Kawhi Just Got Your Favorite GM Fired!

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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(00:34):
it is the I Couple. I'm your host, Chris Brussar,
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(00:58):
how are you, man, I'm doing well, Chris. I'll be honest.
I listen to your guys podcast pretty regularly. The All
yet to open the show. I think there was a
little extra pepping that all. Yeah, today admitted you're a
little happy that the Odd Couple has been broken up
for a few weeks. As Rob's hap. You can admit it,
you can tell the truth. Hey, you know you my man.

(01:19):
We've done this show before. It's always fun, you know.
I don't have to worry about the zany takes that
Rob Parker usually has. So um, yeah, I'm a little
bit hyped than he robs my man. I always loved
doing it with him, of course, but I definitely know
you can fill in admirably. So yeah, man, I'm happy
to have you on the show. Well, I'm happy to

(01:40):
be here. I really do hope Rob is having a
good vacation. I know how hard he works when he's
here in La so I hope he's enjoying some time off.
I'm sure he is. He is. One thing about Rob.
He works his tail off, but he also knows when
to how to handle vacation and how to late lay
back and kick back and have a good time. So

(02:01):
h he may even be listening. So you gotta fill
some big shoes. Well, I like how he takes vacation
like a mile from where you live in New York.
I saw he's in New York. You're kicking what you're
kicking away from him, even I know, I'm afraid I'm
gonna bump into him in the streets of Manhattan one
of these days. So we'll start debating right there on
the streets. So but let's bring it, rob G. Rob G,

(02:23):
you want to introduce the I Couple crew and then
we will get into it. Well, I am here once again,
the reigning hot seat champion man stop the ones and
twos and on the updates today, David gas Guy, all right,
all right, sounds good. Let's do this look heavy NBA day. Aaron.

(02:44):
You you've made your name covering college sports basketball of course,
being one of them, so you know a lot of
these players before they even get to the league. And
obviously I covered the NBA. So we're gonna have some great, intelligent, insightful,
fun talk about the NBA. And to start it off,
I was reading in Sports Illustrated about Anthony Davis and

(03:09):
he had a quote that blew me away. He was asked,
where do you think you rank among players in today's
NBA and why. Here's what he said, Aaron, I'm the
best in the world. I think I do a lot
of things that a lot of players can't do. As

(03:30):
far as playing a complete game. I can play on
the block, play on the perimeter, play defense on both ends,
switch one to five guard, score the basketball. I want
to be the most dominant player in the game and
I'm going to continue to do that, he mentioned. He
went on to mention guys like Kauai kd Lebron Steph

(03:52):
All that that they're the same. They're great players, they're talented,
they're Hall of famers. But he said he is the
best in the world, and he didn't he didn't couch
it with you know, everybody thinks they're the best. You know,
of course I gotta have that mentality if I'm gonna
compete with these guys. No, he just came out and
said it. I am the best player in the world.

(04:14):
And Aaron Torres I like Anthony Davis. I can't wait
to see him and Lebron James together. I think they
have a good chance. Even though I think the Clippers
are a little better right now. I think the Lakers
have an excellent chance to win a championship next year,
certainly within the next two years. But I'm here to
tell you today there is no way that Anthony Davis

(04:39):
at this point is the best player in the world.
And he's right, He's got all those skills that he mentioned,
but the best player in the world, how you compare players,
is not a checklist of skills. If we did a
checklist of skills between David Robinson and Shaquille O'Neill. You

(05:00):
might say David Robinson checked more boxes, But who is better?
Shack period impact? What kind of impact do you have
on the game. And as much as I like Anthony Davis,
as much as he is a two way terror, he
has yet to impact games the way that these six players,

(05:23):
who I have all of them ahead of him, So
I got him seventh, Lebron, James Kawhi, Leonard, Kevin Durant,
James Harden. It's not in an order necessarily, James Harden,
Steph Curry, and Jannis Onto Takompa. Anthony Davis has won
one playoff series in his life. He's been to the

(05:46):
playoffs twice in seven years. And I know he wanted
out of New Orleans. But guess what, you have to
take some of the blame for why New Orleans wasn't better.
You add some talent around you. Drew Holliday can play,
Julius Ramdall showed he's not bad at one point. You

(06:07):
had Nicola Meritage, you can shoot one point. You had
DeMarcus Cousins, Rayon Rondo. He had some talent around him.
Why wasn't he able to galvanize guys and lead them.
And I'll tell you one thing. In today's NBA Aaron,
you if you have to be able to handle the ball,

(06:29):
and that's the one thing everybody I mentioned can do
that Ad can't. When push comes to shove, they can
bring the ball up the court and create their own stuff.
Now Ad can create his own stuff. I know it
was a guard in high school before he had his grossberg,
but I don't see him, when necessary bringing it up

(06:51):
court and just spreading it out and running everything through himself.
And so that's why he's not the best in the world. Well,
I wanted to give a quick shout out to Anthony Davis.
He made twenty seven million dollars last year, but apparently
he couldn't afford cable because he wasn't watching the playoffs.
If he thinks that he's the best player, because Kawhi

(07:13):
Leonard all listen all the guys you mentioned. But I
think so much of this argument is exactly what you said.
You can't come to me with I'm the best player
in the world when you've won one playoff series your
entire career. Thank you. In the same year that Kawhi
Leonard basically took an organization a country on his back
to a championship. Yannis took and I know Chris Middleton

(07:36):
was an All Star, but Jannie was the guy took
that organization, the Eastern Conference files. I'll take it a
step further, which is something you already addressed. He's not
even the best player in his locker room, right. I
know Lebron took last season off. I know he was
drinking wine on the bench, but he averaged. I looked
it up today to make sure those numbers were Craig
thirty eight and ten in the finals a year ago,

(08:00):
thirteen months ago. So I get it. He's a he's
a competitors. He's an elite athlete for sure. But you
can't tell me you're the best player on the planet
when one, you've won one playoff series. Two you've only
played seventy games more than more than seventy games twice
out of nine or eight years in your career. I
just don't see it. I know he's a competitor, I

(08:20):
know he wants to say he's the best, but I
just don't buy it. No, I'm with you, and I
like that attitude. Of Hey, I'm a dog like I
want the Lakers to have that attitude when they come
out of the training camp this year. I don't want
to see any Oh we need this, we need that.
We don't have this, we don't like the coaching is terrible.
No beat dogs and go out there and say we're

(08:41):
the best and we're going to win the championship this year.
So I like that mentality, but in this case, it's
just there's no evidence to back it up. And Anthony
Davis has got he would have been better sir saying hey,
I think Look, I think I'm the best player in
the world, but this is all about winning and until

(09:05):
I win big then I can't you know, I can't
be put on that pedestal. That's my goal, that's where
I want to get to. But while I may think it,
I've got to prove it to everybody else. That would
have been something better to say, and he just can't
claim it right now. Like you said this, Look, this

(09:25):
is how I think you can measure who's better when
you're talking about individual playoffs players, because it's very difficult
aaron to measure perimeter players versus big men. It's getting
a little easier nowadays because you know, and David's alluded
to this in his press conference with the Lakers, it's

(09:45):
kind of positionless basketball to some degree, but there's still
our differences, big differences between bigs and smalls for the
most part, and so you can't it's how do you
compare a Michael Jordan to a Shaquille O'Neill, you know,
a Kobe Bryant to a Hakim Elijuan. I think the

(10:06):
only way you can do it is impact, agreed, And
I don't say that's just number of championships, but impact
on the game. That's why I think Steph Curry can
rank high because you can say what you want. He
doesn't d up, he's small, he's not physical, this and that.
How has he impacted the game? You know what? I

(10:27):
think this might be a byproduct of I think it's
a byproduct of playing in New Orleans where for seven
eight years everything he has said has just been gone
into the win, none of it matters. Well, now you're
on the big stage with the Lake. You can't just
say whatever you want to say and not have it
picked apart by guys like us, by people you know,
whether it's you on television, others on television, whatever. I

(10:50):
just wonder. I think he just kind of said it
without thinking. I can't imagine that he actually believes that.
And it's not to say that he's not an incredible player.
We all know that he is. As you said, there's
probably only a handful of guys six to seven, how
whatever the number is, that are truly better than him.
But when you factor in the fact that he does play,
he's more of a low post player. And I know

(11:11):
he said he's more versatile and all that stuff, but
you know, he doesn't handle the ball, he doesn't set
up teammates, he doesn't shoot the three particularly well. He's
really good at what he does, but to say that
he is the best player in this league is preposterous, right,
because here's the thing. Anthony Davis as good as he is,
and again, he handles the ball well for you know,
a guy his size, and again he played guard in

(11:34):
high school. We get that. But he needs somebody to
get him the rock, right Lebron James doesn't, Kawhi Leonard doesn't,
Kevin Durant doesn't, James Harden, Steph Curry, Yannis, they don't.
So if I Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and obviously it was
a different era, but Kareem Abdula Jabbar actually won the

(11:56):
MVP Award in a year where they didn't make the playoffs,
and then he had two back to back years where
he didn't make the playoffs with Milwaukee and the Lakers.
And the reason as great as he was and I
have him third greatest player of all time, the reason
that could happen to Kareem was because he needed a

(12:17):
guard to get him the ball. He was a low
post player, obviously with the sky hook and a d
while certainly more versatile in this day and age than
Kareem needs a guy to get him the ball, and
I think you hit it on the head. That's a
great point. We have seen more Anthony Davis interviews. Rachel

(12:38):
Nichols on ESPN Sports illustrated the press conference, which obviously
that would take place with any team, but he's getting
out there more. We're going to see more of Anthony
Davis than we ever had, and like you, you have,
and like you said, he's going to have everything he
says is going to be picked apart, especially since he's

(12:58):
playing with Lebron James by the way. I think part
of that is why, amongst the many reasons why Kawhi
Leonard didn't want to play with the Lakers, didn't want
to play with Lebron James, it's for reasons like this.
But I don't disagree with anything you've said, Chris. I
get it. You're a competitor. You want to you know,
And it is kind of his time to kind of
plant his flag as being one of those guys, because

(13:19):
he really was under the radar in New Orleans. Some
of it was his own I don't want to say fault,
but responsibility not getting his team far into the playoffs.
But I understand the concept. He thinks he's great. He
wants to be in that conversation. You're just not there yet, though.
So I've got him seven. Do you have him in
the top five. I can't put him in my top

(13:40):
five because I mean, you just think about all the
guys that you listed off the top, you know Lebron.
I still think Lebron's a lead. I think he's gonna
have an incredible bounce back year next season where he
shows everybody just how good he is and that we
all forgot about him. Jannis obviously the reigning MVP Kawhi.
What he did in this postseason speaks for itself. Kevin
Durre when healthy, speaks for himself. And I'm with you

(14:02):
on Steph Curry. I truly am in the sense that
I've been critical of him at times. I think he,
you know, gets a little too much love at times.
But what he's done, even this year, even though they
didn't win the NBA Finals, what he did, and I
think it was what Game four where he put up
like forty nine points or whatever it was helping the
Warriors sweep the Golden State Wars. I think those are

(14:25):
my clear cut top five if you want to argue
a D versus Hard And even though Harden has an MVP,
I get it, but I'm with you, he's not in
the top five. Yeah, I think you can make certainly
make an argument a D is better than Harden. But again,
impact Harden has carried teams to great records. You know,
they win fifty something games. When Dwight Howard was hurt,
they still won. You know, without Dwight Howard, they won

(14:48):
Chris Paul before after they win, not they haven't won
a title, but they win and that you know, he's
having more of an impact. Say what you want to buy,
Anthony Davis? Say what you wanted Bouy Westbrook. I mean,
I know they haven't gotten on the first round, but
he he's gotten his team to the playoffs. He obviously
won an MVP averaging triple doles. Yeah, I wouldn't put
him ahead a d but you're right, he's I mean,
he gets his team to the playoffs year and year out,
which Ad has not done. All right, you're turned the way.

