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June 2, 2021 42 mins

WHAT'S BURNIN is back as Matt and Stak continue to breakdown the 2021 NBA playoffs. They discuss all the 1st round series & preview an already set 2nd round matchup between the Nets & Bucks.

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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I know that New York Knicks fans are having a
hard time understanding what the funk is going on right now.
Julius Randall has been struggling, and what trips me out
is how much they've turned on him so fast. Shout
out to Julia's random had a great year, but the
banje I gotta be layal through the good and the bad.
Welcome back to another edition of What's Burning. We're talking

(00:22):
NBA playoffs Jack Lakers and Sounder in the best of
three series. Um, we all saw CP get hurt in
that first first game. I got a chance to talk
to him. Shoulder hasn't been feeling well, but it looks
like slowly but surely, it's kind of coming back to life.
He's at only nine points, but leads a team with
seven assist the game. Devin Booker is having a great
first time playoff experience. After the five nearly six assists

(00:46):
in five rebounds. DeAndre Ayton was it going to be
the key to me? He's at nearly twenty points, almost
fourteen rebounds, shooting eight percent from the field. A d
went down with the growing injury. We're not sure about
his likeliness to return. Obviously, not playing the Game five,
But they have to be very cautious with that type
of injury. Who needs to step up for the Lakers? Jack,

(01:07):
And what have you thought about this series overall? Well,
I think the Sons are doing great. Man. Obviously, when
I won the championship and O three, we had a
little help, you know, in the West Continence finals. Dirk
was hurt the whole series and that and it helps
us not having Dirk on the opposite and obviously bench.
But and injuries are part of the playoffs. Injuries are
part of the game. A lot of people don't understand that,

(01:28):
and you need some luck sometimes. But this is a
break for the Suns because they have a better chance
of winning now without a d in the lineup. I
think everybody on the Lakers team has to step up.
I think it's kind of it's kind of it's kind
of messed up because they came into the series with
the idea of not playing Montres. Now they need him,
So what's his mental where what? You know, I'm where
is he had mentally? But everybody on their team has
to step up, has to be a collective effort. I

(01:50):
even text Lebron, I even text him and told him,
I say, man, you've done it. You've done it impossible
so many times. This is another challenge for you. Let's
see what you're gonna do, you know. And I think
he can do it. I think he can pull him
out the series. But it's gonna be tough, and Phoenix
has a great chance now to eighties down. I think
you made an interesting point about where montrese Harold's mentals
that obviously coming off you know, six Man of a
Year going down the hallway to the Lakers. I'm sure

(02:12):
he had a different vision of how this season would
play out for him. Hasn't played much in this series actually,
and let posted a tweet the other day said something
like the worst thing in the world is wasted time.
So obviously he's frustrated. But I feel like between him,
Kyle Kuzman Dennis Schroeder, two of those guys have to
be at least eighteen to twenty points with a D out.
You can never replace a D one player. I think

(02:34):
it's obviously by committee and that other guy needs to
be in that ten to fifteen point range, and then
you need other guys to step up. Um, this is
a big opportunity for the Phoenix Suns because uh, you know,
there's not gonna be any easy passes. Uh you know,
with a d down. Not really sure the way he
went down, it doesn't look like a couple of days
is going to make that that injury. Okay, so he

(02:55):
may miss a few games in this series and then
and to me, like you said, Lebron has to be amazing,
but he's gonna need some other guys to step up
from his supporting cast and really do what they're supposed
to do. So, um, I'm decided to watch Game five
tonight and see what happens. So we'll have to keep
a close eye on this series because obviously everyone predicted
with the Lakers being healthy that they would represent the

(03:17):
Western Conference, but as we see right now, they're not
a healthy team. Next up, we have the Portland's Trail
Blazers are dark course first, the Denver Nuggets are basically
in the best of three series as well. The Blazers
are starting to hit on all cylinders. Damian Lillards at
thirty points nearly ten assists the game and five made
three cjs at about twenty two points a game, six assists.

(03:39):
Norman pal has been the X Factor at eighteen points,
Mello at thirteen, and Nurkicic at thirteen and thirteen. Joker's
numbers are Joker, He's at thirty and eleven. Michael Porter Jr.
Who we thought needed to step up and have a
big Playoffs numbers are down by about ten points and
he's only taken about twelve shots of game. I feel
like they're starting to feel that Murray uh expertise and

(04:04):
specialty in the playoffs is definitely being missed right now.
Thoughts on this series. We picked Portland. We're high in Portland.
They've got a lot of experience, They've been through a
lot of the last couple of years. And eventually you
turn the corner. Eventually you get healthy and things start
to go your way, and hopefully this is the series. Um,
I'm still unbelieved Yoki's thirty points. Averaging thirty points in
the playoffs like it's it's it's unbelievable. And Reporter, you

(04:27):
know he's still young, you know, Um, he got to
learn what this playoffs is about. And the Arenas not
even full just magic. If the Arenas will fall, it's
hard to you know, it's the playoffs is another level
of the game from regular season and guys got to
get adjusted to that, and they're definitely missing Murray, but
I think they still have a good opportunity to win
this series. Also, Austin Rivers has stepped up. He's playing well,
so I think Gordon has to do more, you know,

(04:50):
Gordon has to do way more than what he's doing.
They have a chance, but I'm still I'm still going
with them, I mean with Portlands because I I just
rely on Dame and I think it's their time, you know.
I just think this is an opportunity for Portland's I think,
you know, obviously they were they ran into a Golden
State dynasty, but then they've also had key members hurt
during crucial times in the season during the playoffs, and

(05:10):
now they got everyone healthy. Everyone's hitting on all cylinders.
Dame is being Dame love with Norman. Power brings on
both sides of the floor. So don't be surprised, you know,
if this team is able to slide through here, then
they're gonna face the winner of of l A and Phoenix,
and that's not gonna be easy for anybody. So excited
to see this Portland team kind of hit on all
cylinders and looking forward to them finishing off this series.

