Mind the Game - LeBron’s Honest Assessment of the Lakers and The Most Intriguing Trade Deadline Moves

Episode Date: February 17, 2026

Welcome to another episode of Mind the Game with LeBron James and Steve Nash. We have an action packed episode breaking down the most intriguing moves from the NBA Trade Deadline including James Harden to Cleveland, Ivica Zubac to the Pacers and Anthony Davis to the Wizards. But first, the fellas talk about the state of the Los Angeles Lakers as LeBron, Luka, Austin Reaves and the rest of the purple and gold head into the last part of the season. They also talk about LeBron’s 22nd All-Star appearance and his recent break from wine and cookies. And finally, Steve and LeBron open up the laptop for a film session breaking down an amazing defensive move from LeBron against the Philadelphia 76ers.Thanks for watching Mind the Game. New episodes drop every other Tuesday so be sure to subscribe wherever you get your pods. Cheers!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming up on this episode of Mind the Game. Final countdown. Let's start with James Hard and Darius Garland. Very intriguing and I'm very interesting to see what happens. For the Lakers, here we go, we're six seed. For us to be, you know, I think 11 games, 12 games over 500 right now, top six seed in the West, I think it's pretty damn good under the situation that we've been in, but we've got to keep going. I have this play that happened the other day.

You start to recognize the patterns, how much of that is you've been, you've been, recognized beforehand or just, oh, I'm jumping this? A lot of teams kind of run the same kind of sets. Kind of like this football action. You know, to kind of confuse you, you know, getting guys going over the top underneath. And I'm seeing now the corner of my eye that he's going to set a pin down for grinds.

True story? It's true story to when I stopped drinking. Okay. So I wasn't playing as obviously as the season started. You know, so I needed to give up something. Yeah. I got to sacrifice something. and I actually did two things that I very love,

and that is drinking wine and my chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I completely took it out. So I was like, okay, I wasn't playing. I missed, obviously, I'm well documented. I missed the first 14 games of the season. It wasn't playing in November. I missed all of training camp, everything.

So I was like, for the, all right, I got to do. I got to take something out. I got to sacrifice something, you know. And for the whole month of November, I was like, I'm going to do no desserts and no wine. no liquor, no nothing for the whole month in November. And yeah, I did that. And I actually went all the way once I got to December.

I was like, oh, keep going. I kept going. And I didn't have my first drink and my first piece of dessert until New Year's. New Year's night. So I end up going basically two months. That's pretty impressive. Yeah, yeah. The chocolate chip cookie part with the ice cream is probably the hardest for me.

Well, the wine too. because being not playing and being a little stressed, I maybe wanted a glass here, glass there, but it was good to get myself, you know, get my body a break. And also to know that, like, you like to challenge yourself. We all like to challenge ourselves to know that, yeah, I love the challenge. So, like, how much of it was for the health benefits? How much of it was because I got to focus on challenges?

A little bit of both. Like, I want to focus on, like, challenge yourself, because that's two things that I love. I mean, it's, you know, it's two of my vices. And, but to be able to know that you could tap into that. And also like, you know, I was starting to round myself back into shape and, you know, doing things that I couldn't do throughout the summer because of the, you know, the back issue and things of that nature. So I wanted to kind of give myself the best opportunity to get back to, you know, doing the things that I needed to do on the floor. Well, kudos.

I actually went dry for two weeks twice so far this year, which I think is the most I've ever done probably in my life. In my life. You know what, I saw this thing on X the other day where, like, some, some of a year. younger generation than us, obviously not too much younger than you, was like, yeah, I don't get it. I don't need to spend 80 bucks and wake up feeling like shit the next day. And then all these older dudes were chimed and he's like, that's because you guys, like, some of the comments I thought were great, that's because you guys don't know how to do it. You got to get your ass up and go to the gym the next day, sweat it out. And other guys are like, but that's,

you guys don't understand, like, you just sit on your phone or play video games online. He's like, you've got to meet people, you got to go out how fun, you got to be the voice. So it's really interesting to me, like this. generational divide around drinking because drinking numbers are plummeting, which is not a bad thing. Right, right. That's not a bad thing. But the whole ceremony of having a drink, I think, is something that is kind of indicative on where society's going and trying to find the right balance.

Because it's not bad not to drink, but that bonding, like, how many times have you been with your teammates and, like, it's taking you to another level as far as just. For sure. For sure. That's social. Like, you know, you and your teammates go out to dinner, you know, and, you guys have a nice dinner and have a nice glass of wine with it, you know, a couple bottles of wine with it. It's like, and you start to see kind of, sometimes you see the season kind of changed because

of that one dinner. Right. You know, you start getting, you know, stories out of guys that maybe wasn't as talkative in locker rooms or whatever the case, maybe or on planes or on buses, you know, and everything started to come out. You kind of have that type of camaraderie kind of begins. Inside jokes and stories you always refer to. Yeah, exactly.

Like, practices are shorter games, you know, like, that's it. I mean, yeah, I mean, maybe I'm biased because that's the way I grew up playing and through the league. But it is interesting. I mean, these days, the way, it's not their fault. No. You know, a younger generation, they grew up with their phone. They grew up in a different way. So, and I appreciate it.

But it's like, it's a different. It definitely takes away the social aspect, never know. Every world. So my guy, Tyrese Hallibur, how? How did we do here? Is he like, should I be nervous about my seat over here? He tried to take my shit off. He tried to take your shit, man.