(15:10):
In eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox eight seven,
seven nine nine six sixty three sixty nine is Anthony Davis,
as he says, the best player in the NBA. Is
he even in the top five? Not for me and Aaron?
What about for you? We will continue the conversation with you.
Next is a hot one the Eye Couple with Aaron

(15:32):
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(16:36):
it is the Odd Couple here on this Tuesday. And
remember it's a trash talking Tuesday. So in the third
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(16:56):
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Let's get to the calls. We want to see what

(17:18):
the listeners think. Is Anthony Davis the best player in
the world? All right, first call Mark in New Orleans.
I'm guessing he is not too fired up to talk
about a Mark. You're on with Chris brussard erin Torres,
filling in for Rob Parker in the couple. Say Chris,
what's happening? I want to compliment you. You're the only one.

(17:38):
I mean, there's very few that I've heard that don't
that don't make Anthony Davis out to be God. Well,
thank you. I mean, I think God could get the
Pelicans to the playoffs than more than twice, get a
game against Portland in the second round, So twice and
seven years that I should say Golden State, I should

(17:59):
say that year. Yeah, I mean, look, he's a great player,
but he deserved he and I have no problem with
him demand in the trade. If that's what he wanted. Fine,
but he's he should have taken some of the blame
for why they weren't having the success that he wanted.
Reason and too much small, too much, right, I hear you,

(18:20):
I hear you. Yeah. Well look maybe the future, the
future might be bright down there in New Orleans. Zion's
gotta drop some weight. Look, if you want to help
the Pelicans, Mark make you gotta get people in New
Orleans not to feed Zion because if y'all treat him
with that typical New Orleans Creolecasian love and you're feeding

(18:40):
him ben ye and gumbo and crawfish, a two faye
and jumbalai and boot dang. You know I'm from there.
I know it. That boy gonna be four hundred pounds
by a second year. He made me hungry right there, Chris.
I mean, Zion is not the only one that's uh
that's gonna put on a few extra pounds here. Aaron
Zion might not be at the duncan to you if
he's gonna be like that, we at some point we

(19:02):
got to talk about those coach k comments. I was
actually the night that Zion debuted in his summer league
with the only game that he played was was my
wedding night actually, and uh, I saw the highlights after
and that that that jersey was fitting a little bit
tight there, Chris Brussard, I'm you know, I'm not here.
I'm not here to criticize. But facts or facts, Yeah,
he wasn't in shape and coach k said it as

(19:23):
you said, so yeah, we gotta get to that at
some point. All right, Next up, we have Mason in
the Bay Area. You're talking to Chris Brussard Erontres on
the odd couple. What's up, Chris. I gotta compliment you, man.
I watched Undisputed every day. I love your takes on that.
I think that's just great. But anyways, I got u

(19:46):
Anthony David's top five player next year. And I think
the moves as the Lakers made that not a lot
of people are talking about. Is uh the assistant coach
that they stole from Toronto the championship of the NBA. Hey,
And I think he's had great coaching with Alvin Gentry,
but I think this coach with Frank Vogel will really

(20:08):
be a step up. And I don't think a lot
of people are talking about that as just in coach move, well, yeah,
I mean they've got a nice staff. I mean you
also have Lionel Hollins and Jason Kidd, who both had
success as head coaches. But for coaching as important as
it is, though, a D just need to get it
done and if he does that, then he could move

(20:29):
into the top five for next season. But so far
he just doesn't have the resume yet. As far as wins,
I agree. Do you think real quick on a D.
Do you think he said this week that he's motivated,
not that he's motivated, that he expects to play as
many games as he can physically play. Do you buy
into the I don't know if it's because he's rejuvenated,

(20:49):
or he has a chip on his shoulder or whatever.
Do you think he's gonna be out there seventy two
seventy five times? I thought that was an interesting comment
that came out of his press conference on Saturday afternoon. Yeah,
I hope so. I mean I would love to see players,
not as much as I like Kawhi Leonard and obviously
was great last year. I'd like to see players not
follow that trend of taking twenty games off twenty two

(21:11):
actually in his case for low management, I really would.
And look, Kauhi may be a special case. We know
he's been kind of fragile throughout his career, so as
ad for that point matter. But and Kauhi, even with
the lowd management, was a little banged up in the playoffs,
you know, and that's one reason he also insisted on
playing with a second star wherever he was going in

(21:34):
free agency. But if you know, if you're not that player,
if your body is fine, then play. I mean Anthony
Davis who twenty five, twenty six, he should be out
there playing. So I'd love to see him play seventy
five games. And Lebron he's a different story. Obviously, in
the seventeenth year he may need a little bit more

(21:54):
load management. I don't think any player needs twenty games
the low management. I'm sorry, I agree. I also wonder
if the idea that now that the super team era
quote unquote is sort of dead with this duo era,
if guys are going to be more motivated to play,
just because the disparity between Team one and say Team
nine ten eleven, specifically in the West, is is smaller

(22:17):
than it's been. But great point, great point, we got
Kim in Wisconsin, odd couple Chris brusardin Artoris on the phone. Hey, gentlemen,
how are you this evening? We're great, man, how are you?
I'm good? H I don't know if you remember Floyd
Banister from baseball, but I have a feeling that's who
Anthony Davis is going to turn out to be. He

(22:41):
was a good pitcher for Kansas City in a small
market and everybody thought, well, just give him on a
good team and he'll be great. White Sox traded for
him trying to get over the top, and he was
just a five hundred pitcher. I think Anthony Davis came
from a small market. He looked great there. Well he
was their star. Now how that he's in a big

(23:03):
market and the presser is gonna be on him. I
really don't think he's gonna be that good. Can't I
can't go with you on that with Kim. I mean
Floyd Banister, I had not heard of him. I heard
of Ken the Animal Banister, but I look a d
whether he lives up to you know, whether he becomes
a multiple champion or not in LA. I mean, Floyd

(23:25):
Banister is a one time All star, so he's not.
He's not going to be Floyd Banister. He's not gonna
be a guy that twenty years from now people are
like who they don't remember? So that's a little harsh.
There's no he's going to be a perennial All Star.
You had those baseball nuggets off the top of her.
Have you been hanging out with Rob Parker too much? Man?

(23:47):
I did just quit a quick reference for Floyd Banister.
I can't. I can't tell a lie. You got the
baseball car in front of you, say you could say it.
I could have claimed it right. But I would have
done that had I not already he said, I never
heard the floor. If I hadn't said that, I would
have been like, oh yeah, I remember one time All Star.
I wasn't gonna call you out for the first nine

(24:09):
two great year, friend, I remember that year. It was incredible.
It's all right here on Baseball Reference dot Com. All right, So, uh,
the listeners a little bit with us. For the most part.
UH want to see Ad put his money where his
mouth is, so to speak. It is the Eye Couple
coming to you live from the Geico Fox Sports Radio studios.

(24:32):
It is easy to say fifteen percent or more on
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hard part is figuring out which way is easier. Let's
stick with a little NBA Aaron as we wait on
Rod Woodson to join us. Uh, they're the Lakers GM

(24:52):
Rob Pelinka. He made a strong comment recently. He said,
if they don't win a championship, the season is not
a success. Your thoughts, it's kind of the Anthony Davis thing, right,
It's it's it's the right thing for an executive to
say when you have Lebron James and you put all
your eggs in the Anthony Davis basket. But this isn't

(25:15):
and I know this is not new news, but this
isn't Kde going to the Warriors, where it would be
absolutely catastrophic if this organization didn't win. I mean, you
look at the rest of the teams around the league,
whether it is the Clippers right in the Staples Center
with them, whether it is the Rockets, who maybe they
figure things out with Hearten in Westbrook, whether it is

(25:36):
Philly or Milwaukee, whoever in the East. I don't think
it's I don't think it's anything close to a guarantee
that the Lakers even get to the finals, let alone
win it. I like the confidence, but I don't, you know,
I don't really buy the hubris. I don't. I agree
with you, they're not the prohibitive favorites. Again, I think
right now I have them second best, and I've got

(25:58):
the Clippers slightly ahead of them because I think their
pieces fit together better. I think their defense is gonna
be tenacious, and I think they got the better coaching
Doc Rivers. However, I think the Lakers are right on
their heels, and you know, we'll see how. The Lakers
have more question marks, but if those question marks are
answered in the affirmative, then they can beat the Clippers

(26:20):
and everybody else. But I say this there and I
disagree with you, and that I agree with Rob Polinka,
and I'm not I don't think he was saying, look,
we're the favorite, We're the best team out there. But
I think he's saying nothing else is going to be
viewed as success. This is championship or nothing for us.

(26:41):
Like if they get to the finals and lose to Milwaukee,
you think the Lakers gonna feel good about that well,
like last year with Lebron and those young kids, if
they had gotten to the conference finals, certainly beyond that
and lost, I think that would have been a successful season,
even the second round. If you go down in a

(27:02):
tough six or seven games to a Golden State or something,
that could have been viewed as a successful season. But
now you have the pieces and you're right, it's not
there on a silver platter for you. But if you've
got arguably the best player in the world still in Lebron,
and a guy that says he's the best player in
the world in a d veteran role players around them,

(27:23):
versatile role players around them, anything less than a championship
is a disappointment. See I disagree in the sense, and
maybe we can bring in Rob Gara, our Lakers insider here.
I feel like, because it's been so long since the
Lakers made the playoffs. Look, getting to the first round
and getting swept by Utah isn't gonna make anybody happy.

(27:44):
But because it's been so long, they haven't been on
the cusp. They haven't even been on the cusp of
the playoffs for six years or whatever, it's been five years.
So to me, you gotta get there. You gotta make
a deep run. But I think as long as you're
setting yourself up for the long term, for the back
half of the Bron James contract, I do think that
fans would be okay with it, especially because you now

(28:05):
have another, for lack of a better term, superpower in
Staples Center. Here's the thing, though, and when you go
to the Staples Center to a Lakers game, what kind
of banners do you see? Divisional conference ones? You see
championships six? Is it sixteen? Rogie sixteen? And Boston's got eighteen? Look, Lebron,

(28:28):
this might be the back half for Lebron. Who knows
he's in his seventeenth year. He had a serious injury
last year. They have got to win the championship within
the next two years. I think that's the window. If
they haven't won it within the next two years, then
they won't win it with this group unless they add
a significant piece or move, make a major blockbuster move.

(28:52):
So it's got it. I think they got the two
year window at least because Lebron. We don't know how
Lebron is going to continue to age. But my point,
Aaron is this is there's nothing else that's gonna satisfy
them that six year run out of the playoffs. Where
are those players? All of MC gone except Kyle Kuzma.

