Dan Beyer and Mark Medina talk Caitlin Clark and NBA Finals!

Dan Beyer and Mark Medina talk about Caitlin Clark taking on Angel Reese for the first time in the WNBA, early thoughts on the NBA Finals, the Lakers offseason plan, Mark It Down, whether or not the Celtics are still the Celtics of old, a bubble story from Mark, and more!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio Radio.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
NBA Finals just five days away, but we are twenty
four point nine seconds away, we think from a finish
in the w NBA, maybe the rivalry that carries the
league for the next decade or so. Welcome in as
we're broadcasting live forth the Tiraq dot com studios. Tellraq
dot com we'll help you get there at unmet selection,
fast free shipping, freed Road has a protection and over

(00:25):
ten thousand recommended installers. Tirac dot com The way tire
buying should be. Hello, Mark Medina, Hello Dan buyer. This
is a This is a great treat. I'm not usually
here on Saturdays, so to be here and to be
side by sad with you for the next two hours
talking so much hoop and other things sprinkled in.

Speaker 3 (00:44):
I'm jacked well, Dan Uh feeling as mutual I'm usually
uh having the honor of being able to connect with
you on the phone talking about different nowday storylines. Here
we're gonnaunpack it Eve with even more depth as well
as other sports.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
This should be fun. This is what's great. You hear
Mark throughout the network. Are you still doing your Bernie
Frattle hit Oh yeah tonight and monsee Alanios and Steve
Hartman at four thirty. Oh wow, this is all Medina
all the time. But you know, I know you and
Bernie do your weekly hit and you guys talk a
lot about hoops. You'll talk hoops with with Steve Hartman

(01:18):
and Mancy when they're up following us. But coming up
in about forty forty five minutes or so, we're going
to ask the questions to Mark Medina that we really
want to know. Okay, not the you know, can the
Mavericks get it done in the NBA Finals? And who's
the next head coach of the Lakers. We'll be talking
about all that, but coming up in forty five minutes,

(01:41):
all the questions that you wanted to know from Mark Medina.
You ready for that?

Speaker 3 (01:46):
Is this hashtag Medina unplugged. Yes, there we go. They're perfect.

Speaker 2 (01:51):
I had the segment called the market down for your
your yes, just play off your name, But well, I
think I think Medina unplugged this pretty good. All right,
there's six point six seconds left in this Indiana Fever
Chicago sky game, But that's not the story. The story
again is Caitlin Clark and today we have a story
because it's against Angel Reese's Chicago Sky. And then there's

(02:15):
another story within this game. Now the Fever could be
a few seconds away from getting their second win of
the season. It's now seventy one sixty nine with six
point six seconds left to go. But the clips that
you're going to see after this game are the flagrant
foul or is the flagrant foul committed on Caitlin Clark

(02:35):
on a simple inbounds pass by Kennedy Carter of the
Chicago Sky. So that clip is going to be shown,
and it's going to be shown here, there, and everywhere,
And the conversation is already on social media. Mark on
the WNBA and is there a target on Caitlin Clark.
You saw Caitlin Clark in person a week ago and

(02:56):
she was here in southern California. Do you believe that
there is a target on Caitlin Clark by the rest
of the WNBA.

Speaker 3 (03:02):
Well, I think that there is a target, but it's
kind of through the lens of what we normally see
in all professional sports, including the NBA. When you have
a highly touted prospect who has shown that this person
can become a generational talent. Inevitably, there's going to be
veterans in the league that want to see what you're
made of, and so I think that that's what we saw.

(03:24):
You mentioned how I was at the Sparks Fever game
last week. I saw elements of that on twofold. I
saw the Sparks playing really physical with her. At times,
Caitlin Clark was really composed. Other times she was gaining
frustrated that she wasn't getting the calls that she was
hoping to get. I even saw another interesting dynamic when
she was at the free throw line and Sparks coach

(03:45):
Kurt Miller was like trying to challenge the call, but
he was too late with it. She was getting frustrated
that the referee wasn't giving her the ball in a
timely manner and almost like freezing her at the free
throw line. But I think when you look at the
big picture, some of the overwhelming consensus I've gotten with
talking to people on the Fever, most notably Erica Wheeler

(04:05):
and Kelsey Mitchell, her teammates. They've been very impressed that
through all the highs and lows, she's for the most
part pretty even keel but she is a competitor, and
so you're gonna see those emotions both for better and
for worse on the court.

Speaker 2 (04:20):
This is what it sounded like when the foul was
called as the Fever, by the way, have escaped with
a seventy one seventy victory win number two for the Fever.
Caitlin Clark eleven points, just two of nine shooting from
behind the arc in this game, four of eleven from
the field, did have eight rebounds and six assists. Fever
actually Eleah Boston had ten points, Angel Reese eight points,

(04:44):
thirteen rebounds for the Chicago Sky. Those are all the particulars,
but the Fever get their second win. But again it's
much more bigger than the second win for the Fever.
Here's how the flagrant foul call sounded earlier in the day.

Speaker 4 (04:55):
Dannity Carter now which collins off the diach eight big
time contact afterwards, saw the knock away there from Clark
and then lay from Boston. As the officials are gonna
take a look at what just transpired between.

Speaker 2 (05:12):
Carter and Clark. That was the call? Is that ESPN
or Fever Radio Network? Do we got okay? All right?
So bo's got that? So there's the highlight on that one,
and it's a flagrant foul in the back court on
just an inbounds. You kind of laid it out. Mark.
This is to me, there's no doubt a message trying

(05:34):
to be sent, and there's no doubt that we've seen
it game in and game out. We saw in the
in the rematch with the Sparks that they had earlier
this week. You know, there's a player shooting a free
throw and she completely didn't realize that she had another
free throw coming because she was so consumed with guarding
Caitlin Clark. I know there's some there's some question of like,
all right, was it you know, was it a basket good?

(05:56):
Was it a two shot foul? But she makes the
first free throw and then she runs over and man's
up against Clark and she's got a second free throw.
There is no doubt there's a target on her back.
But what makes this bigger is is it fair or unfair?
And I actually kind of side with you on this
in terms of it may be unfair, but that's life,

(06:18):
Like that's life in the NBA. In terms of rookies
coming in, there are opportunities where you would think that hey,
this guy's a star in the league. You should have
an easy going and the veterans are like, huh, that's
not gonna happen. And that's what's happening here. I think
there's an added dynamic when you have someone like Angel
Reese who's also a rookie in the league and you

(06:39):
take some of that rivalry over from the college game
to the pro game and now you carry it out today.
That's that's fine too. I think it's it's great for
us to talk about. We could call and say, well,
what she's saying is bs, that's not real true, you know,
or really the truth. But I just think that this
is part of it. And in three years from now,
if we're looking back on this, we're just looking back

(07:01):
at it as like, man, they really, you know, Caitlin
Clark really had quite the initiation into the WNBA as
opposed to all of the This is so unfair. I
can't believe this is happening to the WNBA's new star.

Speaker 3 (07:13):
Yeah, Dan, I think you laid it out really well.
And I don't think that these things have to be
mutually exclusive. I think that the WNBA and both teammates
and opponents can show appreciation for Kitlyn Clark for what
she means to the women's game and just all the
perks that come with it with increased viewership, the charter flights,

(07:34):
but they can also be competitors too. We want athletes
to be competitors. It's good for professional sports to have rivalries,
whether it's with specific teams, specific players. So I think, really,
when we're talking about the scrutiny with Caitlyn Clark early on,
I think the only thing that's quote unquote unfair is

(07:55):
looking at her initial struggles and then immediately proclaiming, oh,
she's not going to be a star in the WNBA,
or she's a bust. Everything else though, I think it's
totally fair, and that's what sports is all about. We
love that competitive juices and what it means to the
opponents and the stars alike.

Speaker 2 (08:14):
I want to get to the Angel Reese sound from
about a week ago, because Angel Reese took a really,
really hard follow in a game against the Connecticut Sun
and was asked about it at the end of the game.
And I think that there's underlying Kitlyn Clark themes in
all of this. But there is a learning pattern, a
growth pattern that Caitlin Clark is going to have to
follow through the WNBA, not unlike many other WNBA players,

(08:37):
but I actually think someone like Angel Reese is probably
more suited to make the transition from the WNBA or
from college basketball to the WNBA just based on the
physical nature itself of being a post player to be
someone who gathers double doubles. I think that's helped Angel
Reese and her transition and has helped others that physicality

(08:58):
is matched. That is something that Caitlyn Clark I don't
think I had to face in college basketball. There wasn't
really physicality in the backcourt. Now, when you're dealing with
with the you know, some of the greatest women athletes
that that you've got on the planet in this league,
I think at some point her career she's going to
have to match up to that point, and right now
she may not be at that point.

Speaker 3 (09:17):
Yeah, it's a very fair point. I think when we're
talking about physicality with Caitlin Clark, it's going to be
about how can she absorb the physicality Because she's a guard,
She's not going to be expected to be, you know,
being an enforcer, having brute strength, but how do you
stay resilient when the defenders are trying to be physical
with her. I think the other thing is that that

(09:39):
is an adjustment. As we've seen, it's not so simple
just because she's a great shooter that she can mediately
translate that into the WNBA. When the speed's a lot faster,
you know, there's double teams that are swarming her. And
then I think, if we're going to get in the
weeds here, the fact that Kelsey Mitchell was injured and
didn't have a full training camp. She's another great shooter,
great floor space, so that I think compounded the other

(10:03):
inevitable struggles that I think rookie would have, which is
getting used to teammates and a new playbook.