I had to calm him down a couple of times. Hey, listen, man. Pump the brakes? Ain't you preparing to get back to your day job, like your real day job? No, but he, listen, we both know him very well. He's a student of the game. Yeah. I think a lot of people, a lot of our viewers that watch mine the game,

and even people that maybe don't watch it, that now we're fans of Tyrese, they got an opportunity just to know, like, not only why, you know, but how special he is and what he does on the floor and how it translated because of this, you know, and his love, like his love for the game is, you can hear it in his voice, you can hear it in his message. It was, you know, he's a great kid. It's my first time spending an extended period of time with him during the Olympic trip and definitely one of my favorite teammates coming out of that whole experience. Just an unbelievable kid, man. And I love everything that's coming in his way.

He's special. So here we are going into our 22nd All-Star Games. Congratulations. I appreciate it. I appreciate it, my brother. 22 All-Star games. I just seen a clip earlier today. The first time, my first MVP in the All-Star game.

Many, many- Many- All-Star MVPs? Two, yeah. I think. Maybe three? Yeah. I don't know. Yeah, I mean, how do you know? How do you know?

Maybe. But I did see the clip 20 years ago of me, you know, winning my first MVP and 20 years ago, man. It's like, you know. How old is Brony? He's 21. 21. So you've been in 22 All-Star Games. Yeah, more than he's been here a lot.

That's crazy. Right? Yeah, it's super, man. It's super, obviously humbling and it's a blessing. And it's, I mean, there's so many words that's how to describe it. It's like, I. I obviously was never a goal of mine to be a 22 All-Star appearance. Like, you know, I definitely wanted to be in an all-star game growing up.

I just, you know, watch the guys play and, you know, watch MJ and Penny, you know, and all the guys, you know, Grant Hill and so many greats, you know, when I was growing up, AI, all those guys, Colby, all those guys, you know, play. And it looked like so much fun, you know. And that was, like, the biggest stage, you know. You feel like a sense of, like, I belong. you know, at this stage when you finally hit that floor with those guys.

So I remember my first time being an all-star and I'm like, just in such awe just being in the back with, you know, all those guys. And like I said, Vince and AI and Kobe and KG and all those guys. And, you know, now I'm that guy. You know, and seeing new, you know, All-Stars, first year all-stars coming in,

you know, this year. And for me to still be here, it's definitely super, like I said, super humbling. And I don't know, I'll probably have more words and more explanation behind it once I'm kind of done. And I can look back on it and like, wow, you did that at that time. Like, but it is pretty cool. Karim had, Karim had 19.

Yeah, okay. So you're like, you're almost, you're lapping Kareem. That's crazy. Yeah, that's great. Well, congrats. I mean, well deserved. And I think you're right. Like, it does, there's a, like, playing in All-Star Games, I feel like there's also the historical element.

Like, you feel a connection. to your childhood, but also like the history of the game and that in that moment in time, these are the best players in the league. So to feel that as a young player in the league, I'm interested, you know, how you feel this stage, right? Like you, to play 22 All-Star games, at some point in there it had to become like deep breath, another All-Star game, but like at this end of it, it's got to be, there has to also be, it comes back around. No, no, for sure. There's definitely like, I, I was, would like to have that week, you know, to, for my body, for my mind, to kind of recalibrate,

you know, now the, we went through the marathon stage of the season. Now it's, now we're starting to get to the sprint. It's like the last 20 plus games before postseason and then once the postseason start. It's like, it's a hundred meter yard dash. We like, we write at it. So you want to, any way you can find an opportunity to reset, you know, so there's a, there's a part of me, obviously, half of me, maybe a little bit more half, you know, that's like, I wish I can have that full week, you know. But there's also the nostalgic side, too, and the humbleness and the, like, the childhood

that comes out of me like, wow, like, bro, you're an all-star again. Like, you know, you remember those times where you were, like I said, when I was watching it when I was a teenager or a kid and, you know, just seeing the grates and seeing the lights and wanting to be a part of that moment, you know. So, yeah, I get both, you know.

There's, you know, truth that, you know, It could be two stories of the coin, but they could be truth to both. Like I said, both can be true at the same time. And I get both feelings. So I'm definitely humbled and thankful that, you know, the coaches, you know, wanted me a part of this weekend. They saw what I was able to do still at this point in my career. And, you know, I appreciate it.

For sure. It's a beautiful thing. I got a question for you. This is, this is, I don't know, you police me on this one. But, like, we changed the schedule, right? We started camp a little earlier. We have less back-to-backs. So now we don't have as many back-to-backs.

The season's elongated a little bit. But we also, because we had more back-to-backs, you had more time off in between sometimes. Do you know what I'm going with this? I do. I wonder if we are in a better place now with less back-to-backs or if we're almost stuck in the middle.

In the old days, you might have four and five nights, but you'd have two days off before and after, and you'd have that time to rest. Yeah. I've always felt like the back-to-backs depending on if you're traveling compared to home or whatever case may be. But I've always felt like the second night

of a back-to-back, I've always felt kind of better. Right, yeah, I can relate to that. I will wake up extremely tired. Yep. You know, sleepy, I need more rest. But I felt in a better rhythm. Yeah.

You know, that's second night of a back-to-back. And I've always historically, if I look at my numbers, or whatever the case may be, that I know, that's a lot of numbers, but I've always felt better once I got on the floor. And also, like you said,

having those extra days, you know, after you get an opportunity to recoup, you know, that is something we need to track because right now we're pretty much, it's every other day. You know, it's every other day playing.

And if you're playing it back to back, then you're going to get one day off. Like, we just got back from a couple weeks ago, we got back from an eight-game road trip. and we basically played every other day. We had one back-to-back in that eight-game road trip. And then we got back home basically after the eight-game two-week road trip, we got home Wednesday morning at like 3.30 in the morning, Wednesday.

