IT IS WHAT IT IS - MA$E REACTS TO DIDDY POTENTIALLY COMING HOME NEXT WEEK, SUPERSTARS WITH THE MOST PRESSURE THESE PLAYOFFS & 65 GAME RULE!

Episode Date: April 10, 2026

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This is the place where nobody is safe. I'm your host, M.A. Dollar Sign E, with my sensational, invitational partner in crime. But there ain't no crime being committed. Cameron Jowell, this is killer, Tricia. How are we doing today? This is it is what it is. I'm good. I brought these out for you, Mace. I just want to know, should I wear them?

You look like T-Ditty. T-Ditty. T-Zitty is wild. Those guys come off, yes. They got to come off. Take that, take that. T-Ditty was good. We didn't know that what he was trying to say, when he was always saying take that, take that.

But now we know. Okay. Okay. Oh, you're coming at high. Oh, man. You don't have a response to that? No, I don't have no reason. We're going to leave that a lot of life.

Well, listen, I think the intro was great. Maybe you should do the intro a little more. You can tell that we're told that you're a poet the way you made the word drum and everything. That was really brilliant, man. Tris was going on. I like the glasses. I didn't think of them. We'll go like that.

Yeah, man. I like the glasses. I like T.D.D.D.E. I'm not rolling with T D. You know what? When you come to Harlem, you're going to get a nickname. They're going to give you a nickname. I just hope that's not the one in Harlem.

That's the one that I really don't want. That's the one you don't want. They're going to run with that. Killer knows. They're all through the chat. They're going to be asking where T. Diddy at. It's a tough game, man.

I don't have any I don't have any oil or lotion or fentanyl anywhere nearby. Just the glasses, that's all. Oh, man. Well, speaking of anything Diddy related, before we start, they're saying Diddy could get out possibly as early as next week. Makes what you have to say about that. That's why I brought it up.

I thought that was, I thought that was very interesting. You know, you know, God forgives everybody. I don't know, you know, it's in God's hands. That's all I can say, you know. Are you going to see him when he gets out? God forgives, but do you? The church is open for everybody. Okay.

You think he got me trapped. You saw that niggie, he got me trapped. I didn't think anything. Listen, man, you still have a little bit of love in your heart for Papa. I know you do, man. So it was a legit question. Yeah, the church is open for everybody. You know, God forgives everybody.

I think it was, I think that's the way it goes, you know. If the system fill a way to forgive them and let them go, then I think after this time is served, your time is served. There you go. So I'm going to take that as a yes. What are you saying? No, that you would see him. Like, not in a bad way or nothing like that.

Like, you don't have a problem, like seeing him if you came in your church, talk, whatever. That's what I was asking. Oh, I definitely, I definitely think that when he gets out, I probably should be the first person he talked to. I really believe that. Yeah. I was trying to be serious.

I know what's going on out there. You come down the same, man. And he's doing some great counseling, man. Doing some great work. We're doing some great work over there, man. So that's what I was referring to. Yeah, I think I'm the first person he should talk to. That's what so.

We'll see what happens in the days to come. We'll keep you all informed. But listen, moving on, we have some games to talk about the Knicks. Defeated the Boston Celtics 112 to 106. Two big three-pointers. Yeah, two big three-pointers by Josh Hart to seal the deal. The Knicks are currently two games behind the Boston Celtics with two games left.

Tris, do you think this name- I don't like it, Trish. I don't like it. I don't like that. Trish, don't pull your shirt like that. I don't like that. She's a New York fan now? I can only imagine what Nick is doing in the background.

This is crazy. Go ahead, Trish. What was the question? Yeah, I didn't get to the question, but I'm about to ask the question now. Do you think this game was important? And do you think that the next average? chance if they play against the Boston

Seltics and the playoffs? I'll start by answering the first part. I do think the game was important. I think it was more important for the Knicks to get the win without J.B. Because if you can't beat the Celtics without J.B, I think Sen and the rest of the Bing-Bong crew is going to go crazy.

They're going to feel disparate, all kinds of sadness. start to feel like the confidence is starting to leak out a little bit, pause. But I think the big picture for me as I was watching this game and I was pretty locked in on the whole thing is, is yes, like, you need Jalen Brown. And like they clearly, it's a totally different game plan and a totally different scheme and J.B. not just offensively, because that was a problem for Boston. It was clear outside of like Baylor Shireman and Peyton Pritchard, Boston couldn't get things

going offensively. And New York was making things tough. But J.B., on the other hand, is going to strap up a bunch of paws, a bunch of nicks in a bunch of different ways. But I think in terms of like what I enjoyed is that the Knicks ceiling is real. When they play this connected level of basketball, you saw O.G. and Anobi getting paint touches, sprang out to the corners. This is the best three point or corner three point shooting team percentage wise in the NBA. They're just a genuinely dangerous team. They're the best fourth quarter team in the NBA. And Jalen Brown showed that not only can he get separation,

he can playmake, he had that one pass to Josh Hart that I thought was phenomenal. And then listen, like you can lay off Josh Hart and leave him open for three quarters, but eventually that shit's going to bite you in the ass and that is what it did. Two big threes for Josh Hart down the stretch. So I liked what I saw from New York. I still think, though, it's going to be really tough in the playoffs because we saw it last year. They had to stagger Jalen Brunson and Carl Anthony Towns defensively

in terms of when they were on the floor, just because defensively they're so porous. So I think it was significant. There are things that I'm still concerned about. In terms of whether I think that they can beat Boston in the playoffs, I think anything is possible, but I would still give the edge to Boston. You would give the edge of Boston.

if they have Jalen Brown or if they don't. If they have Jalen Brown. Oh, okay. I just wanted to make sure I was hearing you correctly. Because I think this game was important, but for a lot of reasons, you always need history beating a team you're going to need to be in the future, right? Because every time you beat them, you get more confidence. But I think without Jalen Brunson, I don't think you take a lot of confidence away from it.

