WEBVTT - #thisleague UNCUT: Team USA Breakdown: Steve Kerr, Jayson Tatum and Joel Embiid 0:00:01.320 --> 0:00:05.200 All the latest from the Olympics, with Team USA off 0:00:05.240 --> 0:00:08.800 to a two and oh start. Also will reflect on 0:00:09.280 --> 0:00:14.880 Gordon Hayward's sudden retirement and the chapter he forever holds 0:00:15.360 --> 0:00:19.120 in Chris Haynes' career. And we've even got some Paul 0:00:19.200 --> 0:00:23.320 George talk, Paul George and Chris Haynes on the Fresno 0:00:23.400 --> 0:00:27.040 State campus together. All of that is next on this 0:00:27.240 --> 0:00:28.960 edition of This League Uncut. 0:00:29.440 --> 0:00:33.640 Welcome to this League Uncut in the rule of twenty 0:00:33.640 --> 0:00:38.960 four hour NBA news, this news you'll Chris Haynes, it's 0:00:38.960 --> 0:00:47.400 go time, work's time, it's some time. This League Uncut 0:00:47.479 --> 0:00:53.239 is underway, in on fire. This should be a good one. 0:00:53.960 --> 0:00:58.400 Hey everyone, it's been a minute. We are back together, 0:00:58.600 --> 0:01:03.000 all three of us back together. Chris Haynes, Mark Stein here, 0:01:03.400 --> 0:01:06.520 Producer Ryan is here. We have not done a pod. 0:01:07.200 --> 0:01:08.840 We had to deal with summer league. We did the 0:01:08.880 --> 0:01:12.440 pod with modest buzzellis from the Chicago Bulls, but then 0:01:13.319 --> 0:01:18.000 Chris and I had pretty divergent summer league schedules. But 0:01:18.680 --> 0:01:21.800 we are reconnected here ready to go. In the midst 0:01:22.480 --> 0:01:28.080 of the Olympics, still have NBA business to discuss. Cleveland 0:01:28.160 --> 0:01:33.760 Cavaliers just extending Jared Allen, Gordon Hayward announces his retirement. 0:01:34.880 --> 0:01:38.240 As I said, Olympics fully underway. But Chris Haynes, it's 0:01:38.360 --> 0:01:41.920 just your pictures cutting in and out for some reason. 0:01:42.120 --> 0:01:44.959 Must be some bad wi fi. But it's good to 0:01:44.959 --> 0:01:46.000 see you, good to be with you. 0:01:46.319 --> 0:01:48.080 It's good to be what you started as well. I 0:01:48.680 --> 0:01:51.560 wish we could be together in a physical but I 0:01:51.640 --> 0:01:54.720 know you're in Dallas and I'm here in Chicago at 0:01:54.760 --> 0:01:58.440 the National Association of Black Journalist convention that I attend 0:01:58.520 --> 0:01:59.000 every year. 0:01:59.600 --> 0:02:03.440 So getting ready to host the second most anticipated panel 0:02:03.480 --> 0:02:04.120 of the week. 0:02:04.560 --> 0:02:06.720 What was the first? 0:02:07.280 --> 0:02:14.120 I don't remember, but I'm really I'm really intriguing. How 0:02:14.960 --> 0:02:17.720 I really hope somebody posts the video from the art 0:02:17.720 --> 0:02:19.760 of the live shot that you'll be hosting. 0:02:19.919 --> 0:02:22.440 Oh, thanks for the shutout start. Yes, that's the pedal 0:02:22.639 --> 0:02:25.880 will be on tomorrow, which will be at Friday after 0:02:25.919 --> 0:02:29.200 the live shot. The art of the live shot. I'm 0:02:29.200 --> 0:02:32.280 looking for you ready, I am ready start. It should 0:02:32.280 --> 0:02:34.440 be really good. It was. It was a hit last year, 0:02:34.520 --> 0:02:38.360 so we're bringing it back. But tonight I'm hosting the 0:02:38.400 --> 0:02:43.040 tt Space Space Tournament. I don't play space. I don't 0:02:43.080 --> 0:02:44.440 know how to play. But I'm hosting it. 0:02:44.520 --> 0:02:47.400 But what does that mean hosting? What is hosting? What 0:02:47.440 --> 0:02:48.400 is what is involved in? 0:02:49.560 --> 0:02:54.760 Basically just getting things in order, explaining the rules to 0:02:54.800 --> 0:02:59.040 everybody location. No TT did all that. I just have 0:02:59.120 --> 0:03:02.160 to show up. So just explaining the rules and tell 0:03:02.240 --> 0:03:04.760 them the prizes, what they win and all that. Just 0:03:04.840 --> 0:03:07.840 keeping everybody engaged throughout throughout. So it's cool. 0:03:08.440 --> 0:03:09.440 Is it fancy dress? 