The Ringer NBA Show - What’s Wrong with the Miami Heat? | Weekends with Wos

Episode Date: March 27, 2022

Wos is joined by Meadowlark Media's Tom Haberstroh and they talk about the Miami Heat who have lost four games in row and have been in the news after Jimmy Butler, Udonis Haslem and head coach Erik Spoelstra got into an argument during their loss to the Warriors last week. Host: Wosny Lambre Guest: Tom Haberstroh Associate Producer: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For as long as I've known the NBA, it's been a Stars League. But even among the Stars, there's an exclusive club. Russell and Dr. Jay, Jordan, Kobe. They're all part of a select group that paved the way for the NBA superstar of today. And some even shared secrets with each other along the way. From Spotify and the Ringer podcast network, I'm Jackie McMullen. And this is the icons club. into the latest edition of Weekends with Was on the Ringer Podcast Network.

Of course, I'm your host, Big Wasa, K.A. Wazzy Lambray. And I'm joined this time by a very, very special guest of Metal Arc Media. Also happens to be my brother, my, like actual brother. His handsome Tom Habistro, what's going on, Tom? My guy. Dude, it's great to be here. Weekends with Waz. I'm a loyal listener.

And I don't know how I'm going to follow up, Sabri. here, who is just unreal about the Lakers, man. She was on another level, Sabrina. But Tom, listen, that's the reason why I have a lot of fun doing this show because they basically just let me book whoever the hell I want. And what that turns into is just I just call my friends. Yo, can you come on the show? Thanks.

All right, see you on Sunday. Good stuff. Good talk. So, yeah, man, obviously really happy to have you on today. Yeah, but I just got to know, like, can we have like an end-a-year celebration, like a real weekends with Waz? The guests on Weekends of Waz do a weekend with Waz? Listen, you know what? I've been doing one guest at a time because I'm so lazy.

I book everybody last minute. So now that you've implanted that seed, we're definitely going to do a Weekends with Waz-Paloosa at some point. Yes. Maybe after the finals is done. We'll do a Weekends with Waz-Paloosa. have some of my esteemed guests. So far, I've had, I've had some pretty esteemed guests. You, Nate Duncan, Sabrina Merchant, Zach Harper, Minow Hassan, Ethan Strauss. I mean, the list goes on, you know, just, just luminaries. Don't forget about Gulliver, man. Golover brought

to fire too. Ben Gulliver, another classic appearance. Just some of the biggest beast in NBA media. I'm happy you brought that up. I'm a great guest booker, I guess. You can say, Tom. That's right. That's right. No, I mean, you just came through Miami, and now I think we're going to talk a little Miami. And now you had like, some time there. You got to feel the vibes. Yes.

And I'm guessing you predicted this four game losing streak and this kerfuffle on the sideline. No, I did not. I've been talking up the heat all year, the way they've weathered injuries. The way their defensive unit has looked at times, just like complete monster world beaters. I'm like, look, man, they've got a lot of guys with playoff equity veterans that have been like finals, one finals, you know, guys who have been through the crucible of the postseason, right? So much just intelligence, basketball intelligence on the roster. And of course, me and you have a lot of respect for what Coach Spoh does.

So I've been kind of talking up Miami all year. It was, I didn't really even think to question what they were doing until we recorded our latest group chat, me, Varyer, and Rob Mahoney. And Vary was like, I think the heat are going to get. beat up pretty soon here and especially in the playoffs. And lo and behold, they've lost four straight. They've lost five out of the last seven. Coach Spolstra X. Jimmy Butler, if he wanted to fight.

Udana's hasn't promised to kick Jimmy Butler's ass in front of 20,000 people. And, you know, of course, they do because Miami is about as professional as it gets. And they come out and say, oh, it's nothing. This is the kind of stuff that happens behind closed doors all the time. you guys just happen to see it. It's not a big deal. Where are you at with the heat? Have you been like the heat or one of the top teams in the East all year?

Or have you been a skeptic? Well, I've always been worried about the offense. The defense I know with PJ Tucker, Bam Out of Bio, Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler. Like, I'm not worried about the defense until now. Like, I was always worried about the offensive side and their ability to score in the half court because you got Jimmy Butler and Bam out of bio, two non-shooters out there. Jimmy Butler has just completely abandoned the three-point game. His mid-range jumper has been off this year as well.

