On today’s episode, Jason and Super Producer Rob G (Robert Guerra) bring us an instant reaction pod following the Golden State Warriors’ Game 5 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Golden State was able to stave off elimination but the biggest story to come out of this one is the uncertainty around Anthony Davis. If AD is limited due to his head injury – or ruled out of Game 6 altogether – do the Lakers have enough to get the win? On the flip side, when will anyone other than Steph Curry provide any level of consistency for the Warriors? In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks were able to keep their season alive by beating the Miami Heat, but that still doesn’t change how J-Mac feels about head coach Tom Thibodeau. Perhaps the Knicks should call JJ Redick about taking over in the Big Apple now that he’s shown interest in becoming an NBA head coach. Finally, the guys close the show by making their Best Bets for Thursday night’s NBA Playoffs action featuring the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns.
Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #Volume
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
This is straight Fire with Jason MacIntire. What is up,
straight Fire, fam, It's me Jason MacIntyre, Straight Fire, four Thursday,
May eleventh. Boy, the Knicks live to fight another day
and the Golden State Warriors. You can't put them away, folks.
(00:31):
You cannot put the way put away the Warriors easily.
Both teams survive and their seasons continue. A good night
of basketball, not a great one, as the Knicks tried
to blow the game against the Heat. They were up seventeen,
nearly collapsed. But the big story is what happened in
the fourth quarter of what was a reasonably close Lakers
Warriors game. I mean I went in thinking Warriors wiped
(00:52):
the floor with them. I remember we speculated on the
pod two days ago. Should the Lakers, you know, maybe
adjust their rotation to get Ad and Lebrons and more
rest in the first half. Darvinham did none of that,
And I believe it was an Austin Reeves three pointer
cut the lead to nine, and it was like kind
of tense for the Warriors. And shortly thereafter, in a
play that's gonna be scrutinized, broken down, Anthony Davis jostling
(01:17):
for position on a after a D'Angelo Russell drive, Anthony
Davis gets just kind of a forearm to the face,
kind of the side of the head the temple from
Kevon Looney, and Ad instantly buried his face in his hands,
stayed on the sideline. Warriors came down and scored, and
instantly there was a break of the action. Anthony Davis looked, woozy,
(01:40):
goes to the bench. They had a like an assistant
coach with him. And then word came from the sideline
reporters at the game as well as NBA reporters that
Anthony Davis was taken in a wheelchair, a wheelchair to
the locker room because there were perhaps concussion like symptoms.
(02:01):
Now just the latest we're recording this almost one am
East Coast time. It's ten am, sorry, ten pm out
here on the West coast. According to Anthony Slater Covers
the NBA for the athletic Darvin Ham makes it sound like, hey,
AD's feeling good, He's okay, But the disparity of wheelchair
report to he's feeling good. A lot of Laker fans
(02:24):
are gonna be kicked off that eighty was even in
the game. The problem is the Lakers are hanging around.
I don't know how you could pull him. And overall,
I thought it was a spirited performance from the Lakers
to keep it close. Austin Reeves was bearing some shots,
Dennis Schreuder played extremely well, and AD when he was
in there. Folks, let me call it the box score.
Here Anthony Davis in thirty two minutes of action ten
(02:45):
of eighteen, twenty three points, nine boards, one interesting nugget,
and again I watched the whole game. I'm rewinding. Anthony
Davis was effective in the paint. He had zero offensive
rebounds in thirty two minutes. Draymondreed did a tremendous job.
I know Draymond Green a cowherd guy with the volume.
Draymond Green had one of his best games probably this season.
(03:07):
I know he had one really good game against the Kings.
But twenty and ten for Draymond for assists, did have
a bunch of turnovers, but made his free throws. Tough
defense on Anthony Davis really kept him off the glass,
off the offensive glass, and overall I thought AD was good.
Lebron twenty five points. Lakers were in this, folks. This
was like a legitimate tense moment for Golden State, but
(03:29):
they survive. In advance. Game six is Friday? All anybody's
gonna be talking about is the Anthony Davis situation. Like,
I cannot imagine a world where the NBA says, sorry,
Ad is concussed, he can't play. I just cannot imagine that,
under any circumstances will be the case. Is his bell
gonna be wrong? Yeah? Is it gonna be a tough
(03:51):
twenty four hours, Yeah, tough, maybe thirty six hours? Sure?
Is he probably fatigued? Are we gonna see another Anthony
Davis gast in this self?
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Remember he wasn't a big factor in Game four. I'd say,
if you want positive takeaways for the Lakers, put Anthony
Davis aside. The biggest good news for the Lakers. A
lot of it involves the Warriors, because folks, I know
I hammered him after Game four for those bad shots.
But Klay Thompson continues to play horrid basketball. I tallied
his last three games since he had eight threes in
(04:23):
Game two, Klay Thompson from the field is eleven of
thirty seven. In Game five at home, You're thinking, oh,
Clay's gonna go home. He's gonna get right. Started one
of seven and he couldn't buy a bucket. He was
forcing it and if you watch closely, he'll like miss
a baseline jumper and he turns to run up court.
He's kind of shaking his head a little bit. Not
(04:44):
feeling confident, folks. Clay's been bad. And this is where
I know. I said Warriors in seven, even after they
have down three to one. I said, I got the Warriors.
Rob G's telling me, no, no, no, no, no, Lakers some
confident in the Warriors. I came away from Game five, Rob,
and I'm like, I didn't see Clay rebound. I thought
this would be a Jordan Pool game and he I
(05:05):
had to sweat that night and a half. I know
you guys are with me. Scored nine points in the
first half. Jordan Pool's back baby third quarter goes in
deferring miss miss miss Poll. I'm sitting here, Oh my gosh,
is you gonna get back in the game? Pool fortunately
gets on the court in garbage time inside three minutes.
As soon as he's on the court for garbage time,
(05:27):
pull up jumper hits it and I'm celebrating at my house.
Kids were asleep, so I had to celebrate quietly. But
Pool barely cleared the total. So Jordan Pool ain't back. Okay,
Dante DiVincenzo didn't seem to have it thirteen minutes, one shot,
Clay don't have it now. Andrew Wiggins played a very
good game. Probably heard the Cowherd trade rumors. Listen, I'm
(05:49):
not gonna get into the anthony. I'm sorry the Andrew
Wiggins and Jordan Pool for Jalen Brown, Marcus Brogden, Malcolm Brogden. Sorry,
I'm not gonna get in cowards deal. That's his. I
don't love it. I think Boston Frankly could get more
for Jalen Brown. But I'm getting off topic. Andrew Wiggins
(06:09):
had a great game. Twenty five points, seven boards, five assists,
only one turnover, did not did not get in foul trouble.
Defending Lebron Wiggins plays an improvement. But folks, we know
Lebron is gonna eventually have a Lebron game. Somebody from
the Lakers, whether it's D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reeves, Lonnie Friggin Walker,
(06:29):
one of those will eventually have a good game. Six
at home. We know the role players at home. Assuming
Anthony Davis is okay, just pencil him in for twenty
and ten. Who is gonna be the third Warriors step up?
Curry ain't given you fifty like he gave the Kigs.
That's not happening. They're not giving up fifty to Curry.
He'll have a good game. They'll take a lot of shots.
