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NBA Basketball 🏀 1st Quarter Review | Chris Paul, Ja Morant, Zion Williamson | ASG, MVP, Conference Races
7 Plays21 hours ago
NBA Basketball 🏀 Season Update | Chris Paul/Ja Morant/Zion Williamson | ASG/MVP/Finals
NBA Insiders Omar 'Sports Professor' Fonseca
+ Bobby G from The Audible Sports Podcast YouTube @TheAudiblePodcast
& Cal Lee from The Baseline NBA Podcast on IG @NBA_Baseline + YouTube @19MediaGroup
#sports #nba #basketball #nbabasketball #nbanews #entertainment
Recommended
Transcript
Podcast Introduction
00:00:03
Speaker
Peace with the millions!
00:00:26
Speaker
like toeto toe release the flow created by this micro light camera git low Action packed, back to back, in fact this monster will grow, y'all better let him know. Man with the master playing and you have no need to know.
00:00:40
Speaker
You came prepared, now get ready for the show.
00:00:49
Speaker
Yo, yo, yo, what up friends? Welcome back. Ballin' Buds is back at it again. Another episode of Banter Brawls and Bravado, the NBA edition. As always, I am your host, Omar, the sports professor, Fonseca, and I am blessed today to be joined by two distinguished NBA insiders.
Guest Introduction
00:01:16
Speaker
And I'm super especially happy to have Cal Lee with us here today from the Baseline NBA podcast. You will remember I did a stream with Warren, his brother Warren Shaw, recently on Millions. We are live on Millions as well right now. And again, we're happy to have Cal on. So Cal, welcome, brother.
00:01:38
Speaker
Hey, man. um I love the introduction, bro. I love the introduction, man. Like just straight up, just it just reminds me of Harlem world, Queensbridge, all wrapped up into one, man. it'ss's It's awesome. So you know thank you, Omar, you know what I'm saying, for you know blessing me the opportunity to to hop on board, chop it up with you guys, man. um you know Awesome stuff.
00:02:06
Speaker
Yeah, I'm ah i'm a hip-hop head from the 80s. So I'm like New York, East Coast, hip-hop all day, every day. um That's actually me on the intro, music too. Oh, yeah, I know. I wasn't going to try to be tooting your horn too, too much. now You know, it's okay. Toot the horn, baby. Toot the horn. But if, you know what I'm saying? Let me just put it like this. Let me put it like this.
00:02:29
Speaker
If we had to do a redo of the locks and dip set, I'm just saying you could have you you you had the opportunity to come off the bench.
00:02:41
Speaker
You could have had opportunity to come off the bench and handle that, right? You know what I'm saying? Could have handled it. Don't know if you would have beat our boy, but I'm just saying that energy, that's what we were looking for, that energy. I mean, Jada is one of the you know one of one of the one of the greats out there that we've had. ah I always say if I would have – come like 10 years earlier, maybe even like 20 years earlier, like early 90s, something like that, I think I would have would have blown up. But the fact that I didn't start doing hip hop until probably like 2005-ish and stuff real seriously, it was already probably too late by then because we moved into the Lil Wayne era and all the other stuff. It's actually funny.
00:03:26
Speaker
Me and my brother, we had ah we had a a group it called For Progress Only. because we were for players only at first. And we had all this like commercialized, whatever, you know, all the bullshit music.
00:03:37
Speaker
And then one day he played a song of ours, a new song in front of my mom. And he was like embarrassed because of the stuff we were talking about, whatever. Anyways, we changed the for progress only. We took our music into PGC, which is the radio station in DC.
00:03:50
Speaker
And we played our our music for him because we were trying to get played on the radio. And they were like, bro, Y'all would be dope in like the 80s and 90s. He's like, right now, all they care about is playing for ah you know music to 14-year-old girls. He's like, your shit ain't going played on the radio these days. We were like, thanks for the ah honesty, I guess.
00:04:09
Speaker
you But that but that's why that's why you do podcasts, because then you can play all your music and whenever you want to, however you want to. you know um So yeah, there
Baseline NBA Podcast Discussion
00:04:18
Speaker
there you go. Well, let them know where they can find you, Kyle, please.
00:04:21
Speaker
Yeah, man. So, you know, the the show that my brother Warren and I have is called the Baseline and NBA Podcast. We basically discuss the hot button topics of the and NBA. We've been doing it for a minute, man. So, you know, shout outs to my man Shaw, my brother from another mother. um We're a part of the 19 Media Group family. So if you catch us on YouTube, you can go to www.19mediagroup.com.
00:04:47
Speaker
nineteenedroup dot com So you not only can check us, but also the family of great content creators that do sports, music, entertainment. um You could also catch our, you know, catch out all of our episodes if you just go to www.thebaselinemba.com. That's the home website where we host all and archive all of our episodes where shows are done weekly. You know, when we cover the gamut.
00:05:10
Speaker
We bring on guests, we bring on people to discuss things that are happening, not just in in the and NBA, but just in the culture of basketball as well too. And much like yourself, Omar, we have also been infused with a little bit of you know the hip hop culture, right? So a lot of my upbringing, my mentality, um is derived from my experiences being a former lyricist and being a part of my crew and you know implementing that because i do believe that that is aligned with when we think about basketball that's a part of that conversation it's a part of the discussion the great players that we talk about they grew up in that era and you know we like to make sure that we stay as a bridge
00:05:52
Speaker
for those younger and those older to have good, honest conversations about what's going on, not just in the and NBA, but just in the culture and the sport in general. And we've been having a blast doing it.
00:06:04
Speaker
Big facts. Big facts. And I love it. Ever since I, like I said, I did it the stream with Warren. I've been watching y'all ever since. And I love it. I love saying no on there. So congrats on the success. And I know y'all are doing big things. So congrats to much more to come. they ah Bobby G, you are a regular here on the podcast. But as always. Thank you.
00:06:26
Speaker
I really appreciate you, my brother. You were with us on the season preview and on the end of year review last year. go ahead and plug yourself and what you got. Hey, man, I know what it is. Appreciate you for having me back. You know, always a treat.
00:06:39
Speaker
ah Hey, y'all know what it is, man. The Audible Sports Podcast, where sports meets life and culture. Me, myself, my brother, Wildcard Mar, and then, of course, on Thursdays for our Thursday night football postgame show, which is the best of the world. It's not just me that says it. Other people say it. Sports Illustrated says it. ESPN says it. ah You know, we are joined by Averill, the Jets girl as well. So check us out tomorrow after after Detroit and Dallas.
00:07:05
Speaker
That's going to be a good game, too. should be so They should give us a lot to talk about. So, you know, if you ain't sleepy after the game, you hop on YouTube, head over to the Audible Sports Podcast YouTube page and, can you know, come by, put us up in the chats.
00:07:19
Speaker
um And I'll tell you, y'all about to turn this into a non-basketball show real quick. You know, I mean, course, I'm from the hip-hop generation as well. I have bars once time as well. As a matter fact, on Audible, we actually did a show, think it was about three months ago now, where the topic was...
00:07:37
Speaker
20 rap battles or beefs that we needed but didn't get and so we came out and we'll go through that i still have my list i i'll let you each pick a number from one to twenty and see what matchup you pull up and see what you think about it so mark give me a number from one to twenty
00:07:59
Speaker
i said I said, I'll let Cal go because we heard it won this morning. Eminem and DMX were supposed to have battled back in the day, apparently. and Eminem tore them up, tore them up. We heard that news. Go ahead, Cal, you choose.
00:08:10
Speaker
ah You said between 1 and 20? Yeah, give me a number from 1 to 20. All ah all right um
00:08:20
Speaker
My number 13 was Big Sean versus Fabulous. Interesting. Interesting. i Fabulous would have would have killed him. but I think he's like the Fabulous of this generation. Maybe, but cut let's let's be let's be let's let's let's calm down a little bit. Fabulous stillbious was on another level.
00:08:39
Speaker
i will say i will say i will say in fairness I think Big Sean knew the formula, right? when i When I look at the success factor between the two, yeah I can i can make an you know you can make an argument that Big Sean obviously has had a much more successful career. But I think from a lyrical perspective, and I don't know if whether or not that's because, you know, it's kind of like the conversations that we have about, you know, Murder Mace, right? Like what version of Mace did we ever, you know, did did you get to hear? I know that growing up, you know, back in the day when I was,
00:09:11
Speaker
you know in the in the weeds of the of the underground scene in the come-up scene murder mace was killing it right and then when he finally becomes mainstream it's mace right and lyrically you can you can clearly tell he dummied down a lot of the things that he was saying and where he was coming from right so it felt more like harlem world representation than actually representing harlem you know And I feel like with Big Sean, I think maybe there's a space there where he may have dumbied down a little bit of where he could potentially be lyrically. And I guess maybe that's the one thing I enjoy about Fabulous is he's never really
00:09:48
Speaker
he's never really conformed. I'm not saying that that's a slight to Big Sean. I'm just saying at the expense of his mainstream level of success, and especially to you were just talking about this a few moments ago, Omar, about you know you getting caught up in into but in that period where that version of hip-hop or that style of music now either seems outdated or just isn't sellable right fabulous comes in at a time where it just is on the downside of what's considered marketable and sellable like he's the only one that's still holding it up there's not a whole lot around him to continue to elevate that but then when you listen to him on cameos When you catch him on mixtapes, no still fire. You what saying? Like he still drops gems. So I can see where it it can play. It's an interesting matchup though. yeah I would just be, I'd be curious of the criteria by which we would have to determine who would be better than who.
00:10:46
Speaker
Right. We are getting together and having a hip-hop show soon. All right, one more. Give me
Hip-Hop Battles
00:10:53
Speaker
one more, then we'll get the basketball. We got Cassandra. right, go me seven since that's the lucky number. Lucky number seven. Oh. The ladies, ladies night, Lauryn Hill versus Missy.
00:11:02
Speaker
Okay. Okay, now we're speaking my language here. Now we're speaking my language. So, yeah, I had 18 other battles that I came up with that I feel would be real. Now, again, though, that goes kind of what Kyle was saying, though. Is this more of a versus battle sort of thing where you can sing? Battle or beef, whatever you want to call it. No, not versus. We're talking.
00:11:23
Speaker
You're talking lyricism. i mean Yeah. We're talking. I'm like Missy from V.A. Missy from my homeland, so I might have to take Missy on that one. Although love me some Lauryn Hill. Anyways, yo, we are definitely doing a hip-hop show. Cal, I'm going have you back. We're doing a hip-hop show we're going to talk about. Because I had some. If we didn't have to get you off of here to feel better, would bring up a couple lists I found recently about the top albums of all time and a couple other things that I have some
00:11:58
Speaker
some real uh uh disagreements with obviously you got something in the hopper i got you i got you i got you all all good well shameless plug shameless movie please you know while while we're out there you know i'm saying giving love you know to you know audible uh and to you know ah you know, ah ball um and ball and buds. um Definitely check out Hip Hop Hidden Gems on 19 Media Group, man. My man, Black Knight.
00:12:29
Speaker
Mojo King, they have prolific discussions regarding hip hop. And I think for us nuanced people who grew up in that era and also want to understand and learn more, you know what i'm saying? Like, I just think that's ah ah just a befitting way to kind of segue into like how we have all of our, you know what saying, hands knee deep in the culture some way, somehow, you know saying? So definitely go check them out. Shameless plug, shout out to my boys from the Skills Foundation crew.
00:12:58
Speaker
Absolutely. Yeah. And shout out that Nike Media Group. i i'm so I'm subscribing. I'm checking out the channel right now. they got They got two live shows on right now. So they're doing big things, too. So good for them. Oh, no, that's the I get it now.
00:13:10
Speaker
That's when StreamYard does the portrait and the landscape. StreamYard, you're going to. They're sneaky. They're sneaky. They're no longer StreamYard. They're SchemeYard.
00:13:21
Speaker
Mmm. If I had tea, I'd be sipping it. Let's not be saying, let's keep it moving. Make sure you all hit that like button, whether watching now or on the replay, it is free to you, but it is invaluable to us. Really helps us out in the algorithm, gets us out to new people that don't know about our content, but that should as well. Handy QR code up there at the top.
00:13:40
Speaker
Go ahead, hit that. That'll take you to ball and buds link tree. You can find our YouTube, which is most important. Subscribe there at B-A-L-L-A-N-D-B-U-D-S. You can as well follow our Instagram, among other things there. Let's get to some comments before we move into the NBA. Rock Chalk, shout out.
00:13:59
Speaker
How about them nuggets? Hey, I know you from ah Kansas. Them nuggets have been ah looking good now. there Some people are saying Jokic is calling him a stat patter I'm seeing out there on the interwebs. People may agree or disagree. We got to talk about that later, but thank you for tuning in. If you like true crime podcasts, Rock Chalk is the best true crime podcast on YouTube. Check her out at Rock Chalk.
00:14:22
Speaker
All right. Yes, we know. Yeah, we know. Hey, look, as a Celtics fan, My brother Paul Anthony Pierce went to Kansas, one of the GOATs. And if y'all keep besmirching his name out here because he'll be making some outlandish comments, we're going have some issues, me and the whole internet, all right?
