May 26, 2022 • 39 mins
Former NFL offensive lineman and FOX Sports Radio Weekend host Ephraim Salaam is in for Rob, and he and Chris discuss what we can expect will come out of Colin Kaepernick’s tryout with the Las Vegas Raiders, tell us if we should believe Josh Donaldson when he says the ‘Jackie’ incident was just one big misunderstanding with Tim Anderson, and tell us why it’s crazy to say that a championship would put Steph Curry ahead of Magic Johnson all-time. Plus, NBA champion and FOX Sports Radio NBA analyst Eddie House swings by to discuss what’s gone wrong for the Miami Heat the past few games, the midseason changes the Boston Celtics made that have put them one win away from the NBA Finals, which star teammates would make the most sense alongside Luka Doncic next season, and much more!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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(00:26):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, it's the
third hour of The Odd Couple. As you heard he
from his end for Rob, I'm Chris Bruce Sard, and
we are live from the Fox Sports Radio Studios Game
five Golden State, Dallas. About the start and maybe ten
(00:46):
fifteen minutes. We got Eddie House joining us at the
bottom of the hour of the NBA Champion to talk
all things in BA. But let's start with the NFL.
And huge news came out yesterday Eve from Colin Kaepernick,
exiled from the NFL for the past six years, gotta
(01:10):
try out yesterday with the Las Vegas Raiders, and Ian
Rappaport of NFL Network said he was impressive. He's been
told that he was impressive. Now the Raiders obviously have
their starter and Derek Carr, who just signed a three
year contract extension, so he obviously is entrenched as the starter,
(01:31):
as he should be, but they also have three other
quarterbacks on the roster, so I now they can cut
those guys and end up only paying like a million dollars.
So as far as a cap hit, so if Kaepernick
was that good, they it wouldn't be tough for them
to keep him as a backup. But I feel like
I kind of feel like they won't. And I'm not
(01:54):
saying this was just a ruse, because I think it
was legitimate. And I think it could also serve eve
from as like a trial balloon for other teams, because
remember when the Ravens thought about signing Cap in twenty
seventeen and the fan base went crazy in a negative way,
(02:15):
and so they backed off and everybody else backed the way.
But now he tried out. He worked out at Michigan,
you know, a few a month or so ago at
the University of Michigan, with hardball, no no fan uproar there.
Done here. It seems like like putting this out there,
it seems like teams could be like, all right, it's
(02:35):
not gonna be a negative if we bring him in
to our fans. And so what I hope look if
the Raiders signed him, great. My hope is that a
team that really does need a quarterback, whether it's a
backup or I mean, I don't know that. I don't
think he's ready to step in and start. But you know,
like a Seattle and Pete Carroll been flapping his gums
(02:56):
for years about how he deserves to be in the league,
he's a starter and blah blah blah, yet never has
done anything with it. They got Drew lock In, Geno
Smith at quarterback. They got three quarterbacks I can't remember
the other one, Jacob Easton. If they all those guys
combine have a guarantee five hundred thousand dollars guarantee. Now
(03:17):
their contracts are bigger, but guaranteed five hundred thousand dollars.
They need a quarterback and they I think that's a
team that should look at Kaepernick seriously, not to step
in as a starter, but to step in as a backup.
And hey, if he chose you he can play, then
bring him in to play. But that's where I'm add
(03:38):
on this. I look, there's a report Pro Football Talk
that two other teams are interested in him. So I
don't know. I mean, I kind of a month or
so ago I from I kind of gave up on
him getting back in the NFL, But now it seems
like he might have a shot. Where you at three
years ago, you feel better now. I look, I'm almost
(04:02):
indifferent because they're certain if you really want it back
in the league. He could have helped facilitate that for
himself a little bit better. So you don't think he
wants Wait a minute, let me finish. That's how I've
been feeling over the past years, especially when he changed
(04:23):
the whole workout. You want to do it at the look,
you're getting these opportunities. People want not stuck their neck
out on the line to get to these the opportunity,
and you, in the twenty fifth hour decide you want
to do it your way. It doesn't work like that, right.
You don't go to a billion a multi billion dollar
company and you dictate the rules of how they are
how you want to be hired. Well, when does that
(04:46):
ever happen? Anyway? Fast forward to now. I hope the
Raiders do sign him. I don't think he should go
to a team without a quarterback. I don't think he
should go to Seattle, and they're trying to figure out
the quarterback position because I think that's too much pressure. Well,
he wouldn't start him, I understand that, But guess what
will happen? Right when you roll Drew Lock out there
(05:07):
and it's not going the way you wanted to go.
You're just coming off Russell Wilson, and now you're going
to Drew Lock. Right what, we know what's gonna happen.
We know that fan base up there, So I don't
think that's a situation where he would be would be
most advantageous for him. I think going to a place
like Oakland, who has a history of doing their own
(05:29):
thing no matter what the league wants, I think it'd
be grateful him. I think the Raider fan base would
love him and embrace him. And I think playing and
learning behind Derek Carr would be a tremendous way to
get him in the building, get let him play in
the preseason, right, all of these types of things, new
(05:51):
head coach, new system, He's starting from scratch like everybody
else is. I think that would help his development and
get him knocked that rust off and get him back
to being ready to be an NFL quarterback. Okay, that's fair,
that's fair. Well, I think to your first point about
(06:13):
him trying to dictate his terms of getting back in
the league, what I think that was was youthful or
and I know he's not that young, mature ye misguided advice?
Look well and look and you know this ephrom Colin Kaepernick,
(06:34):
and you know, in the black community, as a term conscious, right,
and now it's somewhat similar to woke. Right. Colin Kaepernick,
during his football career got conscious or became woke. He
started he read the autobiography of Malcolm X. He started
studying more about black you know what I'm saying saying
(06:56):
and he as a lot of people that do that
because we're not really taught black history growing up. Oh right, right,
So when you a lot of people come into that
in college or after college. But when you come into
it and you get really deep into it, you know,
you're like a bull in a china shop. You know,
(07:18):
you're like an evangelist, right, You're you're telling everybody, You're
you're you're just you're you're out there as far as
you know, really excited about the information. And I think
that's where Kaepernick was. And I think that you saw
it when he had that tryout, you know, when he
(07:39):
moved it and the way he spoke afterwards. The owners
need to stop running, y'all need to get you know,
like he was right, but he was just caught up. Honestly,
he was just caught up. It is Malcolm X's face.
I said, bad advice, But I don't even think that
was just advice. I think that's just where was mental league.
(08:02):
I can promise you there was a team around him
and like you look, but even if you from you,
even if they were giving him the advice to do
it this way, I think he was so exuberant that
he wouldn't have listened. He was going to be like, no,
I'm gonna, like I said, you know people that have
gone through the Malcolm X face. Yes, and that's just
(08:25):
where he was. He was gonna do it his way,
tell them off. And I think as he's mature, it
doesn't mean he's any less excited or enthusiastic about black
history or the Black cause or anything like that. But
you grow, you mature, Yeah you do, and I think
now he understands. Look the way I'm gonna get into
this is, you know they owned the league. I gotta
(08:49):
you know you can't just be telling everybody off. No.
I look, he sued the league and one okay, he won.
They never disclosed how much he got. But you know,
so moving forward, if this happens for him, I think
it's great. Me personally, I think being away from the
(09:11):
game six years, it's too much for anybody trying to
come back and play football. So much of the game
has changed, the speed, everything has changed. You throw into
a couple of dudes at the park, all right, high schools, brother,
So you don't think he can be going to do
that right now? I can go Can he a year?