I think is a psychological thing that teams are now starting to do is make sure that you don't play us with everybody so you don't have that confidence. So you don't have that history of beating a team with everybody there. And I think, you know, somebody may say, well, what if Jalen Brown was there? I think the Knicks would have played even better with Jalen Brown there, right? People are starting to play to the competition, right? You see this happen even in female rap, right? People are living based upon their competition. You see one girl get pregnant, another female rapper get pregnant.

Everybody's just playing to their competition right now. What a wild-ass analogy. One female rapper gets pregnant, the other one gets pregnant. I think that throws Cam's whole. whole computer. Yeah, you play to your competition, man, you know. What are we expecting, you know? Yeah, I agree.

I don't know the female rap has been pregnant. I got to get in the loop. I'm out the loop. But I do think the Knicks always play to their competition. I think that's exactly right. We see them, even though they beat the Atlanta Hawks out of the day, barely, but they're playing down. When they have to play a team.

that they know they're going to have to play, they play up. And I think Trish is 100% correct, because if you beat, if Boston beats the Knicks with no Jalen Brown, they're going to be feeling themselves. And then Mace, back to you again, you're correct. Teams are strategizing,

not to play everybody. So then they'd be like, let's see how we look without our first best player or second best player or whatever, not just Boston. I think I'm seeing that around the league all year long because I was talking about how I would get my food. I would get ready.

I sit down in front of the TV and the game's about to come on. And the Pelicans are playing the Grizzlies and John Morant and Zion is not playing. And now I didn't prepare the whole evening for this. And now they're not playing. And they wasn't like they both wasn't available, you know, so they said. But I think both of y'all had great takes on this, this game and four in there. is very important. It's two games left for both of them.

Some teams have three games left. Boston lose two. Nix went to. Nix can actually win the Atlantic Division, even though it's going to give them a different seed as well. They'll be the number two seed. So this game was important. We'll see what happens.

Boston has to win another game to see how to deal to lock second in, but this was an important game. I thought both of you guys gave great takes on it. Wait, y'all didn't like my play to the, competition take. There's congratulations. It seems like there's

some female rappers out there pregnant. I was really just saying congratulations and you played to your competition. People see people doing well. Other people want to do well as well. I think it's a great time. I don't know the rappers. I'm just out of loop.

I wasn't saying that you. I just said I'm not aware. I had to catch up, man. with three games left to go in the regular season and the playoffs approaching Tris Mace I want two players one from the east and one from the west

what player has the most pressure on them this playoff 2006 coming up Trish we'll start with you Man this one's really tough I'll start in the east I think the east has a lot more clear Cup players that you could say have a lot of pressure on them. I think for me it's got to be

Donovan Mitchell. I mean, Donovan Mitchell has been on some incredible regular season teams. He's been the number one seed in Utah. That was the best team in basketball, that record that they had. And then last year, the number one seed in the east. Donovan Mitchell's never been out of the second round, guys. Like, yes, he's dealt with injuries. And that to me is a little part of the pressure that he has. Like, can you stay healthy? Are you durable when it matters the most? And as a scorer, he is a boomer bust. Like when, I've been saying this for four or five years now,

when Donovan Mitchell goes cold, he goes ice cold. He has these highs, 50, 60 point games, and then he's got games of 18 in a closeout. And to be honest, the biggest thing for Donovan Mitchell is that he's the Don, he's the guy, and I think he's incredibly talented. but he's now been on two separate franchises that have gotten punked. Like you got punked by the Clippers where you were up 2-0. You got punked by the Denver Nuggets when you were up 3-1.

And now you're the number one seed in the east. You get punked by the Pacers. At a certain point, and I'm not saying it's him specifically, but at a certain point when you're on soft teams, the spotlight is now going on you to do more than just score and to win. On the West, I think it's a lot harder. I think everybody's got a lot of cover because there's injuries. You've got champions.

I don't think the pressure's on Yokic. I kind of think nobody has pressure in the West. Wow, that was a great take. I wasn't sure which one I was going to go with, Donovan Mitchell or James Harden. I think the pressure is on James Hardin in the East, right? because he gets on this team that now he has another opportunity to play alongside of someone that should bring their firepower to the game and they should actually be able to get out

of the first and second round. They're potentially possible able, possibly able to get out of the second round, but we will have to see. And I think this comes down to the legacy. I think this is a legacy season for James Harden as well as Donovan Mitchell, but I'm putting all the onus on James Harden. He gets out of L.A. He goes down to Cleveland. He's playing with a player that's in his prime, a player that can get buckets. He has a strong, small forward. They have a great front court. They have no reason not to get it done. It will be nobody to point at. So I think this is a phenomenal time for James Harden. He'd have to show that he can close out games in the playoffs.

We know he's the new big game, James, when it's regular season, but we have to see it in the playoff time. So I would have to go with James Harden on that. So that was my take for the East Coast. And when it comes to the West Coast, I'm not going to lie. I think the pressure is on LeBron. I think it's on him because the other guys are not there. And, you know, we're always saying that he's, he's ready to play.

