March 18, 2024 • 34 mins
Chris and Rob debate whether the selection committee made a mistake by putting LSU and Iowa in the same region for the Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament, tell us why they have a problem with the Chicago Bears trying to spin the Justin Fields trade into something that it’s not and explain why Kyrie Irving is not the most skilled player in NBA history.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Odd Couple podcast.
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Speaker 2 (00:23):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple with
Chris Brushaw and Ron Harker.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
The women's tournament, as we said earlier, is getting more
attention than the men. Four hundred and twenty four dollars
for the championship game. That's the average ticket price for
the women's championship, just one ninety six for the men, and.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
So that says a lot right there.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
And even though you know it's a great time for
women's college basketball, there are some complaining that lave this
year's championship matchup where you had LSU beat Iowa and
Caitlyn Clark their star in the championship game. Rob Now
both teams are great.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
This year.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Iowa was a number one seed, LSU's a number three seed.
But now LSU is in the same region as Iowa
and they will play if they both keep advancing in
the Elite eight to try to get to the final four,
and a lot of people are saying, you know, complaining
(01:31):
because they would have rather seen them meet in the
final four.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
What are your thoughts on this route. I disagree. I
think that.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
You shouldn't have to doctor things out to try to
hope that they get there. If you try to fix
that so that they meet in the championship or whatever,
they may never play each other. They might somebody might
get knocked off before this, and in this case, at
least we're gonna see them.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
That might be the highest maybe, but.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
There you know what I mean, the longer you go,
the longer there's a chance of somebody being knocked out
and not making it. All I'm saying is and if
they played Chris, that might be the most watched game
and and bigger than the championship and it doesn't matter. Yeah,
I'm just like like the idea that they possibly if
you split them up, don't play at all, or it
(02:20):
could be because you're hoping that you're going to get
the finals that you want.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
I just I think that that's the danger.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I think that they did the right thing in trying
to make sure that that at some point they got
a better shot of playing and it's going to be
a big game win when they do.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
That's me I was against. I was against the Little League, Chris.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Remember when they changed the Little League World Series and
they put all the United States teams on one side
and all the foreign teams on the other side, because
we used to get our clocks clean, remember that and
the five Yeah, Taiwana, they used to beat the crap
out of us, and we would never be in the finals.
So they don't to ensure that the US got into
(03:02):
the championship by not having us in that division.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
So I don't know. We're like, hey, we created the
sport right is here in America? And did they know?
Did they know? Hey?
Speaker 4 (03:15):
You know what, Chris, real quick I've noticed is real
quick one of the greatest leads I've read on a
newspaper story. Dwight Gooden ripped on the Pittsburgh Pirates when
they were bad, and he called them a little league
team right right before he pitched against them. He ripped them,
called them a little league team. The Pirates came out
the next day, Chris and put a nine or ten
(03:38):
runs against Dwight Gooden and the writer wrote the story
who wrote the game story said that Dwight Gooden called
the Pittsburgh Pirates a little league team, but he.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Didn't know they were Taiwan. They were from Taiwan. How
good is that? That's funny. That's funny. That's funny.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
I think they missed an opportunity rob and you never
know who's gonna you know, advance play.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
But this women's college basketball.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Obviously is bigger than ever, and I do think, like
I feel like the big stories South Carolina obviously being undefeated,
this is the fourth time straight that they've been the
number one seed. They didn't win it last year, lost
to Caitlyn Clark. Iow, of course with Caitlin Clark LSU,
(04:27):
just as defending champions Angel Reese Ukon with Paige Becker's
and then USC as you mentioned with Juju Watkins, is
that is that their star?
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Yes, She's unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Yeah, And so I you're right that it looked the
chances are better that we do get the Caitlin Clark
Angel Reese matchup this year in the Elite eight, But
I I think it would have been great if they
would have tried to position it where the I mean,
(05:01):
I get it. You're right, you want to have integrity
and go by the records, but obviously, look, LSU is
still really good. They lost I think five games this year.
It's not like they can't win it. But I think
they could have spaced them out and maybe the chances.
All of those teams can't make the Final four, but
Iowa and LSU are two of the biggest stories, so
(05:24):
I would have liked to have seen them space them
out a little bit and really just seize the day, Rob,
because everybody's eyes are gonna be on women's college basketball.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
For really the first time.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Last year was people were into it because of Clark
and all that at Reese. But this year, Rob, more
than ever, they have the eyes on them, So I
think they should have spaced it out so their stars
have chances of meeting in the Final four and win.
The games are the biggest. But you're right, that Elite
Eight game could end up going to the biggest game.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Right, and you don't want to miss out on that.
Can you imagine if you played that and then Chris
one of them doesn't make it, Like then you'll be like,
oh my god.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
All their big stories, So you know, you got, Like
I said, you got South the four final four is Texas?
Speaker 5 (06:15):
What is it?
Speaker 6 (06:15):
Rob?
Speaker 1 (06:15):
The four season South Carolina, Texas, Iowa?
Speaker 3 (06:19):
And who's the fourth the fourth number one seed.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
South Carolina, Iowa, Texas and USC.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Yeah, so those are some big names.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
So they they you know, they're gonna have some big
names getting in the final four most likely. But yeah,
I think they should have spread it out a little
bit and have maybe LSU and Iowa meet UH in
the final four of the championship.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm Eastern,
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Speaker 6 (06:58):
Bally full Scow with Tony Fusco. You know, as the
host of the number one rated paul and Toni Fusco Show.
We get tons and tons of fan mail every day.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Piles of it.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
In fact, Tony, why don't you open up one of
those letters right now and read what's inside?
Speaker 5 (07:11):
Hey, listen to this. Dear Paulie and Tony, your sports
takes the dumbest and most terrible.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Wait, why open this other one?
Speaker 5 (07:19):
Dear Paulie and Tony you suck more than anyone. Wait,
try this one, Dear Paulie and Tony, you guys are
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Speaker 6 (07:32):
Just listen to the Polly and Tony Fusco Show on
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Speaker 1 (07:38):
Yeah, Rob, let's go to the NFL now though, And
there was a big trade the Steelers, Rob, just days
after signing Russell Wilson, go out and get Justin Field,
who we talked about twenty twenty one, the eleventh pick
of that draft supposed to be a great one.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
The verdicts still out.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
He's not a lot like some of these guys where
there's no hope or at least not a lot of
hope left. But the jury is definitely still out on
him and the he was traded Rob for a sixth
round pick that could become a fourth round pick depending
(08:24):
on how much he plays.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
I think it's fifty one per cent conditional sixth round
right that could move off.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
But the Bears, Rob are saying, or at least they
they're I'm sure that's where it's coming from. But their
report saying that the Bears turned down better offers for
Justin so they could put him in a good situation.
