1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: As they unpluggs Forgotten Season. 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 2: What is up everybody? Welcome back to another episode of 3 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 2: Forgotten Seasons. This is your host, Dylan Dreyfuss. Today we 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 2: got a New York City legend, a man that goes 5 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 2: by the name Skip to my Lou Rayfer Austin talking 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 2: two thousand and three oh four Heat. This was d 7 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,080 Speaker 2: Wade's rookie year in Miami. Rayfer and d Wade were 8 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 2: surrounded by lamar Odom, Kuran Butler, Eudonis Haslam and coached 9 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:32,480 Speaker 2: by stan Van Gundy. The squad won forty two games, 10 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 2: finished as the number four seed in the East, and 11 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:38,279 Speaker 2: lost to a sixty one win Pacers squad in round two. 12 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,279 Speaker 2: Quick rerund of the Heat leading up to the three 13 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 2: to four season. Obviously, they have the storied hardaway morning era. 14 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 2: In the late nineties and into the early two thousands, 15 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 2: they made the playoffs six s tot eight years, and 16 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 2: we're one of the most steady teams in the East. 17 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 2: Then in two thousand and two oh three they're really bad. 18 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 2: They win just twenty five games and land the number 19 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,040 Speaker 2: five pick in the draft. And who falls into the 20 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 2: lap the kid from Marquette, Dwayne Wade. Rayfer signed a 21 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 2: one year deal in Miami in the fall of two 22 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 2: thousand and three. Lamar Odoms signs a six year megadeal 23 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:12,759 Speaker 2: coming over from the Clippers before this season, and that's 24 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 2: how the squad comes together. After this season, obviously, the 25 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 2: Heat make that blockbuster trade for Shack, they send Karn 26 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,960 Speaker 2: Butler and lamar Odom over. So we really only got 27 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 2: one season with this group together, and they were fun. 28 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:27,959 Speaker 2: They showed the Flashes make Round two. But that's it. 29 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 2: So let's get into the episode now forgotten seasons with 30 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 2: rayferh Austin on the two thousand and three h four 31 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 2: Heat begins right now, Rayfer, thank you for coming on. 32 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:39,479 Speaker 2: How's it going today, Thank. 33 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: You for having me. I'm doing well, doing great. 34 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 2: So we're gonna be hitting on the two thousand and 35 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 2: three four Heat season, a year which you have talked 36 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 2: about as being invaluable to your career. But before we 37 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 2: get into that real quick, let's hit on this upcoming 38 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 2: New York City Pointcouds documentary coming out July twenty ninth 39 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 2: on Showtime. Obviously, one of the most infamous and legendary 40 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 2: ballers from New York City, can you give us a 41 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 2: little bit of a taste on viewers what to expect 42 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 2: from this documentary. 43 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: I think what you expect from the New York City 44 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: point Guard documents is an insight of what goes on, 45 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: UH since a young man in New York City playing basketball, 46 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: trying to find his weight and being coming up in 47 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 1: the ranks behind so many legendary point guards. You also 48 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 1: get a chance to see different eras of great New 49 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:39,079 Speaker 1: York New York City point guards and how UH at 50 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 1: each during each era, so many of us were, you know, 51 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: holding our skills, but yet playing against each other and 52 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: hone and competing to try to be considered, if not 53 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: the best, one of the best UH point guards in 54 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: the New York City area. You also get a feel 55 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 1: of the culture behind it, the atmosphere, how electrifying it 56 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 1: is for the fans, the people who live in New 57 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 1: York City, and how they gravitate to the New York 58 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: City game. 59 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, there's nothing like watching a New York 60 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 2: City point guard. They got the certain flair, the certain swag, 61 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 2: and you're a perfect representation of that. So for everybody 62 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:20,519 Speaker 2: out there again. July twenty ninth, New York City point 63 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 2: Guards Rayfer just listed a bunch of the guys that 64 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 2: are going to be in it. But it's hard to 65 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 2: tell the history of basketball without focusing on the New 66 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:30,519 Speaker 2: York City point guard. So it's an amazing project and 67 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 2: definitely be sure to check that out. Segueing now, two 68 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 2: thousand and four, Heat kind of setting the table here 69 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 2: a little bit. This is your fifth year in the league. 70 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 2: You signed a one year deal with Miami right before 71 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 2: the season. You've said, you know recently in past interviews 72 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 2: that this season really taught you a lot. It was 73 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 2: your first year playing big, consistent minutes. You weren't starting 74 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 2: for the whole year, but you were playing starter minutes. 75 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 2: What is it about this season, your lone year in 76 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:01,119 Speaker 2: Miami that really propelled you and allowed you to play 77 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 2: eleven years in the league? 