00:14:43
Speaker
Homie's got to eat, man. Homie's got to eat. So, you know, he's he's an acquired taste. And I say that as a Boston Celtics fan, right? Like, I'm just saying, he is an acquired taste. too I mean, he do be saying some outlandish shit, no doubt. But when you put KG and Paul Pierce on a podcast together, you are going to some outlandish things said. so And I didn't know you were a Celtics fan, too. Look at that. We got three. so Oh, that's beautiful. i love it. Bobby here's a Cavs fan. bo man You know, don't hate. Don't hate. It's okay. It's all good. no I'm still getting over the LeBron years. Anyways, shout out Juno Raziel 3737. We could go ahead and submit it here. we'll We'll do what we can. I'm actually in a basketball fancy basketball league this year, gentlemen. I don't usually play, but this year Yahoo has a new format. where um you have like a few people that you put in and it's based on their like weekly scores.
00:15:38
Speaker
So it's kind of like fantasy football version of it. So I'm like kind of digging that because before it was so hard. You had to change every damn day. yeah It's like, I don't want to do all that. um So anyways, okay, cool. Yeah. Submit it. We'll let you know.
00:15:50
Speaker
All right, let's keep it moving. We got a lot to talk about today. First of all, the big news off the top. Everybody woke up
Chris Paul and Clippers Situation
00:15:58
Speaker
shocked. barce Um, um, ah Clippers disastrous season has hit a new low a little before 3am, which is wild.
00:16:09
Speaker
Chris Paul posted IG story saying just found out I'm being sent home. Um, Essentially, what has happened now is Lawrence Frank, the Clippers president, has released a statement saying that the organization is parting ways with the 12-time All-Star. Now, the Clippers, who had a veteran-laden, some would say NBA 2K squad that they have formulated in the offseason, has not lived up to the hype.
00:16:36
Speaker
Five and 16 and only won two games game. in the month of November, which will get me to my argument later about how I feel. But I digress for a second. um Chris Paul, a Hall of Famer, no doubt about it in this league. Moving off Chris Paul doesn't help l LA from a financial standpoint at all, since he signed a veteran minimum deal on the offseason. But there are ah Rumors, and actually it's kind of substantiated, ex-Clippers guard Lou Williams said that he was rubbing the team the wrong way with a lot of his accountability measures. Apparently him and Tyrone Lou haven't spoken in weeks to the point where he was trying to schedule a meeting with Ty Lou and Ty Lou wouldn't even have a meeting with him.
00:17:27
Speaker
um Also, it came out that he said some things in a meeting with the team about the front office as well. So that could have played a factor.
00:17:39
Speaker
Needless to say, showing a Hall of Famer the door unscrupulously like that is going to have a lot of detractors, including me. But I am not the one to go first because we have a very special guest who I want to get an opinion from. Cal, what do you have on this crazy news coming at it today?
00:17:56
Speaker
So it's just bad all around. um But I'm gonna um i'm gonna i'm gonna try, it like me, i I tend to get a little too verbose. So im I'm gonna try to keep my points confined to these two things. First, when it comes to Chris Paul, this has always been Chris Paul, right? Chris Paul, um I know everyone is is is is really dug in on on the fact that he's a Hall of Famer, no question.
00:18:21
Speaker
But he's a point guard first. That's what he was built as, that's how he's always been. And he's never wavered from being that. and And ultimately being a point guard also means at times you're not going to be liked, you know, because you're going to, the ball is in your hands, but you are responsible for getting everyone in the best position possible. and what's ironic is, is, He's not even on the basketball court to do that enough, right? Which clearly tells me that Tyronn Lue did not see any value or any benefit.
00:18:50
Speaker
And maybe to some degree, he was placating to this idea that this is, you know, Chris Paul Swanson come back to the team that he basically helped build the Clipper dynasty, you know, for Ballmer to take over and move forward, like to move everything forward.
00:19:08
Speaker
they're just basically like kind of doing nice or trying to do right by. And I just think that the the Clippers in in many ways missed on the purpose of why you bring a guy like Chris Paul onto this team, right?
00:19:22
Speaker
So back to the thing with Chris Paul, this is who he is. Now, but with that being said, you know, he reminds me of like that, that, that uncle, you know what I'm saying? That's the state of his job, been doing it way too long, has found himself bouncing around with too many different teams.
00:19:40
Speaker
And at some point he's just going basically kick his feet up on the desk and just start telling business to, to, to everybody. Right. He's just going to air it out. Like, what does he have to lose? He's got his legacy. You know what I'm saying? At the very least, uh,
00:19:52
Speaker
The only thing he was chasing is an opportunity to win a ring. And he definitely was not going to do that with the Clippers. So clearly his his goal to come back to the Clippers was for him to cement his legacy. Because I don't see him. It would have been hard for me to see him playing anywhere else you know after this this but after this season.
00:20:11
Speaker
You get what i mean? Yeah. he he He actually had a better opportunity staying with the San Antonio Spurs, you know, and helping out Wemby and helping out that team. Look at what they're doing right now.
00:20:23
Speaker
You know what I'm saying? And they're doing that not even as a fully healthy team, but could probably use that kind of veteran leadership with the likes of a Chris Paul. That being said, and and let me move over to the Clippers. This is just all bad because even if at the end of the day you have a problem with Chris Paul and you have a problem with what Chris Paul is saying and how he's doing it, how you execute doing what you're doing.
00:20:48
Speaker
doesn't look kindly on you as an organization. Because if you look at the track record of Chris Paul and what he's done for all of the organizations and the teams that he's played for, and you look at the legacy of the Los Angeles Clippers, you cannot sit there with a straight face and tell me that if the Clippers got this right, even if they had to get rid of him, that it it it would still look bad on them because it still makes it look like they have no idea what they're doing. Somehow. Somehow.
00:21:14
Speaker
Again, the the execution was god awful. I'm not saying that they didn't have a right to do it if it was that cancerous. But there is still a way that you go about doing it.
00:21:25
Speaker
And the way that the Clippers handled this was just so bad. It's so bad. it got We're not even talking about Chris Paul being an a-hole to other teammates and then mouthing off at the organization. We're talking about how the Clippers went about doing it.
00:21:41
Speaker
and And that's what's going to stay with them. That's the stench that's going to stay with them, regardless of what happens this season. They can miraculously come back and be a 500 team. No one is going to care because they're going to come back to this situation in this episode, and it's going to linger on for them. Until something happens, something miraculous has to happen outside of this season that's going to make people believe that the Clippers are an actual franchise that's serious and understand within the business of actually looking to win and have winning players and winning talent collectively together to go out and complete the task at hand.
00:22:16
Speaker
Yeah, they were go to they were going to find some way inevitably to screw this up, even if they were, like you said, doing the right move. It's still, they were going to, the machinations, the the actual you know ah adjustment period, anything that they would have thought of to go into this, they completely fucked up. Bobby G, what you got on this?
00:22:40
Speaker
It's just shows why the Clippers are Clippers. Like, even despite the change of ownership, like the Clippers are the Clippers. And this is coming from a Cleveland fan, which what do I hear all my life?
00:22:52
Speaker
The Browns is the Browns, right? Like, if there's one person in an organization you don't do this to is Chris Paul. Like,
00:23:04
Speaker
The inventor of Live City. actually blake blake blake Blake was the inventor that. He created that. no no but i mean oh yeah yeah did I mean, his presence. They weren't even good. doing yeah blake doesn't Blake doesn't climb the skyscraper unless Chris Paul is... is upset yeah Oh, yeah. i was' mean Blake coined the term.
00:23:25
Speaker
you but yeah ah well you don't that You don't do that to any of them. Him, DeAndre Jordan, yeah Chris Paul, right? Like Griffin, Paul, Jordan. You don't do that to them. that is the ah That is your only golden goose right now. That is the only golden era that most people going remember about the Los Angeles Clippers is the era of Lob City. And he's directly responsible for that.
00:23:52
Speaker
And you do that, like that's how you – that's how you show what you, you know, admire about what he's given you for that period of time.
00:24:04
Speaker
I'm even saying for for the on the court, not even for the on court. You don't do ah do it to them because of what they went through during that period of transition. What they had to put up through, what they had to deal with going through the Donald Sterling situation.
00:24:19
Speaker
that in i'm glad that's the end that That's like the right martin luther king We don't need you, bro. that That is such an excellent point, bro. That is such an excellent point. Because let's remember as well, too, during the heightened sensitivity. He should have walked out.
00:24:38
Speaker
Right. The heightened sensitivity of that. And remember, at that time, too, he is still considered – he was still an NBPA, right? except He was the president of the but the Players Association, right?
00:24:53
Speaker
That kind of level of professionalism. I don't care who you are. I don't care how many players don't like him, don't care for him. Right. You still have to be on that level with him. You have to step to him with that same level of professionalism. Anything less than that, and we calling you out.
00:25:13
Speaker
Yeah. We calling you out. Yeah. Yeah. and Like I said, I mean, being from Cleveland, like the LeBron coming back with with the ah infamous Dan Gilbert letter. And a lot of people thought that was a difficult situation. They sat down like grown and they talked about it, hash it out and whatever, whatever.
00:25:27
Speaker
But like i said, Chris Paul going through that, knowing that every time I step on the court, regardless how it feels, every every dollar I earn is going to a man who feels that way. If we do follow through, because I want to win.
00:25:41
Speaker
And even if I do win, I have to watch you. i have No, I'm talking about back then. I'm talking about back then. Like going through that because i own that cause I want to win. And even if I do win, I have to watch the commissioner hand a trophy to this man.
00:25:55
Speaker
And he stayed regardless. You can say that now, too. a Yeah, you don't do that now. I want to throw something out. Did you just on top of what you just said, Bobby, real quick? And Omar, I know you want to step in on this. But here's the other thing as well, too.
00:26:08
Speaker
Right now, if you're the Los Angeles Clippers, how can you make the argument about how cancerous Chris Paul was or is when you've never even put him out on the basketball court to prove the things that he was talking about to holding players and organization accountable for this disaster of a roster and a disaster of a season. And more importantly, Lawrence Frank coming out and speaking to this before Tyronn Lue is actually undermines your head coach who was already on the hot seat.
00:26:47
Speaker
We just spent like on our show in the off season, we were giving praises about how Tyronn Lue is basically had to make wine out of washer fluid with with with the way that the rosters have been constructed over the last couple of years and the inavailability of the star players that he has managed to make the Clippers viable and competitive.
00:27:09
Speaker
And in many regards, I sit there and I say, man, We have to really start giving Tyronn Lue his props. It's no longer that because he had LeBron attached to the hip or because he has Kawhi attached to the hip or some superstar player like he legitimately has coached well enough to be in the conversation as being taken seriously as one of the great coaches in the and NBA right now.
00:27:31
Speaker
But when you do something like this, now I have to start kind of, oh, I got to pump the brakes a little bit. Because it's one thing if you just vehemently disagree with a player who's on the back end of his career but has a Hall of Fame career.
00:27:46
Speaker
It's another thing when the way that he is actually talking about this, you've not given him any level or any platform just to to to bring light to that, right? Like if you think that Chris Paul is BSing, then you should have put him out there, let him look like trash. And then you would have justified you getting rid of him, opening up the roster spot for somebody else.
00:28:06
Speaker
But because you didn't even play the guy, you barely put him out on the basketball court. And then you see how dysfunctional this team is. And you can clearly tell they need some level of guidance, some kind of point guardianship happening.
00:28:19
Speaker
Now it makes Tyronn Lue look like he is not a, he doesn't have the voice in the locker room either. You know saying? And that to me is a bad look for the for the rest of the season. So Lawrence Frank screwed up on both, um um on on two accounts.
00:28:37
Speaker
Even if his best intentions was protecting his head coach and protecting the brand and the organization, he screwed up by coming out and speaking to this and not letting the head coach, who apparently has had an issue with that player, for as long as he's been having it, and let him speak to that.
00:28:54
Speaker
And that's just not good. It's not good at all. And then the reasoning too, oh, we're super grateful and we're just parting ways and all these you know flowers and fragrances that they're like, don't cut the bullshit. Cut the bullshit. like You are a horrible team, a horrendous team that had very high expectations and like I mentioned earlier, had only won two games in November. It's very hard to only win two games in a month in ah in the sport of basketball. You have to really suck.
00:29:25
Speaker
pretty bad. And the fact that a veteran-laden team, which is what pisses me off the most, a veteran-laden team such as that one should be the team to put up with a person that's giving them accountability and professional professionality because they should all be doing the same. They should all be expecting the same because they've all been around the league forever. And the fact that a bunch of veterans can't get on the same page and are 5-16 tells you all that you need to know. And it's not Chris Paul's fault because just like Kyle said, he ain't played but like six minutes a game when he we've even got put in the game. He has so many DMPs. He ain't never seen a DMP like this in his life.
00:30:04
Speaker
Like what are we talking about right now? Clippers are always going to clip. And this just continually proves it. I mean, just like Bobby was saying, You can go back in the day to the Sterling situation, but go ahead and extrapolate that to now. Everything you said, Bobby, sounds exactly what could be said right now about this situation. You could just flip that from Dowling Sternel's racist bitch ass to ah Steve Ballmer's financial improprieties.
00:30:30
Speaker
You know what I mean? so and you can but and up Bobby, I'm sorry. Were you going to jump in? but help I was just going to say one thing. could a The great Julius Campbell, remember the Titans, he said it best.
00:30:41
Speaker
Attitude reflect leadership. Right. You can be leader is exactly. You can clearly tell you can clearly tell that right now this Los Angeles Clippers team is not about the business of playing basketball now.
00:30:53
Speaker
OK, and I don't want to don't want to I don't want to diminish. you know, what James Harden is doing out there on the basketball court. It's not about that. Like, I don't want people getting this perception that, you know, James Harden is just getting his getting his is getting his numbers.