He's expected to back up Russell Wilson this year, and
(08:50):
you know, if Russ doesn't play well, Justin probably will play.
But it is an opportunity rode for him to kind
of be their quarterback of the future in Pittsburgh if
he plays well. But what are your thoughts on that,
you know, notion that the Bears turned down a better
offer to go ahead and make Justin happy, send him to.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
A poppy cod. I don't buy that at all.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
That sounds like spind They held on to him too long, Chris,
And that's the best they could do with that with
Justin Fields to get a conditional six round Because they waited,
they didn't make up their minds early enough. All the
other teams started getting quarterbacks. There was nowhere to go,
you know, like it didn't make any sense. So now
they're trying to make do right by him for what?
(09:38):
What did you not pay him when he was there?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
What?
Speaker 3 (09:41):
What do you doing? What did he do? Chris?
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Did he want a Super Bowl? That I forgot about?
What do they owe Justin Fields other than an honest money?
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Right?
Speaker 4 (09:52):
Pay for honest day's work. What do they owe him? Well,
they didn't do anything, are you kidding?
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Tend to agree with you. This is spin. I definitely
think it's where's bill O'Reilly when you need them? Because
this is a spin job.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
I will say this though, Rob, if where I think
it possibly could be true, I mean, I don't know
who else was interested. I mean, Rob, it was just
teams were just didn't seem interested in it. I mean,
as simple as that, right. But I think that they
(10:30):
got a conditional sixth round pick.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
So what is better?
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Did somebody offer an unconditional sixth round pick where it
doesn't get it can't become a fourth round pick or
something better than six you know, Or did somebody offer
a fifth round pick and you turn that down?
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Why? Why would they possibly turn something like that down?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Rob?
Speaker 3 (10:53):
I'll say this, they already.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Every people view it as they didn't put justin fields
in a good situation to succeed, right, They didn't put
the pieces around him. He had two head coaches, they
had two offensive coordinators in his three years there. So
they want the perception out there that hey, we're doing.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Right by the player. Guys.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
He was popular in the locker room guys liked him,
so they want to send a message to the guys
that are still on their roster.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Hey, we took care of Justin. Look at he's in a.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Great situation with a great franchise. We took care of him.
And then they want to send the message around the
league too that you know they take care of players.
You come to Chicago, we'll look out for your best interest.
We care about your future, whether you're with us or not.
I tend to agree with you. Now, if it was
(11:48):
a fifth round pick or a non unconditional sixth round pick.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
I could see them doing that. Rob.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
If it's that close where it's not that big of
a difference, yeah, you want to send him to a
good situation. I could see that. But if we're talking
about somebody offering them a fourth round pick, a third
round pick, then you are out of your mind to
turn something down. That's that much better to take care
(12:17):
of the guy, because, as you said, you only owe
him his paycheck. You treat him with respect, you treat
him with dignity. You're pay him his money. That's what
you owe him, and that's it. But I could see
them for you know, for their reputation if you will
doing it. If it was just slightly better, and it's
(12:38):
any any notion, Rob, though in my opinion that they
owe they they turned down at they could have got
a second you know, there was a third round pick
offered for Justin. That may be true, Rob, weeks or
months ago. Oh there you go, that's not it right,
Like they waited too long. To your point, maybe they
did have a second round pick on the table at
(13:00):
one point and they waited and it went away.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
But that's the only way I could see them, you.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Know, because if Chris, if you're a Bears fan or
a player or something, you're like, we had a chance
to get a better pick and you and you didn't
get the better Like like.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Well do you agree with me? Like if it was
just slightly better.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Well, but it's but it just sounds silly to brag
that you had a better deal on the table when
you turned it down because you wanted to do right
by the player.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
This is the NFL.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
You know how many guys have gotten jerked around, Chris
and not paid and used up, you know what I mean?
With different franchises. The Patriots have the history of not
paying their players and the Eagles and and some other
teams that didn't pay guys that didn't stop other guys
from going there. That that that's not going to clean
up your reputation. The problem is the Bears, you know,
(14:00):
through so much management and coaches, they just can't get
it right, like like they can't get it right. And
then to say or to brag about or put out
there that, oh, yeah, we got a way better deal
on the table. We just you know, we want to
make sure that Justin's in the right place, or do
wipe by him, do white by him, then you should
have kept him. If you are that crazy about him,
(14:21):
you ain't that crazy about him. Nobody's gonna lose any sleep.
Guys get traded every day. Guys get cut every day.
Chris Right, I say it all the time. Wayne Gretzky
was traded, right, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
I Look, even with all that said, I can still
see a team, you know, if they can doing right
by the guy. Now again, if the pick or the
offer is that much better, significantly better, you have to
do what's best for your team because then you're hurting
your other players right by by you know, not taking
(14:59):
a high or you know, stuff like that. And you
look stupid and you're hurting your team and your chances
of give me your job.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
But if it was close.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Again, maybe an unconditional six round pick and it won't
get any better.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Maybe something like that.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
But you know what, So, Rob, what is your thought
on you know, Russell Wilson, at least according to reports,
is their starter. Do you think it should be that
way or you think it should be like a QB competition.
They both enter camp kind of equal, and you see
who the better. It made the best man win.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
I think you're gonna start with Russell Wilson, see how right?
I just think that's what they should do. I just
I just think, uh, one one guy, Chris H. Russell Wilson.
He played well. I mean, I'm not saying he was
all pro or anything.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
But he played. He was fine. He played well last year.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
He won the only reason why Denver did make the
playoffs or collapse or whatever you want to say.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Seventy the game. Okay, right, right, exactly?
Speaker 4 (16:06):
Uh So, I don't have an issue because it's only
a one year deal. You might catch lightning in a bottle.
He might be looking for another opportunity, Chris. What if
he goes out and play and balls out and plays. Well,
this guy's been the two Super Bowls, he won one.
He ain't forty, you know what I mean, He's not forty, right.