(05:33):
Next up Utah Jazz, the number one seed in the playoffs.
First the Memphis Grizzlies. They have a three one lead,
Mike Conley Bobdanovich both over twenty points a game. Looks
like they've kind of found their groove. Obviously, getting Donovan
Mitchell back was a huge, huge piece. Although the Grizzlies
have showed flashes at times, John Moran has been incredible. Uh,

(05:54):
the future is bright. To me, Dylan Brooks within the
next two or three years is gonna be one of
the top my best two way players in the game,
mark my words. I love its toughness on both sides
of the floor. What do you think about this Jazz team?
Jack and Uh, the way they've been playing well. First,
I want to just give down Donovan his props. They
haven't lost the games as he came back. When you

(06:15):
just started a team, this is what you want to bring.
You want to bring, the confidence, you want to bring,
the effort you want to bring, you know, the actual
the actual leadership to your team to get these doubs
and they have the losses he got back, So shout
out Downvo Mitch for coming in and being the leader
that he's supposed to be. I think with Memphis you
have John Morant. We both love Dennon Brooks. He reminds
us of us so much, play so hard on both
ends of the court. And Jared Jackson, he hasn't played

(06:38):
all yet, so he's still trying to figure it out.
They got a lot of key pieces, but I don't
think they really had jobs one of my favorite players
in the whole league. If they could add some pieces,
you know, to the core of the team, they'll be
all right. But right now, you tall just a better team.
They've been the best, one of the best teams in
the league all year long. And uh, they're gonna They're
gonna in this series next game. I agree, But again

(06:59):
I think Memphis should be very excited about what's to come. Um.
You know, like you said, there are three young stars
in rant Brooks and Jackson are definitely gonna take this
team places. Um, and this was a good showing. Like
they said, they show flashes. Uh, they've been in pretty
much all the games except one. I'm looking forward to
to to to see what this team can do in
the future. But I definitely feel like the Utah will

(07:20):
close this out in the next game or two. The
Knicks verse the Hawks. I know the New York Knicks
fans are having a hard time understanding what the funk
is going on right now. Uh. Julius randall Off after
winning Most Improved Player has been struggling, and what trips
me out is how much they've turned on him so fast.
Um because he shout shout out. Derek Rose average nearly

(07:42):
twenty three points a game, UH put in the starting
line up during the playoffs. But this Hawks team is deep,
man and Trey Young is not scared and ship averaging
about twenty eight and ten. I got four other players
in double figures, three players at about nine points a game.
At the end of the day, Jack, the Hawks just
have more talent. And I was someone who picked the Knicks,
but quickly I had to think about my choice after

(08:04):
watching the first couple of games. But what have you
have been your impressions of this series overall this far? Well,
just the confidence in the Hawks, you know they have it.
They definitely have a deeper team. They have a great
group of veterans with lou and Gallinari, and a great
group of young guys with Tray and the rest of
the gang. So um and a great coach, a tough
minded coach that came in and got these kids playing
with confidence and playing tough minded. I gotta reiterate on

(08:26):
what you said earlier. Shout out to Julius Randall had
a great year, but the fans, I gotta be loyal
through the good and the bad. You know, he's doing
all he can and and a lot of times you
gotta understand this. You might do a lot of great
things in the regular season as far as game wise,
when the playoffs they take all that away and make
other people do things that they weren't doing all season.

(08:47):
And and that's what Nate McMillan the Hawks are doing,
making other people beat them man. And and the team
has as it's not used to that. They don't have
enough experience and enough talent to have to figure that
out on the fly right now. Um, I love quickly,
I love with d roses On, But you gotta continue
to to have Randall's back because he's doing all his can.
He's got you out to his playoffs, But don't abandon
him now because you're not winning the series. Yeah, I

(09:08):
got a chance to talk to Julius last week, and
I could just tell he's pressing. Obviously, it's a lot
of weight, man. You gotta think the first time in
the playoffs since two thousand and thirteen, most improved players,
one of the biggest franchises in the history that I
think there's a lot riding on the shows and I
kind of just felt like he was pressing, man. So
you know, we had a little bit of back and forth,
and I think he's played a little bit better. But
like you said, the Hawks team has a lot of

(09:29):
talent um. If you take away Randall's you know, game,
they don't really have much else outside of d Row
so uh, you know, obviously, salute for the run they
made this year, but I feel like the Hawks will
close this out in another game or two as well.
Last but not least, we have the Sixers versus the
Wizards Game five coming up, and b took a hard
falling Game four and the first quarter did not return.

