The Ringer NBA Show - Draymond-Sabonis Reactions, T-Wolves’s Game 3 Adjustments, and More! | Off Guard

Episode Date: April 21, 2023

Austin and Pausha are kicking things off by offering their tips for choosing your best pick-up basketball team (8:05). Then, they jump back into the playoff rotation and discuss the Jarret Allen–Julius Randle and Draymond Green–Domantas Sabonis altercations (13:03), before talking through adjustments the T-Wolves have to make heading into Game 3 against the Nuggets (22:32) and which playoff series they're enjoying most (35:50). Lastly, they discuss a hard knocks solution for increasing the casual fan's interest in basketball (43:18). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's official. One Shining Podcast is back, and I am your host, Tate Frazier. And as March Badness begins, we're covering everything from Selection Sunday all the way to the championship and beyond. We're going to have great guests that are coming through on the show. And look, if you're a friend of the program and you're already subscribed, you don't have to do anything. OSP is back. It's going to be right back in your feed. And if you're not a friend of the program, and this is your first time on the rodeo, then let me tell you this. You need to go to Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcast. and smash subscribe today because the OSP show is back.

All right, what's up everybody? Welcome to another episode of Off Guard. I'm your host, Pasha, and joining me, as always. Austin Rivers was good. Oh, yeah, okay. I was going to say, I was going to say some good stuff there. How much time? How much time do you need?

How much time do you need to do that? Some guys just don't have patience. I tried to help you out there. There was like two, three seconds went by, and I felt the need to jump in there and say my own name. I didn't know you were doing some special. They can always, they can always edit it. making the paws go away.

It could have been a seamless thing there, but it's all good. You've ruined it. All right, my bad. I've been miserable lately because I have been intermittent fasting. Hope I'm saying that right, where I don't eat every day until 2 o'clock. I'm trying to shed some pounds. I've done it for almost a month.

It's been, I think, about three weeks. I've lost close to 10 pounds, but I'm so hungry all the time. Like, all day I'm hungry. Sounds busy. It's crazy. Yeah, you would never do that. You're a big breakfast guy. Aren't there ways to like still eat and lose weight like anybody else?

No, no, no. I still eat the same amount. I just eat it between the hours of two and nine, for example. Like all the food I want to eat that day. Yeah. Yeah, but it's tough, man. But I do see a difference, but like I still drink coffee in the morning. Black coffee on an empty stomach definitely works.

I'm kind of wired, actually, in the morning. Yeah, you're a big coffee guy. I would say it's my favorite thing in the world. How many glasses do you drink a day? Well, I drink cups of coffee, not glasses. And I would say I drink, man, probably four a day, just to be honest, three, four. I was told I should probably, like, put in some decaf ones just to trick my mind a little bit. But yeah, I love coffee.

I like going to a coffee shop. I love everything, the culture behind coffee. I'm excited. Would you want to go to, like, Columbia or some shit and go, like, go, like, pick coffee beans or something? No. What are you talking? What's your love like for coffee? It's more like if you told me there was a really good coffee spot far away, I'll make the drive and go get that coffee. But I'll also go to Starbucks. It gets the job done if I need a little gasoline, a little petroleum, a little petroleum, if you will.

You're not a coffee guy at all. You've had coffee with me. I'm all natural, man. I just wake up. I just, you know, I eat some fruit, a little sugar from that. You know, eat a little breakfast, light breakfast, maybe some egg whites, chicken sauce and something like that. some you know avocado green on the side can i ask you something if you had to rank i think i've asked you this before if you have to rank waffles french toast and pancakes what's the order there the order would be pancakes first uh waffle second french toast there i think french toast is by far the best but it also could be the worst it has a lot of variance it could be really good or really rare

it's also rare i like a waffle every waffle i usually have is dried i don't like them but the good ones are like the best thing like if you go to a place that knows how to make like a proper waffle. It's like the best thing you can have, in my opinion. Even better than good pancakes. I think like if you have like Rosco's chicken waffles man, like one of those waffles is like I can have like four of those things. Do you have a chef or do you just eat out? What's the deal there? What's the regular day for you? I do, but not consistently. Like I'll I'll hire some in like a couple weeks span and then go off it because my fiance cooks as well. So it's just like I don't have a consistent one or a consistent

thing. I do want one though. That's like my next big thing in terms of like putting money into something investing in yourself. It's probably going to be a chef with myself just to keep it a little bit more. I don't know. I would be more on schedule and I'd eat better just consistently eating in the morning if I had meals prepared for me. So that's something I want to get into. Would you say you're a healthy eater? I'd say between one and 10, 10 being on the healthy side, one being not. I'd probably say I'm like, Seven. I feel like I've been with you and we had some wild meals. And there was one time we pulled up to a plaza and there was, I think it was Tijuana

flats, like a Jersey Mikes. And you got something from all three places in the plaza. Smoothie, smoothie. And a smoothie. And you had, you got something. You ordered from all three and picked it all up and had it all as a meal. No, no, no. And bole.

So can we bump that? Can we go from seven to, can I interest you and maybe a four out of ten? That's crazy. I order. You did. You did come with me. one day to get lunch and you realized how I work. That's exactly what happened. I got four meals. Four meals. I'm nutty like that. I got, I'll get hungry and crave things and I got a turkey

and ham sandwich, Mike's way with no onions from the Jersey mics. Getting that over a public sub is should be a crime. Public Sunn't. No, Jersey mics makes good like deli sandwiches. I only get deli sandwiches. I'm not getting a Philly cheese steak. You know, I mean, not that I haven't, but I consistently am just getting like a turkey, turkey deli sandwich from Jersey whites. And then Bole is like rice and broccoli, chicken peas, shrimp steak, or shrimp and chicken. Like, that's my meal.