And their ability to get into the paint and penetrate, that was my concern. And then the last four games, it's not just that they've lost, Waz. It's that they've lost to like the B squads, right? It's the JV squad of the Philadelphia 76. There's no wind, no Hardin, Golden State Warriors. They got beat by 14 or something like that against the team that didn't have Igadala. They didn't have Draymond. they didn't have staff.

And then they go against the Knicks and get blown out in the fourth quarter. Emmanuel quickly has outscored the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter by himself. And it's like, yo, what is going on here? Because the offense, like, I had my concerns all season. But the defense, the fact that they've laid down defensively over these four games, that's a concern for me because, as you know, watching as much NBA as you have, when you question a team's chemistry or a question to teams togetherness, it shows, it manifests itself on the defensive end.

Yep. And so if you're not locked in, if you're not playing for each other, that's where it's going to show. And that's what I'm concerned about is you remember this from, it was a 2012 playoffs when Eric Spolstra and Dwayne Wade went at it in the timeout. What happened that next game against the Pacers? Was that the bet? Was that when him and LeBron dropped 40 each?

Yeah. Yeah, they dropped 70 points in that next game. and it was like, oh, okay, that's what happens when they go, like, when they have these skirmishes and they basically turn around and just kick your ass. And then this time didn't happen at all in these last couple games after that, that battle with Eric Bolster and Jimmy Butler. And look, I don't want to be all doom and gloom here. So I do want to say, like, especially you mentioned defense, it's not as if they don't

have defensive talent. It's not as if they don't have some of the savvious, most instinctive defensive players like I've ever seen. Like, I'm talking about between like Jimmy and PJ and Kyle Lowry and, you know, especially PJ and Kyle, they're pretty up there in age at this point, but still, like, these are some of the best defensive players we've ever seen at their position straight up, especially in this generation of players. And Bam is an all defensive type of guy. I don't have any, like, worries that when they, you know, decide, like, all right, there's actually stakes here. We have the talent. We have the know-how.

They're going to execute defensively. I just think you want to be coalescing right now, you know, with about seven games left in your season. And it seems that they're doing the opposite. And it's hard to understand why. What is your sense as to what is the sort of chasm between Jimmy and whoever the hell it is he's mad at? I know that Jimmy is a big personality. We know about that with Philly. We know about that when Minnesota and going back to Chicago.

Like, he's always been a very confrontational person, not afraid to light people up. The fact that he went at Eric Spolster and basically challenged him to a fight, or at least that's what we're speculating it based on what Spohs said, well, what? You want to fucking fight me? Like that? That was incredible. And an incredible moment thanking to the fans on the court side, just like getting out their phones to doing that. because like Spow went at him. That's what's so amazing to me

is that Spoh kept going at Jimmy because of what Jimmy said, whatever he said in the huddle. And I don't know what that's about. You know, there's a cone of silence around the Miami Heat of Veil's secrecy that has always happened since I've been covering them. Hashtag he culture.

Hashtag he culture. I remember Gerald Green got like arrested for punching some dude outside of a condo one time. And like the police, nobody talked. about it. Like, Pat Riley must have gotten on the phone with the PD. It was like, we're shutting this down. No one's going to know about what Gerald Green did. It was like, how is that possible? But that's the heat way. So like, the idea of like what's beneath the surface here of Jimmy Butler and Eric Spolster and the team. I mean, I don't know, but I will say this. Like,

Spoh's half Filipino. I would not go at Spoh. Like, he's the biggest Manny Pakeal fan I know. I've watch Manny Pachiao fights with Eric Spolster before. Like, don't try to tell me that Eric Spolster doesn't have like a couple ones. Spos of dog is what you're saying. I'm not going to say he's going to win a fight with Jimmy Butler, but like, Jimmy's got to know that Spoh. I don't think he's playing. So it was, it was an incredible moment. Like, I don't know where your head was at with dissecting that, that sideline thing.