(09:51):
We'll have an m R i um for his knee.
Ben Simmons is almost at a triple double at fourteen
ten and nine. Wizard drawn hacka bin obviously not shooting
the ball well from the free throw line, Bill Westbrook,
and Hashimura all delivered last game to get their first win.
Can the Wizards extend this series if e Beat has

(10:13):
to miss more than one game, Jack, Uh, they can
because I'm sure whatever game he comes back, they'll win
that one because he is just that good. But you know,
I hope he's healthy, hope he comes back soon. You
don't want to see a series playoff because the best
player got hurt. I hate when the series like that,
but like I said, it's a part of the game.
I think I think the Wizards can smell blood now

(10:34):
because to me, without and Beat on the court, the
Wizards have the best big man and Gaff he catches everything,
he dunks everything, and he protects the room very well.
Um Simmons, I love you to have one of my
favorite players, but you gotta take it. You gotta knock
these free throws down. Bro Um, they're gonna you don't
want to be the player that they're filing during the
end of the game or anywhere doing these playoffs to

(10:55):
mess up your chances of getting the championship. Bro, you
gotta knock these free throws down. And he can't, and
he can't I think it's I think it's just more
focused and more practice. But the Wizards definitely smell blood
and uh I and b doesn't play maybe a game
or two, I see the Wizards winning the next one.
Mm hmmm. Shout out Russell westbrook Man nineteen points, twenty

(11:17):
one rebounds, and I think fourteen assists of I'm not mistaken.
It's still just fucking incredible, man. I love what he's doing. Also,
shout out to Bias Harris. He's kind of been the
question mark for that team. Will he step up and
he uh, you know, for Philly, and he's definitely stepped
up and done this part. This team has played well
at times when in Bead hasn't played. Obviously, losing him
during the game, you kind of have to completely change

(11:37):
your mindset. But you know, I it's gonna be a tough,
tough game five, but I have Philly pulling it out.
It's always hard to go against russ and and the
way Bill has been playing, But I think they're gonna
pull this out just because they're a better team to me. So,
you know, Dot got some other sleeves to Matt definitely definitely,
so we'll play close attention to this uh as we

(11:58):
watch and beads similar to an A D situation. You know,
the Lakers in Philly have championship aspirations, and you know
some of their best players are really are are naggin
right now. So can they afford the luxury to sit
them and win this series? You know, because obviously I
don't think either of them are gonna be that healthy
with just one game off. So this is gonna be
interesting to watch for both these teams, the Lakers and

(12:21):
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our newest sponsor, Italian Twine Game five coming up Wednesday. Jack,
this is the best of three series. Is tied it
to two. Dallas stole to in l A. Clippers returned

(13:06):
the favor and took two in Dallas. Uh. Kauai is
that thirty three points and nearly nine rebounds a game?
Paul George at twenty five points and nearly nine rebounds
a game? Luca is that thirty three, eight and eight. Uh.
They made some adjustments and we're able to go into
Dallas and handle business. I'm fully confident in the Clippers
that they're gonna win this series now. I just think

(13:27):
they have a different look in their eye, a different energy.
They have their rotation down, they got the young boy
in there playing um. Jack thoughts on first of all
this series and then after that, do the Clippers really
need to make this run to keep this team together? Well,
I think I think for the most part, after they
lost those games, I think Tyler win and told him that,

(13:47):
you know, we need to be dogs, we need to
be the physical team. We know we we got so
many guys on this team they have they have pride,
and there's tough guys and that come from tough backgrounds.
And we played a game one weight, but they haven't
been They wasn't playing the way their style of game,
that physical style of game, you know, the first couple
of games. Now they kind of figured it out. You know,
Kauai is averaging thirty, you know, and I think everybody

(14:09):
is coming up, coming in and playing more physical and
more confident. Um, we all knew what Luca was gonna do.
He's been a problem for them all year, you know.
But making adjustments, that's what that's what tells that. That's
what separations different between the coaches and the teams. What
team can make can make the best adjustments in the playoffs,
and right now the Clippers are doing that. But Luca
has been great. Luca needs way more help. I don't

(14:31):
think Port Zingers is giving them the help he needs.
And uh, Boban came in the game last game and
gave them more more of a U A center presidents
than Partsingis did this. This is this whole series. So um,
they Luca definitely needs more help. But I see the
Clippers pulling it out because I think they finded you
they founded juice. Yes, obviously the Clippers are on the clock. Um,

(14:54):
what people don't realize is this is only this team's
second year together. But in l A, it's like dog years,
you know what years almost you know, it's like a lifetime.
And to think that you would blow this team up
if they don't happen to make a run after two
years is ridiculous. But that's just the new nbavor. And
you know, there's some whispers that if they don't make
a run, Kauai could walk, and you know, all that
is just speculation right now. But like I said, I

(15:15):
think they've kind of found what they needed to find.
I see them coming through and finishing this series off.
So it's it's still gonna be a battle, but I
definitely have the Clippers advancing well. If Kauai is going
to leave, bro, there's only one place I see him
going as better in l A. Miami, Miami Golden State. Jimmy, Jimmy,

(15:37):
real cool. That'd be tough. We had a great sit
down conversation with our brothers, Van Lathan and Trayvon Free
about their oscar when make sure you check us out
this Thursday, June three. Enjoy this teaser. Kyrie Irvin is
my favorite basketball player on the planet. He's my favorite