(29:13):
Lebron James has three rings, He's a veteran. Anthony Davis
is a veteran even though he hadn't won anything, and
he's a second guy on the team. You got other guys.
Rondo a champion, Danny Green a champion. So no, it's
not Look, I get it. If they lose to the
Clippers in a hard fought, knock down, drag out seven

(29:34):
games in the Western Conference Finals, I mean, yeah, you
may have just lost to a better team, but that's
going to that's failure. This is a team that is
capable of winning the championship. Every champion, every player save
Elgin Baylor who has been for the Los Angeles Lakers
on Lebron James's level, Jerry West, Kareem abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson,

(30:00):
Shaquille O'Neill, Kobe Bryant, they all have delivered titles. Will Chamberlain,
Lebron's got to deliver a title. Last year was your
little year to play around. Now it's championship or bust.
And again I'm not saying you gotta blow it up
if they don't win it, but nothing's going to be

(30:20):
a successful season outside of banner number seventeen. Can I
get an amen? Rob? G Amen? Chris were sorry? You know?
Am I right? I mean you you're the Lakers fan? Yes?
Are you gonna be satisfied with anything but a championship?
If they go to the Western Conference finals this year,
they losing seven to the Clippers and you feel like

(30:44):
they were right there and they could be back next
year and all those guys that haven't played together coming
into this year, if that happens, Rob, you will not
be satisfied. You're gonna go to bed the night of
Game seven saying I hate this team. Blow it up.
They make You're going too far. I'm saying blow it up,
but go ahead, Rob. Yes, if they do not win

(31:04):
the championship, it would be a disappointment. And the reason
being Now, Aaron, I was with you earlier when you
were saying they hadn't won anything in you know, so
many years, I haven't been in the playoffs, haven't been
in contention. That all changed the minute Lebron James came
to the Lakes. As soon as he came, but they
missed the playoffs after He can understand that. But the
expectation one as soon as he came was they are
minimum contending. And now they got Anthony Davis. Now it's hey,

(31:27):
you can't say you don't have the players anymore. There's
no excuse why the Lakers should not be one of
the final four teams. If not the NBA Final four
is different than being disappointed if you don't win the chip,
That's true, But when you're a Laker fan, you're expecting
to win a championship every season. Sure. You know what's
really interesting to me about this because in the way
he just dismissed as sure, I mean, my goodness, who

(31:51):
dismissed too? You just like brushed him off like dirt
on your should. I wouldn't dismiss Rob. Yeah, yeah, he's
my Lakers insider. Whenever I whenever I need something, I
go to Rob. But I was gonna say, I do
think it's interesting. I feel like Kawai reset the entire
narrative in the NBA. And Chris you know this, Remember
when it was you gotta go through your lumps. Everybody

(32:13):
you know, you gotta you know you're gonna lose in
the second round, then you're gonna lose in the finals.
Then you're gonna win the championship in year three, year four.
Now it's like Kawhi kind of proved like, if you're
good enough, just win it in the first year. I mean,
I guess Katie and the Warriors did that too, but like,
but they were stacked. I know that was no. Yeah
that look you that's a great point. And not only
now or in this current era, but historically there have

(32:37):
been very few situations where a guy has done what
Kawhi Leonard did first year. No other stars. Moses Malone
first year in Philadelphia Day won it, but he had
Doctor Jay, Andrew Tony, Maurice Cheeks, Bobby Like, they had
a great team already. I think they were in the
finals a year before lost to the Lakers. So that

(32:57):
was almost not quite what Kad did, but very close
to what KD did. Actually, it was what Kadi did.
You know, Moses was traded, but Kadi went to a
team that had lost in the finals year before and
they won it. So great point on Kauai, but you're
wrong on everything else. It will not it will be
a failure if the Lakers don't win it this year.

(33:18):
I just think the West is the earth is too
flat in the West. Not to use a Kyrie term there,
but every like like you look at all those good teams,
I'm not listening now. Look what I'm agreeing with you
in that it's they're not the again. I don't even
have them as a favorite, you know. And it is
not set out on a platter like it was for
Golden State with KD, like it was at times for

(33:41):
Miami with Lebron. You know, I agree with you there.
I'm just saying the expectations and the goals of the
Lakers are so high and rightfully so, that anything less
than a title will be a failure. I think we
need to clip this off because if they lose in
seven to the Clippers, I don't think Lakers fan I

(34:03):
think Lakers fans are disappointed, but I don't think it's
like sky is falling catastrophe, which is the way that
Rob Polinka set this whole thing up. All right, those
are the final words of mister Aaron Tours. You can
rack that. I don't agree rack mind too. We will
get to them microwave takes later on during the season,

(34:24):
But folks are saying the Cowboys as we go to
the NFL might have to choose between Ezekiel Elliott and
Dak Prescott. But Aaron Torres says, why not keep both?
That's next odd couple with a T and for Rob
Parker on Fox Sports Radio. At Farmers Insurance, we know
the sound of a perfect hot air balloon landing and

(34:45):
a Leston perfect one covered it. Doctor, Farmers were underwritten
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I'm Chris Broussar alongside Aaron Torres, who is in for
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a quick and an easy way that you can save money.

(35:05):
Switch the guy Coode. It only takes fifteen minutes to
see if you could say fifteen percent or more on
your car insurance. Go to gecode dot com see how
much you can save. All right, let's switch to the
NFL Aaron for a few moments. Obviously, the big news
of the week really is that Ezekiel Elliott is considering
Pro football. Talk actually says he has told people he

(35:28):
intends to sit out training camp, holdout until he gets
a contract extension. And I am of the belief that
they have got to take care of Ezekiel Elliott now.
I know that the back end of a contract extension
that wouldn't start until two years from now, could he could.

(35:48):
Maybe he's probably not worth it the last year or two,
but he's worth it now. And Jerry Jones has championship aspirations.
We just talked about the Lakers win is not a success.
Cowboys certainly aren't where the Lakers are as far as
being that good. But they right Felicia go into the

(36:10):
season thinking we are going to win a super Bowl,
and I'm gonna say this, They've got a shot. But
if Ezekiel Elliott is out, they won't even make the playoffs.
So I think they gotta take care of you. I
agree undred percent, and I think the window is now.
I understand that some people, you know, I was listening
to Colin this morning. He was saying, prioritize Dak. You

(36:32):
can find another run. You can't find another guy like
Ezekiel Elliott led the NFL in rushing yards last year.
I just look at it exactly like you do. Chris
Jerry Jones is seventy six years old. He'll be seventy
seven during this NFL season. You know that guy wants
a super Bowl. You know that guy wants to do
it now, and the window is now. Wits Zeke as

(36:53):
a young guy. I think the tandem of Dak and
Zeke can make noise in the playoffs. Once you get in,
anything can happen. You have Dak without Zeek. We saw
what happened when Zeke was suspended a few years ago. Yeah,
I'm with him, and look, I get where Colin's coming from,
and I typically agree. I mean running backs. Now, we
see undrafted guys like Philip Lindsay. We see seventh round

(37:16):
picks like Chris Carson. We see third round picks like
Kareem Hunt Alvin Kamar coming in doing damage. So I
get it. I can get a good running back wherever
I need to. You know, we saw C. J. Anderson
filling admirably for Todd Gurley last year, and right right,
he sure did. But Ezekiel Elliott is a different animal. Okay,

(37:40):
if Melvin Gordon look I like him, I like to
keep him at a certain number. But if I'm San Diego,
I can do without Melvin Gordon ever four No, without
even last year. But Ezekiel Elliott, no, they need him.
You like Melvin Gordony, you love him like Okay? I
love Ezekiel Elliott. I love Zekey, not in love, but

(38:01):
love him Okay. Odd Couple Aaron Torre is trying to
bring humor. He's about as funny as Rob Parker, which
isn't saying much. Keep it locked next two hours. Be
sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple with
Chris Broussard and Rob Parker week days at seven pm Eastern,
four pm Pacific. Yes, I am Chris, he is Aaron,

(38:25):
and Aaron is bringing heat. I'm telling you he is
coming hard with the takes, with the humor filling in
admirably for Roy Parker. We're coming to you live from
the Guy cooed Fox Sports Radio Studios. Fifteen minutes could
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Visit Geico dot com for a free rate quote. In

(38:46):
about thirty minutes, we will have NBA champion Fox Sports
NBA analysts and always the outspoken one, Antonio Daniels will
join us, so of course he does podcasting for the
Oklahoma City Thunder, so he will have plenty to say
about Russell Westbrook and fitting in with James Harden in Houston.

(39:08):
And since we're on that topic, Aaron, let's stay there.
Mike D'Antoni made some interesting comments recently about his offense.
He said, we aren't tweaking much. We'll tweak it. But
to say you can't win that way is bs for

(39:32):
those who've been under a rock. Russell Westbrook was just
traded to Houston for Chris Paul. So now you've got
the two most ball dominant players in the league, two
of the most ball dominant players in history, and in fact,
they do each have the highest usage rates for a season,
the one and two in NBA history. They're going to

(39:54):
play together, and Mike D'Antoni says, eh, we're gonna pretty
much play the same way we did last year year. Aaron,
your thoughts, well, I mean, I think the concept of
playing the way that they play, I do think it
can work. I'm just not sure it could work with
Russell Westbrook because it's exactly yeah, like you know, and

(40:16):
this is we'll get into Daryl Morey at some point,
but like I think he's a and I hate to
say it. I think he's a math nerd. I don't
think he understands the concept. Well, he is definitely a
math nerd. That's not even an insult. He would probably
tell you that. Well, I don't think he's a math nerd.
And that's that's in vogue in the NBA today. Math nerds.
I guess, yeah, I mean it is, but it is.

(40:38):
Whether it should be is another question, but it is
in vogue. And who just who just orchestrated the whole
Kawhi Leonard thing. Jerry West a basketball guy through and through,
but the logo Ryan No, I mean, I just the
thing with Morey that I was gonna get to is.
I get it. I get what his background is. I
don't think he has a concept of how puzzle pieces
actually fit together on a basketball court. And with the

(41:01):
Clippers as an example, Kauhi, Paul George, they play off
of each other, Patrick Beverley, Montrese, Harold, the pieces all
fit together, and you look at the rockets like, yeah,
of course, D'Antonio isn't going to change anything because he's
basically done the same thing since the Phoenix Suns days
a decade ago with Steve Nash. But will it work?
I don't think so. But I don't necessarily blame him

(41:23):
because he is who he is and he can only
go with the players that management gets him. I just
don't think the puzzle pieces fit to keep doing it. Well.
I'll quickly address what you said about Daryl Morey, and
he is the poster child for analytics, okay, the gym
of the Houston Rockets and the problem with analytics, whether
it's baseball or basketball. And I think, look, analytics are

(41:47):
a part of your basketball equation. Every NBA front office
does obviously, but should have a strong analytics department. They
just shouldn't be running things you should. Your analytics should
not determine every move, Okay, because what analytics don't do
is taking the consideration the human elements chemistry. Is a

(42:12):
player cold blooded under pressure? Or will he choke under pressure? Heart? Fortitude? Character?
And Daryl Morey, look, he's a good gem. He's overrated
because some people think he's tremendous. And the thing about
Daryl Morey is that even though he is the analytics guy,

(42:34):
he consistently makes moves that not only disregard analytics, but
often go the exact opposite of analytics. Okay, now I'm
with it. If Colin cowher calls it analytics, I'm with
taking the analytics into consideration, but making moves based on
other factors. But his moves are beyond that. Russells Brook

(43:00):
doesn't fit analytically at all with the Rockets. Chris Paul didn't,
Jamie Butler, who they wanted, didn't, Carmelo Anthony didn't, Dwight
Howard didn't, and so that is the situation with Daryl Morey.
He I heard Colin Cowherd say it. It was a
great example. It's like if if you're a fashion expert

(43:21):
and you dress horrible, you know, it just doesn't make sense.
But I want to get to Mike D'Antoni and what
he said. I will say this and then let you
go in and you know, go comment on it, and
then we'll go address the rest of it. What he
said his comment, second half of his comment to say,
you can't win that way or essentially the way he

