The Ringer NBA Show - Emergency Podcast: Brooklyn Nets Hire Steve Nash As Head Coach and Rockets Beat OKC

Episode Date: September 3, 2020

Logan Murdock and Raja Bell share their reactions to the Brooklyn Nets signing Steve Nash to a four-year head-coaching deal and keeping interim head coach Jaque Vaughn as lead assistant coach (00:48). Then they discuss the dramatic ending to Game 7 between the Rockets and Thunder (31:05).  Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello and welcome to a special emergency edition of The Ringer NBA show. My name is Logan Murdoch. I'm a staff writer with The Ringer. And I am joined, as always, by fakeweight staff writer. I don't know if he's written a thing. He wants to be won. That's an honorary title. That's what I thought.

That was my understanding of it. He hasn't written an article, a rundown, anything, but he's here. Former NBA player, former lockdown defender. Roger Bell. What's good, man? I'm chilling, man. I did, however, write an essay for, sixth grade class earlier today. So I got that going for me, which is nice. I don't know. It didn't

get published on a on a site. So we're not. We are, we are here on the heels of a big announcement. Yeah. Steve Nash, future Hall of Famer, Future Hall of Famer is the coach, new coach of the Brooklyn Nets. What is going on, man? Listen, I think it's, it's a good, it's a good pairing with him and KD. You know as well as anybody that that there was a pre-existent. in relationships. Steve was a player development consultant for Golden State. He spent a lot of time with Kevin Durant as I would talk to him over the years about his experiences in Golden State, like not just learning from Steve Kerr and those guys, but who specifically he was working with in Golden State. And it always, KD was always, you know, like one of the names that he said a lot,

when I thought he'd be working with the guards. So that relationship, and then Sean Marks played with us in Phoenix. So there's a real, there's a real respect there as well. So I think it made a lot of sense. Yeah, man. And just a quick disclaimer, we are part of the Ringer podcast network and Spotify. We're going to be talking about Nash. We're going to get into some game seven talk, Rockets Thunder. That was a game.

In the pre-pod meeting, me and Raj almost came to virtual blows about this game. We'll get to that subject in a second. But I do want to get instant reaction on this, this Nash. You got this NASH to Brooklyn Nets. You got a four-year deal. I got to say it's a little troubling to me a little bit, Raja. I want to get to this real, real quick before we get to, you know, kind of breaking this down. But Nash, who has no coaching experience, absolutely no coaching experience.

He was a consultant with the Golden State Warriors during my time on the beat. But this was kind of a surprise to a lot of people in the league when you have, especially under the current climate, when we're talking about equality and talking about all these things, I'm going to read you a list of coaches that, black coaches that are very qualified that didn't get a fair,

in my opinion, a fair shake at this job. You talk about a guy like Ty Lou who won a championship in his first year as coach of the Cavaliers has co-signs from Doc Rivers, was tutored under Phil Jackson. You got M.A. Udoka,

who, has the pop co-sign. You have Jack Vaughn who coached really well in the bubble and had those Brooklyn Nets playing really hard down the stretch. Also a disciple of Pop. David Vantropool, one of my good friends and CBA teammates out there in Minnesota. Yeah, I hear you. Nate McMillan played, coached his ass off in Indiana. Alvin Gentry. You have all these coaches who we, as you know, it's very hard for a black coach to get and keep a job. And during this climate, and I know Nash has been, you know, for all intents of purposes, has been an ally to the, to, to, to, uh, black causes and things like that. But it's not, it's not a great visual when you're for a league that's speaking on, um, Black Lives Matter. We're going to have, um, equality within the coaching ranks. And then this is one of the first big time hires that happens. I just, I think you have to, vet a lot more. This is not 2014,

when you can get a guy just off and no one's really going to bat an eye like that. I think that there should have been more vetting, and I think that Jack Vaughn should have gotten more than just saying, oh, good job. You should have, you can be the lead assistant right now. And I don't know if Nash is going to do a good job.

