You're Killing Me Smalls: Steph Curry vs. Isiah Thomas

Episode Transcript
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(01:03):
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We're not complaining. It was sunny and very nice today,
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And yes, they're all on the other side of the
glassmister Broussard. Let's let's do it all right. NBA Finals
starts to morrow, to morrow. I can't wait until tomorrow.

(02:11):
I am excited. I'm excited about these finals. First time
the Golden State Warriors are playing someone other than Lebron
James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in their finals run. That's amazing.
Fifth straight finals, four of them were against the same team. So,
and you think Toronto's gonna win, which is you know,

(02:34):
I'm not gonna disrespect Toronto, but Golden State's gonna win.
But I'm intrigued. I'm intrigued, especially intrigued if you're saying
that Golden State's gonna win. I'm putting them in six.
I'm picking them in three. Okay, Well a lot of
people got him in four like I'm in. Honestly, even
if I did think they were gonna sweep them, Here's
why I'm intrigued. Kadi's not playing, at least not initially.

(02:55):
I mean seeing this team without Katie. To me, that
is in the sighting storyline. Can they actually win the
championship without Kevin Duray is the thing that's surprising to me.
For I know, I know, we're always what happened yesterday,
So we're focusing on that, and I'm talking about them
beating Portland and winning those two games against Houston. People

(03:16):
forget that this Warriors team that everybody deems unbeatable struggled
against the Clippers lost two home games in Oakland that
came out this season. Yeah, in the playoffs to start
the playoffs that KD had to Ruscuer. He had two
monster games. After they lost. They lost twice at home

(03:40):
to the to the Clippers with no star. First of all,
that means nothing, no, because I mean the Boss showed
you that the vulnerable. It shows you that the Celtics.
First of all, when they won their last championship in
two thousand and eight, went seven in the first and
second rounds and then six games with Detroit in the
conference finals. All I'm saying the championship. I actually don't

(04:01):
think the Clippers would have given them that much of
a battle if Katie wasn't there, because they started playing
the Isobar, they would have been playing the way they
are now and they would have dismantled the Clippers in
four or five games. I disagree. I think the Clippers
are better than you ever thought they were. They're a
mediocre playoff teams, so now they're great. I'm not say

(04:21):
I liked the team. When you can play like that
without a star, that's all. And you know, lay like
what play explanations are low played competitively, go in and
sitting here plays in them for getting wax in the
first round. They didn't get wax in the first How
many games did they get blowout? Robie? How many of
those games would blowouts? No, they were the ones who
came back from what was the what we came back

(04:41):
from a thirty point thirty point defersit on the road,
where they could have easily rolled over. So now I'm
supposed to praise them because they games in the first round,
telling you that gold stapid. Golden State is volat because
they could lose at home in the playoffs. That's why
I'm saying six games. Okay, So let's play your game,
Rod Parker to lobster Orlando in the first game in

(05:05):
the playoffs at home, they went seven with an immature
Philadelphia seventy six ers team. They were down too old. No,
to a young, inexperienced Milwaukee with team, they're vulnerable. No.
The difference is one team has been to the finals
every year. This team had never been to the finals.
And that's the difference. Chris. Before it was always the
last two finals eight to one, eight to one. That's

(05:29):
with k D. When you keep bringing up all the
stats about their record without KD, let me give you
the record with with KD eight and one, including a
four game sweep of Lebron James. That's with KD. Without
kddre seven and eight or whatever. They've been in the finals. Actually,
without KD in the finals, they're thirty four. No, I'm

(05:50):
talking about in the finals. Rob g. What's their record
in the final well they won, yeah, seven and six
without lost in seven without seven six ft to eight
and one with them, so they're votable. They will lose.
We'll see, they will lose our wings on that. But anyway,
the point I wanted to get to and I was
having a conversation. I want to give him some credit

(06:12):
for it. Just as we talked about this, this idea
came to my mind. Leon, who was on with us
last week, we're talking today. He is of the belief
that KD should stay in Golden State if they win
the championship, even if they win it without him, to
go for four straight And you know, and I told
this to Leon. You know, I have talked about that

(06:36):
early in the season. That was my contention, KD stay
one more year in Golden State, go for four straight rings.
No one else has done it except Bill Russell, Michael Jordan,
Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Lebron, James, Larry Bird. None of
them won four straight. And what And I started thinking

(06:58):
about it, Rob and it made me wonder because I
think many people, I believe, including you, feel that if
Katie doesn't play in these finals and Golden State wins,
proving they can win a championship without him, that he
has to leave next year, go somewhere else where you're

(07:20):
needed and see if you can lead a team to
a championship. But I wonder, it really got me to
thinking if that were to happen, where they won the
championship this year without Katie. He doesn't play, but he
stays in Golden State. Anyway they win a fourth straight ring.
Would the fact that he had done something his story

(07:44):
that no one else since Bill Russell has been able
to do. And even though it's a stack team, Lebron
had a stack team in Miami, they didn't win four
in a row, not even three in a row. Kobe
and Shock where obviously a great team, both of him
in their primings, and they couldn't win four in a row.

(08:05):
Michael Jordan took a break after each three peat. Larry
Bird Magic Magic teams were stacked, never won four in
a row, never even won three in a row. Would
the fact that Durant would win four in a row,
and I know Steph would also have four in a
row and even won more than him overall, But would

(08:26):
the fact that he was on the team that won
four straight even with him not being in the third one,
would that override the narrative of all it was their
easy rings He didn't you know, they didn't even need him.
They won it without himn the third year, would with
the fact that he did this historic, great thing that

(08:49):
takes mental and physical toughness over be enough to change
the narrative on KD. No, not at all. I don't
think he gained anything by st at Golden State. I
think best scenario is they lose, he goes somewhere or
else and gets that team to the finals or wins

(09:09):
a championship elsewhere. If they lose and he stays and
then they keep winning, I just think I still think
that he'll always be linked of going to a STACK team.
So no matter how much he wins here, that's not
going to change a lot of people's opinion. I think
what changes his opinion. People's opinion is Warriors needed him. Uh,
they lost, and then he goes somewhere else and it's

(09:31):
not with the Stack team that he had when he
went to Golden State that had already won without him.
Had Golden State never won a championship before he got there,
then I think people look at it differently. He was
the guy definitely different, right, So that so say the
whole sticking around. And I don't think that even a
four in a row because people would still discount him
and say he wasn't there for three, but they didn't

(09:53):
they didn't need him, he didn't, So not being a
part of three doesn't help him. They'll say, yeah, he
had four in a row, but they'll discount the four
because he didn't play in the one. That So as
time goes on, it wouldn't it wouldn't. I don't. I
don't think something still wouldn't work out. I mean, if
people didn't watch him play, maybe we'll look at and
just say, hey, one years for ten years from now,

(10:14):
maybe it won four in a row. Okay, and what
if maybe was MVP and three of them. Yeah, I
still don't think it's the same, mister love for finals
MVP awar. I mean, if you're giving them out, I'd
like to get one, that's all. I don't think it's
like the biggest deal, but they're giving it out. So
if I'm the greatest play, why wouldn't want this staff?
Because he didn't have know how many Michael Jordan has
let me see, Hey, Michael Jordan stop. Stop who you comparing? No,

(10:40):
why you step Michael? I mentioned Steph Curry. I didn't
even mention Steph Curry. That's how crazy you are about
Steph Curry. Stop it. I didn't mention Steph Curry. What
are you about to know? I said, Michael Jordan played
in six NBA finals, and you know how many finals
MVPC won six. If they met, they don't matter. But
he won all six in the six that he played.
I never said they don't matter. Yes you do, I'm

(11:03):
saying here not then be all dude, six for six?
What has that got to do with what we're talking about.
All I'm talking about is if we're talking about you
was two for six, does that take away the other four? No?
It does? Yeah? Really yes, when you're talking about the
great legitimate people that think Kareem i' dul Jabbar is
the goat, not because he has almost the one. We're

(11:25):
gonna have Isaiah times on next, almost the legendary Isaiah.
That's fine. Thinks Kareem does opinion. I have an opinion.
I'm just saying it does. But because it's opinion, because
he ran two finals, MVPs un opinion is not mathe
that I don't need you to tell me that you
need to stop. Two and two is four. That's the

(11:45):
only thing we can't debate. Everything else is debatable. Everything
you have, this this this habit of debating things. I'm
not even trying to debate. I'm not even bringing up
youth quarter, your opinion. You brought up stuff. I didn't
bring up stuff. You brought up Jordan. I didn't bring

(12:06):
up Jordan. You brought up finals MVPs. That's why that's
what you said. You what I said. If you're always
I'm worried about finals MVP, Yeah, that's your whole argument
against Steph Curry. That's why Karee might dud with your
Bar's not to go. He's not to go to me. Man,
somebody mess with you this. No. I'm just no, I'm

(12:29):
having a great day at the office. It's called sports
talk radio, all right, So you don't I'm throwing it
out there. I'm I'm, I'm, I'm I'm a little torn
on it. It just makes me wonder because four straight championships,
that's big. No one else has done it. And that's

(12:50):
what I want to know from the callers. Rob Parker
has weighed in, wouldn't change a thing for him with KD?
What do you say? KD actually sit out these finals
because of injury. The Warriors win and go back to
Golden State. Win a four straight ring withou, that erase
the narrative that you got easy rings eight seven, seven

(13:15):
ninety nine on Fox eight seven, seven, nine nine, six
sixty three sixty nine, You're turned the way in with
the allure of a four straight championship be enough to
keep KD in Golden State. Will continue the conversation with you. Next,
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All right, it's the eye couple Chris Brussar, Rob Parker
on a worship Wednesday. We brought to you by Little Caesars.
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(15:05):
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Canadian bacon instead of ham. All right, let's get to
the calls. What a fourth straight ring for Kevin Durant
next season. Override him missing these finals and the Warriors

(15:28):
winning without him, override the entire narrative that you went
to a team that didn't need you, a stack team
that got and you got some easy rings. Would that
make a difference? You're turned away in eight seven, seven
ninety nine on Fix and start with Aaron in Tampa. Aaron,
what say you? Thanks for Yeah? Everybody's favorite ker mudgeon. Well,

(15:57):
I want to pose this to you. Okay, Katie wins
his four now, would it change the narrative? If he
wins that fourth? He can still go someplace else later
after he's done, because he's still getting better, he's still young, Rob.
Would that change your narrative if he wins four and
then go someplace else and wins there as the main person?

