The Mismatch - Coming Around on the Celtics, Whether Something Is Wrong with Harden, and the Clippers Hoping for a Run

Episode Date: March 22, 2022

With the Celtics riding a four-game win streak, has Verno come around to see them as a Finals sleeper (02:11)? KOC gives us reasons the Celtics are serious contenders for the title. The guys talk about how Patrick Beverley has completely changed the culture for the Timberwolves (12:54). The 76ers beat the Heat last night, despite being without James Harden and Joel Embiid, but KOC has noticed Harden playing different lately (22:25). With Ben Simmons out and Kyrie Irving still playing part time, the guys debate the Nets' title chances (27:33). They also take a look at some of the teams on the rise in the East (38:47) before discussing the possibility of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard returning (43:03). Finally, they give the latest updates on the biggest injuries in the NBA (50:20).  Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Producer: Jessie Lopez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For as long as I've known the NBA, it's been a Stars League. But even among the Stars, there's an exclusive club. Russell and Dr. Jay, Jordan, Kobe. They're all part of a select group that paved the way for the NBA superstar of today. And some even shared secrets with each other along the way. From Spotify and the Ringer podcast network, I'm Jackie McMullen. And this is the icons club. Welcome to The Misfatch. I'm Chris Vernon.

And join me as he does every Tuesday from the ringer.com is Kevin O'Connor, a.K. Kevin O'Brien, Kevin O'Clymer, Kevin O'Candyland, Kevin O'Candex, Kevin O'Candibon, Kevin O'Contin. Kevin O'Bernow! I could feel it in my heart this morning. This is going to be a great episode. I don't know why. I can feel it. I'm hopeful. I can feel it. Well, we are in the real home stretch of the season. Most of these teams have 10 games left, and there is a tremendous amount.

to be decided. Not only the playoff matchups, but also probably a good amount of the awards. We're going to get to all of it. Also talk about some of the injuries that are impacting these teams and some guys that could be coming back that could be very impactful.

Kev, on either side, we have the hottest teams in the east. It's the Celtics and the bucks. Those are the two teams that are the hottest right now. We'll see if that remains leading into the playoffs, but there's very little reason to believe it will not. Both of these teams have been very good for an extended amount of time now. The Bucks got Pat Connetton back.

They got Brooke Lopez back recently, and so their roster looks a lot better than it did, even just a few weeks ago. and the Celtics have just kept on humming. You know, I got to ask you, Kev, I think they have a chance at the NBA finals? I mean, I mean, let me tell you this. Boston, they win last time against O KC. No Rob Williams. You know, they're missing key guys.

No Marker Smart. Grant Williams. he had another great night, 20 points last night, 7 of 14. I know it's against O KC and all those guys there, but Grant Williams,

he, he has figured things out in that Celtics rotation. He's one of the best small ball centers and all of basketball. And this speaks to what I'm saying

with Boston being an actual finals contender. They can play anyway. They can play small. They can play big with Robert Williams and L. Horford.

They can have Williams on ball against the center, off ball against the wing and wreaking havoc inside. They can play any which way. They can beat you any which way. Do you believe they have a chance to win the NBA finals? I would still put them in the Eastern Conference. I think you could be interesting because this is evolving. I will say.

I would still put them behind Miami. I would still put them behind Milwaukee. Philly, though. I mean, Brooklyn, though. you know, if you know that this isn't changing and Brooklyn is not going to get Kyrie for home games, that's a huge deal. It's a huge. It's a huge deal.

And you have to, you have to factor that in, right? At full strength, we have no idea on Simmons. As up right now, Kyrie cannot play home games. So Boston, especially with the. way they're playing, you know, it's not easy to just throw together one of your highest usage guys with the guy that was already your highest usage guy. And I'm speaking of Philly here. And I think that Philly, and this is with them getting the great effort from Maxi last night, but I watch Philly and I don't sit there and go, yeah, they'd be Boston. Like, I don't know. That would be a hell of a

series, it would be, a hell of a series. I think full strength Miami and full strength Milwaukee are still stronger teams and the quest to get past one of those. I still would be surprised if Boston were able to win a seven game series against either one of those. But the list has gone down to that. The list has gone down to that. You know, if I thought that they were, you know, as this has evolved, you know, that maybe there were four teams that they would struggle with, then three, now there's two. And, and again, I'm not saying that they would beat Philadelphia, but they could. They could. And I wouldn't be surprised. I would only be surprised if Brooklyn beat Milwaukee in a seven game series or Miami in a seven game series. So,

they're certainly as this has continued getting higher and higher on my list and if they're in the East Finals, I mean, I never contended that they couldn't be in the East Finals. The NBA Finals is a different story. And I do think they would still have

two that I would be surprised if they beat, but they have been absolutely outstanding. Great. And we're going to find out. You know, when it comes down to it, And it's one team versus one team, and you get to game plan just for that team, not these one-off games. We're going to find out a lot about all of these teams. So in a way, when I heard you say that, I was thinking to myself, for me, the hurdle is, are they actually the team to beat in the East?

Like, I'm not, like, do you think that they could secretly, like, you are. in a place right now, your opinion of them is rising step by step. Correct. You're seeing your increasing confidence every step of the way. They're continuing to sustain success. They're proving themselves to you over the course of the season. Do you think there's any

chance that they are secretly actually the best team in the East? Is there any chance of that that as we continue through this process that we find out, oh yeah, wow, Boston, the team with two top 15 to 20 guys and elite defense actually is the team in the Eastern Conference and is this crazy story turned on what they were early in the

year to now. It could be. It could be so. It could be that, you know. Because they have what you loved about Miami before the season with the defense. Yeah. They have the scores, the talent level too. The pieces are there.

I think it is more about the way those other teams that you're going up against Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler and Bam out of bio. They're going to be tough. Tyler Hero. Tyler Hero's been unbelievable since the All-Star Bowl. Unbelievable. Like, you shoot. I mean, they got shooters.

They got Robinson, Struce. They got versatile defenders. They got Martin. Yeah. They get good role players. They get the heat have everything too. It's just. And they're less dependent upon.