(15:57):
basketball player because I think he's with something invaluable. He's
giving context and perspective to this. He is playing basketball,
and basketball has provided him a great life and a platform.
Is NBA basketball as important as what's going on in

(16:17):
the Middle East? Now? It's just not. You have to
be a moron to think that when kids, when kids
are dying, right, So when he when you put a
mic in his face and he goes, hey, yeah, basketball
is cool, but I want to talk about what's going
on in Kenosha, Wisconsin. We we gotta have that. And
the rub is that we can't have that if they're
not playing, you know what I mean. But then if

(16:38):
they don't play, that would be a huge, huge, huge,
big thing too, because that'd be working on people's pockets
so bad. So I think both people are right. But
I think one thing that we have to do to
Trayvon's point is we just have to know what we're saying.
I see so many people and I see Stephen A.
Smith and I love stephen A. Smith. I see seven

(16:59):
A Smith being critical of Kyrie and being critical of
like what he's doing and how he's comporting himself. I
think that balance is needed. I think that, to be
honest with you, if athletes would have been like this
in the nineties or in the eighties, we might be
better off right now. And I'm not coming at those guys.
I'm just saying, yeah, it's ship going on. I know
the dude can put the ball in the hole, but

(17:20):
what else you got for us? I personally like like
making white people uncomfortable. I think they actually I think
they think better and on their feet. I think we're
doing a disservice to white people by keeping them comfortable
because they're not gonna do it right, and now we're
gonna have to come at them. The best thing we
can do for white america's continuously made them uncomfortable, and

(17:41):
then we'll all get to a place where maybe we
could all be a little bit more. I mean, it's crazy.
Brought up Kyrie because I was someone who was opinionated
on his thing, because it didn't seem like when he
first came with the idea that he had a plan.
To me, I wanted to have a plan. This is
another thing. He and I went out talk every day,
and it was it was because it was just like,
you know, you have that platform, like what you're pok,

(18:01):
you're not gonna play. What's the plan? Not playing is
not solving anything, Like he said, you're just you're making
people mad because games are But like what you're plan?
And then once I kind of figured out what his
plan or hearing what his plan and seeing that he
really had a plan, I had to take a step
back in the mid and I was wrong because like
to me, I think, like I said, our strength is
our platform, Our strength is our voice. Our strength is
our ability to connect dots, our strength of our ability

(18:23):
to get our voice around the world. So okay, if
you're just gonna set out, that's you're wasting all. But
he was doing more than just this. What if he
didn't have a plan. What if he just said a
black man got shot today, I don't feel like shooting
the basketball. I would understand that. But to me, it's
it's not like that's your that's your individual choice and
that's what you want to do, you know what I mean.
But to criticize other people that want to go move

(18:45):
forward and go ahead and play, I'm not with But
if you do like I said and find out that
he did have a plan, like I had to take
a step back and it, admit I was wrong and
have extended a hand and sitting down and having a conversation,
but I completely agree. Like the way he handles stuff
now and to me, Re is the best player right
now he's ever been because he's so clear on who
he is as a player on and off the court,

(19:07):
supercarm and he's so at peace with who he is
on and off the court, and not a motherfucker can't
disturb that. And then usually when you're at peace, that's
when you're at your best. So I love what he's doing.
I definitely love that. Look at this season he had
the sixth player, seventh player. Yeah, so it's and fast
after fast in the month. M. I don't understand his game.

(19:28):
It's incredible. He just got told so much in his bag.
You can't you don't know what it's not even a
but it's not a bag. I think it's disrespectful the call.
What kie ever has he got, like you know, like
them a little infinity symbols forever whatever he wants. Yeah,
so my man, Yeah, Roland, right, he works with Kyrie.
He told me one time, because like I'm trying to

(19:48):
get my game back right for the adult men's leads
he went through. He not too long ago. If y'all
don't know, he went back to some old footage. It
was a little heavier and he showed itself. Duncan, that
was a while back then. I don't know if you're

(20:09):
gonna get back to that. Let's say. Here's the thing, though,
it's not about Duncan anymore. A player in the NBA
that has set me free, Luca, I can do that, Bro,
I'm telling you, Bro, I can I can do that,
like the six I'm in the men's league. Though, in
the men's league, I'm yoking. Okay, alright, I'm saying. So

(20:30):
that's what I'm saying. Like I look at Yokis and
I'm like, sometimes, Bro, yokis just crazy, Bro, like this
Nick is not fast. Like and I'm looking at Yokas,
I'm like, Yo, I can do that. And I hear her.
I hear herv and be like, Bro, I just sent
him Yoki clips and stuff like this, and be like
Van stop, I'm actually working with a real NBA player.
I can do But he told me, he said, Kyrie,

(20:53):
he's not even setting you up. He's just reacting to
whatever about the whole game. Whatever, it is you do.
He's going at full speed, just reacting and you don't
even look right. I can't think of anybody that's been that.
Maybe Steph has been that skilled. Steff is pretty like
I can't think of anybody that's skilled with him and
one thing with them their basketball i Q was through
the rules. So it's mine like like, hey, this time

(21:24):
name is the most drop show no I can play.
We brought term on turn got some left person not
a celebrity. Next step on the radar presented you by
DraftKings highly anticipated second round matchup between the Next and

