February 7, 2020 • 36 mins
Today on Straight Outta Vegas with RJ Bell, RJ and the guys discuss the Rockets small ball moves resulting in a big win against the Lakers Thursday night. Steve Fezzik says he is down on the Lakers right now given the rockets played such small ball, RJ disagrees with Fezzik because of Anthony Davis getting hitting his overs in rebounds and points last night. RJ said his instinct says the rockets shouldn’t win another game, but somehow this is a choice by a top GM in the NBA with Daryl Morey that may work. RJ also says the Rockets are 5-0 without Capela are 5-0 this season, including +14 point against the spread, on average of those 5 games. The guys also discuss the Lakers being title favorites following the NBA trade deadline at +275, followed closely by the Bucks at +290. Also, RJ says even though the odds are the same as the Bucks, the Bucks path is so much easier, so Vegas are implying that the Lakers are significantly better. The guys cap it off looking ahead at the first weekend of the XFL, with Steve giving his best bets and what else to expect.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Don't listening to Fox Sports go. This is Straight out
of Vegas with the Voice of Vegas, your host r
J Bowmon the pregame show America has always wanted from
(00:40):
the veggest trip. Here's r J bow You heard it.
I'm Marj live on a big Friday, two hundred FSR
stations acrost this great nation, and we're joined in stud
studio by one of the pros who know Steve Fazik.
(01:05):
Brad Power is well deserved day off, Speaking of days off,
and well deserved after three days and let me tell
you something, the sponsors were like, let's get that professional
reader in there, because Fez had to read on Wednesday. Almost,
(01:27):
I mean they almost left to stay on the network.
Steve getting the zone Auto Zone. Oh my gosh, I
don't think that counts as a read. So he's in
l A, He's Joe and it's not always going to
be here, are Jade. I'm going to be back here
on Straight out of Vegas and on a day when
we've got obviously the XFL launching this weekend around televisions
(01:49):
across the country, we've got more fallout from Major League
Baseball and the astros cheating scandal. What is the Vegas
lead there on the strip? I think it's got to be.
This is a close call because I think the cheating
scandal is big, but Vegas is always thinking how can
we make money today? How can we make money tomorrow?
(02:09):
So I'm gonna deem the Las Vegas League last night's
Lakers Rockets, and I'll tell you right off. FS and
I disagree on this one, So Fez, we usually have
a cross fire around a bet. Let's do a crossfire
on the takeaway from the game itself first, though, Let's
(02:29):
get the exact result, as Jonas does so exceptionally well.
So yeah, let's look at the Thursday Rockets Lakers, and
so yes. After the Rockets were chastise for trading away
their only legitimate big man in Clint Capella, the Houston Rockets,
mocked all throughout the day for being the smallest team
in the NBA, went on the road to l A
(02:51):
and picked up a one win over the Lakers. As
what's your takeaway? I am down on the Lakers, r G.
I cannot understand how the Lakers were not able to
take to take advantage of that Rockets Rockets small lineup
six ft four average height, Lakers are six eight only
outrebounded the Rockets by one for the game, and the
(03:12):
Lakers struggled to pound the ball. And Anthony Davis, I
know he got a lot of points, but I thought
it would be a lot easier for the Lakers. How many,
So that's not enough? Not The takeaway is that those
thirty two points were not enough. Not enough. Who averages
more than thirty two points in the NBA and nobody?
So he did as well as anyone in the NBA.
(03:34):
And your takeaway is, and you gotta do bad. I
just thought that any Davis, you've you've got to do better.
I thought Anthony Davis and Lebron James. Was he over
under for Anthony Davis's points and a half? So he
exceeded expectations. He did. He did better than anybody in
the NBA does over the course of a season. Yeah,
they had difficulty lobbing it into them. They turned it
(03:56):
over and thought it was gonna be like playing like
a senior in high school, playing an eight year old.
I thought he would absolutely dominate. And the boards also,
so did you have a gigantic bat on the over
twenty and a half? I actually bet over ten rebounds?
Did you have a gigantic beat on overt because you
just said that thirty two falls short of your expectation.
(04:16):
How wouldn't you bet over twenty I should have obviously,
but why didn't you didn't do enough homework before the
game started. So if you would have looked at that,
if you would have had that right front of you.
It's like they walk up and go, hey, the total.
Someone has a sheet of paper and they say the
total on Anthony Davis twenty eight and a half points.
(04:39):
What are you gonna do? You're gonna be like, oh,
that's a gigantic bat. Yes, because of the Rockets so small.
I understand what you think of the small Now what
injury has decimated the Rockets line up? Wink wink? This
was a choice, right? Yeah? Not any meaning the Rockets
roster was a choice. Correct. The Jennison Capella they're big
(05:02):
man Jennison. They traded him. Yes, okay, so you thought
Darryl Morey would put, by choice a team on the
court that if the opposing big man puts up thirty two,
it's a disappointment. I mean that seems to be that
you were like to me, this is where you've got
(05:22):
to stop and say, huh, my instinct is the Rockets
shouldn't win another game. It sounds like you're saying they
shouldn't win another game. But somehow this was a choice
by a GM the many believe is the best GM
in the NBA, and I think almost everybody believes it
is like a top seven GM. So why would they
(05:47):
choose to put inept team on the floor. Well, offensively,
they're not inept. Offensively they're great, Okay, So what you're
what you're saying is it wasn't so much that you're
saying the fact that the Rockets played good defense against
the Lakers is the issue. Yes, and how many points
(06:08):
of the Lakers score? So what was the total in
this game was? So you know, let's go to the
fans perspective because one and he was gone. So and
this was the biggest trade. So let's ask Jonas what
was your takeaway on the Rockets trade. I thought the
(06:31):
same thing most people thought, which was your trading away
your only legitimate big man. So you're trying to in
a league that's all about big men, uh and and
having length, trying to win it with a roster that's
gonna average out well below what most rosters and successful
rosters in the in the NBA are. And then I
watched him last night and I thought I sort of
changed my tune. I thought, well, if if you know
(06:53):
that you do one thing really well, and Clinton Capella
doesn't do that thing well, which you shoot the three,
what's the point of key upon him if it doesn't
really fit what you do. So they're going all in
with the D'Antoni style of play, and they're taking this
approach and they're gonna see how far it takes them. Yeah,
I I actually think you'd make good points there. Ah,
(07:14):
this isn't the NBA. Isn't about like a fantasy team,
or isn't about you know, as the guys at the
bar would say, well, how good is Capella? Well he's
above you know. It's about how they play as a team.
