The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Local Hour: The Half Mental Health Day

Episode Date: November 12, 2025

"It's really a testament to how that skill does not translate to radio." The vibes around Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors are bad. The vibes around Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell in the Heat are great. The vibes around Zaslow, Jer-Emmy, and the rest of the Shipping Container are ELECTRIC. Today's cast: Dan, Zaslow, Chris, Amin, Jeremy, and Mike. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It feels like everywhere you turn these days, there's another fee. Buy a ticket, there's a fee. Pay a bill, fee. Even your bank piles them on. That's why Chime is such a game changer. Check it out at chime.com slash Dan. With Chime, banking is done right. When direct deposit is set up, there are no monthly fees, no maintenance fees,

and you can even get paid up to two days early. And here's the part that really stands out. With qualifying direct deposits, Chime gives you free overdraft coverage up to $200 on debit card purchases and withdrawals. To date, members have been spotted over $30 billion with a B, plus access to 47,000 fee-free ATMs, more than the top three national banks combined. Work on your financial goals through CHIME today. Open an account in two minutes at chime.com slash Dan. That's chime.com slash D-AN. Chime feels like progress. Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank, banking services and debit card provided

by the Bank or Bank N.A or Stride Bank N.A. Members FDICC. Spot me eligibility. requirements and overdraft limits apply. Timing depends on submission of payment file. Fees apply at out-of-network ATMs. Bank ranking and number of ATMs, according to U.S. News and World Report 203. Chim checking account required. Mike, you know I have one rule to live by, right? Don't place parlays on multiple long shots. Don't say a game is one when it hasn't hit triple zero. Always drink your Eagermeister ice cold. That's the rule. Everything else is merely a suggestion. Everything else? Everything else. Wearing clean underwear every day? Well, that's just a personal decision. Brushing your teeth? Obviously smart, but not a rule. Never pee-pee on an electric fence. Okay, maybe there are two rules. But the one that is 100% that I insist on completely, Yeagermeister must be drank ice cold.

Or don't drink it at all. Damn, that's cold. Exactly. You're finally starting to get it. Drink responsibly. Yeagermeister liqueur 35% alcohol by volume imported by mass Yeagermeister U.S. White Plains, New York.

With Instacart, you get groceries that over-deliver. Like when you get groceries that are the same prices in-store. With no markups at select retailers, you get in-store products for in-store prices, and the only thing that isn't in-store is you. That means you could order in-store products at in-store prices while you're in sweatpants. In spin class. In stuffy work meeting. In anywhere but in store. So download the app today and get zero-dollar delivery fees on your first three orders. Instacart. Groceries that over-deliver. Service fees exclusions in terms apply. Press, I need your help today because I've got over the years as a savvy

crafty veteran over the years I've gotten little softeners on the tone on my tone you know my dad or your dad like I got to soften the tone around here Miami's obnoxious I'm obnoxious I'm strident and we don't have the tone softeners we need today given the general enthusiasm around the heat I don't think the nation is ready for heat enthusiasm with Mike being the third place heat homer around here third place heat homer because Jeremy comes in and it's and it's not just because the heat are exciting. It's also what's happening in Golden State that adds to all the soap opera stuff in that sport. But I don't want to get to it before I tell people that you can't follow me around annoying me more by saying your father's hello because it's now stuck in your head completely and you can't stop saying it. And it's annoying. I must have said it 42 times yesterday. And I think Zaslow, have you been afflicted? with this, too? Somebody else was saying around here that they were also afflicted with it.

No way. Just beautiful. That is the sound of your dad at his most right. Hello. It's like the scene from airplane. That guy thinks he's Ethel Merman. Hello.

He dragged it because that is what your dad has been doing to celebrate. I'm right about something. It's his happiest form of happiness. Hello. So I need softeners like that today because Jeremy's obnoxious and Zaz is obnoxious. Do you know how hard it is for Mike to be the third most obnoxious person in any room? He's fighting right now.

I got my money on Mike. He's a riser. He comes to play. You guys are so excited about this heat team and it makes me think that tonight's game against the Cleveland Cavs are what's left of them. Parts of the cabs that are not in Louisville. That bullshit. Don't even get me started on that. This might be the best night.

that the heat has ever felt? Just everything that's happening in Golden State combined with what Miami is feeling. Not just this season, this might be the high point of heat feelings around here. Even Jeremy is aware that tonight may very well be the peak of the heat. Don't forget the Vice Knight's Jersey's coming back tonight. See, you don't want, see, this is not what people want.

They're back tonight? And Zazlo might be more of a homer. He might be more of a homer. And I got the president of Heat Island. Amin is here, too. Like, do you realize it's too, it's too early? I thought you'd been promoted to president. You're just mayor?

No, I stepped down famously after a scandal. The autocrat of Heat Island? I'm the mom, Donnie of Heat Island now. This is going to be obnoxious, Chris. You and I are going to be the reasonable ones. Like, the heat, what feels better this year? Warriors' losses on the road or Heat wins? because they're already sinking in Golden State.

