OverDrive - OverDrive - March 4, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: March 5, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 3 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Bruce Boudreau joins to discuss the Maple Leafs' trade deadline direction, Auston Matthews looking for a boost and Elias Pettersson scavenging for success. TSN NBA Analyst Jevohn Shepherd joins to discuss the Raptors' positive team approach, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's incredible season and Luka Doncic thriving with the Lakers and Bryan hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

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Bruce bujjiro coming up in a few moments. Javon shepard later in the hour Our best bets powered by fan duel this time tomorrow We'll be making picks for the arnie Palmer, which we look forward to right We got a couple of big golf tournaments the next two weeks Yes, right into the players and I guess Tigers playing tonight and that TGL he's got a big match tonight Tiger Woods Honestly, it's Tiger Woods and I'll always turn my I don't know if I'll turn it on. I really don't know if I'm gonna do it Yeah, it's weird. It's a way It's just, it has the glitches and everything. It's kind of difficult to follow, but it is Tiger and I think people are hoping, I'm

sure if you're ESPN, you're like, can you make an announcement that you're going to the players on our network tonight? That would be big for the event. Like break, tune in tonight because Tiger's got an announcement. That would be smart for him to do that. Right. And put some eyeballs on it But it's gonna be interesting also moving forward. I know Freddy couples try to Freddy couples he's like I don't want to say anything too much

but I talked to Capcom Capca wants to return to the tour and it's like How's that gonna work Freddy? Like is he just gonna say I got my 300 stuffed stuffed into my jeans and now I want to play at the PGA Tour again? Basically. That's kept because he was doing an interview recently and he finally bluntly said, I went simply for the money, which they all did. No one went there to grow the game and play internationally.

That's what's doing it. That's what's crazy about these meetings with all these people. They're trying to get these tours to come together and I don't care how much money Liv has. It seems like Liv might be dead in two years. Right. Exactly. It might just be like the guys are like this is going nowhere. No one watches us. Our careers are nowhere. We already got the first exchange of two or three hundred million Rom's case it might have been four or five and now they're like I'm done get out of here yeah that's what that would be my viewpoint because they

haven't signed anybody recently like nobody there was no big signing over the offseason or anything and if Capcom DeChambeau their deals are up and they leave if you're the PGA Tour you put pettiness aside and say listen it was tough bring them back and it's just gonna crush Liv because Liv's got nothing they've got nothing and no one's following them no one cares about anything they do nobody. I would say you can come back but we're telling you what your schedule is like you you you got to play plan some events that you normally...

That's a great point. That should be it. You think you're just playing 12 times, but you're absolutely not. You're going to be at the Cognizant, you're going to be at the John Deere, and there might be a couple other ones where you're going to Bermuda, you're going to a couple events that you are not skipping. They might welcome it though. They might go, okay, you know what, we'll come back if that's the toll to pay.

Keep in mind, you just said it, they put 200 to 400 million in their genes, come back and they haven't really been doing that much, they haven't played very much. It might get their competitive juices going and go, yeah, you know what, I'll go play there, I'll go play in these tournaments. I think how prominent some of these guys were, Hayes, like John i haven't i haven't seen the guy had a golf ball in a year me neither media and i was one of the play yeah and that was on the top of the like he is putting in his ball striking

and dj late dj was still a real he had that heater streak where he won the masters and he was dialed in he's just gone like he's gone they're gone it's like they're in a different universe I never see them I feel like DJ does he's the only guy that he won't care I feel like I will go down with a ship over a live and then just say I'll just stop playing golf yeah retire at how old is he right now is he 40 down yeah he's late 30s maybe 40 41 he can play the Masters every single year, right you want it you can go there every single year and Yeah, I'm curious to see how it plays out because you know, it's not obviously live in the Saudis

They have all that money But at some point you got to look at it and say you guys have invested like five billion dollars or whatever it is And it's done nothing and Absolutely nothing apparently the burn rate on this tour is is absurd billion dollars or whatever it is and it's done nothing and I have nothing apparently the burn rate on this tour is absurd absurd because they are burning they're getting venues and they're flying people around in private birds and like the burn rate I don't care how much money you have you start picking up the tabs on that somebody says shut that off yeah exactly and that's why it's

amazing these guys are coming back up and they want to be paid again and if you're the players you're like, well, it's 300 million again And if you live How could you justify that like you paid them all that money and it didn't do anything for you for the last three years So it is an interesting time and conversely if you're the PJ tour you're like man. These guys might be dying out What do we need to even negotiate with them for you know know like or do we just let them die out we negotiate but we take everything over I'm not sure but we'll see because it's gonna be fun the army palm is a fun fun tournament fun golf course and the players next week would be awesome so I'll pick start tomorrow on that and the Leafs are off to Vegas they're they're either in the air or they've already landed they're in Vegas

