On today's episode, Jason and Super Producer Rob G (Robert Guerra) get things started by taking a verbal blowtorch to Doc Rivers, James Harden and Joel Embiid following the Philadelphia 76ers' gutless performance in their season-ending loss to the Boston Celtics. Rivers' and Harden's playoff shortcomings are well-chronicled so that wasn't shocking, but given the way Embiid performed, the guys agree it's time to admit that the reigning MVP is capable of being a '1' on a championship team. On the flip side, Jayson Tatum dropping 51 in the series-clinching win showed once again that he can absolutely be a '1'. In fact, J-mac argues that Tatum is already a better offensive player than Celtics legend Larry Bird. Sticking in the NBA, Memphis Grizzlies was suspended (again) for flashing a handgun on social media (again) over the weekend. It's clear at this point that Morant just doesn't get it; What isn't clear, however, is what exactly Ja wants out of life. Does he want to be the Face of the NBA, or does he want to be a gangster? Only time will tell on that one. Finally, Jason and Rob close the show by breaking down a few NBA conspiracy theories involving the Phoenix Suns. Is Tyronn Lue next in line to replace Monty Williams? If so, could Russell Westbrook be coming along with him? And, how does Isiah Thomas factor into all of this? The Suns offseason should be spicy!
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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 up straight Fire, fam, It's me Jason McIntyre. Straight
(00:22):
Fire for Monday May fifteen, Ladies and gentlemen, this was
one of the most exhausting weekends I've had in a
long long time. We've got some clarity in the NBA
playoffs the Golden State Warriors. Can we say the Dynasty's over?
Rob g called it. I had faith in the Warriors.
(00:43):
I think a lot of it was me just thinking
that Golden State has never been beat in curb under
the Curb era by a team in the West. And
it's official, it's done. Lakers route them Friday night. That
started the weekend, and Saturday was just chaos. Son had
a volleyball tournament, daughter out a soccer game, and and
I had my dad's soccer tournament. If you follow me
on the gram, obviously you tracked everything. It was a
(01:06):
glorious day for soccer. I actually played better than I
I thought I could, because I'm getting up there in
age now, you know, you start to lose it. We
advanced to the finals and we lose to a team
that had you know, there's only two ringers in the tournament,
and this team had a ringer who was just an
awesome player. Like I mean, he's like ten years younger
than anybody pretty much anybody on our team, well maybe
(01:27):
seven day ten years younger than anybody, and he's just dynamic.
Scored a goal like five minutes in and we're playing
from behind. They went three defenders. It's seven on seven
and we just couldn't break through. It was tough. So
we lost to the semifinals last year. Finals this year.
I mean, we're we didn't lose until the finals, and
soccer is a lot of fun. And then to Cap Saturday.
(01:49):
As if you I wasn't tired enough, there's this nerf
gun battle. I think I talked about it last year.
Some YouTube guy hosts a nerf gun battle at Sofi
Stadium on the sofa I turf. So you sign up,
you get tickets, you bring a nerf gun, and you
wear like goggles or like I gear I protective igear,
and you just have a nerf gun battle with like,
you know, two thousand other people. And it was incredible. Now,
(02:12):
I was a little hurting with the legs and the
body from the soccer tournament, but it was awesome. And
I will say this. This is I mean, I doubt
this guy listens. But you know, my daughter's Girl Scout
Troop went and my son had some friends and I
was with some dads. You know, we're just having fun whatever,
And of course the girl Scout Troop gets in a
battle with some guys and one of them is like
some kind of maybe sixteen year old punk. But he
(02:33):
had an awesome gun, and I told my son, we're
buying it. And so the girls are going after him
and they're like, we need help. So of course the
dads and my son and his buddies we all gang
up on this kid, and he's starting to get ticked off,
and I mean he's like like really angry, chasing us,
and like, I don't know, I thought there was gonna
be an altercation. What are the other dads? Was like, dude,
he I thought he was gonna swing on me. It's
(02:54):
just some some punk. But listen, NERF gun battles are fun.
If you want to feel like a kid again, go
to a nerf gun battle. A lot of fun. Now
I need to ask, I'll get the name of the gun,
but it isn't a NERF gun. It's one of those
guns that shoots the nerve, those little yellow balls hyper
or rapid, whatever it's called. But this thing is powerful
and it stings. No no, no cap as my Sun
(03:15):
likes to say. Nerve got battled. On Sunday, of course,
a awesome Mother's Day, and we had a game seven
in the NBA that I guess it was interesting for
a half, maybe for twenty five minutes, you know, before
the Celtics went our thirty three to five run put
away Joel Mbid and the Sixers once again. Joel Embiid
comes up short of a conference finals. Doc rivers third
(03:38):
year in a row. Now, depending on when you listen
to this podcast, some of you will listen to it.
We're starting to put them up at night after games
because we've noticed there is a bump in listeners people
looking for takes. Because if you noticed, if the game
isn't on TNT, the TNT shows not on with Barkley
in those guys, and if it's not on ESPN, there's
nothing on ESPN. So people want action, and obviously we
(04:01):
provide it to the games almost instantly. So he put
him up. We're seeing a bump in listenership. Now if
you're listening to this later on a Monday morning, say,
I don't know, closer to noon. Maybe you missed it
on the morning walk with the dog and you're listening
to it late. Doc Rivers might be fired already, because
holy killed. All that guy does is choking the playoffs
(04:23):
he has now. Remember he blew three three one leads obviously,
so that means he's blown three three two leads. He
blew another one against the Celtics, and I don't know
that I can totally blame Doc. But this is what's it.
What's it called them's the shakes or that's how it
shakes out, or them's the breaks. Whatever they're saying is
(04:43):
Doc Rivers once again comes up short and folks, and
Bead was pretty terrible five for eighteen in Game seven,
missed all his three pointers. And I put this on
social media. I don't want to hear, well, he's got
the knee injury, remember four to six weeks, because I
didn't hear that when he went for thirty three straight
games and they took US three two lead, because I
gassed him up on her said inbid's looking good. Celtics
(05:04):
are in trouble. I didn't bail on Boston. I was
very clear, Hey, nobody knows how to choke away a
big lead like Doc Rivers. Embiid was bad. And it's
funny because when Embiid played poorly in this series, well
he's got the knee injury. When he scores thirty plus, Hey,
Joel Embid, there's your MVP. We can't play these games.
And what I don't like about the Sixers year is
(05:26):
there's always an excuse. And if you remember Doc Rivers
first year with Ben Simmons, oh, it's Ben Simmons looking
him passing away a layup against the Hawks. Ben Simmons
is the reason they lost. Joel Embid embad at eight
turnovers in Game seven against the Hawks, but you know
it was at home. But let's blame Let's blame Simmons.
So last year they lose to the Miami Heat in
(05:48):
the playoffs, and this year they lose to the Celtics.
And this year the blame game is going squarely on
Jim Harden. Now we don't call him James anymore. Rob
g gets credit with that one. In just what is
astonishing stat folks hardened in the wins. I'll just read
off his stat line in the three victories, forty five
(06:10):
points in Game one, forty two points in Game four,
and oh by the way, he won both of those
games with late three pointers. And in game five, when
they won in Boston, Hardened seventeen ten and eight. He
attempted ten, got to the line ten times, tied his
high for the series, and as it was efficient as hell.
Those are the wins. Now the losses. Jim Harden showed
(06:33):
up three of eleven, four of sixteen, three to fourteen,
two of fourteen folks in the four losses, Hardened twenty
one percent from the field. Game seven, Okay, this is
money time, this is winning time. Jim Harden five turnovers,
three made baskets in the final two games. The final
(06:54):
two losses, Harden was one of eleven on three pointers,
one of eleven. Remember those two games he won. Harden
goes seven or fourteen from three and six of nine
from three. How does that happen? I know you want
to say maker, miss league, but I just find it
absolutely befuddling that someone could be so searingly hot seven
(07:15):
or fourteen from deep. Next game, Game two loss, they
get smoked, oh of six from deep. They win Game four,
six of nine, they lose the final two when he's
one of eleven from downtown, So the media obviously wants
to blame Harden. Folks. I know that everybody wants to
talk about the end of the dynasty of the Warriors.
How about how about the end of the Sixers, because
a lot of the talk is hard and wants to
(07:36):
go back to Houston. I don't see a path to
success for these seventy Sixers, not with Boston standing in
the way, not with Jana standing in the way, not
with the Miami heat culture is still present in the East.
And oh, by the way, my Knicks, who did lose
in Game seven on Friday, despite the an amazing effort
from Jalen Bruntson Gosh, what a fricking hero that guy is.
(07:58):
Jayalen Brunson was amazing. I know he had a late
tone over turn over, but you have to do everything,
carry them on his back in Game seven in Miami
and nearly pulled it off. Brunts. It was incredible. But like,
the Knicks are coming. If they could make a movie
get Crawling at Day Towns, they will definitely leave Prague
the Sixers. Cleveland is gonna be better in year two
with this Donovan Mitchell lineup. I don't know, man, if
(08:22):
I'm if I'm the Sixers, if I'm a Sixers fan,
I'm really worried. You were really gassed up after the
Game five win, you go up three to two, you
think it finally we're breaking through the conference finals, and
then you poop your pants in game six and seven,
and Philly's going home, and now Doc Rivers probably gonna
get the axe, and now James Harden probably leaving. I mean, listen,
(08:46):
at some point, Joel Embiad's gotta look around and say,
time for me to get out of here, time for
me to get off the Titanic. This thing's going down.
And I wonder if that's sooner than later, because if
you're the six this is a tough question. Rob G
and I before the pod, we looked at the number
ones in this league. Can you be the number one,
(09:08):
the alpha on a championship team? And we counted seven.
And now some people will push back and say, well,
they haven't won a championship, like Luca hasn't won a championship,
but he clearly is a number one on a team
that got to the conference finals surrounded by an Lucas
a one. Steph Curry obviously a one that there should
(09:28):
not be any doubt. He's your best player. You've build
around him. You can get to the finals and win it.
Janis a one. Lebron clearly a one. Gets a healthy
Anthony Davis look where they're going. And I know some
people will dispute that ads better than Lebron, but we've
seen a d as a one. You build around him
in New Orleans and his second round as a ceiling
a d is a two. Oh, he's amazing. I think
(09:50):
Yokich now going to his second conference finals is a
one you build around him. I mean, Jamal Murray, Michael
Porter Jr. I think I saw a crazy stat. I
don't remember exactly who put this out. It might have
been one of this guy named Goldsberry, Kirk Goldsberry, who
used to be at ESPN. I'm not even sure where
he works now, but he put out a list of
(10:11):
players and the amount of help they've had, essentially, and
Yokich is like the only one without an all NBA
player around him, without an all defensive player, he's basically
had the least amount of help. Now. Listen, Michael Porter Jr.
