February 26, 2024 • 36 mins
This week on BULLY BALL, the duo of Rachel and Boogie discuss all the tea in the NBA. First, they discuss the Suns injury riddled season and KD's hilarious responded to Chuck saying he wasn't a leader. Plus, they breakdown the brawl between the Heat & the Pelicans and debate whether Trae Young's time is OVER in Atlanta with this recent injury.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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(01:07):
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last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. Welcome to Bullyball, presented
by DraftKings. I am Rachel Nichols. That of course is
DeMarcus Cousins and Boogie. Here's my question for you this morning.
Do I blend in with this couch so much that
(02:32):
I'm just a floating head because I forgot and the
material is exactly the same. Man.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
You may blue, You may blue, look really good, Rachel.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Enough, all the maps, thank you, thank you, my friend.
I just you know, if you're watching this at home
and I disappear into the sofa, just know why. That's
all I'm saying. But we got to talk about the
Western Conference standings because it's been bunched for a while,
but it's getting serious now with so few games left
to go. The Suns and Kings, they both leapt into
(03:02):
the top six after their wins on Sunday and Phoenix.
That was pretty high profile win right with that, you know,
beating the Lakers, and that's how the West is right now.
I mean you in one game, you're up here, you're
down here, and those top six spots are obviously so
important for the plan. The downer for the Suns though,
is that Bradley Beal is still out hamstring injury right now.
They thought he was going to be able to come
(03:23):
back a couple of days ago, has not been able
to did a pregame warm up and cut it short.
They have the toughest strength of schedule remaining in the league.
If you just go look at their last you know,
go from the bottom of their schedule and look at
the ten games that they have to finish with. It's insane.
I mean, it's an insane schedule. I guess I'm just
(03:43):
wondering with Bradley out again, Booker's been out. I mean,
how confident are you with the health of this team
if they can squeak into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Well that that was always going to be the biggest
thing for this team, is you know, dealing with health.
You know, Kevin Durant has had his injury, pass Bill
has had his, and as of recently, he's been dealing
with one of this entire season. So and you can't
ignore the fact that a hamstring injury lingers the way
that it does. Even with I do like the precaution
(04:18):
they're going with they're going about with, you know, dealing
with Bill's hamstring injury. But any person that knows how
hamstring works, it's an injury that can linger for the
rest of the season, even going into the playoffs. So
that's always a scary thing. So you have to be
really really cautious for moving forward with that. But I mean, obviously,
(04:39):
with the talent that's on this roster, if you said
in the beginning of the season that their season would
go the way that it has this year, I don't
think anybody would have, you know, agreed or even guessed
that that would be the case. But they have found
a way to stay afloat this season. They are still
one of the most talented teams on paper in this league.
And if they do find a way, you know, to
(05:02):
get healthy before this season finishes out, it could be
a make or break type situation for him. And the
reason I say that they do have one of the
hardest schedules finishing out the year, So it could be
a situation where you know, it goes to complete shit
and you know they kind of crumble towards the end,
or it could be a situation whereas it's where they're
(05:23):
going to go into the playoffs, very very polished, and
you know, being able to finish out the season with
these tough ten games or ten plus games or so.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
It's a make or breaks type situation.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
And you know, obviously health is the huge concern, but
one paper, they have everything they need to win a
championship or compete for one. It's just gonna come down
to the small, detailed things. If everybody's on the same page.
Is that, if everybody is healthy at the same time,
and how they decide to finish this season out Being on.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
The same page I think is part of the issue
here because I mean, look, by the way it's been
super frustrating for Brad. No one is more upset at
the way things have gone for him this season than
he is. I've talked to him. But if they are healthy,
even on day one of the playoffs, they will barely
all play together. I mean, but how important is that
for a team. I mean, they're all vets, I get it,
(06:19):
but you also have a supporting cast there, and how
big a deal is it that they won't have had
a lot of time to get on the court.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
It's a really big deal and Obviously, you can always
talk about the chemistry and the camaraderie and the flow
of the game when all three guys are on the floor,
But when you just look at it from an individual
standpoint of just Bradley Bell alone, I've been in that
type situation. I've had a season where I was in
and out all year and I never really found my
(06:46):
rhythm or was in a consistent flow when it came
to just performing on a nightly basis. And it's a
kind of identical situation because I ended up returning during
the playoffs, which is which is a challenge within itself.
The playoffs are already hard because the level of competition raises,
(07:07):
the defensive schemes.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
They changed the.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Way they prioritiz prior to prioritize certain players and defensive
schemes and things of that nature, it's going to make
them game that much more difficult. So if you come
in and you're already out of rhythm and you have
to face that type of dynamic, that's a tough thing
to deal with. So, like I said, I think it's
more of a challenge for Bradley Bell and the individual
(07:31):
standpoint compared to you know, having those three guys all
out there together and making it flow. They're still a
dangerous team with just Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, but
there are a much more dangerous team when they're all healthy,
all in rhythm, and all flowing with their three headed monster.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Yeah, I mean, I still am very curious to see
what happens with them. The talent there is just kind
of intoxicating in terms of, like, well, that could be fun.
But they have a lot stacked up against them. The injuries,
the lack of of being able to establish chemistry, the
strength of schedule. They've had the easiest schedule up until now.
So the idea that they've had the easiest schedule and
(08:09):
they're only where they are in the standing is because
of all these injuries and other factors. And now they've
got just a monster coming up. So it's going to
be interesting to see what happens. I do know someone
who's a fighter, though, Boggie. That is Kevin Durant. He
understands not just the game, but the game within the
game within the game, and Charles Barkley had some comments
(08:30):
about him during All Star weekend, and I think Kevin
heard it. This is my opinion My opinion is that
Kevin knows what he said. And this is why Barkley's
comments was that Katy is a follower, not a leader.
It's pretty harsh talking about him. Now. On yesterday's broadcast,
I want you to take a listen. Here Katie used
the word leadership or some variation of it six times. Listen.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
This was a complete team performance.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
What impressed you most?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Leadership?
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Leadership in another engine struggles let's first of the games,
but everybody was talking. Coach leaving us, players are leaving us,
and that just helps us all go into the rim.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
It helps us with detse off on. This team has
been for quarter played.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
What did you see from your group in that final period? Well,
I said, just our leadership, man, we came through it.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Everybody was talking on the same page. We made a
big shot out the big shot, and we gotta stop.
So the credit the leadership, but from the coaches and
the flares.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
How do you feel about Katie's response to Charles.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
I can't be mad at it. And the reason I
say that is because it's already been said and well
known that Katie leads the way that he leads. He
leads by example. He's not really the guy that does
a lot of barking. He's not a guy that you know,
wants to be in front of the camera saying all
the right things. And that's just not who Kevin Durant is.
(09:52):
I think there's different forms of leaders you know, you
have guys. You have guys like Kevin Durant. Then you
have guys like Lebron James, who's very vocaland speaks on
every on everything that's going on and you know, has
his hands on everything that's moving. You have guys like
Damian Lillard, who you know, as cool as a fan,
gets along with every teammate, encourages it.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
So it's always different forms of leadership.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
And to sit here and try to, you know, make
it seem like it's one right way to go about it,
that's that's just not the case. You have to cater
to every situation differently, you have to lead to every
lead in every situation differently. And I think Kevin Durant
has been his I think Kevin Durant has been the
best leader that he can be in his way of
(10:36):
being that and say and to say he's a follower
is just that's that's bullshit and corny honestly, And the
reason I say that, who the hell is he following?
