The Mismatch - The Wolves’ Thrilling Comeback, Early Playoff Expectations, and Is Cade a Superstar?

Episode Date: February 25, 2025

Verno and Jacoby go through some of Monday’s NBA action, starting off with the Wolves' encouraging comeback win against the Thunder in OKC. They then discuss the hot Pistons, who are riding a seven-game win streak; the Sixers, who got blown out by the Bulls; and the Nuggets' bounce-back win against the Pacers. Next, from Cade Cunningham’s superstar status to Lu Dort’s Defensive Player of the Year chances, the guys share things that they believe will soon become true around the league. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Hosts: Chris Vernon and David Jacoby Producers: Jessie Lopez and T Cruz Social: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the mismatch. I'm Chris Vernon and joining me to see us every week from the ringer.com is Dave Jacoby. What's happening? Burnow, said for the show tonight. Well, Tuesday morning we are recording and it did not look great last night for the NBA slate early. We were texting throughout it. We were talking about how, man, we're hoping this Nuggets Pacers game might be pretty good, but this kind of turned into a dud.

It looked like Mike Malone probably got on to them pretty. good after they got worked by the Lakers over the weekend. And so they took that one super seriously and Yokic was doing everything you wanted. Pistons Clippers was good for first three quarters. Pistons really pulled away in the fourth quarter. We will get to that. But everything paled in comparison to the late game, which I've got to fully admit, after it was a 20-point game, I went downstairs and was screwing around.

and I looked down at my phone and I saw on Twitter somebody saying the T-wolves have a chance to cut it to single digits. And I'm like, wait, what? What is going on? Ran back upstairs, flipped it on. And man, oh, man, did we get more than we bargained for a regular season game between the wolves and the thunder, which I was looking forward to anyway, because once they played the semi-close game over the weekend, you wondered, this is a lot like a playoff series.

Is the next game going to be the thunder blow them out and extend things? Or is it going to be a reversal of fortunes? And it looked for a long time like it was going to be the thunder just blowing out the wolves. But easily the best comeback I've seen all year of 41 to 19 fourth quarter. and then the wolves get it done in overtime. This was for sure one of the games of the year. It was a fantastic game, not only because while the Timberwolves were down by 20, I'd just put $20 on them to win the game and got great odds.

Oh, wow. Just to keep myself interested. You know what I mean? I invest to keep myself interested. That's why I didn't go to the kitchen when they were down by 20. But what was really interesting about this is this was a white flag game from the Timberwolves. They kind of waved the white flag and took an, out of the game. We're just kind of like, I guess we lost this one. And I feel like the thunder

totally took their foot off the gas, just totally just decided this one was over. And then it was just Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr., just kind of hitting another three, get another stop, hitting another shot, get another stop. And before you knew it, the inertia, the momentum that the wolves had just could not be reversed by the thunder no matter what they did. And they did it without Ant. Like if you didn't watch the game, you're going, oh, Ant had a big block in overtime against SGA and Ant played good defense at the end against SGA. You would assume that Ant powered this comeback, but that was not the case. This was the reserves for the wolves and who were playing without Gobert,

without Randall, without Debenchenzo. Like, it was the reserves at the end that really made this all happen. And if you are a Timberwolves fan, it was a very encouraging victory. If I'm a thunder fan, I don't care. I'm like, whatever. They took their foot off the gas. That would never happen in a big game. So it's not a concerning loss, but it's a big win.

for the wolves who needed it. Yeah, there are three things. The first of which is, as you mentioned, guys that are getting an opportunity that would not normally get an opportunity in that setting. And they are making the absolute most of it, and they're going 100 miles an hour. Finch zones them up.

So you're just throwing stuff at the wall. Like, all right, now we're going to throw two guys at the top of the key, and then we're going to stretch it out. And we're just going to hope they miss open threes, which they did. You're right? I mean, they're getting a Wiggins three, a Caruso three, you know, they're getting the Lou Dord three from the corner and Kason Wallace. It's like they're generating the shots out of this and yet they're just not making them.

But it was one of those like petri dish, okay, let's just throw out a bunch of guys and then let's throw out this defense and let's just see. Because we might need to be using this later. And I do wonder if there is some level of effectiveness that that had that other teams are watching, that they're going, you know, this team moves the ball so well, this, you know, we're trying to do what we can against SGA. Like there's some form of this may be our best chance, at least something to throw with the wall against them. and I do think it was actually good for the Thunder to see that before you get to the playoffs, right? I think it was good to see that and go, oh, okay, there might be some teams that try this. Here's the way we're going to deal with it the next time. Not that I felt like they dealt with it horribly because they got a bunch of open shots that they just missed.

But and then the third thing was big balls by Finch to not go back. to aunt after things you know really aunt and you would think it when it gets close to be like let's put our superstar in but he didn't well it's like this is working let's rock with it part of it and sometimes you see this where it's like a team has a game plan for what they are going to deal with and so i was texting you during the game and i was like man you really just got to worry about aunt and you got to worry about read and they're just going to be able to be able to to sell out on these guys. And you saw that those two guys,

they're sitting on the bench for the most part, in this stretch run that this team is making. And I do think there's a portion of it where it's like these teams game playing. They've got their whiteboard in their locker room. And then it's like, okay, well, like all these things we talked about. And the whole way we're going to defend this team. Like, we don't have any, we don't have any.

we don't have anything for Rob Dillingham and Tarynx Shannon and right it's like none of the none of that defensive game plan that you've been executing so well while you're blowing them out is particularly relevant because you've got a bunch of guys that it's like they're not even on the whiteboard and and ended up being super fun so I actually agree with you wouldn't be too distraught if I am Oklahoma City on the other hand mega encouraging it all Also, you need those other guys when it comes to a playoff series. And so it's great for the Shannon's and the Dillinghams of the world to get some confidence in a big time environment against a team that has the best home record of anybody and is number one in the conference. Like, you need them having some success in spots like that.

Because the. McDaniels as well. McDaniels as well. Yeah. Daniels turned into the guy. Yeah, I mean, he was a really important player for them last year, and I've waited for him to sort of like resurface this year in a way that's significant, which he did last night. But I felt like this game and the Nuggets game over the weekend, which I'm sure we'll get to where the Lakers blew them out. It's, it's let's double their MVP candidate and, and let's see if others can beat us.

