December 6, 2023 • 39 mins
Chris Haynes and Marc Stein talk all things In-Season Tournament now that we know the semifinal matchups (Pacers vs. Bucks and Pelicans vs. Lakers). The guys also discuss the future of the tournament and dig into some fresh reporting from Chris on the Kings' attempts to secure a new long-term deal with star guard De'Aaron Fox.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We have our in season tournament semifinal matchups Pacers and Bucks,
Pelicans and Lakers. We're gonna get into all the ins
and outs about knockout round week in the IST. We're
also gonna find out why Chris is texting Adam Silver
(00:22):
and all the latest with de Aaron Fox and his
future in Sacramento. All that next here on this League Uncut.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Welcome to this League Uncut rule of twenty four hour
NBA news.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
This you'll.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Chris Hans, it's time, Mark Stein, It's so time. This
League Uncut is underway and on fire. This should be
a good one. Everyone.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Welcome in to the latest edition of this League Uncut.
Mark Stein here with Chris. It is the first full
week of December. It is the in season tournament takeover
of the NBA. This week, Chris Haynes and I we
(01:13):
are doing this podcast and watching the last of the
four quarterfinals as we speak. It's sixty three All Suns
Lakers in LA. We already know the other three teams
that will be in Las Vegas. The Indiana Pacers will
play the Milwaukee Bucks for the East's birth in the
(01:36):
IST championship game. It'll either be Pelicans Sons or Pelican's
Lakers for the West Birth in the nd season Tournament.
Chris Haynes will soon be on his way to Vegas.
I will be watching from afar. I could not make
the entrepreneurial equations work to get myself to Vegas, so I,
(02:01):
like many of you, will be living vicariously through Chris
Haynes as he is this League Uncuts official and loan
Ist representative. Chris Haynes, are you ready for your return
to the Desert, this time without me? So no live
show like we did in July. It's just gonna be
(02:22):
you holding it down for both of us.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
You know, it will not be the same. I'll say
that Stne because usually we are we do go to
Vegas this time of year, but it's for the G
League Showcase. And this is probably the one time on
a few occasions that I really get to run into you.
You know, You're really hard to catch throughout the season,
unless I end up in Dallas, which I will be
in Dallas next week.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
That's right, December twelfth. It is written in Penn in
my calendar.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Sorright, so I'll see you there, so that would be cool.
But yeah, no, I'm looking forward to this. I actually
text Adam Silver today and I told him, I said,
I got to give you your props. This is season
tournament good idea, because I was actually excited for the
pair of games today, like and And that's why I
(03:12):
told him. I'm like, I haven't. I don't think I've
been excited to watch a game like that in December
or late November in a long time, probably since I
was just probably a fan before I was covering the league.
So you know, I just think a lot of people
feel that way about what they're watching right now. And
(03:35):
I had to give him as props.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Man.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
He hit me back, he say, appreciate that, Chris, But
I think every I think a lot of people like Stein,
we didn't know going in. We had no clue, and
I'm somebody who doesn't. You know. I don't like change often,
you know. I like to stick to my routines, and
so I'm not always the best person to ask about
(03:57):
if something should work or not. But this this show
looks like it's going to work. And just to give
people a little background on how this thing is going
to play out, once once this once all four teams
are confirmed for Vegas, so December seventh will be the
semi finals, so will be the four teams playing East
and West, and then once they both gets down to two,
(04:20):
there will be media Day n Season Tournament Championship Media
Day on the eighth and it will feature the final
two teams. So just like during the NBA Finals we
have media Day, it's gonna have media day on December
to eighth Friday. At the end December ninth is the
championship game. So I'm looking forward to it. Sten, So
(04:43):
I wish you were going, Buddy, I really do.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
No and I do too, and listen. As critical as
I've been, I am certainly not yet sending any congratulatory
texts or messages or emails to the commissioner. But even
as critical as I've been about the group stages and
the various issues that I've voiced, I too was looking
really I was looking forward to the knockout round because
(05:11):
I was fascinated to see how the teams would treat it.
I never had that. Once we get to Vegas, once
there are four teams in Vegas, I have no doubt
that people are going to be psyched about that neutral site.
Four teams, two single elimination games, and even in these
quarterfinal games which are not at neutral sites. The crowd
(05:36):
in Indiana on Monday night was so hyped. That was
as big a game as the Pacers have played in
a long long time. Tyrese Halliburton has talked about how
he has never even been on TNT until that game,
and now this week we're going to get to see
him on national TV multiple times. Halliburton rose to the
(05:58):
occasion first career triple double play, saying, while sick, you know,
for New Orleans two, same thing. Zion Williamson has never
played in an NBA playoff game, So for some of
these teams this is a huge deal. And it's, like
I said, as critical as I've been about so much
of this, to me has not felt like a tournament.
(06:19):
This week, it's finally starting to feel like a tournament.
And when the Vegas portion starts, I'm sure it's gonna
feel like a tournament. And again, along with all the
criticisms that I've levied, when the league does good things,
I'm gonna give them their props. And I have to
say a couple things that I've really liked this week.
(06:40):
The scheduling has been smart to make sure that Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday,
the only games being played on those days will be
in season tournament games. You have the two quarterfinals Monday night,
we have two quarterfinals Tonight, Thursday's the two semis, Saturday's
the championship. If you want to watch NBA games this
(07:01):
week on those days, the only thing you can see
is the is team. And that's really smart and to
go with, you know, to at least somewhat slightly offset
my many many complaints that this thing, this tournament hasn't
been soccer like enough for me. But one thing the
league has done that is very soccer like. This week
(07:22):
they announced they sent out pictures in a long release.
You've got the NBA Cup that the championship team will win.
They have a trophy for the tournament MVP. But they've
also got winners medals. Every player on the championship team
will collect a championship medal. And that is very soccer
like and something that this soccer nerd definitely appreciates.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
If we're talking about you know, I think everybody has
an opinion and half suggestions about how we can make
things better. I think a couple of them. You know.
The point differential is kind of debatable. If you talk
to coaches around the league, and I've talked to probably
a dozen, and they're it varies, you know, it varies.
(08:12):
You know, some are for it, some are against it.
Some talk about implementing a you know, a quarter system
where the team who's won the team who's won more
quarters are prioritized in the standings. But stein, what do
(08:32):
you think about this, because I think largely this is
probably confused a lot of spectators. Is the group play?
And when I mean the group play is that you
know when these games, you know, they're they're spread out.
The n C tournament, they're they're they're spread out, like
so they'll play n season tournament group game, then they'll
(08:55):
play another one next week or a week and a
half later, and people forget, like the what the record
is during the season, I mean during you know, during
the course of the regular season that early on. What
is the problem with just doing the nd season tournament?
Just just take carving out two and a half weeks.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah, I hope that that's what I would like to see.
That's I mean to me because if you know, again,
and I'm a soccer nerd, so I look at this
often through a soccer fans perspective, and if you really
want to make it like the FA Cup in England
or the League Cup in England, the games in the
(09:36):
tournament would be separate from the regular season schedule. I
totally understand why the NBA didn't want to do that,
especially in year one, because on top of all the
logistical challenges, they were worried that teams might not play
their main guys if the games are separate. They wanted
them to be regular season games that counted twice to
(09:59):
incentivize teams to make sure they use their best players
because if you lose those games, it can hurt you
in the standings as well. But yes, down the road,
and I don't know how soon it will be, but
I'm hopeful. I would love. I think the whole thing
should be in Vegas, and I think they could do
it in less than two weeks realistically, And I think
it should be completely single elimination, because that's what would
(10:23):
really make it different, unique and inject some novelty into
this thing.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Oh so you said, so you're saying screw to group play,
like screwed.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Totally if it was up to If it was up.