tomorrow night coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to San Jose last night. They're tied with Florida atop the Atlantic division and we're a few days away from the trade deadline. Here's our TSN hockey analyst Bruce Boudreaux. How you doing Bruce? Hey man, how are you guys today? We're doing pretty well. How you feeling about your Leafies these days? How are you feeling about the way they're playing and how they set up for that Vegas game tomorrow night well you know what I really don't think they've played great the last three games and they've they're 2-0-1 in them I think the Pittsburgh game was really sloppy the Boston game I think they were lucky to tie it and then win it in

overtime because Boston was so brutal in the last two minutes sorry and I think they were lucky to tie it and then win it in overtime because Boston was so brutal in the last two minutes. Sorry. And I think last night they were just tired. Like, I mean, you guys know that when you have a road trip and you're winning and then you come home for one day, as soon as you're home for that one day, there's no rest. It's not like you're getting a chance to rest.

I mean, you've got family obligations and you're running around and then you're getting a chance to rest. I mean, you've got family obligations and you're running around and then you're going back on the road again. So I mean, I think this is gonna be a real test, these three games. And I think it'll be good that they're playing Vegas because when they play the good teams, I think they get up to their speed

and they'll play as good as they can. So I mean, I like the position they're in. I plays as good as they can serving uh... i i like the position there and i like the fact that they can win when they're not playing that great but i i've seen them play great and when they do do that and they're really tough team to beat well that that wouldn't concern you all brucey not that they've been bluffing it but they've been winning in some kind of weird ways it is a positive that they're

finding a way but you'll find out what kind of stones you got going out there to Vegas. If Vegas is dialed in, you'll get a good idea of where that team is at right now. Cause you can't, it's like a tough golf course playing the Vegas Golden Knights. You can't bluff it around there.

No, I agree. And that's exactly what I mean. I mean, they've been, they haven't, I haven't liked the way they've played, but they've won. So it's better than losing five points in the last three I mean, they've been, they haven't, I haven't liked the way they've played, but they've won. So it's better than losing five points in the last three games. But they're going to find a real test and, you know, if they're going to make any moves on Friday, I think this will, this will really be a tell sign of whether how, how big a deal

they have to make or, or whether they can get by on, on, on doing minor stuff. Bruce, if Brad Tree Living went into your office and you were the coach of the Leafs and said, Brucey, what would you like me to get you? Anything you want, I'll do my best. What would you say back? Well, I would probably say I want a really good two-way third line center, but if get them this time I'm not going to move to Varus to the left wing I'm going to leave him on the third line and let him play there. That's and then I'd need I'd want one more right-handed defenseman that's really good just in case you know I mean that when Tanner's out you can tell the goal's against and you can tell the

D is not as good in their own zone. So, I mean, those are the two things that I would want if I was Toronto. I mean, I think they're pretty solid. You never have to worry about their scoring. They got enough scoring at their defense sometimes, I think, scares me a little bit. I think their goal-tending, golden install ours to me at the number one and he will be the number one comes say the last eight games of the season and throughout the playoffs but uh...

uh... i would like that one big right-handed defenseman uh... and i would love of really solid experience third-line center brucey if you just mentioned it but I wanted to follow up on it. What, you know, do you believe Stolars is the one and, you know, I do not think he started a playoff game yet in his career at 31 years old. Would you have any pause for concern or how would you handle this goaltending tandem down the stretch here in the last 22 games or whatever it is? You know, I mean mean it's interesting i mean uh...

uh... i'd tell a little story that my first year we traded for crystal ball u a at the trade deadline and him and um... uh... only cold it with the two bullies and i just alternated them okay and i thought we had to number one and. And then with seven games to go, Oli lost the game. And then Huey won this game six and I just ran with him because his numbers were better in the games they alternated. But I thought, okay, we needed to win all six

to win the division and make the playoffs and we win we ended up doing it luckily and uh... but q a was the guy and i think the players understood that he was the guy he understood he was the guy and i think it made him play better and made the team around him play better knowing that there was no questions anymore this was just the way

the guy were going with the method i think. I think if you look at Boston a couple years ago when they didn't know which goalie to play they were going back and forth, back and forth. I think it affected the team. But I think Stolarz, other than the two goals he gave up last night where he looked like a fish out of water on them, he again made great saves in overtime. To me all year long when they needed a big save he's made a big save and I think the just being the backup last year on the Stanley Cup champion has helped him an awful lot. Even if he hasn't played any playoff games I think you know that's an experience that you can't forget just being in the room and what uh... but brotha who is going through i

think he learned a lot from him and he would be my guy that i would go with with bruce buj rowan in terms of you know austin matthews in the way he's playing everyone's got a different viewpoint on what you expect out of him come playoff time i'm curious how you you would handle that uh... behind the bench if your best has had a down year based on his standards And that's what's happened with Austin and it's not gonna I don't think it'll change between now the end of the year. We'll see How do you how do you transition from regular season? Down year to okay. It's game one of the playoffs and I need you to be our best player

