October 4, 2023 • 48 mins
In a special edition of the podcast, Justin and Carter are joined by Georges Niang, Caris LeVert, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland at the 2023 Cleveland Cavaliers Media Day, presented by Cleveland Clinic.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This crowd rises to its being what Carl slam it
out our left wing free ball.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Perfect.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Pop, then to have left block the shot.
Speaker 4 (00:11):
At the rim?
Speaker 3 (00:12):
How with the left hand and a fowl.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Welcome to the Chase Doown Podcast, part of the caves
Menia Family. I'm your host, Justin Rowan. The Chase Doown
is presented by Foubo TV. Watch over one hundred channels
of live sports and TV for half the cost cable.
There's no contract and no commitment. Try for free at
FuboTV dot com. We've got a very special edition of
the Chase Down Podcast. I'm writing solo today as Carter
is off on a work trip and we are back
(00:37):
after being at the Calves twenty twenty three Media Day
presented by Cleveland Clinic. It was an unbelievable experience. To
have the type of access and ask these questions has
been something that, you know, it's something Carter and I
have dreamed about, uh since we've very started becoming fans. Really, Uh,
it was a completely surreal experience. And what today's podcas
(01:00):
Cast is going to be is really just a mashup
of those one on one interviews that we got to do.
We were lucky enough to get to talk to George Niang,
Karris Lavert, Donovan, Mitchell, Max Druce, Jared Allen, and Darius Garland,
and we just wanted to have you know, the audio
version of those interviews available for you guys on the
podcast here. We should mention the full four hour Media
(01:24):
Day show that we had done is available on the
kaz YouTube. In addition to that, there are the podium
interviews with Kobe and JB as well as all the
individual players as well. So if you want to check
that out, where you would need to go is to
the KAVS YouTube channel. But this is going to be
kind of a rapid fire just going through those audio
interviews that we did with these guys and hopefully you
(01:46):
guys enjoy it just as much as we did. And
we are going to kick things off here with George Niang.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
And we have a guest joining us at the desk here.
Hey George Carter, George, nice to meet you. Nice to
meet you, man, Papa Squad, go ahead and pop that
head sat on, Thank you so much, and welcome to Cleveland. Man.
All right, we all good. I can hear you? Can
you hear me? Oh? Look at us.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
We made it.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Well, welcome to Cleveland, and you know we'll start things off.
How are you enjoying your time here?
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Oh? I'm loving it. I'm loving it.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
You know they've been so accommodating, so welcoming, first class organization,
and obviously I've I've had some time with Donovan before here,
but we.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Have such a great group.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
Everybody gets along and as I'll tell you from being
in many places, that's not always the case in professional sports.
So I'm super excited to be here, super excited to
get it rolling tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
You guys have already kind of had training camps. Before
the training camps, you know, you see the workout videos
and the photos that I keep coming up. How much
does that help you hit the ground running when it
comes to approaching the regular season.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
You know, I think it's huge. I mean, you look
at JB's teams every year. If you have to play
one of JB. Bickerstaf's teams early on here, you're in
for it because they're going to be prepared.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
That's for sure. We get out.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
He's he's gotten out to heart starts, I think the
last couple of years as a head coach, So I
think that's kind of the the trick of the trade there,
and but it's been great just getting to know everybody
before you're actually like in the city. I think that's
the coolest part because you know, when you're in different
cities doing training camps, you know, you're you're staying in
a hotel and you have each other, and I think
(03:21):
that's the easiest way to get to know someone rather
than being in the city that you're going to be
in where everybody goes home, has families, has things to do,
so you have each other. And it was really cool
getting to know everybody. I think it was like two
three weeks. You know that we've we've done before we've
actually got to Cleveland.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Yeah, I want to move a little bit to X's
and those. Because in your career you've played with some
amazing rim protectors. Yeah, you spent time, you have a
couple here, yeah youank, You spend time with Rudy Gobert,
you spend time with Joe l Embiid. Now you're playing
with Evan Mobley and Jared Allen, And how does that
affect the kind of choices you're making on the defensive
end of the floor. Both obviously you know you have
(04:00):
a safety net.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
But yeah, what what're trying to say about on defense? No, no,
of course not no. I mean when when you're playing
alongside guys you know, like Evan and Ja where you know,
playing against them, it's hard enough to score. Now that
they're on my team, it's a luxury. You know, you're
allowed to press up on guys and kind of funnel
them to the rim and be like good luck, you know,
(04:21):
because those guys are elite, you know, the defensive player
of the year, you know, conversation I think every year
that they'll.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Be playing in the NBA.
Speaker 5 (04:30):
But yeah, as a decision to come here, you just
look at the young talent and the trajectory of this team.
You know what it's done the last couple of years,
of where they're going, where they're going, And I think
the biggest thing is that, you know, when you have
two guys back there that can protect you, and I
think me being self aware and knowing myself, that's a
(04:52):
huge deciding factor. And to play along guys that are
that talented and that hungry and young, it means that
there's gonna be a lot of win ain't coming in
the future.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
We are pretty transparent typically, like when we do our podcast,
we like to admit what we don't know, and we
like to bring on experts when we don't know what
we're talking about. And when the cast made the addition
bringing you a board.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Were you one of them that was like, oh, what
are we doing? Well?
Speaker 5 (05:15):
No?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Actually, Carter had you number two on his free agent list.
Carter number one was one, Max was number one.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
So here you and Kobe.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Yeah, we don't like to publicize the relationship, but you know,
we we brought on Jackson Frank who was on the
beat you know in Philly, and and everyone that we
talked to, you know, says, great fit on the court
is really going to help, but a great guy and
someone that's going to help off the court as well.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
How much of a.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Point of pride is that for you where you have
that reputation as a guy that helps both on and
off the.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
Court with teams.
Speaker 6 (05:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
I think being a normal person is just in realizing that, right,
you know, the best ability is kind of being self aware,
self aware on and off the court, right.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
And I like to be me.
Speaker 5 (05:59):
I have a big personality and I think I show
that day in and day out.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
But you.
Speaker 5 (06:05):
Obviously, being who I am on and off the court
has has gotten me this far, right, So why would
I change anything. I've been lucky enough to play alongside
some great players, and being excited to play along the
great players that we have here was a huge deciding
factor on, you know, why I wanted to come here.
Like I was just saying before, guys, I mean, obviously,
(06:26):
the way the season ended for the Cavs last year was,
you know, not the way they wanted it to. But
I think the excitement that we have coming into this
year of you know, what we have, what we've added,
I couldn't be more excited for for what's going to
come and to actually get the practice and tomorrow and
start working towards that you mentioned.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
You got a big personality, You like to talk a
little bit, And I think too, I think you know,
when fans here there's a guy who has a reputation
as a shooter, they're not the first thing they're thinking,
isn't a guy who gets into some verbal spats on
the floor?
Speaker 4 (06:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Right, Like, what what about that? Does that just kind
of inner? Does that kind of get you going? Is
that something you kind of feel makes you a better
and more engaged player on the floor.
Speaker 5 (07:06):
Yeah, I think I'm playing off rob motion. I'm not
sitting in the locker room going over a script of
what I'm going to say at night in and night out.
But I think the biggest thing for me is it's something.
I'm an energy guy. I play with a ton of
energy passion, and that's something that you know, gets me rolling,
gets me excited, and I think it gets the team excited.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Kems haven't had a lot of talkers. This has been
a we always joke there are a team of nice
young men.
Speaker 5 (07:31):
Ah, well we're we're changing that. But no, Max is
a Max is a gritty guy. Tie is a gritty guy.
Those guys will We'll give you some some talking too.
So I'm not going to be the only one this
year and and hopefully we can drag it out of
Ja and Evan.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Also, you've been so consistent as a role player in
the NBA. Yeah, what is something that you can share
to some of your younger teammates about carving out that
role and knowing your responsibilities.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
On the court.
Speaker 5 (07:55):
Yeah, you just got to be consistent or patiently, relentless,
right and consistent with that, you know, there's gonna be
days where you don't, you know, feel the best, or
there's a day in February where we're in Milwaukee or
Detroit or you know, on a long road trip and
you don't feel like, you know, this is what you
want to be doing. But being you know, relentless and
(08:17):
consistent in your habits and what you do on a
day to day basis, regardless of how you feel, can
last you a long time in this league. So obviously
for the young guys, there's some older guys ahead of them,
But continue to be patient, continue to work relentlessly and
consistently show up every day and get the job done.
I think, you know, JB has done a great job
with these young guys, you know that are playing building
(08:40):
their habits. They have winning habits and that's not something
you see everywhere. And when I first got here, I'm like, Wow,
these these guys really know what it takes, are the
habits that they need to win, and now it's just
putting it all together and us winning a championship.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Has anyone surprised you in particular where you're like, oh,
I didn't know this, this guy had to put together
like that, or I didn't know this guy had this
to his game.
Speaker 5 (09:02):
Yeah, you know, I was always impressed by DG and Evan,
And obviously I've played alongside Donovan Ja, you know, but
definitely Evan Mobley. His ability to be able to score
from so many different spots, his athleticism, his feel for
the game, his ability to pass. I've been super impressed
(09:22):
with that. And then just you know, even Caris LeVert.
I mean, I feel like I know what he does,
but the way he can just score, I'm just like, Dang,
I didn't know you had all that, you know, So
you know those two for sure. I mean, I think DG,
don Ja, those guys speak for himself. I've known Max
for a long time, and but you know, all those
(09:43):
guys are impressive.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Well, we're incredibly excited to have you a board. Welcome
to Cleveland, and thank you so much for your time.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Thank you really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
All Right, that was George Niang A lot of fun
getting to know him a little bit better. I think
he's going to bring a lot to this team, both
on and off the court. But we go from an
new face to one of the familiar faces in Kris LeVert. Hey,
Harris who is joining us now, Harris, join us at
the table.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
How about that? Doing good man?
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Not too bad?
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Flip it the other way.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
There we go.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
H First thing I must I must say, Harris Pickerington
Central alum. Oh shout you graduate two thousand and nine.
I'm very old.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
Now you're not that old. A couple of years older
than me. Twenty twelve for me.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Very nice.
Speaker 7 (10:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Tigers, Yeah, go Tigers. How about that?
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Yeah? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:31):
So first off, welcome back to Cleveland. Same question we
just asked George. Feels like you guys have had nine
training camps already with all with all the all these
runs all summer. What has that been in terms of
establishing continuity for you guys.
Speaker 8 (10:46):
It's been great, man, it's been great. You know, in
the summertime, a lot of guys kind of go their
separate ways and on some teams you don't hear from
guys all summer. So it's been great to you know,
get together. And I think we were in Miami, Connecticut.
We had one in Vegas as well, so and then
I was actually me and Evan and Isaiah. We have
the same trainer ount in Los Angeles, so I saw
(11:06):
them almost every day. Out there, so you know, just
being around the guys is super important, building continuity, building
chemistry and things like that. So we had I think
we all had a great summer.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
One of the things that really impressed me with your
game last year was, you know, in the past, you've
always been counted on as kind of a primary ball handler,
and just the way that you adjusted to, you know,
shooting more threes. And I think your playmaking really was
one of your strengths last year working with Jared and Evan.
What's the increased spacing by having guys like Max Strus
and George niangoing to do for your game individually.
Speaker 8 (11:39):
Man, it's gonna be huge. I think last year, like
you said, I had to adjust to, you know, the
different type of spacing, so there wasn't as many rim attants.
And that's what I've been great at my whole career
is getting to the rim. I feel like, you know,
if I have a lot of one on one coverage,
there's not much that defenders can do. And I feel
like last season, obviously when you play with bigs, they're
(12:01):
kind of on both blocks, so the space sing is
a little bit different. And I think bringing George in
who can you know, play the stretch for a little
bit where he can kind of you know, space in
the corner.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
The spacing will just be a little bit different.