And somebody may say, that's a horrible take to say LeBron. The pressure is on LeBron. But I think it is because the way he plays in the playoffs will have a lot to do with what he's able to do next year, right? Where is his status next year? what will teams be willing to put up for him next year? So I think this is a close-out season for him. He either have to play very well or he has to just bow out right now because the other players are not there and just go full-fledged with the I'm-Hurt thing.

So he doesn't have to play because if he has to play in this postseason, it will go and be added towards his stock of next year. Like, what's his role going to be on? the team next year that he chooses to be on. That's what I'm saying from that place is pressure. But not to his legacy, not to his greatness, not to his first ballot Hall of Fame, not for his, you know, top five players in the league ever, you know, I don't think there's any pressure there.

So I'm not trying to put any smut on LeBron's name. But based upon where he will be at the starting of next season of 2026, 27, this playoff season will count for him. Yeah, I'm going to start on what Mace said, and I disagree because LeBron, whether the thing about it is this, right? I'm not, this is your opinion. What you want them to do? Anthony Davis is hurt.

These two niggas is hurt. He's still playing, and he's 41. Like, so, yo, don't act like I don't show up. I'll be showing what's wrong with the YNs? these things is always not showing up. So what you want me to do, man? If I'm LeBron, I'm in murder. What you want me to do now?

The onus is on me. Like, I ain't 41. And these niggas keep getting hurt every year. I'm just being LeBron and me and Mace talking. I know Mace will be like I said. I said what I said. You know, man. You was whiling on that.

This thing is, Hey, yo, Nick, well, I'm doing on my take. Find out how many games LeBron played this year. You got two. This nigga, Luca, her, Austin, Reese, her, Anthony Davis is a lifetime hurt. I don't even know how he's strong a championship out with him.

He made it happen. You know what? You can't go nowhere. It's the bubble. We're not going to let you trip over 90. You're not nothing's not. You only can stay here, nigga. That's why I believe they even won that championship.

But I'll start with the West. Believe it or not, For me, the most pressure on the West Coast is Wemble. The reason I say Wemby is because we say, oh, they're a couple years away from winning. You know, as far as my team, I'm just telling how people say. They're a couple years away from winning. Oh, they need this, they need that.

It seems like even though these guys are young, they have all the pieces there. And even Mesa said it on previous takes, do it now. It doesn't have to be a couple of years from now. And I believe because they had such an outstanding season, expectations are high now for them in the playoffs. We see Wembe advocating for itself. I don't know why I shouldn't be running for MVP.

I know I'm going to get defensive player at a year. Who else played better defense than me? And when you put yourself out there, you have to project in the playoffs. The regular season is great. You know you exceeded expectations, but you have to produce when the playoffs start. This is where legends are made.

That's for the West Coast. But the East Coast, I agree with me. It's James Hardin for me. Last year, without James Hardin, and even though Tris is 100% correct, Cleveland finished in first place. I don't remember how they was fucking ahead by a lot, actually, too. I don't remember their record.

And like Triss said, they folded in the second round. Donovan Mitchell does have to get past the second round. I remember when Shaq told him when he was in Utah, you're good, but I don't think you can lead the team to a cheer me I told him that on live broadcast. I like that niggas Shack. And that niggas, that niggas, he may be worse than you, murder. There's no sympathy for nobody.

But, um. What did he say? They won a game. The Utah Jazz won a game. You know how you do the post game interview and they, Shacking them is in studio. So Kenny, Kenny gave Donovan praise. Charles Barkley gave him praise.

They got the Shack. And Shaq said, yeah, you're good. But I don't think you can leave a team to a championship. You're not like that. Donovan Mitchell's like, all right, I can't change me for taking your payment. And Shaq had to face like, whatever. I said what I said. You know what I'm saying?

So I was like, you know, you got to take that the heart, Donovan Mitchell. I didn't forget it. So I know you ain't forget it. But Mace is right. You think about James Hart and, you know, you had a chance, even though you were really young and we've seen interviews where you said you was a little nervous the first time he played in the championship with OKC, okay, we're going to give you that.

After that, you leave and go to Houston. And I'm not going to blame James Harton for running into a dynasty. You know, a few times they lost were to Golden State. It wasn't like it was no regular team. It was Kevin Durant, Golden State,

and Steph Curry, Golden State. You get Chris Paul there, and then you have a chance to do it, and Chris Paul messes his hamstring up. So now it's like, Now it's like, James Hardin didn't get it done. James Hardin didn't get it done. You lose to, Doc Rivers ain't getting done.

A lot of the dynasty between San Antonio, you know, they had one in the decade. But the 2010s, you think about it, every championship for four years, at least straight was Cleveland and Golden State. So it wasn't like James Harton was getting bumped by regular teams. Okay, cool. So you sit there and then you go to the clippers. After you get the clippers, you don't get it done. Before you go to Clippers, sorry me, I'm getting my orders all messed up.

You leave Houston and you want to go to Brooklyn. Be like, yo, what's Kauai and KD doing? What's up, nigger? Y'all like, let's go. You know, Kauai don't want to play COVID. Kadi gets hurt. Kari. I'm saying, Karee.

Pardon me. Thank you, Mace. Kari don't want to hurt. I mean, don't want to play because of COVID. KD gets hurt. You said, I didn't even really want to go to Brooklyn. I wanted to go to Philly. That's what I really meant.

I meant Philly. Then you get to Philly. Then you get the Philly. You know, you get the assistant leader. You got Joe L.M.B., y'all still don't get it done. Then you get mad at Darren Moore, who probably gave you half a billion almost. You were like, yo, you said if I sign, you're going to do a sign and trade. You cry your way out of there.

