The Mismatch - Best NBA Night Ever? Plus: Mavs Fire Nico Harrison and Six Observations on the NBA Season So Far.

Episode Date: November 11, 2025

Verno and Jacoby are back as they break down Monday's slate of NBA games and discuss what was one of the most exciting nights of NBA basketball in a long time. They also discuss the Mavs' inevitable decision to fire GM Nico Harrison. Next, the guys share six observations from the NBA season after the first games of the season. (00:00) Welcome to The Mismatch! (02:50) Desmond Bane’s buzzer-beater lifts the Magic past the Blazers (04:50) Pistons win again in OT after Cade Cunningham’s career night (10:25) The Heat survive the Cavs in OT after a wild back-and-forth game (17:22) The Spurs rally past the Bulls behind Victor Wembanyama's 18 points in the fourth quarter (28:54) Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks edge past Cooper Flagg and the Mavs (42:25) Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle lead the Wolves past the Jazz (44:04) The Mavs announce Nico Harrison’s firing (47:24) Grayson Allen hits a Suns franchise record of 10 3-pointers in the Suns' win over the Pelicans (50:31) The Clippers fall to the Hawks for their fifth straight loss(53:22) Observation no. 1: Is a Ja Morant trade best for all parties involved? (01:08:36) Observation no. 2: Expect several new All-Stars (01:13:23) Observation no. 3: The Rockets are the best watch in the NBA (01:16:37) Observation no. 4: Do early-season victories matter? (01:23:32) Observation no. 5: The Amazon studio show might be on to something (01:28:30) Observation no. 6: The East is more open than we thought 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 and Stefan Anderson Social: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to The Misfatch. I'm Chris Vernon, and joining me to does every week from The Ringer.com is Dave Jacoby. Jukobi. I've been thinking about this before we recorded. Outside of the playoffs, I cannot think of another night

in which I enjoyed the full collection of games the way I did. There's been singular games that were much better than that experience of watching what we watched last night. But there was about a 70 to 80-minute window that just absolutely.

absolutely floored me. Like that is, that was the best regular season NBA experience from the collection, from the full slate that I can ever remember in my whole entire life, in my whole entire life. It was absolutely unbelievable. It did remind me of what you opined, which is the witching hour. It was the witching hour, which is what they say on NFL Red Zone every week. God forbid anybody had to watch that dreadful Monday night football game because the NBA put on the best action ever. I mean, you couldn't have a worst football game, no entertainment level whatsoever.

And meanwhile, in the NBA, literally every game was going down to the last shot, some of which were in overtime. I was paying zero attention to Suns Pelicans. I was just like, you know what, there's so much going on. Like, you can't watch all the games, right? I've got one TV in my phone.

I mean, I got two screens. And then at the end of it all, I'm looking through the other games. Like, Grayson Allen did what? 10-3s. Had 42 points hit 10-3s. And it is like the 17th most impactful thing that happened last night. Well, it is crazy because Luca had a great game and it was a double-digit. It was a double-digit win for the Lakers.

Yeah. You're listening to the mismatch, presented by Banduel. Fanduel now displays your bets directly on your phone's lock screen. And with the latest updates to the live events and player pages, it's never been easier to be part of the game. And Missouri, get excited because Fandul's coming your way December 1st. Download the Fandual Sportsbook app now and play your game. Remember, you must be 21 and over and present in select states

or 18 and over and present in D.C., Kentucky, or Wyoming. Gambling problem, call 1,800 gambler, or visit RG-Help.com. call 888-78-89-7777 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut. And then you look at the rest of it and what is going on. And let's just start with magic trailblazers with which ended Desmond Bain, who we have chronicled on this show, having a really rough go fitting in with the magic at the beginning of the season. What a moment for him. And what a moment for that team.

I mean, this game goes down to the very end of the game. And Bain has one of those game winners where you don't want to be prisoner of the moment, but that's going to be one of the best game winners of the entire NBA season. We're only 10 games into the season. It wasn't the best game winner of last night. It wasn't the best game winner of last night. And I think what's important about the Bain thing is he has sucked in Orlando. Like he's been bad, bad.

And it's been weird. And the vibes have been so bad. And up until that point, he was 0 for 5 from 3. Yep. Like, they lose that game. And he's 0 for 6 from 3. Like, there's finger pointing all over the place. And Paolo, he missed two huge free throws down the stretch.

Like, there were some real performances you could point to if they lose that game. And then Bain hits that miracle. And then they hit the theme song. Hit it, Farno. Orlando Magic. Orlando Magic. Orlando Magic. Or Lenda Magic.

You know what was crazy? I started getting a bunch of texts last night after the game. Because they mentioned that was his first game winner ever. I was like, really? I know. And I watched every game of his career. And I was like, he never hit a game winner. I'd probably buzzer-beater.

He probably hit game winners, but just not buzzer-beaters. You know what I mean? Because buzzer-beaters are more rare. But that was a, it was such a good game. And that really set the tone. Because I believe that was the first one. That was like the very first one that set the tone. Yes.

That was great. Obviously, is a great win for the Orlando Magic. Then we've got to, I mean, we're just having to flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip. And Cade Cunningham with his 46 points statlight.

I mean, I think they said he had taken 41 field goals in the first, in regulation. Like by the time they, got to overtime. He had taken 41 field goals. He ended up taking 45 shots. He was 14 of 45, but also to go along with his 14 for 45, he ends up with 46 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. And yet, prior to this game and the wizard throwing it away at the end and the comeback by the pistons, you're texting me because I'm on the other game and you're texting me going, C.J. McCollum is

killing the Pistons. C.J. McCollum, he had 16 points in the first quarter. Like, McCollum was like vintage, unstoppable. He looked smooth. He looked at control. He's getting to his spot. He's getting whatever he wanted. And I think that, I think Cade needed to do this because I think it's easy to point to him to go, no one's done this since Kobe and no one's done this since like 1977 or whatever. But I just want to list who was missing for the Pistons, Tobias, Levert, Beef Stew, Jaden Ivy,

and a Sir Thompson. So it's almost like. Cade woke up that morning, and when he put his shoes on, he was like, this is, I'm going to have to shoot 45 times for us to win this game, especially with the way McCollum was playing. It was so much fun to watch. It was so much fun to watch. And obviously that Pistons team, it's got that duo with him and Duren.

And you've talked about how much you love Duren over the course of the past couple of weeks. And he has been sensational for them. But you're right, they were like super short-handed in that game. And he just took over the game. The Cam Whitmore dunk on the. baseline, though. I don't want that to get lost in this because that was one of the great dunks of the season. That was there's something, he does things with Panash and style, which I really appreciate. And he is bouncy as all hell. And I think a couple of things about the camp,

the Kade performance was not only did Whitmore do that, but he had like a chase down block attempt on Kade that took Kate out of the air and he landed on his tailbone. And then Whitmore stands over him. They review it. So Kade's hurt. Cade gets helped off to the bench, ends up in the locker room, but they review it because Widmore stood over Cade. And J.B. gets a tech. And then Whitmore after the review gets a tech,

but the review allows Cade to come back out from the locker room and get back in the game. Because if he doesn't take the free throws, he can't come back in the game. And I think that it's easy to sort of like watch the rest of the game. But let's not forget that Cade before overtime, before all of that was in the locker room and being helped off the floor, which like it's,

I think that it's easy to point to all the field goal misses, but like this was a singular sort of superstar performance from Cade that was amazing. And I'm sorry, I just want to apologize to Dennis Jenkins and the Dennis Jenkins family. I am not familiar with your game. I did not know much about you, Mr. Jenkins. But, you know, if you didn't see it, They ran a play for Robinson, but Dern like falls on the ground.

It gets pushed. He's looking for like a foul. And the play is just blown up. And Jenkins is in the corner. And they give him the ball. And he hits a crazy three to take it to overtime. But if you watch the replay, if you listen to this podcast, it's going to, this shot is going to find your algorithm at some point.

Yes. Just look at how high he gets off the ground. He's like three feet off the ground when he releases that ball. You got Jenkins. And then the other one was when Javante Green. had that dunk. I was like, what? Well, it was, he missed a three in the corner, and then Duren gets the rebound because he's Duren. And it wasn't the best defense because they completely forgot about him.

And then Dern made a nice pass to him. But what these, like that game alone, if that was the only, if that was one of the nine games, the rest of them were stinkers, that was fantastic. Well, and we would go with that, we'd be remissed. We did not mention that right now, outside of the. Oklahoma City Thunder who have only been, they've lost one game, which was, I mean, they were up by 22, I think, against Portland when Dedi Abdiya and them came back. So that's a one game. Second of a back to back, missing a bunch of people too, that they lost. Denver has lost two games thus far. And then the only other one, and in the Eastern Conference, the only team that has two losses through these first 10 or 11 games is the Detroit Pistons. And yet you watch them and it feels a lot like, Cade's going to have to take over in this fourth quarter. And they've been down, guys. And to start off this season, nine and two, this has been a fantastic start, a dream start for Detroit so far.

And I was just thinking, I was watching the game and watching the crowd. Yeah, the pisses one again. The pisses one again. Pisses one again. I was thinking about like two years ago just what that building felt like, like when they were so bad and they all wanted Tom Gore's out. and it was empty and quiet and the energy in there was just crazy. I do want to mention this, though.