(43:41):
coaches and his team's play is bs. I agree with
him there. Now, Aaron, I'm in the minority. It may
even be a minority of one. I think Mike d'antoni's
a Hall of fame coach. He hadn't won a title.
But Don Nelson is a Hall of fame coach, he
never won a title. And Mike D'Antoni has helped change basketball,

(44:03):
okay with what he did in Phoenix seven seconds or less. Obviously,
he's had great success in Houston, even though they haven't
won the ring. Now he's got his warts. Don't get
me wrong, but I just think he's been a Hall
of fame coach, and I do agree with him that
the way his teams play can win championships. Let's not
forget two years ago they were right there. If Chris

(44:27):
Paul doesn't get hurt and they're up three two on
Golden State, maybe they win that series, and maybe they
win the championship. When he was in Phoenix the year
that his players a Mari stydomire Boris Dial got suspended
against San Antonio, I believe they were up to one,
but even if they weren't, that was a team they

(44:49):
could have won that series without the suspensions, and the
Western Playoffs were the championship that year, and really those years,
a lot of those years in that era, and so
Phoenix would to have won that championship, I believe. I
think they would have faced made me New Jersey the nets,
but they would have won, I believe, a title. So

(45:11):
Barr except for that fight, that brawl, and he didn't
keep his players on the bench. So I do agree
with him that his style can win titles. I'm glad
you said that hall of Fame and not Hall of Fame.
I don't know, but I do agree. I think because
he hasn't won a championship like that's what you use
against him to kind of tear down what he's done

(45:32):
as a coach. And I listen, one of his teams
are always entertaining. Two. I agree that I think he's
ushered in this era where I've even heard him say
that in the Phoenix days, they wanted to shoot more threes,
but it was so revolutionary at the time that they
thought they were crazy for taking thirty or thirty five threes,

(45:54):
and so now they're at fifty fifty five whatever with
the rockets. But I'm with you in that I do
think the style can win. And it was really interesting
when you open the segment. I thought you were gonna say,
I think he's crazy for saying the style can win,
which obviously you weren't. You were saying that the combination
of Westbrook and Harden. I agree with you. That's also
why I was so disappointed in this trade from Houston's perspective,

(46:15):
because it seems like, and I hate to keep bringing
it back to Darryl Moorey. I know we're focused on
Dantoni here, but it seems like every time they're right
on the edge, Daryl Morey feels like he has to
tinker for the sake of tinkering. And I know that
Chris Paul struggled, I know the problems that they had
internally in the locker room, but I don't think that
they're closer to a championship with Russell Westbrook in place

(46:39):
of Chris Paul. I don't think they would have been
if they had gotten Jimmy Butler this offseason. And that's
what's disappointing to me, is because I do think this
style can work. I do think Dantoni has somehow become
an underrated coach because he hasn't won a championship, hasn't
made a finals. But I agree that this style can work.
I just don't think it's with this particular group. Of
players headlined by Harden and Westbrook. Yeah, I'm with you,

(47:01):
and that's why, like you said, I agree with the
second half of his statement, this type you can win
this way. But for him to say he's not tweaking anything,
They're done. They're done. Houston Rockets fans, you are done.
I didn't think you were winning the championship anyway. I
think you'll make the playoffs. I think you'll be sexy.

(47:24):
I think you'll be must cy TV. I think at
times it'll be you know, people like people stopping to
watch a car accident. You know, you got more talented.
Westbrook is better than Chris Paul at this point, but
this will not work. The only chance these two players
have of playing together and it working, in my view,

(47:46):
is if they had something akin to a Golden State
type offense where there was a lot of ball movement
player movement, where Westbrook was moving and cutting and flashing
and running along the baseline and Harden was moving at
times where the ball wasn't sticking. That's where I think

(48:07):
it could It will have the best chance of working.
But it's not tweak much not tweak. What not tweak?
James Harden having the ball in his hands forty something
percent of the time, dribbling out the clock and either
taking the shot or passing to somebody with the shot
clock going down, and then they've got to shoot. It

(48:29):
is Russell Westbrook is the is about the furthest thing
you can get from a spot up three point shooter,
And if you're not gonna tweak much, then that's what
you're gonna make him. And that's not gonna work. Yeah,
And that's why this move was so disappointing to me.
And I think I actually texted you and Rob when
it went down because you guys were on there and

(48:52):
you know, and I think, and this is what's the
sad part to me, And it goes back to Dantoni
is I think this is his last run, right, because
they fired his whole coaching staff. They're not gonna win
this year. To your point, they're gonna be fun to watch,
they're not gonna win. And this guy's sixty eight years old,
and I do think he's gonna go down as one
of those coaches maybe like Don Nelson, as you just referenced,

(49:13):
Chris that doesn't get the credit that he deserves because
he was already on thin ice fair or not going
into the offseason. As I just mentioned, they got rid
of the entire coaching staff and it's not gonna work.
And I actually feel bad for him because again, as
a head coach, you can only use the puzzle pieces
that are given to you by management. But I just
I don't see any way that this works unless, as

(49:34):
you just said, Chris Russell Westperk completely changes the way
that he plays basketball, because you just we kin, we
kind of just saw it with Chris Paul, right, Chris
Paul too many dribbles, wasn't going It's like, I just
don't think it's gonna work. And I actually feel bad
for Dan Tony because I think come next April, May June,
he's gonna be the fall guy rather than Darryl Moorey,

(49:55):
rather than James Harden, rather than Russell westper no question,
And look, James hardened by himself in the D'Antoni offense
we see is incredibly effective. Yes, and he didn't alter
his game one iota for Chris Paul, not one iota.
In fact, he became more bald. I haven't checked the

(50:16):
usage rates, Rob g check those. I think he became
more ball dominant, just from the eye test, and Russell
Westbrook by himself would be a terror in Mike d'antoni's offense.
A downhill point guard coming off a high pick and
roll with shooters around him at the three point line,

(50:38):
Rustbrook will beat doing damage. But with James Harden there,
that's the problem. Harden's not gonna be a spot up shooter.
And it gets to D'Antoni when he says, I'm not
gonna tweak it. As much as I like him, and
obviously I like him, I say he's a Hall of famer.
He's a one trick pony. Aaron sure, that's his problem.
When he went to New York and didn't have the

(50:59):
paces to play the way he wants to play, they
were horrible. When he went to the Lakers and didn't
have the pieces. He had good pieces, Kobe Dwight Howard,
but he didn't have the guys that fit his system.
They weren't good. And it's the same like now he's
got guys. He needs to make some changes. And so

(51:22):
that's why I hesitated, and hesitate. Don't call him an
offensive genius. Great offensive coach, but not a genius because
he doesn't adapt to his personnel, and I think there
is a way to adapt. That's what made Steve Kerr
such a great coach. Mark Jackson was a good coach.
That team was a good fifty something win team, second

(51:42):
round playoff team. But Steve Kerr went in there, put
in the perfect system for that group of guys, and
they went to heights. Nobody, maybe even themselves, didn't think
they could. And you know what, Chris quick aside here,
I want to let you know, you ask me a question.
By James Hardy's usage rate, it has gone up each
of the last three years. Think of that. You got

(52:03):
another ball dominant, All star, future Hall of Famer at
your side, and you your usage rate went up. Sure, No,
I mean here and Westbrooker buddies, but I hope there
are buddies two years from now. I mean right, yeah, No,
I mean listen, we all heard Kadie and Steph oh
there's silks. Yeah, and we saw how quickly that deteriorated. No,

(52:25):
And I mean, and that's what I will. I will
push back, and maybe it's a conversation we have after
the break, but I do think he's a little more adaptable,
or he's at least good with getting more out of
pieces than maybe he gets credit for. I mean, who
was Steve Nash before he played for Mike D'Antoni. The
Rockets won forty one games the year before he got there.

(52:45):
They win fifty six his first year. Second year, they're
a game away from going to the NBA. Well, both
of those cases, though he had players that fit his style.
I get it, but Nash was a two time All Star. Now,
you're right, he took him to levels. I mean, he
never would have been an MVP. I don't even think
he'd be a Hall of Famer without D'Antoni. So I
agree with you there. Yeah, I just that's my only pushback.

(53:06):
I don't think they're gonna win next year. I don't
think I think he is gonna end up being the
fall guy. I don't think he gets credit for. Listen,
if he doesn't have the pieces. You're right, but I
do think he gets more out of certain guys than
they would get out of themselves or other coaches would
get out of them. Yeah, certain types. I'm with you
on that, but we will we will maybe have to

(53:26):
agree to disagree on that when that never happens on
this show. Really, he just disagree. He never agree to disagree.
We just disagree and then we keep going at it.
I need a cole showered, all right. If Mike D'Antoni
is unwilling to adjust this style of play to fit
Harden in Westbrook, are the Rockets destined to fail next season?
It's your turn the way in eight seven, seven ninety

(53:49):
nine on Fox eight seven, seven nine nine six sixty
three sixty nine. Are the Rockets doomed because D'Antoni won't tweak.
We'll continue the conversation with you next. Chris Bruce, Arenar
and Torres the odd couple Fox Sports Radio. When do
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(55:17):
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At eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox. What do
you think Mike D'Antoni tripping by saying they're gonna run
essentially the same offense as they always have, even with
the addition of Russell Westbrook. Let's get to the cars.

(56:22):
At first call Mark from Virginia. You're out with the
odd couple, Aaron Torres filling in for Rob Parker with
Christou Sard. Hey, gentleman, how you doing this evening? We're
great man. What's happening? Yeah? I just never had any
respect for that offense. I don't really when I'm watching
the game, I don't see the offense. I just see
James Harden just dribble, drible. Trible does whatever he wants

(56:43):
to do, takes a hundred shots. If he gets in trouble,
he kicks it out. They drop for three. They score
them out of parts. But it almost looks like schoolyard,
just up and down. But you know, I'm not trying
to disrespect James Harden. He put a lot of numbers
last ship, but I respect the boar who needs forty
shots to get forty points. I mean, I just you know,

(57:06):
a lot of efficiency in his game. You give stuffed
curring on Kevin Durant for thirty point over overall, he
shot about forty four percent from the floor, I believe,
but he was His true efficiency is good because he
hits a lot of threes and he gets to the

(57:26):
free throw line a lot, so he actually is fairly efficient,
though his regular field goal percentage doesn't show. And the
thing I would add too is I did think that
when I watched them this year. Yes, Harden had a
lot of ISO stuff, but I thought the ball moved
pretty well all things considered. It was when Chris Paul
came in. Well, when Chris Paul comes in, you can
see a difference where he does the thing where he

(57:48):
comes off the screen. He kind of dribbles right into
the middle of the lane and he doesn't really know
where to go and he can't get buy anybody. So
I know that Harden is an easy target, but I
don't know, man, Eric Gordon, Gerald Green, PJ. Tucker. Those
guys had a lot of wide open threes, you know
when you watch them enough. Yeah, I mean hard look
Harden as much as you might people want to criticize,

(58:10):
He's phenomenal and I like watching him. I mean, I know,
to be able to get those shots up one on
one man in your face a lot of times, most
times maybe quicker than you, faster than you, got some length,
and you still can create enough space just off the
dribble to get a three up. It's incredible what he does.

(58:30):
But it's not gonna they narrow win a championship this
way with him and Russell Westbrook. Well, that's perfect because
Marcus and Houston wants to comment on that odd couple.
Aaron Tours and Chris Brussard. Hey, guys, what's happening? Marcus,
what's up? Not too much. I'm a first time call.
I just wanted to let you guys know that. Thank
you man. We appreciate my first time host. Sort of second,

(58:53):
I'm kind of all the negative chatter about James Harden
and Russell Westbrook. You guys were saying the same thing
when we traded for Chris Paul. It's not gonna work.
We don't know how it's gonna work. Hey, at this
stage in these guys career, we have two MVPs, two
all star players. They will have to make the adjustment

(59:15):
to make it work. Tell me how they're gonna what
they're gonna do to make it work. No, I'm not
wishful thinking. I just think at this stage in their career,
they're gonna have to make some adjustments. Hardness gonna have
to get off the ball. He's not gonna be able
to dribble the shot clock down on the twenty one seconds.