I got the smoothie. And then if I'm a little hungry for like a guilty pleasure later, maybe I, you know, get into those Tijuana flats. Well, floutis. One time I begged you to go to L.A. Finnis with me. I know we talked about your trip to L.A. Finness and what you did out there. Do you remember why you were 10 minutes late? We left your house at the same time.

And L.A. Finnis is. 10 minutes from your house. I get there. I'm waiting in the parking lot for you. Where did you stop? I stopped to get some baklava. Do you know how insane that is? Imagine being at the house with somebody and you're like, hey, you want to drive separate? Okay, I'll meet you at the gym. 10 minutes away. And you, in that 10 minutes, pulled off for some baklava? It's fucking shocking. That's shocking. I wanted, I was craving some baklava bit. But that's not exactly. That's not like a pregame meal.

why not what are you joey chestnut like stop eating I'm not eating a snickers before I mean I'm not eating a a twixt like Baklva's like It's a dessert

Yeah it's like the lightest dessert you can have Like it's a light dessert It's like honey and I don't even know what it is I think I think we all know It's like honey pistachio and like some type of crust

of some sort like I don't know It's a beautiful Mediterranean pastry And I think out of us too I look like more of the Baclava eater than you. You do look like a Baclava eater. You look like a heavy Baclava eater. But I actually am very fond of the dessert.

And you wanted me to play at L.A. Fitness. And I said, okay, I'll go. I'll meet you there in a little bit. Because I knew, in my mind, prior to you offering me this unbelievable chance to go play basketball at L.A. Fitness that I wanted Baclava. Already was on my mind. I was getting ready to head out to go back.

Why couldn't you communicate that with me? Why was that a secret, a little secret mission? It didn't have to be information for you. times I just like doing things without people knowing. I just like living in life. And that's how you have no respect for people's time, pretty much. How did I play after the Baccava? How did I play after the Baccau?

You played like, you played like, you played like, you played like DeMuartor Rosen. You play like you play for the Bardo Rosen. Phoenix signs, all mid-range. I was a mid-range god in there. I shot, I think one three. I only worked on mid-range. I just shot mid-range, and I was absolutely,

a little like DeMard de Rosen out there. I brought NBA players to, pick up like that before and mostly it's threes and dunks and you decided to play like the microwave viny johnson at lath fitness i was i was i was trying to be mj out there post up post up left fade there's there's nothing more satisfying to hit the mid-range fade away for someone who never shoots in an NBA game it meant a lot because i don't shoot them a lot i don't shoot them ever in an NBA game i only shoot threes and layups i have a i have a really good question for you you know how like you might not know anyone in the gym but you can judge a basketball player if they're good or not by the way

they look. What is one thing that you would never pick up if you were a captain? I'll go first. The guy that's wearing the no show socks with his basketball shoes, something about seeing the back of like a LeBron rub up against the guys like Achilles with no sock right there. The no socks, it's grimy. You know, the low, you know what I'm talking about? When you, when you're guarded by a guy with low socks, you have a, you have a tough game ahead. That is a guy who gives zero bucks. probably has not a lot of skill and is going to play so hard to the point where he might undercut you

on a fast break for a layup. Being guarded by a guy with no socks is not a fun thing. I mean, because most guys who don't, most guys who wear low socks are just like, it's bad business.

But why? But why is that? It's almost like they were going to go do something else and someone talked them in the pickup halfway through and they just threw on some shoes over some, like, ankle socks. It's crazy.

There's a lot of, exactly. There's a lot of dynamics. of this. Why guys wear low socks when you see them at a gym. A, they don't know basketball culture in terms of lingo, the high socks, you know, you know, whatever, whatever. I'm not saying you got to wear them to your knees like Eddie House, but there's some sort of like midway sock cut that most hoopers wear. It's like a universally thing now. A guy who doesn't hoop a lot, that fucker's going to throw on some haines ankle socks, throw on some damn Nike shocks or whatever he's got on and go to

the gym ready to just cause havoc. All right, that's, that's, that's, that's reason a. Reason B, reason B would be what you said. Well, how do you feel about the guy that wears the jersey to pick up? Like, this guy's wearing, you know, he's wearing a, I don't even know what player you would even pick, but I don't, I don't really mind that. It's like the sense of like a kid that's like the kid and a man, even though he's not like, you know, you throw on a player you like watching a jersey you wear to a game night or something, just go play pickup in him and just go get some buckets in a jersey that, you know, I mean, I don't think it's like so serious.

Like when I see like a grown man wearing a jersey, people are like, man, man wearing another guy's jersey playing basketball. I'm like, bro, he's a fan of the hooper. Not the person, he's a friend of the hooper. It's like two different things. To go to the gym wearing a hooper's jersey is like, I don't think it's a problem. I think it's cool.

So you're picking jersey guy up. What about headband guy? Does he have hair or no. If he's bald, I'll pick him up. If he has a whole head of hair and he starts a headband, on, I'm, I don't want them on my team. If it's a guy with a lot, what do you mean? I'm talking long hair with a headband.

I'm thinking like Jason Capono. He could probably shoot the lights out. I don't think that's a problem. I don't think headband's a problem. Yeah. I'm out of big. Here's what I'm looking for. Personally, I'm not looking for a lot of scores in pickup because I'm selfishly trying

to get, you know, better and trying to work on my stuff. I need guys to compliment me. I need that one guy that plays too hard and says screens too hard and is too happy to just go get rebounds and kick it out. I want that guy. You know what I mean? I want the jersey wear because he's just going to, you know, surprise. He'll probably end up hitting the game shot because people leave him open the whole time and pick up. You know that happens at pickup, right? The guy that you like, the worst player in the floor that no one pays attention to the whole entire game ends up getting like a wide open shot for a game and hitting it.