How do you handle that as a head coach? Well, I mean, I think it's to me, you're talking, it's, I hate to say, just talk to them, but I mean, it's, it's like, um, I'll use a golf analogy here in that his front nine was just horrible, but you can wipe that out. Okay. And say, okay, now it's a back nine, it's a new game. Playoffs are a new game. He can wipe out all the feelings of scoring under 30 goals for the regular season

and having a great playoff, winning the first round, winning the second round, and then no one would think at all of the regular season. And I would tell him that, like I would say, listen, you know, Austin, I know you're disappointed in the amount of goals you got and all of these things, but we can wipe everything out right now with a great playoff. And no one would say boo about his regular season ever again because they know he could

perform in the playoffs. So I mean, I would try to keep it on a positive note like that and make him think positive instead of negative stuff and run with that. And I mean, until it didn't happen, I would think that would be the way to go. Yeah. Well, you need it exactly. And that's, I think that's a smart way of approaching it. Hey, the past is the past. This is what it was always going to matter. If he scored 70 goals this year to the regular season and they don't perform the playoffs. That's what's going to stick out. Austin is at the forefront of that in terms of turning things around come playoff time

with Bruce Boudreaux. Trent Frederick traded from Boston to Edmonton today. He's still injured, but I think he's out of the walking boot. He's going to return likely before the playoffs. What do you make of him as a player and as an addition to the Edmonton Oilers? Well as a player I think he's a good hard-nosed player that has earned he's gone from the minors to the fourth line to the playing it up and down the lineup. I mean now I mean he's not a natural 20 goal scorer but he's a hard-nosed guy to play against. I mean, now, I mean, he's not a natural 20 goal score, but he's a hard nosed guy to

play against. I think it's something that Edmonton really needs, especially now, you know, Evander Kane's been out the whole year, basically, and he's coming in there. And you know yourself that, I mean, to win in the playoffs, it's the winning of the board battles, winning of the one-on-one battles, that's gonna do you a lot of winning. And I think Edmonton needed that. I think it's a really good acquisition. I don't think they, I mean, I don't know because I don't know other than the draft choices.

I mean, and I personally, if I was the GM, the draft choice is two years down the road and three years down the road. Coaches never see them anyway. So I mean, I don't think that's given up much but I think he could be a real addition because he's got a he's a big character guy will fight anybody but he's good in the corners and he's good good along the board and he can score if you give him the opportunity so to me for a top nine forward for Edmonton

I think it's a really good move. So we looked at Edmonton and looked throughout Canada. Your old team in Vancouver, Pedersen, came out and spoke to the media today, owned some of his struggles and basically said he needed to be better. Again, you know behind the scenes, but also you don't know what's going on right now. How would you handle with a guy like Pedersen and even, you know, the rest of the team with how it's been going? Because this is a team that can make the playoffs, Bruce. They're right there. They're tied with the Calgary Flames and they've had, you know, an uncharacteristic season. Let's

call it. They've had a dreadful season with some of the storylines coming out of it. You move JT Miller out. Pedersen's the guy and he hasn't found his his form you know what do you make of that and what do you think could turn around here down the stretch the last twenty games for them well uh... i hope something can turn around because they've got a lot of really good people and and good good players but i mean they've made so many moves in the last two years i mean it's a completely different team almost than that I was which is just a year and a

half ago. So I mean it's and with Pedersen like I think I said it earlier but he needs a new start somewhere. I think Vancouver needs a new start from him because I don't think he'll ever be able to achieve the greatness and I think he's a great hockey player when he's in the right frame of mind and things are going well for him in Vancouver. But I think he could do a do-over on another team and I think they should move him

if they could get somebody of equal, I don't know if they'll ever get equal value back for them, but I mean, like I always thought a good deal would be Pedersen to the Islanders for Barzell, but that would be that, I don't know how bad if Barzell's coming back or not, but I mean, they've also got Brock Besser. I mean, they're losing all their scoring and if you look at every one of their games, it's 2-1, they get under 20 shots on goal a game almost, they need some offense. And I mean, if they lose Besser and they lose Pedersen, they better get some people back to come play or they'll be in real trouble for not only this year but for upcoming years

too. Yeah, no kidding. I mean, that's the thing. They just have such a tough time generating offense as it is. But think about what they used to look like Hayes. They used to have Miller and Pedersen and both of them on the power play. One guy ripped home 40 goals, under guy 100 points.

