The Mismatch - NBA CrunchTime Debut, Predicting the Remaining All-Stars, and Looking Across the League With Ryen Russilo

Episode Date: February 1, 2022

Verno and KOC discuss the debut of the NBA’s version of NFL RedZone, NBA CrunchTime (02:00). Both share ideas for how to improve the show. As the Ben Simmons saga continues in Philadelphia, Verno points out that Tyrese Maxey is only making Simmons more expandable (08:43). They also discuss Steph Curry’s unbelievable fourth-quarter performance before predicting who will be the remaining players to get All-Star nods (16:47). Next, Ryen Russillo joins the show. They discuss whether the Hawks can turn it around and make some noise in the playoffs (30:44), the issues with the Lakers (36:12), Ryen’s growing love for Anthony Edwards (49:00), and why he’s reconsidering the Jason Tatum–Jaylen Brown duo in Boston (57:01). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Guest: Ryen Russillo Producer: Jessie Lopez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ringer gambling show is here to help you place your bets on the biggest sports around the world. Join NFL analyst Warren Sharp on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays with guests Chris Vernon, Ben Solac, and Joe House to guide you through the NFL betting landscape. Each week, they'll cover everything from spreads, game totals, and parlays to player props, futures, post-game reactions, and more. Check out the ringer gambling show on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to The Misfatch. I'm Chris Vernon. And joining me as he does every Tuesday from The Ringer.com is Kevin O'Connor, aka Kevin Obama, Kevin O'Concert. Kevin O'Climber, Kevin O'Candlein'O Conflict, Kevin O'Blessarian, Kevin!

Oh, no! What's going on this Tuesday, my friend? Everything's good. Very excited. We are going to have our buddy Ryan Rosillo on later in the podcast. We'll talk all manner of NBA with him. But before we get to that, we do have some things to get to. Last night, there were games that were going on. There weren't a ton of good games, but maybe more importantly for NBA fans was, It was the debut of NBA Red Zone, which it's not called NBA Red Zone, but it's a way it was promoted as to let people know, you know, hey, this is like the NBA's version, which people have talked about for many years, right?

Wouldn't it be great if there was just an NBA version of the Red Zone channel that would pop in from game to game, show you big plays, show you, big moments in games, maybe end of game. games, situations. And so kind of a first run last night that the NBA did on an NBA app with Jared Greenberg and Steve Smith. And this thing will inevitably evolve greatly. But what did you think? I liked it. And what can we do with the NBA version of Red Zone? I like crunch time, Chris. Like with Greenberg and Smith, I think those guys, they did a solid job. I mean, over the course of time you're going to have to figure out like are you going to have a your own chris hanson are you going to have like a single host are you going to have these guys announce games because sometimes they went to the games and jared and steve smith would like commentate on top of it other times they'd go to the local market

announcers i think just figuring out the rhythm for it but ultimately what i want most with with this is customization for the user there are there are sometimes for me that i want to hear the announcers, there are other times I'd love just to hear the court sounds. And like I got like during the NBA bubble in 2020, they had this on the NBA League Pass app that I was using. They had this like you know the court side cam, you know, they're not sliding the one on the rail if I had. And I watched like a whole game from that camera view with just in arena sounds. No announcers, nothing. Like just the sounds inside the arena. And it was just such a cool experience. to watch a game that way from my seat at home, right?

And I would love someday with something like NBA Crunch Time where I have the ability to have, you know, the announcer voices on or off in arena sounds only. Because watching it, watching it last night, it felt like a cool vibe if I were able to sit back and just hear on court sounds and the games just change from game to game. I don't know.

I don't know. I just want that customization because sometimes I don't want to hear the announcers. Other times I don't. So I'd like for them to explore something like that next. I don't think that they need to... You don't need to reinvent the wheel on this one. The NFL has got this right. Everybody loves it.

You don't need Andrew Siciliano. You don't need another guy in there with Andrew Siciliano talking back and forth with him. I've just let Jared Greenberg host the damn thing. Yeah, one person. One person. Yes. This doesn't need to be a conversation show. Just have him bounce.

me from game to game. He can interject here and there, as he will, just like those guys do on, you know, when I'm watching the Red Zone on Sunday, right? Like, but it would, I wouldn't like it if they put another guy in there with Andrew Siciliano on the Red So on the Red So on, like that's not what I'm watching for. That's not the show. I'm not watching it. You know what I mean? I like Jerry Greenberg, like Steve Smith, is fine. That thing, I'm not watching that for the host. I'm watching that for the content of it. I'm watching that so they, They can bounce from game to game to game. So in my opinion, just like Greenberg do it,

have him on the screen, have him bounce from game to game. He can be the NBA's version of. I'm fine with him, right? I like Jared. But let him bounce it from game to game to game. I don't need cross talk. Again, I listen to the podcast. I watch television shows.

I watch a lot of cross talk. Like, if I'm watching that, my opinion is I'm watching it so that I can, bounce from game to game to game. And absolutely I would pick up the announcers on those games. And that's what I mean like when it comes to the customization for the viewer because theoretically. So what?

I can I can choose without Steve Smith channel? No, I mean, but like theoretically, like let's say in the future in the NBA like, I mean, look, streaming services work on stuff like this. The NBA with league pass has already shown like with some of their, you know, tracking camera stuff like the clippers if you if you are a clippers fan in their local market you can watch a game with all like like like the you know the artificial intelligence stuff in the background you know like if you know you can have different themes and all that for kids it's good for kids and you can have the plays on the core and all that but with audio they like they have options in there

to turn on and off audio and and i think for the user at home it would be cool if you had greenberg and smith let's say like the manning care where they have on a player guest, you could turn on or off the audio, which is essentially like a live podcast going from game to game, like tonight's games. They might be talking Pelicans Pistons, and then they might go to Nuggets Wolves,

and they're changing the way they're talking about the teams, but sometimes I don't want to have a podcast type of thing on. I want no audio. I just want to enjoy, like I'm in the arena. That to me, that's one of the keys for the at-home experiences, is giving people the in arena experience from home, which involves no broadcasts. Sometimes,

because sometimes I want the broadcast. I just, I would rather them just have a host that, he kind of runs the show, and he bounces me from game to game. I'm a needy guy. I want that. It sounds like you just need the mute button.

No, I want that. But like I also, I also want the experience of, but feeling like, I'm in the arena. And that involves being able to crank up the inner arena sounds, hearing the guy over the loudspeaker. And sometimes I just want to feel like I'm in the arena as someone watching from home. Does that make sense? Do you ever feel that way? Yeah, trust me. There's going to come

a time where you're going to have a damn apparatus on your face and you're going to be able to sit in the front row at a game. Trust me. Yeah, no doubt about it. 100%. Virtual reality. I mean, look, you already can do that. Well, you can do that with VR. It's just the quality isn't, isn't at the level that it needs to be for it to be insanely popular as an option for people, but you can watch NBA games through virtual reality. And it's a cool experience. I've done it a handful of times like four years ago. I did it. The technology has improved a lot since then. You're right. Someday you're going to be able to buy for five bucks, court side seat. For 10 bucks, you get to move around the arena during the game. You know,

you can go behind the backboard. You can sit courtside. You can sit in the commissioners. seat like 10 rows back. They're going to have that option someday, and it's going to be really freaking cool. I'm excited for it. Of the games that were last night, the Memphis Philly game was the best game. That was an overtime thriller. Philly was playing without Joel Embed. I hated this because Embedd has been so amazing.

