April 13, 2024 • 42 mins
Jason tells you what Mark Pope and King George from 'Hamilton' has in common. NBA Insider Mark Medina joins the show to help make sense of the crazy playoff picture. Plus, a BIG BOLD NFL Draft prediction!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Jason Smith Show with Mike
Harmon podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weeknight
ten pm to two am Eastern seven to eleven pm
Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for
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Speaker 2 (00:22):
Give this you're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Hello, Welcome inside final hour tonight The Jason Smith Show
with special delivery Steve Desager in for Mike Harmon. We're
live at the tyrack dot Com studios tirack dot com.
I'll hope you get there at unmatched selection, fast free shipping,
free road hazard protection and over ten thousand recommended installers.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Tyrack dot com the way tire buying should be okay.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
So after a night in the NBA this season, no
one's ever gonna forget we know a few things going
into the final game of the season. The Suns just
held off the Kings one oh eight, one oh seven.
De Aaron Fox turns the ball over on the final
possession of the game for the Kings. He goes in
(01:13):
for it looks like it could be a jumper that
could give them the lead or to dish, but instead
Devin Booker gets his hands in, breaks the play up,
steals the ball away, and the Sons walk away with
a one o eight, one oh seven victory over the
Sacramento Kings. So here's where we sit right now in
(01:35):
the Western Conference. And there's one thing that's just absolutely
amazing when you think about coming out of this. After
the games tonight, the Nuggets losing to the San Antonio Spurs,
the Thunder, the t Wolves, and the Nuggets are all
tied for first place in the Western Conference. That is
the order they are in right now. Thunder, t Wolves, Nuggets.
(01:58):
So the Thunder control their own destiny. Minnesota would need
to win, the Thunder lose, the Nuggets need to win.
Hope both those teams lose. That's how fast it's changed
for the Nuggets, for me, the number one seed to
being a three seed losing to the Spurs tonight, who
were twenty and sixty. Now we get to the bottom
where things are really fun, getting into the playing round.
(02:20):
The Pelicans are in sixth, forty nine and thirty two.
They lead the Suns by a game. The Suns, at
worst have clinched the seventh seed, and they will play
the first game at home in the playing round. The
Lakers are in eighth and can play in that playing
round that first game against Phoenix, and if they lose,
(02:41):
they will have a home game to try to move
on as the eighth seed. The Lakers have a one
game lead right now on the Kings and the Warriors,
who both lost tonight. Now this is where things just
get absolutely crazy. At seven o'clock tonight, when Steve and
I came on the air, the Lakers were in a
big fight with the Grizzlies, and it shouldn't have been
(03:03):
this way, right was what was the quote Steve that
Lakers should be able to close their eyes and win
this game by fifteen.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Right, It was mentioned more than once on Lakers Radio
just before tip. This got a fifteen to twenty point
win written all over, and they were actually trailing at Memphis,
a Memphis team where we couldn't identify most of the players,
hadn't heard of them.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
At seven o'clock Pacific Coast time tonight, you did not
want to be the Lakers because they were sitting in
the tenth spot. They were looking at the potential of
playing either the Warriors or the Kings on the road
in the first play in game. Those teams they have
a combined one win against this year, So they were
(03:45):
looking at going on the road against a team they
didn't have hardly any success at this season.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
And both Golden State and Sacramento with home games tonight
after the Laker game finished, so like, that's.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
It, Like you're looking at that they got the other
team have home games they're gonna win. It did not
look good because then if you're the Lakers, let's say
you win that play in game, Okay, hey, then you
win an A, you win two games, you go in
the playoffs. Is the eighth seed. Guess who's waiting for you?
The Nuggets. So you're out of the playoffs in the
first round.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
You're out right, the Lakers are scared to play the Nuggets.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
You're out, dude.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
The nut the Nuggets are the champs when the playoffs hit.
It doesn't matter the Nugget. The Nuggets are. The Lakers are.
Really the Nuggets are a really bad matchup for the Lakers.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
And they just are.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
They can't control Jokic, they can't control Jamal Murray. It's
just a really difficult matchup. So that's that's where you
did not want to be the Lakers tenth place, two
really tough games ahead of them, and then if they
get in, potentially it's it's the Nuggets and the season's over.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Two and a half hours later, here's where you are
for the Lakers.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
You are in the eighth spot, and if you win
on Sunday, at worst, you're gonna get You're gonna get
a game against the Suns where you can win and
move on and be the seventh seed.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
And only play Tuesday next week. You'd hear the rest
of the week off.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
And only and be fresher. When you have an older
team like the Lakers do, the more rest you can get,
the better it's gonna be. They could potentially have one
game against the Suns, win that game, or if they lose,
then they're guaranteed a home game against either the Kings
or the Warriors.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
The second plan. Yeah, and what is.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Waiting for them maybe not the Nuggets. Right like, we
went from tenth place, look at what's ahead of us.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
It's it's awful to.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Suddenly, hey, things look pretty clear for us to potentially
get into the conference finals because the matchups might work
for us. Now, we could walk in as the as
the seventh seed and maybe get Minnesota in the first
round or whatever.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
It's gonna wind up being, probably not going to get
the Nuggets.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
It's likely not the Nuggets at this point because the
Nuggets are losing their tiebreakers to the two teams they're
tied with for first in the West right now, and
the finales and once again, all the games in the
East will start at the same time Sunday, the last
day of the regular season one pm Eastern, and in
the West, all the games start at the same time
three point thirty Eastern. So while the Lakers are at
(06:08):
New Orleans, you know their Phoenix Suns are going to
be playing at the same time. Those three at the
top of the West, they're all going to be starting
their individual games at the same time on Sunday. Dallas
is the opponent at Oklahoma City on Sunday in the
season finale. OKC with a chance at the one seed. Well,
Dallas is already locked into a first round matchup with
(06:29):
the Clippers four versus five. That's not going to change.
Dallas sat their starters tonight and lost at home badly
and didn't care that they lost by about twenty two Detroit.
I'd be curious to see how many regulars and how
many minutes from those regulars are going to come on
the stat sheet Sunday. That's the team that Oklahoma City
is hosting. Denver not only needs to win at Memphis
(06:52):
in the finale Sunday, they need Oklahoma City to lose
at home and Minnesota to lose at home in order
to pass them each for the one seed that is
looking like and less likely.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
This is this is such a reversal of fortune over
the course of two and a half hours. I really
it was you don't want to be the Lakers. Now
it's hey, being the Lakers is okay.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
There's one I believe now.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
I believe Anthony Davis when he says, hey, we're in
a great place right now going into the plane.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
I believe them now.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
It'd be better if they could play Memphis again on
Sunday and end the season that way.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
But this is true. Yes, Instead, it's.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Anthony Davis at New Orleans to finish the regular season
for the Lakers on Sunday, and New Orleans will still
have something to play for. New Orleans would have clinched
its play in playoff spot and avoided the play in entirely.
If the Suns had lost but Phoenix with the Lake
comeback to win by a point at Sacramento, if Helicans
have not yet clinched the sixth seed, they have not
(07:46):
yet clinched avoiding the play in next week. New Orleans
at home against the Lakers Sunday does have something to
play for.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Well, And now I don't know who's got the tiebreaker
between the Pelicans and the Mavericks, because they're only a
game behind the Mavericks for fifth.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
It must owe Dallas because they've said Dallas is locked
in Dallas.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Okay, so the Pelicans. So the Pelicans are either six
or seven. Okay, so that's right. You said that'd be right.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
So the Pelicans are either six or seven. I mean,
this is this is just crazy, Jason.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
You got the whole Nuggets Lakers thing backwards.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Dude, you don't want to play them.
Speaker 5 (08:17):
You got it backwards.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
The Nuggets are the ones that didn't want the one seed,
so they lost to Night to get the three's.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
That's what's going on.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
They're trying to avoid the Lakers.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I like the way you think I see.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
What you're doing.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
I like the way you think. I like this.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
It's gonna be not much sweeter when they win at all.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Yeah, Okay, eventual you're gonna have to play the Nuggets.
Just no, eventually have.
Speaker 7 (08:41):
To do it.
Speaker 6 (08:41):
If the Lakers are not scared of the Nuggets, you
act like they're in their hotel rooms shaking in their boots.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
I don't take anyone scared, but the results have been Jason.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
You call Michael Malone and see what he has to
say about all the attention the Lakers are getting.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
Mike.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
You wait to see what, right, Mike.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
We'll have more on the NBA coming up in about
ten minutes, Mark Medina, NBA inside are going to stop buys.
We break down the craziness of the night tonight and look, clearly,
the other thing that happened tonight is Jalen Brunson will
be the NBA MVP. Oh No, Today, Kentucky officially hired
Mark Pope as their new head coach.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
He comes from BYU.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
And to let it settle in for you think about this,
Cali Parry wasn't good enough. Cali Perry has won national championships,
gotten the final fours with Kentucky, has won SEC conferences,
has won over twenty games a year. Was probably screwed
out of a potential Final four run during the COVID
(09:37):
year because Kentucky was great in twenty twenty when they
canceled the tournament.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
He's not good.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Enough because while cat Nation was happy and okay, letting
him go to Arkansas, okay, and now you replaced him
with a guy that's never won a game in the
NCAA tournament and not won a conference. This is who
you replaced him with.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
But he played two whole years at Kentucky. Jason, he's
one of ours.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
He's gonna tell stories about nineteen ninety six. I'll tell
you when Syracuse Lazaris Sims came in. We knew we
were gonna beat them and win the national championship. And
John Wallace had nothing on us.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Oh wow, what are you talking about? What are you
talking about? Look?
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Mark Pope is a good coach, right, he's a good coach.