Then you get to L.A. It doesn't work out in L.A. Now you're in Cleveland. everything that you said, Mace, good front court, good two guard, they have the pieces to win. So I believe you, I'm going to agree with you, Mace, and say that the most pressure for me is on James Harton. And I'm not disagreeing with you, Trish. I'm just going to put Donovan Mitchell right underneath James Harton. Let me stick to that real quick and actually dies.

I know you said players, but let's go east and west. What teams have the most pressure on them? Trish, we're starting to chew. Yeah, I think New York's got a lot of pressure on them. I mean, just you look at what they were supposed to be, and this was not supposed to be a good year for Boston. Boston won 50 games in a year where Tatum just came back. Jalen Brown took multiple leaps.

Nobody expected them to be where they were at. Everybody was making their predictions, and everybody said, this is the year. James Dolan said, I expect us to go to the finals and I expect us to win it all. So, I mean, that tells you everything you need to know. No other teams are saying that outright. Like, this is what success looks like.

You fired your team that beat Boston last year. You fired your head coach to beat Boston last year because you didn't think he was good enough to get it done because his rotations weren't great. But you didn't have anybody that you felt was really better at the time. so you settled with Mike Brown. He didn't really have a great succession plan. So this is a team that traded four first round picks for McHale Bridges. McKell Bridges' first 20 games versus his last 20 games have fallen off of a cliff

and you paid all this draft capital for him. Carl Anthony Towns, you make that trade as well. I mean, you've made blockbuster trade after blockbuster trade. If this isn't the year that you can do it when Indiana's coming back and Detroit still may be wet behind the ears and you say they're coming as well. This is all bad for you. Who do you have in the West, Tris?

Man, I think the team that really, I feel, has a lot of pressure on them in the West is, at least in the first round, is Denver. Because if you can't beat Minnesota, then we got real problems. Like Minnesota, they were down,

what, 20 points in the fourth quarter of a game seven, and you went home, and that pretty much imploded your entire franchise front office. And Yokish is the MVP, one ring to speak of his name. And Minnesota built a team to beat you. So I think that's the biggest issue for me is like, if you can't get that done, then I think that's a big red flag. Aaron Gordon's getting older. Aaron Gordon's had injury problems.

Yokic is Yokish, but he's not getting in younger. And the role players, I don't know how much I trust. And the West is only getting more and more stacked. So to me, just in the first round alone, because I said, like, I don't think there's so much pressure because there's so much injuries in the West. But I think that to me is Denver. Like, how are they going to come out? And are they going to be able to make it to a Western Conference finals? That's amazing, Trish, because I picked the same exact two teams.

So congratulations to you. Welcome to Expert Level. Yeah, welcome to expert level. You're flowing today. I don't know if it's the T-Ditty. I'm not sure. It could be the T-Ditty that's kicking in.

But listen, the New York, the New York take was phenomenal. I think the pressures on New York because all this time we've been saying that this was their year, right? Like you said, Boston came back out of nowhere. Jalen Brown took this team and made them compete at on the highest level without, without Tatum there.

So whatever Boston does, this is a pro bono year. Pause. This is like, this is a year that whatever they do, they weren't expected to be here after Tatum goes out. This is their best, at the time many believe was their best player. I didn't think so, but we're here now. And now they're right there in the hunt exactly where they would be. with Tatum, to my knowledge. So the pressure is not on Boston. The pressure is not on Detroit. The

pressure is not even on Cleveland. All the pressures on the New York Knicks, because if they don't get it done this year, the same thing I'm going to say for Denver. It starts making you question, can this team even be a championship team? If they don't get it this year, I think we throw away that whole notion. You got to implode the whole team, explode it, blow it up, get new players because they can't get over the hump, right? Pause. And the same thing when it comes to Denver, I don't think just in the first round. I think overall, all the pressure on the West Coast is on Denver because if they don't win this year or get out of the first round and the second round, then you start thinking this is no longer a championship level team.

And I think with the rising of San Antonio, if they don't beat them this year, they definitely won't be able to beat them next year. They won't be able to beat SGA them next year. And you can only think that the Lakers are going to get better as well. And think of this. Not only are the Lakers going to get better. who else there's one there's one more team Minnesota is going to get somebody and going to be a stronger opponent for them and Golden State is going to have to reload right now pause with Golden

State having Porzingas if they got a healthy Jimmy Butler with a Porzinger's that is now with a whole with a whole training camp that is with the pick and roll and everything they could do and get one more player with that team that is back of championship team. I don't think you can, you can discount Golden State because they got that three ball. Pause. They got that three ball. I don't care. Whatever team is out there, three beats two any day. So if they get one more shooter, that team is back dangerous with Porzinger's healthy. Remember I told y'all that. Me, for me, sorry, for me on the east, I totally agree. It's to New York next. Trish, you had to, you said it best. And I,

argue with sin about this every day, you know, every day. He's already trying to cop a plea. So we get to the, get to the Eastern Conference Finals and go seven and lose it. Yes, and listen, you went there last year and you fired the nigger who got you there last year. You bought Mike Brown realistically to win five games because you're one game last year away from the championship. And then all you got to do is win four more in the championship. So you bought somebody in to win you five games that you couldn't win last year when it comes to Mike Brown. Good luck.

We'll see how that happens. On the West Coast, I'm going to go in a little bit different direction. I'm going to go with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The reason why I'm going to go with the Oklahoma City Thunder is because y'all have been number one all year. Even when Shea is out, J-dub is out, great coach, same team. You paid everybody a shitload of money over there. you guys are supposed to start your dynasty this year. And I think that they're in the position to do that.

