September 18, 2020 • 39 mins
Chris and Rob break down the NBA MVP race and why the voters got it right with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe joins the show to share why he vote for LeBron James as MVP and what the Celtics locker room blow up means for their playoff hopes. Plus, Broussard’s Fab Five runs down the worst NBA playoff losses.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
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(00:25):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Yeah, it is the
bus The Odd Couple Iron Chris Bruce Hard alongside my
(00:50):
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Visit Geico dot com for a free rate quote. I
don't know how I feel today about Roy Parker being back.
I mean, it's nice to have your back, man, but
(01:13):
I'm still a little salty. I'm still a little salty.
Hitted Alex that on the second year anniversary, you you chose.
You didn't even just chose to be off, you actually
chose an activity that nobody enjoys, to go to the
dentist rather than celebrate our two year anniversary with me.
(01:39):
I'm a I'm a bit salty man. I'm a bit hurt,
all right. One, I had the music ready and everything.
What music. Oh, this is a little I didn't want
that line necessarily Victoria's secret man. But we were ready.
(01:59):
It was anniversary, man, and you know, and you just
you just bailed. So I'm a bit salty man. Just
excuse me today if you know, if you sense that,
all right, well, all I'll say is uh, happy anniversary.
Yesterday mark two years of us doing this show full time,
and today is the start of our third year together
(02:22):
the Odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. And trust me,
I didn't want to go to the dentist, but I
had to get there, and I'm all, good man, there's
so much to talk about. Well, I'm gonna say this, Rob,
as a guy that's you know, done this show, sitting
next to you for the bulk of this two years.
I'm glad you went to the dentist. And I hope,
(02:44):
I hope things got fixed. Look at that, and you
hope they gave me mouthwash too, Yes, exactly. So we
got Gary Washburn, national NBA writer for the Boston Globe,
coming up at the bottom of the o and actually
he does a great job covering the whole league. But
great time to have him more and Rob because of
(03:05):
course you had that shouting match in the Boston Celtics
locker room after they went down oh two yesterday to
Miami Heat and reportedly h Jalen Brown and Marcus Smart
had to be separated before they got into some fisticuffs
or something. So great time to have Gary Washburn and
(03:27):
to clear everything got with the MVP voting, right, who
didn't what it was Lebron to be unanimous? Didn't he vote?
We voted for Mello. Yep, Lebron is still upset about that. Yeah,
so it's that would have been another notch on Lebron's belt,
so that it didn't happen. Right, that's right. Let's introduce
the Eye Couple crew. We got DJ Alex Tysher aka
Alex the Vegan. I'm always excited when he's on the
(03:49):
ones and twos on the Funky Flashback Friday. Let's see
how deep he goes into the crates. We got Vince
Kate's in for super producer Rob. Yeah, it does a
great job. I know, it's ridiculous. I don't get it.
The two Robs on this show. Man, y'all love a
vacation and then h ha is Brian Finley on the updates,
(04:15):
the low quacious Brian Finley, mister verbs, So listen for
his verbs in the updates. All right, Rob, Let's get
right to it. The news of the day or certainly
one of the big stories of the day. Yannis Onto
Dick Kompo wins his second straight MVP Award and became
(04:36):
the third player along with Michael Jordan and a Kim Elijahwan,
to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in
the same season. Very impressive, very impress He's twenty five
years old. Absolutely absolutely. Now the big deal is that
a lot of people think that because they went out
(04:58):
Yannis and his Bucks went out for one to the
Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs, and
the one game that they won, Yannis got hurt in
the first quarter and only played eleven minutes. A lot
of people are saying he didn't deserve it. They're saying
Lebron should have Lebron James should have won this MVP award. Now,
(05:19):
I am an official voter. I take my vote seriously,
and I voted for Yannis and I have absolutely, positively
no regrets about voting for Yannis onto the Kompo. It folks,
listen to me. It is a regular season award. The
(05:41):
ballots are dude, The ballots were actually due before they
even started playing games in the bubble. So I don't
care what happens in the playoffs. It has no bearing
on the award. Now, I will say going forward, right,
when you see a guy struggle in the playoffs after
(06:01):
winning MVP, yeah, that can affect your vote for the
next season. But for this season, it was about the
first sixty five games or whatever it was that each
team played before the pandemic struck and Yannis I did
da Kompo had better individual statistics than Lebron, better traditional stats, points, rebounds,
(06:25):
you know, field goal percentage, things like that. Better. He
was a better defensive player, as evidenced by his Defensive
Player of the Year award. He had better analytical stats.
He had one of the greatest peers of all time,
and his team without a second start, without and Anthony Davis,
he led the Milwaukee Bucks to the best record in
(06:45):
the league. Rob what more can you ask from a
guy when you're looking for the MVP? Case closed, Case closed.
I wrote a column for dead Spin Chris today, just saying,
stop it with it with the false narrative about that
(07:05):
he doesn't deserve it and comparing him to Steve Nash
and all this other stuff. It is ridiculous. You just
said it. His numbers were as impressive as you can get.
And Chris he also won. Lebron didn't have the best record.
They didn't have an Anthony Davis. And here's the other
case against Lebron. Anthony Davis had better numbers than Lebron
(07:28):
Chris other than the assists. Last year, without Anthony Davis,
the Lakers didn't even make the playoffs, regardless of what
the circumstances were. And then when Anthony Davis got there,
they have a chance to go to the finals. So
you can make the case that Anthony Davis was an
MVP or help Lebron and the Lakers get to where
(07:48):
they are. So stop with the false narrative. No, and
it's not a lifetime Achievement award. We don't care that
this is year seventeen and that Lebron Jame doesn't get
any extra credit for this, being he being long in
the tooth, he doesn't get any extra credit because he
can get a disk down at Denny's on breakfast because
(08:11):
he's older. None of that stuff matters. You're right, it's
no curve, all right, We're not grading on the curve.
The fact that Lebron is thirty five in his seventeen
nothing right, means absolutely nothing. That's what a lot of
people start their argument with. Right, But he's Look, I'll
give you this best seventeen season by a player in
(08:34):
NBA history. When they make up the award for that,
we'll give it to Rights. How's that right? And I'm
not taking an iota away from Lebron. Lebron had a
tremendous year. He had a great year. Yannis had a
better one. That's all there is to it. And Rob,
there's lot of people. That's why vote was a whale.
(08:56):
It was eighty five, eighty five out off I believe
a hundred and one. Yeah, first place votes. Lebron Yannis
got eighty five out of one on one. That's a route.
It's a route, Chris, it was Look, there are some,
a very few, look, Lebron James is the best player
in the world, and he's the best player or the Lakers.
(09:17):
But there are some that have argued Anthony Davis is
there MVP. You just said it, Robs. Statistically, he led
the Lakers and everything, but assists. Somebody texted me a
little while ago that they think AD's the best player
on the Lakers, and they said, look at the numbers,
the stats, and they said John Stocked and is rolling
(09:38):
over in his grave. We know he's not dead, but
just facetiously saying where's my MVP award? You know, I exactly.
So I'll give you the only time, Rob, that like
they bring up to thirty five years old, seventeen season
that Lebron, you know that that's in the argument. The
(10:01):
only time that could potentially enter the argument, Rob, is
if Lebron had say, say, never won an MVP, right,
and a bunch of writers it's happened before where they
give a lifetime achievement. I don't it shouldn't be, but
you know how it is, that would enter into an argument,
(10:24):
and I wouldn't be that mad at it if that's
the case. If a guy clearly was the best, you know,
all time great, just had never for whatever reason when
the MVP deserved it, maybe a few years, then you
throw that in because he should have one. But outside
of that, no, I'll give you one other thing, and
I'd love to hear what people are thinking. But maybe
maybe if they just announced the award Chris right after
(10:47):
the season before I'll start, and then this way you
could get over it. You don't have to remember what,
oh my god, what happened, and just announce it and
then you go forward, and then you just just announce.