Tatum Brown. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. Like if Tatum has, like, if Tatum's not good, if Tatum's not great. Now, the trick is. he has been great over and over and over again. And maybe it is just one of those where he can be great. Over the course of a seven-game series,

he is so great that it doesn't matter. But, I mean, it's giving credit to these veteran-laden teams are usually the ones. And I do think that you have to give the credit to Milwaukee. they've gotten those two guys back, which is a big help to them. Pat Connetton and Brooke Lopez. And their record with their guys has still been fantastic this year. When they have had a holiday and they have had Middleton and they have had Janus, they have been great.

And so I think it is, could they secretly be the best team? It would certainly be the story. look back and we would say that, but or I will. I'll just say that. If you think they are secretly the best team, I'm not here to tell you that that's crazy. I mean, they have played at an insane level for now a sample size that has grown immensely.

At some point, you just have to accept it. They're awesome. I mean, I guess that's the last hurdle for me for them in the Eastern Conference. It's like, are they actually going to be my pick to go to the finals? I haven't changed off of, you know, probably bucks right now. But at the moment, because I have Sixers, you're fading a little bit, as you said. But then again, you're reminded of what they can be at certain times when you see Tyrese Maxie go off without Hardin and Embed last night. I mean, he was absolutely tremendous down the stretch for Philadelphia.

So there's still a chance there. They were my post all-star pick. My preseason pick was the Nets, but we still don't know with Kyrie, as you said. I mean, like right now, it's really, you know, bucks, you know, Sixers, Celtics in that mix. I don't know who I'm going to pick. Even in the West, dude.

Well, you didn't even mention the heat. That's my. Yeah, and that's your pick. Yeah. And even in the West, it's unclear right now, too. Chris Ball's not back yet. The Warriors have all their injuries. We just don't know right now with anybody.

It's going to end up making it a lot of fun Because now with some of those teams that have been very good A little bit lower in the standings It's made it much more deep, much more interesting Including the aforementioned Minnesota Timberwalt And I thought last night was going to be a great barometer Okay, so they've had this run, they've been unbelievable In the month of March, unbelievable

Like I think I heard Rassillo say number one offense, number three defense going into last night. And so now you're going to play in a big time environment against a very good team that is very difficult to be good offensively against in that Dallas team. And they went all the way to the wire with them, all the way. That was a great basketball game. A great game. There are so many big shots. The towns dunk, the passes by Dallas, the shot making. And Minnesota is dangerous, Kevin.

Like, they did a bang up job on Luca last night. I mean, it does say something about Dallas. Beverly, dude. I mean, it does say something about Dallas. Dallas was able to win despite the very poor shooting night. from Donchich. You got to give them credit for that. Their defense keeps them in everything.

But Minnesota, who I thought this was going to be a good test, right? Okay, this has been a hell of a run. But now this is a good barometer because Dallas plays a slowdown game that can mimic what you're going to get into in the playoffs. and I thought I thought Minnesota absolutely held their own

didn't that feel like a playoff atmosphere there right I mean not not even just the the excitement of the game or just the the crowd level the toughness the way it was officiated

everything of that in that game felt like a playoff game and look he is I know people have had their issues with I myself have with Pat Bev. That's tough. That's a culture changer too.

He is. It reminds me so much of years ago when the insertion of Tony Allen just changed everything. Because when you have a guy like that, when you have a guy that is that competitive, when you have a guy that is that fired up, when you have a guy that's that kind of energy and it never wavers. It's just all the time. And that the other team hates,

I see it bleeding over to those other guys. Oh, yeah. You see Cat? I mean, this is game on the line. Stop. When is the last time you saw Cat, instead of just settling for that three,

takes it off the dribble from the top of the key and just hammers one down on Luca. And I'm like, Jesus. Like, it's bled over. Huh? Hey, that dunk was Nazis mean mugging on the way back. I love to see it. And you see him, it's just so, you see him up in donchance,

just giving him all kinds of problems, clapping in his face and all this stuff, just annoying him. And that stuff does carry over. It does to the other guys. You can see it. And that team is not, that's no picnic. Yeah. I mean, listen, man, like,

both of these teams, both Dallas and Minnesota, Dallas and both of them feel like teams that believe in themselves and who they are and they embrace who they are as a team. I mean, that final minute for Dallas, you got Luca to Dorian, Finney Smith making a great pass for a three-point or Dinwiddie making a quick, you know, pass within the flow of the offense to get at the Bullock for a huge three. You got these guys, Luca and Dinwiddie or Win Winn-Witty, with a W as Dallas fans are calling him, making the extra pass when they've been the

dudes hitting the winners recently. Vin-Witty, of course, have his back-to-back games with the game-winning shots. I just, I think this team has a selflessness to it, the way in which they operate around Luca. And then with Minnesota, this team's just bought into who they are.

It's a different guy each night, the toughness that you mentioned, that Rucillostat, they still are number one in defensive rating this month, slid down have slightly an offensive rating, but still top three. I don't understand them either, Kevin, because they were amazing defensively at the beginning of the year. And then they fell off.

No, then I fell off like 13th. Yeah, cradiot, cratered, yeah. They became like one of the worst defenses. And now they're top and bull. You figure them out. I know. Aren't they a confusing team? Yes.

You know, but they are, but I don't know. With Minnesota, they just seem like a team that has belief in themselves. It's not that they're necessarily going to win a round or two, but it just seems like a team that is taking that first step like we've seen with young teams do many, many times before, including your Grizzlies. We're at this place with the Wolves,

where you got some young talent and Edwards, Kat and DeLo, Vanderbilt, the list goes on, and this is going to be their first experience, but it should only get better from here you'd hope with the infrastructure they have. as someone who keeps up with what the Grizzlies are doing every day,

them moving up to six is not a bad deal. It's not a bad deal. Not with all the Murray news that's come out. Not with the coach saying he's not even close. You know, this idea that you may not even see Murray, if he's not even close, that's the quote. And Denver seems tired too. They've fallen off.

I mean, you're just putting a lot on Yokage. I mean, and I would I would absolutely rather face Denver in their current state than Minnesota. Minnesota is an issue. Minnesota will be an issue for a golden state. You watch. They will.

There'll be an issue for them. A full strength warriors? Yes. I don't know about that. Yes, they will. Full strength warriors. They're not getting, I'm saying they're not getting trashed in that series. Sure. Like, yeah, yeah, okay, I'm with you there.

