1 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 1: Hey, welcome in It's All Ball. It's the All Basketball podcast. 2 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: Remember to download, subscribe, and rate us, and also tell 3 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: a friend however you came upon All Ball, tell a 4 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:17,800 Speaker 1: friend to tell a friend. We've got great stuff for 5 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 1: you upcoming, outstanding stuff for you upcoming. But we are 6 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 1: on the verge of the end of the NBA season, 7 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: which means the beginning of the summer of Lebron and 8 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,919 Speaker 1: many of us have seen different lists of teams that 9 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: might make sense, and uh, I'll just look, I want 10 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 1: to get to the NBA Finals and give you my 11 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: actual analysis of what we've seen. Give you my thoughts 12 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: on Kevin Ramp, my thoughts on Lebron James, who has 13 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: been was magnificent in game one, okay, in game two, 14 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 1: I thought really good in Game three, but not not 15 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: magnificent and he's still down three. Oh, what that means 16 00:00:57,720 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: for the Michael Jordan comparison, What that means for the 17 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: best player in basketball comparison, what that means for the 18 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 1: future of the Cabs and other teams, and and if 19 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 1: we're in fact going to have a series. But but 20 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 1: I think this is incredibly, incredibly and increasingly important to 21 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: discuss that I'm not sure there's a perfect fit for Lebron. 22 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 1: There's not one that goes like oh yeah, yeah, that 23 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: makes sense, makes sense. There's this thing in movie making, 24 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: and it's the same thing in business. Right, if you're 25 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: gonna start a business, you tell me what it is 26 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: in two senses, and if I go, oh, yeah, that 27 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 1: makes sense, then you got you gotta you gotta hit. 28 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: It's the same thing in movie, like, what's this movie? 29 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 1: It's this, it's this, it's this. Maybe three sentences you're like, oh, yeah, 30 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:42,119 Speaker 1: that's good, you know when then it comes down to obviously, 31 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: you know how well shot it is? Uh did the 32 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: actors become the roles that they play, the timing of 33 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: the movie being released? But like, you know, tell me, like, 34 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: oh that makes makes sense when you look around the NBA. 35 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: Tell me where it makes sense. Does Houston make sense? 36 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 1: Sort of? Sort of? Sure, it would be a Big three, 37 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: it would be, it would there would there'd be some 38 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 1: similarities to the Miami situation where now you have a 39 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: Big three. My issue with it is like, look, Lebron 40 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 1: can say all these things about well, you know, phase two, Hell, 41 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: he's willing to play without the basketball, but Phase one 42 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,119 Speaker 1: has been I don't know, thirty years, so it's a 43 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: really difficult thing to do. This is spoken from a 44 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: guy who I'm a solo radio host on my radio show, 45 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 1: and of course this podcast is my podcast. I'll share 46 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: the mic with anybody I've done. Um, I've done co 47 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 1: host shows, but I'm fortunate to have started doing a 48 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 1: co host show for my first four or five years 49 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:41,839 Speaker 1: back when I was at the ESPN. Occasionally done them now, 50 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 1: so I still have had that role some right. Lebron 51 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: has only had this role where he'll he'll share the 52 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: spotlight when he's with the Olympic team. No, that's the truth. Um, 53 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: so we're talking about, you know, two times really in 54 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:01,640 Speaker 1: his life. Other than otherwise, he's essentially the point guard. 55 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: He's the alpha. Everybody plays off of him. And while 56 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:07,520 Speaker 1: Chris Paul was willing to sacrifice some ego this year, 57 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: like Chris Paul gonna be the third wheel and then 58 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: what about James Harden. Don't get me wrong, that's a 59 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: dynamic threesome. And while we may all be up in arms, 60 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: okay that that change, Clint Capella is no longer there. 61 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: It's it's hard to find a Clint Compella, but not impossible. 62 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 1: It's impossible to find another Lebron James. What happens to 63 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: Trevor Reza, Eric Gordon gone, Like they gotta move all 64 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 1: those other parts that made Houston kind of cool and 65 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: spread the court for these guys on the other hand, 66 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: kind of like you've seen with the Warriors, You've got 67 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 1: three dudes, and that's hard to beat. And and in 68 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: all candor, like those three guys are probably as good 69 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: and probably better together than the three then well, whether 70 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: that they're better, remember we have to look at the 71 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: prison of Chris Paul in his thirties, Lebron James in 72 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: his thirties and uh, and and whether or not James 73 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: Harden plays any defense. Compare that to the big three 74 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: of the Warriors. Um, Chris Paul versus Steph Curry. Steph 75 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: does one thing clearly better than Chris Paul. Clearly, I mean, 76 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: he's an incredible shooter. Outside of that, both are a 77 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: little bit injury prone. Chris Paul better defensively, Chris Paul 78 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: a better sounder passer. Uh, you know, in terms of 79 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 1: finishing shots, I would say Chris Paul is a little 80 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: bit better than Steffilo stuff, has a greater variety of 81 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: finishing shots. If you compare James Harden to Clay Thompson, 82 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 1: they're very different, right. Clay Thompson is uh is a 83 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: great shooter and a really good defender and rebounds a 84 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: little bit and as a low maintenance guy. James Harden 85 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 1: is high maintenance, has to have the ball, but a 86 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: much better score. And by score, I mean you know, like, look, 87 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: he finds a variety ways to score. He's an up 88 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: and down three only shooter, needs the ball in his hands. 