On today's episode, Jason gets the party started by sharing his thoughts on the Chicago Bulls play-in victory over the Toronto Raptors. J-Mac has always been a big fan of Zach LaVine's game so to see him dominate on that stage was truly gratifying. Vindication for the LaVine Fan Club! In the Western Conference play-in, Oklahoma City guard Josh Giddey had his coming out party in the Thunder's win over the New Orleans Pelicans. We already knew Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a stud, but if Giddey can continue on this upward trajectory, OKC's 'backcourt of the future' could be downright dangerous way sooner than expected. Later, 247Sports journalist Cameron Salerno swings by to preview the Western Conference Playoffs showdown between the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors and discuss why he expects Game 1 in Sacramento to be one of the rowdiest playoff environments the Warriors have ever played in, how the Domantas Sabnonis-Tyrese Haliburton trade reshaped the Kings, the evolution of De'Aaron Fox, how the Kings plans to slow down Steph Curry and much more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume. This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What
is a straight Fire fan? It's your boy, Jason McIntyre.
Straight Fire for Thursday, April thirteenth, Almost tax day. Guys,
(00:25):
hope you're getting your taxes done. Got to get those
in to the tax guy or gal who's handling your business.
I know you're not doing your taxes by yourself. Surprise
people didn't. None of the advertisers. We've had some good
run of advertisers so far in twenty twenty three. I'm
surprised no tax people wanted to advertise on the sports
podcast because I know a lot of sports fans getting
their taxes done at the last moment. So what we do?
(00:45):
We wait? Good night. In the NBA, last night listen
to play has been pretty damn solid. I gotta say,
three very close games and you could argue Heat and
Hawks was kind of I mean quote was interesting. It
wasn't like you could turn away because it's the Atlanta
Freggan Hawks. But good games. We got a great guest today,
(01:05):
a first timer on the podcast. He has covered the
Sacramento Kings for a while. Cameron Salerno. I follow him
on social media. He's got all the goods on the
Sacramento Kings. I have been hyping the King since the preseason.
I know you guys have listened. I said it here
on Straight Fire, I said it on the Herd the
Kings were going to the playoffs? Now did I even
(01:27):
put it on Twitter? Way back in like June Because
I loved Kegan Murray. I advocated him to pick him.
Nobody else had Kegan Murray going that high, and it
worked out great for the Kings. Keenan Murgan's excellent our guests.
He believes Kegan Murray could could could draw some Steph
Curry defensively on Saturday in what should be a really
(01:50):
good game. So you'll like the interview even if you're
not a Sacramento Kings fan. The vibe, the energy, they're good,
very good around the Sacramento Kings. That series is gonna
be popping Saturday. It's appointment viewing. I don't know if
I have anything really scheduled for Saturday, I said, I
don't have much of a social life. I'm old, I
have two kids. I like to think i'm young. For instance,
(02:11):
I played soccer last night for like over ninety minutes.
No injuries, thank goodness. This is where I am in
my soccer playing career. It's essentially there's a tournament in
our area for all the schools, Like if you go
to school A, every kid who goes to the school,
their parent is eligible to be on a soccer team
and they play a tournament against the other elementary school
(02:31):
B and middle school C in high school D. And
you know, we did really well last time. We lost
to the semifinals. And listen, we were able to add
a guy who just got his kid to my kids'
school and it's I mean, he's incredible. We played with
him last night for the first time. He's the guy's
(02:52):
freaking awesome and he had a flick like you gotta
get used to playing with really good players. This guy's
like probably eight or nine years younger than me, and
he's immensely skilled. He plays in men's leagues. He's European,
and you could just see the intensity my first time
playing with him. And when he's like leading guys on
passes and middle run, he's like upset and this is
the pickup soccer. And at one point I put the
(03:14):
hand up like I'm gonna make a run and he
flicks it kind of just like the flick over. Two
dudes heads right on my head running and I just
headed it in and it was like one of those
Oh and trust me, I ain't good. I'm just an
athlete out there getting cardio and working on my touch
and doing run. I can to get the dub because
I like to stay as healthy as possible and running
(03:34):
around burning, you know, thirteen hundred calories at night, going asleep,
waking up, grinding on straight fire. It's it doesn't get
much better than that, ladies and gentlemen, and listen, I'm
I don't know if I'm gonna tick people off with this,
and the attention is not to do that. Okay, this
is what I'm gonna say. I have been the captain
(03:57):
of the Zach Lavine fan Club for several years. Many
have con come and been like, oh, yeah, I'm on board.
I'm on board, and then they go to zach Levine
Island with me and they're like, I can't ride with
zach Levine. Man, this guy doesn't win anything, and they bounce.
A lot of people have bailed on the was he
twenty eight year old kid out of UCLA who basically
(04:18):
is best known as the Space Jam Dunk Champ and
I have not been a huge fan of the dunk
contest in recent years. I maintain the Zach Levine's Space
Jam series of dunks is the greatest I have ever witnessed.
I know people love Jordan and Dominican, Aaron Gordon, Dwight,
Howard mc McClung, great, great. Zach Levine is my guy.
(04:40):
I really am a huge fan. I know he's had
some injuries. I actually believe he is criminally underrated. This
is a guy, are you ready for this? In his career,
he came out of college quickly, out of UCLA. Three
years in Minnesota, he's now six years in Chicago. We're
talking nine years. Jack in three's. He's a thirty eight
percent three point shooter. That's really damn good. Now. He
(05:02):
doesn't do a ton else. He's a solid passer this
season four us his per game this season, four rebounds
per game. He long defensively, gives an effort. He's not
a great defender, but a few players look as good
as Zach Levine on the court. A handle and he's
getting by you, and he's doing some aerial cool stuff
(05:22):
on the way of the rim. You know, what even
if it's not dunking, some of the reverse layups are
just so acrobatic. And I know this sounds like what
j J J J. You You bag on Kyrie Irving
for his immense skill set and his elite lay up
handles and like everything that he keep doing traffic You
(05:44):
like that and bag on Kyrie Irving like that's all
he can do. No, Zach Levine has never, never, repeat
never been a number two on a team. He's been
forced to be a number one, and that ain't easy, guys.
You think it's easy trying to be a number one
on the Chicago Bulls. Levine he's an All NBA candidate.
I'm not even kidding. He has had an amazing year
(06:06):
eighty four percent from the line, and then he caps
it off last night in the playing game on the road.
They're losing by fifteen. I think they were down at
one point sixteen, and Zach Levine just says, at this point,
I'm gonna take this game over because nobody on my
team can do anything. They're kind of locking up Debarda
rosen Vouchevic. He's all right, but I don't trust him.
(06:28):
He can't make a three to save his life. Pat
Beev can't do a damn thing offensively. Caruso is an
incredible defender, had an outstanding game defensively, but offensively he's
limited and like Patrick Williams, doesn't really know what he is.
He looks like he's still grown into his body. Kobe
White can give us some stuff, but I need to
take this game over. And Levine was incredible thirty nine
(06:48):
points thirteen of fifteen from the line, absolutely took the
game over in the second half, seventeen points in the
third when they were down nineteen, seventeen points in the third,
and then added thirteen and the fourth in the second half.
Zach Levine had thirty points in the second half, the
(07:12):
Raptors had forty seven. Levine by himself brought the team
back in what was extraordinary. I mean just watching the
guy go to work, step back. He is just such
a good player. Now, I know everybody's going to get
excited about the Marta Rosen's daughter screaming on free throws.
And yes, the Raptors did kind of lose this game
by going eighteen for thirty six from the foul line.
(07:33):
Pascal Siakam just clanging them all over the place, O
Ganna Nobi can't shoot a free thrower to save his life.
Fred van Vleet, who is a really good player, I
like a lot twenty six, twelve and eight and miss
three free throws. It's seven threes, miss three free throws.
Like they couldn't buy a free throw. It was painful
to watch. The bench had delivered them nothing. And now
the Raptors, folks go into a tumultuous offseason where it
(07:56):
seems like they're probably gonna lose Fred van Vleet. And
I don't know about this. Hey, we could make Scotty
Barnes the point guard, Like, really, Scott okay, I don't
He's very limited. Cant make free throws either, four of seven,
not really a three point either. I mean, I like
Scotty Barnes, everybody loves him. I didn't see Scotty Barnes
staying in front of Zach Levine. Did you anyone out there?
(08:17):
O gan or Obi, he's getting cooked. He put Fred
van Vleet in a spin cycle. I mean Zach Levine
went off, folks. It was an awesome performance. They come
from behind and get the victory on the road in Toronto,
and now they have to go. I'm looking at the schedule,
so there's no games tonight, So go enjoy the night
(08:37):
with your family, hang out, play play Monopoly, play some clue,
or if you are single, you know, get out to
the bars. The Thursday night bar stite not bad. And
then Friday night. I don't know necessarily that it's appointment viewing,
but on the eve of the playoffs, really it starts
Saturday Friday night. We now get Bulls Heat Heat or
five and a half point favorites. I mean, what an
(08:59):
advantage for the Heat, you know, I know they were
the higher tea seed, but the Bulls had to travel
to Toronto. They come home. Now they got to go
to Florida. That's why the Heat or five and a
half pint favorite. That's gonna be a tall order for
the Bulls. I have no play on that one yet.