Let's just get the ball out of Yogic and SGA's hands. and I think that will work as a quote unquote sort of like surprise tactic in the middle of the regular season. But in a playoff series, I do not think that that will work. It might get you a game, but it's not going to get you a series against two players that are good and as consistent and intelligent as they are. But I think that is the question with the thunder that people are going to have, which is when that does inevitably happen and you have to have the other step up, a lot of times it's going to come down to there's Loodort, does Kaysan Wallace, does Andrew,

or Aaron Wiggins, do these guys, are they making the open threes? Yeah, it is. And it does come down to that. I think it's also worth mention that. We're going to direct the shots that way. It's worth mentioning they didn't have Chet. Now, obviously, the Timberwolves were missing everybody,

but without, they missed Chet as a, you know, with J-Dubb and SGA, Chet is a really nice third option of someone who can just get you a bucket when you're getting just absolutely rained on like they were at the end of that fourth quarter. I felt like they really did miss him there, but it was a really fascinating game.

And I think this is the highlight of the game, but the block that Ant had is worth mentioning. It was, it just felt like a play that a superstar makes. You know, I mean, we celebrate so many of, you know, the Jordan and Kobe offensive plays over their careers, but superstars make defensive plays in tight spots. too and that was one of those plays from aunt who is an emerging superstar that you

just make when you're one of those guys. When you're a top five, top 10 guy, you make plays like that. Great, great game for sure. The other ones that we mentioned things that took place last night, break up the pistons seven in a row now. And one of the great stories, if not the great story, in the NBA. You had a massive Cade Cunningham game. You had a massive Duren game with the 18 rebounds.

And seven in a row now with a win over the clippers, a vet team. And sometimes you catch these teams that are like, especially first time through, and they feel like they are just riding a wave right now. The hustle plays by Thompson had one of the craziest blocks that you could ever see. and also a follow-up dunk. They've got like this group of vets, whether it's Beasley, whether it's Hardaway, whether it's Tobias Harris, yeah, kind of augment. Yeah, Augment Cunningham, who has been just absolutely otherworldly.

And they're the fun one right now. They're going to be the fun one for everybody to root for in the playoffs. And they're certainly the fun one right now because they constantly feel like an underdog and it's always fun the first time through. I think the last time I felt this way where I went out of my way to watch a team and was super excited about it was that like the Beam Kings when that wave happened. But this thing in Detroit is a wave right now. I do like, I think that's a good comparison.

I didn't think of that, but this does kind of feel like the Light the Beam Kings. And I also feel like the Light the Beam Kings. It's going to be a really good story of a sort of Cinderella regular season success. And this is, as you always talk about, ad nauseum, is you need to get your playoff experience. You need to have your playoff scars. And this team will lose in the first round, but it will be a building block. I mean, they're light years away from where they were last year. And losing a game six in the first round will really help this team and this nucleus moving forward.

And one thing I found interesting, I was watching the game last night. And Beasley didn't play great. He's been playing really well recently. but they added, as I mentioned before, they added Beasley, Harris, and Hardaway Jr., just bringing some bets in the room. And I was thinking to myself, we're celebrating Kenny Ackinson so much

for the success that he has had with Cleveland. And he is considered to be a huge upgrade over Bickerstaff, but at the same time, Bickerstaff goes to Detroit, and he's doing a great job there. So it's almost like, we're like, oh, Kenny Ackinson, like he's unlocked the calves, and Bickerstaff is holding them back,

and this, this and that. But Bickerstaff went from, you know, down the street to Detroit, and he's had himself a hell of a season coaching this team. So I want to salute Bickerstaff, who's watching his previous team have more success than they had when he was there. But he's also brought a lot of success to Detroit. You know what I think? I think that this is a good example of sometimes coaches are best for finished products,

and sometimes coaches are best for developmental teams. right because and and just somebody that has not had the proper structure and all of those things and then coming in and making that happen because look I covered J.B. Bickerstaff. He's one of my favorite people ever in the NBA when he was here in Memphis. And then there is and then there are coaches that are great for your young players. and then there's coaches that are better for the more finished product. Like, if you, I'll give you an example. If you reversed it, Mark Jackson was in Golden State,

and it doesn't matter what anybody says about Mark Jackson, except to me, the players, Steph Curry, Clay Thompson, the rest, right? And they all talk about him being instrumental in getting them, to where they were, them becoming what they became in the NBA, right? I don't think that most people, rightfully so, believe that Mark Jackson would have gotten them to the level that Steve Kerr did. Yeah. But I also think in reverse, Steve Kerr probably doesn't coach that developmental warriors team

as well, right? Like there might be a coach that's better to take you to the next level. But the kind of coach that's better to get you to the first point, that's what J.B. is. And I think Atkinson is probably the guy that can look at something and say, okay, now I can make this better. But going from crap to good, J.B.'s a great coach for that. So how would you categorize the job that Coach Bud has done in Phoenix this year? I mean, the whole thing. is it. I think, honestly, when you, look, I think you can blame the coach until you can't blame the coach.

And last year, people blamed Frank Vogel. They acted like Frank Vogel. Like, he was the one that had to fall on the sword from last year. And Frank Vogel is a fantastic basketball coach. Everybody knows that. Bro, if you've had Frank Vogel and you've had Mike Boodenhauser, these guys are both going to end up in the Hall of Fame as coaches. both Frank Vogel and Mike Boudnauzer will end up being in the Hall of Fame when it's all said and done. No. And have tons of wins under their belt. I'm not going to have this argument right now, but no, Frank Vogel will not be in the Hall of Fame.

God bless him. Yes, he will. Will not be in the Hall of Fame. Will not? For sure, will not. For sure will. We want a title. We can have this argument offline.

Every coach of which his title goes to the Hall of Fame now? Bro, the basketball, you might be in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He cares about the basketball Hall of Fame? I grew up down the street. What are you talking about? I grew up right down the street. What are you talking about? I mean, anybody can be in there.

So, look, we're not talking about the baseball Hall of Fame. We're talking about the basketball Hall of Fame. They put everybody in there. Please. So all I know is it's not the coach's fault in Phoenix. That's the point of that. No, it's not the coach's fault in Phoenix. And, you know, one thing I want to do on this podcast,

I don't know what you have planned for the rest of it is, Phoenix and Philadelphia are taking up too much of the conversation in the NBA. Guess what? They're both terrible. They both have a bunch of stars. They both suck. They're going to make trades. Everyone's going to get fired.

It's all going to happen. It's a dumpster fire. But let's just move on. I see it. Again. I'm a little concerned. I would typically go all in with you right now, but I'm going to Memphis Phoenix tonight. I've got to be careful.

What are you concerned? learned about. Where's the concern? Like, it would, it's my luck that I would come on here talk about what a dumpster fire the sons are. And then I'd go watch them have the best performance of the year.

