June 12, 2025 • 38 mins
Doug explains why cliches are often true and the cliche that role players play better on the road is very true as it pertains to game three of the NBA Finals. Doug welcomes L.A. Times NBA reporter Dan Woike onto the show to talk about the NBA Finals, what the Pacers did in game three, and all of the other headlines around the NBA. Plus, Dan Beyer takes Doug through a game of "I Feel A Draft".
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Thanks for listening to The Doug Gotlieb Show podcast. Be
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(00:25):
The Doug Gottlieb Show broadcasting two places. We'll not we're
broadcasting too many places, but to two places from two places.
Sherman Oaks, California, Green Bay, Wisconsin. No, hey, no, you're
you're you're too kind. You're absolutely too kind. This is
(00:47):
the Doug Gottlieb Show. Hey, we'll get to Jjspond. We'll
see if he continues to be the leader. At the
end of the entirety of the first round. I know
buyers all over that, I mean Oakmont to shoot a
birdie bogie free round four under is pretty amazing. I mean,
here's a guy who has won one PGA event, one
(01:10):
PGA event, and if you tune into the podcast today,
I'll tell you what what the the no name leader
to the US Open reminds me of in in movie
dum if you will, in movie dumb Uh, Let's let's
get to the NBA Finals Cuz you know, as I
(01:31):
told you yesterday, I don't think anybody, myself included, was
super fired up about Game three one because as the
guys that point out the schedules, whack, I thought it
was Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday. Then they're like Wednesday, Friday, Sunday.
Wait what and the games outside of the last you know,
a couple minutes of Game one was a snooze, so
(01:56):
you kind of thought, all right, maybe game three is
this Game three is a good game. And it brought
to mind a cliche that is used on TV, but
it actually is an accurate depiction of what happened last night.
(02:16):
And I was explaining to a buddy mind Andy, who
is he wants to get into the business. I said, hey,
you have to find a way to not use cliches,
only sort of use cliches. It's like, I don't, what
do you mean? Well, the cliches in many ways are
(02:40):
in fact true, right there there are things that have
been stated time and again. Now they've been stayed in
time and again because quite often they are in. They
are true. But we're taught don't be cliche, don't utter cliches.
Uh jay s douw your most overused or most again
and things annoy you. Cliche that comes to mind.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Hey, you can't judge a book by its cover.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
You can't can't judge a book by its cover, can't.
What's weird about that is how many times have you
bought a book because of the cover? If you ever
looking for a book or you're an airport, like, man,
I got a couple hours to kill. I mean, I'm
gonna buy a book. Like do you read the first
chapter or do you just read the Do you look
at the front, you look at the back, You're like, yeah,
(03:27):
sounds good, wrap it up, let's go. Can't judge a
book by its cover? Fire you gotta do you have
a cliche? Or I'm like, oh, here's a cliche that
comes to your mind immediately.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
One of my favorites because I think it's flexible. The
grass is always greener on the other side. But then
when you find out the consequence, guess what, the grass
isn't always greener.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
On the other side. Yeah, yeah, it's flexible.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Yeah, Sam, is there a cliche that comes to your
mind when I say cliches?
Speaker 5 (04:00):
Going with a sports cliche, it's a game of inches?
But actually think that that there is a lot of
truth that because especially in the era we live in
now of video review, everything now is a game of inches.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
Was just foot on the line?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (04:14):
You know?
Speaker 5 (04:14):
Was he in bounds? Where do the ref spot the ball?
But obviously it's kind of a speaking to a larger
idea of like, you know, even details, even in track
and field where you use meters, it's still a game
of inches.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
There you go. So that one I think holds true.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
But the point that you got to, you're like, well,
you know, it really is a game of inches. It
is no one's saying the grass is always greener on
their side and then it isn't always green on their side.
Like these statements are true, and you can't judge a
book by its cover, but it's it's a it's worth
of discausse. When the when the going gets tough, the
tough dude get going. They just do. They don't build
(04:54):
them like they used to. They just don't. They don't
build like used to they don't build like used to.
But by the way, there's no more ambiguous neutral comment
that sounds like it's an ode to the older days.
Then they don't be them like they used to. They don't.
There are some structures that were really well constructed. There
are lots of structures that were very poorly constructed back
(05:17):
in the day. Like was that mortar? Like yeah, sort
of sort of whatever they had they kind of stuck together,
made mortar to keep the bricks together. You're like, wow,
they don't build house like they used to. You're right now,
we like, you know, are plumbing and air conditioning. You
are correct. Have you ever been to a modern house,
like a really brand new modern house, like, wow, this
is way better than that so old? But we always
(05:39):
use the I bring up the cliche because have you
ever heard Kendrick Perkins or others on TV say they
know role players they played better at home. And I
was looking TJ McConnell, for example, ten points, five assists,
five steals, first NBA player to post those numbers off
the bend in an NBA Finals game. He was a
(06:01):
plus twelve in fifteen minutes. He's a role player. He
played great and he was at home, and you know,
on the other side, you're watching, like, I don't know
why Oklahoma City had lou Dort in at the end
of the game, but lou Dort's inability to shoot meant
that the Pacers could just play completely in the gaps
(06:25):
and leave him alone in the corner. But if you
remember previous series, the big win over Denver, it was
loud Dort hitting corner threes. But those were at home,
right Ben Mathering Ben Mathern has an unbelievable game last night,
and look, Ben's' scoring guard comes off the bench just
a he's our score. But he's a role player, right,
(06:48):
role player, and he played great at home. The point
of it is, it's a cliche. Just because we say,
don't you cliches does not mean it doesn't mean it's
not true. It just means they're super overused expressions, and
let's find a different way to say the same things
(07:10):
and a different way to say the same thing. But
I was watching that last night and I was just like, ah,
there's that cliche. And I was talking a week ago
to a buddy mine who lived who works for the Thunder,
and I can't remember who we were talking about we're
talking about Lue Dort. He's like, yeah, role players. He's like,
there's a reason that people say it. It's because it's true.
(07:31):
It's just an overused expression. So while the Dodgers were
beating up on the padres, You're welcome, Jase too. I
did pay attention, and there was other stuff going on,
and Dan Byer's getting ready for Oakmont. I know how
excited he is, like this is an epic challenge for
(07:52):
all of these golfers. I'm sitting there watching, going, yeah,
you know, it's kind of true because the role players
are what won them the game. Ben Matherin twenty seven points,
twenty seven points in twenty two minutes. TJ McConnell ten,
(08:15):
five and five in fifteen minutes. You know, even Obie Toppen,
who there's a couple of times where it felt like
he was running and he had the turbo button down
and somebody's like, hey, let go of the turbo button.
You're going too fast. He like turns it over. Obie
Topmen was outstanding last night. And I don't know if
it's because they're at home, because they've kind of figured
(08:37):
it out. Because the ball was going in or whatever
it is, but it does play into that cliche of
role players played better and more confidently at home as
opposed to Oklahoma City's role players. Who you know, Caruso
hit a couple of shots. But Aaron Wiggins, who was
(08:57):
an absolute star in game two or game one. In
game two, game one, he had eighteen points, right, he's
a role player, eighteen points in twenty one minutes, was
at home. Again, there's the cliche role players play better
at home. That was in game two. I apologize and
my game's kind of screwed up when I was looking
at the game log. So Aaron Wiggins goes from eighteen points,
(09:21):
who doesn't pee a drop last night? Not a drop.
This is not me being critical of him. This is
me saying, hey, you know, there's something to these old cliches.
Might actually be true. You know, might actually be true.
And now you get to the series where you're sitting
there and if you are like I think most of us,
(09:45):
where we believe Oklahoma City is in fact better, we
think like they're the better team. They they do have
to win what three of the next four, don't they?
They gotta win three of the next four games from
(10:07):
the Indiana Pacers. It's a It's weird how the math
affects the brain. If you guys ever noticed that, Like, yeah,
it's just two one Boklahoma City wins Game four, they
get back home court advantage, and they win Game five.
Say they drop game six, they win Game seven at home.
Perfect NBA series for all parties, shake hances, blah blah blah.
But then when you stop to think about this way,
they have to win three of four games from the
(10:30):
Indiana Pacers. Yes, stand fire.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
It's funny because the survivor pool that Jason Stewart and
I talk about when it comes to Major League Baseball,
I go through the exact same thinking. But I also
thought about something that we said on yesterday show you
and I said something different, and I forgot who the
guest that you had on yesterday that agreed with you.