Speaker 8 (12:11):
So I feel like it'll be a lot of rim
attempts for myself, don Darius. I feel like we'll be
able to get to the rim and just a little
bit easier this year.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
What's been kind of the early returns of playing with
these guys. Obviously you're familiar with their game, but you're
not gonna be quite as familiar as when they're on
your team.
Speaker 8 (12:25):
Yeah, obviously, you know, George, Ty and Max are all
great shooters. I think that's what jumps out off the page.
But I think you know more than that, they have
great IQ. You know, they really know how to play
the game. They know, you know, what spots to be
in offensively and defensively. And all three of them are
great competitors too, you know, they they really take the
(12:46):
one on one challenge defensively and they make winning plays.
So definitely looking forward to playing with all those guys.
I think one of the mistakes people make when they
when they look at players is after their first couple
of years, they basically assume you guys are finished products.
Is there any thing like even if it's just you know,
growth within the margins? That was kind of an area
of focus for you that you attack this offseason. Well,
(13:06):
I think for me even going into last season, like
shooting was huge for me. Three point shooting and I
shot thirty nine percent. That's the best I've shot since
I've been in the league. And people don't really look
at me as like a knockdown shooter. And it's funny
because I shoot a better percentage than a lot of people,
but you wouldn't know that unless you looked at the percentages,
you know what I mean. So for me just being
(13:27):
like sixty six and a half six seven, and I
want to play as long as I can. It's important
for me for this team and you know, for my
career to be able to be a knockdown three point shooter.
So that's something that I've really worked on the past
couple of summers, and I work on it every single day.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
In terms of your mechanics, I mean, I remember the
book on you coming in was that this is a
guy who can shoot off the dribble really really really well. Yeah,
but isn't as comfortable being a catch a shoot, guy, Guy,
I got shooting off movement. How much have you had
to focus on that part of your game to kind
of succeed within the construct of what this team is.
Speaker 8 (14:00):
Yeah, that's been you know, the past three four months
has been a lot of on the move, shooting, coming
off screens, transition, you know, a lot of things like that.
Like you said, I'm super comfortable playing off the dribbil
with the ball in my hands, playing a lot of
one on one when I was a kid, and things
like that, like you get super comfortable playing with the
ball in your hands. But that's been something I've really been,
(14:20):
you know, working on the past couple of years. Really
this past summer I really locked into it a lot.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Would we be correct in assuming that there's going to
be more three point volume from this year, like in
terms of kind of like you should like more attacking
the rim and more threes?
Speaker 4 (14:34):
Is I would say so? I would say so.
Speaker 8 (14:37):
Camp starts tomorrow, so we'll see. It's been just a
lot of open gym thus far, not a lot of structure,
but I would say it will be a lot more
threes just with the roster that we have. Obviously, I'm
adding two knockdowns and then ties and knockdown as well
at the back of point guard position, so you can
only assume that.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Well, I'm excited to see what a few more cleaner
looks do for you. Thank you so much for your time.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
We really appreciate it. Thank you, appreciate Jo, thank you Keres.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
And that was Karris LeVert. Massive thanks to him for
coming on and talking about some of the moves that
he's made this offseason to improve build upon what he
did so well last year. I'm really excited to see
what that growth looks like as a movement shooter, if
he's able to improve that volume as well as the
(15:25):
impact of the increased spacing. But if you're talking about
guys that are going to benefit from spacing, our next guest,
Donovan Mitchell, certainly falls into that category.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
We are actually being joined by Donovan Mitchell, who is
applying some fresh chapstick. I really I think I jumped
the gun on the toss and I'm very sorry. Donovan. Yes,
we got you. How you doing doing very well. I
want to just kind of start off with this. This
is a team that played with a lot of joy
(15:55):
last season. How do you take the learnings from a
playoff loss that was not very fun kind of apply
those sharpened edges without losing that joy.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
I think I think it works in a few ways.
Speaker 9 (16:10):
I think for honestly, you know, I always tell people
if someone if you you can never lose your joy.
You know, if you lose your joy in this doesn't
matter what you got going on, even winning the championship
won't be fun. If you lose your joy, that's first
and foremost. As much as the loss hurts, we have
to remind ourselves this is this is a blessing to
be here. Not saying we have any moral victories or anything,
(16:30):
but I think that's first and foremost. You can't lose
that because then it becomes the day to day becomes touchable. Yeah,
it becomes it becomes tough. So I think that's the
first thing. And I think you know, with the group
of guys we have, it makes coming to work even
when you know things didn't go well for us, even
when things remember the beginning year last year, we went
through those we gave up the fourth quarter of leads
like what three or four times, we still like came
into it like okay, like you know, we're learning, you know,
(16:51):
we're getting better at different things. And you know, we
we said that publicly and I think now we we
went through what we went through last year in the
playoffs and you see a different side of guys and
as far as the hunger determination to come back and
get there. But I think you have to continuously have that.
And I think with I speak for George when I
say this, George is probably one of those guys who,
(17:11):
you know, it doesn't matter what day it is, he's
always gonna continuously, you know, keep it light, you know,
because I understand it's a long season, there's a lot
of pressure. There's always gonna be voices, it's all gonna
be different things. So for us, it's like, you know,
how do we embrace that? How do we embrace that?
And I've been in situations where we've had an early
playoff exit and had to respond, you know, and I've
I've had situations where we've you know, overachieved, you.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
Know what I mean.
Speaker 9 (17:33):
So you have to understand that it's gonna be the same.
You keep it consistent. That's what all the great to do,
That's what all the best teams do. And you know,
we have the great group for that.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I was really impressed last year that you were able
to come to this team, have an individually your best season,
you know, most efficient season, have such a great year,
and everybody else around you. Darius had a great year,
Evan had a great year, Jared had a great year.
How much of an advantage is it for you guys
to have continuity going into the season. When you look
at other top teams in the East, they're going through
basically what you went through last year of integrating a
(18:01):
major piece right before the season.
Speaker 9 (18:03):
Yeah, it's not as easy as I gotta say. We
made it look throughout the year. I think it was
a credit to each of us, you know, kind of
figuring each other out. And it took time, you know, obviously,
and then on top of that, DG gets hurt for
the first ten games. So then not only do we
have that we figured out, then we have to figure
out again.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
But it's not easy.
Speaker 9 (18:20):
But you know, I have no doubt those two teams
in particular, will Well three, if you account Philly, well
we'll figure it out and be fine. But I think
for us, I think the biggest thing now is like
we we can practice, we can talk to each other.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
I can sit here and talk to you all about schemes.
Speaker 9 (18:34):
And ways we can be better, but ultimately to you
go through it on a random Thursday in April or February,
in November, December. So you go through those things with success,
well also with and losses. I think that's the ultimate
learning experience. We have a year of that, We have
a year of things that went well, you know, we
have a year of things that also didn't go well.
So now I think for us, those conversations are easier
(18:57):
because those conversations we understand each other more, We understand
and what the other person is talking about. Because it's
one thing to continuously go out there and you know,
plug and players. I call it like all right, this
will work here, this will work there. But now that
we see, oh this is what worked, this is what
I have to get better at. This is what like
I didn't work in my lat passes. Like to be
honest with you, I just something I just know, like
just getting better at that with evan Ja, Like there's
(19:18):
different things down the line that a year around guys
understanding that those interior bounce passes aren't gonna work with
those two you know what I'm saying, So like understanding
that that's what guys are comfortable with and just being
able to acclimate that into our individual games.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
I want to ask you about the new additions. Clearly
the team focused on shooting yep, and for much of
last season you were a player who when you didn't
have the ball, it was pretty important for you to
just space. Yeah, and now that you might be playing
along you know, bona fide knockdown three point shooters, how
does that change your game off ball?
Speaker 4 (19:53):
I don't think it changes much.
Speaker 9 (19:54):
I think now, you know, this is what I've been
used to for about three or four years of my career,
to be honest. You know, like in Utah is around
four forty percent all around me, and then obviously we
had we never had two bigs, but like you know,
obviously haven't haven't really at the center. So so now
this is something that I've missed. The customed to the
same spacing, you know, getting to the corners, spacing on
the wings. And now the defensive has to make a decision,
you know, are they gonna choose to to let Darius myself, Carris,
(20:16):
you know, get downhill and and find Evan. You know
in ja or allow ever to play in the half role?
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Do you help? Do you not help me?
Speaker 9 (20:22):
You gonna you're can allow guys to shoot like they
have to make that decision. But the problem, the problem,
the thing for us is we have to continue to
make the simple play over and over again. That's the
one thing I've I've learned and in my career I
didn't realize that because I came from no spacing my
first two years and then came to where I had
like Mike Bowian, you know, and and and JC and
different Royce O'Neil, So understanding that the simple play is
(20:45):
what's gonna be the biggest thing this year. It's just
whatever's right in front of you, because we have so
many threats, so many options. Uh so for me off ball,
sometimes it's just standing there and waiting for the play
to be made and trusting that the play is gonna
be made.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
Right.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Well, thank you so much for spending this time. We
really do appreciate it and all the best of this year.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
I appreciate you guys. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
And that was Donovan Mitchell And at this point in
the podcast, honestly, I should give a massive shout out
to everyone that helped make this possible, from bj to Gold,
Brandon d Mac. All of the support that we get
at the Cavs is just really unbelievable. The fact that
they trusted us to do this really really meant the
world to us. And hopefully you guys are enjoying these
(21:24):
interviews as much as we enjoyed doing them. Like I said,
it was a complete dream come true. And the fact
that the Caves give us this opportunity and believe in
us and give us the level of support that they
do means the world to me. And you know what
also is great getting the support from Zoom support for
this podcast and the following message comes from Zoom. Half
(21:45):
a million businesses connect using Zoom, a single platform for phone, chat, workspaces, events, apps,
and video. Zoom enables real time collaboration for teams around
the globe. Zoom how the world connects. Next up, speaking
of connecting, is going to connect on a lot of
three pointers for the Cleveland Cavaliers next season. This is
our interview with Max Drews. All Right, that was Max Drews,
(22:08):
the newest edition of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and I think
the biggest headline there was he said he expects to.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Start Yeah, which I mean, frankly, like whether or not
that's locked in like he should. Yeah, you know he was.
He was the team's kind of number one targeting and
free agency and the team's number one targeting free agency
is joining us at the desk. Hi Max, Welcome to
the Chase Down Podcast. My friend love it.
Speaker 4 (22:31):
Thanks for having me, guys.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
Thank you so much for joining. Welcome to Cleveland. First
thing I kind of want to ask you was this
team has been spending a ton of time together this offseason.
It feels like you've had five or six training camps already.
How has that helped you acclimate and kind of hit
the ground with a running start?
Speaker 10 (22:48):
Man, I needed a break. They were like, what are
we meeting? I was like, guys, I just got done playing,
Like what are we doing? But no, I love it.
I love the guys here, the organization as a whole,
everything that we're about here, I'm all in for. And
like you said, we've we've seen a bunch of each
other this summer already. I think, you know, I just
(23:09):
said it on the podium right here. I think a
team that's together is better than any other talented team
in the building. And I think the team that I
was on last year showed that, you know, we really
cared about each other. We cared about each other's successes,
and and that's contagious and promotes and promotes a winning environment.
I mean, one of the reasons why Carter and I
(23:30):
when we were doing our free agency previews and that
you are a number one target.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
You were the number one guy that we wanted, so
you were wanting you, we manifested. But one of the
reasons is I mean, obviously you're shooting that you bring
to the table, but in Miami you ran so many
of the similar options, actions like split cuts and actions
off of bam Adebayo, and with Evan Mobley looking to
take that next step as a playmaker, does the similarity
(23:54):
in those type of sets make it easier for you
to get acclimated with your new teammates.