That's all I'm like a four, four oh, sweep. No, no, no, no, no. And that's the difference. We, I think we looked and we thought the top of these standings, like we thought the east is going to be a bear. But the west, there's like a big division. The west is actually going to have because of Minnesota playing the way they have, because we don't know the wild card that is the Lakers. Yeah. And what they can bring to the table.

or whoever ends up seven and eight. I mean, when you're talking about seven and eight possibly being a team with Yokic and a team with LeBron on him, mm-hmm. That's scary. I mean, that's, do you think if you're the sons, are you at all worried about LeBron playing at the level he is now leading the league at scoring? Are you worried about 80 coming back and being healthy? And Russell Westbrook now playing much.

better basketball. Are you at all worried if you're the sons? My only concern would be my own team in Paul. Okay. Oh, they're eight and two in their last 10, Kevin. The sons are wrong ones. That has proven to be a team that is not just

totally dependent upon Paul. But in the playoffs, if I'm Phoenix, I'm not worried about any of these teams. as long as I've got my guys. Not even the Lakers. You're not even worried a little bit. Not if I got my guy. Not a little bit.

Doesn't LeBron James always give you a chance? Well, sure. But the sons are so much better than them. Yeah. So much better. I'm just asking the question. Look, if you don't have Chris Paul, I'd be a little worried. But if you've got Chris Paul, I would not be that concern.

Or how about a limited Chris Paul? I mean, he was limited last year. Mm-hmm. Didn't matter. You know, me? It was limited last year. But, I mean, the truth is, with all of these, looking at the status, there's really, you know,

you saw that game last night. And I think that there were those that opined, maybe rightly, that it was a jockey for position thing with Philadelphia sitting at Bid, sitting hard in, in last night's game, that the way you're seeing some of these teams, like maybe try to stay, way from Brooklyn is something that's out there.

I look at those standings and I go, there's just no way to do this. With all of them bunched like that and not knowing what the other teams are going to be doing, I don't think you can maneuver. I really don't because it would be what would be hilarious is if Brooklyn goes like eight and two or nine and one down the stretch. and then they end up six, and now you've done all you could to get away from two so you weren't going to face Brooklyn,

and you've played yourself right into three, and now you're going to see them because they're six. It's possible. It's not out of the question. Or how about this? What if they lose a one-off? What if they lose the one-off game? Yep, and then they slide into the eight seed,

which would mean facing the one. And the same thing goes with what's, going on in the Western Conference because you can't really jockey around with that because let's say Denver has to go uh let's say they end seven now they got to play the clippers okay now you would think they just take care of business but this tyloo is friggin merlin like i don't know how they've won the games they have one and it's a one game set you could get shocked there. And then next thing you know, the Clippers or the

friggin' seven seed, you know? Like, I just don't think there's any way to do this. Like, the teams that are trying to, if you're trying to stay away from a matchup, I think it's a fool's errand, especially with everybody after Miami completely bunched up until you get those three teams, really,

all bunch of. The Sixers, 44 and 27. The Bucks, 44 and 27. The Celtics, 45 and 28. So there's three teams, and you don't know the motivations, is really hard. Even the Bulls are only two back.

They just got Patrick Williams back in the lineup. Granted, they haven't beaten anybody. We haven't even mentioned them on this whole pod. They haven't beaten anybody this season, which is still one of the craziest stats in all basketball so far this year. That was a real letdown last night. I was really hoping to see just what Miami-Filly would look like.

Yeah. I know. Because we got robbed of it the last time around. Right? Hardin sat out when they went down there. What do we make the Philly winning that game, though? What do we make of that? Because Miami is pretty much full strength.

They got most of their guys. They got their stars. They played heavy minutes. You know, BAM plays 36 minutes. Butler plays 35. It's not like Miami wasn't trying to win. that game. They were. Yeah, I just think

Maxi went off. I think, yeah, Maxie went off and I think it's impossible to shake Milton went off the bench too. I think it's impossible to know what to take out of it because that's not the team you would face. But is there anything to take out of it in favor

of Philly's other guys? Anything. Oh, sure. That's been the main, that's been the main criticism. But I would, but I would argue the trick has been, can you get that out of those guys when you have your guys.

Hardin and Embed absorbing the majority of the touches. Right. With the way you're playing, you know, when those guys are in the lineup, can you still get that out of those guys? There's no question. I love Max. I love Matt. I think Hardin,

one of the things that bothers me with Hardin, what happened of the spot-up threes? Like, he doesn't shoot off the catch anymore. I mean, if you're playing with Joel Embedd and you're playing with Tyrese Maxi, those guys are going to get their touches. They're going to get their shots,

but they're also going to get their passes in. And Harden these will be ready off the catch. And there's been so many times since he got traded to Philadelphia where it's like he catches the ball and immediately goes into an ISO or he dribbles once, step back, side step. It's like he used to be a great spot-op shooter back in OKC, early days in Houston. What happened to that? Like, why isn't he just shooting cleanly off the catch anymore?

has that in him. And I think in this Philly team, the nature of this roster in Maxi and Embed specifically would lend itself to heart and bringing that aspect of his game back. But for some reason, it still isn't there. I wonder if maybe it's just literally changing your habits and he needs to again.

Or if it's like he doesn't want to. I don't know. We'll see. Well, and it does take a while to fit in. It does. Yeah. That's why, you know, I'm giving a pass.

The odd thing to me is the, you know, and I know they always say like, oh, it's maintenance for this or they're resting it for this. Like, I would try to get the maximum amount of games to get those guys in a flow together. And they have not played to get, even since that trade, it feels like, you know, there's a game here, a game there, especially against, you know, some better opponents, too, that those guys. aren't in the lineup together. I think Hardin might actually be hurt, though. I really do. I bet he's probably actually hurt. That's not based off of any information,

except for the fact, except for the fact that he has sucked. Because you remember the first, you know, three, four of games with Hardin after the All-Star break and he looks quick, he looks fully energized, he has not looked like that the last week plus, his last seven games.