And then we were back on the floor playing Thursday night. You know, so like you're saying, back in our day, like you would usually get that one day, you would get another practice day, and then you wouldn't play, you know, maybe into that Friday. So well that's that that's actually another point in this is that we can't practice anymore. Oh no. I don't remember last time we actually practice. Right. You can't. And that's also rightfully part of the performance teams now you know when I left the league in 2014 you know your performance team was four or five people right now it's 10 people. That's that's minimal too.

10 yeah plus and it's there yeah much better resumes and degrees and the the wealth of knowledge of those 10 to 12 people. people. So they're going to say, no, like, we're shutting everyone down to the maximum they can between games. Whereas when you had two days off, you can come back in. We might play a 10-minute scrimmage, you know, get your legs going to work on something. So there is a, there is a given a take in this. I wonder if the middle ground is, I'd love to hear your take on this, is start camp even 10 days earlier and just take back-to-backs out. Right? If we're going to take them, Just limit them. Can we start?

Because, you know, like in our sport, if you make the playoff, if you win the championship, you get July, August, September. You get over three months off. Which is big compared to a lot of sports. If you don't make the playoffs, you get five months off. So what's another 10 days? Whatever, I'm making it up. 10 days, maybe two weeks, maybe a week.

And take out back-to-backs completely. Because right now we're kind of in that middle ground. We still have back-to-backs, but we almost never have two days off or much less regular. Yeah. And we're still have a back-to-back-to-back. to back to backs, you know, and it's less, and we still have a lot of our guys still getting injured, too. So, like, what, we're trying to figure, what is it, you know, and I don't know how guys feel about, you know, starting 10 days earlier, you know, but, but if it does take out back-to-backs,

I think a lot of guys kind of chirp on back-to-backs and never, I think the majority you would say throughout your career and my career that people get a little annoyed at how many back-to-bats can be in season. So if there isn't any back-to-backs and then we're able to get maybe two days in between games, how does it affect, you know, does it affect our game, does it affect our players in a good way or a bad way? You know, it's a good, that's a good thought. I don't know. I don't have the answer to that or, you know, for me, like, you know, obviously the game is so much different now and you have to kind of adjust to the game now. But like, I looked at back-to-backs in four and five nights like as a mental warfare. Like, I like, if you look at, you look at,

looked on the schedule and you know you played Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, you only had Wednesday off. You're like, okay, if I can just push myself through this, then, you know, once the postseason start, you get to the postseason, you know, you're not playing back to backs. You know, I know the games are a little bit more grueling and the game's a little bit more, you know, mentally, you know, draining. But if I can, you know, play four and five nights, I remember after the lockout, after 2010 or 2011, a lockout happened, there were times where we had to play back to back to backs. Right. Yeah.

Yeah, I remember playing three games in a row, you know, when I was in Miami. It's a hard thing to know what the right thing to do. The game is changing, right? Like, you know, we do have to, there's more miles cover, more ex-o decals. That's the one thing. The game is definitely changed. A lot more close out. Like, everything you've got to do, that the wear and tear on the body is different.

It's way different. I do think, though, like the science, like I always lead with science. So I appreciate all our sports scientists and everything. But I do think, like, science is a consensus, kind of in a way. Whereas our league is so random with the travel. Like, I felt the same way as you. I think I felt the challenge of a back-to-back. I felt four and five nights got to show up on the fourth night, like, as a leader of your team.

But I do wonder, like, I feel like, is it because the game's different? Or did we build more resilient athletes without, you know, unintentional? because there was a more grueling element and the game wasn't as fast but the schedule was more grueled yeah I mean it's definitely a deeper deeper conversation deeper thought I do feel like the athletes the way I grew I mean the way I grew up that you really there's really no excuses right you know like you know we would I mean listen when I was growing we practice on we practice on every holiday we didn't

have no holidays off. You know, we played in all the games we had. We practiced every day. We practice every day. And our coach always said if we practice hard, if we practice hard in practice, we go at it. And obviously, you know, this is high school. You can run from, you know, miles and miles and miles.

But there's also a mindset, too. Like, the games are going to be so much easier. Like, if we could come here and execute and do the things at a high level and practice, then, you know, once the game's coming, it would be a lot easier. I don't know, I think it goes back to like the first conversation that we started off today is like, you know, the difference between, you know, being on your phone all the time and actually going out and having social conversations and being social, you know. Practicing and not practicing.

Obviously, we got these. I mean, I walked in the training room the other day after a game, you know, and I rarely, I have to like really, really, like, be sore or whatever, but I rarely go into the training room and get, like, like a leg flush after a game. We, I mean, we play, like, a lot of games, and I went in there after the game, just get like a 20-minute flush before I started my ice and treatment

and whatever. There's a lot of people in there. Listen, I was a little overwhelmed. You said that nicely. There's a fucking ton of people in there, man. It was like five of guys. It was five guys on the team. It was like 25.

people in the training right like seven doctors design our buildings yeah it's like seven doctors seven or eight doctors yeah I'm 10 medical team staff four or five massage therapists like it was like 25 I was like oh man and it was loud too right like I was like I need my headphones it's like a clinic it was like a clinic like I was walking into like the emergency at like UCLA the pit Yeah, it was crazy. Yeah, I don't know. Like, and it's not, this isn't a, at all, our generation's better. I love where the games are.

I love this generation of players. It's just these questions are interesting because everything has changed so quickly. Yeah. Like in our game. And I think we're thinking about it, but I still wonder, like, are we thinking about it the right way all the time? And there's no way to necessarily know that. Yeah, I don't know if we, no one has the answer. Obviously, everything is kind of just like trial and error.

