Nick Wright reacts to Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and the Golden State Warriors defeating LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and the Los Angeles Lakers 123-116. Nick reacts to Steph and LeBron's dominant performances, explains why what we are seeing from Steph and LeBron at this point in their careers is "impossible," and breaks down his biggest takeaways from the Warriors' win. How big of contenders are Golden State and Los Angeles with the NBA Playoffs just around the corner? #Volume #Herd
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Finals are here, and the only thing for sure is
it's the last time you're gonna have a chance to
bet on college basketball this season.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
It's been an.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Amazing ride to get here, an unprecedented run to this point,
with four of the four best teams, including four of
the best teams in recent college basketball history, getting there.
Maybe there will finally be a shocking outcome, or maybe
we're just going to keep seeing the best show you
(00:32):
why they're the best.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
More on that in a second.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Get in on all the action expected and unexpected with
DraftKings sportsbook with live betting, exclusive content, promos, and barlays,
DraftKings is the ultimate college basketball destination for March. Ready
to make your first bet, check out the matchups, and
pick a team to win. It's that simple me personally,
(00:55):
You guys know, I was in on Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Didn't work out. Now we pivot. We got it, We pivot.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Thus far, this has been a tournament where the best
team wins.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
The best team is Duke.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
I personally like Duke minus five and a half tonight
at even money.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
It's not tonight this weekend.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I also personally like Duke to win the championship at
even money. So Duke minus five and a half in
their game on Saturday at even money, Duke plus one
hundred to win the whole thing at even money. Better
late than never. It's what I'm going with now that
Tennessee's gone. Lines and odds subject to change first time.
(01:42):
Here's something special just for you new DraftKings customers. Bet
five dollars to get one hundred and fifty dollars in
bonus bets. Instantly bet the unexpected with DraftKings Sportsbook. Download
the DraftKings sports Book gap and use code right. That's
code right for new customers.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Wriighd to get one.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Hundred fifty dollars in bonus bets when you bet just
five bucks only on DraftKings Gambling problem call one eight
hundred gambler in New York call eight seven seven eight
hope in why, or text hope in why, which is
four six seven three six nine. In Connecticut. Help is
(02:20):
available for problem gambling call eight eight eight seven eight
nine seven seven seven seven or visit CCPG dot org.
Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort
in Kansas twenty one plus. Age in eligibility varies by
jurisdiction void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire one hundred and
(02:44):
sixty eight hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible
gaming resources, see DKNG dot co slash b Ball.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
What's Right with Nick Wright?
Speaker 1 (02:57):
A quick reaction show to Lakers war last night. As promised,
we didn't have a show Tuesday. I was traveling, wanted
to do a second episode this week. Lakers Warriors, a
potential Round one preview, a potential Round two preview, a
potential Round three preview.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
It delivered because.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
The two guys who have been delivering for this league
for a decade continued to deliver.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
And we will get to the actual game itself.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Long short of it, Luca's got to be better if
the Lakers are going to have a chance to reach
their full potential, if they're gonna have a chance to
win the Western Conference, to give Boston a real run
in the NBA Finals, which I think they can do.
But Luca's got to play better. And we'll talk about
the actual ins and outs of the game in a moment,
(03:51):
but that's not actually where I'm focused. I'm focused on
an appreciation for Lebron James and Steph Curry and what
they have given us as sports fans for the last decade,
because it should be impossible. Lebron James and Steph Curry
(04:16):
first met in the NBA Finals nine years and ten
months ago. June of twenty fifteen was our first Steph
Lebron Cavs Warriors, and Steph had already had obviously a
(04:38):
nice career up to that point. That year, he had
already won his first MVP, He had had some unbelievable
moments becoming a superstar and becoming one of and then
all of a sudden, catapulting himself into the discussion for
not just one of the best players in the league,
but a top three player, a top two player, fully
(05:00):
flirted with top one player in some quarters, and Lebron
already had built a top ten all time player resume.
When these two guys first played in the finals, which
was again ten years ago, Lebron had already played seven
(05:23):
years with the Cavs. Took him to a finals left
his entire heat career had come and gone, not five,
not six, not seven. The press conference of the Decision
four League MVPs five finals appearances, two championships, Lebron had
already done all of that before he and Steph started
(05:48):
this last decade of professional basketball being the face of
the league and the other face of the league being
the two guys who set the standard for what not
only being a superstar in the NBA ideally would look like,
(06:11):
but what being a professional would look like, what being
a titan of industry almost would look like. Zero off
court mistakes, zero controversy. The worst thing Steph ever did
his entire career was throw his mouth guard into the
(06:33):
front row. The worst thing Lebron ever did his entire
career was a maybe preemptive celebratory press conference.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
The not five, not six, not seven. That's it. And
for those guys to have delivered.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
For the last ten years and last night no different.
