1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Basically one month into the NBA season, and so today 2 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 1: we're gonna go up and down that crowded, jumbled Western 3 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:12,120 Speaker 1: Conference ladder, talk about as many different teams as we can, 4 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: what we've seen through this first month, all that's next 5 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: here on this League Uncut. 6 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 2: Welcome to this League Uncut. 7 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 3: Can you rule a twenty four hour NBA. 8 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 4: News this's you, Chris Haynes. It's no time, Mark Stein, 9 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 4: it's some time. This League Uncut is underway and on fire. 10 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 2: This should be a good one. 11 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:47,559 Speaker 1: Welcome in everyone to a Thanksgiving week edition of This 12 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:51,520 Speaker 1: League Uncut. Mark Stein here with Chris Haynes. I've pulled 13 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 1: him away from his extensive Thanksgiving family Thanksgiving preparations because 14 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: Chris Haynes is on record is telling everyone who listens 15 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: to this pod this is his favorite holiday. Yes, it 16 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 1: is a full on family wide undertaking to put your 17 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: Thursday extravaganza together. 18 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 5: Mm hmm. 19 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: So I apologize for pulling you out of your prep 20 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,759 Speaker 1: time to we got we gotta talk. We gotta talk 21 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: some Western Conference today. But real quick, everything is that, 22 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: as you know, we're recording this on a Monday afternoon 23 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 1: Pacific time. Everything on track for your Thursday festival. 24 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 5: Yep. I have my two daughters. They're flying in tomorrow, 25 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:40,559 Speaker 5: my two oldest daughters that go to Clark Atlanta. Shout 26 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 5: out to the a sbcus out there. And I have 27 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 5: my niece. I'm flying my niece in from Virginia, so 28 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 5: she's coming tomorrow as well to stay with us. Stay 29 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 5: with us. My two youngest daughters are cleaning up as 30 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 5: we speak right now, getting the house off speaking span 31 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 5: because the extravaganza this year is at my house. So 32 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 5: we're going to have probably upwards to thirty five to 33 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 5: forty here starting Wednesday, and so yeah, everything's going good. 34 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 5: I went grocery shopping yesterday. The last thing I have 35 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 5: to do is get one of the most important items 36 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:24,839 Speaker 5: the Thanksgiving, the ham dam and specifically honey baked ham stein. 37 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 5: I don't know if you had a honey baked ham stein, 38 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 5: but it's sliced up for you and it has just 39 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 5: this hard this hardened honey that's on the outside surface 40 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 5: of the ham, and so in every bite Steyn, it's 41 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 5: just a beautiful sensation and a feeling in your taste. 42 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 5: Buds Man, when you taste this ham, you can eat 43 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 5: it cold, you can warm it up whatever. But I'll 44 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 5: talk about what's on the menu later. But yes, I'm 45 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 5: getting ready to. 46 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 1: Save some of that for Wednesday's pot. But in short, 47 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: I mean, you haven't been a Sacramento resident for a 48 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: long time, so but you know where to go to 49 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: get what you know what, you already got your spot 50 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: picked out, where you're gonna go and where to get what. 51 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 5: I'm getting all my food. Yeah, that's that what you're 52 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 5: talking about. 53 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: If this ham is so well, no, I mean, if 54 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: the ham is so special, you got to have a 55 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 1: special place to get it from, don't you. 56 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 5: It's the Honey Baked Ham Company. I don't they don't 57 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 5: have that in Dallas. 58 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 3: Maybe they do. I told you, I'm I am not. 59 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,799 Speaker 1: You know, my Thanksgiving is completely different this year. Our 60 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 1: family is I'm I am in La. I'm going to 61 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: see two Laker games and then I'm going to have 62 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 1: a Thanksgiving dinner with my oldest son who lives out here, 63 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: and I am just it's it's just gonna be he 64 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: and I. But I am pumped, psyched, and uh but 65 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 1: there you know we're you know, we don't We're going 66 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: to a restaurant, so I know, I know you don't 67 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: love that idea. I know you don't believe in that. 68 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: I don't want to get you all riled up again. 69 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 5: But uh, well, you're on the road. You're on the road, 70 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 5: so I guess that would suffice. And if you can't, 71 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 5: if you can't get premium food cooked, then I you 72 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 5: know it's okay to But. 73 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 3: You know I'm not looking for it. 74 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: I'm not looking for a traditional Thanksgiving meal that I 75 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: know that is your favorite meal of the year. But 76 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,359 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna have to live vicariously through you on 77 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: that one. 78 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 5: Well, let's you know, everybody, everybody have a well, no, 79 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 5: we're gonna do another part. I was gonna say, everybody 80 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 5: have a great Thanksgiving, but I hope you have a 81 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 5: great Thanksgiving prep because also this is also the worst 82 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 5: time of year for a lot of people. And the 83 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 5: reason for that, Stein is you're bringing everybody together and family. 