May 23, 2024 • 33 mins
Chris and Rob discuss whether Anthony Edwards was prematurely crowned as the Face of the NBA, tell us if it’s fair to say that the first few weeks of Caitlin Clark’s WNBA career has been underwhelming and debate Stan Van Gundy's suggestion that Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic might be the best offensive backcourt in NBA history.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:23):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple with
Chris Brushaw and Ron Harker.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Last night, the Dallas Mavericks go into Minnesota and steal
Game one of the Western Conference Finals and along with
it home court advantage with a one o eight one
oh five w over the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the stars
from the Mavericks showed up. Kyrie gives them thirty Luca
(00:55):
gives them thirty three.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
And it was christ because it was Kyrie early and
Luke late, you know what I mean, Like it was perfect.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Yeah, And they tend to seem like they do that
usually it's Luca, you.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Know, kind of earlier and Kyrie lay.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
But yeah, they I mean, it's great to have two
incredible stars and offensive juggernauts like that to rely on.
But for the Timberwolves, rob their two main guys did
not deliver Carl Anthony town Go Towns go six for
twenty with sixteen points, and Anthony Edwards, who, to his
(01:31):
credit rob did have eleven rebounds, a team high, and
eight assists. Actually, both the eleven rebounds and the eight
assists matched game highs with a couple players from Dallas.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
But he had a team or he had nineteen points,
not a team high.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
But he shot six for sixteen Robin sixteen of his
shots or twelve of his sixteen shots were three point attempts.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
So what did you take from last night's game?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
And this is not Chris. I think he's an outstanding talent.
He's got a bright future ahead of him. But I
think this was another example, and we've seen this now
of late. He started the postseason like unbelievable forty point games.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
Everybody's random raven.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
People want to crown the ant man as the face
of the NBA and all that.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I'm here to say, punk the breaks.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Anthony Edwards is not nt the face of the NBA.
He's a tremendous player. His team is having a fantastic run.
They have a chance to get to the NBA Finals.
I'm not writing them off. I'm not writing him off.
But let's just deal with the facts, not the feelings.
(02:52):
We understand you want an American to be that guy
and to hold that banner for the NBA and for
us to be proud that a bro bro is leading
the NBA.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
And it ain't a.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Guy from some country we've never been to and we'll
never get to.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
I get it.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I've actually been to Serbia, you, but not nobody else.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
And but the facts remain, Chris.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
He's now had under twenty points in four of his
last six games the Big Game seven a no show
offensively six for twenty four. I mean that's not a
big time performance in a big game. It gets glossed
over because they won and other people stepped up. And
that's all I'm saying is like the rhetoric and the
(03:45):
love affair and all that do not match the stat sheet.
They not right now. And I'm not Chris. I am
not discounting him. I'm not saying he's not a great
player and has a beautiful future. He's twenty two, but
he is not. Can I spell us for you? Rob
(04:06):
g and Ot.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
The face of the NBA.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Okay, Look, you make some good points there, and I
think we have to be honest, Rob, when we say
the face of the NBA, that's one guy, and correct.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Me if you think I'm wrong.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Rob, I'm going back to like the late seventies, the
guys that have been the face of the NBA.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Doctor j.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
In the eighties, I'll give you Magic and Bird, then
Michael Jordan, and then Lebron James. Now around them or
in years in between them, there are faces of the
(05:04):
NBA between Jordan and Lebron. Rob, I would say there
was Shaq, there was Kobe. You know, there's a group
of guys as Lebron. During Lebron's tenure, Steph kd and
some other guys have been, you know, kind of those
(05:26):
secondary faces when Jordan was ruling. Rob Barkley, David Robinson,
Elijah and Patrick Ewing those were some of these secondary faces.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
I think Rob, right now, the notion that Anthony.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Edwards was at least you know, to this year or
next year, was going to be the face of the NBA.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
I always think that was kind of a misnomer. I
think he'll be one of the faces right now.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Those faces, Robed Luca, I mean, you know you still
got the old guard, Steph Lebron kd.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
Right, they still are part of the face.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Yeah right, and they still might be the face even
though they're not even in the playoffs at this point.
But that next group, Rob is Luca and Yo Kitchen. Uh.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
I wouldn't even I don't know if I say emb
just because he.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Never goes deep into the playoffs, but Jason Tatum and
and guess Anthony Edwards Yannis, yes, d and And I
think what's interesting Rob about this era of parody that
we really are going through, is will one of these
guys emerge as the face?
Speaker 4 (06:44):
I mean, you have to be a dominant. Look at
the guys I'm talking about.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Lebron won four and was winning what he went four MVPs,
Jordan won six and was at five MVPs, Magic and
Bird won eight championships between them and six m v
so like, so I don't think Anthony Edwards was about
to be the face. Now, look, if they win this championship, Rob,
(07:08):
and they win next year too, then maybe right, but
I don't think it was he was going to Just
even if he wins this championship, is he gonna be
the only face. I wouldn't go that far because I
think Rob. With these guys I've mentioned, they were clearly
the best players in the league, win a little bit
(07:31):
of a gap in between them and the.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Second game, and he doesn't. He doesn't have that, Chris,
and he's not that now. I agree.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Look, I don't Michael Jordan himself. As you know, Rob
text me, we were texting, and he said he sees similarity.
So there are some similarities to him and Jordan. But
I don't think Rob, and maybe I'll be proving wrong,
I don't think he'll ever be like on the level
of a Jordan.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
I don't think you're wrong.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
I just think that that's a lofty goal, even a
guy like Bron who has had so much success.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
Well you would say, I would say, and we.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Both obviously think Jordans the goat, but I would say
Lebron is on that level, like he's on a conversation, right, Yeah.
But I don't see Anthony Evers being like a top
ten all time player, right.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
I just don't see it either.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
And my point, Chris is just like if you wanted
to be excited about his first eight playoff games, Chris, right,
he averaged thirty two point one points and he shot
fifty six percent from the field. That's that's why he
got everybody's attention. And he's an exciting player right his
style of plays yeap okay, But in the last four games,
(08:41):
he's averaging twenty points Chris and shooting thirty four point
seven percent. I mean, like, like, the numbers have come
way down. And then I don't want to hear from
a twenty two year old that he was tired from
guarding Kyrie. Like that sounded like an excuse to me,
but he clearly was. I'm sorry, Chris, you Sawry right.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
No, I don't think he was mentioning it as an excuse.