Yeah, exactly. The bounce back. The bounce back win. Kevin Durant's got 38 and Booker's got 36 and Beals got 24. And I'm like, oh God. Now I've got something on the record.

We taught, telling them a pile of crap. Now I'm watching this. I like this. I like this. You got to hedge your own. your own emotions and expectations. But they are a dumpster.

Right? They are a dumpster fire. But we can't talk about the sixers. Blah, blah, blah, blah. There's not a group text that I had that was not talking about the Sixers score last night. I mean, that was downright shocking because that's a, there's no way you try and lose by 40 or 50 to the friggin bulls. I mean, to give up that many points to the Bulls. It's impossible.

The Bulls should score that many points in two games. That's what seriously. Two games. It's out of control to give up that many points to the Chicago Bulls in the middle of February when they're not trying to win games. It's absolutely absurd. But honestly, I don't want to give any more air to the Sixers or the Suns. I'm done.

It's over. It's over. One quick thing. The super promising Philly Inquirer story talking about possibilities of Joelle and Bid and what can happen medically where they offer that there might be meniscus replacement or maybe low-dose radiation therapy or even an ominous, umonous sounding osteotomy. Osteotomy. Osteotomy. I know him.

Osteo-Tomy. Yeah, I know osteotomy. And that's where-oh-Tominy and me still text. That's where this is from the Philly Acquirer. It says, or even this is a possible what they could do with Joe L. Embedde, a ominous sounding osteotomy in which doctors break a bone in the hip to realign the joint to alleviate pressure. That sounds great. Oh, my God.

Yeah. I mean, it, you know, the report, the report from a few days ago was like, they're consulting doctors of what to do with him. They're basically saying is we're going to talk to as many doctors as we possibly can to give us an excuse to no longer play and bead this season because it's over. That's what they did. And they found one. Osteo Tommy. Joel. Joel.

All right, look, we're just going to lay out all the options. So one of these options is that we come in and we break your hip so that your knees stops hurting. Break your hip to realign your leg. I don't know. That sounds horrible. And it also sounds something that wouldn't be great for a seven foot two guy. Yeah. Yeah.

But what do I know? It's a route. Other things last night, we have become now, I think we've become used to these Yokic performances. And yet last night in Indiana, he has 18 points, nine rebounds, 19 assists, and four steals. 19 assists. Like there's about 100 possessions in an NBA game. I mean, he got 19 assists. Holy mackle.

Unbelievable. Other guys worth mentioning. Before you move on, oh, before you move on, I'm watching this Nuggets Pacers game, and obviously the Nuggets won and Yoko Ched,

and Yoko Chaz, 19 assists, and that's the takeaway. I was watching it going like, not bad from the Pacers. I actually watched that game and I was looking at the game like, you know what, the Pacers are,

they're hanging. They're down around 10 the whole time. And as, you know, is someone who pays a lot of attention to the standings in the Eastern Conference and, you know, the Pacers series last year with the Knicks. And I was like, you know what? The Pacers are coming into form.

I would say in the last month, I'm looking at this Pacers team very differently than I was in 2024. I'll just say that. Yeah, I think they were like, uh, I think they were like 15 and 5 or something like that's at the beginning of January. Like they were, they were two games under 500 coming into the new year. I think they were 16 and 8. team.

And so now with the chance as they continued to move up the standings, they have been playing much better basketball. And you had to know that there was a real chance you were going to get a hyper-focused Nuggets team after what took place against the Lakers over the weekend. Because that was super impressive by the Lakers and also super disappointing by the Nuggets who had won. They were the hottest team in the NBA and they're playing on their home court against. against the team that they have absolutely owned.

And it's the first time seeing the Luca version of the Lakers. And the Lakers have just the Grand Slam effort of Grand Slam efforts against them. I love that. I love that Lakers game. I think myself, just like everybody else in the nation, sort of like, you know,

made sure that they were available at 8.30 Eastern on Saturday night to watch every second of that one. And it was a great game by the Lakers. And I will say coming away from it, that there was a part of me that, But, you know, I can go negative on anything, Chris Vernon. It's just, I've got, I'm like a smiley, nice fellow, but I've got a deep, dark soul. And there's a part of me who's like, JJ Redick, stop taking credit for this. You know what I mean?

I haven't slept in two days. And all I was doing was thinking about the game plan. And we're like, oh, the game plan that JJ Redick had shut it down. It was just like, bro, like, why are you doing this? I didn't go to sleep until 5 a.m. last night because I was just drawing up plays and how to stop Yokic. And look what I did. It's like, bro, it's like, it was. was a good game plan, but the Nuggets didn't show up and your players executed it.

So it's not about you, JJ. Sorry, I had to do that. I love you, JJ. I'm sorry. Well, didn't he say, like, are you guys willing to die on the court or something? I was like, for sure, they're not willing to die on the court. They're for sure not willing. Not at all.

Like, I know it sounds cool, but like, they're for sure not willing. You just, in the last week, you just lost to the Hornets and the Jazz. Where was the, where was the not sleeping for those games? You know what I mean? Like, literally, you just lost to the Hornets and the Jazz. in the past two weeks. So maybe game plan for those too, if you're so brilliant.

Sorry, JJ, I love you. You're my favorite. Don't block you. He has done a good job, but it is kind of funny that like, the defense. The defense has been surprised. And I think that,

I think that Bando, I think it's really Bando, it's like, oh, they added Luca. Sure, of course. We're not going to breeze past the fact they added Luca, but Bando, DFS, and Gabe Binsett sort of coming back and rounding into form

have been very impactful for that team. It's like they added like four guys, not just Luca. Finney Smith is the biggest one to me. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, just, you've got to have guys. He is a perfect role player for them, in my opinion. Does not need shots.

Does not need the ball. We'll keep the ball moving. And then we'll guard every possession, rebound his position. Like, these are, the kind of guys you need. You've got to have guys that don't need the ball and guys that are willing to do all the other stuff that the stars are just not going to do, right? They're going to fight through every screen. They're going to, they're going to switch everything they can. They're going to meet you at the rim. They're going to dive on the floor for the loose ball. Like every great team needs those. And so I think the underrated move they made of all these

obviously look there's going to be one move that pale everything pales in comparison to but I think the Finney Smith thing is the big underrated one that actually changes them as a team I mean early on in the season I said on this pod I was like well who on that roster can get you a stop besides AD yeah I mean it was like it was like they were like a hockey team with a hot goalie

it was just like well we'll just filter it all to him and he'll make it all work and you know they didn't have a great defense but it was pretty good but with with Phine Smith coming back and Vando and because like Rui, Reeves, Luca, for the most part, LeBron, they're not getting you stops. But DFS can get you a stop. He can get you a stop. And their defense is really what's turned it around for them.