One of my favorite players, B-Ball-Paul, steps to the line with a chance is to finish it all and just misses true throws back to back. Tough. It's just like B-B-B-Ball, come on. That's tough. That's tough. But the Pissons win again. The Pissons win again.

The Pissons win again. All right, we got the heat and the calves. Okay. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I'm watching this game. We're watching it come down to the end. Donovan Mitchell hits the crazy three from the corner to tie this game. I just want to describe because Merrill missed a three.

And then Donovan chases it down. It's like he's got, this is not like they ran him up a play for him and he had to catch and shoot three. This was like a broken play. Merrill missed a three. Donovan chases it down. turns around and hits one of the craziest shots. Okay. So this happened. At this point, I'm like, oh, wow.

Like, we just saw this Bain game winner. Now we've got a Donovan Mitchell one. This is crazy. This game's going into overtime. And then I am in the bedroom. My wife calls me, and I run into the kitchen. She's like, hey, can you come here for a second? So I run into the- You have plenty of time because there's like seven minutes until overtime.

It's overtime. It's overtime. So I was like, yeah. So I run in there and start talking to my phone starts going off. It's you. You're like, oh my God or whoa or whatever. I'm like, hold on. What happened?

I ran into the kitchen. And then you're like, I'm not going to tell you run back to the TV. And of course, at that point I run back to the TV. I'm like, I didn't even know they were going to, there was time to get a playoff. Like I just, I thought that took it into overtime. I didn't even realize it wasn't a. buzzer-beater. And so there's 0.4 seconds left on the clock.

And by the time I go in, I see the Wiggins dunk off the inbound, just a disastrous defensive possession for the Cleveland Cavaliers. And I've seen this happen before. I have witnessed this in person, right? Like the front of the rim lob where guys get caught up. And sure enough, Spolster draws it up. they've got the lob to Andrew Wiggins ballgame. And what a way to finish that.

And film session is going to be a bitch for the Sam Merrill, for the switching, for everything else that took place that led to this. I felt like that was more of a great play than bad defense. You know what I mean? Like I watched it a few times and I was like, ooh, this was all intentional. There was a decoy after a decoy,

dice and double dice, triple dice. That was one that they've had in the back pocket. And, you know, I, you know, I know, I know he looks, I know you have something personal against him. But man, Hakez, like in the absence of hero, like, Hockes has all that promise he showed in his rookie year sort of like deflated last season. And he started this season. It wasn't just last night. Like he's been, I think he had like 13 rebounds or something last night. Like he's sort of like a go-to score when they need a bucket.

You know, they're playing this like sort of free flow, no plays, no picks thing. and he's absolutely thriving this season. Well, look, and we talked about this because obviously I watched a portion of this offense for a long time last year, if you have the ability to score on people, right? Like just because you are freed up, right? This can become one-on-one basketball where I'm getting my opportunity or certainly you're getting it emotion while somebody's scrambling to try to come and get you. And we talked about how them out of bio's numbers were fantastic at the beginning of the season.

And I said, it is very reminiscent to me of what I watched with Jaron Jackson Jr. Last year, who had a chance at all NBA, made the All-Star team the whole deal. And some guys can really, really benefit from that. Certainly with this free-flowing, without a bunch of screens being set, without getting the extra attention that you would typically get in a average NBA offense. and so Hockes is one of those guys that has certainly thrive from what they have been able to do now and the different way they are plaguing.

And I think it's important to note that this isn't like isoing the way like James Harden Rockets isos or Janus Isos. It's not like ball stoppy isos. This is like pass, pass, pass, pass, go. You know what I mean? Like get the defense moving and go. And like you're not sort of like between the legs, between the legs, like lamello balling it out there.

It's orchestrated isos. orchestrated chaos, it's flow and movement and pace. And it's really fun to watch. And also he is routinely matched up with a defender than he is better than, right? Especially in the case where he comes off the bench. And it's like, this guy is, he's not drawing Lou Dort. That's not who you're assigning to Jaime. Right.

That's not who you're assigning to Jaime Hock as generally in these situations. And so he can torch guys that. come off the bench and he could certainly torch guys where if he's going to face your second or third best perimeter defender, a lot of these teams. Who's closing out? Who's closing out? A lot of these teams are not bringing, you know, stalwarts. There's only one thunder where it's like they got seven perimeter defenders that can

stay in front of anyone. Yeah. Ask John Moran. We'll talk about that later. But the thing about their sort of style and a lot has been made of their pace and what they're doing and, you know, that whole thing is it has an effect on the other team too. The Cavs took 65 threes. Merrill was two, Mitchell, Merrill was four for 16 and Mitchell was three for 16 and he was two for 15 before the miracle shot that we thought was going to

take it to overtime. Like it has an effect on fatiguing the other team and forcing them to play faster, forcing them to speed up and getting them out of their game because of the way they play. And that's what they did to the Cavs last night. Well, and also the calves have always, they've been good, but they really took the league by storm last year. And with taking the league by storm, they lost some of their depth. That's one thing. But the other thing is you've got a full year of teams with the ability to game plan for the Cavs. It's very hard to be consistently unbelievable year over year is a very, very, very difficult thing to do.

And Mitchell's averaging, what, 30 points a game or something like that already? to start the season? Like, he has been fantastic, but it's just hard where you only get to, you only get to take the league by storm once. And it's worth noting, like, early season, it's like, well, when Garland gets back, oh, they're missing Garland, they're missing Garland. And Garland was available on this one, started the game. And then something happened, I guess he re-agravated the toe.

I haven't seen any updates or anything. But, like, he left the game. That's concerning because you never want the guy who just came back from injury to sort of, like, play a couple games and get injured. Same thing happened with Jalen Green and Phoenix. Spurs Bulls was down to the wire and this was everybody reacting to Wembe. Wembe, of course, gets the isolation

on Vucci, Maine, top of the key, crossover three. Because why not? Because he's 7.5. Why not? And then, poor Fuji. I mean, I got it. People are like, why is it, you know, Wembe versus Vucci, what on one?

in that situation, I'm like, you got, like, anybody got a ladder? Like, who do you want to? Who do you want to? I'm not sure what the best option is at this point, but for me, I think that that play is sort of like, you know, we all sort of follow the game on social media and that's going to be the play that everybody sees. He also, like, waved away a pick, which is one of my favorite JZ lines. But it was previously to that, he had a block. and then previously to the block he had another bucket.

So it's like Wimby bucket, Wimby block, Wimby between, between, dagger over Vucci. Like that is the Wembe experience down the stretch. Josh Giddy obviously was unavailable for the Chicago Bulls.

Because Diage literally broke his ankles. Okay. There's nothing worse than being out with an ankle injury. And then... This is never happened. him before. And then the answer being, what happened? And then you can go find the video.

He's like, oh, my God. He's got to play. He's got to play. Use all the tape trainer. I have to play. I cannot miss a game because T. Andre Hunter broke my ankle. The other thing is, it looks so unathletic. The way he fell, he has been like all-star caliber great all season long. And then that happens. And the way he fell, like, looked like the way a normal human being would fall, not like a professional athlete would fall. And it wasn't like the most devastating crossover in the world. Like, it wasn't like Iverson that makes you stumble or whatever. And I agree with you. Like, you've got to just tape it up and get out there because you can't, even if you just go out

for five minutes. So I was thinking about this. would you rather have somebody like straddle you and dunk on you and like stand over you or that happened would you rather have your ankles broken or get dunked on well there's various levels of ankles broken and no no like that yeah that's the thing is there this one there was no push

and there was no step on the foot or anything like that because i think a lot of people get all up in arms it's like well he stepped on his foot like i want to see you move your feet with someone standing on it. But that, I honestly watched this a million times with these exact sort of thoughts. I think Giddy hurt his ankle mid-play. And that's why he fell so awkwardly.

Like, I think he fell because of injury, not necessarily because of the move that Hunter put on. And I hate to be Mr. Negative. Once again, it wasn't a 360 layup. But like,

I just can't. It was so weird. He was mid-defensive slide and then just went down like a, like someone put explosives in the bottom of a tower. Then do it. it. You've got to go on like House of Highlights and explained to everybody. His ankle was injured.

This one's too. This one's too. This one's too complicated. His ankle was injured beforehand. Mid-play. Yeah. Mid-play. The crossover didn't do it. I would say this. I would definitely rather get dunked on in Stratton and pointed it and peed on

than that. I'll tell you why. Because there are so many poster dunks in the history of the NBA that they become forgettable over time. But there are only so many true body to the ground. I crossed you over and now you're on the ground. And now you're limping off to the sideline.

And now you're not playing the next game. That has never happened before. So I'd rather be one of the many people that got dunk dunk contesting a dunk than one of the one people that have literally got their ankles broken in an NBA game. So back in the day, there was a video that I used to watch. It was called ankle breakers, right? The NBA would like put this out, like NBA film. The same way that they would do on, you know, on ESPN, like, jacked up for the, you know, the big hits or whatever.