00:31:08
Speaker
Yeah, all superstar players are getting their numbers. But the problem is, is you can clearly see that this team collectively is just not on the same page at all about where they want to be, how they're going to try to turn things around. And it's ironic because this is one of those situations where if you are Tyronn Lue, if it's a young team, then you have to be the person to kind of show them how to get out of this. Right. But because this is a veteran team, a lot of them have already checked out, man. A lot of them are already dissatisfied and disinterested in wanting to play with each other to even get through this.
00:31:44
Speaker
So as if you're Tyronn Lue, how do you get past that? You know How do you, you know how you get past that? You embrace the guys who are actually been through that more than anything. You don't alienate them and you don't get rid of them.
00:32:01
Speaker
You know what saying? You don't. You know, even if even if it's a question of, all right, well – We got we got to have we got to have a players only meeting or whatever. Right. Or we got to have coaches only meeting, whatever.
00:32:14
Speaker
You got to do something. You got to change up something. And clearly something that that has not happened, because if it gets out three weeks later that you didn't even talk to the player that you don't even play the most.
00:32:26
Speaker
Oh, well, then that clearly means you were never feeling that player to begin with. It should never get to that point. I shouldn't be a quarter into the season. And then i find out that at some point within that next month, three of that three of the weeks of that month, you're not even talking to the player.
00:32:44
Speaker
You're not even addressing anything about the player, the issues or nothing like that. What is that? You know what I'm saying? That's the kind of stuff where like your girl breaks up with you.
00:32:55
Speaker
She's in your class. You get into, you go, get up, you go your morning class. She, said she, you have to walk past her and you go out of your way to walk all the way to the other side of the, of the room to sit down.
00:33:09
Speaker
And then when the class is over and she has to pass you, you go all out of your way to get your To get in your little huddle and make it just and and you know, you kind of like looking back, you're trying to look back to make sure that you try to double take that back, make sure she's out of the clear so you can.
00:33:25
Speaker
You won't be doing that for the whole semester, yo, the whole semester. Come on, man. Like, what are we talking about here? That is I have been in that situation so many times. That is tremendous. I love that. oh discipline Don't discipline the guy on his way out. Discipline the guy that you're paying $50 million dollars a year. The fact is also that he is a franchise king legend.
00:33:48
Speaker
like And also when we talk about players who are most likely to be coaches, Chris Paul tops that list year in and year out. yeah Why not keep Chris Paul, maybe even offer him an assistant coach position, maybe a front office position and let him help you out with the veteran presence he has. Maybe after you fire Tyrell Lewin at this after this year, you could have made him head coach. Now i'm being facetious. yeah I'm a slightly push back on you on that, Omar, because obviously whatever it was that was being said by Chris Paul,
00:34:17
Speaker
are things that I feel like would have made it very uncomfortable for that leadership to be next to him and to have to deal with him. You know what I'm saying? like now Now, again, this is all about leadership style. This is all about leadership style. You have some leaders that are just razor sharp, right? They'll just tell you, they'll just cutthroat tell you what the deal is, right? And it may it may hurt initially, but there may actually be some good from it and you become better from it. Then you have situations where a person does that.
00:34:48
Speaker
And it's kind of like, man, I can't come in. I can't come into work today to deal with this kind of person because I already know what's going to happen.
Chris Paul's Future Roles
00:34:53
Speaker
Right. And so I just feel like even if the best intentions of the Clippers is to say, hey, we want to bring you in on a leadership role. I think there should have been a genuine conversation about what it was that Chris Paul said and If it came to that point where it's just like, you know what your words, what your choice of words, the way that you went about doing this, we just can't have you on the team or whatever the case may be.
00:35:21
Speaker
it's understandable, but we'll never know that, right? Because Chris Paul ain't gonna speak to it. And the Clippers have done such a porous job in in in in how they did this, that anything that they say and anything that they do is not gonna be believable.
00:35:36
Speaker
we're gonna always want We're always gonna say there's still more to this You know what saying? Just because of how you went about doing it. And that's the system that's the unfortunate part of it you know what I'm saying? It's not about isolating and alienating anybody. It's just about recognizing that even for someone who isn't getting that much playtime, like Chris Paul, who is a Hall of Fame player, who brings value everywhere he goes, you couldn't find any kind of value of having him on that team, even while they're going through what they're going through. And he's saying a little bit, saying some stuff here and there. or whatever the case may be. It'd be one thing if he was like pitting players against coaches and all this other kind of stuff, but that's not what we're hearing.
00:36:13
Speaker
We're just hearing that Chris Paul is an asshole. You what saying? And he's saying asshole-ish things. And I would be doing that too if I'm losing a lot, right? Name me, it named me um...
00:36:24
Speaker
any kind of sport that you're playing and you're playing next to to a couple of guys where you know that they can play better, they can be better and they're just not in it. It's like, how much longer do you want to continue playing next to those people? If they're genuinely not about investing it the same way that you're doing it, you're at a point where it's just like, I either don't want to play with you or I'm call you out on that.
00:36:43
Speaker
So if they're all feeling sensitive about him calling them out on that shit, then I, you know, what can I tell you? Right? Like it's probably better for Chris Paul not to be there. And he can go elsewhere where his his input can be truly valued.
00:36:56
Speaker
And he can actually live out the rest of what he envisioned himself doing with the franchise that he thought was looking out for him the same way that I think he's trying to look out for that franchise. Yeah, facts. Agreed. and And yeah, no, I mean, it is better for Chris Paul that he just gets away from from them and that current organization. And maybe later he can come back. We did get to what a spirited conversation. That was beautiful. And we had a bunch of comments. I tried i showed them, but I want to make sure I shot everybody out because this is your crew as well. 19 Media Group Lakers or OKC thinking about next. Orlando would be sneaky if he doesn't piss everybody off, he says. Any thoughts on that, Cal?
00:37:37
Speaker
um I can see it more OKC because I don't mind Chris Paul ring chasing. Right. um It would be hard press for me to see him playing behind Luka Doncic.
00:37:50
Speaker
I think Luka Doncic and LeBron James are enough. Right. If Luka Doncic can hold how his his level of play of what he's doing, I think to me, again, it's this transformation that concerns me.
00:38:03
Speaker
Can he can he hold? playing at this level throughout an NBA season. If he can hold that, there's really no reason to have a Chris Paul. You could reserve that roster spot for the NBA trade deadline or maybe the waiver wire and go about, you know, getting someone. But I think someone like Chris Paul and someone like Luka Doncic, they would clash.
00:38:23
Speaker
and and And I just don't think that LeBron needs to be mediating with with that kind of headspace. that Albeit now, if you're looking for a different look and JJ can figure out a way to get him out there, maybe with the second unit, third unit, you know,
00:38:36
Speaker
Maybe, but I really see him more in OKC. And the Orlando part is, I think, is very interesting because right now the Orlando Magic are a hot team, right? And they're getting a lot out of Jalen Suggs. Sean and i talked about this. he he He really likes and buys into Jalen Suggs.
00:38:52
Speaker
I personally think that that could be a ah good play, but only if you're seeing, you know, the guard play fall off. And I'm not, right? Anthony bell anthony Black and Jalen Suggs, I think, are doing a really good job out there.
00:39:06
Speaker
I don't believe in just putting veterans in there for the sake of putting veterans in there. You put players on that roster that are gonna go out there and actually help you go out and win. You know what i'm saying? Like they're gonna be able to actually contribute and win.
00:39:19
Speaker
I've seen way too many years of guys who are you know probably ah you know it seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak, as far as their career goes, And they get on the roster and the coaches don't even play him.
00:39:31
Speaker
When you know that they could probably have value on that on that floor at some point. I don't want to see that with Chris Paul. OKC, I can definitely see it. Because I think the whole idea is they're in it for the long haul.
00:39:43
Speaker
And I think that it doubles down on Chris Paul's influence on the young young players. And that team, as young and as talented as they are, it won't hurt them. It can only help.
00:39:59
Speaker
Also, we got another one from your partner, Warren, at a baseline, 56-32. What about a Rockets return? Yeah, I mean, if listen, Fred Van Fleet is obviously gone for the year, and, um you know, it would make sense.
00:40:14
Speaker
My thing is, is Udoka going to run him out there, you know, to use him in in in in that regard? I think they really like what they're getting from when I'm in Thompson and and this blend of how this team has kind of come together with that level of length.
00:40:31
Speaker
um I think that the idea here is if you find that the Rockets are a team that continues to struggle, the mid-range jump shot game, right? Like it's only dependent on Durant and you're not getting that elevation from Thompson.
00:40:45
Speaker
Clearly, Sangoon is all level right now. if you need that extra punch from your bench to get buckets, there's a possibility there. And and again, that that veteran leadership is always good. But, you know, listen, man, a little too much of that, I often say, could could could be a dangerous thing. So, you know, but yeah, Rockets return, I think, is a good look.
00:41:10
Speaker
What's next for Chris Paul, Bobby G, on your mind? What should he do don't know, man. I know a team in Cleveland that could use low veteran in leadership, but um no. um Honestly, up ironnet ah I think on that. Listen, they need a killer instinct, bro.
00:41:25
Speaker
Yeah. i Look, i know I don't want us to go – don't want to get on a tangent with that part of it, but – Cleveland's path to the NBA finals is they need a killer instinct, man. Yeah. They, they gotta, they gotta want this and maybe having someone like, listen, look, at look at what happened with Devin Booker when he played next to Chris Paul. Yeah. You what I'm saying? The only thing that that team lacked is they just didn't have a team talented enough to play against, you know, the Milwaukee bucks. They just didn't have enough.
00:41:52
Speaker
But if you had Chris Paul with that mentality, you know what i'm saying? Dig it in the air of, you know, a Donovan Mitchell, dig it in an Evan Mosley's ear digging in Darius Garland's ear, especially Darius Garland.
00:42:06
Speaker
yeah That could be a game changer. It's not even so much what Chris Paul is doing on the court as much as what he's saying in their ear off the court and in the playoffs. And I think that would probably be a ah solid look is seeing him actually elevate. If anything else, if you really if you if you really want to put two middle fingers to the LA Clippers, you know what I'm saying?
00:42:25
Speaker
Have Chris Paul mess around and get the Cleveland Cavaliers the NBA Finals. Wow. I mean, that's why I would happen there. Like, just like, it's not, it's not as much the on court as the off court. Like we need somebody to put a foot in Evan Mobley's ass. That's basically what it is.
00:42:41
Speaker
Like Sunday, we had our our second year player call out the whole team. Like, yeah, we need some money. But I think the best way would be the Houston thing, honestly. Look at KD. KD has been Sands point guard since sleep leaving Golden State.
00:42:54
Speaker
And he can't continue to play this type of ball where it comes out to the end of a game and it's, hey, get a ball to KD and figure it out. Like, he needs to be on a team with a point guard. He tried to defeat, didn't work out. Tried in Brooklyn, Kyrie didn't take a shot so and got hurt, didn't work out.
00:43:11
Speaker
At at the end of the day, yes, Houston's talented, but they're going to need somebody in the playoffs at the end of a game who can decide, hey, this dude is hot. He needs to get a shot. Shingun, go down to the block. We need a bucket. okay it's time like They need a point guard.
00:43:24
Speaker
And again, I think he can rub off on Amin. If you're going to do the Amin Thompson experiment, what better teach yeah so I agree completely. I think that Rockets is probably the best in terms of trying to chase a ring and even getting some playing time. cause i don't I mean, he he can get some run on OKC, but for is he really going to get more run than he was even getting in L.A. at that point? um the thing about The one thing about the play for the Rockets, though, is their pace of play.
00:43:54
Speaker
Because obviously you're you're going to like if they're already a half half court built team. All right. No worries. But you have these young studs. And I've often said that this is could be this this could be the Achilles heel for the Houston Rockets when they play against a team that's going to play a better that's going to push the tempo against the top their style of defense a against their physicality. Right. So you're playing against the likes of the OKC Thunder. So if you're getting a Chris Paul, you're doubling down on emphasis that your half-court game, be it on both sides of the ball, is is is going to stymie and limit opportunities to whoever you're playing. You know i'm saying? Because you're not increasing those opportunities with Chris Paul on the on the basketball court. But again, to your point, it's maximizing the efficiency of your scoring. And if Chris Paul helps you do that, then you got to go for it.
00:44:41
Speaker
you Any team could use Chris Paul's shit. He can come to Boston. We could use him to just young player. Not OKC. OKC. That's the only place I give Cal a cow little pushback. The players at OKC would just, like, we have our own example. of it Like, what can you show us as GMC? Yeah.
00:45:00
Speaker
All right, shout out Chris Anthony. Appreciate you tuning in, my brother. i haven't seen you in a while. i Hope you're doing well, my friend. Champ Ross, thank you for tuning in. Says Steve Kerr is another coach that needs to be evaluated.
Veteran Players and Salary Caps
00:45:11
Speaker
Warriors are in trouble also.
00:45:13
Speaker
um He also says, I think the NBA needs to make a roster adjustment to allow each team to have a veteran player on a roster that doesn't count against the cap as a leadership for young guys in the league. What do y'all think?
00:45:28
Speaker
it wasn't interesting it's an It's an interesting take. um I do think that in some way, you know, you you could probably get away with doing that by just basically making them a coach. I think when when have we gotten to this point where it's like players and players can't coach and coach can't and and coaches can't play?