Can a year like your scenario, doesn't play a lick
(09:34):
this year, but he's on the bench, going through practice,
scout team, all that. After a year of that, can
he maybe be ready to be a starter or play
at least you know, before we get to the starter
aspect of it, the number one thing is being in
an offense that that's conduced to your skill set. Right before,
(09:57):
when he was in the league, he couldn't play in
every offense. So this notion that some team, any team,
should give him a shot, that's a false narrative because
you you don't bring someone in if they don't fit
what you do offensively, which is paramount at the quarterback position,
back up or starter. It's the same thing. You don't
bring a guy in who won't succeed in your scheme
(10:22):
based on their their their their previous uh performances. Right,
that's the only one the Raiders system, danel I don't.
I don't know, because I don't. We don't, we don't know.
So it doesn't seem like that's a good fit. If
he's bringing that's what well, if he's bringing what he
(10:44):
had in New England over then that is not a
good fit, right right. That's that very few, very few
teams run the style of of that he will be
conducive in. Now you get a lot of a lot
of that with a young, more athletic quarterbacks that will
that will um they will construct their offense to make
(11:07):
changes based on your skill set. But nobody's doing that
for him right now right now. Of course, now you
wouldn't do that. That would be as nine to do that,
right because that would be that will mean you hope
he's gonna be your starter for the next five to
ten years, and that's not really We got an update
from Rob G. Rob G what's the update. Well, first off,
you guys that we're talking about the link with the Raiders. Um.
(11:29):
The Raiders offensive coordinator Mick Lombardy worked with Colin Kaepernick
in San Francisco, so that could be the reason for connection.
But you know, coming into Thursday with the reports that
we got, We're just say it was a positive workout.
He looked good. That was the extent of it. Josina Anderson,
she didn't give the name of the source, but got
someone on the record who was at the workout. Here's
what they said. Quote. I think the best thing for
(11:52):
him is that someone pulled the trigger on the workout.
He looked like a guy taking things more seriously. Lean
fit sell as a strong arm, but it's easier when
it's choreographed. This was unscripted, not his drills, and at
times you could tell. So he would have to work
his ass off to knock off the rust on the
accuracy and the touch. Can he play in the league, Yeah,
(12:14):
but he's gonna have to really earn it, all right,
And that's exactly along the lines what I was saying, like, Look,
this is not gonna be easy. People love to say,
oh they when Tebow came back as a tight end.
They were like, oh you can. Hey, man, the vast
majority of the population of the planet Earth don't really
(12:35):
realize how hard it is to play professional football. And
I don't say that to demean anybody, right, or professional anything,
professional anything, but especially football, because so much of your
success is tied to everybody around you, and at the
quarterback position, it's even more paramount than any other sport
in any other position. Let me ask you this quickly.
(12:57):
We got about a minute ants on brand, which I
know is not good. You know, he's not indicative of
all players or even many players. I would say, um,
he but he shot down you know, he wasn't feeling Cap.
Who was the other player that seconded what he said?
I can't remember who it was. But do you think, uh,
(13:20):
most players want Cap to succeed and or or are
some players indifferent? I think one players against him. I
think most guys are indifferent. I think there's a large Yeah.
I think there's a large group of guys who, especially
who played who said the same thing I said. If
he wanted to get back into the league, he would have.
There are different step steps you can take. There's efforts,
(13:42):
right making documentaries and movies and shows about it. That's
not how you do it. If that's how you if
that's what you want to do. Now, he built a
brand or not being in the NFL. Remember that he
built the whole brand. Show was pretty good, Okay, but
he built a whole Yeah, he built the whole brand
or not being in the NFL. Right, So there's all
(14:05):
of that all while that building and what's going on,
you know you? Like I said, the tell tale for
me was when he decided he wanted to change the
whole they wouldn't let him bring his camera crews in.
He didn't like that. Like that doesn't That's not how
this works, man, It's never worked like that. It is
The I Couple e from some Lime in for Rob
(14:25):
Parker and Josh Donaldson says the whole quote unquote Jackie
incident was all just one big misunderstanding. Should we believe him?
That's next couple of Fox Sports Radio. 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 SR to
(14:47):
listen live all right with the I Couple, I'm Chris
he's e from in for Rob Parker. And if you're
dealing with a dead battery, one place to go it's
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(15:12):
of course, what was going on with Josh Donaldson and
Tim Anderson. Josh Donaldson, the Yankees called him Jackie, was
suspended for one game. Referring to Jackie Robinson and Donaldson,
who appealed the front or suspension, did issue this statement today.
(15:32):
Here's what he said, Rodge. That's right, he said, first
and foremost, I have the utmost respect for what Tim
Anderson brings to the game of baseball. I stated over
the weekend that I apologized for offending Tim and that
it was a misunderstanding based on multiple exchanges between us
over the years. My view of that exchange hasn't changed
and absolutely meant no disrespect. In the past, it had
(15:55):
never been an issue, and now that it is, we
have a mutual understanding. I would like to apologize to Missus,
Rachel Robinson, and the Jackie Robinson family for any distressed
this incident may have caused. Jackie was a true American
hero and I hold his name in the highest regard
he from. I don't think there's enough evidence to say
(16:15):
this was a racist comment or he meant it in
a racist way. I think more of the evidence were
leaning towards him. Just if people want to call him
a jerk and all that, that's fine, but I think
this was I think what it was was an opposing
player who is known for trying to get under opponent's skin.
(16:38):
I think that's what he was doing. I think he
was trying to get under Anderson's skin, and that was
the comment he used. Now, if he just said Jackie
out of the blue, I would think that was racist
because obviously there's very few African Americans in the league
right now, And if he just start calling him Jackie,
I would be like, Oh, that's definitely racing. When I
(17:00):
first heard it, I thought that's what it was before
knowing the context. But Anderson said he wanted to be
the next Jackie Robinson, and I think Anderson even misspoke
with that, because he was just saying, I want to
bring fun back to the game. But that don't make
you Jackie Robinson, come on right, all right? But I
equate this and people will, I thought Doug Glanville I
(17:24):
from saying, well, I determine what you call me, you
don't just well, yes, in real life and regular everyday circumstances. Sure,
on the field, on the court, I mean, look, if
I'm going against somebody, like let's say next year, chat
Holmgren coming into the NBA and he says I'm gonna
be the next Larry Bird and I'm guarding him, I'm like,
(17:46):
come on, Larry, all right, you bird, you bird, Come
on what you got Larry Like, I'm trying to get
under his skin. And I think that's fair game because
he opened that box. And so I think that's what
this was. More than anything. I feel the exact same way,
um after you know, hearing what happened and knowing the
(18:07):
research of it, Like when if you yourself refer to
yourself as as an all time great, I'm the new whatever,
I'm the new Jordan, I'm the new Kobe, right, I'm
the new Tom Brady, Then you get what you get
from opposing teams, right, and I would absolutely the only
(18:32):
thing that makes this different is the black and white issue.
Now you what you get but him him calling, you know,
Josh Donaldson calling Tim Anderson Jackie after he referred to
himself as the new Jackie Robinson as an opponent, I
(18:55):
don't have a problem with that right now. I don't
know what's in his day and in Josh Donaldson's heart.
I don't know his history with racism and or any
of that. So I'm not going to chalk it up
to him being racist. I refused to do that. That
would be ignorant, and I think from all go ahead.
So so for me is don't I mean what what
(19:19):
we were forgetting is that series between the White Socks
and the Yankees have been contential. They've been brawling, right,
they had been fighting. This is this is at the
height of emotion, right, you played in baseball. He played
these teams back to back to back to back, and
and and and any emotions are heightened. Right. They had
some brawls out there that have all kinds of stuff.