To me, there would be no group play because the
group play, it's it's just it's not real group play.
It's just these four regular season games are gonna count twice.
I just to me, it's it's not it's you know,
it's not a separate group. When college basketball teams play
(10:54):
in tournaments before league play, they go to the Maui
Classic or wherever it is, and they play games that
do not count in their conference schedule. But you know,
the NBA again, and like I said, I understand why
the NBA doesn't want to do that, but I think
if they if they went the route I'm saying, if
they just said, you know what, the whole league is
(11:15):
going to go to Vegas for a week and a
half to two weeks. You know, we'll give the top
we'll give the buys to the top four seeds. The
other twenty eight teams go into a hat. Let's just
pick it, pick it out of a hat, mix up
East and West, and let's really get crazy and play
a real tournament. I think we will get more of
(11:38):
the excitement that we've seen this week because single elimination.
To me, that's where the juice is. That's why people
are loving this this week because it truly is win
or go home in one game, and that's something the
NBA is not used to. It's new, and to me,
that's where that novelty factor comes in.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Yeah, I wouldn't be opposed to that. I actually like that.
I just think that, like, even if they do keep
the group play, I just think, like, just carve out
two weeks, go ahead and go through your group play
schedule and then from there get to your knockout rounds. Like,
just just keep it focused on the N Season tournament
(12:22):
for two weeks. Give the N Season Tournament two weeks.
Don't put other regular season games in between, because people forget,
you know, like the broadcast crew, we have to continue
to remind people, Hey, I know, like a team might
have lost, a team might have lost three in a row, right,
but we have to remind them, hey, but they're two
(12:43):
and zero in N Season tournament games, you know what
I mean. Like, so it's like, let's just go into
ND season tournament mode. Stay there for how from beginning
to end, so everybody can focus and concentrate on that,
and then you give it all the attention you need.
But I'm definitely not a p go to you saying
just go straight to knockout rounds, inviting all the you know,
(13:05):
inviting all the NBA teams into it. It would definitely
be much more pilling. But you know, those are those
small suggestions.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Yeah. And one of the things I'm looking forward to
this week when you go to Vegas and this is,
you know, I will you know, I was joking before,
but I really will be living through you in this respect.
I mean, I'm really hopeful that you being on the ground,
and you know, I'm sure there's gonna be some sort
of availability with Adam Silver, and I hope something that
(13:33):
happens this week is that we get some kind of
glimpse of what the league thinks worked well, what the
league thinks didn't work so well. Will they reveal in
Vegas any of the changes in tweaks that they're likely
to implement next season, because I look, you know, they
haven't made any kind of formal announcement, but I think
(13:54):
we can all say it's been enough intrigue just this
week has been spark that they're going to try this
again next season. I certainly don't think it's going to
be a one and done. I'm sure, they're gonna want
to bring it back and see if they can make
it better and see if they can keep building this thing,
because ultimately we know they would love to be able
to sell the n Season Tournament as a separate TV property,
(14:17):
and you got to do it for more than one
year if that's the case.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Yeah. I spoke with CJ McCollum of the New Orleans Pelicans.
He's also the president of the Players Association. I had
their game for TNT, the Kings Pelicans, and we saw
that the Pelicans they advanced it beat the sacrament of
Kings in Sacramento for that. But CJ said they've already
started the process of offering suggestions to the league on
(14:47):
how to improve this theme. But he said the players
are definitely on board with continuing this on. Pretty Much
everybody you know think this is a great idea. In
New Orleans, they were, They took care of business, but
they were ready. You know, they got to Vegas Wednesday,
excuse me, Tuesday morning. So they played Monday night and
(15:07):
they left first thing in the morning for Vegas, like
they they were prepared. I was in Stein. I was
during the there was a huddle, there was a time
out in that game, and it was the second half.
I can't remember if it was the third quarter or
fourth quarter, but New Orleans had a pretty nice lead
and Alvarado is talking, you know, pumping his teammates up
(15:31):
and motivating everybody, and he was like, come on, we're
this much closer to to get on that bus for Vegas. So, uh,
you know, it's just like, guys, are you know this?
They're motivated about this, and you know, Las Vegas is
definitely an attraction that appeals to a large mass of individuals,
including NBA players, So you know, it's it's so far,
(15:53):
so good.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Yeah, So let's talk a little bit more about that, because,
as you said, you had Monday night's game, New Orleans
go into Sacramento and beats the Kings for the third
time this season, Pels three to zero against Sacramento, and
I mean that was a big opportunity for both teams
because we all remember last season was Sacramento finished third
in the West, but that was their first trip to
(16:16):
the playoffs in seventeen years, after a league record and
unwanted league record sixteen consecutive seasons out of the playoffs.
So the Pelicans Zion Williamson has yet to play in
a playoff game. The Kings have no recent playoff success
to speak of, so there was a lot on the
(16:36):
line for both teams. And also in the middle of
all that, I saw you on TV reporting about the
dieron Fox contract situation. So maybe you can expound for
us now and give us a little gives give us
a little on TV. You have to kind of rush
through it in a minute or two. Maybe you can
take a little more time here and walk us through
(16:58):
what's going on with deer Fox and the King's attempts
to resign him.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Yeah, so I reported during the game, and this was
never reported before, but uh, you know, sources have told
me that Dearn Fox was presented with an extension prior
to this season started starting. And we all know he's
represented by Rich Paul, the CEO of Clutch Sports, but
(17:23):
they were presented a two year, one hundred and five
million dollar extension that Fox and Rich turned down. And
let me just say this, I remember this was a
few years ago. I remember when when Rich Paul signed Deerren.
(17:45):
Deerren had let go of his longtime agent and hired
Rich the I think the the immediate response. I would say,
I think a lot of people thought that this is
another Anthony David situation, hiring Rich Paul to try to
(18:05):
get the Aaron out of Sacramento. And this was before again,
this was before Sacramento took off, probably a year before
Sacramento took off, and have you know, have become the
team that they are now. And so now you see
it's a situation where Dearn like really loves it in Sacramento,
really really really loves it. And you know, Sacramento, I
(18:26):
think they were kind of still trying to figure out
what Dearn ceiling was in this league. And then you
see what Daren he did last season. You see that
he's stepped it up this year, averaging thirty a game.
And Sacramento Kings are still clicking, and so they want
(18:46):
this to be a long term partnership, Sacramento Kings and Fox.
So they're in agreement on that. And I wanted to stein,
you're so accurate on you know, on TV you say
one or two minutes, no more like thirty second. You
got about thirty thirty forty seconds to try to make
your point, and you know, sometimes you leave stuff out
(19:07):
you're like, dangn, damn, I want to tuck, you know,
I want to There's more context I could have added,
but I wanted to clarify on air that that that
was the most that the Kings could extend deer was
a two year, one hundred and five million, And from
what I was told, the Kings offered that because you know,
(19:27):
that's all they could, but they understood that Deeron likely
wouldn't accept that, and that was fine. And so Dearon
is holding out for the chance that he can become
eligible for a Supermax. And from what I was told,
his supermax, you know, these numbers are ballpark as of
(19:50):
right now. There's still some things we have to they
have to clear, but he can command around a four year,
two hundred and forty five million dollar supermax extension. So, uh,
the Kings understand Fox wants to be in Sacramento long term.
