March 18, 2024 • 42 mins
On the latest edition of #thisleague UNCUT, Chris Haynes and Marc Stein use Kyrie Irving's ridiculous lefty game-winner at the buzzer on St. Patrick's Day as the jumping-off point for a detailed look at the jockeying for playoff seeds in both the Western and Eastern Conference with one month to go in the NBA regular season. As a bonus: Chris shares a fun story about Isaiah Thomas texting him with a pitch that foreshadowed Thomas' actually landing a roster spot with the Phoenix Suns.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to this League Uncut in you rule.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
A twenty four hour NBA news.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
This is you, Chris Haynes.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
It's time, Mark's time.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
It's some time.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
This league Uncut is underway and on fire.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
This should be a good one.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
Hey, everyone, welcome in to another edition of this League Uncut.
Mark Stein here with Chris Haynes. Hope everybody had a
great Saint Patrick's Day. I have to say it is
not a holiday that this probably won't surprise you, not
(00:45):
a holiday that I typically participate in in any meaningful way.
I'm way too old to get wild and crazy on
a Saint Patrick's Day. Did not wear any green, Chris Haynes,
did you wear any green yesterday?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I didn't.
Speaker 5 (01:02):
I didn't even know it was Saint Patrick's Day till
I went downtown, went to church.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
And then when I got outside of church, I saw.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
A bunch of people wearing green and they were stumbling
to walk, so they were already drunk around noon, one
o'clock PM.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
That was your conclusive medical diagnosis.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
Oh yeah, it didn't take much. You know, you don't
need a degree to be able to tell if somebody's drunk.
You know, the church, I go to. It's, like you said,
right downtown, so there's a bunch of bars and everything,
so you could you can see people bar hopping and
wearing green.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I know that was such a big deal.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
So but no, I don't, you know, I've never I
don't know if he knows stein, but you know, I
don't drink, never drink, never smoked.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
I don't you know.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
I took a sip of some wine of some people
that made me, made me consume it because I was
around them, but I don't so from that, I don't.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
I don't drink, so I wouldn't know.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah, neither one of us does. He never asked, no, Okay.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
On my twenty first birthday, I was forced to consume
some rum and coke.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Did not go well. I couldn't do it. I didn't
taste it. Awful. Yeah, that's it.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
I'm crazy as it is, starn so I felt like,
you know, I.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
Don't need liquor anything else to make me even crazier.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
So you know, I've been you know, so far, so good.
Speaker 5 (02:26):
I don't think and hopefully there's nothing that causes me
to drink. There's timestinying, times in your life where you
feel like you need a drink.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
I don't you know what I mean. I don't know
what that feeling is after you have one, but you
know it'd be sometimes from like, hey, maybe this.
Speaker 5 (02:40):
Is a good time for a drink, this good time
for smoke. But I've never I've never done done.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
Them so well, we probably should have worn something green
one of us, just to say we like. Even your
guy Tim McMahon showed up for the Mavericks Nuggets game
Sunday afternoon, an incredible Mattene game in Dallas. Even your
guy McMahon had on a pair of green Adidas gazelles
(03:05):
that I had to say, looked pretty They looked pretty good.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
If there was anybody that you can tell me who
will probably be the most excited about yesterday in the
media corps, Tim will probably be a the top of
my list.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
I don't know how excited he. I don't know if
he gets to you know, he's so grumpy. I don't
know if he ever gets excited. But all of this
was my preamble to say that I did nothing wild
and crazy, but I certainly saw something absolutely wild and
still hard to believe. Almost twenty four hours later that
Kyrie Irving game winner, leave up looking.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
In curving, curving for the wind, just ups.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Going to his left running floater hook shot. I'm still
not sure what to call it, but with his left
hand a buzzer beater.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And for Dallas, huge redemption.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Because it was just a few weeks ago that they
lost an absolute heartbreaker in Cleveland when Max Struce drained
a sixty footer at the buzzer. I thought that was
crazy this because it was left handed, just as wild
(04:33):
and stunning as what Struce did on February twenty seventh,
and crazily. Kyrie Irving has not been a Maverick for
a long time. It's only been about thirteen months. But
if you're a calendar nerd like me, you know that
on March seventeenth, twenty twenty three, Maxi Klieba beat the
(04:58):
Lakers at the buzzer off a cross court Kyrie Irving pass,
and then March seventeenth, twenty twenty four, Saint Patrick's Day
twenty twenty four, Kyrie Irving only the second career buzzer
beater for Kyrie Irving. But man, what a shot I mean,
and he is I mean he is known as a
(05:20):
shot maker. Your guy Damian Lillard took right to Twitter
to call him the most skilled player ever. I talk
about the Mavericks all the time, so I want to
hear your thoughts not just on the game, but what
do you think of this Mavericks team? What do you
think people in the West think of this Mavericks team.
I'll weigh in after you. But how good are these guys?
(05:40):
How dangerous are the Mavericks of Dallas.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
They're definitely a dangerous opponent for anybody, particularly in that
first round. You cannot sleep on any time you got
a guy like Luka Dakich, who's going to be in
the MVP conversation year after year as long as he's healthy.
And Kyrie Irvin, who we know the heroics, you know,
the skill said that he brings to a team. Anytime
(06:06):
you got those two guys in the fold and they're healthy,
you got a shot.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Just like you know, it's a similar situation with the
Phoenix Signs.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
Anytime you got healthy KD Devin Booker, Bradley beal, you're
going to give yourself a shot and you're going to
be dangerous.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Now are they going to be the favorites?
Speaker 5 (06:23):
That's a different question and most of the times I
would probably say probably not probably won't be be the favorites.
But you know, you look at a team like the Mavericks,
if they can get that seventh seed, like if they
can lock into that seventh seed, you know obviously.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
They need six not seven, but go ahead.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
They need six. Now, Okay, I get you there.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
Well, you're assuming the Nuggets are going to Nuggets or
Thunder is going to stay at one or two.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Yeah, I mean to me, you know, I think Minnesota,
because they don't have Karl Anthony Towns, is gonna end
up third and as great as season as the Wolves
have had, as good defensively as the Wolves are, And look,
when the Timberwolves woke up on this Monday morning, they
(07:10):
were still number one in the NBA in defensive rating,
allowing only one hundred and eight point two points per
one hundred possessions, still ahead of the Boston Celtics, who
have truly been the team of the regular season. So look,
I'm not saying that you want to see the Minnesota Timberwolves,
(07:33):
but if my choices are the Denver Nuggets, the defending champions,
the very frisky Oklahoma City Thunder, and Minnesota which is
probably gonna have to play without Karl Anthony Towns for
the rest of the regular season, and then if they're
fortunate enough to get Cat back, work him in on
the fly for the playoffs. And if they don't get
(07:54):
Cat back from his recent mniscus surgery, that puts a huge,
huge burden offensively on Anthony Edwards. Karl Anthony Towns was
having a great season offensively, so to me, Dallas and
the team closest to where you reside, Sacramento, these two
(08:15):
teams are locked in this battle for number six and
both desperately want it because I think both would rather
see a less than full strength Minnesota in Round one
than either Denver or Oklahoma City.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Yeah, I would agree with you on that.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
I'm just not sure Minnesota is gonna slide like that
without cap. That would be my only concern if I'm
Dallas or any other team that's trying to lock into
that sixth seed. But even with that being said, I
still think Dallas would like their chances against Minnesota and Oka.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
See.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
You know, I think that you're in pretty good shape
if you could get that six or seven seed. And
I do think Denver. I'm not a betting Man. But
I would think denver By seasons in will we'll get
that number one seed.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
That's what they're going after, and you know.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
They had the championship pedigree, they experience to to do
what it takes to get to that spot.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
So that's the way I see things going. Do I
know for sure? Hell no, I don't.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
I'd really like to hear more of your take on
this because I'm always talking about the MAVs. As you know,
I have a Saturday radio show in Dallas which is
super MAVs heavy.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
So I'm going to follow up after you.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
But I got to ask you now, thirteen months into this,
when the Mavericks first traded for Kyrie Irving, what did
you think?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Did you think he and Luca would be a good pairing.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
I didn't know. I honestly didn't know.
Speaker 5 (09:48):
You know, this is you know, Kyrie coming from his
other two stops in Boston.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
And Brooklyn, and you know it didn't go too well there.