Is a good role player. Jamal Murray I like a lot,
but they're really like doing it around Yokich. And this
is two conference finals. So yokicha one, Giannisa one, Lebron Curry.
(10:34):
I think, I'm sure so people would disagree. Jason Tatum
is clearly a number one. He's been to multiple conference finals.
He's on the Customer going to his second NBA Finals.
He's now set a record for most points in game seven,
fifty one. I can't I'm embarrassed that it took me
ten minutes to get into the podcast and start saying
awesome things about Jason Tatum, a guy who I am
(10:55):
a massive fan of. Jason Tatum is a one you
built around him. Hey, you know what if it doesn't
work out, he moved Jaylen Brown. Fine, that's plugin play
around Jason Tatum. He has a bag that is incredible.
I mean, you saw him unstoppable. Anybody on the Sixers
stepped up to him in Game seven and he was
just torching him. Has he crossovers step back side, step three,
(11:15):
finishing with the left mid range baseline like he has.
I mean, the skill set is unbelievable. Jason Tatum's a
one and the seventh guy, and it's just tough. I
believe it's Jimmy Butler. I mean, Jimmy Butler with the
Miami Heat have gone to the finals in the Bubble,
another in the Eastern Conference Finals again. They were the
(11:35):
in the Eastern Conference Finals last year. Like Jimmy Butler's
a winner. The best seventy six ers team they had
with him bed was the one led by Jimmy Butler. Now,
I know he's not superstar in the regular season, That's fine.
Jimmy Butler shows up when the lights are the brightest.
I think you can build around him. Wisely, he's a one. Now,
I know he hasn't won our title. And I get it.
(11:56):
Tatum hasn't won our title. Neither is Luca, neither is Joker.
But for my money, there's only seven ones in the league. Now,
I know people are gonna go ape shit. Well wait,
whoa Kawhi Leonard? Oh? What's Kawhi Leonard done? Can you
count him? Is he reliable? He's always hurt talent wise,
if you make him your two, you are really in
great shape. Just like ab Kevin Durant. Why isn't he
(12:18):
a one. Well, I don't know. We drop him into Phoenix.
The odds make Phoenix the favorites to come out of
the Weston. I don't know, Robi, I didn't see it
unless we want to give a pass for the Eton
and Chris Paul injuries. But was Durant like a difference maker?
I mean, hell, I thought de book was better than
him in that series, and I'm sure I'll get pushed
(12:40):
back on that, but I don't think Booker is a
better player than Durant. But given Durant's age, he's gonna
be thirty five in September, and you know, he gets
the ball and he's just scoring machine. But he's not
like a Curry creating. He's not snagging every rebound or
making every defensive play like Jimmy Butler. He's just not
doing that. And again it's not a knock on him.
I think Duran's an idea too. I think Damian Lillard's
(13:01):
a two. D. Book I think right now is a two.
He's very very good now. He was the one when
they went to the finals. They only got there because
you know, remember they upgraded with Chris Paul. Things broke
their way. A D goes down Donovid. Mitchell's a two.
There's nothing wrong with being a two at all. But
like Superstar number one, build around guys, I don't think
(13:21):
Joel Embiid makes that list. Now, Rob, I'm sure you're
gonna disagree, and a lot of the Peanut gallery that
will say, Jay, you've lost your mind. Joel Embid just
won the MVP Award. How is he not a number one?
And I'll say, folks, we've had multiple years in Philly now.
We tried him with Ben simmonths, we tried him with
James Harden. He got Tobias Harris emerging, Tyrese Maxie, and
(13:45):
James Harden is the guy giving them two wins essentially,
and Bid played good in three. I'm sure we can
make an injury excuse. We could even blame Doc Rivers
if we want. But for my money, I think Joel
Embid is an awesome too in the same realm of
Anthony Davis and Bid will play great defense. He could
give you points in boards, but you need a wing
(14:07):
player to create and lead that team. I don't think
Joel Embiad's won, And Rob, I'm sure you're going to
disagree with me. I am one thousand percent gonna agree
with you. This is the first, probably in months, where
you and I are in lockstep on something. Look Joe
l Embiid on pure talent, absolutely, he's one level talent
like Anthony Davis. There's just something missing with him And
(14:29):
with Joel Embiid, his playoff record is piss poor relative
to what his talent level is. You cannot have the
kind of teammates that you've had. Say what you want
about Ben Simmons, but he was an All MBA performer
when he was in Philadelphia. Jimmy Butler was there. You
had James Hard and Tyrese Maxie to buy his hairs.
(14:50):
Like the list goes on and on of quality All
Star to all NBA level players all across his rosters,
going back to when he's seventeen, twenty eighteen, lost in
round two, lost in round two, lost in round one,
lost in round two, lost in round two, lost in
round two. Like, at some point, it can't always be
everybody else, right. We saw this stat before we started recording.
(15:14):
Joelmbiid average thirty three point one points per game the
regular season, which was great. In the postseason that fell
to twenty three point seven points per game. The drop
off negative nine point four points, the largest by an
MVP in NBA history. And it's not just this season.
I looked it up. He's played in fifty three NBA
(15:34):
playoff games. Eighteen times he shot under forty percent from
the field as a center, as a big man who
lives around the basket, shooting sub forty percent one out
of every three times he's in the playoffs, he is
going to give you a dud of a performance. And
that is precisely why he cannot be considered a one.
(15:56):
And it's exactly why I think you alluded to it
a few minutes ago. Things are going to get worse
than Philadelphia before they ever get better. Doc Rivers is
going to be gone. That's probably enough grade to be
honest with you, James Harden, it looks like he wants
to go to my to Houston. Assuming he doesn't. Let's
say he doesn't and you're able to trade him unless
(16:16):
you're able to get another high level, number two level
player like a Damian Lillard, which is not going to
happen because James Hard didn't. No matter what kind of
picks you attached, is not gonna get you. Damian Lillard
mbid is the cap is there, he's a set, he's
a one and done. He might win one round and
then he's out, like there's no going up from there.
(16:36):
So you're gonna see, maybe even as soon as this
time next year, Joel Embiad is going to realize that
this is not gonna I'm not gonna win a championship
here in Philadelphia. He's gonna demand to trade, and then
the process is going to start all over again. Yeah,
we did see remember Drew Holiday with a D in
New Orleans like they were a good tandem. They won
a round and ultimately it was like, well, true Holiday
(16:59):
is really good. He's not two every night. You can
make him at three. Oh, let's do that in Milwaukee, right,
And then a D like, well, unless we try to
miss a one, let's make him a one, B a two,
whatever you want. Alongside Lebron boom title. And now they're
they're close to going another finals. I do wonder, Rob,
can we find a move that will make Morey happy.
(17:22):
I know this is not going to be positive, but
trading the MVP very unlikely this offseason. But if Harden Bales,
I don't know what you do. I guess you try
to reboot quickly. Tyrese Maxie is very good. I don't
know what you can get for Tobias Harris. But if
you look at a team like Denver, they have superstar
in Yokich, you know, above average, but not a MAX
(17:45):
guy in jamal Bury. And then you've got Michael Porter Jr.
But then you've got two other role players who are perfect.
Aaron Gordon, remember he was like a lottery pick. I
liked him a lot coming out of Arizona. And Aaron
Gordon's like, like, what is he like? He's not a
Max guy. He's like maybe a four, right, like a
role player who knows his role. Any defense boards and
you'll score some deal. Sign me up? Can I win
a title? Right? And then KCP, who already has a
(18:07):
chip with the Lakers, and you slid him in you
if you can build around him bead, maybe you keep him.
I just don't know really how you do that, because
he thinks he's the guy to build around mentally, I
just don't know if that's a hurdle he can get by.
I'm the MVP, I'm unstoppable, I'm a superstar. I put
up thirty three again. I want a scoring title, Like, okay,
(18:30):
do you want to get past the second round of
the playoffs, And that's a question, Like I mean I
would take spare parts for Tobias Harris right now. I
know he had a couple okay games in the series.
I think he was their leading scorer in Game seven,
but they lose by twenty five. You know, like I
like those give me role players and a superstar and
a friend, and like, look at the Lakers, Rob Listen.
(18:53):
I saw a stat where when they were too intend
to start the season, they had like a point zero
three percent chance of getting with it to the playoffs
or the fine playoffs. Well, Polinka wisely said, all right,
we'll take a flyer on Deangel Russell. I think he
can plug in at point guard. Slight upgrade over Pat
Bev a little bit. We got Austin Reeves who's worked
(19:14):
out great. Jared Vanderbilt will be our defensive guy. I
don't really know where Vanderbilt fits into this series. What
we could talk about that tomorrow, m but like that's
what he was instrumental in Round one. He had his
moments in Round two. Um, Dennis Shrewder, I think they
have to thank Dennis Shrewder for keeping him given his
idiotic contract situation that he totally bungled. But the role
(19:35):
players matter. Austin Reeves sitting a half court shot like
Austin Reeves was tremendous in Game six. And if I
feel like Philly they just don't have like you know,
let's just listen. I like p J Tucker. He's that
awesome career. He's tough. I would you know, I would
love to play with p J Tucker, but at this point,
I just don't know. He's like the Jay Crowder, you know,
like that tough, burly, good rebounding, gritty small ball four
(20:02):
who is older and kind of limited, like I don't
want that. Give me a Christian Braun from Denver. I
like him, young guy. Wings matter in this league, and
I don't know when when you look at Tobias Harrison,
who are their other wings? M George's Nianges? Okay, but
they just don't Philly doesn't have wings, and they're they're
(20:23):
not built really for what you need in this league.
And now they're out rob I probably should talk nicely
about the Celtics for a moment. I know most people
are like, oh you gotta crap all over the Sixers. Well,
that's easy, everybody's gonna be doing that. But a lot
of people have wanted to bail on this Boston team,
a lot of people. And I'm not just talking about Cowherd,
and I'll say this to him on the air, but
(20:45):
like he's been trying to and I love to reference
this movie Lindsay Lohan in with Mean Girls, awesome movie,
and consistently the girl who's on Party of five keeps
trying to make fetch happen and ultimately the lead the
(21:06):
ring the lead ring leader. This girl. I had such
a massive crush on her sheet. You know, you know
what I'm talking Rachel McAdams. Rachel McAdams, Oh my gosh, amazing.
M I basically went through a phase where I would
see any movie she was in just because I thought
she was like awesome. I don't know anything about her
as a person, but she said stop trying to make
fetch happen. And it was funny. It was like a
(21:28):
funny moment. It became like sort of a meme. And
I think we need to stop trying to put Jaylen
Brown on Jason Tatum's level, because he's not and that's
not a knock on Jalen Brown, who's a very good player.
