Transcript
Elias Hansen: Welcome back. Episode three. Now we're getting kind of consistent. That's what I'm talking about.
Charlie: Yup. Yup.
Elias Hansen: with Spurs Journal. Going to be a fun one, kind of a surprising. a lot amount of stuff to talk about considering it's kind of the dead of the offseason. First, just some housekeeping. I think ideally...
Elias Hansen: Charlie we we want to do this maybe every other week During the offseason, it seems like there's enough stuff to talk about. and then Obviously schedule permitting during the season, there'll be a ton more stuff, but hopefully like once a week.
Charlie: Hmm.
Elias Hansen: Um... but We'll hopefully find a ah consistent schedule that works out. We'll figure that out. But anyways. Fun one today. We're going to start off with a preview of the FIBA games coming up.
Elias Hansen: In about a week, at the end of August, two games, Wemby will be playing in with the French national team. We'll preview those a bit. Then we'll talk about... The big news around the and NBA is all of the teams releasing their schedules, but specifically the Spurs, what we're excited about seeing, any thoughts about how the season may progress.
Charlie: Okay.
Elias Hansen: and then we will move on to the little summer vacay Spurs took to Paris, the off -season training. going on and we'll wrap up with some Some quick hitters, some juicy morsels.
Elias Hansen: for all of the fans out there um Let's jump into it. I'm excited. Charlie, how you feeling?
Charlie: I'm good. I'm excited.
Elias Hansen: Good.
Charlie: I'm looking forward to these FIBA games coming up.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: at the time of this recording very soon, like in the next few days.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yes. Yep.
Charlie: um There's going to be a few like exhibition games and then two qualifying games.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: So, um you know, hard to tell. exactly what the playtime will look like for the exhibition games but i'm hoping that it's a a full squad and you know i think that they've been talking about it
Elias Hansen: Yes.
Charlie: and Wemby's been talking about it. in like some press interviews as if he's gearing up for that you know kind of tough schedule of four games within like a week and a half so i'm super excited for those games right now
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah. i forgot Before, I forgot to shout out the Boston Red Sox. Shout out Boston Red Sox. We got War Pig coming back soon. Roman Anthony coming back soon. Maybe Trevor's story. I don't know. I'm liking what I'm seeing from on a stereo But anyways, we got that out of the way go socks. Sorry. Sorry Charlie but Um... ah But yes.
Elias Hansen: We've got two, two. um Real real games is the second round of the qualifiers for the fiba world cup that'll happen in 2027 so on the 27th Well, we.
Elias Hansen: Hmm? France will play Slovenia. That one will be in Paris. And then on the 30th, the French national team will travel to Sweden. um and they'll play the home team there and yeah to your point about like the schedule A lot of the...
Elias Hansen: off -season runs the content you see from and nba players playing in whatever like pro -am i mean there was the drew league and things like that it's not really Full speed. It's a little bit hard to see the competition style.
Elias Hansen: um
Charlie: When that one like yearly like Ben Simmons clip of him hitting three -pointers drops and everybody gets excited.
Elias Hansen: but pretty awesome. yeah Yeah, exactly. Yeah, that was me last season watching.
Charlie: Peace.
Elias Hansen: watching Sohan drill threes. But this is, in fact, real ball. This is going to be full speed, high intensity basketball. Um, from from Wemby, which is really...
Elias Hansen: cool, really unique, not a lot of other. Fans get to see their favorite players. play in that type of environment. So just to... Kick it off. I think. generally about FIBA basketball.
Elias Hansen: This is the reputation and I imagine this will hold true for these qualifying games. They are physical. they are much more um There's a lot more bumping and positioning than there is.
Elias Hansen: in the nba And so that's the first thing I want to look out for is how Vic is playing through content. specific content. Wow. No, we're doing content. He's playing through contact.
Elias Hansen: Um. but On defense. specifically there i imagine he's going to be brought out from the paint into high pick and roll situations. His man's going to come set a screen.
Elias Hansen: and when he's guarding near the baseline, he's going to get bumped on cuts. So I'm really interested to see, I guess we'll start with defense. how he responds to that, because that that was some of the critiques.
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: that were thrown at him. during his first few and NBA seasons, how does he respond when he's bumped a little bit more? than he may be used to.
Charlie: Yeah, I think and that's I totally agree. I think that's probably what I'm most excited about because this kind of you know version of the game is like you said a lot more physical And...
Charlie: that's That's been the biggest. criticism of Wemby is like how he can handle physicality. How can he get to his spots when other teams are bumping him out of the way?
Charlie: Also kind of hand in hand with that is. his stamina and how long for a game he can do that.
Elias Hansen: Yes.
Charlie: and you know these games are a little bit shorter
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: But I think that's just going to increase the intensity of it and be a great. kind of display of all these different Things he's been doing this offseason and last offseason that are all geared towards kind of.
Charlie: preparing his body and his stamina and his like physicality for Those kinds of games, because that's really what. you know teams are leaning towards in the and NBA and we saw that all throughout the playoffs is that you know as the series went on it just got more and more physical and so
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: I think I'm most excited to see that. I'm also really excited to see uh jokic matchup. um
Elias Hansen: Is he, is he, is, wait.
Charlie: The two exhibitions are against Serbia.
Elias Hansen: Oh, I didn't even look up the exhibitions.
Charlie: Yeah, yeah
Elias Hansen: Wow, look at me failing on my prep.
Charlie: Yeah, which is which is like.
Elias Hansen: I was like, I think we're playing Slovenia.
Charlie: it's just it's
Elias Hansen: I don't think that's...
Charlie: It's...
Elias Hansen: says
Charlie: It's literally just an exhibition game, but I think...
Elias Hansen: Is Jokic playing?
Charlie: That's as of now, you know, there's no confirmation and the way that um FIBA like runs the like when your roster detailing is different from the nba so they can change it last minute
Elias Hansen: Okay.
Elias Hansen: Okay.
Charlie: So we'll see what happens, but I think it could be a really fun.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. That's awesome.
Charlie: exciting matchup. between the two
Elias Hansen: Cool.
Charlie: And, but yeah, I mean, just back to what you're saying, the physicality is going to be the biggest thing I'm looking for.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: the Obviously, France is a great team.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: you know We all saw that in the Olympics last year.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: I'm sure they have. much like wimby specifically like in both the and nba and international basketball of Has a bit of a chip on his shoulder now.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Um... And I know the whole France team does as well. So this is going to be exciting.
Elias Hansen: Yep. Yep.
Charlie: I think it's going to be good basketball to watch as a Spurs and Wembley fan.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Totally. A few points that you made that I want want to talk about a little bit more, specifically like the conditioning at the end of games. Like we said at the start of this, like I'd imagine that Wemby's...
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: Wemby's desire to play in these games and like competitive edge is going to mean that he's going to get a lot of minutes unless these games are blowouts, which...