Speaker 10 (23:58):
Absolutely, And I think we're trying to play like that
more as a team. So that was music to my
ears when they told me that, because I love playing
basketball that when the ball's moving, everybody's touching it. You know,
everybody's involved in the actions. It's just like I said,
it's just a positive thing. And guys are contagious and
and and it's it's great to play like winning basketball
(24:18):
like that, So I would I love playing like that.
I think Evan's fantastic. I think he's a great young player.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
You know.
Speaker 10 (24:26):
The the symmetry that I had with Bam, you know,
takes time, and I think me and Evan are going
to get you know, a lot of hours in the
gym together to build that relationship and the and that
coalition together. So it's gonna take time, but I think
it can be really special.
Speaker 4 (24:40):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
How much are you adding to that relationship? And because obviously,
you know, often Bam gets looked at as you know,
the initiator, but then you're providing kind of those secondary actions.
So from a leadership standpoint, is that something where you're
kind of letting other people know where they should be
located off ball or or giving advice to Evan in
that role?
Speaker 10 (25:00):
It's mainly the the the advice between me and Evan
is is gonna be huge. I don't want to step
on anybody's toes. You know, JB's understands basketball with the
best of them, so you know, all the conversation I've
had with him is we're all on the same page here,
so it's gonna be great. I think me and Evan
can grow together. And I've showed him clips of you know,
how me and Bam played together, and you know, areas
(25:22):
where I'm gonna get him the ball and then things
that I like. So I think it's it's gonna be
a special connection that that we're gonna build together, and
I'm looking forward to doing that with him.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
I know that oftentimes when you kind of have a
shooter label, people assume you do the same thing regardless
of context, which is obviously not true. What do you
expect to be different about your role here versus your
role in Miami over these past couple of years.
Speaker 10 (25:47):
Yeah, you know, I was, you know, in that just
shooting category in Miami, which I'm grateful for because I
do think I'm a very good shooter. So but I think,
you know, the defensive part of things, I don't think
people really can see. I think I defend a lot
better than you know, a lot of the shooters in
(26:08):
the league, and I think I can provide that to
this team, and you know, bring that. I just love
playing hard and I love playing good basketball. So anything
we can do to, you know, make that happen here.
I'm all four, and you know, I hope that the
fans can can see how much I care about that
other end of the ball, and we'll make it work.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
An follow up question on that end of the ball.
You spent a lot of time guarding fours last year,
and even like I think it was like twelve percent
of your time guarding fives. Do you expect to kind
of move back out to the perimeter a little bit
just due to the kind of the way the team
is constructed and what kind of challenges do you kind
of foresee with that.
Speaker 10 (26:44):
Yeah, definitely. I think it was a personnel thing in Miami,
just how the situations and how the matchups worked and
who was playing at that time. But I would imagine
i'd be out more on the perimeter with this team
being you know, bigger with the two bigs, and I'm
all for that though. I want to challenge myself. I
want to guard the best players possible. It happens in
(27:06):
the playoffs, everybody calls me up, and you know that's
nothing I'm not used to. So I'm looking forward to
the challenges and I want to make my presence felt
on that end of the ball as well.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Yeah, I was impressed just looking at the data of
how many positions you did defend, and like even in
that playoff series against Milwaukee, you know, you're you're guarding Broke,
sometimes you're guarding Drew. Like that is such a wide range.
But one of the other things that I noticed was
the last two years, like you know, they have the
tracking data and all that of how open your shots are,
and you were taking some of the toughest shots in
the league. I appreciate you guys doing your research. Oh
(27:39):
you're making me look good. Over you were in the
fourth percentile for how many open shots. Yeah, so one,
I think that's something that the cast didn't have, which
was someone that's willing to take those shots against those
late closeouts. But just in general, how much of an
advantage is it going to be for you to play
with playmakers that are maybe going to get you some
easier shots.
Speaker 10 (27:56):
Yeah, yeah, no knock to Jimmy Butler or Pam or anybody,
but it definitely was you know, tough shots, and I
love tough shots, like I love shooting him. I love
you know, making it difficult for some reason, But I
would love to take some easy ones for sure, and
I think you know, Darius and Donovan are are guys
that can provide that, along with Keras too. So we
(28:20):
just have so many guys that are talented with the
ball in their hand and the ability for me to
to create the spacing and like you said, take take
tough ones and make them. That's what I'm here to
do and that's what my career has been so far,
so looking to keep doing that.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
We're incredibly excited to have you here in Cleveland. Thank you,
Welcome to Cleveland and all the best of the season.
Speaker 4 (28:39):
Thank you, guys. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Really appreciate it, really appreciate Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
And that was Max Strus great. Getting to know him great,
you know, getting some insight of the two man game
that he's going to be running with Evan Mobley. I
know we've been talking even since the playoffs ended that
we wanted to see, like if we could show mobiley tape,
but one player in the league, it was going to
be Bamana Bay. Also the fact that Max has been
(29:04):
doing that and they've been going through how he can
involve as a playmaker and implement those type of actions.
That's really really exciting to hear. But next up in
our interview series is a familiar face, Jared Allen. Carter
had a little gift for him. So if you want
to see, you know, the video components of this again,
(29:24):
you can go to the kaz YouTube channel. But here's
our interview with Jared Allen.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
And yeah, joining us at the desk of the Chase
Down Podcast at Media Day presented by Cleveland Clinic. We've
got Jared Allen. Jared, welcome, thank you, thank you for
joining us. So you're just singing your praises, yes, So
Jared was very hopeful that we could have you appear
at the desk because I have something of a gift
for you. So in my I'm not a podcaster by day,
(29:53):
that's a that's a side husk. The day job is
I work in esports and I work on Pokemon programming.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
So I had the benefit of going to Yokohama, Japan.
Oh this is for Pokemon worlds. Oh, I have a
bento box for you, Pokemon themed as well as a
limited edition Pikachu eating some ramen.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
You know, as a present for I saw this and
I was like, wow, they have I'm not I kid
you not. I saw this one and I'm like, wow,
those are amazing, but there's no way I'm going to
get one. You know, I'm not even saying it for
this bit. This is this is what I saw.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Amazing.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
That amazing.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
Well, very happy to give it to you. Jimmy Longo,
Cabs team photographer and friend of the Pod. I always
every year I'm in Pokemon World and I always bring
him back a bunch of swag, and I'm like, got
to set a little aside for Jared since since we're
going to be here, So enjoy your Bento box, enjoy
your enjoy your Pikachu, my friend.
Speaker 4 (30:55):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
All Right, I'll let Justin actually talk about bat we
get to the other thing.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Well, Carter and I were actually just talking about, you know,
JB's talked about how you guys are going to have
more of a movement offense and getting back to it
kind of where you were at two years ago. And
I think one of the areas of growth for you
individually last year was your passing, right, Like I thought
the reads you made in the short role were a
lot better. Is that something that you continued to work
on this offseason.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
That was definitely something this offseason. I had the main
connection with Evan. Last year we had games where I
threw him a lob, he threw me a lot. I
throw him a lob again. But now I want to
grow that connection with other players. Kris is an excellent
backdoor player, Darius is excellent coming off of pick and rolls,
and down Devan's excellent at finding a spot. So if
(31:41):
I can find those guys in different positions than just
throwing a lob, I feel I'm gonna do better.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
Yeah, And I wanted to ask about all the extra
spacing because it was clearly a priority for the Cavs
this offseason. They added extrus, they added George and Yang.
What does that do for your kind of decision tree
in terms of making your reads a little bit easier,
a little bit more margin for.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Air when there's more spacing. Any big can tell you
that that opens up the lane for pick and rolls.
That's something that I specialize myself in setting good screens
and being able to roll to the basket to put
pressure on the rim. And now this year, since we
have spacing around us, teams can't collapse on the pain
as much if they do Derisudanovin is going to find
(32:22):
the player in the corner and they're going to hit
the corner threes like they do. So it just leaves
a lot of room for me to open up on,
like you said, the passing game, to be able to
hit those guys.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Yeah, we talked about this a little bit with Keris,
But you know, people in general, they look at players
after their first couple of years and they're like, he's
a finished product. Jared Allen's a finished product right like
he is who he is. And it's funny because, like
you right now, we were just saying, you're the same
mate Tristan Thompson was when the Cavs won the championship
right where he took that leap. Individually as a player,
(32:55):
is there anything that you worked on, you know, within
your role to either expand it or to enhance something
you already do well.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
I also wanted to be able to play from the elbow.
That's a spot where I believe that I can improve from.
It's where I could play one on one defense. I'm
a quicker guy. I'm a quicker big. I'm more mobile
big than a lot of them. So I'm not saying
I'm gonna be playing from their every ISO possession. But
I think if I can catch my defender off guard,
(33:24):
I can make an impact on offense.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
I think that's also important too, because you know the
way that you and Evan get staggered. Having that guy
at the elbow, that's that outlet, that scoring thread really
can alleviate pressure when teams try to trap the guards.
And you know, you looking at the percentages, you were
actually one of the best mid ringe shooters on the
team last year. So are yea by percentage? Maybe you
gotta get ye Chase, Yeah, blame it on us, Will,
(33:54):
But so I have to imagine, you know, the scoring
from that range is part of it, just to get
the defender to come up.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
And it is it is. And like I say, if
one thing collapses and it opens up another thing. So
if my player comes up, somebody else is going to
be open. And if they sag off, I can go
do a DHO with Donovan, get him downhill. Just having
different threats from different areas for me just opens up
a lot for the rest of the team.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
With the roster changes this summer, we're likely looking at
more lineups that are maybe juiced as shooters, but the
point of attack defense might be a little different in
terms of how some of these lineups are built, and
someone like Evan or someone like you might have to
spend more time as that lockdown perimeter defender right right.
(34:40):
What kind of challenge do you think that's going to
be and how do you think you'll adjust to that.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
I think it's definitely going to be an adjustment. Just honestly,
my whole career has been excuse me, playing in the paint,
you know, being five feet from the basket. That's what
I'm used to. But now it's time for me to
take a step up and be able to switch one
through five. I've maybe switched one through four. Whatever they
need me to do, I'll do. I think it's going
(35:05):
to open up a lot for our defense. You know,
good teams you see in the playoffs are able to
switch one through five, and that's what we're trying to
be a good team in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
You know, you guys have had a lot of time
together already the training camps, Before the training camps, it
seems like it's an annual tradition for you guys. Now,
what are some of your impressions of your new teammates.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
First, I always say, great guys. You know, the basketball
part is going to take you as far as it can.
But then you have to find guys that really fit
what you're trying to do. Fit being able to come
into the locker room and put smiles on everybody's faces,
and that's exactly what they do. Good guys to be
around and have on the team. But basketball wise, they're
(35:46):
here to win. They know how to win games. Max
has been deep in the playoff. Ty has played with
amazing players. Georgia's he's gone deep too, So just having
guys with different backgrounds goes a long way.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Yeah, I have to imagine, and we're very excited to
see what this season is going to entail for you guys.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
We have high hopes.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
So obviously I think the continuity is going to be
very helpful. You don't have to integrate a major piece
like Mitchell. But we really do appreciate you giving us
your time today and all the best this season.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
Yeah, thanks for having me, guys, Thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (36:18):
Aciate it.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Thanks, it's fun catching up with Ja and up next, last,
but not least, it is our interview with Darius Garland.
We had a lot of fun with this one. You'll
probably want to check out the video as well. As
we got bombarded by Isaacle Coro and Tristan Thompson coming
in to bother us. It was a lot of fun.
But here is our interview with Darius Garland. I'm excited
(36:41):
to see our next guest here. Darius Garland is joining
us at the table.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
Darius, how you doing good? Great to see you. Thank
you for joining us here near the end of the
media day.
Speaker 7 (36:53):
I've been waiting on this.
Speaker 3 (36:54):
Heck yeah, man, So we've been waiting on this too
because we have some very import and questions direct from
your boy, Jamal Richardson. I happen Jamal Richardson. For those
that don't know, is Darius's training on the off season
Nashville based.