But it was, it was kind of alarming to me how little people cared in the huddle. Like, Udana's Hazem was going at him. But, like, Quinny, like, Chris Quinn, assistant coach, couldn't, like, care less in the moment of what was going on. Like, the coaches weren't holding Spoe back. He was just like, all right, if Spoh wants to go at him, like, let him go at him. You know what's interesting is that it actually made me think, as is often the case, back to the first Heedle season, when LeBron shoulder bumps Spoh. Pretended that it was an accident when all of us knew that it wasn't. And I don't want to say Spow like sort of shrank from that situation, but you could tell

he was just like, all right, that was some bullshit. But like I have so much more shit to worry about. I can't even go into that direction. And of course, Pat Riley and management came to Spow's defense. And like, he's not getting fired. He's not going anywhere. We're in lockstep with Coach Spolstra. The inmates aren't running this asylum.

That's not what the case is. So I remember Spow's reaction to that. And then the Jimmy reaction is like, it's sort of the evolution of Spow. It's like the guy that was, I don't want to say he was unsure of himself, but he still felt like he had something to prove, right, out here. And he's, you know, he's coaching the most watch team in the NBA, if not all of sports. And to now where he's just like, Jimmy Butler, I'll fight you.

Like, I'll fight you in front of all these people. Like, I don't give a damn. So that's what I thought of with that. And then, you know, it kind of made me think about Jimmy and sort of the narrative around him, right? I think when he was mad about Chicago, sort of balking at the idea that they should pay him, making him go out and get a qualifying offer and all of that. And he was pissed about that.

Like, we were like, you know what, Jimmy, you're kind of right. When he was pissed about Wiggins and towns and their, say, approach to the game, I think, you know, it turned out that he was kind of right about the immaturity of those guys, especially about Wiggins who plays his same position, got a freaking Max deal because he promised the owner that he would work hard. And, you know, he was kind of right about that. Then, of course, the Philadelphia thing happens. And, you know, look, him and Joel obviously still mess with each other.

They still buddies and whatever. But we've seen the Simmons thing sort of play out. Where it's like, yo, like, you guys are kissing these kids' asses all day, every single day. Then when they're asked to do something hard or difficult, it's just like Jimmy, go figure this out. Like, you kind of understood where Jimmy was coming from with all of the temper tantrums and the craziness that he was doing. However, in Miami where it's just like,

all you talk about, you market is like, I'm just about to work. I'm a dog. I want to do this. I just want to be around people that work hard and who care. And blah, blah, blah. And to a man in Miami, like, there are no non-grinders on this team. And that goes from top of the problem. bottom from Riley.

You know, I don't know if you're watching winning time, Tom. Pat Riley wasn't always the slick dude in the Armani suits. He was a grinder first. I don't know if you know if you know this. So, like, that's what I'm thinking about is the Jimmy of it all. It's like, Jimmy, come on. Like, get it together, please. Yeah, and then the last game where he was like two for nine,

he missed his last seven field goals and, like, the very first possession, Andre Drummond, is stripping it from him. And then later in the game gives the piece. he signed to the heat as he's going up for the dunk on a fast break. Like, I don't know what's going on with the Miami Heat right now, but I'll tell you this. Like, they need to get something right. They need to get this figured out because I thought it was overrated the idea that they were the number one seed and like, are they the favorites in the Eastern Conference?

I don't know if I was willing to go that far. But this is just a bad year in the East. I mean, the winner of the Eastern Conference is going to win like 52 games. Yeah. was, right? So there is no juggernaut out east. It is there for the taking. And the Miami Heat have to have to find that next gear where in the playoffs, Kyle Lowry is going to have to step up. The guy has missed almost a month due to personal reasons. Another cone of silence thing with the Miami Heat where Kyle Lowry can miss like two weeks at a time. And it's just, it's personal

reasons. And he's done it a couple times this year where he stepped away from the team. and then Jimmy Butler has this explosion and Eunice Hasam's going at him too. It's been a weird season for the Miami Heat. I think they were the number one seed by default simply because the East has been just so atrocious this year at the top. So I'm not a big believer in them as title contenders

until they figure out that offense. The thing that scares me about them is the worst three-man trio, offensive rating on the team. Is Jimmy Butler, Tyler, Tyler, Tyler, and Bam out of bio. Wow. Those three guys, when they're on the floor together, have the worst offensive rating points per 100 possessions of any trio on the Miami Heat.

