The Mismatch - SGA Returns, Spurs Make It 11 and Loves and Loathes

Episode Date: February 27, 2026

Verno and Jacoby return as they discuss the Suns bouncing back to win over the Lakers, the Spurs extending their win streak to 11 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returning from his injury. Then they discuss their loves and loathes for this past week. (0:00) Welcome to The Mismatch! (00:31) Suns sink Lakers, Rockets stun Magic, Spurs Make it 11 Straight (11:03) Knueppel shatters rookie 3-point record with 207th triple (21:29) Jacoby and Verno’s Love and loathes (21:41) Verno loves: Mat Ishbia $1 Million prize for ASW Dunk Contest (27:34) Jacoby Loves: JK’s explosive new era in Atlanta (29:50) Verno Loathes: The NBA sending independent doctors to Utah (35:37) Jacoby Loathes: James Harden Injury (37:02) Verno Loves: Costas, Collins & Fratello Reunited for Spurs-Sixers on NBC (41:48) Jacoby Loves: Giannis less Bucks are on fire right now (44:19) Verno Loathes: Can I trust you Knicks? (49:53) Jacoby Loathes: Ayton Fires back “I’m not no Clint Capela” (53:02) Verno Loves: Taj Gibson signing with Grizzlies (57:03) Jacoby Loves: Magic City Monday in Atlanta (1:00:32) Verno Loathes: Vince Williams injury and perspective (1:06:37) Jacoby Loathes: Lakers aren’t even interesting anymore Leave us a message on our Mismatch Voicemail line! [phone] Hosts: Chris Vernon and David Jacoby Producers: Jessie Lopez, Stefan Anderson, and Jeff Shearin Social: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the mismatch. I'm Chris Vernon and joining me. He does every week from the ringer.com is Dave Jacoby. Jacoby. There's been a lot of basketball since we last boat, Bernie. Ready to get into it. A ton. We've got a lot to go over. As we record this on Friday morning, here are the things that happened on Thursday night

that are worth mentioning. The Sun's a much-needed win against the Los Angeles Lakers. Some wins are bigger than others. Obviously, Laker fans not happy with their team. after getting dropped by the Sons. But the Sons, you know, we had talked about how big a deal it would be to lose Dylan Brooks. And the instant results were very poor. They had 77 points against Portland.

They had 81 points against Boston. And it's like, oh, my gosh. Like, they're having trouble breaking 80 now. And so that's why I say some wins are bigger than others. It was a tough February for them. And this one, I think, you know, we'll see. if it gets them back on track. But it was an interesting paradox between these two teams

because one, we have lauded for playing hard all year long and that that is the difference that the sun's given honest effort every single night. And then you see hustle plays being made down the stretch and guys like Royce O'Neill hitting a game winner. Good look by Austin Reeves on the last shot. But Sun's got a good win. And they needed that after what had been a rough February. No Booker, no Brooks, no good win.

You would not expect this team to even be close to the Lakers. And now there are a game behind the Lakers in the standing for the 6th seed. Like I didn't think that there would be a Lakers' sons close competition to get the 6th seed. But here we are, and that's what's happening. And there's more on the Lakers later. It's a bit to T's. It's a T's. They are the, the reason that one was interesting to me is because it was like the complete opposite teams.

The way they have had their success is completely opposite. Yes, yes. Right. What is stars? Superstar shit. Yeah. And there's no team just a bunch of guys just work pale, just rolling up their sleeves and is playing defense. The Luca thing is wild.

We'll talk more about it later. But it's like, he is such an offensive weapon and a defensive liability that I don't know. I don't even know where I am on Luca right now. Well, I'll tell you where to be. It is, and this is what Dallas had started to figure out. It depends greatly who he is flanked by. And whatever the Lakers are going to be in the Luca era is not going to look like it looks right now. I promise you that, right?

I've said this before in this pod, and I'm saying it again, somewhere Nico Harrison is just like, I fucking told you. I'm fucking told you. he's probably having drinks with Calvin Booth. The Rockets and the magic. So good win for the Rockets. Kevin Durant has his biggest game for the Rockets with a 40 piece. I mean, a lot of stats were out of that. He became the six player in NBA history to have 32,000 points.

He tied Kobe for the most 30-point games. And I think the biggest thing out of that was Reed Shepard, again, first back-to-back, 20-point games gets a lot of praise from Durant after the game. And one of the things that we talked about in our episode at the beginning of the week is, like, they need somebody to settle it down to run the show to get guys into the offense. There's been a lack of trust that it's felt from Imae O'Doka, on Reed Shepherd. The rope is still not super long on Reed Shepherd.

But at least it's back-to-back games where he rolled with him. The guy hit a bunch of threes. had back-to-back 20-point games, got a lot of praise from the best player on the team. And so maybe we are moving into the rope becoming longer for Shepard because they certainly look better with him out there. I was watching this game, and my biggest takeaway was Kevin Durand is an unstoppable force.

Like, you cannot stop him from getting a mid-range bucket if he wants one. And I think there's a collective feeling that the rockets are no longer contenders. And I think that the loss of Stephen Adams has added to that. but like, you know, I don't want to play them in the playoffs. No, I mean, look, they've got a guy that can be the best player on the floor and in any game. Maybe even Shen Goon, you know, could go off for you in a game as well. And the Reed Shepherd thing is interesting. They're long.

They're big. And unbelievable response by KD to the KD files. Like we've talked about him in a very positive way. No one's talking about it anymore. No, we've talked about him in a very very positive way. No, we've talked about it anymore. No, we've talked about him in a very positive way. Ever since that dropped, he's been killing people.

But don't you feel like, and I might be wrong, I just feel like he went in front of the team and was like, yes, those are screenshots from a private group chat that I was in, and I apologize for complaining about you guys, but that was private and now it's public. Let's just move on. I think it's over. I think it's over.

I think it's probably over, but I think Kevin Derey probably didn't even acknowledge it to him. I think they just kept it moving. And nobody confronted him. Like, you know what I mean? You don't want to be Javari Smith going up being like, hey, man, you say that about me? I'm not as dumb as you think. Jabari Smith's like 23.

So he was like 13 watching Kevin Durant on the thunder. Yeah, you think he's going up and confronting him like face to face about it. Other things that happened last night, the Spurs won 11 straight. This is interesting because it's tough for teams to get a to pile up a ton of wins in February. Usually there's a little foot off the gas thing. there's the coasting into the All-Star break, there's the hangover from the All-Star break, and yet the Spurs have, like, straddled that completely

and never lose. 11 straight wins. They're 11-0 in the month of February. That's only the third team in NBA history to have over 10 wins and no losses in February. That speaks to why we need to perk up even more. February is just a weird day. You're in the middle of the schedule.

as I said, you're straddling the All-Star game. There's all the reasons in the world why we see weird outcomes. And yet there have been no weird outcomes. They have played good teams. They have played bad teams. They've taken care of all of them. And super impressive February for sure. Again, it's Brooklyn last night.