00:45:47
Speaker
You know what I'm that that' that's the that's the thing. I think we compartmentalize the the idea of that, but maybe it's because the focus and the emphasis is is is on, you know, the the the details and the execution and stuff. But I do think it's pretty interesting. You know, the one thing I often kind of I believe in veteran leadership. I truly do. But I, but I, at the same time as well, too, I think that veteran leadership only matters when you're also setting the example.
00:46:17
Speaker
And it's hard to do that when coaches are not allowing veterans to go out there and play and execute. I often say to myself, I'm like, what exactly is this guy? Like, how is he that bad?
00:46:28
Speaker
When I look at some of the other players that are out there on the court that you're giving those minutes to, right? Like, what is this guy that you just basically are not playing at all? That's just taking up space. Like, what what how bad he could possibly be than what you actually have going out there replacing him?
00:46:43
Speaker
know what saying? That's what I say to myself. and this is and And we're talking about veterans. Guys have been in the league 7, 8, 9, 10 years. know what I'm saying? So, you know, again, it's... I find it to to to be an interesting conundrum a little bit. and But I don't want to make it seem like you got to do that in order to establish, you know, young men to be accountable for what there should be what they're getting paid to do.
00:47:07
Speaker
You know what I'm saying? I think a veteran can only teach you so so much. And at some point, you just gotta you got to knuckle up and get it done, you know? And if you can't get it done, then this is this isn't for you, you know? Because I would have told you that the veteran should be out there playing instead of that kid.
00:47:22
Speaker
Yeah, I'm trying to win a chip, man. You know, for real. Yeah, exactly. And I think that is a great idea personally. But then again, as you mentioned, yeah this is there's going to be advocates and arguments either way, because if you if you push the the the veterans out too early, as we've seen with them talking about the one and done rule and everything it was before that. versus the other way if now that would you know keep an extra role for veterans without maybe you know ah hindering the progress of the younger players. It's something that's always going to be looked at in that dichotomy, in that kind of juxtaposition where you're looking at both sides of it and trying to make an even balance for all parties to try to win. But at some point, you're going to get pushback from both sides because the veterans want to keep playing and don't want to give up their career. And the young guys want to get started now.
00:48:09
Speaker
This is all about ego too, man. Let's not get let's not get it twisted. like i'm not I'm not saying that the the that the idea isn't a good idea. I think it would need to be tweaked. But you ask any veteran right now – look at Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard's still you know trolling.
00:48:24
Speaker
You know what saying? Saying I should be playing on a roster right now. And based on the way that – his physique and everything like that, what you know why not? There are guys that are playing in the Euroleagues right now. Like Kenneth Farid.
00:48:37
Speaker
You get – look at You look at teams like the Sacramento Kings, even talk the Los Angeles Clippers. You can't tell me not having a guy like Kenneth Farida, that kind of activity, that kind of hustle, wouldn't at least make the teams look competitive, regardless of whether they win win or lose. You know I'm saying?
00:48:54
Speaker
I think it comes down to the evaluation of talent. I think it comes down to the the the idea of the construction of the roster. And i think it doesn't matter whether you're a veteran or a young guy. It comes down to what is it that you're executing in relation to what the overall goal of the the teams are. And you can clearly see that there is a disconnect from those that are at the bottom with the ones that are at the top.
00:49:16
Speaker
Yeah. You know, clearly you can see it. I only think it couldn't work because ah clear some team will find a way to manipulate the rules and and build some some school. Oh, we could we got Anthony Edwards playing on a vet minimum.
00:49:31
Speaker
getting some kind of crazy back end so we can go out and sign SGA and bring it like, yeah, somebody will manipulate the system. That and the fact that there's no way the NBPA is going to be down for that. yeah No.
00:49:42
Speaker
They're like, yo, these guys got to get paid. It's either you pay them or you don't play them. yeah they like That's just the way that they're looking at it Last I checked, I thought I saw Dwight Howard dropping like 50 on people in in Asia somewhere. I saw Javale McGee do it.
00:50:00
Speaker
Right. So, I mean, hey, you know, fucking, what was his name? ah Jimmer Furnette out there dropping 75 on people's heads, 80 like that. Clubber D says, bring back Tree Rollins. Love you, Tree Rollins. Shout out Clubber D there on YouTube.
00:50:15
Speaker
As well, Champ Ross says, NBA trying to do anything to get, stop OKC's run. That's about to happen if the Lakers get Giannis for Reeves. Wow, that would be that would definitely be a NBA-inspired conspiracy theory trade, just like they did for the Luka Doncic trade last year, but we don't got to talk about that. OK, see, next, but but we can talk about his man got his ass fired and deserved that shit for trading the franchise player. I get it.
00:50:41
Speaker
I get it. The league office made you do it. But anyways, OK, see, next five years could be something special. Once they add bets, I don't see anyone beating. I mean, they're already special now, brother. They just won championship. They're probably going back to back. They are 20 and one right now. We're going to talk about it in a second because I always actually i might as well ask the gentleman now because I've been asking this. And Bobby knows since we did our last offseason end of review back in June. And I said, I think Oklahoma City has a chance to break
00:51:14
Speaker
the Warriors record for most wins in a season. I think they will. I keep asking everybody. No one can ever give me a solid yes. Yet, Cal, even your brother Warren was like, oh I'm not sure. Maybe, you know, they got a chance. Bobby said the same thing. Cal, what say you? Do you think the Warriors record will be broken this year by o OKC?
OKC Thunder vs Warriors Record
00:51:35
Speaker
I don't think so. I think that they will be close. but Let's put it like this. Remember when the Warriors were making that run, right? um There was a stretch where um I believe they had lost like maybe like three of like the, they're like six or something like that. And we all started saying, oh, there we go.
00:52:01
Speaker
You know, And it didn't diminish anyone's probability that they were going to go to the finals. They, they, they clearly were the best team in the NBA um for the most part, but you also saw a chink in their armor.
00:52:16
Speaker
I will say, if you ask me three months from now, and they're somewhere still, you know, hovering around maybe like five or six wins, then I'll tell you that it's realistic.
00:52:29
Speaker
You know what i'm saying? But it's hard for me to see that if they lose one, maybe two or two, that they're gonna be you know going all in on this idea about trying to break the record.
00:52:43
Speaker
Because we're not talking about the Golden State Warriors all-time win record in a regular season and they went on to win a championship the same way that we talk about the Chicago Bulls.
00:52:54
Speaker
And I think OKC believes winning that championship matters a whole lot more to them than worrying about winning the regular season. There just some records that while they sound really great and awesome, we don't still eat we don't talk about it the same way as we do because there have been so many really good teams that have fallen short, that have been knocked out you know because of the matchups.
00:53:15
Speaker
And I think still people are people are still on the fence about how dominant this Oklahoma City Thunder team can truly be. I think what's scary is they can they they can still get even better.
00:53:27
Speaker
It's just a matter whether or not it will happen that way. You know I'm saying? So if if they exhibit it while they're going through this run, Sure. You know, they can they can do that.
00:53:38
Speaker
But I would be more pressed to believe that it's not going to matter to them because to them, they're going to be about trying to win this championship and doing it in a more dominant fashion than having to go seven games like they did last year with the Indiana Pacers.
00:53:52
Speaker
And I think that's that matters to them a whole lot more. Yeah, I will agree with you on on that fact is you got to think about, OK, how far it's kind of one of those records where you push it as far as you can. And once you realize, OK, now we're on the edges, you know, like you said, one or two more losses, maybe they're five losses. But before the all star break, then it's like, all right, well, maybe we don't want to even push it, save our people, save our legs, et cetera, et cetera, which was one of the counter arguments for that. But at 20 and one right now, let's say they got to 40 and two, you know I'm saying? Something like that, which, again yeah, it's pretty unfathomable probably. But I mean, it's not like it' it's not completely a non-zero percent chance. So but nobody can give you straight answer because it legitimately is. You know what? I demand straight answers on this program, Bobby. What are you not going to give me a yes or no? Is that what you're saying?
00:54:45
Speaker
No, but yeah it is possible, but it's also not possible. I mean, the truth of the matter is, to me, i mean last it depends on their health and if they want to. If they want to, they will get it. They they will get it. Last year, the Cleveland Cavaliers were on the same kind of pace almost.
00:55:01
Speaker
You know what I'm saying? And then look how their season finished out, right? So, you know, again, there's two other things I think that has to be taken into consideration. One, JW just came back.
00:55:13
Speaker
OK, let's not act like the Oklahoma City Thunder does not value their assets. They're going to load manage the hell out of this team if possible, which could also be scary good because if the talent level from their second unit is almost as damn good as their first unit, then we can really have that kind of conversation about them being all right, you know, downright one of the more dominant teams of our generation of our era.
00:55:38
Speaker
But again, it's just the way that this is being set up, right? Like, what made it so so significantly, like, mind-blowing was back then when the Bulls made that run.
00:55:50
Speaker
They were playing so many back-to-backs. And the way that the scheduling was set up, it was so – it didn't realize it, but you didn't realize it, but it felt so daunting, right? Now, like we're giving them ah who almost laying it out to say, hey, yeah, go ahead, do it, take it. And yet we're still not talking about it in the same breath as how the how the Bulls did that. You see what I'm saying?
00:56:10
Speaker
So, again, we would have been having the same conversation with the Warriors, but the Warriors didn't finish it out. And the Warriors had a more dominant team than we're talking about right now with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Like they were the more balanced team as far as offense and defense. Right now, I'd be very interested to see. And and this is this is just, again, this is just my perspective.
00:56:30
Speaker
I'd be very interested. The defensive aspect of the Oklahoma City Thunder, no question. But the offensive offensive side of it?
00:56:42
Speaker
you know, I don't know yet. I don't know yet. I want to see where this all plays out as we get a little bit, maybe mid-year, to see if they are leaps and bounds even better than what they showed me last year.
00:56:55
Speaker
Because that level of efficiency didn't didn't show itself when they came to the finals and played against the Indiana Pacers, who only had like a quarter of a Tyrese Halliburton.
00:57:07
Speaker
You know what i'm saying? And that team offensively put their defense to the test. You know saying? So I want to see. i want i wanna to see, you know, if this Oklahoma City Thunder team on both sides of the basketball exhibit that level of of dominance that we talk about the same way that we talked about with the Chicago Bulls.
00:57:29
Speaker
Because that that to me is where the comparison is going to lie we're going to talk about them you know getting the most wins. I skip over the Warriors part of it because you could clearly tell that the Warriors, they ran. They they ran out of gas.
00:57:41
Speaker
I disagree with that 100%. What people forget about that season is they actually needed to do that. Remember, they they they barely... got the Spurs the number one seed. Spurs were on the hill all season.
00:57:53
Speaker
They didn't close number one seed until like the final week of half of the season. So they actually needed win all those games. But they were nearly as dominant as the year before that they won the championship. Yeah.
00:58:02
Speaker
Yeah, you're talking about the 15th team that lost? Yeah, they were. They were better. they i don't I don't agree. They took a step back defensively, man. they They took a step back. They only realized towards the end that they had to make that run to to to get those wins. But I just felt like that team defensively was not the same team that went out and won that that that that that championship.
00:58:26
Speaker
i Just to me. that what made them as good as they were, and I know people going to talk about the whole thing because, you know, they didn't have Kyrie Irving and, you know, they didn't have that Cavaliers squad.
00:58:37
Speaker
I just still think collectively both on both sides of the basketball, that Warriors team still was, ah was a much more dangerous team. And you know, it's in my head. I think that they took a step back, you know, defensively than, than, than that year previously. That's just me.
00:58:53
Speaker
yeah Yeah, to me, that that team, because obviously I'm a Cavs fan, so I watched both of those teams very carefully for that whole four-year stretch. And I was already watching Warriors before that. I agree with one of the comments. Yeah, Kerr should have been on one. He should have never been the coach. We should be celebrating Mark Jackson right now. But that's what that's neither here nor there. um But big facts. You got screwed like shit. i want to Let's not forget, too. that wasn't that the same Wasn't that the same series that the Oklahoma City Thunder basically pushed them to seven games? yeah They were on the brink of being eliminated but with all those wins. So, again...
00:59:30
Speaker
you know, that's the reason why I'm saying that, like, when I look at this Oklahoma city thunder team, yes, this team, they're 20 and one, but remember the first two games, they had to go through double overtime. They didn't blow teams out of the water. And even now they're, they're winning games, but they're not outright, like completely dominating just yet. But that part of that reason is because they didn't spend their victors like they don't have their full cast, but they're winning games.
00:59:54
Speaker
They're winning. There was margin of victory is like 20. It's like the highest in NBA history. So to say like that, how much more dominant do you want to be? You want to win by 30, by 40? They're literally playing with their food every single night. And like you said, they just got back their second best player.
01:00:08
Speaker
They've done all this without their second best player. And thank God for the Orlando Magic GM being the smartest person in the room. Because remember, in that draft, Chet Holmgren was supposed to be number one pick. Coming in, he was the number one pick. Thank God Orlando took Paolo Bancaro.
01:00:24
Speaker
Because he would be on that squad versus Chet Holmgren right now, and it wouldn't even be a discussion. But OKC, they're different, man.
01:00:34
Speaker
They're doing it without and without the three, but they play old-school basketball. The other thing got to take into consideration is playoff basketball is the only professional of sports that's literally reffed 100% different than the regular regular season versus the
Refereeing Inconsistency
01:00:48
Speaker
playoffs. I agree with you. So, like, yeah, all everything you say about the playoffs absolutely true, but would it be the same if they actually reffed the regular season like they did the playoffs? he Maybe they need to. Maybe teams would actually be more prepared for playoff basketball if you actually called the game I was supposed to be called in the first place.
