February 2, 2024 • 30 mins
It was wild Thursday in the NBA with an unexpected trade (Steven Adams to Houston), All-Star reserves selections by East and West coaches revealed on TNT and a worrisome Joel Embiid injury update in the midst of the All-Star rollout. Chris Haynes and Marc Stein advance all those stories in their latest get-together.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
The All Star reserves in the East and West are out,
Who made it, who got snubbed, and reaction to the
foremost headline in this league as we speak, Joe l
Embiid's sideline in Philadelphia by a meniscus injury in his
left knee. We get to all of that next here
on This League Uncut.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Welcome to This League Uncut in rule of twenty four
hour NBA News.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
This's you'll, Chris Hans, it's no time, Marks time, It's
so time.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
This League Uncut is underway and on fire. This should
be a good one.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Hey, everyone, welcome in to a Thursday night taping Friday
morning drop for the This League Uncut podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Mark Stein here with Chris Hanyes.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It was always going to be a crazy time because
this Thursday, at three pm Eastern, on this Thursday, that
officially marked one week to go until the trade deadline.
So it was going to be busy anyway. But on
this Thursday, seemingly in the space of an hour and change,
(01:22):
we had a trade. The Houston Rockets made a trade
for next season, but still a significant trade. The Houston
Rockets swung a deal with Memphis to acquire Steven Adams.
That was right before TNT rolled out its scheduled announcement
of the All Star reserves in both conferences, and in
(01:45):
the middle of that revelation finding out the coaches seven
selections in both the East and the West, we get
an injury update from the seventy six.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Ers that the Sixers are not.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Outright declaring the severity of the injury yet. The Sixers
say they're going to need the rest of the week
to make that determination, But the Sixers do acknowledge that
an MRI has revealed a meniscous injury in Joe L.
Embiid's left knee that is obviously going to sideline him
(02:24):
for what, at this point is an undetermined amount of time,
but it's obviously not gonna be measured in days. And
the level of what a blow that is to the
Sixers given the way Embiid has played this season, after
all this discourse all week long about the sixty five
(02:46):
game rule and how many games Embiid has already missed,
I mean, all of that gets shoved to the side
right now, because this is just a massive hit the
Sixers when Embiid, I mean, even after that Golden State game,
when Joel Embiid clearly did not look right even before
(03:09):
the unfortunate loose ball scramble that caused this more severe
knee injury this season, in the thirty four games he
has played, Joel Embiid has scored twelve hundred and one
points in only eleven hundred and fifty seven minutes. Absolutely
ridiculous Wilt esque production. And so the level of alarm
(03:35):
in Philadelphia is obviously super high. As we speak, as
we're recording this, the Sixers are trying to win a
game in Utah without Joel Embid.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
So look, we're gonna get to Embiid.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
We're gonna start with the All Star stuff, and then
we're gonna get to Embiid. Chris Haynes, I'm sure you
were dialed in this evening when the All Star reserves
were announced.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I actually wrote.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
A column on Tuesday trying to pick my fourteen reserves.
Had I had a ballot or had I been advising
a coach with a vote, I knew how I was
gonna go and vote my fourteen. I got twelve out
of fourteen, right, I got them all right. In the
Eastern Conference. Jalen Brown, Donovan Mitchell of course, Jalen Brunson,
(04:21):
who was a Locke to make his first All Star
team after he narrowly missed out on being named a starter,
bam At a Bio, Julius Randall, Tyrese Maxi, And yes,
I had Palo Bancaro getting a spot and he did so.
I did well in the I did well in the East.
You can tell me, Chris, if you think anybody in
(04:42):
the East got snub at the West Man kawhi Ad,
Devin Booker, Anthony Edward Stephen Curry. Those five all made it.
But I would have gone with Rudy Gobert and Demontes
Sabonis for the other two spots. The coaches, what with
Karl Anthony Towns over Gobert. That one really surprised me.
(05:05):
And then Paul George much less of a surprise because
the Clippers have been fantastic and you can certainly make
the argument that the Clippers should have two All Stars.
But the Clippers have two, the Sacramento Kings have none.
The Kings didn't get Sabonis or Deer and Fox in
and that genuinely did surprise me.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Christianes, Yeah, I mean the East was pretty this this
in recent memory. The East, that was pretty that was
probably one of the most easiest seven guys to pick
in the conference in recent memory. That's that's pretty much
the roster that everybody pretty much predicted. The West, Yeah,
we knew that was going to be pretty much up
(05:44):
for grabs. You know, definitely some controversy there the Sacramento
Kings not getting one. I think you can make a
case that they should have two. But then who are
you taking off? Who are you taking off? Minnesota, number
one team in the Western Conference. You can say that
(06:06):
they deserve too if you look at typically when you
have a team that is number one in the conference
or even number one in the entire league, that comes
with multiple All Star bursts, and so you know, it's
interesting you would have picked go Bear over Karl Anthony Towns,
(06:29):
who's having a pretty good season. I mean, I think
Minnesota they would make the case that they deserve three
with that being not.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Getting three in the West.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
The West, Man, the West is the West is so
stacked you literally could come up with a list of
fifteen worthy candidates for the seven spots.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I mean, guys like shne Goot.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Can't even get close to being considered.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
James James Harden is not even going to be considered.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
And you know it's uh, it's just no Pelicans are
you know, on this Western Conference roster.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
It's just super competitive. But no, I have to Minnesota's rise.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Obviously, Anthony Edwards is a huge part of it, becoming
the guy there, becoming really the centerpiece of this team.