I think it was clear.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
Now you can you can say you don't want to
say it, Okay, I don't.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I'm just saying like, but he clearly was, which that's
the problem. Why two year old the most tired guy
on the court. I get he played forty minutes, but Sody,
Kyrie and Luca.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
This is what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
And I'm just saying, Chris, some things you can hold
to keep to yourself. You might be, but I'm out
there and if I really can't guard him or I'm
too tired to play, then come out the game.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
And let some fresh legs come in.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Don't don't after the fact when you lose the game
say all the dead time, because if they would have
won the game, I doubt he would have mentioned how
tired he was.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
I don't. I don't doubt he would have.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
I think Robed, that was not Anthony, what was going
on with you?
Speaker 4 (09:55):
And the fourth man? I was exhausted, y'all? I was,
It was rob There was no denying that.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
And again you still can argue what you don't even
need to say that, that's fine. But the dude was
spent and I think I think he was physically but
also emotionally spent.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
And I actually think the Timberwolves.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
As a whole were emotionally spent from that series with Denver,
I mean, and that's what they have to be careful about.
Rop that can come off for a team that's never
been this far right, it is not used to getting
this type of attention and all that to beat the
defending champions, that was like almost we won it.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
We did it.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Yes, Like you can get yourself into an emotional state
where you think that's the championship. And so I thought
they were spent and they weren't ready and their coach
saying so to day after the film session, they weren't
ready for game one and they paid for it. Look,
I don't want to rip I'm not ripping Anthony Edwards.
I'm I don't care about like the last four games
(11:03):
he's only average twenty whatever you said it was, because
you can.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
To me you it's about winning, period.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
And Jordan, Michael Jordan has some series where he wasn't
the most efficient, but they won I think one finals.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
He may have shot forty one percent, but he hasn't
won anything yet.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
But I'm just saying, like I'm not saying for a
game but say, oh he's he's an imposter.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
All are about winning, and they won two of those games.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
But all I'm saying is, as time goes on, you
start to look like like he started out like a
house of fire. He's not gonna It just means that
he's normally he's not going to be able to better.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Not be tired. I mean that's what he can't be tired.
And so yeah, I just I got I I what
here's the quickly rid before we go to the callers.
He is somewhere I think his his approach to the
game is in between Jordan co and Lebron, meaning Jordan
(12:03):
Kobe were looking to score every time Lebron is really
looking to pass or make the right play.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
I think Edwards is somewhere in between there.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
And because I love the fact that he plays in
the system, that he doesn't just always force the action,
that he's looking for his teammates and if somebody has
it cooking, he's more than willing to give it to
him and he'll make you know, double team, he's gonna
pass the ball.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
I like that, but.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
There are times and he's got to learn this, and
as a twenty two year old, he's learning.
Speaker 4 (12:39):
He's young, he's.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
In that process, but he's gotta learn quickly within this
series to me that sometimes I'm the best player on
my team, if not the best player on the court,
and sometimes I just need to take over a game
if I can, and I need to try. And I
think that's what he has to learn Rob that he
can take There's times where you that guy, you are
(13:04):
the face of the Timberwolves. You might not be the
face of the league, you're the face of the Timberwolves.
So sometimes I need you to just say, you know
what I'm taking over, and that's what I think he's
gotta learn.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
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Speaker 5 (13:26):
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Speaker 2 (14:06):
Yeah, a lot is.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Being made, obviously, and that's good for the w NBA.
About Caitlyn Clark her team, the Indiana Fever are oh
and five and so.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
They're getting better, though, Chris, like they were getting blown
out the first few games, like they've lost I think
the last two by a total of six points.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
I can't believe. I know these numbers. You're a big.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Fan, but look, Rob, and even that to five record,
they have played two of twice each. Two of the
best teams in the league. The Connecticut Sun are undefeated.
They're one of the best teams in the league. And
the uh New York Liberty are undefeated. And they got
(14:51):
to the finals last year and lost.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
So those two teams are undefeated. That's four of their
losses right there.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
The Indiana Fever won thirteen games thirteen and twenty seven
last year. I think over the previous three years, Rob,
they had a total of seventeen wins if I'm not mistaken.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
In three years, and then last year they won thirteen.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
And for whatever reason, Leah Boston is struggling. She was
the Rookie of the Year last year for the Indiana Fever,
and I don't know what's happened to her, Rob, but
she's gone from fourteen points a game last year to
eight points a game from fifty eight percent shooting to
thirty nine percent shooting. And so no, that ain't to
(15:37):
blame on Caitlyn Clark because she heard even I mean,
I wouldn't even say this, but even if you wanted
to say it's Caitlyn shooting too much, I'd say no.
But even when Leah Boston gets the rock, she's not
doing anything with it.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
Shoo. I just wonder about the presence, the presence of
Caitlyn Clark. She came in ballyhooed the star, you know
what I mean, Like, this is a woman.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
I'm just asking because on the Leah Boston.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Yeah, that she's just fallen off because Caitlyn took all.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
The that's her.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
That's I'm sorry, if you can't handle another player coming
there and getting your shine, and then I mean, come on,
maybe you're not cut out to help this team win championships.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
So I'm not gonna put that on.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
I mean, she Kaitlyn's taking three more shots of game,
four more shots a game than Leah Boston and only
one more than Kelsey Mitchell.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
So here's the other thing.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
So I would just say this, she is actually playing
much better than people are giving her credit.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
For rob she's her turnovers, turnovers.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
She's always turned the ball over a lot and and
a lot of First of all, they are gonna go down.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
It's five point eight right now, that's too high. That's
the ball, that's a high. But that's gonna go down.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Remember she had ten in the first game, So even
since that first game, if she had ten in the
first game and she's got and she's averaging five, you know,
that'd be the quick mask. But yeah, it's a lot
less in the last four games. But Magic, Isaiah James
hard and they've all turned the ball over a lot,
(17:13):
So she's gonna have some turnovers. But she's averaging seventeen
point eight points, five point eight assists, and four point
six rebounds and shooting forty percent from the floor.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
Here's what I say.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
You know, the nearest rookie to her in terms of
statistics is Angel Reese, and Angel Reese is averaging eleven
points and eight rebounds on thirty five percent shooting.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
And she's a big player.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
So I'm just saying, like everybody like ripping Caitlyn Clark
like she's not balling, And I'm not saying she's playing
as well as we had hoped, and I think second
half of the season she will be playing at an
all star level.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
I got that.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Adjust I get that, But even in the adjustment, she's
still playing well.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
I just think that Chris, when you get when you're
when you're doing what she did with you know, and
playing at the level that she played at, their expectations
were unrealistic. Would you admit that going in they were unrealistic?