This was never a question in the last year and a half. Yeah, Besser had 40 goals last year. Don't forget they had Horvat about who had thirty five goals when they traded him uh... a couple years ago and i mean the power play was in the top five in the league because i mean

they could put out or that miller peterson faster and uh... and queen he was has pretty pretty solid they can't do that now so it's uh... uh... they've they've gone uh... from their really good defensive team but they've gone from one extreme to the other i think uh... from a good offensive team to a very mediocre offensive team

and defense is going to have to win it for them because they just don't have the offense that can can score goals all see what comes of the person it's a fun week in the nl job and this is a ton of games on action and it's going to be a bunch of trades and uh... will i tell you what comes of the the first thing i do every morning and i look at my phone i wake up and look at the phone what happened overnight and that's what i think all the hockey fans are doing right now because

some trade get it one in the morning two in the morning the morning and I can't wait to see what they are. I'm with you on that and you're speaking to the choir, you're preaching to the choir, we're all doing the same thing so continue to enjoy that experience every morning, we'll be doing the same thing. Thank you Bruce. All right, we'll talk to you soon. You got it Bruce Boudreau, our TSN Hockey Analyst. And he's right, this is crazy season where you could wake up and something happened

at 1.30 in the morning or whatever it is. Well, the teams have been jamming up the media, and I don't think they're doing it on purpose, but it's these, hey, Friday at 8 p.m., there's a massive trade, or it's a Sunday or something, like, I can't wait, I mean, something's gonna happen. Friday at 3 p.m. now, right? I'm I mean something's gonna happen Friday at 3 p.m Now I'm telling you between now and Friday at 3 p.m

There is gonna be a massive trade What we should do a Jerry's or some mini Jerry's on a mini Jerry on on what you what are you suggesting that it is a Name that is not currently out there. Is that what you're talking about? Because it can't be like a Brock Nelson deal where everyone's waiting for yeah, you're expecting it. I don't know but I mean What if it is Brock? But what if he just mentioned, you know, what if it's Pederson for Barzell like that's not that's Serious. I just think it's complicated to trade Pederson at the trade deadline with Yeah, I mean the guy makes eleven point six million money's got to go out. You need flexibility Yeah, I don't I don't know what I will say on that is though

It wouldn't just be cup contenders like the Islanders, you know, maybe I don't know maybe Montreal maybe Buffalo maybe maybe teams like that would look at it and say we'd be interested in that because I wasn't the Islanders want to just like Detonate on that whole operation like don't you got to blow that up? and say we'd be interested in that because I wouldn't the Islanders want to just like Detonate on that whole operation like don't you got to blow that up well exactly They're basically pulling up anyway based on their play and what they have They've got the one of the least interesting teams That's the one clip like a month ago We're they got this brand new building and then like people can lip-read and his bars all sat in the pen she's like take a look around

here man there's nobody nobody here that's what he said he goes look around dude he goes there's no one here right like they played the Rangers got pumped last night you know how crushing that is yeah that fan base you know it noodles like that one been on both sides of that That's a you know, that's the bottom that's a battle of Ontario battle of New York battle of Alberta though Those games regardless of where you are in the standing the fans are engaged like the fans are pumped up and you know the Rangers said if you know JT Miller like they they had a game and The Islanders just can't get over that. There's just nothing down. I don't know.

I mean they got some good players, but Patrick Waugh, exactly. It's such a waste to get a big personality like that. Why are you with the Islanders? It just never made sense with Lou there too. Like Lamarello runs a tight ship and everything runs through him and Patrick Waugh is going to say what he's going to say and operate the way he's gonna operate But I don't know I you know, you got you got Sorokin down there. You've got Noah Dobson down there You've you've got some players in Barzell and Horvat and it shouldn't be that bad

I know Barzell missed a bunch of time, but it should not be that bad I thought the goaltender was going to be an elite star. I Don't know. He I mean he is a star. It's just tough to they don't score They don't they don't do a lot of everything right so it's just like he's got almost have a game of perfect every night when you're not But I thought all that just like you look at some of the personnel. I thought Dobson would be like a kind of mixed in with like just under a car and Quinn Hughes and just be that kind of guy and with Barzell and some of the guys they've got up front but it just doesn't they don't do it they

just don't do it man no they don't like they're they're five points out of the playoffs now yeah they are five points back but again having to climb eight teams it feels like that's the biggest challenge is you know yes everybody can go on a heater it's just you got Horvat there the one thing I look at when I think of the Allenders is they've had a turnover but they they still have some old players there like Paul Mary they got a sort out yep Nelson you got a sort out Joe Pajot is I think he's on the last year of his deal are close to it but you know they're i'd like some of their d they brought that under the radar i i think it got a little bit twitter play that

that the angel came back from russia right right join them he's played pretty well for them like you know is the uh... i'd be interested to see his plan a fair amount of minutes of looking at that right now he's played well for them it's just the problem with him has never been his NHL play. It's been his You know his personality his Twitter presence is right all of that stuff people You know don't care for him which listen it is what it is, but you know they Their team is you're right. It's a giant like it's just such an uninteresting team

