Steve Hartman & Matin Weiss Talk NBA Playoffs Home DISADVANTAGE, Shedeur Sanders vs Dillon Gabriel, LeBron James, And So Much More!

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio Radio.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
Live the Dream once again here on a fully loaded
Sports Saturday. This is Fox Sports Saturday and we're broadcasting
live from the Fox Sports Radio studios and the man
that wears many hats hanging out with me today. My
dear friend, Martin Weis is in the house. Martin, how
are you today? They just called me the lid store. Yeah. Now,

(00:26):
you know what, when you are a multi talented individual,
they will always find a spot for you, whether you
like it or not. And you're hanging out with me
here for a couple of hours on a Saturday, Martin.
We got a lot of things going on, obviously, keeping
our eye on a game right now that looks like
it is coming to a conclusion with a sound beatdown

(00:47):
of the New York Knicks on their home court by
the Boston Celtics. By the way, Martin, that means with
this game in the second round of these NBA playoffs,
the home team is three and eight. Three and eight
on their home in the second round of the playoffs.

Speaker 1 (01:02):
Wow, home court disadvantage. The word guys, I'll be here
for the next two hours.

Speaker 2 (01:11):
I mean, when you really got I don't even know
how to follow that up. I mean it sort of
stands on its own. Look, I mean, it is what
it is. But I mean we talk about this constantly,
about playing for home court advantage and how important it
is to get that home court advantage, and year after
year after year. I mean, think about this. We had

(01:33):
two years ago the Celtics playing the Miami Heat right
one versus eight, and the Heat get off to a
three to zero start, including two wins in Boston, and
then Boston wars back wins the next three in a
row to get Game seven at home.

Speaker 3 (01:47):
You're like, Okay, they're gonna be.

Speaker 2 (01:49):
The first first team ever in NBA history to overcome
a three to zero deficis in what happened? They got
beaten down on their home court by the Miami Heat
that moved on to the finals. And then last year
Denver and Minnesota, right Denver taking on you know, defending
NBA champions. It comes to a Game seven, they have
a big first alf lete, no problem, second half, they

(02:10):
completely implode, and Minnesota moved on to the Western Conference Finals.
So I don't I don't know.

Speaker 3 (02:17):
I mean, do you get a.

Speaker 2 (02:19):
Sense that we overplay the idea that home court advantage.

Speaker 1 (02:24):
Is all that I have a theory. Now. You just
despite the twenty five minutes you spent in the update
studio before the show, you didn't mention that you were
going to bring this up at all. I know that
I'm workshopping this as we've talking about it right here,
right now, right right. Okay, So because I've been thinking
about this as we've seen the Oklahoma Cities the Clevelands,

(02:48):
not necessarily have you know. I mean, Oklahoma City's down
to to one in their series, right, Cleveland two to
one in their series, and we watched them mollywop whoever
they see in the play in and then last year
with Oklahoma City, I forget if they were the actual
one seed, but they were up, you know, saying high
up there, play that Dallas team and then run into trouble. Right,

(03:10):
the same thing. Now, Boston, we were waiting for it
all last year, right it was like until Game five
of the finals, it felt like We're just waiting for
them to start, like basically have a game like they
had in the first two of this series where they're
just missing shots. I think that this because the regular
season and the postseason in the NBA are officiated so

(03:35):
radically differently, right that the strategies to I think to
get these teams that have these these clevelands Boston of
last year, Okasee of this year, the teams that are
not necessarily and this is not anck to tatum around,
but star driven, right, Like, teams that are and they'll

(03:56):
have an SGA or whatever, but everybody else around them
is kind of like who's doing it. I'll have a
Donovan Mitchell, but everybody else's you know, all star level caliber.
In order for those teams to win fifty five to
sixty games, their style of play is one that maximizes,
like over the long sample size, but the playoffs, Like
if the playoffs were fourteen game series, I think that

(04:18):
the okay see and they would be walking through things.
But when you get to a seven game series, all
that variance, I think it has a major impact. So
I think the long and short of what I'm saying is,
you see, like Nicola Jokicic might have a bad game
one day out out of eight and the Nuggets lose
that one, right, But when you were looking at the

(04:40):
Nuggets having to win seven games of four games out
of seven, is you're gonna have four bad games in
a row, right, same deal with Minnesota. Anthony Everwards hasn't
played well. That's a good team as Anthony vers gonna
have five bad games in a row. Not their stars
end up being but they got the team. You know
what I'm saying. They're not about the strategy. It's more
about their individual players, and that's what happened.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
I've been watching the NBA playoffs forever. I cannot remember
a year. You brought this up, Martin, about the idea
that the game is played officiated a lot differently in
the postseason the regular season, and to some degree that's true,
but I have never seen it more pronounced than in
this postseason. I mean, they are allowing a physical level
of play that I've never seen before in the NBA playoffs.

(05:25):
I mean, watch you watch the Knicks and what they
did in those first two games in Boston, right, and
Boston's missing all those threes, but the Knicks they were
allowed to get real physicals. You know, the end of
Game two, you know is you know Jason Tatum trying
to get off a shot to pull it out for
the Celtics. They weren't going to have that I'm watching
last night's game with the Nuggets and okayse and the

(05:49):
kind of physical play.

Speaker 3 (05:50):
I always said this about the NHL.

Speaker 2 (05:52):
The NHL has a clear difference in the style of
play during the regular season the postseason. That is why
certain teams excel in regular season and then disappear in
the postseason.

Speaker 1 (06:02):
You know, some of the.

Speaker 2 (06:03):
Greatest, most you know, greatest seasons ever regular seasons that
flamed out in the postseason and then teams come out
of nowhere in the postseason because they're their teams are built.

Speaker 3 (06:12):
For that kind of a play.

Speaker 2 (06:14):
This year in the NBA, it's it's been very pronounced
and so it's really thrown everything up in the air.
It's hard to get a read on exactly where we're
going with these series. I mean, are were we talk
a Pacers Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. I mean,
most people said, you know, it's going to be the
Celtics versus who. You know, no one really took Cleveland seriously.

(06:35):
I was pumping up Cleveland. I go, why are you
ignoring a team with two All Star guards, Defensive Player
of the Year, two of the top four finishers, six
Man of the Year. Look at their bench. Why is
everyone dismissing Cleveland? And then Cleveland goes out and lose
the first two games on their home court to Lodiana, and.

Speaker 1 (06:50):
That and their injury list us well growing and.

Speaker 2 (06:53):
Growing exactly, And so that's the other part of it.
And then you look at the West. We got a
six versus a seven with the timber Wolves and the Warriors.
Course that game is going to be coming up here shortly,
Game three of that series. It's one to one.

Speaker 3 (07:06):
So I don't know.

Speaker 2 (07:08):
I mean I look at for the NBA and I
said before these playoffs began, Martin, they need a really good,
compelling postseason. This was not a good regular season for
the NBA. I mean they tried to sort of, you know,
make a little bit post All Star Game with the
Luca trade to the Lakers and get some buzz about it,

(07:30):
but it wasn't.

Speaker 3 (07:30):
Overall, wasn't a good numbers year.

Speaker 1 (07:32):
It has I think, and I don't mean to derail
the whole thing, but I think the ratings for the
NBA had much more to do with what was happening
outside of the NBA than the actual product of the league.

Speaker 2 (07:42):
Explain.

Speaker 1 (07:43):
I mean, this was a you know, I know that
almost every election is like this, but this was the
most divisive election of our times in early November, right
as we were sitting in the lead up for that,
and not only to uh something we actually actually hadn't
seen having the Democratic nominee or nominee in general replaced
that clickly or that soon to never happen like that

(08:07):
soon to go time never happened. Right, So I think that,
you know, maybe if you're you know, a thunderfan they're
playing the magic, he might be more tuned into whichever
political whatever cable news channel you're trying to court.

Speaker 2 (08:21):
The NFL, you understand that. I think it WHOA From
the numbers of the number standpoint, it did not Well,
it's kind of hard to say because like, all right,
so I hear what you're saying. The numbers did not drop,
but maybe the numbers did.

Speaker 1 (08:36):
Not go up as much as they would have had
you know what I'm saying, Like the numbers didn't drop,
how much did they not go? That was November mark,
But then after the trade deadline people were locked into
the league.

Speaker 2 (08:46):
Doesn't most people don't even know the NBA season started
until usually Christmas.

Speaker 1 (08:51):
But here's the thing. The reality of the situation is
I think this is the biggest the thing with the
NBA season to what I think it's the point that
I'm not trying take word any about. So I think
this is it. We had all of the stars in
the league, right, all of the guys who are the
if you were to put NBA in the movie theater,
the guys who would be on the Marquis, the Lebron James,
the Steph curryes and Kevin Durant, so that level, like

(09:13):
we watching the Olympics, the starting five, none of them
had a shot to win a championsh track, none of
them had a chance, So every one of them was
drawing dead. Then at the trade deadline, all of a sudden,
Jimmy Butler Injex's Life into the Warriors, Luka doncs Indexed
life and to the Lakers. Now you had two usual
suspects back at the top potentially of the league. But

(09:33):
what you have now to me, with the Warriors probably
about to leave, is a game of throne style who's
going to take the crown? Because it's never been more
wide open. To me, I've enjoyed this season.

Speaker 2 (09:44):
All right, Well, one guy I want to call out
at least in the moment, and he could certainly. In fact,
usually I'm critical of someone and they always prove me wrong, right,
especially when it's a superstar player. Shay Gilgess Alexander was
a complete no show last night at the end of
that game. So here's a guy that is the runaway
favorite to be announced. I think it's gonna be next

(10:05):
week they're gonna announce the regular season MVP. The argument
where Shae gild is being the you know, MVP leading
scorer in the league, sixty eight win to Oklahoma City
team even though Doncie or Jokic had a breaking, you know,
all time season, his best year in five years, you know,
during this run, and they're like, no, no, the Shay Gilden.

(10:25):
Where was he? I mean, where was he? I mean
he was he was completely absent in that fourth quarter
in overtime for OKC And I you know, again this league,
you mentioned Lebron, Steph KD. You're still hanging her hat
on those three guys as the three biggest names in
the NBA. Kadi's team didn't even get in the player rest.