He looked like that. up to that Brooklyn game when they ripped his heart out and pissed on it. But that's what happened. That's what he got hurt. No, no, no, his game before that against the Bulls wasn't good either. His first missed game, as you said, was against Miami. Since that game that he missed, he's played seven games. He's shooting 27% from three, 35% from the field.

I mean, the scoring is not there, the burst is not there, the energy is not there. my gut tells me that hammy or something is a problem. He probably heard it running them steps in Wells Fargo. You remember that video after the game? I'm like, what the F is this? I know, yeah, after playing a game, right? That was post game, right? It's probably what he did.

Relax. Go home, man. Play some war zone. Relax. I mean, you, look, you can't get hurt. You know, you probably put, he probably put a lot of strain on himself, you know, playing hard for the first time in a year and a half. It's the first time he ran.

You know what I mean? You can't just go out there and just start running and then running steps. You know what I mean? You got to ease back into it, James. He didn't done anything for a year and a half. And he's like trying to go full blast for the honeymoon period. He doesn't seem 100%. That's what I suspect.

He's not 100%. Oh, okay. I thought he had the Miami flu. Maybe not. injuries could greatly alter things, including James Hardens possibly. How about the guy he got traded for? Ben Simmons, yeah, what happened are? These stories are not great.

No, they're not. I mean, a lot of bad news around Ben Simmons's back. It's scary. I shot in the back, our herniated disc. I mean, yeah. Look, my producer here in Memphis, Roser, who you know, he just got one removed. Herniated disc in his back. He had a herniated disc in his back and it finally got to the point where he needed to get surgery.

And because it was, it, it, it, it leans up against your nerve and it then shoots down your leg. You remember like, you hear about people when they've got back problems and they think it's a leg problem first in some cases. In fact, that is exactly what happened with Dremont. Dremont was a, remember it was his leg? And then they say, oh, it's not his leg. it actually originates from his back. Yeah. And backs are, I mean, they keep, it's very bizarre what's coming out about him.

It's like he's got, he got an epidural, he's got a herniated disc. They expect him back. It's like, what? I, what? I don't get it. I don't understand. I wonder, I wonder if this is them being them as in the Nets and, clutch the Simmons camp being as cautious as possible for as long as possible to try to get

as right as possible until it's the point where, okay, time to play through this. And that comes with risks by not having a guy play. But I will say this, the role that Ben Simmons is going to have to play for that team, I don't think it's going to take long for him to get integrated as long as he embraces being Bruce Brown. If you embrace being Bruce Brown, it's not going to take you long to get integrated into the system. So maybe they're banking on he can come in right away, even if his first game with the Nets were like a playing game. It's absurd to think about. But it's not impossible.

You know, it's like pickup, right? That's what it feels like with Brooklyn. They're just playing pickup. We'll take Ben tonight. Well, and badly needed. if you're playing at home because those are the games that you don't have Kyrie Irving

said Ben Simmons had been diagnosed with a herniated disc in his back the nets remain optimistic that he'll play at some point this season but time is quickly running out he had an epidural last week to alleviate some pressure in his back he's had this thing

he had this a couple years ago so he's had herniated discs throughout his career at some point, Steve Nash said. And I guess there was a flare-up. I'm not sure when they recognized it was beyond a back flare-up and a herniated disc or whatnot. But somewhere along the line, that was the reason for the epidural. He said that Nash, I'm sorry, Nash said that Simmons had an MRI on his back so that the organization could figure out what was causing the discomfort.

Nash said, I've had the same issues, but they're all really unique and different. So it's really hard for me to share my experiences with it because my back was totally different. You never know. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. That came from Nick Ferdell. Who knows? I mean, they remain optimistic that he could come back. But then there's the other article that says timeline unclear.

Find it hard to believe. The guy hasn't played basketball over a year. Now you're going to put him out there with a back that he's already had a damn Pepadoural for? I don't buy it. So you think there's a chance he's out the entire year. Absolutely.

And I would agree, too. I mean, when I say what I just said about, if you're getting a shot in your back and you haven't played in a year? Well, what I'm saying is if he's dealt with this for a long time,

which we know he's had some back issues, I wonder, like I said, if at some point it's like, okay, time just to play. Time just to play and maintain. He might just be out the entire year might be to the point that he might require a surgery. You never know. But for Brooklyn here, they're in a situation where they're still winning games without them.

They beat Utah. That's a big win. That's a big win against that Utah team. They've had some good wins as well recently. With the Nets, you've got Bruce Brown playing the role that Ben Simmons is going to play. Dragich starting in place of Kairi Irving. Can the Nets without Simmons and without full-time Irving still make a run around Kevin Durant with the other guys that they have or they are like an early flame out after getting to the

playing tournament. They're just a first round exit without those guys. Look, I never want to I never want to back against Durant that meant said. They need that law changed because they're the road team. Against Milwaukee, against Miami,

against Boston. What about against Philly? I mean, Even then with the heart and the ambience still, you know, against Brooklyn? I mean, I just feel like even if you've got a chance that the reason I say this is, it is, you know, you can argue it's in their advantage because Kyrie gets to play the road game. So those would be the first two of a series and you could catch those wins. My issue is how many times do we see the road team that wins the series,

you know, if a road team wins the series, it's a lot more rare. to do it by winning a game seven on the road. It's more common that you would close somebody out in six on your home court. And the idea that they wouldn't have him for a game six and then be forced to go play a game seven against one of those good teams in their arenas, I mean, they certainly wouldn't be favored in a game seven against those teams in their arenas. But look, you got, you got a puncher's chance at anything. He didn't have anything running with him last.

year. He didn't have anything running with him. He's got a better, Durant's got more around him now than he did a year ago because he didn't have Kyrie and he really didn't have Hardee. And he's trying to, you know, if his foot's not on the line, he might have knocked out Janus. So I can't bank against him. Sure. You definitely can't. And I still think, I mean, my gut tells me that law is still going to be changed. You get Eric Adams in New York last week talking about the Yankees and Mets. NLB open. their season on April 7th. He left open the door for the possibility of changing that private, you know, a vaccine mandate law. Let me tell you up that, Kev. But this morning, this morning he lifted a mask mandate for elementary school kids, years, I think, four and younger, not required to wear masks anymore.