Charlie: e
Elias Hansen: Honestly, both of them could be.
Charlie: Totally.
Elias Hansen: um But. Looking at how he responds to... Running the floor. towards the end of games like that is what we saw in the playoffs is him get gassed and he's enough of a force.
Elias Hansen: um in the nba style of play and i think in international basketball too, but he's enough of a force that it wouldn't always matter. But we saw a late game, like faux pause. we're going to keep talking about it until they're corrected with another finals run, but like fatigue got to.
Charlie: that Yeah.
Elias Hansen: the spurs but i think vic and specifically because of i think you mentioned a few pods ago like his responsibility of essentially running up and down the floor to quite literally the opposite ends he's not getting to like slowly take the ball up or you know, hang out at the wing like he's being sent down into the paint correctly so and that's tiring And so it'll be interesting to see like.
Elias Hansen: If. any type of off season conditioning. has helped. in that. Um, and then the other thing you said that I think is important too, is like just to know about FIBA basketball, right? It's, it's 10 minutes.
Elias Hansen: in four quarters so it's eight minutes shorter than the standard NBA game. There is no three second rule.
Charlie: Hmm.
Elias Hansen: um And so the possessions become a lot more valuable. And the style of play. for each shot. Looks very... different.
Elias Hansen: Um, and so the there's some like you can get some quick buckets or there's some and Not to say that there won't be. fast breaks and there won't be opportunities to get things quickly, but The math when it comes to the timing of a shot is a lot different.
Elias Hansen: in FIBA and that ties into that conditioning because you're gonna have to be mentally stable and not fatigued enough to where you can still not only like physically operate at the end of games, but not be so worn out.
Elias Hansen: by the style of play in an international basketball that you can make the right reads and the right decisions. Maybe, you know, on one side it could be beneficial because you have a little bit more time to operate and you have a little, I think the shot clock.
Elias Hansen: reset on a miss off the rim is a little bit longer too so like
Charlie: Mm -hmm.
Elias Hansen: you you have a little bit more time in that sense to think through your opportunities. But when you... have to be more calculated with every shot you get. I think it it overall is a more, it's it's a bigger ask to not be fatigued. with the flow of the game at the end of international basketball when you have to be pretty specific with the type of shots.
Elias Hansen: that you want to get.
Charlie: Totally. Yeah, I mean, it's it's definitely kind of like this. sharpening. offensively and defensively like playing under these rules
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And it's also... cool to note that wimby and most of The French team have been... playing international basketball all for um majority of their lives.
Charlie: And so this is something that he's used to.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: um I think, you know, as you were talking, I was also thinking about how Sing. When we play on a different team you can kind of like from a coach and like fans perspective Sometimes that can unlock something in a player.
Charlie: that you don't normally see especially when they've you know now been on ah the same team for several years. Like there's something exciting to see. Like... when be sitting in like a team that's built differently.
Charlie: you know coached differently ran differently
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah.
Charlie: and what that can kind of unlock out of a player who's been really focused. and just play Dino. 80 games in the span of a few months.
Elias Hansen: mm -hmm
Charlie: with like a very young team that was figuring out its identity so it's it's exciting to also think about like what could be unlocked by you know just getting reps in with a different group of guys.
Elias Hansen: Yes. Yeah, absolutely. And I want i wanna to come back to that. the like playing with different personnel and specifically like the french team but one other thing i do want to talk about with the with the FIBA style of play. So we mentioned the no.
Elias Hansen: three seconds. um So I like. Teams Slovenia and Sweden um and Serbia are going to be. collapsing in the paint.
Elias Hansen: and they're gonna Post they're gonna set up camp there. They're gonna set up shop there and they are going to double. Him.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And obviously doubles is something he's already seen. and had to operate out of in the and NBA, but I think even more so when you can really just kind of camp guys in the paint.
Elias Hansen: It's going to be on offense. On on defense, it's a different story because, like, he can knock the ball off the rim, a lot which is allowed in FIBA, and he can post up in the paint.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: So, realistically, like, nobody's scoring in the paint against France, especially with Maxime Reynaud and Rudy Gobert, too. like Okay.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: On defense, I think it it may. not necessarily provide the same amount of growth, but on offense, like when you are consistently facing bodies that are allowed to stay there and don't have to reposition because of timing of defensive rules, like we're going to have to see some creativity.
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: i think and i'm Maybe that's like there's benefit in. that creativity making and being making the right reads and kicking out to a really strong front court.
Elias Hansen: Um, but that France has, but I do hope to see while I'm watching these games, some. creativity where he just keeps the ball.
Elias Hansen: and operates within not'm not forcing anything and like making the pass when it's necessary but like He is a good enough player.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: that even against top caliber NBA talent. he can navigate double teams, and get a good shot. And so I think that's gonna be really good practice and really cool to see.
Charlie: h
Charlie: totally and that's exactly like kind of tying it all back to how this conversation started it was like the biggest or one of the biggest criticisms was like what is when be shot like he doesn't have his
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: his thing down and you know you've seen him
Elias Hansen: Saw that Dirk fadeaway practice clip to it.
Charlie: i I was just going to say, you know, that that video went viral, you know, the fadeaway, which, of course, if you're.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: you know, seven foot 10 and your wingspan is like eight feet and you can. do a fade away like no one is getting close to that
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: And so... um so yeah i think it's a great training ground to like you said like Don't run away from that. You know it. increased physicality. And.
Charlie: figure out what your spot is what your shot is like in that situation what's going to be your go -to when everything else is failing and you just need a bucket
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And I know I'm talking out of both sides of my mouth here because, like I said, I want to see him operate. in doubles in the paint but the the three -point line is shorter in fiba and so i am kind of curious to see
Charlie: Yeah.
Charlie: That is true.
Elias Hansen: Um... What? the shot selection looks like. I would imagine... And we can talk about this in a second when we talk about the teams, but I imagine teams are going to be... Cheers. chucking up threes against France, considering the like three towering big men they have, really skilled big men.
Charlie: Mm -hmm
Elias Hansen: Well. Rudy Gobert I don't know about skilled but um but so I wonder I wonder if he'll be
Charlie: Hmm.
Elias Hansen: I don't know Throwing up a little bit more threes. It could be good or bad. I don't know. Maybe some shot practice. But going back to your point about... the new personnel. And so you're right. Like they've played together for a long time. I think the addition of Maxine right now, I think this is the first time he's playing.
Elias Hansen: with i mean not with the french national team but like on this stage Um. But France has a new... head coach It's no longer Vicente Collet. who was Wemby's coach at...
Elias Hansen: Metropolitans.
Charlie: Not true, but yeah.
Elias Hansen: Alright. Um. if that's how you say it but so it's it's it's a new coach and from what i read briefly about the new coaching. style is that he has a much preference for a much faster pace.