Speaker 5 (09:59):
But what I did did it feel like is that
Dallas did the best that they could and it was
a good pickup considering they lost Jalen Brunson. So from
that standpoint, I looked at it as it was definitely
a great pickup.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
How would he and Luca fair and messed together?
Speaker 5 (10:16):
I didn't know, but they were definitely talented enough to
get it done.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
And you know, it's always something starting.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
You know, it's like when two stars, even three stars
team up together. You know, people will automatically look at,
you know, their connection on the court. Can they play
well when a lot of times these coaches they staggered
their minutes anyways, And so even if they're not that
good chemistry wise between the two, you can, you know,
(10:46):
you can give one of the stars time to shine
on the floor together singularly and let them go at it.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
And that way both both stars.
Speaker 5 (10:56):
Can be in the rhythm, be in the groove, because
that's why they really do it, son each being the rhythm,
in the groove.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Knowing that they're they're at least going to have.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
To play together the last six seven minutes of the game,
and then you're hoping like them being in the groove
is going to help them play better together. And so
you know, I thought, look, you know, they this is Kyrie.
You know, we know what he brings to a team,
and you know, I felt like it was definitely worthwhile
(11:25):
pick up considering they lost Jalen Brusson, and so I still,
you know today it was definitely worth it. Kyrie has
been a model citizen over there. He I mean, like
he's doing a good shot. Now. I'm not with that
team all day, like I mean all day every day,
like you How has Kyrie been with the team, the
locker room and everything since he's been over there.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
He's beloved in this locker room.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
I mean, you could see it the way this team celebrated,
how happy it was after he made this ridiculous shot.
And look when he first Scott here. The Mavericks tried
to throw this thing together on the fly. Luca and
Kyrie were five and eleven last season in games when
(12:10):
both were in uniform. It didn't click on the fly.
But also, you look at the state of the team
last year.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
You look at the.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
State of the roster, it was so much weaker than
compared to now. But honestly, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving
have been functioning fantastically well as a duo all season long.
And what's crazy about it is the thought was, Okay,
they're going to get a training camp this time. That's
(12:39):
gonna make the big difference. They didn't get a training camp.
They played seven ish minutes together in the exhibition season.
They took the really long trip two games in Abu
Dhabi and then a game in Spain so Luca could
go back to Real Madrid, the club that really helped
(13:00):
launch him to prominence and where he became a EuroLeague MVP,
and where he began his pro career at sixteen with
the senior national team. After that long trip, both Luca
and Kyrie came back with injuries, so basically they had
no training camp. The only issue for them as a
duo this season has been getting them on a court.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Enough.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Kyrie has had two pretty long injury absences, but in
both cases they were freakish injuries. Dwight Powell, his teammate,
landed on his leg and knocked him out early in
the season, and then he had a thumb injury when
he got hit on a swipe down. I mean, those
are both not normal situations. When Kyrie Irving has been
(13:46):
on the floor with Luka Dancic, they have been an
absolute handful. I don't think anybody wants to see these
two in the playoffs. But what is so notable about
this win over Denver. Denver is a very physical team,
much more physical than the Mavericks, and what has been
(14:06):
the challenge. You know, people want to make the comparison
Luca and Kyrie have echoes of Lebron's partnership with Kyrie,
but when Lebron was playing with Kyrie, Lebron was at
the height of his powers in terms of being a
two way defensive force. If you've got Luca and Kyrie,
(14:27):
they are both going to be offensive dynamos. The challenges
can you build a workable sustainable defense around the two
of them when both of them are going to be
on the court for.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
So many minutes per game.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Sunday afternoon on Saint Patrick's Day afternoon, the Mavericks played physical.
They pounded Denver on the boards. I think it was
sixty to thirty nine on the boards. The Mavericks are
not known for out rebounding teams to that degree, but
it's they have much more size now since the trade deadline,
bringing in Anuel Gafford to play with Derek Lively, and
(15:03):
you got PJ. Washington, Lively, Gafford, Maxi Kleiba as a foursome.
You know, they did as good a job on Jokic
as you can do. And now some of it Jokicic
just didn't look into it yesterday.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
He was very sleepy in the first.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Half, and you know, sometimes afternoon games are weird because
of the different start time. But you know that game
was in primetime in both Slovenia and Serbia. So I'm
sure Jokic did not want to deliver a sluggish performance
because you know that game's in primetime back home in
Serbia for him. But I you know, I thought that
(15:39):
you could actually say the Mavericks defenders were a factor
in a pretty so so game for Jokic. So I
think that's what has to encourage Dallas the most because
their defense has been bottom ten all season. I always
say this with the Mavericks and the Kings, and you
could probably throw this into the same discussion. The challenge
(16:03):
for these teams, can you have a league average defense.
If the defense is just league you know, middle of
the pack, the offense is gonna be so good that
you have a chance. And all credit to the Phoenix Suns,
even after a horrendous showing in Milwaukee on Sunday, even
after giving up one hundred and forty points to the Bucks.
(16:23):
With no Giannis Antetokumpo in the lineup, the Suns are
thirteenth in defense as of this Monday. That's pretty impressive
considering they don't have a team full of defenders. I
think Frank Vogel to get that team to thirteenth in
the defensive rating charts, he's probably taking that. But Sacramento
(16:44):
was twentieth and the MAVs are twenty first. So the
MAVs are in the bottom ten. And the goal is
for the Kings and the MAVs, can you get to
fifteen ish defensively, then you know you're gonna have a
chance in the playoffs. And so for Dallas to play
such good defense and play with such physicality against the
defending champions and a team that has bullied them many
(17:07):
many times in the past, I think that was as
encouraging for Dallas as the ending was exhilarating.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
And that's why they're a serious threat.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
You know, I look at this team, aside from you know,
the defensive woes, offensively, they have it all. Playmakers, they
have shooters, they have size, they have guys that can
guard up multiple defenders out on the perimeter. You know
you got the lob threats. You know they got they
have everything you know that you would need. It's not
(17:38):
the best team, but again that's why I say that
they are a threat. And for one thing about these
teams you want to be you know, we're gonna talk
about the Bucks let their own. But it's one thing
to catch a stride, but it's better when you catch
your stride at the right time. And when you're catching
your stride on the cusp of entering po season play,
(18:02):
that's probably the best feeling you can have because now
you're going into the playoffs feeling good. You're going into
the playoffs knowing what you're going to get from everybody.
You know, there's certain teams that peak in December and
then they collapse after that. They still make it to
the playoffs, but they're still searching for an identity or
trying to find that identity that they had months ago.
(18:24):
It's a good time to be trying to click. So
if Dallas, if they can use this as motivation is
fueled to inspire them to go to go on the
streak here heading in the right direction.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
Ending the postseason, I promise we are going to talk
some East we are going to talk for sure about
the Bucks a little bit here, but I can't take
my eyes off the West because no, again, there are
(18:57):
really three different races going on. You've got the race
for number one OKC Awoke Monday with a half game
lead on the Nuggets and Minnesota only a game behind.
So even without Cat, the Wolves have hung in there
and they're still very firmly in the race for the
number one seed in the West. After you know again
(19:19):
that I referenced in a recent podcast that ridiculous stat
from Alan Horton, the Wolves radio guy who keeps this
stat that in franchise history, the Wolves had only led
the West for ten days in the first thirty four
years of the franchise, and this season it's right around
one hundred days. So Minnesota is still there. So that's
(19:41):
race number one. Race number two. New Orleans the surging Pelicans,
who've been probably the best team in the West since
February first, with Zion Williamson looking absolutely rejuvenated and Trey
Murphy also stretching the floor, and the Pelicans have just
(20:03):
been on an absolute tear the last six weeks. The
Pelicans are within a game now of bumping the Clippers
down to number five. So there's the race for four
or five with the Clippers and the Pelicans, and honestly,
the Clippers without Russell Westbrook, they have not had the
same zip. Kawhi Leonard came back from this worrisome back
(20:29):
injury that he suffered, and you know he was there.
They had Kawhi Leonard and losing Sunday to Atlanta, a
team with really not much to play for at this point.
Atlanta is stuck in a playing spot in the East,
and I think the Hawks will hold on to number
(20:52):
ten at worse, but it's not like they're gonna climb
much higher in the standings and they're going to be
a playing team and really that that's all the Hawks
are working on right now. So that was you know,
the Clippers have lost four of five. That was pretty brutal.