He did not play in the first Memphis Philly game, so didn't get to see him either time that those two teams played this year. And he has made a big push for MVP. Marant on the other side has gotten himself into the conversation. So I was hopeful they were going to get to see those two guys up against each other. But the 76ers without Joel and Bina, we had chronicled last week, how I think they were three and eight, we said. Their record was outstanding with him. But without him, they had struggled this year.

They played extremely well last night. Memphis could not hit a three to save their life missed free throws. I think nine total free throws. But I walked away from that game, and I think a lot of people did. Clearly there were a lot of Morant theatrics. He makes seven, eight, just jaw-dropping plays every single night. But the second year, guys, last night, on one side, Desmond Bayne, who had a career high, but more importantly on the other side, on the winning team, was Maxie.

and Kevin, I've talked to you about seeing Maxie before. I saw him in that clutch workout, that ridiculous made-for-TV workout that they did. And I came on here and talked about how much I liked him after that. That's before he ever got drafted anywhere. I saw him in person. His rookie year came on here, said, geez Louise, I really liked this guy.

Of course, he was playing behind Ben Simmons. And then last night, I mean, he was just, awesome. And he is a dog. And I tell you this, man, I don't know what's going to happen with Ben Simmons stuff. But Philly has got a bona fide keeper with Maxi who I think he has a chance to be a very special player in this league. I really do. Because this is just year two. And you've got to remember under the circumstances of which those guys all came in. Weird year, weird draft, you know, weird off-season, weird training camp, season starting after Christmas,

like everything about it was bizarre. And now this year, it's been more normal, still not totally normal, what a normal season would be like, especially with guys in and out of lineups all the time. But I think that one of the great things that has come of the,

the Ben Simmons fiasco is that it's forced Maxi into a lineup that maybe he doesn't get the opportunity. Certainly does not get the minutes if Simmons is there, especially playing for a veteran coach. But with that, you know, the development continues. And boy, he was awesome last night. And I do think he could be a special player. I mean, he hit some nasty layups. that game last night. I mean,

his at-room finishing is so nice. He took some ridiculous step-back threes, but. Yeah, that as well. I mean, he, he,

he, he, he, he, he mostly took shots in the paint, but I mean, his, his ability to finish inside the burst he has, the feel he has.

Um, I don't know. Like, I, I think with somebody like him, it's not just, like, Daryl Morey had that quote last week where he's saying,

it's on me to get it right because of Joel LeBeed and his greatness but it's also like the ascension of somebody like Tyrese that necessitates the need to maximize what you have here because if you get it right with the Ben Simmons decision

that they're going to have to make it a little over a week look dude like Maxey could get even better he got better over the course of his rookie season he's showing signs of getting making improvements over the course of his second season by April, May, when the opportunity is there for him, he could be even better with those

chances that he's given on the core. Because this guy's got, he's got, he gets got it all, man. He really does. Yeah, it is a little hard because you just wonder, you never know the trajectory of these guys. And there will be a first time through in the playoffs in a, you know, really difficult situation. And I'm talking about where you're getting big minutes. And a lot of people argued he should have gotten more minutes in last year's postseason, especially considering what was going on with Simmons. And so we'll see. But I mean, some of these guys have gotten so good so fast that nothing is out of the question at this point. And I do think by year three, year four, he could be a very significant player in the league for sure.

And not only like on offense too, but defensively as well, he had that block in the first half where he recovered on that point. up by Desmond Bain. Desmond Bain never gets blocked, but Maxi flew out of nowhere, you know, from Bain's right and blocked Bain's jump shot from the free throw line. And like Bain's like hovering six feet in the air.

And Maxey just shoots right up and blocks the shot. He had the block. I think again on Bain and late in the fourth quarter as well. Like he's just, he's just a gamer, man. He is. I love, I love Maxie.

They get a bunch of those guys in that roster. That's why last night's win without Joel LeBede. That feels like one of those defining wins of the season that if you're a Sixers fan and you look back in April, you're like, remember when we beat the Red Hot Grizzlies in Philly without Joan Labede

while Abed's playing at Peak Powers? I don't know. It's just a great team win for Philadelphia last night. That is a great win for them. The Grizzlies since... Really great. Since December 26th, the Grizzlies are 16 and 3 going into last night. That's a massive win for Philly. So nobody's beating them,

much less a team without their best player. And by the way, to buy Harris, 31 points, 12 of 25. I know Tobias Harris is overpaid. I know all that. But in the right role, with him being like your third option sometimes, he can be on certain nights the first option. Like some nights, Tobias Harris can become the guy that you're going to for buckets. And there's value in having a guy like that.

So for Philadelphia, unless you're getting something of value back with, Tobias Harris. He's not just a salary dump is my point. The idea of attaching Harris to a deal isn't just a dump. He's a quality player. And I think games like last nights do show the value and having somebody like him, regardless of the money. Forget about the salary for the minute for a minute here. It's like for the Sixers, they're in championship mode. They're going to find the best basketball deal. And Harris might be a guy they want to keep. Well, and one of the things that you and I have talked about many times over the years, Kev, and I stand. by is people always bring up like really good players and their contracts like, oh, you guys

go one of the worst contracts in the league. And so it'll be like, you know, like they talk about De Aaron Fox. They talk about Tobias Harris or anybody that's not playing that well that gets paid a ton of money, right? And they talk about them being the worst contracts in the league. And as I've said to you for many, many years, those aren't even close to the worst contracts. The worst contracts are the guys that suck. The guys that can't do anything for you.

Like Davis Burntz, like that, a guy that doesn't even play, doesn't do anything, can't contribute to you at all. Like, that is a terrible contract. Like, yes, there are guys that get overpaid, but like you were saying, at least Harris can play. I mean, these guys, you know, like they're good. They're not worth what they're getting paid, but they're good players. The ones that kill you are the ones that can't play or cannot help you at all. and you're paying 10, 20, sometimes $30 million, too. Those are the true killers.

But we focus on the guys that get overpaid rather than the guys that honestly shouldn't be getting paid anything and get paid a fortune. You know what I mean? They can't even contribute. But that was the best game. The only other one after that game got over, I flipped over and I watched Golden State in Houston

just because it had turned into a five-point game. And I'm like, what is going on? And then Kevin Porter talked a lot of shit to Steph Curry. And then Steph Curry set the house on fire. Like every once in a while you get to catch one of these. And I felt my son was actually in there with me and we're watching it. And I mean, the announcers just going crazy. They're like, Steph Curry's gone nuclear.

I mean, he had 21 points in the fourth quarter. And there's, I think, House of Highlights posted on Instagram this. morning, I didn't even catch this during the game, but there's this like out of time time out where Kevin Porter is like right up next to Curry and it's just mean mugging and staring him down the whole time. So this is one of those life lesson things, huh? Like, I think you picked the wrong guy to bark at, Kev. Yeah, well, we do have Ryan Rosillo on later for life.

I mean, we could have life advice for Kevin Porter Jr. Don't mess with Steph Curry. That's for sure. The All-Stars are getting announced on Thursday night. It's going to be seven from each conference that are going to be. By the way, do you have a vote in this? Are you one of the voters? No, the assistant coaches choose the reserves.

I voted for the starters. Okay. All right. So media doesn't even vote for reserves at all. Media does not. It's all coaches. Gotcha. All right.

Tell me if you agree with this. I think the West is very easy. And there will be replacements because of interest. injuries. But Luca, Gobert, Draymond, Carl Anthony Towns, Booker, Chris Paul, Donovan Mitchell. Who does that leave off? Like, who would be your eighth, your first replacement player? I don't think that there's, because of the Wiggins thing, I think it just made it so easy. I mean, Anthony Davis, Anthony Davis, I know he's having not great season by Anthony Davis standards, but he's averaging 23 points, 9 and a half rebounds and three assists.

