1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. Hey, what's up, everybody. 2 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: It's me Jason McIntyre. Straight Fire Your Monday, April twelve, 3 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: fresh off spring break. Not really much of a break, 4 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: you know. We uh talked about a little bit on 5 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,159 Speaker 1: the radio show Saturday, but we bounced down to the 6 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: desert out here in California for a little bit. Took 7 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: the podcast equipment with me. I was able to do 8 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: the herd from the desert, was able to do the 9 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,559 Speaker 1: podcast from the desert. I will say this, folks, the 10 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: new media model where you can basically work from anywhere 11 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: is pretty sweet. And um, I have a feeling on 12 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 1: my next vacation I'll be bringing the podcast equipment because 13 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 1: there's never a dull moment with Straight Fire. Thank you 14 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 1: again for listening. If you missed anything last week, go 15 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: back and listen. March second best month in podcast downloads 16 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: that we've had since it started. What do we start 17 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 1: last August? It's been quite a run. I'm extremely thankful 18 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 1: for you guys and today's show. Listen. I don't like 19 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: to consistently go after somebody, but when they keep opening 20 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: themselves up, it's like the boxer who constantly drops his 21 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: guard and gets knocked out. Like that's what happens. It's 22 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: just what happens. And I want to go back to 23 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: Saturday Night Nets Lakers. Remember Lebron was hyping this game 24 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: this weekend as a potential return for him and Anthony Davis. 25 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 1: By the way, that ain't true, not even close to happening. Okay, 26 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 1: I'll talk to about talk about that in a second. 27 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 1: But Saturday Night Nets play the Lakers. Now, the wife, 28 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: you know, we have a family in town. The wife's like, 29 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: we need to go out to dinner, just to give 30 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: some distance with the fam. And so we go out 31 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: to dinner, and I'm kind of following the game on 32 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: my phone Nets Lakers and before the game, when it 33 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: was obvious that Lebron and a d we're not gonna play, 34 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: and then it's like Kuzman's out, Wesley Matthews is out, 35 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: Mark Gasol is out. It's like, jeez, well what's the 36 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: spread on this game? And I see it's ten and 37 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: a half. And I said, you know, the Nets will 38 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: probably want to make a statement. I know there's no hardened, 39 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: but this probably feels like a blah And I nearly 40 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: bet the game. And then Ultimately, I was like, oh, 41 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: you know what, it's the NBA, It's April. What are 42 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: you doing. I'm not giving back the winnings from March Madness. 43 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: I'm not so, you know, I was a little thrifty, 44 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: didn't bet it. I'm following the game on my phone 45 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: at dinner. Lakers are hanging it tough. Lakers are hanging 46 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:31,799 Speaker 1: it tough, and I see Kyrie Irving ejected, and oh, 47 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 1: first career ejection for Kyrie Irving. I wonder what happened, 48 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: So of course I get back Saturday night, I'm following 49 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: it and it was something went down with Shrewder. And 50 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: then yesterday Kyrie Irving jumps on social media and starts 51 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,799 Speaker 1: talking about the N word and whoa, whoa, whoa whoa. 52 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: This might be the answers to what happened between Shrewder 53 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,239 Speaker 1: and Kyrie. And listen, we all know Kyrie Irving is 54 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 1: different this year. More than anything, we know, Kyrie Irving 55 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: is a different dude. And he writes on social media 56 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: that the N word is a derogatory racial slur. It 57 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: will never be a term of endearment, reclaimed, flipped, never forget, 58 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 1: It's foul and true history throw that N word out 59 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: the window, right alongside all those other racist words used 60 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 1: to describe my people. We are not slaves or ends 61 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: and I on the surface, it was like, oh, this 62 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: is coming out of nowhere. Wow, what do you listen 63 