May 30, 2024 • 37 mins
Dan and Ryan in for Doug as they talk about the format of the NBA playoffs and wonder out loud if it is time to throw out the Eastern and Western Conferences when seeding playoff teams. FSR NBA Insider Mark Medina joins the guys to give his insight into the NBA playoff action including the most recent news about JJ Redick and the Lakers. Plus, Monse Bolanos takes the guys through a Thursday edition of "The Press".
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Thanks for listening to The Doug Gotlieb Show podcast. Be
sure to catch us live every weekday three to five
eas you twelve two Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find
your local station for the Doug Gottlieb Show at Fox
Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day
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Speaker 2 (00:18):
There's been talk for years that the NBA should make
a drastic, drastic change. Talk has died down a little bit,
but I think it's time that we turn up the volume.
I'll explain in a second. He is Ryan Hollins. Hit
him up at the Ryan Hollins. You can find me
at dan Byer on Fox as we are broadcasting live
from the tierraq dot com studios tirac dot com. We'll
(00:39):
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I feel, Ryan Hollins, that you kind of are one
of us. Even though you are a former player, you're
also just a basketball fan and talking about Yeah, great,
(00:59):
we have a game tonight. At least we have another
game to watch. Seasons only got a few more games
left the seven that could happen in the NBA Finals
and whatever is left of this series. But more high
level basketball is never a bad thing. I feel like,
I feel like we're all on the same page of that.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Is that fair? Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
And when you look at how the bracket came about
in the Western Conference, I think a lot of it
makes sense. When you see a Dallas team who made
it to the Western Conference finals a few years ago
making it back there this time knocking off a young
Oklahoma City team, that makes sense. Denver trying to repeat
(01:39):
runs up against another top team in the West the season,
team that they had battled for that top spot, you know,
for the final two months of the year, and it
ended up neither of them getting it. It was Oklahoma
City who ends up getting the number one seed. But
you have Denver and Minnesota play this great series and
it comes out Dallas and Minnesota are in your Western
Conference Finals. And I don't think that that was a
(02:00):
shock at all. But in the East, it was kind
of a funky year. And I think that and that
I'm saying that mildly. The Bucks went through awful droughts
where it seemed that they couldn't do anything right, yet
they were still in contention for a two seed up
until the end of the season. The New York Knicks
end up rising up and becoming a surprising team, and
(02:22):
they end up grabbing that two seed. Boston was ahead
of everybody throughout the year. And then when it gets
to the playoffs, Jimmy Butler's not available for the Heat,
Donovan Mitchell goes out for the Calves, Tyrese Haliburton isn't
there for the Pacers in the final two games. So
the Celtics have kind of a of a cake walk
to the to the NBA Finals. Is that a fair description?
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Oh, that's very fair.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
So my whole point is this is a few years ago,
there was talk about getting rid of the conferences in
the NBA when it comes to the playoffs Eastern and
Western Conference. And part of the reason is because the
West was so dominant, right, Like, the Western Conference is
just significantly better than the East. This conversation maybe even
(03:09):
goes back fifteen twenty years even in the having that
conversation of are we really getting the two best teams
in the NBA in the NBA Finals? And I don't
think that you can. You can do that in the NBA,
because it's just colleges have tried it. The Big Ten
at one point tried to split up their leagues to
(03:29):
have even teams and so you could get ideal matchups
when they when they ended up expanding, and it just
it didn't work out. Those ideal matchups that you'd always
hoped for, maybe a Michigan, Ohio State Big Ten title
game just never really never came to fruition because just
didn't other teams were better than certain teams at that time.
My whole point is this, I do think that the NBA,
(03:52):
because of how we consume the NBA, how we look
at the NBA. I can't remember the last time I've
looked at division in an NBA standings. I only look
at the conference to get a sense. I think you
could quiz NBA fans and they aren't even sure who's
in their actual division. I don't think that people necessarily care.
Now you have an n season tournament where you're playing games,
(04:15):
and you're meeting in Vegas and you're having a matchup
in East West, I don't think we necessarily need that.
I also think that the overwhelming reason on why the
NBA may need to just move away from conferences is
because of the star power that you are seeing in
one conference, and that is the Western Conference. When you
(04:37):
look at Luca, when you look at Anthony Edwards, when
you look at SGA, when you look at Kevin Durant,
when you look at Lebron James, when you look at
Nikola Jokic, when you look at those names, and I
didn't even mention Steph Curry, I didn't even mention Victor
Webbin Yama. Those names. You want to see those top
(05:00):
level players go at it head to head. The East
is being carried by a now hobbled Giannison Tetakumpo, a
banged ub Joel Embiid, a Jalen Brunton has only been
there for a little while, and a Celtics team that
we can't decide really how good Jason Tatum is or isn't.
And I just think like, if you're now in the
NBA and you're looking at how this league is going
(05:21):
to go, it does not help and it's not good
for you that all of these stars are now in
the Western Conference. And I felt that that was actually
the real reason that maybe the NBA a few years back,
should have like, all right, we're gonna do away with conferences.
We're gonna move away from that so we can actually
get our stars facing off against each other in the
in the NBA finals, because whatever is happening right now
(05:44):
is just not working to get that in the NBA.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
You know what, at the time, it was actually, in
my opinion, I saw it more of a Lebron thing.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
The East wasn't as good.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
H and Lebron would kind of like slumper around on
in a sixth seed. Then he'd turn it on and
then would he would go to the NBA finals. He
would find a way to make his way to the
NBA Finals to a point where it just it got embarrassing.
But today, I don't think there's a need with the East.
I feel like their top four was stacked. They could
(06:17):
go pound for pound when Philly was healthy. The biggest
problem in the East is just health. Now, make no mistake,
they don't have the depth of the West. Because let's
just talk Dan and you glossed over a little bit
the bottom of the West. And keep in mind my rockets.
You know what my rockets did. They said NBA record.
I think for the most wins to not even make
(06:38):
the playoffs or playing whatever it may be this year.
So you got the young Rockets, you got Wimbin Yama.
It's only a matter of time before San Antonio is
popping the way to expect. You got Lebron and Curry
at the bottom of the playoff scenario, right the bottom
of it.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Are you kidding me?
Speaker 5 (06:58):
And then you got teams like Minnesota that we're out
of it or in a fringe, which are now a
top the Western Conference. You got a team like the
Sacramento Kings who was going off, and it's almost like
you got to think who is not in it? You know,
you got to size up the teams that were out
of the race. And you can look at Memphis. John
Morant's gonna be back. You're gonna look at Portland. Portland's
(07:20):
a true rebuild. San Antonio is a true rebuild.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
But you're right.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Top to bottom of the West was just different. But
I think that when it comes playoff times, the question
that we're having Dan is the frustration of injury and
that you did not see stars in the second round
and in the conference finals. And I think you're just
laying into a team like the Pacers and you're saying
(07:46):
they didn't belong to be there. You're blaying into the
Knicks and saying they shouldn't have been there. And I
think that, at the end of the day, is what
you're saying. I agree with you with star power, but
I don't think I think at one time it was
something to look at. But I think there's just something
about the East and the West you had to stay with.
But I don't think it's gone absolutely crazy. I think
they just got to get healthy now.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
I thought that there was a point where, by the way,
I didn't even mention Zion even you know, I don't
even I didn't even mention him John Morant in any
in in in the conversations of teams that can be
left out there. There was a point three or four
years ago when you had Kevin Durant in the East
(08:25):
with Kyrie Irving and James Harden and Giannis was healthy,
and so there there was there was that there. Trey
Young was a thing at that point. Maybe it felt
Jason Tatum may have been the thing, right Like the
Jason Tatum dialogue for the next two and a half
weeks is going to be on eleven just figuring out
(08:47):
who Jason Tatum is. I at one point in my
Fox Sports radio career did call him a superstar. I
don't know if he has really backed me up on that,
and I think that conversation will continue. I just I
just seeing how the league is and also in tonight,
this is this is a series in the Western Conference,
and this isn't anything new. When San Antonio was playing
(09:09):
in it, it was the same thing. And your Houston Rockets
as well. Like even time wise, like when we look
at it as the West, you're still playing in the
Central time zone. You're still only an hour back of
the Eastern Conference. So it's a it's a it's a
funkier tip time because it's it's seven thirty in the
in the Central time Zone and in the Twin Cities
(09:30):
tonight for that game between Dallas and Minnesota. But Ryan Wan,
you would have the double headers, you know you would
have you would have to adjust the start times because
you have an East Coast game tipping off at four
o'clock for us on the West coast seven o'clock Eastern time,
and then you would have to have a game in
Minnesota or Dallas that would follow that ends up tipping
(09:52):
at like, you know, eight thirty local time, and it's
just it's it's like that even that aspect of it
wouldn't be wouldn't be a problem because we've already got
so many Western teams already on the Central time zone,
and if you add two teams in Vegas and Seattle,
like we think is going to happen if I mean,
there was talk of, all right, this Minnesota move over
(10:13):
to the Eastern Conference, why even have conferences figure out
the schedule a certain way?