I mean, it's not, I mean, the numbers are the numbers regarding Anthony Davis, but this team's three games under 500 right now. He's missed a boatload of games this year. I think he's only played in like 30 games this year. But I don't really feel, I don't feel like the West is really ripe for a snub. Because once Wiggins got into the starting lineup, to me that made the sense. seven very easy. Yeah, I think those are the seven.

I mean, who would be the next one? Like, is it a NBA.com, like, I just pulled up their list. They have one person there on their staff picked DeJante Murray over, over, I'm not sure who they picked him over, but they picked DeJante Murray for one of their spots. Now it was over Dremont, on maybe because of games, games played. but I mean

I'd still pick Draymont right now yeah I mean there'll be some and then some of these guys there'll probably be some replacement guys in there by time we get

to the game oh yeah inevitable those seven those are I mean the bigs you got Luca Gobert

Draymont Towns well I guess he would be considered a I guess you know if they need another big well you have four back core

you have Luca Booker Paul Mitchell and then go bear dream on towns. I don't see anybody cracking that. I think that's fair, for sure. East is much more difficult. Levine is a lock. I think Tatum is a lock.

I'm going to shock you and tell you, I think Hardin is a lock. Because he got, if you go back to the voting, he got the media, he got the fans, and he got the players. So he's in. So you think coach has put him in? He was ranked.

highly by all of those. So now you're down to where, I don't know what they're going to do with Jimmy Butler. Because Jimmy Butler's played 32 games out of 51. He should be there. But I just told you that Davis played 30, and I do think that would be held against him. So the Butler thing, I really don't know.

I think there's going to be two calves. I think Garland and Allen will make it. I do. Both of them. I think Van Vleet will make it. So who doesn't make it here? Middleton, Butler. Well, no, no, because, all right, so you'd have Levine Hardin, Van Vleet, Garland.

Okay. And then Butler, Tatum, Allen. The player's vote was Garland. The media's vote was Van Vleet. The fan vote was Lamele. So who's who's missing? here then? Well, I mean, Bridges got the players vote in the front court for fourth. He was fourth amongst the front court guys. I mean, there was no, because there was Tatum, Butler, and then, you know,

you picked the third one, but because their media was unanimous, you know, with Janice and Embeddon and Durant, nobody got any votes for media. So if you just went by who did well and the others, Bridges was fourth in players vote, which is actually kind of surprising. Jared Allen got the fan vote, you know. Jared Allen should be on that team. I'll be disappointed if Jared Allen gets snubbed. I think they get both.

He should be on it. That's what I think. I think Levine Van Vleet, Hardin, Garland, and then Butler Tatum, Jared Allen. I guess they could leave Jimmy out. I guess they could, you know, hold against him the 32,

games out of 51. But I don't know. Band bleed should be there too, I think. I mean, it's tough. There's a lot of candidates in the East, and there will be snubs, but there will also be guys who don't go to All-Star and that there will be replacements. So,

I mean, I think the biggest snub, I mean, I guess you could swap out Butler and put in Lamello, but then the heat got nobody. You know? It'd be pretty damn weird to have the number one team have nobody. So, I mean, I guess they could try to wedge hero in there.

I don't know. I mean, we'll see. We'll see. I like your teams, though. I think the Cavs are going to get two guys after looking at it. Yeah, they very well might. Plus, the games in Cleveland, I'm sure Adam Silver might have a say in that. Like, hey, coaches, let's got some calves in here. Yep. A couple quick hits.

Sucks for Joe Ingalls. I heard you and Bill talking about it the other day, and it turned out after you guys had recorded, it was his ACL. So he's out. You know, that takes you into next season when it's an ACL and at his age. I don't know if we watch Joe Ingalls play into the NBA again, really. Age 34 with an ACL. I hope so, man.

Very long recovery. You know, expiring contract. I mean, he could. Yeah, he could. He could, but, I mean, it's crazy how much can change in a year, isn't it? Last year, he's a sixth man of the year candidate. And this year he's falling off a cliff and jazz fans are asking for him to be pulled from the rotation. And I mean, not all jazz fans.

Some just jazz fans. And then he just fell off very quickly. And then this happens. It just sucks, man, because a guy like him, you root for them to turn it back on. And maybe he can't. Maybe post-injury he'll have another couple of years. He is older, though. Unfortunately, we got injury news that we got to mention.

You got the Ingles thing. You got Beals, got a wrist injury. and he's out two games, it's worth attention, just to monitor, right? Because he's got a wrist injury and he's going to keep getting it looked at. Hopefully it's just a couple games. But that's a name that, you know, comes up all the time as a possible target for teams looking for a star to trade for.

But he does have a wrist injury right now. Brooklyn is just beat to hell. You got Hardin, who has had this. issue with his hand, which doesn't seem like that's a big deal. But you already had Durant with an MCL. Aldridge is now in a boot. And I don't know, it didn't get much play, but I was just reading yesterday that Joe Harris coming off the ankle surgery, you know, that was supposed to be like a six-eight-week

thing or whatever it was, a couple months. And so we weren't that far off from maybe a Joe Harris return. And I guess they asked Steve Nash about it. and he copped to that there had been a real setback. Yep. In the whole deal. And I was like, oh, oh. That's big.

That's big for them. I mean, he's a very important piece of that offense with the spacing he provides as one of the better shooters in basketball. And not having him, I mean, like, you can still win without Joe Harris. But, boy, he does, like, make life easier for a K.D., for a Kyrie, for a Hardin, for Patty Mills for that matter just to have that presence out there. And here's the thing, Kemp, it's just, I mean, that's a team that we fancy is a very, very difficult out and possible favorite, you know, if they're all healthy, which it seems

like they never are. But even when it's all said done, you go into the play, even if you got everybody healthy by the time it's playoff time, it is just a minuscule amount of minutes that you've played as a unit, you know what I mean? Like, you think about the amount of minutes that have been logged by these other teams that you're going to be facing, you know, crunch time games and pressure situations and just all the things that go on over the course of 82 games, they don't have any games. They don't have any minutes logged together.

It's crazy that they're in the position that they are, though, because even right now, as of Tuesday morning, the Nets are the sixth seed. they're two games back from the one seed and they're only six games up from the 11. So they're only six games up from being out of the playing entirely. Only two games back from being the one, unlike in the West. Dallas is 12 back from Phoenix for the one seed. They're up 10 spots on San Antonio with the 11th spot in the Western Conference seating. It's like such a dramatic difference in terms of playoff seating and circumstances in the East versus the West right now.

Brooklyn could be a playing team, but they could have. also be the one seat. It's just very strange to watch them right now. And another thing that is certainly worth monitoring that could change the balance of power, maybe the most, given his success in the playoffs over the last 20 years, is LeBron James going back to L.A., and they're just like, all right, he's out indefinitely until the swelling in the knee goes down. It's like, okay, well, when the swelling in the knee goes down, does the swelling in the knee just come back after he plays some. Like, it's certainly worth keeping an eye on.

We have entered the stage of LeBron James' historic career where injuries are a factor and they're part of the story. He was an Iron Man for so long. He never got hurt. I mean, he's got hurt a lot. Yeah, he's got hurt a lot. A lot of nagging injuries the last three, four years. It's just part of it right now, which is no surprise for a guy that has over 60,000

months long. He was 37 years old and year 19. It's no surprise. but we are at that stage. We are super excited that we are going to be joined by Ryan Rissillo today on the podcast. And Ryan was once a Boston sports talk host back early at his career. And I know with all this Tom Brady stuff, don't act like I'm getting out of here without talking about Tom Brady today, Kevin.

