1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:01,920 Speaker 1: The volume. 2 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 2: This is straight Fire with Jason McIntire. What is up 3 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 2: straight Fire Fame. 4 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: It's me Jason McIntire, Straight Fire for Monday May twenty second, 5 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 1: and the NBA over the weekend, it was not great, 6 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: ladies and gentlemen, not great at all. Fortunately, I had 7 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: a tremendous weekend. I know you care about my men's 8 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: league basketball season. The new one started on Sunday, picked 9 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: up an easy twenty seven point w We played a 10 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 1: team that had never been in this league before. It 11 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:46,240 Speaker 1: looked like they were kind of friends, but they didn't 12 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: play together a lot and that was evident early. 13 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 2: Let's just say. 14 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,599 Speaker 1: And it was a bit of a blowout, similar to 15 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: the Boston Celtics Miami Heat game which ended whereas we 16 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: record this late Sunday night, ended about an hour ago. 17 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:04,559 Speaker 1: And folks, if you know anybody who had the Miami 18 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: Heat going up three nothing over the Celtics with a 19 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: game three win by drum roll, please twenty six points, 20 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: Please ask them for lottery numbers, because clearly they know 21 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 1: something that nobody else does. Folks, Nuggets we'll talk about later. 22 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 1: Nuggets Lakers Nuggets is three to zero, and now the 23 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: Celtics are down three the Boston Celtics, the favored Celtics 24 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: number two seed. Everything was clear for them after the 25 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: Bucks got dispatched, and they have rolled over like gutless dogs. 26 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: And I have a text that I've got to read. 27 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:36,839 Speaker 1: I'm on a text chain in this player points pool. 28 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: By the way, I'm in second place, but it's looking 29 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: good because the Nuggets are gonna go to the finals. 30 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,039 Speaker 1: And I have Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. This is 31 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: from a diehard Celtics fan. He's from Boston, he says. 32 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: Now he's a former Celtics fan unless they fire everyone 33 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 1: and trade every single player not named Marcus Smart, I 34 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:59,919 Speaker 1: am looking for a new home. Bring on the Knicks entire. 35 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: This is Celtics culture was ruined when they drafted a 36 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: dukie who wears Lakers boxers and thinks he's Kobe, despite 37 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: not even being remotely good enough to date a Kardashian. 38 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: They were closer to a title with Isaiah Thomas and 39 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 1: Jay Crowder. Let's just say the text were popping. My 40 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 1: other buddy, who is a Laker season ticket holder, actually said, hey, Jay, 41 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 1: I got an extra ticket. 42 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 2: You know, do you? And my other buddy, Dan do 43 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 2: you guys want to go to the game. 44 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: My family's bailing because they are out there really upset 45 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 1: with the Lakers and Lebron. I was like, I can't, 46 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: you know, I got a vacation coming up. We got 47 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff to do. I was like, you 48 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: could probably sell the tickets and pay for you know, 49 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,359 Speaker 1: half your season tickets. And He's like, tickets are going 50 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 1: for face value. LA loves a front running team and 51 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 1: rob dr Lakers. 52 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 2: They're in trouble. But I don't know this Celtics game. 53 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: I was stunned when I looked at the line and 54 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: I saw Celtics favor by three, three and a half four. 55 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: I'm like, in Miami, what has anyone seen from the 56 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: Celtics to have them favored against a Heat team that 57 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: is just oozing grit and resilience and toughness. I gotta say, 58 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,399 Speaker 1: you guys know, I'm a Jimmy Butler fan. Last week 59 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 1: I angered Kawhi Leonard Nation. You know the eight fans 60 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: who love Kawhi Leonard and represent him. When I said, 61 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler's had a better career than Kawhi Leonard. Jimmy 62 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 1: Butler's carrying a team putting him on his back, took 63 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: down Giannis in the first round, then took down the Nixon. 64 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: By the way, it's looking more and more like the 65 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: Knicks are gonna be the toughest team that the Heat 66 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: played in the Eastern Conference. 67 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 2: Who knew? 68 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: I mean, Jalen Brunson unbelievable stuff. And now Jimmy Butler's 69 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: taking down Tatum and Brown. And I know Boston fans 70 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: all this consternation. Do you trade Brown? We'll get to 71 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: that shortly, But I think the key here when you 72 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: just look at this game Boston from Deep eleven of 73 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: forty two and a lot of it was garbage time. 74 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: Jaylen Brown will of seven, Jason Tatum one of seven, 75 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: two superstars going one for fourteen from three. Not gonna 76 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: cut it and not win across the way look at it. 77 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: I mean, these numbers are staggering. Duncan Robinson undrafted five 78 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: of seven from Deep, Caleb Martin undrafted four of seven 79 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: from Deep, Gabe Vincent six of nine from Deep, also undrafted. 