It's a big day, It's national TV. All eyes are
on us. Our co stars may or may not be
available for US. Steph didn't get much from Jimmy, Lebron
didn't get much from Luca. It doesn't matter. Steph drops
(07:13):
thirty seven some very just only Steph shots. Lebron drops
thirty three on just fifteen field goal attempts. After not
looking quite like Lebron since coming back from the groin injury,
but he did last night, because these guys deliver and
(07:37):
they answer the bell unlike any duo we have seen
since Magic and Bird. But here's the thing, this is
so much, so different than Magic and Bird. Here's why
Magic and Bird we got them for the first decade
(08:00):
of their career.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
And then it was over.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
We got them Stephan Lebron got going when Steph was
half a decade in, and when Lebron was a dozen
years in, and they're still going. Magic and Bird, as
great as they are were, are not cumulatively really close
(08:33):
to the duo that Lebron and Steph have been. Some
people argue Steps better than Magic.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
I won't go that far.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
But he's at least within shouting distance of him. So
if some argue steps better than Magic, I think magic's
better than Steph.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
But call that a wash.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Lebron versus Bird is a bunch of ten eight rounds.
And for us to be getting these guys doing this
when for Lebron the entirety of the rivalry should have
been when he's passed his prime. For Steph, the last
half of the rivalry should have been when he's passed
(09:13):
his prime. It's just remarkable. And I think because of
Lebron and Steph and also to his credit, Kevin Durant.
People don't people have forgotten that this has never happened
(09:34):
in NBA history. Guys, this age. Forget Lebron being forty.
Let's pretend Lebron's thirty seven, like Steph, is this age
playing at this level. Complete list NBA history of people
who after their age thirty five season has have averaged
(09:58):
twenty three plus a game. That list is five people long,
and two of those people joined that group this year.
It is Karl Malone, Kareem in eighty six, Kevin Durant
this year, Steph Curry this year, and Lebron James each
(10:22):
of the last five years. That's the list. Steph Curry's
thirty seven years old. Lebron is forty years old. The
late great Kobe Bryant played in his final career playoff
game at age thirty three. Michael Jordan played his final
(10:50):
game with the Bulls at age thirty six. Larry Bird
won one playoff series one after age thirty one. Think
about that, and now you have Stepped at thirty seven
(11:13):
and Lebron at forty as right now the most reliable
players in STEP's case, undeniably the best player on his team.
In Lebron's case, Lucas should be the best for Lebron's
right now, the most reliable on legitimate contenders on the
teams with what the third and fifth or fourth and
(11:36):
fifth or fourth and third best odds to win the championship.
It was utterly remarkable when Kareem in nineteen eighty six
gave us one more all time year. And it was
really really special when Carl Malone in the lockout shortened
(11:59):
season in ninety nine two thousand, at age thirty six,
gave us one more great year. Steph, at the beginning
of this season, it looked like, Okay, most guys remember
they peak at twenty seven, hold on to that peak
for a few years, and then slowly slowed downward tick.
(12:24):
And at the beginning of this year, when he was
averaging twenty to a game, when he had a couple
single digit point games, you were, Okay, he's to a
different place, which he should be. They had that amazing
These two guys had that amazing Olympic moment together, Lebron
carrying the team through the first few rounds, Steph having
(12:47):
the brilliant gold medal game, performance like that that maybe
was for Steph and Lebron their final time playing for
real stakes, championship stakes, and they got to do it together.
And then we now there's the Jimmy trade, there's the
Luca trade. Steph post Jimmy trade has been almost vintage.
(13:14):
Steph Lebron just came off pre groin injury, winning Western
Conference Player of the Month. There's still not three guys
in the league that you could say you definitively would
rather have than either of these two guys.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
And it gotta have its spot.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
And them doing this now twenty fifteen is when it started.