But again, I don't want to, we're going to celebrate this win against the Nuggets. But they lost to the Hornets. They lost to the Jazz. One more thing on the DFS front, because we are seeing this in other places as well, the guys that were on sorry teams that then get to move to teams that really have a chance. And last year we saw it with PJ Washington. We saw it with Daniel Gafford. This year, we're already seeing it with Kuzma, who had the hilarious post about how he forgot what a four-game win streak feels like.

We're seeing it with Finney Smith. We're seeing with other guys that had the opportunity to move from teams that had no chance to teams that have a chance, not the least of which is Levine, who was, you know, just swimming upstream playing for Chicago. And last night, like, if you would have just landed on planet Earth and watched a basketball game, you would have thought Zach Levine is the best basketball player on Earth. He's 16 for 19 from the field, 8 of 9 from 3 and has 42 points. 8 of 9 from 3. And I'm not going to lie to microphone.

I'm not going to lie to a microphone. King's Hornets did not keep me up until 1230 at night last night. You know what I mean? Absolutely not. I was like, I did not say up for this one. But when I woke up, I was like, wait, wait, Levine had 42 because this could be impactful. You know what I mean?

Because the Kings are part of that Western Conference group where you're like, they're going to be in the play-in. And, you know, you could get a Zach Levine 42 that can really frustrate a team like the Memphis Grizzies in the first round. It's playing out loud. Just going to say it out loud. Or a DeMarre Rosen or a subonis or, I mean,

they got guy, Monk can go. off like they legit have at least four guys that could get 30 on you. And there ain't many teams that have four guys that could get 30. No. And Levine has had like a career year. And, you know, I was curious of just how much of it was I'm on the Bulls and someone has to score 30 because we're going to get to 95. But, you know, that was a great game last time.

I mean, eight of nine from three is insane. And when he's, when he's going well, like you said, when Levine has it going, so sometimes I look at him, I'm like, he, that's a prototypical NBA super. star right there. You know what I mean? He's got the height. He's got the length. He's got the touch. He can finish at the rim. He can hit threes. And then sometimes you're just like, oh, I guess I guess that's why you're still Zach will do. All right. So one of the things we are going to do today is we are going to make semi-predictions. We're starting with they don't now, but we are going to give things that we think people are going to believe coming up sooner than later.

You ready? They don't now, but. Yes. Okay. I'm ready. Now I get to come by this one honest because when we started talking about this yesterday afternoon. Well, you didn't send me yours, I noticed.

You did not send me yours prepot. But I, well, you knew a couple of them. Couple of them. Because when I proposed this, one of the first ones I sent you, and I sent it in the afternoon before the games was they don't now, but people will soon consider Cade Cunningham a superstar. I sent that yesterday afternoon, not knowing. That could have gone either way for me last night.

But thank you to Cade Cunningham. It went the right way. Because he had a monster game against the Clippers, which we mentioned. 32, 9, and 7, three steals. They've won seven in a row. And for the month of February, Kate Cunningham's average nearly 28, 11, and 6. This is one of those things that is happening. It's not happening on national television.

And so it's one of those things that people see on Instagram or on Twitter or wherever they see it. but I'm telling you, as someone who's gone out of my way to watch this, Steve, you wonder why are the pistons having this? And there's a lot of credit that goes to bringing in the vets. There's a lot of credit to go to J.B. Bicker staff. But more than anything, it's that this guy is becoming, he has now ascended, he's going to run away with the most improved thing, but he has now moved into a totally different category.

And it's another lesson. and sometimes you just got to wait it out because if you'd have asked somebody for the first couple of years, three years of his career, is Cade Cunningham someone that you can build a championship roster around? Is he a one or two on a championship level team?

I think most people's answer would have been no. My answer now is no. Yes. My answer now is no. So my question for you is, so I'm going to ask too far. I'm not trying to do like a debate. show thing here, but I want to ask two follow-up questions on this one is.

Yep. Superstar is, it might be thrown along a little bit too much. You know what I mean? Like Superstar, what is that, what does that mean to use? That top 10 in the league? You know what I mean? Because is Shea Gilders Alexander a superstar? Is Anthony Edwards a superstar?

For sure. What? So they're superstars. I just want to know where the line is. Where's the line? I bring up Shea because I think that Cade and Shea, if I was Cade's mentor, I would say, look at the Shea Gilders-Alexander arc, right? And the first couple of years in Los Angeles,

first couple years in Los Angeles, not even like a notable basketball player, really. You know what I mean? Like, I loved him, but like, you know, I pay more attention to the NBA than most. But then you notice when he gets to OKC and he gets like sort of under the tutelage of Chris Paul and then he has this sort of breakout season last season,

now he's, you know, an MVP candidate, maybe an MVP favorite, to be fair. And I think that we could say CK doing that. So now that we've established what a superstar is, what is your timeline? They don't now, but they will soon consider Kate a superstar. When is, what is your timeline on that? By next year. This time next year.

It'll start with the playoffs. It'll start with the playoffs. Yeah, he'll have 40 in a win. Yeah. It's the first time he's going to be on TV. Yeah, the losing six in the first round and he'll have one 40 point game at home. Yeah. I mean, they are right.

And I think people will look at it and they'll go, okay, next year is the year where he ascends to a team with Cade Cunningham is going to have a chance at being a fantastic team in the Eastern Conference. Like that's where. That's the line, right? Like if I've got this guy, there's a level to how bad I can be because this guy is that good on a consistent basis. And he is already starting to get very consistent. And I think that the reason that the reason I said they don't now is because, I mean, hell, they're lucky there's a video camera at their games at this point. Being on national TV. Like, he doesn't even, well, he's never on TV.

So there's going to be a lot of people that watch Kate Cunningham play basketball for the first time in the playoffs. I always root for number one picks because I always feel a little bit of like sympathy for them because it comes with someone. much pressure. Like when you're the number one pick, like it sticks with you for the rest of your life. And we've seen it go wrong. And I think that Kay's first couple seasons in the league, which is a lot of injuries, not just to him, but also to his teammates. It's also worth mentioning that they're doing all of this without Jaden Ivy, who was supposed to be like a key piece of what they do. And I love to see number one picks pan out appropriately. And Kate, I would say, it's fair to say, and he would probably say to himself that he did not play like a number one pick his first couple years. And he is

certainly playing like a number one pick now. I'm taking the under on Superstar a year from now. But I'm also, if you could say, you think he could be the number one option on an NBA championship team, Chris Vernon? He just got, look, this February, 28, 11, and 6, Jacoby. That's happening right now. He just played against the Clippers who have like the second best defense in the NBA. And he carved him up.

