1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: The Boston Celtics are the champions. What does this momentous 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: achievement mean for Jason Tatum, for Jalen Brown and the 3 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: natural question can they repeat? As well as our first 4 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,920 Speaker 1: look ahead to the off season, we will talk Paul George, 5 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:22,760 Speaker 1: we will start looking at free agency, and we've got 6 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: some dunk tales from Chris Haynes. All that's next. You're 7 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: on a new edition of this League Uncut. Welcome to 8 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 1: this League Uncut in the world of twenty four hour NBA. 9 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 2: News miters, you louse, Chris Haynes, It's time, work's time. 10 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: It's so time. This League Uncut is underway and on fire. 11 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: This should be a good one. Hello to all, and 12 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: welcome in to a new edition of this League Uncut. 13 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: Mark Stein here with Chris Haynes on the evening of 14 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: June eighteenth. The twenty twenty three to twenty four season 15 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: is officially over the Boston Celtics on Monday night on 16 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 1: June seventeenth, Just like they did in two thousand and eight, 17 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: the team based in the six one seven wins the championship. 18 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: On six seventeen, the Boston Celtics putting the Dallas Mavericks 19 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 1: away finishing the NBA Finals. That means today Tuesday was 20 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: the start of the NBA offseason, and we will get 21 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: to that because it's the fastest start to an NBA 22 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: offseason ever, thanks to the new rules that allow teams 23 00:01:55,640 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: to start speaking to their free agents immediately the day 24 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: after the NBA Finals. But first, of course, Chris Haynes, 25 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:10,239 Speaker 1: we must pay homage to the Celtics. To me, they 26 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: were and they are the team of the season, and 27 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: they really showed us something during these finals, winning in 28 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: five and holding the high powered Mavericks under one hundred 29 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: points in all four games. They won, very impressive. 30 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 2: Starin Let's just you know, let's just go back a 31 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 2: little bit before the series started. You had a prediction. 32 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 2: What was it? 33 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: I do not remember. 34 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 2: Oh, I will remind you you picked the Dallas Mavericks. 35 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 2: I believe you picked. It is true. 36 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: If you look it up, you don't have to look 37 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: too hard to find it. It is true. Look, man, 38 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: this is the way I operated during these playoffs. The 39 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: timberwol and I was wrong every step of the way. 40 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: The Timberwolves beat Denver, and I said, you know what, 41 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: if Minnesota can win three times on the Nuggets floor, 42 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 1: they are the new favorites. And then the Mavericks they 43 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: won three times on Minnesota's floor, and I said, if 44 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: Dallas can go to Soda and win three times, they're 45 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: the new favorites. And then the Celtics said, you know what, Stein, 46 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 1: if you haven't looked dumb enough twice, let's let's let 47 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: you go for the hat trick. And the Celtics just 48 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: dismantled the MAVs. So, yes, thank you, thank you for 49 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: bringing that up. Greatly appreciated. 50 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, my apologies. But then again, you know, if you 51 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 2: look at what the Celtics did, I think a lot 52 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 2: of people gave them grief for the path that they 53 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 2: had getting to the NBA Finals. And look, all you 54 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 2: can do is play your opponent. That's all you can do. 55 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 2: And we saw how and if they were they was 56 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 2: in the regular season. They were, They were the best 57 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 2: team in the regular season, and they took care of business. 58 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 2: And you know, I'm happy for Jason Tatum, I'm happy 59 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 2: for Jaylen Brown. You know, it's hard to root against 60 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 2: a Drew Holiday. If you're an NBA fan, you know, 61 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 2: Derek White has an amazing story. Chris Christaps Persingis gets 62 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 2: a championship defending his old team. You know, this this 63 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 2: was it was. It wasn't the most compelling series because 64 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 2: it only went five games, but you know, there there 65 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 2: were there were times and sequences and in each of 66 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 2: the five games which made this series compelling. I don't 67 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 2: know as far as viewership how it did. That slipped 68 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 2: my my eyesight to see how it did viewership wise, 69 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 2: but you know, Celtics, they're they're legitimate, they're champs. Happy 70 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 2: for them. I spent, you know, spend some time with 71 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 2: of my there for three or four with you in Dallas, 72 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 2: and I didn't go to the clincher Game five in Boston, 73 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,239 Speaker 2: but you know, I had seen enough at that point 74 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 2: to let me know that I was pretty confident there 75 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:16,039 Speaker 2: wouldn't be a game six. 76 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: So the MAVs winning Game four by thirty eight didn't 77 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: give you any pause, any thought they can at least 78 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 1: drag this thing to six. 79 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 2: No, not at all. I didn't. I think the Dallas 80 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 2: Mavericks show that they had pride, they didn't want to 81 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 2: get swept, and they did that. That took a lot 82 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 2: out of them. I did not see them winning in Boston, 83 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 2: So you know, it became pretty appearing early on in 84 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 2: that game. In Game five too, that Boston you know, 85 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 2: they were, they were focused, They wanted to win on 86 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 2: their home court. They wanted to celebrate in their city 87 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 2: like you that would. No team has ever came back 88 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,919 Speaker 2: come back from a three deficit. But you know, you 89 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 2: start to if they were to lose Game six, likelihood 90 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 2: most likely lose game I mean, excuse me, if they lose, 91 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 2: if they lost Game five, the likelihood is they lose 92 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 2: Game six in Dallas, and now it's up. Game seven 93 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 2: is up in the air, even if it is in Boston, 94 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 2: because at that point the team has won three in 95 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 2: a row. The losing team is rattled, they're shaken their start, 96 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 2: they start doubting themselves. So you know, it's a whole 97 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 2: mind game that goes along with a path like that. 98 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 2: But no, I didn't. I didn't see Dallas keeping the 99 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 2: series alive to get it to Game six in Dallas. 