February 26, 2021 • 39 mins
Chris and Rob take Anthony Davis to task for saying that LeBron James doesn't care about winning regular season MVP awards, and tell us why the Denver Nuggets last-second loss last night was the perfect illustration of how analytics is hurting sports. Plus, former NBA veteran Olden Polynice swings by to share his thoughts on LeBron, Shaq, Joel Embiid, and much more!
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
to check us out live every weekday from seven pm
to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching f s R.
(00:25):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All yay, it is
the I Couple. I'm Chris Bruce, are along stime my
(00:46):
partner Rob Parker, and we're coming to you live from
the Farmers Insurance Fox Sports Radio Studios. Do live. Call
one eight eight eight Farmers to get yourself a quote
and you won't be sorry. I'm telling you switch your
car insurance to Farmers and you'll save a boatload of money.
(01:07):
I mean, what else are you gonna do with your
phone over the next few minutes? Look at pictures of
food your friends eight again, No, call one triple eight
Farmers for a quote. We are take that for data.
Thank you, Fish. It is the I Couple. I'm Chris,
he's Robbed. We are going to be with you right
(01:29):
here on Fox Sports Radio, the iHeartRadio app, or serious
XM Channel eighty three. However, you may be listening, so
keep it locked with us for the next three hours.
We will not disappoint and you will not be disappointed.
Let me welcome in my partner, mister Rod Parker. How
are you, man. I am doing splendid, absolutely good. Busy Friday,
(01:52):
getting ready for the weekend. I survived the bad tooth.
I'm doing all right. I feel like much better good.
And I really thought I was gonna be out for
a couple of days. I really thought that's how bad
it was. But thank god, everything is cool. That's good.
That's good to hear. Man. We are happy for you.
Head in the Vegas this weekend. No, I'm going to
New Orleans and there are you. Yes? Wow. So you
(02:16):
just have no fear of traveling, no whatsoever. No, because
if you do what you're supposed to, Chris, you're supposed
to be all right. I mean, I'm just a knock
on wood, you know what I mean. And you know
I've been traveling. I've been traveling all over the country, right,
But I keep my hands clean. I don't put it
near my eyes, my mouth or or you know, my
(02:37):
my I wipe you down every time. Is where you
know where it's like big crowds. I always wear my mask,
and I'm not around a lot of people if I
even when I go to Vegas or if I have
dinner or something, you know what I mean, I'm not
in like my crowd. I'm at a dinner table with
three or four friends, and you know, everybody wore their
(02:59):
mask up until our meal comes. And then we eat
out dinner, we talk and that's it, thank God so far.
So I'm not blaming people who have gotten it, you
know what I mean? Right? Oh yeah, but you remember
I went to November. I was at the World Series
in Dallas. Like, think about where I've been. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
So all right, we'll have fun. Man. I'm gonna go
get some good food. Got a lunch and going to
(03:21):
Daisy Dukes in New Orleans. And you know what that is?
Have you ever been there? No, I'm gonna get it
into it is it? I think it's downtown. Anybody know
anybody from New Orleans? If you're calling, tell me about
Daisy Dukes. So we're gonna have lunch there and then
I'm gonna have dinner this place called Morals Chris, which
is a black restaurant down there. I want to try
(03:42):
that out. Have you go to Bruce Ards too? Is
that downtown? Yes, French reporter, Yeah, okay, you know I've
never been there. Actually, Oh no, believe it or not.
My father he went to college and at Xavier in
New Orleans. Him and my mind, he couldn't even go
in there. His last name was Bruce Hard and he
(04:03):
couldn't get it and go in there because it was
segregated at that time. Oh white Bruce Hards. Okay, so,
but so I've never been there. I've seen it though,
I've seen it, all right. We got the Eye Couple
crew DJ Alex Tisher a k A Alex the Vegan
on the ones and twos. He's in the crates tonight
and he owes me one. Let's see if he can deliver.
(04:24):
He owes me one. He knows what I'm talking about.
I guess not, all right. We got superproducer Rob g
in full effect, and on the updates, of course, Steve
Heisman this Sager all right, Robert, get off of that, Steve.
Who was the last time you hung out with Steve
(04:45):
Disagra at the Dodger game in the press box, Chris,
When the last time you hung out? What you meant
the Dodger game in the press box. The last time
we weren't able to go to a dog box. Well,
speaking of the Dodgers, let's go the La Rob, and
a lot of talk, I mean, And to be honest,
(05:05):
maybe it's just today's sports climate. You know. We we
have so many talk shows on television and radio that
maybe this is just how it is nowadays. You're gonna
talk about stuff. But Rob, we're not even halfway through
the season yet, and the MVP Award in the NBA
is almost a daily discussion, you know. And so um
(05:26):
Anthony Davis did a story for The Athletic or an
interview with the Athletic, and he talked about he was
asked about Lebron. A lot of talk about Lebron in
his eighteenth year, maybe becoming, you know, the only player
ever to win an MVP Award at such a late
stage of his career. It's funny because of the call
(05:47):
him I wrote yesterday right when you said he lost
it already today? Yeah, yeah, yeah, we talked about today.
So A d said Lebron couldn't care less about the
MVP award. Here's his quote. Put it to you like this,
(06:08):
I know that that man does not care about MVP awards.
He cares about championships. So if he loses the MVP
and wins the championship like he did last year, he
doesn't care. So that's what his mindset is. He's not
focused on MVPs. He's focused on finals MVPs. I'm gonna
(06:28):
let you go first on this, Rob What hello? Does
Anthony Davis even listen to Lebron? I don't think he
even He's never heard Lebron talk about the MVP. Do
you remember the hissy fitty through last year, Chris when
he saw it? What would vote or anybody that does it? Here?
(06:49):
It goes piss me off? That's my truly, that's my
true answer. Um. It pissed me off because out of
one hundred and one votes, I got sixteen first first
place votes. UM. That's what pissed me off more than anything. UM.
You know, not saying that. Um you know the winner
wasn't deserving of the MVP, but that pissed me off.
(07:12):
And I finished second a lot in my in my career, Um,
either from a championship and now four times as an MVP. UM,
you know, like I said, I never I never came
into this league saying to me, be MVP or you know,
be a champion. I've always I just want to get
better and better every single day, and those things that
(07:34):
take care of herself. There's some things that's just out
of my hand and some things you can't control. Um,
but it pissed me off. So Anthony Davis, that sounds
like a guy who care less about the MVP. He
knows the vote total, wouldn't even say be honest's name. Well,
I'm not saying about the winner. You know, whoever that is,
(07:56):
whoever won, you know, like okay, stop bib. He wants
to win an MVP. He wants to build his resume. Chris,
when the season started, we both sat on this very
radio show about ten days ago and said he was
a leader, didn't we Yep, he's I said it. Yes,
(08:19):
you called me to Lebron hater. I said he was
the MVP ten days ago live and the Living Color,
he ain't no more. And the idea that Anthony Davis
is saying he doesn't care about it and this and that,
I just I'm not saying you look bad, ad, right
you really It's not like we're saying that's what drives him.
(08:43):
But Chris, he wants to win. That's why he was
so hurt last year. It was a landslide. It was
a randslide. He was, for lack of a better word,
complained when Derrick Rose went in twenty eleven and complained
a bit with Mark Gasol one Defensive Player of the
(09:04):
Year in twenty thirteen. And so Lebron wants to win
MVPs and a d I get it. You go to
bat for your boy and your teammate. But this is
ridiculous because Lebron's own words defy what you said. So
now you just look like you. We can't really trust
you to believe what you're saying, you know when you
comment on your teammates and stuff. But let me say this, Yes,
(09:28):
Lebron wants to win MVP awards, and I got no
problem with it. Nobody should let me. Is this thing
on Rob Park? Is this thing on Lebron? James is
a human being, all right, He likes accolades. I got
no problem whatsoever with Lebron wanting to win as many
MVPs as possible. That doesn't mean he doesn't also want
(09:51):
to win the championship or that he doesn't want to
win the championship more, but he wants to win MVP.
