1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 1: This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What is up 2 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: straight Fire, Fam, It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight Fire or 3 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: Tuesday October. Your boy is a little bleary eyed this morning. 4 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: Uh lost my voice a little bit last night. And 5 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: the Chargers Broncos overtime thriller, if you can call it that. 6 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: So we'll talk a little bit about that. We have 7 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: a phenomenal guest to tip off NBA season, which starts tonight. 8 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: I was gonna do some NBA preview, but we'll just 9 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: save that for tomorrow because this podcast is jam pack 10 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:46,239 Speaker 1: with information from the one and only Dave mcmaniman. ESPN 11 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 1: covers the Lakers and listen, the Lakers are probably the 12 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: most interesting team in the West. Obviously Brooklyn in the East, 13 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: but the Lakers are fascinating given how Lebron's near the 14 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: end of his career. How last season when Anthony Davis 15 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: the turn over Russell Westbrook, Dave answers all those questions 16 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: and just we get in the mind of what it's 17 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: like to cover Lebron. James Da mcmanhamer a really good dude. 18 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:09,479 Speaker 1: I didn't know he was a really good basketball player. 19 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: Looks like we're gonna be playing some pick up basketball 20 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: in the near future. Um, but I just quickly want 21 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:18,199 Speaker 1: to go over Broncos Chargers. First of all, nothing about 22 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: this game was pleasing to the eye. It was a 23 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 1: thrilling time at the game. My buddy Jake has uh 24 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 1: four season tickets, and it just so happens that a 25 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 1: bunch of dads that we know, um also have season tickets. 26 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:33,759 Speaker 1: So there was a large group, great time. The stadium 27 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 1: so fa is of course awesome, and this guy literally 28 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: has front row seats. It was that's a great experience. 29 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: Of course, I roll up there, go to the seats. 30 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: I see Mark Sanchez, who is now colleague of Fox, 31 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: is on the field like taking photos of people. Guys 32 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: coming up and like saying, hey, can you autograph my hat? 33 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: And you know Sanchez is indulging all of them. Um. 34 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: And then the game starts and it's like what are 35 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: on Earth? Am I watching? Justin Herbert through fifty seven 36 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 1: passes for two hundred and thirty eight yards. I mean, 37 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: the Chargers offense was non existent. They could do absolutely 38 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 1: nothing they as they totally luked out that the Broncos 39 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 1: muffed up punt in overtime. Otherwise this game probably incodent tie, 40 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 1: let's be realistic. Um, but the Denver Broncos were even worse. Um, 41 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 1: they take attend nothing lead and then I don't know, 42 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: Nathaniel Hackett decided, Yeah, let's take the air out of 43 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: the ball, folks. There's a Russell Wilson staff floating around. 44 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: That is one of the most bizarre that I've seen. 45 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 1: Russell Wilson in the second half and overtime was three 46 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: for eleven for fifteen yards passing. That's it in the 47 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 1: second half and overtime. How does that happen? Now? There 48 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:50,839 Speaker 1: is video of Jerry Judy very upset after the game, 49 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 1: ranting and and yelling to Melvin Gordon who Melvin Gordon 50 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: also was benched during this game for the Broncos. Melvin 51 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 1: Gordon had a whopping three cares for eight yards. He 52 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 1: ended up getting bench for Latavious Murray. I'm the idiots 53 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: who started Mike Boone in Fantasy. Luckily I had already lost. Um, 54 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: Mike Boone had one carry for one yard, and you 55 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 1: know how I knew it was bad. I saw him 56 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: as a gunner on special teams, and then I saw 57 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: him blocking on special teams. I'm like, wait a second, Mike, 58 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:22,119 Speaker 1: but what the hell, folks, This game was as bizarre 59 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: as a game I've seen in a while. Now. I know, um, 60 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 1: the Chargers are a good football team, but my goodness, 61 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: Brandon Staley is he's just bringing heat on himself. Like 62 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: the fans are extremely unhappy with him. I know the 63 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: offensive line was hurting. They were down to their third 64 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: string center um due to an injury. No Keenan Allen, like, 65 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 1: there is no explosiveness to this offense. The team you 66 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: saw against the Houston Texans where they were just guys 67 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: all open, all over the field. They were not able 68 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: to do any of that. Mike Williams, by the way, 69 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: a good receiver, was totally locked out. The most impressive 70 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: player in the game, Drew Tranquil was very good Um 71 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 1: for the for the Chargers, had two sacks, two tackles 72 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: for loss. Fired up. He's all over the field, a 73 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: couple of big tackles. I thought Patrick certain was the 74 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: most impressive player I saw in the field, folks. He 75 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: lined up with Mike Williams and I swear to you, 76 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: justin Herbert refused to look over there. He basically took 77 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: all way one side of the field. They started to 78 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 1: move Mike Williams around to get him loose, so they 79 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: moved him into the slot a bunch, and certain was 80 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 1: just on. Anytime Williams was on the outside, left or right, 81 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 1: he would just follow him. And Mike Williams had could 82 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 1: absolutely do nothing, could not get open. And you could 83 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: see his frustration because he would stop like jogging back 84 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 1: to the huddle and just walk back to the huddle, 85 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: always the last guy back. Uh. Six targets to catches 86 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: seventeen yards. I mean, total non factor. Couldn't do anything. 