100 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,359 Speaker 1: I mean, this whole thing is huge validation for the 101 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 1: Boston Celtics because this team has known very little but 102 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: playoff disappointment for the last six or seven years. They've 103 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 1: resisted very loud calls from the outside to break up 104 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: Tatum and Brown. And I can remember before we started 105 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: this podcast, when I was still doing locker rooms that 106 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: became Spotify Live sessions, and I would do these Spotify 107 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 1: lives where basically listeners readers could come on stage and 108 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 1: ask me questions. I would always get the question, isn't 109 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: it time to break these guys up? They're never going 110 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: to get it done. And the way you heard both 111 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 1: Brown and Tatum talk last night, I mean they heard 112 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: every word of it. They've been living with this, and 113 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 1: Brad Stevens replaced Danny Ainge and he just said, no, 114 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 1: we are not breaking these guys up. And my answer 115 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 1: always was whenever I was asked a question, my answer 116 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: always was, in today's NBA, where you lean on two 117 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: way wings more than we ever have in the history 118 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: of the game because of their ability to play on 119 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: both sides the ball, stretch the floor with the three 120 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: ball guard basically one to four switchable, just how important 121 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 1: wings like Tatum and Brown are in the modern game. No, 122 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: you cannot break that duo up, but they carried so 123 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: much pressure this season. Hours before training camp, Brad Stevens 124 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: trades for Drew Holliday. So think about what Brad Stevens 125 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: has done as a GM. He's been a better GM 126 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: than he was as a coach, and he did pretty 127 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 1: well as a coach. But Brad Stevens resisting all those calls, 128 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: years and years and years of outsider screaming, you gotta 129 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: break these two up. They're never gonna do it. Instead, 130 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: over the past few years, Stevens went out and he 131 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: traded for Al Horford, Then he traded for Derek White, 132 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:58,439 Speaker 1: Then he traded for Christaps Porzingis and had to give 133 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: up Marcus Smart in the process, which was not the 134 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: most popular move in Boston. And then he went out 135 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:11,959 Speaker 1: and got Holiday and the two J's with such high 136 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:17,680 Speaker 1: level help. This season, they had a team nobody can touch, 137 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: and you touched on it. People are disappointed because they 138 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: didn't get pushed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, and look 139 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 1: the playoffs as a whole. We can't sit here and lie. 140 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: In a lot of ways, it was not a great postseason. 141 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: There were too many injuries, too many blowouts, too many 142 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: series that ended fast. It just wasn't in the grand 143 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: scheme of things, a postseason that we're going to look 144 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: back on and say that was riveting. Theater but the Celtics, 145 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 1: I mean, the Celtics won the East by fourteen games. 146 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: We haven't seen that. You got to go all the 147 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:02,199 Speaker 1: way back to nineteen seventy five, seven six, when Golden 148 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: State won the West by sixteen games. It was the 149 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: biggest margin. They were the class of the league all 150 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 1: season long, and they rose to the occasion. They completely 151 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: discombobulated the Mavericks. They made Luke you know, you know, 152 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: I see a ton of Luka Dantich and Kyrie Irving. 153 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:24,839 Speaker 1: They made Luca and Kyrie work harder than any team 154 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 1: I've seen. And just, yeah, my hat is off. My 155 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:35,079 Speaker 1: hat is off to these guys because they had to win. 156 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 1: They faced tremendous pressure. They would have been destroyed if 157 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: they didn't win, and they took all doubt out of 158 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: the equation. 159 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 2: And I think, stein, I think there's something to be 160 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 2: said about staying the course, not giving up too prematurely. 161 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 2: We see that all the time. We see that with 162 00:10:56,040 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 2: here coaches being let go, We see that with roster decisions, 163 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 2: and sometimes it's nothing wrong at all with let allowing 164 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 2: players and personnel to jail, allowing people to make mistakes 165 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 2: and then learn from them, and that includes head coaches 166 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 2: as well. We're so quick to just move on trade fire, 167 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 2: you know, like wave, come on now, like come on, 168 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 2: look look at what they were saying about Jalen and 169 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 2: Jason like people. I think people forget, you know, because 170 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 2: that's just the society we live in today, where you 171 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 2: forget about what even happened yesterday. But this was this 172 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 2: was a tremendous feat And you know I've seen again. 173 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 2: I'm not on social media like I used to be, 174 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 2: but something did come across me where I saw a 175 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 2: talking point of it. You know, is this one of 176 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 2: the greatest Celtics teams? Like, let's not go that far. 177 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 2: Please look at we just well, when you look at. 178 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,079 Speaker 1: The resume, you know, we had Sean Grandy on the 179 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: other day, and when you look at this team's overall resume. 180 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,960 Speaker 2: I mean, those teams are not bad than Larry Bird 181 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:18,439 Speaker 2: Kevin McHale days. It's not, no, but not. 182 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 1: There's a difference between. If you're simply saying, is this 183 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:24,199 Speaker 1: one of the best Celtics teams ever? I mean they 184 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: went eighty and twenty one when you add up playoffs 185 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:31,079 Speaker 1: in regular season, there's only one team in the Celtics 186 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: history the eighty five eighty six Powerhouse, which is probably 187 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: one of the five greatest teams of all time. That's 188 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: the only Celtics team that has a better record over 189 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 1: the course of a season. 