He's got to be the guy. He looked good. But
(06:52):
this is the other concern besides the third scorer. When
Golden State, much like the Boston Celtics, when they go
cold from three, the Lakers are gonna have They're gonna
have the game. And that's what happened in the third quarter.
Warriors kind of opened it quickly to eighteen early in
the third quarter, and then they just started jacking three.
He's looking for the knockout blow and it was. It
(07:13):
was awful. Oh for nine in the third quarter from three,
and I think stan Van Gundy revealed the number. And
I'm such a nerd, I'm taking notes here. The Warriors
missed fort I'm sorry. They missed their first eleven threes
in the second half before Curry made one with five
(07:34):
minutes left. So you're talking about twelve minutes in the
third and then six minutes in the fourth. So you
talked about it, eighteen minute strikes where they make no
three pointers, Clay misfiring, Jordan Poole had a couple in there,
Curry had a couple, and all of a sudden, if
you live by the three and you die by the
three and you don't really have insights scoring you can
rely on, Lakers started to creep back, and fortunately Curry
(07:55):
made one late and the Warriors were able to survive.
But listen, you can't withstand eleven straight miss threes against
the Lakers in Game six on the road. That's not
a sustainable game plan. So, Rob, my guess is if
the Warriors are going to do this in Game six Friday,
and by the way, cancel your Friday plans. You can't
miss Lebron versus Curry in an elimination game. And you know,
(08:19):
I'm on some Laker text chains. My buddy, the guy
who said the Ad and Lebron should stay behind and
not even go to the Bay Area. He's saying Game
seven is Friday. Now, Rob, the calendar says game six
is Friday, But I think you and I both know
Game seven is Friday. I don't know who's gonna show
up for the Warriors. I don't expect the Lakers to
go to Golden State and win Game seven, so they've
(08:39):
got to do it. Friday could be empty the ten
game from Lebron. He has not other than the twenty
twenty game against Memphis in overtime. Let's see, Lebron had
in that one twenty points and twenty sorry, twenty two points,
twenty rebounds. He was outstanding, tied it at the end
(09:02):
of regulation, secured the late game winner in overtime, and
Lebron was outstanding. He was also fatigued. Is he gonna
be able to have that kind of game at home?
Game six? You know it's gonna be a scene Friday
at Staples. Lebron also played forty five minutes in that
game against Memphis. It took a lot out of him
because in the next game he was putrid five of seventeen.
(09:24):
That would be Game seven, So is this gonna be
the game Lebron? Finally, he hasn't had a thirty point
game in this postseason. A diminished ad probably attired Lebron.
I don't know who steps up as a third scorer
for the Warriors a lot of questions. I'm gonna stick
right now, Rob with Warriors and seven, but I don't
feel as good as I did before Game five.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
If that makes any sense, It doesn't make any sense.
I don't know why you would all of a sudden
jump off the Warriors. I mean, I know that they
weren't super impressive in that win, but.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Ever bad Clay Thompson can't make a shot.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
But if Anthony Davis is and cussed, which that's what
the tea leaves are suggesting, then it's not gonna matter
how good the Warriors play.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
That Shags is the equation. If he's out, I would
be willing to say one hundred percent of Anthony Davis place,
would you?
Speaker 1 (10:13):
No, I would not be willing to say that. Look
nervous Laker fan, Huh absolutely. I mean I know that
you know, Darvin ham tried to play it off like, oh,
he looked great in the locker room, and you know
Austin Reeves saying that he expects him to play. Look,
you don't get wheeled out on a wheelchair and have
your agent and the GM of the team waiting outside
of the locker room for you unless things are serious.
(10:36):
So at a minimum, he's going to be evaluated for
the next twenty four hours.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Let me ask you. You mentioned the wheelchair, rub I'm trying
to think back Paul Pierce versus the Lakers NBA Finals.
You're a Laker fan, so you probably remember the exact specifics.
Pierce was wheeled off the court right, yes, in a wheelchair.
I don't remember what the injury was. What was and
he came back like ten minutes later.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
The story has changed a few times, but I believe
the most recent one was that he had to go
number two and that.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Was the issue.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
So you know, I don't think he's I don't think
that's the thing, but look, he's gonna be in evaluation
for at least twenty four hours. You know, all of
the Twitter doctors say that if he does have a concussion,
he's out at least seven days. It looks like the
average time for the average time for an NBA player
has been seven point seven days, according to multiple doctors.
(11:30):
You know, you had the I don't know if this
is standard at NBA practice, but you had physicians from
the Warriors waiting outside the locker room after the game
to evaluate Anthony Davis just to to me, it seems
like no. To me, it feels like they want to
make sure there was no shenanigans going on where the
Lakers like, no, no, no, he's fine, he's fine, he's
gonna play. He's not really that hurt. So it's hard
(11:53):
to feel good about the Lakers, you know, heading into
Game six. You know, Anthony Davis obviously is the biggest
question work. But you brought it up. Lebron James has
not had in all caps Lebron James performance in these
posts in this postseason. You know, the twenty twenty game
gets a lot of credit, and rightfully so. But other
than that, I mean, it's a lot of twenty two
to twenty four in the postseason. He's averaging twenty two,
(12:15):
ten and five on forty seven twenty three seventy five
shooting splits.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
He's thirty eight.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Right, Yeah, like that that's not terrible, right, but.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
That's not terrible. That art the hold up, rob do
me a solid and look up Kawhi Leonard's career playoff averages.
Career playoff averages.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Now, some Spurs early on and off really slow with
the Spurs.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Yeah, for what like two years it was like the
NBA Finals MVP.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
But the difference is is that if the Lakers are
going to win, especially without Anthony Davis, then Lebron can't
have a good, solid twenty two, ten and five. He
needs to have thirty five, eight and nine or something
like that. Like that's what they need from him to
win without Anthony Davis. You think they they can win
with Lebron playing like this?
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Well, I mean again, I think Anthony Davis are gonna play.
I can't imagine the scenario where he doesn't. Maybe he's
not gonna give you thirty two and twenty like Game
one or whatever it was, but twenty and ten is solid.
The question is gonna be witch out of shrewder D'Angelo
Russell Austin reeves, we haven't had a Ruiyati Mora game yet.
He hasn't really done Jack squad in this series. One
(13:22):
of those four will really deliver.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
And maybe truly, I don't mean, I don't mean to
cut you off, but breaking as we're recording this podcast,
Chris Haynes from Turner Sports reports early diagnosis indicates Ad
appears to have avoided the concussion and is doing much
better now.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Of course, Yeah, there we go. Right, So now you're
gonna just yeah, there was zero chance that they were
gonna even let that our seven day window.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
I still don't feel great about it.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
If he's I'm just curious, what Rob, What do you
think did they give him the concussion? Oh, he appears
to be fine. Yeah, we're guessing no concussion. Nothing to
see here. Let's just start talking about game six. That's
what I would do, I from the Lakers, exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Okay, Well, so we'll play your game and we'll assume
that he plays and he's ninety percent, they.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Will give him twelve. Just pencil him in for twenty
and ten.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Okay's fight.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Sure, But going back, who of the four guys from
who from the laps up? Russell, I'm sorry. Five. They
got five guys Russell, Reeves, Hachimura, Schroeder, and Walker.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
For them they can win. It's probably has to be Russell.