78 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: Well one near you you my first time being in 79 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:16,280 Speaker 1: the rotation, being the league guard, playing with such phenomenal, 80 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: such phenomenal talent across the board. You got a chance 81 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,159 Speaker 1: to realize how long the NBA season is from a 82 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 1: playing standpoint, from a consistent player standpoint, and how there 83 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: was so many different upside down peaks and valleys in 84 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: the season. We started the season five and fifteen and 85 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: everyone wrote us off. So we're being the worst team 86 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: ever in the league. And then all of a sudden, 87 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: we just went on this just run to where we 88 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: were the top four team in the in the East. 89 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: We had Dwayne Waims, a rookie. We think, we signed 90 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: Lamar Oldham. We had two VET proven vets in Eddie 91 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: Jones and Brian Grant. But after that, the rest of 92 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:02,840 Speaker 1: us was on one year deals and just a bunch 93 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: of guys trying to hope stick in the league. And 94 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 1: he also remember sorry, we had Coman Butler as well. Yeah, 95 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: but the rest of us is pretty like one year 96 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 1: deal trying to find our way. And we also and 97 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: we also had a first year head coach, even though 98 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: our coach been in the league since Coast for a 99 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 1: long time and been in basketball a lot of times, 100 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: first year being a head coach in the NBA in 101 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 1: stan Van Gundy. So uh, it was, it was huge. 102 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,919 Speaker 1: It was. It was a special time. It was especially 103 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: for all of us and we were we were able 104 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: to grow up and grow together. Mm hmm. 105 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 2: I talked to a lot of guys and you're always 106 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 2: one of the first people that that they talk about 107 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 2: as players need to adapt to the NBA game because 108 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 2: you know you can do. You have one of the 109 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 2: biggest bags ever. But when you go to the NBA, 110 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 2: certain coaches kind of limit you can. You talk a 111 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 2: little bit about just how much, like uh, situation matters 112 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 2: in the NBA. You mentioned you're on one year deals. 113 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 2: This is your first time playing big minutes, you know, 114 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 2: maybe having confidence to you know, not feel like you're 115 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 2: gonna get pulled if you make a mistake. How much 116 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 2: does does opportunity and situation matter in the NBA? 117 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: Avasa situation is huge. It matters a lot, you know. 118 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: For me, I come with the playground stigma. So therefore 119 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: a lot of coaches, like throwback coaches who probably you know, 120 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:35,280 Speaker 1: have this this taste in their mouth about the inner 121 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: city game and players, so they make it they make 122 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 1: it seem as if a person like myself has to 123 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: make this huge adjustment. What little did they know is 124 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: that I was a big student of the game. I 125 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,599 Speaker 1: was always around the game, playing a game, understanding what 126 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: it was a point I played point buy from the 127 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,839 Speaker 1: time I was born. So when I finally got the 128 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: chance to played significant minutes, the coaches realized that there 129 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 1: was an adjustment for me out there. It was just 130 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: give them a chance to play minutes, go through some 131 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 1: ups and downs in the pro game, which every person 132 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: in player does, and they realized that I could run 133 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: your team. I was a low turnover guy. The biggest 134 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: knock was, you know, which is a knock for a 135 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: lot of players that come as league from a point 136 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: g Kenny shoot the jump shut outside shot, Kenny shoot 137 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: it from range, in which I ended up developing, you know, 138 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: a view point shot. But everything else they didn't have 139 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: to show me, and I think they realized that once 140 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: they gave me the opportunity to play significant minutes and 141 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: give them the chance to be the point guy of 142 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 1: the team and run their team. I always knew time 143 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: scoring situation. It's so much that they realized I knew 144 00:07:57,640 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: and that I was so engaged in the game for 145 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: I'm an offense and defensive standpoint that I think it 146 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 1: kind of blew their mind about me because they had 147 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: this thought and perception in their head about me. 148 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 2: I mean, yeah, this is your first first season playing 149 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 2: starter minutes, and after this you're a starter for the 150 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 2: rest of your career. I want to hit on Dwayne 151 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 2: Wade a little bit. It's hard to talk about a 152 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 2: Miami Heat season when he's there without talking about d 153 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 2: wade first season in the league. He's a rookie, but 154 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:33,679 Speaker 2: he's a twenty two year old rookie, so you know 155 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 2: he's mature, he's not he's not frail. You remember your 156 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,719 Speaker 2: your first interaction, your first memories with d Wade, when 157 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 2: you get it, get into camp or preseason. What was 158 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 2: that like and what was going through your mind. 159 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: My first my first Internet with Dwayne Wade was when 160 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: you know, Milwaukee, when he was at Marquette and I 161 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 1: got a chance to go to some more kid games 