is interesting. 497 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:10,640 Speaker 1: He's had a major injury history. Um, and I believe 498 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:14,880 Speaker 1: let me just double check. I think he's twenty nine 499 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:18,440 Speaker 1: in March, so you know, Cleveland, I'd still it's still 500 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:21,199 Speaker 1: as much as I like and I like Well, and 501 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:22,919 Speaker 1: I honestly think Evin Mobili is going to be the 502 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 1: best of them in a few years perhaps, But if 503 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: someone floated s g A of Okay, see, he's averaging 504 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:34,760 Speaker 1: thirt s g A but I don't know. Yeah, but 505 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 1: he's by the Wait, well, I don't know what the 506 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 1: under over is gonna be on. Okay, see next year, 507 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 1: but bet the over like that team is gonna interesting. 508 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 1: We have good this year. Homegrin comes back next year. Oh, 509 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:51,960 Speaker 1: he's definitely out all season. Yeah, he's out for the season. Yet, Oh, 510 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 1: I thought it was just like they were. I think 511 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:58,159 Speaker 1: I think that I think they gave a Oh you 512 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:01,000 Speaker 1: never know, he could return it the Yeah, yeah, he's done, dude, 513 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:03,440 Speaker 1: we don't need I'm curious if we'll see him again 514 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:05,760 Speaker 1: at summer League. We saw him a little bit last year. 515 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 1: Oh the other guy forgot John Morand now now let 516 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:12,520 Speaker 1: me ask you, Kurt. He seems to we we bag 517 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 1: on Lebron for you know, load management, and Kevin Durant 518 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:21,639 Speaker 1: always is hurt. Look at John Morandi, he's hurt every season. Yeah, 519 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 1: and he's well, so he's the guy. You might worry there, 520 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:28,159 Speaker 1: but that's the same worry i'd have with one b y'alla. Frankly, 521 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 1: which is Jaw is the slightly built and plays a 522 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:37,600 Speaker 1: he throws his body around. Is he is the single 523 00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 1: most entertaining player in the league. Like if I'm paying 524 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 1: money to watch somebody right now, I am paying money 525 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:47,760 Speaker 1: to watch John Morand and the Grizzlies. But long term, 526 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 1: there's a sense that with that group and with jaws 527 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:57,800 Speaker 1: body and situation, that they shouldn't be as patient as 528 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 1: other franchises that were building because they end that they 529 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 1: need to do this sooner rather than later. Because he's 530 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 1: more likely to I don't want to, He's more likely 531 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: the injuries are likely to catch up with him and 532 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 1: slow him earlier in his career than some other guys. 533 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 1: So yeah, um, kind of like an iver Sin and 534 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook. Yeah, I ever Sence a good example of that, Um, 535 00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:27,400 Speaker 1: where you know, Derick Rose was more catastrophic. Iverson was 536 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 1: great for a while and then when it hit the 537 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 1: hit the cliff, it hit the cliff pretty stiff hard, 538 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 1: and he didn't he didn't adapt to it as well. Um, 539 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 1: and I don't know, you know, we'll see with um, 540 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 1: we'll see what y'all. Hopefully we don't find out for 541 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 1: a long time. That said, Wow, it's Yamba where the 542 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 1: concern would be. But it's exactly the same. Is he 543 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:53,120 Speaker 1: physically how is he physically going to hold up? He 544 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 1: needs the He frankly needs the Rudy Gobert two years 545 00:29:57,240 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 1: of putting on muscle camp, but he doesn't get to 546 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:04,400 Speaker 1: do that in the background, like go Barton, No, yeah, no, 547 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:07,040 Speaker 1: the pressure on woman Yama's gonna be big. Um. I mean, 548 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:09,480 Speaker 1: I've I've heard LaMelo ball. Hey, he's like twenty one 549 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 1: years old. He's gonna be really, really good. He's already 550 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:15,160 Speaker 1: you know, uh leading the team. And I'm like, I 551 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 1: think they got bounced in the plan last year and 552 00:30:17,120 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 1: now they're arguing with the worst team in the league. 