84 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 5: But I don't know how your family is, Steine, But 85 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,840 Speaker 5: everybody doesn't get along in your family. You don't like 86 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 5: everybody in your family, But you have to act like 87 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 5: you do for at least two or three days. And 88 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,279 Speaker 5: so I hope there's no fights, there's no arguments. I 89 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 5: hope there's no memugs. I hope you're able to get 90 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 5: along with all your family and your loved ones for 91 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 5: these two to three days. Because Steyn, growing up as 92 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 5: a kid, I see some of the best fights doing Thanksgiving. Man, 93 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 5: ain't nobody fighting at my house. I'll tell you that 94 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 5: right now, Tell you that right now. But hey, I 95 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,840 Speaker 5: wish y'all nothing but peace during this Thanksgiving preparation and 96 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 5: on things. 97 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: Fire alarm is fixed, air conditioning is fixed. 98 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 3: You're ready to go. 99 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,720 Speaker 5: The hotel, hands is ready, We're ready to go. 100 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 3: All right? You know what? 101 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 1: Let's you know this Thanksgiving is also basically the one 102 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: month marker for the NBA. We're basically this week is 103 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: when we have seen a month of regular season play, 104 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,360 Speaker 1: and I think when you look at the East, there 105 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: is a lot of order and expectancy at the top 106 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 1: of the standings. Even though the Bucks have looked much 107 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 1: more Milwaukee like since, as you discussed on a recent pod, 108 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: their players went to new coach Adrian Griffin lobbied him 109 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 1: for a return to the more familiar drop coverage schemes 110 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: of recent Bucks seasons that are naturally centered around Brook Lopez. 111 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 1: They've been much better defensively here recently and for all 112 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 1: the ups and downs, you know, they're nine and four 113 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 1: as of Monday as we record this, and you know, 114 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 1: not far off the pace set by Boston and Philly 115 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: top four in the East when we woke up today. Boston, Philly, Milwaukee, Miami. 116 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 1: So that's you know, not too surprising. 117 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 3: Go ahead and. 118 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:38,919 Speaker 5: Sign hold on and the last I believe it was 119 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 5: our last pod. Remember I told you about Dame getting 120 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 5: his minutes back to where he where he was comfortable 121 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 5: at in Portland. Remember I brought that up that his 122 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,719 Speaker 5: minutes were changed. Now he plays the entire first quarter. 123 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 5: That's that's what he's familiar with. That way, he's able 124 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 5: to get comfortable throughout the quarter, doesn't feel like he 125 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 5: needs to rush anything. And so I said that before 126 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 5: it was even made known. And I think two days 127 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 5: later Dame comes out and says, yes, I went to Griffin, 128 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 5: So y'all need to y'all need to keep checking. I'll 129 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 5: throw some things out there here, here and there. You 130 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 5: know what I mean, y'all, y'all listen, I'm trying to 131 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 5: I'm trying to help y'all out. Give y'all a little 132 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 5: bit something before it becomes public knowledge. If you would, 133 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 5: if you were listening to this league uncut last part, 134 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 5: you would have known about a potential conversation that Dame 135 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:36,119 Speaker 5: had with Griff before Dame even acknowledged it. So you know, hey, 136 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 5: just try and make them aware. 137 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: Just to show you my top flight, top shelf sharp 138 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: as attack memory. I don't even remember that, So there 139 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: you go. Man, I am aging so badly. It's really really, 140 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: really painful. When I used to, I used to, I 141 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: used to love my memory, and now I just can 142 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: I remember what happened yesterday. 143 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 3: I don't. 144 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 5: Yeah, I'm with you there, Stile. I can't fault you 145 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 5: for that. I'm the type of person now, especially for 146 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 5: the last few years. Again, I'm forty two. It's like 147 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 5: the last two years. I've just taken a stance that 148 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 5: if something comes to my mind, I'm just saying it 149 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 5: right there because this is going to be gone the 150 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 5: next two minutes. I'm not gonna remember anything. So whatever 151 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 5: comes to your mind, say it if. If you're at 152 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 5: that point, you're officially washed as Stein like Stein's favorite word, 153 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 5: washed and old. And that's okay. 154 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: I get in tu when I you know, when I 155 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: jokingly say that I'm washed, and I hear. 156 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,680 Speaker 3: But you know, missus Stein will say, stop saying that. 157 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: I have a friend from my buddy from high school, 158 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: my dear friend from high school. Dave says, don't say that, 159 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: So I gotta stop. I gotta stop doing that. Anyway, 160 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: that's a long winded way of saying. You know, the East, 161 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:47,199 Speaker 1: the top of the East it you know, Indiana, Indiana 162 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: has been a pleasant surprise. Cleveland seems to be turning 163 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 1: around a slow start, big win for the Cabs Sunday 164 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: night to be Denver at home. But the East, you know, 165 00:08:56,640 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: it essentially looks I think like a lot of people 166 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 1: would have projected it for the most part to this point. 167 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: The West is kind of the one where we're going 168 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 1: to zero in on the West today because you know, 169 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: the West has its share of early surprises. The Denver Nuggets, 170 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 1: they have lost a few on the road, they do, 171 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: Miss Jamal Murray. They're not just gonna know. They still 172 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: haven't lost a home game seven to zero at home, 173 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:24,199 Speaker 1: but they've lost They've lost a couple here in a 174 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 1: row on the road. So I mean the Denver Nuggets, 175 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: the defending champions, they clearly need and miss Jamal Murray. 