162 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 1: and I was actually a chance of going to gym 163 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 1: I think once maybe twice, play some pick up with them, 164 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: and I knew how what I mean, I knew how 165 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:01,199 Speaker 1: good he was. I didn't know he was going to 166 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 1: be this good when he got to the NBA. Uh, 167 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: he gut training camp. He was a young guy and 168 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 1: and you know, everything looked new to him. The first 169 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: part of the season. He kept hitting the floor, hitting 170 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 1: the floor, coming up with these knickknack injuries, and you 171 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:17,680 Speaker 1: know a lot of us was concerned if he would 172 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: last the whole season. Because he was he always had 173 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: to be hitting the floor, and but he ended up 174 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: developing development that year. I'll go to guy and and 175 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,599 Speaker 1: I think that season a lot of us knew that 176 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 1: he was going to be a special player, and and 177 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: he just worked so hard on his game. He was 178 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 1: such a fierce competitor. You couldn't tell him that he 179 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: wasn't the best player in the court, uh, or if 180 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: not one of them. And thus he's, you know, soon 181 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 1: to be a Hall of fame. 182 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 2: People today talk about him, you know, top three, top 183 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 2: four shooting guards ever. But I think people forget that 184 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 2: it's rookie or he was playing point mostly yeah, are 185 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 2: you actually? 186 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 1: I came up the bench behind him. The good thing 187 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 1: is we played a lot together, uh, which allowed him 188 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 1: to see the game from a point guard standpoint as 189 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:15,559 Speaker 1: well as a shooting guard standpoint. So I think Miami 190 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: heat uh staying in Pat Ryan and such a phenomenal 191 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:21,559 Speaker 1: job with playing at the point and didn't allow him 192 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: to move over at times to the shooting guard when 193 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 1: I sucked in, you A think I played like I 194 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 1: was a thirty minutes a game that year, yep. And 195 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: so that means I played a lot with him, so 196 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,079 Speaker 1: he got a chance to just have the ball play 197 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: off the ball, you know. So you know, I think 198 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:44,199 Speaker 1: for me it was shocking to see them putting at 199 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: put him at the point that year. 200 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:48,559 Speaker 2: Are you working with him at all? Like is he 201 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 2: coming to you for for advice? 202 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,439 Speaker 1: No? Actually we had a veteran that both of us 203 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: you know understand, you know in benbo Coles, so Ben 204 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: Becoles ble is always an hour his in my ear. 205 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 1: Remember at that time I was learning what it is 206 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: to play thirty minutes a game and be a start 207 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 1: at time. I started quite a few games too that year, 208 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: you know, when he a lot of games he missed. 209 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 2: I started going on to the coach. I think it's 210 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 2: funny looking at your career, pretty much half your career 211 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 2: you played under a Van Gundy. So this year starts 212 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 2: with Stan and then you go on to playing Houston 213 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 2: with Jeff, and then you go back to Orlando with 214 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 2: with Stan again. I've talked to Matt Barnes JJ Reddick, 215 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 2: who played understand as well. Uh, they talk about kind 216 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:34,560 Speaker 2: of just his like knowledge for the game and x's 217 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 2: and those ability. I think Matt said, you always felt 218 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 2: like Stan was going to find a way to get you, 219 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:43,640 Speaker 2: guys a win. What was your experience year one playing 220 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 2: understand I know he's old school, I know he's hard nosed, 221 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 2: but always playing understand like it was great? 222 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: It was great. He never a day he allowed you 223 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: to come in and not get better. From an individual 224 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 1: standpoint and from a team standpoint. He was big on 225 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: staying with your routine. Whatever it's working, that's what we're 226 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: gonna stay with. You know. He also taught us, you know, 227 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 1: how not to mess with the game, don't cheat the game. Ah. 228 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: But he was he was, he was. He was a 229 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: guy that was I don't call it nitpicking, but he 230 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:34,079 Speaker 1: was always on you about doing the right thing, making 231 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: the right place you holding yourself and each other accountable. 