Speaker 1 (18:18):
I think it might have been Robed that And I'm
I include myself to some degree in this. Maybe not
people not following the w n b A as closely
as they follow the NBA thought that the gap between
the professional level and the college level and women was
(18:39):
not as wide, right, and it wouldn't be.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
An adjustment like they have at I did think.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
She come right in and get busy, and again I
think she is playing fairly well. But yeah, I think
that probably was some of it. But even so, Rob,
the w n b A ratings have skyrocketed because of her.
They're up two hundred and eighteen percent over last year.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
That is incredible, and Rob, this is what you were
asking for.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Among women ages twelve to seventeen or girls, they ratings
are up two hundred and sixty seven percent.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
So you have called for women or girl and or
girls to tune in.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
If you want to support you know, you want the
WNBA to get more money and get more exposure and
get higher ratings and more coverage.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Tune in. It's your league and they're.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Doing that, and good for them, because that has been
my issue for a long time, Chris, that they weren't
getting enough support. And that doesn't mean that men don't
have to watch if they don't, if they want to
or whatever, but I'm just saying if the women aren't watching,
you know, it's hard for anybody when they talk about
the salaries, Chris, when they talk about why the newspapers
(20:05):
or the websites don't cover the league, you know, like
have a beat.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
Writer and go on the road, And it's because the interests.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
If they show that there's interests and ratings, the money goes.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
Up, Chris, coverage goes up, all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
It's it's it's based on fan interests, right, absolutely, that's all.
You can sit there all day and talk about all
the men are in charge, they don't want to do this,
or they hate women sports, dude. If the numbers are there,
they're going to try to make money off of it.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
You're absolutely right, and that's why I hate hearing people,
Oh with the WNBA players, Kaitlin Clark's only making such
and such an amount, and you know Lebron James is
making this amount. Well, the league is that much more
popular now, I do want I don't think the CBA
for the women is where it should be, where they're
getting like fifty percent of the league revenue. But a
(20:56):
lot of that, Rob, is because the league has struggled
so much and the head was supporting it.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Basically, Chris, fifty of nothing is high. I mean, let's
just keep it really much what it was, right, right,
Like seriously, like, look, if there wasn't the money and
keep y'all going, you can't really get fifty percent at
this point, right because they were being subsidized by the NBA.
If you want to pull the covers back, right, that's
the reality.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Nah, you're right, and so you know, Look, it's good
that she's brought this type of popularity to the league,
relatively speaking, Rob and at some point you want to
see her start winning some games. But let's be fair,
Jordan took the league by storm as a rookie rob
but didn't win a lot. Lebron didn't make the playoffs
(21:44):
his first two years as well as he played. I
don't think Shaq made the playoffs his first year, and
he was incredibly dominant as a rookie. So it you know,
let's be fair in that regard. And just you know,
I got say with the top Wimby, heck Wimby, we
rave about Wimby. It ain't because they were winning, because
(22:05):
they weren't. It's because individually he showed that promise and
individually I think she's showing it too.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
And Chris, let me just add this one last thing.
This is my other thing.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
I told you before she got to the league, she
was going to be the HALLM Globe trotters. Wherever she's
going attendance rating that she's the HALLM Globe Trotters. And
you know, if you know the rest of the league,
and here we go, the Fever and all their opponents,
Chris have seen attendant Spike. Everywhere else is either the
same even or slightly better. It's not like it's a
(22:37):
it's like that like now people are going to other games,
you know, which is fine.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
I'm just saying I mean, I didn't expect anything different,
did you.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Yeah, No, I didn't, And that's what I was saying, Like,
she will will increase attendance and ratings games that she's
involved in, but that doesn't mean everyone else is going
to prosper when two other teams not involved with her
gonna do anything.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
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Speaker 1 (23:09):
I'm interested to see what you thought of this comment
by stan Van Gundy during last night's game between the
Mavericks and the Timberwolves. He was giving Kyrie and Luca
lout of love.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
Here he is Dallas. They have two guys that are
pretty electrifying as well.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Yeah, in Minnesota's top rated defense, there's gonna be.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
Challenged trying to slow them down.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
Arguably the best offensive backcourt in the history of the
NBA in Luca.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
Who in Kyrie?
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Or he's just saying history in the history of the NBA?
Speaker 3 (23:47):
All right, Rob, your thoughts he said arguably, He didn't
say anything, are they arguably? I mean you could just
put it in and have a conversation, he said, arguably,
he didn't say to me, they're the best backcourt I've
ever seen, and you know, like like, that's not what
he said. And and and to have to say arguably
(24:08):
because because because Reggie was like in history, he took
the history part rather than the arguably. That's just that
softens the blow. He didn't make any definitive statement about them.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
I think he did.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
I don't just say you're not gonna say, Paul George
is arguably the best small for whatever, Chris you can
arguably it is putting it is giving some legitimacy to it.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Yeah, but it's not it's not definite.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Where you're saying to me if he says you're watching
the best back court on scoring back court in the
history of the NBA, now we got a conversation that
that's that's not like couching it. He's basically said, I'm
saying how great they are. But if you want to
bring in another duo and another uh uh.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
A pair and and talk about it, we could do that.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
I don't don't think anybody can would be against talking
about where they fit in because obviously they're both dynamic
players and they have such ability, but the arguably is
the one that softened it for So you think it's arguable, Yeah,
I think you could have a I think it's worth
a conversation.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
That they could be the best offensive back or ever,
do accomplishments matter, because if you if if accomplishments matter,
they can't be and in the discussion, they've been together
for a seat now they in the future maybe, but
right now, if accomplishments have to matter, and these two
(25:42):
have been together for parts of two seasons, well, Chris,
in the first season they didn't even make the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
Yeah, I don't.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
I don't think that that's the when you talk about
we just look at it differently. When you say arguably,
that means that you could have a conversation, that's all.