176 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: I don't think anyone in Denver is too deeply concerned. 177 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:35,959 Speaker 1: But when you look up and down the standings, I 178 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: mean they're we get going all kinds of crazy directions 179 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: in the West. Golden State in the midst of a 180 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 1: six game losing streak, a lot of factors that have 181 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: led to that six game losing streak for Golden State. 182 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: But at the other end, at the top of the West, 183 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: Sacramento has won six in a row. Oklahoma City Producer 184 00:09:56,120 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 1: Ryan's Thunder, they've won five in a row. They're not 185 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: really Producer Ryan's Thunder, but he asked me about them 186 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 1: this morning, so we will get to them. But I 187 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:08,680 Speaker 1: mean they're you know, the Lakers got off to a 188 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 1: slow start. They've bounced back here. Houston's been a surprise. 189 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: Dallas got off to the nine and three start and 190 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:19,319 Speaker 1: just lost a home or a road home back to back, 191 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: lost in Milwaukee, lost at home Sunday night to Sacramento. 192 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 1: Minnesota has been really impressive. I mean, the West has 193 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 1: been full of surprises, and I think we're still kind 194 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: of getting a handle on all these teams. Can you 195 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: pinpoint who is probably who has impressed you the most 196 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 1: out of this diverse group of teams. 197 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 5: For me, it's easy. I didn't expect this at all. 198 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 5: I have to go with the Oklahoma City Thunder, I 199 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 5: mean I was that. I can't remember if it was 200 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 5: their first or second game. It might have been their 201 00:10:55,800 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 5: first game in Chicago. Chicago's first game for sure, because 202 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 5: that's when they had their players only meeting after the 203 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 5: first game, which is pretty much it's unheard of. And 204 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 5: I've just seen just the the talent that they have. 205 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:16,959 Speaker 5: I knew they have to have talent, but they're putting 206 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 5: it all together. You know, s g A. We know 207 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 5: how great and special he is. But they's got a 208 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 5: lot of talent. Man check, you know they you see 209 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 5: what check that that three check hit on Golden State 210 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 5: to send the game to overtime. Man so much poised 211 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 5: turn around three that's that's a tough shot, the seven 212 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,679 Speaker 5: foot of doing it at that, man. And so they 213 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 5: just have a bunch of weapons. And you know, I 214 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 5: can't lie. I didn't think they'd be putting it together 215 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 5: this soon. I mean it's still early. They're ten and 216 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 5: four right now is earlier in the year. Things can change, 217 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 5: But you know, ok C for sure. For me, that's 218 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 5: the probably the most surprising start for me in the 219 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 5: in the entire NBA. S g a is you know, 220 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 5: I had you know, when we talking we talked to 221 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 5: Davion Mitchell the Kings, he said SGA was the toughest 222 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:11,719 Speaker 5: point guard to guard in the league. That's over Steph, 223 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 5: that's over Dame, over Kyrie Irving. And a large part 224 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 5: of it the reason, a large part of the reason 225 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 5: why he said that, he said, because s J. Sga 226 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 5: is lyft. You know, he's six ' five. But yeah, 227 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 5: I have to give all the props to Okay see 228 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 5: and what they're doing this far. I don't want to 229 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 5: jump the gun and say they're going to be there 230 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 5: at the end, but uh, this starter is really impressive. 231 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 3: Yeah. 232 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: Look, I can't sit here and pretend that I thought 233 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:42,200 Speaker 1: they were going to start ten and four, but I 234 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:44,680 Speaker 1: you know, Producer Ryan asked me this morning, do you 235 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 1: believe in the Thunder now? I honestly I believed in 236 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: them coming into the season because, as you said, SGA is, 237 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 1: I mean, first team All NBA last season, and you know, 238 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 1: he is a you know, he's a closer, he's a 239 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 1: finisher in crunch time in tight games, the Thunder know 240 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 1: exactly where they want to go. 241 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 3: Their pecking order is very clear. 242 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 1: And then Chet Holmgren with all this attention on Victor 243 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 1: Webman Yama, and obviously Chet is a red shirt rookie. 244 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 1: Last season should have been his rookie season. This is 245 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 1: officially his rookie season because injury prevented him from playing 246 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 1: last season. But he has been fantastic early and doing 247 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:28,079 Speaker 1: it as a center. They've been able to play him 248 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:31,719 Speaker 1: as a center, and it just makes everything line up 249 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: very nicely for the Thunder. And the question with these 250 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 1: guys is because they have so many trade assets, I 251 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: think that question kind of always lurks in the background 252 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 1: with the Thunder. 253 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:44,560 Speaker 3: Will they make a big move? 254 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 1: Will they use the stacks and stacks of draft picks 255 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 1: amassed by Thunder president Sam Presty. 256 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 3: When will they use it? 257 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 1: Will they will they dive into that stack and try 258 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 1: to go make a trade to bring in another established player, 259 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: But you know they there mantra has always been patients. 