(16:26):
I just think that that you could do that, and
and Justin Fields is young enough that it's okay if
he starts on the bench and then eventually gets it'll
be good for We saw Aaron Rodgerson for three years, Chris, right,
three years.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
The difference between Jordan Love early.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
And Jordan Loved there you go sitting right there you
go and another one.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
So he's sad for three years right now.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
I I think they should enter camp with Russell as
the number one quarterback on the depth chart.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
I mean, if if Justin Fields is just right and
if he just lights it out play, he has to
be like, oh my god, like like when like when
Pete Carroll went with Russell Wilson over who's the quarterback
they got from good Matt Flack from the from the pack,
because who they signed to a big deal if it's
that obvious, Chris, just like when Jim Harbaugh saw Kaepernick
(17:19):
and said, oh no, Kapernick's gonna be my quarterback, and
people are like what right over Alex Smith and what
he made the right choice they went to the Super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
No, I agree, Like that's that if it's close, or
Fields is slightly better, or it's even, you go with
Russell and you let him play, you let Fields learned
on him, learn under him. I think it's a short
least rap. I think at four games in Russell is
terrible and Fields has been looking good. You could go
(17:50):
to Fields, but Russell should start as number one on
the depth chart and you know you'll see what happens.
But it's so much easier also, Rob to go from
Russ to Justin than Justin to Russ, because if Russ
didn't start, he's gonna be upset and his mood could
(18:12):
taint the locker room. I hate say the right things
and try to put on a good face, but you
you'll know body language and you know all that. Whereas
if he starts the first four games, plays horribly and
he's benched, he can be mad, but other guys are
gonna be like, dude.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Yeah, but there's nothing you could do. You're not playing well.
I mean, we gotta go with Justin, right, you could Justin.
It's hard to argue if you're not playing well, right.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
But I tell you what, Rob, the Steelers they went
from having no starting caliber quarterbacks to maybe having two
and in a week.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
So good on it.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Rob.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
We were talking all this, all these reports about they
weren't interested, they were going with Kenny Pickett, they don't
want fields, they don't want Wilson, all that, it was hogwashed.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
It's good on the Steelers because they got them Rop.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
They got two I think, two starting caliber quarterbacks, one
who maybe could be their long term as I mean,
actually both if you're talking about the next three years
or so. Maybe Russ plays well and he's your guy
for the next three years.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
But they got both of him Ron for less.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Than four million dollars a year, or about four million dollars.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
And you know what, they'll get a chance to see
them both and then make a decision too, to see
if they want to keep one of them or none
of them. Like they really are in a great position
because it didn't cost him anything.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app and now.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
It's time for the Express pros Pro of the Week.
The Pro of the Week goes to none other than
Kyrie Irving, who hit a running left handed hook shot
from about twenty feet eat out at the buzzer to
beat the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. The win kept the
(20:06):
Dallas Mavericks in a virtual time for sixth place, sixth
seed in the West and out of the play in
in that conference. So again, congratulations to Kyrie Irving for
being our Express pros Pro of the Week and Rob,
we are going to stay with Kyrie Irving and discuss this.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
That shot. Rob, let me say this first about that shot.
That was one of the.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Best game winning shots in the history of the league.
Now I'm taking out playoffs because obviously, you know the
stakes are much higher in the playoffs. Ray Allen's shot
from the corner three against San Antonio in Game six
of the twenty thirteen finals, Kyrie's shot himself game winner
(20:57):
that gave the Calves their own championship ever in twenty sixteen,
and a three to one comeback against Golden State.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
So those are bigger shots and better shots.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
But regular season, when you know there's no playoffs, on
the line, although seeding and something like that, you know
are at stake here, Rob, that was one of the
best game winning shots I've seen, I think, in the
history of the league in the regular season. It was incredible.
I don't know about I'm not saying it was the best.
(21:29):
I'm just saying the skilled that that. I mean a
left handed running hook shot over seven foot Nikola Jokic
from about twenty feet out. I mean it was really
close to the three point line. It was just it
was incredible. But players obviously around the league were going crazy.
(21:50):
Rob and Damian Lillard tweeted out that Kyrie is the
most skilled player in the history or.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Basically the most skilled player ever now.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Chauncey Billups said that a few years ago he was
a point guard.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Coach for the Portland Trailbladers.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Jay Williams, former Duke Superstar, played in the league for
a few years now he's a broadcaster.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
He said it recently, Where are you at on this rock?
I don't think I could.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
I think he's highly skilled, for me to say he's
the most skilled, I don't think I could make a
fair assessment to say he's the most skilled. And I'm
trying to be fair with it from the standpoint that
I just didn't see everybody enough to say that without question.
I just and I think he's highly skilled, and I've
(22:49):
always said ball handling tremendous.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
But to say he's the most skilled player, I can't
say that. But I can't say it. I can't.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Here's what I'd say. I think where I agree with
you is that it's hard to pick the most skilled
player effort. It's hard.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
It just right, I mean.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
But what I will say is this, I can't give
it to Kyrie. I think he's in the highest tier.
I'm gonna give you five guys that I think are
all on that ultimate tier, at the top tier when
it comes to skills. And before I do that, Rob
let me. You've heard me say this before. This is
(23:34):
what I mean when I say Kyrie Irving is or
certainly will be an icon. He's he is a legend.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Now I think he's gonna be a Hall of Famer
first ballot.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
I think you probably agree with you disagree, okay, and
that makes my argument even better.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
I think he's first ballot.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
But but I do believe Chris that you don't even
think it's a Hall of Famer. No, that's not it.
I just think that there'll be some people who hold
some of the stuff that's going on against him. I'm
not saying that it's right, but I think that there's
a chance he might have to wait to get into
the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
That's all I'm That's all I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
Now, if he has another situation between now and the
end of his career or if he doesn't, that could change, Chris.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
But I'm just saying, I mean, Dennis Rodman was about
as controversial as they can. I'm just I mean, you
might be right, but we've talked about the media being unbiased.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
I mean, you know, as unbiased as you can't.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
I've said it. I bring up to Barry Bonds all
the time. He was terrible to the to the writers, Chris.
He won seven m vps and the writers voted for
Barry Bonds every time.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Okay, so there's that.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
But then when it came time for the Hall of Fame,
there were people with that No, no, no, I know.
And I'm just saying that there are people who will
hold and that it depends on how his career ends up,
is what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
That there could be not saying based on basketball, because
that's what we're talking about now, famer. But my point
is this, his legend is going to unless he wins
another championship or two, his legend is going to far
outweigh his accomplishments as a basketball player. And I'm and
(25:21):
again I think he's the first ballot Hall of Famer.