They already hate each other. Like, it doesn't usually leak out of the locker room this early in a season. Hello. I mean, if we're being real about stuff, you're barely qualified to talk about the Miami Heat. You told us all calm down about the Norm Powell tried. That's not true. No, yeah, you did. Yes, you said like, you wanted the franchise to do something, and Norm Powell is what satiates you?

That's what you said. That's what you said. You said it like that, too. Should have listened to Greg. He knew that was a good trade. Hello. This is the Dan Levatore show with the Stugats podcast. Basketball is back, Jack, in Miami, and it's been a minute since this particular feeling was here,

where you get caught up in the emotions of, oh, you got hope and a overachieving underdog over here that was down for a year when Jimmy Butler was here. And then on the other side of the country, you've got the Golden State Warriors, and it's early for those wimpers to be coming out of a champion locker room when Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green are in that locker room, and what you just saw happened last night, as if you didn't see it with the championship last year,

is holy shit. One of those teams is old, and one of those teams is young, and OKC is dragging the entire league, winning most of its games that way, except for the first couple that they took to overtime. And Golden State, I don't think they got old fast, but that's what old looks like,

and that is a feisty, stubborn champion. So let's just get to some of this sound, okay? Let's get first to Jimmy Butler sound. This is awfully early in the season for any of this to already be happening. So here's Jimmy Butler after that game. Good luck with all of this, Golden State. Honestly, I think that the fight's not all.

where you're there. You know, if they're not making shots, I don't know, give us an out to not guard whatever, why, whatever reason that may be. We've got to fight no matter what. I think most of that fighting, I'm talking about it. And I can stop and just not playing hard. It's just not, you know, whatever it takes away. How do you get that fight back? I don't know. I figured out. Ah, the loud, ambient hum of all the data centers they're building in that state. They've lost at Portland, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Sacramento, Denver, and OKC. Their starters last night combined for 45 points, their starters last night. So compare that with, now, Andrew Wiggins, for you guys' criticism of my heat analysis,

I thought Andrew Wiggins was brought here to be something like what Norman Powell has been. That's what I thought was coming, was, I thought that he was, I thought when they traded for Andrew Wiggins. Andrew Wiggins? Andrew Wiggins? The former number one pick, Andrew? The Canadian. That one? The one that was in Minnesota with Kat.

The one that Glenn Taylor said, I'll give you the max, but you have to promise to play harder. Surely you can't be. You thought he was going to come here. Like, guys, I won a championship. Listen to me. Here, hey, I'll help you, young guy. You thought that was Andrew Wiggins? That's not who he is.

He must be thinking of a different one. There is another Wiggins. Yeah, there is another, that one. Aaron Wiggins in Oklahoma City, and he won a championship too, so maybe, maybe. I thought Andrew Wiggins was coming here to be a number one scorer and grow into the role the way heat players do when they get somewhere, come from somewhere as underachievers. Yes, I believe, am I an idiot for believing that that's why they traded for him and how they traded for him? That may have been why they traded for him last year, but I think they quickly realized Andrew Wiggins as your top scoring option is awful. And this year, when Andrew Wiggins is like your fourth or fifth option, I like that guy.

That's not why they traded through Andrew. All right, so here's Andrew Wiggins, so you can compare vibes between locker rooms here. We're going to go back and forth. Here's Andrew Wiggins talking about the Heats locker room. You know, even though having some guys out, you know, we're still able to do what we're doing because of the system we're in and the guys that are all just stepping up and, you know, doing it all collectively. You know, the coach they're doing a great job, getting us in position to, you know, be some good. successful and all the guys coming with that mentality that this is going to be a hard place to

win. You know, eat basketball. We'll get to be physical. This is going to be a hard fight game, the whole game. So we're already going to start with the culture talk again, right? Hard place to, right now it's an impossible place to win. Undefeated at home. That's an impossible place to win. I want to get to tonight's game against the Cavs. What the Cavs are doing is offensive. This part of basketball is offensive. They've got a home and home that's not even at their home. Second leg of home and home. And they're not playing their key players. and Donovan Mitchell's in Louisville last night, and all of that is just not great

that nobody's respecting the regular season that way. The Cavs know they're good, they know they're going to make the playoffs. This is as easy as you can make it. It's four days in Miami. You don't have to fly anywhere. You can just play two games in Miami. There's no reason for Donovan Mitchell

to sit out this game when he's flying to Louisville. It's not a back-to-back. I mean, he wants to watch his alma mater play. Come on, guys. What's the stick-in-the-mud stuff you guys are doing? He'll be back. Here's the entire list. people that are apparently out for Cleveland.

I didn't even know this. Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell. Donovan Mitchell's out for rest. Oh, God. Evan Mobley, out for rest. Oh, my God. Max Trues, injured with a foot injury. Jalen Tyson, Larry Nance, Jr. Why are people out for rest when the NBA has done this thing that we typically haven't seen

in its history where it's back to like the 1940s of travel? We're in town. We're going to treat it like a baseball series. So we're going to mitigate the travel issues. So you don't actually have to be out due to rest because you're not traveling. And it's not even back to back. Yeah. There's a day in between.

