Gil's Arena - The 1st Round Of The NBA Play-In ELECTRIFIES Gil's Arena

Episode Date: April 15, 2026

The 1st Round Of The NBA Play-In ELECTRIFIES Gil's Arena as Gilbert Arenas, Skip Bayless & The Gil's Arena Crew react to the opening round of the NBA-Play In where the Charlotte Hornets took down the Miami Heat in an instant classic and the Portland Trail Blazers stunned the Phoenix Suns on the road. They tip things off by reacting to the Hornets' overtime victory over the Heat despite off shooting nights from LaMelo Ball and rookie sensation Kon Knurppel and give their takes on the controversial play from LaMelo Ball that forced Bam Adebayo out of the game. They also discuss what's next for the Miami Heat after their elimination from the NBA Playoffs and debate if Heat Culture is cooked if the team is unable to land a superstar this offseason. Next, they break down a stunning upset in the Western side of the play-in tournament as the Trail Blazers took down the Phoenix Suns and debate if Deni Avdija solidifed his status as a star in the NBA with a 40 point outburst in his first NBA Playoff action. They then highlight Jrue Holiday & interm head coach Tiago Splitter as unsung heroes for the Blazers during their improbable run to the NBA Playoffs and preview their upcoming series against Victor Wembanyama & The San Antonio Spurs before reacting to Brandon Jenning's viral tweet trying to start the conversation on Devin Booker. Finally, they give their take on Kevin Garnett returning to to Minnesota to reunite with the Minnesota Timberwolves and break down the NBA's potential new laws to curb tanking. PLEASE give us a LIKE and SUBSCRIBE!! Today's Gil's Arena Crew : Josiah Johnson, Skip Bayless, Swaggy P, & Rashad McCants Gil's Arena premieres every Wednesday & Thursday at 11:30am PT / 2:30pm ET. Compete Against The Gil's Arena Crew in Underdog's NBA Playoff Bracket Battle - https://play.underdogfantasy.com/bp-z... Sign up for Underdog HERE with promo code GIL and play $5 to get $50 in bonus funds or bonus entries https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-gi... Help protect your family with life insurance through Ethos. Get your instant, free quote at ETHOS.com/arena SUBSCRIBE:    / @thearena0   Read Rashad's Blog - https://rawrashad.com/?blog=y Join the Underdog discord for access to exclusive giveaways and promos!   / discord   Must be 18+ (19+ in AL, NE; 19+ in CO for some games; 21+ in AZ & MA) and present in a state where Underdog Fantasy operates. Terms apply. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org; NY: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369) 2 Min Timer 0:00:00 Show Start 0:01:57 Hornets Win An OT Thriller Over Miami 0:06:07 LaMelo Ball's Dirty Play 0:19:34 Flagg or Kon: More impactful Rookie? 0:41:21 Blazers Stun The Phoenix Suns 0:53:36 Deni Avdija Emerged As An NBA Superstar 1:06:06 Jrue Holiday Is The NBA's Most Underrated Player 1:15:24 Should NBA Be Happy With The Play-In? 1:26:50 Kevin Garnett Returns To Minnesota 1:33:52 Play-In Preview 1:48:29 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Gills Arena presented by underdog. Whoa! Hum day here in the arena. Also, tax day, which is like Halloween for black people. We got to dress up. There's a buzz in the air, ladies and gentlemen. Oh, wow. Yeah.

That was your high school uniforms like you? I feel me. That's like a 17x. What is this? Uh-oh. Coming through with the Cleveland Caps. Yeah. Cleveland High School.

I still fit it. It's a beautiful day. We got a lot to get into. Ladies, gentlemen. We are sorry for being late, but like I said, it's tax day. And you know people are ducking.

But this is Gills Arena, presented by Underdog. Boop, whoop. I'm merely a host Josiah Johnson. We got NBA champion of the world, arguably the greatest player in the history of Cleveland High School, Swaggy Pete, Nick Young.

There's some other names? in that mix. Seed in next is Swaggy. We got one of the biggest legends in the sports media game. Skip Bayliss, back on the couch. It's my turn.

Last but not least, the man they called Cemetery Larry. Longtime Charlotte Hornets fan NCAA champion of the world Dr. Rashab McCants, PhD. Back here with us. That's out. So wait a second.

That was easy. Yeah. Are you celebrating that? That last night? That robbery last night? Come on, man. You got to wait. Oh.

Shot on the phone. What's that? What's that? Gilbert. Where you at? I think he picked the horn and stood off. What you're at? Where is?

Where is everybody at? I see his bobble hat. I guess we duck and smoke today. I guess we duck and smoke today. This tax deck, get your returns in, ladies. I guess we duck and smoke today. But two very well-played playing games. Shout out Adam Silver.

Y'all were counting on the plane yesterday here on the couch. But they delivered with two high-level games, which we will discuss. We got a lot to get into. Here's what Cracking and Gills Arena today. So the Hornets won their first home post. postseason game in a decade to keep their hopes alive. Will Charlotte make their first playoff since 2016? That's the postseason?

It is the postseason. It is the postseason. This is the postseason. These games don't count. Playing games don't count. Relax. But they mean something to us. Enjoy it.

Bam Adebio had his season prematurely ended after a questionable move from LaMello ball. We assess the situation and potential ramifications. Not the first time LaMello and Bam. I found themselves in a situation like this. and the Blazers stunned the suns and Phoenix to snatch the seventh seed. Will Portland be a problem for the Spurs? But before we get into all that,

this episode is brought to you by Underdog. Underdog available in most states, including Texas, California, and Florida. New customers get $50 in bonus entries when they play just $5. And to celebrate the start of the NBA playoffs, Underdog has launched a special offer where if you play $50 on NBA playing games,

you will receive a 50% boost token to get started. Just use Code Gil when you sign up and it'll load instantly. Underdog, Make Picks, win money with Code Gill. And the Gill's Arena bracket challenge is back. This time for the NBA playoffs, make sure to go onto your Underdog app and join the Gil's Arena Group to enter your bracket.

Top three places will win some great prizes. We have the link pinned in the chat right now. So go join, compete with us on the couch, and enter your bracket now. And if you can't watch the show live, what's on YouTube? We have audio version available on Apple Spotify. We get your podcast. I was just so overwhelmed. So overwhelmed by these tremendous playing games.

So let's get right to it. Playing tournament started with a bang. As the 10th seeded Heat pulled up to Charlotte to take on the nine-seated Hornets, heat won the season series 3-1, but the Hornets' lone win came by way of a 30-point blowout in their final meeting. March 17th, the largest crowd in Spectrum Center history was on hand as Charlotte looked to move one game closer to making their first playoff since 2016. Miami, without bam out of bio for most of the game,

after a very questionable move by lamello ball, which we will discuss in-depth shortly. Hornets overcame terrible shooting nights from three-point league leaders Khan Cinnipple and Lamello Ball who were combined two for 22 from long range with Khan getting benched in crunch time. We pick up the action late in the fourth quarter with the Hornets down three with just under 13 seconds remaining. Let's take a look at what we got. Trade deadline acquisition, Kobe White came through with the biggest shot of Charlotte's season, nailing a corner three to tie the game. White finished with 19 points and 26 minutes off the bench, including a stretch where he scored 11 straight to end the third quarter.

The win in regulation, Tyler Hero missed the three as time expired. But Hornets tried to pull away in overtime. Lamello ball hit Brandon Miller for a lob to go up three. Charlotte's next possession, Miles Bridges. Have to do with the reverse layup. Put the Hornets up five. Then Mello hit that one to put the heat. And put the Hornets back up off.

Tyler Hero hit the corner three. The cut to lead the two on and on the ensuing possession, Lamello, errant pass, stolen my Pell Larson, Larkson, Mypel Larson, Larson found Hero. Hero tried to put up the game winner. Lamello filed him on the attempt. No foul.

That's funny. Hero made all three free throws. With the game on the line, Charles Lee put the ball in Lamello's hands, hit this clutch layup of 4.7 seconds remaining. He did not have a timeout. Davion Mitchell tried to go the length of the court, but Miles Bridges came through with the two-handed block. That UCLA defense, man.

To seal the win. So Lamello bow. ball finished with 30 points and 10 assist on 12 or 31 shooting. Miles Bridges added 28, nine boards and three blocks. He was 5 for 10 from deep. Brandon Miller had 23, 5, and 5. And Musa Diabate had a team high 15 or 14 rebounds, including eight on the offensive side.

Hornets won their first postseason home game in a decade. We'll now face the loser of the Magic Sixers game for a chance at the ASED. Shot, we will start with you. Been rocking with Charlotte all season. Very early on in season four of Gills Arena, presented by Underdog Woo-Woo. You said that the Hornets would have a better season in the Milwaukee Bucks. That proved to be true.

Now the Hornets, one game away from reaching the playoffs for the first time in a decade. What are your biggest takeaways from the Hornets play-in-win over the Miami Heat? Shosh Radha Domen strikes again, in again, and again. Tombstones in the chat, full circles in the chat. We do this for a living. We really know ball.

You look at the matchup between the two, even in the regular season records don't really show what the progression does. I think Lamello was a statement game for him. This was a statement game for Miles Bridges. This was also a rival game for Brandon Miller. But Kobe White was the savior. Kobe White stepped up in ways that you can't really fathom. When you talk about North Carolina, you talk about Charlie,

you talk about him leaving Chicago, coming to a place where he's familiar. He played one year at Carolina, but he also knows that culture well. and he knows the fan base and he knows how much they can rally behind you. So understanding that that energy in that arena was the thing that held them together. And I think, you know, Lamello talked, he took a lot of shots and he needed to, you know, for them to keep putting pressure on Miami's defense. Dave Yon Mitchell, he showed up. I think Khalil Ware showed up in certain aspects of the game.

And then you look at Andrew Wiggins, you know, we haven't seen him really show up. and show out the way he did for the heat. I think Tyler Hero showed out late. It was a little too late for that, but he did make statement shots. But at the end of the day, Charlotte did exactly what I knew they could do. You know, go in there, make a statement game, take the game, and hopefully they're facing the Sixers,

because I think that the magic, they have a lot of turmoil going on right now. And you look at that particular matchup, Sixers, Hornets, with the momentum that's going, no MB. No MB. No, M.B. Looking at the Hornets really, what, tenured decade? A decade. 2016 was her last playoff appearance.

I think that's a celebration for them. And a proud moment for Lamello Ball. I think him really trying to get the rallyer behind of being a leader and a great point guard for his team. I think this is starting to show what he can actually do there. You talk about the offshooting night for Lamello. Lamello historically struggled in playing games. The game on the line, Charles Lee draws up to play.

Yeah. I mean, I didn't mention Connoble because he's a Duke guy and I expected him to struggle. So you had to draw the play up for somebody like Lamello because he felt like in the press conference or after the game, he felt like he didn't play well. And he needed to win the game for him despite whatever happened during the game. And I think you go to the guy who's going to end it or take you to the next level. So I think it was a smart play from Lee and it showed confidence. All right, let's shift over to this side of the couch, Skip.

Now you were watching that game. You want to go? Let's go Swaggy. You want to kill him. Cleveland High School. You know, you're not going to kill him. You know, you're not going to do that. Okay.

Cleveland High School legend. Swagip Nick Young, San Fernando Valley. Last night, I loved the way Mellow Ball played, but still he got a glimpse of immaturity. You know, there's still the 24-hour fitness shows, the lunchtime baller shows what he did for BAM. That was crazy. That was crazy. It was a dangerous play.

Do you get suspended for the next game? League is reviewing the play. We'll announce a punishment before Friday. It would have been a flagrant one at the end of the day. You see how hard he fell, one leg in there? Well, it's not about how hard he fails, just the play. The play would have been a flagrant one. Two.