So yeah, I'm gonna say whatever I can to get
(19:40):
under your skin, right, And the only thing I said
the only thing I'm doing is I'm calling you what
you called yourself. I agree, I agree, And I said
this yesterday. It's worth repeating. I don't think any African
American players and I don't want this to happen in
(20:02):
baseball because again there's only a seven to eight percent
black Now. I don't want they don't. I don't think
they want. You can speak to this as a former
pro athlete. I don't think they want to be treated
with kid gloves. No, like, oh, don't hurt the feelings
of the black guys. Like if you're calling him the
N word or something like that, that's one thing, But
(20:22):
if it's you get what I'm saying, like, we don't
want to be pitied, like, oh, they're so fragile that
if you say this, because even like right when Aaron
Judge addressed it yesterday, and I'm like, he did a
good job, but part of what he said was, you know,
Tim is a great player, and he's you know, important
(20:42):
to what the game is trying to do going forward,
meaning of course they're trying to get more African America
and Tim is a great player, got swag all that,
But like I said, don't you don't want to start, dude,
having dudes be pitied because we're black. Like you said,
we grow man, we can take it. We're tough. Just
don't go beyond the line. But that I'm with you.
(21:05):
Like I said, if you want to say he's being
a jerk, but I just think he's trying to get
under a skin. What you did, right, so you know,
you know, mission accomplished right. Fox Sports Radio has the
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(21:28):
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(21:50):
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Fitness the y m c A ah that our man,
(22:12):
Edie House. What's up, brother? What's up? As funny as
you say that, I just got done giving from cats,
then do real talk? Do people come up and really
want to challenge you? And you know what I mean,
you want to see what they can do against you
when you're out there playing. Yeah, and it's most of
(22:32):
the time to see junctions they like about twenty five
twenty six, you know, got lively legs, And I tell
them I'm in here for a cardio. Didn't they try to?
You know, it seem like they want to get a
little rep So then you know they say awaking, that
they're awaking the beast. It's like you don't want the
cracking to come out the water. I hear you, man,
(22:54):
I hear you. All right, let's get to the Eastern
Conference finals. I picked Boston in six. I'm surprise it's happening,
and obviously I think they're a better team period. But
the heater falling apart. Do you give or is there
any excuse for Jimmy Butler. I know the knee has
bothered him. He's not saying it to his credit, and
(23:16):
he is total twenty seven points in the last three games,
one twenty five percent shooting. Is there any excuse for that?
And is it Does it come a point where even
if you're your start on the team that you just
gotta maybe be like, look, I can't help us in
this state. I'm hurting us more than helping us. Or
(23:37):
does he just have to cut through it and keep
playing no matter how poorly he may be playing. It
depends on him. That's the most important thing, is like
how does he feel? Does he feel that he is
not helping the ticker still Jimmy Butler out there, entered,
is still a threat to the Boston Celtics. They are
focused on him. They are like, hey, we gotta pay attention.
He has to be accounted for when you get out there.
(24:00):
You know, this time of the year, everybody got something
going on with them, and if you get out there
at that point, there's no excuse. You know, it comes
down to that, if you're out on the court, there
is no excuses giving for anybody any which way. Nobody
gave excuses for UM Toronto winning the championship when the
Golden State Warriors were all banged up with Katie, and
(24:22):
no excuse it happened. It is what it is, and
injuries are part of it. We hate to see it happened.
It sucks, but let's Chris, let's do his though. We
said the same thing about Katie and Kyrie is like, oh,
there's something going on over can we give credit to
the bulk. The Celtics defense said the same thing in Milwaukee.
Oh they're a great defensive. I mean they're a great
(24:43):
offensive team where they can knock down threes and this
is gonna be a real challenge. Cut that water off
and now over here you see Miami is having a
real hard time scoring in the half court. The two
games they won was all bats and shooting themselves in
a foot, turning the ball over, not getting back on
in transitions, and giving up fast break points. They cleaned
(25:05):
that up and it's not even close. I mean eighty points.
I know guys are injuried, but eighty points. And it
shows me. One thing about the Boston Celtics is that
they can win ugly, they can win pretty and when
you start being able to do those things, you are
a real contender. Because guys try to mup the game up,
try to get rough, try to get physical, try to
get ugly, but at the same time you still come
(25:27):
out with a W. However it looked ugly, the W
is still standing the same way. And at the end
of it all, we got to get to the Boston
Celtics a whole lot of credit to email Dulk, a
whole lot of credit board making adjustments, and also the
team making a judgment and other guys playing hurt as well. Well,
let's talk about let's stay in these Let's stay with
the Celtics in terms of we were talking about it
(25:49):
earlier in the show. Something happened mid January with the
Celtics where their whole mindset changed. Talk about when you
speak about defense, how important that the bringing back Al
Horford was to the core of that team and what
they're doing now. Defensively, Oh man, he was. He's huge,
and not only defensively. The luxury that you have having
(26:12):
a guy that can get the ball off the glass
and push it at a seven foot with a seven
foot plane, but make the right decision, make the right plays,
gonna be solid with the basketball. The turnovers ain't coming
from Al's He's a guy that's able to take care
of the basketball, make the right reads because he's been around.
But having him being a defender to a guy that
can switch. But then we talk about protecting the rim
(26:35):
Rob Williams. Having Rob Williams back, there's a whole because
now you got you got you got him, and you
got Horford. So Horford's dealing with Bam. BAM's getting by
Horford or Horford's making it tough. Now you gotta be
thinking where's Rob Williams at? God's going to the basket,
or thinking where's he at? Do I have? Is it clear?
(26:55):
And I know he's old there you I now got
to change my shot or I gotta kick it out.
And the Celtics are really really good defensively because they
have those two interior guys, but also on the perimeter.
Let's not forget Marcus Mark, the defensive player of the year.
You know Jaalen Brown is a hell of a defensive player.
Jason Tatum has stepped his game up as a defensive player,
as a two way player, so it's not just and
(27:16):
Derek White. Look what Derek White did yesterday. I mean,
it's coming from everybody, and I think everybody bought into
what emade Dunker was putting down. They picked it up,
and they're in a great situation right now, a great
position to close it out and get get to the
NBA Finals and before wins away from hoisting that trophy.
All right, Eddy will obviously talk about the matchup, you know,
(27:37):
next week, if indeed it's Boston goes there, whoever it is,
but it looks like it's gonna be those two. But
I gotta ask you something about something that one of
your former teammates just said a few days ago. Kendrick
Perkins and y'all want a championship together in Boston. I
don't know if you heard him, but he said, if
the Warriors win this championship and Steph Curry his Finals MVP,
(28:01):
he will move ahead of Magic Johnson as the greatest
point guard ever. Your thoughts if I understand where he's
coming from, right, But I can't vouch for that one.
I can't roll with that. Just because Magic got more
final MVPs, he has just one more regular season MVPs
and he'll have one more championship if all this happens
(28:25):
right for the Warriors. Yea, he still has more accolades personally. Um,
he did something like him and Bird saved the NBA.
You know, they saved the NBA was dying. The NBA
was take delay. You were watching games late night, hype,
you know what I mean? You was right exactly trying
(28:48):
to avoid man that don't tell me who won. So
you know, I see where he's coming up from. Where
the game won't be played the same because of Steph Curry, right,
and to go to State Warriors and what they did,
So you could look at them and say they were
both transcending people, transcending players who've done something to the
league that had never been seen before. A big point guard,
(29:09):
but then not only that, a point guard that was
able to play center as a rookie win in the
finals NBP. I mean, you could go on and on
about magic. It's hard for me to sit there and
say Steph would surpass him. Now, can they be sitting
at the same table eating on the same food. Yeah,
I don't. I think they both could have steaking lobsters.
Nobody's gonna beating the cheeseburger why the other ones eating
(29:30):
steaking lobsters? You know, I think they both at the
table eating the same thing. You're watching this Golden State
UH Dallas series right now and watching how fast Golden
State wants to play and how slow Dallas wants to
play with with Luca being ball dominant. What do you
see not only for this series but for next year
(29:53):
for for Dallas on how they have to adjust playing
plane with having Lucas spend so much time dominating the ball.