And it's just in the half court, they really struggle to get points. And that's, once the defense starts splitting at the seams, that's a bad recipe for postseason play. Yeah. And so, of course, they had that magical run in the bubble where nobody could figure out their offense because it was basically new, right? Like that kind of continuity stuff, that kind of like read and react stuff that they were doing with Duncan Robinson and Tyler Hero. Like, over time, teams develop ways to guard it. But at first, it's a mad scramble. They were generating so many quality looks.

And to the point where they rode that thing all the way to the NBA finals. And even as an injured team, I felt like they gave the Lakers a run for their money, even though Bamarabio. was hurt for the majority, if not the entire series. As Miami fans will remind you time and time again, that by the fans, that's one of those, Kendrick Perkins, we never lost with the five men.

So, you know, they have. Better than Cape Park. Yeah, he's better than Perk, but yes. 100%. But they had that magical run, and I'm like, all right, cool. And then last year, they just got completely pants, right? Like, they got completely embarrassed in the playoffs.

And, you know, I, I just, just assumed this year would be a mixture between the two. I didn't think they would be this dominant force that they were in 2020. At the same time, I didn't think they would, you know, just completely flame out in 2021. I thought they would, you know, field some competitive basketball in the postseason. However, and you mentioned an offense, I think Duncan Robinson and Tyler Hero back in 2020, for whatever reason, teams were not sure how to attack them offensively.

That's no longer the case. When those guys are on the floor, guys' eyes are lighting up and they are destroying those dudes. And I hate that it's the white American dude. Like, it's so stereotypical that they're like the worst defenders on the team and the guys see them.

Even white guys see them guarding them and just are like, yo, I'm gonna kill this dude. But like, that's what it is. Yeah. Philly just hunted hero like time and time again, like four straight possessions. They went at Tyler Hero.

And look, like, that's something you got to worry about, is their ability to maybe switch, like pre-switch that screen with Bam Out of Bio and maybe try to blow up that hunting. But it's going to be an issue for the heat. And, you know, I think really all that stuff will take care of itself. I trust Eric Spulcher to figure out those kind of adjustments to not have Tyler Hero on Duncan Robinson on an island defensively. But to me, the biggest issue is whether Jimmy Butler is locked in. That's it. Like, it starts with that.

Because when you look at his performance in the most recent game against Brooklyn, it was, I think they were outscored 72 to 46 in Jimmy Butler's 25 minutes. 72 to 46. You know, and Kyrie didn't even have it going. 25 minutes is two NBA quarters, and you guys gave up 76 points. That's, like, I don't care, you know, even in the offensive. three-point revolution, even in the uptick and pace. Like, I get it.

We're in the video game era of NBA basketball. That's bad. That's bad defense. There's no other way to slice that. You know, when you stub your toe and you're just hot mad, like, you're just, like, angry at the world. I feel like there's some of that going on with Jimmy Butler where, like, he's banged up. And so he's his temper and his just, he's just fired up more because I think he's been

banged up all season. And this was kind of the issue. Not kind of the issue. This was the red flag for Jimmy Butler that trade, the sign and trade with Philly, was, all right, you're committing to this guy long term. How much can he stay healthy? Like Jimmy Butler at age 32, 33, 34, what does that look like? And if he's not able to get that burst or that first step, that quick first step around a guy and he's not able to get into the paint as much, well, then he's going to become a jump shooter. And he's not that guy.

He's not that guy at this stage. And so how much of this frustration from Jimmy Butler is about his physical state, and he's missed a bunch of games this year, just his toe, his ankle, and how much of that frustration, he's stepping to Eric Spolster, the head coach of your basketball team in the middle of a game when you get blasted by the Golden State Warriors G-League team, Santa Cruz out there, and you're just like, what is this about? And UD was like, I'm not having this.

I'm stepping up and let's go right now. And, Wazze, here's my thing. Like, do you think they actually do that all the time in practice? You think that's just a cop-out answer? No, no, no, no. This is the Miami heat being great at deception, being great with the Omerita. Nothing gets out. We don't play this media.