People talk highly of him. And one of the things
that that top to bottom I've heard a lot of
evaluators say, is look, building a program that's kind of
his strength.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Okay, it shouldn't be hard to be.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
The thing is, you're not going to Saint John's right,
You're not going to a to a long time school
that is downtrodden.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
You got to build back up.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
This Northwestern something like that.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
This is the number one school, the number one job
in the country is Kentucky basketball. And you got your
fifth choice to come in and try to get a
team where you didn't think John Cali Perry could get
you anymore. You know, this is this is how teams
go from. We are elite, and then we forget where
we came from and we wind up turning into a
(10:59):
team that is sixteen and fourteen and we're going to
the niit and maybe we're voting on not going to
the nit all right, you got a coach that already
the fan base is not happy with. And when the
fan base is not happy with, so what care of
the fans are happy. There's a lot of fans out
there the control of the NIL money. There's a lot
of guys out there nil wise who could say, hey,
we love this new coach, whatever you guys need. Is
(11:22):
the NIL base going to be happy with Mark Pope? No,
they would have been happy with Danny Hurley it would
have been happy with Scott Drew. But instead, somehow Kentucky
biffed this entire search because they didn't have the guy
ready when they knew they were losing Calipari, which is
crazy and I don't know how you have you conduct
a search that way when you are the number one
most desirable job in the country and you find out
(11:45):
people to tell you nobody wants it. The only guy
I would have gone to. The first guy I would
have said is Danny Hurley. He talked about it Monday
night after the championship game. He's a champion two times over.
And the third question was, hey, Kentucky, uh los of
John Calipari?
Speaker 3 (11:59):
And what are these say? You gotta talk to my
wife about it.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
He didn't say no, he didn't say there's no way.
So you go after Danny Hurley. If Danny Hurley says no,
it's okay. Because the guy is a two time national champion,
he's you cut. He's the guy that can tell you no.
But you decide to sit here and say, well, maybe
it's it. Maybe we go for Scott Drew.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Maybe Billy Donovan is our guy, And it's like, what
are you doing? What are you doing.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
You should have gone with a blank check to Danny Hurley.
But never mind that didn't You didn't do it. He
decided to ask him three days after you just said,
take a hike, you're gonna ask me third. I'm not
gonna come on, man, you can't ask me third.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
And by the way, they had money to spend because
they didn't have to pay off Calipark. He left every
middle of extension.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
They had everything. They had everything together, and they.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
Get better than some NBA teams that can tell they
have the money.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
And with the right coach, the nil purse strings would
open up tremendously because that's what people forget is that
when you get a coaching change in college basketball, generally
you get a bump in nil because people are kind
of done with the old coach. You're not winning, so
no one's really giving the money they have been where
car dealerships, whatever it was. But then a new coach
(13:07):
comes in. Okay, Hey, I like this new coach. This
is gonna work.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
And I'll tell you for number one, I guarantee you.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
That's why Syracuse is getting all these players from A
and M and Georgia and going to Syracuse over Alabama
and transfers because fran Brown has figured that out right
guy comes in new energy, turning recruits. Hey, he's got
the nil purse strings open. This is generally what happens.
But is that gonna happen here with Kentucky already the
fan base doesn't. There's no honeymoon period, Steve. There's no
(13:33):
honeymoon period. When you don't have a honeymoon period, it
is not going to end well for you because fans
and everybody that matters is expecting something huge right away,
and the minute it doesn't work, it's your fault and
you're done. I mean, you know, yes, most jobs people take,
you're hired to be fired, but boy, this is one
of those hired to be fired jobs.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
For Mark Bow.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
And there's two reasons probably why there's no honeymoon. One
because it's Kentucky basketball. And two because even with Calipar,
the endings of the last four seasons were completely unacceptable.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
There more unacceptable for you the end of the seasons
or him walking his dog with a stroller.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
Which one, yeah, that might take the cake.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
There was no walking involved.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
He was pushing the dog, well, pushing the maybe the
dog had brought around for a while, came out in
a stroller.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Maybe he was running around the house. Now you don't know.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
May it could have happen right up and now I
do you know? Actually Frostburg is Cali Perry's dog, Manny.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
That's what we know.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
You've clearly never been the Beverly Hills Exit, Exit out
out of Fresco X. The Jason Smith Show with Steve
Desager in for Mike Harmon. Coming up next, we got
Mark Medina stopping buys. We try to make sense of
what is an unbelievable night in the NBA. Who had
the best night? Who had the worst night? What can
we expect for Sunday? Keep it right here.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern seven
pm Pacific on Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 7 (15:03):
Hey, we're Covino and Rich Fox Sports Radio every day
five to seven pm Eastern. But here's the thing, we
never have enough time to get to everything we want
to get to. And that's why we have a brand
new podcast called over Promised. You see, we're having so
much fun in our two hour show. We never get
to everything honestly, because this guy will be over promising
(15:23):
things we never have time for. Yeah, you blubber, list
lame and me. Well, you know what it's called over promise.
You should be good at it because you've been over
promising women for years. Well, it's a Cavino and Rich
after show, and we want you to be a part
of it. We're gonna be talking sports, of course, but
we're also gonna talk life and relationships. And if Rich
and I are arguing about something or we didn't have
enough time, it will continue on our after show called
(15:44):
over Promised. Well, if you don't get enough Covino and Rich,
make sure you check out over Promised and also uncensored
by the way, so maybe we'll go at it even
a little harder. It's gonna be the best after show
podcast of all time.
Speaker 8 (15:55):
There you go, over promising. Remember you could see on YouTube,
but definitely join us. Listen Over Promised with Cavino and
Rich on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you
get your podcasts, Fox.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Sports Radio, The Jason Smith Show, a special delivery Steve
to Say You're in for Mike Harmon Tonight. Major League
Baseball Quick Update, The Padres push across a run in
the top of the eleventh. They lead the Dodgers eight
to seven, but the Dodgers have their leadoff runner at
second obviously with the rules of Major League Baseball, a
(16:27):
great play on a foul pop up for the first
out of the inning, so the Dodgers down to their
final two outs. Here again, tying run at second base,
cronin Worth making a great play.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Up against the netting. Boy looked, wow, he went flying
into the netting too. Came up with that. So we'll
have more in this game coming up in a bit.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
But it's time to break down the magical, crazy, insane,
whatever you want to say tonight.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
This is what it was in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Joining us now, longtime NBA insider. He's on Twitter at
Mark g Underscore Medena.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
It is Mark Medina.
Speaker 9 (17:00):
Mark.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
What's happening? Man?
Speaker 9 (17:02):
Not much other than you know what. The New York
Connectson might not have Julius Randall, but they're still plugging away.
Last time I checked, they have the same wreckers the
Milwaukee Bucks. Do not count them out, dude.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
We don't need them.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
We're going to the finals. We're going to and the
entire postseason is going to be. Think how good the
Knicks would be if they had Julius Randall. As we
run to the finals and it's the Nick Celtics in
the Eastern Conference Finals.
Speaker 9 (17:24):
It's happening, yeah, And I mean, all they need is
for the Boston Celtics entire starting lineup to not show up.
You know, maybe the Knicks can concoct a plan where
they kidnapped the Celtics superstar weight. Wasn't that like the
inverse story of that terrible basketball movie named Celtic Pride
with Daniel Stern and dan Ackroyd.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Well, the Celtics tried to sit starters tonight and still
one by thirty. So I'm not sure that even that
will help.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
We just killed the Celtics last night. Come on, man,
we just beat the crap out of them in Boston.
Speaker 9 (17:57):
And meanwhile, on the other side of the CALLI in
the West, the Nuggets try to lose it seems like
to avoid the Lakers. I never saw that coming. I thought,
you know that, I thought they were the Wakers, Daddy, right.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Wait now wait a minitute, wait wait wait wait wait wait,
I'm looking at this as the other way around. The
Lakers don't want to face the Nuggets in the first
round of the.
Speaker 9 (18:15):
Play Oh okay, I mean they very well. Could they
have been in the driver's seat here if they win
the plan, they could be that seventh seed that is
against Minnesota, or you know what, the whole jumble standings
might cause this array on Sunday and then all of
a sudden denversus the second seed.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
All right, So let me ask you this then, Mark,
since there's so many things out there, let's deal with
it this way. Any one of three teams can win
the West, and any one of five teams can can
finish sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, or tenth, depending on where
you are in.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
The playing round.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
So which team do you think? Do you really think
it's the Lakers? Because the Nuggets can place almost anybody.
Do you really think the team that Nuggets want to
avoid in the first round is the Lakers? Is there
somebody else out there?
Speaker 3 (19:03):
What do you think?
Speaker 7 (19:04):
No?
Speaker 9 (19:04):
If I'm the Nuggets, I don't think I need to
avoid anyone because they have Nicolokich and Jamal Murray is
supposed to be healthy, and they're the defending champs. I mean,
they have had close games against the Lakers, but they've
always outmaneuvered them, you know, with their depth and just
schemes everything above. I think that if there was a
team that wanted to avoid the Lakers, it should be
the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it looks like they will
(19:26):
because they have the one seed. But the Lakers have
really matched up well against them. And while there is
a danger of equating regular season success and what that
means for the playoffs, I think it makes sense that
this could carry over to the playoffs because the Lakers
match up world of them. They have more experience than
the Thunder, et cetera. But yeah, if I'm the Nuggets,
I'm thinking, you know what, like, we're good, we want
(19:47):
a title last year, and let's bring it on.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Mark go is Steve sifting through things after games tonight.
Of course, nobody plays Saturday, and then everybody plays on
Sunday to end the regular season. It is possible that
the Lakers win the finale Sunday at New Orleans and
then have to stay in New Orleans and play the
Pelicans again in the play in on Tuesday, because New
Orleans does not have the tiebreaker against Phoenix. They just
(20:12):
lost to Phoenix again. A couple of weeks ago, Phoenix
could go up to the sixth seed, and then it's
New Orleans hosting Lakers again.
Speaker 9 (20:19):
Yeah, I'm wondering what the itinerary is. Do they decide
to stay in New Orleans because it makes sense, or
do they won't fear Oh you know what, a few
nights out on Bourbon Street. This is gonna lead to
a lot of temptations. Let's go back to LA so
we can get a practice in and because we're not
visiting LA and we live in LA, there won't be
the nightlife distractions. A lot of itinerary puzzles will have
(20:42):
to figure out.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Yeah, especially with Darvin Ham, who the more the Lakers win,
the more stories we get about how much they wanted
them fired over the course.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Of the city.
Speaker 9 (20:51):
Hey, he's always got his hands in the pocket and
he's got to figure it out. I will say this,
I mean Darvin Ham. He certainly has made his mistakes.
