Nick Wright recaps the Los Angeles Lakers' season coming to an end at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Playoffs.. How much blame does JJ Redick deserve for LA's early playoff departure? How much criticism should Luka Doncic receive following a lackluster performance. And how will this season be remembered for LeBron James, who once again defied time with superstar efforts in his age 40 season? Later, Nick discusses Rudy Gobert's sensational Game 5 and what lies ahead for Anthony Edwards and Minnesota. Next, Nick shares his thoughts on the incident between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tyrese Haliburton's father following the Indiana Pacers' series win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Finally, Nick recaps the Golden State Warriors embarrassing Game 5 and debates whether or not the Houston Rockets have a chance at pulling off the comeback.
0:00 - Intro/Missed the Cut
1:20 - Lakers eliminated, T-Wolves win 103-96
27:57 - Was the moment too big for JJ Redick?
37:32 - Luka-AD trade revisited
52:39 - How does this change LeBron’s legacy?
57:09 - Nick reacts to Haliburton's father confronting Giannis
1:02:32 - Nick’s series predictions
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome in What's drive in the Great episode three twenty seven.
I'll be honest, A show that the audience is likely
looking forward to quite a bit more than me. A
show that you know, it's very ironic. I'm drinking out
of the coffee cup game theory with Bamani Jones. Bimani
texts me this morning, just trolling me. Well, he started
(00:24):
by trolling JJ Reddick, but then he started trolling me
saying shame the Lakers didn't last long enough for us
to watch a playoff game together. That would have been fun.
And I wrote him back. Given how the Lakers playoffs win,
it wouldn't have been fun at all. And so listen,
let's just get into Demons High. Good to see, uh,
happy to see. I love you, I'm proud of you.
(00:45):
You're my believed great awesome fun stuff. Let's get to
what missed the cut. Stefan Castle becomes a fourth San
Antonio spur To win Rookie of the Year. If he
does not end his career as one of the twenty
five greatest players of all time, he has not carried
on that legacy. No big shoes, kiddo, but Robinson's there
(01:07):
Duncan's there, Wimby appears to be on his way, Dyson
Daniels wins Most Improved Player and Boston Flute Gentleman sweep
of Orlando. A reminder, please like, rate, subscribe, review, check
out the podcast you control me in the comments. It's final,
be honest. Probably won't be reading them today, but the
(01:28):
producers might pick a select few to bring to my
attention if they find them particularly funny. Because it's not
just that I'm bummed. It's not just this the second
straight year that the Lakers and Lebron and the playoffs
don't get out of round one. It's also that this
is the first Lakers playoff loss since Lebron's been there
(01:53):
that is shocking. This one is shocking to me. The
the when they lost to the Suns that series turned
on Anthony Davis. Pulling is growing. Like I thought they
would win that series. But your second best player, best player,
I don't know. Depending on how you viewed Anthony Davis,
then Pulls is growing. It changes two years ago when
(02:17):
they got all the way to the conference finals, I
thought they could win. They obviously got swept by Denver,
but it wasn't shocking that they lost last year. When
I they got Denver in round one and Denver was
the overwhelming favorite, I said, hey, if you're ever gonna
beat Denver, round ones the time that you have the
best chance. But I wasn't shocked by it. This one
(02:40):
shocked me. And so I have some you know, accounting
to do on that front. And so I'm not sure
how much we're going to talk about today that isn't
about the end of the Lakers season, the ascension of
Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert having his annual Rudy Gobert game,
which is honestly demons here is. You know, it's really
important to remember stay humble, like Gianness would say, stay humble,
(03:06):
be grounded, because nobody took more pleasure on TV last
year than me in the root the last Rudy go
Beart game we got, because that was against Denver in
Game seven, and Kevin Wilds was covered in shame and
(03:27):
I got to mock him for it. And I've never
really been a Rudy Gobert guy. I don't know if
there are many Rudy Gobert guys outside of Leone. However,
I enjoyed that performance and then the Rudy go beart
game came for me and in really maddening fashion. So again,
(03:48):
subscribe on YouTube, hit the bell, subscribe on all your
podcast platforms, and now demands go ahead.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah. So the Lakers season ended last night, I think,
and the hands of Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves, so
might say. Rudy Gobert JJ w Rennick had a similar scheme.
He played his starters a lot of minutes. They came
closer at the end, but then kind of ran out
of gas. They couldn't do it. How'd you get this
series so wrong? You said there was this one they
obviously didn't.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Well, yeah, and I said Lakers. I said my favorite
bet was Lakers minus a game and a half, meaning
Lakers in four or five or six. And when I
was giving the analysis of that bet, I said, I
didn't even really consider the possibility of the Lakers losing
the series. Is the reason the bet didn't come in.
I thought it was because the Lakers, you know, maybe
(04:40):
they win in seven, but I thought they would. I
thought they would be hard fought games. The Lakers were
clearly better. So I do want to start with me
because I gotta a whiff this strong, you gotta figure out.
You gotta kind of do an autopsy, a post mortem
of your own tape. And the number one thing that
(05:05):
I clearly overestimated going into this postseason was how dynamic
and unstoppable the Lakers offense would be. I thought there
was a little too much attention paid to the Lakers
(05:26):
defensive deficiencies, not because I thought they'd be a great defense,
but because I thought it was pretty clear we had
proof of concept that the Lakers defense could be average,
that the Lakers defense could be fine, and that if
the Lakers defense is fine, even given their size limitations,
(05:48):
that this offense with Luca and Lebron was going to
be a top three in the league over the court,
you know, net rating wise or offensive rating wise offense.
And it was nothing close to that. And so that
was with number one whiff. Number one was that the
(06:09):
Lakers offense would be would put the other team under
such pressure to keep scoring and to keep pace that
a younger Timberwolves team, a Timberwolves team that only has
one true superstar, a Timberwolves team that has a few
guys who are max players who there have long playoff histories,
(06:35):
but the playoff histories are you know, checkered in Rudy
Gobert and Julius Randall that the weight of Lebron and
Luca on the offensive side of the ball would be
too much for him. None of that happened. We didn't
have a single game this series where where Lebron and
(07:01):
Luca were both outstanding on the offensive end, and we
did have last night. And we'll talk obviously more about
the individual parties involved here shortly, but last night was
the first time in an elimination game that Lebron wasn't
(07:24):
outstanding in a decade. Honest to god, if you go
through it was it was somewhat jarring to see if
you look at what Lebron James, who averages thirty five
points per game in his career in elimination games, what
(07:44):
he did last night in comparison, like if I can
just quickly give you the game logs last year against Denver,
face well, he had two games facing elimination against Denver.
The first game he had third thirty five and four.
The next game and because they won it, he had
thirty nine and eleven. The year before facing elimination against Denver,
(08:10):
he had I think thirty in the first half and
he finished with forty ten and nine. When they lost
to Phoenix in a game they got, they really didn't
have much of a chance. If you remember, that's the
game Anthony Davis started and then played like thirty seconds,
then came out of the game. Lebron twenty nine to
(08:32):
nine and seven facing elimination. They never faced elimination and
route to the bubble in the championship run. And then
if you look at game seven against Boston or game
six and seven against Boston facing eliminations, are down three
to two, forty six, eight and eleven, thirty five, fifteen
and nine, you can go his whole career. It's like, Okay,
(08:56):
we're facing elimination. I have to ramp it up. Here's
the part that last night informed me on he fired
those bullets over the weekend. He felt correctly, clearly we
were facing elimination in game four and in game three
(09:20):
he had the thirty eight, ten and four and they
blew it at the end. In game four he had
twenty seven, twelve and eight and the defensive stops at
the end, and in game five the forty. It was
a weird Lebron game because he had three of his
most explosive offensive plays of those three dunks that he's
(09:44):
had all postseason. But he just didn't have the juice
last night, So Lebron didn't have the juice. Luca's performance
last night even more shocking because Luca has been a
back against the wall, I'm gonna f you up everybody's
top when they're up.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Lucas seemed pretty messed up, like basically this whole series. Though. Yeah,
whether it was sicknesses or yesterday, I feel like he
came out with like some backspasm type of thing.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Yeah. I mean, listen, he got hurt, but he didn't.
If it was he had looked awesome and until the
hard fall, that would be one thing, but that's not
what it was. Like. He was relatively passive in the
first quarter, which is when he has crushed. It felt
early on like Lebron and Luca were both like, Okay,
(10:38):
let's conserve energy in the first quarter so we have
more in the fourth quarter. And at first it looked
like a bad strategy because they were down fourteen, but
then once despite all that, they were able to claw
their way back into the game and actually take a
(10:59):
one point lead, You thought, oh, this could work out,
but Lebron didn't have the extra gear and Luca didn't
have it. The really, I don't want to say the
whole series, but the last three games since he got sick,
Luca didn't have the Luca playoff gear. Twenty eight to
seven and nine on seven of eighteen from the field
(11:21):
for Luca is by his standards, a bad playoff game. Now,
the flip side to that, and where, folks, where credit
must be given is the other guys are paid too.
And the Timberwolves defensive plan against Luca and against Lebron
was outstanding. The Timberwolves trusting you know what, Austin Reeves.
(11:47):
If you beat us, you beat us. We don't think
you're gonna beat us. It was smart, it worked, and
so I'm not gonna kill Austin Reeves. He had a
rough series. But also the Lakers shouldn't have needed Austin
Reeves to be great to force a Game six against
(12:09):
the Timberwolves. And I understand that the Timberwolves are now
twenty one to five in their last twenty six and
I think they have ten or it's either ten or fifteen.
I don't remember double digit wins in that stretch I
get that that maybe I was I am still even
(12:29):
to a degree underrating or disrespecting the Timberwolves. But this
Lakers team it was not. And this is what's so
frustrating about the way the season ended. It was not
some hope in a prayer media creation. They had almost
(12:51):
the exact same record against the Western Conference as Oklahoma
City did. They were a dominant team home where they
lost two of these games. They had I think the
third best record in the fourth best record in the
league against the best teams in the league. We saw
(13:12):
them at the end of the year against a full
strength Oklahoma City team, blow them out, and then go
toe to toe with them a week before the playoffs.
They were rested. All of those things happened, and while
Lebron did not have a great Game five, you did
(13:35):
get great Lebron performances in Games two, three, and four.
So it wasn't that oh the you know, the old
man slowed down at the end. He did at the
very end, and they still just got annihilated in this series.
The thing about last night that made last usually demons.
(13:57):
If if a team loses a close out game that
you know, is a one possession game with a few
minutes left. It's heart wrenching. I gotta tell you, it's
not how I felt watching the Lakers squander that game
at the very end, because they were incredibly lucky last
(14:23):
night that they weren't blown out minutes. I mean, Anthony
Edwards was zero for eleven from three. The Timberwlves as
a whole shot forty seven threes and made seven of them.