But I do think it's worth mentioning that, you know, we talk about Castle, we talk about Wembe, we talk about Fox and all these guys. This Champany season. man. He had 19 in the first half last night. I think I think the Spurs, one of the biggest takeaways from this run is it's not really Wembeñana based. It's not like he's not really been the driving force.

He's not putting up 40 or 30 or 20. Like he's kind of like against the pistons. He ended up with like 21, but he wasn't good until the fourth quarter. Against the Raptors, he kind of got shut down by Scotty Barnes. last night he didn't do anything. But they're winning as a team and we're not the first pod to discuss this, but they are more and more shaping up to be like, I'll use the word, favorites to come out of the West.

Would you consider them favorites? Well, just because of the way they have played against the thunder, you can't discount them. Look, we highlighted that when it happened in December. It's like they were going to play them a week later. This is going to feel like a playoff. series. Here's how they beat us. Here's the adjustments we're going to make. And they came back and got beat again. You know, the Thunder did by the supporters. And that's when the alarm.

That's when the alarm went off. That was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. You know what I mean? Like, this is, there's an ebb and flow of this stuff. This feels like you just saw this team. We've got the game film. Here's why they gave us a huge problem. Here's what we're going to correct and then you're going to get back on track. And these are two obviously outstanding teams. It's just that felt like they've got all these multiple ball handlers. They've got the big wings. And most importantly, they've got a half court offensive record that put so much pressure on you to make shots.

You know what I mean? And so that's what when Binyama brings to the table. But that's a good point you make. you know, whenever somebody goes on a streak like this, you know, I can see it now in my head when I'm scrolling through social media and it'll be like the nuggets, you know, and it'll be there run. And it'll be like, triple double, 30 point triple double, 30 point triple double. Yokic has powered this team to a 10 game win streak.

Yeah. Wemby is not powering this team through this street. No, Julia Champani. Yeah, yeah. Julia and Champany had 26, three steals, two blocks, and was six of nine for three in 24 minutes. Like they got so many good players that it like fall. Like, you know what I mean? Like you get these games and we just saw that game that we talked about in the last episode where it was Champany and Vassell.

So they lost the rockets on January 20th. They beat the Jazz, Pelicans, Rockets, Hornets, Magic, Thunder, Mavericks, Mavericks, Lakers, Lakers, Lakers. warriors, sons, kings, pistons, rapists, rappers, nets. So here's what they have coming up, which is something to think about. And, Bruno, listen to these games. You tell me where they lose.

Nicks, Sixers, Pistons, clippers, rockets, Celtics, Nuggets. That's a run. It is. It's pistons. Oh, don't ask me follow up questions. I don't like that.

Yeah, I think it's pissed on. It has to be because they just played in San Antonio, right? They only played the East One. They only played the East One. They only played the East One. once, yeah, and they just played up in San Antonio. That was the game where Cade ran through Wenbanyama and whatever. Yeah, yeah.

Had his five for 26 game. And so the game actually that we talked about Vesella and Champani making all those threes. So, yeah, yeah, the pistons are the one. That's the one to circle. That'll be great one. I mean, look, they could drop one of those prior to, but that, that is certainly one to keep an eye on.

I'm circling that Nuggets match up because, man, like, I, like, Yokitch and Wemby is just like, oh, it's the best. Immobile object, unstoppable force. Yep. We've got a couple other things that we do need to mention. It was not some kind of like premier game, but it is worth mentioning that Con Cniple has already set the record for three-pointers made by a rookie this year with 270. He passed Keegan Murray. There's a lot of games left. So he is going to set that record and he's going to set that record extremely high. But the reason this is worth mentioning what they did last night despite opponent. is they tied the most threes in a three-game stretch. They have now hit 25, 25, and 22 in their last three games. And check this out. This is the craziest one.

Most threes in the league since January 1st. I read this too. Lamello ball number one, con caniple number two, Brandon Miller number three. That's not just the Hornets. That's the entire league. That's a whole league. talking about just the hornets.

We're talking about the entire league. The top three made threes are all on Charlotte. Well, and we talked about this like a month ago when the sample size was super small about those three with bridges and Diabate that lineup. Okay, fast forward. The sample size has gotten bigger. That's starting five as a group. Number one offensive rating, number one net rating.

and 16 and 2. No. Yes. Number one. So that starting five, their minutes, their number one offensive rating, was like 130 or something for 100? It's ridiculous.

It's ridiculous. Yeah, number one offensive rating, number one net rating, and they're 16 and 2 with that starting lineup. There's something to pay attention to. It is interesting. 16 and 2 is a real sample. This is one of those series.

They end up playing the pistons. to be hot in game one. They win game one in Detroit. Next thing you know, it's a game two must win for the Pistons who have championship aspirations. And Con Conypill hit seven threes. I mean, he has had an unbelievable rookie season. Unbelievable.

If it worked for his college roommate, he's running. Flag is not playing. He's not playing now. I'm saying, but he would be running away with rookie of the year. his last four games so like this is like home stretch stuff right we're getting down to the last couple months of the season last 20 something games 33 was seven threes 28 with five threes 21 with three threes 28 with eight threes that's his last four games he has made in his last four games what's that eight three five and seven 23 threes in four three in four Four games. Great, man. So I hate, you know, I hate giving you compliments,

but you said something in the last pod about, like, playing hard is the market efficiency. Like, when you watch Connoissell, we always talk about the threes and the scoring or whatever, but like watch him guard off ball, fighting through off ball screens, running around. Watch him on offense. He'll make a cut, knock at the ball,

relocate and run around. Like, he's just covering so much ground. He's who you don't want covering you. and who you don't want to cover. He plays hard. Well, and especially, it's so jarring. And I know we're going to get to him later, so I don't want to spoil. But, like, it's so jarring when you watch, like, them and you watch Phoenix flying around.

And then there's three guys that stand around on the Lakers. When you're talking about, like, chasing guys around. Three? What are they other two guys doing? Five guys standing around. People drive to the basket. DeAndre Aiton's like, oh. I think JJ Reddick covers more ground than anyone else on the Lakers.

over the course of the game. As big a competitor as he is, to see the lack of competition sometimes on possessions has to just drive him absolutely insane. SGA returns tonight. That is worth mention, right? It's been, and it's also good that it's not keeping him out a long time. I know that there was some grousing this week about,

man, is the MVP just going to go to somebody like Kate Cunningham by default because all these guys are going to miss all these games? But it's good that SGA is not in like, super peril of that. This wasn't something long-lasting, and he's able to come back. And it also, I think it also speaks to,

like last year, they were running away with the thing. And this year, they got to, like, keep up with San Antonio. Because as we talked about two weeks ago, that the difference between one and two could very well be the difference

between you having to see Denver in that second round, or you getting to see a minister. or L.A. or somebody else, right? And the idea that if we consider Denver in that mix of the favorites, like one of those two teams is more than likely going to have to see them in the second round. Now, God forbid for them, you know, Denver drops to four. And then you get to you get to one seed in your booby prizes by round two.