But the other transformation in Minneapolis has been defense. This
has been the best defensive team in the league, a
top three defensive team all season. That starts with Gobert.
(07:33):
I mean in a huge, huge way. So it's not
that I'm trying to slight cat, but to me, Gobert
should be the Wolf's second All Star.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
But I mean, if you disagree.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Will disagree. Let's let's talk about it, don't. I don't
know if I disagree or not, But I think they're
a compelling chase for others, for others. But you know,
we talked about this. Was it a month ago when
I was talking about the guards, how it was just
so many guards that were deserving of an All Star
(08:07):
birth in the Western Conference and I was, you know,
I was talking about Steph. I was talking about the
season the Golden State is having I believe Steph is
on on a team with the lowest record who made
an All Star team. I believe Steph is the lowest.
(08:29):
So with that being said, I remember we were talking
about three weeks ago. I was talking about, is there
a scenario where Steph will be left off for the
roster because Dearon Fox, Shae Gillis, Alexander, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards,
it's loaded, and you can make a case that they're
(08:50):
probably more deserving than Steph, and then Dearon, I mean,
it's it's tough, it's tough, but but stin this this
is funny though, because uh, I was just say ironic
because Steph makes it, and you know, there's Kings fans
and saying, hey, what's going on? The Kings are fifth
(09:10):
place in the West, the Aaron having a good year, sabonus.
But look y'all, the NBA announced, what was it two
three days ago, that Steph is going to compete in
a three point contest with Sabrina. Did you actually think
(09:30):
that Steph, if he didn't make it, he was still
going to show up to Indianapolis during an All Star break?
Did you really think that you know that was your
hands up.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
It's funny you bring that up, because I totally didn't
even think about that. But the reason I didn't even
think about that is because I don't care what the
Warriors record is. The thought of Western Conference coaches not
selecting Stephan Curry no freaking chance. Coaches love Stephan Curry
and what a leader or his leadership style the way
(10:01):
I mean, there is no way the Western Conference coaches
were going to leave Stephan Curry off. And like I said,
I didn't even do the math. But what you just
said about the league arranging a three point contest a
showdown between Stephan Curry and Sabrini and Escu for charity,
absolutely right, that's not gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
They're not gonna have Steph fly in for that. And
sorry you didn't make the game.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
But look, the King Kings fans should rightly be pissed.
I they deserve one All Star. Now again, I don't
I struggled with this huge when I wrote about it.
I think Sabonis has been the most consistent force for
this team this season. I mean, the guy shooting better
than sixty percent from the field. But we could have
a long argument about who should get one spot between
(10:48):
the two Kings, if that's all there could have been
room for.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
But we haven't even mentioned Jamal Murray. I think Jamal
Murray has All Star numbers.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
And after you know, that was the big question after
the finals, after he played so well on the final stage.
Was this the year that Jamal Murray was going to
break through and make the All Star team? And it
still hasn't happened. Jamal Murray is still not an NBA
All Star. Lowry Markinen another guy we I mean he
with the way Utah has turned their season around, he
(11:18):
should be considered. Again, We're not even looking at Pelicans
like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Yeah, but star San you mentioned, you mentioned these guys.
Who are you?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
There's no room?
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Who are you?
Speaker 2 (11:31):
There's no room the West, there's no room.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
The West has fifteen guys for seven reserved spots. And look,
the San Antonio Spurs are miles under five hundred.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
But and a rookie.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
We have not seen a rookie make the All Star
Game since Blake Griffin in twenty ten. So Victor Wenmanyama
was never getting an All Star birth in his first season.
But is he a candidate. Did he deserve consideration, Yes,
I think he deserved consideration. So to me, the West
was an app salute nightmare. My list of snubs in
(12:03):
the East is much shorter. Obviously, Trey Young as a soloist.
If you just look at Trey Young's individual production, you know,
for the second straight year he has been left off
the East reserves. But you know the Hawks are well
under five hundred and that's the reason.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Why.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Is that all Trey Young's fault? Of course not, but
he's the one who's paying the price for Atlanta's very
disappointing season. People talked about Porzingis and Derek White in Boston.
Not for me, I would have had Jared Allen or
Scottie Barnes ahead of the two other Celtics. I don't
think the Celtics need four All Stars in the East.
(12:42):
I think having Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown is plenty.
I really felt like Orlando had to have someone in
the East. I'm really glad to see that the coach
is voted bn Carowin because I I do think that
they deserved one. Now it's gonna be interesting. Julius Rand
was selected as an Eastern Conference reserve. Obviously he's not
(13:03):
gonna be able to play with the dislocated shoulder.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
He's just sustained, like Trey might. My Trey might get
that he was second.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Because I think something people need to remember in recent years,
the league doesn't choose those injury replacements typically based on position.
What they usually do is they go to whoever was
closest to earning one of the seven slots from the coaches.
So I don't we obviously don't know was that Trey Young,
(13:35):
Was that Scottie Barnes?
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Was that from the coaches? Oh? I thought I thought
he did. I thought it was off the fan votes.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
As far as now as I mean, I don't want
to sit here and say that I'm one hundred percent sure,
But as I understood it, what they usually do on
reserves is go to who the coaches would have had next.
So they don't come out right and say that. But
I think when we hear the injury selection for Randall,
(14:06):
that that will that that is how it will play out.
But now you got me second guess myself. So first
thing in the morning, I will go back to the
league and see if I don't have my facts straight.