Oh it was Antonio Daniels thinking that last night was
(10:55):
a must win for the Pacers and I you asked
me that question, and I thought it was for the
Thunder And I think it's obvious on why it was
a must win for the Pacers, But I also don't
think that I was necessarily wrong. And it leads into
a little bit about what you're talking about with Oklahoma
City in this situation of yeah, now they do have
(11:16):
to win three out of the next four against the
team that has kind of given them fits. So I've
actually gone back and forth in my head because I
still believe and I still stand by saying that I
felt that last night was important for Oklahoma City because
I felt they could have closed out the series with
a win last night.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Yeah, I actually I agree with you. I agree with
that that sentiment of it. Agree, go ahead. I'm sorry.
That's why I thought. That's why I thought we were
actually saying the same thing in opposite things. That's why
I thought it was more important for Indiana.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Yeah. Yeah, And it's kind of the same thing.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
You look at it two to one, or you can
look at it Oklahoma City's got to win three out
of the next four.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
It's weird how you can mentally trick your mind with
numbers that way, because the other part too it you
can go like, well, here's a real to it is,
say Indiana goes up three games to one, it does
you know, Look, obviously that puts Oklahoma City in a tough,
tough position. Now you gotta win three of three. The
(12:14):
other way to look at it is you got to
at home. You really got to win one road game, Like,
it's not that huge of a hill to climb when
out again, outside of the last two minutes of Game one,
you're combined fifty points better than the Indiana Pacers when
you're playing at home. But yeah, Antonio Daniels was our
(12:37):
guest yesterday and so but I think he agreed with
me for the same reason that we all actually agree
with you, right, which is had Oklahoma City one last night.
It's not much of a series. It's like, because you're
like Indiana, you have no level of faith that they
can win three out of four from Oklahoma City, especially
(12:57):
with two of them on the road.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Yeah, and their advantage would have taken away, you know,
right away. Now they still have that home court advantage.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
I feel like, now we have a series. It's weird again.
Here's a cliche that you always get in the NBA.
Series doesn't start to the road team wins a game Like, Yeah,
I didn't really feel like game one made it a series.
Game one was interesting. Oklahoma City didn't close out, but
they did this against Denver. Right Now, Indiana wins a
(13:26):
home game, takes two games one late. Now we get
a legit series.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
I yeah, and I thought it did.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Like I thought Game one changed everything in my mind
and looking at because I also felt that a lot
of people jumped on the thunder bandwagon after Game two,
and again we talked about it yesterday. It's a different
animal when you go on the road. And the thing
with the Pacers is they they do play great comeback basketball,
(13:53):
and sometimes they've thrown in stinkers even in their loss
in the Cavs series. Was a stinker in the Eastern
Conference semi finals. That may come up in Game four,
but it also may not because you just don't know
on who Indiana is and it's not like Oklahoma City
has been perfect in all of this. The two you know, imperfections.
(14:14):
It's also why I said, I think this is going
to be the worst NBA Finals champ that we've had
in decades, at least in my lifetime.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
And then some of it showed last night.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Yeah, that being said, last night was an enjoyable watch.
You know, we'll get to what Adam Silver said. I
want to have a conversation about it. I think it's
I actually think that I think he spoke a lot
of truths, but I'm willing to hear if you guys
(14:44):
think that he's just it's just word salid. We'll get
to all that. You also get some of the comments
from players in last night's games. For for forty years,
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(15:05):
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Speaker 6 (15:09):
Here comes a three Halliburton with twenty two points time
out ok Tlahoma City. The Pacers attempting to go up
two games to one, and now officially are up two.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Games to one.
Speaker 6 (15:23):
Pass time has run out or in Oklahoma City had
the lead in the fourth quarter, but as is their custom,
the Pacers rallied.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Now we're able to finish this one off one hundred
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Play of the Day.
Speaker 7 (15:41):
Be sure to catch the live edition of the Doug
Gottlieb Show weekdays at three pm Eastern noon Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio in the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Doug Gottlieb Show, Fox Sports Radio. Can't go wrong with
a little Billy Ocean on a Thursday? Huh did it?
Didn't know? Who doesn't like the song? Oh?
Speaker 4 (16:06):
This song is awful?
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Just this is a great eighty song. What is the
matter with the song? They that it's a cliche.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
They went to Billy Ocean and they said, to go
against We're gonna do the sequel to Romance in the Stone.
You have five minutes to think of a song that's
the true story, and it's story. Had five minutes to
think of the song. It's an awful song. Dan Byron
likes it too.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
I don't. I'm not.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
I'm never gonna judge somebody for anything, but I can
I can make fun of your taste.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Oh, dlling our calm Andy Mountain, the guy on hell
Swim any see.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Dan Wookie's a He's a music connoisseur. He enjoys.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
I had no idea he get in here. On the
Doug Gottlieb Show on Fox Sports Radio, he covers the
NBA for The La Times Billy Ocehan, go.
Speaker 8 (17:09):
Rob Polinka right now to every perspective center, get out
of my dreams, get into my front court.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Hey, true story buyer. I don't know if you know
this first concert I ever attended similar Timespan, sort of similar.
Jeffrey Osborne. Yes, yeah, woo Woo song you should be
mine his actual name of the song and says woo
woo woo. And here's a weird one for you though,
(17:39):
guys to the two dance. My parents we were in Vegas,
I think a basketball term or whatever. I was like
third Wheel went to the show with them and fast
forward like thirty years later, my dad coached Jeffrey Osborne's
son in AAU basketball placed him in college. Like crazy
story anyway, you know it would be a good one
for recruiting. You should be mine anyway. Dan Wake joins
(18:02):
us on the Doug Gottlieb Show. How would you How
would you honestly characterize the NBA Finals?
Speaker 8 (18:11):
I think it is it feels like a sign of
looks to come in the league. And uh, I know
we tend to overact to these things when they and
they appear in front of Yes.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Yes, because because heat culture was going to be in
the finals every year, regardless who's on the team.
Speaker 8 (18:28):
But Denver Nuggs, We're never going to lose an NBA finals.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Like Denver Nuggets were a dynasty.
Speaker 8 (18:34):
Nuts can possibly beat the Boston Celtics. I mean, and
I think and and Doug and I think that's sort
of my broader point, which is that this is just like,
and it's been said before, it like this is the
era of parody, and it just feels like I had
this thought yesterday going into next season. Excuse me, I'm
battling a little bit of a cold thing. How many
(18:55):
teams can credibly feel like they can win two rounds
in the playoffs next year? Like do like like if
the Spurs do the Spurs wake up and like, do
they see a pat to winning two rounds? Because I
kind of think they might, you know, and certainly the
Lakers with a in shape and motivated Lukadancic are gonna
(19:18):
feel that way. You know, the Clippers are going to
feel that. I mean, like you just go down the list,
it's gonna be like twenty teams, and you know, I
think that level of sort of teams with their with
the talent in the league, the mixture of old talent
and young talent, the sort of the way the game
has played, the variance in shooting. It just sort of
(19:40):
feels like every year we're gonna see gonna see somebody
that that feels inevitable, and then we'll watch their inevitability
kind of fall. That's sort of my that's my big
picture takeaway of these NBA Finals is that this is
just gonna It feels like it's gonna be a decade
of things like this where it's just it's this, you know,
it's this is this year seem now, look, Doug, when
(20:01):
we do this six years from now and the thunder
of one four titles, I'm gonna look stupid.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Again, and I'm I'm with you, I'm not gonna. I
remember when the Cubs won the World Series and people
are starting to talk about dynasties. I had a buddy
on the Cubs. He's like, we're never winning one again.
These guys, it's a mess, these guys painting each other. No,
it is. And then what happens when you win is,
you know, it's the the pat Riley disease of me
kicks in, right. So it's fascinating. I do think again,
(20:33):
I could be wrong. This one would be a hard
one for Oklahoma City to lose from the standpoint of
yet home court advantage. I think by most people's estimation,
you're the better team, You're fully healthy. You know last
year you're beaten by what's proceeded to be an inferior
team in the Dallas Mavericks, Like you're not going to
(20:55):
get an easier runway to winning an NBA title, then
a banged up Nuggets team. You don't play Steph, you
don't play Lebron, you play the Wolves who are still
like nobody expected them to be that far, and then
you play the Pacers in the finals. The Pacers are
there there with house money. I could I am I
(21:16):
wrong to think this could be one where Oklahoma City,
in an effort to to make that final step, they're
the type of team that could overreact because that's the
this is the type of devastating series loss if they
lose more games, could be.