Speaker 4 (37:10):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
First thing he wanted us to ask you about, it's
the work you put in your body this offseason.
Speaker 7 (37:15):
Uh yeah, I mean he's been on the opposite end
of it, so we should have asked. So we should
have called him in and ask him how the all
season been. But yeah, I've been in the weight room
a lot, try to get some muscle, uh, try to
get some pounds on me.
Speaker 3 (37:32):
Was it something where like you kind of just said,
first bit, I'm just doing weight room and then I'm
getting back in the gym, or has it been fairly
consistent throughout.
Speaker 7 (37:40):
Like when we first when we first lost in the
first round, my first two months were literally strictly weight room,
like not touching the basketball at all. So then after
that I started implementing some basketball workouts and just getting
back in the gym with Jamal. But uh, Jamal has
been with me in the weight room every day this
entire summer, So shout out to him for doing that,
(38:01):
and uh, yeah, I'm just trying to see some progress
and uh, he's been on opposite opposite end of it.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
Well, that's interesting that you say that, because he said,
and I quote then ask him who gave him fits
defensively this summer and trainer versus client workouts?
Speaker 4 (38:19):
Where's the camera right there? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (38:22):
Yeah, oh the Jamal.
Speaker 7 (38:24):
Let's let's not talk about that, bro, Yeah, let's not.
Let's not even bring that up to these guys. But
trainer versus player, it was definitely a rough summer for
the trainer.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
Oh wow, oh wow, Well, thank you so much to Jamal,
friend of the pod. Oh wow, welcome Isaac to the
table real quick. Here he's giving you a stair down
right now, he's giving a stair down. He's giving you
the pressure. Exactly what's wrong with this is this is tense.
Speaker 7 (38:57):
See I need I need his workout regimen at these muscles.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
He looks great and he's used to pressuring you want
to see it, move it.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
He's used to putting pressure on the ball hand. So
you know this is right in the wheelhouse. Well, thank
you very much to Jamal friend of the pod.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
We love you, buddy for One of the things that
JB mentioned is that you guys want to run, you know,
more motion than the offense. Get back to kind of
a lot of things you did two years ago. And
obviously the first thing that clicked in my mind is
that means you probably have to get into it a
little earlier in the half court sets, early in the
shock clock. So is that a point of emphasis for
you of Donovan, of making sure that you're initiating the
(39:34):
offense early in the shot clock.
Speaker 7 (39:36):
Yeah, we definitely want to play with a lot more
faster pace this year. But then another note is trying
to get Evan and j evolved a lot more so
that's where emotion comes in. And with the two base
that we have, just not on the defensive side we
know they can do on the defensive side, but on
offense side they're really good passers. So just me and
(39:57):
Dob playing without the ball, try to get some easy
layups or some easy dunks, or some easy kickouts to
our new guys Max or George, and yeah, just try
to space the floor a little bit more instead of
just being so crowded just watching one guy just dribble
the ball for about fifteen twelve seconds and then shot
clocks and uh, try to get more movement, Try and
get some more body movement.
Speaker 6 (40:16):
I think that'd be harder for us, to.
Speaker 7 (40:19):
Harder for the other team than guard us, because we're
not just having the ball and not just worry about
one person just staring down the ball.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
I saw on Twitter a pretty crazy stat this week
that you are fifth all time in NBA history and
thirty point or thirty foot plus three point makes like
the deep deep threes your fifth all time in those makes.
Speaker 6 (40:39):
I don't even shoot them, as that.
Speaker 3 (40:42):
Was gonna be my question, believe it or not, because
really you were by a mile the highest percentage I
think you were thirty eight percent. I think staphf was
like thirty four percent. It was like Dame Trey Steph
Lebron than you.
Speaker 6 (40:54):
Really.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
Yeah, so I must ask you playing on shooting more
thirty footish this year.
Speaker 7 (40:59):
There might have to well else my percentage thirty eight
thirty eight, Yes, I mean that shoot.
Speaker 3 (41:06):
I think it was like forty.
Speaker 4 (41:08):
Five.
Speaker 3 (41:09):
So don't make me do math.
Speaker 6 (41:11):
Okay, yeah, don't make me do math. I'm not good
at math either.
Speaker 7 (41:15):
I'm glad you know what school did you go to?
Speaker 6 (41:18):
Texas?
Speaker 7 (41:19):
What school did you go to? Not for long, but yeah,
I'll definitely shoot some more. I got encouraged by our
coaching staff and by Kobe to shoot some more threes,
and so I'm with it. I'm ready to shoot some more.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
Yeah, I mean the most successful game you guys had
against the next was obviously, like you've being very assert
of taking those threes when guys would would go under.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
You're one of the rare.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
Players that's both elite both as a playmaker as well
as a three point shooter. How as a floor general
do you find that balance and is that something you
know that you kind of gradually work on.
Speaker 7 (41:51):
Yeah, I'm gradually working on it. I mean, with the
pieces that we just keep adding, I want to keep
sharing the ball as much as I can, but sometimes
my team is getting mad at me if I don't
shoot the ball as well.
Speaker 3 (42:05):
So it's definitely be the enemy of this exactly sometimes, right.
Speaker 7 (42:09):
But yeah, it's definitely just trying to find a balance.
It depends on what type of game it is. I mean,
if we need some scoring, I'll definitely shoot the ball
a little bit more. But if everybody has it going,
I'm definitely willing to just dish the ball out try
to get some whooping shots for someone else as well.
So just find a balance between games and and just
see how the flow is going throughout the game as well.
Speaker 3 (42:30):
I want to ask you about leadership because early in
your career, when the team is rebuilding, the team constantly
was bringing in vets, you know, and that was a
really big part of it. We need to bring vets
in for these young guys to show them how to
be a professional and help set a culture. As the
team has gotten better and as the talent has increased,
as you've grown as a player, do you feel like
(42:51):
that burden of leadership starts to shift from you know,
the end of bench vets to the core of the team.
Speaker 7 (42:58):
I've actually been feeling like I was a a leader
for a while now. I mean it's crazy. I'm me
and Dean are the longest longest guys that's been here. Crazy,
we're in our fifty years, so, I mean, i feel
like I've been around for a while. I know the ropes,
and i know what it's like to be a cavalier
(43:19):
now so and even an NBA player. So I'm definitely
taking on that leadership role this year. I'm gonna actually
embrace it. I Mean we've been saying I'm a leader
for three four years now, but I haven't really embraced
that role. So this is my chance to just really
embrace the role, just take it, and we just run
with it, really and I'm gonna try to do as
(43:40):
best as i can, learning how to just communicate with
different guys and trying to figure out Max and George
a little bit more and still bringing that still trying
to get that camaraderie with Don and yeah, I'm definitely
taking on that round.
Speaker 6 (43:53):
I am the leader of this team.
Speaker 2 (43:55):
Yeah, it's exciting to see just how much you guys
have grown, you know, as a unit and and adding
pieces like Max, adding pieces like George. Obviously that's exciting
from a fan perspective because I think it's going to
make life a lot easier. What's kind of been the
sense of getting to know those guys and working out
with them in kind of these pre training camp training
camps that you guys have had about nine of them.
Speaker 7 (44:18):
Literally, but I mean it's fun. I mean, Max, you've
had plenty of finals appearances. George has been really deep
in the playoffs, even bring attrition in went in the
ring in twenty sixteen and playing one of the best
players to ever played this game. Super cool, just having
their knowledge, super gy, just super cool. Just having guys
(44:40):
just being fear in the playoffs and coming to our
team and wanting to be in Cleveland just come help
us win as well. So super cool that they want
to be here, they want to learn, and they want
to play some great fun basketball.
Speaker 6 (44:51):
So that's what we're looking forward to.
Speaker 2 (44:53):
One of the things that has started out to us
is the last two years in particular, I feel like
you've shown a lot of growth on the defensive end,
which doesn't get talked about enough.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
Obviously.
Speaker 2 (45:03):
You know, JB says he's not naming a starting lineup
just yet, but you're you're going to be playing alongside
Donovan and with Max quite a bit this year, which
you know, when that's Isaac, he would take some of
that point of attack defense defensive responsibilities. Is that something
you're kind of putting on your shoulders as well as
I'm going to defend kind of these top point guards
because we're going to have to d up our guy
(45:24):
rather than cross matching.
Speaker 7 (45:26):
Yeah, I mean that's my little competitive nature in me.
I always wants to guard my position, and at this
highest level, the point guard position is probably the best
position in the It's deep. Yeah, it's super deep, especially
in the East. I mean we got a lot more deeper.
It's a lot more guys over here. So I definitely
(45:47):
want to take on that role. I'm a competitive so
whatever it needs to be done, I'm gonna do it.
I'm gonna try to do it to the best of
my ability. And yeah, I mean I'm ready to guard
all the point guards in the league really, so come
up for the challenge.
Speaker 2 (46:02):
Was that part of you know, adding the way because
I feel like your positioning has always been solid, but
you know, just those big bruising point guards that will
try to post.
Speaker 3 (46:09):
You up and stop it is that.
Speaker 2 (46:11):
Try to kind of combat that and also, you know,
obviously take a beating on the offensive end as well.
Speaker 7 (46:16):
Yeah, definitely trying to combat that a little bit. I
don't like getting posted as much. So I'm really I'm
ready to battle down there with some of the bigger
guards and yeah, I'm ready just to compete and be physical.
Speaker 3 (46:26):
What what defined success for you this season.
Speaker 7 (46:30):
Getting past the first round of playoffs? I just want
to be better than we were last year. If we
get past the first round, I mean we look forward
to the second round and others after that.
Speaker 3 (46:42):
But you're just four more wins away, exactly.
Speaker 7 (46:45):
So that's our thing. I just want to be better
than we were last year. I want to be a
better player player than I was last year, and overall
as a team as well. So get to the second
round that would be a dream of mint or a championship,
that's that's awesomate dream. But of course, yeah, just getting
past the first round.
Speaker 3 (47:01):
Well, you know, Chris said three or four seed, we're
saying one. Yeah, you're saying David to Fator up there.
Speaker 7 (47:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (47:10):
I mean he's a great guy friend of the podcast.
But yeah, the continuity you guys have and you know,
just adding the depth. I'm really excited for what this
season could be.
Speaker 3 (47:21):
Yeah. I had asked that question very carefully. I wasn't
going about to get cooked like Chris did. Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 7 (47:26):
Yeah, I'll always give Feodor a little hard time sometimes
we have a little back.
Speaker 3 (47:30):
Yeah, that's good. We just speak on behalf of Jamal.
That's how we protect us.
Speaker 7 (47:34):
I'll get Jamal in the summer time. He gets it.
Speaker 4 (47:36):
Good.
Speaker 2 (47:36):
Good, Well, thank you so much, Darius. We really appreciate
it and all the best.
Speaker 4 (47:39):
Of the season.
Speaker 7 (47:40):
Appreciate you have.
Speaker 4 (47:41):
A good one. All right.
Speaker 2 (47:44):
That was Darius Garland and that is our time for
media day. It has been a world one day. So
exciting to get the perspective of all these players, get
the perspective of Kobe and JB up at the podium,
and I can't be I couldn't be more excited for
the season to kickoff.
Speaker 3 (47:58):
Stupid life we lead, buddy.
Speaker 4 (48:00):
It is a stupid life we leave.
Speaker 2 (48:01):
But we really appreciate, we really appreciate everyone that hung
around live in the YouTube. Remember all the podium. Interviews
are going to be live on the calves into YouTube
as well, so you can go back and watch any
of those. You can find the Chase Down podcast wherever
you get your podcast. Make sure you like and subscribe.
Click notification bells so you know when we're going live.
If you listen to a podcast and you want to
suppor us there, leave us rating, leave review, subscribe unsubscribed,
(48:24):
resubscribe and help cook those books until next time.