They want him their long term. But that was just
(20:12):
just think about that steing guys. You know, this is
just a different league. Now, the money is different. You
think about guys turning down two years, one hundred and
five million, that's what fifty two to fifty three million
a season. Man that's crazy money right there. But you know,
you got to think about the long term plan and
what you can have for you know, double the years
(20:33):
if so.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
And you can understand why the Aaron Fox would take
this position because, as you said, the Kings, the most
they can offer as we speak, two years in the
ballpark of one hundred million. Maybe it's a little bit
north of one hundred million, maybe it's a little bit south,
but basically it's just two years. One hundred ish million
is the most Sacramento can offer now. If the Aaron
(20:54):
Fox makes another All NBA team after this season, and
remember he made and All NBA team last season, if
Dearon Fox can do that again, now he becomes eligible
for that four year megadeal you were describing that's worth
almost two hundred and fifty million. So it's the sensible
move for the Kings to make that offer now, and
(21:18):
also the sensible move for Fox to hold off on it.
And you know, maybe All NBA is not his only
aim because your guy Mike Brown, Man, how many press
conferences already have we heard Mike Brown campaigning for Dearen
already to win MVP honors, already winning MVP honors, or
(21:42):
Defensive Player of the Year would also get it done
for Dearon Fox. But I think the more realistic aim
would certainly be making an All NBA team for the
second straight season. That would do it. And I think
you what did come across in your report on TV
You made it clear both the CA and de Aaron
Fox they wanted they want a long term relationship together.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Yes, And the earliest if he is able to get
All NBA or MVP or Defense Player of the Year,
the earliest he will be able to sign his super
Max extension will be July eighth of twenty twenty four.
So that's the long play. That's the long game right there.
And again, Sacramento, they're balling. Darren Fox is balling. I
(22:30):
don't see if they if they have, if they continue
as he is right now, continue on this trajectory, Darreon
Fox will definitely make All NBA again.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
He's not gonna win Defensive Player of the Year. I'm
gonna go out on a limb right now and say
that ain't happening.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
What about MVP Star All NBA.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
He's got a great chance and about uh, Sacramento's gonna
have to win fifty plus games, I think for him
to get in that conversation. But like I said, Mike Brown,
Mike Brown is he puts that in the ether every week,
so he is. He is a very loud campaign manager
for the years. Yeah, so back to the present again,
(23:14):
as we said, we're taping this in the midst of
Lakers Suns fourth quarter.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
There.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
That's been a tight game all night to see who
claims this last in season tournament birth. But you know,
I will be jealous of you in Vegas because there
is gonna be a lot going on Indiana Milwaukee. That's
one of Thursday's games. Now, Milwaukee beats the Knicks. Milwaukee
(23:41):
scores one hundred and forty six on the Knicks. The
Knicks came into that game with a fifth ranked defense,
very impressive showing. But the cynic, the skeptic within me
is gonna ask what kind of crowd are we gonna
get in Vegas for Pacers Bucks? Had that been paid Nicks?
I mean, there are Vegas is a Laker town, but
(24:04):
there are a lot of Knicks fans in Vegas as well.
Are we gonna see Pacers fans and Bucks fans traveling
to Vegas on short notice? That is one of the
really intriguing questions to me here this week, what kind
of turnout are we gonna get from the local fans
in Vegas? And how excited are the locals gonna be
(24:28):
about a Pacers Bucks showdown for a spot in the
n season tournament final. So that is something I will
be texting you throughout that game to get to get
some crowd flavor.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
STI. So you bring that up, you pose that question.
Did you see our good friend Nick for Dale's tweet today?
Speaker 2 (24:48):
I did?
Speaker 3 (24:49):
Uh huh, So Nick, let me pull Let me pull
up Nick for Dale's tweet just a moment. Bear with me, please.
I found it Nick for Dale's tweet today. He tweeted
this before or the Pacers. Excuse me, he tweeteds before
the Bucks and Knicks played. He said, I quote, the
NBA has got to be absolutely praying the Lakers and
(25:11):
Knicks win tonight. Who is going to watch, let alone
pay to see the Pacers and Bucks play at two
pm Pacific time on a Thursday afternoon in Vegas? And
you know, you know, I tend to scroll on Twitter
to kind of get the reaction of some fans and
what they're saying. The majority of them are saying they
(25:35):
got pretty similar tweets saying, so you mean that people
wouldn't want to go see Giannis Dame Halliburton and they
would rather see Julius Randall play in Las Vegas. So
that's pretty much. That was pretty much the response from
a lot of people right there. I would tend to
(25:56):
believe that vague knew that the n season tournament was coming.
You know, you still have great stars. I don't know
necessarily that people in Vegas want to see the Knicks
at Lakers. I think the Lakers being there is important
because it is a Lakers town, But I don't know
that necessarily a Lakers Knicks would be a big draw.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Well, I would say, look, I do. I do think
there are tons of Knicks fans in Vegas, tons of
displaced New Yorkers. But I would also say this as
Vegas has shown summer after summer after summer, with the
huge crowds we see at Summer League, there are a
lot of NBA fans in Vegas. And if it was
(26:41):
me and I was a Vegas resident to see a
game with stakes, you know, all the games in Vegas
are always Summer League games or USAB exhibitions or preseason games.
I mean this is this is a real game. A
real game is not played in Vegas too often. So yeah,
with Giannis and Dame and Halliburton and real stakes, to me,
(27:05):
the gym should be full. But I also think it's fair.
It's a fair question. It's fair to wonder because again
from you, if you are a Bucks fan or a
Pacers fan, how easy is it to just wing your
way to Vegas on a Thursday on short notice. I
don't know that it's that easy. So I don't know
how many fans from those cities will be traveling, but
(27:29):
I would like to think that the game can you know,
it's three games in Vegas, I would like to think
that that's a pretty decent ticket, a ticket in pretty
decent demand.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
I'm not even thinking about fans of teams following them
to Vegas. I'm just thinking more so Vegas. Vegas is
a basketball town. It is a really good sports town,
and it's a Lakers town as well, and so especially
if the Lakers make it, the draw is already going
to be there. But I still think there's enough star
(28:06):
attraction for Vegas. Vegas residents to peck that arena out
at the end. It's an extra bonus. If if the
fans of teams.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Travel, you're always dialed into the Bucks. How do you
think they're looking at this? We know the Pacers are psyched.
We know this is a big moment. Haliburtonist, Miles Turner,
Rick Carlisle, these guys have all talked about what a
great opportunity, the opportunity this is because, let's face it,
I mean, no one's picking Indiana to win a championship
(28:37):
this season. The Pacers have been fantastic in the ist.
