1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What's up, Straight 2 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: Fire Fan? It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight Fire Wednesday. To 3 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: to get excited this morning. It's just a tough one, 4 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: another tough day in America. I'm not going to make 5 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: this a big speech about what went down in Texas. 6 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: It's just awful news. You guys don't have kids that 7 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: talk about my kids on the podcast all the time. 8 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: It's just brutal. Um. You don't even know where to begin. 9 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna go too long on it. I'll just 10 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: say this, when you're night ends with a discussion at 11 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: the dinner table about what to tell your nine and 12 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: eleven year old kid to do if like some guy 13 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: bust into the school with guns and the shooting people, 14 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 1: and hey, if you're desperate and you're in a pinch, 15 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: just lay down and play dead, hold your breath, and 16 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 1: like explaining to them that that's a real option in 17 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: it just pisces me off. So I was in an 18 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:11,400 Speaker 1: angry mood last night watching the game, and of course 19 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 1: the Warriors get their asses kicked for three quarters. It's 20 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:16,960 Speaker 1: just disappointing. That fourth quarter got me a little excited 21 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: because the game got interesting. Um. On a side note, 22 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 1: to pick your spirits up here. On Wednesday morning, I 23 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 1: did watch the final episode of Ozark, and I'm not 24 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: at liberty to talk about it yet because I'm sure 25 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: not everybody's seen it, But either later this week or 26 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: next week, we're gonna talk about it. Powerful television. I 27 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:41,039 Speaker 1: can't think of a more gripping final twenty minutes on 28 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 1: any TV show I've ever seen. The final twenty minutes 29 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: of Ozark was unbelievable. It's like, you don't think you 30 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: can wrap up that many seasons of high quality TV 31 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: in the final like twenty five minutes, and it was 32 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: just like, oh my gosh, it was. It was amazing. 33 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna spoil it. Incredible ending on multiple levels 34 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: of Ozark. Um, all right, onto basketball. We uh, it's 35 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: it's just tough to quickly pivot to basketball. I'll keeping 36 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 1: the real guys. You know, you wake up and I 37 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: can't stop thinking about what went down. Obviously. You know, 38 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 1: my parents are calling me, oh gosh, we'll be safe 39 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: with the kid. You know that stuff's going on everywhere. 40 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:25,679 Speaker 1: Friends are texting. It's just it's terrible. It's tough to 41 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: get worked up about an NBA game, I'll say this, 42 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:34,239 Speaker 1: We'll just to get to basketball. The mav Is basically 43 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 1: delayed the inevitable on Tuesday Night, Right, they make a 44 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: million three pointers and now they're within three one of 45 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 1: Golden State. The Warriors historically have had issues closing out series. Okay, 46 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: Denver up three oh in the first round, couldn't close 47 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:52,679 Speaker 1: it out, up three one on Memphis, couldn't close it out. 48 00:02:54,200 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 1: And now this where they are up Rio and Dallas. 49 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: They give up twenty three pointers Dallas, this is crazy. 50 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: Dallas made twos in twenty three's is that staggering? I'm 51 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 1: I'm stunned. Like essentially, the guys who couldn't make a 52 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 1: throw in the ocean, right, could not throw it in 53 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:26,799 Speaker 1: the ocean all of a sudden, Reggie Blocks six for ten, 54 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 1: from Deep Claiber two for three, Din Witty two for five, 55 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: Dorrian Phinney Smith four for seven like they were hitting. 56 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: And I guess the question that becomes, well, can they 57 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: duplicate that three straight games? And I would unequivocally say no, 58 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: And the Warriors will close this out. It's inevitable. They're 59 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: going to be going to the finals again. And We're 60 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: gonna talk a little bit more about the Warriors in 61 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: a minute and Steph Curry and what this means. I 62 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: do want to give a big, big, big, huge thank 63 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 1: you to a the Warriors bench, mob Cominga who looked 64 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: really spicy seventeen and eight in twenty two minutes. And 65 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: I'm telling you, guys, if they do move on from 66 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: Wiggins because they can't pay everybody, Kuminga is going to 67 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: be in that. Andrew Wiggins mold he is bouncy as hell, athletic. 