Jason Jatum has now been All NBA First Team two
years in a row. He was killing with everything his
(21:51):
I mean everything about his game, and I know he
had his struggles in the series, and Rob even laughed,
Oh first quarter, Yeah, I get a bucket. I think
it was. Was it three straight first quarter games he
did not make basket? That is correct? Yeah, so he
went through it. I get it. But when the lights
are brightest, who shows up with fifty one the most
points ever scored in a game seven in NBA history,
(22:11):
eclipsing Curries fifty from like two weeks ago. And this,
by the way, not to go off on too much
of a tangent, totally bolsters my argument that this era
of the NBA, this current one right now, is better
than any we've ever seen. And buy a mile a
my it's not even close. Like we think of Jayson
(22:33):
Tatum is like a really good player. I'm calling him
a one folks, Jayson Tatum would have been like and
I know people can say this is sacrilegious just because
of the history, but like, Jason Tatum is a better
offensive player than Larry Bird. And that's not that's not
like some major hot take. Larry Bird was amazing, top
ten player all time. Larry Bird's intangibles made him great.
(22:53):
Larry Bird's work, ethic, determination, trash talk, rebounding, passing, like
he was an amazing overall player. Tatum's not there yet, obviously,
but in terms of offensive skill set, I mean, Jason
Tatum's got to be up there with some of the
all time greats, like and he's ascending. Still, he is
literally unstoppable as an offensive player. And I know he
(23:13):
went through it. Listen, everybody has tough games. It happens,
but like we need to appreciate Tatum for what he is.
And folks, rob am I getting two gushy here, It's
fifty seven fifty five in the third quarter and Tatum goes.
He hits a two on a layup, a three of
three two free throws, I think Jaylen Brown scores, and
(23:35):
then Tatum hits another three, and all of a sudden,
a two point game is like fifteen, and it's Gabe
over and Tatum basically vanquished, hardened and bead Tobias hairs
all of them. Tyrese Maxe get the hell out of here.
Good don't you're not on my level? Go go away.
And I took heat last week for saying I'd take
Tatum over and beat and I stand by one hundred percent,
rob am, I going two overboard on Tatum. I you know,
(23:57):
I like him, I do not personally know him. I
did have his trainer on the on the pod. I've
followed Tatum's career very closely. I just like everything about
the guy. Man. I love me a future Laker, Jason Tatum.
I think he's great. And look, putting him in the
same conversation in Larry with Larry Bird, even though I
understand exactly what you mean, and I think you're probably
(24:19):
right as terms of an offensive player, just because guys
get bigger, stronger, faster, more skilled as years go on.
I'm with you. I just think that because of his
career being so early and Larry Bird being arguably like
a top seven player of all time, that might ruffle
some feathers a little bit. But look, I'm just saying offensively. Sure,
But with Jason Tatum, it's not just that he performs well, right,
(24:45):
It's not just that he's a great talent. His bag
is deep, you know, it's that his best games in
his career have come at the biggest moments, and not
a lot of guys can say that, like Lebron can
say it. You know, maybe KD can say it. And
(25:07):
that's about it. Like Jason Tatum's Game six last year
against the Bucks on the road against elimination, drops forty
six right Game six this year, he plays terribly for
three quarters and then he becomes the second coming of
Michael Jordan there in the fourth this one Game seven
(25:31):
against it, and he hasn't really been great in this series,
you know, I mean, like outside of the fourth quarter
of Game six, like he's been kind of roller coaster.
That's kind of been who he's been in this series.
Even the counting stats looked good, but if he watched
the games, he hasn't really looked like an All NBA
First team player, which is why I said Jaylen Brown
has been more consistent than him in these posts in
this postseason. But Game seven to drop a fifty burger
(25:55):
at when the game was close at halftime, Like it's
not like they came out and he just blew him
out of the water from the beginning and he just
you know, patted his stats there at the end. No,
they needed all of those points. They he was awesome,
And there's something to be said when the talent is
already there, but the ability to rise to the moment
(26:20):
matches that talent, Like that's special and he is a special,
special player. I can't wait for him to sign with
the Lakers in like three years. So we have a
rematch the Bubble Finals, which were so widely mocked all
the bubble, What does it matter? Come on, anybody could
make it. The Bubble Finals Boston in Miami, same as
(26:41):
the Bubble Denver Lakers. Same as the Bubble Boston. Miami
starts Wednesday. We'll get into that. Denver Lakers starts Tuesday.
We'll get into that as we get closer. However, there
was some big, huge seismic NBA news Sunday morning. Now
after the soccer tournament and the NERF gun battle and
so far, I did not have time, unfortunately, to wake
(27:03):
up and really check my phone to see what was
going on. It was like, you know, right to church,
Mother's Day and we went to brunch. I was like
totally out of it. So I was late on this,
but I kept getting all these texts John Morant smh
ja Morant shrug. People are like, I was like, oh,
wonder what happened to Morant? You go online and you
see that he is hanging out in a car with
(27:25):
one of his homies and they're listening to a song.
And I'll get to the song in a second, because
I heard it on the radio driving my son Sunday
and I was like, wait a minute, this is the
job Morant song. So I had to I shazammed it. Well.
I had my son do it for me while I
was driving, and I was like, this song is fire.
And I of course turn it up at my kids
in the car with me, and he's like trying to
(27:46):
turn it down because you know, he doesn't want people
to see like anybody knows who he is. Anyways, the
song is ain't gonna answer n Ellie Choppa. I don't
know what that is. And Little Wayne, I think I
told you guys about my Little Wayne set me a
message on ig about something I'd said on Cowherd and
he was like, well, he was like that's funny or something.
I was like, is this really a little you know,
(28:06):
I had to check triple check and it was Little
Wayne apparently watching some cowherd after he watches Undisputed. At
any rate, this song is pretty fire. Ain't gonna answer,
but what John Morant did. They're rolling around and his
buddy decides, I'm gonna go live on Instagram because I'm
gonna be cool. I need to get my followers up.
I'm rolling with John Morant. It's lit as the kids say.
(28:30):
And you know, I guess John Morant, for whatever reason,
is in the passenger seat of a It looked like
it was a jeep or something with like a sun roof.
I don't know, crop not crop top, but pop top.
But I don't know if it was I don't think
it was a convertible rob Do you know what vehicle
it was? I do not know. Okay, anyways, John Morant's
(28:51):
got a gun in his hand, just waving it around
while rapping too. Ain't gonna answer, And I'm like, the
season's been over for two weeks for Memphis. John was
suspended two months ago, remember his big apology tour. I mean,
he's a mess. John Moran is a total disaster right now.
(29:11):
I mean the Memphis suspended him instantly. But from what
there's no offseason program from Memphis, like what, they're just
putting this out there like it matters. I mean, I
think ultimately the question is, like, what does John Moran
want to be? Does he want to be like an
NBA player and have a great career and be you know,
I know he doesn't want to be a role model.
(29:33):
Nobody signs up for this. Charles Barkley famously I'm not
a role model back in the day, which was classic,
and I kind of agreed with him. John Morant didn't
sign up to be a role model. But the thing
is people love him, kids love him. He flies through
the air, he dunks, he's acrobatic, he is unrepentant with
his trash talk. A lot of kids like him and
(29:53):
he didn't ask for that, but they do anyway. And
does he on some level need to show the kids that, like, yeah,
I should be waving a gun around while I'm driving
or while my buddy's driving and I'm listening to the music.
And does he want to be a gangbanger? I don't
know the answer. I don't I'm not even saying his
friends in a gang. But he's trying to give off
(30:14):
that like I'm in nineties in a rap rap group
and I'm I'm rocking guns like that's that's the vibe
he's trying to get off. And if he wants to
do that, that's fine. Hey man, jeopardize your career whatever
you want to do. Bro. I will say this. I
saw multiple versions of this quote. I'm sure you've heard it. Rob,
(30:34):
show me your five closest friends and I'll show you
who you are. And the other version of his is
show me your friends and I'll show you your future.
Either one of those applies here. Okay, I'm not saying
he's got to be a choir boy. I'm not saying
he's got to be like Devin Booker and date Kendall
Jenner or you know, um like he's got to be
(30:55):
like Lebron and hang out with Maverick Carter and started
to kill. I'm not saying he has to do any path.
He's going to do his own path. I get that.
But who he's hanging out with is clearly getting him
in some trouble and if somebody doesn't step up and
stop him, this could end very badly for John Mornn.
We've seen some of these ugly cases before. I think
(31:16):
there was some chatter that Steven Adams had like called
a team meeting during the season and I was like, hey, guys,
we need we need to dial it back. Let's let's chill,
let's not be going out. Let's you know, we've got
something special here. And like that night, John Morn went
out and was like, you know, living it up. And
I get that. It's twenty three, You're twenty three years old.
You got all the money in the world. You know,
(31:37):
you could do whatever you want. But I'm just saying, Rob, like,
I don't feel good about where John Morn is right now.
It's pretty clear that that apology tour he went on
was just just smoke in mirrors, doing it for the
media to keep the sponsorships. Let's see what happens to
all those millions that he's supposed to be getting in endorsements.
Let's see what happens with those in the coming coming
days in weeks. Yeah, it's it's really clear he doesn't
(31:59):
get it, Like and you don't even have to look
at this specific incident to know that he doesn't get it. Right.
When he first came back from suspension, his dad was
wearing a sweatshirt with Jamard's picture on it. That said redemption.
It's like redemption for like, you're the one who did this.
(32:20):
This is not a league issue, this is not Oh,
he's like the victim of circumstance. Like, no, your son
is acting like an asshole and all of the things
that have come his way have been self inflicted wounds.
And so you had people like, you know, Shannon Shark
was one of the most vocal guys, like, hey, you're
not about that life, why are you trying to glorify it?
(32:42):
And someone other people were saying, well, it's up to
the ogs in sports and sports media to like look
after him, and it's like, no, it's up to your dad,
who's right there the sidelines with a drink in his hand,
to put the drink down, take that sweatshirt off, and
say you are screwing the us up for yourself. And
(33:02):
John Morant is so in love with the the Graham
and he can't put down, you know, his cell phone,
and he's just continuing to show you that he is immature,
that he is not cut out to be the face
of an NBA franchise, the face of the NBA, the
(33:24):
face of Nike, what pick whatever multi billion dollar brand
you want. He doesn't get it. And you know when
he went to that um therapy, right, he went to
some you know, uh check in therapist whatever it was,
rehab facility. You know, he was there. He was there
for two days. What kind like I know people who
(33:46):
have been in rehab. I know people who have gone
to you know, therapy sessions. You do not solve the
kind of issues that he has in two days. John
Morant unfortunately looks like he is going to crash and
burn and flame out of the NBA sooner rather than later.
And I'll be I'll be real, rob. He's only twenty three.