Speaker 8 (21:30):
Yeah, I mean that's generally generally not been the way
Sam Presti's operated, right, So I think that is uh.
I would say, like the one sort of argument against
all that, Doug But and look, by no means should
anyone concede this series down to one no to the
Indiana Pacers, right, Like, let's just for all the reasons
(21:51):
you just mentioned, I think there there will be reaction.
I mean, look, I don't I don't really think the
reason they've lost either of these games is because of
the change their starting lineup. Like, honestly, I don't really
think that's why they've lost. I do think when I
when I've watched these games, I feel like they have
(22:13):
And this is kind of one of those things. Dog,
it's easy for me to say, right like, I'm not
I'm not in the coaches meetings, I'm not on the
sunlit trying to play one of the things that I
when I watch games, I tend to look like who
is doing what they want and who is reacting? You know,
it's just sort of like a way to get an
easier sort of way to judge games. And like, by
and large, it felt like they've played reactionary basketball in
(22:37):
this series to Indiana style instead of just being the
versions of themselves that was dominant, particularly against Eastern Conference
this year, playing multiple bigs, getting in the half court,
doing what they do in the half court, Like there
was a play early in the game, you know, And
it's not that they can't run. They should run when
you know Chet Holmer and gets the rebound and goes,
(22:59):
you know, close with the basketball, you know what I mean.
And it's like that is what makes Chet home Grin
different than every other you know, not every other, but
most seven footers in the NBA. Is his ability to
do that, like, you know, his ability to play out
of the pocket and playmake makes him different, Like he
has ball skills that are different doing the things that
(23:20):
make their guys so unique. I think, like that's what
I wanted to see more of. And I feel like
I felt like early in the third quarter it looked
like they had gotten to it. I think they came
out right score down their first four possessions, get into
the mid range spots they like, creating files like getting
Indiana frustrated, and then like you know, the Pacers, to
(23:42):
their credit, just like just just kind of push back
and didn't let it, didn't let that wave sort of
wash over them. And I think that was a really
surprising moment for me in this series. Maybe Indiana is
better than I've given them credit for. I think they're good,
don't get me wrong. I think they're very good and
they do a lot like they take care of the basketball,
and when you take care of the basket on the
modern NBA like you have a great chance to win.
(24:05):
And I think, you know, Okloma City's playmaking. To me,
it's just been a little rocky and they just haven't
really been themselves.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Yeah, they have not, and it's gonna be interesting to
see if they can write that ship. Dan Wiki joining
us LA Times covers the entire NBA. You mentioned that
this is what it's going to look like. Well, huh, okay,
but they're you know, everybody's still gonna go after Gianni's
gonna go after KD may not be the super teams,
(24:32):
but more super ish. Let's start with the Knicks. I'm
gonna make the case that asking to talk to coaches
who are currently under contract is a really smart thing
to do. Okay, I understand that right now most of
us in the media are sitting there going they got
egg on their face. These guys can't even talk to them. Okay,
(24:54):
but one you don't have to. You can still hire
a guy. The guy just resigns and you can go
through the a agent whatever. But this is what you
should do when you're trying to when you're like, take
a shot at five names that you don't think you
can get and see if somebody is unhappy. Right, Like
I called I'd love to calling Jason Kidd, like, do
I think he's the greatest coach? I don't know. They
(25:15):
went to the NBA Finals, and what level of unhappy
is he? Because of the Luca trade?
Speaker 8 (25:22):
Sure, and that firstly seemed less like a blind shot
in the dark than say, Billy Donovan. Sure, like the
Jason Kidd things seemed a little more measured at least
than some of the other ones.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
But yeah, okay, but anyway, like I don't hate it.
I didn't think they should have fired TIBs, But I
get asking a couple of the guys that you think
are the best coach in the NBA what their level
of interest is and you never know if somebody's not
happy that said, what do they do now?
Speaker 8 (25:54):
Well? And I think right like one, I mean, I
think I think you're right. Like ultimately, the the the
egg on their face from getting turned down on these
these conversations, right like, it's it makes for a good joke,
you know, but it doesn't really mean anything, Like I
can text the league source and say, hey, I got
a call from New York. I thought it was Leon
Rose asking my wife out for a date. I can
(26:16):
make that joke right now, and everybody can kind of
ha ha ha, you know whatever. But the reality is
is that like none of this matters right Like, the
the Knicks are still the Knicks. Their brand is not
going to be harmed by any of this. It's just
a good laugh we'll have for right now, and we
have the attention span of like NAT's will forget about this,
and you know, as soon as one of these other
(26:37):
guys gets traded, it'll be and it won't be a
topic anymore. I think though, the broader issue is and
you look at the way that the Knicks have operated
the last two years, where they have sort of like
put their team on this path, They put their roster
on a real path. They they they put their chips
behind Jalen Brunson and they built a roster around him.
(27:01):
That makes a ton of sense if you're going to
have a six foot offensive engine like you need these
kind of ranging defenders. Now, the Karlington Towns part of
it all doesn't totally make sense. Along that line, but
every other decision has been like kind of towards this,
you know, doing doing things this way. I think what
what surprised people and what surprised me is when when
(27:23):
you know they fired TIBs, you know, after after making
the conference finals. I was with some NBA people actually
here in southern California, and the logic run away was, oh, well,
like they have to know who they want like that
that you do that you make that kind of decision
generally speaking with a you fire this coach because you
know who you're going to hire, sure, and and this
(27:45):
certainly seems like they don't know who they're going to
hire now maybe all maybe all along it was gonna
be Mike Brown or Taylor Jenkins. And then this is
sort of the the this is awesome like long game
to see like maybe somebody else shakes this like like
we'll figure it out. But but I think like what
it does is it shows holes in the process and
in a time when, like we mentioned, parody is all
(28:07):
of that stuff like like process matters. You know, all
of this stuff is percentage points and decimals that that
impact your chances of winning. And you know, if you
do something rash without like a good plan B. Now, now,
the other thing it tells me is that it just
shows you how untenable they view Tom Thibodeau right, that
(28:28):
they would do this without even knowing what was going
to happen next it does. Yeah, it's like pulling all
your money out of a four oh one k without
looking at like what that means for your taxes.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Yeah, it's freaky. It's it's a classic overreaction. It's a
classic over reaction.
Speaker 4 (28:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
But on the other on the other hand, like he's right,
Tim's has TIBs has first tips has been and a
lot of that TIBs doesn't sub narrative came out to
be true. And when you own the team, you have
the right to make a change. If you feel like
it's not right, doesn't mean it's right. Decision. I just
if the whole thing is to me, because I actually
like some of the thoughts in the process, I just don't.
(29:04):
It's how they got there, which is what you're talking about,
and where they end up, which is the parts that
I think you always.
Speaker 8 (29:09):
Don't really Doug, you mentioned this. They give a part
about this that's just strange, and you don't really need
to do this, right, Like, there are other ways. There
are other ways to like ask for permission without asking
for permission. Two, Like that's the other part of this, right,
is that it's a This is a small league, particularly
when it comes to coaching agents, right, Like, you make
(29:30):
a couple of calls there and you can figure out
who's interested, who's not going to be.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
No, No, it's for show. It's for show. It's it's an
optics thing, right. The only reason to do it. It's
either for show or it's to rattle some of the
other teams, to mess with some of the other teams. Hey,
you know, Jason Kid's guys stepped up said he can't talk,
So now it makes everybody else step up and say
their guy can't talk. Dan Wiki joins us LA Times.
What do the Lakers look like next season?
Speaker 8 (29:55):
Great question? Skinnier hopefully, I think is like one. It starts,
so they're gonna look like they're in better shape.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
He does do this year, by the way, he does
do it every year, I.
Speaker 8 (30:07):
Know, and particularly in years when there's European club there's
national competitions, right, Like, I mean, this is not I
mean he's getting in shape for more than the upcoming
NBA season, right Like, he's gonna be playing in euro Basket.
