The Daily Zeitgeist - MJGMB #149: Breaking News from the Valley of the Sun with Gerald Bourguet  

Episode Date: January 22, 2025

Jack and Producer Jabari were pleased to be joined by lead NBA writer and podcaster for GoP-H-N-X.com Gerald Bourguet for today's episode. The trio discussed which Western Conference teams need to consider making a big move ahead of the deadline and were happy to be interrupted by breaking news regarding a Phoenix Suns deal with the Utah Jazz that netted them additional draft picks to work with in any potential deals!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast. Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirror ball trophy from Dancing with the Stars. So where else are you going to find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything. Listen to Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, everyone? It's Justin Penick from John Boy Media, the host of the Football Today podcast with Bobby Skinner and Chris Rose. We roll three times a week on Mondays, on Wednesdays, on Fridays, breaking down everything you need to know about the NFL.

We're gearing up for the NFL playoffs. I hope you can join us. Join in with us three times a week. Listen to Football Today on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and you will be glad you did. Well, well, well, we've unofficially, is that a good cadence for a well, well, well? It sounds natural, right?

We've unofficially reached the midway point across the league. And while we've primarily focused on the top of each conference in the past weeks for some weird reason, we're here to take a look at the play-in teams at West. Because there's a bunch of teams that were focus points heading into the season. And now they've kind of faded a little bit, including the State of the Phoenix Suns, with lead PHNX writer and podcaster Gerald Bourguet on today's episode. I'm Jack O'Brien and I'm still producing Jabari in for Miles. And this is Miles and Jack and sometimes Jabari got my boosties.

Amen. Got it! And Luka Dacic hits 10K! There you go. Indeed, driving, spinning, fading, hitting! Batter number 18 has been secured. The Celtics are NBA champions. Over the double team. Oh! Night-night! Yannis with the take. Uh-oh, look out.

No show time. What you got? Yes. What's going on, Gerald? Not a whole lot, guys. When you teed that up as far as teams in the playing situation, I was like, wait, am I in the right place? And I was like, oh, yeah, I'm covering the suns.

I actually am in the right place. Kind of a kind of a little depressing, honestly. Yeah. Are you not used to it at this point? You're like, because this is like kind of they're kind of on a run right now, right? Like 21, 21, I feel like they were a little bit underwater for a little while there. They were, they had to win like six of eight heading into that calves beat down

the other day just to get back to 500. So yeah, it still hasn't kind of sunk in that this team is as bad as they are. Honestly. Yeah. Well, the podcast PHNX Sons is awesome. We're thrilled to have you here. And let's just jump right into it. 21 and 21, 10th in the West, 25th in defensive efficiency, 10th in offensive efficiency. Overall snapshot, how we feel in in the sun's in sun's land. Not great over here. It's I mean, it's it's I'm a Sixers fan. So just in case you think I'm being like some snarky

like Celtics fan or something. Gerald, it's not great over here either. You can just picture me hosting the show from inside of a hurricane. And that's about right. I feel like there's like eight teams that are in that boat. Like the Sixers, the Suns, the Lakers, the Warriors, the Timberwolves. My Lakers?

Lakers are like the best of that batch. That's not saying much. How much of a competition is that though is the thing. So I was working heading into this episode, I was working on a loose theory that all of those teams are being undermined by like having somebody who we still think of as like a certain level. Like this came from last week we were talking about how old Paul George is. Like we went back and looked at his draft and like he was drafted behind like Danny Ainge, like it was like the other names on that in that list were so old, like people had just been gone from the league for so long. And so I was like, same with I bet like Bradley Beal would fit well into that conversation.

Bradley Beal is 31. Yeah. Bradley Beal is so young. Yeah. That is wild. He just feels like he's been here forever. But I do feel like a lot of those teams that we expected a certain something from are coming in and there's just, you know, they, they went and got old on us

a little bit. And obviously the sons have KD, but KD is still, you know, a walking bucket. So I feel like it'd be unfair to blame it too much on him. Yeah. You can't really blame it on him. Like he's still playing it at all NBA level at age 36. He's been their best player on both ends of the court by far. It's honestly like, everybody's to blame in this. Devin Booker hasn't had as good of a season as we're used to seeing from him. They need him to play at an all NBA level. And I would argue he's not even worthy of an all-star spot this year. They upgraded the bench.

They changed the coaching spot. Like you just look all around and it just hasn't worked out for a bunch of different reasons. This is just an older, unathletic team that doesn't have an identity that doesn't have a good defense. And really until the trade for Nick Richards didn't have like a playable starting caliber center. Uh, and that's a problem when you look around the West right now.