Michae Lombardi talks about this in the NFL. He says,
this isn't about aggregating, aggregating or um compiling assets. Rather,
(07:40):
it's about how they play as a team. And the
Rockets without Capella this season last night they covered so
want to know. In November four games he missed four
no against the spread, so now five and oh this season,
now four games doesn't tell the whole story. Plus fourteen
(08:04):
points against the spread each game on average. So literally
it's like, okay games pick them. Rockets win by fourteen, right,
Rockets are favored by five, Rockets win by nineteen. When
you beat the spread by fourteen a game. Fez. Doesn't
seem like that those seventh graders getting dominated by the seniors,
(08:27):
does it? No, it doesn't. You know. What's interesting is
that Capella was so important to the Rockets when they
had Chris Paul. And perhaps what happened with Chris Paul
out in Westbrook in what do you mean? Perhaps it
sounds like you knew better than Darrel More. I don't
know after one game where it perhaps I don't know better? Okay,
but I mean you had that some strong feelings. You're
saying we gotta start selling the Lakers because the team
(08:49):
as bad as the Rockets could be. Well, I was
shocked that the Lakers just we're having I know, you
keep saying that I got that part. We could play
it if you want on replay. All right, let's think
about this. Imagine you know, what's a good example of
(09:09):
this is video games usually people. I guess today it's
different because everyone's online planing against each other. But when
I grew up back in the day, find tech mobile
is you would play the same couple guys and then
eventually one of you was better. Right, So it was
just obvious that in tech Mobile I was better and
(09:30):
whatever someone else might have been better. I don't remember
those instances. And it's a situation where the thing you
would want against that opponent that you're better than is
for them to say more the same. You have an
acronym for that, right, fast motts more the same, because
(09:52):
you can't lose really that way. If you're better, if
based on the assumptions you're better, you want nothing more
than that other or your opponent to just more the same.
The Rockets, we're not going to win the title with Capella.
It seems probability said possible, but unlikely. If I'm the Lakers,
(10:15):
if I'm the Clippers, if I'm the Bucks, the three favorites, right,
the last thing I want are the Rockets rolling the
dice because if they roll Snake guys and it goes bad, well,
there's no real change. They weren't gonna win the title before,
and they won't win the title if they're Snake. You know,
that's a great point because the Rockets, they might lose
the Oklahoma City the way they're presently constituted, but the
(10:38):
variance and how they're gonna do just went up, up, up,
even That's an interesting point, but I think it goes
beyond that. We don't know what their baseline is going
to be with this team. What we know for sure
is if you read the advanced analytics guys, Covington is
considered to be one of the best, if not the best,
(11:00):
non superstar by the advanced metrics mean and yeah, Lebron
is gonna be up there maybe you know higher, and
then you're gonna have the elites, the superstars. But then
when you get past the guys, you could imagine being recognized,
you know, no matter where they went. Covington by the
(11:21):
advanced metrics guys, he's a darling. So Jon is. By
the way, Jo straight out of Vegas. Covington, do you
have anything? I mean, you know, are you one of
those dudes that are watching the League pass at night
or are you the type of guy that's got a
feel on Covington Because the numbers say good, Yeah, he played.
So when he was with Philadelphia, he was a key
(11:43):
member off the bench or when he would get playing
time as the guy that you could rely on in
in hitting a big shot, getting you a three, playing
good defense, similar to a Danny Green type piece. Actually
what I think the Lakers had hoped Danny Green was
going to be. And Danny Green was a key member
of the Spurs mpionships um when they made that run
a few years ago. Covington, in watching him last night,
(12:05):
seemed like it was the perfect guy for the Lakers.
But the problem was he was hanging out on the
other team and those four threes and they were crucial
threes at big time moments in watching the game that
really were the difference in in those two teams last night.
You know, I gotta give Jones Creddy here is reading
through probably fifteen pages on the Rockets move like buried
(12:29):
in one of those articles was that one of the
advanced metrics that does comparable as they say, who's this
guy like? And Covington and Danny Green were the comparables.
And I think age wise, you know, think about how
the level of excitement the Lakers achieved when they signed
Danny Green. Remember it was like, okay, D and three
(12:52):
D and three. Well, Covington has what some consider to
be the best con tract in the n B A
meaning if you look at the contract versus the output,
and obviously it can be a plus. My you either
outperforming your contract or underperformed. Some think the best contract
in the NBA. Now, I don't know, but if he's
(13:15):
even in that conversation and you change or you exchange
in a way, Capella who And I'm not an excess
and those guys, but I know enough basketball to read
it and understand the basics the pick and roll, which
Hardened and the Rockets were doing years ago. Capella was
(13:36):
super effective in this isolation game that Westbrook's kind of
forcing upon them not near as effective. So you've got
a guy where the league in general is moving away
from Capella. You've got the Rockets getting Covington that has
a great contract, and when you've got Westbrook and hard
(13:58):
And it's like you need some contract relief. And he's
not an ego guy, it seems, which with the Westbrook
and Harden you need that too. The lack of that,
and then he overperforms based on the advanced analytics. Great contract,
and the Rockets are turning the table over. They don't
(14:19):
like the chessboard. They're just wiping their hands saying, yeah,
probably weren't gonna win anyway, but you know, we got
a chance. And there was a line in Billions this
most recent year when they said to a senior guy,
black Jack Foley was his name, They said, what do
you do if you're in a situation where alternative A
(14:40):
and alternative B are both bad? And the analogy was
someone had a stick and they were gonna beat you
with it no matter what. And he said, take the stick,
break it in half. Well, to me, the Rockets took
the stick and broke it in half, and it's a
new game. And yeah, there's a chance, though yesterday wouldn't
say so, there's a chance the Rockets are worse for
(15:03):
this trade. But I think it's unequivocally true the Rockets
have a better chance to win the title because of
that variant of that. Who knows what Darryl Morey has
up as sleeve. Yeah, it really is a great point
that you're making, and who knows what potential the Rockets
may well have and like you said, Covington's he was
(15:25):
a clutch performer. He stepped up in the fourth quarter
and he looked like he's been with the Rockets forever.
So which is an interesting point when we come back.
Oh real quick, though, Jones, did you have any closing
thoughts on the Lakers Rockets. It's just funny how the
loss of Clint Cappella people were turning into, oh, boy boy,
what a bad roster. This is Clint Cappella for his
(15:46):
career and are, well, no, it's it's it's a lot
of people I heard yesterday. They turned it into like
the most shocking trade of the trade deadline. Clint Cappella
in a three point dominant league for his career is
oh for two from threes. Yet losing him is going
to be missed two three, And he missed two threes
in his career. Yeah, he's only missed two and only
(16:06):
attempted to which is a bigger problem. And that's supposed
to mean that the Rockets are further away from a championship.
I just don't buy it. It's kind of like Jonas's bets.
He's only lost three of them since the show started.
It's true, so it's at very he does have the
two wins out Fez. You actually, right now the Lakers
are the favorite to win the title. You disagree. And
(16:27):
also I've got three or four other I think underdiscussed takeaways.
Finally from the NBA trade deadline. Be sure to catch
live editions of Straight Out of Vegas weekdays at six
pm Eastern three pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and
the I Heart Radio app so r J. We talked
(16:49):
a lot about the Houston Rockets side of things last
night in their ten point when at the Lakers, but
now the conversation turns towards the future of the Los
Angeles Lakers and a title possibly at the end of
this year. Yeah, and if anything, they are favored. And
let's actually look at the exact odds after the trade deadline,
(17:14):
and as we said, Lakers are the favorite right now
plus two. So if you shop it, yeah, I probably
get a three hundred out there. So a dollar wins
your three. That is the favorite, the l a Lakers
second favor, and it's the first time I've seen it
this year. The Milwaukee Bucks and Bucks started the season
(17:39):
at six to one, down to plus two nineties, so
right around that three to one range, and then right
there in the mix the Clippers plus three fifty or
so three and a half to one. The fourth favorite,
the Rockets, the little tiny Rockets that Anthony Davis thirty
(18:00):
two wasn't enough over. How could they be the fourth favorite? Well,
there's a big, big one baby sixteen to one, and
then the Sixers seventeen to one while they're up saltic
one heat twenty two one jazzy one. So let's do this.