Speaker 1 (10:46):
That's why I think this is the NBA is in
a great position but you have to then have these
guys step up, whether it's and whether it's Shay gild,
it's Alexander, whoever the young stars are, Luka Dancic, they
have to be able to step up and grab hold
of the narrative.

Speaker 3 (11:02):
And they're not right now, they're not.

Speaker 1 (11:05):
But also that this is also part of the story,
like we we look back and it's this is like
when people talk about the music in the eighties or seventies,
like they made bad music then too, you just don't
hear it anymore because all of it gets filtered out.
You only hear the hits, like Jordan, Like along the
the as Michael Jordan was building his legacy and you

(11:26):
name whatever player and you name that legacy, they all
have duds along the way, taking Jordan out of it.
Lebron with the the twenty eleven verse.

Speaker 2 (11:35):
Dallas right or Stephan What was the highlight of shake
Gilgess Alexander's career.

Speaker 1 (11:40):
It may not have happened yet, is the points right?
But but the point you're going to have to go
through these moments, but it should have a huddle. But
you have to be able to go through these moments
to be able to eventually get there. I agree with you.
She's been a no show this up to this point.
But it's not all the way yet written. But you
understand what I'm saying.

Speaker 2 (11:59):
Is people are tuning into NBA, you know during the postseason.
All right, games can let me start watching the NBA.
I've been hearing about Shay Gills of Alexander here, Okloma,
say sixty eight wins, best team in the league. They
won't buy an average margin what thirteen fourteen points per
game for the entire season. I want to see this
great team. You're not seeing it right now.

Speaker 1 (12:19):
I'm sorry, you just okay? Well, then you know what?

Speaker 3 (12:21):
Where was this team?

Speaker 1 (12:22):
Look at the team they're playing against.

Speaker 2 (12:24):
Who was, as a ever, the team that fired their
coach for three games to go.

Speaker 1 (12:28):
Look how it's been going. Look how the best player
has been empowered to now lead time out huddles like,
oh what's his name? Oh?

Speaker 3 (12:37):
You know it was co team late in that game
was Russell Westbrook.

Speaker 1 (12:40):
But to the point we're seeing Russell Westbrook seventeen years in.
You want to talk now, he didn't necessarily reach the
heights of We need.

Speaker 2 (12:47):
To go back to the years. You realize when red
Auerbachs stepped down after winning eight straight NBA titles.

Speaker 3 (12:51):
He handled the reins over to Bill Russell.

Speaker 1 (12:53):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (12:54):
Russell was the player coach of the Celtics for three years.
In the last two years he went back to back championships.
Why can't you want to save a few bucks put
your your stars in charge.

Speaker 1 (13:03):
I don't think that Denver Nuggets did it as a
cost cutting measure, but I think that's exactly I don't
know if it was a it was a benefit of
what happened there. You know, it may not have been
you know exactly the reason why. But you can't tell
me that Jokic and Russell Westbrook to the Jokic and
Russell Westbrook to a lesser extent, are playing some of
the best basketball that they've that they have played. So

(13:25):
if you tuned in to watch Shake Gildess Alexander, well,
you know what you just might have to enjoy instead
the guy who won what two of three of the
last five m vps.

Speaker 2 (13:34):
Okay, now I will say that now we're coming They
were coming off a complete blowout over Denver in Game two. Uh,
and they could very well come back and even that
serious and I got no.

Speaker 1 (13:42):
Excuse for that. That was a bad one.

Speaker 2 (13:44):
But after watching last night, if you were, if you're
literally like, I want to see the Shake Gildess Alexander
guy here, he's going to be named MVP.

Speaker 3 (13:51):
Complete no show last night.

Speaker 1 (13:53):
But you have to understood, like this is the thing
that and I don't knock it. I mean, I agree
with you, Shay Gil just has been a no show.
But I am still oh, you know, I am not
sentencing him guilty as a no show forever in the playoffs.
But we have to have these moments of like guys
who have good regular seasons and then struggle in the
postseason to be able to appreciate a Jalen Brunson type

(14:15):
who seemingly cannot miss with left and twenty four seconds
left in the game down one. Like you know what
I'm saying, you have to be able to have the
Shay Gilders just to appreciate the Jalen Brunsons.

Speaker 3 (14:24):
By the way, if you're Denver Nuggets fan, here's the
good news.

Speaker 2 (14:27):
And of course, as you know you'll get just won
three of the last four MVP awards the year he
didn't win in last Joel Embiid of course, was theear
The Nuggets went on to win the NBA Championship. So
right now, Nugget fans are feeling pretty good up to
winning that series.

Speaker 4 (14:41):
All right.

Speaker 2 (14:41):
We got much more NBA playoffs coming up again. We
got the Timberwolves and Warriors game that's gonna be tipping
off soon. In the meantime, though, we got a ton
of NFL news to get to. We're gonna talk to
our insider, Adam Kaplan. This is Fox Sports Saturday.

Speaker 1 (14:56):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio Radio.

Speaker 2 (15:00):
Steve Harvey, Martin Wise. Here Fox Sports Saturday. Once again,
we're coming to live from the Fox Sports Radio studios. Hey,
be sure to check out Fox Sports Radio's YouTube channel.
There's a ton of great videos from many of our
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Speaker 3 (15:14):
Just search Fox Sports.

Speaker 2 (15:16):
Radio on YouTube and you'll see a whole bunch of
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to you always have instant access to our Fox Sports
Radio videos on YouTube. Well. As most of you know
and the vast majority of you demand, there's always NFL news.
Three hundred and sixty five days a year. There is

(15:38):
always NFL news, and no better person will break it
down than our NFL Insider here at Fox Sports Radio,
the legendary Adam Kaplan is joining us right now. So Adam. Obviously,
the big news of the day is the sudden retirement
of Derek Carr. And a couple things about the ramifications

(15:59):
of this retirement announcement I heard earlier my colleague TJ.
Huschman Zada very upset. I mean, you know, they were
congratulating Derek Carr. And by the way, I remember interviewing
Derek Carr when he was at Fresno State, and he's
an impressive guy. There's nothing not to like about Derek
Carr the person, and he had a solid NFL career.

(16:20):
By the way, they call it four time Pro Bowl
he actually was named a one Pro Bowl. Yeah, three times.
He got in as an alternate one time. It's the
third alternate, meaning he was the sixth quarterback take in
a conference that only has sixteen quarterbacks. So let's not
overplay the Pro Bowls. But anyway, what are the ramifications here?
But here was what TJ said. He goes, he was
upset at him because you're walking away from a fully

(16:43):
guaranteed thirty million dollars. Well, I mean, if he plays
next season. He had a fully guaranteed thirty million dollars. Now,
he did a great thing for the Saints. But start
to break that down, because I know a lot of
people on one of them, believe me, trying to figure
this whole thing out about he would walk away from
that money. How does it benefit him? How did he

(17:04):
benefit Was there something the Saints did for him to
walk away? And what does that mean for the Saints
down the road in terms of money. Yeah, so a
couple things here. He was signed through the twenty sixth season.
He restructured his contract to help the club out for
cap purposes. Every year, the Saints are probably the worst
team versus the.

Speaker 4 (17:23):
Cap every year. It's just been a problem for almost
a decade. But they always seemed to find ways to
get players to agree. So car a great tour structuring.
They knew that he had a shoulder problem from last season.
They did not know it was as bad as it
was until both sides got opinions on a shoulder. It
wasn't just the ac joints brand that he had. My

(17:46):
understanding is he's had a number of shoulder injuries over
his career and there was a lot of things going
on with it to the point where if he had
a surgery now, it would knock him out for at
least nine months. And Derek's been beat up physically. He's
had a lot of injuries in his career, broken leg, shoulder, knee,

(18:07):
other stuff, And it just got to the point where,
and it's his right throwing shoulder, he's going to move on.
And yeah, Steve, you're right, He's had a nice career.
He just turned thirty four. He's a little bit older
than you know most people think. But I would also
say from talking two coaches of work with him, Derek's

(18:28):
kind of had a mind of his own sometimes he
wants to do certain things his way. And good person,
nothing wrong off the field, But I don't think he
ever really became the player that most people thought he
would be. I know he was a second round pick,
but he had way more talent than that. He just
never became that guy.

Speaker 1 (18:45):
To be honest with you, Adam, we saw speaking of
a guy who never became that guy. George Pickens never
became the dominating wide receiver that they've kind of wanted
in Pittsburgh. He seems to me to be a guy
whose name far outshines his production on the field, which
is like, Jerry Jones can't wait this on to trade
third day three picks for that type of player. I mean, oh,

(19:08):
he said he had two big moves. This is one
of them, right.

Speaker 4 (19:11):
Like this, Well, what's interesting, guys, Yeah, what's interesting about
this is they've been trying all off season to get
a young or not older that they moved away from
Brandon Cooks, who is back with the Saints where it
started for him in twenty fourteen. But they made a
decision that one way or the other they were going
to get a starting quality receiver and they didn't get
one in the draft, so they made this trade after

(19:33):
the draft, which is odd because I know the Steelers.
It's not a secret that Steelers have been trying.

Speaker 1 (19:39):
To move him.

Speaker 4 (19:42):
George Pickens is a very emotional player, very talented, and
he goes to a team that historically, folks, you're talking
about well over three decades. Jerry Jones takes risks with character.
He loves the upside of George Pickens, who's not getting
extension as I understand it, and the Steelers were not
going to extend his contract, as one Steelers shirt has

(20:03):
told me, this would have been a problem for him,
considering that at the at the time of the trade
of Metcalf, they signed him to an extension. They felt
like this would have been a problem at some points
a season and they can't have another issue they you know,
it's interesting, guys. They've had a problem with Chase Claypoole
second round of very immature. They've traded him. He's out

(20:25):
of the league. Everybody knows about Antonio Brown. They've gone
through a number of drafted receivers that moved on from
It's pretty interesting.