Rob The only players that don't care about winning MVP
Awards robe are the players that know they can't win it,
the players that not in your mindset, you don't even
think about it, right, No, I was a star basketball
(10:11):
player in high school and I care that that about
all conference, making all city, all that stuff. In college,
I was a role player. I didn't care about being
All conference because I knew I wasn't gonna be all conference.
I mean, I was a role player, and that's the mindset.
So Lebron James is a superstar. Yes, he wants to
(10:36):
win every MVP Award he's eligible for, and I'm fine
with it. He should. Michael Jordan wanted it him, Elijah Wan, Shock,
Kobe Kareem, Magic Bird, they all wanted it. That's one
thing that helped make them so great. Because so why
(10:59):
don't you just be ad, Yeah, he look, Lebron's the
best player in the world. He wants to win the
MVP Award. He wants the finals more, yes, championships more,
but he also does want the MVP Award. Yes, that
drives him. Just be honest, I just want to clarify
one thing. When you said you were a role player?
Is Za Kaiser or Pumpernickel? What kind of role were
(11:20):
you that might be? Alex? Where were you that might
I was trying to register how bad it was. That
might be the worst joke yet Rob of the two
and a half years together on this show. I'm always
trying to get better, all right, whatever, And let me
say this rock because a lot of the analytics guys,
(11:43):
you know, they will say and look, Lebron has been
the best player, you know, for the most part for
the past what decade, twelve years something like that. And
guess what. Michael Jordan was the best player in the
league for probably twelve years or so straight and Mike
only won five Lebron's won four careers when people were saying,
(12:06):
like Michael could have won it every year, but then
what years? Charles Falkley was better played great? You know
what I mean? So people, I don't ever a better
player than Jordan, but he was. He had a better year, right.
I never remember, Chris, you could tell me, because you
know I covered Michael Jordan during that time. I don't
remember him making a stink over somebody else winning or
(12:27):
him not winning. I don't remember, well, I do remember.
I do remember him always, like you know, because he
said this coming into the league, you know, and early
in the league when Magic and Bird and even Isaiah
were winning. Those were the guys he shot for and
he did. You know. I think there's a quote somewhere
(12:48):
where he had told maybe his wife or something, you know, man,
Magic won it again, you know, that type of thing,
Magic on another MVP. So not in a way that
Magic isn't any good. He didn't, but but he wanted
to win, right and Lebron wants to win. So a
d with this story just sounds it sounds silly. I
(13:10):
agree with you, like you want to go to a
guy and get some insight, get you know how. I
feel like he's sharing a little something. Man, This guy
burns like, you know, like like a quote would have been, like,
you know, I admired at about Lebron even in year
eighteen and all the things he's done. He still has
the drive and desire. He wants to be the best
player in the league, you know what I mean. And
(13:32):
if he's crowned with an m VP, that would be
an awesome achievement. Not he doesn't care. It's not true,
exactly true, right, Like like if a d won the
MVP Award, he'd be overjoyed, you know. And Rob, look,
let's keep it all the way real. Our radio show
was voted a top twenty national show sports show in
(13:54):
the country, right, which is a nice higher. But we
should have been higher, no doubt. And we were. We were,
I mean, upsets too strong, but you know we were
like yo, really that's where we're especially some of the
relics that were ahead of us. You know what I'm
just saying that, right, that's they're your human beings. When
(14:15):
you put your all into something and you're you're good enough,
you want to be rewarded. Let me finally say this
because a lot of analytics guys, Rob or they'll they'll
you know, well, whether it's Lebron or some other player
or analytically, he should have won the MVP and this
and that there was a there was an award given
(14:36):
out from nineteen eighty four to two thousand and two
in the NBA. It was called the IBM MVP Award.
And you know IBM the technology company, and they gave
out an MVP every year from eighty four to two
thousand and two, and it was based on stats. It
was very similar to today's player efficiency ratings. So it
(14:57):
was no no subjectivity, no I test, no taking into
account you know, teammates and all that stuff. It was
purely based on player efficiency rating or something very close
to that. David Robinson won it more than anybody else
five times. Now was David Robinson was a great player,
Hall of Famer deservedly and all that. But he wasn't
(15:20):
better than Magic. He wasn't better than Michael Jordan. Magic
won it won twice, Matt No Magic won it once,
Charles Barkley won it three times, Michael Jordan's Shock won
it twice. And then guys like Elijah Wan, Grant Hill,
Dennis Rodman, did Kim Bay Mutombo, Carl Malone and Tim
(15:45):
Duncan they all won it once. So do we Let's
just keep it real because it is subjective. And Lebron
made a point that you know the criteria changes and shifts.
It's just there is no criteria. The league doesn't give
you a little the things to look for, so every
voter has his own criteria. But I would rather that
(16:06):
rob than the stale analytics statistical measure and whoever had
the highest peer or the highest ornamentations right, because I
tests matter. Analytics told us Rob, this is true. A
week ago, analytics told us that the Lakers were better
(16:27):
defensively with Anthony Davis and Dennis shrewder on the bitch, right,
that's true. It said they were better than Nobody will
believe that, right, because it's ridiculous. Look at them now,
how how good did they look defensively? Remember a few
years ago when they said Kauai, Well, San Antonio was
(16:47):
better defensively without Kauai. That's what the analytics said. Come on,
and that's when he was really in his defensive prime.
So look, the eye test, subjectivity, all the human elements
that voters want to take into account. That matters. And
that's much better than some computer just spitting out who's
(17:10):
the MVP every year. So Lebron's got four, that's great,
He's behind Kareem's the highest with six, then Jordan and
Bill Russell with five, and Lebron's next with four. So
I'm with you, though, Rob, Anthony Davis should have just
been honest. Nobody would have killed him. He's gonna kill Lebron,
for one, wanted to win MVP at the year eighteen,
(17:34):
at thirty six years old. I would be an accomplishment, absolutely,
absolutely all right, eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox
eight seven, seven nine nine six sixty three sixty nine.
You're turning the way in Do you believe a d
Anthony Davis when he says his teammate Lebron does not
care about the MVP award. We will continue the conversation
(17:55):
with you. Next is Chris and Rob the old couple.
Fox Sports Radio. Fox Sports Radio has the sports talk
lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at
foxsports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search
FSR to listen live. Hey, what's up everybody? It's me
three time pro bowler LeVar Arrington and I couldn't be
more excited to announce a new podcast called Up on Game.
(18:19):
What is Up on Game? You asked, along with my
fellow pro bowler t J. Hushman's outa and Super Bowl champion. Yep,
that's right, Plexico Birds. You can only name a show
with that type of talent on it. Up on Game
We're going to be sharing our real life experiences loaded
with teachable moments. Listen to Up on Game with me
(18:40):
LeVar Arrington, t J Hudschmansatta and Plexico Birds on the
iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts from. Wow, now,
what is that, Alex? Because I know what the hip
hop version is? Y'all don't know that though? Don't Only
(19:00):
real hip hop heads know what that was from? What
song is that? So? This is Colleen by the Heavy
and my boys the DAP King's Horns. Wow. See the
real hip hop heads out there, no that the great
krs one used that sample. That that that the real
(19:23):
hip hop is over here, the real hip hop hippo.
Y Hey, I let you sing Golden Girls and cheers
and and Jeffersons and all that stuff. Let rober rock.