We'll go Jonas first. If you had an opportunity, you
(18:25):
pick any NBA team, you get to pick their the team,
and if they win the title, you win ten thousand dollars.
If they don't win the title, nothing, So it's a
free roll for ten times. Who do you take? Milwaukee? Oh?
I like that one. And part of your thinking is
much easier path to the fin much easier path. And
(18:45):
I don't think there's enough of a difference between them
and the Clippers or Lakers for me to justify wanting
need to go in the other direction. And wow, that's
that's it's almost like Jonas been studying when he wasn't
this vacations. I'd s cruised around the strip in disguise,
and you know I had to. I went to seven
(19:06):
eleven where Fees does a lot of conversations. He's in
the shadows listing. But guys, Jonas makes such a good point.
If you say Lakers and Bucks have about the same
odds right now, and they're pretty close. Plus two seventy
Lakers plus two ninety Bucks, okay, about the same, they
must be even teams. Well, no, this is saying the
(19:29):
Lakers are significantly better. Why because they likely have to
beat the Clippers to get to the finals. The Bucks
have to beat what the sixers of the Heat or
Boston or Miami. Yeah, well that's the Heat, So make
(19:50):
sure he's got his memo beforehand. There's nothing really exciting
in the East. I mean, I think the Heat and
will talk about it made a of a trade or
you know, getting iggy. But boy, they were hundred to
one entering the season. I don't think they are all
that much competition. So really, Bucks have a much easier path.
(20:13):
So this number implies, Fez the fact the Lakers are
favored even though they gotta go through the Clippers. The
Lakers are significantly better than the Bucks. Same question to you.
The ten dimes might not interest you, So a hundred dimes,
what would you do? I want Milwaukee for the same
reason you're talking about. Come on, the square chair says that,
(20:34):
and you're just saying that, guy. Look at these numbers.
Forty four and seven the Bucks are and they're outscoring
their opponents by twelve and a half points per game.
R J. Now how they do last year on that stat?
I think they were like plus eleven and a half
last year. Okay, so ran into Kauai did not work
out for them in the in the playoffs. But the
(20:54):
mere fact that, thanks for the news updates, there are
five points per game better I know it's regular season
than anybody else in the NBA right now. So what
a disparate result in Milwaukee versus the rest of the league.
So this might sound goofy, but Fez is actually making
a good point here. There's a concept. They call it
the Pythagorean theorem. Guys like Fez who went to Northwestern
(21:16):
that they don't quite understand it, but they like saying it.
Explain it. So the idea is that if you look
at how many points you score and how many points
you give up, the team that has the best differential
by the end of the season. Clearly it is the
better team. And Milwaukee is so much better than anybody
else in the NBA, it's difficult to make a case
that they're not the best team in the NBA. Okay,
(21:38):
so I asked you about the pathagoric Pythagorean theorem, not
to repeat the case that you think the Bucks are
the best because of that theorem. So what it does
is it gives you what what attempts to do is
get the lucky wins and the unlucky losses out of
the mix. So if you think back to the NFL season,
(22:01):
we said Green Bays overrated, We said Seattle's overrated. Why
because they were so good and close games and you
might say clutch, and I say, no, it's not that
they got lucky. And you know, Russell Wilson before last
year was three games under, five games decided by seven
points or least. He was amazing this year. Do we
(22:25):
trust the pretty much break even and all those years
since two thousand twelve, or do we trust this year?
We trust the career. But if you're winning by it's
a game, you know there's not a lot of lucky
wins in there. So your point is there is it's
(22:46):
not so much how you do in the close games,
it's do you blow out a healthy number of teams.
That is a belief that most handicappers have, and you're
saying the Bucks are doing it. We gotta trust it
is the Is it a ample to say the Lakers
are the favorite even though they got the tougher road
to get to play Milwaukee because of just public? It's
(23:08):
just the public? Is that dumb? No? The pros feel
also the Lakers will come playoff time, be have be
able to hit a much higher ceiling, and the box
are playing as well as they comply. And that's like
the Spurs over the years have been that way where
they don't back to backs, they're gonna play hard. You know,
(23:30):
all these considerations that there's like, look at Lebron's teams
in the last even five years, right, fourth seed, fiveth
It's like, we don't He's like, I'd rather take off
days in February. I'd rather not worry about every game
because the stress of that's gonna hurt you. Golden State
had their seventy three wins and lost that year, and
(23:53):
they've want well, perhaps and they've won other years when
they didn't even have the best record, where the Rockets
from mistake in the last two years had a better record. Right.
So in a weird way, though, we're saying in the
regular season and NBA, every game doesn't really matter, and
you're saying the Bucks are the best because how they
do in every game they've been so much Okay, I
(24:16):
can agree with that. You're saying if we were saying, well,
one team's plus nine point eight points, other teams plus
nine point three. But you're saying the distance so the
second place team and point differential is whom the Lakers
and there a little over seven Milwaukee's twelve and a half. Wow.
So think about that, Jon Is the distance from seven
(24:37):
to twelve and a half is five and a half.
I just did that in my head. The difference from
seven and a half and then you minus five and
a half, you're down in or in the one and
a half and to range. Right. So literally, the distance
from the number two team to the number one is
about the same as the number two to us slightly
(24:58):
above average tands wow. So like the best team or
so Indiana compared to the Lakers. The point differential difference
is the same as the number two team Lakers to
number one Milwaukee, and you think that's why Milwaukee is
the best team, and you take him in the free roll, correct,
and the Lakers are favored because they're the Lakers. So
(25:22):
there's gonna be a lot of money on Lebron, a
lot of money on the Lakers, but also because they
got another gear. So the theory is is at a
five point gear because that's where it's gonna have to
be per game to match what the Bucks have been doing.
A lot of gears. That's depasic. I'm r j vow,
So let's do this. We've got about a minute on
(25:46):
every other major transaction, three or four of them. Be
sure to catch live editions of Straight Out of Vegas
weekdays at six pm Eastern three pm Pacific. We'd like
to welcome in yet another brand new affiliate to the
show this week. It's another top market and it's Fox
(26:08):
Sports thirteen fifty in Riverside, San Bernardino, California. They are
the latest to begin airing the show live every single day,
so a big shot out in any thank you to
Fox Sports thirteen fifty in Riverside, slash San Bernardino, California.
Awesome to have him on board with us. So is
(26:30):
that the way you explain the fastest growing show on
Fox Sports Radio is that's why we're growing. I mean,
it's that's why we're growing faster than anybody. Is the
way to say. I mean, everybody wants on board. They
see it. It's a runaway freight train, and everybody doesn't
want to stand in the way. They want to jump
on the side of it. What do you think, in
like six weeks or so, if I go to San
(26:51):
Bernardino and wear a name tag, could I get a
free lunch? You thing? Easy? Alright? Come easy? I knew
fame would mean something. By the way, speaking of fame
or the lack thereof, do you hear about dan By
or having a breakdown on air? No, well, breakdown might
be strong. At one point I threw it to him
(27:11):
when you were gone and didn't like, say and it's
Mr dan By And he was like, yes, r J,
I'm dan Buyer. Like it was very snark, just almost
tore up. He almost tore up the rundown. Listen, there
are like there are three rules, you know, don't don't
spit in the wind, don't tug on Superman's cape, and
don't mess with Dan Buyer after an update it just
(27:34):
or before or with I mean, it's almost like he's
got an agent, but it's his other personality within him.
