1 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: Hey, what welcome in. I'm Doug glive In. This is 2 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,799 Speaker 1: all ball, all basketball, all the time. Well sometimes we 3 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: talk other sports as well. So glad you downloaded and 4 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: subscribed to up rate it. Write a review, hopefully a 5 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:23,439 Speaker 1: good one. Hope you hopefully you enjoy it. Um. Let 6 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: me make me a quick thought on the James hard trick. 7 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: So this this pod Rick Buker, dear friend of mine, 8 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,480 Speaker 1: longtime writer, NBA insider seem on Fox Sports One, has 9 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 1: his own podcast. We're gonna just chop it up and 10 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: talk and talk about the Harden trade. I want to 11 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:43,279 Speaker 1: get into it with this one thing something to think about. Well, 12 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: I'll talk about this with Rick that I believe that 13 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: k D is a bit of a lost soul. He's 14 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:52,559 Speaker 1: searching for that and maybe, like I don't know if 15 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 1: this is fair unfair, It's like that the father he 16 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: never had, like the love the he wants. The basketball 17 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: community ends to love him and respect him for the 18 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: unbelievable player that he is. I'll also say that I've 19 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: never heard a guy who played with him say a 20 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: bad word about k D. How about that I've heard 21 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: about Lebron, I've heard the step thing is it's like 22 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:23,320 Speaker 1: some guys like, look, give me a little hard to 23 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: play with Steff Right, Um, I've heard it about like 24 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: I go through all these players, and there's lots of guys. 25 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 1: I've never all they he ever says like that. Dude 26 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 1: loves ball, loves to compete, loves ball. He's he's a baller, 27 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 1: and he's unbelievable, like an unstoppable, unblockable, crazy weapon, and 28 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: he's all about basketball. He doesn't really like Rich Klemens 29 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 1: try to have him have other interests, and he has 30 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: all these investments, but I don't think those are really 31 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: He's not like Kyrie wants to make movies. He wants 32 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: he wants to be the best basketball player who ever lived. 33 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: And you know what, he's not crazy far off now. 34 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: Injuries have derailed two of his seasons and really three 35 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: of his you know, three of his seasons, because he 36 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: could have won one championship and he didn't get to 37 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: play last year, and then he had the foot problem 38 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: in Oklahoma City when he lost fifty one games of 39 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: that season. But but I think that the thing he's 40 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: searching for is that respect and admiration, not necessarily from 41 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: his peers, but some from his peers, but also from fans. 42 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: He wants to be in every conversation of being the 43 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: greatest basketball player on earth. And I think that's why 44 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: he went to Golden State. I think that's why he 45 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 1: left Golden State to go to Brooklyn. And I think 46 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 1: it's still out there for him. And you, you may 47 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: ask yourself, how how can you say that when this 48 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: guy's bringing in as two other First of all, he 49 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:43,839 Speaker 1: didn't say I need two other stars. He said I'd 50 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: love to play with James Harden. They went and got him. 51 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:50,119 Speaker 1: But when you, when I asked you about this deal, 52 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: will it work? Most people like, nah? No chemistry. You know, 53 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 1: Harden doesn't play defense. You don't know when Kyrie is 54 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 1: off the reservation, he doesn't play defense. Katie has gotten 55 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: to where he's become a good rim protector, a good defender, 56 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: but he's not. He's a for a he's a very 57 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: good offender for a scorer. I don't know if I 58 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: like it, I love it. And then the three of 59 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: them together, No, Kyrie feels like he's again office rocker. 60 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 1: James Harden is he likes to hang out. He's a 61 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: hangout guy. And KD is kind of searching for that 62 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: that feeling he had in Oklahoma City where it was 63 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 1: real team, and this isn't gonna be a real team. 64 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: But if he can figure it out, if he can 65 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: be the leader of them, because he's actually the best player, 66 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: if he can get them to follow in line and 67 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: play good enough defense and share the basketball, I think 68 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: then people would, or at least I will. I will 69 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: give him more respect than anyone has ever because I'll 70 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: sit here and tell you as a naysayer, it's not 71 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: about how much talent. It's about talent combined with playing 72 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: as a team, playing as what's a beautiful thing to 73 00:03:55,320 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: watch when teams come together. So that's my thought heading 74 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: out of this trade and heading into the rest of 75 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: the NBA season. Let's get the thoughts of Rick Buker, 76 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: who joins us now. All right, Duke, Look, I threw 77 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 1: this out on Twitter and I think it's a great question. 