You, flagrant. Or ejection. So he's ejected. It's not a suspicion. That's why I feel like the lead, you know, wanted some new blood, mellow, and the Hornets is playing well. They look exciting, so they just let it pass. But you take somebody start player out, out the game.

That's tough. Another thing I was wondering what happened to Norman Powell, why he was coming off the bench. Not playing as many minutes as, you know, he started still averaging 20-some, but. I don't know what's going on there, but it's good to see the Hornets playing well. They look like a team that's ready to find the lunch off and be a, not a contender, but some are forced to be messed with. And it's good to see Mello. He's looked like he's trying to take his serious, but he got to get rid of those little young

incidents like yesterday. That's the only thing he, he takes those out the equation. I think the Hornets are going to be a great team to mess with. Kobe White should be a starter somewhere for sure. Huge addition by the Hornets. Huge addition. They should play him and Mello together more instead of subbing one out and keeping, you know, subbing mellow out to bring White in.

You could play both of them together. They could be a dual threat. And I like Brandon Miller. Randler is going to be all-star in his lead, I believe, so for sure. So Hornets 19. 63 last season, Charles Lee first season with the team. Obviously, Charles Lee got championship experience during his time as an assistant coach. 44 wins this season, finished ninth in the Eastern Conference. Skip. Let's move on to you. What are your biggest takeaways from the Hornets? Play and win over the Miami Heat? Doctor, Mr. McCants, I think I heard you say this was a statement game for lamello ball. Did I not hear those words? Did I misconstrue? statement.

He shot two for 16 from three. Let's start with that. 14 times your team went down and he jacked it up and missed it and it's an empty possession that just takes the home crowd more out of it and more and more and more out of it until they're finally saying,

what are you doing? And meanwhile, his running buddy who made the most three-point shots during the regular season, con caniple is going, 0 for 6 from 3. And Lamello, who made the second most threes in the entire NBA in the regular season, is missing 14, 2 for 16.

And then maybe I got to get a new TV, but last 12 seconds of the game, I saw your man Lamello. And by the way, I root for him. I met him when he was a sophomore at Chino Hills, and LeVar told me he's going to be the best of the three by far. And that is true. He is by far the best of three, and his future is unlimited, but there's still a lot of little spoiled brat stuff going on because he was the baby of the family, and he got it all, and they handed it to him and Silver Spoon, and okay. But with 12 seconds left, he turns it over at mid-court, and it's a huge turnover, and then he goes right down to the other end, and it was a questionable foul call.

I will give you that on the three-point call. But he did that. And he didn't really fight it that hard. I think it's like, God, I did it. And you know what Tyler Hero is going to do? Because he is clutch. And he goes, swish, swish. And all of a sudden I'm saying, God,

Lamello just blew the entire game. And then for reasons inexplicable, after Eric Spolstra had gotten his team back in the game by going to their one-three-one zone, which really flummoxed. Lamello and Kahn and everybody else outside. They were having a hard time finding a shot until Kobe White saved him. And Brandon Miller made one big late three that was just guts, man.

It was just like he just went straight up beyond the top of the circle and just ripped it. But you go to the one three one and all of a sudden you wind up with Mr. UCLA, Hockes trying to get in front of Lamello and he can't. And Lamello just turns the corner on him and just basically wins the game with the layup. So if that's a statement, you got me. Now back to the play of the game, the most outrageous uncalled play in any playoff game. I've been racking my brain all morning

trying to think of a worst call in a playoff game than what transpired. And Eric Spolstra, who's not prone to blow-ups after games, he's very contained and controlled, and he made it very clear. I'm not making an excuse here, but you have to throw him out of the game for that, which would be flagrant too. And his spolster's point was that he called out Curtis Blair, the official who was right,

he was on the baseline. Looking down. He's looking down. He actually has to jump back a little bit because obviously Bam's going to fall back toward him. But what happened to me was, Lamello drives it, and it's awkward and gets caught off balance. and that kid Fontechio, who played six minutes last night and scored zero points, comes all the way across the lane, and blocks Lamello shot. And it just infuriates.

I mean, as he falls backward, he hits his head a little bit on Kalt Brunner's, sort of his chin. And then he's just going to throw a little tantrum, because he's still got a lot of a little kid in him. And he looks, and he's got high basket. like you, and he realizes that Bam is already off-bounds because he's trying to catch the caram of the block, and he's trying to control it going back out of bounds. So he's trying to hold it here with his hand. And by the way, if you look hard at it, I think his heel is out of bounds.

I think he's already out of bounds. So Curtis Blair is missing two things. He's missing an out-of-bounds call, and he's missing the most blatant, outrageous trip of somebody who's already doomed. Like he's already going down, right? And now you flip him up, and what do we call? You got no balance. Okay, yeah. What's bam, 6-9, 2, 40, 50, I don't know. And now you got all that going backward, and he can't stop.

And he's a tough guy, man. I don't know if there's anybody tougher, and he hits so hard. He is gone gone. For the rest, I thought, I'll just shake it off. Surely he's got a bruised butt, but I hope he's. But I hope he didn't break something, you know, like. Well, let's take a look at that video. We have the playing question.

It was hard to see during live game action. Oh, we didn't bounce off that one. Hard to do. But obviously, replays told a different story. Mello appearing to deliberately swipe. Well, I have a. Look at this, though. ankle.

I have a specific rebuttal for both of your statements, right? statement game for La Mello, right? Yeah. How could it be? When you're a player, you're struggling. One thing you don't do is you don't stop. You don't stop. You don't stop being aggressive. Understood. You don't stop doing what you do best. Okay. What does he done best all season?

Make threes. He does. Make three. Second most in the league. Make three. Right. What did Kahn do? Khan as a rookie, you know, we're not going to put you in that spot. All right? Melo's been here. So that's why he shot 14 of them, right? So you look at the end of the game, eight seconds left. How do you redeem yourself to make it a statement game?

Well, he did do that. To make it a statement game. Okay. To say, listen, I played bad, but we fought through the badness and made it a good night. We made it a celebration for the city. Even as the city was, what are you doing? Guess what? This is what I'm doing.

Yep. This is what I'm doing. Taking it home. Should he even been in a game. Listen, I'm going to get there. You say this particular incident. Have we seen it before? We have seen Lemello do that.

Not LaMello. Okay. Have we seen it before? Okay, tripping? Well, I've seen lots of tripping. Yeah, Draymond Green. But he gets kicked out. Is he immature?

But he get kicked out. Is he immature, though? Y'all call him immature. Okay. He can make questionable. So, Draymond has done things like this on numerous occasions. No doubt. Right?

So for us to make it a thing, like it's, end all be all let's end the world on this right now and the circumstances are high yeah yeah I get it this is this is a play in this spam out of bio 803 he was going for 83 wasn't he I don't think so I think he had 19 or 15 in the first but he only got to follow your formula for he had made all three of his shots he was three for three okay yeah six points yeah six points in 11 minutes right that particular fall usually we had a little butt pads on usually if you know you know ain't wearing them. You got the bag right there for your tailbone.

If you don't wear them, you're going to wear him, right? Now, that's not forgiving Mello for what he's done. It is an immature play. It is something that you can either get a flagrant one or a new dejection for. That still doesn't say that we don't do what we need to do to win the game. We don't do what we need to do to be in the game. Kobe White propelled that surge at the end. Miles Bridges hit big shots to propel.

that particular scenario. And then you look at a guy like Brandon Miller who was relentless. And he didn't shoot bad from the field. He was actually ready for the moment. And I think Malcolm Lee did he, Charles Lee? Charles Lee, I keep saying Malcolm Lee though. Charles Lee actually, you know, he was engaged in understanding what needed to happen next. And to be able to get La Mello the ball for his statement moment in that game, it was special for me to see.

Because now, you know, he can actually go get it and go get it done. But for the actual play in the BAM situation, it's unfortunate. It's a part of the game. It happens. And regardless if they got it right or got it wrong, we've seen it before in different occasions where God kept playing. Guy didn't get ejected from the game, got a Flager 1, stepping on a guy, chest, tripping a guy, kicking a guy in the balls. We've seen this kind of stuff before. So for me, I'm looking at it like, all right, this erases all of Lamello's prior immaturity, prior.

bad shot taking, all the lunchtime baller stuff that he's saying, and then you take it and you say, go win the game for us. Go win the game for us, put us in a position where we can actually make the playoffs for the last 10 years. And I think he's done that. Okay, and as LaMelle said in his on-court interview, immediately after the game, I fucked up and I knew I had to go win it for us, and he did. So I give you that.

But I also give you this. I don't know if you remember this game, this year. It's February 27th at Oklahoma City, Denver at Thunder. Do you remember what Lou Dort did to Joker? So they had just inbounded the ball there in the back court. And Lou Dort has his back to Joker and just takes his right foot and sticks it out and trips him. Now, he's running forward so he was able to put both hands down and he rolled and so he wasn't hurt. But they immediately blew the whistle and stopped play and they took a look and they threw his ass out.

This is 8.30 left in a close game, Denver versus Oklahoma City. and he is gone gone because he should be. You just, you can't do that. Who is, who we talking about? Lou Dort. Okay, and who's the other guy we're talking about? Joe. The mella ball.

But it's Bam, Alibio. Yeah, so it's two, it's two top players. And it's 83. And then you're mentioning Lou Doord, we don't need you. Watch out. If that was SGA,

okay, it's fair. You probably. If that was SJ, if that was SGA, we look at it. plus Lou Dorts But they didn't even look at it. He is a Draymond Greener. He does shady shit. So it's like you got to look at the optics.

Even if Mello has done it before, immature wise, he's tripped somebody before. Right? But why put yourself in that situation? Because I'm frustrated and I'm playing bad. It's why he's like skinned it. Yeah.

And he's like, He's from Chino Hills. That's a dangerous combo. Game on line. You know you could really get kicked out. But the game, I mean, yeah, you're saying game on line as far as just the game people.

Yeah, yeah. This is, this is like, You mellow kicked out. I don't think they win. So, I don't think they win. Let's take a look at... BAM play, I don't think they win.

Well, no, I don't agree. What's the record? What's BAM? How much BAM average against the Hornets? Probably 20. You need that, though. You do. But guess what your other 20 was, though?

They won three out of the four games. Yes. But where was your other 20 at? What was your next man up? So two games against the Hornets and the race? regular season, BAM average 29-9 rebounds three assists. Norman Powell is sitting there. But 29 and 9.

Yes. Norman Powell is your other guy. Three for three in 11 minutes? I'm just saying. All right, well, let's take a look. Good point. I ain't refruiting. 29 is a lot.

Right? But, you know, it's one of those things with next man up. And you do got a next man sitting there and it's on the bench. By the what? Killal Ware had 19 rebounds, so he stepped into the void and played big. I do too. I like that. Well, let's take a look at the play one.

more time. Obviously, like I said, a little hard to see in real time, especially on the game view. Pre-technical difficulties. So like we see, Lamello grabs at the leg. Hip, like you mentioned, ref right there. Here's to be looking at the situation. Maybe just got a lot of BAMs back, though. I don't know if he was able to see from that vantage. Look how he's looking down. He's looking down at. I don't know if he's going to be able to see Lamello's hand. He might just see a lot of BAM back. Obviously, Spulture Matt right there. Like you mentioned, play was not reviewed. No, like, no nothing. The Heat lost her three-time All-Star. Bam did not speak to the media after the game,

but Lamello ball didn't have this to sec. I apologize on that one. I mean, I got hit in the head, didn't really know where I was, but I'm going to check on him and see if he's okay and everything. Lamello, it kind of looked like on film that you might have grabbed his leg. I mean, did you intentionally grab his leg? I haven't even seen.

Like I said, I got hit in the head, didn't even know where I was, but, yeah, just playing basketball. But like I said, sorry, I'm going to check on him. So, LaMelle said he got hit in the head. Didn't he know where he was? I think he was later asked if he felt like he had a concussion, said he didn't know what a concussion was either. Just say he doesn't.