190 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 2: I definitely understand that. And again I'm not trying to 191 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 2: diminish the Boston Celtics because again I said it already 192 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 2: to start. The pid is that all you can do 193 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 2: is play the opponent that you're squared up against. But 194 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 2: if you're talking the greatest team of all time, you 195 00:12:56,240 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 2: have to take into consideration the competition. So that's the 196 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 2: only time I will throw the competition in there is 197 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 2: if if we're talking about greatest, you got to talk about, Okay, 198 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 2: who did you face who? It doesn't matter like you're 199 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 2: a CHAMPIONI champion. The champion is a champion. But when 200 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 2: we're talking greatest of all time, we have to talk about, Okay, 201 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 2: who did you face to get to that point. That's 202 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 2: the only difference. So with that being said, no, I 203 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 2: don't put them great season. Is it one of the 204 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 2: best seasons to statistically, yes, but better team no, not 205 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 2: in my opinion. 206 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: Before I ask you a question, before I ask you 207 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: a difficult question, you mentioned staying the course. There's two 208 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: things I want to say about that. I think from 209 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 1: the Dallas side of the equation. One of the things 210 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:48,199 Speaker 1: that kind of helps them through this is what they 211 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 1: are clearly telling themselves now is hey, as a group, 212 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 1: we've only been together five months since the trade deadline, 213 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 1: not even five months really since the trade deadline when 214 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: the team changed so dramatically when they made the moves 215 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 1: for Daniel Gafford and PJ. Washington. So you know, they're 216 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 1: trying to look at it optimistically and say, you know, 217 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 1: they came a long way in four or five months, 218 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: won the West, which in itself is very difficult to do. 219 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 1: So the Mavericks want to believe that with time and 220 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 1: some tweaks that they can get back to this level. 221 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: But when you talk about staying the course, I think 222 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: that's again where I have a lot of admiration for 223 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: the Celtics resolve here. I do not want to slight 224 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: the Denver Nuggets because they did something similar. They stayed 225 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 1: the course their power triumvirate of Nikola jokicch Jamal Murray, 226 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 1: Michael Malone. They endured many playoff disappointments and they won 227 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 1: it all last season and were lauded for staying the course. 228 00:14:56,880 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: I would just say, as a media collect we just 229 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 1: don't cover the Nuggets with the same intensity that we 230 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 1: cover the Boston Celtics. So for them to stay the 231 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 1: course in the face of a lot more noise, it 232 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:19,479 Speaker 1: really shows some steal that Boston did what it believed 233 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: it should do and didn't break these guys up. And 234 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 1: now I'm gonna ask you this question. Jalen Brown won 235 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: finals MVP, just like he won Eastern Conference Finals MVP. 236 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: You know Jason Tatum very well. You did a piece 237 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 1: on Tatum after you got some time with him. Not 238 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: really sure how you pulled that off here in Dallas. 239 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 1: One minute, we're talking. Next minute, I know you. You've 240 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 1: got Jason Tatum cornered somehow, So you know Tatum much 241 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:53,320 Speaker 1: better than I do. If I ask you, which is 242 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 1: probably unfair, but I'm gonna ask you anyway, to jump 243 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 1: inside his head? How okay? Do you think he is 244 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 1: deep down that Jalen Brown won finals MVP and he. 245 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 2: Did not No, I'm telling you right now, this is 246 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 2: no BS and as in twenty twenty four what they say, 247 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 2: this is no CAP. He does not care. He wanted 248 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:20,040 Speaker 2: to be a champion. He made that clear to me, 249 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 2: and that the story I did the time he gave 250 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 2: me after what was that was after Game three, after 251 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 2: they went up three to zero, and I spoke with 252 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 2: a little bit via text after the championship he is ecstatic. 253 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 2: Stein ecstatic, like this was all he wanted. He felt 254 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 2: like this validated, you know, his career. He he hold, 255 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 2: you know, he's somebody who who listens to the naysayers. 256 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 2: I don't know how much he listened to him, but 257 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 2: I know he does. And he always wants to prove 258 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 2: people wrong, and this was his opportunity to prove his 259 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 2: critics wrong. And he he was you know, listen, he 260 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 2: was always happy for Jalen Brown to play. He said. Listen, 261 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 2: he said, I'm I felt like I had to empower 262 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,160 Speaker 2: Jaylen Brown to be his best. He said, I want 263 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:21,400 Speaker 2: everybody to be their best, and whatever individual wars come 264 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 2: with that, they come with that. But he said, individual 265 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 2: wars are not going to stand in the way of them, 266 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 2: you know, winning a championship or competing for a championship. 267 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 2: So man, he's out there living it up. He got 268 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 2: that trophy's taking it everywhere. He's like you saw how 269 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:40,679 Speaker 2: emotionally he was at the end of the game, Like 270 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:44,439 Speaker 2: those are genuine emotions, and listen, does a player of 271 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 2: his caliber. We all know that when players of his 272 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,680 Speaker 2: caliber reached to the you know, reach the point there 273 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:55,160 Speaker 2: to where they're playing in the NBA Finals and they win. Yes, 274 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 2: of course you would like to be holding that other 275 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 2: hard ware. The finals MVP a war work, but first 276 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 2: and foremost, it's about winning the championship. We saw Steph 277 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 2: went through that with the first what three years, three championships, 278 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 2: and he didn't get it until they won the fourth 279 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:16,879 Speaker 2: when they beat Boston. So you asked, Steph, did that 280 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:20,159 Speaker 2: take any luster off of those three championships? Heck, no, 281 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 2: it didn't. So I'm being genuine Like the conversations I've 282 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 2: had with him on and off the record, they echoed 283 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 2: the same sentiment. He is just so thrilled about being 284 00:18:34,359 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 2: a champion and right now he's he's still out there celebrating. 