August 8, 2024 • 39 mins
Former NFL offensive lineman and FOX Sports Radio Weekend host Ephraim Salaam is in for Rob, and he and Chris debate whether Team USA basketball should be underdogs against France in the gold medal game on Saturday and discuss why Patrick Mahomes continues to be underrated by his peers despite be a 3x Super Bowl champion. Plus, ‘#ThisLeague: Uncut’ podcast host and FOX Sports Radio NBA insider Marc Stein swings by to discuss Joel Embiid’s impact on this Team USA squad, the importance of guard play in the gold medal game against France, how Jayson Tatum’s latest DNP-CD in the Olympics could trickle over to the Boston Celtics regular season
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Now, when we close the last hour, e from Salam
sounded like he was about to.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Say something.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Incredible, So I'm just gonna I'm just gonna ask you.
Are you picking France to beat the United States Saturday
in the gold medal game.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
For men's basketball.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
The one thing I will never do, Okay, whenever the
Olympics come around, I treat the Olympics like the Lakers, right,
or any other team that I follow. Right, I'm in
all in. Whether I'm happy with thinks the way things
are looking, I'm all in. I'm all in on the US.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Did you pick the predict the Lakers are gonna beat
the Nuggets?
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Of course, of course you all. I'm really all in right,
like it's not wavering now. What I will say and
what I was alluding to is a lot of people
took a sigh of relief, like we got past Serbia
and Nicola Jokics. This easy selling now just watching France
(02:07):
number one, there's a home country advantage. That arena, brother,
that arena is gonna sound. This is the first time
since ninety six, since it was in Atlanta, that the
host nation is even gonna medal in the Olympics in basketball, even.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
Win a medal.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Okay, let alone compete for a gold medal against the
world's best, which the team is led by a twenty
year old kid who just happened to be the first
pick in the draft last year of this very organization
called the NBA. The defensive player of the Year is
(02:44):
also on this team. And so being at home, being
able to the thing that US struggled with outside of
Steph with the three point shot, right, they'll jack them
up now, they'll jack them up bam out of by
you shooting three pointers. He may have shot three all
last year in Miami, all of a sudden on the
(03:06):
world stage, he letting them things go. The problem with
doing that is when you have a seven to three unicorn,
there's not a lot of era area to get the rebound. Right,
he's going to go on misshot. There will be very
few second shot opportunities, is what I'm saying on missed
(03:27):
long balls. Right, So you say, okay, well let's go
inside out his range and guarding the rim is crazy.
It's not like the NBA. For those who don't know
where there's defensive three seconds. You can just stand in
the key. You literally you don't ever have to move,
You don't have to be near an opponent. You can
(03:50):
just stand there, right, And.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
They let me ask you because again I haven't seen
much of friends. I haven't been in pressed with the scores,
and you know, like all that, do they We know
they have Win Bayama, who offensively has struggled during the Olympics.
He I know at one point he was four for
seventeen years down here, but he finished. What about around
(04:15):
and go Bear isn't playing much?
Speaker 5 (04:17):
No? Because so do they.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Have enough around Win Benyama who's gonna have his imprint
on the game defensively to compete.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
I think they do in terms of their guard play.
They also have see Victor on their team is not
a post player, right, he's a stretch everything, like you know,
so he's always they don't, they don't, but they do
have post players. And I can't pronounce.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
His name box Well Yabaselli, Yes, y, yeah, he's I know,
Gershan Yabaseli.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
He's he want all the smoke down low, right, So
when they flashed Victor to the high host and he
gets it at seven to three and extends his hands
up and just dumps it down high.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
Let's called a high low action. Right.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
The guard set screens, they pass, Victor flashes, they dump
it to them.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
He can turn.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
If the defense doesn't honor it, he just turns and
shoots that short twelve foot jump shot that he's really
good at because he's shooting down on the rim or
he dumps it down to the big right. That's the issue,
that's the problem that we're going to have because if
Anthony Davis is guarding Victor women Yama, which I would
would say, yeah, then Bam is left to bang down below.
(05:36):
If they go bam and add that's a problem. Also,
their guards have like unlike the US when I talked
about last hour about you know, do I take this
shot or do I give it to a staff or
Lebron or Katie. Everybody got the green light. Man, everybody
just going. When you have that type of freedom to go,
(05:59):
you're at home. The crowd, brother, that is that is
danger us.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Imagine if if Embiid had played for France.
Speaker 5 (06:11):
This will be a real issue right now.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
And not like look, I'm not gonna take anything away
from Embiid. Shoot, after what we saw today, I'm glad
he's playing for US in America.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Well, this is why he was told, this is why
we were there. We needed him for this for Serbia. Right.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
I got note like, I'm cool with what he chose
to do. But and again not a criticism, I mean,
and I get maybe it's just like you said, he's
in America now, he loves America, but a real competitive
nature and I'm not saying he's not compet but you
know what I mean, would have been like, man, I'm
(06:49):
going to France and we're going to beat America. Right,
And like you say, if you're saying like, I mean,
can you imagine him inside and oh my god, when
but Yama outside?
Speaker 4 (07:01):
No answers with with with Bam and ad like who
would have replaced him? Like what is the other big
American big and the NBA that would have replaced Sam?
Speaker 3 (07:14):
He's not a big, right, Bam.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Is not a big and yeah it weren't in the
Miami Sun.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
There is no other big that you would bring and
put on the team from the NBA from America that
would fill that void. So now we would be really
undersigned that the name.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
I'm looking at the teams right now, I mean, Brook, Lopez, Miles,
they're not I mean, Evan Mobley, Jared Allen, I mean,
but none of them are moving me real talk, you
get what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
So that that's the issue, that's the problem. Thankfully, and
Be decided to play. He wanted a gold medal, so
he was like, look, I'm just going to join everybody
over here. We all over here. That's why every time
he touched the ball of the French fans, they bull them,
they yell out Trader, all kinds of all kinds of
stuff like that. Right, yeah, I'm just looking at name.
(08:09):
I mean, it would have to be cat, I guess,
but you know, no.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Like it would have been. There is definitely a lack
of size. It could be.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Yeah, there's a lack of size because bigs aren't trained
as biggs anymore, right, bigs aren't trained.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
My thing from And you, like you said, you you
coaching a you and all that, and I imagine you
will tell kids this. I'm like, look, it is not
like you can't do both. It's not like if you
work on your three point shot and you handle, you
can't also develop a post game.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
You can.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
I'm getting No, You're absolutely right. This is this is
what I did last year. So I'm coaching eleven twelve
year olds and I got this giant kid. He's the
first day of practice, he comes in, he on between
the legs, he like warming up. He's eleven, he's at
least close to six feet somewhere right in at five
(09:12):
eleven five. At that age, that's huge. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And so he's warming up with the guards and all.
