The Mismatch - Things We Are Tired Of and Eastern Conference Playoff Push

Episode Date: March 31, 2026

Verno and Jacoby return to react to the Thunder-Pistons matchup, the logjam in the Eastern Conference playoffs race, and things they are tired of this season.Welcome to The Mismatch! (0:53) Top teams are jockeying for playoff position (2:45) Eastern Conference: Magic fighting, Hornets chasing (5:16) Western Conference: The Suns' good vibes (10:13) West teams battling for 4,5 and 6: Nuggets, Timberwolves, Rockets (16:21) The MVP Race: Wemby, SGA, Jokić, Dončić, Jaylen Brown (23:30) Things we are tired of: SGA’s free throw discourse (27:45) Things we are tired of: lack of respect for the Pistons (36:19) Things we are tired of: KAT unclear about his role (40:46) Things we are tired of: tanking teams and players you have never heard of (50:33) Things we are tired of: not having Anthony Edwards in our life (53:41) Things we are tired of: NBA floating ideas to the media about tanking (57:18) Things we are tired of: “If the 76ers are healthy” (59:04) Things we are tired of: doing a show with a guy who resents Wemby (1:01:53) “Monsieur Basket” Joins the Mismatch! Leave us a message on our Mismatch Voicemail line! [phone]Hosts: Chris Vernon and David JacobyProducers: Stefan Anderson and Jeff ShearinSocial: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the mismatch. I'm Chris Vernon. And joining me to us every week from The Ringer.com is Dave Jacoby. Jacoby. Verno, the Thunder and the Pistons had me up past my bed tonight. Once again. Good games. Last night. Oh, great games last night.

You had the Thunder and the Pistons. You had Wenbenyama going crazy. He recorded the fastest double double in NBA history last night. He had a double double in eight minutes last night. So you've got like guys going for. awards down the stretch. You've got teams that are trying to get to the number one seed and jockeying for position down the stretch.

And so despite the fact that we have too many teams in the league not playing it out nobly, the top ones are for sure in between the great players and the great teams that are jocke for position. Let's do a standings look. A lot of the stuff at the top has not changed. Credit to Detroit, they have held serve. without their best player, and they're still holding on to the number one C.

Boston is two, New York is three, Cleveland four. But only by one, though. Only by one Cleveland behind New York. So that one could possibly be up for grabs. And then you have this jumble between Toronto, Atlanta, and Philly all within a game and a half of each other. then Orlando, Miami, and Charlotte are going to be in this battle to see who does not have to play possibly a second game in order to become a playoff team. And there is just a enormous advantage in that for these teams.

And so you got three of those at the bottom. you know, look, one game, the rest of the way could absolutely change your season for those teams in particular, right? Because the difference between having to win two games in order to secure yourself a playoff position or just win one game at home and then you've got your place locked in, just a monumental difference. And so, and these things obviously do change teams going forward. forward, right? And I think about this through the prism of Orlando, especially, because they're by

far the most disappointing team down there. The fact that they are going to be fighting with a couple of these teams to get into the playoffs is crazy to me. I mean, we've been talking about this all year. Obviously, they had one of the most disgusting basketball outings in NBA history. That's not hyperbole against Toronto where they gave up a 31 to nothing run. And so here they are. And they've got to kind of play this out the rest of the way. But we do have pretty good. I mean, pretty good setup in the east, at least down the stretch,

where a lot of these games are going to matter a lot. Oh, yeah. I mean, I'm looking at like the Sunday, April 12th, the Hornets Knicks. That could be big. The last game of the season. That could be big. You know, obviously, I'm posting the Knicks, but they've got the Celtics in front of them,

the Hawks, the Raptors, the Rockets tonight, you know, the Bulls and the Grizzlies, but like, this is going to come down to it. And if you're the Cavs, like, why not? You know, like, why not make it run at the three seat? Right. And these other teams, like, you mentioned having to win twice, but if you're, we all love the Hornets.

We celebrated the Hornets that one week, you know, whatever, and their starting lineup is undefeated and blah, blah, blah, blah, con, con-knipple rookie of the air, blah, blah, blah, we all did that. But if they're the 10 spot for them to win on the road and then win on the road, right, and then be sort of like, let's say that that does happen. They win two road games. Then they have to turn around real quick and fly to Detroit to play the pistons. So like, so that makes them less of a sort of feisty, upset potential 8-1.

You know what I mean? When you just had to win two road playoff games and then get on a plane to go to Detroit. to play in actual round one game one playoff. But we desperately want that to exactly play out so that we can get hornets pistons and we can relive the mini melee that took place earlier in the year. I mean, that thing would have all kinds of smoke.

So that would be great. So the Eastern Conference, there's a bunch to pay attention to down the stretch. Yes. Not nearly as much in the Western Conference. You know, look, the seedings can change. and where these teams and your seating can obviously determine your eventual success or failure.

But in terms of the teams that are involved, unlike the Eastern Conference, at the bottom of the Western Conference, it feels like this Phoenix Clippers thing has been locked in for a long time. It's almost like, all right, let me just fast forward to Phoenix versus the Clippers because the Clippers have been able to hold onto their spot

right ahead of. And look, that's no picnic for, Phoenix. I saw them in person last night and I mean, they just, they're one of those teams where a lot of teams that I've seen through come through Memphis will attempt to, you know, screw around for three quarters and then they just crank it up in the fourth quarter. That's what good teams do to bad teams. And a lot of them, they'll look up and there's like five minutes left, four minutes left, three minutes left. This happened to even. with the nuggets a couple weeks ago.

And it's like, wait, this is still a game. Like, why is this still a game? Phoenix came in and just put the screws down. In the fourth quarter, I mean, I think they won it like 40-something to 16. I mean, they just way laid Memphis last night in their game. And they still do not have Brooks and they still do not have Williams. But as I told you, just being around. being around these teams when they come into town and I can talk to people that are with that organization.