So we'll bring that up. We got to ask him. Got to ask him about the goat. We got to ask Ryan Rissol about the goat. Tom Brady. What a career, Chris? What a career. What a career, indeed.

Very thankful to have grown up rooting for Tom Brady watching games with my dad. I'm very lucky. That's the way I feel this morning. Sad that Tom Brady retired, but I just, I feel lucky I got to enjoy him. Just watching so many games over the years with my dad. I'm just thankful for that. Super excited to have Brissillo on today, and we'll talk to him after these words. Kevin, now we are joined by the biggest guest we have ever had.

I don't know if that's true, but he is Ryan Rissillo, and he is the host of the Ryan Rissillo podcast at the Ringer Network. Ryan, we are honored. Well, thanks, guys. At first or a second, I was like, who we get him? So I appreciate it. We got a lot of MBA questions that we're going to get to you with. And I want to try to extract opinions out of you that you may normally not just give on your podcast. Okay.

The first is as follows, Ron. Brian, Kevin, you can answer these two. The team currently seventh or below in the standings that is the most dangerous, which can mean either they're going to end up with a top six record and bump somebody out or maybe just maybe they could pull an upset if they get to the playoffs in their spot that they are in now. God, the hosting is just a different gear from Furno. I'm like, this is intense now. So I feel like I'm going to get an answer right or wrong. I'll go east first. There is a right and wrong answer right.

No mistake. Okay. So really what we're looking at here are options for the east. You got Charlotte at 7, Toronto 8, Boston, 9, Atlanta 10. I always feel like people would pick Boston and be like, oh, they'll probably figure it out. I'm like, now they're kind of a soft team that's been 500 for like two plus years. It's Atlanta. Holy shit.

I'm just kidding. Now, Atlanta's the best answer here. Because, you know, you go through it and look at it. All right, the Knicks, I think last year was a little fluky. All right, here's the deal with Atlanta. At their worst, they were 17 and 25. DeAndre Hunter comes back. Middle January, they win seven in a row with him.

I know they lost last night to Toronto. But they've had this weird thing. I looked at it last year. You know how whenever you're doing the sorting of the stats? And then you're like, this is a crazy number. And you're getting ready to tweet it out. And it's like you're on 2018-19 season idiot. That almost happened to me.

but it actually revealed something because I was looking at their offensive defensive splits. And last year in December, Atlanta was 26th for the month defensively. And then in January, they were fourth. They have depth. They're not this bad defensively. I know they're talking up Trey Young a little bit. You know, we're not going to worry about his defense as of now. But between their depth, their shooting options, a Congo's development, Hunter being back,

not having to pretend that they're giving Cam Reddish minutes. and whatever I thought of Trey, because I didn't think he was always the easiest to play with. I thought he was such a negative defensively that I thought his run in the playoffs last year and knowing he was the least afraid of any of the guys that were out there, yeah, they seem bored. I don't love that they felt like they were bored after what they did,

but there's no way this is a 10-seat in the East once everybody's ready to go. To your point, Ryan, on last year and this year, a lot of it has been a correlation with Hunter. You know, last year, that kid has just not been able to stay on the court. And when he has been on the court, it makes a huge difference, especially with just the ability to have somebody that can guard some perimeter guys because they're little.

You know, they run bogey out there, obviously last year with Trey and Hunter just, I don't know. Sometimes it's like these odd, you know, super role players that can make the biggest difference on teams. I don't want to say that he's the difference between 26th and 4th defensively, but he is a difference. Yeah, I mean, Kevin, I don't know how you looked at him. He was kind of like, is he great at anything? And then when he gets into league and you're like, this guy's just really stable. And as much as we like, herder's offense and what he did in game seven last year

against the Sixers and Bogdanovich, like, you always want those kinds of guys around as shooters. But when you're hunting tray and then you're hunting wings on top of it, you need somebody that can cover for you a little bit. And they have the front line guys for it. But Hunter, and the number showed out. Every time he's back in, they're a different team defensively. I mean, yeah, you need a guy who's like 68 and versatile on defense to surround with Trey. I mean, with Atlanta right now, the question is, do they need, how many more of these guys do they need around him? Should they go after a Jeremy Grant type and cashing some chips and,

you know, get another wing like that? Or should they continue doing what they're doing with some of these younger guys? I like them having the mixture of youth on this team with Okongwu getting minutes now. He looks great. I don't know. It'll be interesting to see what they cash in here. Gallinari could certainly help somebody more than they could help that. Wouldn't you say? Yeah.

Gallinari, to me, is one of the greatest mysteries in modern NBA history. He doesn't move and he'll get 20. But it didn't do very much in the playoffs last year. Kevin, what's your answer for the team that's seventh or below

that you think is dangerous? The answer is the Lakers because they have LeBron James on their team. I know that's this is a basic answer, but it's this truth. They have LeBron James and Anthony Davis and a guy named Russ. So they're the answer by default with those names on their roster.

What is a guy names Russ? What is that analysis? Well, then he's not living up to the name, you know, that people expect. People don't expect Russell Westbrook to be a struggle sometimes. But he has been an absolute struggle for the Lakers right now. And Lakers fans

don't like him. What about what about LeBron go back to L.A. because his knees swollen and they say he's out indefinitely. Doesn't worry you? It should worry everybody. Absolutely. I mean, that team could,

they're not going to fall out of it necessarily. They still have a five-game cushion on San Antonio and then 11 spot right now. But it's undoubtedly worrisome for LeBron James not to be there right now. But I don't know. I mean, like other than that, you're not going to pick the clippers without knowing. Paul George, when he'll come back, or Kauai Leonard. You're not picking Minnesota.

Portland, no. And in the east, I think like Ryan said, you could argue about the Celtics. They have two guys that can drop 40 on you and Tatum and Brown. But I think overall, out of all of them, I would pick the Atlanta. I would also pick Atlanta like Ryan did. I thought Ryan was going to say that dangerous did not mean dangerous to the fans in the first three rows that might get hit by a stray Russell Westbrook jumper. I know.

For Kevin and I have gone at it already on this. I don't know how long ago it was. I just let Kevin go and then I just stopped. I was like, I can't. Kevin wants to believe everybody's going to change. No, you know, it's not that I believe. Listen, it's not that I believe everybody can change or that they will change. They could if they wanted to.

You know, if you put your mind to it, you can change and evolve as a person, but that doesn't mean that he will. He probably won't because he's Russell Westbrook and he never has changed. It doesn't mean he can't. He's had a lot of success doing it his way. We got to say, would I bet on Russ to change?

Hell no, I would not. I wouldn't. It doesn't mean he can't. It doesn't mean that he shouldn't. Because what other options of the Lakers have besides Russ changing? Like, he has to or else it's going to fail. I went through it because our

sorry, I was just jumping in. Because I didn't know if we were doing just one team or in East West. So I went through it. I did some comps. And it's just funny. Like you try to figure out what the Lakers do well. They're bad on offense. They're bad on defense.

They don't rebound. They don't pass. They turn it over. They're not great from three. I mean, I guess if we said, hey, they're third in pace, which surprises me a little bit with LeBron team, because usually he just slows everybody down, which is the way he wants to play and it's worked out well. It's a Russ team. That's why Ryan.

Yeah, I know. This is like the best Russ profile team because the two-point field goal percentage is all right, and there's some effective stuff there that's all right. It would be funny if you extracted Russ and found out that they were the slowest team in NBA history outside of his fast breaks by himself off the rebounds that he gets. Well, it's always something with LeBron. Like, whenever teams would try something new with them, and we were like, all right, to put more athletes with them.

They're going to run like crazy. You're like, he doesn't want to run. He looks at what you're doing. He dissect you. And it works. Okay? So I don't know why you'd want to change what it was he was doing, but as he got older people kind of theorized, remember like the Lakers first off season?