Yeah, let's try to figure it out. Let's try to figure it out. And the athletes, I don't know how much more athletic their guys are going to get, but guys are going to get faster, more athletic and more, you know, so how do we continue to do the right things for, you know, our product to be available? That's the most important. Right. That's the most important.

What's on the floor, right? Yeah, what's on the floor. Yeah, it's tricky, man. There's so many, so many questions that we don't necessarily know the answer. But trial and error is really the most fun way to attempt it. And now over to our producer Jason for a word from one of our partners. Thanks to Draft King Sportsbook for sponsoring the show. Folks, we're halfway through the NBA season, and this is when basketball gets absolutely electrifying.

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unforgettable? Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.com slash host. For the Lakers. There we go. We're six-seat. Yeah. Okay. Six-seat. How are we feeling here? You know, the West is incredible, man. West is incredible. So many great teams, obviously, you've got the defending champions with OKC. I mean, San Antonio is playing great ball. Houston is playing good ball.

Denver. You know, Denver's playing good ball. Yonkers is back. You know, Phoenix is playing good ball. You know, a lot of people didn't think we're going to, you know, play good ball. They're playing good ball. we're playing good ball at times. But the number one important thing for us is back to our, it's health.

Yeah. You know, we finally got healthy, you know, with AR coming back and then Luca goes down with the hamstring. So, you know, that is going to be the most important for our team. And it's kind of been like that for the last few years with our team. Like we haven't been set up to the point where we have a lot of room for error or, you know, when one guy, like when 80 was on the team, 80 goes down, it was like, shit.

We don't have, you know, enough to kind of pick that up, you know. And Luca goes down, gosh, you know, shit is Luca. You know, AR was down. We had guys trying to, but it was tough on it. It's tough on it. So, you know, obviously, you know, Luca in the MVP race right now, you know, all-star leading vote getter, leading the league and points, top two, three, and assist. That's, we can't, no one's going to replace that.

But I think when I'm talking about, like, what for our team to be. it's not trying to get his numbers. It's about how can we get enough minutes in chemistry on the floor and reps like you know, okay, this is what our fourth quarter lineup looks like. This is

how we end the quarters, you know, a lot of games are won, you know, in the last minute and a half of course. You know, how can you outscore the team? How can you get more possessions? And rotations are always changing. Rotations are always changing. Yeah. So, you know, that's, for us to be, you know,

I think 11 games, 12 games over 500 right now, top six seed in the West, I think it's pretty damn good under the situation that we've been in, but we've got to keep going, you know, because the West, it changes every day. Yeah, well, I don't want to drag us back into the schedule and load management, all that conversation, but like look at the West. Like, if you ask me who's the favorite, it all depends on health, right? Like, you know, you shays out. Jay Doves been in and out, obviously the same you could say with Hardenstein,

and Caruso, others, AJ Mitchell. So their health, they're not the same team if they're not fully healthy, right? Denver. Same. Right now. You know, and last year, you could make an argument. They were a championship team or finalist of Aaron Gordon's hamstring. He's got his hamstring again.

You know, Peyton Watson's out right now. The Yocch has been out. So, you know, health for them too. That's the most important, man. You call it. Go down the line, though. Houston, Stephen Adams. Yeah. Difference maker of their team, right? He's out.

You guys just been up and down with health the whole year. So it's like that is the picture. I mean, and then if you look below you, like the sons have been injured all year. Minnesota. They've been the healthiest team. But they went from like an eight-man rotation to a six-man rotation, you know, losing Mike Conno. Yeah, yeah. Just kind of not playing as much.

Nikiel not being there this year. I think it was a great pickup, Ehadunzumo. That's a great pickup for them to give them a little more depth. They've been healthy. But everyone else, like the dubs, like Warriors, like that's still a team. you don't necessarily want to play in the play in, right? Stefan Curry can do magical things, but they've been injured. So they're trying to find it.

So again, it just goes to this thing. And I don't feel like it was that way in the aughts. Right. It's like the championship really came down to health as much as anything. So it is fascinating. But with you guys getting hopefully Luca back, the three main guys on the floor more, because it's also hard to know what you have rotation-wise or role-player-wise if you three aren't out there taking up the responsibility.

For them to really know how can they start their role is difficult when you guys aren't out there and they have to do more. Right, right, exactly, exactly. So, yeah, I mean, that's the most important for us and I'm looking forward to the final stretch of us getting a hole, hopefully, obviously, knock on wood, but getting hole, seeing what we got. And I get, you know, Kudos Sart coaching staff, of still being able to keep us afloat, even through all the injuries,

everything that's going on, playing in L.A., which is very difficult and challenging. And coaching in LA could be very difficult and challenging because the lights and coverage and everything is just different, you know, obviously. So looking forward to this final stretch. Canard is a good pickup. Big time. You know, like you need shooting. Yeah, you need shooting.

Especially just that button you can push to give you guys space, not just the points, but just give you guys space to operate. So I think that's going to help. But again, like, you know, my old thing for you guys is just defense. How are you going to defend top teams for longer stretch? And that, as you know, you need reps. You need reps to support each other to know where guys are weak and strong. So I'd be very fascinating to see when you guys get healthy.

Play more zone. Yeah, yeah. Playing more zone, which I like. Which I like too. Yeah, you know, figure it out. I think there's a lot of creativity to be had in zones as well. When you have guys with IQs, it can be fun. Looking forward to it.