All the teams and everything you guys said were 100% correct. But OKC, you can't say you don't have the playoff experience. You can't say you don't have the championship experience. You can't say that you haven't been there before. They just locked in the overall number one pick throughout the whole NBA. So you have home court advantage even through the championship, if need be. So I'm going to go with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Those are my two teams. But great takes for both for you guys. That's a good point, too, about OKC. Because San Antonio's coming. Like, they're on your ass. Yeah, you got to get it done now. Yeah, killer. But let me ask you this, though.

You don't think there's still a dynasty if they lose. Let's say they lose right there in the championship. And then they come back next year and win it again. They'll still be on Dynasty, on a Dynasty watch. No, definitely. No, definitely.

When we talk about Dynasty, San Antonio number one back to back, right? Ever. They got five 10 inches with Pop or four, four or five. I believe it's five, but they, it's five, but they haven't won any of them back to back. So they're still on Dynasty

timing, but I'll say this to you, right? You said nobody could the title town without two. So they're not even invited. So, yeah. Yeah, they're still waiting to invite. They definitely feel a way to invite. So the

impression is on them. According to your according to they can't, they might come, like you said, they're still on dynasty timing, but according to Mason Bethers' take, you can't even come to the title town. So you can't, if you can't come to

We can only even need to talk about a dynasty. Yeah, they can't come to that picnic. They can go to the roots picnic, but they can't come to this picnic. You know, they can't. In order to come to Titletown picnic, you need to. And this is the same thing that Boston is looking at, right? So they were the champs a year ago,

but, you know, O'KC came and got them ones. So now we're about to see who's the real champs. But that's my point. They're on Dynasty timing, but you can't even be in Titletown without two titles. So let's not even talk about Dynasty. They got to win this to even start the process. So to me, the pressure is on OKC. Yeah, so to me the pressure is on OKC, man.

We're going to go to break. When we come back, we'll talk about seating in the playoffs. It is what it is. She called this thing about toxic Isn't counting Got you feeling like an option Maybe I'm my own problem big She's tired of hearing up

What's stubborn in me Won't fall for all trust But she really thinking about She wanted to walk away I wish somebody told me the rules Disagreements let her win And it's cool Welcome back to It Is Where It is. Let's talk about seating for this upcoming playoffs. I'm going to talk about the West Coast. Last night, the Lakers beat Golden State without Steph Curry, 119 to 103. But the Lakers currently, right now, it's a tight race in the West. They're actually in fourth place. I want to ask you guys this question, right? And it probably won't happen. But I wanted to know how you feel if I'm going to be.

everybody was healthy on the Lakers right now, the position there, and they were out to play Houston. Trish, what do you think about the Lakers, how good they were on a role playing against Houston if everybody was healthy? Yeah, that's the best scenario, I think, for L.A. Like this Houston team, I think a lot of people felt pretty high on when Fred Van Fleet was going to be on it, and then he tore his ACO and you had Kevin Durant and you're feeling very excited about what this team could be.

And you've got IMA Udoka, a championship caliber, at least finals caliber, a coach, and, like, defense all over the place. But I think the Rockets have been like super disappointing and underwhelming at times. Like they're very physical. They're like super aggressive defensively. But at the end of games, they just can't get you a bucket. Everybody knows it's KD is going to be the only one that scores, take the ball out of his hand, blitz him, and then force the ball into Shangoon's hand, forced the ball into Jabari's hand, forced the ball into Tari Isan's hands, who I don't think has hit a shot since the All Star break. And then you start to really see, okay, they don't have a point guard. Reed Shepard still needs time to develop. He's underside. He can't guard. I swear, even without Luca and Austin Reeves, I think that this situation is.

is the best possible situation for L.A. to be in. You add Luca in. You add Austin Reeves in. I think absolutely you're licking your chops, pause, if you're the Lakers, truly. Like, I feel like Houston might be the most overrated team in the West. That's really big to say because when the season started, I had Houston, right? I was definitely expecting them to do more than they did. Like you said, they've been overwhelmingly disappointed.

especially for me and for my caliber of basketball. I thought they figured something out. Even when they said they were going to put amen at the point, it looked like he was going to try this big guard scenario and get it done. But it just seemed like, like you said, when everything goes awry, you got to be able to, when the play breaks down, and get a basket. And if the whole gymnasium, know we're going to Kevin Durant.

and then they double team Kevin Durant. It would seem like Sagan would be the next person to get the bucket. But somehow this is what I speak to so many times where you add talent to a team. And even though you add that talent to the team, it takes away major ability from other players. And that's a sign of not being so great of a player, right? When Magic is on the team, it makes everybody better. When Jordan is on that team, it made everybody better. And I think this is one of those things that KD has to figure out,

like, how do I make these players better with my greatness, right? And I guess they got to figure out certain picking roles that they have to do with him and Sagan that allowed them to play well together and not allow his greatness, Kevin Durant greatness, to take so much away from Sagan. Goon. Because right now, if they had Austin Reeves and they had Luca, they would knock, they would knock Houston out. I would 100% agree with that because I think Luca would get up for this series and go crazy.

He would average 63 in this series. And the Lakers will be advancing to the second round. So that's what I think at this point. Yeah, I agree with both you guys. The thing with Houston is the same thing that may say. You came in, we know Fred Van Fleet was hurt. I'm like, okay, Amen, this is a really big, long pause, pause, pause, pause, pause, Houston Rocket team.