Diss your teammates. Diss your brothers in the public. Whatever you do, handle it in-house and we're going to handle it secretly. That's, to me, that's just all that is. There's no way Jimmy Butler and UD or Jimmy Butler and Spoh are constantly talking about, I'm going to kick your ass. That's not happening on a weekly basis over there. And, you know, I will say, Tom, I mentioned I did a podcast with Bill,

and we were at Bill and Joe House, and we were having fun with worst contracts in the league. I mentioned Clay Thompson. A lot of people in Golden State were butt heard about it. Hasn't played the first two years of that contract. Hasn't looked like the $40 million player this year. I'm looking a little bit smarter today. And also... What was that?

What just happened there? No, I'm just talking. I'm just getting to Jimmy's contract. You know, I just always got to get to the Golden State people whenever I can't. And, but no, but the Jimmy deal, I was like, look, that extension he signed, right, which they probably, you know, part of getting Lowry over there was probably, you know, how these agents do. Probably on some, yo, Jimmy's got to get taken care of. Then, you know, we could do the Lowry thing, whatever, whatever. but bro, he's going to be making something like $55, $60 million

or something ridiculous in six years. And yeah, that can't be good for business, especially a guy who can't stay on the floor. Right now, in 2026, he's going to be paid $52 million. So that's four years from now. He'll be 36 years old. He'll be making $50 million a year. It's a player option-wise.

So he might not pick it. He might not pick it up. You never know. He might not. Pick it up. You know, Russell Westbrook might not pick up the player option next. You never know. Russell Westbrook is picking up that option.

So will Jimmy Butler in four years. I want to say this, though, Was. I'm so glad you're bringing back the word pants. It's the greatest word. It's a great way to describe someone just getting embarrassed out there. And the fact that you keep bringing up the pants thing is fantastic. So thank you for doing that this year. Yes.

I'm of an error where that actually has. happened in my school yard. Like, that would happen to kids. Like, you would literally get pantsed and your boxes or if you had on the tidy whiteys because we was in the transitional phase from tidy whitey's to boxers when I was young. So, you know, now you won't catch anybody in a pair of tidy witties. Like, you can't go nowhere. Like, if you go to any store or men's store or the men's section of Macy's, like, they're not going to have that on the racks. It's all box and briefs or whatever. But yeah, back in my days, we were still transitioning. But yeah, kids, kids were getting pantsed in the school yard, Tom. I won't say whether

I have been pantsed or not or if I've ever pantsed anybody, I'm not going to snitch on myself here today. But yeah, that was something that happened on a fairly regular basis. Yeah, I don't think the heater going to get pants again this playoffs, this playoffs. I have faith that they're going to turn things around. You remember the Gary Payton, D. Wade, spat from the finals team in 2006. It was the first round against Chicago. Chicago when they went at it in the huddle at the sideline. And then they go and they win one of the most unlikely titles ever. Then there was bump gate.

After bump gate, the Miami Heat went on a 12-game win streak. You follow that team as closely as anybody on planet Earth because of your love for LeBron. Yes. And I remember the world was falling. The sky was falling after bump gate. Nine and eight? It was ridiculous.

Do you remember the team that it was against? It was Dallas. It was... Oh, they were playing Mavericks for Bumpgate? I think Bumpgate was against Dallas. And they went on a 12-game win streak, and then they lost one, and then they went on another nine-game win streak. So I remember a couple of things about that, Tom.

I remember either you or KP, the only silver lining of 9 and 8 and Bumpgate. Either you or KP, Kevin Pelton, of ESPN, had put out a piece that said, yeah, they didn't lose him, but it's a bunch of close games. And close games are notoriously fluky. and they've got the best defensive rating in the NBA. And that was the only... It probably was KP too, but... That was the only silver lining

of the first 17 games of the Heald's experience was you and KP, the numbers guys, was like, well, they've lost a bunch of close games and they've got the best defense in the NBA. Like, this team's pretty fucking good, probably. And then they proved us right. Thank you, Miami Heat. Thank you, LeBron, for making us not get fired.