Speaker 2 (10:08):
Kelsey Mitchel at eighteen to pace the fever today. But
here's here's where where I think people end up being
split when it comes to Caitlin Clark. This was Angel
Reese a week ago talking about the physicality in the
league and her comments after she took a hard foul
in that game against Connecticut.

Speaker 5 (10:26):
It's not just because I'm a rookie.

Speaker 1 (10:27):
I'm a player.

Speaker 6 (10:28):
I'm a basketball player. They don't give it in if
I'm a rookie. I mean, I want them to come
at me every day. I want them to come at everybody.
I mean, they're not supposed to be nice to me.
I hope y'all know that they're not supposed to be
nice to me or lay down because I'm Angel Rees
or because I'm a rookie. Like thank you, AT percented
a message to me because I got back up and
I kept going with the kimp and kept pushing like
me and AT have been cool since.

Speaker 2 (10:48):
We were a family. So I know it's not no
hard feelings. And I appreciate it for going on me
every day.

Speaker 7 (10:53):
What's it in?

Speaker 2 (10:54):
That wasn't a message to AT and it wasn't a
message to the Connecticut Sun. That was a message to
Kaitlin Clark because of all the stuff that we're just
talking about, and you and I are talking about, and
people have been talking about the physicality. Angel Reese is saying, yeah,
it's not because I'm a rookie. Because we're sitting there
pointing and saying, Angel Reese is, excuse me. Kitlin Clark
is a rookie, she's the number one overall pick. Everybody's

(11:14):
got their target on her back. And Angel Reese is
trying to be defiant in that and take the opposite angle.
But that sort of like that comment there is so
directed at Caitlyn Clark, and I think immediately when I
heard it, I'm like, all right, now, we're just bringing
Caitlin Clark. She's catching strays and scenarios where she maybe
shouldn't need to. But this is probably good for the game.

(11:37):
I do think I think ESPN bends over backwards to
tell us about Angel Reese highlights and to all the
stats that she makes because they don't want to seem
like it's all Kitlyn Clark all the time. But this
natural rivalry is okay. And so you have a game
today where there is a flagrant foul as this said,
three years from now, I don't think it's going to
be a big deal Magic a Bird where a rivalry

(11:59):
Jordan Dominique arrival, like these things happen. If it's Clark
and Reees, even though they played different positions from what
they did in the past, that's fine, that's good. But
I do think sometimes Caitlin Clark is brought into situations
that she doesn't have to be involved in.

Speaker 3 (12:12):
Yeah, I mean, no doubt there's you know, a lot
of competitiveness, and there can be some professional jealousy as
far as like how much bred should she be getting
an attention because in fairness, there's been a lot of
pioneers that you know, laid the foundation to get the
wamba to where it is today. It's still obviously a
work in progress as far as how much viewership can

(12:34):
be grown, how much more revenue can be grown. But
it's not like Caitlin Clark competitive basketball, right. But I
think at the same time, there is an appreciation that
Caitlin Clark has been really polished. She understands and appreciates
the history of the women's game. She leans a lot
on those players as far as mentors and how she
studies the game. And I will leave you with this Dan,

(12:57):
even though she's a different player as far as the
physicality is concerned, because she's a guard, I've seen this
mental resiliency. Like the Sparks game in particular, she misses
a lot of shots, doesn't show any sign of deflating confidence,
and then she hits those two daggers at the end
of the game. And again this isn't comparisons because she's

(13:19):
a rookie, different game, but it was fitting that she
did it at Crypto dot Com Arena formerly Staples Center,
where Kobe Bryant showed the same kind of mentality. You
want those qualities in any of the stars, whether it's
physicality or the confidence, because that is what makes basketball
so great, both on the men's and the women's side.

Speaker 2 (13:38):
He's Mark Medina. Hit him up at Mark g Underscore
Madena R Fox Sports Radio, NBA incitor. I'm Dan Byer.
Hit me up at Dan Byer on Fox. As we
are a live from the tirerec dot Com studios. We
are going to get talking about the NBA Finals. Plus
there's some NFL news and yeah, we are now thirty
minutes away from market down hashtag Medina unplugged. The real
questions and answers that you wanted from NBA insider hanging

(14:01):
out on a Saturday. Brian Fenley's gonna give us an
update in about fifteen minutes. Bo Benson's here, as is
Chris Burfett. Those guys will be jumping in as well.
Where are the Lakers on their coaching search? And where
are you if you had to pick a winner of
the NBA Finals. We'll discuss next here on Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 1 (14:17):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
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Speaker 7 (14:29):
To NBA Insiders podcasting twice a week to plug you
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Five, all happening in only one place.

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This League Uncut, the new NBA podcast with me, Chris.

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Haynes and me Mark Stein join.

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Us as we team up to expound on everything we're covering.

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Listen to This League Uncut with Chris Haynes and Mark Stein.

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Speaker 2 (14:58):
Fox Sports Saturday. I'm Dan Byer. He's Mark Medina hanging
out with you. Brian Finley's got the latest for us
in about eight minutes or so. NBA Finals now five
days away. We are getting closer and closer, and I
feel that every sports show that anybody listens to, there's
always at least going to be a Celtics Mavericks preview

(15:19):
segment we delivered here early lean in this series, Mark Medina,
if you had to pick one team that you think
is going to hoist the Ilari O'Brian Trophy. Where are you
leaning right now?

Speaker 3 (15:31):
I've been really torn on this, Dan. I think that
initially I thought it would be the Dallas Mavericks because
Luka Dontrich has brought his game to an even higher level.
Kyrie Irving is showing he's the best version of himself,
both as a player and a leader since his day
is in Cleveland, and Dallas finally has a supporting cast
that Luka Dontrich can trust and lean on. But the

(15:53):
Celtics are the best team on paper, and even though
they haven't played their best basketball, you can make the
r argument that it's because they haven't had to play
their best basketball. I talked to him with an assistant
coach yesterday on from someone around the league was on
either team, and that person was picking Boston because they

(16:15):
thought they have a deeper team and even though they've
been inconsistent, they've had more continuity. But that person even said,
you know what, you can flip a coin. You can
make a compelling case for Dallas to win. So I
don't know what to do. I guess that's a good thing,
because that means we should be getting a six or
seven game series.

Speaker 2 (16:33):
I'm I'm curious at the point of the deeper portion
of it because I think that there's this, I don't
want to say the Chriss Porzingis cloud that's hanging over,
but there is some mystery on his status and where
he's been. And yesterday Joe Mizzoula finally found out and
was able to talk about their opponent the NBA Finals
because they now know it's the Dallas Mavericks. And it

(16:54):
wasn't like Joe Missoula was giving a lot of answers
on Porzingis status. He was the Celtics coach. Yesterday we
saw Kristaps out there shooting threes.

Speaker 3 (17:02):
How far along is he?

Speaker 2 (17:04):
And you know, just basically, what's the update with him
as far as.

Speaker 4 (17:06):
He's getting better on He's getting better. He's out there shooting,
I went through a couple of drills and practice, so
progressing well and kind of confident where he's at right now.

Speaker 2 (17:14):
Bill Benson, our esteem producer, pointed out that Missoula may
have learned a few things from Bill Belichick in the
Northeast and New England and how to answer that question,
but not a lot there. The question seemed to be
positive from the reporter at first, and the Missoula just
kind of keeps its status quo. I just don't think
that if you're a Boston fan, and honestly, I don't
think if you're a Mavericks fan, you have to worry.

(17:36):
I don't think that Christops Porzingis is a worry in
this series. From the fact of even if he does play,
I think that there is a huge adjustment period. And
we're talking about a calf injury here and something that
we've seen calf injuries in the NBA Finals and not

(17:57):
the Jinx anybody. But I just think it something that
Boston really wants to be careful with. And I know
this is the reason why you brought Porzingis in. I
just don't think that they risk it. I don't think
that christophs Porzingis, even if healthy, is going to have
a huge, huge part in these NBA Finals.

Speaker 3 (18:16):
Yeah, Dan, there's a lot of interesting things to unpack here,
and I agree with what you're saying. The ironic part
is that when they got Chriss Porzingis, it really changed
their offense to make it more bald, movement oriented. You'd
seen Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown as a result, become
more efficient players. They have better floor space, and they
have an added shooting threat. But as we saw in

(18:39):
these playoffs, even though I've cringed at times when I
see Boston not play up to its potential in fairness,
when they have to win, they mostly do. And we've
seen Tatum and Brown show that they can get rid
of some of their bad qualities. As to what you're
saying about his injury, I'll try to fill in the
gaps here for what Joe Mizua did and saying all right,

(19:00):
when he said yes, he's shooting and did a couple drills,
what he didn't say is he hasn't done full contact yet.
I think that that's a prerequisite to then be able
to jump into an NBA playoff game. What he also
didn't share is what would the workload look like Because
of the fact that he hasn't played since April twenty ninth,

(19:22):
when he injured that calf in Game four against Miami,
I would think that when and if he plays, it's
limited minutes, and there's always an integration process that comes
along with that with conditioning, ross trying to find your
fit in Again, ironically, he's he was an instant fit
from a basketball IQ and skills standpoint when he joined

(19:44):
this team. But it's a much different dynamic when you're
adding the injury element, especially considering Porzingis's injury history.