It's never heard that original song? Wow? Okay, I've heard
(19:45):
the sample, but not the original song. All right, We
are the Eye Couple coming to you live from the
Farmer's Insurance Fox Sports Radio Studios called one A A
eight Farmers and you can save a whole lot of
something something on your car insurance eight seven seven ninety
nine on Fox Quickly. Uh, you got a problem with
Lebron won the MVP award or more of a problem
with a d denying it? All right, Keith in New Orleans,
(20:08):
join the ya A couple of fox sportuded. What's up,
Keith Frod You mean to tell me you couldn't recall
me being in New Orleans? Man, I didn't come down,
you know, I do you know? I just I told
you listen to Rob Dance. I'm coming Keith, get day, dude.
I mean because he didn't call you, Keith. He don't
(20:36):
know you. My goodness, brother, I'm hurting man, but I'm
gonna say you all right, just don't meet him with
Daisy Dukes. Come up, Come up with your phone in
hands so you can get your picture, your autograph, little notebook.
(20:57):
You know, you know what I mean? All right? What
you got? Man? Listen. I think that Ad was trying
to protec Lebron. I know that. You know. The me
Is narrative was Lebron came to LA for all these
type of things other basketball. That was Robs narrative was
right on the money too. Really, the first year when
(21:19):
I said they weren't gonna win the championship, when they
weren't gonna make the playoffs, you forgot about that, you guys,
argued me down on television. A Well, he couldn't lead
him to the Prey playoffs if he was hurt. Stop
it stop go ahead, Keith, come on, are we gone gone? Yeah?
All right, all right, Keith, Hey, Daisy Dukes. Brett in Ontario, Canada,
(21:40):
you're on the A couple of Fox Sports Radio. What's up? Brett? Yo?
No way, first time color, long time listeners. This is
like talking to two celebrities. Chris hardest working man on television.
First things First, I'm disputed. He goes crazy. I love
watching them every day. I appreciate you, guys. I just
want to say Lebron has every right to chase the MVP.
(22:02):
He's been robbed at least two or three times, once
by Dirk, once by Steve Nash and Rob you gotta
start giving Lebron as flowers while he's still playing in
the league. You and Skip Bayliss biggest haters. You gotta
start giving Lebron as flowers while he's in the league.
No comment, All right, Bro, Thanks, I was waiting for
you to say something. Robadians are normally nice, but he
(22:26):
calls up with that. You know, Canadians are some of
the nicest people. All right, but that's okay Marty in Kentucky.
You're on the couple of Fox Sports Radio. What's up, Marty?
What's up? Was he not listening when you saying, oh
Canada on the air, thank you, thank you? You remember that?
Thank you? That's my favorite. Yes, Unfortunately, my ears have
(22:49):
never forgotten. Still they're still bleeding from that, right, guys.
I have no problem with Lebron wanting an MVP A
d saying or believing that he doesn't want to MVP.
Come on, man, right, I think he does believe it.
I think he was just I believe Oh, I think
(23:10):
he believes it. But I think he's I think he's
delusion on that. Lebron is chasing Michael Jordans. I mean
he needs to build the resume, right, Yeah, every little
thing you could not you can get, right, He's got
the want and in Jordan, I do believe it. At
this late stage in his career, didn't care because he
(23:30):
was so big. He was such an icon. He was
bigger than the game. Yeah, when you go when you
go six and oh and went all six MVPs in
the finals, I don't think this too much. Well, and Washington,
Lebron or Jordan was just playing for the love of
the game. I mean, obviously still competitive. We know how
competitive he is, but you know, right, he was just like,
(23:52):
I want to play, you know, and he probably knew
under you know what, if he again, I bet you
probably wouldn't have played. Really think so, you think when
he came back he was thinking, I'm gonna leave Washington
to the championship. Now, I just think that he thought
it would be better. I mean, more than half the
league makes the playoffs. He couldn't even make the playoffs.
(24:13):
I don't think that he would he would want that
attached to him because he was such a dominant player,
Not that it took away from his dominant to what
he did. I'm just saying, if he could, if he
knew what was gonna happen there, would he have put
on a different uniform. That's an interesting question. That's an
interesting question because I'm like you, I don't think it
(24:34):
hurt his legacy. No, I'm just saying over and six, Yeah, okay,
all right, we got olden polonies our good buddy coming
up in the moment. But first be sure to catch
live editions of the Odd couple with Chris Broussard and
Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeart Radio app. All Right,
(24:55):
he's a fifteen year NBA veteran. Fox Sports Radio NBA
analysts are good, buddy, old than the Polonese. What up,
man couple. Always good to have you on, brother, you
know that. Let's get right to it. Um, you're I
mean you're. I just said it, Fox Sports Radio NBA
(25:17):
analysts And what Rob and I love about you is
you you say what you want. I had you on
my podcast back in the day. You say what you want.
You're a great interview what. I don't know if you
saw this, but Shack came out was it last night
and said he's no longer gonna be as critical. He
said it this way, I'm not gonna be critical of
(25:39):
these bums. You know. So you saw that he's gonna
he wants to kind of tone toned down his rhetoric
of today's players. What are your thoughts on that? Because
I guess you just feel like you gotta keep it real,
but your thoughts he's not keep it. Let's say I've
known that boy since he came into the league. Man,
I consider him a friend, but I do go at
(26:01):
him because I'm like, you had your time. We all
had our time. You have to just sit back. I
know you an analyst, but you have to be critical
within the game. Okay, it's not about being personal. And
I think that's where he misses the mark. You guys
do it all the time because you guys are professionals
at that and unfortunately he's not. So it's like he
(26:25):
makes it all personal. Well, you know, he shouldn't be
getting this much money in and I'm like, dude, just
let it go. Man, let these guys have the money.
Thing is out of bounds. I totally agreeing exactly. You know,
talk about you know, you know certain things like the statistic,
but guy goes one foot twelve. As an analyst, yes,
(26:47):
you have the right to go at him. Okay, but
you have to do it within the analytics of everything
and being the analysts and just saying, okay, maybe this
is why he wasn't being agglessive. You know, you got
to pinpoint those things. That's some game, right. Yeah, he
doesn't do that. He just goes at people. He's a bum.
He doesn't deserve this. I'm like, come on, stop, these
(27:08):
will stop. Oh then let me let me ask you.
I think when your last time you were, you weren't
really feeling the nets. And my wrong, Chris, what I
was gonna ask. I don't remember where. I don't don't
know if we had him. I sit with mine. I
stick with mine. I stick with what I say. I'm
not like some of you guys, Rob Parker, why that
hang on the fence and just you know, I you know,
(27:33):
I don't know where you where you won the nets?
I mean you don't like them. I still don't like
the nets. Defensively. It's not about the offense. We know what.
Nobody likes them. They don't like themselves defensively. They just
went on the West Coast olden and and and won
all five games. They won eight straight against Western Division opponents.
(27:56):
They don't even have their whole team. Let's say the
Laker game after Davis is not there. So that's a
big difference. Okay, I understand that everybody's all just combobulated
right now within the NBA. All of a sudden, the
washing Bullets are beating teams. I mean to me, it's
(28:20):
not a on any given night teams in the NBA
will beat other teams. I get that the net. I
look at the nets for like two months from now,
three months from now in the playoffs. That's what I'm
talking about. I'm you know, doing for sights because at
the end of the day, in a short series, in
a series, you're not gonna have that luxury because teams
(28:42):
are gonna go back. Even if you beat them one game,
they're gonna go back, make the adjustments, can come back again,
and they still don't have defensive stoppers. That's what I'm
livery of. Let me ask you about Utah because you
know they obviously have the best record in the league.
