OverDrive - OverDrive - December 4, 2025 - Hour 2 - Luke Willson/Danny Green

Episode Date: December 4, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Dave Feschuk for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN NFL Analyst Luke Willson joins to discuss the Eagles' team turmoil, the Cowboys and Lions' matchup and Hayes, Bro and O's selection. ESPN NBA Analyst Danny Green joins to discuss the Raptors and Lakers' matchup, LeBron James and Luka Doncic's role and Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the Bucks and Bryan gives his FanDuel Best Bets.

Every year it's the same. I get socks. You get socks. We all get socks. Not me. This year, I got more. More socks? More for less. Virgin Plus hooked me up with an affordable phone plan and member benefits on food, fashion, and entertainment. So while I'm knee-deep in snow and novelty socks, you're unwrapping deals all season?

Exactly. It's the gift that keeps on giving. Get more for less this holiday season with affordable phone plans and member benefits you'll love. Virgin Plus, obviously. Visit a Virgin Plus store or virginplus.ca for details. Hour 2 Overdrive continues, powered by Fanduel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Brian Hazio, Doug, Jeff O'Neill, Dave Festruck, and there he is, Luke Wilson, around the table. How are we feeling this afternoon?

I'm feeling great. Yeah, I woke up today, and I just felt like it's going to be a great night that leads into a great weekend for me. Just for you in particular? In noodles, and our team owner, Jay-on, right? Okay. Yeah. I feel like I just went to a restaurant, and my... my old ex is like, it's a gross view.

Yeah, it's a bit awkward. Usually we bro-hug-it-up when I come in here? I just sat down. Nothing. Yeah. Nothing. Disappointing. You and I?

Okay. We need a big one tonight. You know what I've noticed that this guy's doing? Yeah. So here's the way things work out. Al's brother and I will kind of come through a consensus on what we think. And then he'll hedge by going the other way. Yeah.

Just so that if we lose, he can be like, hey, I told you. Oh, that is my signature. move. I've only done it twice. I've only done it twice. And you're 2 and O and both your... Yeah, because we haven't had a winner since he came around. Thank you very much. But both times I said, look, you do what you want, but I'm telling

you this is my vibe. And they ignore me and they do what they want and they're dummies. Well, I haven't really heard from Al's Brother, right? House Brother, I believe he's on a cruise right now. Who the hell knows? Probably on a cruise somewhere, down the Don River. He's saving some money in the holiday season. But

it kind of feels like a must win for all teams tonight. Must win. Dallas and Detroit. I know whoever loses, they're not mathematically eliminated, but in my opinion, the match just doesn't math for me. Again, sometimes you can look at, oh, here are the chances left, but I look at the NFC West, and I think all three teams are going to get to 11 wins, minimum.

So 11's going to be the magic number, and then you look at, I believe that Chicago and Green Bay probably both get to 11. So you're going to need 11 wins, and potentially 11 wins, a tie to get in. Again, you'll still be alive, but I think whoever loses tonight, that's all she wrote, in my opinion. Yeah. Let me look at this.

Again, I think Sanfran's on by, but I do believe they get two more wins, especially if you look at their schedule upcoming. You know, Seattle and the Rams, I think, are also minimum getting to 11. Now they do play each other one more time in there. Green Bay, best case in error for these teams tonight would be if Chicago beats Green Bay, but if Green Bay beat

Chicago, which is kind of where I would be leaning, you know, you got another 9 and 4 team, like, you just don't have enough games left. Yeah. Yeah, and I got to give credit to Dallas. Like, I was perplexed by their moves at the trade deadline where Oh, they're in it. They went all in and they

acquired pieces. And they have a very weak schedule. They have a very weak schedule. This is what I'd say I'd be fearful of if I'm a Dallas Cowboys Fair now. Let's say they find a way to get it done tonight, which is going to be tough. I understand, you know, there's a lot of things going on here. I'm not trying, I'm just throwing it in there. Interesting. It's going to be

very tough. But I think there's a way they definitely can win this game. I get nervous that the Cowboys then lose a softball game. It's like the epitome of the Cowboys. And it would be so Cowboys to do that. Exactly. They come in, they go in this crazy run they're on now. You know, they beat the Chiefs on Thanksgiving. If they

find a way to go into Detroit tonight and win, and you're looking at the rest of their schedule, and it is like softball after softball. And then all of a sudden it's like they're going to be the seven seed, and it's like we just puke all over ourselves one of these games. Lose to the Giants or something like that.

They got Vikings Chargers, commanders, Giants. That's what I'm saying. It's a softball schedule, but it'd be the Cowboys way to blow one of these games. That's exactly what they represent. Yeah, they might, but man, their offense is rolling. Their offense is the best in the league right now. It's hard to imagine that it won't continue to roll, though maybe they'll have,

maybe they will have one of those setback games, but it's... I'll say this. This is going to be a shootout tonight, guys. I mean, this is going to be a shoot at. I would agree with that. And then the thing that I will say, the only thing that could perhaps, like, it's a bit weird, but since Quinn and Williams has joined on, their run defense has been a lot better. But I think some of that is also, you look at who they've played in that time. They haven't really played, like, elite run teams, including Philadelphia.

Philadelphia, although they have Sequin, has been awful in the run game this year. So we'll see how Jamir Gibbs, the lines go on these six, seven-minute drives, potentially sell that down. but I am expected in like a 34-31 ordeal. Are you? I think you're right. It's a friend three-and-a-half. Three-point game?