What you have seen on TV this year, everybody is so like, I don't know the word to say. It's just great vibes. Like it's like a good mood around the Phoenix Suns. It just is. It's been that way all year long. And now like Jalen Green's come back and he's kind of fit in and found his role there. and Booker had, I mean, he was at absolute peak of powers. He did, he could go look at his,

how about this one, Jacoby? It was all in three quarters. He didn't even play. Like, I mean, look at his minutes. He did it all in the first three quarters of that game. He didn't even score in the fourth, I don't believe. I mean, he could have had as many points as he wanted to have. He was, he was great.

And the him and Jalen Green thing looked good together. see they've got to fit, you know, Williams and Brooks back into the mix. But, and look, Memphis is not exactly putting their best foot forward. But it was not as much the game as it was just talking to people around that and how much different that is from last year to this year. And I think part of that comes with the lack of expectation and also just that vibe around that. Like, you know, last year they bring in Bradfield and they've got Durant and like, they're supposed to be awesome and they're not. And then it's just a cloud that hangs over you all season that we're not what we're supposed to be. And they don't like the coach and the, you know, there's the locker rooms, you know, just a mood.

And this year like a complete 180, a complete 180. like you see those guys interacting, you see them interacting with their coach, you see the vibes around that team. And so anyways, who knows what will happen with them? They got a very, very tough draw to having to beat the clippers

in order to play for their playoff lives. But they have been a surprise this year. And I think there's a bit of, you know, good vibes chemistry, the new coach that's obviously taken a hold, that's gone a long way towards them being a really good story this year. And it kind of gave me a better understanding of how this has happened besides getting a bunch of guys with competitive character,

giving an honest effort every night. And I'll tell you, everybody I talked to you there, they credit Brooks. They do. They credit Brooks for kind of bringing that to that organization. I mean, that was kind of the story at the beginning of the season when Brooks was available, that just how impactful he was on both ends of the floor.

And then you start looking back at the rockets and how their defense isn't what it was last year. And they missed Dylan Brooks on the Rockets. And, you know, I think that we've undervalued Dylan Brooks because of the way he sort of flamed out in Memphis. But this team, you know, it is a tough draw to play the Clippers.

I would put that at like a coin flip, especially if it's in Phoenix, which it likely will be. But I would pick them over the Blazers of Warriors that second game. So I do want to see this team in the playoffs. And I think we will get both, the Clippers and the sun's in the playoffs. You never know what's going to happen. Steph Perry comes back and, you know, lights everybody on fire. But it feels to me like they

will end up as the seven and eight C in the playoffs. Well, and that one's kind of set. And I know that we had a minor disagreement, maybe not last week where I told you I would, of those teams that were fighting for four, five, and six, and maybe I've changed on this, but four, five and six, Denver, Minnesota, Houston. We knew that those teams are going to be fighting with each other for those seeds. And one of the things I said to you is, I don't know if I wouldn't rather be six and feed into three

and then play, take my chances with San Antonio, right? If I, if I try to get to a Western Conference finals, would I rather that be one of the other two, so like a Denver and then OKC, or would I rather it have

be the Lakers and then the spurs? And I still choose Laker Spurs, even though the Spurs are like unbeatable right now. That's the thing. It's like, look at these top six, like the top six,

you're either playing Shea, Wemby, Luca, Yokic, Edwards, or Duran. Right. So like, do you have the best player in the series? I don't know.

It's a debate with all of it. So there is no, there is no easy path. I don't think there is any way to game it. There's no big injury where someone's missing and, or a team has a record that they're not currently deserving of. There's no easy path here. I think you just want to win as many games as possible to get home for advantage.

I'm just talking about preparing. I think there's more to expose in a seven-game series with the Lakers than I do the others. Because that's not taking away from the Lakers. That is giving credit to both Denver and Minnesota for the runs they have made. those are teams that have been to multiple Western Conference Finals. Now, in Minnesota's case, they were able to get Edwards back, even if he was a little late last night. The McDaniels thing is scary.

Like, they have to have him. Yeah. And the week to week thing is, that would make me a nervous rat. Yeah, I think that's fair to say. Because we don't have a lot of weeks. You know what I mean? And they need him desperately. You need that wing per cent.

perimeter defender in the mix, especially with who you are going to be going up against in this Western Conference playoffs. And so that is a bigger injury. Like we focus on star injuries. Of course. But a McDaniel's injury is enormous towards what the ceiling can be for this version of the Minnesota team. And I think if you are Minnesota or Denver, there's just an institutional knowledge.

of beating the Lakers in the playoffs. The last three years, you know, right, that's who's eliminated the Lakers. And if you remember last year, which we bring it up all the time, everybody goes to go to a bear game, like, it wasn't even competitive. Well, and those teams are set up to be playing against each other.

Denver and Minnesota right now, who we have seen before and we've seen Minnesota oust them. In one of, honestly, that's one of those, that's one of those games. That game seven is still a game. I still can't believe it happened. Denver was up so big.

and just yacked it. And next thing you know, Minnesota is playing in the Western Conference finals again. It's crazy. They are. So anyways, we got some stuff to sift out over the course of. And so despite the fact that we have a lot of these teams that are not putting their best foot forward,

we do have a lot left to be decided. And we've talked a lot at length about how these matchups and who you draw can be, can not only determine your playoff future, but really your franchise's future. Because you get bounced in the first round, all of a sudden there's big changes that are made for any of these teams, right? Like, you know, most of them overreact to whatever happens in the playoffs.

And with all due respect to your Memphis Grizzlies, they were not a very competitive eighth seed last year. You don't say. But, but, but the Clippers, man, Oh, no. Like the Clippers, like, and Coah Leonard comes into your building. Like, they just have like, it seems like seven of these, I'll even clue Booker. It seems like everyone's got a nuclear weapon.

You know what I mean? I think that is where the parody of the NBA is truly going to show up. It showed up throughout the season and obviously why we've got so many of these teams fighting at the end for playoff seed and or play in slash playoff position. I think these playoffs are going to be unbelievable. I really do. I look through this and I just don't see a lot of wipeouts. I say the Western Conference looks more competitive than the Eastern Conference.

I would say Eastern Conference, the teams that are hosting game one in round one, I expect to have pretty easy series. You know, I think I can see Orlando flaming out. Yeah, oh, yeah. I don't. Anything can happen. I can see Orlando completely flaming out. I don't think the Raptors would be particularly competitive against the Cavs.