I look at it like, how do you get a
guy as a superstar in his prime that also wants
to have the ball in his hands and get opportunities.
How do you get him to come to Dallas And
how do you say, Luca, you're gonna have to play
(30:15):
off the ball. I don't think Lucas great off the ball.
Luca's great with the ball. And the difference between him
and Lebron because Lebron dominated the ball, James Harden dominated
the ball. I think the difference between those two, well,
especially Lebron, is Lebron's more athletic. Lebron could play off
the ball, James Harden could play off the ball. It's
(30:36):
just hard for me to look at at Luca and
Dallas the way they're constructing, and say, who's a guy
in his prime that wants to be like I want
to go stand in the corner and wait for him
to get the ball. And would Luca be willing to say, Okay,
I'm gonna have to take off ten to twelve possessions
and let you go to work. I mean, do you
(30:56):
see Luca have any ability to play off the ball?
To playoff the ball? I don't think. The reason I
don't think he's effective when he's playing off the ball
because he's such a great passer and he's such a
great score. If you play him off the ball, what
is he gonna get pinned down catch the shoot? I
don't think so. So eventually it's gonna be a post up.
And then again it's isolation. And that's the same thing now.
(31:19):
People are standing around watching waiting for him to do something.
So if somebody was to come, it would it would
have to be a center, somebody who needs the ball
given to them, A player. I wouldn't have to necessarily
say a center, but somebody who has to have the
ball given to them for them to be successful. It
won't be a guy that can go get his and
(31:41):
that's what they need. I mean, I think that's what
Jalen Brunton has shown tremendous growth and then also showing
a team like, hey man, I could also go get
mine and let other guys kind of stand and I
could go get mine myself, and you don't have to
always just wait for Luca to get me the ball
in a position for me to score. I can go
get it. And to me, that's gonna be a hard
(32:01):
sale for anybody who's in free agency that's looking to
try to get some money. Well, Eddy, it wouldn't be
this guy. But what about and I'm talking about stylistically,
I think a guy and I don't know if there
is such a guy other than him. Kevin Durant like
that type right, like doesn't need the ball in his hands.
He played well with Westbrook, So I think a guy
(32:24):
like that would be perfect. But like I said, who
who is out there like that? You know what I'm saying,
No nobody. I don't even think KYD would be good
in that situation either, because Westbrook played with pace, So y'all,
Luka doesn't play with that pace. You know, he plays
a slowdown game and well, rest Brook plays, and the
way Westbrook attacks and collapses defense is able to get
(32:47):
you shot. You're just sitting hoping they come off and
double teams. Well, they're never gonna leave KD. That's the
one person that they won't leave on the court. So
Luca's gonna have free rain to go wherever he wants.
If KD is in that corner, if Kad's on that wing,
you know that guy is hugging on and not gonna
give him that opportunity to take a look. I'll tell
you what. Somebody that will work perfect, but it's not
gonna happen. Jannis. A guy like Jannis will be perfect
(33:09):
over there, but that would never happen. Yannis is not
leaving Milwaukee to go play over there, and why would he,
you know, I mean, but he would be like the
perfect type of fit to go play with. A guy
like Luca really doesn't need to ball like that can
go get his off the glass and then could go
off the offensive glass, but they could rebound the ball
(33:30):
defensively and then push it in transition and go get
his We've seen him downhill a million times all this season,
and especially in that Celtics series all right. Well, that's
our man, Eddie Howe's great knowledge. Brother, appreciate We appreciate
you to man. All right, brother, piece more I Couple
coming your way. Fox Sports Radio. Be sure to catch
live editions of The Odd Couple with Chris Broussard and
(33:52):
Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeart Radio app. Right,
it is the I Couple. Chris brusar E from Salim
is in for Rob Parker. We are wrapping up a
TV theme song Thursday and listen, folks. Prices at the pump,
as you know, are obviously soaring. But Discover Card hash
(34:14):
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When you activate, you can learn more discover dot Com
Slash rewards limitations do apply. From let's end with this,
(34:34):
I brought it up to Eddie House. Kendrick Perkins said,
if Steph Kirby wins this title and finals MVP, he
will be the greatest point guard in history ahead of
Magic Johnson. Your thoughts, come on, man, Eddie, hit it
right over here, Coole, I'm not I'm not gonna do that.
You know. I love but Perk. You know, I love
(34:55):
Perk's energy and and and his h uh is willing
to be unafraid and just I love that. But that
makes zero sense. I mean Magic Johnson and I and
Perk is old enough to have seen Magic play, you
(35:18):
know what I mean. Like, he's old enough to have
to have be aware of the impact Madgie Johnson had
on basketball itself. And if not, go check out winning
time right right like, and so that was a great differ, unbelievable.
So to make to make that type of statement, what
(35:39):
do we call that? Hot takes? Yeah, right click. Here's
what I'll say, though, and I'm with you. I would
keep Magic number one, have stuff number two. I do
think there will be an argument for Staff if if
indeed he does what Perk said. And here it is,
he didn't play with nearly the supporting cast that Magic
(36:01):
Johnson did. Magic went to the Lakers. They had the
reigning MVP in Kareem. They later got who was I
gotta know he got older, you know, midway through Showtime,
but was still the man for the first several years
of Showtime. They got James Worthy, who was the number
(36:22):
one pick. A couple of years after Magic entered the league,
they got Byron Scott, who was the fourth pick in
the draft. Jamal Wilkes, he got there as a Hall
of Famer, was the eleventh pick. Like Norm Nixon, was great.
You know, do you remember Norm Knicks? Like Magic supporting
cast was tremendous. This is the thing, though, even when
(36:43):
Kareem retired, Magic still led them to the finals. Steph
when he lost his guys who weren't as good as Magics,
but when he lost them, they got to the play
in you know what I'm saying, and so but I
do that so I would go with Magic, but I
do think that there will these young folks will make
(37:04):
an argument for Steph, and it's gonna be an argument,
but I would argue against it. But I do think
that they will. You know, he has changed the game.
If he has four rings, um, he's got the back
to back MVPs. Obviously one was unanimous first player ever,
even though that he shouldn't have been the first player, right,
(37:25):
But you know what I'm saying, like there'll be an argument,
but I wouldn't. I wouldn't go with it. No, I
can't in good conscience. You got him second? Uh yeah,
I would. I would put him in. I would put
him second. But Magic Johnson Man, just watching Magic play
(37:45):
was breathtaking, right, literally breathtaking. I I tell people, when
I was on the show with Magic ten years ago,
I told our producers, I said, get a highlight like
we had a segment called Magic's eight ball or he
predicts you know a series or whatever, And I said,
introduced that segment with highlights of his passes, because I said,
(38:09):
these young people don't know, they don't realize, right, yeah, right,
And I've heard people say, Steve Nash or Lebrona, it's
maybe the greatest pastor. Man. You don't get out of
here with that foolish Yes, Magic is so far in
a way like ever right by a miaven close. It's
(38:31):
a grand canyon in between him and whoever second. And
guess who. Guess who those players that they think or
guess who they learn how to do that front? Right? Right? Absolutely?
Come absolutely kids today, man, get off my line. Well
from it was fun, man, you did a fantastic job. Brother. Well,
(38:51):
I just try to elevate anything I'm a part of, man,
you know what I mean. You and Rob got something
going special here. Man. I love while listening to you guys.
I'm a fan and it's always a pleasure when you
let me come in here and play with you guys.
Man nah man, y'all you were great. It was a
fun show. A lot of topics we hit on, and
it was all the way live. Keep it like right
here in Fox Sports Radio, d iHeartRadio Apper Sirius XM
(39:13):
eighty three for Jason Smith and Mike Harmon. They bring
fire
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
to catch us live every weekday from seven pm to
ten pm Eastern four to seven pm 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.