Oh gosh, because when.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
He expects the guys wried about.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
When he has those big games, not only do they win,
they blow teams out because the lake with Lebron and Ad,
the pressure they put on the rim. The one thing
that you always want is spacing. And if D'Angelo Russell
is hot, which he can get hot and spurts little
flurries here and there. Yeah, if he hits four out
of six from downtown out and he has like eighteen
nineteen points, the Lakers are gonna win blow like running away.
(14:51):
It's not even gonna be close. And on the flip side,
if you look at Golden State, I saw this last night,
Marcus Thompson from the Athletic, Your boy, Steph Curry. I
know you guys ran two at the local LA Fitness
and you guys have been best friends ever since. Games
one through three shooting forty six percent from three point
land games four, five and six, or four and four
and five, excuse me, twenty four percent from three and
(15:14):
you can turn it set about it. I know people
want to say that, well, he's also not getting the
good looks. I mean, you know, Steph really doesn't matter.
You can get it from anywhere, right, you know, he's
that good. But the way you get into a rhythm
is you get one or two that are open. You
see it go through the net, and then he used
to start jacking it from everywhere. And the Lakers are
doing a really good job of making him take tough shots,
(15:36):
especially from distance, and to Steph's credit, by the way,
is he's still willing to take those shots, so the
Lakers have to respect it. That's why you're getting those
back door cuts at the rim, Gary Payton having you know,
a lot of layups in the paint, which is good
for them and Draymond in the short roll. But if
Game six play doesn't show up, Steph's not really hitting
(15:59):
the threes like that, maybe Lakers and six is still
alive and well, so.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
I'm looking at that just hearing the way you getting
all excited that the Lakers are playing great defense on
Steph Curry, Like Rob you know that meme you had
one job, Like You've got to slow down Steph Curry.
I don't care how many shots Scary Payton gets. I
don't care how many shots Draymond Green Andrew Wiggins. I
(16:26):
know if I can contain Curry, I've got a chance that.
I mean, it's as simple as that. You look at
that King series, like Jordan Poole was their fourth leading
scorer or a twelve a game, Wiggins got eighteen, Clay
got twenty. I don't know how he got twenty, and
Curry thirty three, you know, bolstered by the fifty point game.
Of course the Lakers want to take away. I would
almost hard double Curry and give up twos and threes
(16:49):
to other guys. Now I know, I don't think the
coach is gonna want to do that because you don't
want to see a layup line like will happened a
lot of Game four. But I don't know. I just
not feeling great about the word because I don't know
who helped Steph Curry, and that puts a lot of
pressure on a you know, wirey. Well he's not wire anymore,
a six or three guard, and historically small guards don't
(17:10):
win titles. Just ask Chris Paul about that. Just ask
John Stockton Allen Iverson. Like it's tough for small guards
because the burden is on them, and like Curry is
attacking the hoop a lot, but man, it's gonna be
tough if he doesn't get a lot of help. All
right quickly. I don't want to spend too much time
on the Knicks heat. I know, as a Knicks fan,
I should be elated that the season, you know, live
(17:34):
to fight another day. So Rob, I had to take
my kid to volleyball Knicks are ups seventeen. I'm feeling good,
so good that I don't even watch the game in
the car, Like you can call up your cable and
watch the game on your phone or listen to it
because you're looking at the road. So I didn't even
do that. I leave there up seventeen. I walk in
the door. Cowherd calls and is like laughing or the
(17:57):
Knicks gonna blow this. I'm like, what are you talking about?
He's like, they cut it to four, and I'm just like,
freaking Tibodeau. Man, I don't know what to do. Rob
Nobody's gonna like what I'm about to say. Nobody I
know that. JJ Reddick interviewed with the Toronto Raptors this week.
(18:17):
Big story. According to Wojinarowski, JJ Reddick the guy who's
carrying First Take on his back. The only clips I
see on social media, you know, I don't. I don't
watch it. I'm on the herd is on when when
First Take is on? So the only clips I see
circulating those social all involved JJ Redick. He's now the
new star of the show. He's pushing back. He's making
(18:40):
Kendrick Perkins look kind of goofy. I like, you know,
Kendrick Perkins used to be a nice guy that he
blocked me when I called him out.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Whatever.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
So Reddick's crushing it. And now he's interviewing for the
raptors job. And I'm like, he lives in New York
with his family. He doesn't want to leave. He does
not He's made a lot of money. He's doing the
commute or whatever he's do. I don't even know where
they film first take, New York, Connecticut, whatever it is.
I don't see JJ Reddick taking the Raptor's job. And
(19:08):
all I watch in these Knicks games are man, can
we get TIBs out of there? How can we get
Tips out? Can we move on from him? I know
he's a good coach in the regular season, and these
playoff games he just bungles everything. Listen, I'm not gonna
be bang on the rotation guy. Okay, forty eight minutes
for Quentin Grimes. Josh Hart, I know he had got
(19:30):
in foul trouble nine minutes off the bench. Josh Hart
was like so integral to that cav series, really good
earlier in this series. Now he's chained to the bench.
I know you gotta ride your horses. And I get Randall,
and I get Brunson, r J. Barrett. He kind of
frustrates me the time, but whatever, I just I need
to move on from TIBs and his archaic offense and
(19:51):
his style and substitution pattern. I know not everybody's gonna agree,
but if they were to move on from Thibbodeau, I
would just make a move on JJ Reddick. And I
know he just got out of the league five minutes ago,
no experience. Nobody's gonna want to go coach for James Dolan,
who's a total bozo of an owner. But ROB just
(20:14):
watching the Knicks fritter away. I don't even know if
it's possible to fritter away but screw up this series.
They were favored coming into the series, by the way,
and just look kind of bad. I'm off Tibbs. I
don't think they're gonna win Game six. I'm not like
excited to go back to Miami. If they can get
Game seven at home, great, But I just don't feel
optimistic about Thibodeau. It's probably irrational to think that they
(20:36):
would move on from him for JJ Reddick.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Right, Yeah, I mean considering that they are having their
most playoff success in what twenty years with him, Mellow
won around Yeah, so I mean they want around this year,
so they're you know, par for the course. That's the
height of Nick's success recently. As far as JJ Reddick goes,
(20:58):
I don't know if this is a hot take. I
think he would be much better as a as a
coach than he would be as a first take debate,
you know, panelist. Because the one thing I'll say about
Joy I think he's very smart. I think he knows
basketball better than you know, most of the people you
see on TV. But he definitely gives off the vibe
that he's like annoyed with the debate format. I like,
(21:22):
why are we doing this topic? This topic is stupid right,
And the problem is is that that's really not what
you're signing up for if you're doing those kind of
shows he needs to be. If that's what he really
wants to do, then put him in the Tim Legler
roll where he does spots on Sports Center late night
and that's you know, really breaking down the x's and o's.