You know what I mean? He knows what he knows. He does what he doesn't. That's what he does it. That's what the shit you do. That's why he's a fan of him. Do you think he had to get a concussion? Leave me alone, man.

Right? Crew Chief Zach Zarber was asked why the play wasn't reviewed. Had this response. He won't. Zach said, play wasn't whistled in real time. Play continued with the fast break. And because play wasn't stopped immediately and there was no whistle on the play, the window to review the play was closed.

Play was stopped after a change of possession and then a timeout. So by our rule, our window to review the play then is closed. Not the first time that Lamello has done this to BAM. Video surfaced of a play in 2024. Take a look. He's going to reach out for BAM and try to tie him up. Mike, he doing that to bam, no. Spike.

I think he wanted to get a foul right there, though. Yeah. I think that was a take foul for him because he was upset. He didn't get it, but it looks nasty. Why he's he doing it to bam, though? You're in my way, man. Get out the way. Apparently, he's not afraid of it.

I would think he would be. Where was the rest of the heat in this situation? Yeah. Somebody got to get a flavoring on the mellow after that. I was surprised. Nobody, but play kept on, they scored, then came back here and scored. But again, if Curtis Blair just sees it and blows the whistle immediately, then I think we're going to have an altercation.

Because I think some of the heat are going to rush to the defense of bam. But Plake went all the way the other end and came all the way back before it's not. Oh, no, man. I think it happened too fast. I think you look at the highlight. You watch it. It happened. It literally happened where he,

And Mello, he did it so fast like he said. He didn't know what, like, that's what it looked like. From what he's saying. You was trying to help Mello right now. No, it just looked that way. It looked fast. Now, when you slow it down, when you slow it down, it looked like he looked at his ankle. Like, who is this?

Right. It's like he planned it, right? So that's slow mode, though. That's like he really looked like, man, I'm going to fuck you. Already one leg up. All that. Yeah, but when you fast and speed it up. You end up like this in the air.

Yeah. It ain't nothing going to help you. Ain't nothing going to help you. But when you speed it up, it don't look like it was intentional when you speed it up. It just looked like it all happened. He got blocked. He was upset.

Real intention. Lamella also intentionally punched Hugo, the Hornet's mascot. I don't think that was intentional, Louisa. You went away. You went away at a celebration. After right after the game. But according to Chris Haynes, NBA is reviewing the play with a ruling expected before the Hornet's final play in game Friday.

So this side of the couch, I believe this was the dirty play. Shodd, you said when it slowed down, it had the potential to be a dirty play. What do we expect the league to do in regards to the situation? Obviously, Hornets on the precipice were making their first playoff since 2016. It's over now, I feel like. They can't do nothing. You want the Hornets.

I feel like the NBA won't be in the tournament. They would love a Hornets, Pistons. For sure. First round meeting. And it's good for the city and everything. So, yeah. And let me say to you that you were way ahead of this. curve and this is

this is the most fun team to watch in the league right now. And I hated it that that happened and marred what was just a wildly entertaining game all the way to the end. I mean it's... I started watching for a little bit. Hey, it's one of the best playoff games I've ever watched

even though just to play in. It worked man. I thought Miami had it. Hey, I did too. They was up. They were. I started watching. Yeah, me too. I was like, oh, fuck. So now since early January, your team is 34 and 15 on that roll, 34 and 15. And in that stretch, they went to Oklahoma City and destroyed the thunder and they beat San Antonio and they beat Boston and they beat the Lakers and they beat the Knicks

and they beat Denver. They keep showing you legit, legit, more legit, way more legit. And I read an ESPN.com story yesterday in which Miles Bridges and so on were talking about, they were texting during the finals last year watching the pacer's come out of nowhere to get to the finals and they're texting each other saying hey we could do this well they just lost 60 games we can do this yeah we can do this well they they can't i'm looking at this box score man there's firepower out here they got to compare that to that team let's compare that to the indiana team right yeah i think this is me yeah i think mellow's better than holliburton okay i'll buy now and you look at knee smith you look at Matherin, you look at all the guys that they had that were playing Pascal.

Let's match up Pascal or Miles Bridges. I'm taking Miles. Even though Pascal can do a lot more, he's a little bit more versatile when it comes to like, I'll take it. I'm taking Miles just because I know what Miles can do as far as getting involved in the game, especially late. Then you got Brandon Miller. He's a star.

He's a star. He's on the brink, right? And he was on the brink before we get his contract. You look at Brandon Miller. He's better than Neesmith and Mathrimi. Both of those guys. He Pascal was the only winning they got for me. So then you look at Kobe White, J. McConnell, or the light skin.

What's his name? Neemhardt. Neemhardt, yeah. Neemhardt, Kobe White. All right? Good matchup. I'm taking Kobe because he's moving. He's been an off-car. Kobe White two years ago in a playing game scored 42 for the Bulls. 42.

So he's got fire. power. Like, 20, 20, almost career. Jal, like you said, back home,

it means something to him. Yeah, he's got to show and prove. And like you just said, he just be a starter in this league for a team. He can show like. Go to Minnesota or somewhere.

Yeah. Point guards. Skip, like you pointed out, Hornets had six 15 plus point road wins back in January. Thunder, magic amongst that mix. They did.

He could potentially play the magic, could potentially play the sixes without and B for the AFC. I think they probably just the maturity. The talent is there, but they, like, a bunch of talent. And from all five spots, it's just the mindset, the maturity. I think once that catch up with their talent, I think they're going to be unstoppable. And now it's starting to show once you win and like winning and get confidence and understand what it takes to win.

Yeah, Charles Lee is a stud to me. and he was first assistant on those staffs that, you know, Milwaukee and Boston, they won championship. He's been there and done that. He knows what it smells like, what it looks like, right? And I was about to be critical of him when he was having his class with Lamello, bringing him off the bench. Oh, yeah, I mean.

But that was a tactic. When you're a player and you know, you've seen that before where the coach is picking on that one player, but that one player is the good player, and he's trying to get through to him some way somehow, like, hey, listen, I need you to show up. You're not playing well of the starters. Let's see how you play with the bench guys.

Now I need your firepower so you can last longer because you've been turning the ball over early. You're getting in foul trouble early. You're not really disciplined. And he didn't even show that this last game. I mean, his defensive lacks in the game. He was getting backdoor. He was getting blown by a few times.

But even that late game foul, which I don't think is a foul, I think he knew right away not to even argue with it because he made a mistake. And that's a late game mistake of inexperienced and immaturity of just not knowing. But you can't ignore Khan Knappu being the rookie of the year, being consistent all year long. And then you got to look at Diabate, who's been solid all year long. God, he's just like a monster. I mean, he goes in, he does his job, right?

And then the consistency of everybody else, buying into the chemistry of the team, buying into we can do something for the city. I think that's the most important thing for the Charlotte Hornets fans, the state of North Carolina, and even for NBA. I mean, you look at underdog stories. Sometimes it goes the other way when coaches pick on the other stories. I've seen that. With the wrong guy, when you pick the wrong guy. But Mello has a father that actually is going to take the same charge as Charles.

And it's like, his dad probably is like, hey, I told you, he's doing exactly what I'm trying to do your ass for the last five years. So, yeah, yeah, don't talk back to him. Do exactly what you're supposed to do. Yeah. And I don't know how closely you follow Jeff Peterson, but he's another stud, their GM. Yeah.

And I'm going to take this on myself, because you and I have gone back and forth about Jordan and the goat. Listen, he's like the runaway goat, Jordan to me. But I've said this from the start. When he tried to GM it, when he tried to pick the players, it was the all-time worst in the history of sports. I can just show. show you. Just swing and miss, swing and miss down through the drafts all the way back to

Adam Morris. And I'm going, what? What are you doing, man? You can't. It's a legend. He was average 28. He was averaging 28. He was average. No deodorant and no showers. He was thinking. He got the calmate street. He got the calmate from Georgia. Yeah. He did. He got the calm mate. He did. But all this turnaround started what I wrote down the date last night. August 3rd, 20, 23, Michael finally said, I give up, I sell. He got $3 billion for his majority stake in that franchise. And it started to turn around. And you got real people in there. And this is the classic case of greatest performer, greatest player ever to me in any sport. But he was so great that he can't really see that, oh, that's how you, that's why he's good. But he's not,

Jordan just saying, well, I could do it. It's easy. We can all do it, right? I was the best. He can do it just like I can. No, he can't. No, he can't. And he can't do it either. And it just got worse and worse.

And if you look at the playoff record or lack thereof, it's just, they've been held hostage in Charlotte for, it feels like 20 years. And this is beautiful to watch. So I'm rooting. I just didn't like what he got away with last night. Let's look at the Hornets this season. It remains to be seen. can make the playoffs. But you're talking about a squad, obviously 44 wins this season.

Their core intact for next year, Kobe White will be a free agent, but they've got like $30, 40 million, I feel like in salary cap bread to play with. Shia, you mentioned that they resemble that Pacer squad that made the finals run, became within a Tyree Taliborne injury away, potentially winning the championship. The future seems very, very bright for this Hornets crew, and they can bolster this roster and bring it even more talent. I almost had a full soccer moment when Steph Curry was thinking about going to Charlotte. But then I was like, hey, listen, watch you.

out. Watch out. Watch out. I know your dad here and everything, but look, I think LaMello sees something in this particular franchise, now turning it around, being able to try to finally feel what it feels like to be in the playoffs for him specifically. I think that will be a turning point of his mentality saying, let me stay here. Let's build something around me.

Let's get us some more pieces. We got a good course. And you look at how they played together. I think that roster that lineup that they had one of the best starting lineups

one of the best starting lineups you look at that right and I always said Diabate is good but if you get me somebody that can actually score down there instead of just

rebound and block you give me somebody that could be a threat they change even beside him like you got Miles Bridges who played a four he can stretch this three

but if you got La Mello Khan Brandon Miller Miles Bridges in a in a stud type Zach Eady-ish type of big guy

Oh no no they're gonna be they're gonna be something really hard to deal with So I've seen that potential early on it's easier when you know who It's easy to pick the winners because you see the grit You see the the testimony behind each player Concanipal has something to prove this year because the guy he played with at Duke It's getting all the favoritism in front of him and he feels like when they were at Duke I was the guy. I was making all the big shots.

They was coming to me and he got all the cleanup stuff. Even then they both, I think he averaged 17, Khan, maybe 17 a game. And Cooper average 19. So you look at that whole dynamic, it wasn't that Khan couldn't play. It was that I'm deferring to the guy that they expect to be here. And now you look at Khan and he's like, I'm playing with guys who want to give me the ball because I can play. Yep. And they don't mind letting you get off for 20 a game.

Brandon Miller's not tripping because I can do my thing. Lamello ball can say, I can get 13 tonight, but I'll have 15 assists and get me seven rebounds and we'll still win the game. And then you got Mous Bridges, who's already proven before all of these other guys got here, like, I'm worth that money. I messed it up for myself. I got to reevaluate my talent and show them that I'm really deserving of the next contract. This is a bunch of young guys who really are just hungry for it, and I love it. So, Sean, just to your point, you got a conical. Cooper flag, roommate together at Duke.

He never get a year, though. Yeah. You got him over at Cooper flag? Yes. Consistency, bro. And he's not getting, he's not getting 30 shots a game. He's not, they're not tanking. They're not, everybody off the floor. Clay Thompson, all y'all move.

Just give him the ball. And I'm not saying that Cooper's not deserving of it. He does what he does. He's very talented. But I think, con, consistent all year, bro. Consistent all, never wavered. This is the only game. He's really only wavered him.

That's the type of pressure Cooper Flagg. But Cooper Flag ain't even available for this type of game. He ain't even in this. The flag didn't have to deal with that pressure. The Mavs knew they were asked, hey, we're going to let you do everything. Let you have to deal with the team guarding him. Like the team focus on. You're the only guy on the team.