They should have a show, Rob, they should have a
they should have a nice you get to the award show, right,
you got about four or five days before the playoffs,
(11:08):
and just have a nice award show, yep, and and
then we can move forward. You're not gonna get the
players there because obviously they're getting ready for the playoffs,
but you can get to them, you know, in their home,
have them, have an interview with them in their home,
kind of like they're two team with the All Star team. Yeah,
make it nice because you're right. And here's the thing.
Let's let's clear up this narrative. I want to list
(11:30):
several MVPs Rob who won the MVP Award and then
got bousted in either the first or second round of
the playoffs, because people act like Yannis is the only one.
All right, In twenty eighteen, I'm sorry. Twenty seventeen, Russell
Westbrook wins the MVP Award and gets beaten four one
(11:55):
in the first round of the playoffs. Okay, in t
O seven, Dark Navitsky wins MVP award, gets upset by
Golden State in the first round of the playoffs. I
believe Golden State was the eighth seed that year. Dallas
was one. Two thousand and two, Tim Duncan wins MVP
(12:18):
Award and gets out sited in the second round of
the playoffs. Guess what four one? Just like Yannis four one,
we're talking about one of the greatest players ever live.
Nineteen ninety nine Carl Malone wins MVP award, booted in
the second round of the playoffs. And here's the kicker
(12:38):
rop nineteen eighty eight. Michael Jordan wins his first MVP award,
wiped out of the playoffs in the second round. Four one.
There you go, So stop with this like this is
a Yannist thing. Yes, and one other thing Chris eight
seven seven ninety nine Fox will throw the number out.
(12:59):
The other thing is stop with this whole idea about
well up, the media likes you or whatever they vote for.
You and some secretive narrative. My biggest exhibit a is
Barry Bonds, who won seven MVPs Chris seven? Did the
media did did he like the media? Did the media
(13:19):
like Barry Bonds at all? Not at all? So stop
stop great points, tell it what's undeniable. That's why he
won them. Absolutely, the media are far less biased than
players coaches. Yes, and and to be honest, Yanni's actually
won the fan vote too, so um that that should
(13:42):
settle it. Case closed. Now, I will say this last
thing before we get to throw out the number for
the callers ROB. A lot of people say, well, they
should just wait till the playoffs and the playoffs in
the finals and give one MVP award, don't even do
a regular season one. Well, that would be the finals
in VP, right, that's why award. You're not going to
(14:04):
give them playoff MVP award. Like, like, let's say you
did do that and you wait till after the finals
to give the award. You're not giving it to a
guy that went out in the second round, even if
he was the best player. So let's say Denver loses
to the Lakers this round and Yokis is great, but
they lose. You could argue, Yokis should be the MVP.
(14:27):
Would he get it? No, because they got beat Jimmy
Butler if they lose to Boston, or if they get
to the finals and lose. Would anybody feel good if
they gave Jimmy Butler the MVP award? No, because the
regular season he didn't deserve it. And then if he
was great in the playoffs leading Miami to the finals
when nobody thought they could get there but still lost,
(14:48):
it wouldn't feel right. So it would always just be
the finals MVP. That's why we have the regular season MVP,
which we should keeps in the two separates season. Yep, yep,
all right? Eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox eight seven, seven,
nine nine, six sixty three sixty nine. Your turn to
(15:08):
weigh in. Did Yanandis deserve the MVP award? Did Lebron
get snubbed? You're turning to continue the conversation with Chris
and Rob v I Couple right here on Fox Sports Radio.
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussar then Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
(15:30):
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All right? Eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox, simple
question the Yannis I did the combo deserve the MVP Award?
And did Lebron James get snubbed? You'll turn away in
(16:12):
Chris real quick. Somebody called on the hot line. It's
the Lebron fan boy. He he represents basically all the
Lebron fans. Okay, what do you got, sir? You're on
the Yde couple of Fox Sports Radio. All right, pipe down,
where's your bob? Bob? Yeah? Okay, I thought so. All right,
(16:35):
eight seven seven ninety nine Fox, Let's start with Luca
in Baltimore. You're on the Odd Couple of Fox Sports Radio.
What's up, Luca? What's up? Guys? Well, first things, first, congratulation,
two years great, thank you, thank you, brother. I can't
wait for two and four and you know, not two,
(16:55):
not two, you know, however, that's right, No, okay, I
want to cremis. Well, I'm about to say aby saying
that I am the biggest Lebron's fan, but I think
it's time for the NBA. As Rob said, and I
think Chris agreed to this, just move up when you
present this award, and nothing more than this pandemic made
(17:17):
it clear that that needs to be done. I'm not
saying that they you gotta institute a different award because
that that's gonna mess up the show where you award
between the regular everything MVP. It'd be great NBA. Yeah, absolutely,
(17:40):
I don't know why they haven't done it. To be honest,
I get it. You can't do a Grammy type show
right because players are gonna be practicing and in their
own cities. Fine, just have a show on TNT or
whatever and you can. Yeah, you can make it a
nice thing that everybody will want to watch. Ham in
New Jersey. Are you're on the odd couple of Fox
Sports Radio. What's up, Pam, what's up? Fellows? Congrats onto
(18:02):
two years? Man? Than that was fast, wasn't it? Ham?
That was fast? Oh man? But you know, pretty soon
you guys are gonna be on TV and I'm going
to be enjoying watching it. Thank you. But it's the
best show I think by far. Thank you. Listen on
this subject, what I like to say is Lebron he
(18:25):
wasn't even the best player on his team all year
in the regular season. This is a regular season award,
like the last caller said, and you guys said before,
let's push it up. And it saves the embarrassment for
the NBA because like Jannis should have won it already, right,
and he gets eliminated, and now it's you have all
(18:45):
these uh the cloud of smoke everybody coming for that out. Yes, yes,
it's not the first time. As I said, I mean,
remember when Navitski won it and by Golden State. It
really puts a damn. Just look a little bit different, right, right,
you know, And even if you want, like for even
the optics as you were gonna say, rob are bad,
(19:06):
but just for the player himself so he can enjoy
enjoy it. But he to get that crowning achievement, you
should be able to enjoy it. Let the league falling
over you. People talk about this dude. Dude, he was
Defensive Player of the Year and MVP. Only three players
have ever done it in league history. It didn't come on, man,
(19:28):
and now all everybody's talking about he's all he don't
Lebron got job. Mark and Sacramento, you're on the odd
couple of Fox Sports Radio. What's up Mark here? Hello? Yep,
Mark in Virginia. I'm sorry Mark and Virginia. Yeah. I
was gonna say. I was sitting there going, damn my
mind the West Coast. Now, no, no, no, there's another Mark.
(19:48):
I just missed reading game. I grew up in the sixties,
but I didn't do that much anyway. Happy anniversary, guys, you,
thank you. I also just a side guard group. Make
it really quick. This is also my fifty fifth anniversary.
My very first NFL game. My dad took me to
the game. I carried the beer in a huge bag.