Speaker 3 (48:27):
Go Cass no calves
This crowd rises to its being what Carl slam it
out our left wing free ball.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Perfect.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Pop, then to have left block the shot.
Speaker 4 (00:11):
At the rim?
Speaker 3 (00:12):
How with the left hand and a fowl.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Welcome to the Chase Doown Podcast, part of the caves
Menia Family. I'm your host, Justin Rowan. The Chase Doown
is presented by Foubo TV. Watch over one hundred channels
of live sports and TV for half the cost cable.
There's no contract and no commitment. Try for free at
FuboTV dot com. We've got a very special edition of
the Chase Down Podcast. I'm writing solo today as Carter
is off on a work trip and we are back
(00:37):
after being at the Calves twenty twenty three Media Day
presented by Cleveland Clinic. It was an unbelievable experience. To
have the type of access and ask these questions has
been something that, you know, it's something Carter and I
have dreamed about, uh since we've very started becoming fans. Really, Uh,
it was a completely surreal experience. And what today's podcas
(01:00):
Cast is going to be is really just a mashup
of those one on one interviews that we got to do.
We were lucky enough to get to talk to George Niang,
Karris Lavert, Donovan, Mitchell, Max Druce, Jared Allen, and Darius Garland,
and we just wanted to have you know, the audio
version of those interviews available for you guys on the
podcast here. We should mention the full four hour Media
(01:24):
Day show that we had done is available on the
kaz YouTube. In addition to that, there are the podium
interviews with Kobe and JB as well as all the
individual players as well. So if you want to check
that out, where you would need to go is to
the KAVS YouTube channel. But this is going to be
kind of a rapid fire just going through those audio
interviews that we did with these guys and hopefully you
(01:46):
guys enjoy it just as much as we did. And
we are going to kick things off here with George Niang.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
And we have a guest joining us at the desk here.
Hey George Carter, George, nice to meet you. Nice to
meet you, man, Papa Squad, go ahead and pop that
head sat on, Thank you so much, and welcome to Cleveland. Man.
All right, we all good. I can hear you? Can
you hear me? Oh? Look at us.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
We made it.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Well, welcome to Cleveland, and you know we'll start things off.
How are you enjoying your time here?
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Oh? I'm loving it. I'm loving it.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
You know they've been so accommodating, so welcoming, first class organization,
and obviously I've I've had some time with Donovan before here,
but we.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Have such a great group.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
Everybody gets along and as I'll tell you from being
in many places, that's not always the case in professional sports.
So I'm super excited to be here, super excited to
get it rolling tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
You guys have already kind of had training camps. Before
the training camps, you know, you see the workout videos
and the photos that I keep coming up. How much
does that help you hit the ground running when it
comes to approaching the regular season.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
You know, I think it's huge. I mean, you look
at JB's teams every year. If you have to play
one of JB. Bickerstaf's teams early on here, you're in
for it because they're going to be prepared.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
That's for sure. We get out.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
He's he's gotten out to heart starts, I think the
last couple of years as a head coach, So I
think that's kind of the the trick of the trade there,
and but it's been great just getting to know everybody
before you're actually like in the city. I think that's
the coolest part because you know, when you're in different
cities doing training camps, you know, you're you're staying in
a hotel and you have each other, and I think
(03:21):
that's the easiest way to get to know someone rather
than being in the city that you're going to be
in where everybody goes home, has families, has things to do,
so you have each other. And it was really cool
getting to know everybody. I think it was like two
three weeks. You know that we've we've done before we've
actually got to Cleveland.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Yeah, I want to move a little bit to X's
and those. Because in your career you've played with some
amazing rim protectors. Yeah, you spent time, you have a
couple here, yeah youank, You spend time with Rudy Gobert,
you spend time with Joe l Embiid. Now you're playing
with Evan Mobley and Jared Allen, And how does that
affect the kind of choices you're making on the defensive
end of the floor. Both obviously you know you have
(04:00):
a safety net.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
But yeah, what what're trying to say about on defense? No, no,
of course not no. I mean when when you're playing
alongside guys you know, like Evan and Ja where you know,
playing against them, it's hard enough to score. Now that
they're on my team, it's a luxury. You know, you're
allowed to press up on guys and kind of funnel
them to the rim and be like good luck, you know,
(04:21):
because those guys are elite, you know, the defensive player
of the year, you know, conversation I think every year
that they'll.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Be playing in the NBA.
Speaker 5 (04:30):
But yeah, as a decision to come here, you just
look at the young talent and the trajectory of this team.
You know what it's done the last couple of years,
of where they're going, where they're going, And I think
the biggest thing is that, you know, when you have
two guys back there that can protect you, and I
think me being self aware and knowing myself, that's a
(04:52):
huge deciding factor. And to play along guys that are
that talented and that hungry and young, it means that
there's gonna be a lot of win ain't coming in
the future.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
We are pretty transparent typically, like when we do our podcast,
we like to admit what we don't know, and we
like to bring on experts when we don't know what
we're talking about. And when the cast made the addition
bringing you a board.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Were you one of them that was like, oh, what
are we doing? Well?
Speaker 5 (05:15):
No?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Actually, Carter had you number two on his free agent list.
Carter number one was one, Max was number one.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
So here you and Kobe.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Yeah, we don't like to publicize the relationship, but you know,
we we brought on Jackson Frank who was on the
beat you know in Philly, and and everyone that we
talked to, you know, says, great fit on the court
is really going to help, but a great guy and
someone that's going to help off the court as well.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
How much of a.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Point of pride is that for you where you have
that reputation as a guy that helps both on and
off the.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
Court with teams.
Speaker 6 (05:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
I think being a normal person is just in realizing that, right,
you know, the best ability is kind of being self aware,
self aware on and off the court, right.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
And I like to be me.
Speaker 5 (05:59):
I have a big personality and I think I show
that day in and day out.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
But you.
Speaker 5 (06:05):
Obviously, being who I am on and off the court
has has gotten me this far, right, So why would
I change anything. I've been lucky enough to play alongside
some great players, and being excited to play along the
great players that we have here was a huge deciding
factor on, you know, why I wanted to come here.
Like I was just saying before, guys, I mean, obviously,
(06:26):
the way the season ended for the Cavs last year was,
you know, not the way they wanted it to. But
I think the excitement that we have coming into this
year of you know, what we have, what we've added,
I couldn't be more excited for for what's going to
come and to actually get the practice and tomorrow and
start working towards that you mentioned.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
You got a big personality, You like to talk a
little bit, And I think too, I think you know,
when fans here there's a guy who has a reputation
as a shooter, they're not the first thing they're thinking,
isn't a guy who gets into some verbal spats on
the floor?
Speaker 4 (06:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Right, Like, what what about that? Does that just kind
of inner? Does that kind of get you going? Is
that something you kind of feel makes you a better
and more engaged player on the floor.
Speaker 5 (07:06):
Yeah, I think I'm playing off rob motion. I'm not
sitting in the locker room going over a script of
what I'm going to say at night in and night out.
But I think the biggest thing for me is it's something.
I'm an energy guy. I play with a ton of
energy passion, and that's something that you know, gets me rolling,
gets me excited, and I think it gets the team excited.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Kems haven't had a lot of talkers. This has been
a we always joke there are a team of nice
young men.
Speaker 5 (07:31):
Ah, well we're we're changing that. But no, Max is
a Max is a gritty guy. Tie is a gritty guy.
Those guys will We'll give you some some talking too.
So I'm not going to be the only one this
year and and hopefully we can drag it out of
Ja and Evan.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Also, you've been so consistent as a role player in
the NBA. Yeah, what is something that you can share
to some of your younger teammates about carving out that
role and knowing your responsibilities.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
On the court.
Speaker 5 (07:55):
Yeah, you just got to be consistent or patiently, relentless,
right and consistent with that, you know, there's gonna be
days where you don't, you know, feel the best, or
there's a day in February where we're in Milwaukee or
Detroit or you know, on a long road trip and
you don't feel like, you know, this is what you
want to be doing. But being you know, relentless and
(08:17):
consistent in your habits and what you do on a
day to day basis, regardless of how you feel, can
last you a long time in this league. So obviously
for the young guys, there's some older guys ahead of them,
But continue to be patient, continue to work relentlessly and
consistently show up every day and get the job done.
I think, you know, JB has done a great job
with these young guys, you know that are playing building
(08:40):
their habits. They have winning habits and that's not something
you see everywhere. And when I first got here, I'm like, Wow,
these these guys really know what it takes, are the
habits that they need to win, and now it's just
putting it all together and us winning a championship.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Has anyone surprised you in particular where you're like, oh,
I didn't know this, this guy had to put together
like that, or I didn't know this guy had this
to his game.
Speaker 5 (09:02):
Yeah, you know, I was always impressed by DG and Evan,
And obviously I've played alongside Donovan Ja, you know, but
definitely Evan Mobley. His ability to be able to score
from so many different spots, his athleticism, his feel for
the game, his ability to pass. I've been super impressed
(09:22):
with that. And then just you know, even Caris LeVert.
I mean, I feel like I know what he does,
but the way he can just score, I'm just like, Dang,
I didn't know you had all that, you know, So
you know those two for sure. I mean, I think DG,
don Ja, those guys speak for himself. I've known Max
for a long time, and but you know, all those
(09:43):
guys are impressive.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Well, we're incredibly excited to have you a board. Welcome
to Cleveland, and thank you so much for your time.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Thank you really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
All Right, that was George Niang A lot of fun
getting to know him a little bit better. I think
he's going to bring a lot to this team, both
on and off the court. But we go from an
new face to one of the familiar faces in Kris LeVert. Hey,
Harris who is joining us now, Harris, join us at
the table.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
How about that? Doing good man?
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Not too bad?
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Flip it the other way.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
There we go.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
H First thing I must I must say, Harris Pickerington
Central alum. Oh shout you graduate two thousand and nine.
I'm very old.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
Now you're not that old. A couple of years older
than me. Twenty twelve for me.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Very nice.
Speaker 7 (10:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Tigers, Yeah, go Tigers. How about that?
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Yeah? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:31):
So first off, welcome back to Cleveland. Same question we
just asked George. Feels like you guys have had nine
training camps already with all with all the all these
runs all summer. What has that been in terms of
establishing continuity for you guys.
Speaker 8 (10:46):
It's been great, man, it's been great. You know, in
the summertime, a lot of guys kind of go their
separate ways and on some teams you don't hear from
guys all summer. So it's been great to you know,
get together. And I think we were in Miami, Connecticut.
We had one in Vegas as well, so and then
I was actually me and Evan and Isaiah. We have
the same trainer ount in Los Angeles, so I saw
(11:06):
them almost every day. Out there, so you know, just
being around the guys is super important, building continuity, building
chemistry and things like that. So we had I think
we all had a great summer.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
One of the things that really impressed me with your
game last year was, you know, in the past, you've
always been counted on as kind of a primary ball handler,
and just the way that you adjusted to, you know,
shooting more threes. And I think your playmaking really was
one of your strengths last year working with Jared and Evan.
What's the increased spacing by having guys like Max Strus
and George niangoing to do for your game individually.
Speaker 8 (11:39):
Man, it's gonna be huge. I think last year, like
you said, I had to adjust to, you know, the
different type of spacing, so there wasn't as many rim attants.
And that's what I've been great at my whole career
is getting to the rim. I feel like, you know,
if I have a lot of one on one coverage,
there's not much that defenders can do. And I feel
like last season, obviously when you play with bigs, they're
(12:01):
kind of on both blocks, so the space sing is
a little bit different. And I think bringing George in
who can you know, play the stretch for a little
bit where he can kind of you know, space in
the corner.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
The spacing will just be a little bit different.
Speaker 8 (12:11):
So I feel like it'll be a lot of rim
attempts for myself, don Darius. I feel like we'll be
able to get to the rim and just a little
bit easier this year.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
What's been kind of the early returns of playing with
these guys. Obviously you're familiar with their game, but you're
not gonna be quite as familiar as when they're on
your team.