Interesting, interesting. Wouldn't that be an interesting outcome? But I'll say this, boys, like, you don't want to see the Cowboys in the playoffs. I don't know if we can bring that board up right now. Do you bring that board back up? Well, they'll have to go on the road, though, right? Sure, but who's stopping this team? Because part of what everyone forgets is their run game is awesome.

Like, Giovante Williams' O-line has been amazing. So, like, if they get into the seventh seat here, like, you know, going into the Rams, like, does the Rams defense want to see them? Now, I'll tell you this, Matthew Stafford treads his defense. But, again, if somehow they're in the sixth seed, you know, in Philly, there's a lot of movement that can happen here. Well, what they need is to catch Philly, is what they need. They need Philly to keep falling apart, and they chase down the division. Then you play at home. I'm with you, and the Philly Bears game scared me, but I don't see them catching Philly.

I just... There's some weird mojo in Philly right now. It's a very weird mojo. How the how could there be mojo? Watching them win the Super Bowl, it's like, you just look at that, the way they dominated something that you love, physicality, line, and scrimmage. Like, they were dominant.

You're like, these guys are going to go on a run, and now all of a sudden it's a circus. It doesn't seem possible. And it's unfortunate how, like, in this league, like, locker room culture matters so much. And... Yeah, but wouldn't everybody in the locker room, Luke, say we like let's just keep going here everybody on the same page how do people deviate and get on

their own program saying i'm not getting the ball enough this and that in like in the locker room fighting it's like stay the course man generally in my experience it's when there's like certain individuals that aren't held to the same standard everyone else's like that's one thing that i can't speak another sports but at every level that i had played up until the NFL it was kind of like, hey, we're all supposed to abide by a certain standard and there's a lot of things in the NFL that

occur that that rarely happens and I get the feeling that this is a personal opinion that a lot of the guys are a bit frustrated with Jalen Hertz. If you really buzz the film, it's like hey, we're all kind of sacrificing doing all these things.

What is going on with Jalen Hertz? So what the hell is his problem? Other than underperforming? Is it Is he got favorites? Is he just not doing certain things? I just don't think he's executing the offense the way they're hoping to do it. You know, you look at the past game, and he's a great off-scheduled guy. But there are numerous times where there are simple reads, you know,

and I've seen some of this like, this is from the film. This part is not an opinion where it's like they've basically created an offense where there will be a man side and a zone side, which is somewhat novice, more college style. And like to make it this way, I was going to call you parts, O'Dog, if you can tell it's zone, which a lot of times you can, it's simple like, okay, if it's zone, and that's my manside, like I'm working this two-man combo over here,

and he'll snap the ball and work the man side, and no one will be open. And then it's like, oh, what am I doing? Dude, after week four, I thought he was going to win the MVP. No, he's struggled throwing the football. Again, I think he's an unbelievable athlete. I just, and part of it, too, I'll be honest, is he got a new OC every year. Like, you've got to give the guy some credit,

but it's like he has not taken the next step as far as a progression quarterback and that has really jammed them this year and the fact they don't have a run game. You know better than anybody. If you're elite, it doesn't matter if it's Joe Blow from the stands with a park on, you know, like you just, you do it. And what's strange to is it's not like he doesn't have weapons. Like the guy, AJ Brown, I think, is talent-wise, a top 10 guy. I would sneak AJ Brown close to my top five talent-wise. And the other guy that doesn't get talked about it in the top 10 is Devonte's.

Smith. You put DeVante Smith with Matthew Stafford. He's a triple crown winner. Swear to God, he's that good of football. Where it's like, you know, he's their number two guy, makes some big plays, a 60 yards of game in Philly. He's right now, and the case of point is

Devante Adams. He's obviously not winning the Triple Crown, but he's got a million touchdowns. He's catching the ball every week. You put Devontad and Matthew Stafford, Triple Crown. Cooper Cup a couple years ago. You get what I'm saying here. It's crazy. The debates going to be, it's never going to stop with him, right?

Like he got pushed out of college, and then he went to Oklahoma, I think, actually had a great end of his career there. That was a second round pick, came into Philly. It was a great team, though, great defense, push, all this, all that. But he's won in Super Bowl, won a Super Bowl MVP. Been to two Super Bowls. And yet, his resume is phenomenal. And, like, they've paid him, they've committed to him.

He's the guy. Yet, everyone has a different viewpoint on if he's, even any good. Like, it's a really wild debate about him. I think it's stupid to say, is he any good. I hear you, but look what Luke is saying, though. Like, this year, he's been, he's been horrible. He's been their worst offensive

player. Okay, well, how the hell did he get to two Super Bowls and win one of them and the MVP? I'll say it is, and those are facts. Like, that's happened. You can't take that away from me. That's not projecting he could do this at some point. But that being said, he literally has done it. He did the number one defense last year and a historical

rusher. And I can kind of speak from experienced with that where it's like when we won the Super Bowl we had a generational defense in Marshawn Lynch. Now Marshawn didn't have the season Saquan had, but it's like if you had to rank my list of important things

now granted, in the Super Bowl we won Malcolm Smith was our MVP so there's definitely like a difference between Russ and Jalen Hertz there. But if you had to rank in my what was important on that Seahawks winning team, the Legion of Boom is one. Marshawn is two.