He going between the legs behind the bag, and I'm like, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,
hey man, come here, let me talk to you for
a second. I told his dad. His dad came from
the theater background, so he was always like, hey, I
keep telling him to be serious and rehearsal Oh, I
mean practice like so there, So what I did? That good?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Because he should he'll he'll probably let the kid.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
You know, he gonna eat. Yeah, he gonna let him go.
He gonna let him go.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
So what I did was I cut my practice and
have I had my assistant coach coach the guards, and
I took the bigs and we spent half the practice
on the other side of the court working on back
to the basket, offense and defense, you know what I mean. Like,
so we spent this kid turned out you want to
talk about in that one year he made the All Stars.
(10:05):
He was a dominant force inside, inside and outside.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Or was he? You?
Speaker 4 (10:10):
I said, hey man, you don't shoot, no jump shot.
I don't need that from you. I got real live
shooters over here. You got these guards. I need you
to get big both hands? Are you also?
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Because I agree with that, but also I would working,
you know, make sure just.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
Listen, just listen.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
At this age, the perimeter stuff is all they see.
So when they well listen, when they're at home, they're
not practicing what they're back to the basket. When they're
at the park, when they're at school at lunch, they're
not practicing with their back to the basket.
Speaker 5 (10:49):
I know this.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
So no, when we practice, I'm specializing on a skill
set that you're not going to do anywhere else outside
of this this practice time that we have.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
He's gonna get those shots up here. I'm telling you,
he's gonna put all that up. The only thing I
would say, and I agree with you, but it's a
difference in handling it. Shooting jumpers at the park, yeah,
and open gym then there is a real game. But
what I'm talking I would get him doing both because
the dude might not grow, you know, he might end
(11:26):
up being six to two.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Let me tell you this.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
When I was in high school, I didn't shoot one
three pointer when I was on my.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
High school I didn't even when I played high school.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
That's funny, I didn't. But but this is the real thing.
I didn't shoot one three pointer in high school.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
Right.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
I averaged twenty four points a game back to the
basket in the post, short jump shot, dump hooks, drop
step dunks, the whole nine yards. When I was on
my AAU team. I played the three. Okay, I had
seven threes in a game.
Speaker 5 (12:04):
Right.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
That's what really sped up my recruitment is when I
started going to Vegas in the National Advitation and they
were like, oh my god, who's this skinny kid over here?
Speaker 5 (12:13):
Right?
Speaker 4 (12:14):
But in high school I just played with my back
to the basket. So now outside of that, at the parks,
playing with my brother who was a guard, I learned
the dribble. I learned to pull up on the three.
I learned to come off the screen. I learned to
do all those things. But the game, the part of
(12:34):
the game, they really got me focused. I got a
lot of my scholarship offers from this big man camp
that I went to where we were only allowed two
dribbles and we had either pass it or scored. And
when I was able to dominate, their teams are like,
oh wait, hold on, wait a minute, get right. So
it's important at that age to learn that skill because
that's that's not being taught anywhere.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Nah, and that that's and you see it, like you said,
we needed to import be basically all right, we gonna
get you some NFL. Patrick mahoses he being disrespected. That's
next on the I Cup. We'll give you lock Fox
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by tirerek dot Com the way tirebind should be. Let's
go to the NFL e from today. Caleb Williams, the
number one pick in this year's NFL draft quarterback for
(15:02):
the Chicago Bears, was on the Ky Adams Show and
he was asked, well, I don't know if he's asked
about Matthew Stafford, but he was raving about Matthew Stafford
and he called him the second best quarterback in the
world behind Aaron Rodgers. Who's his guy that he modeled
(15:22):
his game after. Here here's Caleb.
Speaker 7 (15:25):
Matthew Stafford is probably I can't I don't think I
can name two quarterbacks, two or three quarterbacks that play
the position better than Matthew Stafford. Wow, obviously playing right now.
I'm not saying forty two. He was forty two too,
I don't know forty two.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
He's better than Josh Allen, He's better than like that.
Speaker 7 (15:43):
Then Matthew Stafford is Matthew Stafford. Aaron right now in
the game is my number one KB. Obviously last year
he got hurt and things like that, so that's you know,
it kind of varies for the top one hundred.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
But.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
You play Matthew though, you know Matthews.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
Matthews top two in the league.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
I'm not even gonna get into that because Matthew Stafford's
not the second bet. And I know you like Stafford,
but he ain't the second best quarterback in the league.
But I'm gonna say this why I feel, and I
think disrespect is probably too strong, but I mean, I
don't know what else to really call it. When the
(16:26):
top one hundred list comes out and Patrick Mahones is fourth,
he's not even the first QB.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Lamar Jackson is who was second.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
And then and now this Caleb Williams saying that Aaron
Rodgers and Matthew Stafford are better than Patrick Mahomes. Why,
first of all, do you I think you disagree with that,
but do you know with what he's saying, but what
are your thoughts on his rankings and the disrespect that
(16:58):
I'm saying is out there? Top four, you know, number
four in the top one hundred, and why do you
think that is for a dude that I think is
the best quarterback ever. I'm not calling him the goat,
He's not that you got to accomplish more. But I
do think he's the best we've ever seen in route
to becoming the goat, assuming he wins more super Bowl
(17:21):
several more, but still more Super Bowls?
Speaker 3 (17:23):
So what are your thoughts on this whole thing?
Speaker 4 (17:25):
So are you asking me is there a level of
disrespect coming from Caleb Williams and his assessment are the NFL.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
General I'm combined in the top one hundred where it
clearly should have been first to me? And now what
Kayler Williams.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
So let me address to Kayleb Williams thing first and
then I do the NFL one hundred. So as far
as Caleb Williams, like everybody's everybody's, they can have your
You entitled to your opinion, right the Aaron Rodgers he
(18:02):
grew up watching and and you know, I guess pattern
his game after it's not the Aaron Rodgers who's currently
playing in the NFL right now, right even his last
healthy year in Green Bay wasn't anything to write home about.
Played four plays last season coming off an achilles injury.
(18:25):
We'll see what Aaron Rodgers shows up, all right. To
say that Matthew Stafford is the second best quarterback in
the NFL, to me, means that you're not paying attention
to what's going on. Maybe he spent a lot of
time watching college. But look, once again, it's his opinion.