(16:17):
Because I don't think it's as easy as you as
you think you're saying this, Madia, win for no to
say to win four, yes, and then say three years
from now, win another one, like like, he's not ageless,
He's not gonna be easy that if he leaves it,
That's what I mean. I gotta be honest. No, but
there's a big part of me that thinks he won't

(16:37):
get another. Right, But that's the that's the risk of
the reward part. Right. That's why a lot of people
want to see you challenge yourself. Yes, you gotta try
to say to yourself, I can do this on my own,
and I'm gonna show everybody and win one, and that
probably would be the sweetest championship of all, even better
than the first. It was like Lebron Cleveland, when was

(16:58):
this week better? Don't only in Texas. You're on the
odd couple? Fox Sports Radio? What's up, Tony? Yes, I
listened to your show. I mean, if I was Kevin Durant,
I could care less what people saying because when matters
his championships and he's doing it now that he's young.
Charles Barkley, when were the team? Michael Jordan was one
of the smartest guys in indorsement. He took a very

(17:20):
low salary or he could have a good team around
him all the time. The last two years he got paid.
What wouldn't do that? George Jordan didn't do that? Purpose
worked out financially, it was just worked out. If I
was Kevin Durant, I mean, maybe make sure Klay Thompson
Leaves or maybe Green Leaves and it's just him and Kerry.
I mean, you don't know what's going to happen. The

(17:42):
other players are gonna want to get paid, Tony, Tony,
the only thing I disagree with you is I don't
know how much you've paid attention to KD. The guy's
a little sensitive. You're saying that you don't care what
people you KD does. I mean he's answering guys with
twenty five followers on Twitter, so we'll sell you. Do
you know what I mean to say that, h I

(18:02):
don't care what people say about me. That might be you, Tony,
but I don't know if that's KD. So I don't
think that that. Let's go to Brendon in Massachusetts. You're
own with the Eye couple. Any thanks for taking my call. Guys,
what's up? What's up to your show? Come on seven? O?
Wait you talk about our couple? No your show? You
sound like a radio guy, that's all. Oh yeah. If

(18:24):
people told me I got a radio voice, you do?
But yeah, thank you. Well, I'm thinking about going to
broadcasting school this year. But anyway, so I'm gonna agree
with Rob on this one. I think he's got to
leave there because there's this whole narrative lingering over his
head about how you went to a stack team and
four rings would help a little bit, but at the
end of the day, I don't really think that's gonna
madd He's got to do it on his own. But also,

(18:47):
I'm actually one of the people who was rooting for
him for the Warriors to win without him, because I'm
loving the narrative that KD this whole narrative going that
they don't actually need him and it'll just prove that
you went to a stack team again. And you know,
I'm loving that right now. I'm rooting for that as well.
Not not because I don't I want Kadie to be

(19:08):
you know, diminished or anything like that, but it's such
to me an exciting storyline of can they do it
again without him? And to be honest, they're just more
fun to watch. I mean, Steph Curry is just it's
just a joy to watch him in my opinion, without KD.
And so we'll see what if they can get it done.

(19:28):
I've enjoyed KD the last two years in the finals,
he's been tremendous. Let's go to j D burn Bank
j D. Yeah, guys, uh yeah, man, I think it's
out of line for people to demand him to leave,
because listen, if that was Lebron James that had decided
to go to Golden State after they got robbed by

(19:49):
the Draymond Green suspension, I don't think people would be
saying the same thing. JD. What is that? J What
are you talking about? The State got robbed in the
NBA Finals like they did by Kiki Vanderway, and they
went to Lebron. Let's say they weren't playing the cash No,
I just want j J j D hold on when

(20:11):
you say they got robbed. Did that was that Game
seven that Draymond didn't play. I'm just want to know. No,
it's the pivotal Game five. It was a pivotal Game
five that that Draymond Green for the games. Yeah, it's
not even that they shouldn't have suspended him, it's that
they decided to do it after the game was over.

(20:31):
The point about Lebron. The point is if that was
let's say Golden State was playing a different team and
lost in the finals, and they got on the phone
with Lebron and begged Lebron to come to Golden State.
People wouldn't be calling that same narrative for Lebron the
way they're trying to call it for k D if
they're trying to change only because Lebron would have won

(20:53):
already without Golden State. And I still think Lebron would
have got killed. Lebron would have got rolling to that team.
Any would have got killed. It would have been slightly
different maybe because Lebron would have won already, but they
would have got killed. They would have got People would
have said, well, because it's the lack of the competition,
that's what it That's what it is. It's like you're

(21:14):
going to the competitor. Marty in Kentucky on with Christ
and Rob. What's up? Christ and Rob? What's happening? Man?
Are you not much? I'm good. I'm glad to be
talking to you now. I agree with Rob because I
don't think these days you it's almost honestly, it's almost

(21:34):
impossible to change a positive or negative narrative about you
because the word polarizing is gotten very popular because nobody
wants to budge on a narrative. If they if they
take a stand on a player or a team, everybody
sticks to it unless they're just absolutely proven wrong. And
even later when y'all have a guest, you can have
Abody's day, Ah Thomas, he'll never say George is the great,

(21:55):
and that's a biased narrative, just like Lamb Beer gave
you because of you know that history, right. I don't
disagree with you, morning. That's that's a really good point.
And when people do have those things, it's hard. It's
what we talk about all the time. And people can
always they can rip us writers or journalists or sports guys,

(22:16):
but the bottom line is, and for the most part,
we don't have a horse in the in the race.
And when you're a former player, you could say you're
objective and all this other stuff, but you've played the game, right,
it does affect you. And I think that's why it's
hard for them to be honest. All right, If history
is any indications, Steph Curry is going to have a

(22:36):
field day in these NBA finals, the athletics, Marcus Thompson
will explain next. Be sure to catch live editions of
The Odd Couple with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker week
days at seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox
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I Couple coming to you live from the Geico Fox
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(23:00):
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The only hard party is figuring out which way is easier.
You're gonna get a chance to weigh in again. So
if you want to hit us up on this Kevin
Durant topic, would a fourth straight championship if they were
to go ahead and win it next year with him

(23:21):
in Golden State. Change the narrative about Kevin Durant getting
quote unquote easy rings eight seven seven ninety nine on
Fox eight seven seven nine nine six sixty three sixty nine.
You can call it now and weigh in, But yeah,
it's it's That's that's why Rob I'm so intrigued by

(23:42):
these finals to see what Golden State looks like. I
just think it's a good matchup. We know Toronto beat
him twice in the regular season, swept him. Now Steph
Curry and Draymond Green didn't play one of those games,
but they did play the next one and they lost
to Toronto with Kawhi Leonard on the bench, So you
really don't, you know, those two games we really don't

(24:05):
give us a good barometer. But it's interesting where everybody
is from Toronto. I just feel better. It's not that
it means that they're gonna be without being there. No
that that they did win those two games, no matter what.
You know what I mean, you go in with the
idea that you're playing the defending champs and that you
want you you had success against them, So I don't

(24:27):
think that it means you're going to win because you
want the two games during the regular season. But it's
better if you came in oh and two when you
got smoked. I mean, that's what I'm just saying from
a mental state. But I'm just saying it doesn't you know,
neither team was at full strength for either game, and
so you know, but you're right it maybe it gives
them a little idea to hey, we can beat them.

(24:49):
Houston had that too and we saw what happened with them. Yeah,
and we will talk about the Rockets a little bit later,
like going on there. But Boogie Cousins is healthy as well,
and it's gonna be interesting to see how they work
him in. I think he could play tomorrow. I mean

(25:09):
he's I mean health to me, if health wise, if
he's healthy, and you should play him, I definitely don't
start him. I don't. I don't agree with this whole
notion that you don't play people if they're healthy. You
know what I mean, Like, if you're healthy, you should play.
If you're not healthy, that's totally different question. But it's
here's here's where I disagree with you. Golden State plays differently,

(25:32):
very differently without Boogie Cousins and all the flowing offense,
the ball movement, the player movement. They wouldn't do as
much of that with Boogie. So I would bring him
off the beach. But they want to know when he
when Boogie was out and he didn't even play that
many games, so but when he started out, remember one thing.
If he's healthy, obviously you bring him in. All right,

(25:57):
Now you think Boogie's not playing at all? No, I
think he Well, I think they may play him, But
I'm just saying it's a question. I mean, it's the finals,
so I'm saying, you think I think they're gonna play
him a few minutes. I don't know about tomorrow. I'm
not saying game one. I'm saying, but eventually if you
would bring him the bit so you would play him though,
but you would not if he was healthy. Would you say, no,
we're doing fine without you. You're not playing. I have

(26:19):
to see how he's looking in practice. Okay, Like, how's
our offense flowing with him in practice? Hollis in Montana,
you're on the yad couple of Fox Sports Radio. What's up, Hollis,
Thanks for letting me on. Guys, not knocking Katie as
a player. He is amazing. But I think the narrative
that he joined such a good team as setting stone

(26:44):
and will never be able to be changed no matter
what he does. So even if he goes to New
York next this summer and two years from now, when
maybe two, you don't think that would change the narrative.
I think it'll just add a new narrative of But
that one narrative of him joining the Warriors team will

(27:04):
haunt him forever, like a ghost, just trailing him wherever
he goes, no matter what he does. Alas, I don't
agree with that. If he if he would go to
a franchise that hasn't won since the seventies and would
not even that just another franchise period. Yeah, I'm just
saying that, but that would that would be the altars
I think haun is strong. I think it would. It's
a part of his story. The question is what will

(27:30):
be the first paragraph. If he goes elsewhere and wins,
the first paragraph is just about his greatness. If he
never goes anywhere else and wins, then the first paragraph.
You know, somewhere in that first paragraph you're talking about
he joined such a great team. Let's go to Rob
and Chino, California. Rob you on with the eye couple.
What's up, guys, how are you doing today? Good? Good? Um?

(27:56):
I kind of agree with the last caller. UM. I
think that wherever Katy goes, well, if he doesn't leave,
that narrative is set in stone. UM about him joint right, no,
no matter what. And if he goes through New York,
um is a bigger city, and he may have players

(28:16):
of ALTA caliber obviously, because he's one of the best
players in the world, and he'd have a chance to
do it on his own. UM, and and prove that
he's not that person who jumped on a bandwagon. And
I think that's the only way he can That's the
only way he can change that narrative. There's no matter
how you flipping, no matter how much credit you try
to give him, it happened that way. I agree, I

(28:38):
agree he has to leave in order to change. Let's
squeeze one more in Dale in Kentucky. You're on the
odd couple, Fox Sports Radio. What's up Dale? Okay? Dale?
What part of Kentucky are you in your radio on
or something? There? We gotta buzz it's it's okay, hear me? Right? Yeah,

(29:00):
go ahead, Okay. Kevin Durant a great player, no doubt
about it. Golden State a great team. But as long
as Kevin Durant stays with him, he's going to be
belittled a little bit because him of him joining such
a great team. If he goes, no matter where else
he goes, if he helps another team win, it's going
to help his help his reputation because he's not with

(29:24):
a traveling all star team. Right, no doubt, dew, I'm
with you, bulls Eye all right, We got more of
the Eye couple coming up. Keep it locked, Fox Sports
Radio at Farmers Insurance. We know the sound of a
perfect hot air balloon landing and a lesson perfect one
sheet covered it FCT to farmers, we are under written

(29:46):
my Farmers truck fire Insurance exchanges and affiliates products unavailable
every state. All right, it's the eye couple of Chris
Bruce Sard and the Rye Parker on this worship Wednesday.
All right, Rob, this is the last day for you
to potentially change your mind. You gonna change your pick.
I'm not changing my pick. You don't sound that confident.

(30:07):
I'm very confident. It's gonna be great when it's all
over and I'm left standing. All right, we got a
great guest. Then he covers the Warriors for the Athletic
and his new book is in stores now. It's called
k D. Kevin Durant's Relentless Pursuit to be the Greatest.
It's none other than Marcus Thompson. What's up, man? What's up?