Speaker 8 (12:25):
Yeah, obviously, you know, George, Ty and Max are all
great shooters. I think that's what jumps out off the page.
But I think you know more than that, they have
great IQ. You know, they really know how to play
the game. They know, you know, what spots to be
in offensively and defensively. And all three of them are
great competitors too, you know, they they really take the
(12:46):
one on one challenge defensively and they make winning plays.
So definitely looking forward to playing with all those guys.
I think one of the mistakes people make when they
when they look at players is after their first couple
of years, they basically assume you guys are finished products.
Is there any thing like even if it's just you know,
growth within the margins? That was kind of an area
of focus for you that you attack this offseason. Well,
(13:06):
I think for me even going into last season, like
shooting was huge for me. Three point shooting and I
shot thirty nine percent. That's the best I've shot since
I've been in the league. And people don't really look
at me as like a knockdown shooter. And it's funny
because I shoot a better percentage than a lot of people,
but you wouldn't know that unless you looked at the percentages,
you know what I mean. So for me just being
(13:27):
like sixty six and a half six seven, and I
want to play as long as I can. It's important
for me for this team and you know, for my
career to be able to be a knockdown three point shooter.
So that's something that I've really worked on the past
couple of summers, and I work on it every single day.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
In terms of your mechanics, I mean, I remember the
book on you coming in was that this is a
guy who can shoot off the dribble really really really well. Yeah,
but isn't as comfortable being a catch a shoot, guy, Guy,
I got shooting off movement. How much have you had
to focus on that part of your game to kind
of succeed within the construct of what this team is.
Speaker 8 (14:00):
Yeah, that's been you know, the past three four months
has been a lot of on the move, shooting, coming
off screens, transition, you know, a lot of things like that.
Like you said, I'm super comfortable playing off the dribbil
with the ball in my hands, playing a lot of
one on one when I was a kid, and things
like that, like you get super comfortable playing with the
ball in your hands. But that's been something I've really been,
(14:20):
you know, working on the past couple of years. Really
this past summer I really locked into it a lot.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Would we be correct in assuming that there's going to
be more three point volume from this year, like in
terms of kind of like you should like more attacking
the rim and more threes?
Speaker 4 (14:34):
Is I would say so? I would say so.
Speaker 8 (14:37):
Camp starts tomorrow, so we'll see. It's been just a
lot of open gym thus far, not a lot of structure,
but I would say it will be a lot more
threes just with the roster that we have. Obviously, I'm
adding two knockdowns and then ties and knockdown as well
at the back of point guard position, so you can
only assume that.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Well, I'm excited to see what a few more cleaner
looks do for you. Thank you so much for your time.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
We really appreciate it. Thank you, appreciate Jo, thank you Keres.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
And that was Karris LeVert. Massive thanks to him for
coming on and talking about some of the moves that
he's made this offseason to improve build upon what he
did so well last year. I'm really excited to see
what that growth looks like as a movement shooter, if
he's able to improve that volume as well as the
(15:25):
impact of the increased spacing. But if you're talking about
guys that are going to benefit from spacing, our next guest,
Donovan Mitchell, certainly falls into that category.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
We are actually being joined by Donovan Mitchell, who is
applying some fresh chapstick. I really I think I jumped
the gun on the toss and I'm very sorry. Donovan. Yes,
we got you. How you doing doing very well. I
want to just kind of start off with this. This
is a team that played with a lot of joy
(15:55):
last season. How do you take the learnings from a
playoff loss that was not very fun kind of apply
those sharpened edges without losing that joy.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
I think I think it works in a few ways.
Speaker 9 (16:10):
I think for honestly, you know, I always tell people
if someone if you you can never lose your joy.
You know, if you lose your joy in this doesn't
matter what you got going on, even winning the championship
won't be fun. If you lose your joy, that's first
and foremost. As much as the loss hurts, we have
to remind ourselves this is this is a blessing to
be here. Not saying we have any moral victories or anything,
(16:30):
but I think that's first and foremost. You can't lose
that because then it becomes the day to day becomes touchable. Yeah,
it becomes it becomes tough. So I think that's the
first thing. And I think you know, with the group
of guys we have, it makes coming to work even
when you know things didn't go well for us, even
when things remember the beginning year last year, we went
through those we gave up the fourth quarter of leads
like what three or four times, we still like came
into it like okay, like you know, we're learning, you know,
(16:51):
we're getting better at different things. And you know, we
we said that publicly and I think now we we
went through what we went through last year in the
playoffs and you see a different side of guys and
as far as the hunger determination to come back and
get there. But I think you have to continuously have that.
And I think with I speak for George when I
say this, George is probably one of those guys who,
(17:11):
you know, it doesn't matter what day it is, he's
always gonna continuously, you know, keep it light, you know,
because I understand it's a long season, there's a lot
of pressure. There's always gonna be voices, it's all gonna
be different things. So for us, it's like, you know,
how do we embrace that? How do we embrace that?
And I've been in situations where we've had an early
playoff exit and had to respond, you know, and I've
I've had situations where we've you know, overachieved, you.
Speaker 4 (17:32):
Know what I mean.
Speaker 9 (17:33):
So you have to understand that it's gonna be the same.
You keep it consistent. That's what all the great to do,
That's what all the best teams do. And you know,
we have the great group for that.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I was really impressed last year that you were able
to come to this team, have an individually your best season,
you know, most efficient season, have such a great year,
and everybody else around you. Darius had a great year,
Evan had a great year, Jared had a great year.
How much of an advantage is it for you guys
to have continuity going into the season. When you look
at other top teams in the East, they're going through
basically what you went through last year of integrating a
(18:01):
major piece right before the season.
Speaker 9 (18:03):
Yeah, it's not as easy as I gotta say. We
made it look throughout the year. I think it was
a credit to each of us, you know, kind of
figuring each other out. And it took time, you know, obviously,
and then on top of that, DG gets hurt for
the first ten games. So then not only do we
have that we figured out, then we have to figure
out again.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
But it's not easy.
Speaker 9 (18:20):
But you know, I have no doubt those two teams
in particular, will Well three, if you account Philly, well
we'll figure it out and be fine. But I think
for us, I think the biggest thing now is like
we we can practice, we can talk to each other.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
I can sit here and talk to you all about schemes.
Speaker 9 (18:34):
And ways we can be better, but ultimately to you
go through it on a random Thursday in April or February,
in November, December. So you go through those things with success,
well also with and losses. I think that's the ultimate
learning experience. We have a year of that, We have
a year of things that went well, you know, we
have a year of things that also didn't go well.
So now I think for us, those conversations are easier
(18:57):
because those conversations we understand each other more, We understand
and what the other person is talking about. Because it's
one thing to continuously go out there and you know,
plug and players. I call it like all right, this
will work here, this will work there. But now that
we see, oh this is what worked, this is what
I have to get better at. This is what like
I didn't work in my lat passes. Like to be
honest with you, I just something I just know, like
just getting better at that with evan Ja, Like there's
(19:18):
different things down the line that a year around guys
understanding that those interior bounce passes aren't gonna work with
those two you know what I'm saying, So like understanding
that that's what guys are comfortable with and just being
able to acclimate that into our individual games.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
I want to ask you about the new additions. Clearly
the team focused on shooting yep, and for much of
last season you were a player who when you didn't
have the ball, it was pretty important for you to
just space. Yeah, and now that you might be playing
along you know, bona fide knockdown three point shooters, how
does that change your game off ball?
Speaker 4 (19:53):
I don't think it changes much.
Speaker 9 (19:54):
I think now, you know, this is what I've been
used to for about three or four years of my career,
to be honest. You know, like in Utah is around
four forty percent all around me, and then obviously we
had we never had two bigs, but like you know,
obviously haven't haven't really at the center. So so now
this is something that I've missed. The customed to the
same spacing, you know, getting to the corners, spacing on
the wings. And now the defensive has to make a decision,
you know, are they gonna choose to to let Darius myself, Carris,
(20:16):
you know, get downhill and and find Evan. You know
in ja or allow ever to play in the half role?
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Do you help? Do you not help me?
Speaker 9 (20:22):
You gonna you're can allow guys to shoot like they
have to make that decision. But the problem, the problem,
the thing for us is we have to continue to
make the simple play over and over again. That's the
one thing I've I've learned and in my career I
didn't realize that because I came from no spacing my
first two years and then came to where I had
like Mike Bowian, you know, and and and JC and
different Royce O'Neil, So understanding that the simple play is
(20:45):
what's gonna be the biggest thing this year. It's just
whatever's right in front of you, because we have so
many threats, so many options. Uh so for me off ball,
sometimes it's just standing there and waiting for the play
to be made and trusting that the play is gonna
be made.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
Right.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Well, thank you so much for spending this time. We
really do appreciate it and all the best of this year.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
I appreciate you guys. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
And that was Donovan Mitchell And at this point in
the podcast, honestly, I should give a massive shout out
to everyone that helped make this possible, from bj to Gold,
Brandon d Mac. All of the support that we get
at the Cavs is just really unbelievable. The fact that
they trusted us to do this really really meant the
world to us. And hopefully you guys are enjoying these
(21:24):
interviews as much as we enjoyed doing them. Like I said,
it was a complete dream come true. And the fact
that the Caves give us this opportunity and believe in
us and give us the level of support that they
do means the world to me. And you know what
also is great getting the support from Zoom support for
this podcast and the following message comes from Zoom. Half
(21:45):
a million businesses connect using Zoom, a single platform for phone, chat, workspaces, events, apps,
and video. Zoom enables real time collaboration for teams around
the globe. Zoom how the world connects. Next up, speaking
of connecting, is going to connect on a lot of
three pointers for the Cleveland Cavaliers next season. This is
our interview with Max Drews. All Right, that was Max Drews,
(22:08):
the newest edition of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and I think
the biggest headline there was he said he expects to.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Start Yeah, which I mean, frankly, like whether or not
that's locked in like he should. Yeah, you know he was.
He was the team's kind of number one targeting and
free agency and the team's number one targeting free agency
is joining us at the desk. Hi Max, Welcome to
the Chase Down Podcast. My friend love it.
Speaker 4 (22:31):
Thanks for having me, guys.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
Thank you so much for joining. Welcome to Cleveland. First
thing I kind of want to ask you was this
team has been spending a ton of time together this offseason.
It feels like you've had five or six training camps already.
How has that helped you acclimate and kind of hit
the ground with a running start?
Speaker 10 (22:48):
Man, I needed a break. They were like, what are
we meeting? I was like, guys, I just got done playing,
Like what are we doing? But no, I love it.
I love the guys here, the organization as a whole,
everything that we're about here, I'm all in for. And
like you said, we've we've seen a bunch of each
other this summer already. I think, you know, I just
(23:09):
said it on the podium right here. I think a
team that's together is better than any other talented team
in the building. And I think the team that I
was on last year showed that, you know, we really
cared about each other. We cared about each other's successes,
and and that's contagious and promotes and promotes a winning environment.
I mean, one of the reasons why Carter and I
(23:30):
when we were doing our free agency previews and that
you are a number one target.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
You were the number one guy that we wanted, so
you were wanting you, we manifested. But one of the
reasons is I mean, obviously you're shooting that you bring
to the table, but in Miami you ran so many
of the similar options, actions like split cuts and actions
off of bam Adebayo, and with Evan Mobley looking to
take that next step as a playmaker, does the similarity
(23:54):
in those type of sets make it easier for you
to get acclimated with your new teammates.
Speaker 10 (23:58):
Absolutely, And I think we're trying to play like that
more as a team. So that was music to my
ears when they told me that, because I love playing
basketball that when the ball's moving, everybody's touching it. You know,
everybody's involved in the actions. It's just like I said,
it's just a positive thing. And guys are contagious and
and and it's it's great to play like winning basketball
(24:18):
like that, So I would I love playing like that.