He had 32, 9 and 7 last night. I watched it happen. This guy is awesome. Absolutely awesome. People just don't realize how awesome he is yet. If he's the number one option on championship team, that means that he has some very, very strong players around. I think, you know what I mean?

He's a one or a one A. That's what I'll say. Yeah. Yeah. I just don't like a Janus type where it's like, we have Janus, we have a chance. We have Luca, we have a chance. You know what I mean?

I think that he has to have a very good, complimentary roster around him to have playoff success, unlike some players. I think SGA is actually a reasonable comp. Yeah. Yeah, that's what I said. And we will see. All right. They don't now, but very soon, we will once again come to the realization that we're

watching the Celtics just coast through the Easter conference once again. It's going to be the same thing as last. I try to tell you this. I do not think the Celtics... I tried to tell you this week to go. And you called me. I don't even think they'll see a game six in the Eastern Conference. Seriously.

Like, we all were there. Oh, stop. I'm telling you, man, like, we were all there when we saw them have their little swoon, right, before the All-Star break. I think it was December when they're kind of like winning 500 or whatever. But they've won 9 of 10, 12 and 15. Top 5 in offense and defense. Tatum is just so consistent. and available. And I was thinking about Porzingis.

And I was like, you know what? Let me look at Porzingis's splits. I was like, because I've always, I don't know, I've always liked Porzingis. We did a documentary about him at Grantland before he got drafted.

And I was just always kind of, I don't know, I always liked the guy. And he is so consistent this season. He gets 19 on the road, 19 at home. 19, it's just like 19, 20, just up and down all the time.

And I do not. see a team, including Cleveland, that would have a competitive series against them in the playoffs. And I can be wrong. But right now as I see it, that's how I see it playing out. They will coast through the Eastern Conference. Absolutely.

What a massive overreaction to the Knicks getting buried again. Wow. I didn't see this coming. Come on. Don't overreact that much just because the Knicks got buried. Well, come on. I mean,

come on. I don't want to talk about the next. I'll get to them later. I do have something for them later. I'll be serious with you right now. Let's say each of Congress finals, Cleveland, Cleveland, Boston. I don't see that being competitive.

Especially with Jared Allen being hurt. I don't know what happened to his hand. We'll find out. But I don't see that being competitive at all. I really don't. I thought it was an overreaction. when they were playing 500 basketball and looked blah for a long time. And I think this is an overreaction as well.

I think they're an outstanding basketball team. But I also think the competition is going to be much greater than it was last year, much greater. I don't want this to be the case. I'll go ahead and do that right now. I don't want this to be the case. I hope Bill's not listening. We've got a big game tonight. This is the one.

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do. Now, a lot of people are looking at this not line. Luca Donchich, right now on Banduel, over under 31.5 points. Now, will Luca have 32 points? Interesting. I think so. And I also think that LeBron James, who's over under is 24.5, I'm going to go under on him. Why is that Jacoby? Well, I'll tell you. Thank you for asking. Because I think that LeBron

is going to make a concerted effort to get Luca his big game against his old team. So I think LeBron will be a little bit more deferential to Luca than you would expect. I think that they will engineer this game. So Luca has a big game. So I'm looking at unders on Austin Reeves at 18.5 and LeBron James at 24.5. I generally don't like betting unders. But in this, particular case, I'm going to make an exception. Luca over, under LeBron, under Offton Reeves, and Kyrie Irving over 26.5.

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All right, so I'm going to play into what you were talking about with the Celtics. They don't now, but everyone's going to soon realize that this year's playoffs are going to be roughly 700 billion times better than last year's playoffs. Last year's playoffs were an absolute disaster. Boston, Miami with a hobbled Miami. Nick Sixers was the only

decent one that we had. The best series. Right. And it happened at the first round. Then we had Bucks Pacers and we lost Janus. And then we had Cleveland, Orlando,

which was like on the Discovery Channel. And nobody watched it. The NBA on NBA.com had a preview that I read for every single series, there wasn't even a preview or a beatwriter at Orlando Cleveland. In the West, Oklahoma City versus the Pelicans, horrible. Denver versus the Lakers, sweep.

Minnesota versus Phoenix, sweep, terrible, not competitive, Clippers Mavs, who gave a crap? All right, that's what we were left with last year, which led us to what was possibly the worst playoffs that you could fathom. This year, if I just say today, Jacoby, because I was looking at this morning, as we record this on February 25th, if it just landed the way it lands right now,

right now, forget the play in and what happens with the play in, even though that thing is going to change. We would have Cleveland, Atlanta, Boston, Orlando, New York, Detroit, and Milwaukee, Indiana. Okay? That would be the first round, which obviously, if the top four seeds advance,

we would then get Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Boston, New York, okay? Then in the Western Conference, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Denver, Minnesota, which is a rematch of last year's chance to go to the West Finals, Memphis clippers Lakers

Rockets like it is and that doesn't even include the warriors getting in there who are going to get in there they will okay

like this year's playoffs is going to be so much better and I know there has been a lot of lamenting on guys trying to stay healthy

or guys not taking the regular season all that serious because the playoffs is all that matters if we can get in the playoffs with, you know, without a bunch of these teams losing their best players, it's going to be outrageous how much better these playoffs are this year with the characters

involved and the teams involved than they were last year. Last year was honestly an all-time, horrible playoff bracket. And then it played out even worse than we could have imagined. So like when you're saying stuff like, I don't even think anybody's going to compete with Boston. Like that Boston road last year was insane for what it typically takes to get to an NBA finals. And this year, I think it will be infinitely better.

And I think the teams just top the bottom are going to be, I think we're going to get much more competitive first round series than we had last year. And I don't even think it's going to be particularly close. I'll piggyback on that and say. I think the top four seeds in the Eastern Conference will pretty easily handle their first round series. Western Conference, no idea. I know.

With, I mean, if I was, let's say, I don't know, a Memphis Grizzlies fan, you know what, I'm going to go, I'm going to piggyback on that and go to my next one. They don't now, but they're soon going to listen to the mismatch podcast get very, very dark in about two months. Oh, God. Because both the Grizzlies and the Knicks are going to wildly disappoint in the playoffs.

Showdown on Friday. Showdown. They are, we saw what happened last time. But this, I think the Knicks and the Grizzlies are going to be very, we'll be lucky to get out of the first round of the playoffs. And I'm serious. But for what you're talking about, if I'm a Grizzlies fan, if I'm a Grizzlies fan, do you want to play the Warriors? Of course not. No.