So I'm not saying he hasn't accomplished a lot. He has,
But Rob pistol Pete Maravich's legend is bigger than pistol
P actually was as a player. Would you agree like
pistol P was great, don't get me wrong, but if
you really go back and look at it, never won,
never came close to win it, but was his skill,
(25:44):
his ability was right up there.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
And so he is a legend.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Kyrie Irving, people gonna be talking about this dude for decades.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
As man that dude was.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
I mean, most people probably he won't have him in
their top ten point guards of all time, Rob, but
and he's gonna be a legend. So I'm gonna give
you guys and I when we're talking about skills, we're
talking about shooting ability, dribbling ball handled ability, I do
think Kyrie's the best ball handler in the history of
(26:19):
the league.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
He's a tremendous finisher, I might be the best.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
Finishing is a skill and passing ability, and I'm gonna
give you my.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
List of guys at that top tier, and you know.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Steph Curry, and I put Steph above Kyrie in terms
of skill.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
He's obviously a better shooter. Kyrie is a great shooter,
but he's obviously better Steph is.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Ball handling, Kyrie's got the edge, but Steph is a
top ten, maybe top five ball handler of all time. Passing,
I would give Steph the advantage. Uh, He's average eight
and a half assists in the in his career. He's
average seven and a half assist, you know, for a
season in his career. Kyrie's never even average seven assistant game.
And I just think I've seen Steph make some tremendous
(27:07):
passes where I think he's a better passer and finisher.
You Steph's a great finisher, but kyriey a better finisher.
But I would give and Steph, you know, has led
the league, and you know free throw shooting, I mean
that that is skilled.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
But Kyrie is a skill. But Krie's never led the
league in anything.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
Yeah, but the only thing is he is a fifty
what is it, fifty forty ninety guy, right, and and
there's only big in what in a season? But no, no, no, no,
But I'm just saying, but there's only been like Rob
g can you look it up.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
It's only been like five or six guys to do it.
And they're all I mean, like.
Speaker 1 (27:48):
Some of these other guys are in this on this list.
Steve Nash, Steve Nash is a great shooter. Didn't shoot
a lot, but he shot over forty from three like
he was a great shooter.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
I got, So I got, Steph, I got.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
I'm not saying Steve national ahead of Kyrie, but I got.
This is my top upper tier Steph Nash, Kyrie, Chris Paul.
Now he doesn't shoot the three as well, but the
mere range jumper is sick ball handling, passing all that.
Isaiah Thomas, the legend, Robin Detroit, I mean, he how
(28:25):
you gonna say he's not right up there?
Speaker 3 (28:29):
And then Pistol Pete.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Rob Pistol Pete was skilled as a mug shot it
handle was crazy, incredible passer.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
So it's hard to pick who's the top.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
But I think those guys are Kyrie is what I'll
give him is he is in that upper tier of
most skilled players ever and they're all point guards. But
you expect the point guards obviously, they're gonna be the
best ball handlers, generally the best passers, and you know
nowadays you got a lot of them that can shoot
the heck out of the ball. So in Isaiah, as
(29:07):
you know, Robin Detroit was a tremendous finisher. And the
thing is, Isaiah was finishing in the best era of big.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Men in the league.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Patrick Ewing well not really shock as much because he
was later Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, the Kimbae Matombo, David Robinson,
Hakeem Elijahwan like all these shot blockers and rob You
remember that when that game was played at that time,
(29:37):
it was played closer to the paint. Everything was around
the paint. So Isaiah was finishing in traffic. You're not
finishing as much in traffic nowadays, just one or two
guys there.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
So you got to put him up there.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
But I got Kyrie in that top tier, but I
can't say he's at number one.
Speaker 4 (29:55):
Yeah, and I we looked it up. Chris f and
Kyrie both were one time. Nine players have done it
the fifty forty ninety, fifty percent from the field, forty
percent from three, and ninety from the free throw line.
Speaker 3 (30:11):
Nash did it four time. Unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
You talked about Nash, that's that's pretty impress How to
put him in there and there's only nine people?
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Can some people might throw Stockton in there. I mean,
Stockton wasn't fancy, no, but he could shoot, he could pass,
he could handle. I mean, so it's it's tough to say. Yeah,
I'm just saying, yeah, it's just hard. It's hard only
because it's you know, like even from a scout standpoint,
(30:43):
you could say he's highly skilled, Chris, he's one of
the best. But to say, without question he's.
Speaker 4 (30:48):
The most skilled player, I just think that that's such
an arbitrary distinction.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
It was totally arbitrary.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, and you can you know, like
you've with Antonio, it's arguable, but it's like who's the
best dunker.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
I mean, this is probably even more arbitrary, maybe than that.
I mean, but that that's clearly arbitrary as well.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
I think part of why guys are saying he's the
best is because of his Like I said, he's got
more flair and he's more dynamic than a Nash than
a Stockton right now, Isaiah, and than a Chris Paul,
but Pistol, Pete, Isaiah.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Steph, Kyrie.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
They all flashy, you know, and that ass to you know,
probably adds a little something to us saying, oh, he's
the most skilled, but it's.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
A Kyrie's up there.
Speaker 6 (31:48):
Man.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
The dude is phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
And this year, Robin, you know, you mentioned obviously he's
had a ton of off the court, you know issues,
and this year he's been all that Dallas could ask.
So he hasn't been quite as healthy as you'd want,
but for him, he's been very healthy for his career.
(32:12):
And uh, no incidents, rob off the court, Nah, you've
heard tremendously.
Speaker 6 (32:18):
No.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
Yeah, yeah, it's all been about basketball and I and
I think that's good. I'm glad that things calm down
because he's a tremendous player and people should be aboutball player. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
I don't. I've never seen him as a mean spirited guy. Now.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
I look at Kyrie as just a guy that is curious, uh,
good hearted, and he is as.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
He's learning, reading and learning.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
And some of the stuff might be off, but as
he's learning and figuring things out. Uh, he's doing it
in the fishbowl of the NBA. I know guys, Rob
who you know you do, I'm sure you do too,
who in their twenties and early thirties were figuring things out.
They might be changing religions, they might be you know,
(33:07):
getting into more history, maybe becoming more afrocentric.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
If they're black. But that's a lot of guys go
through that.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
But they do it anonymously, right, not with the whole
NBA basketball world watching.
Speaker 4 (33:19):
Yeah, but the only other thing too. And I think
that's where he you can do that. But when you
represent other people too, which he does, is where where
this is where you can get in trouble. Like it's
not you're not Joe regular. You represent a lot of organizations, companies, Chris.