Yeah. Slams and James and James. There was a, there was a video called ankle breakers. And it was like, you know, Tim Hardaway and it was Alan Iverson and it was all these different guys, whatever, right? But no one actually hurt their ankle. You know what I mean? Like, it's a, it's a colloquialism. Like, it's like, oh, oh, he broke his ankles.

Like, but they don't actually hurt their ankles. You don't mean? They just fall or they stumble or whatever. Like to actually hurt your ankle, it's just the hard. It's also the context of him being a triple double machine, having the career of his life and sort of like this like, you know, giddy 2.0. I am now an offensive engine of one of the most surprising teams in the whole entire league.

Like you put all that into context too. And now he's limping to the sideline and missing a key game. Yeah, that's a deal. I don't know if there's anybody that's actually hurt their ankle. You know, it's the equivalent of almost like if they did like the big hits or jacked up, whatever. And then they showed a guy that's like in a coma on the field. Like he wouldn't be like, oh, man, we can't even show that.

It's like so bad, right? Like, he actually hurt himself. Broke his ankle. Yes. No way. It was wild. Before we move on, I want to shout out. someone who's getting no love that every time I watch a Bulls game, I'm like, oh, yeah.

And he's contributing is Jalen Smith. Oh, yeah. Phoenix Suns, Jalen Smith, Pacers, Jaylen Smith, like never really found a home. And he's got the goggles on it. Every time I watch a Bulls game, I'm like, oh, there he is. Yeah, he's good. He's solid. Last night he had 11 and 12.

Like, he's not blowing it up. You know what he's not making the leaf Jalen Smith, but he was sort of a forgotten player that the Sons didn't want and the Pacers didn't want. And he's found a home in Chicago. I love to see it. I do wonder how many guys actually require, I know this is going to sound funny when I say it. There's no way he's the only player that requires goggles. I think he's the only player willing to wear the goggles, right?

And I say this because my own son wears glasses. And we did the sports specs and then we did like the, and he won't wear him. He won't wear him. He doesn't like him. He doesn't like, like, would they help him for sure? But now he'll either wear like he would wear contacts or he'll wear like his regular glasses. But he did not like the goggles at all. And this was like as a child and which kids don't care.

You don't mean? He just didn't like the way they were. And when I see Jalen Smith, I'm like, you know what, bro, somebody else probably does need goggles and there's probably other guys. Because they're too cool to wear them, yeah. Well, like there was a year when I was covering. Rudy Gay. And we came back from a year. He had shot like whatever, low 40s from the field or whatever.

And then we get into Media Day, whatever. And he's like, I went to the eye doctor finally. And this was the problem. And I got Lacey. And we're like, oh, it's on now. He couldn't see. That's why he didn't make shots. That's why he took 21 foot.

He didn't even know where he was on the court. That's why he was taking 21 foot. contested twos, right? Sure enough, it didn't have an impact. Yeah, Sam the James Winston. I think it's a James Winston story. You had Lansing? Yeah, right. We really thought the LASIC was going to like, oh, now he's going to be Carmela. No, it didn't have, it wasn't the eyes.

Turns out. But I do wonder if how many guys actually would require them or would be better off wearing them. And I respect Jalen Smith for being like the only guy that wears goggles. For doing it. Yep. But this, I think it's great to see Deerr and Fox back out there. It helps Wembe a lot. No question.

And long in the review mirror is the Sun's game and the Lakers game where the NBA have figured out Victor Wim and Yama and all you have to do is send a, send a small to push him out in the perimeter and help with the big. It's like, oh, well, guess what? Good luck with that. Yeah. And especially in the absence of Dylan Harper, right? Because you did have that.

That was the other thing. You had that span that kind of intersected. No Dylan Harper and now teams are defending Wendy differently. No Fox, no Harper. Right. And he looks around and it's like, okay, like because you can dedicate as many guys as you want to if Wimbuniyama, if you're not scared of anybody else. Yeah.

And now you have somebody else to be scared now. Right? And sure enough, Fox will get better and better. He'll get better and better. The mismatch is brought to you by FanDuel. Get in on NBA action at any time with live betting on FanDuel. From the first whistle until the final buzzer, Fandual is your home for live betting.

One of my favorite things to do is find a team that I think is going to win the game, and they're down in the third quarter. And I say to myself, you know what? I don't think the Mavs are going to beat the bucks. I don't think the Wizards are going to beat the Pistons. And then I will bet for that favorite that is losing and I will get favorable odds. That's how I use live betting. And I have my eye on a couple upcoming games in the National Basketball Association.

Listen, if you listen to this podcast, I know you love the NBA. And at 9.30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12th, 2025, we get Luca and the Lakers against SGA and the Thunder. It is in OKC. And I am sure the Thunder are going to be heavy favorites. They're at home. At that point, they've probably still only got one loss. And I'm going to take the Lakers plus the points.

I don't know what the spread is now, but I expect that one to be close. That is going to be a national game. that is going to be the game the world is watching. And that is what I will be playing on my Fandual app because Fandul is giving customers $150 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. So just visit Fandual.com slash mismatch to sign up today. Play your game with Fandual, official sports betting partner of the NBA.

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Gambling problem. Call 1-800 gambler or visit RG-HALP.com. Call 1-88-88-78-9-77777-7 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut. would not have expected that we would get a Bucks Mavericks thriller, but sure enough, we did. The Mavericks blow a late 13-point lead. Janus goes off for the fourth quarter. It's the best game of Cooper Flagg's young career,

as he has 26, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and a steel, including a would-be game winner at the end of the game before Ryan Rollins made a play on the other end. that would have been like the highlight everywhere is him going to the basket. He should have gotten an and won against Janus, by the way. So that sequence was like, this is the Cooper Flag rookie experience. He gets the rebound. Like that's the part of people who don't forget is he got the rebound, dribbled it up himself,

gets past his man, Janus comes over to help. He jumps in the air, goes chest to chest with Janus, shoulder to chest, bounces off of him, creates a little space, finishes over. Yonis is not doing like the Roy Hibbert verticality thing. Yonis is fouling him. Fowling him. And he finishes and then runs back on defense and then here's what happens

on defense is he goes to double Yannis. Yonis passes to Rollins. And then Cooper doubles Rollins realizes he shouldn't be doubling Rollins, turns his back on Rollins. And runs to the opposite corner. Yeah, it runs. Yeah, it's like,

so if you're defending Rollins and then Cooper comes over to double, you're taking half of Rollins, and then Cooper just vacates the area and turns his back on the whole play. And then Rolls is like, oh, I'll just drive to the basket and score uncontested. It was just such a blown assignment after such a big play from Cooper Flagg, which is sort of like, listens what you're going to get with rookies. Well, and as you're watching the game, the fire Nico chance are just out of control. I mean, it even happened at the end of the game when PJ Washington gets fouled on a. three by Janus and he's got a chance to go to the line and tie the game.

You can hear the fire Nico chance. He hits the first, so now there's still a chance. Yes. And then he misses the second. And then they start. They start the fire. The game's not over. No.

They're about to, they're about to miss on purpose and Cooper Flagg's going to try to jump over everyone and try to get the put back, which he damn near did. Almost. It would be unbelievable. But Patrick Dumont is sitting there on the front row. and I read Tim McMahon's article this morning, and because he had reported yesterday,

it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when they roll Nico Harrison. Because the only way that this was going to be okay is if Anthony Davis is a all-NBA performer and things and the Mavericks are good, right? They're good and they're entertaining. Daniel Russell works out. Daniel Russell's a point guard that you thought he was going to be,

and Cooper Flagg is having a great. cookie season and Lively and Gafford and Anthony Davis are you just can't score on them. Right. And instead, this has been absolutely a catastrophic start. And in the article this morning, I want to read you a passage. First of all, God bless you. With all the prep we have to do for this, because all the games last night, you had time to read McMahon's article.

God bless you. Dumont spent several minutes early in the second half, engaging in a candid conversation with an 18-year-old fan who was wearing a gold Luca jersey and apologized for flipping off Dumont during the October 22nd opener. I was like, no way. 18 years old? No way. There's a picture of them.

The 18-year-old apologized? 18-year-olds don't apologize. That's not, no, no. If you're in the teens, you do not apologize. That's policy. Look, anybody can go find this on the internet. there is a picture of Patrick Dumont, the owner of the Mavs,

sitting next to a kid that is wearing a gold 77 Luca Lakers jersey. And McMahon, great reporting by him, report that the kid, they're having a candid conversation, they're talking to each other, and the kid apologized to DeMont for flipping him off.

I just did a literal spit thing. Unbelievable. Mr. DeMont. I'm sorry. I flipped you off. I flipped you off about a month ago. And I just want to say, I'm sorry.

That was, I was outside of my character, Mr. DeMont. I apologize. But will you please fire Nico now? Amazing. Mark Steiner's reporting that Nico Harrison might get fired today. Why wouldn't he?

Why wouldn't he? Why wouldn't he? Okay. Now, I will say, I have to go back. The only reason is if I have to go back on my master plan is to go get LeBron and team him up with his buddies, Kyrie and Anthony Davis. No chance, bro. No chance.