285 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 1: Had you been out there, do you know who you 286 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 1: would have voted for for Finals MVP. I do think 287 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: Jalen Brown was the right choice. I think the series 288 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:55,679 Speaker 1: he had, the defensive work he put in against Luka 289 00:18:55,760 --> 00:19:01,320 Speaker 1: Doncic again, the Celtics, with Jalen leading the effort, made 290 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:05,440 Speaker 1: Luka Doncic work as hard as any team I've ever 291 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:09,360 Speaker 1: seen defending him. So I do think Jalen Brown probably 292 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: had a stronger series start to finish, although like I said, 293 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 1: I jokingly not so jokingly wrote it today in my 294 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:23,439 Speaker 1: written substacked look at these finals. Brad Stevens is my 295 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 1: Finals MVP for all the moves he's made to put 296 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,440 Speaker 1: this team together. But obviously only a player could win 297 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 1: finals MVP in real life. Were you okay with the 298 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 1: Jalen Brown selection? 299 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 2: Yep? Yep? In order to tat him to get it, 300 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:42,159 Speaker 2: the series would have had to be extended, and he 301 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 2: would have had to stream together a couple more solid 302 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:51,360 Speaker 2: outings like he did in Game five Jalen Brown, when 303 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 2: he did offensively and defensively, Nah, in five games he 304 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:59,439 Speaker 2: was the he was the most consistent player, So I'd 305 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 2: have no p I mean, if I had a vote, 306 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 2: I would have voted for Jail myself. 307 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 1: These Celtics. As We've been noting all season long, this 308 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 1: is a storyline that I've been particularly fixated on. It's funny. 309 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:24,920 Speaker 1: I went back earlier today and I found my preseason 310 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 1: welcome Back essay that I did for Bally Sports Southwest 311 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: so it could run on the MAVs pregame show and 312 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: the Pelicans pregame show. Before the first game of the season, 313 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:39,919 Speaker 1: I went back and looked at my Welcome Back NBA 314 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: essay kind of previewing the season, and it was the 315 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 1: first thing that I talk about in this essay that 316 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:49,680 Speaker 1: this season we had the chance to see a sixth 317 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:54,720 Speaker 1: different champion in a span of six seasons, and it happened. 318 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 1: It has not happened since the late seventies when I 319 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 1: was just starting to fall in love with the sport. 320 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 1: Seventy four to seventy five Warriors, seventy five to seventy 321 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:12,880 Speaker 1: six Celtics, seventy six seventy seven Blazers, seventy seven seventy 322 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 1: eight Bullets, seventy eight to seventy nine Sonics, and then 323 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: the seventy nine eighty Lakers, those Lakers winning it all 324 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 1: with Magic Johnson as a rookie and of course famously 325 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:32,680 Speaker 1: playing center in Kareem Abdul Jabbar's place in the clinching 326 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 1: Game six at Philadelphia in nineteen eighty. It has been 327 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:41,479 Speaker 1: a long, long, long time since we've seen this level 328 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:45,879 Speaker 1: of parody, and the new collective barning agreement is designed 329 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 1: to keep that kind of parody going, because we know 330 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:55,440 Speaker 1: in the new luxury tax era, with so many team 331 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:59,399 Speaker 1: building restrictions imposed on the teams in this league that 332 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 1: spend the most, it's going to get crazy expensive for 333 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:07,640 Speaker 1: the Celtics now because they're going to extend Jason Tatum soon. 334 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 1: Tatum's going to get a five year deal worth three 335 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 1: hundred and fifteen million. Derek White's going to get extended 336 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:17,639 Speaker 1: this summer by all indications, and he's up for a 337 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 1: four year deal and one hundred and twenty five million range. 338 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: That means Tatum and Brown are going to be making 339 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 1: more than six hundred million just the two of them. 340 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 1: Drew Holliday and Derek White will be making more than 341 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 1: two fifty million the two of them and the backcourt, 342 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 1: and Porzingis has an extension about to kick in. So 343 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:46,159 Speaker 1: the Celtics have an incredibly top heavy roster. But after 344 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:48,959 Speaker 1: saying all that, I would also make the argument that 345 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 1: they are set up better to repeat next season than 346 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:58,360 Speaker 1: any recent champion we've seen during this run that started 347 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 1: with the twenty nineteen Raptors, six different champions in six seasons. 348 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 1: What do you see in the future. What are you 349 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 1: expecting when next season starts. Obviously, we still got a 350 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 1: whole offseason to go through to give these other teams 351 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:18,360 Speaker 1: a chance to make moves to counter this Boston squad. 352 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: But will the Celtics be your favorite when next season starts? 353 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 2: That's really tough, really tough. There were definitely injuries that 354 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:41,680 Speaker 2: occurred to some teams in the playoffs that limited the 355 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 2: capacity in which they can climb. I'm going to say yes, 356 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 2: I'm not like I'm not going out there and seeing 357 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 2: it with all. 358 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:00,320 Speaker 1: You're not saying it with your chests. 359 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 2: Nah, I'm not putting my chest out. I'm kind of 360 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:05,000 Speaker 2: saying it with my head down a little bit. 361 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 1: By the way, do you know what my kids would 362 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:08,399 Speaker 1: do to me if I said no cap? You know 363 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 1: the looks I would get? I would would. 364 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 2: I will, I will. I would love to see the reaction. 