(30:29):
My brother? How are you? It's great to have you
in as always? All right, So you you wrote something
recently about Steph Curry. History shows he should have a
field day in these finals. Explain that man, he always
tours Toronto like it's been having it for years, like
he's fifteen and two against them, he's averaging twenty eight

(30:50):
six seven, like eight assists field all his highs. I
mean he grew up. I mean and I grew up.
But he spent a few years in middle school in
Canada with his dad played there, so he's got he's
got a real affinity for Toronto, especially playing in that arena,
so he normally plays well. But I think it might

(31:12):
be a little bit different this time. I don't think
the Rappers have had an as good of a defensive
they because they say that's interesting because Kyle Lowry has
been one of the better, you know, point guard defenders.
It's just he's like you know what bother staff's linked
and athleticism, right, like Kyle Lowry, even if he's there,
he just can't contest the shot well enough. Like if

(31:34):
you if you're chasing stuff off the screen, you gotta
you gotta have the lengths to actually contest the shot
because he's gotta split second man, and he can. He
feels confident getting it off over Lowry. I remember they
tried Corey Joseph because it's like, yeah, man, nah that
like they could get they could get in him, right,
they could pester up, like make him drip up, right,

(31:54):
But if he comes off the screen, that's a ball game,
Like you can't you can't contest them. So but that
they got Pascal Fiata now right, they got Kawhi Leonard.
Those dudes require a lot more work to get that airspace.
So it's I mean, he's either towards Kyle Lawn for
years they've been going at it. But you know, Lowry's
a rough BATCHU for him? What about what's your gut

(32:15):
on KD. I mean, I don't think you'll play at all,
But that's just a gut feeling. I'm not a doctor.
You're closer to the situation. Do you expect him to play?
I do it. It feels like the momentum, there's some
momentum for him playing, like he's starting to get on
the court. First off, he's in Toronto right and now

(32:35):
he's starting to get on the court. Like if he's
not playing or if this is not happening at all,
they could just leave him in the bay with like
a list of things to do right the reass but
they're like, nah, come with us, be with the team,
be with the trainer. Let's get a round o'clock treatment.
But wouldn't that feel only though with all the narrative
going on, like if they went to Toronto without him?

(32:55):
I mean, I think from a from a morale standpoint,
even despite the other stuff. Do you know what I mean?
Like a distraction? Because might right? Why why is it?
K They don't even need him a distraction? No, Marcus?
But but it just happened last series, right, And if
they are better without him, maybe it freezes them. Right,

(33:17):
Maybe they're like, all right, well he out, this is
what it is, Marcus. What about And obviously I guess
from k D standpoint, he's like, if I'm healthy enough
to play, I want to play. But is there any
feeling just from your opinion, Let's say they're up two
oh or or three oh? Maybe take two oho or
three one and KD is healthy. Do you think they

(33:41):
would bring him back or he would want to come back? Okay, absolutely,
they bring him back in a heartbeat and heartbeat. They
the players want him back, like they've made that very clear.
They want Kad back on the court. And and the
last time they were up three to one it didn't
go that well. Yeah, I mean, and then if any

(34:01):
team knows, like you don't You don't get to just
start chilling because you have two old Right, it's the Warriors, right,
like they know that absolutely they wanted like absolutely no
question about it. And secondarily like this is why he's here, right,
is to be on this stage, to play at this level,
to to ball out in front of this international audience,

(34:24):
Like that's what he's here for. And they're about they
came together to be a historic team. They didn't come
together to win a championship. They came together to be
in the conversation with the George Bulls, with the Kobe
shack Laker, like they were going for an all time team.
So I think, of course they want him on the

(34:45):
court for three in a row and for you know,
whatever this ends up being. That that's what they came
together for. The eye couple were joined by Marcus Thompson,
who covers the Golden State Warriors for the Athletic All
the talking, I know, I've heard you talk about it
several times. None of us obviously know what Kevin Durant's
thinking about doing this summer, But do you think, like

(35:08):
how much of his decision do you think it is
based on like this validation to change the narrative that
he just went to a stack team and the rings
were relatively easy. Like for so if they lost this
series without him, or even lost it with him, do
you think that would be a big factor that could

(35:29):
keep him in Golden State, because that narrative would probably change.
I think he's wrestling. Here's my guest. There are multiple
reasons for staying and going, and I think if he goes,
it will tell us that this legacy narrative, this need
to counter this idea that his championships attornish, like that's
the one that went out, right, Like that's the one

(35:52):
that in the end he said was too much to
pass up. So there's this other one too, Like you know, man,
I love playing with the players. I like let's stadium
more money. But I do feel like if he says,
let's go to New York, like now we know that's
what it was, right, Like we gotta shut people up.
He got he got really right. That's the only reason.

(36:15):
There's no other reasons, right, especially at the risk of
not like it right like that would be Can you
imagine if he went didn't like, if he goes, it's
to shut Rob Parker up. That's what it is like
to be like what what what was that you was talking? Oh,
that would be great. I wouldn't mind about that. I
know you wouldn't. I love it? What about the you

(36:38):
know this this? When the playoffs started, they lost two
games at home to uh, the Clippers, including that big
comeback what was it thirty one point? I'm thirty thirty one?
Was that? Yeah? That one? Where are they at home?
I know I don't want to look at the Portland
series because Portland to me wasn't ready for prime time.
But are they vulnerable at home at all? I mean

(37:02):
comparative to the road, They've always been vulnerable, right, just
because especially like just the last year's Oracle, they out
here trying to put on the show like that's how
they've been. So they jacked a bunch of threes, right,
they making fancy passes. They're making them like you're trying
to thread the needle. Like they just have a tendency
to do that at home. Right, even though it's still great,

(37:24):
they have a tendency to do that at home. They
have a tendency to relax to us to get a lead.
So I'm still always like you want them on the road,
like they their best basketball happens on the road. With
that said, not having Kevin Durant definitely seems to have
put them in a mindset of road mentality all the time. Right,

(37:46):
it's like, all right, we know we don't have room
for error. We know we have to execute. Draymond knows, like,
all right, I gotta do more. So like it feels
like that they're just in that mode. But who knows
if they if they go home one one, feel a
good game three, win games three up to uh, I
would not be surprised for one second if they go

(38:08):
out there chuck at forty three's and make seven and
then lose game four, Like that's just what they doing
on thought, all right, Marks, we got exactly thirty seconds
Boogie Cousins. Is there any risk in bringing him back
to Is there any you know, tension with the management
and coaching staff of can we play the same way
without with Boogie? I think there's got to be some concern,

(38:30):
especially if he doesn't have it right, Like you just
can't be thrown dudes out there. He doesn't happen and
it's a big deal, Like, I mean, the problem is
they don't have a real like they don't have like
a dude, he'd be knocking out the way. But they
do have something going right, like man, Louie should get
to thirty minute. So yeah, if you play him at
the expensive Looney and he's not good man, that that

(38:53):
could be a problem. But I think Steve's gonna have
a quick hook right right. All right, Marcus Thompson, great stuff, man.
We've been following you throughout the series and we'll get
you back on Hey man, I love y'all. All right couple,
Fox Sports Radio keep it locked two hours left. Be
sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple with
Chris Broussard and Rob Parker week days at seven pm

(39:16):
Eastern four pm Pacific. Yes, indeed it is the ID Couple.
I'm Chris, he's robbed. We're coming to you live from
the Geico Fox Sports Radio Studios. Fifteen minutes could save
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Geico dot com for a free rate quote. And we

(39:36):
got a special guest coming on in a few minutes,
the legendary Isaiah Thomas, two time NBA Champion, Hall of
Fame point guard. Now you see him on NBA TV
and TNT as an NBA analyst. So I'm excited for
this conversation. And as we call him in Detroit, Zeke Yes,

(39:57):
we call him Zeke yes, and yes it's Uh. It'll
be a pleasure to have him morning talk about his
unbelievable career in Detroit and uh, the difference between playing
now then uh, playing now and playing back when he
played a totally different game. And I know he won't
brag about it. So but I'm here and I'm not

(40:17):
a Detroit homer. You have to announce it. That means,
you know, because I know what you're gonna say when
you say no, you know you know the narrative. They
already knows me Isaiah time. It's what's happening? Man? I
am good. How are you? And I just want you
to know before we start, I am a rob let

(40:38):
you go. You already know. He already told me that
on the phone. So let's just get right to Let's
just get right to it now. I know you obviously,
we're close friends and we've known each other for years.
And I have said, I know you're gonna be humble,
so but I talk to truth as much as you can.

(41:00):
I have had you as the best quote unquote under
the rim or smaller player in NBA history for decades. Recently,
I've said, I think Steph Curry has passed you. Am
I nuts? And I know you're not gonna do stuff?
But am I tripping? Well? I would just I would

(41:21):
just say this, I truly am And I said this
to you on the phone. I truly, I'm truly honored
to be compared, you know, with Staff in terms of
what he's doing in this era, and you know how
well and how great he's playing, and what he's done
to change the game and evolved the game. The only

(41:45):
thing I've said to you, Chris, is that the same
credit that you have given him, I would like the
same credit too as a small man. Because when I
came into the league, and Rob can attest to this, Chris,
I don't know. I don't know if he was watching
basketball this time. I was at the game. I was

(42:09):
at the game in Portland. But when I when I
came into the league, both of you know, the league
had moved away from small point guards. It was magic
at sixth nine. Michael Ray Richardson Resie this Paul Pressley,
you know, so forth to he was all about the
big guards. Yeah, and when I was drafted, it was

(42:32):
actually controversial at that time because no one thought that
you could win and play with a small guard. And
what I said to you, Chris, is that because of
the success that I had at the position, it opened
the door for more small guards to play the way

(42:53):
I played the position. And Rob you remember, I was
very it was very controversial for me to be were
to score the basketball and also assist at the same time.
They didn't think that a point guard was supposed to
do that. You were rewarded more for assisting than you
were scoring. And how do we won championships? There are

(43:17):
more point guards in the league that played the way
I played then there are who played the way others
played at that point in time. And so there's there's
been there's been a couple of evolutions at the point
guard position, and Chris, you have not given me my

(43:37):
credit for the evolution of, you know, allowing small guards
to come back into the game and be able to
score at the position, because now it is mandatory that
you'd be a scoring point guard and also be able
to distribute. When I was playing, it wasn't that case.

(43:58):
That wasn't the case, and Isaiah along with that, amen
to the choir right there. When you look at what
you were able to accomplish, and it's a different league.
But but and I'm not you know, you don't have
to toot your own horn, but really, you could have
won three straight championships. You'd be Bird, Magic and Jordan
all in their prime. You won without another Top fifty,

(44:21):
there were no four deep and I'm not saying that
you didn't have a great supporting cast, but nobody else
is on that top fifty list from that Detroit Pistons team.
And had it not been for that phantom foul against
the Lakers, you probably would have won three in a row.
That's how good that team is. And you let it.
So when I look at your resume, and I if
you played during this era and you were able to

(44:41):
shoot threes, because that's a part of the game, and
nobody could touch you, Isaiah defensively right everything. If you
put your hand on it's a foul. You can't tell
me that you wouldn't be even better than you were
during the time that you were great. Well, I think
I still hold the finals three point percentage highest shooting record.