So you got that race, and then there's the you know,
six through ten in the West. Sacramento on Monday morning
(21:15):
leading that race by percentage points. And you know, we've
talked about why number six is so valuable if Denver
ends up winning the top seed in the West, which
again is not assured, but not only does number six
(21:35):
put you potentially in line to play Minnesota in the
first round, and it might keep you away from the
Denver Nuggets until the conference finals.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
That's all TBD.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
But this race six through ten, the Kings leaded by
percentage points as we're recording this, Dallas at seven, Phoenix
at eight. Those teams are tied, but the Mavericks hold
the tiebreaker. Golden State at nine, the Lakers at ten.
And so again, if the play in tournament where to
start today, the names that would be in the play
(22:05):
in tournament, it is ridiculous to think about Luka, Doncic,
Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Stephen Curry,
Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Lebron James, and Anthony Davis as
of Monday, all are play in tournament bound.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
And you know, we could.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Talk about the Lakers as well, because I mean, it's
just horrible luck for Anthony Davis to get a corneal abrasion,
which is obviously another freakish injury. And you know, he
has been so ever present for the Lakers, and he's
done what people have asked. He stayed on the floor
and he's led this team defensively. All right, I've rambled
(22:44):
on way too long. Let me ask you. Let's start
with the Sons, because I think you mentioned recently that
they should be the ones to sign Isaiah Thomas, and
now it looks like they are going to sign Isaiah
Thomas to attend Day. But how worried should the Sons
be to go to Milwaukee and get blasted like they
did when the Bucks didn't have Giannis.
Speaker 5 (23:05):
Let me tell you something about that Stein. So when
when was that? Was it last week I did the
Phoenix game? Might have been a week and a half ago.
When I did that Phoenix game, it was Phoenix Denver,
and I reported during the game the Sons are looking
to They're looking to add a player for the latter
part of the season that could potentially go into the
(23:28):
playoffs with you know, looking for a veteran, somebody who
has some experience, not necessarily somebody that's going to play
a lot, but just a good locker room, postseason experience
god type of guy. And immediately when I said that
on air, Isaiah Thomas gave me a text, Hey tell
the Suns to come get me. So it me So
(23:51):
he was watching the Gay Edie said that, and so
he was the first one that put that on my radar.
I'm like, man, I might you know, we all we've
been talking about sons. He the point guard anyways, and
I'm like, that might make sense. And so that's when
I said. Then I did our podcast and then I
mentioned Isaiah's name. It's Isaiah might be.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
But Isaiah was the one who gave me that suggestion
of Isaiah. So and now it's good.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
He's about to get a ten day with the Suns,
and so I'm glad it all worked out for him.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
So based on what you were hearing, do you think,
I mean, are they looking for someone who's gonna go
with it?
Speaker 1 (24:28):
You know not.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
I'm sure Isaiah Thomas wants more than a ten day.
He's trying to convince them to sign him for the
rest of the season and bring him along for the
playoff ride. What kind of chances do you think he
has of latching on and staying there for the rest
of the season.
Speaker 5 (24:42):
Yeah, I think it ultimately depends on what he does
in this ten day. I don't know that it's going
to I don't know if that he has to go
out there and just ball out but locker room guy. Obviously,
they want to see if he can steal play. I mean,
he tore up the G League in a handful of
that they play this season, so he can still play,
(25:03):
but the Sons want to get a glimpse up close
and personal.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
You know.
Speaker 5 (25:07):
I don't know how much playing time he's going to
get during it during his stint, but I think most
importantly it's going to be about what type of locker
room presence is he going to provide. Can he help
out since Phoenix Suns are not really playing the traditional
point guard, is there anything he can instill in Bradley Beal,
(25:27):
Devin Booker to kind of help them see certain things
that maybe a conventional point guard would see. You know,
I think that's where he's going to probably help more
so now if he could go out there and if
he gets a couple of play playing stints and he
goes out there and balls out, that's that's just extra
for him. But he has he has an opportunity to
(25:47):
get signed for the rest of the season and going
to the playoffs. That's definitely what he wants. But the
Sons are still giving themselves an out just in case
if they see that this is probably not the best fit.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
They can try to go in another direction.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Yeah, you know, I feel like I say it on
every single podcast. I have no doubts that Isaiah Thomas
will fit in locker room wise. I mean, he's always
been a popular teammate pretty much everywhere he's played, and
I think a lot of people are rooting for him
on this comeback now, So I mean, I can't see
any issues there.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
But it's just the Suns this.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
You know, It's not like there's anything they could do
about it. The injuries are what they are. But you know,
that game in Milwaukee was just the twenty seventh time
that Durant, Beal, and Booker have all played together, and
it's just not enough.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
They just have not played.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
Together enough, and so they don't have continuity. Defense is
an issue with this team. Yes, Nurkic is going to
rack up rebounds, but as a defensive center, I mean
there are question marks there, and so I think the
sixth spot is going to Sacramento or Dallas. The Sons
also have a brutal schedule the rest of the way.
(27:03):
According to Tankathon on this Monday, Phoenix's fourteen games left
the opponent winning percentage is five sixty three, so the
second hardest remaining schedule in the league in terms of
opponent winning percentage, whereas Dallas, for example, Dallas is looking
(27:25):
at the second easiest remaining schedule opponent winning percentage of
four point fifty five. Sacramento's top ten in terms of
remaining schedule. The Kings, their sixteen remaining opponents, have a
composite winning percentage of five oh seven on this Monday.
But the point is the Suns don't have a lot
(27:46):
of continuity. They've got a really tough schedule the rest
of the way, and even if they're fortunate enough to
get up to number six, that would get them out
of the plane. But they're going to have to play
on the road every round in the playoff. And so
that's why the Sun seem to be a popular choice
of they're the scariest of the lower seeds in the West.
(28:07):
But I just don't feel that way, and it's for
me just because I haven't seen enough of them.
Speaker 5 (28:14):
Yeah, mam b I think you know there's teams that
fit in that boat where the continuity isn't there, and
you know, they don't win games at a consistent clip
but the players scare you. You know, you got a
KD who if the game is close, KD can get
you a bucket when you need it. Except similar to
(28:35):
the Los Angeles Lakers. Nobody wants to see the Lakers. Really,
I'm not saying anybody's scared of them, but you got
Lebron there and then you know ad depending on how
with this eye injury, how effect that he's going to
be once he returns, I would assume he'll have to
wear some type of eye protection. I don't know, I
(28:57):
haven't heard anything, you haven't checked in on it to
be exact, but you know they did Lakers Warriors. These
are scary team Stephen Curry, you know, like these teams
that have been there. So but stein that play in Man,
I maybe going out on a limb, but I think
the player is going to feature Golden State and the Lakers,
and that's big. That's huge now for for even more drama,
(29:18):
more star power. Phoenixes. They're acting like they want to
be a part of it. They're they're acting like they
want it. They want to get in that mix. And
you know, so you know there's still time, but you
know that playing is going to have a lot of
star power, and I think it's going to start with
the Lakers and the Warriors, and I think you can't
(29:40):
ask for a better scenario. Since this playing has been
implemented over the last few years, it has been some
entertaining matchups and this could has the potential to be
the best set of games in that play in format.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Well I mentioned it.
Speaker 4 (29:53):
I genuinely feel sorry for Anthony Davis because a corneal
abrasion is just a brutal, freakish injury. To take a
scratch to the eye, and again he's had to endure
a ton of criticism, all the street closed nonsense from
previous seasons. But the man has he has played. He
has been a rock for this team. He's going to
(30:15):
qualify for all NBA and MVP consideration based on games played.
But it's look the most worrisome thing for the Lakers.
Lebron James has defied Father Time and had the best
season we've ever seen from a player his age, and
Anthony Davis has been there far more often than not.
(30:39):
And the Lakers are even with lots of Lebron and
lots of ad. On this Monday, they woke up number
ten in the West number eighteenth in the league in defense,
I mean that is stunning when you have a defensive
anchor of Anthony Davis's caliber. And yeah, I mean there
(31:01):
are a bazillion question marks. Again, there are three races
in the West for me, but six through ten is
my favorite race anywhere in the NBA standings.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
To see who's.