I don't know how else to put it well Barzell is a star, but I you know I don't know how else to put it. Well, Barzell is a star, but I don't know. Outside of that, it's there. Is he a star, though? Like Barzell? He used to be a star. He hasn't been. He's been injured. I would love to see him with players, though. I would love to see... Think about it. We talk about it all the time. Boston Matthews, Witts Mitch Marner, O'Willie. Pairs throughout the league. Who's been riding shotgun with him now I like that Anders Lee I like him but I don't think he's a shotgun guy with bar cell like there there's always been a two-pack of stars now but the other argument counter argument is Jamie if

if bar cell was the nine million dollar guy that he's paid to be he would make Anders Lee into a Willie you're right you're right i mean he could okay so he could but i think jake there's arguments both ways yeah he's a good he's a really good player he's a really good player with wheels and all that there it's never been an offensively explosive team now he's been a part of down there so that that has to be considered but but even you look at both or that or that

he's got twenty goals forty two points in fifty nine games like that's well he was a lot better your calendar z it was a lot better player in vancouver like our explosive more in your face obviously canadian market all of that type of stuff but it just that's my old organization i hear you have a good day just they've kind of been in the ringer here for a couple years now like just kind of kind of around it

you know it as ray would say they're stuck in the mud yeah but she said it he said i hear is man there still trying to dig out of milbury's mess like panelists tsn panel is the tsn easy TSN Jfj 2008 You gotta ask Duffy about that. That'd be a great bit Duffy needs to rank his panels over the last 20 years I need a Duffy panel ranking like oh you did a depth chart like how many people he's worked with it Be so great. I my first night. I think he's wants to like I'm gonna want to put somebody on the lower total by here and you know what it would

be put you there because that's what it was you would be at the bottom of it to be the product of the joke but it would be that'd be a fascinating book man a tell-all by dot the like i'm out mike drop i do you have to t off on people like it just like that dot the you would never know like right now people like it just like that Duffy you would never know like right. It's not in his nature like Duffy is such a good guy and he treats people so well he wouldn't that he would never do that.

I'll do that at the end of my career. It's right at tell all. She bury everybody. Why not? It's a good way to light up everything on the way just on the way. Awesome match. I'm out of here, man I'm moving to you know Turks and Caicos. Yeah, I'm out of here

FaceTime Costa Rica, right? I'm on a most wanted list up here and I'm out of here All right, Javon Shepherd coming up Raptors magic on the station tonight here on TSM radio Jafon Of course, I'll have the call tonight so we'll catch up with him get his take on that. Shay going off again last night and what do the Dallas Mavericks do from here? Kyrie Irving done for the year torn ACL. Overdrive continues TSN 1050 in on TSN 2. Alright Vest Vets powered by Fandu a little bit later in the hour Raptors in Orlando tonight you know the NBA the last few years have implemented these weird scheduling moves where you fly

down and you stay for two games and you know they beat the Magic a couple of nights ago and now they're playing Orlando again tonight and that happens every once in a while in the NHL as well there was it was it Ottawa that did that recently I think the Ottawa Senators that recently, but like Tampa twice. That was me. I was down there for like four minutes. Yeah, you were down there for both games. Like you don't see the NHL do it too often, but the NBA is doing it and they're, you know,

I actually think the players appreciate it. My last year, second last year, there was like, they were throwing around ideas, saving money or rest or whatever, travel. We used to, like you'd go to Boston, play two and then it just disappeared. That's the move. That's the move That's the move in the NBA anyway, and I'm sure the players appreciate that and Raptors are again They're in this weird position now, you know coming down the stretch where they're relatively healthy Grady Dicks gonna be out for a couple of weeks and Grady's been playing. Okay, he's had an up-and-down year