(45:08):
Uh still in the finals. Now, uh, they round it up.
It seems to be that whenever it it, I get
compared that I missed the roundoff number. However, yeah, yeah,
like it goes, it goes to somebody else. Yeah, however,

(45:30):
however the criteria is it always rounds off at when
Igia's getting ready. Well, but you don't you know what
that is. There's a narrative sometimes because they'll say even
when they come up with stats, it'll be like these
particular stats, you go, like nobody's ever had twenty eight,
six and five you know what I mean? Like, yeah,

(45:52):
when they come up with that, in order to make
that work for somebody, Yeah, so I so my so
soll Just so you know, I've I've called Chris a
couple of times because I I just said to him
that I'm not arguing with the numbers. Yes, two plus
two is four, but the story that has been told

(46:12):
with some of the numbers, you know, it's just not accurate.
And when you go back to yeah we won, we
still say, rob we won three straight championships. And right,
you guys say that to yourself about bandam file. So
y'all talk about that bad boys, Absolutely we do. And

(46:34):
you know there's there's a part of the league, a
big part of the league that acknowledges it. And so
during that era, you know, we we were a dominant team,
and had I not thrown the ball away in Game five,
not had I not made that big mistake in Boston,

(46:55):
we probably would have went to the finals in eighty seven.
All so now, and I don't know if we were
to beat the Lakers in eighty seven, but from eighty
seven to eighty eight to eighty nine to nineties, you
can't talk about the Boston Celtics or the LA Lakers,

(47:17):
or the or that period of time when the league
took off without mentioning the Detroit Pistons in the effect
that we had on a league, not only defensively but
also offensively. We look at the way the game is
played today. The game is played more the way we
played it offensively, with the small guards playing high and

(47:40):
side screen and roll shooting from the perimeter. Then it's
played with post up players. Lambier was a three point
shooting center. That's how the game is played today. Now
we don't get credit for change in the game. But
offensively in defensive league, you can go back and you

(48:02):
can look at how we change the game defensively in
the NBA and also offensively in the NBA. It's the
eye couple. We're joined by the legendary Isaiah Thomas, two
time NBA Champion, Hall of Fame point guard Isaiah. Let's
let's move to New York. Now you obviously were there
as a generalman. But before we go to New York,

(48:23):
let me let me let me go back to Rob's
top fifty. I would say this to both of you,
and I'm not too my own horn. I'm actually tooting
the Pistons horn because we were a team. I don't
think there's a small player in league history that has

(48:46):
won more than I did with less talent compared to
the teams that we were chasing in some of the
teams of this era. So when you I mean k
is KD is going to be a top fifty player.
Steph is his arguably a top He'll probably be a
top ten, top fifteen player. Lebron you know, is you know, arguably,

(49:14):
you know, the one of the greatest ever. And when
KD is done, he may be in that room with
Lebron and Will in Jordan, I mean in Kareem and
Jordan where we're debating if he's one of the greatest
or the greatest ever played, if he continues on the
pace that he's gone. No, that's very true. I mean
because magic. One thing about magic, his teams were always stacked.

(49:38):
Well you got you got three top fifty players with
Kareem and dropped on that teams was a Hall of famer.
They already had a ton of Obviously, Burr had three
Hall of famers with him, Parish, Michale, Dennis Johnson. So no,
that that's true. That's just a fact. That's just a fact.
Now you are obviously the president. That's all. That's all.
That's all I'm talking is fact. I feel like I

(50:00):
feel like So if you ask, if you ask most
people who was the best fighter between Mike Tyson and
Evander holy Fill, most people would pick Tyson, right right,
I would. But if you ask, if you ask holy Phil,

(50:22):
I mean holy Bell, would probably say he's better than Tyson. Right, Oh, no,
doubt right, right, No, that's that's true. I mean, yeah,
I hear you. I hear you. Well, look, you were
president in New York with the Knicks. You know how
the media is there. I said everything, So you. So
you running, you running from the a rod? Did he

(50:43):
just run? Yeah? He did? Say, all right, so what
do you ask? He's saying, what what he played with
compared to what the what stuff is playing with? And
all these other guys are playing well. And I said,
and I said this to you on the but but
wait a minute, but wait a minute, Chris, I'm just
saying to you on the reel, I am honored to

(51:07):
be compared to Steph Curry. And if if you think
he's better than me, I'm not saying that you're wrong.
I'm not you know here my reasoning, I'm yeah, and
and and by the way, I wouldn't be mad if
Steph Curry at the end of his career or whatever

(51:28):
is placed above me. I'm not mad at that because
it ain't like we're talking about a scrub. You know
what I mean, right right right now? Now, If you
put some scrubs ahead of me, then I'm a love
set what I got. No, this has got no problem
sitting in the room next to Steph Curry and somebody
saying Steph Curry is a better player than you was,

(51:49):
I ain't got no problem with that. This is what
I'd say Isaah, And I said this to Rob last
what two weeks ago, maybe if Steph Curry. Now I'm
so excited Now. Obviously I'm glad Kevin Durant's not hurt. Seriously, um,
I want to see him healthy. But I am excited
to see what the Warriors can do in this series

(52:12):
without him. This is the whole christ And I said
this to Rob. If they fall on there, if the Warriors,
if Kevin Durant doesn't come back, and the Warriors lose,
then I said, Craig me if I'm wrong, Rob, I said,
I'm I'm willing to reevaluate my thinking on Steph being
better than you. But if he if they win this

(52:35):
series without KD, then I think that strengthens my argument.
He would have had two out of three championships without KD,
two more with KD. Like you said, you change the game.
Obviously he changed the game. I think he's the best
shooter of all time. He's got handled, he's he can pass,
he can finish at the rim, he's got mid range.

(52:57):
He's a smart and willing defender. Although he's not a
good defender, you are a better defender. Because that team,
the Bad Boys, were great defensively. So I'm this is
fluid because Steph is still playing, and so that's what
I'm looking at. And obviously he's incredibly efficient, you know

(53:18):
from the two point and the three point range. So
uh that that's my argument. But I'm I'm you know,
it's fluid. It's fluid, and like you said, you beat
great teams obviously. I mean you mentioned, we mentioned some legends.
He's taken down his share of legends to Kevin Durant,
uh Lebron, James you know, so on and so forth.

(53:38):
So all the great James Harden, Oh he's great. Now
James hard is not great. No great. I never said
he wasn't great. You see what I'm dealing with. So
this is what I'm gonna I'm gonna stick up for
Steph Hill. And the reason why I'm gonna stick up
for him is because even if they don't win this series,

(53:59):
and I don't know if they can win it without
Kevin Durant, but even if they don't win it, what
Steph Curry has done for the game and has done
for all of little kids imaginations. You know, we we
got kids. I see I see boys and girls now
pulling up from the hashmark. Now all three of us

(54:23):
have played and we never had the thought to pull
up from the hash mark. You know, we got people
shooting it from half court. Steph Curry has He's changed
the game, just just as I did in certain ways
as a small guard playing going to the basket. You know,

(54:44):
I hear people talking about what the best way to
defend Steph is to be physical. Well, guess what the
best way to defend me? They said was to be physical.
Now they were a little bit more physical with me,
no doubt. Then then he gets But at the same time,

(55:07):
I think when you look back on on basketball eras
you know, to to say what for me, it is
an honor to be compared to what Steph Carey has done.
And and I'm and I'm saying this in all honesty.
If if he loses, Chris, you don't have to change

(55:29):
your rankings for me. No, you don't have to. But
what you don't have to change your rankings at all,
because I'm just saying this, Hey man, When I watched
Steph Curry play and I watch him get hot and
shoot the basketball and do all this stuff, I get
excited like a little fan, you know, And I love

(55:51):
watching him play. So I just want to make it
clear I'm not I'm not in no way disappointed to
be sitting in the room next to Steph Curry and
y'all debating who's better he or I. If you put
somebody else in that room, then come on, man, I'm
with y'all two in the room. Hey, Isaiah, real quick,

(56:12):
and you don't have to respond. I just want everybody
want to tell the story really quickly. You don't have
to respond. Isaiah, you remember this, But me and my
partner in Detroit, we get fired from the radio station,
right and I get a phone call the next day
or so, and on the other line is Isaiah Thomas.
And Isaiah back then was running the CBA, and I'll

(56:33):
never forget this day. And he said to me, a
good man like you shouldn't be out of work, and
if you want to come work with us at the CBA,
you let me know. And I always appreciate that phone
call because at that time, you just don't know which
way you're going on. You don't even know if you'll
ever get back, you know what I mean. So, Isaiah,
that meant a lot to me, even though I was

(56:56):
destined to stay in the journalism field and business. I
appreciate it. That's all I want to say to you.
Thank you well, Isaiah. We gotta run, We gotta run before. Yeah,
I know you can't respond. We don't have time to
respond too much. But look, I enjoyed the back and forth. Uh.
Some great knowledge there. And Uh we're gonna talk in
a few weeks. Yes, we will talk again. The Bruce

(57:17):
Are Power rankings are hinging on the next few weeks. Rob,
I'll call Chris later the night about a few hours.
All right, Zeke, we'll talk to you. I love y'all.
Thanks man, good guy man, he is no doubt. Let's
settle this debate once and for all. You'll turn the

(57:40):
way in who is the best small player of all time?
Isaiah Thomas or Steph Curry. I don't think anybody else
in the conversation. I know some people might bring up
iverson maybe I do on the stocked in Nash to me,
nobody else in the conversation, right, it's these two. Steph
Isaiah give us a call eight seven, seven ninety nine
on Fox I Couple Fox Sports Radio. Bruce Are from

(58:03):
the Eye Couple, Rob, you own a couple of businesses
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no doubt about it. And it's not easier getting people
to work in your business. It's a big part of
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you gotta be able to find the right people that
fit well. Rob. Next time you decide to add an

(58:25):
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(58:46):
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(59:08):
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Odd Couple with Chris Brusar then Rob Parker weekdays at
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enjoy a much more confident car buying experience. All right,
best small player ever, Steph Isaiah or someone else. We
want all you to get your chance to weigh in,
So we're gonna take a call or two now. Then

(01:00:15):
we got a great interview coming up with Tony Dungee
super Bowl Championship Coach, and then we'll get back to
your calls at five forty five Pacific, eight forty five Eastern.
But let's take Ryan from Texas right now. Ryan, you're
on with Chris and Rob. What's up, fellas. I've been
on a couple of cars, big supporter. Love you, guys, man,

(01:00:35):
love it, Thank you, thank you, Ye appreciate it. Okay,
So I'm going with somebody else. Come on, God, just
Iver saying let me, let me go ahead, Yes, let
me because it ain't all about championships, right So, but
it's it's so about champions it is a big part

(01:00:55):
of it. But if you're picking somebody individually and you
say I want him on my team because I know
what he gonna do this this one game I'm taking overson.
But but just one game, it's a season, even thover career,
Aaron McKee, Eric Snow mcumbo, Dallen Bear, Steph Curry, Isaiah

(01:01:18):
Thomas couldn't carry that team to the playoffs. Thomason left
the league. You couldn't carry either one. Curry would look
like a shell of himself with that team. And so
with our Isaiah Thomas. Isaiah Thomas, like he said, he
had the revolutionary team. Lane By used to hit five
to seven threes in some of them games. So he
was a kind of center that could play in today's game. Yeah,

(01:01:41):
but the only thing wrong. I'll disagree, and I hear
your point about who he didn't have. But Isaiah also
beat Magic Bird and Jordan Prime. I mean, we're gonna
get more calls about Averson. We'll get to that letter.
Hang on, right, we'll get back there. Cut all right,
we are pleased to bring in our next guess. He's

(01:02:01):
the great Super Bowl championship coach, two times Super Bowler,
and a Pro Football Hall of Famer. Was a great
player as well. Tony Dungee, Tony, welcome to the Eye Cup.
What's up Tony? What you say? Guys? How are you?
We're great? We're great. It's always great to have you
on quickly before we get to the football. Are you

(01:02:21):
much of a basketball fan? And if so, who do
you like in these NBA finals. I am a big fan.
I love basketball. At one time I thought that was
my sport. I think all of the football players I
thought we could play basketball. But I follow with my
boys a huge Warrior fans. I think it's gonna be
a great series. Toronto plays excellent defense. They're playing behind

