Leave Your Ego at the Door: Lakers Lineup Shake Up, Cavs’ Perfect Start & Bucks’ Big Questions

In this episode of Late Night Lake Show, the crew dives into early rotation changes for the Lakers, debating D'Angelo Russell’s move out of the starting lineup and the benching of Max Christie. The show opens with Headlines Around the League, where we discuss the Cavs’ impressive 12-0 start and whether they can sustain it to break through the struggling Eastern Conference, along with the Bucks’ search for answers and the injury challenges facing the Pelicans. Tune in!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:17):
What's going on? Everybody.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Welcome to a new episode of the Late Night Lake
Show podcast. As your host today, Kwalme and I'm joined
by my boys. We got Rick, we got Jody. Gentlemen, gentlemen,
the Lakers. Ah Man, we're doing pretty good this season.
A little rough of a road trip, but we came
back home and took care of business. So I got
a couple more games this week. But it's just been
an exciting season.

Speaker 3 (00:36):
Man.

Speaker 2 (00:36):
It feels like the life is back in us. But
I'll just quick checking with you guys. How y'all doing today?
Fellas Jody, tell me how you're doing.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
I'm doing good man, you know, living and maintaining. I'm
trying to get.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
To so I like to hear so I like to
hear Rick as the leader of the pack. Man, how
you feeling?

Speaker 1 (00:52):
Tell us how you doing?

Speaker 4 (00:53):
I'm good man. I do got a bone to pick
with Jody real quick though. Jody always got some great
parlays cooked up under the table. You ever come, you
ever go kick it with your friends and they bring
some food through and that didn't look fire. You see
it's fire.

Speaker 5 (01:10):
They killing it.

Speaker 4 (01:11):
They really focused on the food, but didn't tell you
where they got it from, didn't tell you they was
getting it and didn't bring you none.

Speaker 5 (01:18):
I told you know, just just the publicly.

Speaker 4 (01:21):
Jo please starts start start the discord, brother, I'm trying
to deposit some of these big I gotta.

Speaker 3 (01:28):
Figure out more about what this discord thing is that
every people talking about it all the time. But I
don't really.

Speaker 5 (01:36):
It's just another group shot, man.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
That's what We'll get you to speed.

Speaker 3 (01:41):
Don't you worry, don't you man?

Speaker 1 (01:43):
I ain't.

Speaker 3 (01:44):
I hit a part a little while ago, maybe like
two or three weeks ago, but I ain't here one
since I'm I'm gonna do I need. I need one this.

Speaker 5 (01:51):
Weekend for they know when you're putting money on them.

Speaker 3 (01:54):
Though, Bro, they got to bro. I think they get.

Speaker 5 (01:59):
Get a Yeah, the love of god.

Speaker 3 (02:03):
What did what uh C J McCollums say Twitter Like,
I'm trying, Jennifer. That's what I just said. I'm trying Jennifer.
But nigga, you keep sucking about I can't. I can't
catch the bus because.

Speaker 5 (02:20):
This is a crazy world.

Speaker 4 (02:21):
We end, Well, we could just directly talk to the
niggas that's blowing our parlays.

Speaker 1 (02:26):
Yeah, so real, so real, society. Well, hey, there you
guys here first a l n LS bets.

Speaker 4 (02:33):
May be making a retirement, and Jody, you know what
I'm saying every two weeks though, we only want the winners.

Speaker 2 (02:39):
Right, Yeah, we're not taking the losers, y'all. Y'all losses
on us neither. That is your own discrepancy.

Speaker 3 (02:46):
Niggas auld be mentioned part and daily Yeah made me
lose more than they are already bro right right.

Speaker 2 (02:55):
All right, gentlemen, Well, so let's let's as a new
thing with the Late Night Lake Show Podcast. We're a
little bit about the league, what's going on, some of
the hot storylines, and we'll start off with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Speaker 1 (03:04):
Man off to a blazing hot twelve and oh start.

Speaker 2 (03:09):
Calves guard Darius Garland was named Eastern Conference Player of
the Week, averaging twenty five points per game, shooting sixty
one percent from the field and fifty seven percent from three.

Speaker 1 (03:20):
These guys have been balling Man.

Speaker 2 (03:21):
The back court has been dynamic, the front court has
been even better, led by Mobley and Jared Allen, but
Man new coach and Kenny Atkinson. The Calves are looking
like a brand spanking new team. These guys are doing
their thing, They're winning games, and you know, it's it's
looking pretty effortless for them right now. So I got
to know, man, what are your guys thoughts on the
Cleveland Cavaliers. What's going on with them? And is this

(03:43):
something that sustainable? Is this a team that could really
go the long haul with this team, with this makeup,
with this roster, with this coach, especially the daunting Eastern Conference. Jody,
let me get your thoughts on what you think about
the Cavaliers and how they're doing this season.