(21:47):
the Bucks. The Bucks were able to sweep Miami in
four games. Boston stole one versus Nets. But I think
we all feel like, with all due respect, that the
Nets will finish this series out shortly, either next game
or the game after odds on to win the East.
They have the Nets at minus they have the Bucks

(22:07):
at plus two fifty jack, what have you seen from
both these teams that excite you? Uh? If we do
get this? And how they anticipate the second round matchup? Well,
the best thing I can say about Milwalker's experience is
the best teacher, and they had all experience they needed
last year in the bubble to come out this year
with a different focus, with a different team, with you holiday,
and with a championship mentality. I don't think they came

(22:28):
in this year just to make it through the person's
second round. They're going they're looking to win it. They
think they're the best team, and they're playing like and
I think everything they've been through the last couple of
years it's giving them the confidence and to finally break through.
We know what the Net's gonna do. We know what
with that cabable love. Uh, they have to get better
on defense. Uh, Jason Tatum is one of the best
scores in the league. But you can't give up fifty
points in the playoffs. It just don't happen. You know.

(22:51):
I've never been on the team where we gave a
fifth in the playoffs. You can't give up fifth in
the playoffs. And I think for the most part, once
they become a better defensive team, which they need to,
but because the next round is gonna be hard and
Milwaukee is gonna be tough, Um, they gotta finish this
series on a on the right note. And I honestly
think they got to stop playing DJ to have inside presidence.
I agree you can't give up fifty during the playoffs,
but I also realized how special Jason Tatum is. Not

(23:13):
only did he drop fifty, he came back and dropped
forty the next game. Jason Tatum is a cold motherfucker boy,
and I think with Jaalen Brown, this would have been
definitely a more interesting series. UM shout out Kevin Durant. Man.
This man came out and dropped forty two and made
it look so effort insane. Man, the most precise score,
uh efficient score we've ever seen in the history of

(23:35):
the game. I really like Milwaukee too. I I think,
like you said, they've had experience being the one seed
and learning what those hard knocks are like. This year,
they flew under the radar the whole time in that
third seed and continue to play good basketball. They played
different kind of lineups, They've had different guys step up. Obviously,
adding Drew Holiday is going to be big, and we're
seeing that in the playoffs. Brent Forb stepped up in

(23:58):
the last few games for them with his shooting. They
have all hands on deck and they are definitely gonna
be ready for Brooklyn. If I'm not mistaken. Janice had
a field day with Brooklyn the last two times they
played them in the regular season, So this is gonna
be a definitely a great second round showdown. And you know,
although I do have the nets, it's not gonna be sweet.

(24:18):
It's definitely gonna be uh an old school battle. I
love what the East looks like this year in the playoffs,
so this is gonna be something we have to play
a close attention to obviously. You know, with all due
respect to Boston, we kind of feel like the nets
are gonna finish them off. So definitely looking forward to
this second round matchup between Jannis and KD. Now we're
onto your guys favorite segment, fan questions, and we got

(24:39):
some good ones today. Jack, start us off a good
vision photography. What do you think about the disrespect of
the fans from the stands? This ship is unbelievable, man,
And we're gonna get in more depth um to this
later in the show. But we just have to hold
these fans accountable. You know, the NBA is very harsh
on players going in the stands. Uh, you know that

(25:00):
all too well. They're very harsh on players even speaking
to the fans. I gotta find so much motherfucking money
for just responding back to fans. So it's time for
the NBA to step up and really start protecting their
players before this shake is ugly alright. Next up Orang
and Jay. Everyone is sleeping on the Trailblazers. If they
beat Denver, do you see them making the finals? It's
a possibility, or anything's possible. We beat the one seed.

(25:22):
Nobody count everybody counted this out, so anything's possible, you know.
Like I said, injuries happen, Things happen, somebody can get hot.
Anything can happen in the playoffs right now. So they
definitely have an opportunity. Will they I don't think so.
I think they make some noise and do better than
they did last year, but I don't see them win
in the finals. I definitely think they have a chance.
From a standpoint, there's no clear cut favorite right now.
Obviously Utah is the one seed. They're playing well, um,

(25:45):
but the Lakers are unhealthy, um and they were everyone's
favorite coming out of the West. Clippers have been inconsistent.
You know, they're in the two two battle right now
with Dallas. Uh. To me, the West is wide open
and I wouldn't be surprised. Um if the Trailblazers made
the finals. You know they've been are our courses. Obviously
it's not gonna be easy. I think the Clippers are
gonna have something to say with that. Utah is gonna

(26:06):
have something to say, and you know the winner of
that Phoenix Lakers series gonna have something to say. But
um man, to me, it's wide open still in the West.
I think, you know, the East is a battle, but
it's really wide open in the West. Next fan question
at Nezilla, which teams need to blow it up and
start over and which teams are a piece away? Damn,
that's a tough question. Uh, blow up and start over?

(26:29):
I think the Houston Rockets, which is unfortunate because normally
a casualty of war when you blow up is going
to be the coach. You know, our brother Steve Silas
first year on the job over there, and it was
a ship show. So you know, hopefully they give him
a chance and able to build, Uh, you know, a
quality team around them. They do have some quality pieces
over there, a team I think is one piece away.