I think most notably with the Warriors game. That rotation
that never played together itself, and you don't have Lebron
or really or Austin Reeves on the floor, that's just
(21:11):
asking for disaster. But in fairness to the Lakers. That
ross had more to do with the fact that this
player named Anthony Davis wasn't available. And I think when
you're looking at blame pie or success pie, it's going
to sell Lebron ad how well the role players play
well or don't play well, and then Darvin Ham's coaching
or lack thereof will be in a distant third.
Speaker 4 (21:33):
You know, it was borderline embarrassing, wasn't it that the
Lakers had to come from behind, laid against players that
we've never heard of that Memphis is using tonight they
had thirteen injured players. But as it turned out, really
this couldn't have gone any better for the Lakers, right
they win, Golden State loses at home, Sacramento loses at home,
Nuggets might not be the one seed.
Speaker 9 (21:54):
Yeah, everything fell into place for them, And you know
it also helps that Anthony Davis back. He said he
had no issues with his eye, so that is a
good sign moving forward. But you know, you're looking at
all these games on Sunday and everything else could turn
on the head. I mean, the Lakers Pelicans, that's a
clear matchup here. But you know, with the Warriors, you
(22:16):
know they own the tiebreaker against the Lakers. So if
all of a sudden, you know, they lose, all that
can really turn things into disarray because right now they
have a one game lead against the Warriors, but as
they lose, they could froll down to ten. Because the
Warriors and the tiebreaker.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Mark can you make sense of the Warriors? They'll have
a run where it looks like we're figuring things out
and maybe we're dangerous for a little bit of time.
Then they have nights like tonight and I look at
them and I go, Okay, even if I could figure
them out, by the time we get to the second
round of the playoffs, they're going home.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Is there anything different you can see for the Warriors
going forward?
Speaker 9 (22:55):
Yeah? I think that kind of like the Lakers. We
see what they are on their good days, and we
say do what there are and their bad days, and
it's unrealistic to think that they can sustain that on
a consistent basis. So with them being in the plan,
you know, all it takes is Steph Curry and the
band to relive some nostalgia of their championship years and
all of a sudden they're in the playoffs. Let's they
(23:17):
carry that through a seven game series seems unrealistic. But
I will say the reason why the Warriors are internally
optimistic isn't just because of their championship equity. There's a
few obvious things. Yes, they have Steph Clay and Draymond.
Steph's playing still at a high level. When Draymond's not
gained into it with the reps, He's still a really
good defensive player. But I think the things that have
(23:37):
been encouraging turning points and developments late in the season
is that Clay's embraces ventrol. He's been playing well with it.
Chris Paul is a really good insurance policy when Steph
Curr's off the floor, and their young guys have moved
in the right direction with Jonathan kaminga Brandon Podzimski specifically,
and so while no one ever outside of the Steph
(24:00):
Ury is a fully finished product, they have been spreading
in the right direction. But I think even with that,
it's a heavy ass. So then think the Warriors can
all of a sudden beat a Minnesota, Oklahoma City or Denver.
I think they're stealing is you know, second round at best,
but first round most likely.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Question about the Clippers chance is because once Dallas sat
starters and loss. We know for sure that the Clippers
four seed will face Dallas five seed in the first
round of the playoffs that'll start in just over a
week for the two of them. The Clippers, by the way,
then sat starters for the rest of the night tonight.
Is it going to be same old Clippers? We've seen
what Don Sich has done against the Clippers, phenomenal games
(24:40):
in the postseason. Is it going to be healthy Clippers
and a different result? I just feel like every year
the Clippers are going to have to show me or else.
I'm thinking the same thing, same result every time.
Speaker 9 (24:51):
Yeah. Talking to certain Clippers players this week and in
recent weeks, they're very bullish that now is finally the
time that they can win a championship because the team
chemistry is good, everyone's sharing the ball, they've improved offensively.
But it's the elephant in the room that's suddenly turning
its ugly head about injuries. Kawhi Leonard has been out
(25:11):
for seven consecutive games with white knee inflammation, and at
first it his term soreness. Now it's termed inflammation, and
the Clippers are going back to try to mirror the
CIA and the FBI with not giving direct answers about anything.
And so while Tylu says he's not concerned about Kawhi
Leonard's injury and he expects that he'll be ready for
(25:33):
the playoffs, they haven't been forthcoming with his previous injuries.
That you have to have a wait and see and
a skeptical eye with. I think the other thing to
keep an eye on is that because of what you mentioned,
they have home court locked up as the four seed
against Dallas. Don't expect Kawhi or any of the main
guys to play in Sunday's game against Houston. But what's
(25:55):
going to be the key point is before they play
game win against Dallas, how much Pratt is time just
Kawai actually get it is critical that there is a
ramp up period for him to play because if not,
it could lead to further injuries. So as much as
they say, hey, it's about health and that's the number
one priority, it is going to be a gigantic red
flag if he is not having substantial practice time that
(26:18):
week lead into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
Mark, if I.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Said to you NBA insider, Mark Bedina, our guest here,
if I said to you outside of the Nuggets, the
other top three seeds in the first round of the
playoffs are all going to lose. What percentage chance would
you get the Thunder loose, the Tea Wolves lose, and
the Clippers lose.
Speaker 9 (26:39):
Good question, man, This is the reason why you host
the radio show, right.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
I think.
Speaker 9 (26:46):
It was the first round because of that matchup situation
with with the Lakers. I think that Minnesota comparatively have
more experience because they have Mike Conley. I think that
they have better talent when you compare Anthony Edwards, Carl
Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, NOAs Reed versus the Thunder, which
have great talent, but Jay Gojus, Alexander lou Dort shut
(27:07):
Hongrin as much as I like those guys that give
the edge to Minnesota. So I think, yeah, out of
the west of the top seeds, the Thunders the most
likely to lose, and obviously the Clippers. I don't mean
to have an out, but if they're healthy, they can win.
If not, it's going to be the same old story
again for them.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
You mentioned Karl Anthony Towns. He finally returned from the
knee entry in Minnesota tonight, he'd had surgery a month ago.
They eked out and win against slumping Atlanta. Is it
enough for you to see, Okay, he's back on the court.
He had eleven points tonight. The Minnesota team I'm expecting
for the playoffs, that's the team that'll be there.
Speaker 9 (27:42):
Well. Encouraging sim that he's back, But I think the
key thing is that they almost operate as if they
can't rely on Carl Anthony Towns. He needs to get
his condition up, he needs to get a rhythm, and
I think that that's one of the things that Minnesota's
been prideful about that as much as they wanted Carl
Anthony Towns obviously be healthy, they felt like that there
was a lot of internal development that they feel will
(28:06):
make them ready for the postseason. Anthony Edwards, he's now
the number one guy. He's had more ball handling duties,
has more passing duties. Nas Reed had a bigger front
court scoring roll. He stepped up with that, and Rudy
Gobert really lean on his defense even more so. I
think that it's good that he's ready for the playoffs,
But I think internally Minnesota's thinking, hey, their success has
(28:30):
to rely on everyone else instead of Cat being the savior.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
All right, now, now, lastly, Mark, I want you to
give me, give me a truthful answer to this, because
I'm okay.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
I'm okay with the truth.
Speaker 9 (28:39):
Are you here about that?
Speaker 3 (28:40):
I'm okay with it?
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Is it because of loudmouth Nick fans like me that
have a big microphone? Is this why the most of
the media refuses to acknowledge how great Jalen Brunson is.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
I just don't like the way people talk.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
About how great the Knicks are, so I'm not going
to give Jalen Brunson any credit.
Speaker 9 (28:57):
Well, all right, well we're all but Knicks fans were
supposed to vote him for All Star like they didn't
come out in droves.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
I think that was fixed. I think that was fixed
people in the media who didn't like that. They threw
out a lot of ballots. They threw them all out.
Speaker 9 (29:12):
I will say this, the Knicks, I would be very
surprised they get past Boston, but I would not be
surprised if they're the second team that challenges Boston. I'm
really I'm really well, I want to say concerned. I
got no no stake in this, but I want to
be surprised that Milwaukee gets eliminated from New York. I
want to be surprised if they just go out swinging.
(29:33):
Jalen Brunson makes you think. You know what, Let's not
wait until his career is over. Let's retire his jersey
right now. Let's construck a statue. But unless again someone
can conct that kidnapping playing with Boston, it's gonna be
Boston smooth sailing, amused.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
Let's retire as jersey while he's twenty six years old.
Speaker 4 (29:55):
Get a little statue.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
No, we're gonna, We're gonna, We're gonna hang a ban
It's just gonna be Jalen Brunson is great.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
That's gonna be the banner end of the season.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
He's on Twitter at Mark g Underscore Medina that said
Mark g Underscore Madeena NBA insider.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Mark is always buddy, Thanks so much. We'll talk Mark Medina,
you know.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
And the thing is that that Allan Iverson's statue that
got unveiled today, and it was so small, and I
know a lot of people going, oh my god, how
do you give a statue for Alan Iverson?
Speaker 4 (30:27):
This small, smaller than he is. And that's saying something
it is, but but.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
That's the size of the statues that the Sixers build service,
so it wasn't that big a deal.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Honestly.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
My big thing was they put it outside their practice facility. Really,
that's where you put the Iris' statue. Practice facility, not
a game, not a game, not a game, but practice,
the practice facility.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
Practice. That's where my statue is.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
The practicant, he should have said in his speech.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Time now to find out what's trending in the wide
world of sports. Despite the fact that Jalen brunt And
is clearly the NBMVP no. Steve de Sager has more
other stories.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
New York was down to the Brooklyn Nets late first
quarter twenty one to five. Did edge the Nets one eleven,
one oh seven despite forty one points from Cam Thomas,
Jalen Brunson, thirty points, eleven assists, no turnovers. New York
as a team only had five turnovers. So with one
game to go, nobody's playing tomorrow. Everybody in the NBA
plays on Sunday. One game left. The New York Knicks
(31:27):
are in a tie with Milwaukee for the two seed
in the East. Milwaukee currently holds that spot. They don't
have the injured Janisan Tennekumpo. Milwaukee lost badly at Oklahoma City,
which gets us to this discussion of the one seed
in the West. Somehow, it looks so much more clear
before the night started it did. Minnesota won at home,
(31:47):
Oklahoma City won at home. Somehow, Denver lost by a
point at San Antonio one twenty one to one twenty.