Speaker 3 (03:56):
Oh yeah, man, I think ain't for real.

Speaker 1 (03:59):
Man.

Speaker 3 (03:59):
I think it's one of those things where anytime you
can win twelve straight games in any professional league, you
gotta be some type of legitimate. You got to be
some type of good. You don't win twelve games on accident.
That's too much execution that has to happen consecutively for
you to, you know, be able to do something like that.

(04:22):
And with how we were talking before, like with how
the East is looking, we need to be cherishing the
moments that we get with this caz because it probably
won't be that much quality basketball in the East that
does not involve the Cavaliers or the Celtics. The distance
between the Celtics and the Caves is probably the same

(04:45):
amount of distance between the Caves and the rest of
the Eastern Conference. So it's like they're, you know, they
firmly in that second spot as the second best team,
and it takes a long time. The problem is kp
And even came back for the Celtics, so it's like
they still got things.

Speaker 1 (05:05):
He's still out, Yeah yeah, they.

Speaker 5 (05:07):
Still he hadn't played since like the playoffinals.

Speaker 3 (05:10):
Yeah yeah, so they still got things to add. And
you know, whatever he adds is going to be a plus.
That's essentially how good their team is. So hey, God
bless the Cavs. You know, maybe Jared Allen and Evan
Mowgley or turn into some true twin Towers and and

(05:32):
and do something special. But I like what the Calves
got going. They got something really brewing in Cleveland.

Speaker 2 (05:40):
I gotta agree, man, I think the Calves they got
something special. Like I said, dynamics, that court, talented front court,
bench that has all contributors. Again, this coach got them
playing hard man, Kenny Hackinson got these guys playing in
a different style. Rick, let me get your thoughts on
what you think about the Cavalets, especially coming off the
seat off season where it was looking like Darius Garland

(06:00):
and Donovan Mitchell were not seeing eye to eye.

Speaker 1 (06:03):
There was a you know, possible trade request.

Speaker 2 (06:06):
I know a lot of things were going on, but
it seems like they patched it up in off to
a blazing Like I said, twelve and zero start. So
rig let me know your thoughts is this is a
legitimate team in the National Basketball Association, could they compete
for a championship or this is just another hot start
that we should just ignore later on.

Speaker 4 (06:23):
Yeah, I mean to Jody's point, you kind of have
to acknowledge what they're doing. Eighty two game season, You're
twelve games through undefeated. Look, the East is just just awful.
Tell us, just very disappointing. You wouldn't bring them home
to your mother nor father. It's just a very disgraceful

(06:44):
basketball conference right now. We're only two teams are above
five hundred. Again, only two teams are above five hundred
in the conference. There's only one team in the West
that has a worse than five hundred record against the East.

Speaker 5 (06:59):
That's how bad it is.

Speaker 4 (07:00):
The New Orleans Pelicans, who only have half a roster
have a two and four record. Everybody else is above
five hundred in the West against the East. So with
those just black and white stats, you have no other
choice but to say that this team has to be
taken seriously. You take a look at teams that have

(07:21):
started twelve and zero or better to start an NBA season.
Only one of those twelve teams have not made it
to their conference finals. Everybody else either lost in the
conference finals or one or lost the NBA Finals. Actually
only two teams won the NBA Finals.

Speaker 5 (07:37):
But you get the point. It is very hard at
this point in speaking to count the Cavs out of
the East.

Speaker 4 (07:44):
So as long as they end up at on the
other side of the bracket from the Celtics, yeah, they
should be able to take care of business. As much
as I acknowledge that having the smaller guards in the
playoffs is usually New Bueno, they got two really really
good and versatile Biggs and Evan and Mobley and Jared Allen,
so I appreciate what they bring to the basketball court.

(08:07):
Big boy universities, both alumni right there, and look at
that Kenny Atkinson gets a job. The team does amazing
If you've been following the show, you know, there's something
that I've been trying to preach that the Lakers look
at before I head coach changed position. Kenny Atkinson's one
of my guys, and that just, you know, very happy

(08:28):
for him that he's able to put such a hot
start together. But I'd be lying if I wasn't a
little jaded at the front office for not really considering
my man during the multiple times, multiple times over the years,
the Lakers have needed a head coach. So shout out
to them. Hats off to them. They tap the Lakers ass,
so I gotta respect them, is for real.