553 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:21,720 Speaker 1: I just I'm not bagging on LaMelo. I just don't 554 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:24,040 Speaker 1: think I'd rather have a Yama a heartbeat, I would. 555 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:26,720 Speaker 1: I love LaMelo, but no. Yeah, by the way, by 556 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:28,480 Speaker 1: the way, you want to go down on fund road? 557 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 1: How much does how much would you like to have 558 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: Wamelo over Wiseman right now? In Golden State? Oh jeez, 559 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:36,520 Speaker 1: I don't even know what to make We can wrap 560 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:38,680 Speaker 1: up on that. But like James Wiseman, what is his future? 561 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:42,400 Speaker 1: Can they even trade him? What's his market. There would 562 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:44,280 Speaker 1: be a market for him, but it would not be 563 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:46,240 Speaker 1: what they It is hard to give up on a 564 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 1: number two pick, isn't it Like in any sport, Like 565 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 1: if you've invested the number two pick and a guy, 566 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 1: it is hard to walk away and say we were wrong. 567 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:58,520 Speaker 1: Does anybody want him at There would be a market 568 00:30:58,560 --> 00:31:00,200 Speaker 1: for him because some team would be willing to roll 569 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:02,560 Speaker 1: the dice that they can bring his athleticism around. He 570 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:06,840 Speaker 1: still shows flashes. He's been better this year, but he's 571 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:08,680 Speaker 1: a long way as away and I don't know if 572 00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:12,080 Speaker 1: he ever gets there. Wait, he's twenty two years old 573 00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:18,240 Speaker 1: in March, and it looks like he has um not 574 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 1: returned since December. He look he was in the G 575 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:24,760 Speaker 1: League for a while, and not because of injury, because 576 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:29,760 Speaker 1: he was. He just doesn't get it. He's just yeah, 577 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 1: meant the mental side of the he's physically gifted, but 578 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 1: like the mental side of the game, he just needs 579 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:37,320 Speaker 1: reps and it's he's just in a rough spot to 580 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 1: get reps right. He's on, it's hard to bring him 581 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:43,720 Speaker 1: along and teams. I don't want to say that Warriors 582 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 1: don't do it well. It's hard to do what like 583 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:48,000 Speaker 1: the Spurs did with the Kawhi Leonard, where hey, we 584 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:50,440 Speaker 1: can ease him in over a few years on a 585 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 1: contending level team that's gonna win fifty games. The Warriors, 586 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:57,320 Speaker 1: I haven't really done that well with him, but i'd 587 00:31:57,320 --> 00:32:00,840 Speaker 1: also he I'm not sure he's may the leaps. They OpEd. 588 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:03,560 Speaker 1: They expected a lot more out of him and Cominga 589 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:07,400 Speaker 1: and Mooney this year and Komingo is the only guy playing. Uh, 590 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 1: we have to It's obligatory and it's uh, we have 591 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:13,400 Speaker 1: to do it. Um when the Lakers get a d 592 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 1: back and when the Lakers make a train of Russell 593 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:20,080 Speaker 1: Westbrook to fortify the team, is this, Uh, what's their 594 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 1: dangerous level in the West? Moderately dangerous? Very it's they 595 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:28,880 Speaker 1: have Lebron of course, dummy, you know one of those. Yeah. 596 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 1: I don't think you want to see them in the 597 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:33,120 Speaker 1: first round, but I think they're the team. And Dallas 598 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:35,920 Speaker 1: is all like this, we can beat them. I don't 599 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:38,160 Speaker 1: want to see them, like it's gonna be hard, like 600 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:41,840 Speaker 1: Lebron is gonna cause Lebron causes problems, not only because 601 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:44,280 Speaker 1: at