And that's what you sign up for when you when
(33:40):
you put a uniform on that says Brooklyn on the front, Kno,
you know what I mean, or you say, or it
has the NBA patch or your sneaker say Nike on them,
that's what you you sign up for.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
That Well, that's where I think that's that's you know,
and again, obviously there's some some growth that's you know
how and non controversial, and there's something that's controversial, but
it's what's important to you. There's things in my life
that everybody don't agree with that I'm not bucking down
for nothing, and I don't care. If the company don't
(34:13):
like it, then do something with me. But I mean,
you gotta stand for what you believe in. And so,
but he's changing, you know, he's growing in the midst
of you know, writ in front of everybody's faces.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
So
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Odd Couple podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday from seven
pm to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd
Couple at Foxsports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple with
Chris Brushaw and Ron Harker.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
The women's tournament, as we said earlier, is getting more
attention than the men. Four hundred and twenty four dollars
for the championship game. That's the average ticket price for
the women's championship, just one ninety six for the men, and.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
So that says a lot right there.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
And even though you know it's a great time for
women's college basketball, there are some complaining that lave this
year's championship matchup where you had LSU beat Iowa and
Caitlyn Clark their star in the championship game. Rob Now
both teams are great.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
This year.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Iowa was a number one seed, LSU's a number three seed.
But now LSU is in the same region as Iowa
and they will play if they both keep advancing in
the Elite eight to try to get to the final four,
and a lot of people are saying, you know, complaining
(01:31):
because they would have rather seen them meet in the
final four.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
What are your thoughts on this route. I disagree. I
think that.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
You shouldn't have to doctor things out to try to
hope that they get there. If you try to fix
that so that they meet in the championship or whatever,
they may never play each other. They might somebody might
get knocked off before this, and in this case, at
least we're gonna see them.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
That might be the highest maybe, but.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
There you know what I mean, the longer you go,
the longer there's a chance of somebody being knocked out
and not making it. All I'm saying is and if
they played Chris, that might be the most watched game
and and bigger than the championship and it doesn't matter. Yeah,
I'm just like like the idea that they possibly if
you split them up, don't play at all, or it
(02:20):
could be because you're hoping that you're going to get
the finals that you want.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
I just I think that that's the danger.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I think that they did the right thing in trying
to make sure that that at some point they got
a better shot of playing and it's going to be
a big game win when they do.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
That's me I was against. I was against the Little League, Chris.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Remember when they changed the Little League World Series and
they put all the United States teams on one side
and all the foreign teams on the other side, because
we used to get our clocks clean, remember that and
the five Yeah, Taiwana, they used to beat the crap
out of us, and we would never be in the finals.
So they don't to ensure that the US got into
(03:02):
the championship by not having us in that division.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
So I don't know. We're like, hey, we created the
sport right is here in America? And did they know?
Did they know? Hey?
Speaker 4 (03:15):
You know what, Chris, real quick I've noticed is real
quick one of the greatest leads I've read on a
newspaper story. Dwight Gooden ripped on the Pittsburgh Pirates when
they were bad, and he called them a little league
team right right before he pitched against them. He ripped them,
called them a little league team. The Pirates came out
the next day, Chris and put a nine or ten
(03:38):
runs against Dwight Gooden and the writer wrote the story
who wrote the game story said that Dwight Gooden called
the Pittsburgh Pirates a little league team, but he.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Didn't know they were Taiwan. They were from Taiwan. How
good is that? That's funny. That's funny. That's funny.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
I think they missed an opportunity rob and you never
know who's gonna you know, advance play.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
But this women's college basketball.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Obviously is bigger than ever, and I do think, like
I feel like the big stories South Carolina obviously being undefeated,
this is the fourth time straight that they've been the
number one seed. They didn't win it last year, lost
to Caitlyn Clark. Iow, of course with Caitlin Clark LSU,
(04:27):
just as defending champions Angel Reese Ukon with Paige Becker's
and then USC as you mentioned with Juju Watkins, is
that is that their star?
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Yes, She's unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Yeah, And so I you're right that it looked the
chances are better that we do get the Caitlin Clark
Angel Reese matchup this year in the Elite eight, But
I I think it would have been great if they
would have tried to position it where the I mean,
(05:01):
I get it. You're right, you want to have integrity
and go by the records, but obviously, look, LSU is
still really good. They lost I think five games this year.
It's not like they can't win it. But I think
they could have spaced them out and maybe the chances.
All of those teams can't make the Final four, but
Iowa and LSU are two of the biggest stories, so
(05:24):
I would have liked to have seen them space them
out a little bit and really just seize the day, Rob,
because everybody's eyes are gonna be on women's college basketball.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
For really the first time.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Last year was people were into it because of Clark
and all that at Reese. But this year, Rob, more
than ever, they have the eyes on them, So I
think they should have spaced it out so their stars
have chances of meeting in the Final four and win.
The games are the biggest. But you're right, that Elite
Eight game could end up going to the biggest game.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Right, and you don't want to miss out on that.
Can you imagine if you played that and then Chris
one of them doesn't make it, Like then you'll be like,
oh my god.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
All their big stories, So you know, you got, Like
I said, you got South the four final four is Texas?
Speaker 5 (06:15):
What is it?
Speaker 6 (06:15):
Rob?
Speaker 1 (06:15):
The four season South Carolina, Texas, Iowa?
Speaker 3 (06:19):
And who's the fourth the fourth number one seed.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
South Carolina, Iowa, Texas and USC.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Yeah, so those are some big names.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
So they they you know, they're gonna have some big
names getting in the final four most likely. But yeah,
I think they should have spread it out a little
bit and have maybe LSU and Iowa meet UH in
the final four of the championship.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm Eastern,
four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 6 (06:58):
Bally full Scow with Tony Fusco. You know, as the
host of the number one rated paul and Toni Fusco Show.
We get tons and tons of fan mail every day.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Piles of it.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
In fact, Tony, why don't you open up one of
those letters right now and read what's inside?
Speaker 5 (07:11):
Hey, listen to this. Dear Paulie and Tony, your sports
takes the dumbest and most terrible.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Wait, why open this other one?
Speaker 5 (07:19):
Dear Paulie and Tony you suck more than anyone. Wait,
try this one, Dear Paulie and Tony, you guys are
the absolute best. There you go coming up with the
stupidest takeet.
Speaker 6 (07:32):
Just listen to the Polly and Tony Fusco Show on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Yeah, Rob, let's go to the NFL now though, And
there was a big trade the Steelers, Rob, just days
after signing Russell Wilson, go out and get Justin Field,
who we talked about twenty twenty one, the eleventh pick
of that draft supposed to be a great one.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
The verdicts still out.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
He's not a lot like some of these guys where
there's no hope or at least not a lot of
hope left. But the jury is definitely still out on
him and the he was traded Rob for a sixth
round pick that could become a fourth round pick depending
(08:24):
on how much he plays.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
I think it's fifty one per cent conditional sixth round
right that could move off.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
But the Bears, Rob are saying, or at least they
they're I'm sure that's where it's coming from. But their
report saying that the Bears turned down better offers for
Justin so they could put him in a good situation.
