On today's episode, Jason kicks things off by sharing his thoughts on the Dallas Mavericks' acquisition of sharpshooting big man Christian Wood from the Houston Rockets. Wood may not be a household name, but he appears to be a perfect fit alongside Luka Doncic in Dallas. The one thing that the Mavs lacked against the Golden State Warriors was a legitimate option at center, and Wood is more than capable of filling that void. If the Mavs can also keep Jalen Brunson this summer, they should be a top-4 team in the Western Conference next season. Later, The Athletic’s Anthony Slater swings by to discuss how covering the NBA Finals differs from the earlier rounds, why he believes this could be the start of a second dynastic run for the Warriors, how it was Kevin Durant who actually set the wheels in motion that led to Andrew Wiggins becoming a Warrior, what sets Steph Curry apart from other superstars around the League, the likelihood that Steph finished his career as a top-10 player in NBA history, how the tough road to the NBA Finals may have worn down the Boston Celtics, and much more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
This is straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What's up, straight
Fire Fan, It's me Jason McIntyre. Straight Fire for Thursday,
June sixteenth, Huge day across Los Angeles. Final day of
school for the kids kids. My kids very excited. Of course,
(00:25):
at the end of the school day, which is a
half day, many of them go to the beach because
you know, that's kind of what they do out here
in l A. Also, this evening game six NBA Finals.
Before that, we've got a special guest, Anthony Slater covers
the Warriors for the Athletic I've been having a momentary
podcast radio show for about the last six years. He's
among the best, if not the best, at covering the Warriors,
(00:48):
and it was the player so well, excellent stuff. You
guys are really going to enjoy it, especially die hard
Warriors fans who are thinking to the future. Can we
can we run this back next year? Like Wiggins only
has one more he left on his deal. All we
dive into all that stuff. You'll like it. Celtics fans,
it's looking bleak, it's weird. I'm so many people like
Boston in this game. It's a little scary. Everybody just oh,
(01:09):
bosses going home. They lost two in a row. They
hadn't lost two in a row all playoffs. They're going
to bounce back. They got this. This is going seven
and if very well, could or does Clay Thompson show up,
because this is Game six and that's what he does.
Clay Thompson Mr. Game six. Obviously the okay see one
was just legendary, and Game six tonight in Boston. It'll
(01:30):
be a lubricated crowd, nice summer night in Boston. I
don't know if this was maybe it was probably thirty
years ago, sometime this week. I think was the O. J.
Simpson Chase, because I remember it was Nick's Rockets in
the finals. Me and my buddy, and I think I've
told the story before on the radio show. My buddy
and I took these two girls out from like a
(01:51):
rival high school and like it wasn't even really a date.
It was like a hang and you know, we were
young kids high school, just got our license, babe. I
don't I don't even know if that is accurate. It
definitely wasn't thirty years ago. This is like and we
when we took these two girls out, I'll never forget
(02:11):
we stopped by McDonald's and this it was not like
a real data you know. We took up to McDonald's
get the cheesy stuff, milkshake, fries, whatever, and I look
up at the TV and there's the O. J. Simpson
chase happening. I was like, and I will never also
forget that night one of the girls we went to
like this park to hang out, and she had said
(02:31):
how she had a baby pet alligator and it had
died while they were on vacation. And the person who
was babysitting the baby alligator in like the tank or
whatever put the alligator in the freezer so that they
didn't have to like throw the alligator out while the
people were on vacation. I was like, you're making up
this story. It was such a far fetched story. I've
(02:53):
never heard anything like that. I don't even remember the
girl's name. Oh I do. It just hit me. Oh
my gosh. I got to look her up on the
internet before I reveal it here. Um, but goodness, gracious listen.
I have a lot of NBA memories and Rockets Knicks.
Was that night that series broke me as a Knicks fan.
John Starks such a Stark skuy and then of course
the brutal, brutal and to that series, it's just unspeakable.
(03:17):
At this point, I don't think the Warriors go out
like that. I don't even know if he'll do a
best bet. After the interview was s later, I'm probably
just gonna have to put it online because I gotta
give this some deep thought. I will say this two
interesting news items. One is the starting safety for the
Indianapolis Colts. He's actually pretty good, Cahari Willis. He's twenty
six years old, decided to retire to pursue a career
(03:38):
in the ministry. Okay, just bailing on the Colts. And
this is interesting because you know, I really like Indianapolis
this year there is sleeper team for me in the
a f C. They got rid of Carson Wentz didn't
like him there. I think Matt Ryan's a massive upgrade.
The Colts. I think saw something was amiss maybe with Willis,
(03:59):
because in the offseason they did add a former ego
McLeod and they drafted a safety and I think the
top third round maybe it was a third round. Um.
But it's interesting because Willis was actually a good player,
and I remember a few years ago, this was like
a much bigger deal. Maybe it was like six seven
years ago where a couple of players retired. There was
(04:20):
a guy Borland who who was a studded I think
Wisconsin and then went to the forty niners and retired.
I was like, Oh my gosh, it's all this concussion stuff.
And now it's like, Oh, he's just retiring because he's
done with football. I mean, he was a good run stopper.
It just doesn't feel like it's a huge story. I
mean it's a safety on the cold. See it's not
like he was a pro bowler or anything. But nonetheless,
(04:42):
this is just I'm putting it out there now. I
like the Colts this year, they will win the division.
Lock that in the other story is interesting. I took
we took my son out to dinner because he's graduating
fifth grade, and all of a sudden, I look at
my phone and I've got all these texts. Some of
them are about a basketball game we're supposed to play
this morning. I will not be playing. The arrest are
about the Dallas Mavericks doing the rare in division in
(05:08):
state trade with the Houston Rockets, who apparently could not
unload Christian would quick enough. I mean Christian would a
very good player only twenty six years old. Folks. They
gave up the Rockets at borderline All Star. That's what
would was. He was on track to be an All
Star and his numbers tailed off and didn't make the
l Star team. Also, the Rockets were terrible. And what
(05:30):
did the MAVs give up? They gave up three guys,
none of whom we're in the top ten for minutes
played in that series against the Warriors. They literally gave
up end of the bench guys and pick for a
borderline All Star. What are the Rockets doing. I don't
understand this at all, and I know normally we wouldn't
talk about a minuscule NBA trade like this. Here's the problem.
(05:53):
The MAVs are close to the finals, folks. They made
the conference finals. They have who I think is the
overall best player in the league I know, defense, Luka
don Chech, and they added a guy who's gonna help immediately.
Because remember in that series against Golden State, their center
Dwight Powell, he can't step out and hit threes and
essentially they got nothing from that position. Now, this is
(06:17):
also a team that gets Tim Hardaway back, who was
arguably their second best player a year, not this past season,
but the prior postseason against the Clippers, it was Luca
and Hardaway. They get Hardaway back. So now, if you're
a Dallas Mavericks fan, folks, you got Luca. We'll see
what happens with Brunson, Reggie Bullock, Dorrian Phinney Smith and
(06:37):
Christian wood And I know that doesn't blow you away,
but coming off the bench, Hardaway and Dinwoody, folks, this
is a strong team. I think if you just look
at top seven, top eight, we'll go top eight players.
They've definitely got top five in the league, top five,
top eight players. Now there's a chance that they move
(06:59):
on from Brunson and just let Hardaway take his spot,
and then they have Dinwitty running the second unit. I
do like Brunson a lot. If if Luca goes down
for an extended period, brunts that can help. But are
they willing to pay him? What can you get for Brunson?
I floated the idea of Julius Randall. I mean, jeez,
you get Julius Randall on that team for Brunson, and
(07:19):
then you've got actual toughness and beef inside. Now, Wood
is not a great defender, but he did shoot fifty
percent from the field from three average seventeen and ten.
And a bunch of people tweeted at me that, oh,
this guy was not a good teammate. Well, what do
you think, guys? You know his story. He was like
basically selling shoes at foot locker and then worked his
way to the league. Goes to the Sixers for five minutes,
(07:42):
then the Hornets, then he's out of the league, then
the Bucks, Pelicans, Pistons, and they finally hit with the Pistons,
and then he got to the Rockets and made some money.
But yeah, I'm sure a guy who worked that hard
is unhappy that he's been on a bunch of bad
teams or teams he can't really impact. He's gonna have
a shot with Dallas and it's probably gonna either end
(08:03):
really well with Luca and they make a run to
the finals or something like that, or he ends up
punching out Luca because he can't deal with it. And
we know, you know, Wood has had his issues off
the court. Um, we don't really need to get into them.
They're not awful issues, but Listen, he's hanging out with
Kevin Porter, who is a really talented player but has
(08:23):
a bit of a checkered history back to USC and
even in Houston, and we know he likes the party
as a young guy, and it just wasn't a good influence.
I think this MAVs team will be a much better fit.
This will be the best team he's been on. He
was on a good Bucks team, but he didn't play much.
He was barely on the team. Listen, there are red flags, obviously,
(08:44):
but for one year, fourteen point three million, and you're
giving up three end of the bench guys, like, come on,
I'm sure some people will be unhappy that Boban has gone.