It typically almost banks it every time too. He'll bank it in and send you on your way. I used to be the guy that would walk in and sort of a white man can jump situation where they thought I sucked. I even played into it probably and then try to surprise people. Then when my friends started making the NBA, I would be the guy that came in with like official NBA gear. I mean, I've got like,

Chandler's Houston Rockets drive it on at pickup. Then it's the opposite. People are let down by my ability. Because they think then, oh, this guy probably played overseas, this guy has official gear. Then I'm letting people down. I start sucking and they're like,

okay, this guy was the ball boy. So the official gear was like a huge backfire for you. What was the last time you saw me wear official gear? I just don't wear it. Like I love it. You used to rep it so hard. I mean,

every time I saw you, you had a Maverick shirt on or, especially the Dallas days. Dallas days, you were very, very, very, prideful and happy.

Dallas Mavs hoodie, Dallas Mavs dry fit, you know, Rockets this. Memphis, you didn't, you didn't wear a lot of Memphis. When you guys got to Memphis,

it wouldn't, it wasn't the happiest stop for your camp. I feel like you weren't wearing a lot of, you weren't wearing a lot of, Memphis gear. You were talking about undercutting. What do you think about the Jared Allen, Julius Randall play? I think the play from what you're describing sounds dirty. I'd have to see a video. But it wasn't dirty because Jared Allen is just like not that type of player. Like you, you know, like anything he would do would just be him at a purely like just trying to hustle and

just doing too much maybe. You know what I mean? Like I love Jared Allen as a player. He's a a rim protector. He's a big that doesn't mind getting dunked on and goes out there and tries to block shots, blocks a lot of shots, changes the game. I'm actually a big fan of Derek. I don't know if you've seen the video of him trying to go give a high five to Kevin Love or like a hug or something like that. The guy ran full speed, hopped and leaped, like jumped off the court, had both knees flying

in the air, and then like almost took out five people. He almost killed five people. And then ended up hugging. Kevin Love. He was doing like a thawdmaker. I don't know if you've seen that thawdmaker fight overseas where he was like, on those crazy knees. Do you know what I'm talking about? Yeah, for sure. That, that's what it looked like when this guy jumped up to court to go give a hug to Kevin Love. So you think he's just a clumsy, goofy guy? I just think he's tall, he's big, he's goofy, and sometimes guys like that don't understand what they're doing because they're like, you know,

like they don't understand the size of themselves, you know what I mean? Like, I'm not saying this is what that was, but does it surprise me a guy who wears a headband with an afro and high socks chase someone down and go try to block a shot? Absolutely no. Sounds like Julius Herbigs on the fucking court. I don't know what's going on. He's a, he's a goofy guy, man. He's a goofy guy. So you think when you when you analyze a play if it's dirty or not? In a good way, too. In a good way. He's a goofy guy in a good way. I like Jared Allen. I'm a fan of him, by the way. I'm a fan of his game and personality. I totally get what you're saying. So you think when there's a situation that may or may not be dirty,

do you think you have to take into account who the player is? Absolutely. If Draymond Green did it, I would, you know, I don't know. Actually, matter of fact, let's get it into that, even something of a little bit more pressing.

But yeah, it does matter who does it. Contacts is everything. Contacts is everything, man. If Bruce Brown undercover, if I shot a jumper and Bruce Brown put his foot under me. You mean Bruce Bowen? Bruce Bowen. Whoa, Bruce Bowen.

Yes. Yeah, yeah, sorry, not Bruce Brown. Bruce, Bruce Bowen put his foot, you know he has a history of doing that, right? Yeah. That's, that's, that's what I'm saying. Like, it does matter who does it? Right. So when Zazaa Petulia did it to Kauai and completely

derailed his career. That didn't, that's not a, well, derailed. So, wait, it took him out for a year. That's the first team could have won the title. Then that means that Warriors team with Durant doesn't win the title. and then I don't want to get into sliding doors,

but what could have happened. Okay, fair enough, fair enough. But yes, contacts is everything. Who does it is everything. You can't, you know, Jared Allen is like the most innocent human being in the world, I don't think he tried to hurt Julie's rent. So what's your take?

Go ahead, ask me. Well, I was going to ask you about Sabonis and Dremont. Whose side are you on? Okay. I'm on neither. I'm on neither side because, and when I say neither, I'm on all three.

I'm not on any of the three. The NBA, Draymond or Subbonus aside. I'm on any of them. You got to take a... Here's why. Here's why I'm not on some bonus aside. A, the getting x-rays after the game is absolutely pure comedy. It's absolutely pure comedy.

He stepped on you with one leg, which meant it wasn't both legs in full weight. It was half his weight. You're seven foot and you were bracing for it. It didn't hurt that bad to where you had to get x-rays after the game. That's point number one, why I'm not Sabonis. Point number two, I'm not Sabonis. And most importantly, he clearly grabbed on to his leg. And you could say he was trying to brace,

but trying to brace is not the same thing as putting your arms around something, clenching, and literally going up with his body. Anybody else would have let go? Why didn't he do that? Because he was trying to grab onto his leg. That's why I'm not Team Sabonis. Dremon, why I'm not Team Dremont.

He clearly fucking stomped on. Like it's it's you know I mean like did he I don't know one's denying that no one's no one is And I'm not saying he stomped on him to like by the but but but hold on he didn't stop on him to break his ribs okay The guy just like stepped on him and like left it's not like draymond tried to fucking like stomp down with full force to hurt him Like if draymond wanted to like actually hurt him he could have the dude like got his leg caught and then like pressed his leg against him to be on some like dirty shit or whatever whatever whatever you want to call it but that's like really hurt him that's why the x-ray is comedy. But anyways, that's... Okay, so I disagree with one thing. There's no...