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 1: to a jay Z album? And then moments later, everybody 64 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 1: on the internet starts putting it together. Oh, that must 65 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: have been what Shrewder said. So everybody starts to do 66 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: the lip reading and it's like, ah, so Shrewder looks 67 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: like he said it when Kyrie came up on him after, 68 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: so they had like a tanglement and Shrewder was upset, like, 69 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: why don't you guys calling this foul? They called it 70 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 1: late after like the third smack from Kyrie, and then 71 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: Shrewders starts clapping and Kyrie irving like runs up on him, 72 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 1: not runs up, but like goes up in his face 73 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: and shooting Shooter says something like g D and then 74 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: the N word. At least that's what all the lip 75 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: readers on the internet see, and Kyrie got heated, and 76 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 1: it was clear that that really angered Kyrie. He did 77 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 1: not stop chirping. He got the second tech and ejected 78 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: and folks, I just it all went downhill from the Nets. 79 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: After that, the Lakers run away and beat that ass. 80 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 1: The Lakers crushed the Nets, who are the favorites to 81 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 1: win the title. Lakers led by as many as twenty 82 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: eight on the road. Now I know Katie as a 83 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: minutes restriction. Again, no Harden. Once Kyrie ran out, Lakers 84 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: clear advantage. Despite this being their B team, Lakers had 85 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: basically their best game of the season, and they had 86 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: eight guys in double figures. Nineteen made three pointers, Okay 87 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 1: Horton Tucker eleven assists, career high. Ben McLamore, who's been 88 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: on the team for like seven minutes, hit five threes. 89 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: And I'm gonna say you remember Ben McLamore was coming 90 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: out of Kansas and was like, Oh, this guy's game 91 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: is nice. Three Indeed, this kid could play. He goes 92 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: to Sacramento, where all good players go to die, and 93 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: Ben McLamore becomes nothing. Uh he might have been out 94 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 1: of the league for a minute. I don't know, but 95 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: he just floundered in Sacramento. So now I guess to 96 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: the Lakers, not even with Lebron and a D yet, 97 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 1: but with like k C. P Okay and and Harold 98 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: and the Big Lakers B team, and Ben McLemore looked 99 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 1: like a start, quick release flick of the wrist five threes. 100 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 1: I mean, it's like, wow, is he gonna play in 101 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 1: the playoffs? That's how good Ben maclamore looked. And and 102 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 1: and again. I don't want to crush Kyrie for this 103 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 1: guy's but I have been beating up on him for 104 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: a while. I'm just gonna total for you the last 105 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 1: twelve months of Kyrie Irving. Okay, so twelve months ago, 106 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: we we now realized that the NBA season and everything 107 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: is due to coronavirus is on the shelf, and there 108 00:05:56,279 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: starts to be discussions about bubbling up. Kyrie Irving tried 109 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: to get the players to not go to the bubble. 110 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 1: Now he was injured. It wasn't gonna play anyway. And 111 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: the nets, you know, in eight games, they were probably 112 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: not going to make a run, uh, to do any 113 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 1: damage in the bubble at all. But Kyrie tried to 114 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 1: get them not to play. And this was definitely flying 115 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: in the face of Lebron's efforts to get them to play. Okay, 116 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: let's fast forward to this season. Um on the cusp 117 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,280 Speaker 1: of the season, he goes on Instagram Live with Kevin 118 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: Duran is like, we don't even need a coach out there, 119 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 1: like right after they hire Steve Nash, who's never been 120 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,719 Speaker 1: a head coach before. Then Kyrie Irving says, ah, you 121 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 1: know what, I'm just gonna vanish for two weeks in 122 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: the middle of the season, just went away. Little Csta 123 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: who knows what he did. Two weeks A wall from 124 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 1: the team, did not return messages. Nobody knew where he 125 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 1: was or what was going on. Kyrie Irving starts burning 126 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: sage in arenas before games. I don't know what that's about. 