I don't know what he's going to do, but I think Jack Vaughn deserved a lot more than just being like, okay, good job. go be the lead assistant. I think that's fair. I mean, there are a lot of qualified black candidates and white candidates, for that matter, grinding in the NBA, trying to hopefully one day become an NBA head coach. So, you know, I can't argue with what you said there. What I do know is the relationships that preexisted, the ones that I just talked about, they had to factor into that. And Steve, although, and you touched on it, like clearly not.

like Steve's is down as any ally you're going to find like that's and not just because he's my man but because he puts like words to action like you could go see what he does like he he walks it and he talks it too um he is just a really really smart basketball mind and a smart dude so you know when you when you put those two things together for me and then you add real relationships that makes sense like I trusted Steve's going to do a really good job with that I can't argue. I don't have a defense for the other side. Like,

I'm not the one sitting behind the doors in Brooklyn. And I, and I, I want to validate those feelings, though, because they're, they're real. Like,

I think it's a, it's a real thing. I'm sure Steve would even feel that way, too. You know what I'm sure. Steve, you know what I mean? Like, if we had this conversation,

he'd probably be like, you're, you're right. You know what I mean? But he's going, he, he is the type of guy. Like,

you, I spent a lot of time with Steve. Um, his interests are, are, like, eclectic dude, but very, you know, very into what he's doing and very bright. So whatever he's doing, he's doing really well. And, you know, he was just a savant on the basketball court anyway.

So I do think that his time in Golden State is going to be very, very valuable. He'll be able to lean on those experiences being around the Steve Curse of the world and his coaching staff. I know Steve was soaking that up. So that's all going to help him, you know, in the endeavor. How was it, you know, I was around Steve a little bit in Golden State. He would come up as a consultant and particularly work out with Kevin Durant, which I think is a, um, was honestly a,

a good, didn't hurt him for getting this job, you know, and him and Steve were, uh, very close working out together at UCLA and, um, a lot of the drills that Kevin does for balance.

Um, and that's a, that has a lot to do with Steve Kurt. I mean, Steve, Steve Nash and, um, and,

and, and, uh, Bruce Fraser. So he does have a built-in report right there. But how was it? Did you have any inkling that he would be a head coach? You know, you were a teammate of him. Did you think that this was possible 10 years ago?

Listen, I didn't know that Steve would ever want to be a head coach in the NBA. It's a grind. It is a 24-7, like all-encompassing type of gig. I did know that if Steve wanted to, that he'd had of a lot of the qualities that good coaches have. Number one, like, he sees the game in a way that not everybody can see the game. And a lot of great ones see it like that, but a lot of them can't communicate to you, someone who doesn't see it that way, how they see it. And Steve was always able to do that. Like, if we'd be, you know, in practice the day after a game and, you know, situations had occurred in the game that we went over

in film, you know, I always felt like I could go to Steve and be like, hey, man, like, what did you see there. Like, talk to me about, like, when you're going through that, what are you, what are you looking for? And how did you know that that was, and most good players can see those plays. They can't articulate them to you in a way that you then see them, right? And so his ability to communicate and, again, the IQ, I always thought he'd be good at it if he wanted to do it, but I'm a, I'm like, I didn't, Logan, I didn't know that, that he would want to post career sign up for the grind of an NBA season. Now, I had heard recent rumblings that he may be interested in coming back to the NBA in some capacity. I mean, I didn't, what are you going to do?

Like, everybody, look. I think you opened up a can of worms here, Rod. Just kidding. Hey, listen, there's a window, right? Like, you're getting older. Like, there are things that you want to accomplish in your life that if they've always been on the back burner maybe, like sometimes you have to honor them and say, hey, I'm going to do it now before, you know, it's too late in the game. And so, I don't know. So you're telling me you heard rumblings.

of this, Roger. I'm telling you, I, I heard that Steve was interested in being in the NBA in some capacity, brother. Okay. Well, yeah. I mean, you know, that kind of, that, it kind of, it kind of, yeah. Huh? Huh?

Huh? That's what I'm telling you. Go ahead, bro. Okay. All right. All right. Let me, let me, let me, what was your impression of Steve as, as like a, not the teacher that I was talking about or that you were talking about with KD, but personality wise.

Like, coaches have to have a certain type of personality. Like, did you get any experience with him in terms of personality type and how you think that'll translate into coaching at the NBA level? Everybody at the Golden State Warriors loved Steve Nash, like, loved him. Even last year when, you know, you talk about the Jordan Pools and you talk about some of the, you know, I don't want to disrespect NBA players, but guys that you might not know, right? Sure. We just saw the Golden State Warriors last year.

even that he gave them, you know, grace and was a helpful, you know, eye for them. And so, but I think, though, like, Steve was only there for a little bit. He only came, you know, every few months and stuff to kind of consult and things like that. Yeah, the perfect gig. The perfect gig. We'll get that in the second. Perfect gig, especially for a guy like Nash. One of the things that I'm kind of grappling with.