68 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: Now he's very raw still and the guys like twenty 69 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: one years old, so give him some time. But he 70 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: looked good. Jordan Pool not as good again. He's unreliable 71 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 1: at this point. He's very explosive and then he vanishes. 72 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: He had a terrible foul out, a terrible possession in 73 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 1: overtime when I think they were down eight or nine 74 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: or ten. I'm sorry, not in overtime. In the fourth quarter. 75 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 1: Moses Moody looks good the last couple of games. Their bench, 76 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:36,719 Speaker 1: I need to thank them for getting them minute because 77 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: it forced the MAVs to bring back Luca Donche for 78 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 1: the final four minutes. Dallas led by twenty nine entering 79 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter by twenty nine points, and they were 80 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: forced to bring back some of their starters, including Luca, 81 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: because the Warriors bench mob went off, and of course 82 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: the Dalla lists role players sputtered without Luca, and Golden 83 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: State cut it too. I believe eight. They bring back 84 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: Curry and you're like, okay, this is interesting. Then Luca 85 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: gets a dunk, and Luca proceeds to finish with thirty 86 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: fourteen and nine if you're counting at home, that is 87 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: fifty three points, rebounds and assists. I bet the over 88 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 1: on his total, which was fifty two. A nice win, 89 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: although the Warriors rally blew the under, which was looking 90 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:30,279 Speaker 1: pretty darn good entering the fourth until you know, Golden 91 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 1: State decides let me hang a thirty nine spot and 92 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: forced Luca to come back. I wasn't gonna win both 93 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 1: those bets. Also, Curry, unbelievably just made two threes. He's 94 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: been firing from deep. They really took it away. They 95 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:44,359 Speaker 1: wanted the ball out of his hands. It worked. He 96 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: had eight assists. Guys, Clay Talentsen just I mean, he 97 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 1: just doesn't show up for an entire half. Now, it 98 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 1: was like goodness, gracious and and you you know we'll 99 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 1: get to the Boston aspect at some point. But I 100 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: don't love this matchup for the Warriors against Boston. I 101 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 1: just don't they're gonna be able to if they can 102 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: contain Curry. Who reliably do you trust Clay I don't, 103 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: Jordan pool Less, So Andrew Wiggins. You know we saw 104 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 1: regular Andrew Wiggins. You know he came back to earth 105 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 1: a little bit there in Game four. You know, a 106 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: robust minus twenty thirteen points, No thunderous dunks, sending Luca 107 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: to the to the floor with authority, none of it. Um. 108 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,599 Speaker 1: But yeah, overall, pretty disappointing showing from the Warriors, who 109 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:37,720 Speaker 1: just I don't I don't want to say they lack 110 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: their killer instinct, but we remember up three one on 111 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:46,480 Speaker 1: the Calves just you didn't see that killer instinct. And 112 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: you know, obviously the Draymond Green suspension happened. Blah blah blah. 113 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,799 Speaker 1: But a a disappointing night for sure for Warriors fans. 114 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 1: But the good news is Golden State's going to the finals. 115 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 1: We know it's never of it done before where a 116 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: team is blown a three nothing lead, and this will 117 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:08,160 Speaker 1: be the sixth time in eight years for the Warriors 118 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 1: going to the finals, and I think ultimately we're gonna 119 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: see some sort of coronation of Curry in the finals. Now, 120 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 1: I just want to drill down for a second. Fox 121 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. 122 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: Catch all of our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot 123 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: com and within the I Heart Radio app search f 124 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 1: s R to listen live. I think we need to 125 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: put this Curry thing in a little bit of perspective 126 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: because it's weird. I don't know, Rob. I am having 127 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: trouble framing this and I hate saying people think because 128 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: it's like, well, who are the people? Why are you 129 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: giving this your energy? But there seems to be this 130 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: narrative out there that, oh, when Durant left, the Warriors 131 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: were kind of dead, and you know, two years they 132 00:07:57,600 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: missed the playoffs. A lot of that had to do 133 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: with injuries. Claim missed two full seasons with the achilles. 134 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: Curry was injured significantly, I think in like the opening 135 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 1: night or opening week, and then missed a ton of action. 