I was nine years old, undersize. But the reason we
(20:11):
went to the game as they were playing the Dallas
Cowboys in nineteen sixty five Washington. This is the Browns
versus the Cowboys in nineteen sixty five. Jimmy Brown had
retired early Lee where Keller's in the backfield. Anyway, the
reason I went to sell enamored with the whole thing
was I heard of a guy named Bob Hayes who
(20:31):
was the fastest human on earth. You just won the Olympics.
You know what? Told kid? It's nine years old. That's
what I was looking for. And of course when we
got in there, the police had asked what was in
the bag. My dad said it was our launch. Nie
said go ahead. So that was my right passage and
it was a beautiful experience and it's happy ended unreal.
Yesterday was the same thing my anniversary Brown's play. So,
(20:52):
getting back to your sidebar question, I don't you know,
it's all I think the MVP is all about expectations,
and Lebron just can't tomp himself. So I don't think
he's gonna get that many MVPs in this short career.
That's uh, you know. I think we're gonna miss him
a lot when he's gone, a heck of a lot.
But no doubt I'll give it to the young man
(21:13):
in Milwaukee. Um he played Mark. He played really well.
Appreciate it he did and he deserved. Let's squeeze in
Mark real quick. Can we do that? Mark and Sacramento. Mark,
what's going on gentlemen this day? Market and Sacramento real quick?
I wanted again, I want to say happy anniversary to
you guys from the same called from the second day
(21:36):
you guys want to here starting two years ago. Uh,
you guys have allowed me to call and listen to
me and allowed me to get on your damn nerve
you too, sometimes keeping it real sometimes you do, but
we appreciate you to well, y'all get on my damn
nerves too. So so, but real, real quick. For the
(22:00):
last two years, Janice has been Uh, to this point,
he's been the NBP. He hadn't stopped. He just continued.
He just kept going and keep getting better. So it's
just on the trajectory. So and I'm the Laker fan,
Lebron fan, but this is not an argument that young
man is just getting better and better and better. And
it's just it hasn't stopped for two years, right, It's
(22:23):
it's been unbelievable and you're right, appreciate the call. He
had gotten better. You know that all right, Robbie. Everybody
saw there was reports that the Celtics had a blowout
last night in the locker room after the game. They
lost in Miami heat. They're down two and Marcus Smart
went ballistic in the locker room. What does it mean?
(22:44):
We've got Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe joining us
next to tell us all about it. But first, Fox
Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation.
Catch all of our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot
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R to listen live. Coming you live from the Geico
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(23:06):
percent or more on your car insurance with Geico. Go
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seven a UTO. The only hard part is figuring out
which way is easier. He's a friend of the show,
does a fantastic job covering the NBA. A writer yes
for the Boston Globe. Our man, Gary Washburn, what's up, bro?
(23:28):
What's happening you doing? We are great, man. Let me look,
We're gonna get to what's going on with the Celtics.
But before we get there, everybody on earth knows you
got an MVP vote because of you. You voted for Mellow.
We know we won't have that famous wife. That's right,
you know Lebron, but everybody still still famous voter, that's right?
(23:50):
Who did you now? Rob? And I but you know,
I'm a voter to I voted for Yannis. Rob says
Giannis deserved it. As you know, a lot of people
think Lebron got robbed, that he deserved it. Who did
you vote for? And what do you say to those
You may have voted for Lebron for all I know,
but what do you say to those who think Lebron
(24:12):
should have been MVP? Yeah? I voted for Lebron. Oh wow, okay, okay,
one of the seventeen I think right, because it was
a whitewashed garry on this one eighty five for Jannis
that was shocking. I thought it would be more of
a split vote. I thought it might be like, you know,
sixty forty something like that as opposed to a five
(24:34):
and sixteen whatever it was. But um, yeah, I just
thought with what Lebron did with the Lakers this year,
number one seed, and you know they're not playing with
a quote unquote loaded championship roster. If you're talking about
Dwight Howard off the street, Amy Bradley pretty much off
the street, Jon Rondo with a bunch of teams, Jared Dudley,
(24:57):
Danny Green. You talking about guys who are solid players,
but a Tim and a d and the rest of
the guys. So I just thought what he did lead
to league and assist kind of change his game, showing
all the skills that I thought he was the MVP.
Janni's amazing season, um nothing against Jannis. I thought Yannis
was the MVP last year. He had even better numbers.
(25:18):
But I just thought what Lebron did with his team
on the floor and bringing LA back after real disappointing
first season in LA, I thought he deserved. I'm I'm
I'm shocked by your vote, but uh, you know, I
mean everybody has your guilt in there. Gary, No, I'm
voting Chris. I had voted for him since, for instance,
(25:44):
being Lebron are cool. He's gotten all this album, settled
into bubble. You know, I am some time. It's not
a level of guilt. I just thought, Uh, I thought,
you know, back to back MVPs are really hard to win,
so I thought it would be more Evin, especially with
the Lakers. Remember that stretch where they I think they
beat the Clippers and they beat the fuck It was
(26:04):
just the weekend. Gary, Let's not get crazy. Gary. Here's
my only problem I have with your with your your
your take on this is that Yannis one defensive player
of the year. His numbers were better. They had, Milwaukee
had the best record in the league, and Lebron had
Anthony Davis. Right, So so when you look at it
(26:25):
and you give Lebron credit that they only had two guys,
Yannis had one guy, just him. Chris Middleton is not
on Anthony Davis's par and he still had a better
record and had the numbers and played both ends of
the floor, and Anthony Davis had better numbers than Lebron
other than assist. I'm just shocked by your vote. Um,
(26:46):
I thought Lebron this was a year and I take
Asian to account. Guy, you can't do it. You can't
do it. You can't do it, Asiaetime, I can't. The
only lights you take an age into account when it's
his age, all right, when my time comes up, and
(27:06):
trying to get into the NABJ Hall of Favor. But
let's let's let's get to let's get to the big
news inside the bubble. So what you were one of
those reporting what was going on in the locker room,
So what what's happened with Boston last night? And do
you think there's gonna be a negative or a positive
carryover to all the whoppl in the locker room last night? Yeah,
(27:29):
I can't really say whether it's gonna be negative or
positive because you don't know how teams are gonna come out,
how these young guys will respond when there's some you know,
altercations and things like that. I we are basically the
locker rooms. These are not state of the art, you know,
twenty twenty arenas. These are nice arenas that that are
(27:51):
that have some limitations. So basically the locker rooms. We
can walk right past the locker rooms, say give they
put a partition up up there where reporters can wait,
and then they'll clear you to walk past. So when
they're ready for interviews, as the linka Angrews and I
were waiting and one of the baroniers, there was just
a whole lot of yelling. And I didn't had enough
(28:15):
experience with yelling with family fights and we've all been
to the cookout and like it might be HARKing to
go home now because casting start drinking too much and
starting out the old days. Um and so there was
a lot of yelling and it was intense and it
(28:37):
was extended. Then there was stuff being thrown. You could
just hear it boom against the wall. So it was like, Okay,
this is not a normal post game, like let's hash
it out. This is like there's been there's some serious arguing.
It was multiple voices yelling like it's been put on
Marcus smart, Marcus went on on this guys and this
Marcus Marcus wasn't the only one of their yelling okay, sling,
(29:00):
but he wasn't the only one. So he comes out
and remember guy's like, I don't, we don't. We're not
allowed inside the locker rooms got because of COVID, So
I don't know what the restroom facilities are like in
the locker room, but there is a bathroom men's and
women's room that is next to the locker room that
you have to walk outside the locker room and go
(29:21):
down all the us So obviously it was time for
Marcus to go. So he left the locker room with
no shirt on him. It's like kind of the game
tights and walked to the bathroom toward us. But we're
still covered by the barrier. We're still separated by the barrier.
