April 17, 2024 • 38 mins
Doug explains why the Warriors as we knew them are done, and they need to start clearing out the old and try something new moving forward. Doug welcomes long-time basketball coach and mentor, writer for TrueHoop David Thorpe onto the show to talk about the Warriors, explain how the Lakers might be able to beat the Nuggets and all of the other major headlines around the NBA. Plus, Dan Beyer takes Doug through a game of "For Better Or Worse?".
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Thanks for listening to the Doug Gotlieb Show Podcast. Be
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(00:26):
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(00:46):
Byer of course, Jason Stewart who's the steam producer of
the show, and Iowa Sam. Just a reminder of the
Doug Gottlieb Show podcast. There is an hour podcast only.
We did kind of line out the crazy fringe fringe
politics creeping into sports, both left and right. If you
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(01:09):
podcasts or go to the iHeart Radio app. So a
lot to delve into with last night's games. Stop me
if you've heard this before, but Zion Williamson is awesome
when healthy, and then he's always hurt, And of course
he got hurt last night, dropping forty points, which of
(01:30):
course opened the window for the Lakers to come back
and win and survive and move on, whereas the Pelicans
now have to play the Kings, and the Kings one
what amounted to a no doubter, a no doubter against
(01:52):
the Warriors last night game wasn't they couldn't. When the
Warriors can't win the third quarter, they don't win the game.
That has been their mo whatever adjustments they make, whatever
orange wedges they eat, they usually come out and dominate.
The third quarter. They didn't, and then early in the
fourth quarter, couldn't make a shot, couldn't get a stop,
(02:13):
a bucket here at and one there, And it was
never really never within single digits ever in the fourth quarter.
And I agree with the sentiments of Charles Barkley. I
agree with the idea that you want to and the
(02:36):
sentiments frankly of the players on the words you want
to keep dudes together. You want to keep dudes together,
but you can't do it at their current roles, and
their current roles demand gigantic salaries, and those have to
be adjusted this offseason or this is it, this is
(02:56):
the end. Here's Steve Kerr after the game.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
We've been really blessed here with amazing players and you know,
multiple championships and finals appearances and the highest of highs.
And this is the flip side. This is life. This
is how it works. You don't you know, you don't
get to stay on top forever. So what happens this
summer and going into next year, we'll worry about that later.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
What happens this summer, we'll worry about that later. Here
is here's Charles Barkley on TNT after the game.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
But he's not gonna get better. He gonna make less money,
but he ain't gonna get no better. Older people don't
get bit. Sports ain't for old people. That for young people.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
That's no distreence.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Pact plays a Hall of Famer, but he's lowered his number,
but he ain't. No Just because you lord his number
don't mean he gonna play better as he ages. It
doesn't worry.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
But play better in a different role, what role he
could play in, him better in a second unit role.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
But they who go put they're gonna put enough for him.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Yeah, I mean, that's that's why I'm saying to me.
If okay, we said, what should they do for me?
You can you can't get young you have to get younger, younger.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Vets Uh. Yeah, I mean, like, look, if we if
we go through the downfall of the Warriors, right, we
go through the downfall the Warriors. There's actually similarities there
to the Boston Celtics in the eighties, eighties and in
(04:33):
the nineties. Remember the Boston Celtics, they had two players
who could have elongated their franchise's historical success in the eighties.
First was Land Bias, who died a day after being drafted.
The other one was Reggie Lewis, who died after playing
and being an All Star for the Celtics. And then
(04:53):
you had Larry Bird's bad back. And yeah, obviously the
rise of Michael Jordan and the Bulls and all the
other competitors in the East. But the reality is, had
they had Land Bias or if Reggie Lewis had had lived,
(05:13):
who knows what their franchise would be like, they haven't
anybody die. But they had James Weisman who they drafted
and couldn't figure out how to develop, and then they
end up shipping him off. And then of course you
had Jordan Poole, who was an all star level talent.
But because of all the other stuff that took place
(05:37):
with the punch from Draymond Green that killed last season,
killed Jordan Poole, they had to get rid of him,
and what they brought back in return did not you know,
it'd given them cap relief in the future, but didn't
give them a chance to really win. So look, Steph
Curry's making fifty two fifty five fifty nine million dollars.
(06:01):
That's not changing. He's got two years left. They're not
shipping any anywhere. He's not going anywhere. Andrew Wiggins is
under contract. Draymond Green's under contract. But Draymond's deal people
see it as movable. The big question is what do
you do? You know, what do you do with with
Klay Thompson who's making forty three million dollars this year.
(06:24):
Klay Thompson can still play, he'd have to be your
fourth or fifth or maybe even sixth best offensive player.
You can still guard people, he can still make shots.
You can't depend upon him to give you twenty in
a game like that because you see the bad Klay
Thompson happens more often than than not. But the the
(06:45):
the writing is all over the walls, no matter how
much better they get on the perimeter, because last night,
all the all the Knicks, I mean the Knicks, all
the Kings basically did was head of the snake. Right
every time Steph Curry came off a ball screen, they
doubled him, made somebody else beat him. They tried to
(07:08):
deny him the ball. They you know, they really tried
to make somebody else beat him, and it worked because
they didn't have anybody else who could beat the Kings.
That's the reality to it. No one else could take
over a game. There wasn't enough shot creators. And he's
just not big enough to go get a ball. And
you know, Lebron James put his head down and and
(07:29):
you know, go through go through players like that, he's
just not And I told you this before, I believe
that Kevin Durant actually saved the dynasty, saved it because
the league caught up to them what they were doing,
which was unique and was special. Everybody else started kind
of copying it, and then Kevin Durant covered up the
(07:54):
fact that once they lost Andrew Bogan because when they
were up three games to one the Caves, everybody smartly
points out that Draymond Green got suspended and that cost
them basically two games, but they also lost Andrew Bogan
for the rest of the the series. I don't think
Bogat ever played It came back for a little bit
(08:15):
a couple years later, but ever played for the Warriors ever. Again,
they've never had a quality they had Zaza Pashulia right
after that. They've never had a quality big guy like
that who can handle pass at screens, shoot a little bit.
So they've never filled that void at center. Obviously, Clay's
(08:35):
injuries as well as age has worn him down. Draymond
has never figured out how to consistently make shots on offense.
Plus all of the other nonsense which used to be
kind of clever, and it kind of war on people,
and it's become constant suspension worthy. And what we have
(08:56):
to be real about, what you have to be honest about,
is it's not like the war years lost in the
Western Conference Finals two years in a row, and they're
this close, and hey, let's just pay Clay a little
bit less, bring in another guy and reload, and let's
do it again next year. They finished in tenth place
and lost by double digits to the Kings, who didn't
(09:18):
have one of their best players in a Malik Monk.
The Kings were supposed to be vulnerable because they haven't
been the same without after losing Order and Monk, and
they didn't look vulnerable at all last night. So, yeah,
it's over. And it probably was over last year when
(09:41):
they got swept by the Lakers. It probably was over
last year. But we could make it out well. Jordan
Poole thing, the Draymond Green thing. It was just toxicity
in their chemistry. And that sounds great when you finished
in tenth place and you don't actually you didn't even
make the second playing game, and you're playing against a
(10:05):
depleted team and you can't get it to single digits
in the fourth quarter. You're not close. You're not close.
So do I think you bail on Steph Curry?
Speaker 6 (10:24):
No?
Speaker 1 (10:24):
I think you try and write out the Steph Curry thing.
Do you try the best you can to reform yourself
and be competitive. Sure, but if you think they're close,
if you think this this run isn't over, I don't
know what you're paying attention to, you know, And this
(10:46):
is a feelings above fact sort of thing. Draymond Green
has been an awesome player, and I don't think he's
easy to replace. He may be irreplaceable, but is he
really bringing you value? Right now? If you're the Warriors,
there's a fifty to fifty shot with every time he
takes the floor whether or not he's going to get ejected,
(11:07):
and if he gets ejected, going to get suspended. Is
that about right?