I had like Bulls first half. I thank goodness you
don't have to bet every single game. And you know,
(09:21):
the Chicago Bulls did not cover in the first half
at all. The other game, which I you know, wasn't
as locked in on because I went to play soccer,
but every time I looked, I'm like, how is the
Pelicans not pulling away? Why are the Pelicans and pulling away?
And they let Okay See dust them in the third quarter.
And folks like, we know Sha Gills with Alexander is
very good, but did we know Josh Giddy was this
(09:44):
could thirty one, ten and nine in forty two minutes.
I mean Josh Giddy, listen. I know he's not a
traditional point guard, but he did play in the NBL,
and I got to see him because I you know,
we're minor owners of the Okase Breakers, I'm sorry, not
the Okayse Breakers, the New Zealand Breakers, Okaysey Thunders. Where
(10:06):
Josh Giddy went from the NBL. Josh Kiddy's twenty years
old and he almost had a triple double in a
playing game. Kid is pretty nice, Listen. I'm pretty stunned.
I thought the Pels had it. Gils just's Alexander thirty two,
Giddy thirty one. Lou Dort listen, Lou Dort. I like him, man,
(10:28):
I like him. He's a gunner. He plays a lot
of defense and for the Pelicans, just a tough one.
C J. McCollum, I must and I really thought he'd
come through. He had a rough game for I for fifteen,
Brandon Ingram had a good game, he at thirty points,
guy to the line. But ultimately, when you don't have
Zion Williamson and your bench consists of like Jackson Hayes
(10:48):
and Josh Richardson, and it's just a little disappointing. And
for the Pelicans, who remember made it to the first
round last year, gave the Phoenix suns hell and now
they're done, and they got question's like, okay, well we're
gonna have Zion next year, and okay. See Meanwhile, goes
on to the Friday night game their turnaround time. Remember
(11:08):
they had to go to New Orleans, not a bad trip.
Then they go right back to those KAC Then they
go to Minnesota and the Wolves are four and a
half point favorites. The assumption is Rudy Gobert will play
in that one, coming off the one game suspension, he
will have had now three extra days of rest. I mean,
I'm not really, it's just too early for I can
(11:30):
really not even look at that game because I'm really
trying to focus on Saturday's games, which obviously is when
the playoffs begin and get super interesting. We're starting to
get some clarity, I am entering a player points pool.
Remember I did one for the NCAA tournament. Happened to
win that one, Thank you very much. Snogo and Matt Bradley.
Get into the final really helped me and I was
(11:51):
able to forge ahead in the final four and take
the victory. But Saturday's lineup not bad. Nets at sixers
and if you're out here in LA that's at ten am.
You gotta love it West Coast life. Then the Hawks Celtics,
I listen. I like the Hawks, but it's a bad matchup.
I was digging into some of the numbers if you
look at during the regular season the Celtics made and
(12:12):
we're just throwing out one game where it was all backups.
The Celtics made twenty threes in one game against Atlanta
and then twenty one or another. Like the Hawks don't
defend the three. Well. I think they're a good team.
I'm not selling their stock. I just think it's a
bad matchup against the Celtics in Boston's favorite by nine.
Then there's the Knicks. Calves, which is good Calves only
(12:33):
five and a half feels light light, especially if Julius
Randall is not going to play. Guys, we're still waiting word.
I I was reading that he was gonna be out
the first two games for sure, but that number still
feels light, especially the way Cleveland plays defense. But Cleveland's
offense can be spotty. And then the nightcap is Warriors Kings,
And to break that one down, by the way, Kings
(12:53):
are one point favorites in that one. Warriors are favorites
in this series. We still haven't got total word if
Wiggins will start art. He's practicing, excuse me, practicing with
the team this week, so we'll see about that. We'll talk.
Let's just talk about it with our guest. Let's welcome
into straight Fire for the first time, Cameron Sealerno. Fox
(13:15):
Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation.
Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio dot com
and within the iHeartRadio app. Search f SR to listen live.
Jason likes to think he knows everything when it comes
to sports. I know what sports dance want, but for
(13:36):
everything he doesn't, he knows a guy who does. Let's
just say I know a guy who knows a guy
who knows another guy. All right, let's welcome into straight Fire,
a special guest. He's never been on the pod. He
is living currently, I believe in Sacramento, which I guess
we could call the basketball capital of the NBA this week,
I don't know, first home playoff game there since like
(13:59):
the Vietnam era. Apparently. Well, let's welcome. Let's welcome, Cameron Sealerno, Cameron,
how are you? Man? I'm doing good, Jason. Not with yourself, man,
I think like you said, yeah, I am in sacrament
I've lived here my entire life, I mean, grew up here.
I mean, this is probably the most crazy I've ever
seen this city. I mean, everyone just dying for playoff basketball,
and everyone's been begging for this for years and years
(14:22):
and years, and now it's finally happening. So I think
the city just buzzing and everyone's just so excited to
get going. And Game one is going to be absolutely electric,
like we're talking about off there. I mean, it's gonna
be probably the craziest environment I think the Warriors have
played in during their playoff I mean, I know they
played some very tough environments and hostile environments. With that,
(14:44):
I mean, they play in Boston obviously, last summer, Memphis,
I mean I know everyone they had that rivalry going. Yeah,
there's some interesting battles with Houston a few years ago.
Oh gosh, it's really good. But I'm saying from just
a perspective of Loud Arena, it's gonna be when the
Kings take the floor on Saturday. I mean, I think
everyone it's kind of been said that the whole fan
(15:06):
base is going to stand up and just give a
huge round applause like it's gonna be unreal. It just
it just you know, gives you chills just thinking about.
Because every reporter's dream and dronal stream just cover a
good game or go to a game with a good environment.
I think both of them are going to check both
those boxes. So it's gonna be a lot of fun
to be a part of them. Obviously, I've been to
(15:28):
every single King's home game and cover them this year
except two. It's funny. The two they lost. They lost
the Nuggets after blowing a twenty point lead to them.
The second one was they lost the Spurs after you know,
a day where they could have clenched a Pacific Division
at home, and obviously they didn't do that. But you've
seen the crowd really kind of get louder and louder
(15:49):
as the year has gone on. I think everyone's kind
of seen the viral clip when they played the Jazz
earlier this year when Kevin Hurrt hit that three for
the win' down by two and just the arena explode.
And I think that's probably the loudest of the arena
has been all year. But obviously there's been some crazy
moments too, But I mean, playoff basketball, there's nothing like it,
and I think the stage just been waiting for this
moment for seventeen years. Seventeen so no way. You covered
(16:11):
them for a while during their bad stretch, you know,
the Vlade Divac years where he was trying to pull
some strings. They had DeMarcus Cousins and messing around and
like they have not been good for a long time.
I think they ended the longest playoffs streak or drought
in the NBA this season. But I will say it's
been a bit of a surprise. You know. I was
early on the Kings. A couple other media people were,
(16:32):
but by and large people are like, oh, it's the Kings.
I want to take I want to take you back
quickly to the trade where they shipped Tyrese Haliburton, who
everybody loved analytics Darling to the Pacers for Sabonus. I
mean there were other guys in the trade, But correct
me if I'm wrong, Cameron. When that deal happened, the media,
which loves groupthink in the NBA, mostly said the Kings
(16:55):
were the losers in that deal. Correct. I think, honestly,
I was stunned. I think, oh my colleagues and Sacramento
were stunned that they trade. How burning no one saw
it coming. I mean, honestly, if you would have told me,
I don't know how long does that go over a
year ago, if you told me that one guard was
gonna get traded from that team, I would told you
have been darn just because, but also too, I think,
(17:18):
I mean, this isn't really sourcedun information, but it's kind
of like obvious you weren't gonna be able to move
Darren with that contract because you just signed a huge,
huge extension I think the off season prior. I think
the deal was either kicking in the first year that
or the first year the big deal was last year,
and so I mean, he was making a lot of
money and Tyrese obviously is on a rookie scale contract,
which is nine day. It's not like the NFL where
(17:42):
the salary cap is different. But I'm saying is I
think a lot of people were stunned they made that move,
not just because I mean I said they had to
make a big move of the deadline. I mean they
I thought the two guys are they should go afterwards,
the bonus and Ben Simmons. And obviously we know how
Ben Simmons turned out, but was interesting took on Simmons,
which I think is an interesting point. I would not
(18:05):
be surprised if the King's try to go after him
at some point. I know they really liked him. And
something that's also interesting is Saxey's basketball coach is David Patrick,
and his godson is Ben Simmons, and they're very very close.