127 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: Right now, I still don't get it, burning sage. What's 128 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: he cleansing an NBA arenas? I mean, there's no fans 129 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: are anyway. Like very odd Kyrie Irving. That's took a 130 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: few games off for his birthday. Now, he didn't say 131 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 1: it was for his birthday. He just said, I need 132 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: to take some games off for personal reasons, Okay. Then 133 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:26,239 Speaker 1: over the weekend, first career ejection scraps with Shrewder. Shrewder 134 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: also had never been ejected. Now we come to find 135 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: out it's over the N word and the craziest next step. 136 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 1: This is just the last world months of Kyrie Irving, 137 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: so Sunday after his tweet about the N word, and 138 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: it became clear that that's what triggered him Sunday to 139 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:47,239 Speaker 1: go off on Shruder and get ejected. UH. An NBA 140 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: reporter says Kyrie Irving will not play Monday. He's out 141 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 1: for personal reasons. I just I don't get it. I 142 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 1: don't get what his deal is. I don't get why 143 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: he's doing this. We're talking about one of the more 144 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 1: talented point guards to ever play in the NBA. Talent 145 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: all obviously does not always equally equal wins and success. 146 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: But I can't recall anybody outside of Alan Iverson being 147 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: able to finish in traffic the way Kyrie Irving has. 148 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: He's incredible at that. He's a really good basketball player. 149 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: You know, are there over a hundred players better than 150 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 1: him to ever suit up in the NBA's history. I 151 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: don't know. He's probably one of the top one players. Guys, 152 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: that's how good this guy is. Remember he got drafted 153 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:33,719 Speaker 1: after playing he got drafted first by the Calves. He 154 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: played seven games of Duke due to injury. You know, 155 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:40,720 Speaker 1: I mean the guy. We know, he's skilled, he's but 156 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:44,319 Speaker 1: something is off. And again, I'm not going overboard here. 157 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 1: I'm just using his recent history as a guide, and 158 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,440 Speaker 1: I'm telling you this, I would not be shocked if 159 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving decided to call it quits in the off 160 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:54,439 Speaker 1: season and say, you know what, I've had a good 161 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: run in the NBA. I want a title with Lebron. 162 00:08:58,559 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: I've got a lot more than I want to a 163 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: publish in my life. You know, I'm not just a 164 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 1: basketball player. That's one of the keys. He is only 165 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: nine years old, he turned thirty next March, but he 166 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 1: has sold a lot of sneakers. He's got generational wealth 167 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: for him and his family. I don't think he has kids. 168 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 1: Maybe he does, I don't know. Um, Kyrie Irving is 169 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 1: accomplished enough that he can live off everything he's done 170 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: already in his career and he's only twenty nine. I 171 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 1: just wonder how bad he wants to be a basketball 172 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 1: player versus this whole uh finding himself deal. You know, 173 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: like it almost seems like he's going through um. You know, 174 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: some dads go through like a midlife crisis, whether buy 175 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: like a sports car convertible and try to like relive 176 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 1: their youth when they're like I don't know fifty maybe 177 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 1: a little earlier, I don't know. And Kyrie Irving seems 178 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 1: to be going through something in these last twelve months now. Again, 179 00:09:57,080 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna try to speculate as to what it is. 180 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:01,680 Speaker 1: All we can go on is what the fact that 181 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,559 Speaker 1: we know you. If you do read and plumb around 182 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: on the internet, you'll see Kyrie had a rough breakup 183 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: with a girl that I guess he had been with 184 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 1: for a while. I guess she's quasi famous. Um. And 185 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:15,079 Speaker 1: I don't know what that did to him, of course, 186 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: obviously um where he comes from, you know his background. 