We're talking about degrees of getting stomped on. Like, oh, this is a good stump. Oh, this was a light stomp on. There's not a degree of the stomp. There's not a degree of stomp, but you can watch a degree of stomp. Just that line itself is so... Bro, this guy...

This guy... This guy did the Usher Aetown stomp on this guy's chest. He did not do an Aetown stomp. No, there was a fucking, like, Nike... There's a LeBron's soldier's zoomed, whatever shoe imprint on his chest right now. I am team I'm team

Sabonis I'm telling you right now But no no no no I get it It's what everyone was saying Oh well that wouldn't have happened If this didn't happen That's not how it works man

You can't escalate Like sure Subonis did Hang on to his leg That was weird But that doesn't give him The right to stomp on him If he got mad and like

Push them It's like okay that's right stomping on someone To me is It's degrading It's one level below Spitting on someone Stomping on someone

When they're down is crazy well put by you. But I still, I still, if you watch the video, it happened so fast, Draymond is trying to, you know, run down the court because the possession changed. His foot gets grabbed and he jumps in the air and he has nowhere else to go down, but the person that's in front of him, that's below him. And I think because he knows it's a bonus and because he did grab on his foot, he decided to put a little something into it.

He had no choice, but he had no choice but to land. on Sabonis because he grabbed his leg so he couldn't run he tried to run away he grabbed his leg you're saying he had no choice but to stomp on him no i'm saying it was back he was backed into a corner he had to stop hit the stomp his way out of it he had no he had no way he had nowhere else to put his foot broke imagine running and someone grabs your right leg you're now coming back down the deceleration you're now coming back down to where you were because the person grabbed your damn leg where i think jrima went wrong is instead of like kind of like lightly hit because he was going to, his leg was going to touch him.

His foot was going to touch it. Instead of like lightly doing it and like kind of walking and running off, he put a little stomp on there. He put a little extra. This is insane. Whatever. He put a little A town stomp on there and then that was it. But my point is, whatever.

I don't think the NBA should have suspended him for game three. It's ridiculous, bro. By the way, I heard Draymond then got a, I heard Draymond got an x-ray on his ankle. I don't know if that's true or not if he got an x-ray on his ankle then that's the funniest thing I think I've ever heard Yeah, Sabonis just chest hurt his ankle

Like what are we doing? Subonis getting an x-rays is equally ridiculous He didn't stop on him that hard bro And then the embellishment after it And then he just, hey, he miraculously recovered And played the rest of the NBA game right after it When it was zero pain We don't know if it's zero pain

I mean the guy internal You don't know how internal bleeding works I mean, the guy could have been, could have been a lot wrong with him up and down the court. Oh, was it his wrist? Was it his wrist or his wrists? Because if his wrist, I could see how that could, that could, someone's stepping on it.

I don't know what the x-ray was on, but it's insane. It's, the whole thing was kind of gross, but that's not the first time, Draymond's been involved in something like that. I don't think, I don't think Draymond should have been, I don't think Draymond should have been suspended. It changes the whole fucking series, bro.

It's just ridiculous. And I don't think it's that serious. I really don't. Do you think the Warriors are done? With Draymond being out, down to, they're in trouble. But we know they're in trouble. Do you think they're done?

Like, are you writing them off? No, I'm not writing them off. They're just too good of a team. But they're not in a good place right now. Being 02. I mean, we're in the same position, down 02. You have to win game three. The series is over.

Right. And they don't have Dreem on. But it still steps, stuff, Clay. You know, maybe Andrew Wiggins goes for a big game. Maybe, you know, Jordan Puggan goes for a big game. Maybe they get, you know, a lot can happen. They can still win. You win game three and then Draymond comes back in game four.

You win. Now it's back to even kill. Game three is a must win when you're down 02. I'm not saying anything that's like rocket science here. This is a known thing. You go down 3.0. I mean, I'm not saying you're fucked because anything's possible, but you then have to win four straight games and it's just usually very unlikely going back

and forth from home court to not home court. There's so much that can happen in the game. Usually playoffs are defined by one possession or two possessions. So it's like 50-50 can go either way. We could have won last night, and it could have be one-one. You know what I mean? But they went on a run to close the game after we tied. You know what I mean?

It's just anything could happen. Do you think... Speaking of your series, speaking of your series, do you think Jamal Murray, bubble Murray is back from what you saw? I fucking hope not. But last night, he looked apart.

Right. And you got to be hyped to see like your guy, and, you know, have a big game last night. Oh, my God. He was unbelievable, man. He was unbelievable. He had some incredible play. plays, the post-up fade-away going baseline, the fade-away threes, the finishing at the basket,

the euro-stepping, the explosion to the rims. I mean, he was prime time. He was why, you know, is, you know, one of the up-and-coming superstars. I think, you know, he's an all-star now, but I think he will be a superstar in the future, just due to ability and hard work. But is amazing. Is he the best young player? When I say young, let's say 22 and under, would you say he's the best?

Yes. I don't even know who would be second there. I mean, I like Paolo. I like, how old is John Moran? Ants, ants in a different class than, then. How old is John Morant? I don't know. Yeah, he's got to be up there. Probably 23, 24, but would you rather have John Morant the rest of his career or Anthony Edwards? I'm taking it. After this day, after last night, I don't know how you cut it. He's so good. I'm taking it. What do you want to see in game three?