(00:26):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, it's the
third hour of The Odd Couple. As you heard he
from his end for Rob, I'm Chris Bruce Sard, and
we are live from the Fox Sports Radio Studios Game
five Golden State, Dallas. About the start and maybe ten
(00:46):
fifteen minutes. We got Eddie House joining us at the
bottom of the hour of the NBA Champion to talk
all things in BA. But let's start with the NFL.
And huge news came out yesterday Eve from Colin Kaepernick,
exiled from the NFL for the past six years, gotta
(01:10):
try out yesterday with the Las Vegas Raiders, and Ian
Rappaport of NFL Network said he was impressive. He's been
told that he was impressive. Now the Raiders obviously have
their starter and Derek Carr, who just signed a three
year contract extension, so he obviously is entrenched as the starter,
(01:31):
as he should be, but they also have three other
quarterbacks on the roster, so I now they can cut
those guys and end up only paying like a million dollars.
So as far as a cap hit, so if Kaepernick
was that good, they it wouldn't be tough for them
to keep him as a backup. But I feel like
I kind of feel like they won't. And I'm not
(01:54):
saying this was just a ruse, because I think it
was legitimate. And I think it could also serve eve
from as like a trial balloon for other teams, because
remember when the Ravens thought about signing Cap in twenty
seventeen and the fan base went crazy in a negative way,
(02:15):
and so they backed off and everybody else backed the way.
But now he tried out. He worked out at Michigan,
you know, a few a month or so ago at
the University of Michigan, with hardball, no no fan uproar there.
Done here. It seems like like putting this out there,
it seems like teams could be like, all right, it's
(02:35):
not gonna be a negative if we bring him in
to our fans. And so what I hope look if
the Raiders signed him, great. My hope is that a
team that really does need a quarterback, whether it's a
backup or I mean, I don't know that. I don't
think he's ready to step in and start. But you know,
like a Seattle and Pete Carroll been flapping his gums
(02:56):
for years about how he deserves to be in the league,
he's a starter and blah blah blah, yet never has
done anything with it. They got Drew lock In, Geno
Smith at quarterback. They got three quarterbacks I can't remember
the other one, Jacob Easton. If they all those guys
combine have a guarantee five hundred thousand dollars guarantee. Now
(03:17):
their contracts are bigger, but guaranteed five hundred thousand dollars.
They need a quarterback and they I think that's a
team that should look at Kaepernick seriously, not to step
in as a starter, but to step in as a backup.
And hey, if he chose you he can play, then
bring him in to play. But that's where I'm add
(03:38):
on this. I look, there's a report Pro Football Talk
that two other teams are interested in him. So I
don't know. I mean, I kind of a month or
so ago I from I kind of gave up on
him getting back in the NFL, But now it seems
like he might have a shot. Where you at three
years ago, you feel better now. I look, I'm almost
(04:02):
indifferent because they're certain if you really want it back
in the league. He could have helped facilitate that for
himself a little bit better. So you don't think he
wants Wait a minute, let me finish. That's how I've
been feeling over the past years, especially when he changed
(04:23):
the whole workout. You want to do it at the look,
you're getting these opportunities. People want not stuck their neck
out on the line to get to these the opportunity,
and you, in the twenty fifth hour decide you want
to do it your way. It doesn't work like that, right.
You don't go to a billion a multi billion dollar
company and you dictate the rules of how they are
how you want to be hired. Well, when does that
(04:46):
ever happen? Anyway? Fast forward to now. I hope the
Raiders do sign him. I don't think he should go
to a team without a quarterback. I don't think he
should go to Seattle, and they're trying to figure out
the quarterback position because I think that's too much pressure. Well,
he wouldn't start him, I understand that, But guess what
will happen? Right when you roll Drew Lock out there
(05:07):
and it's not going the way you wanted to go.
You're just coming off Russell Wilson, and now you're going
to Drew Lock. Right what, we know what's gonna happen.
We know that fan base up there, So I don't
think that's a situation where he would be would be
most advantageous for him. I think going to a place
like Oakland, who has a history of doing their own
(05:29):
thing no matter what the league wants, I think it'd
be grateful him. I think the Raider fan base would
love him and embrace him. And I think playing and
learning behind Derek Carr would be a tremendous way to
get him in the building, get let him play in
the preseason, right, all of these types of things, new
(05:51):
head coach, new system, He's starting from scratch like everybody
else is. I think that would help his development and
get him knocked that rust off and get him back
to being ready to be an NFL quarterback. Okay, that's fair,
that's fair. Well, I think to your first point about
(06:13):
him trying to dictate his terms of getting back in
the league, what I think that was was youthful or
and I know he's not that young, mature ye misguided advice?
Look well and look and you know this ephrom Colin Kaepernick,
(06:34):
and you know, in the black community, as a term conscious, right,
and now it's somewhat similar to woke. Right. Colin Kaepernick,
during his football career got conscious or became woke. He
started he read the autobiography of Malcolm X. He started
studying more about black you know what I'm saying saying
(06:56):
and he as a lot of people that do that
because we're not really taught black history growing up. Oh right, right,
So when you a lot of people come into that
in college or after college. But when you come into
it and you get really deep into it, you know,
you're like a bull in a china shop. You know,
(07:18):
you're like an evangelist, right, You're you're telling everybody, You're
you're you're just you're you're out there as far as
you know, really excited about the information. And I think
that's where Kaepernick was. And I think that you saw
it when he had that tryout, you know, when he
(07:39):
moved it and the way he spoke afterwards. The owners
need to stop running, y'all need to get you know,
like he was right, but he was just caught up. Honestly,
he was just caught up. It is Malcolm X's face.
I said, bad advice, But I don't even think that
was just advice. I think that's just where was mental league.
(08:02):
I can promise you there was a team around him
and like you look, but even if you from you,
even if they were giving him the advice to do
it this way, I think he was so exuberant that
he wouldn't have listened. He was going to be like, no,
I'm gonna, like I said, you know people that have
gone through the Malcolm X face. Yes, and that's just
(08:25):
where he was. He was gonna do it his way,
tell them off. And I think as he's mature, it
doesn't mean he's any less excited or enthusiastic about black
history or the Black cause or anything like that. But
you grow, you mature, Yeah you do, and I think
now he understands. Look the way I'm gonna get into
this is, you know they owned the league. I gotta
(08:49):
you know you can't just be telling everybody off. No.
I look, he sued the league and one okay, he won.
They never disclosed how much he got. But you know,
so moving forward, if this happens for him, I think
it's great. Me personally, I think being away from the
(09:11):
game six years, it's too much for anybody trying to
come back and play football. So much of the game
has changed, the speed, everything has changed. You throw into
a couple of dudes at the park, all right, high schools, brother,
So you don't think he can be going to do
that right now? I can go Can he a year?
Can a year like your scenario, doesn't play a lick
(09:34):
this year, but he's on the bench, going through practice,
scout team, all that. After a year of that, can
he maybe be ready to be a starter or play
at least you know, before we get to the starter
aspect of it, the number one thing is being in
an offense that that's conduced to your skill set. Right before,
(09:57):
when he was in the league, he couldn't play in
every offense. So this notion that some team, any team,
should give him a shot, that's a false narrative because
you you don't bring someone in if they don't fit
what you do offensively, which is paramount at the quarterback position,
back up or starter. It's the same thing. You don't
bring a guy in who won't succeed in your scheme
(10:22):
based on their their their their previous uh performances. Right,
that's the only one the Raiders system, danel I don't.
I don't know, because I don't. We don't, we don't know.
