The Mismatch - Are the Sixers Back? Plus: The Suns' Turnaround Season, Jalen Johnson’s Rise, and Draymond’s Delusion

Episode Date: January 23, 2026

Verno and Jacoby return as they briefly recap some of Thursday night’s action, including the Sixers beating the Rockets in OT, the Magic’s disappointing season, and yet another blow to the Warriors in their loss to the Mavs. Next, the guys into their loves and loathes from the previous week. (00:00) Welcome to The Mismatch! (03:12) Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid lift Sixers past Rockets in OT (07:05) The disappointing Magic season continues after a blowout loss to the Hornets (09:52) Warriors lose another player to injury in loss to the Mavs (14:05) Verno and Jacoby’s no. 1 loves of the week (20:39)Verno and Jacoby’s no. 1 loathes of the week (30:22) No. 2 loves of the week (37:47) No. 2 loathes of the week (44:00) No. 3 loves of the week (56:40) No. 3 loathes of the week The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Leave us a message on our Mismatch Voicemail line! [phone] Hosts: Chris Vernon and David Jacoby Producers: Jessie Lopez, Brian Waters, and Jeff Shearin Social: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the mismatch. I'm Chris Varnan and joining me see us every week from The Ringer.com. It's Dave Jacoby. Jacobi. Bruno, I just want to take the listening and watching the audience behind the curtain. We've changed format this week here in the mismatch. This is Thursday night. Anthony Edwards just missed a corner three seconds ago that would have tied the game against the Bulls.

Instead, the Wolves go down. After losing to the Jazz earlier this week, now I lose to the Bulls. We're taping Thursday night because we want the mismatch to be ready and waiting for you Friday morning. to get your morning commute on the last day of the week. We almost really changed formats because for those that listened to the show earlier this week, you threatened at the end of the episode that you would not even be here,

that I would be doing this show solo if the Knicks were to have lost to the Brooklyn Nets, especially after their players-only meeting. But instead, the Nix had a 50-point rom, and here you are. So I am very glad. I was watching that game with bated breath, and I'm thinking to myself,

I'm going to have. Rune for the Nets, weren't you? I'm going to, I mean, it's going to be, it's going to be the mismatch with Chris Vernon. And I'm just going to get to say anything I want to say later in the week. That probably would have been a better show. A, B, there is no,

um, NICs later on in the rundown. So I'll address it now. I was even disheartened by, that. Oh, you know what I mean? Like, I would have must, I would have much preferred a workman like, we always have a 20 point lead. The subs play the entire second half of the third quarter and the full fourth quarter. But the idea that they have to curb stop and curb stop and curb stop dig the grave, bury them in the grave, light the corpse on fire in the grave,

and then filled the grave with the nets. It was just like, guys, like, that's great, great win against the nets. But how about we see this sort of passion and energy when you play a team over 500 that's not trying to lose games. Just throwing that out there. When I read the story, when I read the story about Jalen Brunson, closing the door and having a player's only meeting, I harken back to many years ago, I was covering a team that had a players only meeting. And I remember interviewing my beloved Damon Stademeyer, who is now the head coach at Georgia

Tech. He's the college basketball coach of Georgia Tech. And to this very day, I remember Damon Staddebier telling me, players only meeting are for teams that suck. I was like, oh, oh, man, that's a tough one. And you know what? The Knicks don't suck, but certainly they had recently. But maybe they have righted the ship.

And we will find out as they are going to be playing a monster showdown with Philadelphia, who comes in looking really good. and we just happened to be recording on Thursday night after they had an epic win against the Rockets. And it's a Tyrese maxi thing. Like the Knicks in their, I think it's three losses now to the Sixers. They just cannot control this guy.

And it was the same thing at the end of the fourth quarter and overtime. It was a great game. And the Rockets had every opportunity to win the game. But just there's in transition, Maxi is just getting his knuckles to the backboard, knuckles to the rim and finishing past you 100% of the time, matter how fast, how big, how small you are.

And he had a great night tonight. And I just want to give a shout out because, like, we're not going to spend too much time celebrating the losing team in this one. But like, Reed Shepherd, early this week in that game against the Spurs, just absolutely was on fire in the fourth quarter and did like a mini little burst of that in this one to bring this one into overtime. But like, he might be the answer. Everyone's looking at them like, Van Bleed out.

Like he didn't play last year and seems like, you know, he dog it doesn't like it was a defense or whatever. but like he might be the answer for them in that position. Certainly has had some really, really big games that have stood out. I will say also we need to give a special shout out to Kelly Ubre, who is like you're looking for that third guy. And that's what makes the Sixers.

Like this Sixers team is dangerous. If you're getting this Maxi and you're getting this impede, and then on a given night, Paul George might give you 20. And Kelly Ubray, like on a night like tonight is on a heater and he's knocking down 26 for you. And obviously we've seen the nights where Edgecombe can be great. Like they've got a, they got and obviously they got guys that come off the bench, whether it's Grimes or whoever else.

Like they got a slew of guys McCain could catch a heater one night. Like they got a lot of good players on that Sixers team when they're fully stock. And it's like in O&B, I'm going to talk about him later because he's been playing well lately. But like Paul George in this one like he had a huge steal that led to a maxi transition bucket, which there are a lot of. And there's one play where it impeded sort of like, you know, got kind of slow down and trips up and just kicks it to Paul George in the corner. Like, listen, a lot of guys who stay in the corner and shoot corner threes aren't Paul George level shooters. You know what I mean? Like, and normally that's not Paul George's role in an offense

up to this point in his career. But anyone who's watching Sixers game understands that's why that's his role in the offense at this point his career. And it's a great spot to have. And I've liked the Sixers team this year. And I don't have high high hopes for them in the playoffs. I do. There's something. I do because it's interesting how it's built. It's two mega dynamic guards.

It's two long, like, vet wings. And if this is, again, we'll get to it later because I know it's one of the things you love from the week. But this Embed is a thing. Like, he looks great. He looks great recently. And you've got a chance, like, if you're getting this Embed, when I, when I'm talking about high hopes for the playoffs, you got at least two possibles on your team

that could be the best player in any series. Maxi could be the best player in a series, and this Embed could be the best player in a series. Oh, see, when you say two possibles, I think about Spades immediately. And I feel like Maxi is a hand. He's like the king of spades. It's like he's going to win me a book. And I think, I feel like Embedd is almost a book.

And sort of like PG is a possible. And Edgecombe is a possible. I don't know I think that those are the two possible as I see. Sort of like those like swing guys. Because kind of know we're going to get from Ed Beat at this point. Definitely know you're going to get from Maxie. But like you could win a book one. You can win a game in a series because PG goes whatever, four for seven from three

and scores 24 points. It's a really good win for them against a rock. It was. Other things that deserve a mention, boy, it is not gone well for the magic recently, and they got worn out by that Charlotte team. Charlotte just ran all over them. And what would upset me is there's going to be these nights where you run into these teams that shoot a high percentage from three, but the looks are too good. And Charlotte shoots 47% from three. But what is more alarming is a 47 to 31 rebounding advantage. Like this Orlando team became the Orlando team that we all started to really like last year because it was able to hang its hat on the defensive end. And they were one of those teams that we talked about were the honest effort teams.