But maybe the Rockets decide we don't even want Boban
and he takes a minimum deal with Luca and the
MAVs because we know Lucas is tight with Boban. Uh.
Some people also seem to think that pick. Oh, the
(09:05):
Rockets down three first round picks guys in the last
let's see here, twenty years, these are the best number
twenty six picks. Landry Shammitt, He's gotten paid, He's okay,
He's not an all star. Corks of the Sixers, one
of the Plumbly brothers, Todd Gibson, who I've always liked,
(09:25):
George Hill, solid player, Jordan Farmar shout out the Lakers nation,
Kevin Martin of the Sacramento Kings, who was probably the
best number pick if you look at that list, folks,
just not a lot of all stars, not a lot
of Like Dallas was not going to get somebody at
twenty six who was going to help them get over
the hump. So I think there's a no brainer trade.
(09:47):
There is a huge win for Dallas. Listen would could implode,
and obviously then it looks terrible, but I think it
gives them an option that's one guy inside so the
opponents can't have a layup line in the playoffs. And
I think, if you Brunson is going to be key,
do you keep him or do you try to flip
him because he's your final asset. I don't know that
Hardaway coming off the injury has a lot of value.
I don't know that Dinwoody has as much value. We
(10:10):
know Wings are imperative in this league. They have Bullock,
they have Phinney Smith. They need one that can spray
threes and Christian Wood could be the guy. So I
think it's a great win for the MAVs via trade,
and um, I think that's all the news. Let's get
to our guest, Anthony Slater, who covers the Warriors for
The Athletic. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk
lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at
(10:32):
Fox sports Radio dot com and within the I Heart
Radio app search f s R to listen live. Jason
likes to think he knows everything when it comes to sports.
I know what sports dance want, but for everything he doesn't.
He knows a guy who does. Let's just say I
(10:52):
know a guy who knows a guy he knows another guy.
All right, let's welcome into straight fire, a guy I've
known since I at him on my radio show. Almost
felt like weekly back in the day when the Warriors
were ascending and building the great dynasty. Anthony Slater from
The Athletic. How you doing, man, I'm doing great. You know,
only a couple of games left in this season. I
(11:13):
do think these finals I actually like to get your
opinion on it. I do think these finals are probably
the best the league has had since at least two
thousand and sixteen. That that Cavs Warriors game are Seriously
I would agree with that. The problem is there hasn't
been one one school uh single digit game in the series.
They always end up in blowouts. I don't know if
that's Boston failing late or the Golden State Warriors in
(11:34):
game one. But Anthony, a lot to you one. I
am curious and again and nobody's playing a violin for
media members who have to fly across the country. But
what's it? Like, I know, I don't know if you
have young kids, but the school years ending, summer's coming up, Like,
are you able to do anything other than focus on
the NBA right now? For like the last I don't
know month. You know, the the extra off day in
between games like allows for a little bit of that, um,
(11:57):
but that's only for the finals, to be honest, Like,
you know, the Memphis second round series is probably the
toughest one. It went six, but it's you know, every
other day by that point because you're in the second
round and there's no indirect flights between San Francisco and Memphis,
even though it's considered a conference series. You know, Um,
so this one isn't too bad. Like I said that
(12:17):
that first off day, which would have been yesterday. At
this point that we're talking, you get a little bit
of family time. Okay, that's good to hear. I asked
that also because one of the big questions was who's
going to be impacted more by the final schedule, And
I think the to to one really hurts the Celtics
given the issues with Robert Williams al horfs Age. I
(12:39):
don't know that it hurts the Warriors at all. Yeah,
I mean, I'm sure like Andre Woudal, it was bigger
minutes which he isn't in and um, you know, if
Steph Curry's foot injury was a little bit worse, maybe
it would have. Um, but I think we've seen with
that one it was more of a scare than an actual,
you know, long, longer term issue. So I would agree
with you. Also, Boston's coming off seven against Milwaukee, seven
(13:03):
against Miami, whereas the Warriors want five six five pretty
easily through the West. Um, where if you look at
the total minutes in these playoffs, like Boston's guys are
way higher than the warriors guys. So I generally agree,
although you know they are the younger team technically, but
they do seem to be the more beat up team. Oh, certainly,
and facing the heat. You know, a rugged team. Milwaukee's
(13:25):
got a bunch of big guys. I mean, you know,
you're right, Golden State faced kind of some pace teams,
you know, the Denver Nuggets, Memphis, Dallas doesn't even have
any bruisers, so it has been an easier road. I
don't know, Anthony, I guess you zoom out for a second.
You're like, man, the Warriors are back here again, Like
this seems quick. A lot of people were writing them
off after Katie left Clay's injuries. This has been quite
(13:46):
a run. Are you surprised that they've extended the dynasty? Yeah,
I mean I picked them like, I think like four
or five seed coming into the season, Like that's what
kind of where I thought they'd be. And I felt
like I was on the optimistic side of the train.
You know, had um Some of the stats models had
him like tenth in the West. I think, yeah, our
guy John Hollander loved him in our place, but I
(14:08):
think he had him like a leventh in the West.
I mean, there was definitely some unknown coming into the season.
The age, the huge factor Klaye Thompson. You just did
not know what Clay Thompson was gonna look like coming
off probably the two most devastating injuries in sports basically, Um,
and he thought that he's had some spectacular return, but
he's sturdy enough to be like a really solid rotation
player at this point. UM. I saw the Pool thing coming,
(14:31):
I think earlier than other people, because you could see
it last season and even into the summer. And that's
been just a huge factor for them. Just get that
extra score. Um. Steph Curry's elongated prime. I think some
people doubted that a little bit. That's you have to
have a top five, top ten player to be a
championship level team. And he just at age thirty four,
still is that, which that's difficult to do. Um. And
(14:52):
then they've spent money very well. The Wiggins trade has
turned into you know, from what I thought was probably
a home run at the time, but like rand slam
basically what they did, what they did to Minnesota with
that trade. Um. And then you have you. The other
thing is like this doesn't feel like, oh well, it's
one last ride for this world. Core like they're relayering
the roster with you. They kept the three lottery picks,
(15:15):
you know, and at least I'd guess at least two
of them will be you know, good players. So this
feels like maybe the start of a second run. It
will not be as dominant as the first run, but
they're gonna be contenders for a while. Yeah. Yeah, it's
surprising to hear that given how you know, Clippers are
going to be very very strong next year, Lakers obviously
will be back, Denver will be better. But you're right,
(15:35):
the relayering is a good way to put it. I
gotta ask the like the Andrew Wiggins thing. You said
it with home run, you know. Brian Winhorse made a
good point that this is kind of a situation where
Golden State was just willing to outspend people. They're willing
to go deep, deep into the tax. For Wiggins at
the time was what gonna be their fourth best guy
after Curry, Clay and Draymond, And now he's been their
(15:56):
second best player and he's making what thirties, I don't know,
thirty five million year or whatever, Like how much does
the Warriors are willing to spend just matter more because
I think Phoenix and New Orleans have never gone into
the luxury tax with cheap owners. Golden State just has
good owners right there. Smart. Yeah, they spend money, they
make money too, you know. That's that's this huge deal here,
right They made Chase Center, which is just you know,
(16:20):
kind of a cash machine. Um. And the sequencing of
that Wiggins deal matters. Where the big you know, I
guess decision was when when Katie was leaving, do you
just let Kevin Durant walk for nothing? And he's leaving
a free agency, they obviously wen't gonna trade him that deadline.
They almost want the title, should have probably won the
title that year, um, And they just decided to instead
(16:42):
of letting him walk for nothing, keep that salary slot
alive because that's the big thing. Once you left that
salary slot walk, you can't refill it. So they got
d'anzelo Russell in the signing trade, and he was the
only guy that could have got because he was going
to Brooklyn and de'anzel Russell was one of Brooklyn's unrestricted
free agents at the time. For like, sure, Max de'anzelo Russell,
why not? And that wasn't about thinking Deenzelo Russell was
(17:03):
gonna you know, solve the issues they were having. It's
just like, hey, gotta keep the money alive. That ends
up turning into Wiggins and Jonathan and the pick that
became Jonathan mea, that's what made the trade. So, you know,
obvious for the Warriors to do was like Wiggins is
a better fit. But they're both bad salaries. But you
get Minnesota's you know, pick, which became the seventh overall
in the loaded draft. Um, but generally took back to
(17:25):
your point about ownership, Yeah, they they spend. It's it's
a huge deal. Um, they even you know, I think
they're willing to even have bad deals and sense to
keep their guys around like Clay Thompson's Max Steele. At
this point, it's not market value is not great, but um,
you know, this Dynasty Corps has made money for ownership,
and I think it is a healthy thing in sports
(17:47):
that that an ownership group making money isn't investing it
back into their product. And it's like, a it's a
healthy cecle because it gives fans an unbelievable product and
obviously it makes the Warriors money. They are in the
finals making about what like grossing about fifteen million per
Finals game. If they don't spend, they're not getting that
money because they're not here. Yeah. Wow, So now Wiggins
(18:10):
is interesting. I'm looking again. It's actually thirty one five
is what he's making this year, at thirty three next year.