What are the adjustments? We have to pick off where we left off in the second half. We play a full game with that energy, that detailed, you know, in focus to, our attention to detail, rather, understanding the game plan on both ends of the floor. We go into it with the right mindset. You know, we'll be fine, man. You know, I mean, we, it's tough when you're down 16 or 17. team, especially to a team like Denver, who's usually very efficient on offense, and you

claw your way back. Like, you use all this energy, all this. And then they go in like then and now, another run. It's very hard to do it twice. You know what I mean? We came back. We tied it. Then they, like, made a little run, went up like seven or eight.

And it's just like, it can be really just, especially on the road. It's a very hard thing to do. And last night, we made all the right reads and played the right way the second half. we're able to, you know, keep the game close. And then at that point, they make a little push. And it's like, damn, you know, we got to do it again. And sometimes it's, you know, you don't have enough time in a game to do so. So I just thought we dug ourselves in a hole, so we, you know, early again.

They, for both, both games in the first half, the game's gotten away from us already. And, you know, we have not been able to come out to good starts to start the game. So I think tomorrow a good start is vital, not just through the first quarter because we did that kind of in the first game. But second quarter, I'm talking about a full half. Like have a good full half. And then when you only have a half left to basketball, it's tied up a half. It's going to be a good game, man. You know what I mean?

It's going to be a good game, especially in the playoffs. So like we just got to do a better job, better starts, and really just pick off to where we left in the second half last game. We played well. I can't help but think about how good Nas Reid and Jada McDaniels would be. Well, it would be a different series. We know that. I mean, I don't think anybody's denying that. If anybody who watches anything with basketball has seen J.D. McDaniels and Nas Reed play this year, if we had both of them, it would be a different series.

But that's no one, you know, any team could say that. I mean, a lot of teams have injuries right now, man. I mean, the clippers are over there saying, we had Paul George, we'd be, you know what I mean, like, anybody can say that. So it's like, it is what it is. I mean, Memphis doesn't have job, you know, bucks didn't have, I don't even know if the bucks are playing with you. I mean, I'm glad you said that. I want to ask you about that. Why is Memphis so good without Jal over the last couple years?

Multitude of things. A, he's an incredible supporting cast, an incredible supporting cast, so much so that without him, they're still able to thrive because, you know, you got Bain still shooting the same sets. You got, you know, Jaron Jackson still out there doing this thing. You got Dillon Brooks still being aggressor and being an agitator, you know, doing all the things that he brings to the team. You had the same role players doing the same exact damn things that they do with job.

And then to, secondly, and most of the... importantly, his backup point guard could probably start at point guard for a lot of teams. I'm shocked that he that he resigned with him. Tias Jones is an extremely efficient point guard who has proven at every level high school state champion, college national champion. And then in the NBA as a backup, his record as a starting point guard every time Jaws has been out, it's almost alarming to the point where like you start to ask that question, like you just said, why are they so good without Jha?

again, they have good role play, but I think most importantly, I think his backup point guard is a very efficient, just solid point guard. He can't take over a game like Jha. He doesn't have the same ability as Jha, and he's not as talented his Jha. but in terms of decision making and stability and just being solid. Very Fred, you know, you know, Vland feet, you know, very Fred. Fred Van Ville. Right. Two V's, Van Ville.

Fred Viet. Fred VIII. What's happening? What's happening right now? Fred Van Vleet. Two Vee's. Well, Freddie. He is, you know, he has very, you know, similar, I wouldn't say games, but just in terms of

them just being solid and not making a lot of turnovers. Fred's kind of turned them more into a score this year for Toronto, but like the Toronto Raptor's years where they had Kyle that finals type of year, like he was just so efficient. Like that's, that's, that's Tice. You know what I mean? I think ties are very efficient. I think I want to say it's either four or five years in a row.

He's had the best assist turnover ratio in the NBA. How many, first of all, that's hard to do over the course of four or five years. How many teams are bringing that off the bench? Not a lot. So I think I think you add these elements. I think that's what makes Memphis really good still without Jeff. But while we're on the topic of Memphis, what do you think about Dylan Brooks calling LeBron old,

saying all this stuff? Oh, I wish I could go up against Miami LeBron. That would have been a better task. It's like, dude, LeBron had a great game also. You lost the first game. Why do they win and then say stuff? And I know Dylan. He's actually really cool.

But I'm a LeBron Apollo. I get LeBron's back all the time. You know that? He's in his 20th year. He's averaged 30 points a game. he's playing well in the playoffs what do you think about those comments that's a good question

for the most part I've been on the side of Dylan Brooks in the sense that I like how unapologetic he is about himself I like how he's able to just you know express himself and however he sees fit the perm and him doing a little dance like this I don't mind stuff like that do whatever you want to do it was the funniest it was the funniest thing

is one of the funniest videos I've seen in so bro I literally saved that video. It is so funny with him in the perm. Yeah, yeah, doing the little, yeah. That stuff doesn't bother with that. I have no problem with that. I have no problem with him on the court talking trash either. When he's out there competing, like doing his thing, you know, trying to hoop, you know, getting some buckets here and there, being competitive, being an agitator, defending hard, playing hard. I have no problem with him doing that stuff. That's not an issue with me. Where I draw the line is when now you're in the media after the game saying stuff that is so like, so redundant.

it's only for attention. You know what I mean? Like you're saying he's old. Like, bro, like, you're talking about LeBron James A. And I'm not saying you have to like fucking, you know. He's in his 20th season. His 20th season. And he's killing still.

He's going to be 13th ball NBA this year. Yeah, but I'm saying forget all that. I'm saying just the aspect of him saying anything about LeBron in general is just nuts to me. And the media. It's like, that's why like Damien Lillow checked Pat Beverly in the summer when he said something about Chris Paul, like just being this, this, and that, it's like, bro, like, I have no, I have no problem with, like, guys trash talking in the game.

