The Mismatch - Who Will Meet the Knicks and Thunder? Plus, Loves and Loathes.

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Starting point is 00:00:47 Welcome to the mismatch. I'm Chris Vernon and joining me to us every week from the Ringer.com is Dave Jacoby. Jacoby. Bruno. No games tonight. No games. This is the first time in weeks. I, I, what did you do early in the evening? Like, I am so programmed to turning on these games that tonight, I just ended up watching like a P.G.

Starting point is 00:01:17 championship day one recap. Like, I did, I was like, what do I, what do I do with myself? I don't know what to do with my hands. That's how it felt. I didn't know what to do. What I did was put my one-year-old baby to bed and then, uh, uh, prepared for this podcast because I'd take it very seriously. I want to make sure that I'm prepared.

Starting point is 00:01:40 Thank you. I'm appreciative of your prepared in this. This episode of the mismatch is presented to you by, WeatherTech. Everyone knows winter is the MVP in making a mess. You don't need weather tech floor liners in the summer unless you hit the beach or go camping, then you'd want a cargo liner. Or a road trip goes sideways. Catchup goes rogue. Ice cream drips. Yeah, you'd be pretty happy about those weather tech seat protectors. So just to be clear, as the mud you're inevitably going to step in the summer, you don't need weather tech unless you plan on doing summer.

Starting point is 00:02:21 So visit weathertech.com today. We do have two game sixes that are going to be going on tomorrow evening, Friday night, as we were recording this on Thursday night. And so we kind of need to talk about how we got to game sixes. We'll start with what took place on Wednesday night. My beloved Pistons, just, I mean. vomited all over themselves. That was, I mean, I think they're up nine with two and a half to go.

Starting point is 00:02:53 How do you lose this game? How? How do you lose this game? And sure enough, they lost the game. And now they are going to have to try to keep their season alive by beating Cleveland in Cleveland. We've got to give credit where credits do because Cleveland made the plays when it mattered most. Donovan Mitchell made the shots. when it mattered most after he'd been mega,

Starting point is 00:03:16 mega quiet and it'd been in Asser Thompson jail for so long. I think he had seven in the overtime. And so Cleveland, a team that, I mean, I think generally people had given up on in terms of- I've given up on both Cleveland and the Pistons, like three times during this game, and at least 12 times during the last three weeks. I know.

Starting point is 00:03:42 But really what it was, I mean, James Hardin misses a shot and gets it back and then kicks it to Mitchell for a three. Mowgli gets a three. Mowgli gets fouled. Like it's just kind of like, they kind of just like fell into overtime, literally. Yeah. And there was that span of time where I felt like Detroit was like actually like really playing with defensive force. And then they just made turnovers and crazy errors.

Starting point is 00:04:08 24 second violations. Shot clock violation. Yeah. What are you doing? Oh, so bad. It was so bad. They had that game. And you could feel it watching it, like the energy in the building.

Starting point is 00:04:18 It went from celebration, we're about to win this to like, no, no, no, we're not going to, it got real quiet in there real fast. Oh, and then it became like Cade and who else can help him. And like, look, the news comes down, what, like an hour, hour and a half before the game that Duncan Robinson is not going to be available. and I know that some people will roll their eyes at that, but like this team needs him. Like this guy who's playing 37 minutes.

Starting point is 00:04:51 And if for nothing else, he's one of, if not the only player that has to be guarded 30 feet from the basket. That's it. That's, there's nobody else on the team that you care, that they are unguarded at, the three point line. So if nothing else, he can take one defender away and or make the shot. And so I did think that that hurt them in their game last night. He's got this back soreness.

Starting point is 00:05:23 Hopefully he'd be able to go for game six. But that doesn't excuse everything that took place down the stretch. I mean, that way, you know, I left that game, Jacoby going. They're too young. They don't know. They don't know how to win. They don't know how to win. Before we move on, I want to speak to the shooting because I've said on this show probably, I don't know, 17 times how hard that Nick's Piston series was last year. And don't forget, they had Malik Beasley who was shooting fireballs last year

Starting point is 00:05:55 and Tim Hardaway, June. Yep. And that, those are people that you need to cover at the arc. Like, they're going to hit, especially Malik Beasley. Like, whatever happened to Malik Beasley, I'm not here to speak on, but like his absence, is loud, especially when you don't have Duncan Robinson. And like, they just don't have guys that you need to cover.

Starting point is 00:06:18 Dennis Jenkins, great story, but you don't have to cover them. And here's the biggest problem. It is not necessarily those individual players. It is how it affects the spacing of that team. And most importantly, how much it puts an onus on you to not dedicate everything to trying to deal with Cade Cunningham. And they ran doubles at him.

Starting point is 00:06:46 And it's like, like, if you got some guys out on the court. And I will say this, they won all the games they had with these issues. They were able to come back from 3-1 against Orlando with these issues. And every time they win, it's not particularly brought up. And every time they lose, it's like, here's their Achilles heel. But frankly, I don't think that's the reason that they lost last night. I think the reason they lost last night, and I hope I'm wrong about this, was it just felt like you've got this veteran-laden team that kept its cool and got good shots

Starting point is 00:07:26 and made some plays down the stretch. And you've got another team that was losing its mind because it's all kinds of young guys on that team. and it's all kinds of guys that are going through that high-pressurized situation. Because as you said, when you talked about Beasley and Hardaway, those kind of guys aren't there anymore. It's Danis Jenkins who was on a two-way before he got converted. You know, Paul Reed having to fill in for the 20 and 10 guy that can't do anything. Wait, having to fill in? Right, I know.

Starting point is 00:07:55 That's very generous. That is very generous. Right. I know. And then they don't have, what I'm saying is he's not flanked by a bunch of guys that have been through it before it can keep an even keel as well. Whereas you've got Donovan Mitchell and you've got James Hardin and you've got Max Strues and obviously Mowbly's taking his lumps as has Alan in the playoffs already.

Starting point is 00:08:19 And so it's just learning how to win. It's learning how to value every possession. And also, yes, of course, take a little heat off your star player. Well, if you remember the first half of game four, was Karris Levert and Tobias Harris. Just like, K, don't worry. We'll create our own shots.

Starting point is 00:08:42 We'll drive. We'll do pull-up middies. Like, it's not just you here. Unfortunately, Donovan Mitchell happened in the second half of that game. And Karris and Harris were not what they needed to be in game five. It's really wild because we don't trust either of these teams. There's no outcome of game six that would shock you. Is there, like,

Starting point is 00:09:04 except for like a blowout. I'd be shy. Pissons are very live dog. They're a live dog. And I want to say that Cade is, you can't take anything away from Caden's losses. Everyone wants to point to his turnovers or whatever. Yeah, you're going to turn the ball over

Starting point is 00:09:18 when you're doing everything and you're getting doubled. Like, yeah, it's going to happen. Oh, no. I don't think it's fair to point at Cade's turnovers. Like, he's been burdened with creating everything. You're going to turn the ball over sometimes. He has proven throughout these playoffs to be a bona fide superstar. Oh, yeah.

Starting point is 00:09:34 There's no question, no matter what you thought prior to these playoffs, any reasonable person goes, this guy could be one of the five to ten best players in the NBA. And most importantly, he is a guy that could be the best player on a title team. And that is the, that's the realm that he has moved into that he had previously not. I don't want to get in front of our July and August podcasts, but I'm looking at Luke on the Lakers and Caden the Pistons being like, what are you going to do to change this roster to maximize me? Right. And we'll talk about that for the next three months. On the other hand, we have the spurs that are going to be playing against the Timberwolves.

Starting point is 00:10:22 I never want to count out the Timberwolves. That's a team that I watch get down double digits plus in a game. seven, you know, against Denver and come back and shock the world. But it feels like they're kind of cooked. And man, if you want, I mean, there's no way you could come out of that game five and not feel like crap in the Minnesota. Oh, yeah. I mean, I got dog walk. Here's a thing.

Starting point is 00:10:49 You just got to hope they get the seven. Edwards has looked. I don't know if it's the cheers. I don't know what it is. But man, he looks like gladiator in Minnesota and he's pumped. in his chest and he's firing up the crowd and he's killing it. And then not the same in San Antonio. Maybe it's the,

Starting point is 00:11:10 the tricolor crowd that's got him going, you know, where they're, and maybe it's just the, the environment that maybe it's the, I don't want to take anything away from their game plan, but I mean, he has been so, it's their game plan. He's been, for him,

Starting point is 00:11:26 he's been so jacked up in Minnesota though. For him to play 39 minutes and get, take 13 shots. I'm aware. You're not going to win. You're not going to win. I'm aware. And so it's going to be like this is the moment where, and I wouldn't, again,

Starting point is 00:11:41 you don't like their chances in a game seven in San Antonio, but this is where a superstar keeps your season going. And I'm not going to, I'm not ready to bet against him as bad as they look. Because ever since, I mean, that Wimby first quarter, or was 16 points and 11 rebounds or whatever it was. I mean, that was, it was comical. It was comical. Comic.