That means those three great teams in the West, all
of the same record, all with fifty six wins. Okse
currently holds the tiebreaker. If the season ended tonight, Oklahoma
City would be the one seed in the West, then Minnesota,
(32:08):
then Denver the three seed. That's how much things change.
When you couldn't beat the Spurs. Jamal Murray the Nuggets
had thirty five points, but they lost by a point
at San Antonio. Is Victor wembin Yama had thirty four points.
Minnesota's win over Atlanta was one O nine, one oh six.
Rudy Gobert twenty five points, nineteen rebounds, five block shots.
(32:29):
Gobert was ten of ten shooting from the floor. Oklahoma
City's win was against Milwaukee, as mentioned, and then you
get to the four versus five matchup, which for sure
will be the four seed Clippers in a best of
seven first round against the five seed Dallas. Now, while
we've got the play in tournament in the NBA starting Tuesday,
the first round of the NBA Playoffs starts a week
(32:52):
from Saturday, the twentieth.
Speaker 5 (32:53):
Did the Knicks make it, Steve?
Speaker 4 (32:54):
The Knicks will be in the postseason? Oh, actutely right.
Second round of the playoffs will start in May, byway
after the top five in the West. Who knows the
order because teams six through ten could really get jumbled
come Sunday. The Lakers, for example, who somehow came back
to win and avoid the embarrassment at Memphis one twenty
three to one twenty, they're.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
Maybe not maybe.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
They're not back because they should have won this by
twenty instead it was one twenty three to one twenty
the final. But if you check the standings in the West,
the Lakers are not only the eight seed ahead of
Sacramento which lost at home, ahead of Golden State which
lost at home tonight. It is possible that the Los
(33:39):
Angeles Lakers beat New Orleans and stay in New Orleans
and play the eight versus seven matchup against the Pelicans
Tuesday in Louisiana. Or it's possible the Lakers lose the
finale Sunday and they fall all the way to ten,
and all the fears that we mentioned at the top
of this show a few hours ago come to foruition
(34:00):
that the Lakers would have to win two games, not
be at home next week two play ins I'm talking about,
and then have to well probably not the Nuggets, but
then have to play a one seed even if they
get in the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (34:12):
That was made up fear by certain nobody.
Speaker 4 (34:16):
When it was Denver, it was legitimate. New Orleans won
at Golden State tonight, Phoenix a winner at Sacramento. Boy,
it's Phoenix looking good. Phoenix has the tiebreaker over New Orleans.
If Phoenix can beat Minnesota in the finale and New
Orleans loses, Phoenix avoids the play in entirely. They would
be the sixth seed in the West. Play in tournament
(34:36):
starts Tuesday. That's what determines the number seven to eight
seeds in each conference for the playoffs to start, the
seventh place team and the season standings will host the
eighth place club. The winner of that one game Tuesday
becomes the seventh seed in the playoffs NHL. We found
out the Vegas Golden Knights in the late game not
only one seven to two over Minnesota. Vegas clinched the
(34:58):
final playoff berth in the West. They won and Saint
Louis lost. Blues lost at home five to two to
Carolina Arizona with an overtime win at Edmonton. Victories for
Calgary and Nashville each on the road. NASCAR's on FS
one again this Sunday from Texas three thirty pm Eastern time.
The Exfinity races tomorrow on FS one. Scottie Scheffler is
in a three way tie for the lead at the Masters.
(35:19):
Tiger Woods won Overpar. In baseball's late game, the Padres
in eleven innings beat the Dodgers in LA eight to seven.
Fernando Tatist Junior the tying to run homer in the seventh.
They got to run in the eleventh off reliever Alex Vesi,
who's now zero to two. A's won in ten innings
two to one over Washington. Attendance five thousand and seven
to seventy seven. Late night wins for both Seattle and
(35:42):
Saint Louis Yankees at Cleveland rained out split doubleheader. Tomorrow,
Texas sent Houston to another lost twelve eight. The Mets
ended Kansas City seven game winning streak six to one
wins again for Pittsburgh and Milwaukee.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
Back to you, Steve, just really quick, if the Lakers
have to play in New Orleans and they and then
they play in New Orleans and they lose again, does
Darvin ham get to leave or does he have to
stay in New Orleans?
Speaker 4 (36:09):
Would have to go to what some other, some other city,
because you get to fly back with the team. They
would just board early and lock the door.
Speaker 5 (36:19):
That happens he gets to coach the Knicks.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
Eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox, The Jason Smith
Show is Steve de Sager in for Mike Harmon.
Speaker 3 (36:28):
Coming up next.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
Yes, we've had a lot of NBA, but how about
a big Bold prediction for the NFL Draft.
Speaker 3 (36:34):
Oh, we got one for you. It's hot, it's juicy,
It's next Fox.
Speaker 2 (36:38):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven
pm Pacific.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
Fox Sports Radio The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon.
Steve De Sager in for Harmon tonight. There's been a
lot of NBA huge night tonight, setting up an incredible
day on Sunday. Half the league playing early, they're half
playing late. It's just awesome with so many spots and
seating still up for grabs.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
But we're starting to get hot and heavy on the
NFL Draft.
Speaker 1 (37:11):
We're getting we're a little bit over two weeks out
from it, and everybody's kind of getting excited, and Steve,
I'm gonna.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
Give you a big, bold prediction.
Speaker 1 (37:18):
Exact, we are less than a week away from a
huge trade and by that, I mean someone's gonna trade
up into the top five of the NFL Draft to
get a quarterback because there's so many teams that need quarterbacks.
Speaker 5 (37:37):
Right.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
Luckily this is the year, right, there's fourteen quarterbacks, you
could go one through fourteen are all gonna be taken
to the first round the draft, and there's lots of
quarterbacks out there. We know quarterbacks are gonna go the
first couple. You know, the Bears are gonna take Caleb Williams,
the Commanders at number two, the Patriots at three, would
they take a quarterback? Yeah, but they could also slide down.
You have the Arizona Cardinals at four, they're set with
(38:00):
Kyler Murray. They might trade down the Chargers at five.
They'd love a shot at at a wide receiver. But
if someone calls up and says, hey, we need a
quarterback and we'll give you this, this, this and this, Hey,
why not. Right you're rebuilding, someone's going to make a
big trade because someone needs to be first. There's gonna
be a team that's gonna say, all right, there's a
lot of guys out there we want. If we go
(38:21):
into the draft thinking at some point we'll try to
move up, there's a lot of moving pieces. It's too difficult.
We need to be the bold team that moves up,
and that way we can cinch that we're going to
get somebody we really like at five. Right, let's just
say five, nice round number. Moving up, right, you have
the the the Broncos, the Raiders. You have teams sitting there,
(38:43):
the Vikings that need quarterbacks that are that are going
to be the ones the most likely to move up,
just because moving up from ten to eleven, twelve to
five is not going to be as much as try
to move up from twenty seven or twenty eight. But
someone's gonna do it because those teams need quarterbacks. They're
not going to wait. You're gonna see guys starting to
fly off the board, and at least one team is
(39:05):
going to make that big trade and we're gonna see
all did the picks work out when you talk about
comparing it to the board of what they gave up
and what they didn't. But someone's gonna make a big move,
most likely one of those three teams to make a
big move to get in the top five so they
can draft a quarterback. And now not for one guy,
because when you're drafting fifth you have no idea. But
as long as hey, we like Drake May and we
(39:27):
like Jaden Daniels, and we like JJ McCarthy, whatever it is,
like there's a couple of guys that we like and
we feel really good, we're going to get one of them.
Speaker 4 (39:35):
And then you don't have to give up more draft
capital to be even higher than that. But look at
the position of the teams that are sitting currently with
the number four and five selections overall, Arizona and the Chargers,
quarterback is not clearly what they need. Therefore, they're in
a position to move down. Chargers specifically to move down
even completely out of the top ten, and still get
(39:56):
someone who's going to help them as a starter on
day one. Now they need an offensive tackle, they need
a wide receiver. This is a really good draft for
those two positions what the Chargers need. And they have
a new coaching staff as well.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
Yeah, it's a case of yeah, you'd love to get
that guy there, right and take the charges French?
Speaker 3 (40:15):
Right? Do they need another wide receiver? Of course they do.
Speaker 1 (40:17):
They need other weapon for Justin Herbert. I know that
that Jim Harbaugh wants to run the football, and you're
going to take the most important player on your team
and marginalize them, which is stupid, but hey, this is
what he wants. But what you're gonna get just to
move down five or six spots and still get an
offensive tackle one of.
Speaker 3 (40:34):
The other wide receivers you really like.
Speaker 1 (40:36):
Is there's that much of a difference between Marvin Harrison
Junior and Romo Dunes?
Speaker 3 (40:40):
You know, is there really that much? Or getting three
picks is going to be well worth it for us?
Speaker 1 (40:46):
I would I don't know that they can say no
to something like I don't know that either of those
teams could say no to something like that. Yeah, you'd
love to get a difference maker wide receive, but you
can get a wide receiver, lady. You get wide receivers
all over the draft. I mean they're every year five
or six guys coming in.
Speaker 3 (41:00):
They're terrific.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
So that's going to happen, and someone's gonna do it first,
because they're gonna say, whatever it is, we're gonna make
that bold move that's going to reset the market and
scatter things. It may be the only trade till Draft Day,
but we're gonna get that trade sometime in the next week.
Speaker 4 (41:14):
And what if a team, say the team with the
number five overall pick, makes a trade, moves down and
then selects like the Georgia tight end and then just
uses him as a wide receiver. This is also possible.
But the Chargers, for example, they just need bodies. They
were genuinely bad last year. It didn't get any better
as the year went along. And the Chargers franchise has
been in this spot before and what's worked is just
(41:36):
getting bodies they need, not just one pick. Can you
turn this into multiple picks?
Speaker 1 (41:40):
Hey, if you wanted to trade Herbert to the Bears
for the number one pick, can then draft JJ McCarthy
and then McCarthy's playing for the Chargers and it's awesome.
Speaker 5 (41:49):
Just wait for your Jets to trade up the number
two for JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
Exit out about a fresco.