Yeah. You're going to want one of those. Are there any amongst the fan base that, you know, especially the ones the loudest in turn in terms of getting rid of Deandre Aiden And this is not and I got you because plus trust me we can do this with the Lakers We do this with the sixers, but we're just talking about the Suns right now But are there any of those those folks that are maybe regretting that push or was it still not a good fit? Oh, yeah, no, there's definitely regret there but I I'll continue to say what I've been saying like da's trade value that summer was

Negligible like they and they needed a change of pace both him and the Suns like they needed a parting of the ways there Because heading into the next season they already had their big three lined up and da wanted more touches. He wanted more shots He wanted a bigger offensive role, which you know, you understand that out of a number one pick, but he wasn't going to get that in Phoenix. And that was going to be something that could potentially implode a locker room by Christmas. So they had to get off of him. They had to trade him somehow. The returns on the trade are really not working out. So for a lot of people, it's like, why did we trade this guy who had potential? But I think if you ask blazers fans, they would tell you the same thing we saw here in Phoenix for a couple of years. Yeah. You mentioned that Booker not having, it's not a bad season. No, he's somebody who I think like I heading into last season, I was like, here comes, here comes my dark horse for the MVP. Uh, I, me, a smart basketball person.

Listen to me. Here comes my Dark Horse for the NBA MVP award. And he shot well last year, but this year he's off his normal pace by kind of a lot. Like he's shooting 44% from the field, 34% from three, still 89 at the stripe. But what do you attribute the slip in his productivity to? Yeah it's kind of baffling and he was the first to admit that he hasn't like been himself for most of this season I think in January he's obviously gotten a little bit back on track he's been shooting the ball

well for the most part this month but he got off to a really slow start this season I think part of it is you know heading into the year the big thing with the Suns under Mike Budenholzer we're gonna take a lot more threes and book has only had like one or two season in his career where he's really shot the three ball well and this has been his highest volume year so I think that's gonna take your efficiency down a little bit but he just hasn't been as good in the mid-range which is where he normally You know, that's his bread and butter and he's not as good around the basket either. He's kind of lacked some of that

Explosiveness until the last month or so I know he was dealing with the with an illness early in the season that took it out of him for about a week or Two and that stretch hurt his numbers, too for about a week or two and that stretch hurt his numbers too. But it kind of feels like he and the rest of the sons have struggled to adapt to what the sons are trying to do offensively under bud. And you've seen it over the last couple of weeks here in Phoenix, they've gotten away from taking a bunch of threes as well. They're starting to drift back to their old habits of operating in the mid range.

And that kind of goes hand in hand with book finding his stride a little bit. My philosophy as a coach long twos. in the mid range and that kind of goes hand in hand with book finding his stride a little bit. My philosophy as a coach long twos. It's just an artistry to it. At the altar of Kobe. Yeah, it's the you you named the three kinds of shots. I think you named threes mid range and around the rim. So that's that's probably not great.

Do we think Kendall Jenner of it all? Uh, the, I know this is a basketball podcast, but, um, I'm just saying a lot of my non basketball, like obsessive friends who had other, you know, they were like, just FYI, you can expect a fall off from this player in the next, in the coming years. And I was like, you're crazy again, this is going to be the NBA MVP in the not too distant future. I'm just putting it out there, what people have said to me.

And that is science. When you just put out there something that people have said to you, that's a science and also good journalism. Do you do your own research? Yeah, I always do my own research. Sure. I I've heard that before, but I will say like, if you look at his numbers when he was with Kendall Jenner, they were the best of his career like that. They started dating around the bubble. And then they went to the finals the next year and then they had the 64 win season

So if anything, you know, the breakup is just to blame right? Yeah. Yeah, I think that's generally how it works I think it's usually like they date and then generally the player has a tough time after after the relationship So I just want the listeners because I know a lot of people always talk about the Jenner curse if I Mean for starters like don't blame women for men's mistakes everyone listening, but that's really good point real But on top of that like he played his best basketball when they were together man. Yeah, so maybe he should just Figure some things out about himself and get get back to that level. Um What are you missing now that she's gone? She's gone.

Oh, why she did it. Ben Simmons, right? Am I making that up? She feels like it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. How's he doing?

I haven't checked in with his game in a while. Is he he's since then, has he improved or how's he, oh no, he, things have gone badly for him. That's right. He's still playing. has he improved or how's he, oh no, he, things have gone badly for him. That's right. Is he still playing? And generally thoughts on coach bud, how things have shifted from a strategy standpoint. Cause we were looking last year at where the sons were at this point in the season and

this, there were only a couple of games over 500 at this point last year. So like this was kind of where they were able to turn it on a little bit last year. Yeah. Do you think there's something that's going to click here in the not too distant future and things might start coming together? Or what are your thoughts on where this new team is under Coach Butt? Honestly, I'm not too optimistic about it. I think last year you looked at the run that the Suns went on after Christmas and they had a great run for like a month or two leading into the all-star break and it would Coincided with them finally getting healthy them getting their big three back out there And it was kind of what we were expecting we were expecting once they get healthy

We can finally see what this team is and it was competitive This team like they've struggled with a lot of the same injury concerns, but it just hasn't felt cohesive. Like last year, I was high on the Mike Booth and holes are higher. Everybody that we talked to was saying the attention, the detail with this guy is insane. They're going to take more threes. They're going to be, you know, a top 10 offense with the talent they have and a top 10 defense. Cause buds teams have historically been that as well.