like our quarterback was three. But I don't remember a season like this in Seattle for Russ. Yes. Once he got out, that's the difference. And I think Russ, too, beyond him not being a progression guy, even after the Super Bowl wins, Russ was a phenomenal playmaker. Like you would always see him off schedule,

the moon ball, you know, a majestic scramble. You're just not seeing that from Jalen this year. Right. You know, and that's the big difference between Russ and Jalen. Okay, so you talk about, in his defense, defense. He loses his OC from the Super Bowl team. When we're looking at Detroit tonight, I mean, the offseason narrative was, whoa, hang on, they just lost their OC and their DC off this incredible team that was the best they've had in years. And when they were four

and one, that quieted down. Now that they're seven and five. And switch play callers. I was going to say. Is that the easiest explanation for why they've come back to Earth? Yes. To me, when I look at the Lions season so far, there's a lot of, I wouldn't call them small things but there's a lot of, what's called, medium things that have occurred that have now added up to this situation. And you said it, one, losing both your coordinators is

tough. That's like the most glaring thing. Two, whatever happened when John Morton calling the plays, you know, I didn't buy that whole, like, oh, we're just trying to change it up. You don't change up a play caller. This isn't like hey, we've lost a couple hockey games, let's switch the lines up. That's not, it's not the same here.

You change up a play caller, it's a massive shift. So, clearly they weren't on the same page there. And then you look at like the reality is production wise, they have not gotten the same production out of the offensive line as they did last year.

And then the final thing I'd say is I believe the saying is the chickens are coming home to roost but these fourth downs have been a bloodbath. Like in the past it was like the lines go for fourth down and they're just, it was almost automatic at one point because it was a great run game, the offensive line and push people out, the play action stuff worked.

Couldn't stop them. now they can't get, even when they scheme it up and they have James and Williams wide open, they have a bad throw and a drop. Is that like falling in love with your identity? Like this is who we are. Is that what it is? There's definitely that. And what's tough is I get they've had so much success in the fort down.

I'm not suggesting they stop. But there is a world where it's like, okay, part of the reason we had such success was we had a better offensive line with Frank Ragnow in the helm. You had Leporta, which you don't tonight. You've got all

guys, like last week, it's like your, Amon Raw wasn't playing after you got hurt. You know, Leporter obviously is not playing. And your offensive line is not the same. And it's like, well, our fourth down numbers aren't the same. Well, I'm like, well, yeah, that's because

you take out Frank Ragnow, Sam Leport, and Alamorah saying Brown, your fourth down numbers are not going to be the same. Yeah. Coldest man in sports gambling right now. Al's brother back in the fold after we had a we had a bye week last week that's what we're calling it was our bye week we needed another we needed to rest we needed to basically reset and that's precisely what we did and now we come back hot and we're on the game tonight Lions Cowboys we've been talking about this game or eagle yeah Lions Cowboys and the spread is minus three and a half on Fandul don't love that half point hook but it's there there's nothing we can do about it Al's brother we need to get coached

looking again, man. The whole world is watching. We've been the hottest duo and now the hottest trio in pro sports. We got to get back on track. Where's your head at with this game tonight? Yeah, we got to get hashtag back to business. That's what we got to do. We got to channel that right back here with the three of us, not just the two of us. Also hashtag, now we bro. Now we bro. Now we bro. We are getting back to business and now we bro. It's a tough game and I hate the fact that the hook is here. That hook really, really, it's not a fun thing to be on the other side of that magic number of three. But I will say this, fellas, the lions have been bounced back kings this year. They're 13 and 1 against the spread coming off a loss in their last 14 games

that they have lost. And when you look at that spread three and a half, it kind of suggests that this is nearly a pickum game on a neutral site. I don't know about you guys, but I think the lions are definitively the better team between the two. So with this game being in Detroit, you look at the Cowboys, they've yet to have a signature road win this year. The two and four, their only wins are against the Raiders

and the Jets on the road. I have to side here with the Lions. A coupled out the fact that, Luke, you were talking about it, this Dallas team can't really stop the run that well. They're 27th in the league and stopping the running on the road. They're giving up merely five yards per carry. I think

Jamir Gibbs and Monty. I think they're going to have a great night. But here's the one thing that might be troublesome for Dallas. They are giving up the third most yards receiving to running backs. There's no better receiving back in the league than Jamir Gibbs. So no one-Ross, St. Brown, probably, but that's okay, because Jamir Gibbs, he'll be a problem in the passing game tonight. I think we lay the points with the favorites.

I think the Lions roll tonight. Okay. Yeah, I mean, that's where I lean. to me, obviously the spread is relevant, but ultimately you've got to start with who do you think wins the game? I'm just saying, I'd like to point something out, and I'm not a big PFF guy, but I

had to pull the phone out of here. I can't believe how outdated my guy's tremendous information. Al's Brothers' tremendous information is not accurate to the minute. The Quinn and Williams trade, he said the Cowboys can't stop the run. Right. Since getting Quinn and Williams, you know what they're ranked against the run?

Best Al's brother. My guy won't say, oh, they're giving up this. Best in the league since Quinn and Williams. I guess me, Hayes, and J.P. moving forward. Al's brother, that's a big challenge, man. I get, if you want to look at the whole picture here, you know, their run defense grade was 30th pre-Quinn and Williams,

but you can't ignore that Quinn and Williams is on the scene. Yeah, Alisbrother, are you on that 3G Carnival Cruise Wi-Fi? Oh, no, no, it's all relevant. It's all relevant. I mean, that's what, three-game sample size? We're looking at here. We're talking about you. Let me go back to my old team.

You've got to go over the top and tell me you what the bullhouse. Rather respond, please take the floor. You've got to respond to that. That's a pretty significant blow. No, I mean, listen, have they played well against the run recently? Yes, but they haven't played any good teams that can run the football. So I think it's all relevant. You look at the opponents.