365 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 1: Because luckily they are not They will not be listening 366 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:20,359 Speaker 1: to this podcast, so they're not going to know I 367 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:20,919 Speaker 1: just said it. 368 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 2: Let me let me say it, Stele, One thing about 369 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 2: you not gonna give you props for this one? Thing 370 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 2: about you. You know, I know you give yourself a 371 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:30,760 Speaker 2: lot of flak for you know, not not being allowed 372 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 2: to say some of the the current lines and phrases 373 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:39,959 Speaker 2: words that are used today today. But stole one thing. 374 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:43,520 Speaker 2: I want to give you props on you're a tire. 375 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 2: Your your style like you, you are on point with 376 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:51,360 Speaker 2: your attire when you come like your your your suits 377 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:57,120 Speaker 2: they're on point, they're tailored. And then there's times when 378 00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:59,440 Speaker 2: you wear some jeans with a sport with a nice 379 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 2: sports like you don't. You don't dress your age. I 380 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 2: don't know if anybody's ever told you that. I gotta 381 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 2: give you props on that, like you give yourself all 382 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 2: this talk about being an old head. But Yo, you 383 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:15,400 Speaker 2: got style, brother, you got style. Has anybody ever told 384 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:15,680 Speaker 2: you that? 385 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:21,639 Speaker 1: I appreciate that some people have said similar things. Certain 386 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:25,480 Speaker 1: and certain people who live in this household have a 387 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 1: differing opinion from what you just stated. Problem of my 388 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 1: game night attire is that right? 389 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:36,720 Speaker 2: No, I gotta give you prop style. That's one thing 390 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:38,879 Speaker 2: I can say. Man, you are current and up to 391 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 2: date with your style. Man, you don't see. I'll shut 392 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:45,879 Speaker 2: up now because as soon as we'll get to a 393 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:48,479 Speaker 2: point man for you for somebody your age. You you 394 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:49,879 Speaker 2: really you really can dress. 395 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,120 Speaker 1: You talk about me being old, You will never hurt 396 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:57,920 Speaker 1: my feelings, And I'll tell you why. When I started, 397 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 1: I was the youngest traveling beat writer in the league. 398 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 1: I love that I'm still here and I love being 399 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: an old head, so I like I want to be. 400 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:15,560 Speaker 1: I'm fine if people want to say I'm old or whatever, 401 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 1: like I'm I'm glad. You know, there's not many guys 402 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 1: still doing it who were doing it before me, like 403 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:31,360 Speaker 1: the legend David Aldridge, Sean Powell, Ira Wnderman, and here 404 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 1: in Dallas, we've got a few guys who we're all 405 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:36,919 Speaker 1: on the beat before me. We got Eddie Sefko, Brad 406 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:41,359 Speaker 1: Townsend your guy, Dwayne Price. But there really aren't that 407 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:48,520 Speaker 1: many who are still out here grinding. So I am 408 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:50,640 Speaker 1: you can never hurt my feelings calling me old. 409 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 2: Respect, all due respect, but I just wanted to make 410 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:57,920 Speaker 2: sure I put that out there. Stan, you have impeccable style, man, 411 00:26:58,600 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 2: I gotta give you. 412 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 1: Now, I I'd have to have Ryan clip that and 413 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:04,200 Speaker 1: I might have to send that to missus Studde I 414 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:07,920 Speaker 1: might want to debate you on that one. Now, back 415 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 1: to the Celtics and their title defense. Look, the East 416 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 1: has got to be more competitive next season. The injuries 417 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:21,880 Speaker 1: just up and down the conference. It did certainly factor 418 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:25,920 Speaker 1: into the playoff race. And Derek White had an interesting 419 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:28,399 Speaker 1: line after the game saying, you guys didn't think we 420 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 1: were battle tests, and what do you consider the last 421 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 1: couple of years in the playoffs? And that's true. On 422 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 1: the road to the NBA Finals that they lost to 423 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:40,600 Speaker 1: the Warriors in twenty twenty two and the roller coaster 424 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:44,359 Speaker 1: of the Eastern Conference finals in twenty twenty three, those 425 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 1: were obviously tough tests that this group of Celtics did 426 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:53,600 Speaker 1: not pass. But that was pre poorzingis and pre holiday 427 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:58,119 Speaker 1: and the competition they faced. They didn't have to deal 428 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 1: with Philadelphia or Milwake, two teams that were certainly affected 429 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:05,720 Speaker 1: by injuries. The Knicks as well in the second round. 430 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:09,560 Speaker 1: So I have to think, now that we're here, now 431 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:12,520 Speaker 1: that we're in this offseason, what's Philly gonna do with 432 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:14,320 Speaker 1: that cap space. We know they want to make a 433 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:17,400 Speaker 1: run at Paul George. If they don't get Paul George, 434 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:22,640 Speaker 1: can the Sixers make some other significant addition on the wing. 435 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:24,600 Speaker 1: We know they want a two way wing of their 436 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 1: own to assist Joel Embiid and Tyrese MAXI how are 437 00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:34,639 Speaker 1: the Bucks going to bounce back? I mean, obviously the 438 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:38,480 Speaker 1: Bucks they made their big move for Damian Lillard, but 439 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 1: they had to surrender Drew Holliday in the process, and 440 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 1: the Celtics pounced on Drew Holliday immediately. And now Drew 441 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 1: Holliday has helped another team win a championship in his 442 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:53,280 Speaker 1: first year. He's done it with the Bucks, He's done 443 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:55,720 Speaker 1: it with the Celtics, and he's the only high minute 444 00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:59,400 Speaker 1: player in league history to do that with two different teams, 445 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 1: to go to a new team and win it all. 446 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:08,280 Speaker 1: But Indiana will keep getting better. The Knicks are gonna 447 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:14,240 Speaker 1: get healthier. Miami will see what happens with Jimmy Butler. 448 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 1: Do they extend him? What other moves can the Heat make? 449 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:23,960 Speaker 1: I have to think as well. Set up as the 450 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:27,760 Speaker 1: Celtics are to repeat next season and again better than 451 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:31,800 Speaker 1: any recent champion you could name, the East has gotta 452 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 1: be tougher next season. And that's going to make and 453 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:39,120 Speaker 1: that has to make a path two back to back 454 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:45,120 Speaker 1: championships tougher. That has to there the road just getting 455 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:48,040 Speaker 1: back to the finals has to have more obstacles next season. 