And maybe you just said when you anybody can win
on the regular season any night, But are they a
legit contender? They don't follow the formula. Most teams were
(29:05):
getting a couple of superstars and all that. Do you
think you tags a legit contender? It's because of what
you just said of not following the formula is why
I still don't have them as a contender. Yes, they
have the best record in the league, okay, and they
do have Donovan Mitchell and Gobet too, all starts. But
(29:27):
teams that are more experienced that are physical are gonna
give them problems. And so to me, that's gonna be
the key for them. And so, you know, like the
other night I watched the game they played, Dodovan Mitchell
shot horribly. Yeah he was doing some other things, but
you cannot have Donovan Mitchell not score twenty five to
thirty points. I think you're gonna win in the playoffs.
(29:49):
And so yeah, I like them right now because you know,
they do have the best record, but in the long run,
they still need like another piece, they still need like
a star. So they can't be the two thousand for Pistons.
Can they be an anomaly like the Jazz? They seem
to be able to beat. Basically, you have been analyzed
the one year. You know what I that have been
(30:10):
able to superstar? Well, I mean, yeah, he didn't have
any The Pistons didn't have anybody like a true like
a true superstar. Wouldn't you say that? Well, the Pistons
were an anomaly, of course, but it was different. You know,
they were just a really physical team. They had a guy,
(30:31):
you know, and Ben Wallace who just you know, when
you aren't gonna you know, push them over. Um, I mean,
Chauncey Billups played exceptional, but I mean all all the
pieces were in place. I just don't see that with
Utah right now. Not to say that they can't get
there in the long run, I just don't see it
right now. Let me ask you about Joel mbat a
(30:53):
lot of people. I probably got him number one in
my MVP race right now, and I obviously's playing great,
and he is is on the box more than he
has been in the past. But still when you watch them,
the majority of the time he is on the perimeter.
He's got a tremendous mid range shot. Would you tell him,
especially in today's NBA, because I look ahead if they
(31:16):
meet Brooklyn in the playoffs, I mean, he would annihilate
Brooklyn in the post. Now, he'll score a ton on
the perimeter and all that. But I think it's different
when you're just getting guys in foul trouble demoralizing them
on the block. Would you tell him to get on
the block a little more? Or are you fine and say, hey,
(31:37):
this is today's NBA. He doesn't need to be down
there anymore than he already is. Well, he really should,
but I think he's done a nice job of balancing everything.
Like you said, he has the post, he has the
mid range, and he has a three point shot. And
so to me, that's a deadly combination for one person
to have. And so he's you know, he's always been
(32:00):
like you know, he's the guy I've always talked about,
you know, when I did my my my drafts and
everything else. You know, when Philadelphia got he got the
number one pick. You know, it's just because of the
injuries that he dropped so and be now. The only
thing I wish if he would lose some weight around
that lower area, my goodness, he would stay a little healthier. Yeah,
(32:23):
he would be unstoppable. But you know he's right now,
he's getting people inside of trouble. The only thing I
don't like about Joel and bad he is stuff. Man.
I've never seen a seven foot of fall to the
ground more than I see Joel mb and that is upsetting,
because not every hit should knock you to the ground,
(32:46):
you know, even though you're trying to draw files and
all that, you still because it's a psychological thing, you know.
And so to me, you gotta like stand up, take
the hit and look at these guys, and we're like
you can't you can't stop me. And so you know
he has been inside a lot more than in the past.
So that's that's definitely a positive for Philadelphia. All right,
(33:07):
that is our man, Old and Polinice. Great stuff is
always brother. We appreciate the knowledge. You're very welcome. Take
care of you man. Yep, We've said it before and
The Eye Couple will say it again. Analytics is ruining sports.
We'll explain next I Couple Fox Sports Radio, I Ain't paying.
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
(33:29):
with Chris Brussar and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeart Radio app. H all right, it is the Eye
Cup on the Funky Flashback Friday. I gotta admit, so far,
so good with DJ Alex Tisher. He is Dusty Dusty,
(33:50):
I tell you, because he's in the crates. We're coming
to he live from the Farmers Insurance Fox Sports Radio Studios.
Call Farmers Today for a quote and right, we beat
the horse and we're not just old kate kids. Get
off my law and people. We're trying to help sports.
We get it. Analytics is important. You'll never hear Rob
(34:15):
Parker and me say analytics are not important, but it
is a piece of the puzzle. It. Yes, that's where
teams go wrong. It's and Rob, it just let's just
keep it real. It helps a lot of guys who
didn't play sports at any level don't really know the
(34:38):
place for themselves, Chris, They really did. They created a
spot for people who um and and I think the
biggest indictment, and you tell me I'm wrong, it is
Billy Bean who spent thirty five years with the Oakland A's.
I think it was Chris thirty five years he left.
(34:59):
Can you tell me the CHAMPI ship they want in Oakland?
Billy Bean zero. Even the movie they made Moneyball, Chris, ye,
the highlight. Now, if they won a championship, that should
be the climactic ending of a of a movie, right.
It was about a twenty game winning streak. And in
(35:21):
the movie they never mentioned the three big pitchers they
had Moller uh zero And you're right they didn't mention
those guys, Chris, Yep, yep, they they they they perpetrated
this whole thing about had his Berg and and you know,
and all these other players and what they were doing
(35:43):
in their walks and all this. They didn't even mention it.
Three stud stud star pitchers at the top of their rotation.
What and here's the other thing, Rob. They acted like, oh,
the woeful Oakland age he being turned him into something. Oh,
they didn't win it, but he turned him into something. No,
(36:05):
the Oakland A's won World Series. They won championships long
before Billy Bean. Was there about Chris Three in a
row in the seventies Three in a row, Yeah, rolly fingers,
catfish old Rudy Yes. In the nineties, late eighties or
early nineties, they got to three straight World Series in
(36:26):
one one. So this I don't want to hear this.
It's not like he went to the I don't know,
the worst team in the league that had never done
anything and made him relevant. He failed. He failed, Rob
because it was up this about World Series. When you
have won several World Series, that's what it's about. It's
(36:47):
not about being pretty good in the regular season. So
I'm with you. And uh, like I said, part of
the equation, not the entire thing, And that's where you
go wrong. But last night we saw I mean it
just came to life. I mean why this can be ridiculous?
Rob g explained this. It was the Denver Nuggets lost
(37:10):
one twelve one ten to the Washington Wizards. Rob Gi
explained this one. That's right. Nuggets were down by two
in the final minute. Washington has the ball. They go
up to the basket, miss a shot. Yokis taps it out.
Jamal Murray's on a fast break three on one with
under five seconds lay four on one. There was three
on one with a trailer behind him, but there were
(37:31):
three guys ahead of the rest of the Wizards defense.
Bradley Beale cuts off Jamal Murray at the left three
point line. That leads to guys wide open. They both
fan out to the three point line, including Michael Porter Junior,
who stands in the corner waiting for the kickout. Nobody
goes to the basket for the game time layup. The
(37:52):
Nuggets botch it. They get a three point looked that
obviously missed, and the rest is history. They lose after
having a three one as to break and nobody went
to the basket. That's ridiculous. I mean, first of all,
are you are you trying to create robots or you
can trying to create guys that knowble and think the game.
(38:12):
I mean, even if that I get it. That's what
teams do now in fast breaks, run to the three
point line, but think, think you're down to tie the
game and force overtime. Who says an open basket in
front of you with nobody there, how do you run
through the three point line? And who was it? Who
(38:32):
said and we would have made it? Nobody? Michael Porter
Junior is a great quote. Five guys. He said, Uh,
one of us could have easily cut. Honestly, I could
have cut and got a dunk, but we were just
thinking one of us is gonna get a three if
that shot goes in. No one's talking about it. Yeah,
all right. And if Deontay Wilder had caught Tyson Fury
with his right hand, maybe it'd be a whole different story.
(38:54):
I mean, we can say that every single night, if
if if come on, man, I just hey, let me
say this real quick. You remember you just said Billy Bean, yes, right.