I mean, the Chiefs have not been a strong running team. I mean, I don't know what's going on with Saquan Barkley. That offensive line apparently forgot how to block. They can't get going on the run. And we're talking about the Raiders. the Oakland Raiders, they're the Vegas Raiders. Right, they stink. Not very three good teams.

So you look at this squad here in Detroit. They're one of the best running teams in the NFL. They've got a two-headed monster there. I think they'll be able to move some people around, unlike those other three teams. So that's a small sample size that doesn't really scare me. Do you think Detroit stops Pickens and C.D. Lamb tonight, my guy? I think it'll be a high-scoring game, but ultimately I think that Detroit will be able to stop the run, and they need that running attack to set up the downward passing.

So I think that it'll probably end up being maybe a touchdown game here for Detroit. I think we could see it, 3427. That's my score. Where do you stand on this? O'Dog. You've got to step up here. I've already talked to you privately. So you make the call and you know where my head's at. This guy, all he does his head.

And then it's a win-win. If we win, it's like this is the greatest thing over. You guys criticize me and you said ever since I came on board, you guys are a mess. You're killing us, yeah. So I'm not going to... Oh, dog, you like Dallas? Just be honest.

You like Dallas tonight? I do. To win outright. Why? Dude, I'm a pro athlete. I go off a vibe and a field. I don't come up with stats on a computer that's not working like you do. You make the pick.

If you want to go with the Lions, go ahead. Dallas has been really good. They've been impressive. This is on the road. It's scary. me dallas on the road. Full week two. Shottaheimmer.

Full week of prep. Both teams, yep. This is Detroit in its most desperate moment. Take them then. Take them. They're so desperate and it scares me that they have the weapons out, that they do. But I think Detroit just has a little bit more in the tank here to get a win at home. Lock it, doogie.

Lock it. I think we lay the points and lock in the lions. I think we lay the points and lock in the lions. Yes. And lock in the lions locked in. If it goes awry, you're happy to put yourself on waivers. I'm out. How about that?

You lose, I'm out, and I'm back. Oh, you're going back over there. Exactly, because this is the last time I'm going to put up with this. Okay. Well, you're Chris Paul, man. Like, we're sending you home. You're our Chris Paul. We don't like the way you operate.

Well, I will punt Jay Onright, and I will become the new president of football operations. Wow. Just free rein to go whichever way you choose. That's it. So we need the boys tonight. The pro athletes need the boys tonight. That'll bring us down to 10, and then we've got three games on Sunday. We're going to need to do some work.

Yeah, we got big games this week in the NFL. I got to start chipping away. I missed off last week. I got to get to Christmas time around seven would be nice. Yeah, if you're inside a touchdown, you've got a shot. There's not that many games left. I'm running on time. Listen, Al's brother and I, we've got to figure it out.

We've got to get off the snide. Last week was embarrassing. I think you're on the right side. Let's go, Bartsey. I hope so. All right, let's see. Pick is lost. Alex Brother, great seeing you.

We bro. Now we bro. Now we bro. Now we bro. How about them cowboys? Good luck tonight. You can't be feeling great about riding a cowboys in a big game. It's the Dallas Cowboys. Have you seen that offense? They're rolling, man. Yeah, I've seen a weapon. At home, they're phenomenal. On the road, different. Some of my sources say, tickets might be the best wide receiver in the game right now. In the game. It's not the truth at all. He's not. He's not. Who is? Well, I would still take Jefferson over him. Talent? Talent wise or season? Yeah. If you're talking about who's hot right?

now. Pickens is obviously been phenomenal. I'm still taking Jamar Chase over this guy. I would do, but I think Pickens has put his name in that hat. I think he's put his name in there. Who would you take C.D. Lamb or him starting a team today? Me? Yes. George Pickens.

Really? I'm taking lamb over him. Lamb's got the size on him. Yeah. Like you've got to take the guy who's bigger. This is what I'll say, though, look at Pickett. This is a real fascinating. This league. Pickens was in hell in Pittsburgh. Yes. You know, you look at

what's going on with D.K. Metcalf, and it's like, man, you're just jam. Pittsburgh's a disaster right now. They're going to have to completely reload everything, I think. Yeah. So I think Pickens, like, again, this is the first year in a real offense with a real quarterback. He's a stud. What's going to be real interesting is that guy, it's a contract year for that guy. They're going to tag him for sure. They'll franchise tag him, 100%. And then it'll get ugly. Yeah. They're going to franchise tag him, I think. All right, boys.

Al's brother, great seeing you as always on the Lions tonight. Let's go. We've got to get a win tonight. Let's go Lions. Got to get a win. All right. There is. Luke Wilson, Al's brother. All right. Leave me a roar, O'Don. Give me a roar. Come on. No.

Can't do it. Won't do it. There you go. Oh, oh, my God. Overdrive. That was not great. That was Chris Paul type material right there. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. Every year, it's the. same. I get socks. You get socks. We all get socks. Not me. This year. I got more. More socks? More for less. Virgin Plus hooked me up with an affordable phone plan and member benefits on food, fashion, and

entertainment. So while I'm knee-deep in snow and novelty socks, you're unwrapping deals all season? Exactly. It's the gift that keeps on giving. Get more for less this holiday season with affordable phone plans and member benefits you'll love. Virgin Plus, obviously. Visit a virgin plus store or virginplus.ca for details. European flavor. How would you describe it? Rich, savory, hearty? How about yummy? Yummy Market is your destination for authentic European foods. From comfort foods and artisan baked bread to decadent cakes and pastries. Yummy Market's skilled chefs prepare everything from scratch, honoring generations of traditional European recipes. They also stock a vast selection of rare European groceries. Yummy Market, a European food experience. In North York at 4,400 Dufferin Street,

and Vaughn at 1390 Major McKenzie, east of Dufferin. Visit yommepard.com for their holiday menu. All right, Danny Green coming up here in a few moments, and we'll tee up the Raptors-Lakers game tonight, two teams he's won with, right? That's right. He's titles with both teams. Danny's had a good career, and he's now doing media, and he always knew that was coming. Oh, one of the best talkers you've ever run into.