He's one of the hardest workers we've ever seen in
this game. He's one of the most skilled players we've
ever seen in this game. He's one of the most
consistent players we've ever seen in this game. So I'm
(10:58):
trying to figure out what guys he following to, you know,
fit this mold.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
I guess maybe it's an illusion to him following Kyrie
to Brooklyn. I don't know. It was a while ago,
so I don't know where this comes from. At the
All Star Game.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
I mean, that's that still has nothing to do with
who Kevin Durant is.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
It is as a leader.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
He's in a position where he can pin I did,
and he's in the position to where he can pick
what teammate he wants to play with, Like yeah, that's
that's the right he's earned in this league. So I'm
just not really sure how he's being labeled a follower
or anything of that nature. Now, Like I said, Kevin
Durant is going to lead the way he knows how
to lead. He's found success leading the way he has.
(11:43):
He's dominated in his league since he's stepped foot, So
I'm just not really sure who the hell he's followed,
and if he is following somebody, I wish I would
have followed that same fucking person. But you know, obviously,
Charles and Katie have their history. The ever really be
on the same page. They viewed things totally differently and rightfully.
(12:04):
So they're both great, They're both Hall of famers, like
they've both had tremendous success in this league. So who's
how can you sit here pick and choose who did
it the right way? One hass championships, one doesn't, but
you know, one is probably respected a little more than
the others. So's there's really no right answer to this.
(12:24):
And I think, honestly, I think they could have both
benefited from one another and in a way. So I
don't agree with charles comments. Like I said, Katie all
lead the way he leads, and he's been doing that
and he's found success doing it.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
So that's all I really got to say about that.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
No, I mean, and you were with him. See, you
guys were together in a locker room on the court
in Golden State, and Charles has never been in a
locker room with KD and that's the thing. And I
love Chuck obviously worked with him for a long time
and he's great and great for the game. But this
is the kind of thing I don't quite understand how
you can speak on when you haven't been in that
locker room and you haven't been on a roster with
(13:07):
the guy, and you haven't been on the bench and
heard what he's telling the other guys. And you know,
Katie is a different cat than some of the like
out there in your face leaders, but he's still been
a leader in so many ways. So guys like you
who have played with him, to me, you're the ones
qualified to speak on what kind of leader he is.
And I just got to give Kevin credit because the
answers in that postgame interview were fantastic.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
And I just have to say something about that too.
We're talking about who's a follower or who's the leader.
You know, it's so many young kids coming up in
this game, and the person that they're modeling their game after,
the person that they're following or following his lead, is
Kevin Durant. Like we see so many young guys coming in.
I want to be like Kevin durant'l My gold is
(13:51):
Kevin Durant. Things of this nature, And I mean, as
long as I've been playing the game, that's just not
the case with y'all's bark You don't hear kid come
in and saying I want to be like Charles Barkley. So,
like I said, who can really say what's a leader
or what's the right way to lead or.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
The proper way to lead?
Speaker 3 (14:09):
It's like I said, to each his own, and you know,
you lead the best way you can.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
No one's trying to follow Charles Berkley on the golf course.
I know that. Let's talk about Dallas real quick. They
did lose on Sunday to the Pacers, but they are
seven and three in their last ten. Luca is leading
the league in usage right now at about thirty six percent.
If you want a frame of reference, the highest usage
rate effort was Russell Westbrook. I believe the season he
(14:38):
won MVP was forty one percent. So Luca, you know,
not quite up there, but still a lot. He's averaging
thirty four points a game. He's also averaging nearly ten
assists a game. So if you have a usedge rate
that high, but you're also averaging nearly tennis is per game.
It's crazy, eight point out eight point eight rebounds a game.
So I guess the question is, and the MAVs be
(15:01):
successful long term if Luca right now and it's not
even the playoffs yet, it's playing so many minutes and
it's so involved in every aspect of the game.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
I believe so.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
And the reason I say that is, well, one, this
is how this MAVs team is built. They're built off
the success of Luca. And you know, we talk about
the user's raid and who has the ball in their
hands the most, and you know, you can sit here
and try to talk about the negatives of having the
ball that much, but at the end of the day,
(15:34):
when it comes to this MAVs team, outside of Kyrie Irving,
who the hell that's is going to Who the hell
else is going to have the ball in their hands?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
That's I want to hear a.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Suggestion on who should have the ball more than Luca.
Dont like just I would love to hear the suggestion.
And you know, it's it's silly to even talk about
these type of things because Luca is your best player,
Like your second best player is Kyrie? Who has the
second it's usage, right, it only makes sense. So, like
(16:04):
I said, this team is built around Luca. They go
as far as he takes them. I think he has
a great kund of accounter part and you know Kyrie Irving,
So they're figuring things out. Things is working in their favor.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Uh. You know, they found success lately right after the
trade deadline. PJ.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Washington was a great addition. Gotford was another great addition.
So I think there's ms Mavericks. Team is moving in
the right direction. And like I said, I think they
go as far as Luke as Luca takes them, which
is what you know, this whole team has been built around.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Yeah, the new additions have just really seamlessly melted in,
which I think is a credit to Jason Kidd, not
just the way he's ex and no coaching, but just
you know, his style is so easy going with the guys,
and he's so canny about what to tell them when
and things like that, So I credit him for that.
Luca's usage, man, I remember when Kyrie came back from
his latest injury, and Luca's response when they asked him
(16:58):
about it was just like, well, I'm so tired, I'm
just so glad that he's back because I can be
less tired, and he was just so spent at the
end of every game. Now he's built for it. Like
his build, he's not a frail guy. Like his build
is sturdy, and he's used to playing a lot from
the time he was a teenager. So I think he's
mentally there and ready for it. But it's a lot
(17:19):
to ask of him. And then also when a guy
is that dominant within his own team, it can be
a factor because obviously you know how defense has changed
in the playoffs. In fact, the last NBA champion, the
last guy to win a title with being a thirty
point per game scorer was Michael Jordan. That was ninety six.
(17:40):
It has been since nineteen ninety six that a team
won the NBA Championship having one guy on the team
scoring thirty or more. I don't know that's where the
MAVs are with Luca.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
I think it's possible he's in that category of greatness.
So as far as talent on paper, obviously you know
the achievements and accolades haven't mashed up to Jordan's. But
as far as talent and just effect on the game,
I think he's in that cut of Gord for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Well, they're gonna they try hard to make a run.
They've mortgaged a lot of their future. They want Luca
to stay. They need this to work out this year.
The West standings, though, are so nuts because when they
lost that one game, and again I want to point
out that going into the game, I think they were
ten to two on a run of twelve games. They
fell from fifth place to eighth place on the back
(18:31):
of one loss, and that's because the Suns, Kings, Pelicans,
they're all bunched together there.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Now.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
The Pelicans also lost, they just lost to the Bulls,
but they are seven to three in February. They had
the tenth to of schedule remaining. But their defense is
buckled down, which so that's good. And then if you
look at the the Kings, Sabonis just had his twentieth
criple double on Saturday night. Fox is averaging almost thirty
three points a game over the last four games. They
(18:59):
like to stay out of the play in too. So
I want to just ask you about your old team there.