And I do want to talk about something else that's related to something that is heat-specific and heat culture. And it's like these gems that get unearthed out of nowhere, like Max Drews, like Gabe Vincent, like Caleb Martin, where it's like, these dudes were not considered to be NBA legitimate players before this season started. And I'll be damned if this isn't just another, you know,

Josh Richardson or reclaiming James Johnson's career or like just a countless amount of players that the heat. have just unearthed out of thin air. So, and these guys are going to get some decent playoff minutes, and these guys are pretty good players. I think it's cool. That's been the coolest part of watching this heat season is just another crop of heat gems out of nowhere.

Yeah, and Struce, thank God he's hitting shots because Duncan Robinson has not been great this year. Like he came out in a slum. Talk about a tough deal. Yeah. And in playoff time, he's going to be. he's going to be zero and in defensively. So if he's not hitting shots,

like what are you going to do with Duncan Robinson? And the other fascinating thing to me is that if Duncan's not playing well, what do you do if you're Eric's pollstered? Do you sub in Tyler Hero and take him off the bench and put him into the starting lineup because that starting lineup has an offensive rating of a 93.9.

Tyler Hero in the spot for Duncan Robinson has been one of the worst offensive ratings for any like starting five in the NBA. And I don't know what that's about. like whether Jimmy Butler, Bam out of bio and Tyler just don't have that sort of chemistry like they did. And maybe they need the postseason, the metal, like the cauldron of the postseason to try to iron those things out. I'm not sure. But it's not been pretty.

Like the Tyler Hero experience is like he's a sixth man for a reason. Like there's there's, I don't know if it's chemistry issues with J.B. Or if it's Bam. But it has not worked when they've tried to put Tyler Hero in those situations. with Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry and PJ Tucker. So it's a lot of weird stuff, but Max Drews, like, I think he's a great safety valve for Duncan Robinson. And then, of course, you go back to Dionne Waiters, Hassan White Side.

The only issue with the Miami Heat is the doubling down part was. The doubling down of like, we built you up, so we're going to give you a huge contract. And that looks good for agents. It looks good for the player. But man, like, bless him for getting out of that Josh Richardson contract. trading him to Philly was the heist, White side, getting off his deal. Like they figure out,

Andy Ellesberg shouts to Andy Ellesberg, the GM of the Miami Heat, get out of these deals. But like the Tyler Johnson, another big deal where they built up these players out of nowhere and then they give them these big contracts. They do it just about as well as anybody in the league. Yeah.

And, you know, I'm going to ask you just a couple more things before we get you out of here. But gun to your head. If they play the Brooklyn Nets, now that Kyrie has gotten his special dispensation to play home games thanks to the New York Yankees. What the hell, man? That was pure just like, look, Eric Adams was like, look, whatever. Nobody gives a shit about the fucking Nets.

If Kyrie doesn't play, like, nobody's, I won't be getting constituents, phone calls, nothing will happen. The day I mess up a New York Yankee season, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's just, that just was never on the table. That was never going to happen. But yeah, shouts to the Yankees for getting Kyrie full strength. But yeah, gun to your head. Who you got, heat, nets in the first round?

I still have the heat in the first round against. Wow. Homer! Oh, my God. I've been shitting on the net. We just went through talking about all of these warts, this whole damn episode, and you come in with the absolutely the heat take down

the nets in the first round. Yeah, man. Like, I've been, I've been shitting on the nets since KD and Kyrie linked up, man. Like, I just don't, I don't believe them. They did well last year, except for the injuries that to harden and Kyrie, but, like,

I still think that they, the heat can turn this around. Call me a homer. I mean, shouts to Metallark and Lebitard show. But, like, my whole deal is I can't see, barring an injury to Jimmy Butler or Bam out of bio, I just don't see them playing this like this in a month from now. So we're in a couple of weeks. I guess the playoffs are coming right around the corner. Kyrie and KD together, weirdly not as potent as you think

this season and like the win-loss column. Of course, they don't have Ben Simmons and doesn't look like you're going to come back. He's going to come back or come to that season, not coming back he hasn't played at all. But the idea of can they play defense, can they play a high-level defense and have enough bodies defensively to stay with Miami. The offense, of course, for Miami is the big question. But still, with PJ Tucker and Jimmy Butler, I still think they have weapons to go at KD. Kyrie Irving's the big, you know, question mark. We'll see what happens with Kyrie. But I still, I'll take Miami Heat in Seven, call me a Homer, Heat in Seven. Not Heat in Five, heat and seven. I love it. I love it. Um, they can