Always great talking anything, really, but certainly basketball and his career. Catch up with him get his take on a game tonight, what he thinks of LeBron in town, and how much more is left in the tank. This feels like a game. I don't think the spread's very big. I think it's only Raptors like minus two and a half. Now, Pertles out, which is interesting. They're sitting up tonight and going to play them tomorrow.

Yeah. But Luca being out, like this is a game. If you're the rapids, you've got to win this game tonight. You've got to get this one. Yeah. It'll be electric with LeBron and the Lakers in town Thursday night, close enough to the holidays. Would have been more electric if Luca joined them.

Absolutely. And I think if Luca was playing, Lakers probably would be favored. I think so. He's probably a three or four point swing. I'm curious actually what that would be. Like with Fandle or whatever, how much. Considerable. Yeah, it must be.

Because he's playing so well right now. Leading the league and scoring. I mean, he's a one-man wrecking crew that just is impossible to deal with. There's not much you can do to defend him. Yeah. I mean, there really isn't. And now they got Austin Reeves, who's a really good number two option, who's scoring, you know, in big, big volume right now.

So LeBron's like a role player on this team. Crazy. Which is amazing. You never thought you'd say that. but so far this season he has been now he could i think lebron probably has another gear we don't know but he's got the sciatica he's had a foot problem you know he's missed already 15 games and they've been 11 for without him so they're doing pretty well without lebron yeah they are well and like again they like he picked up his option and they didn't extend them and

this is probably what the lakers were anticipating yeah right like let's just see what happens and maybe you re-sign after this year. I'm not sure, but it doesn't feel likely in L.A., right? Like, if he's going to keep playing, he's going to have to go somewhere else. Feels that way. Which is weird, like that a guy of that status, considering his whole career and the power he's had, all of it deserved, all of it earned,

but he just doesn't seem to have any in L.A. right now. No, I mean, there was all that talk about when the ownership changed and, you know, the bus family sold out, it was Luka that was brought into the fold of the new ownership, not the broad, right? And very much, you know, which is not an accident, right? This is very much, they've been signaling to LeBron without, you know, speaking to LeBron directly that, you know, the plans are for a future without you.

That's why, you know, we're not interested in the future with you. We've got, we've got a future here. Right. We've got a young player here in Luca who can be a championship lunchpin in our view. You know, he doesn't have the ring yet, but he's got that potential, right? So won a EuroLeague championship. We were talking to Darko Ryakovich yesterday at Raptors practice. He was talking about how he was in Madrid at the same time that Luca came to Real Madrid as like a teenager.

And it was like ripping it up in the youth level. And then at like 19 years old is the Euroleague MVP and leads Real Madrid to the Euroleague championship, which is like no one's ever done that at that age. It's a man's league, man. It ain't a kid's league. And here was this kid that did that. I mean, he's an assassin and, you know, we'll see

if they can put the requisite pieces around it, but the Lakers are a pretty good, a pretty good track record of figuring it out. Yes, exactly. Like, they probably will. If he's going to be there for another 10 years, which you believe he probably will be, at some point they're going to put another piece or two with him. Now, it's a different world now.

You know, the way the CBA works and everything, it's much more difficult to do. And like you said, Reeves has played really, really well. I don't know if he's like championship caliber number two. and you're also going up against Oklahoma City and your own conference that it's just going to be really tough to beat. And Denver.

And Denver, for that matter. You've got the best player on the planet in Yokic. That hasn't changed. Yokic is still the best player in the world. Right. Although you look at Shea and what he's doing this year, it's absurd. The numbers he's putting up. It's great.

Yeah. Like he's putting them up every single night. It's 30 plus. Every single night. And they don't lose. They don't lose. Literally don't lose. He's incredible.

But, I mean, Yokich is just on a different level. Yoko is just like creeping up all-time grade status. I think so. Like I think you're like he maybe has already cracked the top 10 on the list of many or some anyway. And if he keeps doing this for another two or three years, you just look at the numbers and the impact that he has. I don't think. I mean, how many players in NBA history have been more effective than him? Just being able to just command a game.

Like he can beat you every way you want to be beat. Yeah. And it doesn't, you know, doesn't jump out of the gym, but he can beat you with finesse. He can beat you with strength. he can beat you with smarts he just has it all yeah beat you from outside he can beat you from inside he can beat you with scoring you can beat you with passing i mean she's got a very similar arsenal in a lot of ways like he's got so much in his bag and the ability to you know essentially fool everybody

all the time like he's so deceptive it's scary um but he's got so much around him too right like it's it's going to be hard for him to win another MVP with the depth of that team Yeah, it's interesting. Like, if they win 74 games, though, how does he not? I know. You know, like the narrative of it all. And this has been happening a lot with the MVP's throughout the Yokic run, right? Like when Embed got his, it was like, I think Luke, I actually think it should have been the guy in Denver.