Speaker 2 (19:52):
Yeah, and I know it may not be fair to
compare sports, but all NFL season we had wondered, all right,
is Aaron ra going to make it back from this
Achilles injury? And the reason why it was such a
question is because Rogers kept on talking about it. But
that's not the entire point. The other point is is
the Jets were so bad at the position that Rogers

(20:17):
was an upgrade even if he was, you know, barely
back off of this Achilles And because that position demands
so much, this is an integration. And to your point
of what you just said about Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum,
and sure Porzingis has opened it up. But now if
you put Porzingis back in and only do so on

(20:38):
a limited basis, the flow and functionality of your team
can be can be hurt, It can be thrown off rhythm.
And is it really worth it in that instance to
try to do that, like to win an NBA title? Yeah,
but is it can you beat Dallas in your current

(20:59):
Maybe if you're Boston, and as we're sitting here talking
fifty to fifty, I think I'm leaning Dallas in this series.
But to add porzingis of what he would actually mean,
I don't think that changes anything. Riss porzingis on the outside.
If you were talking as you mentioned, you know, two
months ago, whatever, it Yeah, absolutely, maybe a different story,

(21:22):
But I just don't think this version of krisps porzingis,
even if he was able to play in any of
these games in the series, would actually do Boston any
benefit because of the rhythm that this team is in
playing without him.

Speaker 3 (21:33):
Yeah, I'm going to add another recent example that should
give perspective, But then I'll also qualify that there is
some apples oranges. Kawhi Leonard. Remember at the beginning of
the playoffs, the Clippers first round series against Dallas, they
did not play, but they played without him Game one,
they wound up winning. They integrate him back on a
minute's restriction, all of a sudden, it's a completely different team,

(21:54):
and it goes for the worst. And then Kawhi has
some more injury complications, and so I think that's the
dice scenario. You don't want to throw someone in that's
not fully healthy, and you can also disrupt team dynamics. Now,
what would be different than the Clippers example is that
Kawhi Leonard is their best player. Sure, he's the number
one guy on the team. He changes how the offense

(22:17):
is where Porzingis is the third guy, no doubt. He
changes the offense, usually for the better, with floor spacing, passing,
additional shooting. But it still starts with Tatum and Brown,
and that's where this gets complicated.

Speaker 2 (22:30):
Yeah, the hierarchy is there, Like if if you're you know,
if you're Derek White, you know you can shoot when
you can shoot. If you're you know, I don't know,
if you're Terrence Man, maybe you're not taking certain shots
now that you did in game one that you wouldn't
maybe in game two, you know, like that, Like those
are the just using as an example of guys who
are like, Okay, well they're gonna need me now, well

(22:51):
Coawi's back, Maybe I'm not. Maybe this isn't my shot,
Maybe I shouldn't. Like those are those are the questions
that you would have. I think Boston's got a clear hierarchy.
And if Porzingis is even in the middle. It's not
like Peyton Pritchard is going to completely change his game.
Just it's not going to happen. He's who he is
and that's all, you know. Bringing in Porzingis wouldn't wouldn't

(23:12):
change the wouldn't ruffle up the appple karts if you will.

Speaker 3 (23:15):
Yeah, the good thing that the Celtics have going on
is they've clearly been winning games fine without Porzingis. They
have Tatum and Brown, they have continuity, they have depth.
Derek White, as you mentioned, he's average career highs I
think in almost every statistical category this season. But on
the other hand, Dallas has I think been playing its

(23:38):
best basketball that ever has at this point in the season.
And that's something that's hard to stop because I think
in the playoffs, game to game has its own identity.
We've seen in different series one team blow out another
team and then the script flips, so that momentum doesn't
necessarily always carry game to game. But what I do

(23:59):
think and carry game to game or serious series is
kind of the long term developments of just how well
the chemistry is, how well you know individual stars are
playing as well is how healthy a team is and
Dallas is as good as can be with everything.

Speaker 2 (24:15):
I think the best matchup, honestly is Luca against the
Boston fans that like they.

Speaker 3 (24:20):
Come about Kyrie against the Boston fans. You might be
a lighting sage again.

Speaker 2 (24:25):
Sure, but if but if, if, Luke, I understand the
history and all that, but the way that Lucas spoke
to those people in the Twin Cities, my goodness. Uh
and apparently there isn't you know Minnesota and Ice when
you go to the Target Center. At least if you're
Luka danc He's Mark Medina, I'm Dan Bayer. We are
alive from the tyreq dot com studios. Let's get the
latest of what's happening on this Saturday. A little soccer,

(24:48):
a little dolf, and a little hoops.

Speaker 5 (24:51):
My family's here, yeah, and let's start with those hoops.
Guys you were discussing. Caitlin Clark and and Chi and
her Indiana Fever pick up their first home win of
the year, so now two and eight on the season.
They beat the Chicago Sky today seventy one to seventy.
As far as the numbers, and I know Clark wuld
be the first to tell herself this this is not
where she wants to be, but certainly is continuing to progress.

(25:11):
Four of eleven from the field, two of nine from
three point range, eleven points to finish off the game,
eight rebounds and six assists. Major League Baseball we got
a ton of games coming up, including one our first
of the day, starting it just after three Eastern time
between the Blue Jays and the Pirates, and the Blue
Jays announcing that they're going to move their closer, Jordan
Romano to the fifteen day IL because of right elbow inflammation.

(25:34):
Some issues with the San Diego Padres as far as
their pitching staff is concerned, and in relation to the IL,
they have moved you darbish, their pitcher because of a
left groin strain and Joe Musgrove because of right elbow inflammation.
Both of them also are going on the fifteen day ILS.
Not the best of news days for the Padres. Here

(25:55):
in the NL West, NHL Rangers and Panthers, they're going
to be doing battle on the ice, said eight Eastern
this evening. It's an East Final to game six. Florida
is ahead in the best of seven series three games
to two, so they could clinch this thing tonight with
a win and move on to the Stanley Cup Final.
Third round of the RBC Canadian Open. Ryan Fox and

(26:15):
Robert McIntyre. They co share the lead at minus ten.
They will be the last on the tee here at
three twenty five Eastern time. So most of the golfers
have gotten on the course, some have actually already finished.
Rory McElroy is in the field and he is making
headway up the leaderboard. He is five under through nine

(26:36):
holes today, seven under for the tournament, three shots off
the pace. So Mark and Dan, as I get it
back to you, here comes Rory McElroy making a statement.
He's working his way up the leaderboard pretty quickly.

Speaker 2 (26:47):
I did a neutral yesterday. I couldn't get anything going,
and then now all of a sudden today. That's that's
what Rory does, like he maybe when the pressure is
off and it's just hey, all right, you know that
that's where he's likely gonna win his fifth major again.
He's gonna have to shoot a sixty four or sixty
five probably on Sunday, because he hasn't been the greatest
when he's been out there as a front runner as

(27:08):
of late.

Speaker 3 (27:09):
Yeah, a lot of times with Rorder McElroy, he plays
his best when he previously played at his worst. Seems
like he needs those challenges to overcome to bring the
best out of him.

Speaker 2 (27:20):
I usually play my worst after I play my worst.
Usually the consistency in my golf.

Speaker 3 (27:26):
Game Dittoh, I play so poorly that oftentimes I don't
even truy. I haven't made it off the driving range yet.
I'm still then, Oh.

Speaker 2 (27:34):
Man, get him up at Mark g underscore Madina. You
can find me at Dan Beyer on Fox. Hi, Brian
up at Brian Finley. Brian, are you gonna have some
questions for Mark that you always wanted to know?

Speaker 5 (27:45):
And Oh, I am more than willing to include myself
in this conversation. So feel the pressure of Mark. Are
you ready for it?

Speaker 3 (27:52):
I am feeling the heat. The feel the heat from
these lights and these mics.

Speaker 2 (27:56):
The ex pose. Thank you very much, Brian. Let's get
a quick insight into this Lakers coaching search. Bo Benson,
resident Lakers fan here, just says, just hire JJ Reddick
and get it over with just I mean, is that
is that a fair assessment? Bo Benson?

Speaker 9 (28:13):
Yeah, That's where I'm at at this point. Yeah, we
all know it's gonna happen, Like, just don't drag it out.

Speaker 2 (28:18):
So is it gonna be JJ Reddick?

Speaker 3 (28:19):
Yes, Bo, For what it's worth, you just got to
watch the NBA Finals, and watch once the NBA Finals
are done, I think that we'll hear news about a hire.

Speaker 2 (28:30):
Took him long enough, you know it's only going to
be And by the way, the NBA Finals could go
June through June twenty third, so it could be June
twenty fourth where you're finally hiring your head coach. Now,
the Cavs haven't hired their head coach either, but they
fired JB. Bickerstaff later because they were in the playoffs.
The Lakers, it's been even longer for them in terms

(28:53):
of Chris purfetor technical producer, wants to weigh and on, Yeah,
I've got a question later Khan twenty twenty four.

Speaker 5 (28:58):
Oh, what are we.

Speaker 7 (29:00):
Gonna do if they when they do hire JJ Reddick,
but then Bronnie James gets drafted by I don't know
the Phoenix Suns, Like is this how is this going
to split? Because clearly like JJ Redick isn't the coach
without lebron James. I would imagine, but lebron James wants
to play with Bronni I that would be this is

(29:21):
this is too many demands at once here and they're
splitting so wildly.

Speaker 2 (29:26):
I I'm sorry to interrupt, but Chris Is brought this
into my mind. I have no ill will towards Bronni James,
and I hope that his career is amazing. But wouldn't
it be amazing is right before the Lakers are about
to pick him, some team just gives this whoever kind
of slides in and trades up, gives them a deal

(29:46):
that they can't refuse, just out of spite. Like that
would be amazing if that were to actually happen, Like
the Lakers are on the verge, they're about to have
the father son duo, and then here come the Washington
Wizards trading like eight second round picks and they just
slide up and grab Bronni jeans. How great would that be?

Speaker 3 (30:05):
It would be fun Because as one of many in
our field we root for stories with for content. I
did present that theory to an NBA draft evaluator on
another team, and that person doesn't buy the idea that
a team's going to draft Browny with the hopes that

(30:27):
this convinces Lebron to come as well on a veteran's
minimum deal. They feel like there's just too many risks
with that and it's not worth that slim possibility of
Lebron joining on a huge discount, or even worth the
spite to.

