December 9, 2025 • 43 mins
Isaiah Thomas & C.J. Toledano discuss Isaiah’s Sun Valley Film Festival experience for his documentary short, Go Forward; his proud dad moment after his son’s high school debut; how realistic a Giannis Bucks trade really is; NBA Cup predictions for the week and acknowledge the legend of Red Panda.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:12):
Welcome to another episode of Point Game. I'm your host CJ. Toldano,
and I'm joined as always with my co host Isaiah Thomas.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I T how you feeling today, Man, I'm good, Bro,
how are you? I'm good. I'm good.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
You know, it feels a little bit slow in the
league right now, but you know, whenever it does start
to feel like that, some big stories start happening, we
start hearing some rumors. So we're gonna cover that of
course today, because we're of course gonna talk Gianness, We're
gonna talk to the NBA Cup, and we're also gonna
revisit your segment no days off.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
But first, man, I.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Was just on social, you know, over the weekend, and
it felt like a very big weekend for you. So
I was hoping just to hear from you, like, yeah,
what was going on? Because we talked about last last episode,
the premiere of your docu short Go Forward happened over
in Idaho, So tell us about that that experience.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
The experience was amazing.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
That was my first time being at a film festival,
so I was out of my space, out of my
element a little bit, but it was super dope to
be able to meet so many filmmakers, directors, producers, you know,
everything in that space and for us to show our
short dock go forward, it was amazing. Like the feedback
(01:22):
was like it put a smile on my face just
because and my dad. My dad came too, so that
was big. That was the first time he ever seen it,
even though like he had some interviews in it, so
it was touching for him, But it touched everybody that
put their eyes on it, Like it was. I'm getting
feedback you know since since that night from everybody that
(01:44):
was there. So I can't wait for you know, the
world to see it because it's super impactful.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
It's super inspiring.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Obviously, it's something like I talked about earlier with grief.
That's something you know, everybody is familiar with. You know,
one thing we got all got in common is somebody
you're going through grief or some type of adversity. So
it's one of them short dogs to where like itah
lift you up a little bit, like it'll make you
(02:11):
it's an emotional roller coaster. But we got a lot
of great feedback and it's only going to be bigger
and better down the line.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Yeah, man, was it at all like hooping where you know,
the first time, maybe you want a game where you
kind of hit flow state or whatever, like seeing people
because you know, when you're making these these films, you're
you're shooting at you're you know, you're the main main character.
You're sitting in the editing booth, you're watching it with
you know, a couple of you know, your trusted collaborators.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
But now you're showing it to the people.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
So, like, what was that feeling seeing everyone react to
it for the first time.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
It was emotional, Honestly it was because it's so touching.
Like obviously it happened to me, my little sister, my family,
so it's emotional. But like like I said, it was
the emotional roller coaster. You get people smiling and laughing
and seeing memories, and then you get people crying and
and and needn't tissue the whole time because it's that deep.
(03:06):
But then towards the end you got people smiling again
because it's super in inspiring. And we had a few
people raise their hand after when we had some q
and a's about things that just it really touched them,
like they didn't know what they were coming to see.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
That's why the film festivals.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Are so dope because a lot of people who participate
in those you don't know what movie you're going to watch,
you don't know what short doc you're going to watch.
So when you see something out of the ordinary that
you didn't eve even expect, which a lot of people did,
it was it was super dope. And like I said,
it was it was cool to see my dad shower
with some love over you know, a tragic situation. But
(03:41):
to see him smile as much as he did when
people was coming up to him, you know, talking to
him about just his strength and his you know, inspiration
and moving forward. It was everything. So that was that
was the That was the best part of the weekend.
And just seeing my dad shower with a little bit
of love and seeing him smiling and be in a
good space.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I love that everyone go check out, go for when
you get an opportunity. I'm excited. I want to see
in the theater setting now after a hle about it.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Another thing that happens since we last recorded, And I
didn't even see this because you posted it. I saw
this because I follow all these basketball aggregator accounts. But
your son made his freshman debut from if I'm not mistaken, right, yeah, and.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Okay, so here's from a fan standpoint.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Here's what I what I The experience that I love
when I see this for the first time is they go, oh,
the son of whatever you know star and then you
see their game and it's it's like watching you all over.
You see the stuff that he picked up, like it
was like watching watching you again, but like walk us
through that. You know, I'm a father too, so I
can't even imagine that feeling. So tell us all about that.
(04:47):
You've been watching him and helping them grow as a player,
and now you get to see him put it all
to work.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
So my oldest son, James, is fifteen. He's a freshman
at Ai Wright High School in Tacoma. He had his
first high school game and it's crazy because, like that
was one of my proud dad moments, just seeing him
in the starting lineup, get his name called. That's the
first time he's probably been in a starting lineup situation
where they got an announcer and things like that. And
(05:13):
to see him have a good game and most importantly
his team win, Like he had twenty six points, eight assists,
three rebounds, two steals, like, and he missed three or
four free throws, so he didn't have a perfect game.
But it was amazing to just sit back and see
him be able to experience that because I remember my
first high school game and it's crazy because my first
(05:35):
high school game, I had twenty six points as well.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
So I had a.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Bet with him, like, I know you're not gonna be
able to pass that, and the only reason why he
did it because he missed three free throws so he
would have had twenty nine. But it was amazing, man,
I all my family could do, My dad, my wife,
his siblings obviously is just smile because it was a
(05:59):
big moment for all of us, Like it was cool.
So I was shout out to big game James, James
the Great having a successful high school debut. But you know,
I was a proud dad. But the competitor in me
is like, it's onto the next We gotta be bigger
and better, we gotta this is expected. So it was
a super cool moment being a dad, but also for
(06:21):
our family just seeing him be able to be in
high school and be on his own.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Man, that's always wondering if that you said, the competitor
and you were you like taking notes at all, where
you guys break down the game, watching film.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Look, we do, we do it all. I got notes
on my phone throughout the game.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Last night.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
We just watched the first two games because they played
a game after that too.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
So they won.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
We watched both games, all games, every possession. He's in
both sides of the floor. Just trying to be that
coach for him as well, so like trying to put
him in allow him to see things he might not
see while he's playing, because I always tell him watching
films the answers to the test and if you start
watch film at this age, like it's only going to
become a habit and it's only going to make you
(07:05):
better down the road.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
So he didn't like some of the things I.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Was saying, but you know, constructive criticism at his at
his finest.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Yeah, man, that's got to be awesome to see. I
was watching JJ Crawford's highlights were coming out too. It's
just like we talked.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
We've talked about it so many times of like you guys,
we were mentored, you know by some of the grades,
and now your own kids, you know, are already out there.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
It's it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
It's just kind of the tradition continues, and I think
NBA fans, Basketball fans in general like, oh, you got
to look out for that kid like their dad is
is so and so, And it's honestly just yeah, JJ too.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
His handle is.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
You see his bounce to it, It's like he looks
just like his dad. But it's shout out to Jamal,
Shout out to jj Man. JJ had a hell of
a high school debut one of the top teams in
the country at Rainer Beach High School. So shout out
to my bro Jamal and my my young nephew, JJ Man.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
The sky's the limit for these kids.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
I'm coming up there. I got to watch some of
these games live.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Oh you got to it's live. It's live too.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Okay, Okay, let's go into the league. So were we
mentioned earlier before. A big name is potentially in on
the trade block. Janna Santacumpo, a guy who I feel
like a few years ago seemed untouchable.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
They had won the championship.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
They've gone through the last couple of seasons some rough
years after winning the championship, to a couple of coaching
changes and and you know, they they kind of exited
the Dame Lillard plan here, and you know, Joannis got
hurt the other night, left the game with right calf strain.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
I think he's out for about four.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Weeks, and the story leaked out that they're actually him
and his agent are going to discuss with the Bucks
his future. So I guess, in general, how realistic do
you think that we could see Jannis traded in on
another team this season.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
That quick?
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Yeah? Yeah, there's not not not saying. I don't know
if it would be DCS, I'm not sure, but to
have that dialogue and it's only the beginning of December,
for a guy of that caliber, something is true behind that.
So I don't see him being in the Milwaukee Bucks
uniform for much longer because one their roster isn't constructed
(09:19):
to compete for a championship, as we've seen at the
start of this year. I honestly don't think they're good
enough right now. And for a guy like that who's
been so successful obviously he's won a championship multiple MVPs.
When you get to become that age, you kind of
don't want to waste any more years. You want to
be put in position to where you got a chance
(09:41):
to win a championship each and every year. And I
honestly believe like Milwaukee's window might be closing, or it
might have already closed in terms.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Of competing for a championship.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
Obviously after losing Drew Holliday, then Damian Lillard played a
year or two in Milwaukee and then didn't you know,
get that much success as they thought they would, And
then for Giannest to even you know, slip up and
get injured the other night, like it's it's it's a
tough go around. I think I think he's gonna weigh
his options and see where, you know, the best, most
(10:13):
realistic place he can go. But I think his time
is coming to an end in Milwaukee. And and like
you said, you would never have thought he would leave
Milwaukee just just because it seemed like he was he
would be a lifer. And obviously we could be wrong,
but I think I think it might be done with
with the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
It's so fascinating. You know, you win a championship and
the expectation is you got to keep winning more.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Right like we saw coach budd get Get let Go.
They brought an Adrian Griffin. They fired him despite them
having a dese pretty decent record, you know, and then
they get they went out and got Dame that didn't
you know, Dame didn't.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Dame got hurt. You know, it's not that it didn't work,
it's just he got hurt. And I feel like they've
tried so many things in this small window that they're
just calling it, you know, they're kind of calling it
and not you know, so, I mean probably getting frustrated.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
Too, exactly. That's that's the most important thing right there.
He's getting frustrated. And then he has nobody, no disrespect
to any other players on his team. They're obviously NBA
players are good, but he has nobody he can look
down on that roster and honestly say that can compete
for a championship today. And that's the tough part, especially
(11:25):
when you're losing. You know, all those things come into
play in terms of getting traded, figuring things out where
you're going to go next. When you're winning, it takes
care of all of that. And obviously they're not winning
right now, so it's just a tough situation to be in.