Yeah. You know, like, we get it. Embedd's been unbelievable, and his numbers were phenomenal that year. But it almost felt in a way like it was almost fatigue, you know, like it was Yokch fatigue. And well, we can't give it to him again. He's already won all this. And Jordan never did that. Shack never did this or we didn't do it for Wilt or, you know, whatever it is, everyone uses the history almost against the greatness of a player.

And I think you could make the argument you just made. And I think most people can see that Yokage is the most dominant player. But I'm pretty sure Steph won the MVP when they won 73 games. You know, and if you win a wreck, if you win 73, 74 games and you're the best player and you're averaging, maybe he probably will win a scoring title again. He may not. Maybe Luke could get some, maybe someone else. but if Shea ends up, like across the board, stats crazy, 74 wins and plays almost every game, how does he not get it?

It's going to be a tough vote. Based on that history, how do you not get it? It's going to be a tough vote. I guess the only knock on him, and it's actually not a knock on him because he's such a good player to play with. You know, he elevates his teammates in such a great way that, you know, Oklahoma City just looks like a team that has so many guys, right? They can go in there, like, their depth is unbelievable, which, you know, I was saying the other day, They're like the perfect regular season machine because they run so deep that they don't need to over rely on anybody.

But that could hurt an MVP case when you've got that many guys. Right. When you're talking about who is the most valuable, well, they've got so many guys that are contributing. Can you really have one of those players be the MVP of the league? Well. Yokic has so much more on his shoulders to lift that team, even though they've improved their depth this year over previous years,

going back to the championship. Well, and Luke is going to get loved too. he plays, you know, 70-plus games, and they end up winning 60-plus games. Yeah. And it's like, look what the Lakers doing. And, you know, LeBron's not who he was at one point, and he's clearly not anymore, and Luke ends up putting

up all these numbers. I don't know. I mean, it's, uh, the thing is for Oklahoma City is, you know, now they've won their championship, but if you have if you, if you hold the carrot in front of them, like, hey, you guys could chase history with the amount of wins you're going to get. That would lead me to believe she's just going to keep going. There's not going to be load

management or anything like that. Because you've got to think that's an incredibly compelling chase. Yeah. Like you start the year 21 and 1. 74 wins is possible. Oh, for sure it is. So play, you know, and be playing 38, 39 minutes every single night where these other guys, they may load manage down the stretch,

they may take some nights off. We'll see. All right, here's ESPN NBA analyst, former NBA, former Raptor, former champ up here in Toronto, joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. Here's Danny Green. happening, Danny. What's up, guys? How are you guys doing? We're doing really well. We were just, you know, obviously teeing up the Rappers

game tonight. We'll get to that momentarily, but we stumbled across Oklahoma City chasing history, and have you gotten to that point yet where you can, can you envision 74 wins out of this Thunder team? Yeah, absolutely. I mean, one would argue that they might

be deeper than Golden State was, and they can win in games while wrestling guys. Golden State, Draymond spoke about taking some life off his like some years off his life doing that 73 wins because he had to play every game like step and clay they had to play pretty much every game this thunder team has played 90% of their games without jaylon williams and you know lou dord has sat alice russo is sat Isaiah hardenstein has set um so they said they sent a bunch of different guys they're in wiggins case and while

they all have taken time in terms to rest for them to able to do that without without him the only person hasn't sat is sGA And I believe there's some games he can probably sit and they can rest him. But you got the emergence of AJ Mitchell. You got the emergence of, you know, Isaiah Joe's been there, but he's been playing well. Those other guys, they keep developing and getting better each year, allows him to be very deep and be able to rest guys. So they can do this and still stay fresh by the end of the year to make a great playoff run and win a championship still. They can clean house if they wanted to.

Well, speaking of guys who might need some rest, Danny, we got a guy in town tonight who's, you know, made this town LeBronto at times in LeBron James, the way he's dominated the Raptors in his prime. But he doesn't look like he's in his prime anymore. And it's almost shocking to see LeBron look somewhat vulnerable. One game? Yeah, it's one game, but I mean. We go up one game and say that.

He tells you he feels old. He's still getting back to rhythm. He had sciatica. We had seven-game winning streak. They had a back-to-back. He didn't look himself. So, yeah, he's taking half a step. But I'd imagine he'd be in different form

in a couple weeks. Again, this group, they're playing at a high-level playing really well. But yeah, I mean, it took 23 years to see him look somewhat normal, but he's still very much capable. And I think he'll show us that he is very much capable. Probably tonight or the next couple of weeks that he's still LeBron. You know, he'd not be 27, 7 and 7.

He'll be, you know, 22, maybe between 18 and 22, and probably like 9 and 6, you know, or like 7 and 6 or something like that. So he's still playing very well, high level for any player, especially a 40, 41-year-old, and kind of pretty much as being the quarterback and empowering his teammates. Yeah, I'm with you, Dan. I wouldn't put anything past LeBron. He's done things that we've never seen before, no matter the age.

But, of course, at this advanced age, it really is unique. I mean, when you look at this balance, though, that they're trying to strike with the Lakers. I mean, they've been 11 and 4 without him in the lineup because Luke has been outstanding leading the league and scoring. they won't have him tonight. Austin Reeves has emerged as a really great secondary score on that team. I'm wondering, like, what is the challenge? This will be the first time where LeBron is not the focal point, arguably, of his team, from an offensive perspective at least.

I mean, how do you think that's going to be navigated as the season goes on here by JJ Reddick, the head coach, and the players in question? Just the way it is. I mean, they've been doing just fine since he's been back. I imagine he still play the role he's been playing. That's more of like a quarterback second unit when those guys rest or, you know, like if anyone decides to sit out, it'll probably take more of a ball handling role. It's Lucas team.