187 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:22,320 Speaker 1: He's always been trying to figure out, um, who he 188 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 1: is and his his family's history. And Brian Winhorst has 189 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: chronicled how he went back to Native American land in 190 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 1: the Dakota Is a couple of years back and tried 191 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 1: to kind of find out who he was. And we've 192 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: covered this on the podcast, but think about it from 193 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: this perspective right now, Guys, Kyrie Irving has everything he 194 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: would want or he's tried to get, or he's asked for. 195 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: In the NBA. He got to pick the team in 196 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: free agency, the Nets, he got to drag a superstar 197 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 1: with it, Kevin Durant. Then he gets a first year 198 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,319 Speaker 1: head coach, Steve Nash has never been a head coach before. 199 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 1: Good luck even Nash trying to you know, corral Kyrie Irving, 200 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 1: so he's got the run of play basically. Then they 201 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: add James Harden, who's basically, I don't know, one of 202 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 1: the five seven best players in the NBA. What on 203 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: earth is there for Kyrie Irving to be so angry 204 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:19,559 Speaker 1: and unhappy about? What could it possibly be? You got, 205 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: they got the best record in the East, Kyrie Irving 206 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: having a pretty good season. I don't know if he's 207 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: gonna be All NBA because he's missed so many games. 208 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: They are the title favorites. What is he so angry 209 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:35,080 Speaker 1: and upset about? Trying to understand these superstars is difficult 210 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: and it's almost a fool's errand trying to decipher how 211 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 1: why is that kuy not happy? It doesn't make sense. 212 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 1: They just added former All Stars Blake Griffin and LaMarcus 213 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: al Dridge in the off season, and apparently none of 214 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: this is good enough for Kyrie Irving because he's taking 215 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: more days off for quote unquote personal reasons, and I 216 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 1: have said this on social media, I've said on my 217 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 1: Saturday show, I've said it on this podcast. I will 218 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: not be shocked if in the playoffs Kyrie Irving just 219 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: vanishes and just doesn't show up for a day or 220 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:11,839 Speaker 1: two or a game a weekend. I don't know where 221 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 1: he's going, I don't know who he's doing, but he 222 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 1: is extremely unpredictable, and when you get into the postseason, 223 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,439 Speaker 1: that ain't what you want. Can Harden and KD get 224 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: to the finals without him? It's possible. You know, Joe 225 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 1: Harris could play a nice third banana. Um, you got 226 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: clacks in the big guy Aldridge will probably have one 227 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 1: game in the playoffs where he goes for twenty four. 228 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 1: Blake Griffin might have some moments that help them get 229 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: a victory. I think they can probably still come out 230 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,680 Speaker 1: of the East without Kyrie, but I don't think they're 231 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:45,960 Speaker 1: the best team in the NBA. I've had to rescind it. 232 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 1: I know I've gone back and forth. Fox Sports Radio 233 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:51,839 Speaker 1: has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch 234 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: all of our shows at Fox sports Radio dot com 235 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 1: and within the I Heart Radio app search f s 236 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: R to listen live. Obviously, the Lakers are when they 237 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:05,959 Speaker 1: get healthy, are going to be the team to be. 238 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: We know that Denver suffered an absolutely stunning loss on Sunday. 239 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 1: I had been riding the Denver Nuggets train. UM. I 240 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: said they were the best roster in the NBA. They 241 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: were having a great game against the Celtics, leading, leading, 242 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: and Boston went on a twenty nine to three run 243 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 1: in the second half of that game, and I like, 244 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 1: that's the kind of thing where it's like, wait, what 245 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 1: the Denver Nuggets folded in the second half against the Celtics. 246 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 1: Very puzzling, uh, Sunday afternoon in the NBA. In that game, 247 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,959 Speaker 1: I don't understand what happened to Denver in the fourth quarter. 