It was like, we just want tough guys. We want all these athletes and whatever. All right. The point of this Lakers part of it is I'm not selling you on it. And I said this, I don't know, a few weeks ago, I think when the Vogel thing started picking up because I just think the idea of Vogel being to blame for this is preposterous. But it's clear the front office doesn't love them when you give him a fake. one-year extension anyway.

But 80s missed 21 games. Their defensive rating with Anthony Davis, I think, is 10th without him. It's 26th. This is arguably the worst season of Anthony Davis's career. I think we would all agree because of the volume and inefficiency, as opposed to maybe still having better overall numbers in his rookie year. If you just had average Anthony Davis, not maybe the worst season of his career,

are they five wins better, you know, that would put them at his, as a five seed. So the Lakers still might be the right answer, despite more than half of a season of evidence that they're not good in anything. Yeah, and you do wonder if they could get to six and they have to play against Utah.

I don't know if everybody is, or Memphis, for that matter, who will be making, you know, not their debut, but, I mean, it was quick work last year against Utah, and it's a young team. I don't know,

I think there will be a lot of people picking upsets, if they met either of those two teams. If they get there, if they get to six, there would be a lot of people. Now, that might be foolishness, but there'd be a lot of people picking the Lakers to win the series. Yeah, you're probably right about that.

I would not, but go ahead. All right. Ryan Rosillo, the player that you most want to see traded at the deadline. I did kind of want to see Westbrook traded for John Wall again. Yeah. No, we just keep doing it every couple of years. I don't start at that.

What's that? I started that. I started that. That was you. The Westbrook for Wall, yes. I was like, all right, because I saw John Wall here. This is late November. Yeah, I saw him here when Houston came to town.

And I'm like, you know, I keep reading everywhere that nobody will trade for this guy. And then I keep hearing everywhere that there's nobody to trade Russell Westbrook for. And then I just, you know, then the clutch thing, right? Like, I mean, if they are the all-powerful clutch, who knows? I could still see that happening. I think there's a conversation that happens where they go, is Westbrook so bad for what we're trying to do that Wall just kind of fitting in a little bit better

makes us better by removing the bad Westbrook possessions. I don't think that's an absurd basketball conversation to have. No, I told when we first brought it up, Kevin, you'll remember this. You said, you said, well, Wall is not as good. as Westbrook, and I said, and that's exactly what they need. Somebody not as good as Westbrook. That's the point of making the trade, is that he's worse. You would have to give up something, actually, to trade for the guy who's making $40 million

who doesn't play. Think about that. I think you'd have to give us, because if you're Houston, which I think is part of the reason why Wall is also not playing, which it makes even harder to trade Wall, if there were any other landing spot for him, is I don't think they want Wall getting in the way. of what they're trying to do with so many of their young perimeter players. And if you bring in Westbrook, you know, I don't think Westbrook will ever be basketball happy again until he's with a bad team where he can just do whatever he wants and put up

numbers. And then he's not in the focus of a major city like L.A. So anyway, all right, let's get to real ones. I wish there was a way to get Jeremy Grant to the Bulls. I don't think that's going to happen. They desperately need a bigger perimeter player to be taken seriously against some of the big boys. despite Milwaukee's disappointment here, and it's not like there's always somebody to guard Janice or Durant,

but Brooklyn and Milwaukee can kind of throw some size at each other. Cleveland can actually size up with some teams. And when you're, granted, you know, Patrick Williams being hurt, but that's still a lot to ask of a guy that hasn't really got his NBA career even going yet. But I don't think there's much there in Detroit. Just may look at it as like we wouldn't mind extending Grant beyond, you know, a contract at the time that I was kind of surprised by, but when you gave Grant more opportunities, he's even a better offensive player than I probably ever thought he was in Denver,

because sometimes in Denver he would completely disappear. And I wouldn't call him a lockdown guy, but just some kind of size because Chicago 8 and 8 this month, they've slipped, I think to a 25th defensive. Just around the month, their defensive numbers have been terrible. I think Vooch is getting exposed a little bit more. So even though I love the Chicago story, I kind of worry about them hanging with the elites in the east. And I think that's a massive disadvantage for them. maybe Subonis somewhere. I never quite understood Subonis to Philadelphia, unless you were just so desperate because you'd like Subonis and wanted some kind of asset back for Ben Simmons, but I don't like how he and Embed the areas that they take up on the floor. I think kind of duplicate each other at times.

So there's just a few names. I was working on a Deshante Murray to the Nets for Kai Reef this morning, but I don't think that's going to happen. And it was really complicated because of some of the restrictions. You think Grant can go back to being third or fourth option? And, you know, I mean, obviously he left Denver in order to spread his wings and score a bunch of points to be more of a focal point of an offense. And they lost a million games. But, you know, you're not taking more.

You're not in the mix with, you're behind DeRoson. You're behind Levine. You're probably behind Vucevic and field goal attempts. You know, I mean, you're back to being fourth option guy. I don't think he would like it because that's why I had heard he went to Detroit in the first place. And I think Kevin could back that up too. It was just that, all right, you guys are on me. I always felt like with Grant, I mean, he's this big guy.

He'd been on a bunch of different teams. So that's always a bit of a flag for me. And then he would have games where you get like zero rebounds in 30-something minutes. I'd be like, how is that even possible? But last year, and granted, you get 18, 19 shots a game. I don't care who you are. You're going to put up some numbers. But there was more to him.

Like, he deserved a little bit more credit. But I just think his body type for some of those matchups. But, you know, Chicago doesn't, the guys, they have, they're not going to want to get rid of. They just brought in Lonzo. So I don't know if there would be some real dramatic thing that they've done here to change what they are with one of their main guys to add a piece. So again, I'm just kind of talking out loud here.

Not like I've heard anything. How about you, Kiff? Bradley Beale. I think Bradley Beals, if he were to get moved, that's the move that would shake up the NBA. And I also think, my gut says that would be the right choice for the Wizards, rather than taking it to the offseason and possibly giving him. him the five years supermax, but you can't, you can't rule out the threat of him forcing a sign

and trade. And if that were to happen for the wizards and they get back, I don't know, the equivalent of like Josh Richardson, like when the Sixers traded Jimmy Butler to the Miami Heat, that's probably a worst case scenario for Washington. And if I'm then, I'm looking for trades right now. What do you think, Ryan? Beal. I've always thought Beal was totally comfortable. is what I've been told. It's what I've been saying the entire time. He has not pressed the issue like we thought he would from the outside. And he hasn't pressed the issue because when you look at the deal that he's lining himself up for here,

I think he's just going to hope to take the deal, lock in the massive five-year deal, and then take it from there. And that's what you're hearing more around the league now, too. It's not do shorter deals for the freedom. Take the deal and then bitch and get your way. So, you know, because there's just like, If he gets traded, if he gets traded, there's a lot of money left on the table. Yeah, I mean, shit, I don't know it off the top of my head.

Because if he's traded, they still have his bird rights. So they can still do the five-year max if he rides out the last year, right? Even if they have his bird rights, they cannot give him. Yeah, they can give him the same amount as the wizards. The wizards can do the years, right? Yeah, so if he's traded, he can't get the five-year supermax anymore. but the other team can still give the four-year max. And, I mean, like, it's definitely, it's a big financial difference.

The last year of that deal being near $60 million in that fifth year, that's a lot of money that he, if he didn't take the five-year max that he probably won't make up when he's 33 years old signing that next contract. But, but what it, I mean, like, just, you hear so much. You're right, Ryan. There's so much out there about Beals not making any noise. He's probably going to sign that five-year supermax. he's happy there and then they'll reevaluate a couple years into that contract.

