The Ringer NBA Show - Dillon Brooks Calls LeBron James Old and Draymond Green’s One-Game Suspension | Real Ones

Episode Date: April 20, 2023

Logan and Raja are back to discuss the ongoing trash talk between Dillon Brooks and LeBron James as well as what’s in store for the rest of the series (1:07). Along the way, they reflect on the Game 2 matchups between Miami and Milwaukee and Minnesota and Denver (25:02). Next, the guys share their thoughts on the NBA’s decision to suspend Draymond Green for Game 3 of the Warriors-Kings first-round series before previewing Thursday’s Clippers-Suns game (32:48). Finally, the guys close out with their Real Ones of the Week (57:40). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Producer: Jonathan Kermah Production Assistant: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's up everybody? It's Austin Rivers from the Minnesota Timberwolves. It's a new year and I have a new podcast here at the Ringer, Offguard, hosted by me and my guy, Pasha Higigi. Austin and I go way back and talk so much hoop already that we figure those time to fire up the mics and let you in on all of these conversations. Every week, Pasha and I will hit on the biggest stories happening in the league.

And get Austin's perspective of someone currently hooping in the NBA. Tap into Offguard every Friday on the Ringer NBA show feed on Spotify or wherever you get your podcast. What's popping? Logan Murdoch here, Roger Bell there. That is our third intro, but it's going to be the one that counts. How are you, Rob? I'm chilling. How are you? I've seen better days. So was my podcasting equipment. It's okay, man. We've got to play through. We've got to play through, man. Just like Dylan Brooks right now, who is out here. You see. You see the from here, bro. It's postseason time. We got to lock in. But Dylan Brooks's been popping off at the mouth. Has so much. dip that I don't even see a chip.

There's just a dip all over it. It's just a blob. He just put his four fingers in the dip. Honestly, it seems like that's something that's doing Brooks would do. But he just basically has a handful of dip. And it's just throwing it everywhere right now in the Grizzlies, Lakers series.

So I want to take a nuance take on to just what's going on right now. He basically, they asked him a question. You know, you know somebody going to say something wild, when they got the white sunglasses and the flannel with no shirt, you know it's about to go down. It's about to pop off. And somebody asked him about LeBron James and, you know, what was said after a fadeaway jumper

where LeBron got in Dillon Brooks's face. And Bill & Brooks's response was after, you know, they tied this, after the Grizzly tied the series, no less, after being down 01 at home. And he says, I don't care what LeBron says. He's old. And this is a 1-1 series going back to Los Angeles.

Raja, whether, you know, I know that you know, we've talked about this in previous times, but at least you are known outwardly as, you know, a player provocateur in your day. May it provoked a player a time or two. What do you think about how Dylan Brooks has gone about? We've talked about him at Nause on this podcast. but what do you think about him in this context going at a LeBron James in this moment when I don't know if this team is going to be able to back it up and I don't even know how they've backed it up so far in this series and what's the future lie with Dylan Brooks and the Memphis Grizzlies? This is an interesting topic for me because there are parallels right to be drawn from from Dylan Brooks.

situation right now and then my situation with Kobe, if you cared to look beyond the surface, they're vastly different. Like Kobe's in mind was more physical. And we too had a back and forth through the media, but never did I get into disrespecting what he could do on the court or his game or anything like that. Ours was more personal, if you could dig what I'm saying. This one, while personal, you're attacking this man's ability. to do what he's done for an entire career, putting himself in the conversation or the debate for greatest of all time.

So there are some real differences. And so I would just start there and then pivot to, I can understand the need for Dylan Brooks, who's tasked with going out there and being this emotional kind of spark plug for his team. I can understand the primary defender at times on some of the best players on the other team. understand the need for this level of you ain't that nice, like disrespect that I've built up

in my head towards you because, Logan, you don't go out there and have any success guarding the greatest players on the planet, having any fear of them. They are like sharks, dogs, bees, whatever old, you know, wives tale there is about, like, smelling blood with some of those animals, although I know sharks smell blood. But sensing fear, I guess, like, they can tell, And so if you are out there faking that you're not shook, they read right through that, you know? So you have to convince yourself and take the mindset of he ain't shit. Like he's a man just like me. We put our pants on, you know, one leg at a time the same way.

We both bleed. And I understand that. You know, but there also has to be a grip on reality when it's all said and done about, you know, who you're talking about who you're talking about who you're talking to what they mean to the game, what they're capable of versus what you are, in fact, capable of. And I think he kind of crossed the line a little bit in that pose game with some of the attacks on LeBron's game. Now, I mean, LeBron is old. That's a fact. In NBA years, LeBron is old. Now, perhaps the oldest star playing at this level of all time, which just says a lot, and that's a compliment. Absolutely. And again, you're talking to one of the biggest LeBron fans.

out there. So this is throwing no shade at LeBron. I'm just categorically trying to go through what he said. Like, LeBron is old in an NBA terms. He hasn't hung 40 on Dylan Brooks yet. And he's saying that's his benchmark for him having respect. That's where I disagree. Like that man's body of work is worthy of the utmost respect. Just because he hasn't put it on you doesn't mean there isn't respect that you should have for that. And you really, I didn't. like how greasy he took that interview. I understand saying, look, hey man, I don't have no fear of LeBron James. Like, he puts his pants on just like me. I'm here to scrap. Like, let's get it,

let's get it popping. Like, that's all we can do, right? If he gets the best of me, cool. If I get the best of him, bet. We won tonight. Let's go back to LA. Like, I understand a kind of matter of fact to the point interview trying to illustrate that you're not afraid. But he just went over the top and turned it into Clown City. And I, you know, while I can tell you, I understand some of where he's coming from, like where he wound up, I don't support that. It seems like he isn't, it's not one of those things where, you know, normally a person asks a question and you go back at him with the answer that you just gave, Rod's it, which is like, I'm not afraid of him.