80 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 1: And I'm sure you guys have seen the highlight now 81 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: if you have not, I put it on my Instagram stories. 82 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 1: In game one, there was a big moment where Al 83 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: Horford hit a big shot and then he looked to 84 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 1: the heat bench and signaled. 85 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 2: Time out and was like the crowd was going wild. 86 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: So in Game three last night, Miami is rolling up 87 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:34,840 Speaker 1: twenty five and one of the guards from Miami did 88 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 1: it right back to the Celtics bench. 89 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 2: Grant Williams had. 90 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:40,159 Speaker 1: A moment where he's just like Jimmy Butler's pointing at 91 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 1: him like it got It felt personal, and it felt 92 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,479 Speaker 1: like the Celtics just don't have those dogs. And I 93 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:47,599 Speaker 1: know my buddy was ranting about Marcus Smart, but like, 94 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,039 Speaker 1: I don't know, guys, I'm nerdy enough that I'm looking 95 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 1: at these Celtics situation. Salary cap wise, Tata Man going anywhere. 96 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: Jalen Brown, you don't off, you don't get off a 97 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 1: all in a second team guy, you don't just dump 98 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 1: him when he's in his prime. 99 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,919 Speaker 2: Al Horford, I don't know. 100 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: I mean, he hasn't looked great, but it's contracts manageable 101 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,039 Speaker 1: ten million dollars year next year. Malcolm Brogden did not 102 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: look good last night. Zero for six, donut twenty two mil. 103 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 1: Marcus Smart and he's got several more years eighteen mil. 104 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 1: Derek White eighteen, mil Robert Williams eleven. Then you look 105 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 1: at Gallinari, who knows what's going to be going on 106 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 1: with Grant Williams, Peyton Pritchard. 107 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 2: Like their core is good. 108 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 1: And I look this up, guys, the Celtics core of 109 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 1: Smart Brown and Tatum has basically been to the conference 110 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 1: finals five of the last seven years. I've only broke 111 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: through once and got to the finals. However, two of 112 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: those I believe were against Lebron early on, when like 113 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: Brown was a pup and Tatum was young, and it 114 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: was like the Isaiah Thomas J. Crowder team and Lebron 115 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 1: dispatched them. But I just I don't see a massive overhaul. 116 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: And Rob g I gotta be honest with you, man, 117 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: I'm looking at the Celtics team. I think you've got 118 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 1: to run it back with maybe small tweaks around the edges. 119 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 1: And I think the big question is Joe Miszula, the 120 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: coach who you know, unless only college basketball diehards had 121 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 1: heard of Joe Miszula before this season, you know, he 122 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:15,679 Speaker 1: played at West Virginia, was a good player for Huggins, tough, 123 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: gritty guard and like he was insert as the coach 124 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: when Udoka was kind of bounced because of his internal strife, 125 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 1: hooking up with the employees and all the shady stuff. 126 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: They get rid of him. And the one thing they 127 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: really missed with Udoka was defense, because he stressed it. 128 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: If you remember early last season, he challenged through the media. 129 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 1: He was up front like Brown and Tatum, like what's 130 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: going on. 131 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 2: It was weird. It was like Jesus, he gonna lose 132 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:43,840 Speaker 2: the locker room. 133 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 1: But the opposite happened. They started to play tough. The 134 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: team was awesome defensively. I believe they were second in 135 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: the league defensively, and they rode that all the way 136 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: to the finals. Had a two to one lead on 137 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 1: the Warriors before Curry erupted. 138 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 2: They were close. And then Udoka's out. 139 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 1: He's now going to Houston and he's gonna help and 140 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 1: still a culture of toughness in that young team. And 141 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: what did Mossoula do. He's all offense all the time. 142 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,720 Speaker 1: And so after the game, you know, the media is 143 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 1: kind of asked if he lost the locker room, which 144 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: is a legit question. When you're down oh two, it's like, 145 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: all right, backs against the wall, let's come out fighting. 