78 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: But it's very, very nuanced. But let's start with this 79 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 1: will it work now? Again? Part of it is what 80 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: does work mean? Right? Like to me, I don't think 81 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: it was championship or breast this year for the Nets 82 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: before they made this move. But you're you're basically on 83 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: a two year window. Now right with with Harden's contract, 84 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 1: um and it and you you got out rid of 85 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: all the future parts, which I actually don't think are 86 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 1: nearly as valuable as they were last time the Nets 87 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 1: made this type of move for the Celtics. We can 88 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: give you that. But if I said the NBA Finals 89 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:04,239 Speaker 1: are making it work, m um doesn't work. I don't. 90 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:10,600 Speaker 1: I don't believe that that they will get there as talented, 91 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:15,679 Speaker 1: as as powerful as they are offensively, for the same 92 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:18,280 Speaker 1: reason that we saw it not working with k D 93 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 1: and Kyrie in in in a microcosm, I mean, I know, 94 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,479 Speaker 1: you're adding another really big piece, but the fact of 95 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 1: the matter is k D has been playing really well. 96 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: I mean, he's come back, he's not showing any indications 97 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: that the injury has taken anything away from him. Kyrie 98 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: has been in and out, but when he's played, he's 99 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:48,479 Speaker 1: played well. They're the problems aren't with their star power 100 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: or the connection between k D and Kyrie. It's what 101 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,359 Speaker 1: kind of game do they play As a result, and 102 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: the chemistry with the other pieces and the defense overall 103 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 1: has not been good enough to overpower teams offensively. And 104 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: if you look at some of the teams that they've 105 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: lost too, they should have at the very least been 106 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: able to overpower them offensively. If overpowering opponents offensively was 107 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: a formula for being the last team standing. And yes, 108 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: the playoffs are a different animal, but they're an animal 109 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: that relies on your ability to stay in games at 110 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: times when you are not scoring. And so that's that's 111 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 1: why I just even though I look at the East 112 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:46,599 Speaker 1: and I don't see the team that I would pick 113 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: to to you know, the definitive team that I would 114 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: pick to to knock them out, I think it could 115 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: be an array of teams, a Miami Heat team that 116 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 1: just plays together and plays better defense. And I'm not 117 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: even in love with Miami. I just Miami's formula last 118 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: year is a reflection of you don't have to have 119 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: the most talent and you can still be the team 120 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 1: that comes out of your out of your conference. No, 121 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: I mean, listen that it's a great point you make, 122 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: maybe because if you think about it, the two teams 123 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: that play in the NBA Finals the two best details 124 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 1: teams in the bubble, right, That's that's really what happened now, 125 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: And and we do these things where we do the 126 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 1: thing in broadcasting where every boss I've ever had starts like, hey, 127 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: you know I love you because you're you're not you know, 128 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 1: you're no cliches, right, And then in society we have 129 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: moved so far away from stereotypes, but like look and 130 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: not a those stereotypes about humans, Um, are accurate whatever, 131 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: But but it's some things kind of like cliches are 132 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: used because they're true, Like you know, when the going 133 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: gets tough, the tough do get going. Defense does win 134 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: shape big ships, right, um. And and in in basketball 135 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: you have to be you have to be a cohesive unit. 136 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: That said, Um, I think as much as I despised 137 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: the way that James Harden has no desire to play defense, 138 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: and I find it really really difficult to believe that 139 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: Steve Nash, who wasn't a great defender in his own right, 140 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: is going to hold him accountable. Um. One of the 141 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: most underrated parts of James hardness. He's a spectacular pastor. 