But I I think in general that's how they've done
it in recent years that whoever was whoever, whoever finished
eighth in the coach balloting is the most likely person
(14:29):
to get that that replacements line.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
So as a right now, as a right now, we
know Adam Silver has to replace one, but it could
potentially be too depending on Joel and bid situation.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
And you'd have to think Embiid's not going to be
able to play. So there will be two slots, likely
in the East. And that's that's why what I wrote
about this on Tuesday, just my instinct is one way
or the other, Trey Young will end up in Indy.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
But but I guess we'll see. We'll have to wait
and see.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
What do you think if if it goes by the coaches,
who they had next up on the list. I don't
know that Trey is that high up. I would be concerned,
you know, think about so East. There's not, like I said,
I can't really think of any real snubs. Definitely Trey
has a case. Who else has a real legitimate case?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
I think Jared. I think Jared Allen has a case.
I feel like he's been so good although he got
hurt tonight. We don't know how serious it is, but.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
I think given all the injury problems that the Calves
have had, I mean, I think Alan I put him
ahead of Porzingis or Derek White or even Scotty Barnes.
Scotty Barnes has a very nice statistical line. He's taken
a step forward, no question. But the Raptors they're even
further adrift in the East than the Hawks. So if
(15:56):
the Raptors are seventeen and thirty, it's to help Scottie
Barnes's All Star case.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Yeah, well, let me just throw since we're naming names
and given shoutouts here about potential snubs, Miles Turner from Indiana,
Indiana believes that he has a case. Uh you said,
Jared Allen, nobody else on Phoenix Jimmy Butler as I mean.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
You know, I am.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
I am the biggest Jimmy fan there is. But I
think this season, given the time he's missed and given
Miami struggles, I don't know that the heat would be
in the.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Market for two All Stars. They got bam At a
bio in.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
I mean, look again, these are not my snubs per se,
but you just can't you know, people love to say
that that Derek White and Porzingis were candidates, but I I.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Really don't see it. In the East.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
To me, the most significant snubs were Trey and Jared
Allen on my scorecard.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
I cann't argue with that. I'll throw mckill bridges in
there as well.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
The East is.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Likely looking at two injury replacements. And that's because again,
the biggest story of the night in the NBA the Sixers.
In the midst of all of those All Star unveilings
earlier tonight on TNT, the Sixers announced that an MRI
revealed that Embiid has sustained quote an injury to the
lateral meniscus in his left knee end quote. No formal
(17:36):
timetable has yet been established, but the Sixers say Embiid
at the minimum out through the weekend while a treatment
plan is finalized. You covered that game Tuesday night for TNT.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
What did you see? I mean it sure didn't.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Even before the the scramble that left him hobbled and.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Forced to leave the game for good. He he did
not look good, did he.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
I watched him workout pregame, so this would be It's
be about thirty five minutes before thirty five to forty
minutes before they took the court for the game. He
did not look good. I was he he warmed up
for about fifteen minutes. Based off of that, I was like,
(18:29):
he's not playing, He's not playing, and then I ended
up walking him to I need. I ended up walking
behind him back to the locker room after his pregame
warm up, and then I can see him telling people, Yeah,
I'm gonna try to give it a go. I was surprised.
He did not look good. He was not moving good.
(18:51):
So I know he's hearing about how he's ducking smoke
ducked the Denver game. And you know, the Philly they were,
they were fine recently for how they handled not you know,
not reporting in a timely fashion uh MB's injury which
(19:12):
caused him to not play that game. It was the
last weekend against the Denver Nuggets, late scratch. I know
he's hearing everything. I know he's hearing the criticism. I
felt like the way he looked, I felt like he
was really trying to like give it a go, to
(19:34):
show everybody that he can play through pain. I just
don't think that was the time to do it. But
what I will say is about you know, you know,
we talked about the sixty five game rule to become
MB excuse me, to be eligible for the MVP and
to be eligible for First Team All NBA. This is
(19:56):
sources close to MB told me this. They said he
had two goals going into this season. Number one was
to try to become the best player in the NBA.
He wanted to establish himself as the best player, and
I think he was in line of doing that. You
pointed out his points, His point stats aligned with his minutes.
(20:22):
You know, he's playing at a historical pace, so he
was on pace of doing that. And number two was
to go into the playoffs healthy and it was not.
There was no goal of winning any individual awards, and
so he was going to make sure this season, if
(20:44):
there was anything bothering him, he might be able to play.
You know, he might be able to play through it.
But he's taking a cautious approach because he felt like
he really hurt the team going into the playoffs, hurt
last year, and that's what he wants to accomplish. He
wants to win a championship, and so those are his goals.
(21:06):
So this whole sixty five. It's not happening. Even before
this injury, it wasn't happening. He wasn't going to reach
that goal. He was going to play it safe, play
when he feels pretty damn close to one hundred percent
and give us best. But if there's any concern, he
was going to err on the side of caution and
(21:27):
sit out because he wants to be healthy for his
team in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
So it sounds though, like he violated his own agenda
by playing in the Golden State game. I mean, because
now I think he took so much cheat for not
playing in Denver. But like when you saw how he
looked first half against the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
He shouldn't have been playing.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
I mean, he you know, he wasn't on the injury
report by all accounts, at his insistence. He told the Sixers,
by all accounts, don't put me on there. I'm gonna
play in Denver. Shouldn't have played in that game. He
shouldn't have played in the Warriors game. And now the
question will be is this injury so serious that he
(22:11):
can't be healthy for the playoffs. That's obviously that is
the only thing that matters at this point. Doesn't matter
how much time he misses for the rest of the
regular season, with Maxie an All Star named an All
Star tonight for the first time with MAXI, you have
to believe that the Sixers will make the playoffs even
(22:31):
if they're missing Embiid for a mess of games, but
just having him healthy for the playoffs. I mean, we
obviously don't know much at this point. It's just hard
to see that right now.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Yeah, to your point, I do think Philly they will
be okay with missing mb with chunks of games of
being sidelined. I think they'll be fine because you know,
if they're they're tough, If they are a team that
finishes in the top five in the conference, I still
feel like they believe that they would still like their chances.