I think he got a lot of love for Milwaukee.
It just might be time to move forward.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Okay, So where do you think he's going? Who wants them?
Who can make the moves?
Speaker 4 (11:48):
I mean, everybody wants them. But he's going to New
York for sure. He's going to a big market.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
I don't think he's going to go to La or
anywhere on the West where, which I mean, if that's
an opportunity, you might see him in La La Lamb.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
But New York. I think that.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Would be an ideal situation for him. Like I just big,
the big Apple.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
But they got to give up a big one of
these big guys like and are willing.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
To give you gotta give up Cat.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Okay, so a smart move.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
And it's it's crazy that I'm even asking this, but like,
you make it to the Eastern Conference finals.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
You know, the Pacers are.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Out this let's say this, would you make that move? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (12:33):
I guess it's like yeah, I mean you only there's
only one shot at Yannis that might be right now.
Speaker 4 (12:39):
That's like like obviously, all due respect the Cat or
whoever will be in that trade.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
But it's like, this is the window. You talked about
it a minute ago.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
They it's only a small window to really win a championship.
So like even if if New York didn't make that
trade and they go with this team and they don't
get past the Eastern Conference finals, they're in the office
looking like we got we might have to make a move.
And that's back to back years of being successful. Like
so the window of winning the championship is maybe two
(13:09):
to three years, and then you got to kind of
look on and look what's next and what the possibilities
can So obviously just throwing that out there, I don't
think that with trade Jayalen Brunson, but you know, anything's
on the line when like Luca got traded, so nothing
like everything's you know, nothing is off limits.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
That's crazy after the Luca thing, like anyone can go,
anyone can go.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
It's from here on out, anyone can go at any time.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I do think, you know, Janni says he's still incredible,
but he is an older player and we've honestly seen
the last couple of years young guys and and you know,
these solid role players are are almost you know, winning
the championships. So like I guess the question is I
and I can even you know, say some scenarios here,
but like.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
How much is too much for Yon?
Speaker 1 (14:00):
So like in the Rockets case, you know, where they've
made some great movies over the last couple of years.
You know they can contend, Like would you do like
an Alprin Sangoon and a Fred van Vliet who is hurt,
and then a first round pick for Giannis.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
See, that's tough. You probably wouldn't because that goon is
so young. Yeah, so you got to put that into
consideration too. Obviously it sounds good, it looks good, but
I don't think Houston is like, because it does that,
at the end of the day, does that guarantee you
a championship? So unless it guarantees you something, I don't
think you're going to give up, you know, a younger
(14:36):
player that's a star right now to get Yannis and
not guarantee you going to the finals. So it's hard,
Like I'm not no front office god guy, but I'm
thinking that's how they're thinking.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Yeah, well for my Lakers, you know, because everyone's this season,
everyone's like reads untouchable now. But even though he was
constantly being thrown in trade trade Tarz last couple of years,
you know, Austin and.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Ruey, you know, the to the Bucks.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
The Bucks get some picks or whatever, and the Lakers
don't have that many picks anymore. But would you do
something like that where we've seen We've seen Reeves and
Ruey in the in the postseason. They got to the
Western Commerce Finals once, but they didn't last year. Like,
do you do a Yannis have a Yannis Lebron and Luca.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Austin Reeves, You're out of here, bro Ruey, that's my
Rooking Washington Wizards.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
You're out of here. You're out of here.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Like if that, if that scenario came up, do I
think the Lakers would do it?
Speaker 3 (15:32):
I I'm not sure.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
If I'm in the front office, I might Like that's
that's one that is going to get you a little
closer right now. Like obviously Reeves is a little younger,
Ruey's younger as well. But if I'm trying to win
a championship within the next year or two, that's getting
me closer.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Off off top, Okay, one more, one more West West
Coast scenario.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Here's here.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
This one's interesting because we talked about Janie to the Warriors.
So here's a trade package for the Warriors with Sin,
Draymond Green, Jonathan Kaminga, Buddy Healed a twenty six, twenty eight,
and thirty first round pick, and you get Yannis and
also don't forget, if you get Yannest, you also gets
the Nasis.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
So yeah, yeah, he gotta come, he gotta go. It's
definitely slide.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Would you would you give a Draymond and Kaminga and
Buddy Heal?
Speaker 4 (16:21):
I would do that because Draymond's towards the end of
his career, Kaminga is the important piece. Milwaukee will be
in rebuild mode, so they can kind of build around
a young star or potential star.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
There's a few draft picks in there. And then did
you name one.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Other buddy hit by Shooter?
Speaker 3 (16:40):
You can always you can always go with a Shooter.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
And then but with the Warriors, it's like when you
make that trade, you guys gotta win today, Like you
guys gotta.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Win right now for it to make sense.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
You guys gotta win this year or either next year
and then figure that thing out. So it's tough because
as it puts your future in jeopardy of being good
in your future. But like the NBA is all about
what have you done lately, they don't really care about
the future like that exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
And you know, honestly, with we talked about at a
bunch okayc in the season they're having, it's just like
people are going to start making some rash decisions.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
You're going to cause it's like can we keep up
with oka See?
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (17:21):
So you know, the NBA is all about the copycat league.
Everybody's going to try to mimic what Okac has. So
that's the direction, especially if Okay See wins it again
this year. The direction that the NBA would be the
style of players they have, the style of play that
they have, and then you got to adjust to that.
That's how it was with the Warriors in the two
(17:43):
thousand and you know, fifteen on, everybody was trying to
find everybody was trying to run their offense. Everybody was
trying to find shooters like them, and you just couldn't
because you're not.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
You'll find a.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
Shooter, but he's not clearly as good as you know,
Klay Thompson and Steph Curry.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
And then when they added Kevin Durant, it was it was.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Correct, they corrected it.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
It was like, oh, now y'all are cheating. It was
even fun. No more.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
All right, on that note, we're gonna go to break
and we'll come back. We're talk at NBA Cups. All right,
we're back on point game.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
We're gonna talk about the NBA Cup just overall it.
Let me ask you, we're about three years into it.
Do you feel like this was a good decision?
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Is it working?
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Are you even as like a fan? Do you think
this is helping out the league and people being more
attentive during the regular season.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Yeah, it's it's a good thing. I think it's it's
been successful. I think it puts, you know, money in
guys pockets. Obviously, it makes a little more competitive when
there's some money on the line. But I think it's
a good thing for the fans. It's something you can
you know they're there. Are they putting banners up? Aren't
they putting banners up for the couch?
Speaker 1 (18:57):
Well, and so I remember when the Lakers won it
their first year, people are like, don't put that banner up.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
That's yeah, but.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
Look if a team like Detroit wins it, or you
know somebody that don't get banners like that, I'm putting
that up in the this facility at.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Least, I think the banners the check.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
The check is what the check is. What they're playing
for first and foremost.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Well, that's the thing is like the Vets, even though
they that check doesn't you know, with some of their contracts,
that doesn't mean much.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
You got to do it to the go is That's
what I'm saying. You do it for the guys. It's
on two ways. You do it for the younger guys.
You also which is dope. That happens even in the playoffs.
When you go further in the playoffs, obviously you get
playoff checks and bonuses. But it goes to like the
support staff throughout the organization like that, that's always important
as well. When there's incentives on these things, a lot
(19:46):
of the guys, especially the older guys, is given a
little breakdown to the trainer is given a little breakdown
to somebody that works in the front office. So like,
these things are a valuable piece in you know, organizations
throughout the year as well.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
So shout out to you know, the support staff.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
In each organization, man, because you know without them, you know,
things wouldn't flow as easy as it does.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
All I got to say, if like my my yearly
bonus relied on Lebron or SGA.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I'd be happy about that, you know.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
I'd be good. But then if your yearly bonus relied
on somebody else, we won't even man. You know, there's
a few teams you're like, we got no chance. This
ain't it.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
The other aspect that they did is these courts, which
we won't get in trouble here, but some of these
courts they have taken some chances and they saw some
issues with They're like highlight colors. Some players are slipping
on the paint, Like what do you think about that?
Speaker 2 (20:42):
That feature?
Speaker 3 (20:44):
They're just doing too much right now.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
I know, like I know, like when you're turning on TV,
if you see something like that, you might stop and
watch it. I think that's why they're doing it. But
they're doing they're doing a lot with the court. That's
one thing.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Like the Cup.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
I like the idea about it and everything behind it.
The courts is nasty. The courts is bad. We got
to change that, Oudam silver it is.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
I remember I was a big proponent any who falls
my NBA Twitter. I was like, I want the Larry
O'Brian trophy back on the finals court, you know, and
then they're like, oh, we can't do it because you know,
the paint mess things up. But then they would do
the season tournament.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
I'm big. I'm big on the trophy being in the
finals too. That was That was classic, bro.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
That's classic, right, Like it makes me feel like you're
watching the most.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
Important being season man for real.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
But I think they're fixing that. But anyways, back to
the Cup. All right, so let's walk through some of
these matchups. I know you have a favorite, but let's
talk about maybe your favorite and who you think might
be a dark horse in the in the I mean
in the tournament coming up. So in the quarter finals,
we got okay, see Suns, Lakers, Spurs, Magic, Heat, Raptors, Knicks.
So let's talk about who do you think is going
(21:55):
to take it all? And then who could be your
dark horse?
Speaker 3 (21:58):
I got okay, see teking it.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
I know that's an easy pick, but they're definitely the
best team in the league. They still got a lot
of young guys that are, you know, chasing some bread too,
so you always got to think about that as well.
If it means something to a team, I got them
winning it. If winby was if Winby was healthy, the
Spurs would be my dark horse, But I might go
(22:23):
with who was the other two on the other side.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Yeah, Magic Heat and Raptors Knicks.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
That's that's tough right there. I don't know.