142 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: Now that there's a lot of litany of things, okay 143 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:39,319 Speaker 1: between he and Kyrie. What's Kevin Durant is going from 144 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: an organization where before he got there, they led the 145 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:45,719 Speaker 1: league in passes and there were times when he was 146 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,280 Speaker 1: there they led the league in passes to where I 147 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 1: don't know how they don't lead the league in dribbling 148 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: with those with those two And if you've ever been 149 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 1: on the same team as a dude who's no matter 150 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: how good he is, you're just like, has the ball, 151 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 1: dude right the other the other flaw in the construction, 152 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 1: Joe Harris is gonna get a lot of shots, but 153 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:10,199 Speaker 1: Joyrus is not a three D guy. DeAndre Jordan fits. 154 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 1: If it was, if the team was built with the 155 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: rest of the team collectively, was was all defensive minded, 156 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: that'd be like, you know, I kind of like it, 157 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 1: um because because then you can mix and match pieces, 158 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: because I feel like in the NBA, at least it's 159 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: been told to me, is you can have one guy. 160 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:35,839 Speaker 1: You have one guy who's who but like that's step right, 161 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 1: but definitely least we'll fake it and step will go 162 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 1: for steels. James Hard doesn't even fake it, you know, 163 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 1: But you could have one guy. You put two guys 164 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:47,079 Speaker 1: out there who can't guard one and a half. It's 165 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: one and a half. You can have one guy who 166 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: can't guard. You can have a set if you have 167 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 1: a second guy who's just mediocre. And again we're talking 168 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: about trying to win a championship. Because one you get 169 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 1: to the playoffs, and and and you're playing seven games, 170 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: you're playing against the best, and you're playing against the 171 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: best coaches, and you're playing against the highest basketball i 172 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 1: Q teams. So they're going to be able to manipulate, uh, 173 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 1: your defense so that you're always being exposed by the 174 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: weak defender and the weak help guy. Uh and and 175 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: and the other part of this is is that the 176 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: expectations are going to be so high that the friction 177 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 1: within the team when they don't get there is going 178 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 1: to be an influence, is going to be a mental factor. 179 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,119 Speaker 1: And and to your point, like I think of the 180 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: the Philly team that went to the finals with Alan 181 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 1: Iverson like a defenders and Alan avers Yeah, all of 182 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 1: those guys were brought in with the idea, this is 183 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: the guy, and we have to like he's offensively, he's 184 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,839 Speaker 1: going to take care of us. The rest of us 185 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: have to do the dirty work. We don't know when 186 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:13,319 Speaker 1: we're Len went there, same thing when Lebron in Cleveland exactly, 187 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: and so but guys went there, or guys understood from 188 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 1: the very beginning. That's the role that I'm gonna play 189 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:24,320 Speaker 1: and I'm going to get a ring out of it 190 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 1: as a result. So okay, you understood that coming in. 191 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:30,680 Speaker 1: This is the reason what part of the reason that 192 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: the Nets made the deal is because they had too 193 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: many guys that showed up with the Nets and they 194 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 1: had the hey, you know what, no many thinks we 195 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: can do anything, and they made the playoffs. So you 196 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: had a lot of guys with the attitude like, yeah, 197 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 1: I haven't won a championship, but like I did. I 198 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 1: I played a role for this team that wasn't like 199 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: I'm just uh, I'm I'm a caddy for the Stars. 200 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: I'm a part of the team that it uplish something. 201 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 1: So their mentality when Katie and Kyrie, it's like, yeah, 202 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: I know, you guys are better. You guys are better, 203 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 1: but like I'm still good, like I still can do things. 204 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: But it's it's what it's what derailed, right. It's what 205 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 1: derailed though Kyrie when he was in Boston, right, is 206 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:22,679 Speaker 1: that he got hurt and they probably overachieved and then 207 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: when he came back, they're like, yo, look we got 208 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 1: to the East cover fouls out. You don't. We don't 209 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 1: need you exact same thing you you're fit in with us, 210 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: we don't fit in with you. Okay. So the Kyrie, 211 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 1: the Kyrie element is is really interesting. This is this 212 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 1: is real quick. This is important for me to put 213 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:43,439 Speaker 1: there because I think you feel the same. I think 214 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 1: Kyrie is a brilliant basketball player. Like truth is. I 215 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 1: love step and what he does. If you just said 216 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: actual skill set, ability to do everything, Kerry's probably a 217 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:00,839 Speaker 1: more talented player. The things he was thinking about that 218 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:04,480 Speaker 1: this morning, I was. I thought the same thing with 219 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 1: um Rashid Wallace and Tim Duncan. If you said just 220 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 1: pure basketball skill, Reshid Wallace was a more best player 221 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: in the league than Tim Duncan. Yes, in the NBA. Yes, 222 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: Now for the same reason that you like. If you 223 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:28,559 Speaker 1: ask me, if I'm building a team, would I take 224 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 1: Steph or or or Tim over Rashipt or Kyrie, It's 225 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 1: like it's the intangibles, the leadership, the ability to to 226 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: to mold their game with other guys, just the spirit 227 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: of them. I'd say, I'm gonna take that guy. I'm 228 