Again, I'm probably being prisoner of the moment, but I'm like, who are you banking on Orlando beating even to get there? That was so shameful this weekend. We talk about teams either playing, like winning us over or playing terrible leading into the playoffs. And it's like, bro, you got like a week and a half until this stuff's going to start. You give up a 31 to zero run against a beer? It wasn't just a 31 and nothing.

run. They weren't competitive the entire time. And they lost back 52. And they also didn't play the Spurs. Yeah. They played the Raptors. The Raptors. No disrespect to the Raptors. That's ridiculous.

Yeah. So anyways, I do think that there's going to be, I my prediction is these playoffs are going to be fantastic. All right. So I have told you in the past that my buddy Tim Bontemps, ESPN always does the straw poll that everybody sees.

And I have told everybody that I vote in this. I always send it back to him whenever he asks. So this is perfect. He sent this to me last night. I have not sent it in. So I have to send in for this. And it's usually pretty predictive of what's going to happen. Yeah.

So I always take this very seriously. Even though I am not a voter for, I am a voter. Why don't you have a vote? Burno. The thing that matters. The thing that matters is the Bon Temp straw pole. Straup.

Yeah. Yeah. They asked you if you wanted to vote and turned it down. You said, I've already got enough work with the Bon Temp Strapp. The Bon Temp. The Bon Temp. Yeah. All right.

My rough draft was SGA, Wembe, Yokic, Luca, Jalen Brown. I have not sent. I have not pressed send yet. This is such a great race that you can make a case for any of the top four in any order, honestly. So it's, you know, sure. Should I be the one that does the Wembe thing

is the question? You won't be alone if you need the Wemby. You will not be alone. You think he's going to get a bunch of first place votes. Yeah, I think he's going to get more than one first place for it. Yes. More than one. Yes.

Now, again, unlike the MVP, this is not public. I mean, I'm making the public of mind. Sure. But it is not public. All right. So this would not be I think you're alone if you Do you think

Luca will get a number one spot? Probably Probably. It feels like you could make a case for Yokic Luca SGA and Wemba. Again, this is anonymous so people can do whatever they wanted. Oh sure. It wasn't like I'd be raked over the colds like nobody would even know

that I were who I voted. But I just thought the right thing to do was SGA, Wemby, Yokic, Luca Jalen. And I almost think that will be the exact order. Do you, would you change anything if you were having to press send? If I probably would not.

You would have that. That's probably how I would have it as well. If there was anything to take a long look at, it would be Wembe versus SGA. But I am admittedly one of those people that does get voter fatigue. Like I just want new voices to make, beaches and new people to have, you know, an MVP in their trophy case.

But that would be the one thing I would take a long look at, but I would currently have SGA over Wend. Yeah, and then the Luca, there probably will be, have some people who have Luca over Yokic, right? We're just doing a standings thing. And we're just doing a standings thing. It's just like, all right, if you, if you, neither of you are in first or second place,

I look at the Yokic thing, as we talked about last week. like he's having, honestly, one of the greatest statistical seasons ever. Ever, yeah. Ever. And in another year, that would win despite their record.

You could say that about all four of them. You can sit about all four of these candidates. No question. This is an unbelievable race, and these are great candidates for sure. Like in any other year, like Jalen Brown being five is kind of crazy, considering his team is the one

that benefited the most. You know, I did see a stat last night after they had won over the weekend saying that I couldn't believe they're 8 and 1 without him this year. Oh, oh, and let me just go ahead and tell you before I move on that Bontems did say there is the you can put Cade in there if you want. But the expectation is he is not going to reach the game's limit. So if you want to, you can put, you can tell me where you would have Cade if he were eligible. And I don't honestly know how much I would change it. Maybe the Jalen spot. Maybe the Jalen spot is what I would put Cunningham in.

You know, best record in the East. That's right. There's some efficiency questions about Jalen Brown. Yeah. You know, there's some funky on-off stuff. I don't love on-off stuff. but like, you know, these are great basketball players having great seasons.

So this is the other thing that he asked when he sent the text. It's always just MVP's trouble. But this year, he said, can you also send me your top three for rookie of the year because this is going to come down to the wire? And so then I was like, all right, I got to dive into it. And I think Knappel's going to win.

I do. I think he's going to win. I don't necessarily think he's going to have the best career. I don't necessarily think he's the best player. But I do think when people sit down and go, most deserving of this award for a rookie year, I mean, he's the most efficient. He's had the biggest impact on winning.

And he's having like an all-time great rookie season. He's smashed that three-pointers made by a rookie. He's obviously on a team that's got a chance to play in the playoffs. And it's kind of crazy that these two were on the same Duke team last year, Ruiz. big buddies. But I kind of think that, I guess there will be maybe a small percentage that say flag,

but I had Cinnipple flag edge comb, and I think that's pretty much what everybody's going to have. Yeah, I think so too. And I think that everyone focuses on C Cipill shooting from outside the arc, which is, you know, out of this world. Just like, just like nothing I've, literally nothing I've ever seen before. But he does so much more than that.

He competes defensively. He slashes, he passes. Like, he's not Steve Noback standing in the court just catching shooting. and while everybody else does the work. Right. All right. So you would go with that too.

You're in agreement with me. I'm sorry. I know it's bad podcasting, but that's how I really feel. Fair enough. I mean, well, look,

you agree. I would rather have Cooper flag on my team. You know what I mean? I would rather have Cooper flag as like a basketball asset. And I think that he tracks to have a better career

and be a better basketball player. But this season, rookie the year, is cognizable. And always remember, you agreeing with me, It might make for bad podcasting, but it just means you're right. If you agree with me, you're an idiot.

We're doing things that we're tired of today. I did this for you. I did this for you because I know that you love to complain about things. So we got about eight games left in this season, but there are always things that we are tired of as we live our lives, loving the NBA, loving the league. There are things that we get tired of. I will let you begin.