Speaker 4 (31:15):
Gonna sneak out with that number six spot in the West,
and then how the play in round shapes up, because
the playing round is going to be an absolute steel
cage match. Let's switch now to the East because the
(31:42):
team that blasted the Suns, a certain Damian Lillard had
a field day without yannas Ante Decompo.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
What was it thirty one and sixteen Dame had in Milwaukee.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
Franchise best thirty plus fifteen plus assist.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
And look by all counts.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
Doc Rivers has tried to make it clear since he
has taken over that team that the offense needs to
start with Damian Lillard. That's obviously going to be the
case when janis on Titokumpo is not on the floor.
But the Bucks also welcome back Chris Middleton. In Sunday's game,
they went ten to six, without Middleton sixteen games lost.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
To an ankle injury, serious ankle injury. But Chris Middleton
came back a.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
Very sharp twenty two points in his return, And once
they get Giannis Antetokounmpo back, the Bucks will be trending
towards full strength.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
They're not going to catch the Boston Celtics. The East
is gone. The Celtics are going to get the top
seed in the East. Man the Celtics lead.
Speaker 4 (32:46):
The Celtics, the first fifty win team in this season's NBA,
and the Celtics on this Monday nine and a half
game lead in the East over the Bucks entering Monday
Nights game. So the number one seed is gone. But
give me your pulse check on the Bucks, who you.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Know as well as anyone.
Speaker 1 (33:07):
Well, so let me correct you a little bit. You said.
Speaker 5 (33:13):
Doc has made sure the offense runs through Dame. I
don't know if it should be phrased that way. I
would say that he's empowered Dame to be the point
guard to bring the ball up more. Before Doc came aboard,
it was like a point guard by committee. Giannis would
bring the ball up a lot initiate the offense. Chris
(33:35):
Middleton would do the same, and so Doc has changed
that where he's allowing Dame to be the point guard
of the team and you know, primarily handled the ball.
The office is still going through Giannis. That's always going
to be the case. The Bucks beat they beat the Sons,
took care of them without Giannis, and then the Bucks
(33:57):
took care of him a week ago, took care of
the Clippers without Giannis.
Speaker 1 (34:01):
As well, and Dame had a big game. And you know,
I see people kind of overreacting to you know, Damians
can't play together Dame.
Speaker 5 (34:13):
You well, yeah, Dame is, you know, comfortable being the
league guy, and he is comfortable running the team and
getting guys going that that is true. But if you
look over the last couple of weeks between Dame and Giannis,
Dame has thrown more love passes that have connected with
Giannis than he has in all this season prior to
(34:35):
these past couple of weeks. So the chemistry is getting there,
the continuity is getting there. There's more pick and rolls
now they're playing together. There's more two man action, there's
more dribble handoffs now. They've had a couple of hiccups
in between, but for the most part, they're playing probably
the best basketball team wise that they played in all
(34:58):
year over the stretch. So Doc River is doing a
good job of holding guys accountable and establishing roles, redefining roles,
I should say, and clarifying what what it is that
he needs from the players and the coaching staff. So
(35:19):
when Giannis gets back, Chris Milton, they're they're they're they're
going to be a threat. You know, we want to
see you want to see more dominance for sure with
Dame and Giannis together. But you know, it's it's been
you know, it's been a struggle. It's been uh, you know,
Dame is still adapting, and but that I think I
think they're starting to slowly turn that corner.
Speaker 4 (35:41):
All right, then I stand corrected. The better way to
phrase it, what I should have said, is Damian Lillard
orchestrating the offense more instead of the offense running through him.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Yeah for sure. All right.
Speaker 4 (35:54):
Well, look, and you know, we talk so much about
the West, and I think part of it is because
both you and I live in West Stern conference cities.
I don't want to completely sleep on what's happening in
the East standings either, because there is plenty of intrigue
there as well the fact that Orlando is flirting with
the number four spot. Nobody saw that coming, and that's
(36:15):
why Jamal Moseley is firmly entrenched in the Coach of
the Year race and again starting a new week basically
four weeks to go.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
A month ago.
Speaker 4 (36:25):
In the regular season, Orlando and Indiana in the five
and six slots, Miami and Philly in the play in zone.
Nick Nurse said over the weekend that he does think,
or he does have a level of optimism that Joel
Embiid is going to make it back into the Sixers
(36:45):
lineup before the end of the regular season.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
They desperately need that badly. The Sixers need that.
Speaker 4 (36:54):
I think they're eleven and twenty two without Joel Embiid.
So the Sixers love, of course to haul themselves out
of the playing zone so they can at least ensure
that they're in the playoffs when Joel Embiid gets back.
But as it stands, I mean Miami and Philly very
unexpectedly in the playing seven to ten range, along with
(37:17):
Chicago and Atlanta. I got to hang on Stein Cry
So that means I need to pitch the ball back
to Fresno's finest.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
I cannot let you go without getting your thoughts, your
reaction to the jersey swap that caught everybody by surprise
over the weekend.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Are you familiar with what I'm talking about?
Speaker 4 (37:44):
Stein, is that the Grady Dick Anthony Black scenario? Yes, yes,
I might have heard about it.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
You might have heard about it.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
I might have seen a few I might have seen
a few clips. Why are you bringing that up?
Speaker 1 (37:57):
I'll bring it. I wouldn't know what you thought about
what you think this was. Obviously it was organized, and.
Speaker 4 (38:05):
I'm gonna I'm gonna go out in a very very
sturdy limit say that it might have been premeditated.
Speaker 5 (38:14):
You know what I mean, because they could have They
could have, you know, switched the order of which which
they were standing. It could have been Dick then Black,
but it was the other way.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
Yes, it was.
Speaker 5 (38:31):
Premeditated, so that their positioning and everything was premeditated.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
It all, okay, I just want to get your thoughts started.
Speaker 4 (38:39):
I mean, you don't agree, you think it was just
you think it was just a coincidence.
Speaker 5 (38:47):
So you're telling me these rookies when they knew they
were about to play, so they called each other up.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
Well, nah, I mean no, I didn't say all that,
But I mean I think I don't know, baby, who knows?
I guess it's a story we need to dig into
and get some answers.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
So my question to you is, start, can the league
do anything? Because this is why?
Speaker 5 (39:12):
Who has What's another name that can go with Dick
that that can cause some problems?
Speaker 1 (39:17):
What's another name out there?
Speaker 4 (39:19):
I mean, I have some ideas, but I'm not I
don't think I'm gonna throw it out there.
Speaker 1 (39:26):
You can't, you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (39:27):
You can't see a scenario where everybody start wanting to
swamp jerseys with mister Grady here, and they may have
some crazy name and it just becomes a phenomenon.
Speaker 1 (39:35):
I you don't think the league will be like a
hold old all right? All right?
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Now?
Speaker 4 (39:39):
You got me thinking I need to lob a call
into the league office to see if they're monitoring this situation.
Speaker 5 (39:45):
Is there any is there anybody out there with the
last name, oh, Kobe White?
Speaker 1 (39:49):
What if Kobe White and Grady Dick swamp jerseys.
Speaker 4 (39:55):
Like I said, I've got other ideas. I was not
going to nominate Kobe white, but I'm not. I'm going
to keep them to myself.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
Oh, anybody last name Long out.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
There, Grant Long can make a comeback.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
I'll stop starting thoughts. I'll stop.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Yeah, I think we I think.
Speaker 4 (40:24):
I think, with an abundance of caution, we're going to
stop and put a bow on this edition.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
Although on this.
Speaker 4 (40:37):
There are supposed to be no topics off limits, but
I think again, I'm going to be extra cautions. Let's
wrap this. Let's wrap this show up before we get
in any more trouble.
Speaker 1 (40:50):
I'm fine with that, all right.
Speaker 4 (40:52):
That will do it for this edition of this League
uncut Mark Stein with Chris Haynes.
Speaker 2 (40:59):
We will be back with you again soon.
Speaker 4 (41:02):
The next time we do this, I think it's time
to start getting into the final few weeks of the
MVP race. My sources say that Chris Haynes will be
casting an official NBA Season ending Awards ballot. I do not,
but Chris Haynes does, so we will get into that
(41:23):
the next time. As always, friends, please follow us, rate, review, Spotify, podcast,
Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. And again, we
will do this again very very soon. Thanks for listening,
and that'll do it. For us see you next time.