(01:02:45):
Kawhi right now, and they're they're playing with a lot
of confidence. I think it's gonna be a great series.
Now we're gonna put you on the spot because we've
been debating who's the best small player of all times?
You know that Steph Curry, Rob said Isaiah, Timmy, Now
you know that Tony Dungee's from Jackson, Michigan. All right,
I just want you to know, do you know that Sony?
That means it's gonna be Isaiah's Who would you pick Tony? Well,

(01:03:08):
now that you're leaving out some others, Okay, okay, I'll
go back to Sin the Arts of Balls and he
was phenomenal. Um, Isaiah's got those those rings, the two rings.
Steph Steffi sings the game though. Steph really has changed
the way that this game is played. So I'd have
to say right now, the way the game is being

(01:03:30):
played with the three point shot and how important that is. Um,
I'd have to go with Steph Curry. Wow, all right,
you shot me right there, Isaiah. Do you know Tony
beat the Magic Bird and Jordan in their prims. Do
you know, you know I was cheering for the bad boys.
You know, that's my roots now, Michigan basketball, So yeah,

(01:03:52):
I was pulling for him. Then I loved Joe dumars Um.
I just liked their team. And then Isaiah was unquestionably
the leader, and you know he was. It was his team.
And for a small guy to really win a Chamanship
and will them to win the way he did, you
have to say something about that. They have to take
your hat off to it, all right, Tony. You and

(01:04:15):
your wife have recently come out with a new book.
It's in stores now. It's called We Chose You, a
book about adoption, family and forever Love. Can you kind
of tell us about the book. Yeah, it's really my
wife's passion. We've started writing children's books about eight years ago.
My wife really wanted to do that. She just thought

(01:04:36):
there wasn't a lot of books out there that had
good messages as well as good artwork and that type
of thing. So she wanted to do that and also
have some children's books with diversity and show different kinds
of kids. So that's always been her passion. We have
seven adopted children at home right now, and she wanted
to talk about that and just how important it is

(01:04:58):
for people open up their hearts and open up their
home and for kids who aren't adopted to know that
it wasn't the case necessarily someone not wanting them, but
just God having a different plan and putting them in
a family a different way. So there's a lot of
messages in the book, and we're really proud of it. Tony.
What's the misconception that most people have about adoption and

(01:05:20):
being able to bring kids into the home because a
lot of people just do they not really know about it,
or do or they yeah, what do they think it's about?
And can you tell them what's been your experience? You know,
most people think it's a long drawn out process. To
hear about people going to foreign countries and that type

(01:05:41):
of thing. We've adopted five children here in Tampa, two
from Indianapolis, especially African American and biracial babies. There's just
a lack of parents who are willing to take these
kids in. And you know that that's probably the biggest misconception,
that it's going to be a long process and you

(01:06:03):
have to go all over the world, to do it, Tony,
Let's get to football. That recently the NFL outlawed drills
like Oklahoma drills and a few others. I don't know
if teams were still using a lot of that stuff,
but what's your take on it. I just remember growing
up playing those drills were like mainstays at every level,

(01:06:25):
you know, and watching I went back and looked at
him on film, and it just seems like it looks
like an integral part of the game, you know, hitting.
And how do you feel about them taking it out
of the game, and do you wonder about the direction
or is this a good thing? Well, I don't know
who did the research and who said that these were

(01:06:47):
dangerous drills and we needed to take it out. I
think it's more of kind of setting a tone. When
I played for the Stealers, we started every training camp
with the Oklahoma drill. It wasn't dangerous. The way we
did it was it was set up to kind of
set the tone, but it wasn't hard hitting. It wasn't
where guys got knocked out. If you do things right,

(01:07:09):
and I think that's the big thing with everything in football,
if you do it right, you can eliminate a lot
of the dangerous situations, a lot of the problem. So
I'm all for making the game safer. I'm not sure
that this makes it safer. That you don't do one
on one tackling and blocking drills and you substitute eleven
on eleven. I'm not sure that's gonna make it more safe.

(01:07:32):
But I'm all for if they research it and they
feel like it is, I'm all for it because I
just wonder if that could because you're right, it looks
like it's just setting the tone you have to get
used to being hit or even hitting people. I wonder
if it could put guys in danger if they're not
used to, you know, that level of contact, and then
you get in the game and all of a sudden

(01:07:54):
it's different. Well, I've seen that for the last four
or five years. Rodney Harrison and I on our so
we just talk about it so much. You see all
of these achilles tendon injuries and you know, really serious injuries,
and I'm just saying, did we have all these when
it was so called rougher and suffer? I know, Coach

(01:08:15):
No always felt like you had to condition yourself to
hit and be hit, and there's a certain amount of
practice that you need that is going to prepare you
for a physical game. And no, you don't have to
go crazy, you don't have to go overboard, but you
do have to get ready to tackle and b tack
and Tony. When you hear like star players like A

(01:08:36):
Brett Farve and some others who said if I Brett said,
if I had a son, I wouldn't want them to
play football. When you start to hear that, and there's
been a number of players, guys have told me I
wouldn't encourage it, you know what I mean. If he
wants to play, I probably would go along with it,
but I wouldn't encourage it. It tells you the sport
has to do something in order to get the parents

(01:08:57):
to let their kids play. Would you agree with that question?
And you're never gonna take all the danger out of
the game. People do get hurt. I got hurt, you know,
and you look at it as part of the game
when you play football. I have seven boys and they
all like to play. They all want to play, and
you know, I have no problem with them playing. But hey,

(01:09:18):
I can see how people feel that way. If I
played sixteen seventeen years and my body eight when I
got up in the morning. I might feel that way too,
but I'm sixty or two years old, and you know,
I still am active and I enjoyed every minute of
my football career. And my boys, I'm all for them
playing Tony. Uh. Let's get to some of the teams,

(01:09:41):
you know in the in the AFC. Pittsburgh, you know
they obviously lost some talent when Antonio Brown lean. Yeah,
I lost a lot of time. I actually think though
they're gonna I still pick them to win the AFC North,
and I think Cleveland can be a wild card out
of that division. What's your take on those two teams
in that division overall? Well, you know what people have

(01:10:03):
to understand, this game is not just about talent and
acquiring talent. Cleveland has done a great job of that,
and they're going to be an exciting team. Is that
going to equate with winning? Will have to see how
it all messages together, how these guys play, and how
their quarterback does. In the second year, the game is

(01:10:24):
still about quarterbacking. Ben Roethlisberger is exceptional. You can debate
off the field in the locker room and all that,
but when he gets out there, and plays he plays well.
Baker Mayfield was exciting last year. We have to see
if that now translates a year of maturity, understanding that
now he's going to make those big plays in the

(01:10:45):
big situation. I still think you have to say Pittsburgh
would be the favorite. Don't discount Baltimore. John Harbot does
a great job of putting things together. I think Cleveland
has maybe moved up into third in that division and
they're gonna put some heat on people, but I still
think they're third right now. My son's looking at me
like I'm crazy, end up buying all the hype, like everybody,

(01:11:09):
I'm with you Tony on that. How about the league
has always taking this authoritative like we're gonna run the league,
We're gonna protect the shield, and they hold the players
to a high standard. What kind of standards should the
owners be held to a higher standard? And they're still
reviewing the Robert Kraft situation and what went down in Florida?
What should happen there? If you're asking the players to

(01:11:31):
be held accountable, whether or not you know they are
criminal charges or not, it's about protecting the shield. What
should happen? I've always felt that owners, front office coaches,
we should be held to a higher standard because we're
the leaders. I think it's going to be very truchy
with Commissioner Goodell and what he's going to have to

(01:11:52):
do here. I don't think there's any question that if
Robert Kraft was a player, that there there would be
some type of punishment. There's no doubt about that. We've
seen that in the past with Ezekiel Elliott. We've seen
that with Ben Roethlisbergen, no doubt. Yeah, So when you
look at it that way, you have to say, it's
four owners, we have to be held to a higher standard. Now, again,

(01:12:13):
I don't know all the fact that I live here
in Florida, it kind of looked like for a time
it was open and shut case. And now they've blocked
the video. My wonder is, how come the video doesn't
get out? It seemed to get out with all the players,
That's what I'm saying. It's amazing, isn't it all of
a sudden? Yeah, now the video is not going to

(01:12:35):
get out. But I'm a fan of Robert Press. I
love him. He's done some things personally for me that
I have just been outstanding. I was sorry to see
this whole thing, but I do believe that we as
leaders have to be held to a higher standard. And Tony,
that's the first time in NFL history that the Patriot
didn't want to see a video. You know what I'm saying.

(01:12:57):
That's well, tiny, Tony, I had to We we always
love talking to you. Appreciate the time, and good luck
with the book. It sounds like it's a great book
that we all need to read. Hey, thank you guys. Hey,
I love your stuff, keep it, keep it going. And uh,

(01:13:17):
you got out of the best. Love to be on
with you. Thanks Tony, and see it. Fox Sports Radio
has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch
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At Farmers Insurance, we know the sound of a perfect
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(01:13:41):
covered it to farmers. We are farmers underwritten. My farmers
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It's the Eye Couple Christmas. Sorry, Rob Parker, We're gonna
get right to your calls. We got a lot of
people waiting best small player in NBA history. Let's go
to George and West Covina, California. Who you got. I
hate to disagree with your other two callers, as much

(01:14:03):
as I respect Tony Donji, but Isaiah's by part of
the best small player. And I've reasoned that. I look
at it from the aspect that Isaiah's game can travel
in any generation. You put Isaiah in this era of basketball,
he's still dominating. You put Steff in that eighties early nineties,
we're not talking about stuff like we are today. And
Isaiah was a better defender. Isaiah was a great team player,

(01:14:26):
and he was just a bulldog on the court. And
I think he gets overlooked a lot. Just my opinion. No, no, no,
it does. He is underrated. You know what, George, your
opinion is very good, and that's because we live in
everything that happened. Yesterday's is the best, no at of
that is historic. He's not just saying him, and she's

(01:14:47):
not just saying him. I'm saying in general, people look
at if it's not on videotape. While I didn't see it,
they've discounted. They discounted because people are staying the Bulls.
The Jordan Bulls are better than the Warrior still, so
I don't I'm about six and oh, it's just hard
to argue. Some people say the Showtime Lakers are still better.
Magic still viewed is the greatest point guard ever. Kali

(01:15:09):
and l in New Jersey. Go ahead, you're on the
odd couple. What's up? Fellas before me had a bunch
of fantastic points. Stole a little bit of my thunder
with the whole era thing. But what I want to
add to that is that I feel like, um, a
couple of missteps in Zeke's career, them walking out on
the court, but they're still being time. I think led

(01:15:29):
to him not being on the Dream Team. No, no, no, no,
Jordan's dislike for him, Yeah, okay, which is related to
that dude they throw they throw Jordan out in the
All Star Game. It would Jordan was a rookie. That's
when it's you're right. No, you're right, you're right. But
I think Zeke should have been on that Dream Team. No, no,
do we all know it. It's shameful that he wasn't

(01:15:52):
on that dream shame and and and I think that
when you I think that when Steph and Buggie are
on the court at the same time, and I'm the
opposing coach. I'm licking my shops. I'm like, I can
take turns on attacking a picking ball, picking pop situation
with those guys, and I feel like when you stop
on the court across Zeke, that just wasn't the case.