Given all the other teams in the West we've talked about,
what is your take on the Kings right now and
what their chances are going forward.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
I mean, well, obviously I'm a bit biased. I always
want success for this, you know, this Kings team. I
think they did something great last year and you know,
finally ending that drought making the playoff run. Uh, So
they've built a lot of momentum moving forward. They have
a young cord whose future is very very bright, the
playing style, you know, uh, coach Brown being in the mix.
(19:36):
So it's a lot of things in their favor right now,
and I think just moving forward, only thing they need
to focus on is you know, just improving his team.
Continue to add talent, continue to add complimentary pieces to
you know, d'aranyon, Fox and Sabonis, also Monk who's a
huge piece of that team. So they got a lot
of things in their favor moving forward. It's just about
(19:57):
continuing to add the right pieces and improve this team.
I am a little disappointed that after all of the
success last year, they didn't really make any moves, no
deadline moves, no offseason moves. They just kind of returned
with the same team. And I think after last year's
you know success, it should have just been a year
of you know, continuing to build off of that momentum.
(20:21):
Obviously they're still in the place of success that they
are a playoff team, they have a great chance of
you know, missing this play in, and even if they
are in the plan, that's a very scary team to
play for a one game you know, all type situations.
So my biggest thing is they just have to continue
to improve this team because I think they have the
foundation to you know, find some real, real success in
(20:43):
this league. But it's just about adding the right pieces
to that talent. So very young, exciting team and you know,
the future is very, very bright for this King team.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
I feel like there's so matchup dependent in this playoff
that's coming up. Like I just feel like whoever they
draw in the first round, they could win that and
you know advanced, or they could get knocked out in
the play in. It just kind of depends a little
bit on who they're playing. So that will be interesting.
The seating and the switching around in this conference, it
seems like it's going to come down to the final day.
(21:13):
That's exciting. It's part of what the play in was
built for to make this last kick of the season
a little more involved and more fun. But I'm not
sure how fun it is for the team is involved.
It seems like these coaches must have a migraine every
morning when they wake up and look at the standings,
because it is nuts out there, and it's made even
more nuts when I don't know your players are involved
(21:34):
in a major ball We had five players suspended in
heat Pelicans the other night, and it got you know,
I mean, look, no fight in the NBA is serious,
but it got heated. It got heated. You had Jimmy
Butler and Naji Marshall getting into it. Marshall ended up
(21:54):
choking Butler. Thomas Bryant got into it with Jose Alvarado
left the bench. They each got three games. So I
don't know. I just wanted to ask you, because you've
been in some scraps, Boogie, what is a mindset if
you're a player, especially on the bench, and you know
the rule and the rule's been there forever, but you
see a fight breakout on the court and you want
to stick up for your team, what do you do
(22:15):
in the moment there? What's going through your head?
Speaker 3 (22:18):
It's a lot of emotions going, it's a lot of
thoughts and when things just kind of happen spurred the moment.
You know, being an athlete, being a professional athlete, a
lot of things are just reactions.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
It's instinct.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
So you know, being role players being you know, having
certain roles on teams, some guys are there to be
you know, protectors, protect the stars, things of that nature.
So every situation is different. But for the most part,
if you're a role player, you know you want to
protect your stars. You want to one protect them from
harm too. You want to protect them from doing anything
(22:52):
that's going to then harm or put the game in
harm's way. You also have to keep in mind that
the goal is to win the game at the end
of the night. So sometimes it's just pulling that star
away or pulling that teammate away to prevent it from moving,
you know, going any further, or having it to where
they can't finish out this game. So, like I said,
(23:12):
every situation is different. I've never agreed with the rule
or if you step on the court you get suspended.
That's like to me, that's like the front office doing
half assed work, a lazy job of actually, you know,
looking into the details of what.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
The situation is.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
So it's just like, ah, he was on the court,
everybody suspended. So it's just like, to me, it's a
lazy rule. But at the same time, rules are the rules,
So as a player you have to be conscious of that,
and even in the most heated moments, you have to
you know, still shift your mind to you know, protecting
your teammates, protecting the team, and still you know, reaching
(23:50):
that end goal, which is winning the game that night.
So it's a tough balance, especially in the heat of
the moment, but it's it's more than possible.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
What was yours sort of hold me back moment? Like
which teammate held you back in a scenario on the
court where if it hadn't gotten that way it would
have been bad for you.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Me. Uh, nothing really stick out. I was a pretty
mind mannered guy.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
You know, I'm not sure that sentence has ever been
said about you. I'm sorry, but.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
It's been a few And like I said, when your
emotions are going, it's the heat of the moment, you know,
you always do need those teammates to kind of bring
you back to reality or bring you back to a
place of calmness and just you know, kind of help
you refocus. So it has been situations for me, And
like I said, that's a part of being a teammate,
(24:44):
protecting your stars, protecting guys from harming themselves, and also
the team. And you know, the main goal every night
is to go win the game. So I appreciate every
you know, teammate that kind of righted that situation for
me or put me back in a place of focus.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
I mean, not that you needed it, because you were
so mild mannered on the court. Gen you a sign
of desk sign mister mildmanner. An unfortunate situation in Atlanta.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Bug.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
The news came out over the weekend. Trey Young he
will be reevaluated in a month. It's not that he's
going to be out a month. He will be out
a month and then reevaluated with the finger injury. The
Hawks right now are sitting in a tenth place in
the East. They've got twenty six games to go. Now.
The gulf between ten and eleven is so huge that
it's possible they will weather this without a Trey coming
(25:37):
back and they'll still be in tenth. But I don't
see them getting out of the plane if that happens
and they don't have him, And if i'm him, I
don't know if I just come back for like the
first of all, I don't know when doctors are going
to say he can come back, and you know, if
they do get back for one game, for two games,
and that then begs the question of is this the
(25:58):
last time? Have we seen the end of Trey Young
in a Hawk's uniform? Because there's been so much chatter
around him in possible trade scenarios, do you think he'll
ever suit up for Atlanta again?
Speaker 2 (26:09):
I hope not.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
I hope this is the last time we see him
in the Hawks uniform. I've spoken this plenty times before.
I feel like his talent is being wasted. His prime
is being wasted. His talent is being wasted. I feel
like him handling this situation the way he is. I
think it's a move based on, you know, a personal
(26:34):
it's a more personal decision. This is a more selfish decision,
which I'm okay with. And the reason I say that, one,
this team isn't going anywhere this year. Two, they haven't
really shown that they're trying to improve or that they
want to take the step to you know, improving his
team or anything of that nature. So I totally feel
it's Okay, for Trey Young to make this type of move,
(26:57):
get healthy, get yourself one hundred percent correct, and you know,
look forward to the next season, whether that's in Atlanta
or you know, fingers crossed. My personal hope is the
San Antonio Spurs.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
Spurs. I mean it's so perfect.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Right, It's a matchmaking heaven. It just it just makes sense.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
But with that being said, this this Hawks team just
isn't doing anything for this talent. And you know, I
take it personal because I was in that situation once
and I would hate to see this talent just go
continue to go the ways I want him to be
in a successful and winning environment so he can really
show his talent and I think he deserves that. So
(27:37):
hopefully this off season, this is a season where he
puts his foot down, uses his power, and moves to
a situation that's going to be healthy for him. So
you know, get healthy, get your injuries together, and you know,
be ready for your future.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
So I don't see anything wrong with this move at all.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Yeah, and look, we don't know how serious it is.