Let's see what happens. Yeah, I have this play that happened the other day. It was probably a month ago now in Philly. It was the end of the game. I think you guys were up more It was more than a possession game It was like a four or five point game And you stole the ball

But it was something we've seen you do They're down for four Four seconds left So they need a bucket And they need one fast And you're kind of talking it out You're playing center field here You're noticing the pattern

You call for one switch where they are You see them coming together And you see And you go back to your football days And talk us three that because you've done that before. You start to recognize the patterns. How much of that is you recognized beforehand or just, oh, I'm jumping this because I know what they're doing it. Yeah, I mean, there's a couple set. A lot of teams kind of run the same kind of sets.

Kind of like this football action. That's football action, you know, to kind of confuse you, you know, getting guys going over the top underneath and they hope they're red confused. They want red confusion. And right now we are in our defense, which we want to switch everything before and after. But we want to come together. So just for just for the viewer switch before the ball is in bounds before the ball is in by and after because sometimes we don't switch until it's in. Yep, correct. Just to make sure there's a everyone's on the same page. Everybody's on the same page. So now we're in switch before and after and I switched the first one with AR then me and Jake come together

body to body with Joelle and I'm seeing now the corner of my eye that he's going to set a pin down for for grimes and I'm just jumping it I'm literally jumping this right here I see it I recognize it and I'm able to read it and jump it and I mean obviously seal the game so I mean it's to be honest obviously you never know what can happen in games like this right we only we only we've seen guys foul three-point shooters goes in and you know I was just happy I was able to make a play and kind of just, you know, seal the game at the end of that game. And as an offensive coach, your man should a rim run that to make, just to make you guys think about the switch.

But when you, you recognize that he turned his back to you, you're like, oh, he's just going to scream. And it gave you the opportunity. I can jump early. Yep. Yep, exactly. But yeah, it's always fun to see the old heads. Yeah, that's the, that's the IQ and, you know.

The experience. Yeah, the experience, man. See it a million times. A million times. We say the best teacher of life is experience. And you also know, like, there's certain things they can't do right now. Right. So you've taken that out of your, you know, and so you're like they can only do one or two.

Yeah, you're like, you're thinking like, you know, what is there, you know, I'm asking our coaching staff. And I'll also ask the, like, the table, how many timeouts they have? Yeah. You know, because there's certain plays that you can run and there's certain places that you can't run depending on if you have a timeout or not. You know, got to get it in. Or do how many timeouts do we have? You know, if we give up a quick two. Do I have the ability to, you know, advance the ball?

You know, we call timeout, advance the ball. If they don't have a timeout, they're not going to have enough time to now get back and run a set. So, like, I'm thinking about all those type of things and also what they could possibly wrong. Yeah. It's also, like, if you know you have an extra timeout, they do score, you could take it out quick, take a look,

even if you want to designate it. Like, I might have someone near or far, and I can still call timeout. So all those things, those details at the end of games matter. Those are things that I think are hard in our league, you know, because of injury, because of practice floor time. Yeah, practice, yeah, man. A lot of stuff that you learn. Like, you work on a lot of in-game situation stuff at practice or at shoot-around.

Shoot-rounds. You know, as shoot-arounds. And like you said, all these games is happening. A lot of, you know, you're not able to, like, wrap it. You're not able to rep it. So you're doing a lot of it on a fly in the game. 5-10, yeah. Five against coaches.

You know, the pattern I fell into as a coach was our shoot-rounds were practicing. You know, not in effort, but in concentration. Yeah, yeah. Offensive breakdowns, defensive breakdowns, end-a-game situation, because you don't really have the time. You know, you're always moving. Planning your next getaway, looking for a new favorite vacation spot.

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It's not till like, you know, leverage always comes when time. runs out right and then everything started to happen here so let's go through some of them because i think i think there was some interesting trades um let's start with james hard and darius garland um interesting for the clippers you know let i'll talk about them first like it was interesting because it in hindsight it appears it was opportunistic like they didn't they there was the hottest team in the league yeah they were like whatever 15 and three or somewhere near that at least before something obviously James's extension was a factor you know moving forward how do they want to do they they they lost a guy who's still playing in an all-star level but maybe

wasn't the future and they got a guy 10 years younger and then I think the Zubach thing which we'll talk about in a bit was opportunistic too they weren't planning this it was just like okay the James situation came up they made the move they got younger there start for the future and then Zubach thing so I think let's park the clips for a minute but for the calves you know I think this is potentially a difference maker. Yeah, and they're going for it. Yeah, yeah.

They're going for it. They felt like they needed, you know, another playmaker, someone that's been there, kind of been in a situation before, you know, and they added James, like you said, perennial All-Star, who's still putting up All-Star numbers, gives, you know, Donald Mitchell another, like, ball handler guy who can make shots late in the game, but also, like, those pickups that they got from,

from SAC as well. You know, as Schroeder, former teammate of mine, you know, that's going to compete every single night, and Kei. L. is going to compete, make shots. Like, those guys are going to be,

I think, really, really good for that teams, right? You know, especially in the East, where it's a lot of, like, a lot of bulk, a lot of, you know, you got to have some dogs in there, so I think they added a lot.

Yeah, I think that's a great point about the two bench guys, Ellis and Schroder. Schroder, obviously, you know, he's going to the Hall of Fame. Yeah. You know, for not only having an NBA career, but what he's done with Germany.

Yeah, for sure. You know, world championship and the Olympic medal European championship. So that's a guy who's pressure tested. Yeah. So you add that to your bench, which is great. Yeah. Yeah, I think there was something off with the calves.

And I think it's hard to judge them because they were always injured too. Yeah, exactly. Getting back to our conversation. No Garland and Struz, he hadn't played all year as well. Yep. Yeah. I feel like Strues, it's interesting. I know we know him as a shooter, but like he was the dog on that team, the guy that's going to stick his nose in there every night.