(34:09):
And I remember I was very dumb and did a
lot of stupid things at twenty three. I obviously didn't
have millions of my pocket. I basically had pennies in
my pocket. And I was trying to be cool and
have fun and date girls and enjoy life right outside
New York City and in New York City, and like, yeah,
I had some very very forgettable, idiotic moments that helped
(34:31):
me grow. Luckily, there was no spotlight. I mean, nobody
cared in terms of the media or a team or
anything to be like, dude, clean up your act. But
I just want to act. I just want to remind
folks out there, like, yeah, John Marins really talented. He's
just we're talking about a two time All Star here.
That's it. He's a two time All Star. He's not MVP.
(34:51):
He hasn't been in the conference finals. He's not first
team All NBA. He did make second last year. He's
a really good play. But we're talking about a two
time All Star. The league choose these guys up and
spits them out. If he doesn't get his act cleaned
up soon, he's just gonna be He's gonna be a
cautionary retail, honestly. And I feel bad for the guy
because he's getting some pretty frigging bad advice. I don't
(35:12):
even know if we should do it quickly. But this
this Monty Williams situation in Phoenix. So he gets fired
on Sunday, I guess, not a total surprise. I started
to read up on The Sun's owner, Matt Ishpia Rob
Have you read a lot about him only recently? Yeah?
Interesting guy? So um this company that he's got this
(35:33):
hold up by heaven. In my notes, I had to
sit in a car for two hours await from my
kid and I did a lot of reading on Ishpia. Okay,
so I got some named fun names in the Sun
search Rob. I'll bounce him off in a secum. So essentially,
Ishbia's dad started a mortgage business, lending, and you know,
twenty years in Ishbia grows up and they he gets
(35:55):
the CEO gate. So I'm not saying he was born
on third base, but his dad started a company and
made a lot of money and he becomes a CEO.
Now he did coming out of college. Remember he was
on the Michigan State basketball team. Is like, you know,
end of the bench guy, but in the program, a
gritty guard, you know, tough, slapped the floor kind of
(36:17):
guy in high school who was I'm sure a really
really good player at any rate. Coming out of college,
he was so highly thought of, like smart kid, knows basketball,
fiery passionate. He had offers to be an assistant coach
in college. They're like, oh, come on, you can make this,
and he's like, dude, come on, I got a CEO
gig of my dad's company coming around the corner. So
(36:37):
he gets this and now when the company went public,
I guess a couple of years ago, he becomes a
billionaire him and his brother. His first order of business
once he buys his sons is to just go get
Kevin durridd And according to some reports, Rob he didn't
like cozy up to the GM and be like, hey,
(36:59):
what are you okay Jones, Hey, let's go get Kevin Durant.
It sounds like it wasn't anything like that. It was like,
I'm gonna go get Kevin Durant and the GM was
not involved in it at all. Now listen, I applaud
that that's cool. Hey, you want to go in and
make a splash, But then what happens when you guys
flame out? And now the coach. You know, Monte Williams
(37:20):
didn't have a great series, but he's well liked around
the league, highly thought of. People like him, respect him.
I don't know. Do you think the GM fired Monte Williams?
Do you think it was the owner? Take a guess.
The billionaire born on third base is gonna get what
he wants, which is the title and money. Williams a
could be the guy. So now you got I'm doing
this as the owner. I'm doing that and he's gonna
(37:42):
be ticked off. The next question down the Pike rob
is what is he trading DeAndre ayten for? Because I said,
I'm sure some of you guys saw this clip. I
saw it on the Graham and I posted it on
my account, but there is a video behind the Sun's
bench at game four, DeAndre Ayton is sitting on the
bench like just like frustrated, I don't know, and Devin
(38:04):
Booker's like not talking trash to him, but being like, dude,
you got like this is what Joker does. You gotta
be ready and like showing him in. Deandreaton clearly just
doesn't want to be told what to do. And ultimately
I don't know if DeAndre Aton rolls his eyes or whatever,
but Booker starts to get upset. Chris Paul comes in
and like pulls him away, and you're like, ye, Ayton's
like not even listening, doesn't want to hear it from Booker.
(38:26):
And Chris Paul is the voice of reason, which is
very strange. Chris Paul's usually won yelling and that was
in game four. Again they won. Two games later, DeAndre
Ayton is a no show, did not play with the
rib injury. Devin Booker has ducked the media. We know
that's a cowardly act. Duck the media after Game six,
(38:48):
He's like, oh, I got to do my exit interview.
He has not talked to the media since they gagged
at home, losing again in a closeout game by thirty.
Coaches fired, and I don't know that the GM's gonna
get canned. But I'll say this, and you know the
answer to this, Rob, who was sitting next to Matt
Ishpia during that Yo Kits incident where he flopped? Do
(39:11):
you know who was sitting next room? I believe that's
none other than New York Knicks legend Isaiah Thomas Wells
Detroit Pistons legend. But yes, who memorily very very bad
in the New York front office. So I started reading
a little more and Rob, I was unaware. But Isaiah
Thomas was not just at home games with Ishbia. He
(39:33):
was at road games with Ishpia. He was at every
playoff game with the owner. They're they're fast friends apparently.
So let me see if I can connect this Isaiah Thomas,
who's probably craving to get back in the league. You
could be seeing him on NBA TV like two nights
a week. That's like what he does, and then he
gets to some media squabbles. Um, that's what he's doing.
(39:57):
He's not a fossil, you know. Do you think Isaiah
Thomas wants to get back in the league. Do you
think the GM's feeling good about his chances? Right there? Now?
I got some other names for you if you don't
like Isaiah Thomas maybe coming into the front of Maybe
it'll be a consultant role and then you know they'll
shove out James Jones when he can't get something done.
(40:18):
Isaiah Thomas is one. I'm going to toss a couple
other names that you ready for this. I'm not gonna
say Tom Izzo. I don't think Tom Iszo's He's not.
I don't think he's going to the NBA now right?
Would you agree? Yeah, No, he's not. Boodenholzer pushed out
in Milwaukee any interest if you by the way, Bodenholzer
(40:41):
it lives, has like a place in Arizona, and I
guess it's around there a lot. Boodenholzer to the Suns.
Does that do anything for you? Not? Really? Yeah, I'm
not a huge Boodenholder guy. Nick Nurse still unemployed. I
believe the Raptors guy, he's highly thought of. Thanks Kawhi Leonard.
Other than that, Mmm, I don't know. There's Nick Nurse
(41:03):
do anything for you a little bit? Okay, So this
would be the interesting one. Tyler highly thought of with
the Clippers who are dealing with the Uh Kawhi Leonard.
What's his health status again? Um? Paul George. You know
we've we've seen his playoff lay Mounts Sons owner with
(41:24):
billions of dollars. Remember born on third base, He's got
all the money in the world. You think he makes
a hail Mary and says, give me Isaiah Thomas as
my GM and Tylu as my head coach. Let's rock
and roll. Now. If I'm ty Lou, I coached Lebron
and Kyrie Irving. Now I get Kawhi and Paul George,
and I could get Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. It's
(41:46):
not it's not a bad living. Huh not bad right?
Rock bad at all? Well? You know what's funny is
everything that you've said. You know, people they hey tinfoil
cap on, they f the NBA man. Well, you people
forget that. When Ishbiel was first brought in as the
owner Chris Haynes from TNT, who hardly ever gets things wrong, oh,
(42:09):
reported that Isaiah Thomas was going to accept the prominent
role in their front office, and he quickly had to
back off of that. I'm I don't think Chris Haynes
got it wrong. And to me, in my opinion, I
think that when that news got floated out, the blowback
on social media was so fierce because of Isaiah Thomas's
(42:31):
history and the Robert Sarver situation, and they're just like,
the timing of it would would have been horrible. Yeah, right,
you're right, So I think that that was put on
the back burner. So as far as him coming into Phoenix,
I absolutely went thousand percent and see that happening this offseason.
The Tylu situation trip out on this one. I saw
(42:53):
this one right before we started recording. Multiple outlets had
reported that Russell Westbrook was scene with Rich Climan in
Los Angeles over the weekend. Rich Climan, of course, is
the manager slash agent for Kevin Durant. So is it
possible that Tylu comes aboard with some kind of compensation attached?
(43:18):
They trade Chris Paul and his massive contract for two
or three role players that fit better when a cheaper contract,
and then you bring in Russell Westbrook as like a
mid level exception to be your starting point guard and
your third star on that team. I think I think
that the Tea leaves are starting to reveal themselves a
little bit in this situation. Well it's interesting because I
(43:41):
think I'm not one hundred percent sure, but I think
I asked which former k D teammate is more likely
to join forces with him in Phoenix, Kyrie Irving or
Russell Westbrook, and I don't. I can't. I sure as
hell hope that the Mads don't bring DeAndre Ayton to
help Luca Donte because that is that's that's not good.
(44:03):
That will backfire badly. If if Devin Booker and Chris
Paul can't deal with Aten, what do you think Luca
Donte is gonna do? So I'm ruling out Kyrie. I
think Russell Westbrook, who is a free agent, right yep, yeah,
deals up like Kevin durant or appreciates how hard he plays,
they're watching DeAndre a not play hard. That video clip
(44:24):
that we talked about it, I think it was game one,
maybe game two, where Aton just like kind of got
during a rebound, was like kind of shoved out of
bounds a little bit, and he just watched the play unfold.
It's like batting balls batting around. He's just watching it.
He's not trying to go get it, and it's like, geez,
he does does he want it? Well, Russell Westbrook, I'll
tell you right now, would have gone after it. He
is like a dog on a least. He's going after everything.
(44:46):
And they just saw it firsthand in that series. Russell Westbrook,
without two stars was going ball to the wall. And
even whether it was inefficiently, I understand that, but he
was the Clippers best player in that series. Man. Yeah,
people people probably think like Isaiah Thomas and ty lewis
a package, and now you're talking Russell Westbrook NBA. I
(45:07):
think we're headed to a wild off season or a
rob GI all right, So tomorrow obviously will be a
big day. We will preview Lakers Nugs game one. Let
me see if I can call up the line real quick.
I haven't actually looked. I'm assuming Denver is a favorite.
I don't think. I don't want to guess too wrong here,
(45:27):
but I would assume they're like in the one eighty
range in this series. Have you looked Robert No, I
believe last night looked they were minus one fifty. Oh
that's not that significant. Huh. Um, let's see here game one,
the Nugs are, oh minus five and a half. Wow. Um,
(45:50):
Lakers have won the last two game ones in the postseason.
I don't think Denver will well, it's the Warriors are
coming off at Game seven, so that was kind of
understand it. Yeah, I don't. I don't see Denver getting
caught sleeping here? Do you with the five and a half?
I love the five and a half. You would take
it with the Lakers? Yeah. I mean, we'll dive deeper
(46:14):
into this tomorrow. But if the Lakers are gonna win
this series, I think they almost have to win game
one because of all the rest they're gonna have every
every the game is now every other day moving forward
after that, so so there's not a lot of rests. No,
So if they're going to steal home court, which is
what they're gonna need to to win this series, I
think they have to win game one. Oh yeah, here's
(46:34):
the schedule, Okay, So they play Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Monday, Wednesday,
oh ye had no extra days baked in there. Okay,
not looking good for Lakers. But does your gut tell
you Lakers win the series? Yes? I think for my
bank account, I have two Lakers futures tickets, which is crazy.