You're staying in the same city. And to avoid the wear and tear that the travel day will put on a superstar's body, Donovan Mitchell says, I'm going to travel to Louisville. So it is a back-to-back because tomorrow they go home to go play Toronto. So these guys are sitting on the front end of this back-to-back. is basically what they're doing. All right, that's fair. But still, we're 11 games into the season, I mean?

Yeah, I mean, I don't think that the rest and recovery thing is dictated by where we are in the season. They're doing all sorts of biometrics measurements to know about load. You feel like that's working? Guys are always hurt. You feel like that's working? No. I mean, I don't know. I don't know if that's the reason why guys are always hurt or not, but guys are hurt.

It's their job. You buy tickets. See the stars. I don't understand. That's it. This is dumb. The league has gone out of its way to schedule games like this to mitigate this and teams are not listening.

But they're on a back-to-back. Like your point would be right if they didn't have a back-to-back. But the back-to-back is tomorrow. So they're going to sit one of them. Why? Here's the thing. If I'm Cleveland and you're telling me, hey, there are people in the city of Miami who would love to see the Cavs play, right?

And it's like, okay, do I sit them out in Toronto or like, hey, Or in Miami, where they already saw me two nights ago. If you're going to make the decision, if you're going to do Sophie's choice, the second Miami night is the one that you kick to the curb. Basketball players literally spend all their free time playing basketball. They play like eight games during the summer. This is so dumb. Let me ask you something.

I mean, since you're someone who worked in an NBA office before, it's a back-to-back. You're right. I didn't realize that. A front office, not just an office. Well, at the beginning it was just an NBA office. It wasn't even an office at the beginning. But, okay, so it's not just an NBA office. Oh, did I say just an office?

I didn't say a front office? Look, I would be totally fine if a means credentials was just graphically once worked in an NBA office. Yes, I would think that that's the way we should present the mean to the world. I apologize. It was a front office eventually. That was disrespectful. I mean, it's a, you got a back-to-back. It's the first night of a back-to-back, also the second leg of a home and home at Miami.

But anyway, that's near here or there. Why can't these players like Donovan Mitchell, like Evan Mobley, why can't they just play a second half tonight? The second half of the game? Yeah, why not? It's back to back. So they don't want to play a whole game here and a whole game there. So why don't they just play the second half to play 20 minutes?

Why don't the numbies get affected? There you go. There you go. Well, but also it's not efficient in any way and you're not resting your body that day if you have to play half of an NBA game. Playing 20 minutes in an NBA game might not be as hard. as 40 minutes but it's good you're not going to it's not going to be a rest day it's a it's a great what it shouldn't be a rest day you have work what you're saying is a lunacy idea your

idea makes no sense to get a player actual rest what sense you made that why do they have to rest it's a work day but you made that point as if you were coming down with a genius idea I think it is a good idea the rest that's what the day off is for yeah this is a work day they they had veterans day off they had they had the day off that that's so they get the to rest from playing basketball. They got that yesterday. Out of the whole year, 82 nights are work days. Every other night's

a rest day. All of them. So I'm even giving you a situation where you know what, because you have two work days in a row, God forbid people work two work days in a row, because you have two work days in a row, maybe you only play the second half of the game tonight, so you do a half a work day. Why the second half?

Well, because you want to have your good players in the second half. Early release day. Early release day. He's doing half day. He's giving Why the second half? You ever take a half of mental health day? Through the first half. Imagine if we had a half of work day and we all have to show up at like 4 o'clock in the afternoon. That makes no sense.

One star gets the first half, the other star gets the second half. Mowgli, you sit out the second. But Chris is right. Chris is right. That's why it doesn't happen. You are wrong. I'm very robinnovative. What you're suggesting?

I can't wait until the league listens to this and they all do it. And I'm sitting here with a big smile on my face. I'm not going to do it. You told you so, but it'll be a small base because I know that I was innovative. What you're suggesting is patently ridiculous, okay? The second half of an NBA game is a very vigorous physical activity. Yeah. And when you say players are only working 82 days, that's not true.

Travel days are work days. They're work days around here. They're work days in companies. Oh, my God. Who cares? You sit on a plane and you play poker. Vigorous. Everybody's played basketball.

Let's stop acting like it's a five-round UFC fight. Oh, but you guys keep making the basketball you've played like it's the basketball they play. I mean, that's not the lie. I get way more tired when I play basketball than when they do. I'm so tired when I play. Amin did this the other day with Tiger Woods's back surgeries and back pain. He's like, I've got back pain. I'm like, you do have back pain.

But you think your back pain is the same as Tiger Woods's back pain? It's pretty bad. It's probably similar. No, are you guys crazy swinging a golf club that way for that many years and needing seven surgeries to correct things? No, his pain is worse than you. But when Chris says, oh, I wouldn't take $200 million for that, I'm like, I already have that. Give me the $200 million. Just saw.

It's basketball. We've all played it. It's not tax. It's a work day. I have a suggestion. He plays the first in the fourth quarter. Okay. This is getting worse.