And you're looking at it and they're near bottom of the league in defensive efficiency. You know, they've gotten away from taking the threes. They don't really have an identity. It just, it feels like there's another disconnect between the players and the coaching staff. And a lot of people are going to put that on the players because it's largely the same group of guys as last year. And Frank Vogel kind of, you know, had to take the blame for that one. But at the same time,

I do think it's possible that maybe they went over two on their coaching hires and I don't, I genuinely don't know how to fix it. It's kind of baffling. You look at the talent this team has, they should be better on both ends, but they're just not. Yeah. The Vogel specialty taking the blame. I know something about that just not. Yeah. The Vogel specialty taking the blame. I know something about that. Yeah. Yeah.

NBA champion head coach. Frank, yeah. Some respect on it. Let's take a quick break and we'll come back. We'll talk about the game of the week, which we're on quite a run here of these games of the week, uh, being blowouts, but this was at least an interesting blowout, so we'll talk about, uh, the Cavs at the Thunder, how that went down, and also take a look further around the league,

not just at the Suns, uh, some other teams that are maybe underperforming out West. We'll be right back. Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirror ball trophy from Dancing with the Stars. So where else are you going to find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? Based in Nashville, we're more than just your basic NFL show. We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything because

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Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's going on everybody? This is Justin Penick from John Boy Media, the host of the Football Today podcast alongside Bobby Skinner and Chris Rose. We're rolling three times a week on Mondays, on Wednesdays, on Fridays, breaking down everything you need to know about the NFL. We're talking about the MVP race. Is Josh Allen going to pull it out? Lamar Jackson? Can Saquon Barkley even break the rushing record? Can the Steelers keep up their momentum?

We talk about everything. We break it down. Stats, analytics, and of course, Chris Rose is bringing his perspective on being a pro in the media world as well. Listen to football today on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and you will be glad you did. Hope you could join us for the postseason run. And we're back. Let's just really briefly talk about a good basketball team before we get back to the media. Okay. Like, let's just blast through this. We don't want to bore people to two good teams operating at the peak of their expectations coming in. I mean, the Thunder had high expectations, but they're better than I think anybody expected

at this point. Especially without Chet. Yeah, without Chet, I think their other big guy, Harden Steinman was hurt for this game. And they took it to the Cavs, which like does, like, I don't know, are people gonna be like, should they just always play small? Like what is this incredible because they are so tough defensively on the perimeter. But I, I think it's going to help to have a seven foot three

rim protector back there so you can like get even tougher. But they handed the Cavs their worst loss of the season, 134, 114, and that is closer than it actually was. Shea had 40 points, eight assists and three quarters. Lew Dort scored a season high 22. They just had everything working. Shea just is so efficient, but not efficient in the way, he doesn't get to the line that much, which is cardinal sin of efficiency expert, like the people, you're supposed to get to the line all the time. He doesn't get to the line that much, he's just so good at beating his man every single time.

He just gets past whoever's in front of him and then just always makes the right decision and always gets to his spot and is just shooting at such a high level to the point that he is like a profound favorite for MVP right now. Like it's not even close. Like it's he's a big favorite, which is wild when you think about the season that Jokic is having. But yeah, so he had 40 points, eight assists and three quarters, you know, on the calf side, like sometimes it's just not your night. Garland put up 20 points, nine assists.

Mitchell struggled from the floor shooting just three of 15 and Mobley hasn't played since this game due to what is being described as a mild calf strain, which seems to be going around. Only mild when it's not yours. That's right. Hey, I appreciate that man That's good. Jim teacher logic. There you go. Jim teachers thing, but yeah, did anybody watch this? What were your thoughts? I Watched it for sure Because you know they had a matchup earlier the Cavs Squeaked out a win in that one and then the Thunder got their revenge in a big way Squeaked out a win in that one and then the Thunder got their revenge in a big way and you kind of touched on it like their ability to go small and

their ability for most of this season now to play without Chet and without Isaiah Harden Stein is insane because There are I don't think there's another team in the NBA Maybe the Celtics that could do what the what the Thunder are doing without their one or two Main big men like it's it's kind of nuts the way that they're able to defend Yeah, they're gonna give up offensive rebounds depending on their opponent But they're gonna dictate the way that the game goes the style of play the tempo of it And they're just gonna continue to do their thing. So come playoff time, you know obviously you want Chet and Hartenstein healthy because they help in a big way and they can continue to play the way they play with those guys out there. But like, if they do need to go small

or if Chet gets hurt again or Hartenstein is out for whatever reason, they're fully capable of winning the West without having like a traditional starting center, which is just kind of insane to talk about the talent, the versatility and the way that Mark Dagny, all coaches, it's, it's impressive. I look at them as, as long as you're not facing, you know, Yolkich in that first round or something like that, or like, or that matchup eventually anyhow, you're probably okay. You're kind of, uh, to your point with the way that they play, the way that they

all show up and the way that they all you know embrace their roles. One thing I just want to mention here Jack, just last week at any time there's going to be like a dummy moment of the show it's probably from me. Just last week I was saying hey the Cavs are going to keep on rolling not necessarily just in this matchup but I can't really see a scenario where they, you know, where they aren't dominant and you kind of getting hurt. The confluence of things you got Mowgli getting hurt. You get an off night from one of the guards or, but you know, a couple of the guards and all of a sudden it does not look the same.