And he said what I was called the tweet y'all
on some bs and he said that true people who
(29:44):
that were in the room. So he used the bathroom
for five minutes, and the US still continued. It was
not did not stopped once he left. He left, So
after he left, it continued. Wow, and Gary, are you
sure they weren't arguing about the new contract extension for
(30:05):
Brad Stevens or with something else. It might have been
what kind of planes they're gonna take hot the bubble
what they were arguing about. It was, But it continued
once Market left the road and walked back in, and
it continued after that, and it was voices, and it
was uncomfortable, and NBA folks can look at us like, man,
(30:27):
we don't know what to do here because we can't
tell you to go back here. Because so it was
it was an extensive term. It was twenty minutes. So
you know, everything came, everybody came out. There was nobody
with the scratches of marks, so there's no fighting, but
it was definitely a hash out, probably as close as
you're gonna get to an altercation from a team that
(30:51):
is obviously frustrated their affect. They're angry and they feel
embarrassed because Miami's taking their lunch money in the fourth
corner of both games. Well, being around these guys, Gary,
knowing them, you know, you're you're around them throughout the seasons,
do you have a feeling knowing the type of people
they are, how they might react that that. I mean,
(31:13):
I know Brad is not a confrontational type guy, and
you know some of the other Kim was probably not
like that either. Do you think you know, I know,
you don't know for sure, but you have a gut
feeling or whether like this could be a positive that
unites them or it could be something that just destroys
their chemistry for the next few games. Yeah, I think
(31:33):
you would like to think that it would be something
because they were able to survive the Toronto series basically
being up almost being up three year old last second
shot and losing the next game and responding to win
two out of three against the sending champs. Think if
they've been through that they can get through this and
just get a game. At this point, you just want
to get a game, feel good about yourself, and then
(31:55):
try to get another one. I mean, you can turn
around and talk about taking the series or trying to
win the best two out of three. So I do
think this will help them. It's probably some of the
things that need to come out, and it's probably a
kind of an illustration of how much and how badly
they want to win, and how upset they are because something.
They should be embarrassed. They should be upset because the
(32:16):
plays that are being made down the stretch. Jimmy Butler
steals the guard, Drogics, this stuff that that's hustle plays.
That's a big, big time playoff plays. Not this. You
can't play three and a half quarters in the playoffs.
We all know that. I don't fit what sport you're
talking about. You can't play half a game, three quarters
of a game, expect to come out. You're not that
(32:37):
they're not that good. But he has have no fear
of the Celtics. You leave, go ahead, take a twenty
point league. We'll come back. We got three point shooters
and we got the most confident player in the league.
Jimmy Butler. He might not be the best, but so
and you know he's the most confident player in the league.
Jimmy love Jimmy, and Jimmy knows that Jimmy can make
(32:57):
big plays down the stretch. Yep, that's the truth, all right.
That's our man, one of the best in the business.
NBA writer for the Boston Globe, Gary, great stuff man.
We appreciate it. Thank you, guys. Appreciate it all right.
Brod Piece Bruce Art's five five is next. Keep it
locked Fox Sports Radio. Be sure to catch live editions
(33:18):
of The Odd Couple with Chris brus Art and Rob
Parker weekdays at seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio and the iHeart Radio app. It's The
I Couple, Chris and Rob. We brought to you by
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All right, it's time for Bruce Arts Fabulous five. Are
(34:01):
you ready? Like Ron, We're going big. It's go town.
It's Bruce Sard's Fab five. All right. With everyone talking
about how it's a cakewalk now for the LA Lakers
to win the championship for Lebron James to claim his
fourth title, that sparked me to do my Fab five
(34:26):
this week on the biggest upsets in NBA Finals history. Now,
I do agree that the Lakers are the heavy favorites
now to win their their next championship, and that Lebron
James has a great opportunity. I'm picking him now. I
believe he should win his fourth title and it'll be
(34:48):
great for him and his legacy. But it's not a
foregone conclusion, as this list will show. So let's get
to it. The five biggest upsets in NBA Final history,
and I will read them in chronological order, from the
oldest to the most recent. Here we go. Number five,
(35:09):
the Boston Celtics nineteen sixty nine upsetting the LA Lakers
in seven games. Now, here's the deal. It was Bill
Russell's last season. He had just won the championship. But
he's obviously getting older. He averaged nine points this season.
In the regular season, the Boston Celtics were the fourth
seed in the East. They only won forty eight games,
(35:32):
and the La Lakers, who had been to the finals
a year before with Jerry West, el Jim Baylor and
Gail Goodrich added added Wilt Chamberlain. So everybody thought they
were gonna roll. They were the top seed in the West,
and low and behold, the Celtics beat him. Jerry West
(35:53):
was fantastic. That's when, of course he was named MVP.
Even though they lost. He averaged thirty eight points a
game that series. But the Celtics pulled off the major
upset Number four. Number four. Nineteen seventy five, the Golden
State Warriors sweep the Washington then called the Washington Bullets.
(36:18):
Now Washington was stacked. They had Elvin Hayes Hall of
Fame power forward, West, unseled Guy rest his soul Hall
of Fame center. They won sixty games. Everybody thought they
were gonna roll. Golden State had only won forty eight games.
Outside of Rick Berry. I think they had an old
Nate Thurman. You know that roster wasn't that impressive. But
(36:42):
Rick Berry averages thirty points during the season and during
the finals and not only let them pass the heavily
favorite bullets, but he swept them outstanding worked by Roy
Parker's friend Rick Berry. Number three, number three three, two
thousand and four, another one related to Rod Parker. He
(37:04):
had his pile palms out for this one. Chauncey billups,
Rashid Wallace, Ben Wallace, Rip Hamilton, and Tayshawn Prince pull
off the major upset over Shaq Kobe, Carl Malone and
Gary Peyton in the NBA Finals in five games. No less,
(37:26):
it was crazy Number two, number two. Let's go to
two thousand and eleven. Lebron coming off the not one,
not two, not three, not four, not five, not six,
nine seven. They know through Boston in the Conference semis
in five games. They rolled through MVP Derek Rolls in
(37:49):
the Chicago Bulls in five games in the Conference Finals
and meet Dallas which is led by drk Naviski and
a bunch of old cats Jason Terry, Jason kidd Way, Passes,
Prime Tyson Chandlers Shawn Marion. None of them were the
same outside of Dark and Jason Terry, and they beat
the Bamie Heat in six games. The Heat routed them
(38:13):
in game one. We're up fifteen in Game two with
seven minutes left, lose, but then win game three. I mean,
they were clearly the superior team. And then they fall
apart and lose in six. Number one. All right, we
gotta go back four years the Golden State Warriors seventy
(38:35):
three wins. Steph Curry becomes the only player ever to
be named unanimous MVP. They go out two old on
the Cavaliers. They go up three one on the Cavaliers.
It seems like it's over, but Lebron James and Kyrie
Irvy say no, we got something to say about this,
(39:00):
and they come back for the greatest comeback in the
NBA Finals history and one of the top five upsets ever.
So there you have it. It is not a foregone
conclusion that the Lakers will win it. I expect them to,
but watch and see
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
to check us out live every weekday from seven pm
to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching f s R.