(59:35):
He's not gonna be able to do that, all right,
I mean just said they're not tweaking much Dan Dan Tony.
He's not gonna play his hand right now. He's saying that,
but he but he knows. Just gotta be adjustment. It
definitely has If he wants to keep his job, it's
definitely gonna have to be adjustment. Well, I do think

(59:57):
Harden is more capable of make adjustments than Westbrook. Westbrook
is what he is, Aaron, and that's his great strength
and his great weakness. One hundred and ten miles an
hour for forty eight minutes. Dunna really understand time and score.
You know that you don't play minute forty seven like
you played minute seventeen. And that's what enables him to

(01:00:18):
be so great and get triple doubles for his whole seasons,
but it's also what makes him exasperating. And I don't
think he can be the best player on the championship team. Yeah.
I just think Marcus kind of just said, oh, you know,
Harden could just play off the ball, and I get it.
He's more adaptable than Westbrook. As you just said, Chris,
that doesn't mean that Harden can be hardened when the

(01:00:39):
ball isn't in his hands so right, and or that
Westbrook can be Westbrook, because that's the thing too. One
of them could submit and let the other guy have
his way, but then that other player is not gonna
be himself agreed, and then they're not at their maximum value.
And it's all right. Can James Harden and Russell Westbrook

(01:00:59):
cohe exists in Houston. NBA champion Antonio Daniels next, and
we're coming to you live from the Geico Fox Sports
Radio Studios. It is easy to say, fifteen percent or
more on your car insurance with Geico. Go to Geico
dot com or call eight hundred nine four seven Auto.
The only hard part figuring out which way is easier.

(01:01:19):
And we love bringing in our next guests. We have
not spoken to him since the Blockbruster trade, so a
lot to get into. Can't wait to hear his opinion
of that. NBA champion, Fox Sports NBA analysts Antonio Daniels,
what's happening, man, what's gonna press? Myself? Aaron, Yes, Chris,
before you ask me, I do think it's gonna work. Really, Yes,

(01:01:41):
you're just trying to be nice man. No no, no, no, no, no, Chris.
You I've done enough interviews with you guys, and you
know I get down. If I didn't think it was
gonna work, I would tell you, okay, work. Now, let
me let me ask you what your definition to work is.
I do think the Rockets will be a playoff team.
I do think they'll be, you know, that type of

(01:02:02):
team you don't really want to see because of Westbrooks relentlessness,
hard and skill and ability, you know, but I don't
think they can beat the Lakers or the Clippers or
win a championship like this, So what is work for you?
Is work when it because that's the goal, right, win
the title for them? Well, I mean then the thing
is basically what we're saying, what we're saying in a

(01:02:24):
different senses. Um, it's only about five teams that it
worked for then because teams that realistically can win the
title teams don't count. Okay, is Houston in that five
to win the NBA Championship. I don't think so, Not
in this first year. I don't think so in this
first year. All right, So tell us because I'm just

(01:02:46):
saying that because look, they were good already, I mean dark, Heck,
they were great. Let's face it, right, they might have
been the second best team in the league the last
two years. And but so they the goal and I
don't every team's goal is to win a championship. But
right now they are like, we made this move to
win a title. They felt like they couldn't win it

(01:03:07):
the way they were. That's what this was about. But
tell me why you think it's going to work. The
main reason I think it's going to work, Chris is
I'll give you two reasons. First, because of their relationship,
because of the relationship that Russell Westbrook and James Harden
have had for years and covering the Oklahoma City Thunder
the last four years. Russell is one of the most

(01:03:28):
if not the most competitive athlete I've ever seen. Meaning this,
when the game is over, he ain't saying good game,
He ain't high five and nobody you know, when the
game is over and players exchanged pleasant reas, he ain't
doing none of that. He is gone. There is one
player that I have seen him embrace when the game
is over prior to the game and braid take a

(01:03:48):
picture with him and posting on social media before the game,
take a picture with him after the game and posting
on social media. Regardless of the outcome. That one player
is James Harden. Their relationship is one reason I think
it will work. The second reason is because now Russell
does not have to have that alpha dog mentality because
he is stepping into a situation that's not his own,

(01:04:10):
so now his mentality is different. James Harden has won
an MVP in Houston, so this is not Russell Westbrook's team.
This is James Harden's team, and they both they both
signed up for this. James Harden wonted Russell Westbrook. Russell
Westbrook wanted to go to Houston and play with James
Harden because he understands this is James Harden's team. I'm
not coming in to be the same Russell Westbrook that

(01:04:31):
I was in Oklahoma City. So those are the two
reasons for me, Chris, I feel it's going to work
one relationship, and two Russell will come in with a
different mentality because now he understands he's stepping into a
team that lost to the best team in the world
three the last four years. So yeah, and I was
gonna say, so, one thing that Chris and I have

(01:04:52):
been talking about throughout the show is does one guy
have to quote unquote take a step back change his game? Whatever?
Do you believe one does, Antonio? And if so, which
one would it be? Actually, I think they both do,
because if you go and you look at you know,
the analytics, they have led the league and users rate
the past two years, so one and two, one and two.

(01:05:13):
I mean, there's no denying that that is what the
numbers say. So with that being said, Russell Westbrook is
yet to play with another League guard or guard as
good as James Harden. James Harden has yet to play
with another league guard or guard as good as Russell Westbrook,
because I don't count Kevin Durant, and that because Kevin

(01:05:34):
Durant has not a league guard that initiates the offense,
and so on and so forth. Chris Paul for James Harden,
I don't know who it would be for Russell Westbrook.
Maybe Victor Oladipo, I don't know, maybe Dennis Shrewder, one
of the you know, as far as the best league
guard that they played with. So now there's a different
sort of trust when you have this. Now you have

(01:05:55):
no issue saying, you know what, let me give the
bar to Russell because I trust him. Let me give
them all the games because I trust him. Both of
these guys have won mbps. So with that being said,
they cannot both continue to be the same player that
they had been because now they both have to take
a step back and see what they have to do
to make this whole situation work. Antonio Daniel's NBA champion

(01:06:20):
joining us here on the I couple. Look, I like
what I'm hearing from you, and I do think the
best chance they will have of working would be some
type of offense, not exactly, but somewhat similar to Golden States,
where you had a lot of ball and player movement.
You know, Russell's fully capable of moving without the basketball.

(01:06:40):
He doesn't do it much now, but cutting, flashing, running
the baseline hard, and obviously can catch and shoot, can
shoot the basketball. But here's a quote, Mike D'Antoni just said,
we aren't tweaking much. We'll tweak it. But to say
you can't win that way, meaning his offensive style is BS.
I think D'Antoni has to adjust a lot for this

(01:07:04):
to really work. Antonio and I don't think he's capable
or willing to do it, you know. And this is
not a shot at Mike D'Antoni. You know, for playing
thirteen years, Chris, you know what I found out. It's
very few coaches that know how to coach outside of
their way, you think. So when I came in, when
I came in bred Popovitch. He's the guy that has

(01:07:27):
adjusted to the times. He's adjusted to different decades, He's
adjusted to rule changes, showing and so forth. You know,
I played for coach Eddie Jordan's in Washington, and Eddie
Jordan knew the Princeton offense. If you think about it,
that same Prinston offense is what the Sacramento Kings ran
with Chris Webber and Mike Bibby and those guys. That
same Sacramento I mean, that same Prinston offense is the

(01:07:49):
same offense that New Jersey ran with Kerry Kittles and
Kenyan Martin and Jathan Kidd where they played this verse
in the NBA Finals. We didn't have a aster to
really run that same offense, but we ran it anyway
because that's what that's what was known, you know what
I'm saying. So a lot of coaches they came up

(01:08:09):
and they know how to coach a certain way, and
that's just that's just the way it is. Now. The
Mike D'Antoni system has proven to be successful throughout the
regular season and the postseason, somewhat depending on what we're
basing success on. But you know, I remember, Chris, when
I was on with you a rob a while back,

(01:08:29):
I said the thing I felt the Houston Rockets did.
I thought they overreacted. You know, she lost to the
best team in the world three in the last four years.
There's no shame in that, and maybe Mike d'antoni's feeling
in that same exact way. You know what, we can
win this way because now we're not facing that juggernaut
in Golden State with Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Clay Thompson,
and Raymond Green. It's an odd couple. Chris Brussard Aaron

(01:08:51):
Torres filling him for Parker. Last question here, Antonio, you
kind of just referenced it. But the Rockets, they were
right on the cusp a couple years now. I'm just
gonna ask you point blank. I think it's a good
way to wrap this interview. Are they a better team,
more equipped to win a championship right now than they
were at the end of this past season. Yeah, you

(01:09:13):
froze there. First side. I do think so. I think
they're a better team period. I think they're a better
team with the addition of Russell Westbrook. And that's you know,
here's the thing. It is, like I say that, but
I'm not discrediting Chris Paul. Like it's amazing to me
to watch how many people are talking so dirty about
Chris Paul, Like he can't still play. He has still
won hell of a league guard one of the best

(01:09:34):
league guards in this league. But with that being said,
Russell's younger, bigger, stronger, faster, and more versatile than that
Chris paul is. So now you get a different sort
of dynamic when you put Russell Westbrook out there with
James Harden, when you put them out there with Eric Gordon,
when you put them out there a Clint Capella. And

(01:09:55):
I tell you this, Russell Westbrook has never played with
shooters like this. He's never had this option. He had
Kevin Durant. Yes, that's one of the greatest shooters of
all time. But I'm talking about guys that you can
put out there. The other teams have to warrant with gifts.
Russell Westbrook space an opportunity to do what it is
that he's done. He's never played with specialist. You know,

(01:10:17):
Clint Cappella is a specialist. James Harden is a scoring specialist.
Eric Gordon is a specialist. He's never played with this
type of roster. So for me and covering this team
the past four years, I'm interested to see his maturation
process with this Houston Rockets team. All Right, Rockets fans
will love it. Antonio Daniel's big fan of the West

(01:10:39):
brick trade to the Rockets. We I smell a wingback
coming up during the season, Antonio. We gotta figure out
why I'm I'm with that. I'm great man, always good
to have you. Thanks for the knowledge, for sure. I
appreciate your brother. All right, man, peace, all right. A
sports legend was respected by one of his peers, and

(01:11:02):
I actually kind of enjoyed it. I'll explain next. It's
the Eye Couple with Aaron Tores in for Rob Parker,
Fox Sports Radio Ridiculous. 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
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(01:11:23):
we know the sound of a perfect hot air balloon
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Eye Couple of Chris Brussard is me and he is
Aaron tores You know, I'm my inner snoop. He is

(01:11:46):
I and I am him slim with the tilbl brim anyway,
I love it. That was good. Kawhi Ka, tell me
that you'll be a Laker anyway. Aaron Torres is alongside me.
He's in for Rod Parker and Aaron in these next
few moments. Let's go to golf. But it or not

(01:12:09):
interesting comments by Tiger Woods at his press conference ahead
of this weekend's British Open. And we both saw something
different in them, and one thing really stuck out. Stuck
out to me. One thing stuck out to you. So
I'm gonna share my thing really quickly, and then I
want to hear your view. But Tiger said this about
brooks Kepka. He said, I texted him congratulations on another

(01:12:32):
great finish that was at the US Open, and I said, hey, dude,
your mind if I tag along and play a practice round,
I've heard nothing now, Keepka says the reason he ignored
Tiger's text is simple. He doesn't practice. He said, I
just practice before the major's regular tournaments. I don't practice.