So yeah, you know what? Shout out to our guy, Max R on the discord and you know, Kaz fans in general, but I hope I did not put the curse on you guys. Yeah, yeah. And I did, I said, could we please record a pickup where I come in and I just say, Jabari, you fool. And sound really, here it was.

But I'm glad that you remember everything that, like you're the opposite of like everybody on ESPN who like just completely memory holds every wrong thing they've ever said. So they have the ability. You remember like things that are only slightly wrong that you've said. And I respect that about you. Yeah. Honorable mention moment of the week was probably a jaw dunking over Wemby in a situation where

it didn't even count but we prescient last week we were talking about how this this matchup seems to be the most comic book like Marvel character matchup that we've ever had in the NBA. Like with both of them playing really at the top level of their game, Jaws just violently like flying through the air like Spider-Man and then violently dunking on people versus Wemby doing his Mr. Incredible, you know, stretchy thing and we got the scene from the trailer

Stretchy thing and we got we got the scene from the trailer in this in this game and job for cinematic purposes. Joe came out on top. That was insane, man, because like I also do you remember when he said he was going to stop dunking? Yeah, not that long ago. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, that was funny. Yeah, but like I tweeted it out at the time because I tweeted like a graphic of him saying that

And then a freeze frame of it and then there's like the John Mulaney meme where it's like, you know like a liar That's exactly what it was It was funny because it they sport center they do this thing on the video board where they take tweets and put them along with Plays and they put mine up there. And of course, it's like the type of tweet that got like 39 likes or something yeah yeah but you got some friends at sports center i guess but it was that was an insane dunk man like that was you're right it's very movie trailer-esque and then in the actual movie you see it at the same time from like three different angles it was yeah that was crazy yeah it was pretty cool one other thing I just wanted to say about the Thunder So I read some analysis this week that their defense is very

Dependent on takeaways. They're really good at creating turnovers and that that's something that has a tendency to come down a little bit in the playoffs when you're like facing just 95% of the possessions coming from the Mavs are like Luca Isos. And so there's like not as many passes, but I do feel like once, once they got those bigs in there, I don't know, man. Okay. Got lent everywhere. They get into passing lanes. They press, you know, they press you. I don't feel like that's going to decline. I had that winning the championship last year and I would have been such a,

such a huge bet. Do you think they'll, do you think Vegas will honor that bet for this season if they win? Cross it out, you know, put the correction on there, see what they say. They're usually cool about stuff like that, right? Totally cool, totally cool. There's no movies about weird things they do to people

when they get caught counting cards. No, casino. All right, around the league, further what's going on in the Western Conference. The Celtics beat the Warriors by 40 in honor of Inauguration Day. Golden State's worst home loss since Kerr took over. The Warriors would be on the outside looking in at the play-in if the season ended today. This again feels like one, I don't know, when the season kicked off I was like,

maybe I was wrong. I thought they were too old and like not, I didn't think what they had done was putting them in a position to win and they like had a really good start to the season, kind of similar to the Suns and but since then it just feels like things are kind of settling to this is maybe who they are. Yeah it definitely feels that way they're very similar to the Suns because at the start of the season it was like Suns, OKC and Warriors at the top of the west and now two of those three are both like 500 basketball teams and it feels like they're just a mismanaged group that doesn't really fit together like the Dennis Schroeder trade hasn't really paid off for hundred basketball teams and it feels like they're just a mismanaged group

that doesn't really fit together like the Dennis Schroeder trade hasn't really paid off for them in any way shape or form it's still like I still have no idea what they want to do with Jonathan Kaminga short term and for the long term they really need help in the front court because like Draymond is still a great defender but he's getting up there Trace Jackson Davis kind of is what he is at this stage of his career. I genuinely don't know what to make of them or how you fix a team like that at the trade deadline, honestly. Yeah, I don't know.

The staff has specifically said, like, if you think I like being on an average team, you're insane, I think is the direct quote. Similar messaging from Steph and LeBron of late, uh, where it's like, no, we're not, I'm not good with this. I'm not good with, uh, basically saying, yeah, I don't want to say this, but sell this roster out. I do not care. Do what it takes to put me back into conversation.