I don't like guys trash talking heavy in the media. I'm not a big fan of it. I'd rather just be done in person. You guys have something to say, say it to his face instead of just clapping and saying, yeah, say these things to his face. And say it in the beginning of the game. You know what I mean? Don't say it after the game when you just won because none of these comments were said

after game one and the Lakers dominated game one. I didn't hear any of these comments. The comments came after they just won a game. I don't like the time and place in which these comments are placed sometimes, and I don't like what he's saying. The whole, he's old. Like, bro, he's averaging better numbers than you. I don't respect anybody who hasn't given me 40.

Dylan, by that logic, you've never given anybody 40 in the NBA. So that would mean no one in the NBA would have respect for you, which is ridiculous to say because you're actually a solid role player. you do a good job competing, you play hard, you hit big shots, you have some good scoring games. Like, I'm actually like Dylan Brooks, this game. But because you haven't given me 40, I can't respect you.

Like, bro, like, some of the stuff he says is so, like, contradictory. I know, but it's also so crazy. Here we are. We're talking about him right now. And I see him. But that's the point, though. The amount I see him on my timeline compared to how good he is at a basketball,

it's crazy how much I see. But that's, but you know more about Dylan Brooks than name a salt de'ern fox why that is weird that's weird but that's the point that's the point i'm trying to make though is that i i don't like that if he's getting attention for the stuff he's doing on the court the competing the agitating the talking i don't have a problem with it go out there do your role do your thing that's part of your game it's part of your identity be who you are if you want to do some stuff off the court whether it's your outfit your perm this is that if that's part of like your whole genetic you know whatever your look what you're going for

you're trying to do what you're trying to be, if you're trying to get a little attention, this, this, I don't care, no problem with that. If you're going to go to the media and talk, I'm just usually not a big fan of it. I'd rather it be done in person. And if you are going to say something to the media, there has to be a line of just ridiculousness and like just redundant, just, just blasphemous things being said, man. Like, because some of the things he says, if he's like, you know, there's just so many things he could have said other than what he said.

The stuff he said about LeBron just, like, was so past the line of just like, I don't even know common sense that like when he said it is just like, what are you talking about, bro? I wish I had the other LeBron or he or a young of LeBron. It would have been better or more challenging. That would have been a challenge. You know, he's old. You know, I don't respect anybody unless he's got me 40. Like, bro, these comments are just just ridiculous, bro. They're just ridiculous.

I'm not saying you have to be like, oh, hell, LeBron. I'm so happy to play. No, bro, if you want to talk shit, go at him. But like, bro, let's keep it a buck about things. Let's keep it a buck. I think I have the Lakers in five. Let's take a break. The NBA playoffs are here,

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1-800-5-22-470-0 in Wyoming or visit www.1-800-Gambler.net in West Virginia. So what's been your favorite series to watch so far? the Warriors Kings what's the series that you're not you haven't watched a minute of I haven't watched one minute of the Milwaukee Miami series really and I haven't watched

do you just assume that Milwaukee is gonna yeah they're gonna win the series man yeah that series is and I and I'm a huge I don't know why I think just growing up in Florida I've always been a huge heat fan well alright let's back that up your dad was the coach of the magic when you were growing up yeah and I was a match and you were too but I love

I loved the heat. I was a Dwayway fan grown up. I was a T-Mex fan grown up. I was a player's guy, man. So, like, I loved watching the heat and I love watching the magic guy, man. I grew up in Florida, everybody wore heat jerseys or magic. I love both teams. I don't think you're, like, liking Duke North Carolina. You're not like heat and the magic. No, it's not because it was never a rivalry. It's not, it's not like wearing clippers and Lakers jerseys or something like that. Like, bro, if you grew up in Florida, you could rock anything, man. Totally different. There's no even like, there's no even like history between the two teams. Like that they're just two teams in Florida. Yeah, but I just don't, well, sure. It's fine. You can like both. Who are you? What are you making rules here? I'm not making rules. I just think I'm a magic fan, and I know that if you're a magic fan, you probably shouldn't be a heat fan. Okay.

What do you think about the Celtics Hawks? Because I haven't really watched that much of that one. I haven't watched. I haven't watched a fucking minute of that series. So then, so then what? Then did you watch the Sixers Nets? You know, I've watched. Man, please. No, Sixers Nets? I only watched that for personal.

use just because of my pops coaches and team that's the only reason just because of family and sest plays for brooklyn like i have i have actual interest in the series for things outside of basketball so yeah i tuned into that series but do i know who's winning that series yes that is a done deal the miami bucks series is a done deal the celtics hawks series is a done deal Okay, so while we've been recording this podcast, it came out that Kauai's going to miss game three. First of all, shocker. The guy misses more games than anyone.

I'm sorry, I really hope he recovers quickly because I know he was hooping, but what do you think about that? Are the Sun just going to take this series now? Because I don't know, man. After game one, I was like, okay, the Clippers kind of match up well against them. I don't think the Sun's made any adjustments in game two. They just made the same shots that they took in game one.

They took the same mid-range shots. They just made them. Yeah. I don't like this at all. I think that's just ridiculous. What is he missing game three for? Knee. Knee contusion.

Played through it in game two. Sounds going to win about like 20. Do you think so? Do you answer to that end deal? I mean, no, man. No, it's not a done deal. I didn't think it happened in the NBA, but I'd be very surprised if the Clippers win tomorrow.

Or today, whenever they play. I was having a conversation about Kauai the other night when I was watching the game with some friends. is he anyone's favorite player? Do you think there's people out there like Kauai Leonard's my favorite player? No. And it's only because of one reason.