Speaker 7 (11:10):
Is that about fair?
Speaker 1 (11:10):
If you watch a Warriors game. Okay, so he's supposedly
a superstar who can't score. Doesn't give you nearly the
advantage that he used to. I still think he's a
hell of a player. I'm not telling you he stinks,
but people have sort of figured him out. Some still
a brilliant defensive player, a tremendous passer. But we're in
(11:33):
a sport that values the ability to shoot the basketball,
and he can't shoot. And every game he takes the floor,
there's like a fifty to fifty shot. He's going to
get ejected. If he gets ejected, he gets suspended. Right
then he got Klay Thompson, who I love. Awesome player, Dude,
he played for my dad in aau Hey, my dad
(11:55):
is the reason that he went to Washington State. All facts, right,
But at some point you got to go like, dude,
we can't. We can't keep you at thirty forty. And
while a diminished role sounds like a good idea, a
diminished role in the same locker room doesn't always work
(12:17):
for guys, right, You mean to tell me you go
to the same locker room and all the stuff that
used to be clever, you know, riding a bike to
work and taking a boat to work and all the
Clay's different idiosyncrasies. When you're a bench player or if
you're the fifth starter, everything's different. It's really hard to
(12:40):
sit there and you're still wearing a Warriors jersey and
Steph's still doing Steph stuff. And when I'm gonna sit now,
and I do agree, there is a world where you
move him, you bring in another dynamic score, you bring
in a big guy, and he's better off. He can
still be a starting player. He's still a good player.
(13:00):
I was texting with NBA guys like dude, he's not
watching and still play. But this is what happens. The
older you are, the more times you have games where
you can't make a shot and your body doesn't cooperate
nearly as much. I get it, but that's really hard
to do. No one talked about this last night. It's
hard to do in the same locker room. I want
you to think about that in your job. Imagine okay,
(13:25):
imagine in my job. If I you know, if you
start working backwards, it's hard to be in the same
place and have a diminished role. Right vance Joseph with
the Denver Broncos is a great example. He was the
head coach of the Broncos. He goes away, he comes
back as their defensive coordinator. That's just weird. Now, imagine
if you're a player. So is there a part of
(13:50):
me that says, hey, get all of the juice out
of that orange you can The Warriors could still make
a little bit of a run. But the reality is
you cut away the feelings, You cut away the infatuation
with how they played, with how much fun they are
to watch, how much they've changed basketball, how easy Steve
kerr is to watch Coach Right, a dude who had
(14:13):
never blown a whistle a day in his life, becomes
the most successful coach in the last decade in the NBA.
A game, a sport changing player like Steph Curry, frankly,
a sport changing player like Draymond Green. Right, Draymond Game
became a six foot sixth center. We could win a
(14:34):
championship with Right, an unbelievable shooting weapon. And you just
sit there and go like, hey, I get it all.
I get that the Jordan Poole thing ruined you last year,
that the Weisman thing has hurt you, that the young
guys have struggled to come of age. I like the
young guys too. I like a lot of things there,
But the dynasty that's over. You were the ten seed, okay,
(15:00):
and you're you lost to the Kings who didn't have
one of their two of their best players, two of
their rotation guys, one starter, one rotation guy, and the
game was never close in the second half. And you've
dominated third quarters for the entire lifespan of Steve Kirb
being there, and you got outscored thirty seven to twenty
(15:20):
six in the third quarter. What are we doing here? Right?
This is the they got a DNY somebody should have
a DNR on the Warriors, right, Like it sucks to
have a DNR, but sometimes you're in a better place.
Speaker 6 (15:49):
Right.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Let Clay go to the Lakers play for the team
as Dad broadcasts from trade Draymond green Away. But whatever
you do, don't act like this dynasty is still going.
It's over. It was over previously. But when you're the
tenth seed, you lose to a ninth seed, the game's
(16:13):
not competitive in the second half, and they're injury riddled.
What are we doing? What are you chasing? Your thoughts
are always welcome at Gottlieb Show At Gottlieb Show, Twitter,
Instagram as well.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Be sure to catch the live edition of The Doug
Gottlieb Show weekdays at three pm Eastern noon Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
So did Mike Greenberg say that the Lakers should lose
last night? Am I getting this correct? I believe that's
what we said. And then they asked Darvin ham about it,
and Darvin Hann said something along the lines that you
should be an insane asylum. Is that right? Dan Byer
was that the kind of.
Speaker 7 (17:00):
The I have no clue, I have no idea.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
So here's the problem though, Like we keep crushing Greene's
terrible takes, and like Greenee has never really offered up
much in terms of controversial takes. He backs down from
him really quickly because he just doesn't like controversy. Super
talented guy, but he likes other people to say controversial stuff.
So there was a time a couple of weeks ago
(17:24):
where he said he like joked about Yukon being able
to win in the to make the playoffs in the
Eastern Conference. Yeah, and then he quickly like, I mean
I never said that, Like, well, you were joking, but
you did clearly say it.
Speaker 7 (17:38):
It was also right after they played Northwestern, the only
game that he.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Yeah, and it was just it was just a But
the point was, like he hadn't said had any takes
in forever. If that was a take, boy, that was
a hot one and it was a terrible one, just
like the Lakers should lose. But we talked about it,
like the Lakers in terms of the likelihood of success
in the first round, the playof they definitely should have
lost last night, But you can't run that risk. I
(18:07):
don't care how much you can feel like you can
dominate the Warriors or the Kings. You can't run that risk.
They had to win, but they're not beating the Nuggets.
It's not happening. Bad matchup for them. Bad matchup. Tired
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(18:49):
What is the draft coverage? You ask, what is the
draft coverage done? I'll tell you Draft Night Live on
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list of who we got on the radio. Jay Glazer,
who like knows everything, Steve Kim who's been in these
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(19:11):
who's been a top pick. Rob Stone of course Big
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all throughout the first round Fox Sports Radio presented by
Express Pros Doug Gotlieb Show Fox Sports Radio. David Thorpe
is our guest. Of course, you can listen and read
his workover at True Hoop. Of course, longtime coach, college pro,
(19:31):
workout coach, you name it. He's done it all and
connected with everybody in the NBA. David, thanks so much
for joining us. The Warriors is there. I love the
idea of again in theory. Hey, you move Clay to
your fifth best starter. You know, you bring in, you
package up some guys, you get a big you get
(19:52):
another guy who can create shots for you, and you
try and try and run this thing back. But like
they're a ten seed who lost to the Kings, and
the Kings didn't have you know, Monk and and hoorder.
Like it's over right amazing the Warriors thing over.
Speaker 6 (20:09):
I mean, Doug, I wrote an article, oh shoot, maybe
eight weeks ago Baker said, I trade everybody, and I
understand why you don't trade Seth Curry from a you know,
he's a jewel that produces a lot of money. But
it's really unfair to the rest of the basketball world
that you keep death when He's still good enough to
help a team. He could be the best player on
(20:30):
a champions team. But this team isn't it. I don't
see it them being it going forward. Uh, it's up
to death. Stef's got to say, guys, it's it's time.
You know, Dame Dame didn't want to be traded in
Toultimately he did, but I have no idea how Steph feels.
But yeah, I don't see it. It'd be very surprising,
(20:50):
very surprising sons going to pull a deal off to
make themselves contenders with uh, with what they have.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Stug Gotlieb show here on Fox Sports Radio. Okay, so David,
the Lakers win last night, which is great, so they
don't have to play another game, doesn't wear down their legs.