(41:46):
This League Uncuttage and iHeartRadio production
Speaker 3 (41:53):
Chris Haynes, den Marktime
Welcome to this League Uncut in you rule.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
A twenty four hour NBA news.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
This is you, Chris Haynes.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
It's time, Mark's time.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
It's some time.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
This league Uncut is underway and on fire.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
This should be a good one.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
Hey, everyone, welcome in to another edition of this League Uncut.
Mark Stein here with Chris Haynes. Hope everybody had a
great Saint Patrick's Day. I have to say it is
not a holiday that this probably won't surprise you, not
(00:45):
a holiday that I typically participate in in any meaningful way.
I'm way too old to get wild and crazy on
a Saint Patrick's Day. Did not wear any green, Chris Haynes,
did you wear any green yesterday?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I didn't.
Speaker 5 (01:02):
I didn't even know it was Saint Patrick's Day till
I went downtown, went to church.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
And then when I got outside of church, I saw.
Speaker 5 (01:08):
A bunch of people wearing green and they were stumbling
to walk, so they were already drunk around noon, one
o'clock PM.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
That was your conclusive medical diagnosis.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
Oh yeah, it didn't take much. You know, you don't
need a degree to be able to tell if somebody's drunk.
You know, the church, I go to. It's, like you said,
right downtown, so there's a bunch of bars and everything,
so you could you can see people bar hopping and
wearing green.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I know that was such a big deal.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
So but no, I don't, you know, I've never I
don't know if he knows stein, but you know, I
don't drink, never drink, never smoked.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
I don't you know.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
I took a sip of some wine of some people
that made me, made me consume it because I was
around them, but I don't so from that, I don't.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
I don't drink, so I wouldn't know.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah, neither one of us does. He never asked, no, Okay.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
On my twenty first birthday, I was forced to consume
some rum and coke.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Did not go well. I couldn't do it. I didn't
taste it. Awful. Yeah, that's it.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
I'm crazy as it is, starn so I felt like,
you know, I.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
Don't need liquor anything else to make me even crazier.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
So you know, I've been you know, so far, so good.
Speaker 5 (02:26):
I don't think and hopefully there's nothing that causes me
to drink. There's timestinying, times in your life where you
feel like you need a drink.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
I don't you know what I mean. I don't know
what that feeling is after you have one, but you
know it'd be sometimes from like, hey, maybe this.
Speaker 5 (02:40):
Is a good time for a drink, this good time
for smoke. But I've never I've never done done.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
Them so well, we probably should have worn something green
one of us, just to say we like. Even your
guy Tim McMahon showed up for the Mavericks Nuggets game
Sunday afternoon, an incredible Mattene game in Dallas. Even your
guy McMahon had on a pair of green Adidas gazelles
(03:05):
that I had to say, looked pretty They looked pretty good.
Speaker 5 (03:08):
If there was anybody that you can tell me who
will probably be the most excited about yesterday in the
media corps, Tim will probably be a the top of
my list.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
I don't know how excited he. I don't know if
he gets to you know, he's so grumpy. I don't
know if he ever gets excited. But all of this
was my preamble to say that I did nothing wild
and crazy, but I certainly saw something absolutely wild and
still hard to believe. Almost twenty four hours later that
Kyrie Irving game winner, leave up looking.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
In curving, curving for the wind, just ups.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Going to his left running floater hook shot. I'm still
not sure what to call it, but with his left
hand a buzzer beater.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And for Dallas, huge redemption.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Because it was just a few weeks ago that they
lost an absolute heartbreaker in Cleveland when Max Struce drained
a sixty footer at the buzzer. I thought that was
crazy this because it was left handed, just as wild
(04:33):
and stunning as what Struce did on February twenty seventh,
and crazily. Kyrie Irving has not been a Maverick for
a long time. It's only been about thirteen months. But
if you're a calendar nerd like me, you know that
on March seventeenth, twenty twenty three, Maxi Klieba beat the
(04:58):
Lakers at the buzzer off a cross court Kyrie Irving pass,
and then March seventeenth, twenty twenty four, Saint Patrick's Day
twenty twenty four, Kyrie Irving only the second career buzzer
beater for Kyrie Irving. But man, what a shot I mean,
and he is I mean he is known as a
(05:20):
shot maker. Your guy Damian Lillard took right to Twitter
to call him the most skilled player ever. I talk
about the Mavericks all the time, so I want to
hear your thoughts not just on the game, but what
do you think of this Mavericks team? What do you
think people in the West think of this Mavericks team.
I'll weigh in after you. But how good are these guys?
(05:40):
How dangerous are the Mavericks of Dallas.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
They're definitely a dangerous opponent for anybody, particularly in that
first round. You cannot sleep on any time you got
a guy like Luka Dakich, who's going to be in
the MVP conversation year after year as long as he's healthy.
And Kyrie Irvin, who we know the heroics, you know,
the skill said that he brings to a team. Anytime
(06:06):
you got those two guys in the fold and they're healthy,
you got a shot.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Just like you know, it's a similar situation with the
Phoenix Signs.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
Anytime you got healthy KD Devin Booker, Bradley beal, you're
going to give yourself a shot and you're going to
be dangerous.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Now are they going to be the favorites?
Speaker 5 (06:23):
That's a different question and most of the times I
would probably say probably not probably won't be be the favorites.
But you know, you look at a team like the Mavericks,
if they can get that seventh seed, like if they
can lock into that seventh seed, you know obviously.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
They need six not seven, but go ahead.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
They need six. Now, Okay, I get you there.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
Well, you're assuming the Nuggets are going to Nuggets or
Thunder is going to stay at one or two.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Yeah, I mean to me, you know, I think Minnesota,
because they don't have Karl Anthony Towns, is gonna end
up third and as great as season as the Wolves
have had, as good defensively as the Wolves are, And look,
when the Timberwolves woke up on this Monday morning, they
(07:10):
were still number one in the NBA in defensive rating,
allowing only one hundred and eight point two points per
one hundred possessions, still ahead of the Boston Celtics, who
have truly been the team of the regular season. So look,
I'm not saying that you want to see the Minnesota Timberwolves,
(07:33):
but if my choices are the Denver Nuggets, the defending champions,
the very frisky Oklahoma City Thunder, and Minnesota which is
probably gonna have to play without Karl Anthony Towns for
the rest of the regular season, and then if they're
fortunate enough to get Cat back, work him in on
the fly for the playoffs. And if they don't get
(07:54):
Cat back from his recent mniscus surgery, that puts a huge,
huge burden offensively on Anthony Edwards. Karl Anthony Towns was
having a great season offensively, so to me, Dallas and
the team closest to where you reside, Sacramento, these two
(08:15):
teams are locked in this battle for number six and
both desperately want it because I think both would rather
see a less than full strength Minnesota in Round one
than either Denver or Oklahoma City.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Yeah, I would agree with you on that.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
I'm just not sure Minnesota is gonna slide like that
without cap. That would be my only concern if I'm
Dallas or any other team that's trying to lock into
that sixth seed. But even with that being said, I
still think Dallas would like their chances against Minnesota and Oka.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
See.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
You know, I think that you're in pretty good shape
if you could get that six or seven seed. And
I do think Denver. I'm not a betting Man. But
I would think denver By seasons in will we'll get
that number one seed.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
That's what they're going after, and you know.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
They had the championship pedigree, they experience to to do
what it takes to get to that spot.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
So that's the way I see things going. Do I
know for sure? Hell no, I don't.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
I'd really like to hear more of your take on
this because I'm always talking about the MAVs. As you know,
I have a Saturday radio show in Dallas which is
super MAVs heavy.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
So I'm going to follow up after you.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
But I got to ask you now, thirteen months into this,
when the Mavericks first traded for Kyrie Irving, what did
you think?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Did you think he and Luca would be a good pairing.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
I didn't know. I honestly didn't know.
Speaker 5 (09:48):
You know, this is you know, Kyrie coming from his
other two stops in Boston.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
And Brooklyn, and you know it didn't go too well there.
Speaker 5 (09:59):
But what I did did it feel like is that
Dallas did the best that they could and it was
a good pickup considering they lost Jalen Brunson. So from
that standpoint, I looked at it as it was definitely
a great pickup.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
How would he and Luca fair and messed together?