is the precedent for superstar players going into head coaching roles. You know, we we talk about back in the day with Magic Johnson, who, you know, didn't do well as a Lakers coach, right, during his stretch. And I think one of the reasons why he didn't do well is because you have this expectation as a superstar that guys need to get to a certain level, right? And I think this is why superstar coaches haven't worked historically is because they see, you know, they can erase a lot of people's mistakes with how good they are. Right. And they don't see, you know, a lot of the stuff that role players have to go through, right? And I think that that's why Steve Kerr does really what, did really well because he has compassion for everyone, right? He has compassion for all these guys, particularly the role players.

is Steve going to be able to do that being that he's a superstar and played at such a high level? And you just said, you know, he has this crazy IQ that not a lot of people have. Can he be humble enough and gracious enough to bring these other guys along with him? It's great. It's a great question. I think that he can, number one, Steve was cut more from the cloth of Steve Kerr than he was from LeBron. Michael Jordan and magic. Those guys were freaky physically on top of being brilliant minds in the game.

Steve didn't have the physical gifts necessarily that they had. So I think he can relate to coming into the league, struggling early, having to kind of reinvent himself in his body and really working until he got to the point of being the Steve Nash. We remember being a multiple time MVP. So that grind and ascension as a player, I think he can relate to a guy starting off and maybe not meeting expectations and having to work his way to getting there because that was his journey. Steve knows, I talked to Steve. Steve knows that he is a first time head coach. Like, Steve knows that he's got a lot to learn and that he'll need to lean on the people around him that have the experience for help in certain instances. He also knows that he has a lot to lend to winning basketball games and helping teams win basketball games.

And so I think if you go into it with that mindset where you're like, look, I don't know everything. I'm here kind of hat in hand telling you I don't know everything, but telling you I have a lot to give to the process. And collectively, we can get this, we can get it done. I think you have an opportunity to get it done. And I think that's the way he's approaching it. So you talked to Steve, what is his overall reaction about this gig? How does he feel about it? What was, yeah, you know, how does he feel being a first time head coach?

Hey, look, he's really excited. I'm really excited about the roster, the opportunity there in Brooklyn. I mean, the East is, you know, and at least in my perspective, I ain't putting words in Steve's mouth. It looks wide open to me. I mean, you know, the heat look good. Boston looks good. But if you told me you were going to get a healthy Kyrie and Kevin Durant, both firing on all cylinders playing well together, I take those two with a decent enough roster.

So he's excited about that and then the challenge, right? Like we all, we all as athletes, challenges were what you lived for and you were getting up for them. And so I think he's ready to go. So Steve is going into, he's a first time head coach, hasn't coached, hasn't been an assistant. He's going into a situation where Kevin want to win a championship. Kyrie want to win a championship. You fired Kenny Agonson in part because it just wasn't the right fit and you didn't know if he was the one to bring you a championship. So then you go and get an unproven guy who's never done it before.

How is he going to, how is he going to get to the learning curve of one, being an NBA head coach? And then being an NBA head coach with championship aspirations on a team with championship aspirations on a team with championship of aspirations. Like, I don't, as you can tell, I'm probably not this high on this. Yeah, I can feel this higher as most, as people are. I'm just not that, I'm not that high on this higher right now. Well, what, what I would say is, you know, I would reference the guy that you used to cover the most in Steve Kerr, like he didn't have any real experience. He at least had experience in the front office, though. Yeah, but Steve's been around that, like Steve's, you know, we talked about he's been around that building with Golden State for, for a while. Like, he's,

It's not like he's experienced less, maybe not the same type of experience. But again, I think, number one, understanding who you are in the equation. And Steve does. He understands that, like, this is an opportunity and he doesn't have, you know, NBA coaching experience. And so, therefore, you know, his assistance and the people you put around him are going to be really, really valuable. And he will be very, very receptive to their experience. And, you know, I think that's where it has to start, right? Like, you have to get everyone in that building to understand that this isn't a my way or the highway approach.

That's never been Steve, even as a player. That's not the way he approached it, right? It was a we thing. It was like a communication. Like, we're a family. I need to know what's going on with you. Like, you know, there's love here for not just you as the player, Kyrie, or you as the assistant jock, but you as the family man. or, you know, we need to have those relationships.