He's expected to back up Russell Wilson this year, and
(08:50):
you know, if Russ doesn't play well, Justin probably will play.
But it is an opportunity rode for him to kind
of be their quarterback of the future in Pittsburgh if
he plays well. But what are your thoughts on that,
you know, notion that the Bears turned down a better
offer to go ahead and make Justin happy, send him to.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
A poppy cod. I don't buy that at all.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
That sounds like spind They held on to him too long, Chris,
And that's the best they could do with that with
Justin Fields to get a conditional six round Because they waited,
they didn't make up their minds early enough. All the
other teams started getting quarterbacks. There was nowhere to go,
you know, like it didn't make any sense. So now
they're trying to make do right by him for what?
(09:38):
What did you not pay him when he was there?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
What?
Speaker 3 (09:41):
What do you doing? What did he do? Chris?
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Did he want a Super Bowl? That I forgot about?
What do they owe Justin Fields other than an honest money?
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Right?
Speaker 4 (09:52):
Pay for honest day's work. What do they owe him? Well,
they didn't do anything, are you kidding?
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Tend to agree with you. This is spin. I definitely
think it's where's bill O'Reilly when you need them? Because
this is a spin job.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
I will say this though, Rob, if where I think
it possibly could be true, I mean, I don't know
who else was interested. I mean, Rob, it was just
teams were just didn't seem interested in it. I mean,
as simple as that, right. But I think that they
(10:30):
got a conditional sixth round pick.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
So what is better?
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Did somebody offer an unconditional sixth round pick where it
doesn't get it can't become a fourth round pick or
something better than six you know, Or did somebody offer
a fifth round pick and you turn that down?
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Why? Why would they possibly turn something like that down?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Rob?
Speaker 3 (10:53):
I'll say this, they already.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Every people view it as they didn't put justin fields
in a good situation to succeed, right, They didn't put
the pieces around him. He had two head coaches, they
had two offensive coordinators in his three years there. So
they want the perception out there that hey, we're doing.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Right by the player. Guys.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
He was popular in the locker room guys liked him,
so they want to send a message to the guys
that are still on their roster.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Hey, we took care of Justin. Look at he's in a.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Great situation with a great franchise. We took care of him.
And then they want to send the message around the
league too that you know they take care of players.
You come to Chicago, we'll look out for your best interest.
We care about your future, whether you're with us or not.
I tend to agree with you. Now, if it was
(11:48):
a fifth round pick or a non unconditional sixth round pick.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
I could see them doing that. Rob.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
If it's that close where it's not that big of
a difference, yeah, you want to send him to a
good situation. I could see that. But if we're talking
about somebody offering them a fourth round pick, a third
round pick, then you are out of your mind to
turn something down. That's that much better to take care
(12:17):
of the guy, because, as you said, you only owe
him his paycheck. You treat him with respect, you treat
him with dignity. You're pay him his money. That's what
you owe him, and that's it. But I could see
them for you know, for their reputation if you will
doing it. If it was just slightly better, and it's
(12:38):
any any notion, Rob, though in my opinion that they
owe they they turned down at they could have got
a second you know, there was a third round pick
offered for Justin. That may be true, Rob, weeks or
months ago. Oh there you go, that's not it right,
Like they waited too long. To your point, maybe they
did have a second round pick on the table at
(13:00):
one point and they waited and it went away.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
But that's the only way I could see them, you.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Know, because if Chris, if you're a Bears fan or
a player or something, you're like, we had a chance
to get a better pick and you and you didn't
get the better Like like.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Well do you agree with me? Like if it was
just slightly better.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Well, but it's but it just sounds silly to brag
that you had a better deal on the table when
you turned it down because you wanted to do right
by the player.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
This is the NFL.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
You know how many guys have gotten jerked around, Chris
and not paid and used up, you know what I mean?
With different franchises. The Patriots have the history of not
paying their players and the Eagles and and some other
teams that didn't pay guys that didn't stop other guys
from going there. That that that's not going to clean
up your reputation. The problem is the Bears, you know,
(14:00):
through so much management and coaches, they just can't get
it right, like like they can't get it right. And
then to say or to brag about or put out
there that, oh, yeah, we got a way better deal
on the table. We just you know, we want to
make sure that Justin's in the right place, or do
wipe by him, do white by him, then you should
have kept him. If you are that crazy about him,
(14:21):
you ain't that crazy about him. Nobody's gonna lose any sleep.
Guys get traded every day. Guys get cut every day.
Chris Right, I say it all the time. Wayne Gretzky
was traded, right, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
I Look, even with all that said, I can still
see a team, you know, if they can doing right
by the guy. Now again, if the pick or the
offer is that much better, significantly better, you have to
do what's best for your team because then you're hurting
your other players right by by you know, not taking
(14:59):
a high or you know, stuff like that. And you
look stupid and you're hurting your team and your chances
of give me your job.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
But if it was close.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Again, maybe an unconditional six round pick and it won't
get any better.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Maybe something like that.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
But you know what, So, Rob, what is your thought
on you know, Russell Wilson, at least according to reports,
is their starter. Do you think it should be that
way or you think it should be like a QB competition.
They both enter camp kind of equal, and you see
who the better. It made the best man win.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
I think you're gonna start with Russell Wilson, see how right?
I just think that's what they should do. I just
I just think, uh, one one guy, Chris H. Russell Wilson.
He played well. I mean, I'm not saying he was
all pro or anything.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
But he played. He was fine. He played well last year.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
He won the only reason why Denver did make the
playoffs or collapse or whatever you want to say.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Seventy the game. Okay, right, right, exactly?
Speaker 4 (16:06):
Uh So, I don't have an issue because it's only
a one year deal. You might catch lightning in a bottle.
He might be looking for another opportunity, Chris. What if
he goes out and play and balls out and plays. Well,
this guy's been the two Super Bowls, he won one.
He ain't forty, you know what I mean, He's not forty, right.
(16:26):
I just think that that you could do that, and
and Justin Fields is young enough that it's okay if
he starts on the bench and then eventually gets it'll
be good for We saw Aaron Rodgerson for three years, Chris, right,
three years.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
The difference between Jordan Love early.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
And Jordan Loved there you go sitting right there you
go and another one.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
So he's sad for three years right now.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
I I think they should enter camp with Russell as
the number one quarterback on the depth chart.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
I mean, if if Justin Fields is just right and
if he just lights it out play, he has to
be like, oh my god, like like when like when
Pete Carroll went with Russell Wilson over who's the quarterback
they got from good Matt Flack from the from the pack,
because who they signed to a big deal if it's
that obvious, Chris, just like when Jim Harbaugh saw Kaepernick
(17:19):
and said, oh no, Kapernick's gonna be my quarterback, and
people are like what right over Alex Smith and what
he made the right choice they went to the Super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
No, I agree, Like that's that if it's close, or
Fields is slightly better, or it's even, you go with
Russell and you let him play, you let Fields learned
on him, learn under him. I think it's a short
least rap. I think at four games in Russell is
terrible and Fields has been looking good. You could go
(17:50):
to Fields, but Russell should start as number one on
the depth chart and you know you'll see what happens.