And in the absence of Suggs, obviously they didn't have bronze tonight. But like, you still have to go out there and give the honest effort, right? And that when you're getting 100 something hung on you at home and the other team shooting 47% from three and you're getting destroyed on the boards. That is a tough look. And that is beyond just like we're kind of in the dog days right now. Orlando's been a disappointment for me, for sure, a disappointment. You know what?

I'm glad you say that because right now they're in seventh. They've lost two in a row. They're 23 and 20. And even teams like the Clippers that were such a big disappointment have sort of like figured it out. And the Hawks have sort of had their Trey Young issue. shoes. Now they're like sort of readjusting to life without Trey Young. So they're a bit underperforming. Obviously the bucks have their thing. But like the magic have dealt with some

injuries to some key players of course. But like they've pretty much disappointed. No, they were a team. People fancied as a top four seed still it, you know, people viewed them as peers for the Pistons. And one of those has taken, look, they made the big Bain trade and it was like, all right, now they're going to take a big, you know, step forward, right? They're going for it with this. And so they've gone for it and you've seen like that Pistons team has taken another leap. It does not feel at all as if Orlando has taken a leap. In fact, it feels like they've taken a step backwards thus far.

Yes, I think that the enthusiasm in October was warranted because you're expecting Palo to play better, hasn't. You're expecting Franz to play better, hasn't. You're expecting everyone to at least be healthier than they were last year, haven't been. Because this team on paper, when healthy makes sense to me. I think they could probably use someone else at, you know,

the five. But it just hasn't played out that way. And you can't blame health so much because every team is dealing with injuries. A couple other quick mentions. We have the Mavericks beating the Warriors. This, this week has been just bad news after bad news on the Warriors. and then Cominga's going tonight and he has to leave the game with a busted ankle.

It's like, oh, my guy, the guy never plays. And he was playing well. I know. He got never literally, never plays and all of a sudden, like, here's your chance, guy. And he has to go out with a busted ankle. It's like, are you serious? I'm watching this game because I mainly was focused on Rocket Sixers. And I, you know, I turn on this one during commercials or whatever.

But like, this is really like, it's pretty dark. You know, without Jimmy as an offensive weapon. or even a guy that can get the ball to at the end of the shot clock. Like it's kind of step in no one else. Yeah. In this one. And then once it's step and no one else, defense just gears up on step. And then you're looking for Moody, your Tremont or just like, you know,

Santos, like anybody to do anything or pods. And every once in a while, those guys will have big games. But in a game like tonight, when they don't have it and it feels like it is just step, it doesn't look good. Yeah. So tough, tough beat for them. you have Nuggets beat the Wizards. Timberwolves, as you mentioned, went down to the wire against the Bulls and took a loss there.

That's a good win for the Bulls. And then they just lost the Jazz, right? Right, about that a couple nights ago. Yeah. And then you have. Yeah, Timberwolves, yeah. And the Spurs took care of the Jazz. So, you know, we are getting some, we are at that time of the year where, you know,

people say that as we, as we hurdle towards the trade deadline and then All-Star break, this is a typical time of year where you're. you're seeing some goofy results that take place. Yeah. You're in the late January. The very general of the season. Yeah, Christmas to All Star Break and then sort of like the last five weeks of the season. They're just sort of like maybe just take it into consideration before you start putting real money on Fandual.

And also strange things happen. And also before you start making bold proclamations of what it tells us about a team, you know what I mean? Yes. The magic getting run off the court against the. hornets notwithstanding. Because that was, that was ridiculous. I mean,

the Timberwolves getting beaten by the jazz. I got it. I got it. These weird things. I've had to mention that to some of my, my Knicks fan group chats. Like, guys, this is,

you know. Well, that's the only, that's the only way, that's the only way you can make it through in these moments. No,

everything's fixed. Beat the, beat the nets by 54 points or whatever. So everything's fixed, guys. Don't worry. Players only meeting. Players only meeting.

This is about us, guys. The coaches have nothing to do with this. We are in control of our own destiny. Someone was like, Mitch, Mitch, it's not, it's a player's only meeting. It's not an only fan's meeting. It's a player's only meeting, Mitch, and then he took off his headphones

where he was listening to Morgan Wallen and he attended. Yeah, yeah, yeah, all right. Oh, I'm sorry. Miss Match is brought to you by Fandual. Fan duels putting you in control right from tip off. That's right. You get to choose your reward. You want to play it safe.

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See terms at sportsbook. Fandul.com. To give them a problem, call 1-800 gambler, or visit RG-Help.com. Or you can call 1-88-78-9-77-7-7-7, or visit ccpg.org slash chat. All right. Let's get to our loves and loaths of the week that was. I am going to start, because I know you love when I start.

I went to a basketball game and saw the Atlanta Hawks in person for the first time last night. Good game. And it was a good game. And man, let me tell you something. The experience of watching Jalen Johnson up close and personal, I was wowed. It's one of those where it's not like we've been honed in on the Hawks throughout the year. You're not watching a ton of. Certainly, they're way down the list in terms of teams you want to tune in to watch

unless they're in like some kind of nip-tuck game and you flip it on at the end. But they're not going to, in a league where you're watching for 30 teams, they're not going to command the tremendous amount of attention. But we have referenced many times, like every morning when you get up and you look at the box scores and you see what this guy has done. There was this quick swoon right after they traded Trey and brought in McCollum where the production went down for a second. And then he responded.

And right before he came to Memphis, he had 28, 16, and 6 earlier this week against the bucks. And I watched this guy last night have 32, 15, and 8. And I was like, Ooh, yeah. I mean, and the first, at one point, I turned to the guy that was sitting next to me, and I was like, bro, this dude has 28. Like, when I tell you, it was an easy 28, like not, like a lot of guys, that's when you know

somebody's a star star is when you look up and you're like, wait, what? This guy's got 28? Like, I didn't even, I didn't even remember the 28, like, that took place. He is, he's also, once you see him up close. he is one of those guys that every once or a while throughout the year. I'll reference this, like bigger than you think he is. But the size, the movement, the athleticism, you understand how they look at that and go, all right,

we've got to build with this guy in mind. Obviously, he's having this great season where he's averaging 23, 10, and 8. I mean, that is crazy production. 51% from the field, 36% from 3. And like, he's also the guy, the reason it impressed me, because life is different when you move to the top of the whiteboard. Now he has dealt with that quite a bit this year with his come on and with Trey being absent from the team.