(23:11):
But that that's that's where his head is at. That's
that's what it was told. That's what was told to me.
His head is on, you know, trying to maximize and
take his game to the next level. But he's going
to err on the side of caution all throughout the
season to make sure that he is he's as healthy
as possible going into into the playoffs because he understands
(23:31):
that's where he's going to be That's where he's going
to be greater at. You know, that's what it is
really going to matter the postseason. And uh and like
to your point, Yeah, I mean, for whatever reason playing
in that Golden State game. I think the fact that
it was that Denver game that was a national televised game,
(23:52):
right Philly Denver.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Yeah, Saturday night, and so they were both national Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
So yeah, so I can see the pressure there that
he might have felt. But remember Stein, even that game,
he was just shooting jumpers. You know, he did not
want to get physically. He had Draymond Green guard and him.
You know, Draymond is going to hack and fil and
do whatever to try to muck the game up, and
(24:20):
b you can tell he wasn't ready for that type
of a contact. And so he you know, here it
was steady diets of elbow jumpers top of the key
three pointers. You know, rarely did he mix it up
and try to get in there. And then like and
then to see that happen. It was just a fluke accident.
(24:41):
Johnathan kuminga landing right on that left knee, that very
left knee, just a fluke accident. Towards the end of
the game, and so it sucks to see that. And
you know, he was you know, I was right there.
He he was in serious pain. And they even like
when they when he walked off and then when he
(25:02):
got to the tunnel area that leads to going to
the locker room, there was a wheelchair waiting for him,
and he declined to get in the wheelchair. He walked
it off all the way to the locker room. So
you never want to see that. But I hope, you know,
I hope that he can get back as soon as possible.
He's having an outstanding year, and you know, it's just
(25:24):
tough to see something like that.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
So, I mean, you were with the Sixers all day Tuesday,
pre game, during the game, post game. How funky was
the mood around the team given all this stuff going on?
Speaker 3 (25:43):
Yeah, I mean okay, he said, I think about that game.
It was Marcus Morrison was out that game, Tyrese Maxey
was out that game. Nicholas Petune was out that game.
Who am I missing? I'm I'm missing somebody there was
There was five six guys that would be in that
would in the rotation. You know, it's just a the move.
(26:07):
You know, I spoke with Nixon Patoon a little bit,
and you know, he told me, he was like, man,
as long as we're healthy at the right time, we're good.
They're not sweating it. But obviously it's you know, you
can tell it's they're in a little state of shock
just with everything that's going on. But as tonight, Tyrese Maxie,
he came, he came back and had a tremendous first half.
(26:31):
He's actually killing. He got twenty something points in the
first half of this game against Utah, exactly amount of
points he had. Well, excuse me, twenty something. Pardon me.
He has thirty two points a half and Philly is
up ten at halftime in Utah. So Maxi's okay, So
Maxie's okay. That little spray, that's that's what happens when
(26:53):
you're young. Stein Spraying's they last today when you get
my age, Stein at your age, spray might as well
be a broken foot. You're going to be sidelined for
a while. Hey, one another thing on Maxie Stein And
I hate what he does this, but you just have
to take it in. You know, he calls me sir
(27:14):
all the time, all the time, and I hate it.
Like kid, don't you respect talking about No, No, don't
be don't be respectful to them. I don't. I'm not
ready to be of an age where i'm sir. You
know what I mean? Say that respect for the you know,
go a decade older.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Realize he is. He is only a couple of years
older than your oldest.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
Yeah, I know, I know. Yeah, he could be dating.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
You know what. Here's the thing I don't. I don't.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
My best tyres MAXI story is that when I write
about the Sixers on my BlackBerry, Maxie gets changed to
max I spelled my act. And I think it's accurate
because I think the Sixers are going to have to
maxim this summer, and I think.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
So he's Tyrese Max on my BlackBerry.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
All right, listen, this has been a chaotic week for
us as well. We had hoped to tape Monday Night
because Tuesday, this past Tuesday, January thirtieth, was the one
year anniversary of this show. The very first episode of
(28:31):
This League, Uncut ran on January thirtieth, twenty twenty three. Unfortunately,
due to a wave of circumstances beyond our control, we
had to postpone Monday's get together, so we were not
able to tape the January thirtieth one year anniversary pod
(28:51):
that we were planning. However, the way we're going to
make up for that is we are going to stop
right here and we are going to record a second
episode that deals with the Bucks. Because after Chris covered
six ers at Warriors on Tuesday Night for TNT, he
immediately proceeded to Portland for the Damian Lillard homecoming. We're
(29:15):
going to talk some Bucks, we'll see, maybe we talk
some Lakers, and we will eventually bring it all the
way back to the trade deadline, which again is now
less than one week away Thursday, February eighth, three pm
Eastern time. The trade buzzer sounds, so we're going to
(29:36):
get into all that into the second half the part
two of this edition of This League uncut As always, everyone,
if you haven't already, please follow the show, rate the show,
review the show, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your pods.