Everybody besides Amon was 6-11. And you're saying, yo, you got a 6-11 on the wings, the Sagoon is coming on base. It's looking really, really good. But what told me, they needed Fred Van Fleet or a legit point guard. is the play of the second half after the All-Star break. I've been watching Kevin Durant brings the ball up. As soon as he gets over half-court, they're double teaming him. Then he has to pass and then figure out another way to get open.

All that tells me is this, is that Kevin Durant does not trust his guards. Because it's no way that he should have to be bringing the ball up on the team. So to me, it's like, nigger, move, because your niggas ain't getting it done. And then you got them basically in a point four position, but then the teams are figuring out, double them soon as he comes over half, and everybody else is not producing. I think that they were looking good in the beginning, like murder said. I was on the, you know, I'm not going to go against San Antonio with my team,

but I was like, this could really be a problem. And then the Tris's point, it hasn't been that much of a problem. So we're saying, okay, even though I'm not taking away from fourth places, I think they're doing better than Denver's doing. Not just record while. I'm talking about playing as a team. But for the playoffs, they got to figure out their guard play. So I totally agree with you guys.

That would be an interesting series. I wish everybody was healthy. Yeah, I think with this Houston Rockets team, they really need to run a motion offense. And they really need to, this will be a good time for them to play the triangle because they have enough, they have enough Lynn Paul's to just bring. bring the ball up and just start passing it around until they get the best shot. I think with the caliber of players that they have, they will become a real mismatch for

anybody playing them. But I think they're running the wrong offense. And I know the coach, how do you say his name again? Yudoka. Yeah, Eman Yudoka. Yeah, Eman Yudoka. Like, he's a phenomenal coach, but he really need to get some attention to the triangle. because if you put this team in a triangle,

KD gets all the shots that he need to get without them turning the ball over and without them getting double team. He just comes up, but he would have to trust his team that the ball is going to land in the right people's hands. I think they're one play away from being able to run a triangle

because if it ends up in anybody's hands but KD or Sagoon, then you're not sure of what shot you're going to get. But I think they'll be so close around the basket that this is where their length will become a problem. Pause. So if they were to run a triangle, you get Katie at the elbow, which is a bucket.

You get A-Men going down the baseline, which is a bucket. You get Sagoon in the distance where he could strike. And all of a sudden, that team becomes a nightmare for everybody. I remember the Bulls ran that offense, the Lakers ran that offense. Everybody got a championship off that offense. And I think they got the person. to be able to pull it off. So, Immanuel Doka, if you're watching this, you can thank me later, make all checks

payable to Mason Betha, and it is what it is. I gave you a championship. That's your championship right there. You would have to run the motion offense and turn it into the triangle in order to get a championship with the personnel you have now. And you wouldn't even need a new player. You probably just need one more shooter, but nobody different than what you have. mess with

moving on joel mbid is going to get surgery on his appendix i hope you get better soon joel and bid the 76ers are expected to be a playing team uh we see paul george's back tyrese maxi to be there uh like i said rest up joel abe seems like one of the unluckiest talents that we've seen in a long time you know only

person I could think of outside of him being so unlucky is probably Derek Rose. What do you think about Philly in the playing? Because they'll probably have to play a 1 or 2C and just Joelle and B overall throughout his career. Trish will start with you. Yeah, I think the craziest thing about Joel is that outside of that knee that's constantly had that swelling for the last, you know, 24 months or whatever, like most

of the injuries have been different like all over the body like operation. Remember we had that orbital bone that was broken. He had Bell's palsy one time. Half of his face wasn't working. He was out there getting buckets. I think against the Knicks in that

first round series, he was going through it. Yeah, he's just all, it's been, I think he had like a ligament in his thumb that had been torn as well. He can't win for losing because none of this stuff is systemic where you can point to him and specifically say, oh, you've got a durability issue. He's breaking things that I've never even heard breaking. I mean, when you saw the appendicitis news, you had to have been like, well, this is just not true. This is fake because this feels like NBA Centel, written all over it that he's going under surgery for something that doesn't even have anything to do with basketball. I thought that the Sixers were a little bit of a problem, dangerous-wise,

because Paul George has been playing so much better. You've got Maxie, who we know what he can do. Knicks fans know what Maxie can do. Like he could score 10 and 15 seconds. Vijay Edgecombe was one of the better picks in the draft. I think he's been an absolute home run. and then you've got a bunch of different role players on top of Joelle and Beat. If Joelle and B. can be healthy, I'm not saying that they could come out and beat the Pistons, but they fully healthy playing their best basketball are certainly dangerous enough to scare the shit out of Detroit. But we're just not going to be able to see that. I mean, yeah, maybe they'll make it to an eight seed, but they're going to be limping in.

Yeah, this is weird to think about. I can think of one more person has been as unfortunate as he's been health-wise. And that's Brandon Roy. Remember Brandon Roy? Brandon Roy was another one of those superstars that his body just kept breaking down. But he had a superstar written all over him. I know we was thinking of him like Superman. He was one of my really favorite players to play and watch.

And to think about Joel and, be the way that his body keeps going through these different phases, it's just, it's just bad fortune, right? So I'm not sure what he got going on, but this is the basketball guards are not guiding him to a great future. He got some people, probably got some people to forgive, probably got some people to do right by, you know, that he's receiving all of this. Is this karma?

Yeah, I hope it gets better. Cam said karma don't got to watch, you know? You know, somebody is sitting around saying good for him. You know how it be. People be sitting around like, I told you, you thought you left me. And when you have success, you know people think like this. Cam, you know people think like this. Like, yeah, niggins thought he dumped me and went with that girl.