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,199 Speaker 1: gonna take Tim, I'm gonna take Staff. But if we're 229 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:54,079 Speaker 1: just talking about basketball ability, Kyrie is the guy like 230 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 1: in a in a moment in a pench. No, he's 231 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: he's he's unbelievable. Okay, So, uh, there's a bunch of 232 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: there's a bunch of a bunch of elements to it 233 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 1: because I do think on some level like he was 234 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 1: right last year. He just he can't say what he 235 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:12,079 Speaker 1: said about not having good enough teammates right, like you can. 236 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 1: It's one of those you can feel that way, but bro, 237 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: you don't say it right. You can feel the way 238 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 1: you can feel the way you say about a coach, 239 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: like we don't only need a head coach because we're 240 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 1: just gonna we've been doing this long enough. But that 241 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: doesn't mean we That doesn't mean you say that about 242 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: a coach who just started, like you're undermining his authority. 243 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 1: But here's the part I do like is should be 244 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 1: told that Kevin Durant can tell him to shut the 245 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: funk up, right, And James Harden is unaffected by anybody. 246 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: Although James Harden has they both have a they everybody 247 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: has a power button, right and Lebron has it. They 248 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 1: all have that power button that they that they hit. Uh. 249 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: James power button, though, is a little bit and so 250 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 1: is Kyrie's like they'll they'll pop more than than than 251 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: than anybody else will. Okay, let's start with right now, 252 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 1: where is he? What is the deal? Like, just what 253 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 1: the fuck I've said? This is anybody you know what? 254 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: Marcellus Wiley on s f Y asked me the exact 255 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 1: same question, and I said, you're asking me to go 256 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 1: into the mind of Kyrie the artiste. It would be 257 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 1: like asking me, why do you think Basquiat did that? 258 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: Or or or or or Picasso, Like why why did 259 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: he Why? Like somebody who does something that is you 260 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: look at it and you're kind of like you're fascinated 261 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: by it, but you don't completely understand, Like you need 262 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: to have a conversation with that person to understand what 263 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: inspired what they're doing. And even then you may not 264 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 1: understand it, or if you understand it, you're like, Wow, 265 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: that's coming from a strange place. This is Look Kyrie, 266 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 1: I I can't I'm I end up sounding like Dr Phil, 267 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 1: I mean, a bad version of Dr Phil when we 268 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: go into this. I've talked to people who know Kyrie. 269 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: I haven't had like there's certain guys in the league 270 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 1: that over time I've been able to sit down and 271 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: have a conversation with Like, I am dying to have 272 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 1: a conversation. I know I'm kind of verge uh diverting here, 273 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 1: but I want to have a conversation with with k 274 00:16:25,520 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 1: D because UH and I have I've had a number 275 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: of like where we could talk about like what's really 276 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: going on with him? And I've understand and I've had 277 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 1: a better understanding and it makes sense to me. I 278 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: don't agree with it, but it makes sense to me. 279 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: I've never had that with Kyrie, but I believe I'd 280 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 1: love to explore this, Like I think the KD is 281 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: doing his post game like I I'm just gonna give 282 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 1: you short answers. I'm I'm I'm barely I'm barely engaged 283 00:16:56,240 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: in in answering post game because he looks at answering 284 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 1: these postgame questions. It's not the person that he's talking to, 285 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: it's that to talk about it is so banal in 286 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:13,359 Speaker 1: in light of what's going on in the country like 287 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: that that it insults his intelligence to have to talk 288 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: about these things on a on on a platform. I 289 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 1: think Kyrie is battling with the same thing. I think 290 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: there's a lot of guys in the league right now 291 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 1: that are looking at what's going on in our country 292 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 1: and it's carried over from the bubble and the boycott 293 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: that um they're struggling with playing basketball this time, and 294 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,399 Speaker 1: I think that's what's happening with Kyrie. It's interesting because 295 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 1: it's it's like one of these things to where you 296 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: want to tell the guy's like that's the job, right, 297 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:50,960 Speaker 1: like like like like, look, I totally get I understand it. Hey, 298 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 1: I'm a radio host, right So I'm sitting here hosting 299 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 1: a radio show and I see the ship going on 300 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:00,920 Speaker 1: in Washington, d C. And I'm appalled by it. When 301 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:04,679 Speaker 1: embarrassed by it, I'm mortified by it. Right. This is 302 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 1: it is. It's a country that I love. It's the 303 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: country that I tell people