(01:12:52):
If you see me on TV, that's when I played
at a regular PGA Tour event. That's when I played golf.
So he doesn't practice for anything but the majors. But
what stuck out to me, Aaron, was that Kepta just
completely ghosted Tiger Woods, like he disrespected Tiger. Tiger Woods,

(01:13:14):
the greatest golfer for my money of all time, text
you one team to practice and you don't even respond.
That's like a mental game. I don't know if Kepta's
playing a mental game with him or he's just gangster
like that, but whatever it is, I liked the strength.

(01:13:35):
I like the mind games. I like how that could
mess with Tiger Woods in his mind. But I'm I'm
just surprised he did it. He could have easily texted
Tiger hey man, believe it or not. I don't practice,
you know, for regular rounds. Obviously this is a major,
but I you know, I just you know, I only
practice for the majors. He could have caught, you know,

(01:13:58):
put him off some way like that, but he didn't
even respond. And it shows you how far Tiger's fallen.
But it also shows you that Kepka might really have
the mindset of an assassin. I think he's got the
mindset of a frat pro. I think he just I
just think he's just like yeah, whatever, like because I
actually heard the kept clip as well, and he's like, yeah,

(01:14:21):
I don't really practice, and listen, I would never claim
to be a golf aficionado. He just strikes me as
the kind of guy almost like Shack in his heyday
in the NBA, where Shack was the most dominant physical
presence in a lot of ways, Kepka is at this
point in golf too, But golf doesn't define him in
the same way that I don't think basketball ever defined Shack. Yeah,

(01:14:45):
I'm coming in and I'm gonna play myself into shape,
and I got hurt on company times, so I'm gonna
rehab on company time, and I'm gonna go shoot Kazam
in the off season. And like you know, basketball was
a big part of Shack, but it wasn't the only thing.
And I I think that's what this was with Kepka.
I read it as not him trying to play mind
games with Tiger, But I think it's a great point

(01:15:06):
by you. I think he probably just looked at his
phone and you know, maybe had a little headache, he
had a few too many drinks the night before, put
it down, took a nap, and kind of forgot to respond.
That was kind of how the way I saw it. Well,
should he practice I mean you you made the point
where we were talking off the air. He's won six tournaments,
four of them are majors, unbelievable, and I get it.
Look maybe as the Tiger Woods mentality, where it's like, man,

(01:15:29):
I don't even care about winning these other regular tournaments.
I'm all about the major. So maybe I get that,
But you feel like if he practiced more, he would
win a lot of these regular tournaments as well. Yeah.
The one thing about Tiger, you know that that biography
that came out a few years ago. I've read it
cover to cover, actually a couple times. I ready to
get after he won the Masters. Tiger loved to practice.

(01:15:50):
Tiger loved the mental approach to golf, and I don't
think Keepka has that. Yeah, well we'll see. He is
a great golfer, the best in the world. Right now,
I Couple five Sports Radio keep it locked, one hour left.
It is the I couple. I am Chris, he is Aaron.
That's right, Aaron Torres in for Rod Parker and would
come to you live from the guy Coo Fox Sports

(01:16:11):
Radio Studios. Fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or
more on your car insurance. Visit Geico dot Com for
a free rate quote at the bottom of the hour.
Thirty minutes from now. Rick Bucher will join us. He
just wrote in a very interesting, insightful article on Bleacher
Report about how several GMS we're saying that none of

(01:16:37):
the players, not one, not Clay, not Kawy, not KD,
not Kyrie, although Kyrie didn't technically sign a max because
he gave a little money to DeAndre Jordan, but none
of the players are worth a max contract. All right.
So here's what they said. I'm gonna read some of

(01:16:58):
the quotes. It's really interesting. Here's a former player who
now works as an executive. He was asked to define
what a max player is to him. Here's his quote.
A leader in the locker room and on the floor.
Someone I'm confident and comfortable giving the ball to in

(01:17:18):
late game situations. He's leading my organization on and off
the court where we need to go. Guys that I
played with, Guys that I continue to watch. I want
them to get as many dollars as possible. But when
we talk about the term max guy, how many of
those guys realistically are there. Now Here's another a general manager,

(01:17:42):
anonymous of course on Kawhi Leonard as far as in
regards to Max player, Kawhi is great at getting his
but he doesn't elevate anyone. He doesn't rally his team.
He does have leadership qualities, but it depends on how
you define leader. He's obviously not vocal and he's not

(01:18:02):
a galvanizer. He does it with his work, ethic and
buy example, here's another Gem from the Western Conference, the
other ones from the East or in Clay, he says
he's a good player, but he's not a leader. He
just shows up and hoops. Aaron. I got a lot
of stuff to say about these quotes, but first I

(01:18:23):
want to give you the floor. Yeah, first of all,
I want to shut out these two anonymous gems who
are about to soon be anonymous xgms, because if you
don't think Kauhi and Clay are worthy of Max dollars,
then I honestly, I don't know what league you're watching,
and you know I listen. I get in this utopic,
perfect society. Your star player has all of these qualities.

(01:18:47):
But just because Kawhi isn't super vocal, or Katie can
be moody, or Lebron has off the court interests. It
doesn't mean that one when the light comes on, that
they're not ready to play too, that they can't be
the face of your organization, and three that they aren't
worthy of every single dollar that we're paying them. I
just think it's a preposterous concept. And if you want

(01:19:09):
to argue about certain other players, that's fine, but certainly
Kawhi and even Klay Thompson, I just don't even know
how you can make the argument that they're not whatever
the terms franchise players, there is no argument, and it
makes you wonder what in the world are some of
these guys thinking and how are they running teams. For
a guy to say this about Kawhi Leonard, he doesn't

(01:19:31):
elevate anyone. He doesn't rally his team. He elevated the
whole country by thank you. He's not a galvinizer on
He just went to a team that was absolutely shook
in the presence of Lebron James, a team that couldn't
get out of its own way whenever they saw Lebron James,

(01:19:54):
a team that froze in the presence of Lebron James,
and he led that team to a championship. He had
no second star in the Big Three era, no second star.
All these other teams got to have three superstars and
is the Big Three and all that, and he doesn't
even have a second star and he wins a championship.

(01:20:17):
How is that not lifting other guys, making other guys better,
elevating them. Look, Kawhi Leonard is this. Here's how Kawhi
Leonard galvanized his team. He went in there as a superstar,
listen to the coach, gave the coach respect, bought into

(01:20:41):
the system, didn't complain about what they don't have, didn't
complain about being in Toronto, didn't complain about I want
to go to southern California. He just showed up, kept
his mouth shut, was friendly with guys, became friends with guys,
led by example, and fit into the system. That's it,

(01:21:01):
and that's all I want. I don't need you to
entertain me with comedy or to be the biggest talker.
And you know, given you know new Rockney speeches, that's
all nice if you can do it, but if not
produced on the court, and Kawhi Leonard has done just that.
Let's not forget Aaron. The last time we saw Kawhi

(01:21:23):
Leonard in a Spurs uniform during the postseason, what do
he do? He had the under man Spurs up twenty
two points on the Golden State Warriors with Kevin Durant. Now,
I don't think they would have won that series even
if Kawhid stayed healthy. I actually don't even think they
would have won that game. But I don't know, that's

(01:21:44):
just me. The facts say they were up twenty two
and Kawhi was leading them over a much more talented team.
This dude produces. I mean, he's arguably the best player
in the world. And who if he doesn't get a
MAX who in the world does well? And that was
my thought when I read this, is if Kauai isn't

(01:22:05):
a MAX player, who is? And it was funny because
you mentioned off top that, you know, I've covered a
lot of college basketball my day, and I remember talking
to Chris Beard, who's the head coach of Texas Tech.
They made the Final Four this year, and I remember
asking him about kind of leadership and all that kind
of stuff, and he said, sometimes the best thing you
can do as a leader is to follow. And what
he meant by that is exactly what you said, Chris.

(01:22:26):
Not everybody is yea rah rah. You know, you know
we're gonna run through a brick wall. And Kauai was
the ultimate leader in the fact that he led by example.
It's what you said, It's what I said. He put
an entire organization on his back. He put an entire
country on his back. And I just, you know, I
don't know if this GM is speaking from a place
of jealousy stupidity. I don't know where it comes from,

(01:22:50):
but I just I don't get the idea that he
could be anything other like like like, it makes no
sense to me. I'm trying to think off the top
of my head. If you're not is he saying that
he wouldn't pay Kawai max money or he because like
if that, there's no way he wouldn't pay Kwai exactly,
Like I froze there because I'm sitting there thinking what
could he have possibly meant? Because if there were thirty

(01:23:11):
teams in the NBA this year, and all thirty of
them would have paid Kawai any dollar amount that they
could have to get him to the organization. So to me,
it just makes no sense at all, no question about it.
And look, Kawhi Leonard part of why I'm so confident
that the Clippers are gonna be great is because Kawuhi
is just what this guy said. He's not vocal, just

(01:23:33):
does it with his work ethic, does it by example.
He's just going to go fit in. He's gonna be great.
He's gonna be their best player. But he's going to
fit in. Think of so many of the other superstars
who bring, you know, more of a personality, They're more colorful.
You have questions about them. Of course, are they gonna

(01:23:54):
work with this guy? Are they gonna work with this team?
It's gonna take him a long time to adjust. I
think Kawhi's gonna fit in swimmingly, yes, swimmingly in the
Clippers organization, in locker room, because of his personality and Clay. Look,
Clay is similar and he's not as good as Kauai,

(01:24:15):
but he's a great defender, two way player, just like Kauai.
I think Aaron one half of the greatest backcourt in
NBA history, and so to say he's not a max
player again kind of ridiculous. Well, and I think the
other thing too, The ultimate compliment to a player is
who else wants to play with him? And think about

(01:24:36):
what Paul George did this summer to make that happen,
Like like he literally put his reputation on the line.
He put his I don't want to see he put
his career on the line. But we'll never think of
Paul George the same way again, because in a lot
of ways, he just bailed on Oklahoma City. And the
point that I've made on all the shows that I've
been on, including my own on Saturday Nights, it's not

(01:24:57):
as though Oklahoma City did not live up to their
end of the bargain at all. Now, did they fall short, yes,
but they made the playoffs. They won forty nine games
in the regular season. It wasn't as though they won
twenty two games and Paul George was just looking for
a life raft out of there. And so for Kawhi
to convince that guy, hey, give up everything you're building.
A year ago, you are smoking cigars with nast at

(01:25:20):
a party in Oklahoma City at midnight. Give all that
up to come with me. I also saw I don't
know if you saw this, Chris, but at Summer League.
I think it was Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley walking
through a casino at you know, one forty five in
the morning whenever they found out they're doing, you know,
jumping Jackson cartwheels in the casino at summer League. And
I think that's part of leadership too. What do you

(01:25:42):
get out of your teammates? What do you bring to
the practice facility every day? But do guys want to
play with you? I know it's something you and Rob
talk about all the time, Lebron James, do guys want
to play with him at this point in his career?
I know you feel differently than than Rob, But the
point being, there is no doubt that guys want to
be around Kawhi. I think that's the ultimate compliment him.
I agree, and I think guys would want to play
with Clay as well. Yeah, you know, this guy just

