The Ringer NBA Show - Doc Rivers Out in Philly, Wemby In with the Spurs and the Nuggets’ Championship Run | Off Guard

Episode Date: May 20, 2023

Austin and Pausha kick off the pod talking about Joe Mazzulla’s obsession with ‘The Town’ and if Austin has any similar traditions (07:48) Then, they discuss the Draft Lottery results, including Wemby’s fit in San Antonio and whether Portland should trade away Damian Lillard (11:04). They also give their thoughts on the Sixers letting go of Doc Rivers and the speed of turnover in the NBA (25:11). After that, they touch on Ja Morant’s second suspension, give their thoughts on the Conference Finals, and discuss who’s better: Austin Reaves or Jordan Poole? (39:04) Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Ben Cruz and Eduardo Ocampo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Follow the show now on Spotify. And do us a favor. Give us five stars. And do us another favor and stay major. What's up, everybody? Welcome back to another episode of Off Guard. I'm one of your host, Austin River with my co-host, Pasha Hagigi. We're back for another week, another episode.

A lot to talk about as we are on the conference finals or in the conference finals. Big surprises. What we got, man. I just went to your pantry to get some food before the pot. I haven't eaten yet today. There were a lot of stuff going on. What did you compare it to? It was like the cheesecake factory menu.

There's so much going on in there. I came back with sour cream, cheddar and sour cream chips. A lot of, there are a lot of hot Cheetos. It is the, there's, we have infinity snacks in this in this house. It's insane. I didn't grow up in a household where there were snacks. You had a meal. I'll be eating all day.

You know, she has lemon bars in the fridge. There's cakes and cookies. I think a ginger shot. Just not on the way out the door. Just grab a ginger shots. Health drinks. We got it all over here. I can't take credit for it.

It's her. She does. But you eat, you have to be eating all this. It's insane. No, it sits there. It goes bad. She gets mad because all this stuff goes there.

A lot of it sits. What do you do for a snack then? My guilty pleasure is really just ice cream. That's a, that's a big guilty pleasure, though. It is. Yeah. It's a problem. Yeah, yeah, it's ice cream.

I'm obsessed with ice cream. I eat it like in the summertime. I eat it like three, four times a week. Are you like a mint chocolate chip guy or a cookie dough guy? I do love cookie dough, but that's not like what I get. I get like just, man, I just have, I mean, Oreo, cookies and cream. You know, I love some, a lot of times I like sorbet. You know, I count that as ice cream now.

Yeah. So that's kind of my thing. I like gelato. It just tastes more unhealthy. That's why it tastes better. Jolato tastes incredible. Yeah. I was in Chicago this week.

hanging out with some friends that were there for the combine. And it was my first time in Chicago. It's like a cleaner New York. I don't know. What are your thoughts on Chicago? I love it. I love Chateau. It's cold as shit, though, in the winter.

And that's usually when I'm there. Perfect timing when I went. Yeah. So, like, you know, summer Chicago, I remember I used to have to go there when I was a kid when we'd go visit my grandma and stay at my grandma's place and whatever. You know, I have good memories, you know, being back there and Maywood and playing back. basketball at the park and stuff like that. It was fun. So Chicago's beautiful in the summer, man. It can get hot too, especially at like a Cubs game. But I'm sure you would like that experience.

I could see you there. I looked at the Cubs. You would have had a road. Exactly. Because you would have went to the game. I know you. You would have had a ball cap on. But what about a Cubs? You would have had a beer. You would have had a hot dog. I'm a big buy like a hat or a souvenir wherever I go somewhere. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I told you I was an F1 and I was in Miami last time and I was hanging on the Mercedes Lounge and I got a Mercedes hat. Now I'm a Mercedes fan. And this is the first year they're not good. And I remember this is what I'm going to jump. I know, I know.

I'm going to jump on the bandwagon. You get credit now. Yeah. Do you're a Ferrari guy? I am a Ferrari guy, yeah. Yes. Do you keep up with the? I do.

I'm like everybody else. You know, I became hip due to the show. Yeah, yeah. You know, I've always known a Formula One and I've always known of like the top drivers. But, you know, the Netflix show has really allowed us to have like a full understanding and background of these athletes. So like everyone who's watched that. show you become a fan of Formula One. So yeah, I'm a newbie. When I was in Chicago, I saw Michael Jordan's restaurant. I didn't go in or anything like that. Would you ever open up something like

that, like a restaurant or a business? I would open a restaurant, but it wouldn't be my name and it wouldn't be anything to, it wouldn't have anything to do with me. What would you, what would it be? It would be like a vibe, like Asian-oriented, you know, dim lighted, nice music playing, have it really try to get a top chef, try to get a, you know, a good manager. Like I'd really do it that way. I wanted to be a place people go Friday, Saturday night to have a good time, have a drink. I didn't know that was your favorite cuisine. I liked like a good Nobu man or like a good, like Tao or like, you know, all the million good restaurants.

I mean, I'm naming the most public ones. I know there's way better ones, but whatever. You know, I mean, you get the vibe I'm looking for. You know, Ava. There's a restaurant here in Ava or Kabuki. Kabuki. Kabuki's. Shout to Henry.

Shout to Henry. I went out the other day and Henry came out to me the owner and said, a big fan of the lot. Oh, that's dumb. Shout to Kabuki. Yeah, yeah, shout out to Kabuki. I was there last night, picking up some food. Their food's fantastic. But yeah, something like that. If I was going to open a restaurant, that had to be like a vibe, a spot, something where like you want to see, you know, pretty, you know, individuals go have a good time and, you know, spending some money on really top quality food and a good energy and a good night. That's, that's what I'd be into.

Yeah. Not like A. Austin's chicken spot. You know, A.R.'s chicken and waffles. A.R.'s chicken and waffles. Which is dope, too. I thought with those spots. Yeah, A.R.'s chicken and of waffles we might be honest i should be right yeah we should be spitball in here we do love from chicken waffles rascos i've been scared to go to fucking rossos ever since pb in uh pb in rock man yeah i'm dead-ass serious i know that might sound like fucking weak and lame but bro like ever since that incident man god rest his soul and his family bro like i uh i have been petrified to go that damn restaurant

in person because people in l.a right now are acting a little reckless out there yeah yeah yeah But yeah, Obama Special for sure. Obama Special is Fire. With a sunrise, the drinks they make. Have you ever had one of those? Are you not hit? I'm not hit. No, please.

You're always teaching me with like the new stuff. What is it? What's the sunrise? They have like the most sugary diabetic drinks that you could. I mean, one, two of these things and you might get diabetes. I'm not even kidding. They're that much sugar in this. What's in it?

It's like lemonade, fruit punch, orange juice, but they all like sit on each. They call that a. I don't know if this term, I can even say this term, suicide. Like when you go there to get everything, like, mix and the drink. But they all sit on top of each other perfectly, the way they make this drink. I don't know what the ingredients are or whatever. It tastes incredible. Yeah.

So you get that plus the syrup and the waffles plus a fried chicken, maybe a side of yams and mac and cheese. And you're walking out of there feeling like, I'm going to be sick for two days. But I just had the best, I just had the best dinner in my life. I've been showing people that I've been visiting Orlando Publix to get a public sub. And everyone's like, this is the best sandwich I've ever had in my life. Are you a big public sub? I love public sub. It's incredible.

You get chicken tender? Pub sub. Yeah. Chicken tender. Yeah, everybody gets chicken. Come on me. No, no, no. We'll get the deli meat.

It's ridiculous. If you go to, if you're going to Publix, do something with your life. Really good borset. No, man. Just go to Jersey mics. Call it a day.

I don't know. We're doing a lot of free friends. We're doing a lot of free adding right now. This is ridiculous. Yeah, you're just shouting out of their places. Yeah, I'm just shout out of those places and stuff. Publix. Let's keep out of Kabuki.

Let's keep that kibuke. Let's keep this unique. Shout out to Henry. Just cut that whole old pub sub part. No, no, that's fine. All right, fine. Whatever. So it came out recently that Joe Missoula,

Coach of the Celtics, watches the movie The Town four times a week. Now, on a scale of weirdo to, insane, where do you rank that? That's crazy. Would you ever watch a movie four times? By the way, the Town is a great movie.