But boy, boy, do they have a special one in Atlanta. I mean, getting to watch, he was one of those that, it almost like took me by surprise. When you see, you don't see a lot of 32, 15s and eight. and it was just super production, but it looked easy doing it. Like a lot of times if you put up those kind of numbers, it's mega noticeable and it seems like the guy had to work to do it. This was just getting to his shots,

backing people down, catching in transition. He is awesome. He is absolutely awesome. I loved him last night. I think the Hawks aren't going to be. much of a story for the rest of this year. I don't think they'll be necessarily loud in the plane or the playoffs or anything of that.

But one of the things I love about watching, Jalen Johnson, and I've been trying to sort of like figure him out this year, and it's like, well, he can get past his man. He has a killer floater. He can finish at the rim. He can shoot the three off the dribble. He can play off the ball. He can catch and shoot.

Yeah. He can defend pretty much. anybody. He can switch. He's not like elite, elite, elite at one thing, including like his size and body type. Right. But he is just good, better than average, excellent at everything. And I say that just to bring it back to where I started where it's like you're not going to really hear from them this year. But I feel like the Hux front office has decided instead of trying to build a roster that accentuates the best parts of Trey Young and makes up for the worst parts of Tray Young, let's focus on this Jalen Johnson fella who doesn't truly have

huge deficiencies that need to be made up for by other players around him. But what sort of specialists around him will get the most out of him? And how can we create a basketball environment that gets the best out of him and everyone? And I think that's going to bring clarity to them moving forward because the Tray Young thing we were talking about for like four years. Right. What's your first love? All right.

My first love. Keante George. In the last few games, this is like, you know, tonight they're playing the Spurs right now. And, you know, it doesn't look like they're going to win that one. And these are not in wins.

But he's been on an absolute heater like that against Dallas and a loss, he had 29 points and, you know, six rebounds and six assists. And then in the next game that he had, like he's just been killing it against the spurs. another loss. He was, what, 34 points, or wait, he had 30 points, four for 10 from three against the Dallas, the previous game is four for six or three.

And then that win against the wolves that I referenced earlier, a comeback win. They won because Keonti George is absolutely on fire. He had 43 points with six for 13 from three. Didn't light it up today, but like if you are a jazz fan, there's a lot to look forward to with Keontay George. Yeah. And the other thing is with him, it doesn't always, when you watch him, it doesn't feel like just a good stats, bad team guy. Like you could see the talent and you think, okay, maybe it's not this because he's given this.

I'm about to say. No, he's given this huge leash and opportunity there. But you could also see him being able to hone that in. He is so talented that you could see him honing that into a winning concept. Yes. That's what I said. Right. I don't think you're going to get this version of Keante, George,

if he's surrounded by different players on a winning team, but you're going to get a very good starting rotation player, third option type. My first loathe, oh my goodness, is this easy? The Jamerant saga. I mean, look, you know I'm right in the middle of it all. And this afternoon, an injury report came out. They were playing a game against the Pelicans on Friday.

then they have a game on Sunday afternoon against Denver. Where are these games? Both of these games are at home. Okay. And what I had said. So wait, Sunday afternoon, Verno's going to be at a basketball game instead of watching the conference championships. In the middle of an ice storm, no less.

Oh, oh, right. You're getting hit with that too. Yeah. Oh, wow. Sunday. Yeah, the South's going to be, this could be rough coming up this week. But it's rough. basketball wise because one of the things, and obviously you and I have talked about this a lot,

and I have said, you know, the hope is problems become solved, whatever the problem may be, whether the guy does want to be in Memphis, then obviously earn an extension. And that's been the issue, whatever the case may be. problems are solved by being available and awesome. And he played in London on Sunday. And he was available and he was awesome. And he played last night against Atlanta. And he was available and he was awesome.

And it lasted two games, two games before you have him being ruled out with an elbow injury for tomorrow night. that has already been reported today that Friday night's game against the Pelicans, he will not play. And they also said is out for two games. And so, look, he did bang his elbow on one of the blocks that he had at the rim.

He had three absolutely spectacular blocks. But there's no good outcome with this. because what I will tell you is if he's not if he's not playing for a reason other than the elbow, that's bad. If it is the elbow,

that's bad because you couldn't even make it three days. So either this means like you're totally, this is a reminder of how unreliable and how unavailable you are, or are we just hurtling towards this inevitable end. As we record this on Thursday, it's two weeks to the day from the trade deadline.

But there's no good outcome that comes from it. And so with my hopium of just be available and awesome, and if you want to get traded, your trade stock goes up by being available and awesome. Or if you want to earn a extension and you truthfully want to stay in Memphis, that. will take care of itself by being what?

Available and awesome. And step one was Sunday, London, available and awesome. Step two was Atlanta. They lost the game, but they lost by two, and he missed a game-winning three. Available and awesome. Available and awesome. We didn't make it to step three.

What? So I have some false questions. My first question I'm stuck on is this is what is opium? Do you snort opium? Yes. Do you smoke opium? You shoot it. You shoot opium.

You shoot opium. Do you have a hopium blog? Yeah. I need some opium. Yes. I definitely. We'll talk about that after the pod. We'll talk.

Number two is, is like, I feel like the whole thing is, is everyone knows me. I'm loyal. I've got Memphis tattooed on my back. Grizzly, I want to stay here. I don't think he's being honest. I just don't. I think he wants to be the good guy and the franchise is the bad guy. So every time he comes back to Memphis,

he's celebrated and he ends up sort of like the one who gets to keep the friends in the divorce. That's what it feels like to me. Well, I will say that this. And I've not had any hope you. When there is an elbow injury that has taken place like within two games, like if the whole thing is the reason you don't have as extension is because you're not available and awesome. And now I'm just sitting there going, hey man, things will take care of themselves. if you play regularly, do you know it's been three years that he has not played six games in a row?

That's disgusting. We couldn't even get to three this time. Like, what has happened? Either one is ridiculous. Either one is ridiculous. Either he just played twice and now he's not going to play anymore on his own volition. I don't know.

Or he actually did get hurt within two games, which is also an impossible thing to deal with. This sucks. I mean, and they're going to lose to the Pelicans too. It sucks. Oh, my God. This whole saga,

I've been in the middle of the worst soap opera ever. This thing is awful. And it was so fun for two games. It was so fun. He was back to like doing celebrations and dancing around. And it's like, oh, this is what it was like. It was like, this is what it was like when he was awesome. And he was.

He's engaged. Like last night was the perfect night. Considering what we've been to for the last year and a half. Like I went to the Knicks game last year where he hated the offense. So he stood in the corner playing Thumb Wars with McHall Bridges, right? He was, they didn't have good wings. He's getting guarded by the biggest guy on the team all the time. And he's like, to hell with this.

And then he just goes and stands in the corner. Last night was the perfect night for that to happen. And that's what I was concerned about. I'm like, oh, well, we're going to find out tonight, right? Because they're not in London. Adam Silver ain't breathing down your neck anymore. Dyson Daniels is about to be coming for you because that's who you're going to catch. He attacked him all night.

Like it was like, oh, this is back to the way it used to be. and then the news comes out this afternoon. He's out. He's got a bum elbow. And it's like, are you? Like, are you serious? Just run me over with a car. You sound, you sound ridiculous.