I'm tired of the SGA MVP free throw ethics debate. It happens after every major nationally televised Oklahoma City Thunder game, all we do is pull these clips, put them online about how this is a foul or how this isn't a foul and how he gets too many calls or he goes to the line too much or this or that. or he's a free throw merchant, but Jalen Brunson does it too. And last night it was the push-off. Now we have a new wrinkle to it.

Because last night, everyone I'm sure listening to this podcast saw at the end of the Pistons game, he has a great steel, which no one's talking about, great steel, tie game, goes down,

gets sort of a hand on the shoulder. I think it was green, I want to say, hand on green shoulder, pushes off a little bit, but not much. And then they, he also shoots, hits the three, goes down because he was trying to draw a foul. There's a whistle.

He thinks the whistle is going to be a defensive foul and it's an offensive foul. And then it's like, well, now we're mad because they didn't call that all game. And SGA does that all the time and it's inconsistent. I don't even know which side of the fence I'm on here. I'm just tired of it being a thing. So he pushes off too much, but he gets fouled too much, but they don't call it consistently. I don't even understand what's happening anymore. And every coach complains about it after the game.

I guess I could read your text from the Nick's Thunder game. Go ahead. It's a great whistle. He gets a great whistle. I mean, you're responsible for this, Jacoby. You're tired of, yeah, you're tired of something that you participate in. Yeah. You're tired of something that you participate in.

participate in. I might have been a little emotional watching the team. You might have been a little emotional. Go up and go up against the thunder. Hold on. Hold on. I mean, if we're going to do this,

let's do this. Again, if we're going to do this, Brunson does it too. SGA gets every effing call FM. The whistle SGA gets, is effing embarrassing for the league. This is shameful.

No SGA. No off. I stand by it. I'm tired of it. I'm tired of it. You can't tell me this doesn't sound like someone who's not tired of. And I feel like Kevin Durant. That's a personal turn.

You're such a phony. You're like, I'm tired of everybody talking about SGA getting away. And you literally, that was two days ago. But then we're mad because they called a foul on him. the offensive foul. Like which, where are we with this whistle? Like, I like the call. And I also think that a lot of it had to do with the angle that the rep had made it look like.

It was, it was sort of, it was basically the, the, the, the Russell Jordan push off is what it was. It's exactly what the play was. And I also felt like green just happened to be a little off balance. So the push looked more impactful than it was. But then it's like, well, they weren't calling that earlier in the game. I don't even know what I want anymore. I don't even know what I want. But I know this.

In the playoffs, there's just less foul calls. So we'll see what happens then. It's funny that we watch the guy that is going to be a two-time MVP and everybody watches it through the prism of, is it going to get called? Is it not? Did he foul? Is he foul baby?

That's what I'm tired of. That is, it is annoying that we don't just enjoy it. That's kind of where I'm at. Thanks for making that a lot more articulate and concise than I do. You're welcome. about it for 10 minutes. But, you know, that's why you're, that's why you're great. The first thing, the first thing I'm tired of.

And this hit me as I was listening to Bill and Zach do their pod. And they're doing scary playoff teams. And then everybody's kind of ranking playoff teams as we get into. But what do the Pistons have to do to get everybody's respect? Seriously. I mean, what do they have to do? I didn't expect to be up that late last night. They were missing everybody.

They were missing everybody. What do they have to do? They are 10 and 4 now after last night without Cunningham. They, let's see, going into last night, they had the best record in the entire NBA against the top 10 teams. They're 15 and 6. They took that team to overtime last night. And so now they're 15 and 7. No Duren, no Stewart, no Robinson, no king.

What do they have to do? people no is out here just bawling just nobody believes in them it's bizarre to me they you know just keep out waiting for them to fall off and like it's different because we have seen them against the best teams regularly and i just told you how they've performed when they've played against the best teams and yet it feels like no one gives them a chance to do anything i will be i will be stunned if the majority of the NBA media brain trust has them in the Eastern Conference Finals. I do not think people, I think people, just listening to people,

I do not think people. Hold on, Berno. Do you have them in the Eastern Conference Finals? I absolutely think they will make the Western Conference Finals. Yes. They are awesome. What about them is not awesome? And they are everything people should love.

They are tough. They are hard-nosed. They give an honest effort every night. They win despite being down guys. Like, what am I missing? What am I missing? The lack of celebration over this team taking a leap and becoming the best team in the Eastern Conference, having an MVP candidate, and playing great, consistent.

against the other best teams, I just, I don't get it. It's like, I don't know. And maybe I'll end up being wrong. Maybe I'll end up being wrong about them. But like, to me, we've spent 82 games, 70-something games now of them proving it over and over and over and over again. And it's like, yeah, but it'll be different when they get to the playoffs.

This is just cool regular season stuff. playoffs. We'll see. Isn't there a part of you that's like, well, they just a, all right, I'll celebrate them for a second, so I don't want to be fully just a jerk all the time. The biggest problem with their offense was it was just too K-dependent, too much K,

too much K, too Ked dependent. Now they don't have Ked and they don't miss a beat. Don't miss a beat. This is enter Dennis Jenkins. This is what people have missed throughout the year. They, that it is, I think,

it is a focus on offense that has led people astray in evaluating the pistons. Why would they not be better on defense even when it comes to the playoffs when they're only planning for one team? This is a team that can strangle you out and, okay, they might struggle offensively, but they might just have to win 105 to 102. There's a Duncan Robinson problem. to because we've seen him in many heat playoff series get, you know, abused, defensive. And they need his shooting because outside of him,

they just don't have a lot of shooting. And I think that that could be something that coaches have long meetings about, about what are we going to do? Well, and I, I must tell you, over the course of the last 24 hours, I have changed my opinion on something. and that is

what I thought was a rash decision slash mistake at the trade deadline when they moved off of Ivy and brought in Kevin Herger and given the circumstances of the last 24 hours

it makes much more sense and I hope he gets help I really do look I know that everything is turning into a debate about, you know, his faith and everything else. I would encourage people to go back and look at other interviews he did, even one last year, where he talked about his childhood and not being loved, that being the victim of sexual abuse and all of these things.