0:03:11.000 --> 0:03:14.400 No, I would dress down. It's fancy dress all day today, 0:03:14.639 --> 0:03:17.240 but I would dress down today. Sorry. When I when 0:03:17.280 --> 0:03:21.200 I landed here in Chicago, I landed here around noon 0:03:21.400 --> 0:03:25.520 yesterday and it was tough trying to get to my hotel. 0:03:25.639 --> 0:03:29.080 I was like, why is everything barricaded? What is going 0:03:29.120 --> 0:03:32.000 on around here? Who is in town? I could not 0:03:32.200 --> 0:03:35.160 get to my whole That was not for you, it 0:03:35.200 --> 0:03:37.520 was It was not for me. This was something from 0:03:37.760 --> 0:03:40.440 much bigger than me. But I just had the toughest 0:03:40.480 --> 0:03:44.040 time getting to my hotel. Could you guess why that 0:03:44.200 --> 0:03:44.880 was the case? Star? 0:03:46.720 --> 0:03:51.080 I can, But I thought we were talking the Olympics, Okay, Ryan, 0:03:52.000 --> 0:03:55.720 Ryan had a strict menu of questions. He wants to 0:03:55.760 --> 0:03:58.280 know why y'ael embiid it didn't. 0:03:58.080 --> 0:04:00.880 Play in the second game, okay. 0:04:01.120 --> 0:04:03.880 By Jason Tatum didn't play in the first game. Now, 0:04:03.880 --> 0:04:09.080 obviously I'm being facetious because to me, those are just 0:04:10.360 --> 0:04:15.600 manufactured stories that look, the United States has these two wins. 0:04:16.400 --> 0:04:20.240 They're playing really well as a team. It is the 0:04:20.240 --> 0:04:23.039 way of the NBA to try to find the drama 0:04:23.560 --> 0:04:28.360 and focus on the guys who aren't playing. But I mean, 0:04:28.400 --> 0:04:33.720 this team is under the most absolute win or bus 0:04:33.880 --> 0:04:37.120 pressure that there is in basketball. They are not allowed 0:04:37.120 --> 0:04:40.960 to lose a single game. They played five exhibitions, didn't 0:04:40.960 --> 0:04:45.480 have durant for any of them, almost lost to South Sudan, 0:04:46.760 --> 0:04:51.800 almost lost to Germany. But just two games into this 0:04:52.120 --> 0:04:55.640 Olympic run, this thing is really coming together and they 0:04:55.680 --> 0:05:01.200 are gelling looking like a team, and everybody seems to 0:05:01.240 --> 0:05:04.560 be putting the team first. And if the United States 0:05:04.600 --> 0:05:08.000 does all that and plays defense like we're seeing, they're 0:05:08.040 --> 0:05:12.279 going to win the gold medal. And that's the way 0:05:12.720 --> 0:05:17.400 that Steve Kerr and everybody associated with this thing, that's 0:05:17.440 --> 0:05:20.919 how they really avoid criticism. They have to win, and 0:05:21.880 --> 0:05:24.160 two games into the run they are doing what they're 0:05:24.200 --> 0:05:25.040 supposed to be doing. 0:05:25.360 --> 0:05:28.159 I mean that's the case every year, Starle we expect 0:05:28.760 --> 0:05:34.080 the men Son is, I've never covered an Olympics before, never, 0:05:34.200 --> 0:05:37.400 so I probably probably Los Angeles will be my first 0:05:37.440 --> 0:05:42.159 one in four years. Stan, is it appropriate as an 0:05:42.200 --> 0:05:46.880 American to say our team when you're talking about Team USA? 0:05:47.360 --> 0:05:47.719 How do we? 0:05:47.880 --> 0:05:48.080 You know? 0:05:48.360 --> 0:05:50.920 I don't think we should in our jobs? I mean, 0:05:51.040 --> 0:05:54.279 I really don't. I know. I think I think in 0:05:54.320 --> 0:05:59.040 one of the games, Dwayne Wade say said it, but 0:05:59.120 --> 0:06:02.320 he actually yeah, he played on the team, so it's 0:06:02.400 --> 0:06:06.080 harder for him. But no, I mean I think I 0:06:06.120 --> 0:06:12.719 think we realistically should be removed to at least that degree. 0:06:12.880 --> 0:06:16.560 Okay, So with that being said, they're expected to go 0:06:16.640 --> 0:06:19.920 out there and win every game. That's always been the case. 0:06:20.040 --> 0:06:24.120 Even though the world has caught up, we still believe 0:06:24.200 --> 0:06:27.800 that overall we have the best talent pound for pound. 