So those laws are slowly but surely changing. Maybe by the NBA playoffs, it will change in favor of Kyrie. This is going to sound crazy? Maybe it won't stop crazy to you. The best thing that ever happened for Kyrie and Brooklyn's hopes on that was baseball coming back when it is. Oh, yeah. Because more pressure with the Yankees and Nets. If it costs the Yankees, that will change.

Yeah. Nobody gives a shit about the Brooklyn Nets. If it affected the Knicks, it would have already been changed. That would be my opinion. They're just not the, it's a difference between something affecting the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the Lakers and the clippers. Like, well, it doesn't it affect Aaron Judge? Like, yeah. It didn't he kind of avoid the question about being vaccinated?

Yes. Look, uh, that thing, that thing, that thing would change in a minute because the, I'm saying, the best thing for Brooklyn is that the Yankees are going to start up. Yeah, April 7th, MLB season begins. probably April 6th of the law changes, right? And it will benefit Kyrie. Kyrie better start wearing Yankees hands. What I mean? We're out of town.

So anyway, we covered the Simmons thing. Yeah, that's an idea for Kyrie. Free idea for Kyrie Irving. Show up to the next Nets game sitting courtside wearing a Yankees hat. I got an Aaron Judge's shirt. Judge Jersey. Other

So Simmons, they're saying they're optimistic. It can get them back, but who knows, we covered that. The others that are expected back that could change things. Sounds like Curry's going to be okay. You know, it's been very optimistic when they've talked about Curry regarding Golden State. But again, anytime there is, you know, it's a ligament. And so who knows?

He's got to heal up. But Curry is expected to be able to be available. But not great for any team to, you can just say, hey, plug and play. But like, you just have not gotten. I know that it should be like riding a bite with Draymond and Curry and Clay. But damn, it's got to be like riding a bite. be like riding a bike because these guys have not logged any minutes together, Kevin. By the time we get to the playoffs, they haven't played together and then played together

with these other ancillary parts. So we can say, we can act like it's three years ago. It's been a long friggin time. It's been a long time. Clay's been gone for two years. So I think it's like riding a bike for those guys. Maybe it is. It's going to have to be.

though. Because we're not going to, they're not going to get to play together with these other parts. Like as soon as Clay came back, Draymond was out. And then Draymond came back and now Curry's out. And they just, they haven't gotten to play. And you know, you do kind of get in a flow with the other players. And then the other players now their role changes. Like that's not the easiest thing in the world to change. now all of a sudden you're a guy that might get 17 shots and now you get nine, you know, and you now are changing roles on the fly. And again, we just haven't seen them. It's this belief that they're still going to be totally devastating when we see them all together.

But, I mean, it's crazy to think. The first time we're really going to see it is probably the first. Playoff, then being back together. But the news sounds good on him. Gordon Hayward, I read, is actually going to be coming back. I thought the Hayward thing, I thought the ship had sailed. But don't look now. Charlotte has been winning games.

They're on this win streak right now. They got a big win against the Pelicans last night. and I think they're like two games under 500 without Hayward since he went out so they I mean not great but not devastatingly bad like they were last year and they get Hayward back I think they've had the number one off their defense stinks

and it's very erratic but their offense has been amazing and they get Hayward back They get Hayward back. I mean, could they maybe be one of those teams that, you know, puts the fear of God and somebody can win a couple games and next thing you know you're having to play a game six? I don't know, but they clearly were a much better team with Hayward in the lineup. And if he comes back and he's able to contribute, maybe, maybe their offense is great.

Isaiah Thomas. Isaiah Thomas has been the Colise changes. Just got his contracts. It's just really nice to see IT playing at a high level. Shooting 48% from three and four attempts per game. Looking like he's got some spring.

He's moving quickly, shifting, getting where he wants on the floor coming off the bench for Charlotte. Has Isaiah Thomas found a role? I hope so. I hope so, man. And you know what else I hope?

You know what? You know what I think they're going to regret? They should have gone out and gotten fortified their front line. You know? They might be too soon next year. Just somebody. Just somebody to give you a chance. Oh,

you have funnly switching shooting hands, which is somebody to give you a chance. As I said, oh my God, did I see it? That left-handed free throw. How about the Eric Collins call when he first did it? That was sensational.

You've got all these. bigs in the east that you got to deal with. And I don't know, man. Like they can torture you. Like your small ball, which can be really, really good, can just get torched by it.

It just can't hold up to where it's rebounding and that you're not just getting crushed by these guys. Just somebody big that they could have, you know, to help that front line, that that's what I would think would be a massive Achilles heel for them. Next season. Next season. Maybe so.

That's what you hope. Next season. Yeah. This summer for next season. Other guys, Anobie, sounds like a week or two away. So got to figure he'll be bad for the playoffs. And that gives them one of those guys that Nick Nurse will play 45 minutes. Yeah.

He got to figure it. Yeah, plug in back in. Yeah, Raptors' minutes remain obscene. These guys are going to be so damn tired by the playoffs coming around. I mean, they win, though. They win. They win games. They're good, man.

But Anatoe can make a big difference for them, I think. Don't you? Oh, yeah, of course. He always makes a big difference. Big difference. His defense, his offense is complimentary. He can do a little bit off a dribble for you, too. He's developed that in his game.

And maybe Nick will play like eight guys now. Yeah. I mean, with Seacum, Barnes, OG, I don't know. I just love watching the rappers. We've talked about them 100 times. For sure. For sure. Paul George, this whole four on four with the assistant coaches and

Ty Lou commenting on that, the word getting out about that or whatever. Like, I think we're probably done thinking about Kauai. No, we're not. We're not. We're not. We're not done. We're not done. We're not done. No. You think they're going to just like shock everybody? It's like, hey, here come the clippers and we got all our guys. I do. I've been consistent with this. We talked about it last week with the Skip Bayless. You think they're both coming back? I don't know if they're both coming back, but there's been no reason to believe that they're not coming back. Ty Lou even the other day is asked and he says he'll keep it open for the possibility. of them returning with Paul George and Kauai Leonard. So if the Clippers or Kauai or Paul George aren't shutting down the possibility, why would I shut down the possibility when everything I've heard,

everything we've seen, every report that we've already read, all indicates that there's at least a possibility that they come back, that there's at least a possibility. And I've been told by people around the league that the plan is, is the hope is, to have those guys back. It doesn't mean that they will come back. Well, man, would that change? everything because we were just talking about at the beginning of the pot how the West is

you know looked a lot deeper now looked like there could be some troublesome teams down lower I mean if you're Denver and you're playing in the one-off against the clippers and then they're like oh and Paul George is back it's a different game if they say Paul George and Kuai Leonard's back I mean what the app well I mean The Lou quote, I mentioned the other one where he said he won't, he'll keep it open. This is the other part of the quote. To hit the playoffs going from zero to 100, that's pretty tough. But if the medical guys say they are cleared and they are able to do that, that is totally up to them.