All right, So let's do this. I'm gonna go down
quickly the big moves, and I'm just gonna get your
gut elevator reaction. So Russell gold State, Wiggins t Wolves.
(27:55):
I liked the Wiggins to Golden State move, but I
don't like it necessarily for this year. I like for
next year. It makes Golden State next year really interesting.
I don't know if it puts him on the same
level they were before when they were winning titles. But
they've got a lot of talent on that roster, and
they're gonna have a lot of repick to add to
a healthy Clay Thompson and a healthy Steph Curry. I
think it's exciting and intriguing for Golden State. Yeah, and
(28:17):
that lottery pick is one which is by the reports,
what Golden State wanted because they like that draft so
much better. Wiggins, how old fez just got feeling four
years old. He's not He's turning twenty five cents made
a lot of money. Well, that's one way to look
at the Other way to look at it is this
(28:40):
guy maybe hasn't found the right spot, and obviously he
needs an ideal environment. It's not like it was the
fault of these other teams. But who's to say you
hit your mid twenties, you realize Look look at their
championship rings, Look at the way Steph does his business,
look at the way Clay does business. And I think
(29:01):
Jonas I think there's a lot of upside there for Wiggins,
And I think Jonas made the key point. How much
better next year is Wiggins with Clay and staff and
Draymond as opposed to you know, some redundancy? I think
with Russell and Wiggins is shot thirty three percent the
last three years from threes never developed this game, Well,
(29:24):
you'd argue Golden State's probably the best place to go
to improve that game. I agree and be motivated by
the way something to watch. Golden State only has nine
players signed right now, is my understanding, and they have
about three million left before they hit the repeater tax.
They are gonna be super super frugal for filling out
that roster the rest of the year. I think it
(29:46):
could be demoralizing for the team. I'd be looking for
Golden State to have some swoons. Obviously they haven't been
great this year. It might be really bad though, obviously
with that great organization. Maybe not last thing to Russell
going to tea Wolves is something that made Towns very happy. Apparently,
(30:08):
you know it could have been. You almost got equate
in Jon is that Minnesota saves Towns by getting Russell.
So it's like they got they traded Wiggins for Towns
and Russell. Maybe you can make the case. Yeah, I'm
a little hesitant though, when a player this young in
his career, who's an All Star and a really good player,
if he's on his fourth team already like something about that,
(30:28):
it's him. It's him for sure, right, But you know something,
there can be a guy. I'm not gonna name any names, Steve,
but you can be in your early forties finally get married.
All those other failed relationships, don't you know, don't really
matter that one dream comes along and everything's good, right,
would be an aberration, though, well you are a walking
(30:50):
aberration in a good way most of the time. I'm
RJ BO straight out of Vegas. Last one for now
Clippers third favor right there in that cluster with the
Lakers and the Bucks. They get Morse from the Knicks
thoughts the fact that it helped their team and at
the same time hurt the team in the same building
(31:13):
with them, the Lakers by not not acquiring I think
it makes it a doubly impactful move for the Clippers. Oh,
I like that too. And Morris, you know, three and
D is how you think about it. But the analytics
say he can make get his own shot a little
bit better than most of the three D guys. So
another case where you could say, perhaps having the chance
(31:37):
at a championship being around Kauai, who is the epitome
of no nonsense, it can be like Randy Moss to
the Pats, though obviously this Morris is an at Mosses level.
But the idea for a year or two, maybe you
buck up, Maybe you are a team guy for a
short period because of the opportunity to win a title,
(32:01):
because of the greatness of the players around you. And
I think the Patriots have done that as well as anyone.
Can you make this organization and this championship pedigree motivate
questionable motivation guys, and I don't know. I mean, how
would you characterize Morris's limitations Jonas, Um, he's not not
(32:23):
a great ball handler. But to your I'm sorry, I
meant more his his attitude, Like would you say it's
more you know, more like troublemaker, more lack of enthusiast.
He's an enforcer. He's an enforcer. They loved him in Boston. Um,
he's well liked anywhere he goes. But I also think
what he does is it's another body that you can
throw at Lebron James. If you're just gonna rely on
(32:45):
Kawhi Leonard to dup Lebron James, that's gonna take away
from Kawhi Leonard offensively because he's gonna have to focus
so much on defense. Well, Marcus Morris matched up against
Lebron James in the playoffs a couple of years ago
when he was with Boston and they went to that
seven game series, and I think that frees up Kawhi
Leonard offensively to where he's not going to be as
fatigued having to guard Lebron all series. If they meet
(33:06):
up now, you don't think Paul George is in the
mix for that Paul George would be in the mix
as well too, but I think that frees him up offensive.
But you make a great point. If Morris is your
third best wing defender, you're doing pretty well. Absolutely, and
then you've got Pat Beverley who can give you a
couple of minutes and just be an annoyance. I think
the Clippers defensively are really really impressive. And this is
(33:28):
what we call the nine second tutorial general XFL batting,
and then we've got the best bat So if as
you got nine, the XFL wants higher scoring r J.
They looked at the Alliance of American Football. It failed
and that league started out with games averaging less than
forty points per game. So there's no interest from lack
(33:48):
of scoring. So here's what the XFL has done everything
possible to improve scoring. Second clock to have more plays rapidly.
Two forward passes are allowed, believe it or not, as
long as the first one. This is like free flow.
Is what we call a grown up let's play free flow,
which means you could, oh my god, it can be
past the line of scrimmone can't be passed the line
of scrimmage. That's the one restriction. So The only difference
(34:10):
is you you could be like seven yards back, throw
five yards ahead is still behind the line, and there's
a second exactly right, touch backs ball comes out to
the thirty five yard line if you punted or kick
it into the end zones, a better field position for
the teams. They're trying to get more returns by making
the penalty of out of the end zone more you know,
(34:30):
tougher exactly. So Week one totals are averaging fifty right now.
I expect a whole lot more scoring in this league
than the Alliance of American Football. What's home field advantage
going to be? I think only two points? Are two
points for home? And in general? How do you know
how good these teams are? Is it a player by
player like looking at the rosters? Yes, I gotta be honest.
(34:51):
I got a guy that's doing this for me. You
got a guy outsourced the XFL. Yes, all right, Jonas,
let's do the best bet. Yeah, we got a best bet.
Before that. Want to let you know we are brought
to you by my Computer Career. Make your year. You
should start your new life as an I T pro
and as little as four months go to my Computer
Career dot e d u and take the free career
(35:11):
evaluation today. It's not rocket science, it's my computer career,
dot e du. It is a best time, Yeah, I
would agree. It is a best bet though, and it's
a best bet for the first time in show history.
On the XFL Sunday morning, New York Guardians plus three
against the Tampa Bay Vipers. You're betting against the Vipers,
(35:33):
am So I have these teams, my guys, have these
teams power rated equally, but think about equal teams. But
New York's at home, so two points of home field.
They actually make New York the favorite here minus two,
so hold on, they make New York the favorites. Very confusing.