It's just due to consistency of him being on the floor. I think when he played for... I know he's really good. I'm not going to sit here. I'm not going to come at Kauai. I don't love his game. He shoots a flat ball. It goes in.

Shoots a flat shot. He's very robotic. He doesn't even have like a bag, but I don't like his game at all. But I know it's effective. I'm not over here saying Kauai's not good at basketball. He's actually one of the scariest people when he gets going. I think San Antonio Kwai, Toronto Kwai, he had plenty of fans.

I loved watching them play. I love to watch him to defend. I loved his ability to score the ball. Even though he does have a flat jump shot, it does go in. He has a beautiful mid-range game. He does have a little bit of it. He has a bag, man. It's just like, it's just more robotic and fundamental.

It's not like loose like Kyrie where it's like so elusive. Or even his teammate, his teammate Paul George, who's so good with the basketball. So saucy. Yeah, exactly. He's like the exact opposite. They're both exactly. And, you know, I've always been a fan of Kauai, but I think in terms of like right now, people have been like, man, Kwai's my favorite player.

There's not a lot of kids saying that, but I only think that's being, you know, said due to his inability to just to stay healthy, man, you know what I mean? And it's not, I don't know what's on him on that. Some of that's just bad luck. A lot of times injuries are just bad luck. But, you know, he hasn't been able to stay healthy and be on the floor, which has really affected him and affected his Clippers team, man. And him and Paul, you know, this is like the same thing with the clippers, bro.

It was like Paul George, Quai Leonard, you know, health status. You know, it's first it was them, you know, being, you know, the last time we've even seen these guys together was with my father in the bubble where they had that meltdown versus Denver. You know what I mean? But we haven't really seen this team at full strength. But the team they have right now and Eric Gordon and Powell and all these guys and the additions that they have, if you had both of those players fully healthy, man, like they would be the favorite to win.

And that's what everyone said on ESPN. And that's what Stephen A, this guy, this guy, this analyst, this person, anybody said that about them. On paper, they should be a team that should be going to the finals. But their two best players can't be healthy at the same time or healthy at all. It's been very frustrating. Do you love basketball, even though you haven't watched them in the Heat Buck series. You love basketball, you love watching that.

A lot of people are like that. Do you think Kauai Leonard, do you think Kauai watches basketball? No. I don't think, I think when he plays the game, he's like, he doesn't even know who's on the other team. I don't think he,

I don't think he knows who, name a random player, like, Nazarita is. Like, I don't think he watches basketball. No, man, he knows who Nasreed is.

I think he goes up and he's just like, oh, this guy's pretty good. Who's this? And you're like, dude, that's Jada McDaniels. Like,

what are we? Like, he doesn't watch basketball. There's no way, Kauai watches basketball. You know what, though, this is what I'll tell you.

It'd be the ones that you think watch basketball that don't sometimes. There's a lot of guys in the NBA that, like, you think of it because that's a guy that I'll probably watch his league pass. And you're surprised how much they don't. I just don't see it. I don't know. I actually, yeah. I don't know. Can we, can we not, how excited are you for this Ryan Garcia tank fight in two days?

I'm so excited. By the way, they bet their purses on it. Yeah, but that's not real. It's not real. It's not real. Also, agents got to get their cut first. Let them get their percentage. And then you guys can do whatever wrong with the money.

First off, immediately after that, his eight, both of, both of Ryan Garcia and Tank's agents called them like, that was great. Good, good for the press. We're going to make even more now. No one's giving up their entire purse off of some willy-nilly deal on Instagram live. I think it was like that streamers video. Right, right. So what if it's a bad decision? Like, what if Ryan Garcia definitely won the fight and then they give the decision?

in a tank. There's no way you're giving the guy $20 million when you think you won the fight. I would think it would be a knockout only situation. If you knock me out, all right, man, you won. Here you go. But even then, the guy still wouldn't give up the money. He's not legally obligated to do it because there's nothing binding, except a bullshit-ass video of them just talking shit saying they'll give each other the purse.

I mean, that whole thing started with Jake Paul start doing that stuff. Like, let's bet, let's bet the purse. Let's bet, like, bro, no one's actually giving up six months of training and hard work. The money they're getting paid for this big fight. after some deal that was made on Instagram live, bro. Cut it out.

But it was good for press and it's made things even more interesting and apparently their pressure today was like nuts. They were talking a little bit. I haven't seen, oh, I can't wait to see that. I haven't seen it yet. Yeah.

I love how they release the episode. So tomorrow they'll release the last episode, episode three of the Showtime series and then the fight Saturday. I feel like this Mayweather all over again, man. I used to love this. Remember they'd had the Mayweather episodes three weeks prior, episode one,

episode two, and they released. They had those 24-7s. The Oscar Deloio, Mayweather was amazing, amazing. It made you so interested in the fight, bros, made you so invested and, like, buy into their hate for each other. So then why doesn't the NBA have like a hard knocks? They used to have something called the association. I remember your dad had it with the Celtics?

And they used to have, remember NBA summer camp, summerly or summer camp? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, they had the association. I remember those a year with the Celtics, I think the year with the Nuggets. They need to have a hard knocks because it just makes you more interested. it does. I know girls that are like, oh, I know this player, or I'm rooting for this team. I'm like, what, why? And they're like, oh, because a hard knocks. It gets people into it. And like you just said, you're more, you're way more hype now for the Tank Garcia.

