July 1, 2025 • 41 mins
On a Tuesday edition of the The Best Of Doug Gottlieb Show: Doug explains why he thinks the Bucks made the right business choice by releasing Damian Lillard, despite how Giannis feels about it.
Doug welcomes former NBA Player and current FSR NBA analyst Ryan Hollins to talk about the NBA free agency season, the Rockets and all of the headlines around the NBA.
Doug weighs in on the news that WNBA players voted Caitlin Clark as the 9th best guard in the league. Doug welcomes NFL Analyst John Middlekauff onto the show to talk about the Steelers and all of the headlines around the NFL.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Thanks for listening to the best of The Doug Gottlieb
Show podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday
three to five Eastern 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 FSR Boom, What Up America,
Doug Gottlieb Show, Fine Sports Radio. I hope you're having
(00:26):
a great day. We appreciate you join us. Fun day,
crazy day, interesting day, and a day in which congratulations
to the Milwaukee Bucks. Congratulations and you're like, wait, we
make congratulations. You traded for Miles Turner and you waved
(00:50):
Damian Lillard and Okay, hey, here's the thing. I I
heard the update from Bayer. Hey Dan, how are you?
I understand the sentiment from Jannis. Okay, but let me
(01:11):
let's let's just cut the brass tacks, okay. Giannis Atennacupo
is a tremendous player. He seems like an incredible human being.
He really does, but he quite obviously knows nothing about
team building because his fingerprints were all over the Damian
Lillard acquisition and it didn't work, and it wasn't gonna work,
(01:35):
and they did a really good thing, right, they did
a really good thing. Like if you remember back, if
you just use Michael Jordan as your guide. Michael Jordan
was furious that the Chicago Bulls traded away Charles Oakley
(01:56):
for medical Bill Cartwright. That was his nickname, Medical Bill Cartwright.
But you know what happened with the Chicago Bulls when
they traded Charles Oakley for medical Bill Cartwright. The Chicago
Bulls win NBA championship because they knew at the time
they had Horace Grant, who was a better, less expensive
(02:17):
power forward who was incredible defensively, and at the time
you needed one of those old man centers. And medical
Bill Cartwright. Even though he had this weird shot where
he wound up and then he shot it like over
his head. It was like the weirdest shot ever, but
it went in. He could score just enough and they
won their first couple of championships with Bill Cartwright as
(02:38):
their starting center. That Charles Oakley was best friends to
protector of Michael Jordan. But you know what he didn't do.
He didn't help him win a championship. It doesn't make
him a bad person, doesn't make a bad player. It
just wasn't a fit. And they had Horace Grant, who
was a better defensive player, less ego, less money, younger,
and then oh yeah, by the way, Horace Grant, when
he could be a free agent, he left. He went
(02:59):
to Orland know and then they figured out in the
next time around, they had Dennis rodmin as their power
forward look Damian Lillard. It didn't fit. It didn't work
when he was healthy. Tour's Achilles ten and so next
year is a wash anyway, So a guy who isn't
a particularly good defender started to get a little bit
over the hill, was overpaid and wasn't gonna really play
(03:21):
or help you next year, Like all right, boohoo, sorry
he's gone, Like this is show business, not show friends.
It's time to move on. And the same thing for
the inn and and Pacers. Oh they should be upset,
like no, Tyrese Haliburton's Tours Achilles Tenant, He's not gonna
give you anything of anything next year. Next year is
gonna have to be rebuild, reconfigure, and maybe Halle comes
(03:43):
back at the end of the year and maybe by
the second year you know, again you're talking about twenty
what seven, twenty eight, Maybe by then Halliburton's back to
being who he was in the playoffs, and now you
go go for it. But this is really about the
Milwaukee Bucks. They won a title and then they were
(04:06):
kind of frustrated, and then they did kind of what
we talked about the Steelers doing. They went all in.
And at the time I did say I don't think
it works, because, yes, Drew Holliday offensively and star power
wise appears to be inferior to that of Damianllard, but
he does all the other little things that actually wins
you basketball games, and Dame is the best player on
(04:29):
an average team. And it played out as such. It
didn't work. It just didn't work. It's not fantasy sports
doesn't work that way. You don't take thirty points with
the Blazers and put it on the Milwaukee Bucks and go, hey, Giannis.
It tracks all this attention. He likes to pass the ball,
(04:50):
He needs better shooters. Here's the best shooting point guard
outside of Steph Curry in the NBA. And you know,
you put thirty points with thirty points and it's sixty points.
That's not how it works, and then again, it's not
a good thing, but it would definitely help the Bucks.
Argument tears as Achilles tended. So you get to go sorry,
(05:11):
it may look bad, it may feel bad, you may
not like it, but it's the only way this thing
works is if we just wash our hands of it
and move on and try something else. So they went
and got Miles Turner, who's an elite shooting center. Gives
them rim protection and space for Giannis to play inside
the lane. And now they got to figure out what
(05:34):
they want to put around those two. And Giannis isn't happy. Okay, Well,
you were really happy when we picked up Damian Lillard
and that didn't work. You're really happy when we hired
the assistant coach. You were ready that you most wanted
and that didn't work. So we're gonna do what we
think is in the best interest of our team. And
(05:54):
when we've done that in the past, we've competed for
it actually won an NBA title. I don't know, that's
that's that's my take on the basics of those moves. Buyer,
you're a native Wisconsin kans Wisconsin. Because consonite you are,
(06:15):
you do watch way more Bucks games than any of us.
What do you think about the moves.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
I think it is the first progressive move made by
this front office in maybe the Yannis era because Doug
when they were put into the position of being a contender,
if you will, when Giannis was the super stardom stuff.
I don't want to say it was easy to get
(06:41):
Drew Holliday or it was easy to get Damian Lillard.
But you just give up a bunch of stuff, give
up a bunch of draft picks, and you bring in
the player. And it doesn't take a lot of creativity
to do a good deal because you don't care about
the whether you're getting the better end of the deal
or not. You're just looking for the star player. And
so now they were at a spot where they were really,
(07:02):
really really really put in a corner because of his injury,
because of his contract, and I am just happy as
a fan that they made a decision that just wasn't
an easy decision or a decision that you think that
would be common in the NBA. This has gone against
the grain. I don't know why Giannis is so upset
(07:23):
about it. Damian Lillard, I think was shocked, but by
all accounts from Chris Haynes. He's happy with the outcome.
He gets his one hundred and thirteen million dollars, he
doesn't have to be in Milwaukee. He can rehab on
his own. He's already getting calls from teams as a
free agent. Seems to be a pretty good deal for
Damian Lillard. So there's no reason for Giannis to be
disappointed on how this went down. But I just give
(07:46):
them kudos because Doug I always felt they took the
easy way out. They didn't produce their young players, they
didn't try to develop guys. Seems like they gave up
on guys way too early that they would draft. And
that was all signs of TEA teams who just were
kind of in that mode of thinking they were in
championship mode. So let's just, you know, throw caution to
(08:06):
the wind and try to get the best players, and
who cares what we give up. This is the first
move that's contrariant to all of that, and it actually
is refreshing.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Okay, because you heard it from Dan Byer noted wisconsinit.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Yeah, I think I just said I agree with you, Doug.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
No, you I mean I could have it was yeah,
but yours was far more eloquent. Mine was a little
bit more terse, and yours was substantive providing history of
this franchise in the last decade. So I actually thought
it was really good to buttress my remarks. Anyway, I
do think I know why Giannis is upset about it.
(08:44):
I think there's two parts. Part one is like, I
think Jianna still wants to be the good guys. He's like, oh,
you're trained d that's like the hold me back, hold
me back on that.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Yes, I agreed, I think.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
That's a little bit of it. But I also think
that it was kind of his idea, right, And I
don't care who you are and how little ego you
want to have when it's your idea and it doesn't work,
and everybody comes to the conclusion of it ain't gonna work.
(09:15):
It doesn't feel good, it just doesn't. And I think
that's the other possibility. Sure, you know, it's like, first
you hired my coach, the guy I wanted to be coached,
and you fired him before the season was done, and
then my guy Damian Lillard, like then you get rid
of him. Basically you tell me you're like, then you know,
(09:36):
people make it about especially this generation. I'll go to
a the playbook of Jason Stewart hold on Ah gen Z.
Gen Z's so used to being told yes, that when
they're told no, they freak out. Here's Gianni's sort of
your gen z e being told, hey, dude, we love you,
(10:00):
but we're not going to take your ideas anymore because
they not so much.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
This is the best of the Doug Gottlieb Show on
Fox Sports.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Radio s Doug Gottlieb Show Fox Sports Radio. Ryan Hollins
joins us here on The Doug Gottlieb Show. Ryan, of
course knowing is part of our family at Fox Sports Radio,
Fox Sports Radio, NBA analyst, but he's also the lead
analyst for the Houston Rockets TV network. So Ryan, there's
(10:29):
a lot of teams to talk about. Everyone's talking about
the Rockets. What do you think of what they've done?