And I guess he's from a Rhode Island, coaches the Celtics, big Boston movie, but watching anything four times in a week, repetitively is crazy. What do your thoughts on that? I've told you once before I've watched Fast and Furious four times in a week leading to an event.

There's a car event. I get pumped. I only like Fast and Furious the first one. The first, the second, and the third. After that, it becomes an action thriller and jumping out of planes and whatever. So I get it. The town is just a really weird movie to watch four times. That's why.

You can watch Fast and Furious as background noise. cars with racing and driving and there's like one-liners it's a popcorn film like the town is like a bank robbery movie it's kind of ends up sad in some ways people are just getting killed and shot to watch i mean they botched the final the final robbery they forced it yeah they forced it it should have been patient it's a rough ending for sure it's frustrating actually because like you want them to win why you know in movies you want usually there's a part of you that usually wants the bad guy to win unless the hero's cool unless he's like a cool hero that you like actually john ham wasn't cool in this movie the the police officer.

No, like you fucking hate it. Like, he's a fucking prick. Like, you wanted these guys to get away. Yeah. So, yeah. I just couldn't imagine. I mean, do you,

I'm picturing just going to his house for tea and scrumpets and then he just has that on in the background. Like, you go there just to kick it and then he just has it and scrumpets? Who the hell is this guy? What are you talking about? And whose house have you ever been to and they have tea and squirts? What I was saying is, you just, you know, if you're going to his house just to hang out, maybe talk about something, he just has it on in the background as a screensaver.

It's weird. Joe Mazzoole doesn't have tea and scrambles. I can't get past. You think it's Louis Hamilton? That might, you might go to Louis Hamilton's house and have tea in his house. Is it because he's British? Is that a British? It's something over there. Yeah.

I feel like they take brunch and like supper. The in between meals is more of a thing over there. No? Sure. I mean, tea is obviously a big part of it. Yeah, the town is, the town's a great movie. Watching it four times a week. I mean, yeah. I think he's probably being sarcastic or whatever. Okay, so like, have I gone to sleep watching?

Maybe Seinfeld just on in the background while I pass out. Yeah, but TV shows are different. That's different. I'm not going to... How many times have you seen the office? A million times, but I don't like... How do you say this? TV shows are different for sure.

But I put it on in the background while I'm going to sleep. It's kind of a soft landing into the night. I'm not going to watch the Sopranos where people are getting killed and then just pass out to that. I don't know. I'll have nightmares. I need a soft landing into the night. It's something I've already seen before. You can have nightmares from an action film?

It's just like, it's going to be a rough. It's not going to be like a peaceful sleep. compared to like, you know, you put on friends in the background or Seinfeld or something in the office and you just... You ever watch a scary movie and then after the scary movie you have to put on like a cartoon to like kind of even out your mind because like you can't go sleep on that note. Right. So how is he balancing out the diet of four, four times a week at the town? I don't know if the town weren't so even out. I can go to sleep with the town. I guess. Maybe. Something big that happened this week was the draft lottery, the Spurs. I think he predicted that the Spurs would get the number one pick. He felt like Wemby would. would be great in San Antonio, the French thing.

How lucky of a franchise is San Antonio. They've had the number one pick that had David Robinson. Then they were bad for one year when David Robinson was injured. They got Tim Duncan. Didn't miss the playoffs for the next 20-something years. They missed the playoffs last year. They just automatically get the best prospects since LeBron. Some franchises just have all the look.

Is the script real? Is that a good? So you're going with the rig? Here's the thing, man, about this whole situation. You have a generational talent, you know, the likes of which some people say we haven't seen. Somebody, I saw Chris Brassard, who I love, by the way, shout out to Chris, that if he's Hakeem or A.D., he's a failure. No, not Akeem? Yes, that's what he said.

So he wins two titles and keys. This guy's supposed to be, that's what he's saying. He's saying this kid is supposed to be like Michael, you got Michael, LeBron, LeBron, Michael, whatever order you want to go in, and then Wembe. like that they're saying like anything else is still a failure that's that's how talented the kid is i don't agree with that if this kid that's insane if this guy ended up being he i know he was just being extreme if wembe ended up being anthony davis that'd be a successful draftic no yes yeah no he's multiple first team all-n-bbaer champion yeah i would take that i would take that hakeem especially he but if he has the career of let's say let's say he's as good as polo

George, I just named a good player, he would be a bust. It doesn't feel right either. But there's just so much hype going to him. I think no one wouldn't be a bust because Paul George is such an incredible player. I think this guy's ceiling and talent level is just so far past what Paul George or any of the guys we just named. This is something that we've in fact haven't even seen before. It's like a mix between KD, AD, whoever, right?

And he's seven foot, like the kid grows every day. One minute he's 7-2, then he's 7-3. Someone just said he's 7-5 yesterday. He's just growing every day, apparently. I don't know what's going on. He's extremely talented, and we've never seen anything like this. So the ceiling is, like, yeah, can he be the greatest ever? I get scared for players like this when the media do this.

And I think the outside thinks, like, we're doing him a service. You'll see comments on Instagram or on Twitter. They over-talk about him. They talk about him so much. The NBA pages, Wimby's fan page. and Victor doesn't, he runs the NBA, you know, because they're sick of the name. And I think people miss the fact that it's cool that this guy's getting this much press and media, but like, my God, bro. Like, just the job that we do to some of these players in terms of the pressure and, like, how they do stuff.

Right. Like, it only just makes it more harder for these guys to be what we all want them to be. Do you understand? Well, the first thing I think about when you say that is that how good is Louis, No, no, no, that's his, that's his greatest, that's, in my opinion, forget the fucking numbers, forget his all-time leading scores, assist to Michael, all the differences, forget all that stuff. My biggest compliment that I have of LeBron is that he came out of high school with the most

hype that we have ever seen. Even though Zion had a lot of hype, these guys, it was nothing like LeBron. It was nothing like LeBron. LeBron was supposed to be like the, I mean, he's the chosen one, the greatest ever, you know, at a high school. And he literally has lived up to everything and then surpassed it, surpassed it. And not only surpassed it,

has done things off the court just in terms of his promise school and this, the impact he's had on, I mean, how many athletes look up to this guy? He surpassed everything. You know what I'm saying? And it's just like he did it in the air of social media where you have access to so much negativity and controversy.

And he's, I mean, we just watched LeBron's story. He went from love to hated to love to hated to now. You know, everyone loves him. But as they should. It's just Victor has,

they're like pushing this on Victor, you know what I mean? I do love that you went to San Antonio though, for those reasons, because he's going to have Tony Parker's and Tim Duncan's exactly,

which gets me back to the original point that I don't believe in an NBA script. I think it's funny. The topic, they had that script that would borrow the other day, which was comedy,

whoever typed that up. But I think the NBA and Adam Silver were all in a room. And they're like, he's not going to horse. And they're disgusting. They're like,

he ain't going to Sharma. Because that's not the culture. That's just not where he's going. He ain't going to Houston. Definitely not going to Houston. Did you see his reaction? Although I do think Houston's, I do believe a lot of Houston's stuff is behind them. I think.

What if they get James Harding like everyone's saying? It doesn't make sense. I don't know. Well, they're getting James and that means they're moving a lot of pieces. And that means they're bringing other players in to compliment James. They're trying to put a team together in Houston. A lot of people, a lot of players like to play in Houston. A lot of players

Would like to play Houston You're throwing away the rebuild And you're going straight for Oh I'm not saying that's happening But I'm assuming that's happening I don't because James otherwise wouldn't fit with Jalen Green and these other guys Unless James wants to play

At that level like and be like Yeah I don't want to win you know I'm not trying to win a championship Because that team's not ready to do that yet But I do like Jalen Green I like the young players they have there They're talented shit It's just yeah it's either James or that

I honestly have both works And they got to coach that coach one year once of the finals They got a big time coach. So I'm assuming if that's the case, they're getting James, they're trying to put a band together to win. I'm assuming, which I'm sure, you know, Raphael can do. So I don't think the culture's bad there.

I think Victor could have went there, and if James is there, and you got APE there, I'm sorry, EMA there, and you got a bunch of, you know, good characters in there, that could have been interesting. I think Victor and Houston could have been interesting. But I think, like you said, they sat in their room and they said Houston has had it's whatever, Thanks in the news.