Are you guys getting worse at this? Guys, they don't show up at the gym with a bag of fast food. They're there for three hours beforehand to get their bodies right for that. He's getting his ankle taped. Guys, basketball is back, Jack. Let's talk about some more positive things. Like, did any of you guys hear Marlva Albert do the soliloquy before the game yesterday? Oh, dude, Dan, it brought all the chills, but also made me incredibly sad because I could hear in Marvelous's his voice.

He's old now, and that was, I wasn't ready for that. Like, he looks fine, by the way. He looks great that. He's in his head of hair. Is he not in his 80s? He's old. Definitely in his 80s. Yeah, he's definitely in his 80s.

But his voice, Dan. His voice ultimately just wasn't what it used to be, even just reading the monologue. It took him a little bit of effort, and you could hear his voice train. Yes, and the foul, in your face, facial, and a spectacular move by Dan Lebitard. Folks, want to have some skin in the game? Put your money and award-winning bourbon where your mouth is. Whether you enjoy sipping it straight or mixing it in a cocktail, the true pros know larceny raises the stakes in flavor with every pore. With multiple awards between the two,

Larsonie Small Batch and Barrelproof are no strangers to the winner's circle. As a weeded bourbon, you can count on Larsonie to keep it smooth no matter the spread. Don't gamble with what's in your glass. Go all in and seize tonight with Larsonie Bourbon. Add a winning spirit to your bourbon roster with the smooth taste of Larsonie.

Find a bottle near you at Larsonieburban.com. The Dan Lippin-Libat Show is brought to you by Larsonie Bourbon. Bartsdown, Kentucky, 46% alcohol by volume. Think wisely. Drink wisely. folks the leaves are turning the weather's getting a little chillier that means a football games are more important that means football time should be miller time game day hits different with a miller light in your hand from jaw-dropping touchdowns to fantasy heartbreaks my fantasy season's over already but you know what makes that better miller time it's the beer that's been there for every moment 50 years of great taste simple ingredients and then iconic golden color you can spot you from across the room. And here's the kicker. It's just 96 calories,

3.2 carbs per 12 ounces, the original light beer since 1975 and still hitting different five decades later. So whatever your game day looks like, remember Miller Time is always a good time. Miller Light, great taste, 96 calories.

Go to Miller Lite.com slash Dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up Miller Light pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller Time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, and 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

Quick time out here. Talk to you about the official ticketing partner of the Dan Levitard show. Speaking, of course, about game time. The Game Time app gives the advantage back to you fans. It's the hack for unlocking amazing tickets and experiences in just a few taps. It's incredibly easy to use,

and the Game Time Guarantee means you'll trust that you'll get 100% authentic tickets on time and at the best price. Plus, fees are always included, so what you see is what you pay. They got favorites, they got zone deals, they get panoramic seat views, my favorite feature, the low-price guarantee, and GameTime's unparalleled ticket coverage, which means your purchase is covered with the most flexible customer service policy in the ticketing industry. Take the guesswork out of buying NFL tickets with GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code Dan for $20 off your first purchase.

Terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem code D-A-N for $20. of. Swipe, tap, ticket, go. Download the GameTime app today. Don Lebertard. This is the Dan Levitar show with the Stoogads. He's 84, I mean. He's a no. He was born during the Holocaust. That's how old he is.

Oh, my gosh. Marvelous. You know, marvelous. That was a long time ago. Not the Holocaust. For him to be able to survive his scandal and get back in the game at 84 because NBC is trafficking. What scandal? What scandal? What are you talking about? People can look it up on the internet. A long time ago. As I was saying earlier, before we got derailed by shaking our fist at

load management, I paired Jimmy Butler against Andrew Wiggins. Now let me pair Draymond Green. I remind you, before I play this Draymond Green sound, this was a quote from Jimmy Butler less than 30 days ago, San Francisco Chronicle. Quote, all that noise and chaos paid off in a major way. everything starts off great, but then you know someone has to be the bad guy and it gets to be me. I'm always the one doing something unbearable all of a sudden, but being here, they've only got one goal, ain't no hidden agendas, end quote. So, I think Draymond here speaks to the idea of perhaps not hidden agendas, but not everyone in Golden State has the same agenda.

I think everybody was committed to winning and doing that any way possible. And right now, it doesn't feel that way. I mean, is that personal agenda type stuff? Or, like, you know, I mean, I guess how was you kind of? I think everyone has a personal agenda in this league. But you have to make those personal agenda work in the team confines. And if it doesn't work, then you kind of got to get rid of it. your agenda, or

eventually the agenda is the cause of someone getting rid of you. This is actually a very intelligent quote about the dynamics of basketball and the NBA in particular. Basketball is five people trying to do their own thing, but trying to do

it within the framework of we do it together as a team. And this particular person, say what you will, him selfishly does all of the things no one else wants to do on a basketball court so is no matter what you think of Draymond Green is speaking from a position of authority of

what it is it takes to be a good teammate when you are someone like him who once scored 32 points in a game seven of the finals. Yeah I think Draymond more than any player that has problems that they always have a you know like oh he has a temper issue

whatever he always plays the right way Like his basketball decision making, he doesn't take dumb shots. He doesn't like make wild passes for the most part. He's pretty astute at keeping his temper separate from his basketball decision making. What he's talking about there is absolutely correct. Everybody in the NBA has an agenda. There's no one's out here walking out here like, oh, I just want selflessness. Everyone's got some sort of goal.