But I think, I think it's because NBA players are so accessible. That's why, you know, our faces are already so much out there. That's why the hardnecks and the other stuff. Like, for instance, right? How does hard knocks? Hard knocks. Okay, so I think about it. Hard knocks does well because 90% of those players don't have helmets. You don't know who any of those players are before you watch Hard Knocks, most of them, okay? Formula One, that show does so well. Most people in America didn't know anything about Formula One. The Netflix show has blown that sport up, even more. The golf show, full swing.

That's also doing well. Because your average people who are into sports, I'm not saying people like me and you who know these people in other sports, most people don't know who all these other golfers are. Sure, they know Tiger and Phil and Jordan Spief and this guy and Ricky Fowler or whatever, the usual suspects, but they don't know, you know, all these other background guys. That's why those shows have done a one. I'm not saying that's not the case with NBA. I'm not saying everyone knows every NBA player.

I just think they're just way more out there, especially from social media and stuff, like the culture of the NBA with our face and recognition is usually more. And maybe that's why they haven't done a show. I still think it would do well. What team would you want to have it? Any team. I mean, any team would be super interesting. But if like, it had to, I think like, I mean, you won't even watch the heat playing the play in

playoffs so you're not going to watch their hard knocks i would absolutely watch their hard knocks i don't want to watch this i don't want to watch their playoffs just because i already know the end result i don't like watching a mystery movie when i know who the murder is okay what team would you what team would what team would you want to watch in the association or the hard knocks the hard knox then that's a lot of teams i'd watch any team i'd watch any team can you give me just give me somebody here i would watch any team. I'd watch Miami. I'd watch Boston. I'd watch Boston. I'd watch the Golden State. I'd watch

Philly would be fun. The Knicks would be fun. Dallas would be fun. Any team with Memphis would be fun. So you would watch this year San Antonio Spurs in a hard-knock situation? I would. Just for knowing what the grind of summer in a, I'm in a

preseason like and training camps like, I'd just be interested to see some of those guys in their stories. They've got a lot of guys who are trying to make the league, trying to make a name. It'd actually be kind of interesting to see like some of those players you know their stories their backgrounds what they're coming from that dynamic with pops it'd be cool

I was watching Mike Miller run pre-draft for his agency last week and this week and I wanted to ask you who did you do pre-draft with with other players that you're working out with like workouts are you saying when you did your pre-draft what city was it in who are you doing it against oh

I just worked out by myself that's not the way most pre-draft are. What do you mean? You usually have a group that you work out with that are all in a pre-draft together, whoever the agency signed. I know, I didn't do that. I worked out Delo, like completely by myself.

What city? Orlando. That's crazy. And then I just went to draft workouts. Who was the best guy you went against in your draft workouts? I didn't really go again. The only guy I, like, competed against was, was Terrence Ross. You know what I mean?

And we both were like, we had a, I remember we, like, did a workout in Toronto. which they drafted him they ended up drafting him um but we both were like average actually like we actually didn't i was i remember i was so fucked up because during the draft workouts i had a pending surgery that i hadn't gotten i hadn't even gotten it yet but i had like issues with it i had a bone spur and my ankle that was causing like really like bad pain every time i bent so i could not jump. I couldn't land a certain way. I couldn't explode. And I had to like go into these draft workouts with this giant bone spur in my ankle causing me all this pain and like just compete and play just to get drafted, try to go to Summer League playing on the bone spur. And then I ended up like calling

it and be like, yo, I can't do this and ended up telling the team like, yeah, this thing's really, really bothered me. I had to get surgery on it and missed the whole summer going into my rookie year. So, like, I didn't really have the normal draft experience that a lot of other guys, because I was, like, taking it back because of my ankle. All right, Austin, well, best of luck to you and the Timberwolves. All right, my guy. This has been always fun talking to you. I appreciate you.

First off, I need to get a ringer hat since you have one and I don't. I was telling, I was telling Erica, our producer. Fleecing you with gear, not me. It's crazy. I look like Luigi in this green hat, in this mustache. It's crazy, but it's like it's a little key. I'm hyped to where I'm going to represent. I'm going to represent this out.

I'm going to throw in there. I'm going to grow up. Luigi, little Luigi, little Oscar Isaac vibe. No, no one's called me Oscar. That was a one off. No one calls me that anymore. Dana Ricardo, I get all the time. Oscar Isaac.

I don't, I was going to tell you, I don't have the good genes like you. Your dad's jeans are insane. You got the dog rubber jeans. Why are you sitting on your dad like that? I'm not shooting on my, what I'm saying. Or you call him, you call him daddy. I don't know. My daddy is it wasn't an NBA player

Former All-Star The Atlanta Hawks No, but your Your mom is super athletic too Yeah, she's a swimmer Yeah So you have Doc Rivers jeans Your mom's a swimmer

You have these phenomenal genes Your sister's D1 volleyball player We could go out a whole list You could eat whatever you want And you do What's going on here? What's happening?

What I'm saying is you have the Baklava at like 12 o'clock and it's fine I have to eat everything perfectly just to look normal. I have the genes of a DJ Khalid. And that's what would happen. DJ Callet is insane. And I have to work extra hard.

Meanwhile, you and like Bismack, Biombo, just go out and do whatever you want, check the mail. Bismack Biombo? What made you throw that name out? You're so ridiculous, but you guys just go check the mail

and you come back rifts. And it's not unfair. Well, Pasha, I appreciate you. On that note, on that note, on that note, it's been a wrap, man. I appreciate the weekly talks. in the chats that we have.

Man, this one was always entertaining as usual. All right, my guy. Great talking to you as always. Good luck in game three. I can't wait to see Minnesota. I feel like that home court's going to be rocking. It's going to be crazy tomorrow night. We need everybody out there.

Let's get the stadium rocking. Get this series. Make this a series, man. Tomorrow's a must win. We know that. We got to go get it.