all the time, right that 304 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 1: I've I've lived overseas, I've traveled overseas, and the one 305 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:17,160 Speaker 1: thing that I can tell you that is that that 306 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 1: everyone I know is consistent when no matter how beautiful 307 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:23,920 Speaker 1: place you go visit, no matter how wonderful the food 308 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 1: is or incredible the people are, you get out the plane, 309 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 1: you steal glory, You're like, hell, yeah, this is the 310 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:36,959 Speaker 1: best place there is not only that, but a vast 311 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:43,200 Speaker 1: you know, a big part of the the world thinks 312 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: that we live the most charmed life. They're not. They're 313 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:49,880 Speaker 1: not in love with the way we operate, because when 314 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 1: we operate in their countries, we're kind of we're jackass. 315 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 1: You know, We've we've got this, We've got this approach 316 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:00,639 Speaker 1: that not ever, not everybody looks at an Erica and 317 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 1: the way we operate and says, wow, you guys, really 318 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 1: you got it, you got it nailed right. They love 319 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: the by product. They would love to live in America, 320 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 1: but the American wife, we're not. We're not all that. 321 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:19,920 Speaker 1: I know. I I totally that That was around the 322 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 1: point I was getting to the point I'm getting to 323 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:25,639 Speaker 1: is I love this country, but I'm hosting my show 324 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 1: when that ship goes down in d C. And I 325 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:32,920 Speaker 1: want to scream, I want to like this is It's 326 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 1: basically what all of us told you. It's the embodiment 327 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:40,880 Speaker 1: of all of the years of lies that empower these 328 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 1: people who are easy to be manipulated to do these 329 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:49,920 Speaker 1: things right. But I host a sports show. That's not 330 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: the job, right, It's not. It's the same thing as coronavirus, 331 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 1: Like I you know you want to talk about because 332 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,119 Speaker 1: that's kind of what guys, everybody's talking about all these 333 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:02,359 Speaker 1: different things, right, that's the job. And the point is 334 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:06,360 Speaker 1: that the hard part to let these guys understand. Yes, 335 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,880 Speaker 1: of you're more than a basketball player, but the harder 336 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:14,440 Speaker 1: things you're a basketball player, right and and and it's 337 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 1: not just when you're playing ball. It's kind of all about, 338 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 1: like you gotta kind of be about the job. Sorry, 339 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: and that that's the deal. But okay, so was this 340 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 1: move to bring him back in or was this move 341 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:34,359 Speaker 1: to protect themselves if he's already gone. I don't follow 342 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:43,440 Speaker 1: you mean Kyrie? Yes, No, I I believe it's we've 343 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 1: hitched our wagon to this approach and we're just gonna 344 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:52,439 Speaker 1: keep going in the same direction. We can't try to 345 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:56,679 Speaker 1: shift it one way or another. So let's try to 346 00:20:56,800 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: put another big personality, another big talent in the room 347 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:06,119 Speaker 1: and see if that can push out the problems that 348 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:08,959 Speaker 1: Kyrie is you know, whatever is whatever is going on 349 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 1: with Kyrie, If we can put another big entity in 350 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: the mix, well that balance things out? Or will will 351 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:20,359 Speaker 1: we be so good that it will push out the noise? 352 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: I mean I had one I had one GM who 353 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 1: basically said in so many words like this is almost 354 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 1: a cover for Kyrie, like big, like okay, the you 355 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:36,679 Speaker 1: know the the the bass player is drunk, but you 356 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 1: know what, let's bring in in a horn section and 357 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 1: everybody right exactly, like man, the band is really just 358 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 1: to distract you from what's going on with with with 359 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:56,120 Speaker 1: that piece in the orchestra and hopeingly or the band 360 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:59,040 Speaker 1: and at some point like he sobers up and you 361 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 1: come back together and what was that happening? Oh yeah, 362 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:05,119 Speaker 1: you know, it's just one bad night. I mean that 363 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:08,119 Speaker 1: to me is what I'm hearing, is what they hope 364 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:13,120 Speaker 1: it will ultimately ultimately be. But it's it's honestly, it's 365 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:17,240 Speaker 1: the same thing as when it first happened. Like we 366 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:21,600 Speaker 1: we talked about it, can this really work? Like Kde 367 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: and Kyrie? Can that work with what else they have? 368 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 1: And how that limits what else they can do? And 369 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 1: we had our our our doubts that it could. It 370 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 1: could come through for a lot of the reasons that 371 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:37,919 Speaker 1: we've since seen play out right, So, but how do 372 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 1: you say no? If Katie and Kyrie want to come 373 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 1: play for you. It's really easy for us to sit 374 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 1: back and go, yeah, I don't know if that's gonna work. 375 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:47,960 Speaker 1: But if if that kind of talent says they're gonna 376 