So it doesn't seem like that's a good fit. If
he's bringing that's what well, if he's bringing what he
(10:44):
had in New England over then that is not a
good fit, right right. That's that very few, very few
teams run the style of of that he will be
conducive in. Now you get a lot of a lot
of that with a young, more athletic quarterbacks that will
that will um they will construct their offense to make
(11:07):
changes based on your skill set. But nobody's doing that
for him right now right now. Of course, now you
wouldn't do that. That would be as nine to do that,
right because that would be that will mean you hope
he's gonna be your starter for the next five to
ten years, and that's not really We got an update
from Rob G. Rob G what's the update. Well, first off,
you guys that we're talking about the link with the Raiders. Um.
(11:29):
The Raiders offensive coordinator Mick Lombardy worked with Colin Kaepernick
in San Francisco, so that could be the reason for connection.
But you know, coming into Thursday with the reports that
we got, We're just say it was a positive workout.
He looked good. That was the extent of it. Josina Anderson,
she didn't give the name of the source, but got
someone on the record who was at the workout. Here's
what they said. Quote. I think the best thing for
(11:52):
him is that someone pulled the trigger on the workout.
He looked like a guy taking things more seriously. Lean
fit sell as a strong arm, but it's easier when
it's choreographed. This was unscripted, not his drills, and at
times you could tell. So he would have to work
his ass off to knock off the rust on the
accuracy and the touch. Can he play in the league, Yeah,
(12:14):
but he's gonna have to really earn it, all right,
And that's exactly along the lines what I was saying, like, Look,
this is not gonna be easy. People love to say,
oh they when Tebow came back as a tight end.
They were like, oh you can. Hey, man, the vast
majority of the population of the planet Earth don't really
(12:35):
realize how hard it is to play professional football. And
I don't say that to demean anybody, right, or professional anything,
professional anything, but especially football, because so much of your
success is tied to everybody around you, and at the
quarterback position, it's even more paramount than any other sport
in any other position. Let me ask you this quickly.
(12:57):
We got about a minute ants on brand, which I
know is not good. You know, he's not indicative of
all players or even many players. I would say, um,
he but he shot down you know, he wasn't feeling Cap.
Who was the other player that seconded what he said?
I can't remember who it was. But do you think, uh,
(13:20):
most players want Cap to succeed and or or are
some players indifferent? I think one players against him. I
think most guys are indifferent. I think there's a large Yeah.
I think there's a large group of guys who, especially
who played who said the same thing I said. If
he wanted to get back into the league, he would have.
There are different step steps you can take. There's efforts,
(13:42):
right making documentaries and movies and shows about it. That's
not how you do it. If that's how you if
that's what you want to do. Now, he built a
brand or not being in the NFL. Remember that he
built the whole brand. Show was pretty good, Okay, but
he built a whole Yeah, he built the whole brand
or not being in the NFL. Right, So there's all
(14:05):
of that all while that building and what's going on,
you know you? Like I said, the tell tale for
me was when he decided he wanted to change the
whole they wouldn't let him bring his camera crews in.
He didn't like that. Like that doesn't That's not how
this works, man, It's never worked like that. It is
The I Couple e from some Lime in for Rob
(14:25):
Parker and Josh Donaldson says the whole quote unquote Jackie
incident was all just one big misunderstanding. Should we believe him?
That's next couple of Fox Sports Radio. 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 SR to
(14:47):
listen live all right with the I Couple, I'm Chris
he's e from in for Rob Parker. And if you're
dealing with a dead battery, one place to go it's
called au those on. So America's number one battery that's
the nation. They offer free battery services like free battery
testing and charging. So next time you have in battery trouble,
just go to all those own. It is your battery
solution and America's number one battery destination. Even from you know,
(15:12):
of course, what was going on with Josh Donaldson and
Tim Anderson. Josh Donaldson, the Yankees called him Jackie, was
suspended for one game. Referring to Jackie Robinson and Donaldson,
who appealed the front or suspension, did issue this statement today.
(15:32):
Here's what he said, Rodge. That's right, he said, first
and foremost, I have the utmost respect for what Tim
Anderson brings to the game of baseball. I stated over
the weekend that I apologized for offending Tim and that
it was a misunderstanding based on multiple exchanges between us
over the years. My view of that exchange hasn't changed
and absolutely meant no disrespect. In the past, it had
(15:55):
never been an issue, and now that it is, we
have a mutual understanding. I would like to apologize to Missus,
Rachel Robinson, and the Jackie Robinson family for any distressed
this incident may have caused. Jackie was a true American
hero and I hold his name in the highest regard
he from. I don't think there's enough evidence to say
(16:15):
this was a racist comment or he meant it in
a racist way. I think more of the evidence were
leaning towards him. Just if people want to call him
a jerk and all that, that's fine, but I think
this was I think what it was was an opposing
player who is known for trying to get under opponent's skin.
(16:38):
I think that's what he was doing. I think he
was trying to get under Anderson's skin, and that was
the comment he used. Now, if he just said Jackie
out of the blue, I would think that was racist
because obviously there's very few African Americans in the league
right now, And if he just start calling him Jackie,
I would be like, Oh, that's definitely racing. When I
(17:00):
first heard it, I thought that's what it was before
knowing the context. But Anderson said he wanted to be
the next Jackie Robinson, and I think Anderson even misspoke
with that, because he was just saying, I want to
bring fun back to the game. But that don't make
you Jackie Robinson, come on right, all right? But I
equate this and people will, I thought Doug Glanville I
(17:24):
from saying, well, I determine what you call me, you
don't just well, yes, in real life and regular everyday circumstances. Sure,
on the field, on the court, I mean, look, if
I'm going against somebody, like let's say next year, chat
Holmgren coming into the NBA and he says I'm gonna
be the next Larry Bird and I'm guarding him, I'm like,
(17:46):
come on, Larry, all right, you bird, you bird, Come
on what you got Larry Like, I'm trying to get
under his skin. And I think that's fair game because
he opened that box. And so I think that's what
this was. More than anything. I feel the exact same way,
um after you know, hearing what happened and knowing the
(18:07):
research of it, Like when if you yourself refer to
yourself as as an all time great, I'm the new whatever,
I'm the new Jordan, I'm the new Kobe, right, I'm
the new Tom Brady, Then you get what you get
from opposing teams, right, and I would absolutely the only
(18:32):
thing that makes this different is the black and white issue.
Now you what you get but him him calling, you know,
Josh Donaldson calling Tim Anderson Jackie after he referred to
himself as the new Jackie Robinson as an opponent, I
(18:55):
don't have a problem with that right now. I don't
know what's in his day and in Josh Donaldson's heart.
I don't know his history with racism and or any
of that. So I'm not going to chalk it up
to him being racist. I refused to do that. That
would be ignorant, and I think from all go ahead.
So so for me is don't I mean what what
(19:19):
we were forgetting is that series between the White Socks
and the Yankees have been contential. They've been brawling, right,
they had been fighting. This is this is at the
height of emotion, right, you played in baseball. He played
these teams back to back to back to back, and
and and and any emotions are heightened. Right. They had
some brawls out there that have all kinds of stuff.
So yeah, I'm gonna say whatever I can to get
(19:40):
under your skin, right, And the only thing I said
the only thing I'm doing is I'm calling you what
you called yourself. I agree, I agree, And I said
this yesterday. It's worth repeating. I don't think any African
American players and I don't want this to happen in
(20:02):
baseball because again there's only a seven to eight percent
black Now. I don't want they don't. I don't think
they want. You can speak to this as a former
pro athlete. I don't think they want to be treated
with kid gloves. No, like, oh, don't hurt the feelings
of the black guys. Like if you're calling him the
N word or something like that, that's one thing, But
(20:22):
if it's you get what I'm saying, like, we don't
want to be pitied, like, oh, they're so fragile that
if you say this, because even like right when Aaron
Judge addressed it yesterday, and I'm like, he did a
good job, but part of what he said was, you know,
Tim is a great player, and he's you know, important
(20:42):
to what the game is trying to do going forward,
meaning of course they're trying to get more African America
and Tim is a great player, got swag all that,
But like I said, don't you don't want to start, dude,
having dudes be pitied because we're black. Like you said,
we grow man, we can take it. We're tough. Just
don't go beyond the line. But that I'm with you.