Speaker 2 (20:32):
All right, I need to get back to the Saints
for just a moment here. Sure, So you got Calum
Moore as your new coach, and they're already talking about,
all right, we're going to have Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shuck.
I don't know how he gets shuck out of that name,
but that's his name. Jake Hayner and even brought him
up right, And I'm thinking, all right, let me let
me get this straight. That is, those are your choices

(20:52):
at quarterback and Aaron Rodgers is looking for a job.
So and the reason I bring that up is right,
you're like, okay, but think about this again. The Saints
play in a very competitive division. That's being kind saying competitive.
It's that lousy division, but it's competitive, right, And I

(21:15):
would imagine a guy like Aaron Rodgers have a respect
for a guy like Kellimore.

Speaker 3 (21:21):
Guy played in the league.

Speaker 2 (21:22):
He's got quite a track record as an assistant coach,
and you sort of getting him on his first opportunity
to be a head coach in it's the league.

Speaker 1 (21:29):
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (21:30):
I mean, Aaron Rodgers has sort of left everyone's mind.

Speaker 2 (21:34):
He hasn't left my mind yet until he makes some
kind of statement one way or the other, whether he's
in or out. But it just seems to me that
the Saints could be in play because it's a team
not that far away with decent quarterback play to sneak
into the postseason and then who knows what happens.

Speaker 4 (21:55):
I would be stunned if that happened, because I know
there are a couple of people I know what this
stealers who feel like if he's playing, he's going to
only get play for them. I always say never say never.
Gods could change their mind. Now, a couple of things
about Derek Carr and Aaron Rodgers. You probably don't know this,
but Derek Carr got a lot of comparisons to Aaron
Rodgers in times of terms of style of play, athleticism, build.

(22:17):
Derek's maybe an inch taller than them, if you're if
you're really measuring both guys, I mean, it's really interesting
how both kind of we're seeing as a similar talents. Now,
there are a couple problems with the Saints. They're in
a team that's in transition. I mentioned their cap issues
and problems.

Speaker 1 (22:33):
They've been very.

Speaker 4 (22:34):
Mediocre and Steve, if you're right, if they could get
better quarterback play, that would help. They're they're not there
that that's just now, what's funny we didn't mention this,
Like the Steelers now they're all in a Rodgers even
though they traded Pickens, they don't. That has nothing to
do with it that they're still all in. But they're
not like if Aaron Rodgers look at it, they trade,
they trade pickens, and we know that he worked out

(22:56):
with Metcalf about three weeks ago, but they're really other
than Metcalf. I mean, they've got a bunch of backups.
I'm told that's probably gonna be rowand Wilson will wound
up starting opposite DK Metcalf Wilson by the way two
injuries last year, he really didn't play much, played late
in the season, but they're hurting there. I mean, it's debatable.
Now you take away pickings and you could debate who's

(23:17):
a better football team.

Speaker 1 (23:18):
To be honest with you, I want to talk about
a team that doesn't have quarterback questions at Tennessee Titans.
As we saw teams open rookie mini camps. The number
one overall pick. First of all, I don't know if
there's been a quarterback in the last say, twenty five
thirty years to go number one overall with less fanfare
than cam Ward. But it seems that he's just kind
of going about business and should be the day one

(23:41):
starter in Tennessee. Even though Brian Kelly and he wasn't
quite said it.

Speaker 4 (23:44):
He will. Yeah, I wouldn't worry about that he's starting.
He's first pick over. He'll start. And remember, well, Will
Levis was not drafted by this new front office with
the Titans, and the coachesn't heard of him last year.
He was drafted three years ago in twenty twenty three.
So when you look at cam Ward it's it's interesting.
You know, he played for three different schools and you

(24:06):
go to Tennessee. That's not a big media capital in
terms of sports. We know, particularly with the Titans, there
been there many times you're the only game in town.
I mean, the hockey team's got some jews, but the
football teams more popular. But it's still it's a small
media market and it's the team that's kind of everything.
Jeff Fisher was the head coach. Yeah, it's been about
Derek Henry some playoff appearances, but they haven't really done

(24:27):
anything special, and they're in a rebuild here now. I'll
tell you what they think. Like this offensive line, they've
completely rebuilt it. They over the last two seasons, folks
have replaced every starter, so they've rebuilt their offensive line.
They like some of the pieces that receiver Tyler Lockett
will finish his career with the Titans. Pharmacy Awk, really
good football player. They're rebuilding this thing here. You know,

(24:50):
is it going to be not for cam word It's
going to take them some time. But the thing about
Cam Warden is he's fearless. He's very aggressive throwing the football.
We mentioned our cars sort of risk averse. Very talented,
but sometimes we'll check the ball down. That is not
cam Ward Titan fans, if you're listening tonight, he's super aggressive.

Speaker 1 (25:09):
They if they.

Speaker 4 (25:09):
Protect him, he could be a little bit better than
you think early on.

Speaker 2 (25:12):
All right, all I know is if Aaron Rodgers ends
up with the Saints, I mean, you know, I.

Speaker 4 (25:19):
Mean, I mean, any stranger things have happened.

Speaker 2 (25:21):
I guess there's only one time you've ever said, Hardman,
you were right, and that's about the Broncos making the playoffs.

Speaker 4 (25:26):
That was That was an and that was unbelivved. Did
you like Bo Nicks?

Speaker 2 (25:30):
I did. I loved bo Nicks, and I just I
got a sense from Sean Payton that you know, again,
he was he was not projected obviously to be a
first round pick, but he was enamored with him.

Speaker 4 (25:42):
Guy, you're right, and it was.

Speaker 2 (25:44):
A guy he wanted and it was a rough start,
but he got him going. And I just I just
felt like bo Nicks at a certain maturity level. And
that's the difference with these quarterbacks. I mean, like, you
know this Tyler Shuck seven years of college. The guy's
going to turn twenty six years old in September.

Speaker 4 (26:00):
He's alder than like fifteen players on the team.

Speaker 1 (26:02):
It's a beliefable.

Speaker 4 (26:03):
Hey, by the way, and you mentioned the prom because Steve,
that was a great call. Next time we're on together, Yes,
let's come up with our team that nobody's talking about
like Washington was one last year. Nobody saw the coming, No,
no one.

Speaker 1 (26:15):
We'll definitely do that.

Speaker 4 (26:16):
But well, yeah, I'm on that now that I always
like to take the spring to find a team.

Speaker 3 (26:20):
That because it happens every year.

Speaker 2 (26:22):
It's I know, every single year you can pick three
or four teams that has on nobody's radar to make
the postseason and there they are in the playoffs. All right,
great stuff as always, Adam, we appreciate. We'll talk to
you next week. Sounds good, Adam, kaplan are NFL inside
Always great stuff, that's for sure. Let's find out what
is trending right now and let's welcome in in a

(26:45):
different role, mart Weiss. The Boston Celtics finally got a
win in the second round.

Speaker 1 (26:52):
They got a New York News a series two to one,
but Boston won this game one to ninety three. Game
three of the series. First game in New York Jason
Tatum actually scratched that Peyton Pritchard led Boston in scoring.
How about that twenty three points for Pritchard. Jayson Tatum
at twenty two, he had twenty two on twenty shots,
so not that efficient, but near a triple double with

(27:13):
nine rebounds on seven assists. Jalen Brown added nineteen, Derek
White with seventeen. The Knicks were led by Jalen Brunton
in his twenty seven points, carltony Town's out of twenty
one Michel Bridges Josh Hard twelve and ten points apiece.
And now we have some playoff hockey going on right
now the Washington Washington Capitals of Carolina Hurricanes, just under

(27:37):
six minutes left in the first period, scoreless in that game,
the series is tied, won a piece. And in Major
League Baseball, bottom of the ninth inning, two to two
between the Braves and the Pirates. Top of the eighth inning.
This has been a back and forth game, with the
A's now take the lead. They had a four to
lead to start, the Yankees came back made it six

(27:58):
to four. Now the A's have his seven to six
top of the eighth inning, Brewis and the Rays in
the bottom of the fifth tie to a piece. Bottom
of the second, Phillies and the Guardians scoreless, and on
top of the second Texas Rangers have a three to
one lead over the Detroit Tigers. And if you've been listening,
you already heard it. Derek Carr has retired from the
NFL eleven years of service, most of them with the Raiders,

(28:21):
finishes last few years with the Saints decline thirty million
dollars guaranteed to hang them up right now. He did
not want to go through another shoulder surgery, which he
would have needed to to be ready to play next season,
and per Steve Hartman, Aaron Rodgers in play for the
New Orleans Saints. No one else has confirmed or denied

(28:43):
that report. Probably I don't think it's true, but I'm
back to back to Steve him, so.

Speaker 2 (28:47):
Back all right, Well, thank you very much, Martin. And
you know, if you throw enough you know what out there,
every once in a while it sticks.

Speaker 1 (28:56):
All right.

Speaker 2 (28:56):
Once again, we are live from the Fox Sports Radio studios.
By the way, can stream the show and all of
our Fox Sports Radio shows live twenty four to seven
of the new and improved iHeartRadio app just search Fox
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of the newest features in the app is that you
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you know, like the presets on a radio doll. So

(29:16):
be sure to preset Fox Sports Radio on the iHeartRadio app.
It will always pop up at the top of your screen.

Speaker 1 (29:22):
All right.

Speaker 2 (29:23):
So before the show began, as Martin was trying to
focus in on doing updates, I interrupt him as I
heard so often do, and engage in conversation, you know
the way some people will stop.

Speaker 3 (29:38):
Martin never does.

Speaker 2 (29:40):
I can never really trust if Martin's really listening to
anything I'm saying. You're very good at you know, not
even not even pretending to ignore me, which I love.
By the way, I love this is why I'm driven.
You motivate me. So anyway, we were talking about the
Cleveland Browns quarterback. So we have this sound. Guys, can

(30:02):
we play this sound now? I want to play a
little of this. As you know, we have Dylan Gabriel.
By the way, remember again, Dylan Gabriel, despite all the
success he had at Oregon this year, a Heisman finalist
and everything else, was projected to be a day three
draft pick, and he ends up going Day two, third
round to the Cleveland Browns. And then Shor Sanders, of course,

(30:25):
was supposed to be a Day one pick, maybe a
Day two pick, ended up being a Day three pick.

Speaker 3 (30:31):
But both of these guys have a lot of experience.