They're five and ohero in tournament play, but they're just
five and eight in all other games. So the Pacers
have definitely played their best in the tournament. I mean,
but the Bucks. Bucks have to be feeling great again
to almost put up one fifty tonight on the on
(28:59):
the defense first Knicks, the number five defense in the league.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
M hm oh. They they're pumped up, they're motivated. I
spoke to Dame a little bit after the game, and
you know that they're ready to go in there and
win this thing. But Dame did say, you know, he
had he spoke at he spoke after the game. It's
post game presser. He was asked about like would this
(29:27):
have any carryover to try to help and propel them
to just finding a new identity and reaching a new
level to that that will prepare them for the playoffs,
and he said he doesn't think, you know, even winning
the n Season Tournament would have any carryover, he said,
because this is it's too fast, exactly what he said,
(29:50):
he said, it's December. I don't think that's going to
play a part in what's going to happen in May
or June. And so, but the competitive the com heatheror
in him and the team and all these teams that
make it to Vegas, you know, they want to win.
They're going out there, they're they're excited, they want to win.
And that's that's what I'm most impressed by Stein with
(30:16):
this n Season Tournament is that there's passion in November
and December. And you can't you couldn't honestly say that
was the case in years prior, because again the knock
on the league as being the NBA season doesn't get
started until after all Star break. And so we're seeing,
(30:38):
you know, we're seeing this thing just revived here and
I love it, and so That's why I'm like, I'm
pumped and motivated to for being out there and checking
this thing out. And it's and it's new, it's fresh
and new, and you know, the players and they're getting
paid to go as well, they getting a little extra bonus.
So so far, so good.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Yeah, you know, player buying has not been an issue.
I think the players have embraced this thing more than
I thought they would. There's been no shortage of guys
who have let it be known that the five hundred
thousand that will go to every member of the team
that wins this thing. Even the guys making really good
(31:18):
money want that money. Even Lebron James, he wants that
five hundred k he's making. You know, he's he's not
on a minimum deal, but he wants that money. And
as we speak, Lebron just put the Lakers up five
here with two minutes and change to go, and Lebron
trying to drive the Lakers to to a win over
(31:38):
the Suns and put LA into the ist semis as
the last team to advance. But it's really the bigger
questions will be how much does how much does this
mean to fan bases? Whoever wins well, I am curious,
so like, you know, how how will you know whoever
(32:00):
wins this thing? How will they celebrate? How will their
fans celebrate? Are they going to raise a banner if
they win the first?
Speaker 3 (32:06):
Is? S t like?
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Just how how robust the celebrating will be for whoever
wins this thing? And we're now just a couple of
days away from getting getting some of those answers.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
That's a good question. I never thought about that. Banners. Hmm,
I don't know how I feel about that.
Speaker 1 (32:28):
Look, I fully expect the banner. I don't expect a parade,
But you know, so.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
The Lakers, the Lakers and the Celtics, they're rich, their
rich history that they all they all they want are championships.
You really think they'll include.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
Bat you know, I guess, you know, I guess it
does depend on the franchise because those teams are you know,
the late You know, there are some teams that will
hang a banner if they win a division or.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
It gets all my nerves s tign it gets oh
my nerves when I see them.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
But that's exactly but that's exactly why your pal Adam
Silver wants this thing. Well, the biggest reason is because
he wants to create something that they can sell as
a separate, a separate menu of games to TV partners.
But his whole thing has been to try to give
NBA teams, like soccer teams abroad, the chance to compete
(33:25):
for something else. So the Larry O'Brien isn't the only
prize that everybody's chasing. So I would think many more
teams than not if they win the IST or hanging
a banner.
Speaker 3 (33:36):
I honestly do think the IST is here to stay.
I'm not a pope. A banner can it do something
else to acknowledge? Like, I don't know, Uh, banners, uh
just not fit. Like I'm thinking about.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
The Indiana Pacers if they win the IST.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
They'll probably put a banner up for sure.
Speaker 1 (34:01):
They'll put New Orleans Pelicans if they win the tournament.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
Yeah, I'm just not you know, Stan, I'm still not
into the participation awards. And I'm not saying that, you know,
I'm not saying that the isht Cup Championship, whatever it is,
it's not bann or worthy. But yeah, no, I just
hold in high regard, uh of a Larry O'Brian trophy.
(34:27):
I just hold that in high regard, and I just yeah, hey,
whatever again.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
And look and that's and that's you know, that's wow.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
This game, start this game, look at this game.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
Star like both these teams want this bad like they.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
They Lakers upon twenty seconds left, Yeah, I mean, oh,
big three by Austin Reeves puts them up four with
fifteen seconds left.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
All right, Well, Producer Ryan, much to our dismay, muted
our microphones. There. Chris and I were gonna do an
absolute live watch along play by play extravaganza for the
last two minutes until Producer Ryan broke the rule book
out and informed us that we probably get in trouble
if we went that route. So we watched the ending together.
(35:14):
But you didn't get to hear you won't get to
hear our attempts at play by play. And let's just man, man,
that is the Lakers hold on for a one oh six,
one oh three win, but a very controversial and sure
to be hotly disputed call. On the morning after, the
Lakers able to call a late time out when man,
(35:38):
it sure did not look like they had possession of
the ball. So that the league is uh, the league,
we'll be hearing about it for sure with the Lakers advancing.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
And maybe they get the Laker Press Corp. Can get
what you have to do. Yeah, that's right, fool reporter.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
Maybe by the time this podcast out we'll get a
pool reporter explanation for why the Lakers were able to
call a time out there. And don't want to take
anything away from how well Lebron James and Anthony Davis played.
They were quite a duo in this one. Lebron fifteen
of his thirty one in the fourth quarter, huge three
pointer from Austin Reeves, Lakers escape, Lakers get that last
(36:23):
berth in Vegas. So it's Pelicans, Lakers, Pacers.
Speaker 3 (36:28):
Bucks, Lakers getting in this big. That's big. That that helps. Like,
if there was one team the league would want in Vegas,
the Lakers.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
Are, which is exactly why they ain't gonna hear the
last about this time out call the Sons would have.
The Sons were still down two. But yeah, you have
not heard the last about that one.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
Yeah that's tough, but no, this is it. This is
it final four, It's set, it's set, sn Stan. You
still got time, man, what's what's today? Today is the fifth?
You still have time to make arrangements to be in Vegas.
That's a nice easy flight, Stein.
Speaker 1 (37:13):
Nice easy flight. But for reasons I'm gonna keep to myself.
I'm sadly not gonna make it. But like I said,
you are representing me and all our listeners. You are
this league uncuts official Vegas representative correspondent, And I cannot
wait to see, can't wait to get the in game text,
(37:36):
can't wait to hear all the things you're hearing, and
we'll see, We'll see what happens. Can the Lakers Vegas
is a Lakers town? Can the Lakers take advantage of
that late fortuitous whistle to go on and win this
thing and give Lebron James a trophy that Michael Jordan
(37:56):
will never win. Are we gonna get some crazy surprised so?
Is it gonna be Lakers Bucks in the finals? Are
we gonna get Pacers Pelicans? Are we gonna get a
Pacers Pelicans final that no one saw coming? All kinds
of possibilities, and Chris Haynes will come back with all
kinds of stories to tell us we will actually somehow
(38:19):
we're gonna find a way to do a pod while
you're in Vegas to get some of the local flavor,
hopefully before Saturday's championship games, so stay tuned for that.
Safe travels out there. Don't do anything I wouldn't do.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
I'll I'll have a bodyguar out with me. Really, yes, wifey.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Ties and losses, Ties and losses, all right. That will
do it for this edition of This League Uncut Please remember,
as always if you haven't already, rate, review, and subscribe
to the show, and Chris and I will be back
with you very very soon. Thanks everybody for listening.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
And that'll do it for us. See you next time.