It's twenty twenty five. For this to be going on
(14:03):
it's eleventh season is incomprehensible for the seventy three win Warriors,
and then the greatest three game stretch in the history
of the sport by Lebron. For these finals to be
(14:25):
the tenth finals we've had since then is and these
guys are fighting to play in that one. It's just
an impossibility. And so I just have a deep and
profound appreciation for these guys. And it also not joh
(14:48):
last night hit a game winner, and then he did
the postgame interview and called someone a pigeon, And it
is very very hard for me not to juxtapose how
(15:09):
Lebron and Steph have carried this torch and have had
more scrutiny, in Lebron's case, more pressure than anyone could
possibly imagine, and never stepped out of line and never
(15:30):
embarrassed the league and never had an incident and not
be frustrated.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
By some of them.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
And I know I sound like an old guy, and
it's because I'm older than Stephan, I'm the exact same
age as Lebron. I guess I am an old guy
and not be frustrated by some of the nonsense by
the guys, not all, but a lot of the guys who
have come after them, because you had the blueprint. And
(16:10):
not only did you have the blueprint, you are getting
to see it in real time because these guys won't
stop being great. And it was just awesome to watch
last night for the seemingly seventy fifth time, these two
(16:35):
legends trading haymakers. Now to the actual game itself, it's
not all that complex on the Lakers end, really interesting,
Austin Reeves game awesome, the first three minutes, unbelievable, the
(16:55):
final quarter and not much else. But with thirty one
on sixteen shots, Lebron was I think hoping Luca would
get going early. Lebron's zero first quarter points saw Luca
didn't have it. Finishes with thirty three.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Five and nine, but.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
It wasn't going to matter, even though Jimmy didn't really
do much of anything offensively, because you are not going
to beat the Warriors on a night Pods and Draymond
combine for ten threes on fourteen attempts that you're not
(17:41):
beating them, and Draymond was doing all types of Draymond
stuff for Guder for Baddie had the wonderful strip on
Luca late, and Pods was just out of his mind
the first half of the game. When that happens and
Luca's not Luca, You're gonna lose. It was insane. The
(18:01):
Lakers had not really a chance to steal it, but
a chance to have a chance at stealing it late.
I am fully and entirely confident that Luca come the postseason,
will be playoff Luca, because that's all he's ever been.
(18:26):
But last night was a game that I thought because
of the stakes of it, because they had had a
couple days off that we'd see great Luca and we
saw far from it. And so Lakers win the season
(18:47):
series on the Warriors three to one, so they do
still have that tiebreaker, and that could really matter because
it's now forty five and thirty one for the Warriors,
forty six and thirty for the Lakers. You won wonder
what the Warriors will look like tonight as they host Denver.
Denver having had a night off after a couple brutal losses,
(19:12):
and the Warriors the rest of the way they've got
the next two are tough and then a nice soft
landing until the final game of the year. So the
Warriors home for Denver, home for the Rockets, at Phoenix,
home for San Antonio, at Portland home for the Clippers.
You would think in those six games that four and
(19:38):
two is a fair result for them, So that would
put them at forty nine wins. The Lakers, on the
other hand, they're a tough one to figure because they
seemingly play their worst against bad teams. But the Lakers
New Orleans, then at OKC, at OKC at Dallas in
(20:07):
what should be absolute theater. It is a shame that
game is the second night of a back to back.
But if I were, if I were running the Lakers rotations,
just me personally, you gotta win tonight against New Orleans.
I would go for it Sunday against the Thunder, and
(20:31):
then I would give everybody the night off on the
front end of a back to back Tuesday against the Thunder.
Punt that one, because that Dallas game is gonna mean
a lot to Luca and it's also obviously the far
more winnable spot of your two of your back to back,
(20:52):
and then after that home for Houston, which is a
huge one, and then at Portland the final game of
the year. If they win tonight, it is very, very
difficult for me to see how the Warriors could possibly
catch them. They win tonight, they get to forty seven.
(21:13):
The Portland win has to be a win the Portland game,
I should say, because Portland's not even gonna it's the
game eighty two. They're not even gonna want to win.
Portland's gonna play. You know, Portland's gonna want the draft position.
So that puts you at forty eight wins, and then
you just need one. If I'm right that the Warriors
are gonna go four and two now, that could I
(21:34):
could be wrong. You would just need one of Oka
see OKAC Dallas Houston so Western conference standings. If the
playoffs were to start today, we'd get Warriors Lakers in
round one. Gosh, that's a series that would be a
bummer to have in round one. If I could set
(21:56):
the bracket, I would. It's very, very difficult to get
them to where they could play in round two, is
I guess the problem?