Speaker 5 (10:17):
But as you bring it up as from a players standpoint,
that can't work. Dan, you know, two hours ain't great,
but when you're talking three hours's let's say we get
like La New York in the first round. Oh, great
for ratings, but no, you can't do it, dude. It
would It would tear you up. And that's why the
NBA Finals they have such that delay. If you're thinking
(10:38):
about it, we're looking at injuries.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Now.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
All these guys would be banged up, dude, they'd be cooked,
they'd be absolutely cooked. And that that's the real reason
you couldn't do it. And the NBA really just kind
of speeds through, you know, the first two rounds and
then you know, you get conference finals, to get playoffs,
you get a little bit more time. So I don't
from the travel standpoint, no, no way, because here's the thing,
(11:01):
like you know, it's not that once you get there,
it would take such like you need an extra day
to recover. If you're going east coast to west coast
or west coast to east coast, you'd have to have
that extra day to recover, if not more, And I
don't think we'd see our best basketball. We'd see even
more injuries. And just yeah, from that standpoint, I don't.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
I don't think it would work.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
And you don't think it would work in a series,
or you don't think it would work in a consecutive series.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
The earlier rounds it would tear you up. In the
earlier rounds, it would tear those guys up. We wouldn't
see the best basketball. So let me give you, for example,
some of the best basketball you saw was what bubble basketball.
Why they didn't have to travel. Everybody had fresh legs, nobody,
that's just the impact of travel and.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
It's three months off.
Speaker 5 (11:48):
Yeah yeah, look, but but the point is those guys
didn't have to travel, and that's where it paid dividends,
everybody had fresh legs, everybody was good. But now if
you want to add one more time zone in, because yes,
you're right, it's Central to West is two hours, which
it's a lot.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
It is a factor. But you go even further than that. Yeah,
new new, new, new new. You don't want that.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
You've got.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
You got seven teams that are in the Central time
zone that are playing the Western Conference. It's almost half
the league, you know, Minnesota, Memphis, New Orleans, Oklahoma City,
and the three Texas teams.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
Well, I'm interested to see Vegas or when Vegas or
Seattle get a team, how that's gonna go. Will that
be a moment, like you said, where Minnesota or Memphis
could slide over and be Eastern Conference.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
I think it would be Minnesota for the simple fact
of I think it's easier for them to then play
like the Milwaukee's and the Chicagos. Yeah, as opposed to
if you were to take New Orleans or Memphis move
them over. Now you're without those, you know teams in
the Oklahoma cities, in the Dallas and those teams. It's
better I think, to keep that chunk in the South
(12:57):
all connected, where Minnesota is kind of out on an island,
you know, up north in the Midwest that way, that
seems to be the general thinking of it. But I
just I know we're gonna we're gonna have a Celtics team,
and the name Celtics is gonna, you know, bring people
in and it's gonna make Laker fans cheer against them.
But I would just I'd love to see the two
stars going head to head. And I don't know on
(13:21):
considering the state of the Eastern Conference right now, I
just I don't know what we're gonna get in the future.
And to see the logjam that you've gotten the West,
my goodness, I left out Zion and Shop.
Speaker 5 (13:33):
So let me ask this, are you talking about like, so, yeah,
you can't do that to a whole East coast or
West coast, depending on who's better where where you'd have
like you know, like like two more or four more
Western Conference team than Eastern Conference teams.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
No, you wouldn't know. You wouldn't have you would It
wouldn't be. It wouldn't be. You wouldn't have Uh, if
you had two conferences, it wouldn't be. There would be
eighteen and one.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Are you talk about get rid of conferences and the
best teams go. So yes, so like the bottom four
of the East could petition, I'd make it down.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
I'll tell you this I did. I did a bracket.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
I'll make this quick of what the first round would
look like if they just went on schedule, and there
are certain teams that ended up having the same record,
and you're going to get a lot of your point,
but you would have a Boston Heat first round series,
which we got, or Sacramento Sacramento of the same record.
Oklahoma City would have faced the Pacers. Denver would have
(14:33):
had the Sixers in the first round. Imagine Jokic against Embiid.
Minnesota would have had the Lakers. It would have been
the Clippers against Orlando. Dallas would have played Cleveland in
the first round. The Knicks would have had the Suns,
and the Bucks would have played the Pelicans. If you
just went one through sixteen and sorted them one sixteen,
you know who did.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
You kick out of the playoffs?
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Well, it was the The Kings were the ones that
just because the Heat ended up first alphabetically that that's
why they were with the sixteen seed. But that's who
That's what your matchups would have been in the first round.
So the travel that you talk about, you would have
had a significant travel with the Clippers in Orlando that
would have been in the Knicks and Phoenix would have
(15:13):
been a long one. Yeah, OKC in Indiana not a
big deal. Milwaukee and New Orleans not a big deal. Heck,
Dallas and Cleveland not a big deal. But you would
have had a bigger deal with the other cross country
ones that you mentioned, and then I have to play
a subsequent second round. All I'm saying is we're just
not going to get superstar against superstar in the NBA
finals unless some of these guys end up in the
(15:35):
Eastern Conference.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Well, it just got to be healthy. I mean, it's
it's just like a weird year, dude.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Yeah, but but I'm a Bucks fan and I'm wondering,
how much like what you know, what is going to
happen with Giannis? Where are the Buck's going to be?
Where's Joel Embian going to be with the seventy six ers.
I think it's a legitimate question. He gets hurt every
single year. Celtics don't have a true superstar. Maybe Tyr,
(16:00):
you know, Terry's Halliburton's that guy. Maybe Jalen Brunson continues
that and continues to rise, and it's just a non topic.
But let's Polo Bancaro, you know, ends up taking over
the East. I just don't see a lot of star
power that is young and up and coming that could
be a force to reckon with. I think you're safe
to say that in being and even Giannis are in
the latter part of their careers. Honest has been in
(16:23):
the league for you know, decade now.
Speaker 5 (16:25):
So you're wow, you're serious about this. I just you
aren't down. You are down so so pretty much. Dan
Bayer is saying, if my team ain't in it, we
ain't good. Just just abolished the conference, dude, you're disgusting.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Conference. That's what it comes down.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
I just this, This was a conversation that, as you said,
was talked about during your time, and then I think
it went away because Lebron was in the East and
then you had this great Foil and Golden State come
along and it all worked just fine. But we're back
to I feel like early two thousands where it's just
(17:05):
the West is just this juggernaut, and it has this
juggernaut of individual talent, maybe not team wise, but individual talent.
And I do believe that the NBA has been you know,
built their brand on name brand team wise and Superstars, Lakers, Celtics, Bird, Magic,
Jordan like those. That's where the league was built and
(17:27):
that's how the league is thrived. And I just I
don't know if that's going to be the case. We're
gonna get Luca or Anthony Edwards. You know, yeah, we
have the Celtics, but that's all. That's where I just think.
I think the conversation has a reason to pop up again,
and I just wonder if it you know, if it will,
we shall see. I think I think now is the
(17:48):
time to have that conversation.
Speaker 6 (17:50):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
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Speaker 2 (18:03):
Doug Gottlieb Show on Fox Sports Radio. He's Ryan Hollins,
the NBA veat time, Dan Bayer getting ready for a
game five tonight, plus a lot more going on in
the association. Mantie Blanios will have an update for us
of what's happening in about ten minutes or so, but
we welcome in our good friend. You can find on Twitter
at Marchie Underscore Medina and a guy that I'm gonna
team up with this Saturday again at two o'clock Eastern time,
(18:27):
eleven Pacific, Mark Medina and I will be here on
Fox Sports Radio talking NBA playoffs. I don't know if
we'll be talking about a Game six or not, but
make sure you tune in and you can always catch
Ryan Hollins and Mike harmon Sunday mornings nine o'clock Eastern time,
six pacifics those guys going at for three hours. Then
Carrie A. Rhodes and I will follow after that. All right,
(18:49):
Mark Medina is with us and we are talking NBA.
I'm gonna just dive into too. Game five tonight. I
think the pressure's on the Mavericks, and I think the
pressure is on the Mavericks for the rest of the series.