Speaker 4 (25:57):
That's the only thing. I'm just asking that. That's the
way I look at it.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
So Well, you've never been around long enough to say
accomplished precisely.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
So accomplish some things, then we can talk. I mean, Chris,
that was your argument.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
If they win a championship, if they win this championship,
then we can talk, or or even if they don't
rob win a championship, but they played together for the
next three years and they're both continue to be great
individually and they at least are a really good team
and a contender, then we can talk. But they haven't
(26:38):
done they've won two series together.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
But that was your argument too about the Joker and
when people didn't want him to win that third straight
because he hadn't accomplished anything yet, and then what does
he go on to do. He didn't win the MVP,
he goes on as a historic playoff.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
That was not my argument.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Will You were one of the people talking about you
had a hard time because he hadn't on anything in
the post.
Speaker 4 (27:01):
Now, I thought MBAT had a better hear. No, I'm
not saying that was the only reason that that was
an argument why I didn't vote for him.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
I didn't know what it was about the history of
being winning three in a row and the other guys
who had done and had won something, and that was
one of the things that you had.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
A league a couple guys that won three in a row.
When you're talking about who Larry Bird.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
And Bill Russell.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
I don't know if Wilt or maybe wiltson there, but yeah,
I mean you only talking about a couple guys that
did that look.
Speaker 4 (27:32):
Skill wise and ability wise.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
These two are phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal, but you.
Speaker 4 (27:40):
Have accomplishments have to count too.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
It's not just oh, his bag is awesome, He's the
best ever, No, you gotta It's like it's like rappers,
like there are a lot of underground backpackers that got
incredible word play, but you gotta make some good songs
if you want to be considered like an all time
great rapper.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
And it's the same thing in this. You have to
accomplish them things.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Now they might be on their way to accomplish something
great and that if they just win this championship, then
I think it's it's arguable.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
I still know.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
I wouldn't even say arguable that they're the best, but
certainly one of the best, because I think the best
is clearly Steph and Clay.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
I think they're the best.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
Backcourt ever, but clearly the best offensive backcourt ever. You
got the best shooter of all time and arguably the
second best shooter of all time, and they won four championships.
Speaker 4 (28:39):
Together, two because Kevin Durant was there. Well, so they
won two championships together.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
If you want to say without Durant, I mean, that's
huge small players leading the team to two championships. It's
only been done one other time with Isaiah Thomas and
Joe Dumars, and I think they're one of the best.
I think they're the second best backcourt ever and the
third best offensive backcourt ever. So I'm just saying, like
I got Jerry West and Gail Goodrich, you got Parker
(29:08):
and Ganobli, you got Walt Fraser, Earl Monroe. Now these two,
all those five to ten I just mentioned ten players,
they're all Hall of famers, and as backcourt duos.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
They all won championships.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
So before you it's like Rob saying somebody can be
the goat without winning a championship.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
We talked about it earlier with Will. I mean Will
even won two.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
But you have to accomplish some things before somebody can
put you in the goat conversation, which is what Stan
was doing in terms of backcourt offensive backcourts. So look,
I don't think it's a crazy statement in terms of, yeah,
these dudes.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
Have incredible games.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Kyrie's the best ball handler NBA history, one of the
best finishers, and Luka donc it's when it's all said
and done, could be top ten to fifteen player of
all time, but you got to accomplish something first. I
think that's why Reggie was so stunned.
Speaker 3 (30:11):
Now Reggie said history, because yeah, but we're talking about it. No,
but Reggie took it, I'm just gonna what are we
talking about history?
Speaker 4 (30:19):
But Reggie took it as if he was already saying
they were, and Chris, they're saying there in the discussion.
He said, yeah, but you could have a discussion.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
It doesn't mean that they're there, that they're at the
top to say that, you're not to say that they're
not in a discussion. You just made a big deal
about Luca being Larry Bird, and Kyrie's already hit the
one of the biggest shots of not the biggest shot
in NBA history, and you talk about the all time
best ball handler. So when you add those things together,
(30:48):
it's not ridiculous to just have a conversation. I'm not
saying that they are, but it ain't like out of
left field that they could even even want to pose
the question or even have.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Him included in that.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
You can you think it's all the people. I'm just saying, yeah,
I think that you could have a conversation.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
You're not because I don't know what you're saying. If
you're saying, yeah, they're in that discussion, you could have
a saying but I could. I can have a conversation.
And like I said earlier, Paul George is the best
small for whatever.
Speaker 4 (31:20):
I have a conversation.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
Now, I might get trounced, but I can have a
conversation about that.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
I don't think he said anything that's so dramatic. I
just don't. I really don't. Don't tell me why they're
then in the discussion because of the things that just
brought up. You said that one guy, No, no, tell
me what I said. What you Why are they in
the discussion?
Speaker 3 (31:40):
Because everybody think Lucas a five five years, five times
the first team Nball Kyrie was. Without Kyrie, Kyrie would
have won the championship.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
Hit a big basket. They just saw last night.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
They won the road in the Western Conference Finals. They
each scored thirty one game one work. That's the only
game they played together. That's the only game that they've
been together year and a half. I'm talking in the
Western Conference Finals. How many games they've been together.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
Year and a half? How many games in the said
it before the game.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
How many talking about no, but I'm talking about we
saw that last night. It was an example of it
that they each scored thirty points.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
Basically, to me, Rob, what this is is you like
definitive statements, And I think.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
The real point you're making the radio shows definitive statements.
Speaker 4 (32:34):
But can I finish? I think history, that's all, yeah, okay,
thank you. They might.
Speaker 1 (32:42):
You like definitive statements, and because in your opinion, Stan
did not say something one definitive, you feel like it's like, well, whatever,
he didn't even say anything.
Speaker 4 (32:56):
Is am I right or about that? Because you know
you do that a lot, and that's fine.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
I'm just saying to me, that seems to be your
biggest issue, more so than whether or not these two.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
He didn't go out on the limb Chris and say
that they were okay, that's all that.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
That's so I'm good with that. I'm good with that.
What he said he did, we say thing
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Odd Couple podcasts.