He's a great player. We move on. It feels like he's inviting controversy and he wants the attention for the sake of attention. And if you look at the overall context of this series, Lakers went up in there and beat him game one. Like, of course you had, like, the Lakers already won. accomplish what they needed to accomplish in this series. And there's a world, you know, they made a run in the second game where shit. There's a world if they go back and win game two, right?

Where you're sticking your chest out again. Here we go again with the Memphis Grizzlies. They're sticking their chest out. When they actually haven't done shit, whenever you hear the Memphis Grizzlies has become a pattern, when you hear them talk shit and then you go, come back 30,000 feet up, see what are you talking mess about? What are you, what are we trying to accomplish here? Because you did not hold serve. Like your job was to get two weeks at home. You, you,

yeah, you're hanging on. Now, I mean, I guess when you factor in, they were missing Jha and the deck was stacked against them, even though newsflash, they're 34 and 17 without John Morant. Like they, I mean, you know what I mean? But I guess you could, you could, you could be living in that world where we overcame all, you know, obstacles not having, you know, one of the best players in the league and stuff. But the reality is, and I support 100% what you're saying, like, you're popping all of this shit with the white shays, shirt open, chain on, like, and all you did was not hold serve. All you did was give home court over to the Lakers. That's what I'm saying. Every single time this happens, Roger, it's like it's overcompensation.

And it's just, it's, when you're in this position, though, say, we're going to go to the the Lakers' point of view in this, what is LeBron thinking? What are the Lakers thinking after this? How are they feeling going back into Los Angeles? Because they hear this. And also, LeBron Buckback after a fadeaway late in that game. What is the response from the Los Angeles Lakers' point of view? And how do they come across and how should they play going into game three?

Well, I don't think, I mean, it was interesting watching that, you know, after LeBron hit the little fade and Dylan Brooks shot him to little chicken wing in front of the bench. And then they both started talking. Like, you rarely see LeBron. engage and stuff like that. So you can tell that the Dylan Brooks character that he gets into, I don't think it's shook LeBron, but it's, it's affected him. He's heard enough of it, you know?

But I think when he goes back and they start preparing for game three, that's not going to be a concern of LeBron's. I think, you know, he's had to deal with stuff like that his whole career. And so while he might want to clap back a little bit, it's not in his best interest to do so. It's in the best interest to just go out there and hoop. Now, what gets lost in all of this, and I find this really interesting,

is we kind of look at this through, like, the Lakers being the big bad bully, and Memphis being the underdog. It's weird how we kind of look at it and talk about the series like that. Memphis is the better team throughout the season. Like Memphis, you know, it's why they were in Memphis. Memphis has, you know, now they're down some players, but Memphis is regarded as the better team, at least record-wise, throughout the course of the season, really over the last couple of seasons.

And so what the Lakers need to do is get that mindset back. Like, we are the underdows. Like, they came in in game one because they did not come out in game two like that. They came out in game two. Like, we are the quote, unquote, Lakers. Like, we're here to handle this business because the name on our jersey says so. and because you're afraid of it, you're going to let us have it. And that's not what Memphis was on last night.

And so the Lakers have to find a way to get back to that. Like, yo, fuck that. We are, we are in fact the underdogs and have that chip on their shoulder. I think that they will going into game three. I think it's all one of those things. And I think that's why I'm going to pat myself on the back here. So I predicted that the grills needs to win game two because it was just a desperation thing. There was under no circumstances where the Lakers are going to match.

the Grizzlies desperation going in the game two, right? They couldn't. There was no way that they could do that. Basically, seasons on the line. And there's no way you could come back from losing two straight home games to start a series. And so what I would have liked

is, this is something that maybe I would have liked from Bill and Brooks and the rest of the Grizzlies is, no, man, leave no doubt, beat the brakes off of the Lakers and sent a message. I don't know if they necessarily sent a message. They basically just survived game two. And that's the biggest thing that I've seen from this is like they came to a good lead.

And then the Lakers made a run to come back and the Grizzlies held on, right? They're still, in my mind, on their heels in the series, especially after that game one where the Lakers wasn't systematically beat them. Now they're going back to Los Angeles. We've seen what can happen to the Grizzlies when they go to L.A., especially we talk about the Shannon Sharp game, where this is a team, and you've seen this, we just saw it last night with Dylan Brooke.

This is a team that can get easily distracted, right, with outside noise that they create and also that the postseason creates. So I'm curious to see what the Memphis Grizzlies do on the home floor where they have, or on the Lakers home floor, where there's, you know, Shannon Sharks is going to be there. There's going to be so many people talking to them on the side by

Dylan Brooks is so easily distracted. It was a game earlier this season where even in the Shannon Sharp game, what happened? The Grizzlies ended up losing because their head wasn't in the game. This is something that's continual. And I just think at this point, the grizzles are just holding on to seeing what happens. And I don't see anything much more than that from this team based on what they've been doing over. The wolf tickets they've been serving over the last few weeks. I mean, that's fair for you to have that opinion.

I don't have to echo those sentiments necessarily because I live in a world where they were beating the brakes off of the Lakers without one of the best players on the planet. And this is me playing devil's advocate to you. Like in game one, you got otherworldly performances from Rui Hachamori, from Austin Reeves to some degree. And I'm not going to pencil those in for the rest of the series.

So, you know, either, you know, again, like this is the beauty of like, perspective. If I'm the Memphis Grizzlies, I'm like, look, man, they came out, they came out and beat us in game one, but like, that's not, those performances aren't going to happen. We got a defensive strategy

that's limiting attempts for, for Anthony Davis. That seems to be something that stymied AD and definitely Darvinham. Like, they can't figure out how to get that man enough attempts for him to be the breadwinner offensively. Kudos to Memphis, and I talked about their strategy in game one, but they didn't get

exposed on the glass the same way that they did in game one for employing that strategy. Number two, I think they like LeBron. And part of Dylan Brooks, part of this gamesmanship is like, yo, let's get him all the way riled up. Because I've referenced this before. As a son, when I was on those sons teams, we felt better. Like it was going to be a longer night for me. And I was going to be subject to more criticism and clowning if Kobe got his buckets on

on a volume of shots, but we felt better as a team if Kobe shot those volumes of shots against me trying to prove that I couldn't guard it. It set us better as a team to win. I think about that game six, and you didn't play in game six, but I think about that game six

right after the game you got suspended, Kobe goes for 50-something and an L, that's a Tim Thomas game that really hurt my heart, right? Where, you know, that goes into overtime, sometimes that end up winning. But that was a thing,

that was a Kobe specific thing. You rile him up to make him score more and make him take away offensive other guys. Right. So that's why who's LeBron not to play into that. Like not to play into this. Hey, I got to score 40 to prove this dude wrong. But again, in this world, Memphis is like, boom, we've got this sound strategy.