Speaker 4 (22:31):
I would say, you're I would go in New York
on the other side. I got okay seeing New York
in there, and then they can battle. They can battle it.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Out because of the issue I had, Like March Madness
is so fun because it's one game elimination, and I
you know, I feel like when I was growing up,
everyone's like, what if the playoff NBA playoffs for one
game elimination? Like this isn't crazy, you know, but this
is like the closest we're gonna get to it.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
So it is it?
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Well, okase he's been so dominant. All takes is on
any given night in this case.
Speaker 4 (22:59):
No who's the best team on that night. That's why
it makes it more exciting. So yeah, I got okay. See,
but I'm a basketball here.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
I know.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
Anything can happen when it's just one game. It could
be somebody's career night.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
You ever know any any danger do you think?
Speaker 1 (23:17):
And and these guys winning a bunch of money and
then walking out and it's the casinos in Vegas.
Speaker 4 (23:22):
Oh it's going down. I'm telling I'm telling you right now.
So that's not unless they leave right after the game.
Oh yeah, they going, They're gonna be on the Blackjack,
They're gonna be they're gonna be doing all that for sure,
unless they're leaving. A smart team will have their guys
leaving directly after the game.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
You get on the plane, get out of there.
Speaker 4 (23:42):
Uh nah, because it's gonna be some trouble or that
check is gonna go somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Well do you think you know?
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Because they keep I feel like they keep hinting that
Vegas might get a team, and this might have been
like sort of like teasing that. Do you think it's
a good idea? Even just like looking at all the
other pro teams that have gone to Vegas? You know,
we got the Athletics going to the Raiders are there
now and it's still kind of an experiment phase. You
think it's good if the NBA expands to Vegas.
Speaker 4 (24:08):
Yeah, first they got to expand the Seattle, so shout
out to the Sonics, we need them back. But yeah,
Vegas would be good. I think I don't think it
would be a bad thing for the home team. Like
you you are where you live, Like if you live
in Vegas, you're not going to the casino, You're not
doing all that all the time.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
Yeah, it's the role.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
Teams that are coming in that are coming to Vegas
and going to have a good time. So I do
think Vegas needs a team. We've seen with the other
sports they've been successful, like hockey I think won their
first year they were there.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Football is doing.
Speaker 4 (24:40):
I don't know about the Raiders, but as baseball gets
there as well. You got the w NBA. Shout out
to the w NBA, who's won a few championship down
Las Vegas exactly. So I think it's a good thing
if the NBA goes to Vegas.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
It just would be a tough little situation for the
role teams for sure.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
I'm going to get killed for saying this because, uh,
you know, and a few years ago people are like, oh,
the Clippers, if they removed, they got to go up
to Seattle.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
I think the Clippers should go to Vegas.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
I think in the last few years, but everything going
on and I feel like.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
We've seen Clippers.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
I saw Clippers fan the other day, die our Clippers
fans say he's done with the franchise, he's gonna become.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
I've seen that. If I'm a Clipper fan, I'm doing
that too. Though. They're disappointing. I'm sorry, and they say
no clickbait or nothing.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
No, highly disappointed, disappointing. And then on top of what
they did, the CP three is like, come on, man,
we called it, we called it, we did, we did,
we did, we did?
Speaker 3 (25:39):
No, we did, we did?
Speaker 1 (25:41):
So what okay, segue into that what happens to CP
and I don't care disregard any of what really happened
there they said, I think just even I guess recap it.
They said that they didn't like CP's leadership, which is
crazy because we've seen how impactful positively CEP's leadership has
been through other teams. So like what, I guess, Yeah,
(26:03):
what was your reaction in seeing that? Literally hours after
we were talking about it on the pod last week?
Speaker 4 (26:08):
Man, it was crazy, but I mean you started to
hear little things like just how they were treating him. Obviously.
CP three is a Hall of first ballot, Hall of Famer. Uh,
He's a leader first and foremost whole guys accountable, and
it just sounds like it was opposite of what they wanted.
And maybe his voice was too strong in the locker room,
but they knew that before they signed them how strong
(26:30):
of a voice he has.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
So it's a tough situation.
Speaker 4 (26:35):
Obviously, I'm not in those locker rooms, so I don't
know exactly what happened.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
But you don't. You don't.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
You don't do that, no matter how bad it is, Like,
you don't you figure that out, especially for a guy
that signed there to sign off his career and go
out on a great note and the way he should.
I think you figure that out behind closed doors and
and you just ride with that the rest of the season.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
So it's crazy.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
We spoke about that before it happened, but it's definitely
not crazy it happened that.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
No, it's because that's the one thing is like, also
from a PR standpoint, every player who ever played with CP,
we have Blake Griffin, who you know, went through some
similar stuff over there. It's like the Clippers aren't helping
themselves out. You know, everyone came out and was like,
how can you do CP? Like this waving during his
farewell tour.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
So even the players coming out like Kawhi and James
Harden like I ain't know nothing about this, like I didn't,
So it's it's just a lot going on over there. Yeah,
obviously we don't know about but it's it's it's it's
within that locker room that has to get fixed or
this is going to be a waste.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Of a season.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Do you think a team picks up CP.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
I hope a team picks him up. I don't know
if they will.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
It got to be a situation to where, you know,
they they want him to receive his flowers for his
last year, obviously.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
But I hope a team does.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
Maybe a team like Charlotte does, just because he's from there.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
I mean, I feel like they they've talked about LaMelo
needing some maturity, you know, and some mentorship over there.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
That'd be super interesting.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
So so you never know.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
I hope he gets to, you know, right out on
the sunset, you know, on his own, as he should
with being who he is.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
But I mean, the NBA is is tough sometimes. Man.
It's a tough little deal.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Clippers, stop doing this to our guys.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Come on, man, I gotta stop.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
Okay, We're gonna take a break care and we'll come
back with no days off and a little bucket brick
to close out point games. All right, it's time for
DraftKings King of the Court segment. You pick who will
lead the league in total points, rebounds and assists on
Tuesday night, and if you get it right, you get
to split a million bucks. So this week, I think
(28:36):
I'm liking Jalen Brunson on the next Risus the Raptors
Cat's been injured and I think put the cup on
the line, Jalen is poised to have a big game,
maybe a big tournament.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
It who you liking.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
I'm gonna go with Polo, Okay, that's your guy. With
Orlando and Miami. Always gonna go with my guy. But
also Friends is out, so I think that put more
responsibility on Polo and he'll be ready to go. You
know that Florida matchup is always a little spicy.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Yeah, all right, So don't forget to play King of
the Court on DraftKings Sportsbook every Tuesday during the NBA season.
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That's Code Point Game. Bet five bucks and get two
hundred dollars in bonus bets. If your bet wins. In
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(29:42):
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Speaker 2 (29:55):
All Right, We're.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Back here on point game, a segment that I've come
to love that it intro we used a few episodes ago.
We're gonna run back again called No Days Off, where
it is gonna break down a couple of players that
he feels like deserve the love who aren't getting the
TV shine, aren't, you know in the talking heads rundown,
And so we're gonna do that here on point game.
It is gonna show some love, so it. Who do
(30:16):
you got for our no days off nomination this week?
Speaker 4 (30:19):
No days off nomination, We're gonna have two. We usually
do one, We're gonna have two this this week. I
gotta give a big shout out to Michael Porter Junior,
my guy over there with the Brooklyn Nets having a
hell of a season. I mean his team's not, but
individually he's having a hell of a season. I think
he's in the last three or four games thirty pieces.
So shout out to you, MPJ. I know you've been
(30:41):
ready for these moments. I know you've been been working
for these moments. You know, to have a team of
your own and be able to beat a focal point.
So shout out to you putting up big numbers, keep
doing it. And then I'm gonna have to give a
shout out one B to the guy over there on
the Golden State Warriors, Pat Spencer, Shout out to you man.
You got you got everybody talking about you, You got
(31:04):
a yeah, yeah, you got a good You got a
good energy about your game, man. And then from the
things I hear about what Steve Kurr says about you,
your ultimate pro, ultimate teammate each and every day, you know,
you bring your hard hat and you you you're you're
a professional. So shout out to Pass Spencer as well.
We got to give love to him as he's been
(31:26):
doing this thing last week.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
The wild thing, and I got to confirm this before
I feel like I even opened my mouth. But people
said because he was a lacrosse like legend and heard
about that, they're saying like it's like if Michael Jordan, uh,
you know, decided. I mean, it is Michael Jordan case
where he went over to basketball and was actually went
over to baseball, was actually good at baseball, like they said,
(31:47):
he was that dude when it came to lacrosse. So
the fact that he's doing this just seems like he's different.
Speaker 4 (31:52):
And he's like, I mean, he looks like a lacrosse
player right the way you look like he So that's
why it's super dope. Like he really just decided to
play basketball. Obviously he got talent and he's good. Yeah,
but like he's really doing his thing and then probably
proving so many people wrong that we're probably on the
uh probably really like, what are you doing while trying
to go to the NBA right, so you know, shout
(32:14):
out to him, keep doing your thing, keep swagging out
on us, keep talking y'all.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
Shit, I love it.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
I love it. Him yelling at the back. He yelled
at his own bench.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
After that, he going, he's going like they got a faby,
he's doing all that.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
So I like his energy, man, and it seemed like
his teammates like him. So that's that's half the battle.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Love it.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
Okay, we got a couple of small stories that I
wanted to get to you before we close out the episode,
so we'll bring back a bucketer brick. We still haven't
found a story that you are trying to stay away from.
You've been opened up with us. So I got a
few stories here.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
I got one.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
I don't think I got one today because but I
would love your viewpoint on this stuff. So we're gonna
go bucking on all these other bets. But the first
story I wanted to bring up Desmond chucked the ball
at og And Andnobi the other day.
Speaker 6 (33:03):
Og inside Oh, I want to play from Blake. Oh,
and Bane throws it off Adnanobi Handanobie shops baby. I've
sa Baine wanted to save it and get possession, but
he threw it like it was throwing a fastball.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Desmond rebound the ball, just chucked it at og What
was going on there?