146 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: Joe Mozzula said, yeah, it's why I need to be 147 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 1: better to figure out what this team needs. I'm not 148 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: sure what happened, Like, not good, Rob, I don't. I mean, listen, 149 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: Brad Stevens ended up going to the front office. Then 150 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 1: you had Udoka one year, now you have Missoula. Are 151 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: you gonna really go for a fourth coach in four 152 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: years with this core? Because I don't see them offloading Brown. 153 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: Maybe Marcus Smart's a trade chip. 154 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 2: I don't know. 155 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: He's your one tough, tough guy the other guys. I 156 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: don't want to call him soft. That's it's not right. 157 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: So Rob, I gotta ask you, like, are we really 158 00:07:57,640 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: gonna fire Missoula? This is what like the Cleveland Browns 159 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: in the New York Jets, you just cycle through coaches 160 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 1: in and out. The weird part is those teams are 161 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 1: usually dumpster fires. And the Celtics they made the conference finals, 162 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: but they got swept. So I would lean toward Missoula. 163 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 1: Doesn have to be major changes. If we're not gonna 164 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: fire you, we're gonna bring in a strong assistant coach 165 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: who's gonna be our coach in waiting should you screw up. 166 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: I know he's not gonna like that. It's a tough 167 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: spot for Missoula taking on a good team with a 168 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: good locker room. I know some people will say, wait, wait, Jason, 169 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:30,239 Speaker 1: anytime tylu gets a job, you say, wow, Tyler's coaching 170 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: Kawhi Leonard, he coach Lebron. How tough is it that? Like, 171 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: you've got to win the locker room and that ain't easy. 172 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 1: And it doesn't feel like Missoula ever did that. So 173 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:42,319 Speaker 1: I hate firing a guy after one year, Rob, but 174 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:43,679 Speaker 1: I guess he got to bounce him. 175 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 2: This is embarrassing. 176 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, I definitely think you got to go. And it's 177 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 3: unfortunate for Joe Missoula because this team has kind of 178 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 3: always been this way. They even though they had that 179 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 3: search to the finals last year, their playoff run, if 180 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 3: you recall, had blown leads in Game five against the 181 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 3: Bucks in the SEMIS, blown leading Game six of the 182 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 3: Eastern Finals against the Heat, and Game four in the 183 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 3: Finals against the Warriors would have put him free one 184 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 3: and they choked it away like that's what this team does. 185 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 3: And so even with a disciplinarian like emo Udoka at 186 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 3: the helm pulling the triggers, they still found ways to 187 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 3: trick games away, like that's just their mo. I don't 188 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 3: know if it's because maybe Tatum and Brown, you know, 189 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 3: maybe aren't the leaders that they need to be. Maybe 190 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:36,320 Speaker 3: it's anytime Marcus Smart is your emotional guiding light, that's 191 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 3: maybe not a good thing because of how you can 192 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 3: run sometimes. Yeah, so you know, maybe that maybe that's 193 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 3: the issue. But Joe Missoula is going to be and 194 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 3: he has to be the one to take the fall 195 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 3: because had they known coming into this season that they 196 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:54,959 Speaker 3: were going to move on from emay Udoka, they never 197 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,319 Speaker 3: would have allowed Will Hardy to interview with the Utah Jazz. 198 00:09:57,920 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 3: He would have been the guy coming back. I know 199 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 3: a handful of Boston Celtics fans, which is weird to say. Rex, 200 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 3: I'm a big Laker fan there, you know, I get 201 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 3: along with the Boston Celtics fans, but a lot of 202 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:08,439 Speaker 3: them have They had this nickname that they tell him 203 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 3: that they've told me, and none of these guys know 204 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:13,959 Speaker 3: each other, but they say Boston Celtics fans refer to 205 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:18,839 Speaker 3: Joe Mizula's second row Joe, because last year he wasn't 206 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:20,839 Speaker 3: even one of the coaches on the bench with the 207 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 3: rest of the team like the main assistance. He was 208 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 3: the guy in the second row behind the rest of 209 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 3: the team. So his job, as somebody close to the 210 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 3: organization referred to me, he was more like a friend 211 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:37,079 Speaker 3: than a coach. He's there to deal with like emotional 212 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 3: issues with guys and keeping making sure the locker room 213 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 3: is in a certain way that everybody's had a good 214 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 3: vibe kind of a thing. And the way that person 215 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 3: explained it to me was, you can't have your head 216 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 3: coach be your boy. That's just not gonna