232 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: But he allows you to go out there and play. 233 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:46,319 Speaker 1: That's what aslongs with you, as long as you were 234 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:51,079 Speaker 1: doing your game and within the grand scheme of the teams, 235 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,599 Speaker 1: the framework of the team. You know, he was he 236 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 1: allows you to get into your game. He had no 237 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: matter what thing am I stand, he has belief in 238 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:06,560 Speaker 1: the roster. So whether outside is say that whatever they 239 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 1: say about the roster was a strong team or a 240 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 1: team that was probably borderline making the playoffs of getting 241 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 1: the first round. I had unbelievable belief in the roster, 242 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: and he knew he figured out how to utilize the 243 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 1: guys that whatever they whatever players were on that team, 244 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:23,719 Speaker 1: he found a way to utilize get the best out 245 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 1: of them. Uh So, I just played with him twice 246 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:31,199 Speaker 1: and both times we had a phenomenal run. And that 247 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 1: was a great run for him and I. It was touching, 248 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: to say the least, because both times we were in 249 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:45,199 Speaker 1: situations that probably were uncomfortable, because I remember I got 250 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: traded from Houston to Orlando and it was uncoming for 251 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 1: me at the time because everyone wanted me to be 252 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,079 Speaker 1: like Jamiir you know that, yet Jamie and Nelson had 253 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 1: an All Star year. But I know Stan knew that 254 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 1: I'm bringing up It's a different point guard coming in 255 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:03,319 Speaker 1: at this time. But he knew I can help and 256 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: lead them, you know, to where we were trying to 257 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: get to. 258 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:10,079 Speaker 2: Not for sure, stand Stay always won games. I mean 259 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 2: wherever he was pretty much was was pat Riley in 260 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 2: the picture of all this year. Because he resigns as 261 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 2: head coach, then he's back a few years later as 262 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 2: head coach. 263 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: He still still a president and whatever you call it, Uh, definitely, 264 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: everything still runs and goes. 265 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 2: To Pat godfather. 266 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: That's phenomenal. You know, he knew one thing about Patty 267 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 1: knows the NBA. He knows the player. He knows what 268 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: it takes to be a winner or champion. He knows 269 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 1: what all gold, what goes into being a good person 270 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: and a good teammate. You know, you know the sacrifices 271 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: you have to make. How tough it is when your 272 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: career is going up and on the way down. Uh, 273 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: He's He's wonderful in that aspect. 274 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 2: Any like specific pat Riley stories of God, I. 275 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 1: Don't really have any. You know, the time, like I said, 276 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: he was you know, at the time we had he 277 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 1: was in training. He was our coach, and training came 278 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: and then no way, he steps stept aside. So you know, 279 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 1: we just have I just played with stand But but 280 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: we always called him coach when he run around. So 281 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: he was always around, and you know, uh, we saw 282 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 1: a lot of them, especially when we made that run 283 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 1: when we turned the season around. 284 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 2: When you got start winning, that's when he comes out. 285 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 1: No, man, he's always around. But then we realized, you know, 286 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 1: like I said, it was a situation where we turned 287 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 1: the season around, and Pat understood, Okay, now you we 288 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: you have to sustain and you have to not only 289 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: finish the regular season, you have to do it in 290 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 1: the playoffs. And he understood that what what what it 291 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: takes to you know, win the playoffs. So obviously you'll 292 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: seehim around a lot more because you know he can 293 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 1: give us the insight. You know, you could you could 294 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 1: have a conversation about, uh, the approach if you down 295 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 1: ohe to uh you know, in the in the series. 296 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 1: So he was great with us. 297 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 2: Another guy, another New York guy that I wanted to 298 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 2: hit on. One of my personal favorites. Lamar Odom was 299 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 2: on your team. Uh to me, you look at his career, 300 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 2: I think he chose winning, you know, over personal accolades. 301 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 2: Maybe he chose to go to la uh take maybe 302 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 2: take a back seat. How good was lamar Odom. I 303 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 2: know he's a New York guy. I'm not sure how 304 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 2: early you you were put onto lamar Odom. But can 305 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 2: you just you know, tell the listeners a little bit 306 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 2: about just how skilled lamorrow Odom was. 307 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: Lamar was good. I'd love to We're from the same 308 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 1: neighborhood that was the thriller about this. We're from the 309 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 1: same neighbor, but I'm just I'm some of you guys 310 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 1: older than him, and I actually have to watch him come 311 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 1: up in the ranks in basketball, and it was from 312 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 1: it was just a phenomenal talent. Lamar is one of 313 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 1: the most unselfish players you ever see. From a guy 314 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 1: with that ability, you would think you would encourage him 315 00:16:58,160 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 1: sometime to go out there and get twenty five thirty, 316 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 1: but that's just not who he is. Even as a 317 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: kid man, he's always a giving and carrying young man. 318 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 1: And even in the game, that's why you see his 319 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 1: line across the board is always like seventeen eighteen point seven, 320 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 1: eight rebounds, six, seven assists, two or three steals, a 321 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: few blocks like. He always played the game that way, 322 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:25,239 Speaker 1: so unselfish and at the height that he was six 323 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: y nine to six y ten to be able to 324 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:29,119 Speaker 1: handle that ball the way he does and see the 325 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:32,719 Speaker 1: floor and uh, you know, play the game the way 326 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,120 Speaker 1: he played it. He was just a joy and thrill 327 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 1: to play with and the player to beat around as well. 328 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 1: For us when we played with the Heat, Uh, it 329 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: was tough because I was in a contract year. I 330 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: was trying to. I was on a one year deal. 331 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:50,200 Speaker 1: He just signed a long I take a seven year 332 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 1: deal with us at the time, and we're both from 333 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:56,159 Speaker 1: the same neighborhood. I'm trying to hang out with him. 334 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:57,680 Speaker 1: He wants to be had with them, but I'm like, well, 335 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 1: I don't know, you know, I could do it today. 