Speaker 2 (22:08):
It would have to.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Be, Well, you know what, there's no way to do
this because the Rockets are at twenty seven losses. They're
in good shape. But Man oh Man Rockets final five
games OKCE, Golden State, Clippers, Lakers Denver. So we'll see
what the Rockets do over their final five. But the
Rockets have obviously a big cushion. They're at twenty seven,
(22:31):
Nuggets and Lakers at thirty losses. This is Warriors at
thirty one, and then Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Clippers at thirty two.
So Lakers, Warriors, Nuggets, they're all just starting from right now,
a two game losing streak from potentially being right in
the play in and so for the Lakers purposes, you
(22:57):
would love a bracket that goes OKC one, Houston two,
Lakers three, Denver, Golden State four five, Memphis six, Timberwolves, seven,
Clippers eight, or vice versa. That's the ideal bracket for
(23:19):
the Lakers. The ideal bracket for the Warriors is the
exact one I just said. You just flipped the Lakers
and the Warriors. I think it's gonna be really hard
for the Warriors though, to catch the Lakers unless they
can go five and one are better in their last six.
And with the fact that I would, I would be
(23:42):
surprised if Steph plays tonight. I think this, well, maybe
I shouldn't be surprised. I wonder what the line is
for that game.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
What is what do.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Our friends at DraftKings. DraftKings has Denver favored by one
and a half in Golden State. I think I'm gonna
double check that. If that's the case, then DraftKings is
telling us they're not sure Steph is playing either. I'm
not sure Steph is playing, and obviously that's kind of
(24:11):
in the middle of Steph doesn't play, it'd be Denver
by more than that. But if Steph does play and
the Warriors are fully healthy, I don't think they would
be dogs at home, so it should be a wild
final ten days.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
But I am just.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
So incredibly appreciative that if Stephen Lebron were done as
top of the league competitors fighting for championships after the
four straight finals, that would have been totally reasonable. Instead
(24:53):
of that, we're now going on seven more seasons of it.
They've both they want a championship since and they're fighting
for one this year. Never see anything like it. See
you guys on Tuesday for the next episode of What's Right.
It will be a regular episode. Demons will be back.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
All of that.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
See you guys later today depending on when you watch
this on First Things First, have a great weekend.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
We'll trade
Finals are here, and the only thing for sure is
it's the last time you're gonna have a chance to
bet on college basketball this season.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
It's been an.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Amazing ride to get here, an unprecedented run to this point,
with four of the four best teams, including four of
the best teams in recent college basketball history, getting there.
Maybe there will finally be a shocking outcome, or maybe
we're just going to keep seeing the best show you
(00:32):
why they're the best.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
More on that in a second.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Get in on all the action expected and unexpected with
DraftKings sportsbook with live betting, exclusive content, promos, and barlays,
DraftKings is the ultimate college basketball destination for March. Ready
to make your first bet, check out the matchups, and
pick a team to win. It's that simple me personally,
(00:55):
You guys know, I was in on Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Didn't work out. Now we pivot. We got it, We pivot.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Thus far, this has been a tournament where the best
team wins.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
The best team is Duke.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
I personally like Duke minus five and a half tonight
at even money.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
It's not tonight this weekend.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I also personally like Duke to win the championship at
even money. So Duke minus five and a half in
their game on Saturday at even money, Duke plus one
hundred to win the whole thing at even money. Better
late than never. It's what I'm going with now that
Tennessee's gone. Lines and odds subject to change first time.
(01:42):
Here's something special just for you new DraftKings customers. Bet
five dollars to get one hundred and fifty dollars in
bonus bets. Instantly bet the unexpected with DraftKings Sportsbook. Download
the DraftKings sports Book gap and use code right. That's
code right for new customers.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Wriighd to get one.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Hundred fifty dollars in bonus bets when you bet just
five bucks only on DraftKings Gambling problem call one eight
hundred gambler in New York call eight seven seven eight
hope in why, or text hope in why, which is
four six seven three six nine. In Connecticut. Help is
(02:20):
available for problem gambling call eight eight eight seven eight
nine seven seven seven seven or visit CCPG dot org.
Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort
in Kansas twenty one plus. Age in eligibility varies by
jurisdiction void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire one hundred and
(02:44):
sixty eight hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible
gaming resources, see DKNG dot co slash b Ball.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
What's Right with Nick Wright?