Or even like the, even imagine a healthy AD in the Mavericks getting. in there somehow. Like the timber wolves, all of those teams, I would favor over the Grizzlies in a series right now. And if I was a Knicks fan, first of all, I know,

like I'll let you, if you want to say the Warriors of the Lakers, okay. Warriors, Warriors Lakers. You slow down on the wolves. Slow down. Oh,

please. What? Slow down. Telling you, man. Slow down. But also it's no better for the Knicks. It's no better for the Knicks. I think the,

the point being is, I think the playoffs will be excellent this year because I think the Western Conference has, will have a five through eight seed that will truly challenge their first round opponent. Maybe not the eight seed, but in the Eastern Conference, I don't see that so much.

Oh, the West is going to be a blood back. Yeah, it really is. I think the Eastern Conference doesn't have the same five through eight that the West will have, but the Knicks and the Grizzlies, I think, are going to be, we've talked about this on text and on the pod. I think that, I think that we are, these two fan bases are going to be disappointed.

pointed in the playoffs. I think they would both be lucky to get out of the first round. And they don't, people don't know that now. Slow down on the, what are you smirking about? What are you smirking about? The Knits.

What are you smirking about? You're just so dead because you, you know, if you've jumped on the Celtics nuts and you're so down on the Knicks because they lost one game to the Celtics. Good grief. Come on. Can't stop anybody.

Come on. What happened to, remember wing stop? Has anyone said the word, as anyone said wingstop about the Knicks since like preseason. I got it, but it be, look, this is where I always come from on this stuff. The first big problem and the one that you can't get over is a personnel problem. And you don't have a personnel problem.

You don't. You have guys with the ability to do what you want to have happen. You do have that. You have the ability between Heart and Ananovi and Bridges and I got it. They're not doing it now. It's super disappointing in the regular season when they're not coming up. But like you got the goods to be able to do something great, right? That is the difference even.

I don't see it. I don't see it. And for all Knicks fans, they're pointing to Mitchell Robinson coming back. Like let's not, I've seen Mitchell Robinson play basketball before. Like, who do we think this guy's not? Wilts Chamberlain.

I do think, hold on, hold on. I'm actually going to defend some Nick's fans, not saying that he's going to change things all that dramatically, but I do think in terms of rim protection, he can alter, I mean, you can't have Kat being your last, your last line of defense. And just having somebody else there to be that last line of defense could have a much greater impact than you would necessarily believe.

it's what it's what it changes for your team more so than the individual player. I accept this guy is not Will Chamberlain, but just not having cat being your rim protection is what that changes dramatically to me. Mitchell Robinson hasn't played a minute this season. He's already got 150 fouls. I don't know how he did it, but he did it.

And it's he can't catch passes. He's never gotten his own basket in his life. life. He's a great offensive rebounder. I'll give him that. And he can rim protect when he's not fouling, but like he's not going to dramatically, he's not going to take them from like the 20th defense in the league to the fifth

in two months. It's just not going to happen. I'm really, really down on this Knicks team right now. And I'm also down on your Grizzlies. I think both these teams will be lucky to get out of the first round. You'll see. They don't now. But people are going to start getting behind the lewd Dort as

defensive player of the year. Oh, I love this. Yeah. Oh, I didn't see this one. Yeah, I can see this coming. Because you look at the odds right now, and it's Jared Jackson, Jr., who's won the award before, Evan Mowgli, and Dyson Daniels, who's going to be on a team that is like a lottery team. Okay. I think what's going to happen is you're going to see this historically great defense that Oklahoma City has.

And then you're going to go, okay, here's a historically great defense. somebody's got to be responsible for this in a massive way. Obviously, you've got Caruso, Guilds, they've got a bunch of great defenders. Yeah, of course. They got a bunch of great defenders. But the greatest of which is the Dorcher Chamber. He is. And it's a guy that has never gotten his flowers for being an amazing defender.

He's never even made for, I don't even think he's made second team all defense. He's like never made an all defense team, which is. How did you mention it? It's up hard. I don't think he has. No, it's crazy. He's never made it all deep. And yet he's very well my B.

And they kind of broke the seal a couple of years ago by giving it to Marcus Smart as the best defender on a team that had a story. And so I think once this thing opened up, you know, the conventional wisdom is, okay, well, who's the next big guy that's got really good counting stats? Jared Jackson, Jr., great defender. Evan Mowgli, great defender. Dyson Daniels is going to have steel numbers that are unheard of.

But I think Dort is the one that people, as this goes on and as we get into the award season, I think Dort's going to be the one that ends up getting promoted the most and catches a narrative. That would be my guess. That's interesting. I would say that he needs a couple quote unquote Heisman moments. That's fair. You know what I mean? He needs a couple.

He's had like one or two this season so far. that Luca game comes to mind. But he needs a couple Heisman moments where it's like, you know, those two games that we talked about in the last pod, where he keeps Jamal Murray two for 14 from the field and then three for 10. You know what I mean? He needs a couple Heisman moments. Who was the one that we all, it was Mitchell.

It was Donovan Mitchell just like. And Dagonal after the game said like, oh, I just put, I put Lou on them or something, right? Yeah. Donovan Mitchell was in hell. So I would say he's two Hysman moments away from winning this. But it's going to be hard to get it from Mowgli or Janet Jackson Jr. Yeah, the other one was Jalen Brown. In Boston.

In Boston. Yeah, what happened to Jalen? That's what it was. How were you able to slow down Jalen in the second half? And he said, we put Ludoord on him. We put Lutored on him. Yeah, the tagging level was just like, we put Ludoord on him. He was like, well, why didn't you do the first half?

Brilliant basketball mind. For what it's worth, Dort is it plus 1,200 right now. He's the fourth favorite. I just feel like going through the way the narrative season works, I feel like he's going to be the one that catches the wave. A couple of national TV games when he does,

he does the Dorcher Chamber thing would help that. But it's just so hard to get away from, who's the big with the most blocks that also gets rebounds, you know? And I also felt like watching that, I know we were both watching the Cavs game, Cavs Grizzlies game over the weekend. I felt like Sharon Jackson Jr.

I think he circled that one a little bit. I think he wanted to score on Mobley, and he did. He had some nice moments against Mobley. Unfortunately, he was in foul trouble, which is he has not been a foul trouble guy all year. And of course, they played on national TV and he got in foul trouble. And it led a bunch of bozos to being like, oh, if you could just feel dirty-duty. I texted you about this. That was the story from two years ago that he was like the foul-trouble guy.