The Lakers can't figure out how to get AD off. We got LeBron at a spot where he might feel like he's got to come out and try to get 40. And let's be frank, LeBron wasn't like going by people. Like, LeBron LeBron is not the same guy. He's still phenomenal, but he's not the same guy in an ISO one-on-one situation

where if he's shooting a volume of shots, that's the best answer for your team. And we're not going to get those performances consistently from Reeves and Hachimori. And so we feel pretty good, even though we lost the home court advantage, we feel pretty good in this scenario. So, like, I don't see it the same way you do, Logan. I don't know that I'm all the way team Memphis in the way I just detailed their view and I don't know that I'm all the way team Lakers

either. I think it's really interesting to see how these teams come out. I think Darvinham is going to be on full display in game three. He has to figure out what they can do offensively to get Anthony Davis more involved. Anthony Davis,

if you are the guy that everyone thinks you are when healthy, last night can't happen. I don't care if they're in this double team. I don't care. Like Kobe and, you know, Tim Duncan and, you know, Garnett. Like, their dudes were doubled all the time and they still had a level. They still have to reach a benchmark.

Like, we still need 20, my guy. Yeah. Can't be 14. We still need 22. Like, it don't have to be 35, but I got to have you in the 20s. And so, you know, it's going to be fascinating to see, you know, this little chess match, how they come out, what they're going to do. And the Lakers got to tighten up a little bit defensively.

They looked really lax at times last night. They were just giving away shots. There's one thing to go under on coverages and say, hey, we'll live with a pull-up jump shop behind the three contested. There's another thing to just be handing people shots. And they did that too often last night. It's interesting right now, right? Because it's interesting to watch a team in the Lakers

where LeBron is not the most important player on the team. Because he's not. Anthony Davis is the most important player on this iteration of the Los Angeles Lakers because you saw it over, it was a tale of two games, right? Where game one, AD was dominant. Right. Just dominant on both ends of the floor was, you know, you really felt his presence on the floor. And, you know, LeBron could be a facilitator. He could score in spurts, but he doesn't have to be beat guy.

what do you expect from Anthony Davis going in the game too? I hope, and I expect from a player of his caliber. My only reservation on it was, well, words two. It was health and mindset. And so I guess I would be a little worried. But I think from what he's shown coming down the stretch of this season, that I owe him a little bit more credit than I was giving him. And so in that light, I hope, and I think that he will come out

and just be really, really aggressive. really aggressive. You're going to trust it what Darwin and company schemes up. I'm sure LeBron will have a hand in that when they go back

and break down the film. How to spring him for looks when you get it, let's be quick, let's be decisive, and let's be aggressive. Kind of in the way that, you know,

the beginning of the Sun's game the other night, Katie didn't look great. You know, Russ was denying him, Russ was coming from behind, blocking a shot, there was a turnover.

But you know what he kept doing? he kept getting that shit and getting to his spot and pulling up. And he kept catching it and trying to get to his spot and pulling up. And so just the mindset to be aggressive regardless of the outcome got him going. You know, it got him moving. And then, you know, obviously D. Book was great. But the point is that's the mindset that AD's got to come out with. Like, I'm not going to be denied.

Just because you double me or send this soft double team, like I'm going to be aggressive. And even if I wind up passing out of it, Logan, I'm not going to pass off of my heels where you don't have to commit to the full double team. Like I'm coming. And then I'm going to beat up that offensive glass. Like if I can't beat this double team when the ball's in my hand, when one of my teammates shoots it, you're not doubling me on a box out, right? You can't double me.

You're not double me on the box out. So like, I'm going to get this. I'm going to just impose myself, you know, physically on this game. And I want to be clear. Like, Rui had 20 again last game. I'm not saying that he hasn't been playing great. He's been fantastic. But you need the, if.

If AD is not going to be playing to AD regular season level, not only do you need Rui, and we have 20 versus 29, that's a nine point difference, but you need Rui and you need, you know, Austin, and you need like a combination to D. Low and shorter. Like there's a lot that you need in support of that, that you just don't, you can't pencil in as being consistent from a Lakers perspective every night. So therefore, you've got to have AD and LeBron doing AD and LeBron things. It's that time of year. And you need, to your point,

DeAngelo Russell, five points, three turnovers, two of 11 from the field. Too much ball holding for them last night, man. Yeah. It was the Memphis Grizzlies from game one where we talked about Jod, just holding the ball, and, you know, all eyes locking in on him

and no movement off the ball, and now no one else can really get involved. The Lakers are loaded. That's what, you know, LeBron was, LeBron had an assist last night in the game. I don't know if you saw it where he caught it. They had tried to ice on him like four or five straight possessions. And he was down there on the mid block and he banged Dylan, like any, and he, you know, banged him.

And then he went to like spin fade. And, you know, Jaron Jackson came from the baseline and he hit, was it, was it Vanderbilt on a cut for, for a late? It was a phenomenal read and setup. But aside from a couple plays like that, there wasn't much going on with them off. defensively late in that game. It was a lot of just come down, dump it in, see if he can get a bucket. You know, and that gets really stagnant, and it's not in, it's not overall healthy for your team's offense and players like DeLo, Austin Reeves, and the supporting cast to be standing

around watching that. I know that because I live that. Like it's really hard when you're just standing there watching somebody. Even though LeBron can make the right play, you saw him kick one out, a phenomenal skip. I thought it was going to get stoned to DeLo across court in front of the bench. And DeLo had a wide open look at the three. and he just, you know, I'm just not in rhythm, my boy, like, he missed it.