89 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: Not much of a defender at all, although some of that, 90 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 1: some of the effort at percentage of times in which 91 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: he's given it as all has improved and you think 92 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 1: it would improve even more if he wasn't the alpha 93 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 1: on a team. Um, but he's kind of the opposite 94 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 1: style of player. And then you have the Lebron versus Durant, 95 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 1: which I want to get into two very different players. 96 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: Lebron's power, Lebron's ability to see the floor to garden positions. 97 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: But let's not underestimate what Kevin Durant can be defensively 98 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: and Kevin Durant shooting. There's some similarities there. Two other 99 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: positions and then it would be what they put, what 100 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: you're able to put around them. Who's willing to take 101 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: Penny's on the dollar in order to play with him? 102 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: I think the whole thing would be fascinating. But I 103 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 1: don't know. Have I ever gotten the sense that Mike 104 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 1: D'Antoni is the type of coach that would be a 105 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 1: perfect fit for Lebron, Nor does Houston feel like a 106 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 1: perfect fit for Lebron's persona. On the other hand, you're like, look, 107 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 1: he's in Cleveland now, he was in my aim before, 108 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 1: and however glamorous. You think Miami is an international city 109 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: like Miami, He's not. It's not New York, it's not 110 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: l A, it's not Chicago. So Houston doesn't feel perfect. 111 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,600 Speaker 1: It feels like the best of the big three options. 112 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 1: L A gives you all the things. L A gives 113 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: you the possibility of Paul George coming with you. And remember, 114 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: wherever he's gone, he's brought another all star with him. 115 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: When he went to Miami, Chris Bosh came with him, 116 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: They met with Dwayne Wade. Eventually they brought in Ray Allen. 117 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:27,720 Speaker 1: The same king thing could be said. When he went 118 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,039 Speaker 1: to Cleveland, he brought Kevin Love in with him to 119 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: go along with Kyrie Irving, and then you know some 120 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 1: of the other pieces slowly added on. L A would 121 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 1: give you that with But the question is what's there 122 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 1: with him? Like kl Kuzma, really good rookie, but six 123 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 1: man or fifth best starter like Brandon Ingram really good 124 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,119 Speaker 1: second year player, but is can he be a third 125 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 1: option and win right away? The answer is, I don't know. 126 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: I don't think so. Um, but it is l A 127 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: and the Lakers of figure it out, and I think 128 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,719 Speaker 1: we would all agree that the Golden State, at least 129 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: this group has kind of peaked and it's it's a 130 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: shell of its former self, and they're gonna have somebody 131 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 1: working to do. I think a lot of these teams 132 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: that you hear coming out about Lebro, well, he'll meet 133 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: with Boston. He liked to like, Yeah, he likes the 134 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: idea of Brad Stevens, and he loves all the young 135 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: talent they have. But they would have to they would 136 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: have to move a bunch of stuff around. And are 137 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: they going to get rid of Kyrie Irving to bring 138 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: in Lebron? Maybe? I mean Danny Ainge is a savage 139 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: like that maybe that would be the ultimate respect for 140 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: what Boston has done, what Boston has built. And remember 141 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 1: Lebron has pointed out in years in the past, like 142 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: how well coach he thinks the Boston Celtics are the Knicks. 143 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: Makes some sense, they just do the Knicks make a 144 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: lot of sense because David Fizdale's this guy. It's New York, 145 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: and you know, Lebron did something that all of us 146 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: thought was it was impossible fifteen years ago, which is 147 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: winning Cleveland. No. One for the last five the years 148 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 1: has been able to win the whole thing in New York. 149 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: Prezingis coming back. The assumption is he'd be able to 150 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 1: add another star and go from there Philly, Like, yeah, again, 151 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: is he gonna play without the basketball? Does he want 152 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: to play in Philadelphia? They don't have a leadership. Are 153 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: they gonna hire David Griffin? Does that get it done? 154 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: I don't know. I kind of think you're hearing all 155 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 1: these teams being thrown out there because there is no 156 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: idea that goes like, oh, yeah, that makes sense, that 157 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: makes sense. And with the void of a team that 158 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: makes sense that makes sense, you're left with, well, maybe 159 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 1: he'll meet with Golden State and maybe he'll meet with uh, 160 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: the Nixon. Maybe you'll meet with the Boston Celtics. And 161 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:41,680 Speaker 1: maybe maybe it's Houston. Maybe it's the l A. Maybe 162 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 1: it's the l A Clippers. Maybe he stays in Cleveland. 163 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: I mean, he could stay in Cleveland. He got it 164 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: done this year. I granted it helped that Boston was injured. 165 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: Granted it's help that Washington still that that match up 166 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: against Washington still hasn't ever come to fruition. He went 167 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 1: through Toto, who owns he survived a young, young, young squad. 168 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: I mean, honestly, Portland makes a ton of sense on paper, 169 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: But who goes to Portland as a free agent? Portland's 170 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:15,319 Speaker 1: a place where people leave as a free agent, right crazy? 