Speaker 4 (33:25):
I was, I'm still trying to figure out, like, do
you not like that guy?
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Like? What the hell was going on?
Speaker 4 (33:31):
Like? That was because he could have when he got it,
he could have just went the other way like he was.
It's not like he saved it out of bounds and
he was like they were already out of bounds. If
you ever, if you watch it again, he really could
have grabbed it and just went the other way. He
really like aimed it fastball straight to the ribs.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
I'm like, damn funny.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
The funniest part was that he is he pointed to
their position because it technically was.
Speaker 3 (33:56):
Out on ojos out of him.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
He was, what I do? It's like, what do you
what you do?
Speaker 4 (34:00):
I wish I could ask him because that was if
I was on the bench, I would have been like,
oh my goodness, I would have I would have thought
they had some type of beef and he's trying to
do the right like the wrong thing, but legally like
he was trying to like get him back for some
I was like, dang.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
And maybe Og is playing innocent, but like they asked
him during an interview and he was like, actually think
Desmond's a great guy.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Maybe you can say that just to.
Speaker 4 (34:22):
Like I'm saying, you could tell. He reacted like what
are you doing, bro? And then they said something and
he was like, oh, it's all good, bro, it's all
So that was a crazy exchange. That was I never
seen nothing like that, especially when you didn't have to
go out of bounds.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
Yeah, okay, our next one, so that was a bucket.
This next one, this one isn't even that that dicey
or controversial. But during halftime the other day, okay, see
for chet, Holmgren gave props to Red Panda during halftime. Now,
I feel like we don't hear you. Guys got to
see these acts all the time. So what do you
think about the halftime act Red Pand do you know
(34:57):
Red Panda?
Speaker 3 (34:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (34:59):
Yeah, for sure, Yeah, yeah, I see Red Panda a
few times in action.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Well okay, so is she the goat? I guess of
halftime acts in the NBA.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
I mean, she gotta be one of them. Like she's everywhere.
I think every team I played for. I've probably seen
her at the halftime show when I'm trying.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
To get some shots up. She over there doing her things.
Speaker 4 (35:22):
So nah, she she definitely got to be on the
on the mount rushmore.
Speaker 1 (35:27):
So okay, let's put her up against the you know,
the quick change people.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
You see the quick change people.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
I've seen.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
I've seen them in Sacramento. They had an artist he
used to like he used to like draw this, maybe
a lion or something like a famous artist so quick
and it was like the most just it was a
it was a dope little show.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
So I've seen a lot.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
Obviously, that's a A ANB.
Speaker 4 (35:52):
Everybody's knowing, everybody's knowing Red Panda. Yeah no, it's unless
you're a young unless you're a young guy that does
just doesn't doesn't really know too much.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
I'm not ready for that for a well tour Red
Pand not at all.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
She gotta keep it going, yeah, or this guttall be
like a son or daughter of Red Pand or something.
Speaker 4 (36:08):
Yeah, yeah, it gotta it, gotta it, gotta go in
the Family for Show.
Speaker 1 (36:13):
Okay, so this one video, I feel like all these
court side videos are coming out.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
This is the power of cell phones.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
But somebody caught Jazz coach Will Hardy cussing out his team.
Speaker 3 (36:24):
He was going, yeah, I'm.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
Tired of doing this everyfing game, play effing harder. So, uh,
because I saw some of the criticism, people being like, man,
people are gonna, they're gonna those players are gonna turn
against him and get them out of there. But like,
did you feel like that was necessary? Uh, for for
coach Hardy to go off on his players like that.
Speaker 4 (36:46):
Yeah, I mean there's a time and place for all that. Like,
he's probably really tired of it. It's probably been a
situation where the last couple of games that came out
like that. So like, yeah, for people to hear him
say that, it's like, oh, dang, they're not gonna. That's
normal talk in the NBA, especially if you if you're
not on track and doing the right stuff. That's most
coaches are going to talk to you like that. Everybody's grown,
(37:08):
nobody's taking it personal. But you can tell he's sick
and tired of him saying the same thing over and
over and I've been in those situations as a player,
being on the losing team or a rebuilding team, and
every few games you hear the.
Speaker 3 (37:22):
Same stuff, you hear the same thing.
Speaker 4 (37:24):
So it's definitely frustrated for a coach, frustrating for you know,
a whole team as well. But now that's normal talk.
So he's he's just upset. That's something that just keeps happening.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
And finally, Adam Silver, he went to a Pacers Nuggets
game recently and he was doing some commentary. I think
it was one of when Jamal Murray was dropping fifty,
and I think that the conversation came up where Adam
Silver was quot as saying that the league may have
over calibrated, thinking that the fans wanted to see more offense.
And I think he was sort of pointing to that
(37:55):
the league favorites offense, so like some foul baiting all
that stuff people, you know, the stuff that people criticize
SGA for, even James hard in the early days, you know,
for Coley's fouls and and thus leading to bigger offensive games.
So like, do you find any truth in that that
the game that the NBA game right now sort of
favors offense because they think that's what the fans want to.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
See, no doubt, I don't know if that's what they
think the fans want to see. They know the fans
want to see that, so they're they're the league is
always going to, you know, go with what the fan
is is is in like with and I think it's
over emphasized a little too much on offense. But like
I said earlier, which the difference is when you go
(38:39):
to the playoffs and it's called a totally different game
by the refs where you can be a little more physical,
you can hand check a little bit more. They're not
calling every ticki tac faile that they call in the
regular season. So I do agree on what Adam Silver
is saying. But the game is dictated on defense as well,
so when it's winning time, as is the playoffs, the
(39:01):
game is called different. Hopefully soon at some point the
game will be called similar to the playoffs because that's
real basketball.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
Like obviously the foul baiton is there.
Speaker 4 (39:11):
SGA has figured the game out how to manipulate the refs,
and that's a skill. So like, even though people get
upset with what SGA does or what James Harden used
to do, Like those are strengths and skills that players
never find out throughout their career on learning how to
get fouled. So we can't blame those players just bending
the rules a little bit, are manipulating the refs a
(39:32):
little bit more. We got to be better defenders if
if you want to be honest. So hopefully, you know,
those two sides connect a little closer in terms of
the regular season being you know, ref like the playoffs do,
and I think you will have you know, a happier
fan base for sure.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
In terms of the whole game.
Speaker 1 (39:52):
That's fascinating because I feel like, you know, with the uh,
these players become inventive. You know, people think like a
great basketball player like oh, they can score whatever. But
it's finding those that small the small ways to sort
of like almost not cheat the game, but like find
ways to get to the line more or whatever. Like
that's if they change the rules, there's gonna be that
guy like an SGA or a James Harden. Because I
(40:14):
remember when people first started to see James Harden go ice,
They're like he's slower, he's that Euro and all that stuff. Like,
so I think it's just that's just evolution and the
other side of it that I want to ask you
because I feel like the age old debate is always
like the nineties, we're tougher defenses. Do you feel like
that's valid and you think that the league change that rule?
Speaker 4 (40:35):
The league just changes over time. Yeah, Like that's just
what it is. We don't want nineties basketball, I don't
so we're going to put that on there. We don't
want how they played in the nineties where you can
go through that go through the hole and get checked
like this right right, and not get called for like
that's not safe, that's not basketball. Yeah, I do think
(40:56):
it should be called a little tougher than it is
right now, Like it's too touchy, Like if you touch
somebody more than likely, especially if it's a superstar star
type of player, they're gonna call it. You're not allowed
to You can't stop anybody if you're not allowed to
touch them. So I think there's a fine line between
the two. But it's hard because the game is changing.
(41:19):
It's a lot of threes. Guys are faster, stronger, jump higher,
So the game is just changing. When how the players
are changing but I would like to see a fine
line between the early two thousands and right now. I
love the nineties and all those players, but like that
wasn't how basketball should be played in terms of the
(41:40):
physicality of not calling fouls, Like that's just made the
strongest man win, and we don't.
Speaker 3 (41:46):
You don't, that's not who I feel.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
Like, Yeah, some of the enforcers we don't see like
a Bill Lambier anymore, you know, because you.
Speaker 4 (41:52):
Can't throw, so like I know, and I'll be having
arguments with my homies and stuff all the time about
you know, some people say this generation softer. It's like
the generation is just adapting to how the game is called.
If you want to be serious, like, this generation is
probably stronger, like they're they're they're faster, they jump higher,
if they lifted weights like those guys, why wouldn't they
(42:13):
be stronger. Like that's just how life, you know, how
how life transpires. So it's a fine line that we
got to get back to. I think it's too too
touchy right now, but we we got to get back
to being somewhat a little more physical.
Speaker 2 (42:28):
No, our big guys hit threes now, it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (42:31):
Nobody's posting up.
Speaker 4 (42:32):
That's just the elevation of you know, that's just the
way the game is going and the best players adapting
it just and if you don't, you'll get left behind.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
Well said.
Speaker 1 (42:41):
All right, there's been another episode of Point Game. I
t anything you want to leave our audience on for
this episode.
Speaker 4 (42:46):
What I would say is everybody just be out there,
stay on your slow grind.
Speaker 3 (42:49):
Man. Life is a slow grind.
Speaker 4 (42:52):
Ups and downs in life, man, just as the holidays
come as well, you know those are always obviously you know,
put small on people's faces, but a lot of people
go through a lot of.
Speaker 3 (43:02):
Things during these times.
Speaker 4 (43:03):
So just continue to stand on your slow grind and
write it out.
Speaker 3 (43:06):
Man. It can't store in forever.
Speaker 2 (43:09):
Love it, love it all right.