(18:51):
So if he sees something special in Matthew Stafford that
he doesn't see and Patrick Mahomes and Lamar.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
Jackson and.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
You know, Dak Prescott, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, even justin Herbert,
if he sees something in Matthew Stafford that he doesn't
see in any of those other quarterbacks, then to me,
I want to know what he's watching, all right, because
(19:29):
then that you'd be like, okay, well what did you
see that led you there? I don't know if he
knows him, if you know, if he's signed something when
he was a kid one time. It could be anything, right,
it could be anything. All my favorite players this because
when I was a kid. He looked at me and
be like, hey, you like, we don't know, we don't
know what that is. But what I'm saying is the
(19:52):
disrespect on pat Patrick Mahomes on any team as a
viable playoff threat and conference at at least a conference
championship participant on any team, so far and away the
best right now, it's not even close. When we talk
about the top five quarterbacks, you don't even really put
(20:14):
him in there because he's he separated himself, right Remember
Tom Brady separated himself from the from the others that
everybody was talking about. That's what Patrick Mahomes has done.
He's separated himself from that.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Now I'm with you, all right.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
We got Mark Stein a great day to talk to
him with what will happen with Team USA?
Speaker 3 (20:35):
You know, the great NBA insider. He'll join us in
a moment.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
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listen live.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Our next guest co host of This League Uncut, great
podcast he does with Chris Haynes Fox Sports Radio NBA
Inside A longtime colleague and friend of mine, our man
Mark Stein.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
What's up, mark.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
Man?
Speaker 8 (21:07):
It's been a great speaker hoop Seriously, man, quarter finals
were good and today was even better.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Really been.
Speaker 5 (21:15):
I was just.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Saying absolutely and we got you from zaliam In Mark
for uh Ron Parker. I was just saying, like, it's
a great to have you on today with what just happened.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
So what is yours?
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Let's just start with your thoughts on Serbia. I mean,
given America absolutely all it wanted.
Speaker 8 (21:38):
I gotta say, stay to me was the ultimate this
is why you play the game, because I both semifinals
were shocking to me. I think Serbia played the United
States twice in July, and so there was this conspiracy
theory going around that you know, they held back their savings,
(22:00):
you know, they're saving their best for when the teams
meet in the knockout round. And I was like, no way,
no chance, There's no way that could happen. The US
is dialed in playing, you know. Really, the US looked
awful in the exhibition games, but since the tournament proper
began in the Olympics, we were seeing team ball, we
(22:22):
were seeing defense, and that's the way the United they
passed to win by playing defense first. That's how they
overcome the continuity that they don't have, right, I mean,
Theerbia found a completely new gear. They finally shot the
(22:44):
ball where those shooting had been streaky throughout the tournament,
and it just finally in the fourth quarter, the US
ratcheted up the defense and it helped them win the game.
And they got great performances from obviously Curry, Embide Lebron.
But you know, Serbia was sensational and I would have
(23:04):
thought the United States did not need another wake up call,
but it was an absolute I mean, and I.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Want to follow up.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
I mean, if you've been in touch with people around
the league since the game, what are people saying?
Speaker 8 (23:25):
People like I said, I I think the general vibe
that I get is that people thought this team had
figured it out and was not going to have an issue.
But defensively, I mean, the first three quarters was just
not even close so good enough defensively, And again that's
what they need to overcome the fact that this you know,
(23:48):
this group, as talented as it is, it is still
thrown together. It is still only played They've basically been
together a month as a team, and now they've got
to do with France, and France is just you know,
in group play, France was the absolute disappointment of this tournament.
(24:09):
They should have lost to Japan, which would have been
an unforgivable loss at home, had to Murrah, fouled out
on two very soft calls, they got a four point
play to force overtime, they almost lost to had to
mural with Japan, and then got really schooled by Germany,
(24:29):
and they were under intense pressure and huge criticism, and
the way they have come back and responded against Canada
and now Germany, and Germany is a team. Germany has
shooting five smart continuity. Germany has had basically the same
team for three years. And now you see the United
(24:51):
States is going to play France, and that home court
advantage that the French have is no joke, and Saturday's
gold medal game going to be it should be delicious
with that atmosphere. And then you bring in the whole
JOELMB situation, because of course everyone in France is still
furious that JOELMB showing to play for the United States
(25:13):
rather than France. So that you know that Saturday's gold
medal game should be irresistible.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
So Mark, let me ask you this, based on everything
you just said, I was mentioning some of those very
same things a little bit earlier. Watching France play now,
watching them play against a three and ozer Canada team
who have five NBA starters in their starting lineup, have
a team full of NBA talent, and then beating them,
(25:42):
and then coming in and playing Germany today, the way
they play Germany beating them. To me, what I said
was that poses a huge problem for the US team.
The fact that Victor women Yama is essentially the leader
of the team at twenty years old. He makes it
(26:04):
difficult for you to live in the paint inside out
is what you know. The United States had been doing
outside of today's game. And if Steph isn't shooting the
way he's shooting, then we're not even having this conversation
because the US hasn't been great from three. So I
(26:24):
think France poses a huge, huge problem and impossible upset.
I really don't.
Speaker 5 (26:32):
I don't.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
I don't think that because I'm an American and I'm
going for the US. But the France that I'm seeing
play now should be sending alarm bells through the locker
room over there with Steve Kurr and his staff.
Speaker 8 (26:44):
What do you think the reason this France team looks
so bad and group play and where they are so
vulnerable is in the backcourt. Their guard play is just
not really where it needs to be. And the United
States has the defensive personnel to absolutely smother their guard
and make the French backcourt really suffer. And that's the
(27:07):
way for the US to win. But look with the
head of them that France has. Now, you know, France
playing Canada in the quarterfinals was the worst possible draw
they could have gotten, but it was also this opportunity
to completely turn their Olympics around. They seized it. And
now after beating Canada and Germany at home, they've whipped
(27:30):
the whole country into a frenzy. It's going to be
a crazy atmosphere in there. And now can that atmosphere
get the United States? I think that would be the
key for France to win. And again, the way Embiid respond,
I mean, Embiid is going to be you know, he's
going to face as hostile a crowd as he's ever
(27:52):
endured in his career. But look, for all the criticism
that Embiid has absorbed for the last month about he
isn't in shape, he doesn't belong on this team.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Why.
Speaker 8 (28:02):
I mean, he was massive in this game today and
the United States doesn't win this game against Serbia without
Embiid playing as well as he did. So what does
Embiid have in store as a response as a follow up?
But again, the United States when they locked if they
locked in defensively and really hound the French guards, they're
(28:25):
going to win the game. They're going to cause France
a lot of problems that just no other team can defensively.
But again, they have to do it, and today the
defense was so bad for three quarters. I'm shocked that
basically in the semis of this tournament that that would happen.
The way that the United States has been playing this
(28:48):
was that was a major step back for three quarters,
and I just I wasn't expecting that.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
I agree with that, and I I said to Chris earlier,
the reasons you Olmb's on this team, what's for this game?
What's to play against Nikola Okic and Serbia.
Speaker 8 (29:06):
Well, he's on the team is because they just didn't
want him to end up playing for France. He is
because they were like Bear and Wendy, we don't want
them getting embe two. But you're right, they need to
day against jok They needed him.