248 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 1: You know, whether it was Yoki struggling, UM, whether it 249 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,840 Speaker 1: was Aaron Gordon not really getting up the shots. Obviously 250 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 1: not having Jamal Murray was a big one. But they 251 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: led that almost an entire game and then just totally 252 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: collapse in the fourth. So you have some concerns about Denver. 253 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: You have concerns about Phoenix, Um, you have concerns about 254 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: the Jazz. Yes, I know the Jazz are great. Yes, 255 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: I know Phoenix is great, but again, prove it in 256 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,560 Speaker 1: the playoffs. How long have we been saying that? So 257 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: ultimately that I fall back on the Lakers and one 258 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 1: thing and and you know, Rob and I were really 259 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: bullish band. The Lakers are in trouble, the schedules brutal. 260 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: How the how on earth are they gonna be able 261 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: to pull this off? And oh, would you look at that? 262 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 1: The Lakers have kind of righted their ship without Lebron, 263 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: without a D and they have a couple of pretty 264 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 1: nice wins without them. That win over Toronto was extremely solid. Uh, 265 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: they slapped Sacramento around with ease. They were competitive against Miami. 266 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: The win over Brooklyn is a stunner. Drummond looked like, Okay, 267 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: we've got something here. Twenty and eleven for Drummond, and 268 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna say, Drummond and Anthony Davis on the 269 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: front line suddenly looks extremely imposing. I don't know how 270 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: much you'll play together, but that is a pretty nasty duo. 271 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,240 Speaker 1: And then you trusted in Lebron and now life just 272 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: got easier. Kyle Kuzma is going from being like the 273 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 1: number one or number two options to being like the 274 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 1: third or fourth. When Lebron and a D are back, 275 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 1: and uh Shrewder continues to improve. I mean, the funniest 276 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 1: thing is if you look at the Lakers the last 277 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 1: five games, they've had a different leading score Drummond with 278 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: twenty KCP, Horton Tucker seventeen, Harold nineteen, Kuzma thirty. A 279 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: couple of games before that it was Shrewder with twenty four. 280 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: Like they are instead of cratering and worrying about them, 281 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: And this is totally on me. What a brick they 282 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 1: have their their second unit. Guys are gaining confidence. And 283 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: do you know how much easier it's gonna be when 284 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 1: you have a D or Lebron with that second unit. 285 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: Now nobody's gonna be, oh gosh, what are we getting 286 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 1: the points from? Well, we've got a D. But oh yeah, 287 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: I guess what. I was the number one option for 288 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: a month. If I'm Dennis Shooter. Horton Tucker is morphing 289 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 1: before our eyes into a really, really good basketball player. 290 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: I don't know what a ceiling is. It's a little 291 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: scary how impressive he's been. But just to watch them 292 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: in the second half, just pick a part of Brooklyn 293 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 1: Nets team that was favored to win the championship with 294 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: basically the B team. It was just what I don't 295 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: know that there's been a better win this season in 296 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 1: the NBA. And I'm not gonna say that Brooklyn has 297 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: trouble ahead, but this Kyrie Irving situation bears monitoring. It 298 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 1: is going to be probably after you know, injuries, which 299 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: are obviously number one the number two subplot of the 300 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 1: NBA playoffs. Can Kyrie Irving keep it together long enough 301 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 1: so that the Nets can win the title? And then 302 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: the question would be what if he can't? What's gonna 303 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 1: happen if they're down to one in a series and 304 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: you know, is Kyrie gonna say, listen, I need to 305 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 1: be the guy? Or or worse year, what are there 306 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: down three two in the series? Can you imagine what 307 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 1: that locker room is gonna be? Like James Harden, I've 308 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,879 Speaker 1: never won, guys, I need to win. Kevin Durant, I 309 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 1: won two titles and two finals MVPs with the Warriors. 