Speaker 1 (43:10):
There's been another episode of Point Game, brought to you
by iHeart DraftKings. Follow through, Slow Grind, Guys, tap in,
We got socials on everything, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Subscribe to
the YouTube channel. We're gonna start dropping some exclusive content
and all that stuff right on there and channel. It's
been Point Game with CJ. Toldono and Isaiah Thomas Peace
Welcome to another episode of Point Game. I'm your host CJ. Toldano,
and I'm joined as always with my co host Isaiah Thomas.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
I T how you feeling today, Man, I'm good, Bro,
how are you? I'm good. I'm good.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
You know, it feels a little bit slow in the
league right now, but you know, whenever it does start
to feel like that, some big stories start happening, we
start hearing some rumors. So we're gonna cover that of
course today, because we're of course gonna talk Gianness, We're
gonna talk to the NBA Cup, and we're also gonna
revisit your segment no days off.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
But first, man, I.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Was just on social, you know, over the weekend, and
it felt like a very big weekend for you. So
I was hoping just to hear from you, like, yeah,
what was going on? Because we talked about last last episode,
the premiere of your docu short Go Forward happened over
in Idaho, So tell us about that that experience.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
The experience was amazing.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
That was my first time being at a film festival,
so I was out of my space, out of my
element a little bit, but it was super dope to
be able to meet so many filmmakers, directors, producers, you know,
everything in that space and for us to show our
short dock go forward, it was amazing. Like the feedback
(01:22):
was like it put a smile on my face just
because and my dad. My dad came too, so that
was big. That was the first time he ever seen it,
even though like he had some interviews in it, so
it was touching for him, But it touched everybody that
put their eyes on it, Like it was. I'm getting
feedback you know since since that night from everybody that
(01:44):
was there. So I can't wait for you know, the
world to see it because it's super impactful.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
It's super inspiring.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Obviously, it's something like I talked about earlier with grief.
That's something you know, everybody is familiar with. You know,
one thing we got all got in common is somebody
you're going through grief or some type of adversity. So
it's one of them short dogs to where like itah
lift you up a little bit, like it'll make you
(02:11):
it's an emotional roller coaster. But we got a lot
of great feedback and it's only going to be bigger
and better down the line.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Yeah, man, was it at all like hooping where you know,
the first time, maybe you want a game where you
kind of hit flow state or whatever, like seeing people
because you know, when you're making these these films, you're
you're shooting at you're you know, you're the main main character.
You're sitting in the editing booth, you're watching it with
you know, a couple of you know, your trusted collaborators.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
But now you're showing it to the people.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
So, like, what was that feeling seeing everyone react to
it for the first time.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
It was emotional, Honestly it was because it's so touching.
Like obviously it happened to me, my little sister, my family,
so it's emotional. But like like I said, it was
the emotional roller coaster. You get people smiling and laughing
and seeing memories, and then you get people crying and
and and needn't tissue the whole time because it's that deep.
(03:06):
But then towards the end you got people smiling again
because it's super in inspiring. And we had a few
people raise their hand after when we had some q
and a's about things that just it really touched them,
like they didn't know what they were coming to see.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
That's why the film festivals.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Are so dope because a lot of people who participate
in those you don't know what movie you're going to watch,
you don't know what short doc you're going to watch.
So when you see something out of the ordinary that
you didn't eve even expect, which a lot of people did,
it was it was super dope. And like I said,
it was it was cool to see my dad shower
with some love over you know, a tragic situation. But
(03:41):
to see him smile as much as he did when
people was coming up to him, you know, talking to
him about just his strength and his you know, inspiration
and moving forward. It was everything. So that was that
was the That was the best part of the weekend.
And just seeing my dad shower with a little bit
of love and seeing him smiling and be in a
good space.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I love that everyone go check out, go for when
you get an opportunity. I'm excited. I want to see
in the theater setting now after a hle about it.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Another thing that happens since we last recorded, And I
didn't even see this because you posted it. I saw
this because I follow all these basketball aggregator accounts. But
your son made his freshman debut from if I'm not mistaken, right, yeah, and.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Okay, so here's from a fan standpoint.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Here's what I what I The experience that I love
when I see this for the first time is they go, oh,
the son of whatever you know star and then you
see their game and it's it's like watching you all over.
You see the stuff that he picked up, like it
was like watching watching you again, but like walk us
through that. You know, I'm a father too, so I
can't even imagine that feeling. So tell us all about that.
(04:47):
You've been watching him and helping them grow as a player,
and now you get to see him put it all
to work.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
So my oldest son, James, is fifteen. He's a freshman
at Ai Wright High School in Tacoma. He had his
first high school game and it's crazy because, like that
was one of my proud dad moments, just seeing him
in the starting lineup, get his name called. That's the
first time he's probably been in a starting lineup situation
where they got an announcer and things like that. And
(05:13):
to see him have a good game and most importantly
his team win, Like he had twenty six points, eight assists,
three rebounds, two steals, like, and he missed three or
four free throws, so he didn't have a perfect game.
But it was amazing to just sit back and see
him be able to experience that because I remember my
first high school game and it's crazy because my first
(05:35):
high school game, I had twenty six points as well.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
So I had a.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Bet with him, like, I know you're not gonna be
able to pass that, and the only reason why he
did it because he missed three free throws so he
would have had twenty nine. But it was amazing, man,
I all my family could do, My dad, my wife,
his siblings obviously is just smile because it was a
(05:59):
big moment for all of us, Like it was cool.
So I was shout out to big game James, James
the Great having a successful high school debut. But you know,
I was a proud dad. But the competitor in me
is like, it's onto the next We gotta be bigger
and better, we gotta this is expected. So it was
a super cool moment being a dad, but also for
(06:21):
our family just seeing him be able to be in
high school and be on his own.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Man, that's always wondering if that you said, the competitor
and you were you like taking notes at all, where
you guys break down the game, watching film.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Look, we do, we do it all. I got notes
on my phone throughout the game.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Last night.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
We just watched the first two games because they played
a game after that too.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
So they won.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
We watched both games, all games, every possession. He's in
both sides of the floor. Just trying to be that
coach for him as well, so like trying to put
him in allow him to see things he might not
see while he's playing, because I always tell him watching
films the answers to the test and if you start
watch film at this age, like it's only going to
become a habit and it's only going to make you
(07:05):
better down the road.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
So he didn't like some of the things I.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Was saying, but you know, constructive criticism at his at
his finest.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Yeah, man, that's got to be awesome to see. I
was watching JJ Crawford's highlights were coming out too. It's
just like we talked.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
We've talked about it so many times of like you guys,
we were mentored, you know by some of the grades,
and now your own kids, you know, are already out there.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
It's it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
It's just kind of the tradition continues, and I think
NBA fans, Basketball fans in general like, oh, you got
to look out for that kid like their dad is
is so and so, And it's honestly just yeah, JJ too.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
His handle is.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
You see his bounce to it, It's like he looks
just like his dad. But it's shout out to Jamal,
Shout out to jj Man. JJ had a hell of
a high school debut one of the top teams in
the country at Rainer Beach High School. So shout out
to my bro Jamal and my my young nephew, JJ Man.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
The sky's the limit for these kids.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
I'm coming up there. I got to watch some of
these games live.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Oh you got to it's live. It's live too.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Okay, Okay, let's go into the league. So were we
mentioned earlier before. A big name is potentially in on
the trade block. Janna Santacumpo, a guy who I feel
like a few years ago seemed untouchable.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
They had won the championship.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
They've gone through the last couple of seasons some rough
years after winning the championship, to a couple of coaching
changes and and you know, they they kind of exited
the Dame Lillard plan here, and you know, Joannis got
hurt the other night, left the game with right calf strain.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
I think he's out for about four.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Weeks, and the story leaked out that they're actually him
and his agent are going to discuss with the Bucks
his future. So I guess, in general, how realistic do
you think that we could see Jannis traded in on
another team this season.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
That quick?
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Yeah? Yeah, there's not not not saying. I don't know
if it would be DCS, I'm not sure, but to
have that dialogue and it's only the beginning of December,
for a guy of that caliber, something is true behind that.
So I don't see him being in the Milwaukee Bucks
uniform for much longer because one their roster isn't constructed
(09:19):
to compete for a championship, as we've seen at the
start of this year. I honestly don't think they're good
enough right now. And for a guy like that who's
been so successful obviously he's won a championship multiple MVPs.
When you get to become that age, you kind of
don't want to waste any more years. You want to
be put in position to where you got a chance
(09:41):
to win a championship each and every year. And I
honestly believe like Milwaukee's window might be closing, or it
might have already closed in terms.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Of competing for a championship.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
Obviously after losing Drew Holliday, then Damian Lillard played a
year or two in Milwaukee and then didn't you know,
get that much success as they thought they would, And
then for Giannest to even you know, slip up and
get injured the other night, like it's it's it's a
tough go around. I think I think he's gonna weigh
his options and see where, you know, the best, most
(10:13):
realistic place he can go. But I think his time
is coming to an end in Milwaukee. And and like
you said, you would never have thought he would leave
Milwaukee just just because it seemed like he was he
would be a lifer. And obviously we could be wrong,
but I think I think it might be done with
with the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
It's so fascinating. You know, you win a championship and
the expectation is you got to keep winning more.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Right like we saw coach budd get Get let Go.
They brought an Adrian Griffin. They fired him despite them
having a dese pretty decent record, you know, and then
they get they went out and got Dame that didn't
you know, Dame didn't.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Dame got hurt. You know, it's not that it didn't work,
it's just he got hurt. And I feel like they've
tried so many things in this small window that they're
just calling it, you know, they're kind of calling it
and not you know, so, I mean probably getting frustrated.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
Too, exactly. That's that's the most important thing right there.
He's getting frustrated. And then he has nobody, no disrespect
to any other players on his team. They're obviously NBA
players are good, but he has nobody he can look
down on that roster and honestly say that can compete
for a championship today. And that's the tough part, especially
(11:25):
when you're losing. You know, all those things come into
play in terms of getting traded, figuring things out where
you're going to go next. When you're winning, it takes
care of all of that. And obviously they're not winning
right now, so it's just a tough situation to be in.