But after that he's a free agent, and you gotta wonder,
like is cominga ultimately the air apparent to the Wiggins role. Uh,
Moses Moody seems like a player. I know he hasn't
really gotten on the court in the finals much, um,
but I don't know his Wiggins just a band aid
(18:30):
that has worked out. And oh, by the way, um,
why the hell was Karl Anthony town so hard up
to get D'Angelo Russell and lose Wiggins? Do you have
any answer to that? Yeah, they're friends. They're seriously, I mean,
they're like really good friends. That when d'anzelo Russell signed
or agreed to the signings where he took the Max
from the Worris, he was on a helicopter with the
(18:51):
Minnesota Brass, with Karl Anthony Towns, with you know, their
whole group, and he like, I don't want to say
like back remember he but I remember it was an
awkward situation. And but from that day forward, Minnesota was
still obsessed, and I think obsessed in a little way
because they wanted to keep cat around. But yeah, just
because they were friends. Um, your original question on that,
(19:11):
what was it Wiggins in his future? Yeah, after anticipate that, well,
it felt like the way they were Um, I guess,
you know, timing this out, it was Wiggins was gonna
be up at the moment Jordan Pool's extension kicks in,
because Jordan Pool is still only gonna make three point
(19:31):
nine million next season. Even if he signs an extension,
it doesn't trigger till that following season. That's when Wiggins
is off the books. And yeah, I mean part of
them using these lottery picks and this relayering was handing
over these jobs. At some point, they already thought James
Wise would be the starting center, and there was no
world in which they thought Kavan Luney would be like this,
(19:51):
you know, emerging still starting center. That seems like the
starting center for the next five years at this point.
But uh, part of it has been Jonathan Comigan most
likely taking over the wing and guard spots. But Andrew Wiggins,
and especially at his age and the way he's playing
and the way he's proving to be a winning player,
I think has maybe changed the equation a little bit.
(20:12):
Then you start to look at some of the other
contracts and the ages, you know, the Clay Thompson contract
and age, the Draymond Green contracts and age, and you
do kind of wonder which of these guys if they
decided to let any of these guys go to like
just like I guess, suppress the money a little bit,
who would it actually be Because the franchise legends everywhere,
(20:33):
you wouldn't think it would You wouldn't think it would
be them. But you know, if we were just in
this very cold hearted business, to me, Wiggins in two
seasons is probably gonna matter more than like Clay Thompson
in two season m what about more than Draymond Green?
I would say that's yeah, yeah, well then then that's
where like to me, the comingo Wiseman front Court, Looney's
(20:53):
emergence like suddenly it's like, do you want to become
on losing on restricted creation? What's he gonna cost? Now?
Um Garry pay the second is like but the other
thing and this will again test ownerships, like you can
keep your guys, you're just gonna keep paying crazy tax money.
But you can do it. Um. I need to ask
about Wiseman because I kind of in the first I
(21:13):
think it was game Game one, maybe Game three, that
there was just like a layup line. It felt like
for Boston they could just get anything at the room
whenever they wanted. And I joked, all the Warriors should
bring in James Wisman and all these people freaked out,
like everybody's out on Wiseman, and I'm like, you know,
it has been two years. The Melo ball has looked
pretty good. But don't what's the deal with Wiseman? Is
(21:34):
it injuries? Is it lacking confidence? Does he does he
not love basketball? I don't know. It's all injuries. And
that's the thing. Like, it's difficult to have an opinion
on Wiseman because he hasn't been on the floor. He
played thirty nine games his rookie season, UM, and was
starting to by the end, you know, at the moment
he got hurt in his rookie season, they were starting
to run more picking rolls, which which was the environment
(21:56):
he needs to have. Basically, he's not and that is
one of the issues. I think a little with the
pick like he's not a warrior system type player like
read and react, you know, high pinned downs and it's
like no, he's like a traditional like big man, like
set a bunch of high screens per game, roll, dive,
pick and pop a little bit. He can shoot the three, um,
but he needs time to develop. He's very raw and
(22:18):
that would mean he needs to be on the court.
And the problem is when he got hurt, you know,
he towards the nis gets on a dunk attempt, and
the thought was he was going to be back in
December January of this season. Uh, and then but the
knee swelled up again. He had to get a knee scope.
It's just like the knee has not responded an hour
at this point, about fourteen months since he toreed that meniscus,
(22:38):
and he's still not back on the court. The hope
that he had to go to London with me and
Sham's reported it the other day. Um, he had to
go to London and then they got like a it's
kind of like a plasma. It's like I think even
in a more advanced version of it. You know, like
everything in science, I guess advances, but you know it's
(22:58):
um I mean he's feeling good at this point. They're
saying that he's going to be in contact this month,
they hope, and probably playing in summer league. UM. So
it's just his career installed He's basically gonna be entering
next season, his third season making out twelve million by
the way, um, because he's a second overall pick, but
his third season next season, and it's gonna feel kind
of like his Oh man, you just I'm I don't know.
(23:20):
You just start to think of guys like Greg Odin
and maybe damage goods at this point, I'm hope hopeful
for the guy. Uh wrapping up on the Warriors before
we get to the Celtics. UM, Steph Curry, what is
your best guess on why he's able to do the
damage that he's able to do at age thirty four?
Just totally dominating. I thought Game four was a Jordan
(23:40):
type performance. Anthony in the finals, I mean put the
team on his back on the road down to one
and I don't know, just some up Curry and you've
covered him now for what six seven years? Yeah? Seven? Um?
I would say his professionalism and like discipline to the craft,
like his off season work, his he enters training camp
in like mid season shape every year because he just
(24:03):
like like the Luca Dantage comes in like you know,
like the fat Luca or whatever. They joke all these
guys coming out of shape. Curry, who's older, it comes
in in great shape. Yeah, I mean, that's that. That's
who he is, That's how he's I mean, just look
at what he is from a strength perspective now, and
you know, people go watch like people should just go
watching the two sixteen finals, even his unanimous MVP season,
(24:25):
he's much skinnier. Uh. He's just built his body really well.
Uh and and stayed disciplined to it. And it's not
easy to do. I mean, I think it takes, you know,
an insane amount of time and commitment and diet, you know,
I know, diet's really good. I mean it's a little
bit like Chris Paul has extended his career because he
completely altered his diet and training regiment. And you know,
(24:46):
everyone knows the Lebron James what's the two million in
his body every season basically you know, just and and
those guys elongated their prime and Steph Curry is is
kind of the next in line of those guys doing it.
Skill ages very well. That's another thing, Like his shot
was always going to age well. But I just think
now Jason Kidd said it in the second or in
(25:06):
the conference finals, He's like, this is the most this
is the most well conditioned athlete in the league. I
do think Jason Kidd's messaging about how how great Steph was,
how conditioned he was, was kind of pointed at his
superstar a little bit, but he wasn't wrong. I mean,
Steph Curry just his durability is a durance. It's like
it's shown in these playoffs. Um. And then the other
thing is I've talked to his dad about this before
(25:28):
the Curries kind of age well. You know, Dell was
like making threes until he was thirty eight years old.
That he's a different type of player, more of a
role player. But if you look at his career, he
aged really well. And I just you know some of that.
I guess Steph says he like, you know, late maturity,
Like he yeah, yeah, late bloomer. As they say, um,
(25:49):
you you've kind of I know on social media, people
I'm sure come after you with because you cover Curry
a lot. It feels like the the I don't know
if hate is the right word. The disdain for Curry
still remains despite all this greatness, Like people still don't
want to give him props. I don't know what it is.
I mean, I guess when you get near the top, Anthony,
they're always gonna be coming for you, like it's happening
(26:10):
with Lebron. But for whatever reason, like people just love
your honest, Oh honest is so great, and I just
I don't see the universal praise and love for career
or maybe I'm looking in the wrong places. Yeah, I mean,
I don't know, but I've come to the opinion that,
like you know, with social media, like every popular thing
is gonna have it's like it's gonna have like three
(26:30):
three subsections where it's like you have the stands, right,
the people that are like so obsessed to the point
that like they will defend anything and everything that that
human does. Then you have I think the middle ground,
which is like like the people who just like properly appreciate,
slash analyze like what's going on. And then you have
the other side that's like people that just are trying
to find anything and everything, Uh that's wrong. It's a
(26:54):
good way to put it. Yeah, and I just you know,
the more famous you are, and this is just goes
beyond sports, the more famous you are, the more like
all sides are loud and really because we're talking about
it way more. There's just more visceral, like emotional, we
actually do it. Steph Curry has his stands out there,
trust me. Yeah, um, but he has the other side.
And you know, the one thing like it doesn't get
(27:17):
to him, Like I think he gets to to a
lot of people out there, but you know, and the
other thing is it's becoming for anybody rational, it's becoming
like very difficult to um, I guess like criticize his
career at all. I mean because at this point, especially
if he finishes this off in the next couple of days,
he's gonna get the finals MVP, Like what blemish remains.