work. There's 217 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:55,320 Speaker 3: got to be some kind of thing where it's like, 218 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 3: look you are, you are my guy. I'm gonna look 219 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 3: out for you, but if I need to, I'm going 220 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 3: to crack the whip. That's the relationship that your coach 221 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 3: and your player need to have. If your player does 222 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 3: not respect the disciplinary you know, repercussions for blown assignments, 223 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 3: you know, blown coverages, refusing to do certain play calls, whatever, 224 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 3: then it's never going to work. And if this team 225 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 3: already kind of had that issue with ima Udoka, where 226 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 3: they lacked focus, they lacked a certain execution in pivotal moments, 227 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 3: that's only going to get much worse. When you have 228 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 3: a coach with Joe Missoula who even said himself, yeah, 229 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 3: maybe I lost the team. So if a guy's saying 230 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:37,680 Speaker 3: that publicly, you can only imagine how they feel privately. 231 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 1: I stop watching in like the third quarters blowout City, 232 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:45,199 Speaker 1: but I'm looking at the box score route. 233 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 2: This is one of the craziest stats. 234 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 1: If I had told you offensive rebounds for Game three, 235 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 1: you knew nothing else about this. It was just the 236 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 1: first time I told you offensive rebounds Miami won Boston 237 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 1: twenty one, you would have probably thought, damn Celtics got 238 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 1: after it. Oh man, they were crashing the offensive lass 239 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: second chance points. Rob I guarantee you that we've never 240 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 1: seen a game ever in the history of the NBA 241 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: where the offensive rebound difference was twenty and a team 242 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: lost by twenty five. 243 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:14,319 Speaker 2: Like that's staggering. 244 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 1: They took seventeen more shots, but Miami, of course, just 245 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 1: couldn't miss fifty six percent shooting fifty four percent from three, 246 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 1: eighty one percent free throws. So now we're basically looking 247 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: at a heat Nuggets Finals and all the good vibes, 248 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 1: the good energy that the NBA had at the first 249 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: round of King's Warriors going seven, and then Stephan Lebron 250 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 1: and you had the Knicks and the garden was popping, and. 251 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:43,839 Speaker 2: Wasn't there another good series heat Nicks. I mean, who 252 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 2: did Celtics be in the second. 253 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 3: Round the Celtics beat they went seven with the Philadelphia 254 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 3: seventy six ers. 255 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 1: That's right, so Celtics six ers. That was a good series. 256 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,320 Speaker 1: It was like the energy was great. And now it's 257 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 1: kind of come to a screeching halt in the Conference 258 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: finals where both are three zero barring some kind of miracle. 259 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:06,359 Speaker 1: And I had been reluctant to say, you know, Lakers. 260 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 2: Were in trouble. 261 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: Down two, oh, I said, Boston still not out of it, 262 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 1: down oh two. These series are over barring, Like I mean, 263 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: the craziest thing that you've ever heard, Like I don't 264 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 1: know made Jimmy Butler goes down, like I think, still 265 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: think Miami probably could win one of four games. It's 266 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: gonna be Miami and Denver, and I guess the worst 267 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 1: part is there's probably gonna be about a week between 268 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 1: the Conference Finals and the NBA Finals. That's usually not 269 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 1: good for momentum. Now, the one interesting area, and we'll 270 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: talk about it shortly, is You've got guys like Kyrie. 271 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 2: Irving who could end up with the Lakers. 272 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 1: You've got the Jim's Harden, Jim Harden potential move to Houston. 273 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 1: You have what does what does Phoenix do? Do they make 274 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: a big splash? You've got the coaching carousel. I mean, 275 00:13:56,559 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 1: is Nick Nurse, Monty Williams of these guys waiting out 276 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 1: this Boston series before they make a decision, Like, I 277 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: don't know, You're coaching Tatum and one of the top 278 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:08,680 Speaker 1: teams in the East over the last you know, three years. 279 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 1: That's a great job, Nick Nurse, Monni Williams, Botenholzer. Obviously, 280 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 1: let's see what happens with the Clippers and Balmer. If 281 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:17,560 Speaker 1: there's a shake up, do they lose? Tylu So, my 282 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: guess is, even though we're gonna end early conference finals, 283 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 1: there's gonna be a ton of scuttle butt rumors. You know, 284 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: we're already hearing some trade stuff about not only is 285 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 1: the third pick up for trade, but is the second 286 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: pick in Charlotte? Would they move that simply to get 287 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 1: off because they don't want to have to decide between 288 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 1: Scoot and Brandon Miller. Is both are like really good prospects, 289 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: but not supreme awesome superstars the way when Minyama is, 290 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 1: can you pick up a haul for that? 291 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 2: We'll see. 292 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 1: I this is gonna be a tough go here for 293 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: the NBA. But fortunately we've still got the Lakers to 294 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 1: talk about, all right, So I'm gonna pivot to Lakers Nuggets. 