But it was on him yesterday. And he was, it wasn't on him. Because he only took six, what, six shots. Thank you because he couldn't go off. No, it wasn't about that. It wasn't wide open like it always is. He wasn't hitting. And them playoff games.

This is his first postseason experience, so I. Think about it, Swag. If you're not hitting, if you're not hitting, you're one of the premier guys, you're not hitting. But we got three other premier guys that could potentially get a good game. You got to take the game off or beat a decoy. You got to take off. Two for 12 in the game, minus 20. But Shall just want to go back to your point real quick.

You got Khan, Cooper Flag, roommates together at Duke. Obviously sub-quality work at Duke, but Khan kind of in the shadow of Cooper for that experience now coming into the league. Seems like he does have a chip on his shoulder to prove, like, you know. I can play two. I'm better than you. We roommates, I'm just saying like, And I was better to you in practice. I'm tired of playing Sacofield him.

We go to the fun because you're getting all the love and I'm sitting here doing everything I'm doing. He's not better than Ku Klux. He's not better. He had more impact this year, I thought, than Cooper did. I'm trying to win. For a team that was hot, like a legit. What?

Huh? Y'all. Huh? Can't imple his game, his total of his game, what he does? If you really, you evaluate both of them. You're going to pick Cooper because of his athleticism. And every. and his size.

Remember, they put him at point guard to try to beef up his ball handling. He's not one-dimensional. He's not a great shooter. You can't put Cooper, a conipo at point guard. You don't need to. That's not his,

that's not his role, flag. You can't put, you can't put, you can't put Cooper flag at point guard. No, you can't. You can try. You can try. You can show.

We showed. We've seen it. It did not work. He went back to the four to get his groove. It did not. It didn't. But it worked.

It didn't. It only opened up his confidence. Thank you. So what Connipal is doing right now, he didn't need to dribble the ball. That's like he didn't need to do none of that. Give me the ball, let me get open, bro. But it's like putting Clay Thompson at point guard. Okay.

You can't do it. Yes, you can. Because what does Clay is going to do at point guard? He's going to pass it to Steph Curry. He don't need to handle it. And the playoffs, things strength, you think of beer to get the ball. That's not wrong though. You don't need him to do that.

Jemond Green. Why would you play Draymond Green at the point guard? You're not going to get the wide open three. But why would you play Draymond at the point guard? Like yesterday it's show. You got to be able to catch him off the drug. No, he do all that. No, he do that.

He's showing it all season. It ain't about what he was doing yesterday that wasn't effective. It's about the team need in that moment. We see that you're not on. We have to move on from you. We have to in order for us to win. You can't move on from Cooper Flagg, though. If he's not hitting you.

Because he's the only motherfucker out there. No, you can't move. wasn't hitting but you can't move on you know all right so if the angelo russell's playing anthony davis is playing and you got clay thompson out there playing cooper flag is going to get shit off the glass he's getting shit off the glass he is not we're not going to one we might go to him every now and again but he's averaging 13 a game he figured out concomitably ain't got that problem though he's in there with he's in there with lamello brandon miller and Miles Bridges, three guys who established.

He's going to figure out another way to win the game. Who? Who you talking about Cooper? Yes. Because he, listen. He's six nine. Because he's six, nine, and he's playing next to Anthony Davis. Your advantages are your attributes as far as your size and your athleticism.

When you talk about Conca Nipple, I can come down off pin down, flare screens. I could do two dribble pull-ups, one dribble pull-ups. I could do transition threes. That's right. And I can go to the basket. Do all that plus bring the ball up and score. No, he can't. He can't come off a down screen and shoot a three?

Yes, everybody can, but can you make it. What are your percentages? His percentages ain't conquer nipple. Cooper flag. You're not number one in the NBA and three is made. Flag shooting 30% from three this year. Come on, bro. That's not my all be all to my game.

30%. My game is not focused on downscreens. You know what we say? If that was the case, I wouldn't be the number one pick. You know what we saying? SAG. I wouldn't be the number. Sag.

Sag off that, Nick. I'm just saying. When he takes a shot, you know what we're saying? He with us. Rebound. We are saying. Rebound. He shoot, it's rebound.

Hey, box out down there. When he shoot, box out. He's going to get better at that, but he ain't no con canipal. Concanipple ain't no Cooper flag. Of course he's not. They're two different players. But we're talking about efficiency? 40-50-19.

What's his 40-50-90? How old is con can't-n-nipal? 40. 40? 20, 40, 50, 90s? It sounds like you decided rookie of the year off last night's game, which doesn't count on rookie of the year. Cooper flag been my rookie at the year.

Okay. Because he got to do more. Okay, but remember, Cooper Flagg averaged for the whole year, 21, Cinnipple average 19. And not until the end of the year, the last three games that he played before he turned his ankle, but he had been averaging 15 shots. And in the last three games, he took 27, 29, and 30 shots. And all of a sudden, the explosion, he took.

closed at the wire, and then everybody said, well, there he is. There's the rookie of the year. And Conkinnibble's team has gone 33 and 15 since January the 1st, and he can create his own shot. For sure. And Lamello pushed for them to take him, or was it, fourth overall. We need another shooter. If Tomlin was in Cooper Flagg situation here,

he wouldn't average nowhere near that. He would have put Tay Thompson on the bench. Clay Thompson would be over there like, hey, let's shoot. Well, average nowhere near that. What you mean? All them wide open shots? All them wide open shots Clay Thompson did? He needs somebody to pass it to him.

No, he don't. No, he don't. He can bring it up. He can do it. He can facilitate. He's a hooper. Man, it's hard to lead the league in threes made. Bro, he's a hooper.

He's a hooper. That means Cal Cooper better than that. We've seen Steph Curry do it. He's not no Steph Curry. All right, now we are. We see Steph Curry do it. I mean anything now. Why?

Did Steph went? Does Steph do it? This year? I'm just saying me saying anything. Dame Leonard was second, third. Now he's Dame Leonard. Why he can't be up there? He led the league and three he's made.

These guys got their own team. That's not an easy thing. You got your own team. You're comparing them to somebody that's the fourth man on the team. It's crazy. Cooper Flah has his own team. Why does he have his own team, Nick? Because the motherfuckers are tanking.

No, they're tanking. Because he's that good. They're tanking. Anthony Davis for him. Bro, they didn't trade. You get Anthony Davis out the way. You get all your guys out the way. They're trying to move the team to another.

They're trying to move the team. They're trying to do all this other shit. They got rid of Luka. You get rid of everybody. Ricky Davis, Strow, Darius, Darius, get rid of all them. LeBron's here now. You got somebody like that. Yes.

You do. A Cooper flag. That's what I'm saying. When you got somebody like that and you're tanking, you don't get credit for going out shooting a ball every fucking time, getting 40, 50, you don't get a bunch of credit when you literally got the green light to do what you want.

Because I am the system. Why you're not winning, system? I'm 19. No, you're going to go back. You was against the age shit. You're going to use it? You just use the age shit you've been against the whole time. Do you hear this nigga?

Do you hear this motherfucker saying that he's 18, 19? He used to sit on this couch and say. Man, I'm tired of y'all using the age. Was they in their last place? Was they in their last place? Yeah. They made the playoffs bronze third year. Third year.

Come on, man. So y'all thinks if we'll make it by his third year? Make what? The playoffs. That's possible. They're going to tighten up a little bit so I get there and give him the resources that he needs. The Dallas Maver's projected the top 16 preseason in their 13th now. Finish 13th.

with your number one guy leading the charge. He's young. Now he's young. Guess who else is young? Contributing at 20 points a game. I'm just saying. Contributing at 20 points a game. Young, just as young.

They got a good thing going over there. You need opening floor. You get a lot of looks when you got Mello and Brandon Miller and all them guys. So, Khan, obviously terrible by our standards first postseason game. Cooper flag will not be in the postseason this year, but kind of two for 12 in that game, 0 for 6 from 3. They have another opportunity now

against the loser of the magic or sixers game. So we'll see if it's the trend or... There's no shade on Cooper. No shade at all. He is a hell of a talent. He does what he's supposed to do. But when I'm talking about comparing him to somebody who has to show up every single night

to prove that he deserves this position, con can nipple did that. He did, but long term, if you could choose between Khan and Cooper for your team going forward for the next 10 years wouldn't you go Cooper? No. You wouldn't. Boy, I would.

Man, that's what I'm saying. Okay, I would on that. I'm just talking about Rookie. You need a specialist. You need a specialist. You got to be special. You can be good and solid at all the little small things and you can be great at Duncan and jumping, but outside of Duncan and jumping, what does he do

that stands out? You know, It's funny, in the ACC, at Duke, he was a really good three-point show. It was 40%. And then you move it back a touch, and all of a sudden, he's 29%. It's just under 30. His game will progress. He will get better.

But I don't see him as, like, this is what we're going to go get me this. He's a guy that does a lot of things well. But this guy right here, he's a sniper. I'm hiring him. to come in to get me these things. I'm hired him. Plus, I know he had a terrible game as his first ever playoff game.

But he comes from a family. They know ball. He's not going to shrink. He's not afraid. He'll bounce back. He'll come back and have another big game. All right. Let's keep this thing moving.

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featured the eighth-seated Blazers pulling up to Phoenix to take on the seventh-seeded suns, with the winner getting a chance to take on Wimby and the Spurs in the first round. This game was back and forth with the Blazers taking control early with some hot shooting, leading by as much as 14. But Phoenix responded in the second half and led by as much as 11 in the fourth quarter, and we're up six with under three minutes remaining in the game. We pick up the action late in the fourth quarter if we can, please. So Jeremy Grant came through with two big three-pointers. That was the first one right there to cut the league to three.

Yeah. Blazers got it done on the defensive end. And then with Portland down one, Grant hit another three. Then you had Danny Avdiah doing his thing. Going to the cup, getting the bucket. Sons responded, Jordan Goodwin. Got the layup. Put Phoenix up one.

Watch out. Game on the line. Come here. Danny Obdier winning his bag. Say, oh, take this for me. Hit the dice. It's isolated for the ANW to put the Blazers back up. Sun's final possession, Devin Booker.

A chance to win the game. Opting to pass a Jalen Green who missed a three-point attempt. Blazers. That was crazy. Stole the rebound. Jeremy Grant all alone for the game. Sealing dunk for the win. So Danny Abdi had one of the first.

The best games of his career, the man known as Turbo, finished with 41 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds and two blocks. He was 15 for 22 from the field. Drew Holliday, a name we discussed a little bit yesterday, and we will talk in depth today. Added 21, 4 and 4. Jeremy Grant had 16 points off the bench at 19 minutes, going 4 for 8 from deep. Daly Green led the Suns with 35 points and five boards. Devin Booker added 22 on 7 of 17 shooting.

Dibook was also 8 for 13 from the free throw line. Dylan Brooks had 20.7 rebounds in four. before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Blazers secured their first trip to the playoffs since 2021. Skip, we will start with you. What are your biggest takeaways from the Blazers playing road win over the suns? Now we can talk about a statement game. Uh-oh.

Denny Obdya made the All-Star team this year for the first time and went 25, 7, and 7 for a team that finished 42 and 40. quietly, sort of snuck in. And in his first playoff game of his career, he goes for 41 at Phoenix, making 15 to 22 shots. And he threw in 12 assists, seven rebounds and 12 assists on top of that, and completely outplayed Devin Booker in every way, shape, and form in Book's house. And even in the fourth quarter was six,

Joe mentioned the leads, but with 624 left at Phoenix, Phoenix is ahead 100 to 89, so they're up 11 with 6 and a half minutes left. And Devin Booker ends up making zero field goals in the fourth quarter. He did make three free throws for three total points. And Obdia had 14 points in the fourth quarter, and they do call him Turbo because he just goes all out every dribble, every game. and he led the NBA in drives basket attacks. Nobody drove it, even SGA drives a lot,

but he didn't drive it as much as this guy does because he just puts his head down and says, try to stop this at 6-8. And he's the energy of this team. They just feed off him. And I got to say this about Drew Holliday. You want to talk about a leader and a basketball player, he's from out here in Southern California and basketball family.