0:06:29.279 --> 0:06:32.760 We might not have the best player per se, but 0:06:33.120 --> 0:06:35.479 just from top to bottom, we still believe that the 0:06:35.600 --> 0:06:39.400 United States is keen. So yes, they are expected to 0:06:39.400 --> 0:06:41.320 go out there and win, and they're going to be 0:06:41.400 --> 0:06:45.000 criticized with the loss. They're even going to be criticized 0:06:45.240 --> 0:06:48.560 with a narrow win. You know, you expect our team 0:06:48.600 --> 0:06:50.000 to go out there and dominate. And this is a 0:06:50.040 --> 0:06:52.920 really good team, really good team. They're very deep, they 0:06:52.960 --> 0:06:57.000 have shooters, they have defensive wings, they got they got 0:06:57.000 --> 0:06:58.360 a little bit of everything on this team. 0:06:58.400 --> 0:07:02.400 So it was expectations are so high. This roster is 0:07:02.480 --> 0:07:07.680 so good. I covered the twenty nineteen World Cup in China, 0:07:07.760 --> 0:07:11.320 that roster was nowhere close to this team. Same with 0:07:11.440 --> 0:07:14.760 last Summer's World Cup. When they in China, they finished 0:07:14.760 --> 0:07:18.280 in seventh. Last Summer's team finished fourth. Those teams weren't 0:07:18.480 --> 0:07:23.040 close roster wise to what we see on this team. 0:07:23.120 --> 0:07:28.800 This team is absolutely loaded, so deep that Tatum has 0:07:28.840 --> 0:07:33.560 a dnp CD, Halliburton has a dnp CD, and Embiid 0:07:33.680 --> 0:07:38.280 has a dnp CD. It's that deep. And that's but 0:07:38.360 --> 0:07:40.880 that's the thing. This is one of those rare times 0:07:40.880 --> 0:07:45.200 that USA basketball can say we really brought our best 0:07:45.680 --> 0:07:49.920 and by bringing this strong of a team, and when 0:07:49.920 --> 0:07:54.320 everyone's dialed in, as long as they maintain it, they're 0:07:54.360 --> 0:07:56.960 they're not gonna lose. They're they're just they're not gonna lose. 0:07:57.000 --> 0:07:59.840 I'm gonna say this time before the Olympics started, well 0:08:00.000 --> 0:08:04.360 even before the preliminary games, if I was thinking about 0:08:04.400 --> 0:08:08.160 the roster and everybody is not going to play, But 0:08:08.920 --> 0:08:12.160 if I had to pick. I knew Tyree would be 0:08:12.400 --> 0:08:15.160 a guy that would not play. I knew that I did, 0:08:15.480 --> 0:08:17.920 it didn't It doesn't matter like what he was doing 0:08:17.960 --> 0:08:20.440 in practice. Just knowing his game and knowing the talent 0:08:20.480 --> 0:08:23.600 that they have, I figured Tyres was not going to 0:08:23.640 --> 0:08:27.720 play a few games. I did not anticipate MB and 0:08:27.800 --> 0:08:31.880 I did not anticipate Tatum being two guys that would 0:08:31.920 --> 0:08:36.640 fall in that category. Maybe a Dereck White, but again 0:08:36.720 --> 0:08:39.360 the team USA, they they felt like they need him 0:08:39.360 --> 0:08:43.200 for defensive purposes. And I thought maybe Derek White because 0:08:43.720 --> 0:08:46.679 he was a last minute at But no, I did 0:08:46.720 --> 0:08:52.080 not see Tatum and MB And again, you know that 0:08:52.160 --> 0:08:54.720 Steve Kurr took a lot of criticism for not playing 0:08:55.480 --> 0:08:58.920 Jason Tatum that first game. They still won bleed by 0:08:59.040 --> 0:09:03.840 twenty six. I guess I get the Chris. I don't know, 0:09:03.920 --> 0:09:08.559 like it's hard to It's hard for me to criticize 0:09:08.640 --> 0:09:12.040 Curve for winning in that fashion. Now, could they have 0:09:12.120 --> 0:09:14.679 one still with Tatum out there? Yeah, I think you can. 0:09:15.760 --> 0:09:19.319 You know, then there's the question of does a head 0:09:19.360 --> 0:09:25.480 coach have a have a responsibility to make sure he 0:09:25.800 --> 0:09:28.920 plays and upholds the confidence of a player who just 0:09:29.000 --> 0:09:30.400 came off of a championship. 