I think Evan's fantastic. I think he's a great young player.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
You know.
Speaker 10 (24:26):
The the symmetry that I had with Bam, you know,
takes time, and I think me and Evan are going
to get you know, a lot of hours in the
gym together to build that relationship and the and that
coalition together. So it's gonna take time, but I think
it can be really special.
Speaker 4 (24:40):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
How much are you adding to that relationship? And because obviously,
you know, often Bam gets looked at as you know,
the initiator, but then you're providing kind of those secondary actions.
So from a leadership standpoint, is that something where you're
kind of letting other people know where they should be
located off ball or or giving advice to Evan in
that role?
Speaker 10 (25:00):
It's mainly the the the advice between me and Evan
is is gonna be huge. I don't want to step
on anybody's toes. You know, JB's understands basketball with the
best of them, so you know, all the conversation I've
had with him is we're all on the same page here,
so it's gonna be great. I think me and Evan
can grow together. And I've showed him clips of you know,
how me and Bam played together, and you know, areas
(25:22):
where I'm gonna get him the ball and then things
that I like. So I think it's it's gonna be
a special connection that that we're gonna build together, and
I'm looking forward to doing that with him.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
I know that oftentimes when you kind of have a
shooter label, people assume you do the same thing regardless
of context, which is obviously not true. What do you
expect to be different about your role here versus your
role in Miami over these past couple of years.
Speaker 10 (25:47):
Yeah, you know, I was, you know, in that just
shooting category in Miami, which I'm grateful for because I
do think I'm a very good shooter. So but I think,
you know, the defensive part of things, I don't think
people really can see. I think I defend a lot
better than you know, a lot of the shooters in
(26:08):
the league, and I think I can provide that to
this team, and you know, bring that. I just love
playing hard and I love playing good basketball. So anything
we can do to, you know, make that happen here.
I'm all four, and you know, I hope that the
fans can can see how much I care about that
other end of the ball, and we'll make it work.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
An follow up question on that end of the ball.
You spent a lot of time guarding fours last year,
and even like I think it was like twelve percent
of your time guarding fives. Do you expect to kind
of move back out to the perimeter a little bit
just due to the kind of the way the team
is constructed and what kind of challenges do you kind
of foresee with that.
Speaker 10 (26:44):
Yeah, definitely. I think it was a personnel thing in Miami,
just how the situations and how the matchups worked and
who was playing at that time. But I would imagine
i'd be out more on the perimeter with this team
being you know, bigger with the two bigs, and I'm
all for that though. I want to challenge myself. I
want to guard the best players possible. It happens in
(27:06):
the playoffs, everybody calls me up, and you know that's
nothing I'm not used to. So I'm looking forward to
the challenges and I want to make my presence felt
on that end of the ball as well.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Yeah, I was impressed just looking at the data of
how many positions you did defend, and like even in
that playoff series against Milwaukee, you know, you're you're guarding Broke,
sometimes you're guarding Drew. Like that is such a wide range.
But one of the other things that I noticed was
the last two years, like you know, they have the
tracking data and all that of how open your shots are,
and you were taking some of the toughest shots in
the league. I appreciate you guys doing your research. Oh
(27:39):
you're making me look good. Over you were in the
fourth percentile for how many open shots. Yeah, so one,
I think that's something that the cast didn't have, which
was someone that's willing to take those shots against those
late closeouts. But just in general, how much of an
advantage is it going to be for you to play
with playmakers that are maybe going to get you some
easier shots.
Speaker 10 (27:56):
Yeah, yeah, no knock to Jimmy Butler or Pam or anybody,
but it definitely was you know, tough shots, and I
love tough shots, like I love shooting him. I love
you know, making it difficult for some reason, But I
would love to take some easy ones for sure, and
I think you know, Darius and Donovan are are guys
that can provide that, along with Keras too. So we
(28:20):
just have so many guys that are talented with the
ball in their hand and the ability for me to
to create the spacing and like you said, take take
tough ones and make them. That's what I'm here to
do and that's what my career has been so far,
so looking to keep doing that.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
We're incredibly excited to have you here in Cleveland. Thank you,
Welcome to Cleveland and all the best of the season.
Speaker 4 (28:39):
Thank you, guys. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Really appreciate it, really appreciate Cleveland.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
And that was Max Strus great. Getting to know him great,
you know, getting some insight of the two man game
that he's going to be running with Evan Mobley. I
know we've been talking even since the playoffs ended that
we wanted to see, like if we could show mobiley tape,
but one player in the league, it was going to
be Bamana Bay. Also the fact that Max has been
(29:04):
doing that and they've been going through how he can
involve as a playmaker and implement those type of actions.
That's really really exciting to hear. But next up in
our interview series is a familiar face, Jared Allen. Carter
had a little gift for him. So if you want
to see, you know, the video components of this again,
(29:24):
you can go to the kaz YouTube channel. But here's
our interview with Jared Allen.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
And yeah, joining us at the desk of the Chase
Down Podcast at Media Day presented by Cleveland Clinic. We've
got Jared Allen. Jared, welcome, thank you, thank you for
joining us. So you're just singing your praises, yes, So
Jared was very hopeful that we could have you appear
at the desk because I have something of a gift
for you. So in my I'm not a podcaster by day,
(29:53):
that's a that's a side husk. The day job is
I work in esports and I work on Pokemon programming.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
So I had the benefit of going to Yokohama, Japan.
Oh this is for Pokemon worlds. Oh, I have a
bento box for you, Pokemon themed as well as a
limited edition Pikachu eating some ramen.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
You know, as a present for I saw this and
I was like, wow, they have I'm not I kid
you not. I saw this one and I'm like, wow,
those are amazing, but there's no way I'm going to
get one. You know, I'm not even saying it for
this bit. This is this is what I saw.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Amazing.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
That amazing.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
Well, very happy to give it to you. Jimmy Longo,
Cabs team photographer and friend of the Pod. I always
every year I'm in Pokemon World and I always bring
him back a bunch of swag, and I'm like, got
to set a little aside for Jared since since we're
going to be here, So enjoy your Bento box, enjoy
your enjoy your Pikachu, my friend.
Speaker 4 (30:55):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
All Right, I'll let Justin actually talk about bat we
get to the other thing.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Well, Carter and I were actually just talking about, you know,
JB's talked about how you guys are going to have
more of a movement offense and getting back to it
kind of where you were at two years ago. And
I think one of the areas of growth for you
individually last year was your passing, right, Like I thought
the reads you made in the short role were a
lot better. Is that something that you continued to work
on this offseason.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
That was definitely something this offseason. I had the main
connection with Evan. Last year we had games where I
threw him a lob, he threw me a lot. I
throw him a lob again. But now I want to
grow that connection with other players. Kris is an excellent
backdoor player, Darius is excellent coming off of pick and rolls,
and down Devan's excellent at finding a spot. So if
(31:41):
I can find those guys in different positions than just
throwing a lob, I feel I'm gonna do better.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
Yeah, And I wanted to ask about all the extra
spacing because it was clearly a priority for the Cavs
this offseason. They added extrus, they added George and Yang.
What does that do for your kind of decision tree
in terms of making your reads a little bit easier,
a little bit more margin for.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Air when there's more spacing. Any big can tell you
that that opens up the lane for pick and rolls.
That's something that I specialize myself in setting good screens
and being able to roll to the basket to put
pressure on the rim. And now this year, since we
have spacing around us, teams can't collapse on the pain
as much if they do Derisudanovin is going to find
(32:22):
the player in the corner and they're going to hit
the corner threes like they do. So it just leaves
a lot of room for me to open up on,
like you said, the passing game, to be able to
hit those guys.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Yeah, we talked about this a little bit with Keris,
But you know, people in general, they look at players
after their first couple of years and they're like, he's
a finished product. Jared Allen's a finished product right like
he is who he is. And it's funny because, like
you right now, we were just saying, you're the same
mate Tristan Thompson was when the Cavs won the championship
right where he took that leap. Individually as a player,
(32:55):
is there anything that you worked on, you know, within
your role to either expand it or to enhance something
you already do well.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
I also wanted to be able to play from the elbow.
That's a spot where I believe that I can improve from.
It's where I could play one on one defense. I'm
a quicker guy. I'm a quicker big. I'm more mobile
big than a lot of them. So I'm not saying
I'm gonna be playing from their every ISO possession. But
I think if I can catch my defender off guard,
(33:24):
I can make an impact on offense.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
I think that's also important too, because you know the
way that you and Evan get staggered. Having that guy
at the elbow, that's that outlet, that scoring thread really
can alleviate pressure when teams try to trap the guards.
And you know, you looking at the percentages, you were
actually one of the best mid ringe shooters on the
team last year. So are yea by percentage? Maybe you
gotta get ye Chase, Yeah, blame it on us, Will,
(33:54):
But so I have to imagine, you know, the scoring
from that range is part of it, just to get
the defender to come up.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
And it is it is. And like I say, if
one thing collapses and it opens up another thing. So
if my player comes up, somebody else is going to
be open. And if they sag off, I can go
do a DHO with Donovan, get him downhill. Just having
different threats from different areas for me just opens up
a lot for the rest of the team.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
With the roster changes this summer, we're likely looking at
more lineups that are maybe juiced as shooters, but the
point of attack defense might be a little different in
terms of how some of these lineups are built, and
someone like Evan or someone like you might have to
spend more time as that lockdown perimeter defender right right.
(34:40):
What kind of challenge do you think that's going to
be and how do you think you'll adjust to that.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
I think it's definitely going to be an adjustment. Just honestly,
my whole career has been excuse me, playing in the paint,
you know, being five feet from the basket. That's what
I'm used to. But now it's time for me to
take a step up and be able to switch one
through five. I've maybe switched one through four. Whatever they
need me to do, I'll do. I think it's going
(35:05):
to open up a lot for our defense. You know,
good teams you see in the playoffs are able to
switch one through five, and that's what we're trying to
be a good team in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
You know, you guys have had a lot of time
together already the training camps, Before the training camps, it
seems like it's an annual tradition for you guys. Now,
what are some of your impressions of your new teammates.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
First, I always say, great guys. You know, the basketball
part is going to take you as far as it can.
But then you have to find guys that really fit
what you're trying to do. Fit being able to come
into the locker room and put smiles on everybody's faces,
and that's exactly what they do. Good guys to be
around and have on the team. But basketball wise, they're
(35:46):
here to win. They know how to win games. Max
has been deep in the playoff. Ty has played with
amazing players. Georgia's he's gone deep too, So just having
guys with different backgrounds goes a long way.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Yeah, I have to imagine, and we're very excited to
see what this season is going to entail for you guys.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
We have high hopes.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
So obviously I think the continuity is going to be
very helpful. You don't have to integrate a major piece
like Mitchell. But we really do appreciate you giving us
your time today and all the best this season.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
Yeah, thanks for having me, guys, Thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (36:18):
Aciate it.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Thanks, it's fun catching up with Ja and up next, last,
but not least, it is our interview with Darius Garland.
We had a lot of fun with this one. You'll
probably want to check out the video as well. As
we got bombarded by Isaacle Coro and Tristan Thompson coming
in to bother us. It was a lot of fun.
But here is our interview with Darius Garland. I'm excited
(36:41):
to see our next guest here. Darius Garland is joining
us at the table.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
Darius, how you doing good? Great to see you. Thank
you for joining us here near the end of the
media day.
Speaker 7 (36:53):
I've been waiting on this.
Speaker 3 (36:54):
Heck yeah, man, So we've been waiting on this too
because we have some very import and questions direct from
your boy, Jamal Richardson. I happen Jamal Richardson. For those
that don't know, is Darius's training on the off season
Nashville based.
Speaker 4 (37:10):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
First thing he wanted us to ask you about, it's
the work you put in your body this offseason.