Where do you think the pressure lies tonight in a
Game five?
Speaker 7 (19:02):
Mark Medina, Well, Dan, I'll agree with you that the
pressure is always on the team that just lost the game.
That's how the playoffs are, you know, are constructed. But
I think that Dallas is in the driver's seat simply
because they had that three to zero lead. No team
has ever overcome a three zero serious deficit, and I
don't think Minnesota will make history. So my hunch is
(19:25):
Dallas will win simply because I think Kyrie Irving and
Luca Dodgis will shoot the ball much better. But if
Minnesota wins, won't be surprised home court they're playing more
aggressive Karl Anthony Towns isn't just settling for threes. But
I think really their ceiling is just a Game five
victory and then losing in Dallas in Game six. But
you know what, that's what the NBA playoffs are for.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
Sometimes we're wrong, Mark, what's your cause for concern? Are you?
Speaker 5 (19:50):
Are you at a ten when it comes down to
the injuries in the Eastern Conference and just about every
superstar not being available. Obviously, Look, we're happy for Indiana,
We're we're happy for the Knicks, but are you at
are you at a ten right now? And if so,
do you think the league does something about this? Because
the big push, remember was you know, the competitive nature
(20:12):
of the NBA has to raise, you know, if these
guys won awards and want to be eligible for all
NBA teams they need to play a certain amount of games.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Did this come back to bite the NBA?
Speaker 7 (20:20):
Talk to me, well, Ryan, I'm curious what your perspective
is on this, you know, given your expertise as a
former player. But as far as the playoff injuries, yes,
I'm concerned. I you know, I don't have rooting interest
in the games, but we always want guys to be
relatively healthy so that they're at least available. When star
players that importance is even more. I don't know if
(20:42):
these injuries are a pattern of anything related to load
management or the NBA pushing backs against that. I know
that specifically Tyrese Haliburton's injury earlier in the season, you know,
talking to his trainer, Drew Handling, he had mentioned that,
you know, because of that sixty five game rule, he
(21:03):
felt a little bit more pressure to come back, you know,
quicker than maybe normally otherwise. But at that point he
said the injury was behind him, and so these injuries
now were new ones. So I don't quite know how
to answer the question. Frankly, like I would feel you'd
have better perspective knowing that, I mean, how do you
(21:23):
look at the playoff injury specifically.
Speaker 5 (21:26):
Uh well, to address the number of games being played.
I think if you're if you're injured, you're hurt, sit out.
That should not kind against you. Now the problem is,
and the fans can speak to this. If I spend
one thousand dollars to go and watch Giannis on to
the Koopo play and I'm bringing him up because he's
a great example. He always plays to injury and he
just said, hey, guys, I'm taking a rest day.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
You're like, what the heck?
Speaker 5 (21:49):
Arrest day? Like, are you kidding me? But when you're
injured and you're hurt, that's the difference. And I think
the NBA more addressed to the fan, but from the
player perspective, if you're legitimately hurt, sit out and get
you know, get better.
Speaker 7 (22:06):
Yeah, no, it's a fair point. And I think the
thing that I'm always humbled about is we don't know,
we don't know. You know, players obviously are the only
ones that know their bodies, but as you know, Ryan
like the team's medical staff guard the information pretty tightly.
And so while we do know, okay, this is the
injured body part, and they're saying it's this, this and this,
(22:26):
as far as severity, a lot of times we're operating
an information vacuum. So that's what really humbles me about
this debate overall.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Mark Bedina joining us here on Fox Sports Radio talking NBA.
He's Ryan Hollins, I'm Dan Byer in for Doug Gottlieb's
we a lot from the tyreq dot com studios. We
started off the show today on Chris Haynes telling Dan
Patrick that all signs your point to JJ Reddick to
becoming to be the next head coach of the Lakers,
even going as far as assembling of staff. What are
you hearing on the Reddick to the Lakers front?
Speaker 7 (22:57):
Yeah, pretty similar things. You know, Chris is always on
the money with with with news, and I think the
interesting wrinkle with the Lakers coaching search is the feeling
around the league is exactly how you framed it, that
the expectation is that JJ Reddick will be the coach.
But in fairness, internally, the Lakers will say they're taking
(23:20):
their time, They're talking a lot of candidates. I know,
you know, the only times mentioned they talk with James
Barrego recently. And the sense that I got is even
if we feel like we already know what the ending
is going to be. This might not This is probably
not going to happen anytime soon. If I had to
make a prediction, the hiring uh will become official after
(23:44):
the NBA Finals, before the NBA Draft, and I think
that that hiring will be JJ Reddick. But I also
get the sense that the Lakers aren't necessarily beholden to
that timeline, even though it's obviously ideal you want to
have a head coach, especially for the draft. That's the
feeling I get. But you know, there's always perceptions. Some
(24:07):
of it's based on reality, some of it's just based
on impressions. And outside of the Lakers, the feeling is
this is inevitable. JJ Reddick is going to be the coach,
and now it's just a matter of they're interviewing other
people to see which would be good fits on his
coaching staff.
Speaker 5 (24:23):
I'm gonna I'm gonna go here because there's been a
big buzz around Anthony and Edwards. So you know, when
he plays well, he's going to take the praise, but
when when he doesn't play as well, he's gonna have
to take a little bit of the criticism. Yeah, do
you feel it's safe to say that Anthony Edwards is
the is the best bet to be the next face
of the NBA. Do you think of Luka Danciic went
(24:45):
into championship? You know, Winby is a bad boy open
here in San Antonio. Are going to be rivaling him?
And how confident are you and his abilities?
Speaker 7 (24:55):
Yeah, I think it's a really interesting question. I don't
think that as of now there's a does a made
it next face of the NBA because we've seen glimpses
of young players greatnesses as well as glimpses of their shortcomings,
and Anthony Edwards has certainly fit that bill. I think that,
you know, the interesting part of this is, you know,
I'm a believer that ultimately how you play in the
(25:18):
games is what's going to matter, you know, especially in
the playoffs. But we can't discount the fact that the
NBA and its popularity is based off of stars and
just what their personalities are. And so I think when
you're looking at Anthy Edwards, he checks that box of
just having the charisma the personality, where when you're looking
(25:38):
at someone like you know, Nikole jokicch or Luka Dancic,
they're much more Stoican personality. I think Victor Wenbinyama has
the charismatic personality, but he's shown that he is the
real deal. He's lived up at the hype. But while
I do have faith that the Spurs will be a
winning organization because Greg Popovich is there and and they've
(26:00):
had a proven track record, we have to see how
fast and that rebuild's going to take place. So with that,
I think Anthony Edwards has a driver's seat advantage, but
this playoff shortcomings doesn't do him justice because if he
were in the driver's seat of Minnesota having this lead
(26:21):
on the way to the NBA Finals, it would be
about him and the Mavericks inability to make it to
that next step, even with Luca's greatness. But right now
it's been the opposite. Lucas raised his game to another level,
and that's coincided with Kyrie Irving looking like he's in
Cleveland again and Dallas having a much better supporting cast
(26:41):
in recent seasons.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
He's Mark Medina or Fox Sports Radio NBA in Saturday.
Catch him this Saturday alongside me here on Fox Sports Radio,
read about the Sporting Tribune. You can see him on
TV as well. Locally here in Los Angeles and on Spectrum.
Mark appreciate it, looking forward to Saturday and enjoy Game
five tonight.
Speaker 4 (26:59):
We'll talk to soon Dan.
Speaker 7 (27:01):
Ryan appreciate as well, and Dan looking forward to the
show on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Thanks Mark, two o'clock Eastern time. Let's go over to
He's Ryan Hollins. I'm Dan Byer, Fine Ryan at the
Ryan Hollins on X. You can find me at Dan
Byer on Fox. Did you hear about this new league
that is starting up for women's professional basketball players? Their
own version of the Big Three?
Speaker 4 (27:24):
Is?
Speaker 2 (27:24):
A new three on three basketball league called Unrivaled.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
Will be launched.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
I believe in January, headlined by WNBA star Brianna Stewart.
It would begin again in the winter. Am I right
on the timelines? I believe the January coming off the
heels of the Paris Olympic Games this summer three on
three basketball. I also think coming off the heels of
the WNBA and the notoriety that that is why this
(27:50):
timing has finally come come about. Ryan Hollins, do you
believe that this three on three women's league could have success?
Speaker 8 (28:00):
Right?
Speaker 5 (28:00):
While the Iron's hot strike quality, Iron's Hot man, I'm
in with it.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
I like it. I like it. I think this is
a great idea. Let's see what's there.