01:01:04
Speaker
Yeah, that level of consistency matters. Yeah, I hate the term playoff foul. why Why is it different than the regular season? And then we question why all of the officials in all of the leagues because of that same sort of argument.
01:01:19
Speaker
um And the fact that like, even in football, they don't even make them full-time employees. It's like, come on I got go be a janitor on the weekend and call a fucking pass interference in a tight game in the fourth quarter. No, man. Champ says, I think OKC just as deadly as the Warriors, just in different ways.
01:01:36
Speaker
Warriors blasted you from three. OKC suffocates you like a cobra. I went back and got the ratings. These are your 2015-16 Warriors offensive and defensive ratings, which is what I go to personally when I'm evaluating potential champions. I go to your offensive and defensive rating, and you must be ranked in the top 10. There are some obviously some outliers, but for the most part. That's the KD team.
01:02:01
Speaker
that's the um We're talking about the team that broke the record. That's what we're that's why I'm putting this up. That would be 14-15. 14-15. No, was this one. 14-15. I thought 73-9 was 2000. Hold on. Hold on. Let me check my box. and Yeah, check to make check to make sure. Because I thought that's what it just said on stat reference that I was looking at. Let me let me check. ah and And we'll come back to that. oh yeah. It was 2016. My bad. My bad. Yeah.
01:02:25
Speaker
Oh, is that your reference? My bad. Wow. Way to get a long walk around the park, baby. He played that one very nicely, my friend. Yeah, he did. Very nicely. I was like, wait a second. can do that I know I'm not tripping. I just read that.
01:02:40
Speaker
Sorry, Warriors fans. Screw you. At least I remembered this time. You know what? He did all that talking, not because he was trying to make it sound like all that Warriors team was. He was bigging up the cleavage. He's like, do you see what we had to do to get that ring? You see what mountain we had to climb in order to get that ring?
01:03:00
Speaker
Well played, Bobby G. It's entertainment. I'm going to start renaming you Bobby V. You know what I'm saying? I'm going to start renaming you Bobby V with that one, bro. You pimping right now. Kudos on that one. You're pimping your basketball talk, bro. For real. The Warriors were first in offense, fifth in defense, second in net rating at a 10.7. The Thunder, third in offense, first in defense, and first in net rating at 12.8. So if you're going strictly by the ratings, the Thunder would be just a tiny bit ahead in terms of ranks and ratings. But again, that's how it finishes out.
01:03:41
Speaker
We will see if I but mean, to Bobby's point. Right. Like they are blowing teams out. Right. like and And there was stints with the Warriors, too, that they did the same thing as well, too. And I'm um and i'm not going to discredit that. I'm just saying that, like, when when they when they play against, you know, the the premier teams.
01:03:59
Speaker
are they continual are they are they continually doing that, right? Like, are they blowing out those Denver Nuggets? Are they blowing out those LA Lakers? Are they blowing out the Cleveland Cavaliers? You know what i'm saying? Like, I want to see if that if if that part of it to me, I think matters as equally as us saying at the end of the day, when they when they got all those wins, you know,
01:04:21
Speaker
Is it collectively a reflection of the level of dominance that we're talking about when we talked about that Bulls team that did make that run? You know what I'm saying? Because there is nothing that anyone can ever say to me differently, not just from a numbers perspective, but just from the game perspective.
01:04:37
Speaker
that what the Bulls did that season, that year, they dominated start to finish. They dominated. They left no doubt. Yeah, a good team is going to win a game or two, but they left no doubt.
01:04:48
Speaker
I don't want there to be doubt. If I'm talking about the Oklahoma City Thunder winning, right? Like, I don't want there to be any doubt, right? Like, I shouldn't have had any doubt last year once they got to the finals.
01:04:58
Speaker
They really should have ran through that that Indiana Pacers team, but you clearly saw that there they weren't as offensively effective As they were. So they really relied on their defense.
01:05:09
Speaker
Their defense was suffocating. Their defense was awesome. You know what I'm saying? So I want to see that replicative issue. Like Indiana had the weirdest strategy. it was their problem their Their solution to everything was play faster.
01:05:22
Speaker
Yeah. there was It was chaos basketball. You know what i'm saying? That literally was. That's literally what you have to do. It's like you basically put the team in a cha and in in a chaos chamber and hopefully you go crazy.
01:05:36
Speaker
You know what I'm saying? Your own team has to go crazy in order for, you know, that's how they played. And you can see that they're struggling to do that now because they don't have the same cast of players to to execute in that kind of fashion, you know, but...
01:05:48
Speaker
And here's your professor's stat for the OKC. SGA, your reigning MVP, Shea Jules, Alexander, excuse me, has a streak of 20 or more points in a game of, sorry, the streak is of 90.
01:06:02
Speaker
nine Jeez Louise. Come on It's right in front of you.
01:06:11
Speaker
It's like you're reading it. It's right in front of you. SGA aims to end or break the record of Wilt Chamberlain's streak of 92 straight games of scoring 20 or more points. Michael Jordan, for reference, had 72 and 69. For his best streaks, Kevin Durant also had 72. Wilt's was over two seasons. SGA just needs, say just,
01:06:36
Speaker
33 more games in a row, right, in order, because right now he's at the 39. So 33 more games in a row of 20 or more. To tie it, if he keeps going and scores 20 or more in every game until the All-Star break, he will set the record on February twelfth What is that? Six shots, 12 free throws. and i twelve right those yeah yeah You'll get that in the first quarter of every single game.
01:07:02
Speaker
Hey, man, look, when you're breaking will well Chamberlain records and and stuff that Michael Jordan only did once, I think it it was kind of impressive, I guess. yeah Oh, no, absolutely. I mean, these are the kind of things that we call out, you know, if we're going to put people into MVP conversations and stuff, because once once they've done it all, like, you know,
01:07:21
Speaker
then you've got to find a new way to reinvent you know people's mentality about why they see you as as the most valuable you know valuable player. right you're you're You're basically doing something that is completely against what the the standard is or what the what the trend is. And um I believe that like SGA is revolutionizing the that the game in it in that to be as brutally as efficient as he is reminds us of back when Kevin Durant was – and still is in in many regards, is doing his thing.
01:07:53
Speaker
He seems like he's a dinosaur to be able to still get 30 points off of 12 shots And essentially 10, 11 free throws. But that's the standard, right? Like, why do I got to chuck up 35 shots when I can kill you with 10?
01:08:10
Speaker
And the rest of the time, I'm spending my my days on the free throw line. And I know a lot of people, you know, complain about the the fouling factor and stuff like that. But that's the reason why you play basketball.
01:08:23
Speaker
and you go to the free throw line is to force the other team to foul you, to prevent you from making that shot. So if that's what they're doing, then they need to stop fouling you. And until they figure out a way to stop fouling SGA, right?
01:08:36
Speaker
What are we talking about here? He's, he's doing what James Harden had, had done. know what I'm saying? Literally for his whole career, so basically.
01:08:47
Speaker
Right. He's just doing it more efficiently. Right. And that's yeah the other thing is that we're in a totally different offensive environment, too, where you can get off with pushing off like SGA does, where you don't have to deal with hand checking that Michael Jordan had to deal with, among other things that have changed in the game um among the years. I'll say that's the only thing he revolutionized was to push off.
01:09:08
Speaker
He's pretty good at it. All right, we're moving i told you how he does it. Hey, yeah, you did. It's all about flexing that that wrist in instead of putting your palm out. Mm-hmm.
01:09:19
Speaker
Chicken. is the It's the chicken wing effect. Chicken wing. If you can get away with it. Hey, who was it that said it ain't cheating unless you get caught, right? You can get away with it. that It was one of these athletes by Charles Barkley.
01:09:35
Speaker
All right. I do have to ask quickly about this because I want to get any thoughts that y'all may have about John Morant and or Zion Williams.
Rumors: Ja Morant and Zion Williamson
01:09:43
Speaker
So lately we've been hearing about the possible possible discontent between John Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies organization and possibly them. listening to trades, which could obviously mol net multiple first round picks. You also have the same for Zion, although he can't seem to keep his weight down or stay healthy. Now he's out again. When will he play? We don't know. It's just a like a rotating circle with him every year. Just comes back to the same point when you think he's starting to finally get off the the snide, so to say. And then he comes back to earth because he gets injured or or he can't stay on the floor. Whatever it is,
01:10:20
Speaker
The Pelicans at some point are going to have to look into trading him just like they did Anthony Davis, just like they did ah who was Chris Paul before him. So it's it's something that the Pelicans have to do because, unfortunately, it's which really surprised me my whole life, that it that's not more of a basketball city than it than it is. It really should be more of a basketball city. Anyways, Bobby G, you go ahead and start us off on this one if you want.
01:10:43
Speaker
Any thoughts? Man. ah know um'm I'm watching. i my my all The Cavs suck right now. Oh, you're good. that They're giving me a hard one. No, but... You're all right. you you You look more ill than I do right now, man. Man, we're losing to a G League team in the Portland Trailblazers right now, and it's pissing me off. like Oh, okay. ah You don't have money on it, do you?
01:11:08
Speaker
na No, no. Heck no, not not this year, not the Cavs. I'd rather put money on the Browns. ah But to Ja, you know what? I can't say anything about Ja Morant any better than Klay Thompson said, man.
01:11:23
Speaker
Everything Klay Thompson said did last week about Ja Morant was absolutely correct. Bro, we need you on the court. We need our stars on the court. Stop doing the stupid stuff. And like it's being a black dude in America.
01:11:36
Speaker
I wish I could blame it on on one thing. I wish I could blame it on on a single parent home, but I can't because your dad is in the front row of every game. So what the hell? it's te time talk Talk to your boy. being Being a black man and being black man in America, if you had a if you had a black father, the black father would have taken you and smacked you upside your head.
01:11:54
Speaker
I'm saying. That obviously tells you everything need to do. Unfortunately, and I'm not here to call any parenting skills out because I am not a parent, but unfortunately seems like his father is more of a friend than a father, which again, it's not a bad thing. It's an enabler. It's not a bad thing. Your mom is calling you up to the mall to beat people up.
01:12:14
Speaker
like he's He's an enabler. yeah you know that's in it and that's and that's And that's unfortunate. okay ah Look, I think John Morant is a really, really talented player.
01:12:27
Speaker
But i don't i don't think that the I don't think the NBA is a space that he he's going to be successful in. if you even Even right now,
01:12:42
Speaker
you know when you look at the way that most players are moving the needle in sports entertainment from a basketball perspective, he is so far outside that realm.
01:12:57
Speaker
yeah He's literally teetering on LiAngelo Ball. Yeah. You get what I'm saying? Like, why would I want to be drawing comparisons of you as a player and your career,
01:13:10
Speaker
right which there is none right leandro ball will never be able to do what john moran already has done the last couple of years but we're not talking about john moran's accomplishments on the court we're talking about the nonsense it's off the court right and that exactly is what led leandro leandro ball to go and leave the and nba because he did not work on his craft right and said oh i have now found my career in rapping In in in being ah and being a rap artist, not basketball artist. you hear the corners, whoa.
01:13:44
Speaker
Right? Like, okay, that's cool. And because he made that decision, that already spoke to everyone else in the and NBA. We can't take that dude seriously.
01:13:57
Speaker
And I hate to say it, we're getting to that point with John Moran. And I don't understand how you don't see that, right? Like, forget whether or not you can go and be a ah franchise player for some other team.
01:14:11
Speaker
Everyone now is thinking about whether or not you can actually just be in in the building. And when I say that, I don't mean by you being there, showing up, and playing basketball. I'm saying you mentally being there.
01:14:24
Speaker
You mentally coming to work, you bringing your lunch pail and coming to work like a ton of other players who are not in that position, who don't have the money that you already have access to.
01:14:35
Speaker
You don't have, access they don't have access to the organization like you already have access to. has all of that and is willing to squander that and throw that away because there is something else far bigger and better or more beautiful that's got him preoccupied than handling his business right now. And I'm not even talking about playing basketball, bro.
01:14:55
Speaker
I'm not even talking about you being a teammate to those guys that you're in the locker room with, those 12, 15 guys you're in the locker room with and going out on a night and out of bases or being accountable as the leader and being the vocal point for the head coach who you're you're in competitions with 30 other teams and 29 other teams in the NBA.
01:15:15
Speaker
I'm not even talking about that. This is what we're talking about with John Moran. and And that's, it's just sad, man.
NBA Leadership Comparisons
01:15:21
Speaker
But I honestly am to the point where I don't see a place for him in any team in the NBA until he gets himself right about what he wants the and NBA, like what he wants to get out of playing in the and NBA. You what I'm saying? Yeah.
01:15:35
Speaker
and And I think that is the point that even Clay Thompson was was speaking to. You know what I'm saying? Like, you can't be talking to me. You can't be wasting your time talking to me. I'm good. I'll always be good. I've shown you what my worth is.
01:15:49
Speaker
You're still out there trying to prove people that. And you already have been playing for as long as you've been playing. And that's a problem. That's a problem. Yeah. Yeah. it's It's definitely a problem. And also it gets to the point where, and rest in peace to the late, great David Stern, but it gets to the point that if he was still alive, he'd have hammered him so hard that he wouldn't even have been thinking of making these mistakes because he'd get kicked out of the league very quickly. And even though Adam Silver has a spine made of jellyfish, um you know at some point he may get fed up to the point where he also takes more restrictive action than he has thus far.