(26:49):
I think the Memphis Grizzlies are one piece away, which
is gonna be hard because there are a small markets
that they're gonna they have to do some great drafting
or or a trade. And as crazy as it sounds,
because they are the one seed, I still feel like
the Utah Jazz are one piece away. And I could
be wrong. I always take a lot of heat when
I talk about the Jazz because they have been one
Uh you know, they have been the one seed and

(27:11):
probably the best team in basketball. But I still feel like, uh,
you know, we're gonna kind of see see what they're
about in the next round and if they possibly make
the Western Conference finals. So as crazy as it sounds
for a one seed to still be one piece away,
I kind of feel like Utah still one piece away. Um,
but yeah, those are my three teams. You have anybody
that you thought of? Uh, the only thing I can

(27:31):
think is one piece away? Uh. For me, it would
have to be Miami. Miami's they needed they need another start.
They have everything else in their team to have the
shooters and have the big man, have the toughness, have
the coaching, have the leadership with Pat Roley, but they
need one more person to get them back to where
they need to be. Like a Kawai landad or something
like that. Yeah, Aaron Briscoe thirty three, What is the

(27:57):
most surprisingly difficult aspect mentally, physically, financially are retiring from
the game or adjusting to retirement? Good question? Uh for me,
I just I just think it's life after basketball. You
know what you're gonna do, you know what you what
what what what you're gonna pick up to replace that time?
You know that that that you did while you're playing basketball,

(28:19):
all the work and out and stuff. Obviously things change,
people grow and your life changing and you can't play further.
Father part the time is that defeated. So uh, for
the most part, just find something that you love to do. Obviously. Uh,
we've been blessed to be able to be in this space.
Uh shout out to Reckon break your Nichols for starting
my career, you know with the jump, when the season,
when the season first, when I first retired from basketball,

(28:41):
and I've been I've been putting a lot of great positions.
So it's all about what happens after basketball and what
positions you put in. I respected everybody in my whole
career and I'm reaping the benefits of it now. So UM,
I think the best part to keep your mental straight
is to find something you love to do after basketball
that keep the same love, enjoying your life and keep
you busy. Absolutely obviously we we we see our brother

(29:03):
LaMarcus Audress shout him out, hopefully sending him well wishes. Uh,
you know, going struggling right now, Um, after retirement, UM,
you know, kind of having been forced in retirement with uh,
with hard issues. I think it's important to have a plan.
And you know, we were both lucky to land on
our feet after basketball. You know, I did a lot
of investing in my early thirties and things started kind
of turning. Finally at thirty seven when ever Sided decided

(29:25):
to retire. Um, this whole media space was you know,
not even a plan you and I had, and you
know we both ended up in it. And and now
we're really making a name for ourselves in this space.
So I definitely think, like you said, Jet, you know,
we've been fortunate enough to make it to the highest level,
but we've been athletes our entire life, you know, so

(29:45):
when that comes to an end, what's next? And a
lot of guys can't handle that, um, you know, and
a lot of guys aren't ready for that to come
to an end. They're not ready for the lights to
turn off. They're not ready for the fans to stop
calling their name, and that could really be devastating to people. Um,
you know. So you know, we wish everyone the best
to who who has because this is a real topic,
you know, guys going to depression. Guys, some people you know,

(30:07):
commit suicide, some people pick up drug habits, some people
lose all their money because like you said, we've been
athletes since we can remember, and now we still have
more than half our lives to live. But what's next.
So I always say it's very important to have a
plan and start that playing early because you never know
when your time is up in this league. So again,
sending out love to everyone who was struggling with this problem.

(30:29):
You know, like I said, our brother LaMarcus all just
to someone who's going through this right now with depression,
So sending him a lot of love and uh man,
just be there for people, you know, if your family
or friends of professional athletes, although they may be smiling,
they could be hurt inside because like I said, it's
been our life, our whole entire life, and now we
have more than half our lives to live and some
people don't know what's next. So again, man sending love.

(30:51):
Next fan question at Marikka too, what are your views
of the ISO heavy books and offense. Is it sustainable
when push comes to self deep in the playoffs? This
is a great question because I thought this game one
and I knew that they would watch film and kind
of understand how much they depended on you go, I go,
you go, I go. But when you fucking got Katie,

(31:12):
James and Kyrie, you can do that. Um. I think
as they advanced further in the playoffs, they're gonna need
to pick that ball movement up and pick and choose
their spots. You know, it's such a luxury for Steve
Nash to have three of the best one on one
players in the game at any time can call their number.
But I think it's always important to keep the guys
like Joe Harrison and Brown and your other players that

(31:32):
are around your stars involved in the game. Even if
they're not getting shots. They still need to touch that motherfucker,
remember what it feels like. And I think they really
relied on ice basketball a lot in the first two games.
I think they're starting to understand although they may they're
gonna be able to win this series on it. Moving
forward against Milwaukee, they're gonna definitely need some ball movement
and you know, get the defense, get the ball from

(31:53):
one side the floor to another and then attacks. So
this is a great question. This is something we're gonna
have to watch because they do rely heavily on slation basketball.
Although we've never seen a threesomeing like this. Uh, it'll
be interesting to see if this can work throughout the playoffs.
When what's interesting is what a lot of people are
saying is the fact that you have two of the
greatest players in the league coming in accepting their roles.