136 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: And they're back now, folks, and Steph Curry, this tiny 137 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 1: kid from Davidson. It was the seventh overall pick. He 138 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 1: wasn't ticketed for greatness the way it was like, Oh, 139 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: Elijah one, we know, we know Elijah was gonna be 140 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 1: a superstar. Lebron. We knew Lebron had next he was 141 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He was like a 142 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 1: sophomore in high school. Right. We knew who else? Did we? 143 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:32,560 Speaker 1: We knew Michael Jordan obviously was a big deal U 144 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: n C when the Natty went top five. Um, but 145 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 1: we had no idea that Steph Curry would be this 146 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: kind of force in the NBA, leading the league in 147 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: jersey sales right, being the number one TV draw. Rob 148 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 1: said this week that of the eight most watched NBA 149 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: playoff games, Curry and the Warriors were in five of them. 150 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: People are obsessed with Curry and I and I experienced 151 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: this back when we were in Pennsylvania before he moved west. 152 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 1: And by the way, the anniversary is coming up June one. 153 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: We moved west six years ago, and I would go 154 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 1: to a Sixers game and I'm telling you, curry jerseys 155 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: were everywhere. This was like as he was ascending and 156 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: putting on a show. This wasn't when he was still 157 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: kind of on a bargain contract. He wasn't even a 158 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,960 Speaker 1: Max guy, and you could see the momentum building, like 159 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: holy cow. And I yes, I brought my kid um 160 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 1: to a Warrior's game wearing a Curry jersey. My daughter 161 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: did not, wait, she did go to that game. I 162 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: don't know if she were a Curry jersey, but my 163 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: son definitely did because I have video of him dancing 164 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 1: in it. At any rate, you could see it building. 165 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 1: And now, I mean, I know that we say that. 166 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 1: You know, Kobe handed the torch to Lebron. It's been 167 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: Lebron's league, folks. Listen. I'm a Lebron guy. I like 168 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: him a lot, but Steph Curry is the face of 169 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: the NBA and it's been that way for a little while. 170 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 1: I know Lebron took him down the great comeback. I 171 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 1: get that, I was awesome. Lebron is right there with Curry. 172 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: But it's pretty clear from a merchandise perspective, go look 173 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 1: at the jersey sales. By the way, he hasn't changed teams. 174 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: Lebron changing teams really helps his cause. And this is 175 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: not me pitting Lebron against Curry, although they have had 176 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:15,560 Speaker 1: beef in the past. Specifically that twenty sixteen finals where 177 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: they blew the lead. Remember Lebron talking trash to him 178 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 1: after a rejection. I think that was in Game five, 179 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 1: because I think six and seven were back in the 180 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: Bay Area. But it's not pitting Curry against Lebron, like 181 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 1: Curry is the bigger draw. Lebron obviously the better overall player. 182 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 1: But what Curry has done. And I looked this up 183 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 1: rob and I broke it down because somebody came after 184 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: me on Twitter and was like, who cares about finals appearances? 185 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 1: It's only matters if you win, and people think that 186 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 1: this this idea about finals appearances. Essentially it is like 187 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 1: propping up Lebron's career because he's been so many times. 188 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 1: Lebron has been obviously more than Curry. Lebron might end 189 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 1: his career with double the amount of finals trips that 190 00:10:58,120 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 1: Jordan had, but he's still got some work to do 191 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: on that. Nevertheless, we looked since two thousand this century, 192 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: if do you want to guess how many teams have 193 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:10,439 Speaker 1: made the NBA finals, there's thirty teams in the league 194 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 1: this century. Only sixteen teams have made the finals. And 195 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 1: it's weird because that awesome run that the league had 196 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: in the eighties and nineties since the Lajah one left. 197 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 1: How many trips to the finals for Rockets Zero since 198 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,559 Speaker 1: Jordan left YEP zero since Patrick Ewing left the next 199 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 1: up zero. Malone in Stockton left Utah. By the way 200 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 1: Malone and Stockton an institution in Utah losing the finals twice, 201 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 1: they have not been back. I don't even know if 202 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 1: they've sniffed the finals. Since have they made a conference finals? 203 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:44,439 Speaker 1: I'd have to look that up. And of course Kai 204 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 1: Drexler with the with the with the Portland Trailblazers. This 205 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: just speaks to how difficult it is to make the 206 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: NBA finals. You gotta go through three rounds of playoffs. 