Charlotte's had it's. He's going to San Antonio. It just, it was almost... He's going, and then with Popovich still there, coaching, it was automatic, man. The last two we've given him, this is if the script is real. The last... We're putting a lot on this script. I know, I know.

If the last two are, the last two they've given them have panned out in every way, you know, they are most professional, you know, just... Well, is there a lot of trouble you can get into in San Antonio? I never spent a lot of time now. You can always. find trouble, man. You can find trouble anywhere, especially in a city that people can say whatever they want about San Antonio. I know Charles has had his jokes, but it's Texas, man. So you're getting the sun just about 80, 90% of the time. It's sunny outside. It's beautiful. It's 35 to 45.

I'll give it 45 minutes, depending on the driver, away from Austin, Texas. I love Austin. It'd be literally equivalent to a guy living in Malibu and playing for the Lakers. Yeah. So if you really want to go on a weekend, on a Friday, and go to Austin, Texas, Texas, which is a whole lot of fun, you can do that whenever you want. San Antonio also has a lot of beautiful neighborhoods. I lived there for a little bit when I was young, so I know. They had nice prep schools. Like, bro, it's like every other city, man.

So the reason why there's an NBA team, they didn't just drop it in the middle of nowhere. You know what I mean? Like, they have stuff going on there. Great fan base. A lot of Latino women. Like, bro, there's a lot of things a lot of guys could have trouble in San Antonio. The players that play, they seem like they're really happy. They all live there.

They live there after their careers done. A lot of them have houses still there because they like San Antonio. Yeah. So, I mean, yeah. But in that culture that they have in San Antonio, I think just within the Spurs, you don't get in trouble there. It's not an option. They don't allow it. You saw what happened with the kid Primo. He pulled some shit a couple times and it got his ass out of there. Right. You know what I mean? Like, that's not what they're going to stand for. So I think this is perfect for Victor. This is best case in error for the NBA. I'm very excited to see what he does. I take the issue with like, that's a real problem with people are, you know, I don't know, like you said, Chris Bazar was joking around, but he's AD or a lot. Lajuan. He's, it's a bust. Like, it's disappointing. First of all, people don't realize how how much luck goes into a good career. Health. Of being drafted by the right team, having the right pieces around you. You know, the LeBron got drafted in the caps. The year after he was drafted, they drafted Luke Jackson with the 10th pick. They weren't building around him perfectly. They botched that pick. Like, a lot of good things need to happen. You know, just get Scottie

Pippen dropped to you like Michael Jordan did or anything like that. Like a lot of luck has to happen with these things. Anthony Davis had to leave New Orleans to win a title. Yeah. You know? Kevin Garnett bless his heart, man. He tried his hardest with the Timberwolves. The year he leaves, he wins a title. Like, so much goes into a career. You know, obviously, like you said, the San Antonio is a great place.

Did you see his reaction when Houston, when you saw that Houston didn't get the pick? Yeah. What did you think about that? I can't tell what he's saying. I mean, he definitely, there was a Tiger Woods fist pump. There was something there. Also, you thought was like, thank God. I mean, what else could have been?

He was hyped that. Well, I would love to see his face during the Charlotte. It's like, Patrick, you with the free throw line, sweating bullets. I'm like, holy shit, man. I mean, I think, and I think obviously Tony Parker has a part to play in this. Him being, you know, probably, is he the greatest player to ever come from France? Yeah, that's for sure. Now, he's the, he's a, might be the best European,

point guard? Yes, he is. Yeah. He's unbelievable career. I saw his documentary on Netflix. I don't know if you saw that. I learned a lot about him. It's really cool.

He's definitely the Michael Jordan of France over there. He's killing it. He had mainstream dating Evelyn Goria out of San Antonio. He was in pop culture. Yeah. Guys, you know, how many do you win? Five? Four.

Four. Now, you know what? Let's go three. He didn't win that. Avery Johnson was the point card. Avery was the first one. Right. Who was the second one?

Wait, five, four. Yeah, yeah, four. Yeah. I should have known that. That's like my thing. I should know how many people. How many titles? Okay.

Yeah, four titles, man. It's the point guard, all star. Finals MVP in 2007. Yeah, he was, he's stamped. Tony is definitely stamped. The Ballad. The Blazers got the third pick. Do you think,

obviously the two options are, trade the pick, builder on game. And who has a second pick? Charlotte. So what the fuck does this Scoot Henderson guy go? Because both of them have elite point guards. No, no, no, no. So, okay. So the, if you, if it's best available, you would have lamello and scoot together, right? That's what I would think. But if you go by position, if you're, if you're drafting by need, you would go Brandon Miller to the Hornet's second.

Am I wrong? No, you're right. What happens when you draft need at the second pick? The Warriors drafted James Wiseman with the second pick, thinking they needed a big, not the best available. Like, they fucked up. You got to draft best available. You can't go by need in the top three. That's what I think.

You believe that? You got to go best available and figure it off from there. If you think Scoot's the best available, I don't know, Bernie Miller, some people have Bernie Miller hire. That's tough, man. Boy, Scoot goes on. How does Scoot work in Portland?

You trade, I think, Dan's out. Right? This is their chance. this is their chance, bro, to move on finally. Okay? You're going to get Scoot Henderson. You get a new point guard for the next 10 years. Let Dame go.

It's every summer. It's like worry about if Dame's going to stay with Portland or not. It's been how many years in a row? Yeah. So where does Dame go? H-Town. I mean, I know that. They're putting, they have a shit ton of money to spend.

And they brought in. a young, talented coach who's looking for a new start and a rebuild and a restart, his second chance after everything that happened. And he's a talented coach, so everyone can't question that. You have him, you have rumors already spreading today that James is for sure probably heading back to Houston, which already started months ago. Right. Yeah, who knows? And they have the fourth pick they could trade. The Blazers can get three and four out of this. That's a great way to rebuild it for the Blazers. Yeah. Yeah. So who's the other guy?

guy in there. I know. I've heard of Brandon Miller. I know about Scoot. I know about Victor. The Thompson Twins. It's athletic freaks from overtime elite. Shooting. I know you're talking about. Yeah. Thompson Twins. There's Cam Whitmore. There's a lot of guys there they could get. But so this reminds me of when the Grizzlies got the second pick in the draft. And they were hanging on to those Mike Connolly, grit and grind teams. And finally they said, all right, they traded Mike Connolly. They got John Moran. They just reloaded and restarted it over with a new point card. I think that's his opportunity for Blazers to do that. That's all I'm saying.

Would that be interesting? It's a good point. It'd be interesting if they fall through on that and see what they decide. I think you might be right. I mean, getting an opportunity to get a brand new, young, great point guard. Dames at a time point in his career where I'm sure he wants to go somewhere and try to win, you know what I mean? Because he's still in his prime years, you know, before, you know, three, four years from now, it's too late. You know what I mean, I don't want to say too late, but you're not probably the same athletic-wise.

We all won't be. We came in the same class. I think like four or five years from now is when your body changes a little bit. If you're able to maintain it, you can, you know, Michael Connolly's 36. You know,

he's out there looking, you know, starting point guard, like every, every game. So, sure. You just got to manage your body well.

But anyways, yeah, I, that'd be interesting. I think, I think they might, that'd be a good call by you if they pulled this off.

I mean, no, you got your GM hat on today. No, no, I feel like it's definitely out there. The first thing people thought about where do you build around a game

Do you trade Dame and this is your chance to restart? You could trade the pick and build around Dame. Another thing that happened this week was Sixers lost game seven against the Celtics. And like you and me have already talked about, we figured that your pops would be let go if that happened. Yeah. What were your thoughts when that happened? I know you kind of anticipated it. I didn't catch you by surprise.

But what was the first thing that you thought about when you saw that? We all knew it was going to come. You know what I mean? We all knew that time was going to come. come where he was probably going to be let go. Why? Because those rumors were being spread and those murmurs were being heard weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks ago. A couple months ago, that was hurt. Here are my questions with that, right? One narrative, because that was strongly involved in this. You know, I mean, the narrative of Doc doesn't close seven games

and Doc's close-out game record and the 3-1 record, that shit is the most emptiest, just most ridiculous stat. They don't do it with any other coaches. I don't hear them talking, because I can bring up negative stats about every coach, just like you can bring up negative stats about every player. Everyone has negative stats.