Elias Hansen: and a lot more modern floor spacing. um which is going to be really interesting to see. I think it might be helpful. playing alongside like the star guard talent that the Spurs have.
Charlie: Mm hmm. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: um but i think most importantly like what you were talking about before how does um vic assert himself as a leader in that locker room with a new coach?
Charlie: have
Elias Hansen: How does he interact with the style of play that is new? Because we talked about last time, Billy Donovan is going to be... It's I would I imagine that Billy Donovan is going to have a lot of responsibility drawing up the plays, that Mitch Johnson will still obviously control the flow of the offense, but we're going to have a new coach that is going to have a lot more influence on the style of offense played after that defensive identity was established.
Elias Hansen: and i think
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: That could be cool to see. I mean i don't know how much we're going to see it. to be honest. Like, I think we'll see much more of the gameplay that we've talked about, but just more something to keep in the back of the mind is that like.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: This is a new coach with a new style. Does France look comfortable? Playing in this new style. Do they fall back? onto their more Typical playing style or are they buying in? to this like up and down the floor spacing the floor um style of basketball.
Charlie: Yeah. Totally. I mean, if the it's like you said, if these are Hopefully not blowouts. It's going to be really good. place to kind of gather some information about where 1B's at, where the team's at.
Charlie: and what to expect the next season.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And so getting in whether or not it's going to be a blowout so i didn't i i Poor preparation on my part. I didn't even look into the exhibition games. um So I don't know if you have anything you want to talk about, like the actual matchup.
Elias Hansen: in the other than it might be cool to see about the the the two exhibition games against, I guess, Serbia.
Charlie: Yeah, the main thing I found was that the last time serbia and france played against each other was in 2024 another pre -olympic showcase game
Elias Hansen: Mm hmm.
Charlie: And they lost. France lost. And Wemby kind of... He had 14 points and 10 rebounds. um leading his team with 14 points and as you can tell that wasn't really a great stat line
Elias Hansen: Hmm.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: and And so there's definitely. something about you know, this French team that remembers that. I think also something I think about is just like this. I think the second to last.
Charlie: Regular season game was again like a really horrible overtime loss. The Spurs to the Nuggets. And again, it wasn't really Wembe's. Greatest game. um And so, yeah, I think that this is just like another opportunity to go.
Charlie: against. a you know fellow top two top three mbp candidate depending on how you shake things out And.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And Serbia is a great team. I mean, they... should have beaten the United States, a last you know, last Olympics.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah.
Charlie: And so they're they're nothing to mess around with. and they are just like france where they're a team that's been together for a really long time they're really bought into their program and their play style and they have some really amazing like a really fantastic front court and obviously Jokic
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And so... um So, yeah, i'm I'm excited again, you know. Can't speculate too much if it's a blowout if it's just the bench players but i'm i'm fairly certain that at least Wemby will be playing and hopefully Jokic will be too.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah. Cool. okay well then jumping into the um
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: The two... actual qualifying games the first one against lavinia luca unfortunately will not be playing. Makes sense. is Rehabbing that hamstring injury.
Elias Hansen: um that he got playing the thunder i think one of the last games of the season. Um. But even without Luka, I mean, Luka fits into the style perfectly, but without him, Slovenia is going to be a super heavy.
Elias Hansen: pick and roll team they're going to that what we mentioned earlier Drawing when be trying to draw one be out of the paint. We'll see how The new coach wants to implement defense around that, but trying to draw him out of the paint with a high pick and roll to get the guards moving downhill and hopefully have some sort of pass to someone who we've seen this. try and fail many times in the NBA but at least try to find someone who can have a little bit more breathing room with Vic pulled away from the basket.
Elias Hansen: Um. And I think. Also, like... We're going to have to look. at as this pick and roll is happening the shooting percentage because there's not going to be like this is going to be true for both teams both games but with that pick and roll um
Charlie: o
Elias Hansen: working like often pick and rolls are a good way to step out essentially of the paint and avoid a three second call like you can't hang back
Charlie: h
Elias Hansen: on a pick and roll when you're trying to Draw the defender out too much unless you're directly guarding the guy because you got to step out of the paint
Charlie: Exactly.
Elias Hansen: um eventually and
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Maybe France just... France and Vic, or maybe it's Maxine right now, or maybe it's Rudy Gobert. Rudy Gobert does this typically anyways, but just like hangs back on those pick and rolls and lets them have the three.
Charlie: Sits back, yeah.
Elias Hansen: um and just lets them have those shots. Maybe we'll see, but I think that's going to be interesting. And if if there's a way for... Slovenia. um and honestly sweden and honestly it's not going to be too much more creative but slovenia has slovenia sweden has a little bit less high -end talent compared to slovenia but if they're going to win they're going to have to punish them um for deciding to if they decide to hang back on those high pick and rolls.
Charlie: Yeah. Definitely. And I think that's just going to be. a part of, like you said, just this international basketball strategy. And also, you know, something to think about with you know what we saw at least with the last olympics um just like the way international basketball is going like it's still physical but These top teams have, you know.
Charlie: great three -point shooters, play really quickly.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: And so it's going to be a lot of that. And I think, like you said, a lot of. Rudy and Wemby kind of trading off like guarding the paint, locking it down, making it very hard for people to score on the inside.
Charlie: So...
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: um So yeah, I'm excited for it.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, and it's gonna be the same thing with Sweden like I said not It's going to be, I think.
Charlie: Hmm.
Elias Hansen: I mean, the the. the kind of adage about international basketball and FIBA basketball is that the home team is always really physical.
Charlie: Mm -hmm
Elias Hansen: with the visitor so in that second game in sweden um You know, I don't really hear the name. sweete It doesn't really strike fear into my heart to hear that the Swedes are going to be physical with the French national team, but like.
Charlie: Yeah, let's see. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I think that they will play physical, but I think... Realistically, they're going to play a little bit more five out. In Slovenia, they might not have as much backcourt. Depth or talent and I wouldn't be surprised if they just try to shoot the French national team to death. Shoot them to death.
Elias Hansen: ah Um.
Charlie: Shoot him to death. Shoot the French to death. um Mm. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: So we'll see.
Charlie: Ugh.
Elias Hansen: I mean, oh my biggest takeaway is... are just like Yes, it's cool to analyze like the the playing styles and like see what developments are there, but honestly, I'm just like so starved for basketball and seeing fake play that I'm just like...
Elias Hansen: I'm so excited to watch him play. I'm so excited to watch the basketball again. i didn't honest I didn't write down the time of the games.
Charlie: Same here.
Elias Hansen: I worry that because they're international, and they're going to be like, well, I'm at work.
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: um but I'm going to figure out a way to watch them for sure. I just. It's going to be the whole thing.
Charlie: Definitely. definitely and you know that being said Season's not so far away anymore.