Sometimes something looks really minor, but there's ligament damage or whatever.
So you know, who knows what went into the medical decision.
But I got to say, not only would he be
such a perfect fit in San Antonio, the Spurs have
a lot of the Hawks picks from the Dejonte Murray deal,
so I'm sure Atlanta would like some of its picks
back as well, So we have to look for that.
(28:13):
But if Trey is available, there will be a lot
of suitors lining up for Trey Young. And I know
all about the defense and everything, but he's improved. He's
not a great defender, but he has improved on defense.
He has steadily improved offensively and just look more comfortable
throughout the last couple of seasons. And I think he
would make a big difference to a lot of teams.
Are the Lakers gonna make a move for him this summer?
(28:35):
They're going to have three number one draft picks starting
after the you know, starting at the draft, so that
is going to be an interesting question. I just think
there's going to be a lot of interest there, And
from the Hawks perspective, in a way, this gives them
a you know, four to six week run to see
what a de Jante Murray led team looks like, right
because they've only been able to see him paired with
(28:55):
Trey except for a couple of random games this way, Okay, great,
your team. He was obviously dangled out in trade for
like a month leading into the trade headline, but now
he's going to have the chance to be the leader
on the floor, and I'm curious to see what happens
and whether it turns out that they're like, huh, we
could trade Trey Young. We have something here with Dejante.
(29:17):
We're going to keep that part of the equation. So
I do think it's an interesting turning point for the
Hawks and Trey Young in their relationship, and we'll have
to see what happens. But uh, I don't want to
take anyone off a team because I know the fans
of that team are always upset with media when we
do that. But I just the idea of him and
weinby together is just so appealing.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
Absolutely insane. Like I said, that's a match made in heaven.
And I pray to the basketball guys.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
On a night please there you go.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
I need this to happen for basketball.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
Yeah, man, right, it would be so so so much fun.
I'm going to give you ever played the game two
truths in a lie book? Are you familiar with that.
I'm going to we give you three stats. Two of
them are true, one of them is a lie. You
got to figure it out. Here goes stat number one,
Drew Holliday is shooting sixty four percent on corner threes.
(30:11):
Stat two, Mike Conley has never had a technical foul
in his entire career.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Stat three Dearon Fox is leading the league in steals.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
Oh, okay, And one of them is a lie. Mm hmm,
all right, I'm gonna say the lie is Drew Holliday
shooting sixty four from corner threes. I know Mike Conley
has never had a technical foul.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
Which is crazy, by the way, crazy.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
It really is crazy.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
As long and as great of a career as Mike
has had, it almost makes you wonder has he ever cared?
Speaker 1 (30:52):
You know, we know he cares. He such a releader.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
I know we know Mike can.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
But man, it's like I said, it's just so many
motions in a basketball game to never get one.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
It's tough.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Imagine if the two of you could like combine your
technicals that way, you would have had half.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
Nah, we probably just end the year with seventeen zero
for him.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Seventeen for me. But but.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
I think the Aaron Fox leading the league and steels
is also a true.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
So I like it.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
What are the results? Let me know, let me know.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
You are wrong, but be cousins, you are not correct.
Aaron Fox is not leading the league in steals.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Man, it's my other Kentucky guard right yo? Oh Man,
Well I was closed. Shay, you have an incredible year, bro, incredible.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Ye yes, I mean, and shout out to Drew Holliday.
Sixty four percent on corner threes.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
That's tough, Drew, that's really tough.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
That's not bad. That's not bad. I still think that
Mike Conley said is the most.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
Impressive, definitely the most IMPRESSI there you.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
Go, all right, I'll take that back. Presented by DraftKings,
Let's look at the odds for Lebron reaching forty thousand points,
which is just an insane sentence to say forty thousand points.
DraftKings has odds on when that is going to happen.
Lebron right now as we sit here, is seventy four
points from hitting that Mark Bogie. Let's take a look
at the upcoming slate here and which games we think
(32:21):
he might do this now. DraftKings is paying the best
odds for the March fourth game versus the Thunder. There's
also a March second game before that where they have
that at plus one fifty. That's against the Nuggets. There's
a March six game versus the Kings. There's a game
versus the Bucks, and then there's a game on Leap
Day February teny ninth versus the Wizards where the odds
(32:42):
are plus two thousand. But I don't know if the
theory is he could get all seventy four points in
that game because it is against the Wizards. All right,
So book, which bet are you taking? Which game do
you think Lebron will hit that number?
Speaker 3 (32:58):
I'm gonna say it's going to take about, you know,
three games to make this happen. So I'm gonna go
with March second versus the Nuggets. You know, let's say
he just has two incredible games. Let's say he goes
to you know, thirty a piece.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Like we were still get into that third game.
Speaker 3 (33:15):
Yeah, yeah, we know he's about fifteen away, and you know,
Lebron scoring fifteen, I don't think that'll ever be an issue.
So I'm gonna go with March second versus the Nuggets.
I think just timmy wise, mathematical and wise, it just
makes sense.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
I mean, I think part of it that you're playing
with is better is you know, does he play on
that back to back that the Lakers have coming up?
So obviously that'll be a huge difference in all of
these odds. And again, don't underestimate the Wizard's defense, I'm
just saying, And don't underestimate Lebron by the way, in
the fact that when he got close to passing Kareem,
(33:53):
like he just like put the foot on the gas.
He wanted to do it, he wanted to do it quickly.
Speaker 3 (33:59):
You know.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
I think he definitely enjoyed the distraction and he enjoyed
what was happening, but he also wanted to get it
over with a little bit, and he wanted it to
happen at home, so he sort of made that happen.
You know. Lebron is very wise about these things, and
obviously passing forty k is not as sort of a
tent pole moment in NBA history as passing Kareem specifically,
But he knows, he knows every point, every minute, everything,
(34:23):
and I would expect him to try to get this
done kind of quickly. And you know, as I said,
the odds against the Wizards or plus two thousand. But
you never know, people, you never know. So we'll see
what happens. All right, We got to get to a
quick doom scroll here as we wrap up. Paolo Bancaro
was out Sunday with an illness. Now that was just
(34:43):
one day removed from hitting the game winner. The Magic
had it back to back with Detroit, right, so Saturday
and Sunday in Atlanta. Let's see, he was well enough
to hit a game winner the day before, but I
don't know. Do you think he got Magic City?
Speaker 3 (35:02):
Oh man, I'm gonna go out on the limit. Say,
you know, young fella is the ultimate professional. Okay, He's
always prepared for work. He's going to be a pro
no matter if he's at work or outside of work.
I think he carries himself the correct way. And I'm
just going to blame it on a bad batch. He
(35:24):
encountered a bad batch and.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
But not a bad batch of Magic City wings. This
is what you're saying.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
I can't say that because they Friday wings hard, So
I just don't really see that.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
So I'm gonna go out on the limit. Say this
is a legit illness for the young fella.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
All right, all right, I think that is probably true,
by the way, But if you're following along and don't
know what we're talking about, just Google you'll you'll see
everything you need to see. In fact, you'll see quite
a lot really, so over there there you go. All right,
but thank you so much, as always for everyone out there.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
You can catch all episodes of Ball on the DraftKings Network,
which is really cool. You can catch us something all
the Smoke Productions YouTube channel, and of course you can
find us wherever you get your podcast. So if you're
listening right now in the car and boogie and I
got to ride along with you, thank you. We enjoyed
the ride. And you know, slow down in the passing lane.