Speaker 2 (30:43):
That's all that I'm talking about. I'm not saying that
they're gonna lure Lebron just to make Lebron furious, like
that would be the only reason or to not do
the the Lakers a favor. Not that teams do the
Lakers a favor, but remember when Bill Simmons got so
mad because the Heat swing a deal to get Shabbaz
Napier's like, why is everybody helping them? And I think

(31:05):
it's it's one of the better moments in NBA history
because I do feel that way. I think we felt
that way with the Chiefs in the NFL draft, Like
why are the Bills trading for? Why they why they
let him get Xavier Worthy? Why are you doing deals
with the Chiefs? I feel the same way. So they
have a team actually do it out of spite would
be magnificent.

Speaker 3 (31:24):
Yeah, you know what. The other funny wrinkle to this
is I don't even think the Lakers are going to
maneuver to try to be in Lebron's good graces. I
don't think that they're they have any feeling that even
if Lebron opts out of his current deal, that that
means he's leaving. They just interpret that as okay, he
wants to negotiate along the contract to stay. And so

(31:46):
with that, I'm convinced that the Lakers will select Bronni
James only because they have the fifty fifth pick. But
it's not because this is a move to satisfy Lebron.
It is a move because it fell into their lap,
and why not. There's not too much risk in selecting
someone of Broady's caliber at number fifty five. But the

(32:09):
idea that they would trade up even to move up
higher in the second round, you're then giving up as
sets that then diminish your ability to have a quality
or at least better rush around Lebron. And they don't
feel like that's worth.

Speaker 2 (32:20):
The marketing value would be worth him taking at fifty five. Yeah, Like, like,
listen again, if his name was Bo Benson, you're not
taking him at fifty five, Like you're not against I'm
not saying. I'm just saying if his name was Bo Benson,
like you're not taking him like you're taking him at
fifty five because he's Lebron's son, because he's I was.

Speaker 3 (32:39):
Gonna say, I heard, if nothing else, that Bo did
a great job during the interview process.

Speaker 9 (32:44):
Yeah, do you think that my name would pop up
there during the Taco bell commercial like yogicchuir No.

Speaker 7 (32:50):
I just think it's sad in that regard, like because
Bronnie James like clearly had at least a little bit
of talent that I felt like if he went back
to college, it'd be great. But it just feels like
pushing him along to the stage that he's not ready
for for a bunch of teams who aren't interested in
him but are more interested in his father.

Speaker 3 (33:08):
That it just it, it's sad.

Speaker 7 (33:10):
It's sad in that regard, like like you were not
nurturing him at all.

Speaker 2 (33:13):
It's just this is just bait out on a wire here. Well,
to Mark's case, there aren't gonna be other teams because
Lebron is probably going back to the Lakers, which is why,
like if you're JJ Reddick, like he's coming back, like
you're not you're not hiring JJ Reddick if Lebron isn't there, right,
I mean, like that's I mean, otherwise it'd be quite
an awkward podcast. I mean, you know, a lot to

(33:34):
talk about over the wine. But that's like, like it's
it's set up to the point like these these everything
seems to be in place where it's JJ Reddicks who
me the coach. To your point, Lebron will opt out,
but it'll only be a free agent to get a
new deal with the Lakers. And then when the draft
ends up happening, you know, five days after they hire
JJ Reddick, then you take Ronny James, but heck, well,

(33:54):
no Bronni James is a Laker. And then we'll know
probably not Lebron's feelings because they'll be able to draft
him first before the actually free agent. So it's all
kind of set in place already, Like if they take
him at fifty five, I mean, Lebron's coming back to
the Lakers.

Speaker 3 (34:08):
Yeah, And two other things unpack on that point when
it pertains to Browne. You know, the draft expert I
talked to, they have heard that he interviewed really well
with other teams. They express a lot of empathy as
well as admiration for the fact that he overcame the
cardiac arrests and was able to, you know, play basketball

(34:29):
and still be in a team concept. But the reality
is they felt like he improved as a shooter defender,
but he's not great at one particular skill, so that
makes it difficult as far as how you evaluate what
he can.

Speaker 2 (34:41):
Yeah, an he measured shorter, you know, like, I'm sorry,
any prospect that has those check marks of one year
in college needs to develop isn't as big has a
heart condition, does not scream second round pick, just doesn't.
He's Mark Medina. I'm Dan Byer, and that's too bad
for Bronni James. But we wish him, you know, all
the best, as he likely charged his course with the Lakers,

(35:02):
his dad and JJ Reddick. Shortly after the show, our
podcast will be going up. If you missed any of
Toda's show, be sure to check out the podcast. Just
search Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcasts, and
be sure to also follow, rate and review this podcast. Again,
just search Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcasts,
and you'll see this show posted. Right after we get
off the air Mark It Down what you needed to
know about Mark Medina next year on Fox Sports Radio,

(35:25):
Fox Sports Saturday. I'm Dan Byer, He's Mark Medina, Fox
Sports Radio, NBA Insider. Who you're writing with Sports Kita,
Sports Kita. You're doing TV with CBS here in.

Speaker 3 (35:37):
LA and Inspectrum Sports Nut, Yeah.

Speaker 2 (35:39):
And Spectrum and look at that the triple threat right here,
Mark Medina. But now you're going to be in the spotlight.
We are turning uh, we're not turning the tables on
you because you're a frequent guest here on Fox Sports
Radio where we ask you questions about what's going on
in the NBA. Now, in our first ever installment of
Market Down, myself, Dan Bayer, Chris Purfett, Bo Benson, and

(36:03):
Brian Fenley, our crew here at Fox Sports Radio all
have questions for you about life in the NBA, and
I hope I have answers. Well, Sue, all right, do
we see any answer? Brian Fenley is eager to go.
Question number one?

Speaker 5 (36:16):
Brian Fenley, Yes, Mark, is the Hulu show clipped that's
coming out? Is that going to document this upcoming next
season for the Clippers in their NBA Finals and winning
it all.

Speaker 3 (36:30):
I don't think so, because one I don't think it's
gonna happen, and two I believe it's all about the
uh fun Donald Sterling Saga noted Clippers fan Brian Fenley,
what road trip when you were on the beat did
you load the most?

Speaker 2 (36:46):
What one city were you like?

Speaker 3 (36:49):
Oh, that's funny. There's a there was a ranking among
certain writers on worst NBA cities, But I think it's changed.
It used to be Detroit, not because we had anything
that's Detroit. It's just that the airport was such a
far commute to the Palace at Auburn Hills. But save
they've gone downtown, it's been amazing. Same thing with Houston.

(37:13):
Downtown Houston there was not a lot of options and
the traffic was bad. Downtown's been revitalized. So as of now,
I don't think there's any cities I've had.

Speaker 2 (37:24):
You should be a politician. Right off the I just thought, like, man,
Orlando's got a stink like right like, I mean, it's
just like people go to Orlando not to see the magic,
they go for Disney, right Like that would be the
I would think that that would.

Speaker 3 (37:38):
It's funny you say Orlando because how about this. I
was in the NBA bubble, you know, during the whole
COVID season, and that was outside of Orlando, but still
same location, same hotel from July twelfth to September ninth
of twenty twenty. It's kind of sad. I know the
exact dates, but you never forget those things.

Speaker 2 (37:58):
We may have more questions, Chris purfetto Benson. He does
money in on market Town.

Speaker 7 (38:02):
Yeah, I do with with the NFL clearly set to
overtake the the NBA and snatch the Christmas Day away
from them entirely. What what holiday does the does the
association look to try to take over next? Is it
Saint Patrick's Day?

Speaker 2 (38:17):
What is it?

Speaker 3 (38:19):
I think that the NFL has overtaken the NBA for
three hundred and sixty five days out of the year,
so I'll need to sort through the counter. Oh wait,
that's every single day. So no, they have no dominance
over the NFL and anyway, no.

Speaker 2 (38:34):
Holiday they can move to.

Speaker 4 (38:36):
No.

Speaker 2 (38:36):
I actually they should take over April first, because the
regular season is a joke anyway in the NBA, so
that would be fitting, like that would be their day
where they can highlight everything on April fool's day. Geez,
there it is the geez I'm on an anti rim
shot joke. Yeah, I fake lass and anti rimshot. I
want to ban from all shows. Yeah, they're lessening my jokes,

(39:00):
sending my jokes about I.

Speaker 9 (39:02):
I have long had a conspiracy theory that Kawhi Leonard
informed Lebron James and Anthony Davis that he was going
to sign with the Lakers, that he then turned around
and told the Clippers, Hey, I'm going to do this
if you don't get somebody to play with me here
in La with the Clippers. Uh how close am I
to being on the right track there?

Speaker 3 (39:22):
Well, but the thing that humbles uh me and I
think others in the business is you truly don't know
what you don't know. So I can't confirm whether that's accurate,
but I can't also confirm it false.

Speaker 9 (39:34):
That's all I mean.

Speaker 3 (39:35):
Well, here's what I can tell you, though, Kawhi Leonard
did make it clear that his condition on coming to
the Clippers is that they get Paul George and so
a lot of times what Doc Rivers would say, even
in real time when they're you know, dissecting everything, was
that the Paul George Trade was also the Kawhi Leonards
signing like it was, it was packaged together.

Speaker 2 (39:56):
We've got like like thirty seconds, so this has got
to be quick. What dates you in the.

Speaker 3 (40:00):
Bubble July twelfth to September nine?

Speaker 2 (40:03):
What day did you say? What the bleep am I
doing here? What is this?