Everywhere he's been, good to great stuff happens. Rings happen in Milwaukee. Rings happen in Boston. And I'm not saying they're going to win a ring because they're going to have to deal with the San Antonio Spurs. But he's like a foundation of that team where you just, you look in the locker room, he said, oh, Drew's on our side, and he's going to show you how to do this. And they were just the better team, really, all night long. to me. And in the end, it's funny, they kept showing Dame over on the bench, Civis,

and the bench is just going crazy. Obdi had to make another crazy drive shot. And everybody's jumping up and down. And Dame, he's a little too cool for that. So he just kind of doing this, right? But I'm thinking Dame is going on 36 years of age, and he's gone back to be the big fish in the pretty small pond in Portland. Well, next year, I don't know. Is there a new sheriff? Is it, Like, I'm thinking those two, for sure. Hey. No.

No, for sure. Yeah. Doesn't it feel like it's his team? He's just there to be like a match. Shoot the three. Shoot the three. Yeah, okay. Well, is Dame going to love that?

Is he going to be cool with it? Is he going to be comfortable? Because Dame was the man for a long time in that little pond there, right? So in the end, I just, it just killed me that. I'm a big Devin Booker guy, and that's just, that's unacceptable, man. Yeah. Right? Yeah.

To have that kind of game and that kind of moment and your favorite at home? Come on, man. That's Phoenix to me, though. I feel like they always do that. I'm happy to see Portland playing well and Jeremy Grant is in, like, a winning situation. I feel like he'd been over there in Portland. It was rotting away. He always could have been like a player on a contender team for me.

I mean, but they got something special over there. And them against your team, the Spurs, it's going to be a good matchup. That's going to be, that's not no cakewalk. No. Cornyn is playing well. They're on both sides. They're not afraid. I didn't even know Sharp was coming off the bench.

Yes, bro. The average of $20 going on. They got killers. That's crazy. And Grant came off. I'm saying. And they got length of deal with the Spurs. Is that the reason why the horn, I mean, Houston traded green in, for that situation?

Mm-hmm. I mean, I think we ought to be honest. I mean, as the number one ducker of smoke, I was one versus four yesterday. I was only one picked of Blazers. Yeah. Somehow, some way. Shostradamus always comes out picking the And 100% did it again.

Did it again and again. And you know guys don't want to show up. I get it. I'm a little bit, a little bit hasty sometimes. I'm the most hated for a reason. Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate. But when you really watch the game, you can just see why people hate me

because I break the game down. I actually watch the games and I do scouting reports with every single team. And the scouting report with Portland was, let's look at their roster. First, we talked about Drew Holiday yesterday. I raved about Drew Holiday. He is a guy that when you talk about playing basketball, I want him on my team.

He does it all. What did he do in the first quarter? He set the tone. He really came out. He hit shots. He created space. He gave Denny a lot of the opportunities to do his thing. Everybody was ready.

Kamara, when you talk about those guys over there, how Tiago has them actually ready to play and engage, you forget who's on the team. Scoot Henderson is on the team. He is. He played well. You look at Jeremy Grant, you look at Shaden Sharp, Klingham. Donovan Klingham. To Monica.

Mr. Offensive Rebound. Mr. Seven foot. He led the league in offensive rebound. You got guys doing things out there that you don't really look at. Then you got Denny who's actually taking advantage of being the underdog, being underrated, having guys looking. him like Dylan Brooks

looking at Denny like you ain't all that I'm gonna lock this up all right take this foul and sit your ass on the bench he did six of them much favorable whistle a lot of people have complained about that six of them he's crafty then he got one of the best whistles he's called a European

a European call him a European he out there doing what Europeans do Luca Joker and him he is all he is all NBA he is all NBA he is all NBA, 25, 7 and 7. This year? This year. They'll do that. I'm talking about all

NBA. Remember we talked about who you got to move in, who you got to move out, who's available, who's not, then he should be in there. This should have proved it. It's his first playoff appearance 41, 12, and 7 on Devin Booker. We talk about having the conversation about Devin Booker, right?

I think what happened yesterday was an identity change. Who took 28 shots for the sons? Jalen Green. He did. Scored 35 points. On 28 shots.

29, actually. So we're looking at, if you're looking at the game, it didn't look like the Devin Booker show. No, it didn't. Right? Because he had a holiday on him. Not even that. Because Devin Booker does Devin Booker things. And when you look at how many shots Jalen Green took and how he took those shots

is coming off the snake screen at the top of the key. He's coming off and he's just taking those threes. Right? I'm looking at Devin Booker and I'm like, yeah, he missed five free throws, right? It's five. A for 13. How much they lose by? And a lot of those free throws he was upset at.

Lost my four points. But the coach for the sons is not taken into account that Devin Booker is an all-star elite player that deserves the much-needed attention in a series like this or in a game like this. You got to give him the ball, get him high early, you got to get him involved. You got to make sure that the defense adjust to what we're doing for Devin. Now, I think, I think truly that the management has told Jalen Green that this is going to be your team.

Because ain't no other reason why you're taking 28 shot in the end of game like this. And we got Devin Booker. But if you're Devin Booker, obviously, Sun's franchise player, how are you allowing that? Did you see what he did at the end of the game? I'm just saying. What was that last shot? Did that last shot look like I'm Devin Booker, two dribble jump? I'm going to shoot this regardless.

No. That did not look like that. That looked like the play is Devin. You're going to draw two and you're going to kick it to Jalen. And that looked nasty to me. But if you're Devin Booker and you see that play drawn, do you say, okay, coach? Man, imagine how he feels. Now, you know this feeling.

You know you deserve to play. And you're getting that, and he's not even looking at you. The coach's not even looking at you for the play. He's like, this is what we're going to do. Hey, Devin, you're going to get it, you're going to drive it, you're going to kick it to Jalen. I'm going to do what? He did it.

He did it for that reason. But if that... I don't think they get it. They might not make the playoffs. Who they got next? The loser of the Warriors Clippers game. No, they won't. They won't.

They play the Clippers. They're not making a play. Either one of them. He would play the Warriors. Steph come back for the Warriors. It's tough. So, Sean, you talked about Danny. Let's talk about Danny.

I'll be a real quick, man known as Turbo, made his first all-star game this season, put up career highs and points, assists, and minutes played. Average 24, 7, and 76 games. Like you mentioned, stuffed the stat sheet in his first career postseason action. And I'll give you a little nugget here. Neither here nor there. Obviously, they take on the Spurs the next round. He averaged 32, seven rebounds, and eight assists in three games against the Spurs. But Wimby did not play in any of those three games.

Okay. And the Blazers was one and two in those. But when you look at Danny, obviously, first all-star game, you think he's solidifying himself as a star in this league? I do. Underrated underdog, for sure. He was overlooked with the Wizards. They give up, in the NBA, they'll give up on you early before you can prove yourself. And I think the Blazers gave him another opportunity to try to, you know, reemerge and reinvent himself as a player, give him an opportunity.

I believe it was Chonzie that gave him his first real look. and seen something in him that he can do multiple things. And if you think about it back then when he was drafted with the Warriors, Luca was just now coming into his own as far as being a three-dimensional

can do this, this, and this. Right? There's not a lot of guards that was really doing that. And so they didn't really believe that Denny was going to be like a Luca. And so fast forward, I'm not saying that he is a Luca,

but he got Luca-ish in him. He's got talent. He's got talent. He can shoot it. He can draw fouls. He can finish. You know, they all don't play no defense, so we get that part. But he actually rebounds.

He passes the ball well. And I love his grit. I think that's the one thing I see in him that I don't really see a lot in Luca and Joker and a lot of the other European guys is he's got a certain fire to him that makes it. Like, it's not intimidating to the other. other guys, but it shows that he comes here to play. He comes here to fight. He's not just going back down.

And I think getting an all-NBA nod, getting an all-star nod this year, it set the tone for him getting respect in the league where when you see the scouting report, it ain't no regular scouting report for him. You better do this or he's going to kill us. You better do, you better pay attention to this. You better deny this. If he gets it over here, we need to come. We need to double.

All of these things now happen with him when he's playing the game. And I think that's important for a player like that in Portland. We have the conversation about what is Dame going to do. How is he going to respect this decision for this to be his particular franchise now? I think you just need to get on the bus and see where it goes at this point. Because we've been on the Dame train before. And so right now it's like, all right, what are we going to do now that we got a new driver? We're going to hoop this, you know.

What was the exhibit show? Pimp my ride. We're going to pimp this ride. 36 as a Kiwis tonight. Yeah, and you can't get on that bus no more. It ain't the same bus. We know you like fish, so we put a fish tank. With a fish tank in the back seat.

So, yeah, I like, I like Denny and everything that he's doing, man. But it shows that the Wizards don't know what they're doing as an organization. Like, what are the Wizards doing? Like, you didn't see this in this guy? Anthony Davis has that same question. At this very moment. Yeah, man. And it started, I like that these teams are now having respect because even with the hornets, like you see the hornets on your eyes.

It's just the hornets. Portland is same old. But now you got to get up for these games. Or they're going to end up having 40 on your head. So it brings the NBA up when these small cities or whatever you want to call it, teams are in the playoffs and they're playing well. It's exciting and they're like on the same boat as the Hornets. They got a lot of talent over there. A lot of talent and they're starting to figure it out and for Dane, you don't want him to

be the guy to mess up the ship and because it's only going to be bad for him. I don't think you would get rid of a Demi for Dane right now. So it's his team and I think next year they're going to have my name. more confidence, you just got to look out for Portland. For real. So to me, to your point, of all those Euro-type players, Obdia is the best athlete. He's better athletically than Luca or Joker.

He's more like a... And he plays more American athlete style. Yeah, he do feel Cooper. Right? And Luca and Joker play something. play some out of rhythm kind of in the lane and it's genius because it works but you can't time it

you know you like you got no lift and you throw up and when you're playing defense in high school and college you know this is the way it works you know this is the rhythm of the game is like this like boxing like you know the one two three you know the counts and maybe you get in the lane and you do one up fake but

but then then you shoot it right and okay and you can time it And with Luca, I don't know what he's doing in the lane, but it works, you know, obviously. But he doesn't have real foot quickness. Obdia has foot quickness. He can blow by people and play with strength and athletic ability and defend with athletic ability that these guys can't. And all I know is they, I know Wembe didn't play, but they did go to San Antonio on January the 3rd. and Avdia had 29, 10, and 10.

So we had a triple double at San Antonio. But no Wimby, I got it. It's Luke Cornett trying to... No, no. It's castling those guys out there trying to garden. They're tough. It's them. Yeah.

I noticed when it was cooking the clippers the last two games. Yeah. But that playoff spot, they was... Hey. And the other thing about Portland that you point out is that they went seven deep during the regular season in double-digit scorers. Because that Caleb love comes in the average 10 again. I forgot about Caleb.

Okay, so. What the hell? So it is kind of Charlotte-esque. Yeah. Maybe not quite the star power that Charlotte has, but... I think it's more San Antonio-esque. Okay. Yeah.

They have, from school to Caleb, yeah. To Drew, to Shaden, to Jeremy, to Kamara, to Klingham. Hey. I haven't said Denny yet. This is all the background players. They have some guys that can. Then Williams.

You can't forget Williams. He's there. He's there. He does his job. He does. And they show up. He's one double-dudges. Yeah.

Okay. And look, I'm a Chauncey fan. He gave him their foundation. I wish he was still there. But I know Tiago Splitter, and I'm happy for him, and it's intriguing that. that he was obviously a former spur for five years, and did win one championship with the big three there.