Think about that, they were fifteen percent from three. So
(14:43):
Ant was five of nineteen from the field. And that's
another weird thing for Ant because he's going to get
his flowers today, as he should. But it reminded me,
actually a lot of game Game seven against Denver, the
(15:03):
biggest win of Anthony Edwards career. He was six of
twenty four from the field, two of ten from three,
had sixteen points. It was his worst game of the series,
and they came back and beat Denver. Anyway, last night,
he's five of nineteen from the field, oho of eleven
(15:24):
from three, has fifteen points. And it's the game that
he knocks off Luca and Lebron that which is a
testament to the Timberwolves and a testament to Julius Randall
was excellent. This entire series. Julius Randall was reliable, and
obviously Rudy Gobert's nine offensive rebounds twenty four total rebounds,
(15:51):
him scoring twenty seven points in a playoff game was unfathomable.
And you can say, oh, listen, this is the Lakers
don't play a center. The Lakers haven't played a center
all series. Rudy Gobert's stat lines prior to last night
two and six, six and six, one and three, five
(16:18):
and ten, and then twenty seven and twenty four. Prior
to last night, in the series, Rudy Gobert had fourteen
points twenty five rebounds in the four games. Last night,
he had twenty seven points, twenty four rebounds.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Not having a big guy in there is gonna come
back to bite you eventually, right.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Well, clearly, I mean so clearly it did. But the
point that I'm making is, and you guys know from
what I was saying earlier in the series that I
thought and even though the Lakers were in a tough spot,
but one of the things that had worked out for
(17:03):
them was that the Timberwolves, and we talked about this
that even though the Lakers were everyone, the Lakers were
playing with six' eight and. Below rudy wasn't killing them
that they were getting away with playing that small because
The timberwolves didn't want to Give Rudy gobert the. Ball
(17:26):
And i'll be honest last, night they didn't give him
the ball that. Much it was all on like of
but it was, yeah it was on offensive, rebounds it
was on. Putbacks it wasn't a lot of like they
passed it To Rudy. Gobert and so a guy who
has in his seventy how how many games is his playoff,
(17:48):
career seventy four game playoff, career who went into last
night with five career twenty point playoff games and zero
career twenty five point playoff, game puts twenty seven on your.
HEAD a guy who in his seventy four career playoff
games once going into last, night had more than eighteen
(18:11):
rebounds in a game in the, playoffs puts twenty four
rebounds on your. Head it Was it was a dominant
performance by. Him it was a great performance By jalen
By Julius. Randall they and that's the other. Piece jade
McDaniel's in foul trouble immediately and it didn't. Matter so
(18:35):
this was A it felt to me like and this
is is not an excuse and it might even be an.
Indictment it felt to me like The lakers felt they
lost the series On, sunday and that is and that
they came out because there was no energy in the first.
(18:58):
Quarter it was something of a.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Miracle minnesota was leaving it up there for. Grabs, yes
they were playing pretty complacent with the, lead taking a
lot of beef shots instead of. Driving it was a.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Miracle it's exactly right demonse that this game was closely
If minnesota just has A c minus shooting night instead
of the worst shooting night any team will have in
the playoffs over the next three, years which is really
what they. Did The lakers are down twenty, five, right
(19:35):
and so the credit to The. Timberwolves, Man and.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
What about The Mark williams? Trade, Man, like what is?
Well would that have changed?
Speaker 1 (19:45):
This here's the thing it what they gave up in
The Mark williams trade Was Dalton connect a first round,
pick AND i think a. Swap so there is no
arguments that you made like well for this series in
(20:06):
this postseason that would have hurt you Because Dalton connect
got zero. Minutes you know WHAT i. Mean so since
the guy you traded you never played in the short,
term And Mark williams took a bit of a victory.
LAP i understand On, TWITTER i get that it certainly
(20:28):
felt like and they when they didn't Get Mark, williams
they Signed Alex, lynn who played zero. Minutes Now Maxi
kleiba comes off the bench after not playing in months
because of his, INJURY jj gives him five minutes and
more ON jj shortly there is. There it sure feels
(20:51):
like they would have had a better chance now in
retrospect in this series they Had Mark. Williams we never
saw him play with him and they now that powder
is dry for you, know a move this coming summer.
Potentially BUT i. CAN'T i can't pick a team to
win the championship and then when they get popped in
(21:12):
round one and five be, like, well here's all the
obvious flaws with the, Roster like that's. BULLSHIT i Knew
Mark williams wasn't on the. TEAM i knew how big
The timberwolves were WHEN i said After day eighty, Two
game eighty two of the season THAT i thought the
bracket fell perfectly for The, lakers and now you look
(21:36):
at it and you, say, well that was wrong, obviously so,
no it's A i but at its, core people are,
GONNA i, think focus on the wrong. THINGS i think
this what happened to The, lakers in my, opinion is
(21:58):
three games of this series and they scored less than
one hundred. Points four games of the series they scored
less than one oh. Five the one game they won
they only scored ninety. Four and you can so folks
(22:20):
are gonna say the issue was they were never gonna
be good enough, defensively, maybe but the issue in this
series was an offense that the only way to look
at This lakers team as a legitimate contender was going
to be they have an elite. Offense that offense was never.
(22:43):
Elite it was never even very. Good and it's just
remarkable to me that it's the same. OFFENSE i saw
a few weeks ago drop one twenty six IN okc
in a GAME okc one and then have like one
ten with six minutes left N okc against that. Defense
(23:08):
in the, Game luca got ejected IN i the The
lakers role players all had some. Struggles luca obviously wasn't
Himself lebron ran out of gas in every every one
of these fourth, quarters and that's how you lose in.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Five given, It, Austin, YEAH i feel like you Were
you did really go easy On Austin. Reeves if those
guys aren't gonna show, up that who has to show?
UP i think it has to Be.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Austin, well, no, LISTEN i So Austin reeves for the
series was sixteen to five and three on forty one
thirty two. Splits it's a bad. Series the Reason i'm
not focusing on that is BECAUSE i JUST i think
(24:00):
that would be kind of bullshit in THAT i didn't
pick The. Lakers people ARE i think MAYBE i think
people that are discerning listeners to HOW i do this
stuff are maybe at times surprised at how FAIR i
try to be to what is honest. COMMENTARY i didn't
(24:23):
pick The lakers BECAUSE i Thought Austin reeves was gonna
cook so like and so this was the first playoff
run of his career where a lot was expected of.
Him that's where and and he didn't. Listen he wasn't,
great but he's a young player who doesn't make a
(24:45):
ton of. Money who you just? EAT I i don't
like when stars are, awesome their team, loses and people
then blame the. Star the exam of that would would
have been if after The pacers beat The, bucks if
people were Like jannis needed to do, More yiannis did
(25:09):
fucking everything he could have, done and they got. Beat,
so Like Bill james used to, say bad teams have
an amazing ability to blame their best players for their biggest,
problems and SO i try not to do. That but
WHAT i also try not to do is when a
team THAT i thought was going to win because of
(25:33):
the overwhelming star power at the very top doesn't, win
and those two stars are good but not WHAT i
thought they would, be then be, like man needed more
from your third, option LIKE i JUST. I and so
(25:53):
it's not like That i'm trying to Protect. Austin it's
nothing like. That it's THAT i he wasn't very, good
But austin reeves playing at A c minus level again
should not be the reason you're going home in. Five
and that's where that's where we end. Up SO i
(26:18):
H i'm gonna get to a bunch of the other,
stuff AND i actually. Do demand's want the first thing
we talk about here in a minute to be Jj.
Reddick so if we need to adjust our, rundown that's,
fine BECAUSE i do want to talk about The redick
piece of. This then we'll get To lebron And. Luca but,
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(26:42):
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Speaker 1 (29:01):
Tv all, right, demonse let's get to some of this
other stuff as we spend a lot of time On Lakers.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Wolves. Yeah, so Jj reddick was asking a pregame pressor
if he was going to consult with his assistants a
little bit, more and he got offended by that and
kind of stormed out of the, meeting And Dragonfly jones
came out and, SAID i had the. Show, yeah so,
quote you can't be the, smug know it all new.
Coach and then every coach whoever schemed Against rudy did
(29:30):
a better job than you answer those questions at the, podium.
Bro yeah, so.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
So here's the. Deal So i'm also not going to
So i'm big, on and we can Take dragonflies tweet.
Off i'm big. On this is going to sound, silly
just being, honest no matter uh how it looks or
(29:58):
if people think there's an agenda there or. Whatever it.
Is so over the last couple of, years WHEN i
have criticized The lakers, coaching it hasn't been to Protect.
Lebron it hasn't been BECAUSE i was looking for a fall.
Guy it was BECAUSE i Thought darvinham was objectively, speaking
(30:20):
a bad, coach AND i thought he put them in
bad strategic and tactical and line up situations and it
hurt their chances of. Succeeding that's WHY i. CRITICIZED i
am not going to all of a sudden because they
(30:41):
lost a series THAT i thought they should. Win act,
LIKE i don't THINK Jj reddick over the course of
the year did an excellent. JOB i think he. DID
i THINK Jj reddick is a really sharp. COACH i
think there are a lot of major positives FOR Jj
(31:01):
reddick from a work, ethic from attention to, detail from,
tactics from understanding the kind of newer elements of what
you would call, analytics but it's really just kind of
smart math on. Things all of those THINGS i give
him high marks. For with that, said my concern ABOUT
(31:28):
jj coming in and you guys can remember, this you
can check the, tape was actually a personality, concern which
WAS i saw HOW jj dealt with criticism when he
was in the. MEDIA i saw HOW jj how online
(31:53):
he was and reading mentioned and reading what was being,
written AND i was worried that when times got, tough
THAT Jj reddick wouldn't react well to. That the first
(32:14):
tough times he really. Had the first real criticism he
got his entire tenure was after he did something literally
no coach has ever done in basketball, history play all five,
starters to play the same five guys all twenty four
(32:35):
minutes in a playoff game for the second. Half he
got some criticism for, it and then also was asked
about it pregame and immediately became a bit of a petulant.
Child and that was the. Concern here is the other,
(32:55):
concern and this is ONE jj is not going to
like to. Hear but the record speaks for. ITSELF Jj,
reddick his entire basketball life gets tight in big. Spots
(33:19):
at the peak of his basketball career when he was
the best player in college basketball At. Duke go look
at those tournament stat lines and you might, say this is.
Ridiculous why are you bringing UP Jj, reddicks you, know
three or six In cuba tournament in talking about The.
(33:42):
Lakers i'll. Explain BUT Jj reddick as. Great he was
an unbelievable college basketball player who is not a very
good In cuba tournament, player was on Four duke, teams
any of which could have won the national, championship got
popped in the sweet. Sixteen almost every year made it
(34:03):
to one final, four and it wasn't, like, OH jj was. Great,
no that's not how it. Went go back and look
if you don't, remember, then As Jerry west reminded, him
WHEN jj did The plumbers And fireman BIT jj and the,
pros as really good as he was later in his,
(34:25):
career was not a good playoff. Performer so why AM
i bringing that up? Now he strikes me as a
guy who gets a little, tight who's wound a little.