I have posted them, I've mentioned them on the pod.
(46:55):
So this is not like me coming out of the woodwork.
This is from like February and for content. Obviously, the
Lakers over the Nuggets, but I don't. I don't think
the Lakers can beat these guys. But then again, I
thought the Warriors would happen too. All Right, much more
to dive into. Talk to you tomorrow.
The volume. This is straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What
is up straight Fire, fam, It's me Jason McIntyre. Straight
(00:22):
Fire for Monday May fifteen, Ladies and gentlemen, this was
one of the most exhausting weekends I've had in a
long long time. We've got some clarity in the NBA
playoffs the Golden State Warriors. Can we say the Dynasty's over?
Rob g called it. I had faith in the Warriors.
(00:43):
I think a lot of it was me just thinking
that Golden State has never been beat in curb under
the Curb era by a team in the West. And
it's official, it's done. Lakers route them Friday night. That
started the weekend, and Saturday was just chaos. Son had
a volleyball tournament, daughter out a soccer game, and and
I had my dad's soccer tournament. If you follow me
on the gram, obviously you tracked everything. It was a
(01:06):
glorious day for soccer. I actually played better than I
I thought I could, because I'm getting up there in
age now, you know, you start to lose it. We
advanced to the finals and we lose to a team
that had you know, there's only two ringers in the tournament,
and this team had a ringer who was just an
awesome player. Like I mean, he's like ten years younger
than anybody pretty much anybody on our team, well maybe
(01:27):
seven day ten years younger than anybody, and he's just dynamic.
Scored a goal like five minutes in and we're playing
from behind. They went three defenders. It's seven on seven
and we just couldn't break through. It was tough. So
we lost to the semifinals last year. Finals this year.
I mean, we're we didn't lose until the finals, and
soccer is a lot of fun. And then to Cap Saturday.
(01:49):
As if you I wasn't tired enough, there's this nerf
gun battle. I think I talked about it last year.
Some YouTube guy hosts a nerf gun battle at Sofi
Stadium on the sofa I turf. So you sign up,
you get tickets, you bring a nerf gun, and you
wear like goggles or like I gear I protective igear,
and you just have a nerf gun battle with like,
you know, two thousand other people. And it was incredible. Now,
(02:12):
I was a little hurting with the legs and the
body from the soccer tournament, but it was awesome. And
I will say this. This is I mean, I doubt
this guy listens. But you know, my daughter's Girl Scout
Troop went and my son had some friends and I
was with some dads. You know, we're just having fun whatever,
And of course the girl Scout Troop gets in a
battle with some guys and one of them is like
some kind of maybe sixteen year old punk. But he
(02:33):
had an awesome gun, and I told my son, we're
buying it. And so the girls are going after him
and they're like, we need help. So of course the
dads and my son and his buddies we all gang
up on this kid, and he's starting to get ticked off,
and I mean he's like like really angry, chasing us,
and like, I don't know, I thought there was gonna
be an altercation. What are the other dads? Was like, dude,
he I thought he was gonna swing on me. It's
(02:54):
just some some punk. But listen, NERF gun battles are fun.
If you want to feel like a kid again, go
to a nerf gun battle. A lot of fun. Now
I need to ask, I'll get the name of the gun,
but it isn't a NERF gun. It's one of those
guns that shoots the nerve, those little yellow balls hyper
or rapid, whatever it's called. But this thing is powerful
and it stings. No no, no cap as my Sun
(03:15):
likes to say. Nerve got battled. On Sunday, of course,
a awesome Mother's Day, and we had a game seven
in the NBA that I guess it was interesting for
a half, maybe for twenty five minutes, you know, before
the Celtics went our thirty three to five run put
away Joel Mbid and the Sixers once again. Joel Embiid
comes up short of a conference finals. Doc rivers third
(03:38):
year in a row. Now, depending on when you listen
to this podcast, some of you will listen to it.
We're starting to put them up at night after games
because we've noticed there is a bump in listeners people
looking for takes. Because if you noticed, if the game
isn't on TNT, the TNT shows not on with Barkley
in those guys, and if it's not on ESPN, there's
nothing on ESPN. So people want action, and obviously we
(04:01):
provide it to the games almost instantly. So he put
him up. We're seeing a bump in listenership. Now if
you're listening to this later on a Monday morning, say,
I don't know, closer to noon. Maybe you missed it
on the morning walk with the dog and you're listening
to it late. Doc Rivers might be fired already, because
holy killed. All that guy does is choking the playoffs
(04:23):
he has now. Remember he blew three three one leads obviously,
so that means he's blown three three two leads. He
blew another one against the Celtics, and I don't know
that I can totally blame Doc. But this is what's it.
What's it called them's the shakes or that's how it
shakes out, or them's the breaks. Whatever they're saying is
(04:43):
Doc Rivers once again comes up short and folks, and
Bead was pretty terrible five for eighteen in Game seven,
missed all his three pointers. And I put this on
social media. I don't want to hear, well, he's got
the knee injury, remember four to six weeks, because I
didn't hear that when he went for thirty three straight
games and they took US three two lead, because I
gassed him up on her said inbid's looking good. Celtics
(05:04):
are in trouble. I didn't bail on Boston. I was
very clear, Hey, nobody knows how to choke away a
big lead like Doc Rivers. Embiid was bad. And it's
funny because when Embiid played poorly in this series, well
he's got the knee injury. When he scores thirty plus, Hey,
Joel Embid, there's your MVP. We can't play these games.
And what I don't like about the Sixers year is
(05:26):
there's always an excuse. And if you remember Doc Rivers
first year with Ben Simmons, oh, it's Ben Simmons looking
him passing away a layup against the Hawks. Ben Simmons
is the reason they lost. Joel Embid embad at eight
turnovers in Game seven against the Hawks, but you know
it was at home. But let's blame Let's blame Simmons.
So last year they lose to the Miami Heat in
(05:48):
the playoffs, and this year they lose to the Celtics.
And this year the blame game is going squarely on
Jim Harden. Now we don't call him James anymore. Rob
g gets credit with that one. In just what is
astonishing stat folks hardened in the wins. I'll just read
off his stat line in the three victories, forty five
(06:10):
points in Game one, forty two points in Game four,
and oh by the way, he won both of those
games with late three pointers. And in game five, when
they won in Boston, Hardened seventeen ten and eight. He
attempted ten, got to the line ten times, tied his
high for the series, and as it was efficient as hell.
Those are the wins. Now the losses. Jim Harden showed
(06:33):
up three of eleven, four of sixteen, three to fourteen,
two of fourteen folks in the four losses, Hardened twenty
one percent from the field. Game seven, Okay, this is
money time, this is winning time. Jim Harden five turnovers,
three made baskets in the final two games. The final
(06:54):
two losses, Harden was one of eleven on three pointers,
one of eleven. Remember those two games he won. Harden
goes seven or fourteen from three and six of nine
from three. How does that happen? I know you want
to say maker, miss league, but I just find it
absolutely befuddling that someone could be so searingly hot seven
(07:15):
or fourteen from deep. Next game, Game two loss, they
get smoked, oh of six from deep. They win Game four,
six of nine, they lose the final two when he's
one of eleven from downtown, So the media obviously wants
to blame Harden. Folks. I know that everybody wants to
talk about the end of the dynasty of the Warriors.
How about how about the end of the Sixers, because
a lot of the talk is hard and wants to
(07:36):
go back to Houston. I don't see a path to
success for these seventy Sixers, not with Boston standing in
the way, not with Jana standing in the way, not
with the Miami heat culture is still present in the East.
And oh, by the way, my Knicks, who did lose
in Game seven on Friday, despite the an amazing effort
from Jalen Bruntson Gosh, what a fricking hero that guy is.
(07:58):
Jayalen Brunson was amazing. I know he had a late
tone over turn over, but you have to do everything,
carry them on his back in Game seven in Miami
and nearly pulled it off. Brunts. It was incredible. But like,
the Knicks are coming. If they could make a movie
get Crawling at Day Towns, they will definitely leave Prague
the Sixers. Cleveland is gonna be better in year two
with this Donovan Mitchell lineup. I don't know, man, if
(08:22):
I'm if I'm the Sixers, if I'm a Sixers fan,
I'm really worried. You were really gassed up after the
Game five win, you go up three to two, you
think it finally we're breaking through the conference finals, and
then you poop your pants in game six and seven,
and Philly's going home, and now Doc Rivers probably gonna
get the axe, and now James Harden probably leaving. I mean, listen,
(08:46):
at some point, Joel Embiad's gotta look around and say,
time for me to get out of here, time for
me to get off the Titanic. This thing's going down.
And I wonder if that's sooner than later, because if
you're the six this is a tough question. Rob G
and I before the pod, we looked at the number
ones in this league. Can you be the number one,
(09:08):
the alpha on a championship team? And we counted seven.
And now some people will push back and say, well,
they haven't won a championship, like Luca hasn't won a championship,
but he clearly is a number one on a team
that got to the conference finals surrounded by an Lucas
a one. Steph Curry obviously a one that there should
(09:28):
not be any doubt. He's your best player. You've build
around him. You can get to the finals and win it.
Janis a one. Lebron clearly a one. Gets a healthy
Anthony Davis look where they're going. And I know some
people will dispute that ads better than Lebron, but we've
seen a d as a one. You build around him
in New Orleans and his second round as a ceiling
a d is a two. Oh, he's amazing. I think
(09:50):
Yokich now going to his second conference finals is a
one you build around him. I mean, Jamal Murray, Michael
Porter Jr. I think I saw a crazy stat. I
don't remember exactly who put this out. It might have
been one of this guy named Goldsberry, Kirk Goldsberry, who
used to be at ESPN. I'm not even sure where
he works now, but he put out a list of
(10:11):
players and the amount of help they've had, essentially, and
Yokich is like the only one without an all NBA
player around him, without an all defensive player, he's basically
had the least amount of help. Now. Listen, Michael Porter Jr.
Is a good role player. Jamal Murray I like a lot,
but they're really like doing it around Yokich. And this
is two conference finals. So yokicha one, Giannisa one, Lebron Curry.
(10:34):
I think, I'm sure so people would disagree. Jason Tatum
is clearly a number one. He's been to multiple conference finals.
He's on the Customer going to his second NBA Finals.
He's now set a record for most points in game seven,
fifty one. I can't I'm embarrassed that it took me
ten minutes to get into the podcast and start saying
awesome things about Jason Tatum, a guy who I am
(10:55):
a massive fan of. Jason Tatum is a one you
built around him. Hey, you know what if it doesn't
work out, he moved Jaylen Brown. Fine, that's plugin play
around Jason Tatum. He has a bag that is incredible.