0:09:30.559 --> 0:09:30.920 You know, I. 0:09:32.600 --> 0:09:34.520 I don't think that says Steve Curr's mind. I think 0:09:34.800 --> 0:09:36.880 his mind is just having the best line up out 0:09:36.880 --> 0:09:38.000 there that's going to win. 0:09:38.360 --> 0:09:42.560 And in his mind, it's only one thing win, win 0:09:43.080 --> 0:09:46.319 by any means necessary. And if people think, oh, it 0:09:46.360 --> 0:09:48.720 must have been really uncomfortable for him to not play 0:09:48.760 --> 0:09:52.520 Tatum or to sit and be I promise you, far 0:09:52.600 --> 0:09:56.520 more uncomfortable is the thought of losing. Because again, the 0:09:56.559 --> 0:10:01.440 pressure with this, like there was pressure last summer in 0:10:01.480 --> 0:10:04.440 the World Cup, and there was certainly criticism that the 0:10:04.600 --> 0:10:09.360 US only finished fourth. But in the American basketball culture, 0:10:09.400 --> 0:10:13.760 we put the Olympics on a much higher pedestal than 0:10:13.800 --> 0:10:18.960 the World Cup. And that's why they have such a 0:10:18.960 --> 0:10:22.240 good roster. That's why so many guys wanted to play. 0:10:23.400 --> 0:10:25.679 But it really is you. 0:10:25.600 --> 0:10:28.680 Don't think Paris. You don't think Paris had anything to 0:10:28.720 --> 0:10:29.080 do with it. 0:10:31.240 --> 0:10:33.640 I guess, But you know, that's actually one of the 0:10:33.760 --> 0:10:37.520 challenges of this thing that probably hasn't been talked about enough. 0:10:38.480 --> 0:10:41.160 The US team is staying in Paris, but these games 0:10:41.200 --> 0:10:45.040 are in Lelle, like two hours away, and you understand 0:10:45.040 --> 0:10:46.880 why the team wants to be in Paris. They want 0:10:46.920 --> 0:10:48.880 to be able to go to the other Olympic events 0:10:49.360 --> 0:10:52.200 and look the basket. It's been a long time that 0:10:52.480 --> 0:10:54.600 the basketball team hasn't been able to stay in the 0:10:54.679 --> 0:10:59.320 village because they want ultimate privacy, so they're always in 0:10:59.320 --> 0:11:01.839 a hotel some where. But they want as much as 0:11:01.840 --> 0:11:04.960 they can to get the Olympic experience. And we're seeing 0:11:05.360 --> 0:11:07.679 guys on this team show up at all kinds of 0:11:07.720 --> 0:11:11.600 different Olympic events, so you understand that. But it is, 0:11:12.080 --> 0:11:14.200 you know, they got a two hour ride each way 0:11:14.520 --> 0:11:17.840 on game days, so it is it is a bit 0:11:17.920 --> 0:11:22.200 of a logistical challenge. I don't know how much they're 0:11:22.240 --> 0:11:24.760 really seeing of, you know, Paris. When you say it 0:11:24.800 --> 0:11:26.520 like that, you know the glamor, I don't. I don't 0:11:26.559 --> 0:11:29.320 know how glamorous Paris is right now in the midst 0:11:29.360 --> 0:11:35.440 of the Olympics and all the chaos that's there. But yeah, 0:11:35.480 --> 0:11:39.240 this team is the thing that And you know, I've 0:11:39.600 --> 0:11:42.200 I've covered three Olympics in the past and I've done 0:11:42.360 --> 0:11:45.560 three World Cup runs and what always happens with the 0:11:45.679 --> 0:11:48.559 United States. They have the highest ceiling of any team 0:11:48.559 --> 0:11:51.920 by far because of the talent and they can they 0:11:52.000 --> 0:11:54.960 tend to play better. The later it is, the more 0:11:55.000 --> 0:11:58.760 they're together, the more time they have to actually gel 0:11:59.480 --> 0:12:02.680 and funk like a team. And I think that's what's 0:12:02.679 --> 0:12:06.360 been so impressive about these first two games. It's already happening, 0:12:06.760 --> 0:12:10.800 and the other contenders, your Canada's, your Serbia's, your Australia's, 0:12:10.840 --> 0:12:14.079 your Germany's. Of course, the host France, they did not 0:12:14.240 --> 0:12:17.840 want to see this this quickly, as dialed. As bad 0:12:17.880 --> 0:12:21.840 as the US looked in the exhibition game against South 0:12:21.880 --> 0:12:25.400 Sudan in London, and then basically a week and change later, 0:12:26.800 --> 0:12:31.040 as good as they've looked in the opener against Serbia, 0:12:31.600 --> 0:12:35.400 the rematch with South Sudan, as devastating as they look 0:12:35.400 --> 0:12:37.439 when they go to the bench. I mean, it's just ridiculous. 