Speaker 4 (10:36):
You got to be a static at the moves that
have been made, and you know, sometimes you can just
spend money to spend money, but I feel like every
need was essentially met, and you know, the Rockets were
hitting a problem, and I wouldn't say it's necessarily a problem,
it's a good problem to have, but there was like
(10:57):
too much young talent, and the question was, al is
all this gonna work? And I firmly believe that when
you when you do things the right way, it ends
up paying off. And now you know, Houston is a
co location where it looks like guys want to come
and play. They want to be a part of what's
going on, and that's why they've hit these home runs
in free agency.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Doug Gotlieb show here on Fox Sports Radio. Okay, so
paint the picture for me of what they look like
taking the floor next year from your perspective, you know
this game, you know, I mean, obviously we know they're
gonna throw Kadi out there, right, what's that line up
look like?
Speaker 4 (11:34):
I think, you know, and this is from my mindset
what I've seen. I haven't spoke with the coaching staff
or anything from it, but I think the fill is
to stick with EM's mentality and the culture that he's
built of hard those defense, commitment on both sides of
the ball, and then you add in the scoring of
Kevin Durant and then you know, you try to keep
(11:56):
it going as best as possible. And the one position
and that was that was that was really missing for
some time. And Houston was a shot blocker, and you
get that in Clint Capella. So that's goal right there,
and you get to compliment our friend Shangon. And as
good as Steven Adams was during the season, Stephen didn't
(12:18):
didn't play much, you know, he played about every other day.
So now you get an opportunity to say, well, Steven
Adams is not playing, there's not going to be this
severe drop off to the ball club. And that's something
that you saw a lot of. So hopefully the offense
matures along with the defense that was far ahead of
pace in the offensive rebounds. But I think he is
(12:38):
going to look to maintain, you know, the nuts and
bolts of what he built. And while the group was
number two in the Western Conference this season.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
We haven't talked since Rich Paul had his statement about
Lebron's future with the Lakers. He covered the league, but
he also played in the league with Lebron. Most everybody
in the past quarter century has played of league with Lebron.
What's your take on the Lebron and Lakers situation.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
I think this is just from my mindset and what
I've seen, and we can assume I think there's new
ownership coming in town. I think maybe there's questions about
where you know, Lebron stands with him and I think
for himself, each son the gauge where his value is now.
The intriguing thing Doug is I don't realistically see a
(13:26):
spot or a team where he can go with the
money that he is making. So I don't know how
that would necessarily play out that not that Lebron is
not playing at a high level. Still er can bring
a lot of value to an organization, but what sense
would that make at that number? And then again for
an organization, you're just saying, well, how long how much
longer does he have? He's played longer than any of
(13:49):
us could have, could have dreamed or you know, even imagined,
you know, and Lebron's amazing in itself, so I think
it's extremely intriguing. And then you look at the addition
and he put that, thrown this out of Luka Dacics
and just saying, well, what does that mean for Lebron
James at the end of the day. So I think
I don't know a scenario where he gets moved or
(14:11):
he gets traded, and how that would ultimately play out.
But at the end of the day, I think what
it says is just there's uncertainty with his new ownership
staff and Lebron and Ridge, palland company are trying to
see where they stand.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Doug Gottlieb Show here on Fox Sports Radio. That's the
voice of Ryan Hollins. Why is is Jannis really upset
that they bought out Damian Lillard?
Speaker 4 (14:44):
I think maybe things hadn't been run by him, or
maybe this is a spoke spreen that says that they
were and he hated it and he wants to stay
out of it, you know, obviously, you know, I think
as much as it's a business, Joannie is the old
school and he has a high level of respect for
guys like Lillard and just the integrity behind the game
a lot ourge reason why he's still a Milwaukee Buck
(15:04):
at the end of the day. Is he upset? I
don't know. I spoken to his people if not, but
I think it's just the integrity that he has of
wanting to step out and do things the right way
and just man, Doug, I don't know if I'm crazy.
It's just a wacky time in the NBA, Like you
have one of the younger teams that's ever won the championship.
Lebron James still playing at a high level. He's talking
(15:25):
about being traded. This is like two decades coars of
basketball that we're seeing. And then Damian Lillard, a megastar,
gets hurt, and that just gets hurt. He gets spot
out of one hundred and twenty two million dollars. This
is just an intriguing time, and I think we're stepping
into just different waters from NBA basketball all the way around.
I think everybody's trying to figure out what the next
(15:47):
landscape of the league is going to look like. And
I think we loves like this show us because as
good as Indiana was, Miles Turner moves on to Milwaukee,
and I think that puts Milwaukee in their front court
with Bobby Portis right in the thick of things with everybody.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Yeah. I mean also, I mean I think you Milwaukee,
India and Boston, you know, they're just like, hey, we're
not going to have these guys next year, So we
got to kind of we got to move on from him.
The one part that I would push back on, do
I think Lebron's playing at a high level? Yeah, but
if he's really a top fifteen players still, and we
have Luca, and we both would agree lucas a top fifteen,
(16:25):
top ten, maybe even top five player, Like the I
want to win a championship, but I can't win a
championship in LA, Well then you must not be a
top fifteen player anymore, which again is okay, you're forty
years old. But that's really what that's an admittance of.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
You know, I'm one of the bigger Lebron apologiests and
as just telling you that, you know, Lebron wants his
cake and wants to eat it too, you know. You know,
it's tough because he's on the court and the alpha
and him wants to say, give me the ball, let
me take over. I'm going to get the best shot
we can get. And then he gets to a point
where he can say.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
Well, hey, I need help, you know, And that's kind
of been the frustrations with Lebron this at the same time,
you know, so I think again, it's a unique situation,
and you would think that with Luka Doncic this was
the ideal situation and JJ Reddick as a coach and
all things going on over there and We can't deny
the power of the influence that Lebron has with the
(17:22):
Lakers at the end of the day, but you know,
you got to say, is this necessarily a power play?
Speaker 4 (17:28):
What's this look like? If ownership is going to step in,
are they going to be as inviting to Bronni James' development?
You know, where's their mindset? And as much as you
like to say it's not a part of it, Lebron
is a whole, mega entity in itself, and that is
a part. And as good as he is, You're right, Douck,
he is asking for help.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
It's really interesting. There's talk of the Mavericks using Cooper
Flag as a point guard as they wait for Kyrie
Irving to return. But when Kyrie does come back and
again thirty three, he'll be thirty four in March. He's
had a lot of operations. What do you think of
the makeup of the Mavericks more on paper obviously, because
(18:09):
we got to see it play out in person, We
got to see what Kyrie's like coming off another big,
big injury. What's your thoughts of the of the Mavericks
on paper?
Speaker 4 (18:19):
Man, I had said this, and I've even contacted you
know some of Dallas has said actually played them the
first game where Anthony Davis got hurt and for half
a basketball, Doug, they were stifling, like we could barely
get the ball and our group could barely get the
ball across half court. And we had held our own
pound for pound with the league. But when Anthony Davis
(18:41):
is playing at a high level, it was it's impressive
and there's some things being built over there in Dallas.
I think the big challenge with the Luca trade, you know,
we've talked about it to exhaustion, is that you just
did get a pick back for it. But you know,
if Anthony Davis, and this is a big if, if
he's healthy, they're pound for pound with with anybody over there.
(19:02):
And I think they're doing things the right way as expected.
With Cooper Flag and his unique skill set, they're going
to exhaust his development and that means putting him in
very unique situations. Now, ultimately, is he going to be
a primary ball handler. I don't know what that's best
for Cooper Flag. I think he's best off the ball
as a slasher and cutter and energy guy and spacer
(19:22):
and that's why you like his skill set. But They're
going to exhaust seeing what he can become and what
they can build around with him over there. But I
tell you defensively, Man, that they can get after you. Dude.
They cover ground and that's built around Anthony Davis.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Awesome stuff, Ryan Man, Thank you so much for joining us.
You're the best. Appreciate you being our guest. It's a
wild time, as you point out in the NBA, and
we appreciate you to helping us find our center.
Speaker 4 (19:49):
Oh anytime, all right, Doug.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Ottlib show here on Fox Sports Radio. Okay, coming up next,
we're gonna get to the things that Dan wishes or
the thing that Dan wishes he wouldn't have said Buyer's
remorse staxt.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation yet. Catch all of our shows at Fox
sports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
App Snug Gottlieb Show, Fox Sports Radio. You brought this
to our tension, Dan Byer yesterday that I don't know
this part of the WNBA All Star selection. The players
get to vote and Caitlin Clark was voted as the
ninth best guard in the WNBA by WNBA players, Right, Yes,
(20:40):
So then you're sitting there going like, oh boy, here
we go, and then you're like, well, you know, I mean,
I'll just kind of be honest when I saw the poll.