Be sure to catch us 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 FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple with
Chris Brushaw and Ron Harker.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Last night, the Dallas Mavericks go into Minnesota and steal
Game one of the Western Conference Finals and along with
it home court advantage with a one o eight one
oh five w over the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the stars
from the Mavericks showed up. Kyrie gives them thirty Luca
(00:55):
gives them thirty three.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
And it was christ because it was Kyrie early and
Luke late, you know what I mean, Like it was perfect.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Yeah, And they tend to seem like they do that
usually it's Luca, you.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Know, kind of earlier and Kyrie lay.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
But yeah, they I mean, it's great to have two
incredible stars and offensive juggernauts like that to rely on.
But for the Timberwolves, rob their two main guys did
not deliver Carl Anthony town Go Towns go six for
twenty with sixteen points, and Anthony Edwards, who, to his
(01:31):
credit rob did have eleven rebounds, a team high, and
eight assists. Actually, both the eleven rebounds and the eight
assists matched game highs with a couple players from Dallas.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
But he had a team or he had nineteen points,
not a team high.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
But he shot six for sixteen Robin sixteen of his
shots or twelve of his sixteen shots were three point attempts.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
So what did you take from last night's game?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
And this is not Chris. I think he's an outstanding talent.
He's got a bright future ahead of him. But I
think this was another example, and we've seen this now
of late. He started the postseason like unbelievable forty point games.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
Everybody's random raven.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
People want to crown the ant man as the face
of the NBA and all that.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I'm here to say, punk the breaks.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Anthony Edwards is not nt the face of the NBA.
He's a tremendous player. His team is having a fantastic run.
They have a chance to get to the NBA Finals.
I'm not writing them off. I'm not writing him off.
But let's just deal with the facts, not the feelings.
(02:52):
We understand you want an American to be that guy
and to hold that banner for the NBA and for
us to be proud that a bro bro is leading
the NBA.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
And it ain't a.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Guy from some country we've never been to and we'll
never get to.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
I get it.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I've actually been to Serbia, you, but not nobody else.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
And but the facts remain, Chris.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
He's now had under twenty points in four of his
last six games the Big Game seven a no show
offensively six for twenty four. I mean that's not a
big time performance in a big game. It gets glossed
over because they won and other people stepped up. And
that's all I'm saying is like the rhetoric and the
(03:45):
love affair and all that do not match the stat sheet.
They not right now. And I'm not Chris. I am
not discounting him. I'm not saying he's not a great
player and has a beautiful future. He's twenty two, but
he is not. Can I spell us for you? Rob
(04:06):
g and Ot.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
The face of the NBA.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Okay, Look, you make some good points there, and I
think we have to be honest, Rob, when we say
the face of the NBA, that's one guy, and correct.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Me if you think I'm wrong.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Rob, I'm going back to like the late seventies, the
guys that have been the face of the NBA.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Doctor j.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
In the eighties, I'll give you Magic and Bird, then
Michael Jordan, and then Lebron James. Now around them or
in years in between them, there are faces of the
(05:04):
NBA between Jordan and Lebron. Rob, I would say there
was Shaq, there was Kobe. You know, there's a group
of guys as Lebron. During Lebron's tenure, Steph kd and
some other guys have been, you know, kind of those
(05:26):
secondary faces when Jordan was ruling. Rob Barkley, David Robinson,
Elijah and Patrick Ewing those were some of these secondary faces.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
I think Rob, right now, the notion that Anthony.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Edwards was at least you know, to this year or
next year, was going to be the face of the NBA.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
I always think that was kind of a misnomer. I
think he'll be one of the faces right now.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Those faces, Robed Luca, I mean, you know you still
got the old guard, Steph Lebron kd.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
Right, they still are part of the face.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Yeah right, and they still might be the face even
though they're not even in the playoffs at this point.
But that next group, Rob is Luca and Yo Kitchen. Uh.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
I wouldn't even I don't know if I say emb
just because he.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Never goes deep into the playoffs, but Jason Tatum and
and guess Anthony Edwards Yannis, yes, d and And I
think what's interesting Rob about this era of parody that
we really are going through, is will one of these
guys emerge as the face?
Speaker 4 (06:44):
I mean, you have to be a dominant. Look at
the guys I'm talking about.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Lebron won four and was winning what he went four MVPs,
Jordan won six and was at five MVPs, Magic and
Bird won eight championships between them and six m v
so like, so I don't think Anthony Edwards was about
to be the face. Now, look, if they win this championship, Rob,
(07:08):
and they win next year too, then maybe right, but
I don't think it was he was going to Just
even if he wins this championship, is he gonna be
the only face. I wouldn't go that far because I
think Rob. With these guys I've mentioned, they were clearly
the best players in the league, win a little bit
(07:31):
of a gap in between them and the.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Second game, and he doesn't. He doesn't have that, Chris,
and he's not that now. I agree.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Look, I don't Michael Jordan himself. As you know, Rob
text me, we were texting, and he said he sees similarity.
So there are some similarities to him and Jordan. But
I don't think Rob, and maybe I'll be proving wrong,
I don't think he'll ever be like on the level
of a Jordan.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
I don't think you're wrong.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
I just think that that's a lofty goal, even a
guy like Bron who has had so much success.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
Well you would say, I would say, and we.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Both obviously think Jordans the goat, but I would say
Lebron is on that level, like he's on a conversation, right, Yeah.
But I don't see Anthony Evers being like a top
ten all time player, right.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
I just don't see it either.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
And my point, Chris is just like if you wanted
to be excited about his first eight playoff games, Chris, right,
he averaged thirty two point one points and he shot
fifty six percent from the field. That's that's why he
got everybody's attention. And he's an exciting player right his
style of plays yeap okay, But in the last four games,
(08:41):
he's averaging twenty points Chris and shooting thirty four point
seven percent. I mean, like, like, the numbers have come
way down. And then I don't want to hear from
a twenty two year old that he was tired from
guarding Kyrie. Like that sounded like an excuse to me,
but he clearly was. I'm sorry, Chris, you Sawry right.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
No, I don't think he was mentioning it as an excuse.