I'm not in rhythm. It was a big shot. It's like the James Hardin syndrome, right? Where you're just standing in a corner and you're like this with both hands up for stretches and stretches on in. Yeah. Or like, it's like you're in the center field who's waiting for a ball to come your way, right? Like, and it's going to be every 30 minutes where, you know, you might get a pass

or a ball come your way. We'll see, man. Also, I'm looking at the stats right now. It's pretty hilarious. Dylan Brooks, 12 of 12. 12 points 5 of 14 from the field calling LeBron old. I mean, that is, again, it's just hilarious. It is hilarious.

It is borderline ridiculous, but that, like, I saw a lot of people, and I'm not defending Dylan Brooks. I'm just trying to, because I think it's absurd what he did. Like, I don't support that in any way, shape, or form calling that man. Like, that's ridiculous, man. But first of all, his job is not LeBron's job. So all the people saying, like, well, he only had 12. That's not his job.

Do you know what I mean? He's doing his job right now. In them damn crazy-ass glasses in front of that microphone, like just trying to get under his skin and goading him in a way that he seems to take real pleasure in. I don't support it, but his job's not the same as LeBron's. For sure. Who is he going to win the game, game three in Los Angeles? Man, I don't know.

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know what your schedule is. Do we have a, do we have a, who are then the standings of predictions? I don't know. We need to put that there, but I think I'm winning, Ross. I think you are too, because I've been terrible if recollection, you know, serves me correctly. I can't even really remember who I pick.

But I think that the Lakers will win game three. I'll just say this, though. And I was listening, and I heard this somewhere else. I think Wendy said it this morning, friend of the show. The schedule on this series changes to every other night after I think game three. So if it should get extended, this becomes four games and seven nights for LeBron and the Lakers. That is not good for them. And that's why letting game two and coming out, like you really didn't have any skin in the game,

like you had already accomplished your goal. That's why it was even more of a travesty because you really, as an older team with guys who are injury prone at this point, like you needed to get out of this series, if possible, as quick as possible. And now if you let it linger, it just gets harder and harder for those dudes to like, you saw them last night.

They didn't look great last night for a while. And that was off of a couple days. And so when it's going every other night, that's not, there's a world where that don't look at. And like, here's another thing, too.

Like, it's not like you're flying to the bay or something. I'm talking about the Lakers. It's not like you're flying to Portland or Salt Lake City. Memphis is damn, near to East Coast from out here, bro. It is hard to get to them. Not for, you know,

the Lakers because they go on private, but that is a toll. It's probably like a three, four hour flight going back and forth. Every other day, it's tough. So we'll see what happens. If this thing extends, the Grizzlies have an advantage.

Let's go around the league really quickly before we get to the next segment. Bucks Heat, Bucks Cruz passed the heat without Yannis in game two. Chris Middleton game, 16.7 to 6.6 rebounds, Drew Holiday game, 24 points, 11 assists. It was everybody's game.

It was a great game. No, I mean, for the Bucks, it was an everybody game, and they all went. Everybody was, everybody was getting a poppy, man. It's interesting just to see, you know, it's a big win for the Bucks, just for the simple fact, obviously, you know, you do it without Yonnas, but it shows their depth. It shows out what they can do in this way. What a championship level type win to do that without your best player, especially a guy like, we know how stars are.

But I think we always talk about this. Janus takes on a responsibility on his team. That's probably a bigger load than most stars of his caliber in the league. I mean, it is one guy. It's not like, you know, you talk about Embeddue, who has a number two, who has. No, it's Janus. and then the gap between Janus and the number two is pretty great. So for his team and his supporting cast to win a playoff game without him

speaks volume. Well, it does speak volumes, but I would push back just a little bit because I think Drew Holiday is a bona fide number two. So, I mean, he might not do it in the same offensive way every night that flashes number two, number two in neon lights, but he is a number two. So like, you know, and that's not taking anything away from Janus, clearly. but I do think he has healthy support there but they are super deep in a game like that

you know getting Joe Engels you know off a little bit getting Patty Connitin off a little bit like it provides you know just just maybe you know enough enough touch and enough feel for some of those supporting castes to step up in a way when Janus is there that get you to where you want to go if you're the bucks I mean been a very entertaining 1-1 series

going back to Miami It's going to be a fun one. Who you got going into in the game three? I'm going to take the bucks in game three. I think they're a type of team. And Janus would be back. Hopefully they got that mindset where they want to flip this thing back and get their home court back.

So I'll take the bucks in game three. I'm going to just, you know, I'm going to like agreeing with you. So I'm going to go with the Miami Heat for game three. You're going to fade me out of spite, bro. Okay. I'm going to fade you out of spite. And I'm going to take your whole area. That's a mean move.

I'm going with Miami. I'm missing Miami right now. Oh man, let's sort of Timberwolves Nuggets, which has been, it's been a fun. Yeah, let's just be real. How much of this series if you watch it would have been your impression of the series? I watched none of game one. I watched none. I mean, it was very early.

I mean, I watched maybe the first. I watched very little of that game. I couldn't even claim it. I watched last night, though. What did you think? I watched last night. I was, you know, Minnesota was game. And Edwards was out there doing

doing really cool things to watch if you're a T.Wills fan for the future. Like, you know, Mike Conley was tapped in with that lefty kind of running scoop high off the glass. Like he was, he looked good. Like there were some bright spots, but ultimately, you know, Denver is a better, more well-rounded team with more pieces.