Speaker 3 (40:07):
I think I think by three weeks it happened a
lot sooner for other people.

Speaker 2 (40:13):
August eleventh, maybe around that time you're just like, man,
let me just go get out of here. This is ridiculous.
I do think that there should be a documentary on
how the heck they pulled that off?

Speaker 3 (40:22):
Though, yeah, oh, without a doubt. If there is time,
it doesn't have to be now. But I can share
another funny story and it's worth it. But what we
consider for later on.

Speaker 2 (40:30):
All right, he's Mark Medina, I'm Dan Beyer. Now the
Boston Celtics. Still the Boston Celtics. That's next. Mark Medina
has already teased us he has with his bubble story.
We're gonna get it before the hour's over. We're gonna
get this story that Mark Medena teased last hour. He
wouldn't even tell us in the break. It's that good.

Speaker 3 (40:51):
Well, how about this, I'll share some teases. It involves
Charles Barkley and Draymond Green.

Speaker 2 (40:58):
Stay tuned. We'll also be giving our first NBA Finals
that we feel ever happened. And we are going to
talk a little football because one NFL assistant coach had
some interesting things to say this week, and I'm curious
on if he was really talking the truth and if
he's not really giving a state of the NFL. Get

(41:18):
market on Twitter on X however you want to call it,
Mark Gi Underscore Madina, you can find me Dan Buyer
at Dan Byer on Foxes. We're broadcasting love from the
Tirec dot Com studios. Tyrec dot com will help you
get there at unmatched selection, fast free shipping, free road
as a protection, and over ten thousand recommended installers. Tirec
dot com the way tire buying should be. Literally forty
minutes ago, I said to Medina, you know, I'm still

(41:39):
calling it Twitter. I'm still just calling it Twitter, and
I was trying to keep it straight and was going
to call it X and then just fell back to Twitter. Anyway,
I'm going to pose a question mark Medina, and I
think it's a legitimate question. And the people in Boston
and the people in New England may not agree with this,
but I feel that it is legitimate. Are the Boston

(42:01):
Celtics still the Boston Celtics, meaning that brand, that history,
that logo, everything that comes with it. Are they still
the Boston Celtics? And I say that, and I felt
this way for the last few years that I actually

(42:23):
believe the second biggest brand in the NBA. I'm sorry,
there's no argument. The biggest brand in the NBA is
the Lakers. It is just it is. But I felt
that the second biggest brand in the NBA has been
the Golden State Warriors, and their emergence over the last
decade has been amazing. At one point, twenty thirty years ago,

(42:47):
the Chicago Bulls were their biggest brand in the NBA,
maybe for even a time with Michael Jordan, they took
over the mantle from the Lakers. But I do think
that there's a legitimate question about Boston, who's won just
one title since nineteen eighty six and in the last
forty years, and one in eighty four. They won in

(43:07):
eighty six, but would be three titles, but just one
in the last thirty seven, thirty eight years. Do you
feel that the Boston Celtics are still the Boston Celtics
with that Celtics cachet.

Speaker 3 (43:21):
No end Yes, I was strongly of the mind that
they were no longer the Boston Celtics. They once were
in the nineties in the early two thousands. In the
nineties they missed the playoffs six times early two thousand
and four. That changed with the title in two thousand
and eight. Now, I know that that's the only title
they've won since then, but we have to keep in

(43:42):
mind what they've accomplished recently. They've been in the Eastern
Conference finals six of the last eight years, and now
there has been understandable criticism. Okay, when are they going
to finally knock down that wall and hoist the Larry
O'Brien Trophy. But I think that there's been understandable explanations.
They first lose to Cleveland twice because there's this player

(44:04):
named Lebron James that's in the way. They lose in
the bubble against Miami in the East Finals. Well, Miami,
they're a great team, they're more mature, they're more equipped
for the bubble. They made some changes some coaching changes.
They get to the finals against the Warriors. The words
are just the better team. They have Steph Curry and
rayvond Green, Kway Thompson, Jordan Poole at the time was

(44:25):
playing well, Andrew Wiggins. Yes, they lost to Miami last year.
Miami was a number eight seed, but they did force
a game seven after be down three to zero. They
lost I think the game seven because Jason Tatum got
hurt first minute of the game. And so I think
that they are a respectable team now, but I think
that during that nineties and two thousands era, yeah, they

(44:47):
were a joke.

Speaker 2 (44:48):
I get read. I understand respectable, but there is there
is a weight that comes along with certain franchises. Dallas Cowboys,
no doubt about it, Like win or lose. Whose we
are talking about the Dallas Cowboys, And I actually think
win or lose, we are talking about the Lakers. I
mean the Lakers. You know, could put some of their

(45:10):
down seasons up with that, but we are still talking
about them. We are still they are still a topic
of conversation and no matter what in the end, they
still are the Lakers. And I just don't get that
same sense with the Boston Celtics. And what really dawned
on me is this. I thought about this with the
Warrior season and even two years ago when they played,

(45:30):
but it dawned on me when we found out that
the Mavericks and Celtics were going to face each other
in the NBA Finals. So after Dallas ends up putting
in Minnesota, I'm saying to myself, what's the bigger draw.
Is it Boston because of that brand or is it
Luca in the Dallas Mavericks. And it may be a

(45:51):
Luca thing and not a Mavericks thing, but I think
that's also my point about the Boston Celtics. If you
look at their history, and you look at the names
that we associated with their history, Bird Michhale, Parish, DJ Ainge,
the guys that I watched when I was growing up.
And I even think in that eight team you have
Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen. You've got those names there.

(46:14):
It's no disrespect to Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown, even
though I'm about to completely disrespect them and say that
they do not have the name level and the star
power to carry that Celtics legacy. And I think that
that's a big part of it too, you have. I
would even say with Kyrie, Dallas has the two bigger
stars coming in and playing in the series, just like

(46:36):
Golden State had the bigger stars coming in. And so
I don't think that the Celtics are the same old Celtics,
just like I don't think that the Pittsburgh Steelers are
the same old Pittsburgh Steelers, even though everybody loves them
year after year. The Dallas Cowboys are a different animal
like that, like they just truly are. The New York
Yankees are a different animal. The Lakers are that animal.

(46:57):
I don't think that the Boston Celtics are, and that
that's why I don't think they're the same old Celtics.

Speaker 3 (47:01):
Yeah, no, I think I agree with you completely. With
the NBA Finals draw, what's gonna draw the casual fans
or even the devoted NBA fans. I think it starts
with Luca because he's an MVP player. He has the
international draw as well Kyrie Irving. It's the redemption story. Hey,
he's showing what he was in Cleveland. He's a more
mature leader. And also the fact that he's facing his

(47:24):
former team and Boston fans will still love to Bill him.
I think those are the two drawing cards, and then
I think third, it's going to be Boston as the brand.
But to your point, Boston can't compare to the Lakers,
can't compare to the Warriors as far as that brand
cach show. I would say, even though they've been more
respectable than the Knicks, you know, up until recently, with

(47:45):
how they've been playing, the Knicks are a bigger draw.
I would say, even as we're talking here, I would
still choose Celtics over Bulls as a brand and respectability post.

Speaker 2 (47:56):
MJ of course, yeahs since.

Speaker 3 (47:58):
Jordan retired, they missed the playoffs six straight years. Yeah,
they had the run during Derrick Rose's time, but that
came to unfortunately a halt way too early because of
his injuries. And I think they've missed the playoffs seven
times the last eight years. Last two years play in tournaments.
So I guess when I'm looking at this, they would
rank fourth among the NBA teams as far as.

Speaker 2 (48:20):
Best Lakers Knicks in Golden State, you would have ahead
of them.

Speaker 3 (48:24):
I would have Lakers Warriors and then this yeh, and
then Boston.

Speaker 2 (48:27):
Yeah, yeah, not in no particular order, but those three teams. Yeah,
the Bulls part of it in the nineties. That was
my point of them taking over it. And it's funny
because they do mention the lack of championships and just
the one that they have in two thousand and eight
over this you know, thirty seven, thirty eight years span.
But that's what is also so intriguing about the Dallas Cowboys,

(48:51):
you know. And the Celtics have an ownership group that
people in the NBA know, they know with Grauspeck they
I mean, but that's not Jerry Jones. You know, there's
not that. I remember red Auerbach sitting there with a
you know, a cigar, but you know there's that lore
of that. Plus Bird and McHale were such you know,

(49:11):
I mean, they were such villains. It's one of my
favorite things about growing up in the nineteen eighties when
I grew up to have the NBA have not one,
but two teams that you absolutely hated, and then they
always seem to meet in the finals. It was just
it was so unique, like you hated both the Lakers
and Celtics. Like I never took sides on any of
those of those teams. But when you're talking about championships

(49:33):
in this Battle for eighteen, it's this Lakers Celtics rivalry.
But really, if you're talking about notoriety and where you
are as a team, I just think that the Lakers
have won like that. The Lakers are just they're more
of a brain good or bad. For some reason, they
have stayed and I think it's because of the star
power and it has to be it. It has to

(49:54):
be from Magic, you know, over to Kobe and Shaq,
you know, Kobe carrying it over now Lebron being there
like there's always that star player there. And again to
not disrespect Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown by completely disrespecting him.
They don't have that right now.