Tight and when you have on THE tnt broadcast the
(34:45):
sideline reporter who never that's like the opposite of the
take industry is the sideline. Reporter when you have the
sideline reporter telling, us, OOH jj was wound up when
we met with him before the, game he was on.
Edge He and then when you HAVE jj storming out
(35:07):
of a press conference when you have in the, game
he has committed before the, Game i'm not gonna Play Jackson.
Hayes but then all of a sudden you are just
getting your teeth kicked in on the offensive glass and you're, like,
Well i've already Said i'm not Playing Jackson. Hayes SO
i Guess Maxi, kleiba who AGAIN i think could have
(35:27):
been useful for The lakers cuz he's a big guy
who can, shoot and as a relationship With, luca the
problem is he hadn't practiced or played with him. Once.
Ever you put him in like it's a coach who
got a little. Tight oh my, goodness, SORRY i don't
know if you guys heard my dog freaking. Out it's
a coach that gets he got a little. Tight and
(35:52):
SO i think that IF i am, IF i am
GIVING Jj reddick a vice for next year and for
the rest of his coaching, career BECAUSE i do think
he has a lot of the talent to be a
really good head, coach And lucas said great things about him.
(36:15):
Afterwards he said it reminded him of being back In
europe with the style of coaching and the attention detail all.
That it honestly is as still as it, sounds just
chill a little, Man just breathe and.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
Chill AND i think he was also in his head
about making that decision and like he's, LIKE i don't
want to call it, embarrassed but like the fact that
he's being questioned on, it he just can't can't stand.
It he walked.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
AWAY i also think sorry for the.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Birds by the, way, Guys OH i loved.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
IT i. WAS i want to ask him about. THAT
i think it sounds DELIGHT i was, like oh, man
this is a nice little background to the. Pod just
Chuir Southern california. Birds BUT i so here's the, thing almost,
(37:10):
ASSUREDLY i can. BET i can't bet, this BUT i
would bet almost anything That reddick had no idea that
no coach ever had played all five guys for the
second half of a playoff, game like when he was doing, It,
(37:32):
like why would? HE i didn't know, it you know
WHAT i? MEAN i may right. Correct i'm sure he
knew it was, rare you know WHAT i, mean unworthaned
no team ever in basketball. History and so then when
they fall apart at the, end and then he finds
(37:55):
Out i'm the first guy to ever do, THIS i
bet he felt a little boxed in and maybe even
a little. Embarrassed and SO i just DON'T i think
he has wound a little. Tight AND i think that
that unfortunately manifested itself in big spots in his playing
(38:16):
career and now first running the, playoffs manifested itself a
bit in the first really big spot of his coaching.
Career that's. All it's not a lifelong. Indictment it just
is what it, is all, right demon S let's get To.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Luca go, Ahead, Yeah, SO i, mean obviously they made
the big trade For luca Sent Anthony davis At. Dallas
what do you, like what does this situation look like
if they never Traded Anthony davis over?
Speaker 1 (38:52):
There, WELL i don't think they would have gotten into
the three line had they Kept Anthony. DAVIS i, don't
especially given the fact that his injury clearly was more
substantial Than. Luca's SO i think there we do have
to consider that piece of. It DO i think given
How luca played in this series That lebron showed you
(39:15):
he can still get to a high volume scoring level
in the, playoffs if need be that all, that would
they maybe have had a better chance in this specific
series given How luca played all of it against this specific,
opponent if they Had Anthony, davis maybe DO i think that's?
(39:37):
Relevant not even a tiny, Bit because if they Had Anthony,
davis we know that that team was not could not
generate enough offense to compete for a. Championship we had
seen it over the last few. Years now you can, say,
well this team couldn't, either and they. Didn't but there
(40:00):
is going to be an, immense immense amount Of Luka
doncic's criticism today and this, offseason and even some folks
who not naming names BECAUSE i wouldn't want to call
them Shameless charlatans by naming their. Names Kevin, wilds who
(40:23):
just a few weeks ago we're going viral for explaining
How Nico harrison is at the forefront of the modern
Day Babe ruth, trade which means a few weeks ago these,
people again not naming, Names Kevin, wilds were Comparing lukadancic
(40:47):
To Babe. Ruth are now going to be, like, well
how good is he? Really, LIKE i think that's. RIDICULOUS
i DO i Think luca had a good? Series? No
DO i think this is the? Not DO i? Think
DO i know this is the first time In luca's
(41:10):
playoff career demanse where you can fairly and honestly, say, man.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
It was.
Speaker 1 (41:23):
One of the big reasons your team lost was because
you didn't play as well as they. Needed, yes that is.
Fair every other series he's, lost he has been either
a triple plus or his team's just been out. Gunned
(41:45):
so the first series he ever played against The, clippers
he was thirty, one ten and nine and hit a
buzzer beater to win a. Game the second series they
ever lost was games seven games against The, clippers he
was thirty six eight. Ten the third series they lost
was against the team that won the, Championship Golden, state
(42:06):
in the conference, finals and he was thirty, two nine and.
Six and the fourth series he lost was Against dallas
in the finals when he was twenty, nine nine and.
Six and WHILE I i'm sorry Against boston in the,
finals WHILE i Underrated boston in that, Series boston has
proven itself to be a great. Team this, series they
(42:27):
needed more From luca on both ends and he wasn't
able to provide. It that's fair to criticize this. Series
and this is here is the part demands Of luca
is out of. Shape luca's endurance is not up to
par THAT i struggle. With, okay all, right let me
(42:51):
tell you how many players these playoffs have played more
minutes than Luka, Ancic do you have a? Guess not?
Speaker 2 (43:00):
One?
Speaker 1 (43:01):
Yeah, zero, Yeah he And Jamal murray are tied for the.
Most so the players who have played two hundred plus
minutes these Playoffs Lebron, Caid Anthony, Edwards Joker, Og, Luca Jamal. Murray,
okay now you might be, like, well some of those
(43:22):
series went four games minutes per game these. Playoffs the
guys who are playing forty, plus it's the exact same
list right outside. It right on the outside looking at
Is Jalen, Brunson Palo, Bancro christian braun And Austin brown
And Austin. Roots so here is SOMETHING i really struggle
(43:43):
with when it comes to the criticism Of luca's. Condition
criticizing his defense to me is obviously totally inbounds and.
Fair when it comes to criticizing his can, auditioning my problem,
is would he look less winded and more rested like
(44:11):
other starters do, if like other, starters he wasn't playing
more minutes than everyone else in the, playoffs so like.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
The also on the other, end if he's if he's
not giving you exactly what he needs we need from
him in order to, win in order to win the,
series then maybe take him off the court for a
little bit so he can come back in later and
have more energy and put out a better offensive output or. Something.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
Right so that so there's just there's what is frustrating
to me IS i if he was, playing you, know
average minutes for a superstar and just looked more winded
than all the other, superstars THEN i would say it's
more of a. Criticism but when he is in now
(45:04):
so this, year up to this point in the, postseason
he's played more minutes than. Everybody last year when everyone
just killed him for how tired he looked at the,
end he played nine hundred minutes that. Postseason right Man
Jason tatum sure looked fresher in those. Finals tatum played
(45:26):
seven hundred and sixty eight minutes on a per per game.
Basis last year in the, Playoffs luca was it forty
one minutes per. Game the only guys to play multiple
series and be at forty. Plus Where Kyrie, Joker, Tatum,
Aunt luca And Josh Hart and if you, remember at
(45:49):
the end of last, Postseason aunt, said MAN i fell
off BECAUSE i was. Exhausted to what he, said he was,
LIKE i was. Exhausted and this is year after year
that this is the case as far As luca's postseason,
usage and then people, like, Man dude's out of, shape
(46:11):
WHEN i JUST i, AGAIN i. Don't he obviously is
not in in tip top physical. Shape i'm not arguing,
that but.
Speaker 2 (46:19):
Say he also doesn't play like everybody else like you're
saying he's out there for allows when Its luca isn't
freaking busting his ass up and down the court like
he's kind of like moving. Around and then when he
does have the, ball he plays at his own. Pace
it's like he makes you play this pace that is
not a fast. Pace so it's, like, hey, dude.
Speaker 1 (46:37):
No, listen that's all. FAIR i just think it is
a little It it is a LITTLE i think overstated
the amount of Man luca's out of. Shape and that's
the problem when each of the last two postseasons he's
(47:00):
led THE nba in minutes per, game and when you
also add to it that the guy who just beat
him in this series aunt last year said he was
out of gas And luca was moving on to the. Finals,
now with that, Said lucas should look at this year
as a true. Failure the team he wanted to stick
(47:26):
with gave up on, him and then he got to
The lakers and they lost as a three seed and
he wasn't. Great so he does need to be. Better
he does need to get in better. Shape but there
is going to, be in my, opinion there is going
to be a massive overreaction to this. Series and there
(47:55):
is if you want to, say let's see How ant
does the rest of the. Postseason is it possible that
the question you asked the other Day demons could answer
a Plant luca on THE nba? Hierarchy? Sure DO i
think he has done it? ALREADY i do. NOT i
don't think.
Speaker 2 (48:15):
THAT i think especially that he was barely at the
hands of the win last. Night SO i get that's.
Speaker 1 (48:21):
Fair AND i think that. Right and that's Another so
that's another piece of it THAT i think has to
be factored into when we're talking about you, know The
luca is one of to, me just two guys in
the league, Him joker And jannis that a game that
(48:44):
like the One Anthony edwards had last night feels impossible
where it's just you, know there's only three guys in
the league where even they're bad, games it's like what
did he finish With it's like twenty, five nine and,
seven like the and the fly in that ointment Is friday,
Night luke at a game WHERE i think it was
(49:06):
seventeen seven and. Eight but if we take him at
his word that he was dog, sick then you can
attribute it more to. That and So i'm not making.
EXCUSES i am, though explaining WHAT i, think HOW i
think this went, down and what it means for him moving.
Forward he does need to be. Better but also this
(49:28):
one last thing On luke before we get To. Lebron
i'm amazed at the number of people that will just, say,
well If luca's on your, team you can't you know
your defense has a, ceiling as if we didn't see
a team again last year With luca not only make the,
finals but from The All star breakthrough or a little
(49:50):
after The All star break through the finals have the
number two defense in basketball and in those finals Hold
boston way below its season averages offensively and and. Play,
Actually dallas's defense was good in the. Finals its offense
is why they. Lost like the fact that it's not a,
(50:11):
night it's not a. Hypothetical can you have an elite
defense With Luca ancic on. It if you have the right,
roster you have any one can have an elite defense
With luca And kyrie on. It and SO I i
think we just saw. It we literally just saw. It
and so there's gonna be some, overreaction which is, listen
(50:32):
which is what we're supposed to do this time of.
Year but there are get ready demons four AN nba you,
know player ranking list that doesn't just Have Jason tatum
ahead Of Luka, ancic that Has Jalen brown ahead Of.