171 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: So I wish I could give you I just talked 172 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: to two NBA coaches. I wish I could tell you 173 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 1: definitively where he's going. But I feel like Lebron James 174 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: is trying to create some sort of leverage wherever he goes, 175 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 1: Like the San Antonio thing. After Chris Bruce Hard talk 176 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: about that, we do understand that if you go to 177 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: San Antonio that you're gonna have to check your ego 178 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: at the door right, that's not the Lebron James thing. 179 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: And though he may think he wants to be coached, 180 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:46,679 Speaker 1: does he maybe? I mean that one would make a 181 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 1: ton of sense in terms of if it's just a player, 182 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: I want to go play for the best coach, the 183 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 1: best franchise, and it would give him him LaMarcus Aldrich, 184 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 1: Kawai Leonard like bo that's pretty good. You put any guards, 185 00:09:57,559 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: but jon Ty Murray's a non shooting point guard that 186 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: usually doesn't work with Lebron. Jon Murray is a very 187 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 1: good defensive player, seems to be smart, really good athlete, 188 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 1: can't shoot. He's never played with a guy like that. 189 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 1: He needs guys that can shoot to spread the floor 190 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: so he can be Lebron. They're not used to playing 191 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:20,319 Speaker 1: with a ball stopper he is. People think that doesn't 192 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,680 Speaker 1: mean he's selfish. He's unselfish, but he likes to pass. 193 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: He likes to have the pass that leads to exists. 194 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: Whereas you know san Antonio is in that they've they've 195 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 1: had great ball movement to last I don't know, seven 196 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:33,599 Speaker 1: or eight years, and one of the first ones to 197 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 1: really emphasize turning the ball overside to side, using pick 198 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: and roll replace they did three point shot. I just 199 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,319 Speaker 1: I don't know if that fits their addition to which 200 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:44,679 Speaker 1: And I'm one of the unspoken parts about why I 201 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: think he needs leverage. He wants to have his guys. 202 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: He wants to have Rich Paul and Maverick Carter, those 203 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:52,319 Speaker 1: guys around the team. That's what they do in Cleveland. 204 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 1: That was one of the things that we're out. It's 205 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: welcome in Miami, and I don't know how that works 206 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: in any of these spots. And that's why I think 207 00:10:58,000 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 1: he wants to create a maybe I'll go here if 208 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 1: you won't let my guys be around the team. So 209 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 1: I don't know. I wish I could tell you I knew. UM, 210 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:13,959 Speaker 1: let me give you quickly a couple of a couple 211 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: of tidbits on the NBA draft. Uh, the Nova guys 212 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 1: continue to to rise. That you've seen Villanova and he 213 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 1: lost Yellen Brunson and Mars Spellman is gone, Dante de 214 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 1: Vincenzo's gone. Uh. Don't be surprised if you know this 215 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 1: is a team with with four guys taken somewhere between 216 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:36,839 Speaker 1: uh mid first year Michail Bridges. Of course, it's probably 217 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:39,679 Speaker 1: gonna be a lottery pick. That's yeah, that's four guys 218 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 1: I just named right there that are going to go 219 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 1: in the first to early second round. Bridges will go 220 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 1: the highest. Brunson probably goes second round because he's seen 221 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: as kind of a solid, steady backup more than a starter. 222 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 1: Spellman has a ton of upside, and of course he 223 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:58,400 Speaker 1: lost a bunch of weight at Nova. He still needs 224 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 1: to change and evolve in his body, but everybody likes him. 225 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 1: And then Dante de Vincenzo. I guess he'll be a 226 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: first round pick, which is stunning considering he didn't start 227 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 1: for them. Freak athlete, not a great ball handler, not 228 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 1: a good passer, will guard, is tough, probably always an 229 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:14,680 Speaker 1: off the bench guy. I think he'll be a little 230 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 1: bit overdrafted, overdrafted me and going probably five ten spots 231 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 1: too high because everyone loves Nova's culture and that's what 232 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 1: you're looking for if you can't find a superstar, and 233 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: there's not a ton of superstars in this draft. It's 234 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 1: also interesting to me that Marvin Bagley is skyrocketing back 235 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 1: up to number two and probably not gonna go number one. 236 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: I have him as my number one prospect. You know, 237 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:39,200 Speaker 1: the days. I just it's funny. I was just talking 238 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: to an NBA head coach and he's talking to me 239 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,439 Speaker 1: about his center, about how his center wants the basketball 240 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:46,319 Speaker 1: down the low post, and he's like, look, we tracked it. 241 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:49,280 Speaker 1: He shoots on post up shots. The game is so 242 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: physical down there that you know, with the exception of 243 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 1: lebron K d maybe on a fade away or using 244 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: those guys as passers, the old days of backing a 245 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: guy down and shooting over the top of him, those 246 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 1: those are like gone, you just are, and yet here 247 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:04,679 Speaker 1: we are. We're gonna do it again with DeAndre and 248 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 1: who can face up and shoot is really uh really active, 249 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 1: can block shots, but he's not a true shot blocker. 