I think he got a lot of love for Milwaukee.
It just might be time to move forward.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Okay, So where do you think he's going? Who wants them?
Who can make the moves?
Speaker 4 (11:48):
I mean, everybody wants them. But he's going to New
York for sure. He's going to a big market.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
I don't think he's going to go to La or
anywhere on the West where, which I mean, if that's
an opportunity, you might see him in La La Lamb.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
But New York. I think that.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Would be an ideal situation for him. Like I just big,
the big Apple.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
But they got to give up a big one of
these big guys like and are willing.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
To give you gotta give up Cat.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Okay, so a smart move.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
And it's it's crazy that I'm even asking this, but like,
you make it to the Eastern Conference finals.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
You know, the Pacers are.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Out this let's say this, would you make that move? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (12:33):
I guess it's like yeah, I mean you only there's
only one shot at Yannis that might be right now.
Speaker 4 (12:39):
That's like like obviously, all due respect the Cat or
whoever will be in that trade.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
But it's like, this is the window. You talked about
it a minute ago.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
They it's only a small window to really win a championship.
So like even if if New York didn't make that
trade and they go with this team and they don't
get past the Eastern Conference finals, they're in the office
looking like we got we might have to make a move.
And that's back to back years of being successful. Like
so the window of winning the championship is maybe two
(13:09):
to three years, and then you got to kind of
look on and look what's next and what the possibilities
can So obviously just throwing that out there, I don't
think that with trade Jayalen Brunson, but you know, anything's
on the line when like Luca got traded, so nothing
like everything's you know, nothing is off limits.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
That's crazy after the Luca thing, like anyone can go,
anyone can go.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
It's from here on out, anyone can go at any time.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I do think, you know, Janni says he's still incredible,
but he is an older player and we've honestly seen
the last couple of years young guys and and you know,
these solid role players are are almost you know, winning
the championships. So like I guess the question is I
and I can even you know, say some scenarios here,
but like.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
How much is too much for Yon?
Speaker 1 (14:00):
So like in the Rockets case, you know, where they've
made some great movies over the last couple of years.
You know they can contend, Like would you do like
an Alprin Sangoon and a Fred van Vliet who is hurt,
and then a first round pick for Giannis.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
See, that's tough. You probably wouldn't because that goon is
so young. Yeah, so you got to put that into
consideration too. Obviously it sounds good, it looks good, but
I don't think Houston is like, because it does that,
at the end of the day, does that guarantee you
a championship? So unless it guarantees you something, I don't
think you're going to give up, you know, a younger
(14:36):
player that's a star right now to get Yannis and
not guarantee you going to the finals. So it's hard,
Like I'm not no front office god guy, but I'm
thinking that's how they're thinking.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Yeah, well for my Lakers, you know, because everyone's this season,
everyone's like reads untouchable now. But even though he was
constantly being thrown in trade trade Tarz last couple of years,
you know, Austin and.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Ruey, you know, the to the Bucks.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
The Bucks get some picks or whatever, and the Lakers
don't have that many picks anymore. But would you do
something like that where we've seen We've seen Reeves and
Ruey in the in the postseason. They got to the
Western Commerce Finals once, but they didn't last year. Like,
do you do a Yannis have a Yannis Lebron and Luca.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Austin Reeves, You're out of here, bro Ruey, that's my
Rooking Washington Wizards.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
You're out of here. You're out of here.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Like if that, if that scenario came up, do I
think the Lakers would do it?
Speaker 3 (15:32):
I I'm not sure.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
If I'm in the front office, I might Like that's
that's one that is going to get you a little
closer right now. Like obviously Reeves is a little younger,
Ruey's younger as well. But if I'm trying to win
a championship within the next year or two, that's getting
me closer.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Off off top, Okay, one more, one more West West
Coast scenario.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Here's here.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
This one's interesting because we talked about Janie to the Warriors.
So here's a trade package for the Warriors with Sin,
Draymond Green, Jonathan Kaminga, Buddy Healed a twenty six, twenty eight,
and thirty first round pick, and you get Yannis and
also don't forget, if you get Yannest, you also gets
the Nasis.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
So yeah, yeah, he gotta come, he gotta go. It's
definitely slide.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Would you would you give a Draymond and Kaminga and
Buddy Heal?
Speaker 4 (16:21):
I would do that because Draymond's towards the end of
his career, Kaminga is the important piece. Milwaukee will be
in rebuild mode, so they can kind of build around
a young star or potential star.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
There's a few draft picks in there. And then did
you name one.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Other buddy hit by Shooter?
Speaker 3 (16:40):
You can always you can always go with a Shooter.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
And then but with the Warriors, it's like when you
make that trade, you guys gotta win today, Like you
guys gotta.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Win right now for it to make sense.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
You guys gotta win this year or either next year
and then figure that thing out. So it's tough because
as it puts your future in jeopardy of being good
in your future. But like the NBA is all about
what have you done lately, they don't really care about
the future like that exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
And you know, honestly, with we talked about at a
bunch okayc in the season they're having, it's just like
people are going to start making some rash decisions.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
You're going to cause it's like can we keep up
with oka See?
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (17:21):
So you know, the NBA is all about the copycat league.
Everybody's going to try to mimic what Okac has. So
that's the direction, especially if Okay See wins it again
this year. The direction that the NBA would be the
style of players they have, the style of play that
they have, and then you got to adjust to that.
That's how it was with the Warriors in the two
(17:43):
thousand and you know, fifteen on, everybody was trying to
find everybody was trying to run their offense. Everybody was
trying to find shooters like them, and you just couldn't
because you're not.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
You'll find a.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
Shooter, but he's not clearly as good as you know,
Klay Thompson and Steph Curry.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
And then when they added Kevin Durant, it was it was.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Correct, they corrected it.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
It was like, oh, now y'all are cheating. It was
even fun. No more.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
All right, on that note, we're gonna go to break
and we'll come back. We're talk at NBA Cups. All right,
we're back on point game.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
We're gonna talk about the NBA Cup just overall it.
Let me ask you, we're about three years into it.
Do you feel like this was a good decision?
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Is it working?
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Are you even as like a fan? Do you think
this is helping out the league and people being more
attentive during the regular season.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Yeah, it's it's a good thing. I think it's it's
been successful. I think it puts, you know, money in
guys pockets. Obviously, it makes a little more competitive when
there's some money on the line. But I think it's
a good thing for the fans. It's something you can
you know they're there. Are they putting banners up? Aren't
they putting banners up for the couch?
Speaker 1 (18:57):
Well, and so I remember when the Lakers won it
their first year, people are like, don't put that banner up.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
That's yeah, but.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
Look if a team like Detroit wins it, or you
know somebody that don't get banners like that, I'm putting
that up in the this facility at.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Least, I think the banners the check.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
The check is what the check is. What they're playing
for first and foremost.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Well, that's the thing is like the Vets, even though
they that check doesn't you know, with some of their contracts,
that doesn't mean much.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
You got to do it to the go is That's
what I'm saying. You do it for the guys. It's
on two ways. You do it for the younger guys.
You also which is dope. That happens even in the playoffs.
When you go further in the playoffs, obviously you get
playoff checks and bonuses. But it goes to like the
support staff throughout the organization like that, that's always important
as well. When there's incentives on these things, a lot
(19:46):
of the guys, especially the older guys, is given a
little breakdown to the trainer is given a little breakdown
to somebody that works in the front office. So like,
these things are a valuable piece in you know, organizations
throughout the year as well.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
So shout out to you know, the support staff.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
In each organization, man, because you know without them, you know,
things wouldn't flow as easy as it does.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
All I got to say, if like my my yearly
bonus relied on Lebron or SGA.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I'd be happy about that, you know.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
I'd be good. But then if your yearly bonus relied
on somebody else, we won't even man. You know, there's
a few teams you're like, we got no chance. This
ain't it.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
The other aspect that they did is these courts, which
we won't get in trouble here, but some of these
courts they have taken some chances and they saw some
issues with They're like highlight colors. Some players are slipping
on the paint, Like what do you think about that?
Speaker 2 (20:42):
That feature?
Speaker 3 (20:44):
They're just doing too much right now.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
I know, like I know, like when you're turning on TV,
if you see something like that, you might stop and
watch it. I think that's why they're doing it. But
they're doing they're doing a lot with the court. That's
one thing.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Like the Cup.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
I like the idea about it and everything behind it.
The courts is nasty. The courts is bad. We got
to change that, Oudam silver it is.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
I remember I was a big proponent any who falls
my NBA Twitter. I was like, I want the Larry
O'Brian trophy back on the finals court, you know, and
then they're like, oh, we can't do it because you know,
the paint mess things up. But then they would do
the season tournament.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
I'm big. I'm big on the trophy being in the
finals too. That was That was classic, bro.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
That's classic, right, Like it makes me feel like you're
watching the most.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
Important being season man for real.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
But I think they're fixing that. But anyways, back to
the Cup. All right, so let's walk through some of
these matchups. I know you have a favorite, but let's
talk about maybe your favorite and who you think might
be a dark horse in the in the I mean
in the tournament coming up. So in the quarter finals,
we got okay, see Suns, Lakers, Spurs, Magic, Heat, Raptors, Knicks.
So let's talk about who do you think is going
(21:55):
to take it all? And then who could be your
dark horse?
Speaker 3 (21:58):
I got okay, see teking it.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
I know that's an easy pick, but they're definitely the
best team in the league. They still got a lot
of young guys that are, you know, chasing some bread too,
so you always got to think about that as well.
If it means something to a team, I got them
winning it. If winby was if Winby was healthy, the
Spurs would be my dark horse, But I might go
(22:23):
with who was the other two on the other side.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Yeah, Magic Heat and Raptors Knicks.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
That's that's tough right there. I don't know.