How in the world did brad Beck hurry play him?
Chris brad Pitt thanks Ed Miller for left
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
to check us out live every weekday from seven pm
to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching f s R.
(00:25):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All yay, it is
the I Couple. I'm Chris Bruce, are along stime my
(00:46):
partner Rob Parker, and we're coming to you live from
the Farmers Insurance Fox Sports Radio Studios. Do live. Call
one eight eight eight Farmers to get yourself a quote
and you won't be sorry. I'm telling you switch your
car insurance to Farmers and you'll save a boatload of money.
(01:07):
I mean, what else are you gonna do with your
phone over the next few minutes? Look at pictures of
food your friends eight again, No, call one triple eight
Farmers for a quote. We are take that for data.
Thank you, Fish. It is the I Couple. I'm Chris,
he's Robbed. We are going to be with you right
(01:29):
here on Fox Sports Radio, the iHeartRadio app, or serious
XM Channel eighty three. However, you may be listening, so
keep it locked with us for the next three hours.
We will not disappoint and you will not be disappointed.
Let me welcome in my partner, mister Rod Parker. How
are you, man. I am doing splendid, absolutely good. Busy Friday,
(01:52):
getting ready for the weekend. I survived the bad tooth.
I'm doing all right. I feel like much better good.
And I really thought I was gonna be out for
a couple of days. I really thought that's how bad
it was. But thank god, everything is cool. That's good.
That's good to hear. Man. We are happy for you.
Head in the Vegas this weekend. No, I'm going to
New Orleans and there are you. Yes? Wow. So you
(02:16):
just have no fear of traveling, no whatsoever. No, because
if you do what you're supposed to, Chris, you're supposed
to be all right. I mean, I'm just a knock
on wood, you know what I mean. And you know
I've been traveling. I've been traveling all over the country, right,
But I keep my hands clean. I don't put it
near my eyes, my mouth or or you know, my
(02:37):
my I wipe you down every time. Is where you
know where it's like big crowds. I always wear my mask,
and I'm not around a lot of people if I
even when I go to Vegas or if I have
dinner or something, you know what I mean, I'm not
in like my crowd. I'm at a dinner table with
three or four friends, and you know, everybody wore their
(02:59):
mask up until our meal comes. And then we eat
out dinner, we talk and that's it, thank God so far.
So I'm not blaming people who have gotten it, you
know what I mean? Right? Oh yeah, but you remember
I went to November. I was at the World Series
in Dallas. Like, think about where I've been. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
So all right, we'll have fun. Man. I'm gonna go
get some good food. Got a lunch and going to
(03:21):
Daisy Dukes in New Orleans. And you know what that is?
Have you ever been there? No, I'm gonna get it
into it is it? I think it's downtown. Anybody know
anybody from New Orleans? If you're calling, tell me about
Daisy Dukes. So we're gonna have lunch there and then
I'm gonna have dinner this place called Morals Chris, which
is a black restaurant down there. I want to try
(03:42):
that out. Have you go to Bruce Ards too? Is
that downtown? Yes, French reporter, Yeah, okay, you know I've
never been there. Actually, Oh no, believe it or not.
My father he went to college and at Xavier in
New Orleans. Him and my mind, he couldn't even go
in there. His last name was Bruce Hard and he
(04:03):
couldn't get it and go in there because it was
segregated at that time. Oh white Bruce Hards. Okay, so,
but so I've never been there. I've seen it though,
I've seen it, all right. We got the Eye Couple
crew DJ Alex Tisher a k A Alex the Vegan
on the ones and twos. He's in the crates tonight
and he owes me one. Let's see if he can deliver.
(04:24):
He owes me one. He knows what I'm talking about.
I guess not, all right. We got superproducer Rob g
in full effect, and on the updates, of course, Steve
Heisman this Sager all right, Robert, get off of that, Steve.
Who was the last time you hung out with Steve
(04:45):
Disagra at the Dodger game in the press box, Chris,
When the last time you hung out? What you meant
the Dodger game in the press box. The last time
we weren't able to go to a dog box. Well,
speaking of the Dodgers, let's go the La Rob, and
a lot of talk, I mean, And to be honest,
(05:05):
maybe it's just today's sports climate. You know. We we
have so many talk shows on television and radio that
maybe this is just how it is nowadays. You're gonna
talk about stuff. But Rob, we're not even halfway through
the season yet, and the MVP Award in the NBA
is almost a daily discussion, you know. And so um
(05:26):
Anthony Davis did a story for The Athletic or an
interview with the Athletic, and he talked about he was
asked about Lebron. A lot of talk about Lebron in
his eighteenth year, maybe becoming, you know, the only player
ever to win an MVP Award at such a late
stage of his career. It's funny because of the call
(05:47):
him I wrote yesterday right when you said he lost
it already today? Yeah, yeah, yeah, we talked about today.
So A d said Lebron couldn't care less about the
MVP award. Here's his quote. Put it to you like this,
(06:08):
I know that that man does not care about MVP awards.
He cares about championships. So if he loses the MVP
and wins the championship like he did last year, he
doesn't care. So that's what his mindset is. He's not
focused on MVPs. He's focused on finals MVPs. I'm gonna
(06:28):
let you go first on this, Rob What hello? Does
Anthony Davis even listen to Lebron? I don't think he
even He's never heard Lebron talk about the MVP. Do
you remember the hissy fitty through last year, Chris when
he saw it? What would vote or anybody that does it? Here?
(06:49):
It goes piss me off? That's my truly, that's my
true answer. Um. It pissed me off because out of
one hundred and one votes, I got sixteen first first
place votes. UM. That's what pissed me off more than anything. UM.
You know, not saying that. Um you know the winner
wasn't deserving of the MVP, but that pissed me off.
(07:12):
And I finished second a lot in my in my career, Um,
either from a championship and now four times as an MVP. UM,
you know, like I said, I never I never came
into this league saying to me, be MVP or you know,
be a champion. I've always I just want to get
better and better every single day, and those things that
(07:34):
take care of herself. There's some things that's just out
of my hand and some things you can't control. Um,
but it pissed me off. So Anthony Davis, that sounds
like a guy who care less about the MVP. He
knows the vote total, wouldn't even say be honest's name. Well,
I'm not saying about the winner. You know, whoever that is,
(07:56):
whoever won, you know, like okay, stop bib. He wants
to win an MVP. He wants to build his resume. Chris,
when the season started, we both sat on this very
radio show about ten days ago and said he was
a leader, didn't we Yep, he's I said it. Yes,
(08:19):
you called me to Lebron hater. I said he was
the MVP ten days ago live and the Living Color,
he ain't no more. And the idea that Anthony Davis
is saying he doesn't care about it and this and that,
I just I'm not saying you look bad, ad, right
you really It's not like we're saying that's what drives him.
(08:43):
But Chris, he wants to win. That's why he was
so hurt last year. It was a landslide. It was
a randslide. He was, for lack of a better word,
complained when Derrick Rose went in twenty eleven and complained
a bit with Mark Gasol one Defensive Player of the
(09:04):
Year in twenty thirteen. And so Lebron wants to win
MVPs and a d I get it. You go to
bat for your boy and your teammate. But this is
ridiculous because Lebron's own words defy what you said. So
now you just look like you. We can't really trust
you to believe what you're saying, you know when you
comment on your teammates and stuff. But let me say this, Yes,
(09:28):
Lebron wants to win MVP awards, and I got no
problem with it. Nobody should let me. Is this thing
on Rob Park? Is this thing on Lebron? James is
a human being, all right, He likes accolades. I got
no problem whatsoever with Lebron wanting to win as many
MVPs as possible. That doesn't mean he doesn't also want
(09:51):
to win the championship or that he doesn't want to
win the championship more, but he wants to win MVP.