(01:16:12):
All right, good caution, Let's go to Rich in Detroit,
Rich Go ahead, right, what's going on? Fellas man? So
I have um. All three of these little men change
the game. That's where people are failing to miss. They
all change the game in their certain way. But the

(01:16:35):
best one is the only one who could play both
sides of the court, played on both like a champion.
Isaiah's number one, Ivers's number two, and Steph is number three.
And its great as Steph Curry is what people don't
want to admit is he is. He gains from the
fact that today what the thing is, what they do

(01:16:56):
today is they change the rules to make everybody in
today's game seemed like they are the grade alright, and
careers were both shortened by the fact that they took
all the punishment from their areas that Steph doesn't take
and couldn't be the same. Gop all right, Rich good calls,
just run out of time. A couple Fox Sports Radio,

(01:17:17):
one hour remaining. You know what to do. Keep your
dial locked. You will not regret it. Fox Sports Radio. Yes,
indeed we are the eye couple. I am Chris. Here
is Robert coming you live from the Gueco Fox Sports
Radio Studios. Fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or
more on your car insurance. Visit Geico dot com for

(01:17:39):
a free rate quote. There was other big news in
the NBA outside of the preparation for the NBA Finals,
which begin tomorrow with Game one in Toronto, and the
news that Boogie Cousins DeMarcus Cousins is ready to play.
So we'll see if he plays in game one, how
much he plays, if at all, or if he comes

(01:18:01):
back in game two or three. But this is an
all star caliber player, an all star player who the
Warriors have at their disposal now, so we'll see how
they handle that. And you also heard where you have
Marcus Thompson on earlier he said that he would you
know that they'd probably play him when yeah, yeah, he
didn't so much say in game one at some point

(01:18:22):
he's gonna. I think Boogie is gonna. He's healthy. I mean,
do you think that I would bring I wouldn't even
think about starting him. And you know, unless it shows
that Looney Cavin Looney is getting abused by Mark Gasol
or something. You need a big body, but I would
want to bring him off the bench. He could kind
of be the scoring that second offensive unit, which you know,

(01:18:46):
would he get more opportunities there, That's how I traded
to play it. Would you start him right away because
he started during the regular season, Well, I don't. I
don't know. I mean, I'd have to really look at
him if I thought he could help me win, and
I don't have to ran and I got another big
body and the sides with Toronto if I thought he
could really help. And then again again, I think this
is what Marcus said was it would just have a

(01:19:07):
short lease. And if it's not working out, do you
know what I mean, Yeah, you have to have a
short you could just say, okay, we put you in.
We would try to. You're not really not the regular season,
you know what I know. But you also don't want
to be caught out there where like you said, if
Looney's not doing this thing. And then he's been playing well. No,
he's playing played really well. He's looked great as that

(01:19:29):
fifth starter. And I thought he was a great update guy.
But he could play basketball too. What crickets? What Looney?
Most most people know who you even talking about Tom Looney.
Everybody knows who Tom Looney is. Why were there crickets there?
That's that's painful, all right. The other big story, Rob

(01:19:52):
was the team that many people thought might get to
the NBA Finals. They use their Rockets, and of course
they went out in the second round. That might be
a little misleading. They still probably were the second best
team in the West, but they did go down in
six games to the Golden State Warriors. And obviously the
big shocker there, and the big disappointment there for the

(01:20:15):
Rockets was that Kevin Durant hurt in Game five and
they still couldn't take out the Warriors in Game five
or six. And now they are open for business now.
Darryl Morrey, the general manager, has always been one of
the most active general managers in the league. But the

(01:20:36):
story came out today that everyone on the roster is
available in the trade. It did not disco It did
not not include James Harden. No, obviously, I don't think
they're gonna trade Harden, but the fact that it wasn't
everybody except Harden is available, Like in La it's gonna

(01:20:59):
be everybody except Lebron is available. In Toronto it would
be everybody except Kawhi Leonard or whatever. The fact that
why is Harden's name even included in there? And I
want to say this because I know you you're chomping.
I'm sorry, but I think the Houston Rockets have made

(01:21:21):
a huge mistake this offseason. I think they are playing
with fire for Savari's Number one, they have fired virtually
their entire assistant coaching staff, not every single assistant, but
they fired Jeff Bizdelik and several other assistants or Mike
d'antoni's staff. Apparently management is going to choose his assistant

(01:21:44):
coaches for him, which I think is terrible. Your head
coach should have the right to choose the bulk of
his assistant coaches, if not his entire staff. That's number one.
Number two, to let a story get out, whether they
leaked it or whether the teams that they're talking to
leaked it, but to let a story get out that

(01:22:05):
your entire roster is available. And I'm thinking specifically of
Chris Paul, because Chris Paul's got three years something like
one hundred and thirty four million dollars left on is
something in that vicinity left on his contract? He's thirty
four years old, injury prone? What is it? Robi three

(01:22:28):
years one twenty four three years, one hundred twenty four
million dollars left on his deal. He's injury prone. He's
thirty four years old. It is going to be almost impossible,
not impossible because you've seen crazy stuff happened in the NBA,
but virtually impossible to trade Chris Paul, which means you
will likely have him back in your locker room next year.

(01:22:50):
And do you think he the president of the Players Association,
he who left the Los Angeles Clippers to play for
the Houston Rockets to try to win a championship. Do
you think he's going to be happy that he is
now on the trading block? Well, I think the Rocket

(01:23:11):
should have done is go ahead and talk to Dan
Toni and sit down strategically, get in the lab and
try to work out a better offense. Dan Tony is
a good offensive, great offensive coach, and get more ball movement,
more player movement. Get away from the James Harden left,

(01:23:31):
James Harden right, James Harden all the time, and get
some player movement, body movement. You got three point shooters,
you got athletic players. Get a different system and try it.
But don't put y'all entire team on the trade block,
especially when many trades are not likely to happen. So

(01:23:52):
that's my take, Rob, I think is a big bad
start to the offseason for the Houston Rocket. I think
it's a non story. Down is just to me, is
this is that passive aggressive thing. He's just throwing this
out there the same way you just talked about the assistance,
right If you're sitting around saying, oh, I'm all he's

(01:24:12):
trying to do is make Mike D'Antoni quit, because that's
what that's how you make somebody quit. I'm firing all
your assistants, all your people, and then I'm gonna hire
who works with you. What kind of coach agrees to that.
You want your own people around you. So I'm not
buying into that. Quit Danton, Yes I'm serious, or not.

(01:24:34):
Quit Fire me and give me my money. Fire me,
Daryl Morey, if you're you're so big and bad, and
this whole notion that he's gonna, oh, everybody's available, do
you know what? Make a trade? You don't need to
announce it, go trade, Chris Paul, what are you waiting on?
You don't have to tell. I don't have to tell.
I don't have to leak a story about that. It's
all just provado. Chris, Oh what happened here? We're not

(01:24:57):
going to accept it. Everybody's available, I get. I almost
can guarantee you those three Cappella, Chris Paul and James
Harden will be on the rockets next year. I don't
believe it. So let me use you prove to me
that you're big and bad and everybody's available. I don't
believe it for one second. So what is the motivation?

(01:25:18):
I get what you said about D'Antoni, He just see
motivation for leaking that these are your players are available
because trying to get them to work harder or what, yes,
and to prove that it ain't me, it's you guys.
It's the coach and his assistance and you players didn't
do what you were supposed to do. So we'll get
rid of every single one of you. He's saving his butt.

(01:25:41):
He's throwing everybody off the boat to save his own ass.
To try to make the point, I put all the
people in position, I got all the right players. The
coach didn't do what he was supposed to do, and
the players didn't do what they were supposed to do.
What kind of GM does that fire? If you're so
big and bad, fire, Mike D'Antoni, it's not good enough.

(01:26:01):
If all of his coaches aren't good enough, why the
hell is he any good? It doesn't. That makes no sense.
That's like I'm gonna product product project Chris and try
to get you to quit so I don't have to
pay you. I want you to quit. It makes no sense.
And then you really think James Harden is available? Do
you really believes gonna be on another team next year.

(01:26:21):
I don't believe it for one second, but I think you.
I don't agree with what you're saying. I don't think
this is Morey trying to protect himself. I think this
is Maury being one of those ultra aggressive gms. I'm
not saying I agree with what he's doing. I don't
agree with what he's doing not an ultra aggressive riches

(01:26:42):
don't see coach, I don't see the value in leaking
that everybody or your team, especially when two of them
are Hall of famers with huge egos are available. How's
that gonna help you next year? It's not gonna that's
not gonna make them come back hungry. That's gonna piss
them off. You think they're not gonna play next year

(01:27:02):
because Chris is a very temperamental dude. I just I don't.
I don't know what's gonna be gonna. He's gonna pout
in the corner and hold on to his blankie. I meant,
come on, Chris Paul will play all these guys if
you play upset them now. If you played sports, people
talk all kinds of stuff all the time. You just
have to overlook at him. The Lakers couldn't do that.

(01:27:24):
They were all They got their panties in a bunch,
as you'd like to say, because of all the trade
rumors out there. These guys are human. Chris Paul knows
they are willing to trade him now. They want to
trade him now that can impact him. This is a
Hall of Fame player, one of the greatest point guards. Ever,
I don't think he's got to look this dude now,
I knowing he wants to trade him, I don't think

(01:27:45):
give you my I don't think a veteran player compared
to the young guys that they had on the Lakers
who were told that they were supposed to be the
future and got the rug pull from under them, that's
totally different. Chris Paul. Chris Paul knows this past year
wasn't f a failure and all counts, no matter why nothing.

(01:28:08):
He didn't do anything. He didn't do anything. Kevin Looney,
you saw him at the day. It was terrible. The
player of Chris Paul's ilk does not expect to see
his name in trade talks when you play like that
and you can't beat the Warriors without Kevin Durant and
the situation that they were in that they lost, when
everybody last year talked about them, Oh, Chris Paul wasn't

(01:28:30):
hurting the games, even they would have went to the championship.
How quickly did that turn around. I'm just saying, I'm
not buying that anybody's being traded. It's providable. It might
be the same way he didn't fire Mike D'Antoni. It
might be because that can't get a good deal, which
is very likely if I won't get a good If
I'm the GM, and that's the point. If I'm the GM,
I'm really gonna make most Chris, I wouldn't have to

(01:28:52):
say anything. The next announcement would be that Chris Paul
got traded to Memphis. That would be That would be
my announcement. You want to you see I'm not playing
you see I'm serious about what's going on here. You
see how I'm gonna get rid of people who who
don't hold up their end of the bargain. I'll make
a trade. I don't have to announce them making a trade.
He didn't announce it. It's been leaked. We don't know

(01:29:12):
if it came from the Rockets. We don't know if
it came from some of the teams they're talking to.
The bottom line is they let it get out, and
stuff leaks. Nowadays, we knew Anthony Davis. Everything doesn't the
Anthony Davis the Lakers offers leake. Remember when the Knicks
everything but a lot of stuff. A lot more stuff
leaks nowadays than he used to. Remember when the Knicks

(01:29:34):
made their trade to Dallas, right, you know what happened overnight?
It was like porzingis cut one and then they and
then all of the stuff came out of you. He
didn't want to be there, and they decided, Okay, we're
not gonna move around. They didn't announce we're gonna trade him.
They just trade him. That's all I'm saying. I don't
believe in Daryl Moore. I just don't see what the

(01:29:55):
benefit is because it's getting out. I just see with
him in the locker room and tell them all y'all
available for trading because most was ridiculous. We're supposed to
beat this team, especially without Kevin Durant. I would trade
all of y'all. But you know how most guys don't.
Most guys send an email because they're not even mad
enough to face. I'll give you a lot of guys
don't want to go. They don't want to face people.