Speaker 2 (30:33):
Let's hear from Dylan Gabriel first, because this is the
guy that started sixty three games during his collegiate career
talking about, you know, being a starting quarterback.

Speaker 5 (30:45):
Yeah, I think the more questions I get asked like that,
it just divides the team. And for me, I think,
you know how you know, we're in a room full
of not just us, but Kenny, Joe and Deshaun and
for us, you know, we know how important a healthy
kV room is. But also, you know, a team that
you want to be a part of, you know, in
how do you create an environment every single day where

(31:06):
everyone can be at their best and that's just pushing
one another, which talent naturally does, and you know naturally
it's it's healthy, you know for us where we all
go do our thing and everyone wins.

Speaker 1 (31:17):
All right.

Speaker 2 (31:17):
Before we hear from Schudur, though, Martin, I want to
talk a little bit about Dylan Gabriel. So the knock
on Dylan Gabriel is he's under six feet tall. He's short.
In other words, he's basically the same height of Tua
Tongua Baaloa, Drew Brees. He's Tyler, you know, Kyler Murray.
I mean the idea that we don't have short quarterbacks
in this league. We have a lot of short quarterbacks
in the league that have played very effectively. So this

(31:40):
is a guy with a ton of experience. Obviously, he
just navigated an undefeated regular season in one of the
premier conferences in the country, the Big Ten. So I'm
trying to figure out why people are so ready to
dismiss Dylan Gabriel as a viable option for the Cleveland
Browns movie. For why is he? Why is he out

(32:02):
of the conversation? I mean, explain it.

Speaker 1 (32:04):
To He's definitely not out of the conversation. But the
reason why people are immediately dismissing him is because he's
five to eleven, like two hundred and fifteen pounds with
a light arm like he was a great college football player.

Speaker 2 (32:16):
Bryce Young was the number one pig in the draft.

Speaker 1 (32:18):
And that that was a mistake.

Speaker 2 (32:21):
Oh, we don't know yet. Are we completely dismissing Boce Young.

Speaker 1 (32:24):
I'm not completely dismissing Bryce Young, but I'm saying, if
you took the quarterback who was six' to, two you
made the playoffs, twice and if you Took Bryce, young
you have.

Speaker 3 (32:33):
It i'm going to go hold school on.

Speaker 2 (32:34):
You Doug, fluoty all, Right Doug fluty was not even
five ot nine and he came To San diego WHEN
i was In San diego his last full year as a,
starter was out The, chargers AND i asked him and
he had the answer that he's given him many. Times he,
goes here's what you have to understand about being my
height as a.

Speaker 3 (32:49):
Quarterback i've always been this.

Speaker 1 (32:51):
Height.

Speaker 2 (32:51):
SURE i was this hide in high. SCHOOL i was
this hide in. COLLEGE i was this hide in The
Canadian Football. LEAGUE i was this hide in THE. Nfl
so my perspective on the field has always been the.
Same you, say how DO i see past the offensive
line where everyone's standing in front of me is six
five sixty. Six, Well i've always had to look through.
THEM i know how to do. It Dylan gabriel sixty

(33:12):
three starts in. College that's got to count for, something
and he's done it at The days got him a
third round, Pig okay round rocky. Salary All, right so
now let's hear a different, perspective AND i THINK i
like this a lot from WHAT i hear From Shudor.

Speaker 6 (33:26):
Sanders thank you for saying, that BECAUSE i don't like my.
Job here is an approved people, wrong Like i'll prove myself.
Right that's that's AND i fully self believe what those people.
Say that's just the. Opinion SO i don't truly. Care
they don't really live in my mental space about that
type of. Stuff really doesn't do anything for.

Speaker 2 (33:46):
Me, OKAY i like what he. Said and again another
guy that has proven it over many. Years you know
Obviously Jackson state And. Colorado remember last year THE ap
first second thirdeen quarterbacks first, team Cam ward second, Team Shador,
sanders third, Team Gillin.

Speaker 3 (34:03):
Gabriel All, Right we've.

Speaker 2 (34:04):
Never had a year where two guys that were the
top THREE Ap All americans end up rookies on the same.
Team But Shaudor sanders said, It i'm not to prove people.
Wrong i'm here to Prove i'm right about my. ABILITY
i think that's a great attitude For Shador, sanders and
yet a lot of people are dismissing this quarterback battle

(34:25):
between these two young. Guys and don't forget they gave
up draft capital to Get Kenny pickett away From. Pittsburgh
The Deshaun watson, situation it's just a matter of when
you finally cut him loose and release. That and you
know all you're gonna say About Joe flaccowys he's, There,
Okay Joe's flacco's there if. Needed but some people are
dismissing this, battles saying, no, no, no The browns Acquired

(34:48):
jacksonville's number one.

Speaker 3 (34:49):
Pick next, year they'll tank this.

Speaker 2 (34:51):
Year they don't care how bad the quarterback situation, is
and they'll have their sights On Arch manning next year
is the number one pick in the. Draft and then
we'll back on this year about Telling gabriel Or Shador
sanders as much about.

Speaker 1 (35:04):
NOTHING i, MEAN i think that's more all, Right so
we look at this last year was historic in THE
nfl because we had five rookie quarterbacks play. Right six
drafted in the first, round but five actually get out
there on the, field and all five of them look
like above average. Starters in THE. Nfl that is an, outlier,

(35:25):
right and it makes, me, honestly that's you, know asterisk side,
note terrified FOR jj. McCarthy but the fact that the
fact of the matter is that you have a you
have a better chance of hitting blackjack At Vegas casino
than you do a hitting on a. Quarterback so If
I'm cleveland AND i am in the worst quarterback situation

(35:46):
in THE, nfl both before the draft and, afterwards simply
because of that guarantee money With Deshan, Watson, Yeah i'll
take two quarterbacks right. Now now did they plan on, It,
No but the benefit of it will be if one
of them, works then you could take that number one
overall pick and you can have. Action. Right jacksonville had
The jacksonville what the fifth pick in the, draft then

(36:09):
traded up to. Two why did they trade up to
two cause they feel they got a? Quarterback right now
they can have. Action, now If cleveland felt they had a,
quarterback they would have traded. Up you know What i'm
saying that they could have traded with much more people
to make that. Happen so that's WHY i, think, like
and you know what if, not if nobody, works do
you reck where you. Started what's?

Speaker 2 (36:29):
Time Baker mayfield was the quarterback of The, Browns Wasn't
He Wasn't he drafted first overall by a team that
was coming off two seasons where they were one and thirty,
one and within.

Speaker 3 (36:39):
Two years he had him in the. Playoffs do you
remember That Baker? Mayfield?

Speaker 1 (36:42):
Guy? RIGHT i, do?

Speaker 2 (36:44):
Yeah and they got rid of.

Speaker 7 (36:45):
Him.

Speaker 2 (36:45):
Unbelievable some organizations are cursed by. OWNERSHIP i think they
also got rid of the brain trusting part besides the.

Speaker 1 (36:54):
Owner.

Speaker 2 (36:54):
There, wow, okay coming up on the other, side we're
going to get back to THESE nba.

Speaker 3 (36:58):
Playoffs it's been.

Speaker 2 (36:59):
Crazy out, there but maybe some sanity is about to
show up around the. Corner we'll.

Speaker 3 (37:06):
Explain this Is Fox Sports.

Speaker 8 (37:08):
Saturday Fox Sports radio has the best sports talk lineup
in the. Nation catch all of our shows At Foxsports
radio dot com and within The iHeartRadio. App SEARCH fsr
to listen. Live Steve, Harbin Martin, Weiss Fox Sports. Saturday
we're live from The Fox Sports radio.

Speaker 2 (37:29):
Studios doesn't get any better than, this all, Right So
i'm gonna go down memory lane for a second. Here
as you, Know, MARTIN i do. That so there was
one decision that changed the whole dynamic of THE. Nba one,
decision and the man that made that decision was a
man Named Jerry, west, who WHEN i grew up here

(37:52):
In Los angeles was my first truly legendary sports hero
as a players was an executive with The Golden State,
warriors a consultant they called. Him he wasn't technically general.
Manager and The Golden State warriors had a young player
Named Steph curry that was looking like the guy they Added.

(38:16):
Davidson you, know he's developing into a young star in the.
League and The warriors were a mediocre to bad team
for many many. Years they finally got into the, playoffs
went out in the first. Round they had a second
year player Named Klay. Thompson you, know there were signs
that maybe they had some things going. On so after that,
year they Fired Mark, jackson Hired Steve, kerr they Signed

(38:37):
Andre iguodala as a free, agent and they.

Speaker 3 (38:41):
Were about to pull a trade because they fell With Steph.
Curry we need a star.

Speaker 2 (38:45):
Big we're going to trade This Klay thompson kid to
Get Kevin. Love Jerry west as the consultant for The, warriors,
SAID i will quit if you make that. Trade do
not make that. Trade Keep Klay. Thompson you got the
potential for the most dynamic backcourt in THE.

Speaker 3 (39:07):
Nba they didn't make the, trade.

Speaker 2 (39:09):
And the rest is, history but not just history for
The Golden State, warriors history for THE. Nba So, Martin
i'm looking at The celtics in these three games against The.
Knicks in the first two, games they were combined twenty
five for one hundred three point shots twenty five for one.
Hundred in two games today they were twenty for, forty

(39:32):
which is why they blew out The. Knicks we're coming
up to the top of the, hour BUT i want
to get in this with, you this idea of live
and die by the three point. Shot is it time
for THE nba to make an adjustment in terms of this.

Speaker 3 (39:50):
Game you're going.

Speaker 1 (39:52):
About me five, minutes.

Speaker 3 (39:53):
Okay on the other, Side i'm going to get the
answer to.

Speaker 2 (39:56):
That this Is Fox Sports, saturday all, right rolling along
here on a busy Sports.

Speaker 3 (40:01):
Saturday Fox Sports.

Speaker 2 (40:02):
Saturday once, again we're broadcasting live from The Fox Sports radio.

Speaker 3 (40:07):
Studios one game of the books in THE nba.