But the idea is how do we make it all work within the same framework? It's not communism, right? where we're just, everyone is an equal robot, but it's also not a free-for-all kind of laissez-faire free market economy or everyone's just doing whatever the hell they want. There is a level of kind of like capitalistic tendencies within a socialist framework when you talk about basketball. And so what he's saying there is sometimes you want to do things

and they help us win and sometimes you want to do things and these things detract from our winning. And the idea is to minimize that and maximize the other side. authority here, correct? Like, he's viewed as a bad messenger because he's got a temper problem, but he's an authority. They've won championships with him as the furnace and fuel of play basketball correctly. And this is going to be a bad time. Keeping people accountable to that, holding people accountable to that, right? Because that's really what this is about, right? When they're talking, they're talking, first of all, we know these guys, they're not passive, aggressive

people. So I'm pretty sure whoever they're talking about, it's not like, what me? Like, they know. Jeremy, Jeremy's looking at you sideways. Do you think that Jimmy is passive-aggressive? I mean, did you witness the last year? I think he's aggressive-aggressive-aggressive. Jeremy, when Jimmy doesn't like somebody, does he keep it to himself? He doesn't keep it to himself to them, so that's fair that he wouldn't be passive-aggressive within the locker room. But it's what the words are in front of the media certainly are to specifically influence things.

You could argue to an agenda. Certainly, certainly. But my point is this. Whoever they're talking about, yes, they're speaking in a passive-aggressive tone to the media. But the person they're talking about has already received this message directly. That's right. They're talking about Kaminga. Throughout the history of Jimmy Butler's career, he finds a guy that he creates a cause around.

And that's the reason why that approach is why we're not right. In Chicago, he and Wade went off to their side and Rondo rallied the young guy. and that was the schism. In Minnesota, Wiggins and Kat, these young guys, he finds these people down here when Lowry got on the team and those two isolated and he had a problem with Tyler Hero and God bless Kevin Love for being the tie that binds. He was.

And brought those guys together for a little run. But he had his problems with Tyler and probably bam a little bit. And now he's done it again. He's done it again. Duncan was also in that crew. That's why he loved Max Drews. He was so effusive in his praise of Max, he knew what he was doing. Let's turn the two white guys against one another.

The thing about that, though. The white shooters, damn. About Max is, like, Jimmy often does pick the right guys to be his guys, right? He wants the gamers, and Max is one of those guys. And I can understand. Well, but that's part of it, right? Like, there are personal relationships, and then there are the guys that he singles out. He really, like, over here in Golden State, he loves.

He loves Buddy Heald, and he wanted to build up Buddy Heald. And I don't know whether or not that works out for them, but when he picks guys, it's with a specific reason of I think I can build you up. Over here, for that matter, he picked Nico Jovich because he wanted him to maximize what he had going on, but he definitely distanced himself from others. And when you're a leader of a team, you have to sink yourself into the human beings on your team to get the most out of them. That's what I think Bam was most frustrated with when you look at the dynamics in that

locker room. Bam, a guy who wants to sink himself into others. You see Colow Ware have a bad game. Bam's in his year. 20 rebounds the next night. And that's the type of leadership that I think is different. It doesn't mean he can't get the most out of his teammates, but it's different with Jimmy. And ultimately, when you talk about leadership, effective leadership, it's adjusting your leadership style to the person you're dealing with. Steve Kerr talks about this. He says, I coached Draymond different than I coach other people. Like with Draymond, at first I was trying to be like the new age 21st century, hey man, talk to me about your feelings, and he realized pretty quickly from talking to Draymond or talking to Tom Izzo, no, Draymond just wants you to cuss him out

and call him on his bullshit and be up in his face and scream and be like a domineering coach. That's what he responds to. But that doesn't mean Steve Kerr is going to coach Brandon Podemsky or Buddy Healed or Jonathan Camino the same way because those guys have different receptors as far as the message. And it's on the leader to adjust it. Because at the end of the day, it's not, the most important thing isn't that I get to communicate the way I want to. The most important thing is the message gets communicated. The schisms you guys talk about, again and again, what has happened with Jimmy Butler, we really celebrated old school around here. And you realize there's a generation of difference between however it is that Jimmy Butler and Dwayne Wade were behaving in Chicago or how Jimmy Butler interacted with younger people in Minnesota or in the instance that we're talking about here where you're singling out Kaminga.

It's a generation of difference in attitude. I will say, though, I think he's right in the people that he's identifying in terms of people that aren't necessarily doing the things necessary to help the team, even though his own actions, especially when they meet real adversity, kind of also work against the team's interest. Right. So the idea is, like, yes, he's never, like, misidentifying the guy who's not pulling their weight. But how do you get them to pull their weight? Do you go off on them and then just ignore them for the rest of time? Like, that's not an effective strategy. You're trying to build them up to get to that place.