Rob The only players that don't care about winning MVP
Awards robe are the players that know they can't win it,
the players that not in your mindset, you don't even
think about it, right, No, I was a star basketball
(10:11):
player in high school and I care that that about
all conference, making all city, all that stuff. In college,
I was a role player. I didn't care about being
All conference because I knew I wasn't gonna be all conference.
I mean, I was a role player, and that's the mindset.
So Lebron James is a superstar. Yes, he wants to
(10:36):
win every MVP Award he's eligible for, and I'm fine
with it. He should. Michael Jordan wanted it him, Elijah Wan, Shock,
Kobe Kareem, Magic Bird, they all wanted it. That's one
thing that helped make them so great. Because so why
(10:59):
don't you just be ad, Yeah, he look, Lebron's the
best player in the world. He wants to win the
MVP Award. He wants the finals more, yes, championships more,
but he also does want the MVP Award. Yes, that
drives him. Just be honest, I just want to clarify
one thing. When you said you were a role player?
Is Za Kaiser or Pumpernickel? What kind of role were
(11:20):
you that might be? Alex? Where were you that might
I was trying to register how bad it was. That
might be the worst joke yet Rob of the two
and a half years together on this show. I'm always
trying to get better, all right, whatever, And let me
say this rock because a lot of the analytics guys,
(11:43):
you know, they will say and look, Lebron has been
the best player, you know, for the most part for
the past what decade, twelve years something like that. And
guess what. Michael Jordan was the best player in the
league for probably twelve years or so straight and Mike
only won five Lebron's won four careers when people were saying,
(12:06):
like Michael could have won it every year, but then
what years? Charles Falkley was better played great? You know
what I mean? So people, I don't ever a better
player than Jordan, but he was. He had a better year, right.
I never remember, Chris, you could tell me, because you
know I covered Michael Jordan during that time. I don't
remember him making a stink over somebody else winning or
(12:27):
him not winning. I don't remember, well, I do remember.
I do remember him always, like you know, because he
said this coming into the league, you know, and early
in the league when Magic and Bird and even Isaiah
were winning. Those were the guys he shot for and
he did. You know. I think there's a quote somewhere
(12:48):
where he had told maybe his wife or something, you know, man,
Magic won it again, you know, that type of thing,
Magic on another MVP. So not in a way that
Magic isn't any good. He didn't, but but he wanted
to win, right and Lebron wants to win. So a
d with this story just sounds it sounds silly. I
(13:10):
agree with you, like you want to go to a
guy and get some insight, get you know how. I
feel like he's sharing a little something. Man, This guy
burns like, you know, like like a quote would have been, like,
you know, I admired at about Lebron even in year
eighteen and all the things he's done. He still has
the drive and desire. He wants to be the best
player in the league, you know what I mean. And
(13:32):
if he's crowned with an m VP, that would be
an awesome achievement. Not he doesn't care. It's not true,
exactly true, right, Like like if a d won the
MVP Award, he'd be overjoyed, you know. And Rob, look,
let's keep it all the way real. Our radio show
was voted a top twenty national show sports show in
(13:54):
the country, right, which is a nice higher. But we
should have been higher, no doubt. And we were. We were,
I mean, upsets too strong, but you know we were
like yo, really that's where we're especially some of the
relics that were ahead of us. You know what I'm
just saying that, right, that's they're your human beings. When
(14:15):
you put your all into something and you're you're good enough,
you want to be rewarded. Let me finally say this
because a lot of analytics guys, Rob or they'll they'll
you know, well, whether it's Lebron or some other player
or analytically, he should have won the MVP and this
and that there was a there was an award given
(14:36):
out from nineteen eighty four to two thousand and two
in the NBA. It was called the IBM MVP Award.
And you know IBM the technology company, and they gave
out an MVP every year from eighty four to two
thousand and two, and it was based on stats. It
was very similar to today's player efficiency ratings. So it
(14:57):
was no no subjectivity, no I test, no taking into
account you know, teammates and all that stuff. It was
purely based on player efficiency rating or something very close
to that. David Robinson won it more than anybody else
five times. Now was David Robinson was a great player,
Hall of Famer deservedly and all that. But he wasn't
(15:20):
better than Magic. He wasn't better than Michael Jordan. Magic
won it won twice, Matt No Magic won it once,
Charles Barkley won it three times, Michael Jordan's Shock won
it twice. And then guys like Elijah Wan, Grant Hill,
Dennis Rodman, did Kim Bay Mutombo, Carl Malone and Tim
(15:45):
Duncan they all won it once. So do we Let's
just keep it real because it is subjective. And Lebron
made a point that you know the criteria changes and shifts.
It's just there is no criteria. The league doesn't give
you a little the things to look for, so every
voter has his own criteria. But I would rather that
(16:06):
rob than the stale analytics statistical measure and whoever had
the highest peer or the highest ornamentations right, because I
tests matter. Analytics told us Rob, this is true. A
week ago, analytics told us that the Lakers were better
(16:27):
defensively with Anthony Davis and Dennis shrewder on the bitch, right,
that's true. It said they were better than Nobody will
believe that, right, because it's ridiculous. Look at them now,
how how good did they look defensively? Remember a few
years ago when they said Kauai, Well, San Antonio was
(16:47):
better defensively without Kauai. That's what the analytics said. Come on,
and that's when he was really in his defensive prime.
So look, the eye test, subjectivity, all the human elements
that voters want to take into account. That matters. And
that's much better than some computer just spitting out who's
(17:10):
the MVP every year. So Lebron's got four, that's great,
He's behind Kareem's the highest with six, then Jordan and
Bill Russell with five, and Lebron's next with four. So
I'm with you, though, Rob, Anthony Davis should have just
been honest. Nobody would have killed him. He's gonna kill Lebron,
for one, wanted to win MVP at the year eighteen,
(17:34):
at thirty six years old. I would be an accomplishment, absolutely,
absolutely all right, eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox
eight seven, seven nine nine six sixty three sixty nine.
You're turning the way in Do you believe a d
Anthony Davis when he says his teammate Lebron does not
care about the MVP award. We will continue the conversation
(17:55):
with you. Next is Chris and Rob the old couple.
Fox Sports Radio. Fox Sports Radio has the sports talk
lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at
foxsports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search
FSR to listen live. Hey, what's up everybody? It's me
three time pro bowler LeVar Arrington and I couldn't be
more excited to announce a new podcast called Up on Game.
(18:19):
What is Up on Game? You asked, along with my
fellow pro bowler t J. Hushman's outa and Super Bowl champion. Yep,
that's right, Plexico Birds. You can only name a show
with that type of talent on it. Up on Game
We're going to be sharing our real life experiences loaded
with teachable moments. Listen to Up on Game with me
(18:40):
LeVar Arrington, t J Hudschmansatta and Plexico Birds on the
iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts from. Wow, now,
what is that, Alex? Because I know what the hip
hop version is? Y'all don't know that though? Don't Only
(19:00):
real hip hop heads know what that was from? What
song is that? So? This is Colleen by the Heavy
and my boys the DAP King's Horns. Wow. See the
real hip hop heads out there, no that the great
krs one used that sample. That that that the real
(19:23):
hip hop is over here, the real hip hop hippo.
Y Hey, I let you sing Golden Girls and cheers
and and Jeffersons and all that stuff. Let rober rock.