Speaker 2 (40:09):
Playoffs, Today celtics finally get a win in the series
one fifteen ninety three on the road against the Next
that means the road team has won all three games
of this. Series and by the, way if you're keeping
track right, now home teams in the second round of
THESE Nba playoffs are combined three and, eight three and.
Eight so we'll see how that boats later on today

(40:31):
As Minnesota Timberwolves Golden State warriors get, ready and.

Speaker 1 (40:36):
My prediction four in eight for home teams by the
time we wake up.

Speaker 2 (40:40):
Tomorrow all, Right so, WELL i was mentioning The Golden
State warriors and a decision that was mandated By Jerry.
West there was actually a non. Decision imagine how the
course OF nba history might have changed if The Golden
State warriors.

Speaker 3 (40:57):
Feeling, like all, right we got to start.

Speaker 2 (40:58):
Guard, now we need to start, big and we're going
to Trade Klay thompson to Get Kevin. Love that was
the trade on the table in twenty. Fourteen The Jerry,
west as a, consultant, said do not make that. Trade
if you make that, Trade i'm out of. Here they
didn't make the trade and immediately won a. Championship just like.
That The Splash brothers are born and not only changed

(41:21):
the dynamic in the course Of warriors, history it has
changed the entire course of THE. Nba the three point
line is where everyone camps. Out if you watch The celtics,
today AND i know you watch plenty of this, Game,
martin these guys are not just at the three point.
LINE i Mean Pritchard. Tatum these guys are thirty thirty
five feet out and just gunning up shots didn't work

(41:44):
so well for The celtics in the first two games
that combine twenty five for all one, hundred one hundred
three point shots in two. Games they had sixty in
the first.

Speaker 3 (41:54):
Game that just had mind blowing to.

Speaker 2 (41:56):
Me but today fifty percent shooting twenty for forty and
a result in an Easy celtics victory because of the
proliferation of the three point. Shot when when any kind
of sports suddenly gets a proliferation of any aspect to their,
game sometimes it's up to the league to, say all,
right tell you what we're Gonna we're gonna play around with,

(42:18):
This we're gonna tinker with. This how do you Feel let's, say,
well let me let me start with, This, martin how
do you feel about the three point? Line becoming home
turf for most teams around THE nba for not just
their guard, play but even their.

Speaker 3 (42:38):
Bigs how do you feel about?

Speaker 1 (42:39):
THAT i think that we're in a season or a
generation of the same way that like two years, ago
nobody wanted to pay a running, back, right running backs didn't.
Matter you go back and look at all the champions
and be, like, oh, well, Look Patrick mahoon didn't have
a running back to, him but he didn't have a running.

Speaker 9 (42:58):
Back.

Speaker 1 (42:59):
Yea they're All hall Of, fame, Right they're the best
to do it. Right AND i think when you look
at The Golden State, warriors BECAUSE i ACTUALLY i get
your point with The Kevin Love Klay thompson. THING i
actually think that the it was The Shuston rockets With
harden And Darryl moury who took what The warriors were

(43:19):
doing and then like the most generous READ i have
for it at the, moment has bastardized? It, yeah, right
because you Had Steph curry And Klay thompson who prior
to this, Moment Mark jackson had said and people laughed
at him AND i know, This we're going. Back you
got to remember this is pre a lot of pre

(43:39):
almost all of this, right this is twenty, thirteen twenty.
Eleven Mark jackson said this is the best shooting backward
of all, time and everybody was, like, yeah all, Right,
mark hot take you know What i'm. Saying it was
easy for you to say as the. Coach and then
he continued to repeat it after he got, fired and
then continued to be on the. Broadcasts then they won one,
championship then they want to, know you, Know i'm, saying,
oh might just be the best shooting backward of all,

(44:02):
Time but At James harden And Russell westbrook and whoever
that rest of that conglomeration was In houston never. Was
AND i think what we are seeing now is The
Boston celtics who turned this into a championship last. Year
And i'm not saying that they should take her away
or anything like, that but you look through The Eastern
conference last. Year you look at their, injuries you look

(44:22):
at the way that people got. Hurt you look at
the variance that This Boston celtics team has experienced in
This Joe missoula, area going down three oh To, miami coming,
back losing to the teams that are way devalued from
the way worse than the based off regular season. RECORD
i think if they lose this Series, boston the whole

(44:42):
idea of the we're gonna just shoot threes and everything
else be. DAMNED i think it dies. HERE i think
it could literally die. HERE i agree with.

Speaker 2 (44:51):
YOU i, mean there's been a lot of us about
if The celtics do loves this, series that's a little
we got a long way to go on, that, because
let's face, it The knicks or The, knicks they've had
this habit in, years not all that far back of you,
know finding ways to lose series that they ultimately should have.
Won so you, Know Celtics city easily come away with
force rate wins and move on to the next, round

(45:13):
to The Eastern Conference. Finals But i'm also looking at
just THE nba in general right now and this proliferation
of three point. SHOOTING i know we've talked about, this
say it's a tired, conversation but it's not when a
marquee team like The Boston celtics has taken it to,
extremes as they, did firing up sixty three point shots
in the first game of the series against The New york.

(45:36):
Knicks now there are different ways around. It you can
make it more. Challenging can you move the shot?

Speaker 1 (45:43):
Back what?

Speaker 2 (45:45):
If, seriously what if you made see what's impossible because
of the configuration of the. Court you, know the best
spot obviously to take three point shots are the corner.
Threes but, standy if you expand the three point, line
you can't do it in the corners because why?

Speaker 1 (46:04):
Why like for? What the premise of this conversation is
The celtics smith so many threes in the first two.

Speaker 2 (46:13):
Games but it's also a style of. Play BUT i
was talking about.

Speaker 1 (46:15):
It but just hold, on The celtics smith so many
threes in the first two, games that we should make
three pointers more. Difficult, Yes what the reality is is
that if your quarterback through seventeen incomplete, passes you would
run the ball. Right the reality is like this will
get worked out by going like The Boston celtics have

(46:39):
been the best team in The Eastern conference the last
two years and have shown that a bad shooting day
or three bad shooting days can put them in all
types of. Peril to the point The Denver, NUGGETS i
get they fired their. Coach let that sit over there.
Somewhere The Denver nuggets don't shoot a ton of. Threes
we know what they do in This Oklahoma city, game
and It's Oklahoma city. Series two games that they've won

(47:01):
have been possession. Possession we're grinding it out like it's
styles make, fights and depending on who you have to
go through to, win is going to be should be
how you design your. Strategy now OFTEN i think is
throwing all caution to the win and it's going to cost,
HIM i.

Speaker 2 (47:18):
Think But denver is able to alter the style because
of one. GUY i, mean there's only One Nikola jokic
in this. League there's only one big that could do
the things the full game that he. Has he's never
going to be a dominant defensive, player but on the offensive,
end his ability to maneuver around the, basket take it
out when. Necessary he's not a guy that's going to

(47:38):
camp out of the three point. Line, plus his passing
skills are the best of any big man in the
league right. Now so, yes he affords you the opportunity
to do two different.

Speaker 3 (47:47):
Things THIS i go back to.

Speaker 2 (47:48):
Baseball remember it was a couple of years ago we
were just like baseball had hit the.

Speaker 1 (47:52):
Skids.

Speaker 2 (47:52):
Right it was, strikeout, walker home. Run that was basically
baseball had suddenly deluded itself to the point where every
about was either a home, run a, strikeout or a.
Walk nobody was running the bases anything. Else what did they?
Do they introduced a pitching. CLOCK i was, like, OH
i don't want to see. That it's working for. Them
but they limited the number of times you could throw

(48:14):
over to first.

Speaker 1 (48:14):
Base but that but the pitch. Clock the pitchclock in
the expansion of, bases that didn't change fundamentally Base but
when the first base, Did i'll give You doug was
it brought the running game back into bought the running
game back into the, game.

Speaker 2 (48:29):
Which is a manufacturing. Runs AND i.

Speaker 1 (48:32):
AGREE i think it's been a great change for, Baseball
BUT i don't think that that has fundamentally stopped the
gms who ten years ago thought that, strikeout home, run
uh and fly out the three true outcomes are still
no longer the three true. OUTCOMES i think there's still
guys are still necessarily looking for. That but LIKE i
think that baseball had a problem with just action in the.

(48:53):
Field do you watch a baseball. Game the thing about
the pitch clock now do you.

Speaker 2 (48:57):
Like the action in AN nba game the guys aren't
out at the three point, Line AND i might be.

Speaker 1 (49:03):
That's not the whole seeing that across the league this
we don't need to is What i'm. Saying there's a
few people that have the strategy that, then and it
won a championship last, year and it won a championship
when you had the best shooter of all time by
common parlance And Steph. Curry but overwhelmingly the teams that
have just died INTO I am shooting nothing but threes

(49:25):
have been massive disappointments in the. Postseason but From Houston
harden to This Boston celtics team up into last, year
if they flame out, again people are going to be,
like you know, what maybe we should run the, Ball
like you know What i'm, Saying maybe the strategy should.
Change you see What i'm. Saying it's, like oh, wait
there's two white. Safeties what do we? Do oh we
do we used to always do with their two wye?

(49:46):
Safeties oh, wait we can't make a? Three what do we?
Do let's find. Guys you can get to the RIM
i again.

Speaker 2 (49:52):
If you go back after the durant back to backs
by The. Warriors who do you? Have you have The,
raptors they weren't married to the three, Pointline, lakers they
weren't married the three point. Line milwaukee not married to
the three point. Line then you had The, warriors and
then you Had denver and then last Year. BOSTON i
would agree with.

Speaker 1 (50:11):
YOU i, mean you know What i'm, Saying, like here's
the thing that is the why Aren't this is what's
egregious About. Boston this is because this strategy was thought
up By Darryl morey who, said, look we can't Beat,
HOUSTON i Mean Golden.

Speaker 3 (50:26):
State how did that work in that game? Seven it
was a.

Speaker 2 (50:28):
Disaster But i'm just saying twenty four straight miss you
thought the strategy up, right and this strategy thought process
was their players are too good for us to win
if we play it quote unquote straight.

Speaker 1 (50:40):
Up we have to game the, system we have to
game the. Math that is not the case for The Boston.
Celtics The Boston celtics have two players on their roster
to make over for three hundred million. Dollars all, right
let me ask you they should be able to play
any type of, way and they choose to play this.
Way which is the.