Elias Hansen: No, it's not we're getting there we're almost making it through August
Charlie: ah Yeah. Exactly.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah. Well, speaking of season not being that... far away. Let's talk about the schedule release. So the Spurs and they all other 29 NBA teams will know.
Elias Hansen: and will know they do know who they are playing this year and i think right off the bat. The thing to talk about, you said it, you texted me, Charlie, like. The Spurs are the face of the league. They have...
Charlie: Yep. yep
Elias Hansen: officially arrived, 34.
Charlie: the
Elias Hansen: nationally televised games. Tied for the most. I think the Lakers. the Thunder and the 76ers. I think that's right. Um.
Elias Hansen: Awesome. We're here.
Charlie: Yeah. um
Elias Hansen: It feels good. It feels good to be back. I mean, we were on national TV a lot, but like I'm excited to watch some NBC. I love the NBC broadcast. um i it's it's I love watching the Spurs on national television.
Elias Hansen: It makes it a little bit harder because like sometimes when it's on leak pass, like I can pause it. and then like i can come on what you know but that But that's a me problem.
Charlie: Mm -hmm
Elias Hansen: um Yeah. We're here.
Charlie: Definitely. i'm ah I'm super excited. um huge you' Like massive things coming this season in terms of rivalries we've kind of made.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: enemies with so many different teams in the past year. And so, which is a part of why, you know.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: the the face The face of the league is the team that does that.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: And so, um so yeah, obviously. Season opener. Are they going to?
Elias Hansen: Oh man.
Charlie: just immediately started draining the Spurs -Thunder rivalry bucket right out the gate.
Elias Hansen: Oh man.
Elias Hansen: Oh man. October 20th, everybody, in San Antonio.
Charlie: I'm super. Yes. Um.
Elias Hansen: Opening night.
Charlie: I'm super excited and I also am almost like, wow, it's crazy that we get that first game of the season. I feel like it's been the Mavericks for like four years in a row.
Elias Hansen: We're spoiled. and It has, it has.
Charlie: like It's like...
Elias Hansen: Yeah, I know. I was expecting the last.
Charlie: um ah Yeah, so super excited for that. Not excited that the second game of the season is in Austin. Like that's weird.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: That's a little early.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: That's kind of jumping the gun in my opinion.
Elias Hansen: Agreed agreed.
Charlie: Um...
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: But amongst a few games.
Elias Hansen: I mean, KD is going to get to play in Austin, which is cool, I guess.
Charlie: o Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Um.
Charlie: That's true.
Elias Hansen: But no, I agree with you that like...
Charlie: that is I didn't think about that.
Elias Hansen: I don't know, Rocket Spurs. what is that's going to be like two games after the opener in Austin. Feels a little weird. If it feels like a good... mid -season or ro like we're doing it during the roto road trip again good way to like get some rest at home -ish.
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: during the road trip but yeah it's
Charlie: Oh.
Elias Hansen: I mean, it's not good more i it's not concerning. Spurs aren't leaving San Antonio.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: i'm gonna make that yeah That's not going to happen. but Just like, okay, I don't know. I agree with you.
Charlie: Yeah. Besides that, you know, all super exciting ah on all fronts with the the schedule.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Obviously, we have the. another Christmas Day classic in New York. Super excited for that.
Elias Hansen: Oh man.
Charlie: um That's historically one beast played. pretty well on Christmas.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: And so really, really, really looking forward to that.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: That is gonna be such a hostile environment for our guys.
Elias Hansen: Oh my god.
Charlie: So you know do not envy them, but it's going to be really fun.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah.
Charlie: And. And I think. I think they're going to be. There's been so many changes to the and NBA. I feel like by the time we get to Christmas. Like the Spurs will be.
Charlie: something different and the Knicks will be something different and so I'm i'm really excited to see
Elias Hansen: Totally.
Charlie: Obviously I believe that. The Spurs will be better than the Knicks. you know.
Elias Hansen: I think so.
Charlie: Yes. but um But I'm really, really excited for that.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: I know we have another matchup with them later on in the season. like in the spring in March. And so... um i don't know if we're going to be playing Okay, see... 15 times like we did last season.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, yeah, I think we are.
Charlie: But the and NBA is definitely taking advantage of. Probably. you know the most exciting team in the league, in my opinion.
Elias Hansen: Yep. Yeah, yeah i the the three like dates that obviously jumped out. right away was oh i mean opening night it's gonna be a blast it's gonna be so much
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: on Night game, San Antonio, Thunder, like.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: uh it's it's gonna be electric i i mean like those early the the but but Really, the benefit that the Spurs have, is and the Thunder too, and I mean like... Obviously, you shake off some off -season rest, but sometimes, like we talked about this with like the 76ers, it takes a good chunk of games to get comfortable.
Elias Hansen: um there's There's a new coach, and we have Tobias Harris, and so there's going to be some kinks to work out. um and some rust but like We're going to be diving right into it. like i If we win, I'm just going to be like.
Elias Hansen: a little chud on the couch, like just scrolling Twitter with all the ESPN talking heads, like the Spurs are going to never, they're going to go 82 and 0.
Charlie: This...
Elias Hansen: And if they lose, I might need to like. shut everything off.
Charlie: Oh yeah.
Elias Hansen: Which they they will not lose.
Charlie: They will not lose.
Elias Hansen: um but
Charlie: It will not happen.
Elias Hansen: But. That's going to be exciting. i think the the You mentioned the Christmas. game. My parents are going to hate me once again. this year um
Charlie: who
Elias Hansen: But that's going to be a blast. And then also Halloween night against the wolves, like Anthony Edwards saying he wants to, you know, beat the Spurs get on his little PR tour.
Charlie: Yes.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Keep shouting out the Spurs. Not super worried about the Timberwolves.
Charlie: Alhamdulillah.
Elias Hansen: We can talk about this in another pod, but I'm not super high on. on their what what they're going to look like this year. But those are the three games that I was like. Man, like I'm i'm soft sitting here fantasizing about watching these games right now.
Charlie: I agree. I think that that Halloween night is slept on because that's also going to be LaMelo's debut as a Timberwolf.
Elias Hansen: Yes. Yep.
Charlie: you know
Elias Hansen: Maybe maybe they could plot another costume too. We didn't see a costume last year. I don't think
Charlie: Oh, yeah. Yeah, definitely. we he's He's overdue for that. but ah
Elias Hansen: costume it's like a little pre -game if you watch it and maybe you're going out later
Charlie: The Yod.
Charlie: Exactly. Yeah. And it's it's cool that, I mean, not the Christmas day.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: but it's cool that we have like the power to have Host o OKC. Like. on opening night. like
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: That sucks that they can't be home.
Elias Hansen: Totally.
Charlie: You know what I mean?
Elias Hansen: yeah It does.
Charlie: It's like, that's, that's really cool.
Elias Hansen: It does.
Charlie: We get to have that game in San Antonio. So.