I know he's also close Matis Thible who played the
Austroian national team. David Patrick the Australian national team assistant coach,
(18:25):
and so he has some connections there. But kind of
going back to your point, I think a lot of
people were stunned. I mean I was even at first
I was I was not a fan of the trade
just because how burn is just an incredible player. I
think that's funny. His last game is sacrament to get
an eighteen assists or something like that, and so you
just knew that long term how burnon Fox might not
(18:46):
work out, just because there are just two or two
guys who need the ball in their hands. I mean,
hal Burn is of silitarian, Darren is a score but
they both kind of need the ball in their hands
to make the offensive work, and you know, wouldn't how
Alburn was drafted. He didn't start right away, he came
off the bench, and then kind of last year or yeah,
the year prior, they're like, all right, we're gonna start
(19:07):
both guards, even though Tyrese and Fox are both true
point guards. And so it didn't really work out how
they kind of envisioned it. And I think it's harder
to find good centers in the NBA than finding good guards.
I mean, good guards are a diamond, doesn't You can
name ten fifteen guards who should be all NBA, but
there's probably only a few centers who probably realistically have
(19:27):
a chance to make All NBA. I mean Sabonis Yo
kitch embiid, I mean a d if you want to
qualify him as a center and other guys like that,
but trading for Sabonis really kind of unlocked their whole offense,
and you saw in flashes when he played. Stock Ram
I think only played fifteen games after he got traded
last season. But hiring Mike Brown was the best decision
the King's organizations have made in years. And he's really
(19:49):
kind of instilled a culture in this franchise and just
really changed a lot in I mean, like I said,
it's the best decision that this franchise has made in years. Yeah,
Sabonus I think led the NBA double doubles. Fox was
the most clutch player in the NBA. And it's weird
because I don't know, I mean how closely. I don't
follow a ton of the NBA media people, but they
all think, alike, well, if this stat says this, then
(20:11):
you've got to go with this person for whatever, and
the trade listen. I was a little surprised, but I
was always a big Deer and Fox guy. When you
saw him in college, you were like, Gosh, this guy's dominant,
and it almost felt like like Haliburton was going to
overtake him, but he never quite did. And now they
keep Fox and he's thriving. Cameron, I don't know this
season that they've had is incredible, but I'm looking at
(20:32):
the stats. This jumps out is probably the reason they're
the three seed. Fox started seventy three games, so bonus
seventy nine, Red Velvet seventy five, Barnes eighty two. Yeah,
and Keegan Murray the rookie seventy eight. When you have
five core guys starting that many games together, you're gonna win.
Everyone around the league's taking load management has injuries. How
(20:52):
much have the lack of injuries been a huge bonus
for the Kings. Oh well, I'll tell you a funny story.
So I talked about this with whom my co workers
before the Wizard's game in December, and I was talking
about how, like, you know, the Kings really haven't had
any major injuries so far this season, kind of in
some sense got lucky. And it was that night Sabonis
hurt his hand, which found out he like fractured some
(21:15):
part of his thumb, and everyone thought he's gonna be
out for weeks. And like someone who I talked to
who used to be very close in the Kings organization,
in the medical department, said like I wouldn't play him,
and that was kind of alarming to hear, just because
this was a This is maybe a day after the injury,
and they really hadn't released any other details, just kind
of said what happened, and everyone saw the report. But
(21:36):
then obviously Sabonis played through the injury, and I think
his first game back, I think it was well, I
forget what game game it was, off top of head, Oh,
it was a Nuggets game, the first game they won.
He hadn't like the twenty and twenty game, and he
had trouble double and so he just really dominated. I
was like, all right, Like, if he's gonna play, then
I think they're gonna be fine. But like you said,
like the Kings haven't load man this year. I mean
(21:58):
the most they've load man just last two games of
the season, where they're already locked in a three scene.
There's no point in playing the starters. And I mean
Dear and obviously sat out a few games, you know,
with minor injuries, and so Bonus missed I think a
few games because of injuries. But like you said, the
having that you know, sense of cohesion with the starters,
(22:18):
I forget the exact stat and how many minutes I
don't want to miss quote, but I know their starting
units played the most minutes in the NBA together, and
so that's very underrated. I know a lot of people asked, like,
why didn't they make a move with the trade deadline
because they really liked the roster and they didn't really
want to mess up the chemistry. Kind of take back
in twenty eighteen, so this was their best season since
(22:40):
obviously the playoffs route. I think I forget how many.
I think there are maybe one or two games, about
five hundred or around five hundred. And the emotional leader
on that team was him On Schumper, and everyone loved
that guy in the locker room, like he was the hearty.
Oh yeah, so they had so this they're called the Scores.
That was their nickname. It was Bagley's rookie year. It
(23:00):
was dear and second year in the league, and it
was Shumper. Like they just had they weren't good like
they were they weren't that great, but like they just
were a good team and they had good team chemistry. Anyways,
in the trade deadline, they traded Shumper. I forget who
they trade him for. But anyways, the next day they
trade for Harrison Barnes, which was wait, this is cool
to pulled up. Schumper was a leader in the locker room.
(23:22):
He played it looks like forty two games in Sacramento.
How did that happen? Oh? No, he was. He was
the emotional leader locker room. Like he he is the
Malik Monk of the team, like right, or a Malik
monk I think is a heartbeat of the Kings right now.
But I'm saying is Supper was the heartbeat of the
locker room. So when they trade him, it was the
stoker to everyone, and so it kind of really messed
(23:43):
up that team. Kem. So when the trade deadline came
around this year and everyone's like, why aren't they making
a move? I mean, obviously not the same people are
in the front office now because we know who was previously.
But yes, I'm saying is they didn't want to mess
up the team KEM. And I think it paid off
because you know, they're still they're doing really well, and
you know, like I think everyone really likes each other
(24:03):
and it sounds so cliche, it sounds like a high
school thing, but they really really enjoy each other and
it's a big reason why they've had so much success.
I mean, their team chemistry is incredible, and their bench
is really stepped up. I mean the biggest problem hanging
to the off season or hanging into the off season
last year was three point shooting, because obviously they trade
(24:24):
Buddy Heald, who is one of the best three point
shoots in the NBA, but he comes with baggage. But
they went out and trade for Kevin Herder, who I
think was I don't forget what number he was an NBA,
but he was behind Keegan Murray who they drafted, who
led the team in three points with two hundred and six.
Her had two hundred and five, and so they really
kind of went out added you know, Malik Monk also,
(24:46):
who is Darren Fox's best friend, and that's someone who teammates, right. Yeah,
they put in Kentucky. Yeah, and they're really close. And
I think having that team chemistry was was really underrated,
and Monk was really excited. But what's interesting is you'll
see in kind of game or the statue he looked
(25:07):
at Lake Muck hasn't started one game this year. I
was just gonna ask that, how was he the emotional
leader when He's come off the bench for every single
game this season. So it's funny. So whenever Hurt or
Um not Barnes, but whenever Hurt was out, I think
her miss maybe five or six games this year if
I'm remember right. But he always started Terence Davis or
he would start Kessler Edwards and everyone was like why,
(25:32):
like why aren't you starting Monks or six man? And
I think Mike just didn't want to mess up the rotations.
But like he likes him coming off the bench because
he can facilitate. But you know, you see Malik close
a lot of games, Like he'll close for Hurter sometimes
he'll close for Keegans sometimes if they want to go small,
and so it's just like kind of philosophy they have,
Like he hasn't started one game this year, and so
(25:53):
how he's emotional leader just he really, he truly is
the heartbeat of the Zacarminikains. I truly believe that if
you ask anyone that lock room, or if you ask
anyone Sacramento, like yes, like we would all say the
same thing. He's the heartbeat the team. Like he is
an emotional leader who kind of like keeps everyone in check.
I mean he can come up the bench and drop
ten points. When Malik is going, I mean, the Kings
(26:14):
are going too. I mean there's some games where he
cut off the bench and shoots two or ten. And
then there's some games like the Clippers game a few
months ago where he drops forty five off the bench
And I forget how exactly had hanging to the fourth
quarter that game, but if I remember, I think at
fifteen points hanging to the fourth quarter, and he dropped
thirty in first overtime, second overtime. So yeah, I would
(26:37):
say Malik is the heartbeat. Like he said, like he's
he's not the best part on the team, but he
definitely makes the biggest impact. I think Fox Sports Radio
has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch
all of our shows at Fox sports Radio dot com
and within the iHeart Radio app. Search f SR to
listen live. Okay, so we've said a lot of nice
things about the Kings for ten minutes. Now. Now this
(26:59):
is gonna be painful for the King's fans listening. But
and you know this, obviously, defense matters in the playoffs,
and according to what is it John Hollinger's Advanced Stats
efficiency Numbers, there's thirty teams in the NBA. The Kings
are twenty fifth in defensive efficiency. There the only other
teams that are in the playoffs not playing that are
(27:22):
that low are the Clippers at nineteen and the Nuggets
at eighteen. That's crazy. I mean, I know Kevin Hurder,
he might struggle to guard me Dan Fox like he's quick.