Starting point is 00:12:10 Yeah. Well, I mean, we'll get to Wemby in a second, but it's a, I said this last year, like, Julius Randall will disappoint you in the playoffs. Do you remember game one Julius Randall? In fairness, it had to get to the Western Conference finals before you were right. We did a lot of lauding of Julius Randall. the first three rounds of the playoffs. Because he was good for the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Starting point is 00:12:35 Two rounds. Yeah. But he didn't look great. I mean, no one looked good yesterday, really, in a terrible. It was informed. No, you need another ball handler as well. And that's where the Deva Jezzo thing. What do you mean?

Starting point is 00:12:49 I.O. is a ball handler. McDaniels is a ball handler. They've got guys that can handle the ball. But the problem is the spurs got guys that can stay in front of them. That's the problem. Buddy, do they ever? I mean, they looked so good in that game. And we had kind of, you know, when it, you,

Starting point is 00:13:07 sometimes we got to go back in time. You and I were both shocked that that line was 10 and a half. I mean, that was the trap of all traps. I bet it. I mean, it was a trap of all traps in retrospect. But going in at, we had watched those teams play four games. And we thought that was goofy. Right?

Starting point is 00:13:29 Like on site. Like, wow. They're 10 and a half point favorites? Game one, Minnesota won in San Antonio. Right. And so now I'm not going to, just because of this one blowout, changed the way I felt prior to,

Starting point is 00:13:47 it was obviously San Antonio was great. Minnesota was crap. Is that a sign of things to come? I would imagine that Minnesota has a response for them. And I would be shocked if they got run on. Completely disagree. I don't think they're completely. They're not getting run out.

Starting point is 00:14:02 Completely disagree. Okay, do it. Do it. Fed them. Okay. I don't think they're not getting... I don't want to slow down the pod and do it right now, but let me tell you this. They're not getting run out on their home floor.

Starting point is 00:14:12 In game four in Minnesota with Victor Wimbignanima in the locker room because he tried to murder Nasreid. They had the lead at the end of the board quarter. That was sort of a, no, I wouldn't say miraculous, but it was a comeback from the wolves at home. to win that game. And to see what happened in San Antonio, I fully expect San Antonio to close this. All right, this is where we do it.

Starting point is 00:14:38 This is where we break. I just think it's a team full. Let me do it then. I'll bet it right now. I'll do the live bet thing on the podcast and slow everything down. I am wildly unsurprised you would be a complete prisoner of the moment. Here's what I'll say. Don't disrespect me.

Starting point is 00:14:53 These guys, this is a team full of dogs with their backs against the wall. They're not going to. Spurs minus four. Four and a half. They're not going that. They're not going that. They're not going out like punks.

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Starting point is 00:16:40 play your game. Remember, you must be 21 or over in select states, 18 or over in D.C., Kentucky, or Wyoming. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-800-9-7-777.7. Or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut. Let's get to all of our loves and loads from the week. Oh my goodness.

Starting point is 00:17:03 We have had a bunch. I've got it very strange for my first love. This is an odd one. Tony Brothers. No. No. Tony Brothers. No.

Starting point is 00:17:15 Is my first love. Let me tell you why. I love that he went toe to toe with Chris Finch. I love it. Yeah, refs are people too. We're not robots. We get emotional. We get upset.

Starting point is 00:17:26 I love the Chris Finch thing. It's like, you're to yell at me? Disrespect me? Fine. I'm dispected to. I can let someone hold me back. I love that. And also, I'm watching the game last night.

Starting point is 00:17:37 And we don't have to talk about it for too long because everyone's seen it by now and talked about it. But like, I felt like a Sir Thompson got bowled before the clock ran out. The first watch, no replays, anything, just live. I was like, oh, God, that's a foul. And I said to myself, let's not end the game with a Sir Thompson on the line, like, missing the first one and maybe like backboard in the second one. I was like, I don't want to see that to decide this game, which has been good,

Starting point is 00:18:09 ish. And I'm so happy that there was a no call there. And not only that. I mean, you're going to boil it down to one call. They made a mockery of the game, the whole game. Please allow me to finish before you start being a dickhead. The last two minute report, quote, Alan and Thompson legally stepped to the same spot.

Starting point is 00:18:31 while pursuing the loose ball before either player has possession, in parentheses, and both lose their balance from the marginal contact. I'm so glad that was a no-call. That game was an overtime game. And to call that foul in that moment would just be like, it'd just be bad. I love the Pistons.

Starting point is 00:18:56 I love Detroit. My dad's from Detroit. But I just wanted that to go to overtime. Didn't you feel like that was the right thing to have happened? I think it would have been, I think I don't buy, I understand they're standing by their referees. Do I think that that would have been called a foul at any other time? Absolutely.

Starting point is 00:19:21 Any, literally any other time during the game. But I think it's the right thing to do. That's why I'm putting Tony Brothers as my love. I think that like in that moment, I watch it live and I was like, okay, that's a foul. Of course. But I can't call that. You can't call that. I'm totally unsurprised that you're allowed to

Starting point is 00:19:38 mind erase the first two and a half hours of that game, which were an absolute joke. An absolute joke. The officiating in that game was awful. And we will get to the reason why. But it was a mockery, honestly. And that was just like the ending of it was probably the perfect ending.

Starting point is 00:20:04 Tony brothers by love. Oh my God. All right. So now we're in a fight. Now I'm going to be addicted to you for the next. Holy Macro. Now I'm going to be addicted to you. Fine.

Starting point is 00:20:12 What's new? You get what you give. What's new? You get what you give. Go ahead. What's your first love? A.J. Mitchell. Oh, amazing.

Starting point is 00:20:23 Or I could tell you, LeBron James is still so good. I could have just stolen one of yours. Do you want we do that? Or do you have it later? Do you have LeBron James is still? still so good. I can't believe it. You don't have that one later? No, I don't have that later. I have a LeBron thing later. It's not about him still being good.

Starting point is 00:20:40 Okay, okay. AJ Mitchell, game four, 28 points, four assists, four steals, 23 points and six assists for the series. I want to reach out to somebody I know that knows AJ Mitchell. And this is what I, this is what, this is what, this is what I text them. Verno reports. I said, sources say, how is he. good. I promise you the text said, how is he so good and this fast, especially in the playoffs?

Starting point is 00:21:12 And this is what they told me. The kid is totally even keeled. He's all work. He's every coach's dream. He put a ton of work into his handles in the off season and his floater in the off season, like where he could,

Starting point is 00:21:29 where he's got this great touch now. And this was, this is crazy. This is what they said. He said, one of the biggest thing is, he is not afraid to fail. And that seems like not a big deal, but he said, Mark Dagnall has a phrase. And I've never heard this.

Starting point is 00:21:49 Champions fail, losers high. I was like, that's pretty, that's actually pretty good. I know. I don't have a tattoo yet, but I'm considering it. Then they go on, he goes on and tells me this. And this was unsolicited. The guy says to me, he says, you know the other reason?

Starting point is 00:22:14 SGA is the best leader I have seen since Tim Duncan. He fills these young guys with such confidence. And it, like, it can't help but, like, start running through their veins. Like, he's unbelievable. And I was like, wow, pretty. This is a guy I'm asking, why is A.J. Mitchell so awesome and went out of his way to talk about SGA. And this guy, by the way, let me just say, this guy has no relationship to SGA whatsoever. He has the relationship with A.J. Mitchell and went out of his way.

Starting point is 00:22:49 So the people that know A.J. Mitchell are the ones saying this about Gildes Alexander and how great he has been for him. And obviously what's led to when he was so great in that Lakers series. is people immediately going, oh my God, look at his contract. How? You know, three years, $9 million. But I'll just say, this is now, we talk a lot about team building and we inevitably will during the off season. This is now what is happening in the NBA that is taking these contenders to another level.

Starting point is 00:23:28 is if you can hit on these second rounders are undrafted and then you catch them on, you get them on a two way, now you're signing them to whatever, say like this deal. That's a standard, actually, three years,

Starting point is 00:23:44 $9 million. Because they don't have $9 million. Like, these guys aren't getting paid all that. I think the third is a team option, which I think they will exercise. Right. I would feel bad if I was,

Starting point is 00:23:52 if I was the third exercising that. I know, right? I'm sorry, but it's right there in the paper. I got to do it. And so, well, you could tear that up and sign them long term. And then extend them. Sure. And you can't.

Starting point is 00:24:03 But no, this is now what's happening. And I'll just say when people say like, what, you know, how does you have that kind of a contract? Because you're talking about when when you've got these two way guys and you can sign them to deals like that, like it behooves them to take those deals. So now they're locked in and they've got that NBA money. Come hell or high water, the guy's going to walk away with diamond a dollar. We talked about this early this season with my guy Vince Williams. Vince Williams may never play in the NBA again. Same thing.

Starting point is 00:24:35 Got the two-way, earned an NBA contract, got that contract. Now he's been injury riddled. Now he had this, you know, torn ACL, the jazz cut him. Who knows if you can get back into the league on that. G.G. Jackson's got one as well. But I went back and looked. Dennis Jenkins signed one. They did it in February.