Speaker 2 (50:55):
Problem understanding that it's a copycat. League all sports are that.
Way team wins and all of a, sudden you, know
that's the style we have to. Adopt and that's why
so many teams looked at The warriors, saying all, right you,
know you discount the fact that they have the greatest
shooter In Steph. CURRY i don't even qualified. Anymore he's
the greatest Shooter i've ever seen IN nba. History and
then they Had Clay. THOMPSON i Mean Clay. Thompson hell

(51:18):
holds the record for most points scored in a quarter
in AN nba. Game do you remember that most points
in a? Quarter, Like that's What i'm, Saying, so but
you don't have those kind of. PLAYERS i would just
so let me ask you. This if The celtics successfully
win the championship and become the first team since The
warriors to win back to back, championships meaning that they

(51:39):
have proven that their style of, play at least for,
them works and there will be more and more. Copycats
any personal bias, aside are you rooting for The celtics
to win or? Lose because if they do, win to,
me it's only going to take what we're seeing and
take it to the next level in teams trying to
copy that style of play that at least for, me

(52:00):
has been a gross.

Speaker 1 (52:02):
Turnoff the thing that bothers me more honestly than the
shot selection IS i do not think that if you
if there is a rule that you can like fousand
penalties and in whatever sports you name, it those are
supposed to be a detriment through the team that commits, it,

(52:22):
right that's supposed to Be it is supposed to be a.
Negative and to, me if you start to try to
game the rules By Hacker robinson up, twenty you just
like you should. Lose if you want to file a,
Three if you want to file a guy up three
with uh with so he doesn't get off a shot with,
that you know How Oklahoma City Blue game. ONE i

(52:44):
can't stand that type of. Stuff so that's WHAT i.
Say you know, what if you are really gonna take
your math strategy so far that you are not only
just not only just shooting threes over, twos but you're
also fouled like you're Allowing Mitchell robinson to dig Tate
george's game plan and game, strategy that to me it

(53:05):
should not be. Rewarded so it's almost like it's a
cousin of the shot. Selection but all of it to
me is go out there and play straight. Up your
players are better teams like teams that don't have the,
talent teams that don't have them that can't win on
just roll the ball. Out that's for the teams that
have to you. Know that's what the words like variants

(53:26):
grew into THE nba. Parlance so like to, ME i
just give me Good. Hoopers.

Speaker 2 (53:31):
Yeah on the other, Side i'm going to Get martin
to side with me on something that he will never
believe he would ever side with me on.

Speaker 1 (53:40):
Ever. EVER i love sixties. Rock, steve what are you?

Speaker 2 (53:43):
Talking, no, no, no, no, no not sixties. Rock it's actually
related to the sports. Industry will. Explain this Is Fox Sports,
Saturday Steve hartman And Martin.

Speaker 3 (53:53):
Wise Fox Sports.

Speaker 2 (53:54):
Saturday we're coming to live from The Fox Sports radio,
Studios hey for the best pregame show every. Weekend be
sure to tune Into Fox Sports radios Count an presented
by BET mgm Every saturday And sunday morning from nine
am to Noon eastern six to nine Am. Pacific we're
gonna catching down all the biggest. Games no better place
to prime you for all the playoff, games and right,

(54:15):
Here tune Into countdown presented by BET, mgm Every saturday
And sunday morning right here On Fox Sports radio and
The iHeartRadio.

Speaker 3 (54:24):
App by the, Way mark, mcdeen OUR.

Speaker 2 (54:25):
Nba, insider is going to be joining us in about
half an, hour so we'll get his insights on the
game coming up between The, Warriors, teables what's going to
happen with the balance of the second round of these?
Playoffs all, right as, Promised, MARTIN i made a statement
several months ago that you you flipped your Lit you
absolutely went, bonkers saying THAT i was completely off base

(54:49):
WHEN i claimed That Lebron james was playing his final
games as A Los Angeles. Laker and Now lebron has
spoken out again about the possibility of. Retirement he talked
about his daughter being on a traveling volleyball. Team he's
got a lot of games to see. There he has

(55:12):
made it clear To lukadancic that you should not be
making any decisions on your future based on my. Future
you're twenty, Six i'm. Forty we're at different times of our.
Career and then there is the reality that If Lebron
james does return to The lakers at the tune of
fifty two million, dollars that it will give The lakers

(55:36):
very little wiggle room with their existing contracts to get
a big man of, consequence which they so desperately, need
and they were totally exposed in the series against The
minnesota Timber. Wolves so will you now come on board
with me and can see the fact That Lebron james
will not be wearing A lakers, uniform whether it's retirement

(56:00):
or he opts out of his player, option decides to
join another, team or somehow agreed to a trade to
obviously a team of his, choice but That Lebron james
will not be A laker for the twenty five to
twenty six. Season are you on board with?

Speaker 1 (56:15):
That you since now taking those goalposts up on this
initial take and move them back a few yards because
retirement was not a part of this initial. Take your
take was The lakers are going to Trade Lebron.

Speaker 2 (56:27):
James, no, no, no he he switched it.

Speaker 10 (56:31):
Up as you, KNOW vj And hartman have a show
together On, sundays and that he really wanted to Get
vj's take on this with me as on the show as,
well because Obviously harmon you, KNOW i don't agree with
you on this as. Well, okay he switched it up
to retirement on That sunday because.

Speaker 1 (56:49):
My premise to, you he, said was how do The
lakers make a trade With Lebron james and get? Better
that was my. Response DO i Think Lebron james could? Retire? Absolutely.
DO i think there's a way in the world that
The lakers are a better team next year Using Lebron
james as a chip of some. SORT i don't see that.

(57:10):
POSSIBLE i think the only way The lakers are a
better team than they are next year than this year
Using lebron as If lebron's on the.

Speaker 2 (57:18):
Court all, right seven Years lebron's been with The, lakers
and in five of those years they didn't get past
the first round the. Playoffs, twice they missed the playoffs
three times out in the first round of the, playoffs
one run to The Western Conference finals and The Bubble.
Championship that's the seven years That lebron has been A.
Laker what was the fourteen? Before, Well, no the five

(57:38):
years before that they missed the playoffs five straight.

Speaker 1 (57:40):
Years, okay.

Speaker 2 (57:41):
Okay by the, way let's also keep in mind, this
in the first sixty two years that The lakers.

Speaker 3 (57:48):
Were in THE, nba dating back to Their minneapolis.

Speaker 2 (57:50):
Dates first sixty two, years which ended when they beat
The celtics in the twenty two to twenty TEN Nba,
finals in sixty two, years The lakers have been to
the finals thirty one.

Speaker 3 (58:00):
Times half think about, that thirty.

Speaker 2 (58:03):
One of the sixty two years they had made it
to the. Finals you know how many times have been
in the finals in the last fifteen? Years?

Speaker 1 (58:11):
Once how?

Speaker 2 (58:12):
Many, Steve it is time to make a.

Speaker 1 (58:16):
Change, yeah The original six all have way more playoff
berths than the rest of the Other.

Speaker 4 (58:22):
What are you talking?

Speaker 2 (58:23):
About twenty ten is not you, Know i'm not Talking
original Six When i'm talking about twenty, ten the others
were in THE nba finals on a regular.

Speaker 1 (58:31):
Basis i'm talking about the last twenty five. Years like
in the last twenty five, years The lakers have been
in THE Nba finals a handful of, times as well
as The Miami heat as well as The Golden State,
warriors as they've only.

Speaker 2 (58:43):
Been there once in the last fifteen.

Speaker 3 (58:45):
Years and they've only been there once Since lebron joined the.

Speaker 1 (58:48):
Team but, okay so many in The.

Speaker 2 (58:51):
What is my problem is that there seems to be
this idea and This i'm gonna Use shay as an
example of this Because shay is too young to remember
WHAT i was talking. About, Okay shade's from a different
generation where it was. Right so these Set so when
we go back, now since the end of the twenty thirteen,

(59:11):
seasons so basically The Genie bus, era in these twelve
years twelve, years, okay the last twelve, years The lakers
have missed the playoffs seven, times been eliminated in the
first round three, times one run to The Western Conference,

(59:32):
finals and One bubble. Championship that's their legacy over the
last twelve, years meaning they are. Irrelevant, now can we
make this. Clear it's, like AND i say this about
MY Ucla. Bruins oh you, Know, john what an era
and years that you keep jumping around because, okay so
The lakers aren't even to make a.

Speaker 1 (59:51):
Change the answer is to Trade Lebrun like that's if
you want to say The lakers, irrelevant that's a different
The lakers get.

Speaker 2 (59:58):
Either the key is eliminate him from the, roster whether
it's the, retirement, trade free, agency, whatever they need to
get that fifty million off the books and apply it
to start to build a team around.

Speaker 1 (01:00:12):
Twenty five next, year he's got a player option the
opside and the option for half of.

Speaker 2 (01:00:15):
That then what he has a player option for fifty
two million if he if he signs it to be
with The, lakers that's what he's going to get. Paid
AND i, say, okay but let's slide sign decided he
could decide the ops out of the ups two.

Speaker 1 (01:00:30):
Million signs for twenty five, million for the designs for
seventy five, million are seventy million over three?

Speaker 3 (01:00:36):
Years, Okay well then, okay then that's something you could work.

Speaker 1 (01:00:38):
With, okay but that's not just get him off The roffler,
Regardless like.

Speaker 2 (01:00:42):
No there's a, word there's no world WHERE i. Mean,
Look i'll get back To shae for a. Second i'll
tell you. What, okay we'll finish this conversation on the other.
Side but right, now let's find out what is. Trending
let's Bring Martin weiss in to give us an update
on a very busy day in.