LUCAS i mean there there is going to BE i
(50:55):
marked this down. There someone's going someone AND i don't
mean some someone semi credible will come out with a
top ten players in the league list going into next
year and they'll Leave luca off, it like let, me let,
me let me see IF i can figure out the.
(51:17):
Ten it'll Be, Joker, Yannis, Sga, tatum, Easy steph grandfathered
in Because steph listen, Again i'm not saying that WHAT
i said about Ros A ghoul have to provide balance
in the. World that When steph's graaty's. Great when he's,
not we move. On but, uh WATCH tv today and
(51:39):
see how Much Steph curry criticism there is just. Once
i'm just. Curious there'll probably be a lot of criticism
Of Dylan brooks for being mean to. Him but all, right,
so Uh, Joker Jannis Sga, Tatum, steph that's an easy.
Five now let ME i JUST i have to look at.
H the only WAY i can do these lists and
(52:01):
not leave people out on everything is to just look
at standings and just go team by. Team Uh, so
let me just do this real. Quick, Oh Donovan mitchell
is gonna be on, there especially with What cleveland's. Doing
there's no question about. It you've got who AM i
forgetting as An IDAs? One, Yeah donovan will be on.
(52:22):
There but there's a very obvious one That i'm now leaving.
Out Jalen. Brunson someone definitively this will be their tenth.
GUY i gotta find the other two because this is
what will really get you the. Engagement we'll Put Anthony
davis at, Ten Anthony davis, Ten luca, eleven and then
(52:44):
there's two spots. Open SO i don't, Know, Oh. Wimby
Obviously wimby will be on. There now we need we
just need one more and so you, know dealer's. CHOICE I,
supposecade Maybe, bron Maybe durant maybe If denver keeps, rolling
(53:06):
Playoff Jamal, uh Like Jimmy, butler you know if depending
on what they, do they'll find somebody and that'll Or.
Haliburton what About halliburton to get his daddy to chill?
Out like there you, go you're gonna have. That you're
gonna have somebody say ON tv maybe even, today if
(53:28):
you're trying to win a, Championship i'd rather Have Tyrese.
Haliburton that's gonna, happen like and, so, uh just be
prepared for, it.
Speaker 4 (53:38):
All.
Speaker 1 (53:38):
Right the ask me The lebron.
Speaker 2 (53:40):
Question how does how does this season or this season
along with this series Impact lebron's?
Speaker 1 (53:46):
Legacy this season helps, It the series means. Nothing write
a letter to your mom if you're mad about, it
not you, demonse that'd beating my. Wife i'm not so All,
UH i will at some point do because, listen The
(54:10):
lebron legacy thing is only A lebron Versus jordan conversation
at this. Point that's what people have made it to.
Be that's. Fine AND i don't Think lebron was, great
AND i thought he was great over The it was
great In games, two, three and, Four but over the
(54:31):
course of the, SERIES i thought he was. FINE i
do think he was exponentially and demonstrably better Than Michael
jordan was in the playoffs at any point after he
was thirty five And lebron's. Forty and that's Because Michael
jordan never made the playoffs after he was thirty. Five
so if we're just gonna do A Lebron jordan, thing
(54:52):
there's a whole. Thing, Listen i'm not going and don't
even clip this BECAUSE i. Will IT'S i will BECAUSE
i know that are the people that are in charge
of this. Show is like analytics and metrics and all
that stuff they really need for, me like a full
Throated lebron thing, Today And i'm not gonna do. It
(55:13):
and so it's kind of a bummer if you guys
Were if you guys remind me at some point in
the next month or, So i'll give YOU i, CAN
i guarantee. IT i will give, you guys A Lebron
jordan's side by side take. That even Though i'm not
(55:35):
on this, PLATFORM i know we'll. Crush we'll do crazy
on TikTok of all these. THINGS i don't really know
how to make TikTok, videos but our producers, do and
we're just gonna do a year by year comp and
we can put little check marks on. It so just
the views and clicks we're not gonna get Because i'm
not doing A lebron thing, today don't. Worry i'll call
(55:58):
my shot on. This we're gonna have a five million
view social media thing on the age year by Year
lebron versus shortened Thing i'll.
Speaker 2 (56:07):
Do in a few.
Speaker 1 (56:08):
WEEKS i don't want to do it, today And i'm
Not I'M i Just i'm not. Interested and last question
on this before we get to the other playoff reactions To, Monsey.
Speaker 2 (56:19):
What is next For, Lebron luca and The. Lakers what
do you think they should do?
Speaker 1 (56:24):
This that's? All oh, wait, okay my.
Speaker 2 (56:27):
Bad how do you think wild is going to be
on the show? Today?
Speaker 1 (56:31):
Peak? Annoying, yeah, peak like it. Is here's the thing
about my dear Friend Kevin. WILDS i love, HIM i really. Do.
Now i've never ever hung out with him outside of
work and he won't come over to the, house so
maybe he doesn't feel the same way about. Me BUT
i love the. MAN i also think he is the
(56:57):
key to the television show's. SUCCESS i also believe it's
not that he has bad sports, takes it's that he
doesn't have. Him he's just a weather vein whatever that thing's.
Called just wherever the wind's, blowing he's, there and then
(57:19):
he's over, here and then at the end of it he's,
like told you, so he picked the Fucking, lakers and
today he's gonna be wearing a, tuxedo playing a, piano Drinking,
scotch celebrating a gentleman's. Sweep his lack of take integrity
is so infuriating that IF i didn't love him as
(57:41):
much AS i, DO i think we would have come
to blows at some, point and that wouldn't go well for.
Me because here's Something america doesn't. Know kevin wilds sneaky,
jacked like legit sneaky, jacked not just like late forties
Dad bob, jacked but like jit. JACKED i don't know
how it. Happened and so, yeah well and so all,
(58:06):
right so, Yeah wild is gonna be peak. Annoying all.
Right the producers wanted me to do reactions to these other.
GAMES i am tight on. Time so let me quickly
kind of pop pop pop through this if we can
For gianni's in the. Bucks if you If yannis wants
a chance to compete for a championship in the next three, Years,
(58:31):
uh he probably hasked to ascalt and it sucks and
it's not really what anyone would have, wanted but it
is the. Reality and and you know, what let me
text Because i'm supposed to going With kevin. O'Connor let
me just Text kevin O'Connor real quick THAT i need
an extra five minutes SO i can give you guys
(58:54):
real answers to these.
Speaker 2 (58:55):
Things Here burden's dad walk up To Bobby portis instead Of.
Speaker 1 (58:58):
Addis so let me ask you, this demanse honest. Question
SO i it's two. Questions, one would you have Blamed
gianness if he hit?
Speaker 2 (59:12):
Him, No i'm not gonna, lie, Man i'm he's he
walked all the way up to, Him he's he's, taunting
he's up in his. FACE i WOULD i wouldn't have
now if he would have just straight up decked, Him
like IF i would have expected her to do something
similar that he did the mathin like maybe not knocked
the guy out, cold but, like, hey, dude.
Speaker 1 (59:31):
Gilt but here's the. Thing If jannis is telling the,
truth WHICH i, believe you're honest that when it first,
happened he did not know that Was tyrese's. Father he
thought it was just a, fan THEN i really wouldn't
have blamed him for. HITTING i really if you just
think some fan has walked on the court and it's, Tauning, noah,
(59:53):
bro you can get knocked. Out If i'm, honest he.
Speaker 2 (59:55):
Was looking at him as if like a pit bull
was at the dog park and like A, chihuahua like.
Barking Adham gold.
Speaker 1 (01:00:01):
Crazy and then and Also tyrese's dad doing an interview,
yesterday being LIKE i wasn't looking at, HIM i was
looking through. Him that whole thing is so embarrassing For.
Tyrese it's so. Here so here's my second, question not
to compare, you to be, honest, HOWEVER i GOT i
would get really into your basketball, games right and once,
(01:00:25):
ever do you remember When i'm gonna SAY i went
on the court after a. Game it was this is high.
Speaker 2 (01:00:35):
SCHOOL i remember something. Vividly what what what was? It what?
Speaker 1 (01:00:40):
HAPPENED i actually think it was FRESHMAN. Jv. BALL i
don't think it was VAR i don't think it was
when you were on, varsity but maybe it. Was you
went to the free throw line with time expired and
you had to make both and the game was just
over and you guys won and you made. Both AND
(01:01:01):
i came on the like the game the, moment like
it was one of those free throws where there's there's
nobody even nobody, around and you made the second. ONE
i couldn't help myself AND i just walked up and
dapped you up before you could even dap up your.
Teammates and. So BUT i also ONCE aau ball followed
(01:01:26):
a ref out of the like out not, outside but
out of the. Gym and again people are gonna be,
like you gotta be kidding. Me do you remember WHY
i did?
Speaker 2 (01:01:34):
That that's WHAT i feel. LIKE i remember a little bit.
More but why was? It was? It? OH i remember
there's the TIME i dunked and LIKE i fell on
my head or, NO i didn't follow. IT i hang
on the rim and the ref told me to let
go of, it AND i was like it was gave
me a technical all that.
Speaker 1 (01:01:52):
And and in those and if you got a, technical
you couldn't play. Anymore, yeah like that was like it
was like basically one technical. Ejection and so that's exactly
what it. Was you were on a fast, break dunked
and your legs went out from under. You, see you
didn't you didn't play yourself over the. Rim you just you,
know hung on the rim so you didn't, fall and
(01:02:13):
he gave you A. Tech AND I i kind of
followed him out of the gym saying, that basically saying
he was like putting your health at, risk your. Safety i'm,
like like for, real like if you have to, Worry
i'm gonna get a technical you let go of the.
Rim so SO i say all that to, SAY i can't,
(01:02:34):
imagine you, know if how you feel as a parent
your kid's AN nba. SUPERSTAR i feel like this because
my kid was, awesome you, know amateur. Player BUT i
still never ever would have thought to mess with an
opponent like you know WHAT i, mean celebrate with you
sure get angry at the. Ref MAYBE i couldn't believe.
(01:02:54):
It all opponents in that, series like the honest was
the most, honest, Yes and SO i thought that was.
BRUTAL i also think it's you, know.
Speaker 2 (01:03:09):
No feeling the.
Speaker 1 (01:03:10):
Moment, YEAH i JUST i also feel sick for The
bucks fans Because dame's got the Blown achilles And jannis
might ask out and you kind of can't blame, him all,
Right Warriors rockets last? Night can't Listen my pick Was
rockets in. Seven pick feels shaky even after last. Night
(01:03:33):
The warriors are prone to the at throw this game
away like and that they up three to, one they
have the ability to do. That that's. Fine game six,
THOUGH I i if The rockets can get this back
To houston For game, SEVEN i think they'll win BECAUSE
i think that The warriors will be worn out AND
(01:03:53):
i Think jimmy's banged. Up Winning game six In Golden,
State Jalen, green can you show up one, time one
more time for? Us that's the question. There If, Nuggets
clippers and Or nick's pistons is great, tonight we'll do
an emergency pod. Tomorrow OTHERWISE i gotta. Go So demon's great. Job,
(01:04:15):
everybody please, like, rate, subscribe, review do all. That it
helps us out more than you could possibly. Imagine maybe
see you guys tomorrow morning for a quick emergency. Pod
thanks To Blue, duck thanks To. Volume thanks To, DraftKings.