Speaker 1 (41:57):
The Jason Smith Show is Steve Desager in for Mike
Harmon Stevo great stuff man as always. Coming up next
it's Bern and Bernie Frido. This is Fox Sports Radio
nix Yo
Thanks for listening to The Jason Smith Show with Mike
Harmon podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weeknight
ten pm to two am Eastern seven to eleven pm
Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for
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Speaker 2 (00:22):
Give this you're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Hello, Welcome inside final hour tonight The Jason Smith Show
with special delivery Steve Desager in for Mike Harmon. We're
live at the tyrack dot Com studios tirack dot com.
I'll hope you get there at unmatched selection, fast free shipping,
free road hazard protection and over ten thousand recommended installers.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Tyrack dot com the way tire buying should be okay.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
So after a night in the NBA this season, no
one's ever gonna forget we know a few things going
into the final game of the season. The Suns just
held off the Kings one oh eight, one oh seven.
De Aaron Fox turns the ball over on the final
possession of the game for the Kings. He goes in
(01:13):
for it looks like it could be a jumper that
could give them the lead or to dish, but instead
Devin Booker gets his hands in, breaks the play up,
steals the ball away, and the Sons walk away with
a one o eight, one oh seven victory over the
Sacramento Kings. So here's where we sit right now in
(01:35):
the Western Conference. And there's one thing that's just absolutely
amazing when you think about coming out of this. After
the games tonight, the Nuggets losing to the San Antonio Spurs,
the Thunder, the t Wolves, and the Nuggets are all
tied for first place in the Western Conference. That is
the order they are in right now. Thunder, t Wolves, Nuggets.
(01:58):
So the Thunder control their own destiny. Minnesota would need
to win, the Thunder lose, the Nuggets need to win.
Hope both those teams lose. That's how fast it's changed
for the Nuggets, for me, the number one seed to
being a three seed losing to the Spurs tonight, who
were twenty and sixty. Now we get to the bottom
where things are really fun, getting into the playing round.
(02:20):
The Pelicans are in sixth, forty nine and thirty two.
They lead the Suns by a game. The Suns, at
worst have clinched the seventh seed, and they will play
the first game at home in the playing round. The
Lakers are in eighth and can play in that playing
round that first game against Phoenix, and if they lose,
(02:41):
they will have a home game to try to move
on as the eighth seed. The Lakers have a one
game lead right now on the Kings and the Warriors,
who both lost tonight. Now this is where things just
get absolutely crazy. At seven o'clock tonight, when Steve and
I came on the air, the Lakers were in a
big fight with the Grizzlies, and it shouldn't have been
(03:03):
this way, right was what was the quote Steve that
Lakers should be able to close their eyes and win
this game by fifteen.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Right, It was mentioned more than once on Lakers Radio
just before tip. This got a fifteen to twenty point
win written all over, and they were actually trailing at Memphis,
a Memphis team where we couldn't identify most of the players,
hadn't heard of them.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
At seven o'clock Pacific Coast time tonight, you did not
want to be the Lakers because they were sitting in
the tenth spot. They were looking at the potential of
playing either the Warriors or the Kings on the road
in the first play in game. Those teams they have
a combined one win against this year, So they were
(03:45):
looking at going on the road against a team they
didn't have hardly any success at this season.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
And both Golden State and Sacramento with home games tonight
after the Laker game finished, so like, that's.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
It, Like you're looking at that they got the other
team have home games they're gonna win. It did not
look good because then if you're the Lakers, let's say
you win that play in game, Okay, hey, then you
win an A, you win two games, you go in
the playoffs. Is the eighth seed. Guess who's waiting for you?
The Nuggets. So you're out of the playoffs in the
first round.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
You're out right, the Lakers are scared to play the Nuggets.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
You're out, dude.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
The nut the Nuggets are the champs when the playoffs hit.
It doesn't matter the Nugget. The Nuggets are. The Lakers are.
Really the Nuggets are a really bad matchup for the Lakers.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
And they just are.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
They can't control Jokic, they can't control Jamal Murray. It's
just a really difficult matchup. So that's that's where you
did not want to be the Lakers tenth place, two
really tough games ahead of them, and then if they
get in, potentially it's it's the Nuggets and the season's over.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Two and a half hours later, here's where you are
for the Lakers.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
You are in the eighth spot, and if you win
on Sunday, at worst, you're gonna get You're gonna get
a game against the Suns where you can win and
move on and be the seventh seed.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
And only play Tuesday next week. You'd hear the rest
of the week off.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
And only and be fresher. When you have an older
team like the Lakers do, the more rest you can get,
the better it's gonna be. They could potentially have one
game against the Suns, win that game, or if they lose,
then they're guaranteed a home game against either the Kings
or the Warriors.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
The second plan. Yeah, and what is.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Waiting for them maybe not the Nuggets. Right like, we
went from tenth place, look at what's ahead of us.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
It's it's awful to.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Suddenly, hey, things look pretty clear for us to potentially
get into the conference finals because the matchups might work
for us. Now, we could walk in as the as
the seventh seed and maybe get Minnesota in the first
round or whatever.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
It's gonna wind up being, probably not going to get
the Nuggets.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
It's likely not the Nuggets at this point because the
Nuggets are losing their tiebreakers to the two teams they're
tied with for first in the West right now, and
the finales and once again, all the games in the
East will start at the same time Sunday, the last
day of the regular season one pm Eastern, and in
the West, all the games start at the same time
three point thirty Eastern. So while the Lakers are at
(06:08):
New Orleans, you know their Phoenix Suns are going to
be playing at the same time. Those three at the
top of the West, they're all going to be starting
their individual games at the same time on Sunday. Dallas
is the opponent at Oklahoma City on Sunday in the
season finale. OKC with a chance at the one seed. Well,
Dallas is already locked into a first round matchup with
(06:29):
the Clippers four versus five. That's not going to change.
Dallas sat their starters tonight and lost at home badly
and didn't care that they lost by about twenty two Detroit.
I'd be curious to see how many regulars and how
many minutes from those regulars are going to come on
the stat sheet Sunday. That's the team that Oklahoma City
is hosting. Denver not only needs to win at Memphis
(06:52):
in the finale Sunday, they need Oklahoma City to lose
at home and Minnesota to lose at home in order
to pass them each for the one seed that is
looking like and less likely.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
This is this is such a reversal of fortune over
the course of two and a half hours. I really
it was you don't want to be the Lakers. Now
it's hey, being the Lakers is okay.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
There's one I believe now.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
I believe Anthony Davis when he says, hey, we're in
a great place right now going into the plane.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
I believe them now.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
It'd be better if they could play Memphis again on
Sunday and end the season that way.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
But this is true. Yes, Instead, it's.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Anthony Davis at New Orleans to finish the regular season
for the Lakers on Sunday, and New Orleans will still
have something to play for. New Orleans would have clinched
its play in playoff spot and avoided the play in entirely.
If the Suns had lost but Phoenix with the Lake
comeback to win by a point at Sacramento, if Helicans
have not yet clinched the sixth seed, they have not
(07:46):
yet clinched avoiding the play in next week. New Orleans
at home against the Lakers Sunday does have something to
play for.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Well, And now I don't know who's got the tiebreaker
between the Pelicans and the Mavericks, because they're only a
game behind the Mavericks for fifth.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
It must owe Dallas because they've said Dallas is locked
in Dallas.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Okay, so the Pelicans. So the Pelicans are either six
or seven. Okay, so that's right. You said that'd be right.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
So the Pelicans are either six or seven. I mean,
this is this is just crazy, Jason.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
You got the whole Nuggets Lakers thing backwards.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Dude, you don't want to play them.
Speaker 5 (08:17):
You got it backwards.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
The Nuggets are the ones that didn't want the one seed,
so they lost to Night to get the three's.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
That's what's going on.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
They're trying to avoid the Lakers.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I like the way you think I see.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
What you're doing.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
I like the way you think. I like this.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
It's gonna be not much sweeter when they win at all.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Yeah, Okay, eventual you're gonna have to play the Nuggets.
Just no, eventually have.
Speaker 7 (08:41):
To do it.
Speaker 6 (08:41):
If the Lakers are not scared of the Nuggets, you
act like they're in their hotel rooms shaking in their boots.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
I don't take anyone scared, but the results have been Jason.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
You call Michael Malone and see what he has to
say about all the attention the Lakers are getting.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
Mike.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
You wait to see what, right, Mike.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
We'll have more on the NBA coming up in about
ten minutes, Mark Medina, NBA inside are going to stop buys.
We break down the craziness of the night tonight and look, clearly,
the other thing that happened tonight is Jalen Brunson will
be the NBA MVP. Oh No, Today, Kentucky officially hired
Mark Pope as their new head coach.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
He comes from BYU.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
And to let it settle in for you think about this,
Cali Parry wasn't good enough. Cali Perry has won national championships,
gotten the final fours with Kentucky, has won SEC conferences,
has won over twenty games a year. Was probably screwed
out of a potential Final four run during the COVID
(09:37):
year because Kentucky was great in twenty twenty when they
canceled the tournament.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
He's not good.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Enough because while cat Nation was happy and okay, letting
him go to Arkansas, okay, and now you replaced him
with a guy that's never won a game in the
NCAA tournament and not won a conference. This is who
you replaced him with.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
But he played two whole years at Kentucky. Jason, he's
one of ours.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
He's gonna tell stories about nineteen ninety six. I'll tell
you when Syracuse Lazaris Sims came in. We knew we
were gonna beat them and win the national championship. And
John Wallace had nothing on us.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Oh wow, what are you talking about? What are you
talking about? Look?
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Mark Pope is a good coach, right, he's a good coach.