Starting point is 00:24:57 and they signed one for him, which was $8 million with a team option. But isn't there a ticking clock? Like you can only play so many NBA games before they kind of have to like commit. There is. It's like dating a girl for seven years. It's like, what are we doing here? There is. But you can just like pick it up and then decide.

Starting point is 00:25:15 Or you can go and offer them this contract up front. But I went back and look. So I tried to find this. Caruso is kind of like the blueprint for this. He was like the first one with the Lakers. that then turned it into a deal and then obviously got signed away. What about Van Bleet?

Starting point is 00:25:31 By the Bulls. Van Bleet's a good one as well. He comes to mine. Right? I went back and looked. Think about all these names. The exact same circumstance. AJ Mitchell's like,

Starting point is 00:25:41 AJ Mitchell's the king of this. Spencer Jones, Colin Gillespie, Sam Hauser, Lou Dort, Duncan Robinson, Max Struce, Jose Alvarado,

Starting point is 00:25:53 Nas Reed, Jamal Kane, who had the best dunk in the playoffs. Like the list goes on and on. Those are just some. And these are all guys that we've talked. And what about the Spencer brothers? Right.

Starting point is 00:26:04 Oh, yeah, Pat and Cam Spencer. These are guys, but I was just mentioning guys that we've talked about over the course of the last three weeks. Oh, right. And they were all two-way converts. Like, and especially with the draft coming up, see who gets drafted in that second round. See who are the guys that go undrafted because that is the goal now. Verno, you're on to something here. You're on to something here.

Starting point is 00:26:29 Because last time you were like, is effort and trying hard the new money ball? But I think the new money ball is undrafted in second round picks. Right. It's like everyone's so focused like, oh, should it be Boozer or DeBanza or DeBanza or Peterson? Boozer or should it be William? It's like, how about this?

Starting point is 00:26:49 Like the guys that you've never heard of are going to, then you get the right ones and develop them the right way. that's probably the new money ball. Well, and everybody I just mentioned was like a big contributor for these teams. Big contributor. Like, you can't win without them. You can't win without Duncan Robinson. Right.

Starting point is 00:27:11 You can't win without Duncan Robinson, as we discussed earlier. Right. And Max Drews was another one. Both of those guys, by the way, the heat have been great at this. The heat have been great. Oh, yeah. By finding these guys and then developing these guys and turning them into play. But like AJ Mitchell

Starting point is 00:27:27 To that point before we move on A lot of that has to do with like your player development system. Yes. Are you dedicating resources to the end of the bench and the G league guys who developed them into NBA contributors

Starting point is 00:27:39 and the heat are? But this guy looks like it could be a big star. Those guys are all like really good essential role players for their teams. The guys I mentioned. If Jaylon Williams

Starting point is 00:27:54 comes back, and looks clunky, Dagonal's going to take him out and put H. Mitchell in. I don't know if he, I don't, I don't even know if that matters.

Starting point is 00:28:04 This guy just averaged 23 and 6 assists. He was unbelievable. Is that in the play? That's a series, right? That was the Lakers series. Yeah, yeah.

Starting point is 00:28:13 It's unbelievable. Say it again, 23? No. 23 and 6. That last game, game four, the closeout game,

Starting point is 00:28:22 he had 28, 4 and 4. And, like, missed like three shots. Oh, my God. Yeah, dude, it's a, it's crazy, but I do think that there's, I mean, now, of course, the rich get richer, right? They, they nailed this, they developed this, and they have got something special on their hands with him. All right.

Starting point is 00:28:44 You know what? I should have made that a loat. So I've got a, I've got my first loat here. And it all starts with your friend Dylan Brooks. He was on a stream with a guy named Ray, who I'm not, guess what, I'm not on Twitch or Kick. Sorry. And he had this quote, once Wemby gets his first, you probably won't see anybody else get one. His numbers are going to go up.

Starting point is 00:29:18 And he's talking about the MVP. Once Wembe gets his first MVP, oh, it's over? You probably won't see anyone else get one. That's goofy. That's goofy. Well, look how sick everybody is of Yokic already. Let me tell you, man. I rewatched the first quarter to make sure I saw what I saw.

Starting point is 00:29:43 He missed his first two shots. Then he had a put back and then a three. And then he has spin move on Gobert and then a three. And then he caught an alley-up. And it was just kind of like, you know how you like, you can like, it's never been successful, but you can, like, protest to the league about a game. Right.

Starting point is 00:30:03 I feel like protesting to the league about Wembeyanama. You think he's unfair? It's just unfair. Like, he's, this is his third year. Imagine what he's like in 2031. Like, I kind of, for the first time of my life, agree with Dylan Brooks. Like, there, this is the Wembe era.

Starting point is 00:30:24 There was Michael, a little bit of a little bit of code. LeBron. This is going to be the Wimby era. But you will find. And it will start, you know, in the draft, it's going to start in team building. You're now going to see the same way

Starting point is 00:30:44 that Minnesota was uniquely equipped to deal with Yokic because, you know, they knew that that's who you're going to have to deal with in order in the Western Conference. It is, it will become more. difficult because teams will then start, and you could say it's not going to matter, and it may not, but teams will start building with him in mind. And so that is when life becomes a little bit different for you, is you're going to now see this onus put on big guys, physical guys,

Starting point is 00:31:16 and the league is going to look at it and they're going to say, this is dependent upon if he can get past Oklahoma City or not. Again, we're kind of putting the cart before the horse. He needs to win it. Let's not talk about the Western Congress finals yet. But do you remember game one when Randall was like giving him the business, making things really hard for him? Yeah.

Starting point is 00:31:37 Well, do you remember last Friday night when he had 39 and it was like the best player in the world? Yeah. Like it's, I am concerned. This is my loat that this is just the next eight years are just victor years. And it's going to be like hail the victor. It's going to be a whole Victor thing. It's just, I just can't stand it. It's inevitable.

Starting point is 00:32:01 He's so good. Oh, good. So now, look, since, look, I can get in hater mode, too, because of my first loathe. James Harden, the whole experience. And I know, like, he's been great. Like, he's done it. It could also be a love. It could also be a love.

Starting point is 00:32:16 No, it's for sure not. I loathe to no end. Now this bullshit kicking out the leg. to complete it's you've played a lot of basketball as well. Who puts their feet in front of their body when they jump in the air to shoot a jump shot? Show me someone that does that. He is. Show me anybody in history that has ever done that.

Starting point is 00:32:45 He kicks his legs out to unnaturally make it seem like you're in the landing space. And all of you nerds that love. flawed this as here's another way that he's figured out his way around the rules. I hate your commentary. I hate it. This cannot be celebrated in any way, shape, or form. He, the grifting that he did for so many years in Houston that led to things being officiated different. And it's like, to laud this is like, he's always going to find a way, right?

Starting point is 00:33:29 Like, he knows the way they're calling it. And so now there's a thing on this airspace or whatever. And it's like, it's just gross. And any nerd that defends it, you're gross. You're gross. I can't, I hate it. I hate it. So much.

Starting point is 00:33:46 I hate the flailing. I hate the falling down for no reason. I hate the kicking out the legs so that. you to try to make yourself completely indefensible, right? You can't defend me. Well, and I'm going to find the way. Post-Kawai injury, they did the landing space rule, which is a fair rule, right? I get it.

Starting point is 00:34:09 Right. So the adjustment the defense made has been these sort of like fly-by contests where you're just kind of like, you just want to, like, you're not going to block the shot, but you just want to, like, bother the human, bother their space, bother their view towards the basket, but you do it in a way where you're circumventing their landing zone and maybe crossing their body.

Starting point is 00:34:30 If you kick the legs out, the circle around you in which you can encroach get so much bigger that you can't do the flyby anymore. So he's adjusted to the adjustment and getting those calls and a huge one. Oh, dude.

Starting point is 00:34:46 Dude, the one they challenged. The stiff arm, the first, he stiff arms you away. Now you go to contest and he jumps into you. Oh, I can't take it. I can't take it. It's so bad.

Starting point is 00:35:03 It makes me as angry as when he used to go around the screens and then just stop right after the screen so that you'd run into him and then he'd just chuck it out. Remember Chris Paul? He's just in the back court and just get in front of you and then just like you fall over and make you make the call. It's so bad. I also just like. And I can't even celebrate how good he was been.

Starting point is 00:35:25 Like he has been legitimately good. Oh, yeah. Legitimately good. But good in a bad way, kind of. But like, I just can't tell from this back court, I'm like, will David Mitchell or James Harden be good? Will they? Because Donovan Mitchell, I'm sitting there watching the game.