(21:05):
Like I said, if you want to say he's being
a jerk, but I just think he's trying to get
under a skin. What you did, right, so you know,
you know, mission accomplished right. 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 iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live. Hey, it's Ben,
(21:28):
host of The Fifth Hour with Ben Maller along with
my trustee sidekick David Gascon. Would mean a lot to
have you join us on our weekly auditory journey. You're
asking one in God's name is the Fifth Hour? I'll
tell you it's a spin off of that Ben Maller show,
cult hit overnights on FSR. Why should you listen? Picture
if you will a world will We chat with captains
of industry in media, sports, and more every week Explorer
(21:50):
some amazing facts about the human nature and more. Let'sten
to the Fifth Hour with Ben Maller on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast. All right,
he's our man in the NBA champion Fox Sports Radio
mb A analysts still giving cast the business at Lifetime
Fitness the y m c A ah that our man,
(22:12):
Edie House. What's up, brother? What's up? As funny as
you say that, I just got done giving from cats,
then do real talk? Do people come up and really
want to challenge you? And you know what I mean,
you want to see what they can do against you
when you're out there playing. Yeah, and it's most of
(22:32):
the time to see junctions they like about twenty five
twenty six, you know, got lively legs, And I tell
them I'm in here for a cardio. Didn't they try to?
You know, it seem like they want to get a
little rep So then you know they say awaking, that
they're awaking the beast. It's like you don't want the
cracking to come out the water. I hear you, man,
(22:54):
I hear you. All right, let's get to the Eastern
Conference finals. I picked Boston in six. I'm surprise it's happening,
and obviously I think they're a better team period. But
the heater falling apart. Do you give or is there
any excuse for Jimmy Butler. I know the knee has
bothered him. He's not saying it to his credit, and
(23:16):
he is total twenty seven points in the last three games,
one twenty five percent shooting. Is there any excuse for that?
And is it Does it come a point where even
if you're your start on the team that you just
gotta maybe be like, look, I can't help us in
this state. I'm hurting us more than helping us. Or
(23:37):
does he just have to cut through it and keep
playing no matter how poorly he may be playing. It
depends on him. That's the most important thing, is like
how does he feel? Does he feel that he is
not helping the ticker still Jimmy Butler out there, entered,
is still a threat to the Boston Celtics. They are
focused on him. They are like, hey, we gotta pay attention.
He has to be accounted for when you get out there.
(24:00):
You know, this time of the year, everybody got something
going on with them, and if you get out there
at that point, there's no excuse. You know, it comes
down to that, if you're out on the court, there
is no excuses giving for anybody any which way. Nobody
gave excuses for UM Toronto winning the championship when the
Golden State Warriors were all banged up with Katie, and
(24:22):
no excuse it happened. It is what it is, and
injuries are part of it. We hate to see it happened.
It sucks, but let's Chris, let's do his though. We
said the same thing about Katie and Kyrie is like, oh,
there's something going on over can we give credit to
the bulk. The Celtics defense said the same thing in Milwaukee.
Oh they're a great defensive. I mean they're a great
(24:43):
offensive team where they can knock down threes and this
is gonna be a real challenge. Cut that water off
and now over here you see Miami is having a
real hard time scoring in the half court. The two
games they won was all bats and shooting themselves in
a foot, turning the ball over, not getting back on
in transitions, and giving up fast break points. They cleaned
(25:05):
that up and it's not even close. I mean eighty points.
I know guys are injuried, but eighty points. And it
shows me. One thing about the Boston Celtics is that
they can win ugly, they can win pretty and when
you start being able to do those things, you are
a real contender. Because guys try to mup the game up,
try to get rough, try to get physical, try to
get ugly, but at the same time you still come
(25:27):
out with a W. However it looked ugly, the W
is still standing the same way. And at the end
of it all, we got to get to the Boston
Celtics a whole lot of credit to email Dulk, a
whole lot of credit board making adjustments, and also the
team making a judgment and other guys playing hurt as well. Well,
let's talk about let's stay in these Let's stay with
the Celtics in terms of we were talking about it
(25:49):
earlier in the show. Something happened mid January with the
Celtics where their whole mindset changed. Talk about when you
speak about defense, how important that the bringing back Al
Horford was to the core of that team and what
they're doing now. Defensively, Oh man, he was. He's huge,
and not only defensively. The luxury that you have having
(26:12):
a guy that can get the ball off the glass
and push it at a seven foot with a seven
foot plane, but make the right decision, make the right plays,
gonna be solid with the basketball. The turnovers ain't coming
from Al's He's a guy that's able to take care
of the basketball, make the right reads because he's been around.
But having him being a defender to a guy that
can switch. But then we talk about protecting the rim
(26:35):
Rob Williams. Having Rob Williams back, there's a whole because
now you got you got you got him, and you
got Horford. So Horford's dealing with Bam. BAM's getting by
Horford or Horford's making it tough. Now you gotta be
thinking where's Rob Williams at? God's going to the basket,
or thinking where's he at? Do I have? Is it clear?
(26:55):
And I know he's old there you I now got
to change my shot or I gotta kick it out.
And the Celtics are really really good defensively because they
have those two interior guys, but also on the perimeter.
Let's not forget Marcus Mark, the defensive player of the year.
You know Jaalen Brown is a hell of a defensive player.
Jason Tatum has stepped his game up as a defensive player,
as a two way player, so it's not just and
(27:16):
Derek White. Look what Derek White did yesterday. I mean,
it's coming from everybody, and I think everybody bought into
what emade Dunker was putting down. They picked it up,
and they're in a great situation right now, a great
position to close it out and get get to the
NBA Finals and before wins away from hoisting that trophy.
All right, Eddy will obviously talk about the matchup, you know,
(27:37):
next week, if indeed it's Boston goes there, whoever it is,
but it looks like it's gonna be those two. But
I gotta ask you something about something that one of
your former teammates just said a few days ago. Kendrick
Perkins and y'all want a championship together in Boston. I
don't know if you heard him, but he said, if
the Warriors win this championship and Steph Curry his Finals MVP,
(28:01):
he will move ahead of Magic Johnson as the greatest
point guard ever. Your thoughts if I understand where he's
coming from, right, But I can't vouch for that one.
I can't roll with that. Just because Magic got more
final MVPs, he has just one more regular season MVPs
and he'll have one more championship if all this happens
(28:25):
right for the Warriors. Yea, he still has more accolades personally. Um,
he did something like him and Bird saved the NBA.
You know, they saved the NBA was dying. The NBA
was take delay. You were watching games late night, hype,
you know what I mean? You was right exactly trying
(28:48):
to avoid man that don't tell me who won. So
you know, I see where he's coming up from. Where
the game won't be played the same because of Steph Curry, right,
and to go to State Warriors and what they did,
So you could look at them and say they were
both transcending people, transcending players who've done something to the
league that had never been seen before. A big point guard,
(29:09):
but then not only that, a point guard that was
able to play center as a rookie win in the
finals NBP. I mean, you could go on and on
about magic. It's hard for me to sit there and
say Steph would surpass him. Now, can they be sitting
at the same table eating on the same food. Yeah,
I don't. I think they both could have steaking lobsters.
Nobody's gonna beating the cheeseburger why the other ones eating
(29:30):
steaking lobsters? You know, I think they both at the
table eating the same thing. You're watching this Golden State
UH Dallas series right now and watching how fast Golden
State wants to play and how slow Dallas wants to
play with with Luca being ball dominant. What do you
see not only for this series but for next year
(29:53):
for for Dallas on how they have to adjust playing
plane with having Lucas spend so much time dominating the ball.