I don't watch the WNBA except occasional when Kitlin Clark
is playing, right, I mean, can we just be honest, Sam,
I accept the fact that you do, but the rest
of us and most of the rest of the world
(21:02):
do not.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
I don't watch I don't watch games outside of fever games, honestly.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Okay, yeah, fair enough? Right, So, like Skyler Diggins, like
I remember her from Notre Dame. I can't tell you
I've ever seen her play professional basketball. I have no
idea if she's awesome or if she's just okay or whatever.
But again, like she's the player's rank curve way ahead,
and everybody else fans and media does not like. I
(21:28):
don't know, so I don't say you're like, wow, that's
weird ninth. That feels like they don't like her, right.
It feels like they're trying to even out the hype train.
Like Okay, well, I want to be fair. Maybe she
is the ninth best card, you know, not having the
greatest year in the world. I don't know. Maybe then
(21:51):
I saw this video which was part of a story
I saw in the New York Post. I don't know where
you guys saw it. Where the Sparks that cla team?
Who are they playing Sam? Because they weren't playing the Fear,
They're playing the Chicago Sky. So you have Kelsey Plum.
And for people don't remember, Kelsey Plum was the nation's
(22:13):
all time leading score in women's basketball history vision on
women's basketball history before she was passed by Kaitlyn Clark,
which is again part of my argument for stop saying
it's about her being white. Kelsey Plumb is white, and
it didn't change Sabrina Ynescu white like again, highly touted
college player, very good WNBA player, but she hasn't received
(22:37):
the attention of Kaitlyn Clark. So it's more than just
about color of her skin or whether or not you're straight.
Kelsey Plumb is straight. She was married to what's his
name who got retired from the radar, Darren Waller, right,
So there's something else as to why people are attracted
to her game and why people watch her. She has
a little bit of that. It it's the passing, it's
the logo shots it's the branding that took place four
(23:00):
years in college, in two final years, in the final four.
But I wanted to be fair and be like, well,
it's not. They don't all hate her, they get it.
Then I saw this. This is Kelsey Plump. She's getting
ready to take on the Chicago Sky. It's at Staples Center.
She sees a fan who's wearing a Caitlin Clark shirt
(23:21):
and says, this says do better. Yeah, when you come
to a game, yeah, you gotta wear our gear. Like what.
She's not Michael Jordan. But can you imagine if when
Michael Jordan was playing, people say like, hey, you can't
(23:41):
wear Michael Jordan gear when you come to a Lakers
SuperSonics game, or you can't wear Steph Curry gear unless
you go to a Warriors game, and you can't wear
Lebron gear unless you go to a Lakers game. Like what.
(24:02):
I don't like stereotypes. I don't think anybody does. I
don't like serato. I don't like being pigeonholed into the
this is who you are perfect sample is me as
a player, right, I'm a coach's son, I'm a white guy,
and so most people would think coaches son a great shooter,
(24:27):
limited athlete, where I was the opposite. I was really athletic,
could really pass, couldn't shoot again. Stereotypes don't always work
that way. But stereotype for women are man. They are
the pettiest of petty creatures. They are so insecure that
(24:48):
it turns into incredible jealousy. It feels like people who
put the tracker's location on the device. No guy has
ever said like, hey, let me make sure your locations
on it your phone. But women different story. Jealousy plum
perfect example, like living down to the stereotype of women. Wait,
(25:11):
so she's wearing a Candlin carture, but she's at your game, right,
where's the downside? Combine that with the story that buyers
shared with all of us on text, which is the
women voted her the ninth best guard in the WNBA,
and you start to understand that this is not a
media creation. We haven't created this narrative where they're all
(25:32):
jealous of her. They're all jealous of her and we're
all just amazed because guys must hide it better because
this doesn't happen in real professional sports. That's why the
WNBA is not a real professional sport because this doesn't
happen in real professional sports. You're acting like amateurs, or
(25:55):
you're acting like the negative stereotypes about women being caddy jealous,
insecure creatures. Whatever it is, it's just a terrible look.
Stug Gottlieb Show here on Fox Sports Radio. Dude, God,
there's a lot of stuff going on in the NBA.
I do think that, like the Lillard stuff in the uh,
(26:17):
you know, the Bucks and the Pacers realizing where they
are is very very interesting. Dan, if I ask you
go ahead, I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
No.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
I think that the Miles Turner deal is interesting in
a couple of levels. And I think we're looking at
it from the Milwaukee perspective, how it affects the honest
how it affects other things. But like the Celtics are
kind of tearing it down after the Tatum injury and
moving pieces. The Pacers with Halliburton's injury now are in
quite a different spot to be in. Yeah, and Doug,
(26:51):
it even goes back to the point something that me
and the guys were discussing off the air last week
was the risk of playing in a Game seven for
Tyrese Haliburton and suffering that injury like it was worth it,
like there was no In other situations, you're maybe saying like,
oh man, he's gonna miss all of the next season.
But when you have the Game seven NBA Finals, how
often are you gonna get that opportunity to play in
(27:13):
that game? You risk it and unfortunately they lost the risk.
But this is also a point of how many times
a you're gonna get the Game seven and the Pacers
makeup Right now, sure looks different than it did two
weeks ago, considering the injury and now Miles Turner leaving.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
Well, there's the look. I think the whole post Achilles
ten and they all happen in the postseason. So all
these teams are saying the same thing we're saying, which
is like, hey, those guys aren't gonna if they play
next year, are not gonna help you mm hmm yep.
And so it has inorganically made the Celtics hit refresh,
(27:50):
made the Pacers hit refresh, and made the Bucks hit refresh.
Just the reality of the situation. Yeah, And no matter
how much you can talk you want to talk yourself
out of, well, they could be back late next year. Like, dude,
nobody's back and the same. It takes you a while.
Even Kevin Durant, who's come back relatively healthy from it,
he was out the longest period of time of any
(28:11):
athlete professional athlete ever. It was basically two years he
was out with the achilles and now he's come back healthy.
He's a little bit older than all of them, but
it is. It's the it's the teams saying we believe
in science, and we believe next year is a lost year.
And by the way, they all make a lot of money,
so there's just nothing you can do with the cap
(28:32):
and the Bucks bit the bullet and bought them out.
The Celtics have bit the bullet and hit refresh, and
the Pacers seem to be doing the same as the Bucks,
same as the Celtics. Ecuse me, really interesting? Yeah, I
go ahead.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
I was going to say. The last thing you want
to do is you said that guy's coming back late,
Like why would you rush it? You know, like like
it's just this, this is so many more problems. There's
just no point.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Tight it's red shirt ear get healthy, we'll see you
in a year. We'll see you here, and just don't
kid us as fans. Okay, I have a question for
you guys about the Lebron thing. Okay, obviously I was
pretty harsh there yesterday and I still believe it. I
just the messaging to me is it's just such a miss.
(29:21):
So I do think there's an alternative idea here from
Rich Paul, which it's one of those I do hear
what you're saying, Hey man, he wants to win and
they're they're all in on winning on with with Luca
(29:41):
in two years. Uh. This here's a sentence everybody needs
to say. Anybody needs to admit Lebron James is not
a top ten player in the NBA. And you're like,
WHOA to me, there were people last year when Lebron
(30:02):
would have a big night'd be like, Lebron's still the
best player in the NBA. Lebron James is not a
top ten player in the NBA. I can prove it.
Are you ready? If any other team had two top
ten players in the NBA, we would consider them a
favorite to win an NBA title, would we not?
Speaker 4 (30:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Probably? Okay, So if Lebron is saying, hey, I want
to win a championship, but the Lakers are trying to
win a championship in another year, two years or whatever.
Then he and his team are admitting I'm not a
top ten, top to fifteen player anymore, right, which again,
if I don't even think they realize that's what they're saying.
(30:45):
I think a good part of it is they're just
that Anthony Davis getting traded wasn't their plan. He was
their guy. Lakers are starting to do their own thing
and figure it out. It's going to become Luca's team.
But regardless with Luca's team or whatever, like nobody actually
cares any other team. You've got two top ten players
in the NBA, two top fifteen players in the NBA,
and you're gonna be a favorite, especially in this parody
(31:07):
driven era of the NBA. So let's all just admit it.
He ain't there anymore, which is okay, forty years old,
doesn't have to be. He's an amazing player, but he
in a top fifteen player. Definitely in a top ten player.
John Middlecoff joins us here on the Doug Gottlieb Show
on Fox Ports Radio three and Out is in fact
the podcast covering the National Football League Steelers. Kind of
(31:32):
unstealers like John R. Pushing their chips and going all in.