And it's to me, it's really going to be a matter of, you know, which team buckles first. And who do we think it's to me it's really going to be a matter of you know, which team buckles first Hmm. Who do we think it's gonna be guys? Sorry to interrupt you guys want some breaking news here? Yes, it's nothing major but it is on my end I guess the Suns are trading their 2031 first round pick to the jazz for three first round picks So that's the least favorable first in 2025 of Cleveland slash Minnesota 2027 of Cleveland slash Minnesota slash Utah and 2029 of Cleveland slash Minnesota slash Utah, so they just turned their first that could be pretty valuable into

three firsts That are at least Yeah Okay Um, that are at least all around. Yeah. Um, Oh, okay. So they are in there. They're going to be, they're going to make a move before the deadline. Now. Yeah. It would appear that way.

It appears. I look, I'm, everything is pointing to some sort of Jimmy Butler trade for this team, like everything, like Jimmy Butler wants to be in Phoenix. The sons have been benching Bradley Beale to get him to be more open to waving his no trade clause. They're trying to loop in multiple teams because Miami doesn'ting Bradley Beale to get him to be more open to waving his no trade clause They're trying to loop in multiple teams because Miami doesn't want Bradley Beale. I Would be shocked if butler's not in a son's uniform after the trade deadline, but interesting But yeah, assuming that nobody wants Bradley Beale. What how do they do it? Would they do it with like picks just picks?

Well, so that, yeah, so Bill would have to go somewhere. And I think like Mark Stein reported that Milwaukee is a team that might be interested in Beale. Why? I don't really know, but. It's all the teams with the same. Right. Just keep making the same mistake over. Double down on it, triple down on it.

I don't understand it. You got an older guard who keeps breaking down a little bit. Yeah, like I don't understand guard who keeps breaking down a little bit. Yeah, like I don't understand it from their perspective But they were named the magic or another team that like hasn't been reported or anything But I feel like they like they're dead last in three-point percentage. They could use another offensive weapon Obviously they got Palo and and Franz when they're healthy, but like in the backcourt He would automatically be their number one, like scoring option. And I think for Brad, that would make sense too, because he'd go from a worse team to a better team. For one,

he'd go back to the East where it's easier. And I think Orlando's only like two hours away from Gainesville where he went to college. So, hey, Florida guy, Florida man. I could see it. Has he been playing much this year? Like how's he been playing Brad? He's been so he's been missing a good amount of games with you know We're the random things that tend to come up with Bradley Beal for Chilly. Okay He's played mostly well when he's been out there like he shot the ball really well. He could help their three-point shooting He's still averaging like 18 points a game as a third option But that move to the bench is like, that's a bell.

You can't really unring in Phoenix, honestly. Yeah. Okay. It, it felt like a move where like they did it knowing, okay, this is going to be the end of things at some point, which I understand it did. Um, all right. Or yeah, I'm just, I guess I'm skeptical that anybody wants Bradley Beale at this point with the size of his contract and the number of injuries that keep occurring. But I do love any time a team that has a flaw and has like certain strengths just doubles down on both on both.

And like Jimmy Butler going to the suns would be amazing. That would be fun. It'd be good content. I don't know if it'd be good for them long term because I don't know if Butler changes things. I mean, he obviously gives them like that dog that they kind of need. He gives them a mental edge. He gives them like more size on the wing.

I don't know where he fits in in terms of like a team that wants to shoot more threes. Jimmy Butler doesn't help you there. And then you have to sign him to probably a two or three year deal in the off season when he's 35, like if you're trading for him, you're extending him. There's no way you're just going to rental. Yeah. So I don't know. I don't know either.

Um, the Mavs three and seven over the last 10 with Luca set to be reevaluated in the next week or so, but they are four and 10 since he left their Christmas day game with a calf strain, which is kind of what you would expect from a team that is like, you know, from a player that good and a. Heliocentric. That heliocentric. Yeah. The Wolves are five and five over the last 10

Only a game ahead of the warriors Not the follow-up to last year's conference finals run that everybody was expecting So this is kind of an interesting stat jabari. You want to share it? Yeah, I was surprised espn's michael c Right and you know, it's it's like I was talking to jack ahead of the show And I said it's kind of like when people would give me like the Kobe clutch stats, I'd say, no, I don't, I don't care what you say. I watched the games and it's, it's better than that no matter what. But yeah, this one came out, uh, following his miss at the buzzer versus the Grizzlies

on Monday, but per ESPN research and Edwards is now over 12 on go ahead and game tying a field goal attempts in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter and overtime in his career. And you know, I look, it's, it's still early in his career. So, and I figure at some point he's going to make one, but for whatever reason, I just didn't anticipate it being over 12. Yeah. Over 12 is really low. That's a, that's not good. I would want somebody who makes that shot more often than they miss it. One for 12. Like, yeah, yeah. More often than that or more often than, yeah. Like, what if you've made it like 50% of the time, like a basketball shot?