It's very important, and I think, like, but but there
are other factors that play here with Luca, you know,
and this was one of the things. And we'll see
right like, this isn't the type of thing we're going
(30:27):
to know through a couple of summer through a couple
of pictures of the summer or some videos of him squatting,
you know. I think one of the things in the
aftermath of the there's no think about this.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
I know.
Speaker 8 (30:39):
One of the things in the aftermath of the Luca
trade was is that people both around Luca and people
around the Lakers kind of thought it would be great
for him to see Lebron James and just to see
what that looks like, the type of commitment physically that
that takes, right, just to have a front row seat
for something like that, to see the way that Lebron
(30:59):
James works a personal trainer Mike Mancias and that team,
and as Luca kind of figures out how the best
move forwards in that way, that that would be valuable insight.
Now whether or not that fully shows up three months later,
if that's more of a three year investment. We'll see.
They got to get a center, Doug, you know, and
and the I don't know where they're going to find one.
(31:21):
The list, like the lists aren't great, but they got
to find a center. The one they had they benched
in the playoffs, so it's gonna be hard to go
knock on that door again, I think. And they've got
limited means. They've got basically one, you know, one real
trade asset. They're not going to trade Austin Reeves for
(31:43):
a middling center.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
That's just what's the what's their trade asset?
Speaker 8 (31:47):
I mean, they have a they have a first round
pick in either twenty thirty one or twenty thirty two,
and they have Dalton connect that's what they have to trade.
And they have a bunch of expiring contracts which are valuable,
like valuable in the sense that they can facilli trate
a trade. Now, the question that you're asking, if you're
ub link, is like, are we going to put these
assets in play for say Nick Claxton, You know, is
that good enough for us? If this is like this
(32:09):
is the road now, we were walking down with Luca
Dodg just where we were pairing this person with Nicholas Claxton.
Are we doing this for? You know? I think you
know another name you hear a lot is Daniel Gafford.
I don't think Dallas is making a trade with the Lakers.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
No, we made our trade with Lakers. We did well.
We're I think we're good guys.
Speaker 8 (32:25):
I think that I think that needs to reset that
that clock needs to probably reset a little bit. But
you know, like like you hear names out there like that,
like you wonder you know that. What's interesting about all
this is the Lakers showed their hand right at the
trade online with Mark Williams. They showed what they're willing
to pay for a young center. So you can look
around the NBA at who the centers are that that
(32:47):
sort of fit that bill, you know, are they willing
to do that for Jalen Duran. Is Jalen Duran the
fit uh catch and everything.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
There's there's no way Detroit moves. Jalen Duran is so awesome.
He's so he's so awesome.
Speaker 8 (33:02):
He's a little bit it's interesting you say that, and
I'm just saying, like he's of that age. You know,
he's getting ready for his next big contract. He's about
to get sure a really big contract and like kind
of on the Mark Limbs thing, he's a guy that
I think, like when you talk to people around Detroit,
it is interesting they've been tied to a lot of
bigs this summer. You hear them a lot with nas Reeds.
They have Isaiah Stewart, a player they love defensively, and
(33:26):
it's like the one the question is is sort of
like can he be our defensive anchor? He's that kind
of center. Well that's the kind of like if Detroit's
asking that question while having him, Yeah, you have to
ask that question. If you're the Lakers, you are for
getting reader to give them everything else you can get,
if you're gonna empty the bank account for him. It's
just you know, it's going to take a level of creativity,
I think. And the crazy thing is is it might
(33:47):
take patience, which again is maybe the thing you don't have.
Speaker 9 (33:52):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's the hard part of all of this.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Yeah, not them, Like like Plink has drafted really well,
really well, but these they've they've generally opened.
Speaker 9 (34:03):
Mean good luck at fifty yeah, good luck at fifty four,
you know what I mean, Like there is no like
that you're you're not going to find an answer there.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
Hey, hey they got they got Bronnie. Last year, a
lot of people wanted Brownie.
Speaker 9 (34:13):
They Yeah, I mean, you know there's uh look at
Brownnie was seven point one. You know, you know, I think,
uh I had two heads.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
If I had two heads, i'd be in the circus. Uh.
Speaker 8 (34:24):
Yeah, it's it's a it's a tough it's just a
tough center market.
Speaker 7 (34:27):
You know.
Speaker 8 (34:27):
I think a stop gap option, certainly, again, seems like
the path of least resistance the Clinabella brook Lopez. Is
that the different winning and losing an NBA championship. Probably not.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Yeah, this is true, And I still don't know if
you can do it with two guys that don't guard
anybody in or three guys that don't guard anybody on
the court. That's what they have with their three best
offensive players. But Dan, we could talk Lakers and the
NBA all all day.
Speaker 8 (34:51):
Oh we will, Doug, You're in the media, You'll will
be there, I know, and.
Speaker 1 (34:54):
I'm probably gonna guy, got a book you on my pod.
We'll just talk hoop for a for a couple of
hours and and just get it all out there in
the meantime, I appreciate you joining us. I truly do.
Thanks for being our guest.
Speaker 8 (35:04):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 7 (35:04):
Be sure to catch the live edition of The Doug
Gottlieb Show weekdays at three pm Eastern noon Pacific.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Stug Gottleep Show, Fox Sports Radio. Hope you're getting ready
for a great weekend. Can be a good sports weekend.
US Open, NBA Finals, a lot of Major League Baseball, Doyers, Friars,
good stuff. Let's get to the game. Game time.
Speaker 7 (35:33):
This is game time on The Doug Gottlieb Show.
Speaker 4 (35:41):
All right, Doug, the game today is going to be
a quick one.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
It is. I feel a draft.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
I feel a draft.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
Two rounds, eight picks and all Jason Stewart as the
first pick. I'm second, Doug, your third, Sam will be
the swing pick. With back to back picks. Your favorite
team USA on the heels of US soccer, maybe not
faring so well, but also getting ready to take part
in the Gold Cup controversy around that. Your favorite team
USA to cheer four. Jason Stewart, You're on the clock.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
Could I could be cute right now, Doug, But I'm
just going to take the chalk. Nineteen ninety two. Dream
Team Basketball, a team of Hall of famers destroys every
team in the world.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
All right, men's basketball is off the board. I'm gonna
go US Ryder Cup team. If I had to pick
a specific one, I don't think there's anyone better than
nineteen ninety nine. But as a whole I'll take the
US Ryder Cup team.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
Right.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
Cheer for USA the most, Doug, your third pick. This
also helps balance out are hoping for Canada to win
a Stanley Cup. So we're all Team USA right now, Doug,
who's your favorite team USA?
Speaker 1 (36:51):
My favorite team USA never played a game. M the
nineteen eighty eight team US. It's a baseball team, all right.
You have to have been a card collector to remember this,
because the cards are still really, really valuable. Jim Abbott
was I love Jim Abbott, and of course Oklahoma State
(37:14):
alum Robin Ventura on the club as well. Nineteen eighty
eight Olympic Baseball Team USA, the team that never played
a game.
Speaker 4 (37:22):
All right, Sam, you got back to back picks, all right.
Speaker 5 (37:25):
With the fourth overall pick, I'm gonna go with the
twenty sixteen Rio Games men's swimming team.
Speaker 7 (37:29):
In the US.
Speaker 5 (37:30):
Okay, the USA A lot of stars there, and then
with a fifth overall pick, I'm gonna go since it
is a throwback Thursday, I'm gonna go to the twenty
fifteen US Women's National Team World Cup champions.
Speaker 4 (37:39):
All right, women's soccer, Alright, I like it. Thug back
to you.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
I'm going to go the nineteen eighty four Olympic Team
USA track and Field team. Okay, yeah, I mean, the
only thing worse than track is field. But Edwin Moses
comes to mind, as well as Carl Lewis, Florence S.
Griffith Joiner, et cetera, et cetera. Nineteen eighty four Summer
Olympics dominated by Team USA's track and Field.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
Give me ninety six US women's gymnastics Kerrie stroggin crew.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Do you believe in miracles? Do you believe in miracles?
Speaker 1 (38:15):
Yes, it's the Doug Gottlib Show on Fox Sports.