You know, and I always say this. Like, come down late in the game, Denver just made more plays. like Jamal Murray was just cooking. When Jamal Murray is playing like bubble Jamal Murray to Yokic's MVP Yokic, they're a problem. And then you add the pieces that they have around them,

Michael Porter, Bruce Brown, Aaron Gordon, like they're tough. I'm looking at the stats sheet right now, 41 points from Anthony Edwards, just the guy. And then I see Carl Towns 10 points, 30 of 12 from the field. Just this typically happens with the Timberwolves.

in the postseason. And just yet another bit more credence to the fact that let's just build around Anthony Edwards ladies and gentlemen. Let's just do it. He's that guy.

He's that dude. He is that dude. But notice I did not say his name. Like, he had some big plays down the stretch too. Don't get me wrong. But it wasn't as consistent as, as, as Jamal. You know what I mean?

Like he was hitting some shots and then he missed a couple. And that's just the way it goes, right? Like I make a few more. We both have 41, but I make a few more down the stretch my team's going to win. notice I didn't say Carl Anthony Towns

when I was talking about Memphis. He, I mean, not Memphis, but Minnesota. You can have a bad game. You know, stars typically don't have too many in the playoffs. Like real build around stars don't. But the crying, bro, like I can't, I don't like that. Do you know what I mean? Like, yo, have your bad game.

Don't be good. That's fine, but don't be out there crying too. Like every time something's going on, like I don't love that look if you are that dude. If you're especially, no, no, I don't even if you're that dude. Especially if you're that dude. We can't have that, man. We can't do it.

I'm not even going to, I'm just going to say that the nuggets are going to win the series. There's no more that I really need to say about this series. I'll say a quick break. And I want to talk more about crying, Rodgers Bell. The NBA playoffs are here and you can turn crossovers into cash with Fandual. Just visit fandual.com slash Ringer MBA right now and place a $5 bet and you'll get an instant $150 in bonus bets, win or lose. I like Fandwell app because I got great promotions every day.

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www.1-800 gambler dot net in West Virginia. And we are back. Raja, we haven't been able to talk much. We're going to preview game three, Warriors Kings, really quickly. It's been a really eventful time

in the group chat on this series. We have not brought it to the pod yet. But, Raja, Kings go up touo, all right? pretty impressive two wins from the Sacramento Kings I got to admit impressive from the team impressive from the fans I guess 90% of the fans you still you know pushed out V40 come on now like come on let's let's get your shit together golden one but the story of this all is the suspension of one Draymond Green for stepping stomping on Demon

to Sabonis late in game two as the warriors were making a run. I have thoughts on this. I know Rajah has thoughts on this. What do you think of the suspension, Roger? And what does this say about where we're as a league? And also, what do you think of the king's response to said suspension? Because the kings, right after the suspension was announced, they made an announcement of their own, Raja,

that DeMontasabonis is questionable because of a sternum contusion and they put that release right after the suspension. What do you think of this whole thing, Roger, where we're at right now with this series? I'm kind of enjoying the shit show that is this series. I'm enjoying it in a way that I didn't really enjoy the Dylan Brooks of it all last night.

There's a lot of comparables. There's a lot of common comparisons to both of these series right now, but he had to be suspended. I mean, I don't know if people out there listening would have predicted that I'd say something different, but you got to suspend him. You know, like, it does not hurt me. Like, you stump, when I did what I did with Kobe, I didn't allow me to not be suspended. Like, I tell my kids this all the time. Now, I tell them, hey, there might be a time in your life and in your world where something happens and you won't have to stand up and physically handle your business in a manner that the repercussions

are going to be suspension or something like that. And you just got to determine whether or not it's worth it or not. Now, to the outside world, they might be like, that's crazy. That ain't worth it. But it might, to you, be worth it. And if you can articulate that to me, like, we have that conversation because I understand that. I understand like, yo, dog, like I had to do this shit. And I know I'm getting suspended.

I got it. You know, I can say it might have been dumb to do after the fact, but I felt like I had to do it. I'm not saying Draymond had to do that or he felt like he had to do that. I tend to think that Draymond just kind of fried out in that moment and tried to stomp a hole in Buddy's chest. But you had to suspend him nonetheless. The same way that when I got suspended, I knew, yeah, I got it. You got to suspend me for that. I understand.

I would just, and I know it's been covered, but I would also say that when you are grabbing someone's leg, like what happens in the world where Dremont tries to run, his leg is wrapped up by Demontes Sabonis, and he falls down and separates a shoulder or something like that or breaks his clavicle because he got tackled. Because essentially, like if, you know, that's what can happen there, you know? And we as a league do all kind of precautionary,

flagrant fouling and intent not having to, I mean, you know, the end result not having to matter. You know, it you put someone in a precarious situation and it was dangerous, not a basketball play. I mean, that, I think that qualifies. You know, you wrap, you razzle my leg up, no, you try to tackle them. And he stomped you in the chest.

Now, yeah, Draymond Green's got to be suspended. I'm not supporting it at all. But I'm just saying it doesn't feel like, People are really understanding what DeMontes was down there trying to do. You tried to tackle someone on a basketball court. Another thing on the DeBantis front that I have just been gathering. And this is not, and I don't know, I think, you know, the Kings are in prime position to win this series, right? They should win this series based on what they've just done.

And, you know, Jordan Poole's ankle is messed up. The warriors are battered. They look old. They look old. At large, they look really old. They don't look like they have the legs. The king should beat them in this series. But there is an observation that I have on Subonis and by extension the rest of the kings.

Before that situation happened with Dremont, the warriors were gathering that Sabonis at stretches was being very soft. And that's something that, you know, when I'm talking about, him laying on the floor for stretches of time, right? Or even the thing that he did with with Draymond and holding his leg and, you know, a lot of things that he did down the stretch of that game too. I think the warriors and whoever plays the Kings next should they advance. They are going to target Sabonis.