Speaker 5 (28:10):
And you know what you got to understand, man, is
there aren't as many w NBA teams as there aren't
NBA teams, if there's not a lot of ballers out there,
and the one thing, if there's enough money circulating, you know,
kind of the goal for some of those players is
And what people don't understand with the WNBA, those girls
play year round. A lot of them go overseas and
(28:30):
play ball, then they come back to the w NBA
and it's literally their offseason. So if somehow you can
keep our ladies here in the States, I think that's
a bang up idea.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Man.
Speaker 5 (28:41):
I think that'll be fun to see. And I think
you're going to be seeing some of these ballers play
and say, hey, if there's enough money, man, we'll stay here.
So keep our ladies home.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
I am very curious about this, but I as I said,
I am curious about the timing because I don't think
it's just the Olympics. I do think it's Caitlyn Clark
am I giving a whole you know, like it has
to be right you said strike while the iron's hot.
That you know, is this league able to launch next year?
And is Caitlin Clark going to be a part of
this league? And for her being a part of the
(29:11):
conversation as she has been for so many months. I
just don't think this league launches if Caitlyn Clark isn't
doing what she's doing in college basketball and then now
trying to do so in the w NBA.
Speaker 5 (29:24):
Dan, you may smell like a man, but you've been
speaking about the ladies of late. You know, you've been
showing that respect and and and you are you are
spot on, and you know I get it.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
As a player, I get it.
Speaker 5 (29:36):
Dan's making this face, by the way, because he's because
he's taking offense about the way that he smells.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
He's like, I do not question my smell.
Speaker 4 (29:44):
Coming to play here.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
You started with Mazie and I am sorry. Now we're
all like, you know, we're jumping jumping on you Dad.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
You know you said I.
Speaker 4 (29:53):
Do wear both right, guys, Yes, you.
Speaker 5 (29:56):
Said comments that we you know we will not you
know re is it earlier.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
But the point is, strike while the iron's hot.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
I'm happy for the ladies, and I'm telling you, now,
for our ladies, if they can make some bread year
round and not have to go overseas and play ball,
and that notoriety you know, stays where it is and
there's more men in behind it.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
I think it's a great thing.
Speaker 5 (30:19):
It's not fun half your season having to go, you know,
abroad to make your money.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
And yeah, no, that does make sense. I just wonder
on the success you're launching in the NFL playoffs. It's
hard enough for us to pay attention to the NBA
in January. How will that transition? Maybe it doesn't. It
doesn't matter for the players. If they're making six figures
and getting the state state side, that's a huge win
(30:44):
for women's basketball. I also just don't think it doesn't
happen without Caitlin Clark.
Speaker 5 (30:50):
How do you How do you feel about some of
the girls kind of barking back and I understand it
saying hey, man.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
Well, well there's good be a target on her back, yes, right, yes,
to be a target on her back, right, it should
be right. Hey, if you'd have chosen one, come show me.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
I don't think they launched this last year. I don't
think that it happens. I think that you said it
strike while the iron's hot. And I think that's why
this league is is it's been talking about for a
couple of years, and now to do it now. I
just don't think that it's a coincidence.
Speaker 5 (31:23):
I'm speaking to the scrutiny to Caitlyn Clark, the oh
you're not to save your Oh No, I guess. I
guess we won the game because the charter plane that
we flew it and on. You know, listen, man, as
an athlete, forget man or woman, you gotta have a
chip on your shoulder.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
Man, it's gotta be war. I remember going into the.
Speaker 5 (31:42):
Locker rooms and seeing another guy that was getting national
recognition or being anointed, and it was it was on
and popping that night. Man, Dan, you had to go
at these guys. So Caitlyn Clark, that's it. That's a bullseye,
that's a target on her back. I think she's handled
herself amazing. She's not trash talking. She's a class I
love what she done. She just goes about her business
(32:03):
and gets it done. But make no mistake, you got
to strap them up.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
You know.
Speaker 5 (32:07):
When you have that type of hype and she has
that big bullseye. Man, that's part of it. And you
know that's where legends are born. Man, If you don't
think every player in the league went after Lebron James,
If you don't think we played for the Celtics and
we had lb on the other side, he had to
go prove that he was King James and we didn't
go after him. Absolutely, man, Absolutely so. Caitlin Clark is
(32:28):
much like all the other stars, has to prove it.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
He's Ryan Hollins. I'm Dan Byr in for Doug Gottlieb
here on Fox Sports Radio Live Athetyraq dot com studios.
Coming up next, there's another w NBA star in the news,
or should I say in the lyrics? We'll explain next
here on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 6 (32:45):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
Live Doug Gottlieb Show on Fox Sports Radio. Sitting in
for Doug today, He's Ryan Hollands. I'm Dan Byer. It's
been fun these last couple of hours.
Speaker 8 (33:09):
All right, all right, Well, I had this whole thing
I was saying, or Sam would bump in with this song,
and you know the choruses walk like a man you're talking,
because the chorus will get your mentioned. I was thinking
about doing my own parody version.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
Smells like a man, Smells like a man.
Speaker 6 (33:30):
His name is Dan.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
In a good way, in a good way, smells like
a man.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
Don't believe Ryan hollins In is one or the other slander.
Speaker 4 (33:46):
No, no, no, no Hollinds. Don't try to don't try
to change this story.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
Monzie said it smells like man in a good way,
and then we said it's usually a bad way, and
you go, yeah, it's for people who only use cologne
but not deodorant.
Speaker 4 (33:59):
No, that's the summary of it smells.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
And you combined, dude, that that is correct. But then
you asked me what the locker room smelled like.
Speaker 4 (34:11):
Sure, which they usually they do. They're awful.
Speaker 9 (34:14):
They're awful.
Speaker 4 (34:16):
Not good at all, No, not good at all.
Speaker 9 (34:20):
When we take people into the clubhouse at Dodger Stadium,
sometimes we take kids in and the little kids are like,
what is that smell? And I'm like, well, well there's
a sweat.
Speaker 7 (34:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (34:34):
Kids are like, what is that smell?
Speaker 4 (34:36):
Athlete musk?
Speaker 9 (34:38):
Yeah, that's what I'm gonna respond.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
Now, Yeah, Manzi doesn't have athletes musk, but she does
have the press.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
I do.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
The press, all right, Mancy you got I did.
Speaker 9 (34:49):
Not know that Giants star tied End Darren Waller was
also a musician. This is brand new information for me.
Speaker 4 (34:57):
I didn't either. I know he's deciding on whether we
were tire or not?
Speaker 6 (35:00):
Right.
Speaker 9 (35:01):
No, No, he's a musician. And he released a single
today with a music video called who Knew Her Perspective?
Apparently he wrote it from the viewpoint of a woman.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
Trying to love him.
Speaker 9 (35:13):
He and Kelsey Plum divorcing after one year of marriage.
Here's a little bit on the song. Again, it's a
music video.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
I urge you all to just go find it.
Speaker 7 (35:27):
You know.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Stop yet it's hard to be free, it's hard to
give audio.
Speaker 4 (35:41):
Is this a TikTok? You what it's not?
Speaker 7 (35:43):
It's not.
Speaker 9 (35:44):
And in the video, you know, in the video there
is a woman that looks like you know, it's supposed
to be representing Kelsey Plum.
Speaker 4 (35:52):
Sure it's stark kid, Stop it.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
Stops. No, Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope. We're
not doing this.
Speaker 9 (36:00):
So so he's not at ot as, but he is,
you know, making music.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
He's not gonna be on the Billboard Top ten million either,
so that is not going to happen.
Speaker 9 (36:08):
And according to TMZ, he's going to release an album
like like a whole album this year, but he still
doesn't know if he's going to play football.
Speaker 6 (36:17):
This is all according to m Z.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
I buy that, oh man, you buying that for a
dollar twenty nine?
Speaker 4 (36:27):
You're buying that single? Ryan Allen, I'm gonna buy it.
Speaker 5 (36:29):
I'm gonna play it man. Hey, I'm rocking with Darren
Walder Man. I'm a Darren Wallder fan.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
I mean sure I rode from as well. But the
music different, Yeah, not good. I'm not sure what to
make it that.
Speaker 9 (36:42):
I'm not either different sound, yes, a lot of questions.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
Well the song didn't start yet though, right, that was
just the intro.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
That that's the song.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
That's not the song talk.
Speaker 6 (36:53):
Walk a Man?
Speaker 3 (36:55):
What is it? Ye?
Speaker 4 (36:56):
Smell like a man?
Speaker 3 (37:00):
All right?