Everybody talk to you guys.
Speaker 2 (01:04:29):
Later we'll try
Welcome in What's drive in the Great episode three twenty seven.
I'll be honest, A show that the audience is likely
looking forward to quite a bit more than me. A
show that you know, it's very ironic. I'm drinking out
of the coffee cup game theory with Bamani Jones. Bimani
texts me this morning, just trolling me. Well, he started
(00:24):
by trolling JJ Reddick, but then he started trolling me
saying shame the Lakers didn't last long enough for us
to watch a playoff game together. That would have been fun.
And I wrote him back. Given how the Lakers playoffs win,
it wouldn't have been fun at all. And so listen,
let's just get into Demons High. Good to see, uh,
happy to see. I love you, I'm proud of you.
(00:45):
You're my believed great awesome fun stuff. Let's get to
what missed the cut. Stefan Castle becomes a fourth San
Antonio spur To win Rookie of the Year. If he
does not end his career as one of the twenty
five greatest players of all time, he has not carried
on that legacy. No big shoes, kiddo, but Robinson's there
(01:07):
Duncan's there, Wimby appears to be on his way, Dyson
Daniels wins Most Improved Player and Boston Flute Gentleman sweep
of Orlando. A reminder, please like, rate, subscribe, review, check
out the podcast you control me in the comments. It's final,
be honest. Probably won't be reading them today, but the
(01:28):
producers might pick a select few to bring to my
attention if they find them particularly funny. Because it's not
just that I'm bummed. It's not just this the second
straight year that the Lakers and Lebron and the playoffs
don't get out of round one. It's also that this
is the first Lakers playoff loss since Lebron's been there
(01:53):
that is shocking. This one is shocking to me. The
the when they lost to the Suns that series turned
on Anthony Davis. Pulling is growing. Like I thought they
would win that series. But your second best player, best player,
I don't know. Depending on how you viewed Anthony Davis,
then Pulls is growing. It changes two years ago when
(02:17):
they got all the way to the conference finals, I
thought they could win. They obviously got swept by Denver,
but it wasn't shocking that they lost last year. When
I they got Denver in round one and Denver was
the overwhelming favorite, I said, hey, if you're ever gonna
beat Denver, round ones the time that you have the
best chance. But I wasn't shocked by it. This one
(02:40):
shocked me. And so I have some you know, accounting
to do on that front. And so I'm not sure
how much we're going to talk about today that isn't
about the end of the Lakers season, the ascension of
Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert having his annual Rudy Gobert game,
which is honestly demons here is. You know, it's really
important to remember stay humble, like Gianness would say, stay humble,
(03:06):
be grounded, because nobody took more pleasure on TV last
year than me in the root the last Rudy go
Beart game we got, because that was against Denver in
Game seven, and Kevin Wilds was covered in shame and
(03:27):
I got to mock him for it. And I've never
really been a Rudy Gobert guy. I don't know if
there are many Rudy Gobert guys outside of Leone. However,
I enjoyed that performance and then the Rudy go beart
game came for me and in really maddening fashion. So again,
(03:48):
subscribe on YouTube, hit the bell, subscribe on all your
podcast platforms, and now demands go ahead.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah. So the Lakers season ended last night, I think,
and the hands of Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves, so
might say. Rudy Gobert JJ w Rennick had a similar scheme.
He played his starters a lot of minutes. They came
closer at the end, but then kind of ran out
of gas. They couldn't do it. How'd you get this
series so wrong? You said there was this one they
obviously didn't.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Well, yeah, and I said Lakers. I said my favorite
bet was Lakers minus a game and a half, meaning
Lakers in four or five or six. And when I
was giving the analysis of that bet, I said, I
didn't even really consider the possibility of the Lakers losing
the series. Is the reason the bet didn't come in.
I thought it was because the Lakers, you know, maybe
(04:40):
they win in seven, but I thought they would. I
thought they would be hard fought games. The Lakers were
clearly better. So I do want to start with me
because I gotta a whiff this strong, you gotta figure out.
You gotta kind of do an autopsy, a post mortem
of your own tape. And the number one thing that
(05:05):
I clearly overestimated going into this postseason was how dynamic
and unstoppable the Lakers offense would be. I thought there
was a little too much attention paid to the Lakers
(05:26):
defensive deficiencies, not because I thought they'd be a great defense,
but because I thought it was pretty clear we had
proof of concept that the Lakers defense could be average,
that the Lakers defense could be fine, and that if
the Lakers defense is fine, even given their size limitations,
(05:48):
that this offense with Luca and Lebron was going to
be a top three in the league over the court,
you know, net rating wise or offensive rating wise offense.
And it was nothing close to that. And so that
was with number one whiff. Number one was that the
(06:09):
Lakers offense would be would put the other team under
such pressure to keep scoring and to keep pace that
a younger Timberwolves team, a Timberwolves team that only has
one true superstar, a Timberwolves team that has a few
guys who are max players who there have long playoff histories,
(06:35):
but the playoff histories are you know, checkered in Rudy
Gobert and Julius Randall that the weight of Lebron and
Luca on the offensive side of the ball would be
too much for him. None of that happened. We didn't
have a single game this series where where Lebron and
(07:01):
Luca were both outstanding on the offensive end, and we
did have last night. And we'll talk obviously more about
the individual parties involved here shortly, but last night was
the first time in an elimination game that Lebron wasn't
(07:24):
outstanding in a decade. Honest to god, if you go
through it was it was somewhat jarring to see if
you look at what Lebron James, who averages thirty five
points per game in his career in elimination games, what
(07:44):
he did last night in comparison, like if I can
just quickly give you the game logs last year against Denver,
face well, he had two games facing elimination against Denver.
The first game he had third thirty five and four.
The next game and because they won it, he had
thirty nine and eleven. The year before facing elimination against Denver,
(08:10):
he had I think thirty in the first half and
he finished with forty ten and nine. When they lost
to Phoenix in a game they got, they really didn't
have much of a chance. If you remember, that's the
game Anthony Davis started and then played like thirty seconds,
then came out of the game. Lebron twenty nine to
(08:32):
nine and seven facing elimination. They never faced elimination and
route to the bubble in the championship run. And then
if you look at game seven against Boston or game
six and seven against Boston facing eliminations, are down three
to two, forty six, eight and eleven, thirty five, fifteen
and nine, you can go his whole career. It's like, Okay,
(08:56):
we're facing elimination. I have to ramp it up. Here's
the part that last night informed me on he fired
those bullets over the weekend. He felt correctly, clearly we
were facing elimination in game four and in game three
(09:20):
he had the thirty eight, ten and four and they
blew it at the end. In game four he had
twenty seven, twelve and eight and the defensive stops at
the end, and in game five the forty. It was
a weird Lebron game because he had three of his
most explosive offensive plays of those three dunks that he's
(09:44):
had all postseason. But he just didn't have the juice
last night, So Lebron didn't have the juice. Luca's performance
last night even more shocking because Luca has been a
back against the wall, I'm gonna f you up everybody's
top when they're up.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Lucas seemed pretty messed up, like basically this whole series. Though. Yeah,
whether it was sicknesses or yesterday, I feel like he
came out with like some backspasm type of thing.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Yeah. I mean, listen, he got hurt, but he didn't.
If it was he had looked awesome and until the
hard fall, that would be one thing, but that's not
what it was. Like. He was relatively passive in the
first quarter, which is when he has crushed. It felt
early on like Lebron and Luca were both like, Okay,
(10:38):
let's conserve energy in the first quarter so we have
more in the fourth quarter. And at first it looked
like a bad strategy because they were down fourteen, but
then once despite all that, they were able to claw
their way back into the game and actually take a
(10:59):
one point lead, You thought, oh, this could work out,
but Lebron didn't have the extra gear and Luca didn't
have it. The really, I don't want to say the
whole series, but the last three games since he got sick,
Luca didn't have the Luca playoff gear. Twenty eight to
seven and nine on seven of eighteen from the field
(11:21):
for Luca is by his standards, a bad playoff game. Now,
the flip side to that, and where, folks, where credit
must be given is the other guys are paid too.
And the Timberwolves defensive plan against Luca and against Lebron
was outstanding. The Timberwolves trusting you know what, Austin Reeves.
(11:47):
If you beat us, you beat us. We don't think
you're gonna beat us. It was smart, it worked, and
so I'm not gonna kill Austin Reeves. He had a
rough series. But also the Lakers shouldn't have needed Austin
Reeves to be great to force a Game six against
(12:09):
the Timberwolves. And I understand that the Timberwolves are now
twenty one to five in their last twenty six and
I think they have ten or it's either ten or fifteen.
I don't remember double digit wins in that stretch I
get that that maybe I was I am still even
(12:29):
to a degree underrating or disrespecting the Timberwolves. But this
Lakers team it was not. And this is what's so
frustrating about the way the season ended. It was not
some hope in a prayer media creation. They had almost
(12:51):
the exact same record against the Western Conference as Oklahoma
City did. They were a dominant team home where they
lost two of these games. They had I think the
third best record in the fourth best record in the
league against the best teams in the league. We saw
(13:12):
them at the end of the year against a full
strength Oklahoma City team, blow them out, and then go
toe to toe with them a week before the playoffs.
They were rested. All of those things happened, and while
Lebron did not have a great Game five, you did
(13:35):
get great Lebron performances in Games two, three, and four.
So it wasn't that oh the you know, the old
man slowed down at the end. He did at the
very end, and they still just got annihilated in this series.
The thing about last night that made last usually demons.
(13:57):
If if a team loses a close out game that
you know, is a one possession game with a few
minutes left. It's heart wrenching. I gotta tell you, it's
not how I felt watching the Lakers squander that game
at the very end, because they were incredibly lucky last
(14:23):
night that they weren't blown out minutes. I mean, Anthony
Edwards was zero for eleven from three. The Timberwlves as
a whole shot forty seven threes and made seven of them.
Think about that, they were fifteen percent from three. So
(14:43):
Ant was five of nineteen from the field. And that's
another weird thing for Ant because he's going to get
his flowers today, as he should. But it reminded me,
actually a lot of game Game seven against Denver, the
(15:03):
biggest win of Anthony Edwards career. He was six of
twenty four from the field, two of ten from three,
had sixteen points. It was his worst game of the series,
and they came back and beat Denver. Anyway, last night,
he's five of nineteen from the field, oho of eleven
(15:24):
from three, has fifteen points. And it's the game that
he knocks off Luca and Lebron that which is a
testament to the Timberwolves and a testament to Julius Randall
was excellent. This entire series. Julius Randall was reliable, and
obviously Rudy Gobert's nine offensive rebounds twenty four total rebounds,
(15:51):
him scoring twenty seven points in a playoff game was unfathomable.