Speaker 6 (38:19):
Tray, don't go on to the rect Ard Day nex
Thanks for listening to The Doug Gotlieb Show podcast. Be
sure to catch us live every weekday three to twelve
two Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station
for The Doug Gottlieb Show at Foxsports Radio dot com,
or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app
by searching app as car boom Up America Doug Gottlieb Show,
five Sports Radio. I hope you're having a great day.
(00:25):
The Doug Gottlieb Show broadcasting two places. We'll not we're
broadcasting too many places, but to two places from two places.
Sherman Oaks, California, Green Bay, Wisconsin. No, hey, no, you're
you're you're too kind. You're absolutely too kind. This is
(00:47):
the Doug Gottlieb Show. Hey, we'll get to Jjspond. We'll
see if he continues to be the leader. At the
end of the entirety of the first round. I know
buyers all over that, I mean Oakmont to shoot a
birdie bogie free round four under is pretty amazing. I mean,
here's a guy who has won one PGA event, one
(01:10):
PGA event, and if you tune into the podcast today,
I'll tell you what what the the no name leader
to the US Open reminds me of in in movie
dum if you will, in movie dumb Uh, Let's let's
get to the NBA Finals Cuz you know, as I
(01:31):
told you yesterday, I don't think anybody, myself included, was
super fired up about Game three one because as the
guys that point out the schedules, whack, I thought it
was Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday. Then they're like Wednesday, Friday, Sunday.
Wait what and the games outside of the last you know,
a couple minutes of Game one was a snooze, so
(01:56):
you kind of thought, all right, maybe game three is
this Game three is a good game. And it brought
to mind a cliche that is used on TV, but
it actually is an accurate depiction of what happened last night.
(02:16):
And I was explaining to a buddy mind Andy, who
is he wants to get into the business. I said, hey,
you have to find a way to not use cliches,
only sort of use cliches. It's like, I don't, what
do you mean? Well, the cliches in many ways are
(02:40):
in fact true, right there there are things that have
been stated time and again. Now they've been stayed in
time and again because quite often they are in. They
are true. But we're taught don't be cliche, don't utter cliches.
Uh jay s douw your most overused or most again
and things annoy you. Cliche that comes to mind.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Hey, you can't judge a book by its cover.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
You can't can't judge a book by its cover, can't.
What's weird about that is how many times have you
bought a book because of the cover? If you ever
looking for a book or you're an airport, like, man,
I got a couple hours to kill. I mean, I'm
gonna buy a book. Like do you read the first
chapter or do you just read the Do you look
at the front, you look at the back, You're like, yeah,
(03:27):
sounds good, wrap it up, let's go. Can't judge a
book by its cover? Fire you gotta do you have
a cliche? Or I'm like, oh, here's a cliche that
comes to your mind immediately.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
One of my favorites because I think it's flexible. The
grass is always greener on the other side. But then
when you find out the consequence, guess what, the grass
isn't always greener.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
On the other side. Yeah, yeah, it's flexible.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Yeah, Sam, is there a cliche that comes to your
mind when I say cliches?
Speaker 5 (04:00):
Going with a sports cliche, it's a game of inches?
But actually think that that there is a lot of
truth that because especially in the era we live in
now of video review, everything now is a game of inches.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
Was just foot on the line?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (04:14):
You know?
Speaker 5 (04:14):
Was he in bounds? Where do the ref spot the ball?
But obviously it's kind of a speaking to a larger
idea of like, you know, even details, even in track
and field where you use meters, it's still a game
of inches.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
There you go. So that one I think holds true.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
But the point that you got to, you're like, well,
you know, it really is a game of inches. It
is no one's saying the grass is always greener on
their side and then it isn't always green on their side.
Like these statements are true, and you can't judge a
book by its cover, but it's it's a it's worth
of discausse. When the when the going gets tough, the
tough dude get going. They just do. They don't build
(04:54):
them like they used to. They just don't. They don't
build like used to they don't build like used to.
But by the way, there's no more ambiguous neutral comment
that sounds like it's an ode to the older days.
Then they don't be them like they used to. They don't.
There are some structures that were really well constructed. There
are lots of structures that were very poorly constructed back
(05:17):
in the day. Like was that mortar? Like yeah, sort
of sort of whatever they had they kind of stuck together,
made mortar to keep the bricks together. You're like, wow,
they don't build house like they used to. You're right now,
we like, you know, are plumbing and air conditioning. You
are correct. Have you ever been to a modern house,
like a really brand new modern house, like, wow, this
is way better than that so old? But we always
(05:39):
use the I bring up the cliche because have you
ever heard Kendrick Perkins or others on TV say they
know role players they played better at home. And I
was looking TJ McConnell, for example, ten points, five assists,
five steals, first NBA player to post those numbers off
the bend in an NBA Finals game. He was a
(06:01):
plus twelve in fifteen minutes. He's a role player. He
played great and he was at home, and you know,
on the other side, you're watching, like, I don't know
why Oklahoma City had lou Dort in at the end
of the game, but lou Dort's inability to shoot meant
that the Pacers could just play completely in the gaps
(06:25):
and leave him alone in the corner. But if you
remember previous series, the big win over Denver, it was
loud Dort hitting corner threes. But those were at home,
right Ben Mathering Ben Mathern has an unbelievable game last night,
and look, Ben's' scoring guard comes off the bench just
a he's our score. But he's a role player, right,
(06:48):
role player, and he played great at home. The point
of it is, it's a cliche. Just because we say,
don't you cliches does not mean it doesn't mean it's
not true. It just means they're super overused expressions, and
let's find a different way to say the same things
(07:10):
and a different way to say the same thing. But
I was watching that last night and I was just like, ah,
there's that cliche. And I was talking a week ago
to a buddy mine who lived who works for the Thunder,
and I can't remember who we were talking about we're
talking about Lue Dort. He's like, yeah, role players. He's like,
there's a reason that people say it. It's because it's true.
(07:31):
It's just an overused expression. So while the Dodgers were
beating up on the padres, You're welcome, Jase too. I
did pay attention, and there was other stuff going on,
and Dan Byer's getting ready for Oakmont. I know how
excited he is, like this is an epic challenge for
(07:52):
all of these golfers. I'm sitting there watching, going, yeah,
you know, it's kind of true because the role players
are what won them the game. Ben Matherin twenty seven points,
twenty seven points in twenty two minutes. TJ McConnell ten,
(08:15):
five and five in fifteen minutes. You know, even Obie Toppen,
who there's a couple of times where it felt like
he was running and he had the turbo button down
and somebody's like, hey, let go of the turbo button.
You're going too fast. He like turns it over. Obie
Topmen was outstanding last night. And I don't know if
it's because they're at home, because they've kind of figured
(08:37):
it out. Because the ball was going in or whatever
it is, but it does play into that cliche of
role players played better and more confidently at home as
opposed to Oklahoma City's role players. Who you know, Caruso
hit a couple of shots. But Aaron Wiggins, who was
(08:57):
an absolute star in game two or game one. In
game two, game one, he had eighteen points, right, he's
a role player, eighteen points in twenty one minutes, was
at home. Again, there's the cliche role players play better
at home. That was in game two. I apologize and
my game's kind of screwed up when I was looking
at the game log. So Aaron Wiggins goes from eighteen points,
(09:21):
who doesn't pee a drop last night? Not a drop.
This is not me being critical of him. This is
me saying, hey, you know, there's something to these old cliches.
Might actually be true. You know, might actually be true.
And now you get to the series where you're sitting
there and if you are like I think most of us,
(09:45):
where we believe Oklahoma City is in fact better, we
think like they're the better team. They they do have
to win what three of the next four, don't they?
They gotta win three of the next four games from
(10:07):
the Indiana Pacers. It's a It's weird how the math
affects the brain. If you guys ever noticed that, Like, yeah,
it's just two one Boklahoma City wins Game four, they
get back home court advantage, and they win Game five.
Say they drop game six, they win Game seven at home.
Perfect NBA series for all parties, shake hances, blah blah blah.
But then when you stop to think about this way,
they have to win three of four games from the
(10:30):
Indiana Pacers. Yes, stand fire.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
It's funny because the survivor pool that Jason Stewart and
I talk about when it comes to Major League Baseball,
I go through the exact same thinking. But I also
thought about something that we said on yesterday show you
and I said something different, and I forgot who the
guest that you had on yesterday that agreed with you.