(27:39):
I mean, we we're basically gonna I mean, he's cemented
in my opinion, as at least the top fifteen player,
and like, you know, I think they're starting to be
more talk that it's basically point guard power rankings. Ever,
it's gonna be basically Magic Johnson and him, like you know,
choose your fighter basically yeah, but I would have I
agree with that. I've been I've been pushing that for
a while. I you know, I I got was saying,
(28:00):
what about Jason Kidd and Isaiah Thomas. I don't think
he's closing Anthony. I mean maybe maybe I fall closer
to the stand category for Korea than than the middle
grad Yeah, I mean, look, three titles probably you know,
might be four. I mean at this point we would
say likely going to be four. Um, a unanimous Yeah,
(28:21):
a unanimous m v P. The only one ever. I
mean that's the seventy three win seasons. Was like, I
know they didn't cap it off, but like that's something,
I mean, greatest season ever, very like obviously the greatest
shooter ever. Right. That's even the people that would uh
be a little bit down on Curry would say like, well,
he is the greatest shooter of all time. I mean
that's at this point in of the NBA, like maybe
(28:44):
the most important skill in the NBA, and he's the
greatest to ever do it with that skill. Um, you know,
guys like Jason Kidd, like how many titles Jason? I
think I think one with Dallas. Yeah, where he was
like yeah, I mean so like some guys at their
peak maybe, And one of the one of the issues
(29:05):
with Curry's legacy, I guess you could say was he
got started a little bit later because the ankle injuries
derailed him. He was two or three years in college.
You wonder, yeah, he was his star burns so bright
during the unanimous seventyp season, but you know, he like
I remember when I was covering him and Katie at
the same time. You looked at career point totals, and
Katie was always way ahead because came in quicker and
(29:25):
he just like right away it was like twenty point
per game score. But now, like the way Curry is
just shoveling stats in on the back end and really
not looking like he's stopping anytime soon. I mean, he's
gonna enter next season. That's the top ten player on
a contender um. And if he plays another seventy games
like he's building a resume that again I think is
(29:47):
is to this point, especially if he finishes off this
week pretty obviously Top twelve, Top fifteen. Ever, Fox Sports
Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation.
Catch all of our shows that sports radio dot Com
and within the I heart radio app search f s
R to listen live. It hasn't really been noted, but
(30:08):
he's doing this against the defensive player of the year
in Marcus Smart, and I know a lot of it
is the high screen and there's a lot of switches
and sometimes he's a match up with Derek White, who's
a solid defender. But I need to ask about the Celtics,
Like Marcus Smart supposedly this great defender, but to me,
it's been Robert Williams has been the most impactful guy
for the Celtics. When he's on the court, they're winning.
When he's off the court, they're losing. Like it kind
(30:30):
of is that simple? Yeah, I think. I think Robert
Williams is like plus fourteen and thirty minutes in Game
five and Al Horford, who they were basically splitting with
him at times of minus nine scene, I agree with you,
Robert Williams, like beyond like the Marcus Smart discussion, when
we can talk about like Robert Williams has been so
impressive in this series, like dragging his knee around. There's
been like six times in this series I'm like, oh,
(30:52):
he's done. You know, he's on the floor driving at
his knee, he's limping, he's calling out of the game
in game four. Um, and then it's suddenly he's just
whatever they do to him during these off days, he
shows up and he's blocking every shot to start the
next game. UM. So I like he clearly is maybe
I mean, maybe this is a commentary on wide room
protectors and digs from a defensive perspective are more important
(31:13):
than like point of attack guys. But he has been,
to me, the heart of their defense, at least against
the Warriors. Um, Marcus Smart, you know, he's pretty beat
up to. I think it's kind of you remember the
really bad ankle sprain he had against Miami. He had
a right foot issue that made him actually miss game
one of that Miami series. I think he's a little
worn down, especially his style of play. I mean, it's
kind of conducive to beating. He kind of beats himself
(31:36):
up the way he dives around. Um. But the other thing,
you know, you talked to Boston people, and this is
another thing about Curry. They're like, usually Marcus Smart wears
down guys. And I think this, you know, goes back
to Steph Curry's endurance level. It's just like he doesn't
really look worn down. Yeah. Um, you know who looks
worn down as Brown and Tatum. I know they're not
(31:56):
coming off the court, but if you you noted in
minutes earlier, uh, you know Len Brown started off. Remember
the MVP talk when they were up to Winders, Like
all Jalen Brown when the VP, he's at forty percent
shooting from three and he's a turnover machine when it matters.
And I know people are killing Tatum for the turnovers,
but he's in the same stratosphere as oh Lebron and
Wade for turnovers in the playoffs. Like if anyone has
(32:19):
let down in the last couple of games, for me,
it's been Jaylen Brown big time. Yeah, you know it's
people even coming in the series when they talked about
the Celtics turnovers and there's that stat when it's like
sixteen or more turnovers there always lose under the pretty
much always win. Um. But Jalen Brown's handle is kind
of sloppy. Um. Neither of them are like Chris Passers.
(32:40):
I remember, you know they played Dallas, the worst team
in the commerce finals, the Warriors player, but the way
Luca would get downhill and when the Warriors like brought
help all you can tell you just always saw exactly
where the help was coming in. It was just pinpoint
like diagonal paths across the court right to somebody's shooting pocket.
And he made so many unbelievable passes in that series.
And then you know, Reggie Bullet was just clanking a
(33:00):
three Warriors one, but it was You're just like, what,
like that is a passer right there? Whereas with Jalen
Brown and Jason Tatum, I I think they're rightfully gotten
some praise this season for you know, I guess, improving
their playmaking, but it's clearly not like Luca type natural
or even like you know, obviously the Lebron type natural,
(33:21):
but like a really high level playmaking forward. You just
see the not only the limitations I think with them,
because like they get the Warriors just believe they throw
that if they throw traffic around, those guys, they kind
of frantically pass out, tip the ball all that, Whereas uh,
and they know also the other thing, I like Markut smart,
(33:42):
great player you mentioned, defensive player, They're not really a
true point guard, you know, so they they don't really
have a true point and I just think, Yeah, that's
a great point, and it just got me thinking. Listen
to that, Like I know that was Brad Stevens who
said there's no more point guard and power forward. It's
just like you know, all handler, wing and bats, right,
the problem is you need that point guard to kind
(34:05):
of run the offense. When Curry is running the high
pick and roll, you know what's happening. Like you've got
a great bawl handler. He's gonna make the good reads.
Same with Luca and some of these best teams. I
just Tatum. He seems to be worn down running the offense.
Marcus Smart can't and Jyalen Brown doesn't have a handle,
And I think it's really showing up here. The last
two games I haven't take got crushed in the fourth quarter.
(34:25):
Yeah they have. And you know, I think I saw
something out that that Jason Tatum hasn't dunked since in
like over two weeks. And it was I believe before
he remember that shoulder in gy it looked like done.
You know, they like walked him into the tunnel, and
like you know, there have been a couple of times
even in this series. I think it was a drive
and either at the starting Game three or four under
(34:46):
the basket, he got fouled and he stood under the
stantion like shaking his shoulder and elbow off like you know,
basically nineties seconds, like the crowd had to like clap
him back to the line finally, Um, so was that
on a Draymond foul? Do you remember might have been
it was? It was early in one of the games.
It was early in the game. Remember he hasn't dunked
(35:06):
into that. That is strange because he's a dunking machine.
Remember he dunked on Lebron famously in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Just think about this series, Like the Warriors do not
have a shop walker, like Jaymond Green is not what
he used to be as a leaper. Kavon Looney is
like ground bound to the max, and like they just
don't even have they don't. I mean Andrew Wiggins there
is their best shop walker, and it's not like he's
some high flyer at least from a defensive perspective. Um,
(35:29):
but you know, with Tatum, it's or with generally, I
think back to your port with the roster building, like
the Brad Stevens, like you know, hey, maybe you do
need a traditional point guard and there I kind of
get that. Like their style is to like have just
defensive menaces everywhere, and I think it's worked. You know,
they won the East pretty easily, Like they've definitely you know,
(35:52):
if a game goes a little bit better here or there,
if they can close out you know, for like, they
could win the time and they still to this point,
they could win the title in the next six days.
So I think their roster building has worked in a sense.
But I think when you do have such a defensive
bulldog team where you're making sure you have no weaknesses,
there are given takes and like you know, a lot
of times traditional point guards are not good defenders their
(36:14):
targets um, and they don't want that. But but there
are a drawback to that, and I think you're seeing it.
On the other side. The Warriors are just kind of
shutting the Celtics down in this series. Yeah you read
my mind. I was gonna say, let's see some more
Peyton Pritchard over Derek White, but the Warriors hunt him
as soon as he's on the court, right, Yeah, Yeah.