You're playing Denver. But we did talk about how that could, whoever even gets to play in the Western Conference finals, i.e. the NBA. finals, the one, whoever gets the one or two seed could have a profound effect on that. In fact, it will have a profound effect on that. It's really interesting when you look at the Western Conference the way the standings are right now, because we don't consider the Rockets to be a true threat, but they are the three seed as it stands right now. So maybe like that two, three is kind of an easier path.

And when you look at the Western Conference, it feels like if you get to the Western Conference finals, there could be one team that's played 12 playoff games and one team that's played nine. You know what I mean? And that's a huge difference, just in terms of miles and effort and fatigue and rest. And there could be a team waiting because you know what that happens

when you clean up your series and you're waiting for the other one? Like there could be a team that's got four or five days off. Like all these little things become so important later. Right, because maybe even, you know, you can get the one seed. And by that time, Curry and Porzegas are both playing. Curry carries them to two wins.

So now you had to play six games in the first series. Al Horford, he's, you know what I mean? It's like, oh, my God. Like, you know what I mean? We didn't expect to be in a six gamer in the first round. But, I mean, you know, like that's who is at the bottom of the standings, right? Like, I mean, when you're looking at the eight seed, it's not necessarily just a runover that's not going to at least test you a little bit. So yeah, that's going to be it.

And I do think SGA coming back probably some of it is going to be awards and a chance of getting a second consecutive MVP. But there's no way you can't look at the standings and go, oh, that team right behind us is won 11 in a row. So anytime we, anytime we lose a game, they gain traction. We need it. Because like I remember Wednesday night, I'm looking at the NBA app looking at what games to look at. I'm like, the thunder are losing to the bucks. Right? So then you click on it.

You're watching. you're like, oh, they're featuring Jalen Williams. Like Jay Will is like their number one option on offense. The Thunder don't look like the Thunder right now as they need SGA in the worst way. The other thing that's worth mentioning is an aunt's game winner and him yelling at his coach. That's what the F I do. I mean, and then in the post-game interview saying he had taken a shot like basically over a double team, Chris Finch had told him like, hey, pass the ball.

ball and then he took what was admittedly a ridiculous shot. Terrible shot over two people including an outstretched Derek Jones Jr. Against the clippers and then yells at his coach. That's what the F I do. It's like, oh. The first thing he does. The first thing he does is find his coach and yell at him. I love it.

We, I think that we really need to appreciate Anthony Edwards' personality and his like star quality. Because you've got the Co-I. Leonard's and the SGAs in the league. but like in the yokich is like this guy is a fucking superstar in every way, shape, and form. And what's so crazy is Chris Finch has got to be, like, he's back in his coach's office and he's like, that is a terrible shot. Like, like your coaches are taught, like they're caring about process, not result.

And Anthony Edwards is going, look at the, see what happens, right? And Chris Fidget, I'm sure, the rest of them are like, I got it. I know you made it that time. That doesn't make it good, right? This is going to happen again. And what we need you to do is make the right play. And Ant's opinion is the right play is me. Me, me.

Yeah. It's like you're a goaler. It's like when you hit the drive, but like it's like a worm burner. It goes low, but it goes 250 in the middle of the fairway. Like, yeah, I'm in the middle of fairway, 250 yards. but like I hated it. I hated everything about it. That's how Chris Finch feels right now.

Yes. One time when I was young cover of the league, Jared Bayliss was playing point guard for the Grizzlies and went down and he hit a game winner in the game. And Lionel Hollins was screaming at him after the winner. Like he's like jumping up and down and then he starts walking to the side and Lionel Hans starts yelling at him.

or whatever. And Jared Bayless, I got all sad. And I was like, that is so weird. And then I'd like, you know, talk to the guys. And basically because Jared Baylis did like literally nothing they talked about in the huddle. Right? So the coach was just mad. Like, what?

Did you even pay attention? Like this, you, I drew up the play and you just did whatever the hell you wanted. But it worked out. And that is the difference, right? If you're Anthony Edwards, you can get away with it with your Jared Bayliss. You're going to get yelled at, right? I think it was, didn't LeBron do that to Frank Vogel one time? I think you did.

They called a play to the timeout and they broke the huddle. And LeBron was like, all right, second huddle guys. All right. Let's get to our loves and loads of the week. All right. So my first love is something that I brought up right after the All-Star game. I told you the NBA wants to fix the dunk contest, three-point contest, All-Star weekend. Put up a million dollars.

these guys will be fighting each other to do it. Well, then Matt Ishpia, the owner of the sons, who is hosting the All-Star game next year, went on with Pat McAfee. McAfee brings this up, and Ishpah's like, I'm in, I'm in. Which I loved. I was like, oh, okay, now we're talking, right? He's the owner's son.

And immediately there were the reports came out like, well, that would have to be worked out with the NBA and the MVP. Work it out. Work it out. Matt Isfee, I can't just do that. And so, like, okay, this take, like, this should take two seconds. Right. If this guy is willing to put up the money to have the All-Star Weekend,

be the greatest All-Star Weekend ever, like, work it out. Who's saying no? Like, this whole, like, I'm sitting there going, they're like, well, because of the incentives, structural, man, me, well, okay, let's sit down in a table. Who's saying no? who's saying that this cannot happen because the players aren't they're not going to vote no the owners why would they vote no it's not their money you know what I mean it's like all right

just figure it out but I love this I love this is what could not only save give us the greatest All-Star weekend in decades since I was a child If you put up, I promise you, there would be a fight to see who could get in the dunk contest. Because we haven't had an All-Star win the dunk contest in forever. And now we had a guy win the dunk contest this year that nobody even knows. He could walk down the street in his jersey and no one asked for his autograph. Oh, yeah. I forgot his name.

Kishon or something. What was it? Kishon Johnson. Kishon Johnson. He won the dunk contest. the like the NBA Cup has that like cash prize and the players care and I think you do like World Series of poker like actually have the cash at half court and then have the person have to scoop it up and put it in a duffel bag like put the cash right there at half court

and I was watching I think it was Tuesday night and I was watching the the prime coverage I believe was no peacock coverage and Vince Carter before the Blazers Timberwolves game. It was just like, hey, Blazers and Timberwolves up next. And it was, you couldn't hear the audio, but it was Vince Carter and Carmela Anthony Anthony, Anthony Edwards, and clearly Vince Carter was going through different dunks that he's done and Anthony Edwards was talking about it. And they asked Vince later, he was like, yeah, we were talking about the dunk contest

next year. Imagine Anthony Edwards in the dunk contest. Like. Oh, I mean, these guys would be fighting for it. I, why not do this? that have talked about doing it before, they would all do it. And I'm starting to think that Matt Ishbia might be a lunatic. I'm dumb enough to watch the celebrity game on Friday night this year.