Yeah, you need, you need some more opium. Because the hopium is clearly taken over. There's no hope. You guys are over. It's over. It's to be lucky if you keep Jaron Jackson. How dare you? Shut up.

We talked about this. This was in my lowest last week. You know what? Go root for Carl Towns and guys that stick their fingers in each other. I will. I will. Monumentous. You know what?

Storic win. I'd rather have a losing record than my team finger in each other's butts. You get a lot of mileage out of that. That's all you got. You're just like a child. You're just in the corner. Jah hates you.

Your whole city hates job and no one wants to say it out loud. Nobody hates him. Well, your team is getting. That's what you sound like. That's what you sound like. Nobody hates. Seriously, you're a child. You're reverting back to the.

like this like free free adulthood behaviors you need therapy you need therapy and you need to get off the opium you were tormented by that moment and I just want to be a constant reminder that that happened your team won the NBA Cup and started

sticking their fingers in each other's asses that happens have been tormented all year my first load obviously because I brought it up last week is whatever comes out of Janus's mouth here's what he said after another bad not playing hard not playing hard

we're not doing right thing not play to win not play together our chemistry is not there guys are being selfish guys that try to look for their own shots instead of looking for the right for the right shot for the team

guys try to do it on their own I hate this doesn't he have like a 50 usage rate I hate this so much. Guys are being sell, guys are looking for their own shot.

Pass it to me. Like, you're Yonis and Tentacupo, my guy. Like, I hate everything about this. Like, Janus is one of the most likable. He's it. Not even athletes, like celebrities. But like this process is ugly and it makes, the stink even gets on Janus's, like, perfect reputation.

Like even I now look at Janus a little differently than before all of this. Guys are looking for their own shots. We don't have the chemistry. We don't have the time to get it together. You're the captain team. You're the MVP. He's a leader. You're the face of the franchise.

You're the leader. Be the guy. That's the reason we win, not the guy that points the finger at everybody else and says they're looking for their own shots. They need to give the ball to me. He was being a leader. That's why he's calling everybody out. Okay. Okay.

Yonis, the leader. They're going to turn it around. All right, put a pen in January 22nd. This is when the bucks are going to turn around the season and make their sprint to the top of the Eastern conference in the one seat. I mean, I guess he could have, I guess he could have just had a player's only meeting instead. What's your next love?

Free throws cratering. I love this. Oh, I love this. Tom Haversstrow has been all over this. He's always all over this kind of stuff. Tom Haverstrow is the goat of. When you're watching Blazers games, every once in a while, he'll pop up in the corner.

He's like, there are like numbers guys. When you're at League Fast watching Blazers games, which I understand if most people don't. But Habistro will just pop up and once about big. Here's Habistro with the number tonight. Haversstro is the absolute goat of NBA trends. And one of the things that he has been on top of is he noted the other night

that the Bucks took nine free throws in the game on Wednesday night. And then he said, that is the 11th time this month that a team has taken less than 10. Now, the reason that that is relevant is because it's 11th time this month that a team has taken less than 10 free throws in a game. That is more than October, November, and December combined. Oh. Combined. Teams took 40 plus free throws almost every night in October and early November.

And yet it has not happened since January 7th. And so his whole point is like, and you know, Jalen Brown, you know, drove the ball 23 times a couple weeks ago. It was against the Spurs, right? They got four free throws, the entire team, shot four free throws a whole game. He got zero on 23 drives. And he said, this is so, so the point that Habershaw is making is something has changed, right? Like, you're three different coaches have gotten fine. Jalen Brown got dinged for 35 grand.

Like something has changed. And so what changed, right, from like this point in January? And my answer is, I don't give a crap. I just hope it stays. Yes. We don't need to launch an investigation. Let's just enjoy the results. No, no, no.

We went through this a few years ago, right? Where they just stopped. The All-Star break. Yeah. And they just stopped calling fouls, right? Now, the funny thing was when I was reading it and it said, teams took 40 plus free throws almost every night in October and early November. That hasn't happened since January 7th.

I almost immediately went to go find out when Austin Reeves got hurt. That's what happened. I mean, it's crazy. The number has gone down a precipitous amount as someone who goes to NBA games all the time. I am always in favor of less free throws. Always. I am always in favor of less free throws and letting things go. And if there is an edict, fine.

If there is a, if it has been passed on, like, hey, we're going to the free throw line too much. Hey, we got all these. Look, we're on Peacock. We're on Amazon. We're on national TV all the time. Like, let's cool out on the freaking 90 free throw games. I'm glad. They have certain blocks in the television blocks for the games.

There's so many damn free throws at the end of the game. Sometimes like, oh, turn over to USA if you want to see the nuggets against the Warriors. Right now. We're still here in the Bulls Hornets. They're fouling for the next 10 minutes. Right. Where's the USA again? That's a good one.

And shot to Habistro. Yeah, I'm with it. So here's my next love. I think rivalry week has gotten a lot of flack. And I totally understand that, right? Cavs Hornets is not exactly like an old rivalry. Thunder bucks. I don't even know how that is a thing.

I've tried to think back. I'm like, do they have a good regular season game a couple of years ago? Something like we've all been through this. Like this has been shoot up and spit out by the sort of like NBA media. And I understand what they did. It's something that you sell as a package to Amazon. You're going to get this new thing called rivalry week.

You're going to pay extra for it. You're going to get the NBA Cup. You're going to pay extra for it. I've got a new week that I think is better than rivalry. Oh, I'm with it. Let me hear it. Here's the title. Peak week.

Peak week. What we do during peak week, listen, is it a perfect title? No, it just sounds cool, but I'll get there. Here's what we do during peak week. We relive every year, just one or two. And they have those sort of like home and home or like two games and three nights baseball series sort of things. Okay. We relive some of the best playoff series in the history of the NBA.

So they wear those uniforms. They bring out some of the old coaches and players. They do special interviews around the games. So like Kings Lakers 2002, you bring back Vladi. You know what I mean? Pager for the game in Sacramento. And then the game in L.A., you bring on all the old Lakers. Lakers Celtics, 84, Jazz Bulls 97.

And you bring out, you bring out the old ref crew to absolutely screw them. And Tim Donagy shows up. Well, according to Habistro, no one's calling anything anymore. So who cares? And you bring out Tim Donagy and he's like, hey. Just go with me on this one. This is pretty good. I like this.

Because there's a ton of series that people forget about, too, that you can just bring back. You know what I mean? Like, everyone's like, oh, Jerry West, like, you know, didn't win the finals with one MVP. I'm like, I don't know anything about that series. Maybe that should be during peak week. It's just sort of like a little history lesson. slash throwback jerseys, throwback field,

throwback court. It's a stunt week. I'm calling it peak week because it's like, win like sort of the, I don't know, it just sounds cool. We've got to work on the name, but I love.