Speaker 1 (01:00:58):
SPORTS a bunch Of Major league. Baseball brewer Raised brewers
and The rays tied to a piece the bottom of
the ninth. Inning top of the sixth, ending The phillies
have a one to run lead over The. Guardians top
of the fifth, inning The rangers have a five to
two lead over The. Tigers Red sox And royals scoreless
through two or through one, rather top of the first.
Inning reds with a five nothing lead over The. Astros

(01:01:18):
White sox got a run over The marlins the top
of the second, inning and two to nothing Met cubs
over The. Mets that game's On. Fox that game's also
just getting. Started haven't even got the first three outs.
There bottom of the first. Inning giants And twins. Scoreless
that game also On. Fox capitals And hurricanes ten minutes
left in the second, period. Scoreless so, far that series

(01:01:39):
tied one game. Apiece That's game. Three we saw a
game three earlier today in THE nba where The Boston
celtics beat The New York knicks one fifteen to ninety,
Three boston going twenty five for forty on three point
terers after going twenty five four one hundred in the
last two. Games so you know that'll help you a lot.
More now back to us because we got to finish this.

(01:02:01):
Conversation that's all that's going on in.

Speaker 2 (01:02:02):
Sports all, right once, again we're coming to live with
The Fox Sports Radio city is. Now don't forget after the.
Show the podcast is going. Up so if you missed
any of today's, show check out the podcast. Is Search
Fox Sports radio wherever you get your podcasts and, follow
rate and review the. PODCAST i know you're going to
give it a five, star so just do it right. Now,
again just Search Fox Sports radio wherever we get your.
Podcasts see today's show posted right after we get off the.

(01:02:24):
Air all, Right i'll defer to one of you two right. Now, Okay,
shay you wanted to jump in and beat.

Speaker 1 (01:02:28):
Late i'm. Here It's, shay all.

Speaker 2 (01:02:33):
Right So martin brought up SOMETHING i honestly hadn't thought
a lot about the idea That lebron would take less
than half rework a, deal take less than half to
open up cap space for The lakers to get a
big that would actually have some consequence in terms of
success on the.

Speaker 3 (01:02:51):
Court, YEAH i don't see that.

Speaker 1 (01:02:52):
Happening bring it up, quickly because last summer there were
reports That lebron was willing to take less to get
The rose and or valancunis in. There SO i don't
think it's out of the.

Speaker 2 (01:03:01):
Question, WELL i think it's much more reasonable than he
could say that all of this is a what.

Speaker 10 (01:03:05):
If anyway you can say, that because all of this
is a what. If everything we're saying is what. If
so you could say that you can ever think about the,
future is What that's What i'm. Saying so it's it's
it's not completely out of the, possibility the same Way
lebron retiring is not completely.

Speaker 2 (01:03:17):
Out but SAY, i as a Young laker, fan do
you feel like winning a? Championship AND i go back
to What kobe used to say to my, face two
greats for a SEASON a in other, words win a
championship or f you didn't win a, Championship, yes even
if you get it got to THE nba, final there's two, yeah, right, Yeah,
Okay i'm just. Checking so do you believe with then

(01:03:40):
forty one year Old lebron on the roster next year
with fifty two million dollars in the bank coming his,
way is that the ingredient you need to win a Champion.

Speaker 10 (01:03:48):
So if he was to get to fifteen to two
million and. Not, okay well that's his player.

Speaker 1 (01:03:53):
Option.

Speaker 10 (01:03:54):
Yeah do you think it would be better for? Us
OR i think it would be the. SAME i mean
we the, same it's not gonna. WAIT i think him
And luca basically didn't have as much synergy or energy
in terms of on the court together that they will
this next.

Speaker 2 (01:04:08):
Season well they are the same, player aren't they?

Speaker 10 (01:04:10):
Not but they didn't have an entire offseason to work
off with the workout. Together well you can change what
do you mean you get way more time with the. Tween,
yes it's gonna be a completely different.

Speaker 1 (01:04:18):
Stuff.

Speaker 2 (01:04:19):
Okay SO Jj reddick was speaking about the fact we
got to get in championship, shape which was obviously a
direct knock On Luka, Doncic and of course my thought
is WITH, jj how would you know about championship? Shape
have you ever been part of a championship team at any?

Speaker 3 (01:04:33):
Level, see this is the.

Speaker 1 (01:04:35):
Thing that gets me about the whole your your the
premise of your ARE i know.

Speaker 2 (01:04:40):
This when they brought In Phil, jackson a lot of
people pooh pooh the signing in nineteen ninety, nine immediately
said he'll win a. Championship oh why because he knows
how to win championships and he.

Speaker 1 (01:04:50):
Did but the re so, like but you're holding This
lakers standard to a standard that The lakers no longer
hold themselves. To okay that now you've hit the nail
on the, head, Right But i'm saying and that's.

Speaker 3 (01:05:02):
UNFORTUNATE i don't.

Speaker 1 (01:05:03):
Think the, answer to be, CLEAR i don't think the
answer is trade your second or move, something remove your
second best player from The. York but like when you're
looking at organization that is on this is their third
first year head coach in a.

Speaker 3 (01:05:15):
Row, yeah, right and who two weeks.

Speaker 1 (01:05:18):
Prior to taking the job was on a. Podcast, yeah
he was a, Podcaster like.

Speaker 2 (01:05:23):
And just manufacture one of the worst coaching playoff performances
of all.

Speaker 1 (01:05:27):
Time it's so like you you want to talk about
The lakers gotta win. Championships lebron needs to moment like
they if they wanted to win? Championship do you know
what they really should do if they want to win a?
Championship not Fire, lebron Fire jay Z ready can Hire
Michael malone because he's the last guy who's. Available that's
a pretty damn the coach to do.

Speaker 10 (01:05:43):
It how do you feel about that. SHAPE i, MEAN
i was talking about. It maybe they could go out
and Get Michael. Malone but in the, END i don't
think they're gonna do It LEBRON'S i don't think they Will.

Speaker 3 (01:05:51):
Lebron lebron is still calling the. Shots how's that?

Speaker 10 (01:05:54):
Work if that's What i'm, saying that's Why lebron will
be wearing A laker jersey next year Like Michael.

Speaker 1 (01:05:58):
Malone If lebron is it gonna be, THERE jj.

Speaker 2 (01:06:01):
Redicksucking, Okay so then you agree and HE bori said
he for a CHAMPIONSHIP.

Speaker 3 (01:06:05):
F if you, don't that means ANOTHER.

Speaker 2 (01:06:07):
F you think they'll win a championship next year with
Essentially saint coach saint.

Speaker 3 (01:06:11):
Roster you, know Just i've had have a better chance
that they did this.

Speaker 1 (01:06:14):
Year, YEAH i. DON'T i don't see what's the exact.
TEAM i think they'll have a better chance if The
lakers bring back a roster plus a seven foot person
with a pulse that can, JUMP i don't see how
they're not.

Speaker 2 (01:06:25):
Better, yeah we, Really that's all you need is a.
Pulse they had guys with a pulse That adam.

Speaker 1 (01:06:30):
Probably the two worst centers in the.

Speaker 3 (01:06:31):
Playoffs and who's responsible for, That i'd Be Rob.

Speaker 1 (01:06:35):
Pullin, yeah that's who just.

Speaker 3 (01:06:38):
Got, promoted by the, way with the great stuff he's been.

Speaker 1 (01:06:40):
Doing that's kind of my. Thing Rob polinka had a
championship roster in twenty twenty and then systematically dismantled it for,
good for, better or for worse to Get Anthony david
so like to make all the different, moves all, right
he picks up the phone For Nico harrison to go
ahead and go ahead and make them what many diseemed

(01:07:01):
to be the worst trade IN nba. History so congratulations
for having your fringer. On but since that moment and
prior to there hasn't been much. Happening, no and so
like to WHY i say IS i think that you
are Using lebron as a proxy for a ton of
other issues that The lakers.

Speaker 2 (01:07:18):
HAVE i just have wonder moving forward With, luca he
has to understand with all those legendary names on the
walls there that if you don't get to that, level
you're an F i said that When lebron joined The,
lakers you don't want a, championship, dude you fail with The.

Speaker 3 (01:07:32):
LAKERS i think now it's headed off To Luka.

Speaker 11 (01:07:35):
Doncic AND i, say if he's up to, IT i
think that right, now if you, ask AND i don't
think this is even just sick a, Fan laker fan
or you know people who are here in the, THERE
i think that if you, asked Is Lebron james a Great,
LAKER i think the answer is.

Speaker 3 (01:07:49):
No, well, no you're not gonna put us.

Speaker 10 (01:07:51):
Statue Of Lebron. James there will be a statue Of
Lebron jacks. Crypto it's because It's Lebron james.

Speaker 1 (01:07:57):
Going to be a. Statue but you, say if you're Ranking.

Speaker 2 (01:07:59):
No all Time, LAKERS i don't think That bron cross
the top. Five he might be five, Five really give
Me jerry, West Aljim, Baylo Magic, Johnson Kareem Abdul, Jabbar
Shaq kobe five, seven seven, Seven he's not even in
the TOP i forgot About.

Speaker 1 (01:08:19):
Shaq you.

Speaker 3 (01:08:20):
FORGOT i think.

Speaker 1 (01:08:22):
He's five to, ten but closer to ten than five y.
Seven he's a good, Seven, Okay i'm.

Speaker 3 (01:08:28):
Here by the, WAY i will say.

Speaker 2 (01:08:30):
THIS i still Say Lebron is has the greatest resume
of any player in the history of THE.

Speaker 3 (01:08:35):
Nba, yeah that's player in the no doubt about.

Speaker 1 (01:08:37):
That, yeah most of all.

Speaker 2 (01:08:38):
Time but he's a he's a, cavalier he's not A,
laker he's not a heat all. Right coming up on
the other, side we'll check in with OUR nba Insider
mark Medinat this Is Fox Sports, Saturday.

Speaker 3 (01:08:47):
Steve, Hartman Martin. Wise Here Fox Sports.

Speaker 2 (01:08:51):
Saturday we're coming alive from The Fox Sports radio. STUDIOS
i want to thank our supporting crew. Today martin doing
a great job on updates as. Well Today man the
master of the. Board he knows how to run. Everything
shay is our brilliant. Producer he brings his a game
all the, time single.

Speaker 9 (01:09:11):
Time living the dream once again and joining us right
now living the dream is Our Fox Sports RADIO nba
Insider Mark medina and them that wears many hats as,
well coming fresh off HIS tv work to.

Speaker 2 (01:09:25):
Join us for a few. Moments steve is.