Oh, by the way, when I was scrolling through, look, you said you're impressed that I had time to read. I had time to go through everything this morning. I was up early. I found one. I found a guy on Instagram who did a whole video that was saying, it's not Luke. fault. It's Dallas's fault that Luca was fat and had a picture of Anthony Davis last night. And he was saying, look at Anthony Davis when he was in L.A. And look at Luca when he's in L.A. It's not Luca. That's not the reason. Yeah. He got down there and that's the reason that he wasn't

in great shape. Because look at Anthony Davis. Anthony Davis has never been portly. And now look at these pictures of Anthony Davis. I was trying to think I'll be damn I mean they do have good food there they do have yeah steaks steaks is sort of like the regional dish there post malone went through a little heavy phase himself

yeah I can say it tracks it tracks yeah Anthony Davis Luca donchish post malone that's the tried the trident of superstar weight fluctuation in Dallas I mean can you I mean Nico Harrison I mean

again this starts off cash up I saw them Friday night in person. And I'm, I felt like legit, terrible for Mavs fans at the game I was at. I mean, the Grizzlies were up by 30 in the third quarter,

and the Grizzlies have had their own massive sets of problems. But they were up 30 on that team, and I was like, I mean, I don't want to, I don't even want to bring it up because I, I am very empathetic to fans, but the idea that you are watching an all-time grade every night, and you have all this gear and all these jerseys and all these bobbleheads and all these cards and

everything and you're in the NBA finals and then we're not that far. We're like a year and a couple months removed. It feels like only a matter of time until Luca wins an MVP and the Mazz Win the Championship. I don't know if it's going to happen in 26, 27, 28, 29, but it's only a matter of time. And now you remember, I came on this podcast and when we first started together and after he had done his press conference like after the C, after the trade and after he finally talked.

And I came to you and I said, bro, he thinks it's about him. He thinks it's about him. That's our fault. And let me tell you why it's our fault as the media. Because he's been hearing for the past year about how brilliant he is. Because they went to the finals. And why do they go to the finals?

Because he brought in PJ Washington and Derek Jones and made all these great moves. He put the perfect pieces around Luca. Nico is playing 4K chess, and he knows exactly what Nico needs. And he orchestrated this finals run, not Luca Donchich. So that's how he felt, because that's what we said. I remember vividly screaming into a microphone at that point, this idea that you can't win at the highest level with him.

And I remember screaming into the microphone, you can't get to the highest level without him. don't you understand that you're you're there because you have him what's wrong with you it's you know he's the only reason that you're playing in the NBA finals you dumb ass yeah it is I mean one thing that's very clear and this is not groundbreaking analysis is there's two batches of teams in the NBA batches the teams that have a guy and the teams that don't have a guy you watch the games last night it's like what ball's going to yon ball's going to wemby

ball's going to james hardin even and then you look at the teams like the hawks who won but they're sort of like ah you know no trey young you know piecing it together like the blazers like I guess it's Denny I'd be able to like they're trying to find a guy you know and what thing I do want to say about this

game which is you know we're going to talk about the Luca trade and firing Nico Nico's probably going to be fired by the time you hear this podcast and who could have predicted that the only reason that he wouldn't be fired by the time you hear this podcast is because Dumont was like, let's get him for cause. Is, is, is, just trading Luca legal cause?

He's calling a lawyer being like, is doing something this dumb legal cause? Can I not pay him the rest of his contract because this is some sort of negligence? He's got to wear it too because he was convinced to do it. I mean, you know, that's something like that does not happen without owner approval. Oh, of course. The idea that, I mean, that's crazy. It's absolutely crazy. But the, uh, I want to give a shot to Kuzman.

Kuzma. Kuzma played pretty well last night. Not bad. He played pretty, you know, he hasn't, he hasn't flourished in, in Milwaukee this far.

But there's, there's one play in the left wing when he has the ball, and Yannis is in the post. Janus has his right hand up, like give me the ball. And Kuzma waved him out. Waved him out of the post.

Janus trots to the other side, leaving Kuzma alone with Cooper flag in front of him. And he's like, I'm going to cook this rookie. Step back three, barely hit rim. It was like Kuzma.

Coos. On the other the player on their team, I don't think Rollins is a flash in the pan. I think he's like going to be a real one. I think Ryan Rowland's going to be a real player in this league. He's sort of exactly what they needed. Yep.

He's exactly what they needed. And he has one thing I want to look at. And I might be reading way too much into this. I'm known to do it. And I've seen it like three or four times this year where Janus makes a huge play. play and he sort of celebrates by himself. I don't know each other yet.

It's like a chest thumping thing walking away, on my own, finding a camera. It's not like, let's all get together and, you know what I mean? Like high fives and chest bumps with teammates. And I might be reading way too much into it.

When you watch Bucks games and Janus makes a play, it's almost like he tries to find a camera to celebrate to, then find a teammate to celebrate with. By the time, By the time everybody gets this podcast today, probably the Nika. You got to imagine if, look, nobody covers the mass better than Stein and McMahon. They've both been covering that team forever. And I mean, if that's out there, if that's out there already, that means that people with power are telling them, hey, man, this is about to happen.

If you are NICO and you're coming to the office today and you take out your key card at the front door, shake. him up, shake him up, shake him up, shake him. He's just closing his eyes, a hole in the key card near the scanner. It's like, beep, he's like, all right, I'm in, I'm in. I mean, how? And the other thing that I've seen over the course of the past couple of days,

look, we're already having the feud rule for this guy's career, even though it hasn't happened yet, but when he had like a 1% chance of winning the lottery, and then he won the lottery, got Cooper flag, and he's like, people are now starting to see the vision. Now you understand. Oh, my God.

Oh my God. You're unbelievable, bro. You're unbelievable. It's also, here's one thing I want to say about the match situation before we move on, which this is a take I haven't heard yet. How do you feel right now if you're Kyrie Irving? I mean, you're probably. You're like, probably great.

He's like, you know what? I'm getting fat now too. Lucas fat, 80s fat, post Malone's fat. I'm getting high and I'm getting fat. What do I do? Come back and turn this thing around. I'm not judging it, by the way. Don't don't think the wrong way.

No. Saying you're out with injury anyway. He's like streaming. He's like talking to talking back and forth of 15 year old. It's on the line. What up, chat? You know. What up,

Chad? Good for him. Some tells me the rush to come back. It might be in third gear instead of fifth gear right now. Maybe so. A couple others worth mentioning, Anthony Edwards, another big game and the Timberwolves beat the jazz.

Grayson Allen, as you mentioned, at a franchise record. I have one note on the Timberwolves. All right, let me hear. Something that's going on in the NBA is starting to bother me. Okay.

I think Julius Randall might be good. Oh, come on. I'm starting to get concerned about Julius Randall being good. He was awesome last year. He frustrated me so much when he was on the Knicks. Even when he was good on the Knicks,

he was so frustrating. And then he stopped smoking weed, and now he's the player I always wanted him to be. He's getting assist. What do you have last night? eight assists. Eight rebounds and seven assists. Also miscast as being the guy.

You know what I'm saying? Like he was the guy that was the guy. Like you need somebody better than Julius Randall. I think that's what's fair. Some guys are not meant to be the franchise best player, the guy that you got to count on every single night, the guy that can handle all the extra attention, both on the court and off the court.

And you're best suited to be the second or third best. player on your team. And when you are, you can thrive. And I think that's the answer to what's happened with Randall. And I've watched a lot of Randall. And to be positive about him is he's strong, very strong. And he hit, he's very comfortable making uncomfortable shots. Like, he's comfortable with a hand in his face. He's comfortable fading away a little bit. He's comfortable shooting with his right hand going to his left. Like he makes weird, tough shots. Here you go. breaking news Beepo Boebe Beep

Dallas Mavericks and owner Patrick Dumont are expected to fire general manager Nico Harrison at a 10 a.m. Central press conference Shab Sharani and Tim McMahon. There it is. This is going to be a great

like documentary or 30 for 30. Unbelievable. It's going to be great. It's going to be, it's a great story. I mean, like what happened? Like what did Luca do? Did Luca take a shit on his desk one day or something?

Like, what happened behind the scenes that forced him to trade Luca Donchich for Christy and AD? Truly, what a catastrophe. There must be, like, I always felt like, Lou, Nico woke up in the morning. He was like, I can't look at his face anymore. I cannot work with him. I cannot be in the same city as him. Like, he has disrespected me time and time again. I can't take it.

He does not respect my authority. I'm going to show him who's boss. That's the only thing that makes sense is this is a personal, emotional, decision because it makes no business sense. And let's also not forget how good he was at putting the team around, Luca. We've got to give the crowd who relentlessly the entire season

chants fire Nico and says it online. A lot of credit. There's no question Mavs, fans, and they're discontent with this, played a part. But we need to find that 18-year-old. Yeah. Guys sit next to me, They said that's the first game he's been to since the opener, Dumont, last night.

That means the decision is already made. That means the decision has already been made. Well, no, they're up 13 and he's probably like, you know, maybe this is going to be okay. The Stein and McMahon reports come out. They can't say he will be fired. Right. But what they can't say is what they said, which is it looks like. And maybe there's been rumbling.

So something tells me that him showing up and firing Nico the next day is not a coincidence. not a coincidence at all. I mean, you're forever the guy that traded Luca Dodgers. That's who you are. That really is. Unbelievable. Just unbelievable. And now within six months, you're gone.