And it gives you a window into kind of everything that's gone on over the, and he has turned to things that he shouldn't have. and now he has turned to religion. And it's, it's, it's very clearly, um, someone that needs other people right now. And I'm watching him, you know, as a guy and obviously, his mother, who is now the current coach at Notre Dame, was an assistant coach for the Grizzly.

She's great. And I know that just watching all of this unfold, it's been, he was around a lot, you know, like when, when he was like high school and then Purdue. And just to watch this all unfold And then to watch all the commentary online And then to watch his commentary It's like I hope that he finds the people to talk to

Because right now You do wonder if he is squandering his entire career He may not care, he may not care But I mean that that kid has obviously been through A lot more and is searching for answers. He's searching for answers and obviously

is in a way different spot than he's ever been before. And I honestly, I know a lot of people like, you know, I know the way this stuff goes online and I know the commentary and there will be people that take their shots at them. I've watched this unfold over the course of the last couple of days and it's just made me sad. Absolutely.

Honestly. Yeah, I mean? because that's a guy. There's a little feel, the quantity of IV content that my algorithm is pushing me just goes to show that there's a little bit, it's kind of gross,

and I'm certainly not the ethical, moral person that should be followed, please. But there's a bit of like rubbernecking at a car accident kind of a feel. You know what I mean? And it just got, it makes me feel a little gross because it's like,

you know, I've seen the clips, but it seems like every time I'm scrolling Instagram, It's just like another Ivy clip, another Ivy clip, another Ivy clip from every outlet. And it's, I think we should focus a little bit more on the health of the human than sort of the spectacle of what he's been up to. I agree. Anyway, back and look, the team that got rid of him, it makes a little more sense now.

And Hurtr, you know, they weren't using Hurtr at all. He had a bunch of DMPs. But like, you know, guess what? When you're missing four of your key rotation guys, throw her in there, it looks pretty good. And they are, I mean, that team has got so much heart. They are. Jenkins, dude. So much hard.

They got so much hard and they play so hard. That shot, like, everyone's just going to focus on the SGA foul. But Jenkins had a good look at that. I thought that was in, went up the back room. I thought, I thought that was it. Yep. So anyway, all right, next one. All right.

I'm tired of Shea Gilder's Alexander going to the free. There's the Jocobie. I don't know who that first guy was. That guy was an imposter. No, he was an imposter. I know, no. The first guy, I think that he gets an unfair whistle, and I think it is shameful, right?

But then what happens last night is he gets a call against him, and then we're mad that they didn't call that earlier, and it's inconsistent. And I'm just like, what do we, what do we even want here? Whatever. I'm, makes me upset. Basketball. Here's what I'm tired of.

And this is involved. with the thunder and SGA and the fouling and everything. I am so tired of Carl Anthony Towns after losses talking about how he doesn't know his role in the Mike Brown offense. I do not understand this. I mean, it's March 31st. Bro, I was looking back at old quotes. He was, he did this in October. And I was like, okay, it's a new coach.

It's supposedly the offense is going to be different, but like, actually it's not that different. Let's be honest. And that was in October. It made perfect sense. And he like every two months, he says the same thing about his role and how it's unclear. And in the Knicks Thunder game, which you know I had circle because I want to see something from the Knicks. And again, they play the Thunder well. And you walk away from it being like, well, I guess they're the best team.

And then the Pistons go in with none of their players and go to overtime. So who cares. But after the game, and if you didn't see the game, they're guarding him with Caruso a lot, which they did against Yokic and Crusoe is just an excellent defender. He'll frustrate it anybody, big, small. He'll frustrate you. He frustrated Cat. And then the fourth quarter, they went to him a few times,

and he got some buckets and he drew some fouls. And, you know, it was sort of, but it was all in all, it was sort of like a not a very great offensive performance from Kat. And there's a watching the game, you felt like they could have given him the ball more. Right. Okay. Yesterday after the game asked about posting up Caruso, quote, of course I would like to do it again.

I would like to utilize my talent and my size, but we decided to do something different. and then he went on to say, like, what's, you know, he was asked, like, what's forbidding you from getting those post possessions? Quote, just executing you, forbidding you. Listen, that wasn't, they said. I know, I know. Quote, just executing our offensive game plan, what our game, what our game plan and what we drew up and what we want to accomplish. I don't know.

I'm just trying to do whatever I can to impact winning, honestly. The playoffs start in two weeks. I mean, look. You're either going to be, give me the damn ball or you're not. He seems to be, to me, always a victim of circumstance. So if they do decide to pass it to him a lot and put him in position to score, he will do so. But if they don't, he's just going to pitch that they did it, right? Rather than say, hey, man, you know what I'm saying?

Like, give me the ball. And I've covered a guy, like, I will tell you, like, you, we're a little, he's a little long in the tooth to not have developed that one yet, right? When you are that talented, I mean, I can't tell you how many times I watched when I was early covering the NBA, I would see Lionel Hollins on the sideline, like calling a play. And as you were throwing it in under the basket, you would see, if you go back and watch old clips, you will see. as they're walking up the court, Zach Randolph telling Mike Connolly, no, bunk that, give me the ball. Yeah.

I knew you were going to bring up Randolph when you said that. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Give me the ball. I'll be on the left block. Give me the ball. You know what I mean? Like, that's what you have to be if you're that guy. You have to be, you can't just be a victim of circumstance.

Like, stop. He's been doing it, as you said, all year long. All year long, he's been doing this. Anytime he doesn't get a bunch of touches, anytime he doesn't like, he's like, I don't know my role. It's like, bro, number one, this is a communication issue.

I would have, if I'm Mike Brown, I would have called him into my office in December and been like, hey man, will you stop saying this? Yeah. Let's talk about your role in the offense. So we're on the same page. Right.

And if you're Jalen Brunson, you can be like, hey man, can you stop? Seriously? Yeah. Like, if you need more touches, try to get you more touches. But, like, will you stop doing this every time the New York Post comes to your locker? Yeah, it's also, there's no shortage of Brunton Town high screens.

There's no shortage of them. It's not like he's, like, standing in the corner. You know what I mean? Or he's standing on the block with his hand up and he's getting looked off. None of that is happening. And he has been playing well recently in the past month. Yeah, it's just, but the game 75, it shouldn't be like, what's my role? Like, what are we even talking about?