But the teams around them just are so bad And they've got such a soft schedule everyone in Toronto is kind of freaking out You know you win five six seven games down the stretch you might pick seventh instead of fifth You know and your lottery odds just continue to get worse and worse basically with every win. There's a lot going on in the NBA Let's welcome in a good friend TSN NBA analyst. You'll hear him on the call with Jonesy tonight. There's Javon Shepard. How you doing? Javon? What's going on fellas? How are we doing? So where's, where's our head at here with the wraps? You know, like you're, you're, you're up close and personal calling their games. You know, they're, they're going to try to win. They're going to put forth a decent effort, but no one on the outside

really wants to really win is the question the players want to compete and you know what i i i can't be hard on them or be overly critical cuz when when you step on the court as a competitor you want to go for the coaches wanna win it at the end of the day coaches are evaluated on wins and losses writing and despite what we think in how we want the raptors to land a

a top five draft pick, a lot of the coaches on the coaching staff, they always have to be thinking about that next opportunity. So the wins and losses matter for them. But as far as, you know, front office goes, I think to make that trade all work and everything come together where you bring in BI and you have the RJs, I see some rumors with him swirling around again and to have an IQ and Scottie and for it all to mesh well and you still have to land a pick for this thing to make sense.

So for me there's different aspects and elements for this organization. The front office is definitely going to be looking to make sure that they secure one. The coaches and players as soon as they step out there, right, they got to play, they got to compete. I just think at some point as we go down these last 20-20 some games that you're gonna see a couple tweaks in these lineups and you know rest here or there or maybe a little sore thigh, sore hamstring. Yeah, right because if you put the players out there, if they're on the floor, they're going to play to win, right? And that's what you want

because you also want to establish a winning culture. You want to establish good habits and if guys are going out there with the mentality of losing and you land, let's just say you're in a perfect world, you land a Cooper flag and Cooper flag's coming into an atmosphere where, a losing atmosphere which has losing habits, you still haven't accelerated that development process so you've got to figure out a way to balance both things. What do you think the timeline on this thing is I mean you talked about the opportunity at Cooper flag that's doesn't look like the greatest odds to land in but it'd be great if it did but after that this year's wiped out like when do you think these guys will be back in

business is it two years down the road because the other guy to factor into this is Scotty Barnes because he's got to be looking around sooner or later saying I know you gave me the keys to the car but when are you gonna start putting some pieces around me here because I want to get into business too I'm kind of tired of this nonsense and You know what the funny thing is I think that process is much closer than we think because think about how we're talking about them right now. They're a couple wins away from being in a play-in situation right and that's coming off a season where a number of guys have been hurt a number of guys have been injured in and out of the

lineup and you're still in play in striking distance. The bottom of the bottom of the East is pretty bad. Let's just let's put it that way and I'm being you know graceful with that. So when you're adding talent like you have with you know an Ingram and RJ's had a you could call it a career year for him himself in terms of scoring and passing the basketball Scott he's taking strides in terms of you know his emotional intelligence him being a leader and defensively, you pick off all those boxes and let's just say you land yourself a really good pick that can compete right now. I don't think you can waste Scotty Barnes years, right?

Because at the end of the day, if he keeps piling up losses, yeah, he's your marquee guy, your feature guy, but this is the NBA in 2025. Guys aren't sitting and waiting around anymore, right? They're looking at the, they want to get into winning situations. So the front office? I think they did a great job by bringing in Brandon Ingram and just seeing okay this team right before the trade deadline This team won a couple games, right? So they've shown that they can win right now They shown that it compete right now. Well, you guys start putting pieces around your marquee guy or that's gonna have a shelf life, right?

He's not gonna be here forever I mean, that's just the reality of pro sports like you said with Javon Shepard and yet you know you mentioned RJ and I think there's I think it's reasonable to wonder about RJ Barrett's future especially when you consider the draft because there are some wing players like let's say you end up in a slot in the draft where it just makes sense to take some you know 6-9 some guy was gonna play on the wing you've committed to Ingram and you got Scottie like at some point it just doesn't make sense you're like where would RJ Barrett fit in if

that ends up being the case so I come from the train of thought of this is you know Toronto not necessarily a big market and the important thing is to have talent right in this league is that make sure that you have talent they can go out there and compete. And when we hear these rumors with RJ swirling around, I think it's a good thing, right? When you see that Luca gets moved, when you see that Kevin Durant is back on the trade box,

anybody is movable in the NBA right now. So that doesn't necessarily mean that the team doesn't want a guy like RJ. That means that other teams are just poking around, right? And that's a good thing but As far as this core group goes, I still think there's a way that they can play together, right? I still think you know RJ being a slasher Brandon Ingram coming in at the point he is in his career We've only seen him in New Orleans where he they gave him the basketball