thirty eight, I don't know how he's scoring like this, 602 00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:49,000 Speaker 1: like how he's playing like this, but he's so smart, 603 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:52,240 Speaker 1: he's just going to pick you apart. Whatever defense you 604 00:32:52,280 --> 00:32:55,200 Speaker 1: throw at him. He's already seen it, you know, uh, 605 00:32:55,520 --> 00:32:59,160 Speaker 1: twenty years ago, he's seen everything. You can't blew him off. 606 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:02,560 Speaker 1: But I still think there's just too many holes in 607 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:05,560 Speaker 1: the game around them. Even even if they whatever move 608 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 1: they make at the deadline, it's probably not Westbrook. He's 609 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:11,000 Speaker 1: probably there through the end of the year. Um. I 610 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:14,480 Speaker 1: mean it's forty seven million dollars. Just there's no there's 611 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:20,160 Speaker 1: no market. Um uh. Whatever they do, there's just gonna 612 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:22,239 Speaker 1: be too many. Look. I love Austin Reeves and how 613 00:33:22,280 --> 00:33:27,000 Speaker 1: hard he plays, they're just not playoff ready. If he's 614 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:28,960 Speaker 1: like if he's your fifth best guy, I think you're 615 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:32,760 Speaker 1: in good cheap But I like maybe their third that's 616 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:36,800 Speaker 1: the problem. And they don't the shot creation after Lebron 617 00:33:37,520 --> 00:33:40,360 Speaker 1: drops off pretty stiff, and now you're like, hey, we 618 00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:44,280 Speaker 1: got Dennis Shrewder Like, I just think i'd rather have 619 00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:47,400 Speaker 1: Lonnie Walker out there. Yeah, well exactly. I like Walker 620 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:49,000 Speaker 1: by the way, and I don't know if they're gonna 621 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:51,600 Speaker 1: be able to keep him. Um, I'm glad he got 622 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:55,040 Speaker 1: this chance and this opportunity that maybe sometimes the new 623 00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 1: location is good for a guy, but but that's the 624 00:33:57,360 --> 00:33:59,560 Speaker 1: guys you're leaning on. The drop off is just too steep. 625 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:03,680 Speaker 1: After Lebron and A d that said, they're gonna be 626 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:06,920 Speaker 1: a tough matchup, and I don't think anybody nobody wants 627 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:08,680 Speaker 1: to see them, but because you just feel like, man, 628 00:34:08,719 --> 00:34:10,399 Speaker 1: I just had to. I just had to go through 629 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:14,279 Speaker 1: six or seven bruising games to get past them so 630 00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:16,239 Speaker 1: I can get onto this. You know what, the quote 631 00:34:16,280 --> 00:34:18,640 Speaker 1: unquote serious rounds. That's that's a tough way to go. 632 00:34:18,880 --> 00:34:23,239 Speaker 1: But they the Lakers, Look, you get there. We'll use 633 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:25,680 Speaker 1: the word acts since this is a family podcast. You 634 00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:29,239 Speaker 1: need to get their act together so that so they 635 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:31,920 Speaker 1: can make the play in and playoff before we haven't. Yeah, 636 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:34,120 Speaker 1: well it's weird. I think there's three games out of 637 00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:36,520 Speaker 1: the six, but they're in like eleven, if that makes 638 00:34:36,520 --> 00:34:39,719 Speaker 1: any sense. They've got a lot of teams to jump. 639 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:41,600 Speaker 1: They're not out of it. They just they need to 640 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:43,360 Speaker 1: get on enough. They need to get on another healthy 641 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:45,960 Speaker 1: and then get on another run. They've done. Lebron's got 642 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:48,040 Speaker 1: them eight and eight while Anthony Davis has been out, 643 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:53,719 Speaker 1: which is frankly, you couldn't. Yeah, but I to ask 644 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:56,839 Speaker 1: in a lot like he seems a little worn down. 645 00:34:56,840 --> 00:34:59,360 Speaker 1: And he after he played the back to back the 646 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:02,160 Speaker 1: other night against Houston and afterwards all but admitted like 647 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:05,200 Speaker 1: we've lost him in a row. I needed to play tonight, 648 00:35:05,320 --> 00:35:10,720 Speaker 1: but to use the night off. So he is Kurt Healing. 649 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:13,879 Speaker 1: NBC Sports covers the NBA as well as anybody. Kurt, 650 00:35:13,880 --> 00:35:15,759 Speaker 1: thanks a lot, man. Take for taking the time and 651 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:18,839 Speaker 1: uh and enjoy the trade deadline. You'll be a busy 652 00:35:18,840 --> 00:35:22,359 Speaker 1: man for the next few weeks. Oh, sleep's overrated. Ye 653 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:25,400 Speaker 1: all right, take it easy, take care,