I think that if Toronto or the Knicks or whoever
(21:44):
really wants to hire him, I think he do a
good job. And the people who say he doesn't have experience,
I don't know. I mean, you can what Steve Courr
didn't have experience, you know, Doc Rivers, I don't think
had experience when he come out of the booth. You know,
not everybody is Steve Nash who failed spectacularly. But even then,
and his guys were healthy, they were well when they
were healthy.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
Nobody's succeeding with Kyrie Irving.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
They were, they were doing pretty good. The Kyrie, James Harden,
Kevin Durant when they were on the floor together, I
think they wanted for games they didn't didn't did they
not blow the Milwaukee Bucks out by like thirty points
in Game two? And then it was James Harden hamstring
and Kyrie Irvy angle and that was the end of
that story. So I don't think you really need I
don't think you really need to, you know, assistant coach
(22:28):
it up and then get, you know, earn your stripes.
I think if you know ball, you know ball, and
if you can relate to the players today, which he
seems to be able to based on his podcast, then
he could do a good job with your knicks.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yeah, we'll see. Maybe maybe they pull a surprise in
South Beach and uh and Jimmy Butler actually misses some shots.
The only thing better than sitting on your couch watching
the game. He's making money while you do it. Here's
your best bet. All right, let's go to tonight's actions Tonight,
(22:59):
tech leet tonight, I got the spreads for you a
here in a mild surprise, not to me, but I'm
sure to some people. The Boston Celtics are two and
a half point favorites in Filthydelphia. Just kidding, Philadelphia. I
got another city angry at me for some heard comments.
So it was just a joke, Philly. I like the
Celtics tonight, Rob, I don't know about you. I think
this is a big Jason Tatum spot. Let's remember Game
(23:22):
six in Milwaukee last year. Tatum went off forty six points.
I think he had seven threes. I know people are
down on him. I'm on various NBA checks chains with
different crews of friends, and I actually had I'm gonna
read it to you because these guys said that they
would take nine players in the NBA ahead of Jason Tatum.
(23:47):
So I had to reply and I'll read off the
list to here. They're saying that they would take Devin
Booker over Tatum. I said, no way, Booker's not a
two way player, Guys, Tatum's a better defender, joker, I'll
give you that, Steph Curry, lebron kd Joel Embiid over Tatum. Brob,
is that not insanity? Go tell me you're taking Embiid
(24:10):
not right now?
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Look similar to your golden Todate Warriors taken the beginning
of this podcast. Now is not the time to be
going out on a lamb on Jason Tatum. He has
not been good. Jaylen Brown, you can argue, has been
better than him in these playoffs.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
I'm not even gonna dignify that way. Jalen Like I
don't want the ball stand in the corner, Luka Doncic
obviously not Luca Jannis, and then Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler's
really good. Jason Tatum is a better player than Jimmy Butler.
He just his It's not by a large margin. So
I mean I only take like five guys over Tatum.
(24:50):
Maybe I don't kd he's deferring to Booker. I think
Tatum goes off tonight, I'll be on his uh over
that Jordan Poole winnings into Jason Tatum tonight, Like who's
defending him? You know it's not gonna be PJ.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Tucker.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
It's sure as shit is not gonna be Tobias Harris,
who might struggle to defend me if I was a
good night that's a joke, obviously. I want the new audience. Yes,
I teased it yesterday. Yes, this podcast now gonna be
in video form. I don't know how often we're tinkering,
we're efforting change. I wanted to bury it for the
(25:28):
Sorry Rob p One or t one Gosh, I could
never get.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
It right one listening one.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
I don't know what that means. Phase one. It's kinda
start trek yet.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
I don't know what it means either. I just know
that that's the term.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Yeah, so the people most quickly before my cousin, uh,
my cousin checking in from uh. I think it's Saint
Louis pennsylv No, he's in Pennsylvania, and he's like, I
need Rob G's number to find out what this big
secret is. I almost get by the way Rob starting
to blow up. I had a guy DM me on
so media say, hey, can I follow Rob? I really
(26:03):
liked his Jordan Poole is going to be the reason
the Warriors dinosas uptake, and I was like, it's looking
pretty good. Wrong, but here's his handle.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Well, going back to Jason Tatum over under on shots
made in the first quarter at.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Half oh, stop because he's over fourteen.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Or well the street continue?
Speaker 2 (26:28):
No, hold up, hold up? What's his over utter point total?
Do you see it? Or no?
Speaker 1 (26:33):
I don't see it in front of me. I'm beginning
it as we speak.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
I will be looking at it. I like Celtics to
win on the road. Now, if you think six are
gonna be there, maybe money line two and a half
is one of those dicey numbers, you know, the whole
will they foul and all that stuff late, So yeah,
maybe the moves money line. I'm seeing Celtics minus one
(26:56):
thirty five minus one thirty six money line, so one
hundred thirty six bucks to one one hundred either way,
I like the Celtics. Then the interesting one Phoenix three
point favorites still TBD. On Chris Paul's status, we do
not know if he's gonna play. He said he would
try to play. I don't know that that necessarily helps
either way. I don't think the Nuggets are losing Game seven.
(27:18):
You do want to try to finish this if you can.
And by the way, unlike Phoenix, which has been blasted
three times in Denver and I'm talking worked, I think
they lost by over ten or over twelve, maybe over
fifteen all three games in Denver. The Nuggets were in
both games in Phoenix until they were like three minutes left.
So this idea that Denver can't close it out, they
(27:39):
definitely can. This feels to me like a Jamal Murray game.
But I'm reluctant to bet the team I want on
the road here, so I will punt. I mean, listen,
in game, betting is your friend. If Phoenix goes down
big early, maybe you get a more favorable line. It's
tough for me to imagine Booker and Katie totally rolling over,
(27:59):
so I guess I would lean Phoenix. I'm rooting Denver, obviously,
rob any action on that one for you.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
Yeah, I'm actually on the Nuggets, and I hate to
correct you, but according to Sham Saronia, Chris Paul is
out for Game six.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Oh, it's official out due to his sting. And I
don't think that's the worst thing in the world, Honestly,
I don't either. But the thing is is that when
Denver goes on their runs, and they're going to because
they're really good, what Phoenix needs is just someone to
slow it down and not try to stay up in
the track meet because that's what they like to do.
Both teams like to play that way. Sometimes just eating
(28:36):
clock a little bit, getting in a prevent offense, so
to speak, working it down and isolating with KD or
Devin Booker is the way to go, whether it make
or miss, and then that's just the way to you know,
slow the tempo a little bit. And they don't have
a guy like that in their roster to do that.
And we've saw in game five if unless KD and
Booker are combining for seventy points, I don't know how
(28:59):
they win. That seems to be the line of demarcation
seventy eight and.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
That's a lot of points. Like I know, you know,
people think that it's that today's NBA, all these threes,
like you know, seventy thirty five a piece is nothing
to sneeze at.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
So I like God's sad this at home for Phoenix Again.
I'm not bashing Chris Paul. I would feel more comfortable
when they double book or they double Durant or the
driving kick. I feel more comfortable kicking out to Landry
Shammitt and Terrence Ross than I do Chris Paul. And
(29:34):
they're just they're better shooters at this stage. I know
that people are gonna think, Jason, that's so wrong. Chris
Paul's a Hall of Famer. Yeah, no, no shit, Sherlock.
But we're talking about fossil Chris Paul now coming off
an injury, who's never been a great three point shooter,
certainly not the last three years. So yeah, Landry Shammitt
corner three, chalk it up. Terrence Ross can get hot.