People talk highly of him. And one of the things
that that top to bottom I've heard a lot of
evaluators say, is look, building a program that's kind of
his strength.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Okay, it shouldn't be hard to be.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
The thing is, you're not going to Saint John's right,
You're not going to a to a long time school
that is downtrodden.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
You got to build back up.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
This Northwestern something like that.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
This is the number one school, the number one job
in the country is Kentucky basketball. And you got your
fifth choice to come in and try to get a
team where you didn't think John Cali Perry could get
you anymore. You know, this is this is how teams
go from. We are elite, and then we forget where
we came from and we wind up turning into a
(10:59):
team that is sixteen and fourteen and we're going to
the niit and maybe we're voting on not going to
the nit all right, you got a coach that already
the fan base is not happy with. And when the
fan base is not happy with, so what care of
the fans are happy. There's a lot of fans out
there the control of the NIL money. There's a lot
of guys out there nil wise who could say, hey,
we love this new coach, whatever you guys need. Is
(11:22):
the NIL base going to be happy with Mark Pope? No,
they would have been happy with Danny Hurley it would
have been happy with Scott Drew. But instead, somehow Kentucky
biffed this entire search because they didn't have the guy
ready when they knew they were losing Calipari, which is
crazy and I don't know how you have you conduct
a search that way when you are the number one
most desirable job in the country and you find out
(11:45):
people to tell you nobody wants it. The only guy
I would have gone to. The first guy I would
have said is Danny Hurley. He talked about it Monday
night after the championship game. He's a champion two times over.
And the third question was, hey, Kentucky, uh los of
John Calipari?
Speaker 3 (11:59):
And what are these say? You gotta talk to my
wife about it.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
He didn't say no, he didn't say there's no way.
So you go after Danny Hurley. If Danny Hurley says no,
it's okay. Because the guy is a two time national champion,
he's you cut. He's the guy that can tell you no.
But you decide to sit here and say, well, maybe
it's it. Maybe we go for Scott Drew.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Maybe Billy Donovan is our guy, And it's like, what
are you doing? What are you doing.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
You should have gone with a blank check to Danny Hurley.
But never mind that didn't You didn't do it. He
decided to ask him three days after you just said,
take a hike, you're gonna ask me third. I'm not
gonna come on, man, you can't ask me third.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
And by the way, they had money to spend because
they didn't have to pay off Calipark. He left every
middle of extension.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
They had everything. They had everything together, and they.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
Get better than some NBA teams that can tell they
have the money.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
And with the right coach, the nil purse strings would
open up tremendously because that's what people forget is that
when you get a coaching change in college basketball, generally
you get a bump in nil because people are kind
of done with the old coach. You're not winning, so
no one's really giving the money they have been where
car dealerships, whatever it was. But then a new coach
(13:07):
comes in. Okay, Hey, I like this new coach. This
is gonna work.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
And I'll tell you for number one, I guarantee you.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
That's why Syracuse is getting all these players from A
and M and Georgia and going to Syracuse over Alabama
and transfers because fran Brown has figured that out right
guy comes in new energy, turning recruits. Hey, he's got
the nil purse strings open. This is generally what happens.
But is that gonna happen here with Kentucky already the
fan base doesn't. There's no honeymoon period, Steve. There's no
(13:33):
honeymoon period. When you don't have a honeymoon period, it
is not going to end well for you because fans
and everybody that matters is expecting something huge right away,
and the minute it doesn't work, it's your fault and
you're done. I mean, you know, yes, most jobs people take,
you're hired to be fired, but boy, this is one
of those hired to be fired jobs.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
For Mark Bow.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
And there's two reasons probably why there's no honeymoon. One
because it's Kentucky basketball. And two because even with Calipar,
the endings of the last four seasons were completely unacceptable.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
There more unacceptable for you the end of the seasons
or him walking his dog with a stroller.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
Which one, yeah, that might take the cake.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
There was no walking involved.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
He was pushing the dog, well, pushing the maybe the
dog had brought around for a while, came out in
a stroller.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Maybe he was running around the house. Now you don't know.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
May it could have happen right up and now I
do you know? Actually Frostburg is Cali Perry's dog, Manny.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
That's what we know.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
You've clearly never been the Beverly Hills Exit, Exit out
out of Fresco X. The Jason Smith Show with Steve
Desager in for Mike Harmon. Coming up next, we got
Mark Medina stopping buys. We try to make sense of
what is an unbelievable night in the NBA. Who had
the best night? Who had the worst night? What can
we expect for Sunday? Keep it right here.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern seven
pm Pacific on Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 7 (15:03):
Hey, we're Covino and Rich Fox Sports Radio every day
five to seven pm Eastern. But here's the thing, we
never have enough time to get to everything we want
to get to. And that's why we have a brand
new podcast called over Promised. You see, we're having so
much fun in our two hour show. We never get
to everything honestly, because this guy will be over promising
(15:23):
things we never have time for. Yeah, you blubber, list
lame and me. Well, you know what it's called over promise.
You should be good at it because you've been over
promising women for years. Well, it's a Cavino and Rich
after show, and we want you to be a part
of it. We're gonna be talking sports, of course, but
we're also gonna talk life and relationships. And if Rich
and I are arguing about something or we didn't have
enough time, it will continue on our after show called
(15:44):
over Promised. Well, if you don't get enough Covino and Rich,
make sure you check out over Promised and also uncensored
by the way, so maybe we'll go at it even
a little harder. It's gonna be the best after show
podcast of all time.
Speaker 8 (15:55):
There you go, over promising. Remember you could see on YouTube,
but definitely join us. Listen Over Promised with Cavino and
Rich on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you
get your podcasts, Fox.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Sports Radio, The Jason Smith Show, a special delivery Steve
to Say You're in for Mike Harmon Tonight. Major League
Baseball Quick Update, The Padres push across a run in
the top of the eleventh. They lead the Dodgers eight
to seven, but the Dodgers have their leadoff runner at
second obviously with the rules of Major League Baseball, a
(16:27):
great play on a foul pop up for the first
out of the inning, so the Dodgers down to their
final two outs. Here again, tying run at second base,
cronin Worth making a great play.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Up against the netting. Boy looked, wow, he went flying
into the netting too. Came up with that. So we'll
have more in this game coming up in a bit.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
But it's time to break down the magical, crazy, insane,
whatever you want to say tonight.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
This is what it was in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Joining us now, longtime NBA insider. He's on Twitter at
Mark g Underscore Medena.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
It is Mark Medina.
Speaker 9 (17:00):
Mark.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
What's happening? Man?
Speaker 9 (17:02):
Not much other than you know what. The New York
Connectson might not have Julius Randall, but they're still plugging away.
Last time I checked, they have the same wreckers the
Milwaukee Bucks. Do not count them out, dude.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
We don't need them.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
We're going to the finals. We're going to and the
entire postseason is going to be. Think how good the
Knicks would be if they had Julius Randall. As we
run to the finals and it's the Nick Celtics in
the Eastern Conference Finals.
Speaker 9 (17:24):
It's happening, yeah, And I mean, all they need is
for the Boston Celtics entire starting lineup to not show up.
You know, maybe the Knicks can concoct a plan where
they kidnapped the Celtics superstar weight. Wasn't that like the
inverse story of that terrible basketball movie named Celtic Pride
with Daniel Stern and dan Ackroyd.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Well, the Celtics tried to sit starters tonight and still
one by thirty. So I'm not sure that even that
will help.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
We just killed the Celtics last night. Come on, man,
we just beat the crap out of them in Boston.
Speaker 9 (17:57):
And meanwhile, on the other side of the CALLI in
the West, the Nuggets try to lose it seems like
to avoid the Lakers. I never saw that coming. I thought,
you know that, I thought they were the Wakers, Daddy, right.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Wait now wait a minitute, wait wait wait wait wait wait,
I'm looking at this as the other way around. The
Lakers don't want to face the Nuggets in the first
round of the.
Speaker 9 (18:15):
Play Oh okay, I mean they very well. Could they
have been in the driver's seat here if they win
the plan, they could be that seventh seed that is
against Minnesota, or you know what, the whole jumble standings
might cause this array on Sunday and then all of
a sudden denversus the second seed.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
All right, So let me ask you this then, Mark,
since there's so many things out there, let's deal with
it this way. Any one of three teams can win
the West, and any one of five teams can can
finish sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, or tenth, depending on where
you are in.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
The playing round.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
So which team do you think? Do you really think
it's the Lakers? Because the Nuggets can place almost anybody.
Do you really think the team that Nuggets want to
avoid in the first round is the Lakers? Is there
somebody else out there?
Speaker 3 (19:03):
What do you think?
Speaker 7 (19:04):
No?
Speaker 9 (19:04):
If I'm the Nuggets, I don't think I need to
avoid anyone because they have Nicolokich and Jamal Murray is
supposed to be healthy, and they're the defending champs. I mean,
they have had close games against the Lakers, but they've
always outmaneuvered them, you know, with their depth and just
schemes everything above. I think that if there was a
team that wanted to avoid the Lakers, it should be
the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it looks like they will
(19:26):
because they have the one seed. But the Lakers have
really matched up well against them. And while there is
a danger of equating regular season success and what that
means for the playoffs, I think it makes sense that
this could carry over to the playoffs because the Lakers
match up world of them. They have more experience than
the Thunder, et cetera. But yeah, if I'm the Nuggets,
I'm thinking, you know what, like, we're good, we want
(19:47):
a title last year, and let's bring it on.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Mark go is Steve sifting through things after games tonight.
Of course, nobody plays Saturday, and then everybody plays on
Sunday to end the regular season. It is possible that
the Lakers win the finale Sunday at New Orleans and
then have to stay in New Orleans and play the
Pelicans again in the play in on Tuesday, because New
Orleans does not have the tiebreaker against Phoenix. They just
(20:12):
lost to Phoenix again. A couple of weeks ago, Phoenix
could go up to the sixth seed, and then it's
New Orleans hosting Lakers again.
Speaker 9 (20:19):
Yeah, I'm wondering what the itinerary is. Do they decide
to stay in New Orleans because it makes sense, or
do they won't fear Oh you know what, a few
nights out on Bourbon Street. This is gonna lead to
a lot of temptations. Let's go back to LA so
we can get a practice in and because we're not
visiting LA and we live in LA, there won't be
the nightlife distractions. A lot of itinerary puzzles will have
(20:42):
to figure out.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Yeah, especially with Darvin Ham, who the more the Lakers win,
the more stories we get about how much they wanted
them fired over the course.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Of the city.
Speaker 9 (20:51):
Hey, he's always got his hands in the pocket and
he's got to figure it out. I will say this,
I mean Darvin Ham. He certainly has made his mistakes.
I think most notably with the Warriors game. That rotation
that never played together itself, and you don't have Lebron
or really or Austin Reeves on the floor, that's just
(21:11):
asking for disaster. But in fairness to the Lakers. That
ross had more to do with the fact that this
player named Anthony Davis wasn't available. And I think when
you're looking at blame pie or success pie, it's going
to sell Lebron ad how well the role players play
well or don't play well, and then Darvin Ham's coaching
or lack thereof will be in a distant third.