And I was like, that's an NBA owner. Like, he was playing hard in the celebrity game. I'm going to tell you something I love about Matt Ishbia. Matt Ishbia, I truly believe, cares about fans. And I think he stands out like a sort of. thumb as someone who like truly cares about fans and cares about the fan experience. And I, I respect that a great, great deal. I think he actually really cares.

The concession stand prices and such. Yeah. I just think he cares. It might sound silly and stupid, but that is a big deal. As a guy with four kids, like, you bring down the price of hot dogs, that might incentivize me to come to the game. The concession stand thing. his comments on tanking, this All-Star thing.

Like so many times the thing that is forgotten in the NBA is the fans, right? They are the least considered thing. And I feel like that is way higher on his priority list is the fans. I mean, what's the hottest thing going in the country? I will tell you this is someone who I think it's a week or two. No, no, no, a week or two. Stop. In a week or two, they're going to be coming to Memphis,

and it is sold out cold and you can't even get a ticket. Banana ball. People can say whatever they want, but that guy has built literally the hottest sports product in the world. And all he cares about is the fans, a fan experience. You know what I mean? We talk about the Savannah bananas?

Yes. And they just signed a new TV deal. Oh, like the N1 baseball guy? Huh? No. The end one baseball guys. No, this guy, this guy's got it right. And he has built a BMAF.

And that, not that you have to go all the way. I'm just saying there is a real, there's, there's two ends of the spectrum here. And one end of the spectrum is not caring about fans at all. And one is caring about them a great deal. And I feel like Isfia is much more towards banana ball than he is the NBA. And I respect that. No, I agree. And like, the celebrity game thing threw me.

Like the idea that he's playing and it was just nuts to me. I'm sort of thinking like, what has he done since he's with the owner? He's like, I'm going to have Isaiah Thomas be my consulari. Give me Kevin Durant. Give me Bradley Beale. Again, he just made strange decisions. And I kind of like his lunacy. I'm pro Matt Ishbia, good love.

All right. My first love. We spent so much time and energy this summer, this season discussing Jonathan Kaminga and his relationship with the Warriors and his stupid contract and if they're going to trade him and what's going to happen. And listen, it's against the Wizards, but his two games have been kind of electric. Now, they do also coincide with not just playing the Wizards, but with Jalen Johnson having like a hip situation.

So it's kind of been like Kaming the ball these last couple games against the Wizards. And it has been so fun to watch. he's hitting dunks, jumpers, threes, assists. Like, I feel like he is going to grow and thrive in Atlanta with the Hawks. And I just so happy to see it. It would be hilarious if he ends up becoming a star, especially after I'm listening to Bill and they were opining about this being the swan song for Kerr, that Kerr will just walk away.

I mean, Warriors fans, what a meltdown that would be. If Kaminga ends up becoming awesome and Kerr walks away, be like, if he was going to walk away, we should have just kept Kamenka. Bill Maher was talking about that? Bill Simmons. Oh, Bill Simmons. How dare you. How dare you?

Heard of them. Wow. Wow. Anyways, let's get to my first loathe. My first loathe of this week is the NBA sending independent doctors to Utah. I mean, are we doing this? Really? Is that real?

I think I saw a report that that was real. Tony Jones. Tony Jones covers the jazz. He's been all over this. So the first thing that he reported was the reason why, though you have seen and think about the best three records in the NBA, the Pistons, the Spurs, and the Thunder. All of those at one point tanked and got superstars, right?

Got stars in order to enable them to become what they are. Now, obviously the Thunder less so because their superstar was traded for, but they got Chet and Jago Williams as well. Yeah. And also Josh Giddy, right, in a year where they tanked. So why I understand that there's like a big problem this year with tanking, and there's a lot of teams that are trying to lose basketball games and not giving an honest effort. But why are the jazz the ones being held up more than any other?

So I've been reading this stuff from Tony Jones. Oh, oh, I like where you're going. I heard this too. Go. And I'll tell you this. Utah and Utah fans, they are. ESPN's name is mud and these reporters names is mud. I mean, I've been, I delved deep into this last night.

I was like, oh, this is interesting. I mean, these guys are opine, and I was reading some jazz blog. And it was like, did you notice about the Jared Jackson, in trade. Did you notice about this deal that went down? It was reported by, it wasn't reported by Sean's. It was Chris Haynes. They're choosing now who they're, you know, who they're going to give the news to, right? Because ESPN went on there and they're having these big debates and they're saying, this is the worst thing that ever happened with them pulling their players in the fourth quarter. And it's like, why are the jazz the ones that are being held up as the worst thing to ever

happened to the NBA. And I kind of actually reading a lot of it, I was like, you know what, man, this is fair because it's pretty hypocritical. And they all blame, I mean, obviously they blame ESPN, but they blame Oklahoma City. They think Oklahoma City is planting this, that they are getting these reporters

to talk about how disgusting the jazz are and that they are working in the background with, you know, bitching to the league all the time. with how gross this is because that pick is top eight protected and so the jazz will get to keep it as long as it's in the top eight but if it wasn't it would go to the thunder

and so the thunder more than anyone have wanted to make sure that the jazz give an honest effort and so when they are not giving an honest effort they are going to be I mean they're going to send everything and they're just going to bitch and bitch and bitch about it until something happens

but I'll tell you this whether it's true or not there was a there was like a real contingent of jazz fans that a believe that ESPN is being fed this stuff to say and that Oklahoma City and San Presti are the reason that they are being held up as the worst thing ever despite the fact that teams have done this since like for the last 40 years and so now the jazz are the criminal to the point where like they announced Lori Markinen is going to be out after an MRI eye and they're like, okay, independent doctors are being sent it. Like, what are we doing? Look at my nose, Bruno. It's on the other side of my face. It's not even in the middle of my face. And Yerkech going out and being like, oh, he needs a nasal surgery.

Like, he's probably needed nasal surgery since he was 15 years old. Like, they are sort of making stuff up. Of course they are. I love this, this independent doctor story is crazy. Like, imagine being that actual doctor. And, you know, you live in like wherever. DC and the NBA calls and it's like, all right, so we're going to pay you X

amount of dollars. You have to fly to Utah to make sure this guy's hurt. Like, what are you going to actually do? Well, here's the thing. This is the reason that I'm putting it on my load. It opens an absolute Pandora's box. Yes, yes. That's the reason. Once you do this, once you do this, now are you going to do this with all third? Are you going to do

this with any team that you think, every injury, every injury report? Like, every, like, do we need a second independent opinion on every single injury report? Because we've both been covering this league long enough to know that, like, you just, you can't whack all these moles. You cannot. I say this as someone who loads tanking and has always hated it, right? I just don't like it. And I am disgusted by it. But I also have an awareness.