But for whatever reason, it's like a phenomenon with Doc. And that's because people regard him as one of the greatest coaches ever. Right. And it's because he's coached for a long time and on really good teams. He's coached for a long time in most of his teams are always in the playoffs competing. So he has a very high respect, right? Rightfully so.

But this is like something that people are using now to like combat that. And it's so empty and so false. Like, yeah, bro, my dad's lost a couple series down 3-1. Things can happen. That doesn't wipe away all the other stuff that he's done as a coach. You know what I mean?

Being the second most winningest African-American coach of all-time. Being a top 10 most winningest all-time in general, period. Coach of the year He's coached All-Star Games He's He's done everything You could do almost as a coach, bro So it's like

That can't be wiped away Just because a couple Series went south One of which was when they're up 3-1 versus the Pistons With the Magic team That had no business even being there 8C

And the Pistons team Went on to win the whole thing by the way That was like the fucking The Magic were the 8C that year Yeah that year Yeah and they overachieved And my father Has been a product of

overachieving and then getting the horns when it doesn't go his way. Right. Just like this past series with Boston in- They weren't favored going into the series. They weren't favored going into the series. They weren't favored going into the series. They weren't favored before the season started. Everyone said, who are the best teams out?

Bucks, Celtics. Period. Those are the two best teams. So they were, let's say they were going to be the third best team in the conference. They lost to a team that was favored, and they took them to get seven games. not only did they take them seven games they were like you said they were up three two they made it a competitive series my dad's not the one playing on the court right but that's who's always going to get the blame that's how it's always been it's a players league it's just what it is but with that being said it's like bro

there's the the whole three one seven game like that shit is just an empty stat bro he's lost game sevens when his best players haven't been playing they've been hurt a lot of those years for the Clippers he went in the playoff series without Chris, without Blake. Like, I'll take, listen, I was there for one of them. The Clippers, the Clippers Rockets series. Chris Paul didn't play the first two games. No, he didn't play the first two games, but we were up three one with him and we should have won that series.

Okay, we blew that one. Shit happens. A lot of people have lost three one series. I don't know. I mean, like, besides that, bro, are we going to talk about the bubble year? Yeah. When his half his team, they don't want to be in there. One of them left to go eat wings.

the other one left to go be something else. And we'll get into the nuggets later. Paul George had mental, remember he was like, where I was at mentally in my time of my life during that period. Like, he wasn't himself. Like, bro, are you kidding me right now? They have the team that didn't want to be there. The team that won that was a team that could stay in there

and lock in the longest. It had nothing to do with them his fucking coaching abilities. Like a lot of these stats that are like placed against him, which is all they have, by the way, are ridiculous. Oh, we hyped up. He's only won one ring. Bro, there's plenty of people in the Hall of Fame

who's never won a ring. let alone one, let alone he's been there two times as a coach, one as a player. Like, bro, I feel bad, like having to go to bat for him, and it feels so biased because he is my dad. So people are going to hear this and be like, oh, he's sticking up for his dad. I would too. But, like, that doesn't mean I'm wrong. And that doesn't mean the things I'm saying, I'm actually giving you all facts. Everything I'm saying are things that you can look up on Wikipedia.

I'm not sugarcoding or making a point or a case. I'm just reading off a TV screen, off a computer screen. They're facts. So people in today's day, like I said, narrative's everything. And narrative can make you forget stats. It can make you forget truths. It can make you forget, you know, the actual background of what happened. They forget that.

You buy into a narrative. And that's what happened with my dad. Over the past two years, they've been talking about him getting fired. He was going to get fired if he didn't win a championship. That's crazy. And that's a fact. If he didn't win, they were going to fire him. This was already a lot of.

pre this this was already decided before that playoff series started they were already going to try to move on from doc yeah so this isn't and again that's nothing against darrell morey that listen it's his he's running the show him and ee and eb they can hire

whoever they feel is the best fit you know what I'm saying that's they have that right but I don't think this is the thing that doc did right or wrong I think they wanted to go to a new direction and whatever narrative was placed was placed but you know I I think they We're already looking for a different fit before even the playoffs started.

But you know, at the same time, it's like, you know, this is part of the NBA. Everybody goes through it. You know, I can make the same cases like I'm doing right now for Doc, you know, for Bud. You know, he won a championship a couple years ago. They just lost first round. And his star player wasn't even available for like two and a half games at a series. You know what I mean? Like, what the fuck's got to do with Bud?

You know what I mean? They lost. Chris Milton still isn't in his full self yet. Still getting back. They lose to a Miami Heat team that's playing their ass off right now. They just beat the Celtics first game in Carver's finals. Fire Bud? Like, is it Bud's fault?

You know, we've seen what Bud's built there in Milwaukee. Just like, look at Atlanta before and after. You know, when Bud was there, they were like a top tier team. He's definitely a top tier coach. Popovich product. We talked about this. He gets fired. You know what I'm saying?

Like Moni Williams gets fired. fired who's a proven coach we have the three most winningest coaches right now unemployed which obviously won't last long but those are the three best coaches available and then you also have nicknors so who also won a championship not too long ago so it's just like any every coach goes through it it's it's not a that's why i was saying this has nothing to do with darrell mori it says nothing to do with elton brand this is the NBA in general this is just the coaching is more of like a hot seat position now you know they you ride the waves and as soon as things go bad it's like that's the first the first place they look is up, get them out.

Because, you know, the players are the guys that you try to keep, especially if you have a top-tier team. The coaches don't want like, all right, we'll get someone else they like. You know, it's like this thing. It's like, we love watching players go through the adversity during their career where, you know, they'll fail and then they'll fail. Like, LeBron Lous of the Heat, I mean the Mavericks, they'll fail, and then we'll see them overcome it.

Coaches, you fail and you're fired. Like, we don't let them, like, overcome their fear. No, no, they have to get. They can't go overcome what he did what happened to him with the heat. No, it's done. They can only just go somewhere else and make it work to where people are like, oh, he was a good coach. So maybe it wasn't him.

He did that already with the Hawks, though. They lost the Hawks. He went to somewhere else and they were like, oh, he was a good coach. Oh, yeah, he is a great coach. That's what we've seen. It's crazy that, again, this goes back to what we just said. Narratives, man. He can't coach.

He says, oh, he is a great coach. But people are saying Mike Brown was this, this and that. And now he's with the Kings and has had a fantastic year with them. And everyone's like, Mike Brown, coach at the year. Mike Brown, he's a great coach. he's always been a good coach that's why Steve Kerr had him in Golden State you know what I mean he was

the Cleveland years with Braun he has plenty experience etc etc but like the narrative's changed and now it's like up Steve Kerr who's regarded as this is this they lose like oh Steve you know people just

they'll turn on him too they'll turn on anybody because the coaching is like that you know what I mean it's and I think Steve is different I think Steve Spolstra and Greg are like pretty much I think Steve will be in Golden State

for the long run but there are already rumors of like Bob Myers possibly moving on. So, like, who you thought would never move on from that place. Like, that's his baby. He built that, you know? So it's just like, it's, it's, the NBA is a unique place now. Um, where players, coaches and even front office positions are just the amount of movement that's going on.

Um, it just sucks because I feel when we were growing up, you'd have a guy that was a coach at a place for so long. Yeah, no, you get a chance. You get a chance to love somebody. And I say that at the expense of trying to, trying to sound corny, but yeah, you get a chance to buy into somebody. You get a chance to make them feel like, hey, you are part of our home. You are living here.

I think the fan connects more. I think because of the fast-paced media, it's so easy for people to go on Instagram and Twitter and comment something so sour under someone's page or profile. Talk shit about anybody. Trade him, cut him. He needs to go play in China. Now everybody who has a bad game, he's going to be in Shanghai next year. That's the thing.