Speaker 2 (08:50):
I like the point you made about Kenny Atkinson. It
really seems like he's got these boys playing different.

Speaker 1 (08:54):
Man.

Speaker 2 (08:55):
They are doing their thing. I gotta agree, though a
small backcourt makes me nervous. I don't believe small guards
in the playoffs. I gotta be honest with you. You're a
real small guard. I just don't have faith that you
can carry your team across the finish line.

Speaker 1 (09:07):
It'll be interesting to see what the Cavaliers can do. Man.

Speaker 2 (09:10):
I'm very, very curious how it goes in the long haul.
But that's the best start for their team individually. So hey,
I guess we'll see how far the Cavaliers can go.

Speaker 1 (09:18):
Man. Good for the city of Cleveland, especially in the
post Lebron era.

Speaker 2 (09:22):
I think there's something to really look forward to, because,
you know, I'll be honest, I never thought the Cavs
will see another great season again.

Speaker 1 (09:27):
But here they are doing great things. So good. Good
for them, Man, good for them. But as we mentioned, guys,
the Eastern Conference is off.

Speaker 2 (09:36):
We look down and down the standings, we find ourselves
down the two and eight section.

Speaker 1 (09:41):
We're looking at the Milwaukee Bucks. Man.

Speaker 2 (09:44):
These guys are struggaling. This is a team that just
a couple of years ago NBA champion, you know, MVP
dpo y future Face of the League Johnis. We haven't
seen him even come close since. And I know he's
been in in the playoffs and whatnot. But this team
is rough, my guys. Last year they traded for Damian Lillard,

(10:05):
brand new head coach, and Adrian Griffin fired him broad
in doc Rivers.

Speaker 1 (10:10):
They have not looked worse since. I don't know what
to say about this team.

Speaker 3 (10:14):
Man.

Speaker 2 (10:14):
They only have three guys that have that averaged over
ten points per game. You got Jannis, Damian Lillard and
Bobby Porters. Those are the only three people averaging over
ten points a game. In totality, their team only scores
about one hundred and ten point six a night, which
is good for nineteenth in the league. I don't know
if that's getting it done. You look at their team,
they don't really have a lot of plus defenders. Giannis

(10:35):
is really probably your only guy. It's not looking good
for the Milwaukee Bucks fellas. So I'm just curious, man,
what does this team have to look forward to? Is
there any way to reach back to the mountaintop or
is it just im to close the door on the
Milwaukee Bucks. Rick, let me hear what you got to
say about the Milwaukee Bucks. What do you think they're
gonna do? And tell me? Is this a salvageable roster
and team organization?

Speaker 5 (10:55):
Any of it salvageable as in selling off parts? Yeah?

Speaker 4 (11:03):
Yeah, salvageable as in they're about to compete for a championship. No, no, no, no.
First of all, they're head coach. They signed up for
what they signed up for. They did so, having Doc
Rivers at the Helm already paying Adrian Griffin and Doc
Rivers making what he's making. You don't expect the coaching

(11:23):
change this season. In fact, report said that his seed
is not hot. In fact, So here we go the
Doc Rivers show trying to navigate chaos.

Speaker 5 (11:31):
Buckle up. Then you kind of just moved down this roster.

Speaker 4 (11:35):
And the first thing that kind of glares to me
is the supporting pieces are that they're they're not doing
what they're being paid to do. Like you said, three
guys are above ten points a game. Shout out Big Bobby,
who was apparently in trade talk, so.

Speaker 5 (11:49):
Then you would get rid of that guy.

Speaker 4 (11:51):
So I don't know, man, I think the Bucks are
in one of those situations. Once they traded for Dame,
they needed things to go right and be trajectory moving up.
Firing a head coach so quickly into last season kind
of showed that, all right, we're all not pulling from
the same rope here. Then you hear some of the
offseason stuff about Dame and Giannis not being BFFs.

Speaker 5 (12:14):
All good, our superstars are, and now you're moving to.

Speaker 4 (12:18):
Them having a horrible, horrible, objectively horrible start to the season.
These things usually don't get better just by everybody leaning
in and working harder, right. So I do think that
the Bucks at some point in time will make some
changes to the supporting cast outside of Dame and Giannis.
But will it turn into a strong push.

Speaker 1 (12:41):
I don't know.

Speaker 5 (12:42):
Maybe, Again, this is the East.

Speaker 4 (12:45):
I guess they could be a playing team, and as
long as you have a hot Dame and Giannis, you
can make a run.