(00:25):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Yeah, it is the
bus The Odd Couple Iron Chris Bruce Hard alongside my
(00:50):
shaddy partner Rob Parker. Yes, we're coming to you live
from the Geico Fox Sports Radio studio. Fifteen minutes could
save you fifty percent the more on your car insurance.
Visit Geico dot com for a free rate quote. I
don't know how I feel today about Roy Parker being back.
I mean, it's nice to have your back, man, but
(01:13):
I'm still a little salty. I'm still a little salty.
Hitted Alex that on the second year anniversary, you you chose.
You didn't even just chose to be off, you actually
chose an activity that nobody enjoys, to go to the
dentist rather than celebrate our two year anniversary with me.
(01:39):
I'm a I'm a bit salty man. I'm a bit hurt,
all right. One, I had the music ready and everything.
What music. Oh, this is a little I didn't want
that line necessarily Victoria's secret man. But we were ready.
(01:59):
It was anniversary, man, and you know, and you just
you just bailed. So I'm a bit salty man. Just
excuse me today if you know, if you sense that,
all right, well, all I'll say is uh, happy anniversary.
Yesterday mark two years of us doing this show full time,
and today is the start of our third year together
(02:22):
the Odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. And trust me,
I didn't want to go to the dentist, but I
had to get there, and I'm all, good man, there's
so much to talk about. Well, I'm gonna say this, Rob,
as a guy that's you know, done this show, sitting
next to you for the bulk of this two years.
I'm glad you went to the dentist. And I hope,
(02:44):
I hope things got fixed. Look at that, and you
hope they gave me mouthwash too, Yes, exactly. So we
got Gary Washburn, national NBA writer for the Boston Globe,
coming up at the bottom of the o and actually
he does a great job covering the whole league. But
great time to have him more and Rob because of
(03:05):
course you had that shouting match in the Boston Celtics
locker room after they went down oh two yesterday to
Miami Heat and reportedly h Jalen Brown and Marcus Smart
had to be separated before they got into some fisticuffs
or something. So great time to have Gary Washburn and
(03:27):
to clear everything got with the MVP voting, right, who
didn't what it was Lebron to be unanimous? Didn't he vote?
We voted for Mello. Yep, Lebron is still upset about that. Yeah,
so it's that would have been another notch on Lebron's belt,
so that it didn't happen. Right, that's right. Let's introduce
the Eye Couple crew. We got DJ Alex Tysher aka
Alex the Vegan. I'm always excited when he's on the
(03:49):
ones and twos on the Funky Flashback Friday. Let's see
how deep he goes into the crates. We got Vince
Kate's in for super producer Rob. Yeah, it does a
great job. I know, it's ridiculous. I don't get it.
The two Robs on this show. Man, y'all love a
vacation and then h ha is Brian Finley on the updates,
(04:15):
the low quacious Brian Finley, mister verbs, So listen for
his verbs in the updates. All right, Rob, Let's get
right to it. The news of the day or certainly
one of the big stories of the day. Yannis Onto
Dick Kompo wins his second straight MVP Award and became
(04:36):
the third player along with Michael Jordan and a Kim Elijahwan,
to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in
the same season. Very impressive, very impress He's twenty five
years old. Absolutely absolutely. Now the big deal is that
a lot of people think that because they went out
(04:58):
Yannis and his Bucks went out for one to the
Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs, and
the one game that they won, Yannis got hurt in
the first quarter and only played eleven minutes. A lot
of people are saying he didn't deserve it. They're saying
Lebron should have Lebron James should have won this MVP award. Now,
(05:19):
I am an official voter. I take my vote seriously,
and I voted for Yannis and I have absolutely, positively
no regrets about voting for Yannis onto the Kompo. It folks,
listen to me. It is a regular season award. The
(05:41):
ballots are dude, The ballots were actually due before they
even started playing games in the bubble. So I don't
care what happens in the playoffs. It has no bearing
on the award. Now, I will say going forward, right,
when you see a guy struggle in the playoffs after
(06:01):
winning MVP, yeah, that can affect your vote for the
next season. But for this season, it was about the
first sixty five games or whatever it was that each
team played before the pandemic struck and Yannis I did
da Kompo had better individual statistics than Lebron, better traditional stats, points, rebounds,
(06:25):
you know, field goal percentage, things like that. Better. He
was a better defensive player, as evidenced by his Defensive
Player of the Year award. He had better analytical stats.
He had one of the greatest peers of all time,
and his team without a second start, without and Anthony Davis,
he led the Milwaukee Bucks to the best record in
(06:45):
the league. Rob what more can you ask from a
guy when you're looking for the MVP? Case closed, Case closed.
I wrote a column for dead Spin Chris today, just saying,
stop it with it with the false narrative about that
(07:05):
he doesn't deserve it and comparing him to Steve Nash
and all this other stuff. It is ridiculous. You just
said it. His numbers were as impressive as you can get.
And Chris he also won. Lebron didn't have the best record.
They didn't have an Anthony Davis. And here's the other
case against Lebron. Anthony Davis had better numbers than Lebron
(07:28):
Chris other than the assists. Last year, without Anthony Davis,
the Lakers didn't even make the playoffs, regardless of what
the circumstances were. And then when Anthony Davis got there,
they have a chance to go to the finals. So
you can make the case that Anthony Davis was an
MVP or help Lebron and the Lakers get to where
(07:48):
they are. So stop with the false narrative. No, and
it's not a lifetime Achievement award. We don't care that
this is year seventeen and that Lebron Jame doesn't get
any extra credit for this, being he being long in
the tooth, he doesn't get any extra credit because he
can get a disk down at Denny's on breakfast because
(08:11):
he's older. None of that stuff matters. You're right, it's
no curve, all right, We're not grading on the curve.
The fact that Lebron is thirty five in his seventeen
nothing right, means absolutely nothing. That's what a lot of
people start their argument with. Right, But he's Look, I'll
give you this best seventeen season by a player in
(08:34):
NBA history. When they make up the award for that,
we'll give it to Rights. How's that right? And I'm
not taking an iota away from Lebron. Lebron had a
tremendous year. He had a great year. Yannis had a
better one. That's all there is to it. And Rob,
there's lot of people. That's why vote was a whale.
(08:56):
It was eighty five, eighty five out off I believe
a hundred and one. Yeah, first place votes. Lebron Yannis
got eighty five out of one on one. That's a route.
It's a route, Chris, it was Look, there are some,
a very few, look, Lebron James is the best player
in the world, and he's the best player or the Lakers.
(09:17):
But there are some that have argued Anthony Davis is
there MVP. You just said it, Robs. Statistically, he led
the Lakers and everything, but assists. Somebody texted me a
little while ago that they think AD's the best player
on the Lakers, and they said, look at the numbers,
the stats, and they said John Stocked and is rolling
(09:38):
over in his grave. We know he's not dead, but
just facetiously saying where's my MVP award? You know, I exactly.
So I'll give you the only time, Rob, that like
they bring up to thirty five years old, seventeen season
that Lebron, you know that that's in the argument. The
(10:01):
only time that could potentially enter the argument, Rob, is
if Lebron had say, say, never won an MVP, right,
and a bunch of writers it's happened before where they
give a lifetime achievement. I don't it shouldn't be, but
you know how it is, that would enter into an argument,
(10:24):
and I wouldn't be that mad at it if that's
the case. If a guy clearly was the best, you know,
all time great, just had never for whatever reason when
the MVP deserved it, maybe a few years, then you
throw that in because he should have one. But outside
of that, no, I'll give you one other thing, and
I'd love to hear what people are thinking. But maybe
maybe if they just announced the award Chris right after
(10:47):
the season before I'll start, and then this way you
could get over it. You don't have to remember what,
oh my god, what happened, and just announce it and
then you go forward, and then you just just announce.