0:12:37.440 --> 0:12:40.959 When you're bringing in Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Bam out 0:12:40.960 --> 0:12:44.240 of Bio, You're bringing these guys off the bench. I 0:12:44.280 --> 0:12:49.760 mean it really it's not fair. But the US ain't 0:12:49.800 --> 0:12:53.120 going to apologize because when they lose, they get hammered. 0:12:53.160 --> 0:12:56.440 So if they can keep playing like this and keep 0:12:56.480 --> 0:13:02.400 winning like this and keep oozing the team basketball that 0:13:02.400 --> 0:13:07.840 we're seeing, yeah, they're going to revel in every. 0:13:07.600 --> 0:13:10.920 Second and rightfully so, and so that you know, that's 0:13:10.920 --> 0:13:13.520 why this is so entertaining because as you mentioned, the 0:13:13.559 --> 0:13:20.520 talent load is so it's it's extremely well put together. 0:13:20.600 --> 0:13:22.360 I'm just saying that Grant Hill did a really good 0:13:22.440 --> 0:13:26.360 job constructing this team, selling all these guys on the 0:13:26.440 --> 0:13:29.400 vision for this team, and so they've all bodied and 0:13:29.800 --> 0:13:32.920 they're getting better. This is their time where they're getting better. 0:13:33.480 --> 0:13:35.800 And that's that's why it's going to be a you know, 0:13:35.800 --> 0:13:37.559 it's gonna be tough for the opposition for sure. 0:13:43.720 --> 0:13:47.160 I mean, you notate um so well. I always do 0:13:47.240 --> 0:13:49.240 this to you. I really shouldn't do it, and I apologize, 0:13:49.240 --> 0:13:52.240 but now I'm gonna do it again to step into 0:13:52.240 --> 0:13:54.320 his head? How do you He handled it with a 0:13:54.360 --> 0:13:57.679 lot of class. He hasn't said one cross word about it. 0:13:57.920 --> 0:14:01.840 Obviously started the next game, so he really didn't fuel 0:14:03.480 --> 0:14:05.200 I mean, he did not a drop of fuel to 0:14:05.280 --> 0:14:09.320 this supposed controversy of not playing in the first game. 0:14:10.160 --> 0:14:12.800 Just tell me what you maybe not instead of you 0:14:12.840 --> 0:14:14.600 know what, instead of me trying to ask you to 0:14:14.600 --> 0:14:16.480 step into his head, just just tell me what you 0:14:16.600 --> 0:14:20.320 think of how Tatum handled not playing in that first game. 0:14:20.400 --> 0:14:24.640 Okay, before I addressed that question. I want to ask 0:14:24.680 --> 0:14:27.880 you something, Stein about something you said about Steve Kerr. 0:14:28.400 --> 0:14:31.480 You said, Steve is not worried about anything but winning 0:14:31.960 --> 0:14:35.960 because if he loses, it all comes down on him. 0:14:36.400 --> 0:14:39.600 And he did everything in his power in that first 0:14:39.640 --> 0:14:42.040 game to just put the team in the best position 0:14:42.080 --> 0:14:47.280 to win. Okay, Stein, if that's the case, why did 0:14:47.320 --> 0:14:48.640 Tatum start game two? 0:14:50.120 --> 0:14:54.960 Because the US with Kerr at the head of the snake, obviously, 0:14:54.960 --> 0:14:58.240 but I think as the coaching staff, they thought South 0:14:58.280 --> 0:15:03.560 Sudan with a team full of wings, length, speed, the 0:15:03.600 --> 0:15:07.480 way that South Sudan plays is so much different compared 0:15:07.520 --> 0:15:10.440 to a Serbia team, which, yes they have some guards 0:15:10.480 --> 0:15:13.360 you have to worry about, but Serbia, you are worried 0:15:13.400 --> 0:15:17.160 about Jokic inside and you're gonna