Speaker 4 (37:00):
And that's the press.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
Yes, thanks a short one today, Hollins. It's been fun
and fun with Mike on Sunday. Talk to you later
on Fox.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
Absolutely brother
Thanks for listening to The Doug Gotlieb Show podcast. Be
sure to catch us live every weekday three to five
eas you twelve two Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find
your local station for the Doug Gottlieb Show at Fox
Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day
on the iHeartRadio app by searching app pass Talk.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
There's been talk for years that the NBA should make
a drastic, drastic change. Talk has died down a little bit,
but I think it's time that we turn up the volume.
I'll explain in a second. He is Ryan Hollins. Hit
him up at the Ryan Hollins. You can find me
at dan Byer on Fox as we are broadcasting live
from the tierraq dot com studios tirac dot com. We'll
(00:39):
help you get there an unmatched selection, fast, free shipping,
free road hazard protection. You know over ten thousand recommended
installers tirerac dot com the way tire buying should be.
I feel, Ryan Hollins, that you kind of are one
of us. Even though you are a former player, you're
also just a basketball fan and talking about Yeah, great,
(00:59):
we have a game tonight. At least we have another
game to watch. Seasons only got a few more games
left the seven that could happen in the NBA Finals
and whatever is left of this series. But more high
level basketball is never a bad thing. I feel like,
I feel like we're all on the same page of that.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Is that fair? Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
And when you look at how the bracket came about
in the Western Conference, I think a lot of it
makes sense. When you see a Dallas team who made
it to the Western Conference finals a few years ago
making it back there this time knocking off a young
Oklahoma City team, that makes sense. Denver trying to repeat
(01:39):
runs up against another top team in the West the season,
team that they had battled for that top spot, you know,
for the final two months of the year, and it
ended up neither of them getting it. It was Oklahoma
City who ends up getting the number one seed. But
you have Denver and Minnesota play this great series and
it comes out Dallas and Minnesota are in your Western
Conference Finals. And I don't think that that was a
(02:00):
shock at all. But in the East, it was kind
of a funky year. And I think that and that
I'm saying that mildly. The Bucks went through awful droughts
where it seemed that they couldn't do anything right, yet
they were still in contention for a two seed up
until the end of the season. The New York Knicks
end up rising up and becoming a surprising team, and
(02:22):
they end up grabbing that two seed. Boston was ahead
of everybody throughout the year. And then when it gets
to the playoffs, Jimmy Butler's not available for the Heat,
Donovan Mitchell goes out for the Calves, Tyrese Haliburton isn't
there for the Pacers in the final two games. So
the Celtics have kind of a of a cake walk
to the to the NBA Finals. Is that a fair description?
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Oh, that's very fair.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
So my whole point is this is a few years ago,
there was talk about getting rid of the conferences in
the NBA when it comes to the playoffs Eastern and
Western Conference. And part of the reason is because the
West was so dominant, right, Like, the Western Conference is
just significantly better than the East. This conversation maybe even
(03:09):
goes back fifteen twenty years even in the having that
conversation of are we really getting the two best teams
in the NBA in the NBA Finals? And I don't
think that you can. You can do that in the NBA,
because it's just colleges have tried it. The Big Ten
at one point tried to split up their leagues to
(03:29):
have even teams and so you could get ideal matchups
when they when they ended up expanding, and it just
it didn't work out. Those ideal matchups that you'd always
hoped for, maybe a Michigan, Ohio State Big Ten title
game just never really never came to fruition because just
didn't other teams were better than certain teams at that time.
My whole point is this, I do think that the NBA,
(03:52):
because of how we consume the NBA, how we look
at the NBA. I can't remember the last time I've
looked at division in an NBA standings. I only look
at the conference to get a sense. I think you
could quiz NBA fans and they aren't even sure who's
in their actual division. I don't think that people necessarily care.
Now you have an n season tournament where you're playing games,
(04:15):
and you're meeting in Vegas and you're having a matchup
in East West, I don't think we necessarily need that.
I also think that the overwhelming reason on why the
NBA may need to just move away from conferences is
because of the star power that you are seeing in
one conference, and that is the Western Conference. When you
(04:37):
look at Luca, when you look at Anthony Edwards, when
you look at SGA, when you look at Kevin Durant,
when you look at Lebron James, when you look at
Nikola Jokic, when you look at those names, and I
didn't even mention Steph Curry, I didn't even mention Victor
Webbin Yama. Those names. You want to see those top
(05:00):
level players go at it head to head. The East
is being carried by a now hobbled Giannison Tetakumpo, a
banged ub Joel Embiid, a Jalen Brunton has only been
there for a little while, and a Celtics team that
we can't decide really how good Jason Tatum is or isn't.
And I just think like, if you're now in the
NBA and you're looking at how this league is going
(05:21):
to go, it does not help and it's not good
for you that all of these stars are now in
the Western Conference. And I felt that that was actually
the real reason that maybe the NBA a few years back,
should have like, all right, we're gonna do away with conferences.
We're gonna move away from that so we can actually
get our stars facing off against each other in the
in the NBA finals, because whatever is happening right now
(05:44):
is just not working to get that in the NBA.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
You know what, at the time, it was actually, in
my opinion, I saw it more of a Lebron thing.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
The East wasn't as good.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
H and Lebron would kind of like slumper around on
in a sixth seed. Then he'd turn it on and
then would he would go to the NBA finals. He
would find a way to make his way to the
NBA Finals to a point where it just it got embarrassing.
But today, I don't think there's a need with the East.
I feel like their top four was stacked. They could
(06:17):
go pound for pound when Philly was healthy. The biggest
problem in the East is just health. Now, make no mistake,
they don't have the depth of the West. Because let's
just talk Dan and you glossed over a little bit
the bottom of the West. And keep in mind my rockets.
You know what my rockets did. They said NBA record.
I think for the most wins to not even make
(06:38):
the playoffs or playing whatever it may be this year.
So you got the young Rockets, you got Wimbin Yama.
It's only a matter of time before San Antonio is
popping the way to expect. You got Lebron and Curry
at the bottom of the playoff scenario, right the bottom
of it.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Are you kidding me?
Speaker 5 (06:58):
And then you got teams like Minnesota that we're out
of it or in a fringe, which are now a
top the Western Conference. You got a team like the
Sacramento Kings who was going off, and it's almost like
you got to think who is not in it? You know,
you got to size up the teams that were out
of the race. And you can look at Memphis. John
Morant's gonna be back. You're gonna look at Portland. Portland's
(07:20):
a true rebuild. San Antonio is a true rebuild.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
But you're right.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Top to bottom of the West was just different. But
I think that when it comes playoff times, the question
that we're having Dan is the frustration of injury and
that you did not see stars in the second round
and in the conference finals. And I think you're just
laying into a team like the Pacers and you're saying
(07:46):
they didn't belong to be there. You're blaying into the
Knicks and saying they shouldn't have been there. And I
think that, at the end of the day, is what
you're saying. I agree with you with star power, but
I don't think I think at one time it was
something to look at. But I think there's just something
about the East and the West you had to stay with.
But I don't think it's gone absolutely crazy. I think
they just got to get healthy now.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
I thought that there was a point where, by the way,
I didn't even mention Zion even you know, I don't
even I didn't even mention him John Morant in any
in in in the conversations of teams that can be
left out there. There was a point three or four
years ago when you had Kevin Durant in the East
(08:25):
with Kyrie Irving and James Harden and Giannis was healthy,
and so there there was there was that there. Trey
Young was a thing at that point. Maybe it felt
Jason Tatum may have been the thing, right Like the
Jason Tatum dialogue for the next two and a half
weeks is going to be on eleven just figuring out
(08:47):
who Jason Tatum is. I at one point in my
Fox Sports radio career did call him a superstar. I
don't know if he has really backed me up on that,
and I think that conversation will continue. I just I
just seeing how the league is and also in tonight,
this is this is a series in the Western Conference,
and this isn't anything new. When San Antonio was playing
(09:09):
in it, it was the same thing. And your Houston Rockets
as well. Like even time wise, like when we look
at it as the West, you're still playing in the
Central time zone. You're still only an hour back of
the Eastern Conference. So it's a it's a it's a
funkier tip time because it's it's seven thirty in the
in the Central time Zone and in the Twin Cities
(09:30):
tonight for that game between Dallas and Minnesota. But Ryan Wan,
you would have the double headers, you know you would
have you would have to adjust the start times because
you have an East Coast game tipping off at four
o'clock for us on the West coast seven o'clock Eastern time,
and then you would have to have a game in
Minnesota or Dallas that would follow that ends up tipping
(09:52):
at like, you know, eight thirty local time, and it's
just it's it's like that even that aspect of it
wouldn't be wouldn't be a problem because we've already got
so many Western teams already on the Central time zone,
and if you add two teams in Vegas and Seattle,
like we think is going to happen if I mean,
there was talk of, all right, this Minnesota move over
(10:13):
to the Eastern Conference, why even have conferences figure out
the schedule a certain way?