2014. And it's funny to me that he's going back to San Antonio as the coach of the Portland Trailblazers. That's crazy. He was a top pick for them for San Antonio. For a while, a great prospect of. Taking over all the turmoil, obviously, Chaunty. Yep.

Put on leave after the federal game. You're making you forget about all that. I don't know. It makes you forget about. Yeah. Yeah, they play they play? And if they, they can, they can show up, let's just say. It could be a good series.

It's my team. I want to be biased because I know what they can do. And it's not a laydown series by any means. When you say they were one and three, I mean, one and two, one and two. Three, it was three. So you look at that particular series and you say, no Wimby. But he's at what you said, 32, 10 and 10. 29, 10.

29, 10. And I'm looking at, all right, no Wemby, but you still got Castle Vassell. You still got Johnson and Carter, Carter, Brian, and still defenders, still guys who, hey, Denny's coming in town. We're going to Denny's. He's trying to eat. But Wemby will be here, and we'll plan. And we're going to clean it up. So they have to change their dynamic as far as what I see the Spurs do against them.

It's cut off all angles with Denny, make him a passer. make all of those guys who may shot, they may have shot the ball well last night. Yeah. But I think they shot the ball well because Phoenix is such a terrible defensive team. They are. And you look at the spurs

and how they cut off angles and then they get back out to shooters. They close out. They force you to put the ball on the floor. You got Shaden Sharp. You got Jeremy Grant. They're not mid-range shooters. They're not those type of guys.

And then you got a guy like Drew Holiday. He can't shoot the three, but he would much rather set his teammates up. Denny would love to catch and shoot and have easy shots, but I think it's going to be a tough game, tough series for them. But they got potential to push it to at least six. I was going to say they could win a couple of games.

And Denny said that after the game, said, look, they don't have playoff experience. We don't really have playoff experience either. Self-of-grab. We're going to come in, hungry, ready to go. But let's talk about Drew Holiday. We talked about Drew yesterday, his impact with the bucks and kind of him leaving Milwaukee.

and that team starting to spiral. Holiday won a chip with the bucks in his first year in Milwaukee got traded to the Blazers for Dame, then immediately shipped to the Celtics, helped Boston win a chip in his first season with the team, went on to sign an extension, became the fourth playing in league history to get a hundred plus million dollar extension

at age 33 or older, then traded back to the Blazers for Anthony Simons this past off season, helped Guy Portland to their first winning season and playoff appearance since 2021, despite dealing with injuries. in the season, played I think around 50 games. Also just one of three players who went multiple titles in the 2020s and won titles with two different franchises. One with KCP and

Alex Cruz, so the other players will do that. So when you look at Drew Holliday, deserve more credit for his impact on the court. 100%. 100%. I just loved his postgame presser. So, so much humility, so much passion. You can see that he was focused on getting the job done. And I think that that showed from opening tip. He was ready to go. He was engaged. His attention to details as far as knowing where to be to stop these guys. We talked yesterday briefly about him being the guy that would do certain things defensively that are uncommon to the naked eye and in the audience that don't know why he's over here and not over there guarding this guy. He calls. He's got so many, like, deflections and strips during the times where Jalen Green over penetrated.

Devin Booker thinks that he's got his two dribble pull up. There's Drew Holiday. Nobody on that Blazers team got taken advantage of because you have a rover, I call it the rover, a rover in Drew Holiday, who's always kind of in the way when you think you got a one-on-one situation. And we talk about winning pedigree. Drew has shown over and over again. Even when he was playing in New Orleans, I think that that passion was overlooked

based on all the injuries that they had down there and the changes. And it's just being New Orleans, he goes to Milwaukee, he gets a bona fide killer that he gets to play with and he gets other players who understand how to play the game of basketball. When you play with basketball players,

it's so easy to play the game because you don't have to overindulge and overdo things. You don't have to go average a triple double. You do your job, what you actually love to do. And Drew loves to play defense. He loves to play the point guard position traditionally. Let me get here.

Let me figure out who's hot. Let me figure out where your spot is. What do you like? And I think he has so much talent with Portland where he has his pick of the litter. I can go do my thing when I'm ready. But, man, I got Satan sharp for the alley-of-you. Man, I got Kamara who can shift this three. I can do so many things

So you go back to Boston You win a championship With guys who got close But didn't know how to take it over the top Let me show you guys what we need to do We need to sit on this nail We need to you know Jailer You go do your thing

I got your back Hey Tatum we need a defensive rebounds You need to be rebounding Don't be hanging out into the three point line Go get the boards And I think that veteran leadership From Drew Man it spreads like wildfire

And it showed last night. And like you said, they're not going to win a championship. But three, four years from now, his leadership is going to spread. Whether he's on that team or not, it's like a CP3. Once you get a dose of what it's like to be around the basketball mind, you don't forget it. And it sticks around. So I love everything Drew's doing, man.

Kudos to you, bro. I don't, I think Drew is like, he is best. at being like the fourth, third, fourth guy. When you try to make him to start a team, that's when it's, that's not his, I think, his niche. He got a lot of Rondo in them, as in that captain, the leadership, the anchor, like the deep fence and all that, how to run a team.

I think early on when in Philly and New Orleans, when you was trying to make him the All-Star and start a team. I don't think that's like his lane, but you get players, like he said, basketball players around him. Like right now, he'll be a perfect fit for like Minnesota or something like that.

People that need that one piece away. But he's a for sure. What he's doing, he changed the game. He changed his teams. He's a captain. He's a leader. He's a leader.

He talks. He knows how to give players confidence. He's there to, like, demi. He's there uplifting these guys, giving him confidence. That's the confidence. That's it. So you would love to have a guy like him on your team, for sure. San Fernando Valley Legend.

It is. Was the manager of the tennis team at Campbell Hall High School. Wow. People may not know that. Was manager of the tennis team. What is your team? What is your job for that? Just make sure the ball machine on.

With the coaching staff, make sure. The records are, you know. Water boy. Make sure. Hydration, make sure the tennis balls are, not fully a little bit. You know, he's never been a superstar, obviously. But I think you could qualify him as a star. But as a star, his intangibles are the highest on the star level.

I've ever seen. I'm talking about all the intangibles, the unteachables, the uncoachables, you use the word anchor. He just anchors teams with his leadership and all the rub off on everybody

because everybody trusts him and he's the timeliest big stage player I think I've ever seen because he picks, like you said, he just controls the game. he's going to pick spots, we need a bucket here, I'm going to get it. I will figure out how to make a shot now, or I need to get Denny the ball where he needs to have the ball, and he has no ego

that I can detect at all, like no ego, and you just don't see no ego in a player of that magnitude with that kind of, those credentials and those rings. He doesn't handle himself. All his interviews, it's total humility, and it rubs off, because he, you know, because he's, he doesn't handle himself. He's just showing all those kids, this is the way. This is how you do it. Didn't that feel good last night? Yeah, that felt good. Yes.

Oh, that's how you do it. Okay. And they are so blessed to have him as their anchor. And I wish they could, now they're just running into the behemoth. So I'm afraid the buck stops here, so to speak. But you got to say the Blazers can steal a few from the Spurs Squad and then the series a little bit. It's going to demand some focus. The way they play last night, they're going to have to lock in.

It ain't going to be an easy. Like, we was talking about yesterday, like the easy road. If we take this easy road and ain't no easy road in the playoff. Ain't no easy road, right? You know, the crucial one is game one because it is Wimby's first ever. And Portland's going to go in there on rhythm. Like they're starting to kick. catch real fire.

If they could steal the first one, then you have to play uphill for a long time, right? So that's, I think it's, isn't it Saturday, Josiah? Yeah. Saturday? Yeah. And I'm going to wing and piggyback off for Imai Shumford, who said a lot of these championships come on the back of your role players. Oh, for sure.

And how well your role players play. Yeah. And so if Denny is your star, if Wemby's your star, and we'll, talk about let's cancel them out they're going to show up or not show up the game is going to be decided by the dillon harpers the castles they they will yeah the shadd and sharps yeah scut henderson's to cling them got they have to show up so that's going to be the balance sheet is going to be who out plays whose bench yeah how our bench plays how the coaching style of how you sub

and who's going to be those matchups because we talked yesterday like, oh, you're an individual matchup. No, man, it's the team scouting report. It's how the teams actually coach this game, the style that they actually match up with. How often is Wemby going to be matched up against Williams? And is that a good matchup for Wemby?

And if Klingham is against Wemby, he's trying to push him under the rim to get offensive rebounds the whole game. That's going to be a bangham for him. Yep. That's not just a, a cake walk for Wemby. You got on the other end of the floor, though. Wemby's going to be, I'm going to be handling this ball.

But look, we got six files to give up. I got fouls to give up on you, Wemby. We're cool with this. I can beat you up, you know. But it's going to be one of them games where the deciding factor is going to be the role players. And you feel like Wembe probably be able to shut down a lot of Denny Obdious penetration to the Cup. Those guys are going to step up. He will.

Vegas, the Cup. Cup? Yeah, when New York, Clarkson and the welfare call it came. That's going to be the difference though. Yeah, driving, kicking, making sure Wimby stays in the paint. But if you're going to have Clingham down there, it ain't going to help you because I can actually help and get back to mine. But if you got Jeremy Grant playing the floor, stretching it out, and Williams, I don't know if he's shooting threes or not like that, but you can't play traditional big in the box, big in the doghouse and try to beat the spurs with Wimby down. You need to bring him out of the paint where they're actually driving the ball and playing to their strengths.

And then most teams now are playing Wemby with a mid-level guy, like a 6-6 guy, like Caruso plays him. And you put some, because he's going to play outside a lot. And you need somebody who can get up in him, but the height doesn't matter. Drew Holiday. Maybe. I think he takes that talent. Yeah, he would. Just to keep him on the board.

Jeremy Green on him. Jeremy Grant could do it. I think Jeremy would challenge it. Camaro, though. I think Camarra is actually their defender. Anyway, it would be better than Phoenix. If Spurs is playing Phoenix, I think they'll have to be. Phoenix laid down.

Yeah, that would have been four or five out for sure. That's a sweet. Yeah, that's a sweet. That's why I picked the Blazers because I knew it was going to be a good series for them not only to go and win the game, but the next series is going to be San Antonio Blazers. That's going to be a sleeper. It's going to be a sleeper.

It's going to be a sleeper, a sleeper series. All right. Well, let's keep this thing moving. So you guys have some negative opinions on the playing to start yesterday's show. But I think we can all agree that those two games last night, extremely, extremely entertaining, but went down on the wire. They had, they had some negativity. I'm with it.

So including just a fourth overtime game and play in history. There was an issue, however, with Amazon. Prime experience some technical difficulties during a portion of overtime. In the Heat Hornets game, that was a little a little frustrated, but they did have a nice technical difficulty screen. I didn't mind a nice music overlay with it. But League has been

taking a lot of heat, a lot of criticism as a light, as a late despite viewership increases in the first year under the new TV deal. Also setting attendance records for a three-year span. But I'll ask you first, Skip, because you were not here yesterday. How are you feeling about the plane? Are you a fan of it? And do you like Adam Silver for introducing this? additional postseason basketball?

I'm a fan after last night. You know, like I'm still prisoner of the last night moment. Those were really highly entertaining basketball games. But the format is still gimmicky to me and Mickey Mouse-ish to me. And I don't love it. I don't know what was wrong with it before.

I know you want to get a little more bump, but then it's these. won and done's after 82 games. I don't know. I didn't get to watch yesterday, so I'm not exactly sure what you guys said. Were you both on yesterday? Yeah.

Yeah. It was just more of a, are you a fan of a team like the Suns being a seventh seed? And now. Be out. Yeah. Well, it's the baseball syndrome of, okay,

you're going to play 162, and then you're going to play one game for all the marbles to get to advance. And I just don't love it. I don't get it, but I can't argue with last night. But it's weird to me. Now, wait, Phoenix still, oh, they get another chance to be one and done, right? But it's working.