So what you're saying is literally, your guys, I think
these are even teams. Yes, now two points for home field,
(35:56):
but they're getting three. So that means you think this
line is off by five five points. I do. And further,
the game is gonna be in New York. The temperature
is gonna be around forty two degrees. That has to
benefit a team from New York versus a team that's
been practicing in the sixties in Tampa. So Jonas, what
we have here is a weather pick in the XFL
against the Vipers. Best bet ste Physic New York Guardians
(36:20):
plus three XFL. The odd couple is next to many
of these Fox Sports Radio affiliates. We are straight out
of Vegas back on Monday, six pm Eastern time, three
o'clock Pacific, right here on Fox Sports Radio and as always,
the I Heart Radio app
Don't listening to Fox Sports go. This is Straight out
of Vegas with the Voice of Vegas, your host r
J Bowmon the pregame show America has always wanted from
(00:40):
the veggest trip. Here's r J bow You heard it.
I'm Marj live on a big Friday, two hundred FSR
stations acrost this great nation, and we're joined in stud
studio by one of the pros who know Steve Fazik.
(01:05):
Brad Power is well deserved day off, Speaking of days off,
and well deserved after three days and let me tell
you something, the sponsors were like, let's get that professional
reader in there, because Fez had to read on Wednesday. Almost,
(01:27):
I mean they almost left to stay on the network.
Steve getting the zone Auto Zone. Oh my gosh, I
don't think that counts as a read. So he's in
l A, He's Joe and it's not always going to
be here, are Jade. I'm going to be back here
on Straight out of Vegas and on a day when
we've got obviously the XFL launching this weekend around televisions
(01:49):
across the country, we've got more fallout from Major League
Baseball and the astros cheating scandal. What is the Vegas
lead there on the strip? I think it's got to be.
This is a close call because I think the cheating
scandal is big, but Vegas is always thinking how can
we make money today? How can we make money tomorrow?
(02:09):
So I'm gonna deem the Las Vegas League last night's
Lakers Rockets, and I'll tell you right off. FS and
I disagree on this one, So Fez, we usually have
a cross fire around a bet. Let's do a crossfire
on the takeaway from the game itself first, though, Let's
(02:29):
get the exact result, as Jonas does so exceptionally well.
So yeah, let's look at the Thursday Rockets Lakers, and
so yes. After the Rockets were chastise for trading away
their only legitimate big man in Clint Capella, the Houston Rockets,
mocked all throughout the day for being the smallest team
in the NBA, went on the road to l A
(02:51):
and picked up a one win over the Lakers. As
what's your takeaway? I am down on the Lakers, r G.
I cannot understand how the Lakers were not able to
take to take advantage of that Rockets Rockets small lineup
six ft four average height, Lakers are six eight only
outrebounded the Rockets by one for the game, and the
(03:12):
Lakers struggled to pound the ball. And Anthony Davis, I
know he got a lot of points, but I thought
it would be a lot easier for the Lakers. How many,
So that's not enough? Not The takeaway is that those
thirty two points were not enough. Not enough. Who averages
more than thirty two points in the NBA and nobody?
So he did as well as anyone in the NBA.
(03:34):
And your takeaway is, and you gotta do bad. I
just thought that any Davis, you've you've got to do better.
I thought Anthony Davis and Lebron James. Was he over
under for Anthony Davis's points and a half? So he
exceeded expectations. He did. He did better than anybody in
the NBA does over the course of a season. Yeah,
they had difficulty lobbing it into them. They turned it
(03:56):
over and thought it was gonna be like playing like
a senior in high school, playing an eight year old.
I thought he would absolutely dominate. And the boards also,
so did you have a gigantic bat on the over
twenty and a half? I actually bet over ten rebounds?
Did you have a gigantic beat on overt because you
just said that thirty two falls short of your expectation.
(04:16):
How wouldn't you bet over twenty I should have obviously,
but why didn't you didn't do enough homework before the
game started. So if you would have looked at that,
if you would have had that right front of you.
It's like they walk up and go, hey, the total.
Someone has a sheet of paper and they say the
total on Anthony Davis twenty eight and a half points.
(04:39):
What are you gonna do? You're gonna be like, oh,
that's a gigantic bat. Yes, because of the Rockets so small.
I understand what you think of the small Now what
injury has decimated the Rockets line up? Wink wink? This
was a choice, right? Yeah? Not any meaning the Rockets
roster was a choice. Correct. The Jennison Capella they're big
(05:02):
man Jennison. They traded him. Yes, okay, so you thought
Darryl Morey would put, by choice a team on the
court that if the opposing big man puts up thirty two,
it's a disappointment. I mean that seems to be that
you were like to me, this is where you've got
(05:22):
to stop and say, huh, my instinct is the Rockets
shouldn't win another game. It sounds like you're saying they
shouldn't win another game. But somehow this was a choice
by a GM the many believe is the best GM
in the NBA, and I think almost everybody believes it
is like a top seven GM. So why would they
(05:47):
choose to put inept team on the floor. Well, offensively,
they're not inept. Offensively they're great, Okay, So what you're
what you're saying is it wasn't so much that you're
saying the fact that the Rockets played good defense against
the Lakers is the issue. Yes, and how many points
(06:08):
of the Lakers score? So what was the total in
this game was? So you know, let's go to the
fans perspective because one and he was gone. So and
this was the biggest trade. So let's ask Jonas what
was your takeaway on the Rockets trade. I thought the
(06:31):
same thing most people thought, which was your trading away
your only legitimate big man. So you're trying to in
a league that's all about big men, uh and and
having length, trying to win it with a roster that's
gonna average out well below what most rosters and successful
rosters in the in the NBA are. And then I
watched him last night and I thought I sort of
changed my tune. I thought, well, if if you know
(06:53):
that you do one thing really well, and Clinton Capella
doesn't do that thing well, which you shoot the three,
what's the point of key upon him if it doesn't
really fit what you do. So they're going all in
with the D'Antoni style of play, and they're taking this
approach and they're gonna see how far it takes them. Yeah,
I I actually think you'd make good points there. Ah,
(07:14):
this isn't the NBA. Isn't about like a fantasy team,
or isn't about you know, as the guys at the
bar would say, well, how good is Capella? Well he's
above you know. It's about how they play as a team.
Michae Lombardi talks about this in the NFL. He says,
this isn't about aggregating, aggregating or um compiling assets. Rather,
(07:40):
it's about how they play as a team. And the
Rockets without Capella this season last night they covered so
want to know. In November four games he missed four
no against the spread, so now five and oh this season,
now four games doesn't tell the whole story. Plus fourteen
(08:04):
points against the spread each game on average. So literally
it's like, okay games pick them. Rockets win by fourteen, right,
Rockets are favored by five, Rockets win by nineteen. When
you beat the spread by fourteen a game. Fez. Doesn't
seem like that those seventh graders getting dominated by the seniors,
(08:27):
does it? No, it doesn't. You know. What's interesting is
that Capella was so important to the Rockets when they
had Chris Paul. And perhaps what happened with Chris Paul
out in Westbrook in what do you mean? Perhaps it
sounds like you knew better than Darrel More. I don't
know after one game where it perhaps I don't know better? Okay,
but I mean you had that some strong feelings. You're
saying we gotta start selling the Lakers because the team
(08:49):
as bad as the Rockets could be. Well, I was
shocked that the Lakers just we're having I know, you
keep saying that I got that part. We could play
it if you want on replay. All right, let's think
about this. Imagine you know, what's a good example of
(09:09):
this is video games usually people. I guess today it's
different because everyone's online planing against each other. But when
I grew up back in the day, find tech mobile
is you would play the same couple guys and then
eventually one of you was better. Right, So it was
just obvious that in tech Mobile I was better and
(09:30):
whatever someone else might have been better. I don't remember
those instances. And it's a situation where the thing you
would want against that opponent that you're better than is
for them to say more the same. You have an
acronym for that, right, fast motts more the same, because
(09:52):
you can't lose really that way. If you're better, if
based on the assumptions you're better, you want nothing more
than that other or your opponent to just more the same.