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 1: come and play for you as free agents, like they 377 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: want to play for the Brooklyn freaking Nets, Like are 378 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:57,120 Speaker 1: you gonna can you say no? And and if James 379 00:22:57,119 --> 00:23:00,080 Speaker 1: Harden wants to complain with them, can you say? Know 380 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:03,199 Speaker 1: you you kind of know where it might take you, 381 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 1: But you're like, what's the alternative that we're just the 382 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: Brooklyn Nets and we have the you know, I mean, 383 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: attendance doesn't really matter right now, but we're there, like 384 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,399 Speaker 1: the least popular team in the league, even though we 385 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 1: made the playoffs. It's it's when you kind of step back, 386 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 1: you just go, I don't know if it's gonna work, 387 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 1: but I I gotta I have to find out. Yes, Okay, 388 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 1: I got I got two more for you. I think 389 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 1: Katie is happy. And I say this because here's my 390 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:38,640 Speaker 1: belief on the Golden State, right. Um. I felt firm 391 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:41,239 Speaker 1: when he was an open c he was I know, 392 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: they had a three one league. You know, he played 393 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:46,359 Speaker 1: shitty in Game six. Okay, I put a ton of 394 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 1: pressure on himself. He didn't play well, But I may 395 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:52,800 Speaker 1: it was due it was two on five. There is 396 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: no space. Oklahoma City. They tried. They kind of created 397 00:23:56,040 --> 00:24:00,239 Speaker 1: that same model really where you had three defenders, right, 398 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:03,479 Speaker 1: and then two offensive players. It just didn't have enough shooting. 399 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:06,200 Speaker 1: So every time he got the ball there was there 400 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:09,600 Speaker 1: was two guys in his lap, and and he said 401 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:12,800 Speaker 1: to himself, I can't do it. I want the space. 402 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: And he when he got to space, he was magnificent. 403 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:17,400 Speaker 1: I think he was the best player in the league. 404 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 1: I know Lebron has dominated the narrative, uh, you know, 405 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:25,439 Speaker 1: because he won the championship last year. But and it 406 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,679 Speaker 1: was always gotta have you know, Katie's got to have 407 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 1: two superstars, Like, hey, what the funk do you think 408 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 1: Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving were when when he was there? Right, 409 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 1: Like we make it out like Golden State had had 410 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 1: this incredible list of Hall of famers Tristan Thompson and 411 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:44,240 Speaker 1: Draymond Green, same role. Draymond just a little bit better 412 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 1: at it and obviously a much better passer. Right, But 413 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 1: and then you have you know, again, they're not peace 414 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:52,640 Speaker 1: for peace, but it's kind of the same sort of plan. 415 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:55,440 Speaker 1: Only when Kevin Ratton was guarded by Lebron James Kevin 416 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 1: Rett was better in those finals. I won't argue to 417 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: anybody otherwise. So he didn't get the respect that he 418 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 1: thought he deserved, right, I mean, this is what everybody 419 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:05,679 Speaker 1: has said and what kind of I saw it was like, 420 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 1: now I went to championships and had he been healthy, 421 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: they wouldn't won a third championship. And he's clearly the 422 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 1: difference maker UM against Toronto for example, the limited game 423 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:17,919 Speaker 1: that he played, it was just obvious how much different 424 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:21,280 Speaker 1: it is. So he's he's searching for this, you know, 425 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 1: affirmation that he's as good as I think everybody knows 426 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: him to be. But he can't win. He can't win 427 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:33,879 Speaker 1: the narrative he's actually the best, right right, It's like, 428 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 1: no matter what, he can't like UM. So he goes 429 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:40,919 Speaker 1: to like so he's kind of lost, kind of a 430 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:45,040 Speaker 1: lost soul. I mean that's I mean, like you can 431 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:49,400 Speaker 1: stop there. I mean that's what I okay. So so 432 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:52,200 Speaker 1: so last night, for for example, last night he destroys 433 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 1: the Knicks as like a one man band, and I 434 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: think it was probably really really fun. It was really fun. 435 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:03,440 Speaker 1: And now he's he's got this Kyrie nonsense. Now he's 436 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:05,680 Speaker 1: got James Harden, who he knows and I'm sure he likes. 437 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 1: And nobody says James Harden is a bad dude, right, 438 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 1: Like he's just actually his problem is he has too 439 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:15,160 Speaker 1: much of a good time. Um, but do you think 440 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:20,080 Speaker 1: this is what his soul was searching? I can't imagine 441 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:27,360 Speaker 1: that it is, because because once again it discounts him, 442 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:32,120 Speaker 1: right like it was k D and Kyrie. Oh that's 443 00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:35,320 Speaker 1: not enough. And it's not that you went and got 444 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:40,400 Speaker 1: pieces like ancillary pieces, you know what we need more, 445 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 1: this need more that. Yeah, Uh, it's it's we went 446 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:50,560 Speaker 1: and got James hardened. And that's what I still am 447 00:26:50,560 --> 00:26:54,400 Speaker 1: waiting to see. Like we've talked about the pieces outside 448 