250 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: He's not a true pick and roll, run to the 251 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 1: rim guy. So I'm I'm fast. I think I still 252 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: would take badly. But Badley, like all of a sudden, 253 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 1: people like, well, you know what, Marvin Badgley is awesome, 254 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: Like I know, he's awesome. It feels like he's still 255 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: be a steel even at number two. And how many 256 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 1: now we've seen number two is like Kevin Durant hit 257 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:31,559 Speaker 1: We've seen number two's, you know, the massive swings and 258 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: mrs as well, but the Nova guys continue to rise. 259 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: Mitchell Robinson, of course, is a high school guy, was 260 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:40,679 Speaker 1: supposed to go to Western Kentucky. I've heard that he's 261 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: a guy who there's some off the court stuff, some baggage, 262 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 1: a lot of immaturity, but he's your classic two thousand 263 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: eighteen center or good things about him. And I've heard 264 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: great things about Grayson Allen talking to several NBA people 265 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:57,559 Speaker 1: that yeah, there's some immaturity there in college, and they 266 00:13:57,600 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 1: don't think he'll be a star, but he's tough, he 267 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: can make shot. Uh, he's a better than you think athlete. 268 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: He knows who he is, he knows what he does. 269 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 1: And whereas in the past an half h uh a 270 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 1: wing who doesn't necessarily create his own shot, and he's 271 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: not not a lights out and knockdown J. J. Reddick shooter. 272 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 1: You stay away from the differences now the way Pete 273 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: teams are playing with the right team, where you have 274 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: a non traditional no longer true point guard, your your 275 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 1: best score coming down off a ball screen, creating shots 276 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 1: for others. He'll be able to play a long time 277 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: in the NBA. So the Duke guys are doing well 278 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: the Nova guys are doing well. The Kansas Guy's scheme 279 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 1: a high Luk has done really well and workouts more 280 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: so than Davante Graham. My Hi lu can really shoot, 281 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: stretch the floor, and all the Kansas Guy's guard good 282 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: culture guys. So there's a little bit of your draft 283 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: update we'll give you. We'll getting way more into it 284 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: on next week's edition of All Ball. All right, Now, 285 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: here's what I've seen with the NBA Finals, and we'll 286 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 1: get to do some of these interviews. You know, I 287 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: think it's going to be a misremembered NBA Finals. I 288 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: really do. If the Calves are swept by the Warriors, 289 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 1: people gonna say Warriors are just so much better and 290 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: and maybe historically they will be. It should be pointed 291 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 1: out Kevin Love is going to be in the Nasmith 292 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 1: Memorial Hall of Fame. Wrap your head around that. Okay, 293 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 1: one NBA championship for any All Star. He's gonna be 294 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 1: in there. He's gonna have ridiculous numbers. He's going to 295 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 1: be a Hall of Famer. So you have two Hall 296 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 1: of Famers against three. I guess Clay will be one. 297 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 1: I'm not totally sold that Draymond will be one the 298 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 1: context text of this series. Draymond can't make shots. They 299 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: play without Iguadala for two of the games. Um. Steph, 300 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 1: with the exception of the fourth quarter in Game two, 301 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 1: wasn't good in Game two. Let me shout a low 302 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: present engine Game two until the fourth quarter and couldn't 303 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: make a shot. With the exception the one wide open 304 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: one had the beautiful pass to Draymond. Steph hasn't been great. 305 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant has been steady in Game two, okay in 306 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: Game one, great in Game three, but I mean the 307 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 1: Calves could have stolen Game one. Game two was at 308 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: least competitive, and Game three the Calves could have won 309 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: that game as well. These are winnable games. And while 310 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 1: the Warriors do have just three better shot makers than 311 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: any three of the Calves, the Calves have plenty of 312 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 1: guys that can make shots have made shots in the NBA. UM. 313 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: I don't think it's a great look for Lebron the 314 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:37,119 Speaker 1: breaking down and the I don't know if it's exhaustion 315 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: or the fact he's just worn out. When j R. 316 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 1: Smith blew it at the end of regulation and George 317 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: hill Muster free throw and Tyler didn't call time out, 318 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: but you would have liked to see, like, if there's 319 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: three things you could do, three things you could do 320 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: as a superstar when that happens. One is what he did. 321 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: Two is just crush Jr. What the effort you're doing? 322 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 1: You know, almost get confrontational, challenge him, challenged him as man, 323 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:06,639 Speaker 1: challenge the coaching staff. The third thing you could have 324 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: could have done and you would have liked to seen, 325 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 1: is hey, man, next play. It's called a next play mentality. 326 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 1: And many of you who listened to this, or basketball 327 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 1: players or basketball coaches, I struggle with the next play mentality, 328 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 1: or at least internally I would have, but externally, yeah, man, 329 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 1: that's what you do. You saw Kyle Corey trying to 330 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: get it. No one else did. They're all scared of 331 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,719 Speaker 1: him and Lebron, and you react to Lebron. And when 332 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,679 Speaker 1: Lebron is not in next play mode, when he's in 333 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:38,960 Speaker 1: shutdown mode, they were done. That's not the greatest look 334 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 1: in the world. And that that continued on in terms 335 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 1: of Game three. I understand that he was trying to 336 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 1: not be exhausted at Game three. I I fully I 337 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:51,439 Speaker 1: get that. You know they're switching defensively. And you know, 338 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,120 Speaker 1: I thought Kevin Love actually did a pretty good job. 339 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 1: I thought Rodney Hood did a pretty good job. But 340 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 1: you're Lebron James. You're the one guy who can be 341 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: super physical with Kevin Durant, go on one on one 342 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 1: and not get called for a foul. Because you're Lebron James. 