And I think they missed that a little bit personality-wise. So, yeah, I think that's a difference maker for them. Interesting one in the West also was Jaron Jackson. Utah finally kind of comes out from the bushes and says, all right, we're going to press play now and try to win. So give me your thoughts there on Jaron Jackson, obviously heavy picks. They got a young player in there as well. Clayton Jr. Yeah, yeah.

But really, this is them saying like, yeah, we'll give up some picks. We'll try to get an all-star caliber player. And which they did. Which they did. I mean, you look at, you know, with him and marketing, two guys that's multi-dimensional. And both two guys that can also block a lot of shots. They have a lot of athleticism. You know, with the rookie Bailey, obviously Keon, you know,

Keante George is playing exceptional basketball this year. You know, now you add Jaron Jackson, who's battle tested as well, been in playoff games. Of course, they're trying to build something, I think, for the next couple of years. Obviously, you know, they haven't played, you know, how they will like to play. Obviously, their big fella's been out all year.

Walker Kessler's been out all year. And he's either free or a restricted free age. Restricted. You may be restricted. But you can imagine signing that front court of Lori, Jerry Jackson, Jr., that's length. Yeah, that's a lot of length. So that was an interesting trade.

I didn't see that coming. There were talks of Jaron Jackson, you know, not being a part of Memphis Grizzly's future, but I didn't see it being Utah going there and doing that. But, you know, listen, Danny Aange got a billion, between him and Presley, they got a billion first round picks and picks locked up so they could pretty much do it. It was like they play a monopoly at this point.

It's like their own economy over there. Yeah, so I actually, I'm very, intrigued and excited in the sense for Utah just to get going now like just to try to see and I think I think a lot of that is is George you know his development them recognize and they think they have an all-star caliber player in the future that's been good ball man yeah um really very very talented um all right now let let's uh you know this maybe we move into our clippers slash indie talk with the zubots trade uh you know clippers are in this we're not I think they're in this what are we doing now Or should we test the waters?

Yeah, that's what it seems like. It seems like they're kind of like, where are we, you know, where are we, you know, with the franchise? Listen, I don't know if it's like Zubak like still hates the Lakers because of the trade or whatever. But when he plays against us, man, he kicks our ass. He's a really good player, man. I mean, he kicks our ass, man. He's really, he's just gigantic. I don't think of people, a lot of people understand how big he is, great hands around the rim, great touch.

Yep. You know, obviously he worked well with James. That could have been something, too, because. because James' playmaking ability, you know, they felt like once they got off James, they felt like, you know, maybe they could go get something for Zub back because they lose into playmaking of James. I think it's a great pickup for Indy,

especially going into the future. Obviously, after losing Miles Turner, obviously to Milwaukee, you know, two different players. But I think with Tyrese coming back at some point with Zoo, I think it's going to work well. Zoo works well with playmaking point guards or playmaking players. And Tyrese is one of our best playmakers in our game. Obviously, you've seen what Zoo was able to do the last couple years with James.

So, you know, I think it's going to be a great pickup, you know, and kudos to Indiana. Obviously, you know, Rick probably had a lot to do with it. You know, bring him in there. They saw his talent. He's still young, you know, relatively. And I think it's going to be good. I think, I mean, I think Tyree's going to love him. Yeah, I like it. You know, not the, not the spacer the Miles Turner was, but like he's so good around the room. Right, so good. He can play him in the role, he's playing the short pocket. great hands around the rim but also rebounds. Yeah, can rebound extra possessions here for sure.

Defends the rim. So yeah, I'm excited for Indy. I mean, man, let's just take another moment of silence for Indy. I mean, they're in game seven playing well and they lose tie. Yeah, man. And that's basically what we've seen this year. Yeah. Is a team that lost their leader.

So, you know, excited for them that there's like, oh wow, They could really put together. I think they're going to love, they're going to love Zoo. He's a great player. Agreed, agreed. Okay, well, let's talk about the Washington Wizards. Very interesting. Yeah.

Very interesting. I'm very interesting. I'm very interesting to see what happens and how this all comes about. Obviously, next year. It's kind of towards next year. I don't know. 80's out for the rest of this year. Yeah, I think 80s out.

It could be. That's what the talks of and I think it's already been saying maybe that, Trey is not going to play this year as well. But I'm interesting to see, you know, what they do and how it all comes together. You know, with AD, obviously, we know the talent level is out of this world. And, you know, Trey with his ability to play pick and roll game, his ability to shoot the ball, his live threat. You know, I love the young kid from France that they have on their team, too. We just played them.

Sorry. We just played them two weeks ago. great touch, great feel for the game. Love the kid George as well, young kid, pretty good player, and then also the rookie kid that they got from Texas, Johnson. I, Trey Johnson, I think, you know, it's going to be tough. You know, every year, they have some pieces.

And I think for the first time in a few years, we can say that Washington has grabbed some pieces. And so it's going to be interesting to see what happens. It's going to be interesting to see what happens and how they come together with a training camp, with offseason, if they guys get together, we'll see what happens with that, see how motivated, you know, Trey and AD is to prove, you know, Dallas and L.A. and Atlanta, you know, how, you know, listen, we know what we're capable of.

But, you know, every year is different. Yeah. You know, you got to look into the, you know, you look into the future, but it looks like they, they, those are two all-stars. You think that was opportunistic, too, that they picked up Trey and 80, like, They weren't like, hey, let's grab these two all-star types to go with our young crew. Do you think it kind of fell in their laps and thought about it and said, why not? Because the other part of this is that they're both extension eligible.