260 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:09,319 Speaker 1: I don't think they're gonna bow to any external pressures 261 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,600 Speaker 1: about trying to speed this up and you know, trading 262 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 1: for some making some sort of win now trade. I 263 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: don't see that as being a target for them. 264 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 3: Things are going. 265 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 1: Really well the way it is, with the way SGA 266 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 1: is developing. Chad Holmgren, you've got giddy there obviously, Lou 267 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 1: Dort one of the best and most physical defenders in 268 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: the league. Ken Rich Williams is back now, Jalen and 269 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: Jalen Williams, Like we could go on and on and on. 270 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: I mean, all these guys are developed. You know, they 271 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 1: they it's just they they are doing it at their 272 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: pace and you know it's already working, and you know 273 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: they're a team. I think, look to me that I 274 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 1: the four, I would say the foremost surprise, I would 275 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: still probably give it to Minnesota, just because I think 276 00:14:55,680 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 1: Minnesota also has mixed in some real quality wins early 277 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: in the season to you know, the start that they've had. 278 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: I mean, this is you know, this is a franchise 279 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 1: that I mean, they haven't won a playoff series in 280 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: twenty years, and so there is a lot riding on 281 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: this season for Minnesota. They have a very expensive payroll, 282 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: They have the pressures that carry over from last season 283 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: when they gave up so many trade assets for Rudy Gobert, 284 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: and last season didn't go great and didn't come anywhere 285 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: close to what they were hoping for. 286 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 3: But now you know the Wolves. 287 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: You know, nine and three to start the season, and 288 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: again some real quality wins to this point. They beat 289 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: Miami early, they gave Denver their first loss, they gave 290 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 1: Boston their first loss. They won the two games back 291 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 1: to back in the Bay Area that sent the Warriors 292 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 1: into their current six game spirals. I mean, they've made 293 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 1: some early season statements. I mean, Anthony Edwards, I think 294 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 1: everybody in the league was expecting him to play at 295 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 1: this level after what we saw with Team USA. But 296 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 1: Rudy Gobert looks just miles better and more mobile this 297 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 1: season than he did last season. And so we're now 298 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: kind of getting, at the very least, we're getting the 299 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: Timberwolves that we expected last season when they made the 300 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 1: trade for Rudy Gobert, because Rudy Gobert's presence that's supposed 301 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: to make you, if nothing else, a strong team in 302 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: the regular season. 303 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 3: And with the defense that Minnesota is playing, the. 304 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: Wolves are quickly establishing themselves as a team that has 305 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 1: some serious playoff aspirations. And I think I think. Look, 306 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 1: I think deep down they know they got to win 307 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 1: a series for starters for people to really take them seriously, 308 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: because again, it's been so long, not since the run 309 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 1: to the Western Conference Finals in two thousand and four 310 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 1: have the Wolves won so much. 311 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:08,880 Speaker 3: As one round in the playoffs. 312 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: But you know what, I probably shouldn't have been surprised 313 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: because on my own sub stack, again, my pals at 314 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: stratumatic with that simulation they did. They told us the 315 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: Wolves were gonna be good, and they look like right now, 316 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 1: they look like the smartest guys in the room. 317 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean I was always suspect on if it 318 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:35,919 Speaker 5: would work with Towns and Rudy Gobert playing significant minutes together. 319 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 5: I just didn't know. I still view Towns as a center. 320 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 5: I know he wants to be I know he wants 321 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,160 Speaker 5: to be label a position other than that. So it's 322 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:51,439 Speaker 5: been surprised. I mean, you got to give Definitely Anthony Edwards. 323 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:53,679 Speaker 5: We knew or had a feeling he would take the 324 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 5: next step up, and he is averaging about twenty six 325 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:01,640 Speaker 5: points a game right now thirty five minutes. But Mike 326 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:04,919 Speaker 5: Conley man like he's doing a really good job of 327 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 5: just being a general and a floor spacer. You know, 328 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:12,199 Speaker 5: he's shooting forty two percent from three this season, so 329 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 5: that's a really good attribute to have with this personnel. 330 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 5: And you know, so right now, look they're looking good. 331 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 5: You know, Jay McDaniels is a long wing defender who 332 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 5: who's going to pay huge dividends down the road. He's 333 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 5: going to have the toughest assignments out there, and so 334 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 5: they it looks like they have the personnel. I'm still like, 335 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:39,639 Speaker 5: I'm not completely sold, Steyn. I know they're number one 336 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 5: in the West right now at nine to three. Not 337 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 5: completely sold yet, but it definitely looks like they've taken 338 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:51,360 Speaker 5: a leap. But yeah, I'm still I'm still I'm intrigued 339 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 5: by them. They got They've got my attention. 340 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 1: Do you have any Wolves on your upcoming TV schedule? 341 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:00,439 Speaker 5: No, no Wolves on my upcoming TV scaled, So let 342 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 5: me let me see off the top right quick. My 343 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 5: next games I have next week is Golden State at Sacramento. 