But you know what my favorite part is? Or whatever, I guess nine months. My favorite part is like, when he's at the bar with his best friend after three beers, he's like, this is all just because Kyrie and AD got hurt. I was putting together a championship team. I have a champion. Everyone's a hero in their own movie. In the movie directed by Nico about Nico, he is the hero.

And there were all these things that were not his responsibility. It's not his fault that Kyrie Irving got injured. It's not his fault that AD got injured. It's Kyrie, Cooper, Washington, AD, Gafford, and or lively. that is a championship defensive gigantic roster that would win in his head. He's like,

that is, I put together a championship roster. They did not perform. They were not available. This is not my fault. I was done wrong. And he's an idiot. Fair.

Just real quick, because we've got to get to our observations. The sons beat the pelicans by a million. And the sons have got good vibes. And they've gotten, like, they've gotten much, much better. They've been playing much better.

The vibes, after the game with Grace and Alex post game interview. We're really good. And he hit 10 franchise record, 10 3-pointers. And obviously the Pelicans are miserable. But the sons have gotten on track to where they are certainly not nearly as bad as they were at the beginning of this season. It just feels like without the noise, if you look at any NBA roster, the Jazz, the Wizards, the, you know, like any terrible team except for the Nets. I'm leaving the nets out of this.

And you look at their starting five, and you say, if we get the best out of these guys, we can compete with anybody. And it just feels like the sons are getting the best out of the guys that they have, including Allen. But while you were reading McMahon,

shout to Ban McMahon, I didn't watch the Suns Pelicans game because everything else was going on. So I went to NBA.com. You click on the box score. I was like, I'm going to watch every three that Grace and Allen shot. He went 10 for 15, right?

I was like, I'm going to watch them all to see what this is like. He hit seven threes and is still wide open. They're in a zone. They're in a zone. And like, he's just wide open. These are not contested threes. This isn't like James Harden hitting 10 threes where it's like stepbacks and fadeaways and like tough ones. He is just hitting butt naked three after butt naked three. After he makes six threes, he's open for the seventh and then open for the eighth. Like it was, it was terrible, terrible defense. And I think that Nico getting fired is just we know who's going to be next.

we know who's going to be next Willie Willie Willie it might be a problem and like Nico Willie had some flashes well they're starting to figure this out

during his tenure and you're like oh they're starting to figure this out in New Orleans let me just say this about Grayson Allen too maybe they didn't get the memo you know who Grace and Allen works with

I don't oh I guarantee you love him the same way I love him Grayson works with a lethal shooter. Oh, yeah. From Instagram. Oh, yeah.

Now he understands. And so now the Pelicans understand. He understands it. You know, he throws like a jelly bean into like a water bottle from week or something. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Lethal shooter. He was yelling at me on Instagram yesterday. We're having a 303 tournament all ages.

We said all ages. I was like, oh, I don't know, maybe there's like an over 45 section that I can get in. lead the shooter. He had Grayson Allen shooting in a basket filled with spikes over the course of the season. It doesn't matter who you work with when the other team doesn't cover you.

Like seriously. Like these shots, I watched all 15 of these shots. They were open. Imagine hitting eight threes and still being open from three. Imagine hitting seven threes and Willie Green being like, let's go to a two three zone. Like what?

What? Last one that we needed to mention, the Hawks got a good win at the Clipper. the clippers have been dismal to start off this season, much, much, much, much, much worse than I could have ever expected as James Hardin's transition logo three came up short. So I stayed up to this game because I knew it was going to be good. I was like, there's just a vibe in the air that everything's coming down to the last minute.

So I stayed up for this one. Say goodnight to the wife, went into the living room. I'm having some remote control issues, but that's my own thing. And I'm watching this game. I can't change the channel, so watching this game. And James Hardin, like, they were down against the Hawks, and they came back. James Hardin gets the ball. They get a bucket, and I think it is Washington gets either a rebound or a block,

kicks it out to Hardin. Hardin's dribbling up in transition. And the dome, which has been quiet, is going crazy. Like, the energy in the building is so hype that I just feel like James Hardin got caught up in like the collective energy because he pulled up in transition for a contested logo three with 12 seconds left

on the clock. And the play by play guy is like James Harden for and just go silent. And you can tell that like he just, I don't know what happened. Maybe he thought it was like 1.2 on the clock or something because there's no need to take that shot.

I just think he thought this is the best shot I'm going to get. It was wild. And it was wild. How big of a disaster is the Beal thing, Ben? I mean, it's just, you know, you were wondering, why are they so? It's like, it's untenable to play them together. You just can't do it. This is a team that was built on defense.

And it's like, when your point of attack defense is James Hardin and Brad Beal out there, it is, you got no chance on your thing not collapsing. Here's a, here's another thing. I'm going to say out loud that you don't hear a lot. Remember all that celebrating of Zubach that we were doing last year? Mm-hmm. What? Like, where is the hardened Zubach pick and roll wizardry? Where is the defensive rim protector rebounder?

Where is the guy from last year? Like, did he catch like the Christaps flew? Like, I'm watching last night. He just seems like, seems like he's like an older rec league guy, kind of like going through the motions. I don't know what happened to Zubach. I wouldn't be surprised if we hear that he's hurt or something because he just doesn't seem like the same guy from last year at all, at all.

all of these teams have played 10 or 11 games thus far. Therefore, we are going to do three observations each on the first 10 or 11 games, but everybody's played 10 or 11 so far. All right. You want me a start or you want to? I'm starting this time because everyone wants to hear this. All right. Everybody wants to hear this.

What do they want to hear? You're the Memphis guy. Okay. And, you know, we're into the pod already. There's been trade rumors. The Podfather's putting together. 17 different J-M-M-R-R-R-R-R-R-T trades. And then there's reports that what Memphis wants back in a J-M-A-M-R-R-R-R-T trade.

Right. And then you're watching John Morant against the Thunder, and he can't do anything, anything. And he's now 36% from the field, 14.8% from three. Five games, he's gone 0 for something from three. he's taken 27 field goals at the rim. He said the joy is gone. And when you watch the game, he is playing joyless basketball. And I at first thought when something goes wrong or something goes bad, why are we so quick to sort of say, we have to trade him?

But now I'm starting to think that a John Morant trade would be best for John Morant and best for Memphis. And as the Memphis guy, I would like to hear your response. I would not. I think that I would tell you that though this is the culture of the NBA and there are going to be memes everywhere, there's going to be fake trades, and there's going to be whatever, one of the things that you have to consider in a situation like this is, and this is different than, say, like, the Jimmy Butler thing. John Moran doesn't want to go anywhere. John Moran wants to be a Memphis Grizzly. He tells you that all the time. He, like, all right, there are some guys that go on Instagram, and again, I could have a whole rant about the way the world is now with everybody being passive, aggressive, and people communicating online.

But that is the way kids communicate now, or even 20-somethings, right? So when, when you see the players, right, and now everybody pays attention to everything, when you see the players and they, like, want. to be somewhere else or they don't want to see it through or they don't want like they want to be elsewhere what do they do they go and they change their stupid bio and they unfollow all their teammates and you know the deal right he consistently posts grizzly bears and his Memphis tattoo and go chris and what like so he very clearly does not want to be elsewhere right So the first thing needs to be, the player will see it through. Now, to your point, would it be better off?

I think this is what's going to happen. Okay? You ask for my opinion. Here's what are you? So first 10 games this season. They're what are they? Four and seven? Four and seven.

They're not one in seven, right? They're four and seven. And I think what they'll do is see it through to get their guys back. They'll, Jack Eady just traveled with them. Oh, come on. I mean, they'll get Zach. Zach Gidey and Ty Jerome are going to turn this team into a juggernaut. All right.

We just talked about how Julius Randall is miscast to be the best player, right? Gets to the playoffs and what did he shoot? 20%. Usually you get to the playoffs and then they hone in on your best player, right? That's what happened. And then guys fail. To be fair, you're talking about Randall on the Knicks. Randall on the Wicks is pretty good in the playoffs.

And then you, and then two years ago, you said, where was Anthony Edwards in the Western finals, right? because what happens is they sell out on your best player and now life becomes very difficult on them. I got it. Nobody watches the Grizzlies. I don't want you to. There's no reason to right now, right? Catavius Caldwell Pope shoots 35% from the field, from the field.

Jalen Wells shoots 35% from the field. John Morant shoots 36% from the field. And their charting center is Jock Landau. Okay, they have three guys starting that wouldn't be playing for anybody else. You get Edy back, you get Jerome back, you put Cedric Coward in the starting lineup, and all of a sudden things start to lighten up. I would tell you that John Moran has not lost all of his talent. What's happened with John Moran is that him and Jared Jackson, Jr., play one on three

every time they touch the ball. Because no one gives a shit about anybody else on the game. the team. Jalen Wells is not ever scoring 25 on you. Neither is Cadavis Caldwell Pope. Neither is Jack Landau. Why on earth would I defend these guys? So you can tell me that the guy just lost everything and he doesn't do this and he doesn't do that. But we know there is a track record here where, again, let's say he's way worse than he's been, right? Which he's a career. He's way worse than he's been. Understood. He's a career 47% field goal percentage guy, right? He is also a career

31% three-point shooter, which is not good enough, but that's what it is. Right. Okay? He's 31% and 15% as you said. So do you think that that is what he is now? Or do you think there's going to be a regression to the mean? And I would just tell you, you're always 24 hours away from things being okay. He high-fived the coach

five times on Friday night and is hugging him and this is during the Dallas game. And then everything goes to hell when they're playing against the thunder, right? When they have played bad teams, they've beaten them. And when they've played good teams,

they've gotten beaten, right? And that's what's happened thus far this season. But I don't think, I think what you have to worry, the first step of this is what does the player want? and if he wants to see it through

until you can get what was meant to be your rotation back, then, and it still is terrible, then you have decisions to make. But how about you let them get, they're missing four guys that were supposed to be in their top eight guys. Oh, yeah, Verno.