Because Sabonis is the guy that at least the reputationally is, you act hard when he, you know, during the start of games. and if you rough him up, it is going to affect his game down the stretch of games. And I think in a lot of plays, if you look down the stretch, it did affect him the physicality of the series as the game more on. And I'm curious to see what the Warriors do in game three with that, with what he did in game two. I'm curious to see what they do with that information. And do they continue to try to rough him up and kick his ass down the stretch

and see if that wears him down? But it looks like that has had an effect on him. The fact that guys have roughed him up, Guys have gotten in his face and guys have done things. I do wonder, Rosal, what that means for both how the warriors approach him and also how teams approach the Kings going forward. If you're physical with them, how are they going to respond to that physicality as the playoffs were on? I mean, yeah, I mean, look, strategizing, you know, against the Kings especially is going to be very hard

because I talked about, you know, the pace being that neutralizer. There's something you can't factor for and critical at the same time because you've got to have a sound strategy when you're playing a team that's as, you know, in a world of fast-paced basketball, they're even, you know, they're even more unique than all the other teams doing it, right? And so, you know, having the answer to that or thinking that you have the answer or the formula for what's going to be successful against that's important. Here's the deal about the Golden State Warriors as it pertains to that. Kavanaugh has been a problem for him around the basket, right? Sabonis has a lot of things. is working for him, but he don't have no lift. Right? Like so that length and Kavana's a big body and those long arms like and being vertical has

been difficult at time for Sabonis to manage around the basket. And so yeah, like defensively, I imagine you keep trying to do what you've done to him, but they don't they don't have anything that they can do to him offensively, Golden State, that is. Like Kavanaughan Lune is not, hey, give him the ball, let him let him go to work. Like they're, you know, there's not a lot that you're going to be able to do physically down there to really, you know, go at him. Now, putting him out in more actions and making him chase and stuff like that would probably

be what Golden State's answer to do more of would be, like putting, you know, their least athletic in space capable person out there in space. But I just generally think you hit the nail on the head with, and I was going to say, a Golden State just looks, they look. And I'm not calling them old. Mind you, I'm not. But they look old. That's what that pace will do.

to you. It will take a team that is, that is, that you wouldn't ordinarily say, hey, man, they're not moving great, even though they're old, right? Like Golden State is old, but they don't typically on night to night, when you watch Steph move, you don't say, hey, he looks old. Or Clay, they don't, they don't look old. But when you put them against that particular team that's flying up and down the court with that pace, this picking them up full court that's challenging on every pass, every deflection, they're, they just got it popping on every level. it makes Golden State look old. And they're turning the ball over.

They're doing really, you know, like, it makes them look old. And yeah, the turnovers have been incredibly bad. Because like, just, especially from Steph, who has not had a good series, this series. He's just legitimately. There are times where he is throwing it to the other team. They're speeding the Warriors up.

And this is something that we talked about very early in the series. I think last episode we were talking about how, you know, I was saying going into game, too, you know, the Warriors are a veteran team, they should be able to control pace. They have been playing at the King's pace all series long, and they have been one step behind them every step of the way. Every time Malik Munk does Malik Munk things,

love watching him play basketball, by the way. Love watching him play. They're just a step back, right? Or Darren Fox, as fast as he is, he's on a string at all times, or he hits a three to do these types of things. And it's been hard because the warriors haven't been able to, they've been able to get offense,

but they've just been a step or too slow. Andrew Wiggins has played really, really well during his time, right? He had 22 points and 39 minutes in the last game, right? Fort A, he had 17 off the bench. That's what you would want as a Golden State Warrior, but I just don't know how much left they have in the tank. I'm going to the game in the night at Chase Center.

It's just, it's tough. It's one of those things where I don't know if they have the legs to be able to win four straight to win the series. I think the kings are just are that good. And it's just a very, very bad matchup for the Warriors at this point. That's just all it is. It's just a very bad matchup. It's not a great matchup. Well, I guess I hedged my back, so I'm reluctant to pat myself on the back because I picked the Warriors.

But if you remember, I said, there's a world. We talked about it last episode. You always kick your ass with the devil's advocate. I do. I'm good at that. I'm good at that. But yeah, that pace is just, that pace is just tough. I mean, and you're talking about dudes like Kevin Herder that are coming in there,

and you're going to give me Steph? Like, Steph's got to guard me? Okay, cool. Like, I'm getting after him. Like, you know what I'm making him? I'm making him guard in a way that he doesn't have to every night. Do you know what I mean? Like, you're bringing Davian Mitchell who's like,

you know my man as soon as this shit comes in bounds I'm not giving you a free dribble you you like you better put your back to me not giving you a free dribble put your back to me immediately and flip it back to the inbound guy because like this is not going to be easy and so in a world where both teams are like

they're playing eight maybe nine guys like an eight substantially and then the ninth guy getting like five to eight minutes that youth is going to prevail especially when you're running when you're in a track meet. We have other games that we need to preview.

It's Clipper Sons. And that one, I'm going to be wild here. I'm going to pick the Kings to go up and say you to win the game. I'm here. I'm here. I just, I think that the King's game will carry,

and it's more so that I just don't think that the Warriors have the legs, bro. I don't. And this reminds me, this King's team, ironically, reminds me of that 0-1-0-2 team that just cut that O2

team played a bit more defensive. But the way that O2 team was able to take control of a game and put their, impose their will onto a basketball game, I see that with this King's squad, and I think that's going to carry a chase. And I'm going to pick the Kings

to go up three oh. Oh, man. I'm putting you with mine, bud. And I've just been wrong. I've just been wrong all over the place all the time. My heart says that the Kings will do it too, but and the only reason I'm doing this is because because I'm kicking myself for not having done it with Memphis

is there is a world and let me tell you this world again in which you are without Draymond Green. I'm telling you, nah. I mean, it's corny. It's cliche. But, you know, the most dangerous animal is a wounded animal, man, backed up into the corner. And that's what Golden State is right now without Draymond.

They're wounded. And Chase is, they're really good at Chase. They're really good, right? Really good. They've been bad on the road, really good in the Chase Center. And I'll just take it one step further as I try to convince myself to make this pick. Sacramento is really young and new to this. And it would be very easy to look at a Draymondless team that is down 02 and take it for granted.

and walk in there and just not be razor sharp. And that would be all, you would just need to be off that, that little bit for Golden State to mess around and get you if they had the emotion and stuff and chase. So I will take Golden State reluctantly. I'm not even going to hedge. I'm not even going to hedge.