I think Carl Anthony Towns is an example of what he was in Minnesota, what he is now, has grown. Players grow, players change, and Jimmy seems to have a way of kind of like either here or there. And once you're on one side or the other, that's it. Are you guys with me on the idea, though, that we really celebrated 35-year-old Jimmy Butler from a different time lumberjack guy when he was undressing 20-year-old cat who was not yet a grown adult because he came out of Kentucky as a first. freshman and undressing is a bad. No, you understand what I'm saying, though. Jimmy Butler, with 13 years of difference,

is going to have what connection point with whatever Carl Anthony Towns is at that size being the best shooter from the perimeter he's ever seen while Jimmy's getting 16 free throws a game. Look, I'm, like Jeremy said, I'm not saying it's bad, right? Like, I, and what, especially

in the context of Golden State, Dremont and any of those guys, when they do it, it's real. One of my favorite stories, I don't even remember if this was public or not. But when the kid in Philadelphia, now I'm drawing a play. Maxie? McCain? No, the one that was in Golden State, Ubre.

When Kelly Ubre was in Golden State. And Clay was starting to come back. And they were talking about, okay, so Kelly, you're going to come off the bench. And Kelly started a palmer. I'm a starter. And I think it was Clay that when someone went off on him in the locker room, they're like, hey, man, you know what this place is? Do you know what we do here?

Who are you to see? say, I'm not coming out of the bench. Andre Guadala, who was an all-star, came off the bench for us. Who the hell are you? That's the type of locker room they are. They don't suffer the kind of the immaturities of fools. They will let you know immediately. And so what they're doing here, I'm not even certain, I'm not saying they're wrong.

I'm not holding them accountable. The thing is, the only reason why we're talking about it here and why it's relevant to us is because that part of Jimmy, which can be useful at times, but other times destructive, was at the end of the time here, just destructive. It was no longer useful. I think that the valid criticism of Jimmy

is when he does identify that guy, he does very little actually mend the fences. And it doesn't seem like there's really a path for the person that he's isolated in that way to work themselves back into the good graces. And then the juxtaposition of why we're talking about it, specifically now, is when you hear Wiggins and Norm Powell and all these guys talk,

And it's like, oh, this is, this feels amazing. But on some level, Jeremy, you know why it feels amazing? Because they appreciate it. Yes. In a way that some other locker rooms, if you tried doing this kumbaya stuff, it would be taken for granted. And that's the problem. Maybe you're always balancing, hey, we want people accountable. But also, we don't want it to feel like a prison.

But if you let it too loose, everyone's going to do whatever they want. Mike, you know I have one rule to live by, right? Don't place parleyes on multiple long shots. Don't say a game is one when it hasn't hit triple zero. Always drink your Yeagermeister ice cold. That's the rule. Everything else is merely a suggestion. Everything else?

Everything else. Wearing clean underwear every day? Well, that's just a personal decision. Brushing your teeth? Obviously smart, but not a rule. Never pee pee on an electric fence. Okay, maybe there are two rules. But the one that is 100% that I insist on completely,

Yeagermeister must be drank ice cold. Or don't drink it at all. Damn, that's cold. Exactly. You're finally starting to get it. Drink responsibly. Yeagermeister liqueur, 35% alcohol by volume, imported by mass Yeagermeister U.S., White Plains, New York.

On Fox 1, you can stream your favorite live sports, so you're there for the biggest moments as they happen. For me, I cannot deal with spoilers, so I need to see it live, especially on college football Saturdays and NFL Sundays. With Fox 1, you get it all. NASCAR, the MLB podcast. postseason, edge of your seat plays, jaw-dropping moments, and that rush like you're right

there in the action. Sports are meant to be watched live, and you can do that with Fox One. Fox One, we live for live, streaming now. Take me through there. Take me through there. All of your favorite NBA players are back. And draft King's sports book and official sports betting partner of the NBA is the place to bet on NBA stars this season.

New customers download the Draft King Sportsbook app and use code Dan. That's code D-A-N, bet five bucks, and get three months of NBA league paths, plus $300 in bonus bets if your bet wins. In partnership with Draft Kings, the crown is your, sure, sure, sure, sure, sure, sure. Gambleing problem, call 1-800 gambler. In New York, call 877. 8 Hope & Y or text Hope and Y 467369. In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-777 or visit ccpg.org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boothill Casinoin Resort in Kansas, pass per-wager tax may apply in Illinois. 21 and over. Agent eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Restrictions apply. Bet must win to receive bonus bets which expire in seven days. Minimum odds required. NBA League pass auto renews until canceled. Additional terms at dkng.com slash audio. time offer.

Don Lebatard. Team mates can't shoot from three. Now they're going to see a different Jimmy. Now he's just, just playing. Nickelback in the locker room and... Stugats. They'll play D and show threes as they chase the nets for the six seed. These five words in his head scream are we winning games yet?

This is the Dan Lebatar show with the Stugats. All I'm saying is the vibes in Golden State look like shit and the vibes here in Miami. About to take it tonight's second half of that home and home. Everybody's having a good time. You see that real leader Norman Powell? That's a leader right there. That's a leader. Let's get to the Norman Powell.