Clay Thompson loves to see him, right, Cley Thompson is
always like, come on, yeah, yeah, yeah, all right, Anthony Slater,
(36:36):
the Athletic Great Stuff continued success covering the team, and
uh hopefully the Warriors wrap it up Thursday so you can, um,
you know, get some get a vacation in. I've already
taken this far. I wouldn't mind a nice game seven, right, Yeah,
you imagine the attention of Game seven if it comes
Sunday night, that if it happens. All right, Anthony side
of the Athletic good Stuff, man, thanks a lot, all right,
(36:57):
thanks for having
This is straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What's up, straight
Fire Fan, It's me Jason McIntyre. Straight Fire for Thursday,
June sixteenth, Huge day across Los Angeles. Final day of
school for the kids kids. My kids very excited. Of course,
(00:25):
at the end of the school day, which is a
half day, many of them go to the beach because
you know, that's kind of what they do out here
in l A. Also, this evening game six NBA Finals.
Before that, we've got a special guest, Anthony Slater covers
the Warriors for the Athletic I've been having a momentary
podcast radio show for about the last six years. He's
among the best, if not the best, at covering the Warriors,
(00:48):
and it was the player so well, excellent stuff. You
guys are really going to enjoy it, especially die hard
Warriors fans who are thinking to the future. Can we
can we run this back next year? Like Wiggins only
has one more he left on his deal. All we
dive into all that stuff. You'll like it. Celtics fans,
it's looking bleak, it's weird. I'm so many people like
Boston in this game. It's a little scary. Everybody just oh,
(01:09):
bosses going home. They lost two in a row. They
hadn't lost two in a row all playoffs. They're going
to bounce back. They got this. This is going seven
and if very well, could or does Clay Thompson show up,
because this is Game six and that's what he does.
Clay Thompson Mr. Game six. Obviously the okay see one
was just legendary, and Game six tonight in Boston. It'll
(01:30):
be a lubricated crowd, nice summer night in Boston. I
don't know if this was maybe it was probably thirty
years ago, sometime this week. I think was the O. J.
Simpson Chase, because I remember it was Nick's Rockets in
the finals. Me and my buddy, and I think I've
told the story before on the radio show. My buddy
and I took these two girls out from like a
(01:51):
rival high school and like it wasn't even really a date.
It was like a hang and you know, we were
young kids high school, just got our license, babe. I
don't I don't even know if that is accurate. It
definitely wasn't thirty years ago. This is like and we
when we took these two girls out, I'll never forget
(02:11):
we stopped by McDonald's and this it was not like
a real data you know. We took up to McDonald's
get the cheesy stuff, milkshake, fries, whatever, and I look
up at the TV and there's the O. J. Simpson
chase happening. I was like, and I will never also
forget that night one of the girls we went to
like this park to hang out, and she had said
(02:31):
how she had a baby pet alligator and it had
died while they were on vacation. And the person who
was babysitting the baby alligator in like the tank or
whatever put the alligator in the freezer so that they
didn't have to like throw the alligator out while the
people were on vacation. I was like, you're making up
this story. It was such a far fetched story. I've
(02:53):
never heard anything like that. I don't even remember the
girl's name. Oh I do. It just hit me. Oh
my gosh. I got to look her up on the
internet before I reveal it here. Um, but goodness, gracious listen.
I have a lot of NBA memories and Rockets Knicks.
Was that night that series broke me as a Knicks fan.
John Starks such a Stark skuy and then of course
the brutal, brutal and to that series, it's just unspeakable.
(03:17):
At this point, I don't think the Warriors go out
like that. I don't even know if he'll do a
best bet. After the interview was s later, I'm probably
just gonna have to put it online because I gotta
give this some deep thought. I will say this two
interesting news items. One is the starting safety for the
Indianapolis Colts. He's actually pretty good, Cahari Willis. He's twenty
six years old, decided to retire to pursue a career
(03:38):
in the ministry. Okay, just bailing on the Colts. And
this is interesting because you know, I really like Indianapolis
this year there is sleeper team for me in the
a f C. They got rid of Carson Wentz didn't
like him there. I think Matt Ryan's a massive upgrade.
The Colts. I think saw something was amiss maybe with Willis,
(03:59):
because in the offseason they did add a former ego
McLeod and they drafted a safety and I think the
top third round maybe it was a third round. Um.
But it's interesting because Willis was actually a good player,
and I remember a few years ago, this was like
a much bigger deal. Maybe it was like six seven
years ago where a couple of players retired. There was
(04:20):
a guy Borland who who was a studded I think
Wisconsin and then went to the forty niners and retired.
I was like, Oh my gosh, it's all this concussion stuff.
And now it's like, Oh, he's just retiring because he's
done with football. I mean, he was a good run stopper.
It just doesn't feel like it's a huge story. I
mean it's a safety on the cold. See it's not
like he was a pro bowler or anything. But nonetheless,
(04:42):
this is just I'm putting it out there now. I
like the Colts this year, they will win the division.
Lock that in the other story is interesting. I took
we took my son out to dinner because he's graduating
fifth grade, and all of a sudden, I look at
my phone and I've got all these texts. Some of
them are about a basketball game we're supposed to play
this morning. I will not be playing. The arrest are
about the Dallas Mavericks doing the rare in division in
(05:08):
state trade with the Houston Rockets, who apparently could not
unload Christian would quick enough. I mean Christian would a
very good player only twenty six years old. Folks. They
gave up the Rockets at borderline All Star. That's what
would was. He was on track to be an All
Star and his numbers tailed off and didn't make the
l Star team. Also, the Rockets were terrible. And what
(05:30):
did the MAVs give up? They gave up three guys,
none of whom we're in the top ten for minutes
played in that series against the Warriors. They literally gave
up end of the bench guys and pick for a
borderline All Star. What are the Rockets doing. I don't
understand this at all, and I know normally we wouldn't
talk about a minuscule NBA trade like this. Here's the problem.
(05:53):
The MAVs are close to the finals, folks. They made
the conference finals. They have who I think is the
overall best player in the league I know, defense, Luka
don Chech, and they added a guy who's gonna help immediately.
Because remember in that series against Golden State, their center
Dwight Powell, he can't step out and hit threes and
essentially they got nothing from that position. Now, this is
(06:17):
also a team that gets Tim Hardaway back, who was
arguably their second best player a year, not this past season,
but the prior postseason against the Clippers, it was Luca
and Hardaway. They get Hardaway back. So now, if you're
a Dallas Mavericks fan, folks, you got Luca. We'll see
what happens with Brunson, Reggie Bullock, Dorrian Phinney Smith and
(06:37):
Christian wood And I know that doesn't blow you away,
but coming off the bench, Hardaway and Dinwoody, folks, this
is a strong team. I think if you just look
at top seven, top eight, we'll go top eight players.
They've definitely got top five in the league, top five,
top eight players. Now there's a chance that they move
(06:59):
on from Brunson and just let Hardaway take his spot,
and then they have Dinwitty running the second unit. I
do like Brunson a lot. If if Luca goes down
for an extended period, brunts that can help. But are
they willing to pay him? What can you get for Brunson?
I floated the idea of Julius Randall. I mean, jeez,
you get Julius Randall on that team for Brunson, and
(07:19):
then you've got actual toughness and beef inside. Now, Wood
is not a great defender, but he did shoot fifty
percent from the field from three average seventeen and ten.
And a bunch of people tweeted at me that, oh,
this guy was not a good teammate. Well, what do
you think, guys? You know his story. He was like
basically selling shoes at foot locker and then worked his
way to the league. Goes to the Sixers for five minutes,
(07:42):
then the Hornets, then he's out of the league, then
the Bucks, Pelicans, Pistons, and they finally hit with the Pistons,
and then he got to the Rockets and made some money.
But yeah, I'm sure a guy who worked that hard
is unhappy that he's been on a bunch of bad
teams or teams he can't really impact. He's gonna have
a shot with Dallas and it's probably gonna either end
(08:03):
really well with Luca and they make a run to
the finals or something like that, or he ends up
punching out Luca because he can't deal with it. And
we know, you know, Wood has had his issues off
the court. Um, we don't really need to get into them.
They're not awful issues, but Listen, he's hanging out with
Kevin Porter, who is a really talented player but has
(08:23):
a bit of a checkered history back to USC and
even in Houston, and we know he likes the party
as a young guy, and it just wasn't a good influence.
I think this MAVs team will be a much better fit.
This will be the best team he's been on. He
was on a good Bucks team, but he didn't play much.
He was barely on the team. Listen, there are red flags, obviously,
(08:44):
but for one year, fourteen point three million, and you're
giving up three end of the bench guys, like, come on,
I'm sure some people will be unhappy that Boban has gone.
But maybe the Rockets decide we don't even want Boban
and he takes a minimum deal with Luca and the
MAVs because we know Lucas is tight with Boban. Uh.