They I know, you love to gamble. They're like the
guy who's super conservative, always folding when it's just an
average to blow average hand, you know, not going crazy,
not betting outside of the kind of whatever their plan is.
And now all of a sudden, they're just pushing their
(31:53):
chips to the middle, even though they don't have King
A's high. It does feel Unsteelers, Like does it not?
Speaker 6 (31:59):
I do under it. The last couple of years they've
kind of sawed out neutral and they took the approach
of like, you know, not that you know TJ. Watt
or Minka or some of these guys are content. You know.
Part of the NFL when you don't win is like,
you know, I see the reaction to Dame Lillard right now,
like that's an NFL move towards Achilles, move on sign
(32:20):
another guy, like he's not useful to us the differences
in the NBA. He'll still get his one hundred and
fifteen million dollars. And I think, you know, Minka, to me,
not only is a good player, but he's a high
level leader. But I also think it's kind of a
shell shock to the locker room, like what's been happening
in here is not okay, and now everyone's kind of
on on till like a like a poker player. I
(32:42):
guess which most locker rooms in the NFL are like that.
Look at the Niners. They had been making the Super Bowl,
making a long playoff runs, and this year they got
rid of everybody, you know, besides like five or six
core players, and it just kind of keeps everyone. It's
just a nature of the business. And the Steelers have
never really operated like that. And I do wonder if
they said screw it. I mean, we've gone nowhere with
(33:03):
what we've had, because I Dayalen Rams and getting traded
wasn't shocking, but the moment they said Minka Fitzpatrick was
basically why they were trading him in the tight end.
That was a pretty eye opening move, wasn't I it was.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
It was really eye opening the whole thing. It does
track though with Aaron Rodgers hey Man one year, like
let's go all in. It stands the reason that if
it doesn't work, that's the end of Tomlin, right, like
he rides off in the sunset, goes and does TV.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
Yeah, I mean I do.
Speaker 6 (33:31):
Think, you know, if there was a divorce, he would
have a ton of suitors, you know, I mean Miami,
probably New York. I mean, these teams would be all
over the guy, so he would crush on TV. But
you know, being a head coach of the NFL is
you know, I mean it's about as good of a
job in terms of paying fifteen plus million dollars, the notoriety,
the power that comes with that, I think there would
(33:53):
be people lined.
Speaker 4 (33:54):
Up to get him.
Speaker 6 (33:54):
I also have been saying, like, you know, this is
they're really testing him this year, right, I mean, DK
a ton of personal fouls, you know, Jalen Ramsey, Warren
as Welcome, a couple of different places, Rogers, they got
a lot going on. So this is gonna really test Tomlin.
Which his best attribute, right is leadership is the ability
(34:18):
to kind of run a locker room. And they've really
I mean Minca because I texted some buddies yesterday, I'm like,
am I missing something? And they're like no. In our building,
we view Minca is not just a great player, but
a super high intangible leadership, you know, the team captain
type guy. So to replace him with Jalen Ramsey, now
maybe they go you know down the stretch, Remember the
(34:39):
Steelers defense was not very good and Minca was playing,
so they go, we had two corners, you know, in
Jalen and in Darius Slay during the Cow or at
least in my life, the Cow or Tomlin run their
good defenses. They've had tall, long corners, tall long corners
and you know back in the day you could have
like hard hitting safety. Those don't really exist anymore because
(35:01):
they're not allowed in a pass rush. So maybe they think, hey,
tall on corners, get up on you, jammy at the line,
Like that's the Steelers philosophy and t J. Watt and
everybody rushed the passer and hopefully were better on offense, right.
I mean that, that to me is one of their mangals,
like we're just gonna be maybe not like a top
five offense, but we are going to be an offense
that down the stretch last year we kind of are like,
(35:22):
what are we watching that? Clearly ideally, because now they
got multiple tight ends. They draft this running back really high.
I think in the second third round from Iowa, who's
a big physical player. You had DK who you know,
physical freak. You already got Jalen Warren, like, they do
have some offensive pieces if it all comes together.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Yeah, and Aaron Rodgers doesn't turn the ball over right,
Like the one thing is, for the most part, he
didn't turn it over.
Speaker 6 (35:51):
Before first got to Green Bay. And Rogers' career was
kind of in a weird spot and they just settled
it down by running that Shanahan offense. Yeah, have to
get a little at but big plays on offense and
running the ball like that to me and Arthur Smith,
the Rooney family, I mean, they they dream about running
the football.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
Uh, Darren Waller unretires, unretires, joins the Miami Dolphins. Look,
he's had a long and winding road to even stardom. Yeah,
but what what is it? Was it what he had
in the tank when he walked away? Was it mental stuff?
(36:31):
What are your thoughts on him getting back in the league.
Speaker 6 (36:34):
So what I gathered was he was just kind of
over football. And you know, when I see this, you know,
obviously Miami's a little desperate. You know, I I never
because there's no disputing his talent, like his physical capabilities.
He's he's a pretty big freak, you know, just in
terms of you know, the size, the athleticism, the speed
he's been banged up the last couple of years. I
(36:56):
think sometimes if you don't love football, like I mean truly,
like paid man Tom Brady, the w you know what,
once you get banged up, you know, football it's such
a grind to rehab to only play, you know, it's
not like basketball baseball where you get a.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
Lot of games.
Speaker 6 (37:09):
You just only you only play a small number of games.
I think it kind of puts into perspective for some
of these guys, like do I didn't like doing this
and now these guys are getting so rich. I think Miami,
I don't know where you stand, but I could see
Miami being a pretty big train wreck. I had like
an assistant GM He's like, look at their corner depth.
He's like in this league where everyone passes, you know,
(37:30):
you can say what you want. Jalen's a diminishing player,
but look who's starting at corner for them like it
could be and their defense just hasn't been that great
to begin with. So I you know, I know that
Raheem most Erin's popping off. Like last time I checked
Jayalen Ramsey was a guy like showing up late to meetings,
you know, So it's like, I don't know, you could
argue in this day and age with the amount of money.
Speaker 5 (37:52):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (37:52):
You know, pat Riley runs like a military operation. Even
it's been hard for him the last couple of years.
Maybe it's just hard to win in a place like Miami,
you know. I mean it true because even in New
York City, none of those guys live in the city.
Speaker 4 (38:04):
You know, you and I were at the super Bowl
in Miami.
Speaker 6 (38:06):
You've probably been to a bunch. I do wonder if
that's a tough place to build, like a to build
a football team in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
I mean, hey, hey, we thought Raiders would be you know,
common thought would be Raiders. Those guys live, you know,
out in Summerland, and they've had their own off the
field issues as well. It does that city keeps calling
calls the wrong dudes, and those wrong dudes get in
there and crazy things, sad things sometimes just distractions can
in fact happen. This is the Doug Gottlieb Show on
(38:36):
Fox Sports Radio. John Mittlcoff is in fact our guest guest. Okay,
last one here. I am super super intrigued by the
Bengals with all this offensive weaponry, but they had such
a horrific defense last year. How does that work?
Speaker 4 (39:00):
Listen?
Speaker 6 (39:00):
I think sometimes you gotta be careful about making huge generalizations,
you know, in the springtime. But it was like, yeah,
their offensive players are back, their offensive sweet last year.
It's been a weird offseason, right, I mean their star
pass rusher is I mean very publicly gone back and
forth to the organization and then the guy was clearly
drafted to replace them, him and his ag dinner Like
(39:23):
what are you sending us the sign and left man
story minigam. So you know, the most important person on
any defense is the guy up front, and their two
in theory best players on their defensive line are It's
one thing to be like a little like TJ walk
like wants more money. This thing feels like there's some
(39:43):
like legit animosity for both guys. And I don't know,
I just you know, if it was Mike Tomlin or
hard Bob Brother, theyg everything be okay. But Zach Taylor
kind of fighting first job. It feels like like they
scored a lot of points last year and it didn't matter,
and I you know, they get out Golden who was
excellent at Notre Dame. But you know, I mean when
you're a top colleges in basketball or football, you got
(40:05):
the best players yep, you know in the in the
pros everybody, Yeah, players, yeah, the ASCs and you're a
couple injuries away from your roster, you know, on a
side of the ball looking no different than a like
a four win team. And I say the same like
the Ravens, right. So Hell's a huge part. It's just
it's a difficult spot. My guess is, I don't know
(40:28):
if it goes great for the Bengals now Joe. I mean,
what's Joe Burrow gonna throw fifty touchdowns? He might have
to for them to win ten games.
Speaker 1 (40:37):
That's Yeamanokoff and if Ail Analyst toast the three Now
podcasts and the Volume podcast How work John Gray stuff man,
love having you on.