87 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: Austin Ekeler. Just think about this for a second. He 88 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: caught the ball ten times for forty seven yards. Herbert 89 00:04:57,920 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: essentially was just dumping it off to him because he 90 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: was under rusher almost on every play he was. He 91 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: got hit eight times. He only got sacked twice. It 92 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 1: felt like way more than that. But this game was 93 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: just brutal. Nathaniel Hackett, I don't think he's gonna make 94 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: it to Thanksgiving there now. Two and four. Think about this. 95 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 1: Russell Wilson leaves Seattle seattles three and three. Russell Wilson 96 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 1: is two and four and Uh. People are making a 97 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:28,159 Speaker 1: big deal out of Russell Wilson not ending his press 98 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 1: conference last night with let's ride because he's been doing 99 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 1: it all season, and it's like, are we really gonna 100 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: go there? Let's look at the product on the field, 101 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 1: Like it's not really a rust thing to me as 102 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: much as it is what the hell are the is 103 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: the offensive game plan? I don't understand it, um, And 104 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: I'll wrap up with this before we get to Dave 105 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: mcbenavan to other things. J C. Jackson was benched by 106 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 1: the Chargers. He got torched twice in the first half. 107 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: So eventually I see, you know, I'm looking on the 108 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 1: outside to see if they had j C. Jackson against 109 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: Courtland Sutton, what were they doing? And then I don't 110 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: see Jackson and I'm like, where is he? And it 111 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: turns out he's on the bench, standing there with his 112 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: helmet on, not injured. He was bench for inactive for 113 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: like just poor play. Did not play one snap, but 114 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: at least the best I could see, in the second half, 115 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 1: they spent a billion dollars on J C. Jackson. He 116 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: can't even get on the field. I told you last 117 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: week he was in trouble. The guys just not playing well. 118 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: I don't know if it's scheme, but he did not 119 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 1: look good. And the final note before we get to 120 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: Davey mcbenneman, folks, the Denver Broncos. They were on the 121 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 1: field on Monday Night Football for eighty three plays. They 122 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 1: now host My New York Jets on Sunday. The last 123 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: team that played over eighties snaps was the Miami Dolphins 124 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 1: defensively against Buffalo at home. Do you remember what happened 125 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 1: on the short week on Thursday? They lost to Cincinnati. 126 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 1: There is a history. I think it was our guest 127 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: t A who wrote about it on his website. Teams 128 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: that play eighties snaps or more their defense gets torched. 129 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 1: This linees up pretty good for the Jets. Now, listen, 130 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: Broncos have a good defense. Clearly their defensive front dominated 131 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: the game. It's gonna be a tough one for the Jets. 132 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: That being said, this is gonna be a tired Denver 133 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: Broncos defense heading into Sunday's game against the Jets. In Well, 134 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: I don't know if it's the best game of Week 135 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 1: six but week seven, but it's certainly up there. I mean, 136 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: you look at the slate, it's not a phenomenal slate. Um, 137 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: you look at where all the teams with the winning records. Well, 138 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: you've got the Colts versus the Titans. That certainly is 139 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: not the best game of the week. Um. You know, 140 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 1: Sunday night, a Sunday night football, Casey San fran is 141 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: very good, but Monday night is not good. Sunday night 142 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: is not good. Jets Broncos might be the second best game. Now, 143 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: it's not gonna be pretty, but the Jets going to 144 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 1: five and two would just be extraordinary. All right, Let 145 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 1: without further ado, let's get to our guests, Dave mcmenivan mcmeneman, 146 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: sorry of ESPN. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports 147 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows 148 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: at Fox sports Radio dot com and within the I 149 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 1: Heart Radio app search f s R to listen live. 150 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: Jason likes to think he knows everything when it comes 151 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 1: to sports. I know what sports dans want, but for 152 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: everything he doesn't, he knows a guy who does. Let's 153 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 1: just say, I know a guy who knows a guy 154 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,679 Speaker 1: who knows another guy. All right, let's welcome into straight fire. 155 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 1: One of the top NBA reporters in the league. It's funny. 156 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:39,679 Speaker 1: I've seen him at NBA games when I go as 157 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: a fan sometimes and I'm like Dave and he's like 158 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: a little surprised to see me because he's got the 159 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 1: suit on. Dave mcmenham and ESPN, how are you, Dave, 160 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 1: I'm do well, good to see you, Jason, and then 161 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: talk more than just our haphazard uh wave hellos of games. Yes. Yes, 162 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: By the way, I was reading your ESPN bio, I 163 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:59,199 Speaker 1: did not know you were a college basketball player. What position? 