Some people also seem to think that pick. Oh, the
(09:05):
Rockets down three first round picks guys in the last
let's see here, twenty years, these are the best number
twenty six picks. Landry Shammitt, He's gotten paid, He's okay,
He's not an all star. Corks of the Sixers, one
of the Plumbly brothers, Todd Gibson, who I've always liked,
(09:25):
George Hill, solid player, Jordan Farmar shout out the Lakers nation,
Kevin Martin of the Sacramento Kings, who was probably the
best number pick if you look at that list, folks,
just not a lot of all stars, not a lot
of Like Dallas was not going to get somebody at
twenty six who was going to help them get over
the hump. So I think there's a no brainer trade.
(09:47):
There is a huge win for Dallas. Listen would could implode,
and obviously then it looks terrible, but I think it
gives them an option that's one guy inside so the
opponents can't have a layup line in the playoffs. And
I think, if you Brunson is going to be key,
do you keep him or do you try to flip
him because he's your final asset. I don't know that
Hardaway coming off the injury has a lot of value.
I don't know that Dinwoody has as much value. We
(10:10):
know Wings are imperative in this league. They have Bullock,
they have Phinney Smith. They need one that can spray
threes and Christian Wood could be the guy. So I
think it's a great win for the MAVs via trade,
and um, I think that's all the news. Let's get
to our guest, Anthony Slater, who covers the Warriors for
The Athletic. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk
lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at
(10:32):
Fox sports Radio dot com and within the I Heart
Radio app search f s R to listen live. Jason
likes to think he knows everything when it comes to sports.
I know what sports dance want, but for everything he doesn't.
He knows a guy who does. Let's just say I
(10:52):
know a guy who knows a guy he knows another guy.
All right, let's welcome into straight fire, a guy I've
known since I at him on my radio show. Almost
felt like weekly back in the day when the Warriors
were ascending and building the great dynasty. Anthony Slater from
The Athletic. How you doing, man, I'm doing great. You know,
only a couple of games left in this season. I
(11:13):
do think these finals I actually like to get your
opinion on it. I do think these finals are probably
the best the league has had since at least two
thousand and sixteen. That that Cavs Warriors game are Seriously
I would agree with that. The problem is there hasn't
been one one school uh single digit game in the series.
They always end up in blowouts. I don't know if
that's Boston failing late or the Golden State Warriors in
(11:34):
game one. But Anthony, a lot to you one. I
am curious and again and nobody's playing a violin for
media members who have to fly across the country. But
what's it? Like, I know, I don't know if you
have young kids, but the school years ending, summer's coming up, Like,
are you able to do anything other than focus on
the NBA right now? For like the last I don't
know month. You know, the the extra off day in
between games like allows for a little bit of that, um,
(11:57):
but that's only for the finals, to be honest, Like,
you know, the Memphis second round series is probably the
toughest one. It went six, but it's you know, every
other day by that point because you're in the second
round and there's no indirect flights between San Francisco and Memphis,
even though it's considered a conference series. You know, Um,
so this one isn't too bad. Like I said that
(12:17):
that first off day, which would have been yesterday. At
this point that we're talking, you get a little bit
of family time. Okay, that's good to hear. I asked
that also because one of the big questions was who's
going to be impacted more by the final schedule, And
I think the to to one really hurts the Celtics
given the issues with Robert Williams al horfs Age. I
(12:39):
don't know that it hurts the Warriors at all. Yeah,
I mean, I'm sure like Andre Woudal, it was bigger
minutes which he isn't in and um, you know, if
Steph Curry's foot injury was a little bit worse, maybe
it would have. Um, but I think we've seen with
that one it was more of a scare than an actual,
you know, long, longer term issue. So I would agree
with you. Also, Boston's coming off seven against Milwaukee, seven
(13:03):
against Miami, whereas the Warriors want five six five pretty
easily through the West. Um, where if you look at
the total minutes in these playoffs, like Boston's guys are
way higher than the warriors guys. So I generally agree,
although you know they are the younger team technically, but
they do seem to be the more beat up team. Oh, certainly,
and facing the heat. You know, a rugged team. Milwaukee's
(13:25):
got a bunch of big guys. I mean, you know,
you're right, Golden State faced kind of some pace teams,
you know, the Denver Nuggets, Memphis, Dallas doesn't even have
any bruisers, so it has been an easier road. I
don't know, Anthony, I guess you zoom out for a second.
You're like, man, the Warriors are back here again, Like
this seems quick. A lot of people were writing them
off after Katie left Clay's injuries. This has been quite
(13:46):
a run. Are you surprised that they've extended the dynasty? Yeah,
I mean I picked them like, I think like four
or five seed coming into the season, Like that's what
kind of where I thought they'd be. And I felt
like I was on the optimistic side of the train.
You know, had um Some of the stats models had
him like tenth in the West. I think, yeah, our
guy John Hollander loved him in our place, but I
(14:08):
think he had him like a leventh in the West.
I mean, there was definitely some unknown coming into the season.
The age, the huge factor Klaye Thompson. You just did
not know what Clay Thompson was gonna look like coming
off probably the two most devastating injuries in sports basically, Um,
and he thought that he's had some spectacular return, but
he's sturdy enough to be like a really solid rotation
player at this point. UM. I saw the Pool thing coming,
(14:31):
I think earlier than other people, because you could see
it last season and even into the summer. And that's
been just a huge factor for them. Just get that
extra score. Um. Steph Curry's elongated prime. I think some
people doubted that a little bit. That's you have to
have a top five, top ten player to be a
championship level team. And he just at age thirty four,
still is that, which that's difficult to do. Um. And
(14:52):
then they've spent money very well. The Wiggins trade has
turned into you know, from what I thought was probably
a home run at the time, but like rand slam
basically what they did, what they did to Minnesota with
that trade. Um. And then you have you. The other
thing is like this doesn't feel like, oh well, it's
one last ride for this world. Core like they're relayering
the roster with you. They kept the three lottery picks,
(15:15):
you know, and at least I'd guess at least two
of them will be you know, good players. So this
feels like maybe the start of a second run. It
will not be as dominant as the first run, but
they're gonna be contenders for a while. Yeah. Yeah, it's
surprising to hear that given how you know, Clippers are
going to be very very strong next year, Lakers obviously
will be back, Denver will be better. But you're right,
(15:35):
the relayering is a good way to put it. I
gotta ask the like the Andrew Wiggins thing. You said
it with home run, you know. Brian Winhorse made a
good point that this is kind of a situation where
Golden State was just willing to outspend people. They're willing
to go deep, deep into the tax. For Wiggins at
the time was what gonna be their fourth best guy
after Curry, Clay and Draymond, And now he's been their
(15:56):
second best player and he's making what thirties, I don't know,
thirty five million year or whatever, Like how much does
the Warriors are willing to spend just matter more because
I think Phoenix and New Orleans have never gone into
the luxury tax with cheap owners. Golden State just has
good owners right there. Smart. Yeah, they spend money, they
make money too, you know. That's that's this huge deal here,
right They made Chase Center, which is just you know,
(16:20):
kind of a cash machine. Um. And the sequencing of
that Wiggins deal matters. Where the big you know, I
guess decision was when when Katie was leaving, do you
just let Kevin Durant walk for nothing? And he's leaving
a free agency, they obviously wen't gonna trade him that deadline.
They almost want the title, should have probably won the
title that year, um, And they just decided to instead
(16:42):
of letting him walk for nothing, keep that salary slot
alive because that's the big thing. Once you left that
salary slot walk, you can't refill it. So they got
d'anzelo Russell in the signing trade, and he was the
only guy that could have got because he was going
to Brooklyn and de'anzel Russell was one of Brooklyn's unrestricted
free agents at the time. For like, sure, Max de'anzelo Russell,
why not? And that wasn't about thinking Deenzelo Russell was
(17:03):
gonna you know, solve the issues they were having. It's
just like, hey, gotta keep the money alive. That ends
up turning into Wiggins and Jonathan and the pick that
became Jonathan mea, that's what made the trade. So, you know,
obvious for the Warriors to do was like Wiggins is
a better fit. But they're both bad salaries. But you
get Minnesota's you know, pick, which became the seventh overall
in the loaded draft. Um, but generally took back to
(17:25):
your point about ownership, Yeah, they they spend. It's it's
a huge deal. Um, they even you know, I think
they're willing to even have bad deals and sense to
keep their guys around like Clay Thompson's Max Steele. At
this point, it's not market value is not great, but um,
you know, this Dynasty Corps has made money for ownership,
and I think it is a healthy thing in sports
(17:47):
that that an ownership group making money isn't investing it
back into their product. And it's like, a it's a
healthy cecle because it gives fans an unbelievable product and
obviously it makes the Warriors money. They are in the
finals making about what like grossing about fifteen million per
Finals game. If they don't spend, they're not getting that
money because they're not here. Yeah. Wow, So now Wiggins
(18:10):
is interesting. I'm looking again. It's actually thirty one five
is what he's making this year, at thirty three next year.