336 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 1: And then you know, so we didn't. We couldn't hang 337 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 1: out if we wanted to that year, and you know, 338 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: because I was trying to make sure, you know, I, 339 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 1: you know, do it all I can to get to 340 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 1: get a long term deal. And so we both understood. 341 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 2: What was that stake should I tell tomorrow to them? 342 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 2: A few colder than him. Thinking back on the on 343 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:23,880 Speaker 2: the point guard matchups at that time, like early mid 344 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 2: two thousands, who were the guys that gave you the 345 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 2: most trouble? 346 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 1: Guys that were bigger, strong athletics. So you guys like 347 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 1: Baron Davis, Chauncey Bills, those kind of guys. The other 348 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 1: guys will give you trouble too. It goes without saying 349 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 1: the person like Alan Levison because he's gonna he's just relentless, 350 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: he's gonna score looking for him every time down you 351 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 1: don't have a second off out there. Of the guys 352 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: like him, the other type players that give you a 353 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 1: little problems with the guys that receive pick at the 354 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 1: pick at the pick, Steve dash Stocklands, the Chris Paul's 355 00:18:56,600 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 1: because it's just NonStop h You're getting hit from one side, 356 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: this side, and this repick repay every time down. But 357 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: that's the bit of the league is that you know, 358 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: you got so much film and so much tape on 359 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:10,880 Speaker 1: these guys that you'll figure out from game to game 360 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:16,920 Speaker 1: what the takeaway, well, what to live with because these 361 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 1: guys that you pros NBA, some of them Hall of famers, 362 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 1: some of them from the All Star So you know 363 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 1: they're gonna have nights. You could you could contain them 364 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:27,640 Speaker 1: one night, but you gotta play them again. They could 365 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 1: go off the next night. So you know, like I said, 366 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 1: for me, the players that were athletic, big strong could 367 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: roll me down the post because I wasn't as like 368 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 1: the big strong six to two kind of thing. You know, 369 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 1: those players pose a big threat to me. 370 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 2: Baron Davis is honestly a guy that comes up pretty 371 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 2: much every time I talk to mid two thousands of guards, 372 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 2: as as one of the toughest matchups, and you see 373 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:53,879 Speaker 2: him in the first round against the Hornets. Series go seven. 374 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:56,959 Speaker 2: No team scores over one hundred points the entire series, 375 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 2: which is just you know, it's kind of the it 376 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 2: goes to sh are you what the league was like 377 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 2: back then. But what do you remember from that first 378 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 2: round playoff series? 379 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 1: It was grueling. You know, we're playing against the team 380 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:10,159 Speaker 1: that they had so many veterans that been in his 381 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:13,679 Speaker 1: position before. Even though we were the four seed. I 382 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 1: think people picked them to win because that Augman and 383 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:23,399 Speaker 1: Lynch Wesley. I mean, they had guys that you know, 384 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: I remember I was in We beat them when I 385 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: was in Milwaukee. Yeah, I think we beat them in 386 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: the semi finals and that went seven. And these guys 387 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 1: were phenomenal. One of the best things of us that serious. 388 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:39,200 Speaker 1: Barondai's body was hurting, so it was some games he 389 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 1: couldn't go off like he wanted to because his body 390 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: wouldn't allowed so and we were just young at the 391 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:48,440 Speaker 1: time too. And to have two young stars like old 392 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 1: them and Wade, you know, that was tough for those 393 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: guys because these guys were young, hungry, athletic and you're 394 00:20:57,800 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: asking some of the guys that had so much wind 395 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 1: on anybody to keep up with a guy like Wade 396 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:04,359 Speaker 1: and olde them. And then when I came up to 397 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 1: the bench, I said, I mean that we got the 398 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:11,200 Speaker 1: temple to go up and down, and I didn't think 399 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 1: those guys were gonna keep up, none of us, we 400 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 1: didn't do they keep up with us. And when we 401 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 1: when we got the game to go up and down. 402 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: But it was a grueling series to say the least. 