This League UNCUTTA is an iHeartRadio production. Put Suck a
locket
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Chris Hanes and Mark Stein
We have our in season tournament semifinal matchups Pacers and Bucks,
Pelicans and Lakers. We're gonna get into all the ins
and outs about knockout round week in the IST. We're
also gonna find out why Chris is texting Adam Silver
(00:22):
and all the latest with de Aaron Fox and his
future in Sacramento. All that next here on this League Uncut.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Welcome to this League Uncut rule of twenty four hour
NBA news.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
This you'll.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Chris Hans, it's time, Mark Stein, It's so time. This
League Uncut is underway and on fire. This should be
a good one. Everyone.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Welcome in to the latest edition of this League Uncut.
Mark Stein here with Chris. It is the first full
week of December. It is the in season tournament takeover
of the NBA. This week, Chris Haynes and I we
(01:13):
are doing this podcast and watching the last of the
four quarterfinals as we speak. It's sixty three All Suns
Lakers in LA. We already know the other three teams
that will be in Las Vegas. The Indiana Pacers will
play the Milwaukee Bucks for the East's birth in the
(01:36):
IST championship game. It'll either be Pelicans Sons or Pelican's
Lakers for the West Birth in the nd season Tournament.
Chris Haynes will soon be on his way to Vegas.
I will be watching from afar. I could not make
the entrepreneurial equations work to get myself to Vegas, so I,
(02:01):
like many of you, will be living vicariously through Chris
Haynes as he is this League Uncuts official and loan
Ist representative. Chris Haynes, are you ready for your return
to the Desert, this time without me? So no live
show like we did in July. It's just gonna be
(02:22):
you holding it down for both of us.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
You know, it will not be the same. I'll say
that Stne because usually we are we do go to
Vegas this time of year, but it's for the G
League Showcase. And this is probably the one time on
a few occasions that I really get to run into you.
You know, You're really hard to catch throughout the season,
unless I end up in Dallas, which I will be
in Dallas next week.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
That's right, December twelfth. It is written in Penn in
my calendar.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Sorright, so I'll see you there, so that would be cool.
But yeah, no, I'm looking forward to this. I actually
text Adam Silver today and I told him, I said,
I got to give you your props. This is season
tournament good idea, because I was actually excited for the
pair of games today, like and And that's why I
(03:12):
told him. I'm like, I haven't. I don't think I've
been excited to watch a game like that in December
or late November in a long time, probably since I
was just probably a fan before I was covering the league.
So you know, I just think a lot of people
feel that way about what they're watching right now. And
(03:35):
I had to give him as props.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Man.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
He hit me back, he say, appreciate that, Chris, But
I think every I think a lot of people like Stein,
we didn't know going in. We had no clue, and
I'm somebody who doesn't. You know. I don't like change often,
you know. I like to stick to my routines, and
so I'm not always the best person to ask about
(03:57):
if something should work or not. But this this show
looks like it's going to work. And just to give
people a little background on how this thing is going
to play out, once once this once all four teams
are confirmed for Vegas, so December seventh will be the
semi finals, so will be the four teams playing East
and West, and then once they both gets down to two,
(04:20):
there will be media Day n Season Tournament Championship Media
Day on the eighth and it will feature the final
two teams. So just like during the NBA Finals we
have media Day, it's gonna have media day on December
to eighth Friday. At the end December ninth is the
championship game. So I'm looking forward to it. Sten, So
(04:43):
I wish you were going, Buddy, I really do.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
No and I do too, and listen. As critical as
I've been, I am certainly not yet sending any congratulatory
texts or messages or emails to the commissioner. But even
as critical as I've been about the group stages and
the various issues that I've voiced, I too was looking
really I was looking forward to the knockout round because
(05:11):
I was fascinated to see how the teams would treat it.
I never had that. Once we get to Vegas, once
there are four teams in Vegas, I have no doubt
that people are going to be psyched about that neutral site.
Four teams, two single elimination games, and even in these
quarterfinal games which are not at neutral sites. The crowd
(05:36):
in Indiana on Monday night was so hyped. That was
as big a game as the Pacers have played in
a long long time. Tyrese Halliburton has talked about how
he has never even been on TNT until that game,
and now this week we're going to get to see
him on national TV multiple times. Halliburton rose to the
(05:58):
occasion first career triple double play, saying, while sick, you know,
for New Orleans two, same thing. Zion Williamson has never
played in an NBA playoff game, So for some of
these teams this is a huge deal. And it's, like
I said, as critical as I've been about so much
of this, to me has not felt like a tournament.
(06:19):
This week, it's finally starting to feel like a tournament.
And when the Vegas portion starts, I'm sure it's gonna
feel like a tournament. And again, along with all the
criticisms that I've levied, when the league does good things,
I'm gonna give them their props. And I have to
say a couple things that I've really liked this week.
(06:40):
The scheduling has been smart to make sure that Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday,
the only games being played on those days will be
in season tournament games. You have the two quarterfinals Monday night,
we have two quarterfinals Tonight, Thursday's the two semis, Saturday's
the championship. If you want to watch NBA games this
(07:01):
week on those days, the only thing you can see
is the is team. And that's really smart and to
go with, you know, to at least somewhat slightly offset
my many many complaints that this thing, this tournament hasn't
been soccer like enough for me. But one thing the
league has done that is very soccer like. This week
(07:22):
they announced they sent out pictures in a long release.
You've got the NBA Cup that the championship team will win.
They have a trophy for the tournament MVP. But they've
also got winners medals. Every player on the championship team
will collect a championship medal. And that is very soccer
like and something that this soccer nerd definitely appreciates.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
If we're talking about you know, I think everybody has
an opinion and half suggestions about how we can make
things better. I think a couple of them. You know.
The point differential is kind of debatable. If you talk
to coaches around the league, and I've talked to probably
a dozen, and they're it varies, you know, it varies.
(08:12):
You know, some are for it, some are against it.
Some talk about implementing a you know, a quarter system
where the team who's won the team who's won more
quarters are prioritized in the standings. But stein, what do
(08:32):
you think about this, because I think largely this is
probably confused a lot of spectators. Is the group play?
And when I mean the group play is that you
know when these games, you know, they're they're spread out.
The n C tournament, they're they're they're spread out, like
so they'll play n season tournament group game, then they'll
(08:55):
play another one next week or a week and a
half later, and people forget, like the what the record
is during the season, I mean during you know, during
the course of the regular season that early on. What
is the problem with just doing the nd season tournament?
Just just take carving out two and a half weeks.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah, I hope that that's what I would like to see.
That's I mean to me because if you know, again,
and I'm a soccer nerd, so I look at this
often through a soccer fans perspective, and if you really
want to make it like the FA Cup in England
or the League Cup in England, the games in the
(09:36):
tournament would be separate from the regular season schedule. I
totally understand why the NBA didn't want to do that,
especially in year one, because on top of all the
logistical challenges, they were worried that teams might not play
their main guys if the games are separate. They wanted
them to be regular season games that counted twice to
(09:59):
incentivize teams to make sure they use their best players
because if you lose those games, it can hurt you
in the standings as well. But yes, down the road,
and I don't know how soon it will be, but
I'm hopeful. I would love. I think the whole thing
should be in Vegas, and I think they could do
it in less than two weeks realistically, And I think
it should be completely single elimination, because that's what would
(10:23):
really make it different, unique and inject some novelty into
this thing.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Oh so you said, so you're saying screw to group play,
like screwed.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Totally if it was up to If it was up.