Speaker 6 (40:43):
Thanks do see you buddy.
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Number thirty three is in the seats.
Thanks for listening to the best of The Doug Gottlieb
Show podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday
three to five Eastern 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 FSR Boom, What Up America,
Doug Gottlieb Show, Fine Sports Radio. I hope you're having
(00:26):
a great day. We appreciate you join us. Fun day,
crazy day, interesting day, and a day in which congratulations
to the Milwaukee Bucks. Congratulations and you're like, wait, we
make congratulations. You traded for Miles Turner and you waved
(00:50):
Damian Lillard and Okay, hey, here's the thing. I I
heard the update from Bayer. Hey Dan, how are you?
I understand the sentiment from Jannis. Okay, but let me
(01:11):
let's let's just cut the brass tacks, okay. Giannis Atennacupo
is a tremendous player. He seems like an incredible human being.
He really does, but he quite obviously knows nothing about
team building because his fingerprints were all over the Damian
Lillard acquisition and it didn't work, and it wasn't gonna work,
(01:35):
and they did a really good thing, right, they did
a really good thing. Like if you remember back, if
you just use Michael Jordan as your guide. Michael Jordan
was furious that the Chicago Bulls traded away Charles Oakley
(01:56):
for medical Bill Cartwright. That was his nickname, Medical Bill Cartwright.
But you know what happened with the Chicago Bulls when
they traded Charles Oakley for medical Bill Cartwright. The Chicago
Bulls win NBA championship because they knew at the time
they had Horace Grant, who was a better, less expensive
(02:17):
power forward who was incredible defensively, and at the time
you needed one of those old man centers. And medical
Bill Cartwright. Even though he had this weird shot where
he wound up and then he shot it like over
his head. It was like the weirdest shot ever, but
it went in. He could score just enough and they
won their first couple of championships with Bill Cartwright as
(02:38):
their starting center. That Charles Oakley was best friends to
protector of Michael Jordan. But you know what he didn't do.
He didn't help him win a championship. It doesn't make
him a bad person, doesn't make a bad player. It
just wasn't a fit. And they had Horace Grant, who
was a better defensive player, less ego, less money, younger,
and then oh yeah, by the way, Horace Grant, when
he could be a free agent, he left. He went
(02:59):
to Orland know and then they figured out in the
next time around, they had Dennis rodmin as their power
forward look Damian Lillard. It didn't fit. It didn't work
when he was healthy. Tour's Achilles ten and so next
year is a wash anyway, So a guy who isn't
a particularly good defender started to get a little bit
over the hill, was overpaid and wasn't gonna really play
(03:21):
or help you next year, Like all right, boohoo, sorry
he's gone, Like this is show business, not show friends.
It's time to move on. And the same thing for
the inn and and Pacers. Oh they should be upset,
like no, Tyrese Haliburton's Tours Achilles Tenant, He's not gonna
give you anything of anything next year. Next year is
gonna have to be rebuild, reconfigure, and maybe Halle comes
(03:43):
back at the end of the year and maybe by
the second year you know, again you're talking about twenty
what seven, twenty eight, Maybe by then Halliburton's back to
being who he was in the playoffs, and now you
go go for it. But this is really about the
Milwaukee Bucks. They won a title and then they were
(04:06):
kind of frustrated, and then they did kind of what
we talked about the Steelers doing. They went all in.
And at the time I did say I don't think
it works, because, yes, Drew Holliday offensively and star power
wise appears to be inferior to that of Damianllard, but
he does all the other little things that actually wins
you basketball games, and Dame is the best player on
(04:29):
an average team. And it played out as such. It
didn't work. It just didn't work. It's not fantasy sports
doesn't work that way. You don't take thirty points with
the Blazers and put it on the Milwaukee Bucks and go, hey, Giannis.
It tracks all this attention. He likes to pass the ball,
(04:50):
He needs better shooters. Here's the best shooting point guard
outside of Steph Curry in the NBA. And you know,
you put thirty points with thirty points and it's sixty points.
That's not how it works, and then again, it's not
a good thing, but it would definitely help the Bucks.
Argument tears as Achilles tended. So you get to go sorry,
(05:11):
it may look bad, it may feel bad, you may
not like it, but it's the only way this thing
works is if we just wash our hands of it
and move on and try something else. So they went
and got Miles Turner, who's an elite shooting center. Gives
them rim protection and space for Giannis to play inside
the lane. And now they got to figure out what
(05:34):
they want to put around those two. And Giannis isn't happy. Okay, Well,
you were really happy when we picked up Damian Lillard
and that didn't work. You're really happy when we hired
the assistant coach. You were ready that you most wanted
and that didn't work. So we're gonna do what we
think is in the best interest of our team. And
(05:54):
when we've done that in the past, we've competed for
it actually won an NBA title. I don't know, that's
that's that's my take on the basics of those moves. Buyer,
you're a native Wisconsin kans Wisconsin. Because consonite you are,
(06:15):
you do watch way more Bucks games than any of us.
What do you think about the moves.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
I think it is the first progressive move made by
this front office in maybe the Yannis era because Doug
when they were put into the position of being a contender,
if you will, when Giannis was the super stardom stuff.
I don't want to say it was easy to get
(06:41):
Drew Holliday or it was easy to get Damian Lillard.
But you just give up a bunch of stuff, give
up a bunch of draft picks, and you bring in
the player. And it doesn't take a lot of creativity
to do a good deal because you don't care about
the whether you're getting the better end of the deal
or not. You're just looking for the star player. And
so now they were at a spot where they were really,
(07:02):
really really really put in a corner because of his injury,
because of his contract, and I am just happy as
a fan that they made a decision that just wasn't
an easy decision or a decision that you think that
would be common in the NBA. This has gone against
the grain. I don't know why Giannis is so upset
(07:23):
about it. Damian Lillard, I think was shocked, but by
all accounts from Chris Haynes. He's happy with the outcome.
He gets his one hundred and thirteen million dollars, he
doesn't have to be in Milwaukee. He can rehab on
his own. He's already getting calls from teams as a
free agent. Seems to be a pretty good deal for
Damian Lillard. So there's no reason for Giannis to be
disappointed on how this went down. But I just give
(07:46):
them kudos because Doug I always felt they took the
easy way out. They didn't produce their young players, they
didn't try to develop guys. Seems like they gave up
on guys way too early that they would draft. And
that was all signs of TEA teams who just were
kind of in that mode of thinking they were in
championship mode. So let's just, you know, throw caution to
(08:06):
the wind and try to get the best players, and
who cares what we give up. This is the first
move that's contrariant to all of that, and it actually
is refreshing.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Okay, because you heard it from Dan Byer noted wisconsinit.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Yeah, I think I just said I agree with you, Doug.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
No, you I mean I could have it was yeah,
but yours was far more eloquent. Mine was a little
bit more terse, and yours was substantive providing history of
this franchise in the last decade. So I actually thought
it was really good to buttress my remarks. Anyway, I
do think I know why Giannis is upset about it.
(08:44):
I think there's two parts. Part one is like, I
think Jianna still wants to be the good guys. He's like, oh,
you're trained d that's like the hold me back, hold
me back on that.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Yes, I agreed, I think.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
That's a little bit of it. But I also think
that it was kind of his idea, right, And I
don't care who you are and how little ego you
want to have when it's your idea and it doesn't work,
and everybody comes to the conclusion of it ain't gonna work.
(09:15):
It doesn't feel good, it just doesn't. And I think
that's the other possibility. Sure, you know, it's like, first
you hired my coach, the guy I wanted to be coached,
and you fired him before the season was done, and
then my guy Damian Lillard, like then you get rid
of him. Basically you tell me you're like, then you know,
(09:36):
people make it about especially this generation. I'll go to
a the playbook of Jason Stewart hold on Ah gen Z.
Gen Z's so used to being told yes, that when
they're told no, they freak out. Here's Gianni's sort of
your gen z e being told, hey, dude, we love you,
(10:00):
but we're not going to take your ideas anymore because
they not so much.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
This is the best of the Doug Gottlieb Show on
Fox Sports.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Radio s Doug Gottlieb Show Fox Sports Radio. Ryan Hollins
joins us here on The Doug Gottlieb Show. Ryan, of
course knowing is part of our family at Fox Sports Radio,
Fox Sports Radio, NBA analyst, but he's also the lead
analyst for the Houston Rockets TV network. So Ryan, there's
(10:29):
a lot of teams to talk about. Everyone's talking about
the Rockets. What do you think of what they've done?