Better learn Chinese. Better learn Chinese. Like, bro, the guy makes 11 men. million dollars not going to play you know talking about Dylan Brooks or this guy this guy they're not going over there like what the fuck you're talking about but that's that's that's this is what we've created and I think the NBA is a little bit of part of that and the aspect that you have guys flying around everywhere there's no like level of really loyalty or or respect you know it's such a transactional thing now you know what I mean and I think college

basketball at the transfer portal yeah yeah everyone just moving around now so it's just like it's crazy. And I've experienced it. The past four or five years, I've been on different teams, man. Like, I'm going here, here, here. I'm like, damn, this shit's hard. It's hard on your family. And then it's hard because you got these people just coming at you in different ways with their, with their words and people just, you know, I don't know. I don't want to ramble. But it's, I think, you know, anything can happen at this point in the NBA. There's a lot of movement. A lot of coaches have been let go. That one coach of the year, I feel bad. Mike Brown, just one coach of the year.

watch you back. Like it's like now they're going to go. Yeah, yeah, yeah. There's the last few. Casey, right? Duane Casey who's coach of the year. Look at the last few coaches of the year. Yeah, it's crazy.

They'll quit on you like this, especially at the coaching position. Yeah. But really anything. You know, Dylan Brooks is a huge part of their culture a year ago and now he's not coming back under any circumstance. You know what I mean? It's just like this new NBA, what we have.

Again, I'm a fan of it. I love basketball and I love the evolution of it. I do think it's really fast-paced now. And I'm just talking about the next. negatives. They're positives of this side, and we can get into that another episode. But right now, yeah, the negatives are what we're talking about. And you're seeing like a lot of good coaches. Doc, Bud, Monty, Nick, you know, these are top tier coaches, man, even being let go. But I guess on the other side, it's exciting because there's a lot of other up-and-coming programs,

coaching positions I'm sure to be had. And I'm, you know, I don't doubt that all four of those names that we just said will have coaching jobs within the next year or two. So we'll see. This NBA playoffs, you can get in on the action right from the first tip with Fandul. Right now, all customers can get a no sweat, same game parlay every weekend when you bet the NBA playoffs. That's right. Just place a three plus leg same game parlay or same game parlay plus on any NBA playoff game. It'll get bonus bets back if you don't win. This Saturday in the Lakers Nuggets game, the Lakers are plus five and a half and Yokic is over under is 28 and a half. And I'm going over on the 28.5 points because I think if the Nuggets are going to win in L.A.

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or visit www.1-800-Gambler.net in West Virginia. Something else that happened over the last week. We've talked about this guy before on the pod, and I feel like you got his back a lot, but he did it again. John Morant was seen on his friend's Instagram live with a gun. When you saw that, I mean, I feel like you particularly were probably disappointed because I feel like you've been a John Moran apologist in the past.

Yeah, you know, I'm a fan of his game and his spirit. I'm a fan of his unapologetic energy that he approaches each day with. I like how he's so he doesn't even, usually even need to feel the need to, to defend himself and how he is. I like that about him. This one is tough. This is one of those where, like, people get to throw keg in your face and be like, told you. know, and you don't really get to say anything back because it's like, God damn Jha. You know what I mean, bro?

Like, fuck, man. I still am a fan of the kid, bro. He's talented as shit. I haven't seen athleticism at a point guard his size since fucking Derek Rose. And he's even more unique than Derek because Derek was so physically strong. And even so was Russell. They were gifted physically where Jaws like this 175 pound, 85 pound guy just dunking on people, seven footers.

He's a freak. I love his energy and how he plays the game. and I think he's a hell of a player. I also know him very little. I'm not a friend or a close friend of his, but I've had many talks with him throughout the games, before the games, after the games,

small chats, and you can generally sense that he's a good person. I've had plenty of talks with his father, T. You know T's a good dude. He's a while. You know, he can have a drink and he can be on a sideline. You know, sometimes he might have a little bit too much, you know,

going on. But yet at the end of the day, he's the biggest fan of his son. he's part of the process of what got us on there and he's prideful of that. And you'd rather have fathers like that than the opposite. That's exactly the words out of my mouth. So like, you know, you live with the good and the bad there, right?

At the end of the day, he's a good guy. So it's the same thing goes for Jha. And he hasn't done anything illegal and he hasn't hurt anybody. But it's about him understanding that other side of professionalism and the brands that this guy is a part of and the money he's losing. Because what he's, what those things stand for are not,

They don't, they're not the same as what these companies stand for, bro. You've got to understand that. When you represent a company, you now have to think like them a little bit. You have to still be yourself, but understand. And these are problems that just didn't even exist in the past because there wasn't no social media. No, there was no social media. I'm sure guys are doing this all the time. Here's my thing.

Guys still do this all the time. Yeah. Just don't fucking put it on your camera. Yeah. No one else caught you. These are self-inflicted wounds. So that's what makes it frustrating. Not only is a person who doesn't like Ja, but for someone like me who does.

who is a fan of him? I'm a fan of the guy. I think he can play a basketball. He's a superstar. He's a superstar. You know, he's talented young player. Like, bro, you don't want to see this shit with him, bro. Especially it's silly.

It's not like he's even involved in real shit. You know what I mean? Then he has guys on Instagram or YouTube. He's got actual real hood motherfuckers going on their YouTube talking about, you know, Joe, we could show you with the hood. Like, you know, now he's like you're entering, entering waters that you have no business being in. Right. And not that you.

even no business. No one wants you in them. Right. No one views you as them. We want to, we see you as this. We see you above that. Anybody can do the gang bang. Anybody can be a gangster. Anybody can do that. Those are usually people that turn to that because they have nowhere else to go. Right. Nobody's like has a D1 scholarship where a big business offer and it goes, nah, I'm going to go to streets. You know what I mean? The streets is where they turn when they don't have those options a lot of times. Jai, you have the biggest option of a wall. You got $230 plus million not even talking about the Nike deal. They just gave you a shoe.

After you saw what they just did to Kyrie, by the way, yours is probably worse, the trouble that you've got in. The short amount of time was probably worse than Kyrie's. Cairo just affected the wrong thing at the wrong time.

And also probably got looped in with a lot of Kanye shit. Kanye was saying things at the same time. And that's the biggest thing are saying right now is, wow, Nike, like, look what you did. Like, Kyri's thing

wasn't that back. And Kyrie's one of your best sellers too. It's like, well, they were both wrong. They were both wrong. You're right, you're right. You're right. You're right. You're right.

Right. So it's just like, you know, I don't know. It's just, it's frustrating, man. I would ask, I would tell Jav if he does see this. Who are your friends, man? Yeah, because this one was your friend's Instagram, I don't know. Who are your friends, dog? Bro, my friend wouldn't even think to do that.

But like, bro, my friend would, if I had, that wouldn't even, especially, you know, he knows if he's his homie. He knows that he just got in huge trouble for this shit earlier in the year. Right. So that wouldn't even be a. thought, like, and I guess things can happen, maybe he didn't know and he like... If I knew, if my friend,

if you and me were hanging out and you were in the hot seat like he was, I wouldn't think about going like Instagram live or just doing anything like that. I think it'd be super careful for the guy. Bro, it's unfortunate, man. Jha, just make sure you got the right people around you, brother. You got your pops.

You know, you got probably some good friends, day ones who aren't involved in these shenanigans. Like, bro, these new niggas, bro, these new dudes, these new guys that you, that you, that you partnering up with, these new friends that you think you have in common with and they're cool to you and nice to you or whatever, man, I don't know what's going on. I don't know your business. I don't want to claim like I do. I don't want to be talking to him like, I know a situation. But like, bro, like, just like, come on, bro. You're too good for

this shit. You know what I'm saying? Like, he's too good, bro. And he's too good of a guy. He's actually a good guy. There's a reason why people fell in love with John in the first place. Absolutely. You know what I mean? Like, people like who jobs. Like, people like you, bro. I'm not going to be one of these guys that don't be nothing. You're not. You don't have to be a gangster. Oh, I'm telling you, is anybody can be that.

And you've already, what you are is what everybody wants to be. Like, just stay up, bro. Yeah. Stay up. I hope he stays up, man. I hope the NBA doesn't suspend the fucking kid for fucking a whole season or even half a season.

It'd be detrimental to him. It's only going to cause him to be off and with more time on his hands. The last thing you want with him right now, he's in fucking Memphis, so he's around some of this shit. and I love Memphis, but let's just keep it 100. It's around him. And he's, the last thing you need is him there with no work for four or five months, three, four months, whatever it is, 50 games, three, four months.