To me, there would be no group play because the
group play, it's it's just it's not real group play.
It's just these four regular season games are gonna count twice.
I just to me, it's it's not it's you know,
it's not a separate group. When college basketball teams play
(10:54):
in tournaments before league play, they go to the Maui
Classic or wherever it is, and they play games that
do not count in their conference schedule. But you know,
the NBA again, and like I said, I understand why
the NBA doesn't want to do that, but I think
if they if they went the route I'm saying, if
they just said, you know what, the whole league is
(11:15):
going to go to Vegas for a week and a
half to two weeks. You know, we'll give the top
we'll give the buys to the top four seeds. The
other twenty eight teams go into a hat. Let's just
pick it, pick it out of a hat, mix up
East and West, and let's really get crazy and play
a real tournament. I think we will get more of
(11:38):
the excitement that we've seen this week because single elimination.
To me, that's where the juice is. That's why people
are loving this this week because it truly is win
or go home in one game, and that's something the
NBA is not used to. It's new, and to me,
that's where that novelty factor comes in.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Yeah, I wouldn't be opposed to that. I actually like that.
I just think that, like, even if they do keep
the group play, I just think, like, just carve out
two weeks, go ahead and go through your group play
schedule and then from there get to your knockout rounds. Like,
just just keep it focused on the N Season tournament
(12:22):
for two weeks. Give the N Season Tournament two weeks.
Don't put other regular season games in between, because people forget,
you know, like the broadcast crew, we have to continue
to remind people, Hey, I know, like a team might
have lost, a team might have lost three in a row, right,
but we have to remind them, hey, but they're two
(12:43):
and zero in N Season tournament games, you know what
I mean. Like, so it's like, let's just go into
ND season tournament mode. Stay there for how from beginning
to end, so everybody can focus and concentrate on that,
and then you give it all the attention you need.
But I'm definitely not a p go to you saying
just go straight to knockout rounds, inviting all the you know,
(13:05):
inviting all the NBA teams into it. It would definitely
be much more pilling. But you know, those are those
small suggestions.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Yeah. And one of the things I'm looking forward to
this week when you go to Vegas and this is,
you know, I will you know, I was joking before,
but I really will be living through you in this respect.
I mean, I'm really hopeful that you being on the ground,
and you know, I'm sure there's gonna be some sort
of availability with Adam Silver, and I hope something that
(13:33):
happens this week is that we get some kind of
glimpse of what the league thinks worked well, what the
league thinks didn't work so well. Will they reveal in
Vegas any of the changes in tweaks that they're likely
to implement next season, because I look, you know, they
haven't made any kind of formal announcement, but I think
(13:54):
we can all say it's been enough intrigue just this
week has been spark that they're going to try this
again next season. I certainly don't think it's going to
be a one and done. I'm sure, they're gonna want
to bring it back and see if they can make
it better and see if they can keep building this thing,
because ultimately we know they would love to be able
to sell the n Season Tournament as a separate TV property,
(14:17):
and you got to do it for more than one
year if that's the case.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Yeah. I spoke with CJ McCollum of the New Orleans Pelicans.
He's also the president of the Players Association. I had
their game for TNT, the Kings Pelicans, and we saw
that the Pelicans they advanced it beat the sacrament of
Kings in Sacramento for that. But CJ said they've already
started the process of offering suggestions to the league on
(14:47):
how to improve this theme. But he said the players
are definitely on board with continuing this on. Pretty Much
everybody you know think this is a great idea. In
New Orleans, they were, They took care of business, but
they were ready. You know, they got to Vegas Wednesday,
excuse me, Tuesday morning. So they played Monday night and
(15:07):
they left first thing in the morning for Vegas, like
they they were prepared. I was in Stein. I was
during the there was a huddle, there was a time
out in that game, and it was the second half.
I can't remember if it was the third quarter or
fourth quarter, but New Orleans had a pretty nice lead
and Alvarado is talking, you know, pumping his teammates up
(15:31):
and motivating everybody, and he was like, come on, we're
this much closer to to get on that bus for Vegas. So, uh,
you know, it's just like, guys, are you know this?
They're motivated about this, and you know, Las Vegas is
definitely an attraction that appeals to a large mass of individuals,
including NBA players, So you know, it's it's so far,
(15:53):
so good.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Yeah, So let's talk a little bit more about that, because,
as you said, you had Monday night's game, New Orleans
go into Sacramento and beats the Kings for the third
time this season, Pels three to zero against Sacramento, and
I mean that was a big opportunity for both teams
because we all remember last season was Sacramento finished third
in the West, but that was their first trip to
(16:16):
the playoffs in seventeen years, after a league record and
unwanted league record sixteen consecutive seasons out of the playoffs.
So the Pelicans Zion Williamson has yet to play in
a playoff game. The Kings have no recent playoff success
to speak of, so there was a lot on the
(16:36):
line for both teams. And also in the middle of
all that, I saw you on TV reporting about the
dieron Fox contract situation. So maybe you can expound for
us now and give us a little gives give us
a little on TV. You have to kind of rush
through it in a minute or two. Maybe you can
take a little more time here and walk us through
(16:58):
what's going on with deer Fox and the King's attempts
to resign him.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Yeah, so I reported during the game, and this was
never reported before, but uh, you know, sources have told
me that Dearn Fox was presented with an extension prior
to this season started starting. And we all know he's
represented by Rich Paul, the CEO of Clutch Sports, but
(17:23):
they were presented a two year, one hundred and five
million dollar extension that Fox and Rich turned down. And
let me just say this, I remember this was a
few years ago. I remember when when Rich Paul signed Deerren.
(17:45):
Deerren had let go of his longtime agent and hired
Rich the I think the the immediate response. I would say,
I think a lot of people thought that this is
another Anthony David situation, hiring Rich Paul to try to
(18:05):
get the Aaron out of Sacramento. And this was before again,
this was before Sacramento took off, probably a year before
Sacramento took off, and have you know, have become the
team that they are now. And so now you see
it's a situation where Dearn like really loves it in Sacramento,
really really really loves it. And you know, Sacramento, I
(18:26):
think they were kind of still trying to figure out
what Dearn ceiling was in this league. And then you
see what Daren he did last season. You see that
he's stepped it up this year, averaging thirty a game.
And Sacramento Kings are still clicking, and so they want
(18:46):
this to be a long term partnership, Sacramento Kings and Fox.
So they're in agreement on that. And I wanted to stein,
you're so accurate on you know, on TV you say
one or two minutes, no more like thirty second. You
got about thirty thirty forty seconds to try to make
your point, and you know, sometimes you leave stuff out
(19:07):
you're like, dangn, damn, I want to tuck, you know,
I want to There's more context I could have added,
but I wanted to clarify on air that that that
was the most that the Kings could extend deer was
a two year, one hundred and five million, And from
what I was told, the Kings offered that because you know,
(19:27):
that's all they could, but they understood that Deeron likely
wouldn't accept that, and that was fine. And so Dearon
is holding out for the chance that he can become
eligible for a Supermax. And from what I was told,
his supermax, you know, these numbers are ballpark as of
(19:50):
right now. There's still some things we have to they
have to clear, but he can command around a four year,
two hundred and forty five million dollar supermax extension. So, uh,
the Kings understand Fox wants to be in Sacramento long term.