Speaker 1 (02:57):
A quick reaction show to Lakers war last night. As promised,
we didn't have a show Tuesday. I was traveling, wanted
to do a second episode this week. Lakers Warriors, a
potential Round one preview, a potential Round two preview, a
potential Round three preview.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
It delivered because.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
The two guys who have been delivering for this league
for a decade continued to deliver.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
And we will get to the actual game itself.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Long short of it, Luca's got to be better if
the Lakers are going to have a chance to reach
their full potential, if they're gonna have a chance to
win the Western Conference, to give Boston a real run
in the NBA Finals, which I think they can do.
But Luca's got to play better. And we'll talk about
the actual ins and outs of the game in a moment,
(03:51):
but that's not actually where I'm focused. I'm focused on
an appreciation for Lebron James and Steph Curry and what
they have given us as sports fans for the last decade,
because it should be impossible. Lebron James and Steph Curry
(04:16):
first met in the NBA Finals nine years and ten
months ago. June of twenty fifteen was our first Steph
Lebron Cavs Warriors, and Steph had already had obviously a
(04:38):
nice career up to that point. That year, he had
already won his first MVP, He had had some unbelievable
moments becoming a superstar and becoming one of and then
all of a sudden, catapulting himself into the discussion for
not just one of the best players in the league,
but a top three player, a top two player, fully
(05:00):
flirted with top one player in some quarters, and Lebron
already had built a top ten all time player resume.
When these two guys first played in the finals, which
was again ten years ago, Lebron had already played seven
(05:23):
years with the Cavs. Took him to a finals left
his entire heat career had come and gone, not five,
not six, not seven. The press conference of the Decision
four League MVPs five finals appearances, two championships, Lebron had
already done all of that before he and Steph started
(05:48):
this last decade of professional basketball being the face of
the league and the other face of the league being
the two guys who set the standard for what not
only being a superstar in the NBA ideally would look like,
(06:11):
but what being a professional would look like, what being
a titan of industry almost would look like. Zero off
court mistakes, zero controversy. The worst thing Steph ever did
his entire career was throw his mouth guard into the
(06:33):
front row. The worst thing Lebron ever did his entire
career was a maybe preemptive celebratory press conference.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
The not five, not six, not seven. That's it. And
for those guys to have delivered.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
For the last ten years and last night no different.
It's a big day, It's national TV. All eyes are
on us. Our co stars may or may not be
available for US. Steph didn't get much from Jimmy, Lebron
didn't get much from Luca. It doesn't matter. Steph drops
(07:13):
thirty seven some very just only Steph shots. Lebron drops
thirty three on just fifteen field goal attempts. After not
looking quite like Lebron since coming back from the groin injury,
but he did last night, because these guys deliver and
(07:37):
they answer the bell unlike any duo we have seen
since Magic and Bird. But here's the thing, this is
so much, so different than Magic and Bird. Here's why
Magic and Bird we got them for the first decade
(08:00):
of their career.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
And then it was over.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
We got them Stephan Lebron got going when Steph was
half a decade in, and when Lebron was a dozen
years in, and they're still going. Magic and Bird, as
great as they are were, are not cumulatively really close
(08:33):
to the duo that Lebron and Steph have been. Some
people argue Steps better than Magic.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
I won't go that far.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
But he's at least within shouting distance of him. So
if some argue steps better than Magic, I think magic's
better than Steph.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
But call that a wash.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Lebron versus Bird is a bunch of ten eight rounds.
And for us to be getting these guys doing this
when for Lebron the entirety of the rivalry should have
been when he's passed his prime. For Steph, the last
half of the rivalry should have been when he's passed
(09:13):
his prime. It's just remarkable. And I think because of
Lebron and Steph and also to his credit, Kevin Durant.
People don't people have forgotten that this has never happened
(09:34):
in NBA history. Guys, this age. Forget Lebron being forty.
Let's pretend Lebron's thirty seven, like Steph, is this age
playing at this level. Complete list NBA history of people
who after their age thirty five season has have averaged
(09:58):
twenty three plus a game. That list is five people long,
and two of those people joined that group this year.