207 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: I just I don't understand the backlash towards Curry. It 208 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:01,959 Speaker 1: just doesn't make sense to me. Rob What he has 209 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 1: done in Golden State is I would say, has to 210 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: be hold on. Let me let me put this in perspective. 211 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: If you look at the modern era, I e. When 212 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: Burden Magic joined in, the league started to get TV 213 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: deals and all that. You look at the modern era, 214 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 1: what Steph Curry has done in Golden State has to 215 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: be top five in the modern era, so that would 216 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 1: be like the last forty something years. It might even 217 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 1: be top three. Obviously, Listen, Jordan's going back to back 218 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: to back, tough to top Lebron going to the finals. 219 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 1: I think it was was it seven years in a 220 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 1: row Robber eight? I believe it was eight straight? Okay, 221 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: Lebron doing that, He's right there with Michael Jordan's winning three, 222 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 1: taking two years off and then winning three and now 223 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: Curry again, this is an above the rim league. Curry 224 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 1: is a below the rim kind of guy. I mean, 225 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:57,199 Speaker 1: I can't as he had a dunk in this playoffs, 226 00:12:57,559 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: you know, I mean always talking about Andrew Wiggins is 227 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: dunk and Johama rants dunk and people love high wire acts. 228 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: But you know what they love more Steph Curry. Rob 229 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 1: That's what they love more. They love it more than 230 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: all the dunks and all the aerial assaults. Like people 231 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 1: love Jordan's obviously because he was a winner and cutthroat 232 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 1: and cold dunk from the foul line. I think people 233 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 1: have a different kind of love for Steph Curry, but 234 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 1: it's not that far off from the kind of love 235 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: that Jordan's got. Understandably so, given his dominance in Chicago. 236 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:29,679 Speaker 1: Well he said a lot there. Um, I tend to 237 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: agree with you that Steph Curry is one of the 238 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 1: great NBA success stories that we've ever seen, given the 239 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 1: way that you know he was on Harold and going 240 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 1: into college on Harold and mostly coming into the NBA 241 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:46,960 Speaker 1: slipped in the draft for a reason, and then his 242 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: career starts off with him having arguably the worst ankles 243 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: in sports history. Like, I don't know if you've noticed 244 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: that now, even now you know he hasn't had issues 245 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 1: in a while, but if you watch the games, like 246 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 1: if you watched last night's game, you'll see a giant 247 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:03,440 Speaker 1: bulky brace on both of his ankles that he has 248 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 1: to wear in every game now because his ankles are 249 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:10,200 Speaker 1: that bad. And to your point, Steph Curry is not 250 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: the most athletic guy. He's not the biggest guy. I know, 251 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 1: he's he's kind of tall for a point about six three, 252 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: but he's thin. And yet he goes toe to toe 253 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 1: historically with Kevin Durant, with probably even Kobe Bryant, now 254 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: with Shaquille O'Neal, with the Ki malajy on, like these 255 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 1: are behemoths in basketball history. These are guys who to 256 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: your point, we knew almost immediately as soon as you 257 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 1: heard their name, Oh, that guy is gonna be something 258 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: special when that guy gets to the NBA. It's not 259 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 1: gonna be about if he gets to the NBA Finals. 260 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 1: It's gonna be how many rings does he end up with? 261 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 1: Like that, That's what the question was always going to be. 262 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 1: And with Steph Curry, nobody saw this coming, and I 263 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 1: think that is why he has captured the imagination of 264 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 1: so many people in this country more so than anybody 265 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: I think that we've seen since Michael Jordan's Like, there's 266 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: a reason why. And we talked about this a little bit. 267 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 1: You know, with the ratings that this current postseason, which 268 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 1: has in the last seventeen playoff games, I saw this yesterday, 269 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 1: they've been decided by an average of over nineteen points 270 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: per game, Like every game it feels like, has been 271 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 1: a blowout for the most part for the last two 272 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: and a half weeks. Even still the highest ratings we've 273 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 1: seen in eight years. There's no Lebron James, Kevin Durant 274 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: has been long gone, no super team Kauai hasn't had 275 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 1: no super teams. Kauai hasn't been there Joel and Being 276 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 1: and James Harden got knocked out? What's the Johannice got 277 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: knocked out? What? What's the common denominator? Are people tuning 278 00:15:55,800 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: in to watch? Uh, Jimmy Butler and hey the you know, 279 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: are people tuning in to watch you know? I guess 280 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 1: you could say they're turning into watch Luca Danges. But 281 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 1: the ratings don't show you don't know that. The ratings 282 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: don't show that. Yet everybody wants to see Steph Curry. 