Maybe that's not the role for him, right? Maybe in Darko system It is playing off of of Scotty as your floor general and him being the conductor and everybody else Fitting in maybe it's IQ or RJ or somebody, you know coming off the bench and being a heater as a six-man Front office gonna have to get creative, you know in terms of salary cap, but I don't necessarily think that's the move So you mentioned Darko system how you know, What type of job has he done this year given the situation that they are in? If you had to take a look at it from your perspective, how good of job has Darko done managing this team based on the injuries and the inconsistencies and where they are in the standings. Noodles? Your guess is as good as mine, right? I love to tell you, just based on, okay, last

year was an about, you know, just anomaly in terms of everybody being moved and then this year the injuries and also you're going into a situation down the stretch where you're vying for a pick, right? So he's still not gonna get a we're still not gonna get a true evaluation of, you know, Darko's ability. But in terms of his communication with the players and the players trusting him, they have really bought into him. And I can understand why it's easy to because you've had the injuries, everybody's playing

bulk minutes, guys are higher up on the depth chart than they than they'd imagine coming into the season so everybody's happy right now but in terms of you know Darko as a tactical coach and the X's and O's coach I think we're probably gonna find out more about that going into next season I think he's learned a lot the last two years as well. With Javon Sheppard ahead of the Rappers game tonight Raps Magic down in Orlando right here on TSM radio Shagel just Alexander goes off for for 50 plus last night, Oklahoma City They're the pace car in the West and I think it feels like a formality is gonna win the MVP

Like put into perspective the the season he's having but the the the Possibility which seemed almost crazy to believe 10 years ago that someone would catch up to Steve Nash or surpass him, but it feels very likely that's going to happen. Nash won his back-to-back MVP's I think into his early 30s. Shea's still very, very young and you look at the way he's been playing. What is the, the sky's the limit is the saying that obviously gets associated with a lot of star players

is the bar here for for shea considering how he's playing right now well first of all i mean he's probably the only guy i know this is as cool as you haze that he's a thank you i appreciate that i appreciate that greatly and that's a matter of time what i can't accurate accurate statement taking a role with the but not his arm, you know, you said it like the sky's the limit for him and I

Think I don't even think I think the Steve Nash bar might be too low for SGA, right? And just crazy to think which is great. It's unreal to us I think when you're talking about a guy like SGA if he he, when he's going to win the MVP this season, and now we're talking about, you know, NBA championships, right, because what they have going on over there in OKC, if you think about the plethora of picks that they have, they're just going to be refurbishing year after year after year and just getting better and better. So, and they're still young, right? You could be talking about a guy that has a couple MVPs and you know Four or five championships down the line of course he has to get the first one off of his back

But they're in striking distance to do that and that's the difference between you know He and Steve Nash is that right? he's in a position now to add the ultimate goal and the Lario be and You know have a couple MVPs under his belt and still be as young as he is and this is a guy that's you know he's still getting better year after year we're seeing him add different elements to his game the post-up he drives to the basket now he's adding you know an element of just shooting three ball at a high clip high volume and he does it with such swag such aura so I I really

don't know like this he could be not only one of the the Canadian grades But one of the best players at his position, you know that we've seen in the league speaking of MVPs What do you think the Dallas fans would think of next year if Lucas stepped up and just tossed in an MVP man? Oh dog, you went there, huh? Dude I like I Just watched the highlights I do not have time in my day to watch the LA Lakers play but every time I see them It's like I watch him and I'm like, how did they trade that guy? Okay, so I'm still trying to figure that one out and

What like what what did they do like if I gave you the pieces to that puzzle it would never fit but let's think about this for a second right Dallas traded a generational talent in The midst of his career, right? But they said he was the hookah bars and drinks too much beer All right. He likes a little he likes a little cold brew right like throw that likes a hookah but then you trade you gave him up for a guy that is, what is it, 31, 32, that has had a series of injuries over his career, who then also now put another 32 year old, more responsibility on his shoulder, make him the marquee player in Kyrie Irving, logging

more minutes on top of what he already is and if you look around the NBA and I'm not being you know an a just here but 30 and up and those super teams with 30 and up it doesn't work in the game anymore Right you need youth and to me it was like, okay What what are you guys thinking over in Dallas and now you have Luca with the Lakers smiling? He's having fun second in the West and it seems like it's just a cakewalk over there We're talking about the Lakers smiling, he's having fun, second in the West, and it seems like it's just a cakewalk over there. We're talking about the Lakers coming out, potentially, you know, being in the West Finals or coming out of the West. So this is, you know, in situations like this, somebody ends up losing their job. And you would hope, I hope for the front office of, you know, the Dallas Mavericks,

that this was an ownership call because somebody ends up taking a fall for some something like this and their window was only their window was only two years if you look at their age and now you don't know how Kyrie is gonna come back you're probably gonna shut down AD I don't know what that window looks like anymore well and here's the reality even if it was ownership's call you're still getting fired and yeah cuz everyone looks you. Yeah, because everyone looks stupid and you've got to fire somebody. Somebody's got to go. Someone, and it's not going to be the owner.