use all three of 0:15:17.200 --> 0:15:21.520 your centers to the max against Jokic. I think Kerr 0:15:21.520 --> 0:15:26.320 felt like for the South Sudan matchup, Tatum was not 0:15:26.360 --> 0:15:29.600 only going to play, but have a prominent role. And Embiid, 0:15:29.960 --> 0:15:33.680 who all of us on the outside thought, was promised 0:15:33.680 --> 0:15:37.000 this starting spot to get him to commit to the 0:15:37.080 --> 0:15:40.680 United States. Remember, Embiid could have played for his native Cameroon, 0:15:40.800 --> 0:15:43.040 or he could have played for France or he could 0:15:43.040 --> 0:15:46.120 have played for the United States. The thinking going into 0:15:46.120 --> 0:15:49.640 the Olympics was the United States surely promised embid a 0:15:49.680 --> 0:15:52.560 starting spot, and Kerk can't pull him from the starting 0:15:52.560 --> 0:15:55.600 lineup because that's how they got his commitment to play 0:15:55.640 --> 0:15:58.400 for the United States. But then in Game two, Embiid 0:15:58.520 --> 0:15:59.920 is the only guy on the team who didn't play 0:16:00.000 --> 0:16:04.840 at all. So I think curR is showing that he's 0:16:04.920 --> 0:16:07.920 going to do what he and the coaching staff think 0:16:08.680 --> 0:16:12.680 is the right move, no matter whose feelings it hurts. 0:16:12.720 --> 0:16:19.680 So you're saying that Tatum starting in game two had 0:16:19.960 --> 0:16:25.560 absolutely nothing to do with the criticism that Tatum received 0:16:25.600 --> 0:16:26.520 and Curve received. 0:16:26.560 --> 0:16:29.520 Are you saying I can't say nothing. I mean, you know, 0:16:30.280 --> 0:16:33.360 was it secretly a factor and none of them have 0:16:33.480 --> 0:16:36.800 acknowledged it? I mean that surely seems possible. 0:16:37.920 --> 0:16:41.240 But okay, well let me get back to you. I'll 0:16:41.240 --> 0:16:44.080 get back to your initial question. I think you know, 0:16:44.080 --> 0:16:49.320 knowing Tatum, I definitely think he's a one of the 0:16:49.320 --> 0:16:53.080 most serious competitors I've covered this league. Definitely, I'm pretty 0:16:53.120 --> 0:16:55.560 sure a looted them, but he handled it. He knew 0:16:55.600 --> 0:16:58.760 he had to handle it with professionalism. He knew if 0:16:58.760 --> 0:17:05.680 he said anything negative, if the situation will escalate even further. 0:17:06.240 --> 0:17:11.679 So he avoided that. And No, I definitely think it 0:17:11.760 --> 0:17:14.720 bothered him to a certain extent. I haven't talked to him, 0:17:14.760 --> 0:17:16.639 so this is not coming from him. I just just 0:17:16.680 --> 0:17:19.160 knowing how he is, knowing the competitor that he is. Yet, 0:17:19.520 --> 0:17:21.320 definitely I think it bothered him. 0:17:21.400 --> 0:17:23.439 So based on the way you asked me the question, 0:17:24.960 --> 0:17:27.520 are you saying that you do think that the criticism 0:17:27.560 --> 0:17:29.200 is the reason Tatum started that game? 0:17:30.240 --> 0:17:34.359 Listen, I can. I can buy into your premise line 0:17:34.440 --> 0:17:38.560 that you believe that because of the personnel of Saddan 0:17:38.720 --> 0:17:42.520 that they needed him more so in that game for 0:17:42.600 --> 0:17:45.840 the length and everything, I get it. But go from 0:17:45.880 --> 0:17:51.000 a d M p CD to starting, that's a big jump. 0:17:51.160 --> 0:17:55.239 I understand d M d M p CD to end 0:17:55.240 --> 0:17:55.840 the rotation. 