They should have a show, Rob, they should have a
they should have a nice you get to the award show, right,
you got about four or five days before the playoffs,
(11:08):
and just have a nice award show, yep, and and
then we can move forward. You're not gonna get the
players there because obviously they're getting ready for the playoffs,
but you can get to them, you know, in their home,
have them, have an interview with them in their home,
kind of like they're two team with the All Star team. Yeah,
make it nice because you're right. And here's the thing.
Let's let's clear up this narrative. I want to list
(11:30):
several MVPs Rob who won the MVP Award and then
got bousted in either the first or second round of
the playoffs, because people act like Yannis is the only one.
All right, In twenty eighteen, I'm sorry. Twenty seventeen, Russell
Westbrook wins the MVP Award and gets beaten four one
(11:55):
in the first round of the playoffs. Okay, in t
O seven, Dark Navitsky wins MVP award, gets upset by
Golden State in the first round of the playoffs. I
believe Golden State was the eighth seed that year. Dallas
was one. Two thousand and two, Tim Duncan wins MVP
(12:18):
Award and gets out sited in the second round of
the playoffs. Guess what four one? Just like Yannis four one,
we're talking about one of the greatest players ever live.
Nineteen ninety nine Carl Malone wins MVP award, booted in
the second round of the playoffs. And here's the kicker
(12:38):
rop nineteen eighty eight. Michael Jordan wins his first MVP award,
wiped out of the playoffs in the second round. Four one.
There you go, So stop with this like this is
a Yannist thing. Yes, and one other thing Chris eight
seven seven ninety nine Fox will throw the number out.
(12:59):
The other thing is stop with this whole idea about
well up, the media likes you or whatever they vote for.
You and some secretive narrative. My biggest exhibit a is
Barry Bonds, who won seven MVPs Chris seven? Did the
media did did he like the media? Did the media
(13:19):
like Barry Bonds at all? Not at all? So stop
stop great points, tell it what's undeniable. That's why he
won them. Absolutely, the media are far less biased than
players coaches. Yes, and and to be honest, Yanni's actually
won the fan vote too, so um that that should
(13:42):
settle it. Case closed. Now, I will say this last
thing before we get to throw out the number for
the callers ROB. A lot of people say, well, they
should just wait till the playoffs and the playoffs in
the finals and give one MVP award, don't even do
a regular season one. Well, that would be the finals
in VP, right, that's why award. You're not going to
(14:04):
give them playoff MVP award. Like, like, let's say you
did do that and you wait till after the finals
to give the award. You're not giving it to a
guy that went out in the second round, even if
he was the best player. So let's say Denver loses
to the Lakers this round and Yokis is great, but
they lose. You could argue, Yokis should be the MVP.
(14:27):
Would he get it? No, because they got beat Jimmy
Butler if they lose to Boston, or if they get
to the finals and lose. Would anybody feel good if
they gave Jimmy Butler the MVP award? No, because the
regular season he didn't deserve it. And then if he
was great in the playoffs leading Miami to the finals
when nobody thought they could get there but still lost,
(14:48):
it wouldn't feel right. So it would always just be
the finals MVP. That's why we have the regular season MVP,
which we should keeps in the two separates season. Yep, yep,
all right? Eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox eight seven, seven,
nine nine, six sixty three sixty nine. Your turn to
(15:08):
weigh in. Did Yanandis deserve the MVP award? Did Lebron
get snubbed? You're turning to continue the conversation with Chris
and Rob v I Couple right here on Fox Sports Radio.
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussar then Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
(15:30):
iHeartRadio app. All right, it's the Odd Couple Chris and
Rob on a funky flashback Friday. We're brought to you
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All right? Eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox, simple
question the Yannis I did the combo deserve the MVP Award?
And did Lebron James get snubbed? You'll turn away in
(16:12):
Chris real quick. Somebody called on the hot line. It's
the Lebron fan boy. He he represents basically all the
Lebron fans. Okay, what do you got, sir? You're on
the Yde couple of Fox Sports Radio. All right, pipe down,
where's your bob? Bob? Yeah? Okay, I thought so. All right,
(16:35):
eight seven seven ninety nine Fox, Let's start with Luca
in Baltimore. You're on the Odd Couple of Fox Sports Radio.
What's up, Luca? What's up? Guys? Well, first things, first, congratulation,
two years great, thank you, thank you, brother. I can't
wait for two and four and you know, not two,
(16:55):
not two, you know, however, that's right, No, okay, I
want to cremis. Well, I'm about to say aby saying
that I am the biggest Lebron's fan, but I think
it's time for the NBA. As Rob said, and I
think Chris agreed to this, just move up when you
present this award, and nothing more than this pandemic made
(17:17):
it clear that that needs to be done. I'm not
saying that they you gotta institute a different award because
that that's gonna mess up the show where you award
between the regular everything MVP. It'd be great NBA. Yeah, absolutely,
(17:40):
I don't know why they haven't done it. To be honest,
I get it. You can't do a Grammy type show
right because players are gonna be practicing and in their
own cities. Fine, just have a show on TNT or
whatever and you can. Yeah, you can make it a
nice thing that everybody will want to watch. Ham in
New Jersey. Are you're on the odd couple of Fox
Sports Radio. What's up, Pam, what's up? Fellows? Congrats onto
(18:02):
two years? Man? Than that was fast, wasn't it? Ham?
That was fast? Oh man? But you know, pretty soon
you guys are gonna be on TV and I'm going
to be enjoying watching it. Thank you. But it's the
best show I think by far. Thank you. Listen on
this subject, what I like to say is Lebron he
(18:25):
wasn't even the best player on his team all year
in the regular season. This is a regular season award,
like the last caller said, and you guys said before,
let's push it up. And it saves the embarrassment for
the NBA because like Jannis should have won it already, right,
and he gets eliminated, and now it's you have all
(18:45):
these uh the cloud of smoke everybody coming for that out. Yes, yes,
it's not the first time. As I said, I mean,
remember when Navitski won it and by Golden State. It
really puts a damn. Just look a little bit different, right, right,
you know, And even if you want, like for even
the optics as you were gonna say, rob are bad,
(19:06):
but just for the player himself so he can enjoy
enjoy it. But he to get that crowning achievement, you
should be able to enjoy it. Let the league falling
over you. People talk about this dude. Dude, he was
Defensive Player of the Year and MVP. Only three players
have ever done it in league history. It didn't come on, man,
(19:28):
and now all everybody's talking about he's all he don't
Lebron got job. Mark and Sacramento, you're on the odd
couple of Fox Sports Radio. What's up Mark here? Hello? Yep,
Mark in Virginia. I'm sorry Mark and Virginia. Yeah. I
was gonna say. I was sitting there going, damn my
mind the West Coast. Now, no, no, no, there's another Mark.
(19:48):
I just missed reading game. I grew up in the sixties,
but I didn't do that much anyway. Happy anniversary, guys, you,
thank you. I also just a side guard group. Make
it really quick. This is also my fifty fifth anniversary.
My very first NFL game. My dad took me to
the game. I carried the beer in a huge bag.
I was nine years old, undersize. But the reason we
(20:11):
went to the game as they were playing the Dallas
Cowboys in nineteen sixty five Washington. This is the Browns
versus the Cowboys in nineteen sixty five. Jimmy Brown had
retired early Lee where Keller's in the backfield. Anyway, the
reason I went to sell enamored with the whole thing
was I heard of a guy named Bob Hayes who
(20:31):
was the fastest human on earth. You just won the Olympics.