But he cleaned that up, didn't he? Am I wrong? I know you watched him. He cleaned it up completely. but of course he played on national TV and had massive foul trouble. Yeah, but he was scoring on Mowley pretty easily. I feel like both of them knew that it was kind of a,

you know, there was a little bit of a subplot during that game. In fairness, Mowgli had a massive game. Hmm. Mm-hmm. I don't think that'll happen, but I like it. I like it for the sake of the pot. I can see the roadmap to getting to that destination, but it's like, it's just such a dumb down award at this point.

It's like, who's got the most blocks that averages 10 rebounds? That's it. You get the most blocks. If you just go to like whatever basketball stat site you like and you filter by who's got the most blocks, you're going to see the defensive player the year. Like pretty much 18 out of 20 years. That's kind of how to go. Well, the Wemby was going to run away with that thing.

It wasn't even close. Okay. I've done the podcast. It'll get dark. I've glazed the Celtics. I've got a few left. I'm saving a special one for the very end. God.

All right. So I'm a rapid fire here. they don't now, but they will soon see Jeff Van Gundy make a major difference as a head coach next season. What? Yeah.

Quietly, the defensive coordinator of the Clippers, who no one had circled as like a top defense in the league, and there's a couple spots. The Pelicans, Jazz, Blazers, Bulls, Sixers are all teams that I think might be looking for a new head coach. and my former colleague, one of my favorite people, I don't even know this man.

Like his number is not my phone. We're not like friends or anything. I think that he will, he will be a head coach and make a difference next year. I like that one. I like that one. I think so. That Jeff Van Gundy returns to the sidelines.

He's, he's already returned. Right. You know what I mean? Like he's already returned. And he's basically the Clippers defensive coordinator, for lack of a better term. And he's taking this Clippers team,

which, who's their best defensive player? probably Jones Jr. Yeah, yeah, that's fair. But like, and they're not, they're not a roster of elite defenders, like the thunder or something. No, it's like Chris Dunn, Jones Jr. Like, I mean, I mean, look, to have that good of a defense with James Hardin playing. And have James Hardin.

Yeah, exactly like, you know, he's not a rim protector. But yeah. So I'm going to say Jet Band Gundy makes a difference. I'm a rapid fire here because I got one more I want to say. Well, he's also been doing a bunch of, like, he was omnipresent in that, in the background. shots of that court of gold. You know, with the Team USA thing. So, I mean, he's been on the sidelines a bunch over the course of the past couple of

years. By the way, can I just mention it? Because we've mentioned it briefly last pod. That's four stars, four stars for me. I'd give it up 98 on Rotten Tomatoes. Honestly, I thought court of gold was not good. Amazing. I loved it.

Loved it. I thought they did such a great job. Did you think about these things as a time capsule? I thought they did an amazing job capturing that Olympics and everything that I loved about that Olympics. And it really makes you wonder. And my wife is a documentary director, so I think about these things a lot,

is that starting five doc was just kind of like, whatever. You know what I mean? It's like you've got the five of the biggest stars in the league, quote unquote, all access during the season. You cut it together. you edit it and then you present it to the audience and I watched like half of one episode and I was like, ah, bored.

I'm on my phone. You know what I mean? I call it T-Sop. Time spent on phone is that's my rotten tomato score. If I'm watching White Lotus, my T-sop is zero. When I was watching starting five, I was my T-Sop was so high. I was just scrolling Instagram while that thing was going. That whole thing should have just been an Anthony Edwards show.

Seriously. But it makes you wonder like what, what is. what is so successful about court of gold that was lacking in starting five? Because they weren't able to craft a narrative. When it's player produced, you can you show people what you want to show them, right? So it's almost like watching somebody on Instagram, right?

You don't see me yelling at my daughter. You see me playing basketball with my daughter. You know what I mean? Like, you know what I'm saying? We got to, there's an authenticity that comes along with a fully formed when we're watching the Serbia coach call them a bunch of effing wimps. When we are watching the French coach and Nick Batum, you know, talk about Evan Fornier's comments in the media, right? Like it wasn't all good, you know, there was the good and the bad. It was real.

That's the difference. The level of authenticity felt totally off. in starting five, except for the ant part, because he's the only one that truly does not care. By the way, in court of gold, he told Barack Obama to stand out. Who uses the term stand down like that, too? Seriously, it's like something like cops.

He was over the radio or something. You're like military people on the front lines. He's amazing. He's like, stand down. I was like, damn, man. He's amazing. That's why he's the only good. part of, I don't, I, I'm sorry, Jason Tatum is boring as all get out. And then you're going to like,

hey, here's something that's going to make Jason Tatum seem more interesting to you. Watch him and Deuce play Papa shot. I'm like, he's got a kid. Congratulations. Everyone's got a kid. You know what I mean? It doesn't make you unique or interesting having a kid that just means you had sex before. You know, it's like, it's like, all right. Yeah. Seriously. Um, next one, They don't now, but they'll see Janus and Tentacompo play somewhere else next season. Okay, that's ridiculous. You save this for the end? Really?

No, I got one more at the end. I got a good one for the end. That was my rapid fire one. He just said he's. He just said he's not going to lose again in the first round. The bucks are going to lose again in the first round. He just said he's not going anywhere. Couldn't you see them losing to the Pacers?

Couldn't you see that happening? He's not going anywhere. Come on. I just want him to. Why? You got one more. I got one more. All right.

they don't now oh boy all right so since you wanted to this one might be one that can elicit something of you they don't now but people will believe now let me let me let me

oh oh he's hedging he's hedging no he's hedging this you started down the road and then you stopped it turned around prefacing this is called a preface the preface

several weeks ago we did a predictions thing and I told you that the Western Conference would be altered in the same way as it was last year with Dallas, that it would be altered by the trade deadline. I think we have a very reasonable chance that that is the case again. And so there I tell you that they don't now, but people will believe that the Warriors made the biggest deal at the deadline for this. season. Right now, the world thinks the Lakers made the biggest deal at the deadline. I am telling you, the Warriors made the biggest deal at the deadline because they got somebody that they don't have to fit that roster to who they got.

You know, for the next 10 years, the biggest deal is the Lakers deal. For this season, the biggest deal is the Butler deal. Okay. I mean, that's absolutely preposterous, right? Oh, it's not. On surface, it's absolutely preposterous. However, since this is a thought exercise... Good thing these are recorded.

Yes, since this is a thought exercise, we'll go down this thing. And I think it's fair to say that the Warriors are, I would say, are likely to be the six seat, right? I think that's fair to say, right? Certainly possible there. They're playing really well. They look great.