The owner's not going anywhere. So yeah, it's a wild scene, man. They got pumped last night. Kyrie's done for the year. And the Lakers, again, have won six in a row, and they're rolling. So we'll see what comes of it. It's a fun time in the NBA. We've got Raptors Magic tonight, Paul Jones and Je Shepard with the call right here on TSM radio

I have a great call tonight Javon. We appreciate you doing this. Thank you. You got it. There is Javon Shepard joining us our TSN NBA and Raptors analyst I wonder if Palinka ever thought like he was getting punked when that phone rang like he was What do you think about Don Chich and he was like? day on a second and yeah i didn't really as a secret looking around for a candid camera yet as well someone posted a great video the other day that it kept apparently he is

everywhere in l a now just enjoy it all of me i think someone walked up to it like he was driving is you know porche or something and he's not going on this window and people get his autograph robbed the g m getting his autograph from the way and they are at sea later there you go like he is all over hollywood and everyone loves propel a care because he pulled off that trade

and yet and like the lakers you know i'm not a labor laker fan, but I'm a I love big stories and I love big brands, you know, in terms of the NBA. The idea of seeing LeBron and Luca get to an NBA final like you couldn't ask for anything better in the NBA. Like you could simply not ask for anything better. All right.

We'll come back with our best bets powered by FanDuel. We got the wraps in action. We got a few games in the NHL tonight. Edmonton back home. They got the wraps in action, we got a few games in the NHL tonight. Edmonton back home, they got Anaheim in town tonight. We'll look ahead to that as well. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. Alright, today's best bets are powered by FanDuel. Make your picks and assemble a same game parley on seconds on the FanDuel Sportsbook app. Raptors, I'm going to take the points

tonight, plus seven. They competed really well the other night in Orlando Orlando's. Okay, they're good They're not great. I think the Raptors are gonna play their starters and they're gonna try to tank down the stretch But I think they'll stay in this game. You give me seven points I'll take it Scotty Barnes over eleven and a half total rebound plus assist prop that pay a plus two or three Those are your picks tonight best bets presented by empowered by fendle life same game parlays are now available for every nba game of the fendle sportsbook app please play responsibly nineteen plus physically located in ontario uh... many jerry's on

trade seven out of ten level trade between now at four p m tomorrow indian a child it happens tonight 85% Really now depending you said seven out of ten. I see that substance something significant Yeah, like wow, that's a player off the board that you know is a pretty decent name pretty big name I'm lower than this, but I I thought I read that Vanechek is not playing for San Jose Yeah, I don't know if that would even seven out of ten rate. That's not a seven It's not a seven, but I mean depends on if he ends up going to a team that we talk about

You know what I mean if it's Edmonton or you know somebody like that or Florida say I mean they called up Chris Drieger to replace Spencer Knight, so you had a last night Spencer Knight shout out for the one saves in his in his debut yeah the Blackhawks but yeah I mean I'm low on this still but you know what I'm hoping I mean that sure it's lots for us to talk about I'm gonna say 38% yeah I go 49% it's a game of chicken all the time. I mean, that's what it is. You wait till the deadline I'm seeing reports Scott Lottman Scott Lott is taking warm-ups for Philly. So he's gonna play tonight Which means they're not that close for a deal with him or he probably wouldn't be playing Maybe he doesn't want to maybe he told him that I don't want to do it. Who knows?

There's all kinds of different variables, right? Yeah exactly I don't want to do it. Who knows? There's all kinds of different variables, right? Yeah, exactly. Listen, he's a local guy. I'm curious how that'll move the needle in the market. I think Leaf fans are bracing for some trades. They're going to make deals. It's just a matter of how significant they are. And everyone keeps talking about the center position.

And Bruce, he said it earlier this hour, maybe a right shot shot defenseman i don't know who that is that's available seth jones would have been nice but he wasn't coming here um yeah man oh man i think i still think this is crazy i think edmonton is going to be a known jacob truba if he wants to go that would be because yeah i could see that you can't tell me that Pat verbeek didn't promise him I'll trade you at the deadline if you accept a trade here sure cuz they already got Ratko Gudis as their captain They're like, you don't write another guy But you'd have to eat half of his salaries make him a sure my absolutely just truck somebody like a couple days ago He did. Yeah

Pretty much every night. night east demolishing people yeah be interesting one that's like this one of the might have to eat half the money to will make a four million dollar defenseman if you make him a four million dollar fence but there'll be a lineup for him i think you're right would be this year at next i guess you're an artist yeah okay i like that idea mariela's you comes with tomorrow I think you can hear it as well. Yeah. Okay. I like that idea.

All right. We'll see what comes of it tomorrow. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it, everyone, for tuning in today. TV Radio Podcast Web. We appreciate that. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings.

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