This also says LeBron has more attempts with how to make during that span. Does that ring true to you as a Lakers fan? Yes, it does. He's just missing everything at the end of the game. I haven't it's been it's been a minute. It's been a minute And you know what? I'm not even I'm not even trying to knock him But it that doesn't surprise me Whereas the ants the ants that did like I thought for sure he had like a big shot in the playoffs last year But I guess those were not like end of game game winners, right?

There is the caveat of under your five seconds or less. So like if he hits it with 25 seconds, you know. Sure. Yeah. Yeah, not good enough for us. Yeah. Try again next time. Yeah. All right, Gerald, we want you to rank

these Western Conference teams by need of a deadline deal. We got warriors, we got sons, we got Suns, we got Lakers, we got Wolves. Who is most in need and most likely to make a deal? I don't want to sound biased, but number one for me has got to be the Suns. They've got the most expensive payroll in the league in NBA history. They're so far in the red with what they've committed to this roster, and they are a 500 500 basketball team that's just not good enough. Jimmy Butler wants to come here that they've got to be number one in terms of needs to make a move and probably will make a move especially now that we just got that report that they

turn one future first into three first to kind of use in deals elsewhere most likely. Yeah I think I mean it seems like the desperation is real. You're on the ground. You, it sounds like you, you can, you can use that desperate as hell, bro. I'm not going to lie to you. So I think sons first. And then this is tough.

Cause I feel like the timber will sort of made their bed with the cat trade and they would like to get out of that bed for sure. But I just don't know how. Um, so I, I'm going to go with the warriors number two, just because like it's Steph Curry, you can't continue to waste what's left of him. And with him publicly coming out and saying, like, if you think I'm okay with being on an average team, you're crazy. Like that, that's something he doesn't tend to do very often.

I feel like, like LeBron has said, has echoed similar sentiments, but like he's still living in LA. He's still on the Lakers. It doesn't feel like he's going to leave anytime soon. I guess, like, I don't, I feel like he just kind of is resigned to it is what it is. So he's, I think the Lakers are probably fourth and then I put the Timberwolves third in that, in that pecking order. Yeah.

Okay. Um, Jabari, uh, I can tell you the Lakers would be higher on my list, but that's because I'm personally biased, but I think you're right. I think you're actually right. Where, you know, whether LeBron is resigned to it or the organization has already like, you know, kind of like done the stair down or the stair, you know, the stair off enough with him over the last five, six years, uh, it would surprise me if they swung for the fences,

but I could see them doing another deal similar to the level of like the DFS, uh, you know, during finished myth and you know, uh, shake Milton deal. Trying to recreate that deal from a couple of years back where like you guys made it, made a deal and like things started coming together. Yeah. They made like some small pieces moving around, made it to the conference finals, unexpectedly with Darwin ham, you know, like I'll be honest with you.

If I'm in that front office, I'm, I'm probably thinking we can make magic happen. Look at what we did there. Yeah. But they probably shouldn't be thinking that way either way. Yeah Just quickly what's a deal that would make sense for all of those teams? So for the Suns, it sounds like we're saying for the fences looks like him. Yeah It's probably yours. Yeah Butler for Suns Lakers. Um, I kind of like either Nicole Vuchovich or I don't know, either Robert Williams or Jonas Valanchunas, like one of those bigs that's available. I know that they probably want help at the center spot.

I think JV would be a lot more attainable for a lot less. But you're also getting a lot less. So I don't know. Jabari is the Lakers guy. How would you feel about any of those guys? Not great. I mean, there's a reason why, you know, sometimes people are available because you know, like for whatever reason their time has come to a good, and then there's other times where it's like, you're always available. And if you're always, if you're always available, you know, there is a reason. I think each of them would be an upgrade.

I love what Robert Williams can bring to the two way team when he's healthy, but part of me has been waiting for that for the past five years. Plus I think he, if he does go anywhere, I think he's going to end up in, uh, reunited with Emma in Houston. But I guess we guess time will tell on that. I would be fine with any either of those deals as a Lakers fan, because I do think it would improve them.

And is Zach Levine off the table? What's what's the latest there? That would be interesting. I think you got it. You would have to compile for a lot of salary to make that happen Yeah, okay, and I think it only happens if you're He you probably only get Zach if you're willing to give up Austin in by no stretch Lakers fans and non Lakers fans by no Stretch of my saying hey Austin's untouchable, but it seems as though they value him to that degree

So yeah, who knows? You wouldn't know it could, but Lakers fans seemed to really like this guy. So yeah, there you go. All right, let's take a quick break. And when we come back, we are of course headed into the fastest segment in podcasting, let alone basketball podcasting, the rapid fire round of questioning all of that. when we get back. We'll be right back. Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast. Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirror ball trophy from Dancing with the Stars. So where else you gonna find a show with that much athleticism and football insight?

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Oh, did you see the way he said he was ready? All right. He's like, yeah. He's like, yeah. Oh, seen it a million times, you know, walking in here like a baby lamb, just. All right, so this is, we're gonna fire some questions at you, and you are going to react as fast as you can.