This has gone on for a long, long time teams have participated in doing this. And so to hold up the jazz and now start sending an independent doctor's like, I would just look at it like this. Yo, this sucks. We've got an unbelievable draft. And so a lot more teams are participating that typically do. It is admittedly bad for the product. But this will get fixed in the offseason.

To do this in the last two months of the season, have this be a story. And it's like, bro, you're going to fix it this off season. You created a system that incentivized. It incentivizes losing. You did this. You did this. You created a system that incentivizes. So here's the deal. Fix it.

Fix the system that incentivizes losing. But this whole sending independent doctors in and holding up the jazz as, you know, the bane of existence. And like this is the worst thing that anybody has ever done. It's crazy because teams have been doing this for all manner of time. That same thunder team, go look it up. I was at the game when they lost by 70-something. The Grizzlies beat them by 70-something points one of the years.

I was there. It's the worst loss in NBA history. So it is ironic to me that I'm reading that the Thunder are the ones complaining about this method. It's not a jazz problem. It's a league problem. So the league needs to change the policies, not send a doctor to Utah. And let's just get to the offseason. do it. And then fix it. Exactly.

All right. My first loat is, um, I'm watching the calves against the Knicks. The Knicks are, you know, whatever. And I noticed that James Hardin had this black tape around his right thumb. It was weird. I was like, it just looked kind of like thrown together. It looked like gaff tape. You know what I mean? Just like black tape around his thumb. And I was like, oh man, like that's strange, but at least this is offhand, so not a big deal. I loathe this James Harden injury because the honeymoon was so nice. nice and it created the black history month Jared Allen. You know what I mean?

Like there was just so much good things coming out of Cleveland. And as someone who cares about this league so much, the Cavs post-hardened trade became like, now we've got eight possible teams that can win a championship. Now there's five teams that could come out of the East. It just felt like they really elevated what you thought about the Cavs. And I also want to say that Schroeder and Ellis do a lot of things for them as well. but like I felt like the calves over the course of three weeks

completely changed how I felt about them and how the league felt about them and what they were. And this hardened injury just bums me out. Because I want to see it. I want to see more of it. I want to see more chemistry. I want to see, I just want that to be a thing.

And I understand it's going to be a, you know, a couple weeks he'll be out. It's his offhand. It's his thumb. But it just bummed me out. I load the fact that I don't get to see more James Harden caps. next love and I'll go through this one quick the announcement that NBC is doing a throwback game next Tuesday night with the spurs and the 76ers and they are going to make it look like the old NBC that you and I grew up with and look and they are going the extra mile in making it look like the old NBC by bringing a bunch of guys from the past to do it Bob Costas is doing it Doug Collins is doing it Mike Fratello is doing it.

On the sidelines will be Jim Gray. In the studio will be Hannah Storm, Isaiah Thomas, and PJ Carlissimo, doing a special edition of NBA Showtime. Like, I can't love this more. I hope it looks completely retro. You know what? I want four by three. I don't want to be 16 by 9.

I want to be four by three on my television. I want two big black bars on the sides of my television. I want to be four by three. It's a great idea. Everything about I love the throwback. I love the throwback. I love bringing those guys back. I love that they're going to like NBC.

We have been effusive in our prices. Them coming back to the NBA has been underrated. The Peacock and NBC broadcast. And we just got done watching the winter. They do sports so well. It's unbelievable. And now. It feels big.

And here's another. another amazing idea. And it's like, I, if you want to get me to tune in on a Tuesday night, like, look, I'd be watching the Spurs and the Sixers anyway. But I will be in my seat. The second this thing pops on, because I can't wait to see the graphics.

I can't wait to hear Bob Costas doing his monologue to start the game. Oh, yeah. Oh, it's going to be so good. It's going to be so good. I mean, I want like an Aaron Cohen, written two-minute VO under highlights with John Tesh music just really

getting me read. Treat it like it's a finals game one. Treat it like it's finals game one. I'm all in on this. Well, and I absolutely love Bob Costas. I do. I love him. So when I was growing up in St. Louis, he's like a St. Louis hero and has lived there forever, right? And when I was a little kid, I ran into him at a game and he could not have been kinder to me.

And it mattered to me a great, you know what I mean? As a kid and I run up to him and he could not have been kinder to me. I always remembered that. And then fast forward, you're going to love this story. As a, I started out, one of my first internships was at KFNS Radio. It was the big sports radio station in St. Louis at the time. I did it during college. And so one of the things they had me do was the guy taught me.

how to like book guests. And so he would have me call guests to get them on the air. And the guy who was the big columnist in St. Louis at the time was a guy named Bernie Michaelis, who I grew up reading. And Bernie was hosting the show and I would have to like call guests. So at one point, they like come to me and they're like, hey, we need you to call Whitey Herzog. And I'm like, Whitey Hurtsok, the white rat, like the manager. of the Cardinals from my childhood.

I was like, I was like, oh my God, okay? So, like, they teach me how to do it. And they like, have me a little script. Hi, my name is Chris Werner from KF&S. We wanted to see if you would like to come on the Bernie Mikkels show, whatever. Like this one, you would use to call people at home.

This is before cell phones. So anyways, I call, I call Whitey Herzog. And I call Whitey Herzog, and I said, Mr. Herzog, this is Chris Vernon from KFNS Radio and he goes, no. And I was like, oh, man.

I was like, this job is terrible. The next call, they're like, okay, call Bob Kossis. I'm like, oh, okay. I call. I'm like, Mr. Kossis, this is Chris Bernard from KFNS Radio. I'm calling on behalf of the Bernie Michaels off.

She's like, oh, hey, Chris, how you do? doing this morning and I was like thank God so I had two different time so I say all that to say it's going to be special to me to see Bob Costas on that broadcast next Tuesday

because I love Bob Costas uh we're on loves right second love yep yep this is sneaky and I bet most people listening haven't even noticed this the Milwaukee bucks are like on a tear right now

like since they they beat the bowls they beat the pelicans they beat the pacers they lost to the magic then they beat the magic they beat the thunder who weren't really the thunder at the time but fine they beat the pelicans again they lost to the raptors then they beat the heat and they recently beat the calves who are also diminished but like the yonest list of bucks you just had no hope for just no hope for them none and now of a sudden Kevin Porter Jr. is like a star. Ryan Rollins is getting buckets. Like they've been on a mini tear recently

and no one has noticed. So I wanted to give them a little love here on the mismatch. Okay. Let me just mention both Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins for the month of February, and as we mark this, this is February 27th. So it's been the entire month. Yeah.

They are both averaging. Porter Jr. is averaging 20, I couldn't even guess. I'm about to say, 25 points a game. No, no, no, no, 22 points, eight rebounds,

five assists and almost, hey, and, no, eight assists, five rebounds, and almost three steals a game. Ryan Rowland's 22, five and five

with a steal a game. Look, every other player, this is just, this is a fun one. Every other player in the NBA that is averaging

at least 22 points five rebounds and five assists for the month of February, every other player is an All-Star. You find the player and they're an All-Star and Rollins and Porter Jr. Those are the other two guys. And they're doing it in tandem. Oh, yeah. It's crazy.