I know people didn't watch him in Orlando. I might
(29:56):
have because I got family down there. But Ross can
shoot it. So and you're at home, so the role
players will play better, like Bruce Brown drop a twenty five.
All right, that's a lengthy podcast for a Thursday. Thirsty Thursday. Obviously.
May by the way, ps Mother's Day weekend. Obviously, you
guys got to get on that. I got some good stuff.
Cooked up. Yes, I do all right. Talk to you
(30:18):
guys tomorrow.
The volume.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
This is straight Fire with Jason MacIntire. What is up,
straight Fire, fam, It's me Jason MacIntyre, Straight Fire, four Thursday,
May eleventh. Boy, the Knicks live to fight another day
and the Golden State Warriors. You can't put them away, folks.
(00:31):
You cannot put the way put away the Warriors easily.
Both teams survive and their seasons continue. A good night
of basketball, not a great one, as the Knicks tried
to blow the game against the Heat. They were up seventeen,
nearly collapsed. But the big story is what happened in
the fourth quarter of what was a reasonably close Lakers
Warriors game. I mean I went in thinking Warriors wiped
(00:52):
the floor with them. I remember we speculated on the
pod two days ago. Should the Lakers, you know, maybe
adjust their rotation to get Ad and Lebrons and more
rest in the first half. Darvinham did none of that,
And I believe it was an Austin Reeves three pointer
cut the lead to nine, and it was like kind
of tense for the Warriors. And shortly thereafter, in a
play that's gonna be scrutinized, broken down, Anthony Davis jostling
(01:17):
for position on a after a D'Angelo Russell drive, Anthony
Davis gets just kind of a forearm to the face,
kind of the side of the head the temple from
Kevon Looney, and Ad instantly buried his face in his hands,
stayed on the sideline. Warriors came down and scored, and
instantly there was a break of the action. Anthony Davis looked, woozy,
(01:40):
goes to the bench. They had a like an assistant
coach with him. And then word came from the sideline
reporters at the game as well as NBA reporters that
Anthony Davis was taken in a wheelchair, a wheelchair to
the locker room because there were perhaps concussion like symptoms.
(02:01):
Now just the latest we're recording this almost one am
East Coast time. It's ten am, sorry, ten pm out
here on the West coast. According to Anthony Slater Covers
the NBA for the athletic Darvin Ham makes it sound like, hey,
AD's feeling good, He's okay, But the disparity of wheelchair
report to he's feeling good. A lot of Laker fans
(02:24):
are gonna be kicked off that eighty was even in
the game. The problem is the Lakers are hanging around.
I don't know how you could pull him. And overall,
I thought it was a spirited performance from the Lakers
to keep it close. Austin Reeves was bearing some shots,
Dennis Schreuder played extremely well, and AD when he was
in there. Folks, let me call it the box score.
Here Anthony Davis in thirty two minutes of action ten
(02:45):
of eighteen, twenty three points, nine boards, one interesting nugget,
and again I watched the whole game. I'm rewinding. Anthony
Davis was effective in the paint. He had zero offensive
rebounds in thirty two minutes. Draymondreed did a tremendous job.
I know Draymond Green a cowherd guy with the volume.
Draymond Green had one of his best games probably this season.
(03:07):
I know he had one really good game against the Kings.
But twenty and ten for Draymond for assists, did have
a bunch of turnovers, but made his free throws. Tough
defense on Anthony Davis really kept him off the glass,
off the offensive glass, and overall I thought AD was good.
Lebron twenty five points. Lakers were in this, folks. This
was like a legitimate tense moment for Golden State, but
(03:29):
they survive. In advance. Game six is Friday? All anybody's
gonna be talking about is the Anthony Davis situation. Like,
I cannot imagine a world where the NBA says, sorry,
Ad is concussed, he can't play. I just cannot imagine that,
under any circumstances will be the case. Is his bell
gonna be wrong? Yeah? Is it gonna be a tough
(03:51):
twenty four hours, Yeah, tough, maybe thirty six hours? Sure?
Is he probably fatigued? Are we gonna see another Anthony
Davis gast in this self?
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Remember he wasn't a big factor in Game four. I'd say,
if you want positive takeaways for the Lakers, put Anthony
Davis aside. The biggest good news for the Lakers. A
lot of it involves the Warriors, because folks, I know
I hammered him after Game four for those bad shots.
But Klay Thompson continues to play horrid basketball. I tallied
his last three games since he had eight threes in
(04:23):
Game two, Klay Thompson from the field is eleven of
thirty seven. In Game five at home, You're thinking, oh,
Clay's gonna go home. He's gonna get right. Started one
of seven and he couldn't buy a bucket. He was
forcing it and if you watch closely, he'll like miss
a baseline jumper and he turns to run up court.
He's kind of shaking his head a little bit. Not
(04:44):
feeling confident, folks. Clay's been bad. And this is where
I know. I said Warriors in seven, even after they
have down three to one. I said, I got the Warriors.
Rob G's telling me, no, no, no, no, no, Lakers some
confident in the Warriors. I came away from Game five, Rob,
and I'm like, I didn't see Clay rebound. I thought
this would be a Jordan Pool game and he I
(05:05):
had to sweat that night and a half. I know
you guys are with me. Scored nine points in the
first half. Jordan Pool's back baby third quarter goes in
deferring miss miss miss Poll. I'm sitting here, Oh my gosh,
is you gonna get back in the game? Pool fortunately
gets on the court in garbage time inside three minutes.
As soon as he's on the court for garbage time,
(05:27):
pull up jumper hits it and I'm celebrating at my house.
Kids were asleep, so I had to celebrate quietly. But
Pool barely cleared the total. So Jordan Pool ain't back. Okay,
Dante DiVincenzo didn't seem to have it thirteen minutes, one shot,
Clay don't have it now. Andrew Wiggins played a very
good game. Probably heard the Cowherd trade rumors. Listen, I'm
(05:49):
not gonna get into the anthony. I'm sorry the Andrew
Wiggins and Jordan Pool for Jalen Brown, Marcus Brogden, Malcolm Brogden. Sorry,
I'm not gonna get in cowards deal. That's his. I
don't love it. I think Boston Frankly could get more
for Jalen Brown. But I'm getting off topic. Andrew Wiggins
(06:09):
had a great game. Twenty five points, seven boards, five assists,
only one turnover, did not did not get in foul trouble.
Defending Lebron Wiggins plays an improvement. But folks, we know
Lebron is gonna eventually have a Lebron game. Somebody from
the Lakers, whether it's D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reeves, Lonnie Friggin Walker,
(06:29):
one of those will eventually have a good game. Six
at home. We know the role players at home. Assuming
Anthony Davis is okay, just pencil him in for twenty
and ten. Who is gonna be the third Warriors step up?
Curry ain't given you fifty like he gave the Kigs.
That's not happening. They're not giving up fifty to Curry.
He'll have a good game. They'll take a lot of shots.
He's got to be the guy. He looked good. But
(06:52):
this is the other concern besides the third scorer. When
Golden State, much like the Boston Celtics, when they go
cold from three, the Lakers are gonna have They're gonna
have the game. And that's what happened in the third quarter.
Warriors kind of opened it quickly to eighteen early in
the third quarter, and then they just started jacking three.