You know what? Told kid? It's nine years old. That's
what I was looking for. And of course when we
got in there, the police had asked what was in
the bag. My dad said it was our launch. Nie
said go ahead. So that was my right passage and
it was a beautiful experience and it's happy ended unreal.
Yesterday was the same thing my anniversary Brown's play. So,
(20:52):
getting back to your sidebar question, I don't you know,
it's all I think the MVP is all about expectations,
and Lebron just can't tomp himself. So I don't think
he's gonna get that many MVPs in this short career.
That's uh, you know. I think we're gonna miss him
a lot when he's gone, a heck of a lot.
But no doubt I'll give it to the young man
(21:13):
in Milwaukee. Um he played Mark. He played really well.
Appreciate it he did and he deserved. Let's squeeze in
Mark real quick. Can we do that? Mark and Sacramento. Mark,
what's going on gentlemen this day? Market and Sacramento real quick?
I wanted again, I want to say happy anniversary to
you guys from the same called from the second day
(21:36):
you guys want to here starting two years ago. Uh,
you guys have allowed me to call and listen to
me and allowed me to get on your damn nerve
you too, sometimes keeping it real sometimes you do, but
we appreciate you to well, y'all get on my damn
nerves too. So so, but real, real quick. For the
(22:00):
last two years, Janice has been Uh, to this point,
he's been the NBP. He hadn't stopped. He just continued.
He just kept going and keep getting better. So it's
just on the trajectory. So and I'm the Laker fan,
Lebron fan, but this is not an argument that young
man is just getting better and better and better. And
it's just it hasn't stopped for two years, right, It's
(22:23):
it's been unbelievable and you're right, appreciate the call. He
had gotten better. You know that all right, Robbie. Everybody
saw there was reports that the Celtics had a blowout
last night in the locker room after the game. They
lost in Miami heat. They're down two and Marcus Smart
went ballistic in the locker room. What does it mean?
(22:44):
We've got Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe joining us
next to tell us all about it. But first, Fox
Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation.
Catch all of our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot
com and within the iHeart Radio app search f s
R to listen live. Coming you live from the Geico
Fox Sports Radio studios. It is easy to say fifteen
(23:06):
percent or more on your car insurance with Geico. Go
to Geico dot com or call eight hundred nine four
seven a UTO. The only hard part is figuring out
which way is easier. He's a friend of the show,
does a fantastic job covering the NBA. A writer yes
for the Boston Globe. Our man, Gary Washburn, what's up, bro?
(23:28):
What's happening you doing? We are great, man. Let me look,
We're gonna get to what's going on with the Celtics.
But before we get there, everybody on earth knows you
got an MVP vote because of you. You voted for Mellow.
We know we won't have that famous wife. That's right,
you know Lebron, but everybody still still famous voter, that's right?
(23:50):
Who did you now? Rob? And I but you know,
I'm a voter to I voted for Yannis. Rob says
Giannis deserved it. As you know, a lot of people
think Lebron got robbed, that he deserved it. Who did
you vote for? And what do you say to those
You may have voted for Lebron for all I know,
but what do you say to those who think Lebron
(24:12):
should have been MVP? Yeah? I voted for Lebron. Oh wow, okay, okay,
one of the seventeen I think right, because it was
a whitewashed garry on this one eighty five for Jannis
that was shocking. I thought it would be more of
a split vote. I thought it might be like, you know,
sixty forty something like that as opposed to a five
(24:34):
and sixteen whatever it was. But um, yeah, I just
thought with what Lebron did with the Lakers this year,
number one seed, and you know they're not playing with
a quote unquote loaded championship roster. If you're talking about
Dwight Howard off the street, Amy Bradley pretty much off
the street, Jon Rondo with a bunch of teams, Jared Dudley,
(24:57):
Danny Green. You talking about guys who are solid players,
but a Tim and a d and the rest of
the guys. So I just thought what he did lead
to league and assist kind of change his game, showing
all the skills that I thought he was the MVP.
Janni's amazing season, um nothing against Jannis. I thought Yannis
was the MVP last year. He had even better numbers.
(25:18):
But I just thought what Lebron did with his team
on the floor and bringing LA back after real disappointing
first season in LA, I thought he deserved. I'm I'm
I'm shocked by your vote, but uh, you know, I
mean everybody has your guilt in there. Gary, No, I'm
voting Chris. I had voted for him since, for instance,
(25:44):
being Lebron are cool. He's gotten all this album, settled
into bubble. You know, I am some time. It's not
a level of guilt. I just thought, Uh, I thought,
you know, back to back MVPs are really hard to win,
so I thought it would be more Evin, especially with
the Lakers. Remember that stretch where they I think they
beat the Clippers and they beat the fuck It was
(26:04):
just the weekend. Gary, Let's not get crazy. Gary. Here's
my only problem I have with your with your your
your take on this is that Yannis one defensive player
of the year. His numbers were better. They had, Milwaukee
had the best record in the league, and Lebron had
Anthony Davis. Right, So so when you look at it
(26:25):
and you give Lebron credit that they only had two guys,
Yannis had one guy, just him. Chris Middleton is not
on Anthony Davis's par and he still had a better
record and had the numbers and played both ends of
the floor, and Anthony Davis had better numbers than Lebron
other than assist. I'm just shocked by your vote. Um,
(26:46):
I thought Lebron this was a year and I take
Asian to account. Guy, you can't do it. You can't
do it. You can't do it, Asiaetime, I can't. The
only lights you take an age into account when it's
his age, all right, when my time comes up, and
(27:06):
trying to get into the NABJ Hall of Favor. But
let's let's let's get to let's get to the big
news inside the bubble. So what you were one of
those reporting what was going on in the locker room,
So what what's happened with Boston last night? And do
you think there's gonna be a negative or a positive
carryover to all the whoppl in the locker room last night? Yeah,
(27:29):
I can't really say whether it's gonna be negative or
positive because you don't know how teams are gonna come out,
how these young guys will respond when there's some you know,
altercations and things like that. I we are basically the
locker rooms. These are not state of the art, you know,
twenty twenty arenas. These are nice arenas that that are
(27:51):
that have some limitations. So basically the locker rooms. We
can walk right past the locker rooms, say give they
put a partition up up there where reporters can wait,
and then they'll clear you to walk past. So when
they're ready for interviews, as the linka Angrews and I
were waiting and one of the baroniers, there was just
a whole lot of yelling. And I didn't had enough
(28:15):
experience with yelling with family fights and we've all been
to the cookout and like it might be HARKing to
go home now because casting start drinking too much and
starting out the old days. Um and so there was
a lot of yelling and it was intense and it
(28:37):
was extended. Then there was stuff being thrown. You could
just hear it boom against the wall. So it was like, Okay,
this is not a normal post game, like let's hash
it out. This is like there's been there's some serious arguing.
It was multiple voices yelling like it's been put on
Marcus smart, Marcus went on on this guys and this
Marcus Marcus wasn't the only one of their yelling okay, sling,
(29:00):
but he wasn't the only one. So he comes out
and remember guy's like, I don't, we don't. We're not
allowed inside the locker rooms got because of COVID, So
I don't know what the restroom facilities are like in
the locker room, but there is a bathroom men's and
women's room that is next to the locker room that
you have to walk outside the locker room and go
(29:21):
down all the us So obviously it was time for
Marcus to go. So he left the locker room with
no shirt on him. It's like kind of the game
tights and walked to the bathroom toward us. But we're
still covered by the barrier. We're still separated by the barrier.