He played 75 basketball. All right. Next thing I'm tired of. Oh, my God, have I lived through this. Okay. So, and I've got tanking teams, fielding players you've never even heard of. I consider myself a true basketball fan.

I have gone to EYBL events for Nike. I have gone to collegiate basketball games and watch a tremendous amount of college basketball. I go to NBA games 40-something times a year, and then the times I'm not there, I'm watching it on television. I even pay attention in some ways to the G-League because my producer calls games for a G-League team.

So what's happening here at the end of the season, this isn't like a who's-coo of guys that were in the G-League. What these teams are doing, they're signing guys that weren't even good in the G-League. to play in the NBA. And just as a point, I have made a six, just a six person roster here.

These are guys that have played in the last couple of days in the NBA. In the NBA, you tuned in and played real minute. And you tuned in and you've seen it. For each of these, I have your Venmo, for each of these.

I'm going to go out for six. Hold on. You will get, $5. I will pay you $5 American dollars. No. No, no, no.

Hold on. If you can't just... I'm not doing it. The team. All you have to tell me is the team. No chance. That's it. I've seen these, man.

I've seen these games. I've seen these box scores. I can't tell you where they went to college. I can't tell you what team played for. I can't tell you their ethnicity. You don't have to tell me where they went to college. I can't tell you the position. Who feels it.

This is unfair. And you mix in some football players, mixing some quarterbacks. I'm going to help you here. I'm going to help you here. No. Because you know they're all on the sorriest teams. So you've weeded out a huge percentage of the league. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Okay, so now you just have to guess what team they're playing for. All right. Okay. All right. John Pulakitas. I mean, that's not a person. You just make that up. John Pulakitas.

John Puliketis. John Puliketis. You get five bucks for any of these. Just tell me the team. John Pulikidas. Let's see. Because what teams have I not been watching? I'm just trying to think just by process of elimination.

John Pulikitas. Jesus. That is a, that is a Utah Jazz. He is a maverick. Okay. Bezumbing. What? Bez-Bang.

I saw this one. Bez-Bang. Kings. He's a jazz. Oh, that's not fair. Julian Reese. No idea. Julian Reese?

I think I went to high school with him. By death. Wizards. Yes. Vendl me $5. Motherfucker. You still got three left. Julian Slawson.

Oh, Jalen Slosson. Oh, well, that's that's, it's different. It's different. Yeah. It was Julianne Reese. Yeah, Jalen Slosson. He is, um, Memphis Christi.

He is not. He's a Pacer. Oh. I haven't been checking on the Pacers. Cheney. Cheney Johnson. That is, um, that's a porn star. Brazers.

It's not Cheney Johnson. Exameter. Foo. Cheney Johnson. Brooklyn Nets. He is a Brooklyn Nets. Adama ball.

Wait a second. We got Leangelo, Lamello, Lanzo. Yep. Adama ball. The unknown ball brother. The unknown ball brother.

Don't look this up. I'm not looking up. That's not. I have no idea of this one. I'm going Mavericks. The Mavericks have been playing people. I just don't know. No, they've been playing John Pulakitas.

That's right. I'm sorry, Mr. Pulikitas. Adama Ball is actually a Memphis Christmas. Oh, man. Okay, so look, hey, listen to this. You're going to love this. About what game was it? Is it Saturday?

Saturday night. Memphis played against Chicago. real barbler. Okay? So they're playing against the Bulls. We're on the pregame show and you've been in situations like this. And so at the end of the pregame show,

we do this like thing. The host name is Rob Fisher. He does the fish nugget. It's like a stat about tonight and whatever. And then we'll do like be roll of what's going on down on the court. Like guys going through the layup line and whatever. So I'm looking at the monitor

during the game. and the B roll comes up and I look over, because the B roll is, that's what's on the screen right now. I'm like, I look over at fish and I go, who the hell is that? Keep in mind, we're... This is, this is, this is, it, bro, they signed him in the morning and flew him in.

And he was wearing number 72. I'm like, everything. Where did they even get the jersey? I don't know. He's in the layup line and I'm like, I have never seen that human in my life. I'm about to go to a basketball game and watch this individual. I have no idea who that is.

He's a French guy, the Davao Ball. What do you talk about in the post game? When you're doing the post game, like, what's on the rundown in the post game? Just like, this guy scored 15. This other guy had four assists? I will tell you that last night, I looked over at the host because there was like a segment later in the game

and they say, okay, so when we come back, we're going to do we're going to do rewind, we're going to do this, and we're going to do promo, and then we're going to do out. But the first thing. But you can't talk about the sons,

because the local Memphis audience isn't like, what doesn't want to hear about Devin Booker's Big Night? Correct. So the first package, I swear, I swear. And if you would have seen the look I gave Rob, I was like, oh, no. In our earpiece, it goes, all right, guys,

we would come back, Trey Burton package, then we got Grizzery wine, then we got whatever, then we got whatever, right? Then we're going to roll out. It was a, that's what it was, a Trey Burton package. I had to commentate over a pack. Oh, what I said? Trey.

I had to talk over his highlight. The Tyler Burton package. Jemay Meshack started. Jemai. Jemai. Put some respect on his name. What is happening? Yeah.

I don't understand. It was a Tyler Burton package. That's what it was last night. I mean, come on, bro. Just fast forward. Please, please. Just fast forward. All right, what's your third one?

Oh, God. I didn't really realize how tired I was at this, but I was so tired of not having Anthony Edwards in my life. And I'm sitting there watching the games last night. And he checks in. I'm like, oh, Anthony Edwards, because I heard he was going to play. It's all right.

He checks in after 40 seconds had gone by. And I just couldn't wrap my head around why that would be the case. I honestly could not. I was just like, if he's, you know, he's been out for a long time,

so you would want him to warm up and start the game. Because you don't want him to like sit down and get cold. That's why people are always on bikes or whatever. They announced him in the starting line up. I could not, because I wasn't watching that game. I tuned into it after it started.