283 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: It's why I have said publicly, even as a Laker fan, 284 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 1: as a guy who lives and roots for the team 285 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 1: that has Lebron James on it, Steph Curry is the 286 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: face of the NBA. It doesn't matter that the sports 287 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 1: television shows, the sports radio shows, podcasts like this one. 288 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: Anytime there's a Lebron topic, we try to get it 289 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: in because we know he's good for our ratings, He's 290 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 1: good for our business. Polarized, Yes, exactly. I spoke to 291 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: someone last week and we talked about this exact kind 292 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: of thing, um just in private, and I said, why 293 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: is it that Lebron James when it comes to TV 294 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: radio podcast ratings is through the roof yet when it 295 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: comes to actual television ratings, doesn't rate as well. And 296 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: Steph Curry, it feels like it's almost the exact opposite. 297 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 1: You haven't seen a lot of Steph Curry conversation take 298 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:09,360 Speaker 1: place on the debate shows, you know, maybe the last 299 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:12,360 Speaker 1: forty eight hours or so. Well, there's nothing to debate exactly. 300 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,200 Speaker 1: But I think you just gave him something. And now 301 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:17,439 Speaker 1: I know you're a big Lakers guy, did you just 302 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: put Curry on the same level as Kobe Bryant he's 303 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:26,359 Speaker 1: in the room. Absolutely, I didn't see that coming. I 304 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 1: know you're a big coke Kobe, and and I think 305 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 1: Kobe is a better player than Steph Curry. I think 306 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 1: you know, almost all of the guys that I mentioned, 307 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:36,880 Speaker 1: you know, Lebron a Team Shock, I think that they're 308 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:40,440 Speaker 1: better players than Steph Curry. But when it's all said 309 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: and done, and you look at the way, he's gonna 310 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: have his rings, he's gonna have the unanimous m VP. 311 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 1: He's gonna have two m vps. Actually, he's gonna have 312 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: the idea that he changed the sport of basketball with 313 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:54,480 Speaker 1: the three point shooting. Whether that's true or not, I 314 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 1: think that he's going to get the Lions share of 315 00:17:56,359 --> 00:18:00,920 Speaker 1: the credit. And you're gonna see the a that his 316 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 1: style of play and his personality and the shimmy ing 317 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:12,360 Speaker 1: has captured the imagination of the entire basketball world more 318 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: than anybody since Michael Jordan's. So you're gonna have to 319 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:19,119 Speaker 1: admit that when you're talking about the history and the 320 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:22,760 Speaker 1: story of basketball, Steph Curry has to be one of 321 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:25,719 Speaker 1: the first names you mentioned, regardless of he ends up 322 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 1: winning this championship or not. Yeah, he's really starting to 323 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:32,479 Speaker 1: put his name in that like magic bird discussion in 324 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:35,680 Speaker 1: terms of the story of basketball. Just because you mentioned Kobe, 325 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 1: I have not previously gone there. I know I have 326 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:41,160 Speaker 1: a lot of Laker fans out here who listen. By 327 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 1: the way, we are able to look at the numbers 328 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: for the podcast, and yes, we know that a lot 329 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 1: of the listeners are in Los Angeles, folks. I'm just 330 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,400 Speaker 1: gonna just humor me. I'm gonna go through and compare 331 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: Curry and Kobe. Now, Kobe obviously played a lot longer 332 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:58,640 Speaker 1: titles Kobe five Curry three, but Korey could not out 333 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 1: of the realm he could catch Kobe played seven more 334 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 1: seasons um All Star Games, eighteen to eight. UM m 335 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 1: v p s. This is the surprise, but it's out there. 336 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 1: Kobe one, Curry two. Finals MVPs Kobe two, Curry zero, 337 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:20,399 Speaker 1: First Team All NBA Kobe eleven. Wow, half his half 338 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 1: his career, his first team Ball NBA over half his career, 339 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 1: Curry four. UM All NBA All Defensive, First Team Kobe nine, 340 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 1: Curry UM zero. This one was a surprise scoring leader. 