It's never heard that original song? Wow? Okay, I've heard
(19:45):
the sample, but not the original song. All right, We
are the Eye Couple coming to you live from the
Farmer's Insurance Fox Sports Radio Studios called one A A
eight Farmers and you can save a whole lot of
something something on your car insurance eight seven seven ninety
nine on Fox Quickly. Uh, you got a problem with
Lebron won the MVP award or more of a problem
with a d denying it? All right, Keith in New Orleans,
(20:08):
join the ya A couple of fox sportuded. What's up,
Keith Frod You mean to tell me you couldn't recall
me being in New Orleans? Man, I didn't come down,
you know, I do you know? I just I told
you listen to Rob Dance. I'm coming Keith, get day, dude.
I mean because he didn't call you, Keith. He don't
(20:36):
know you. My goodness, brother, I'm hurting man, but I'm
gonna say you all right, just don't meet him with
Daisy Dukes. Come up, Come up with your phone in
hands so you can get your picture, your autograph, little notebook.
(20:57):
You know, you know what I mean? All right? What
you got? Man? Listen. I think that Ad was trying
to protec Lebron. I know that. You know. The me
Is narrative was Lebron came to LA for all these
type of things other basketball. That was Robs narrative was
right on the money too. Really, the first year when
(21:19):
I said they weren't gonna win the championship, when they
weren't gonna make the playoffs, you forgot about that, you guys,
argued me down on television. A Well, he couldn't lead
him to the Prey playoffs if he was hurt. Stop
it stop go ahead, Keith, come on, are we gone gone? Yeah?
All right, all right, Keith, Hey, Daisy Dukes. Brett in Ontario, Canada,
(21:40):
you're on the A couple of Fox Sports Radio. What's up? Brett? Yo?
No way, first time color, long time listeners. This is
like talking to two celebrities. Chris hardest working man on television.
First things First, I'm disputed. He goes crazy. I love
watching them every day. I appreciate you, guys. I just
want to say Lebron has every right to chase the MVP.
(22:02):
He's been robbed at least two or three times, once
by Dirk, once by Steve Nash and Rob you gotta
start giving Lebron as flowers while he's still playing in
the league. You and Skip Bayliss biggest haters. You gotta
start giving Lebron as flowers while he's in the league.
No comment, All right, Bro, Thanks, I was waiting for
you to say something. Robadians are normally nice, but he
(22:26):
calls up with that. You know, Canadians are some of
the nicest people. All right, but that's okay Marty in Kentucky.
You're on the couple of Fox Sports Radio. What's up, Marty?
What's up? Was he not listening when you saying, oh
Canada on the air, thank you, thank you? You remember that?
Thank you? That's my favorite. Yes, Unfortunately, my ears have
(22:49):
never forgotten. Still they're still bleeding from that, right, guys.
I have no problem with Lebron wanting an MVP A
d saying or believing that he doesn't want to MVP.
Come on, man, right, I think he does believe it.
I think he was just I believe Oh, I think
(23:10):
he believes it. But I think he's I think he's
delusion on that. Lebron is chasing Michael Jordans. I mean
he needs to build the resume, right, Yeah, every little
thing you could not you can get, right, He's got
the want and in Jordan, I do believe it. At
this late stage in his career, didn't care because he
(23:30):
was so big. He was such an icon. He was
bigger than the game. Yeah, when you go when you
go six and oh and went all six MVPs in
the finals, I don't think this too much. Well, and Washington,
Lebron or Jordan was just playing for the love of
the game. I mean, obviously still competitive. We know how
competitive he is, but you know, right, he was just like,
(23:52):
I want to play, you know, and he probably knew
under you know what, if he again, I bet you
probably wouldn't have played. Really think so, you think when
he came back he was thinking, I'm gonna leave Washington
to the championship. Now, I just think that he thought
it would be better. I mean, more than half the
league makes the playoffs. He couldn't even make the playoffs.
(24:13):
I don't think that he would he would want that
attached to him because he was such a dominant player,
Not that it took away from his dominant to what
he did. I'm just saying, if he could, if he
knew what was gonna happen there, would he have put
on a different uniform. That's an interesting question. That's an
interesting question because I'm like you, I don't think it
(24:34):
hurt his legacy. No, I'm just saying over and six, Yeah, okay,
all right, we got olden polonies our good buddy coming
up in the moment. But first be sure to catch
live editions of the Odd couple with Chris Broussard and
Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeart Radio app. All Right,
(24:55):
he's a fifteen year NBA veteran. Fox Sports Radio NBA
analysts are good, buddy, old than the Polonese. What up,
man couple. Always good to have you on, brother, you
know that. Let's get right to it. Um, you're I
mean you're. I just said it, Fox Sports Radio NBA
(25:17):
analysts And what Rob and I love about you is
you you say what you want. I had you on
my podcast back in the day. You say what you want.
You're a great interview what. I don't know if you
saw this, but Shack came out was it last night
and said he's no longer gonna be as critical. He
said it this way, I'm not gonna be critical of
(25:39):
these bums. You know. So you saw that he's gonna
he wants to kind of tone toned down his rhetoric
of today's players. What are your thoughts on that? Because
I guess you just feel like you gotta keep it real,
but your thoughts he's not keep it. Let's say I've
known that boy since he came into the league. Man,
I consider him a friend, but I do go at
(26:01):
him because I'm like, you had your time. We all
had our time. You have to just sit back. I
know you an analyst, but you have to be critical
within the game. Okay, it's not about being personal. And
I think that's where he misses the mark. You guys
do it all the time because you guys are professionals
at that and unfortunately he's not. So it's like he
(26:25):
makes it all personal. Well, you know, he shouldn't be
getting this much money in and I'm like, dude, just
let it go. Man, let these guys have the money.
Thing is out of bounds. I totally agreeing exactly. You know,
talk about you know, you know certain things like the statistic,
but guy goes one foot twelve. As an analyst, yes,
(26:47):
you have the right to go at him. Okay, but
you have to do it within the analytics of everything
and being the analysts and just saying, okay, maybe this
is why he wasn't being agglessive. You know, you got
to pinpoint those things. That's some game, right. Yeah, he
doesn't do that. He just goes at people. He's a bum.
He doesn't deserve this. I'm like, come on, stop, these
(27:08):
will stop. Oh then let me let me ask you.
I think when your last time you were, you weren't
really feeling the nets. And my wrong, Chris, what I
was gonna ask. I don't remember where. I don't don't
know if we had him. I sit with mine. I
stick with mine. I stick with what I say. I'm
not like some of you guys, Rob Parker, why that
hang on the fence and just you know, I you know,
(27:33):
I don't know where you where you won the nets?
I mean you don't like them. I still don't like
the nets. Defensively. It's not about the offense. We know what.
Nobody likes them. They don't like themselves defensively. They just
went on the West Coast olden and and and won
all five games. They won eight straight against Western Division opponents.
(27:56):
They don't even have their whole team. Let's say the
Laker game after Davis is not there. So that's a
big difference. Okay, I understand that everybody's all just combobulated
right now within the NBA. All of a sudden, the
washing Bullets are beating teams. I mean to me, it's
(28:20):
not a on any given night teams in the NBA
will beat other teams. I get that the net. I
look at the nets for like two months from now,
three months from now in the playoffs. That's what I'm
talking about. I'm you know, doing for sights because at
the end of the day, in a short series, in
a series, you're not gonna have that luxury because teams
(28:42):
are gonna go back. Even if you beat them one game,
they're gonna go back, make the adjustments, can come back again,
and they still don't have defensive stoppers. That's what I'm
livery of. Let me ask you about Utah because you
know they obviously have the best record in the league.
And maybe you just said when you anybody can win
on the regular season any night, But are they a
legit contender? They don't follow the formula. Most teams were
(29:05):
getting a couple of superstars and all that. Do you
think you tags a legit contender? It's because of what
you just said of not following the formula is why
I still don't have them as a contender. Yes, they
have the best record in the league, okay, and they
do have Donovan Mitchell and Gobet too, all starts. But
(29:27):
teams that are more experienced that are physical are gonna
give them problems. And so to me, that's gonna be
the key for them. And so, you know, like the
other night I watched the game they played, Dodovan Mitchell
shot horribly. Yeah he was doing some other things, but
you cannot have Donovan Mitchell not score twenty five to
thirty points. I think you're gonna win in the playoffs.