403 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:21,919 Speaker 2: So you you win that in seven, a grueling series, 404 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:24,200 Speaker 2: and then your reward is going up against the Pacers 405 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 2: who you know, physicality. They got the defensive player of 406 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 2: the year on our test, uh, they got an m 407 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 2: VP candidate and Germaine O'Neil. Series is tied to to 408 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 2: they end up winning in six. Wade plays out of 409 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 2: his mind. I think a real coming out party for 410 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:39,080 Speaker 2: for him. How is that series against Indiana you're you're 411 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 2: tied to to do you think you're gonna you're gonna 412 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 2: take it? Or or or how's the feeling there? 413 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 1: Yeah? I mean we felt good. We felt good. I mean, 414 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:49,680 Speaker 1: we know both teams kind of played the same similar 415 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:54,400 Speaker 1: style defense, so we were both tough and to pick 416 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:57,719 Speaker 1: the roll defense. Uh, we both were gonna try to 417 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: limit die post ups, and then you know it was 418 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,000 Speaker 1: gonna come down to who's gonna make tough shots and 419 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:08,160 Speaker 1: who can get out and get out on the break 420 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:10,760 Speaker 1: against some easy buckets. But we felt good the whole way. 421 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 1: I mean, they went up too old. We came back 422 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 1: to Miami, won our two games, and you know, for 423 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 1: some reason that sixth game at home, we kind of 424 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 1: ran out of the gas. And and that's another thing. 425 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:23,679 Speaker 1: You get a chance to understand how hard it is 426 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: to win coming from one grueling series with the Hornets 427 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:29,680 Speaker 1: and not even going the right end against a team 428 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 1: that poses another threat. I mean, those guys were phenomenally 429 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 1: that year. I mean Jermaine o'nil were on our test. 430 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: Tinsley was was great that series. Ah, they got contraversed 431 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 1: a lot of guys, Bender had some moments. The list 432 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 1: goes on with those guys, so it was tough. And 433 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:51,719 Speaker 1: then we for Lamar and myself, we had some New 434 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:55,119 Speaker 1: York guys on the team with tests that who we 435 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 1: we just wanted to beat, you know, so we could 436 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,200 Speaker 1: have bragging rights in the summer when we see each 437 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:04,119 Speaker 1: other in New York. But uh, it was it was 438 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 1: it was a tough service. I mean that was another 439 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:10,919 Speaker 1: series that I don't I think one hundred scored maybe once, I'm. 440 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,359 Speaker 2: Not sure once. Yeah, so that. 441 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:17,120 Speaker 1: Series was just was was going to be crazy too. Uh. 442 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:20,359 Speaker 1: The electricity in both arenas was was amazing as well. 443 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 2: Did you think they were the best team in the 444 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 2: East that year or or was it Detroit? You think. 445 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 1: You know what, you know what that's I would I 446 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:36,960 Speaker 1: would have said them. I thought Detroit beat them because 447 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 1: they had way more, they had more experience. Oh you 448 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 1: put Wildnce Billips Hamilton. I thought they were a little 449 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:54,159 Speaker 1: more experiencing, a little tougher. I think mentally, if I 450 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: look back, I think throughout the season, I think Indiana 451 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: showed that they were the number one team in the East. 452 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 1: If I'm not mistaken, they had the number one seed 453 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:08,959 Speaker 1: h that Yeah. Yeah, so the whole season, you know, 454 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,880 Speaker 1: I think everybody needs felt that they were about they 455 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 1: It came down to the experience and the mental toughness. 456 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:19,639 Speaker 2: Yeah. I think Indiana, like you said, mental toughness. I 457 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,480 Speaker 2: think the next year is the year where they're supposed 458 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:24,960 Speaker 2: to have that experience they had. Stephen Jackson. They had 459 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:27,439 Speaker 2: a few pieces and they're supposed to then kind of 460 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:31,400 Speaker 2: to thrown the Pistons, but everybody knows what happens. Yeah, 461 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:33,200 Speaker 2: that's to prevent them. 462 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:37,520 Speaker 1: And then again that's mental toughness, so uh to have 463 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 1: what happened in the palace. But but you know, like 464 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 1: I said, if you are mentally into everything, you understand 465 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: that no situation that could have walked away from it. 466 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 1: But now look what it does to you going forward. 467 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:53,639 Speaker 1: You know something a lot of them. You got to 468 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 1: miss a lot of games and now you go to 469 00:24:55,359 --> 00:25:00,199 Speaker 1: playoffs again and you're probably not at full strength, need 470 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,199 Speaker 1: to be at full strength against a team that is 471 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 1: is as good as the Pistons are. And I think 472 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 1: the Pissons went. They went right back to the finals 473 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 1: that year, right, I think they went back to back years. 474 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, oh four and five, they go back to back. 475 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: Absolutely. 476 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 2: Now people don't realize it. I mean a lot of 477 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:16,720 Speaker 2: a lot of playoff is you said mental toughness. 478 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,680 Speaker 1: I think luck is not everything. Yet everything gotta go 479 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:22,119 Speaker 1: your way. You know, you gotta be healthy, see the 480 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 1: ball gotta get all the breaks, have to go your 481 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:28,920 Speaker 1: way to win, and your star players have to be 482 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 1: a line and then when you got star players that's 483 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 1: missing a lot of action due to suspension or whatever. 