Starting point is 00:35:42 He's 0 for seven from three. He hasn't hit anything. He's in. And this is the second game in a row where it was just like, remember the first half of game four? where it was just like he just had four points and was just non-existent. And then of course, turns it on at the end. Like this Jekyllyn Hyde back court of the Cavs,

Starting point is 00:35:58 who I believe will be facing the Knicks in the Easter Conference Finals, I just can't figure them out. Decide if you're good or not. Be consistent. Be something. I can't figure it out. Is this the perfect combination for a deep playoff run? Or is it two clowns that just don't show up?

Starting point is 00:36:14 I don't know. It's both of those things at all times. Your next love. Okay. I said this on the Bill Simmons podcast. I imagine anyone who listens to mismatch, just listen to that. It's Kat finding his role now. So what I went back to do, I was going to read you some headlines that I found a lot of New York Post, a lot of daily Knicks.

Starting point is 00:36:39 I'm not going to cite everyone because I'm not a journalist. I'm just to read you some headlines, and then we'll discuss. September 26th headline, how Nick's head coach Mike Brown plans. to unlock Carl Anthony Towns full potential. October 20th, Carl Anthony Towns says he doesn't know his role in the Knicks' offense under Mike Brown. November 3rd, patience required

Starting point is 00:37:10 as Carl Anthony Towns adjusts to Nick's new system. November 21st, there's still plenty of hot and cold in Carl Anthony Town's new Nick's role. January 23rd, Mike Brown starting to make adjustments for struggling Carl Anthony Towns. February 25th, Carlton Town's problems keep getting worse for Nick's subheadline.

Starting point is 00:37:36 They don't always know how to use him. That was the Carl Anthony Towns' Knicks experience. Now, unlocked. I just don't understand what happened for the past, whatever months, six months? What happened?

Starting point is 00:37:55 I want to, think that it goes along with the way that you are defended during the I almost feel like we should thank Quinn Snyder if you're on the next side of this, right? That because Quinn Snyder is a great game playing. There's no way around despite his team getting beat by 100,000 points. Yeah, terrible fashion, terrible fashion. Right.

Starting point is 00:38:21 Right. But I do think that, you know, when you are, when you're looking up and you're like, okay, like the same way that we're just talking about Kate Cunningham and the amount of attention that he is going to get. Like that the playoffs and one team game planning for you then puts a pressure on you to find other ways in a way that the regular season will not. because you're just going to keep on getting by during the regular season. But then when one team is now specifically game planning for you, then you've got to figure out, okay, and obviously better late than never, it forced them to figure out because they probably looked up and like, dude, this can't be.

Starting point is 00:39:11 This can't just be, you know, Brunson being guarded by Dyson Daniels, who was also being shaded by this guy and whatever else. and Carl Towns might take two shots in the second half, or he might take, you know, we might, you know, at halftime decide. It's always the first half. Yeah, he's two attempts in the first half. We need to go back through. And so I do think the playoffs forced it.

Starting point is 00:39:36 And then it's like, okay, now we got something here. And I think it also probably, you know, Brunson, you know, like has to coalesce to it. And it makes his life easier then, right? I think Brunson cares? Yeah, no, he's happy that this is happening. Of course he is. But what I'm saying is the amount of attention that a Jalen Brunson is going to get in the playoffs

Starting point is 00:40:04 is going to surpass anything that you are getting during the regular season. But as a Knicks fan, on November 25th, the headline was Carlythetown's problems keep getting worse for the Knicks. Yeah. And now, the headlinson, headline is Carlythe Towns is unlocked and we've figured it all out and everything's perfect. Well, you'd much rather have, you'd have it this way than those headlines being reversed in terms of time.

Starting point is 00:40:34 Of course. And also, it also helps when Landry Shamit, Michael Bridges, Deuce McBride, O.G. and Inobie, Win Healthy, knock down every single shot they get. Like, that does help Carlythe Towns look good. Like, he's now the fulcrum of the offense. well, if they don't knock down those shots, he doesn't look as good as he does now. But he has been play with. Look, the assist numbers are up. The usage is up.

Starting point is 00:41:00 Like, all of those things do apply. And so better late than never for sure. They certainly, like, this is what you envision when he's at his best. And he has been awesome. He has. We'll see what happens next round, depending on who they play. My next love is the,

Starting point is 00:41:19 is the bench swingers. All these guys, you know, we knew that when you get to this time, people are playing 10 and 11 guys in these games. And so you want to see, like, who are the pistons? I know. But who are the ones that are going to come off the bench and, like, actually swing things? Right at the very top of that list goes Dylan Hartford.

Starting point is 00:41:44 Obviously, he has been other words. Yeah, but he's, yeah, that's not even fair to him there. It's not, well, Nasreed, you know, yeah, he's always in the mix as well. Struce, we've got to give him credit. I mean, he flipped the game yesterday. He did. Like, we talk about Hardin to Mitchell,

Starting point is 00:42:02 and Mitchell was struggling. Strues hitting the six threes, 20 points, and then straight ripping cage on one of the most important possessions of the game. And waiting, waiting till Mitchell makes that cut is a, you know, it's a small, easy play to make, but he made it. And I will also say that we've always talked about, like, who's going to be the fifth beetle on the calves? Is it Dean Wade who can stay in front of Cade? Is it Sam Merrill who can knock down shots?

Starting point is 00:42:28 Is it Strues? Who's just sort of this X factor? And it's Struce. We know who the fifth beetle is now. It's Struce. Yeah. Paul Reed, we got to mention him. I love Paul.

Starting point is 00:42:39 I mean, who doesn't want that guy on your team? It's just like off the bench. Jalen Duren? Jalen Dern? Yeah, maybe so. Maybe so, right? Like, why, how are you so? How can you play with so much energy and be so productive?

Starting point is 00:42:54 And our 2010 all-NBA guy can't. Like, even if you're not making shots, go get a rebound, bro. And then another guy who won six men of the year, Kelton Johnson, who in their last game, 21 points off the bench, a couple of steals. And my goodness, that was one of those games where you really could tell, like, oh, he really is the spurs, heart and soul. Do you see him going nutso?

Starting point is 00:43:20 And the way the fans and his teammates react to him, it's unbelievable. Dude, when he, what do he block a Rudy Gaubert dunk? Oh, my God. Like, bro, like, I was like, I've always been a Kelden Johnson fan because I like him because he dunks on people. Like, he dunks on people during the regular season. If you're not being attention to, like, he's caught a lot of bodies this season. But Rudy Gobert's goofy seven foot one ass, like, that's a gimmee dunk. Like, why would you even jump?

Starting point is 00:43:48 jump if you're Kelton Johnson. He's just like, I'm going. Yep. And these are always the guys. The reason I wanted to highlight them is because there's always these guys. And this is where, obviously, he might be very well be starting. But in a big way, the Devencenzo thing, whether it's him or it's Iyo, whoever wasn't going to be starting. I mean, just that spot and having another guard back there would just make a world of difference. It really would for them. But these ones that have stepped up, some in SWIFE, small roles, but some of those, I mean, when you think about Dylan Harper or Max Struce and these guys are like winning them gangs.

Starting point is 00:44:26 Oh, yeah. And like, no one cares anymore because they lost, but like game four when, Wemby went out before they went small. Luke Cornet was like blocking shots just like Wemby. Yeah. Oh, and he looked good. Yeah. And the Harper thing is just, I already guys talking about it.

Starting point is 00:44:41 It's not fair. You guys, I mean, Bill was talking to it with Goldsbury on the podcast. that I mean, it's just, it's scary. It's scary to think what he's going to become as a guard and like alongside Wembe. Well, he's my next love, so we'll pause in that. Let's do it. I'll do this loathe quick because I've actually literally done this before as a loathe. Like, I felt like the Euro step was an amazing offensive innovation within the rules of basketball.

Starting point is 00:45:12 And I've also, like, if you go on YouTube, Wes Unseld did a Eurostep. like a million years ago. Okay. But it has changed the game. Like it is honestly, like, you won't see too many contested transition baskets without a Eurostep involved or some sort of Eurostep. And the weird like double-gather step-back three,

Starting point is 00:45:31 like step-back shots, another offensive innovation within the rules that I absolutely love. It's just the game evolving, right? Yep. Era to error, the game evolves. What I'm calling the bump and jump is starting to get, very frustrating for me. When the up, because you used to be able to,

Starting point is 00:45:51 the chicken wing got called. You can't extend your elbow to create space. So now what players have done, like, oh, I can't extend my elbow. I was put my shoulder in your chest and then stop and then shoot. And everybody does it. Everybody.

Starting point is 00:46:07 But for me, it just seems illegal. Like, if I'm a defender, what am I supposed to do against the bump and jump? I'm standing there. I'm square in front. front of you, you put your shoulder in my chest at force. That's going to make me move backwards, and that's going to create space. It should not be legal.

Starting point is 00:46:28 And they're players that are really good at it. SGA is one of them. Brunson is one of them. That it's, I no longer expect my arm to the chicken wing, but I put my shoulder in your chest. You're going to go backwards, and I'm going to get a clean look from 13 feet. I mean, you're 13 feet from the basket. You're an NBA player.