So there's a big caveat in this whole thing. Yeah, I think I would kind of lean more into it kind of fell in their lap. Opportunistic. Yeah, I think there were, yeah, I would say so. I would say so. I think there were so many rumblings around Trey over the last couple of years in Atlanta, you know. and where he could fit or does it fit, you know, in Atlanta. And I think, you know, Jalen Johnson is a surgeon and, you know,

Nikiel and the way they were playing when Trey went down. I think Atlanta saw, okay, maybe this is an opportunity for us to, you know, look more into the future or possibly, you know, see what we can get out of Trey. And they did that, you know, bringing in CJ and, you know, Corey Kisper. And I think, you know, with the whole 80 thing, you know, just from outside, people talking like you know Dallas obviously got the first pick and and the the the rise of Cooper flag and them kind of looking to their future as well you know kind of made you know them look for you know something with 80 as well so I think the

wizard was I guess the perfect team to kind of just jump on that and it was right I guess right timing I was saying it's I mean on paper in Washington's interesting because like if you look at you know Trey's weakness would be defensive impact But you have AD and you have SAR, you know, as you're a four and five, five and four, however you can slice it. Sarr can stretch the floor. You know, AD obviously can roll and duck in and do all those things. They got some support. They got some wing size and length and defenders too.

So there's more support for him there. And you know how brilliant he can be offensively. So it is interesting to see if they keep that thing together. I think it's interesting to see it. I'm very interested to see how I come together, for sure, for sure. How, like the Celts have had an unbelievable year. Just playing great basketball. You know, a lot of unknowns with JT being out this year.

Seems like their style of play identity, winning the possession game. You know, being undersized a lot of time, but making up for it in different ways. They add Vouch, Nicola Vucevich, to their team. Like, what's your take on that? I mean, this is a team that's kind of like... Hanging around? Sneaky, dangerous. Sneaky hanging around, dangerous.

they just assigned JT to the main team. So it's looking like that he's kind of ramping up, you know, to possibly play this year and they're not giving up on the season, which a lot of people was talking like, well, no J.T. You know, Trader, Tray, no, Al Horford was gone, Drew Holiday's gone, the championship team is gone. Well, they still have championship DNA. They still have guys on the team that won the championship

and they still got a championship coach. So, like, those guys are like, they use that as, like, motivation. And you add Vooch, another guy that can, this is a team that over the last few years have led the league and three-point attempts per game. And now you have Vooch, another stretch five, you know, that can stretch the floor or can catch the ball in short pockets.

You can't really switch a lot of small guys on it because his ability to duck in and go over his right shoulder, left shoulder, you know, kind of punish you on that end. And a good pass. And a very good pass as well, and a guy who just knows the game. So they're not,

they didn't throw in the town when the season. Why everybody thought they were they were like, no, we're not throwing the time. Well, to be TBD on JT, obviously I do have concerns just because I want to see him play 10 years healthy from here and out. But, you know,

if he's apparently getting close to playing, this is an interesting team because Jalen Brown's been unbelievable this year. They're playing at an incredible level. Pritchard, White, They've all been outstanding. You go down the line.

And I think that Vooch gives them this optionality because Cata's been great. I think he's been a surprise to a lot of people. Both ends of the floor. He's been really impactful. And now they can go double big, you know, because Vooch could stretch a little bit like they did with Garza.

So now they have Garza, Vooch and Kada. So this is interesting. And with or without, JT, obviously we all know how great he is. We don't know where he'll be with his game, rhythm and how he fits to this current iteration in short time. Obviously, great players are.

find a way. I am I am curious in the East, even without JT, like how troubling they can be with their style of play. And you know when you got to, when you go to Boston for a playoff game, you know how hard is to win in that building. The crowd is like. It's not, it's not many, you know, crowds in our in our game that kind of speaks fear into you. They just have that, that mentality. So that crowd is definitely a factor. So like you said, It's going to be interesting. You know, with JT, without JT, you know, really interesting to see what happens.

Yeah, it's going to be fun. The Thunder, you know, I thought this was interesting. You know, the Thunder, they have all these picks. They kind of fly under the radar and then all of a sudden out of the blue, they go and they grab Jeremy McCain. Yeah. I like this pick up for them. Yeah, me too.

You know, you got the picks. You got a team that the one thing they did not do in the playoffs last year was shoot the three ball very well. and they've had periods during this season where they didn't shoot it well. So to have that another option, another guy that can handle the ball a little bit, can make plays a little bit, but really can shoot the ball and stretch the floor.

You really shoot the ball. I think that's a good move for them. You like it? Yeah, I mean, I like it in a sense that when you're a champion and you're a championship team, I like how they're not satisfied with what they have.

And they have a lot. Yeah. But they're still not satisfied, you know, and the fact that he would still go out and see ways to improve his team, even though he still has a championship team, caliber team, that just,

for a player, you feel so good about that. Like, you know, the front office is still going out and seeing, okay, this is what we may not be so great at. Even though we have a championship team still, and even though we're number one in the wins in the league,

how can we still get better? So, you know, I like to pick up young kid, like you said, you stress the floor, add another ball handler, can still get to that point five mentality. What would they do and it's going to be interesting though, but he's a really good player. Yeah, I like it. It's also interesting, you know, when they're talking about future and

Yeah, yeah. Roster building, you know, they got they got young guys still on rookie deals and they got guys that have gotten their deals, you know, the Caruso dorts, and so I think that gives them also options going forward to how they want to build their team. So I kind of get it on both standpoints for the now and for the future All right, let's move on to the Pistons. They traded jaden ivy, you know, who was a lottery pick. Yeah, and who was playing well, shooting the ball well. For Kevin Herder. So interesting one, because I think this could be a good trade for both teams potentially.