And look at him now. When he was with me, he was an all star. You know, that's how women think. Do they not, Trista? I do not. I don't think that way. No. But you're never monogamous.

I'm talking about people who are monogamous. I was always the person that was the, I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but people always got the next relationship they had after me, they got married and had kids. So I either got them ready or they were like, all right, fuck this. This is, I'm going to go ahead and change my. You dogged them out. That means you were a dog. Yes.

Every time. It's literally like three, four in a row where they get married and have kids like six months after we break up. Not that you were a dog, but they normally, normally when a guy has been a dog to a woman, she gets with another guy and get married because she's ready to settle down after all he put her through. All the turmoil, they're like, let me just find peace. Killer, what you think? Makes you marry, you tell me.

I'm not married, I don't know. I caught it. That was like Elliot Cadeau when it looked like he was shooting, but it was actually just a lob for that kid, Mara. That's what that was. Listen, I will agree with me. Listen, it don't matter what happens, right?

But this is true, right? Females or males, however vice versa, I can't speak for a male point of view. I probably, if I say and think about it, I'm pretty sure I know somebody who liked that, though, but I have to sit there and think about it. I probably kicked them out my circle years ago sitting around dwelling on somebody they hold them like, but to add to what May said, it's never going to be over, right? Like, first of all, you could be 89 on your death bed and they'd be like, see? I told you. I'm not

I told you I knew it's going to be over You'd be 100 and there'll be 100 and be like, see I told you shit It's time coming Yeah He's 94

When it's time coming Yeah exactly So you definitely Have people who sit there and watch you And say good for them Bites on both sides I'm pretty sure too. Like I said,

I can't think of those niggas that I know. I'm off the top. But makes, that was a great take. I forgot about Brandon Roy. Brandon Roy was about to be one in the ones. You know,

sad is real sad. Derek Rose, Brandon Roy. Who's the most unlucky? I would go with Brandon Roy because he didn't even get a chance to really get into his bag. You know,

I've seen an interview. once were Ron Artes. And we know Ron Artes is a great defensive player. And they asked him, who's the hardest player that you ever had to guard? He said, Brandon Roy. He said, well, you played against Michael Jordan before. He said, I said Brandon Roy.

That's how good Brandon Roy was. You know what I'm saying? So great, great take mates, because he, I was just thinking, Derek Rose. A lot of people say that the 65 game rule with not being able to get any NBA awards come from

Joe L&B missing games and still being nominated. So bringing that up, the 65 game rule, Kay Cunningham had something to say on that. He actually said, it's tough for me right now this year because I think I did a lot of work

to be in consideration for awards and all NBA and all that stuff. I'm in a tough spot and I think it all play out like it's supposed to play out. what do you think, Triss, about the 65 game rules, should they keep it or should they take it out? It's got to go. I mean, we've got, we've got Luca having a petition saying, hey, these two games that I missed,

it's because it was the birth of my daughter. So you should give me these two games back. we got Wemby being like, well, I played in these NBA Cup games. There was some other reason that potentially, oh, I think if you leave an NBA game and you play 15 minutes and you get injured, you can petition for that game to count as well. I just think it's getting a little bit ridiculous when you have to start petitioning to get games back to add it. And we've got these fluky things that are happening at the end of the year. I don't think Joelle and B will ever make a first team all NBA again. Like there's just too many injuries that he's had racking up.

I think the rule is sorted itself out. Like karma has come for Joelle. Clearly, that rule is no longer needed because I don't think he's going to win MVP's or end of the year awards by not playing 65 games. And I think I said this on the show before. MVP winners outside of Bill Walton, they play the 65 games or outside of lockout years they're playing the 65 games but when you're talking about first team second team third team all NBA which is affecting your money and your

legacy off of two games missed 62 or 63 out of 65 games I think we're getting to a place where it needs to be at least looked at and if it's I think it's overwhelmingly their support for that being the rule being changed Well, I'm not against them changing a rule, but I don't think the game should go much lower than about 62. 62. If you want to add two more games, I think it keeps the integrity to the sport. Like, you even have guys like Allen Ivison looking at this league and saying that it's a lazy league, that people are not actually playing. people are actually becoming better and becoming better statistically because they're getting more rest, right? So if I'm resting after you ran laps and now I'm playing against you, I'm fresh. So it's helping people productivity in a way. And if you're not hurt, then you

should be on the floor. It's robbing the game is really what is really happening. It's robbing the game. I know stat is not here. Statt normally say, You can get away with it. You should do it. But think about the kids who are paying their hard-earned, you know, parents' money that are bringing a kid to the game. And you're not even guaranteed to see the star that's playing. And not because they're hurt.

They're resting. You don't get the rest on a job. Like, you got to get a couple sick days, and then you got to be at work at any job. So who are they to take off more days to rest when you're getting paid, the kind of money they're getting paid to play. It's not like they're getting short money. People are getting $400,000 a game, $200,000 a game. And if you can not play and still make that money, I think it's a robbery to the sport. If you're going to be a professional, then you've got to be

a professional. I'm not callous when it comes to things. I just believe in right is right and wrong is wrong. And I think this is one of those things. I love the game. And I don't want this generation to make me stop loving the game. I think there's things that people are doing that's making the fans stop loving the game. That's why the um viewership is going down. You're here, Cam even talking about, um, we need to make a better product. How can you make a better product if the talent doesn't have to show up? The talent is not showing up. So who wants to watch a game with Memphis and New Orleans? they already see markets, they already see markets. And if you're going to see a C market and two high-fly jumpers and dunkers are not at the game,

who are we there to see? What about Cade's collapsed lung, though? Like, that's clearly not him. That's an exception. That's an anomaly. When it's an anomaly, we should make the petition for that. But other than that anomaly, right, you have other anomalies like, like Luca. That's something we know happen.