01:16:28
Speaker
um I want to throw something in there. I don't know if whether I'm pushing back on what you were just saying, Omar, but you all I think, I think, I think part of my concern here is where the NBPA is on all of this.
01:16:40
Speaker
Right. yeah And I clearly, you can clearly tell that they're in a different direction um about how much involvement they, I'm not, I'm not calling them out. I'm not trying to make it sound like they're not doing what they're doing. What I'm saying is that I think the mentality is very different.
01:16:58
Speaker
I think we just finished talking about Chris Paul and his influence of handling business, not just for, you know, the players, but also for the union, for the league in and of itself.
01:17:12
Speaker
And it's hard for the union to step in and do anything when they have to spend more time trying to get guys to be mature when they are not even doing that on their own.
01:17:27
Speaker
You know what saying? It's hard for them to it's hard for them to put their their their their their their thumb on the scale when they have business that they're really trying to tend to and they're sitting here babysitting people who obviously are not on the same page with where they where they' collectively want to be and need to be. And I think that's a concern, right?
01:17:47
Speaker
When we get to that point of CBA, collective bargain agreements, the players want to have the best image possible to validate getting more at the dint at the table. And it can't be at the expense of guys like John Morant. And I'll even say Zion Williamson to some degree.
01:18:03
Speaker
Because, again, we're talking about your best ability is your availability. And neither one of them, for as much as people want to push them into this spotlight of being the face of the NBA or whatever, neither one of them have proven that their ah their availability is even their not even just their best ability, but any ability that enables their team to go out and win. You know what I'm saying? And that's a problem.
01:18:28
Speaker
That's a problem. yeah It's the equivalent of Kyler Murray having to have a stipulation in his contract to stay off video games. Facts. Bro, you are making $40 million dollars a year to do a job.
01:18:44
Speaker
take care of your, of what you need to, before you take care of what you want to.
Memphis Grizzlies Dynamics
01:18:49
Speaker
Exactly. Because that next con, the next person to sign that contract now has to deal with this because you decided to screw up.
01:18:56
Speaker
And that's exactly what these two dudes are doing for, it's it for the Palos and for the Chets. It's unfortunate. yeah You know, it's really, really, really, really unfortunate because it it deprives us.
01:19:09
Speaker
It deprives the ability for organizations to really spend the time and invest in what they need to invest in, and in, in, in building their their, their franchise. I had this conversation, you know, it was a running joke between me and my cohost, my boy. um You know, he keeps thinking I'm coming down on a guy like Jaron Jackson Jr. I keep bringing him up because we bring this thing about John Moran, but I speak to this because the organization made a decision about who the face of that team in the franchise is.
01:19:40
Speaker
And that's John Morant. And I don't know of whether or not Jaron Jackson Jr. feels differently about that. Maybe he feels some kind of way about that. But I can tell you right now that you can clearly see that one person has a different mentality about what success looks like and what he it wants to get out of playing with the Memphis Grizzlies and clearly what another person is doing. And I'm just saying, how does that help Jaron Jackson Jr.?
01:20:04
Speaker
How does that help the Memphis Grizzlies? You what I mean? So at some point, these roads are going to cross and decisions are going to have to be made. and And we were actually having this conversation. Are you going to get more out of John Morant moving him now than maybe Jaron Jackson Jr.? I would argue you get more moving Jaron Jackson Jr. now because he's proving you that that there are teams that could actually utilize his services.
01:20:29
Speaker
Yeah. Oh, I do the opposite. I trade John Morant for as many. you're not going to anything. But you're not getting any. Yeah. I mean, someone will give up just for talent alone. Right. Just for talent alone. If you're an organization...
01:20:42
Speaker
You're saying that you're rolling the dice to think you're going to get what they what the Memphis Grizzlies have basically already given him, right? Forget whether or not he's playing in a small market.
01:20:54
Speaker
Right now, his position is point guard. He's supposed to be the leader of your team, essentially. He's going to be responsible for everybody playing up their level.
01:21:05
Speaker
And you have to spend time basically getting him to to act his act right on the basketball court before you even worry about him having a ball in his hands.
01:21:16
Speaker
You get what I'm saying? Like, there are not too many teams right now in a position that are going to roll that dice unless they're desperate. Like, if you're the Washington Wizards or if you're, say, like, maybe the Miami Heat. I you know there's conversations about what would he you know, to the Miami Heat. But I'm thinking to myself, like, if Eric Spoelstra is taking – a bunch of of, you know, lunch pail brothers and are going out there and and and basically posting up 130 points, what exactly is John Morant going to give you that you aren't you already already getting from guys like him? Is it because you think that John Morant's going to show up in big games and playoffs?
01:21:51
Speaker
Right. Okay. The Miami Heat as an organization have proven they didn't they've never needed that. And they still get to the playoffs. And they still knock off number one seeded teams.
01:22:02
Speaker
You know what I'm saying? Pat Riley basically hand-walked LeBron out of Miami because he wouldn't curtail the some things that that LeBron wanted done. you go He going to put up with that from John?
01:22:20
Speaker
I'm just saying. he like He got rid of Jimmy Butler after Jimmy Butler just got mad about a joke he made on a press conference. like yeah He let Dwayne Wade leave. That's all he needs. He's very vindictive, as we know Pat Riley is.
01:22:31
Speaker
Over $3 million. dollars But the listen, but the but the standard is the standard, right? That's true. The standard is the standard. and And unfortunately, look, man, i there was a time I used to love watching the Memphis Grizzlies. Grit and grind, man. Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Tony Allen. Tony Allen. Man, look, man.
01:22:51
Speaker
If I was a Celtic, I would never want to play that team, boy. Because they were about as close as to my era of the Boston Celtics that played in that era where you had the bad boys in Detroit and you had the Bulls and you had, you know what I'm saying, the Utah Jazz. And, you know what I'm saying, like that level of physicality, they're imposing their will.
01:23:13
Speaker
You know, there was a they they were brooding, you know, that I used to love that. And I'm not saying that John Moran, you know, what I loved about him is he had an AI feel to him, right? Like he may have been small in stature, but he played much bigger than that. And maybe it's because he had a chip on his shoulder because he was disrespected, you know, not not being considered or looked at the same way that we look at the Luka Doncic's and we look at, you know, the the ice trays and everything like that. So I gave him his props for helping get the Memphis Grizzlies to a certain point.
01:23:45
Speaker
Unfortunately, he he wasn't able to close the deal and the opportunities they had. But you already saw inklings of this level of immaturity. and and And even then, when he was off the floor, right, because remember, he was suffering injuries. They were still going out there winning basketball games, which told you the influence that Jenkins had on that team, right?
01:24:06
Speaker
And with Bain and with Jaron Jackson
NBA Players and Music Careers
01:24:09
Speaker
Jr. and all of those guys, like that team was still a legit competitive team. yeah And I don't know what changed. I don't know what happened, but you know now you can clearly see that if you're the Memphis Grizzlies, man, like you're not gonna win with the current roster strut constructed. I'm just telling you that right now.
01:24:30
Speaker
And if I'm Jaron Jackson Jr., I have to really be thinking about what my options are going to be outside of this. Because if they're still going to clamor and hold on to a guy like John Morant, I can't be playing next to this this version of John Morant right now. You know saying? It's not beneficial for the Grizzlies. It's not beneficial for his career either. I think he could be better suited at playing where his skill set can truly can be a difference maker.
01:24:52
Speaker
Look at what Desmond Bain is basically doing right now for Orlando. Probably the best thing that ever happened to him, even if he'll probably tell you up and down. And the fact that that the the Grizzlies went and got rid of Dylan Brooks, I think was the domino effect that started all of this.
01:25:05
Speaker
But even still, you can't tell me that Ja Morant is still a franchise player. There's no way that that you can make that argument to me now, and more and more so. It's going to take a lot. It's going to take a lot for that to set to happen.
01:25:17
Speaker
great i think I think what Jaron Jackson Jr. should do is ah completely just say, forget all of you. I'm voiding my contract. I'm going to be LiAngelo Ball and become a famous rapper and make a shitty song. That shit was booty juice, LiAngelo. Your song was trash, okay? Booty juice, basuda.
01:25:38
Speaker
Don't bring that crap to me. I don't want to hear no Lil Wayne, woaty boy. Shut that shit up, though. Because bank account says otherwise. I don't care. I don't care. I'd rather be broke. I'd rather be broke than make some music like that.
01:25:52
Speaker
You'll never go find no music under the name Street Professor. Something like that. I don't care how much money you give. I mean, how many, whatchamacallit? Listen, man, homie is breeding right now.
Zion Williamson's Trade Potential
01:26:04
Speaker
know I'm saying? got... He got all kind of pick me running around. You know, know i get listen I guess, you know, what the what the NBA doesn't give us, you know, he he rap us away. So, you know, you now take it. There you go. Just to let everybody know your professor's fact on this one, Zion has played only 10 of 22 games now at at risk of missing a minimum of three weeks. There are two seasons left at $87 million dollars on his contract. um Again, this is the whole situation we just looked at with ya Ja, excuse me, um
01:26:42
Speaker
Is anyone really good going to trade a great asset? I still think you can probably get a first for Zion. But again, it's just that will they won't they sort of thing. What they can do is they can waive him before July 15th and wipe off the last two years of his book, No Harm No Foul.
01:26:59
Speaker
I don't know if you do that. That seems kind of crazy. I think if you drafted this man, number one, you better let him play out his whole contract because you already paid him the money. But who am I? I'm not a billionaire owner yet. Yeah, you can't do that.
01:27:10
Speaker
if you're the ah Remember, this is the Pelicans. you know We're talking about the Pelicans almost the same way we're talking about the L.A. Clippers. of Every transaction, every move that they've made has never been...
01:27:22
Speaker
has never really been solid. They've lucked out, right, when they've drafted quality players and then have managed to make them malcontent and and basically make them want to leave, right?
01:27:33
Speaker
So, listen, they should have moved Zion Williamson a while ago yeah when when his when it was when there was really, really good value for him. i you know i get where you're coming from, Omar. I think you you know you you believe that there's a first-round draft pick Again, i speak in the same ilk as I speak with John Moran. The only difference is is that Zion Williamson's you know maturity or whatever the case may be is he's just – he's not in a position to – he just to me is someone with where if he can be on the basketball court and not be burdened with the weight of holding up a franchise, I think he could be a considerable –
01:28:18
Speaker
you know, one B player, two A player, right? You, you, you, you sent him, he compliments. Like if you sent him to the Phoenix suns and you play him next to Devin Booker, ain't nobody questioning whose team that is.
01:28:31
Speaker
You know what I'm saying? And Diane sure as hell wouldn't have a question who he's playing next to and who he's playing with. You know what I'm saying? Like that to me would probably make more sense, but putting him with somebody that he's going to go out there and restart and refresh that ain't happen.
01:28:47
Speaker
That going happen. If you're the Pelicans, you got to eat this. You got to eat it See it through. If you're going to trade him, you got to do good on the trade. And maybe having Joe Dumars in that executive office may may go a long way in doing that.
01:28:59
Speaker
But you can already make the argument right now, like, damn. I'd have probably been fine going, know, still running it back with Brandon Ingram and CJ McCullum and all these guys. They out there eating on other teams. You know what I'm saying? Which really speaks more to how inept the New Orleans Pelicans have been. And for what they're getting back, they're not getting back any returns for the moves that they're making. And at some point that just cannot be the case.
01:29:25
Speaker
And it doesn't matter who they bring in there either because they brought in David Griffin, who was all hyped up to be, you know, one of the best executives. He didn't do shoot either.
NBA MVP Candidates
01:29:32
Speaker
So it's like they can't do anything right and within that Pelicans organization, unfortunately. And again, it's sad because I think that New Orleans would be more of a basketball town. But, you know, it just it just isn't. it just isn't Or at least they don't prioritize it as it should be. All right, y'all. Hey, make sure that you are tapping in with everybody here. We got one more segment to go, but please make sure you tap in with Bobby G at the Audible podcast there with my brother, Wildcard Mark. And as well, you tap in with Kyle Lee and my other brother, Warren Shaw, there at the Baseline NBA podcast. That is Audible but underscore Bobby G.
01:30:05
Speaker
on IG and NBA underscore baseline on IG as well. Make sure you subscribe to Ball and Buds, B-A-L-L-A-N-D-B-U-D-S. Hit that like button, whether watching now or on the replay, really helps us out. Clubber D says, Zion is a bank robber and I'm jealous. ah i mean He ain't a bank robber. He just wanted him do like... heat He was walking down the street, and then the ATM just broke and started spitting out money, and he just took it off. There's only one bank robber in the NBA. That's Ben Simmons. No, Ben Simmons.
01:30:36
Speaker
Well, Kawhi Leonard, too. I would argue Kawhi Leonard as well. Ben Simmons is the GOAT. He he wrote a a manual. Yeah, he wrote the manual. I look at Kawhi as the Thomas Crown affair.
01:30:47
Speaker
Yeah. Ha, ha, ha.
01:30:51
Speaker
That's true, man. But you're right. Like, you know what I'm saying? Ben Simmons, low down, dirty shame. Like, just... He took it from everything they got. That's great. All right, cool. Let's go ahead and... Yeah, we're going to have to save the... I had a couple more topics, but we'll do that on another episode because... It's getting late.