295 00:14:57,520 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: Here's the big problem with this series. Obviously could end tonight, 296 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 1: Nuggets up three to nothing. Just a staggering disappointment for 297 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: the Lakers. Game three Saturday night. Game three Saturday Night 298 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 1: was just awful. I mean fun if you like Jamal 299 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: Murray or you have Jamal Murray and your player points pool, 300 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 1: as I do. But all I got from Lakers fans 301 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 1: text dms, what happened? Why does Lebron suck so bad? 302 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: And so many people want to blame Lebron James for 303 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: this collapse, and folks, I went on social media and 304 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: I pointed it out, and I. 305 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 2: Need to point it out to you. 306 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 1: Lebron James is not the reason the Lakers are down 307 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 1: three in the series. They're probably gonna lose this series. 308 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 1: No team has ever come back from down three to zero. 309 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: I believe the number is one hundred and forty nine 310 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: times that's happened and zero times a team has come 311 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: back to it. So it's not happening for the Lakers 312 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: unless they get like, you know, something crazy happens unforeseen circumstances. 313 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: But the bottom line is either way, this is not 314 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 1: Lebron's fault and you can't totally blame Ad. Yes, Ad 315 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: was awesome in game one. He also did not show 316 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: up in game two, four or fifteen games. He was good. 317 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: He played well, Lebron. He's putting up good numbers twenty 318 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 1: two ten, assists, nine boards. 319 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 2: You get it. 320 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: If you're getting that from Lebron, it's great. This is 321 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 1: not twenty twenty bubble Lebron. This is not twenty what 322 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 1: was it twenty eighteen Lebron when he's dropped fifty something 323 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: against the Warriors in Game one, nearly single handedly took 324 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: a really bad team to scaring the Warriors. Yeah, that's 325 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 1: not this Lebron. It's not not a thirty eight years old, 326 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: not a year twenty. Yes, he can still be the 327 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: goat and put up twenty two, ten and nine in 328 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 1: this series for fun, and I posted this on social 329 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 1: I looked at Larry Bird's career playoff average. Now, Larry 330 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: Bird never played till he was thirty eight. Didn't even 331 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 1: sniff thirty eight Bird with a back injury. That's one 332 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 1: of the other problems Lebron is going to year twenty 333 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: at thirty eight Bird, Magic and Michael three all time greats. 334 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 1: I barely played as long as Lebron. It's comical. Obviously 335 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 1: different era. People want to make excuses. Fine, I'm just 336 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: gonna point this out. Larry Bird's career playoff averages twenty 337 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:04,440 Speaker 1: three points, ten rebounds, six assists. Lebron in these playoffs 338 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:09,400 Speaker 1: versus Denver twenty three points, ten assists, nine rebounds. Now, yes, 339 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:11,399 Speaker 1: we could get on Lebron's case about the shooting. He 340 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 1: can't make a three pointer to save his life. Oh 341 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 1: for nineteen streak in fourth quarter threes, that was devastating, 342 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 1: and oh for ten to start the. 343 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 2: Series from deep against the Nuggets just abysmal. 344 00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 1: That being said, I do believe if you want to 345 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:28,200 Speaker 1: play the blame. 346 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 2: Game, and I'm not saying. 347 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 1: You have to take a look at D'Angelo Russell. And 348 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:33,640 Speaker 1: yes he was acquired at the deadline, and yes he's 349 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:35,959 Speaker 1: never been like a superstar. I think he was an 350 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: All Star replacement one year maybe in Brooklyn. D'Angelo Russell 351 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 1: has been pivotal in this Lakers playoff run. In the 352 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: first two rounds Are you ready for this? When D'Angelo 353 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:49,959 Speaker 1: Russell scored seventeen or more points, the Lakers are undefeated 354 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 1: seven to zero. 355 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 2: He is a. 356 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,919 Speaker 1: Critical player against the Memphis Grizzlies, and I have the 357 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: notes here. So in the series against Memphis, they needed him. 358 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 1: In Game four, that overtime game, he had a couple 359 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: big three pointers in the third quarter. He had over 360 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,440 Speaker 1: He had seventeen points in that game. In Game six, 361 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:10,959 Speaker 1: the close out game against Memphis, Danzel Russell had thirty one. 362 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:12,680 Speaker 1: It was a blowout, they won by a billion. He 363 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 1: still had a really good game go against Golden State. 