I think it was clear.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
Now you can you can say you don't want to
say it, Okay, I don't.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I'm just saying like, but he clearly was, which that's
the problem. Why two year old the most tired guy
on the court. I get he played forty minutes, but Sody,
Kyrie and Luca.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
This is what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
And I'm just saying, Chris, some things you can hold
to keep to yourself. You might be, but I'm out
there and if I really can't guard him or I'm
too tired to play, then come out the game.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
And let some fresh legs come in.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Don't don't after the fact when you lose the game
say all the dead time, because if they would have
won the game, I doubt he would have mentioned how
tired he was.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
I don't. I don't doubt he would have.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
I think Robed, that was not Anthony, what was going
on with you?
Speaker 4 (09:55):
And the fourth man? I was exhausted, y'all? I was,
It was rob There was no denying that.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
And again you still can argue what you don't even
need to say that, that's fine. But the dude was
spent and I think I think he was physically but
also emotionally spent.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
And I actually think the Timberwolves.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
As a whole were emotionally spent from that series with Denver,
I mean, and that's what they have to be careful about.
Rop that can come off for a team that's never
been this far right, it is not used to getting
this type of attention and all that to beat the
defending champions, that was like almost we won it.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
We did it.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Yes, Like you can get yourself into an emotional state
where you think that's the championship. And so I thought
they were spent and they weren't ready and their coach
saying so to day after the film session, they weren't
ready for game one and they paid for it. Look,
I don't want to rip I'm not ripping Anthony Edwards.
I'm I don't care about like the last four games
(11:03):
he's only average twenty whatever you said it was, because
you can.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
To me you it's about winning, period.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
And Jordan, Michael Jordan has some series where he wasn't
the most efficient, but they won I think one finals.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
He may have shot forty one percent, but he hasn't
won anything yet.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
But I'm just saying, like I'm not saying for a
game but say, oh he's he's an imposter.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
All are about winning, and they won two of those games.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
But all I'm saying is, as time goes on, you
start to look like like he started out like a
house of fire. He's not gonna It just means that
he's normally he's not going to be able to better.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Not be tired. I mean that's what he can't be tired.
And so yeah, I just I got I I what
here's the quickly rid before we go to the callers.
He is somewhere I think his his approach to the
game is in between Jordan co and Lebron, meaning Jordan
(12:03):
Kobe were looking to score every time Lebron is really
looking to pass or make the right play.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
I think Edwards is somewhere in between there.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
And because I love the fact that he plays in
the system, that he doesn't just always force the action,
that he's looking for his teammates and if somebody has
it cooking, he's more than willing to give it to
him and he'll make you know, double team, he's gonna
pass the ball.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
I like that, but.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
There are times and he's got to learn this, and
as a twenty two year old, he's learning.
Speaker 4 (12:39):
He's young, he's.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
In that process, but he's gotta learn quickly within this
series to me that sometimes I'm the best player on
my team, if not the best player on the court,
and sometimes I just need to take over a game
if I can, and I need to try. And I
think that's what he has to learn Rob that he
can take There's times where you that guy, you are
(13:04):
the face of the Timberwolves. You might not be the
face of the league, you're the face of the Timberwolves.
So sometimes I need you to just say, you know
what I'm taking over, and that's what I think he's
gotta learn.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 5 (13:26):
Paulie Fosco here with Tony Fusco, you know, as the
host of the number one rated paul and Toni Fusco Show.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
We get tons and tons of fan mail every day,
piles of it.
Speaker 5 (13:35):
In fact, Tony, why don't you open up one of
those letters right now and read what's inside? Hey, listen
to this. Dear Paulie and Tony, your sports takes the
dumbest and most terribly that.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
Wait, why open this other one?
Speaker 5 (13:47):
Dear Paulie and Tony, you suck more than anyone. Wait,
try this one. Dear Paulie and Tony, you guys are
the absolute best. There you go, coming up with the
stupidest take.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Just listen to The.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Folly and Tony Fusco Show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple
Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Yeah, a lot is.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Being made, obviously, and that's good for the w NBA.
About Caitlyn Clark her team, the Indiana Fever are oh
and five and so.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
They're getting better, though, Chris, like they were getting blown
out the first few games, like they've lost I think
the last two by a total of six points.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
I can't believe. I know these numbers. You're a big.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Fan, but look, Rob, and even that to five record,
they have played two of twice each. Two of the
best teams in the league. The Connecticut Sun are undefeated.
They're one of the best teams in the league. And
the uh New York Liberty are undefeated. And they got
(14:51):
to the finals last year and lost.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
So those two teams are undefeated. That's four of their
losses right there.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
The Indiana Fever won thirteen games thirteen and twenty seven
last year. I think over the previous three years, Rob,
they had a total of seventeen wins if I'm not mistaken.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
In three years, and then last year they won thirteen.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
And for whatever reason, Leah Boston is struggling. She was
the Rookie of the Year last year for the Indiana Fever,
and I don't know what's happened to her, Rob, but
she's gone from fourteen points a game last year to
eight points a game from fifty eight percent shooting to
thirty nine percent shooting. And so no, that ain't to
(15:37):
blame on Caitlyn Clark because she heard even I mean,
I wouldn't even say this, but even if you wanted
to say it's Caitlyn shooting too much, I'd say no.
But even when Leah Boston gets the rock, she's not
doing anything with it.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
Shoo. I just wonder about the presence, the presence of
Caitlyn Clark. She came in ballyhooed the star, you know
what I mean, Like, this is a woman.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
I'm just asking because on the Leah Boston.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Yeah, that she's just fallen off because Caitlyn took all.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
The that's her.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
That's I'm sorry, if you can't handle another player coming
there and getting your shine, and then I mean, come on,
maybe you're not cut out to help this team win championships.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
So I'm not gonna put that on.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
I mean, she Kaitlyn's taking three more shots of game,
four more shots a game than Leah Boston and only
one more than Kelsey Mitchell.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
So here's the other thing.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
So I would just say this, she is actually playing
much better than people are giving her credit.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
For rob she's her turnovers, turnovers.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
She's always turned the ball over a lot and and
a lot of First of all, they are gonna go down.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
It's five point eight right now, that's too high. That's
the ball, that's a high. But that's gonna go down.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Remember she had ten in the first game, So even
since that first game, if she had ten in the
first game and she's got and she's averaging five, you know,
that'd be the quick mask. But yeah, it's a lot
less in the last four games. But Magic, Isaiah James
hard and they've all turned the ball over a lot,
(17:13):
So she's gonna have some turnovers. But she's averaging seventeen
point eight points, five point eight assists, and four point
six rebounds and shooting forty percent from the floor.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
Here's what I say.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
You know, the nearest rookie to her in terms of
statistics is Angel Reese, and Angel Reese is averaging eleven
points and eight rebounds on thirty five percent shooting.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
And she's a big player.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
So I'm just saying, like everybody like ripping Caitlyn Clark
like she's not balling, And I'm not saying she's playing
as well as we had hoped, and I think second
half of the season she will be playing at an
all star level.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
I got that.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Adjust I get that, But even in the adjustment, she's
still playing well.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
I just think that Chris, when you get when you're
when you're doing what she did with you know, and
playing at the level that she played at, their expectations
were unrealistic. Would you admit that going in they were unrealistic?