I don't think it'll happen, but there is a chance that everyone's favorite team, the Hornets, get bounced from the plane. Oh, no. I know. Listen, I don't even want to say it into a microphone. I don't think it will happen, but there is a chance that the bucks end up as the 10 and Con Cinepple and Miller and bridges and Diabate end up on the outs. All right.

Here's my next one. My next loathe is the can I trust you, Nix? Oh, this is going to be right up your alley. Because. Can we just move on? I mean, look, against 500 teams. or above 500 teams, they're like 500. On the road, they're 500, right?

So they don't win more than they lose on the road. They don't really win more than they lose against good teams. And this Josh Hart quote of after the Cavs thing where we're still figuring out the style we want to play, the identity we want to play with, it's February 27th, bro. Like, what are we doing? It's February 27th. You're trying to figure out how you want to play on February 27th. That is not great. Not, like, they should be running away with this.

Instead, they've got to, you know, they're behind the Celtics. How? How? Sorry. Verno, I don't even know what to say. Somehow, let's be honest, this is the same team as last year. It's the same team. For all intents and purposes, yes.

Somehow they're like, the likability is like 10% of last year's team. Tim had an edge. Tim's had an edge. Colliantony Towns is talking about his role in the offense. Like you said, for five months now, figure it out. It's not November. It's February. 27.

Figure it out. It's actually going to be March by the time we talk. How many Knicks games do you watch? We're at halftime. They go to the halftime show. They're like, the Knicks are one for 12 from three. Oh, the Knicks are two for 15 from three. And they're butt naked catching shoot threes, too.

I'm starting to really, really dislike this team. And I loved them so much last year. And they're the same team. It's just alarming when, like, you look at the other teams. Like somebody like the Pistons, they're 19 and seven against good teams. In fact, if you were to go to look, I could pull this up. When you go look, I took a screenshot of the, of what it looked like. are the records against over 500 teams.

The Pistons, the Pistons 19 and 7. The Celtics, 18 and 13. You look on the western side, Oklahoma City 19 and 11, San Antonio, 21 and 11. Houston's got a 15 and 10 record against above 500 teams. Like, I mean, you can go on and it's like, that's why I say, can I trust you? Because you have performed as an average team against the good team. teams and also have not performed well on the road. And so like, and by the way, you're going to have to play on the road.

Yeah. You get to play off. If you get out of the first round, if you get out of the first round. So the stupid algorithm knows what I like. It's like you like basketball information and girls' butts. And it's like, fine, Instagram. You're right. You got me.

Okay. So like, that's what they feed me. And I get this infographic. And it's like top five NBA teams. against top five NBA teams. And the first, one of those carousels you have to scroll through.

It's like, the Spurs, six and one, the Thunder, like three and three. And you get to the last one, it's like the Knicks, one and six.

And you're just like, oh my God. Like that one Spurs win in the cup game that literally doesn't count. It like literally does not count. Is there one win against like a good basketball team? In fairness, at least you know you're going to get some positive release. You know what I mean?

At least the, you know what I mean? You're not going to be down for long. By the time you get to the next. But my search page, if you click search on my Instagram account, it is the most embarrassing thing in the world. So embarrassing. I'm a simple person. I like basketball and butts.

I'm a simple. I'm a simple person. I saw this comedy bit by that guy, you know, Dan Soder. Do you know him? Yeah, I don't know him personally. I mean, he's Katie's guy. Katie Nolan. He's married to Katie Nolan, right?

I don't know if they got married. I think they got married. Oh, okay. I think they're engaged. But yeah, they're been together forever. Yeah, yeah. Anyways, I saw this bit. He does this whole bit on Instagram.

Oh, my God. It was so funny. But anyway, the reason I bring it up is because he was talking about how he likes looking at racy pictures comments on Instagram. Instagram. So he does this whole bit and it's just funnier than hell. But at the end of the bit, he said something. I spit out by drink. He was like, and then you will get to the one and it'll be some like big butt oiled up in Miami. And it'll be like 35,000 people like this picture and Jeff. Yeah. And your buddy Gary. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's like, you're like, Instagram needs to figure this out. Come on, Jeff. Because I'll be on a profile that I don't follow

because I'm just checking it out. It'll be like, followed by Chris Vernon. I'm like, whoa, wow. Chris Vernon. Didn't know you had that in you, buddy. All right. Let's get to the next. We'll get to my, or no, it's your loathe.

Your second loat. My second loathe? Mm-hmm. All right. Now, this is, it feels a little dated at this point. But, Deontre Aiton finally having a good game

against the magic. He had 21 points in just 11 field goal attempts, 13 rebounds, talks to the reporters after the game and my guy Mac 10, many men, many, many, many, many men wrote this and I quote.

When he was finished speaking to the group, Aidan made his way back toward the showers and said what he really felt. Loud enough for Everyone's still in the locker room to hear. They're trying to make me Clint Capella, Aitin said, referring to Houston Rockets now backup center, who would decade ago made his impact

to the lob caching room running. Big, blah, blah, blah. I am no Clint Capella. Tell me you've seen people putting the screencaps of Yes. Capella's eighth or ninth season and his, and like, Capella's numbers are better. Do you know what he was?

He played 23 minutes in the game against the Suns. His former team, Revenge. game. Yeah, revenge game. 23 minutes. He was on the court for 23 minutes. Two points, one for three. How are you only putting up three field goal attempts after you said, I'm no Clint Capella against your former team that kicked you out the club? They picked you up and threw you through the window out of the club. And you got waved by the Blazers. And then you're saying you're not Clint Capella and you shoot three times and have two points. Maybe he didn't drink his, what is it, beast juice?

Oh, that can't be real. He's the, he's the worst. It was one of the other things where it was like. I told you, like I said last year when he was playing, or two years ago, when he was playing for the Blazers, I went to a game and I was like, he is the only NBA player I've ever watched and I felt like had AirPods in. Like he was just not a part of it.

He was just getting cardio. But I remember, this off season, and I thought I was crazy because everyone's like, oh, DeAndre Aitin is going to thrive with the Lakers. And I was listening to people that I respect be like, with him and Luca, it's exactly what he needs.

He's going to be, it's like him and Chris Paul. It's going to be a resurgence of DeAndre Aiden. And I remember being like, am I the only person that doesn't see this? No. I was like, he's DeAndre Atene. He was, he was waived by the Blazers. Waved. Waved. They would rather not have you.

They didn't even trade him. Andy also said that he like struggled for the first six months of last season because he was sleeping on the floor because he didn't have a bed or something. It's so crazy. He sucks. Honestly. That's one thing I love about you, Bernal,

and I've always been a Verno fan, is you'll just be like he sucks. Like, just say shit like that. He sucks. Like, I don't have the balls to say it, but I try to say it in more eloquent,

roundabout ways. But brother, it's like, that guy sucks. Sorry, sorry. To the feel. You're the best.