Speaker 4 (22:31):
I would say, you're I would go in New York
on the other side. I got okay seeing New York
in there, and then they can battle. They can battle it.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Out because of the issue I had, Like March Madness
is so fun because it's one game elimination, and I
you know, I feel like when I was growing up,
everyone's like, what if the playoff NBA playoffs for one
game elimination? Like this isn't crazy, you know, but this
is like the closest we're gonna get to it.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
So it is it?
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Well, okase he's been so dominant. All takes is on
any given night in this case.
Speaker 4 (22:59):
No who's the best team on that night. That's why
it makes it more exciting. So yeah, I got okay. See,
but I'm a basketball here.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
I know.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
Anything can happen when it's just one game. It could
be somebody's career night.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
You ever know any any danger do you think?
Speaker 1 (23:17):
And and these guys winning a bunch of money and
then walking out and it's the casinos in Vegas.
Speaker 4 (23:22):
Oh it's going down. I'm telling I'm telling you right now.
So that's not unless they leave right after the game.
Oh yeah, they going, They're gonna be on the Blackjack,
They're gonna be they're gonna be doing all that for sure,
unless they're leaving. A smart team will have their guys
leaving directly after the game.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
You get on the plane, get out of there.
Speaker 4 (23:42):
Uh nah, because it's gonna be some trouble or that
check is gonna go somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Well do you think you know?
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Because they keep I feel like they keep hinting that
Vegas might get a team, and this might have been
like sort of like teasing that. Do you think it's
a good idea? Even just like looking at all the
other pro teams that have gone to Vegas? You know,
we got the Athletics going to the Raiders are there
now and it's still kind of an experiment phase. You
think it's good if the NBA expands to Vegas.
Speaker 4 (24:08):
Yeah, first they got to expand the Seattle, so shout
out to the Sonics, we need them back. But yeah,
Vegas would be good. I think I don't think it
would be a bad thing for the home team. Like
you you are where you live, Like if you live
in Vegas, you're not going to the casino, You're not
doing all that all the time.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
Yeah, it's the role.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
Teams that are coming in that are coming to Vegas
and going to have a good time. So I do
think Vegas needs a team. We've seen with the other
sports they've been successful, like hockey I think won their
first year they were there.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Football is doing.
Speaker 4 (24:40):
I don't know about the Raiders, but as baseball gets
there as well. You got the w NBA. Shout out
to the w NBA, who's won a few championship down
Las Vegas exactly. So I think it's a good thing
if the NBA goes to Vegas.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
It just would be a tough little situation for the
role teams for sure.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
I'm going to get killed for saying this because, uh,
you know, and a few years ago people are like, oh,
the Clippers, if they removed, they got to go up
to Seattle.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
I think the Clippers should go to Vegas.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
I think in the last few years, but everything going
on and I feel like.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
We've seen Clippers.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
I saw Clippers fan the other day, die our Clippers
fans say he's done with the franchise, he's gonna become.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
I've seen that. If I'm a Clipper fan, I'm doing
that too. Though. They're disappointing. I'm sorry, and they say
no clickbait or nothing.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
No, highly disappointed, disappointing. And then on top of what
they did, the CP three is like, come on, man,
we called it, we called it, we did, we did,
we did, we did?
Speaker 3 (25:39):
No, we did, we did?
Speaker 1 (25:41):
So what okay, segue into that what happens to CP
and I don't care disregard any of what really happened
there they said, I think just even I guess recap it.
They said that they didn't like CP's leadership, which is
crazy because we've seen how impactful positively CEP's leadership has
been through other teams. So like what, I guess, Yeah,
(26:03):
what was your reaction in seeing that? Literally hours after
we were talking about it on the pod last week?
Speaker 4 (26:08):
Man, it was crazy, but I mean you started to
hear little things like just how they were treating him. Obviously.
CP three is a Hall of first ballot, Hall of Famer. Uh,
He's a leader first and foremost whole guys accountable, and
it just sounds like it was opposite of what they wanted.
And maybe his voice was too strong in the locker room,
but they knew that before they signed them how strong
(26:30):
of a voice he has.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
So it's a tough situation.
Speaker 4 (26:35):
Obviously, I'm not in those locker rooms, so I don't
know exactly what happened.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
But you don't. You don't.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
You don't do that, no matter how bad it is, Like,
you don't you figure that out, especially for a guy
that signed there to sign off his career and go
out on a great note and the way he should.
I think you figure that out behind closed doors and
and you just ride with that the rest of the season.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
So it's crazy.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
We spoke about that before it happened, but it's definitely
not crazy it happened that.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
No, it's because that's the one thing is like, also
from a PR standpoint, every player who ever played with CP,
we have Blake Griffin, who you know, went through some
similar stuff over there. It's like the Clippers aren't helping
themselves out. You know, everyone came out and was like,
how can you do CP? Like this waving during his
farewell tour.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
So even the players coming out like Kawhi and James
Harden like I ain't know nothing about this, like I didn't,
So it's it's just a lot going on over there. Yeah,
obviously we don't know about but it's it's it's it's
within that locker room that has to get fixed or
this is going to be a waste.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Of a season.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Do you think a team picks up CP.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
I hope a team picks him up. I don't know
if they will.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
It got to be a situation to where, you know,
they they want him to receive his flowers for his
last year, obviously.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
But I hope a team does.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
Maybe a team like Charlotte does, just because he's from there.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
I mean, I feel like they they've talked about LaMelo
needing some maturity, you know, and some mentorship over there.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
That'd be super interesting.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
So so you never know.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
I hope he gets to, you know, right out on
the sunset, you know, on his own, as he should
with being who he is.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
But I mean, the NBA is is tough sometimes. Man.
It's a tough little deal.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Clippers, stop doing this to our guys.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Come on, man, I gotta stop.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
Okay, We're gonna take a break care and we'll come
back with no days off and a little bucket brick
to close out point games. All right, it's time for
DraftKings King of the Court segment. You pick who will
lead the league in total points, rebounds and assists on
Tuesday night, and if you get it right, you get
to split a million bucks. So this week, I think
(28:36):
I'm liking Jalen Brunson on the next Risus the Raptors
Cat's been injured and I think put the cup on
the line, Jalen is poised to have a big game,
maybe a big tournament.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
It who you liking.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
I'm gonna go with Polo, Okay, that's your guy. With
Orlando and Miami. Always gonna go with my guy. But
also Friends is out, so I think that put more
responsibility on Polo and he'll be ready to go. You
know that Florida matchup is always a little spicy.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Yeah, all right, So don't forget to play King of
the Court on DraftKings Sportsbook every Tuesday during the NBA season.
Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code Point Game.
That's Code Point Game. Bet five bucks and get two
hundred dollars in bonus bets. If your bet wins. In
partnership with DraftKings, the crown is yours.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
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(29:42):
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Speaker 2 (29:55):
All Right, We're.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Back here on point game, a segment that I've come
to love that it intro we used a few episodes ago.
We're gonna run back again called No Days Off, where
it is gonna break down a couple of players that
he feels like deserve the love who aren't getting the
TV shine, aren't, you know in the talking heads rundown,
And so we're gonna do that here on point game.
It is gonna show some love, so it. Who do
(30:16):
you got for our no days off nomination this week?
Speaker 4 (30:19):
No days off nomination, We're gonna have two. We usually
do one, We're gonna have two this this week. I
gotta give a big shout out to Michael Porter Junior,
my guy over there with the Brooklyn Nets having a
hell of a season. I mean his team's not, but
individually he's having a hell of a season. I think
he's in the last three or four games thirty pieces.
So shout out to you, MPJ. I know you've been
(30:41):
ready for these moments. I know you've been been working
for these moments. You know, to have a team of
your own and be able to beat a focal point.
So shout out to you putting up big numbers, keep
doing it. And then I'm gonna have to give a
shout out one B to the guy over there on
the Golden State Warriors, Pat Spencer, Shout out to you man.
You got you got everybody talking about you, You got
(31:04):
a yeah, yeah, you got a good You got a
good energy about your game, man. And then from the
things I hear about what Steve Kurr says about you,
your ultimate pro, ultimate teammate each and every day, you know,
you bring your hard hat and you you you're you're
a professional. So shout out to Pass Spencer as well.
We got to give love to him as he's been
(31:26):
doing this thing last week.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
The wild thing, and I got to confirm this before
I feel like I even opened my mouth. But people
said because he was a lacrosse like legend and heard
about that, they're saying like it's like if Michael Jordan, uh,
you know, decided. I mean, it is Michael Jordan case
where he went over to basketball and was actually went
over to baseball, was actually good at baseball, like they said,
(31:47):
he was that dude when it came to lacrosse. So
the fact that he's doing this just seems like he's different.
Speaker 4 (31:52):
And he's like, I mean, he looks like a lacrosse
player right the way you look like he So that's
why it's super dope. Like he really just decided to
play basketball. Obviously he got talent and he's good. Yeah,
but like he's really doing his thing and then probably
proving so many people wrong that we're probably on the
uh probably really like, what are you doing while trying
to go to the NBA right, so you know, shout
(32:14):
out to him, keep doing your thing, keep swagging out
on us, keep talking y'all.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
Shit, I love it.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
I love it. Him yelling at the back. He yelled
at his own bench.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
After that, he going, he's going like they got a faby,
he's doing all that.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
So I like his energy, man, and it seemed like
his teammates like him. So that's that's half the battle.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Love it.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
Okay, we got a couple of small stories that I
wanted to get to you before we close out the episode,
so we'll bring back a bucketer brick. We still haven't
found a story that you are trying to stay away from.
You've been opened up with us. So I got a
few stories here.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
I got one.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
I don't think I got one today because but I
would love your viewpoint on this stuff. So we're gonna
go bucking on all these other bets. But the first
story I wanted to bring up Desmond chucked the ball
at og And Andnobi the other day.
Speaker 6 (33:03):
Og inside Oh, I want to play from Blake. Oh,
and Bane throws it off Adnanobi Handanobie shops baby. I've
sa Baine wanted to save it and get possession, but
he threw it like it was throwing a fastball.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Desmond rebound the ball, just chucked it at og What
was going on there?