We need to keep a clear line of communication. So no one ever feels like someone's holding something in or is talking behind someone's back. I'm going to be as hands off as I can be in terms of letting talent do what talent does within the structure of how we want to play. But I'm not afraid to hold you accountable. So you're not going to walk over me, right? Like we're going to have some clear models of how this family is going to run and we're all

going to abide to those or abide by those. And I think he's going to do good, bro. I think he's going to surprise you. And I think real talk, like Jacques Vaughn and the assistants, they're going to play an integral role in his success. I do want to go back to it because it seemed like you had a little conversation with Steve. I'm just being my little journalist itself. You know what I'm just doing that?

You've discern that from the conversation, bro? I did discern that. Okay. You know the vibes. How much can you share about that combo? Like, how much is he excited? What do you think he wants to do? Like, how does that, how do you think he's feeling?

Especially during this time where this isn't a normal, time to be hired as a head coach. Sure, sure. There's some, there's some uncertainty. I mean, you know, just, you know, around the COVID situation and what next season looks like and, you know, there's some uncertainty that goes along with that. I think there's, again, there's excitement about the possibility. I know he loves the skill sets of the players that they have there. Specifically, the ability for a lot of those guys to be creators in an increasingly creative league off the bounce. Like, you've got a lot of players there that can make play. So I think he's excited about that and the potential defensively.

They look like a team that in theory at least should be able to switch a whole lot of stuff. Keeping things in front, right? And I know there's excitement that he has about that. And then, you know, obviously every roster has areas that they need improvement in. And, you know, this is just my personal belief. And, you know, I said it to Steve. I said, look, I think that roster is going to need some sort of enforcer. some sort of guy that's...

Wait, you coming out of retirement? Not me, sir. Oh, okay. But someone, you know, someone like, you know, I don't know, Andre Aguadala type of player, like someone who could be in that, in that locker room as a vet, maybe not the best player on your team, but really character glue guy that holds guys, does whatever you need them to do down the stretch of games just to tie it all together.

And so, you know, but he overall excited, bro, he sounded real excited. Why does everyone love Steve? What is the reason that everyone loves him? He's a dude's a dude, man. He's just a good dude. Like a good dude to drink a beer with. Like we talk before we come on, like, you know, good dude to drink a beer with and watch a soccer game or a basketball game or can relate to everyone.

And, you know, again, I just used my own personal experience with Steve. Like, what did he do for you as a leader? He just cared about me. Like, you know what I mean? Like, it was deeper than just what you can do to get my assist total up. Like, and he cared about Eddie House and he cared about Leandro Barber. Bosa and every team I was on with Steve. What were some examples to show that he cared, though?

Like, was he like, what was he doing? Listen, our conversations around, like, when we stretched and whatnot, like, they didn't revolve around basketball. They revolved around, like, what was going on in my personal life, like with my wife and kids and vice versa, right? Like, we did holidays at his house when the twins were little, and my wife and I didn't have kids. and they knew we really wanted to have kids

and we couldn't have them. And so, you know, I don't know if they really said, hey, man, like, this is why we need to have them over, but the house was open. So we could be over there and have family in Arizona and stuff like that. And that just goes a long way with people, though, because there's a real human there.

It's not just somebody that's, you know, using you for their quest to a championship, if you will. Sure. I mean, that's great to hear. You did say that, like, we talked about this prepod where he is, guy that you'd like to get a beer with and just chill and hang and watch soccer with. You know, the NBA coach grind ain't that. It's not, it's not that, especially during these

uncertain times. How is, how is Steve going to adjust to that of just every day? Like, you're not going to be able to like, yo, man, this, this Tottenham game is coming on, but now I got to pour over this film. You know about Tottenham, bro? What do you know about the hot spur? My first soccer game was in Nashville, Tennessee, at a friendly, I think it was between Tottenham and FC Barcelona. Oh, that's a good game, though. It was fire. But I know a little something about Tottenham. I know that's his favorite team.

That is. Daw, I don't, that's the, I don't know, four-year, however many million dollar question. I ain't see the deal, but it is a different way of life for anyone, not just Steve. Like if you haven't been on your MBA grind as an assistant and being groomed to do that, that's going to be a real change of a way of life. I think that Steve, not unlike Steve Kerr or anybody that would be coming out of non-basketball to hop into that, you've got to be prepared for that. You've wrapped your mind around that already and you're the type of person that's going to

dig in and grind on whatever it is you put your mind to. So I think he's going to be fine. But it is going to be a really, really different way of life. And look, I sit here with you now. Like, I've been offered MBA gigs before. Like, you know, I, you know, it did, it didn't fit my lifestyle. Like, it just, my kids are at an age where, you know, I've said no to them in the past. Because I know having been in Cleveland trying to be an executive for a year that this isn't going to fit my lifestyle.