164 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: Shooting guard? It's like wow, not even like a well 165 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 1: routed shooting guard, a catching shooting guard. I would I 166 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: would say make it. Are you playing any ball now? 167 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: Because uh, you know, we got to. I play a 168 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 1: couple of times a week. Let's try to link up. Now, 169 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 1: Where's that was Hollywood action? Uh? Now, I play one 170 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: game down in Manhattan Beach and play another game in 171 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 1: bel Air. Wait a minute, Manhattan Beach. Oh my gosh, 172 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: that's where I live. Um. I don't usually announce that, 173 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:34,559 Speaker 1: but yeah, I'm definitely gonna have to ask you where 174 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: that game is because I play a couple of games 175 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: out here anyways. All right, only people want to tune 176 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: in for our basketball exploits, um we we you cover 177 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: the Lakers, and Dave, I don't know where to be. 178 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 1: I mean, like, should people be excited about this season? 179 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,960 Speaker 1: I just looked at the ESPN depth chart page. The 180 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: Lakers are the only team with four new guys I 181 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: think in the starting line. It just looks insane for 182 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 1: the Lakers, not four actually for are you guys? He 183 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: just the whole roster has been reshaped. What are realistic 184 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 1: expectations for Lakers fans? Dave? It really vacillates wildly depending 185 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 1: on whether they're gonna have health on their side or not. 186 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: And the thing is they're gonna need two guys in 187 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: particularly to stay healthy to have a chance of doing anything. 188 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: That's Lebron and it s Anthony Davis. Now, Lebron has 189 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 1: been superhuman, of course throughout his NBA career, but he's 190 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 1: missed more games as a Laker then he did in 191 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: his first fifteen years of his career combined. So time 192 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 1: starts to catch up with everybody. He's entering the year 193 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 1: twenty turns thirty eight December. He will do everything in 194 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 1: his power to stay on the court. That I don't doubt. 195 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 1: But the human body is a human body. And then 196 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: he needed Anthony Davis to stay on the court and 197 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis when they won the championship in he played 198 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 1: in more than percent of the Lakers games. He came 199 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 1: in with the chip his shoulder something to prove after 200 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: he was labeled as injury throne in New Orleans, and 201 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 1: he was dynamite well the top five players in the 202 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 1: game in that playoff run, and since then he would 203 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:16,479 Speaker 1: admit that coming into one season he did not properly 204 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 1: prepare himself mentally and physically after the shortest layoff in 205 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: league history because of the pandemic timing, and then last season, 206 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: quite frankly, he was just really unlucky. He got Jade 207 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 1: McDaniels thrown into his legs by Lebron James rejecting the screen, 208 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: and he went up and caught a bad lot pass 209 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: from the Leak Monk landed on Rudy Goberts sizes to 210 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:39,559 Speaker 1: twenty one sneaker. Both those injuries combined to cause him 211 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 1: to miss about half the season. If he has a 212 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:43,640 Speaker 1: little bit of luck on the side and a little 213 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 1: bit of fire that he showed back his first year 214 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: as a Laker when you know, I don't remember that 215 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 1: game he played in New Orleans. His first game back 216 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,440 Speaker 1: against the Pelicans, he tweaks his shoulder. He stays in 217 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: playing through pain and ends up with forty points uh 218 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 1: and gets the Lakers a good road win. Back. Then 219 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,200 Speaker 1: he's shown that he has that fired him. They're gonna 220 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: need consistency for both those two guys, and then hope 221 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: that some of these role players hit because all the 222 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: role players basically outside of the Lake Monk who's now gone, 223 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 1: didn't work out for them last year. It's funny you 224 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 1: mentioned Malik Monk. Uh. You know, I seem to recall 225 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 1: he was the third best player last year. Uh and 226 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: he's gone. If if somebody came up to you, as 227 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 1: aid Dave, who is the third best player in the 228 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 1: Lakers coming into this season, who would you? Who would 229 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:32,959 Speaker 1: you answer it? As it's tough. I think there are 230 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 1: a few guys who have had some strong preseason showings. 231 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 1: Kendrick Nunn in particular, U Lonnie Walker was sidelined with 232 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,199 Speaker 1: an ankle injury. He missed some time, but he has 233 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 1: looked really good on both ends and spurts and Patrick 234 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: Beverley is maybe the third most important Laker. I feel 235 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 1: pretty confident in giving that label because he is going 236 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:57,200 Speaker 1: to need to be the guy to call out Lebron 237 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,559 Speaker 1: and call out a D on nights when they are 238 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: bringing the requisite energy and effort, be the guy in 239 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 1: a film session not afraid to say that not only 240 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: is maybe someone like Russ not doing the right thing, 241 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: but someone like Lebron is not doing the right thing, 242 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 1: and not have that be taboo that you can't talk 243 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: about it. To get better as a team, that's gonna 244 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 1: fall on him. And then also being the primary wing 245 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: defender with this team, because as great as Anthony Davis 246 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 1: has shown in the past to be as a rin protector, 247 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 1: if it's just straight line drive, that's a straight line drive, 248 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: guys breaking past the three point line to get into 249 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 1: the lane, nobody can stop that. And so it would 250 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:39,959 Speaker 1: be really on Patrick Beverley to be that guy to 251 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 1: give the Lakers defense a chance to kind of put 252 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 1: their their grips into the opposing offense. Now, this is 253 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: why I had you come on, because you're saying stuff 254 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 1: I never heard anyone since they acquired Patrick Beverley say 255 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:56,199 Speaker 1: that he can be the guy who stands up and 256 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: holds a D and Lebron accountable. Did they have anybody 257 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: doing that last year, No, quite. Frankly, it was a 258 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: major miscalculation with the roster. They should have brought back 259 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 1: Jared Dudley. That was Jared Dudley's role the two previous seasons. 