Speaker 1 (18:18):
I think it might have been Robed that And I'm
I include myself to some degree in this. Maybe not
people not following the w n b A as closely
as they follow the NBA thought that the gap between
the professional level and the college level and women was
(18:39):
not as wide, right, and it wouldn't be.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
An adjustment like they have at I did think.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
She come right in and get busy, and again I
think she is playing fairly well. But yeah, I think
that probably was some of it. But even so, Rob,
the w n b A ratings have skyrocketed because of her.
They're up two hundred and eighteen percent over last year.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
That is incredible, and Rob, this is what you were
asking for.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Among women ages twelve to seventeen or girls, they ratings
are up two hundred and sixty seven percent.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
So you have called for women or girl and or
girls to tune in.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
If you want to support you know, you want the
WNBA to get more money and get more exposure and
get higher ratings and more coverage.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Tune in. It's your league and they're.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Doing that, and good for them, because that has been
my issue for a long time, Chris, that they weren't
getting enough support. And that doesn't mean that men don't
have to watch if they don't, if they want to
or whatever, but I'm just saying if the women aren't watching,
you know, it's hard for anybody when they talk about
the salaries, Chris, when they talk about why the newspapers
(20:05):
or the websites don't cover the league, you know, like
have a beat.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
Writer and go on the road, And it's because the interests.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
If they show that there's interests and ratings, the money goes.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
Up, Chris, coverage goes up, all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
It's it's it's based on fan interests, right, absolutely, that's all.
You can sit there all day and talk about all
the men are in charge, they don't want to do this,
or they hate women sports, dude. If the numbers are there,
they're going to try to make money off of it.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
You're absolutely right, and that's why I hate hearing people,
Oh with the WNBA players, Kaitlin Clark's only making such
and such an amount, and you know Lebron James is
making this amount. Well, the league is that much more
popular now, I do want I don't think the CBA
for the women is where it should be, where they're
getting like fifty percent of the league revenue. But a
(20:56):
lot of that, Rob, is because the league has struggled
so much and the head was supporting it.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Basically, Chris, fifty of nothing is high. I mean, let's
just keep it really much what it was, right, right,
Like seriously, like, look, if there wasn't the money and
keep y'all going, you can't really get fifty percent at
this point, right because they were being subsidized by the NBA.
If you want to pull the covers back, right, that's
the reality.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Nah, you're right, and so you know, Look, it's good
that she's brought this type of popularity to the league,
relatively speaking, Rob and at some point you want to
see her start winning some games. But let's be fair,
Jordan took the league by storm as a rookie rob
but didn't win a lot. Lebron didn't make the playoffs
(21:44):
his first two years as well as he played. I
don't think Shaq made the playoffs his first year, and
he was incredibly dominant as a rookie. So it you know,
let's be fair in that regard. And just you know,
I got say with the top Wimby, heck Wimby, we
rave about Wimby. It ain't because they were winning, because
(22:05):
they weren't. It's because individually he showed that promise and
individually I think she's showing it too.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
And Chris, let me just add this one last thing.
This is my other thing.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
I told you before she got to the league, she
was going to be the HALLM Globe trotters. Wherever she's
going attendance rating that she's the HALLM Globe Trotters. And
you know, if you know the rest of the league,
and here we go, the Fever and all their opponents,
Chris have seen attendant Spike. Everywhere else is either the
same even or slightly better. It's not like it's a
(22:37):
it's like that like now people are going to other games,
you know, which is fine.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
I'm just saying I mean, I didn't expect anything different,
did you.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Yeah, No, I didn't, And that's what I was saying, Like,
she will will increase attendance and ratings games that she's
involved in, but that doesn't mean everyone else is going
to prosper when two other teams not involved with her
gonna do anything.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
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listen live.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
I'm interested to see what you thought of this comment
by stan Van Gundy during last night's game between the
Mavericks and the Timberwolves. He was giving Kyrie and Luca
lout of love.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
Here he is Dallas. They have two guys that are
pretty electrifying as well.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Yeah, in Minnesota's top rated defense, there's gonna be.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
Challenged trying to slow them down.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
Arguably the best offensive backcourt in the history of the
NBA in Luca.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
Who in Kyrie?
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Or he's just saying history in the history of the NBA?
Speaker 3 (23:47):
All right, Rob, your thoughts he said arguably, He didn't
say anything, are they arguably? I mean you could just
put it in and have a conversation, he said, arguably,
he didn't say to me, they're the best backcourt I've
ever seen, and you know, like like, that's not what
he said. And and and to have to say arguably
(24:08):
because because because Reggie was like in history, he took
the history part rather than the arguably. That's just that
softens the blow. He didn't make any definitive statement about them.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
I think he did.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
I don't just say you're not gonna say, Paul George
is arguably the best small for whatever, Chris you can
arguably it is putting it is giving some legitimacy to it.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Yeah, but it's not it's not definite.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Where you're saying to me if he says you're watching
the best back court on scoring back court in the
history of the NBA, now we got a conversation that
that's that's not like couching it. He's basically said, I'm
saying how great they are. But if you want to
bring in another duo and another uh uh.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
A pair and and talk about it, we could do that.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
I don't don't think anybody can would be against talking
about where they fit in because obviously they're both dynamic
players and they have such ability, but the arguably is
the one that softened it for So you think it's arguable, Yeah,
I think you could have a I think it's worth
a conversation.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
That they could be the best offensive back or ever,
do accomplishments matter, because if you if if accomplishments matter,
they can't be and in the discussion, they've been together
for a seat now they in the future maybe, but
right now, if accomplishments have to matter, and these two
(25:42):
have been together for parts of two seasons, well, Chris,
in the first season they didn't even make the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
Yeah, I don't.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
I don't think that that's the when you talk about
we just look at it differently. When you say arguably,
that means that you could have a conversation, that's all.