344 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:10,199 Speaker 1: The Oh, that's right, that was the home game that 345 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 1: you were upset about. 346 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 5: Yeah, yes, unfortunately. Yeah. Then I have in season tournament, 347 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 5: so I got a few in season tournament games. I 348 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:22,360 Speaker 5: don't know the matchups. Now after that mid December Lakers 349 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 5: at Dallas and hoping to run into you there. 350 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 3: Lakers at Dallas. Well, I will be there, I. 351 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 5: Promise, yep. And then in January Phoenix at Lakers. Next 352 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:37,199 Speaker 5: week Oklahoma City at Clippers. After that Lakers at Clippers, 353 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 5: then after that Philly at Golden State. So that's that's 354 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 5: my schedule. 355 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 1: And you are all westy, you are living in the West. 356 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 5: No complaints, colts whatsoever. 357 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 3: So I have not. 358 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,440 Speaker 1: This week will be my first in person look at 359 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: the Lakers. As I said, I'll be there Tuesday and 360 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 1: Wednesday night when they play Utah and Dallas and a 361 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:00,880 Speaker 1: home back to back for the purple and goal. So 362 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 1: I'll probably have more to say about the Lakers after that. 363 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 1: But I mean, I think Lebron is forcing us to 364 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 1: talk about him, whether we've seen him or not, because. 365 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:12,240 Speaker 3: I mean, he is just. 366 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:16,440 Speaker 1: What he you know what he's doing, you know his 367 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:21,200 Speaker 1: he's a month away from birthday number thirty nine, season 368 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:27,120 Speaker 1: number twenty one, and he's as dangerous as ever. 369 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:29,920 Speaker 5: Let me tell you something about that, Stu. Let me 370 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 5: this is this is going off with basketball a little bit, 371 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 5: as it pertains to Lebron James Stein. Lebron is probably 372 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 5: the best at responding to texts, which I would think 373 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:47,680 Speaker 5: he would be the worst ever in responding to texts. 374 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:52,000 Speaker 5: And what's surprising, like he's good at responding text Like 375 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 5: he gets back in a timely fashion. I'm trying to 376 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 5: think who is bad at responding to text Joelan b 377 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 5: is good responding text. But he'll get back to see it. 378 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 5: Probably he'll reply probably a week or two weeks later. 379 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:08,160 Speaker 5: Lebron is pretty quick. And what makes it even more 380 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 5: remarkable he gets back and responds to your text, even 381 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:18,639 Speaker 5: on his birthday. On his birthday, Stein, it may be 382 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:21,439 Speaker 5: it may be later in the day when he respond, 383 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 5: but he'll reply something. Lebron is an amazing texter. He 384 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 5: will respond back in a prompt fashion. I was very 385 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 5: surprised when I found that out. 386 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 3: Very So you're gonna text him on his birthday? 387 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 5: I'll text, I text month, I'll text months birth I'll 388 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:48,920 Speaker 5: give him half a birthday shout out for sure. Thirty nine. 389 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:51,360 Speaker 3: You guys are almost the same age. 390 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:54,400 Speaker 5: Thirty nine. I'm forty. I'm three years older than him. 391 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 5: Thirty nine. That's man, what he's doing at this age man, 392 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:01,719 Speaker 5: I mean, we keep saying, we keep saying this, and 393 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 5: it's becoming seems like it's becoming cliche. But like I thought, 394 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 5: stein when I went to cover Lebron as a beat 395 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:16,199 Speaker 5: writer in Cleveland, this was twenty fourteen, I thought I 396 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:22,679 Speaker 5: will be covering like him on the downslide. That's what 397 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 5: I thought. I thought. Obviously he was still gonna be great, 398 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 5: still have his great moments. But I thought I was 399 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 5: gonna be covering him on the downturn. This is twenty fourteen. 400 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:38,960 Speaker 5: We're in twenty twenty three, and yes, and you know, 401 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 5: he might not be a top two player anymore, be 402 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:46,439 Speaker 5: still still a top ten in twenty twenty three. He 403 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 5: was drafted in two thousand and three. Like this, this 404 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 5: this is crazy, man. So uh, you know, you have 405 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:57,119 Speaker 5: to appreciate, love them or hate him. You have to 406 00:22:57,119 --> 00:23:01,159 Speaker 5: appreciate the greatness, the memories, the moments that he's given 407 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:06,120 Speaker 5: the NBA, He's given so many basketball fans and the players, 408 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 5: the up and coming players that he's that he's inspired. 409 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 5: You know, he's he's really one of the greats, one 410 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:17,160 Speaker 5: of the true greats. Man. So you know, it's been 411 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 5: a pleasure covering that guy. 412 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 3: And look, let's be honest. 413 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 1: Lebron turns thirty nine soon, Kevin Durant just turned thirty five, 414 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 1: Steph will turn thirty six in March, and all three 415 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 1: of them have been sensational, not just good sensational to 416 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:38,320 Speaker 1: start the season, and all three unquestionably still top ten 417 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 1: players in this league. Like, we could do hours and 418 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,160 Speaker 1: hours arguing trying to argue who is the specific top five, 419 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 1: and you know it's probably not even worth doing that 420 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:50,360 Speaker 1: because you know, no two people will ever agree exactly. 421 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 1: But just let's just broaden it out a little bit 422 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:55,919 Speaker 1: and just say top ten. And there is no question 423 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:58,439 Speaker 1: that all three of these guys in their mid to 424 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:01,920 Speaker 1: late thirties are all still top ten. 425 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:03,880 Speaker 3: Forces in this league, which is. 426 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:11,240 Speaker 1: You know, you have to marvel at all of them. 427 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 1: And one one little note I will add about the Lakers, 428 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: because they've been mentioned as a team that would have 429 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: trade interest in Zach Levine. I touched on this in 430 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 1: my Monday notebook that I published on my sub stack. 