Speaker 4 (10:36):
You got to be a static at the moves that
have been made, and you know, sometimes you can just
spend money to spend money, but I feel like every
need was essentially met, and you know, the Rockets were
hitting a problem, and I wouldn't say it's necessarily a problem,
it's a good problem to have, but there was like
(10:57):
too much young talent, and the question was, al is
all this gonna work? And I firmly believe that when
you when you do things the right way, it ends
up paying off. And now you know, Houston is a
co location where it looks like guys want to come
and play. They want to be a part of what's
going on, and that's why they've hit these home runs
in free agency.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Doug Gotlieb show here on Fox Sports Radio. Okay, so
paint the picture for me of what they look like
taking the floor next year from your perspective, you know
this game, you know, I mean, obviously we know they're
gonna throw Kadi out there, right, what's that line up
look like?
Speaker 4 (11:34):
I think, you know, and this is from my mindset
what I've seen. I haven't spoke with the coaching staff
or anything from it, but I think the fill is
to stick with EM's mentality and the culture that he's
built of hard those defense, commitment on both sides of
the ball, and then you add in the scoring of
Kevin Durant and then you know, you try to keep
(11:56):
it going as best as possible. And the one position
and that was that was that was really missing for
some time. And Houston was a shot blocker, and you
get that in Clint Capella. So that's goal right there,
and you get to compliment our friend Shangon. And as
good as Steven Adams was during the season, Stephen didn't
(12:18):
didn't play much, you know, he played about every other day.
So now you get an opportunity to say, well, Steven
Adams is not playing, there's not going to be this
severe drop off to the ball club. And that's something
that you saw a lot of. So hopefully the offense
matures along with the defense that was far ahead of
pace in the offensive rebounds. But I think he is
(12:38):
going to look to maintain, you know, the nuts and
bolts of what he built. And while the group was
number two in the Western Conference this season.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
We haven't talked since Rich Paul had his statement about
Lebron's future with the Lakers. He covered the league, but
he also played in the league with Lebron. Most everybody
in the past quarter century has played of league with Lebron.
What's your take on the Lebron and Lakers situation.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
I think this is just from my mindset and what
I've seen, and we can assume I think there's new
ownership coming in town. I think maybe there's questions about
where you know, Lebron stands with him and I think
for himself, each son the gauge where his value is now.
The intriguing thing Doug is I don't realistically see a
(13:26):
spot or a team where he can go with the
money that he is making. So I don't know how
that would necessarily play out that not that Lebron is
not playing at a high level. Still er can bring
a lot of value to an organization, but what sense
would that make at that number? And then again for
an organization, you're just saying, well, how long how much
longer does he have? He's played longer than any of
(13:49):
us could have, could have dreamed or you know, even imagined,
you know, and Lebron's amazing in itself, so I think
it's extremely intriguing. And then you look at the addition
and he put that, thrown this out of Luka Dacics
and just saying, well, what does that mean for Lebron
James at the end of the day. So I think
I don't know a scenario where he gets moved or
(14:11):
he gets traded, and how that would ultimately play out.
But at the end of the day, I think what
it says is just there's uncertainty with his new ownership
staff and Lebron and Ridge, palland company are trying to
see where they stand.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Doug Gottlieb Show here on Fox Sports Radio. That's the
voice of Ryan Hollins. Why is is Jannis really upset
that they bought out Damian Lillard?
Speaker 4 (14:44):
I think maybe things hadn't been run by him, or
maybe this is a spoke spreen that says that they
were and he hated it and he wants to stay
out of it, you know, obviously, you know, I think
as much as it's a business, Joannie is the old
school and he has a high level of respect for
guys like Lillard and just the integrity behind the game
a lot ourge reason why he's still a Milwaukee Buck
(15:04):
at the end of the day. Is he upset? I
don't know. I spoken to his people if not, but
I think it's just the integrity that he has of
wanting to step out and do things the right way
and just man, Doug, I don't know if I'm crazy.
It's just a wacky time in the NBA, Like you
have one of the younger teams that's ever won the championship.
Lebron James still playing at a high level. He's talking
(15:25):
about being traded. This is like two decades coars of
basketball that we're seeing. And then Damian Lillard, a megastar,
gets hurt, and that just gets hurt. He gets spot
out of one hundred and twenty two million dollars. This
is just an intriguing time, and I think we're stepping
into just different waters from NBA basketball all the way around.
I think everybody's trying to figure out what the next
(15:47):
landscape of the league is going to look like. And
I think we loves like this show us because as
good as Indiana was, Miles Turner moves on to Milwaukee,
and I think that puts Milwaukee in their front court
with Bobby Portis right in the thick of things with everybody.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Yeah. I mean also, I mean I think you Milwaukee,
India and Boston, you know, they're just like, hey, we're
not going to have these guys next year, So we
got to kind of we got to move on from him.
The one part that I would push back on, do
I think Lebron's playing at a high level? Yeah, but
if he's really a top fifteen players still, and we
have Luca, and we both would agree lucas a top fifteen,
(16:25):
top ten, maybe even top five player, Like the I
want to win a championship, but I can't win a
championship in LA, Well then you must not be a
top fifteen player anymore, which again is okay, you're forty
years old. But that's really what that's an admittance of.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
You know, I'm one of the bigger Lebron apologiests and
as just telling you that, you know, Lebron wants his
cake and wants to eat it too, you know. You know,
it's tough because he's on the court and the alpha
and him wants to say, give me the ball, let
me take over. I'm going to get the best shot
we can get. And then he gets to a point
where he can say.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
Well, hey, I need help, you know, And that's kind
of been the frustrations with Lebron this at the same time,
you know, so I think again, it's a unique situation,
and you would think that with Luka Doncic this was
the ideal situation and JJ Reddick as a coach and
all things going on over there and We can't deny
the power of the influence that Lebron has with the
(17:22):
Lakers at the end of the day, but you know,
you got to say, is this necessarily a power play?
Speaker 4 (17:28):
What's this look like? If ownership is going to step in,
are they going to be as inviting to Bronni James' development?
You know, where's their mindset? And as much as you
like to say it's not a part of it, Lebron
is a whole, mega entity in itself, and that is
a part. And as good as he is, You're right, Douck,
he is asking for help.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
It's really interesting. There's talk of the Mavericks using Cooper
Flag as a point guard as they wait for Kyrie
Irving to return. But when Kyrie does come back and
again thirty three, he'll be thirty four in March. He's
had a lot of operations. What do you think of
the makeup of the Mavericks more on paper obviously, because
(18:09):
we got to see it play out in person, We
got to see what Kyrie's like coming off another big,
big injury. What's your thoughts of the of the Mavericks
on paper?
Speaker 4 (18:19):
Man, I had said this, and I've even contacted you
know some of Dallas has said actually played them the
first game where Anthony Davis got hurt and for half
a basketball, Doug, they were stifling, like we could barely
get the ball and our group could barely get the
ball across half court. And we had held our own
pound for pound with the league. But when Anthony Davis
(18:41):
is playing at a high level, it was it's impressive
and there's some things being built over there in Dallas.
I think the big challenge with the Luca trade, you know,
we've talked about it to exhaustion, is that you just
did get a pick back for it. But you know,
if Anthony Davis, and this is a big if, if
he's healthy, they're pound for pound with with anybody over there.
(19:02):
And I think they're doing things the right way as expected.
With Cooper Flag and his unique skill set, they're going
to exhaust his development and that means putting him in
very unique situations. Now, ultimately, is he going to be
a primary ball handler. I don't know what that's best
for Cooper Flag. I think he's best off the ball
as a slasher and cutter and energy guy and spacer
(19:22):
and that's why you like his skill set. But They're
going to exhaust seeing what he can become and what
they can build around with him over there. But I
tell you defensively, Man, that they can get after you. Dude.
They cover ground and that's built around Anthony Davis.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Awesome stuff, Ryan Man, Thank you so much for joining us.
You're the best. Appreciate you being our guest. It's a
wild time, as you point out in the NBA, and
we appreciate you to helping us find our center.
Speaker 4 (19:49):
Oh anytime, all right, Doug.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Ottlib show here on Fox Sports Radio. Okay, coming up next,
we're gonna get to the things that Dan wishes or
the thing that Dan wishes he wouldn't have said Buyer's
remorse staxt.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation yet. Catch all of our shows at Fox
sports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
App Snug Gottlieb Show, Fox Sports Radio. You brought this
to our tension, Dan Byer yesterday that I don't know
this part of the WNBA All Star selection. The players
get to vote and Caitlin Clark was voted as the
ninth best guard in the WNBA by WNBA players, Right, Yes,
(20:40):
So then you're sitting there going like, oh boy, here
we go, and then you're like, well, you know, I mean,
I'll just kind of be honest when I saw the poll.