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:58,199 Speaker 1: of the Big three, what's the pecking order within the 449 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:02,920 Speaker 1: Big three? Because this is and I will forever blame 450 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 1: Bill Simmons for this, This this idea that Darryl Moury, Pilford, 451 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:16,879 Speaker 1: James Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden didn't 452 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:21,800 Speaker 1: want to be in Oklahoma City because he was the 453 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 1: sixth man. He was the third wheel, like James was 454 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:29,119 Speaker 1: ready to become what James is now. I want to 455 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 1: be the guy. It's the same thing the KD. Like 456 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:35,520 Speaker 1: I want to be the guy I want and I 457 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:39,960 Speaker 1: want that more than I want to be part. Yes, 458 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 1: I want to win a championship, but I want to 459 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 1: win a championship as the guy, or at least one 460 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 1: of the two guys. I don't want to be the 461 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 1: third guy. And that's ultimately why they had to move him. 462 00:27:56,640 --> 00:28:00,199 Speaker 1: They couldn't. He wasn't. He didn't want to be there 463 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 1: in the role that they had for him. So it 464 00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:08,439 Speaker 1: was either move Russell or k D or James. And 465 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 1: so I I say all that because it's it's become 466 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:14,679 Speaker 1: like Darryl Let's. That was the start of Darryl Morey 467 00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:19,639 Speaker 1: being a genius was that he somehow got James Harden. Well, 468 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:26,480 Speaker 1: how's it gonna work in Brooklyn? Like Kyrie, in his way, 469 00:28:26,560 --> 00:28:30,720 Speaker 1: has been looking for the same validation the k D 470 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:33,280 Speaker 1: is looking for. You know, Yeah, he hit the shot 471 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:35,720 Speaker 1: in Cleveland, but he wasn't. He wasn't looked at his 472 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:40,560 Speaker 1: as a peer of of Lebron. He was he was 473 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:43,560 Speaker 1: second class citizen. So he goes to Boston. I want 474 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 1: to lead a team they don't understand. So you know what, 475 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go, and I'm gonna be the stuff because 476 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:52,120 Speaker 1: there's there were other guys that were already established there. 477 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna go someplace where I'm a foundational stone 478 00:28:56,640 --> 00:29:01,160 Speaker 1: and that's that's gonna get it for me. Okay, Well, 479 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 1: now you've got a guy, arguably in James Harden, who 480 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:07,280 Speaker 1: many will look at is Kyrie is the third wheel. 481 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:10,440 Speaker 1: Now now he's the third guy in the pecking order, 482 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 1: and where James and Kadie like, they have to sort 483 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 1: that out. And this is not like Boston, as you 484 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 1: mentioned in terms of kg Ray and Paul Pierce, because 485 00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:27,280 Speaker 1: of a number of factors. One, they hadn't had any 486 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 1: success independently at the level. They hadn't won a championship, 487 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:32,719 Speaker 1: and they were to point in their careers where they 488 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 1: needed to get that. Um, it's not the same as 489 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:39,800 Speaker 1: Golden State because all those guys hadn't accomplished anything, and 490 00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:43,400 Speaker 1: they they found it and they got it together. So 491 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:48,880 Speaker 1: I just think the dynamics are troublesome, both inside the 492 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:52,720 Speaker 1: trio and outside when it comes to the collective of 493 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:55,560 Speaker 1: the team. All Right, I gonna wrap this in a second, 494 00:29:55,600 --> 00:30:00,160 Speaker 1: but let me just give you this short dissertation. I 495 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:03,560 Speaker 1: think it can work, especially because it's like one of 496 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:05,320 Speaker 1: those if you don't like the nets, tell me who 497 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:07,880 Speaker 1: you do like, And neither of us can really find 498 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:11,560 Speaker 1: that team right, Like like Boston, we all love Jayson Tatum, 499 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 1: but like he kind of settles he you know, he 500 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:20,560 Speaker 1: I don't know if he's a superstar yet, and Kemba's knee. 501 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 1: The rest of that roster just I haven't seen it yet. 502 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:27,480 Speaker 1: At that level, that's you know, that's the xs and os, 503 00:30:27,560 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 1: that's that's the talent. But there's also like there's such 504 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 1: a um, there's such an absence of real leadership in 505 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:38,400 Speaker 1: the league today. That's where Lebron's why Lebron is killing 506 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 1: is because he has that gravitas and he has the experience, 507 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:48,160 Speaker 1: but there's very there. I mean, look around how many 508 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:50,800 Speaker 1: I I asked it. I asked the GM the other day, like, 509 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:53,200 Speaker 1: name the leaders in the league, and we had a 510 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:55,720 Speaker 1: hard time coming up with five. You've got thirty teams. 511 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 1: Chris Paul, Well, it's part. Part of the problem is this, 512 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:03,320 Speaker 1: This is the issue with not going to college is 513 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:05,720 Speaker 1: of the things you don't learn to do. You don't 514 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:08,720 Speaker 1: learn to go from being young pup to being a leader. 515 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:10,960 Speaker 1: If you go to college. You go for a year 516 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:12,640 Speaker 1: and you keep be a leader when you're a freshman, 517 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 1: Like there's a very kay Cunningham might sort of have it. 518 00:31:16,280 --> 00:31:18,920 Speaker 1: It kind of has that that it to him. But 519 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:22,120 Speaker 1: outside of that, that just we we don't we don't 520 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:26,760 Speaker 1: foster that with with how we've constructed these players, with 521 00:31:26,760 --> 00:31:29,200 Speaker 1: how we with the foundation by how we built these players. 