That's my understanding is that the plan and the hope is that they come back. But ultimately, the decision is going to be up to them, the Kauai, George, the medical guys, to determine if they actually do want to come back. That's the position that Clippers will be in in April with those guys. I'll tell you something. Somebody who is a fan of the two seed, that is a effing nightmare. Yeah, it is. The Clippers could very well become the favorites in the West on paper.

And again, we'll see on the medical guys. Who knows that they're playing possum here about all this or not? But if you're telling me we should at least leave open the. possibility. If you're those guys, wouldn't you sit back and you'd say, Phoenix is the one. They're banged up right now. Memphis is the two. They've never won a playoff series. Golden State's the three. They're banged up right now. You know, it's a question mark. We could go win the day. We didn't even play basketball this year, and we could go win the damn title. Bingo.

We could literally show up, go win the title. That would be the bullshit title ever. No, I'm saying, you know, if nobody. I know what you're saying. We would look back in history and be like, wait, what? Yeah. The guys just played. Kauai Leonard had two games played.

And he average 35 points a game in the playoffs. Dude, but like this is, look, if that were to happen, let's say the Clippers let's say the Clippers got Kawhi Leonard and Paul George back and let's say they win the title one of the one of the topics of conversation will be

well the regular season doesn't matter all guys can come back in April but that that is going to be one of the reasons why Adam Silver is going to say this is why we need the in season tournament to have something for December like that that's what you're going to see happen I'm just saying if the Clippers are in the NBA finals

at the commissioners press conference that happens before game one every year you're going to see Adam Silver use this as part of his argument for why the NBA needs an in-season tournament to give meaning and structure to other parts of the season that literally don't matter right now. They don't matter. We just talked about Dallas and Boston. The Clippers would be another team in that conversation aware. What happened, October, November, December, doesn't matter. Kauai?

It's a different season. Kauai Leonard is already, he's already without peer when it comes to load management. but this would put here, I mean, this is like unattainable levels unattainable unentatable levels that no one

would ever surpass nobody, nobody. What if he just does this for the resume? He just shows up at the end and he just takes load management to a completely different level that no one ever even considered

was possible. He just says, you know what? I'm not going to do like the Lakers and just dick around and make a mockery

of an 82 game season. I'm just not even going to play in it. I'll show up. I mean, if you can't respect that, then you can't respect that. What if?

I really don't give, I don't give a shit about any of these games. I play one every three anyway. So I'll be there at the end. Dude, if he shows up like, totally healthy right when the

playoffs start, that would be the funniest thing ever. Dude, and there's a real chance. What if he's if Kauai Leonard has been fine for three months, it would not shock me. I mean, you remember back in January and Chris Haynes reported

on Kauai's ACL recovery and said he's doing great. Yeah. He's in the gym, Duncan, and all that. I mean, I mean, he's been doing stuff for a long time now, and I'm telling you, I'm telling you, don't overlook that Skip Bayliss report. All the listeners, I know it's Skip Bayless. I know a lot of people don't like Skip Bayless.

He knows his stuff with Kauai Leonard. Everything is pointing in the direction that there's at least a strong possibility that Kauai Leonard and Paul George returned to the Clippers at some point in April and changed the complexion of the entire playoff race in the Western Conference. There's a strong possibility of that. Don't underrate that chance. I change everything. Let me tell you something.

If that dude comes back, like 100%, he's like in the best shape of his life. Yeah, right. And he's been fine for three months. And he was like, I ain't playing at all these freaking games. Totally fresh. Yeah. Totally fresh. This is stupid.

Why on earth? Like, how many times I've been telling you all for six years, I ain't trying to play in the regular season? I only play when you make me. Exactly. I'm a playoff player. And I'll be there. I'll be there. Just call me.

If anybody's going to show up last day and then be able to play right away, it's Kauai Leonard. He's done it his whole career. His whole career. You can't count them out. Don't underrate the clippers. One other guy to mention is Jared Allen. It's a report from Shams that says he's hopeful that he'll be able to return to the floor

within the next three weeks. Three weeks. I mean, look, that was such a good story. I feel so bad for Cleveland and what they went through, especially with, you know, losing Kevin Love in a tragic accident last night as he attempts to get in the Bron James way. I mean, that was so sad to see that. That was very funny. Yeah. That's going to make a hell of a Players Tribune article.

But they, wow. It was devastating. It was devastating. It was. Did you see the LeBron quote after the game? He says, sorry. Well,

when I turned the corner, I looked up, I was like, please, Kev, just move. He killed him, dude.

He said he, he said he hopes he's still invited to his wedding. I would, I would absolutely not invite that guy to my wedding. I know that he says, oh, they're friends. It's my boy.

Why'd you do that? Everybody laughs it off. No, bro. Nobody's going to forget that. That was a hell of a lot of time. How can I be in the same room as you? I know you emasculated me.

I mean, Kevin Love's a better guy than I. Hey, Kevin Love deserved that shit last year. He didn't deserve that this year. He wasn't even trying last year. He's been awesome this year. Kevin Love to deserve better. Well, one quick thing on Jared Allen. It's great.

He's coming back. I hope he's been able to game at home with his fraction finger. He had just purchased, I think, Eldon Ring before the injury. I hope he's been able to play that game. But with LeBron and the Lakers, He had this other quote last night. He says, I'm literally having the time of my life right now. The game's such a beautiful thing.

Your face is like, come on. Good grief. That's what your face says right now. That is ridiculous. Well, what's your take on LeBron saying that? Is he changing his mindset? Has he watched all the video of him, you know, hanging his arms? I think somebody.