Branding needs some help. I love this idea. We pick a great playoff series from years past. Yes. And we relive it with those two teams in those uniforms with like a home and away game where we bring out legends

or people are still live and do run video highlights and things. and relive that during when I'm currently as a working title as peak week. I love this. Mr. Silver, I know you watch and listen to the mismatch

twice every episode. You can find me on social. Jacoby Juice, J-U-I-C-E at IG. Use one of your fintsters or have one of your people reach out to me. I don't even want money for this. I just want credit.

I love this. And then there's like, right, the Knicks in the heat with Van Gundy hanging on a leg. And then we have Pistons Bulls. Oh, yeah. Like the, you know, the Jordan rules. And like, oh, this could be great.

And do you think for a second that, like, you can't get PJ Brown in Alonzo morning to come out and, like, Jeff Van Gundy to grab their leg in like a little joky joke, joke, half court ceremony? That'd be awesome. If only we had a colleague that was, like, really good at understanding sort of television stunts and, like, NBA history. They just sort of had, like, an encyclopedic mind of some of these great

matchups and moments that happened in past. Oh, look. Oh, you mean? You mean Rich? Roll the decks. Oh, I thought you're talking about Rich Paul. Yes.

Yes. I was actually talking about, Joanna Robinson from the TV recap. Joanna Robbins. Okay. All right. Night of the Seven Kingdoms is out. I'm into it.

All right. My next loath. Am I loath? Yeah, I'm loaths, right? Yeah, you're loads. Yeah, okay. All right. My next load is the lack of the inside NBA.

So the reason that this drew my ire this week, this week is because Charles Barclay went on Dan Levitard show and said he was bad about it and I was like, wait, what? Famously doesn't want to work. He said, we've only been on ESPN four times in three months.

The first two weeks, we were off all of December except for Christmas and all of January until the 24th. He goes, I looked at the schedule and we're going to be on Saturday. and Wednesday and Saturday again. So we're going to be making up for, I guess, time lost. He's like, but I wish we would have been on.

And I was like, damn, man. He's like, I just don't want to do all those other shows. That's, I didn't mean I didn't want to be on ESPN. I just don't want to be on first take and this and that and ESPN too. And like, I'm not doing all that crap. But I didn't mean don't put me on inside the NBA. And so the idea that those guys, like, have been complaining that they haven't been on more, all of a sudden, then I was like, damn, man, they should have put them on more.

Like, you got this thing and I got it, right? Like, it doesn't really crank up until after football is over. I understand. But I didn't realize they only been on ESPN four times. That's bananas. That's bananas when we've had half the season. Dude, it's like... That's crazy.

I think they're on like 15 to 20 times during the regular season until the playoffs. And I just want to remind Charles that the last time I was watching him on inside the NBA, he was out on his feet at the end of a Christmas marathon, like completely just like comatose. That wasn't fair. On television, not even forming sentences. They definitely needed two crews for that day. They'll probably do it next year because poor Charles. That wasn't fair.

It's just like midnight. I think the last game went to overtime. It was like the Clippers against the wolves or something. I remember the Clippers Nuggets or something. It was a great game, but it went to overtime. Oh, God. And again, like I missed Charles too, but I saw this come. And I said it earlier in the season.

I was like, I'll pat myself in the back. I saw this coming and I saw the Michael Jordan thing come in the second they made these announcements because I know the schedule. This is the Magic Johnson package. When he was on NBA countdown, he was like, yeah, let me know when it's important and I'll be there. You know what I mean? It's so like the big ones are the ABC, the three-letter network, and he says he's going to be there

on Saturday, right? And Saturday, those are those like 1 p.m. or 8 p.m., sort of like, I think the Saturday ones are 8 p.m. Those prime time things and ABC, you know, it's the Warriors without Jimmy Butler against the Nuggets without your kitchen. Peyton Watson

against G. Santos. Did you ever produce any of those, like, studio shows when you were there? Tons of studio shows, but not. No, I, that's where I meant, like, the game was, like, either NFL or NBA or baseball. No, you didn't. No, that's a different, yeah, that's like a different thing. Like, it's called remote production.

Those people are, like, getting trucks and, like, drive to the Monday Night Football. And, you know what I mean? And, like, remote production, sort of studio production are two different things. All right, what are we on? Lodz. I'm an unabashed lamella ball supporter against all of my better judgment and what I know about the game of basketball and how it should be played, especially than ask about it. National Basketball Association.

Regardless, I just love La Mello Ball. He plays with a joy and a sort of just sort of whimsy that I just find so endearing. And like I've said before, when he has the ball, he's like, what's the coolest thing I can do right now? You know what I mean? Like, what's going to trend? You know what I mean? It seems like he's like constantly trying to like trend on social. Yes.

Every time he has the ball. But there's this, he's been coming off the bench sometimes. He came off the bench the first time. He was fantastic. There was a very quiet loss against the Mavericks. I'm sorry, the Cavricks. I'd like to call him the Cavaliers. And Lamello didn't play well.

Oh, you don't think? He might have been 0 for 10 from three and one for 15 from the field. And all of that whimsy and joy that I just explained was completely gone. And his body language, just like the soul was no longer in his body. And as a Lamello supporter, and as someone who has been in trade rumors, I don't think they will move him, but he's been in trade rumors that it's not exactly. a great performance that you want to put on the old, you'll DHS tape.

Oh, yeah. I resent the, the Lavello Ball trade rumors completely because as someone who I'm on the Bill Simmons side of, you know, this team is so fun to watch. They would be infinitely less fun to watch without Lavella ball. Even with con, even with Brandon Miller, even with like,

if you extracted him from that, it's not nearly as fun. It's fun to watch them. And a major portion of why it's fun to watch them is the what's going to happen next. Lamello Ball is at all. Yes, absolutely. BJ Edgecombe and Lamella Ball and Women Yama are kind of like those worth the price of admission because never know what you're going to see type of player.

Yes. And oh, God, that Edgecombe block earlier this week that he, when he landed like Spider-Man, that was insanity. Dude, did they won tonight? If they don't win tonight, this dude, I think it's a tie game or they're up by two. I think they might be up to. He tried to dunk on the entire rockets with like a minute left in regular regulation. It's just like down and distance my guy.

Like that's a great highlight in the first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, totally. Go for it. But don't try to up Anthony Black with a minute left of a tight game in, you know, in a big game and one that you need. But yeah, I love La Mello Ball. That was a tough night for him. He played pretty well tonight, but I think he started tonight. My next love from the week, this Sun's article that I read. I'm going to give a shout out to Ricky O'Donnell from SB Nation.

So he wrote this article called How the Suns pulled off the NBA's most shocking turnaround. And he starts the article by talking about how, like, where he ranked him at the beginning of the season. And it's almost like from the perspective of, I got this so wrong. How did we get this so wrong? Vegas had them at 30.5 wins for the season. And obviously you see their trajectory right now. They are going to blow past the expectations that not only Vegas,

but most every analyst had. But Ricky just, he just took it in his article. He's like, look, this is what I said. before the season. This is what I said about the Durant trade. This is what I said about like, so what all happened here? And he kind of goes line by line of,

how did this happen? And he says, they nailed the Durant trade, right? You got Brooks. And he's like, and Green and Malia, like Malia is having like a red shirt year. Yeah, he's not playing at all. And Green's, he's like,

they got two for the horizon that aren't even contributing yet. But why does it? Is it, how do we say Malawak? Malia. Malia. Malawak. Malawak. Malawak. Malia. Malawak? Maliawak.