Speaker 4 (29:25):
Yeah that that to me, uh speaks volume. So all
of the stuff that was coming out about it and
not been in shape and all that, I was like,
well this just wait. Let's wait, because not only does
he match up well against him, he has a bone
to pick with him because he feels that one of
those m vps was stolen from him by Niccola Jokic.
(29:45):
So that rivalry in terms of great big men is
live in presence that there they they carried that over
from the NBA and now on the Olympic stage.
Speaker 8 (29:59):
Yeah, Mark after the game today and I don't know
if he likes saw it, but I mean he was
out there, you know, gesturing to the crowd safely inviting
more booze and negativity, so that it's going to be
a crazy scene Saturday night.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
Jason Tatum of course didn't play, and I do think
there is a narrative out there that I think is
too it's too overstated, I guess. But you know, since
he didn't win the Eastern Conference MVP, he didn't win
the finals MVP, and now he's been benched essentially at
(30:36):
least for these two games against Serbia in the Olympics.
Do you think this is a big deal, you know,
and we'll spill over into the NBA season, or do
you think it's not that big of a deal. It
happens in the Olympics. Everybody can't you know, play all
the minutes and so on and.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
So forth, is all about the gold. Where are you
at on this?
Speaker 8 (31:00):
I don't know yet how big a deal it's going
to be in terms of the season, because look, it
could be a factor, and I'm sure that the Celtics
rivals are hoping that it becomes a factor. Between Tatum
getting multiple dnpcds in the tournament and Jalen Brown not
being on the team at all, and then you factor
in Porzingis is going to miss the start of the season.
(31:21):
I'm sure the Celtics rivals are hoping that this snowballs
into some sort of source of tension. But honestly, it's
a much bigger deal for twenty twenty eight because Lebron
is thirty nine, Step is thirty six, Durant it is
soon to be thirty six. Presumably these guys are not
(31:41):
going to be on the team in twenty twenty eight.
In LA four years from now, Tatum, you would expect
to be a major part of that team. And the
question is going to be asked, and he will be
asked repeatedly, and I don't know that we're going to
get an immediate answer. Is he going to want to
play on this team in twenty twenty eight after he
was basically dropped from the rotation in twenty twenty four.
(32:05):
But here's the other reality. The big deal is Jason
Tatum did not shoot the ball well for a good
chunk of the playoffs. He's not shooting it any better
with Team USA, and I think that's why he's not playing.
His three point shot is a mess. He doesn't look
confident in it, and I think that is a factor.
(32:26):
Everybody's just saying he's Jason Tatum, He's part of the
NBA champion. He needs to be playing. He hasn't been
playing well, and that's I think why he's been dropped
out of the rotation, and that to me would be
the biggest concern of all. His shot has been off
for a long time and why what is going on
(32:49):
with his three point shots.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
All right, that is our man, Mark Stein, great stuff.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
Man, I agree with you. Saturday will be delicious. I
can't wait. We better win the gold. That's all I
got to say.
Speaker 5 (33:02):
I hope so I'll find you name what you say?
All right? Man later?
Speaker 3 (33:08):
All right?
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Jokic ash, I mean he what do you have? Two
NBA players with him and some minor leaguers? And I
don't mean it disrespectful, Not the NBA. They minor league, right.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
And they almost beat us? What does that mean? That's next?
A couple of Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
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he from I mentioned to you earlier that we were
talking about, you know, last couple of days. I believe
this year's team twenty twenty four versus the nineteen ninety
two Dream team. And one of the advantages that this
year's team would have is that even though Lebron and
(34:31):
Stephan kd are old, they're still really pretty close to
their prime, playing well in good health. The ninety two team,
Larry Bird never played another NBA game, had a bad back.
He did play eight team minut this game in the Olympics,
but really wasn't the same, and Magic Johnson was a
(34:52):
year removed from you know, NBA consistent NBA basketball because
of the HIV. So they pro Bird certainly wasn't as
his best, and it's a good chance Magic wasn't. But
I said, I still and I think it'd be that
both teams were great. But I said I would still
give me ninety two. And some of that was just
(35:13):
being old school, but I said, I'm going with ninety two.
Obviously used to at Jordan Barkley guys like that in
their prime, but also because Magic Johnson and Larry Bird,
although he wouldn't be much of a factor just because
he was he was banged up.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
But Magic Johnson is the best.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Player of all time in my view, and I think
most people's view of bringing a team together and creating
that chemistry, getting everybody to work.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
As a team.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
And so I think that along with the great talent
on the ninety two team and those guys knowing how
to play five man basketball, all of them.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
Would help them prevail.
Speaker 1 (35:57):
And I think what we saw today was kind of
an example of what I was talking about. Ephraim and
Yoki is not as good as Magic obviously, as great
as he is, I don't I mean, at this point,
I'm not saying he's as great as Bird, but you know,
he plays like them in that he moves the ball,
(36:20):
he's high basketball IQ, skilled at everything, and can control
the game without taking a ton of shots or scoring
a ton of points. And today you saw him take
a far under man team and almost beat Team USA,
(36:41):
which was loaded, simply because he was playing like a
Magic Johnson or Larry Bird.
Speaker 4 (36:55):
The thing that the ninety two team has had over
not only did they, you know, have a team full
of the fiftieth greatest players of all time, and you're right,
several of the marquee players a top ten NBA players
of all time were past their prime. You know, they
were pretty much done. They were done actually, But like
(37:18):
you said, Magic Johnson is the greatest point guard to
ever play in my opinion, and the way the way
the game was structured is the point guard is the general,
right the floor general. He's gonna get you where you
need to be. He's gonna push the pace. He's gonna
(37:38):
be able to control the game. That's the whole point
of it, to control the game. We're not gonna get
too fast, We're not gonna get too slow.
Speaker 5 (37:48):
Right.
Speaker 4 (37:49):
I can speed it up when it's need be. We
can lock it down right like so, we we can
pull the ball back or we can push it. Everybody's
a point guard point forward. You know, there's no more positions.
They don't even do positions for all stars anymore. They're
just the guys, right. So without there being positions and
(38:12):
without this moniker of the point guard point guard centric
like you know the John Stocktons and Isaiah Thompson, all
of those great teams they own. We know who the
leaders of those teams were because they can control the flow,
the maturity, the leadership of the team. Well, we don't
really have that anymore, but overseas they still subscribe to
(38:37):
some of those values. So Nikola Jokic is the point center,
just like even though even Denver has point guards. Nikoleki
brings the ball up the court, he sets the table.
So you dropping him into a team like that who
(38:58):
feeds off of him, and he can control that dynamic,
it's different.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
No doubt, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
All right, we got one hour left. There's a team
out there that nobody's talking about.