Elias Hansen: Yep. Yep. And the the other thing, like, okay, well the. One comment I'll make, like notably excluded from my takes on the schedule. are just like the strength of the schedule.
Elias Hansen: And look, I mean, there are obviously like, I looked at it and I thought about it, including it like stretches of the schedule that looked like a little bit softer opportunities to go on a run.
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I think there's like. Honestly, ah early early in the season, I think in November, there's a chunk of like 10 games that seem, from this point right now, like very winnable, a good chance to get a really good win cushion.
Elias Hansen: But this was, I mean, I had this issue.
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: Like there was ESPN on like and NBA Today. was like the Thunder have the easiest strength of schedule. um in the and nba and like Excuse my French, but like no shit, Sherlock.
Charlie: Ugh.
Elias Hansen: Like they're the best team. So every team is worse than them.
Charlie: is
Elias Hansen: So then it'll be easier when they play all those teams.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: So like because of things like that, and also because of just like how volatile the the East is, but also so many teams. Like there's just so, there's a lot of questions this season, which I think make it fun.
Elias Hansen: And so all that to say.
Charlie: Hmm.
Elias Hansen: I'm not going to comment on like. record prediction or like how hard these matchups are and stuff like there's some things we know the thunder game like these games we're mentioning they're going to be fun they're going to be high intensity atmosphere and they're obviously going to produce like a fantastic game hopefully one we can walk away from with a win but like we just don't know
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: how good teams are. And I can promise you like from long before the days of Spurs journal, I've kept like a little Excel sheet where I'm like tracking adjusted net readings of teams and like the possible outcomes.
Charlie: Yeah.
Charlie: easy
Elias Hansen: And like, I, you know, that's where I kind of nerd out on this stuff and like predict the record and that will continue this season.
Charlie: Trying to predict it.
Elias Hansen: And you will get the pleasure of maybe I'll say like my predicted record after. You know, whatever. We can do that. But for right now. It's just. I mean, maybe it's good content, but I don't know.
Elias Hansen: I think it's the juice is not worth the squeeze to say like. this is what we're going to look like after X many games or or we have an easier schedule than blank. um
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I think for now, just get excited that there's 34 nationally televised games, that there's some marquee matchups on big nights in the NBA. that's That's all you really can do. o Although, the one thing I will say...
Elias Hansen: The Spurs do in fact have the most rest days. of any team with 94 rest days however i'm going to throw in a caveat in there because we are playing two international games, one in Paris.
Charlie: I was, I was yeah.
Elias Hansen: one in England against the... fearsome pelicans. Um... That'll be a great show for the fans. um that there's a little bit of a padding there and the the rest days stat and the rest days stat like creeps up quickly like it's not like there's a huge gap between 1st and 8th or something. So that's something to note, but also it's a little skewed.
Charlie: yeah and that's that was i was gonna say that's another thing i'm excited about is the the France game. I think that's going to be so much fun.
Elias Hansen: Mm hmm.
Charlie: It's going to be so cool to see. like I feel like 1B is kind of... But yes, he was a ah massive star last time he played. Like he did like an exhibition game for the NBA, like in France.
Charlie: and but i feel like you know ever since last series kind of just completely reached a whole new level.
Elias Hansen: Oh yeah.
Charlie: and so on. I have high expectations for that home crowd.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: for the arena.
Elias Hansen: I think it was his rookie year that... We played the Pacers.
Charlie: Yes.
Elias Hansen: Um... That was so much fun. That was a great game.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: like Yeah. super i don't I think it ended up not.
Charlie: it was It was a really good game.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah. I think like the Pacers pulled away towards, or no, there were two games. ah Yeah.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: There were two games, one, one of them. And then the second one wasn't super close. I think.
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: um If I'm remembering correctly, but yeah. you're right like the atmosphere was awesome that's gonna be so much fun to watch like Yeah.
Charlie: Mm hmm. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Super cool. anything any ah any other Any other takes, any other thoughts about the schedule?
Charlie: Totally.
Charlie: Yeah, I think...
Elias Hansen: before we move on
Charlie: kind of like what you were saying about you know i'm not gonna make a prediction yet about you know a run i think i think it is fun to make those predictions but like kind of to add on to what you were saying is that you can look at the schedule and you can look at you know how our matchups look at and try and make predictions of these Very new teams that are coming up Um... But like it's important to remember our biggest win streak.
Charlie: like second biggest win streak ever in franchise history came after just like some hard losses.
Elias Hansen: Totally.
Charlie: you know Sometimes it's going to be like... not the you know easiest part of the schedule it's going to be you know a certain moment for a team or for a player. Or, you know, shaving their head or taking a hard loss.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: like That's going to, you know. bring out the best in a team. so
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: I'm with you on that. I'll make my predictions were fun, but not because there's any you know credibility to them. so
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah, totally. And like, you're like you're saying it's. The NBA season is a long... crazy season, all kinds of things happen. Like I think if if you're a Spurs fan. who is banking on the fact that the Spurs are a lock for another 60 -win season.
Elias Hansen: and that we can avoid. weird injuries and that will breeze through these teams that are supposed to be easy. Like that's just not realistic. it's What makes the NBA so exciting is that like on any given night, and I think especially this year, like There's so much talent and there's so many other factors that play into how a team performs any night that.
Elias Hansen: Once you have a better understanding of like the bigger pieces, like how teams fit, the style of play, the track record, who's in and who's out, then of course, like you can make. predictions but like you're saying right now it's just It's really just fool's gold at any point to say that.
Charlie: the
Elias Hansen: i saw I saw that, like, I mean... it is it I think it's kind of interesting. I saw... the hoop collective did like the over under looking at the over unders for all of the
Charlie: Oh yeah.
Elias Hansen: for the teams and how interesting it was for some of these East teams and how Vegas is looking at these new roster constructions.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I can see, that like, i can I can understand the appeal. for that when you're looking at at a more simple win total but when it comes to stretches of the schedule i mean to beat a dead horse it's just you know. It is what it is. We'll figure it out.
Elias Hansen: we got We got time, guys.
Charlie: Just...
Elias Hansen: It's still August.
Charlie: In case anybody's curious, just to wrap up this this part of the talk.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, yeah
Charlie: um The Spurs and the Thunder are co -favorites to win the... and be a championship. So.
Elias Hansen: that feels good That feels good.
Charlie: something thats something to Something to think about and mull over.
Elias Hansen: I'm gonna... I want to look up right now with the Spurs over under...
Charlie: it
Elias Hansen: Win total. for the season i should have had that before okay we are set right now at 59 and a half wins
Charlie: ah yeah
Charlie: It's exactly what you're saying.
Elias Hansen: So. Yep.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Is it a 60 -win season or is it not?
Charlie: Um...
Elias Hansen: I don't. know or really care as long as it's above 50. I'm feeling good I think.