343 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 1: The same things you're able to get away with, forcing 344 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 1: the contact and forcing the issue offensively, you can do 345 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 1: the same thing defensively as well. So look, I don't think, um, 346 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: I don't think that this is a complete indictment. As 347 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 1: Jason Whitlock has said on his competitiveness, I'm not willing 348 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 1: to go there, no, but I do think that there 349 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:33,400 Speaker 1: is a certain gene that may be missing, a certain 350 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 1: He's just wired differently than any alpha we've ever seen. 351 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: And if we're truly going to tell the tale of 352 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 1: Lebron James, sure we're We're okay saying that. J I 353 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:50,199 Speaker 1: he had his greatest playoff Finals performance ever when he 354 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 1: had fifty one. He had, by the way, his second 355 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 1: greatest one was when he had cramps. Marie had cramps 356 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 1: in San Antonio the last San Antonio series, and his 357 00:18:57,600 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: body just shut down on him. He was unbelievable that 358 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,400 Speaker 1: I too, no one will ever point out a real 359 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:04,359 Speaker 1: and bailed him out with made three in the San 360 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:06,959 Speaker 1: Antonio Spurs misfree throws. None of this happens, Like, all 361 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 1: of this is part of the context of the story. Now. Look, 362 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: I started the playoffs thinking Kevin Durant was the best 363 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 1: player in the NBA, and there were times in the 364 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:20,200 Speaker 1: playoffs in which Durant was not. Lebron has been far 365 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 1: more dominant, far more consistently. On the other hand, he 366 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: has a team that's built around his style of play. 367 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: Durant is an add on to it. He's like, um, 368 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 1: I like to use house analogies, right, you know. It's 369 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 1: it's like if you redo the inside of a house 370 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: that you know, like farmhouse style, but you got stucco exterior. 371 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 1: Like they're built around a motion offense where they move 372 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,640 Speaker 1: the ball. They look for the mismatch if they don't 373 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 1: have it constant ball movement. They're a great slip team. 374 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: And Durant is an ice so guy, and so it's 375 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 1: it's kind of a weird fit with how he fits 376 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 1: with the Warriors. So the people who say, well, you know, 377 00:19:57,640 --> 00:19:59,479 Speaker 1: he wouldn't do anything with Cleveland, they would get into 378 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 1: the finals. Like, I don't know, if you build a 379 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 1: team around his ability to create shots for himself and 380 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 1: for others, the way that Cleveland's built around Lebron. Yeah, 381 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 1: I actually think he would put up insane numbers. Insane 382 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 1: numbers and in the NBA Finals, where you can tell 383 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: me all about the pressure of Houston, or how he 384 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:20,399 Speaker 1: didn't play well in games five and six and was 385 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: good and seven, but not that's fine. There is no 386 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:26,880 Speaker 1: more pressure than playing the NBA Finals against Lebron. Last year, 387 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 1: four out of five games he was the better player. 388 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 1: This year, I would say two of the three games 389 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 1: he's been the better player. And while I would admit 390 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: to you none of us watch every game in the NBA, 391 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: Lebron for has had a has had a better career, 392 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 1: has been a better player, and and he has been 393 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 1: more dominant in the NBA playoffs, has been the better 394 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 1: player for most of the NBA playoffs. When people shut 395 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 1: down on a conversation, even when the two great players 396 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:00,679 Speaker 1: are on the same floor and you and evaluate them 397 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 1: both at the same time, that's that's when I struggled 398 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:06,880 Speaker 1: to have a conversation with you, you can still think 399 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: Lebron's better, and I may I may have moved more 400 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 1: to that side of agreeing with you some but just people. 401 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 1: The problem with these debates, the Jordan debate, the Lebron debate, 402 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:19,879 Speaker 1: the Durant debate, whatever is people guys get dug in 403 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 1: and they can't. Their conversation never evolved. They never see 404 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 1: anybody else. So let me help you on one. One 405 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 1: of the things used against Michael Jordan, which is really 406 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 1: laughable to me, is well, Michael Jordan got swept twice, 407 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 1: so Lebron has never been swept. And then of course 408 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:41,439 Speaker 1: the Jordan fans, well, Michael Jordan never lost in the 409 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: NBA finals, Lebron James had lost a bunch of time 410 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 1: in the finals, should be pointing out that Jerry West, 411 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:49,720 Speaker 1: who is one of, if not the greatest, one of 412 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 1: the greatest shooting guards in the history of the league. 413 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 1: And I know that technically Michael Jordan is a shooting guard, 414 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:58,399 Speaker 1: I'm very different from I mean, look, Jerry West was 415 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 1: one in eight in the NBA finals. He's the logo 416 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 1: of the league. Do I think he's the greatest player ever? Know? Um? 417 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:05,399 Speaker 1: But he was very much. He's the only guy to 418 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:07,640 Speaker 1: be the NBA Finals m v P and his team 419 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 1: not winning, So he's obviously viewed as one of the 420 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 1: top ten players in the history of the league. And 421 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 1: he's one and eight in the finals. So it's not 422 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 1: all one guy thought. But if you, if you, if 423 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 1: you think that Jordan's getting swept twice is a legitimate, 424 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 1: legitimate discussion for who's the greater all time player. I'll 425 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:30,880 Speaker 1: give you Lebron James is down three games and none 426 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 1: both of the sweeps that Jordan had. We're at the 427 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:37,200 Speaker 1: hand of the Boston Celtics, who at that point in 428 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 1: time were made up of three or four Hall of famers, 429 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 1: right Keemchale, Larry Bird, Robert Parrish, Dennis Johnson, Bill Walton 430 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:52,399 Speaker 1: on those team, on one of those teams, Ah, Danny Ainge. 