You're essentially marrying the club and the players become your kids. well, at the stage of life my kids are in, like, I can't trade that for an NBA gig, you know? Were you, have you been offered? I'm just saying I've been offered NBA gigs in the past. Like, I mean, this summer, like, and I, you know, I just, it's not, I'm not ready for that. You over here, bucket back, like, you, you know, I'm saying. I answered your question, though. Listen, like, you don't know that I'm a journalist and that I have to ask these questions.

Like, you ain't been an NBA very. man, he over here like, well, I told you. Like, bro, I got to ask a follow-up. Come on, what are we talking about? What are we doing? You know what it is. You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Raja. It's true. This is true. I chose you, sir. I chose you. You know what I'm saying? Okay, I chose you. I chose journalism.

Yeah, exactly. I think the biggest thing, though, that is helping Steve is that he has a built-term rapport with Kevin and Kyrie. They like him. That's going to go a long way. And I think that it's particularly with Kevin, because I can only speak on Kevin, because that's, you know, that's what I've been around. But Kevin were pretty close. Him and Kevin were, you know, worked out together. And Steve really helped him out in terms of how his game has changed, right?

And getting that balance and being an all-around score, ironically enough. You know, Steve has been really instrumental in that. I think that's going to go a long way here. when you have buy-in from your two best players, and that's probably why this ended up happening, right? Because you have buy-in, and in their mind, they get the best of both worlds that they get Jack Vaughn on the staff,

and they also get a guy that both of those guys. Like, how important is that? Super, super important to have buy-in from the top. You've seen, I've been on staffs, excuse me, like with David Blatt, where we didn't have buy-in from the top. And my job was to go sit with LeBron and ask him to buy-in and get his teammates to buy-in so that we could make a fair assessment of whether David Blatt was a good coach or not.

So I know firsthand how difficult that can be when you don't get it. I think the fact that his relationship with KD is as strong as it is couldn't have done anything but help in the equation. And I think you just reference your experience with him and KD. I wasn't there to see that. I could only talk about the conversations I had with Steve and him telling me that he was working with KD a lot. I do think he's going to be really, really good for Karee. I think he's the type of coach that if Kyrie is receptive to it, and I imagine he would be at this point, because KD will endorse it, I think Steve can be really, really good for Kyrie. And not just mentally and in a leadership capacity, but in a efficiency, because that's what Steve talks about a lot, right?

He talks about, like, you know, along with the balance and stuff like that, but it's efficient movements and streamlining. And I think that, I think that's going to be great for Kyrie also. See, well, Kyrie, the rap on him at least is, you know, that we've talked about this before with the Celtics get better when he's not there, right? The net, statistically speaking, get better when he's off the floor. But Kyrie is such a great talent, man. He's so good. What kind of coach does he need to fully unlock? Okay.

So I've had this conversation as well. I think that Kyrie needs someone who validates like Kyrie as the human being, the person and his opinions as a player and a person. Like he has to feel like he is in, invested ownership. Like he needs that. He also has to have someone who talks to him on a personal level. Like this is, I don't just see you as the brand Kyrie that can do all the family. fantastic things on the court. I see you, Kyrie, the human being, right? And I care about you. I think then when you build that relationship with Kyrie, he becomes way more receptive to what

ultimately good coaches have to do, which is hold you accountable, tell you when you fucked up. Even if it's brief and I don't have to harp on it because I know, you know, different players respond to different type of criticism, but I got to show you on this film, dog, you didn't do that right. And we can't have that. But I think once you establish like the personal relationship with Kyrie that you're in much better place as a coach to be able to hold him accountable and get him to do what you want him to do. I also think the pairing of a star becomes really important with Kyrie. Like, you know, and- But I mean also though, like he did get paired with a star. No, no, no, no. But I'm saying like the type of personality that his co-star has is really

important in the equation, right? Like, you can't have a dude who's preaching at him kind of Like I think LeBron's leadership style is, which is like, this is how I do it. This is how we win championships. Everybody's going to get in line. We're going to win a championship. Even if it works, I don't think Kyrie's super receptive to that. I feel like Kyrie is the person that he wants you to at least understand him on a real level, right? Yeah.

And understand the things that he does and understand his background and you have to build in a respect. You can't talk down on him, right? Facts. So let's get some predictions. What do you, what do you think is a, win for these. 82 and oh. Okay.