Charlie: It's I mean, it's it's also crazy cuz like I think it's still hard to kind of... set expectations as like a Spurs fan because you know, They were so different going into like. last year.
Elias Hansen: Totally.
Charlie: and
Elias Hansen: Exactly. Exactly.
Charlie: And people were even like, we had a great year. Yes, finals run. Yes. all those things but like people forget we were like two games behind the first seed. That's crazy.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: like that was and that was That was the same year that...
Elias Hansen: Oh yeah. Oh yeah.
Charlie: like The Thunder were on par. to break the Warriors record for. best regular season record.
Elias Hansen: Yes.
Charlie: Like that's.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: That's how the year started. and we we're able to catch up to them. so
Elias Hansen: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Charlie: It's...
Elias Hansen: I just – I can't wait. Like i I remember last year, it's like the only teams that are 3 -0 are like the Heat, the Bulls, the Spurs. I just can't wait for that. I can't wait to do that again and then look back at the end of the season and be like, oh.
Elias Hansen: doesn't matter.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Oh!
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Anyways.
Charlie: Oh.
Elias Hansen: anyways We'll put a bow on that.
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: Exciting. It gets us pumped for the season. We're getting there about two months out. Two months out, yeah. um Final big piece we wanted to talk about is the Spurs.
Elias Hansen: Um... you know, gallivanting around Paris. soaking in Wemby's home country. Stefan Castle is loving Paris.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: If you're really tapped in, you'll you'll get that reference.
Charlie: I heard that, I heard that
Elias Hansen: um but and so Just to kick it off, like... this This was a trip. That was not like a front office coordinated thing. It wasn't.
Elias Hansen: mandated even, but completely organized by Vic. It looked like from the pictures, just about everyone except Devin Vassell, KJ. and champagne which no one should read anything into as to why they're not on that trip.
Elias Hansen: Like. That's... dumb um all were training at non -tear i think that's how you say it
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: Um. one of these old club.
Charlie: Even Kelly was there.
Elias Hansen: Even Kelly Olenek, who is like probably not going to be a Spur.
Charlie: He's not even on the team right now. He is.
Elias Hansen: so yeah What this tells me is that this trip was planned a long time ago. um and that tickets were probably bought pretty far in advance um But i all I'll just start there.
Elias Hansen: That's awesome. That's so cool. like not every like
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: and in some ways it's like oh yeah talking ah whole you know much ado about nothing cool but also it's like
Charlie: o
Elias Hansen: the teams don't really do this like this is kind of rare unless it's like
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: you know, Yeah. Like you hear like players going on. So like the famous story, like Dirk and the Outback and like these famous stories of players going on trips and training and stuff, but like. And sure there's like teams to get together.
Elias Hansen: They play golf or something, but like.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: this is it's pretty special it's pretty cool it it shows some pretty unique and strong team chemistry like that that's not a crazy take to say that this is a special thing that should be pointed at and like this is cool this is unique
Charlie: Yeah, I agree and I think it kind of points to that whole attitude that I think people love about. Wemby specifically and the Spurs. is that it's It's kind of becoming cool to care again.
Charlie: you know this is like you have to really
Elias Hansen: Totally.
Charlie: You can't be like too cool.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: You know to to hop on a plane and go to this trip and go train in in paris so you can't be like like if you think you're above something or too cool for
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: like, all the different parts of, like... the grind for, you know. you're spot on the nba team like you wouldn't be taking that trip
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: And I think it's it's really awesome that that was Wemby. facilitating that i think it's cool that like you know that's just one of the benefits of having such a young Team.
Charlie: It is that they're all like the same.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, yeah, true.
Charlie: The core is all. close to the same age and they're all on this ride like in the same kind of part. of their careers of like this is this very new exciting thing and they all know they're a part of something that's special and has a lot of potential and so
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: It's just like exactly what you'd want to see your. your players doing like as a you know, front office. And I think. Also it was cool to see Oscar.
Charlie: Wambanyama.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, yeah, it was.
Charlie: um one of these younger brother uh in the practices like kind of getting reps in with the team like it just seems like it's a very
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Tighten it like family affair.
Elias Hansen: Totally.
Charlie: That's that's happening
Elias Hansen: Yeah, like it it it is it is special and obviously like we're seeing this through the rose colored glasses of like social media and all this it's hard to really know the true dynamic but like i'm seeing the tick tock reposts like i'm seeing the comments it really seems like this the group the core young group like really does like each other.
Elias Hansen: And that is tough when you get a locker room. of people who all are like, I'm the best basketball player.
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: that's touched the face of the earth and i'm a 19 year old who just started making multi millions of dollars. I can do whatever I want.
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: I'm one of the most famous people in the world And to have a bunch of people like that and to have like personalities mesh and for players to buy into a team mentality.
Elias Hansen: I mean, there were tons of RC Buford quotes about the trip, about like how genuine.
Charlie: who Yeah.
Elias Hansen: these this time together was like That's really cool. That's that's like, and you're right. like it's so awesome and and this is like a ah meta take of like the world at large but it's so refreshing to see like you care about something.
Elias Hansen: And like this room, like, doesn't matter what like other people are doing or like what you think, like the and NBA starred, like just.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: just do the thing you like to do. And like, they're hanging out together. They're going to museums. Like they're hanging out in the streets of Paris. They brought their girlfriends and they're playing basketball al together. Like that's, that's cool. That's really cool that they decided that they, that's what they liked the most. And like, you know, okay.
Elias Hansen: ah to get a little bit more basketball focused just because I don't like I could wax poetically about this all day. It's I love this team, but I think. In terms of like rehabbing from the injury, we talked about this, like them working out at Darren Fox's gym and Katie, but like to see Fox getting going like in some of those clips with the team, I think that's great like that they're comfortable running him in that high speed. like The off -season rehab isn't like a...
Elias Hansen: very cautious approach. I think Tobias being like around the team to like.
Charlie: Yeah. That's a huge thing. He was in Paris.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, coming coming into this team without any prior experiences or like cutting your teeth in any way and immediately being like, yeah, I'm there.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I want to be a part of this. And also to catch the invite, like we were saying, this was obviously planned a while ago.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And for the team to be like, yeah, of course, we're going to invite this new teammate. We want to like practice with with him. We want him to be here. It's great. It's a good sign.
Charlie: It's great. And it's also coming. It's like. maybe is it even been two months since the finals like it's like it's very fresh off like a
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Right.
Charlie: you know a very hard loss for the team.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And I just think that all... you know speaks to what what we're saying of it's like all these really amazing green flags for a young, exciting group that is
Elias Hansen: Totally.
Charlie: you know aware of their situation and how fortunate they are. and Taking advantage of it
Elias Hansen: Yep. Yeah, and I know, Charlie, you wanted to throw out there, the it's not the monks this offseason, but Wembley's got kind of a different training regimen, it seems like.