Speaker 3 (50:11):
Yeah, And as you're outlining this, I just remember when
the Lakers and the Celtics were going through their rebuilding stages,
there was a lot of people in the NBA at
the time that thought, hey, Boston's making the better play
of blowing up the Big Three because they're wearing down
and just starting over and criticizing the Lakers. Okay, why
are you giving Kobe Bryant that extension after he injures

(50:34):
his achilles They're just going to be bad. There's no
way out of it. But when you fast forward, both
teams went through some turbulent times. Both teams collected draft
picks along the way. The Lakers since then used that
draft capital, partly to get Lebron James to then get
them that championship in twenty twenty. The Celtics haven't won that,

(50:54):
and I'm a firm believer. As I was talking about
my time in the bubble, that championship in twenty twenty
was real. Yes, there are some advantages of not having
to travel, the fact that the season was hit on
pause from March and then resumed in July, but the
challenge has vastly outweighed the positives as far as just

(51:14):
being in the bubble, the times that we're in in COVID,
not having that release with friends and family. So that
championship was very valid, you know.

Speaker 2 (51:24):
With Golden State in where we are with them, that's
where I find intriguing. I thought over the you know,
Brian earlier mentioned the Clippers and the new show that's
coming out on FX talking about the Donald Sterling scandal.
I found that the Clippers were going to be so
intriguing and they have been, but in such a unique

(51:46):
way because we always just looked at them as the
Clippers of old, But now when you have Steve Balmer
as your owner, it's a different How are you going
to transition after Lob City? And they did a heck
of a job trying to transition, just hasn't had the
results that they would have hoped for. But now they
got a new arena, it's being built, that's going to
open up, So like that story is continuing. I wonder

(52:08):
about where Golden State goes and how does that continue?
Is it just the lightning in a bottle with Steph
in Clay and then adding Durant and Steve Kerr. But
once Steph Curry goes by the wayside, and maybe Steve
Kerr looks to go and, you know, work somewhere else
or do something else, does Golden State have that ability

(52:29):
to keep that brand up because it is right now,
like you don't want it to go by the way
the Chicago Bulls, as you mentioned, but I think I
think it's the second biggest brand in basketball right now,
and I'm just curious on how the Warriors end up
transitioning from that spot.

Speaker 3 (52:43):
It's very tough because this recently, ever since show Lakeup
became majority owner, this is a team that cares more
about winning than how much money it takes to spend
to win. But the problem is with the new CBA rules,
not only are you paying even more taxes, but the
bigger thing is it limits your ability to actually construct

(53:06):
a competitive roster around your star players. And so as
it pertains to the Warriors, they're trying to be cost
savvy so that they aren't restricted with moves to have
a good roster. And so with that, I don't think
they're ever going to blow it up as long as
Steph currys on the team. They feel as long as
he's still there and he's playing a high level, they're

(53:28):
still going to be of the mind that we need
to make win now moves. But they've also experienced that
they were trying to ride two parallel tracks of being
in win now mode but developing young players on the
fly at the same time. Hence the two timeline approach,
and they discovered that you can't have it both ways.
You have to lean one or the other. And so

(53:50):
they're in win now as long as Steff's on the team.
But unfortunately they have to be cost conscious at the
same time because they're so above the luxury tax threshold.
And if it weren't for that roles, I think Joe
Lacup would say, I don't care, I'll spend because I
want to win. So it's it's challenging set of circumstances
they'll have to face, starring with whether they keep Klay

(54:11):
Thompson and if so, at what price, at what moves
they make so that they have a better roster around
stuff and drama.

Speaker 2 (54:18):
On I feel like we just had a high school
conversation of who's cool and who's not cool, like in
middle school. Like this a minute, but it's true, Like
I just I feel that way, and it just is
magnified by this matchup in the finals. I think more
people are excited to see the Mavericks than they are
the Celtics, and it's not people will cheer against the
like Laker fans do not want the Celtics to win,

(54:39):
Like there's there's no doubt about that. They are going
to cheer against Boston. They don't want Boston to get
eighteen first. They want to be that team and plus
it's Boston. But what's gonna bring the fans in that
maybe wouldn't normally watch. I don't think are the Boston Celtics.
It's people who want to see Luca, people who want
to see that that newer team in. They want to

(55:02):
see Kyrie. Kyrie's the second biggest star in this series,
so Boston doesn't even have one or two, and so
I just find it interesting. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce
provided that for the Celtics in eight, but from nineteen
eighty six, the last time that they won it, until
two thousand and eight, there wasn't a ton of star power.
You know, they're and we you know, documented the bad

(55:24):
breaks of the Celtics even then from two thousand and eight,
he had Kyrie try to you know, Isaiah Thomas had
a nice little run, but it's still not enough to
grab you. And for whatever reason, Jason Tatum and Jaylen
Brown aren't doing that either.

Speaker 3 (55:36):
Yeah, and it's fascinating because Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown,
the Celtics knew right away these are going to be
special players. Yeah, and they've you know, they gone went
through some initial growing pains, but every time there was
a fork in the road about okay, should we trade
and break up this duo, They decide to continue to
lean in. And I think in fairness, they've shown that
they like each other. They can play well together, even

(55:58):
though they'll always find ways to canntinue to be efficient
and not so bald dominant. There hasn't been like personality
tensions and so they do have a good thing going
with that continuity experience. It's just that at some point
it gets frustrated for both Celtic fans as well as
other NBA fans that they get to these finals. They
show that they can be a championship contender. But we've

(56:20):
been having this conversation for the most seven years now
and it hasn't happened.

Speaker 2 (56:24):
And I'll say this, I'm not I don't live in Boston.
I'm not from Boston, but I was there when they
won the eight championship over the Lakers. It was it
was crazy. I think the Patriot success is also allowed
them to revel in that when maybe the Celtics weren't
doing what they normally did. And then the Red Sox
even that run you know, four oh seven, you know,

(56:44):
in them winning the World Series. The three World Series
that they did probably covered up some of the wards
that the Boston Celtics had, and I just don't think
that the brand carries as much weight across the country.

Speaker 3 (56:54):
As all the Lakers, even in Boston. I know because
my mom and Steptad I live in Cape Cod. The
sports dynamic for Boston sports it starts with the Red
Sox probably like one, two three, and then the Patriots
and then the Celtics. So even though the Celtics are
one of the NBA's most esteemed historical franchise, even in
their backyard, they're not the number one show in town.

(57:16):
We're here in LA it's Lakers, Lakers, Lakers, and then
Dodgers USC and everything else is just depending on how
good they're playing.

Speaker 2 (57:24):
I feel, Lakers Dodgers toggles. That was my biggest surprise
when I came because when I moved out here from Wisconsin,
the Bucks were really a city team. There were Milwaukee's team.
They weren't a great that wasn't love throughout the state,
even though I liked the Bucks. But when it came
out here, it was so surprised at how much it
was just Lakers, Dodgers, Lakers, Dodgers, And you're right, you
know about the Red Sox. I think they've taken they
they're taking advantage of their fans because they were buying

(57:45):
in being like, oh, we're the Red Sox, and now
there's some uneasiness in Boston for their lack of success.
He's Mark Medina, I'm Dan Byer. We are a lot
from the tirerac dot Com studios here. On a Fox
Sports Saturday, you talked about some of the moves that
the Celtics made to get to this point, bringing in
Jason Tatum and drafting of him and Jalen Brown. What

(58:06):
move ultimately was the best move that either of these
teams that are appearing in the NBA Finals made. We'll discuss.
He's Mark Mada, I'm Dan Byer. That's next year on
Fox Sports Saturday. Fox Sports Saturday alongside Mark Medina. I'm
Dan Byer, hanging out with you. NBA Finals coming up
on Thursday. But a lot more going on, including in

(58:26):
about let's say eight minutes or so, more drama on
the heels of today's Fever Sky matchup, where Caitlin Clark
was knocked to the ground on a hard foul late
in the third quarter on an inbounds play, not an
inbounds under the basket just to full court inbounds from

(58:46):
the other baseline, and Kennedy Carter was the one who
received the flagrant one foul. The clip has been making
its way via social media. Through this medium, we can
just tell you it was basically a hipcheck that's in
Katelyn Clark to the floor. But you're going to be
surprised to hear what was said after the game. We're
going to have that for you in about eight minutes

(59:08):
or so, because this Caitlin Clark story is not going away,
and this the treatment of Caitlin Clark story is not
going away.

Speaker 4 (59:14):
Mark.

Speaker 3 (59:15):
It's quite a tease. I want to hear the audio now.
This is red meat here.

Speaker 2 (59:18):
Eight minutes, eight minutes away. Brian Finley will be giving
us an update of what's happening in just a little bit.
But I do have to pay off this tease. The
Mavericks and Celtics got to the NBA Finals. Their paths
were different in terms of how they got there, just
bracket wise, but in terms of putting this team together,

(59:38):
these teams together, I find it so intriguing because with
the Mavericks, I think we look at we look at
the PJ. Washington acquisition, and we look at the Daniel
Gafford acquisition, and then we kind of rewind and we
even go to last summer with Kyrie and him re
upping with the Mavericks, which then takes us back a

(01:00:01):
little bit more further back and goes back to the
deal that they acquired. My point is is both of
these teams have made unique deals to formulate their team
in this way. But if you had to take one
deal Mavericks or Celtics in how they came about and

(01:00:24):
got to this point, what is the deal that stands
out to you the most. And by the way, I
am including Luca and Jason Tatum's scenarios of being drafted
as well. We are talking everything is on the board here,
Mark Medina.