And then AR is very much at 1B because he's out, they're both top 10 in scoring. He's taking his game to another level by getting to the freedom line whenever he wants to. He's learned a lot from Luca. He's taking a page out of his book doing that. So they're both very good, high-scoring guys. and he can just be the quarterback and probably shifting to another gear when there's when necessary, when needed.

If DeAndre Aton's out, Marcus Smart, if he has to play the four or the five, they played small ball, but they made it work even last year when the trade happened. They've been pretty good. The biggest key is the playoffs and having those three still playing at that level

and finding a front line that can match other teams' front line. It's going to be tough when you have Denver matchup or OKC matchup. Now you have Aiton. I think that kind of neutralizes if they match up with Minnesota again. I don't see Rudy Gobergen and 30 and 20 against them.

So they fixed it somewhat. But again, those other teams are just deeper. But they are a really good position right now. I'd imagine they continue forward with what they've been doing. It's been working. They're second in the West. And, you know, they're going to win games. As long as you have Luca playing the way he's playing leading the league and scoring

and Austin playing the way he's playing, they're going to be just fine. With Danny Green and, you know, in the East, the team that sits second right now would be the Raptors. And the raps have been great this year. And, you know, Scotty Barnes in particular, the guy, like, we obviously know when he won rookie of the year, okay, what he was capable of doing. And the team hadn't been great the last couple of years.

But Scotty has been playing phenomenal basketball. He just won defensive player the month in the East. His defensive play in particular is clearly rubbing off on everyone. Like, what, in terms of ceiling, we keep talking about it because he's still a relatively young guy. But even if he's hit it, like this is a guy who is going to be a very good player for a long time. but what do you make us, Scott?

What else could be there in his game and how impressive have you been by the Raptors this year? He's so young, there's still a lot of potential there for him to grow, especially offensively. We've seen what he can do defensively, but offensively, he's developing. He started being more confident, comfortable shooting that three and that pull-up. Again, I mean, this is a big jump, but I've seen a guy coming to the league that I didn't expect to be anything of what he is,

and he turned out to be Kauai Leonard. so you know like there's a lot of possibilities there he's got the build he's got the shoulders he's got the size to do a lot of things i didn't see kawai developing a jumper like that because he didn't shoot it only first came in but next you know he changed a shot a little bit developed mid-range took his time his three ball went up to over 40 and then now he's a lead score so there is no reason why i mean scottie could it takes a lot of work and a lot of time but could it be one of the better two he definitely could be one of the best two-way players in our league at some point.

I don't know if it'll be Kauai Leonard, but he definitely can develop into that. Like his offensive game can use some strides, and he has the tools to do so. Danny, speaking of Kauai, you know, we've been looking back a little bit with all the controversy swirling around the clippers, looking back to the time when the Raptors wanted Kauai to stay,

and there was a lot of courting and cajoling to try and get him to stay in Toronto. Of course, he ended up with the Clippers. And now there's a mess, essentially, that's been created with Steve Bomber's team aspiration, if you want to call them that. But the weirdest thing happened last night with Chris Paul being told he's being sent home from the team at 3 a.m. apparently after a long meeting with team management.

I mean, I don't know, have you ever seen anything like that A and B, what could have gone into that and how do you interpret it? You know, every year I feel like as we get older, We're like, oh, I've seen everything. Nothing can shock me. But there's always something that shocks the hell out of you. And the league never fails to amaze me. Whether it's game, situation, coaching players, cut, wave trades.

I didn't think Luca Dodgers would get traded ever. It happened. So, yeah, again, this is something new to me. I've not seen a 20-year vet, a Hall of Famer, gets sent home because of, you know, or trying to be a leader or, I guess, complaining, they would say, right? So, I mean, you would think logically they had conversations with him. I don't know. I hope for their sake they did. And I hope for their sake that is worse than this, because it looks really bad to send a guy home for that. But I hope for Chris's sake,

that is nothing worse than this. But his story made me believe that he didn't, he had no idea this was coming. And it wasn't warranted. Now, if he was quiet and out of spoken, I'm sure he'll speak sooner than later. If he was quiet and I'll spoken than that, that would make me believe that there's something behind closed doors that we don't know about. But to me, this seems like a miscommunication of him and coaching staff in front office, and they just no longer wanted to deal with it or be around it. But again, I think that that could be solved with a conversation, especially after a guy that said maybe a week or two ago that he's retiring,

this is his last season. Hey, Chris, man, we get what you're trying to do. We don't need that here right now. We move in a direction. We're moving a different direction. And if you don't like it or we're doing this, if you don't like it, then you can go home. we give you the option to go home or if you don't relax we're going to have to ask you to go home but

I don't know if that conversation happened yeah out of nowhere sending a guy home on the road too bizarre it's a bizarre bizarre player yeah the hour the hour made it look worse too it may look worse in the hour yeah for sure and I mean that story was almost immediately overshadowed by yannis you know all of a sudden him and his agent and the box working on possibly his exit and he gets injured last night he could be out two to four weeks is it as simple as yonis to the Knicks for you or do you see obviously other teams would want them but Janus is going to have

a pretty heavy voice in all this like how do you see it playing out with Janus? I mean he wants to go that's what he's let it be known like he's portrayed that indirectly you know through rumors agents whatever you know Doc said he didn't ask for it directly from them

for a trade he loves Milwaukee wants to be there but I'm sure his agent and people around him are telling him like he wants to get to New York or somewhere else you know i've done my podcast inside the green room i've done other podcasts throwing out different random trades just for you know it's and giggles and um you know i thought you know san antonio would be a good destination for him i thought he can go to miami i thought minnesota would be nice to see him with ant man and match up but he still move away but honestly the best packaging

could come from you can't Toronto you know you guys could definitely make it work it's just unfortunate besides not there anymore because that would be a direct connect to him But, yeah, I think he, Toronto has an opportunity to make a push here. He's still in the East. The East is open. They're a number two-seater team. And, you know, they would treat him like a guy there.