The Rockets, we're not going to win the title with Capella.
It seems probability said possible, but unlikely. If I'm the Lakers,
(10:15):
if I'm the Clippers, if I'm the Bucks, the three favorites, right,
the last thing I want are the Rockets rolling the
dice because if they roll Snake guys and it goes bad, well,
there's no real change. They weren't gonna win the title before,
and they won't win the title if they're Snake. You know,
that's a great point because the Rockets, they might lose
the Oklahoma City the way they're presently constituted, but the
(10:38):
variance and how they're gonna do just went up, up, up,
even That's an interesting point, but I think it goes
beyond that. We don't know what their baseline is going
to be with this team. What we know for sure
is if you read the advanced analytics guys, Covington is
considered to be one of the best, if not the best,
(11:00):
non superstar by the advanced metrics mean and yeah, Lebron
is gonna be up there maybe you know higher, and
then you're gonna have the elites, the superstars. But then
when you get past the guys, you could imagine being recognized,
you know, no matter where they went. Covington by the
(11:21):
advanced metrics guys, he's a darling. So Jon is. By
the way, Jo straight out of Vegas. Covington, do you
have anything? I mean, you know, are you one of
those dudes that are watching the League pass at night
or are you the type of guy that's got a
feel on Covington Because the numbers say good, Yeah, he played.
So when he was with Philadelphia, he was a key
(11:43):
member off the bench or when he would get playing
time as the guy that you could rely on in
in hitting a big shot, getting you a three, playing
good defense, similar to a Danny Green type piece. Actually
what I think the Lakers had hoped Danny Green was
going to be. And Danny Green was a key member
of the Spurs mpionships um when they made that run
a few years ago. Covington, in watching him last night,
(12:05):
seemed like it was the perfect guy for the Lakers.
But the problem was he was hanging out on the
other team and those four threes and they were crucial
threes at big time moments in watching the game that
really were the difference in in those two teams last night.
You know, I gotta give Jones Creddy here is reading
through probably fifteen pages on the Rockets move like buried
(12:29):
in one of those articles was that one of the
advanced metrics that does comparable as they say, who's this
guy like? And Covington and Danny Green were the comparables.
And I think age wise, you know, think about how
the level of excitement the Lakers achieved when they signed
Danny Green. Remember it was like, okay, D and three
(12:52):
D and three. Well, Covington has what some consider to
be the best con tract in the n B A
meaning if you look at the contract versus the output,
and obviously it can be a plus. My you either
outperforming your contract or underperformed. Some think the best contract
in the NBA. Now, I don't know, but if he's
(13:15):
even in that conversation and you change or you exchange
in a way, Capella who And I'm not an excess
and those guys, but I know enough basketball to read
it and understand the basics the pick and roll, which
Hardened and the Rockets were doing years ago. Capella was
(13:36):
super effective in this isolation game that Westbrook's kind of
forcing upon them not near as effective. So you've got
a guy where the league in general is moving away
from Capella. You've got the Rockets getting Covington that has
a great contract, and when you've got Westbrook and hard
(13:58):
And it's like you need some contract relief. And he's
not an ego guy, it seems, which with the Westbrook
and Harden you need that too. The lack of that,
and then he overperforms based on the advanced analytics. Great contract,
and the Rockets are turning the table over. They don't
(14:19):
like the chessboard. They're just wiping their hands saying, yeah,
probably weren't gonna win anyway, but you know, we got
a chance. And there was a line in Billions this
most recent year when they said to a senior guy,
black Jack Foley was his name, They said, what do
you do if you're in a situation where alternative A
(14:40):
and alternative B are both bad? And the analogy was
someone had a stick and they were gonna beat you
with it no matter what. And he said, take the stick,
break it in half. Well, to me, the Rockets took
the stick and broke it in half, and it's a
new game. And yeah, there's a chance, though yesterday wouldn't
say so, there's a chance the Rockets are worse for
(15:03):
this trade. But I think it's unequivocally true the Rockets
have a better chance to win the title because of
that variant of that. Who knows what Darryl Morey has
up as sleeve. Yeah, it really is a great point
that you're making, and who knows what potential the Rockets
may well have and like you said, Covington's he was
(15:25):
a clutch performer. He stepped up in the fourth quarter
and he looked like he's been with the Rockets forever.
So which is an interesting point when we come back.
Oh real quick, though, Jones, did you have any closing
thoughts on the Lakers Rockets. It's just funny how the
loss of Clint Cappella people were turning into, oh, boy boy,
what a bad roster. This is Clint Cappella for his
(15:46):
career and are, well, no, it's it's it's a lot
of people I heard yesterday. They turned it into like
the most shocking trade of the trade deadline. Clint Cappella
in a three point dominant league for his career is
oh for two from threes. Yet losing him is going
to be missed two three, And he missed two threes
in his career. Yeah, he's only missed two and only
(16:06):
attempted to which is a bigger problem. And that's supposed
to mean that the Rockets are further away from a championship.
I just don't buy it. It's kind of like Jonas's bets.
He's only lost three of them since the show started.
It's true, so it's at very he does have the
two wins out Fez. You actually, right now the Lakers
are the favorite to win the title. You disagree. And
(16:27):
also I've got three or four other I think underdiscussed takeaways.
Finally from the NBA trade deadline. Be sure to catch
live editions of Straight Out of Vegas weekdays at six
pm Eastern three pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and
the I Heart Radio app so r J. We talked
(16:49):
a lot about the Houston Rockets side of things last
night in their ten point when at the Lakers, but
now the conversation turns towards the future of the Los
Angeles Lakers and a title possibly at the end of
this year. Yeah, and if anything, they are favored. And
let's actually look at the exact odds after the trade deadline,
(17:14):
and as we said, Lakers are the favorite right now
plus two. So if you shop it, yeah, I probably
get a three hundred out there. So a dollar wins
your three. That is the favorite, the l a Lakers
second favor, and it's the first time I've seen it
this year. The Milwaukee Bucks and Bucks started the season
(17:39):
at six to one, down to plus two nineties, so
right around that three to one range, and then right
there in the mix the Clippers plus three fifty or
so three and a half to one. The fourth favorite,
the Rockets, the little tiny Rockets that Anthony Davis thirty
(18:00):
two wasn't enough over. How could they be the fourth favorite? Well,
there's a big, big one baby sixteen to one, and
then the Sixers seventeen to one while they're up saltic
one heat twenty two one jazzy one. So let's do this.
We'll go Jonas first. If you had an opportunity, you
(18:25):
pick any NBA team, you get to pick their the team,
and if they win the title, you win ten thousand dollars.
If they don't win the title, nothing, So it's a
free roll for ten times. Who do you take? Milwaukee? Oh?