They want him their long term. But that was just
(20:12):
just think about that steing guys. You know, this is
just a different league. Now, the money is different. You
think about guys turning down two years, one hundred and
five million, that's what fifty two to fifty three million
a season. Man that's crazy money right there. But you know,
you got to think about the long term plan and
what you can have for you know, double the years
(20:33):
if so.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
And you can understand why the Aaron Fox would take
this position because, as you said, the Kings, the most
they can offer as we speak, two years in the
ballpark of one hundred million. Maybe it's a little bit
north of one hundred million, maybe it's a little bit south,
but basically it's just two years. One hundred ish million
is the most Sacramento can offer now. If the Aaron
(20:54):
Fox makes another All NBA team after this season, and
remember he made and All NBA team last season, if
Dearon Fox can do that again, now he becomes eligible
for that four year megadeal you were describing that's worth
almost two hundred and fifty million. So it's the sensible
move for the Kings to make that offer now, and
(21:18):
also the sensible move for Fox to hold off on it.
And you know, maybe All NBA is not his only
aim because your guy Mike Brown, Man, how many press
conferences already have we heard Mike Brown campaigning for Dearen
already to win MVP honors, already winning MVP honors, or
(21:42):
Defensive Player of the Year would also get it done
for Dearon Fox. But I think the more realistic aim
would certainly be making an All NBA team for the
second straight season. That would do it. And I think
you what did come across in your report on TV
You made it clear both the CA and de Aaron
Fox they wanted they want a long term relationship together.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Yes, And the earliest if he is able to get
All NBA or MVP or Defense Player of the Year,
the earliest he will be able to sign his super
Max extension will be July eighth of twenty twenty four.
So that's the long play. That's the long game right there.
And again, Sacramento, they're balling. Darren Fox is balling. I
(22:30):
don't see if they if they have, if they continue
as he is right now, continue on this trajectory, Darreon
Fox will definitely make All NBA again.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
He's not gonna win Defensive Player of the Year. I'm
gonna go out on a limb right now and say
that ain't happening.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
What about MVP Star All NBA.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
He's got a great chance and about uh, Sacramento's gonna
have to win fifty plus games, I think for him
to get in that conversation. But like I said, Mike Brown,
Mike Brown is he puts that in the ether every week,
so he is. He is a very loud campaign manager
for the years. Yeah, so back to the present again,
(23:14):
as we said, we're taping this in the midst of
Lakers Suns fourth quarter.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
There.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
That's been a tight game all night to see who
claims this last in season tournament birth. But you know,
I will be jealous of you in Vegas because there
is gonna be a lot going on Indiana Milwaukee. That's
one of Thursday's games. Now, Milwaukee beats the Knicks. Milwaukee
(23:41):
scores one hundred and forty six on the Knicks. The
Knicks came into that game with a fifth ranked defense,
very impressive showing. But the cynic, the skeptic within me
is gonna ask what kind of crowd are we gonna
get in Vegas for Pacers Bucks? Had that been paid Nicks?
I mean, there are Vegas is a Laker town, but
(24:04):
there are a lot of Knicks fans in Vegas as well.
Are we gonna see Pacers fans and Bucks fans traveling
to Vegas on short notice? That is one of the
really intriguing questions to me here this week, what kind
of turnout are we gonna get from the local fans
in Vegas? And how excited are the locals gonna be
(24:28):
about a Pacers Bucks showdown for a spot in the
n season tournament final. So that is something I will
be texting you throughout that game to get to get
some crowd flavor.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
STI. So you bring that up, you pose that question.
Did you see our good friend Nick for Dale's tweet today?
Speaker 2 (24:48):
I did?
Speaker 3 (24:49):
Uh huh, So Nick, let me pull Let me pull
up Nick for Dale's tweet just a moment. Bear with me, please.
I found it Nick for Dale's tweet today. He tweeted
this before or the Pacers. Excuse me, he tweeteds before
the Bucks and Knicks played. He said, I quote, the
NBA has got to be absolutely praying the Lakers and
(25:11):
Knicks win tonight. Who is going to watch, let alone
pay to see the Pacers and Bucks play at two
pm Pacific time on a Thursday afternoon in Vegas? And
you know, you know, I tend to scroll on Twitter
to kind of get the reaction of some fans and
what they're saying. The majority of them are saying they
(25:35):
got pretty similar tweets saying, so you mean that people
wouldn't want to go see Giannis Dame Halliburton and they
would rather see Julius Randall play in Las Vegas. So
that's pretty much. That was pretty much the response from
a lot of people right there. I would tend to
(25:56):
believe that vague knew that the n season tournament was coming.
You know, you still have great stars. I don't know
necessarily that people in Vegas want to see the Knicks
at Lakers. I think the Lakers being there is important
because it is a Lakers town, But I don't know
that necessarily a Lakers Knicks would be a big draw.
Speaker 1 (26:20):
Well, I would say, look, I do. I do think
there are tons of Knicks fans in Vegas, tons of
displaced New Yorkers. But I would also say this as
Vegas has shown summer after summer after summer, with the
huge crowds we see at Summer League, there are a
lot of NBA fans in Vegas. And if it was
(26:41):
me and I was a Vegas resident to see a
game with stakes, you know, all the games in Vegas
are always Summer League games or USAB exhibitions or preseason games.
I mean this is this is a real game. A
real game is not played in Vegas too often. So yeah,
with Giannis and Dame and Halliburton and real stakes, to me,
(27:05):
the gym should be full. But I also think it's fair.
It's a fair question. It's fair to wonder because again
from you, if you are a Bucks fan or a
Pacers fan, how easy is it to just wing your
way to Vegas on a Thursday on short notice. I
don't know that it's that easy. So I don't know
how many fans from those cities will be traveling, but
(27:29):
I would like to think that the game can you know,
it's three games in Vegas, I would like to think
that that's a pretty decent ticket, a ticket in pretty
decent demand.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
I'm not even thinking about fans of teams following them
to Vegas. I'm just thinking more so Vegas. Vegas is
a basketball town. It is a really good sports town,
and it's a Lakers town as well, and so especially
if the Lakers make it, the draw is already going
to be there. But I still think there's enough star
(28:06):
attraction for Vegas. Vegas residents to peck that arena out
at the end. It's an extra bonus. If if the
fans of teams.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Travel, you're always dialed into the Bucks. How do you
think they're looking at this? We know the Pacers are psyched.
We know this is a big moment. Haliburtonist, Miles Turner,
Rick Carlisle, these guys have all talked about what a
great opportunity, the opportunity this is because, let's face it,
I mean, no one's picking Indiana to win a championship
(28:37):
this season. The Pacers have been fantastic in the ist.
They're five and ohero in tournament play, but they're just
five and eight in all other games. So the Pacers
have definitely played their best in the tournament. I mean,
but the Bucks. Bucks have to be feeling great again
to almost put up one fifty tonight on the on
(28:59):
the defense first Knicks, the number five defense in the league.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
M hm oh. They they're pumped up, they're motivated. I
spoke to Dame a little bit after the game, and
you know that they're ready to go in there and
win this thing. But Dame did say, you know, he
had he spoke at he spoke after the game. It's
post game presser. He was asked about like would this
(29:27):
have any carryover to try to help and propel them
to just finding a new identity and reaching a new
level to that that will prepare them for the playoffs,
and he said he doesn't think, you know, even winning
the n Season Tournament would have any carryover, he said,
because this is it's too fast, exactly what he said,
(29:50):
he said, it's December. I don't think that's going to
play a part in what's going to happen in May
or June. And so, but the competitive the com heatheror
in him and the team and all these teams that
make it to Vegas, you know, they want to win.