I don't watch the WNBA except occasional when Kitlin Clark
is playing, right, I mean, can we just be honest, Sam,
I accept the fact that you do, but the rest
of us and most of the rest of the world
(21:02):
do not.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
I don't watch I don't watch games outside of fever games, honestly.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Okay, yeah, fair enough? Right, So, like Skyler Diggins, like
I remember her from Notre Dame. I can't tell you
I've ever seen her play professional basketball. I have no
idea if she's awesome or if she's just okay or whatever.
But again, like she's the player's rank curve way ahead,
and everybody else fans and media does not like. I
(21:28):
don't know, so I don't say you're like, wow, that's
weird ninth. That feels like they don't like her, right.
It feels like they're trying to even out the hype train.
Like Okay, well, I want to be fair. Maybe she
is the ninth best card, you know, not having the
greatest year in the world. I don't know. Maybe then
(21:51):
I saw this video which was part of a story
I saw in the New York Post. I don't know where
you guys saw it. Where the Sparks that cla team?
Who are they playing Sam? Because they weren't playing the Fear,
They're playing the Chicago Sky. So you have Kelsey Plum.
And for people don't remember, Kelsey Plum was the nation's
(22:13):
all time leading score in women's basketball history vision on
women's basketball history before she was passed by Kaitlyn Clark,
which is again part of my argument for stop saying
it's about her being white. Kelsey Plumb is white, and
it didn't change Sabrina Ynescu white like again, highly touted
college player, very good WNBA player, but she hasn't received
(22:37):
the attention of Kaitlyn Clark. So it's more than just
about color of her skin or whether or not you're straight.
Kelsey Plumb is straight. She was married to what's his
name who got retired from the radar, Darren Waller, right,
So there's something else as to why people are attracted
to her game and why people watch her. She has
a little bit of that. It it's the passing, it's
the logo shots it's the branding that took place four
(23:00):
years in college, in two final years, in the final four.
But I wanted to be fair and be like, well,
it's not. They don't all hate her, they get it.
Then I saw this. This is Kelsey Plump. She's getting
ready to take on the Chicago Sky. It's at Staples Center.
She sees a fan who's wearing a Caitlin Clark shirt
(23:21):
and says, this says do better. Yeah, when you come
to a game, yeah, you gotta wear our gear. Like what.
She's not Michael Jordan. But can you imagine if when
Michael Jordan was playing, people say like, hey, you can't
(23:41):
wear Michael Jordan gear when you come to a Lakers
SuperSonics game, or you can't wear Steph Curry gear unless
you go to a Warriors game, and you can't wear
Lebron gear unless you go to a Lakers game. Like what.
(24:02):
I don't like stereotypes. I don't think anybody does. I
don't like serato. I don't like being pigeonholed into the
this is who you are perfect sample is me as
a player, right, I'm a coach's son, I'm a white guy,
and so most people would think coaches son a great shooter,
(24:27):
limited athlete, where I was the opposite. I was really athletic,
could really pass, couldn't shoot again. Stereotypes don't always work
that way. But stereotype for women are man. They are
the pettiest of petty creatures. They are so insecure that
(24:48):
it turns into incredible jealousy. It feels like people who
put the tracker's location on the device. No guy has
ever said like, hey, let me make sure your locations
on it your phone. But women different story. Jealousy plum
perfect example, like living down to the stereotype of women. Wait,
(25:11):
so she's wearing a Candlin carture, but she's at your game, right,
where's the downside? Combine that with the story that buyers
shared with all of us on text, which is the
women voted her the ninth best guard in the WNBA,
and you start to understand that this is not a
media creation. We haven't created this narrative where they're all
(25:32):
jealous of her. They're all jealous of her and we're
all just amazed because guys must hide it better because
this doesn't happen in real professional sports. That's why the
WNBA is not a real professional sport because this doesn't
happen in real professional sports. You're acting like amateurs, or
(25:55):
you're acting like the negative stereotypes about women being caddy jealous,
insecure creatures. Whatever it is, it's just a terrible look.
Stug Gottlieb Show here on Fox Sports Radio. Dude, God,
there's a lot of stuff going on in the NBA.
I do think that, like the Lillard stuff in the uh,
(26:17):
you know, the Bucks and the Pacers realizing where they
are is very very interesting. Dan, if I ask you
go ahead, I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
No.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
I think that the Miles Turner deal is interesting in
a couple of levels. And I think we're looking at
it from the Milwaukee perspective, how it affects the honest
how it affects other things. But like the Celtics are
kind of tearing it down after the Tatum injury and
moving pieces. The Pacers with Halliburton's injury now are in
quite a different spot to be in. Yeah, and Doug,
(26:51):
it even goes back to the point something that me
and the guys were discussing off the air last week
was the risk of playing in a Game seven for
Tyrese Haliburton and suffering that injury like it was worth it,
like there was no In other situations, you're maybe saying like,
oh man, he's gonna miss all of the next season.
But when you have the Game seven NBA Finals, how
often are you gonna get that opportunity to play in
(27:13):
that game? You risk it and unfortunately they lost the risk.
But this is also a point of how many times
a you're gonna get the Game seven and the Pacers
makeup Right now, sure looks different than it did two
weeks ago, considering the injury and now Miles Turner leaving.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
Well, there's the look. I think the whole post Achilles
ten and they all happen in the postseason. So all
these teams are saying the same thing we're saying, which
is like, hey, those guys aren't gonna if they play
next year, are not gonna help you mm hmm yep.
And so it has inorganically made the Celtics hit refresh,
(27:50):
made the Pacers hit refresh, and made the Bucks hit refresh.
Just the reality of the situation. Yeah, And no matter
how much you can talk you want to talk yourself
out of, well, they could be back late next year. Like, dude,
nobody's back and the same. It takes you a while.
Even Kevin Durant, who's come back relatively healthy from it,
he was out the longest period of time of any
(28:11):
athlete professional athlete ever. It was basically two years he
was out with the achilles and now he's come back healthy.
He's a little bit older than all of them, but
it is. It's the it's the teams saying we believe
in science, and we believe next year is a lost year.
And by the way, they all make a lot of money,
so there's just nothing you can do with the cap
(28:32):
and the Bucks bit the bullet and bought them out.
The Celtics have bit the bullet and hit refresh, and
the Pacers seem to be doing the same as the Bucks,
same as the Celtics. Ecuse me, really interesting? Yeah, I
go ahead.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
I was going to say. The last thing you want
to do is you said that guy's coming back late,
Like why would you rush it? You know, like like
it's just this, this is so many more problems. There's
just no point.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Tight it's red shirt ear get healthy, we'll see you
in a year. We'll see you here, and just don't
kid us as fans. Okay, I have a question for
you guys about the Lebron thing. Okay, obviously I was
pretty harsh there yesterday and I still believe it. I
just the messaging to me is it's just such a miss.
(29:21):
So I do think there's an alternative idea here from
Rich Paul, which it's one of those I do hear
what you're saying, Hey man, he wants to win and
they're they're all in on winning on with with Luca
(29:41):
in two years. Uh. This here's a sentence everybody needs
to say. Anybody needs to admit Lebron James is not
a top ten player in the NBA. And you're like,
WHOA to me, there were people last year when Lebron
(30:02):
would have a big night'd be like, Lebron's still the
best player in the NBA. Lebron James is not a
top ten player in the NBA. I can prove it.
Are you ready? If any other team had two top
ten players in the NBA, we would consider them a
favorite to win an NBA title, would we not?
Speaker 4 (30:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Probably? Okay, So if Lebron is saying, hey, I want
to win a championship, but the Lakers are trying to
win a championship in another year, two years or whatever.
Then he and his team are admitting I'm not a
top ten, top to fifteen player anymore, right, which again,
if I don't even think they realize that's what they're saying.
(30:45):
I think a good part of it is they're just
that Anthony Davis getting traded wasn't their plan. He was
their guy. Lakers are starting to do their own thing
and figure it out. It's going to become Luca's team.
But regardless with Luca's team or whatever, like nobody actually
cares any other team. You've got two top ten players
in the NBA, two top fifteen players in the NBA,
and you're gonna be a favorite, especially in this parody
(31:07):
driven era of the NBA. So let's all just admit it.
He ain't there anymore, which is okay, forty years old,
doesn't have to be. He's an amazing player, but he
in a top fifteen player. Definitely in a top ten player.
John Middlecoff joins us here on the Doug Gottlieb Show
on Fox Ports Radio three and Out is in fact
the podcast covering the National Football League Steelers. Kind of
(31:32):
unstealers like John R. Pushing their chips and going all in.
They I know, you love to gamble. They're like the
guy who's super conservative, always folding when it's just an
average to blow average hand, you know, not going crazy,
not betting outside of the kind of whatever their plan is.
And now all of a sudden, they're just pushing their
(31:53):
chips to the middle, even though they don't have King
A's high. It does feel Unsteelers, Like does it not?