0:17:56.960 --> 0:17:59.480 Well, I think one thing is another factor here is 0:17:59.480 --> 0:18:03.800 that Durant played so well off the bench and clicked 0:18:03.840 --> 0:18:09.160 so well with Aunt Edwards that Kerr wanted to leave 0:18:09.240 --> 0:18:13.560 both of them on that second unit, and that made 0:18:13.560 --> 0:18:18.040 it easier to put Tatum in the starting lineup. Well, 0:18:18.760 --> 0:18:21.199 and if America could see, and if America could have 0:18:21.200 --> 0:18:23.040 seen the look on your face as I was going 0:18:23.080 --> 0:18:27.200 through that, they would know that you agree with you. 0:18:27.520 --> 0:18:29.840 I do not buy it because you know what, Kevin 0:18:29.920 --> 0:18:32.760 Durant is going to kill on most nights, you know 0:18:32.800 --> 0:18:35.359 what I mean? Like, are we determined that Tatum's playing 0:18:35.400 --> 0:18:38.600 time based off if kd is killing? He's going to kill? 0:18:39.880 --> 0:18:42.920 Yeah, but I think he's even more devastating the way 0:18:42.960 --> 0:18:45.720 they're using him. They're bringing him in as a second 0:18:46.000 --> 0:18:49.960 unit guy, and he is just destroying these poor guy 0:18:50.080 --> 0:18:51.800 these these poor opponents. 0:18:52.359 --> 0:18:54.720 Okay, are they bringing them in as a second unit 0:18:54.760 --> 0:18:58.040 guy because that's the best role or because he's coming 0:18:58.040 --> 0:18:58.960 off of that injury. 0:19:02.359 --> 0:19:04.639 I mean, it probably is more injury related, but the 0:19:04.680 --> 0:19:07.400 way it's working out, so it's the way it's working out. 0:19:08.280 --> 0:19:08.600 He will. 0:19:09.400 --> 0:19:12.040 Do you think Duran? Look, we anything is possible against 0:19:12.040 --> 0:19:14.040 Puerto Rico, But do you think they will use Durant 0:19:14.080 --> 0:19:15.440 the same way against Puerto Rico? 0:19:15.520 --> 0:19:18.520 I think they will, Yeah, because they can. I mean 0:19:19.080 --> 0:19:23.159 the chances of them losing regardless is it's very slim. 0:19:23.320 --> 0:19:26.840 But my whole thing is with the Tatum thing, like no, 0:19:27.160 --> 0:19:30.600 like we're not it's not predicated on Durant killing or not. 0:19:30.760 --> 0:19:33.160 If it is then Tatum's not going to play much 0:19:33.160 --> 0:19:35.560 because Durant is going to kill the I think what 0:19:35.680 --> 0:19:39.919 people were upset about was that the fact that, again 0:19:40.000 --> 0:19:43.919 I understand Currs thinking, but I just challenged you a 0:19:43.920 --> 0:19:46.240 little bit because you made it come. He made it 0:19:46.320 --> 0:19:49.120 sound as if Steve Curze is doing what it takes 0:19:49.119 --> 0:19:51.240 to win. He's doing you know, he's going to win. 0:19:51.320 --> 0:19:53.680 He doesn't care about Okay, if he didn't care, then 0:19:54.440 --> 0:19:56.879 I don't think Tatum will be in the starting lineup 0:19:56.920 --> 0:19:59.240 the next day. I think he might be a rotation. 0:20:00.080 --> 0:20:05.080 I think the proof is if he had bigger picture concerns, 0:20:05.640 --> 0:20:08.440 because one of the big criticisms that was levied after 0:20:08.480 --> 0:20:12.040 the first game was don't they understand that Lebron is 0:20:12.080 --> 0:20:14.680 thirty nine and Steph is thirty six and Durant is 0:20:14.720 --> 0:20:17.000 thirty five. These guys are not gonna be here at 0:20:17.040 --> 0:20:20.320 the next Olympics. They're pissing Tatum off. Tatum's never gonna 0:20:20.320 --> 0:20:23.800 play for Team USA again after this. So there are 0:20:23.920 --> 0:20:26.679 other things that they could theoretically be thinking about, and 0:20:26.720 --> 0:20:30.879 I think just what we're seeing is those thoughts are 0:20:30.880 --> 0:20:34.840 being pushed to the side. Feelings are all being pushed 0:20:34.840 --> 0:20:38.160 to the side, Steve Kurrz basically come out and said, 0:20:38.440 --> 0:20:40.720 these are forty minute games. I can only play ten 0:20:40.760 --> 0:20:45.640 guys per game. I'm gonna choose those ten best suited 0:20:45.680 --> 0:20:49.280 to the game plan. And again with the United States 0:20:49.320 --> 0:20:52.920 playing as well as it has early and already building 0:20:53.000 --> 0:20:57.680 up this head of steam, to me, these are all 0:20:57.800 --> 0:21:02.560 manufactured criticisms because they've come up with two very good 0:21:02.640 --> 0:21:08.200 game plans