I like that one. And part of your thinking is
much easier path to the fin much easier path. And
(18:45):
I don't think there's enough of a difference between them
and the Clippers or Lakers for me to justify wanting
need to go in the other direction. And wow, that's
that's it's almost like Jonas been studying when he wasn't
this vacations. I'd s cruised around the strip in disguise,
and you know I had to. I went to seven
(19:06):
eleven where Fees does a lot of conversations. He's in
the shadows listing. But guys, Jonas makes such a good point.
If you say Lakers and Bucks have about the same
odds right now, and they're pretty close. Plus two seventy
Lakers plus two ninety Bucks, okay, about the same, they
must be even teams. Well, no, this is saying the
(19:29):
Lakers are significantly better. Why because they likely have to
beat the Clippers to get to the finals. The Bucks
have to beat what the sixers of the Heat or
Boston or Miami. Yeah, well that's the Heat, So make
(19:50):
sure he's got his memo beforehand. There's nothing really exciting
in the East. I mean, I think the Heat and
will talk about it made a of a trade or
you know, getting iggy. But boy, they were hundred to
one entering the season. I don't think they are all
that much competition. So really, Bucks have a much easier path.
(20:13):
So this number implies, Fez the fact the Lakers are
favored even though they gotta go through the Clippers. The
Lakers are significantly better than the Bucks. Same question to you.
The ten dimes might not interest you, So a hundred dimes,
what would you do? I want Milwaukee for the same
reason you're talking about. Come on, the square chair says that,
(20:34):
and you're just saying that, guy. Look at these numbers.
Forty four and seven the Bucks are and they're outscoring
their opponents by twelve and a half points per game.
R J. Now how they do last year on that stat?
I think they were like plus eleven and a half
last year. Okay, so ran into Kauai did not work
out for them in the in the playoffs. But the
(20:54):
mere fact that, thanks for the news updates, there are
five points per game better I know it's regular season
than anybody else in the NBA right now. So what
a disparate result in Milwaukee versus the rest of the league.
So this might sound goofy, but Fez is actually making
a good point here. There's a concept. They call it
the Pythagorean theorem. Guys like Fez who went to Northwestern
(21:16):
that they don't quite understand it, but they like saying it.
Explain it. So the idea is that if you look
at how many points you score and how many points
you give up, the team that has the best differential
by the end of the season. Clearly it is the
better team. And Milwaukee is so much better than anybody
else in the NBA, it's difficult to make a case
that they're not the best team in the NBA. Okay,
(21:38):
so I asked you about the pathagoric Pythagorean theorem, not
to repeat the case that you think the Bucks are
the best because of that theorem. So what it does
is it gives you what what attempts to do is
get the lucky wins and the unlucky losses out of
the mix. So if you think back to the NFL season,
(22:01):
we said Green Bays overrated, We said Seattle's overrated. Why
because they were so good and close games and you
might say clutch, and I say, no, it's not that
they got lucky. And you know, Russell Wilson before last
year was three games under, five games decided by seven
points or least. He was amazing this year. Do we
(22:25):
trust the pretty much break even and all those years
since two thousand twelve, or do we trust this year?
We trust the career. But if you're winning by it's
a game, you know there's not a lot of lucky
wins in there. So your point is there is it's
(22:46):
not so much how you do in the close games,
it's do you blow out a healthy number of teams.
That is a belief that most handicappers have, and you're
saying the Bucks are doing it. We gotta trust it
is the Is it a ample to say the Lakers
are the favorite even though they got the tougher road
to get to play Milwaukee because of just public? It's
(23:08):
just the public? Is that dumb? No? The pros feel
also the Lakers will come playoff time, be have be
able to hit a much higher ceiling, and the box
are playing as well as they comply. And that's like
the Spurs over the years have been that way where
they don't back to backs, they're gonna play hard. You know,
(23:30):
all these considerations that there's like, look at Lebron's teams
in the last even five years, right, fourth seed, fiveth
It's like, we don't He's like, I'd rather take off
days in February. I'd rather not worry about every game
because the stress of that's gonna hurt you. Golden State
had their seventy three wins and lost that year, and
(23:53):
they've want well, perhaps and they've won other years when
they didn't even have the best record, where the Rockets
from mistake in the last two years had a better record. Right.
So in a weird way, though, we're saying in the
regular season and NBA, every game doesn't really matter, and
you're saying the Bucks are the best because how they
do in every game they've been so much Okay, I
(24:16):
can agree with that. You're saying if we were saying, well,
one team's plus nine point eight points, other teams plus
nine point three. But you're saying the distance so the
second place team and point differential is whom the Lakers
and there a little over seven Milwaukee's twelve and a half. Wow.
So think about that, Jon Is the distance from seven
(24:37):
to twelve and a half is five and a half.
I just did that in my head. The difference from
seven and a half and then you minus five and
a half, you're down in or in the one and
a half and to range. Right. So literally, the distance
from the number two team to the number one is
about the same as the number two to us slightly
(24:58):
above average tands wow. So like the best team or
so Indiana compared to the Lakers. The point differential difference
is the same as the number two team Lakers to
number one Milwaukee, and you think that's why Milwaukee is
the best team, and you take him in the free roll, correct,
and the Lakers are favored because they're the Lakers. So
(25:22):
there's gonna be a lot of money on Lebron, a
lot of money on the Lakers, but also because they
got another gear. So the theory is is at a
five point gear because that's where it's gonna have to
be per game to match what the Bucks have been doing.
A lot of gears. That's depasic. I'm r j vow,
So let's do this. We've got about a minute on
(25:46):
every other major transaction, three or four of them. Be
sure to catch live editions of Straight Out of Vegas
weekdays at six pm Eastern three pm Pacific. We'd like
to welcome in yet another brand new affiliate to the
show this week. It's another top market and it's Fox
(26:08):
Sports thirteen fifty in Riverside, San Bernardino, California. They are
the latest to begin airing the show live every single day,
so a big shot out in any thank you to
Fox Sports thirteen fifty in Riverside, slash San Bernardino, California.
Awesome to have him on board with us. So is
(26:30):
that the way you explain the fastest growing show on
Fox Sports Radio is that's why we're growing. I mean,
it's that's why we're growing faster than anybody. Is the
way to say. I mean, everybody wants on board. They
see it. It's a runaway freight train, and everybody doesn't
want to stand in the way. They want to jump
on the side of it. What do you think, in
like six weeks or so, if I go to San
(26:51):
Bernardino and wear a name tag, could I get a
free lunch? You thing? Easy? Alright? Come easy? I knew
fame would mean something. By the way, speaking of fame
or the lack thereof, do you hear about dan By
or having a breakdown on air? No, well, breakdown might
be strong. At one point I threw it to him
(27:11):
when you were gone and didn't like, say and it's
Mr dan By And he was like, yes, r J,
I'm dan Buyer. Like it was very snark, just almost
tore up. He almost tore up the rundown. Listen, there
are like there are three rules, you know, don't don't
spit in the wind, don't tug on Superman's cape, and
don't mess with Dan Buyer after an update it just
(27:34):
or before or with I mean, it's almost like he's
got an agent, but it's his other personality within him.
All right, So let's do this. I'm gonna go down
quickly the big moves, and I'm just gonna get your
gut elevator reaction. So Russell gold State, Wiggins t Wolves.
(27:55):
I liked the Wiggins to Golden State move, but I
don't like it necessarily for this year. I like for
next year. It makes Golden State next year really interesting.