That's all I got to say. We'll catch you next week. Bye, guys,
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What's that bullyball? Fam, You already know basketball season is
my favorite time of the year and this last part
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(02:11):
last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. Welcome to Bullyball, presented
by DraftKings. I am Rachel Nichols. That of course is
DeMarcus Cousins and Boogie. Here's my question for you this morning.
Do I blend in with this couch so much that
(02:32):
I'm just a floating head because I forgot and the
material is exactly the same. Man.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
You may blue, You may blue, look really good, Rachel.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Enough, all the maps, thank you, thank you, my friend.
I just you know, if you're watching this at home
and I disappear into the sofa, just know why. That's
all I'm saying. But we got to talk about the
Western Conference standings because it's been bunched for a while,
but it's getting serious now with so few games left
to go. The Suns and Kings, they both leapt into
(03:02):
the top six after their wins on Sunday and Phoenix.
That was pretty high profile win right with that, you know,
beating the Lakers, and that's how the West is right now.
I mean you in one game, you're up here, you're
down here, and those top six spots are obviously so
important for the plan. The downer for the Suns though,
is that Bradley Beal is still out hamstring injury right now.
They thought he was going to be able to come
(03:23):
back a couple of days ago, has not been able
to did a pregame warm up and cut it short.
They have the toughest strength of schedule remaining in the league.
If you just go look at their last you know,
go from the bottom of their schedule and look at
the ten games that they have to finish with. It's insane.
I mean, it's an insane schedule. I guess I'm just
(03:43):
wondering with Bradley out again, Booker's been out. I mean,
how confident are you with the health of this team
if they can squeak into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Well that that was always going to be the biggest
thing for this team, is you know, dealing with health.
You know, Kevin Durant has had his injury, pass Bill
has had his, and as of recently, he's been dealing
with one of this entire season. So and you can't
ignore the fact that a hamstring injury lingers the way
that it does. Even with I do like the precaution
(04:18):
they're going with they're going about with, you know, dealing
with Bill's hamstring injury. But any person that knows how
hamstring works, it's an injury that can linger for the
rest of the season, even going into the playoffs. So
that's always a scary thing. So you have to be
really really cautious for moving forward with that. But I mean, obviously,
(04:39):
with the talent that's on this roster, if you said
in the beginning of the season that their season would
go the way that it has this year, I don't
think anybody would have, you know, agreed or even guessed
that that would be the case. But they have found
a way to stay afloat this season. They are still
one of the most talented teams on paper in this league.
And if they do find a way, you know, to
(05:02):
get healthy before this season finishes out, it could be
a make or break type situation for him. And the
reason I say that they do have one of the
hardest schedules finishing out the year, So it could be
a situation where you know, it goes to complete shit
and you know they kind of crumble towards the end,
or it could be a situation whereas it's where they're
(05:23):
going to go into the playoffs, very very polished, and
you know, being able to finish out the season with
these tough ten games or ten plus games or so.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
It's a make or breaks type situation.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
And you know, obviously health is the huge concern, but
one paper, they have everything they need to win a
championship or compete for one. It's just gonna come down
to the small, detailed things. If everybody's on the same page.
Is that, if everybody is healthy at the same time,
and how they decide to finish this season out Being on.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
The same page I think is part of the issue
here because I mean, look, by the way it's been
super frustrating for Brad. No one is more upset at
the way things have gone for him this season than
he is. I've talked to him. But if they are healthy,
even on day one of the playoffs, they will barely
all play together. I mean, but how important is that
for a team. I mean, they're all vets, I get it,
(06:19):
but you also have a supporting cast there, and how
big a deal is it that they won't have had
a lot of time to get on the court.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
It's a really big deal and Obviously, you can always
talk about the chemistry and the camaraderie and the flow
of the game when all three guys are on the floor,
But when you just look at it from an individual
standpoint of just Bradley Bell alone, I've been in that
type situation. I've had a season where I was in
and out all year and I never really found my
(06:46):
rhythm or was in a consistent flow when it came
to just performing on a nightly basis. And it's a
kind of identical situation because I ended up returning during
the playoffs, which is which is a challenge within itself.
The playoffs are already hard because the level of competition raises,
(07:07):
the defensive schemes.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
They changed the.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Way they prioritiz prior to prioritize certain players and defensive
schemes and things of that nature, it's going to make
them game that much more difficult. So if you come
in and you're already out of rhythm and you have
to face that type of dynamic, that's a tough thing
to deal with. So, like I said, I think it's
more of a challenge for Bradley Bell and the individual
(07:31):
standpoint compared to you know, having those three guys all
out there together and making it flow. They're still a
dangerous team with just Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, but
there are a much more dangerous team when they're all healthy,
all in rhythm, and all flowing with their three headed monster.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Yeah, I mean, I still am very curious to see
what happens with them. The talent there is just kind
of intoxicating in terms of, like, well, that could be fun.
But they have a lot stacked up against them. The injuries,
the lack of of being able to establish chemistry, the
strength of schedule. They've had the easiest schedule up until now.
So the idea that they've had the easiest schedule and
(08:09):
they're only where they are in the standing is because
of all these injuries and other factors. And now they've
got just a monster coming up. So it's going to
be interesting to see what happens. I do know someone
who's a fighter, though, Boggie. That is Kevin Durant. He
understands not just the game, but the game within the
game within the game, and Charles Barkley had some comments
(08:30):
about him during All Star weekend, and I think Kevin
heard it. This is my opinion My opinion is that
Kevin knows what he said. And this is why Barkley's
comments was that Katy is a follower, not a leader.
It's pretty harsh talking about him. Now. On yesterday's broadcast,
I want you to take a listen. Here Katie used
the word leadership or some variation of it six times. Listen.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
This was a complete team performance.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
What impressed you most?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Leadership?
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Leadership in another engine struggles let's first of the games,
but everybody was talking. Coach leaving us, players are leaving us,
and that just helps us all go into the rim.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
It helps us with detse off on. This team has
been for quarter played.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
What did you see from your group in that final period? Well,
I said, just our leadership, man, we came through it.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Everybody was talking on the same page. We made a
big shot out the big shot, and we gotta stop.
So the credit the leadership, but from the coaches and
the flares.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
How do you feel about Katie's response to Charles.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
I can't be mad at it. And the reason I
say that is because it's already been said and well
known that Katie leads the way that he leads. He
leads by example. He's not really the guy that does
a lot of barking. He's not a guy that you know,
wants to be in front of the camera saying all
the right things. And that's just not who Kevin Durant is.
(09:52):
I think there's different forms of leaders you know, you
have guys. You have guys like Kevin Durant. Then you
have guys like Lebron James, who's very vocaland speaks on
every on everything that's going on and you know, has
his hands on everything that's moving. You have guys like
Damian Lillard, who you know, as cool as a fan,
gets along with every teammate, encourages it.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
So it's always different forms of leadership.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
And to sit here and try to, you know, make
it seem like it's one right way to go about it,
that's that's just not the case. You have to cater
to every situation differently, you have to lead to every
lead in every situation differently. And I think Kevin Durant
has been his I think Kevin Durant has been the
best leader that he can be in his way of
(10:36):
being that and say and to say he's a follower
is just that's that's bullshit and corny honestly, And the
reason I say that, who the hell is he following?