You don't know. Just say I don't know. Malia. Malia. Malia. Yeah, I think. Well, that guy. Yep. You look at a cock burner out there.

Oh, no. You know, for the Hornets. Even tonight. Like, he's playing tons of minutes and, like, contributing. Like, what is it about he who should not be named that he can't get in the floor? This is like a red shirt year for him. It started off injured. Now he's going to play in the G league.

And it's like, so he's on the horizon. They nailed the Jordan Ott higher, right? So they nailed that hire of the head coach. And then these fringe roster guys that they signed, right? Like the money ball type thing, right? Where it's like, okay. Good wins. And Gillespie, right?

Who both shoot reasonably from three. But beyond that, they both have. have these like freaky steel rates. So they have these steel rates that come along. And so then he gets kind of, then I was most interested in like kind of the X's and O's of it because it gets to that part. Like, okay, how is this happening?

And the fact that they've become like this outstanding defense this year has this very strange statistical profile where they crush the offensive glass. Right. So ball goes up and then they do this by they've got like two big wings in Brooks and Royce O'Neill. And then they've got Mark Williams. And then you've got those little guards that filter in and they chase down.

So they do great on offensive rebounding, right? They're like sixth, I think, in the NBA, it said. Yet they are amazing as a transition defense. And those two things do not usually. add up. You usually have to sacrifice one or the other, right? If we're going to be the team that crashes the offensive class, we're going to give stuff up going the other way. But instead, they're awesome at both. So in the possession game, and then their steel rate is crazy. And that is, you know, Brooks took Gillespie under his wing. Goodwin's obviously had this skill

that has been honed like Gillespie and and and and and and and goodwin are just like absolute menaces when it comes to this. But the idea that they can create these extra possessions by with the steals, then they create these extra possessions by offensive rebounding. And it's like this consistent effort that they put off. And I keep in mind last year, they were a miserable offensive rebounding team and a miserable, in fact, 27 in transition defense. So these are things that have just been complete 180s from last year. And the article's really good and it's super fascinating because I'm always interested in the almost like the money ball of like, how the hell does this happen?

Because we've talked about the suns a lot this year as as everybody as like, what is going on here. Like they're not, you don't look at it and go like, oh, well, they added him and they added him. Like, it's, it's Colin Glaspie and Jordan Goodwood and Mark Williams, whose trade was rescinded from the Lakers. And it's, it's kind of crazy. Bookers out. Like, they run the opposite through Grayson Allen. And he scores like 30. And you're just like, what? And you would think if the sons were going to be this good this year, if you talk to me in September and said, this is going to be the sons at the end of January, I would have been like, Whoa. Did they make any big roster moves?

No. Okay. Well, Devin Booker is like number one in the MVP voting is the next thing I would say. Right. They'd be like, no, not a chance.

They'd be like pretty much a decent Devin Booker year, but not like some breakout crazy thing. I'd be like, well, then you got me. I don't even know what happened. Like, oh,

they just get the best out of everybody who's in the uniform. And they're organized. They're together. And there's this like unity thing. Their roster doesn't look as good on paper. You look at someone like the clippers of the calves. And you're like, your roster looks so good on paper.

Right. Sure. Garland's been out or whatever, and you know, you don't have max fruits, but like sometimes the team just plays better than the roster on paper and sometimes they don't. And we saw this with Oklahoma City,

right, where it was like a quarter of their points come off of teams turnover. Like when you don't even, like when people say like, oh, well, like what kind of shooting do you have?

Like the shooting matters less when you're getting transition buckets, right? When you're getting layups. If you're not having to play, as much half court offense. And so not only are you, you create, you create yourself easy buckets when you're getting easier buckets when you're getting offensive rebounds and when you're getting steals.

And then they stop the easy bucket the other way. It's very strange to be that awesome at, at offensive rebounding and transition defense. Credit to them. Fold it all. And I'll move on in a second, but one thing I find interesting about this is, is if you look at a team like the Spurs, which is playing, you know, number two in the West,

they're great, above expectations. And you look at a team like the Suns, you know, they're six in the West, time for seven, the 27 and 17, way above expectations. And if you look at the next few years for the Spurs, they're young, they have a nucleus, get to the playoffs, lose,

get to the second round, lose. Talk to me, in 2028 will be like favorites to win the whole thing, right? but the sons, I don't really know what the plan is for the next three years. Well, I will tell you this. They don't have this sort of like young nucleus, but they've built something that free agents will want to play with. Oh, and it's a great city, and they got a great fan base. They really do.

Like, I told you this. I went to Arizona about maybe a six months ago or something like that, and I was riding in an Uber and I started, this guy had like a diamond back hat on. and I saw like Diamondback stuff and I would see some Cardinal stuff but I didn't see nearly as much Sun stuff right and obviously they'd been a disappointment. I asked the guy and I was like, hey man I was like what about the sons?

Like are you friends of all the Arizona teams? And he goes, I love. I lived and died with that Chris Paul, McHall Bridges, DeAndre 8, that finals team. He goes, when they broke that up, I, like, I liked rooting for them. You know, like earlier this year when I was talking to you about the whole, you know,

the Knicks thing and Yadis, and you're like, I just like rooting for my team. Like, you know what I mean? I don't want to. I like my team, right? I remember those days. Good old days. And there's a lot of Phoenix fans. I think that they liked that team.

And then they, you know, they tried to do better. And then that Uber driver turned around and reached over the station and said, it said, sons in four. Sons and four. He's like, it's the Sons and four guy. I just think about that guy, and I think, I bet he's back. Yeah, yeah. I bet he's back.

That's a good point. You know what I mean? I bet that guy's back. I bet he's in the fold. Also, their social media team, the videos with the humping squirrel, oh, you thought I was done? And he's humping like the window and they make fun of the opposing team. They're hilarious.

I love those. I love the humping squirrel videos. I do. They're great. I don't make a note of that. I'm making a note of that. The key to Sun's success. It's not Jordan Goodwin or the defense.

It's not Devin Booker. No. The coaching from Jordan. They, that one goes up there. The humping squirrel. They are, you know what?

I'm going to give you guys, Phoenix, whoever's putting those videos together, you're, you're getting big credit. And I know the song is, you know, not unique to Phoenix.

But you're up there with the pieces Winiganian and a song I haven't heard as much recently. Orlando Magic. Oh, after they beat the Grizzlies in Berlin, they went on the microphone. They were like, do you have the song? And they had the song. I turned it off. Yeah, I know you did. I turn that one off.