Speaker 4 (21:33):
You know, it was borderline embarrassing, wasn't it that the
Lakers had to come from behind, laid against players that
we've never heard of that Memphis is using tonight they
had thirteen injured players. But as it turned out, really
this couldn't have gone any better for the Lakers, right
they win, Golden State loses at home, Sacramento loses at home,
Nuggets might not be the one seed.
Speaker 9 (21:54):
Yeah, everything fell into place for them, And you know
it also helps that Anthony Davis back. He said he
had no issues with his eye, so that is a
good sign moving forward. But you know, you're looking at
all these games on Sunday and everything else could turn
on the head. I mean, the Lakers Pelicans, that's a
clear matchup here. But you know, with the Warriors, you
(22:16):
know they own the tiebreaker against the Lakers. So if
all of a sudden, you know, they lose, all that
can really turn things into disarray because right now they
have a one game lead against the Warriors, but as
they lose, they could froll down to ten. Because the
Warriors and the tiebreaker.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Mark can you make sense of the Warriors? They'll have
a run where it looks like we're figuring things out
and maybe we're dangerous for a little bit of time.
Then they have nights like tonight and I look at
them and I go, Okay, even if I could figure
them out, by the time we get to the second
round of the playoffs, they're going home.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Is there anything different you can see for the Warriors
going forward?
Speaker 9 (22:55):
Yeah? I think that kind of like the Lakers. We
see what they are on their good days, and we
say do what there are and their bad days, and
it's unrealistic to think that they can sustain that on
a consistent basis. So with them being in the plan,
you know, all it takes is Steph Curry and the
band to relive some nostalgia of their championship years and
all of a sudden they're in the playoffs. Let's they
(23:17):
carry that through a seven game series seems unrealistic. But
I will say the reason why the Warriors are internally
optimistic isn't just because of their championship equity. There's a
few obvious things. Yes, they have Steph Clay and Draymond.
Steph's playing still at a high level. When Draymond's not
gained into it with the reps, He's still a really
good defensive player. But I think the things that have
(23:37):
been encouraging turning points and developments late in the season
is that Clay's embraces ventrol. He's been playing well with it.
Chris Paul is a really good insurance policy when Steph
Curr's off the floor, and their young guys have moved
in the right direction with Jonathan kaminga Brandon Podzimski specifically,
and so while no one ever outside of the Steph
(24:00):
Ury is a fully finished product, they have been spreading
in the right direction. But I think even with that,
it's a heavy ass. So then think the Warriors can
all of a sudden beat a Minnesota, Oklahoma City or Denver.
I think they're stealing is you know, second round at best,
but first round most likely.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Question about the Clippers chance is because once Dallas sat
starters and loss. We know for sure that the Clippers
four seed will face Dallas five seed in the first
round of the playoffs that'll start in just over a
week for the two of them. The Clippers, by the way,
then sat starters for the rest of the night tonight.
Is it going to be same old Clippers? We've seen
what Don Sich has done against the Clippers, phenomenal games
(24:40):
in the postseason. Is it going to be healthy Clippers
and a different result? I just feel like every year
the Clippers are going to have to show me or else.
I'm thinking the same thing, same result every time.
Speaker 9 (24:51):
Yeah. Talking to certain Clippers players this week and in
recent weeks, they're very bullish that now is finally the
time that they can win a championship because the team
chemistry is good, everyone's sharing the ball, they've improved offensively.
But it's the elephant in the room that's suddenly turning
its ugly head about injuries. Kawhi Leonard has been out
(25:11):
for seven consecutive games with white knee inflammation, and at
first it his term soreness. Now it's termed inflammation, and
the Clippers are going back to try to mirror the
CIA and the FBI with not giving direct answers about anything.
And so while Tylu says he's not concerned about Kawhi
Leonard's injury and he expects that he'll be ready for
(25:33):
the playoffs, they haven't been forthcoming with his previous injuries.
That you have to have a wait and see and
a skeptical eye with. I think the other thing to
keep an eye on is that because of what you mentioned,
they have home court locked up as the four seed
against Dallas. Don't expect Kawhi or any of the main
guys to play in Sunday's game against Houston. But what's
(25:55):
going to be the key point is before they play
game win against Dallas, how much Pratt is time just
Kawai actually get it is critical that there is a
ramp up period for him to play because if not,
it could lead to further injuries. So as much as
they say, hey, it's about health and that's the number
one priority, it is going to be a gigantic red
flag if he is not having substantial practice time that
(26:18):
week lead into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
Mark, if I.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Said to you NBA insider, Mark Bedina, our guest here,
if I said to you outside of the Nuggets, the
other top three seeds in the first round of the
playoffs are all going to lose. What percentage chance would
you get the Thunder loose, the Tea Wolves lose, and
the Clippers lose.
Speaker 9 (26:39):
Good question, man, This is the reason why you host
the radio show, right.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
I think.
Speaker 9 (26:46):
It was the first round because of that matchup situation
with with the Lakers. I think that Minnesota comparatively have
more experience because they have Mike Conley. I think that
they have better talent when you compare Anthony Edwards, Carl
Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, NOAs Reed versus the Thunder, which
have great talent, but Jay Gojus, Alexander lou Dort shut
(27:07):
Hongrin as much as I like those guys that give
the edge to Minnesota. So I think, yeah, out of
the west of the top seeds, the Thunders the most
likely to lose, and obviously the Clippers. I don't mean
to have an out, but if they're healthy, they can win.
If not, it's going to be the same old story
again for them.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
You mentioned Karl Anthony Towns. He finally returned from the
knee entry in Minnesota tonight, he'd had surgery a month ago.
They eked out and win against slumping Atlanta. Is it
enough for you to see, Okay, he's back on the court.
He had eleven points tonight. The Minnesota team I'm expecting
for the playoffs, that's the team that'll be there.
Speaker 9 (27:42):
Well. Encouraging sim that he's back, But I think the
key thing is that they almost operate as if they
can't rely on Carl Anthony Towns. He needs to get
his condition up, he needs to get a rhythm, and
I think that that's one of the things that Minnesota's
been prideful about that as much as they wanted Carl
Anthony Towns obviously be healthy, they felt like that there
was a lot of internal development that they feel will
(28:06):
make them ready for the postseason. Anthony Edwards, he's now
the number one guy. He's had more ball handling duties,
has more passing duties. Nas Reed had a bigger front
court scoring roll. He stepped up with that, and Rudy
Gobert really lean on his defense even more so. I
think that it's good that he's ready for the playoffs,
But I think internally Minnesota's thinking, hey, their success has
(28:30):
to rely on everyone else instead of Cat being the savior.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
All right, now, now, lastly, Mark, I want you to
give me, give me a truthful answer to this, because
I'm okay.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
I'm okay with the truth.
Speaker 9 (28:39):
Are you here about that?
Speaker 3 (28:40):
I'm okay with it?
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Is it because of loudmouth Nick fans like me that
have a big microphone? Is this why the most of
the media refuses to acknowledge how great Jalen Brunson is.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
I just don't like the way people talk.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
About how great the Knicks are, so I'm not going
to give Jalen Brunson any credit.
Speaker 9 (28:57):
Well, all right, well we're all but Knicks fans were
supposed to vote him for All Star like they didn't
come out in droves.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
I think that was fixed. I think that was fixed
people in the media who didn't like that. They threw
out a lot of ballots. They threw them all out.
Speaker 9 (29:12):
I will say this, the Knicks, I would be very
surprised they get past Boston, but I would not be
surprised if they're the second team that challenges Boston. I'm
really I'm really well, I want to say concerned. I
got no no stake in this, but I want to
be surprised that Milwaukee gets eliminated from New York. I
want to be surprised if they just go out swinging.
(29:33):
Jalen Brunson makes you think. You know what, Let's not
wait until his career is over. Let's retire his jersey
right now. Let's construck a statue. But unless again someone
can conct that kidnapping playing with Boston, it's gonna be
Boston smooth sailing, amused.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
Let's retire as jersey while he's twenty six years old.
Speaker 4 (29:55):
Get a little statue.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
No, we're gonna, We're gonna, We're gonna hang a ban
It's just gonna be Jalen Brunson is great.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
That's gonna be the banner end of the season.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
He's on Twitter at Mark g Underscore Medina that said
Mark g Underscore Madeena NBA insider.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Mark is always buddy, Thanks so much. We'll talk Mark Medina,
you know.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
And the thing is that that Allan Iverson's statue that
got unveiled today, and it was so small, and I
know a lot of people going, oh my god, how
do you give a statue for Alan Iverson?
Speaker 4 (30:27):
This small, smaller than he is. And that's saying something
it is, but but.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
That's the size of the statues that the Sixers build service,
so it wasn't that big a deal.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Honestly.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
My big thing was they put it outside their practice facility. Really,
that's where you put the Iris' statue. Practice facility, not
a game, not a game, not a game, but practice,
the practice facility.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
Practice. That's where my statue is.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
The practicant, he should have said in his speech.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Time now to find out what's trending in the wide
world of sports. Despite the fact that Jalen brunt And
is clearly the NBMVP no. Steve de Sager has more
other stories.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
New York was down to the Brooklyn Nets late first
quarter twenty one to five. Did edge the Nets one eleven,
one oh seven despite forty one points from Cam Thomas,
Jalen Brunson, thirty points, eleven assists, no turnovers. New York
as a team only had five turnovers. So with one
game to go, nobody's playing tomorrow. Everybody in the NBA
plays on Sunday. One game left. The New York Knicks
(31:27):
are in a tie with Milwaukee for the two seed
in the East. Milwaukee currently holds that spot. They don't
have the injured Janisan Tennekumpo. Milwaukee lost badly at Oklahoma City,
which gets us to this discussion of the one seed
in the West. Somehow, it looks so much more clear
before the night started it did. Minnesota won at home,
(31:47):
Oklahoma City won at home. Somehow, Denver lost by a
point at San Antonio one twenty one to one twenty.