He's one of the hardest workers we've ever seen in
this game. He's one of the most skilled players we've
ever seen in this game. He's one of the most
consistent players we've ever seen in this game. So I'm
(10:58):
trying to figure out what guys he following to, you know,
fit this mold.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
I guess maybe it's an illusion to him following Kyrie
to Brooklyn. I don't know. It was a while ago,
so I don't know where this comes from. At the
All Star Game.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
I mean, that's that still has nothing to do with
who Kevin Durant is.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
It is as a leader.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
He's in a position where he can pin I did,
and he's in the position to where he can pick
what teammate he wants to play with, Like yeah, that's
that's the right he's earned in this league. So I'm
just not really sure how he's being labeled a follower
or anything of that nature. Now, Like I said, Kevin
Durant is going to lead the way he knows how
to lead. He's found success leading the way he has.
(11:43):
He's dominated in his league since he's stepped foot, So
I'm just not really sure who the hell he's followed,
and if he is following somebody, I wish I would
have followed that same fucking person. But you know, obviously,
Charles and Katie have their history. The ever really be
on the same page. They viewed things totally differently and rightfully.
(12:04):
So they're both great, They're both Hall of famers, like
they've both had tremendous success in this league. So who's
how can you sit here pick and choose who did
it the right way? One hass championships, one doesn't, but
you know, one is probably respected a little more than
the others. So's there's really no right answer to this.
(12:24):
And I think, honestly, I think they could have both
benefited from one another and in a way. So I
don't agree with charles comments. Like I said, Katie all
lead the way he leads, and he's been doing that
and he's found success doing it.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
So that's all I really got to say about that.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
No, I mean, and you were with him. See, you
guys were together in a locker room on the court
in Golden State, and Charles has never been in a
locker room with KD and that's the thing. And I
love Chuck obviously worked with him for a long time
and he's great and great for the game. But this
is the kind of thing I don't quite understand how
you can speak on when you haven't been in that
locker room and you haven't been on a roster with
(13:07):
the guy, and you haven't been on the bench and
heard what he's telling the other guys. And you know,
Katie is a different cat than some of the like
out there in your face leaders, but he's still been
a leader in so many ways. So guys like you
who have played with him, to me, you're the ones
qualified to speak on what kind of leader he is.
And I just got to give Kevin credit because the
answers in that postgame interview were fantastic.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
And I just have to say something about that too.
We're talking about who's a follower or who's the leader.
You know, it's so many young kids coming up in
this game, and the person that they're modeling their game after,
the person that they're following or following his lead, is
Kevin Durant. Like we see so many young guys coming in.
I want to be like Kevin durant'l My gold is
(13:51):
Kevin Durant. Things of this nature, And I mean, as
long as I've been playing the game, that's just not
the case with y'all's bark You don't hear kid come
in and saying I want to be like Charles Barkley. So,
like I said, who can really say what's a leader
or what's the right way to lead or.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
The proper way to lead?
Speaker 3 (14:09):
It's like I said, to each his own, and you know,
you lead the best way you can.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
No one's trying to follow Charles Berkley on the golf course.
I know that. Let's talk about Dallas real quick. They
did lose on Sunday to the Pacers, but they are
seven and three in their last ten. Luca is leading
the league in usage right now at about thirty six percent.
If you want a frame of reference, the highest usage
rate effort was Russell Westbrook. I believe the season he
(14:38):
won MVP was forty one percent. So Luca, you know,
not quite up there, but still a lot. He's averaging
thirty four points a game. He's also averaging nearly ten
assists a game. So if you have a usedge rate
that high, but you're also averaging nearly tennis is per game.
It's crazy, eight point out eight point eight rebounds a game.
So I guess the question is, and the MAVs be
(15:01):
successful long term if Luca right now and it's not
even the playoffs yet, it's playing so many minutes and
it's so involved in every aspect of the game.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
I believe so.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
And the reason I say that is, well, one, this
is how this MAVs team is built. They're built off
the success of Luca. And you know, we talk about
the user's raid and who has the ball in their
hands the most, and you know, you can sit here
and try to talk about the negatives of having the
ball that much, but at the end of the day,
(15:34):
when it comes to this MAVs team, outside of Kyrie Irving,
who the hell that's is going to Who the hell
else is going to have the ball in their hands?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
That's I want to hear a.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Suggestion on who should have the ball more than Luca.
Dont like just I would love to hear the suggestion.
And you know, it's it's silly to even talk about
these type of things because Luca is your best player,
Like your second best player is Kyrie? Who has the
second it's usage, right, it only makes sense. So, like
(16:04):
I said, this team is built around Luca. They go
as far as he takes them. I think he has
a great kund of accounter part and you know Kyrie Irving,
So they're figuring things out. Things is working in their favor.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Uh. You know, they found success lately right after the
trade deadline. PJ.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Washington was a great addition. Gotford was another great addition.
So I think there's ms Mavericks. Team is moving in
the right direction. And like I said, I think they
go as far as Luke as Luca takes them, which
is what you know, this whole team has been built around.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Yeah, the new additions have just really seamlessly melted in,
which I think is a credit to Jason Kidd, not
just the way he's ex and no coaching, but just
you know, his style is so easy going with the guys,
and he's so canny about what to tell them when
and things like that, So I credit him for that.
Luca's usage, man, I remember when Kyrie came back from
his latest injury, and Luca's response when they asked him
(16:58):
about it was just like, well, I'm so tired, I'm
just so glad that he's back because I can be
less tired, and he was just so spent at the
end of every game. Now he's built for it. Like
his build, he's not a frail guy. Like his build
is sturdy, and he's used to playing a lot from
the time he was a teenager. So I think he's
mentally there and ready for it. But it's a lot
(17:19):
to ask of him. And then also when a guy
is that dominant within his own team, it can be
a factor because obviously you know how defense has changed
in the playoffs. In fact, the last NBA champion, the
last guy to win a title with being a thirty
point per game scorer was Michael Jordan. That was ninety six.
(17:40):
It has been since nineteen ninety six that a team
won the NBA Championship having one guy on the team
scoring thirty or more. I don't know that's where the
MAVs are with Luca.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
I think it's possible he's in that category of greatness.
So as far as talent on paper, obviously you know
the achievements and accolades haven't mashed up to Jordan's. But
as far as talent and just effect on the game,
I think he's in that cut of Gord for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Well, they're gonna they try hard to make a run.
They've mortgaged a lot of their future. They want Luca
to stay. They need this to work out this year.
The West standings, though, are so nuts because when they
lost that one game, and again I want to point
out that going into the game, I think they were
ten to two on a run of twelve games. They
fell from fifth place to eighth place on the back
(18:31):
of one loss, and that's because the Suns, Kings, Pelicans,
they're all bunched together there.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Now.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
The Pelicans also lost, they just lost to the Bulls,
but they are seven to three in February. They had
the tenth to of schedule remaining. But their defense is
buckled down, which so that's good. And then if you
look at the the Kings, Sabonis just had his twentieth
criple double on Saturday night. Fox is averaging almost thirty
three points a game over the last four games. They
(18:59):
like to stay out of the play in too. So
I want to just ask you about your old team there.
Given all the other teams in the West we've talked about,
what is your take on the Kings right now and
what their chances are going forward.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
I mean, well, obviously I'm a bit biased. I always
want success for this, you know, this Kings team. I
think they did something great last year and you know,
finally ending that drought making the playoff run. Uh, So
they've built a lot of momentum moving forward. They have
a young cord whose future is very very bright, the
playing style, you know, uh, coach Brown being in the mix.