But after that he's a free agent, and you gotta wonder,
like is cominga ultimately the air apparent to the Wiggins role. Uh,
Moses Moody seems like a player. I know he hasn't
really gotten on the court in the finals much, um,
but I don't know his Wiggins just a band aid
(18:30):
that has worked out. And oh, by the way, um,
why the hell was Karl Anthony town so hard up
to get D'Angelo Russell and lose Wiggins? Do you have
any answer to that? Yeah, they're friends. They're seriously, I mean,
they're like really good friends. That when d'anzelo Russell signed
or agreed to the signings where he took the Max
from the Worris, he was on a helicopter with the
(18:51):
Minnesota Brass, with Karl Anthony Towns, with you know, their
whole group, and he like, I don't want to say
like back remember he but I remember it was an
awkward situation. And but from that day forward, Minnesota was
still obsessed, and I think obsessed in a little way
because they wanted to keep cat around. But yeah, just
because they were friends. Um, your original question on that,
(19:11):
what was it Wiggins in his future? Yeah, after anticipate that, well,
it felt like the way they were Um, I guess,
you know, timing this out, it was Wiggins was gonna
be up at the moment Jordan Pool's extension kicks in,
because Jordan Pool is still only gonna make three point
(19:31):
nine million next season. Even if he signs an extension,
it doesn't trigger till that following season. That's when Wiggins
is off the books. And yeah, I mean part of
them using these lottery picks and this relayering was handing
over these jobs. At some point, they already thought James
Wise would be the starting center, and there was no
world in which they thought Kavan Luney would be like this,
(19:51):
you know, emerging still starting center. That seems like the
starting center for the next five years at this point.
But uh, part of it has been Jonathan Comigan most
likely taking over the wing and guard spots. But Andrew Wiggins,
and especially at his age and the way he's playing
and the way he's proving to be a winning player,
I think has maybe changed the equation a little bit.
(20:12):
Then you start to look at some of the other
contracts and the ages, you know, the Clay Thompson contract
and age, the Draymond Green contracts and age, and you
do kind of wonder which of these guys if they
decided to let any of these guys go to like
just like I guess, suppress the money a little bit,
who would it actually be Because the franchise legends everywhere,
(20:33):
you wouldn't think it would You wouldn't think it would
be them. But you know, if we were just in
this very cold hearted business, to me, Wiggins in two
seasons is probably gonna matter more than like Clay Thompson
in two season m what about more than Draymond Green?
I would say that's yeah, yeah, well then then that's
where like to me, the comingo Wiseman front Court, Looney's
(20:53):
emergence like suddenly it's like, do you want to become
on losing on restricted creation? What's he gonna cost? Now?
Um Garry pay the second is like but the other
thing and this will again test ownerships, like you can
keep your guys, you're just gonna keep paying crazy tax money.
But you can do it. Um. I need to ask
about Wiseman because I kind of in the first I
(21:13):
think it was game Game one, maybe Game three, that
there was just like a layup line. It felt like
for Boston they could just get anything at the room
whenever they wanted. And I joked, all the Warriors should
bring in James Wisman and all these people freaked out,
like everybody's out on Wiseman, and I'm like, you know,
it has been two years. The Melo ball has looked
pretty good. But don't what's the deal with Wiseman? Is
(21:34):
it injuries? Is it lacking confidence? Does he does he
not love basketball? I don't know. It's all injuries. And
that's the thing. Like, it's difficult to have an opinion
on Wiseman because he hasn't been on the floor. He
played thirty nine games his rookie season, UM, and was
starting to by the end, you know, at the moment
he got hurt in his rookie season, they were starting
to run more picking rolls, which which was the environment
(21:56):
he needs to have. Basically, he's not and that is
one of the issues. I think a little with the
pick like he's not a warrior system type player like
read and react, you know, high pinned downs and it's
like no, he's like a traditional like big man, like
set a bunch of high screens per game, roll, dive,
pick and pop a little bit. He can shoot the three, um,
but he needs time to develop. He's very raw and
(22:18):
that would mean he needs to be on the court.
And the problem is when he got hurt, you know,
he towards the nis gets on a dunk attempt, and
the thought was he was going to be back in
December January of this season. Uh, and then but the
knee swelled up again. He had to get a knee scope.
It's just like the knee has not responded an hour
at this point, about fourteen months since he toreed that meniscus,
(22:38):
and he's still not back on the court. The hope
that he had to go to London with me and
Sham's reported it the other day. Um, he had to
go to London and then they got like a it's
kind of like a plasma. It's like I think even
in a more advanced version of it. You know, like
everything in science, I guess advances, but you know it's
(22:58):
um I mean he's feeling good at this point. They're
saying that he's going to be in contact this month,
they hope, and probably playing in summer league. UM. So
it's just his career installed He's basically gonna be entering
next season, his third season making out twelve million by
the way, um, because he's a second overall pick, but
his third season next season, and it's gonna feel kind
of like his Oh man, you just I'm I don't know.
(23:20):
You just start to think of guys like Greg Odin
and maybe damage goods at this point, I'm hope hopeful
for the guy. Uh wrapping up on the Warriors before
we get to the Celtics. UM, Steph Curry, what is
your best guess on why he's able to do the
damage that he's able to do at age thirty four?
Just totally dominating. I thought Game four was a Jordan
(23:40):
type performance. Anthony in the finals, I mean put the
team on his back on the road down to one
and I don't know, just some up Curry and you've
covered him now for what six seven years? Yeah? Seven? Um?
I would say his professionalism and like discipline to the craft,
like his off season work, his he enters training camp
in like mid season shape every year because he just
(24:03):
like like the Luca Dantage comes in like you know,
like the fat Luca or whatever. They joke all these
guys coming out of shape. Curry, who's older, it comes
in in great shape. Yeah, I mean, that's that. That's
who he is, That's how he's I mean, just look
at what he is from a strength perspective now, and
you know, people go watch like people should just go
watching the two sixteen finals, even his unanimous MVP season,
(24:25):
he's much skinnier. Uh. He's just built his body really well.
Uh and and stayed disciplined to it. And it's not
easy to do. I mean, I think it takes, you know,
an insane amount of time and commitment and diet, you know,
I know, diet's really good. I mean it's a little
bit like Chris Paul has extended his career because he
completely altered his diet and training regiment. And you know,
(24:46):
everyone knows the Lebron James what's the two million in
his body every season basically you know, just and and
those guys elongated their prime and Steph Curry is is
kind of the next in line of those guys doing it.
Skill ages very well. That's another thing, Like his shot
was always going to age well. But I just think
now Jason Kidd said it in the second or in
(25:06):
the conference finals, He's like, this is the most this
is the most well conditioned athlete in the league. I
do think Jason Kidd's messaging about how how great Steph was,
how conditioned he was, was kind of pointed at his
superstar a little bit, but he wasn't wrong. I mean,
Steph Curry just his durability is a durance. It's like
it's shown in these playoffs. Um. And then the other
thing is I've talked to his dad about this before
(25:28):
the Curries kind of age well. You know, Dell was
like making threes until he was thirty eight years old.
That he's a different type of player, more of a
role player. But if you look at his career, he
aged really well. And I just you know some of that.
I guess Steph says he like, you know, late maturity,
Like he yeah, yeah, late bloomer. As they say, um,
(25:49):
you you've kind of I know on social media, people
I'm sure come after you with because you cover Curry
a lot. It feels like the the I don't know
if hate is the right word. The disdain for Curry
still remains despite all this greatness, Like people still don't
want to give him props. I don't know what it is.
I mean, I guess when you get near the top, Anthony,
they're always gonna be coming for you, like it's happening
(26:10):
with Lebron. But for whatever reason, like people just love
your honest, Oh honest is so great, and I just
I don't see the universal praise and love for career
or maybe I'm looking in the wrong places. Yeah, I mean,
I don't know, but I've come to the opinion that,
like you know, with social media, like every popular thing
is gonna have it's like it's gonna have like three
(26:30):
three subsections where it's like you have the stands, right,
the people that are like so obsessed to the point
that like they will defend anything and everything that that
human does. Then you have I think the middle ground,
which is like like the people who just like properly appreciate,
slash analyze like what's going on. And then you have
the other side that's like people that just are trying
to find anything and everything, Uh that's wrong. It's a
(26:54):
good way to put it. Yeah, and I just you know,
the more famous you are, and this is just goes
beyond sports, the more famous you are, the more like
all sides are loud and really because we're talking about
it way more. There's just more visceral, like emotional, we
actually do it. Steph Curry has his stands out there,
trust me. Yeah, um, but he has the other side.
And you know, the one thing like it doesn't get
(27:17):
to him, Like I think he gets to to a
lot of people out there, but you know, and the
other thing is it's becoming for anybody rational, it's becoming
like very difficult to um, I guess like criticize his
career at all. I mean because at this point, especially
if he finishes this off in the next couple of days,
he's gonna get the finals MVP, Like what blemish remains.