364 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 1: In that first game he had nineteen in the open 365 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: and you're like, wow, the Israel Russell's giving you a nineteen. 366 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:22,639 Speaker 2: That's huge. You're gonna win the series. 367 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:25,199 Speaker 1: And then Game three blow out, the game I was 368 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 1: at Crypto for I think he scored the first nine 369 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:30,200 Speaker 1: points of the game, ended up with twenty one. He 370 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 1: had a great game, five threes. Danzel Russell delivers Lakers win. 371 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:35,680 Speaker 1: And then in Game six, the close out. Also against 372 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:39,160 Speaker 1: the Warriors, Danel Russell nineteen points. Now people are gonna 373 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: want to say, well, Jay, who cares about Danzel Russell? No, no, no, no, no, 374 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 1: you guys know, followers of the Herd. No. I told 375 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 1: cow heard early that role players in the playoffs are massive. 376 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: Austin reeves emergence has been huge. DANZELO Russell seventeen to 377 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:56,120 Speaker 1: more points seven and zero. You know what happens when 378 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 1: he's under seventeen points one and seven. And he has 379 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,960 Speaker 1: been a train in this series against Denver, literally unplayable. 380 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:06,119 Speaker 1: Would not surprise me tonight for Game four if he 381 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 1: comes off the bench and maybe doesn't play a lot. Folks, 382 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: they are in seventy nine Russell minutes against Denver, they 383 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:16,399 Speaker 1: are minus fifty three. He's making thirty million dollars and 384 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 1: giving them nothing. So Lebron's delivering, maybe not the old 385 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 1: Lebron that reused to He's not giving you thirty five, 386 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 1: but that's not like you can't expect that from a 387 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 1: thirty eight year old. He's given you twenty two. Tennis 388 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 1: is against Denver and the boards are there like he's playing. 389 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:35,679 Speaker 1: I know the defense is not amazing, but again like 390 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:37,440 Speaker 1: he's thirty eight, What do he want. 391 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 2: From the guy? 392 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:40,959 Speaker 1: Austin Reeves playing out of his mind, Anthony Davis up 393 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 1: and down, Ruey Hatchie Moore has kind of emerged. Den 394 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 1: a shooter by the way, nothing tough defense at times, 395 00:19:47,359 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 1: but offensively not a factor. Jared Vanderbilt, by the way, 396 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 1: Jared Vanderbilt had a couple of nice games earlier in 397 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: these playoffs, he's bordering unplayable like Russell in this series, 398 00:19:57,560 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: and you start to wonder, like, I don't want to 399 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:03,199 Speaker 1: get too far ahead, but Lakers fans down three, you 400 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 1: can start playing like, Okay, how do we how do 401 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 1: we get back here next year? We probably don't need 402 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 1: to trade ad We've seen what he can do when healthy, 403 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: incredible playoff run at times, He's been the best defensive 404 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 1: player in the postseason. Yeah, sometimes the scoring is not 405 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 1: there on the back to backs, but again, Anthony Davis 406 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:21,639 Speaker 1: is a veteran. 407 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 2: Was he thirty one years old? Thirty two now? 408 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:24,920 Speaker 1: A lot of wear and tear on that body, a 409 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:28,879 Speaker 1: lot of injuries. You bring back ad Lebron, Austin Reeves, 410 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: you want to keep Patshimura and I listen, I don't 411 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: personally like this guy. 412 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 2: I know Lebron likes him. 413 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 1: We all know that when he demanded a trade from 414 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 1: Brooklyn earlier this season, the Lakers were firmly in the mix. Hey, 415 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:48,120 Speaker 1: for whatever reason, Lebron really likes Kyrie Irving. Is there 416 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 1: a way you get out with that D'Angelo Russell, who's 417 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:54,720 Speaker 1: you know, free agent, and that cap space is then 418 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: used on a guy like Kyrie Irving, And now instead 419 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:02,120 Speaker 1: of unreliable D'Angelo Russe all on the court, you get unreliable. 420 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 2: Is he gonna play? Is he gonna show up? Kyrie Irving? 421 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 1: But when he does show up, he can get you 422 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 1: buckets should be noted. Denver, I believe, was fourth or 423 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:14,879 Speaker 1: fifth in the West when Kyrie Irving showed up, and 424 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:18,160 Speaker 1: they end up tumbling out and missing the playoffs altogether. 