(32:14):
Kyrie didn't mind pushing to the two and letting James
James hample because he's a better playmaker. When you have
stars like that, that's buying in. It's gonna work. But
going into the second round, speaking ahead, Milwaukee didn't see
the dynamic of Kyrie and James. They've seen Kyrie and
k D. So it's gonna be a different dynamic when
the playoffs come because Drew, how do they can guard
both of them? Mm hmm, Yeah, definitely. I really feel

(32:37):
like I said, we've we've never seen you know, three
one on one players like this. Uh, And they all
have sacrifice, But I still think you know, they're gonna
need to be able to move that ball, uh to
further the Evans in the playoffs. Christian zero nine one
six zero four. Do the Lakers need a third star
as Lebron agents? Great question? Uh No, I don't think so. Um,

(33:03):
when you spend a million dollars on your body a year,
you're gonna be all right. You're gonna be better than
half the players in the league. The way he approached
the game, the confidence, the personally is the way he's built. Um,
I think Lebron will be all right. I don't think
they need to add a start. They just won the
championship without another star, with two stars, so I just
think they gotta have more confident in their role players
they got. They got a nice group of guys over
on that sideline, Matt. I just think they need to

(33:24):
continue to give them the confidence and let them know
how important they They're just important as Lebroun and they
need to the team. I don't think they need a
third star. I think they have what they need. I
just think they need to give them more confidence and
rely on them a little bit more. You know, I
think the third star situation kind of played itself out.
Although Brooklyn has three stars, most teams don't have three

(33:45):
stars anymore. And I agree Jack, the role players need
to step up. But again, Lebron will be going into
what you're eighteen or nineteen next year. And I don't
give a fun how much money spend on your body
father time to undefeated? You know, Kobe, Kobe spent a
lot of money on this and his body just gave up.
You know, you know when Kobe said, you know, my
mind is still there, my body's not, you know what

(34:05):
I mean. And he was someone who's stuck to the
code as Lebron does. I think this guy has been
in his prime his entire career. Uh, he's asked to
do a lot this playoffs now that a D is down,
So we have to start keeping an eye on Lebron
um as far as what they're asking him as a
team to do or what fans are expecting them to do.

(34:28):
Understanding that this man has dominated this league for so long,
and and like you said, I mean, there's only so
much basketball. You know, a body has. There's only so
many miles on a body you can run, no matter
what kind of maintenance or upkeep you keep on that.
So this is something we're gonna be watching closely from
here on out, you know. Uh, you know, with all
due respect, I think the Lakers window is this year.

(34:49):
Next year, Um, you know, after that, I think it
opens right back up uh to the rest of the league.
So you know, with a d being nicked up and
dinged up a lot, and and Lebron getting older, this
is gonna be a question that we're probably gonna revisit
at some point, uh possibly next year, um and asking, hey,

(35:10):
do they really need another guy to step up? Because
you know, I don't being able to see Lebron to play,
you know, up until he got hurt, uh this this
season with the high ankle spring, he had played every
game and was on pace to win m v P,
you know what I mean. So we we want that,
We love to see that. But how much more can
he do that? We'll have to wait and see. But
you know, you never want to bet against Lebron. But
the one thing that's always undefeated about athletes is father

(35:32):
time and our closing thoughts. Uh, something that's growing more
and more alarming. UM our fans behavior UM at these games,
it's getting fucking ridiculous. Uh if you ask me, from
Trey Young being spit on to rust Book, getting popcorn
poured on him in Philly, tow uh T Morant, who's

(35:52):
a good friend of ours, getting disrespected and racial slurs
thrown at him and his wife in Utah. And I
want to say, a fan ran on the court, um
just last night in the in in the Philadelphia game.
So you know, Jack, this is something we know all
too well. Uh. You know you were part of the
you know, the malice and the palace. You know, I've

(36:13):
had several run ins with fans and you know we
both spoke on how racist Utah is um back in
oh seven, pre social media. So maybe the world didn't travel, um,
you know, is this racially driven? Is this crazy fans?
I think it's hard to really eliminate either one. They
both can be true. But what are your thoughts, UM

(36:34):
of fan behavior of late? Well, you kind of you
kind of gotta blame the NBA because they know you
just abandoned from coming to games. That's nothing A player
says something I'm going to stands just millions of dollars loss.
So it's it's not an even playing field. You allow
them to come in there and say these things. You know,

(36:55):
just like I told you about when we play in Utah.
You know this, they had a life size cut out
of me in the jail suit right under the goal.
My mom saw that. It was in tears, like my my,
my my kids saw that like so. But the NBA
didn't say nothing about they didn't stop it. So it's
not an even playing field. They let they let the
fans get away with murder. They let the fans say
anything they want. And it's kind of like the the same

(37:16):
thing Mike Tyson said. Too many people are comfortable with
open especially like on social media where I get punched
in the mouth, you know what I mean, And that's
what happened. You know, I think we can with the brawl.
They threw a beer at Ron. That's a sault, that's
assault in any state. But we defend ourselves because we
all know that's not out of ten time. The security
that's in the NBA are all elders. It's a lot

(37:38):
of older people that really can't move. And it's just
been the truth. If you look at the brawl everything.
They couldn't keep us out the stands and they couldn't
control nothing because all the people that were working at
what elders. So it's it's not an even playing field.
They expect more from the players than the actual fans,
and I think it should be the respect should be mutual,
and that's what that's clearly not the point the situation

(37:59):
right now. They they're able to respect the players and
do whatever they want, but the players got to take
the high road, and that's definitely not cool. Yeah, we
also forgot you know, Kyrie Irvin almost kind head with
the water ball. I think it's bullshit. I think, you know,
obviously lookin the Utah ship with the jail, but I'd
have never heard nigger with an e er so many
times during the series. It's just like, what the funk?