(27:39):
I mean, we we're basically gonna I mean, he's cemented
in my opinion, as at least the top fifteen player,
and like, you know, I think they're starting to be
more talk that it's basically point guard power rankings. Ever,
it's gonna be basically Magic Johnson and him, like you know,
choose your fighter basically yeah, but I would have I
agree with that. I've been I've been pushing that for
a while. I you know, I I got was saying,
(28:00):
what about Jason Kidd and Isaiah Thomas. I don't think
he's closing Anthony. I mean maybe maybe I fall closer
to the stand category for Korea than than the middle
grad Yeah, I mean, look, three titles probably you know,
might be four. I mean at this point we would
say likely going to be four. Um, a unanimous Yeah,
(28:21):
a unanimous m v P. The only one ever. I
mean that's the seventy three win seasons. Was like, I
know they didn't cap it off, but like that's something,
I mean, greatest season ever, very like obviously the greatest
shooter ever. Right. That's even the people that would uh
be a little bit down on Curry would say like, well,
he is the greatest shooter of all time. I mean
that's at this point in of the NBA, like maybe
(28:44):
the most important skill in the NBA, and he's the
greatest to ever do it with that skill. Um, you know,
guys like Jason Kidd, like how many titles Jason? I
think I think one with Dallas. Yeah, where he was
like yeah, I mean so like some guys at their
peak maybe, And one of the one of the issues
(29:05):
with Curry's legacy, I guess you could say was he
got started a little bit later because the ankle injuries
derailed him. He was two or three years in college.
You wonder, yeah, he was his star burns so bright
during the unanimous seventyp season, but you know, he like
I remember when I was covering him and Katie at
the same time. You looked at career point totals, and
Katie was always way ahead because came in quicker and
(29:25):
he just like right away it was like twenty point
per game score. But now, like the way Curry is
just shoveling stats in on the back end and really
not looking like he's stopping anytime soon. I mean, he's
gonna enter next season. That's the top ten player on
a contender um. And if he plays another seventy games
like he's building a resume that again I think is
(29:47):
is to this point, especially if he finishes off this
week pretty obviously Top twelve, Top fifteen. Ever, Fox Sports
Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation.
Catch all of our shows that sports radio dot Com
and within the I heart radio app search f s
R to listen live. It hasn't really been noted, but
(30:08):
he's doing this against the defensive player of the year
in Marcus Smart, and I know a lot of it
is the high screen and there's a lot of switches
and sometimes he's a match up with Derek White, who's
a solid defender. But I need to ask about the Celtics,
Like Marcus Smart supposedly this great defender, but to me,
it's been Robert Williams has been the most impactful guy
for the Celtics. When he's on the court, they're winning.
When he's off the court, they're losing. Like it kind
(30:30):
of is that simple? Yeah, I think. I think Robert
Williams is like plus fourteen and thirty minutes in Game
five and Al Horford, who they were basically splitting with
him at times of minus nine scene, I agree with you,
Robert Williams, like beyond like the Marcus Smart discussion, when
we can talk about like Robert Williams has been so
impressive in this series, like dragging his knee around. There's
been like six times in this series I'm like, oh,
(30:52):
he's done. You know, he's on the floor driving at
his knee, he's limping, he's calling out of the game
in game four. Um, and then it's suddenly he's just
whatever they do to him during these off days, he
shows up and he's blocking every shot to start the
next game. UM. So I like he clearly is maybe
I mean, maybe this is a commentary on wide room
protectors and digs from a defensive perspective are more important
(31:13):
than like point of attack guys. But he has been,
to me, the heart of their defense, at least against
the Warriors. Um, Marcus Smart, you know, he's pretty beat
up to. I think it's kind of you remember the
really bad ankle sprain he had against Miami. He had
a right foot issue that made him actually miss game
one of that Miami series. I think he's a little
worn down, especially his style of play. I mean, it's
kind of conducive to beating. He kind of beats himself
(31:36):
up the way he dives around. Um. But the other thing,
you know, you talked to Boston people, and this is
another thing about Curry. They're like, usually Marcus Smart wears
down guys. And I think this, you know, goes back
to Steph Curry's endurance level. It's just like he doesn't
really look worn down. Yeah. Um, you know who looks
worn down as Brown and Tatum. I know they're not
(31:56):
coming off the court, but if you you noted in
minutes earlier, uh, you know Len Brown started off. Remember
the MVP talk when they were up to Winders, Like
all Jalen Brown when the VP, he's at forty percent
shooting from three and he's a turnover machine when it matters.
And I know people are killing Tatum for the turnovers,
but he's in the same stratosphere as oh Lebron and
Wade for turnovers in the playoffs. Like if anyone has
(32:19):
let down in the last couple of games, for me,
it's been Jaylen Brown big time. Yeah, you know it's
people even coming in the series when they talked about
the Celtics turnovers and there's that stat when it's like
sixteen or more turnovers there always lose under the pretty
much always win. Um. But Jalen Brown's handle is kind
of sloppy. Um. Neither of them are like Chris Passers.
(32:40):
I remember, you know they played Dallas, the worst team
in the commerce finals, the Warriors player, but the way
Luca would get downhill and when the Warriors like brought
help all you can tell you just always saw exactly
where the help was coming in. It was just pinpoint
like diagonal paths across the court right to somebody's shooting pocket.
And he made so many unbelievable passes in that series.
And then you know, Reggie Bullet was just clanking a
(33:00):
three Warriors one, but it was You're just like, what,
like that is a passer right there? Whereas with Jalen
Brown and Jason Tatum, I I think they're rightfully gotten
some praise this season for you know, I guess, improving
their playmaking, but it's clearly not like Luca type natural
or even like you know, obviously the Lebron type natural,
(33:21):
but like a really high level playmaking forward. You just
see the not only the limitations I think with them,
because like they get the Warriors just believe they throw
that if they throw traffic around, those guys, they kind
of frantically pass out, tip the ball all that, Whereas uh,
and they know also the other thing, I like Markut smart,
(33:42):
great player you mentioned, defensive player, They're not really a
true point guard, you know, so they they don't really
have a true point and I just think, Yeah, that's
a great point, and it just got me thinking. Listen
to that, Like I know that was Brad Stevens who
said there's no more point guard and power forward. It's
just like you know, all handler, wing and bats, right,
the problem is you need that point guard to kind
(34:05):
of run the offense. When Curry is running the high
pick and roll, you know what's happening. Like you've got
a great bawl handler. He's gonna make the good reads.
Same with Luca and some of these best teams. I
just Tatum. He seems to be worn down running the offense.
Marcus Smart can't and Jyalen Brown doesn't have a handle,
And I think it's really showing up here. The last
two games I haven't take got crushed in the fourth quarter.
(34:25):
Yeah they have. And you know, I think I saw
something out that that Jason Tatum hasn't dunked since in
like over two weeks. And it was I believe before
he remember that shoulder in gy it looked like done.
You know, they like walked him into the tunnel, and
like you know, there have been a couple of times
even in this series. I think it was a drive
and either at the starting Game three or four under
(34:46):
the basket, he got fouled and he stood under the
stantion like shaking his shoulder and elbow off like you know,
basically nineties seconds, like the crowd had to like clap
him back to the line finally, Um, so was that
on a Draymond foul? Do you remember might have been
it was? It was early in one of the games.
It was early in the game. Remember he hasn't dunked
(35:06):
into that. That is strange because he's a dunking machine.
Remember he dunked on Lebron famously in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Just think about this series, Like the Warriors do not
have a shop walker, like Jaymond Green is not what
he used to be as a leaper. Kavon Looney is
like ground bound to the max, and like they just
don't even have they don't. I mean Andrew Wiggins there
is their best shop walker, and it's not like he's
some high flyer at least from a defensive perspective. Um,
(35:29):
but you know, with Tatum, it's or with generally, I
think back to your port with the roster building, like
the Brad Stevens, like you know, hey, maybe you do
need a traditional point guard and there I kind of
get that. Like their style is to like have just
defensive menaces everywhere, and I think it's worked. You know,
they won the East pretty easily, Like they've definitely you know,
(35:52):
if a game goes a little bit better here or there,
if they can close out you know, for like, they
could win the time and they still to this point,
they could win the title in the next six days.
So I think their roster building has worked in a sense.
But I think when you do have such a defensive
bulldog team where you're making sure you have no weaknesses,
there are given takes and like you know, a lot
of times traditional point guards are not good defenders their
(36:14):
targets um, and they don't want that. But but there
are a drawback to that, and I think you're seeing it.
On the other side. The Warriors are just kind of
shutting the Celtics down in this series. Yeah you read
my mind. I was gonna say, let's see some more
Peyton Pritchard over Derek White, but the Warriors hunt him
as soon as he's on the court, right, Yeah, Yeah.
Clay Thompson loves to see him, right, Cley Thompson is
always like, come on, yeah, yeah, yeah, all right, Anthony Slater,
(36:36):
the Athletic Great Stuff continued success covering the team, and
uh hopefully the Warriors wrap it up Thursday so you can, um,
you know, get some get a vacation in. I've already
taken this far. I wouldn't mind a nice game seven, right, Yeah,
you imagine the attention of Game seven if it comes
Sunday night, that if it happens. All right, Anthony side
of the Athletic good Stuff, man, thanks a lot, all right,
(36:57):
thanks for having
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