Speaker 6 (31:59):
I do under it. The last couple of years they've
kind of sawed out neutral and they took the approach
of like, you know, not that you know TJ. Watt
or Minka or some of these guys are content. You know.
Part of the NFL when you don't win is like,
you know, I see the reaction to Dame Lillard right now,
like that's an NFL move towards Achilles, move on sign
(32:20):
another guy, like he's not useful to us the differences
in the NBA. He'll still get his one hundred and
fifteen million dollars. And I think, you know, Minka, to me,
not only is a good player, but he's a high
level leader. But I also think it's kind of a
shell shock to the locker room, like what's been happening
in here is not okay, and now everyone's kind of
on on till like a like a poker player. I
(32:42):
guess which most locker rooms in the NFL are like that.
Look at the Niners. They had been making the Super Bowl,
making a long playoff runs, and this year they got
rid of everybody, you know, besides like five or six
core players, and it just kind of keeps everyone. It's
just a nature of the business. And the Steelers have
never really operated like that. And I do wonder if
they said screw it. I mean, we've gone nowhere with
(33:03):
what we've had, because I Dayalen Rams and getting traded
wasn't shocking, but the moment they said Minka Fitzpatrick was
basically why they were trading him in the tight end.
That was a pretty eye opening move, wasn't I it was.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
It was really eye opening the whole thing. It does
track though with Aaron Rodgers hey Man one year, like
let's go all in. It stands the reason that if
it doesn't work, that's the end of Tomlin, right, like
he rides off in the sunset, goes and does TV.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
Yeah, I mean I do.
Speaker 6 (33:31):
Think, you know, if there was a divorce, he would
have a ton of suitors, you know, I mean Miami,
probably New York. I mean, these teams would be all
over the guy, so he would crush on TV. But
you know, being a head coach of the NFL is
you know, I mean it's about as good of a
job in terms of paying fifteen plus million dollars, the notoriety,
the power that comes with that, I think there would
(33:53):
be people lined.
Speaker 4 (33:54):
Up to get him.
Speaker 6 (33:54):
I also have been saying, like, you know, this is
they're really testing him this year, right, I mean, DK
a ton of personal fouls, you know, Jalen Ramsey, Warren
as Welcome, a couple of different places, Rogers, they got
a lot going on. So this is gonna really test Tomlin.
Which his best attribute, right is leadership is the ability
(34:18):
to kind of run a locker room. And they've really
I mean Minca because I texted some buddies yesterday, I'm like,
am I missing something? And they're like no. In our building,
we view Minca is not just a great player, but
a super high intangible leadership, you know, the team captain
type guy. So to replace him with Jalen Ramsey, now
maybe they go you know down the stretch, Remember the
(34:39):
Steelers defense was not very good and Minca was playing,
so they go, we had two corners, you know, in
Jalen and in Darius Slay during the Cow or at
least in my life, the Cow or Tomlin run their
good defenses. They've had tall, long corners, tall long corners
and you know back in the day you could have
like hard hitting safety. Those don't really exist anymore because
(35:01):
they're not allowed in a pass rush. So maybe they think, hey,
tall on corners, get up on you, jammy at the line,
Like that's the Steelers philosophy and t J. Watt and
everybody rushed the passer and hopefully were better on offense, right.
I mean that, that to me is one of their mangals,
like we're just gonna be maybe not like a top
five offense, but we are going to be an offense
that down the stretch last year we kind of are like,
(35:22):
what are we watching that? Clearly ideally, because now they
got multiple tight ends. They draft this running back really high.
I think in the second third round from Iowa, who's
a big physical player. You had DK who you know,
physical freak. You already got Jalen Warren, like, they do
have some offensive pieces if it all comes together.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Yeah, and Aaron Rodgers doesn't turn the ball over right,
Like the one thing is, for the most part, he
didn't turn it over.
Speaker 6 (35:51):
Before first got to Green Bay. And Rogers' career was
kind of in a weird spot and they just settled
it down by running that Shanahan offense. Yeah, have to
get a little at but big plays on offense and
running the ball like that to me and Arthur Smith,
the Rooney family, I mean, they they dream about running
the football.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
Uh, Darren Waller unretires, unretires, joins the Miami Dolphins. Look,
he's had a long and winding road to even stardom. Yeah,
but what what is it? Was it what he had
in the tank when he walked away? Was it mental stuff?
(36:31):
What are your thoughts on him getting back in the league.
Speaker 6 (36:34):
So what I gathered was he was just kind of
over football. And you know, when I see this, you know,
obviously Miami's a little desperate. You know, I I never
because there's no disputing his talent, like his physical capabilities.
He's he's a pretty big freak, you know, just in
terms of you know, the size, the athleticism, the speed
he's been banged up the last couple of years. I
(36:56):
think sometimes if you don't love football, like I mean truly,
like paid man Tom Brady, the w you know what,
once you get banged up, you know, football it's such
a grind to rehab to only play, you know, it's
not like basketball baseball where you get a.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
Lot of games.
Speaker 6 (37:09):
You just only you only play a small number of games.
I think it kind of puts into perspective for some
of these guys, like do I didn't like doing this
and now these guys are getting so rich. I think Miami,
I don't know where you stand, but I could see
Miami being a pretty big train wreck. I had like
an assistant GM He's like, look at their corner depth.
He's like in this league where everyone passes, you know,
(37:30):
you can say what you want. Jalen's a diminishing player,
but look who's starting at corner for them like it
could be and their defense just hasn't been that great
to begin with. So I you know, I know that
Raheem most Erin's popping off. Like last time I checked
Jayalen Ramsey was a guy like showing up late to meetings,
you know, So it's like, I don't know, you could
argue in this day and age with the amount of money.
Speaker 5 (37:52):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (37:52):
You know, pat Riley runs like a military operation. Even
it's been hard for him the last couple of years.
Maybe it's just hard to win in a place like Miami,
you know. I mean it true because even in New
York City, none of those guys live in the city.
Speaker 4 (38:04):
You know, you and I were at the super Bowl
in Miami.
Speaker 6 (38:06):
You've probably been to a bunch. I do wonder if
that's a tough place to build, like a to build
a football team in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
I mean, hey, hey, we thought Raiders would be you know,
common thought would be Raiders. Those guys live, you know,
out in Summerland, and they've had their own off the
field issues as well. It does that city keeps calling
calls the wrong dudes, and those wrong dudes get in
there and crazy things, sad things sometimes just distractions can
in fact happen. This is the Doug Gottlieb Show on
(38:36):
Fox Sports Radio. John Mittlcoff is in fact our guest guest. Okay,
last one here. I am super super intrigued by the
Bengals with all this offensive weaponry, but they had such
a horrific defense last year. How does that work?
Speaker 4 (39:00):
Listen?
Speaker 6 (39:00):
I think sometimes you gotta be careful about making huge generalizations,
you know, in the springtime. But it was like, yeah,
their offensive players are back, their offensive sweet last year.
It's been a weird offseason, right, I mean their star
pass rusher is I mean very publicly gone back and
forth to the organization and then the guy was clearly
drafted to replace them, him and his ag dinner Like
(39:23):
what are you sending us the sign and left man
story minigam. So you know, the most important person on
any defense is the guy up front, and their two
in theory best players on their defensive line are It's
one thing to be like a little like TJ walk
like wants more money. This thing feels like there's some
(39:43):
like legit animosity for both guys. And I don't know,
I just you know, if it was Mike Tomlin or
hard Bob Brother, theyg everything be okay. But Zach Taylor
kind of fighting first job. It feels like like they
scored a lot of points last year and it didn't matter,
and I you know, they get out Golden who was
excellent at Notre Dame. But you know, I mean when
you're a top colleges in basketball or football, you got
(40:05):
the best players yep, you know in the in the
pros everybody, Yeah, players, yeah, the ASCs and you're a
couple injuries away from your roster, you know, on a
side of the ball looking no different than a like
a four win team. And I say the same like
the Ravens, right. So Hell's a huge part. It's just
it's a difficult spot. My guess is, I don't know
(40:28):
if it goes great for the Bengals now Joe. I mean,
what's Joe Burrow gonna throw fifty touchdowns? He might have
to for them to win ten games.
Speaker 1 (40:37):
That's Yeamanokoff and if Ail Analyst toast the three Now
podcasts and the Volume podcast How work John Gray stuff man,
love having you on.
Speaker 6 (40:43):
Thanks do see you buddy.
Speaker 1 (40:44):
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just from Easor League Baseball on the Mariners Radio network.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
Swung on a drive center field, his belt.
Speaker 1 (41:06):
Back, he's at the track, he's looking up, makes it jump.
It's over his club. It is gone. Col Rolly has
done it again.
Speaker 3 (41:16):
Another home run.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
Number thirty three is in the seats.
Host
Doug Gottlieb
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