And I literally watched him go to the scorers table come in. And it was, it said like 1120 left or 1040 or something. I was like, oh, it must be the second quarter. No, not the second quarter. I was like, this is the first quarter. I could not wrap my head around what I was watching.

I was shocked. And then after the game, he was asked about it. And he's just always perfect. Were you going to six-man now? No, I was a little miscommunication. Mike had my back on. That's my OG. What happened to you for the first man now is okay?

I was taking a shit. Oh. Yeah. But, yeah, like I said, Mike held it down for me. He was taking a shit. He was taking a shit. I couldn't wrap my head around it. I thought it was maybe a medical thing.

Like he had to warm up or the trainers were working on him or maybe he wasn't ready. Like I just, I was sitting there and just think of all the hypothetical reasons why this substitution pattern would be the way it is. And that did not even cross my mind. Do you think there's anybody else in the league that would give that response?

Absolutely not. He's one of one. Stephen Adams would do. Maybe so. Yeah, you're probably like. Probably Stephen Adams. But is there any of one. anyone else in the league who like wouldn't plan their poops appropriately.

That's probably a good point as well. Yeah. I mean, sometimes it hits. I mean, right. Sometimes it hits. Sometimes it hits. Sometimes before I rec league games, I like to get one out to get a little. He just, he has so much charisma, bro.

And in a league that, like, I mean, even when I was going through that, that top five for the MVP, like SGA, Wembe, Yokic, Luca, Jela Brown. It's like. Yeah. You added Cade. You never even mentioned him. Yeah. Right.

And that, but I mean, I'm saying. Like there's not a bunch of, he has this natural charisma about it. Oh, yeah. Like that star quality. Oh, he went on to explain because I started watching the interview. And then he went on to explain. And he goes, he's like, hey, Mike, Mike, should I tell him about this? And just giving away too much of the blueprint.

And he went on to explain that while he was out, it really benefited him because he could watch the team and sort of theorize what they needed and how he can best sort of like put himself on the team when he was on the bench. You know what? Simmons keeps talking about this with Tatum. I think I also think about it with LeBron. Do you remember the whole 48 hours of the Lakers are better without LeBron, which is absolutely ridiculous? But I do think it really helped LeBron to sit for two weeks, you know, go to the games,

sit on the bench, watch the team play without him to figure out how he can, best maximize what he's seeing in front of him and his own performance. And I think that Anthony Edwards admitted it last night. I think it definitely happened with LeBron. And I think, you know, obviously there were benefits to Tatum being out, you know, Jalen Brown being fifth in Berno's MVP voting. And there could be something to set for game too. It is, it is not that the Lakers are better without LeBron.

They are better without LeBron the way he was playing before that. That's debatable. No, to your point. No, to your point, he came back and is the absolute third wheel. There were some discussions. There was definitely some discussions that were had because remember JJ came out and said that if LeBron is if LeBron is a third in our usage, then that's that's sort of the right way for this to be. And I don't think he would say that to the press unless him and LeBron had that discussion.

Because he's the best third best player there is. Without question. We'll do this later. We will do this later when it comes to teams. Playoff teams, I always like to look at like who's their second option, who's their third option, because oftentimes the first option gets taken away. And if LeBron James is your third option, you're in a good spot. I don't care how old he is.

Yep. All right. My third one, the NBA, like, it's a league that we love. But they constantly do this thing where they float out ideas. They like send it to Shams and they're like, hey, put that out there. Let's just see how people react. Right? Instead of just like, here's what we're doing. This is how we're doing it. It's like, you know, here's a couple different options for what we could do in anti-tanking.

And it's like, then they put it out. And it's met with everybody going, what the hell? Like, two-year, I mean, two-year record. Like, you people stop. Like, seriously. Why are you, this should not be that hard. It really shouldn't. And I am of the opinion. You know, I mentioned this is the second time he's going to get name checked. About two months ago, Fontem's wrote this article about it and said that what they need to do is change the incentives in the NBA.

If they want to fix it, change the incentive. It incentivize winning. That's what they need to do. So his idea was, once you are eliminated for playoff contention, now your wins count as lost. Remember we talked about this? And then, okay, so then people met with that and they said, you know, there's a small segment that would say, well, then people are just going to try to be bad early so that

they could rack up more wins, right? Okay, then we get rid of that. It's not total wins. It's win percentage at that point, right? So now we just make your win percentage in those games that you played after you were eliminated. I'm saying if the issue is, then you try to be crabbed. be early so you can rack up the most wins that count towards the lottery, right? They get rid of that.

Am I an idiot? Wouldn't your win percentage after you've been eliminated? Oh, I see what you're saying, because not everyone would get eliminated at the exact same time. You would be eliminated at the same time. So what they're saying, I'm saying if the contention is, well, then after you would try to lose to get to that point. Okay.

Right. And then start winning. Just back up a bit, back up a bit. Okay. One of your criticisms of the ideas that they floated out was they're just a little complicated and doesn't really. That's not complicated. It doesn't.

That's complicated. My wins should not count as losses. Why don't we do this? Why don't me do this? You know the lottery? Familiar with the draft lottery? All 32 teams are in it. Right.

So, yeah, maybe sometimes the number one pick goes to the champions. That happens. And so there you are. All 32 teams have an equal. chance at the lottery. The draft lottery is exactly that. It's that your your your wins and losses have absolutely no effect on your lottery position or how many ping pong balls you have. I just I look I just want them to stop incentivizing losing. I don't care how they get there. But I mean,

those those those things they've floated out there seem baloney to me. I'm like that. Especially not only. Not only is other things that you heard, but other things you heard is like, well, they're going to just going to be some drastic. I think somebody even said something. He's like, we're going to, we're going to change this. He's sort of called his shot. He's like, there's going to be dramatic changes this offseason. Full stop.

End tanking. Full stop. Oh, that's right. Full stop. He did the Gavin Newsom. This is what you came out with? Gavin Newsom said that. These are your ideas?

Seriously? All right. Go to your last school. I'm talking to myself. I'm tired of me doing this too. Okay. Because I've been hearing a lot of this. recently for good reason.