Hank tight, Chris and I back very soon with more
(30:00):
NBA talk for you, as only we do.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
It this League and that'll do it for us. See
you next time. This League un Cutter is an iHeartRadio production.
Chris Hanes and mark Stein
The All Star reserves in the East and West are out,
Who made it, who got snubbed, and reaction to the
foremost headline in this league as we speak, Joe l
Embiid's sideline in Philadelphia by a meniscus injury in his
left knee. We get to all of that next here
on This League Uncut.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Welcome to This League Uncut in rule of twenty four
hour NBA News.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
This's you'll, Chris Hans, it's no time, Marks time, It's
so time.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
This League Uncut is underway and on fire. This should
be a good one.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Hey, everyone, welcome in to a Thursday night taping Friday
morning drop for the This League Uncut podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Mark Stein here with Chris Hanyes.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It was always going to be a crazy time because
this Thursday, at three pm Eastern, on this Thursday, that
officially marked one week to go until the trade deadline.
So it was going to be busy anyway. But on
this Thursday, seemingly in the space of an hour and change,
(01:22):
we had a trade. The Houston Rockets made a trade
for next season, but still a significant trade. The Houston
Rockets swung a deal with Memphis to acquire Steven Adams.
That was right before TNT rolled out its scheduled announcement
of the All Star reserves in both conferences, and in
(01:45):
the middle of that revelation finding out the coaches seven
selections in both the East and the West, we get
an injury update from the seventy six.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Ers that the Sixers are not.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Outright declaring the severity of the injury yet. The Sixers
say they're going to need the rest of the week
to make that determination, But the Sixers do acknowledge that
an MRI has revealed a meniscous injury in Joe L.
Embiid's left knee that is obviously going to sideline him
(02:24):
for what, at this point is an undetermined amount of time,
but it's obviously not gonna be measured in days. And
the level of what a blow that is to the
Sixers given the way Embiid has played this season, after
all this discourse all week long about the sixty five
(02:46):
game rule and how many games Embiid has already missed,
I mean, all of that gets shoved to the side
right now, because this is just a massive hit the
Sixers when Embiid, I mean, even after that Golden State game,
when Joel Embiid clearly did not look right even before
(03:09):
the unfortunate loose ball scramble that caused this more severe
knee injury this season, in the thirty four games he
has played, Joel Embiid has scored twelve hundred and one
points in only eleven hundred and fifty seven minutes. Absolutely
ridiculous Wilt esque production. And so the level of alarm
(03:35):
in Philadelphia is obviously super high. As we speak, as
we're recording this, the Sixers are trying to win a
game in Utah without Joel Embid.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
So look, we're gonna get to Embiid.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
We're gonna start with the All Star stuff, and then
we're gonna get to Embiid. Chris Haynes, I'm sure you
were dialed in this evening when the All Star reserves
were announced.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I actually wrote.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
A column on Tuesday trying to pick my fourteen reserves.
Had I had a ballot or had I been advising
a coach with a vote, I knew how I was
gonna go and vote my fourteen. I got twelve out
of fourteen, right, I got them all right. In the
Eastern Conference. Jalen Brown, Donovan Mitchell of course, Jalen Brunson,
(04:21):
who was a Locke to make his first All Star
team after he narrowly missed out on being named a starter,
bam At a Bio, Julius Randall, Tyrese Maxi, And yes,
I had Palo Bancaro getting a spot and he did so.
I did well in the I did well in the East.
You can tell me, Chris, if you think anybody in
(04:42):
the East got snub at the West Man kawhi Ad,
Devin Booker, Anthony Edward Stephen Curry. Those five all made it.
But I would have gone with Rudy Gobert and Demontes
Sabonis for the other two spots. The coaches, what with
Karl Anthony Towns over Gobert. That one really surprised me.
(05:05):
And then Paul George much less of a surprise because
the Clippers have been fantastic and you can certainly make
the argument that the Clippers should have two All Stars.
But the Clippers have two, the Sacramento Kings have none.
The Kings didn't get Sabonis or Deer and Fox in
and that genuinely did surprise me.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Christianes, Yeah, I mean the East was pretty this this
in recent memory. The East, that was pretty that was
probably one of the most easiest seven guys to pick
in the conference in recent memory. That's that's pretty much
the roster that everybody pretty much predicted. The West, Yeah,
we knew that was going to be pretty much up
(05:44):
for grabs. You know, definitely some controversy there the Sacramento
Kings not getting one. I think you can make a
case that they should have two. But then who are
you taking off? Who are you taking off? Minnesota, number
one team in the Western Conference. You can say that
(06:06):
they deserve too if you look at typically when you
have a team that is number one in the conference
or even number one in the entire league, that comes
with multiple All Star bursts, and so you know, it's
interesting you would have picked go Bear over Karl Anthony Towns,
(06:29):
who's having a pretty good season. I mean, I think
Minnesota they would make the case that they deserve three
with that being not.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Getting three in the West.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
The West, Man, the West is the West is so
stacked you literally could come up with a list of
fifteen worthy candidates for the seven spots.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I mean, guys like shne Goot.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Can't even get close to being considered.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
James James Harden is not even going to be considered.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
And you know it's uh, it's just no Pelicans are
you know, on this Western Conference roster.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
It's just super competitive. But no, I have to Minnesota's rise.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Obviously, Anthony Edwards is a huge part of it, becoming
the guy there, becoming really the centerpiece of this team.
But the other transformation in Minneapolis has been defense. This
has been the best defensive team in the league, a
top three defensive team all season. That starts with Gobert.