I don't know if it puts him on the same
level they were before when they were winning titles. But
they've got a lot of talent on that roster, and
they're gonna have a lot of repick to add to
a healthy Clay Thompson and a healthy Steph Curry. I
think it's exciting and intriguing for Golden State. Yeah, and
(28:17):
that lottery pick is one which is by the reports,
what Golden State wanted because they like that draft so
much better. Wiggins, how old fez just got feeling four
years old. He's not He's turning twenty five cents made
a lot of money. Well, that's one way to look
at the Other way to look at it is this
(28:40):
guy maybe hasn't found the right spot, and obviously he
needs an ideal environment. It's not like it was the
fault of these other teams. But who's to say you
hit your mid twenties, you realize Look look at their
championship rings, Look at the way Steph does his business,
look at the way Clay does business. And I think
(29:01):
Jonas I think there's a lot of upside there for Wiggins,
And I think Jonas made the key point. How much
better next year is Wiggins with Clay and staff and
Draymond as opposed to you know, some redundancy? I think
with Russell and Wiggins is shot thirty three percent the
last three years from threes never developed this game, Well,
(29:24):
you'd argue Golden State's probably the best place to go
to improve that game. I agree and be motivated by
the way something to watch. Golden State only has nine
players signed right now, is my understanding, and they have
about three million left before they hit the repeater tax.
They are gonna be super super frugal for filling out
that roster the rest of the year. I think it
(29:46):
could be demoralizing for the team. I'd be looking for
Golden State to have some swoons. Obviously they haven't been
great this year. It might be really bad though, obviously
with that great organization. Maybe not last thing to Russell
going to tea Wolves is something that made Towns very happy. Apparently,
(30:08):
you know it could have been. You almost got equate
in Jon is that Minnesota saves Towns by getting Russell.
So it's like they got they traded Wiggins for Towns
and Russell. Maybe you can make the case. Yeah, I'm
a little hesitant though, when a player this young in
his career, who's an All Star and a really good player,
if he's on his fourth team already like something about that,
(30:28):
it's him. It's him for sure, right, But you know something,
there can be a guy. I'm not gonna name any names, Steve,
but you can be in your early forties finally get married.
All those other failed relationships, don't you know, don't really
matter that one dream comes along and everything's good, right,
would be an aberration, though, well you are a walking
(30:50):
aberration in a good way most of the time. I'm
RJ BO straight out of Vegas. Last one for now
Clippers third favor right there in that cluster with the
Lakers and the Bucks. They get Morse from the Knicks
thoughts the fact that it helped their team and at
the same time hurt the team in the same building
(31:13):
with them, the Lakers by not not acquiring I think
it makes it a doubly impactful move for the Clippers. Oh,
I like that too. And Morris, you know, three and
D is how you think about it. But the analytics
say he can make get his own shot a little
bit better than most of the three D guys. So
another case where you could say, perhaps having the chance
(31:37):
at a championship being around Kauai, who is the epitome
of no nonsense, it can be like Randy Moss to
the Pats, though obviously this Morris is an at Mosses level.
But the idea for a year or two, maybe you
buck up, Maybe you are a team guy for a
short period because of the opportunity to win a title,
(32:01):
because of the greatness of the players around you. And
I think the Patriots have done that as well as anyone.
Can you make this organization and this championship pedigree motivate
questionable motivation guys, and I don't know. I mean, how
would you characterize Morris's limitations Jonas, Um, he's not not
(32:23):
a great ball handler. But to your I'm sorry, I
meant more his his attitude, Like would you say it's
more you know, more like troublemaker, more lack of enthusiast.
He's an enforcer. He's an enforcer. They loved him in Boston. Um,
he's well liked anywhere he goes. But I also think
what he does is it's another body that you can
throw at Lebron James. If you're just gonna rely on
(32:45):
Kawhi Leonard to dup Lebron James, that's gonna take away
from Kawhi Leonard offensively because he's gonna have to focus
so much on defense. Well, Marcus Morris matched up against
Lebron James in the playoffs a couple of years ago
when he was with Boston and they went to that
seven game series, and I think that frees up Kawhi
Leonard offensively to where he's not going to be as
fatigued having to guard Lebron all series. If they meet
(33:06):
up now, you don't think Paul George is in the
mix for that Paul George would be in the mix
as well too, but I think that frees him up offensive.
But you make a great point. If Morris is your
third best wing defender, you're doing pretty well. Absolutely, and
then you've got Pat Beverley who can give you a
couple of minutes and just be an annoyance. I think
the Clippers defensively are really really impressive. And this is
(33:28):
what we call the nine second tutorial general XFL batting,
and then we've got the best bat So if as
you got nine, the XFL wants higher scoring r J.
They looked at the Alliance of American Football. It failed
and that league started out with games averaging less than
forty points per game. So there's no interest from lack
(33:48):
of scoring. So here's what the XFL has done everything
possible to improve scoring. Second clock to have more plays rapidly.
Two forward passes are allowed, believe it or not, as
long as the first one. This is like free flow.
Is what we call a grown up let's play free flow,
which means you could, oh my god, it can be
past the line of scrimmone can't be passed the line
of scrimmage. That's the one restriction. So The only difference
(34:10):
is you you could be like seven yards back, throw
five yards ahead is still behind the line, and there's
a second exactly right, touch backs ball comes out to
the thirty five yard line if you punted or kick
it into the end zones, a better field position for
the teams. They're trying to get more returns by making
the penalty of out of the end zone more you know,
(34:30):
tougher exactly. So Week one totals are averaging fifty right now.
I expect a whole lot more scoring in this league
than the Alliance of American Football. What's home field advantage
going to be? I think only two points? Are two
points for home? And in general? How do you know
how good these teams are? Is it a player by
player like looking at the rosters? Yes, I gotta be honest.
(34:51):
I got a guy that's doing this for me. You
got a guy outsourced the XFL. Yes, all right, Jonas,
let's do the best bet. Yeah, we got a best bet.
Before that. Want to let you know we are brought
to you by my Computer Career. Make your year. You
should start your new life as an I T pro
and as little as four months go to my Computer
Career dot e d u and take the free career
(35:11):
evaluation today. It's not rocket science, it's my computer career,
dot e du. It is a best time, Yeah, I
would agree. It is a best bet though, and it's
a best bet for the first time in show history.
On the XFL Sunday morning, New York Guardians plus three
against the Tampa Bay Vipers. You're betting against the Vipers,
(35:33):
am So I have these teams, my guys, have these
teams power rated equally, but think about equal teams. But
New York's at home, so two points of home field.
They actually make New York the favorite here minus two,
so hold on, they make New York the favorites. Very confusing.
So what you're saying is literally, your guys, I think
these are even teams. Yes, now two points for home field,
(35:56):
but they're getting three. So that means you think this
line is off by five five points. I do. And further,
the game is gonna be in New York. The temperature
is gonna be around forty two degrees. That has to
benefit a team from New York versus a team that's
been practicing in the sixties in Tampa. So Jonas, what
we have here is a weather pick in the XFL
against the Vipers. Best bet ste Physic New York Guardians
(36:20):
plus three XFL. The odd couple is next to many
of these Fox Sports Radio affiliates. We are straight out
of Vegas back on Monday, six pm Eastern time, three
o'clock Pacific, right here on Fox Sports Radio and as always,
the I Heart Radio app
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