And you can say, oh, listen, this is the Lakers
don't play a center. The Lakers haven't played a center
all series. Rudy Gobert's stat lines prior to last night
two and six, six and six, one and three, five
(16:18):
and ten, and then twenty seven and twenty four. Prior
to last night, in the series, Rudy Gobert had fourteen
points twenty five rebounds in the four games. Last night,
he had twenty seven points, twenty four rebounds.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Not having a big guy in there is gonna come
back to bite you eventually, right.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Well, clearly, I mean so clearly it did. But the
point that I'm making is, and you guys know from
what I was saying earlier in the series that I
thought and even though the Lakers were in a tough spot,
but one of the things that had worked out for
(17:03):
them was that the Timberwolves, and we talked about this
that even though the Lakers were everyone, the Lakers were
playing with six' eight and. Below rudy wasn't killing them
that they were getting away with playing that small because
The timberwolves didn't want to Give Rudy gobert the. Ball
(17:26):
And i'll be honest last, night they didn't give him
the ball that. Much it was all on like of
but it was, yeah it was on offensive, rebounds it
was on. Putbacks it wasn't a lot of like they
passed it To Rudy. Gobert and so a guy who
has in his seventy how how many games is his playoff,
(17:48):
career seventy four game playoff, career who went into last
night with five career twenty point playoff games and zero
career twenty five point playoff, game puts twenty seven on your.
HEAD a guy who in his seventy four career playoff
games once going into last, night had more than eighteen
(18:11):
rebounds in a game in the, playoffs puts twenty four
rebounds on your. Head it Was it was a dominant
performance by. Him it was a great performance By jalen
By Julius. Randall they and that's the other. Piece jade
McDaniel's in foul trouble immediately and it didn't. Matter so
(18:35):
this was A it felt to me like and this
is is not an excuse and it might even be an.
Indictment it felt to me like The lakers felt they
lost the series On, sunday and that is and that
they came out because there was no energy in the first.
(18:58):
Quarter it was something of a.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Miracle minnesota was leaving it up there for. Grabs, yes
they were playing pretty complacent with the, lead taking a
lot of beef shots instead of. Driving it was a.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Miracle it's exactly right demonse that this game was closely
If minnesota just has A c minus shooting night instead
of the worst shooting night any team will have in
the playoffs over the next three, years which is really
what they. Did The lakers are down twenty, five, right
(19:35):
and so the credit to The. Timberwolves, Man and.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
What about The Mark williams? Trade, Man, like what is?
Well would that have changed?
Speaker 1 (19:45):
This here's the thing it what they gave up in
The Mark williams trade Was Dalton connect a first round,
pick AND i think a. Swap so there is no
arguments that you made like well for this series in
(20:06):
this postseason that would have hurt you Because Dalton connect
got zero. Minutes you know WHAT i. Mean so since
the guy you traded you never played in the short,
term And Mark williams took a bit of a victory.
LAP i understand On, TWITTER i get that it certainly
(20:28):
felt like and they when they didn't Get Mark, williams
they Signed Alex, lynn who played zero. Minutes Now Maxi
kleiba comes off the bench after not playing in months
because of his, INJURY jj gives him five minutes and
more ON jj shortly there is. There it sure feels
(20:51):
like they would have had a better chance now in
retrospect in this series they Had Mark. Williams we never
saw him play with him and they now that powder
is dry for you, know a move this coming summer.
Potentially BUT i. CAN'T i can't pick a team to
win the championship and then when they get popped in
(21:12):
round one and five be, like, well here's all the
obvious flaws with the, Roster like that's. BULLSHIT i Knew
Mark williams wasn't on the. TEAM i knew how big
The timberwolves were WHEN i said After day eighty, Two
game eighty two of the season THAT i thought the
bracket fell perfectly for The, lakers and now you look
(21:36):
at it and you, say, well that was wrong, obviously so,
no it's A i but at its, core people are,
GONNA i, think focus on the wrong. THINGS i think
this what happened to The, lakers in my, opinion is
(21:58):
three games of this series and they scored less than
one hundred. Points four games of the series they scored
less than one oh. Five the one game they won
they only scored ninety. Four and you can so folks
(22:20):
are gonna say the issue was they were never gonna
be good enough, defensively, maybe but the issue in this
series was an offense that the only way to look
at This lakers team as a legitimate contender was going
to be they have an elite. Offense that offense was never.
(22:43):
Elite it was never even very. Good and it's just
remarkable to me that it's the same. OFFENSE i saw
a few weeks ago drop one twenty six IN okc
in a GAME okc one and then have like one
ten with six minutes left N okc against that. Defense
(23:08):
in the, Game luca got ejected IN i the The
lakers role players all had some. Struggles luca obviously wasn't
Himself lebron ran out of gas in every every one
of these fourth, quarters and that's how you lose in.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Five given, It, Austin, YEAH i feel like you Were
you did really go easy On Austin. Reeves if those
guys aren't gonna show, up that who has to show?
UP i think it has to Be.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Austin, well, no, LISTEN i So Austin reeves for the
series was sixteen to five and three on forty one
thirty two. Splits it's a bad. Series the Reason i'm
not focusing on that is BECAUSE i JUST i think
(24:00):
that would be kind of bullshit in THAT i didn't
pick The. Lakers people ARE i think MAYBE i think
people that are discerning listeners to HOW i do this
stuff are maybe at times surprised at how FAIR i
try to be to what is honest. COMMENTARY i didn't
(24:23):
pick The lakers BECAUSE i Thought Austin reeves was gonna
cook so like and so this was the first playoff
run of his career where a lot was expected of.
Him that's where and and he didn't. Listen he wasn't,
great but he's a young player who doesn't make a
(24:45):
ton of. Money who you just? EAT I i don't
like when stars are, awesome their team, loses and people
then blame the. Star the exam of that would would
have been if after The pacers beat The, bucks if
people were Like jannis needed to do, More yiannis did
(25:09):
fucking everything he could have, done and they got. Beat,
so Like Bill james used to, say bad teams have
an amazing ability to blame their best players for their biggest,
problems and SO i try not to do. That but
WHAT i also try not to do is when a
team THAT i thought was going to win because of
(25:33):
the overwhelming star power at the very top doesn't, win
and those two stars are good but not WHAT i
thought they would, be then be, like man needed more
from your third, option LIKE i JUST. I and so
(25:53):
it's not like That i'm trying to Protect. Austin it's
nothing like. That it's THAT i he wasn't very, good
But austin reeves playing at A c minus level again
should not be the reason you're going home in. Five
and that's where that's where we end. Up SO i
(26:18):
H i'm gonna get to a bunch of the other,
stuff AND i actually. Do demand's want the first thing
we talk about here in a minute to be Jj.
Reddick so if we need to adjust our, rundown that's,
fine BECAUSE i do want to talk about The redick
piece of. This then we'll get To lebron And. Luca but,
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(26:42):
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Speaker 1 (29:01):
Tv all, right, demonse let's get to some of this
other stuff as we spend a lot of time On Lakers.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Wolves. Yeah, so Jj reddick was asking a pregame pressor
if he was going to consult with his assistants a
little bit, more and he got offended by that and
kind of stormed out of the, meeting And Dragonfly jones
came out and, SAID i had the. Show, yeah so,
quote you can't be the, smug know it all new.
Coach and then every coach whoever schemed Against rudy did
(29:30):
a better job than you answer those questions at the, podium.
Bro yeah, so.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
So here's the. Deal So i'm also not going to
So i'm big, on and we can Take dragonflies tweet.
Off i'm big. On this is going to sound, silly
just being, honest no matter uh how it looks or
(29:58):
if people think there's an agenda there or. Whatever it.
Is so over the last couple of, years WHEN i
have criticized The lakers, coaching it hasn't been to Protect.
Lebron it hasn't been BECAUSE i was looking for a fall.
Guy it was BECAUSE i Thought darvinham was objectively, speaking
(30:20):
a bad, coach AND i thought he put them in
bad strategic and tactical and line up situations and it
hurt their chances of. Succeeding that's WHY i. CRITICIZED i
am not going to all of a sudden because they
(30:41):
lost a series THAT i thought they should. Win act,
LIKE i don't THINK Jj reddick over the course of
the year did an excellent. JOB i think he. DID
i THINK Jj reddick is a really sharp. COACH i
think there are a lot of major positives FOR Jj
(31:01):
reddick from a work, ethic from attention to, detail from,
tactics from understanding the kind of newer elements of what
you would call, analytics but it's really just kind of
smart math on. Things all of those THINGS i give
him high marks. For with that, said my concern ABOUT
(31:28):
jj coming in and you guys can remember, this you
can check the, tape was actually a personality, concern which
WAS i saw HOW jj dealt with criticism when he
was in the. MEDIA i saw HOW jj how online
(31:53):
he was and reading mentioned and reading what was being,
written AND i was worried that when times got, tough
THAT Jj reddick wouldn't react well to. That the first
(32:14):
tough times he really. Had the first real criticism he
got his entire tenure was after he did something literally
no coach has ever done in basketball, history play all five,
starters to play the same five guys all twenty four
(32:35):
minutes in a playoff game for the second. Half he
got some criticism for, it and then also was asked
about it pregame and immediately became a bit of a petulant.
Child and that was the. Concern here is the other,
(32:55):
concern and this is ONE jj is not going to
like to. Hear but the record speaks for. ITSELF Jj,
reddick his entire basketball life gets tight in big. Spots
(33:19):
at the peak of his basketball career when he was
the best player in college basketball At. Duke go look
at those tournament stat lines and you might, say this is.
Ridiculous why are you bringing UP Jj, reddicks you, know
three or six In cuba tournament in talking about The.
(33:42):
Lakers i'll. Explain BUT Jj reddick as. Great he was
an unbelievable college basketball player who is not a very
good In cuba tournament, player was on Four duke, teams
any of which could have won the national, championship got
popped in the sweet. Sixteen almost every year made it
(34:03):
to one final, four and it wasn't, like, OH jj was. Great,
no that's not how it. Went go back and look
if you don't, remember, then As Jerry west reminded, him
WHEN jj did The plumbers And fireman BIT jj and the,
pros as really good as he was later in his,
(34:25):
career was not a good playoff. Performer so why AM
i bringing that up? Now he strikes me as a
guy who gets a little, tight who's wound a little.
Tight and when you have on THE tnt broadcast the
(34:45):
sideline reporter who never that's like the opposite of the
take industry is the sideline. Reporter when you have the
sideline reporter telling, us, OOH jj was wound up when
we met with him before the, game he was on.
Edge He and then when you HAVE jj storming out
(35:07):
of a press conference when you have in the, game
he has committed before the, Game i'm not gonna Play Jackson.