425 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 1: But I'm sure Lakers fans will talk themselves into, hey, hey, Lebron, 426 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:26,399 Speaker 1: he could work magic on Kyrie and we get him 427 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:28,360 Speaker 1: in line and get him to show up all the time, 428 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 1: and Kyrie Irving will deliver. 429 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 2: But first, the Denver series is not over. 430 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:33,359 Speaker 1: And I will say, I'm sure you guys saw the 431 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: quotes about Jokic where he said listen, there's still work 432 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,639 Speaker 1: to do. They have Lebron James. He's one of the 433 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:42,400 Speaker 1: great players of all time. He's incredible and true, it's 434 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 1: not totally over. There is a world where Denver's role 435 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:47,879 Speaker 1: players who have been incredible. I mean Bruce Brown, by 436 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 1: the way, talking trash to D'Angelo Russell, Bruce Brown's been really, 437 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:55,160 Speaker 1: really good, like an exceptional player coming off the bench. KCP, 438 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 1: who ran his mouth a little bit about the Lakers 439 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 1: prior to the series. In Game three, Jokic had foul trouble, 440 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: goes to the bench. Somebody needs to step up because 441 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 1: they had kind of locked down Murray at that point, 442 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:09,199 Speaker 1: you know, after the thirty point first half eruption and 443 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 1: they were kind of doubling him. And who shows up 444 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 1: KCP ten points in that third quarter with Jokich chain 445 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 1: to the bench with foul trouble and then Michael Porter. 446 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:20,439 Speaker 1: I mean, folks, you want to talk about role players. 447 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:22,160 Speaker 1: I know everybody likes it's to Star League. 448 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:22,680 Speaker 2: Yeah it is. 449 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 1: And guess what in the postseason, defenses are geared towards 450 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 1: stopping the Stars. And what happened when Jannis and Milwaukee 451 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:32,240 Speaker 1: kind of got clogged and they you know, I know 452 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 1: they had the injury, but they were focusing on Giannis 453 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,879 Speaker 1: where it was Middleton, where it was Holiday Brook Lopez, Like, 454 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:40,160 Speaker 1: they didn't show up and Miami's got him out of there. 455 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:42,640 Speaker 1: You look at Boston. I know everybody wants to bang 456 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:45,640 Speaker 1: on Tatum for his struggles in the first two games 457 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:49,920 Speaker 1: of the series. It's like, folks, where's Robert Williams, Where's 458 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:52,400 Speaker 1: Marcus Smart? Where are the role players? Role players matter 459 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 1: so pivotally, and you need to look at Denver. I know, 460 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:57,440 Speaker 1: Murray's put up thirty five a game in this series, 461 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:01,359 Speaker 1: and Jokic has been outstanding, but Michael Porter Junior's been 462 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:02,280 Speaker 1: there every step of the way. 463 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 2: Very good. 464 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 1: I mean, he's your number three, Aaron Gordon, who was 465 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 1: a lottery pick as your fourth guy, he's delivering rebounds, defense. 466 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 1: And then Bruce Brown KCP like this is the best 467 00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:13,920 Speaker 1: team in the league. 468 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 2: They are now favorites to win the title. 469 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:17,800 Speaker 1: We're talking about a Denver team that I picked to 470 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:18,679 Speaker 1: take down the Lakers. 471 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 2: I said seven. 472 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 1: Maybe I wasn't giving them enough credit, but again, this 473 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 1: is not like a blemish or the Lakers season. This 474 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:29,120 Speaker 1: is a team that started the year two to ten. 475 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 1: They were a super long shot to make the playoffs. 476 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: I read a story that said they were thirteenth in 477 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:36,159 Speaker 1: the West in February. I'd forgotten that now. I know 478 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:38,680 Speaker 1: the West was jumbled, but we're talking about a Lakers 479 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:42,640 Speaker 1: team that overachieved. The overarching theme here is not oh, 480 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 1: the Lakers stink Lebron how could he be the goat 481 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: when he lost to Denver? 482 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 2: That stuff is nonsense. 483 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:52,399 Speaker 1: This is about the Lakers totally overachieving, taking down the 484 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:55,880 Speaker 1: number two seed Memphis. Yes, Memphis had Steven Adams out 485 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:58,200 Speaker 1: and then Job was briefly injured, and they had their 486 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:02,360 Speaker 1: issues and Warriors of the defending champs, they had their 487 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:04,680 Speaker 1: own internal issues. But the Lakers beat both of them, 488 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: and then they go up against this juggernaut in Denver. 489 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 1: The Lakers took them down in five in the Bubble 490 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:13,119 Speaker 1: and that was a tough series, and of course, you know, 491 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:14,600 Speaker 1: Jamal Murray gets hurt the next year. 492 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:16,640 Speaker 2: But this Denver team is very good. 493 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:18,680 Speaker 1: And I know it's easy to play the blame game, 494 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:22,239 Speaker 1: and let's bash, let's bash the Lakers. But other than 495 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 1: D'angela Russell and you know, maybe Jared Vanderbilt struggled a bit, 496 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:28,199 Speaker 1: but again, these are guys you picked up with the deadline. 