431 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 1: I mean, it just it goes on and on the 432 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 1: incredible teams, and those were terrible teams that this out 433 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 1: bad the Bulls Jordan's second year in the league, they 434 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:06,000 Speaker 1: won thirty games. Now he missed most of the year 435 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: with a foot injury and he came back, so they 436 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:10,639 Speaker 1: were obviously better than the thirty win team, but they 437 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:14,160 Speaker 1: were a thirty win team for a reason. Without him, 438 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 1: Jordan had sixty three in Game two. That game was 439 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 1: played in Boston Garden. They lost in the best of 440 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 1: five series three games to none. This is a seven 441 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:23,880 Speaker 1: game series. Right now, Lebron is down three games to none. 442 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: I told you I thought Durant was better in Game three, 443 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:31,440 Speaker 1: but I thought Lebron was really really good, really good. 444 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:35,200 Speaker 1: I mean, it was just Durant was otherworldly and lebronen 445 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:38,199 Speaker 1: was really really good. So it wasn't it wasn't night 446 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 1: and day. Durant was super efficient game to ten of fourteen. 447 00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:44,919 Speaker 1: Lebron obviously had lost some of his zip because of 448 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,160 Speaker 1: how much he expected he was great in game one. 449 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:51,480 Speaker 1: And my point is this that if if getting swept 450 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:54,360 Speaker 1: three games to none twice by a historically great team 451 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 1: when you play on a crummy team is your argument, 452 00:23:57,800 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: then you have to make the same argument that based 453 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,119 Speaker 1: really they've been swept three games to none, and that 454 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:06,159 Speaker 1: somehow Lebron hasn't played well. He has played great, and 455 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 1: there's still down three games and none. Sometimes you go 456 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: against the better team, Sometimes things go crazy. Sometimes the 457 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 1: guy hits the shot. Sometimes j R. Smith forgets time 458 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 1: and score after George Hill and the shooter chokes are 459 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:19,639 Speaker 1: free throw. It's a really bad argument. Don't make it 460 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 1: because it's a house of cards. It just felled out. 461 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:25,159 Speaker 1: It just fell out, all right. Let's get you to 462 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:32,680 Speaker 1: some of the interviews here on All Ball. Brad Stevens 463 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:35,600 Speaker 1: joins us on the Doug gott Leave Show. What what 464 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 1: what's this been like for you to, uh, to receive 465 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 1: such a claim. You did such a good job deflecting 466 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:44,480 Speaker 1: it during the playoffs, But I mean internally, what's it 467 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:48,120 Speaker 1: like when people make so many, um, so many comments 468 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 1: about your specific coaching style and coaching skill during the playoffs? Well, 469 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:59,479 Speaker 1: I said this before, Doug. It's uncomfortable for me. You know. 470 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:02,719 Speaker 1: I think, uh, we all get into coaching because we 471 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:05,679 Speaker 1: love the coaching aspect of it and being around the 472 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:09,520 Speaker 1: game and everything else, and um, you know, but when 473 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:12,400 Speaker 1: you know, the major moment I guess for a lot 474 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:14,639 Speaker 1: of us at Butler when we went to the final 475 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:18,360 Speaker 1: fours was when it became, um, we became a lot 476 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:21,880 Speaker 1: more discussed, I guess, and and a lot less anonymous. Um. 477 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 1: Those times coaching when you're anonymous are a lot more fun. 478 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:29,359 Speaker 1: But um, but I do think that UM, you know 479 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:33,040 Speaker 1: it's it's uncomfortable. The guys deserve all the credit, should 480 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:35,640 Speaker 1: get all the credit. And as I've said before, we 481 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 1: have a role to play, and um, my role includes, um, 482 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:44,119 Speaker 1: you know, making substitutions and trying to come up with 483 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 1: a system on offensive defense. But Brad, you know, we 484 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 1: we've talked before about about what was what was possible, 485 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:53,720 Speaker 1: what was likely with this team. We had essentially an 486 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 1: entirely new team, right, like you had a couple of 487 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:59,199 Speaker 1: pieces that had been there before. Obviously Marcus had been 488 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 1: there since he was afted. Um you know, al of 489 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 1: course had been there since he signed as a free 490 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 1: agent a couple of years ago. But such a new team. 491 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:11,160 Speaker 1: When when Kyrie was out for the year, right when 492 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: he had we had the screws removed, You're like, he 493 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: not coming back? What did you honestly think was possible 494 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 1: for this team in the playoffs to be real to go? 495 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:23,880 Speaker 1: Honest I didn't even think about it, Um, just trying 496 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 1: to get ready for the next game, and then you know, 497 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:28,360 Speaker 1: the next game after that, the next game after that. 498 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:33,320 Speaker 1: We struggled initially, um, when Kyrie was out, and then 499 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 1: we won some games. Um, we beat Oklahoma City and 500 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:40,080 Speaker 1: kind of a lucky win where Marcus Morris had a 501 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:42,639 Speaker 1: heck of a shot late um in a game we 502 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:46,200 Speaker 1: came back, uh, and then we went on the road 503 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:50,640 Speaker 1: and beat one at Portland's UM and then back into 504 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:52,879 Speaker 1: that road trip with a win at Utah where we 505 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:56,000 Speaker 1: didn't have Harford, and it just kind of was like, 506 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:59,640 Speaker 1: you know what, maybe we're maybe maybe we can figure 507 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:02,440 Speaker 1: out a to be you know, be a little bit better. 