484 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:36,880 Speaker 1: It's tough to go beat a team that has two 485 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: and maybe three start star players with with with tough 486 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 1: role players. If people forget the piss team and then 487 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 1: they come on to Ben, come on to bench with 488 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 1: some tough, tough, gritty, grind out plays, I. 489 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 2: Mean, yeah, Colose Williamson, uh Lindsay Hunter, Darvin Ham. 490 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 1: The guys that are just tough, hungry and to defend. 491 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 2: So so wrapping up this season, you guys lose in six, 492 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:08,399 Speaker 2: you do ultimately get the long term deal that you 493 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 2: were sort of seeking, allowing you to have a little 494 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 2: bit of security, not always be thinking about the next 495 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:16,840 Speaker 2: move because you kind of just reflect on that time 496 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:19,399 Speaker 2: in your life three or four that heat season. You know, 497 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:21,919 Speaker 2: what are the feelings and just you know, things that 498 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 2: come to mind when you look back. You know, almost 499 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:27,160 Speaker 2: twenty years later, it. 500 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:32,479 Speaker 1: Was a season that propeled me. It is a season 501 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 1: that I would say, let a lot of people, whether 502 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 1: it be coaches, skouts and players, know that I'm I 503 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:47,440 Speaker 1: belong in this league. I could play in this league 504 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:50,520 Speaker 1: with the best of them. I think I think the 505 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:52,800 Speaker 1: very next year, I go in and have a nice year, 506 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:56,160 Speaker 1: even though I had a few situations up there in Toronto, 507 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:58,879 Speaker 1: I end up at fourteen point six sist so I 508 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: even win. Took that season from Miami and even had 509 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: a better season statistically in Miami. But then you know, 510 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: everywhere I went, you know, I was a starter. I 511 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:13,320 Speaker 1: was a core guy. I was a guy that was 512 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:18,800 Speaker 1: helping teams win, get to the playoffs, have good regular 513 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,959 Speaker 1: season success. I remember back to back years in Houston, 514 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:24,640 Speaker 1: we were fifty plus win team. I think when given 515 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:27,640 Speaker 1: won fifty five and fifty five and fifty seven something 516 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 1: like that. I go to Orlando and I'm on the 517 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 1: team that wins like fifty seven games and we go 518 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:36,080 Speaker 1: always to the finals. So and I was a starter. 519 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:38,720 Speaker 1: I was a key component to these teams and then runs. 520 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:42,399 Speaker 1: You know. So I think that year helped me in 521 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 1: that aspect as far as being a guy that could 522 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:50,439 Speaker 1: help your team win. So it was great. It was 523 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 1: great that that year was the year that did it. 524 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:59,639 Speaker 2: That's awesome now just looking at I think those Houston teams, Oh, 525 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 2: I mean, if you guys just have McGrady and y'all 526 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 2: healthy at the same time. 527 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, and then the of the time we did 528 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:09,280 Speaker 1: and and and we let let one get away Game 529 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 1: seven on our floor, there's two thousand and seven. Yeah, 530 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 1: so we let that game seven. All we do is 531 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:19,720 Speaker 1: put that away. And I think once we got to 532 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 1: the second round, I think we just posed such a 533 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:26,280 Speaker 1: tough matchup for Golden State because they'd be tougher than 534 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 1: to guard. Yeah, I'd be toughing them to put on 535 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:30,520 Speaker 1: McGrady and they were had they were gonna double a lot. 536 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:33,480 Speaker 1: And then shame myself, a couple of us, we were 537 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:39,720 Speaker 1: really hitting the three ball. Uh so, but again the 538 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:41,480 Speaker 1: brakes you gotta catch to get the brakes. We didn't 539 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 1: get the breaks. And then the following year a lot 540 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:45,240 Speaker 1: of us were hurt. Yeah, I was hurt. I end 541 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:48,320 Speaker 1: up getting hurt at We're down three games to two, 542 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 1: and I end up getting hurt in Utah, totally linking 543 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 1: into my ankles. So yeah, it's tough, man. But one thing, man, 544 00:28:58,160 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 1: A lot of times, even during the regular season, when 545 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:02,960 Speaker 1: I'm deal Houston, playing one one of those guys would 546 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 1: always have some type of ailment, and you know, it's 547 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:07,880 Speaker 1: tough for us to regroup. 548 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I just talked to Battier about nine the season 549 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 2: you got traded. But I always love those Houston teams 550 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:16,560 Speaker 2: and Shane was Shane. 551 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:19,600 Speaker 1: That was you know some places. I was playing in Orlando, 552 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:22,080 Speaker 1: but you know, whenever I got a chance, the days 553 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 1: that we weren't playing, they were playing, I would always 554 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 1: watch the game and I was I was such amazed 555 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:28,680 Speaker 1: the job they were doing and winning and win they got. 556 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 1: They got to the West, they got to the West Finals. 