But it's so much easier also, Rob to go from
Russ to Justin than Justin to Russ, because if Russ
didn't start, he's gonna be upset and his mood could
(18:12):
taint the locker room. I hate say the right things
and try to put on a good face, but you
you'll know body language and you know all that. Whereas
if he starts the first four games, plays horribly and
he's benched, he can be mad, but other guys are
gonna be like, dude.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Yeah, but there's nothing you could do. You're not playing well.
I mean, we gotta go with Justin, right, you could Justin.
It's hard to argue if you're not playing well, right.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
But I tell you what, Rob, the Steelers they went
from having no starting caliber quarterbacks to maybe having two
and in a week.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
So good on it.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Rob.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
We were talking all this, all these reports about they
weren't interested, they were going with Kenny Pickett, they don't
want fields, they don't want Wilson, all that, it was hogwashed.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
It's good on the Steelers because they got them Rop.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
They got two I think, two starting caliber quarterbacks, one
who maybe could be their long term as I mean,
actually both if you're talking about the next three years
or so. Maybe Russ plays well and he's your guy
for the next three years.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
But they got both of him Ron for less.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Than four million dollars a year, or about four million dollars.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
And you know what, they'll get a chance to see
them both and then make a decision too, to see
if they want to keep one of them or none
of them. Like they really are in a great position
because it didn't cost him anything.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app and now.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
It's time for the Express pros Pro of the Week.
The Pro of the Week goes to none other than
Kyrie Irving, who hit a running left handed hook shot
from about twenty feet eat out at the buzzer to
beat the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. The win kept the
(20:06):
Dallas Mavericks in a virtual time for sixth place, sixth
seed in the West and out of the play in
in that conference. So again, congratulations to Kyrie Irving for
being our Express pros Pro of the Week and Rob,
we are going to stay with Kyrie Irving and discuss this.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
That shot. Rob, let me say this first about that shot.
That was one of the.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Best game winning shots in the history of the league.
Now I'm taking out playoffs because obviously, you know the
stakes are much higher in the playoffs. Ray Allen's shot
from the corner three against San Antonio in Game six
of the twenty thirteen finals, Kyrie's shot himself game winner
(20:57):
that gave the Calves their own championship ever in twenty sixteen,
and a three to one comeback against Golden State.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
So those are bigger shots and better shots.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
But regular season, when you know there's no playoffs, on
the line, although seeding and something like that, you know
are at stake here, Rob, that was one of the
best game winning shots I've seen, I think, in the
history of the league in the regular season. It was incredible.
I don't know about I'm not saying it was the best.
(21:29):
I'm just saying the skilled that that. I mean a
left handed running hook shot over seven foot Nikola Jokic
from about twenty feet out. I mean it was really
close to the three point line. It was just it
was incredible. But players obviously around the league were going crazy.
(21:50):
Rob and Damian Lillard tweeted out that Kyrie is the
most skilled player in the history or.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Basically the most skilled player ever now.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Chauncey Billups said that a few years ago he was
a point guard.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Coach for the Portland Trailbladers.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Jay Williams, former Duke Superstar, played in the league for
a few years now he's a broadcaster.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
He said it recently, Where are you at on this rock?
I don't think I could.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
I think he's highly skilled, for me to say he's
the most skilled, I don't think I could make a
fair assessment to say he's the most skilled. And I'm
trying to be fair with it from the standpoint that
I just didn't see everybody enough to say that without question.
I just and I think he's highly skilled, and I've
(22:49):
always said ball handling tremendous.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
But to say he's the most skilled player, I can't
say that. But I can't say it. I can't.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Here's what I'd say. I think where I agree with
you is that it's hard to pick the most skilled
player effort. It's hard.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
It just right, I mean.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
But what I will say is this, I can't give
it to Kyrie. I think he's in the highest tier.
I'm gonna give you five guys that I think are
all on that ultimate tier, at the top tier when
it comes to skills. And before I do that, Rob
let me. You've heard me say this before. This is
(23:34):
what I mean when I say Kyrie Irving is or
certainly will be an icon. He's he is a legend.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Now I think he's gonna be a Hall of Famer
first ballot.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
I think you probably agree with you disagree, okay, and
that makes my argument even better.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
I think he's first ballot.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
But but I do believe Chris that you don't even
think it's a Hall of Famer. No, that's not it.
I just think that there'll be some people who hold
some of the stuff that's going on against him. I'm
not saying that it's right, but I think that there's
a chance he might have to wait to get into
the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
That's all I'm That's all I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
Now, if he has another situation between now and the
end of his career or if he doesn't, that could change, Chris.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
But I'm just saying, I mean, Dennis Rodman was about
as controversial as they can. I'm just I mean, you
might be right, but we've talked about the media being unbiased.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
I mean, you know, as unbiased as you can't.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
I've said it. I bring up to Barry Bonds all
the time. He was terrible to the to the writers, Chris.
He won seven m vps and the writers voted for
Barry Bonds every time.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Okay, so there's that.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
But then when it came time for the Hall of Fame,
there were people with that No, no, no, I know.
And I'm just saying that there are people who will
hold and that it depends on how his career ends up,
is what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
That there could be not saying based on basketball, because
that's what we're talking about now, famer. But my point
is this, his legend is going to unless he wins
another championship or two, his legend is going to far
outweigh his accomplishments as a basketball player. And I'm and
(25:21):
again I think he's the first ballot Hall of Famer.
So I'm not saying he hasn't accomplished a lot. He has,
But Rob pistol Pete Maravich's legend is bigger than pistol
P actually was as a player. Would you agree like
pistol P was great, don't get me wrong, but if
you really go back and look at it, never won,
never came close to win it, but was his skill,
(25:44):
his ability was right up there.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
And so he is a legend.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Kyrie Irving, people gonna be talking about this dude for decades.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
As man that dude was.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
I mean, most people probably he won't have him in
their top ten point guards of all time, Rob, but
and he's gonna be a legend. So I'm gonna give
you guys and I when we're talking about skills, we're
talking about shooting ability, dribbling ball handled ability, I do
think Kyrie's the best ball handler in the history of
(26:19):
the league.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
He's a tremendous finisher, I might be the best.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
Finishing is a skill and passing ability, and I'm gonna
give you my.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
List of guys at that top tier, and you know.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Steph Curry, and I put Steph above Kyrie in terms
of skill.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
He's obviously a better shooter. Kyrie is a great shooter,
but he's obviously better Steph is.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Ball handling, Kyrie's got the edge, but Steph is a
top ten, maybe top five ball handler of all time. Passing,
I would give Steph the advantage. Uh, He's average eight
and a half assists in the in his career. He's
average seven and a half assist, you know, for a
season in his career. Kyrie's never even average seven assistant game.