Charlie: yeah that's that's another thing too it's funny so you know some news came out and Not too much has been said about this, so I'm sure there's maybe like...
Elias Hansen: Mm -hmm.
Charlie: a video that's going to be made or something like.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Right.
Charlie: some sort of press is going to come out. Cause really like Nothing has been said by Wemby. or you know anybody from his team like there is one of the rugby coaches was interviewed on the radio in France, but News came out that Wembe spent...
Charlie: four days training with a d2 rugby team in france and he did that Apparently Harrison Barnes of all people joined in for a few days of that.
Charlie: I'm not sure if he was there for the whole time.
Elias Hansen: It kind of fits, honestly, of the personalities.
Charlie: were It was, like, the oldest guy on the on the team.
Elias Hansen: ah
Charlie: Let's go, like, put him in rugby practice. but um I don't know if you'll remember, but there's an interview after he went to the monks a year ago where they were like, what is what is the next thing that you want to do?
Charlie: And he was like over a year ago and last offseason talking about how. He really wanted to train with the rugby team. and so
Elias Hansen: No way I didn't see that
Charlie: He he this year he got around to doing it and apparently the few people that have reported on it said it was very crazy to see
Elias Hansen: Cool.
Charlie: someone who is, you know, Seven foot five.
Elias Hansen: I can imagine.
Charlie: doing all these drills and he was doing like actual drills and hitting people. And it was.
Elias Hansen: Oh god.
Charlie: I know, very very scary to hear.
Elias Hansen: Just like four medical staff on the sideline.
Charlie: Just yeah, please be careful
Elias Hansen: like Heart rate on 50.
Charlie: yeah and um obviously there's like a physicality element of that but another thing was
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: that he was talking about wendy was talking about specifically was um how it's just like a different way to move your body and that he wants to Like that's kind of how he was gearing his approach to it.
Charlie: Like not so much like I need to learn how to hit the hardest or take the hardest hits. It's like.
Elias Hansen: Hmm.
Charlie: This is a different way to use my body, and like I think there are things that could apply to basketball.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: or to what i'm trying to do with basketball with it so it was a lot of like kind of
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: trying out these drills and, you know. Kind of investigating. like this different sport and different use of his frame and so that's hilarious and crazy to hear
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, i don't I don't know if they, like, for for his sake, will, like, release videos of him doing it.
Charlie: And i'm I'm excited to...
Elias Hansen: That just, like, it might be honestly off -putting.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I don't know.
Charlie: probably it's probably like not a good site but um
Elias Hansen: yeah Yeah.
Charlie: They...
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: um But yeah, it it seemed like a... uh, really funny story and hopefully was helpful in some way but I mean him and harrison barnes out there is just like the most hilarious thing i can imagine
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Well, hopefully we're not done with like... Cool off -season training.
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: morsels um We'll see if there's any other. big splashes, but... The quick headers quick hitters. um wrote down for y 'all. First one, I wrote down the Kauai allegations thing because at the time, I wrote that down when there was the report about the Daktronics.
Elias Hansen: you know, possible quasi sponsorship. like basically saying Kawhi is a sponsor for. a a company that does scoreboards who never has any sponsors and somehow funneling money through him this way. but Honestly, the thing that Trump did now. is the ESPN releasing a story saying that they're are There's no findings by the NBA of any sort of...
Elias Hansen: Salary. Caps, circumvention, funneling money. Steve Ballmer funnel funneling money to Kawhi through any suspect. sponsorships or anything like that. But then about 20 minutes after that article was released, we had the NBA coming back and basically saying,
Charlie: ah
Elias Hansen: Nope. like
Charlie: h
Elias Hansen: That's not true. There's inaccuracies and misrepresentations in this article. You'll know when you know. So... you know for a second there i was like are you kidding me it's been a year And there is nothing like that.
Charlie: He actually got away with it.
Elias Hansen: Pablo Torre is like, there is no way.
Charlie: Yes.
Elias Hansen: Maybe we should say no. um Like, okay, I guess he's a Raptor. I guess Pablo Torre has like lost all credibility forever.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: But then all of a sudden, we're back to right where we started. So, I mean, it's interesting, but Back to hurry up and wait. i guess
Charlie: Yeah, I mean, I think there's something to be said there that like that article was not. rooted in nothing. You know what I mean?
Elias Hansen: Right. Totally.
Charlie: And so there's definitely. i would I would say that, like... Because um the wording of the and NBA's... response to that article was something like They published like...
Charlie: They did this without our... requests for like you know collaboration or something or we refuse their requests for collaboration like
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: there is something they were trying to like report on some story about it. And the and NBA did not clear or approve of that collaborative report.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah, right.
Charlie: All that to be said. I have a feeling... You know, that statement is... Definitely true, like they're definitely... like probably still doing the investigation but it also If they, if Kawhi, you know...
Charlie: gets away with this which getting away can mean many things like a slap on the wrist or like you know, and like executing the Raptors trade and like everything's fine.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Like. That'll definitely be a... ah huge obstacle for and NBA PR to be able to
Elias Hansen: oh yeah
Charlie: Like, were that exactly why, you know, these things were... you know, had these consequences or lack of consequences.
Elias Hansen: Absolutely.
Charlie: and so All that to be said, I honestly feel like. Even though the and NBA came out and made that statement. I feel like this is more of a sign that... you know,
Charlie: Kawhi will probably be playing in the and NBA. next year.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: Um, Maybe with some crazy fines, but I don't know this that's that's kind of the feeling I got from this.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah, I think you're right. I think like you know Adam Silver already has a reputation as a commissioner who's a little bit softer on crime, and I think, like you're saying, this is rooted in some sort of fact.
Elias Hansen: it's not just ESPN's not just going to report nonsense, like and they're not going to be totally misinformed. They may miss some stuff, but...
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I agree with you. It's not it's not coming from nothing. and so i think If anything, this says to me like. Like you're saying. He's probably, I think it seems like he's going to be a Raptor. It seems like this trade is going to go through. And it seems like this reputation on soft of crime is not like a refut reputation. It's just the approach that I'm silver.
Elias Hansen: It's going to take. um because for a minute there it really seemed like maybe it was just the like echo chamber of social media but it seemed like you know they're gonna bring down the hammer like This is like, they're going to cost, maybe the contract's voided.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: They're costing a draft fix, all that, all that to say.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: we don't know maybe next time we'll have some new stuff honestly don't know i kind of doubt it it seemed there was some reporting too about how this might drag out even further before any of these these Breaks came, so.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I kind of think we're more on that topic.
Charlie: Yeah. Also, something to be noted that i I don't know if you've seen any of these videos of kawaii recently
Elias Hansen: Yeah, he's chilling.