No thought given whatsoever to these questions. You just first instinct first thought, best thought. Balcony lab will blink, you know, just give us what your impression is. And Jabari, do you want to go first or do you want me to go first? You go first this week. You're always thank you. So you're always too kind. Brian, start the clock.

I beg your pardon. Brian, start the clock. I beg your pardon. Brian, start the clock. There it is. All right. We're going to do a this or that, Gerald, which, you know, we're going to create a player. We're going to play a little game and create a player. And you got to tell us who you like better. You ready? I'm ready. OK.

Do you want Steve Nash with prime Thunder Dan Marley's athleticism or a seven foot Devin Booker? Seven foot Devin. Seven foot Devin. You want a seven foot Devin. Okay. Is that basically KD?

Kind of, yeah. All right. I'm not gonna prejudge anything here. I'm not gonna send anything in one direction or the other Do you want KD with Nash's court vision and passing skills or a seven-foot? Charles Barkley ad with Nash's passing skills. I think that might be the best like the best ever created. Yeah It's crazy. That would be wild. Yeah. Seven foot Barkley would not be when you think about the fact

that Barkley was six, four. Why? Yeah. And played as big as he did. Seven foot Barkley might be Shaq status, but I think he would. Nash's court vision would be like disgusting if Wemby was like so nasty. Like if Wemby was like the best shooter of all time, one of the best shooters of all time. These are really fun by the way. This is Jabari's invention and I love it.

All right, Amari in today's game or Kevin Johnson in today's game? I'm gonna have to go Amari. Okay, yeah, interesting. Was he a little bit undersized? He was. in today's game? I'm gonna have to go Amari. Okay. Yeah. Interesting. Was he a little bit undersized? He was. That's probably my biggest reason why is now Amari, you'd probably teach him how to shoot

a three ball or play small ball five or something. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Kevin Johnson could ball. He could. Yeah.

I would just like to see him going against today's guards, but you know, either way you, I don't, I don't think, I don't think you have a bad choice either way. That's okay. Just ruin my dream. You know? Uh, all right. All right. Uh, great. Keeping it going. I got a scenario for you. Who wins a dunk contest between aunt and job. And would that top that classic Aaron Gordon versus Levine showdown in 2016 it wouldn't because I don't think we'll get anything That's that good in terms of like I think both of them are high-flying dunkers But I think like Aaron Gordon and Zach Levine like the things that they did in the air. I

until you see those guys do it, I don't know if they could measure up but I those guys do it. I don't know if they could measure up, but, um, I might go jaw just because I feel like he's smaller. So I feel like he could do more things with the ball in the air. Look more impressive. Yeah, I think so. I think that's fair. I still want that, but I don't know if we're going to get it. The thing that makes me, I would love to see guys that aren't like rookies or second year players be in the dunk contest again. That would be fun.

Make the dunk contest exciting again. The thing, the play that makes me most excited about job, there's two of them that aren't dunks, but that would make me like so super excited about the idea of him in a dunk contest. One is just like the, uh, like 360 laps, the two that he did this, this year, just like, I feel like he would just go up there and improvise like the, uh, like three 60 laps, the two that he did this, this year, just like, I feel like he would just go up there and improvise like the most disgusting dunk that we've ever seen.

Um, and then the other one is when he caught that guy's shot at the top of the backboard against the Lakers on a breakaway. It's like, I feel like he could do something we've never seen in terms of like how high above the rim he would get. So yes, please sign me up. Has anybody ever just jumped up and like sat on the rim? I feel like I can see, you know what I mean? Just like jumped up and like slowly just like landed on the rim.

He could have done it at a certain point. Yeah. All right. It is that all important question. What will be the MJ GMB game of the week? Some things we've learned from past weeks. Last week we messed up. We went with Thunder Calves instead of using Marvel logic and saying what would be the best comic book and that would be Jav vs Wemby. And also it doesn't matter who you pick because it's going to be a blowout if we pick it as

the game of the week. So just the one that you want to see be the biggest blowout. Our candidates Thursday, we've got spurs at Pacers at 2 p.m. on NBA TV, 2 p.m. Eastern. Why is this so early? That's a good question. Oh, it's in Paris. Yeah. Oh, or of in Paris. Yeah. Oh. Or of course you have Celtics at Lakers.

So I don't know. It'll just be interesting to see them playing through clouds of cigarette smoke. And you know, I feel like LeBron will be having some Cabernet on the, on the bench. It's Cabernet, even a French wine. I don't, I don't know anything about wines. I should specify Celtics and Lakers are not in Paris. It's just, Lakers are not in Paris. Right. Yeah. All right. Anyways, so that that's one option spurs at Pacers in Polly Saturday,

we got Rockets of calves, which is just going to be local. So you're just going to have to watch it on YouTube TV or the past highlights league pass. And then Sunday we got bucks at Clippers. The Clippers you'll notice are not in our list of teams that are, you know, bottoming out. They are currently fifth and just and seem to be kind of hanging around in fifth despite having some people who everybody thought coming into the season, were going to have some of these problems that our teams have with, you know, main important roster positions being played by the elderly.