And the teams in between them and the six seed are the clippers, the Timberwolves, and the Mavericks. Yep. And I would assume, I would, I would, you know, I think it's fair to say that the Warriors would probably finish down the stretch better than those other three teams. And that was their stated goal was to get to six. Mm-hmm.

I think it's also fair to say that the Lakers might end up in the three-seat. You can see that. Can you see the Lakers as the three-seat and Memphis as the four? Yes. I would never, ever, ever, ever in a million years. First of all, that'd be, I mean, that'd be, uh, imagine a Luca LeBron, Butler, Curry, first round, seven game series. And Memphis is playing Houston?

Yeah. They'll be on the Discovery Channel. That'll be the Discovery Channel series. And feeding into OKC. HGTV. I'll be, I'll be going to games at 1 o'clock on Saturday. Yes, exactly. At least it gives me the rest of my day.

I think it's I'm going to have to say as much as I love the improv yes and to support my co-host and friend and brother Chris Vernon I have to say that I think that Luca might be a little bit more impactful on his team. I'm saying for this year. I'm saying for this year too. I'm saying for this year too. Because one of the things I told you at the trade deadline, it's not just how Butler fits with them, which is going to be great and has been. it is what it does for Curry. Don't look now. Steph Curry is averaging over his last 10 games,

28 points a game. 28. And Jimmy Butler's averaging 28 free throws a game. Life is a lot easier for Steph Curry because the truth is nobody cared about Andrew Wiggins and nobody cares about pods. Caminga. It's like, fine.

If you beat us, you beat us. There was one guy to worry about there. One guy. Mm-hmm. Now there's two guys, and it makes the whole world different. And also, like, lo-key Chavano, Chivano sort of slowing down the second half of the season has affected that team as well. But, well, there's been a great fit, and I think that'll be a really interesting playoff series. I'm taking Lucas the more impactful player this season.

Sorry, he's one of the best five players in the world. But I'm going to finish on this one. They don't now. But people are really going to miss Hooters. I don't think people are taking this Hooters news seriously. enough. And if you haven't seen it, first of all, what are you doing with yourself? What is your timeline feeding you? But Hooters is setting up to declare bankruptcy. This American institution is going to go away. And I don't think there's a, there's a person on this planet that doesn't

have fond memories of Hooters. How do we let this happen? When Rainforest Cafe declared bankruptcy and disappeared, I would totally understood that. I've only been to Rainforest Cafe like twice. But Hooters is like, it's something that we all have in. common. Like we don't all have Waffle house in common because it's regional. Hooters is national. It's an institution. It's, we know what we're getting

when we go to Hooters. And the fact that it's going to disappear and no longer be a thing and be a distant memory of ours that I really think that as a nation, we need to band together and stop this from happening. I don't know how. But I'm going to really miss Hooters and we need to stop this.

Okay. I am going to say, and again, And this feels like it should be like a Derek Thompson podcast for The Ringer. It should be like one of the subjects, you know, that he goes into with somebody else from the Atlantic. I wish I had done some more research. Somebody from the Atlantic. But it's going to be called the rise in outlets for horniness. And that now there's too many outlets if you're hornyness.

you're a horny guy. Oh, oh, I see this. Like you can be on your phone. You've got hooters in your pocket. Why do you need to go to hooters? It used to be if you wanted to see a girl with,

you know, great boobs or and eat great wings that there was like, that was easy to go to, right? But now with the advent of Instagram and DoorDash, I feel like it has made it. Wow. People don't value the personal interaction in the same way that

they used to. They just order chicken wings to their house via DoorDash and then DM a chick on Instagram. We have devalued the personal interaction. Well, for the sake of the future generations, I think we need to stop this. But I'm also going to call you out here on one front. Why? Why?

Because this feels like one of these things that you and I could get nostalgic about because going to Hooters was like a thrill when we were young. but and so you say how can we let this happen I where how come there's no more who you know we can't let this happen when is the last time you went I'm not kidding okay a couple things number one they took away the hooters no in the city that's number two no no no no I've got you the last time I was at hooters was quite some time ago but counterpoint

when I lived in Los Angeles and worked at grant land there was a hooters within walking distance that I frequented they had a golden tea was not connected to the internet, which is always annoying. They had a golden tea there. They had friendly staff, wings, beers, sports on TV. I was a regular. I knew the manager. Grantland was a decade ago.

When is the last time I was at Hooters? They took away the one in the city. Damn, this is my fault. I forced Hooters into bankruptcy. I did this. There's no one to be upset with me. Grant Lynn was a decade ago, dude. Where's the nearest hooters?

Zach Lowe is a millionaire now. He deserves it. Where's the nearest hooters? Zach Lowe has made millions of dollars since you guys last one. Nearby 10 miles away. Oh, God. In Fresh Meadows, Queens. All right.

Well, I know what I'm doing for lunch today. There's a hooters within 10 miles of you and you have never been. But New York City, New York City 10 miles is like an hour. It might as well be 100 miles. These are different miles. Our miles aren't the same as your miles. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's different. Yeah, yeah.

No chance. All right, well, that's what I'm doing for lunch. You lamented, though. I'm not going to talk about it. I'm going to be about it. I like those Daytona wings there. I have good, man. Yeah, no, no.

I have, I will say that this is sad. I have not been in person in over a decade for sure. I'm trying to think the last time. I have ordered it. Oh, you? Oh, wow. Oh, yeah. Wow.

That's wild work. Yeah. That is wild work. wild work. You've ordered Hooters for the wings? Yep. Just to your home? Yes. Wow. Wings. Wow. You really do read it for the articles. I like the curly

fries too. Curly fries are good. Yeah, they're kind of like RVs. I like those curly fries. They had one. They had one in the city right by MSG that I would go to after next game. Hey, true story. It was a football Sunday and we ordered Hooters wings,

fried pickles, and curly fries. God, fried pickles are fantastic. Fantastic. Fantastic. Do they do those up north? Yeah, you can get them. It's like a novelty thing. You know what I mean? It's like, oh, this play, this southern themed place has fried pickles, but it's not like a, you know what I mean? It's more of like a novelty act. It's not like a standard. But fried pickles are fantastic.

God, you know what? I was so mad at everybody else for ruining Hooters, but I don't think I've been to Hooters in like four years. Seriously. This is my fault. It's your fault. I'm going to Hooters right now for lunch. Fresh Meadows. Queens. Meet me there. I'm going right now. We've got to get a Hooters Queens review in a couple of the show

on Friday. 61-09-190-190 Street, Fresh Meadows Queens. All right now. Going there right now. Getting on the train. We want the review. We want the review on Friday. Thank you to our executive producer, Jesse Lopez, as always. And Jacoby, I'll

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