I don't know that he'd be called a great defender,
so Bonus is not a rim protector. I like Kegan
Murray's length. I don't know, Like, can they get enough
stops to make this series against the Warriors interesting? I
(27:45):
think they can. I mean the kind of the flipping around,
like I want to answer your question first, but just
as a kind of thought I had before, like I
didn't think about it somebody, I think is gonna be
really interesting. The series is obviously, I think the Warriors
X factor, like minus Curry and Clay Is Andrew Wiggins.
Andrew Wiggins in that playoff run last year was phenomenal
(28:06):
and so for me, like I look at Wiggins and
I think, how is he going to perform in the
playoffs where he hasn't played in twenty plus games? I mean,
obviously he was going through a really personal family matter.
He missed over two months. This is gonna be his
first game back. Like, how many minutes is he gonna play?
Did they say he's starting? By the way, they haven't
said he's starting, but I assume he will. I mean
if I even if he comes off the bench, he's
(28:27):
gonna play probably thirty minutes. But my point is like
he's gonna have to guard. He's gonna be probably the
one to sign the guard Dearren because he's I think
the Warriors no way really Yeah, first game back in
the music they put him on Fox. Yeah, I think
lit up. Oh Gus, I'm playing. I don't know because
I think I don't anymore Darren. Darren's too quick for Clay.
(28:51):
But Wiggins is their best homeball defender. I mean they'll
they'll counter throw GP two at Fox. Yes, But anyway,
go back going back to your question, like I think
the Kings can't get enough stops because they have shown it.
Like everyone talks about the Clippers game and how is
this high scoring game, which it was, but if you
look at how the game ended, the King's end of
the game on a six run, I think they got
like four or five stops in a row. Another game
(29:12):
that really stands out to me too is I think
probably their biggest win the season thus far, Like this
point was they put the Cavaliers in Cleveland, and I
think they were playing without Deer and Fox at night,
and I think they were down by nine points with
four minutes left the end the game on nineteen oh
run they got like I think seven or eight straight
stops or something crazy like that. So they have shown
(29:33):
it the ability to get stopped. But obviously, you know,
you look at games like the Spurs game a few
weeks ago where they give up one hundred and forty
points to a team trying to take and get victor,
and that's concerning. Like and another thing I think is
concerning too is the two biggest games of the season
so far. Where was the Timberwolves game at home where
(29:56):
they had a chance to clinch the playoff birth in
Sacramento they lost it? Later the Spurs game at home
against a taking team, they had a chance to clinch
the vision from the home fans, they laid an egg.
And so how are they going to show up to
game one, which is obviously the biggest game in Sacramon
in seventeen years. It's a huge opportunity for this fan base.
(30:16):
I mean, it's gonna be electric, Like how are they
going to show up? So I kind of answer your
question though, I think they can get enough stoff. I mean,
the Warriors are I think one of the best dynasties
of all time. I mean, if they aren't first, their
second behind the goals or vice versa, you know. And
so I mean the thing is too is I know
a lot of people are talking on Twitter, like I've
(30:38):
I've kind of tried to stay out of it because
you know, I like to just sit back to observe
and enjoy my life. But a lot of you know,
Warriors and King's media and fans are going out of
each other and you know, just talking on Twitter, and
I'm just like, I don't know. I truly say this
just because this is what Kings players have said publicly,
and I there's no reason like to not say this,
(30:58):
Like the Kings aren't scared of the war They really aren't,
because if you're scared of a team, you're gonna lose
a series. Like the Kings really have nothing to lose.
In some sense, no one thought they would be in
the let alone a top three or fourth season. Let
me ask you watch the games between You watch that
Lakers and Wolves game, right, unfortunately, and everybody's gonna say, oh,
(31:19):
it was ugly. It was terrible basketball on some level.
That is playoff basketball, intense half court defense, guys getting
after it, guys hustling their butts off. And I just
wonder if a team hasn't played defense all season, can
they all of a sudden turn it on or is
this just gonna have to be a you know, first
to one thirty wins kind of get there's gonna be
(31:40):
probably at least two or three of the games in
this series if it does go farther than six games
where if the Kings win, they're gonna have to score
like one hundred and twenty plus. And it is It
is funny you say that, though, because oh that game
was the terriblest offense was disgusting. The film, there's some
of the sets they were trying to run. I mean,
(32:00):
I think your team, on your basketball team that I've
seen highls on Twitter, I think probably would have played
a little bit at least. You know, you guys move
the ball well, we do pass. The Timberwolves were literally
waiting for the shot clock to get down to six
or seven and like start their offense jack of three.
And there are so many times where um Kat was
(32:22):
matched up one on one with Austin Reeves at the
top of the key and then Kat would just shoot
a jumper where there's sum It's it's peaked basketball in
twenty twenty three. Though, It's like a center who is
six eleven seven foot matchup on the guard he's six
two or six three is settling for a jump shot
where he can just go to the basket and he
(32:42):
shown But I mean that's just that's counter I think
the fouls might have gotten his head a little bit,
but he also wore down. It looked like they were
tired in the fourth. I do want to ask you said,
who's gonna guard Deer and Fox? And that's a legitimate question.
I will counter with this, are you gonna put Fox
on Curry? Do you think Mike Brown would do that?
But the counterpoint also else is going to guard stuff? No,
that's that That's where I and that leads me to this.
(33:04):
I wouldn't put Fox on him. I can't have Fox
running my offense and then going and chasing Curry through
a gauntlet of screens, and we know Kevin Herder cannot
do that. Um My guess is ultimately that this will
be a Davion Mitchell series where he's playing a lot
more than expected. Um, Mike Brown News Defense, davey On
Mitchell his nickname is off Night. But I notice he's
(33:26):
only playing like fifteen twenty minutes a game. Yeah, his
regression year two has been kind of disappointed from a
lot of what what like? What led to this? Is
it simply the addition of Herder? Well, I think it's
some inflation of Darren didn't play a lot last year,
plus how Burn being out, plus you know injuries where
(33:48):
Daveon was starting a lot of games late in the season.
He was also playing twenty five thirty minutes a night,
and I think if you look at I think he
played ten average ten more minutes a game his rookie
year than this year. And also too, it's like you said,
it's there, they've added Hurd or they've added Monk, like
guy like Monk has played the one sometimes and it's
possible he does that this series too, But I would
(34:09):
say it's funny. So Mike Brown for some reason likes
to give Kegan these toughest signs, especially earlier. Yeah, it's
like there are some moments where he was guarding Debi
or not Tabion, sorry Donovan Mitchell, he's guarding Steph, he
was guarding Um, like he was just guarding the team's
(34:30):
first or second best player. And so maybe there's a
chance that well, I think the Warriors are gonna hunt
switches on Keegan, or they're gonna try to. I think
he's a good defender though now he is. He's solid,
he has good length, um, He's definitely gonna be a
really good offender for years to come. But that I mean,
anybody who has to guard Steff is a tough match.
But I know a lot It's funny, a lot of
(34:51):
words fans have been saying, like who's gonna guard thirty? Like,
I don't know. At some point, you just have to
let Steff just get his and hope everyone else around
and doesn't kill you like on the other end. But
I think, you know, at the end of the day,
I think Wiggins will guard Fox just because Wiggins is
their best offender. But it is going to be interesting
to see how he does where he hasn't played in
(35:12):
twenty plus games, So I'm really curious how he does
because if he if he is healthy and he surely
is the X factor like he was last postseason, or
he's gonna be very hard to start. I'll close with
this one. So Sabonis, a guy I like a lot,
has kind of destroyed the Warriors in head to head meetings.
I see he had a nineteen fourteen six game, he
(35:34):
had a twenty six twenty two eight game. You know,
it looks like he's only played one playoff series in Indiana.
They got swept. He didn't do much going up against
Raymond Green. We know Draymond's gonna gooon it up and
try to get under his skin. You think Sabonis is
up for this challenge? Yeah, I think so. I think
he's I mean, if you want to put Darren or
(35:56):
like the thing is is from a from an outside perspective,
I'm curious what people think as far who have the
snake is, as far as dear and r s. Bonus goes,
who's the best part of the Kings. Yes, led them
in assists, he did, and he also led the NBA
and rebounds. But I'm saying is Steph is obviously the
number one best player in the series by far. But
I'm saying is the Kings might have the second and
(36:16):
third best player in the series, and and Fox it's
a bonus. I mean, I think just Fox. I mean
who else on the Worris would you say is second
or third? No, you're right, it's definitely not Draymond. I
don't think it's Clay. I love Jordan Pool, but it's
certainly not him. And Wiggins hasn't playing forever. That's a
spicy take. Warriors fans are probably gonna have your head
for it. Um camera, Where are you working now? So?
(36:38):
I'm at twenty four seven Sports, which cover college fall
and basketball a lot. So I also freelance with Associated Press.