But the bad news is they get the Nuggets. That's
a tough matchup for him. Nuggets don't have the bench
they had last years. That part is different, but the
starters seem problematic. What has to What do the Lakers
(21:19):
have to do to make this thing a series?
Speaker 6 (21:22):
Well, first of all, I give him credit for trying
to win late in the season the way they did,
when they could have tried to somehow avoid the opportunity
to be at sevent seed is to play the one
team that they really don't have much of an answer for.
We saw the teams not try to win games, and
I really, I just I know you feel the same
way at some point as an old school basketball guy.
(21:43):
You got to try to win the games in front
of you. And I mean Lebron's taking two charges one
against Zion and told you how he was locked in.
But they've been playing great down the stretch. I really
appreciate that. The problem is what they need is unlikely
to happen. So the Lakers don't like to shoot threes,
even though ironically they shoot them really well thirty nine
(22:04):
point five percent in Mart's first which is where I
kind of start my analysis of all the teams. I
don't really care where they do in October November, and
they they are ready to do it because they murder
teams in the paint and Denver does a great job
of taking away threes allowing you to score in the paint,
and so I don't think they can score enough in
(22:26):
the paint to beat Denver. They're just getting two's, right, So,
assuming Yokers doesn't get kick Fires, Force and Murray is
healthy and all of that, you know, just matched up
man for man, they're just not merely as good. But
if Denver decides we're just getting you know, killed too
badly in the paint, which is possible with the way
Ad and Lebron can score down there, and they start
(22:46):
sending more resources to help clog that middle up, especially
at the area around the rim, then LA's just got
to let it go and instead of taking you know,
thirty three threes a game, then you know, got to
be forty forty one two like where Boston is aty
two or so, and continue to shoot well, which is
also not necessarily going to happen. Just because you're shooting more,
It doesn't mean you'll continue to shoot well, though they certainly could.
(23:09):
And then the other thing is they've got to find
a way to solve jokis no one no one ever
has really in the last four years. Get know it
is Doug in the playoffs, where you may just choose
not to guard certain guys, but Denver guys. Denver has
some guys that don't shoot well, especially in the corners. Uh,
but they cut and with Jokic being able to find everybody,
(23:30):
the fact that Aaron Gorn can't really shoot. Christian Brown's
not to get shooter thirty percent from three these last
few months. But they don't just stand there. So when
you ignore them to bring your resources elsewhere, they cleverly
find the open spots and knowing that Yoki will find them,
so it's just unlikely to happen. They seventh straight going
(23:51):
back to the finals and the eat Western con responds
in this season. It's just a bad matchup for him.
But the King is incredible. I have been, you know,
a fans fan. I've been analyzing him since he got
in the league, and I'm just blown away with what
he can still do. His speed is amazing. Duck, he
doesn't jump like he can't. He needs a real runway,
so he doesn't finish at the rim like he used to.
(24:12):
He gets there, he just doesn't elevate much. Uh maybe
he's got something left in him that we haven't seen
it a bit. But absent more threes and successful shooting
only coming from dominating the paint, they didn't really have
much of a chance to win. Maybe but a game
or two.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
Uh what about the Kings, we'd so you know they're
gonna match up with the Pelicans right, and you kind
of had the full Zion Williamson on display. Just too
quick and too quick for big guys to guard, too
strong for guards to guard. He dominates, but then he
(24:49):
tweaks a hamstring after having forty and they they don't recover.
Like therein lies the conundrum with with Zion. It's not
the talent, it's can he trust it'll actually be help
need to be out there playing.
Speaker 6 (25:01):
Yeah, you know we've seen We've seen young athletes struggle
with their health. Steph Curry famously did so with his ankle,
to a point where I was talking to Jams who
were on the phone with the Warriors about it potentially
a trade now they were mostly trying to trade back
then Monte Ellis, but Steph Curry was in some of
those discussions because he was just always injured. A change
(25:24):
in how we developed, I know. I know. My friend
doctor Holmes run an article at ESPN when I was
there many years ago, talking about it, writing about it.
Zion clearly has made a commitment to fitness that we
have yet we hadn't seen before. He looked fantastic. He
really looks the part. He was not finishing great. This
year compared to the Zion of the past, right even
(25:45):
with his new body, but that started. He's always been
a you know, an elite score just a guy that
could get a bucket separate from all this athletic talents.
He had a great feel for it. It had gone
away a little bit, and I think it's coming back.
So the hope for New Orleans longer term is that
it's a small injury. I'm glad they didn't let him
try to play it out and maybe we get it
much much more severe. I'd be out for a lot
(26:07):
of the summer. Keep doing what you're doing. But we
saw a glimpse of a guy that is MVP level talent.
And the hope is they did whatever is going on
with them physically, they're they're making progress with it. He
was better this year. The hope is he can get
back to the being the player we all thought he
could be, you know, next season, in many years going forward.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
David Torbar est here on the Doug Gottlieb Show on
Fox Sports Radio. Can anybody beat the Celtics in the East, Yeah, for.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
Sure, once team can. I believe I could be wrong,
but I believe the Sixers are thirty and seven with
Maxi and and the Book playing, which basically puts them
in the same position Boston was this year the maybe
sixty four sixty five win team. They've got. They got
wind and night just to get to get a chance
to play the Knicks. But yeah, I think Philly can.
(26:55):
I don't know that anyone else in the East can.
Indiana's had some good games to get them and lost
by fifty. That was before they had Siakam. The pace
is scary, it's not easy to play against what I
call blur ball. But Boston is a heavy favorite for
a reason. I was talking to an Eastern Conference player
yesterday last night, and he's just when he says. When
I was he told me he's in the playoffs, this
(27:17):
team might be playing Boston at some point, and he said,
it's just amazing to watch. It's not just a defense,
their offense too, And so yeah, they deserve to be
the big favorite that I picked him at such a
couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Stut Gottlig show here on Fox Sports Radio. What do
you think we see from n B tonight?
Speaker 6 (27:35):
Oh, he looks amazing. I don't think that you're going
to see the best he can be from a just
a rhythm and field standpoint. This is a hard game.
It takes a while typically, but you got to give
him and the Sixers a lot of credit for how
he looks like Zion. I've never seen mb look better.
(27:57):
In fact, there was a time I looked at him
a TV a little farther in and I thought at
first it was Mo Bomba and it was Joelle. What's
he made the movement? God, I can't beat Bamba.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
It was it was Joel.
Speaker 6 (28:07):
He looks incredible. He's as much a cheat code as
Yokic has ever been, in a different way, but still
really unsolvable. And I think it's going to be tough
for Miami. He's missing Josh Richardson and Rogier and Duckan Robinson.
It's not really a fair fight. If one for sponsor
being there as Jimmy Butler, no one would think Miami
(28:28):
can come it in twenty but those guys are there
and there is Miami is going to bring a fight
and a good plan. I'm sure I know what they
can do against Joel, but I just don't think it'll work.
And I think I think this takes those will likely obviously,
I ever think they'll likely prevail.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Stut Gotlib show here on Fox Sports Radio. Okay, in
the West, if we both think the the Lakers can't
beat the Nuggets, who is the team to most likely
give them difficulty? Oh?
Speaker 6 (28:59):
Boy, they're They're fortunate, you know. OKC is just so young.
But the way they play is interesting. We'll see how
they handle the fact that most of those guys, you know,
haven't really seen a playoff before. I think Minnesota's got
some defensive shops, but probably don't have enough. Phoenix has
(29:20):
really been playing better down the stretch, as has Dallas.