I like Ivy. I think he came off a long injury and is starting to shoot the ball well. And Herder is a clever player. He can shoot, he can play off a closeout, playing pick and roll, kind of gives them more spacing gravity and isn't a terrible defender. Yeah, yeah. I think it worked off of both teams. Yeah.

Yeah, I think Jaden, you know, obviously before the injury last year, I mean, shooting the ball exceptionally well, came back this year, obviously still working his way, you know, back, explosive player. I think it's going to be both for both teams. You know, it's both for Jaden to be able to go and now he can feel like, you know, maybe get a little bit more responsibility. And also for Detroit to get another guy that can hit the three, you know, can make plays that at point-fine mentality as well. So I think it works out for both spots. Yeah. Detroit's had a heck of a year. They have.

They have. Unbelievable defense and Cade, man. Yeah, Cade is tough, man. He makes all those guys better. Yeah, he's tough. The Knicks picked up Alvarado. Homegrown. Brooklyn native.

That's going to give the garden a boost. This guy another tough, clever player can give you a spark. I think that's, I like that. Yeah, I like it. I mean, you know, everyone knows what he's about. Winning player. He's a winning player. And he's going to bring energy, effort every time he steps on the

Lord, you're going to give his body on it, put his body on the line. The garden is going to love him. The fans are going to love him. He's from there. So it's a perfect fit, I think. Perfect. I agree. This one's interesting to me.

Christop's Porzingis for Jonathan Caminga and Buddy Heald. I think Porzingis is a perfect fit for the wars. We just haven't seen a lot of them. Right. Yeah. I think that's, you know, we mentioned it earlier, health. Yeah. You know, health as well.

And obviously, Christoph is definitely a perfect fit for Gold State the way they play. their style of play, perfect fit. Obviously, his health is obviously most important when it comes to that. And obviously, we know the saga, the drama, whatever the case, maybe with the whole Kaminga thing in Golden State. I think it was only a matter of time, you would say, before they found him a new home. And, you know, super talented kid.

Obviously, we all know that with his ability, his athletic ability. You know, losing buddy had to be tough on him. You know, losing buddy had to be tough on him. just, you know, his speed and, you know, the way he plays and, you know, his shooting ability fits perfectly for Golden State that we've seen over the last year and a half. But I think it's Camiga wanted a new destination. Golden State gave him a new destination. Prozenghis is a perfect fit for Golden State, which is always about health.

Yeah. You know, what Christoph, so hopefully, hopefully we see him out there. And that's the tricky. Like, it's a roll of dice, right, for both teams, because I think if he's healthy, he doesn't get traded from Atlanta. Correct. Right, but because he's been out of the lineup and the dubs need help, you know, I mean, that's an interesting front court. You imagine if Jimmy was there.

Big ifs here, but if Jimmy and Porzinkas are healthy with Draymond, that's a heck of a front court. But even Chris Deppson and Draymond is a great lift. So interesting to see if he gets to play and he comes together. I like the Kobe White deal for the Hornets. The Hornets have played some of the best basketball in the entire league recently. and I think he gives them depth and shooting and some playmaking. So I'd love to hear your thoughts on. Yeah, I don't know if it's a Laker thing once again, like when guys play against us.

But Kobe is one of those guys as well when he sees us bad. Boy, it seems like he doesn't miss. But like you said, he gives them another ball hand, another pick and roll player, but another stretch guy that can shoot the ball. And I think the way they're playing, like you just said, they're one of the hottest teams. along with the clippers over the last month, you know, playing exceptional basketball. I think it gives them another dynamic piece. So, yeah, it should be good for them, man.

Like, I just like the way they're playing. Like, you have a lot of guys that can create shots, can make shots, you know, obviously, mellow, you know, I mean, obviously, Knieppel, we can talk about the rookie season that he's having. I mean, you know, you know, so Brandon Miller. Like, you know, Miles Bridges. Like, you know, these guys are, they're figuring it out. You know, they're figuring it out. And I will say Coach Lee, yeah, those guys playing the right way.

He looks like he's holding him accountable, you know. And, you know, Ann and Kobe is definitely a good peaceful. It's impressive to see. Coach has done a great job sticking with it. The hardest thing I think for them, again, will bring it up, is health. They haven't been healthy. Brandon Miller, Mellow. They haven't had.

But I think now, Those three perimeter players with Khan, there's a stability there. You can see it's transforming mellow a little bit. Like he's trimming the fat in his game. He's playing more efficient at both ends of the floor. They're winning. They're winning, right? Trusting.

I think he's seeing like, okay, the winning is starting to happen. So, okay, I can do this. Like, you know, you're not winning, and you're like, okay, well, it doesn't matter if I change my game or not. When you're young, sometimes that's how you feel. but I think the fact that they're winning, he's playing the way he's playing, and those other guys are playing or where they're playing,

I think it's giving him. It's a little bit more confidence to believe in his teammates. For sure. And Diabate is an interesting pickup, like turning into a really good player. Yeah, for sure. Makes an impact at both ends.

And as we found out recently, he's got some dog in him. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Which I admire. Yep, that always is good. I already knew mouths did, but, you know, see, yeah. Yeah, that was a good part of the equation for me in a basketball player and athlete. So, yeah, I mean, that's a great story.

Really excited to see if they can, where are their season ends? They get into play, and they make it into the top six. Right. But seeing them in a playing at least or a playoff series will be fun because that's a team that's on the rise. It would be fun. Yeah, that would be great. Thanks for watching, Mind the Game. New episodes drop every other Tuesday.

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