Starting point is 00:46:46 like, that's a layout. I hate the bump and jump. You want it outlaw. You want the bump and jump outlaw. Think of something like the, the Euro, the Ponois step, like the D cell. It's legal and it works and it creates space. Same thing with the Euro, same thing with the stepback. But the bump and jump, it just feels illegal.

Starting point is 00:47:07 The offensive player is creating the contact with force to create space against the defender. And I'm putting myself with the defender's shoes. Like, what am I supposed to do? with that. What am I supposed to do? And then the defender gets called for literally everything, including running into a guy whose legs are kicked out. Yeah, I just, I just don't. When I watch it and I see it, I put myself in the shoes of the defender. I'm like, well, how else am I supposed, what am I supposed to do when you put your shoulder into my chest and your 230 pounds?

Starting point is 00:47:39 I'm going to go backwards and then you just rise up for a 12, like, look, now we're going the other way. I don't like the bump and jump. I think it should be stopped. My next load is the Philly explanations. So they fired Daryl Morey, and then they have a press conference with Bob Myers, and the owner Harris, and they're sitting up there,

Starting point is 00:48:07 and of course, they're going to take questions. It's like a 30-minute deal. They take questions, and they take questions about the McCain deal. So Bob Myers is like, I don't want to, you know, I like Darrell and like basically I'm not going to throw it under the bus. And our job now is to, you can't grade that trade until you see basically who we get at 22. And then we've got second rounders down the road and whatever else, right? That was like kind of the way they explained it away was just to say, hey, we're not going to basically get into that.

Starting point is 00:48:44 you know, but what's done is done. And it's almost like Bill Belichick, right? We're on to Cincinnati, whatever you can say, you know. Yeah. And so anyway, the best was that then they asked the obvious question, which was like, isn't it pretty obvious? You were just trying to get under the luxury tax and say you're sending out something to not bring back money. and this was the cost of that. And interestingly enough, before the deadline,

Starting point is 00:49:20 Joelle M.B. Pleaded with the front office publicly to not duck the tax. Your star player said, I know the way you guys do this. Don't duck the tax. The luxury tax has been a big talking point for the Sixers as they've made moved in past deadlines.

Starting point is 00:49:42 to avoid being taxpayers. The last time Philadelphia ended the season as a taxpayer was 21-22. And only twice during the Harris era have the Sixers paid the tax at the end of season. So this was the quote from Harris.

Starting point is 00:49:58 Yeah, I appreciate the question because there's a lot of chatter. It gives me a chance to answer this directly. The front office absolutely has the green light to go into the luxury tax. In fact, we've been in and out of the luxury tax so it's not an issue. I mean, it's an issue.

Starting point is 00:50:12 It's not an issue. We're building an arena here. I can tell you the amount of dollars you spent versus the luxury tax. It's magnitude's more. We've built this facility. We've signed a number of max deals. So there's no issue with the luxury tax.

Starting point is 00:50:23 And then Bob Myers pops up and he's like, yeah, I mean, that's not even a consideration, right? They have told us that if we wanted to go into the luxury tax, I just find this to be, oh, so phony. Like, just say it like it is. Bro, like no owner ever. No owner that never goes into the luxury tax wants to be accused of a guy that won't go into the luxury tax, right?

Starting point is 00:50:51 It's just everywhere. It's all across the NBA. And then they make moves to avoid said luxury tax. And then they have to come back and say, no, no, no, no, no, that's not what that was about. And it's like, why would you trade Jared McCain for, the 20 second pick I mean, right?

Starting point is 00:51:14 And also, by the way, you can say like, oh, I've been waiting for this question. It's like, your star player literally came out and said, please don't duck the tax. Like, don't make our team worse.

Starting point is 00:51:29 Don't make our team worse because you're ducking the luxury tax because you don't want to be a payer. And you want to be, you know, right? You want to collect money rather than paying it out. And this was just like, again, they didn't want to put the blame on this,

Starting point is 00:51:44 but like there's, there's no great explanation for doing that because unless we think that Daryl Morey is just a stupid person, because I think then he tried to validate it, and that's the thing that's going to hang with him. I thought we sold high, which is...

Starting point is 00:52:00 It was just one comment and one press conference that he messed up. You know what I mean? It's one sentence in what's print, one press conference that sort of like defined his era, and it's not fair. Well, because he did end up with the 27th second pick, three second round picks. And that's what Bob Myers is trying to say, hey,

Starting point is 00:52:15 you can't grade this trade yet, right? Let's see what comes out of it. Let's see what comes out of it. We just talked about how important second round picks are. Well, and the other thing is they sit there and look and go, hey, we got a bunch of guys that make a boatload. Maxi makes a boatload of money. Paul George makes a boatload of money. And MB's got a boatload of money. So the only way we're ever going to be able to do this if we're doing it with these high paid guys is getting a bunch of guys that can wildly outperform their contracts. And so even if you wanted to just say that, that's the reason we made the deal. Watching Jared McCain get minutes over like four players that would start for the Sixers is a tough low. And shoot 62% from three.

Starting point is 00:53:02 Can I quickly piggyback an extra loat on top of your loathe? As a former television producer and executive and talent, I don't like it when coaches and front office members use network television as a for-sales sign. Mike Malone, Bob Myers, Bill Belichick, Steve Kerr, Doc Rivers, and many others. They leave coaching or being in the front office, and they go on TV being like, remember me, here's my face. I have thoughts about the NBA. I'm in your face every couple times a week. And then they just, they go on TV for a year,

Starting point is 00:53:44 establish no chemistry with their co-host and then bounce. That is detrimental to the network. Hmm. I like seeing those guys on TV. I thought Michael Malone was good. He has good thoughts. I like seeing them. He's good for a year.

Starting point is 00:54:07 But like, like, you know, You can't establish chemistry year over year. Everybody loves the inside of the NBA because of the same guys consistently. Everybody hates NBA countdown because they shuffle the deck every year. Probably dependent on the job. I would have loved for Doc Rivers to be calling games in the playoff. Well, that would have been great. Probably won't have to wait too long.

Starting point is 00:54:29 No, you probably won't have to wait too long. But, I mean, I like, I guess it just depends on the guy. But I do like, I do like watching them. I mean, again, it's. It's good to hear, like, Mike Malone having fresh. My thing is like, Mike Malone has fresh insights having coached against these players, which I enjoy, right? Like, he's like, he's had to set up a game plan against the players that he's discussing, which I really enjoy. I think that's good insight.

Starting point is 00:54:56 But like long term, if your plan is to be on TV for a year and then leave, it hurts the network. A network that, like, you know, kick me out the club. So, like, I don't feel too emotional about it. But like, I still love that network. and I feel like if you're only going to be here for a year, then what are we doing? Well, and on the Bob Myers front, bro, you were on the dais when Tyrese Halliburton tore his Achilles

Starting point is 00:55:18 and like it was like you didn't run a team where you ran a guy out there and got his Achilles thing. And like that wasn't even a topic of conversation. It's like what a great point. You might as well have me on the dais. Yeah, use your experience to enlighten the moment. All right. That was my television producer moment.

Starting point is 00:55:38 All right. love, I'm going to go quick on this one. Dude, it's Dylan Harper, man. Like, if you, we talk about Conn versus Cooper all year. I know.

Starting point is 00:55:52 And VJ. Edgecombe. And it's like, he's the number two pick for a reason. And he's showing it right now. Like, what he did, like,

Starting point is 00:56:01 he didn't really make anything outside the restricted area. I think that's a way that his game is going to develop. But his finishing at the rim is insane. he tried to put back dunk and missed that was just, I think he was like dunking on Wembe for some reason. I think Wimby actually got the rebound and put his put back back back.

Starting point is 00:56:22 But like his energy, his explosiveness, his smoothness, like he's just got everything you could want. He's going to develop an outside shot. He's going to be a three level score. Like we're going to kind of look back and be like, man, con versus Cooper, but like, I don't know. and I think that this is Castle, it was like, oh, they've got Wemby and Steph Castle, they've got a great future. I think that he's going to surpass Castle very quickly.

Starting point is 00:56:50 Just imagine if he was somewhere else. I mean, he is in the absolute best place for his development to become the best version of himself. But I mean, imagine if he would have been on one of these rat themes. Well, it also leads really well into your next love. Oh, the Jared Weiss Popovich article. Huh? El Heffi. It's so good.

Starting point is 00:57:21 Jared Weiss is one of my favorites. Read it. If you haven't read it, read it. And I have an awareness of Popovich being around that team. We see him, you know, every once in a while you'll see the clips of him, like, I'd shoot around or like you'll see him at the facility. or maybe even see him, you know, and you'll see him around. But like, I had no idea the depth of his impact on this team.