They both teams have the stars required. I think in
Phoenix's case, they have a coach that I just ranked
Bogo higher than I do. Jason Kidd. Luke obviously would
be the best of either side, but Phoenix is the
way deal played in April, just murdering it, doing everything
(29:41):
for them. Nurkic has kind of founded a defensive urgency
to them, which is good. I don't think anyone likely
beats Enver in the West, assuming they're healthy, but I
think both Dallas and Phoenix would be the most likely
team to do it. The Clippers are are just wild card,
right now, the way they competed down the stretch defensively,
(30:04):
I don't think they beat Dallas unless they turn around,
which is possible. But I started a lot of tape
on them. The metrics are with they are. They've not
been a serious defensive team for a while. I don't
know yet even how healthy Kawhi is. Hopefully he's full
strengths and if he is, and if they remember they
were the best team in the league for a little bit,
but that's a while ago. We've not seen that commitment
to the defense since. And I don't think the out
(30:25):
of the first round unless they really upgrade their defensive effort.
And then I sopink that series go seven because Dallas
was one of the better teams, one of the top
four defensive teams in a solid offensive team with Lukelan Kyrie.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
David, you are the best man. Really appreciate you join us.
Thanks to everybody over at True Hope, you guys do
a great job. Thanks for our guest on Fox Sports Tradio.
Speaker 6 (30:45):
Thanks I gouty to be good.
Speaker 4 (30:46):
Be sure to catch the live edition of The Doug
Gottlieb Show weekdays at three pm Eastern noon Pacific.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
Doug Gotlieb Show. It's Fox Sports Radio. You had a
good day. You should be your listenar SHOWH got a
good midway for you. Daniel Jeremiah joins us next hour.
But let's get to a game, shall we.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
This is game time on the Doug Gottlieb Show.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
All right there, Dan Byer, what's the game today?
Speaker 7 (31:20):
My man, Doug? The game today is for better or worse?
Speaker 1 (31:24):
All right?
Speaker 7 (31:25):
This is where we give Doug two topics. He gets
to tell us what's better or what is worse? Yeah,
with the two all right, Doug, for better or worse
for fans, repeat versus three peat? And I can explain
why this is being go ahead, put up there. Well,
the Denver Nuggets are going for a repeat of their
(31:47):
NBA title. I think it would be a good story.
And I think that that is a story that we
would follow. The Kansas City Chiefs next season will be
going for a three peat, and I think we kind
of tired, you know, get tired of the Kansas City Chiefs.
So the point is is a three peat is obviously
a better accomplishment, but are we getting more out of
(32:08):
the repeat than an actual three peat? So in your mind,
Doug better or worse repeat versus the three peat.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
I think the three peat is better. And here's my
only logic behind it. I just think it doesn't leave
any doubt to the dominance and it's the easiest sign
of a dynasty. Yes, back to back is incredible. Three
peat is ridiculous, Like the level of difficulty there is
so ridiculous. I think we're tired of the Chiefs, not
(32:42):
because of their success, because truth is, the ratings are
still up, They're still very popular.
Speaker 7 (32:47):
I think it's.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
I honestly think it's the Travis Kelcey thing. Sure, It's
just it's like the why was he is? You have
to chug a beer when you graduated college? Like we
knew you who you were. Dude, you're dating like he's
I gotta be on brand all the time, Like, no,
you don't come out of character, just be a dude.
So I think that's what we're tired of, not the
actual I don't get tired of watching Pat Mahomes pull
(33:11):
a rabbit out of his hat, Like how do he
do that? How did he win with that wide receiving
core this year? That's amazing?
Speaker 7 (33:16):
For better or worse, Jontay Porter versus Pete Rose, Boy,
I think what Pete.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
Rose did was worse. And I'll tell you why. The
doubt report shows that he bet on baseball while he
was a manager, and while he was a manager. And
for people who want to say, oh, hey, look, Pete
only bet on baseball, only bet for them to win, Okay,
(33:47):
but he didn't bet every day for them to win, right,
Wasn't like he bet one hundred and six two times
for them to win. So if you're taking Pete's bets
and he doesn't call in that day to say they're gonna,
what does that mean? And what did you sacrifice in
order to get those wins? And while not shooting a
(34:09):
three or not making a three or pulling yourself out
of a game hurts your individual line, what Pete was
doing is hurting the entire team, enfranchise and sanctity of
the sport. And he still hasn't come clean about it.
So yeah, I'm gonna say what what Pte do is worse?
Speaker 7 (34:24):
For better or worse? Doug CP three's injury label versus
Zion's injury label?
Speaker 1 (34:33):
Uh, for better or worse? I think it's Zoh wow.
Speaker 7 (34:43):
I'm proud of these today.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
I think this is a really good one. Yeah, I'm
gonna say, I'll tell you what I think CP three's
is worse, Okay, and I'll tell you why, because he
has passed the point of anybody giving him credit and saying,
you know what, he was hurt in that game, whereas
we're still in a sympathetic sort of man that sucks.
(35:08):
Zion's starting to figure it out. Dang, he got hurt.
Can't blame him for it. There's just there's no people
hate Chris Paul. Hate Chris Paul. And I know there's
other things that he's done, but like he's he's got,
he's got reputations not being a winner, and some fairly so,
a lot of it unfairly so because he was hurting
(35:32):
so many big instances.
Speaker 7 (35:34):
For better or worse Kings versus Pelicans on Friday Night
more of a pick than anything else.
Speaker 1 (35:41):
I'm gonna say. Now the Pelicans have dominated the Kings,
but they don't have Zion. I'm gonna say the Kings
for better, Kings for better.
Speaker 7 (35:53):
All right, for better or worse jerseys in public versus
the jerseys in public.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
You know, t shirts that jerseys in public are better,
jerseys are just terrible, terrible, like I I wanted to
wear my star player's number, but I didn't want to
afford to pay the actual jersey. The only thing worse
than that is the knockoff jersey. It goes in pecking order.
(36:19):
If we're going, you know, rank them, we go real
jersey one, s jersey two, knockoff jersey three.
Speaker 7 (36:27):
Iowa Sam, okay one, this is gonna be Kaitlin Clark
re liter Yes it is.
Speaker 8 (36:33):
What if you don't look good in a basketball jersey
like I do, I gotta go with the jersey a
T shirt underneath. Okay, Well, you're about to see a
whole lot of Kaitlyn Clark jerseys be walking around here
at FSR, so you better.
Speaker 7 (36:44):
Get ready for that. Have you ordered yours already?
Speaker 8 (36:47):
I'm getting mine on Friday. It was a gift from
someone else, and I might be gifting one of Mancy Bolanos.
It might be the exact same Kaitlin Clark black and yellow.
Speaker 6 (36:55):
Are you going?
Speaker 7 (36:55):
Are you gonna give actual jerseys to some and then
jerseys to others? Funny Dan?
Speaker 1 (37:01):
Yes, what's that jimmer for duck jersey? I have my
Tim Tebow.
Speaker 7 (37:07):
I don't know I don't know.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
I tieople know who Jimmerfredad is.
Speaker 7 (37:12):
I actually don't have a problem with the T shirt
jerseys because jerseys are just so expensive. I don't think
that I don't think that you're being phony by any means.
I think you're being cheap. All economics here, Yes, being cheap.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
And that's game time.
Speaker 4 (37:35):
This is game time on the Doug Gottlieb Show.
Speaker 1 (37:39):
Yeah. By the way, you'll hear it from Dan Byer
walk off home run with the Baltimore Orioles and it
was like the coolest walk off home run ever. We'll
get to that. Plus the end of the Warriors Dynasty.
What other dynasties can we related to? That's part of
the Midway that's coming up next to The Doug Gottlieb Show.
You're live on Fox Sports Tradio. I love the idea.
Thanks for listening to the Doug Gotlieb Show Podcast. Be
sure to catch us live every weekday three to five
Easter twelve, two Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find your
local station for the Doug Gottlieb Show at Foxsports Radio
dot com, or stream us live every day on the
iHeartRadio app by searching app aspal Boom one of America
Doug Gottlieb Show, Fick Spots Radio. Hope you're doing great.