And he said what I was called the tweet y'all
on some bs and he said that true people who
(29:44):
that were in the room. So he used the bathroom
for five minutes, and the US still continued. It was
not did not stopped once he left. He left, So
after he left, it continued. Wow, and Gary, are you
sure they weren't arguing about the new contract extension for
(30:05):
Brad Stevens or with something else. It might have been
what kind of planes they're gonna take hot the bubble
what they were arguing about. It was, But it continued
once Market left the road and walked back in, and
it continued after that, and it was voices, and it
was uncomfortable, and NBA folks can look at us like, man,
(30:27):
we don't know what to do here because we can't
tell you to go back here. Because so it was
it was an extensive term. It was twenty minutes. So
you know, everything came, everybody came out. There was nobody
with the scratches of marks, so there's no fighting, but
it was definitely a hash out, probably as close as
you're gonna get to an altercation from a team that
(30:51):
is obviously frustrated their affect. They're angry and they feel
embarrassed because Miami's taking their lunch money in the fourth
corner of both games. Well, being around these guys, Gary,
knowing them, you know, you're you're around them throughout the seasons,
do you have a feeling knowing the type of people
they are, how they might react that that. I mean,
(31:13):
I know Brad is not a confrontational type guy, and
you know some of the other Kim was probably not
like that either. Do you think you know, I know,
you don't know for sure, but you have a gut
feeling or whether like this could be a positive that
unites them or it could be something that just destroys
their chemistry for the next few games. Yeah, I think
(31:33):
you would like to think that it would be something
because they were able to survive the Toronto series basically
being up almost being up three year old last second
shot and losing the next game and responding to win
two out of three against the sending champs. Think if
they've been through that they can get through this and
just get a game. At this point, you just want
to get a game, feel good about yourself, and then
(31:55):
try to get another one. I mean, you can turn
around and talk about taking the series or trying to
win the best two out of three. So I do
think this will help them. It's probably some of the
things that need to come out, and it's probably a
kind of an illustration of how much and how badly
they want to win, and how upset they are because something.
They should be embarrassed. They should be upset because the
(32:16):
plays that are being made down the stretch. Jimmy Butler
steals the guard, Drogics, this stuff that that's hustle plays.
That's a big, big time playoff plays. Not this. You
can't play three and a half quarters in the playoffs.
We all know that. I don't fit what sport you're
talking about. You can't play half a game, three quarters
of a game, expect to come out. You're not that
(32:37):
they're not that good. But he has have no fear
of the Celtics. You leave, go ahead, take a twenty
point league. We'll come back. We got three point shooters
and we got the most confident player in the league.
Jimmy Butler. He might not be the best, but so
and you know he's the most confident player in the league.
Jimmy love Jimmy, and Jimmy knows that Jimmy can make
(32:57):
big plays down the stretch. Yep, that's the truth, all right.
That's our man, one of the best in the business.
NBA writer for the Boston Globe, Gary, great stuff man.
We appreciate it. Thank you, guys. Appreciate it all right.
Brod Piece Bruce Art's five five is next. Keep it
locked Fox Sports Radio. Be sure to catch live editions
(33:18):
of The Odd Couple with Chris brus Art and Rob
Parker weekdays at seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio and the iHeart Radio app. It's The
I Couple, Chris and Rob. We brought to you by
Blue Emo Maximum Pain Relief. It works fast and you
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(33:40):
muscle pain, backache, strains, sprains, even arthritis. There's no stinging,
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All right, it's time for Bruce Arts Fabulous five. Are
(34:01):
you ready? Like Ron, We're going big. It's go town.
It's Bruce Sard's Fab five. All right. With everyone talking
about how it's a cakewalk now for the LA Lakers
to win the championship for Lebron James to claim his
fourth title, that sparked me to do my Fab five
(34:26):
this week on the biggest upsets in NBA Finals history. Now,
I do agree that the Lakers are the heavy favorites
now to win their their next championship, and that Lebron
James has a great opportunity. I'm picking him now. I
believe he should win his fourth title and it'll be
(34:48):
great for him and his legacy. But it's not a
foregone conclusion, as this list will show. So let's get
to it. The five biggest upsets in NBA Final history,
and I will read them in chronological order, from the
oldest to the most recent. Here we go. Number five,
(35:09):
the Boston Celtics nineteen sixty nine upsetting the LA Lakers
in seven games. Now, here's the deal. It was Bill
Russell's last season. He had just won the championship. But
he's obviously getting older. He averaged nine points this season.
In the regular season, the Boston Celtics were the fourth
seed in the East. They only won forty eight games,
(35:32):
and the La Lakers, who had been to the finals
a year before with Jerry West, el Jim Baylor and
Gail Goodrich added added Wilt Chamberlain. So everybody thought they
were gonna roll. They were the top seed in the West,
and low and behold, the Celtics beat him. Jerry West
(35:53):
was fantastic. That's when, of course he was named MVP.
Even though they lost. He averaged thirty eight points a
game that series. But the Celtics pulled off the major
upset Number four. Number four. Nineteen seventy five, the Golden
State Warriors sweep the Washington then called the Washington Bullets.
(36:18):
Now Washington was stacked. They had Elvin Hayes Hall of
Fame power forward, West, unseled Guy rest his soul Hall
of Fame center. They won sixty games. Everybody thought they
were gonna roll. Golden State had only won forty eight games.
Outside of Rick Berry. I think they had an old
Nate Thurman. You know that roster wasn't that impressive. But
(36:42):
Rick Berry averages thirty points during the season and during
the finals and not only let them pass the heavily
favorite bullets, but he swept them outstanding worked by Roy
Parker's friend Rick Berry. Number three, number three three, two
thousand and four, another one related to Rod Parker. He
(37:04):
had his pile palms out for this one. Chauncey billups,
Rashid Wallace, Ben Wallace, Rip Hamilton, and Tayshawn Prince pull
off the major upset over Shaq Kobe, Carl Malone and
Gary Peyton in the NBA Finals in five games. No less,
(37:26):
it was crazy Number two, number two. Let's go to
two thousand and eleven. Lebron coming off the not one,
not two, not three, not four, not five, not six,
nine seven. They know through Boston in the Conference semis
in five games. They rolled through MVP Derek Rolls in
(37:49):
the Chicago Bulls in five games in the Conference Finals
and meet Dallas which is led by drk Naviski and
a bunch of old cats Jason Terry, Jason kidd Way, Passes,
Prime Tyson Chandlers Shawn Marion. None of them were the
same outside of Dark and Jason Terry, and they beat
the Bamie Heat in six games. The Heat routed them
(38:13):
in game one. We're up fifteen in Game two with
seven minutes left, lose, but then win game three. I mean,
they were clearly the superior team. And then they fall
apart and lose in six. Number one. All right, we
gotta go back four years the Golden State Warriors seventy
(38:35):
three wins. Steph Curry becomes the only player ever to
be named unanimous MVP. They go out two old on
the Cavaliers. They go up three one on the Cavaliers.
It seems like it's over, but Lebron James and Kyrie
Irvy say no, we got something to say about this,
(39:00):
and they come back for the greatest comeback in the
NBA Finals history and one of the top five upsets ever.
So there you have it. It is not a foregone
conclusion that the Lakers will win it. I expect them to,
but watch and see
Hosts And Creators
kelvin washington
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