Oh it was Antonio Daniels thinking that last night was
(10:55):
a must win for the Pacers and I you asked
me that question, and I thought it was for the
Thunder And I think it's obvious on why it was
a must win for the Pacers, But I also don't
think that I was necessarily wrong. And it leads into
a little bit about what you're talking about with Oklahoma
City in this situation of yeah, now they do have
(11:16):
to win three out of the next four against the
team that has kind of given them fits. So I've
actually gone back and forth in my head because I
still believe and I still stand by saying that I
felt that last night was important for Oklahoma City because
I felt they could have closed out the series with
a win last night.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Yeah, I actually I agree with you. I agree with
that that sentiment of it. Agree, go ahead. I'm sorry.
That's why I thought. That's why I thought we were
actually saying the same thing in opposite things. That's why
I thought it was more important for Indiana.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Yeah. Yeah, And it's kind of the same thing.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
You look at it two to one, or you can
look at it Oklahoma City's got to win three out
of the next four.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
It's weird how you can mentally trick your mind with
numbers that way, because the other part too it you
can go like, well, here's a real to it is,
say Indiana goes up three games to one, it does
you know, Look, obviously that puts Oklahoma City in a tough,
tough position. Now you gotta win three of three. The
(12:14):
other way to look at it is you got to
at home. You really got to win one road game, Like,
it's not that huge of a hill to climb when
out again, outside of the last two minutes of Game one,
you're combined fifty points better than the Indiana Pacers when
you're playing at home. But yeah, Antonio Daniels was our
(12:37):
guest yesterday and so but I think he agreed with
me for the same reason that we all actually agree
with you, right, which is had Oklahoma City one last night.
It's not much of a series. It's like, because you're
like Indiana, you have no level of faith that they
can win three out of four from Oklahoma City, especially
(12:57):
with two of them on the road.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Yeah, and their advantage would have taken away, you know,
right away. Now they still have that home court advantage.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
I feel like, now we have a series. It's weird again.
Here's a cliche that you always get in the NBA.
Series doesn't start to the road team wins a game Like, Yeah,
I didn't really feel like game one made it a series.
Game one was interesting. Oklahoma City didn't close out, but
they did this against Denver. Right Now, Indiana wins a
(13:26):
home game, takes two games one late. Now we get
a legit series.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
I yeah, and I thought it did.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Like I thought Game one changed everything in my mind
and looking at because I also felt that a lot
of people jumped on the thunder bandwagon after Game two,
and again we talked about it yesterday. It's a different
animal when you go on the road. And the thing
with the Pacers is they they do play great comeback basketball,
(13:53):
and sometimes they've thrown in stinkers even in their loss
in the Cavs series. Was a stinker in the Eastern
Conference semi finals. That may come up in Game four,
but it also may not because you just don't know
on who Indiana is and it's not like Oklahoma City
has been perfect in all of this. The two you know, imperfections.
(14:14):
It's also why I said, I think this is going
to be the worst NBA Finals champ that we've had
in decades, at least in my lifetime.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
And then some of it showed last night.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Yeah, that being said, last night was an enjoyable watch.
You know, we'll get to what Adam Silver said. I
want to have a conversation about it. I think it's
I actually think that I think he spoke a lot
of truths, but I'm willing to hear if you guys
(14:44):
think that he's just it's just word salid. We'll get
to all that. You also get some of the comments
from players in last night's games. For for forty years,
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(15:05):
courtesy of the Pacers Radio Network. He's got the ball,
mout right answer the ark.
Speaker 6 (15:09):
Here comes a three Halliburton with twenty two points time
out ok Tlahoma City. The Pacers attempting to go up
two games to one, and now officially are up two.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Games to one.
Speaker 6 (15:23):
Pass time has run out or in Oklahoma City had
the lead in the fourth quarter, but as is their custom,
the Pacers rallied.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Now we're able to finish this one off one hundred
and sixteen to one hundred and seven. That's our Tyreq
Play of the Day.
Speaker 7 (15:41):
Be sure to catch the live edition of the Doug
Gottlieb Show weekdays at three pm Eastern noon Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio in the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Doug Gottlieb Show, Fox Sports Radio. Can't go wrong with
a little Billy Ocean on a Thursday? Huh did it?
Didn't know? Who doesn't like the song? Oh?
Speaker 4 (16:06):
This song is awful?
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Just this is a great eighty song. What is the
matter with the song? They that it's a cliche.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
They went to Billy Ocean and they said, to go
against We're gonna do the sequel to Romance in the Stone.
You have five minutes to think of a song that's
the true story, and it's story. Had five minutes to
think of the song. It's an awful song. Dan Byron
likes it too.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
I don't. I'm not.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
I'm never gonna judge somebody for anything, but I can
I can make fun of your taste.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Oh, dlling our calm Andy Mountain, the guy on hell
Swim any see.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Dan Wookie's a He's a music connoisseur. He enjoys.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
I had no idea he get in here. On the
Doug Gottlieb Show on Fox Sports Radio, he covers the
NBA for The La Times Billy Ocehan, go.
Speaker 8 (17:09):
Rob Polinka right now to every perspective center, get out
of my dreams, get into my front court.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Hey, true story buyer. I don't know if you know
this first concert I ever attended similar Timespan, sort of similar.
Jeffrey Osborne. Yes, yeah, woo Woo song you should be
mine his actual name of the song and says woo
woo woo. And here's a weird one for you though,
(17:39):
guys to the two dance. My parents we were in Vegas,
I think a basketball term or whatever. I was like
third Wheel went to the show with them and fast
forward like thirty years later, my dad coached Jeffrey Osborne's
son in AAU basketball placed him in college. Like crazy
story anyway, you know it would be a good one
for recruiting. You should be mine anyway. Dan Wake joins
(18:02):
us on the Doug Gottlieb Show. How would you How
would you honestly characterize the NBA Finals?
Speaker 8 (18:11):
I think it is it feels like a sign of
looks to come in the league. And uh, I know
we tend to overact to these things when they and
they appear in front of Yes.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Yes, because because heat culture was going to be in
the finals every year, regardless who's on the team.
Speaker 8 (18:28):
But Denver Nuggs, We're never going to lose an NBA finals.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Like Denver Nuggets were a dynasty.
Speaker 8 (18:34):
Nuts can possibly beat the Boston Celtics. I mean, and
I think and and Doug and I think that's sort
of my broader point, which is that this is just like,
and it's been said before, it like this is the
era of parody, and it just feels like I had
this thought yesterday going into next season. Excuse me, I'm
battling a little bit of a cold thing. How many
(18:55):
teams can credibly feel like they can win two rounds
in the playoffs next year? Like do like like if
the Spurs do the Spurs wake up and like, do
they see a pat to winning two rounds? Because I
kind of think they might, you know, and certainly the
Lakers with a in shape and motivated Lukadancic are gonna
(19:18):
feel that way. You know, the Clippers are going to
feel that. I mean, like you just go down the list,
it's gonna be like twenty teams, and you know, I
think that level of sort of teams with their with
the talent in the league, the mixture of old talent
and young talent, the sort of the way the game
has played, the variance in shooting. It just sort of
(19:40):
feels like every year we're gonna see gonna see somebody
that that feels inevitable, and then we'll watch their inevitability
kind of fall. That's sort of my that's my big
picture takeaway of these NBA Finals is that this is
just gonna It feels like it's gonna be a decade
of things like this where it's just it's this, you know,
it's this is this year seem now, look, Doug, when
(20:01):
we do this six years from now and the thunder
of one four titles, I'm gonna look stupid.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Again, and I'm I'm with you, I'm not gonna. I
remember when the Cubs won the World Series and people
are starting to talk about dynasties. I had a buddy
on the Cubs. He's like, we're never winning one again.
These guys, it's a mess, these guys painting each other. No,
it is. And then what happens when you win is,
you know, it's the the pat Riley disease of me
kicks in, right. So it's fascinating. I do think again,
(20:33):
I could be wrong. This one would be a hard
one for Oklahoma City to lose from the standpoint of
yet home court advantage. I think by most people's estimation,
you're the better team, You're fully healthy. You know last
year you're beaten by what's proceeded to be an inferior
team in the Dallas Mavericks, Like you're not going to
(20:55):
get an easier runway to winning an NBA title, then
a banged up Nuggets team. You don't play Steph, you
don't play Lebron, you play the Wolves who are still
like nobody expected them to be that far, and then
you play the Pacers in the finals. The Pacers are
there there with house money. I could I am I
(21:16):
wrong to think this could be one where Oklahoma City,
in an effort to to make that final step, they're
the type of team that could overreact because that's the
this is the type of devastating series loss if they
lose more games, could be.