310 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,199 Speaker 1: I know what it takes to win. Kyrie Irving, I 311 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:18,679 Speaker 1: think I know what it takes to win. I was 312 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: riding Lebron's coat tails, but I did hit that big 313 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:24,160 Speaker 1: shot at Game seven. I can just see this. And 314 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 1: you know, Steve Nash, I could see him in the 315 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 1: locker room just burying his head in his hands. Wait 316 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:33,400 Speaker 1: what are we doing? And and again I'm not selling 317 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 1: the Nets off one April loss. That would be idiotic 318 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 1: to do such a thing. You never want to uh 319 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: overreact to one loss. And again James Hardon didn't play, 320 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 1: but it was just the level of beat down that 321 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: they suffered was a stunner. So Kyrie Irving will not 322 00:17:51,880 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 1: play tonight against Minnesota Wednesday, massive game, nationally televised NETS mixers. 323 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: There is some hope Harden can be back for that one. 324 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: But the schedule doesn't lighten up. They got Charlotte Friday, 325 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 1: Charlotte's a playoff team. Miami heats Sunday, another national TV game, 326 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 1: Then the following week they have games against Boston Phoenix. 327 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 1: Like the schedule for the Nets, and I've talked about 328 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: this with the Lakers, the league loads up on high 329 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 1: profile players on star teams in April leading into the 330 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 1: playoffs because there's no competition, there's no March Madness, there's 331 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:34,119 Speaker 1: no NFL. The Nets go through a stretch at the 332 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:37,240 Speaker 1: end of this month spanning into May, where they play 333 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:40,439 Speaker 1: on NBA TV on then a back to back on 334 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 1: NBA TV, and then that Sunday they play on ABC, Tuesday, 335 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 1: t NT, Thursday, t NT, Saturday, NBA TV. They're they're 336 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:52,159 Speaker 1: the spotlight is going to be on this team. I 337 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: don't know if it's the level of a powder keg 338 00:18:55,280 --> 00:19:00,719 Speaker 1: that could explode before the playoffs, but if Kyrie Irving 339 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 1: keeps taking games and days off, at what point do 340 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:06,879 Speaker 1: the nets have to step in and say, listen, this 341 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,159 Speaker 1: is unacceptable. We can't have this anymore. I don't know 342 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: that we're there yet, but I feel like you have 343 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 1: to have that conversation with Kyrie before the playoffs. You do, 344 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:20,160 Speaker 1: you can't have Kyrie, Hey, you know we won games 345 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 1: one or two. I'm gonna take games three off. I 346 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 1: need I need a mental day. Like that doesn't work. 347 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: You can say that in November or December and okay, fine, 348 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:31,640 Speaker 1: maybe we'll let that slide. But when the playoffs are here. 349 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 1: But the problem is they've let him take so many 350 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: days off. When the playoffs come around and Kyrie says 351 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:42,160 Speaker 1: I need a day off, do you have a leg 352 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:44,640 Speaker 1: to stand on. It's like trying to discipline your kid. 353 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:46,920 Speaker 1: You let him do it. You let him do it. 354 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 1: You let him do it, and then you say okay, okay, 355 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: no more. What you let me do it for so long? 356 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 1: And this Kyrie Irving situation, this is you know, I 357 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:59,000 Speaker 1: said it was number two after injuries. I'm I'm trying 358 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 1: to think if there is even a close second, and 359 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:06,919 Speaker 1: I don't think there is. Kyrie Irving is going to 360 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 1: be the story in the NBA playoffs. And I know 361 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 1: the West is loaded, and you know there's at least 362 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 1: five good teams. You know, if you want to toss 363 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,639 Speaker 1: in Damon Luca, you're looking at seven, and the East 364 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 1: is East is not as attractive right now. But I'm 365 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:28,159 Speaker 1: kind of fascinated with this level of aneptitude from Kyrie Irving. 