And they're getting one of them back this upcoming week. Let me just put you on the therapist couch for a second, okay? because it's pretty consistent with you in the Grizzlies. It's we were the two seed last year and then this happened. Look it, we've been the two seed, you know, three out of four years and then this happened. Or we were in the playoffs and this person got hurt. We're just waiting for E to come back and Ty Jerome to come back.

It seems like success is always a little bit on the horizon or a little bit in behind you. No, no, no. But like right now, it looks bad. player. They, they, they traded. I think you do for,

you have to get, for draft picks and you rebuild around Cowards. Yeah, one decent young player in draft picks. They just hired Nico Harrison. And then you do it. And then you do it with John Morin.

Have they been a, have they been a smart good organization or not? Of course they have. Of course they have. Yes. Right. Yes. There's all kinds of buffoons.

Like Nico Harrison, who's losing his job this morning. And you can say, oh, well, I have a sample size of six years where this guy was outstanding, but I have a sample size of 11 games where this guy has not been good anymore. Let's move him. And he's playing with the two worst starting wings in the entire NBA. So would you rather go by six or seven years or would you rather go by 11 games? That's all I'm saying.

Let it play out. Let them play 30, 40 games. If it still is what it is, then you have to have a discussion about what is the best future, what is the best for the future of the franchise. But making 11 games when you're 4 and 7 trading your franchise player, that is assonine. Asinine. Over 11 games, when you've won 60% of your games with this guy in the starting lineup over the course of seven years, that's crazy. The fight with the coach, gets in the fight with the coach, right?

Males in the second half of a Lakers game has not performed up to his standards, not just because the defense is keyed on. The defense is key on Wemby. Imagine that. The defense is key on Luca. The defense is key on superstars. That's what they do. And yes, yes, he's missing some supporting cast.

I understand that. But not to the point where I'm going to shoot 14% from three and 36% from the field and take 27 shots at the rim. when that used to be my entire thing, was finishing at the rim. Remember when he led the league in restricted area of finishes? That was like three years ago. He has been terrible. Thank you.

And I think it's a bad thing. I think he will be better somewhere else. And I think Memphis will be better without him. And I'm not like a quick reaction, quick to trade him guy, but it just feels like you're staying together for the kids. Okay. So he stinks with the Grizzlies, but he would be good elsewhere, right? Probably.

Yeah, probably. Okay. Right. That's ridiculous. It's ridiculous. There's... Either you think the guy is what he is now, or you think that he is wildly underperform thus far.

Of course he has. Of course he has. I think those can both be right. So you're watching every second of every Grizzies game. I'm going to sit here and pretend that I have. And you're saying it's because defense is key on him. That's why he can't score. No.

I didn't... He's... been playing terribly. Go watch the 18 shots. He was three for 18 against the thunder, right? You go watch those shots. A lot of those shots over the course of his career go in. They're not bad shots and they're not shots that he doesn't make. Okay. So unless you think he is incapable now of making those shots and I don't, then you say, this is a guy that's playing terrible to start the season. Well, listen, one thing I do hate is that like can we win a championship flow chart? The answer is no, then completely blow it up and get draft picks and rookies.

Like, I don't, I think there is a midground there, but I think it's fair to say at full strength, this Memphis team is not a championship contender, right? It's fair to say that. Yes. At full strength, everyone's healthy, fine. You're not going to win a championship. That's fine. But there's nothing wrong with being a good basketball team.

At full strength, which, which, when is that going to happen, Bruno? There have been intense growing pains with a new coach who's running like a Fiba-style system. and Jaron Jackson Jr. has not been himself. Nobody has been better because of it. Nobody. Nobody. And the growing pains have been terrible.

You can understand. I don't live in Memphis. I don't watch every second of Grizzies games. I'm not around talking to Grizzies fans all the time. But you can understand from the outside looking in why this feels so funny and why this feels dysfunctional. You can understand that. Objectively. Yeah, because the press conference, right?

Because the press conference. Yeah. Yes, because he was, because he got mega frustrated at the beginning of the season and acted horribly, right, about it. But what you don't see is the next press conferences. Have you seen one since? No. You think he's only been talking after one game?

You think he only has talked that time and he hasn't talked since? So why do you think you haven't seen him? Why do you think? Because it doesn't feed into what? everybody wants to talk about and mean. Because it doesn't feed it because if a guy is saying, hey, I'm going to see this through, things are going to be okay. I acted poorly and blah, blah, you know what I'm saying?

I need to be a better leader. I need to be a better player. I need to do all of this. And it will happen. There's no headlines for that. Nobody cares about that, right? You think that's the only time he talked was two weeks ago? he talks every nine.

You watch him out on the court. He's been much more communicative with his coach and the players. Well, be communicative with the ball in the basket. Do that. I think we all agree. But be communicative with the ball in the basket because here's where he shoots from the field

in his last, what, five games. Three for 14, suspended, five for 16, six per 19, seven for 20, three for 18. So they should, they should trade them. Because of five games. James. I mean, he had a double, double at halftime against the MAVs. Half time. He had a double double against the MAVs at half time.

10 points, 10, 10, 10s, 10 overs. No, 12 assists. Whatever. I'm rooting for the Grizzlies to turn around. They play the Knicks today. Yeah, it's not the place to turn around. Yeah, the Knicks haven't lost at home. They've got lost at home. And they got beat by 1,000 there last year. And they got guys, we were there, but they got guys to throw at him, too. I mean, I would just tell anybody, watch their team. Find me two worse wings. I have no idea why Coward doesn't start.

It's insane. It's insane. And this whole system of, hey, these are the growing pains. It's a process, but it's going to be better on the other end. Well, people now, I mean, I look, I walk into the convenience store, and there's three guys standing in front of me with lottery tickets, and I'm frustrated. So I have no patience for anything. And so when the coach keeps telling me on this is going to work out in the end,

and this is all part of the process, okay. But like you don't have an NBA track record to prove that you're right about this. Full disclosure, I don't really feel like they should trade him now, but I just wanted to see what you would say. But I will say this. This is worth saying for real. If it continues this way around the deadline, he's going to be traded. If it's even when guys come back,

it's still like this and he's not performing. He's sad. Body language is bad. A couple more bad press conferences. You could see a world in which this goes that way over time. And I think it is fair to say after 11 games without a full squad, let's not overreact. That's fair to say. But there is a roadmap where this happens.

I am telling you that so far this is the worst he's ever been in his career by a wide margin. And I would say some of it is supporting cast and new system. and some of it is him just playing terribly. Do you remember opening night? He had 35 on opening night against the Pelicans. He had two game winners in the first five games of the season. We'll see. Keep it on it.

What's your first observation? Sorry, I made you sad. Yeah, I knew you were going to do that. I knew you were going to do that. The people want it. We're going to have a massive amount of new All-Stars. Massive amount. Yeah.

I haven't really started thinking about that. Tell me about it. The reason, I'm saying, saying this because I went and pulled up last year's all-star team. Think about this. Jalen Brown was on it and there's a question mark next to that, whether or not they'll be good enough for him to make an all-star team, even though his stats are great. I think he'll probably be. That's fine. That's fine. Okay.

James Hardin, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Damien Lillard, Jason Tatum, Anthony Davis, Darius Garland, Tyler Hero, Jaron Jackson, Jr., Jalen Williams. those are all for sure's who knows on Siakum and Kat but all those guys I named every one of those guys was an all-star last year that will not be this year.

Wait, go to the last three again? I thought I heard one that would be. Hardin Kyrie LeBron, Lillard Tatum Davis, Garland Hero Jaron, Jalen Williams, and then we've got question marks next to Seacom and Tats. There's a chance that Jaron Jackson turns out. Shut up. I mean, it is going to be chock full of new ones. And then I went and looked and I was like, you know what?

What was that story we did a while back about the format? About the stupid format. So it's going to be like, what, eight international guys guaranteed, right? I've got this. Listen to what it looks like after 10 games. Oh, wait, I see what you're doing. Oh, I love this. SGA, Luca, Schengun, Yokin, Yokin.

Janice, Wembe, Denny Obdia, Lori Marketing it. If I had to make the eight today, there might be more than eight for the world team.

That would be the world team if I made it today. Are there any other international players? Are they going to get shorted players because there are too many good international players? I mean, you've got Siakum,

you've got... And Yeager, gentlemen. Yeah. But no, like, I mean, good grief. Luca SGA, Yokicianus Wembe? You just have like, you literally have like 12 new guys on the All-Star team. So I mean, oh, oh, and by the way, I didn't mention Giddy.