Let's get to the Norman Powell sound. Norman Powell is making the vibes feel very good in a very weak east. That's out. I think sixers game was fun last night. But that's what the top of that conference is going to look like and Cleveland resting all its players to get to the postseason against the Knicks. But here's the heat trying to announce to everybody. No, we're going to get into this game at the top of the east.

We're going to do it with team basketball that scores 140 points a game, even though they're setting all of nine picks because everyone's just running around, hanging from the rafters, throwing the ball at the shot clock and letting Colelle Ware dunk it. What does it say about this team that you get different contributions in different moments every single game? I mean, it just shows how deep we are, you know. The way we play, fast, uptemple style, you know, everybody's pulling in the right direction. Everybody's cheering each other on. You know, some nights is going to be my night.

Some nights is not going to be my night. But we're cheering everybody on. We're playing super hard. We're picking each other up, man, and we're believing in it. We're believing in the system. We're believing in one another. And it shows when a game like this, when you need tough-minded, resilience, physicality and belief. and we're able to do that down the stretch.

I can't believe we're going to get more annoying as a heat show. That grating, like Jeremy arriving with the smile. I can hear the smile on his face. You can hear it's like Pablo. You can hear the smile talking. He's happier than Norman Powell is. He's good on television. Stop going at Jeremy.

There's a reason why he's won an Emmy. And I would say that this first segment of the show has been more national in scope. He said two Emmys in the background. And this is not just on the broad. You can hear this is to the arena. What does it say about this team that you get different contributions in different moments every single game? Great question. Hard hitting.

It's a good question. The side of his lips are attached to his eyebrows. Like, he is smiling. He is speaking through a mouth that's not moving because the top of his lips are over his ears. What does it say about this team that you get different contributions in different moments every single game? There's a leading question, and then there's grabbing someone by their wrist and pulling them with you. Come here. Come here.

That's the job. That's the job. Jeremy is as good as anyone at that job than anyone is. It's really like a testament to how that skill does not translate on radio. What does it say about this team? He's so happy. What does it say about this team? Chris, you're not smiling enough.

Happier, damn it. What's the say about this team? You have got. such a future as Mario Lopez in every hotel I step in to. Oh my God. Thank you. I hope so. That is the highest of the high praise. I would love to host a game show.

Put it on the poll at Lebitard show. Just deliver the games. Is it really a hotel experience if Mario Lopez is in shilling your movies? What does it say about this team? On the television. Then, real quick, you know what's going to happen? Like five years from now. He's actually

going to have that job. And everyone's going to say, Remember when Jeremy was on the Levitart show? Yeah, I hated him, and now I miss him. He's awesome. Like, we do it Whitton. Like Whittingham. And exactly like Whittingham. You were genuinely moved.

For those of you who do not know that Amin is a grizzled veteran, no more grizzled than he is today after many years of battering in the NBA offices. Or did an NBA office. That weren't in the front. And then finally getting to a front office. I would imagine your love of basketball is so giant that you. you often get moved by little acts of teamwork that you see or an organization working well. But even I was surprised to see how excited you were, of all the excitable people here about the heat,

just watching Wiggins watch his shot at a buzzard dunk, which you hardly ever see in the sport, to make the vibes feel even better around Miami because they beat what is one of the best teams, if not the best team in the east at the buzzer playing that way, scoring 140 points. Why were you moved by this? I have not seen this video. I don't know. You know, it's weird, Dan, the things that resonate with me are so odd and varied. I don't even sense a pattern.

It's just something wholesome about. Yeah, you could tell that it's real joy. It's real joy, but also a real, like, fascination with, oh, let me see them. I don't even know what happened. legitimately interested. He's interested in what he's watching and kind of the vibe and then watch Norm Powell at the end of this video. All right, walk me through that.

Man, what's that? Hell of a hell of a play by the coaches. Crazy pass by Nico. Greatest Canadian a more time right here. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, my God. Shout out 20, man.

Norman Powell loves to crash an interview. He's a vibes guy. So to the listening audience, basically it's Andrew Wiggins watching on the social media manager's phone the play that just happened. They're walking down the championship alley. Is that what it's called? The arena has exploded. Andrew Wiggins is coming off of what will be one of the greatest feelings of his life to make that shot at the buzzer. Yes.

And so he's watching it. Hockaz is coming in saying, oh, great's Canadian of all time. And then you hear Norm Powell literally kind of just crash the interview. jump up on them. It's such a great moment of joy and also like a reflection of what just happened. Whereas usually then when you ask guys, it's a very dead kind of answer. Like, yeah, well, you know, coach drew up a great play and, you know, you know, Mitchell said a great back screen and I just try to make a play at the rim. Instead, it's like, no, it's just acknowledging, oh, that was cool and his teammates are all happy for him. The league MVP is Canadian.