456 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:51,720 Speaker 2: And that's why I didn't say it with my chest 457 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:55,560 Speaker 2: when I said, you know, that's Celtics the favorites, right, 458 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 2: That's that's that was what I was. Those are the 459 00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:04,400 Speaker 2: f in my thought process. But as you know, injuries 460 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:07,800 Speaker 2: always happened each season, and again all you can do 461 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 2: is play the team and play the players that are 462 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:14,920 Speaker 2: on the court. So no knock on the boss himself, 463 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:17,240 Speaker 2: it's they're the champs, worthy champs. 464 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 1: I have to say, though, last thing on the Celtics. 465 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:23,280 Speaker 1: I am really curious to see next season now that 466 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:27,640 Speaker 1: they've survived this championship or bust pressure. Now that that 467 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:30,960 Speaker 1: is lifted, what kind of Tatum and Brown are we 468 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: gonna get next season when instead of all the doubt 469 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:38,720 Speaker 1: and the naysayers, which, as you said, we both know 470 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 1: they do hear it. They've heard every word. When you 471 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 1: saw that Jordan Brand commercial that Tatum had out seconds 472 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:48,920 Speaker 1: after Game five was over, that let you know he's 473 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:52,560 Speaker 1: heard it all. But with that now having answered all 474 00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 1: that and being able to put that in the rear 475 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 1: view mirror, to see them play a season where they 476 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:02,080 Speaker 1: know they've got to the finish line. Once they know 477 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:05,440 Speaker 1: their champions, going to be fascinating to see what that 478 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 1: does for their confidence. But look, going forward the next 479 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:13,880 Speaker 1: several podcasts, obviously we're going to be laser focused on 480 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:17,720 Speaker 1: the off season, which has already started. And I know 481 00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:22,760 Speaker 1: you are weary when I even bring up the Lakers 482 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:27,360 Speaker 1: and their ongoing coaching search that we now expect to 483 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:32,240 Speaker 1: conclude at some point here in the near future. The 484 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:36,240 Speaker 1: growing expectation around the league is that they will ultimately 485 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:41,640 Speaker 1: hire JJ Reddick after offering the job to Yukon's Dan Hurley, 486 00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:46,040 Speaker 1: So we await that resolution. And I know you're kind 487 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:49,560 Speaker 1: of talked out about the Lakers at this point, so 488 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:53,520 Speaker 1: I'm going to ask you something different. What is what 489 00:31:53,640 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 1: is the off season storyline? Topic? Development, potential player move 490 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:03,000 Speaker 1: What are you most curious about as we move into 491 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:10,480 Speaker 1: the draft in god eight days, seven eight days, the draft, 492 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:13,960 Speaker 1: and then free agency starts shortly after that. Before you 493 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:16,520 Speaker 1: know it will be in Vegas for Summer League. What 494 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:20,320 Speaker 1: is most on your mind as we move into offseason mode? 495 00:32:20,560 --> 00:32:25,600 Speaker 2: Well, anything can change. Around this time. You start to 496 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:31,120 Speaker 2: hear rumbles a little bit more concrete rumbles of players 497 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 2: looking to move elsewhere players in the contract looking to 498 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 2: move elsewhere via a trade. But with that being said, 499 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:45,360 Speaker 2: as of right now, Paul George is the player that 500 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:51,680 Speaker 2: I'm monitoring. When Kawhi leonard eked his extension, I believe 501 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:54,680 Speaker 2: it was r around the midway point during the season 502 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:59,760 Speaker 2: j January. It was a surprise to most at the time, 503 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:06,640 Speaker 2: but the thought within league circles was that Paul George's 504 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:12,200 Speaker 2: extension would follow soon after. That did not happen, And 505 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:15,720 Speaker 2: I remember I first said this. I believe it was 506 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:18,520 Speaker 2: trade deadline day. I had to do some TV work 507 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:22,560 Speaker 2: and I do a few live streams, and it was 508 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:26,280 Speaker 2: around then when I said when I first said, watch 509 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:30,360 Speaker 2: for Philly because Philly can make a play for a 510 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:36,360 Speaker 2: MAX player this summer. Watch for Philly to get into 511 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:40,160 Speaker 2: Paul George mix if he still does not have an 512 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:45,840 Speaker 2: extension by that time. Said that in February, and Paul 513 00:33:45,880 --> 00:33:49,280 Speaker 2: George still does not have an extension right now. And 514 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:52,840 Speaker 2: we've got to remember the Los Angeles Clippers moving into 515 00:33:52,840 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 2: that brand new into it Don Marina for the next season. 516 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:01,560 Speaker 2: They want all their horses in the fold. They want 517 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:06,320 Speaker 2: to have a championship caliber team going into that Arena 518 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:12,440 Speaker 2: for next season. Paul George potentially going to Philly is 519 00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:16,080 Speaker 2: a game changer. Also would be a domino effect. What 520 00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 2: would the Clippers do from there if Paul George did 521 00:34:19,080 --> 00:34:22,680 Speaker 2: indeed leave. Paul George has a player option. 522 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:25,960 Speaker 1: Keep that in mind you buying the talk that they 523 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:28,800 Speaker 1: would pivot to DeMar DeRozan if they lost Paul George. 524 00:34:29,640 --> 00:34:33,279 Speaker 2: Would the Clippers pivot to DeMar DeRozan? Yeah, I think 525 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:36,560 Speaker 2: they have to pivot to somebody, and DeMar Deroza would 526 00:34:36,640 --> 00:34:44,000 Speaker 2: be a logical secondary option for sure. So I'm not 527 00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:47,680 Speaker 2: saying that I've heard that from my own intel, but 528 00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:53,040 Speaker 2: that would seem like a logical move. Mar de Rozan 529 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:56,000 Speaker 2: from La as well, he actually wanted to go to 530 00:34:56,040 --> 00:35:00,760 Speaker 2: the Lakers before he went to the Bulls. Hawks didn't 531 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:04,279 Speaker 2: as far as financially, didn't get to the point to 532 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:07,920 Speaker 2: where de Rozan could seriously consider that offer, so he 533 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:11,360 Speaker 2: ends up in Chicago. But I can see that, I 534 00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:12,359 Speaker 2: can definitely see that. 535 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:18,279 Speaker 1: I can't see George leaving. But every time I say that, 536 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:23,240 Speaker 1: I mean, look, as we're taping this, it's June eighteenth. 