(07:33):
I mean in a huge, huge way. So it's not
that I'm trying to slight cat, but to me, Gobert
should be the Wolf's second All Star.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
But I mean, if you disagree.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Will disagree. Let's let's talk about it, don't. I don't
know if I disagree or not, But I think they're
a compelling chase for others, for others. But you know,
we talked about this. Was it a month ago when
I was talking about the guards, how it was just
so many guards that were deserving of an All Star
(08:07):
birth in the Western Conference and I was, you know,
I was talking about Steph. I was talking about the
season the Golden State is having I believe Steph is
on on a team with the lowest record who made
an All Star team. I believe Steph is the lowest.
(08:29):
So with that being said, I remember we were talking
about three weeks ago. I was talking about, is there
a scenario where Steph will be left off for the
roster because Dearon Fox, Shae Gillis, Alexander, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards,
it's loaded, and you can make a case that they're
(08:50):
probably more deserving than Steph, and then Dearon, I mean,
it's it's tough, it's tough, but but stin this this
is funny though, because uh, I was just say ironic
because Steph makes it, and you know, there's Kings fans
and saying, hey, what's going on? The Kings are fifth
(09:10):
place in the West, the Aaron having a good year, sabonus.
But look y'all, the NBA announced, what was it two
three days ago, that Steph is going to compete in
a three point contest with Sabrina. Did you actually think
(09:30):
that Steph, if he didn't make it, he was still
going to show up to Indianapolis during an All Star break?
Did you really think that you know that was your
hands up.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
It's funny you bring that up, because I totally didn't
even think about that. But the reason I didn't even
think about that is because I don't care what the
Warriors record is. The thought of Western Conference coaches not
selecting Stephan Curry no freaking chance. Coaches love Stephan Curry
and what a leader or his leadership style the way
(10:01):
I mean, there is no way the Western Conference coaches
were going to leave Stephan Curry off. And like I said,
I didn't even do the math. But what you just
said about the league arranging a three point contest a
showdown between Stephan Curry and Sabrini and Escu for charity,
absolutely right, that's not gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
They're not gonna have Steph fly in for that. And
sorry you didn't make the game.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
But look, the King Kings fans should rightly be pissed.
I they deserve one All Star. Now again, I don't
I struggled with this huge when I wrote about it.
I think Sabonis has been the most consistent force for
this team this season. I mean, the guy shooting better
than sixty percent from the field. But we could have
a long argument about who should get one spot between
(10:48):
the two Kings, if that's all there could have been
room for.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
But we haven't even mentioned Jamal Murray. I think Jamal
Murray has All Star numbers.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
And after you know, that was the big question after
the finals, after he played so well on the final stage.
Was this the year that Jamal Murray was going to
break through and make the All Star team? And it
still hasn't happened. Jamal Murray is still not an NBA
All Star. Lowry Markinen another guy we I mean he
with the way Utah has turned their season around, he
(11:18):
should be considered. Again, We're not even looking at Pelicans
like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Yeah, but star San you mentioned, you mentioned these guys.
Who are you?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
There's no room?
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Who are you?
Speaker 2 (11:31):
There's no room the West, there's no room.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
The West has fifteen guys for seven reserved spots. And look,
the San Antonio Spurs are miles under five hundred.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
But and a rookie.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
We have not seen a rookie make the All Star
Game since Blake Griffin in twenty ten. So Victor Wenmanyama
was never getting an All Star birth in his first season.
But is he a candidate. Did he deserve consideration, Yes,
I think he deserved consideration. So to me, the West
was an app salute nightmare. My list of snubs in
(12:03):
the East is much shorter. Obviously, Trey Young as a soloist.
If you just look at Trey Young's individual production, you know,
for the second straight year he has been left off
the East reserves. But you know the Hawks are well
under five hundred and that's the reason.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Why.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Is that all Trey Young's fault? Of course not, but
he's the one who's paying the price for Atlanta's very
disappointing season. People talked about Porzingis and Derek White in Boston.
Not for me, I would have had Jared Allen or
Scottie Barnes ahead of the two other Celtics. I don't
think the Celtics need four All Stars in the East.
(12:42):
I think having Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown is plenty.
I really felt like Orlando had to have someone in
the East. I'm really glad to see that the coach
is voted bn Carowin because I I do think that
they deserved one. Now it's gonna be interesting. Julius Rand
was selected as an Eastern Conference reserve. Obviously he's not
(13:03):
gonna be able to play with the dislocated shoulder.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
He's just sustained, like Trey might. My Trey might get
that he was second.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Because I think something people need to remember in recent years,
the league doesn't choose those injury replacements typically based on position.
What they usually do is they go to whoever was
closest to earning one of the seven slots from the coaches.
So I don't we obviously don't know was that Trey Young,
(13:35):
Was that Scottie Barnes?
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Was that from the coaches? Oh? I thought I thought
he did. I thought it was off the fan votes.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
As far as now as I mean, I don't want
to sit here and say that I'm one hundred percent sure,
But as I understood it, what they usually do on
reserves is go to who the coaches would have had next.
So they don't come out right and say that. But
I think when we hear the injury selection for Randall,
(14:06):
that that will that that is how it will play out.
But now you got me second guess myself. So first
thing in the morning, I will go back to the
league and see if I don't have my facts straight.