Speaker 3 (39:10):
That was awesome. That's next.
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcasts. Be sure
to catch us live every weekday from seven pm to
ten pm Eastern four to seven pm Pacific on Fox
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Speaker 1 (00:47):
Now, when we close the last hour, e from Salam
sounded like he was about to.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Say something.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Incredible, So I'm just gonna I'm just gonna ask you.
Are you picking France to beat the United States Saturday
in the gold medal game.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
For men's basketball.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
The one thing I will never do, Okay, whenever the
Olympics come around, I treat the Olympics like the Lakers, right,
or any other team that I follow. Right, I'm in
all in. Whether I'm happy with thinks the way things
are looking, I'm all in. I'm all in on the US.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Did you pick the predict the Lakers are gonna beat
the Nuggets?
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Of course, of course you all. I'm really all in right,
like it's not wavering now. What I will say and
what I was alluding to is a lot of people
took a sigh of relief, like we got past Serbia
and Nicola Jokics. This easy selling now just watching France
(02:07):
number one, there's a home country advantage. That arena, brother,
that arena is gonna sound. This is the first time
since ninety six, since it was in Atlanta, that the
host nation is even gonna medal in the Olympics in basketball, even.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
Win a medal.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Okay, let alone compete for a gold medal against the
world's best, which the team is led by a twenty
year old kid who just happened to be the first
pick in the draft last year of this very organization
called the NBA. The defensive player of the Year is
(02:44):
also on this team. And so being at home, being
able to the thing that US struggled with outside of
Steph with the three point shot, right, they'll jack them
up now, they'll jack them up bam out of by
you shooting three pointers. He may have shot three all
last year in Miami, all of a sudden on the
(03:06):
world stage, he letting them things go. The problem with
doing that is when you have a seven to three unicorn,
there's not a lot of era area to get the rebound. Right,
he's going to go on misshot. There will be very
few second shot opportunities, is what I'm saying on missed
(03:27):
long balls. Right, So you say, okay, well let's go
inside out his range and guarding the rim is crazy.
It's not like the NBA. For those who don't know
where there's defensive three seconds. You can just stand in
the key. You literally you don't ever have to move,
You don't have to be near an opponent. You can
(03:50):
just stand there, right, And.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
They let me ask you because again I haven't seen
much of friends. I haven't been in pressed with the scores,
and you know, like all that, do they We know
they have Win Bayama, who offensively has struggled during the Olympics.
He I know at one point he was four for
seventeen years down here, but he finished. What about around
(04:15):
and go Bear isn't playing much?
Speaker 5 (04:17):
No? Because so do they.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Have enough around Win Benyama who's gonna have his imprint
on the game defensively to compete.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
I think they do in terms of their guard play.
They also have see Victor on their team is not
a post player, right, he's a stretch everything, like you know,
so he's always they don't, they don't, but they do
have post players. And I can't pronounce.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
His name box Well Yabaselli, Yes, y, yeah, he's I know,
Gershan Yabaseli.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
He's he want all the smoke down low, right, So
when they flashed Victor to the high host and he
gets it at seven to three and extends his hands
up and just dumps it down high.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
Let's called a high low action. Right.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
The guard set screens, they pass, Victor flashes, they dump
it to them.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
He can turn.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
If the defense doesn't honor it, he just turns and
shoots that short twelve foot jump shot that he's really
good at because he's shooting down on the rim or
he dumps it down to the big right. That's the issue,
that's the problem that we're going to have because if
Anthony Davis is guarding Victor women Yama, which I would
would say, yeah, then Bam is left to bang down below.
(05:36):
If they go bam and add that's a problem. Also,
their guards have like unlike the US when I talked
about last hour about you know, do I take this
shot or do I give it to a staff or
Lebron or Katie. Everybody got the green light. Man, everybody
just going. When you have that type of freedom to go,
(05:59):
you're at home. The crowd, brother, that is that is
danger us.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Imagine if if Embiid had played for France.
Speaker 5 (06:11):
This will be a real issue right now.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
And not like look, I'm not gonna take anything away
from Embiid. Shoot, after what we saw today, I'm glad
he's playing for US in America.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Well, this is why he was told, this is why
we were there. We needed him for this for Serbia. Right.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
I got note like, I'm cool with what he chose
to do. But and again not a criticism, I mean,
and I get maybe it's just like you said, he's
in America now, he loves America, but a real competitive
nature and I'm not saying he's not compet but you
know what I mean, would have been like, man, I'm
(06:49):
going to France and we're going to beat America. Right,
And like you say, if you're saying like, I mean,
can you imagine him inside and oh my god, when
but Yama outside?
Speaker 4 (07:01):
No answers with with with Bam and ad like who
would have replaced him? Like what is the other big
American big and the NBA that would have replaced Sam?
Speaker 3 (07:14):
He's not a big, right, Bam.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Is not a big and yeah it weren't in the
Miami Sun.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
There is no other big that you would bring and
put on the team from the NBA from America that
would fill that void. So now we would be really
undersigned that the name.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
I'm looking at the teams right now, I mean, Brook, Lopez, Miles,
they're not I mean, Evan Mobley, Jared Allen, I mean,
but none of them are moving me real talk, you
get what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
So that that's the issue, that's the problem. Thankfully, and
Be decided to play. He wanted a gold medal, so
he was like, look, I'm just going to join everybody
over here. We all over here. That's why every time
he touched the ball of the French fans, they bull them,
they yell out Trader, all kinds of all kinds of
stuff like that. Right, yeah, I'm just looking at name.
(08:09):
I mean, it would have to be cat, I guess,
but you know, no.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Like it would have been. There is definitely a lack
of size. It could be.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Yeah, there's a lack of size because bigs aren't trained
as biggs anymore, right, bigs aren't trained.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
My thing from And you, like you said, you you
coaching a you and all that, and I imagine you
will tell kids this. I'm like, look, it is not
like you can't do both. It's not like if you
work on your three point shot and you handle, you
can't also develop a post game.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
You can.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
I'm getting No, You're absolutely right. This is this is
what I did last year. So I'm coaching eleven twelve
year olds and I got this giant kid. He's the
first day of practice, he comes in, he on between
the legs, he like warming up. He's eleven, he's at
least close to six feet somewhere right in at five
(09:12):
eleven five. At that age, that's huge. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And so he's warming up with the guards and all.
He going between the legs behind the bag, and I'm like, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,
hey man, come here, let me talk to you for
a second. I told his dad. His dad came from
the theater background, so he was always like, hey, I
keep telling him to be serious and rehearsal Oh, I
mean practice like so there, So what I did? That good?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Because he should he'll he'll probably let the kid.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
You know, he gonna eat. Yeah, he gonna let him go.