And I just think I've seen Steph make some tremendous
(27:07):
passes where I think he's a better passer and finisher.
You Steph's a great finisher, but kyriey a better finisher.
But I would give and Steph, you know, has led
the league, and you know free throw shooting, I mean
that that is skilled.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
But Kyrie is a skill. But Krie's never led the
league in anything.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
Yeah, but the only thing is he is a fifty
what is it, fifty forty ninety guy, right, and and
there's only big in what in a season? But no, no, no, no,
But I'm just saying, but there's only been like Rob
g can you look it up.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
It's only been like five or six guys to do it.
And they're all I mean, like.
Speaker 1 (27:48):
Some of these other guys are in this on this list.
Steve Nash, Steve Nash is a great shooter. Didn't shoot
a lot, but he shot over forty from three like
he was a great shooter.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
I got, So I got, Steph, I got.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
I'm not saying Steve national ahead of Kyrie, but I got.
This is my top upper tier Steph Nash, Kyrie, Chris Paul.
Now he doesn't shoot the three as well, but the
mere range jumper is sick ball handling, passing all that.
Isaiah Thomas, the legend, Robin Detroit, I mean, he how
(28:25):
you gonna say he's not right up there?
Speaker 3 (28:29):
And then Pistol Pete.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Rob Pistol Pete was skilled as a mug shot it
handle was crazy, incredible passer.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
So it's hard to pick who's the top.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
But I think those guys are Kyrie is what I'll
give him is he is in that upper tier of
most skilled players ever and they're all point guards. But
you expect the point guards obviously, they're gonna be the
best ball handlers, generally the best passers, and you know
nowadays you got a lot of them that can shoot
the heck out of the ball. So in Isaiah, as
(29:07):
you know, Robin Detroit was a tremendous finisher. And the
thing is, Isaiah was finishing in the best era of big.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Men in the league.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Patrick Ewing well not really shock as much because he
was later Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, the Kimbae Matombo, David Robinson,
Hakeem Elijahwan like all these shot blockers and rob You
remember that when that game was played at that time,
(29:37):
it was played closer to the paint. Everything was around
the paint. So Isaiah was finishing in traffic. You're not
finishing as much in traffic nowadays, just one or two
guys there.
Speaker 3 (29:48):
So you got to put him up there.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
But I got Kyrie in that top tier, but I
can't say he's at number one.
Speaker 4 (29:55):
Yeah, and I we looked it up. Chris f and
Kyrie both were one time. Nine players have done it
the fifty forty ninety, fifty percent from the field, forty
percent from three, and ninety from the free throw line.
Speaker 3 (30:11):
Nash did it four time. Unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
You talked about Nash, that's that's pretty impress How to
put him in there and there's only nine people?
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Can some people might throw Stockton in there. I mean,
Stockton wasn't fancy, no, but he could shoot, he could pass,
he could handle. I mean, so it's it's tough to say. Yeah,
I'm just saying, yeah, it's just hard. It's hard only
because it's you know, like even from a scout standpoint,
(30:43):
you could say he's highly skilled, Chris, he's one of
the best. But to say, without question he's.
Speaker 4 (30:48):
The most skilled player, I just think that that's such
an arbitrary distinction.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
It was totally arbitrary.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, and you can you know, like
you've with Antonio, it's arguable, but it's like who's the
best dunker.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
I mean, this is probably even more arbitrary, maybe than that.
I mean, but that that's clearly arbitrary as well.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
I think part of why guys are saying he's the
best is because of his Like I said, he's got
more flair and he's more dynamic than a Nash than
a Stockton right now, Isaiah, and than a Chris Paul,
but Pistol, Pete, Isaiah.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Steph, Kyrie.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
They all flashy, you know, and that ass to you know,
probably adds a little something to us saying, oh, he's
the most skilled, but it's.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
A Kyrie's up there.
Speaker 6 (31:48):
Man.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
The dude is phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
And this year, Robin, you know, you mentioned obviously he's
had a ton of off the court, you know issues,
and this year he's been all that Dallas could ask.
So he hasn't been quite as healthy as you'd want,
but for him, he's been very healthy for his career.
(32:12):
And uh, no incidents, rob off the court, Nah, you've
heard tremendously.
Speaker 6 (32:18):
No.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
Yeah, yeah, it's all been about basketball and I and
I think that's good. I'm glad that things calm down
because he's a tremendous player and people should be aboutball player. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
I don't. I've never seen him as a mean spirited guy. Now.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
I look at Kyrie as just a guy that is curious, uh,
good hearted, and he is as.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
He's learning, reading and learning.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
And some of the stuff might be off, but as
he's learning and figuring things out. Uh, he's doing it
in the fishbowl of the NBA. I know guys, Rob
who you know you do, I'm sure you do too,
who in their twenties and early thirties were figuring things out.
They might be changing religions, they might be you know,
(33:07):
getting into more history, maybe becoming more afrocentric.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
If they're black. But that's a lot of guys go
through that.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
But they do it anonymously, right, not with the whole
NBA basketball world watching.
Speaker 4 (33:19):
Yeah, but the only other thing too. And I think
that's where he you can do that. But when you
represent other people too, which he does, is where where
this is where you can get in trouble. Like it's
not you're not Joe regular. You represent a lot of organizations, companies, Chris.
And that's what you sign up for when you when
(33:40):
you put a uniform on that says Brooklyn on the front, Kno,
you know what I mean, or you say, or it
has the NBA patch or your sneaker say Nike on them,
that's what you you sign up for.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
That Well, that's where I think that's that's you know,
and again, obviously there's some some growth that's you know
how and non controversial, and there's something that's controversial, but
it's what's important to you. There's things in my life
that everybody don't agree with that I'm not bucking down
for nothing, and I don't care. If the company don't
(34:13):
like it, then do something with me. But I mean,
you gotta stand for what you believe in. And so,
but he's changing, you know, he's growing in the midst
of you know, writ in front of everybody's faces.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
So
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kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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