Speaker 3 (01:00:40):
Dan Byer. This is the ultimate example of the butterfly
effect because everything has a domino reaction. I think, no
doubt Luka Dontrich is an MVP player, He's an international star.
But I think if I were to rank the most
significant as far as what tilted everything, I think it's
Kyrie Irving trade because no doubt there's been a lot

(01:01:03):
made about the Trey Young trade and Kyrie Irving and
who made out better. But at the time it worked
out well for Atlanta too. I mean, Trey Young's been
a good player, but as far as their playoff success,
but then they hit a brick wall and then it
was about, okay, how do they build the right rash
around them? And Luca we clearly saw that he was
a special player, but he was going through some growing

(01:01:27):
pains of finding the right co captain with you know,
Christos Porzinglis and Jalen Brunson, as well as the right
supporting cast, and it took a few attempts for the
MAVs to correct it. And the Hawks case, even though
they did really well with seeing Trey Young, they've gone
through so many peaks and then dips ever since that

(01:01:49):
magical playoff run in twenty twenty one, where they're now
now at a crossroads. As well as the original people
around that front office aren't there anymore. But I think
to answer your question about ky why I think that's
the most significant is that there was a risk involved
with them. Kyrie Irving is a tremendous basketball player. No
one's disputing that. It was just the only problem was

(01:02:11):
prior to his time with Dallas. They're always qualifiers that
came along with that first, some leadership qualities in Cleveland
and Boston and in Brooklyn, as well as just his availability.
He had a lot of injuries, and with Dallas, he's
been the perfect teammate for Luca as far as his
on court fit, the leadership dynamic because lucas stoic, Kyrie

(01:02:35):
can exert more of his influence and Luca wants that
because Kyrie's wanted a high level. But I think that's
really been that key because they made that deal with
some risk and also showd that they need to make
even more moves because last year they didn't make the
playoffs and they knew if they're going to be successful
they have to have the right supporting cast pieces for

(01:02:57):
Luca and Kyrie to be at their best.

Speaker 2 (01:02:59):
I think it's a great explanation. Even though I would
take the seventy six ers moving up to get number
one and allowing Tatum to fall if it would have
been Listen DeAndre Ayton, I know is taken ahead of
Luca in that draft. It seemed like it was a
you know, a great fit doesn't work out, Marvin Bagley

(01:03:20):
doesn't work out in the Sacramento and Luca's there, but
for the to have to have the seventy six ers
be like, we want number one and we want Markel
Foultz and then you do that deal. And I mean,
the seventy six ers could have had Jason Tatum in
their run of things like that, That's the one that

(01:03:40):
stands out to me. And I've said in the past,
and I've said on this network that I felt that, like,
Jason Tatum will always haunt the Philadelphia seventy six ers.
And I know his crunch time numbers were not good
this year. They were bad this year, but in years prior,
I felt he was very clutch. He was he was
very good, and he was a seventy six ers killer
in a way, and I always felt that haunted them.

(01:04:01):
I just I feel that that move, even though they
had a bunch of first round picks and other stuff happened.
I feel that it's almost the seventy six ers willingness
to be like, all right, we're going to trade up
for number one, and then Jason Tatum not falls in
their lap, but kind of falls in their lap. And
I think that that set the domino effect.

Speaker 3 (01:04:19):
Yeah, I mean, same thing with the Kings with passing
on Luca. I know Luca always remembers that, and it's
a sore subject for Kings fans because Marvin Pagway the
third just wasn't the kind of impact player they had
hoped for for the Kings. They have since rebounded and
you know, ending that playoff drout, but if they had Luca,
I mean, it'd be a much different story.

Speaker 2 (01:04:41):
Obviously I would almost by the way, not to not
to change the rules of this, but I think that
the Drew Holiday acquisition of not only how they as
a Bucks fan, I just take it very personally, and
I've said this before, it was the right move if
Milwaukee wanted to try to make it to that next level,

(01:05:03):
but it came at the expense of Drew Holliday, who
now basically goes to Boston free of charge. Like to
have that fall in your lap. I think that's another
huge one. All Right, we're gonna get the secret of
the Bubble plus some WNBA drama. But first Brian Fenley
is going to give us the latest is we're live
from the tairaq dot com studio. So what's going on? Brian?

Speaker 5 (01:05:22):
Yeah, guys, So what we have as far as the
WNBA is concerned. Caitlin Clark can her Indiana fever picking
up their first home win of the year as they
get past Chicago Sky earlier today seventy one to seventy.
Clark her numbers, pedestrian, and you'll continue to improve on those.
Four of eleven from the field, two of nine from
three point range, eleven points, eight rebound, six assists, good

(01:05:44):
enough for the win. We do have our first Major
League Baseball game up and running on this busy Saturday,
and it's the Pirates are the three to nothing lead
against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto. In the second inning,
Pirates with one out, have a runner on first. Yeah,
it's the second inning here, looking to add on to
their scoring. And speaking of the Blue Jays there and

(01:06:05):
moving their closer, Jordan Romano. They have to the fifteen
day IL because of right elbow inflammation. San Diego Padres
had to do that as well. A couple of their
key pitchers are going to be out for some time.
You Darbish left groin strain and Joel muscrove right elbow inflammation.
They're both going on the fifteen day IL. NHL Rangers
and Panthers. It's a big game six tonight out East.

(01:06:27):
It's a Eastern final and it's tonight at eight. Eastern
Florida is ahead in the best of seven series three
games to two, So the question is can the Rangers
force a game seven. As we look at what's going
on in the PGA two or third round of the
RBC Canadian Open and Rory McElroy forcing the issue and
his climb up the leader board, he's two shots off

(01:06:48):
the pace, has moved up twenty seven spots today. He
is in solo third and eight under. That's yeah, two
shots off the pace. Ryan Fox and Robert McIntyre are
tight for first. Both haven't even teed off yet. They
are moments away from doing just that. But as far
as Rory on his day six hundred through sixteen holes,
he is on a tear. Tommy Fleetwood part of a

(01:07:10):
tie for fourth, a four way tie for fourth there
within three shots. Elsewhere in the sporting universe, we do
know that the Champions League title is is being chased
after right down between Real Madrid and Dortmund, and as
of right now in the first half, there is no
score between those two. With that, let's get it back

(01:07:32):
to two guys. You put them on the court and
they're scoring in bunches. It's Dan Byer. It's Mark Medina
at True Star.

Speaker 2 (01:07:37):
You just heard my computer make a sound because we
were listening in the last commercial break to all of
the WNBA sound that has been flying around. Do we
have it yet?

Speaker 4 (01:07:46):
Bau?

Speaker 2 (01:07:46):
Are we good? All right? I just because this stuff
is just coming in, and I know Brian you've heard
of it as well. He's Mark Medina. I'm Dan Byer.
It's Fox Sports Sunday. You heard Brian say, Fever beat
the Sky. Today we talked about the flagrant one follow
that was committed on Caitlyn Clark by Kennedy Carter. Bo
you've Borah, Chris, whichever one of you have got the

(01:08:07):
audio in front of you. Okay, Chris, you've got it.
What do we got here? Do we got Kennedy Carter
talking about Caitlin Clark. That's all right. This is what
Kennedy Carter, the guard for the Chicago Sky who committed
that flagrant one, had to say after today's game against
the Indiana Fever played before.

Speaker 1 (01:08:23):
Bumping in with Caitlyn.

Speaker 5 (01:08:24):
It seemed like she she turned to you a little.

Speaker 1 (01:08:26):
Bit after the fever, Kalyn Clark questions, did she say
anything to you?

Speaker 9 (01:08:31):
I don't know what she said.

Speaker 5 (01:08:32):
What'd you say to her?

Speaker 7 (01:08:33):
I didn't say any.

Speaker 2 (01:08:36):
And that that's enough. Was Teresa Weatherspoon, the coach of
the Chicago Sky telling the reporter to stop asking questions,
which I've seen that in college. I haven't seen that
in the pros where they're like, I mean, in any
I've never seen. Usually head coaches and players aren't on
the the dais at a podium anyway.

Speaker 4 (01:08:55):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (01:08:56):
In the professional level, coach comes out and speaks, and
the players come out and speak. But man, they just there.
There is for some reason, the rest of the WNBA
just doesn't like Kitlyn Clark and they even want to
answer questions about it. Once she made the play that
everybody is absolutely talking about. There's no context to it.
You can't even defend yourself for it. I find that

(01:09:17):
absolutely ridiculous.

Speaker 3 (01:09:18):
I've been to many NBA postgame interviews in which, you know,
we were asking about a certain scuffle or scrum and
players to not want to talk about that specific opponent,
So you know, this is what it's all about.

Speaker 2 (01:09:31):
As the coach ever come in and said, oh, you
can't talk about this.

Speaker 3 (01:09:34):
No, no, not the pro level. But what I'm saying is,
I've I've seen a witness player saying no, I don't
want to talk about that, about the opposing player and
our scuffle. So this is what professional sports is all about.
It's fun.

Speaker 2 (01:09:46):
It sounds again. I don't think that I don't think
that they need to treat Caitlin Clark with kid gloves.
And I think that Caitlin Clark does need to, you know,
get stronger throughout her WNBA career. Not that that would
have stopped her from being hip checked in the back
court of the game, which seemed like an unnecessary foul.
But you know, I saw somebody tweet on Twitter like,

(01:10:07):
you know, the Las Vegas Aces had to get their
whole team around to try to convince people to that
they aren't hating on Caitlin Clark. But this is a
real thing. I don't think it's It stinks right now
for Caitlin Clark, just like it probably stung for Michael
Jordan when he was early in the league and Lebron
James and even going through some of those you know,
bumps in the road that maybe Lebron didn't really have

(01:10:29):
many bumps in the road to deal with. But we're
gonna look back at this and be like, yeah, I
remember what they did to Caitlyn Clark. But like in
the moment, it's just amazing to see how people just
don't care and that they just want nothing in WNBA
players don't want anything to do with This is such
a crazy, crazy story because it does not end. It

(01:10:49):
is not ending.

Speaker 3 (01:10:50):
And Dan, how about this favorite coach Chrissy Sides was
lamenting that Caitlyn Clark continues to get foul, fouled hard
and not get enough trips to for a line. So
as a result the fever, they're gonna be submitting plays
to the league office to review. That sounds like an
NBA parallel too.