260 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,560 Speaker 1: He was kind of that Udonis Hasling type of guy 261 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:16,080 Speaker 1: that Miami has, where he's not necessarily playing, but his 262 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: voice carries a lot of weight because he spends the 263 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 1: time to create the relationships to be able to not 264 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: only pat you on the back, groen and did a 265 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: good job, but look you in the eye when you 266 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: got to do something better. Uh. The last year's team 267 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: didn't really have it. They brought John Rondo in hoping 268 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 1: that he could somewhat play that role because he was 269 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 1: um a really strong member of that championship team. But 270 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 1: but Rondo, it was always about wanting to play. Uh. 271 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: And once it was clear that he wasn't gonna get 272 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: consistent playing time, he wanted to find a different situation 273 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: as of getting traded to Cleveland at Ricky Rubio got hurt. 274 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 1: They didn't have the voice the guy to do that. Uh. 275 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: And that was one of the many miscalculations that went 276 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: into last years disaster. Okay, I'll ask why couldn't Frank 277 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 1: Vogel do that, even though he won a championship with 278 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: them in the Bubble and had had a good run 279 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 1: prior to that with the Pacers, could he not call 280 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 1: out Lebron? Head coaches you pick your spots. It's not 281 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: that Frank Vogel could never call out Lebron, and it's 282 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 1: not like they didn't have a pretty strong working rapport. 283 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: But quite frankly that in today's NBA, uh, you have 284 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: x some amount of shooter around x x amount of 285 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 1: bus rides, practices, games, pregame, postgame U the head coach, 286 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: in my estimation, the ones that do quite well in 287 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: this league. Less is more approach. He had a deputy 288 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 1: and Jared Dudley. Uh, and that that deputy wasn't retained. Interesting. Now, 289 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 1: this this is good stuff, so I'll carry it onto 290 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: this year. Darvin Ham first time head coach. I know 291 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 1: he's well respected. He was once a great Dunker. I mean, Dave, 292 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: you said less, it's more with Darvin m I don't 293 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 1: does he have anyone on his staff who can even 294 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 1: do this? Because I can't see him calling out a 295 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 1: deal Lebron. Well, you know, I think part of the 296 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 1: reason why the Lakers did like Darvin is because part 297 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 1: of his resume is different than Frank vocals. He was 298 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 1: a player, he can walk that walk, uh, and he 299 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: just has a frankly a presence about him. He is 300 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 1: he is tall, he has a deep voice, he is 301 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: barrel chested, uh. And he's been in the lead for 302 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: about thirty years, right, And so all those things matter 303 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: when it comes to guarding respect. And when I said 304 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 1: less is more, perhaps in a team setting, when you 305 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 1: are in a film session or in a locker room 306 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 1: on the white board, he has taken a more is 307 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: more approach, which with the biggest question mark for the Lakers, 308 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 1: which is Russell Westbrook, and recognizing that we had to 309 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 1: get there some sometimes, but recognizing how much that the 310 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: lack of he should trust communication wherever you want to 311 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 1: call it between him and Frank Vogel last year was 312 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: a recurring theme that quite frankly hurt everybody else involved. 313 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: And Darvin Ham has been very smart about that from 314 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:15,919 Speaker 1: the very beginning when he got the job, making a 315 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:21,120 Speaker 1: priority publicly to praise Russell Westbrook and not give any 316 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: iota of a doubt that he has an open mind 317 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: about finding the best way to use him well at 318 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 1: the same time privately spending the time with him dinners 319 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:36,959 Speaker 1: in the gym, recognizing that we had to realistically go 320 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: about finding the best role for you. And if that 321 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:41,640 Speaker 1: is coming off the bench, so be it. But you're 322 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 1: gonna know that it's going to happen. It's not going 323 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:50,160 Speaker 1: to surprise you. And when it happens, we're gonna put 324 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: the ball in your hands. And that's what you like anyway, 325 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,159 Speaker 1: And so perhaps it can help our first unit and 326 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 1: our second unit. I want to go, We'll come back 327 00:17:58,240 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: to Russ in a minute. I want to go to 328 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: Kendrick Nunn last year had a bone bruise around this 329 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: time and ended up never playing a game all season, 330 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:11,200 Speaker 1: And Dave, I've got to ask, what on earth happened 331 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:13,440 Speaker 1: to Kendrick Dunn last year, because, I mean, listen, he 332 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: signed a two year deal for ten million dollars, didn't 333 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:18,399 Speaker 1: play a damn game. All we were saying every month, Oh, 334 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 1: Kendrick Dunn's coming back. Else point guard will be sold. 335 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:23,120 Speaker 1: What happened? There had to be something behind