Speaker 5 (10:16):
I didn't know, but they were definitely talented enough to
get it done.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
And you know, it's always something starting.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
You know, it's like when two stars, even three stars
team up together. You know, people will automatically look at,
you know, their connection on the court. Can they play
well when a lot of times these coaches they staggered
their minutes anyways, And so even if they're not that
good chemistry wise between the two, you can, you know,
(10:46):
you can give one of the stars time to shine
on the floor together singularly and let them go at it.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
And that way both both stars.
Speaker 5 (10:56):
Can be in the rhythm, be in the groove, because
that's why they really do it, son each being the rhythm,
in the groove.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Knowing that they're they're at least going to have.
Speaker 5 (11:03):
To play together the last six seven minutes of the game,
and then you're hoping like them being in the groove
is going to help them play better together. And so
you know, I thought, look, you know, they this is Kyrie.
You know, we know what he brings to a team,
and you know, I felt like it was definitely worthwhile
(11:25):
pick up considering they lost Jalen Brusson, and so I still,
you know today it was definitely worth it. Kyrie has
been a model citizen over there. He I mean, like
he's doing a good shot. Now. I'm not with that
team all day, like I mean all day every day,
like you How has Kyrie been with the team, the
locker room and everything since he's been over there.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
He's beloved in this locker room.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
I mean, you could see it the way this team celebrated,
how happy it was after he made this ridiculous shot.
And look when he first Scott here. The Mavericks tried
to throw this thing together on the fly. Luca and
Kyrie were five and eleven last season in games when
(12:10):
both were in uniform. It didn't click on the fly.
But also, you look at the state of the team
last year.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
You look at the.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
State of the roster, it was so much weaker than
compared to now. But honestly, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving
have been functioning fantastically well as a duo all season long.
And what's crazy about it is the thought was, Okay,
they're going to get a training camp this time. That's
(12:39):
gonna make the big difference. They didn't get a training camp.
They played seven ish minutes together in the exhibition season.
They took the really long trip two games in Abu
Dhabi and then a game in Spain so Luca could
go back to Real Madrid, the club that really helped
(13:00):
launch him to prominence and where he became a EuroLeague MVP,
and where he began his pro career at sixteen with
the senior national team. After that long trip, both Luca
and Kyrie came back with injuries, so basically they had
no training camp. The only issue for them as a
duo this season has been getting them on a court.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Enough.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Kyrie has had two pretty long injury absences, but in
both cases they were freakish injuries. Dwight Powell, his teammate,
landed on his leg and knocked him out early in
the season, and then he had a thumb injury when
he got hit on a swipe down. I mean, those
are both not normal situations. When Kyrie Irving has been
(13:46):
on the floor with Luka Dancic, they have been an
absolute handful. I don't think anybody wants to see these
two in the playoffs. But what is so notable about
this win over Denver. Denver is a very physical team,
much more physical than the Mavericks, and what has been
(14:06):
the challenge. You know, people want to make the comparison
Luca and Kyrie have echoes of Lebron's partnership with Kyrie,
but when Lebron was playing with Kyrie, Lebron was at
the height of his powers in terms of being a
two way defensive force. If you've got Luca and Kyrie,
(14:27):
they are both going to be offensive dynamos. The challenges
can you build a workable sustainable defense around the two
of them when both of them are going to be
on the court for.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
So many minutes per game.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Sunday afternoon on Saint Patrick's Day afternoon, the Mavericks played physical.
They pounded Denver on the boards. I think it was
sixty to thirty nine on the boards. The Mavericks are
not known for out rebounding teams to that degree, but
it's they have much more size now since the trade deadline,
bringing in Anuel Gafford to play with Derek Lively, and
(15:03):
you got PJ. Washington, Lively, Gafford, Maxi Kleiba as a foursome.
You know, they did as good a job on Jokic
as you can do. And now some of it Jokicic
just didn't look into it yesterday.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
He was very sleepy in the first.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Half, and you know, sometimes afternoon games are weird because
of the different start time. But you know that game
was in primetime in both Slovenia and Serbia. So I'm
sure Jokic did not want to deliver a sluggish performance
because you know that game's in primetime back home in
Serbia for him. But I you know, I thought that
(15:39):
you could actually say the Mavericks defenders were a factor
in a pretty so so game for Jokic. So I
think that's what has to encourage Dallas the most because
their defense has been bottom ten all season. I always
say this with the Mavericks and the Kings, and you
could probably throw this into the same discussion. The challenge
(16:03):
for these teams, can you have a league average defense.
If the defense is just league you know, middle of
the pack, the offense is gonna be so good that
you have a chance. And all credit to the Phoenix Suns,
even after a horrendous showing in Milwaukee on Sunday, even
after giving up one hundred and forty points to the Bucks.
(16:23):
With no Giannis Antetokumpo in the lineup, the Suns are
thirteenth in defense as of this Monday. That's pretty impressive
considering they don't have a team full of defenders. I
think Frank Vogel to get that team to thirteenth in
the defensive rating charts, he's probably taking that. But Sacramento
(16:44):
was twentieth and the MAVs are twenty first. So the
MAVs are in the bottom ten. And the goal is
for the Kings and the MAVs, can you get to
fifteen ish defensively, then you know you're gonna have a
chance in the playoffs. And so for Dallas to play
such good defense and play with such physicality against the
defending champions and a team that has bullied them many
(17:07):
many times in the past, I think that was as
encouraging for Dallas as the ending was exhilarating.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
And that's why they're a serious threat.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
You know, I look at this team, aside from you know,
the defensive woes, offensively, they have it all. Playmakers, they
have shooters, they have size, they have guys that can
guard up multiple defenders out on the perimeter. You know
you got the lob threats. You know they got they
have everything you know that you would need. It's not
(17:38):
the best team, but again that's why I say that
they are a threat. And for one thing about these
teams you want to be you know, we're gonna talk
about the Bucks let their own. But it's one thing
to catch a stride, but it's better when you catch
your stride at the right time. And when you're catching
your stride on the cusp of entering po season play,
(18:02):
that's probably the best feeling you can have because now
you're going into the playoffs feeling good. You're going into
the playoffs knowing what you're going to get from everybody.
You know, there's certain teams that peak in December and
then they collapse after that. They still make it to
the playoffs, but they're still searching for an identity or
trying to find that identity that they had months ago.
(18:24):
It's a good time to be trying to click. So
if Dallas, if they can use this as motivation is
fueled to inspire them to go to go on the
streak here heading in the right direction.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
Ending the postseason, I promise we are going to talk
some East we are going to talk for sure about
the Bucks a little bit here, but I can't take
my eyes off the West because no, again, there are
(18:57):
really three different races going on. You've got the race
for number one OKC Awoke Monday with a half game
lead on the Nuggets and Minnesota only a game behind.
So even without Cat, the Wolves have hung in there
and they're still very firmly in the race for the
number one seed in the West. After you know again
(19:19):
that I referenced in a recent podcast that ridiculous stat
from Alan Horton, the Wolves radio guy who keeps this
stat that in franchise history, the Wolves had only led
the West for ten days in the first thirty four
years of the franchise, and this season it's right around
one hundred days. So Minnesota is still there. So that's
(19:41):
race number one. Race number two. New Orleans the surging Pelicans,
who've been probably the best team in the West since
February first, with Zion Williamson looking absolutely rejuvenated and Trey
Murphy also stretching the floor, and the Pelicans have just
(20:03):
been on an absolute tear the last six weeks. The
Pelicans are within a game now of bumping the Clippers
down to number five. So there's the race for four
or five with the Clippers and the Pelicans, and honestly,
the Clippers without Russell Westbrook, they have not had the
same zip. Kawhi Leonard came back from this worrisome back
(20:29):
injury that he suffered, and you know he was there.
They had Kawhi Leonard and losing Sunday to Atlanta, a
team with really not much to play for at this point.
Atlanta is stuck in a playing spot in the East,
and I think the Hawks will hold on to number
(20:52):
ten at worse, but it's not like they're gonna climb
much higher in the standings and they're going to be
a playing team and really that that's all the Hawks
are working on right now. So that was you know,
the Clippers have lost four of five. That was pretty brutal.