I'm just going to be wrong if I'm wrong. I'm going to take Golden State. I'm in the Bay right now. And I'll tell you what, the energy with Golden 1 Center kicking out E40 in game one, right? And then Draymond being kicked out in game two. The energy in the Bay is palpable. Shout out to my dog.

Shout out to my dog, Unct the Honk in North Oakland, who is out here. Okay. Out here doing the wop, wop, wamp, free Draymond, Wamp, Wamp, Wop, Wop, Wop. Go on his page. He's out here. He's out here,

he's out here doing the rallying cry for everyone in the Bay area. it has been the energy and chase is going to be insane it's going to be ridiculous they should let you 40's going to be there 40 just dropped a video talking about how he's going to be there front row 40 it's going to be a movie i'm even talking myself i'm doing a rizant of thing where i'm talking to myself into the other pick but i already made the pick i already made the pick Stay strong, bro. That has not, it is not played out well for me this postseason. They should let 40 do the anthem. And let me just say this. There would be, I don't know these dudes make up, but my mindset would be as a, as a, as a,

as a Sacramento king. Do you know how cool it would be if we went in there and punched them in the mouth with all of this shit that you're talking right now, Logan? And they didn't get to get any of that off because we just jumped on them. Like all of that shit that's been pent up and there is ready to burst at the seams. said Chase, and we come in there and hit them in the mouth, and they got to hold all of that in and go home with it.

You know how much, here's the thing, as a Bay Area residence, resident, I'm not even talking about teams. You know how much it would hurt for the Bay, for Sacramento to sweep the Warriors, bro? You know how much that would kill the Bay's pride? You know how much that would, bro? I don't know if you don't know the dynamics here. You only stayed for a little bit, bro, but like the Warriors and their fan base would never, it don't matter how many championships they win.

If they get swept, they would never be able to live that down. Ever. Ever. It'll be interesting, man. It's going to be interesting. Let's go to Clipper Suns. Which has been, honestly, among the most entertaining series, low-key, with a lot of different subplots in the playoffs, right?

Like Devin Devin Booker was fantastic in game two. It was played his ass off. KD got it going after it didn't block a couple of times by Russ. It's been a fun series all the way around for this

for this team. We got a Kauai game in game one. Which, Raja, I haven't seen Kauai playing in person in a long time. That was a treat. It was special. it was really just get an OG to ball put him on the block and just see what he does

and he's going to take us home I don't have a good feel for who is going to win game game three in Los Angeles because it's been such an evenly matched series it's been a great series just to watch I think this has the chance to go seven you know what especially

I also don't have a good feel for this series because the clippers you never know what you're going to get with them at home in general You never know what kind of series. But I think I'm going to go with the Clippers for game three. I really love what Ty Lou has been doing from a strategic standpoint. Right. And I think that'll serve in a swing game in game three.

But it's going to be a really, really fun game tonight. Who you got? I'm going to take Phoenix in game three. D. Book was great. I think that KD was really good, but not great. and I think that he is prime for a game where where he gets all the way in his bag,

you know what I mean? Like that's the beauty of having two guys that can do that, quite frankly, you know, the Clippers, obviously, without Paul George, you're relying so heavily on Kauai to be Kauai from game one.

And if he's fractionally off of that, it swings your ability to win a game in a way that you can't overcome. So I think that Dibook will still play well, but I think you're going to get a game from Kevin Durant. three games into this. Monty and then made some adjustments defensively.

I thought that were good last game, you know, specifically on Kauai. And I don't know that Russ is 28 a game, you know? Now, T. Liu has to go back to the drawing board. You need more out of Norman Powell in the absence of Paul George. We got to find a way to get him going and get some point production.

I think it could be another good game. See, this is a stylistic. Like, this is a stylist. This is a matchup that, like, normally, and everyone loves the sons, and I love the sons, obviously, but they've got this top heavy, all this firepower, but sometimes the style and the matchup is weird. And this is one of those weird matchups.

Even without Paul George, there's something about that Clipper team that's weird. And minus the depth that Phoenix is accustomed to having, at least in recent past, it makes it even that much more difficult. I do think, however, Phoenix wins tonight. I think you get a really good game from Kevin Durant. I think DeBook is still playing well, and I think they take game three on the road. We'll see.

The one other thing about the Suns is they're still very much figuring out each other's games, especially after the mid-season trade. We've all gone through that, but we've all seen that, you know, talked about this before, just their adjustment with each other. It's going to be interesting because like the Clippers just have an edge to me, just because they've been together longer, they know what they're doing. I know there was a big trade for, for, for, at Russ, but he's been able to integrate more than KD has just because he's played more games down the stretch.

And that's just going to be an interesting subplot. We'll see what happens. Also, Chris Paul, for the Sons, has to be consistent. He was really good in game two, had some big shots. But game one, he was, it was a tough out for him. He is going to have to be consistent because he is the X factor for that son's team. We know Buc can get buckets. We know Kevin can get buckets. but we just we need to see Chris Paul be a little bit more efficient and just guide it guide the team a bit more I agree with you Chris Paul you got to get up more in game one he had eight shots for set like we got to get him more involved than that even though he's not your primary breadwinner and kD's just been hovering around what 25 27 I think he's he's due for for a big one we'll see what happens um there's one more game on the docket but it is net six I already know what our pick is It's just to win the series. I mean, it is what it is. We say this every time.

Seeing that's been a tough year for you guys. Shout out McHale Bruges. But I mean, they're here to scratch. Shout on Cam Johnson. Are you seen he was banging on. They just don't, it's a talent disparity. It is what it is. It's not, no shade on anyone.