I mean, you saw him unstoppable. Anybody on the Sixers
stepped up to him in Game seven and he was
just torching him. Has he crossovers step back side, step three,
(11:15):
finishing with the left mid range baseline like he has.
I mean, the skill set is unbelievable. Jason Tatum's a
one and the seventh guy, and it's just tough. I
believe it's Jimmy Butler. I mean, Jimmy Butler with the
Miami Heat have gone to the finals in the Bubble,
another in the Eastern Conference Finals again. They were the
(11:35):
in the Eastern Conference Finals last year. Like Jimmy Butler's
a winner. The best seventy six ers team they had
with him bed was the one led by Jimmy Butler. Now,
I know he's not superstar in the regular season, That's fine.
Jimmy Butler shows up when the lights are the brightest.
I think you can build around him. Wisely, he's a one. Now,
I know he hasn't won our title. And I get it.
(11:56):
Tatum hasn't won our title. Neither is Luca, neither is Joker.
But for my money, there's only seven ones in the league. Now,
I know people are gonna go ape shit. Well wait,
whoa Kawhi Leonard? Oh? What's Kawhi Leonard done? Can you
count him? Is he reliable? He's always hurt talent wise,
if you make him your two, you are really in
great shape. Just like ab Kevin Durant. Why isn't he
(12:18):
a one. Well, I don't know. We drop him into Phoenix.
The odds make Phoenix the favorites to come out of
the Weston. I don't know, Robi, I didn't see it
unless we want to give a pass for the Eton
and Chris Paul injuries. But was Durant like a difference maker?
I mean, hell, I thought de book was better than
him in that series, and I'm sure I'll get pushed
(12:40):
back on that, but I don't think Booker is a
better player than Durant. But given Durant's age, he's gonna
be thirty five in September, and you know, he gets
the ball and he's just scoring machine. But he's not
like a Curry creating. He's not snagging every rebound or
making every defensive play like Jimmy Butler. He's just not
doing that. And again it's not a knock on him.
I think Duran's an idea too. I think Damian Lillard's
(13:01):
a two. D. Book I think right now is a two.
He's very very good now. He was the one when
they went to the finals. They only got there because
you know, remember they upgraded with Chris Paul. Things broke
their way. A D goes down Donovid. Mitchell's a two.
There's nothing wrong with being a two at all. But
like Superstar number one, build around guys, I don't think
(13:21):
Joel Embiid makes that list. Now, Rob, I'm sure you're
gonna disagree, and a lot of the Peanut gallery that
will say, Jay, you've lost your mind. Joel Embid just
won the MVP Award. How is he not a number one?
And I'll say, folks, we've had multiple years in Philly now.
We tried him with Ben simmonths, we tried him with
James Harden. He got Tobias Harris emerging, Tyrese Maxie, and
(13:45):
James Harden is the guy giving them two wins essentially,
and Bid played good in three. I'm sure we can
make an injury excuse. We could even blame Doc Rivers
if we want. But for my money, I think Joel
Embid is an awesome too in the same realm of
Anthony Davis and Bid will play great defense. He could
give you points in boards, but you need a wing
(14:07):
player to create and lead that team. I don't think
Joel Embiad's won, And Rob, I'm sure you're going to
disagree with me. I am one thousand percent gonna agree
with you. This is the first, probably in months, where
you and I are in lockstep on something. Look Joe
l Embiid on pure talent, absolutely, he's one level talent
like Anthony Davis. There's just something missing with him And
(14:29):
with Joel Embiid, his playoff record is piss poor relative
to what his talent level is. You cannot have the
kind of teammates that you've had. Say what you want
about Ben Simmons, but he was an All MBA performer
when he was in Philadelphia. Jimmy Butler was there. You
had James Hard and Tyrese Maxie to buy his hairs.
(14:50):
Like the list goes on and on of quality All
Star to all NBA level players all across his rosters,
going back to when he's seventeen, twenty eighteen, lost in
round two, lost in round two, lost in round one,
lost in round two, lost in round two, lost in
round two. Like, at some point, it can't always be
everybody else, right. We saw this stat before we started recording.
(15:14):
Joelmbiid average thirty three point one points per game the
regular season, which was great. In the postseason that fell
to twenty three point seven points per game. The drop
off negative nine point four points, the largest by an
MVP in NBA history. And it's not just this season.
I looked it up. He's played in fifty three NBA
(15:34):
playoff games. Eighteen times he shot under forty percent from
the field as a center, as a big man who
lives around the basket, shooting sub forty percent one out
of every three times he's in the playoffs, he is
going to give you a dud of a performance. And
that is precisely why he cannot be considered a one.
(15:56):
And it's exactly why I think you alluded to it
a few minutes ago. Things are going to get worse
than Philadelphia before they ever get better. Doc Rivers is
going to be gone. That's probably enough grade to be
honest with you, James Harden, it looks like he wants
to go to my to Houston. Assuming he doesn't. Let's
say he doesn't and you're able to trade him unless
(16:16):
you're able to get another high level, number two level
player like a Damian Lillard, which is not going to
happen because James Hard didn't. No matter what kind of
picks you attached, is not gonna get you. Damian Lillard
mbid is the cap is there, he's a set, he's
a one and done. He might win one round and
then he's out, like there's no going up from there.
(16:36):
So you're gonna see, maybe even as soon as this
time next year, Joel Embiad is going to realize that
this is not gonna I'm not gonna win a championship
here in Philadelphia. He's gonna demand to trade, and then
the process is going to start all over again. Yeah,
we did see remember Drew Holiday with a D in
New Orleans like they were a good tandem. They won
a round and ultimately it was like, well, true Holiday
(16:59):
is really good. He's not two every night. You can
make him at three. Oh, let's do that in Milwaukee, right,
And then a D like, well, unless we try to
miss a one, let's make him a one, B a two,
whatever you want. Alongside Lebron boom title. And now they're
they're close to going another finals. I do wonder, Rob,
can we find a move that will make Morey happy.
(17:22):
I know this is not going to be positive, but
trading the MVP very unlikely this offseason. But if Harden Bales,
I don't know what you do. I guess you try
to reboot quickly. Tyrese Maxie is very good. I don't
know what you can get for Tobias Harris. But if
you look at a team like Denver, they have superstar
in Yokich, you know, above average, but not a MAX
(17:45):
guy in jamal Bury. And then you've got Michael Porter Jr.
But then you've got two other role players who are perfect.
Aaron Gordon, remember he was like a lottery pick. I
liked him a lot coming out of Arizona. And Aaron
Gordon's like, like, what is he like? He's not a
Max guy. He's like maybe a four, right, like a
role player who knows his role. Any defense boards and
you'll score some deal. Sign me up? Can I win
a title? Right? And then KCP, who already has a
(18:07):
chip with the Lakers, and you slid him in you
if you can build around him bead, maybe you keep him.
I just don't know really how you do that, because
he thinks he's the guy to build around mentally, I
just don't know if that's a hurdle he can get by.
I'm the MVP, I'm unstoppable, I'm a superstar. I put
up thirty three again. I want a scoring title, Like, okay,
(18:30):
do you want to get past the second round of
the playoffs, And that's a question, Like I mean I
would take spare parts for Tobias Harris right now. I
know he had a couple okay games in the series.
I think he was their leading scorer in Game seven,
but they lose by twenty five. You know, like I
like those give me role players and a superstar and
a friend, and like, look at the Lakers, Rob Listen.
(18:53):
I saw a stat where when they were too intend
to start the season, they had like a point zero
three percent chance of getting with it to the playoffs
or the fine playoffs. Well, Polinka wisely said, all right,
we'll take a flyer on Deangel Russell. I think he
can plug in at point guard. Slight upgrade over Pat
Bev a little bit. We got Austin Reeves who's worked
(19:14):
out great. Jared Vanderbilt will be our defensive guy. I
don't really know where Vanderbilt fits into this series. What
we could talk about that tomorrow, m but like that's
what he was instrumental in Round one. He had his
moments in Round two. Um, Dennis Shrewder, I think they
have to thank Dennis Shrewder for keeping him given his
idiotic contract situation that he totally bungled. But the role
(19:35):
players matter. Austin Reeves sitting a half court shot like
Austin Reeves was tremendous in Game six. And if I
feel like Philly they just don't have like you know,
let's just listen. I like p J Tucker. He's that
awesome career. He's tough. I would you know, I would
love to play with p J Tucker, but at this point,
I just don't know. He's like the Jay Crowder, you know,
like that tough, burly, good rebounding, gritty small ball four
(20:02):
who is older and kind of limited, like I don't
want that. Give me a Christian Braun from Denver. I
like him, young guy. Wings matter in this league, and
I don't know when when you look at Tobias Harrison,
who are their other wings? M George's Nianges? Okay, but
they just don't Philly doesn't have wings, and they're they're
(20:23):
not built really for what you need in this league.
And now they're out rob I probably should talk nicely
about the Celtics for a moment. I know most people
are like, oh you gotta crap all over the Sixers. Well,
that's easy, everybody's gonna be doing that. But a lot
of people have wanted to bail on this Boston team,
a lot of people. And I'm not just talking about Cowherd,
and I'll say this to him on the air, but
(20:45):
like he's been trying to and I love to reference
this movie Lindsay Lohan in with Mean Girls, awesome movie,
and consistently the girl who's on Party of five keeps
trying to make fetch happen and ultimately the lead the
(21:06):
ring the lead ring leader. This girl. I had such
a massive crush on her sheet. You know, you know
what I'm talking Rachel McAdams. Rachel McAdams, Oh my gosh, amazing.
M I basically went through a phase where I would
see any movie she was in just because I thought
she was like awesome. I don't know anything about her
as a person, but she said stop trying to make
fetch happen. And it was funny. It was like a
(21:28):
funny moment. It became like sort of a meme. And
I think we need to stop trying to put Jaylen
Brown on Jason Tatum's level, because he's not and that's
not a knock on Jalen Brown, who's a very good player.
Jason Jatum has now been All NBA First Team two
years in a row. He was killing with everything his
(21:51):
I mean everything about his game, and I know he
had his struggles in the series, and Rob even laughed,
Oh first quarter, Yeah, I get a bucket. I think
it was. Was it three straight first quarter games he
did not make basket? That is correct? Yeah, so he
went through it. I get it. But when the lights
are brightest, who shows up with fifty one the most
points ever scored in a game seven in NBA history,
(22:11):
eclipsing Curries fifty from like two weeks ago. And this,
by the way, not to go off on too much
of a tangent, totally bolsters my argument that this era
of the NBA, this current one right now, is better
than any we've ever seen. And buy a mile a
my it's not even close. Like we think of Jayson
(22:33):
Tatum is like a really good player. I'm calling him
a one folks, Jayson Tatum would have been like and
I know people can say this is sacrilegious just because
of the history, but like, Jason Tatum is a better
offensive player than Larry Bird. And that's not that's not
like some major hot take. Larry Bird was amazing, top
ten player all time. Larry Bird's intangibles made him great.