508 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 1: And everybody's excited about these roles that they're getting a 509 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 1: chance to play and everything else that goes along with it. 510 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:11,440 Speaker 1: So UM, I didn't really have a think about what 511 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:14,919 Speaker 1: we could do, what we couldn't do, UM, And you know, 512 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 1: like quite frankly, I think we're all sitting here, UM, 513 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:21,560 Speaker 1: you know, wishing that we would have done more. Like, 514 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:24,359 Speaker 1: you know, at the end of the day, we had 515 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 1: a great opportunity to be playing in the NBA Finals 516 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:29,359 Speaker 1: and we came up short. You're up up twelve in 517 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 1: the second quarter, and I thought, like, I understand that 518 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:36,080 Speaker 1: some of what you allowed guys to get away with 519 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 1: you had to based upon I mean, like, look, you 520 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 1: gotta let Marcus be Marcus, because he gives you so 521 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:44,400 Speaker 1: many other things Terry Rosier, especially at home. You gotta 522 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:47,119 Speaker 1: let him take a couple of shots. I wouldn't normally, 523 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 1: but he gives you so much, you know, he gives 524 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:51,119 Speaker 1: you so much in place, with so much confidence. But 525 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 1: you're up twelve, and it felt like your shot selection 526 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 1: wasn't great and you gave up a you know, you 527 00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:59,000 Speaker 1: had done such a good job transition defense, and you 528 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,480 Speaker 1: gave up a couple of a ups. I felt like 529 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 1: they were close, Cleveland was close to shutting it down, 530 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 1: that you had him. You kind of had your foot 531 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:08,399 Speaker 1: on your throat their throat and you couldn't step on him. 532 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:12,280 Speaker 1: Was that the feeling you had? Well, I felt like 533 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:14,919 Speaker 1: we didn't convert. I didn't. I thought the shot selection 534 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:17,440 Speaker 1: in the second quarter was really good. Um. I thought 535 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:21,119 Speaker 1: we went through a period in the third where you know, um, 536 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:23,199 Speaker 1: we could probably have a couple of those back. And 537 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:27,280 Speaker 1: then I thought that we got pretty good shots um, 538 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:30,960 Speaker 1: you know lately really throughout the whole fourth until maybe 539 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:33,400 Speaker 1: the last minute and a half or so, um, when 540 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:36,120 Speaker 1: they took a five and ultimately a seven point lead. 541 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,440 Speaker 1: But you know at that time, you're, um, you know, 542 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 1: one of our great strengths of the team was we've 543 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:45,800 Speaker 1: got such competitive guys that, Um, sometimes that's part of it, 544 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:48,240 Speaker 1: you know, but I felt good about it, and we 545 00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:52,240 Speaker 1: wrote those guys making those shots the whole way there, UM, 546 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 1: and I believe in them greatly that if we're lucky 547 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:57,719 Speaker 1: enough to be in that position again and will make 548 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:01,920 Speaker 1: them the next time. But UM, when you lose UM 549 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 1: Game seven to go to the NBA Finals, you comb 550 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 1: through everything and you try to figure out everything that 551 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 1: you could have done different UM, And you know, like 552 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 1: any other game, there's always stuff. But ultimately I felt 553 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 1: like our shot selection overall in that game was pretty good, 554 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:20,920 Speaker 1: and UM, obviously we defended to thinking we had We 555 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:23,240 Speaker 1: were really consistent with that for most of that series. 556 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:26,120 Speaker 1: If you said you combed through things, would you find 557 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:28,480 Speaker 1: in your own kind of self evaluation that you would 558 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 1: have you would have personally done differently? Well, I think 559 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 1: that second quarter just you know that that was the 560 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:36,960 Speaker 1: point in time where if that thing gets to eighteen 561 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:39,360 Speaker 1: or twenty, it's a different you know, I think it's 562 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 1: a different feel. Um. Then letting it get back to nine, six, three, 563 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:49,160 Speaker 1: and you know, those those timeouts are so important, UM 564 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,239 Speaker 1: to have late and you get one extra one. You know, 565 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 1: most people I don't notice and get you get one 566 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:57,880 Speaker 1: extra one that that's not part of a TV time 567 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:01,480 Speaker 1: up until the four five minute mark of the game. 568 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 1: So we're three minutes left and be able to take 569 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:08,600 Speaker 1: two into the final two minutes. And obviously in any 570 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:11,440 Speaker 1: closing you want to have two in the final two minutes, 571 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:14,440 Speaker 1: and so you've got to be very judicious with when 572 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 1: to take it. I probably would go back and take 573 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 1: it in that stretch, my extra one, um, because I 574 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,920 Speaker 1: think that that stretch could have been really really helpful 575 00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 1: for us. But because I went back and watched the shots, 576 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 1: I felt pretty good about it. Um. But that's just 577 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 1: part of it, you know. And and I think you 578 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:35,000 Speaker 1: kind of combed through and go through again. When could 579 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:37,960 Speaker 1: we have made the most impact on a possession to 580 00:30:38,080 --> 00:30:40,760 Speaker 1: kind of stem the tide of their runs? And you know, 581 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:42,440 Speaker 1: we just didn't do quite enough. They made get a 582 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 1: ton of plays and and I think that ultimately, um, 583 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:48,680 Speaker 1: you know, again, it was it was too bad because 584 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 1: we guarded so well. You know. It's it's interesting how 585 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:54,600 Speaker 1: stories are gonna be told. I've told people all week 586 00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:58,160 Speaker 1: long that the story of this final series, if it 587 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:00,120 Speaker 1: ends up in a sweep tonight, We're gonna look at 588 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:02,040 Speaker 1: historically and say, well, it's a sweep, But the truth 589 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,920 Speaker 1: is the Cavs probably should have won Game one, could 590 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:08,160 Speaker 1: have won Game three, and Game two was in fact competitive. 