Speaker 4 (25:57):
That's the only thing. I'm just asking that. That's the
way I look at it.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
So Well, you've never been around long enough to say
accomplished precisely.
Speaker 4 (26:11):
So accomplish some things, then we can talk. I mean, Chris,
that was your argument.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
If they win a championship, if they win this championship,
then we can talk, or or even if they don't
rob win a championship, but they played together for the
next three years and they're both continue to be great
individually and they at least are a really good team
and a contender, then we can talk. But they haven't
(26:38):
done they've won two series together.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
But that was your argument too about the Joker and
when people didn't want him to win that third straight
because he hadn't accomplished anything yet, and then what does
he go on to do. He didn't win the MVP,
he goes on as a historic playoff.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
That was not my argument.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Will You were one of the people talking about you
had a hard time because he hadn't on anything in
the post.
Speaker 4 (27:01):
Now, I thought MBAT had a better hear. No, I'm
not saying that was the only reason that that was
an argument why I didn't vote for him.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
I didn't know what it was about the history of
being winning three in a row and the other guys
who had done and had won something, and that was
one of the things that you had.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
A league a couple guys that won three in a row.
When you're talking about who Larry Bird.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
And Bill Russell.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
I don't know if Wilt or maybe wiltson there, but yeah,
I mean you only talking about a couple guys that
did that look.
Speaker 4 (27:32):
Skill wise and ability wise.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
These two are phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal, but you.
Speaker 4 (27:40):
Have accomplishments have to count too.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
It's not just oh, his bag is awesome, He's the
best ever, No, you gotta It's like it's like rappers,
like there are a lot of underground backpackers that got
incredible word play, but you gotta make some good songs
if you want to be considered like an all time
great rapper.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
And it's the same thing in this. You have to
accomplish them things.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Now they might be on their way to accomplish something
great and that if they just win this championship, then
I think it's it's arguable.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
I still know.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
I wouldn't even say arguable that they're the best, but
certainly one of the best, because I think the best
is clearly Steph and Clay.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
I think they're the best.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
Backcourt ever, but clearly the best offensive backcourt ever. You
got the best shooter of all time and arguably the
second best shooter of all time, and they won four championships.
Speaker 4 (28:39):
Together, two because Kevin Durant was there. Well, so they
won two championships together.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
If you want to say without Durant, I mean, that's
huge small players leading the team to two championships. It's
only been done one other time with Isaiah Thomas and
Joe Dumars, and I think they're one of the best.
I think they're the second best backcourt ever and the
third best offensive backcourt ever. So I'm just saying, like
I got Jerry West and Gail Goodrich, you got Parker
(29:08):
and Ganobli, you got Walt Fraser, Earl Monroe. Now these two,
all those five to ten I just mentioned ten players,
they're all Hall of famers, and as backcourt duos.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
They all won championships.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
So before you it's like Rob saying somebody can be
the goat without winning a championship.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
We talked about it earlier with Will. I mean Will
even won two.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
But you have to accomplish some things before somebody can
put you in the goat conversation, which is what Stan
was doing in terms of backcourt offensive backcourts. So look,
I don't think it's a crazy statement in terms of, yeah,
these dudes.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
Have incredible games.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Kyrie's the best ball handler NBA history, one of the
best finishers, and Luka donc it's when it's all said
and done, could be top ten to fifteen player of
all time, but you got to accomplish something first. I
think that's why Reggie was so stunned.
Speaker 3 (30:11):
Now Reggie said history, because yeah, but we're talking about it. No,
but Reggie took it, I'm just gonna what are we
talking about history?
Speaker 4 (30:19):
But Reggie took it as if he was already saying
they were, and Chris, they're saying there in the discussion.
He said, yeah, but you could have a discussion.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
It doesn't mean that they're there, that they're at the
top to say that, you're not to say that they're
not in a discussion. You just made a big deal
about Luca being Larry Bird, and Kyrie's already hit the
one of the biggest shots of not the biggest shot
in NBA history, and you talk about the all time
best ball handler. So when you add those things together,
(30:48):
it's not ridiculous to just have a conversation. I'm not
saying that they are, but it ain't like out of
left field that they could even even want to pose
the question or even have.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Him included in that.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
You can you think it's all the people. I'm just saying, yeah,
I think that you could have a conversation.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
You're not because I don't know what you're saying. If
you're saying, yeah, they're in that discussion, you could have
a saying but I could. I can have a conversation.
And like I said earlier, Paul George is the best
small for whatever.
Speaker 4 (31:20):
I have a conversation.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
Now, I might get trounced, but I can have a
conversation about that.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
I don't think he said anything that's so dramatic. I
just don't. I really don't. Don't tell me why they're
then in the discussion because of the things that just
brought up. You said that one guy, No, no, tell
me what I said. What you Why are they in
the discussion?
Speaker 3 (31:40):
Because everybody think Lucas a five five years, five times
the first team Nball Kyrie was. Without Kyrie, Kyrie would
have won the championship.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
Hit a big basket. They just saw last night.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
They won the road in the Western Conference Finals. They
each scored thirty one game one work. That's the only
game they played together. That's the only game that they've
been together year and a half. I'm talking in the
Western Conference Finals. How many games they've been together.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
Year and a half? How many games in the said
it before the game.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
How many talking about no, but I'm talking about we
saw that last night. It was an example of it
that they each scored thirty points.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
Basically, to me, Rob, what this is is you like
definitive statements, And I think.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
The real point you're making the radio shows definitive statements.
Speaker 4 (32:34):
But can I finish? I think history, that's all, yeah, okay,
thank you. They might.
Speaker 1 (32:42):
You like definitive statements, and because in your opinion, Stan
did not say something one definitive, you feel like it's like, well, whatever,
he didn't even say anything.
Speaker 4 (32:56):
Is am I right or about that? Because you know
you do that a lot, and that's fine.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
I'm just saying to me, that seems to be your
biggest issue, more so than whether or not these two.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
He didn't go out on the limb Chris and say
that they were okay, that's all that.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
That's so I'm good with that. I'm good with that.
What he said he did, we say thing
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