I mean, obviously, anywhere, but they would love to have them, I'm sure, in Toronto. But again, you think it would have to include Scotty in order for that to, for Milwaukee to accept it? Probably, probably. Yeah. I mean, you could get away with just doing RJ Barrett, It had to be one of those three,

RJ Barrett and Ingram, or maybe two. But I would think it would include Scotty. I think you can do RJ. I don't think you can give it a quick. I don't know what other bench. You have to probably maybe Yachta Poldo if you threw him in there. I don't know what contracts have to match up. But I'd imagine they would want youth picks and best youth.

And that would probably be Scotty, which Toronto's reluctant to let go. I wouldn't want to let him go either. Yeah, without a doubt. I mean, Danny, when you look at the East, you talk about it being wide open. You got Detroit at the top. the Knicks 14 and 7 the heater having a pretty good year but they're not overwhelming. Orlando's still

an unproven team obviously the Indiana's and the Boston's having major injuries to star players has changed the landscape I mean, you know, how would you handicap it? Like what do you think the chances of the Raptors being the Eastern Conference champion in a way

that Indy was a surprise, Eastern Conference champion last year could be possible? I mean, I'd never say never anything's possible but I think a lot of things would have to happen they are a really good team at his own they have the experience for the playoffs right now like even though Cleveland's down right now

not doing well they still have more playoff experience in Toronto they're getting better they have a pretty good experience Milwaukee's not looking good this year Indiana's not looking good this year it's pretty open but even Philly if Philly gets healthy at the right time they have more veteranship and playoff experience than Toronto does outside of that

I think they can do it I mean Detroit has a little bit Detroit is very well too they have a little bit more experience. But again, it had to be matchups. It has to be things that are aligned right. Again, even Miami, even though they don't have stardom, like super stardom, they've been playing really well and they have some playoff experience. So it would be tough for them. And I think it more so will come down to Darko. And, you know, him being his second, third year as a coach, he is very good at what he does. I've had Darko in Memphis, so I know he's capable. But it would be a new

experience for him and company in the group and the kids. You just don't know who's going to show up at that time because they don't have much experience there. Well, we'll see what they got with the Lakers in town tonight. Again, Luca, not playing, but LeBron's here might be his last dance in Toronto, a town. He's been very familiar with it. Yeah, it's going to be a fun one tonight. Enjoy it, Danny. I always appreciate you doing this.

Thank you. For sure, man. I appreciate you guys. Take it easy, all right? You got it. There's Danny Green, VSPN, his podcast, inside the green room. Former Raptor, Champ, San Antonio, L.A., Toronto, joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline, get in and go where adventure takes you in a new 2025, Tacoma.

from Maple Toyota near Canada's Wonderland in the Maple Auto Mall, visit maple toota.com. Yeah, there's been a lot of, I've seen a lot of Raptor fans like, man, if Maasai was here, what would happen, you know, I don't buy that Janus would be like, oh, now I'll go

to Toronto because of Maasai. Like, I'm not convinced to that, but what I do think is, if Messiah was here, it'd be more likely the Raptors would do everything they could do, acquire him. Like that, I'm not sure where Bobby Webster and company will stand on this. I don't see them trading Scotty Barnes

the way he's playing right now and they've just invested so much in him but Janice is still a top five player in the league when he's healthy and he's 30. Yeah. So someone's going to pay a ton, a ton for him. And if you're Milwaukee,

you've got to get just a massive, massive package in return. Well, the reason you pay a ton is because you're thinking we can get to the finals. And you never know how it's going to break once you get to the finals, right? you're probably not as good. Nobody in the East, even with Janus, is probably as good as OkC or Denver on paper.

Maybe not even as good as the Lakers. Who knows? I mean, we have to know what you're losing, what you're bringing in on the Yonest deal. But it's like the year the Raptors made it to the finals, and everybody said, well, it's the Golden State Warriors. You're never going to beat them until, you know, they ran out of the Achilles and Clay Thompson, you know,

severed a knee ligament. And next thing, you know, you got the ring, right? So you got to, like, this is an opportunity for the bold Eastern Conference team if they can get you on us to say, we can win the East. Yeah. And that's all you, that's, that's the step you got to take. That's someone's going to do it. And they'll be in a very good position.

It's going to cost you a lot. But that's what comes with the territory. Best bet's coming up. Leaves and wraps in action tonight, Thursday nighter as well. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. Every year, it's the same. I get socks.

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Laying the points. Jamir Gibbs gets into the end zone tonight. I think Gibbs goes off for 100 plus yards rushing. So there is your parlay for the game tonight. All in on the Lions, got to have it. Dan Campbell's got to go inspirational tonight. They got to get a win. Dallas's been good, but it's on the road.

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All right, we got a good one tonight. Leaves, Raptors, NFL game, big NFL game. Fun night. A great night, man. All right, Dave. Good seeing you, man. Great seeing you. I've always, Dave Festruck of the Toronto Star.

Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today, TV Radio, podcast, web, and of course, up on YouTube live on TSN's YouTube channel. We're out of here. enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back to more at 4 p.m. We'll chat then. IHartRadio,

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