going to love that answer down in Woodwood. Also, I wanted to ask you one last thing. Tell the people about Pack Your Knives, the podcast that you're doing with Kevin Arnivitz about Top Chef because Top Chef is obviously back. You're a huge fan. Y'all been doing this show for years. Tell the people about this project that you and Arnivitz have undertaken. Yeah, Kevin Arniz, my guy, actually my editor for the Miami Heat Index in 2010, 2011 season.

We were obsessed with the show Top Chef. and we decided to do a podcast, recapping every episode of Top Chef like it's the NBA. We cover Top Chef like it's the NBA. And it's like the best hour or two of my week is getting on the phone and recording those Zoom calls with Arnivitz. It's so much fun. We get guests.

We got Tom Colicchio on the show. We got Gail Simmons on the show and a bunch of the chef test. It's super fun. We have fantasy teams. If you haven't watched Top Chef yet this season, we're four episodes in. Go binge it. go listen to Pack Your Knives, a bunch of people who listen to our show.

They say it's more fun listening to the podcast than it is watching the show, which is the highest of praises. Like people have more fun listening to Weekends'OWAS than actually watching the NBA. I love it. I would hope that that's the case. Damn, man. So check out Pack Your Knives wherever you get your podcast. Tom, tell the people where else they could find you, obviously,

and all your amazing work that you're doing. Yeah, so basketball Illuminati is the new podcast, which I love. It's the weirdest, most fun, the most different NBA podcast you'll ever listen to. Amina Elhassen, Anthony Mays, and I, we cover the league in a very different way. The truth about the NBA is out there. Don't spoil it. Yeah, we're covering it on Basketball Illamani. Thank Kyrie Irvin, third eye, but smarter and funnier and more articulate.

Thank you. Thank you. Yes. We cover the referees too, which fans love to hear, is that we're actually covering refs. And it's kind of the third rail of the NBA, but we're doing it. And also we do the Underdogs podcast where we cover, you know, it's kind of a betting show where we cover the tournament right now

from an underdog perspective and like why do underdogs happen? Why does St. Peter's happen? Shouts to the Peacocks. I know you're all over them. Of course. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. First of all, love Shaheen Holloway.

One of my older cousins, who was like one of my mentors in Hooping, he was a Shaheen Holloway fanatic. He lived in Jersey, obviously, Rudy for Seton Hall, would, like, tape Shaheen Holloway's, like, games to, like, basically emulate his handle and his crossover. Like, I have a deep relationship with Shaheen Holloway going back. And then after that win, to go to the Sweet 16, where he gives that press conference,

he's like, I got a bunch of guys. from Jersey in New York City. Like, you think we really scared of anything? Like, we got some tough dudes on this team. I was like, you know what? This is a man after my heart. So yeah, shouts to she in Holloway. It's an incredible team.

What's weird is that, like, of course, the face of the team is like a white dude from what is, Bergen Catholic. Of course, but whatever. We got tough white guys in the Northeast dude, Tom. You should know that. We know. It's the one guy.

It's the one guy. He's becoming sensation. I love it. So check out the Underdog pod. Yeah, Underdogs podcast, Basketball Luminati, hit me up at Tom Haverstrow on Twitter. And much love to you guys at the Ringer and Bill. Shouts to whatever you guys are doing. I appreciate you.

Love you a long time. And yeah, man, I'm just, the Bois glow up this year, man. I know you've heard it before, but it is so well deserved. Thank you. Shouts to Bobby Kennedy in the true TV live chats. That's right. That's right. talking to him live and in person on his own podcast.

This is amazing. Appreciate you, man. So, yeah, that's our show. Make sure you're checking out every single thing else on the Ringer NBA podcast. Of course, we got real ones. We got Cirit and Chris on Fridays, group chat Wednesdays. We got the whole shebang. Check out the whole thing.

We'll see you guys next week. We're out of here. Peace.