591 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:12,120 Speaker 1: It's interesting because I'm not sure if the story of 592 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:14,600 Speaker 1: of your run in the NBA PLAYFFS is going to 593 00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:17,200 Speaker 1: be accurately told right that you you were up twelve 594 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:19,800 Speaker 1: and that you missed a bunch of shots that you know, 595 00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:21,960 Speaker 1: normally you would you would make a ton of it. 596 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:23,680 Speaker 1: But I think it was like thirteen open three point 597 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:27,360 Speaker 1: shots that you guys, you guys missed. How How how 598 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:31,880 Speaker 1: should we as as sports broadcasters, as analysts, how should 599 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:34,520 Speaker 1: we tell the stories of games so that people can 600 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:38,000 Speaker 1: understand that the narrative maybe doesn't fit the actual game. 601 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:41,680 Speaker 1: That's that's a great question. That's why you're way more 602 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:44,200 Speaker 1: qualified to do that than I am. I'm I'm not 603 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:46,800 Speaker 1: into the storytelling. I'm just into trying to figure out 604 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:48,960 Speaker 1: how to coach the next day as well as we can. 605 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:52,400 Speaker 1: I mean, um, you know, and I think that I 606 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:54,840 Speaker 1: think it's important as players and coaches not to get 607 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:57,800 Speaker 1: caught up in that. You know, I think you're trying 608 00:31:57,840 --> 00:31:59,640 Speaker 1: to do your job as well as you can, and 609 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:01,640 Speaker 1: it's to try to play as well as you can. 610 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:04,200 Speaker 1: As a player. You put everything out there, you lay 611 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 1: everything on the line. Our guys did that, UM, and 612 00:32:08,520 --> 00:32:12,920 Speaker 1: we we didn't make enough um plays as players and 613 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:15,680 Speaker 1: coaches to get to where we wanted to go. And 614 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 1: however people want to frame a story, they can frame 615 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:22,120 Speaker 1: a story. But at the end of the day, UM, 616 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:24,920 Speaker 1: we had a chance because of the effort of those 617 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 1: young players that we had in great leadership from Alan 618 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:31,840 Speaker 1: Baines and Marcus Morris and some more older players, and 619 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:35,920 Speaker 1: they put us in position to have a chance. UM. 620 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:38,280 Speaker 1: And you know that's what stings the most. I think 621 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:40,120 Speaker 1: when you when you're not able to get over the 622 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:43,280 Speaker 1: home I got about a minute left last year, right 623 00:32:43,280 --> 00:32:46,200 Speaker 1: before the Kyrie deal, you told me you were pretty 624 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:48,120 Speaker 1: confident that that was the team that was going to 625 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 1: play this season, and of course there's a huge deal done. 626 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:54,600 Speaker 1: Did you know at the time or or did what 627 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 1: was it? Was it a surprise even to you? No? 628 00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:59,400 Speaker 1: Not even when I told you that, I meant that, 629 00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 1: I mean I that was something that seemed really far 630 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:05,960 Speaker 1: fetched and not you know, I didn't I didn't think 631 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:09,600 Speaker 1: at that time that that would ever materialize, And I 632 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:12,920 Speaker 1: certainly didn't think all of the pieces that were in 633 00:33:12,920 --> 00:33:14,640 Speaker 1: the trade we're going to be in the trade. It's 634 00:33:14,680 --> 00:33:18,440 Speaker 1: just it's just a you know, it's a great reminder 635 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:22,840 Speaker 1: to me, the coach, how quickly things can change. UM. 636 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:25,560 Speaker 1: And we were really lucky to with only four guys 637 00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 1: back from last year's teams, to have the group that 638 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:32,080 Speaker 1: we did, because you know, I thought they really, um 639 00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:35,160 Speaker 1: really came together quickly and again gave us a chance, 640 00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:39,200 Speaker 1: UM to be good. But no, UM, I thought we 641 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:45,320 Speaker 1: were done making big moves, um, you know, fourteen eighteen 642 00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:49,120 Speaker 1: months ago and uh and now, UM, you know, obviously 643 00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:52,640 Speaker 1: we looked we looked like a different team UM on 644 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 1: September one, and we did on July one of last year. 645 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:58,400 Speaker 1: And UM, I think you just stay on your toes 646 00:33:58,440 --> 00:34:01,040 Speaker 1: of the coach and get ready to coach. Hey man, listen, 647 00:34:01,080 --> 00:34:03,600 Speaker 1: it was an incredible run. It was fantastic to watch. 648 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:05,479 Speaker 1: I can't wait to see you guys at full strength 649 00:34:05,560 --> 00:34:07,720 Speaker 1: next year. Well we'll see what see what Danny pulls 650 00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:10,879 Speaker 1: up this offseason. The meantime, enjoy your your time with 651 00:34:10,920 --> 00:34:12,960 Speaker 1: your family, and we look forward to catching up real soon. 652 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:16,200 Speaker 1: All right, see you take care. Brad Stevens, head coach 653 00:34:16,200 --> 00:34:22,839 Speaker 1: of the Boston Celtics. Thanks so much for listening to 654 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:25,160 Speaker 1: All Ball. I hope you enjoy the NBA Finals. I 655 00:34:25,160 --> 00:34:28,560 Speaker 1: hope you enjoyed everything we brought you. Uh, make sure 656 00:34:28,640 --> 00:34:31,200 Speaker 1: you subscribe, you download your rate, and you stick with 657 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:33,440 Speaker 1: us because we're gonna continue get you ready for the 658 00:34:33,520 --> 00:34:37,239 Speaker 1: NBA Draft. We're gonna have offseason stuff for college basketball. 659 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:39,160 Speaker 1: I got some high school stuff for you. I got 660 00:34:39,160 --> 00:34:41,680 Speaker 1: a bunch of NBA and of course NBA free agent movement. 661 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:44,239 Speaker 1: We'll have NBA players, will have NBA coaches. Where have 662 00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:47,399 Speaker 1: NBA front office people? Uh? This this is it's it's 663 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:49,480 Speaker 1: been cool to kind of have a thing, the hottest 664 00:34:49,640 --> 00:34:53,960 Speaker 1: growing basketball podcast in the country. You are listening to 665 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:55,360 Speaker 1: All Ball on Doug Gotlup.