There's so much of that. But if you're the Wizards in the back of my mind, if I'm Tommy Shepard and I'm that wizard's front office, I'm like, well, what if that's just what we're hearing? But then he goes to free agency and this is his time to get to New York or to get to Boston for these teams that don't have cap space because if you sign that deal, you don't have the leverage to go to where you want to go. This is Beal's chance to go to the team that he wants to go to. And I don't know.

I just see that as a possibility that's not being discussed enough, despite everything that's being heard behind the scenes. Because it's a real threat. He could just decide to force his way to a team in a sign-on trade. He'll have that ability. Right. And I know Winhorse, just because I'm trying to pick it all up here, Winhorse was saying that he's not going to sign the extension.

So that was last week. But that's the four-year. Yes. That's at 181. All right. So if he bribes it out, which apparently, like when I was asked about him, or we were just talking about stuff, it's like, you know what? He's actually just kind of cool with his setup. Like he's cool.

But then what was it? A couple of weeks ago, there was a report saying that he's kind of like warning the franchise. So sometimes I think the guys just like to be, hey, I'm the best player. I'm going to get the max, but I'm just going to say stuff that makes it even more difficult. I think that's probably like, hey, you better trade a bunch of people, Tommy, because this team stinks. Maybe it's a ding way. Yeah, probably. Right? Probably. I mean, I think that, you know, because remember Montrez's name came out a couple weeks ago as a guy that they were shopping around. You hear about the Dinwiddie stuff. I mean, that may, that just may be Beal using his leverage saying, I'm not fine just staying Pat with this team. Like, give me a chance and get rid of some of these guys. I don't know. Who knows?

Next question. The player you love this season much more than you have in years past. Ryan? Well, it's only one year prior, but it's Anthony Edwards. He's become one of my favorite players in the league. I liked him. I like the dunks and everything else. And sometimes I'll even ask Kevin this. I almost feel like I have to reevaluate some of the bad shooters that we've seen in college.

Scotty Barnes, who couldn't hit it, although his last month has been pretty bad. But Scottie Barnes has made shots for three to four months this season. Lamello couldn't make a shot. And now he's really good. And then Anthony Edwards, who's kind of between, I think, like 36. and 41% the last three months himself. So it's not just the shooting, it's not the efficiency, it's not the big nights, it's not the dunks. There's an attitude about him, guys, that is, that's serious.

Like, he, I remember very early in the season, because DeAngelo Russell hasn't always been one of my favorites, although they actually need him and miss him now because he's picked it up defensively. But DeAngelo was kind of doing his own thing, taking bad shots, wasn't really in the flow. And then there was kind of like a two-on-two where Edwards had the ball and Russell was ahead of them, but there were still sort of two defenders. And I think most people probably in that spot would have maybe passed it because you're like, all right, whatever, he's got maybe an angle up there. And I could tell Edwards had been kind of pissed about some previous possessions,

was like, nah, fuck this. Like, I'm going. And I loved it. He has a fierceness about him in the personality of like some of these guys can score and do really cool stuff. But for you to be special or a chance to be special, you've got to have some of that. You've got to have some ownership.

you've got to have some attitude, arrogance even. And I think he has all those things. And I love it. It wasn't like I didn't like him before. But I appreciate him now in a way. It kind of dawned on me a few months ago where I was like, I fucking love watching this guy. Like every time the Timberwolves are on, I'm like, oh, I'm going to check them out tonight. I've mentioned to Kevin that I have the opportunity to see him.

I've now seen him multiple times in person. And he is one of the few players that I have mentioned to people is just, it's a different thing when you see him in person, you do not realize he is really like LeBron-esque size. He is, right, he is a monster, a monster. And when you see it up close, you cannot believe he jumps and has as quick twitch fiber as he has. I mean, he is explosive. And when he stands next to like shooting guards, he makes guys. look like they're in grade school.

I mean, he is so huge. I can't get, I know, I know there's people out there like, yeah, yeah, we know, Chris, you've said it a hundred times, but people got to go see this dude in person to understand it. It's a different world, and it doesn't even come across on TV. It really doesn't. Like, he's standing next to somebody like Desmond Bain. Desmond Bain looks like a junior high player.

And Desmond Bain is a muscular dude. and this guy is a mammoth. I think they list him at 6-8. I mean, he's, you know, it stands the reason. He might have been, he might have grown a little since then. But just he looks like a football player. He's not even 20 and a half, Ferno. Jesus.

We have the same birthday, too, so I'm always on top of that. Ryan, with Anthony Edwards, like we're talking about like the physical aspect of him, You mentioned in passing there the mental aspect, like how he kind of influences his teammates. There was some stuff before the draft about how Edwards there's some immaturity, how much does he love basketball? And that stuff was real that we might be hearing about and reading about how much does his kind of maturity in the way he's become a young leader for that team, a guy blossoming as a leader, change maybe the way you evaluate some of the intel that we receive about these guys' personalities before the draft. Because it's so much different with what we see from Edward. now compared to some of the pre-draft stuff that was out there.

The pre-draft stuff was bad. And, you know, people could tell, well, hey, everybody's just doing that because they're going to, and I'm like, no, guys, all three of us have people we really trust and we know are not telling us stuff because of some angle that they're working, you know? And I had people that I trust going, I don't know, man. It's not him. They were like, it's not him as much as, like, we're just worried about what kind of, like, plan, you know, those around him will have for him.

And it was, it was repeated all the time. And then to see him have this personality that's so honest and kind of funny at times, like real depth as a young kid to have this kind of, I mean, Verna, you sent us that video, him talking about Janus. And what he says? Like, motherfucker's 7-3. Like, didn't he swear in it? Yeah.

Yeah, just dunk in his shit, and we can't do nothing. And, like, you know, what do you want to do? It was so funny. He's so likable. Right. And then I thought, oh, maybe was this what people thought was immaturity, but instead it's like, oh, wow, we're actually getting a young pro athlete that's not totally scripted and he's giving us some real answers. And there was one other part because the pre-draft stuff, like, it definitely, happen, but now that you watch him and you go, I don't, none of it matters. Like it doesn't, like, who cares?

And I think there's also, too, I think you go back over the years, you go, all right, you're hearing about this guy's surroundings or the way this guy was brought up or they're worried about this or all these different things. There are plenty of success stories where that is the case and there are plenty of failures where the guy had the best structure of all time. So, yeah, I don't, I don't know. Maybe if it's a tie, you use it as some kind of, kind of tiebreaker. Here's a comment that he had the other night. Like, think about every guard. Like, every guard wants the ball.

They want to do it all the time. Like, combo guard used to be a dirty word. Now it's the norm, which I think has actually hurt some end of possession stuff more and more. Like, nobody can throw a fucking entry pass anymore. I swear to God, I expect there'll be a story about a kid who's young playing with another guy and they go after the game. He's like, when you're down near the basket and you wave your hand, what are you doing?

What are you doing? What is that move called? Because I'll see guys, huge players have a seal on a mismatch, and the guard looks at them like, why are you waving like you're going to get the ball or something? Like, I'm just going to take a three. Like, use left less effort down there, buddy. So Edward said the other night after the Phoenix loss,

he was like, I had to bring the ball up a little bit. He's like, I'm going to score first. So he's like, when I have to bring the ball up, I've got to get everybody involved. I just thought it was funny. that he was being so honest going, like, I'd rather not bring the ball up because I'm here to score. I love it. Kevin, the player you love this season much more than you have in years past. It's his teammate, DeAngelo Russell. Have you seen him play defense this year?