the scenes 336 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: for him to just not play the entire season. I mean, 337 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 1: I reported at some point last year, the Lakers really 338 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: were hoping to have a three headed youth movement of 339 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:40,120 Speaker 1: talent Horn and Tucker, Kendrick Nunn and Malik Munk as 340 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,840 Speaker 1: being the guys to diversify the look that they give 341 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: with their starters, and it just never happened. And you know, 342 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 1: quite frankly, if it was some big conspiracy, uh, then 343 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 1: good on everybody involved for keeping it quiet. My understanding, 344 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 1: every time he started to ramp up, there was a setback, uh. 345 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 1: And then that's what happened kind of in the beginning 346 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: part of the season, and then they tried to give 347 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 1: him like an extended break before ramping up again, which 348 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:11,879 Speaker 1: was okay, post All Star break is going to be 349 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: really important to make that final push. Post All Star 350 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 1: break comes in another setback, and so he even told 351 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 1: us that throughout the summertime that was still occurring. Um. 352 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:26,719 Speaker 1: So at some point in the summertime he finally cleared it. 353 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 1: And I think it shows in the way he carried 354 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: himself on the court. He said that after going through 355 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 1: all of that, he feels like he's a better player 356 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:37,159 Speaker 1: now than he was when he was playing for the 357 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 1: Miami Heat. So if they actually do get that version 358 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,880 Speaker 1: of Kendrick Nunn. That could be pretty important because one, 359 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 1: this team is lacking shooting and to this team is 360 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:49,439 Speaker 1: lacking playmaking, and those are two things that Kendrick Nunn breaks. 361 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 362 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 1: the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox sports 363 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 1: radio dot com and within the I Heart Radio app 364 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:02,120 Speaker 1: search f s are to listen live. All right, I'm 365 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 1: just gonna make a statement, and I would like you 366 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:06,440 Speaker 1: to talk after it. Um. I saw a stat. It 367 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: might have been your stat. I don't know that seven 368 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,120 Speaker 1: guys from the Lakers team last year are not even 369 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 1: in the NBA currently. Dave, how do you extend Polinka 370 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: when he built that roster last year? Yeah, it was 371 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 1: when we talk about the things that went wrong last year. 372 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:28,360 Speaker 1: Health is right at the top. You can't win any 373 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 1: much of anything if Lebron and a d both mishalf 374 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 1: the games. Number two would say the fit of Russell Westbrook, 375 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: and three is all those role players that didn't pan out. 376 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 1: We're talking about Ken Paysmore, We're talking about Wayne Allendon, 377 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:45,880 Speaker 1: DeAndre Jordan, Dwight Howard, John Rondo right downald line. You're 378 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: the only guy. But if you count the ten day guys, 379 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 1: you're going up higher. You know, Isaiah Thomas is in 380 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: the league right now. You're not seeing Darren Collins in 381 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:58,880 Speaker 1: the league right now. You know, throwing Avery Bradley, another 382 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:03,119 Speaker 1: guy looking for a country. It was incredible amount of 383 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:06,640 Speaker 1: the guys that, you know, they brought in some specialists 384 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: and and Frank found rather quickly that their defense had 385 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: taken a step back. And so you couldn't play the 386 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:17,400 Speaker 1: guys who could just shoot because the defense would really struggle. 387 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:22,159 Speaker 1: And then okay, let's prioritize defense. And it's like, okay, 388 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: we could play a guy like Trevor Reza another guy 389 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 1: we haven't mentioned, or Kent bays Moore who we feel 390 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:31,360 Speaker 1: they can execute when we asked defensively, but they can't 391 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 1: make a shot, and then the offense tanks. And so uh, 392 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:37,679 Speaker 1: that's the one thing I will give credit to the 393 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 1: Lakers and Robert Lincoln. Everyone evolved and this just making 394 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: this summer they learned the lesson from that group. All 395 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: the guys they brought in this year are young, they 396 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 1: are two way ability. There's more athleticism, uh, you know, 397 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 1: and and to me, they've started to even show some 398 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: of that promise that they had hoped for. Guys in 399 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:02,200 Speaker 1: particular obviously kind of done back from last year's group, 400 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 1: but Lonnie Walker has really shown some flashes and want 401 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: just Anderson has also um he's looked pretty good. He 402 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,320 Speaker 1: doubled the quad issue training camp, but he's looked pretty 403 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:14,879 Speaker 1: good too. It's wild Wan has goo Anderson like the 404 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 1: tenth guy on Golden State is going to be what 405 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 1: the seventh guy on the on the Lakers. I don't know, 406 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:21,399 Speaker 1: maybe the sixth man. I don't. Uh, let's go to 407 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: something I read from a quote from you. I don't 408 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:25,359 Speaker 1: know if A d told it to you or all 409 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:29,160 Speaker 1: the media. Uh. He referred to himself in the third 410 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:32,399 Speaker 1: person when answering a question about playing center. I believe 411 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:35,440 Speaker 1: this was last week, maybe two weeks ago. Anthony Davis 412 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 1: does have you ever covered a player who's talented and 413 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 1: I close to seven feet who loves to hang out 414 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 1: at the three point line as much as a D? Oh? Yeah, 415 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:48,920 Speaker 1: of course. I mean, this guy's dominant inside and he 416 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 1: nobody shoots more fadeaways than Anthony Davis. I don't, I 417 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 1: don't get it. Listen, I like a d I'm not 418 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,879 Speaker 1: knocking him, but Dave. He doesn't want to play center. 