that delivered two very good performances. And that's 0:21:08.240 --> 0:21:10.560 all that this thing should really be judged on. 0:21:10.720 --> 0:21:14.720 That's it. That's it, stime. Listen, I don't personally do 0:21:14.840 --> 0:21:18.240 whatever it takes to win. If you feel like that 0:21:18.400 --> 0:21:22.080 is the best approach playing nineteen and excluding Tatum or 0:21:22.160 --> 0:21:26.280 excluding Tyres, Okay, but just stick with that, like say 0:21:26.320 --> 0:21:28.440 it what you make the decision, say it with your 0:21:28.520 --> 0:21:31.720 chest and stand by it. But when you start on 0:21:31.800 --> 0:21:36.199 the next day, the next game, that's like a was 0:21:36.240 --> 0:21:39.280 it the criticism that got to you? Because that's just 0:21:39.440 --> 0:21:44.359 that's a very significant leap up. Again, I understand going 0:21:44.359 --> 0:21:46.840 from not playing, now you're into the road, now you're 0:21:46.840 --> 0:21:49.119 in a rotation, but now you go from not playing 0:21:49.119 --> 0:21:52.560 to starting, and is that team I understand Sudan with 0:21:52.600 --> 0:21:54.600 all the wings. I know they probably you know, there's 0:21:54.640 --> 0:21:57.679 some fear instilled based off of what Sadan did in 0:21:57.680 --> 0:22:01.359 the preliminary So but you know the thing is, I 0:22:01.400 --> 0:22:05.879 think especially from Celtics fans, they're like, listen, Tatum is 0:22:05.920 --> 0:22:09.240 coming off of a championship. Is Tatum going to be 0:22:09.280 --> 0:22:12.240 the reason you lose? No, he's not. You're probably still 0:22:12.280 --> 0:22:16.639 going to win by twenty six. And that's their thought process. Again, 0:22:16.880 --> 0:22:20.119 I'm all for play whoever you want to play. Just 0:22:20.200 --> 0:22:24.399 stick by your word and don't fall victim or don't 0:22:24.440 --> 0:22:29.080 give in. I should say to external criticism, just stick 0:22:29.119 --> 0:22:33.560 with it, that's all. And I don't know that this decision. 0:22:33.760 --> 0:22:37.720 I don't know that this decision was all just basketball related. 0:22:37.960 --> 0:22:40.720 Producer Ryan Wayan, what do you think about the decision 0:22:40.800 --> 0:22:44.840 from dnp CD one game in the start line up 0:22:44.880 --> 0:22:49.440 the next game, even though it's a different team, different personnel. 0:22:49.800 --> 0:22:53.120 I am very much on the side of Chris Haynes here. 0:22:53.520 --> 0:23:02.840 I have a healthy, always I have a healthy level 0:23:02.880 --> 0:23:07.800 of skepticism that it just solely based off of matchups, 0:23:07.960 --> 0:23:11.600 goes from couldn't even find a minute to. 0:23:11.560 --> 0:23:16.680 Play in the rotation to the starter. I will say 0:23:16.760 --> 0:23:17.760 I do think that for. 0:23:17.720 --> 0:23:19.960 The most part, Steve Kerr and who he is as 0:23:19.960 --> 0:23:23.080 a person and all that he's accomplished, isn't one that 0:23:23.880 --> 0:23:27.240 is normally just going to give in, if you will, 0:23:27.480 --> 0:23:29.600 to just public pressures and comments. 0:23:30.040 --> 0:23:34.320 But it was such a stark change in just one 0:23:34.480 --> 0:23:38.080 game that I have saw. 0:23:38.119 --> 0:23:40.879 I have a little bit of skepticism that it is 0:23:41.040 --> 0:23:42.520 simply a basketball move. 0:23:43.440 --> 0:23:46.720 We're recording this way too close to Ryan Shift as 0:23:46.760 --> 0:23:50.320 a producer on the Herd, and that's why he's in there. 0:23:51.520 --> 0:23:53.800 He's in that mode, looking for the cry on, looking 0:23:53.800 --> 0:23:58.600 for the headline, looking for that topic, bar saucy conversation. 0:23:58.800 --> 0:24:02.080 Producer Ryan should feel disrespected right now. We always bring 0:24:02.080 --> 0:24:04.720 producer Ryan on to be the voice of reason. He's 0:24:04.840 --> 0:24:08.480 always in the middle. And for for Stein to just 0:24:08.600 --> 0:24:11.760