All right, my last love. Todd Gibson signing with the Grizzlies. Fort Green's own. Oh, this is so good. I love this. I read last night that it's a two-year deal. No. Yes, he's 40.

Like, so they're letting. It's got to be a team option in second. They love Kyle Anderson, right? They love Kyle Anderson, but Kyle Anderson wants to go back and, you know, they've got a spot in Minnesota for him. And so he's going to go do that. And so then I do think this is one of the things that they learned from the first young version of the team they had. That they made a massive error by the time they got.

So they started out and they had like Jay Crowder and Solomon Hill and all these I kind of vet guys. And then they went young and tripled down on youth. So they went and used the draft and they brought in like, they used those spots for like David Roddy and Jake LaRavia and Kennedy Chant, like all these like really young guys. And then you didn't have any vets around. And so you then had the Morant and Jaron and Jaron Jackson and Desmond Bain and Dylan Brooks. Like those were all the those were the vets.

Like they were the, again, it's like what? They've only been in the league. They're in their rookie contract still. Right. And so having old heads around guys that show guys the ropes. Teach guys what it is to be a professional. Teach guys how to manage being a family. Like every year we think about these guys,

whether it's Anthony Edwards or it's SGA or whoever, and they talk about the vets that they had on their team and the guys that had a profound effect. This is not about basketball. This is about they went and found, like who is the best vet you can have around a young group of guys that's learning about coming into the NBA? And the guys like the Todd Gibson's are basically extended.

right? Like they're few and far between. You'll see like maybe Jeff Green or Garrett Temple or DeAndre Jordan. Kyle Lowry comes to mind. But you're seeing DeAndre Jordan. I promise you, there's going to come a day where you watch the Derek Queen interview when he becomes, you know, a fully grown, you know, mature man. And he's going to talk about. And you even watch, you even watch on TNT.

And all the time, Barclay brings up Moses Malone. All time. Changed his entire career. by having mose him alone around. And so, look, obviously I'll be around it, but I just love the fact that they are bringing in like an old, wise, tough, hard-nosed veteran to show guys the way because I do think that that is so important in a locker room. It's so important on a bus.

It is, and it is something that we have lost in the NBA because of the salary structures, and the minimum, the vet minimum, but they just went out of their way and said, we don't care. By the way, Todd Gibson has not been playing basketball all year, and he's 40. Like, that lets you know, right? They're bringing the guy in so that he can,

like you're doing a youth movement, but you need to have adults. You need to have adults, and you need to have vets to show them how to maneuver in the league, understanding the league, understanding the ebbs and flows of the season, Like all of these things are just so intensely important. And I do think teams do a huge disservice to young teams by not having good vets around.

I totally agree. A couple things on this. Wherever Coach Tibbs gets hired, Tage Gibson's going to be an assistant coach. I guarantee it. No question. And also, big shot to Fort Green. I lived in Fort Green before it was Fort Green when he used to be scary. and Shatollution the Dean of Four Green.

We are on Loves. Yep, your last one. I had to like double confirm that this was real. This is on Hawks.com. This is like an actual press release from the Atlanta Hawks, not like NBA Central or whatever. This is an actual press release from the Hawks, and it reads, quote,

The Atlanta Hawks today announced a special one-night collaboration to celebrate the city's iconic cultural institution, Magic City, during the team's home game against Orlando on Monday, March 16. Magic City, famed gentleman's establishment, is going to do a collaboration with the Atlanta Hawks. They're basically having Magic City Night.

And I continue, this is on hawks.com. This is real. Quote, Magic City Kitchen will serve two versions of their world famous lemon pepper wings, Lou Will lemon pepper barbecue and traditional lemon pepper. Fans interested in purchasing wings can visit sections 114, 120, and 2.11.

There's going to be a performance by T.I. who's been in the news, is beating with 50 cents. They're having a magic city night in Atlanta with the Hawks. And if you are over 35, you remember a serious investigation regarding the NBA and their players that involved Magic City once upon a time.

Even if you're younger, you remember the Lou Will thing from the bubble. Of course. Like they have been a cultural phenomenon since I can remember. I have a confession to me. Okay. I've been to Atlanta many times.

Never once have I darkened Magic City doorstep. Not a single time. I haven't been either. I haven't been either. I haven't been either. Dude, nothing was funnier. It might have been Taylor Rooks' most unbelievable moment

on Amazon Prime broadcast last night. She brought this up on the broadcast with the group that was there with her, including Dirk Novitsky, Blake Griffin, and Steve Nash. Those were the three that were there. And Taylor Rooks admits that she has been there. Oh, everyone goes there.

In fact, says it was the first one she ever went to. And none of the other three would even broach the subject. No, they wouldn't. They was so. And then she was just there alone, like on the couch and it was like, oh, so we're like, are not going to talk about that. We're all going to pretend this doesn't exist. Yeah.

To be fair, Taylor, who's amazing is Atlanta strip clubs are different than other cities. there's sort of like a community factor to it. Like girls go there, you play pool, you eat, you sit down. It's not just about like being a creepy lower and sing at the stage. Oh yeah. It's like it's just there happens to be ladies dancing in a pole. But it's like it's not like that's the main attraction. Right.

And I famously first met Jail and Anthony Rose in the bathroom at Shooters in like 2002. It's called Shooters. or strokers. One of those two. Oh my God. I remember the name. The name was a little on the nose. I think it was called strokers.

I hope it's not the second. Okay. Me too. My last loat. The Vince Williams Jr. injury. So you may say, why are you even bringing this up? So, all right. The reason I'm bringing this up is because I want to get some perspective here.

Obviously, I know Vince Williams, Jr. I've known. Wait, before you move on, like, I've seen it. but I'm sure that some people listen to don't know what you're talking about. I mean, he snapped his leg. I mean, his ACL is blown. He's running alongside Taris and they're kind of jostling back and forth. And then he blows out of the ball.

Sort of like off the ball, not part of the play. Vince Williams, who I know, who I just saw this past weekend when he came in town for Utah. He has just been traded by the Grizzlies. But, I mean, I watch this guy go from a second round pick to work his way up with the Memphis hustle to then, you know, play so well. as a two-way player that he ends up getting a full contract with the team. Then he goes through injuries

and then you come back this year. And the only reason I bring this up is because there is a non-zero chance. I hate to say this. There's a non-zero chance that in fact probably a very high percentage that he doesn't get to wear an NBA uniform again. I know that sounds,

but I mean, bro, there's 450 spots and 60 new ones come in and the undrafts and the overseas and the all that whatever and you're like on the and he has a team option which now they will not pick up and you're not going to be playing basketball a year from now and so i i just watch this guy like work his way up achieve his dream get a contract you know and then you want to build it and like nobody needed those are the stories under the stories right because you got two months left to try to make sure that utah picked up your contract that keeps you around so that you can earn another one because the NBA just filters in and out of guys. And guys like this that are on the fringes, right? They're on the fringe because there's a whole new crop of new fringe guys that's going to be coming in. And look, he got his contract, he got his money.