He's looking for the knockout blow and it was. It
(07:13):
was awful. Oh for nine in the third quarter from three,
and I think stan Van Gundy revealed the number. And
I'm such a nerd, I'm taking notes here. The Warriors
missed fort I'm sorry. They missed their first eleven threes
in the second half before Curry made one with five
(07:34):
minutes left. So you're talking about twelve minutes in the
third and then six minutes in the fourth. So you
talked about it, eighteen minute strikes where they make no
three pointers, Clay misfiring, Jordan Poole had a couple in there,
Curry had a couple, and all of a sudden, if
you live by the three and you die by the
three and you don't really have insights scoring you can
rely on, Lakers started to creep back, and fortunately Curry
(07:55):
made one late and the Warriors were able to survive.
But listen, you can't withstand eleven straight miss threes against
the Lakers in Game six on the road. That's not
a sustainable game plan. So, Rob, my guess is if
the Warriors are going to do this in Game six Friday,
and by the way, cancel your Friday plans. You can't
miss Lebron versus Curry in an elimination game. And you know,
(08:19):
I'm on some Laker text chains. My buddy, the guy
who said the Ad and Lebron should stay behind and
not even go to the Bay Area. He's saying Game
seven is Friday. Now, Rob, the calendar says game six
is Friday, But I think you and I both know
Game seven is Friday. I don't know who's gonna show
up for the Warriors. I don't expect the Lakers to
go to Golden State and win Game seven, so they've
(08:39):
got to do it. Friday could be empty the ten
game from Lebron. He has not other than the twenty
twenty game against Memphis in overtime. Let's see, Lebron had
in that one twenty points and twenty sorry, twenty two points,
twenty rebounds. He was outstanding, tied it at the end
(09:02):
of regulation, secured the late game winner in overtime, and
Lebron was outstanding. He was also fatigued. Is he gonna
be able to have that kind of game at home?
Game six? You know it's gonna be a scene Friday
at Staples. Lebron also played forty five minutes in that
game against Memphis. It took a lot out of him
because in the next game he was putrid five of seventeen.
(09:24):
That would be Game seven, So is this gonna be
the game Lebron? Finally, he hasn't had a thirty point
game in this postseason. A diminished ad probably attired Lebron.
I don't know who steps up as a third scorer
for the Warriors a lot of questions. I'm gonna stick
right now, Rob with Warriors and seven, but I don't
feel as good as I did before Game five.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
If that makes any sense, It doesn't make any sense.
I don't know why you would all of a sudden
jump off the Warriors. I mean, I know that they
weren't super impressive in that win, but.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Ever bad Clay Thompson can't make a shot.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
But if Anthony Davis is and cussed, which that's what
the tea leaves are suggesting, then it's not gonna matter
how good the Warriors play.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
That Shags is the equation. If he's out, I would
be willing to say one hundred percent of Anthony Davis place,
would you?
Speaker 1 (10:13):
No, I would not be willing to say that. Look
nervous Laker fan, Huh absolutely. I mean I know that
you know, Darvin ham tried to play it off like, oh,
he looked great in the locker room, and you know
Austin Reeves saying that he expects him to play. Look,
you don't get wheeled out on a wheelchair and have
your agent and the GM of the team waiting outside
of the locker room for you unless things are serious.
(10:36):
So at a minimum, he's going to be evaluated for
the next twenty four hours.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Let me ask you. You mentioned the wheelchair, rub I'm trying
to think back Paul Pierce versus the Lakers NBA Finals.
You're a Laker fan, so you probably remember the exact specifics.
Pierce was wheeled off the court right, yes, in a wheelchair.
I don't remember what the injury was. What was and
he came back like ten minutes later.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
The story has changed a few times, but I believe
the most recent one was that he had to go
number two and that.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Was the issue.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
So you know, I don't think he's I don't think
that's the thing, but look, he's gonna be in evaluation
for at least twenty four hours. You know, all of
the Twitter doctors say that if he does have a concussion,
he's out at least seven days. It looks like the
average time for the average time for an NBA player
has been seven point seven days, according to multiple doctors.
(11:30):
You know, you had the I don't know if this
is standard at NBA practice, but you had physicians from
the Warriors waiting outside the locker room after the game
to evaluate Anthony Davis just to to me, it seems
like no. To me, it feels like they want to
make sure there was no shenanigans going on where the
Lakers like, no, no, no, he's fine, he's fine, he's
gonna play. He's not really that hurt. So it's hard
(11:53):
to feel good about the Lakers, you know, heading into
Game six. You know, Anthony Davis obviously is the biggest
question work. But you brought it up. Lebron James has
not had in all caps Lebron James performance in these
posts in this postseason. You know, the twenty twenty game
gets a lot of credit, and rightfully so. But other
than that, I mean, it's a lot of twenty two
to twenty four in the postseason. He's averaging twenty two,
(12:15):
ten and five on forty seven twenty three seventy five
shooting splits.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
He's thirty eight.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Right, Yeah, like that that's not terrible, right, but.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
That's not terrible. That art the hold up, rob do
me a solid and look up Kawhi Leonard's career playoff averages.
Career playoff averages.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Now, some Spurs early on and off really slow with
the Spurs.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Yeah, for what like two years it was like the
NBA Finals MVP.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
But the difference is is that if the Lakers are
going to win, especially without Anthony Davis, then Lebron can't
have a good, solid twenty two, ten and five. He
needs to have thirty five, eight and nine or something
like that. Like that's what they need from him to
win without Anthony Davis. You think they they can win
with Lebron playing like this?
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Well, I mean again, I think Anthony Davis are gonna play.
I can't imagine the scenario where he doesn't. Maybe he's
not gonna give you thirty two and twenty like Game
one or whatever it was, but twenty and ten is solid.
The question is gonna be witch out of shrewder D'Angelo
Russell Austin reeves, we haven't had a Ruiyati Mora game yet.
He hasn't really done Jack squad in this series. One
(13:22):
of those four will really deliver.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
And maybe truly, I don't mean, I don't mean to
cut you off, but breaking as we're recording this podcast,
Chris Haynes from Turner Sports reports early diagnosis indicates Ad
appears to have avoided the concussion and is doing much
better now.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Of course, Yeah, there we go. Right, So now you're
gonna just yeah, there was zero chance that they were
gonna even let that our seven day window.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
I still don't feel great about it.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
If he's I'm just curious, what Rob, What do you
think did they give him the concussion? Oh, he appears
to be fine. Yeah, we're guessing no concussion. Nothing to
see here. Let's just start talking about game six. That's
what I would do, I from the Lakers, exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Okay, Well, so we'll play your game and we'll assume
that he plays and he's ninety percent, they.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Will give him twelve. Just pencil him in for twenty
and ten.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Okay's fight.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Sure, But going back, who of the four guys from
who from the laps up? Russell, I'm sorry. Five. They
got five guys Russell, Reeves, Hachimura, Schroeder, and Walker.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
For them they can win. It's probably has to be Russell.
Oh gosh, because when.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
He expects the guys wried about.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
When he has those big games, not only do they win,
they blow teams out because the lake with Lebron and Ad,
the pressure they put on the rim. The one thing
that you always want is spacing. And if D'Angelo Russell
is hot, which he can get hot and spurts little
flurries here and there. Yeah, if he hits four out
of six from downtown out and he has like eighteen
nineteen points, the Lakers are gonna win blow like running away.