(01:30:18):
But that, but you get fired over email, your girlfriend,
send you something on Instagram, I know what I mean,
and say or Twitter or something. Oh yeah, that's what
they do. They can't. I guess where we disagree is
I think they are available and I don't think they're
gonna make these I don't think I agree with you
that those three players will be on the roster next year,
but I think it's gonna be because I don't think

(01:30:39):
they're trying to trade Harden. Let me say that as well.
But I do think they would trade Chris Paul for
sure if they could get a good deal. But I
don't think you can. I broke up. I just went
and said, I'm done. I'm done. Pack these backs from me.
I'm out of here, all right. Maybe God was waiting
for some type of drop, all right. Is the Rocket's

(01:31:02):
decision to leak their trade plans or just they got
out there, whether they leaked them or not, they knew
they would get out if they're talking to other teams,
or is there a decision to do that this offseason
going to blow up in their face? What do you
think about the Rockets start to this offseason? Eight seven,
seven ninety nine On Fox eight seven seven, nine, nine,

(01:31:22):
six sixty three sixty nine, You're Turned Away in a
Couple Fox Sports Radio and My Cheese Was Hot. Be
sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple with
Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm. Eastern
four pm Pacific at Farmers Insurance. We know every windshield
collision has a unique sound. Beetle bird, boop, drone, seen

(01:31:47):
it covered it? Doctor, Farmers were farmers underwritten? My farmers
took fire insurance exchanges and affiliates product unavailable in every state.
You're tuned into the eye couple with Chris and Rob,
and we got some great news for you. There's a
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to gecode. It only takes fifteen minutes to see if

(01:32:08):
you can say fifteen percent or more on your car insurance.
Go to gecode dot com and see how much you
can save. All right, let's get right to it. A
lot of callers on the lines, the rockets bad start
to the offseason, or are you cool with everybody on
the roster being available for trade and half the assistant
coaches being fired? Let's start with Saba. Hopefully I said that, right, Saba.

(01:32:31):
I remember Carolina last name ranks, right, Saba. Hey you guys,
let me tell you that the odd couple is appointment radio.
Oh wow, speak for yourself? Put together? Thank you? Really,

(01:32:53):
I don't get comfliens out very well? Thank you? All right, listen, rockets,
they won't go anywhere. I don't care who they trade
as only the key Harden, which I think is a
great player, but he's not a great leader, and nothing
happens in the full score. You won't win with him.
The best player in the league by far is Steph Curry.
And I'm sorry, guys, but Charles Barkley is the reason
why he doesn't get this NDPS because he can't see

(01:33:15):
through his plate full of hot dogs and twinkies to
see how good Steph Curry is. Why he is a
rich man Steph um Scottie Pippen, and Steph Curry is
a poor man's Michael Jordan's. Then Curry is a is
the second best player of all time next to Michael Jordans.
You guys aren't giving him credit. The most underrated player

(01:33:36):
ever in the NBA. Okay, he gave us like seven
hot tapes. I know she's been waiting to more, Saba, Hey,
I will because I'm telling you, I got a lot
to say. I thought this was Mama Curry on a lot.
I appreciate the call. Thank you. What about seaw Hey,
Saba was writing about a lot of stuff. I don't
know about that. He's really good. Charles in Atlanta, you're

(01:33:59):
on the OTA for Fox Sports Radio. What's happening? Yeah,
I think it's It's not a bad thing. I mean
I would change his offense, Like Chris Paul can be
one of the top two pick and roll punk goes
in the game. But the way they use them, Like
if they use Chris Paul that way, they would have
made a bitterer, bigger challenge to the to the to

(01:34:21):
the Warriors. But they need a big man that they
can throw the ball down to. Who's got that anymore? Charles,
who's got that anymore? That's true in Philadelphia when mv's
out by the three anymore. De Marcus Cousins can be
the time, but he's never even made the playoffs. I mean,
that's the first time he's been in the playoffs. That's true,

(01:34:41):
that's true. But they just need them use Chris Paul.
I agree with that they made role player exactly. Jane
Harder plays too much high school type basketball. All right,
all right, appreciate it. In Seattle and Randy on with
the Eye Couple, Hey, what's going on, guys? What's happening you? Randy? Hey,
I'm doing well thanks. Hey, So I don't think the

(01:35:03):
Poltics are going about it the wrong way. I don't
think the problem is the players. I think what they
should have did is got rid of D'Antoni. It's the
system that's not gonna work instead of the players. If
you bring a defensive mindy coach like Mark Jackson who
had the Warriors who were all about offense, but he
bought that defensive mentality, that's what the Rockets are missing.
They have the players, it's just the system. D'antoni's system

(01:35:27):
is exciting to watch, but it's not gonna win championships.
And you know what, Randy, we've seen this act before.
Do you remember how good his Phoenix Suns were. They
were great the regular season, but they could never win.
Oh we lost them. Let's go to day Kwan in Maryland.
Day Kwan. You're on with Chris and Robby. What's going on?

(01:35:50):
Nothing much? Yeah, the last caller actually made a good point,
Like I actually agree, Like, it's not the players, D'Antoni, Like,
I don't understand why the general manager wants to jump
to Chay and all the players when you should address
the top first, and that's the head coach and it's
been two years or three years if I'm mistaken when
they have not been able to get pad the Western

(01:36:12):
Conference finals and this year get passed right on too.
I feel like if they get D'Antoni out of there
and just get a coach that's going to imply a
good system instead of just shooting threes and playing ice
ball with James Harden, they can actually go somewhere. Well.
I don't know that, and that's that's why I have
a problem with dal Moorey keeping up with keeping D'Antoni

(01:36:32):
and trying to force him to quit. Just fire them.
You got rid of all. His coach is fired. I
would keep Dante Dande. Tony's got one year left on
his deal. I would keep him for that one year.
I don't get right. I don't know how you feel
about this. I don't get this idea that you can't
let a coach go into his last year he'll be
a lamed up. Why not? A lot of people work

(01:36:53):
on the last years of their kind. But it just
seems like players know and they feel like they don't
even have any confidence in this guy. So you can
you can lose. You could lose a player, all right,
let's go to Alan. What is this, Alma Washington? Yes,
you're on the Great Show. This is the best part
of my drive home after a long tough day. Appreciate it.

(01:37:16):
I want to tell you, I want a number of
points to make it real quick. Is that this is
much ado about nothing. I think Chris Paul and James
Harden understand that or believed that, know that Morey has
earned some capital by putting together the team that he
they has. Now, I know you want to say it

(01:37:36):
was a failure, but let's look at it in terms
of how they played and they're push into the playoffs.
You gotta look at that as a success. And I
think that the reason why they didn't fire um An
Tony is because why not make make some tweaks onto
that team to make it prepare better. I don't think
it's gonna affect Chris Paul in any way. He's a competitor,

(01:37:58):
and you don't think I'll be offended it or bothered
or ticked off or anything. This is trade talks unless
he wanted them. He's a tough cat, so we know
that that's how he plays. And you know, think about it.
They were close. Yeah, they blew it, but they were close.
Let's make a few tweaks, maybe give Arden a little

(01:38:19):
at the rest during the season, which he refused to do,
and see what happens. And I think the Rockets will
be fine. What you do about nothing More's an aggressive manager.
He's had success up to this point. I would trust
him to the next season. All right, Thanks for to
call Alan. All Right, a lot of people wanted to
weigh in on the best small player of all time,

(01:38:40):
Steph Curry or Isaiah thom Is. Now a lot of
you thought Alan Iverson as well. We're gonna give you
all your chance to make your point again at six
forty five Pacific, ninety five Eastern, So get your calls ready.
We got the hot seat of course coming up with
David Gascon. But if you want to weigh in on
best small player of all time, give us a call

(01:39:02):
eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox and we'll get
to you in about fifteen minutes, coming you live from
the Geico Fox Sports Radio studios. It's easy to say
fifteen percent or more in your car insurance with Geico.
Go to Geico dot com or call eight hundred and
nine four seven Auto. The only hard part's figuring out
which way is easy. And I want you guys to

(01:39:23):
know David Gascon is a rising star in this business.
You can follow him on Twitter at David J. Gascon
just like it sounds gas c n Fox Sports Radio
Update anchor, rising star. I'm softening him up for this.
The hot seat, Damn son, the current temperature beyond. Couple

(01:39:45):
are making it hot in here. Damn your butt down
in cooking the hot seat, Yes, sir, it is the
hot seat ther Couple of Fox Sports Radier. We do
this every single Wednesday at nine thirty pm Eastern, where
we invite on our Fox Sports Radio teammates to get
into the ring with the tag team champions of the World,
the Couple, Chris we Start and Rob Parker to defend

(01:40:08):
three of their hottest takes in tonight's next victim, none
other that Update Man extraordinary David Gascon, Dave, how are
you doing today? I'm doing great man, good job for
Chris today booking Isaiah Thomas and Tody Jongee. I'm a
little I'm a little heartbroken to have to do this,
but I'm gigged up about it. All right, all right,
we will see, We'll see how you feeling in about

(01:40:29):
ten minutes. I'm taking that as a shot towards me,
so alady minus one point. All right, guys, you know
how it works. Three very hot, hot hot takes coming
from David Gascon, So let's get right to it. Topic
number one. Dave says that Peyton Manning would be more
successful as an NFL hood head coach than he ever

(01:40:51):
would be as a GM Dave, you got thirty seconds.
Tell us why, guys. I think this goes back to
his playing days. If you recall what he did in
Indianapolis and also what he did Endeavoring could not do.
He had only the league's top ranked defense one time
the Broncos won the Super Bowl. But back to his
days in the Indianapolis Colts, he masks a lot of deficiencies,
especially on the defensive side of the football. If he

(01:41:13):
is a head coach of an organization, he controls both sides,
and more importantly, the number one position of critical importance
in the NFL is what a quarterback, and he's arguably
the game's best quarterback that has ever played the position. Look,
he maybe he'd be a good head coach, but I
gotta be honest. I don't think Peyton Manning wants to
put in the work the fifteen eighteen hour days that

(01:41:33):
a lot of these head coaches put in. I'm sorry,
why hasn't he become a GM or a head coach already?
He certainly could have. He wants to enjoy a bit
of his life, enjoyed some family. I think you have
a better balance with that as a GM than you
can as a head coach. So I think Peyton Manning
would be better off in the front office than down

(01:41:54):
on the field. With the truth, Chris, you're acting like
he doesn't do this already in his television career. What
he does, whether it's with Espano, where he does it
with scouting. If you're a general manager, that's still a
long days of work twelve thirteen, fourteen hours, because don't
forget not only the general manager making sure that everything
is in place with your team salary cap of whatnot,
but you need to make sure that all the guys
are working for your scouts throw on par with what

(01:42:16):
your demands are, getting your coaching staff straight. He's gonna
manage a lot of different people, and that includes the
egos of some of the head coaches and the coaching
staff to stop it. First of all, he wouldn't be
able to fit a cap with that big head of it,
so he can't. Big number two. Just because you won

(01:42:37):
and you are a great player, it doesn't always make
you a great coach. We've seen this before. Can you
show me the video of Bill Belichick played in the NFL.
Oh wait a minute, there isn't any because you never played. Oftentimes,
guys who are good they just know how to do it.
They can't explain it to other people. Wow, that was

(01:42:59):
a good not there, great star. But you know what,
GASCT started out in the hole. As I said before,
that was a ten nine round for the Eye Couple.
Thank you. That's what you get, you selfish son of it.
Who's the great player? That's a hand coach? Nobody is there,
I'm trying to think, really telling you, it's Gascon. Gascon. Yeah,