Have been for the entire King season. It's been a
lot of fun. I mean it's uh, like I said,
I've grown up in Sacramento. I I didn't know I
was going to be covering the Kings really a lot
this year, and I was probably gonna cover them for
about maybe ten games, and they kept need help, so
(36:59):
you know, I helped out. Timing is everything, bro, I'm congratsing. Hey,
thanks a lot for taking the time to come on
the pod. Cameron, Uh yeahbody, you can follow him on
social media. All right, Cameron, enjoy the series. We'll talk
to you soon. We'll do
The volume. This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What
is a straight Fire fan? It's your boy, Jason McIntyre.
Straight Fire for Thursday, April thirteenth, Almost tax day. Guys,
(00:25):
hope you're getting your taxes done. Got to get those
in to the tax guy or gal who's handling your business.
I know you're not doing your taxes by yourself. Surprise
people didn't. None of the advertisers. We've had some good
run of advertisers so far in twenty twenty three. I'm
surprised no tax people wanted to advertise on the sports
podcast because I know a lot of sports fans getting
their taxes done at the last moment. So what we do?
(00:45):
We wait? Good night. In the NBA, last night listen
to play has been pretty damn solid. I gotta say,
three very close games and you could argue Heat and
Hawks was kind of I mean quote was interesting. It
wasn't like you could turn away because it's the Atlanta
Freggan Hawks. But good games. We got a great guest today,
(01:05):
a first timer on the podcast. He has covered the
Sacramento Kings for a while. Cameron Salerno. I follow him
on social media. He's got all the goods on the
Sacramento Kings. I have been hyping the King since the preseason.
I know you guys have listened. I said it here
on Straight Fire, I said it on the Herd the
Kings were going to the playoffs? Now did I even
(01:27):
put it on Twitter? Way back in like June Because
I loved Kegan Murray. I advocated him to pick him.
Nobody else had Kegan Murray going that high, and it
worked out great for the Kings. Keenan Murgan's excellent our guests.
He believes Kegan Murray could could could draw some Steph
Curry defensively on Saturday in what should be a really
(01:50):
good game. So you'll like the interview even if you're
not a Sacramento Kings fan. The vibe, the energy, they're good,
very good around the Sacramento Kings. That series is gonna
be popping Saturday. It's appointment viewing. I don't know if
I have anything really scheduled for Saturday, I said, I
don't have much of a social life. I'm old, I
have two kids. I like to think i'm young. For instance,
(02:11):
I played soccer last night for like over ninety minutes.
No injuries, thank goodness. This is where I am in
my soccer playing career. It's essentially there's a tournament in
our area for all the schools, Like if you go
to school A, every kid who goes to the school,
their parent is eligible to be on a soccer team
and they play a tournament against the other elementary school
(02:31):
B and middle school C in high school D. And
you know, we did really well last time. We lost
to the semifinals. And listen, we were able to add
a guy who just got his kid to my kids'
school and it's I mean, he's incredible. We played with
him last night for the first time. He's the guy's
(02:52):
freaking awesome and he had a flick like you gotta
get used to playing with really good players. This guy's
like probably eight or nine years younger than me, and
he's immensely skilled. He plays in men's leagues. He's European,
and you could just see the intensity my first time
playing with him. And when he's like leading guys on
passes and middle run, he's like upset and this is
the pickup soccer. And at one point I put the
(03:14):
hand up like I'm gonna make a run and he
flicks it kind of just like the flick over. Two
dudes heads right on my head running and I just
headed it in and it was like one of those
Oh and trust me, I ain't good. I'm just an
athlete out there getting cardio and working on my touch
and doing run. I can to get the dub because
I like to stay as healthy as possible and running
(03:34):
around burning, you know, thirteen hundred calories at night, going asleep,
waking up, grinding on straight fire. It's it doesn't get
much better than that, ladies and gentlemen, and listen, I'm
I don't know if I'm gonna tick people off with this,
and the attention is not to do that. Okay, this
is what I'm gonna say. I have been the captain
(03:57):
of the Zach Lavine fan Club for several years. Many
have con come and been like, oh, yeah, I'm on board.
I'm on board, and then they go to zach Levine
Island with me and they're like, I can't ride with
zach Levine. Man, this guy doesn't win anything, and they bounce.
A lot of people have bailed on the was he
twenty eight year old kid out of UCLA who basically
(04:18):
is best known as the Space Jam Dunk Champ and
I have not been a huge fan of the dunk
contest in recent years. I maintain the Zach Levine's Space
Jam series of dunks is the greatest I have ever witnessed.
I know people love Jordan and Dominican, Aaron Gordon, Dwight,
Howard mc McClung, great, great. Zach Levine is my guy.
(04:40):
I really am a huge fan. I know he's had
some injuries. I actually believe he is criminally underrated. This
is a guy, are you ready for this? In his career,
he came out of college quickly, out of UCLA. Three
years in Minnesota, he's now six years in Chicago. We're
talking nine years. Jack in three's. He's a thirty eight
percent three point shooter. That's really damn good. Now. He
(05:02):
doesn't do a ton else. He's a solid passer this
season four us his per game this season, four rebounds
per game. He long defensively, gives an effort. He's not
a great defender, but a few players look as good
as Zach Levine on the court. A handle and he's
getting by you, and he's doing some aerial cool stuff
(05:22):
on the way of the rim. You know, what even
if it's not dunking, some of the reverse layups are
just so acrobatic. And I know this sounds like what
j J J J. You You bag on Kyrie Irving
for his immense skill set and his elite lay up
handles and like everything that he keep doing traffic You
(05:44):
like that and bag on Kyrie Irving like that's all
he can do. No, Zach Levine has never, never, repeat
never been a number two on a team. He's been
forced to be a number one, and that ain't easy, guys.
You think it's easy trying to be a number one
on the Chicago Bulls. Levine he's an All NBA candidate.
I'm not even kidding. He has had an amazing year
(06:06):
eighty four percent from the line, and then he caps
it off last night in the playing game on the road.
They're losing by fifteen. I think they were down at
one point sixteen, and Zach Levine just says, at this point,
I'm gonna take this game over because nobody on my
team can do anything. They're kind of locking up Debarda
rosen Vouchevic. He's all right, but I don't trust him.
(06:28):
He can't make a three to save his life. Pat
Beev can't do a damn thing offensively. Caruso is an
incredible defender, had an outstanding game defensively, but offensively he's
limited and like Patrick Williams, doesn't really know what he is.
He looks like he's still grown into his body. Kobe
White can give us some stuff, but I need to
take this game over. And Levine was incredible thirty nine
(06:48):
points thirteen of fifteen from the line, absolutely took the
game over in the second half, seventeen points in the
third when they were down nineteen, seventeen points in the third,
and then added thirteen and the fourth in the second half.
Zach Levine had thirty points in the second half, the
(07:12):
Raptors had forty seven. Levine by himself brought the team
back in what was extraordinary. I mean just watching the
guy go to work, step back. He is just such
a good player. Now, I know everybody's going to get
excited about the Marta Rosen's daughter screaming on free throws.
And yes, the Raptors did kind of lose this game
by going eighteen for thirty six from the foul line.
(07:33):
Pascal Siakam just clanging them all over the place, O
Ganna Nobi can't shoot a free thrower to save his life.
Fred van Vleet, who is a really good player, I
like a lot twenty six, twelve and eight and miss
three free throws. It's seven threes, miss three free throws.
Like they couldn't buy a free throw. It was painful
to watch. The bench had delivered them nothing. And now
the Raptors, folks go into a tumultuous offseason where it
(07:56):
seems like they're probably gonna lose Fred van Vleet. And
I don't know about this. Hey, we could make Scotty
Barnes the point guard, Like, really, Scott okay, I don't
He's very limited. Cant make free throws either, four of seven,
not really a three point either. I mean, I like
Scotty Barnes, everybody loves him. I didn't see Scotty Barnes
staying in front of Zach Levine. Did you anyone out there?
(08:17):
O gan or Obi, he's getting cooked. He put Fred
van Vleet in a spin cycle. I mean Zach Levine
went off, folks. It was an awesome performance. They come
from behind and get the victory on the road in Toronto,
and now they have to go. I'm looking at the schedule,
so there's no games tonight, So go enjoy the night
(08:37):
with your family, hang out, play play Monopoly, play some clue,
or if you are single, you know, get out to
the bars. The Thursday night bar stite not bad. And
then Friday night. I don't know necessarily that it's appointment viewing,
but on the eve of the playoffs, really it starts
Saturday Friday night. We now get Bulls Heat Heat or
five and a half point favorites. I mean, what an
(08:59):
advantage for the Heat, you know, I know they were
the higher tea seed, but the Bulls had to travel
to Toronto. They come home. Now they got to go
to Florida. That's why the Heat or five and a
half pint favorite. That's gonna be a tall order for
the Bulls. I have no play on that one yet.