Charlie: But all of a sudden he's like, he's completely like. something changed inside of him like all of a sudden he can talk to a camera and like he's yes he's like a hair has grown out he's like making skits in china
Elias Hansen: ah It's like, I'm free. Like that meme with the... That's great.
Elias Hansen: yeah Yeah.
Charlie: and like talking shit like he's like like it's like it's a very weird thing to see kawaii like go through this.
Elias Hansen: know Yeah. ah Yeah, it is. I'd lock him up. Yeah.
Charlie: yeah exactly so it's like you know something is something's definitely happening in the kawaii camp but
Elias Hansen: You should be up.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, something. Something changed. Something broke. Maybe it's good or bad.
Charlie: But we'll we'll see.
Elias Hansen: I don't know.
Charlie: um I think he'll be playing for the Raptors the next season.
Elias Hansen: We'll see. Yeah. i think you're probably right next thing next thing we have for y 'all Kind of a fun interview that Carter Bryant did with Richard Jefferson.
Charlie: who
Elias Hansen: And I can't remember who else. on some sort of like fanatics podcast thing um but basically kind of a cool story which i think is like it it reminded me all this to say reminded me of um the Brian, the the Red Mamba quote, where he's like, I'm closer to LeBron than you are to me.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: uh just a good reminder like you know we saw
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Carter looked fantastic. and Devin Vassell at times struggled and Carter. Basically. Sorry, I'm dancing around the point, but Carter told this story of coming into San Antonio soon after he'd been drafted and basically.
Elias Hansen: Devin Vassell was working out. One of the coaches was like, hey, why don't you guard? Devin Vassell. And Carter Bryant was saying, you know, i thought I thought I played great defense on him, and he hit 14 shots in a row, which is absolutely unguardable.
Elias Hansen: He even said, like, it made me think, like, I don't know if I'm ready to be here. Like, I don't know if this is, this is like, for me. I think it says two things. One, and NBA players are crazy good. Like, you, like, but also.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: More and more like the trend in the NBA. uh well also shout out to him to sell underrated like star of the season but um Players are drafted with such like...
Elias Hansen: like other than the top few picks who have extreme talent. but but But they're very raw. like they They haven't been coached. to the level that they need to compete in the NBA and for.
Elias Hansen: Such like a freak athlete defender like Carter Bryant who made some mistakes, but we saw like That dude can play, even in summer league, he locked up Cooper Flagg, someone on his level.
Charlie: m
Elias Hansen: like there's levels of this and it's exciting to hear like how much. Because. I had no doubt that that would not happen again. if Carter Bryant was playing Devin Vassell now in like a warmup.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And so it's, it's, I think it's cool. Like it's a fun story, but it's also like. cool to hear about the development.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: of a player who I'm sure will be one of our favorite players.
Charlie: it is it's really cool and I saw like another clip from that same interview how he was because he was just talking about how competitive people are and how you know the struggles, highs and lows of kind of finding your way. as a rookie.
Charlie: And in that same interview, he was talking about when he went on that stretch of Miss Dunks. He missed like 10 dunks in a row.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, yeah, right.
Charlie: He was talking to Popovich. And I had like an hour and a half long conversation and pop was like. you know, you probably don't even remember when you know kawaii did this back in the day when you know Tim Duncan did this or when Tony Parker did this like he had all these references of like
Elias Hansen: Mm hmm.
Charlie: Everybody goes through the same stuff. like You just need to relax like it's going to come.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: It's going to be there. Be ready. when it happens he's like you're gonna have a long career in the and nba and he just like was talking about and like how important that was to just like be able to like kind of Like...
Charlie: exhale and feel like you belong there and how that has been such a journey for him.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: So that was cool to hear.
Elias Hansen: Ciao, everyone. yeah yeah i agree yeah i saw that too um next thing not much analysis to two but do about it but pretty cool patty mills
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: I think it's like a one year deal. um some sort of veteran but is going to be playing for the club in france that tony parker
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: is coaching for him. I don't know if I would want to have Tony Parker as my coach. um but i'm sure he has a better relationship with patty mills than He may come across it with other players, but.
Elias Hansen: Kind of cool. I mean, Patty Mills obviously has been like a very big Spurs supporter. um Ever since he left, like his video about it. too it was cool like once a spur always a spur patty mill is like one of my favorite spurs of all time too um so that's just kind of fun Cool to see.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I wonder, like, I bet there'll be some fun, like, little clips, little clickbaity stuff.
Charlie: Definitely they're already farming the social media content out of that
Elias Hansen: from that season Yeah. Yep. yeah And then last thing, just wanted to say a shout out to Russell Westbrook. I loved watching Russell Westbrook. I was one of his staunchest defenders. I remember.
Elias Hansen: when i was like 15. And 16, watching him play and just like being in absolute awe, like how does he? do this he got a lot of flack for how his career kind of petered out but Man.
Elias Hansen: Russell Westbrook. i'm goodnna like The edits I saw on TikTok of like the farewell edits are were actually heartbreaking.
Charlie: oh
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: I love that guy. Sad I won't get to see him play anymore. I guess we haven't really seen him play but
Charlie: is uh he's like a like a personal favorite just like loves what he brought to all of his teams.
Elias Hansen: Oh yeah.
Charlie: and there's also like this love and like kind of like more emotion to it the fact that like he never got a ring that it's like that made you kind of like him more and appreciate him more and appreciate his hard work more.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: And he was he was offered a roster spot on the Wizards and ended up turning it down.
Elias Hansen: totally
Elias Hansen: Yeah. It's true.
Charlie: That turns it down for the... For the nice, you know
Elias Hansen: Good call.
Charlie: kind of noble retirement versus really
Elias Hansen: Good move. Yep.
Charlie: kind of riding the horse until it dies.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, right.
Charlie: But... um
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: But yeah, so I think I think it's a good move and I'm
Elias Hansen: Yeah, I agree
Charlie: it's It's sad, but it is, you know, you had a great career and it's nothing.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: to be ashamed of it's like i think everybody our age grew up loving him so
Elias Hansen: Totally.
Elias Hansen: Sure. True. Well, that's what we got. for y 'all episode three. in the books Hope you guys enjoyed like I said, we're going to hopefully be doing this every other week um before the start of the season or hopefully try to do every week i'm sure we Right now, you know, it takes a little bit to think about like, what do you want to talk about?
Elias Hansen: Of course, there's plenty of stuff. We still talk for an hour, but I'm sure during the season, we're going to be like.
Charlie: Mm -hmm.
Elias Hansen: having to to cut ourselves down maybe we'll do like a pardon and the interruption thing where there's like a timer and it's like all right next thing um But thank you all for listening. Ton listening or watching.
Elias Hansen: We look pretty good today.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: It was a ton of fun. Thanks Charlie. We'll do it next time.
Charlie: Sweet. Peace.
Elias Hansen: Peace.
Elias Hansen: I don't know where my mouse is. Peace.
Charlie: ah