(29:49):
And so yeah, I like them right now because you know,
they do have the best record, but in the long run,
they still need like another piece, they still need like
a star. So they can't be the two thousand for Pistons.
Can they be an anomaly like the Jazz? They seem
to be able to beat. Basically, you have been analyzed
the one year. You know what I that have been
(30:10):
able to superstar? Well, I mean, yeah, he didn't have
any The Pistons didn't have anybody like a true like
a true superstar. Wouldn't you say that? Well, the Pistons
were an anomaly, of course, but it was different. You know,
they were just a really physical team. They had a guy,
(30:31):
you know, and Ben Wallace who just you know, when
you aren't gonna you know, push them over. Um, I mean,
Chauncey Billups played exceptional, but I mean all all the
pieces were in place. I just don't see that with
Utah right now. Not to say that they can't get
there in the long run, I just don't see it
right now. Let me ask you about Joel mbat a
(30:53):
lot of people. I probably got him number one in
my MVP race right now, and I obviously's playing great,
and he is is on the box more than he
has been in the past. But still when you watch them,
the majority of the time he is on the perimeter.
He's got a tremendous mid range shot. Would you tell him,
especially in today's NBA, because I look ahead if they
(31:16):
meet Brooklyn in the playoffs, I mean, he would annihilate
Brooklyn in the post. Now, he'll score a ton on
the perimeter and all that. But I think it's different
when you're just getting guys in foul trouble demoralizing them
on the block. Would you tell him to get on
the block a little more? Or are you fine and say, hey,
(31:37):
this is today's NBA. He doesn't need to be down
there anymore than he already is. Well, he really should,
but I think he's done a nice job of balancing everything.
Like you said, he has the post, he has the
mid range, and he has a three point shot. And
so to me, that's a deadly combination for one person
to have. And so he's you know, he's always been
(32:00):
like you know, he's the guy I've always talked about,
you know, when I did my my my drafts and
everything else. You know, when Philadelphia got he got the
number one pick. You know, it's just because of the
injuries that he dropped so and be now. The only
thing I wish if he would lose some weight around
that lower area, my goodness, he would stay a little healthier. Yeah,
(32:23):
he would be unstoppable. But you know he's right now,
he's getting people inside of trouble. The only thing I
don't like about Joel and bad he is stuff. Man.
I've never seen a seven foot of fall to the
ground more than I see Joel mb and that is upsetting,
because not every hit should knock you to the ground,
(32:46):
you know, even though you're trying to draw files and
all that, you still because it's a psychological thing, you know.
And so to me, you gotta like stand up, take
the hit and look at these guys, and we're like
you can't you can't stop me. And so you know
he has been inside a lot more than in the past.
So that's that's definitely a positive for Philadelphia. All right,
(33:07):
that is our man, Old and Polinice. Great stuff is
always brother. We appreciate the knowledge. You're very welcome. Take
care of you man. Yep, We've said it before and
The Eye Couple will say it again. Analytics is ruining sports.
We'll explain next I Couple Fox Sports Radio, I Ain't paying.
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
(33:29):
with Chris Brussar and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeart Radio app. H all right, it is the Eye
Cup on the Funky Flashback Friday. I gotta admit, so far,
so good with DJ Alex Tisher. He is Dusty Dusty,
(33:50):
I tell you, because he's in the crates. We're coming
to he live from the Farmers Insurance Fox Sports Radio Studios.
Call Farmers Today for a quote and right, we beat
the horse and we're not just old kate kids. Get
off my law and people. We're trying to help sports.
We get it. Analytics is important. You'll never hear Rob
(34:15):
Parker and me say analytics are not important, but it
is a piece of the puzzle. It. Yes, that's where
teams go wrong. It's and Rob, it just let's just
keep it real. It helps a lot of guys who
didn't play sports at any level don't really know the
(34:38):
place for themselves, Chris, They really did. They created a
spot for people who um and and I think the
biggest indictment, and you tell me I'm wrong, it is
Billy Bean who spent thirty five years with the Oakland A's.
I think it was Chris thirty five years he left.
(34:59):
Can you tell me the CHAMPI ship they want in Oakland?
Billy Bean zero. Even the movie they made Moneyball, Chris, ye,
the highlight. Now, if they won a championship, that should
be the climactic ending of a of a movie, right.
It was about a twenty game winning streak. And in
(35:21):
the movie they never mentioned the three big pitchers they
had Moller uh zero And you're right they didn't mention
those guys, Chris, Yep, yep, they they they they perpetrated
this whole thing about had his Berg and and you know,
and all these other players and what they were doing
(35:43):
in their walks and all this. They didn't even mention it.
Three stud stud star pitchers at the top of their rotation.
What and here's the other thing, Rob. They acted like, oh,
the woeful Oakland age he being turned him into something. Oh,
they didn't win it, but he turned him into something. No,
(36:05):
the Oakland A's won World Series. They won championships long
before Billy Bean. Was there about Chris Three in a
row in the seventies Three in a row, Yeah, rolly fingers,
catfish old Rudy Yes. In the nineties, late eighties or
early nineties, they got to three straight World Series in
(36:26):
one one. So this I don't want to hear this.
It's not like he went to the I don't know,
the worst team in the league that had never done
anything and made him relevant. He failed. He failed, Rob
because it was up this about World Series. When you
have won several World Series, that's what it's about. It's
(36:47):
not about being pretty good in the regular season. So
I'm with you. And uh, like I said, part of
the equation, not the entire thing, And that's where you
go wrong. But last night we saw I mean it
just came to life. I mean why this can be ridiculous?
Rob g explained this. It was the Denver Nuggets lost
(37:10):
one twelve one ten to the Washington Wizards. Rob Gi
explained this one. That's right. Nuggets were down by two
in the final minute. Washington has the ball. They go
up to the basket, miss a shot. Yokis taps it out.
Jamal Murray's on a fast break three on one with
under five seconds lay four on one. There was three
on one with a trailer behind him, but there were
(37:31):
three guys ahead of the rest of the Wizards defense.
Bradley Beale cuts off Jamal Murray at the left three
point line. That leads to guys wide open. They both
fan out to the three point line, including Michael Porter Junior,
who stands in the corner waiting for the kickout. Nobody
goes to the basket for the game time layup. The
(37:52):
Nuggets botch it. They get a three point looked that
obviously missed, and the rest is history. They lose after
having a three one as to break and nobody went
to the basket. That's ridiculous. I mean, first of all,
are you are you trying to create robots or you
can trying to create guys that knowble and think the game.
(38:12):
I mean, even if that I get it. That's what
teams do now in fast breaks, run to the three
point line, but think, think you're down to tie the
game and force overtime. Who says an open basket in
front of you with nobody there, how do you run
through the three point line? And who was it? Who
(38:32):
said and we would have made it? Nobody? Michael Porter
Junior is a great quote. Five guys. He said, Uh,
one of us could have easily cut. Honestly, I could
have cut and got a dunk, but we were just
thinking one of us is gonna get a three if
that shot goes in. No one's talking about it. Yeah,
all right. And if Deontay Wilder had caught Tyson Fury
with his right hand, maybe it'd be a whole different story.
(38:54):
I mean, we can say that every single night, if
if if come on, man, I just hey, let me
say this real quick. You remember you just said Billy Bean, yes, right.
How in the world did brad Beck hurry play him?
Chris brad Pitt thanks Ed Miller for left
Hosts And Creators
kelvin washington
Rob Parker
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.