341 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: Kobe and Curry were tied at two each. I didn't 342 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 1: know was that close, Um, But this is the one 343 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:43,639 Speaker 1: that jumps off the page of me. And yes, I 344 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 1: know the defense, guys, I get it. I get it. 345 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:50,120 Speaker 1: If you look at the playoffs stats, points per game, 346 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: Kobe a juggernaut point six points per game. Now some 347 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 1: of that includes the two years he was a teenager 348 00:19:57,119 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: and they struggled against the Jazz, the airballs, you remember those. 349 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 1: Curry twenty six point six, Curry a more viable scoring option. 350 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:11,200 Speaker 1: Points per game wise, probably not the best metric, right, Um, 351 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 1: Then Curry, that's a surprise. Playoff rebounds per game Curry 352 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 1: five point four, Kobe five point one, and assists Curry 353 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:23,159 Speaker 1: six point two, Kobe four point seven. I mean, you 354 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: want to toss in Steele's Curry has him as well. 355 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: So Rob this narrative that Curry, Curry's not a playoff performer, 356 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 1: more point rebounds than assists per game in his career 357 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: than Kobe Bryant in the playoffs. And I don't want 358 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 1: to make this a Kobe verse Curry thing. And like 359 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 1: I said, I hopefully nobody listening to this, but you started. 360 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: Hopefully if people listening to this, don't think that I 361 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:45,640 Speaker 1: believe that Curry is better than Kobe. I don't think that. 362 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 1: But what I what I was trying to say, is 363 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 1: that it's no longer a dismissive thing to say that 364 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: they're on the same plane, that they're in the same 365 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,919 Speaker 1: tier of the greatest players of all time. It's no 366 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 1: longer it's like, oh, yes, that's the story. You know, 367 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: he shoots the threes and does that kind of stuff. 368 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 1: But now it's undeniable that he is in that pantheon, 369 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 1: that he's in that group of guys that what nine 370 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 1: years ago, ten years ago would have seen. You've been 371 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 1: laughed out of the room if you would have said, hey, 372 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:19,919 Speaker 1: that skinny kid from Davidson is going to be remembered 373 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: alongside Kobe and Shack and Bird and Magic and all 374 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:26,640 Speaker 1: those guys. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk 375 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,440 Speaker 1: lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at 376 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 1: Fox sports Radio dot com and within the I Heart 377 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: Radio app. Search f s R to listen live. Since 378 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 1: you also brought up Kobe and the Lakers, let's just 379 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 1: quickly do a couple of minutes and wrap up here 380 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: on this Russell Westbrook saga. I don't really believe. I 381 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 1: don't put a lot of stock in this, Rob, but 382 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:50,880 Speaker 1: I think the athletic is reporting that because teams are 383 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,800 Speaker 1: telling the Lakers, if you want us to take Russ 384 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 1: off your hands via trade, you have to attach at 385 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,639 Speaker 1: the minimum one future first round pick to it. The Lakers, 386 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 1: of course, are balking at that, saying hell to the know. 387 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 1: As a result, according to no Rob, you can find 388 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: out who said this, but it was out there on Tuesday. 389 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 1: The Lakers are saying, you know what, with a new 390 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:16,679 Speaker 1: coaching staff, a new offensive scheme, uh some other you 391 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 1: know satellites around the Big three, we can just make 392 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:22,240 Speaker 1: it work with Russell Westbrook. I don't want any anybody 393 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 1: jumping off bridges out here in l A. That's not 394 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 1: gonna happen. This is what the Lakers have to say. 395 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 1: Okay to get down the damaged goods value of Russell Westbrook. Okay, 396 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:37,719 Speaker 1: remember Chris Paul. Remember that Chris Paul trade? Rob, What 397 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 1: was it? Chris Paul from Okay See? How did he 398 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 1: get to Phoenix? It was a I'm about to look 399 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:47,679 Speaker 1: that up while you're talking. Let me see how. I'm 400 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 1: pretty sure that Chris Paul was shipped from Houston to 401 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:54,640 Speaker 1: Phoenix or did he know? He made a pit stop 402 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 1: in Okay see, and it was like, oh, Chris Paul's washed. 403 00:22:58,560 --> 00:22:59,880 Speaker 1: And then he has a good year and okay see 404 00:22:59,880 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 1: and Lands and Phoenix and they get to the finals. 405 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 1: I'm not if you can do there. This is one 406 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 1: of the more interesting trades of the last couple of years. 407 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 1: The Suns traded away Kelly Ubre, Ricky Rubio, tied Jerome 408 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:17,119 Speaker 1: Jalen Liquia and a first round pick an exchange for 409 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:23,119 Speaker 1: Chris Paul. Oh my gosh, now, listen, Paul flamed out spectacularly. 