His daughter is something we know happen. But I'm talking about all these other things that are going on. I'm just not going to play in Vegas, but then they end up at Crazy Horse. You know, they're not going to play, but then they end up at Girls Collection. Like, we can't support that, not in the NBA, not in the National Basketball. ball league. But, you know, what did you say? If you, um, adding to your, your, your, your, east wing, how did you say it? If you're adding, what did he kill or call it, his house? Oh, the palace. Yeah, but if you add into the palace, then, you know, we can't give you

MVP for adding to the palace. But I understand, you know, the palace be palisin, you know. Thanks. Yeah, listen, Steve Kerr, right? Steve Kerr, who played in the 90s with Michael Jordan, he said that the game is sped up and that this rule needs to be taken out because the game is faster and it's, you know,

become more fast. No, he says it become more fast, especially since stuff covered you, of course, the three-point is you think about somebody like Charles Barkley who retired when he's 36, or Isaiah Thomas, who retired when he's, at 32. We have players who are still playing great at 39, 40, 41 years old. So getting the rest is also prolonging their career for them to get more money.

With that being said, I don't agree. I don't even agree with Mace saying take two games out. Yo, you got to, and Mace used the analogy I will use. You got to go to work. you get so many sick days before you get fired. Yo, listen, it looked like you're sick that you can't work here. No disrespect. We hope you get your health together. We hope everything works out. But we need somebody to be a receptionist here every day.

But we're not having a receptionist 14 days out of 30 days in a month. So good luck and like, this is what they teach. tell you at a real job. You know what I'm saying? Don't... Yo, I couldn't make it my car broke. Oh, wow. We're running the business.

I think you're already missing. If I'm not mistaken, Nick, 17, 18% of the games with 65 games. It's 17 or 18%. How many percent you want to still win the MVP? You still... What's the percent? Okay, if we missed 25,

percent we can still win the MVP. You got, you can not come to work and want to win workmen of the year. You can't be the garbage man and don't be coming to work and be like, yo, that's the garbage man in the year right there.

They ain't left no garbage up, I was out here lifting all the garbage up. I was putting the shit. You can't win the award. All these injuries you're talking about, both for you guys. It's an anomaly, collapsed lung, Bell's palsy,

It happens. You use that excuse of the real job. They don't care. Last thing I say is this, right? And shout to my son's mother. Shout to quit. We have a son. I'm shooting paid and full while my son is being born or about to be born.

I'm in Toronto shooting a movie. She's like, yo, the baby is born. I'm like, y'all, I got to go. They're like, can we need to finish this. see him like, no, I got a goat. They say, we'll get you a jet. All right, cool. I finished shooting the scene. I got in a jet. Rode there, my son was born. I missed it by like three hours. The reason I bring something because my son, mother still throws this in my face to this day. He wasn't here

when the kid was born. I'm sorry for not being. I tried. I didn't know he's going to be born that day. They threw it in my face. But I got there three, four hours after he's born. I stayed the day. And I went back to the world. work. If I'm in the house, I can't keep the house. I got to get out to make the money to keep the house. I'm going to keep the house if I'm in the house. So that's me. That's how I feel. And I always thought, I was like, yo, my son ain't going to remember today. I'll be back today's. It's my nigger there. He ain't going to remember today. Now, I know it's a moment you want to be there. but I was part of one of the biggest street urban movies ever behind that.

Legacy movie for my legacy. So, Trish, go ahead. I mean that's something to say. Oh, I was just going to go ahead. I was just going to ask. You were supposed to put the bubble up there. The thumbs up. If, if, uh, Chey, Yokic, Wemby, and Cade all because they've all, because they've

all been flirting with not being eligible and Luca, I think I said, maybe I didn't say Luca. If all of those guys did not face the, make the eligibility, would you be okay with just whoever winning MVP, whoever that fifth or sixth player is?

Hey, that's why you have a date on the trophy. The date is on a trophy for a reason. That's who was available that year. That's why they got dunk contest for 91. That's who was available that year. Yeah, yeah, I don't see where they come up with this. That's why the trophy said,

2020-25-26. Yeah, that's who was available that year. Even if they were just a mediocre garbage man, but they just showed up every day. So for instance, right, to answer that question, right? Let's say everybody you just name, right? And then Jalen Brunster get it. I'm not going to be too mad at that.

Yeah. It ain't like it's no mediocre. Don't, it ain't like it's a nigga off the Wizards, Trish. Don't act like it ain't Jalen Brown out here. Jalen Brown ain't out here still making a name. It ain't going to be that crazy. That's fair. Yeah.

That's fair. now. They're going to end up on Indiana. I'm in Toronto. Yeah, man. Yeah, so that's what I'm referring to. But Mace, I think you have the quota tonight. That's why the date is on the

trophy. That's who available that year. Speaking to your point, Trish, like I said, I don't think it's as bad as you said, but we have some whack-ass niggas winning dunk contest. But that's who is available. that yeah you're like who is that they're like you won the dumb contest you're like who is that a lot of a lot of recent years it's a lot of who's that nigga they had to get a nigga from the g league to win so it was a great great takes from both of y'all mace i think you

sealed to deal with this is why the dates on the trophy we're going to leave everybody with that we appreciate your tune in this this week on it is where it is we'll see you on monday Thank you, Trish.