He gonna let him go.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
So what I did was I cut my practice and
have I had my assistant coach coach the guards, and
I took the bigs and we spent half the practice
on the other side of the court working on back
to the basket, offense and defense, you know what I mean. Like,
so we spent this kid turned out you want to
talk about in that one year he made the All Stars.
(10:05):
He was a dominant force inside, inside and outside.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Or was he? You?
Speaker 4 (10:10):
I said, hey man, you don't shoot, no jump shot.
I don't need that from you. I got real live
shooters over here. You got these guards. I need you
to get big both hands? Are you also?
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Because I agree with that, but also I would working,
you know, make sure just.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
Listen, just listen.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
At this age, the perimeter stuff is all they see.
So when they well listen, when they're at home, they're
not practicing what they're back to the basket. When they're
at the park, when they're at school at lunch, they're
not practicing with their back to the basket.
Speaker 5 (10:49):
I know this.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
So no, when we practice, I'm specializing on a skill
set that you're not going to do anywhere else outside
of this this practice time that we have.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
He's gonna get those shots up here. I'm telling you,
he's gonna put all that up. The only thing I
would say, and I agree with you, but it's a
difference in handling it. Shooting jumpers at the park, yeah,
and open gym then there is a real game. But
what I'm talking I would get him doing both because
the dude might not grow, you know, he might end
(11:26):
up being six to two.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Let me tell you this.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
When I was in high school, I didn't shoot one
three pointer when I was on my.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
High school I didn't even when I played high school.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
That's funny, I didn't. But but this is the real thing.
I didn't shoot one three pointer in high school.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
Right.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
I averaged twenty four points a game back to the
basket in the post, short jump shot, dump hooks, drop
step dunks, the whole nine yards. When I was on
my AAU team. I played the three. Okay, I had
seven threes in a game.
Speaker 5 (12:04):
Right.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
That's what really sped up my recruitment is when I
started going to Vegas in the National Advitation and they
were like, oh my god, who's this skinny kid over here?
Speaker 5 (12:13):
Right?
Speaker 4 (12:14):
But in high school I just played with my back
to the basket. So now outside of that, at the parks,
playing with my brother who was a guard, I learned
the dribble. I learned to pull up on the three.
I learned to come off the screen. I learned to
do all those things. But the game, the part of
(12:34):
the game, they really got me focused. I got a
lot of my scholarship offers from this big man camp
that I went to where we were only allowed two
dribbles and we had either pass it or scored. And
when I was able to dominate, their teams are like,
oh wait, hold on, wait a minute, get right. So
it's important at that age to learn that skill because
that's that's not being taught anywhere.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Nah, and that that's and you see it, like you said,
we needed to import be basically all right, we gonna
get you some NFL. Patrick mahoses he being disrespected. That's
next on the I Cup. We'll give you lock Fox
Sports Radio.
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Every day you can register for a fresh new entry
to boost your chances of winning. It is all furnished
by tirerek dot Com the way tirebind should be. Let's
go to the NFL e from today. Caleb Williams, the
number one pick in this year's NFL draft quarterback for
(15:02):
the Chicago Bears, was on the Ky Adams Show and
he was asked, well, I don't know if he's asked
about Matthew Stafford, but he was raving about Matthew Stafford
and he called him the second best quarterback in the
world behind Aaron Rodgers. Who's his guy that he modeled
(15:22):
his game after. Here here's Caleb.
Speaker 7 (15:25):
Matthew Stafford is probably I can't I don't think I
can name two quarterbacks, two or three quarterbacks that play
the position better than Matthew Stafford. Wow, obviously playing right now.
I'm not saying forty two. He was forty two too,
I don't know forty two.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
He's better than Josh Allen, He's better than like that.
Speaker 7 (15:43):
Then Matthew Stafford is Matthew Stafford. Aaron right now in
the game is my number one KB. Obviously last year
he got hurt and things like that, so that's you know,
it kind of varies for the top one hundred.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
But.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
You play Matthew though, you know Matthews.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
Matthews top two in the league.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
I'm not even gonna get into that because Matthew Stafford's
not the second bet. And I know you like Stafford,
but he ain't the second best quarterback in the league.
But I'm gonna say this why I feel, and I
think disrespect is probably too strong, but I mean, I
don't know what else to really call it. When the
(16:26):
top one hundred list comes out and Patrick Mahones is fourth,
he's not even the first QB.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Lamar Jackson is who was second.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
And then and now this Caleb Williams saying that Aaron
Rodgers and Matthew Stafford are better than Patrick Mahomes. Why,
first of all, do you I think you disagree with that,
but do you know with what he's saying, but what
are your thoughts on his rankings and the disrespect that
(16:58):
I'm saying is out there? Top four, you know, number
four in the top one hundred, and why do you
think that is for a dude that I think is
the best quarterback ever. I'm not calling him the goat,
He's not that you got to accomplish more. But I
do think he's the best we've ever seen in route
to becoming the goat, assuming he wins more super Bowl
(17:21):
several more, but still more Super Bowls?
Speaker 3 (17:23):
So what are your thoughts on this whole thing?
Speaker 4 (17:25):
So are you asking me is there a level of
disrespect coming from Caleb Williams and his assessment are the NFL.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
General I'm combined in the top one hundred where it
clearly should have been first to me? And now what
Kayler Williams.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
So let me address to Kayleb Williams thing first and
then I do the NFL one hundred. So as far
as Caleb Williams, like everybody's everybody's, they can have your
You entitled to your opinion, right the Aaron Rodgers he
(18:02):
grew up watching and and you know, I guess pattern
his game after it's not the Aaron Rodgers who's currently
playing in the NFL right now, right even his last
healthy year in Green Bay wasn't anything to write home about.
Played four plays last season coming off an achilles injury.
(18:25):
We'll see what Aaron Rodgers shows up, all right. To
say that Matthew Stafford is the second best quarterback in
the NFL, to me, means that you're not paying attention
to what's going on. Maybe he spent a lot of
time watching college. But look, once again, it's his opinion.
(18:51):
So if he sees something special in Matthew Stafford that
he doesn't see and Patrick Mahomes and Lamar.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
Jackson and.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
You know, Dak Prescott, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, even justin Herbert,
if he sees something in Matthew Stafford that he doesn't
see in any of those other quarterbacks, then to me,
I want to know what he's watching, all right, because
(19:29):
then that you'd be like, okay, well what did you
see that led you there? I don't know if he
knows him, if you know, if he's signed something when
he was a kid one time. It could be anything, right,
it could be anything. All my favorite players this because
when I was a kid. He looked at me and
be like, hey, you like, we don't know, we don't
know what that is. But what I'm saying is the
(19:52):
disrespect on pat Patrick Mahomes on any team as a
viable playoff threat and conference at at least a conference
championship participant on any team, so far and away the
best right now, it's not even close. When we talk
about the top five quarterbacks, you don't even really put
(20:14):
him in there because he's he separated himself, right Remember
Tom Brady separated himself from the from the others that
everybody was talking about. That's what Patrick Mahomes has done.