366 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:32,199 Speaker 1: Level of maturity or lack thereof, It's stunning to me, 367 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: It is stunning. I almost wonder, you know, if the 368 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 1: second biggest storyline heading into the playoffs is what happens 369 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 1: if the Bucks fail or don't even get to the 370 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:45,200 Speaker 1: conference finals. You know, is this the summer where Jana says, yo, 371 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: you know, we tried, we added Holliday, it ain't working. 372 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:52,160 Speaker 1: I want out. We don't don't act like we haven't 373 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 1: seen that before. Guys, we've seen it before. And Janice 374 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,119 Speaker 1: gets on the table and all of a sudden, you 375 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:05,360 Speaker 1: have a fascinating offseason ahead where you got a two 376 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: time m v P who's demanding out and I know 377 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 1: he signed the super Max. Similarly to Deshaun Watson. Hey, 378 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: j Deshaun Watson signed his new contract and then like 379 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 1: five months later said get me the heck out of town. 380 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 1: Are you gonna bash Janice also for doing the same 381 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:26,399 Speaker 1: thing if he asked to get out of town? Well, 382 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 1: yes and no. Is that hedging? I hate to do that, 383 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:36,360 Speaker 1: But the reality is Janice signed the super Max. I'm 384 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:38,840 Speaker 1: assuming in good faith that, Hey, we're gonna do our 385 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 1: best to improve the roster. Did they? They added they 386 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 1: traded for Drew Holiday. I think he's a one time 387 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 1: All Star. I'm not bashing Drew Holiday. He's a very 388 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: nice player, good complimentary piece. Your big three are now 389 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:59,119 Speaker 1: Drew Holiday, Chris Middleton and Janice. I think the Denver 390 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 1: Nuggets have a better big three, you know, and and 391 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:04,879 Speaker 1: the depth of Nuggets have after that's even better. But 392 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 1: it's funny how all anybody's talking about in the East 393 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,360 Speaker 1: is the Nets and then the Sixers with them beat 394 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 1: and Simmons and the Bucks are like a forgotten team. 395 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:16,920 Speaker 1: And oh yeah, the Miami Heat, who got to the 396 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:20,440 Speaker 1: finals last year, are starting to play a little better. 397 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:24,879 Speaker 1: I don't really trust the Hawks in the playoffs. I 398 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 1: don't totally trust the Hornets. I think the Celtics are 399 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 1: always a very dangerous team. That's a team you've got 400 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:36,200 Speaker 1: to keep an eye on. I kind of I would 401 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 1: if I'm Boston, I would love to avoid the Bucks 402 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:41,880 Speaker 1: in the first round. I think you want to get 403 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:46,159 Speaker 1: that five seed, play Atlanta Charlotte and you've got a 404 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:48,200 Speaker 1: pretty good chance. You don't want to play the Nets, obviously, 405 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,440 Speaker 1: and the Celtics would have problems with him beating honest, 406 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 1: But um, right now, yeah, Kyrie Irving has gotta be 407 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:57,440 Speaker 1: the biggest story in the NBA, and he's off again 408 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 1: tonight for personal reasons. Um, I don't know, Nets fans, 409 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:04,439 Speaker 1: I'm sure you're concerned. I'd love to hear about it. 410 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:07,240 Speaker 1: Hit me up on social media today after you guys 411 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:10,640 Speaker 1: listening to this and uh, maybe I'm overblowing things because 412 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:13,199 Speaker 1: I'm a noted Kyrie Irving basher and you guys like 413 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 1: to think, oh, man, Jason's gonna make Kyrie his new 414 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:20,160 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook. That's not I don't pick and choose, um. 415 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 1: Their actions are what spur the opinions. And I know 416 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 1: there's a lot of Kyrie Irving fans out there. He 417 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:31,520 Speaker 1: made a decent movie. He made some cool commercials back 418 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: in the day that went viral. He's an immensely talented player, 419 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:38,880 Speaker 1: but at the end of the day, his actions are 420 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 1: just troubling to a franchise that was favored coming into 421 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 1: the weekend to win the championship. And I don't know 422 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 1: if that's gonna be the case after that beat down 423 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:50,920 Speaker 1: at the hands of the Lakers. So this is gonna 424 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:53,680 Speaker 1: do it for the Monday Pod. Back tomorrow, good guests 425 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:55,920 Speaker 1: talking NFL. We'll talk to you then