It is what it is. And lightweight. We did this a long time ago. And I don't mean to bring and open up old wounds, but we were arguing over like, you know, what happened there and how they were able to do it. This was, and everyone was saying, including you to me, that all they're able to take a team that doesn't have, you know,

the stardom and get it to a level and play. And that's, you know, they're able to do that. And I was like, yeah, bet, yes, they have, they navigated that. It's the championship building, you know, arena that they haven't necessarily shined in. And you know, you know where you are right now? where you at, Ron. What were you at, Ron?

You're right in that wheelhouse where everybody told me the front office was great at being in. How's that feel? I mean, here's that. Okay, all right. No, I mean, I like them and their game and they play hard. I'll go back on you. But I'm going to let you do that.

But like the reality is their game. They play hard. They got some nice young pieces. Like, I love what Jacques Vaughn's doing. But that ain't enough. That's not, that's enough to get you into the playoffs in most years. in a in a play-in scenario or a six to ten and you work your way in but but having having stars anybody looking to win a championship what they got

logan like shit i'm not fucking reinventing the wheel here you're not but rojas we we even when i said that shit i think if we're getting one part we agree we wound up at the same agreement point at the end they're not a championship team they're not it's cool to be like that and i What I said, though, what I said was they, I said exactly what you just said just now. No, I know, but like I guess what we're arguing is whether or not like what's that, what's your, what's your goal as a franchise? Like, misremembered. They're middle of the road, which is the worst place to be in the league.

And some Brooklyn fans come at me, dog. So my bad. I took that shit out on you, dog. My bad. My bad. I can apologize. Like I'm big enough. But the reality is while you may be good at navigating this particular landscape and positioning yourself.

like in this stratosphere, if that's your goal as a fan base, hey, congratulations. If that's not your goal as a fan base, then we got conversations to have. They're all fun and dandy, but you need to, like you said,

Raja, you need championship players to win championships. And when championship players are there, you need to be prepared to deal with said championship players. That's always going to be that for, that's always going to be there for the Brooklyn Nets,

as long as they go. And it's going to be interesting. to see the next, what happens next, because they, I know that we blame, we blame Kevin for that demise, we blame Kyrie for that demise, but there's a lot of blame to be, to be had for the Brooklyn Nets and how they handled it and how they fumbled the back as well. So, that's fair. It's a lot to, it's a lot, the question with them, there's a lot of blame to go around for sure. And the question is, where do you, where do you go from here? Good young nucleus, like some good players in return.

Where are you going? Can we build it? And that remains to be seen, right? That's fair. Which takes us to our Thursday segment. Real one of the week. I got a little sentimental one, Rogers, so you can go first.

I know you hate when I do the sentimental ones, and then I go right to you and you're like, well, damn. So I'm going to go, I'm going to let you cook, and then I'm going to do my little. My real one of the week is the Sacramento Kings. I don't think we've done. Is this a first time winner of the Sacramento Kings is real one of the week?

Absolutely, man. As a franchise from where you came from, I mean, this couldn't have been more than four years ago. At town, you know, figuring out how to get that beautiful new building and get that tightened up so you're up to par and leading the pack in some categories, like the atmosphere that they foster there as a fan base when they're good and they're relevant and they're in the playoffs. It's electric. It was one of my favorite places to play even in the old Arco. and for what, like, we always talk about, are they, do we believe their wraps? Like, they're living their wraps right now.

Like, they are out there pushing tempo. Mike Brown is, it is a crazy transformation as an offensive coach, but I'm here for it. And they're just out there telling you, dog, like, we, yes, we are like this. And so for that reason, at least through the first two games, real ones, Sacramento Kings, fan-based organization, players, town.

Record label, staff, mother effing crew. Shout out to the Kings, man. I'm going to actually build on your point. My real one of the week wasn't necessarily the Sacramento Kings, but it was a Sacramento legend who is one Martin McNeil, or a.k.a. Marty Mac, long-time beat writer for both the Kings and the Golden State Warriors. he passed away during the pandemic but this series got me

thinking a lot about Marty Mac I don't know if you ever crossed paths with him but he was he was always the guy that was he was one of the first black beat writers that I ever seen in this business

and he was straight out of New York he had the New York slang and he would always curse up a storm he would always be like well shoole fuck how you doing I'm a fuck good. This is too, he would say that to like the GM, Jeff Petrie.

Like, he was soft, Jeff. How you do him, motherfucker? You know what I'm saying? Like, he would own that beat. He was so good. He was great. And this series got me just thinking about him, man. Like, he was one of the first people to kind of take me under his wing and sack,

along with, you know, Tony Harvey and Jason Jones and all them dudes. But Marty was the king of the Sacramento beat, long time beat writer to sack beat. and he would have loved this series rock. He would have loved it. He would have talked shit to everybody up in there. He would have been a voice. He probably would have damn near been on his podcast if he was still a beat writer for the king

because he just had that magnetic personality straight out of New York. I remember when I was first interning up in Zach, he would always have a seat right behind the king's bench. And that's where all the hitters would be, right? That's where all like the big-time beatwriters would be. and I would always try to if there was always a seat open next to him

I'd always try to sit next to him just to get game and stuff and I knew if I sat next to Marty Mac if one of the PR people would come he would tell him to chill out and I could sit wherever I wanted to sit quote motherfucker and so shout out to Marty Mac

for always holding it there RIP to a real one and honestly just a legend bro so shout out to him Marty Mac RIP man shout out to the fam everybody Marty Mizak is my

Rewn of the week Just thinking about this series I'm thinking about him all week So shout out to him That's what so We will see you guys next Monday man This is the postseason Postseason real ones

We ain't fucking around You know the vibes We'll see you guys Monday For our final Snow Talk of existence We ain't forget about all our All the real ones who have been clamoring For that

Don't spoil shit, Roger I'm watching the last two on tomorrow night. All right. I'm going to cry. I'm going to have my teeth. I'm going to be, I'm ready to go.

Do not spoil it. We'll talk about it on Monday. We'll see you guys then. Talk soon. Tap in. Hala.