(00:26):
Doug Gottlieb Show broadcast live from the tyrat dot com studios.
Tyrat dot com. Let me get there. Unmatched selection, fast
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welcome in. All the boys are here, my man Dan
(00:46):
Byer of course, Jason Stewart who's the steam producer of
the show, and Iowa Sam. Just a reminder of the
Doug Gottlieb Show podcast. There is an hour podcast only.
We did kind of line out the crazy fringe fringe
politics creeping into sports, both left and right. If you
want to hear any of that, or any of this
show on podcast form, just download it wherever you download
(01:09):
podcasts or go to the iHeart Radio app. So a
lot to delve into with last night's games. Stop me
if you've heard this before, but Zion Williamson is awesome
when healthy, and then he's always hurt, And of course
he got hurt last night, dropping forty points, which of
(01:30):
course opened the window for the Lakers to come back
and win and survive and move on, whereas the Pelicans
now have to play the Kings, and the Kings one
what amounted to a no doubter, a no doubter against
(01:52):
the Warriors last night game wasn't they couldn't. When the
Warriors can't win the third quarter, they don't win the game.
That has been their mo whatever adjustments they make, whatever
orange wedges they eat, they usually come out and dominate.
The third quarter. They didn't, and then early in the
fourth quarter, couldn't make a shot, couldn't get a stop,
(02:13):
a bucket here at and one there, And it was
never really never within single digits ever in the fourth quarter.
And I agree with the sentiments of Charles Barkley. I
agree with the idea that you want to and the
(02:36):
sentiments frankly of the players on the words you want
to keep dudes together. You want to keep dudes together,
but you can't do it at their current roles, and
their current roles demand gigantic salaries, and those have to
be adjusted this offseason or this is it, this is
(02:56):
the end. Here's Steve Kerr after the game.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
We've been really blessed here with amazing players and you know,
multiple championships and finals appearances and the highest of highs.
And this is the flip side. This is life. This
is how it works. You don't you know, you don't
get to stay on top forever. So what happens this
summer and going into next year, we'll worry about that later.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
What happens this summer, we'll worry about that later. Here
is here's Charles Barkley on TNT after the game.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
But he's not gonna get better. He gonna make less money,
but he ain't gonna get no better. Older people don't
get bit. Sports ain't for old people. That for young people.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
That's no distreence.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Pact plays a Hall of Famer, but he's lowered his number,
but he ain't. No Just because you lord his number
don't mean he gonna play better as he ages. It
doesn't worry.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
But play better in a different role, what role he
could play in, him better in a second unit role.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
But they who go put they're gonna put enough for him.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Yeah, I mean, that's that's why I'm saying to me.
If okay, we said, what should they do for me?
You can you can't get young you have to get younger, younger.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Vets Uh. Yeah, I mean, like, look, if we if
we go through the downfall of the Warriors, right, we
go through the downfall the Warriors. There's actually similarities there
to the Boston Celtics in the eighties, eighties and in
(04:33):
the nineties. Remember the Boston Celtics, they had two players
who could have elongated their franchise's historical success in the eighties.
First was Land Bias, who died a day after being drafted.
The other one was Reggie Lewis, who died after playing
and being an All Star for the Celtics. And then
(04:53):
you had Larry Bird's bad back. And yeah, obviously the
rise of Michael Jordan and the Bulls and all the
other competitors in the East. But the reality is, had
they had Land Bias or if Reggie Lewis had had lived,
(05:13):
who knows what their franchise would be like, they haven't
anybody die. But they had James Weisman who they drafted
and couldn't figure out how to develop, and then they
end up shipping him off. And then of course you
had Jordan Poole, who was an all star level talent.
But because of all the other stuff that took place
(05:37):
with the punch from Draymond Green that killed last season,
killed Jordan Poole, they had to get rid of him,
and what they brought back in return did not you know,
it'd given them cap relief in the future, but didn't
give them a chance to really win. So look, Steph
Curry's making fifty two fifty five fifty nine million dollars.
(06:01):
That's not changing. He's got two years left. They're not
shipping any anywhere. He's not going anywhere. Andrew Wiggins is
under contract. Draymond Green's under contract. But Draymond's deal people
see it as movable. The big question is what do
you do? You know, what do you do with with
Klay Thompson who's making forty three million dollars this year.
(06:24):
Klay Thompson can still play, he'd have to be your
fourth or fifth or maybe even sixth best offensive player.
You can still guard people, he can still make shots.
You can't depend upon him to give you twenty in
a game like that because you see the bad Klay
Thompson happens more often than than not. But the the
(06:45):
the writing is all over the walls, no matter how
much better they get on the perimeter, because last night,
all the all the Knicks, I mean the Knicks, all
the Kings basically did was head of the snake. Right
every time Steph Curry came off a ball screen, they
doubled him, made somebody else beat him. They tried to
(07:08):
deny him the ball. They you know, they really tried
to make somebody else beat him, and it worked because
they didn't have anybody else who could beat the Kings.
That's the reality to it. No one else could take
over a game. There wasn't enough shot creators. And he's
just not big enough to go get a ball. And
you know, Lebron James put his head down and and
(07:29):
you know, go through go through players like that, he's
just not And I told you this before, I believe
that Kevin Durant actually saved the dynasty, saved it because
the league caught up to them what they were doing,
which was unique and was special. Everybody else started kind
of copying it, and then Kevin Durant covered up the
(07:54):
fact that once they lost Andrew Bogan because when they
were up three games to one the Caves, everybody smartly
points out that Draymond Green got suspended and that cost
them basically two games, but they also lost Andrew Bogan
for the rest of the the series. I don't think
Bogat ever played It came back for a little bit
(08:15):
a couple years later, but ever played for the Warriors ever. Again,
they've never had a quality they had Zaza Pashulia right
after that. They've never had a quality big guy like
that who can handle pass at screens, shoot a little bit.
So they've never filled that void at center. Obviously, Clay's
(08:35):
injuries as well as age has worn him down. Draymond
has never figured out how to consistently make shots on offense.
Plus all of the other nonsense which used to be
kind of clever, and it kind of war on people,
and it's become constant suspension worthy. And what we have
(08:56):
to be real about, what you have to be honest about,
is it's not like the war years lost in the
Western Conference Finals two years in a row, and they're
this close, and hey, let's just pay Clay a little
bit less, bring in another guy and reload, and let's
do it again next year. They finished in tenth place
and lost by double digits to the Kings, who didn't
(09:18):
have one of their best players in a Malik Monk.
The Kings were supposed to be vulnerable because they haven't
been the same without after losing Order and Monk, and
they didn't look vulnerable at all last night. So, yeah,
it's over. And it probably was over last year when
(09:41):
they got swept by the Lakers. It probably was over
last year. But we could make it out well. Jordan
Poole thing, the Draymond Green thing. It was just toxicity
in their chemistry. And that sounds great when you finished
in tenth place and you don't actually you didn't even
make the second playing game, and you're playing against a
(10:05):
depleted team and you can't get it to single digits
in the fourth quarter. You're not close. You're not close.
So do I think you bail on Steph Curry?
Speaker 6 (10:24):
No?
Speaker 1 (10:24):
I think you try and write out the Steph Curry thing.
Do you try the best you can to reform yourself
and be competitive. Sure, but if you think they're close,
if you think this this run isn't over, I don't
know what you're paying attention to, you know, And this
(10:46):
is a feelings above fact sort of thing. Draymond Green
has been an awesome player, and I don't think he's
easy to replace. He may be irreplaceable, but is he
really bringing you value? Right now? If you're the Warriors,
there's a fifty to fifty shot with every time he
takes the floor whether or not he's going to get ejected,
(11:07):
and if he gets ejected, going to get suspended. Is
that about right?