Starting point is 00:57:51 He is calling and talking to Carter Bryant three times a week. Like, you know how, like, okay, did I think that he was talking to Bitch Johnson regularly? Probably. Did I think he was helping bring along Victor Wenbenyama? Sure. Did I think he's texting and calling Carter Bryant and Devin Vassell and everybody else on that team three times a week to talk to them about basketball and life and how to improve and what to focus on? I had no idea, whether it was Carter Bryant, whether it was Wembe. and then the story that's in there,

Starting point is 00:58:39 the anecdote about how he went through the stroke, and four times a week he is at their facility and going to work out to come back from his stroke and that Tim Duncan is there every time doing the workouts with him. Like that got me in my feelings, bro. I mean, that is. I cry easily.

Starting point is 00:59:01 I cry very easily. I mean, that's unbelievable. And it speaks to how much he truly loves this person. Not this basketball guy, not this code, like this person. You got to really love that person to be going and doing that rehab with him four times a week, up at the Spurs facility. And then just like the level of impact he is having on this team. And whether it is, whether it's film or whether it's just talking to these guys and you could even see from there, hear from their quote how they are just like they trying to soak in everything they possibly can from this guy.

Starting point is 00:59:47 So imagine your Carter Bryant. Imagine your Carter Bryant. How old is it? 21? He's 20. Yeah. 20 years old. And he's got a quote in this article.

Starting point is 00:59:57 Because like the way it's structured is like sort of you kind of get like your own personal like assistant assistant coach. If when you're like a young player, you kind of like your go to guy. like your point of contact because like Miss Johnson doesn't have time for every little thing that Carter Brian wants to talk about,

Starting point is 01:00:11 whatever. And here's what his quote about Pop. He's speaking life into you. A lot of times there's some things you need to hear from different people.

Starting point is 01:00:22 Sometimes it clicks when it's not the constant voice that you're hearing for 82 games out of the year. You have your coach who's very helpful but then once in a while pop flies in

Starting point is 01:00:33 and just sprinkles a little life knowledge, a little basketball knowledge on you. And it's going to hit different because you don't have to listen to it all the time. Right. It's beautiful. The reason it stood out to me so much is because it wasn't Wembe. It wasn't Castle. It wasn't Dylan Harper.

Starting point is 01:00:54 It wasn't, you know what I mean? It's Carter Bryant that's talking about the impact of Popovich, Seven, I don't. I didn't realize the level of which he was involved. Here's what Vaselle said. That's what you need to hear because it's a lot of BS that might go around. But you need to hear the truth. You need to hear what's going on and he'll do that for sure. Pretty awesome.

Starting point is 01:01:22 Pretty awesome. It certainly qualifies as a love. All right. I'm on a loathe now. You teased it earlier. I'm not going to sit here and say how great LeBron is. Here's what I loat. I mean, you just saw that I said LeBron in the run.

Starting point is 01:01:39 down and you assume I'm going to celebrate LeBron and how good he is at this age. That's not what's happening here, all right, asshole. You called me a dick asshole. You saw my name Jacobi and his name, LeBron. You're like, well, oh, what are you going to do later? You're going to talk about how great he is? No. No, I'm not.

Starting point is 01:02:00 Talk about what a creepy is. What a dirtbag. I know you got to work at Rich Paul. You can't do it. Tomorrow morning. Got a show. Tell him. Say, say, LeBron.

Starting point is 01:02:09 The Blazers owner is going to be on Game Over tomorrow. Very exciting. Really? Yeah. What? Are you serious? Yeah. He's going to be on Game Over tomorrow.

Starting point is 01:02:18 El Cheapo. I thought it'd be really funny if he just like went to the Spotify offices and then like stole all the snacks. You know what I mean? Just like had a big bag. And he like invoiced us for the gas that it took for his car to get to the studio. It was just like an invoice afterwards. This is how much my time is worth.

Starting point is 01:02:37 You got to pay for the gas. And he like leaves with a bunch of free snacks and diet coats from the bridge. I just like, it made me so happy. I was so jealous and Bill's nickname for him.

Starting point is 01:02:49 It's so good. El Chippo. But for me, it's more like, this, I like Dave McManneman. I know Dave McManneman. Good dude.

Starting point is 01:03:00 I'm not trying to say that his reporting is incorrect. But this like game ball thing, like, what the fuck are we talking about? What are we talking about? You think LeBron James is concerned about a,

Starting point is 01:03:14 Game ball not being given to him. Is that really where we are right now? And it's like, oh, the Lakers hate clutch and whatever. It's just like, it is LeBron going to stay here or go there? It's just like it's already turned ugly. And it's like they lost like two days ago. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. I'm going to game ball thing is stupid.

Starting point is 01:03:32 I'm going to defend McMinneman on this level. Okay. I'm not saying his incorrectly reported anything. I didn't say you did. Just let me defend for a second. sometimes you are trying to get to a point and you are just using a small story to illustrate the point

Starting point is 01:03:56 that there are many, many things, but here's one. Here's a microcasm. Here's a small thing that represents the bigger picture. I understand that. But the truth is that there is this, the headline is that LeBron feels like they take him for granted.

Starting point is 01:04:18 That's the head. They take me for granted, that kind of feeling. And so he's trying to illustrate one way that he was taken for granted. But, I mean, the news gets out. And I mean, you knew this was going to happen. And now Luca's going to have Reeves'

Starting point is 01:04:37 his running buddy with them. And they're going to overpour. pay for him. I don't think they should. I don't think they should keep. Well, it doesn't matter. I don't run the Lakers. I don't run the Lakers, but they're going to go ahead.

Starting point is 01:04:47 Reeves, you can go somewhere else. We'll use that, we'll use that salary. They're going. You can go somewhere else, Reeves. I saw you in the playoffs, dog. They are going. They're going to sign him because Luca wants them to sign him. And it's a Luca operation now, which leads back to.

Starting point is 01:05:02 So we want two defensive liabilities in the back court moving forward with Luca because what they're friends. Yeah. Right. and you're going to need to make friends with someone who can play defense. How about that? How about that? How about that?

Starting point is 01:05:14 They're going to have, they're going to have to sign the Thompson twins, both of them, and Isaiah Stewart. I mean, it is, the Lakers offseason is completely chaotic and crazy. They take LeBron for granted. It'll give us plenty to talk about. But the idea that like someone walks in with a game ball and gives it to J.J. Reddick, and LeBron is sitting there in the corner like ups and up. upset about it, like a, like a 13-year-old girl.

Starting point is 01:05:42 Like, what are we talking about? LeBron doesn't give a shit about a game ball. He was mad about it. No, he was mad about it. He was mad about it. He was mad about it. He was mad about that game. I don't, I've never met this man in my whole entire life. Never shook his hand. Don't know anything about him. But he was not upset about the game ball, please.

Starting point is 01:05:58 You know what the weirdest part about that story was? The weirdest part of that story is like, nobody knows that record. It's like most. Oh, the most. wins. Yeah, yeah. They didn't stop the game. It'd be like, let's hold a ceremony.

Starting point is 01:06:14 I've never even heard of that. I've never even heard of that record. Who did he break? I don't even know if LeBron knew that was happening. Yeah. Oh, man, I didn't get a, I didn't get the game ball for this record that I broke that everybody just found out about five minutes ago. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:06:33 It's just, I, I, it's, you know what another part that bothers me is like, we're going to talk about LeBron and Janice. so much over the next six weeks. It's going to drive me crazy. Probably so. All right. My next load. First of all,

Starting point is 01:06:46 did you have any idea that Miles Turner and Brianna Stewart have a podcast? I thought he was a guest on her podcast. No, they have a podcast. I mean, West from Summerhouse

Starting point is 01:06:58 and Sophie Cunningham have a podcast. There you go. I do want to say this very briefly. I have a podcast take here. Just give me 20 seconds. People say there's too many podcasts. I just feel like, whatever, anyone can have a podcast. Go ahead.

Starting point is 01:07:12 Like, there's not too many podcasts. It's like people being like, no one else can make music. Only if you have a hit, only if you have a hit song, can you make music. Like, go ahead. Play the acoustic guitar in your basement. That's fine. I think everyone should have a podcast. Go ahead.

Starting point is 01:07:24 Make a podcast, Miles Turner and Brianna Stewart. Love Stewart. So they brought up Liberty Coach Chris DeMarco's fine system. I know Chris. I didn't know he had a fine system. Wait, is that the Bahamas coach guy that you were talking about? about. It is.

Starting point is 01:07:39 Yeah. That he's the Liberty Code. Yeah. Yeah, he just got that job. He was a long time golden state assistant. He was Clay's guy. 25 bucks for penalties for missed free throw boxouts. Well, they would have gotten Kate Cunningham on that last night.

Starting point is 01:07:54 No. 25 is deep. So they asked, she just asked Miles Turner. She completely just flubbed into this one, too. If there's, like, are there any fines to go on? you guys and he says well it depends on the coach doc rivers he didn't find anybody ever guys were late all the time guys were showing up to film whatever they wanted to show up guys were missing meetings it was one of the craziest things i personally ever experienced but any other team i've been on

Starting point is 01:08:26 guys got fine and there's a sense of order and understanding you're late for the plane fine you late to treatment fine you're late to film fine but personally i did not experience that last year and so we'll see for the first time in my career, for the first time of my career, we'll see how Taylor Jenkins does it. And then she then asks him, so who's the teammate that's most likely to be late? Bro, we literally, if the plane took off 2 o'clock, we weren't leaving until 4.30. I'm being so serious, bro, it was crazy. Guys were hours late to the plane. I got to the point where if I knew not to show up until like an hour after they said the plane. But that's easy.