And to your point about the ratings, if those are to be believed with the Amazon Primes, they just blew it out this year. It's the best overall ratings they've had in what I think. I just read this. Like 24 years? 24 years? It's just hard to quantify ratings now because they're across all these platforms. We're up 86% from last year.

86%. That's hard to believe. But maybe it's just the scope of all the platforms. You're reaching more eyeballs. Good for them. I mean, playing to me is, yesterday's conversation was kind of like well why should we play because we've been doing this the whole season so you got one more game to do this what's stopping you from doing it one more game like if you are this good to deserve seven or deserve eight

we putting this extra game in and make sure maybe it's a tune-up game for you this is a little tune-up off night don't have an off-night hey I don't get all this and that's And my other thing was The refs can dictate the games Oh man The free throws can dictate the games Shit a bad pizza A bad pizza can dictate the game

A motherfucker trip you up can dictate the game So it is a lot of wild cards in there But it's like If you talk about viewership You talk about entertainment Why not throw the wild card Like baseball We got a wild card game

Boom just like football You got that got the wild card you got to win this game i know but you're only playing 17 to start with you're not playing 82 hey you got 83 bam's 83 he was on 83 bam bam bam bam bam tap down on 83 it should be eight nine it shouldn't be the tempst i could i could see the seventh seed already and you play one game by the eight or nine to get that eight nine teams to play to get that eight spot. Yeah.

Because what, the Warriors won 37 games? Like, you don't really have to win that many to be in 10 spot.

Yeah. I don't like that for God, like the Warriors. And what is the case? Now, Curry come out. And you see,

he ramped up in the end because he know we got a chance for the play in. I didn't like that. Yeah, how bad was the injury, bro?

Was you really injured or you were just waiting to the end? I ain't like that at all. And then it's like a guy like Kauai. Like, he's been trying,

like they, like, came back from this particular scenario to being able to be in contention to play. Six and 21 start. Now we got to play against these guys that are just trash. Y'all trash. Why are we playing y'all? But now

if we just do what we're supposed to do, ain't no excuse. Just come in here take this game, take the next game, and solidify my spot. Right now it's all or nothing. Eat what you kill. Or don't eat it all.

You got a potential seven seed that really was a seventh seed could be out out die out because you didn't deserve to be seven but that's what's shown it but that's what I'm but no because I've lost one how many times have the suns beat Portland this year I feel like are they two and two or they might be yeah but you look at that you look at the suns and you're like ill yeah two and one against the blazers in the regular season now two and two even though it's playing.

And they've been out with Dylan Brooks was out with the wrist injury. Jalen Green was out. We don't even know what the hell was wrong with him, like a hamstring or something. And all that would be still one more games to be in seven seats. Man, seven seed. But then you go up against, you go up against the guys that's hungry. Catch him on a 41 point. Come here.

Come here. Come here. Your star post to show up and take this game. You don't post to let us come in here. And it showed up for 82 games to get us in the 70s. Yeah. But you got one more. That's why I don't like.

That's the only thing. You got one more. I can see eight times. At home, too. We made sure it was comfortable. You get two home ones. You made sure it was comfortable. You should be able to clean sweet, home court advantage.

You got your fans. Look, you can actually just take a nap and come to the damn arena. You ain't got to fly nowhere. You're cool. Ain't no jet lag or none of that. You want games to get one win to ensure that you make the playoffs. Yeah, that's tough. It's tough, but they wasn't seven.

They've been struggling all year. They were tough. They were struggling all year. They were struggling all year, man. Melo just put the nail in the house. It ain't even hot in Miami no more. I'm going to send you home in the first quarter. For sure.

Go on ahead. Go home, man. All right, but let's keep this thing moving. So Wolves didn't have much to play for in their regular season finale against the Pelicans, but they did welcome back the biggest legend in franchise history for fan appreciation night. Let's take a look.

So, Kevin Garnett made his return to the Target Center for the first time since 2018. I've greeted with a tribute video standing ovation from the Wolves Faithful. The Hall of Famer made his entrance with current owners Alex Rodriguez and Mark Lorry. KG and Ant Man shared a moment before the game, which led to a temporary delay in the action.

You see Aunt Cheezing. I wonder what words were exchanged. But Garnett had a strained relationship with previous owner Glenn Tate. Taylor with Taylor allegedly reneging on a spoken agreement with KG to give him an ownership stake and role in managing the franchise, but the big ticket has reconciled with the team and their new ownership. Garnett will work with the Wolves and links in a new all-encompassing role involving business, community, and fan engagement efforts as well as content development. KG will also join the late Meath Leak Sealy as the only players to have their jerseys retired by the wolves. That ceremony expected to happen within the next two seasons.

So KG started and ended his career with the wolves, spending his first. 12 seasons in Minnesota after being picked fifth overall in the 95 NBA draft. During the sign of the Wool's 10-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA, and all-deaf election four-time rebounding champ led the team to eight straight playoff appearances including their first trip to the Western Conference Finals back in 2004. Franchise all-time leader points, rebound to assist steals and blocks. The only NBA player to ever lead a franchise in those five categories in addition to being the only MVP in Wool's history.

So, Shah, when you look at that, you started your career with Minnesota. It's good to see KG and the wolves reuniting. How I feel about the Wizards. I have to comment. Right? It was like he asked me some shit. Former Minnesota-Tenraud, Rashad McKeys. Yeah.

Before you became a doctor, PhD. Scott. Mm-hmm. I tried to take my own experiences out of it and just enjoy the moment. Man. It's good for KG. It's good for. forward the city. I think they would be a lot more excited if he'd stayed, tried to win the

championship there. The fact that he's able to come back and still get the welcome that he has and that he's gotten and seeing the franchise propel itself forward without him, regardless of the promises that were made for him to be part of the ownership group or an executive or GM or have you. I think that he put into work, you know, 10 plus years, blood, sweat, and tears, passion, grit, determination, discipline. The two years that I spent with them was some of the best years that I was able to get out of playing in the NBA, next to one of my second, third, second to third favorite player ever. One of the most complete players to ever play the game. We had a lot of similarities, so we got along quite well just because of the understanding of intimidation and really just taking people's heart out and going out there and really not caring.

I think his passion for that city shows, you know, he was able to show his daughter the fanfare and the fan support that comes along with greatness and the preparation behind it. So when you look at KG, you say his name is the big ticket. And that's the tickets you want to go pay to go see. And he left it on the floor every night. A lot of people didn't like the way he did things. A lot of people, you know, it rubbed him the wrong way, the way he was out there on the floor and the way he competed, but he got it done. And he was unapologetic about it.

And that's what I loved about him. He didn't give a fuck. And so everything is well deserved on his part with the city and a proud moment. That's why you see KG coming back to Minnesota after a strained relationship with the team. I see new ownership. I love it. KG is by far one of my, if not my favorite, big in the game, the mentality, the grit, everything he brings. And I honestly feel like that's when Minnesota is at their best.

And I can see a little bit of Ant Man. And like KG, that's why I could see that. I could see him talking to him. I could see him passing a torch and all that. And it's great for Minnesota because when you think of the Timberwolves, you still feel that KG feel. You think of that, them times. But then to bring him back, I really thought his jersey was already retired.

I'm not going to lie to this. I don't think he was a supportive of it. They should have been retired. It should have been retired. I'm not rocking with you all right now. Leave me alone. But they need to do that probably first game next year. season. What KG done for the game, when he brung to the game, he's one of the greatest

to do it for sure. Straight out of high school, skinny kid. Nobody thought he was going be what he is and he took the lead by storm, the big ticket. Got in people face, barked, whatever he had to do to get it done. He got it done. It was a unicorn when he came in, dribbler the ball, pass the ball, play like a guard at 6, 11, 7 feet. Man, the kid, yeah, got to give him all his flowers. And I well deserve. I'm glad everything is working out, but his jersey should have been retired a long time ago. Yeah.

So Skip, you see KG return in Minnesota. Good to see that reconciliation. I agree with Nick. When I think of the Timberwolves, I think first of him. Not yet, Ant Man. I just think of Kevin, but sometimes for the right and wrong reasons, but it was a long run, and you saw the last, what, two years of it, but it was 12 years.

Man. And he made 10 all-star teams. And he was the MVP of the league, and yet the first seven times they made the playoffs, they lost in the first round because they just didn't have much. It was just. It was just by and sell. It was just by and Bellyette.

Yeah. Yeah. They had Starberry for a while and Wally Zerbiak and Joe Smith and Chauncey was there for a minute. And then then Rashad came and then. I wasn't even. Not yet. You weren't quite ready. But the year after he left, you had a.

It was all right. It was pretty good. Green, Joe Green. Yeah, yeah. Kyle Jefferson and those guys. Yeah, not bad. But he had to go to Boston to make it happen. And anything is possible.

And it was, but not in Minnesota. And yet, this felt like an A-Rod special to me, and Alex Rodriguez's PR move, because he just said, let's show this city. We need this for basketball, and we need to lift our curve. team up as the six seed. Let's have a moment here because none of the starters were playing. It's the last game. Let's just do this. Let's do it right. And they did it right. And that felt

like his jersey got retired on that day, right? It just felt like we had a full circle closure moment, right? Love that. And it felt it felt good to me. And I just hate it for that city that he didn't have any help. He had a little help from you. No, I wasn't on a hill. Hey, I've run the bags. I've run the PlayStation. I've run the Xbox.

I got the donuts. I've run the donuts. Marbury is a very important part of the process. What was it? Marbury wanted to be the star? Nah, he didn't like, he almost died going to the game. And he's sleeping. Yeah, he, uh, the ice, the rose are always icy.

Oh, God. So he got a big scare going to the game one day. And he was like, give me the fuck out of here. New York, fool. Nah, it's not like nothing like, nothing's like Minnesota, bro. He wanted to get the same contract as KG. Nah, it wasn't that. It wasn't that.

Nah, stop. Steph was one of the guys, like, even though it's cold of New York, but it was one of those situations where they literally, bro, that rows are icy. They, everything still goes. Nothing stops. Like, they do the ice salt on the rows and they tell you to put the chains on your tires. And you better be here.

at three. You better be here at 10. Ain't no excuse. Ain't no, hey, man, my roads, I can't get out in my driveway. Get the shovel. We're expecting to see you. He didn't like, it was a young Starberry, too, so he didn't like none of that. He wanted to get out of there.

He said he almost died like five or six times. He was 7 p.m. in Brooklyn, said he almost died five or six times. Trying to traverse the icy roads in Minnesota. Black ice. Black ice, too. That's the difference. But, yeah, they had opportunities. Wally and those guys, wasn't going to get it done.

But, you know, Spreewell and Sam was the closest thing that they got in that Spreewell thing. Kevin McKell kind of fucked all that up. He did a lot of bullshit for that. The Western Conference of Fighters? That was their last hurrah. And that really hurt. No, they lost the lake, right? Oh, to the lake.

Yeah. Didn't they lose the Lakers in the conference flight? And then the Lakers lost the pistons in the... Yeah, yeah. That hurt KG. Oh, that would have been a good one. Yeah. That would have been a good one.