Speaker 7 (11:10):
Is that about fair?
Speaker 1 (11:10):
If you watch a Warriors game. Okay, so he's supposedly
a superstar who can't score. Doesn't give you nearly the
advantage that he used to. I still think he's a
hell of a player. I'm not telling you he stinks,
but people have sort of figured him out. Some still
a brilliant defensive player, a tremendous passer. But we're in
(11:33):
a sport that values the ability to shoot the basketball,
and he can't shoot. And every game he takes the floor,
there's like a fifty to fifty shot. He's going to
get ejected. If he gets ejected, he gets suspended. Right
then he got Klay Thompson, who I love. Awesome player, Dude,
he played for my dad in aau Hey, my dad
(11:55):
is the reason that he went to Washington State. All facts, right,
But at some point you got to go like, dude,
we can't. We can't keep you at thirty forty. And
while a diminished role sounds like a good idea, a
diminished role in the same locker room doesn't always work
(12:17):
for guys, right, You mean to tell me you go
to the same locker room and all the stuff that
used to be clever, you know, riding a bike to
work and taking a boat to work and all the
Clay's different idiosyncrasies. When you're a bench player or if
you're the fifth starter, everything's different. It's really hard to
(12:40):
sit there and you're still wearing a Warriors jersey and
Steph's still doing Steph stuff. And when I'm gonna sit now,
and I do agree, there is a world where you
move him, you bring in another dynamic score, you bring
in a big guy, and he's better off. He can
still be a starting player. He's still a good player.
(13:00):
I was texting with NBA guys like dude, he's not
watching and still play. But this is what happens. The
older you are, the more times you have games where
you can't make a shot and your body doesn't cooperate
nearly as much. I get it, but that's really hard
to do. No one talked about this last night. It's
hard to do in the same locker room. I want
you to think about that in your job. Imagine okay,
(13:25):
imagine in my job. If I you know, if you
start working backwards, it's hard to be in the same
place and have a diminished role. Right vance Joseph with
the Denver Broncos is a great example. He was the
head coach of the Broncos. He goes away, he comes
back as their defensive coordinator. That's just weird. Now, imagine
if you're a player. So is there a part of
(13:50):
me that says, hey, get all of the juice out
of that orange you can The Warriors could still make
a little bit of a run. But the reality is
you cut away the feelings, You cut away the infatuation
with how they played, with how much fun they are
to watch, how much they've changed basketball, how easy Steve
kerr is to watch Coach Right, a dude who had
(14:13):
never blown a whistle a day in his life, becomes
the most successful coach in the last decade in the NBA.
A game, a sport changing player like Steph Curry, frankly,
a sport changing player like Draymond Green. Right, Draymond Game
became a six foot sixth center. We could win a
(14:34):
championship with Right, an unbelievable shooting weapon. And you just
sit there and go like, hey, I get it all.
I get that the Jordan Poole thing ruined you last year,
that the Weisman thing has hurt you, that the young
guys have struggled to come of age. I like the
young guys too. I like a lot of things there,
But the dynasty that's over. You were the ten seed, okay,
(15:00):
and you're you lost to the Kings who didn't have
one of their two of their best players, two of
their rotation guys, one starter, one rotation guy, and the
game was never close in the second half. And you've
dominated third quarters for the entire lifespan of Steve Kirb
being there, and you got outscored thirty seven to twenty
(15:20):
six in the third quarter. What are we doing here? Right?
This is the they got a DNY somebody should have
a DNR on the Warriors, right, Like it sucks to
have a DNR, but sometimes you're in a better place.
Speaker 6 (15:49):
Right.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Let Clay go to the Lakers play for the team
as Dad broadcasts from trade Draymond green Away. But whatever
you do, don't act like this dynasty is still going.
It's over. It was over previously. But when you're the
tenth seed, you lose to a ninth seed, the game's
(16:13):
not competitive in the second half, and they're injury riddled.
What are we doing? What are you chasing? Your thoughts
are always welcome at Gottlieb Show At Gottlieb Show, Twitter,
Instagram as well.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Be sure to catch the live edition of The Doug
Gottlieb Show weekdays at three pm Eastern noon Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
So did Mike Greenberg say that the Lakers should lose
last night? Am I getting this correct? I believe that's
what we said. And then they asked Darvin ham about it,
and Darvin Hann said something along the lines that you
should be an insane asylum. Is that right? Dan Byer
was that the kind of.
Speaker 7 (17:00):
The I have no clue, I have no idea.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
So here's the problem though, Like we keep crushing Greene's
terrible takes, and like Greenee has never really offered up
much in terms of controversial takes. He backs down from
him really quickly because he just doesn't like controversy. Super
talented guy, but he likes other people to say controversial stuff.
So there was a time a couple of weeks ago
(17:24):
where he said he like joked about Yukon being able
to win in the to make the playoffs in the
Eastern Conference. Yeah, and then he quickly like, I mean
I never said that, Like, well, you were joking, but
you did clearly say it.
Speaker 7 (17:38):
It was also right after they played Northwestern, the only
game that he.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Yeah, and it was just it was just a But
the point was, like he hadn't said had any takes
in forever. If that was a take, boy, that was
a hot one and it was a terrible one, just
like the Lakers should lose. But we talked about it,
like the Lakers in terms of the likelihood of success
in the first round, the playof they definitely should have
lost last night, But you can't run that risk. I
(18:07):
don't care how much you can feel like you can
dominate the Warriors or the Kings. You can't run that risk.
They had to win, but they're not beating the Nuggets.
It's not happening. Bad matchup for them. Bad matchup. Tired
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(18:29):
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With the first round of the Draft starting next Thursday.
Our thanks and our sponsor to our sponsor, Express Pros
for being our presenting sponsor for Fox Sports Radios draft coverage.
(18:49):
What is the draft coverage? You ask, what is the
draft coverage done? I'll tell you Draft Night Live on
Fox Sports Radios next Thursday, eight Eastern. Check out the
list of who we got on the radio. Jay Glazer,
who like knows everything, Steve Kim who's been in these
draft rooms and taken number one overall picks, LaVar Arrington,
(19:11):
who's been a top pick. Rob Stone of course Big
noon kickoffs Robstone. So that's next Thursday, eight pm Eastern
all throughout the first round Fox Sports Radio presented by
Express Pros Doug Gotlieb Show Fox Sports Radio. David Thorpe
is our guest. Of course, you can listen and read
his workover at True Hoop. Of course, longtime coach, college pro,
(19:31):
workout coach, you name it. He's done it all and
connected with everybody in the NBA. David, thanks so much
for joining us. The Warriors is there. I love the
idea of again in theory. Hey, you move Clay to
your fifth best starter. You know, you bring in, you
package up some guys, you get a big you get
(19:52):
another guy who can create shots for you, and you
try and try and run this thing back. But like
they're a ten seed who lost to the Kings, and
the Kings didn't have you know, Monk and and hoorder.
Like it's over right amazing the Warriors thing over.
Speaker 6 (20:09):
I mean, Doug, I wrote an article, oh shoot, maybe
eight weeks ago Baker said, I trade everybody, and I
understand why you don't trade Seth Curry from a you know,
he's a jewel that produces a lot of money. But
it's really unfair to the rest of the basketball world
that you keep death when He's still good enough to
help a team. He could be the best player on
(20:30):
a champions team. But this team isn't it. I don't
see it them being it going forward. Uh, it's up
to death. Stef's got to say, guys, it's it's time.
You know, Dame Dame didn't want to be traded in
Toultimately he did, but I have no idea how Steph feels.