Go, what the hell you think he's going to do? Yeah. And talking, you know, in a previous episode with your boy Kat, when he was a guest, and he was talking about how he was injured for that long and couldn't play it for three or four months, how that was, you know, tough for him his mental health. like he didn't know what to do. Now you know not playing for that long and being out of the game could be detrimental. Especially a predetermined suspension.

Yeah. Like, what is his work ethic going to be like in the summer? If you know the first 50, 40 games, you're not playing. I'll just get in shape like during the season. Right.

So how serious do you take your summer? It's just a domino effect. It'd be bad for him. He doesn't need it. He needs to be in the gym now. He just stay in the gym. Stay sharp. Stay athletic.

You know, stay healthy. Don't try to get in shape during the season. Come into the season in shape. And if they suspend you for 10, 15 games, you're already ready. You're biting at the chump to get back. You're on revenge mode. You're showing the world, the league, why you are John Moray.

That's what he's got to be on. Suspending him for half a season is fucking ridiculous. It's ridiculous, man. Because as wrong as what he did, he didn't hurt anybody. He didn't hurt anybody. He actually has that amendment, his right, to be able to do that. He shouldn't have done it, I guess, for his brands. Not I guess.

We know for his brands and for as a basketball player. But suspending him for half a season is just, I don't agree with it. And I'm in agreeance also with JJ Redick on that. Right. I think it's just, I don't, I don't think the punishment matches a crime. I don't. I think he's got to make better decisions. It's disappointing as a Jop fan.

It's frustrating because you know he's way better than this bullshit. So I don't know who the fuck he has around him. That's why I asked about who his friends are. But he has to ask these questions. And I don't want another apology speech from you, bro. I just want you to be yourself. That's all I'm asking. Yeah.

And if you come back and you're winning and you're out of trouble, everyone moves. Everybody loves you because everybody will move on, man. You come back, bro, do your thing, start hooping, dunk on some people like you do, make those plays. Your teams, you've got a great young squad in the making, great core. You're going to be really good next year. No one's going to give a shit.

They're just going to be like, hey, man, you know, hey, AI got in some trouble and this guy got in some trouble too, bro. You know, what happens, man, when you're a young start. That's what happens. It just becomes a part of your story and your growth and we move on. That's what he has a chance to do. So I hope the NBA allows them to do that. I understand it's two strikes right now,

so they're not really buying into. into his apology because he just did it. But like, I hope they let him go. I hope they don't suspend the guy too long. So whatever. All right. Moving on, we haven't talked about the playoffs at all yet, so we got to get into it. It's the same final four from the bubble.

Isn't that crazy? It's crazy. Does it validate the Lakers championship with the same four teams? I don't know, man. Who cares? The bubble sucked. Yeah. I hated the bubble.

listen the fact is the same four teams does it validate anything I mean no it validates that at the time those same four teams were good but in the bubble at the end of the day it came down to who wanted to be there the most

and who was tapped and locked in the most and that was the Lakers I give credit to LeBron I do think it's one of the harder championships to win but at the same time it's like bro it's just different we all know it is it's different winning when the lights is really on the people in the crowd it's just a different even energy so yeah

That's why you had, you know, whatever, man. I think it validates to some degree, but if yonness is help. But there's so many circumstances involved in the playoffs, man. Like, bro, like, there's so many things that could have happened to where these four aren't. But they'd have to go on the plane to get back here. Yeah, anything could happen. Right. Anything going to happen.

It just so happens that, yeah, these other same four teams. So, yeah, whatever. The nuggets are up to, are you surprised at all? This is your former team you were there the last couple of years? years. Are you surprised it all by the way they're planning? Or you need a kick pull of it? No, yeah. That's, I mean, that was, I knew when I didn't go back there this year, I was like, you know, part of me was like, and I was excited to go to Minneapolis. But there was a big part of me that was bitter and shitty about it just because I wanted to be

a part of that team. But when Tim left, you know, they had new people and they had their guys in their direction. And it's worked. I do believe it would have worked with me as well as one of the role players there. You see what Bruce Brown's done or any of those guys. I know I could do the same thing. But I didn't get to play Jamal. I never played one game with Jamal.

That's crazy. And that's two seasons out there. You want to talk about the difference. Most of the games I played without Michael or without Jamal. So we're talking about 40 points missing on the board. So I knew when, and I saw Jamal rehabbing all year last year, especially late in the playoffs, he was questionable to even come back. He decided not to, good decision, but we would have workouts or play ones, and Jamal was like, you know, doing his thing. You'd see like,

okay, he's getting this explosion back. He was dunking. He's doing stuff. I already knew then. And then you had Michael, who was going to be healthy. So, like, now you got Michael. Their starting lineup is just a, it's an amazing line. It's an amazing line. It's a well. It's a well, it's a well, put together lineup, and they all complement each other, especially Jamal and Yoke. They have this two man game. Yeah, Gordon fits in so well with them. Perfect. And so does Michael catch shoot.

And so does Contavius. Defender kind of run around, can do a little bit of everything, but can hit a spot up. They have a championship starting lineup. Their bench is not that great, but they have Bruce Brown, who's been huge, he's played his ass off for them. And they have Jeff Green who's been pretty solid. After that, and then the Bronch kid, when they play him, the, Christian Brown.

When they play him here and there, he's had. had some spurts. Especially as a rookie. Yeah, especially for a rookie, he's been impressive. To be a rookie and having some moments. He's a competitor for sure. Compete, strong, you know, really good body. He's been able to help them and have an impact as well.

But it's, you know, we're talking about three guys and really just two and a half. You know, Chris is still a rookie in learning. They had room there. They don't play Reggie Jackson, which I thought would be a huge piece for them because Reggie can really ball. But like that goes, again, I think every episode will remind our audience that situations everything at some part. Yeah, that's the name of the show.

That's the name of the show. Situations everything. Reggie Jackson was starting point guard for the clippers two years ago, dropping 20 pieces left and right in the playoffs, and now we can't get a minute. It's not because Reggie Jackson's, you know, he didn't forget how to play basketball. Situation, relationships are everything.

And for whatever reason, that is what it is. But that team is, they're top-heavy. But the team that their starting lineup is so strong line up is so strong right now that, you know, winning games and yeah. And that's so good at home too. It's just a different level. Talk to me about playing there at home.

The altitude is serious, bro. They're undefeated in the playoffs at home. It's serious. It's serious. You get in there, man, in that first quarter, that opponent, they can't breathe, bro.

Like, it takes like a cool four or five minutes to play a couple games. You got to go up and down. It's usually that first time out. That first four minutes of the game is ugly. You're out there huffing and puffing and that first time outcomes, you're like, you're like, oh my God,

what's going on? You look up in Yokuch has 10 and 10 and 10 already. 10 and 8. They're like 812. So now you have to not only catch your breath, you have to exert more to catch up in the game. That's why they're usually playing from up. They usually have to lead the whole game.

Or they'll wear a team down by the fourth. But yeah, there's definitely an advantage there. They got a great crowd. Yeah, I knew they were going to be good. And to see Jamal come back now. Did I know Jamal was going to be this good his first year back? Especially in the playoffs? No.

But you even said to yourself, they slow played it. He was good last year. They slow played it. So I knew he was going to be healthy. I just didn't know if he had his rhythm back. But, like, he's exceeded. People aren't talking about this enough, by the way. People are not talking about him.

They call him bubble Jamal. It's so unfair. He's just good at that. Yeah, Jamal's nasty. But people really aren't like talking about jump. Yeah, another 30 piece last night. He's taking over games. And again, you know what he is?

He's the best player. I'm going to say this. He's the best player to never make an all-star game. I think he's the best player that's never made an all-star game. And the NBA right now? just overall. I'm trying to think, I mean, I don't C.J. McCollum hasn't made an all-star game.

CJ would be close, but I think Jamal's better. Right. Jamal, Jamal, Jamal's definitely better. I can't look at the list again, but I think he's got to be up there as the best players that ever made an all-star game. Obviously, he was injured, and he could have made it the last couple years if it was healthy,

but... Yeah, he probably would be. Yeah. But he's reminding everybody that he's a... He is an all-star caliber. Boy, girl, what he's doing in the playoffs right now? I mean, he's dropping 30 bombs left and right. He had 32 game one, I think, or 30-something.