I'm a journalist. I turn that one off. I'm a journalist. I didn't watch that. After Anthony Black dunked on the whole team, I said, oh, to hell with this. I'm out. I'm out of here. The only thing on. I'm out of here. I can't, if they call Santiago, I'm a bitch. One more time. I'm out of it.

year. Franz Wagner tomato chested him and then said, bitch. And I was like, oh, no. In Germany, in Germany, no less. I'll make this one quick. I'm trying to keep this a secret. It's kind of like a no-hitter. Like, no, I don't want people to talk about it. But Joel Embed has been pretty good.

Oh, God. Yeah, no, I like it. Oh, wow. You're the only one talking about this. Shut up. No, I'm not trying to take credit for myself, Ferneau. think I am. I'm just not trying to let him know. I don't want him to know that he's playing well. Oh. Because it might ruin it. It's like a no hitter, like a pitcher with a no hitter. Because if he, if people start talking about it too much and he gets to him, next thing you know,

he's going to tear something. Oh, God. His last five games. Now Drew Hanlon's going to clip it. Jesus, Jacoby. 27, 20, 30, 33 and 32. He looks good. And it looks good. And it looks slow. And it's herky jerky, but when he rises up for a mid-range shot, it just goes in. And he can do like a Carlinty Towns long step, slow as shit, desal weird finished thing. Like he just scores.

Now. Okay, here we go. Bill Simmons, the Oracle, as you said, this encyclopedic brain who, like, he, like, a week ago, he listed off like the six greatest Patriots catches. And I was like, what? Like so we use your encyclopedic brain to top six non-jumping basketball players.

He's got to be like elevating like he doesn't even jump anymore. Yokic. No, but he can. Larry Bird. But he can. Yokic will dig deep and jump. No. No.

Embed like really. He doesn't jump during the game. Well, here's the thing. It's like I think that this is a regular season phenomenon. Being awesome and not. In a playoff environment, he just can't move on defense. Like he cannot move his feet at all. And it works on offense, but on defense in a playoff environment against any decent coach,

is going to get absolutely torched and played off the floor. I have never been more shocked in my life than when I was at a game two weeks ago and Joe L.M.B. in Memphis tried to throw it off the backboard and alleyupit to himself and dunk it. I don't think that was an earnest attempt. I don't think that was an earnest attempt. And he fell. He fell doing it.

He was like, yeah, I'm never jumping again. It looks good, man. I like it. What? Don't yuck my young. Don't yuck my young. I like it. All right.

Next one. My next loathe. Tremont Green on Pelle Larson. Are you serious? Okay, I'm not going to go in depth of this, but you know how I've talked about in the past. Tremont Green only picks on overseas guys. Yeah, you're an unbiased objective journalist.

Okay. And his history with the cruises is nothing to do that paints your opinions of him because you're an unbiased objective journalist. I understand. The fact that he talked about Pele Larson being possibly dirty and then went on to say, I'm not a dirty player.

I did a quick research project and typed in on YouTube, Draymond Green's dirtiest place. There is a four-minute montage that has 280,000 views, and that's just one of the videos. And the video begins, with him kicking Stephen Adams in the polls.

Which times? Why? And I'm like, is that a different one? Then he's like strangling people, stomping on people. I mean, it's unbelievable. Like the irony of him talking about frigging, the most harmless European player ever, Pelle Larson, he's like, man, when I saw Demar de Rosa get,

mad at him. He must be doing some sneaky stuff. You know, these euros, they're dirty. It's like, what are you? Are you serious? This is like, I can't believe. I can't believe this. The best thing about this is tonight's game. The first game after the dirty

comments, he had a flagrant one in the first half. And then he got another flagrant. It looked like he punched Dwight Powell in the balls. Upon review, it was a basketball play. He just elbowed him in the chest. and it was rescinded.

But then after he got ejected for his second Fligert 1, but then it was rescinded so he got to go back on the floor, he then fouled out with about two minutes left and a semi-closed to him. But he's not turned. Just the idea of there being like, not like one, there's like multiple compilations. Like everybody, just type it in.

You'll find it, search it. People have taken the time. to cut together all these dirty plays. It's like him grabbing Brandon Clark by the neck and dragging him down, stomping the bottom of the bottom. It's like crazy. The worst of the worst are egregious. They're unbelievable.

Okay, a couple of things we can talk about this forever. Pellet Larson. Let me go the other way. Let me zag on this, Verna. Because, like, I really believe, because he does that pod by himself, that when he says that into a moment, microphone, he really truly believes it in his soul.

Like he's delusional to the point where I kind of admire it. It's just like, you really think that. Like you really think there are, there is no video of you doing anything dirty on a basketball court or that the things you've done on a basketball court were all justified and you're the victim. Or you're just a lunatic. But the lack of self-awareness, like I'm so. insecure and self-deprecating that I could I could never do that I kind of admire his delusion

in a way yeah no he really believes that when he says it like Pelly Larson but belongs in this category called dirty NBA player whereas Draymond Green is high IQ tough defender it's like Charles Manson doing a podcast talking about somebody being sinister yes yes what what are we doing What? He's like, that guy, that guy, that guy, though? That guy? What? But in the next game, to get a flagrant one for throwing somebody to the floor,

and then being accused of punching Dwight Howell in the balls, but upon review, you didn't, and then fouling out, it's like, okay. Pelle Larson, like, Pele Larson's like, really? Yeah, yeah. He knows my name? What? All right. Next love or love.

That'd be. All right. All right. We're on Loth. Yep. This will be quick. Your third. Just everybody stopped coming from a guy, Chris Paul, Chris Rich Paul. Oh.

Like, what are we doing? Austin Reeve says he shouldn't have a podcast. And then everyone's jumping on that. And it's just like, listen, he's allowed to have opinions. He's allowed to have a platform. Like, why is he? And then Jeannie Bus and Baxter Holmes are writing this long thing about, you know, Rich Paul's the enemy and clutch is the worst.

and ruining the Lakers and just leave leave Rich alone, man. Let him do his thing. Leave him alone. Leave him alone. You're a clutch guy now? You didn't tell me. Yeah, I haven't gotten a free sweatshirt yet.

Once I get a sweatshirt, I'm a clutch guy. If we do the next Miss Man show and you're wearing a clutch sweatshirt, I'm going to lose my mind. I'm an XL. I used to be a large. I'm an Excel now. Have him sent you one so you can wear it.

Leave, oh, yeah. You know what? he really needed somebody to say leave him alone. He really needed that. Yeah, leave alone. All right. My last love, con Cinnipple's rookie stats so far.

So ESPN put out their list of like their best rookies thus far. And it was super interesting that they, you know, look, I know you're in the click business, but they gave their reasoning for having Cogniple as one right now. They elevated him ahead of Cooper Flag. I can see it.

Even though Flag is like minus 750 to win rookie of the year. But then they listed like these different, like historical reference points for what Kinnipel is doing. And a couple of them were super interesting. So at one point they said the main narrative is about his three-pointers. He's making three point four a game. The King's Keegan Murray has the rookie record for most made threes, which is 206. They said Kinnipples on pace to hit over 270. He would smash that record in his rookie year.