Speaker 1 (01:09:27):
One of those, hats like the psychiatrist hat because he's
got to talk you off of his. Ledge But medina
helped you boy.

Speaker 2 (01:09:33):
Out, Okay i'm not, Okay so all, right before we
get to the current playoffs, again we're talking about The
lebron situation because he went on With Steve, nash and you,
know he, said, Really I'M i.

Speaker 1 (01:09:45):
RETIRE i don't. KNOW i REALLY i have to sit.

Speaker 2 (01:09:48):
Down my daughter's on a traveling volleyball team right. Now
and he, GOES i absolutely SWEAR i have not made
up my mind about my future in THE.

Speaker 3 (01:09:56):
NBA i Thought martin brought up a very good.

Speaker 2 (01:09:58):
Point how about taking way less money on a restructured
deal to allow The lakers to add the necessary big
time players not just big, bodies but guys that actually
can play with some level of consequence in terms of
wins and.

Speaker 3 (01:10:12):
Losses so how is this all going to? Play Because,
MARK i know you know the.

Speaker 2 (01:10:16):
ANSWER i know you know the answer on the future
of The lakers and what's going to happen in terms
Of lebron's involvement with the future of The.

Speaker 7 (01:10:23):
Lakers, yeah, see there's a lot of unnecessary. Uncertainty lebron isn't.
Retiring he's coming. Back and the reason is he has
a fifty two million dollar. Contract he can even opt
out of it to get a larger. Deal Brodny james
is still on the team and he still has a
chance to be having a premier role on The. Lakers

(01:10:46):
so all this talk about, retirement remember when he did
that two years, ago he wound up saint andrematic speech
at THE sps that he's back when no one else
wondered whether he was coming. Back that's number. One number,
TWO i don't See lebron taking a pay, cut not
just because oh, yeah he wants to make as much,
money but practically, speaking even if he did shave his contract,

(01:11:09):
down The lakers still wondn't have enough cap space to get.
Players and so when you look At lebron's history when
he Joined miami and made that, decision that was possible
partly because he took a pay, cut but there was
a practical component that allowed them to Get chris bosh over,
there get a supporting. Cast in this, Case Luca dodgers

(01:11:32):
are signing an, extension they already have a lot of
commitments to other players under contract that there's not enough
tap holes and free agent vacancies that's going to really
create cap space to make a run. Anyway but let
me ask you this.

Speaker 1 (01:11:48):
Mark just for a point of, clarification because last year
they had the reports That lebron was willing to take
a little less to get a guy like the Rosen
in or a guy like valancewn Is in like it
was very. MUCH i will take this a minute small
cut to get two or three guys in is. There
are you saying that is not a possibility this?

Speaker 7 (01:12:08):
Summer, no but, yeah it's not a. Possibility And i'm
saying it's not a, possibility not just Because leron probably
want to want, to but even if he, did, STRUCTURALLY
i want to be able because there's no players that
are off their books that make sizeable contracts right. Now
the players that we're talking about are all role players

(01:12:30):
that aren't making a lot of relative. Money and so
What i'm getting at, is even If lebron, decided, Hey
i'm going to make this, cut they're. Not it's not
going to still enough to be able to make a
significant deal or go after a significant free. Agent so
what's going to happen is he is probably going to opt. Out,
now he might take a relative cut with this new

(01:12:54):
deal just so they're below the second, apron but it's
not going to be. Significant AND i don't think well
knowing how they are going to try to pressure, him
because they've been of the mind whether your career with
it or not that they want to, reward you, know
their star players because that's part of their. Brand so
that's what's.

Speaker 2 (01:13:12):
Going to, happen all, Right so len'b be. Something, though
if he came in and, said, yeah forget the fifty two,
MILLION i won a three year, deal first two years
guaranteed sixty million, Plus lakers answer to him would be.

Speaker 7 (01:13:24):
NO i think that's a different. CONVERSATION i think that
if it's a two year, deal they'll work with. Him
if they're talking, three, four five, years then it starts
getting into uncomfortable territory Because lebron is forty years, Old
he's in his twenty second, season still playing at an
All star caliber. Level but as we, saw you, know

(01:13:46):
during the, playoffs we saw father time getting the best of.
Them we have since found out he was dealing with.
Injuries he's been dealing with injuries all. Season BUT i
think With, LEBRON i think the litmus test for, him
he's going to keep playing as long as he can
play at All star caliber. Level whether you know you
agree with how he does things behind the scenes or.
NOT i do think that he's at least very self

(01:14:09):
aware that he doesn't want to end his career The
Vince carter. ROUTE i Mean Vince, carter it was admirable
what he was, doing but he's a different kind of.
Player where the end of his career was being a
role player off the. Bench lebron is not going to do.
That SO i think he's going to be very, calculated
which he does a very good job with whether it's

(01:14:29):
a good thing or a pet, thing and, Assess, okay
ONCE i stop playing at An All star caliber, level
that's when he'll. Go and that's the that's the gray
area Here. Lebron he's not playing as the best player
in the league, anymore but he's still playing at All
star caliber. Level so where's that sweet? Spot so with,
THAT i think it's two more years and then he'll

(01:14:51):
call it a, career all.

Speaker 2 (01:14:52):
Right Which number one seeds in bigger? Trouble cleveland Or Oklahoma?

Speaker 1 (01:14:55):
City good.

Speaker 7 (01:14:57):
QUESTION i would Say Oklahoma city Because denver has ANOTHER
Mvp cando With nicole O. Kich they've been playing completely
different than they've been the regular season because They're Championship corps.
Players With Jamal, Murray Aaron, gordon And Michael Ford. Junior
they're all healthier and effective and they're relying on their vet,

(01:15:19):
players not their young. Guys With, CLEVELAND i think that
they're still going to win this series because they're starting
to get, healthier AND i Think indiana they kind of
call it laid in a bottle and now it's going
to come back down to.

Speaker 1 (01:15:34):
Earth, now speaking of back down to, earth any chances
that The warriors, HAD i think of winning a championship
skyrocketed our plummet THAT i should, say right back down
on the, earth so That Steph curry limped with that.
Hamstring at least that's my. Opinion but they did get
the game, won and then In game, two if you
wore a yellow and blue, jersey you got to. PLAY

(01:15:56):
i felt Like Steve kerr was, figuring can anybody who's
gonna give me to the next couple of games of this?
Series if anybody is At Pat spencer is at Gist,
antos is it whoever the hell's out? There what's your
take on The warriors trying to extend this series For,
steph or even to win this series For steph and
extend this whole Essentially steph's career as a competitive postseason.

Speaker 7 (01:16:16):
Player, yeah, well see your broader, Question ken The warriors
win a championship Without Steph, curry no. Way, now The
warriors still know when he'll come. Back these are delicate
injuries with hampsournies because it's not just a pain tolerance.
Issue it's a if you rush back too, soon you
could make one bad move and all of a, sudden
you're out for even. Longer so they do have it.

(01:16:38):
Takes they do have what it takes to Beat minnesota
because they do have a good defensive. Team, Now Draymond,
green he's got to avoid all these technicals because he's
only two more away from into. Suspension so that's number.
One number, two it's got to be Playoff. Jimmy, NOW i,
mean this is what they signed up for, now is
to Get Tommy bulwer Of Steph curry some. Help but

(01:17:01):
we've seen him guide A Miami heat team to THE Nba.
Finals so frankly is less talented than the Current Golden State,
Warriors so he has to up his scoring. Up doesn't
have to be high volume, scorer but he's going to
have to raise it. More and then they got to
get more three point shooting help because when you look
At game, two players that routinely make threes Like Moses,

(01:17:24):
Moody Brandon, Ponzevski Jimmy. Butler they weren't firing, consistently so
they're going to have to hit on all. That and
now In farness And, minnesota they are a legit. Team
Athony edwards has raised his game in another. Level Julius
randall has become more polished with knowing how to use
his intensity as a playmaker without being. Reckless and they're

(01:17:46):
a great defensive team when you look At Rudy gobert
at the, rim a lot of great wing players starting
With jada. McDaniels that they're going to have their hands.
Full BUT i think The warriors do have what it
takes to win this. Series BUT i think one's going
to come down to this is that whoever wins game
for you To i's gonna win because that sets the
tone and that gives a good direction on which team

(01:18:07):
is equipped to make a run out of.

Speaker 2 (01:18:09):
It you MENTIONED okc in trouble going against a veteran
team Like. Denver i'm watching that game And i'm, like
where's THE, mvp Where's Shake Gildgess. Alexander you, know it's
really interesting BECAUSE i was looking at the voting for
The Clutch player of The year That brunson won and
Shake gil just finished eighth in the, voting did not
get a single first place. Vote and THEN i watched

(01:18:32):
yesterday's fourth quarter in the overtime when he completely, disappeared
and NOW i know. Why so remind me again how
Shake Gil alexander is the most valuable player in THE.

Speaker 7 (01:18:42):
Nba, well let me get some contact on The Clutch Player. Award,
it's you, know awarding players that are really good in crunch.
Time AND i think when you're looking at The, thunder
they've hadn't had a lot of close games because they've
been blowing teams. Out SO i think that's where it.
Happened but to your broader point About, Shay, yeah this
was unacceptable for him to have this kind of performance

(01:19:03):
when he is the FAVORITE mvp. CANDIDATE i MEAN i
was talking to different its as the coaches around the
way a few weeks, ago and they all Favored shay
because they, said, look he leads the league in, Scoring
he's become more efficient as a, shooter better. Playmaker it's
not just Being hice so heavy all the. Time and
that has been. True but when he looked at yesterday's,
game that's exactly what he was. Doing it was just

(01:19:25):
one on one, basketball inefficient, shots. Unproductive Jalen williams played really,
well but no one else really did on the, thunder
AND i think that was a product of too much
one on one. Basketball and that starts As shay and
he's got to be.

Speaker 2 (01:19:39):
Better all, Right, well it's great stuff as, Always, mark
thanks so. Much we'll check in with you next. Week all,
right there he is the Great Mark. Mendina all, right
that's going to do it for us right, Now, martin
but don't go. Anywhere much more coming. Up this Is
Fox Sports.

Speaker 1 (01:19:53):
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