(01:26:05):
shows up in hoops. I mean you need guys like that.
I don't need everybody to be in the team's business.
I don't need everybody to feel like they've got something
to say. I need Yeah, you need guys a few
guys like that. Some guys that are rye ry and
talk all the time and want to say this and that.
Some guys that might, you know, hold the coaching staff

(01:26:28):
more accountable. Than other players. But at the same time,
I need guys that are low maintenance, and that's what
both of these guys are. Kawhi Leonard and Clay Thompson
are probably the most low maintenance, off the top of
my head stars in the league. And Clay Thompson is
what I said with Chris bierdermanut it go. Sometimes the

(01:26:50):
best leaders lead by following, and that's Clay. Clay just
comes in, does his job. Whatever. I want to ask
you real quick, because I was thinking about this when
I was reading this article. I do think it's interesting
the concept of a max player, the face of a
franchise whatever. I think, we get so caught up with Oh,
so and so is a superstar, so and so is this,
And the number of guys who really do kind of

(01:27:11):
check all the boxes I think is actually smaller than
what most people realize. All I heard all year Kyrie
Irving's a superstar. Well they lost in the second round
of the playoffs and his team went further without him
than with him. Ben Simmons, well he can't shoot at three.
How many guys do you think are actually true either superstar,
franchise players, difference makers. Because I do think that list,

(01:27:32):
I will give the GMS and all them credit for
this is I do think that list is probably smaller
than most fans want to give credit for. No, I
agree with that. Now. I look, you have a ton
of guys making max money that can't lead a team
and can't be the best player on a really good team. Yep, Okay,
with all due respect, Tobias Harris, He's not gonna be

(01:27:52):
a best player on a championship team. Chris, Chris Middleton,
you know, I mean Chandler Parson is for goodness, say,
got two MAX contracts during his career, right, I mean
Charmed He's the most blessed player in the league. I mean,
so you I get that. Now, I'm with you on that.
There are a lot of guys that don't deserve the MAX.
They get it because of timing, circumstances, whatever it may be.

(01:28:14):
DeAngelo Russell not a MAX player, you know, but he
got it. And so the problem with the article was
them picking on Kawhi and Clay. Sure that was where
they went awry, But I get exactly what you're saying. Look,
if you want to say a max player, the ultimate

(01:28:35):
definition is a guy who can be the best player
on a championship team. How many guys do we have
in the league right now that have proven that? You
got Steph Curry, Lebron James, and Kawhi Leonard. Now some
people might say k D because he was obviously the

(01:28:56):
best player in Golden State. My only thing with that
is I would say that team was so stacked sure
that you know what I mean, Like, you could have
put a number of guys in that position, not to
take anything away from KD, and those teams would have
won those titles. When he was in Oklahoma City, he
didn't lead that team to a championship as close as

(01:29:18):
they got. Now we'll have his chance in Brooklyn. We'll
see if he can do it there. But really, you're
really talking about three guys who have absolutely proven it.
So you know, I think these guys and remember this
about the Max Aaron. It's not what these guys are worth,
or what at least the top superstars are worth. There's

(01:29:38):
a cap on it. Lebron James should not be making
the same amount of money as Damian Lillard, right, so
interesting article. Will ask Rick Bucker more about that in
about fifteen minutes. Also, remember it's a trash Talking Tuesday.
Get your takes ready. You can trash anyone or anything

(01:29:59):
in the world sports. That'll be an eight seven seven
ninety nine on Fox. Before the time being, you have
got a chance to weigh in on what Aaron and
I talked about with this article. Are Kawhi Leonard and
Klay Thompson max players or not? Eight seven seven ninety
nine on Fox Your Turn to Speak I Couple was

(01:30:20):
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(01:32:10):
let's get to your calls. Eight seven seven ninety nine
on Fox. Is it ridiculous to suggest that Kawhi Leonard
and Klay Thompson are not Max players? What say you guys? Up? First,
Sean and Sacramento. You're on the odd couple with Chris
Broussard and Artoris my weekend who was upon one of

(01:32:31):
my weekend favorites? Man, Oh, thank you, I appreciate that. Sorry, yeah,
but scare man, sire. You used to be the one
on one champion, but yesterday you are that time I retire, man?
And how you too old to play basketball nowadays? I
know what I'm gonna call you now? Well, now do
you Michael Jordan's retired? Do you not still call him
the goat? Hey? Michael Jordan was still playing one on
one ball with all the Washington Wizards when he was

(01:32:53):
in his early forties. Two? Man, remember I'm fit backing down?
Matt hired back down for the record, rap that because
out here ready? Yes, oh, he always sounds ready. But
a mutual a mutual friend got got I beat him,

(01:33:14):
and then he told Jay Mack, you probably won't even
score against Chris. Yeah, I remember I start calling you
the one on one chap in the first place. But man,
I ain't heard about no matchup ever since. Brother, Go
ahead and get to your appointment. So my point is, man,
I think guys like Kawhi and Clay, that's the definition
of a max player right there. They could go both ways.

(01:33:34):
They keep their mouth shut, they do whatever's best for
the organization. And when you see guys like Clay fight
through an acl tiar to go shoot two more three
flows to trying to make it back in the game,
how could you say it's not worth the money. But see,
I have a different take on guys like KD, Lebron
a D. I don't think these guys are max players
than James and Kevin Durant aren't max players come on

(01:33:56):
porn Achilles, and on top of that, Kevin Durant it's
like his early third D. I mean, it's hard for
me to say that you should pay this guy a
maximum contract that guaranteed money for the next six or
seven years when you're not even sure what you're gonna
get next year. It's Lebron and Lebron starting so fign
to this age. I mean the guy had the Lnkering
injury all last year. When they when they gave him

(01:34:19):
so here, it was a year ago. They maxed out Lebron.
You're saying they shouldn't have done it. I think the
Lakers were desperate. I think the Lakers were looking for
a lifeline because of all the issues that they were
having over the past five, six, seven seasons. I think
they were just going for whatever is available. And I
think they were lucky that Ad was with the program
trying to figure his own brand and come to LA.

(01:34:41):
Otherwise they'd be stuck in the mud right now with
the hurt Lebron James. Next year, well as it stands,
they got a chance to win the title next year.
What about that? All right? I guess Sean Sims, Yeah,
I'll say that listen. I think that the Lakers have
certainly struggled to attract Mark Hey guys the last couple

(01:35:04):
of years. But when indisputably one of the handful of
greatest players. First second, wherever you want to put him
when he wants to come to your organization, regardless of
where he is in his career, Even if you got
a maxim out, there was no way You're not gonna
max out Lebron James, and I still believe. I think
he checked out about halfway through the year once he

(01:35:24):
got hurt. Once he was slow to come back. He
didn't want to play for Luke Wall and you don't
want to play with those young guys. I think next
year we're going to see a vintage Lebron James here
now that he has his guys with Anthony Davis and
all them here. So I hope so and I agree,
all right, Next up Jamichael and Seattle, you're on with
the odd couple, Chris Broussard and Aeratoris it was good?
So I thanks for taking my call. I appreciate it. Yeah,

(01:35:45):
no problem. So this is what I honestly think that
Klai is a max player, but Clay, honestly, I think
he's a gover five role player. I'm not saying he's
not good and he won't make a couple off Star games,
but I don't think he's like a MAX player. I
think he's a he's a system player. And like I said,
if he had a chair of team on his own,
I don't think he he maybe my average twenty if

(01:36:06):
he had a chary of team on his own So
I don't think he's like a superstar anything like that.
I don't think he's like a Glory Park role player
who's stuck in the system. He would have twenty Now,
how good would the team be? That's the question. I'll
give you that. Yeah, Well, love with Clay though. The
reason why I would say he is MAX in a sense,
it's because team works with a system of Golden State.

(01:36:27):
If you understand I'm saying, it's like he's the position
that he plays better than anyone in the league in
Golden State. So that's why I think for Golden States
a MAX player. But overall, no, if I was a gym,
I wouldn't give him MAXI money. He's one of the
best shooters this game has ever seen. That's true though.
I mean with Steve Kerr though, Yeah, but Steve Kirk

(01:36:51):
couldn't defend like Clay, and he wasn't six six or
six yeah, six six six seven like Clay. Clay is
a bad boy man. He does get under asked, and
I do think sometimes we talked about this a minute ago.
MAX contracts are circumstantial. Is Chris Middleton a MAX player?
Of course not. But you gotta keep be honest, happy.
You gotta have pieces that fit around you, honest, So

(01:37:13):
he becomes a max player in that system. I get
what Ja Michael is saying. I do think though he
was under selling the value of Clay a little bit,
just because again, just because you're not the yea raw
raw I want the team on my back guy doesn't
mean that you're not really really good at what you do.
You know, So Aaron, I think he's James Worthy. Yeah,
they're different styles of play, but they were each the

(01:37:34):
third guy on their team and they were invaluable. And
James Worthy was the MVP of that last championship of
the Showtime Aaron eighty eight, the finals MVP had phenomenal series,
and Clay is similar well, and he was second on
a championship team in terms of the second best player
that first year, second best player on this year's team

(01:37:55):
that obviously was in the finals swept the Portland Trailblazers.
You know, Chris, there was there was a big narrative
long time ago, the original Dream Team ninety two. I'm
sure you remember. Everybody went into the whole thing thinking,
Michael Jordans, this magic Johnson that the narrative coming out
was that Scottie Pippen was the second best player in
all of those practices, and nobody realized it because he

(01:38:18):
had been playing in Michael Jordan's shadow. I'm not saying
Clay Scottie Pippen. I'm just saying I don't think that
he gets the credit he deserves because he's been with
this group that obviously includes Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. Nah,
that's fair, that's fair. All right. Look, it's a trash
talking Tuesday, So get youa takes ready eight seven seven

(01:38:40):
ninety nine on Fox eight seven, seven nine nine six
sixty three sixty nine. You could trash anyone or anything
in the world of sports. You better line up now.
We'll be taking those calls. We'll get to you at
about six forty ish, but you better line up now
because the phone lines get full quickly. In the meantime,

(01:39:00):
will continue the basketball conversation with FS one NBA analyst
Rick Buker. He'll join us neck you, David. It is
the I Couple. Aaron Torres is in for Rod Parker.
I'm Chris Bruce Hard with company live from the Geico
Fox Sports Radio Studios. It is easy to say fifteen
percent of more on your car insurance with Geico. Go
to Geico dot com or call eight hundred nine four

(01:39:20):
seven Auto. The only hard part is figuring out which
way is easier. I believe we have our Bleacher Report
senior writers, an FS one NBA analyst, longtime friend and
colleague of mine, Rick Buker joining the eye couple, Rick,
what's happening? What is happening? Odd couple? We're good. We're good, man,
We're good, and lots to talk about. You know, this season,

(01:39:43):
this league, it just never ends, man. I mean, it's
always something happening. And we come out of free agency.
We got the Westbrook trade to Houston and you write
a great article today. We read it on the Bleacher Report.
We just talked about it in our previous segment. Were
we reading it correctly? When a couple of gms or

(01:40:05):
maybe more than a couple said that question whether Kawhi
Leonard and Russell or I'm sorry Clay Thompson were max players,
Uh yeah, in terms of the full responsibilities of a
max player ideally, and that you want them to be

(01:40:27):
a floor leader, you want them to be vocal, you
obviously want them to be great players, but it's not
just about talent and that if they're not, then there's
there's an automatic it's a workaround because the hierarchy of
who gets paid what in the locker room, if it's

(01:40:47):
not commensurate with the roles that guys have on the floor,
then there are potential issues like we saw in Boston
where you have Gordon Hayward signs a Max Steel, obviously
gets injured, it takes him under the team ends up
playing well, Jaylen Brown, Jason Tatum play well. Gordon Hayward