(14:51):
It's not even gonna be close. And on the flip side,
if you look at Golden State, I saw this last night,
Marcus Thompson from the Athletic, Your boy, Steph Curry. I
know you guys ran two at the local LA Fitness
and you guys have been best friends ever since. Games
one through three shooting forty six percent from three point
land games four, five and six, or four and four
and five, excuse me, twenty four percent from three and
(15:14):
you can turn it set about it. I know people
want to say that, well, he's also not getting the
good looks. I mean, you know, Steph really doesn't matter.
You can get it from anywhere, right, you know, he's
that good. But the way you get into a rhythm
is you get one or two that are open. You
see it go through the net, and then he used
to start jacking it from everywhere. And the Lakers are
doing a really good job of making him take tough shots,
(15:36):
especially from distance, and to Steph's credit, by the way,
is he's still willing to take those shots, so the
Lakers have to respect it. That's why you're getting those
back door cuts at the rim, Gary Payton having you know,
a lot of layups in the paint, which is good
for them and Draymond in the short roll. But if
Game six play doesn't show up, Steph's not really hitting
(15:59):
the threes like that, maybe Lakers and six is still
alive and well, so.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
I'm looking at that just hearing the way you getting
all excited that the Lakers are playing great defense on
Steph Curry, Like Rob you know that meme you had
one job, Like You've got to slow down Steph Curry.
I don't care how many shots Scary Payton gets. I
don't care how many shots Draymond Green Andrew Wiggins. I
(16:26):
know if I can contain Curry, I've got a chance that.
I mean, it's as simple as that. You look at
that King series, like Jordan Poole was their fourth leading
scorer or a twelve a game, Wiggins got eighteen, Clay
got twenty. I don't know how he got twenty, and
Curry thirty three, you know, bolstered by the fifty point game.
Of course the Lakers want to take away. I would
almost hard double Curry and give up twos and threes
(16:49):
to other guys. Now I know, I don't think the
coach is gonna want to do that because you don't
want to see a layup line like will happened a
lot of Game four. But I don't know. I just
not feeling great about the word because I don't know
who helped Steph Curry, and that puts a lot of
pressure on a you know, wirey. Well he's not wire anymore,
a six or three guard, and historically small guards don't
(17:10):
win titles. Just ask Chris Paul about that. Just ask
John Stockton Allen Iverson. Like it's tough for small guards
because the burden is on them, and like Curry is
attacking the hoop a lot, but man, it's gonna be
tough if he doesn't get a lot of help. All
right quickly. I don't want to spend too much time
on the Knicks heat. I know, as a Knicks fan,
I should be elated that the season, you know, live
(17:34):
to fight another day. So Rob, I had to take
my kid to volleyball Knicks are ups seventeen. I'm feeling good,
so good that I don't even watch the game in
the car, Like you can call up your cable and
watch the game on your phone or listen to it
because you're looking at the road. So I didn't even
do that. I leave there up seventeen. I walk in
the door. Cowherd calls and is like laughing or the
(17:57):
Knicks gonna blow this. I'm like, what are you talking about?
He's like, they cut it to four, and I'm just like,
freaking Tibodeau. Man, I don't know what to do. Rob
Nobody's gonna like what I'm about to say. Nobody I
know that. JJ Reddick interviewed with the Toronto Raptors this week.
(18:17):
Big story. According to Wojinarowski, JJ Reddick the guy who's
carrying First Take on his back. The only clips I
see on social media, you know, I don't. I don't
watch it. I'm on the herd is on when when
First Take is on? So the only clips I see
circulating those social all involved JJ Redick. He's now the
new star of the show. He's pushing back. He's making
(18:40):
Kendrick Perkins look kind of goofy. I like, you know,
Kendrick Perkins used to be a nice guy that he
blocked me when I called him out.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Whatever.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
So Reddick's crushing it. And now he's interviewing for the
raptors job. And I'm like, he lives in New York
with his family. He doesn't want to leave. He does
not He's made a lot of money. He's doing the
commute or whatever he's do. I don't even know where
they film first take, New York, Connecticut, whatever it is.
I don't see JJ Reddick taking the Raptor's job. And
(19:08):
all I watch in these Knicks games are man, can
we get TIBs out of there? How can we get
Tips out? Can we move on from him? I know
he's a good coach in the regular season, and these
playoff games he just bungles everything. Listen, I'm not gonna
be bang on the rotation guy. Okay, forty eight minutes
for Quentin Grimes. Josh Hart, I know he had got
(19:30):
in foul trouble nine minutes off the bench. Josh Hart
was like so integral to that cav series, really good
earlier in this series. Now he's chained to the bench.
I know you gotta ride your horses. And I get Randall,
and I get Brunson, r J. Barrett. He kind of
frustrates me the time, but whatever, I just I need
to move on from TIBs and his archaic offense and
(19:51):
his style and substitution pattern. I know not everybody's gonna agree,
but if they were to move on from Thibbodeau, I
would just make a move on JJ Reddick. And I
know he just got out of the league five minutes ago,
no experience. Nobody's gonna want to go coach for James Dolan,
who's a total bozo of an owner. But ROB just
(20:14):
watching the Knicks fritter away. I don't even know if
it's possible to fritter away but screw up this series.
They were favored coming into the series, by the way,
and just look kind of bad. I'm off Tibbs. I
don't think they're gonna win Game six. I'm not like
excited to go back to Miami. If they can get
Game seven at home, great, But I just don't feel
optimistic about Thibodeau. It's probably irrational to think that they
(20:36):
would move on from him for JJ Reddick.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Right, Yeah, I mean considering that they are having their
most playoff success in what twenty years with him, Mellow
won around Yeah, so I mean they want around this year,
so they're you know, par for the course. That's the
height of Nick's success recently. As far as JJ Reddick goes,
(20:58):
I don't know if this is a hot take. I
think he would be much better as a as a
coach than he would be as a first take debate,
you know, panelist. Because the one thing I'll say about
Joy I think he's very smart. I think he knows
basketball better than you know, most of the people you
see on TV. But he definitely gives off the vibe
that he's like annoyed with the debate format. I like,
(21:22):
why are we doing this topic? This topic is stupid right,
And the problem is is that that's really not what
you're signing up for if you're doing those kind of
shows he needs to be. If that's what he really
wants to do, then put him in the Tim Legler
roll where he does spots on Sports Center late night
and that's you know, really breaking down the x's and o's.
I think that if Toronto or the Knicks or whoever
(21:44):
really wants to hire him, I think he do a
good job. And the people who say he doesn't have experience,
I don't know. I mean, you can what Steve Courr
didn't have experience, you know, Doc Rivers, I don't think
had experience when he come out of the booth. You know,
not everybody is Steve Nash who failed spectacularly. But even then,
and his guys were healthy, they were well when they
were healthy.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
Nobody's succeeding with Kyrie Irving.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
They were, they were doing pretty good. The Kyrie, James Harden,
Kevin Durant when they were on the floor together, I
think they wanted for games they didn't didn't did they
not blow the Milwaukee Bucks out by like thirty points
in Game two? And then it was James Harden hamstring
and Kyrie Irvy angle and that was the end of
that story. So I don't think you really need I
don't think you really need to, you know, assistant coach
(22:28):
it up and then get, you know, earn your stripes.