Go ahead. My bad, bro. I'm just bugging. Like, Kevin ain't even going to, I don't even know if, is Kevin play 82 games? Does Kyrie even play 82 games? Like, there's, we talked about load management on the last pod. Like, that's not going to happen, bro. I got you.

Go ahead. What are, what are reasonable expectations for these Nash nets? That's a good question, bro. Um, I mean, I have to, I don't mean to sound cliche, but like, you, you have to be thinking at minimum Eastern Conference finals in your first go around in the Eastern Conference. Like that's that's that's where I'm at as a floor for the team again, partly because of what you have and then partly because the East just seems not really ready yet all the way. Just my opinion, like good teams again, but nothing that would like scare you off of like we can't

you know what I mean. Even the bucks who we thought were world beaters are, you know, in the process might get, they're on the wave to getting swept right now. Yours truly was very wrong on that. They were my finals prediction. Like I, they were mine too. I know. I listen.

I don't know. Where do you stand on that? Like, do you think, okay, so are we going to, how long does Steve get to not win a championship, but be like Eastern comfort? Like, how long you give him before? I give a bigger question. How long does he want to stay? It's fair. Right?

That's fair. I'd say whoever the coach was had to be had to be. had to, it's either Eastern Conference Finals or Buss, because you have Kevin Durant on your team. You have Kyrie Irving on your team. You're in Brooklyn. You made this big splash and free agency last summer. You're going up to play. It's between you and Janus. Well, you and hopefully Janus, because you know, Janus has been catting off right now. Janus has not been playing. Janus's team has been underperforming. And I'm sure we'll get to that soon if they keep fucking up in the playoffs. But it is Eastern Conference or Bust right now. Year one.

Year one. You need to win a title during this run. You need to at least be in the finals game seven, something like that in the second year, at least. I'm with you on that. You have to. Finals are bust year two. Provided there's health.

Like if there are injuries and shit like that mega injuries, like you can't predict that. Four year deal, Raja. How long does Steve last? You want me to, while you marinate on that, can I, can I, can I just say that? No, yeah. I'm going to say, I don't know if he goes four years. By his own, like, on his own accord or like he don't make the money.

I think on his own accord. I just, you know, like, I just don't, I don't know, man. Like, it's, you know, I mean, the World Cup is popping, man. I want to go. Roger. Roger, I got the, you're about to fuel in the jet right now. You ready, you in? Slide through.

That's my guy. I think he's going to make the four, Logan. Okay. Only because I haven't ever known him to quit anything. Sure. I honestly, I don't even know if Steve knows if he's a lifer at this, even if he's really, really good at it because he's just a dude that has a lot of interests.

Seems like a chill dude to kick it with, man. He's a great dude to kick it with, bro. But on just some low-key, like, you could have a beer and just like, I don't know, like we met him down at his hotel and his wife and the kids. came down and his dad and mom were there and I took the family. We just went and sat down by the pool and had beers. You know what I mean? Like, there's just chill.

Like, good dude to kick it with. But I think he makes it before because I've never known him to quit. And then I think he reassesses and decides whether it fits with his family life and it fits with what he wants to do a big picture in his life. Okay. All right. Steve Nash, coach of the Brooklyn Nets. NBA head coach Steve Nass.

I'm still getting used to that. Let's get to some, let's get to some quick playoff. Let's get some quick playoff reactions. The Rockets won game seven of the first round over the thunder. Listen, we had, you're not on social media. You probably got a telegram or facts or something like that about this. But like before this game, we was getting these jokes ready for the Rockets. You know, Westbrook has not gotten past the second round without Kevin.

James Harden. We know his flameouts in the playoffs. They handled their business down the stretch. man. This, the defining game, the defining moment of this game was a James Harden stop. How's that?

How crazy is that? I low key was kind of juice for him. Because he was playing, he was playing like, he was playing like shit. So, okay, here's my question. Does, the block was fantastic. Great defensive play.

The irony in that is, is great for me. It does it, does it outweigh, though, how poorly he did perform offensively? Yes. It does. It's okay.

It does. It does. Because history won't remember that. History will remember that block. Yep. Down the stretch against the Thunder's the best player for the Thunder that night. Against Lugan's Dort, the best player for the Thunder. That night, I'm saying last night. He was. Was he not? Was he not? He had a 30 ball. He was the player of the game for the Thunder. He was cashing. Yes. Yes. I go back to Game 7 of the 2010 finals. Kobe shot like Logan Murdoch. and still was the defining player of that game.