Speaker 5 (10:17):
But as you bring it up as from a players standpoint,
that can't work. Dan, you know, two hours ain't great,
but when you're talking three hours's let's say we get
like La New York in the first round. Oh, great
for ratings, but no, you can't do it, dude. It
would It would tear you up. And that's why the
NBA Finals they have such that delay. If you're thinking
(10:38):
about it, we're looking at injuries.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Now.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
All these guys would be banged up, dude, they'd be cooked,
they'd be absolutely cooked. And that that's the real reason
you couldn't do it. And the NBA really just kind
of speeds through, you know, the first two rounds and
then you know, you get conference finals, to get playoffs,
you get a little bit more time. So I don't
from the travel standpoint, no, no way, because here's the thing,
(11:01):
like you know, it's not that once you get there,
it would take such like you need an extra day
to recover. If you're going east coast to west coast
or west coast to east coast, you'd have to have
that extra day to recover, if not more, And I
don't think we'd see our best basketball. We'd see even
more injuries. And just yeah, from that standpoint, I don't.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
I don't think it would work.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
And you don't think it would work in a series,
or you don't think it would work in a consecutive series.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
The earlier rounds it would tear you up. In the
earlier rounds, it would tear those guys up. We wouldn't
see the best basketball. So let me give you, for example,
some of the best basketball you saw was what bubble basketball.
Why they didn't have to travel. Everybody had fresh legs, nobody,
that's just the impact of travel and.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
It's three months off.
Speaker 5 (11:48):
Yeah yeah, look, but but the point is those guys
didn't have to travel, and that's where it paid dividends,
everybody had fresh legs, everybody was good. But now if
you want to add one more time zone in, because yes,
you're right, it's Central to West is two hours, which
it's a lot.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
It is a factor. But you go even further than that. Yeah,
new new, new, new new. You don't want that.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
You've got.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
You got seven teams that are in the Central time
zone that are playing the Western Conference. It's almost half
the league, you know, Minnesota, Memphis, New Orleans, Oklahoma City,
and the three Texas teams.
Speaker 5 (12:23):
Well, I'm interested to see Vegas or when Vegas or
Seattle get a team, how that's gonna go. Will that
be a moment, like you said, where Minnesota or Memphis
could slide over and be Eastern Conference.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
I think it would be Minnesota for the simple fact
of I think it's easier for them to then play
like the Milwaukee's and the Chicagos. Yeah, as opposed to
if you were to take New Orleans or Memphis move
them over. Now you're without those, you know teams in
the Oklahoma cities, in the Dallas and those teams. It's
better I think, to keep that chunk in the South
(12:57):
all connected, where Minnesota is kind of out on an island,
you know, up north in the Midwest that way, that
seems to be the general thinking of it. But I
just I know we're gonna we're gonna have a Celtics team,
and the name Celtics is gonna, you know, bring people
in and it's gonna make Laker fans cheer against them.
But I would just I'd love to see the two
stars going head to head. And I don't know on
(13:21):
considering the state of the Eastern Conference right now, I
just I don't know what we're gonna get in the future.
And to see the logjam that you've gotten the West,
my goodness, I left out Zion and Shop.
Speaker 5 (13:33):
So let me ask this, are you talking about like, so, yeah,
you can't do that to a whole East coast or
West coast, depending on who's better where where you'd have
like you know, like like two more or four more
Western Conference team than Eastern Conference teams.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
No, you wouldn't know. You wouldn't have you would It
wouldn't be. It wouldn't be. You wouldn't have Uh, if
you had two conferences, it wouldn't be. There would be
eighteen and one.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Are you talk about get rid of conferences and the
best teams go. So yes, so like the bottom four
of the East could petition, I'd make it down.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
I'll tell you this I did. I did a bracket.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
I'll make this quick of what the first round would
look like if they just went on schedule, and there
are certain teams that ended up having the same record,
and you're going to get a lot of your point,
but you would have a Boston Heat first round series,
which we got, or Sacramento Sacramento of the same record.
Oklahoma City would have faced the Pacers. Denver would have
(14:33):
had the Sixers in the first round. Imagine Jokic against Embiid.
Minnesota would have had the Lakers. It would have been
the Clippers against Orlando. Dallas would have played Cleveland in
the first round. The Knicks would have had the Suns,
and the Bucks would have played the Pelicans. If you
just went one through sixteen and sorted them one sixteen,
you know who did.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
You kick out of the playoffs?
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Well, it was the The Kings were the ones that
just because the Heat ended up first alphabetically that that's
why they were with the sixteen seed. But that's who
That's what your matchups would have been in the first round.
So the travel that you talk about, you would have
had a significant travel with the Clippers in Orlando that
would have been in the Knicks and Phoenix would have
(15:13):
been a long one. Yeah, OKC in Indiana not a
big deal. Milwaukee and New Orleans not a big deal. Heck,
Dallas and Cleveland not a big deal. But you would
have had a bigger deal with the other cross country
ones that you mentioned, and then I have to play
a subsequent second round. All I'm saying is we're just
not going to get superstar against superstar in the NBA
finals unless some of these guys end up in the
(15:35):
Eastern Conference.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Well, it just got to be healthy. I mean, it's
it's just like a weird year, dude.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Yeah, but but I'm a Bucks fan and I'm wondering,
how much like what you know, what is going to
happen with Giannis? Where are the Buck's going to be?
Where's Joel Embian going to be with the seventy six ers.
I think it's a legitimate question. He gets hurt every
single year. Celtics don't have a true superstar. Maybe Tyr,
(16:00):
you know, Terry's Halliburton's that guy. Maybe Jalen Brunson continues
that and continues to rise, and it's just a non topic.
But let's Polo Bancaro, you know, ends up taking over
the East. I just don't see a lot of star
power that is young and up and coming that could
be a force to reckon with. I think you're safe
to say that in being and even Giannis are in
the latter part of their careers. Honest has been in
(16:23):
the league for you know, decade now.
Speaker 5 (16:25):
So you're wow, you're serious about this. I just you
aren't down. You are down so so pretty much. Dan
Bayer is saying, if my team ain't in it, we
ain't good. Just just abolished the conference, dude, you're disgusting.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Conference. That's what it comes down.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
I just this, This was a conversation that, as you said,
was talked about during your time, and then I think
it went away because Lebron was in the East and
then you had this great Foil and Golden State come
along and it all worked just fine. But we're back
to I feel like early two thousands where it's just
(17:05):
the West is just this juggernaut, and it has this
juggernaut of individual talent, maybe not team wise, but individual talent.
And I do believe that the NBA has been you know,
built their brand on name brand team wise and Superstars, Lakers, Celtics, Bird, Magic,
Jordan like those. That's where the league was built and
(17:27):
that's how the league is thrived. And I just I
don't know if that's going to be the case. We're
gonna get Luca or Anthony Edwards. You know, yeah, we
have the Celtics, but that's all. That's where I just think.
I think the conversation has a reason to pop up again,
and I just wonder if it you know, if it will,
we shall see. I think I think now is the
(17:48):
time to have that conversation.
Speaker 6 (17:50):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Doug Gottlieb Show on Fox Sports Radio. He's Ryan Hollins,
the NBA veat time, Dan Bayer getting ready for a
game five tonight, plus a lot more going on in
the association. Mantie Blanios will have an update for us
of what's happening in about ten minutes or so, but
we welcome in our good friend. You can find on Twitter
at Marchie Underscore Medina and a guy that I'm gonna
team up with this Saturday again at two o'clock Eastern time,
(18:27):
eleven Pacific, Mark Medina and I will be here on
Fox Sports Radio talking NBA playoffs. I don't know if
we'll be talking about a Game six or not, but
make sure you tune in and you can always catch
Ryan Hollins and Mike harmon Sunday mornings nine o'clock Eastern time,
six pacifics those guys going at for three hours. Then
Carrie A. Rhodes and I will follow after that. All right,
(18:49):
Mark Medina is with us and we are talking NBA.
I'm gonna just dive into too. Game five tonight. I
think the pressure's on the Mavericks, and I think the
pressure is on the Mavericks for the rest of the series.
Where do you think the pressure lies tonight in a
Game five?
Speaker 7 (19:02):
Mark Medina, Well, Dan, I'll agree with you that the
pressure is always on the team that just lost the game.