He had 30-7-38 last night. And his shots that he's hitting is timely, his footwork, the post-up, the fade away, he's finishing, he's dunking, he's hitting threes. I mean, he is playing some, like, top-tier basketball right now.

Shout out to Jamal Murray, man. What you're doing is incredibly impressive. Yeah, and I didn't get to play with them. Not once. Not one game. And half and half were Michael. So, yeah, we still went to the playoffs every year and we're competing.

But, like, yeah, we had Jamal Murray out there and Michael out there all the time, bro. Like, I think we would have been in the same position right now. I think we would have went to a conference finals. I think we would have competed for a championship. Yeah, I firmly do believe that. They feel like a championship team. They are a championship team.

Yeah, you can see the way they're playing. Right. And their report and chemistry, like the way those guys compliment each other, especially the starting lineup. And I'll throw Bruce Brown in there because he's been, he's been like really big for them. Those six have played at a level better than any other six in the NBA. in the postseason and it's not close they play better than everybody so i don't i i do think you know the lakers would have to win both obviously they have to win both games i'm going to go denver at this

point um and then in the finals i have denver as well because i don't like the way i don't like the way boston's playing right now boston doesn't feel like you know like you said you know you feel like the nuggets are in this championship groove like you can see that being the champion no boston's winning purely just talent. Boston, this doesn't feel like a title. Like, last year, swooping the next first round. I was like,

okay, this team pretty much. You felt it. You felt it right away. Going to six with the Hawks that people thought might not even make the win that play in. That was the pre-sign. Yeah. Then going seven with the Sixers,

if they don't, they just take games off. It doesn't feel like a championship. I'll be shocked. It doesn't feel. No, it's taken. Like this magical ride.

It's taken just incredible efforts by Tatum and Brown. Right. And then their role play has had some, you know, decent moments in the playoffs. You know, Marcus Smart's always solid. Derek White, Brock.

But it's felt like this year has been more of a struggle and a more of maybe lack of focus. I don't know what it is, but you're absolutely right. Last year, you watched Boston and you saw kind of what we feel right now with Denver. You're like, yeah, this team's going to the finals.

I can't guarantee they're going to win or not, but they're going to have a chance to win the championship. Because they have that, like, they have that going right now. I don't see that with Boston. The thing about Boston is, can they turn it on? Yeah, I don't know. We'll see.

We know they have the talent. But the team they're going against, you can't out scrap. You won't out scrap. Are you surprised that the Heat won't get in? Everyone's surprised. I thought this is... Why should we not be surprised anymore, though? No, I mean, yeah, at this point, you shouldn't.

Here's the thing, right, about the Heat Celtics situation. It's not a reality. What the Heat have done, it's a reality. It doesn't matter the players are undrafted. It doesn't matter the Celtics roster. doesn't matter the payroll. No one cares. The Celtics have, I mean, the heat have made it so far that at this point, the confidence level between both teams are the same. So now you have NBA players who are super confident, playing against NBA players who are super confident.

And I know they might have big names, but like, bro, when you're at this point, like, bro, if I'm in the conference finals, I'm 30 minutes game, and I'm hooping, if I'm Strauss, if I'm Gabe Vincent right now, if I'm any of those dudes, bro, like, you feel validated. And as you should, like, them dudes, they can beat anybody. at this point. Anybody can meet anybody. And then you know your best player is playing better than everyone in the playoffs. Jimmy has been unmatched in the playoffs. Yeah. Don't tell him he's an underdog, by the way.

He's been to the finals since he after the heat. Conference finals last year, you know, there are three away from going to the finals again. Now this year, conference finals, do you think he thinks he's an underdog out there? He thinks he's the one that's supposed to win the game. And he's playing like it. So it's like, yeah, I think it is silly. You're probably right. It is silly to underestimate these guys.

look at the subjects as a team and say this team is much better than this team but it's just the heat at this point it's like the NCAA tournament almost anybody can win you we're so far in it at this point like game by game and i know it's a seven game series so it's different than the nca tournament but the the aspect of i don't want to say false delusion or delusional confidence it's a rational confidence it's a it's a it's a point right right now you got guys playing like it's just they're there they're there bro and they're actually up one so now they're even more kind of like they think they belong there they do belong there because they've earned it so now it it doesn't even matter i don't care who has more talented players anybody can beat anybody in the conference

finals and they are a team well coached in a culture that's well versed and they're going to play their ass off and they have players that make up that they're out drafted but they're all hard playing but caleb martin's balled his ass off uh Strauss has had big games uh Gabe vinton has had huge games all three of them have shown to be not only pros of with good pros. They even got Duncan back in there hooping a little bit. This is without Hero and out Oladipo, by the way. And Kevin Love's been a good addition, especially just for the culture. He fits just in terms of just being a professional and has had big games as well. And then Jimmy and Bam are doing most of the heavy lifting with Jimmy just out of his mind right now.

Playoff Jimmy's no joke. Big face coffee. We were talking about this before we got on the pod and I said, don't even answer it. Let's talk about it on the pod. Who are you taking right now? Austin Reeves or Jordan Poole? Holy shit. So my only rapid-fire question of this episode. Isn't that crazy that that's a question? No, no, I want you to think about that because it's an actual valid question.

It's a valid question, but isn't it crazy that that now is a valid question? Well, Austin Rees has definitely made himself the third best part of the Lakers. Last year, Austin Rees was happy enough just to make the Lakers, just a guy that I remember we played in the last game of the year. He had like 30-something. We played for the Nuggets, but we were barely playing that game.

And to think a year later, after, you know, watching the Warriors do what they did, they won, Jordan was incredible, his value. Like to think a year later, we're asking this question, you're asking this question. Austin Reeves or Jordan Poole? It's a good question. And you have to sit there and think about it for a couple seconds just shows you how crazy and how situational and how, like, things can go right in basketball. I love Austin Reeves. I love his talent. I've already said

the best thing about him is how aggressive he is as a player his best skill is how aggressive he is as a player he's aggressive every time he gets the ball

he's in attack mode all the time that's his turn it over miss shot no matter he's not the quickest can jump the highest not the greatest shooter he's not the most skilled

he can do a little bit of everything here and there he's aggressive he attacks I love it and he competes his skill level is not the same as Jordan Pools

it's not even in the same realm. It's not. I don't know if you see the shit that Jordan Poole does. Jordan Poole's crazy. And the range he has, the shot making ability. If you're talking skill level for skill level, they're not even in the same. And again, I say this as an Austin Reeves fan. I like his game. He's nowhere near Jordan Poole. Does not get it twisted in terms of skill level. I feel like Jordan Poole's so saucy. When we get to the ball, he's just, it's too much. That's a star. That's where the other half of this comes well, okay, for what Austin Reeves lacks in ability or maybe certain skill levels,

you know, not being matched to Jordan, he makes up in how hard he plays on both ends. Does he play the right way? Can he fit in almost any team system in the NBA? Does he get to the foul line? Is he efficient? Does he know his role? Do his teammates like him? Does does he buy in? Does he do everything? You asked him? I mean, bro, we just name nine things. so he does all these things well and he's solid this guy who's probably a better basketball player and has a skill is so erratic

that he's either 30 or two the highs and highs and lows and lows and lows the highs and lows are the lows or lows or the where this guy's just consistent so it's like the turtle and the rabbit race tortoise and the hair this guy's just consistent and going I didn't think we were going to bring up the tortoise and hair

yeah he probably isn't it crazy and then I see that one coming I don't think I've read about that book I read in like third grade, but it taught me a valuable lesson, because don't ever get too ahead of yourself. But I'm not saying Jordan's getting ahead of itself, but I think we're agreeing, like, one's consistent and one you know you're getting

pretty much what you're getting out of. And the other one is just a little bit more maintenance, per se. And in terms of, like you said, how he plays, it is a little soft. Sometimes he does say it's unnecessary, or I should have shot, and you're just like, every game they're questioning something of end. I think sometimes they overdo it,

like, you know, the one shot he shot, was it a bad shot? No, could he have took it a couple steps in? Yeah, sure. Has he made that shot before? Yes. Can't cheer for the cheers. And then, you know, can't live for the cheers and die by the bows with the guy.