I got little Giddy in there. That's a ninth spot. So Obdia or marketing goes out. That is the problem with structuring it this way is you might have sort of like an unfair balance. So you have Obdia, Giddy, marketing. And then look, Devin Booker. Austin Reeves, Tyrese, Maxi, these are guys in the first 10 games.

But, I mean, we're going to have a whole slew of new All-Stars this year. It looks like Maxie's making it, dude. No, no, no. I'm saying we're going to have a massive amount of new All-Stars this year. This All-Star game, in one year's time, there's going to be like literally 12 new guys on the All-Star team that weren't last year. I have not considered this year, but it makes a lot of sense. They're all out.

All those guys are out. And there's going to be, but I think the replacements are going to be generally first time all stars. Some. Most crazy year. Crazy year. Well, we've got to make room for Grayson Allen, obviously. Right. You play Belkins every night.

Do yourself the favor. Just click on the 153s of the Grayson shot last night. All open. Unbelievable. That is an astute observation, Mr. Vernon. And you know, I don't like complimenting you. I haven't considered this. this. Because you think you're like, oh, you're like, oh, like Lillard and Tatum and

Halliburton. There's going to be some spots for some guys to make it there. Listen to these names. Hardin, Kyrie LeBron, Lillard Tatum Davis, Garland Hero Jackson Jr., Jalen Williams, all of those. I wouldn't count Hardin out yet. Oh, come on. All-Star? I wouldn't count them out yet. It's a long way until the All-Star. It's a long. You know what? They started out like super slow. should trade everybody. It's a good point. No.

Who are they going to trade? Who's interested in Bradley Beal? Trade Chris Paul? Aspiration. As a sponsor. Next one. If we trade Kauai, which parts of his contract do we have to take on? I don't know.

I haven't read the new CBA. Is it the circumventing contracts? We need to take those on, too? How's it work? I'm not familiar. All right. Next one. just easy. I always say that like, you know, your actions speak louder than your words.

And I'm watching the games. And when I'm on league pass and I see the list of games, I'm watching, if a Rockets game is on, I'm watching it. The Rockets are the best show in town. Me, for me personally, you can't disagree with me. The Rockets are the best watching the NBA for me personally. You got Schengun out there. You know that that, uh, that cartoon of like the elephants with Tutu's on dancing, like ballerinas. That's what Shangoon reminds me of. He is, just so awkward but graceful, strong, but like swift. He's just like spinning around, making post plays, making passes. He's like dribbling behind his back. First of all, that Janus play, like, I want to talk about that for a second. Just give me,

give me the soapbox for 15 seconds. That is not Sangun cooking Janus. That is Janus for the second possession, because I watched that game, was awesome. awesome, just blatantly trying to go for steals when he doesn't have to. Like that was, there was a one possession game at that point. And it's over 24 seconds on the clock. So if they get a stop, they can, they can get the tie. And Janus is out there swiping for steals at half court. Like, what are you doing?

Swiping for steals. Watch it again. That was not Sangoon cooking Janus. That was Janus being way too aggressive on defense. Nice, Zach. Nice zag. He's cooked him No, he did not cook him

I saw it on House of Highline Yeah I'm oh I'll put a comment on that one I'll bring a shingoon is a problem Post moves Lob passes like if you would have told me That San Goon's gonna throw like three lobs Like what

And then Amin Thompson does two things a night Where you just like what was that What was that Tari Isan is shooting 51% from three and you know what I don't know if you saw it in that Bucks game Reed Shepard played defense

oh yeah Reed Shepard played defense moving his feet in the Spurs game Reed Shepard did not play defense in that Bucks game he was getting steals like EMA Udoca

has a look on his face at all times like a UFC fighter making a cagewalk. Like his intense... Have you ever seen IMA Udoka smile? Ever. Ever.

Like, Eme Udoka and Joe Mazzula should just be like, should be like a celebrity boxing match. Like that old MTV, that old MTV show. Like... Oh, I bet their coaches' meetings were a blast.

Just who can be more aggressive. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm surprised they haven't fought before in Boston. They probably did. They probably did. But I just, I just... And I haven't even mentioned Kevin Durant, who's just, you know, just being Kevin Durant. But like, I absolutely love the Rockets games.

And I'm not predicting them to win a championship, but I'm saying if there, if the list of all NBA teams are playing, I'm clicking on the Rockets game first. Next observation for the first 10 or 11 games. The first 10 or 11 games of the season matter a lot or maybe they don't. And you've got to decide because I went and did a snapshot of last year. Okay. Oh, I love this. Yeah. So I congratulate you.

You've read McMahon's thing. You do a little research for this one. So about the same time last year, okay? It was actually like maybe like I think November 12th was the snapshot, but everybody at that point had played at least 10. Some of the teams had played 12. The Cavs were 12 and 0. The Celtics were 9 and 3. And nobody else was above 500 in the,

Eastern Conference. Seriously? Yes. After how many years? To start to see, 10 games. The Knicks were 5 and 5. The Brooklyn Nets were 5 and 6 to start the season. Last year?

Yes. Yes. The Pacers were 5 and 5. The Pistons were 5 and 7. The Bucks were 3 and 8 to start last season. The Magic, the Magic were 6. and six. The heat were four and six. The hawks were five and seven. And so like outside of the Celtics and the calves were far and away better than everybody. And then everybody else was about 500. And then we know the way the rest of it played out. In the Western Conference, the thunder started out nine and two. The warriors started out nine and two. The sons started nine and two. it was confirmation bias from us too, right?

Oh, Brad Beal, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker. They started out 9 and 2. 9 and 2 to start the year. Nirkage. Yeah. Meanwhile, the rocket started out 7 and 4. The Grizzly started out 7 and 4. The Lakers started out 6 and 4.

The Clippers started out 6 and 5. T. Wolf 6 and 5. And so the only teams that got out to like super fast starts, like so I guess you could say the indicator was obviously it was not an indicator of the Indiana Pacers who started out five and five. But the Thunders. But it does feel like this. They started out nine and two. There's a lot of teams that are sort of like five and five, six and five, six and six. Like a lot of teams around 500 it feels like.

But I'm telling you one of the teams that started out super hot last year, two of the teams that started out in the first, if we just took a snapshot last year when we're doing this, were the Warriors and the. sons, right? Those are two of the teams last year that started out like absolute gangbusters to start the season. And so the point is, it's either means something or like in the Thunder case, it meant something. In the Cab's case, it meant something. But I'm just saying, when you take a snapshot of the first 10 or 11 games, you've got to, you've got to determine because if we went to last year, we're doing this podcast talking about the 9 and 2 Warriors

and the 9 and 2 Phoenix Suns. Western Conference Finals matchup. Western Conference Finals preview? Right. Those were the teams that were on par with the thunder at this point last year. Huh. Okay.

The natural question. Don't overreact to 10 games is the point. The natural fall of question is what teams with a hot start this year are you looking at perhaps be I don't think any of them are the sons

but the obvious choice is Detroit oh no no yes it is oh no Bulls no Detroit's 9 and 2 Chicago's 6 and 4 that's not that's not extreme

that's not extreme of all the teams it's Detroit well I've got another one for you and maybe Miami started off really hot. Can I interest you in the Los Angeles Lakers? Oh, you think, oh, LeBron ruins it?

Donchich injury. LeBron comes back, but kind of like garland and green reaggravates the sciatica. You know, Aiton, the honeymoon's over with Aiton. You could say the Lakers had a nightmare season, but after 12 games, they were eight and four. I mean, I could see that happening, couldn't you? Do you think it is more likely that we would take a snapshot of the first 10 games and go, oh, that didn't last. That was more like, maybe not like Phoenix, but more like the Warriors, right? Which is fall back to the pack.

Yeah, play in, make the playoffs. All right, here you go. Place your bet. Is that more likely with L.A. or more likely with San Antonio? Miami Heat. No. I'm sorry. Is it more likely with L.A.?

More likely with L.A. Oh, I don't agree. More likely with L.A. More likely with L.A. No way. No way. You think it's more likely with L.A. That's San Antonio.

First of all, I like what I've seen from both of those teams. So I'm not going to sit here and be like... How can you not? They're... Yeah, I mean, too. Yeah, so, like, you're basically being in their corner to, like, say something negative about two teams, which I'm actually really enjoying watching the way they play basketball. But it all because I would say that if you lose Luca or Wimby,

that's an easy way to say, like, you know, you're obviously going to go way down. But I just see San Antonio being so good, right, and faltering a little bit without Fox and without Harper and getting those guys back. Lakers just have more reinforcements, though. When you've got Austin Reeves average 30 points a game, like you're able to withstand more. I feel like when these availability was a bit fluky last year. You know what I mean? and I feel like Luca's constantly hurt but rarely injured,

but it's always dealing with something. Like Luca is always dealing with something. And LeBron James is 57 years old. Like, again, I like both of these teams. I like the way they're playing. But if I had to pick between them, I would pick the spurs. But if I had to pick any team out of this snapshot to fall, it would be the Miami Heat.