But yeah, I don't see it. It'd be very surprising,
(20:50):
very surprising sons going to pull a deal off to
make themselves contenders with uh, with what they have.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Stug Gotlieb show here on Fox Sports Radio. Okay, so David,
the Lakers win last night, which is great, so they
don't have to play another game, doesn't wear down their legs.
But the bad news is they get the Nuggets. That's
a tough matchup for him. Nuggets don't have the bench
they had last years. That part is different, but the
starters seem problematic. What has to What do the Lakers
(21:19):
have to do to make this thing a series?
Speaker 6 (21:22):
Well, first of all, I give him credit for trying
to win late in the season the way they did,
when they could have tried to somehow avoid the opportunity
to be at sevent seed is to play the one
team that they really don't have much of an answer for.
We saw the teams not try to win games, and
I really, I just I know you feel the same
way at some point as an old school basketball guy.
(21:43):
You got to try to win the games in front
of you. And I mean Lebron's taking two charges one
against Zion and told you how he was locked in.
But they've been playing great down the stretch. I really
appreciate that. The problem is what they need is unlikely
to happen. So the Lakers don't like to shoot threes,
even though ironically they shoot them really well thirty nine
(22:04):
point five percent in Mart's first which is where I
kind of start my analysis of all the teams. I
don't really care where they do in October November, and
they they are ready to do it because they murder
teams in the paint and Denver does a great job
of taking away threes allowing you to score in the paint,
and so I don't think they can score enough in
(22:26):
the paint to beat Denver. They're just getting two's, right, So,
assuming Yokers doesn't get kick Fires, Force and Murray is
healthy and all of that, you know, just matched up
man for man, they're just not merely as good. But
if Denver decides we're just getting you know, killed too
badly in the paint, which is possible with the way
Ad and Lebron can score down there, and they start
(22:46):
sending more resources to help clog that middle up, especially
at the area around the rim, then LA's just got
to let it go and instead of taking you know,
thirty three threes a game, then you know, got to
be forty forty one two like where Boston is aty
two or so, and continue to shoot well, which is
also not necessarily going to happen. Just because you're shooting more,
It doesn't mean you'll continue to shoot well, though they certainly could.
(23:09):
And then the other thing is they've got to find
a way to solve jokis no one no one ever
has really in the last four years. Get know it
is Doug in the playoffs, where you may just choose
not to guard certain guys, but Denver guys. Denver has
some guys that don't shoot well, especially in the corners. Uh,
but they cut and with Jokic being able to find everybody,
(23:30):
the fact that Aaron Gorn can't really shoot. Christian Brown's
not to get shooter thirty percent from three these last
few months. But they don't just stand there. So when
you ignore them to bring your resources elsewhere, they cleverly
find the open spots and knowing that Yoki will find them,
so it's just unlikely to happen. They seventh straight going
(23:51):
back to the finals and the eat Western con responds
in this season. It's just a bad matchup for him.
But the King is incredible. I have been, you know,
a fans fan. I've been analyzing him since he got
in the league, and I'm just blown away with what
he can still do. His speed is amazing. Duck, he
doesn't jump like he can't. He needs a real runway,
so he doesn't finish at the rim like he used to.
(24:12):
He gets there, he just doesn't elevate much. Uh maybe
he's got something left in him that we haven't seen
it a bit. But absent more threes and successful shooting
only coming from dominating the paint, they didn't really have
much of a chance to win. Maybe but a game
or two.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
Uh what about the Kings, we'd so you know they're
gonna match up with the Pelicans right, and you kind
of had the full Zion Williamson on display. Just too
quick and too quick for big guys to guard, too
strong for guards to guard. He dominates, but then he
(24:49):
tweaks a hamstring after having forty and they they don't recover.
Like therein lies the conundrum with with Zion. It's not
the talent, it's can he trust it'll actually be help
need to be out there playing.
Speaker 6 (25:01):
Yeah, you know we've seen We've seen young athletes struggle
with their health. Steph Curry famously did so with his ankle,
to a point where I was talking to Jams who
were on the phone with the Warriors about it potentially
a trade now they were mostly trying to trade back
then Monte Ellis, but Steph Curry was in some of
those discussions because he was just always injured. A change
(25:24):
in how we developed, I know. I know. My friend
doctor Holmes run an article at ESPN when I was
there many years ago, talking about it, writing about it.
Zion clearly has made a commitment to fitness that we
have yet we hadn't seen before. He looked fantastic. He
really looks the part. He was not finishing great. This
year compared to the Zion of the past, right even
(25:45):
with his new body, but that started. He's always been
a you know, an elite score just a guy that
could get a bucket separate from all this athletic talents.
He had a great feel for it. It had gone
away a little bit, and I think it's coming back.
So the hope for New Orleans longer term is that
it's a small injury. I'm glad they didn't let him
try to play it out and maybe we get it
much much more severe. I'd be out for a lot
(26:07):
of the summer. Keep doing what you're doing. But we
saw a glimpse of a guy that is MVP level talent.
And the hope is they did whatever is going on
with them physically, they're they're making progress with it. He
was better this year. The hope is he can get
back to the being the player we all thought he
could be, you know, next season, in many years going forward.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
David Torbar est here on the Doug Gottlieb Show on
Fox Sports Radio. Can anybody beat the Celtics in the East, Yeah, for.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
Sure, once team can. I believe I could be wrong,
but I believe the Sixers are thirty and seven with
Maxi and and the Book playing, which basically puts them
in the same position Boston was this year the maybe
sixty four sixty five win team. They've got. They got
wind and night just to get to get a chance
to play the Knicks. But yeah, I think Philly can.
(26:55):
I don't know that anyone else in the East can.
Indiana's had some good games to get them and lost
by fifty. That was before they had Siakam. The pace
is scary, it's not easy to play against what I
call blur ball. But Boston is a heavy favorite for
a reason. I was talking to an Eastern Conference player
yesterday last night, and he's just when he says. When
I was he told me he's in the playoffs, this
(27:17):
team might be playing Boston at some point, and he said,
it's just amazing to watch. It's not just a defense,
their offense too, And so yeah, they deserve to be
the big favorite that I picked him at such a
couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Stut Gottlig show here on Fox Sports Radio. What do
you think we see from n B tonight?
Speaker 6 (27:35):
Oh, he looks amazing. I don't think that you're going
to see the best he can be from a just
a rhythm and field standpoint. This is a hard game.
It takes a while typically, but you got to give
him and the Sixers a lot of credit for how
he looks like Zion. I've never seen mb look better.
(27:57):
In fact, there was a time I looked at him
a TV a little farther in and I thought at
first it was Mo Bomba and it was Joelle. What's
he made the movement? God, I can't beat Bamba.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
It was it was Joel.
Speaker 6 (28:07):
He looks incredible. He's as much a cheat code as
Yokic has ever been, in a different way, but still
really unsolvable. And I think it's going to be tough
for Miami. He's missing Josh Richardson and Rogier and Duckan Robinson.
It's not really a fair fight. If one for sponsor
being there as Jimmy Butler, no one would think Miami
(28:28):
can come it in twenty but those guys are there
and there is Miami is going to bring a fight
and a good plan. I'm sure I know what they
can do against Joel, but I just don't think it'll work.
And I think I think this takes those will likely obviously,
I ever think they'll likely prevail.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Stut Gotlib show here on Fox Sports Radio. Okay, in
the West, if we both think the the Lakers can't
beat the Nuggets, who is the team to most likely
give them difficulty? Oh?
Speaker 6 (28:59):
Boy, they're They're fortunate, you know. OKC is just so young.
But the way they play is interesting. We'll see how
they handle the fact that most of those guys, you know,
haven't really seen a playoff before. I think Minnesota's got
some defensive shops, but probably don't have enough. Phoenix has
(29:20):
really been playing better down the stretch, as has Dallas.