You know what I mean? So you can have a bad shooting night if you get all those other things. Sure. Kudos to the Rockets. Kudos to the Rockets. Let me ask you a question, because I know where we're going.

I know ultimately where we're going. We're going to get into this argument. But where are you on Mike DeAnonio? I don't mean to make this pot all about the people I stand up for. But like, you just threw the lob so you can stand up for Tony. I had a little bit of beef that it was the Mike DeAnon. Dan Tony head on the chopping block after game six and not really like the James Hardin. It seemed to be Mike Dan Tony and Russ Westbrook.

And I like James Hardin, but I thought he was skating. Like, I'm just, I'm keeping it 100. I thought he was skating on the criticism. I think that it's bigger than Dan Tony in this sense because, you know, it's new ownership. They've shown that they're not committed to this man. Of course, of course speculation is going to come that he's going to get fired. Or he's, it's his fault, especially during that time. This is the, this is probably the second greatest run of Rocket's history other than those title years.

Right. Right. I don't think that's hyperbole. No. But I don't think that Dan Tony's gotten a fair shake over these last two years anyway. I mean, he's gotten them to the conference finals. This was the best, this was the best, you could say this was the best, second best team of this era in the Western Conference behind the Golden State Warriors. They were the only team that stuck out their chest

that had a Golden State Warriors. Right. I just think that Dan Tony should get a fair shake, a fairer shake all the way around for what he's done. But, I mean, you know, he might have earned criticism, but I think that it's James Harden, you're right. James Hardin should have gotten a little bit more of that criticism.

But he played his ass off, and I don't know, this might be the last go-around for this iteration of the Houston Rockets, to be honest, no matter what happens. Yeah, I think you're probably right on that. And not that Mike should be absolved of any, like, responsibility. I'm just like, I felt like him and Russ were carrying the brunt of it, and James was kind of, James was kind of skating on it. But I agree with you on the, like, you can't roll out with this small ball, like,

lineup. It's not, it's just not, I mean, if they win a championship, Logan, like, I mean, I don't think any of us think that they're going to win it. But if they did, maybe, but anything short of that. And I think you have to go ahead and try to really figure out. what your roadmap is to getting where you want to go. There's the other side of this. CP3 was talking cash shit after game six, and rightfully so.

Yeah. There was a chance down the stretch for him to do, for him to make good on his promise. There was a foul off ball at the end of the game. Anyone could have shot in that free throw. This is where we're about to fight being you, Roger. There was a foul off the ball. Anyone could have shot the free throw. he's the leader of the team, the best player on the team.

Why is Danilo Gallinari shooting a free throw instead of Chris Paul? Who talked cash shit? Yeah. Okay. So look, we don't have to fight, but we probably, here's all I'm saying. If Danilo Gallinari shoots all of your free free throws, like your technical fouls and all of those shots, you don't get out of character at the end of a game and put Chris Paul at the line. just because he's your best player. If Danilo shoots all of those free throws,

like you don't do that. As much as you want Chris Paul to back up his shit talking, that's not what you do, dog. Like the person who shoots those free throws, shoots those free throws. Now, if Chris Paul is a 50-50 participant in those free throws, then yeah, he should have stepped his ass up there and hit the free throw.

But I don't have the answer to that. So my argument is if Danilo usually shoots those free throws, then you don't throw Chris Paul on the line in that situation. And you got to tell me otherwise. I have a question. I just have a question for you. All right. We're on the 2006 Phoenix Suns, right?

You're cooking. You're bawling. Yeah. Late game situation. You're in this situation. And they call your name to shoot the free throw. No disrespect. But Steve Nash is a future hall of fame.

A little bit. Steve Nash is a future Hall of Famer, sir. Right. But that's a bad analogy because guess what? Steve Nash was the guy that shot every free throw for us. So that was his role. So it wouldn't have been. If I was the designated technical free throw shooter because I shot 97% through a whole season in game seven of the finals, if there was a technical free throw with seven seconds on the clock, guess who goes to the free throw line?

I do because I shot 97% and I'm the designated technical free throw shooter. Listen, man. Listen, check this out, Roger. Wait, by that logic, you would send like, you were sending Shaquille O'Neal to the free throw line because he's a Hall of Famer and he should be shooting the last shot. That don't make no sense.

I'm sorry, man. I'm putting Kobe on the line. If, if we're doing, you know what I mean? We're talking about a guy. Okay, here's another one. But Kobe was the free throw shooter, though. Was he not? Kobe demanded to be the free throw shooter, though.