(22:53):
Larry Bird's work, ethic, determination, trash talk, rebounding, passing, like
he was an amazing overall player. Tatum's not there yet, obviously,
but in terms of offensive skill set, I mean, Jason
Tatum's got to be up there with some of the
all time greats, like and he's ascending. Still, he is
literally unstoppable as an offensive player. And I know he
(23:13):
went through it. Listen, everybody has tough games. It happens,
but like we need to appreciate Tatum for what he is.
And folks, rob am I getting two gushy here, It's
fifty seven fifty five in the third quarter and Tatum goes.
He hits a two on a layup, a three of
three two free throws, I think Jaylen Brown scores, and
(23:35):
then Tatum hits another three, and all of a sudden,
a two point game is like fifteen, and it's Gabe
over and Tatum basically vanquished, hardened and bead Tobias hairs
all of them. Tyrese Maxe get the hell out of here.
Good don't you're not on my level? Go go away.
And I took heat last week for saying I'd take
Tatum over and beat and I stand by one hundred percent,
rob am, I going two overboard on Tatum. I you know,
(23:57):
I like him, I do not personally know him. I
did have his trainer on the on the pod. I've
followed Tatum's career very closely. I just like everything about
the guy. Man. I love me a future Laker, Jason Tatum.
I think he's great. And look, putting him in the
same conversation in Larry with Larry Bird, even though I
understand exactly what you mean, and I think you're probably
(24:19):
right as terms of an offensive player, just because guys
get bigger, stronger, faster, more skilled as years go on.
I'm with you. I just think that because of his
career being so early and Larry Bird being arguably like
a top seven player of all time, that might ruffle
some feathers a little bit. But look, I'm just saying offensively. Sure,
But with Jason Tatum, it's not just that he performs well, right,
(24:45):
It's not just that he's a great talent. His bag
is deep, you know, it's that his best games in
his career have come at the biggest moments, and not
a lot of guys can say that, like Lebron can
say it. You know, maybe KD can say it. And
(25:07):
that's about it. Like Jason Tatum's Game six last year
against the Bucks on the road against elimination, drops forty
six right Game six this year, he plays terribly for
three quarters and then he becomes the second coming of
Michael Jordan there in the fourth this one Game seven
(25:31):
against it, and he hasn't really been great in this series,
you know, I mean, like outside of the fourth quarter
of Game six, like he's been kind of roller coaster.
That's kind of been who he's been in this series.
Even the counting stats looked good, but if he watched
the games, he hasn't really looked like an All NBA
First team player, which is why I said Jaylen Brown
has been more consistent than him in these posts in
this postseason. But Game seven to drop a fifty burger
(25:55):
at when the game was close at halftime, Like it's
not like they came out and he just blew him
out of the water from the beginning and he just
you know, patted his stats there at the end. No,
they needed all of those points. They he was awesome,
And there's something to be said when the talent is
already there, but the ability to rise to the moment
(26:20):
matches that talent, Like that's special and he is a special,
special player. I can't wait for him to sign with
the Lakers in like three years. So we have a
rematch the Bubble Finals, which were so widely mocked all
the bubble, What does it matter? Come on, anybody could
make it. The Bubble Finals Boston in Miami, same as
(26:41):
the Bubble Denver Lakers. Same as the Bubble Boston. Miami
starts Wednesday. We'll get into that. Denver Lakers starts Tuesday.
We'll get into that as we get closer. However, there
was some big, huge seismic NBA news Sunday morning. Now
after the soccer tournament and the NERF gun battle and
so far, I did not have time, unfortunately, to wake
(27:03):
up and really check my phone to see what was
going on. It was like, you know, right to church,
Mother's Day and we went to brunch. I was like
totally out of it. So I was late on this,
but I kept getting all these texts John Morant smh
ja Morant shrug. People are like, I was like, oh,
wonder what happened to Morant? You go online and you
see that he is hanging out in a car with
(27:25):
one of his homies and they're listening to a song.
And I'll get to the song in a second, because
I heard it on the radio driving my son Sunday
and I was like, wait a minute, this is the
job Morant song. So I had to I shazammed it. Well.
I had my son do it for me while I
was driving, and I was like, this song is fire.
And I of course turn it up at my kids
in the car with me, and he's like trying to
(27:46):
turn it down because you know, he doesn't want people
to see like anybody knows who he is. Anyways, the
song is ain't gonna answer n Ellie Choppa. I don't
know what that is. And Little Wayne, I think I
told you guys about my Little Wayne set me a
message on ig about something I'd said on Cowherd and
he was like, well, he was like that's funny or something.
I was like, is this really a little you know,
(28:06):
I had to check triple check and it was Little
Wayne apparently watching some cowherd after he watches Undisputed. At
any rate, this song is pretty fire. Ain't gonna answer,
but what John Morant did. They're rolling around and his
buddy decides, I'm gonna go live on Instagram because I'm
gonna be cool. I need to get my followers up.
I'm rolling with John Morant. It's lit as the kids say.
(28:30):
And you know, I guess John Morant, for whatever reason,
is in the passenger seat of a It looked like
it was a jeep or something with like a sun roof.
I don't know, crop not crop top, but pop top.
But I don't know if it was I don't think
it was a convertible rob Do you know what vehicle
it was? I do not know. Okay, anyways, John Morant's
(28:51):
got a gun in his hand, just waving it around
while rapping too. Ain't gonna answer, And I'm like, the
season's been over for two weeks for Memphis. John was
suspended two months ago, remember his big apology tour. I mean,
he's a mess. John Moran is a total disaster right now.
(29:11):
I mean the Memphis suspended him instantly. But from what
there's no offseason program from Memphis, like what, they're just
putting this out there like it matters. I mean, I
think ultimately the question is, like, what does John Moran
want to be? Does he want to be like an
NBA player and have a great career and be you know,
I know he doesn't want to be a role model.
(29:33):
Nobody signs up for this. Charles Barkley famously I'm not
a role model back in the day, which was classic,
and I kind of agreed with him. John Morant didn't
sign up to be a role model. But the thing
is people love him, kids love him. He flies through
the air, he dunks, he's acrobatic, he is unrepentant with
his trash talk. A lot of kids like him and
(29:53):
he didn't ask for that, but they do anyway. And
does he on some level need to show the kids that, like, yeah,
I should be waving a gun around while I'm driving
or while my buddy's driving and I'm listening to the music.
And does he want to be a gangbanger? I don't
know the answer. I don't I'm not even saying his
friends in a gang. But he's trying to give off
(30:14):
that like I'm in nineties in a rap rap group
and I'm I'm rocking guns like that's that's the vibe
he's trying to get off. And if he wants to
do that, that's fine. Hey man, jeopardize your career whatever
you want to do. Bro. I will say this. I
saw multiple versions of this quote. I'm sure you've heard it. Rob,
(30:34):
show me your five closest friends and I'll show you
who you are. And the other version of his is
show me your friends and I'll show you your future.
Either one of those applies here. Okay, I'm not saying
he's got to be a choir boy. I'm not saying
he's got to be like Devin Booker and date Kendall
Jenner or you know, um like he's got to be
(30:55):
like Lebron and hang out with Maverick Carter and started
to kill. I'm not saying he has to do any path.
He's going to do his own path. I get that.
But who he's hanging out with is clearly getting him
in some trouble and if somebody doesn't step up and
stop him, this could end very badly for John Mornn.
We've seen some of these ugly cases before. I think
(31:16):
there was some chatter that Steven Adams had like called
a team meeting during the season and I was like, hey, guys,
we need we need to dial it back. Let's let's chill,
let's not be going out. Let's you know, we've got
something special here. And like that night, John Morn went
out and was like, you know, living it up. And
I get that. It's twenty three, You're twenty three years old.
You got all the money in the world. You know,
(31:37):
you could do whatever you want. But I'm just saying, Rob, like,
I don't feel good about where John Morn is right now.
It's pretty clear that that apology tour he went on
was just just smoke in mirrors, doing it for the
media to keep the sponsorships. Let's see what happens to
all those millions that he's supposed to be getting in endorsements.
Let's see what happens with those in the coming coming
days in weeks. Yeah, it's it's really clear he doesn't
(31:59):
get it, Like and you don't even have to look
at this specific incident to know that he doesn't get it. Right.
When he first came back from suspension, his dad was
wearing a sweatshirt with Jamard's picture on it. That said redemption.
It's like redemption for like, you're the one who did this.
(32:20):
This is not a league issue, this is not Oh,
he's like the victim of circumstance. Like, no, your son
is acting like an asshole and all of the things
that have come his way have been self inflicted wounds.
And so you had people like, you know, Shannon Shark
was one of the most vocal guys, like, hey, you're
not about that life, why are you trying to glorify it?
(32:42):
And someone other people were saying, well, it's up to
the ogs in sports and sports media to like look
after him, and it's like, no, it's up to your dad,
who's right there the sidelines with a drink in his hand,
to put the drink down, take that sweatshirt off, and
say you are screwing the us up for yourself. And
(33:02):
John Morant is so in love with the the Graham
and he can't put down, you know, his cell phone,
and he's just continuing to show you that he is immature,
that he is not cut out to be the face
of an NBA franchise, the face of the NBA, the
(33:24):
face of Nike, what pick whatever multi billion dollar brand
you want. He doesn't get it. And you know when
he went to that um therapy, right, he went to
some you know, uh check in therapist whatever it was,
rehab facility. You know, he was there. He was there
for two days. What kind like I know people who
(33:46):
have been in rehab. I know people who have gone
to you know, therapy sessions. You do not solve the
kind of issues that he has in two days. John
Morant unfortunately looks like he is going to crash and
burn and flame out of the NBA sooner rather than later.
And I'll be I'll be real, rob. He's only twenty three.
(34:09):
And I remember I was very dumb and did a
lot of stupid things at twenty three. I obviously didn't
have millions of my pocket. I basically had pennies in
my pocket. And I was trying to be cool and
have fun and date girls and enjoy life right outside
New York City and in New York City, and like, yeah,
I had some very very forgettable, idiotic moments that helped
(34:31):
me grow. Luckily, there was no spotlight. I mean, nobody
cared in terms of the media or a team or
anything to be like, dude, clean up your act. But
I just want to act. I just want to remind
folks out there, like, yeah, John Marins really talented. He's
just we're talking about a two time All Star here.
That's it. He's a two time All Star. He's not MVP.