So you got that race, and then there's the you know,
six through ten in the West. Sacramento on Monday morning
(21:15):
leading that race by percentage points. And you know, we've
talked about why number six is so valuable if Denver
ends up winning the top seed in the West, which
again is not assured, but not only does number six
(21:35):
put you potentially in line to play Minnesota in the
first round, and it might keep you away from the
Denver Nuggets until the conference finals.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
That's all TBD.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
But this race six through ten, the Kings leaded by
percentage points as we're recording this, Dallas at seven, Phoenix
at eight. Those teams are tied, but the Mavericks hold
the tiebreaker. Golden State at nine, the Lakers at ten.
And so again, if the play in tournament where to
start today, the names that would be in the play
(22:05):
in tournament, it is ridiculous to think about Luka, Doncic,
Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Stephen Curry,
Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Lebron James, and Anthony Davis as
of Monday, all are play in tournament bound.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
And you know, we could.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
Talk about the Lakers as well, because I mean, it's
just horrible luck for Anthony Davis to get a corneal abrasion,
which is obviously another freakish injury. And you know, he
has been so ever present for the Lakers, and he's
done what people have asked. He stayed on the floor
and he's led this team defensively. All right, I've rambled
(22:44):
on way too long. Let me ask you. Let's start
with the Sons, because I think you mentioned recently that
they should be the ones to sign Isaiah Thomas, and
now it looks like they are going to sign Isaiah
Thomas to attend Day. But how worried should the Sons
be to go to Milwaukee and get blasted like they
did when the Bucks didn't have Giannis.
Speaker 5 (23:05):
Let me tell you something about that Stein. So when
when was that? Was it last week I did the
Phoenix game? Might have been a week and a half ago.
When I did that Phoenix game, it was Phoenix Denver,
and I reported during the game the Sons are looking
to They're looking to add a player for the latter
part of the season that could potentially go into the
(23:28):
playoffs with you know, looking for a veteran, somebody who
has some experience, not necessarily somebody that's going to play
a lot, but just a good locker room, postseason experience
god type of guy. And immediately when I said that
on air, Isaiah Thomas gave me a text, Hey tell
the Suns to come get me. So it me So
(23:51):
he was watching the Gay Edie said that, and so
he was the first one that put that on my radar.
I'm like, man, I might you know, we all we've
been talking about sons. He the point guard anyways, and
I'm like, that might make sense. And so that's when
I said. Then I did our podcast and then I
mentioned Isaiah's name. It's Isaiah might be.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
But Isaiah was the one who gave me that suggestion
of Isaiah. So and now it's good.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
He's about to get a ten day with the Suns,
and so I'm glad it all worked out for him.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
So based on what you were hearing, do you think,
I mean, are they looking for someone who's gonna go
with it?
Speaker 1 (24:28):
You know not.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
I'm sure Isaiah Thomas wants more than a ten day.
He's trying to convince them to sign him for the
rest of the season and bring him along for the
playoff ride. What kind of chances do you think he
has of latching on and staying there for the rest
of the season.
Speaker 5 (24:42):
Yeah, I think it ultimately depends on what he does
in this ten day. I don't know that it's going
to I don't know if that he has to go
out there and just ball out but locker room guy. Obviously,
they want to see if he can steal play. I mean,
he tore up the G League in a handful of
that they play this season, so he can still play,
(25:03):
but the Sons want to get a glimpse up close
and personal.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
You know.
Speaker 5 (25:07):
I don't know how much playing time he's going to
get during it during his stint, but I think most
importantly it's going to be about what type of locker
room presence is he going to provide. Can he help
out since Phoenix Suns are not really playing the traditional
point guard, is there anything he can instill in Bradley Beal,
(25:27):
Devin Booker to kind of help them see certain things
that maybe a conventional point guard would see. You know,
I think that's where he's going to probably help more
so now if he could go out there and if
he gets a couple of play playing stints and he
goes out there and balls out, that's that's just extra
for him. But he has he has an opportunity to
(25:47):
get signed for the rest of the season and going
to the playoffs. That's definitely what he wants. But the
Sons are still giving themselves an out just in case
if they see that this is probably not the best fit.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
They can try to go in another direction.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Yeah, you know, I feel like I say it on
every single podcast. I have no doubts that Isaiah Thomas
will fit in locker room wise. I mean, he's always
been a popular teammate pretty much everywhere he's played, and
I think a lot of people are rooting for him
on this comeback now, So I mean, I can't see
any issues there.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
But it's just the Suns this.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
You know, It's not like there's anything they could do
about it. The injuries are what they are. But you know,
that game in Milwaukee was just the twenty seventh time
that Durant, Beal, and Booker have all played together, and
it's just not enough.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
They just have not played.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
Together enough, and so they don't have continuity. Defense is
an issue with this team. Yes, Nurkic is going to
rack up rebounds, but as a defensive center, I mean
there are question marks there, and so I think the
sixth spot is going to Sacramento or Dallas. The Sons
also have a brutal schedule the rest of the way.
(27:03):
According to Tankathon on this Monday, Phoenix's fourteen games left
the opponent winning percentage is five sixty three, so the
second hardest remaining schedule in the league in terms of
opponent winning percentage, whereas Dallas, for example, Dallas is looking
(27:25):
at the second easiest remaining schedule opponent winning percentage of
four point fifty five. Sacramento's top ten in terms of
remaining schedule. The Kings, their sixteen remaining opponents, have a
composite winning percentage of five oh seven on this Monday.
But the point is the Suns don't have a lot
(27:46):
of continuity. They've got a really tough schedule the rest
of the way, and even if they're fortunate enough to
get up to number six, that would get them out
of the plane. But they're going to have to play
on the road every round in the playoff. And so
that's why the Sun seem to be a popular choice
of they're the scariest of the lower seeds in the West.
(28:07):
But I just don't feel that way, and it's for
me just because I haven't seen enough of them.
Speaker 5 (28:14):
Yeah, mam b I think you know there's teams that
fit in that boat where the continuity isn't there, and
you know, they don't win games at a consistent clip
but the players scare you. You know, you got a
KD who if the game is close, KD can get
you a bucket when you need it. Except similar to
(28:35):
the Los Angeles Lakers. Nobody wants to see the Lakers. Really,
I'm not saying anybody's scared of them, but you got
Lebron there and then you know ad depending on how
with this eye injury, how effect that he's going to
be once he returns, I would assume he'll have to
wear some type of eye protection. I don't know, I
(28:57):
haven't heard anything, you haven't checked in on it to
be exact, but you know they did Lakers Warriors. These
are scary team Stephen Curry, you know, like these teams
that have been there. So but stein that play in Man,
I maybe going out on a limb, but I think
the player is going to feature Golden State and the Lakers,
and that's big. That's huge now for for even more drama,
(29:18):
more star power. Phoenixes. They're acting like they want to
be a part of it. They're they're acting like they
want it. They want to get in that mix. And
you know, so you know there's still time, but you
know that playing is going to have a lot of
star power, and I think it's going to start with
the Lakers and the Warriors, and I think you can't
(29:40):
ask for a better scenario. Since this playing has been
implemented over the last few years, it has been some
entertaining matchups and this could has the potential to be
the best set of games in that play in format.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
Well I mentioned it.
Speaker 4 (29:53):
I genuinely feel sorry for Anthony Davis because a corneal
abrasion is just a brutal, freakish injury. To take a
scratch to the eye, and again he's had to endure
a ton of criticism, all the street closed nonsense from
previous seasons. But the man has he has played. He
has been a rock for this team. He's going to
(30:15):
qualify for all NBA and MVP consideration based on games played.
But it's look the most worrisome thing for the Lakers.
Lebron James has defied Father Time and had the best
season we've ever seen from a player his age, and
Anthony Davis has been there far more often than not.
(30:39):
And the Lakers are even with lots of Lebron and
lots of ad. On this Monday, they woke up number
ten in the West number eighteenth in the league in defense,
I mean that is stunning when you have a defensive
anchor of Anthony Davis's caliber. And yeah, I mean there
(31:01):
are a bazillion question marks. Again, there are three races
in the West for me, but six through ten is
my favorite race anywhere in the NBA standings.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
To see who's.