Hayes but then all of a sudden you are just
getting your teeth kicked in on the offensive glass and you're, like,
Well i've already Said i'm not Playing Jackson. Hayes SO
i Guess Maxi, kleiba who AGAIN i think could have
(35:27):
been useful for The lakers cuz he's a big guy
who can, shoot and as a relationship With, luca the
problem is he hadn't practiced or played with him. Once.
Ever you put him in like it's a coach who
got a little. Tight oh my, goodness, SORRY i don't
know if you guys heard my dog freaking. Out it's
a coach that gets he got a little. Tight and
(35:52):
SO i think that IF i am, IF i am
GIVING Jj reddick a vice for next year and for
the rest of his coaching, career BECAUSE i do think
he has a lot of the talent to be a
really good head, coach And lucas said great things about him.
(36:15):
Afterwards he said it reminded him of being back In
europe with the style of coaching and the attention detail all.
That it honestly is as still as it, sounds just
chill a little, Man just breathe and.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
Chill AND i think he was also in his head
about making that decision and like he's, LIKE i don't
want to call it, embarrassed but like the fact that
he's being questioned on, it he just can't can't stand.
It he walked.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
AWAY i also think sorry for the.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Birds by the, way, Guys OH i loved.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
IT i. WAS i want to ask him about. THAT
i think it sounds DELIGHT i was, like oh, man
this is a nice little background to the. Pod just
Chuir Southern california. Birds BUT i so here's the, thing almost,
(37:10):
ASSUREDLY i can. BET i can't bet, this BUT i
would bet almost anything That reddick had no idea that
no coach ever had played all five guys for the
second half of a playoff, game like when he was doing, It,
(37:32):
like why would? HE i didn't know, it you know
WHAT i? MEAN i may right. Correct i'm sure he
knew it was, rare you know WHAT i, mean unworthaned
no team ever in basketball. History and so then when
they fall apart at the, end and then he finds
(37:55):
Out i'm the first guy to ever do, THIS i
bet he felt a little boxed in and maybe even
a little. Embarrassed and SO i just DON'T i think
he has wound a little. Tight AND i think that
that unfortunately manifested itself in big spots in his playing
(38:16):
career and now first running the, playoffs manifested itself a
bit in the first really big spot of his coaching.
Career that's. All it's not a lifelong. Indictment it just
is what it, is all, right demon S let's get To.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Luca go, Ahead, Yeah, SO i, mean obviously they made
the big trade For luca Sent Anthony davis At. Dallas
what do you, like what does this situation look like
if they never Traded Anthony davis over?
Speaker 1 (38:52):
There, WELL i don't think they would have gotten into
the three line had they Kept Anthony. DAVIS i, don't
especially given the fact that his injury clearly was more
substantial Than. Luca's SO i think there we do have
to consider that piece of. It DO i think given
How luca played in this series That lebron showed you
(39:15):
he can still get to a high volume scoring level
in the, playoffs if need be that all, that would
they maybe have had a better chance in this specific
series given How luca played all of it against this specific,
opponent if they Had Anthony, davis maybe DO i think that's?
(39:37):
Relevant not even a tiny, Bit because if they Had Anthony,
davis we know that that team was not could not
generate enough offense to compete for a. Championship we had
seen it over the last few. Years now you can, say,
well this team couldn't, either and they. Didn't but there
(40:00):
is going to be an, immense immense amount Of Luka
doncic's criticism today and this, offseason and even some folks
who not naming names BECAUSE i wouldn't want to call
them Shameless charlatans by naming their. Names Kevin, wilds who
(40:23):
just a few weeks ago we're going viral for explaining
How Nico harrison is at the forefront of the modern
Day Babe ruth, trade which means a few weeks ago these,
people again not naming, Names Kevin, wilds were Comparing lukadancic
(40:47):
To Babe. Ruth are now going to be, like, well
how good is he? Really, LIKE i think that's. RIDICULOUS
i DO i Think luca had a good? Series? No
DO i think this is the? Not DO i? Think
DO i know this is the first time In luca's
(41:10):
playoff career demanse where you can fairly and honestly, say, man.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
It was.
Speaker 1 (41:23):
One of the big reasons your team lost was because
you didn't play as well as they. Needed, yes that is.
Fair every other series he's, lost he has been either
a triple plus or his team's just been out. Gunned
(41:45):
so the first series he ever played against The, clippers
he was thirty, one ten and nine and hit a
buzzer beater to win a. Game the second series they
ever lost was games seven games against The, clippers he
was thirty six eight. Ten the third series they lost
was against the team that won the, Championship Golden, state
(42:06):
in the conference, finals and he was thirty, two nine and.
Six and the fourth series he lost was Against dallas
in the finals when he was twenty, nine nine and.
Six and WHILE I i'm sorry Against boston in the,
finals WHILE i Underrated boston in that, Series boston has
proven itself to be a great. Team this, series they
(42:27):
needed more From luca on both ends and he wasn't
able to provide. It that's fair to criticize this. Series
and this is here is the part demands Of luca
is out of. Shape luca's endurance is not up to
par THAT i struggle. With, okay all, right let me
(42:51):
tell you how many players these playoffs have played more
minutes than Luka, Ancic do you have a? Guess not?
Speaker 2 (43:00):
One?
Speaker 1 (43:01):
Yeah, zero, Yeah he And Jamal murray are tied for the.
Most so the players who have played two hundred plus
minutes these Playoffs Lebron, Caid Anthony, Edwards Joker, Og, Luca Jamal. Murray,
okay now you might be, like, well some of those
(43:22):
series went four games minutes per game these. Playoffs the
guys who are playing forty, plus it's the exact same
list right outside. It right on the outside looking at
Is Jalen, Brunson Palo, Bancro christian braun And Austin brown
And Austin. Roots so here is SOMETHING i really struggle
(43:43):
with when it comes to the criticism Of luca's. Condition
criticizing his defense to me is obviously totally inbounds and.
Fair when it comes to criticizing his can, auditioning my problem,
is would he look less winded and more rested like
(44:11):
other starters do, if like other, starters he wasn't playing
more minutes than everyone else in the, playoffs so like.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
The also on the other, end if he's if he's
not giving you exactly what he needs we need from
him in order to, win in order to win the,
series then maybe take him off the court for a
little bit so he can come back in later and
have more energy and put out a better offensive output or. Something.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
Right so that so there's just there's what is frustrating
to me IS i if he was, playing you, know
average minutes for a superstar and just looked more winded
than all the other, superstars THEN i would say it's
more of a. Criticism but when he is in now
(45:04):
so this, year up to this point in the, postseason
he's played more minutes than. Everybody last year when everyone
just killed him for how tired he looked at the,
end he played nine hundred minutes that. Postseason right Man
Jason tatum sure looked fresher in those. Finals tatum played
(45:26):
seven hundred and sixty eight minutes on a per per game.
Basis last year in the, Playoffs luca was it forty
one minutes per. Game the only guys to play multiple
series and be at forty. Plus Where Kyrie, Joker, Tatum,
Aunt luca And Josh Hart and if you, remember at
(45:49):
the end of last, Postseason aunt, said MAN i fell
off BECAUSE i was. Exhausted to what he, said he was,
LIKE i was. Exhausted and this is year after year
that this is the case as far As luca's postseason,
usage and then people, like, Man dude's out of, shape
(46:11):
WHEN i JUST i, AGAIN i. Don't he obviously is
not in in tip top physical. Shape i'm not arguing,
that but.
Speaker 2 (46:19):
Say he also doesn't play like everybody else like you're
saying he's out there for allows when Its luca isn't
freaking busting his ass up and down the court like
he's kind of like moving. Around and then when he
does have the, ball he plays at his own. Pace
it's like he makes you play this pace that is
not a fast. Pace so it's, like, hey, dude.
Speaker 1 (46:37):
No, listen that's all. FAIR i just think it is
a little It it is a LITTLE i think overstated
the amount of Man luca's out of. Shape and that's
the problem when each of the last two postseasons he's
(47:00):
led THE nba in minutes per, game and when you
also add to it that the guy who just beat
him in this series aunt last year said he was
out of gas And luca was moving on to the. Finals,
now with that, Said lucas should look at this year
as a true. Failure the team he wanted to stick
(47:26):
with gave up on, him and then he got to
The lakers and they lost as a three seed and
he wasn't. Great so he does need to be. Better
he does need to get in better. Shape but there
is going to, be in my, opinion there is going
to be a massive overreaction to this. Series and there
(47:55):
is if you want to, say let's see How ant
does the rest of the. Postseason is it possible that
the question you asked the other Day demons could answer
a Plant luca on THE nba? Hierarchy? Sure DO i
think he has done it? ALREADY i do. NOT i
don't think.
Speaker 2 (48:15):
THAT i think especially that he was barely at the
hands of the win last. Night SO i get that's.
Speaker 1 (48:21):
Fair AND i think that. Right and that's Another so
that's another piece of it THAT i think has to
be factored into when we're talking about you, know The
luca is one of to, me just two guys in
the league, Him joker And jannis that a game that
(48:44):
like the One Anthony edwards had last night feels impossible
where it's just you, know there's only three guys in
the league where even they're bad, games it's like what
did he finish With it's like twenty, five nine and,
seven like the and the fly in that ointment Is friday,
Night luke at a game WHERE i think it was
(49:06):
seventeen seven and. Eight but if we take him at
his word that he was dog, sick then you can
attribute it more to. That and So i'm not making.
EXCUSES i am, though explaining WHAT i, think HOW i
think this went, down and what it means for him moving.
Forward he does need to be. Better but also this
(49:28):
one last thing On luke before we get To. Lebron
i'm amazed at the number of people that will just, say,
well If luca's on your, team you can't you know
your defense has a, ceiling as if we didn't see
a team again last year With luca not only make the,
finals but from The All star breakthrough or a little
(49:50):
after The All star break through the finals have the
number two defense in basketball and in those finals Hold
boston way below its season averages offensively and and. Play,
Actually dallas's defense was good in the. Finals its offense
is why they. Lost like the fact that it's not a,
(50:11):
night it's not a. Hypothetical can you have an elite
defense With Luca ancic on. It if you have the right,
roster you have any one can have an elite defense
With luca And kyrie on. It and SO I i
think we just saw. It we literally just saw. It
and so there's gonna be some, overreaction which is, listen
(50:32):
which is what we're supposed to do this time of.
Year but there are get ready demons four AN nba you,
know player ranking list that doesn't just Have Jason tatum
ahead Of Luka, ancic that Has Jalen brown ahead Of.
LUCAS i mean there there is going to BE i
(50:55):
marked this down. There someone's going someone AND i don't
mean some someone semi credible will come out with a
top ten players in the league list going into next
year and they'll Leave luca off, it like let, me let,
me let me see IF i can figure out the.