Starting point is 01:09:10 Yonis. Yonis is going to show up whenever he wants, you know? I think it just came with the territory. And once I saw what was going down, I was like, hey, man, more power to you. They ain't going to find you. Do what you do. And the whole thing, this whole thing is just crazy. The Doc Rivers laissez-faire approach.

Starting point is 01:09:28 And then Yonis, like, not coming. Like, just being late to everything. Every single person listening to this podcast has, sat on the tarmac for two hours, right? Everybody's done it. It's the most frustrating experience in the world. Imagine doing it because you're waiting for your teammate, the star player.

Starting point is 01:09:46 And when he says, guys, he just means the Nasus and Janus. That's what he means. That's why he put it plural. Well, now we have a, like, obviously this cast Doc Rivers in horrible life. But we have a better understanding why they went to hell. Like, that's crazy. That's crazy.

Starting point is 01:10:04 Guys just doing whatever the hell they want to. It's so disrespectful. I'm not going to, I don't know if Yonis did this or not. Like, I wasn't like, you know, timing the plane and like out there. So this is just Miles Turner's word. But like, it's so disrespectful to have all your teammates on a plane and to show up late. It's so disrespectful for other people's time. Give me 30 seconds to tell a personal story.

Starting point is 01:10:25 Let me hear it. I was working on the SB Awards. I'm a kid. It's like 2001. I went to a nightclub and I met a girl, a Cuban girl, and I went back to her place. And she had very large nipples. And the next day, I go into the edit room. It's going to be, don't worry, it's going to pay out.

Starting point is 01:10:42 I go into the edit room and I was late because I was out, you know, and I was like 15 minutes late. And the editor turned around, great guy, Dickie Plotker. He looked at me. He's like, when you're late, you're disrespecting me. You're telling me that my time isn't valuable. This is like a life lesson. This is nothing to do with Janus.

Starting point is 01:11:00 It's like, when you're late, you're telling me that my time isn't valuable. It's not about the trains or like traffic. It's like you didn't take the necessary steps to make sure that you were here when you were supposed to be here. You've disrespected me personally. And I took that seriously. And I told him the story. And he goes, oh, the Cuban nipple crisis. He didn't miss a beat.

Starting point is 01:11:28 He didn't miss a single beat. He goes, oh, the Cuban nipple crisis. I was like, I love you forever, dude. He forgave you. No, but it was a great life lesson to learn when you're like 23 years old. Where is he now? I don't know, I haven't talked to him for a while,

Starting point is 01:11:43 but he's the best, great editor. And he's, but like, it's one of those things that I learned. I was just like, when you are late, you're disrespecting everyone that you were supposed to meet. And so imagine you're sitting on a plane and you're like ready to take off

Starting point is 01:11:55 and you're not taking off for two hours because Janus isn't there. And then he gets on the plane and no one says anything to him. Terrible. That's going to create a bad vibe. Terrible teammate. I promise you this.

Starting point is 01:12:10 He ain't going to Miami. When he's a Nick, when he's a Nick, he'll be great. Some of these old school guys like that, do just run like, let you do whatever you want to. It's very interesting. And I can imagine Doc Rivers, like, you've been around forever. I trust you, you know, to me.

Starting point is 01:12:28 I know what it's like in the NBA. I can't tell Doc Rivers how to coach a basketball team. You know what I mean? They've never done in my whole entire life. Like, you know, there's certain, you know, not everyone gets treated the same. Yep. All right.

Starting point is 01:12:38 What are we on? Oh, it's mine. My turn. Last love. This is one of my loves. My last love. I've been to TV for a long time. You've been, you know, sports media for a long time.

Starting point is 01:12:53 Charles Barkley is old school. He's from a different generation. And like, you know, just like having grandfathers and grandmothers. Like, they just like speak about things differently. There's a lot that doesn't translate from 1955 to, you know, 2026. They say crazy things and we give them rope. Charles Barkley last night, talking about how hot Max Truce was,

Starting point is 01:13:17 was just a great piece of television. Because, like, he's like, homophobia be damned. This guy's hot. Like, I find him attractive. It was just a great piece of television. It just, once again, Charles says a lot of incredible things. Didn't he say they were like, what do you find attractive about him?

Starting point is 01:13:39 I think they wanted him to talk about his, like, hair or his ponytail. He was like, his face. Yeah, he's like, I don't like the man bun. He was like, I don't like the man bun. He was like, but he's just, I just loved it. I just loved, like, how open he is, how honest he is and how willing he is to be made fun of. And he doesn't care, like, you know, a man of his age from the South being like this guy is hot, which is very progressive and awesome.

Starting point is 01:14:01 And like, I don't want to make it like political. But it was just like a great piece of television. Just like, that's what makes him so good is being vulnerable and opening. up and saying things that he knows he's going to get clown for. And I just found it to be like a wonderful piece of television. And honestly, I don't see it. I don't think Max Trues is that hot. You don't?

Starting point is 01:14:20 Ubra. I'm an Ubra guy. Yeah. He's got the eyes. Yeah, yeah. I'm an Ubrae guy. But Struis never really did it for me. But Charles, like, I really, I love the way that he was willing to open up about that.

Starting point is 01:14:32 I thought it was a great piece of film. I did too. Last one, my love, oh, I mean, this is, this is this is, nerdy as I get. I love combine measurements. I mean, I,

Starting point is 01:14:45 oh, Cameron Carr from Baylor. I saw it. I saw it. Six, four and a half barefoot with a seven one wing span.

Starting point is 01:14:57 Did you see him hit the shots in the five-on-five? Buddy. And the dunks. Bro. I mean, I would have drafted him in the top ten just off that video.

Starting point is 01:15:06 When he hung on the rim and then re, adjusted his right hand to swing the other way. I was just like, are you a gymnast? Well, also he made six threes in the game. He had, what do you have 19 in the first half or something? I was just like 30 in the five on five. And then just, and then just Mike dropped it, walked off.

Starting point is 01:15:28 He didn't even play in the thing. He didn't play today. Why would you? Why would you? The Michigan Free Coast, Mores Johnson, and Adai Mora. Dymara, like, they, when they, when they posted the graphic of his measurements,

Starting point is 01:15:45 I'm like, this guy is like a legitimate giant. It didn't look right. 7.3 with no shoes with a 7.6 wingspan. Boozer obviously killed it on the agility drills. So it was like, oh, the slow. Not athletic. Slow. How was slow-footed boozer so much faster than, you know,

Starting point is 01:16:08 Caleb Wilson and these guys. Also, Boozer's testing, like seven, one wing span, nine-foot standing reach, the whole thing. I liked A-Cuff being tall, six-two. So everybody was like, oh, okay, all right, he's fine, he's fine, it's fine, right? I know he looks small at Arkansas, but it's fine, right? And then Chris C-neck from Houston. Okay, I don't know if you saw this. So, Chris, this guy was a, I mean, he was a mega recruit, five star, five star.

Starting point is 01:16:44 I mean, he was supposed to be a big time deal coming out of Houston. Bro, he had a 75 wingspan and a 41.5 standing bird. What are we talking? What are we talking? Wait, wait, 75 wingspan. Yes. What's his height? He's 611.

Starting point is 01:17:06 and 41. Yes. I'm telling you, I love confide measurements. I see these guys and I just want to like, I want to call up every parent I know and send them this and be like, little Johnny has no chance in life. Fire the trainer. Chris Cienack exists.

Starting point is 01:17:34 and he's 6-11 with a 7-5 wingspan. Oh, you send him to camp for $5,000 that can burn your money. That's at a 41 and a half in vertical leaf. And he's 6-11 with a 7-5 wingspan. What are you going to do? You'll never score on him ever in life. I've got a buddy in my recl league team. We played last night.

Starting point is 01:18:00 And he's got a kid, Miles. It's like really good. He's 15 years old. I think he's going into 10th grade. And the kid can hit from anywhere. He plays in A.U. He's like, there's a kid in his A.U team who's 6-9 and can do everything. And he's a five-star recruit.

Starting point is 01:18:16 It's like, that's the difference. Miles is a great basketball player. But like this kid from Brooklyn, I'll get his name for an ex-pod. So when he gets drafted, we can be like, we were first. But like, it's like Miles is probably like 5, 10, but can hit skinny, probably weighs 150 pounds. But on like the upper level of his AAU team, he's on like the B squad.

Starting point is 01:18:35 On the A squad, there's a kid who's six, nine, and can hit threes, can drive, can hit middies, can post up, can block shots. It's just like,

Starting point is 01:18:43 there's just levels to it. Like, okay, I'm gonna tell you something, you're gonna love this. So I think this weekend, I think this weekend, I'm gonna take my son over to the weekend

Starting point is 01:18:54 before the Peach Jam. They're in Memphis, EY, BL, the Nike circuit. They're all the best team. And so they're playing in Memphis this weekend. I think we're going to head over to go check them out. Because we went with Cooper Flagg was here.