419 00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 1: I know he had to growth spurt and and he 420 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:01,680 Speaker 1: used to be a guard in high school or whatever. 421 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 1: But he has the ability to do anything offensively on 422 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:11,399 Speaker 1: the basketball court. Yes, does he rely on the open 423 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 1: three too often when he could get a better shot. 424 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 1: Does he go to fade away too often when he 425 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:19,200 Speaker 1: could probably use a pump, fake, draw contact and get 426 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:22,719 Speaker 1: to the free throw line. Absolutely. I don't really have 427 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 1: a problem with the way he approaches basketball. I think 428 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 1: people around him sometimes wish that he just had a 429 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:33,560 Speaker 1: little bit more of an obsessive personality so he could 430 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: take the talent that he has and has worked to 431 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 1: hone and get it to the next level, because it's 432 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: the only way you really do it become one of 433 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 1: the great great great, since you cut out everything else 434 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:47,200 Speaker 1: you care about and it's living a breathing basketball. But 435 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 1: at the same time, I think he's a professional. I 436 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 1: think he treats people the right way. I think he's 437 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:58,720 Speaker 1: about the right things, and I understand why when they 438 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 1: went into the bunker the Lakers front office this past 439 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:05,439 Speaker 1: summer and discussed all the things they could do to 440 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:09,679 Speaker 1: shake up this team. The discussion of should we trade. 441 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:13,400 Speaker 1: A d came up as they tried to look under 442 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 1: every stone and pebble, and rather quickly they dismissed it. 443 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:20,639 Speaker 1: That's not the answer here. You already have one of 444 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 1: the most talented big men ever to play the game. 445 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:25,920 Speaker 1: You hope for some health, You hope that he brings 446 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:27,879 Speaker 1: a little bit more motivation he has in the past. 447 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: And you know, obviously a third person always looks bad. 448 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:35,880 Speaker 1: But in that same quote, he was saying, I'm gonna 449 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:38,880 Speaker 1: do whatever the team asked me to do to win, 450 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 1: and so you know, listen, all he knows is that 451 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:47,119 Speaker 1: when I am teamed up with a room protecting seven 452 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:50,760 Speaker 1: footer for the regular season, then I have enough energy 453 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:53,439 Speaker 1: to win a championship. Like That's what happened. And that 454 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 1: was the best team he played for in New Orleans too, 455 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:58,440 Speaker 1: he had not necessarily room protector, be another bruising big man, 456 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 1: and DeMarcus Cousins alongside those are two best teams you've 457 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:04,560 Speaker 1: ever played for. So it's I'm okay with him saying 458 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:07,280 Speaker 1: that he'd like to have some more minutes for Damien Jones, 459 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:11,159 Speaker 1: for Thomas Bryant, right, But you know, ultimately it's not 460 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 1: like he's gonna put if that's the direction they're going, 461 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 1: there's the time to bring it up. He brought up 462 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:19,840 Speaker 1: in the preseason. That's pre season is for drying different combinations. 463 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:21,680 Speaker 1: And you're gonna see him play a lot of five 464 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 1: this year. But you know, rightfully, so he can do 465 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,240 Speaker 1: some pretty darn good things at four too, as we 466 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 1: saw when the Lakers ranked number one in the league 467 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:34,920 Speaker 1: defensively and number three in the league defensively the two 468 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 1: years when they had Marcus Saul and Javania on the 469 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:40,960 Speaker 1: game Dwight Howard next to them. Yeah, so who will 470 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: be happier when the Lakers trade Russell Westbrook for Miles Turner, 471 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis or Lebron You know you can't listen, Okay, 472 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 1: I say that in jest, But Dave, I think you 473 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 1: were the one who reported because you own the Lakers. Um, 474 00:25:56,200 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 1: I really cureous. How close was this Russ for Buddy Healed, 475 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:04,199 Speaker 1: Miles Turner, Russ and draft picks? How close was it? 476 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:07,040 Speaker 1: And and I think you had it as the Lakers 477 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 1: were like, I don't know if we want to do this, 478 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:11,160 Speaker 1: and they were the ones who said no, is that 479 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:13,240 Speaker 1: is that? Did I get that right? Yeah? I mean, 480 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:16,679 Speaker 1: I reported that the Lakers resistance to include both of 481 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:20,119 Speaker 1: the future draft picks is what caused those talks to 482 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:27,199 Speaker 1: break down. Indiana, I believed that the Lakers, and rightfully so, 483 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 1: Indiana knows just the Lakers spent months trying to put 484 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:33,399 Speaker 1: together a deal that would send Russ out of town 485 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:36,879 Speaker 1: and bring in some better fitting pieces. And it also 486 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:41,680 Speaker 1: knows that they had that first round pick in first 487 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:44,200 Speaker 1: round pick, and that's pretty much the only thing they 488 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 1: have that is attractive as a trade chip U other 489 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:51,680 Speaker 1: than say, Kendrick Nunne, who they need, Uh, you know, 490 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 1: he already traded away Taylent Horton Tucker, who was a 491 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 1: good salary number and a good age to get Patrick Beverley. 