That's how the playoffs are, you know, are constructed. But
I think that Dallas is in the driver's seat simply
because they had that three to zero lead. No team
has ever overcome a three zero serious deficit, and I
don't think Minnesota will make history. So my hunch is
(19:25):
Dallas will win simply because I think Kyrie Irving and
Luca Dodgis will shoot the ball much better. But if
Minnesota wins, won't be surprised home court they're playing more
aggressive Karl Anthony Towns isn't just settling for threes. But
I think really their ceiling is just a Game five
victory and then losing in Dallas in Game six. But
you know what, that's what the NBA playoffs are for.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
Sometimes we're wrong, Mark, what's your cause for concern? Are you?
Speaker 5 (19:50):
Are you at a ten when it comes down to
the injuries in the Eastern Conference and just about every
superstar not being available. Obviously, Look, we're happy for Indiana,
We're we're happy for the Knicks, but are you at
are you at a ten right now? And if so,
do you think the league does something about this? Because
the big push, remember was you know, the competitive nature
(20:12):
of the NBA has to raise, you know, if these
guys won awards and want to be eligible for all
NBA teams they need to play a certain amount of games.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Did this come back to bite the NBA?
Speaker 7 (20:20):
Talk to me, well, Ryan, I'm curious what your perspective
is on this, you know, given your expertise as a
former player. But as far as the playoff injuries, yes,
I'm concerned. I you know, I don't have rooting interest
in the games, but we always want guys to be
relatively healthy so that they're at least available. When star
players that importance is even more. I don't know if
(20:42):
these injuries are a pattern of anything related to load
management or the NBA pushing backs against that. I know
that specifically Tyrese Haliburton's injury earlier in the season, you know,
talking to his trainer, Drew Handling, he had mentioned that,
you know, because of that sixty five game rule, he
(21:03):
felt a little bit more pressure to come back, you know,
quicker than maybe normally otherwise. But at that point he
said the injury was behind him, and so these injuries
now were new ones. So I don't quite know how
to answer the question. Frankly, like I would feel you'd
have better perspective knowing that, I mean, how do you
(21:23):
look at the playoff injury specifically.
Speaker 5 (21:26):
Uh well, to address the number of games being played.
I think if you're if you're injured, you're hurt, sit out.
That should not kind against you. Now the problem is,
and the fans can speak to this. If I spend
one thousand dollars to go and watch Giannis on to
the Koopo play and I'm bringing him up because he's
a great example. He always plays to injury and he
just said, hey, guys, I'm taking a rest day.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
You're like, what the heck?
Speaker 5 (21:49):
Arrest day? Like, are you kidding me? But when you're
injured and you're hurt, that's the difference. And I think
the NBA more addressed to the fan, but from the
player perspective, if you're legitimately hurt, sit out and get
you know, get better.
Speaker 7 (22:06):
Yeah, no, it's a fair point. And I think the
thing that I'm always humbled about is we don't know,
we don't know. You know, players obviously are the only
ones that know their bodies, but as you know, Ryan
like the team's medical staff guard the information pretty tightly.
And so while we do know, okay, this is the
injured body part, and they're saying it's this, this and this,
(22:26):
as far as severity, a lot of times we're operating
an information vacuum. So that's what really humbles me about
this debate overall.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Mark Bedina joining us here on Fox Sports Radio talking NBA.
He's Ryan Hollins, I'm Dan Byer in for Doug Gottlieb's
we a lot from the tyreq dot com studios. We
started off the show today on Chris Haynes telling Dan
Patrick that all signs your point to JJ Reddick to
becoming to be the next head coach of the Lakers,
even going as far as assembling of staff. What are
you hearing on the Reddick to the Lakers front?
Speaker 7 (22:57):
Yeah, pretty similar things. You know, Chris is always on
the money with with with news, and I think the
interesting wrinkle with the Lakers coaching search is the feeling
around the league is exactly how you framed it, that
the expectation is that JJ Reddick will be the coach.
But in fairness, internally, the Lakers will say they're taking
(23:20):
their time, They're talking a lot of candidates. I know,
you know, the only times mentioned they talk with James
Barrego recently. And the sense that I got is even
if we feel like we already know what the ending
is going to be. This might not This is probably
not going to happen anytime soon. If I had to
make a prediction, the hiring uh will become official after
(23:44):
the NBA Finals, before the NBA Draft, and I think
that that hiring will be JJ Reddick. But I also
get the sense that the Lakers aren't necessarily beholden to
that timeline, even though it's obviously ideal you want to
have a head coach, especially for the draft. That's the
feeling I get. But you know, there's always perceptions. Some
(24:07):
of it's based on reality, some of it's just based
on impressions. And outside of the Lakers, the feeling is
this is inevitable. JJ Reddick is going to be the coach,
and now it's just a matter of they're interviewing other
people to see which would be good fits on his
coaching staff.
Speaker 5 (24:23):
I'm gonna I'm gonna go here because there's been a
big buzz around Anthony and Edwards. So you know, when
he plays well, he's going to take the praise, but
when when he doesn't play as well, he's gonna have
to take a little bit of the criticism. Yeah, do
you feel it's safe to say that Anthony Edwards is
the is the best bet to be the next face
of the NBA. Do you think of Luka Danciic went
(24:45):
into championship? You know, Winby is a bad boy open
here in San Antonio. Are going to be rivaling him?
And how confident are you and his abilities?
Speaker 7 (24:55):
Yeah, I think it's a really interesting question. I don't
think that as of now there's a does a made
it next face of the NBA because we've seen glimpses
of young players greatnesses as well as glimpses of their shortcomings,
and Anthony Edwards has certainly fit that bill. I think that,
you know, the interesting part of this is, you know,
I'm a believer that ultimately how you play in the
(25:18):
games is what's going to matter, you know, especially in
the playoffs. But we can't discount the fact that the
NBA and its popularity is based off of stars and
just what their personalities are. And so I think when
you're looking at Anthy Edwards, he checks that box of
just having the charisma the personality, where when you're looking
(25:38):
at someone like you know, Nikole jokicch or Luka Dancic,
they're much more Stoican personality. I think Victor Wenbinyama has
the charismatic personality, but he's shown that he is the
real deal. He's lived up at the hype. But while
I do have faith that the Spurs will be a
winning organization because Greg Popovich is there and and they've
(26:00):
had a proven track record, we have to see how
fast and that rebuild's going to take place. So with that,
I think Anthony Edwards has a driver's seat advantage, but
this playoff shortcomings doesn't do him justice because if he
were in the driver's seat of Minnesota having this lead
(26:21):
on the way to the NBA Finals, it would be
about him and the Mavericks inability to make it to
that next step, even with Luca's greatness. But right now
it's been the opposite. Lucas raised his game to another level,
and that's coincided with Kyrie Irving looking like he's in
Cleveland again and Dallas having a much better supporting cast
(26:41):
in recent seasons.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
He's Mark Medina or Fox Sports Radio NBA in Saturday.
Catch him this Saturday alongside me here on Fox Sports Radio,
read about the Sporting Tribune. You can see him on
TV as well. Locally here in Los Angeles and on Spectrum.
Mark appreciate it, looking forward to Saturday and enjoy Game
five tonight.
Speaker 4 (26:59):
We'll talk to soon Dan.
Speaker 7 (27:01):
Ryan appreciate as well, and Dan looking forward to the
show on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
Thanks Mark, two o'clock Eastern time. Let's go over to
He's Ryan Hollins. I'm Dan Byer, Fine Ryan at the
Ryan Hollins on X. You can find me at Dan
Byer on Fox. Did you hear about this new league
that is starting up for women's professional basketball players? Their
own version of the Big Three?
Speaker 4 (27:24):
Is?
Speaker 2 (27:24):
A new three on three basketball league called Unrivaled.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
Will be launched.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
I believe in January, headlined by WNBA star Brianna Stewart.
It would begin again in the winter. Am I right
on the timelines? I believe the January coming off the
heels of the Paris Olympic Games this summer three on
three basketball. I also think coming off the heels of
the WNBA and the notoriety that that is why this
(27:50):
timing has finally come come about. Ryan Hollins, do you
believe that this three on three women's league could have success?
Speaker 8 (28:00):
Right?
Speaker 5 (28:00):
While the Iron's hot strike quality, Iron's Hot man, I'm
in with it.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
I like it. I like it. I think this is
a great idea. Let's see what's there.