522 00:31:29,800 --> 00:31:33,800 Speaker 1: Um so, so here's the thing. I agree with you. 523 00:31:34,120 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 1: They're totally different. They're they're not past their prime. Their 524 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:39,840 Speaker 1: way the way, the big way, and by the way, 525 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:42,480 Speaker 1: like please don't tell me Jason Terry is anywhere near 526 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 1: the level of you know, Garnett and Pierce whatever. I 527 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:49,160 Speaker 1: love the jet but stop right, um, but those guys 528 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:51,720 Speaker 1: are past their pride. And you're right that there's a 529 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:56,480 Speaker 1: hunger and a desire when guys haven't accomplished it. That's 530 00:31:56,560 --> 00:31:59,560 Speaker 1: my that's my question to Katie, that's my question to Kyrie, 531 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:04,920 Speaker 1: that's my question. James Harden is James Harden specifically, you know, 532 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 1: he says I've done everything for the city. Now you haven't. 533 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:11,120 Speaker 1: Who win't coming in shape? Okay, you wouldn't work with 534 00:32:11,160 --> 00:32:14,200 Speaker 1: new teammates, You wouldn't try and change in the vault. 535 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:16,600 Speaker 1: So I don't see it now, it doesn't mean it 536 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:18,520 Speaker 1: can't happen that he can't get there and go like, hey, 537 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:21,520 Speaker 1: this is my last shot to raise the narrative that 538 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 1: I'm not a winner. How are you irving He's already won, okay, 539 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:27,400 Speaker 1: and he has the balls to say like, I don't 540 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:29,080 Speaker 1: got to anybody can hit a game when he shot, 541 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:33,200 Speaker 1: like dude in Cleveland was pretty good. Bro Um anyway, 542 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:39,800 Speaker 1: like everyone's doubting dude, Let's see what you got. Kevin Durant. Now, 543 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:42,080 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant I think has that. Kevin Durant is a 544 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:44,480 Speaker 1: That's why I love the slim reap for nickname because 545 00:32:44,480 --> 00:32:47,600 Speaker 1: he is a licensed assassin. He wants to kill everybody 546 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:49,880 Speaker 1: he wants to do in every game. So I think 547 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:55,600 Speaker 1: he hasn't the other two I'm not. I'm that That's 548 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:59,360 Speaker 1: really where where we are in terms of it needs 549 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:03,280 Speaker 1: to be through you. This is gonna be awesome in Elite, 550 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 1: which no one has really given a shit about because 551 00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:08,280 Speaker 1: players don't seem to give a ship for the first 552 00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 1: half of the season. This, this makes it incredible. Um, 553 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:15,960 Speaker 1: how can people download your podcast? You can go to 554 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:21,680 Speaker 1: uh iTunes or I mean basically, wherever you get um, 555 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:25,280 Speaker 1: you get podcasts, it will be it will be available there. 556 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:28,720 Speaker 1: Buker and friends. Have you read all the books that 557 00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:32,200 Speaker 1: are behind your over your shoulder? I would say probably 558 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:38,440 Speaker 1: about of them. Do you anotate them? I do not, 559 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 1: because I had for a long time, I um, I 560 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:48,640 Speaker 1: cherished books where writing in them was defacing them. So 561 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:51,320 Speaker 1: if I was going, if I had something that I 562 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:54,160 Speaker 1: appreciated from them, I would write them down in a notebook, 563 00:33:54,240 --> 00:33:59,640 Speaker 1: separate from the book itself, like my dad always annotated 564 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 1: and uh. And I was like, do you ever go back? 565 00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 1: He's like, it's very rarely, but he used to us. 566 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:09,239 Speaker 1: He used to end it. Yeah, you do want to 567 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:11,800 Speaker 1: You do want to acknowledge when you find a sentence 568 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:15,319 Speaker 1: or a phrase where you're like, yes, oh that's that's 569 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:19,440 Speaker 1: really good, really really really really good, really good. I 570 00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:24,120 Speaker 1: appreciate it. We'll talk to Okay, it sounds good, all right. 571 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 1: I appreciate you joined us. I appreciate Rick Bucker joined us. 572 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:29,560 Speaker 1: That was fun. That was fun. Um I got a 573 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:32,040 Speaker 1: college pod for you up coming next. You're gonna love it. 574 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:34,520 Speaker 1: Make sure you go through our catalog of podcasts. This 575 00:34:34,560 --> 00:34:37,480 Speaker 1: is your first time listening to All Ball. We tell stories, 576 00:34:37,760 --> 00:34:41,040 Speaker 1: some are mine, a lot of our other people's. We 577 00:34:41,160 --> 00:34:45,560 Speaker 1: give background and sometimes we have some takes, so those 578 00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:48,440 Speaker 1: that's the take on the James Harden trade to the 579 00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:50,920 Speaker 1: Brooklyn Nets. It should be fast and give you a 580 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:52,960 Speaker 1: reason to watch an NBA season which so many of 581 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:56,640 Speaker 1: us have had a hard time watching thus far. A 582 00:34:56,680 --> 00:34:58,600 Speaker 1: reminder of the Doug got Lip shows three to six 583 00:34:58,640 --> 00:35:01,800 Speaker 1: Eastern twelve the three Pacific on Fox Sports Trader. You 584 00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:03,719 Speaker 1: can listen to in the I Heart Radio app on 585 00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:07,040 Speaker 1: Sirius x M two seventeen or two oh three UM. 586 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:10,080 Speaker 1: The Fox Sports Tradio dot com is a great place 587 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:13,399 Speaker 1: to stream it if you're working from home, and don't 588 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:16,600 Speaker 1: forget to subscribe. Download rate writer review for us as well. 589 00:35:16,719 --> 00:35:18,560 Speaker 1: I'm Doug Gottliebin. This is All Ball.