537 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:27,440 Speaker 1: The Clippers have until June thirtieth to get him extended. 538 00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:30,680 Speaker 1: But they've had months and months and months and there's 539 00:35:30,719 --> 00:35:34,720 Speaker 1: no extension. They did not sign Kawhi Leonard to the max. 540 00:35:35,239 --> 00:35:38,600 Speaker 1: They clearly want Paul George to come in under the max. 541 00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:42,759 Speaker 1: The Sixers have all this cap space, they have to 542 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:45,920 Speaker 1: take advantage of it now. So the assumption is they 543 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:49,040 Speaker 1: are going to offer Paul George the max so he 544 00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:52,920 Speaker 1: can get it if he's willing to leave. Orlando's another 545 00:35:52,960 --> 00:35:56,040 Speaker 1: team that's been mentioned a lot with Paul George, because 546 00:35:56,040 --> 00:35:58,839 Speaker 1: we know the Magic want two way players. They want 547 00:35:58,840 --> 00:36:05,120 Speaker 1: to add shooting before next season. But you know, Paul 548 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:09,760 Speaker 1: George is a Southern California guy, like Kawhi, like Harden, 549 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:14,839 Speaker 1: like Russell Westbrook. I guess I've always kind of been 550 00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:18,759 Speaker 1: sitting here waiting for the Clippers and Paul George to 551 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:22,279 Speaker 1: figure this thing out. But we're running out of time. 552 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:25,640 Speaker 1: I mean, this is the Clippers had months to get 553 00:36:25,640 --> 00:36:30,480 Speaker 1: this done and they clearly want Paul George at their price, 554 00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:37,000 Speaker 1: and Paul George it hasn't happened. So ten days and 555 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:40,920 Speaker 1: change the Clippers have left to get an extension done 556 00:36:40,960 --> 00:36:44,480 Speaker 1: and keep Paul George from even making it to the 557 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:49,120 Speaker 1: free agent market. And in the modern NBA, we are 558 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:54,960 Speaker 1: so accustomed in recent years to almost every star nowadays 559 00:36:55,040 --> 00:36:57,880 Speaker 1: does the extension and doesn't even make it to free agency. 560 00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 1: It's very rare. Bradley was one of the few recent 561 00:37:01,680 --> 00:37:05,720 Speaker 1: cases where a guy actually could have done a lucrative 562 00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:10,760 Speaker 1: extension opted for free agency, and by doing so, Bradley 563 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:13,319 Speaker 1: Beal did still resign with the Wizards, but by going 564 00:37:13,360 --> 00:37:16,840 Speaker 1: to free agency and not just doing an extension, Bradley 565 00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:19,480 Speaker 1: Beal was able to get a no trade clause that's 566 00:37:19,480 --> 00:37:23,080 Speaker 1: obviously been very noosy and played a huge role in 567 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:29,359 Speaker 1: him landing in Phoenix rather than Miami last summer. So, yeah, 568 00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:32,240 Speaker 1: I think you're right. The Paul George situation, it definitely 569 00:37:32,320 --> 00:37:35,680 Speaker 1: has the potential to spice up free agency in a big, 570 00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:39,200 Speaker 1: big way, because again, we are so accustomed in the 571 00:37:39,239 --> 00:37:43,359 Speaker 1: modern NBA to stars doing extensions that keep them from 572 00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:46,560 Speaker 1: ever hitting the open market. Paul George making it all 573 00:37:46,600 --> 00:37:56,560 Speaker 1: the way to the open market would be something. And 574 00:37:56,680 --> 00:38:02,120 Speaker 1: like I said, there will be much more chatter and 575 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:07,399 Speaker 1: discussion and dissection of the off season ahead, but we're 576 00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:10,839 Speaker 1: going to sign off when you want to talk about 577 00:38:10,840 --> 00:38:16,600 Speaker 1: a headline happening something that really shook up NBA Twitter. 578 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:23,200 Speaker 1: Was I seeing things or was that actually footage of 579 00:38:23,239 --> 00:38:27,760 Speaker 1: our very own Chris Haynes, now in his early forties. 580 00:38:27,760 --> 00:38:33,480 Speaker 1: According to sources, Chris Haynes throwing down a dunk. Was 581 00:38:33,520 --> 00:38:38,400 Speaker 1: that real? Or are we are we seeing things? I 582 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:40,520 Speaker 1: know Producer Ryan was excited. 583 00:38:40,520 --> 00:38:43,480 Speaker 2: As he should have been. First of all, the footage 584 00:38:43,480 --> 00:38:45,480 Speaker 2: came from me, So if it came from me. 585 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:49,319 Speaker 1: It was valid and not AI generated. That was real. 586 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:52,240 Speaker 2: We don't do We don't do any of that stuff. 587 00:38:52,280 --> 00:38:55,160 Speaker 2: And Producer Ryan feel free to weigh in and chime man. 588 00:38:55,680 --> 00:38:58,240 Speaker 2: So I've been telling y'all. You know, I talk about 589 00:38:58,400 --> 00:39:02,719 Speaker 2: my stories, my lor days of playing in the Filipino 590 00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:05,440 Speaker 2: League here it's the two Marc Bow League here in 591 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:06,799 Speaker 2: the Sacramento area. 592 00:39:06,719 --> 00:39:09,720 Speaker 1: Too, dominating the Filipino League. 593 00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:13,000 Speaker 2: You could say that I like to be humble. 594 00:39:13,160 --> 00:39:16,399 Speaker 1: Producer Ryan is the most loyal hype mans. 595 00:39:17,719 --> 00:39:19,400 Speaker 2: I like to be humble. But it's good to have 596 00:39:19,480 --> 00:39:21,520 Speaker 2: a producer Ryan on your side who could just tell 597 00:39:21,520 --> 00:39:23,440 Speaker 2: it how it is, because I I can't say that 598 00:39:23,600 --> 00:39:25,959 Speaker 2: without you know, coming off as a as a jerk. 599 00:39:26,520 --> 00:39:29,120 Speaker 2: But yes, I mean I do, I do all right, 600 00:39:29,760 --> 00:39:32,919 Speaker 2: but stein that you know, so the footage I sent 601 00:39:33,000 --> 00:39:37,319 Speaker 2: you was of this past Saturday dunking thirty seconds left 602 00:39:37,320 --> 00:39:40,920 Speaker 2: in the game, stilling the victory. But I actually dunked 603 00:39:41,160 --> 00:39:44,880 Speaker 2: the week before that, last Saturday's game, and Stein and 604 00:39:44,960 --> 00:39:47,960 Speaker 2: producer Ryan, I want you guys to know that the 605 00:39:48,040 --> 00:39:51,719 Speaker 2: dunk from last week, that was my first dunk in 606 00:39:51,840 --> 00:39:56,040 Speaker 2: seven years. I am forty two. And you say, how, 607 00:39:56,160 --> 00:40:00,160 Speaker 2: you know, how does that make sense? Well, I lost 608 00:40:00,160 --> 00:40:02,319 Speaker 2: of working on my legs a little bit more. I 609 00:40:02,360 --> 00:40:09,239 Speaker 2: lost about eleven pounds and three weeks or something like that, 610 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:12,439 Speaker 2: I've been hitting the weights. I'm feeling good. Like I think. 611 00:40:12,480 --> 00:40:17,600 Speaker 2: I told y'all off air that over the last three years, 612 00:40:17,920 --> 00:40:21,040 Speaker 2: I've been playing basketball with knee pads, and I've always 613 00:40:21,080 --> 00:40:25,080 Speaker 2: hated how I look because growing up, the people that 614 00:40:25,120 --> 00:40:28,319 Speaker 2: wore knee pass while playing basketball were old guys, and 615 00:40:28,360 --> 00:40:31,520 Speaker 2: so I just hated how I look with knee pads on. 616 00:40:32,200 --> 00:40:36,160 Speaker 2: But I started not wearing my knee pass and I'm 617 00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:40,080 Speaker 2: feeling good. Starn Brian like my legs feeling good. I 618 00:40:40,239 --> 00:40:43,040 Speaker 2: never thought out I never thought I would dunk again. 619 00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:45,360 Speaker 2: I'm being honest. I never thought I would dunk again. 620 00:40:45,480 --> 00:40:49,320 Speaker 2: And I've gotten two dunks and consecutive weeks in the game. 621 00:40:49,280 --> 00:40:51,279 Speaker 1: First dunks in seven years. 