Speaker 4 (31:15):
Gonna sneak out with that number six spot in the West,
and then how the play in round shapes up, because
the playing round is going to be an absolute steel
cage match. Let's switch now to the East because the
(31:42):
team that blasted the Suns, a certain Damian Lillard had
a field day without yannas Ante Decompo.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
What was it thirty one and sixteen Dame had in Milwaukee.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
Franchise best thirty plus fifteen plus assist.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
And look by all counts.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
Doc Rivers has tried to make it clear since he
has taken over that team that the offense needs to
start with Damian Lillard. That's obviously going to be the
case when janis on Titokumpo is not on the floor.
But the Bucks also welcome back Chris Middleton. In Sunday's game,
they went ten to six, without Middleton sixteen games lost.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
To an ankle injury, serious ankle injury. But Chris Middleton
came back a.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
Very sharp twenty two points in his return, And once
they get Giannis Antetokounmpo back, the Bucks will be trending
towards full strength.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
They're not going to catch the Boston Celtics. The East
is gone. The Celtics are going to get the top
seed in the East. Man the Celtics lead.
Speaker 4 (32:46):
The Celtics, the first fifty win team in this season's NBA,
and the Celtics on this Monday nine and a half
game lead in the East over the Bucks entering Monday
Nights game. So the number one seed is gone. But
give me your pulse check on the Bucks, who you.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Know as well as anyone.
Speaker 1 (33:07):
Well, so let me correct you a little bit. You said.
Speaker 5 (33:13):
Doc has made sure the offense runs through Dame. I
don't know if it should be phrased that way. I
would say that he's empowered Dame to be the point
guard to bring the ball up more. Before Doc came aboard,
it was like a point guard by committee. Giannis would
bring the ball up a lot initiate the offense. Chris
(33:35):
Middleton would do the same, and so Doc has changed
that where he's allowing Dame to be the point guard
of the team and you know, primarily handled the ball.
The office is still going through Giannis. That's always going
to be the case. The Bucks beat they beat the Sons,
took care of them without Giannis, and then the Bucks
(33:57):
took care of him a week ago, took care of
the Clippers without Giannis.
Speaker 1 (34:01):
As well, and Dame had a big game. And you know,
I see people kind of overreacting to you know, Damians
can't play together Dame.
Speaker 5 (34:13):
You well, yeah, Dame is, you know, comfortable being the
league guy, and he is comfortable running the team and
getting guys going that that is true. But if you
look over the last couple of weeks between Dame and Giannis,
Dame has thrown more love passes that have connected with
Giannis than he has in all this season prior to
(34:35):
these past couple of weeks. So the chemistry is getting there,
the continuity is getting there. There's more pick and rolls
now they're playing together. There's more two man action, there's
more dribble handoffs now. They've had a couple of hiccups
in between, but for the most part, they're playing probably
the best basketball team wise that they played in all
(34:58):
year over the stretch. So Doc River is doing a
good job of holding guys accountable and establishing roles, redefining roles,
I should say, and clarifying what what it is that
he needs from the players and the coaching staff. So
(35:19):
when Giannis gets back, Chris Milton, they're they're they're they're
going to be a threat. You know, we want to
see you want to see more dominance for sure with
Dame and Giannis together. But you know, it's it's been
you know, it's been a struggle. It's been uh, you know,
Dame is still adapting, and but that I think I
think they're starting to slowly turn that corner.
Speaker 4 (35:41):
All right, then I stand corrected. The better way to
phrase it, what I should have said, is Damian Lillard
orchestrating the offense more instead of the offense running through him.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Yeah for sure. All right.
Speaker 4 (35:54):
Well, look, and you know, we talk so much about
the West, and I think part of it is because
both you and I live in West Stern conference cities.
I don't want to completely sleep on what's happening in
the East standings either, because there is plenty of intrigue
there as well the fact that Orlando is flirting with
the number four spot. Nobody saw that coming, and that's
(36:15):
why Jamal Moseley is firmly entrenched in the Coach of
the Year race and again starting a new week basically
four weeks to go.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
A month ago.
Speaker 4 (36:25):
In the regular season, Orlando and Indiana in the five
and six slots, Miami and Philly in the play in zone.
Nick Nurse said over the weekend that he does think,
or he does have a level of optimism that Joel
Embiid is going to make it back into the Sixers
(36:45):
lineup before the end of the regular season.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
They desperately need that badly. The Sixers need that.
Speaker 4 (36:54):
I think they're eleven and twenty two without Joel Embiid.
So the Sixers love, of course to haul themselves out
of the playing zone so they can at least ensure
that they're in the playoffs when Joel Embiid gets back.
But as it stands, I mean Miami and Philly very
unexpectedly in the playing seven to ten range, along with
(37:17):
Chicago and Atlanta. I got to hang on Stein Cry
So that means I need to pitch the ball back
to Fresno's finest.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
I cannot let you go without getting your thoughts, your
reaction to the jersey swap that caught everybody by surprise
over the weekend.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Are you familiar with what I'm talking about?
Speaker 4 (37:44):
Stein, is that the Grady Dick Anthony Black scenario? Yes, yes,
I might have heard about it.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
You might have heard about it.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
I might have seen a few I might have seen
a few clips. Why are you bringing that up?
Speaker 1 (37:57):
I'll bring it. I wouldn't know what you thought about
what you think this was. Obviously it was organized, and.
Speaker 4 (38:05):
I'm gonna I'm gonna go out in a very very
sturdy limit say that it might have been premeditated.
Speaker 5 (38:14):
You know what I mean, because they could have They
could have, you know, switched the order of which which
they were standing. It could have been Dick then Black,
but it was the other way.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
Yes, it was.
Speaker 5 (38:31):
Premeditated, so that their positioning and everything was premeditated.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
It all, okay, I just want to get your thoughts started.
Speaker 4 (38:39):
I mean, you don't agree, you think it was just
you think it was just a coincidence.
Speaker 5 (38:47):
So you're telling me these rookies when they knew they
were about to play, so they called each other up.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
Well, nah, I mean no, I didn't say all that,
But I mean I think I don't know, baby, who knows?
I guess it's a story we need to dig into
and get some answers.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
So my question to you is, start, can the league
do anything? Because this is why?
Speaker 5 (39:12):
Who has What's another name that can go with Dick
that that can cause some problems?
Speaker 1 (39:17):
What's another name out there?
Speaker 4 (39:19):
I mean, I have some ideas, but I'm not I
don't think I'm gonna throw it out there.
Speaker 1 (39:26):
You can't, you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (39:27):
You can't see a scenario where everybody start wanting to
swamp jerseys with mister Grady here, and they may have
some crazy name and it just becomes a phenomenon.
Speaker 1 (39:35):
I you don't think the league will be like a
hold old all right? All right?
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Now?
Speaker 4 (39:39):
You got me thinking I need to lob a call
into the league office to see if they're monitoring this situation.
Speaker 5 (39:45):
Is there any is there anybody out there with the
last name, oh, Kobe White?
Speaker 1 (39:49):
What if Kobe White and Grady Dick swamp jerseys.
Speaker 4 (39:55):
Like I said, I've got other ideas. I was not
going to nominate Kobe white, but I'm not. I'm going
to keep them to myself.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
Oh, anybody last name Long out.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
There, Grant Long can make a comeback.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
I'll stop starting thoughts. I'll stop.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Yeah, I think we I think.
Speaker 4 (40:24):
I think, with an abundance of caution, we're going to
stop and put a bow on this edition.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
Although on this.
Speaker 4 (40:37):
There are supposed to be no topics off limits, but
I think again, I'm going to be extra cautions. Let's
wrap this. Let's wrap this show up before we get
in any more trouble.
Speaker 1 (40:50):
I'm fine with that, all right.
Speaker 4 (40:52):
That will do it for this edition of this League
uncut Mark Stein with Chris Haynes.
Speaker 2 (40:59):
We will be back with you again soon.
Speaker 4 (41:02):
The next time we do this, I think it's time
to start getting into the final few weeks of the
MVP race. My sources say that Chris Haynes will be
casting an official NBA Season ending Awards ballot. I do not,
but Chris Haynes does, so we will get into that
(41:23):
the next time. As always, friends, please follow us, rate, review, Spotify, podcast,
Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. And again, we
will do this again very very soon. Thanks for listening,
and that'll do it. For us see you next time.
(41:46):
This League Uncuttage and iHeartRadio production
Speaker 3 (41:53):
Chris Haynes, den Marktime
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