Do you think he's changing his mindset? I think somebody told him that he's leading the league in scoring now. Yeah. this is fun again. Yeah, it's pretty remarkable. Andy just passed Carl Malone. Yep. It's been a fun week.

Isn't it really? Isn't it really amazing though that he is leading the league in scoring at 37 years old, averaging? Averaging 30. That's amazing. It's amazing. It truly is. We are, I mean, don't take LeBron James for granted. The fact that we are able to witness this guy, Chris, I'm like 11 years old when I first hear of LeBron

James. I'm a little kid. You're still, I don't know, you're probably retired already at the time. It's because of our age difference here. I was, I actually, I mean, I've told this story before. College? No. High school? I think I've told this on the, on the, on the, on the on the on the on the on the on the on the show before. When I first started in radio, I was with an older guy who was a former Notre Dame football coach. And he came on the air one day and said he had this. friend who's an assistant coach at Ohio State. And the friend had called him the night before and said, I just saw the best football player I've ever seen. Oh, yeah, I remember this story. And it was him. Yeah. Yeah. The guy had gone out to a game and LeBron was playing football. And the guy was like, this is, this is subhuman. Like, we have to, I've never recruited a friggin' ninth grader, but this is ridiculous, right? Yeah. And I, so oddly enough,

I'd first heard about him as a football player. So that was right out of college for me. And you were a fetus. Yeah. Yeah, it was just a little baby. Yeah. But can you imagine LeBron six foot nine if he had become an NFL wide receiver? I'd love to see an elite level basketball player like 6,8, 69, be a wide receiver.

Like we've seen tight ends, Antonio Gates. Have I not told you this? I can never remember what I've told you or not. You know I had an NBA GM tell me that the best receiver they've ever seen was Matt Barnes. Yeah, you told me that before.

Matt Barnes. Evidently, he was like the most amazing high school receiver. Yes, yep, 6-7. And so there is your guy. And Matt Barnes told me he thinks, about it every single day of his life. I remember that, yeah.

Remember that? Yep. I mean, Matt Barnes is tall, dude. Who's the college wide receiver in NFL history? Herman Moore? Fox and Co. Burris is tall. Herman Moore? Herman Moore played for the Lions when I was a kid.

Calvin Johnson. I think Herman Moore was 6-8, bro. Yeah, I looked at up. Someone that has Harold Carmichael, 6-8. How old was Herman Moore? or how tall was Herman Moore? I think he was 6-8. He was a giant.

Herman Moore was 6-4? Are we talking about? Same Herman Moore. Same Herman Moore? Herman Moore was 6-4? According to Wikipedia and Google. Wow. I always thought...

Misinformation right here. No, it might be. The Herman Moore must have... Wow. I guess at the time there weren't... Mike Evans was 6-4. Very tall as well. 6-5.

I want to see like a six, eight, six, nine receiver. That's what I'd love to see. Like if, if LeBron had played football, is he unstoppable? Yes. Yes. So we talk about some of these guys that could come back. The ones that are not, sounds like Jamal Murray, the news is not good. Yeah, a lot, a lot of iffy news coming out of Denver with him.

You know, he's an ACL. He's still really young. You don't want to, you don't want to screw around with it. you know and I'm sure that it feels like one of those where Jeval is probably not going to agree with the team

but they have been one that is certainly aired on the side of safety Denver has in the past and so bringing him back like to me it's like why isn't he back now and so you're routinely doing checks on these guys

and they're holding him out. And then Michael Malone, don't call me Mike, says he's not even close. So I don't think we can expect Marie in the playoffs. Not with the, not with 10 games left and somebody saying you're not even close.

Wiseman sounds like not going to have him in Golden State. We talked about going down to the G League, but a setback. He had swelling, swelling in his knee. Yeah. So it sounds like no Wiseman. uh,

Lonzo, not great news. They need him in Chicago. And they say you're going to try to like just not have him run for 10 days. I know. Not running at all. That's bad. That's that does not make you hopeful.

Yeah. That's not. When's the last time you went in a full on sprint, Chris? More recently than you would think. Yeah. Playing with your son or were you working out or what was going on? Uh, yeah,

probably chasing kids. Okay. Yeah. Like chasing kids are like running away from. Do you like running? Like as a workout? No. Hell,

though. I'm not a runner. I'm not a runner. I'm a walker. Do you know I tried that crazy? You know, people were like, you know,

when do you get the frigging runners high? When does that shit kick in? Because it never kicked in for me. There wouldn't know high I got. I was like, man, my friggin's hurt. My angles are.

Like, this is terrible. Terrible. No. I don't like that. I don't want to run. We have that. common.

Yeah, I ain't trying to go. Neither is I could. I love, I would love if I could be a runner. I see people running the L.A. marathon. Looks fun. I tried to get that high.

I didn't get it. David, my coworker with the ringer just completed the L.A. Marathon. Congrats to him. But like I could not do that in my entire lifetime. Even if I wanted to, I don't think I could make that happen. Well, speaking of not running,

Zaya, um, it appears we're not going to see him. playing for the Pelicans this year at all. The news came down the pipe. Don't expect it. I don't know what to make of all of it. I really don't.

It's all so bizarre. We went from at the beginning of this, never even knowing he had a surgery. And then it was like he'll be ready for training camp. And then it was like he'll be ready for the season. And then it was, he's progressing. And then it was, he's getting a shot. Then it was, he's going to Portland.

For what reason, who knows? He's going to Portland, rehabbing there. Then it was, he hasn't even, like, reached out to C.J. McCauley. Then it was, oh, he's back. He's back in New Orleans. It's like, okay, when do we get the, he's playing three-on-three stuff? And just nothing. and then out of nowhere, yeah, he's not playing.

We have an article on the ringer.com this morning related to the Zion topic. The art on it is a photo of Zion and those warm-ups and a huge shadow behind him. And coming out of that shadow was Herb Jones because the headline is, a bright spot emerges in Zion Williamson's shadow, and it's about Herb Jones and the Pelicans. When he got thrown out last night, this is not great timing. Well, I mean, the timing might not be great, Chris, but it's incredibly well-written article by Damien Burchard,

who works at the ringer's first NBA piece. But no Zion. Let me put on a tinfoil cap. Wait a way to know Zion, but we got some good stuff from the Pelicans this year. Guys like Herb Jones, it's been nice to see them develop. The roster's better for Zion whenever he comes back. Hopefully he comes back at some point. Let me put a tinfoil cap on.