410 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 1: This is what he does in the postseason. You know 411 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 1: he did it this year and Rob, I don't want 412 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:29,159 Speaker 1: to crush the guy, but they were up to oh 413 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:31,920 Speaker 1: last year, against Milwalk in the last fourth straight. That 414 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 1: being said, he got you the best record in the 415 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:35,359 Speaker 1: league and you went to the finals last year. You 416 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:37,479 Speaker 1: take that a hundred times out of a hundred, right, 417 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:41,640 Speaker 1: I mean no disrespect to Tie Jerome the Immortal Virginia Cavalier, 418 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 1: but you do that in a heartbeat. Um, I don't 419 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:48,280 Speaker 1: think Russell Westbrook is capable of putting a team on 420 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 1: his back and getting to the finals the way Chris 421 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:53,680 Speaker 1: Paul did. That being said, we saw Russell Westbrook and 422 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 1: Washington get them to the postseason. Now, I know that 423 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:00,879 Speaker 1: the same people who say who cares about getting to 424 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:03,080 Speaker 1: the playoffs? Get into the finals? That doesn't mean anything 425 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 1: if you don't win. Um, there's a lot of teams 426 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 1: out there who would really love to simply make the 427 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:12,919 Speaker 1: playoffs now. And again, I can't stress this enough. If 428 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 1: you look at the financials simply getting to post two 429 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 1: first round playoff games in you know, first round. You 430 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:22,639 Speaker 1: let's say you're the eighth seed or you're one of 431 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:25,160 Speaker 1: the playing teams and you get in, that's a lot 432 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:29,119 Speaker 1: of money in your pocket. You you're if you're an owner, 433 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: And again, I don't want to pump up my you 434 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:34,879 Speaker 1: know being a soccer team owner, but simply hosting a 435 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 1: playoff game is invaluable. That is basically not free money, 436 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 1: but it is huge. And that's why, and this has 437 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 1: been broken down by some others. The Indiana Pacers have 438 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:46,960 Speaker 1: really never had a top ten pick in the last 439 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:49,919 Speaker 1: like twenty five years. Guess what, they always want to 440 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:52,480 Speaker 1: stay in the playoffs because as a mid market team, 441 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 1: you gotta make the postseason. You gotta get those home dates, 442 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 1: you get the revenue from those home playoff games. Pacers 443 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:00,240 Speaker 1: were dreadful. I don't think Russ could take m to 444 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 1: the playoffs. Is there a team that gets them there? 445 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:05,199 Speaker 1: Nobody in the West is gonna want to do with 446 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: the Lakers. The Kings are desperate, They're not gonna do it. 447 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:12,679 Speaker 1: Portland's no way They're pairing Russ with Damian Lillard. Okay, 448 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 1: See's not taking Russ back. Houston ain't taking Russ back. 449 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: So then you got to look to the East and 450 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 1: you're like, well, geez, what is there a team that 451 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:26,400 Speaker 1: makes any sense? Well, yeah, the New York Knicks, who 452 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 1: we know they're not getting any free agents this summer. 453 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: That being said, what if the Knicks? And again you know, 454 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 1: they were really really bad last year after making the playoffs, 455 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:42,359 Speaker 1: couldn't you make the play in? And you know, Thibodeaux 456 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 1: and Julius Randall had some beef. Julius Randall at the 457 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 1: end of the season was ready to be done there. 458 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:51,160 Speaker 1: Their backcourt is not strong at all. I'm not suggesting 459 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:56,040 Speaker 1: Russ makes sense, but Russ is still a high wire act. 460 00:25:56,119 --> 00:25:58,399 Speaker 1: Ken Dunk can get the crowd worked up. Can you 461 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:00,199 Speaker 1: get the next of the playoffs in the East? I 462 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 1: don't know. But his deal is expiring next year. So 463 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 1: if you're the next do you take on Russ for 464 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: a year and say, yeah, we'll deal with Russ for 465 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:09,679 Speaker 1: a year and then guess what, We've got all the 466 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:14,120 Speaker 1: cap room to go potentially big game hunting next year. Now, 467 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 1: I don't think the next front office it really wants 468 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:19,640 Speaker 1: to deal with Lebron, given you you know the guys 469 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 1: at the front of the next front office right now, Um, 470 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 1: I don't think they're gonna want to deal with Lebron 471 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:26,640 Speaker 1: and help the Lakers at all. But this Russ situation, 472 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 1: there just aren't a lot of teams that are going 473 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 1: to be in the mix for him. I can't find him. 474 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:33,800 Speaker 1: Oh that might be the understatement of the year that 475 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:36,160 Speaker 1: there's not a lot of things interested in Russell Westbrook. 