But I I think in general that's how they've done
it in recent years that whoever was whoever, whoever finished
eighth in the coach balloting is the most likely person
(14:29):
to get that that replacements line.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
So as a right now, as a right now, we
know Adam Silver has to replace one, but it could
potentially be too depending on Joel and bid situation.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
And you'd have to think Embiid's not going to be
able to play. So there will be two slots, likely
in the East. And that's that's why what I wrote
about this on Tuesday, just my instinct is one way
or the other, Trey Young will end up in Indy.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
But but I guess we'll see. We'll have to wait
and see.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
What do you think if if it goes by the coaches,
who they had next up on the list. I don't
know that Trey is that high up. I would be concerned,
you know, think about so East. There's not, like I said,
I can't really think of any real snubs. Definitely Trey
has a case. Who else has a real legitimate case?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
I think Jared. I think Jared Allen has a case.
I feel like he's been so good although he got
hurt tonight. We don't know how serious it is, but.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
I think given all the injury problems that the Calves
have had, I mean, I think Alan I put him
ahead of Porzingis or Derek White or even Scotty Barnes.
Scotty Barnes has a very nice statistical line. He's taken
a step forward, no question. But the Raptors they're even
further adrift in the East than the Hawks. So if
(15:56):
the Raptors are seventeen and thirty, it's to help Scottie
Barnes's All Star case.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Yeah, well, let me just throw since we're naming names
and given shoutouts here about potential snubs, Miles Turner from Indiana,
Indiana believes that he has a case. Uh you said,
Jared Allen, nobody else on Phoenix Jimmy Butler as I mean.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
You know, I am.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
I am the biggest Jimmy fan there is. But I
think this season, given the time he's missed and given
Miami struggles, I don't know that the heat would be
in the.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Market for two All Stars. They got bam At a
bio in.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
I mean, look again, these are not my snubs per se,
but you just can't you know, people love to say
that that Derek White and Porzingis were candidates, but I I.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Really don't see it. In the East.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
To me, the most significant snubs were Trey and Jared
Allen on my scorecard.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
I cann't argue with that. I'll throw mckill bridges in
there as well.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
The East is.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Likely looking at two injury replacements. And that's because again,
the biggest story of the night in the NBA the Sixers.
In the midst of all of those All Star unveilings
earlier tonight on TNT, the Sixers announced that an MRI
revealed that Embiid has sustained quote an injury to the
lateral meniscus in his left knee end quote. No formal
(17:36):
timetable has yet been established, but the Sixers say Embiid
at the minimum out through the weekend while a treatment
plan is finalized. You covered that game Tuesday night for TNT.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
What did you see? I mean it sure didn't.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Even before the the scramble that left him hobbled and.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Forced to leave the game for good. He he did
not look good, did he.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
I watched him workout pregame, so this would be It's
be about thirty five minutes before thirty five to forty
minutes before they took the court for the game. He
did not look good. I was he he warmed up
for about fifteen minutes. Based off of that, I was like,
(18:29):
he's not playing, He's not playing, and then I ended
up walking him to I need. I ended up walking
behind him back to the locker room after his pregame
warm up, and then I can see him telling people, Yeah,
I'm gonna try to give it a go. I was surprised.
He did not look good. He was not moving good.
(18:51):
So I know he's hearing about how he's ducking smoke
ducked the Denver game. And you know, the Philly they were,
they were fine recently for how they handled not you know,
not reporting in a timely fashion uh MB's injury which
(19:12):
caused him to not play that game. It was the
last weekend against the Denver Nuggets, late scratch. I know
he's hearing everything. I know he's hearing the criticism. I
felt like the way he looked, I felt like he
was really trying to like give it a go, to
(19:34):
show everybody that he can play through pain. I just
don't think that was the time to do it. But
what I will say is about you know, you know,
we talked about the sixty five game rule to become
MB excuse me, to be eligible for the MVP and
to be eligible for First Team All NBA. This is
(19:56):
sources close to MB told me this. They said he
had two goals going into this season. Number one was
to try to become the best player in the NBA.
He wanted to establish himself as the best player, and
I think he was in line of doing that. You
pointed out his points, His point stats aligned with his minutes.
(20:22):
You know, he's playing at a historical pace, so he
was on pace of doing that. And number two was
to go into the playoffs healthy and it was not.
There was no goal of winning any individual awards, and
so he was going to make sure this season, if
(20:44):
there was anything bothering him, he might be able to play.
You know, he might be able to play through it.
But he's taking a cautious approach because he felt like
he really hurt the team going into the playoffs, hurt
last year, and that's what he wants to accomplish. He
wants to win a championship, and so those are his goals.
(21:06):
So this whole sixty five. It's not happening. Even before
this injury, it wasn't happening. He wasn't going to reach
that goal. He was going to play it safe, play
when he feels pretty damn close to one hundred percent
and give us best. But if there's any concern, he
was going to err on the side of caution and
(21:27):
sit out because he wants to be healthy for his
team in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
So it sounds though, like he violated his own agenda
by playing in the Golden State game. I mean, because
now I think he took so much cheat for not
playing in Denver. But like when you saw how he
looked first half against the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
He shouldn't have been playing.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
I mean, he you know, he wasn't on the injury
report by all accounts, at his insistence. He told the Sixers,
by all accounts, don't put me on there. I'm gonna
play in Denver. Shouldn't have played in that game. He
shouldn't have played in the Warriors game. And now the
question will be is this injury so serious that he
(22:11):
can't be healthy for the playoffs. That's obviously that is
the only thing that matters at this point. Doesn't matter
how much time he misses for the rest of the
regular season, with Maxie an All Star named an All
Star tonight for the first time with MAXI, you have
to believe that the Sixers will make the playoffs even
(22:31):
if they're missing Embiid for a mess of games, but
just having him healthy for the playoffs. I mean, we
obviously don't know much at this point. It's just hard
to see that right now.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Yeah, to your point, I do think Philly they will
be okay with missing mb with chunks of games of
being sidelined. I think they'll be fine because you know,
if they're they're tough, If they are a team that
finishes in the top five in the conference, I still
feel like they believe that they would still like their chances.