Speaker 8 (21:30):
Yeah, I mean that's generally generally not been the way
Sam Presti's operated, right, So I think that is uh.
I would say, like the one sort of argument against
all that, Doug But and look, by no means should
anyone concede this series down to one no to the
Indiana Pacers, right, Like, let's just for all the reasons
(21:51):
you just mentioned, I think there there will be reaction.
I mean, look, I don't I don't really think the
reason they've lost either of these games is because of
the change their starting lineup. Like, honestly, I don't really
think that's why they've lost. I do think when I
when I've watched these games, I feel like they have
(22:13):
And this is kind of one of those things. Dog,
it's easy for me to say, right like, I'm not
I'm not in the coaches meetings, I'm not on the
sunlit trying to play one of the things that I
when I watch games, I tend to look like who
is doing what they want and who is reacting? You know,
it's just sort of like a way to get an
easier sort of way to judge games. And like, by
and large, it felt like they've played reactionary basketball in
(22:37):
this series to Indiana style instead of just being the
versions of themselves that was dominant, particularly against Eastern Conference
this year, playing multiple bigs, getting in the half court,
doing what they do in the half court, Like there
was a play early in the game, you know, And
it's not that they can't run. They should run when
you know Chet Holmer and gets the rebound and goes,
(22:59):
you know, close with the basketball, you know what I mean.
And it's like that is what makes Chet home Grin
different than every other you know, not every other, but
most seven footers in the NBA. Is his ability to
do that, like, you know, his ability to play out
of the pocket and playmake makes him different, Like he
has ball skills that are different doing the things that
(23:20):
make their guys so unique. I think, like that's what
I wanted to see more of. And I feel like
I felt like early in the third quarter it looked
like they had gotten to it. I think they came
out right score down their first four possessions, get into
the mid range spots they like, creating files like getting
Indiana frustrated, and then like you know, the Pacers, to
(23:42):
their credit, just like just just kind of push back
and didn't let it, didn't let that wave sort of
wash over them. And I think that was a really
surprising moment for me in this series. Maybe Indiana is
better than I've given them credit for. I think they're good,
don't get me wrong. I think they're very good and
they do a lot like they take care of the basketball,
and when you take care of the basket on the
modern NBA like you have a great chance to win.
(24:05):
And I think, you know, Okloma City's playmaking. To me,
it's just been a little rocky and they just haven't
really been themselves.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Yeah, they have not, and it's gonna be interesting to
see if they can write that ship. Dan Wiki joining
us LA Times covers the entire NBA. You mentioned that
this is what it's going to look like. Well, huh, okay,
but they're you know, everybody's still gonna go after Gianni's
gonna go after KD may not be the super teams,
(24:32):
but more super ish. Let's start with the Knicks. I'm
gonna make the case that asking to talk to coaches
who are currently under contract is a really smart thing
to do. Okay, I understand that right now most of
us in the media are sitting there going they got
egg on their face. These guys can't even talk to them. Okay,
(24:54):
but one you don't have to. You can still hire
a guy. The guy just resigns and you can go
through the a agent whatever. But this is what you
should do when you're trying to when you're like, take
a shot at five names that you don't think you
can get and see if somebody is unhappy. Right, Like
I called I'd love to calling Jason Kidd, like, do
I think he's the greatest coach? I don't know. They
(25:15):
went to the NBA Finals, and what level of unhappy
is he? Because of the Luca trade?
Speaker 8 (25:22):
Sure, and that firstly seemed less like a blind shot
in the dark than say, Billy Donovan. Sure, like the
Jason Kidd things seemed a little more measured at least
than some of the other ones.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
But yeah, okay, but anyway, like I don't hate it.
I didn't think they should have fired TIBs, But I
get asking a couple of the guys that you think
are the best coach in the NBA what their level
of interest is and you never know if somebody's not
happy that said, what do they do now?
Speaker 8 (25:54):
Well? And I think right like one, I mean, I
think I think you're right. Like ultimately, the the the
egg on their face from getting turned down on these
these conversations, right like, it's it makes for a good joke,
you know, but it doesn't really mean anything, Like I
can text the league source and say, hey, I got
a call from New York. I thought it was Leon
Rose asking my wife out for a date. I can
(26:16):
make that joke right now, and everybody can kind of
ha ha ha, you know whatever. But the reality is
is that like none of this matters right Like, the
the Knicks are still the Knicks. Their brand is not
going to be harmed by any of this. It's just
a good laugh we'll have for right now, and we
have the attention span of like NAT's will forget about this,
and you know, as soon as one of these other
(26:37):
guys gets traded, it'll be and it won't be a
topic anymore. I think though, the broader issue is and
you look at the way that the Knicks have operated
the last two years, where they have sort of like
put their team on this path, They put their roster
on a real path. They they they put their chips
behind Jalen Brunson and they built a roster around him.
(27:01):
That makes a ton of sense if you're going to
have a six foot offensive engine like you need these
kind of ranging defenders. Now, the Karlington Towns part of
it all doesn't totally make sense. Along that line, but
every other decision has been like kind of towards this,
you know, doing doing things this way. I think what
what surprised people and what surprised me is when when
(27:23):
you know they fired TIBs, you know, after after making
the conference finals. I was with some NBA people actually
here in southern California, and the logic run away was, oh, well,
like they have to know who they want like that
that you do that you make that kind of decision
generally speaking with a you fire this coach because you
know who you're going to hire, sure, and and this
(27:45):
certainly seems like they don't know who they're going to
hire now maybe all maybe all along it was gonna
be Mike Brown or Taylor Jenkins. And then this is
sort of the the this is awesome like long game
to see like maybe somebody else shakes this like like
we'll figure it out. But but I think like what
it does is it shows holes in the process and
in a time when, like we mentioned, parody is all
(28:07):
of that stuff like like process matters. You know, all
of this stuff is percentage points and decimals that that
impact your chances of winning. And you know, if you
do something rash without like a good plan B. Now, now,
the other thing it tells me is that it just
shows you how untenable they view Tom Thibodeau right, that
(28:28):
they would do this without even knowing what was going
to happen next it does. Yeah, it's like pulling all
your money out of a four oh one k without
looking at like what that means for your taxes.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Yeah, it's freaky. It's it's a classic overreaction. It's a
classic over reaction.
Speaker 4 (28:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
But on the other on the other hand, like he's right,
Tim's has TIBs has first tips has been and a
lot of that TIBs doesn't sub narrative came out to
be true. And when you own the team, you have
the right to make a change. If you feel like
it's not right, doesn't mean it's right. Decision. I just
if the whole thing is to me, because I actually
like some of the thoughts in the process, I just don't.
(29:04):
It's how they got there, which is what you're talking about,
and where they end up, which is the parts that
I think you always.
Speaker 8 (29:09):
Don't really Doug, you mentioned this. They give a part
about this that's just strange, and you don't really need
to do this, right, Like, there are other ways. There
are other ways to like ask for permission without asking
for permission. Two, Like that's the other part of this, right,
is that it's a This is a small league, particularly
when it comes to coaching agents, right, Like, you make
(29:30):
a couple of calls there and you can figure out
who's interested, who's not going to be.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
No, No, it's for show. It's for show. It's it's an
optics thing, right. The only reason to do it. It's
either for show or it's to rattle some of the
other teams, to mess with some of the other teams. Hey,
you know, Jason Kid's guys stepped up said he can't talk,
So now it makes everybody else step up and say
their guy can't talk. Dan Wiki joins us LA Times.
What do the Lakers look like next season?
Speaker 8 (29:55):
Great question? Skinnier hopefully, I think is like one. It starts,
so they're gonna look like they're in better shape.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
He does do this year, by the way, he does
do it every year, I.
Speaker 8 (30:07):
Know, and particularly in years when there's European club there's
national competitions, right, Like, I mean, this is not I
mean he's getting in shape for more than the upcoming
NBA season, right Like, he's gonna be playing in euro Basket.