He's putting in more effort on defense than ever before he's quarterback and the defense, pointing guys out, you know, pushing them in certain directions to get the right rotations. Watching DeAngelo Russell this year has been very enjoyable. I wonder if that's the Pat Bev influence. I'm being serious. I had Jim Peterson on the other week. And, you know, look, I will admit, watching Pat Beverly on the sideline, I would demand, if I didn't play, if I were the 15th band on September Wills, I would demand a trade just so I would like, I have to sit next to you for three hours every night when you're hurt.

Like, this is fucking brutal. But I've pivoted since because I think Jim Peet's one of the best analysts we have when it comes to league pass for the T-Bowles fans out there. he said that Beverly is on Russell all the time, and that is the biggest reason why. So once I heard that, and I heard it from him, it made me reevaluate a lot of that stuff. Ryan, the player you did love,

but you've turned cold on this year. I can't believe that I even allowed it to enter the conversation, but for years, you know, the Tatum Brown thing, I'd be like, come on, guys. And I'm not even saying that they should break it up. I think a lot of that stuff gets really stupid because it's like, okay, So you decide you've got to look at making changes.

Look into it, but don't change for change sake and then take back less value because that's usually what happens. But I always held out hope that when you have two wings that are that dynamic and can do so many different things and they both defend that that's almost a foundation for whatever team would want. I think the way the game is played right now, I'm like, hey, would you want two mid-20s all-star wings to be the foundation of your roster? She'd be like, yes, sign me up. In the back of the day, it would be a big. now it feels more like a point card, but then again, is it really the point card?

I've had a hard time. I know the month has been better for Boston. I think it's the opponents more than anything else they figured out. But this is the first time. I saw Sean Grandy tweet out that they were first in net rating over the last month. I saw him. Yeah. And I was like,

really? I think it was, I thought it was second best. January, he had it December 31st to January. 31st. That's what he posted. Okay. All right. January, I had it as second. Now, it

surprised me as well because I think they had the eighth best record or something, but they were second net rating from when I looked it up for the month of January. I'll double check while we're doing this. But I've watched it for, you know, I've watched this team most of my life. They probably played the 31st and Randy threw it in there

to make the numbers better. That would be hilarious. If you put in the December 31st game, they go to And so it makes it look. Did they play on New Year's Eve? Because that's going to be really funny if from December 31st to January 31st, his numbers flush out. But if you just do January, they don't.

Because I just looked at it this morning because Phoenix is number one in net rating for January. So if I go advanced filter, you guys talk amongst yourselves. They did play December 31st against Phoenix. So they did have a game that night. Oh, that's really funny. Yeah, so just for point of reference while he's looking that up, it says, let's see. All right. So offense, defense, net rating.

Boston, ninth offense, second defense, first in net rating. Phoenix, first in offense, eighth in defense, second in net rating. And then the other three teams are Dallas, Philadelphia, and Denver. Those are the top five. But yeah, he posted December 31st through June. January 31st. Well, it's, maybe he meant first in the east then, because it's still, I just did it with Phoenix going to the 31st to 31st. So, uh, Phoenix is still number one by like two points.

He might have meant east. Grandy doesn't really mess any of that stuff up. So I don't, I don't. Who knows? We'll have to go back and look. Anyway, all right, so now I'm on the edge of my seat. So which one do you not love as much, Tatum or Brown? I'm just going to say the whole thing, the whole thing. It started happening last year, you know, Bill and I are doing the Sunday thing. It was this weird moment where I go, I really don't like saying this. I don't like saying this about pro athletes. I don't, I'm critical, but I try to not be like personal about anything. And I never, I don't like when people say teams quit or any of that shit, it's usually just you lose.

You know, and then everybody on Monday is like, oh, they quit. They quit. Like, are you sure? But this epiphany halfway through is how I was about to say, they're really soft. They'll just interrupt me. He's like, they're soft. They're soft team. It's like, yep.

We both had a hard time saying it out loud. So maybe this is this stretch in January where they figure some things out. But I don't go into those games. When they're on, I used to try to watch it to figure out what was wrong. And I've basically just given up. I've given up that this thing miraculously turns itself around. Because I think it's been the same personality of players, despite some other changes.

And it's been consistent. So I can't believe I'm saying this stuff because I really like both players. But it just hasn't been that much fun. Kevin, the player you did love. but you have turned cold on this year. How about we both like this guy, Nikiel Alexander Walker. Just hasn't been great.

Just hasn't worked out with him. I mean, you like what you can see on paper, 6'5, can handle the ball, can do some different things for you and on the offensive end, but you just can't shoot efficiently. Not yet, at least.

Just hasn't been able to put it together. And I think if you asked me the same question one month ago, I mean, it would have been Duncan Robinson because Duncan Robinson, what he's shooting 31% from 3 instead of 40 plus percent, dramatically different viewer experience. But he's back on track this past month. So he's been more enjoyable to watch.

Man, they've moved his ass out from Max Trues. Did you see that? Last night, Max Trues took 17 threes. He took 17 threes, bro. 17. In one game, he had 19 field goal attempts. 17 3 point attempts. Max Trues.

He's like, oh, yeah, Duncan Robinson, got $100 million. Watch this shit. He wants his 100 bill. I couldn't believe it. Well, I was looking at the box score. I'm like, no way, did he take 173? He really did it. He lit it up, too.

I mean, he made nine of them. Miami continues. You keep rolling along. You're like, all right. So, but I cannot express to you last night the disappointment, whereas I was clicking around going, who the fuck is playing tonight? It's like, who is actually playing tonight? I mean, even Garland was out because he's got the back thing from the weekend.

Luckily, Steph salvaged at all with 21 in the fourth quarter against Houston, which may be one of my favorite moments of the season. We go back and make the DVD where Kevin Porter Jr. yells, what the fuck you talked about? After he hit a three against Steph. And then Steph. nuclear blow torched them. That was outrageous. That was a little, I mean, it was outrageous.

At one point, the announcer was like, and steps up to 38 half of them now in the fourth quarter. I was like, oh, my God. The announcer lost. Because I went back and washed it because I was like, are you as locked in as you need to be in a 21 point fourth quarter step experience? And I go, you know, I'm not. And I like put everything away.

and I go, just sit down and watch it all. And they announce they're not that I'm not. He lost track of what Steph was doing because it was still a few minutes into the fourth before he'd even made a bucket. So he actually got the 21 in like an eight and a half minute stretch. And if I was Jayshon Tate, I would have tried to fight Porter because Jay Chantate would have been like the hero. He was doing everything, everything.

Because one of the warriors guys tweeted, he goes, I've never seen anybody talk to Steph the way Porter's talking to him. and, you know, as Porter hit that, he hit a three right in Steph's face, and then he backpedaled as a timeout, and he actually says you can see his, but he was so obvious what he was saying is I just used the quote earlier. Unbelievable. All right. You were, before we get out of here, we've got to ask you, and this is unplanned, right?

You were a Boston sports talk host. I was. Yeah, you were. Once upon a time. Ryan Rosillo, many years ago was a Boston sports talk host. Tell me what it would be like to go to work today after a nine-part Tom Brady Instagram post does not mention anything about Boston. That's a great question.

I think this is very obvious. And I think there are many examples with successful people where they're aligned with a place or person. and they have abilities and they go, okay, well, thanks for the opportunity, but I'm good at this. And Theo Epstein was with the Padres, with Lekino, and they brought him over, made him the youngest GM. And after a while, he's like, I'm really good.