I look at it like, how do you get a
guy as a superstar in his prime that also wants
to have the ball in his hands and get opportunities.
How do you get him to come to Dallas And
how do you say, Luca, you're gonna have to play
(30:15):
off the ball. I don't think Lucas great off the ball.
Luca's great with the ball. And the difference between him
and Lebron because Lebron dominated the ball, James Harden dominated
the ball. I think the difference between those two, well,
especially Lebron, is Lebron's more athletic. Lebron could play off
the ball, James Harden could play off the ball. It's
(30:36):
just hard for me to look at at Luca and
Dallas the way they're constructing, and say, who's a guy
in his prime that wants to be like I want
to go stand in the corner and wait for him
to get the ball. And would Luca be willing to say, Okay,
I'm gonna have to take off ten to twelve possessions
and let you go to work. I mean, do you
(30:56):
see Luca have any ability to play off the ball?
To playoff the ball? I don't think. The reason I
don't think he's effective when he's playing off the ball
because he's such a great passer and he's such a
great score. If you play him off the ball, what
is he gonna get pinned down catch the shoot? I
don't think so. So eventually it's gonna be a post up.
And then again it's isolation. And that's the same thing now.
(31:19):
People are standing around watching waiting for him to do something.
So if somebody was to come, it would it would
have to be a center, somebody who needs the ball
given to them, A player. I wouldn't have to necessarily
say a center, but somebody who has to have the
ball given to them for them to be successful. It
won't be a guy that can go get his and
(31:41):
that's what they need. I mean, I think that's what
Jalen Brunton has shown tremendous growth and then also showing
a team like, hey man, I could also go get
mine and let other guys kind of stand and I
could go get mine myself, and you don't have to
always just wait for Luca to get me the ball
in a position for me to score. I can go
get it. And to me, that's gonna be a hard
(32:01):
sale for anybody who's in free agency that's looking to
try to get some money. Well, Eddy, it wouldn't be
this guy. But what about and I'm talking about stylistically,
I think a guy and I don't know if there
is such a guy other than him. Kevin Durant like
that type right, like doesn't need the ball in his hands.
He played well with Westbrook, So I think a guy
(32:24):
like that would be perfect. But like I said, who
who is out there like that? You know what I'm saying,
No nobody. I don't even think KYD would be good
in that situation either, because Westbrook played with pace, So y'all,
Luka doesn't play with that pace. You know, he plays
a slowdown game and well, rest Brook plays, and the
way Westbrook attacks and collapses defense is able to get
(32:47):
you shot. You're just sitting hoping they come off and
double teams. Well, they're never gonna leave KD. That's the
one person that they won't leave on the court. So
Luca's gonna have free rain to go wherever he wants.
If KD is in that corner, if Kad's on that wing,
you know that guy is hugging on and not gonna
give him that opportunity to take a look. I'll tell
you what. Somebody that will work perfect, but it's not
gonna happen. Jannis. A guy like Jannis will be perfect
(33:09):
over there, but that would never happen. Yannis is not
leaving Milwaukee to go play over there, and why would he,
you know, I mean, but he would be like the
perfect type of fit to go play with. A guy
like Luca really doesn't need to ball like that can
go get his off the glass and then could go
off the offensive glass, but they could rebound the ball
(33:30):
defensively and then push it in transition and go get
his We've seen him downhill a million times all this season,
and especially in that Celtics series all right. Well, that's
our man, Eddie Howe's great knowledge. Brother, appreciate We appreciate
you to man. All right, brother, piece more I Couple
coming your way. Fox Sports Radio. Be sure to catch
live editions of The Odd Couple with Chris Broussard and
(33:52):
Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeart Radio app. Right,
it is the I Couple. Chris brusar E from Salim
is in for Rob Parker. We are wrapping up a
TV theme song Thursday and listen, folks. Prices at the pump,
as you know, are obviously soaring. But Discover Card hash
(34:14):
your back with their cash back program. Here's how it works.
You use Discover Card to earn five percent cash back
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When you activate, you can learn more discover dot Com
Slash rewards limitations do apply. From let's end with this,
(34:34):
I brought it up to Eddie House. Kendrick Perkins said,
if Steph Kirby wins this title and finals MVP, he
will be the greatest point guard in history ahead of
Magic Johnson. Your thoughts, come on, man, Eddie, hit it
right over here, Coole, I'm not I'm not gonna do that.
You know. I love but Perk. You know, I love
(34:55):
Perk's energy and and and his h uh is willing
to be unafraid and just I love that. But that
makes zero sense. I mean Magic Johnson and I and
Perk is old enough to have seen Magic play, you
(35:18):
know what I mean. Like, he's old enough to have
to have be aware of the impact Madgie Johnson had
on basketball itself. And if not, go check out winning
time right right like, and so that was a great differ, unbelievable.
So to make to make that type of statement, what
(35:39):
do we call that? Hot takes? Yeah, right click. Here's
what I'll say, though, and I'm with you. I would
keep Magic number one, have stuff number two. I do
think there will be an argument for Staff if if
indeed he does what Perk said. And here it is,
he didn't play with nearly the supporting cast that Magic
(36:01):
Johnson did. Magic went to the Lakers. They had the
reigning MVP in Kareem. They later got who was I
gotta know he got older, you know, midway through Showtime,
but was still the man for the first several years
of Showtime. They got James Worthy, who was the number
(36:22):
one pick. A couple of years after Magic entered the league,
they got Byron Scott, who was the fourth pick in
the draft. Jamal Wilkes, he got there as a Hall
of Famer, was the eleventh pick. Like Norm Nixon, was great.
You know, do you remember Norm Knicks? Like Magic supporting
cast was tremendous. This is the thing, though, even when
(36:43):
Kareem retired, Magic still led them to the finals. Steph
when he lost his guys who weren't as good as Magics,
but when he lost them, they got to the play
in you know what I'm saying, and so but I
do that so I would go with Magic, but I
do think that there will these young folks will make
(37:04):
an argument for Steph, and it's gonna be an argument,
but I would argue against it. But I do think
that they will. You know, he has changed the game.
If he has four rings, um, he's got the back
to back MVPs. Obviously one was unanimous first player ever,
even though that he shouldn't have been the first player, right,
(37:25):
But you know what I'm saying, like there'll be an argument,
but I wouldn't. I wouldn't go with it. No, I
can't in good conscience. You got him second? Uh yeah,
I would. I would put him in. I would put
him second. But Magic Johnson Man, just watching Magic play
(37:45):
was breathtaking, right, literally breathtaking. I I tell people, when
I was on the show with Magic ten years ago,
I told our producers, I said, get a highlight like
we had a segment called Magic's eight ball or he
predicts you know a series or whatever, And I said,
introduced that segment with highlights of his passes, because I said,
(38:09):
these young people don't know, they don't realize, right, yeah, right,
And I've heard people say, Steve Nash or Lebrona, it's
maybe the greatest pastor. Man. You don't get out of
here with that foolish Yes, Magic is so far in
a way like ever right by a miaven close. It's
(38:31):
a grand canyon in between him and whoever second. And
guess who. Guess who those players that they think or
guess who they learn how to do that front? Right? Right? Absolutely?
Come absolutely kids today, man, get off my line. Well
from it was fun, man, you did a fantastic job. Brother. Well,
(38:51):
I just try to elevate anything I'm a part of, man,
you know what I mean. You and Rob got something
going special here. Man. I love while listening to you guys.
I'm a fan and it's always a pleasure when you
let me come in here and play with you guys.
Man nah man, y'all you were great. It was a
fun show. A lot of topics we hit on, and
it was all the way live. Keep it like right
here in Fox Sports Radio, d iHeartRadio Apper Sirius XM
(39:13):
eighty three for Jason Smith and Mike Harmon. They bring
fire
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