And meanwhile, he's shooting 44% from three. And then this stat about his offensive efficiency, he has a 65% true shooting mark right now, which is the highest for any rookie with at least 20% usage in 1,200 minutes. And like the other names on there, Sharunus Marshallonus got a shout out. But the other names were like, no, magic, Charles Barkley, James.

worthy. I mean, a bunch of really good names. And he said, just looking at this season, Cinnipple's true shooting percentage is higher than seven of the 10 all-star starters, except for Yokic, Janus, and SGA. He is third amongst all high usage guards behind only SGA and Austin Reeves. And he is 20. And this also isn't a volume thing either. Like, shooting at a decent volume. It's not just like... No, no, no. His usage rate is they, like, they used that as a standard.

But even that, you can still be low volume, high usage rates, but like... Yeah. He's getting them up there. At 20 as a rookie to be as... He is having one of these like all-time efficiency seasons. He has been just outstanding so far. And I think that kind of put it in perspective when I was reading all that. I was like, damn, man.

Like, that is... I wonder... First time through the league? someone text, do you have Tom Haberstrow's number? Get a Habistro on this. When was the last time American Caucasians been one and two in Rookie of the Year? Never. I mean, you can't say never.

I mean, 54. It had to be the 50s. It had to be the 50s. Hold on. Let me go grab the book of basketball. Yeah, yeah, go to grab that. All right, we got to finish up. I'm on loves?

Yep. all right there's a story the National Basketball Association it really gets to sort of like your soul and one of the reasons that you love sports which is sort of the underdog the second opportunity that everyone's counted them out

but they've come back and you know not only does Jonathan Kaminga represent this someone who had 16 DMPs and then has performed well in the last couple games and amidst all the sort of behind the scenes turbulence and triumph but there's another athlete that exemplifies this exact

thing that we all love in terms of storytelling and the triumph of the human spirit what we look for in sports. And that other athlete is Haley Vernon of a 12 year old, 12 year old Memphis rec league team. Is that right? It's cool. It's whatever. Had a DMP, what, four games ago? Yeah, four games.

Was upset about it. Oh, yeah. Much like Jonathan Camingo. I was with, I was with you in New York when it happened. And my phone was slowing up. And then. You texted me one of my favorite texts you've ever texted me, and there's been many. Just your notes function from one of her games.

Let me see if I can find this. We text each other a lot. Unbelievable. Where is it? You find it. Oh, my God. I get so many texts. Anyway, it just said steel, bucket, steel, rebound, steel, rebound, steel, bucket, rebound.

I was just like, damn, Haley. I told. She was on a tear. I told him. I told her, I said, look, every time you get in the game, you've got to give it everything you've got. And I am going to chart every steel rebound, 50-50 ball, and bucket, all right? Oh, I like the 50-50 balls. Those were good.

You've got to win every one of those. That should be a stat. And just the idea that I was going to be marking these down. Wait, hold on. Pull the, hold it. Push brakes. Pump brakes. here public breaks.

We're not celebrating you here. I don't love Chris Vernon, the motivational dad. I love Haley Vernon, the young athlete who's been through turbulence and downs and brought herself to the ups. Not she had some sports dad. Well, saying, I'm going to track everything you do. So you better go out there and also. I was just say, uh, correct that.

I'm out. Career high, career high 18 tonight for the aforementioned. Oh, yeah, probably because you motivated her. her a popsicle on the way over there. It was crumble cookie. Yeah. That's a good. That's a good.

Too big. She was slamming it. It was a horrible pregame meal. But I mean, then she had a career high. So now she's going to think she needs to be. I know. I know.

It's going to be a disaster. I had a cocktail before a really good rec league game. And then if the next week came around, I was like, well, got to. There's only one option here. It's when I play my best.

All right. You don't want me stressed out out there. My last load. All these stories about the Pelicans not trading anybody, except for Jose Alvarado and Eve's Missy. Bro, look, I am, many have called me Mr. Small Market. Oh, that's a good one. And I am the keeper of the flame and defender of all small markets.

teams. I understand fandom in a small market. I understand the plight of a small market. But, bro, you're 10 and 36. Like, what are we doing? Why? You didn't draft any of these guys. You traded your pick to the Hawks. Like, they made it clear. We are. We are not trading Herb Jones. We're not trading Zion's going to turn the corner next year. We're not trading Trey Murphy and we're not trading Zion. Like, why? Why? Why not? Because you're 1036. What is going? Like, what is the point? Like, look, I'm about to see them in person tomorrow night. Like, you know what I'm excited to see? Queen, they say the future is fears and queen.

So why would you hold on to Jones Murphy and Williamson? That's the timeline now. But I just, I just, yeah, it's just bizarre to me. It's just bizarre to me. it's just bizarre that's all it's just bizarre I have one final loath and I'll leave you with this uh... there was a report um as Jake Fisher

one sort of like Mark Stein's people had a report and uh you know on Tuesday one of the things I said that I care about is the future of LeBron James and Stefan Curry and here's the report and I don't love I don't loathe this reporting at all shout to Jake Fisher

that the Warriors are targeting Janus and Tentacupo in a trade and also targeting LeBron James this offseason. Now, I have no idea if this report is accurate or what the sources are or anything. That's not the part that I loathe. I just loathe the fact that I'm being teased with this because I said I care so much about the future

of LeBron James and Steph Curry and I got so sad that they're both in these sort of like dead-end teams and next year is so just a foggy, messy, murky, who knows, question mark looming ahead of them. But the idea that we can have yonelon, and Steph and and you're not going to be all three

it'd be two in the Bay Area well LeBron in the offseason signs for a bit minimum I don't know it just don't tease me with this

that's what I load about it it's because I know it's never going to happen but it just sounds so amazing the real last dance and then they win the championship and retire

come on honestly look hey look Mike Dunley you, maybe you can pull it off. Mike Dunleavy, who really made a name for himself with the most unbelievable press conference this week of saying, when you demand a trade, there has to be demand. Okay.

Counterpoint. Unbelievable. If you are in negotiations to trade a player, you should not publicly state that there is no demand for that player. I'm just, I don't do this. I don't work in the front office. I don't read books about how to negotiate. but just my gut tells me that if I was trying to trade someone,

I would not devalue them publicly before I did some. I think they all just hate Jonathan Kamenka. I hate him so much. Why does Draymond beat his ass? Everybody loves Draymond so much. Yeah. Love him. Love him.

But Jonathan Kaminga, bad guy. Yeah, you beat up Jordan Poole, but you haven't beat up this guy? I don't know. I don't know anything about Jonathan Kaminga's personality, but everyone said he's been such a pro through this. and working super hard during practice. I'm like,

a guy. What do you do? I miss a couple defensive assignments. It's got to do it for this episode of the best best. Thank you to our producer, Jesse Lopez, as always. Cicote me. Must be 21 or over and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino

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