They're going out there, they're they're excited, they want to win.
And that's that's what I'm most impressed by Stein with
(30:16):
this n Season Tournament is that there's passion in November
and December. And you can't you couldn't honestly say that
was the case in years prior, because again the knock
on the league as being the NBA season doesn't get
started until after all Star break. And so we're seeing,
(30:38):
you know, we're seeing this thing just revived here and
I love it, and so That's why I'm like, I'm
pumped and motivated to for being out there and checking
this thing out. And it's and it's new, it's fresh
and new, and you know, the players and they're getting
paid to go as well, they getting a little extra bonus.
So so far, so good.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Yeah, you know, player buying has not been an issue.
I think the players have embraced this thing more than
I thought they would. There's been no shortage of guys
who have let it be known that the five hundred
thousand that will go to every member of the team
that wins this thing. Even the guys making really good
(31:18):
money want that money. Even Lebron James, he wants that
five hundred k he's making. You know, he's he's not
on a minimum deal, but he wants that money. And
as we speak, Lebron just put the Lakers up five
here with two minutes and change to go, and Lebron
trying to drive the Lakers to to a win over
(31:38):
the Suns and put LA into the ist semis as
the last team to advance. But it's really the bigger
questions will be how much does how much does this
mean to fan bases? Whoever wins well, I am curious,
so like, you know, how how will you know whoever
(32:00):
wins this thing? How will they celebrate? How will their
fans celebrate? Are they going to raise a banner if
they win the first?
Speaker 3 (32:06):
Is? S t like?
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Just how how robust the celebrating will be for whoever
wins this thing? And we're now just a couple of
days away from getting getting some of those answers.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
That's a good question. I never thought about that. Banners. Hmm,
I don't know how I feel about that.
Speaker 1 (32:28):
Look, I fully expect the banner. I don't expect a parade,
But you know, so.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
The Lakers, the Lakers and the Celtics, they're rich, their
rich history that they all they all they want are championships.
You really think they'll include.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
Bat you know, I guess, you know, I guess it
does depend on the franchise because those teams are you know,
the late You know, there are some teams that will
hang a banner if they win a division or.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
It gets all my nerves s tign it gets oh
my nerves when I see them.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
But that's exactly but that's exactly why your pal Adam
Silver wants this thing. Well, the biggest reason is because
he wants to create something that they can sell as
a separate, a separate menu of games to TV partners.
But his whole thing has been to try to give
NBA teams, like soccer teams abroad, the chance to compete
(33:25):
for something else. So the Larry O'Brien isn't the only
prize that everybody's chasing. So I would think many more
teams than not if they win the IST or hanging
a banner.
Speaker 3 (33:36):
I honestly do think the IST is here to stay.
I'm not a pope. A banner can it do something
else to acknowledge? Like, I don't know, Uh, banners, uh
just not fit. Like I'm thinking about.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
The Indiana Pacers if they win the IST.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
They'll probably put a banner up for sure.
Speaker 1 (34:01):
They'll put New Orleans Pelicans if they win the tournament.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
Yeah, I'm just not you know, Stan, I'm still not
into the participation awards. And I'm not saying that, you know,
I'm not saying that the isht Cup Championship, whatever it is,
it's not bann or worthy. But yeah, no, I just
hold in high regard, uh of a Larry O'Brian trophy.
(34:27):
I just hold that in high regard, and I just yeah, hey,
whatever again.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
And look and that's and that's you know, that's wow.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
This game, start this game, look at this game.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
Star like both these teams want this bad like they.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
They Lakers upon twenty seconds left, Yeah, I mean, oh,
big three by Austin Reeves puts them up four with
fifteen seconds left.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
All right, Well, Producer Ryan, much to our dismay, muted
our microphones. There. Chris and I were gonna do an
absolute live watch along play by play extravaganza for the
last two minutes until Producer Ryan broke the rule book
out and informed us that we probably get in trouble
if we went that route. So we watched the ending together.
(35:14):
But you didn't get to hear you won't get to
hear our attempts at play by play. And let's just man, man,
that is the Lakers hold on for a one oh six,
one oh three win, but a very controversial and sure
to be hotly disputed call. On the morning after, the
Lakers able to call a late time out when man,
(35:38):
it sure did not look like they had possession of
the ball. So that the league is uh, the league,
we'll be hearing about it for sure with the Lakers advancing.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
And maybe they get the Laker Press Corp. Can get
what you have to do. Yeah, that's right, fool reporter.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
Maybe by the time this podcast out we'll get a
pool reporter explanation for why the Lakers were able to
call a time out there. And don't want to take
anything away from how well Lebron James and Anthony Davis played.
They were quite a duo in this one. Lebron fifteen
of his thirty one in the fourth quarter, huge three
pointer from Austin Reeves, Lakers escape, Lakers get that last
(36:23):
berth in Vegas. So it's Pelicans, Lakers, Pacers.
Speaker 3 (36:28):
Bucks, Lakers getting in this big. That's big. That that helps. Like,
if there was one team the league would want in Vegas,
the Lakers.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
Are, which is exactly why they ain't gonna hear the
last about this time out call the Sons would have.
The Sons were still down two. But yeah, you have
not heard the last about that one.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
Yeah that's tough, but no, this is it. This is
it final four, It's set, it's set, sn Stan. You
still got time, man, what's what's today? Today is the fifth?
You still have time to make arrangements to be in Vegas.
That's a nice easy flight, Stein.
Speaker 1 (37:13):
Nice easy flight. But for reasons I'm gonna keep to myself.
I'm sadly not gonna make it. But like I said,
you are representing me and all our listeners. You are
this league uncuts official Vegas representative correspondent, And I cannot
wait to see, can't wait to get the in game text,
(37:36):
can't wait to hear all the things you're hearing, and
we'll see, We'll see what happens. Can the Lakers Vegas
is a Lakers town? Can the Lakers take advantage of
that late fortuitous whistle to go on and win this
thing and give Lebron James a trophy that Michael Jordan
(37:56):
will never win. Are we gonna get some crazy surprised so?
Is it gonna be Lakers Bucks in the finals? Are
we gonna get Pacers Pelicans? Are we gonna get a
Pacers Pelicans final that no one saw coming? All kinds
of possibilities, and Chris Haynes will come back with all
kinds of stories to tell us we will actually somehow
(38:19):
we're gonna find a way to do a pod while
you're in Vegas to get some of the local flavor,
hopefully before Saturday's championship games, so stay tuned for that.
Safe travels out there. Don't do anything I wouldn't do.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
I'll I'll have a bodyguar out with me. Really, yes, wifey.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Ties and losses, Ties and losses, all right. That will
do it for this edition of This League Uncut Please remember,
as always if you haven't already, rate, review, and subscribe
to the show, and Chris and I will be back
with you very very soon. Thanks everybody for listening.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
And that'll do it for us. See you next time.
This League UNCUTTA is an iHeartRadio production. Put Suck a
locket
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Chris Hanes and Mark Stein
Fox Sports Radio News
Host
Jonas Knox
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