I am so tired of if the Sixers are healthy. Dot, dot, dot, dot. I'm out. I don't care how many points Joel M. B. scores. I don't care how good Paul George looks. I don't care how good Maxi looks. I don't care if they get Ubrae back, a B back, Paul George back, Dr. Jay back, Moses Malone back. I don't care. I've just, no, there's no if the Sixers are healthy.

They're not healthy. They're never healthy. So I'm not even going to do this anymore. Please. I'm going to remind you of this. I'm going to remind you. Please Nick Sixers in the first round. Please. Nick Sixers in the first round.

Please. Wow. I don't care. No. Wow. Guess what? If the Sixers, the Sixers will likely make the playoffs.

I predict that Joel M. B does not play the entire first round series. You're done believing. I do not believe at all. There's no if the Sixers are healthy. They're never healthy. And again, I'm talking to myself because I find myself having these thoughts. where I'm like, man, Ubrai, Edgecombe, Impeed, Maxi, George,

like, and guys off the bench, Grimes. I mean, hope springs eternal. I know. I'm out. I'm tired of it. I'm tired of it. Unpopular. But that being said, wouldn't you like for them to be healthy through a playoff series

to see what we see what they look like? Come on. Why are you doing this to me? I just did like four minutes about how I'm not even going to entertain these thoughts. Okay. All right. Then forget it.

My last one, you know, 41 and 16 last night, the fastest double double in recorded NBA history. Well, 41 and 16 with only four free throws. So it's ethical. It's ethical. I believe they're 25 and 2 over the course of their last 27 games with Victor Wenbenjama for the San Antonio Spurs. And so the last thing that I'm tired of is that I am the only basketball co-host in the country and I think the world that has to do a show with a guy that not only does not celebrate the greatness of possibly the new face of the league, but actually resents him and shows disdain towards him.

And I see this as a very young player. And I think, boy, this isn't slowing down anytime soon. So this is just going to be my plate. And I will tell you that I had someone reach out to me and ask if they could be a special guest on the mismatch to confront you about said opinions. the great Victor Wembenyama. Can I go get him? Yeah, just go grab him. I'll explain myself while you're gone.

I think it's unfair to say I don't celebrate the greatness of Victor Wembenyama. I obviously recognize how unique he is as a basketball talent. As someone who loves defense, I love his defensive impact. I recognize his effort. He is literally like nothing I have ever seen before. And I don't want people to think that I am just a Victor Wembenyama hater. That's not the case. And I also want to be very clear that once upon a time I may have said some things about

Richard Wemidyama that annoyed me, that bothered me, but they were not about him as a basketball player or the effort that he puts out. I just think sometimes he feels performative and he feels like he's not speaking from his heart and being authentic. And that bothered me. And I expressed that. And a lot of people were upset with me with that. But I do recognize Chris Vernon, my co-host here at the mismatch, putting his flag on the anti-thunder ground. And then, oh, who's, who do we have here?

My name is Miss Sue Baskin-Bah. Me-Misiel Basketball. We, wait. Hello, Missed your basketball. Bull. Those three things. Cigarettes. Couson.

Cuisant. Quasant. Cuisant. Quasant. And Victor Wimbain Yama. We, we, whey. Cigarettes.

Cuisant. And Victor Wembe Yama. What is it this problem you have with Victor Wembe Nama? Mr. Basketball must know. Mr. Basketball. first of all, it's a pleasure to meet you.

I've heard great things. Crescent cigarettes and Victor Wembe Yamma. Gle-wee. Clasant, cigarettes, and Victor Wembe, Yama. Well, first of all, I'm assuming you're from Canada, the Quebec, the Quebec area. Perry. Oh, Paris. Oh, okay.

Marseille. Okay. I've just explained while my normal co-host, Chris Vernon, was getting you what my problem is. So I don't want to do it again because listeners have already heard that part. But basically, I love him as a basketball player. I appreciate his greatness. I appreciate him as a unique talent.

Literally nothing we've ever seen before. What he does defensively is just so impressive. And, you know, to be that tall and to have a Kevin Durant-like game, I really appreciate. Miss you. How basketball has heard enough? He's it that. How does he say, Andy? language does it piss you off that the best basketball player in the world is from the province

we we do it piss you off do I say in your language that the best basketball player in the world is victory win by your ma whee-wee not really cigarettes could have shots and Who is your favorite? Who, what team do you root for? The New York Diggerbockers, my favorite team. Ugly American. I guess you like midget point guards. You do not like great giants.

No, I do not like great giants. I come not for resistance. We would. I'd rather be friends. Let us find calls. common ground. Do you like croissants? I love croissants, yeah.

I don't like chocolate or almond. I like regular butter croissants, yeah. Do you like cigarettes? No, I don't like cigarettes. Okay, weird. I love cigarettes. I love cigarettes. Do you like bignets?

Benignets? No, not really. No, just fried dough. Do you like my beret? No, I do not like your beret whatsoever. Do you like the gré? greatest theater ever. Mulan Rouge.

Mulan Rouge. Vueu'll have you Paso You've really reduced the generations and thousands of years of French culture in some pretty trivial Nouns here.

Messure basketball like cigarettes crescent Vite women yama And Mulan Rouge, you'll have you to say? What is this problem you have with the great Wenben Yamaha? Sometimes he gets on my nerves

just with some of his comments. The American. And I thought that, especially when he said that he worked out harder and everybody else in the league this off-season, I was like, I just found that to be a lot of. Do you have jealous of Victor Wenbe Yamah? I'm not jealous of Victor Mubanayama. I think it's got to be very difficult to be 7.6.

How could I make you a fan of Victor Wembenyama? Wee, wee. You know, I really look... Mr. Basketballer? Yes. I really look forward to watching Mr. Wembenyama, who you proclaim is the best basketball player in the planet, to playing playoff basketball,

and we will get to see that this year, and we'll revisit... My feelings about him and how successful in his office? Hope's that me and me can find common ground. I come not with resistance. Well, I look forward to talk to you again. Miss your basketball. Ivesque.

Cresan cigarettes big that way by yalla and Moulon Rouge. We will be back on Friday with Chris Vernon. and I'm not sure Mr. Beske's blood will be joining us. Me too. Best me.