492 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:01,080 Speaker 1: So in the end, I was saying, we know what 493 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:04,000 Speaker 1: you need to do. You're gonna have another tough year 494 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,240 Speaker 1: if you don't get rid of Russell Westbrook. Give us 495 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:09,360 Speaker 1: both your picks and it's off your hands. But they 496 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: just ultimately decided that this could be folly thinking at 497 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:17,080 Speaker 1: the time will tell, but they ultimately decided that as 498 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 1: especially in this season, as more teams see what they 499 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:24,879 Speaker 1: have and recognize that their best course of action is 500 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:27,159 Speaker 1: to try to lose as many games as possible to 501 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:30,439 Speaker 1: try to get Victor one man Yama. Uh. They believe 502 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 1: that they'll be able to get pieces that will fit 503 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:37,680 Speaker 1: their team, move on from Mussell Westbrook, and also retain 504 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:40,840 Speaker 1: one of those two draft picks. Interesting because the Lakers 505 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:44,520 Speaker 1: in two thousand twenty nine was that six years, basically 506 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:47,480 Speaker 1: six drafts from now, Lebron will be you know, not 507 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 1: in the league. Anthony Davis will be like thirty five. 508 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:51,840 Speaker 1: So there's a chance the Lakers could be one of 509 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:53,199 Speaker 1: the worst teams in the league. And now you've got 510 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 1: a number one pick in two thousand nine. That being said, 511 00:27:57,720 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 1: I mean, if you remove Buddy Healed and Miles Turner, 512 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:03,840 Speaker 1: you got Haliburton, Dwarte, Ben Matherin, who I really like. 513 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 1: You know, that's like a team and they'll buy out 514 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:12,639 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook, right, I would think so absolutely. But that 515 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 1: I mean, that's there's the motivation, right for Indiana then 516 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:18,800 Speaker 1: to come back to the table at some point and say, 517 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:21,720 Speaker 1: you know, yeah, we'll take that valuble draftic. We don't 518 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 1: necessarily need both, but the Lakers, I think there'll be 519 00:28:26,119 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 1: more than just Indiana that comes to the table. Look 520 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:32,080 Speaker 1: at look at some of the teams that are out 521 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:35,679 Speaker 1: there that have been teetering on relevant and so the 522 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:37,919 Speaker 1: less of You look at a team like Charlotte, you 523 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 1: know that's still dealing with uh, you know, the fallout 524 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 1: of mild Bridges not being a part of their their 525 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 1: roster player they relied on over the last several years. 526 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:51,720 Speaker 1: And you know like Gordon Hayward certainly talented, somebody who 527 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:54,320 Speaker 1: could fit with the Lakers, but you know, injury prone 528 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:56,760 Speaker 1: and what's his true trade value? Like there there are 529 00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:03,080 Speaker 1: iterations that could make and the question is how far 530 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:06,480 Speaker 1: behind the eight ball are you putting yourself if the 531 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 1: first month or so doesn't go so well with Russell 532 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:15,640 Speaker 1: Westbrook as a part of things, Um, you're desperate? Yeah yeah, Um? 533 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:17,680 Speaker 1: So what let me ask about the Spurs. I haven't 534 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 1: heard as much mention to them in a while. Their 535 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:23,520 Speaker 1: starting lineup Dave as of now, Trey Jones, Devin Vassel, 536 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: Jeremy Sohan, the rookie add of Baylor Keldon Johnson and 537 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:30,240 Speaker 1: Yako Peartle. That's like a seventeen win team. I know 538 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:32,520 Speaker 1: they have the lowest or they had the lowest Vegas 539 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 1: win total. Um, is there do the Spurs have anything 540 00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 1: the Lakers would want. Josh Primo is a is a 541 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:40,920 Speaker 1: solid young player, but he's not going to help the Lakers. Yeah, 542 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, Yako Peartle and Nickey Dermott are 543 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 1: the names that you heard in the summertime. But you know, 544 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: if that that deal, I'm still the belief that had 545 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:55,480 Speaker 1: the Lakers wanted to make that deal, that probably deal 546 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: whatever have been done. So I don't I don't know. 547 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 1: I think I think is a level of one people 548 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:06,480 Speaker 1: in the organization recognizing that those picks are truly valuable 549 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:10,280 Speaker 1: and there's no guarantee that when Lebron retires that we 550 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:13,720 Speaker 1: just get another Lebrotron as a free agent, like we 551 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:17,560 Speaker 1: we just we can't just live on laquer exceptionalism as 552 00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:20,680 Speaker 1: we did for so long, because look at the basically 553 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:24,040 Speaker 1: the last ten years of the franchise, it's been really 554 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:30,240 Speaker 1: hard for people in that organization to stomach to recognize that, yeah, 555 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:34,200 Speaker 1: we have to like rethink how we go about this completely. 556 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:38,120 Speaker 1: And so we can't just sell all out for Lebron 557 00:30:38,240 --> 00:30:40,720 Speaker 1: right now and and be lost in the desert on 558 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 1: the other side of that. And so I don't think 559 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:46,160 Speaker 1: there's any scenario that gets them trade in both picks. 560 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:50,280 Speaker 1: To be honest, interesting now m Charlotte has Gordon Hayward. 561 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 1: I don't know if Kelly Hubre would work. I mean, 562 00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:54,440 Speaker 1: he's a he's a good player, I think, but not 563 00:30:54,560 --> 00:31:00,520 Speaker 1: with the Lakers. Um Bier, Washington, scary Terry neb all right, 564 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:02,720 Speaker 1: we can wrap up with this day. I'm just curious. 