That's where the issue lies. In every instance, in every instance. Maybe not every instance. Derek Fisher might have shot a couple technical free throws, right? Like if it's in the middle of the game, right? But with the game on the line, bro, we talk about this all the time. With the game on the line, your best player has it. LeBron is a high 60% free throw shooter.

With the game on the line, I'm not giving it to Matthew Delvedova. I'm giving it to LeBron James when he has for the free throw. I'm doing it. That's what it is. He is the best player on the team. you as the best player on the team with all your accolades, you demand to get on the free throw line, especially after you talk cash shit for,

you know what I mean? You stuck your chest out after game six, right? Did he or did he not stuck his chest out after game six? He did. I can't defend that. He did. And then he goes into the, and then we talk about the final play of the season.

And the play is called for Danello Gallinari. De Nello Gallinari? First of all, I'm not going to let you gloss over to fact that you, first of all, you call Chris Paul LeBron James. And then secondly, you compare Delavadova, and I love Deli to Gala Nari. Gala Nari and Delavadova are not in the same stratosphere as scores, right? They're not even in the same breath. So, like, if you're telling me that Chris Paul and Danilo usually split the duties of shooting free throws, it could go either way. And they're relatively the same percentage free throw shooter. I 100% agree with Logan

Murdoch. Then Chris Paul should have got his ass out there and knocked down a free throw. If there's any like, my point is this, Roger. Significant difference between them as free throw shooters, and it's Danilo's job, then you got to let that man shoot the free throw. My point is this, man, you are the, nah, you taught Cass should you were the best player of the team.

You are a future Hall of Famer. Danilo, get the hell off the free throw line. I got this. And then to go on the final stretch and then let Danilo get the last, get a play called for him for the last shot, and then you go and say, all right, bed, it's cool.

No, that's not cool. That is not good when you are a future Hall of Famer. This is the team that traded you away after you had 27, 11, and 6 in a game 6 closeout and was one of the best players on the floor last year against the Warriors. I can't argue with any of that.

Yeah, you're right. Exactly. You can't argue with any of that. But I can argue with what we were talking about, but none of that has anything to do with shooting a free throw. Like that. It does. No, no, no. It has everything to do with shooting a free throw.

Here's what I want you to do. All this is on the line. And you say, hey, bro, this team cut me. Logan Murdo. I'm the best player on this floor. You're telling me that if you have a 65, you would let Janus go to the free throw line at the end of the game. I would know.

I would want, this is the point, Roger. No, it's not the point. It's not the point. I would want, no. Not what you would want, it's what you should do. So I'm saying you would put Janus on the free throw line instead of Chris Middleton. If those three free throws.

were available to anybody on Milwaukee last night. You'd send Janice out there? I would want Janice to say, because Janice says he has the Bamba mentality, I would want Janice to say, respectfully, Chris, get the fuck off the free throw line. Janice better mamba, his ass to the back of the line, shooting 60% from the free throw line. I know that. The game is on the line. I want these free throws and I want this moment.

This is my team. I hear you want, I know, I can dig the mentality. And I don't have a real good answer as to whether or not, like, Danilo shoots those versus Chris or. You know, I don't know, but I'm with you. And you know what? Maybe even more of the indictment, like the last play of the game when he kind of got bottled up on the right wing, kicked it to the corner, and then you got the cross court skip

to Luke Lugan's door. Well, you could pull that out. And even if you lost your dribble and you kick it to the corner, like you're supposed to immediately pop back to that wing and show big hands, two hands, like, yo, me, back to me. I need that. And he didn't do that. And so, you know, I feel you.

And this is a guy, right? that is not done well in the postseason, has not lived up to that moment historically when it's on the line. So that's all I'm saying is that, yeah, the number suggests that Danilo should be at the line. You are the best player on the team, and you are a future Hall of Famer.

I can be mad at you for that. Get off the free throw line. That's all I'm saying. All right? Is that you feeling? I'll concede. Although, again, like I think I provided some pretty good arguments as to why you don't go purely.

And I would tell you if you did. I don't think you did. I don't know. I don't know. All right, man. Well, this has been the emergency podcast on the Ringer NBA show. Be sure to check us out on Spotify and wherever you get podcast. We'll see you, I think, next Monday, because something, I didn't know we were going to do this.

We might see you sooner than that. I mean, I don't know. I might have to feel a couple phone calls. I had some, some, look like Brooklyn numbers coming in real quick. All right. At the moment, we're here. We'll see you guys next Monday. But you never know during this NBA season.

and we'll see you guys next time.