That means those three great teams in the West, all
of the same record, all with fifty six wins. Okse
currently holds the tiebreaker. If the season ended tonight, Oklahoma
City would be the one seed in the West, then Minnesota,
(32:08):
then Denver the three seed. That's how much things change.
When you couldn't beat the Spurs. Jamal Murray the Nuggets
had thirty five points, but they lost by a point
at San Antonio. Is Victor wembin Yama had thirty four points.
Minnesota's win over Atlanta was one O nine, one oh six.
Rudy Gobert twenty five points, nineteen rebounds, five block shots.
(32:29):
Gobert was ten of ten shooting from the floor. Oklahoma
City's win was against Milwaukee, as mentioned, and then you
get to the four versus five matchup, which for sure
will be the four seed Clippers in a best of
seven first round against the five seed Dallas. Now, while
we've got the play in tournament in the NBA starting Tuesday,
the first round of the NBA Playoffs starts a week
(32:52):
from Saturday, the twentieth.
Speaker 5 (32:53):
Did the Knicks make it, Steve?
Speaker 4 (32:54):
The Knicks will be in the postseason? Oh, actutely right.
Second round of the playoffs will start in May, byway
after the top five in the West. Who knows the
order because teams six through ten could really get jumbled
come Sunday. The Lakers, for example, who somehow came back
to win and avoid the embarrassment at Memphis one twenty
three to one twenty, they're.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
Maybe not maybe.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
They're not back because they should have won this by
twenty instead it was one twenty three to one twenty
the final. But if you check the standings in the West,
the Lakers are not only the eight seed ahead of
Sacramento which lost at home, ahead of Golden State which
lost at home tonight. It is possible that the Los
(33:39):
Angeles Lakers beat New Orleans and stay in New Orleans
and play the eight versus seven matchup against the Pelicans
Tuesday in Louisiana. Or it's possible the Lakers lose the
finale Sunday and they fall all the way to ten,
and all the fears that we mentioned at the top
of this show a few hours ago come to foruition
(34:00):
that the Lakers would have to win two games, not
be at home next week two play ins I'm talking about,
and then have to well probably not the Nuggets, but
then have to play a one seed even if they
get in the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (34:12):
That was made up fear by certain nobody.
Speaker 4 (34:16):
When it was Denver, it was legitimate. New Orleans won
at Golden State tonight, Phoenix a winner at Sacramento. Boy,
it's Phoenix looking good. Phoenix has the tiebreaker over New Orleans.
If Phoenix can beat Minnesota in the finale and New
Orleans loses, Phoenix avoids the play in entirely. They would
be the sixth seed in the West. Play in tournament
(34:36):
starts Tuesday. That's what determines the number seven to eight
seeds in each conference for the playoffs to start, the
seventh place team and the season standings will host the
eighth place club. The winner of that one game Tuesday
becomes the seventh seed in the playoffs NHL. We found
out the Vegas Golden Knights in the late game not
only one seven to two over Minnesota. Vegas clinched the
(34:58):
final playoff berth in the West. They won and Saint
Louis lost. Blues lost at home five to two to
Carolina Arizona with an overtime win at Edmonton. Victories for
Calgary and Nashville each on the road. NASCAR's on FS
one again this Sunday from Texas three thirty pm Eastern time.
The Exfinity races tomorrow on FS one. Scottie Scheffler is
in a three way tie for the lead at the Masters.
(35:19):
Tiger Woods won Overpar. In baseball's late game, the Padres
in eleven innings beat the Dodgers in LA eight to seven.
Fernando Tatist Junior the tying to run homer in the seventh.
They got to run in the eleventh off reliever Alex Vesi,
who's now zero to two. A's won in ten innings
two to one over Washington. Attendance five thousand and seven
to seventy seven. Late night wins for both Seattle and
(35:42):
Saint Louis Yankees at Cleveland rained out split doubleheader. Tomorrow,
Texas sent Houston to another lost twelve eight. The Mets
ended Kansas City seven game winning streak six to one
wins again for Pittsburgh and Milwaukee.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
Back to you, Steve, just really quick, if the Lakers
have to play in New Orleans and they and then
they play in New Orleans and they lose again, does
Darvin ham get to leave or does he have to
stay in New Orleans?
Speaker 4 (36:09):
Would have to go to what some other, some other city,
because you get to fly back with the team. They
would just board early and lock the door.
Speaker 5 (36:19):
That happens he gets to coach the Knicks.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
Eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox, The Jason Smith
Show is Steve de Sager in for Mike Harmon.
Speaker 3 (36:28):
Coming up next.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
Yes, we've had a lot of NBA, but how about
a big Bold prediction for the NFL Draft.
Speaker 3 (36:34):
Oh, we got one for you. It's hot, it's juicy,
It's next Fox.
Speaker 2 (36:38):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven
pm Pacific.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
Fox Sports Radio The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon.
Steve De Sager in for Harmon tonight. There's been a
lot of NBA huge night tonight, setting up an incredible
day on Sunday. Half the league playing early, they're half
playing late. It's just awesome with so many spots and
seating still up for grabs.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
But we're starting to get hot and heavy on the
NFL Draft.
Speaker 1 (37:11):
We're getting we're a little bit over two weeks out
from it, and everybody's kind of getting excited, and Steve,
I'm gonna.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
Give you a big, bold prediction.
Speaker 1 (37:18):
Exact, we are less than a week away from a
huge trade and by that, I mean someone's gonna trade
up into the top five of the NFL Draft to
get a quarterback because there's so many teams that need quarterbacks.
Speaker 5 (37:37):
Right.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
Luckily this is the year, right, there's fourteen quarterbacks, you
could go one through fourteen are all gonna be taken
to the first round the draft, and there's lots of
quarterbacks out there. We know quarterbacks are gonna go the
first couple. You know, the Bears are gonna take Caleb Williams,
the Commanders at number two, the Patriots at three, would
they take a quarterback? Yeah, but they could also slide down.
You have the Arizona Cardinals at four, they're set with
(38:00):
Kyler Murray. They might trade down the Chargers at five.
They'd love a shot at at a wide receiver. But
if someone calls up and says, hey, we need a
quarterback and we'll give you this, this, this and this, Hey,
why not. Right you're rebuilding, someone's going to make a
big trade because someone needs to be first. There's gonna
be a team that's gonna say, all right, there's a
lot of guys out there we want. If we go
(38:21):
into the draft thinking at some point we'll try to
move up, there's a lot of moving pieces. It's too difficult.
We need to be the bold team that moves up,
and that way we can cinch that we're going to
get somebody we really like at five. Right, let's just
say five, nice round number. Moving up, right, you have
the the the Broncos, the Raiders. You have teams sitting there,
(38:43):
the Vikings that need quarterbacks that are that are going
to be the ones the most likely to move up,
just because moving up from ten to eleven, twelve to
five is not going to be as much as try
to move up from twenty seven or twenty eight. But
someone's gonna do it because those teams need quarterbacks. They're
not going to wait. You're gonna see guys starting to
fly off the board, and at least one team is
(39:05):
going to make that big trade and we're gonna see
all did the picks work out when you talk about
comparing it to the board of what they gave up
and what they didn't. But someone's gonna make a big move,
most likely one of those three teams to make a
big move to get in the top five so they
can draft a quarterback. And now not for one guy,
because when you're drafting fifth you have no idea. But
as long as hey, we like Drake May and we
(39:27):
like Jaden Daniels, and we like JJ McCarthy, whatever it is,
like there's a couple of guys that we like and
we feel really good, we're going to get one of them.
Speaker 4 (39:35):
And then you don't have to give up more draft
capital to be even higher than that. But look at
the position of the teams that are sitting currently with
the number four and five selections overall, Arizona and the Chargers,
quarterback is not clearly what they need. Therefore, they're in
a position to move down. Chargers specifically to move down
even completely out of the top ten, and still get
(39:56):
someone who's going to help them as a starter on
day one. Now they need an offensive tackle, they need
a wide receiver. This is a really good draft for
those two positions what the Chargers need. And they have
a new coaching staff as well.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
Yeah, it's a case of yeah, you'd love to get
that guy there, right and take the charges French?
Speaker 3 (40:15):
Right? Do they need another wide receiver? Of course they do.
Speaker 1 (40:17):
They need other weapon for Justin Herbert. I know that
that Jim Harbaugh wants to run the football, and you're
going to take the most important player on your team
and marginalize them, which is stupid, but hey, this is
what he wants. But what you're gonna get just to
move down five or six spots and still get an
offensive tackle one of.
Speaker 3 (40:34):
The other wide receivers you really like.
Speaker 1 (40:36):
Is there's that much of a difference between Marvin Harrison
Junior and Romo Dunes?
Speaker 3 (40:40):
You know, is there really that much? Or getting three
picks is going to be well worth it for us?
Speaker 1 (40:46):
I would I don't know that they can say no
to something like I don't know that either of those
teams could say no to something like that. Yeah, you'd
love to get a difference maker wide receive, but you
can get a wide receiver, lady. You get wide receivers
all over the draft. I mean they're every year five
or six guys coming in.
Speaker 3 (41:00):
They're terrific.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
So that's going to happen, and someone's gonna do it first,
because they're gonna say, whatever it is, we're gonna make
that bold move that's going to reset the market and
scatter things. It may be the only trade till Draft Day,
but we're gonna get that trade sometime in the next week.
Speaker 4 (41:14):
And what if a team, say the team with the
number five overall pick, makes a trade, moves down and
then selects like the Georgia tight end and then just
uses him as a wide receiver. This is also possible.
But the Chargers, for example, they just need bodies. They
were genuinely bad last year. It didn't get any better
as the year went along. And the Chargers franchise has
been in this spot before and what's worked is just
(41:36):
getting bodies they need, not just one pick. Can you
turn this into multiple picks?
Speaker 1 (41:40):
Hey, if you wanted to trade Herbert to the Bears
for the number one pick, can then draft JJ McCarthy
and then McCarthy's playing for the Chargers and it's awesome.
Speaker 5 (41:49):
Just wait for your Jets to trade up the number
two for JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
Exit out about a fresco.
Speaker 1 (41:57):
The Jason Smith Show is Steve Desager in for Mike
Harmon Stevo great stuff man as always. Coming up next
it's Bern and Bernie Frido. This is Fox Sports Radio
nix Yo
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Jason Smith
Mike Harmon
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