(34:51):
He hasn't been in the conference finals. He's not first
team All NBA. He did make second last year. He's
a really good play. But we're talking about a two
time All Star. The league choose these guys up and
spits them out. If he doesn't get his act cleaned
up soon, he's just gonna be He's gonna be a
cautionary retail, honestly. And I feel bad for the guy
because he's getting some pretty frigging bad advice. I don't
(35:12):
even know if we should do it quickly. But this
this Monty Williams situation in Phoenix. So he gets fired
on Sunday, I guess, not a total surprise. I started
to read up on The Sun's owner, Matt Ishpia Rob
Have you read a lot about him only recently? Yeah?
Interesting guy? So um this company that he's got this
(35:33):
hold up by heaven. In my notes, I had to
sit in a car for two hours await from my
kid and I did a lot of reading on Ishpia. Okay,
so I got some named fun names in the Sun
search Rob. I'll bounce him off in a secum. So essentially,
Ishbia's dad started a mortgage business, lending, and you know,
twenty years in Ishbia grows up and they he gets
(35:55):
the CEO gate. So I'm not saying he was born
on third base, but his dad started a company and
made a lot of money and he becomes a CEO.
Now he did coming out of college. Remember he was
on the Michigan State basketball team. Is like, you know,
end of the bench guy, but in the program, a
gritty guard, you know, tough, slapped the floor kind of
(36:17):
guy in high school who was I'm sure a really
really good player at any rate. Coming out of college,
he was so highly thought of, like smart kid, knows basketball,
fiery passionate. He had offers to be an assistant coach
in college. They're like, oh, come on, you can make this,
and he's like, dude, come on, I got a CEO
gig of my dad's company coming around the corner. So
(36:37):
he gets this and now when the company went public,
I guess a couple of years ago, he becomes a
billionaire him and his brother. His first order of business
once he buys his sons is to just go get
Kevin durridd And according to some reports, Rob he didn't
like cozy up to the GM and be like, hey,
(36:59):
what are you okay Jones, Hey, let's go get Kevin Durant.
It sounds like it wasn't anything like that. It was like,
I'm gonna go get Kevin Durant and the GM was
not involved in it at all. Now listen, I applaud
that that's cool. Hey, you want to go in and
make a splash, But then what happens when you guys
flame out? And now the coach. You know, Monte Williams
(37:20):
didn't have a great series, but he's well liked around
the league, highly thought of. People like him, respect him.
I don't know. Do you think the GM fired Monte Williams?
Do you think it was the owner? Take a guess.
The billionaire born on third base is gonna get what
he wants, which is the title and money. Williams a
could be the guy. So now you got I'm doing
this as the owner. I'm doing that and he's gonna
(37:42):
be ticked off. The next question down the Pike rob
is what is he trading DeAndre ayten for? Because I said,
I'm sure some of you guys saw this clip. I
saw it on the Graham and I posted it on
my account, but there is a video behind the Sun's
bench at game four, DeAndre Ayton is sitting on the
bench like just like frustrated, I don't know, and Devin
(38:04):
Booker's like not talking trash to him, but being like, dude,
you got like this is what Joker does. You gotta
be ready and like showing him in. Deandreaton clearly just
doesn't want to be told what to do. And ultimately
I don't know if DeAndre Aton rolls his eyes or whatever,
but Booker starts to get upset. Chris Paul comes in
and like pulls him away, and you're like, ye, Ayton's
like not even listening, doesn't want to hear it from Booker.
(38:26):
And Chris Paul is the voice of reason, which is
very strange. Chris Paul's usually won yelling and that was
in game four. Again they won. Two games later, DeAndre
Ayton is a no show, did not play with the
rib injury. Devin Booker has ducked the media. We know
that's a cowardly act. Duck the media after Game six,
(38:48):
He's like, oh, I got to do my exit interview.
He has not talked to the media since they gagged
at home, losing again in a closeout game by thirty.
Coaches fired, and I don't know that the GM's gonna
get canned. But I'll say this, and you know the
answer to this, Rob, who was sitting next to Matt
Ishpia during that Yo Kits incident where he flopped? Do
(39:11):
you know who was sitting next room? I believe that's
none other than New York Knicks legend Isaiah Thomas Wells
Detroit Pistons legend. But yes, who memorily very very bad
in the New York front office. So I started reading
a little more and Rob, I was unaware. But Isaiah
Thomas was not just at home games with Ishbia. He
(39:33):
was at road games with Ishpia. He was at every
playoff game with the owner. They're they're fast friends apparently.
So let me see if I can connect this Isaiah Thomas,
who's probably craving to get back in the league. You
could be seeing him on NBA TV like two nights
a week. That's like what he does, and then he
gets to some media squabbles. Um, that's what he's doing.
(39:57):
He's not a fossil, you know. Do you think Isaiah
Thomas wants to get back in the league. Do you
think the GM's feeling good about his chances? Right there? Now?
I got some other names for you if you don't
like Isaiah Thomas maybe coming into the front of Maybe
it'll be a consultant role and then you know they'll
shove out James Jones when he can't get something done.
(40:18):
Isaiah Thomas is one. I'm going to toss a couple
other names that you ready for this. I'm not gonna
say Tom Izzo. I don't think Tom Iszo's He's not.
I don't think he's going to the NBA now right?
Would you agree? Yeah, No, he's not. Boodenholzer pushed out
in Milwaukee any interest if you by the way, Bodenholzer
(40:41):
it lives, has like a place in Arizona, and I
guess it's around there a lot. Boodenholzer to the Suns.
Does that do anything for you? Not? Really? Yeah, I'm
not a huge Boodenholder guy. Nick Nurse still unemployed. I
believe the Raptors guy, he's highly thought of. Thanks Kawhi Leonard.
Other than that, Mmm, I don't know. There's Nick Nurse
(41:03):
do anything for you a little bit? Okay, So this
would be the interesting one. Tyler highly thought of with
the Clippers who are dealing with the Uh Kawhi Leonard.
What's his health status again? Um? Paul George. You know
we've we've seen his playoff lay Mounts Sons owner with
(41:24):
billions of dollars. Remember born on third base, He's got
all the money in the world. You think he makes
a hail Mary and says, give me Isaiah Thomas as
my GM and Tylu as my head coach. Let's rock
and roll. Now. If I'm ty Lou, I coached Lebron
and Kyrie Irving. Now I get Kawhi and Paul George,
and I could get Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. It's
(41:46):
not it's not a bad living. Huh not bad right?
Rock bad at all? Well? You know what's funny is
everything that you've said. You know, people they hey tinfoil
cap on, they f the NBA man. Well, you people
forget that. When Ishbiel was first brought in as the
owner Chris Haynes from TNT, who hardly ever gets things wrong, oh,
(42:09):
reported that Isaiah Thomas was going to accept the prominent
role in their front office, and he quickly had to
back off of that. I'm I don't think Chris Haynes
got it wrong. And to me, in my opinion, I
think that when that news got floated out, the blowback
on social media was so fierce because of Isaiah Thomas's
(42:31):
history and the Robert Sarver situation, and they're just like,
the timing of it would would have been horrible. Yeah, right,
you're right, So I think that that was put on
the back burner. So as far as him coming into Phoenix,
I absolutely went thousand percent and see that happening this offseason.
The Tylu situation trip out on this one. I saw
(42:53):
this one right before we started recording. Multiple outlets had
reported that Russell Westbrook was scene with Rich Climan in
Los Angeles over the weekend. Rich Climan, of course, is
the manager slash agent for Kevin Durant. So is it
possible that Tylu comes aboard with some kind of compensation attached?
(43:18):
They trade Chris Paul and his massive contract for two
or three role players that fit better when a cheaper contract,
and then you bring in Russell Westbrook as like a
mid level exception to be your starting point guard and
your third star on that team. I think I think
that the Tea leaves are starting to reveal themselves a
little bit in this situation. Well it's interesting because I
(43:41):
think I'm not one hundred percent sure, but I think
I asked which former k D teammate is more likely
to join forces with him in Phoenix, Kyrie Irving or
Russell Westbrook, and I don't. I can't. I sure as
hell hope that the Mads don't bring DeAndre Ayton to
help Luca Donte because that is that's that's not good.
(44:03):
That will backfire badly. If if Devin Booker and Chris
Paul can't deal with Aten, what do you think Luca
Donte is gonna do? So I'm ruling out Kyrie. I
think Russell Westbrook, who is a free agent, right yep, yeah,
deals up like Kevin durant or appreciates how hard he plays,
they're watching DeAndre a not play hard. That video clip
(44:24):
that we talked about it, I think it was game one,
maybe game two, where Aton just like kind of got
during a rebound, was like kind of shoved out of
bounds a little bit, and he just watched the play unfold.
It's like batting balls batting around. He's just watching it.
He's not trying to go get it, and it's like, geez,
he does does he want it? Well, Russell Westbrook, I'll
tell you right now, would have gone after it. He
is like a dog on a least. He's going after everything.
(44:46):
And they just saw it firsthand in that series. Russell Westbrook,
without two stars was going ball to the wall. And
even whether it was inefficiently, I understand that, but he
was the Clippers best player in that series. Man. Yeah,
people people probably think like Isaiah Thomas and ty lewis
a package, and now you're talking Russell Westbrook NBA. I
(45:07):
think we're headed to a wild off season or a
rob GI all right, So tomorrow obviously will be a
big day. We will preview Lakers Nugs game one. Let
me see if I can call up the line real quick.
I haven't actually looked. I'm assuming Denver is a favorite.
I don't think. I don't want to guess too wrong here,
(45:27):
but I would assume they're like in the one eighty
range in this series. Have you looked Robert No, I
believe last night looked they were minus one fifty. Oh
that's not that significant. Huh. Um, let's see here game one,
the Nugs are, oh minus five and a half. Wow. Um,
(45:50):
Lakers have won the last two game ones in the postseason.
I don't think Denver will well, it's the Warriors are
coming off at Game seven, so that was kind of
understand it. Yeah, I don't. I don't see Denver getting
caught sleeping here? Do you with the five and a half?
I love the five and a half. You would take
it with the Lakers? Yeah. I mean, we'll dive deeper
(46:14):
into this tomorrow. But if the Lakers are gonna win
this series, I think they almost have to win game
one because of all the rest they're gonna have every
every the game is now every other day moving forward
after that, so so there's not a lot of rests. No,
So if they're going to steal home court, which is
what they're gonna need to to win this series, I
think they have to win game one. Oh yeah, here's
(46:34):
the schedule, Okay, So they play Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Monday, Wednesday,
oh ye had no extra days baked in there. Okay,
not looking good for Lakers. But does your gut tell
you Lakers win the series? Yes? I think for my
bank account, I have two Lakers futures tickets, which is crazy.
I have posted them, I've mentioned them on the pod.
(46:55):
So this is not like me coming out of the woodwork.
This is from like February and for content. Obviously, the
Lakers over the Nuggets, but I don't. I don't think
the Lakers can beat these guys. But then again, I
thought the Warriors would happen too. All Right, much more
to dive into. Talk to you tomorrow.
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