It is Karl Malone, Kareem in eighty six, Kevin Durant
this year, Steph Curry this year, and Lebron James each
(10:22):
of the last five years. That's the list. Steph Curry's
thirty seven years old. Lebron is forty years old. The
late great Kobe Bryant played in his final career playoff
game at age thirty three. Michael Jordan played his final
(10:50):
game with the Bulls at age thirty six. Larry Bird
won one playoff series one after age thirty one. Think
about that, and now you have Stepped at thirty seven
(11:13):
and Lebron at forty as right now the most reliable
players in STEP's case, undeniably the best player on his team.
In Lebron's case, Lucas should be the best for Lebron's
right now, the most reliable on legitimate contenders on the
teams with what the third and fifth or fourth and
(11:36):
fifth or fourth and third best odds to win the championship.
It was utterly remarkable when Kareem in nineteen eighty six
gave us one more all time year. And it was
really really special when Carl Malone in the lockout shortened
(11:59):
season in ninety nine two thousand, at age thirty six,
gave us one more great year. Steph, at the beginning
of this season, it looked like, Okay, most guys remember
they peak at twenty seven, hold on to that peak
for a few years, and then slowly slowed downward tick.
(12:24):
And at the beginning of this year, when he was
averaging twenty to a game, when he had a couple
single digit point games, you were, Okay, he's to a
different place, which he should be. They had that amazing
These two guys had that amazing Olympic moment together, Lebron
carrying the team through the first few rounds, Steph having
(12:47):
the brilliant gold medal game, performance like that that maybe
was for Steph and Lebron their final time playing for
real stakes, championship stakes, and they got to do it together.
And then we now there's the Jimmy trade, there's the
Luca trade. Steph post Jimmy trade has been almost vintage.
(13:14):
Steph Lebron just came off pre groin injury, winning Western
Conference Player of the Month. There's still not three guys
in the league that you could say you definitively would
rather have than either of these two guys.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
And it gotta have its spot.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
And them doing this now twenty fifteen is when it started.
It's twenty twenty five. For this to be going on
(14:03):
it's eleventh season is incomprehensible for the seventy three win Warriors,
and then the greatest three game stretch in the history
of the sport by Lebron. For these finals to be
(14:25):
the tenth finals we've had since then is and these
guys are fighting to play in that one. It's just
an impossibility. And so I just have a deep and
profound appreciation for these guys. And it also not joh
(14:48):
last night hit a game winner, and then he did
the postgame interview and called someone a pigeon, And it
is very very hard for me not to juxtapose how
(15:09):
Lebron and Steph have carried this torch and have had
more scrutiny, in Lebron's case, more pressure than anyone could
possibly imagine, and never stepped out of line and never
(15:30):
embarrassed the league and never had an incident and not
be frustrated.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
By some of them.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
And I know I sound like an old guy, and
it's because I'm older than Stephan, I'm the exact same
age as Lebron. I guess I am an old guy
and not be frustrated by some of the nonsense by
the guys, not all, but a lot of the guys who
have come after them, because you had the blueprint. And
(16:10):
not only did you have the blueprint, you are getting
to see it in real time because these guys won't
stop being great. And it was just awesome to watch
last night for the seemingly seventy fifth time, these two
(16:35):
legends trading haymakers. Now to the actual game itself, it's
not all that complex on the Lakers end, really interesting,
Austin Reeves game awesome, the first three minutes, unbelievable, the
(16:55):
final quarter and not much else. But with thirty one
on sixteen shots, Lebron was I think hoping Luca would
get going early. Lebron's zero first quarter points saw Luca
didn't have it. Finishes with thirty three.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Five and nine, but.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
It wasn't going to matter, even though Jimmy didn't really
do much of anything offensively, because you are not going
to beat the Warriors on a night Pods and Draymond
combine for ten threes on fourteen attempts that you're not
(17:41):
beating them, and Draymond was doing all types of Draymond
stuff for Guder for Baddie had the wonderful strip on
Luca late, and Pods was just out of his mind
the first half of the game. When that happens and
Luca's not Luca, You're gonna lose. It was insane. The
(18:01):
Lakers had not really a chance to steal it, but
a chance to have a chance at stealing it late.
I am fully and entirely confident that Luca come the postseason,
will be playoff Luca, because that's all he's ever been.
(18:26):
But last night was a game that I thought because
of the stakes of it, because they had had a
couple days off that we'd see great Luca and we
saw far from it. And so Lakers win the season
(18:47):
series on the Warriors three to one, so they do
still have that tiebreaker, and that could really matter because
it's now forty five and thirty one for the Warriors,
forty six and thirty for the Lakers. You won wonder
what the Warriors will look like tonight as they host Denver.