I had like Bulls first half. I thank goodness you
don't have to bet every single game. And you know,
(09:21):
the Chicago Bulls did not cover in the first half
at all. The other game, which I you know, wasn't
as locked in on because I went to play soccer,
but every time I looked, I'm like, how is the
Pelicans not pulling away? Why are the Pelicans and pulling away?
And they let Okay See dust them in the third quarter.
And folks like, we know Sha Gills with Alexander is
very good, but did we know Josh Giddy was this
(09:44):
could thirty one, ten and nine in forty two minutes.
I mean Josh Giddy, listen. I know he's not a
traditional point guard, but he did play in the NBL,
and I got to see him because I you know,
we're minor owners of the Okase Breakers, I'm sorry, not
the Okayse Breakers, the New Zealand Breakers, Okaysey Thunders. Where
(10:06):
Josh Giddy went from the NBL. Josh Kiddy's twenty years
old and he almost had a triple double in a
playing game. Kid is pretty nice, Listen. I'm pretty stunned.
I thought the Pels had it. Gils just's Alexander thirty two,
Giddy thirty one. Lou Dort listen, Lou Dort. I like him, man,
(10:28):
I like him. He's a gunner. He plays a lot
of defense and for the Pelicans, just a tough one.
C J. McCollum, I must and I really thought he'd
come through. He had a rough game for I for fifteen,
Brandon Ingram had a good game, he at thirty points,
guy to the line. But ultimately, when you don't have
Zion Williamson and your bench consists of like Jackson Hayes
(10:48):
and Josh Richardson, and it's just a little disappointing. And
for the Pelicans, who remember made it to the first
round last year, gave the Phoenix suns hell and now
they're done, and they got question's like, okay, well we're
gonna have Zion next year, and okay. See Meanwhile, goes
on to the Friday night game their turnaround time. Remember
(11:08):
they had to go to New Orleans, not a bad trip.
Then they go right back to those KAC Then they
go to Minnesota and the Wolves are four and a
half point favorites. The assumption is Rudy Gobert will play
in that one, coming off the one game suspension, he
will have had now three extra days of rest. I mean,
I'm not really, it's just too early for I can
(11:30):
really not even look at that game because I'm really
trying to focus on Saturday's games, which obviously is when
the playoffs begin and get super interesting. We're starting to
get some clarity, I am entering a player points pool.
Remember I did one for the NCAA tournament. Happened to
win that one, Thank you very much. Snogo and Matt Bradley.
Get into the final really helped me and I was
(11:51):
able to forge ahead in the final four and take
the victory. But Saturday's lineup not bad. Nets at sixers
and if you're out here in LA that's at ten am.
You gotta love it West Coast life. Then the Hawks Celtics,
I listen. I like the Hawks, but it's a bad matchup.
I was digging into some of the numbers if you
look at during the regular season the Celtics made and
(12:12):
we're just throwing out one game where it was all backups.
The Celtics made twenty threes in one game against Atlanta
and then twenty one or another. Like the Hawks don't
defend the three. Well. I think they're a good team.
I'm not selling their stock. I just think it's a
bad matchup against the Celtics in Boston's favorite by nine.
Then there's the Knicks. Calves, which is good Calves only
(12:33):
five and a half feels light light, especially if Julius
Randall is not going to play. Guys, we're still waiting word.
I I was reading that he was gonna be out
the first two games for sure, but that number still
feels light, especially the way Cleveland plays defense. But Cleveland's
offense can be spotty. And then the nightcap is Warriors Kings,
And to break that one down, by the way, Kings
(12:53):
are one point favorites in that one. Warriors are favorites
in this series. We still haven't got total word if
Wiggins will start art. He's practicing, excuse me, practicing with
the team this week, so we'll see about that. We'll talk.
Let's just talk about it with our guest. Let's welcome
into straight Fire for the first time, Cameron Sealerno. Fox
(13:15):
Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation.
Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio dot com
and within the iHeartRadio app. Search f SR to listen live.
Jason likes to think he knows everything when it comes
to sports. I know what sports dance want, but for
(13:36):
everything he doesn't, he knows a guy who does. Let's
just say I know a guy who knows a guy
who knows another guy. All right, let's welcome into straight Fire,
a special guest. He's never been on the pod. He
is living currently, I believe in Sacramento, which I guess
we could call the basketball capital of the NBA this week,
I don't know, first home playoff game there since like
(13:59):
the Vietnam era. Apparently. Well, let's welcome. Let's welcome, Cameron Sealerno, Cameron,
how are you? Man? I'm doing good, Jason. Not with yourself, man,
I think like you said, yeah, I am in sacrament
I've lived here my entire life, I mean, grew up here.
I mean, this is probably the most crazy I've ever
seen this city. I mean, everyone just dying for playoff basketball,
and everyone's been begging for this for years and years
(14:22):
and years, and now it's finally happening. So I think
the city just buzzing and everyone's just so excited to
get going. And Game one is going to be absolutely electric,
like we're talking about off there. I mean, it's gonna
be probably the craziest environment I think the Warriors have
played in during their playoff I mean, I know they
played some very tough environments and hostile environments. With that,
(14:44):
I mean, they play in Boston obviously, last summer, Memphis,
I mean I know everyone they had that rivalry going. Yeah,
there's some interesting battles with Houston a few years ago.
Oh gosh, it's really good. But I'm saying from just
a perspective of Loud Arena, it's gonna be when the
Kings take the floor on Saturday. I mean, I think
everyone it's kind of been said that the whole fan
(15:06):
base is going to stand up and just give a
huge round applause like it's gonna be unreal. It just
it just you know, gives you chills just thinking about.
Because every reporter's dream and dronal stream just cover a
good game or go to a game with a good environment.
I think both of them are going to check both
those boxes. So it's gonna be a lot of fun
to be a part of them. Obviously, I've been to
(15:28):
every single King's home game and cover them this year
except two. It's funny. The two they lost. They lost
the Nuggets after blowing a twenty point lead to them.
The second one was they lost the Spurs after you know,
a day where they could have clenched a Pacific Division
at home, and obviously they didn't do that. But you've
seen the crowd really kind of get louder and louder
(15:49):
as the year has gone on. I think everyone's kind
of seen the viral clip when they played the Jazz
earlier this year when Kevin Hurrt hit that three for
the win' down by two and just the arena explode.
And I think that's probably the loudest of the arena
has been all year. But obviously there's been some crazy
moments too, But I mean, playoff basketball, there's nothing like it,
and I think the stage just been waiting for this
moment for seventeen years. Seventeen so no way. You covered
(16:11):
them for a while during their bad stretch, you know,
the Vlade Divac years where he was trying to pull
some strings. They had DeMarcus Cousins and messing around and
like they have not been good for a long time.
I think they ended the longest playoffs streak or drought
in the NBA this season. But I will say it's
been a bit of a surprise. You know. I was
early on the Kings. A couple other media people were,
(16:32):
but by and large people are like, oh, it's the Kings.
I want to take I want to take you back
quickly to the trade where they shipped Tyrese Haliburton, who
everybody loved analytics Darling to the Pacers for Sabonus. I
mean there were other guys in the trade, But correct
me if I'm wrong, Cameron. When that deal happened, the media,
which loves groupthink in the NBA, mostly said the Kings
(16:55):
were the losers in that deal. Correct. I think, honestly,
I was stunned. I think, oh my colleagues and Sacramento
were stunned that they trade. How burning no one saw
it coming. I mean, honestly, if you would have told me,
I don't know how long does that go over a
year ago, if you told me that one guard was
gonna get traded from that team, I would told you
have been darn just because, but also too, I think,
(17:18):
I mean, this isn't really sourcedun information, but it's kind
of like obvious you weren't gonna be able to move
Darren with that contract because you just signed a huge,
huge extension I think the off season prior. I think
the deal was either kicking in the first year that
or the first year the big deal was last year,
and so I mean, he was making a lot of
money and Tyrese obviously is on a rookie scale contract,
which is nine day. It's not like the NFL where
(17:42):
the salary cap is different. But I'm saying is I
think a lot of people were stunned they made that move,
not just because I mean I said they had to
make a big move of the deadline. I mean they
I thought the two guys are they should go afterwards,
the bonus and Ben Simmons. And obviously we know how
Ben Simmons turned out, but was interesting took on Simmons,
which I think is an interesting point. I would not
(18:05):
be surprised if the King's try to go after him
at some point. I know they really liked him. And
something that's also interesting is Saxey's basketball coach is David Patrick,
and his godson is Ben Simmons, and they're very very close.
I know he's also close Matis Thible who played the
Austroian national team. David Patrick the Australian national team assistant coach,
(18:25):
and so he has some connections there. But kind of
going back to your point, I think a lot of
people were stunned. I mean I was even at first
I was I was not a fan of the trade
just because how burn is just an incredible player. I
think that's funny. His last game is sacrament to get
an eighteen assists or something like that, and so you
just knew that long term how burnon Fox might not
(18:46):
work out, just because there are just two or two
guys who need the ball in their hands. I mean,
hal Burn is of silitarian, Darren is a score but
they both kind of need the ball in their hands
to make the offensive work, and you know, wouldn't how
Alburn was drafted. He didn't start right away, he came
off the bench, and then kind of last year or yeah,
the year prior, they're like, all right, we're gonna start
(19:07):
both guards, even though Tyrese and Fox are both true
point guards. And so it didn't really work out how
they kind of envisioned it. And I think it's harder
to find good centers in the NBA than finding good guards.