You know, they, they have that and yet they're finding a way to win games because they have one of the best coaches in the league. Where did you time them? They just always, always seem to find a way to win games because they have one of the best coaches in the league. And they just always, always seem to find a way. Uh, and the bucks are playing, you know, uh, Yannis is third in MVP voting, rightly. So he's, uh, playing incredibly well there. Uh, they keep winning. I think where, where are they right now? Fourth in the East? Yeah. Fourth in the East, 28-8 since that 4-9 start. Yeah, so that one could be interesting.

So those are our three candidates. Spurs at how you say, pay sales. Rockets at Cavs and Bucks at Clippers. Where are you going? I'm taking Rockets at Cavs, especially because I think Mobley should be back by then from the Cavs train So I would like to see that one for sure That's a that's a good pick. I feel like I need to watch more Rockets this season. So that's to see that West

I'm glad you picked that and it'll be a good opportunity for me to watch the Rockets get beat by 40 points And really get a sense of what? Or or vice versa. I don't know. Someone getting beat by Green goes off again. You know, my guy, I'm good. All right. And finally, uh, your ultimate NBA jam combination.

You can mix old school and current, uh, across generations for your Phoenix sons, who you pick. Oh man. That's a good question. Um, all right. across generations for your Phoenix Suns, who you pick? Oh man, that's a good question. All right, I gotta go, man, this is, I might just go honestly with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. I know that's boring, but KD's got the size, he's got the shooting, he could probably dunk in that game. Yeah.

Devin Booker, every player gets a dunk boost, so like, I mean, book's thrown down over a D it doesn't happen often, but like every now and then you got to bring us in this. But yeah, I'll probably go book and Katie, maybe I'd throw Sean Marion in there just because the defense, I could I could use an undersized shot blocker in that game. And it would be funny to watch NBA Jam version of his little flick. His little three. Yeah. Where he shoots it from his waist somehow. blocker in that game. And it would be funny to watch NBA jam version of his little flick from his waist. Yeah, that's interesting. Was Barkley an NBA jam? He never was. I think it was a licensing rights. Oh, because he, he would be interesting. Like he has that one,

you know, the, the fact that you can just body check people, like really, he might be the most interesting, like NBA jam player that never was. Cause also like you could, I just feel like you wouldn't be able to stop him. Like when he's going to the basket and then you have a three point shooter like KD I'm going KD and Barkley. Usually we tell people that all their answers were correct. I'm going to disagree on this one. Not this one. Not this one.

K.D. Barkley, baby. Except everything except for that, Gerald, you nailed it. It's been wonderful having you. Where can people find you, follow you, all that good stuff? Yeah. You can follow me on Twitter at Gerald Borguet. You can read all my stuff over at go phnx.com And then we're on the Sun's podcast the phnx Sun's podcast five days a week We're on YouTube Spotify everywhere. You get your podcasts and Borguet B-o-u-r-g-u-e-t That's right people who didn't immediately Assume how know how to spell it like I did, you know, not everybody can be as intuitive as me

Wonderful having you we wish you all the best for the Suns this season It'll be interesting be interesting to see if any of these trades come together Jabari, where can people find you? I'm simple blue sky these days. You know what? I'm not going on the other one anymore. So it is what it is at Jabari Davis NBA days you know what I'm not going on the other one anymore so it is what it is at Jabari Davis NBA. All right you can find me at Jack underscore O'Brien on Twitter and at Jack OB the number one on Blue Sky, Miles is at Miles of Grey on Twitter and Blue Sky and hashtag Matt Bustes for show links and updates and be sure to join the conversation on our discord, but you can also find the link for when you search hashtag Matt Busties. That is going

to do it. We're back next week with a whole nother episode. Enjoy the basketball. We'll talk to y'all then. Bye. You mean play basketball? Enjoy the basketball. That's like how David Lynch would sign off from a basketball. Enjoy. Enjoy the basketball. Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirror ball trophy from Dancing with the Stars.

So where else are you going to find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything. Listen to Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. The Indicator is a podcast where daily economic news is about what matters to you. And we're guessing most days, that's money. Workers have been feeling the sting of inflation. So as a new administration promises action on the cost of living, taxes, and home prices...

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happening now. Plus, you'll get special content just for podcast listeners, like in-depth interviews and a roundup of the week's top headlines. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, everybody? Adnan Burke here to tell you about a new podcast. It's NHL Unscripted with Burke and Demers. Jason Demers here and after playing 700 NHL games, I got a lot of dirty laundry to air out.

Hey, I got a lot to say here too, okay? Each week we'll get together to chat about the sport that we love. Tons of guests are going to join in too, but we're not just going to be talking hockey folks. We're talking movies. We're talking TV, food, and Adnan's favorite, wrestling. It's all on Le Table. Listen to NHL Unscripted with Burke and Demers

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