And? Well, you call them the greatest Canadian. ever that the best player in the league is Canadian it's not Andrew Wiggins it's not Andrew Wiggins he's right about that that's his nickname is Maple Jordan so the bad nickname the idea uh that that feeling right I don't imagine there are many like it and I wanted to get a means analysis on this because I was confused even as Jeremy was talking about it yesterday it couldn't have been that the Cavs assistant coaches didn't know what they were doing at the of that game. It seemed like it. No, but I'm asking, I mean, from somebody who understand

how much work goes into winning these little games in the tiniest of margins, there are very few things that coaches have control over once, they're all control freaks, and there's very little control you have once the basketball is out there because things happen, okay? These control freaks know that they control very little, but the time they most control it is out of a timeout, right out of a timeout, defensively, four-tenths of a second. This is, to me, the easiest of things. Like, you just, you can't botch it like that.

It looked like the assistants didn't know what they were doing with Kenny Atkinson ejected. It can't be that, right? I'm not going to put it on the coaching staff at all because this is not a young team. This is not a juvenile team. These guys are vets. They played in playoffs.

They played in a playoff series. They've been deep in the playoffs. there are certain things that happen on that play that are NBA Cardinal Truths. I don't need to tell you. You're in the NBA, you've been here long enough you should know. Number one, short clock situations.

We switch everything. We switch everything. We switch everything. It doesn't matter. Oh, it wasn't that much of a screen. It doesn't matter. Switch everything. Number two, time and score.

A two-pointer beats you. A three-pointer beats you as well, but a two-pointer beats you. So we don't want to give up the easy thing, right? Which is what? At the rim. So when you get hit with that back screen, number one, you didn't switch. Number two, you didn't dip.

Was it almost a moving pick? Oh, it was an awful pick. I've seen that called before. I've seen that call before. Not in that spot. He slid tackled. He looked like a soccer player out there. No, it was an awful pick.

Did they call that in like the women's championship, right? So that's one, they don't switch two. No one dips to protect the room. But then number three, and this one, Evan Moble, you're the defensive player of the year. KYP is an NBA saying. It stands for Know Your Personnel, right? You're guarding Jaime Hakez, a career 31% three-point shooter who's shooting 27% from three this season.

There's 0.4 seconds left. And, by the way, not the quickest release in the world. Who cares? I hope they pass it to him. Even if Hackees are shooting 39% from three this season, his release is so slow. There's no chance he gets it all in 0.4. They should have been so okay with giving up a 3%.

As soon as Hacquez starts to go, go out to the corner, Mobley's going to be like, bye, I'm going to stay right here in the paint. Yep. I'm going to stay right here in the paint. And so, to me, that's not conversations that the assistant coaches should have to go through. Now, had they gone through it, maybe guys would have remembered better, but it's like, no, San Meryl, no, Evan Mowgli. You guys should know better. That's an execution thing.

Why would you have a 6'4 guy, Donovan Mitchell, guarding the inbound's pass? How does that help? You're playing 4 and 5 there. I mean, look, you know what's funny? I always think about why don't they ever put the biggest guy. Or you talk about turn his back and just play. Because you don't want a clean look. You don't want a clean look, but also you...

But a six-foot-four guys are clean look? There's no such... I mean, I mean, look, I honestly, honestly do not think that in that situation, there is any chance that anyone can physically get a good shot off in four-tenths of a second. Anybody on Earth, maybe Steph Curry, but four-tenths of a second from any spot on the court, the idea that you would allow anything at the rim

because you're guarding against the possibility that any heat player who has ever played, maybe Ray Allen, can get a shot off in four-tenths of a second that's a good shot. Four-tenths of a second is definitely enough time to get off a shot if you have a release that's quick. It doesn't have to be Ray Allen and Steph Curry quick, but just relatively quick.

So, for instance, Norm Powell, who is the dummy in the, not dummy, excuse me. Why are you calling that? The decoy. I'm sorry, the decoy of the play. You're good. They ran elevator doors, so he's zipper cutting up. And when he comes out, the idea is that like, oh, they're going to give it to Norm Powell, because Norm Powell does have a quick enough release, except for the fact it's a tied game.

Why would Norm Powell be shooting from 24 feet when it's a tied game? We're trying to get something that's a point. I'll score anywhere. Shout it to Zaz. A score. right so that's another thing where you as a player you've just got to know oh he's going up like all right man bia condeos i'm not going to be worried about him 24 feet versus someone at the basket did the heat feel this good at the end of the game did wiggins feel this good after the

game hello did the greatest of the Canadian basketball players feel this good after the game hello i sure did yeah what we know that we can hear the smile on your face Oh, disgusting. Folks, the leaves are turning. The weather's getting a little chillier. That means a football games are more important. That means football time. Should be Miller time.

Game day hits different with a Miller light in your hand. From jaw-dropping touchdowns to fantasy heartbreaks, my fantasy season's over already. But you know what makes that better? Miller time. It's the beer that's been there for every moment. 50 years of great taste, simple ingredients, and then iconic golden color,

from across the room. And here's the kicker. It's just 96 calories, 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces, the original light beer since 1975 and still hitting different five decades later. So whatever your game day looks like,

remember Miller Time is always a good time. Miller Lite, great taste, 96 calories. Go to Miller Lite.com slash Dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up Miller Light pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller Time.

Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.