I mean, good guards are a diamond, doesn't You can
name ten fifteen guards who should be all NBA, but
there's probably only a few centers who probably realistically have
(19:27):
a chance to make All NBA. I mean Sabonis Yo
kitch embiid, I mean a d if you want to
qualify him as a center and other guys like that,
but trading for Sabonis really kind of unlocked their whole offense,
and you saw in flashes when he played. Stock Ram
I think only played fifteen games after he got traded
last season. But hiring Mike Brown was the best decision
the King's organizations have made in years. And he's really
(19:49):
kind of instilled a culture in this franchise and just
really changed a lot in I mean, like I said,
it's the best decision that this franchise has made in years. Yeah,
Sabonus I think led the NBA double doubles. Fox was
the most clutch player in the NBA. And it's weird
because I don't know, I mean how closely. I don't
follow a ton of the NBA media people, but they
all think, alike, well, if this stat says this, then
(20:11):
you've got to go with this person for whatever, and
the trade listen. I was a little surprised, but I
was always a big Deer and Fox guy. When you
saw him in college, you were like, Gosh, this guy's dominant,
and it almost felt like like Haliburton was going to
overtake him, but he never quite did. And now they
keep Fox and he's thriving. Cameron, I don't know this
season that they've had is incredible, but I'm looking at
(20:32):
the stats. This jumps out is probably the reason they're
the three seed. Fox started seventy three games, so bonus
seventy nine, Red Velvet seventy five, Barnes eighty two. Yeah,
and Keegan Murray the rookie seventy eight. When you have
five core guys starting that many games together, you're gonna win.
Everyone around the league's taking load management has injuries. How
(20:52):
much have the lack of injuries been a huge bonus
for the Kings. Oh well, I'll tell you a funny story.
So I talked about this with whom my co workers
before the Wizard's game in December, and I was talking
about how, like, you know, the Kings really haven't had
any major injuries so far this season, kind of in
some sense got lucky. And it was that night Sabonis
hurt his hand, which found out he like fractured some
(21:15):
part of his thumb, and everyone thought he's gonna be
out for weeks. And like someone who I talked to
who used to be very close in the Kings organization,
in the medical department, said like I wouldn't play him,
and that was kind of alarming to hear, just because
this was a This is maybe a day after the injury,
and they really hadn't released any other details, just kind
of said what happened, and everyone saw the report. But
(21:36):
then obviously Sabonis played through the injury, and I think
his first game back, I think it was well, I
forget what game game it was, off top of head, Oh,
it was a Nuggets game, the first game they won.
He hadn't like the twenty and twenty game, and he
had trouble double and so he just really dominated. I
was like, all right, Like, if he's gonna play, then
I think they're gonna be fine. But like you said,
like the Kings haven't load man this year. I mean
(21:58):
the most they've load man just last two games of
the season, where they're already locked in a three scene.
There's no point in playing the starters. And I mean
Dear and obviously sat out a few games, you know,
with minor injuries, and so Bonus missed I think a
few games because of injuries. But like you said, the
having that you know, sense of cohesion with the starters,
(22:18):
I forget the exact stat and how many minutes I
don't want to miss quote, but I know their starting
units played the most minutes in the NBA together, and
so that's very underrated. I know a lot of people asked, like,
why didn't they make a move with the trade deadline
because they really liked the roster and they didn't really
want to mess up the chemistry. Kind of take back
in twenty eighteen, so this was their best season since
(22:40):
obviously the playoffs route. I think I forget how many.
I think there are maybe one or two games, about
five hundred or around five hundred. And the emotional leader
on that team was him On Schumper, and everyone loved
that guy in the locker room, like he was the hearty.
Oh yeah, so they had so this they're called the Scores.
That was their nickname. It was Bagley's rookie year. It
(23:00):
was dear and second year in the league, and it
was Shumper. Like they just had they weren't good like
they were they weren't that great, but like they just
were a good team and they had good team chemistry. Anyways,
in the trade deadline, they traded Shumper. I forget who
they trade him for. But anyways, the next day they
trade for Harrison Barnes, which was wait, this is cool
to pulled up. Schumper was a leader in the locker room.
(23:22):
He played it looks like forty two games in Sacramento.
How did that happen? Oh? No, he was. He was
the emotional leader locker room. Like he he is the
Malik Monk of the team, like right, or a Malik
monk I think is a heartbeat of the Kings right now.
But I'm saying is Supper was the heartbeat of the
locker room. So when they trade him, it was the
stoker to everyone, and so it kind of really messed
(23:43):
up that team. Kem. So when the trade deadline came
around this year and everyone's like, why aren't they making
a move? I mean, obviously not the same people are
in the front office now because we know who was previously.
But yes, I'm saying is they didn't want to mess
up the team KEM. And I think it paid off
because you know, they're still they're doing really well, and
you know, like I think everyone really likes each other
(24:03):
and it sounds so cliche, it sounds like a high
school thing, but they really really enjoy each other and
it's a big reason why they've had so much success.
I mean, their team chemistry is incredible, and their bench
is really stepped up. I mean the biggest problem hanging
to the off season or hanging into the off season
last year was three point shooting, because obviously they trade
(24:24):
Buddy Heald, who is one of the best three point
shoots in the NBA, but he comes with baggage. But
they went out and trade for Kevin Herder, who I
think was I don't forget what number he was an NBA,
but he was behind Keegan Murray who they drafted, who
led the team in three points with two hundred and six.
Her had two hundred and five, and so they really
kind of went out added you know, Malik Monk also,
(24:46):
who is Darren Fox's best friend, and that's someone who teammates, right. Yeah,
they put in Kentucky. Yeah, and they're really close. And
I think having that team chemistry was was really underrated,
and Monk was really excited. But what's interesting is you'll
see in kind of game or the statue he looked
(25:07):
at Lake Muck hasn't started one game this year. I
was just gonna ask that, how was he the emotional
leader when He's come off the bench for every single
game this season. So it's funny. So whenever Hurt or
Um not Barnes, but whenever Hurt was out, I think
her miss maybe five or six games this year if
I'm remember right. But he always started Terence Davis or
he would start Kessler Edwards and everyone was like why,
(25:32):
like why aren't you starting Monks or six man? And
I think Mike just didn't want to mess up the rotations.
But like he likes him coming off the bench because
he can facilitate. But you know, you see Malik close
a lot of games, Like he'll close for Hurter sometimes
he'll close for Keegans sometimes if they want to go small,
and so it's just like kind of philosophy they have,
Like he hasn't started one game this year, and so
(25:53):
how he's emotional leader just he really, he truly is
the heartbeat of the Zacarminikains. I truly believe that if
you ask anyone that lock room, or if you ask
anyone Sacramento, like yes, like we would all say the
same thing. He's the heartbeat the team. Like he is
an emotional leader who kind of like keeps everyone in check.
I mean he can come up the bench and drop
ten points. When Malik is going, I mean, the Kings
(26:14):
are going too. I mean there's some games where he
cut off the bench and shoots two or ten. And
then there's some games like the Clippers game a few
months ago where he drops forty five off the bench
And I forget how exactly had hanging to the fourth
quarter that game, but if I remember, I think at
fifteen points hanging to the fourth quarter, and he dropped
thirty in first overtime, second overtime. So yeah, I would
(26:37):
say Malik is the heartbeat. Like he said, like he's
he's not the best part on the team, but he
definitely makes the biggest impact. I think Fox Sports Radio
has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch
all of our shows at Fox sports Radio dot com
and within the iHeart Radio app. Search f SR to
listen live. Okay, so we've said a lot of nice
things about the Kings for ten minutes. Now. Now this
(26:59):
is gonna be painful for the King's fans listening. But
and you know this, obviously, defense matters in the playoffs,
and according to what is it John Hollinger's Advanced Stats
efficiency Numbers, there's thirty teams in the NBA. The Kings
are twenty fifth in defensive efficiency. There the only other
teams that are in the playoffs not playing that are
(27:22):
that low are the Clippers at nineteen and the Nuggets
at eighteen. That's crazy. I mean, I know Kevin Hurder,
he might struggle to guard me Dan Fox like he's quick.
I don't know that he'd be called a great defender,
so Bonus is not a rim protector. I like Kegan
Murray's length. I don't know, Like, can they get enough
stops to make this series against the Warriors interesting? I
(27:45):
think they can. I mean the kind of the flipping around,
like I want to answer your question first, but just
as a kind of thought I had before, like I
didn't think about it somebody, I think is gonna be
really interesting. The series is obviously, I think the Warriors
X factor, like minus Curry and Clay Is Andrew Wiggins.