Sean, like you meant, you got to spend some time with KG. during the height of his super stardom. What are some of your favorite memories from playing with KG on the Wolves? Oh, man, just being able to soak up all of his advice, you know, he took me under his wing and I had his sister as my bill pay person after I had got robbed, my rookie year,

and it was like a family thing. The sister was doing the bill pay, her husband found my crib. His manager became my manager. I was always at the crib. Had to code to the crib and go over there anytime I wanted to. It was always spend time in the summer. So the advice he always gave me was to soak up all of the pleasantries that come along with the league,

but also prepping. He gave me his massage therapist where the same lady that was doing all of his little pregame treatments and rituals and all that kind of stuff. to soak up what it was to be a real pro. And I think that was the best mentorship that I was able to get as far as stories and things that happened. It was just like we're on the road, KG didn't really go out that much, but when we did, come on younger, we're going to dinner. You ain't never put, don't never pull out your wallet with you with me. I take care of everything. Um, summertime, we're going to Barbados, we're going to Miami. Like he brought me along

as a young fella and really taught me the ropes. And so for those two years, I was definitely beyond grateful to see that and to go into my year of three as the captain of the team and the take from what he gave me and said, hey, ain't no way nobody's going to step in front of what someone just passed to me. And regardless of who it was that was coming over, it was like I already got the blueprint and how this goes. And so that helped me, you know, with the next group of guys coming through and being able to be a locker room guy and be able to be the guy that can show guys, look, this is how we do it,

man. Regardless of the winning and losing, this all have respect for each other to show up as professionals type of shit. I liked what you said about he taught you intimidation because he goes to Boston and wins defensive player of the year and it was about intimidation, imposing will on opponents. And he did that at the highest level. talking and performing and swatting. As a rookie, was against that Boston team.

And when me and Andre Blas checked in was at the foul line, I mean, he's looking at us. He looked at Andre Blas's front jersey and then look on the back. Who was this motherfucker in the game? He ain't supposed to be in the game with Garmin. I mean, what's your name?

I'm like, damn, this is what the NBA is about? Yes. That's the game when there's, they was losing by 20 already, then they blamed us. Oh, Gillingham. It was our fault. That was down 15, then we came in, they went down 20, so that's when Gilles. Motherfuckers not ready, don't put them in.

That was your first NBA game? It's the Big Three in Boston. Wow. That's crazy. Man, it was crazy, too. I was nervous. In Boston? In Boston.

How did you do? What happened? Well, we didn't really do too much. They was already up by the, time we got in. Did you score? Yeah, I scored. I scored.

Who was guarding? You're Ray or Paul? Ray. Chasing him off screens? I'm like, man. No way. Tired as first. Check in K.

Who these, what's y'all? I don't know his name. He can't go in me. I don't know his name. So your first game was Ray Allen. My first game was Ray Allen in Seattle. So that was in Seattle. So you guys in Seattle.

Oh, well, second. Oh, okay. So you guys have lost to the Pacers in overtime from your first game. You had three points that game that you played at Boston. At Boston, I got smacked by 20, like you mentioned. You did have five points in the game, though. Five, that's pretty good. Three for four from the free throw.

Three for four? Nice five. Oh, you know, okay, okay. But Gil, blame you for that. You were a plus four in the game, too. I don't know if they were too. So you left you anymore. I love me and more.

How did Gil do in that game? Oh, they got to kill. Give me, let me take a deeper die. Gilbert Arenas. Ooh, interesting. Five for 19 from the field, low for five from three, but 11 for 14 from the free throw line had 21. points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

14 free throws. Wow. 21. He still got the 20. Five for what? Five for 21? Five for 19. Five for 19?

He's shooting that bitch. Oh, you're had Dariusangala on that day? Yeah. Oh, I remember that. Oh, yeah. That was my thought. Legendary moment. All right, well, our last segment before we wrap up for the day,

playing tournament continues tonight. So throughout the playoffs, we will be making team picks using underdogs prediction markets, which all of you can do as well. So we'll keep a leaderboard of the couches picks throughout the entire playoff. Oh, for two right now.

Let's take a look at the updated standing after night one. I think Miami, yeah. So we see at the top. Who's at the top? Josh Radamas. Come on now. Don't do that.

I guarantee I'm about to catch up now. Don't do that. Orlando. Can't do that. Oh, no. We're not there. Kenyon, Mr. B. Both won and one.

one, Swaggy, as you mentioned, O and two. I like how the photos really match how you guys are feeling in that moment. I'm just saying, man. See, Skip don't know. Cam Newton voted me as top three most hated podcasters. Really? Top three.

Jason Whitlock's number one. Stephen A. Smith's number two. And now I'm number three. So I got to keep up. I got to keep up. You know what I'm saying? Well, you keep backing it up is what you. I got to keep pissing me. people off to me. You know, so I got to figure it out. But I think pissing people off means

winning, you know, showing up with the... All right, so who you got today? Who are you got today? So let's shift forward. You backed out of the bat. Because the clippers not playing the spurs. I said the clippers are not playing the spurs. The clippers should have won more games, huh? So Magic aren't really to take on the Sixers in the Seven-eight matchup in the East. Seventy-sixers have a 54% chance to win. Magic's odds are at 40, 7% Joelle and Bede dealing with the appendicitis. Not available, but still have Tyrese Maxie.

So you want to bet on this? What you want to do? Who you're taking in Magic Sisters? Who you want to? Who are you got. What's the second game? Clippers. Warriors Clippers.

I got Clippers. But Magic Sixers first. Oh, I got, um, hmm. Yeah. They're going to fire Jamal right after the game. Jamal Mosley, apparently on the hot seat, according to report. Yeah, they're going to fire him right at that game. A star player on the team.

So I don't know if the players are willing to play for. for him. That's the thing. I don't know if they're willing to play for him. But then there are players out there that actually are players. They're going to play regardless. But then you got Philly. Is this 7-8? This is 7-8? Yeah. This is Philly. Like Maxie, I don't think Maxie going back down. I think V.J. going to show up. It's going to be a guard game. Drummond going to have to do something. So I'm going to go. I'm going to Philly. You're going with the Philadelphia. Seventy-sixers, Swaggy. Sixers Magic

Turmoil in Orlando I got to see If I'm Philly I mean if I'm Orlando I'd rather play Detroit Yeah I'm going to go Philly You were going to go with the Philadelphia I don't think they want to win tonight

I don't either You don't think the Magic won't win tonight I don't think they want to play Boston second round So if they lose they play They play They play No if Magic lose tonight

They play the hornets. The hornets. I got the magic, actually. I got the magic. I got the magic. I got the magic. That's good. That's good.

Multiple levels of magic. Oh, see, you're only two. You're just going to keep going. You got in this Magic Sixers game tonight. You know, I have a pretty good source in Philadelphia who told me that Embeddead is actually cleared to play, but has chosen not to play. Get the fuck out of here. That it's an appendicitis, but it's fine. It went well.

These days, they can just go in quickly and pretty simply, and that he could play if he chose to. So now that's like turmoil, locker room kind of turmoil. Wait a second, big guy. Yeah. Can you play? Yeah, I don't know to ask. This is a real, I didn't factor in the Jamal part,

because that's big. But what I like, when I looked at it last night, Orlando on the road this year was really good. They were 19 and 20 on the road, and Philly wasn't very good at home. 23 and 18 at home. So they lost 18 home games, and people are in and out and in and out. But I'll go Orlando. I'll go Orlando. Oh, shit.

They want to play Boston. They got like a little thing for Boston to playoff. Okay. So let's move over to the West. 9-10 matchup goes down in L.A. with the Warriors taking on the Clippers. Winner of this game gets to face the defending champion Thunder. Clippers are a sizable favorite in this matchup.

Everybody on this cap. Five and a half points with 67% chance to win on the money line. Warriors, 34% chance to win on Underdogs prediction markets. Pazinski and all. Yeah, I'm not rolling. Burying in a house. Let that bitch burn down. Let it burn.

Shit. Fuck that. I'm going Clippers too. I'm going Clippers. Going Quipers. Go on Clippers. How about yourself, Clippers Warriors? Jeff Curry, might be on a minutes restriction.

I think he is, and so is Porzingis and so is Al Horford. I think they're all on minutes restrictions. And burn it down. They want to get a lottery picked. They don't want to play them like. Yeah, I feel that. And Kauai quietly had his career year this year. He really did.

This year as a clipper, I feel like. He did. And again, if you think they would cause trouble for San Antonio, know, they're in line to play Oklahoma City also. So would you go Clippers, Oklahoma City? No. Okay, see, got too much. But they can get two games.

I think it goes six. You don't think it goes seven? I think it goes six, six. Okay. Six. It's a good match. But, yeah, remember what they did to Denver last year. Mm-hmm.

Let's say if you put in court, like, well, because Kowahua. Can't Guard SGA. That's the only thing. They're going to foul. They're going to put the fouls on Kauai unless it's a second half match up. You save his fouls for the second half. You could shut him down in the second half.

I don't know where Garland be at in the playoff. I don't know where he's been. I'm not, that's the only thing. You're told I hurt no more. Yeah. You got to get over that shit. You got to show up now. You're in L.A.

Yep. Ain't no more Cleveland shit. You're in L.A. We're watching. We see the shit. It's clear. You got a hoop. Like the kid from Indiana they got too. Mathron. Yeah, Madderin. Yeah. Chris Dunn could show up. Hey, we need Brooke. Brooke, Brooke, listen, man, all of them damn threes and shit. We need you to beat Brooke that was in Brooklyn. They got college. They got a little squad. They got solid. They do that. It's solid. Our own Lou, treadmill. Get on that motherfucker. Make us feel like you're in shape. Make us feel like you're doing some shit. You know what I'm saying? Make us feel like you doing some shit. You know what I'm saying? Make us feel like you. Make us feel like you.

good. Yeah. Serve the coach. Yeah. Coach got to look like, yeah. He looked a little ultra. You know what I'm saying? Tap on the show.

Hey, come on get in this treadmill, baby. Come on here. That's it. Do some red light therapy around that waist. We'll see if tonight's games live up to what Tuesday night gave us. I don't think the Clippers Warriors game ain't going to be that good. I think it's going to be. You want to bet on the Clippers Thunder?

How far it go? Yeah. I think it goes seven. Wow. I would love for it to go seven because I would like the clippers to... I think they push them past five. I think it goes the same amount as the Blazers. We're getting them out of there in five.

I think they get them out there. Both of them go six, I bet. So do we have an agreement here? No. No, no, no. All right, we got, okay, see, clippers, I go six. You go seven. Bet. Bet. That's right, before we go, we'll possess you to put your high school jersey on four years.

Oh, shout out to Nick. He gave it to me yesterday at, um, our kids, you know, got training, you know, we got a little AAU team. Shout out to the cast. So he said he had my jersey. He was like my ruck, my freshman on the team. He kept your jersey after all these years. He kept your jersey. Just chilling at the trip. He just chilling at the crew.

He didn't want to iron in or nothing. It was in a bag, though. It was in a bag. Here, Nick, where it is? It was in a bag, seals. Wow.

That one of both like you wore it yesterday. He ain't got on drawstrings. That's how you know. That's how you know. You just throw this short song with no drawstring. No draw string.

Late did a motherfucker 30 minutes late. No draw string. Ladies and gentlemen, this is what you come to expect here in Gilzor Street. And the Jersey was just in the car. He didn't, he didn't come out the house

with the jersey on. He was like, I got something in here I can wear. In front of practice yesterday. There's something in here I could wear. Oh, let me wear this. As always. He said, he said, Gil called out. Did I say Gil called out?

No, I said the same shit. Fresh media? Hurry up, Nick. And nobody's showing up. It's just you inside. God damn. Skip is pissed. He said, hurry up.

He's sitting on the couch stretching. Honorable man, very patient. He was ready to cook today. He was going to cook all of y'all motherfuckers today. Ain't nobody showed up. Man. Nobody too is right there. I'm just glad Gil wasn't here.

You wouldn't have heard the end of it about you. Oh, yeah. Oh, for sure. That's how things go. But shout out to everybody in the chat. Shout out to everybody on this couch. This has been another episode of Gil's Arena, presented by Underdog. Woo!

We'll see y'all tomorrow. Yeah. Packages by Expedia. You were made to occasionally take the hard route to the top of the Eiffel Tower. We were made to easily bundle your trip. Expedia, made to travel.