They both teams have the stars required. I think in
Phoenix's case, they have a coach that I just ranked
Bogo higher than I do. Jason Kidd. Luke obviously would
be the best of either side, but Phoenix is the
way deal played in April, just murdering it, doing everything
(29:41):
for them. Nurkic has kind of founded a defensive urgency
to them, which is good. I don't think anyone likely
beats Enver in the West, assuming they're healthy, but I
think both Dallas and Phoenix would be the most likely
team to do it. The Clippers are are just wild card,
right now, the way they competed down the stretch defensively,
(30:04):
I don't think they beat Dallas unless they turn around,
which is possible. But I started a lot of tape
on them. The metrics are with they are. They've not
been a serious defensive team for a while. I don't
know yet even how healthy Kawhi is. Hopefully he's full
strengths and if he is, and if they remember they
were the best team in the league for a little bit,
but that's a while ago. We've not seen that commitment
to the defense since. And I don't think the out
(30:25):
of the first round unless they really upgrade their defensive effort.
And then I sopink that series go seven because Dallas
was one of the better teams, one of the top
four defensive teams in a solid offensive team with Lukelan Kyrie.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
David, you are the best man. Really appreciate you join us.
Thanks to everybody over at True Hope, you guys do
a great job. Thanks for our guest on Fox Sports Tradio.
Speaker 6 (30:45):
Thanks I gouty to be good.
Speaker 4 (30:46):
Be sure to catch the live edition of The Doug
Gottlieb Show weekdays at three pm Eastern noon Pacific.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
Doug Gotlieb Show. It's Fox Sports Radio. You had a
good day. You should be your listenar SHOWH got a
good midway for you. Daniel Jeremiah joins us next hour.
But let's get to a game, shall we.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
This is game time on the Doug Gottlieb Show.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
All right there, Dan Byer, what's the game today?
Speaker 7 (31:20):
My man, Doug? The game today is for better or worse?
Speaker 1 (31:24):
All right?
Speaker 7 (31:25):
This is where we give Doug two topics. He gets
to tell us what's better or what is worse? Yeah,
with the two all right, Doug, for better or worse
for fans, repeat versus three peat? And I can explain
why this is being go ahead, put up there. Well,
the Denver Nuggets are going for a repeat of their
(31:47):
NBA title. I think it would be a good story.
And I think that that is a story that we
would follow. The Kansas City Chiefs next season will be
going for a three peat, and I think we kind
of tired, you know, get tired of the Kansas City Chiefs.
So the point is is a three peat is obviously
a better accomplishment, but are we getting more out of
(32:08):
the repeat than an actual three peat? So in your mind,
Doug better or worse repeat versus the three peat.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
I think the three peat is better. And here's my
only logic behind it. I just think it doesn't leave
any doubt to the dominance and it's the easiest sign
of a dynasty. Yes, back to back is incredible. Three
peat is ridiculous, Like the level of difficulty there is
so ridiculous. I think we're tired of the Chiefs, not
(32:42):
because of their success, because truth is, the ratings are
still up, They're still very popular.
Speaker 7 (32:47):
I think it's.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
I honestly think it's the Travis Kelcey thing. Sure, It's
just it's like the why was he is? You have
to chug a beer when you graduated college? Like we
knew you who you were. Dude, you're dating like he's
I gotta be on brand all the time, Like, no,
you don't come out of character, just be a dude.
So I think that's what we're tired of, not the
actual I don't get tired of watching Pat Mahomes pull
(33:11):
a rabbit out of his hat, Like how do he
do that? How did he win with that wide receiving
core this year? That's amazing?
Speaker 7 (33:16):
For better or worse, Jontay Porter versus Pete Rose, Boy,
I think what Pete.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
Rose did was worse. And I'll tell you why. The
doubt report shows that he bet on baseball while he
was a manager, and while he was a manager. And
for people who want to say, oh, hey, look, Pete
only bet on baseball, only bet for them to win, Okay,
(33:47):
but he didn't bet every day for them to win, right,
Wasn't like he bet one hundred and six two times
for them to win. So if you're taking Pete's bets
and he doesn't call in that day to say they're gonna,
what does that mean? And what did you sacrifice in
order to get those wins? And while not shooting a
(34:09):
three or not making a three or pulling yourself out
of a game hurts your individual line, what Pete was
doing is hurting the entire team, enfranchise and sanctity of
the sport. And he still hasn't come clean about it.
So yeah, I'm gonna say what what Pte do is worse?
Speaker 7 (34:24):
For better or worse? Doug CP three's injury label versus
Zion's injury label?
Speaker 1 (34:33):
Uh, for better or worse? I think it's Zoh wow.
Speaker 7 (34:43):
I'm proud of these today.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
I think this is a really good one. Yeah, I'm
gonna say, I'll tell you what I think CP three's
is worse, Okay, and I'll tell you why, because he
has passed the point of anybody giving him credit and saying,
you know what, he was hurt in that game, whereas
we're still in a sympathetic sort of man that sucks.
(35:08):
Zion's starting to figure it out. Dang, he got hurt.
Can't blame him for it. There's just there's no people
hate Chris Paul. Hate Chris Paul. And I know there's
other things that he's done, but like he's he's got,
he's got reputations not being a winner, and some fairly so,
a lot of it unfairly so because he was hurting
(35:32):
so many big instances.
Speaker 7 (35:34):
For better or worse Kings versus Pelicans on Friday Night
more of a pick than anything else.
Speaker 1 (35:41):
I'm gonna say. Now the Pelicans have dominated the Kings,
but they don't have Zion. I'm gonna say the Kings
for better, Kings for better.
Speaker 7 (35:53):
All right, for better or worse jerseys in public versus
the jerseys in public.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
You know, t shirts that jerseys in public are better,
jerseys are just terrible, terrible, like I I wanted to
wear my star player's number, but I didn't want to
afford to pay the actual jersey. The only thing worse
than that is the knockoff jersey. It goes in pecking order.
(36:19):
If we're going, you know, rank them, we go real
jersey one, s jersey two, knockoff jersey three.
Speaker 7 (36:27):
Iowa Sam, okay one, this is gonna be Kaitlin Clark
re liter Yes it is.
Speaker 8 (36:33):
What if you don't look good in a basketball jersey
like I do, I gotta go with the jersey a
T shirt underneath. Okay, Well, you're about to see a
whole lot of Kaitlyn Clark jerseys be walking around here
at FSR, so you better.
Speaker 7 (36:44):
Get ready for that. Have you ordered yours already?
Speaker 8 (36:47):
I'm getting mine on Friday. It was a gift from
someone else, and I might be gifting one of Mancy Bolanos.
It might be the exact same Kaitlin Clark black and yellow.
Speaker 6 (36:55):
Are you going?
Speaker 7 (36:55):
Are you gonna give actual jerseys to some and then
jerseys to others? Funny Dan?
Speaker 1 (37:01):
Yes, what's that jimmer for duck jersey? I have my
Tim Tebow.
Speaker 7 (37:07):
I don't know I don't know.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
I tieople know who Jimmerfredad is.
Speaker 7 (37:12):
I actually don't have a problem with the T shirt
jerseys because jerseys are just so expensive. I don't think
that I don't think that you're being phony by any means.
I think you're being cheap. All economics here, Yes, being cheap.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
And that's game time.
Speaker 4 (37:35):
This is game time on the Doug Gottlieb Show.
Speaker 1 (37:39):
Yeah. By the way, you'll hear it from Dan Byer
walk off home run with the Baltimore Orioles and it
was like the coolest walk off home run ever. We'll
get to that. Plus the end of the Warriors Dynasty.
What other dynasties can we related to? That's part of
the Midway that's coming up next to The Doug Gottlieb Show.
You're live on Fox Sports Tradio. I love the idea.
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