(23:11):
But that that's that's where his head is at. That's
that's what it was told. That's what was told to me.
His head is on, you know, trying to maximize and
take his game to the next level. But he's going
to err on the side of caution all throughout the
season to make sure that he is he's as healthy
as possible going into into the playoffs because he understands
(23:31):
that's where he's going to be That's where he's going
to be greater at. You know, that's what it is
really going to matter the postseason. And uh and like
to your point, Yeah, I mean, for whatever reason playing
in that Golden State game. I think the fact that
it was that Denver game that was a national televised game,
(23:52):
right Philly Denver.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Yeah, Saturday night, and so they were both national Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
So yeah, so I can see the pressure there that
he might have felt. But remember Stein, even that game,
he was just shooting jumpers. You know, he did not
want to get physically. He had Draymond Green guard and him.
You know, Draymond is going to hack and fil and
do whatever to try to muck the game up, and
(24:20):
b you can tell he wasn't ready for that type
of a contact. And so he you know, here it
was steady diets of elbow jumpers top of the key
three pointers. You know, rarely did he mix it up
and try to get in there. And then like and
then to see that happen. It was just a fluke accident.
(24:41):
Johnathan kuminga landing right on that left knee, that very
left knee, just a fluke accident. Towards the end of
the game, and so it sucks to see that. And
you know, he was you know, I was right there.
He he was in serious pain. And they even like
when they when he walked off and then when he
(25:02):
got to the tunnel area that leads to going to
the locker room, there was a wheelchair waiting for him,
and he declined to get in the wheelchair. He walked
it off all the way to the locker room. So
you never want to see that. But I hope, you know,
I hope that he can get back as soon as possible.
He's having an outstanding year, and you know, it's just
(25:24):
tough to see something like that.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
So, I mean, you were with the Sixers all day Tuesday,
pre game, during the game, post game. How funky was
the mood around the team given all this stuff going on?
Speaker 3 (25:43):
Yeah, I mean okay, he said, I think about that game.
It was Marcus Morrison was out that game, Tyrese Maxey
was out that game. Nicholas Petune was out that game.
Who am I missing? I'm I'm missing somebody there was
There was five six guys that would be in that
would in the rotation. You know, it's just a the move.
(26:07):
You know, I spoke with Nixon Patoon a little bit,
and you know, he told me, he was like, man,
as long as we're healthy at the right time, we're good.
They're not sweating it. But obviously it's you know, you
can tell it's they're in a little state of shock
just with everything that's going on. But as tonight, Tyrese Maxie,
he came, he came back and had a tremendous first half.
(26:31):
He's actually killing. He got twenty something points in the
first half of this game against Utah, exactly amount of
points he had. Well, excuse me, twenty something. Pardon me.
He has thirty two points a half and Philly is
up ten at halftime in Utah. So Maxi's okay, So
Maxie's okay. That little spray, that's that's what happens when
(26:53):
you're young. Stein Spraying's they last today when you get
my age, Stein at your age, spray might as well
be a broken foot. You're going to be sidelined for
a while. Hey, one another thing on Maxie Stein And
I hate what he does this, but you just have
to take it in. You know, he calls me sir
(27:14):
all the time, all the time, and I hate it.
Like kid, don't you respect talking about No, No, don't
be don't be respectful to them. I don't. I'm not
ready to be of an age where i'm sir. You
know what I mean? Say that respect for the you know,
go a decade older.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Realize he is. He is only a couple of years
older than your oldest.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
Yeah, I know, I know. Yeah, he could be dating.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
You know what. Here's the thing I don't. I don't.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
My best tyres MAXI story is that when I write
about the Sixers on my BlackBerry, Maxie gets changed to
max I spelled my act. And I think it's accurate
because I think the Sixers are going to have to
maxim this summer, and I think.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
So he's Tyrese Max on my BlackBerry.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
All right, listen, this has been a chaotic week for
us as well. We had hoped to tape Monday Night
because Tuesday, this past Tuesday, January thirtieth, was the one
year anniversary of this show. The very first episode of
(28:31):
This League, Uncut ran on January thirtieth, twenty twenty three. Unfortunately,
due to a wave of circumstances beyond our control, we
had to postpone Monday's get together, so we were not
able to tape the January thirtieth one year anniversary pod
(28:51):
that we were planning. However, the way we're going to
make up for that is we are going to stop
right here and we are going to record a second
episode that deals with the Bucks. Because after Chris covered
six ers at Warriors on Tuesday Night for TNT, he
immediately proceeded to Portland for the Damian Lillard homecoming. We're
(29:15):
going to talk some Bucks, we'll see, maybe we talk
some Lakers, and we will eventually bring it all the
way back to the trade deadline, which again is now
less than one week away Thursday, February eighth, three pm
Eastern time. The trade buzzer sounds, so we're going to
(29:36):
get into all that into the second half the part
two of this edition of This League uncut As always, everyone,
if you haven't already, please follow the show, rate the show,
review the show, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your pods.
Hank tight, Chris and I back very soon with more
(30:00):
NBA talk for you, as only we do.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
It this League and that'll do it for us. See
you next time. This League un Cutter is an iHeartRadio production.
Chris Hanes and mark Stein
Hosts And Creators
Chris Haynes
Marc Stein
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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!