And so, you know, it's not like everything got ripped away. Like he got a guaranteed contract. And then he, but like they ain't going to pick up that team option. And it's going to be, you know, what, December of January or next year before he can even play basketball. again. And it's like, these are the kind of guys that I see within the NBA. And it just like, when I saw him blow out his knee, it affected me a lot more than a lot of guys that are like made men because I'm looking at it.

I'm like, oh my God. Like that might like this is how it's like this was on this trajectory and this is a guy that like got it out of the mud and worked his way up to become. And now he's got to go prove to the team that just traded for him that he deserves another shot. and now he won't get his contract picked up and then we'll probably have to go back to the G League and try to work his way. And he's 25. It's like this is a harsh reality of the NBA.

It's a harsh reality of the NBA, right? There's only so many spots. I try to tell people all the time. You can't fill the lower bowl of most arenas with the amount of guys that have ever played in the league. And then half of those got to wear the jersey for a second year. Like that's how much this thing filters in and out. like we're used to the same guys and got but like to have like a real like sustained career

is really really hard it's really hard because this kind of stuff happens where you might blow your knee out in a contract year and that was it you know what I mean and so it sucks it sucks and we we watch the draft and we celebrate the prospects the potential but what you forget is every one of those guys is taking someone else's spot on the roster. And the average length of career in the NBA is like two years. Yep. You know, we look at Chris Paul. We look at Jeff Green and LeBron James.

And those are big names. But like, there's more Vince Williams is than there are Chris Paul's. A lot more. And so, and just the fact that, I mean, I literally saw him over the weekend. And then it happened like two days later. And he was just like, you know. When I talked to him, he was just like, he hadn't even, he'd been to Utah for like 24 hours, he just got an apartment and threw some stuff in it.

And it's like, you know, but now it's like get to work and like try to prove to these guys that you're worthy of keeping around. And I was also, it's not Tara Easton's fault, but it was like, it was such a non-significant action off the ball, 20 feet behind the, you know, the ball. It was just like a weird. Tustle. It sucks. That's, oh, no, no, I'm sad.

Thanks a lot. Sorry. You bummed me out. Ruin my whole weekend. Thanks for now. Here's... Go to shooters. Or strokers or whatever you said.

I don't know. It's one of those things called... Scroll or scroll on your Instagram, you horn dog. I like butts. Mine is like nerdy golf guys, evaluating and witness. You're just Googling golf. I had an ophthalmologist.

I had a hot... Our blue tea or plastic tis. is better for the spin off my driver. I swear, I had an optologist. I hope you're good at golf. I have an ophthalmologist reach out to me. He was like, I heard you talk about this. Get the Oakley prisms.

I swear to God I bought them. I got a pair of free Oakley's and they make me look like such a douchebag. But I played golf with some strangers and I was like, guys, I know what I look like right now. But I can read these green sunglasses. Yeah, these are good sunglasses. Read these. I can see the bright. perfectly.

I looked like Ricky Henderson in those things. Oh, those ones. Like the ones that wrap around. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, there's no way to look cool. I had to apologize to these strangers that don't know me. I was like, I'm a terrible golfer too. So I'm like hitting in the woods.

And they're like, dude, the glasses aren't the problem. We're in the golf. All right. Last load. I worked at ESPN for a quarter century, right? And like, guess what? Let me take you behind the curtain. You're right.

They make you talk about the cowboys. and LeBron and the Lakers. Dirty secret. Like you know why? Do you know why? Because it leads and it works. Like even the Cowboys, they could be two and six

and they're going to be the first thing you talk about on get up or first take or Janet and Jacoby or whatever. Hey, hey, real quick time out. Because I do want to take me really behind the curtain. I've wondered this. I've wondered this. So like on ESPN.com or something, right?

Like if I go in the morning, so mine, I've got like my favorite teams listed, whatever, right? I'm a Cowboys fan. But like on the front page, it will be like Mill Kuiper's new draft, whatever, who the Cowboys are taking. Like, is that what it says on everybody's or is it just on mine? Yes. Oh, that does say it. Because that's what works. If you talk about the Cowboys, people listen.

If you talk about the Chargers, no one gives a shit. I just wondered if my news is tailored to me because if you do scroll down, I do have like, there's a lot of stuff from those favorite teams that I have that is on there. But I didn't know if like the headlines also do that as well. First of all, I'm glad that you think that I understand how ESPN.com works. No idea how any of that works. But the Cowboys play.

Did you have to do like a tutorial when you started Grantland? No. No. Don't you know me by now, Ferno? They don't allow me. You guys really just did whatever you wanted, right? Pretty much. That's crazy.

You're a powerful Bill had to be to pull that off. That's crazy. Did they let you guys, like, do your own thing? Why? Bill Maher. Bill Maher. But they, but you play with, like, you just leave with this stuff. And I'm watching the game last night.

And this is one thing I loat. The Lakers aren't even interesting. anymore. They've got LeBron James and Luca Donchich. And I'm like, honestly, I'm like, are the Blazers playing or something? Because it's the same thing over and over. Luca goes from 41, doesn't play defense, complains about the refs. LeBron James kind of looks like LeBron James in flashes, but not really. And it's just like, I don't enjoy watching Laker games. And they've got Luca Donchich and LeBron. James in the same uniform.

And I'm shocked at my own feelings about this. Boy, and Luca caught it the last, like, week and a half. Speaking of the algorithm, it's just like people like talking about Luca whining. I know Zach Loe got a lot of heat for going off on him. Tim McMahon did it. That's not new. I know.

But, I mean, it's back in the, anytime you're a disappointment, people are going to focus on who's annoying me the most. So, like, Palo went through it a couple weeks ago. And it's like, right? And now it's Luca. Luca's the next one. It's like, yeah, this guy's annoying. But the game last night, like,

Luca's hitting incredible shots. Like, he hit a step back three to bring him within two at the end of that game. It was just like, I mean, I think James Hardin is probably the only other player that I can see doing that. But they're just not a fun watch. And they've got LeBron James and Luca Donchage. Like, it's just, it, when the lake, are good, when the Knicks are good, the league is better. And these Lakers are just bumming me out.

That's not a good vibe. I don't like to watch it. It's not a good fight. I don't like to watch it. Yeah. Remember the last shot thing with the magic? Weird. They're like, hey, did you talk to LeBron about the last shot?

Luke was like, no, I didn't. Like, you didn't? Didn't. You guys didn't talk about it? Not at all. All right. That's going to do it for another episode of the mismatch. Thank you to our producers.

As always, thanks to Jesse. Thanks to Jeff. Thanks to Stefan, Jacoby. I'll talk to you next week.