So, you know, I'm with that. But you do you, I don't know if I, we said all this, but I don't even know if I have an answer. Yeah, yeah. Definitely been dancing around it. You've said good things about both guys. You actually made a good suggestion. You said you wanted to see Jordan Poole on a different team. I do want to see Jordan Poole on a different team.

And I would like to see him. If I could, like, put him anywhere. I would put him in San Antonio with Victor. He's still young enough. He's an up-and-coming two-guard. Jordan is an extremely talented player. He's done at the highest level in the finals. He's had huge games.

You know it's there. I'm not saying the Warriors' culture is not for him because the Warriors' culture is one of the best in the league and what Bob Myers and Kerr is built there. But do you think this person put up with him just dancing with the ball? No, I don't. I don't.

But I think the warrior system is so loose in how they play because of step to play. He's able to do that there. And because he's able to do that there, and he's had success doing it there at times so much so that he's done just enough that you're over to overlook this inconsistency with him, right? And San Antonio, that's not even like a thing. It's not even their playing style. Tony Parker and Genobey weren't shooting 50 footers, bro. I would like to see Jordan Poole in a San Antonio situation.

I know if I could like throw him out there. I don't even know if the logistics work or if he could actually get traded if they have the pieces or the money. money or I don't know how that all salary cap, whatever, whatever. But I think the Warriors' offense is very loose. And Steve Kerr has it as a fast-paced designed offense, obviously based around Steph Curry and Clay Thompson. So within that, there's so much, I don't want to say room for error, but guys like, you know, someone as skilled as Jordan can kind of go, he's loose there, he's free,

which has been huge for him. It's been the reason that we know who he is. Exactly. He's out there. He's played extremely well. And then on the other side, it's also. Also, like, sometimes it's like, bro, you know what I mean? Like people will have kind of an issue sometimes of how he plays that way.

Like you said, I think someone like San Antonio, he can really compact it. I think he'd be more efficient there. First off, the offense would be heavily revolved around him and obviously Victor. I think he would be their elite guard with a Kelvin Johnson as like a strong, small four with him. He would be the best shooter and shooting guard on the team. It's just something because if you're drafted Webby. If you're drafting Wembe right now, let's say you drafted it. I'm mentioning the question for you too.

Jordan Poole. I'm going Jordan. Jordan Poole is better more? Jordan Poole is better than Austin Rees. If you drafted Wemby, you're the Spurs. It's close. You have his culture. Would you want to bring in a Jordan Poole to play with him? Probably not.

I don't think Jordan Poole's a bad guy. He got into it with Draymond. I love Draymond. I love what he does in the court. I love his spirit for the team. But like, yeah, it's not hard to get into it with Dreymont, especially when Draymond's the team captain

and the voice of that team and he's been there for the long haul they've been through battles well before Jordan got there Jordan gets there as young has a huge success as part of their title run within his first couple years

and really within his first year of playing for real minutes so he's feeling himself you find themselves in a moment where they're back and talking going back and far if something goes too far that can happen anywhere man

I don't think Jordan's a bad guy I have heard rumors and murmurs but I've heard rumors and murmurs about every fucking guy in the NBA and usually a lot of times when you meet him or talk to him you realize, oh, this guy's actually kind of cool. People say, can say the same about you.

Yeah. I've heard things about awesome rivers, and then they meet you, and they're like, oh, I've seen that. I've seen people, be like, I don't know, and then they meet you. Do you know how to talk? You're actually like, you're not a dickhead. I was like, I don't even know how to take that. Is that a compliment or like you, thank you?

He's like, oh, no, I just thought you were like, people told me your asshole. I'm like, it's crazy. But you could see one quote, one comment, one video, one minute of somebody. And if you don't like it or agree with it, that guy's a dickhead. Or they can label you. Again, like we said, man, narratives of everything. I think you put him in a system or a culture with Greg Popovich. Again, the Warriors won't have a great, they have a great culture themselves.

This is just different. And sometimes a fresh start means something. Somewhere like that, again, we're making up a situation. I don't think he's going to San Antonio. But, yeah, I don't know. I think Jordan Poole may be in a different situation. I think you get a more efficient Jordan is what I'm saying. And I think that's the next step he has to take.

If he's going to stay with Golden State, whatever the case may be. but I like Austin Reeves. I think he's a talented guard. I'm a fan of his game. Do I like him or would I take him over to Jordan Pool?

No, I wouldn't. There's your answer. All right, that's a good place to stop. I feel like I feel like we're headed towards Celtics Nuggets in the finals.

What's your prediction? Celtics Nuggets. I mean, that's like best case scenario. We get it, we get a heat nuggets, man. That's it? I don't know. You're going to watch. What are we doing?

I'm going to watch it. It's just like, what a title do for Yolkich's legacy, though? I mean, you're putting him up to, I think that puts him in that. He's already been stamped as an individual, but then like you, and it as an all-time great as a player. But to get on that dirt level. When you talk about the dark, the Hakeems. Yeah. Which stat-wise, Yokic is going to surpass all of them.

But you've got to win that chip. Because there's a certain level of dominance that comes with a player leading his team to a championship that people look at differently. Like, man, this guy. We go to there for Yonis. The Yonis. Completely changed it. The Dirk's. The LeBron's.

What it did for LeBron when he had to win one. Even though he went with the way people even think about the one in Cleveland, how much that one even meant to him. He's crying after it. It's just a different level, man, of a star. When you do it, you're the guy. And like, you win a championship. I would imagine that's a surreal feeling. So if he does this, I don't want to say it cements his legacy because that's already been cemented, man.

he's one of the greatest centers of all time. But you win a championship, man. He wins this year. It's like, fuck, bro. You start. Now you put him on that. You put them with those names. You know what I mean?

So, yeah, it'd be incredible. You know, it's crazy. I still have Boston winning the whole thing. I just, it doesn't, it'd be weird. I still have Boston. It doesn't feel like, uh, yeah,

I get it. I have a Boston Denver final. I have Boston winning in seven. I'm trying to like romanticize this, like, journey to the championship. I feel like Boston's season, like playoff journey this year

hasn't been the smoothest. But maybe that's what it takes. I mean, when your dad won the finals in 08, they went to seven games with the Hawks first round, 1-8. So, and, you know, they went to seven games with the cab, second round, LeBron, six games with the Pistons. They had a crazy ride to get there, too. So I'm over here thinking it needs to be this clean sweep. And no, some titles are built. All titles are built differently.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. At the end of the day, when I look at all four teams, if you're asking, which is the best team right now on the four? Denver's close, but in terms of depth and overall, just like, I'm still going to be. in Boston. Yeah. So, like, I'm not betting against them. They only down in one game. They win tomorrow, tonight.

They win tonight, and suddenly everyone's like, ah, Boston's head of the finals again. You know what I mean? Like, the narrative changes. Yeah. I think after this, you and me should go watch the town. Let's go put it on the town. Let's do it.

Let's pull Missoula. Let's watch the town. You don't always use that, right? The next time I watch the town and be like, what are you doing? Just pulling a Missoula. Let's do it in Missoula. Just watch me.

The title is definitely going to be a thing. All right, that's a good place to stop. It's great chatting with you, brother. We're going to do it again next week. It's been a pleasure, man. I hope everybody has a safe weekend. Before we get out of here, my guy, I wanted to, I think we should do a quick shout out to the producers and the people that have really been helping us put this along.

Ben, Eduardo, Erica, we appreciate you guys. You guys have been a huge help for us putting this show together. Making a sound good. Making a sound good, making this good, editing this up, chopping it up. I appreciate you guys and just wanted to say thank you. We're excited to continue to do this for you and for the fans and to build this out. This is obviously just our first year, first run. So we're just getting going.

We're learning from our mistakes. And this has been a hell of a process. I miss the Austin pet peeves. I know you have a lot. So next week, I think we should dive in. It's been a while. It's been four weeks in the summer. I definitely got a couple.

I've been down here in Orlando and I've ran into a couple people that I've just been like, you've got to be kidding me. So we'll get in. I heard Larry David walks around like a. like a pad and a pen and like make things and you should do it drop down some things that bother you and it could be therapeutic and it can help us with the show you're probably right I should probably start doing that for real all right guys