01:31:10
Speaker
But let's go ahead and get into our NBA, MVP and finals picks. We do this on every show, Cal, so don't feel as if it's too early. It's never too early for me. You will find out. I will make you pick in the offseason. ah So we'll go ahead and give our MVP picks right now. Who's in your lead for MVP? We'll start with you, Bobby G, since I just popped that on Cal, and I don't know if he was ready for that yet. So Bobby you bringing in it on me? Oh, I mean, come on, oh you know. I mean, and well i know I know you're a basketball savant. ah you Go ahead. Go Kyle. What you got? here you guys
01:31:46
Speaker
No, I mean, look, right now, um you know, SGA is, you know, is the guy, you know, he's a leading, you know, MVP. um But I do think that you can make the argument for um just as far as inside track,
01:32:04
Speaker
you know, Nikola Jokic, no question. Luka Doncic. Luka. You know, listen to me. He's balling um insanely. And Cade Cunningham, you know, um I think he, you know, he he should definitely be drawing drawing a couple of ah a couple of votes.
01:32:24
Speaker
um I want so i wanna to give, you know, your boy Donovan, you know, some love, but Donovan will be having his moments, man. Like, yeah. um You know, but if you're you're asking me like, you know, so far as, you know, the the number one getter, it's hard to, you know, to not give it to the guy right now who just clearly is just showing a level of dominance right now with the efficiency of his scoring and his team dominating completely off the board, both offensively and defensively.
01:32:56
Speaker
So yeah, I think right now, you know, SGA is a front runner. It could be very very much his to lose. i think what will be interesting is is how much J-Dub's influence ah will be. Will he take away from, you know, how SGA like can sga can even leapfrog higher than the numbers he posted last year, which was very much unprecedented and things of that nature. because i feel like with the rest of those other guys there's more opportunity for the load to be more on their shoulders like the yokich's you know obviously at kumpo you know to you know to some degree and you know even k cunningham as well too um you know kevin durant could even be in that conversation a little bit with the way that the rockets have to depend on his ability to score a basketball and he's damn near averaging 30 points a game at his age right which is remarkable and Luka Doncic with his is his level of dominance. So it'll be interesting. But right now, I think the frontrunner is going to be SG, and SGA will be his to lose.
01:33:53
Speaker
Yeah, I agree with you. I'm not going to have to expound on that any further. SGA would definitely be there for me. But I do want to piggyback off of something you said there. And as a Celtic fan...
01:34:05
Speaker
Excuse me. As a Celtic. God, sorry, I'm a little sick. Right there. As a Celtic fan. Don't be allergic to Jalen. It's okay. No, it's it's the Lakers. That'd be Bobby G. He's allergic to Jalen. It's the fakers. It's the fakers. I'm allergic to Jalen's hair. It's definitely Luca and the fakers. i can never I can never, ever let the LA name come out of my mouth in any positive sort of light. As a Boston Celtic fan, I hate them so much with every passion of my body. But Luca is playing amazing.
01:34:36
Speaker
I mean, he is leading. He was averaging at last, when I got this this from NBA.com couple days ago, 35.2 points a game. That has him aiming to be only the 12th player in NBA history to average at least 35 a game.
01:34:51
Speaker
So that's, that's just, i mean, we already knew he was an elite scorer, but that's on another level. And then, I mean, you mix in the fact that l a is good, right? And it's been with LeBron being out for half of the season, um just coming back. But even with him now, they're five and one since he's been back. So I think that's a lot to do with Luka's influence ah um because it's obviously clearly not LeBron since he's fully not healthy yet, although obviously his veteran presence helped. So I'm going to go with Luka. But... in terms of someone non SGA. Also you got to look at Jokic, as you had mentioned as well. A lot of people would say stat padding.
01:35:32
Speaker
He's looking to get a, no that he's averaging another triple double this year. If he gets it again, he will be the only other player other than Russell Westbrook to have consecutive seasons with triple doubles. So you also got to look at him. Like you said as well, Bobby G who you got?
01:35:48
Speaker
Yeah. I didn't boot Kay Cunningham because you stole my thunder. cause If I had to pick, it'd be Kay Cunningham. Oh, OK. There you go. I mean, they're number one in the East right now. If they fit were to actually finish the season, the number one team in the East. I think you'd have to give major consideration.
01:36:05
Speaker
he's His game is just, I love his game. I was so upset we didn't get the number one pick that year. um man, to have him with Donovan right now, that'd be awesome. But I digress. I saw the twinkle in your eye too. like it is that like Like, man.
01:36:22
Speaker
i thought i thought it was I thought it was that ring that was they im saying they hit the blind. That's all right. and A little twinkle in your eye. That's back in the box. That's back in the box. yeah ah But no, I love his game. And he's doing it.
01:36:36
Speaker
Honestly, i think if you switch him SGA, He can what SGA is doing in OKC. Their games are kind of similar. Yeah, Cade is the Eastern Conference version of SGA. and and And I think that if if, to your point, I think if he has If he continues to keep putting up the kind of numbers that he's putting up in all-around game, and I'm not just talking about, you know, because, again, we we get fixated on the offensive numbers, but also look at the defensive metrics. Yeah, he defends. What Cade Cunningham is doing, he very much is, put is is it you know, he's inserted himself in that conversation because that's exactly the reason why the Detroit Pistons are among one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, you know? yeah
01:37:12
Speaker
so um So, yeah, man, like I love that pick. I just wonder if it's sustainable. I think that's what I mean. I mean, JB is a good coach. I mean, he was a coach of the Cavs last before he got the Pistons. So i know a little little bit what he can do. And that team is kind of tailored to his coaching style, right? So and especially with with everything going on in the East, ah us not living up to expectations right now, plus all the injuries.
01:37:36
Speaker
Yeah, it's not out of the question that they they can sustain at least through the regular season. But I think it's the same question to Omar's pick in Luka Doncic because of Luka Doncic's transformation.
01:37:48
Speaker
And I think, you know, absorbing that load, um the one thing that I can say that Luka has a, you know, He has a newfound level of inspiration.
01:38:00
Speaker
ah I don't know. I'm not saying it's greedy or nothing like that. I'm just saying that I think he realistically sees himself saying, I need to be the and MVP at some point. Like, I'm tired of being in the conversation and not seeing it through.
01:38:13
Speaker
Flaming out, you know, in the back end of the NBA season and then taking myself out of the out of the runnings. you know, for being an MVP, I think, cause you know, in most cases he usually starts off slow and then he picks it up.
01:38:28
Speaker
Right. Somehow he's in the conversation. The fact that he's hot out the gate. Yeah. And guys like Austin Reeves are getting theirs. Guys like DeAndre Ayton. That, to me, is the key that puts it over the top.
01:38:40
Speaker
Right? Because we get all enamored with the Jokic numbers. But what made Jokic as dominant as he was getting those numbers and the Nuggets were still a top three, five team. You know what i'm saying? They're about.
01:38:53
Speaker
And those that dependency of him dominating. Being part is elevating his team as best as he can, and it couldn't be ignored. So the numbers are definitely there. You know i'm saying? yeah But the fact that the team has become a good team, a solid team, you know what I'm saying? I think speaks volumes to Lukacs' next level if um ah of evolution to eventually become the MVP because we had to do the same thing with Joel Embiid.
01:39:17
Speaker
Yeah. know And that's what I don't think is much of of Lucas sustaining. I think it's more the others. Because for me, I personally expect Luca to to do what he's doing. Not maybe not to a 35-point level, but I expect expect him to play like he's playing and dominate like he's dominating.
01:39:34
Speaker
I don't think anybody saw Austin Reeves coming. If he told me to begin the season, Austin Reeves is going be playing like this, I'd have been like, nah, you got to be mine. But can he sustain that level to help Luca?
01:39:45
Speaker
And the Lakers maintain that. That's great. Because if Austin Reeves takes a step back, Luka can score 40. It might not matter. But I think – I guess one thing to add to what you're saying, though, Bobby, is when, obviously, LeBron inserts himself in this conversation, how much – I don't see Luka deferring like he did last year.
01:40:10
Speaker
You see what i'm saying? And I think that to me is part of the key of why maybe this may be a different situation or scenario. I want to see if this same level of aggressive Luca maintains itself throughout the course of the NBA season.
01:40:23
Speaker
Right. And again, As much as he went through this transformation of his body, this is the first year of playing with that body. Right. Let's not ignore the fact that he has been injury prone and ignore the fact that he's missed critical games during the regular season, which is unfortunately knocked him out of the MVP conversation. You what I'm saying? Because it's usually an extensive injury.
01:40:48
Speaker
If everything plays right and he's healthy, that will not be in question. But adding on to your point, if guys like Austin Reeves, guys like DeAndre Ayton, Jackson Hayes, and even LeBron James, if they're playing at an elevated level while Luka's getting his, then he's going to wind up winning the MVP.
01:41:09
Speaker
I think it would do there would be very little to to, you know, not to say that SGA wouldn't get it. right But you like Luka, it would be hard pressed for him not to get it. And he's an L.A. faker, so they always somehow get preferential treatment. look Damn assholes. Anyways, Austin Reeves, as you mentioned, 28 points a game. Crazy. Six rebounds a game, six assists, 68% true shooting. Safe to say he will win the MIP award.
01:41:36
Speaker
Sure. Yeah. No, I think there's no doubt about it. don't know. It's close. He he got some confidence.
Austin Reeves' Breakout
01:41:40
Speaker
Denny. we Oh, Denny. Denny obvious. From the Trailblazers. Yes. Denny's balling, man. He is. Yeah, he's balling. But, look.
01:41:50
Speaker
That's that that's like that's is a sympathy. If you give it to him, it's a sympathy trophy. 35 over his last five? No, no, no. Bobby, I'm not questioning the numbers, bro. I'm not questioning the numbers.
01:42:03
Speaker
But you just said a moment ago, did anybody see Austin Reeves coming? I'm sorry, you weren't saying that about Denny. right like and he And he was balling from last year. Because that's my man Shaw's pick. You know what I'm saying?
01:42:16
Speaker
Nobody was talking about Austin Reeves. You know, Austin Reeves is is kind of like Austin Theory. He's around. He's close up. No, no. Now Austin Reeves is just flat out awesome right now. I'll give that man his props. My man balling out. And if he's going ball out like that, you have to give him an IP, man. I'm sorry. i learned i ip broke I love getting the Austin Theory wrestling reference. you lu I got to do that every now and again. Oh, we are. we The two of us are huge wrestling fans. So you're not going to hear. Actually, but Bobby calls himself the travel chief of podcasting. race Everybody thinks it was Austin Theory that came in and did the. So what do you think? I mean, what do you think? Was it Austin Theory? What do you got? I mean, why not?
01:43:00
Speaker
You know, I don't I think his I think Vince ruined him pretty much. So I think he's got to build himself back up now. It's it's a good way for him to do that. Yeah. Well, especially after he was in that WAC tag team with ah Grayson Waller.
01:43:12
Speaker
That didn't help any. Anyways, there's your Austin Reeves versus Denny Avija. There's your ah statistics if you want to take a look at that. But it looks like Austin Reeves is a little better in the majority of categories except rebounds.
01:43:26
Speaker
All right, cool. Well, that i think i think bobby I think Bobby is wanting to make sure he prop up Denny because, you know, he's putting it on his calves right now. Ah, yes. He got him for 27. By the way, I don't mind your Cade Cunningham choice because the Pistons are 17 and four and we couldn't have seen that shit coming. I mean, we could have, but not this quick. I mean, 17 and four is really good. I didn't think they were going to be first place in the Eastern Conference. But these conference been lacking a little bit so far with the Knicks struggling out the gate, Magic struggling out the gate, Cleveland even 13 at nine.
01:44:01
Speaker
So anyways, what I was going to say, though, to i officially lost what I don't like is 45 shots. What'd you say? said 10 now. We officially lost. Oh, there you go. I don't like 45 shots. OK, Cade, I'm going need that to come down. 45 shots in one game is horrendous. And that that's not you don't need to be doing that. Come on. you're a better player than that. Anyways, moving on. Let's get into our finals picks there, gentlemen. Updated finals picks. Go ahead. um Bobby G, we'll start with you on this one.
01:44:30
Speaker
and know going to pick the Cavs anyways. so No, i'm not not right now. We we don't tell we might miss the playoffs. ah I'm going to go OKC from
NBA Finals Predictions Revisited
01:44:41
Speaker
out west. And honestly,
01:44:43
Speaker
ah the way everybody's playing right now, it could be anybody I'm going to go with the Pistons. Okay. As it stands right now. young they are. Wow. As it stands right now.
01:44:57
Speaker
um m Interesting. i don't I don't like the way – clearly don't like like the way we're playing basketball. We ain't even in conversation. ah Everybody else is just kind of scrappy. this just It feels like one of those seasons where the Miami Heat just make a run at the end of the year. They just get healthy in April. and just It feels like that kind of year.
01:45:18
Speaker
But no, the Pistons, they're the most consistent team right now in the East. Like I said, they got the best star who's playing the best basketball in the East. And JB's coaching his ass off, so I had to go with him Facts.
01:45:32
Speaker
Biggerstaff is coaching his ass off. And as much as I hate the heat, just like I hate the Cavs because I'm a LeBron hater and everything he did to my Celtics. um As long as y'all are being led by my brother from UCLA, Triple J, Jaime Jaquez Jr. Don't front one of the best young players in the league. Y'all better get on him. And I'm my girl Gabby, UCLA 8 clap.
01:45:54
Speaker
All right. Anyways, let's keep it moving. um ah Cal, what you got? Oh yeah. Listen, if the roster is is, is the roster is constructed as is right now, I would definitely say the Detroit Pistons, but I have a feeling that the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to probably do something to the trade deadline.