Speaker 5 (12:50):
But this team's not in contention talks. That's for damn sure.

Speaker 2 (12:55):
I mean, you gotta look at it. You look at
their their ages, of their core players. You got Gianni's
twenty nine, you got Damian Lillard thirty four, you got
Brook Lopez thirty six, you got Chris Middleton thirty three,
Bobby port Is twenty nine, and these guys.

Speaker 5 (13:09):
Are Mabby twenty nine.

Speaker 1 (13:10):
Bobby porter Is twenty nine, Yes he is, He's getting
up there.

Speaker 5 (13:13):
I would have never guessed Bobby Porters was younger than me.

Speaker 3 (13:16):
Yeah, he's cash crazy crazy, ey, never guess.

Speaker 2 (13:21):
But you've got these guys aren't making a little bit
of money either. You got Gianni's making forty eight, they
ain't making forty eight. You got Brook Lopez making twenty three,
Chris Middleton make it thirty one, hasn't played a game
and then you got Bobby Porters pulling in twelve and
a half. Like, this is a lot of money tied
up to not that many people. I don't really know
the flexibility of this roster and how great it could be,

(13:42):
but it's looking very grim for these boys. I don't
know how you make it better. And like you said, Rick,
I don't think of Kumbaya is getting them out of this.
So Jody, let me get your thoughts. What do you
think about the Bucks? Is this team savable? Can you
do anything that this team can have any sort of
turnaround and maybe maybe even see the mountain top maybe
not even this season, but do they even have a future?

Speaker 3 (14:03):
Nah? Man, they peaked and that and that's okay, you know,
not everything last forever. And they got they had a
good run. And they had Giannis from when he was
nobody knew who knew he was and he was just
a skinny kid and he grew to be an m
v P. H I think he may have more than
one MVP actually Champion Finals MVP. You know you can't,

(14:30):
you can't, you can't in front of that, and but
when you when you trade away a good defensive guard,
a guard that can match up with a lot of
guys in a guard heavy n B A. And then
you make your team weaker by getting another guard that's

(14:51):
a shooter, but it's not a defender. So if his
shooting is not great, then he's almost in that negative
on the court at this stay age in his career.

Speaker 1 (15:01):
Then you got.

Speaker 3 (15:04):
The guy that you left that you won a championship with.
This is not some guy that was just on your team.
You actually won a championship. And the thing about it,
we seen Drew Holliday make that steal on Devin Booker
in one of the biggest moments in the finals, and
you let that man walk away, and I think he

(15:26):
got traded to the Blazers for a second, yep, and
they rounded his ass on to Boston. And now your
biggest competition, who at that point had not won a championship.
So they're as thirsty as possible to be as good
as they possibly can be to get the eighteenth championship

(15:46):
for the fucking Celtics, and you didn't let them get
a championship. Guy who knows what it looks like, knows
what it's been to the mountaintop.

Speaker 4 (15:55):
And yeah, that's what cursed him. You're right, You're absolutely right.
Right they did they be doing wrong by you did wrong,
but yours with them niggas, Now they did wrong.

Speaker 3 (16:08):
You had like like what you did wrong? But you
he wasn't the finals MVP, but you didn't get there
until Drew got there.

Speaker 2 (16:19):
The year he got there, they won, the year they
traded air Bloods for him, they won.

Speaker 3 (16:23):
And and you you get him out of there for
what you trade him for a smaller guard who I'm
not gonna say, Dame has passed his crime, but he's
not Dame waving goodbye to the OKC thunder after you
know what I mean.

Speaker 4 (16:37):
Yeah, No, Dame's been like two years in purgatory where
folks were like, all right, are they trading Dame this season?
Are they trading Dame this season? Then the third year
they actually traded Dame and it was like, oh, to Milwaukee,
all right, that's gonna be a crazy pick and roll
with him and Joannison.

Speaker 5 (16:56):
I don't know about y'all. That glowing up my timeline
now it hasn't.

Speaker 1 (17:01):
I didn't see that highlight from it, and that's not.

Speaker 5 (17:08):
I need to pull up the footage.

Speaker 3 (17:09):
That's not how that's not how like to play. He
does it. You know, he's not trying to spin his
possessions in a high pick and roll off because he
wants to. In that's case, he wanted to have the
ball himself so that he can fucking either get in
the poster or you know, drive to the rim and
kick the ball. But I'm not trying to be sitting
here matching up with these screens and doing slipping screens

(17:30):
and picking pops like Giannie is not doing that. That's
not you know what I'm saying.