(01:41:10):
comes back and he's on a Max Steel, but he's
not playing like a Max player. And that is just
a microcosm of the issues that you run into in
paying a guy a max contract. Now, teams are forced
to do it, and you understand why they do because
you want to retain that talent, but there's also a

(01:41:32):
price to be paid when you do do do that.
If they signing Clay Tops into a max contract, isn't
just is he worth that money, but is he worth
what it costs you not having as a result of that.
If they can't keep Draymond Green for financial reasons, is
Clay good enough paired with Steph that you say, well,

(01:41:54):
you know what, We'll be fine losing Dre or do
you look at it and go, dang, if we could
have paid Clay a little bit and maybe kept Draymond Green,
like if the Bucks could have kept Malcolm Brogden and
fade Chris Middleton a little less, we would be better off.
And so that was the essence of the piece, which was,

(01:42:14):
you know, we hand out these max contracts, but we
don't consider the repercussions of one guy making that much
money if he can't fill all the responsibilities of being
a max player. So one GM specifically referenced that he
doesn't believe that Kauai isn't a max player because of
the fact that he's not a vocal leader, etc. So

(01:42:35):
I would ask, and obviously I'm not going to put
you on the spot about which specific jam, but if
Kawhi isn't a max player, that's good. Yeah, yeah, I mean, listen,
if you want to share, you're more than welcome to.
But I was gonna say, if Kauai is not a
max player, who is? Because you know Katie's hurt Lebron
was drinking wine on the bench last year, So who
fits that? Who fits that? If it's not Kauai, well,

(01:42:58):
I do think it is Lebron James, and that he
is willing. He can be the faith of your franchise.
He's willing to handle the media. Uh. He can be
your go to guy. He can be your leader, you're
all around leader. I think Steph Curry fits that, uh
fits that category. And and some of it can be
circumstantial too, Like I feel that Steph Curry, while he

(01:43:22):
may not have max talent, you could argue isn't on
the level of Lebron and Kauai and KD. But he's
the faith of your franchise. He's going to he does
all the handles all the media and handles it uh
in a in an amazing way. I mean, really, the

(01:43:43):
only thing we're talking about with Kauai is the fact
that m as I stated in the article one he
doesn't like doing media. He's not gonna be out there
publicly doing things and making appearances for your for your team. Um.
And if you look at him as a as a playmaker,

(01:44:03):
he's really not. He can go get his and he'll
draw a lot of attention, which opens things up for
other guys. But if we're talking about the ultimate max player,
the guy who checks all the boxes as a MAX player.
I think it's reasonable to say there's one or two
that Kawhi doesn't now was he the best? Was he
the best max player on the market? And would any Yes?

(01:44:28):
But it's still on the other end of that is okay,
So what do we have to put around him? Now?
Do we have to add a vocal leader because he's
not that? So it's he doesn't fill every responsibility. And
now you're normally if you have a max player, if
you're paying him thirty five percent or whatever of your cap,

(01:44:50):
then you ideally would want him filling every responsibility that
comes with that. You wouldn't be thinking, I gotta go
get other guys to fill roles as this guy doesn't.
It's the eye cub. We're joined by Bleacher Reports senior
writer in FS one India analyst Rick Buker. Rick, let's
move on to Chris Paul. Is there a market for him?
I mean, it looks like Miami is maybe luke warm

(01:45:12):
on him. If it's not the heat, where in the
world is it. I've heard Minnesota as a possibility, uh,
in terms of where they are and what they might
be willing to do. It's you know, the challenge is
going to be Chris Paul is a very proud player.
He still wants to play for a title. I would
assume that he wants to be in a bigger market,

(01:45:34):
and so you know, the Oklahoma cities and the Minnesota's
I don't know necessarily fit with where he wants to go.
And this is going to be the challenge for Oklahoma
City is can we do right by Chris Paul and
get off the contract and not have to give up anything.
I had one former GM who said, you know that

(01:45:55):
that he thought that they would move him along and
they get it wouldn't take as much, it wouldn't cost
as much to get Chris Paul. And I'm thinking, honestly,
no matter of what you're gonna have to give a
team to take him, I think they're gonna have to
give up. Uh you know, is it a first round pick?
Is it two first round picks? What is it that
you have to give up? But ultimately, and I was

(01:46:16):
told that Oklahoma City did not do this deal knowing
that they had a locked in destination for Chris Paul.
They're going to try to move him regardless of what
they say he's not part of their plan. I'm sure
that Chris doesn't want to play in Oklahoma City with
in a rebuilding situation. But as of right now, they're

(01:46:40):
they're looking around to see where can they make a deal,
and I would say what costs them the least, but
Miami maybe, lukewarm. I mean, as we know too, there's
a lot of posturing going on right now too. As
far as yeah, you know, I mean the same thing
with the Warriors. Hey, you know we didn't sign d'anzelo
Russell to move him, right, it's you'd be happy keeping him? Yeah, sure, Okay,

(01:47:02):
I'll believe that when I see it that brick quickly
is a buy out a possibility with Chris Parr Is
that just too much money? I just think for the
number of years and the amount of money, I mean,
I think that would be a last ditch move for them,
And you know, I mean we are It's very interesting

(01:47:25):
because we talk about it, we look at the contract
and I've got you know, I've got people that that
have said in the league, man, I like, that is
a big contract for a guy who is clearly on
the decline. And then I've heard other people say you
know what. But he's still he still has more ability
than we're giving him credit. I mean, he can still

(01:47:46):
play a little bit. So all you need to do
is find one in that second camp that is willing
to say, you know what, we really need a veteran
point guard for where we want to go the next
year or two, and we'll figure out the rest later.
All right, rid, great stuff. As always, man, we appreciate
the knowledge that pleasure guys. Yep, all right, disgruntled sports fans,

(01:48:09):
this segment is for you. Trash Talking Tuesday is next
hit us up eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox
eight seven seven nine ninety six sixty three sixty nine.
Trash anyone or anything in the world of sports. Is
the Eye Couple with Aaron tores In for Roy Parker
on Fox Sports Radio. At Farmer's Insurance, we know the

(01:48:30):
sound of a perfect hot air balloon landing and a
Leston perfect one. She covered it falct to farmers. We
are under written. My farmers took fire insurance exchanges and
affiliates prodcts unavailable in every state. It's the eye couple
of Chris Brussard and Aaron tores Is in for Roy
Parker and it's your turn. This is segment. This segment

(01:48:52):
belongs to you. That's right. It's trash talking Tuesday. Don't
you what we talk about? Its trash talking Tuesday. It's
a teeth raggy. I don't know whether to smile. Let's
you kick a field. Go man. First up, Abraham from Syracuse.

(01:49:16):
You're on the odd Cup with Chris Brusar and aaratoris
Chris Man. Get your boy, Melvin Gordon, Man, are you
stiious you're not even a top ten runner? Back hy
not talk about holding out. You ain't that nice and
went back in the league that night. Just ask on
Livian Bell. He said a whole year to get one
and ask you one million from the Jets. Come on, man,

(01:49:38):
stop take that trash out. That's a nice call. That's
a nice call. It was b plus. Let's see Edison
new York, you're a hard guard greater all right? All right,
Edison new York, who are you trashing? I'm trashing Jason McIntyre.
Not only did this guy, they got the Baltimore Ravens.
We're gonna play the Bears in the Super Bowl. But

(01:49:58):
he doesn't even know how to count, right, He said,
Lebron James was one beat and Michael Jordan's one eight
in one universe from Lebron James, even being the same
breath as Michael Jordan. He got swept twice in the finals,
more than five for the finals flight, and he was
outplayed by Jason Terry, a thirty three year old Jason Terry,
who outscored him and made him look like a fool. Defensively,

(01:50:21):
He's not the score. Jordan was not the defensive player.
Jordan was not even in his level. It's lassable, It
is all right. He's got impersonations on top on top.
He's all right, Joseph in Indiana, do you have impersonations
to go with your trash talk? Stephen Curry. Stephen Curry

(01:50:47):
is not the greatest shooter that was the thehol of
Samer Regie Miller. Rigie Miller was the original three point shooter.
He could actually defend. I'm like Steph Curry. Steph Curry
is an overrated player. He should not be the top
three point shooter that belong to Reggie Miller. Boom, I'm stunned.
The g has always got a pro pacers ar. Yeah,

(01:51:09):
I was gonna say I'm stunned. The guy from Indiana
is in team Reggie Miller. All right, we got Mace
and San Diego. Who you trash in tonight? David Beckham Na,
David Posh, Spice the Jason Keyhorn of soccer more famous
off the field than on it. If we have a
cover of various style magazines, modeling appearing at TV movies

(01:51:32):
and we're sitting a lot of endorsements because of your look,
despite this being an average player in your sport, you're
nothing but a one trick twenty to soccer, just like
Larry the Cable Guy was to stand up comedy. You
committed highway robbery by getting paid thirty two and a
half a million dollars for five years by the La Galaxy.
Just spiping hurts the majority of a time to file
the hype. IFPN did to promote you, the ratings were garbage.

(01:51:54):
Nobody turned into watch soccer because nobody gives a crap
about soccer because stupid and boring. Who the hell wants
to watch ninety count dudes flopping all game long lay
they just got hit with the two boy four and
have have an end result of two goals. That is
the epitome of a waste of time. Get us a suggestion,
since her wife will not be on the Spice Rolver
Union tour. Here's a shaker place because Ryan Reynolds said

(01:52:17):
it best at Jadpool. Your worth sounds like you made
love to a can of he William. Wow, Mace man Mas,
you don't want to be on Mason's. Have you seen
the bagel guy? Because that's who Mace reminded me of.
You see the bagel guy. He's complaining because he's suret
he can't get a date. That was what Mace just
reminded me of. There. That was incredible. We do have

(01:52:39):
one more. We got Ben in Indiana. Who you trash
in tonight? I'm trashing the MLB Commissioner. I just gotta say.
I think it's ridiculous how he won't let the Indians
have their mascot. Pretty soon, I'm I'm guessing he'll want
them to change their name too, And who knows, given
into the small minority, he may want the used to

(01:53:00):
change your name. It's no different than people wanting them
to change the resting same. I know that I know
these names that are quote unquote offensive, but let's just
face that these these names have been around for a
long time. They're part of merchandise, and I just don't
see the point and trying to change something that's always
been there. And I bet the people complain you don't
even watch sports. Guarantee that all right there it is.

(01:53:26):
You got anybody you trash there real quick. I want
to trash the fourteen sec football coaches. It's media days
this week. I tune in to learn things. All I
hear is the same speech to everybody. We had the
best offseason ever. Our guys have never worked harder, everyone
from the best player to our secretaries, and our strength
and condition, everybody's gotten better. I'm so tired of the

(01:53:48):
coach speak. Give me something I can use, Chris, That's
who I'm trashing tonight. Yeah, I'm gonna trash the NFL owners.
Let the eighteen game regular season die. And if you
won't let it die, if you ready to give the
players extra buy weeks, yes, weeks, and some type of
guaranteed contracts or healthcare for life, something they need to

(01:54:09):
spice it up if they want these guys to play
eighteen games. I think it's a hypocrisy if you're talking
about safety of the players and you want to play
more games, Rob G DJ tischert anybody in ten seconds
or trash. Chris Bruce, sorry for falling, asked backwards into
a bet victory with me. I don't like it when
you're gonna pay up. When you're gonna pay up, That's

(01:54:29):
what I want to know got out of that odd
couple piece

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Rob Parker

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