I'm really good as a GM. And thanks for everything, but like also fuck off. Like, I'm good at this. And then he went to the Cubs and he wins another World Series, and there should be Theo statues at every Little League park in the United States. I think Tom drank all the Kool-Aid forever took the deals that were team-friendly

you know, Taila once said I don't think Bill Belichick's taking a pay cut went to New England, wanted to stay from what I was told and it's all kind of out there is that Bill was like, no, you know, Bill thought he was declining a bit.

Bill was like the offer is the offer and Brady was like, all right, are you serious? And Brady, for every reason that I think is valid, was like, you're seriously, it's the only situation where Tom Brady ends up on another team in the NFL. It's the only one, and it was because of Belichick. And it's also why I think Tom went out of his way

to kind of get Robert Kraft off the hook where Robert Kraft's like, hey, I just own the team. I'm over here on the sideline. Like, I don't have anything to do with this. I got a hat and they let me drive good seats. I also own the team, but whatever. Because he was like, I don't want to get crushed in Boston because I let Tom Brady go.

So it felt like it got a little bit warmer since that time now, a couple years removed from it. But I wonder if it was Brady, the ultimate competitor with a little bit of fuck you at the end of it. Like you guys doubted me and I went and won a Super Bowl in the first season and could have won the MVP this year. I would have liked it. I would have had his side and we would have taken, although the station I worked at, we didn't get many. calls so I'm not you know

those are those tough days and you're doing talk radio for four hours a day and you're talking about the only thing people care about and no one's

calling you so probably get a few more calls on the day like today here's the real question if you desired if you decided you know what

I've had an amazing run podcast has done unbelievable for the ringer but I want to I want to pursue other things you know

I know you like you're screenwriter at heart, Ryan Rusillo. You say, you know what? I'm walking away from this. Would your Instagram post include ESPN or no? Yeah.

I don't. It would include people that I really like from ESPN. I still have a lot of close friends there. And the ESPN thing at the end was fine. They made an offer, and I was like, I want to try something else. And it all worked out. It worked out for everybody.

I know, but I feel it's a little Brady-esque. I feel like you would post a, You'd say thank you to Bill. Thank you to the ringer. Thank you to Sir Rudy. Thank you to Sir Rudy. Thank you to Chris and Kevin for having me on the mismatch. Like, it's just me on and on this Instagram post.

And then people will be like, bro, like, didn't you work at ESPN for like a long time? The equivalent for Ryan would be if you forgot Kyle. If you didn't put Kyle on there. No, I would never forget Kyle. Yeah. So, yeah, right. I retire. I thought you were going to ask you if I was going to go back to Boston Sports Talk Radio.

and I was going to say no. Yeah, no, if I left, if I left and then it was like never thanked ESPN and only think the ringer. Yeah, that would be a little weird. That's what just happened. Yeah. It is kind of strange. It makes me wonder if there's going to be a New England, a solo New England post at some point.

Okay, but you realize like his TB12 business is located there. I mean, granted, they plan on going nationally, but the store is right there on Boylston. So I don't, I don't think he wants to start. some kind of, you know, as a businessman, I don't know if he wants to start dumping on. You know, by the way, you could all be fixed real quick by like some appearance and he explains what it is. You could just say, oh, in the moment. Although, how long was it, Verno?

You said it was eight pages? I don't look at any of this stuff. Nine pages? Yeah, nine. That's a long post. Hey, look, look, it was so good. It was so good. And I saw the reaction was so visceral that I never listened to Boston Sports Talk.

and I pulled it up. You did. Oh, yeah. I pulled it up. Remember the show? Who was on? I don't know the host. So forgive me.

I just pressed, you know, Boston Sports. And so they come on, they're going to have Peter King on, right? And so they bring out Peter King. Forgive me to whoever was the host. But this was hilarious to me. So they bring them on and they're like, Peter, do you think Tom going to be? to Tampa hurt his legacy and that he's just now like a Dion or a Carl Malone chasing another

ring at the end of his career. Was that the host or the caller? No, the host. Because when you tweeted that out, I thought, oh my God, no, that's the host. Heard his legacy. You know, it's like a Dion, Carl Malone just chasing another ring at the end of his career. I was like, oh, oh, they're big man. Ring chaser. Tom Brady the ring chaser. He's just, hey, who gives a shit if he put us in Instagram post?

The guy's a ring chaser anyway. It's Carl Malone. Carl Malone. What? Carl Malone. Oh, believe. That comp seems a little. I'm glad Tom Brady left.

Patriots didn't get him their right wide receivers that the bucks did. I'm surprised that he is retiring, though. I mean, I get it for family reasons. He has other business interests aside from football and all that. But I don't know. I mean, I feel like there's so much more left for him doing still. He's not done. Family reasons for football players never flies to me.

You work like four plus months. Yeah, the other thing is, yeah, hey, go. You're not on the road for 80 nights. Yeah. You know, it's every, just go ask any frigging coach, ask anybody that does this, Does this deal? Let me just tell you something. As someone who has been around their family, now it was for the last two weeks because my son had tested positive.

And so everybody was in protocols for two weeks and we were around. And then obviously in two years of COVID where we haven't been able to do shit, nobody needs more time with their family right now. Everybody has had enough family time in the last two years. That is not something. There's nothing to do. You can't go anywhere. It's not like I could go to the movies.

Not like you could go. Like outside of him going and doing his work and playing football, like it's not like we've all been out and about doing stuff. It's been two years, bro. Nobody needs more time with their family. Trust me. There's anything we've all gotten. It's family time.

Yeah. Again, you work once a week. I know there's practices and stuff. but I know you can't also say I'm surprised he retired he is 44 like I never saw this coming

for 5300 yards I wish he'd kept playing because I just that's how much fun it was to watch and I guess this version of it we won't get the the Peyton Manning year where you go holy shit

this guy's done but then Manning ends up winning a Super Bowl you know what I'm saying Like maybe that's what it was. And then I remember at times when he got hit against the Rams on the Vaughn Miller Strip sack and the way he looked up, I'd never seen that look. I don't think I'd ever seen it.

And again, I'm not saying, oh, he got hit by Vaughn Miller in a playoff game that they lost and that decided, hey, I'm over this. Because I think you could also go and look at his hit rate. I think he had been as clean as he had been for a season in 10 years. So it wasn't like he had some Joe Burroughs season at the very end where you've go, he's getting his ass kick so much that, all right, I'm actually out of here. And I'm sure you can probably find different numbers to say different things. So, again, I'm not saying it's because that hit.

He actually is pretty clean all year, and he's 44 and maybe, you know. Yeah, and I think Peter actually, after they got past the bologna, got to a good point. He's like, look, he's not going to have Gronk. He's not going to have Antonio Brown. He's not going to have Godwin. Those were his three favorite guys to throw to. And they're all out. So Evans is ranked fourth?

Is that what Peter King is saying? I mean, gosh. He threw a lot of passes to those three, and they're all three going to be gone. He's not going to have it. And so there was a realization he's not going to have those guys. And so I can, I don't, I do not think we've seen Tom Brady play football for the last time. Oh, wait, you think he's coming back? Yeah, I think he'll play again.

Yes, I do. Maybe that's why maybe he's going to come back to New England. Yep. And that's why I didn't thank him. What do they need it for? They got back Jones, they say. New Brady. Kevin, would you trade Mac Jones right now for two more Brady seasons?

100%. That was the most lightning quick, Kevin O'Connor answer, in the history of the mismatch. Ryan, you've done it. I've been trying for five years. You just asked him the question that got the fastest response in mismatch history. Wow. It was like Levine following one of his own misses in his early part of his career.

That was too easy. It's too easy. Ryan, you're the best. Thank you so much for coming on with us today, man. Thanks, guys. It's going to do it for this episode of The Mismatch. Thank you, our executive producer, Jesse Lopez, as always. And we'll talk to you Friday.