431 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:27,040 Speaker 1: I think Philly's interest in Levine to this point has 432 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: been overstated. I've already written about why, and we've discussed 433 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: that on it here as well, and I think the Lakers. 434 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:34,680 Speaker 1: I think the Lakers at most when we talk about 435 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:39,200 Speaker 1: Zach Levine classify them as that's TBD at most because 436 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:43,120 Speaker 1: for starters, even if the Lakers wanted to go after him, 437 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:46,640 Speaker 1: you know, Austin Reeves and Ruey Hatchemurr, who they don't 438 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:48,680 Speaker 1: want to trade either one, but they couldn't trade either 439 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:52,280 Speaker 1: one if they wanted to before mid January. They've got 440 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:56,400 Speaker 1: several other free agents who aren't even tradable until mid December, 441 00:24:56,440 --> 00:25:00,240 Speaker 1: which is still a good three weeks away. And the 442 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,359 Speaker 1: message I've gotten on the Lakers and I think they 443 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:06,440 Speaker 1: are at this point really counting on internal improvement to 444 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 1: bounce back from a slow start. 445 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 3: They've had it on the defensive end. 446 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,680 Speaker 1: The defense has been been much better here over the 447 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:14,640 Speaker 1: last week plus, and I think that's why you're seeing 448 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:18,640 Speaker 1: them win more. But you know, again, they they've had 449 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 1: to do a lot of this without Vanderbilt, without Gabe 450 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:24,119 Speaker 1: Vincent through injury, so I think they want to see 451 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:27,639 Speaker 1: what their team looks like when those guys are both 452 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 1: functioning fully. And I'm I'm definitely I'm really looking forward 453 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 1: to seeing seeing the Lakers play twice in the span 454 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:38,880 Speaker 1: of two days and getting my own look at these guys. 455 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 5: I can't believe you, Stey, and that's why I text 456 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:44,920 Speaker 5: you the other day. I told you I was appalled 457 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 5: by your decision not to watch that Dallas Mavericks Milwaukee 458 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 5: Bucks game, four superstars going at it. You missed it. 459 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 1: I mean, it wasn't It wasn't a decision. I was 460 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 1: on a plane and I didn't have made my decision. 461 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 5: You made a decision to book that flight at that time. 462 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:11,879 Speaker 1: There's a reason, but because Saturdays I had, you know, 463 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 1: I host a radio show in Dallas, so I had 464 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 1: to I had to choose a flight that was after 465 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 1: my radio show so I could get in studio and 466 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:22,280 Speaker 1: host the Saturday Steinline on ninety seven to one the 467 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:24,640 Speaker 1: Freak in Dallas. I hope you guys check that out 468 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 1: online or check out the podcast version of that as well. 469 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:30,240 Speaker 1: But I had to get a flight that was suitably 470 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 1: separated from the show so I could do the show 471 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:35,720 Speaker 1: with no issues. And yeah, in retrospect, it was a 472 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:39,879 Speaker 1: bad decision because I missed. I missed an absolute shootout 473 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 1: in real time. But you know I caught up. You 474 00:26:44,560 --> 00:26:47,960 Speaker 1: watched every dribble from your palatial Sacramento Estate. 475 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:51,200 Speaker 5: Yeah, of course, you know, I don't miss there's a 476 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:53,560 Speaker 5: few teams I don't miss it. I don't miss a game. 477 00:26:53,600 --> 00:26:55,600 Speaker 5: I don't miss a Bucks game. I don't miss a 478 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:59,520 Speaker 5: Lakers game. I don't miss a Philly game. I don't 479 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 5: miss a Like trying to think, what else teams I 480 00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:09,360 Speaker 5: just watched I have missed, have missed a Clippers game. 481 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:13,919 Speaker 5: I haven't missed a Clippers game, Warriors, and there's one. 482 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 1: Okay, Clippers, Warriors. Fix those teams? How do you fix 483 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:17,439 Speaker 1: those teams? 484 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 5: Then? Well, Clippers, I mean, look, they just they're coming 485 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 5: off of that victory. They move. We've touched, we have. 486 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 5: We haven't had the chance to talk since a report 487 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:33,680 Speaker 5: about Westbrook's move to the bench. The last conversation we 488 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:37,880 Speaker 5: had the pot I was talking about, like there's there's 489 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 5: going to be an ugly shift, an ugly change, and 490 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:44,600 Speaker 5: players are going to have to adapt. Then, you know, 491 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 5: I touched on that the game that I covered the 492 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 5: Clippers at Denver in which Westbrook didn't play the last 493 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:55,159 Speaker 5: six five or six minutes of that game and he 494 00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:59,280 Speaker 5: only came in for a defensive possession and what's up 495 00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 5: right back out and you know, you just knew the 496 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 5: writing was on the wall. Then two days later, you know, 497 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:10,359 Speaker 5: I got worried that he requested to come off the bench, 498 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 5: and so that happened. 499 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:14,800 Speaker 3: That was a nice one. That was a nice scoop. 500 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 5: And you know how I know, how's that stun? 501 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:20,800 Speaker 1: Nobody followed up on it till there was no There 502 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:23,000 Speaker 1: was no There was very little chatter until. 503 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:23,879 Speaker 3: Tyler confirmed it. 504 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, you were. 505 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:28,719 Speaker 3: You were well ahead on that one. 506 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 5: It was all it was always good to get and 507 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:34,439 Speaker 5: you know, Clippers won that won that game. James Harden 508 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 5: had a really forgot who was the team they played? 