497 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,160 Speaker 1: You know, I don't know how much you can rely 498 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:33,639 Speaker 1: on them. I mean, even Kevin Durant joining Phoenix, you 499 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 1: could see them against Denver. Kevin Duranta played like eight 500 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:38,879 Speaker 1: or nine regular season games against Denver. 501 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 2: You get to the playoffs. 502 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:42,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, they had two nice wins at home thanks to 503 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 1: Booker and Kad going off. But the reality is this 504 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 1: team got smashed by like seventy in the closeout game 505 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:52,360 Speaker 1: at home, so it's tough to integrate these pieces late 506 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 1: and clearly d'angela Russell was working fine, but now Denver 507 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 1: their strategy here has been phenomenal and it's tough not 508 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:01,560 Speaker 1: to pick the nugget whoever they face in the finals. 509 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:06,440 Speaker 1: I will point out briefly Lakers are somehow favored, favored 510 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,680 Speaker 1: by three to three and a half tonight at home. 511 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:12,439 Speaker 1: I guess under the impression that they will show up 512 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 1: and give a good fight, and Denver isn't have any urgency, 513 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:17,480 Speaker 1: they just needed to get one in La. They go 514 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 1: home to Denver and close it out in five. So 515 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 1: I think that's probably why you see the Lakers a 516 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:25,880 Speaker 1: small favorites, but this is not a game I can 517 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:28,399 Speaker 1: bet on. I mean, there's a scenario where the Lakers 518 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 1: when they lose that game, they've seen the numbers. We're 519 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:34,120 Speaker 1: down three season over, and you could talk a good 520 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 1: game about, hey, we got to lock in and fight 521 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 1: hard and let's just get this one one game at 522 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:40,960 Speaker 1: a time. You could play all those lines over in 523 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:43,800 Speaker 1: your head, but the reality is it is a massive 524 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 1: mountain to climb and I don't see it happening. So 525 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:48,800 Speaker 1: I'm not. 526 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:49,640 Speaker 2: Betting on this game. 527 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:51,960 Speaker 1: I would bet though, I'll say this, I would bet 528 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:54,920 Speaker 1: on Lebron over. I'll have to look up his numbers, 529 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 1: but this is a game where Lebron is not going 530 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:01,040 Speaker 1: to go out like one of these Hey we got swept. 531 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:02,960 Speaker 1: This is not a guy who's used to getting swept 532 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:05,119 Speaker 1: in his career. We're talking about it all time. I mean, 533 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 1: the great Warriors team swept him. But this is Lebron 534 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 1: James going down not He ain't going out like a 535 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 1: punk in this one. I could see Lebron maybe point 536 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:16,840 Speaker 1: rebounds assist you look at the total in case he's 537 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 1: trying to integrate everyone. Get D'Angel Russell going under the 538 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:21,560 Speaker 1: under the illusion. 539 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 2: The series is not over. 540 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 1: If Russell can just cook for a few games, we'll 541 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 1: get right back in it. 542 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 2: I don't think that's possible. 543 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 1: I'm looking now, and this is at fan duel where 544 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: they do player props. Let's see, it's obviously slow to load. 545 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 1: But yeah, I would not be betting any Nuggets in this game. 546 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:43,119 Speaker 1: I have no vibe on where their players are going 547 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 1: to be at. The only guy that I would consider 548 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:51,440 Speaker 1: on Denver is Jokic looking for the closeout. But again, 549 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 1: there's a world where this is just this is a 550 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:59,600 Speaker 1: tough one. Oh look, Fando doesn't even have the point totals. Yeah, 551 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:01,840 Speaker 1: because we're we're still like, you know, a day out, 552 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:04,240 Speaker 1: so we don't have that. But so this is a 553 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:06,480 Speaker 1: no bet for me. There's nothing wrong with this. Listen, 554 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:08,919 Speaker 1: I'm gonna lose my Lakers' futures bets down the tubes. 555 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:09,440 Speaker 2: It stinks. 556 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:13,320 Speaker 1: But the player points pool run by a guy who 557 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:16,240 Speaker 1: used to work at Fox. I'm closing in on that 558 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 1: because I have Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray so very 559 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:21,720 Speaker 1: excited for that. We have a big time guest coming 560 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:27,160 Speaker 1: up later this week. It's golf geared, but not our 561 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:28,480 Speaker 1: usual guest, let's just say that. 562 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:30,440 Speaker 2: So, talk to you guys tomorrow.