01:46:16
Speaker
we and See, that's why I plugged it. Right. Like I, you did roll in real nicely, Bobby rolling real nicely. Um,
01:46:28
Speaker
I think it's going to come down OKC and Cleveland. I think Cleveland will finally get this done. um It's ironic because, you know, again, I'm a believer of the Detroit Pistons, but I just don't think that they're ready yet. Like in seven-game series with the teams that they would probably have to wind up playing against, they could probably get out of the first round, but I think they get knocked out of the semis.
1996: Hip Hop's Impact
01:46:52
Speaker
um I'm still trying – I'm still trying to be a believer of J.B. Baker's staff and how he makes adjustments. It's not a question of adjustments for teams like the New York Knicks, and it's just a matter of can they just be better?
01:47:07
Speaker
I don't know if you can do that with Mike Brown in his first year as a head coach. um I think this team, while they look prolific offensively, they don't look the same defensively. um The only team that I feel like has opportunity to come back to being that balanced team offensively and defensively right now at Eastern Conference like that is the Cleveland Cavaliers.
01:47:28
Speaker
um So I see the i see it being the Cavs, I see as OKC as my picks you know to to to to to take the run you know for the finals.
01:47:40
Speaker
Yeah, um I agree. At the beginning of the season, that was my pick in the season preview. I had OKC and Cleveland. um Excuse me.
01:47:52
Speaker
No, I did not have OKC and Cleveland. I apologize. That was at the end of last season that I had OKC and Cleveland. In the season preview that I did with your brother and ah Warren, um we – He'll know this and if he sees it back on video. But I went with the Thunder. And now that they have started to pick it up after struggling early on in the season, i have to stick with my original pick of the – oh, I feel something coming, gentlemen.
01:48:22
Speaker
Oh, no. No, the New York – oh, God. The New York – I can't get it out. The New York Knicks and Thunder are my final pick still.
01:48:37
Speaker
And I hate it so much. The drama is real here. They may hate it too. i Knicks may hate it as well. They're they're probably hoping it's going to be anybody else but the Oklahoma City Thunder. yes fat you They don't want that smoke.
01:48:52
Speaker
They don't want that Hartenstein revenge series. um ah i will say We really thank everybody for tuning in today. This was such an honor and a pleasure. We're going to to get... Warren and Cal on at the same time, bring Bobby BFG back. We're definitely going to to a hip hop show with at least the three of us in the near future. I'll get some other people that I know some hip hop heads. We can talk. That being said, before we go, I do want to leave us on a positive note here. And I found this the other day, gentlemen.
01:49:21
Speaker
ah This is your 1996, what they are considering the greatest year in hip hop. Look at all these beautiful, wonderful albums.
Engagement and Subscription
01:49:31
Speaker
I think I had pretty much 95% of them. I think there's only a couple on here I didn't have.
01:49:37
Speaker
That Crucial Conflict? That is Crucial Conflict. I had that album. I'm not even much of a... At the time, I was more of a goody mob, outcast. I still am outcast all day, every day. show What do y'all think about this beauty? It's a gem.
01:49:54
Speaker
That's just...
01:49:57
Speaker
yeah that's just beautiful yeah i mean that was a year man stakes is high they ah saw what and tupac all eyes on me is is one of my favorite skelter non-internal yeah people don't know man like pelter skelter is like my favorite you know hip-hop yes like i you know boot camp click yes rest in peace to p John man. John Price. Rockets, Monster. Yes.
01:50:31
Speaker
Them cats, man. Crazy. but even i mean even But even then, man, like, you know Tupac, All Eyes on Me. and It was written. o I mean, you got Reasonable Doubt and it was written. considered Two of the albums considered to probably be in the you know top five of hip-hop of all time are in this category as well. so Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z.
01:50:51
Speaker
The Resurrection, one of the most underrated albums of all time. Illadelf Half-Life, bro. Ooh, the roots. Concerto of a Desperado. Oh, my God. That track right there.
01:51:07
Speaker
this is I'm sorry. just And they had the track. giving me all the feels, man. just They had the track with Jill Scott. That was my joint. If you're worried about hell. Happy to come home. That was my jam. I used to pump that shit all day. And obviously, you know, the swan song for Trap Call Quest, right? Wings Rhymes in Life. yeah um that was That was basically it, you know.
01:51:29
Speaker
um So yeah, man, that was just such a prolific year of of artistry, lyricism, music. yeah Man, the culture was ready to take off, literally. Like,
01:51:42
Speaker
you know And obviously we had the source, right? Source Magazine. yeah i think at that point, XXL was about to come up on precipice. Yeah, man. That's just beautiful. you know it's on the precipice Yeah. man that's just that's just beautiful yeah maybe you just leave that there I know, right? Leave that there for the rest of the show. And we are, we are, we are done. And if I didn't want to make sure that you got to be front and center when you announce your, your, your, where they can find you at, I would keep it up there, but we got to go back to the three man. Cause Cal, you got to let them know where can the people find you, my friend.
01:52:17
Speaker
you can find us on all the major platforms, man. Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio. We're all over. You can also catch us on the YouTube channel. Just look for the Baseline NBA podcast. Look for us with the 19 Media Group family. So you can go to www.19mediagroup.com.
01:52:34
Speaker
You could also go to www.thebaselinemba.com to check out not just ah any of our episodes, like just you know our most recent episode, which is a good one. We had a really, really – A great, great episode. We sat down with Drink Champ Sports' Paul Andano. Nice. Associate producer who talked about the Miami Heat. Real great conversation. a grill Real down-to-earth brother. Loves his sports. Loves his Miami Heat. So it was really good chopping it up with him. so definitely check out that episode. that's ah That's already available on YouTube. But the audio version, if you're a potty,
01:53:10
Speaker
You know going to be out ready to roll by tomorrow to to you know for your listening
Cowboys vs. Lions Prediction
01:53:16
Speaker
pleasures. So, yeah, man, like you can catch us all over. you know what saying? We're on the Insta. You know, on the YouTube shorts. You know, definitely chime in, um you know, between myself and Shaw.
01:53:27
Speaker
I'm the passionate one. Shaw is the the diplomat, right? he's he He is the one who speaks within reason. I speak within tongues. Right. So, you know, that's how we roll, man. But that's the beauty of ah of of what we do with our show, man. Like, you know, hopefully we bring perspective and thought and conversation. And that's what we encourage people to do, man. So they have a different perspective about how they view and see the NBA.
01:53:55
Speaker
I love it, brother. And I have, again, enjoyed watching you all since ah I met Warren on the last one. And I continue to look forward to your success. And I want to continue to also continue to do shows with y'all and network and connect as well as we do with all of our podcasting people on here. And I've done plenty of times with Bobby G. Bobby G, let them know where they can find you my brother. I know what it is, man. Like say, tomorrow night, uh, tune into the audible sports podcast, YouTube page. We'll be doing our Thursday night post game, uh, about 10 to 15 minutes after the final whistle of Cowboys lions. And of course on Friday, the original audible sports podcast, which was me, life and culture. Uh, we're going into the holiday season. So I'm sure we strike up a a good convo about something or other.
01:54:39
Speaker
Uh, and then, uh, Yeah, it catch me on Mondays and Wednesdays. Me and Big Mike from the Man Cave with our Cleveland Sports Show, Game Time 216. Oh, nice. Which is every Monday and Wednesday at 2.16 Eastern.
01:54:52
Speaker
It's all Cleveland all day. Hopefully, we'll be celebrating a victory Monday this Sunday. Hopefully, we'll be set celebrating Miles Garrett breaking the sack record. um He's on the table, so... Yeah. who All the doom and gloom in Cleveland. We need, we need, there's a ray of sunshine down in all that gloom and doom. And his name is Miles Garrett. So, you know, that's what's good, man. Across all socials, audible underscore Bobby G, you know?
01:55:16
Speaker
Yeah. Should have traded him when you had the chance and got a few. people No, we should not, sir. That's what I'm asking. Sir, with the way you're going and my Raiders are going, we need to trade Max Crosby and you need to trade Miles Garrett. You can send Max over to to Cleveland. Send him over to Cleveland and have him play next to Miles Garrett. Wow, that would be wild. um Actually, before we get out of here, gentlemen, let's pick the game tomorrow night. Why not? Cowboys visiting the Detroit Lions. Detroit is a three-point home favorite, and the over-under is 54.5. Bobby G, let's start with you.
01:55:50
Speaker
um the detroit's the defenseman they've been off balance something's off i don't know what it is yeah it was missing those coordinators hurting more than uh they probably thought it would i said that on sunday showdown uh the cowboys people are letting jerry jones reputations overshadow the fact that the trades he made after the Micah trade have actually put pulled this team together. That defense is playing very well, and their offense has always excelled as long as Dak is healthy.
01:56:19
Speaker
I got the Cowboys for the upset on the road. All right, there you go. Cal, what you got? I think the Thursday night football games become a very interesting game to either get right or or get ah or get wrong.
01:56:33
Speaker
um This could be a trap game for the Dallas Cowboys because I look at this and say right now to Dallas Cowboys should be favored to win this game over the Detroit Lions. But I have a succinct feeling that because they're playing on ah on a Thursday night, I see the Detroit Lions probably getting right um at the expense of the of the Dallas Cowboys. That doesn't mean that, you know, the the Cowboys are a bad team. I just think that they've been rolling, you know, a lot on that that rhythm and that momentum.
01:57:04
Speaker
winning against the Chiefs, winning against the Eagles, um and then coming in on this Thursday night game, just, I don't know. I just feel like the Detroit Lions have a different air about them. There's a level of desperation.
01:57:16
Speaker
They do not want to fall further behind by my Chicago Bears um as far as that division goes and the Green Bay Packers. I feel like this is a get-right game for them, ah for them to you know to kind of like – get themselves back on kilter by being off kilter playing on this Thursday night game. So I think that that the lines when I think they cover cover the spread, I think it'll be a close game. But I think it's going to come down to some key plays and and Campbell's, you know, influence is going to is going to have an is going to have an impact on how this game is played out.
01:57:47
Speaker
Yeah, I take a a little bit of what both of y'all said. I completely agree Warren and the get right needed for the Lions. are They better get right because picked him to go to the Super Bowl. But that's neither here nor there. um I do think that they are far, far. Man, it's a long, long, long ways. They're going to really, this game is more important for them to even get in the playoffs. to be honest they have They have to win this, this, i you know, we're not going to be talking about it like that because I think everyone had it baked in that the lions are going to be in the playoffs, but they cannot afford to lose too many more games down as we get to the stretch, because if the bears keep winning and the Packers keep winning,
01:58:25
Speaker
They might wind up like being on the outside looking here. They got to bring it on Sunday. so Right. yeah and and And it could wind up being that this game tomorrow with the Dallas Cowboys, it could come down to them possibly getting one of those last wild card spots. And if the Cowboys win, that takes – that knocks the the Detroit Lions out since they win the head-to-head matchup if they were to win tomorrow. I think this is more of a must-win for the Detroit Lions, especially getting right.
01:58:52
Speaker
But they cannot afford to lose too many more games at this juncture if they still want to be in the playoffs. they Agreed. and And shameless plug, all of those things that Cal just said, we were saying as well on Sunday showdown because it's completely right.
01:59:06
Speaker
um And what Bobby G said as well. Look, the Lions are missing Ben Johnson and to Chicago and Cal's happiness. they're They're playing much better and Detroit really needs this.
01:59:17
Speaker
this game. And this drug really needs this game. And um on the other hand, you know, they don't want to fall ah too far behind. And I think that the Cowboys, while it's a fun story that they won the past few games, I don't really...
01:59:32
Speaker
I don't think that they are going to be a serious threat in the playoffs. And again, I just think the Lions need this more. Lions win by seven. Actually, six. Let's go 30-24 Lions in this one. um All right, cool. For all the gamblers, are remember, this is a unique situation. We use analytics for your bets. Remember, this is a unique situation that even though it's a Thursday night game, neither team is coming off a short week.
01:59:56
Speaker
They got a full week they a full last Thursday. Oh, that's a great point. Good point. Good job for your betting parlays out there. um Look, everybody, make sure you subscribe to Ball and Buds. B-A-L-L-A-N-D-B-U-D-S. Handy QR code up there at the top.
02:00:10
Speaker
You can click that. It'll take you to our link tree. You can find all of our social media. Subscribe at YouTube. Follow on Instagram. Hit that like button, whether watching now or on the replay. It really helps us out in the algorithm. It is free to you, but invaluable to us. I am so honored and blessed and thankful that Bobby G and Cal Lee could join me today. Y'all make sure you tap in with the Audible podcast, as well as NBA or Baseline NBA podcast, and as well, um Ball and Bud. So for these two distinguished gentlemen, my name is Omar, the sports professor Fonseca, and we will see you next time. Holla 5,000.
02:00:42
Speaker
five thousand
02:00:47
Speaker
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02:00:58
Speaker
Slam you on the page, that's why they call me Street Pro. Create heat on beat flow. Like Jordan after the second time, he three-feated, folks. Get ready, set, let's go. Fight toe to toe, release the flow created by this micro. Lights, cameras, get low.
02:01:15
Speaker
Action packed, back to bag and back. In fact, this monster will go. Y'all better let him know. Man with the master plan and you have no need to know. You came prepared. Now get ready for the show. ah
02:01:33
Speaker
hey really appreciate you again.