And I love the heat. And I pick them to be successful this year. Well, I hate to say it about the Pistons, but I mean, it's unsustainable. I mean, I don't think they'll be first, but... I mean, they've started out. This has been a dream start. Well, I might have put them at third and east.

I might have. I might have put them at third and east preseason. Last one. Last one. Make this quick. I don't like to talk about sports media too much, but I'm a sports media observer for quarter century plus. Worked behind the scenes in front of the cameras.

The Amazon studio show might be on to something. they're just a little baby newborn right now just a little baby newborn they still got that uh pink and blue striped swaddle blanket on you know the same one that every baby ends up in the hospital but i don't know dirk and nash come in with like obvious chemistry haslam is like we all he's known as the sort of like locker room glue guy veteran o g when he speaks people listen taylor rooks is just gets along with everybody. And Blake Griffin is legitimately funny. Like, he's legit funny.

And he's not a fun. I'm more of a try hard funny. Like, I try to be funny. Like, Blake Griffin is innately funny and dry funny. And they all were in the league recently enough to have played against guys. You know what I mean?

Like when Blake told the story about how Evan Mowgli sort of like took him out was his like, maybe you should retire moment. It's on the back of like an Evan Mowley performance. And they, they are very, very, very, very early in their development. He also, he also, that, that Friday night game against the Lakers, he torched Moran, rightfully so. Rightfully so. Oh, in that one? Yeah.

Yeah. Griffin, like, I mean, like, I mean, the video, uh, that was going around and like, not in a, not in like a over the top, you know, but like this ain't it kind of thing. Like, what is this? right this is a talented player like what is going i can he called it out on their national broadcast and like put the little arrows around him like yeah i like it look at this effort look at this this is what's going on wrong and i was like you know what man like this is exactly what you want from a studio show where it's not like over the top criticism it's like here i'm going to show you this tape and tell you why i'm saying this ain't it well it's also like some viral moments are like

shack trips. You know what I mean? Which is like, it's cool, but I like viral moments that are analysis, whether it's celebration or criticism, of what just happened on the basketball court. Sorry,

call me crazy. You know what I mean? But like I think, and again, like I'm not going to say, I'm not going to anoint them as the next thing or whatever. I'm going to say, from what I've seen,

I really like what they have going on. And as a production guy, I do like the LED court. Like, it's kind of cool. Let's be honest. I do like the, two-floor studio.

I do like the little lounging that they go to. Like, I don't know. I like their presentation. And no shots at the NBC crew. I think they're great, too. I do wonder if they're a bit nervous today about the Dirk thing. There is going to be a sentiment amongst Babs fans that say only one man can save us, the guy with the statue outside.

Oh, no. Oh, I think he meant they'd be nervous today because the mismatch episode was so good that was going to take over the NBA discourse. That's what I thought you were going to say. No, losing dirt. They're not going to hire Dirk as the GM. What are he talking about? That's work.

Dirk works like two nights a week with his friends making jokes and watching basketball. Do you think he wants that job at probably less money? Come on. Look, all I'm telling you, I'm not telling you that they're going to hire him. What I am saying is if I am the owner of the Mavs and I think his basketball, Paul Acumen is great. And I need to get the fans back on my side because

this has been a bona fide catastrophe. It's Sean Stevenson. It is certainly something I would consider. You can't explain. You can't understand the fan like the distrust your fan base has right now is so extreme.

Here's what you do. Here's what's more realistic is you say, Dirk, I just need you to stand by behind him at whoever I hire at the press conference. Do you know what I just thought about? You can say what you want about Dave Portnoy. I think he's funny or whatever and he's obviously built a very successful business. I like that he has these bottles of champagne with his enemy's names on him and he pops him afterwards.

It's a great bit. It's a great bit. Yeah. And I feel like right now Mark Cuban is somewhere being like, oh, huh. Look at this. No. You wouldn't let me hang out. when we were getting the Western Conference trophy.

But look at this. Maybe it's not so bad when I'm at the helm. Maybe it's not so bad. Maybe I'm not the worst. He's celebrating a little bit. Whether he wants to admit it, he wants success with the Mavericks, obviously, but there's a little part of him that's celebrating today. A little bit.

A little bit. Last one for me, another observation. The East might be much more wide open than we would have thought. I think we kind of established at the beginning of the year. We're like, all right, here's four that we're sure of. right? Like, here's these teams that we're sure of. I'll make this point even better. I thought it was, at the beginning of the season, going to the season, it was, well, you know, the Easter conference finals and the one, two,

were going to be the Cavs and the Knicks. Then there's a huge gap for everybody else, but it doesn't feel that way anymore, but continue. Yeah, because look, the Hornets are three and seven, and they've only beaten three bad teams, you know, so they may be in this mix. You got Brooklyn, Indiana, who's lost like their whole team, Topin, Maatherin, Nemhard, McConnell. It's just been the absolute season

from hell, injury-wise, for them, right? But Brooklyn, Indiana, and Washington, right? Those are one-win teams right now. You look above that. And if you want to throw Charlotte in there,

but Charlotte can keep in there. Let's throw Charlotte in there. Okay, that's fine. Then that's 11 for 10. And I just think we thought there was going to be a much bigger separation amongst those 11, and who would be?

be the play-in teams much more so than it feels after 10 games. That's all I'll say, right? Because some of the teams that we did not expect, whether it was the heat, whether it was the sixers, whether, you know, down the line, the bulls, the bulls, the bucks in there too. The bulls, the bucks. Like I'm saying all these question mark teams, it's like, all right, like there's not a big separation between whoever you think is the best team in the Eastern conference and whoever you think is the. the 10th team. I'm sorry, in the Easter conference.

Whoever you think, I'm not sure that the separation is going to be nearly as great as it was. And maybe this, we should have gotten a glimpse into this when Indiana was the team that came out of it last year. Right. But I mean, we're talking one through 10 right now. I'm not so, I don't know how many games is going to separate all of this. It's, I would, I don't need to do. this, but I would probably take either of the rafters of the Celtics will probably fall out of that. But this is really a function of some teams playing better than you expected them to and some

teams not performing like you would expect them to. Right. The Orlando Magic, we all kind of penciled in like three or four. You know what I mean? And that's been a disaster. And the Atlanta Hawks, all right, they lost young. But like, if you look at their roster and how they've improved their roster, we all had them around three, four, five.

And we all rode off the Sixers. Right. Why? because they won't have Georgian and B. But guess what? They don't need George and Bede. They've got H.combe and Maxie. You know what I mean?

And now they got Grime and McCain's back. And Jacoby, we were both just watching the heat and the calves last night, right? And it went down to the wire. Did you think there was a massive difference between those to gay, right? Not at all. Those look like. Not at all. And it's like, oh, the calves are missing Garland.

The heat are literally missing their best player. Also, the calves were beating the shit out of everyone last year. Yes. And they start 17 and 0 or something, 15 and 0. Like, yes. And I would say in the bucks, like, they waved, they waved and stretched Dane Lillard. And, you know, and like that just seemed like such a bad, strategic financial decision. Right.

But man, you've got one of the three best players in the league and you surround them as shooting. play some defense, get a leap from Rollins. Right. Yonis looks great. Yes. He is dominant. Dude, he spun baseline.

I forgot who was covering him. And he just dunked on the two help defenders last night. Well, but in fairness, Jacoby, I just saw a team that you want to trade their franchise player up 30 on that same Mavs team Yonis had to beat at the buzzer.

those transitive properties don't work and I did not say I want to trade John Morant. I would want to just get your response to what it would be if I did say train John Moran. That team sucks. And if it continues this way, they will trade John Moran. That team sucks and their frigging GM got fired and you're massaging the Janus went against the double team. Like, why was that even a game if they're worth a crap? The Mavs are horrible. They can't do anything.

And the bucks had to win in overtime or whatever. And the win at the buzzer. Do you know what I just figured out to end the pod? I'll announce it here at breaking news. Please. Dirk is not going to be the new GM of the Mavs. It's going to be the 18-year-old kid with Lucas Garcia. Oh, yeah, good point.

That's what him and Dumont were talking about. Yeah, good point. Him and DeMont, he wasn't, he apologized, that Dubon said, you know what, kid, I like to cut of your cloth. You seem to be a good decision maker. Yep. We got you. You're exactly what we need for this franchise.

And that's what they were talking about, actually. I'm just talking about, like, you need, there's such a massive level of distrust over who you would put in that position. That's the only reason I brought the Dirk thing up. There is such a, he is a smart guy, and he is a legend. And he's already doing broadcast. And we've seen a lot of guys transfer from broadcasting to coaching or front office. And your fan base is like, if I just, You got to be really careful who you bring in there.

You do. Oh, oh, wait, wait, wait. Michael Irvin. Tony Romo. They love the cowboys. They do. They do love the Cowboys. Jerry Jones.

Yep. Not, not him. They don't love him. They don't. They don't. They don't. That's going to do it for another episode of the Misfest. Thank you to our executive producer Jesse Lopez.

As always in Jacoby. I'll talk to you later this week. Must be 21 or over and present in celebrity. states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 and over and present in D.C., Kentucky, or Wyoming. Gambling problem? Call 100 gambler or visit RG-Helph.com. Call 1-888-78-8-8-9-77-7-7-7 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut or visit

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