622 00:40:51,600 --> 00:40:54,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, so I'm cool. You should see the comments on 623 00:40:54,400 --> 00:40:57,440 Speaker 2: my ig I got Earl Watson, Tombo, I need to 624 00:40:57,480 --> 00:41:02,960 Speaker 2: be tested immediately, you know, turning back the clock, and 625 00:41:03,200 --> 00:41:05,759 Speaker 2: they accused me of using drugs. Stein like like, it's 626 00:41:05,840 --> 00:41:08,480 Speaker 2: just not like I can't just you know, come with 627 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:12,160 Speaker 2: hard work and dedication to get me to that point. Man, Stein, 628 00:41:12,200 --> 00:41:16,080 Speaker 2: they gotta, they gotta, I have to resort to to drugs. No, 629 00:41:16,320 --> 00:41:17,040 Speaker 2: I'm drug free. 630 00:41:17,120 --> 00:41:19,120 Speaker 1: Never know what it really was. I know what it was. 631 00:41:20,040 --> 00:41:23,400 Speaker 1: It was meeting Latrell Spretty. Well this spring, oh that 632 00:41:23,480 --> 00:41:27,960 Speaker 1: has put that has brought your hops back. Meeting your 633 00:41:28,000 --> 00:41:32,640 Speaker 1: boyhood idol and becoming and becoming friends with your boyhood 634 00:41:32,680 --> 00:41:36,439 Speaker 1: idol that you see, that has put some spring back 635 00:41:36,480 --> 00:41:37,320 Speaker 1: into your legs. 636 00:41:37,920 --> 00:41:41,520 Speaker 2: Stein. If you look at the jersey number for my 637 00:41:41,520 --> 00:41:46,799 Speaker 2: my jersey in this league, number fifteen, number fifteen, the 638 00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:49,520 Speaker 2: number he wore with the Golden State Warriors. So no, 639 00:41:49,680 --> 00:41:56,319 Speaker 2: I'm cool, man, I feel like I'm feeling it's cool. 640 00:41:56,360 --> 00:41:58,680 Speaker 2: I just never thought I would duck again. So it's 641 00:41:58,680 --> 00:42:02,720 Speaker 2: cool to to get to get in some good shape, uh, 642 00:42:03,320 --> 00:42:05,200 Speaker 2: and to be able to work myself back to that point, 643 00:42:05,239 --> 00:42:09,440 Speaker 2: because it's gonna come a day that I won't be 644 00:42:09,520 --> 00:42:12,080 Speaker 2: able to get up there anymore. And I've been dunking 645 00:42:12,120 --> 00:42:19,520 Speaker 2: since I was fourteen, so uh, it's yeah, it's cool, man. 646 00:42:20,040 --> 00:42:21,799 Speaker 2: So I had to post that. I had to share that. 647 00:42:21,840 --> 00:42:23,160 Speaker 2: I'm sorry I had to. 648 00:42:23,600 --> 00:42:25,959 Speaker 1: But what about the great? Like we see the great 649 00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:30,120 Speaker 1: Marcus Johnson still announcing for the Bucks every year. 650 00:42:30,400 --> 00:42:32,600 Speaker 2: But let me tell you this, he tweets out. 651 00:42:32,280 --> 00:42:34,120 Speaker 1: His dunk of the year just to show people he 652 00:42:34,160 --> 00:42:34,880 Speaker 1: can still do it. 653 00:42:35,120 --> 00:42:36,440 Speaker 2: I get that, but let me tell you this. Let 654 00:42:36,440 --> 00:42:38,320 Speaker 2: me tell you the difference. Let me tell you the difference. 655 00:42:39,280 --> 00:42:44,399 Speaker 2: The difference is I'm six two. I'm not six ' six, 656 00:42:45,120 --> 00:42:49,439 Speaker 2: not six seven. I am six two. That's that's that takes. 657 00:42:49,520 --> 00:42:51,719 Speaker 2: That takes a little bit more effort. I take a 658 00:42:51,800 --> 00:42:55,279 Speaker 2: little bit more hops, I take a little bit more. 659 00:42:55,360 --> 00:42:58,879 Speaker 2: You know, you can't you six two and forty two. 660 00:42:59,600 --> 00:43:03,000 Speaker 2: You probably they can't just do a vertical jump and dunk. 661 00:43:03,239 --> 00:43:06,240 Speaker 2: It's gonna take some little bit running, a little bit momentum. 662 00:43:06,800 --> 00:43:08,600 Speaker 2: It takes a lot, you know what I mean. You 663 00:43:08,680 --> 00:43:11,839 Speaker 2: work in some muscles and bones, some joints. It takes 664 00:43:11,880 --> 00:43:14,719 Speaker 2: a lot. So Uh, that's the that's the difference. You know. 665 00:43:14,760 --> 00:43:17,320 Speaker 2: I seen They was like, doctor Jake is still dunk 666 00:43:17,560 --> 00:43:21,279 Speaker 2: That's great. He's sixty years old. Doctor j is six ' eight. 667 00:43:22,040 --> 00:43:25,680 Speaker 2: It's a little you know what I'm you know, listen, 668 00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:29,600 Speaker 2: it's still hey about trying to about six. 669 00:43:29,719 --> 00:43:31,440 Speaker 1: But he is one of the greatest dunkers in the 670 00:43:31,480 --> 00:43:32,160 Speaker 1: sports history. 671 00:43:32,360 --> 00:43:37,319 Speaker 2: Hold on, and he's long, and he Kapalma basketball. When 672 00:43:37,360 --> 00:43:41,120 Speaker 2: you kapama basketball, you don't have to jump that high. 673 00:43:41,160 --> 00:43:43,839 Speaker 2: I can't Pama basketball. So if you see I dunk 674 00:43:43,880 --> 00:43:46,320 Speaker 2: with two hands, I've always been a two hand dunker 675 00:43:46,360 --> 00:43:49,960 Speaker 2: because I can't palma ball. Like the ball will slip 676 00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:51,520 Speaker 2: up my hands if I try to go for one. 677 00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:54,920 Speaker 2: And if you know, and if you know about for 678 00:43:54,960 --> 00:43:57,520 Speaker 2: those who know about dunkin, like when you're a two 679 00:43:57,560 --> 00:43:59,879 Speaker 2: handed dunker, you gotta be you gotta have a little 680 00:43:59,880 --> 00:44:01,960 Speaker 2: bit more extra hops to get it up. 681 00:44:02,280 --> 00:44:04,160 Speaker 1: Ryan, I think he was suggesting there that I do 682 00:44:04,239 --> 00:44:10,000 Speaker 1: not know anything about. Yeah, Stein will just go ahead 683 00:44:10,000 --> 00:44:14,239 Speaker 1: and say he was talking to me there. Something tells me, 684 00:44:14,280 --> 00:44:17,400 Speaker 1: as an ex volleyball player, you sneaked a dunk in somewhere. 685 00:44:18,000 --> 00:44:21,640 Speaker 1: Is that true? Is that a good guess I would 686 00:44:21,719 --> 00:44:24,360 Speaker 1: say I could dunk a volleyball, but to Chris's point, 687 00:44:24,360 --> 00:44:26,400 Speaker 1: I could never palm a basketball, so I can never 688 00:44:26,520 --> 00:44:27,439 Speaker 1: quite figure it out. 689 00:44:28,120 --> 00:44:29,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's tough. 690 00:44:29,320 --> 00:44:32,080 Speaker 1: When you first dunk at fourteen, you remember it. 691 00:44:33,040 --> 00:44:36,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, Boys and Girls Club, West Side, Fresno. Boys and 692 00:44:36,280 --> 00:44:38,719 Speaker 2: Girls Club surprised the hell out of me, just like 693 00:44:38,760 --> 00:44:40,359 Speaker 2: I surprised the hell out of me on these last 694 00:44:40,400 --> 00:44:47,839 Speaker 2: two dunks. Yeah, fourteen years old, So it's cool. Man, 695 00:44:48,360 --> 00:44:52,799 Speaker 2: like Stein, I feel like a new man. I'm over 696 00:44:52,840 --> 00:44:55,480 Speaker 2: here to the gym I go to. They've seen the clip. 697 00:44:56,200 --> 00:44:57,879 Speaker 2: They was like, man, what are you doing? Like tell 698 00:44:57,920 --> 00:45:00,080 Speaker 2: me your workout regiment? Like, what are you doing? How 699 00:45:00,080 --> 00:45:02,480 Speaker 2: can we get at Like I really got new legs. 700 00:45:02,520 --> 00:45:04,640 Speaker 2: I do feel like I got new legs and new knees. 701 00:45:05,040 --> 00:45:08,640 Speaker 2: I'm serious, but don't get me wrong. Like I I 702 00:45:08,800 --> 00:45:11,759 Speaker 2: was sore about twenty four hours after that dunk. I'm 703 00:45:11,760 --> 00:45:14,920 Speaker 2: not gonna lie. I can't just get up and do 704 00:45:15,400 --> 00:45:19,279 Speaker 2: it all over again the next day. But No, it's cool. 705 00:45:19,360 --> 00:45:22,600 Speaker 2: I'm cool. I'm glad I'm playing back again, and I'm 706 00:45:22,640 --> 00:45:25,960 Speaker 2: glad I can get up. Well. 707 00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:29,080 Speaker 1: That puts a nice bow on the season for us. 708 00:45:29,120 --> 00:45:33,680 Speaker 1: The twenty twenty three twenty four season is in the books, 709 00:45:33,960 --> 00:45:39,200 Speaker 1: the NBA's seventy eighth season, and for this show's purposes, 710 00:45:39,280 --> 00:45:44,480 Speaker 1: it shall be remembered as the season that Chris Haynes 711 00:45:44,520 --> 00:45:49,120 Speaker 1: got his dunk mojo back, first dunk in seven years, 712 00:45:49,560 --> 00:45:51,160 Speaker 1: turning back the clock. 713 00:45:51,719 --> 00:45:53,200 Speaker 2: Beautiful time, beautiful time. 714 00:45:53,840 --> 00:45:57,279 Speaker 1: All right. That will do it for this edition of 715 00:45:57,320 --> 00:46:02,000 Speaker 1: this League Uncut. As I mentioned, Chris and I will 716 00:46:02,000 --> 00:46:06,360 Speaker 1: be getting together several times over the next month to 717 00:46:06,480 --> 00:46:11,040 Speaker 1: really dig in to this NBA postseason. The draft is 718 00:46:11,080 --> 00:46:15,280 Speaker 1: now a two night affair June twenty sixth June twenty seventh, 719 00:46:15,280 --> 00:46:19,000 Speaker 1: we'll see if Atlanta indeed keeps the number one overall pick, 720 00:46:19,360 --> 00:46:23,840 Speaker 1: as the Hawks have been trying to convince skeptical teams 721 00:46:23,880 --> 00:46:26,920 Speaker 1: that they will keep number one rather than trading it. 722 00:46:27,280 --> 00:46:30,920 Speaker 1: We will get those answers here in the next week plus. 723 00:46:31,280 --> 00:46:35,920 Speaker 1: Free agency to a degree already underway. Teams are allowed 724 00:46:35,960 --> 00:46:39,919 Speaker 1: to speak to their own free agents. June thirtieth, six 725 00:46:40,000 --> 00:46:44,359 Speaker 1: pm Eastern Time is when the marketplace truly opens up. 726 00:46:44,400 --> 00:46:47,319 Speaker 1: Both Chris and I will be in Las Vegas for 727 00:46:47,400 --> 00:46:50,719 Speaker 1: Summer League. Before Summer League, Team USA will have a 728 00:46:50,800 --> 00:46:55,000 Speaker 1: training camp there and some exhibition games July second through 729 00:46:55,080 --> 00:47:00,880 Speaker 1: the seventh last chance Olympic qualifying four six team groups 730 00:47:00,920 --> 00:47:05,040 Speaker 1: filled with NBA players, Teams competing for the last four 731 00:47:05,120 --> 00:47:08,080 Speaker 1: spots in the Olympic Tournament. At the end of July, 732 00:47:08,280 --> 00:47:12,479 Speaker 1: only twelve spots in both men's and women's basketball. Only 733 00:47:12,600 --> 00:47:16,640 Speaker 1: twelve nations compete in the Olympics, compared to thirty two 734 00:47:17,120 --> 00:47:20,680 Speaker 1: at the World Cup. So lots of transactions, lots of chatter, 735 00:47:20,840 --> 00:47:24,880 Speaker 1: still lots of basketball in front of us between now 736 00:47:25,480 --> 00:47:27,960 Speaker 1: and early August, and we will stay on top of 737 00:47:28,000 --> 00:47:31,759 Speaker 1: it all right here on This League Uncut. One more 738 00:47:31,840 --> 00:47:34,600 Speaker 1: episode to come this week, so Chris and I will 739 00:47:34,640 --> 00:47:38,560 Speaker 1: be back together with you very very soon. Thanks everyone 740 00:47:38,800 --> 00:47:42,880 Speaker 1: for listening, and that'll do it for us. See you 741 00:47:42,960 --> 00:47:52,399 Speaker 1: next time. This League Uncut is an iHeartRadio production Chris 742 00:47:52,440 --> 00:48:08,239 Speaker 1: Haynes and Mark Stein