(19:36):
So it's a lot of things in their favor right now,
and I think just moving forward, only thing they need
to focus on is you know, just improving his team.
Continue to add talent, continue to add complimentary pieces to
you know, d'aranyon, Fox and Sabonis, also Monk who's a
huge piece of that team. So they got a lot
of things in their favor moving forward. It's just about
(19:57):
continuing to add the right pieces and improve this team.
I am a little disappointed that after all of the
success last year, they didn't really make any moves, no
deadline moves, no offseason moves. They just kind of returned
with the same team. And I think after last year's
you know success, it should have just been a year
of you know, continuing to build off of that momentum.
(20:21):
Obviously they're still in the place of success that they
are a playoff team, they have a great chance of
you know, missing this play in, and even if they
are in the plan, that's a very scary team to
play for a one game you know, all type situations.
So my biggest thing is they just have to continue
to improve this team because I think they have the
foundation to you know, find some real, real success in
(20:43):
this league. But it's just about adding the right pieces
to that talent. So very young, exciting team and you know,
the future is very, very bright for this King team.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
I feel like there's so matchup dependent in this playoff
that's coming up. Like I just feel like whoever they
draw in the first round, they could win that and
you know advanced, or they could get knocked out in
the play in. It just kind of depends a little
bit on who they're playing. So that will be interesting.
The seating and the switching around in this conference, it
seems like it's going to come down to the final day.
(21:13):
That's exciting. It's part of what the play in was
built for to make this last kick of the season
a little more involved and more fun. But I'm not
sure how fun it is for the team is involved.
It seems like these coaches must have a migraine every
morning when they wake up and look at the standings,
because it is nuts out there, and it's made even
more nuts when I don't know your players are involved
(21:34):
in a major ball We had five players suspended in
heat Pelicans the other night, and it got you know,
I mean, look, no fight in the NBA is serious,
but it got heated. It got heated. You had Jimmy
Butler and Naji Marshall getting into it. Marshall ended up
(21:54):
choking Butler. Thomas Bryant got into it with Jose Alvarado
left the bench. They each got three games. So I
don't know. I just wanted to ask you, because you've
been in some scraps, Boogie, what is a mindset if
you're a player, especially on the bench, and you know
the rule and the rule's been there forever, but you
see a fight breakout on the court and you want
to stick up for your team, what do you do
(22:15):
in the moment there? What's going through your head?
Speaker 3 (22:18):
It's a lot of emotions going, it's a lot of
thoughts and when things just kind of happen spurred the moment.
You know, being an athlete, being a professional athlete, a
lot of things are just reactions.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
It's instinct.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
So you know, being role players being you know, having
certain roles on teams, some guys are there to be
you know, protectors, protect the stars, things of that nature.
So every situation is different. But for the most part,
if you're a role player, you know you want to
protect your stars. You want to one protect them from
harm too. You want to protect them from doing anything
(22:52):
that's going to then harm or put the game in
harm's way. You also have to keep in mind that
the goal is to win the game at the end
of the night. So sometimes it's just pulling that star
away or pulling that teammate away to prevent it from moving,
you know, going any further, or having it to where
they can't finish out this game. So, like I said,
(23:12):
every situation is different. I've never agreed with the rule
or if you step on the court you get suspended.
That's like to me, that's like the front office doing
half assed work, a lazy job of actually, you know,
looking into the details of what.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
The situation is.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
So it's just like, ah, he was on the court,
everybody suspended. So it's just like, to me, it's a
lazy rule. But at the same time, rules are the rules,
So as a player you have to be conscious of that,
and even in the most heated moments, you have to
you know, still shift your mind to you know, protecting
your teammates, protecting the team, and still you know, reaching
(23:50):
that end goal, which is winning the game that night.
So it's a tough balance, especially in the heat of
the moment, but it's it's more than possible.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
What was yours sort of hold me back moment? Like
which teammate held you back in a scenario on the
court where if it hadn't gotten that way it would
have been bad for you.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Me. Uh, nothing really stick out. I was a pretty
mind mannered guy.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
You know, I'm not sure that sentence has ever been
said about you. I'm sorry, but.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
It's been a few And like I said, when your
emotions are going, it's the heat of the moment, you know,
you always do need those teammates to kind of bring
you back to reality or bring you back to a
place of calmness and just you know, kind of help
you refocus. So it has been situations for me, And
like I said, that's a part of being a teammate,
(24:44):
protecting your stars, protecting guys from harming themselves, and also
the team. And you know, the main goal every night
is to go win the game. So I appreciate every
you know, teammate that kind of righted that situation for
me or put me back in a place of focus.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
I mean, not that you needed it, because you were
so mild mannered on the court. Gen you a sign
of desk sign mister mildmanner. An unfortunate situation in Atlanta.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Bug.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
The news came out over the weekend. Trey Young he
will be reevaluated in a month. It's not that he's
going to be out a month. He will be out
a month and then reevaluated with the finger injury. The
Hawks right now are sitting in a tenth place in
the East. They've got twenty six games to go. Now.
The gulf between ten and eleven is so huge that
it's possible they will weather this without a Trey coming
(25:37):
back and they'll still be in tenth. But I don't
see them getting out of the plane if that happens
and they don't have him, And if i'm him, I
don't know if I just come back for like the
first of all, I don't know when doctors are going
to say he can come back, and you know, if
they do get back for one game, for two games,
and that then begs the question of is this the
(25:58):
last time? Have we seen the end of Trey Young
in a Hawk's uniform? Because there's been so much chatter
around him in possible trade scenarios, do you think he'll
ever suit up for Atlanta again?
Speaker 2 (26:09):
I hope not.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
I hope this is the last time we see him
in the Hawks uniform. I've spoken this plenty times before.
I feel like his talent is being wasted. His prime
is being wasted. His talent is being wasted. I feel
like him handling this situation the way he is. I
think it's a move based on, you know, a personal
(26:34):
it's a more personal decision. This is a more selfish decision,
which I'm okay with. And the reason I say that, one,
this team isn't going anywhere this year. Two, they haven't
really shown that they're trying to improve or that they
want to take the step to you know, improving his
team or anything of that nature. So I totally feel
it's Okay, for Trey Young to make this type of move,
(26:57):
get healthy, get yourself one hundred percent correct, and you know,
look forward to the next season, whether that's in Atlanta
or you know, fingers crossed. My personal hope is the
San Antonio Spurs.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
Spurs. I mean it's so perfect.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Right, It's a matchmaking heaven. It just it just makes sense.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
But with that being said, this this Hawks team just
isn't doing anything for this talent. And you know, I
take it personal because I was in that situation once
and I would hate to see this talent just go
continue to go the ways I want him to be
in a successful and winning environment so he can really
show his talent and I think he deserves that. So
(27:37):
hopefully this off season, this is a season where he
puts his foot down, uses his power, and moves to
a situation that's going to be healthy for him. So
you know, get healthy, get your injuries together, and you know,
be ready for your future.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
So I don't see anything wrong with this move at all.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Yeah, and look, we don't know how serious it is.
Sometimes something looks really minor, but there's ligament damage or whatever.
So you know, who knows what went into the medical decision.