(01:43:20):
even even out there was a Ted Williams up managed
Washington Centers with terrible nobody. I'm telling you, doesn't happen ahead,
all right, guys, Topic number two. Now, Dave has a
good strategy here. He knows the only way to beat
the Eye Couple is to pit him against each other
and right now, he wants Chris Brussard in the hot

(01:43:40):
seat because Chris is the only one on this show
who thinks that the Warriors can still win a title
without Kevin Durant in these upcoming NBA finals. Chris, you
got thirty seconds. Stay your case. It's already been proven.
I mean what, they can't win a title without Kevin Durant.
They did it once, and they did it as great
as Kawhi Leonard is playing Lebron James is better, okay,

(01:44:05):
And they beat Lebron James without Kevin Durant, and most people,
all due respect to Cleveland, think they would have beaten
him again in twenty sixteen had Dremond Green I've been
suspended for Game five. So there's no question that the
Warriors are capable of the champion. Chris, what are you
talking about? He hasn't beaten Kawhi Leonard yet. The Golden

(01:44:27):
State Warriors, they haven't done that yet. Kawhi Leonard with
this team styles make fights, They can go toe to toe.
And of course when you look at Golden State how
they match up with Kawhi Leonard. Do you put Klay
Thompson on him? Do you put Steph Curry on him?
Do you put andre Iguadall on him? Kawhi Leonards A
knight is a matchup nightmare against this Golden State Warriors team.
And the best part about it is he's got complimentary

(01:44:48):
players around him, so we could take the first and
second quarters off and then drop the hammer in the
third and fourth quarter. Are you crazy? What complimentary players?
Who's the second All Star? And they got three guys
as they can throw at him and none of them
Steph Curry, as you just saying they got Igwood Dollar,
they got Draymond Green, Klay Thompson. The Warriors scored seven
more points a game in the playoffs without Durant. They

(01:45:11):
win by six more points. They went by ten without him,
they won by four with him. Their field goal percentage
is better. They're three point percentage is better. They're undefeated
five and oh without KD. They were seventy four with
him in the playoffs. Don't tell without him, always revisionist
history to pass on his own narrative. Come on, Chris.

(01:45:32):
With KD, they're eight and one in the finals. Without KD,
they're six and seven and six. This team is not
an automatic lock. And you know it. The last time
we saw Steph Curry leader team in the NBA Finals,
they choked down a three to one lead and stop
with the Draymond Green. He didn't miss Game seventy, missed
Game five, they still had to win. They could have

(01:45:55):
won him any one of the last two games, including
Game seven at home. Wow. Another very tough round to score.
But you know what, I don't think Russar brought it
that one out. He did better in the regular show.
So go and Parker, come on, do you have to
the show? Oh Man? Last round it's worth two and

(01:46:24):
a half points. You know how it works. It is
the hottest take of the night. David Gas come back
in the hot seat because he says that Heat is
the greatest movie that Al Pacino and Robert de Niro
ever did together. Dave, good luck with this. We've got
thirty seconds. Tell us why, guys, I'm not gonna let
you treat me like Ben Mallin slapped me around all night.
So this is what it is. He is the best

(01:46:46):
move between these two characters. And the reason why is
because Godfather Too, the one that both of them are in,
is not even close to Godfather One, the original. Everyone
knows the sequels aren't as good as the original and
the other one, that they're a part of Righteous Kill,
that there's even come on my radar. Of course it's Heat,
their protagonist, the antagonist. These two guys on the same

(01:47:06):
page to the greatest actors of all time. They made
everything come to life in that movie. Are you serious?
The heat? Heat was nothing before Dwayne Wayne got there.
The only good Heat had Lebron James, d Wayne and
Chris Boss. We did. Don't give me that. The Guyfather
Part two clearly the best movie with Piccino and DeNiro,

(01:47:27):
and they'll just take my word for it. It got
eleven Oscar nominations and DeNiro one Best Supporting Actor. What
are you talking about, gascon is uh is Alex giving
you some funny stuff that you up there sniffing on
in between breaks. Something I need to send you back
to church reconciliation right here? How can Godfather to be

(01:47:51):
the greatest movie between those two characters when they were
never ever in the same scene together. That can't come
to life? Are you absolutely out of your mind? How
can to the greatest actors are part of one of
the greatest franchises ever be considered the best movie for them. Well,
they're not even in the best scene. He clearly does
that the cafeteria scene after they get off in the freeway,

(01:48:12):
when they have a come to Jesus moment. You know
all about this Christmas side gave me. Damn it, Gascon,
I'm gonna make you an offer you can't refuse. Stop
it when you're talking about he Christians told you eleven
Academy Awards, the Godfather's series and The Godfather movie. I

(01:48:34):
don't care about the scene. It's about the entire movie,
not one magical scene that doesn't make the movie. It's
about the entire movie, The Godfather. Everybody's seen The Godfather.
Everybody knows it's a classic with blood on it. We
love The Godfather. Forget about it. I did not expect

(01:48:54):
Gascon to make as good of a case as he did.
I mean, he was fighting up hill battle. But and
he mentioned the very good point that you'd ever had
DeNiro and Pacino in the same scene again where they
definitely yes they were, Gascon, were they Yeah, they were
in actually multiple scenes. I read something that the cafeteria

(01:49:15):
seeming of the gunfight at the end where DeNiro gets
shot by Pacino. Spoiler alert. The winner of this edition
of the Hot Seat the Underdog, David who stopping see
me in my office after the show. You're no longer
Rob g No dinner tomorrow night for you? Wow, you're

(01:49:40):
not watching the game with us? All right, David Gascot,
excellent job, even though the judging was suspect. All right,
it's been our biggest topic of the day. Who is
the best small player in NBA history? Isaiah Thomas or
Steph Curry? You're turned away in eight seven seven ninety
nine on Fox. We will continue this conversation with you.

(01:50:03):
Next is The Eye Couple Fox Sports Radio. Fox Sports
Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation.
Catch all of our shows at Fox sports Radio dot
com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search f SR to
listen live. At Farmers Insurance, we know the sound of
a perfect hot air balloon landing and a lesson perfect

(01:50:25):
one covered it FO to Farmers. We are farmers under
written my Farmers truck Fire Insurance exchanges and affiliates products
unavailable every state. All right, it's the Eye Couple Chris,
Bruce Sard and Rob Parker wrapping up another great show

(01:50:47):
and We're gonna wrap it up with you. You're turned
the way in eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox.
Who is the best small player in NBA history? Let's
start with Enis in New York and I say Steph Curry, Inness,
I say Steph Curry slightly above the legendary Isaiah Thomas.
Let's see what Nis in New York says. You're with

(01:51:07):
the eye couple of Innis. It's absolutely Steph Curry. And
I lost all respect for Isaiah Thomas after the call tonight,
Not after him walking out on Jordan's sweeping it, not
after his job with the Knicks, but the fact that
he said that we would have won a title. It's
not for a phantom call. Are you kidding me? You're
just doing the lexic Paul Pierce who said that they

(01:51:27):
would have won a title without Kendrick if Kendrick Perkins
didn't get hurt, and the Rockets saying that they would
have won if Chris Paul didn't get hurt. I can't
believe he said that in this How how old are you?
I'm thirty three? Okay, I'm gonna tell you. Go back,
go to YouTube, look that up Google, like Kareem I'll
do a jabbar. You've seen it. It was I'm with

(01:51:51):
you on that you lost, period, but that was a horror.
It was literally a fandom call. That's that's what's to
say that they would have won the following year after that.
Rob Parker says, that's the patriot shernon, I've won the
Super Bowl at David Tyree called on his helmet, no excuses,
Steph Curry never talks about Draymond Green, suspension or bogus

(01:52:12):
injured legs, none of that. I lost all respect for
Zamons Isaiah Thomas tonight. And I'm not supposed to say this,
but rock them all right, and this is with a
strong call. Let's go to Evan and Virginia. Evan, you're
on with the odd couple. Hey, Davenan Fellas, I enjoyed
your conversation with Isaiah to night, and I like the
way that he didn't try to put this stuff above step.

(01:52:35):
But Robin, I'm still with you, Robin, Isaiah. If if
Draymond Graham missing out on Game five, in Game seven,
the Warriors didn't scored the last four minutes of the
game and they let lebron team win, Isaiah would never
let that happen, he would have, Oh he would he
would have not win scorers and then led four minutes

(01:52:56):
and never hold that Againstep because if he could have
scored a basket, they would have when titles in a row, Well,
Isaiah had and he admitted tonight. Remember Game five against
Boston in eighty seven when he threw that bad pass
that cost him the game. Larry Birdston at the end
of the game, you can go phenomenal, one of the

(01:53:17):
greatest finals performances we've ever seen, when he scored twenty
five in the third quarter on a bad ankle. But
Game seven, now obviously was banged up. The ankle was terrible,
but he didn't play well in that Game seven, couldn't
really score. And so you know, you can point every
guys had their moments where they didn't deliver. So let's

(01:53:38):
be fair about that. Let's go to Skip in Orlando. Skip,
you're on with the eye couple. Hey, great to talk
to you guys. I would put Alan Iverson up there
ahead of step Curry. And if I was going to
argue between Isaiah Thomas and Alan Iverson, probably Isaiah Thomas
because of the domination of big guys. But man Alan
Iverson went to the hoop when it took gut to

(01:54:01):
do that, and you got punished if you did. Yes,
he was a volume scorer, but he is the greatest
small guy he'd ever to be out there. He's powerful,
he's great. I just seen Ai. Look, he would be
third on my list. But he was hard to play with,
you know, especially for talented All Stars because he was
such a volume shooter and ball dominant. That team he

(01:54:23):
went to the finals with was the best built for
him to get to the finals because it was a
bunch of grinders, defenders and spot up shooters to Kim Bay, Mtumble,
George Lynch, Tyrone Hill, Eric Snow. That's the type of
team he needed around him. And when he had Carmelo,
Anthony and Denver, he wasn't able to deliver. They didn't
even get out of the first round. So that's why

(01:54:46):
I give Steph and Isaiah Thomas the nod over Ai.
Let's go to Jared in Australia. Jared, welcome to the
Eye Couple. Who you got, gentlemen, I'm gonna throw one
that no one said at a couple of anyone's like
not said it. The logo and Jerry West. He's the
logo for a reason. He wanted in the finals and

(01:55:09):
they lost. I mean, I don't know how anyone I'm
not saying Jerry West. I think I don't consider and
I think most people probably don't consider him a small player. Now.
I believe he is listed at sixty three, which is
the same as Steph. But Jerry West didn't play small.
We got a lot ton of rebounds. Obviously got players
were a little bit smaller out the ton, but a

(01:55:31):
little bit smaller than And I just think most people,
include myself, don't really consider Jerry West to be a
small player, and that's why you haven't heard his name
mentioned more. Even still, I still would put Steph ahead
of him as the best small player of all time.
All Right, it is the eye couple Chris Bruce Sard

(01:55:51):
and Rob Parker. Parker. You gotta go to Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, iTunes,
Fox Sports radio dot com. Subscribe to the podcast downloaded. Uh,
leave us a comment, leave us some stars. Ideally five.
Tell your friends, your families, your neighbors, your ex girlfriend,

(01:56:13):
your ex boyfriend, your your your ex wife, whatever it
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your friends, tell everybody, And tomorrow we got ice Cube
coming on. They couple, so you definitely want to check
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(01:56:37):
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