Speaker 5 (28:10):
And you know what you got to understand, man, is
there aren't as many w NBA teams as there aren't
NBA teams, if there's not a lot of ballers out there,
and the one thing, if there's enough money circulating, you know,
kind of the goal for some of those players is
And what people don't understand with the WNBA, those girls
play year round. A lot of them go overseas and
(28:30):
play ball, then they come back to the w NBA
and it's literally their offseason. So if somehow you can
keep our ladies here in the States, I think that's
a bang up idea.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Man.
Speaker 5 (28:41):
I think that'll be fun to see. And I think
you're going to be seeing some of these ballers play
and say, hey, if there's enough money, man, we'll stay here.
So keep our ladies home.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
I am very curious about this, but I as I said,
I am curious about the timing because I don't think
it's just the Olympics. I do think it's Caitlyn Clark
am I giving a whole you know, like it has
to be right you said strike while the iron's hot.
That you know, is this league able to launch next year?
And is Caitlin Clark going to be a part of
this league? And for her being a part of the
(29:11):
conversation as she has been for so many months. I
just don't think this league launches if Caitlyn Clark isn't
doing what she's doing in college basketball and then now
trying to do so in the w NBA.
Speaker 5 (29:24):
Dan, you may smell like a man, but you've been
speaking about the ladies of late. You know, you've been
showing that respect and and and you are you are
spot on, and you know I get it.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
As a player, I get it.
Speaker 5 (29:36):
Dan's making this face, by the way, because he's because
he's taking offense about the way that he smells.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
He's like, I do not question my smell.
Speaker 4 (29:44):
Coming to play here.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
You started with Mazie and I am sorry. Now we're
all like, you know, we're jumping jumping on you Dad.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
You know you said I.
Speaker 4 (29:53):
Do wear both right, guys, Yes, you.
Speaker 5 (29:56):
Said comments that we you know we will not you
know re is it earlier.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
But the point is, strike while the iron's hot.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
I'm happy for the ladies, and I'm telling you, now,
for our ladies, if they can make some bread year
round and not have to go overseas and play ball,
and that notoriety you know, stays where it is and
there's more men in behind it.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
I think it's a great thing.
Speaker 5 (30:19):
It's not fun half your season having to go, you know,
abroad to make your money.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
And yeah, no, that does make sense. I just wonder
on the success you're launching in the NFL playoffs. It's
hard enough for us to pay attention to the NBA
in January. How will that transition? Maybe it doesn't. It
doesn't matter for the players. If they're making six figures
and getting the state state side, that's a huge win
(30:44):
for women's basketball. I also just don't think it doesn't
happen without Caitlin Clark.
Speaker 5 (30:50):
How do you How do you feel about some of
the girls kind of barking back and I understand it
saying hey, man.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
Well, well there's good be a target on her back, yes, right, yes,
to be a target on her back, right, it should
be right. Hey, if you'd have chosen one, come show me.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
I don't think they launched this last year. I don't
think that it happens. I think that you said it
strike while the iron's hot. And I think that's why
this league is is it's been talking about for a
couple of years, and now to do it now. I
just don't think that it's a coincidence.
Speaker 5 (31:23):
I'm speaking to the scrutiny to Caitlyn Clark, the oh
you're not to save your Oh No, I guess. I
guess we won the game because the charter plane that
we flew it and on. You know, listen, man, as
an athlete, forget man or woman, you gotta have a
chip on your shoulder.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
Man, it's gotta be war. I remember going into the.
Speaker 5 (31:42):
Locker rooms and seeing another guy that was getting national
recognition or being anointed, and it was it was on
and popping that night. Man, Dan, you had to go
at these guys. So Caitlyn Clark, that's it. That's a bullseye,
that's a target on her back. I think she's handled
herself amazing. She's not trash talking. She's a class I
love what she done. She just goes about her business
(32:03):
and gets it done. But make no mistake, you got
to strap them up.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
You know.
Speaker 5 (32:07):
When you have that type of hype and she has
that big bullseye. Man, that's part of it. And you
know that's where legends are born. Man, If you don't
think every player in the league went after Lebron James,
If you don't think we played for the Celtics and
we had lb on the other side, he had to
go prove that he was King James and we didn't
go after him. Absolutely, man, Absolutely so. Caitlin Clark is
(32:28):
much like all the other stars, has to prove it.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
He's Ryan Hollins. I'm Dan Byr in for Doug Gottlieb
here on Fox Sports Radio Live Athetyraq dot com studios.
Coming up next, there's another w NBA star in the news,
or should I say in the lyrics? We'll explain next
here on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 6 (32:45):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
Live Doug Gottlieb Show on Fox Sports Radio. Sitting in
for Doug today, He's Ryan Hollands. I'm Dan Byer. It's
been fun these last couple of hours.
Speaker 8 (33:09):
All right, all right, Well, I had this whole thing
I was saying, or Sam would bump in with this song,
and you know the choruses walk like a man you're talking,
because the chorus will get your mentioned. I was thinking
about doing my own parody version.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
Smells like a man, Smells like a man.
Speaker 6 (33:30):
His name is Dan.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
In a good way, in a good way, smells like
a man.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
Don't believe Ryan hollins In is one or the other slander.
Speaker 4 (33:46):
No, no, no, no Hollinds. Don't try to don't try
to change this story.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
Monzie said it smells like man in a good way,
and then we said it's usually a bad way, and
you go, yeah, it's for people who only use cologne
but not deodorant.
Speaker 4 (33:59):
No, that's the summary of it smells.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
And you combined, dude, that that is correct. But then
you asked me what the locker room smelled like.
Speaker 4 (34:11):
Sure, which they usually they do. They're awful.
Speaker 9 (34:14):
They're awful.
Speaker 4 (34:16):
Not good at all, No, not good at all.
Speaker 9 (34:20):
When we take people into the clubhouse at Dodger Stadium,
sometimes we take kids in and the little kids are like,
what is that smell? And I'm like, well, well there's
a sweat.
Speaker 7 (34:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (34:34):
Kids are like, what is that smell?
Speaker 4 (34:36):
Athlete musk?
Speaker 9 (34:38):
Yeah, that's what I'm gonna respond.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
Now, Yeah, Manzi doesn't have athletes musk, but she does
have the press.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
I do.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
The press, all right, Mancy you got I did.
Speaker 9 (34:49):
Not know that Giants star tied End Darren Waller was
also a musician. This is brand new information for me.
Speaker 4 (34:57):
I didn't either. I know he's deciding on whether we
were tire or not?
Speaker 6 (35:00):
Right.
Speaker 9 (35:01):
No, No, he's a musician. And he released a single
today with a music video called who Knew Her Perspective?
Apparently he wrote it from the viewpoint of a woman.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
Trying to love him.
Speaker 9 (35:13):
He and Kelsey Plum divorcing after one year of marriage.
Here's a little bit on the song. Again, it's a
music video.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
I urge you all to just go find it.
Speaker 7 (35:27):
You know.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Stop yet it's hard to be free, it's hard to
give audio.
Speaker 4 (35:41):
Is this a TikTok? You what it's not?
Speaker 7 (35:43):
It's not.
Speaker 9 (35:44):
And in the video, you know, in the video there
is a woman that looks like you know, it's supposed
to be representing Kelsey Plum.
Speaker 4 (35:52):
Sure it's stark kid, Stop it.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
Stops. No, Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope. We're
not doing this.
Speaker 9 (36:00):
So so he's not at ot as, but he is,
you know, making music.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
He's not gonna be on the Billboard Top ten million either,
so that is not going to happen.
Speaker 9 (36:08):
And according to TMZ, he's going to release an album
like like a whole album this year, but he still
doesn't know if he's going to play football.
Speaker 6 (36:17):
This is all according to m Z.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
I buy that, oh man, you buying that for a
dollar twenty nine?
Speaker 4 (36:27):
You're buying that single? Ryan Allen, I'm gonna buy it.
Speaker 5 (36:29):
I'm gonna play it man. Hey, I'm rocking with Darren
Walder Man. I'm a Darren Wallder fan.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
I mean sure I rode from as well. But the
music different, Yeah, not good. I'm not sure what to
make it that.
Speaker 9 (36:42):
I'm not either different sound, yes, a lot of questions.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
Well the song didn't start yet though, right, that was
just the intro.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
That that's the song.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
That's not the song talk.
Speaker 6 (36:53):
Walk a Man?
Speaker 3 (36:55):
What is it? Ye?
Speaker 4 (36:56):
Smell like a man?
Speaker 3 (37:00):
All right?
Speaker 4 (37:00):
And that's the press.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
Yes, thanks a short one today, Hollins. It's been fun
and fun with Mike on Sunday. Talk to you later
on Fox.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
Absolutely brother
Host
Doug Gottlieb
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.