Andrew Wiggins in that playoff run last year was phenomenal
(28:06):
and so for me, like I look at Wiggins and
I think, how is he going to perform in the
playoffs where he hasn't played in twenty plus games? I mean,
obviously he was going through a really personal family matter.
He missed over two months. This is gonna be his
first game back. Like, how many minutes is he gonna play?
Did they say he's starting? By the way, they haven't
said he's starting, but I assume he will. I mean
if I even if he comes off the bench, he's
(28:27):
gonna play probably thirty minutes. But my point is like
he's gonna have to guard. He's gonna be probably the
one to sign the guard Dearren because he's I think
the Warriors no way really Yeah, first game back in
the music they put him on Fox. Yeah, I think
lit up. Oh Gus, I'm playing. I don't know because
I think I don't anymore Darren. Darren's too quick for Clay.
(28:51):
But Wiggins is their best homeball defender. I mean they'll
they'll counter throw GP two at Fox. Yes, But anyway,
go back going back to your question, like I think
the Kings can't get enough stops because they have shown it.
Like everyone talks about the Clippers game and how is
this high scoring game, which it was, but if you
look at how the game ended, the King's end of
the game on a six run, I think they got
like four or five stops in a row. Another game
(29:12):
that really stands out to me too is I think
probably their biggest win the season thus far, Like this
point was they put the Cavaliers in Cleveland, and I
think they were playing without Deer and Fox at night,
and I think they were down by nine points with
four minutes left the end the game on nineteen oh
run they got like I think seven or eight straight
stops or something crazy like that. So they have shown
(29:33):
it the ability to get stopped. But obviously, you know,
you look at games like the Spurs game a few
weeks ago where they give up one hundred and forty
points to a team trying to take and get victor,
and that's concerning. Like and another thing I think is
concerning too is the two biggest games of the season
so far. Where was the Timberwolves game at home where
(29:56):
they had a chance to clinch the playoff birth in
Sacramento they lost it? Later the Spurs game at home
against a taking team, they had a chance to clinch
the vision from the home fans, they laid an egg.
And so how are they going to show up to
game one, which is obviously the biggest game in Sacramon
in seventeen years. It's a huge opportunity for this fan base.
(30:16):
I mean, it's gonna be electric, Like how are they
going to show up? So I kind of answer your
question though, I think they can get enough stoff. I mean,
the Warriors are I think one of the best dynasties
of all time. I mean, if they aren't first, their
second behind the goals or vice versa, you know. And
so I mean the thing is too is I know
a lot of people are talking on Twitter, like I've
(30:38):
I've kind of tried to stay out of it because
you know, I like to just sit back to observe
and enjoy my life. But a lot of you know,
Warriors and King's media and fans are going out of
each other and you know, just talking on Twitter, and
I'm just like, I don't know. I truly say this
just because this is what Kings players have said publicly,
and I there's no reason like to not say this,
(30:58):
Like the Kings aren't scared of the war They really aren't,
because if you're scared of a team, you're gonna lose
a series. Like the Kings really have nothing to lose.
In some sense, no one thought they would be in
the let alone a top three or fourth season. Let
me ask you watch the games between You watch that
Lakers and Wolves game, right, unfortunately, and everybody's gonna say, oh,
(31:19):
it was ugly. It was terrible basketball on some level.
That is playoff basketball, intense half court defense, guys getting
after it, guys hustling their butts off. And I just
wonder if a team hasn't played defense all season, can
they all of a sudden turn it on or is
this just gonna have to be a you know, first
to one thirty wins kind of get there's gonna be
(31:40):
probably at least two or three of the games in
this series if it does go farther than six games
where if the Kings win, they're gonna have to score
like one hundred and twenty plus. And it is It
is funny you say that, though, because oh that game
was the terriblest offense was disgusting. The film, there's some
of the sets they were trying to run. I mean,
(32:00):
I think your team, on your basketball team that I've
seen highls on Twitter, I think probably would have played
a little bit at least. You know, you guys move
the ball well, we do pass. The Timberwolves were literally
waiting for the shot clock to get down to six
or seven and like start their offense jack of three.
And there are so many times where um Kat was
(32:22):
matched up one on one with Austin Reeves at the
top of the key and then Kat would just shoot
a jumper where there's sum It's it's peaked basketball in
twenty twenty three. Though, It's like a center who is
six eleven seven foot matchup on the guard he's six
two or six three is settling for a jump shot
where he can just go to the basket and he
(32:42):
shown But I mean that's just that's counter I think
the fouls might have gotten his head a little bit,
but he also wore down. It looked like they were
tired in the fourth. I do want to ask you said,
who's gonna guard Deer and Fox? And that's a legitimate question.
I will counter with this, are you gonna put Fox
on Curry? Do you think Mike Brown would do that?
But the counterpoint also else is going to guard stuff? No,
that's that That's where I and that leads me to this.
(33:04):
I wouldn't put Fox on him. I can't have Fox
running my offense and then going and chasing Curry through
a gauntlet of screens, and we know Kevin Herder cannot
do that. Um My guess is ultimately that this will
be a Davion Mitchell series where he's playing a lot
more than expected. Um, Mike Brown News Defense, davey On
Mitchell his nickname is off Night. But I notice he's
(33:26):
only playing like fifteen twenty minutes a game. Yeah, his
regression year two has been kind of disappointed from a
lot of what what like? What led to this? Is
it simply the addition of Herder? Well, I think it's
some inflation of Darren didn't play a lot last year,
plus how Burn being out, plus you know injuries where
(33:48):
Daveon was starting a lot of games late in the season.
He was also playing twenty five thirty minutes a night,
and I think if you look at I think he
played ten average ten more minutes a game his rookie
year than this year. And also too, it's like you said,
it's there, they've added Hurd or they've added Monk, like
guy like Monk has played the one sometimes and it's
possible he does that this series too, But I would
(34:09):
say it's funny. So Mike Brown for some reason likes
to give Kegan these toughest signs, especially earlier. Yeah, it's
like there are some moments where he was guarding Debi
or not Tabion, sorry Donovan Mitchell, he's guarding Steph, he
was guarding Um, like he was just guarding the team's
(34:30):
first or second best player. And so maybe there's a
chance that well, I think the Warriors are gonna hunt
switches on Keegan, or they're gonna try to. I think
he's a good defender though now he is. He's solid,
he has good length, um, He's definitely gonna be a
really good offender for years to come. But that I mean,
anybody who has to guard Steff is a tough match.
But I know a lot It's funny, a lot of
(34:51):
words fans have been saying, like who's gonna guard thirty? Like,
I don't know. At some point, you just have to
let Steff just get his and hope everyone else around
and doesn't kill you like on the other end. But
I think, you know, at the end of the day,
I think Wiggins will guard Fox just because Wiggins is
their best offender. But it is going to be interesting
to see how he does where he hasn't played in
(35:12):
twenty plus games, So I'm really curious how he does
because if he if he is healthy and he surely
is the X factor like he was last postseason, or
he's gonna be very hard to start. I'll close with
this one. So Sabonis, a guy I like a lot,
has kind of destroyed the Warriors in head to head meetings.
I see he had a nineteen fourteen six game, he
(35:34):
had a twenty six twenty two eight game. You know,
it looks like he's only played one playoff series in Indiana.
They got swept. He didn't do much going up against
Raymond Green. We know Draymond's gonna gooon it up and
try to get under his skin. You think Sabonis is
up for this challenge? Yeah, I think so. I think
he's I mean, if you want to put Darren or
(35:56):
like the thing is is from a from an outside perspective,
I'm curious what people think as far who have the
snake is, as far as dear and r s. Bonus goes,
who's the best part of the Kings. Yes, led them
in assists, he did, and he also led the NBA
and rebounds. But I'm saying is Steph is obviously the
number one best player in the series by far. But
I'm saying is the Kings might have the second and
(36:16):
third best player in the series, and and Fox it's
a bonus. I mean, I think just Fox. I mean
who else on the Worris would you say is second
or third? No, you're right, it's definitely not Draymond. I
don't think it's Clay. I love Jordan Pool, but it's
certainly not him. And Wiggins hasn't playing forever. That's a
spicy take. Warriors fans are probably gonna have your head
for it. Um camera, Where are you working now? So?
(36:38):
I'm at twenty four seven Sports, which cover college fall
and basketball a lot. So I also freelance with Associated Press.
Have been for the entire King season. It's been a
lot of fun. I mean it's uh, like I said,
I've grown up in Sacramento. I I didn't know I
was going to be covering the Kings really a lot
this year, and I was probably gonna cover them for
about maybe ten games, and they kept need help, so
(36:59):
you know, I helped out. Timing is everything, bro, I'm congratsing. Hey,
thanks a lot for taking the time to come on
the pod. Cameron, Uh yeahbody, you can follow him on
social media. All right, Cameron, enjoy the series. We'll talk
to you soon. We'll do
Host
Jason McIntyre
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