It's very important, and I think, like, but but there
are other factors that play here with Luca, you know,
and this was one of the things. And we'll see
right like, this isn't the type of thing we're going
(30:27):
to know through a couple of summer through a couple
of pictures of the summer or some videos of him squatting,
you know. I think one of the things in the
aftermath of the there's no think about this.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
I know.
Speaker 8 (30:39):
One of the things in the aftermath of the Luca
trade was is that people both around Luca and people
around the Lakers kind of thought it would be great
for him to see Lebron James and just to see
what that looks like, the type of commitment physically that
that takes, right, just to have a front row seat
for something like that, to see the way that Lebron
(30:59):
James works a personal trainer Mike Mancias and that team,
and as Luca kind of figures out how the best
move forwards in that way, that that would be valuable insight.
Now whether or not that fully shows up three months later,
if that's more of a three year investment. We'll see.
They got to get a center, Doug, you know, and
and the I don't know where they're going to find one.
(31:21):
The list, like the lists aren't great, but they got
to find a center. The one they had they benched
in the playoffs, so it's gonna be hard to go
knock on that door again, I think. And they've got
limited means. They've got basically one, you know, one real
trade asset. They're not going to trade Austin Reeves for
(31:43):
a middling center.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
That's just what's the what's their trade asset?
Speaker 8 (31:47):
I mean, they have a they have a first round
pick in either twenty thirty one or twenty thirty two,
and they have Dalton connect that's what they have to trade.
And they have a bunch of expiring contracts which are valuable,
like valuable in the sense that they can facilli trate
a trade. Now, the question that you're asking, if you're
ub link, is like, are we going to put these
assets in play for say Nick Claxton, You know, is
that good enough for us? If this is like this
(32:09):
is the road now, we were walking down with Luca
Dodg just where we were pairing this person with Nicholas Claxton.
Are we doing this for? You know? I think you
know another name you hear a lot is Daniel Gafford.
I don't think Dallas is making a trade with the Lakers.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
No, we made our trade with Lakers. We did well.
We're I think we're good guys.
Speaker 8 (32:25):
I think that I think that needs to reset that
that clock needs to probably reset a little bit. But
you know, like like you hear names out there like that,
like you wonder you know that. What's interesting about all
this is the Lakers showed their hand right at the
trade online with Mark Williams. They showed what they're willing
to pay for a young center. So you can look
around the NBA at who the centers are that that
(32:47):
sort of fit that bill, you know, are they willing
to do that for Jalen Duran. Is Jalen Duran the
fit uh catch and everything.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
There's there's no way Detroit moves. Jalen Duran is so awesome.
He's so he's so awesome.
Speaker 8 (33:02):
He's a little bit it's interesting you say that, and
I'm just saying, like he's of that age. You know,
he's getting ready for his next big contract. He's about
to get sure a really big contract and like kind
of on the Mark Limbs thing, he's a guy that
I think, like when you talk to people around Detroit,
it is interesting they've been tied to a lot of
bigs this summer. You hear them a lot with nas Reeds.
They have Isaiah Stewart, a player they love defensively, and
(33:26):
it's like the one the question is is sort of
like can he be our defensive anchor? He's that kind
of center. Well that's the kind of like if Detroit's
asking that question while having him, Yeah, you have to
ask that question. If you're the Lakers, you are for
getting reader to give them everything else you can get,
if you're gonna empty the bank account for him. It's
just you know, it's going to take a level of creativity,
I think. And the crazy thing is is it might
(33:47):
take patience, which again is maybe the thing you don't have.
Speaker 9 (33:52):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's the hard part of all of this.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Yeah, not them, Like like Plink has drafted really well,
really well, but these they've they've generally opened.
Speaker 9 (34:03):
Mean good luck at fifty yeah, good luck at fifty four,
you know what I mean, Like there is no like
that you're you're not going to find an answer there.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
Hey, hey they got they got Bronnie. Last year, a
lot of people wanted Brownie.
Speaker 9 (34:13):
They Yeah, I mean, you know there's uh look at
Brownnie was seven point one. You know, you know, I think,
uh I had two heads.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
If I had two heads, i'd be in the circus. Uh.
Speaker 8 (34:24):
Yeah, it's it's a it's a tough it's just a
tough center market.
Speaker 7 (34:27):
You know.
Speaker 8 (34:27):
I think a stop gap option, certainly, again, seems like
the path of least resistance the Clinabella brook Lopez. Is
that the different winning and losing an NBA championship. Probably not.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Yeah, this is true, And I still don't know if
you can do it with two guys that don't guard
anybody in or three guys that don't guard anybody on
the court. That's what they have with their three best
offensive players. But Dan, we could talk Lakers and the
NBA all all day.
Speaker 8 (34:51):
Oh we will, Doug, You're in the media, You'll will
be there, I know, and.
Speaker 1 (34:54):
I'm probably gonna guy, got a book you on my pod.
We'll just talk hoop for a for a couple of
hours and and just get it all out there in
the meantime, I appreciate you joining us. I truly do.
Thanks for being our guest.
Speaker 8 (35:04):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 7 (35:04):
Be sure to catch the live edition of The Doug
Gottlieb Show weekdays at three pm Eastern noon Pacific.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Stug Gottleep Show, Fox Sports Radio. Hope you're getting ready
for a great weekend. Can be a good sports weekend.
US Open, NBA Finals, a lot of Major League Baseball, Doyers, Friars,
good stuff. Let's get to the game. Game time.
Speaker 7 (35:33):
This is game time on The Doug Gottlieb Show.
Speaker 4 (35:41):
All right, Doug, the game today is going to be
a quick one.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
It is. I feel a draft.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
I feel a draft.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
Two rounds, eight picks and all Jason Stewart as the
first pick. I'm second, Doug, your third, Sam will be
the swing pick. With back to back picks. Your favorite
team USA on the heels of US soccer, maybe not
faring so well, but also getting ready to take part
in the Gold Cup controversy around that. Your favorite team
USA to cheer four. Jason Stewart, You're on the clock.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
Could I could be cute right now, Doug, But I'm
just going to take the chalk. Nineteen ninety two. Dream
Team Basketball, a team of Hall of famers destroys every
team in the world.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
All right, men's basketball is off the board. I'm gonna
go US Ryder Cup team. If I had to pick
a specific one, I don't think there's anyone better than
nineteen ninety nine. But as a whole I'll take the
US Ryder Cup team.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
Right.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
Cheer for USA the most, Doug, your third pick. This
also helps balance out are hoping for Canada to win
a Stanley Cup. So we're all Team USA right now, Doug,
who's your favorite team USA?
Speaker 1 (36:51):
My favorite team USA never played a game. M the
nineteen eighty eight team US. It's a baseball team, all right.
You have to have been a card collector to remember this,
because the cards are still really, really valuable. Jim Abbott
was I love Jim Abbott, and of course Oklahoma State
(37:14):
alum Robin Ventura on the club as well. Nineteen eighty
eight Olympic Baseball Team USA, the team that never played
a game.
Speaker 4 (37:22):
All right, Sam, you got back to back picks, all right.
Speaker 5 (37:25):
With the fourth overall pick, I'm gonna go with the
twenty sixteen Rio Games men's swimming team.
Speaker 7 (37:29):
In the US.
Speaker 5 (37:30):
Okay, the USA A lot of stars there, and then
with a fifth overall pick, I'm gonna go since it
is a throwback Thursday, I'm gonna go to the twenty
fifteen US Women's National Team World Cup champions.
Speaker 4 (37:39):
All right, women's soccer, Alright, I like it. Thug back
to you.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
I'm going to go the nineteen eighty four Olympic Team
USA track and Field team. Okay, yeah, I mean, the
only thing worse than track is field. But Edwin Moses
comes to mind, as well as Carl Lewis, Florence S.
Griffith Joiner, et cetera, et cetera. Nineteen eighty four Summer
Olympics dominated by Team USA's track and Field.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
Give me ninety six US women's gymnastics Kerrie stroggin crew.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Do you believe in miracles? Do you believe in miracles?
Speaker 1 (38:15):
Yes, it's the Doug Gottlib Show on Fox Sports.
Speaker 6 (38:19):
Tray, don't go on to the rect Ard Day nex
Host
Doug Gottlieb
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