He's separated himself from that.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Now I'm with you, all right.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
We got Mark Stein a great day to talk to
him with what will happen with Team USA?
Speaker 3 (20:35):
You know, the great NBA insider. He'll join us in
a moment.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Our next guest co host of This League Uncut, great
podcast he does with Chris Haynes Fox Sports Radio NBA
Inside A longtime colleague and friend of mine, our man
Mark Stein.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
What's up, mark.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
Man?
Speaker 8 (21:07):
It's been a great speaker hoop Seriously, man, quarter finals
were good and today was even better.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Really been.
Speaker 5 (21:15):
I was just.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Saying absolutely and we got you from zaliam In Mark
for uh Ron Parker. I was just saying, like, it's
a great to have you on today with what just happened.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
So what is yours?
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Let's just start with your thoughts on Serbia. I mean,
given America absolutely all it wanted.
Speaker 8 (21:38):
I gotta say, stay to me was the ultimate this
is why you play the game, because I both semifinals
were shocking to me. I think Serbia played the United
States twice in July, and so there was this conspiracy
theory going around that you know, they held back their savings,
(22:00):
you know, they're saving their best for when the teams
meet in the knockout round. And I was like, no way,
no chance, There's no way that could happen. The US
is dialed in playing, you know. Really, the US looked
awful in the exhibition games, but since the tournament proper
began in the Olympics, we were seeing team ball, we
(22:22):
were seeing defense, and that's the way the United they
passed to win by playing defense first. That's how they
overcome the continuity that they don't have, right, I mean,
Theerbia found a completely new gear. They finally shot the
(22:44):
ball where those shooting had been streaky throughout the tournament,
and it just finally in the fourth quarter, the US
ratcheted up the defense and it helped them win the game.
And they got great performances from obviously Curry, Embide Lebron.
But you know, Serbia was sensational and I would have
(23:04):
thought the United States did not need another wake up call,
but it was an absolute I mean, and I.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Want to follow up.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
I mean, if you've been in touch with people around
the league since the game, what are people saying?
Speaker 8 (23:25):
People like I said, I I think the general vibe
that I get is that people thought this team had
figured it out and was not going to have an issue.
But defensively, I mean, the first three quarters was just
not even close so good enough defensively, And again that's
what they need to overcome the fact that this you know,
(23:48):
this group, as talented as it is, it is still
thrown together. It is still only played They've basically been
together a month as a team, and now they've got
to do with France, and France is just you know,
in group play, France was the absolute disappointment of this tournament.
(24:09):
They should have lost to Japan, which would have been
an unforgivable loss at home, had to Murrah, fouled out
on two very soft calls, they got a four point
play to force overtime, they almost lost to had to
mural with Japan, and then got really schooled by Germany,
(24:29):
and they were under intense pressure and huge criticism, and
the way they have come back and responded against Canada
and now Germany, and Germany is a team. Germany has
shooting five smart continuity. Germany has had basically the same
team for three years. And now you see the United
(24:51):
States is going to play France, and that home court
advantage that the French have is no joke, and Saturday's
gold medal game going to be it should be delicious
with that atmosphere. And then you bring in the whole
JOELMB situation, because of course everyone in France is still
furious that JOELMB showing to play for the United States
(25:13):
rather than France. So that you know that Saturday's gold
medal game should be irresistible.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
So Mark, let me ask you this, based on everything
you just said, I was mentioning some of those very
same things a little bit earlier. Watching France play now,
watching them play against a three and ozer Canada team
who have five NBA starters in their starting lineup, have
a team full of NBA talent, and then beating them,
(25:42):
and then coming in and playing Germany today, the way
they play Germany beating them. To me, what I said
was that poses a huge problem for the US team.
The fact that Victor women Yama is essentially the leader
of the team at twenty years old. He makes it
(26:04):
difficult for you to live in the paint inside out
is what you know. The United States had been doing
outside of today's game. And if Steph isn't shooting the
way he's shooting, then we're not even having this conversation
because the US hasn't been great from three. So I
(26:24):
think France poses a huge, huge problem and impossible upset.
I really don't.
Speaker 5 (26:32):
I don't.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
I don't think that because I'm an American and I'm
going for the US. But the France that I'm seeing
play now should be sending alarm bells through the locker
room over there with Steve Kurr and his staff.
Speaker 8 (26:44):
What do you think the reason this France team looks
so bad and group play and where they are so
vulnerable is in the backcourt. Their guard play is just
not really where it needs to be. And the United
States has the defensive personnel to absolutely smother their guard
and make the French backcourt really suffer. And that's the
(27:07):
way for the US to win. But look with the
head of them that France has. Now, you know, France
playing Canada in the quarterfinals was the worst possible draw
they could have gotten, but it was also this opportunity
to completely turn their Olympics around. They seized it. And
now after beating Canada and Germany at home, they've whipped
(27:30):
the whole country into a frenzy. It's going to be
a crazy atmosphere in there. And now can that atmosphere
get the United States? I think that would be the
key for France to win. And again, the way Embiid respond,
I mean, Embiid is going to be you know, he's
going to face as hostile a crowd as he's ever
(27:52):
endured in his career. But look, for all the criticism
that Embiid has absorbed for the last month about he
isn't in shape, he doesn't belong on this team.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Why.
Speaker 8 (28:02):
I mean, he was massive in this game today and
the United States doesn't win this game against Serbia without
Embiid playing as well as he did. So what does
Embiid have in store as a response as a follow up?
But again, the United States when they locked if they
locked in defensively and really hound the French guards, they're
(28:25):
going to win the game. They're going to cause France
a lot of problems that just no other team can defensively.
But again, they have to do it, and today the
defense was so bad for three quarters. I'm shocked that
basically in the semis of this tournament that that would happen.
The way that the United States has been playing this
(28:48):
was that was a major step back for three quarters,
and I just I wasn't expecting that.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
I agree with that, and I I said to Chris earlier,
the reasons you Olmb's on this team, what's for this game?
What's to play against Nikola Okic and Serbia.
Speaker 8 (29:06):
Well, he's on the team is because they just didn't
want him to end up playing for France. He is
because they were like Bear and Wendy, we don't want
them getting embe two. But you're right, they need to
day against jok They needed him.
Speaker 4 (29:25):
Yeah that that to me, uh speaks volume. So all
of the stuff that was coming out about it and
not been in shape and all that, I was like,
well this just wait. Let's wait, because not only does
he match up well against him, he has a bone
to pick with him because he feels that one of
those m vps was stolen from him by Niccola Jokic.