Okay. So let me just say, I'm putting on a tinfoil cap. Okay. It says absolutely no real substance. Would you believe that Zion didn't want to request a trade? He didn't want that on his, he didn't want that on his ledger is something that he's done early in his career, I'll force your way out guy, whatever.

But if I told you that his injury is not nearly, as severe as one that would make you miss the entire season. Would that shock you at this point? If I told you, like, the guy, he just didn't want to play. He doesn't want to play for the Pelicans. He hasn't wanted to play for the Pelicans, and he didn't want to, yeah, I don't think it, with the way the NBA is now, I'm telling you I've got a tinfoil cap up, but like, why is that wildly out of the question?

especially given you got to go back and look I don't have to be damn Matlock to figure this out go back and look none of it makes sense none of it none of it that that's why a team like the Knicks time to start tanking games get better draft lottery odds

if you're a team like the Knicks right now you are only a half game back from the ninth best odds you are two and a half games back from the eighth best odds with San Antonio, you have a chance to move up and get better odds and the higher your pick is, the better your chances of reacting to any opportunity

that may present itself over the summer, including the tinfoil cap on here. Well, here's the thing, Kevin. The possibility of Zion being like, I want out, or New Orleans saying, we want to flip this injury prone guy for one of these other stud prospects at the top of the 2022 draft and try it again.

That's what it could happen, the other side of it as well. Look, I know some people are going to get mad about this, but look, just go back. Well, listen, one thing. Pelicans fans should not get mad about this. No, go back to the timeline. None of it makes sense. We didn't know about the surgery. And then when we did know about the surgery, so were they just lying?

Were they just lying, whether to sell tickets or whatever? Probably. Were they just lying and saying, hopefully, you know, back by training camp. Back by the regular season. Back by Christmas. Back maybe after the new year. I mean, this shot that he got in the foot, oh, he's progressing. Oh, now he's gone off to Portland.

Why? Why? Why has he gone off to Portland? No one's ever made sense of that. And that's not coming. Then he comes back and not texting C.J. McCallum or reaching out to him at all and all that. You know what it reeks of? It reeks.

And they're not doing the, he could be playing, but he's not playing things. it's very kawai-esque in the weirdness. His last year in San Antonio? Yeah, the weirdness of it all. Like, then that got to the point where Popovich came out and said, he's cleared to play. Yeah, Popovich was... He finally just had enough.

Yeah. Yeah, Popovich was sick of it. Yeah, he finally just had enough with it. And no one's ever done that. It's like... I mean, here's why I don't think that's necessarily the case. Because if you're Zion, how could you not look at this roster and think, oh, I could win with these guys.

How can you really look into that locker room a lot of your teammates and say, I can't win with these guys? I mean, the competitor in you with Brennan Ingram, C.J. McCollum, now. I don't know. Balanchunas, Herd Jones. How can you not look on that locker room and say, I can't wait to be back?

I mean, I think it's, you know, whatever. It's another coach in another season. You know, he wasn't happy with the stand-band experience last year. We had those quotes in the off-season where he went out of his way to say, I want Lanzo back. Him and Ingram both. I want Lanzo back. And I just don't know.

It's just all so strange that it's hard to figure. Now, maybe it is all just on the up and up. And this has just been a very weirdly reported serious injury that has caused him to miss an entire season. He's played 85 games in three years. 85. I mean, and there's been no like progression of, like, what happened in Portland? What was he doing there? And what was the progression of it?

And then, okay, if, if, why was he back? Why did he come back from Portland? If the rehab wasn't done, whatever he went there. I just, it's all odd. He came back from Portland for them to say he's done. I don't get it Were you getting better in Portland? Is that what was going on there?

He was with the Antifa protests. And now you You throw it tomatoes at the courthouse? Man, if there was a photo that came out of him throwing a tomato at the corner of that. It would be amazing. All right. Last thing.

Can you imagine that? What? Zion holding a tomato? No. See, I'm eating one. No, actually, I can't see that. No, I can't see that either. Look, last year before we get out of here, we talked about how there's only like 10 games up to the season.

The other day was hilarious. Zion. It's so good. Kevin, I've been alerted that we're not allowed to laugh about anything anymore. No, we're not allowed to laugh about anything at all. I don't know if you didn't get the member. Nothing is funny anymore. As somebody who right now weighs more than I ever have

and is currently trying to lose weight, I am also not allowed to laugh at people who are slightly overweight, including professional athletes. What are we referring to here, Chris? The listeners who have to see. I got tweeted me after I posted the hysterical Zion TikTok that I had seen.

What is that TikTok? It was about the kid that was clapping in his face in high school, that famous video. And it was whatever Hadrower white dude With Zion Was skinnier at the time And it's like whatever happened

To this kid And I'm not gonna spoil it for everybody But it was whatever happened to this kid And so Great video Guy TV said You know Accus me of body shaming

I hope your kids Never have to endure something like this And it just so happened My son was sitting next to me I said William If you ever get 200 pounds Overweight Like you gotta take this

I'm sorry brother You got to take this jokes are jokes but what I've always told you is if you're going to goof on people better be able to goof on yourself and take it when people goof on you isn't that the best like types of relationships the way it is it's it's your friends where you can where you can joke about yourselves they can joke about you they can joke about themselves those are the best relationships that you can ever have who was a world where you can't laugh about anything yeah I don't know.

A lot of A lot of A very sticks in the mud A very small But loud Percentage of people On Twitter

Want that world Chris That's right They're the very small Percentage The stick in the mud gang The turn in the Punchbow gang

They are Booty you We're laughing You can't stop this train I like the laugh All right Enough with this show You were wrong.

This show was terrible. Yeah. Horrible. You started and said, I think this is going to be a good one. Wrong again, Kevin. Terrible. Thank you to our executive producer, Jesse Lopez.

As always, Kevin, I'll talk to you on Friday. Apologies to Pistons fans for not discussing Kate Cunningham today and the rookie of the year race. We'll be back again on Friday. Have a good one.