(38:20):
These people are really just clearly saying this and smiling
and giggling and laughing about it. And like I said,
we said this ship in oh seven, what do we
in in in twenty one now? And we said this
ship for fourteen years ago, we said this same ship
in Boston. Racist asked fans, So um, I think people
think because they purchased a ticket, they can come and
say and do what they want. Um, but that's not

(38:42):
the case. You know, the NBA has been great at
you know, making the game fund for fans and making
the fans feel safe. Uh. Players are suspended and heavily
fined if they stepped foot in the crowd. Players are
heavily find if they respond to people who are talking ship.
So it's always been crazy to me, like we're the product.
We're the reason why this motherfucking ship goes, but we're

(39:04):
the only ones held accountable. Getting kicked out of game
is not enough. Being banned is not enough. You need
to be banned from all professional sporting events. However, the
funk they got the technology to do that. Ship Now
all professional sport events you need to be banned for.
You need to be hit with the felony. Hit with
the felony if you throw something, spit on someone, because
in real life that's what it would be, would be felting.
You know, you're you're assaulting. We got feloniest, we got

(39:27):
feeling this, We got arrested in all. I had to
do time in jail for the brawl. Yeah you know so.
And then on top of that. I mean, they got
to sit down, you know, make them sit in jail
for a week, you know, make embarrass the funk out
of them, you know what I mean. But something has
to happen, because something bad is gonna happen. If it doesn't,
you know what I mean, You're gonna hit the wrong
motherfucker and someone is gonna get their ass beat straight

(39:50):
up and down. And then and then the players are
gonna be the bad guys, you know, similar to your
guy's situation. Like you said, someone hit wrong with the
whole entire beer in his face. That that ship would
have never happened if the fans were under control, you
know what I mean, Go ahead, but I don't mean
to cut you out. But then when nothing they they
don't even talk about it was more than one person
that hit wrong. Yeah it was two. It was two

(40:11):
or three people, you know what I mean. So maybe
if that happened today, it would totally be different with
everything going on in the world, would have more room
to fight and and and and and to get the
more attention on what happened. But if that, if the
Madison the Palace happened today, oh, the NBA be a trouble.
M hmm. Well, like I said, I just think again,
the fans of or the the NBA has always done

(40:32):
a great job of making the games enjoyable for the
fans and making the fans feel safe. Never had the
players been at the forefront of safety, you know what
I mean. Like I got cussed out by Robert sav
the bitch ass owner of the Suns, and I responded
and got fined either or fifty thousand. When I responded,
they didn't do nothing to him. We told the league
that they was calling his niggers in Utah. Nothing happened.

(40:55):
We got called, we got called niggers in Boston. Nothing happened,
you know. And so it's only time now that they're
finally catching the ship and seeing it. But the ship
has been happening. I mean, obviously, you take this all
the way back to you know, Bill Russell back in
the day with his own fans. They used to you know,
degrade him and throw racial slurs at him. Um, you know,
And I think, uh, what was it, Tristan Thompson or

(41:16):
or somewhere from the you know, for I think it
was Tristan Thompson. Someone from Boston said, you know, as
a visiting fan, I used to hear a busy payer
of herd all the time, as you know, playing there.
I don't hear it anymore, but it doesn't change it.
You know. At the beginning of this, I said, you know,
is it is it just crazy fans or is it
maasically racially motivated? And we can't answer either one, you know,
but I definitely know when they're throwing them niggas around
in in Utah and Boston that was racial again. So

(41:40):
this is a big problem that the NBA has to
fix and needs to fix. Be fixed a sap um
or it's gonna get ugly. And you know, obviously we
don't want it to get ugly. You know, you guys
come to games to be fans, be fans, be respectful,
because you don't God damn left you saw us in
the street, you wouldn't spit in our face, you wouldn't
throw water ball on our face, and you wouldn't even
to say nothing crazy because you know, you get your

(42:01):
ass beat on site, So why do it? You know,
at the event, so and everybody ain't fighting, so be
careful straight up, especially everybody. A lot of motherfucker's got
that shipped on them or in their backpack, so you
do some crazy ship. In real life, you know, people
get people get killed for spitting on people at the
end of the day. People get killed for throwing stuff

(42:22):
at people. Hit him in the face at the end
of the day, you know what I mean. So, you know,
don't let this ship just think because you're at a
basketball arena that that that anything flies. So these fans
definitely need to be held accountable. Or some of these
fans just need their ask web straight up and down
and and maybe that will solve it. But you guys
whip some ask in Detroit and that didn't really change nothing.
So who knows. That's a rap for this week's What's Burning.

(42:45):
You can catch us every week on Showtime Basketball YouTube
and on Twitter and Instagram at show Basketball. So y'all
next week's
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