565 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 1: And this is a tough one. I know the Lakers, 566 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:06,840 Speaker 1: I'm sure we'll be listening, But how tough is it 567 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:11,920 Speaker 1: to cover a guy like Lebron James Um arguably the 568 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:16,680 Speaker 1: most famous athlete in America? Um, you know, he he is. 569 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:19,040 Speaker 1: I think he's the greatest player in the history of 570 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:21,040 Speaker 1: the legal But what's it like like covering him on 571 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:24,480 Speaker 1: a day to day basis? He seems to always answer 572 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:27,400 Speaker 1: questions when the microphones are in front of him. Um, 573 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:29,240 Speaker 1: he seems like a pretty low key guy. I'm just 574 00:31:29,280 --> 00:31:32,400 Speaker 1: curious what he's like behind the scenes. Yeah, I mean, 575 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 1: it's been, uh a privilege of my career to be 576 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:37,520 Speaker 1: able to cover the teams he's been on because I've 577 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:39,560 Speaker 1: got to be in some rooms I never thought i'd 578 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 1: be in. I got to cover, you know, some incredible 579 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:46,400 Speaker 1: games and learn about the sport in a way that 580 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:49,440 Speaker 1: I never would have. Everything that goes into it, the 581 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:55,520 Speaker 1: business side, the marketing side, um, the umcin nations that 582 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:59,160 Speaker 1: a player can have in order to get you know, 583 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 1: his will exerted over the organization. These are things that 584 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 1: I never would have seen up close, set and up 585 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:07,480 Speaker 1: and coming in a player like Lebron, and it's extended prime. 586 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:14,520 Speaker 1: But there's challenges to you know, Lebron speaks a certain 587 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:17,560 Speaker 1: language and you have to kind of figure that out, 588 00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:22,200 Speaker 1: and he will drop bread crumbs, but it's not always 589 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:24,480 Speaker 1: so easy to follow up on those bread crumbs and 590 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:28,320 Speaker 1: get the full story out that um he's kind of 591 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:31,640 Speaker 1: hinting you towards because this is a big business man 592 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:38,160 Speaker 1: and uh so it's um, you know, it's it's always interesting. 593 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:41,720 Speaker 1: I will say that, and I think whenever I'm finished 594 00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:44,280 Speaker 1: covering Lebron on a day to day basis, I'm sure 595 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:47,280 Speaker 1: I will look back at it years after that and 596 00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 1: and have far more appreciation. But in the moment, it's 597 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:54,640 Speaker 1: just kind of pressure because there's always something um and 598 00:32:55,200 --> 00:33:00,120 Speaker 1: that every outlet is interested in breaking parts of news 599 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 1: about the team or business or family he's involved with, 600 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:08,440 Speaker 1: or the agency. He's like, it's it's all Uh, there's 601 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:12,400 Speaker 1: there's many tentacles to this thing, and you know, describing 602 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:14,960 Speaker 1: my best to stay on top of it and know 603 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:17,480 Speaker 1: what I'm talking about. And I am not asking to 604 00:33:17,560 --> 00:33:21,040 Speaker 1: divulge anything, but like I'm sure if something's gonna go 605 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:24,000 Speaker 1: down or has gone down, people will reach out to you. 606 00:33:24,080 --> 00:33:26,840 Speaker 1: Obviously you're near the top of the totem pole. And 607 00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:29,440 Speaker 1: you know, as a reporter, it's tough to know when 608 00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:32,320 Speaker 1: you're getting spun or when you're getting fed stuff for 609 00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:34,800 Speaker 1: a reason. I mean, are you dealing with this kind 610 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:36,720 Speaker 1: of stuff on a weekly basis? Is is like a 611 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:40,640 Speaker 1: daily more monthly? Um? And and how do you handle that? 612 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:43,280 Speaker 1: I mean, I try to talk to as many people 613 00:33:43,320 --> 00:33:46,880 Speaker 1: as possible and certainly, I again, I do consider privilege 614 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 1: to be able to cover Lebron's teams that he's been 615 00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:53,280 Speaker 1: on the last you know, decade or so. But um, 616 00:33:53,320 --> 00:33:56,200 Speaker 1: I am covering those teams. I'm not coming Lebron James 617 00:33:56,240 --> 00:33:59,160 Speaker 1: and and so you know, sometimes in this business, perception 618 00:33:59,280 --> 00:34:02,400 Speaker 1: is reality. I didn't ask to cover Lebron James. I 619 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:04,240 Speaker 1: didn't ask to cover them this long. You know, I 620 00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:06,400 Speaker 1: wanted to get back to l A after living in 621 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:09,399 Speaker 1: Cleveland for four years. So I asked I asked for that, 622 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:11,480 Speaker 1: and I enjoyed my time in Cleveland. I wasn't meant 623 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:14,040 Speaker 1: to be a day because I love living LA. I 624 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:17,920 Speaker 1: lived in l A for six years before I, um, 625 00:34:17,960 --> 00:34:20,680 Speaker 1: you know, covered Cleveland. I covered Kobe Bryant, you know, 626 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:22,839 Speaker 1: and back of the day people said I was, you know, 627 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:25,279 Speaker 1: a Kobe guy. I wasn't a Kobe guy that you know. 628 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:28,200 Speaker 1: It's you just cover the team and the assignment that's 629 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:29,960 Speaker 1: in front of you as well as you can. It's 630 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:33,880 Speaker 1: so uh you know. Yeah, there are days when there 631 00:34:33,920 --> 00:34:38,920 Speaker 1: are things that are being put in your ear or 632 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:43,880 Speaker 1: your inbox or putting your lap and there's a desire 633 00:34:43,960 --> 00:34:48,480 Speaker 1: to see that in the media in a certain way. Um, 634 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:53,399 Speaker 1: And sometimes it's it's there's nothing, there's no problem there, 635 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:56,560 Speaker 1: it's there's no static it it goes from because it's 636 00:34:56,640 --> 00:34:59,160 Speaker 1: accurate information that you trust and you've heard other places. 637 00:34:59,239 --> 00:35:02,480 Speaker 1: But there's other times where there's a certain type of 638 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:06,759 Speaker 1: story that is being presented to you and you don't 639 00:35:06,840 --> 00:35:08,840 Speaker 1: run with it and guess what you see another outlet 640 00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:12,640 Speaker 1: has it. Yeah, you know, you know, I gotta live 641 00:35:12,680 --> 00:35:14,239 Speaker 1: with myself at the end of the day, and so 642 00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:17,360 Speaker 1: generally I trust my judgment on things. But you know, 643 00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:21,239 Speaker 1: there are times when um yeah, there's probably been times 644 00:35:21,239 --> 00:35:24,560 Speaker 1: I've been quote unquote beating on a story. Um, but 645 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:28,479 Speaker 1: it wasn't I didn't have enough information at that point 646 00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:30,279 Speaker 1: to put out the way I thought would be fair 647 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:32,560 Speaker 1: and accurate. Well, you do a great job, and keep 648 00:35:32,600 --> 00:35:34,920 Speaker 1: up the good work, and uh, you know, enjoy and 649 00:35:35,040 --> 00:35:37,120 Speaker 1: have fun covering the team. This year, I'm sure it'll 650 00:35:37,120 --> 00:35:40,239 Speaker 1: be another circus. Maybe a good circus though. Yeah, well 651 00:35:40,239 --> 00:35:42,239 Speaker 1: we'll see. I think better than last year, at least 652 00:35:42,920 --> 00:35:47,440 Speaker 1: you can't. All right, we'll we'll meet on a basketball 653 00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:52,040 Speaker 1: court sometimes soon. Yes, sorry, buddy, later ye