476 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 1: But uh, well, you asked the question early on in 477 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:40,680 Speaker 1: that rant. You know who would reporting it. It was 478 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:42,680 Speaker 1: a friend of the show, Yo von Bouja from The Athletic, 479 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 1: who reports, Oh he's yeah, good guy, Yeah, great guys, 480 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 1: really nice guy. Um. I tend to agree with you 481 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:53,480 Speaker 1: though that I think that this not not to knock 482 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 1: Yovan's reporting or anything. I just don't think that this 483 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 1: is a a a situation where the Lakers are really 484 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:03,119 Speaker 1: planning on bringing Russell Westbrook back. I think this is 485 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:07,040 Speaker 1: a situation where, like last week, uh Sam Amic reported 486 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 1: that that one of the things that they've been asking 487 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:11,920 Speaker 1: perspective coaches is how do you plan on integrating Russ 488 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 1: if you get higher? And I know now that I 489 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:19,400 Speaker 1: was not taken aback by that. I was not offended 490 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:21,879 Speaker 1: by that in any way, because in the event that 491 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 1: you are unable to get a trade that makes sense, 492 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:27,639 Speaker 1: you're gonna have to have him on your team, Like 493 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 1: it would it would behoove you to ask what are 494 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:32,440 Speaker 1: you gonna do if we still love Russ? How do 495 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 1: you kind of working him in what are you gonna 496 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 1: do if Lebron and a d both missed twenty plus games, 497 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:41,200 Speaker 1: because that obviously might happen. Do you have an offensive 498 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 1: structure that works when Lebron is not on the floor, 499 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 1: Because even though he's an iron man, historically the last 500 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:49,199 Speaker 1: few years he hasn't been great at all, you know, 501 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 1: available he's been hurt. So these are things you have 502 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:54,199 Speaker 1: to prepare for. And these are things I think it 503 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:57,359 Speaker 1: would be irresponsible as a front office if you weren't 504 00:27:57,359 --> 00:28:00,239 Speaker 1: prepared for those things. Having said all of that, I 505 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:03,280 Speaker 1: don't expect Russell Westbrook to be on the team. I 506 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:07,399 Speaker 1: do expect them at some point to offer up a 507 00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 1: you know, a first round pick or a pick swap 508 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:14,080 Speaker 1: or something as a way to sweden up the deal 509 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 1: because even if Russell Westbrook as a player may not 510 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:20,480 Speaker 1: be that appealing, you know, unless you're to your point, 511 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 1: the Knicks or uh, you know, the Washington Wizards, who 512 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 1: just making the playoffs to them is a big deal. 513 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:30,760 Speaker 1: That's a huge way. And Russell Westbrook has shown that 514 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 1: he can get you know, teams to the postseason provided 515 00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 1: he has defenders and shooters around him. Because he's not 516 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 1: going to do either one of those things. But you know, 517 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:45,680 Speaker 1: the other thing is his contract. I know it's forty 518 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:48,960 Speaker 1: seven millions, sounds big on his face. It's an expiring contract. 519 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:53,000 Speaker 1: So if you're a small market team, like in Indiana, 520 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:55,320 Speaker 1: you already have your young guards of the future with 521 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 1: Yris Halliburton and Chris Duarte. Why do you want to 522 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 1: be paying Malcolm Brogden and other four years eight plus 523 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 1: million dollars? You know what I mean, Like, it just 524 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:05,960 Speaker 1: doesn't make sense if you're a small market team in 525 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 1: interest of um, you know, pinching pennies and and trying 526 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 1: to hold on to as much income and salary as possible, 527 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 1: it would make sense for you to get off of 528 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 1: these contracts as quickly as possible. So I don't think 529 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:21,240 Speaker 1: this whole thing, it just seems like a big negotiation 530 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:24,240 Speaker 1: ploy to me. Yeah, that's that's kind of the vibe. 531 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 1: And listen, this offseason is going to be crazy for 532 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:30,320 Speaker 1: many teams, including the Lakers. UM. But we've gone a 533 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 1: little bit long here off Uh, you know, it's it's 534 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 1: been a slow weekend sports. More of the weekend coming up. 535 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 1: It looks looks like we probably will not have a 536 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 1: show on Monday unless there's Game seven and Celtics heat. 537 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:45,760 Speaker 1: Then we will do a Game seven for sure. But 538 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 1: that's how it's looking right now. We have a pretty 539 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,920 Speaker 1: big time guest. We're working on um, working on efforting, 540 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 1: as they say in the business. We'll talk to you tomorrow.