(51:17):
Ten it'll Be, Joker, Yannis, Sga, tatum, Easy steph grandfathered
in Because steph listen, Again i'm not saying that WHAT
i said about Ros A ghoul have to provide balance
in the. World that When steph's graaty's. Great when he's,
not we move. On but, uh WATCH tv today and
(51:39):
see how Much Steph curry criticism there is just. Once
i'm just. Curious there'll probably be a lot of criticism
Of Dylan brooks for being mean to. Him but all, right,
so Uh, Joker Jannis Sga, Tatum, steph that's an easy.
Five now let ME i JUST i have to look at.
H the only WAY i can do these lists and
(52:01):
not leave people out on everything is to just look
at standings and just go team by. Team Uh, so
let me just do this real. Quick, Oh Donovan mitchell
is gonna be on, there especially with What cleveland's. Doing
there's no question about. It you've got who AM i
forgetting as An IDAs? One, Yeah donovan will be on.
(52:22):
There but there's a very obvious one That i'm now leaving.
Out Jalen. Brunson someone definitively this will be their tenth.
GUY i gotta find the other two because this is
what will really get you the. Engagement we'll Put Anthony
davis at, Ten Anthony davis, Ten luca, eleven and then
(52:44):
there's two spots. Open SO i don't, Know, Oh. Wimby
Obviously wimby will be on. There now we need we
just need one more and so you, know dealer's. CHOICE I,
supposecade Maybe, bron Maybe durant maybe If denver keeps, rolling
(53:06):
Playoff Jamal, uh Like Jimmy, butler you know if depending
on what they, do they'll find somebody and that'll Or.
Haliburton what About halliburton to get his daddy to chill?
Out like there you, go you're gonna have. That you're
gonna have somebody say ON tv maybe even, today if
(53:28):
you're trying to win a, Championship i'd rather Have Tyrese.
Haliburton that's gonna, happen like and, so, uh just be
prepared for, it.
Speaker 4 (53:38):
All.
Speaker 1 (53:38):
Right the ask me The lebron.
Speaker 2 (53:40):
Question how does how does this season or this season
along with this series Impact lebron's?
Speaker 1 (53:46):
Legacy this season helps, It the series means. Nothing write
a letter to your mom if you're mad about, it
not you, demonse that'd beating my. Wife i'm not so All,
UH i will at some point do because, listen The
(54:10):
lebron legacy thing is only A lebron Versus jordan conversation
at this. Point that's what people have made it to.
Be that's. Fine AND i don't Think lebron was, great
AND i thought he was great over The it was
great In games, two, three and, Four but over the
(54:31):
course of the, SERIES i thought he was. FINE i
do think he was exponentially and demonstrably better Than Michael
jordan was in the playoffs at any point after he
was thirty five And lebron's. Forty and that's Because Michael
jordan never made the playoffs after he was thirty. Five
so if we're just gonna do A Lebron jordan, thing
(54:52):
there's a whole. Thing, Listen i'm not going and don't
even clip this BECAUSE i. Will IT'S i will BECAUSE
i know that are the people that are in charge
of this. Show is like analytics and metrics and all
that stuff they really need for, me like a full
Throated lebron thing, Today And i'm not gonna do. It
(55:13):
and so it's kind of a bummer if you guys
Were if you guys remind me at some point in
the next month or, So i'll give YOU i, CAN
i guarantee. IT i will give, you guys A Lebron
jordan's side by side take. That even Though i'm not
(55:35):
on this, PLATFORM i know we'll. Crush we'll do crazy
on TikTok of all these. THINGS i don't really know
how to make TikTok, videos but our producers, do and
we're just gonna do a year by year comp and
we can put little check marks on. It so just
the views and clicks we're not gonna get Because i'm
not doing A lebron thing, today don't. Worry i'll call
(55:58):
my shot on. This we're gonna have a five million
view social media thing on the age year by Year
lebron versus shortened Thing i'll.
Speaker 2 (56:07):
Do in a few.
Speaker 1 (56:08):
WEEKS i don't want to do it, today And i'm
Not I'M i Just i'm not. Interested and last question
on this before we get to the other playoff reactions To, Monsey.
Speaker 2 (56:19):
What is next For, Lebron luca and The. Lakers what
do you think they should do?
Speaker 1 (56:24):
This that's? All oh, wait, okay my.
Speaker 2 (56:27):
Bad how do you think wild is going to be
on the show? Today?
Speaker 1 (56:31):
Peak? Annoying, yeah, peak like it. Is here's the thing
about my dear Friend Kevin. WILDS i love, HIM i really. Do.
Now i've never ever hung out with him outside of
work and he won't come over to the, house so
maybe he doesn't feel the same way about. Me BUT
i love the. MAN i also think he is the
(56:57):
key to the television show's. SUCCESS i also believe it's
not that he has bad sports, takes it's that he
doesn't have. Him he's just a weather vein whatever that thing's.
Called just wherever the wind's, blowing he's, there and then
(57:19):
he's over, here and then at the end of it he's,
like told you, so he picked the Fucking, lakers and
today he's gonna be wearing a, tuxedo playing a, piano Drinking,
scotch celebrating a gentleman's. Sweep his lack of take integrity
is so infuriating that IF i didn't love him as
(57:41):
much AS i, DO i think we would have come
to blows at some, point and that wouldn't go well for.
Me because here's Something america doesn't. Know kevin wilds sneaky,
jacked like legit sneaky, jacked not just like late forties
Dad bob, jacked but like jit. JACKED i don't know
how it. Happened and so, yeah well and so all,
(58:06):
right so, Yeah wild is gonna be peak. Annoying all.
Right the producers wanted me to do reactions to these other.
GAMES i am tight on. Time so let me quickly
kind of pop pop pop through this if we can
For gianni's in the. Bucks if you If yannis wants
a chance to compete for a championship in the next three, Years,
(58:31):
uh he probably hasked to ascalt and it sucks and
it's not really what anyone would have, wanted but it
is the. Reality and and you know, what let me
text Because i'm supposed to going With kevin. O'Connor let
me just Text kevin O'Connor real quick THAT i need
an extra five minutes SO i can give you guys
(58:54):
real answers to these.
Speaker 2 (58:55):
Things Here burden's dad walk up To Bobby portis instead Of.
Speaker 1 (58:58):
Addis so let me ask you, this demanse honest. Question
SO i it's two. Questions, one would you have Blamed
gianness if he hit?
Speaker 2 (59:12):
Him, No i'm not gonna, lie, Man i'm he's he
walked all the way up to, Him he's he's, taunting
he's up in his. FACE i WOULD i wouldn't have
now if he would have just straight up decked, Him
like IF i would have expected her to do something
similar that he did the mathin like maybe not knocked
the guy out, cold but, like, hey, dude.
Speaker 1 (59:31):
Gilt but here's the. Thing If jannis is telling the,
truth WHICH i, believe you're honest that when it first,
happened he did not know that Was tyrese's. Father he
thought it was just a, fan THEN i really wouldn't
have blamed him for. HITTING i really if you just
think some fan has walked on the court and it's, Tauning, noah,
(59:53):
bro you can get knocked. Out If i'm, honest he.
Speaker 2 (59:55):
Was looking at him as if like a pit bull
was at the dog park and like A, chihuahua like.
Barking Adham gold.
Speaker 1 (01:00:01):
Crazy and then and Also tyrese's dad doing an interview,
yesterday being LIKE i wasn't looking at, HIM i was
looking through. Him that whole thing is so embarrassing For.
Tyrese it's so. Here so here's my second, question not
to compare, you to be, honest, HOWEVER i GOT i
would get really into your basketball, games right and once,
(01:00:25):
ever do you remember When i'm gonna SAY i went
on the court after a. Game it was this is high.
Speaker 2 (01:00:35):
SCHOOL i remember something. Vividly what what what was? It what?
Speaker 1 (01:00:40):
HAPPENED i actually think it was FRESHMAN. Jv. BALL i
don't think it was VAR i don't think it was
when you were on, varsity but maybe it. Was you
went to the free throw line with time expired and
you had to make both and the game was just
over and you guys won and you made. Both AND
(01:01:01):
i came on the like the game the, moment like
it was one of those free throws where there's there's
nobody even nobody, around and you made the second. ONE
i couldn't help myself AND i just walked up and
dapped you up before you could even dap up your.
Teammates and. So BUT i also ONCE aau ball followed
(01:01:26):
a ref out of the like out not, outside but
out of the. Gym and again people are gonna be,
like you gotta be kidding. Me do you remember WHY
i did?
Speaker 2 (01:01:34):
That that's WHAT i feel. LIKE i remember a little bit.
More but why was? It was? It? OH i remember
there's the TIME i dunked and LIKE i fell on
my head or, NO i didn't follow. IT i hang
on the rim and the ref told me to let
go of, it AND i was like it was gave
me a technical all that.
Speaker 1 (01:01:52):
And and in those and if you got a, technical
you couldn't play. Anymore, yeah like that was like it
was like basically one technical. Ejection and so that's exactly
what it. Was you were on a fast, break dunked
and your legs went out from under. You, see you
didn't you didn't play yourself over the. Rim you just you,
know hung on the rim so you didn't, fall and
(01:02:13):
he gave you A. Tech AND I i kind of
followed him out of the gym saying, that basically saying
he was like putting your health at, risk your. Safety i'm,
like like for, real like if you have to, Worry
i'm gonna get a technical you let go of the.
Rim so SO i say all that to, SAY i can't,
(01:02:34):
imagine you, know if how you feel as a parent
your kid's AN nba. SUPERSTAR i feel like this because
my kid was, awesome you, know amateur. Player BUT i
still never ever would have thought to mess with an
opponent like you know WHAT i, mean celebrate with you
sure get angry at the. Ref MAYBE i couldn't believe.
(01:02:54):
It all opponents in that, series like the honest was
the most, honest, Yes and SO i thought that was.
BRUTAL i also think it's you, know.
Speaker 2 (01:03:09):
No feeling the.
Speaker 1 (01:03:10):
Moment, YEAH i JUST i also feel sick for The
bucks fans Because dame's got the Blown achilles And jannis
might ask out and you kind of can't blame, him all,
Right Warriors rockets last? Night can't Listen my pick Was
rockets in. Seven pick feels shaky even after last. Night
(01:03:33):
The warriors are prone to the at throw this game
away like and that they up three to, one they
have the ability to do. That that's. Fine game six,
THOUGH I i if The rockets can get this back
To houston For game, SEVEN i think they'll win BECAUSE
i think that The warriors will be worn out AND
(01:03:53):
i Think jimmy's banged. Up Winning game six In Golden,
State Jalen, green can you show up one, time one
more time for? Us that's the question. There If, Nuggets
clippers and Or nick's pistons is great, tonight we'll do
an emergency pod. Tomorrow OTHERWISE i gotta. Go So demon's great. Job,
(01:04:15):
everybody please, like, rate, subscribe, review do all. That it
helps us out more than you could possibly. Imagine maybe
see you guys tomorrow morning for a quick emergency. Pod
thanks To Blue, duck thanks To. Volume thanks To, DraftKings.
Everybody talk to you guys.
Speaker 2 (01:04:29):
Later we'll try
Host
Nick Wright
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