Speaker 4 (33:25):
I was, I'm still trying to figure out, like, do
you not like that guy?
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Like? What the hell was going on?
Speaker 4 (33:31):
Like? That was because he could have when he got it,
he could have just went the other way like he was.
It's not like he saved it out of bounds and
he was like they were already out of bounds. If
you ever, if you watch it again, he really could
have grabbed it and just went the other way. He
really like aimed it fastball straight to the ribs.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
I'm like, damn funny.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
The funniest part was that he is he pointed to
their position because it technically was.
Speaker 3 (33:56):
Out on ojos out of him.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
He was, what I do? It's like, what do you
what you do?
Speaker 4 (34:00):
I wish I could ask him because that was if
I was on the bench, I would have been like,
oh my goodness, I would have I would have thought
they had some type of beef and he's trying to
do the right like the wrong thing, but legally like
he was trying to like get him back for some
I was like, dang.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
And maybe Og is playing innocent, but like they asked
him during an interview and he was like, actually think
Desmond's a great guy.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Maybe you can say that just to.
Speaker 4 (34:22):
Like I'm saying, you could tell. He reacted like what
are you doing, bro? And then they said something and
he was like, oh, it's all good, bro, it's all
So that was a crazy exchange. That was I never
seen nothing like that, especially when you didn't have to
go out of bounds.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
Yeah, okay, our next one, so that was a bucket.
This next one, this one isn't even that that dicey
or controversial. But during halftime the other day, okay, see
for chet, Holmgren gave props to Red Panda during halftime. Now,
I feel like we don't hear you. Guys got to
see these acts all the time. So what do you
think about the halftime act Red Pand do you know
(34:57):
Red Panda?
Speaker 3 (34:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (34:59):
Yeah, for sure, Yeah, yeah, I see Red Panda a
few times in action.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Well okay, so is she the goat? I guess of
halftime acts in the NBA.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
I mean, she gotta be one of them. Like she's everywhere.
I think every team I played for. I've probably seen
her at the halftime show when I'm trying.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
To get some shots up. She over there doing her things.
Speaker 4 (35:22):
So nah, she she definitely got to be on the
on the mount rushmore.
Speaker 1 (35:27):
So okay, let's put her up against the you know,
the quick change people.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
You see the quick change people.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
I've seen.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
I've seen them in Sacramento. They had an artist he
used to like he used to like draw this, maybe
a lion or something like a famous artist so quick
and it was like the most just it was a
it was a dope little show.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
So I've seen a lot.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
Obviously, that's a A ANB.
Speaker 4 (35:52):
Everybody's knowing, everybody's knowing Red Panda. Yeah no, it's unless
you're a young unless you're a young guy that does
just doesn't doesn't really know too much.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
I'm not ready for that for a well tour Red
Pand not at all.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
She gotta keep it going, yeah, or this guttall be
like a son or daughter of Red Pand or something.
Speaker 4 (36:08):
Yeah, yeah, it gotta it, gotta it, gotta go in
the Family for Show.
Speaker 1 (36:13):
Okay, so this one video, I feel like all these
court side videos are coming out.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
This is the power of cell phones.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
But somebody caught Jazz coach Will Hardy cussing out his team.
Speaker 3 (36:24):
He was going, yeah, I'm.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
Tired of doing this everyfing game, play effing harder. So, uh,
because I saw some of the criticism, people being like, man,
people are gonna, they're gonna those players are gonna turn
against him and get them out of there. But like,
did you feel like that was necessary? Uh, for for
coach Hardy to go off on his players like that.
Speaker 4 (36:46):
Yeah, I mean there's a time and place for all that. Like,
he's probably really tired of it. It's probably been a
situation where the last couple of games that came out
like that. So like, yeah, for people to hear him
say that, it's like, oh, dang, they're not gonna. That's
normal talk in the NBA, especially if you if you're
not on track and doing the right stuff. That's most
coaches are going to talk to you like that. Everybody's grown,
(37:08):
nobody's taking it personal. But you can tell he's sick
and tired of him saying the same thing over and
over and I've been in those situations as a player,
being on the losing team or a rebuilding team, and
every few games you hear the.
Speaker 3 (37:22):
Same stuff, you hear the same thing.
Speaker 4 (37:24):
So it's definitely frustrated for a coach, frustrating for you know,
a whole team as well. But now that's normal talk.
So he's he's just upset. That's something that just keeps happening.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
And finally, Adam Silver, he went to a Pacers Nuggets
game recently and he was doing some commentary. I think
it was one of when Jamal Murray was dropping fifty,
and I think that the conversation came up where Adam
Silver was quot as saying that the league may have
over calibrated, thinking that the fans wanted to see more offense.
And I think he was sort of pointing to that
(37:55):
the league favorites offense, so like some foul baiting all
that stuff people, you know, the stuff that people criticize
SGA for, even James hard in the early days, you know,
for Coley's fouls and and thus leading to bigger offensive games.
So like, do you find any truth in that that
the game that the NBA game right now sort of
favors offense because they think that's what the fans want to.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
See, no doubt, I don't know if that's what they
think the fans want to see. They know the fans
want to see that, so they're they're the league is
always going to, you know, go with what the fan
is is is in like with and I think it's
over emphasized a little too much on offense. But like
I said earlier, which the difference is when you go
(38:39):
to the playoffs and it's called a totally different game
by the refs where you can be a little more physical,
you can hand check a little bit more. They're not
calling every ticki tac faile that they call in the
regular season. So I do agree on what Adam Silver
is saying. But the game is dictated on defense as well,
so when it's winning time, as is the playoffs, the
(39:01):
game is called different. Hopefully soon at some point the
game will be called similar to the playoffs because that's
real basketball.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
Like obviously the foul baiton is there.
Speaker 4 (39:11):
SGA has figured the game out how to manipulate the refs,
and that's a skill. So like, even though people get
upset with what SGA does or what James Harden used
to do, Like those are strengths and skills that players
never find out throughout their career on learning how to
get fouled. So we can't blame those players just bending
the rules a little bit, are manipulating the refs a
(39:32):
little bit more. We got to be better defenders if
if you want to be honest. So hopefully, you know,
those two sides connect a little closer in terms of
the regular season being you know, ref like the playoffs do,
and I think you will have you know, a happier
fan base for sure.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
In terms of the whole game.
Speaker 1 (39:52):
That's fascinating because I feel like, you know, with the uh,
these players become inventive. You know, people think like a
great basketball player like oh, they can score whatever. But
it's finding those that small the small ways to sort
of like almost not cheat the game, but like find
ways to get to the line more or whatever. Like
that's if they change the rules, there's gonna be that
guy like an SGA or a James Harden. Because I
(40:14):
remember when people first started to see James Harden go ice,
They're like he's slower, he's that Euro and all that stuff. Like,
so I think it's just that's just evolution and the
other side of it that I want to ask you
because I feel like the age old debate is always
like the nineties, we're tougher defenses. Do you feel like
that's valid and you think that the league change that rule?
Speaker 4 (40:35):
The league just changes over time. Yeah, Like that's just
what it is. We don't want nineties basketball, I don't
so we're going to put that on there. We don't
want how they played in the nineties where you can
go through that go through the hole and get checked
like this right right, and not get called for like
that's not safe, that's not basketball. Yeah, I do think
(40:56):
it should be called a little tougher than it is
right now, Like it's too touchy, Like if you touch
somebody more than likely, especially if it's a superstar star
type of player, they're gonna call it. You're not allowed
to You can't stop anybody if you're not allowed to
touch them. So I think there's a fine line between
the two. But it's hard because the game is changing.
(41:19):
It's a lot of threes. Guys are faster, stronger, jump higher,
So the game is just changing. When how the players
are changing but I would like to see a fine
line between the early two thousands and right now. I
love the nineties and all those players, but like that
wasn't how basketball should be played in terms of the
(41:40):
physicality of not calling fouls, Like that's just made the
strongest man win, and we don't.
Speaker 3 (41:46):
You don't, that's not who I feel.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
Like, Yeah, some of the enforcers we don't see like
a Bill Lambier anymore, you know, because you.
Speaker 4 (41:52):
Can't throw, so like I know, and I'll be having
arguments with my homies and stuff all the time about
you know, some people say this generation softer. It's like
the generation is just adapting to how the game is called.
If you want to be serious, like, this generation is
probably stronger, like they're they're they're faster, they jump higher,
if they lifted weights like those guys, why wouldn't they
(42:13):
be stronger. Like that's just how life, you know, how
how life transpires. So it's a fine line that we
got to get back to. I think it's too too
touchy right now, but we we got to get back
to being somewhat a little more physical.
Speaker 2 (42:28):
No, our big guys hit threes now, it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (42:31):
Nobody's posting up.
Speaker 4 (42:32):
That's just the elevation of you know, that's just the
way the game is going and the best players adapting
it just and if you don't, you'll get left behind.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
Well said.
Speaker 1 (42:41):
All right, there's been another episode of Point Game. I
t anything you want to leave our audience on for
this episode.
Speaker 4 (42:46):
What I would say is everybody just be out there,
stay on your slow grind.
Speaker 3 (42:49):
Man. Life is a slow grind.
Speaker 4 (42:52):
Ups and downs in life, man, just as the holidays
come as well, you know those are always obviously you know,
put small on people's faces, but a lot of people
go through a lot of.
Speaker 3 (43:02):
Things during these times.
Speaker 4 (43:03):
So just continue to stand on your slow grind and
write it out.
Speaker 3 (43:06):
Man. It can't store in forever.
Speaker 2 (43:09):
Love it, love it all right.
Speaker 1 (43:10):
There's been another episode of Point Game, brought to you
by iHeart DraftKings. Follow through, Slow Grind, Guys, tap in,
We got socials on everything, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Subscribe to
the YouTube channel. We're gonna start dropping some exclusive content
and all that stuff right on there and channel. It's
been Point Game with CJ. Toldono and Isaiah Thomas Peace
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