(29:45):
So that rivalry in terms of great big men is
live in presence that there they they carried that over
from the NBA and now on the Olympic stage.
Speaker 8 (29:59):
Yeah, Mark after the game today and I don't know
if he likes saw it, but I mean he was
out there, you know, gesturing to the crowd safely inviting
more booze and negativity, so that it's going to be
a crazy scene Saturday night.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
Jason Tatum of course didn't play, and I do think
there is a narrative out there that I think is
too it's too overstated, I guess. But you know, since
he didn't win the Eastern Conference MVP, he didn't win
the finals MVP, and now he's been benched essentially at
(30:36):
least for these two games against Serbia in the Olympics.
Do you think this is a big deal, you know,
and we'll spill over into the NBA season, or do
you think it's not that big of a deal. It
happens in the Olympics. Everybody can't you know, play all
the minutes and so on and.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
So forth, is all about the gold. Where are you
at on this?
Speaker 8 (31:00):
I don't know yet how big a deal it's going
to be in terms of the season, because look, it
could be a factor, and I'm sure that the Celtics
rivals are hoping that it becomes a factor. Between Tatum
getting multiple dnpcds in the tournament and Jalen Brown not
being on the team at all, and then you factor
in Porzingis is going to miss the start of the season.
(31:21):
I'm sure the Celtics rivals are hoping that this snowballs
into some sort of source of tension. But honestly, it's
a much bigger deal for twenty twenty eight because Lebron
is thirty nine, Step is thirty six, Durant it is
soon to be thirty six. Presumably these guys are not
(31:41):
going to be on the team in twenty twenty eight.
In LA four years from now, Tatum, you would expect
to be a major part of that team. And the
question is going to be asked, and he will be
asked repeatedly, and I don't know that we're going to
get an immediate answer. Is he going to want to
play on this team in twenty twenty eight after he
was basically dropped from the rotation in twenty twenty four.
(32:05):
But here's the other reality. The big deal is Jason
Tatum did not shoot the ball well for a good
chunk of the playoffs. He's not shooting it any better
with Team USA, and I think that's why he's not playing.
His three point shot is a mess. He doesn't look
confident in it, and I think that is a factor.
(32:26):
Everybody's just saying he's Jason Tatum, He's part of the
NBA champion. He needs to be playing. He hasn't been
playing well, and that's I think why he's been dropped
out of the rotation, and that to me would be
the biggest concern of all. His shot has been off
for a long time and why what is going on
(32:49):
with his three point shots.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
All right, that is our man, Mark Stein, great stuff.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
Man, I agree with you. Saturday will be delicious. I
can't wait. We better win the gold. That's all I
got to say.
Speaker 5 (33:02):
I hope so I'll find you name what you say?
All right? Man later?
Speaker 3 (33:08):
All right?
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Jokic ash, I mean he what do you have? Two
NBA players with him and some minor leaguers? And I
don't mean it disrespectful, Not the NBA. They minor league, right.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
And they almost beat us? What does that mean? That's next?
A couple of Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot Com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
All right, it's the I couple live from the Tiereck
dot com studios.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
We want to thank Rapid Radios.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
It's the official communication device of Fox Sports Radio. Rapid
Radios are instant push to talk walkie talkies that offer
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(34:09):
from up to sixty percent off in free shipping now
he from I mentioned to you earlier that we were
talking about, you know, last couple of days. I believe
this year's team twenty twenty four versus the nineteen ninety
two Dream team. And one of the advantages that this
year's team would have is that even though Lebron and
(34:31):
Stephan kd are old, they're still really pretty close to
their prime, playing well in good health. The ninety two team,
Larry Bird never played another NBA game, had a bad back.
He did play eight team minut this game in the Olympics,
but really wasn't the same, and Magic Johnson was a
(34:52):
year removed from you know, NBA consistent NBA basketball because
of the HIV. So they pro Bird certainly wasn't as
his best, and it's a good chance Magic wasn't. But
I said, I still and I think it'd be that
both teams were great. But I said I would still
give me ninety two. And some of that was just
(35:13):
being old school, but I said, I'm going with ninety two.
Obviously used to at Jordan Barkley guys like that in
their prime, but also because Magic Johnson and Larry Bird,
although he wouldn't be much of a factor just because
he was he was banged up.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
But Magic Johnson is the best.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Player of all time in my view, and I think
most people's view of bringing a team together and creating
that chemistry, getting everybody to work.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
As a team.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
And so I think that along with the great talent
on the ninety two team and those guys knowing how
to play five man basketball, all of them.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
Would help them prevail.
Speaker 1 (35:57):
And I think what we saw today was kind of
an example of what I was talking about. Ephraim and
Yoki is not as good as Magic obviously, as great
as he is, I don't I mean, at this point,
I'm not saying he's as great as Bird, but you know,
he plays like them in that he moves the ball,
(36:20):
he's high basketball IQ, skilled at everything, and can control
the game without taking a ton of shots or scoring
a ton of points. And today you saw him take
a far under man team and almost beat Team USA,
(36:41):
which was loaded, simply because he was playing like a
Magic Johnson or Larry Bird.
Speaker 4 (36:55):
The thing that the ninety two team has had over
not only did they, you know, have a team full
of the fiftieth greatest players of all time, and you're right,
several of the marquee players a top ten NBA players
of all time were past their prime. You know, they
were pretty much done. They were done actually, But like
(37:18):
you said, Magic Johnson is the greatest point guard to
ever play in my opinion, and the way the way
the game was structured is the point guard is the general,
right the floor general. He's gonna get you where you
need to be. He's gonna push the pace. He's gonna
(37:38):
be able to control the game. That's the whole point
of it, to control the game. We're not gonna get
too fast, We're not gonna get too slow.
Speaker 5 (37:48):
Right.
Speaker 4 (37:49):
I can speed it up when it's need be. We
can lock it down right like so, we we can
pull the ball back or we can push it. Everybody's
a point guard point forward. You know, there's no more positions.
They don't even do positions for all stars anymore. They're
just the guys, right. So without there being positions and
(38:12):
without this moniker of the point guard point guard centric
like you know the John Stocktons and Isaiah Thompson, all
of those great teams they own. We know who the
leaders of those teams were because they can control the flow,
the maturity, the leadership of the team. Well, we don't
really have that anymore, but overseas they still subscribe to
(38:37):
some of those values. So Nikola Jokic is the point center,
just like even though even Denver has point guards. Nikoleki
brings the ball up the court, he sets the table.
So you dropping him into a team like that who
(38:58):
feeds off of him, and he can control that dynamic,
it's different.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
No doubt, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
All right, we got one hour left. There's a team
out there that nobody's talking about.
Speaker 3 (39:10):
That was awesome. That's next.
Hosts And Creators
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Rob Parker
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