509 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 5: Producer Ryan he was Houston. Yeah, it was Houston and 510 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 5: James Harden hit the clutch three. James Harden looking really good. Uh, 511 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:46,160 Speaker 5: And he would have something to say to you Stein. 512 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:49,440 Speaker 5: You you mentioned players that's thirty five plus that still 513 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 5: playing well. He would have something to say about that. 514 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 5: I know, you know, people feel like he might have 515 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 5: took a season off or wasn't himself. He would has 516 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 5: something to say about still being on top of his 517 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:07,960 Speaker 5: game at this age. But the Clippers, they they I 518 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 5: believe they felt like this needed to happen. I really do, 519 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:12,880 Speaker 5: I really do feel like they need this need to happen. 520 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 5: But I think they were willing to go a few 521 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:21,120 Speaker 5: more games throughout this process to really see and really 522 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 5: evaluate and to really give players a chance to earn 523 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,760 Speaker 5: their worth. And so by Russ doing is going to 524 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:31,640 Speaker 5: the bench and sacrificing that allows them to bring in 525 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:34,680 Speaker 5: the guy that they've wanted all along Stime for Remember, 526 00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:36,479 Speaker 5: I told you we were talking about this all summer. 527 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 5: They resigned Russ, but they were always flirting or trying 528 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 5: to bring in another point guard all this time. You know, 529 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 5: whatever it was, Malcolm Brogdon, Damian Lillard, Drew Holliday, like, 530 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:56,400 Speaker 5: they kept trying to bring in another point guard. And 531 00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:59,520 Speaker 5: you know, even when James Harden came aboard. That's the 532 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:01,479 Speaker 5: one thing that that kind of shocked me is we 533 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:04,800 Speaker 5: were talking about they need James Harden playmaking ability, they 534 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 5: need the leadership at that position. And I'm like, damn, 535 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:10,480 Speaker 5: like what do y'all saying? Y'all got a Hall of 536 00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:13,640 Speaker 5: Fame point guard right there, But James Harden is a 537 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 5: different dynamic. He's somebody who could space the floor, and 538 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:20,840 Speaker 5: you probably want another spacer around guys like Kawhi and 539 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 5: Paul George, so you know, the move makes sense. So 540 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 5: they feel like they might be able to put this 541 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:31,480 Speaker 5: thing together now that they got the shift in the 542 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:33,160 Speaker 5: rotational lamps that they wanted. 543 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:37,520 Speaker 1: Well, look, there are so many more teams in the 544 00:30:37,520 --> 00:30:39,960 Speaker 1: West that we can laser in on. I mean, we 545 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:42,960 Speaker 1: can't talk about all fifteen in this discussion, but I 546 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,600 Speaker 1: mean the Warriors not only got off to the six 547 00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:47,960 Speaker 1: and two start, they got some road wins in there, 548 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:50,720 Speaker 1: which of course everybody members. Last season, they took the 549 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 1: preseason trip to Japan, started zero to eight on the road, 550 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:57,200 Speaker 1: and were just a terrible road team last season. Stephen 551 00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:00,720 Speaker 1: Curry is mentioned off to this tremendous start, but Steph 552 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 1: with a knee injury that cost him a couple of games, 553 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:07,240 Speaker 1: the Draymond Green suspension, Klay Thompson struggles which have been 554 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:11,360 Speaker 1: covered all over the place ad nauseum, Andrew Wiggins, who's 555 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:15,960 Speaker 1: struggling even worse, and it's it's it's stunning, really, because 556 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 1: the Warriors six game homestand concludes tonight after we record 557 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:26,400 Speaker 1: Warriors playing host to the surprising Houston Rockets. If the 558 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:29,640 Speaker 1: Warriors don't win that game, it's an o and six 559 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:33,720 Speaker 1: home stand. Which just you know, unfathomable to just say 560 00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 1: that out loud, the prospect of Golden State losing going 561 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:39,640 Speaker 1: ohen six on a six game homestand and you know, 562 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 1: we could talk about Houston and just what an impact 563 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:46,280 Speaker 1: ema Udoka has had as their new coach, Fred van Vliet, 564 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:49,960 Speaker 1: Dylan Brooks, the way shng Goon is playing, I mean, 565 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 1: the Rockets certainly deserve more of our attention. And Sacramento 566 00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 1: de Aaron Fox has come back, just named Player of 567 00:31:57,640 --> 00:32:00,040 Speaker 1: the Week. When Deeron Fox is on the court, the 568 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:03,200 Speaker 1: Kings are six and one and just an absolute handful, 569 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:06,520 Speaker 1: and Sabonus has been playing so well off him, just 570 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 1: diming it up on top of all the rebounds he grabs. 571 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:11,800 Speaker 3: I mean, they the Kings. 572 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:17,720 Speaker 1: You know, the Kings are doing what Dallas dreams of 573 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:20,880 Speaker 1: doing to this point. And you know, teams like the 574 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 1: Kings and the MAVs, you know they're gonna be offensive 575 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:30,360 Speaker 1: monsters and top three potentially offenses in the league. When 576 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:33,120 Speaker 1: you have that much offensive firepower, it's just can you 577 00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:37,960 Speaker 1: be average defensively? And Sacramento they woke up today, I 578 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:41,040 Speaker 1: believe it was fourteenth in defensive ratings, So they are 579 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:43,280 Speaker 1: in the top half of the league. I'm sure Mike 580 00:32:43,320 --> 00:32:46,959 Speaker 1: Brown is giddy about that, because if Sacramento is a 581 00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:50,880 Speaker 1: top half team defensively, they're going to be better than 582 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:53,280 Speaker 1: they were last season because they they've their offense has 583 00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:57,080 Speaker 1: probably gotten even more dangerous with just the older these 584 00:32:57,120 --> 00:32:59,760 Speaker 1: guys get expanded role for Keegan Murray. 585 00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:02,440 Speaker 3: I mean, so Mike Brown will be thrilled. 