Denver having had a night off after a couple brutal losses,
(19:12):
and the Warriors the rest of the way they've got
the next two are tough and then a nice soft
landing until the final game of the year. So the
Warriors home for Denver, home for the Rockets, at Phoenix,
home for San Antonio, at Portland home for the Clippers.
You would think in those six games that four and
(19:38):
two is a fair result for them, So that would
put them at forty nine wins. The Lakers, on the
other hand, they're a tough one to figure because they
seemingly play their worst against bad teams. But the Lakers
New Orleans, then at OKC, at OKC at Dallas in
(20:07):
what should be absolute theater. It is a shame that
game is the second night of a back to back.
But if I were, if I were running the Lakers rotations,
just me personally, you gotta win tonight against New Orleans.
I would go for it Sunday against the Thunder, and
(20:31):
then I would give everybody the night off on the
front end of a back to back Tuesday against the Thunder.
Punt that one, because that Dallas game is gonna mean
a lot to Luca and it's also obviously the far
more winnable spot of your two of your back to back,
(20:52):
and then after that home for Houston, which is a
huge one, and then at Portland the final game of
the year. If they win tonight, it is very, very
difficult for me to see how the Warriors could possibly
catch them. They win tonight, they get to forty seven.
(21:13):
The Portland win has to be a win the Portland game,
I should say, because Portland's not even gonna it's the
game eighty two. They're not even gonna want to win.
Portland's gonna play. You know, Portland's gonna want the draft position.
So that puts you at forty eight wins, and then
you just need one. If I'm right that the Warriors
are gonna go four and two now, that could I
(21:34):
could be wrong. You would just need one of Oka
see OKAC Dallas Houston so Western conference standings. If the
playoffs were to start today, we'd get Warriors Lakers in
round one. Gosh, that's a series that would be a
bummer to have in round one. If I could set
(21:56):
the bracket, I would. It's very, very difficult to get
them to where they could play in round two, is
I guess the problem?
Speaker 2 (22:08):
It would have to.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Be, Well, you know what, there's no way to do
this because the Rockets are at twenty seven losses. They're
in good shape. But Man oh Man Rockets final five
games OKCE, Golden State, Clippers, Lakers Denver. So we'll see
what the Rockets do over their final five. But the
Rockets have obviously a big cushion. They're at twenty seven,
(22:31):
Nuggets and Lakers at thirty losses. This is Warriors at
thirty one, and then Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Clippers at thirty two.
So Lakers, Warriors, Nuggets, they're all just starting from right now,
a two game losing streak from potentially being right in
the play in and so for the Lakers purposes, you
(22:57):
would love a bracket that goes OKC one, Houston two,
Lakers three, Denver, Golden State four five, Memphis six, Timberwolves, seven,
Clippers eight, or vice versa. That's the ideal bracket for
(23:19):
the Lakers. The ideal bracket for the Warriors is the
exact one I just said. You just flipped the Lakers
and the Warriors. I think it's gonna be really hard
for the Warriors though, to catch the Lakers unless they
can go five and one are better in their last six.
And with the fact that I would, I would be
(23:42):
surprised if Steph plays tonight. I think this, well, maybe
I shouldn't be surprised. I wonder what the line is
for that game.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
What is what do.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Our friends at DraftKings. DraftKings has Denver favored by one
and a half in Golden State. I think I'm gonna
double check that. If that's the case, then DraftKings is
telling us they're not sure Steph is playing either. I'm
not sure Steph is playing, and obviously that's kind of
(24:11):
in the middle of Steph doesn't play, it'd be Denver
by more than that. But if Steph does play and
the Warriors are fully healthy, I don't think they would
be dogs at home, so it should be a wild
final ten days.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
But I am just.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
So incredibly appreciative that if Stephen Lebron were done as
top of the league competitors fighting for championships after the
four straight finals, that would have been totally reasonable. Instead
(24:53):
of that, we're now going on seven more seasons of it.
They've both they want a championship since and they're fighting
for one this year. Never see anything like it. See
you guys on Tuesday for the next episode of What's Right.
It will be a regular episode. Demons will be back.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
All of that.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
See you guys later today depending on when you watch
this on First Things First, have a great weekend.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
We'll trade
Host
Nick Wright
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