But I got to say, not only would he be
such a perfect fit in San Antonio, the Spurs have
a lot of the Hawks picks from the Dejonte Murray deal,
so I'm sure Atlanta would like some of its picks
back as well, So we have to look for that.
(28:13):
But if Trey is available, there will be a lot
of suitors lining up for Trey Young. And I know
all about the defense and everything, but he's improved. He's
not a great defender, but he has improved on defense.
He has steadily improved offensively and just look more comfortable
throughout the last couple of seasons. And I think he
would make a big difference to a lot of teams.
Are the Lakers gonna make a move for him this summer?
(28:35):
They're going to have three number one draft picks starting
after the you know, starting at the draft, so that
is going to be an interesting question. I just think
there's going to be a lot of interest there, And
from the Hawks perspective, in a way, this gives them
a you know, four to six week run to see
what a de Jante Murray led team looks like, right
because they've only been able to see him paired with
(28:55):
Trey except for a couple of random games this way, Okay, great,
your team. He was obviously dangled out in trade for
like a month leading into the trade headline, but now
he's going to have the chance to be the leader
on the floor, and I'm curious to see what happens
and whether it turns out that they're like, huh, we
could trade Trey Young. We have something here with Dejante.
(29:17):
We're going to keep that part of the equation. So
I do think it's an interesting turning point for the
Hawks and Trey Young in their relationship, and we'll have
to see what happens. But uh, I don't want to
take anyone off a team because I know the fans
of that team are always upset with media when we
do that. But I just the idea of him and
weinby together is just so appealing.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
Absolutely insane. Like I said, that's a match made in heaven.
And I pray to the basketball guys.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
On a night please there you go.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
I need this to happen for basketball.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
Yeah, man, right, it would be so so so much fun.
I'm going to give you ever played the game two
truths in a lie book? Are you familiar with that.
I'm going to we give you three stats. Two of
them are true, one of them is a lie. You
got to figure it out. Here goes stat number one,
Drew Holliday is shooting sixty four percent on corner threes.
(30:11):
Stat two, Mike Conley has never had a technical foul
in his entire career.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Stat three Dearon Fox is leading the league in steals.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
Oh, okay, And one of them is a lie. Mm hmm,
all right, I'm gonna say the lie is Drew Holliday
shooting sixty four from corner threes. I know Mike Conley
has never had a technical foul.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
Which is crazy, by the way, crazy.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
It really is crazy.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
As long and as great of a career as Mike
has had, it almost makes you wonder has he ever cared?
Speaker 1 (30:52):
You know, we know he cares. He such a releader.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
I know we know Mike can.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
But man, it's like I said, it's just so many
motions in a basketball game to never get one.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
It's tough.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Imagine if the two of you could like combine your
technicals that way, you would have had half.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
Nah, we probably just end the year with seventeen zero
for him.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Seventeen for me. But but.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
I think the Aaron Fox leading the league and steels
is also a true.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
So I like it.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
What are the results? Let me know, let me know.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
You are wrong, but be cousins, you are not correct.
Aaron Fox is not leading the league in steals.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Man, it's my other Kentucky guard right yo? Oh Man,
Well I was closed. Shay, you have an incredible year, bro, incredible.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Ye yes, I mean, and shout out to Drew Holliday.
Sixty four percent on corner threes.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
That's tough, Drew, that's really tough.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
That's not bad. That's not bad. I still think that
Mike Conley said is the most.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
Impressive, definitely the most IMPRESSI there you.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
Go, all right, I'll take that back. Presented by DraftKings,
Let's look at the odds for Lebron reaching forty thousand points,
which is just an insane sentence to say forty thousand points.
DraftKings has odds on when that is going to happen.
Lebron right now as we sit here, is seventy four
points from hitting that Mark Bogie. Let's take a look
at the upcoming slate here and which games we think
(32:21):
he might do this now. DraftKings is paying the best
odds for the March fourth game versus the Thunder. There's
also a March second game before that where they have
that at plus one fifty. That's against the Nuggets. There's
a March six game versus the Kings. There's a game
versus the Bucks, and then there's a game on Leap
Day February teny ninth versus the Wizards where the odds
(32:42):
are plus two thousand. But I don't know if the
theory is he could get all seventy four points in
that game because it is against the Wizards. All right,
So book, which bet are you taking? Which game do
you think Lebron will hit that number?
Speaker 3 (32:58):
I'm gonna say it's going to take about, you know,
three games to make this happen. So I'm gonna go
with March second versus the Nuggets. You know, let's say
he just has two incredible games. Let's say he goes
to you know, thirty a piece.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Like we were still get into that third game.
Speaker 3 (33:15):
Yeah, yeah, we know he's about fifteen away, and you know,
Lebron scoring fifteen, I don't think that'll ever be an issue.
So I'm gonna go with March second versus the Nuggets.
I think just timmy wise, mathematical and wise, it just
makes sense.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
I mean, I think part of it that you're playing
with is better is you know, does he play on
that back to back that the Lakers have coming up?
So obviously that'll be a huge difference in all of
these odds. And again, don't underestimate the Wizard's defense, I'm
just saying, And don't underestimate Lebron by the way, in
the fact that when he got close to passing Kareem,
(33:53):
like he just like put the foot on the gas.
He wanted to do it, he wanted to do it quickly.
Speaker 3 (33:59):
You know.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
I think he definitely enjoyed the distraction and he enjoyed
what was happening, but he also wanted to get it
over with a little bit, and he wanted it to
happen at home, so he sort of made that happen.
You know. Lebron is very wise about these things, and
obviously passing forty k is not as sort of a
tent pole moment in NBA history as passing Kareem specifically,
But he knows, he knows every point, every minute, everything,
(34:23):
and I would expect him to try to get this
done kind of quickly. And you know, as I said,
the odds against the Wizards or plus two thousand. But
you never know, people, you never know. So we'll see
what happens. All right, We got to get to a
quick doom scroll here as we wrap up. Paolo Bancaro
was out Sunday with an illness. Now that was just
(34:43):
one day removed from hitting the game winner. The Magic
had it back to back with Detroit, right, so Saturday
and Sunday in Atlanta. Let's see, he was well enough
to hit a game winner the day before, but I
don't know. Do you think he got Magic City?
Speaker 3 (35:02):
Oh man, I'm gonna go out on the limit. Say,
you know, young fella is the ultimate professional. Okay, He's
always prepared for work. He's going to be a pro
no matter if he's at work or outside of work.
I think he carries himself the correct way. And I'm
just going to blame it on a bad batch. He
(35:24):
encountered a bad batch and.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
But not a bad batch of Magic City wings. This
is what you're saying.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
I can't say that because they Friday wings hard, So
I just don't really see that.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
So I'm gonna go out on the limit. Say this
is a legit illness for the young fella.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
All right, all right, I think that is probably true,
by the way, But if you're following along and don't
know what we're talking about, just Google you'll you'll see
everything you need to see. In fact, you'll see quite
a lot really, so over there there you go. All right,
but thank you so much, as always for everyone out there.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
You can catch all episodes of Ball on the DraftKings Network,
which is really cool. You can catch us something all
the Smoke Productions YouTube channel, and of course you can
find us wherever you get your podcast. So if you're
listening right now in the car and boogie and I
got to ride along with you, thank you. We enjoyed
the ride. And you know, slow down in the passing lane.
That's all I got to say. We'll catch you next week. Bye, guys,
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