557 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:30,800 Speaker 1: I think that. 558 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah they lost. They lost the Lakers in 559 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 2: round two, sound and seventh without Mac. 560 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:44,600 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, they were having a phenomenal run. That was 561 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:45,920 Speaker 1: a big time for those guys. 562 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:49,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. So just finishing off a few few quick hitting questions, 563 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:52,520 Speaker 2: kind of going back to the point gods theme. I'm wondering, Okay, 564 00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 2: you're rolling up to to Dykeman or Rucker and you 565 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:58,959 Speaker 2: can bring you plus four to the black Top based 566 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:01,960 Speaker 2: off of players that you played with in your NBA career, 567 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:03,200 Speaker 2: who are you bringing? 568 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:10,560 Speaker 1: Definitely bring McGrady, I'll bring Vince Carter, I'll bring Dwyane Wade, 569 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:13,240 Speaker 1: and I bring my teammate Lamo. 570 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 2: That's tough. 571 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:20,080 Speaker 1: There's some other guys I bring out there too. 572 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:21,440 Speaker 2: Who's coming off the bench. 573 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:24,640 Speaker 1: Just I mean, I play with Ray Allen. Definitely bring 574 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 1: Ray out there. Trying to think of some more guys 575 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 1: that I played that'll be good, you know, it would 576 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: be good out there and with surprise some people out 577 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:39,720 Speaker 1: there he do. Oh, I think, surprise people out there, 578 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:46,120 Speaker 1: and he'll have a name, a nickname, you know. But 579 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:47,840 Speaker 1: you know, there's the there's so many guys I played 580 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:50,680 Speaker 1: with that that could go out there and and and 581 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 1: and do and do what they need to do. 582 00:30:53,720 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, we see, just saw Lebron play in 583 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:58,400 Speaker 2: the Drew League. But it'd be cool. I know, like 584 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:00,920 Speaker 2: Kobe and kd have played at Rutgers in the past, 585 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 2: but it'd be cool to get some of those guys 586 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 2: out here out east on the Blacktop. Absolutely, any any 587 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:09,480 Speaker 2: point guards right now that you're watching that that you 588 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:13,840 Speaker 2: really like watching NBA wise, Yeah, yeah. 589 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:16,560 Speaker 1: I love watching them all. I mean Lillard, Steph Curry, 590 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:19,080 Speaker 1: love watching John Morahan. 591 00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:25,800 Speaker 3: But uh uh, these guys are phenomenal and they're just 592 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:30,040 Speaker 3: relentless in their attack and their ability and have let 593 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:31,680 Speaker 3: us some of the ability to score the way they 594 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:34,880 Speaker 3: do on a night and night out basis, man, it 595 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:39,080 Speaker 3: keeps you you makes you want to. 596 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:41,520 Speaker 1: Watch every night, you know, so those guys just say 597 00:31:41,560 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 1: the least. Definitely watch those guys every time they come 598 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:46,840 Speaker 1: on if I can catch them. Mhmm. 599 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:49,000 Speaker 2: You think we're ever going to get anything like the 600 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 2: End One bixtape tour back? 601 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:57,280 Speaker 1: I would say yes, because things have a way of 602 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:04,800 Speaker 1: coming back around. The thing is now would be the time, 603 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 1: I would say, if it's to happen. Because of the 604 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:10,120 Speaker 1: way a lot of these guys are playing, the way, 605 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:13,640 Speaker 1: because of the way the Lillards and Durant, a lot 606 00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:16,400 Speaker 1: of these guys are playing, you would think now is 607 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:22,240 Speaker 1: the time because it's so much I would say freelance, 608 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:27,400 Speaker 1: you know, the way these guys are allowed to show 609 00:32:28,840 --> 00:32:32,840 Speaker 1: their skill. They're passionate flair for the game. You would 610 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:34,680 Speaker 1: think now would be the time. So that's the only 611 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:37,880 Speaker 1: scary boss win. But I think so. I think so. 612 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:40,040 Speaker 2: I would love to see the an One brand like 613 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:43,320 Speaker 2: come back to its roots because I mean, I'm twenty 614 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:47,600 Speaker 2: twenty four, so growing up, like you know, I wore 615 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:50,320 Speaker 2: and One everything like it was the ship. But for 616 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 2: some reasons, you know, something slipped. But I would embrace it. 617 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:56,840 Speaker 2: I'm sure everybody else would too, you know, And one 618 00:32:56,960 --> 00:32:59,000 Speaker 2: is what a lot of people grew up on watching 619 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:02,920 Speaker 2: and wearing right right right, I love to say. 620 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 1: I mean, we still do some things with anyone, and 621 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:09,760 Speaker 1: it's always great to catch up with those guys that 622 00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:12,200 Speaker 1: we won't do that did the toll with all those guys. Man, 623 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:15,560 Speaker 1: that's a whole nother story this out man. Just that 624 00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:20,520 Speaker 1: run we had, just doing those tours every summer was remarkable. 625 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:25,280 Speaker 2: Well, Ray from me, I really appreciate your time. Again. 626 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:29,800 Speaker 2: July twenty nine, Point Gods streaming only on Showtime, New 627 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:33,040 Speaker 2: York City. Point Guards essential to the history of basketball, 628 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:36,080 Speaker 2: So I really appreciate your time. Looking forward to seeing 629 00:33:36,120 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 2: the doc and again just thank. 630 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:39,680 Speaker 1: You, man, a thank you, thank you for having me. 631 00:33:42,560 --> 00:33:46,000 Speaker 2: Hope you guys enjoyed that. Rayfer Austin on the two 632 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:49,000 Speaker 2: thousand and three four Heat Reminder to check out The 633 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:52,760 Speaker 2: point Guard's documentary coming out this Friday on Showtime. Be 634 00:33:52,840 --> 00:33:55,640 Speaker 2: back next week with the fresh episode. This is your host, 635 00:33:55,720 --> 00:34:01,680 Speaker 2: Dylan Dreyfus signing off. Catch you guys next week.