Speaker 7 (37:15):
Uh yeah, I mean he's been on the opposite end
of it, so we should have asked. So we should
have called him in and ask him how the all
season been. But yeah, I've been in the weight room
a lot, try to get some muscle, uh, try to
get some pounds on me.
Speaker 3 (37:32):
Was it something where like you kind of just said,
first bit, I'm just doing weight room and then I'm
getting back in the gym, or has it been fairly
consistent throughout.
Speaker 7 (37:40):
Like when we first when we first lost in the
first round, my first two months were literally strictly weight room,
like not touching the basketball at all. So then after
that I started implementing some basketball workouts and just getting
back in the gym with Jamal. But uh, Jamal has
been with me in the weight room every day this
entire summer, So shout out to him for doing that,
(38:01):
and uh, yeah, I'm just trying to see some progress
and uh, he's been on opposite opposite end of it.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
Well, that's interesting that you say that, because he said,
and I quote then ask him who gave him fits
defensively this summer and trainer versus client workouts?
Speaker 4 (38:19):
Where's the camera right there? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (38:22):
Yeah, oh the Jamal.
Speaker 7 (38:24):
Let's let's not talk about that, bro, Yeah, let's not.
Let's not even bring that up to these guys. But
trainer versus player, it was definitely a rough summer for
the trainer.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
Oh wow, oh wow, Well, thank you so much to Jamal,
friend of the pod. Oh wow, welcome Isaac to the
table real quick. Here he's giving you a stair down
right now, he's giving a stair down. He's giving you
the pressure. Exactly what's wrong with this is this is tense.
Speaker 7 (38:57):
See I need I need his workout regimen at these muscles.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
He looks great and he's used to pressuring you want
to see it, move it.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
He's used to putting pressure on the ball hand. So
you know this is right in the wheelhouse. Well, thank
you very much to Jamal friend of the pod.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
We love you, buddy for One of the things that
JB mentioned is that you guys want to run, you know,
more motion than the offense. Get back to kind of
a lot of things you did two years ago. And
obviously the first thing that clicked in my mind is
that means you probably have to get into it a
little earlier in the half court sets, early in the
shock clock. So is that a point of emphasis for
you of Donovan, of making sure that you're initiating the
(39:34):
offense early in the shot clock.
Speaker 7 (39:36):
Yeah, we definitely want to play with a lot more
faster pace this year. But then another note is trying
to get Evan and j evolved a lot more so
that's where emotion comes in. And with the two base
that we have, just not on the defensive side we
know they can do on the defensive side, but on
offense side they're really good passers. So just me and
(39:57):
Dob playing without the ball, try to get some easy
layups or some easy dunks, or some easy kickouts to
our new guys Max or George, and yeah, just try
to space the floor a little bit more instead of
just being so crowded just watching one guy just dribble
the ball for about fifteen twelve seconds and then shot
clocks and uh, try to get more movement, Try and
get some more body movement.
Speaker 6 (40:16):
I think that'd be harder for us, to.
Speaker 7 (40:19):
Harder for the other team than guard us, because we're
not just having the ball and not just worry about
one person just staring down the ball.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
I saw on Twitter a pretty crazy stat this week
that you are fifth all time in NBA history and
thirty point or thirty foot plus three point makes like
the deep deep threes your fifth all time in those makes.
Speaker 6 (40:39):
I don't even shoot them, as that.
Speaker 3 (40:42):
Was gonna be my question, believe it or not, because
really you were by a mile the highest percentage I
think you were thirty eight percent. I think staphf was
like thirty four percent. It was like Dame Trey Steph
Lebron than you.
Speaker 6 (40:54):
Really.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
Yeah, so I must ask you playing on shooting more
thirty footish this year.
Speaker 7 (40:59):
There might have to well else my percentage thirty eight
thirty eight, Yes, I mean that shoot.
Speaker 3 (41:06):
I think it was like forty.
Speaker 4 (41:08):
Five.
Speaker 3 (41:09):
So don't make me do math.
Speaker 6 (41:11):
Okay, yeah, don't make me do math. I'm not good
at math either.
Speaker 7 (41:15):
I'm glad you know what school did you go to?
Speaker 6 (41:18):
Texas?
Speaker 7 (41:19):
What school did you go to? Not for long, but yeah,
I'll definitely shoot some more. I got encouraged by our
coaching staff and by Kobe to shoot some more threes,
and so I'm with it. I'm ready to shoot some more.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
Yeah, I mean the most successful game you guys had
against the next was obviously, like you've being very assert
of taking those threes when guys would would go under.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
You're one of the rare.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
Players that's both elite both as a playmaker as well
as a three point shooter. How as a floor general
do you find that balance and is that something you
know that you kind of gradually work on.
Speaker 7 (41:51):
Yeah, I'm gradually working on it. I mean, with the
pieces that we just keep adding, I want to keep
sharing the ball as much as I can, but sometimes
my team is getting mad at me if I don't
shoot the ball as well.
Speaker 3 (42:05):
So it's definitely be the enemy of this exactly sometimes, right.
Speaker 7 (42:09):
But yeah, it's definitely just trying to find a balance.
It depends on what type of game it is. I mean,
if we need some scoring, I'll definitely shoot the ball
a little bit more. But if everybody has it going,
I'm definitely willing to just dish the ball out try
to get some whooping shots for someone else as well.
So just find a balance between games and and just
see how the flow is going throughout the game as well.
Speaker 3 (42:30):
I want to ask you about leadership because early in
your career, when the team is rebuilding, the team constantly
was bringing in vets, you know, and that was a
really big part of it. We need to bring vets
in for these young guys to show them how to
be a professional and help set a culture. As the
team has gotten better and as the talent has increased,
as you've grown as a player, do you feel like
(42:51):
that burden of leadership starts to shift from you know,
the end of bench vets to the core of the team.
Speaker 7 (42:58):
I've actually been feeling like I was a a leader
for a while now. I mean it's crazy. I'm me
and Dean are the longest longest guys that's been here. Crazy,
we're in our fifty years, so, I mean, i feel
like I've been around for a while. I know the ropes,
and i know what it's like to be a cavalier
(43:19):
now so and even an NBA player. So I'm definitely
taking on that leadership role this year. I'm gonna actually
embrace it. I Mean we've been saying I'm a leader
for three four years now, but I haven't really embraced
that role. So this is my chance to just really
embrace the role, just take it, and we just run
with it, really and I'm gonna try to do as
(43:40):
best as i can, learning how to just communicate with
different guys and trying to figure out Max and George
a little bit more and still bringing that still trying
to get that camaraderie with Don and yeah, I'm definitely
taking on that round.
Speaker 6 (43:53):
I am the leader of this team.
Speaker 2 (43:55):
Yeah, it's exciting to see just how much you guys
have grown, you know, as a unit and and adding
pieces like Max, adding pieces like George. Obviously that's exciting
from a fan perspective because I think it's going to
make life a lot easier. What's kind of been the
sense of getting to know those guys and working out
with them in kind of these pre training camp training
camps that you guys have had about nine of them.
Speaker 7 (44:18):
Literally, but I mean it's fun. I mean, Max, you've
had plenty of finals appearances. George has been really deep
in the playoffs, even bring attrition in went in the
ring in twenty sixteen and playing one of the best
players to ever played this game. Super cool, just having
their knowledge, super gy, just super cool. Just having guys
(44:40):
just being fear in the playoffs and coming to our
team and wanting to be in Cleveland just come help
us win as well. So super cool that they want
to be here, they want to learn, and they want
to play some great fun basketball.
Speaker 6 (44:51):
So that's what we're looking forward to.
Speaker 2 (44:53):
One of the things that has started out to us
is the last two years in particular, I feel like
you've shown a lot of growth on the defensive end,
which doesn't get talked about enough.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
Obviously.
Speaker 2 (45:03):
You know, JB says he's not naming a starting lineup
just yet, but you're you're going to be playing alongside
Donovan and with Max quite a bit this year, which
you know, when that's Isaac, he would take some of
that point of attack defense defensive responsibilities. Is that something
you're kind of putting on your shoulders as well as
I'm going to defend kind of these top point guards
because we're going to have to d up our guy
(45:24):
rather than cross matching.
Speaker 7 (45:26):
Yeah, I mean that's my little competitive nature in me.
I always wants to guard my position, and at this
highest level, the point guard position is probably the best
position in the It's deep. Yeah, it's super deep, especially
in the East. I mean we got a lot more deeper.
It's a lot more guys over here. So I definitely
(45:47):
want to take on that role. I'm a competitive so
whatever it needs to be done, I'm gonna do it.
I'm gonna try to do it to the best of
my ability. And yeah, I mean I'm ready to guard
all the point guards in the league really, so come
up for the challenge.
Speaker 2 (46:02):
Was that part of you know, adding the way because
I feel like your positioning has always been solid, but
you know, just those big bruising point guards that will
try to post.
Speaker 3 (46:09):
You up and stop it is that.
Speaker 2 (46:11):
Try to kind of combat that and also, you know,
obviously take a beating on the offensive end as well.
Speaker 7 (46:16):
Yeah, definitely trying to combat that a little bit. I
don't like getting posted as much. So I'm really I'm
ready to battle down there with some of the bigger
guards and yeah, I'm ready just to compete and be physical.
Speaker 3 (46:26):
What what defined success for you this season.
Speaker 7 (46:30):
Getting past the first round of playoffs? I just want
to be better than we were last year. If we
get past the first round, I mean we look forward
to the second round and others after that.
Speaker 3 (46:42):
But you're just four more wins away, exactly.
Speaker 7 (46:45):
So that's our thing. I just want to be better
than we were last year. I want to be a
better player player than I was last year, and overall
as a team as well. So get to the second
round that would be a dream of mint or a championship,
that's that's awesomate dream. But of course, yeah, just getting
past the first round.
Speaker 3 (47:01):
Well, you know, Chris said three or four seed, we're
saying one. Yeah, you're saying David to Fator up there.
Speaker 7 (47:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (47:10):
I mean he's a great guy friend of the podcast.
But yeah, the continuity you guys have and you know,
just adding the depth. I'm really excited for what this
season could be.
Speaker 3 (47:21):
Yeah. I had asked that question very carefully. I wasn't
going about to get cooked like Chris did. Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 7 (47:26):
Yeah, I'll always give Feodor a little hard time sometimes
we have a little back.
Speaker 3 (47:30):
Yeah, that's good. We just speak on behalf of Jamal.
That's how we protect us.
Speaker 7 (47:34):
I'll get Jamal in the summer time. He gets it.
Speaker 4 (47:36):
Good.
Speaker 2 (47:36):
Good, Well, thank you so much, Darius. We really appreciate
it and all the best.
Speaker 4 (47:39):
Of the season.
Speaker 7 (47:40):
Appreciate you have.
Speaker 4 (47:41):
A good one. All right.
Speaker 2 (47:44):
That was Darius Garland and that is our time for
media day. It has been a world one day. So
exciting to get the perspective of all these players, get
the perspective of Kobe and JB up at the podium,
and I can't be I couldn't be more excited for
the season to kickoff.
Speaker 3 (47:58):
Stupid life we lead, buddy.
Speaker 4 (48:00):
It is a stupid life we leave.
Speaker 2 (48:01):
But we really appreciate, we really appreciate everyone that hung
around live in the YouTube. Remember all the podium. Interviews
are going to be live on the calves into YouTube
as well, so you can go back and watch any
of those. You can find the Chase Down podcast wherever
you get your podcast. Make sure you like and subscribe.
Click notification bells so you know when we're going live.
If you listen to a podcast and you want to
suppor us there, leave us rating, leave review, subscribe unsubscribed,
(48:24):
resubscribe and help cook those books until next time.
Speaker 3 (48:27):
Go Cass no calves
Hosts And Creators
Carter Rodriguez
Justin Rowan
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