I think if you know ball, you know ball, and
if you can relate to the players today, which he
seems to be able to based on his podcast, then
he could do a good job with your knicks.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yeah, we'll see. Maybe maybe they pull a surprise in
South Beach and uh and Jimmy Butler actually misses some shots.
The only thing better than sitting on your couch watching
the game. He's making money while you do it. Here's
your best bet. All right, let's go to tonight's actions Tonight,
(22:59):
tech leet tonight, I got the spreads for you a
here in a mild surprise, not to me, but I'm
sure to some people. The Boston Celtics are two and
a half point favorites in Filthydelphia. Just kidding, Philadelphia. I
got another city angry at me for some heard comments.
So it was just a joke, Philly. I like the
Celtics tonight, Rob, I don't know about you. I think
this is a big Jason Tatum spot. Let's remember Game
(23:22):
six in Milwaukee last year. Tatum went off forty six points.
I think he had seven threes. I know people are
down on him. I'm on various NBA checks chains with
different crews of friends, and I actually had I'm gonna
read it to you because these guys said that they
would take nine players in the NBA ahead of Jason Tatum.
(23:47):
So I had to reply and I'll read off the
list to here. They're saying that they would take Devin
Booker over Tatum. I said, no way, Booker's not a
two way player, Guys, Tatum's a better defender, joker, I'll
give you that, Steph Curry, lebron kd Joel Embiid over Tatum. Brob,
is that not insanity? Go tell me you're taking Embiid
(24:10):
not right now?
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Look similar to your golden Todate Warriors taken the beginning
of this podcast. Now is not the time to be
going out on a lamb on Jason Tatum. He has
not been good. Jaylen Brown, you can argue, has been
better than him in these playoffs.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
I'm not even gonna dignify that way. Jalen Like I
don't want the ball stand in the corner, Luka Doncic
obviously not Luca Jannis, and then Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler's
really good. Jason Tatum is a better player than Jimmy Butler.
He just his It's not by a large margin. So
I mean I only take like five guys over Tatum.
(24:50):
Maybe I don't kd he's deferring to Booker. I think
Tatum goes off tonight, I'll be on his uh over
that Jordan Poole winnings into Jason Tatum tonight, Like who's
defending him? You know it's not gonna be PJ.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Tucker.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
It's sure as shit is not gonna be Tobias Harris,
who might struggle to defend me if I was a
good night that's a joke, obviously. I want the new audience. Yes,
I teased it yesterday. Yes, this podcast now gonna be
in video form. I don't know how often we're tinkering,
we're efforting change. I wanted to bury it for the
(25:28):
Sorry Rob p One or t one Gosh, I could
never get.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
It right one listening one.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
I don't know what that means. Phase one. It's kinda
start trek yet.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
I don't know what it means either. I just know
that that's the term.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Yeah, so the people most quickly before my cousin, uh,
my cousin checking in from uh. I think it's Saint
Louis pennsylv No, he's in Pennsylvania, and he's like, I
need Rob G's number to find out what this big
secret is. I almost get by the way Rob starting
to blow up. I had a guy DM me on
so media say, hey, can I follow Rob? I really
(26:03):
liked his Jordan Poole is going to be the reason
the Warriors dinosas uptake, and I was like, it's looking
pretty good. Wrong, but here's his handle.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Well, going back to Jason Tatum over under on shots
made in the first quarter at.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Half oh, stop because he's over fourteen.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Or well the street continue?
Speaker 2 (26:28):
No, hold up, hold up? What's his over utter point total?
Do you see it? Or no?
Speaker 1 (26:33):
I don't see it in front of me. I'm beginning
it as we speak.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
I will be looking at it. I like Celtics to
win on the road. Now, if you think six are
gonna be there, maybe money line two and a half
is one of those dicey numbers, you know, the whole
will they foul and all that stuff late, So yeah,
maybe the moves money line. I'm seeing Celtics minus one
(26:56):
thirty five minus one thirty six money line, so one
hundred thirty six bucks to one one hundred either way,
I like the Celtics. Then the interesting one Phoenix three
point favorites still TBD. On Chris Paul's status, we do
not know if he's gonna play. He said he would
try to play. I don't know that that necessarily helps
either way. I don't think the Nuggets are losing Game seven.
(27:18):
You do want to try to finish this if you can.
And by the way, unlike Phoenix, which has been blasted
three times in Denver and I'm talking worked, I think
they lost by over ten or over twelve, maybe over
fifteen all three games in Denver. The Nuggets were in
both games in Phoenix until they were like three minutes left.
So this idea that Denver can't close it out, they
(27:39):
definitely can. This feels to me like a Jamal Murray game.
But I'm reluctant to bet the team I want on
the road here, so I will punt. I mean, listen,
in game, betting is your friend. If Phoenix goes down
big early, maybe you get a more favorable line. It's
tough for me to imagine Booker and Katie totally rolling over,
(27:59):
so I guess I would lean Phoenix. I'm rooting Denver, obviously,
rob any action on that one for you.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
Yeah, I'm actually on the Nuggets, and I hate to
correct you, but according to Sham Saronia, Chris Paul is
out for Game six.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Oh, it's official out due to his sting. And I
don't think that's the worst thing in the world, Honestly,
I don't either. But the thing is is that when
Denver goes on their runs, and they're going to because
they're really good, what Phoenix needs is just someone to
slow it down and not try to stay up in
the track meet because that's what they like to do.
Both teams like to play that way. Sometimes just eating
(28:36):
clock a little bit, getting in a prevent offense, so
to speak, working it down and isolating with KD or
Devin Booker is the way to go, whether it make
or miss, and then that's just the way to you know,
slow the tempo a little bit. And they don't have
a guy like that in their roster to do that.
And we've saw in game five if unless KD and
Booker are combining for seventy points, I don't know how
(28:59):
they win. That seems to be the line of demarcation
seventy eight and.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
That's a lot of points. Like I know, you know,
people think that it's that today's NBA, all these threes,
like you know, seventy thirty five a piece is nothing
to sneeze at.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
So I like God's sad this at home for Phoenix Again.
I'm not bashing Chris Paul. I would feel more comfortable
when they double book or they double Durant or the
driving kick. I feel more comfortable kicking out to Landry
Shammitt and Terrence Ross than I do Chris Paul. And
(29:34):
they're just they're better shooters at this stage. I know
that people are gonna think, Jason, that's so wrong. Chris
Paul's a Hall of Famer. Yeah, no, no shit, Sherlock.
But we're talking about fossil Chris Paul now coming off
an injury, who's never been a great three point shooter,
certainly not the last three years. So yeah, Landry Shammitt
corner three, chalk it up. Terrence Ross can get hot.
I know people didn't watch him in Orlando. I might
(29:56):
have because I got family down there. But Ross can
shoot it. So and you're at home, so the role
players will play better, like Bruce Brown drop a twenty five.
All right, that's a lengthy podcast for a Thursday. Thirsty Thursday. Obviously.
May by the way, ps Mother's Day weekend. Obviously, you
guys got to get on that. I got some good stuff.
Cooked up. Yes, I do all right. Talk to you
(30:18):
guys tomorrow.
Host
Jason McIntyre
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.