Starting point is 01:19:09 We went with Boozer. We went with all these different players. And we see them, you know, in the summer. But you'll come back with the name that you didn't drive in with. Well, you know what's crazy? The last time, that year with Flagg that we went. And then we walked to another court and it was like just balls to the wall. I mean, there are people everywhere.

Starting point is 01:19:30 And I was like, who's playing there? And they were like, it's the number one guard in the country. His name's Elliot Cadeau. And he's the one that just won the national championship and both outstanding player, right? Also, I saw a 15-year-old playing up with the juniors and seniors for a team out of Atlanta. And it was frigging Caleb Wilson.

Starting point is 01:19:58 Of course it was. Yeah. And so they're all, so check this. When I first took my son, he was all, He was all, he still loves playing basketball. But the first time we ever took him, walked into that gym and it was like, I think he was like, oh my God.

Starting point is 01:20:14 Like when you walk around this EYBL gym, so the kid will go see this weekend. There's a bunch of guys in his grade, which is 10th grade right now. There's a bunch that are like in Memphis or the surrounding areas, including you'll love this. Guess who's one of the, the kids we're probably going to go see this weekend.

Starting point is 01:20:36 Because he's playing. Mike Miller's kid. No. He's playing with all the... Someone's kids. It's going to be someone's son or else I wouldn't know their name. Right, right. He's playing with all the Memphis kids.

Starting point is 01:20:44 Penny Hardaway's kid. But he's from Mississippi. From Mississippi. Just tell me. Eric Dampier Jr. Oh, God, of course. E.J. We call him E.J.

Starting point is 01:20:55 Hey, hey, go look him up on YouTube. Brother. I don't look up 10th graders on YouTube. Trust me. Trust me. it's freak it. This is how I saw the bans the first time too.

Starting point is 01:21:10 It comes back around. These kids are all involved in this. But you walk in that gym and you're like, this is what pros is. Your original point is right, though. It's like you might be the best basketball player in the

Starting point is 01:21:24 300 mile radius of where you grew up, but being a potential pro is a completely different thing. You just have to be a genetic freak. No, these guys are pros. Yeah. That's a good one. Unless you're Colin Gillespie. I'll do this quickly.

Starting point is 01:21:41 You watch as many hours of NBA playoff basketball as we do. There are certain commercials that just really bother me. And I've done this before with Jennifer Gardner. Poor Jennifer Gardner, I'll never be able to talk to her the rest of my life. We had a strong relationship before I went after her company. This is my problem. Plaxoriasis is a serious thing. And if you suffer from Plaxoriasis, I hope you get all the things.

Starting point is 01:22:05 the medication that you need. But the Sky Rizzy commercial, Nothing is everything. I just, it's stuck in my head. It makes no sense. Nothing is everything. And it's Sky Rizzi sounds like a, like a rapper or something.

Starting point is 01:22:21 Like it's like, like I've never heard like, like usually they sound like Sky Rizzi sounds like a move. Like, oh, he did the Ural Step into the Sky Rizzi. Like it's just, it just bothers me every time. Nothing is everything. That makes no sense. What is nothing? is everything. And why is it? I listen to it at 10 o'clock at night on a Monday.

Starting point is 01:22:40 And Tuesday afternoon, I'm eating lunch. In my head, it's still, nothing is everything. I hate the sky racy commercial. I wish the best for everyone's suffering from black psoriasis. But I hate suffering from nothing is everything. I wish the best for everything. I do. I hope to help they clear up. I had a strong eczema problem earlier in my life. I feel for you. But nothing is everything is the dumbest song. I've ever heard. And how is that possibly your slogan? I hate it so much and it bothers me every single time.

Starting point is 01:23:10 Move on. The last load that I have is obviously, this has been a horrible week in Memphis and with the Grizzlies organization, with the passing of Brandon Clark. I met Brandon the first time he ever wore a Grizzlies uniform. We were out in Vegas. And he was drafted 21st overall by Oklahoma City. then there's a draft day trade.

Starting point is 01:23:38 Then he comes into Summer League and he was the best player on the team. And he won MVP immediately. It was part of all kinds of awesome memories with those like young, fun, Grizzly's teams that went to the playoffs. And, you know, I've never really been through anything like this before

Starting point is 01:23:58 because it is different because I know him, know him, right? And he's the longest tenure, Grizzly. It was the longest tenure. Him and Jock came in at the same time. And when Jaron Jackson Jr., who is like best buddies with him, so I just like my heart broke. I know these relationships. I know the family.

Starting point is 01:24:19 I know him and I know what he went through with these injuries over the course of the past couple of years. Obviously details are still not out about how all this happened. But I will just say that he was, this is not one of those where, After the fact, I'm just here to say this isn't one of those where after the fact, it's like people start talking great about you. When you start, when you heard people talk about Brandon Clark, like as a person outside of what they knew of him as a basketball player, I am just here to tell you that that's not somebody speaking positively because something tragic has happened.

Starting point is 01:25:03 And that's not how everybody felt at the time. I don't know anybody, not anybody. And I've been around this guy for seven years. I don't know anybody that would say an unkind word about him, ever, ever. He was a great dude and an unbelievable teammate. And when I talk about guys that when you are a fan of a team and you want, all you want is you want to feel like when you go to those games, that they wanted as bad as you,

Starting point is 01:25:38 that they give it everything they've got. If it's not enough, you can live with the results. But from day one, the second he stepped on a court in Summer League to the last game he played with that team, that dude, honest effort every single night.

Starting point is 01:25:57 He never, never half-assed, ever. And then off the court was, I never witnessed him being on. unkind to any. And it is a horrible, horrible loss for this organization in Memphis.

Starting point is 01:26:18 He mattered. He mattered to the fan base. He mattered to the front office. He mattered to the people in the business side. Like, when you lose a great character person like that, it hurts badly.

Starting point is 01:26:31 And he meant a lot. And people, I can honestly say he's like a, beloved figure and that was the worst day ever. I mean, it's just so terrible because obviously I found out the morning up and everybody's still kind of, you know, kind of in shock. You just don't have current athletes passing away, you know, and he's 29 years old. And now he's gone.

Starting point is 01:27:01 And so I'm just here to express, uh, Obviously, my deepest condolences to his family and all of his loved ones. And just to let everybody know that that was, that was not like, this was not the average tragedy when it came to that organization because I'm around that thing all the time and in the mix. And for seven years, he has been, and obviously the last three, he's dealt with all kinds of injuries and fought. back every time. Torres Achilles fought back from it. Then came back. Torres PCL fought back from it. Got on the court this year and within six minutes, Torres Kaffed. After he had just done all the rehab the last time. And just sucks, man. It sucks. And it is one of those moments where we say this every time

Starting point is 01:27:59 something like this happens where everybody goes, man, it just makes you realize how precious life is. But certainly for me, and I do think everybody in Memphis, it was. It's one of those moments where it's like, I can't believe this. I still cannot believe he is gone. I can't believe it. And he's 29 years old with so much life and so much ahead of him. And now he's gone. Again, we don't know the details of how it all happened, what happened.

Starting point is 01:28:33 But it's awful for sure. and it's been super, super hard week around Memphis. And I hope you'll keep his family in your thoughts and prayers and just understand that, like, this guy was super meaningful. And I do think that in retrospect, you look back and you never think you're going to be talking about somebody being gone like that, but you realize the kind of impact that he had on people. And it's unfortunate that we always say give your flowers when somebody's still around,

Starting point is 01:29:03 but so often we don't do it until they're gone. And so anyway, rest in peace, Brandon Clark, not a week I ever want to remember because that was certainly terrible. And if I could loathe it 100 million times, I would load it 100 million times. And so keep your loved ones close because it was one of the ones.

Starting point is 01:29:33 those where you feel like you you truly never know. It's going to do it for this episode of the mismatch. Thank you to Jeff and Steph as always. Jacoby. I'll talk to you next week. Remember, you must be 21 or over and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 and over in present in D.C. Kentucky or Wyoming.

Starting point is 01:30:06 Gambling problem, call 100 Gambler or 100 My Reset. Or you can call 1-887-9-77 or visit ccpg.g. slash chat in Connecticut. Or you can visit MD gambling help.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit Gamblinghelpline, MA.m.org or call 800-327-50-50 for 24-7 support in Massachusetts or call 8778-8-Hope-N-Y or text Hope N.Y in New York for Louisiana. Call 877-770-78-686. Hey y'all, it's Kelly Clarkson with Wayfair. Ever order furniture online and wonder, what if? Like, what if it doesn't hold up?

Starting point is 01:30:51 That sofa was four days old. You should have ordered from Wayfair. With Wayfair, there's no what if. Just style you love and quality you can trust. Visit Wayfair.ca. Wayfair, every style, every home.

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