Speaker 2 (01:11:08):
That does. But it's usually not for your for your
point guard, right, It's usually for your you know, Giannastet
kom Po, Shaquille O'Neal, Lebron James, like physically dominant athlete
that nobody else can seem to guard, and so they're
they're being you know, refed unfairly. You feel not in

(01:11:28):
this case where it seems like people are taking blatant,
cheap shots at Caitlin Clark.

Speaker 3 (01:11:33):
And this is usually done in between playoff games, not
the first two weeks of the regular season. So what
I'm begetting at Dana is I'm loving this heated competition,
the back and forth of WNBA. It's a sign me up.

Speaker 2 (01:11:45):
This is this is crazy. I I actually think it's
really good. I know it stinks for Kitlyn Clark now,
and I think that she's you know, done fine in
handling it. And I don't I you know, I don't.
I think a lot of what Angel Reese does is
because of Kitlyn Clark. And I don't think that Angel
Reese as a standalone would be as popular without Caitlin

(01:12:05):
Clark being that foil being that, you know, the opposite.
I think that that's what really draws because of the
history that they had in the championship game that you
can't see me and then now this but it's just
it all goes back to Caitlin Clark and again for
people to deny that and to say that, geez, we

(01:12:29):
should have been you know, these other players should be
getting their flowers. Sorry, she's Hayley's comment. Yeah, you know,
like and and I don't mind that this stuff is
going on. It can as us continue to talk about it.
It stinks for her, but it's nothing out of the
realm of possibilities that we've seen to your point in
the past. It's just amazing that this keeps on going
and going. After a game again where she just had
eleven points.

Speaker 3 (01:12:50):
Yeah, you know, and look, you know, I think that
some of the criticism scrutiny has been over the top
when it comes to anything that has sex overtones or
you know, any commentary that, oh, Kaitlyn Clark's already a
bus like that's overreactionary. But when it comes to the
heat of competition and rivalries among players, I think all

(01:13:12):
that's great for the league. I mean, that's what professional
sports is all about. And I think the other good
thing is Kaitlyn Clark. We clearly saw that there's frustration,
but her postgame comments suggested that she's going to try
to rise above it. She's going to try to work
her way around it. She lamented about the idea that
if she reacts, there'd be more consequence than a role player,

(01:13:34):
you know, gain in trouble. But she seems to have
the mental fortitude to figure these things out.

Speaker 2 (01:13:39):
I don't say she cracked a little, but there was
you know, like a little break where she kind of,
you know, was like, yeah, some of the stuff's being
you know whatever. By Man, the story that just keeps
on giving and giving. He's Mark Medina. I'm Dan Byer. Mark.
Mandina's going to give us a story about the NBA
bubble that we've been waiting for. Plus, we will submit
our entries for what we felt were the worst NBA

(01:14:01):
finals ever, because I think this one's going to be
pretty good. He's Mark Medina. I'm Dan Bayer. That's next
here on Fox Sports Saturday. All right, we're gonna weigh
in with our worst NBA finals that we can remember
or in my case, can't remember. He's Mark Medina. I'm
Dan Byer. Mark. Where can they get all your stuff?
So it's Fox Sports Radio. You're NBA insider, you're hanging
out with me today. You can listen here. Where can

(01:14:23):
they read your stuff? And where can they see your stuff?

Speaker 3 (01:14:25):
Okay, where can they see my stuff? As you mentioned?
Fox Sports Radios, Radio, TV, Bucket, CBSLA. I'll go on
Jim Hills Show a lot during the weekends, Spectrum Sportsnet
occasionally FS one, writing it's been all over the map,
but mostly it's been with sports. Kita and I can't
share specifics, but here's another tease. I'm also working on

(01:14:48):
a book project, but I'll have some details later on.

Speaker 2 (01:14:52):
That's for another day. You and I have to pay
off your Bubble story involving Draymond Green and Charles Barkley.

Speaker 3 (01:14:59):
Okay, well, here's the quick setup in the Bubble. The
first week that you're there, we have to be quarantined
in our room, and we also have to have testers
come to our door every day to make sure we're
negative with the COVID tests. So into that experience, I
was on a zoom call during an interview when the
health people knocked on my door to get the test,

(01:15:19):
and I'm having the instinctual feeling out like you don't
want to abruptly end an interview. They'll come back later, right,
So I don't answer the door. I finished my interview,
I get a note from you know, people in the
Bubble the League saying, hey, when they knock on your door,
you got to answer it no matter what. So the
next day I'm doing an interview with Draymond Green about

(01:15:39):
how he's going to be doing some work with TNT.
All of a sudden, the healthcare people knock on the door,
and so I have to tell Draymond Hey, the healthcare
people are calling. I got to get tested. Should I
call you back or what do you think?

Speaker 4 (01:15:53):
Like?

Speaker 3 (01:15:53):
No, no, just stay on the line. I'll keep talking.
So I answered the door and they had knocked on
the door as I was asking him about what's the
dynamic going to be like with you and Charles Barkley,
because you guys had some back and forth trash talking,
there were some personal insults. So when I answered the
door to get tested, I had Draymond Green on speaker

(01:16:15):
front with my tape recorder while I'm getting the COVID
nose swab, and so I'm hearing Draymond Green, and the
healthcare workers are hearing this too. They're hearing Draymond Green
just randomly talk trash about Charles Barklay while they're giving
me the nose swab to make sure I don't have COVID.

Speaker 2 (01:16:34):
How long did it take.

Speaker 3 (01:16:35):
The COVID test was like ten seconds. They did the
whole you know, cute.

Speaker 2 (01:16:39):
Time lasted like three minutes, like if he had three
minutes of material to lay in the Barkley that would
also have been bro.

Speaker 3 (01:16:45):
He had three minutes of material. They only heard about
twenty seconds material of Oh I don't care about or
if Charles likes working with me or not. I could
care less whatever. It was really surreal. There's like, is
that Draymond on the phone. It's like, yes, tim On
talking about Barkley.

Speaker 2 (01:17:01):
Yes, amazing. There's got to be a lot of bubble
is the story? The book about bubble stories?

Speaker 4 (01:17:08):
Now?

Speaker 3 (01:17:09):
Ben Golliver from the Washington Post had a great book
about the bubble experience. This book project that I'm contributing to,
I'm not writing. I'm just harder. It's about something else
involving in the NBA. But it'll be captivating. I'll share
more details once I can.

Speaker 2 (01:17:23):
Maybe FX will turn it into a TV show. Who knows?
All right, all right, your worst NBA Finals? As we
go around the room in giving our nominee for our
worst NBA Finals that we can, as I said, remember
or really don't remember.

Speaker 3 (01:17:40):
I thought that was in two thousand and seven when
the San Antonio Spurs played the Cleveland Cavaliers. And to
be clear, here there are some captivating storylines. It's Lebron
James's first NBA Finals, we see that he has plenty
of work to do. It's the San Antonio Spurs, and
they're excellent with Tim Dunkan, Monu GENOBOI, Tony Parker, but
wasn't fun to want It was a four It went

(01:18:01):
four games. The Spurs completely outplay the Cavaliers. And so
when we're talking about professional sports, it's in the entertainment business.
While we can appreciate, you know, a team's excellence, you
also want to be entertained. And that wasn't entertaining whatsoever.

Speaker 2 (01:18:18):
I covered that NBA Finals and Game two was on
a Sunday night, and it was a blowout, and I
remember just spending I don't know, the entire fourth quarter
on my phone, playing playing whatever game was on my
Verizon phone at the time, a bubble Burst or whatever
it was. I just it was so boring, and I remember,

(01:18:40):
I remember this story, and this is how I knew
the Cavs weren't going to win. Back then, the the
format was two in San Antonio, three in Cleveland, but
the days were different, so it was Thursday Sunday and
then you had a quick turnaround to Tuesday. But you traveled.
You traveled between Sunday and two day to Cleveland. They

(01:19:01):
were blown out in game two. The Calves were I
was actually staying at the Calves hotel and I get
back to the hotel after all my media responsibilities, and
Damon Jones and a crew of Calves are ready to
go out like they're down O two after getting blown out.
They're going out on a what is now a Monday
morning in San Antonio, being down two in the NBA Finals,

(01:19:21):
when you then technically have a game the next day
in Cleveland, I knew that it was then it was over,
and it was. The Calves were competitive, uh in one
of the games. It was electric in Game three, but yeah,
it was a sweep. It was a pretty bad series,
all right. Any other nominees bo Benzon.

Speaker 9 (01:19:36):
Oh nine Lakers Magic should have been Lakers Calves.

Speaker 2 (01:19:39):
Yes, that's true, Brian Finlay.

Speaker 5 (01:19:40):
Yeah, the one NBA Finals where there's an asterix and
it's the twenty twenty Lakers in.

Speaker 3 (01:19:45):
The Yeah, explanation point astro.

Speaker 7 (01:19:49):
Chriserfets oh man, Uh, I don't want to think about
Spurs Pistons if i'd kindly.

Speaker 2 (01:19:55):
That's a tough one for you. But I'll also say
this in talking about worst NBA not of heartbreak. I'm
pretty good in going back. I'm not Steve Hartman good
and going back and remembering. But the one finals that
always kind of trips me up a little bit is
two thousand and three Spurs beat the Nets in six games.
I don't remember a thing. I don't remember one single

(01:20:16):
thing from that series, completely out of my mind. Market's
been fun. We'll do it again sometimes.

Speaker 3 (01:20:21):
Such a blast.

Speaker 2 (01:20:22):
And Hartman and Monciere next year on Fox Sports Radio