586 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:04,960 Speaker 1: I think if the Kings can stay in the top 587 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 1: half defensively, and that's been the MAVs issue. The MAVs 588 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:10,240 Speaker 1: got off to a nine and three start, which was 589 00:33:10,360 --> 00:33:13,280 Speaker 1: hugely surprising, but there was a lot of schedule help 590 00:33:13,280 --> 00:33:16,000 Speaker 1: in there. I mean, the nine teams Dallas has beaten, 591 00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 1: their cumulative record is only forty and seventy four, and 592 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:23,280 Speaker 1: the Mavericks have all kinds of issues defensively interior, on 593 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:28,800 Speaker 1: the perimeter, there's a size deficit, rebounding shortcomings. So the 594 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:32,840 Speaker 1: MAVs are really all offense, and the MAVs are nowhere 595 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 1: near the top half of the league defensively, and that's 596 00:33:36,720 --> 00:33:39,920 Speaker 1: their goal. Can they finish top half, because you know, 597 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:42,240 Speaker 1: if you have Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, you're gonna 598 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:45,720 Speaker 1: have a top three offense almost automatically. 599 00:33:45,720 --> 00:33:47,320 Speaker 3: But the last team I want to hit. 600 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:50,080 Speaker 1: On before we go in, before we let you resume 601 00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:54,040 Speaker 1: your Thanksgiving preparations, and we will expect a full update 602 00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:56,120 Speaker 1: Wednesday on Thanksgiving. 603 00:33:55,600 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 3: Eve on how that's all going. 604 00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:04,760 Speaker 1: What about Phoenix Durant again, like Steph and Lebron, you know, 605 00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:09,440 Speaker 1: defying age, he's I mean, playing ridiculous amount of minutes 606 00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:13,640 Speaker 1: doing it all for them. When it's Durant and Devin Booker, 607 00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:18,440 Speaker 1: they've looked great. But no Bradley Beal for three more weeks. 608 00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:21,680 Speaker 1: I mean, we still have not seen the three of 609 00:34:21,719 --> 00:34:26,319 Speaker 1: these guys together, you know how I mean to me, 610 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:29,719 Speaker 1: that is a that is that is very concerning. 611 00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:31,839 Speaker 3: It's not a small thing. 612 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:34,240 Speaker 1: But you know, I know you cover that team closely 613 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:36,400 Speaker 1: and you know all those guys well, And what was 614 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:38,480 Speaker 1: your reaction when you heard that Beal's going to miss 615 00:34:38,480 --> 00:34:39,400 Speaker 1: another three weeks? 616 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:41,959 Speaker 5: Yeah, I'd inspect them of this. That that much time 617 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:45,560 Speaker 5: a back injury is nothing to play with. And obviously 618 00:34:45,680 --> 00:34:48,759 Speaker 5: you know they've been taking precautions this whole time, and 619 00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:52,239 Speaker 5: you know, you just wonder how serious this is, you know, 620 00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:54,600 Speaker 5: even even if he comes back in three weeks, like 621 00:34:54,719 --> 00:34:59,080 Speaker 5: is this something that will linger. I've had back issues 622 00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:04,279 Speaker 5: before in basketball, and you know, those things can those 623 00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:07,040 Speaker 5: things can pop up on you again. So I don't 624 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:09,719 Speaker 5: know what I will say about the sun Stein is 625 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:12,560 Speaker 5: we all know their makeup. They're very top heavy, and 626 00:35:12,640 --> 00:35:18,880 Speaker 5: they have some pretty good complimentary pieces, Eric Gordon, you know, 627 00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:22,759 Speaker 5: Josha Kogi. But they're still you know, they got a 628 00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:25,040 Speaker 5: lot of guys in Na's little that they're trying to 629 00:35:25,080 --> 00:35:27,200 Speaker 5: still figure out, you know, what they have in him 630 00:35:27,239 --> 00:35:30,040 Speaker 5: and others, and so you know, you don't know, like 631 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:33,960 Speaker 5: they're seven and six right now, and I think everybody 632 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:37,120 Speaker 5: feels like everything will come together once the big three 633 00:35:37,320 --> 00:35:39,680 Speaker 5: plays together. I don't know if it's I don't know 634 00:35:39,719 --> 00:35:42,160 Speaker 5: if that is going to be that easy. I don't 635 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:45,000 Speaker 5: And so if I'm a Sons fan, I'm a little 636 00:35:45,080 --> 00:35:47,480 Speaker 5: I'm a little concerned with them. You know, they got 637 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:51,919 Speaker 5: to double overtime victory over Utah. You know, barely got 638 00:35:51,920 --> 00:35:56,960 Speaker 5: that game, and so you know it's this is the 639 00:35:57,040 --> 00:36:00,960 Speaker 5: Sons are playing for championships. This is a championship, Like 640 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:04,320 Speaker 5: they don't have years to waste. So this is definitely 641 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:06,239 Speaker 5: not the start to everybody envision. 642 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:08,200 Speaker 1: All right, that is going to do it for us 643 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:11,919 Speaker 1: on this edition of This League Uncut. But I don't 644 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:14,440 Speaker 1: really consider this an ending this week. It's almost like 645 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:17,080 Speaker 1: you can almost say it's a two part episode because 646 00:36:17,440 --> 00:36:21,360 Speaker 1: again this week, Thanksgiving week, it is when the NBA 647 00:36:21,520 --> 00:36:25,920 Speaker 1: regular season reaches it's one month in stage. And so 648 00:36:26,080 --> 00:36:28,399 Speaker 1: today we looked at the West and we did pretty good. 649 00:36:28,440 --> 00:36:32,200 Speaker 1: We got to basically two thirds of the conference in 650 00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:37,239 Speaker 1: fairly substantial fashion, and we are going to continue the 651 00:36:37,320 --> 00:36:42,040 Speaker 1: dialogue about what we've seen league wide through this opening month. 652 00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:47,000 Speaker 1: We will do that Wednesday, will record another episode Wednesday afternoon, 653 00:36:47,120 --> 00:36:50,239 Speaker 1: the idea being that we'll have it out Wednesday afternoon 654 00:36:50,320 --> 00:36:54,400 Speaker 1: and that way on your commute Wednesday night or Thursday, 655 00:36:54,440 --> 00:36:58,040 Speaker 1: wherever you're headed on this Thanksgiving even if you did 656 00:36:58,080 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 1: not score a prized invitation to the Haynes Hotel for 657 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:07,160 Speaker 1: his celebrations, wherever you're going, you'll be able to take 658 00:37:07,239 --> 00:37:10,760 Speaker 1: us with you and get the latest on what's happening 659 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:15,120 Speaker 1: in this league. Hashtag this League as always, friends, Please, 660 00:37:15,480 --> 00:37:19,840 Speaker 1: if you haven't already, rate, review, and subscribe to the 661 00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:25,360 Speaker 1: show wherever you get your pods, and yes, indeed, Wednesday afternoon, 662 00:37:25,520 --> 00:37:29,200 Speaker 1: Chris Haynes and I will be back with you. Not 663 00:37:29,320 --> 00:37:33,520 Speaker 1: a long wait for the next episode of This League Uncut. 664 00:37:33,719 --> 00:37:34,480 Speaker 3: Talk to you soon. 665 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:39,000 Speaker 2: Everyone, and that'll do it for us. See you next time. 666 00:37:40,280 --> 00:37:48,000 Speaker 2: This League Uncut it is and iHeartRadio production Chris Haynes 667 00:37:48,239 --> 00:38:03,520 Speaker 2: and Mark Stein. I can't