Speaker 1 (17:35):
I play.

Speaker 3 (17:36):
So it doesn't even seem like it was that much.
They just fail. I feel like they just want They
thought if we just look at a big name, will
be good. Be damn almost came to the Lakers responding
to Brooklyn by going to get Russ when really Brooklyn

(17:58):
hadn't done anything to you're anything other than the names
of Kyrie. Yeah, that would.

Speaker 4 (18:06):
Everybody freaking out out for a season and a half
of that. But I will say the cutting the Bucks
a little bit of a bail here. They they were
tired of number two Chris Middleton, like it was Giannis
as a Middleton need to be b and they were

(18:26):
not confident that through his injuries right, he would continue to.

Speaker 5 (18:32):
He could be that consistent number two.

Speaker 4 (18:35):
So they're like, let's go get another one that might
be a little bit older, but we're gonna we're gonna
make it happen. And I think, you know, had obviously
Middleton been a more productive, consistent, healthier guy.

Speaker 5 (18:50):
Maybe it changes, but.

Speaker 4 (18:52):
Milwaukee definitely bet on the horse that Dame would get
it done while also shipping out maybe eighty percent of
the production in Drew Holliday and then you gave up
other pieces on top of that.

Speaker 5 (19:09):
Yeah, it didn't turn out to be in that positive.

Speaker 1 (19:11):
I mean, it's got a sting.

Speaker 2 (19:12):
You you trade away Drew, you get Dame, Drew gets
rerouted to the Celtics, and they immediately within a championship,
Like that's really got it hurt because essentially that's the
same thing that happens to the Bucks. Who's the Bucks
got him, they won a championship, and they they'll the
same thing go.

Speaker 1 (19:25):
It happened over in being Town.

Speaker 2 (19:27):
So I'm a little disappointed, but yeah, I think I'll
be honest, the Bucks might be in some trouble here, gentlemen.
I don't know how they climb out this whole, but
we'll continue to monitor the situations this season continues on.
So stick ourselves over back over to the Western Conference, gentlemen,
Let's look at hard our good friends.

Speaker 1 (19:43):
We know them well. The New Orleans Pelicans.

Speaker 2 (19:45):
Now, guys, they might hey, the three of us might
need to suit up for him soon because they are
losing people left it right.

Speaker 1 (19:52):
I'm run through their injuries real quick.

Speaker 2 (19:53):
We got de John Say Murray with the hand injury,
expected to miss four to six weeks.

Speaker 1 (19:58):
CJ.

Speaker 2 (19:58):
McCollum diagnosed with the a doctor strain, expected to miss
two to three weeks. HERB Jones expected to miss a
minimum of two to four weeks after his shoulder strain
in low grade thickness tear and his rotator cuff yikes.
The Jordan Hawkins will miss one to two weeks due
to lower back strain. Zion Williamson diagnosed with a left

(20:18):
hand string strain, will be out indefinitely. And then just
the other day, Jose Alvarado diagnosed with the left ham
string strain and will be reevaluated in approximately three weeks.
I don't even know who's left on this team outside
of brandon ingram To be honest with you, and Bi
does not have a track record of being the most
healthy dude. To be honest, He's only played sixty games

(20:42):
one time since twenty twenty, so four seasons he's only
played sixty games one time, and that was last year,
So he's not known to be the healthiest dude either.

Speaker 1 (20:51):
But the Pelicans are tough, man. I remember their fans.

Speaker 2 (20:53):
They were giving us Lakers some a hard time because
you know, they we traded for Ad and they got
all these players and all these picks that have almost
amounted to, uh, nothing successful for their franchise. So they
get one more pick ont Us and then it's done.
They're really gonna need to make it good. But gentlemen,
I want to know your thoughts on the New Orleans
Pelicans as their team is decimated. Do we have any

(21:15):
stock left in Zion? This guy has not been consistently
healthy and he's not been able to perform to what
we all expected him to be.

Speaker 1 (21:22):
And to be honest, I I.

Speaker 2 (21:23):
Just don't think the league is even looking to him
to be the face that they thought he was going
to be coming out. So I'm just curious. I mean,
talk a little bit about the Pelicans of what you think.

Speaker 1 (21:33):
But I'm really curious.

Speaker 2 (21:34):
What are you'all thoughts about Zion Williamson and who this
guy is supposed to be. Jody will start with you
tell me your thoughts.

Speaker 3 (21:40):
I'm gonna keep it one hundred percent real. He's been
curaged ever since that day Barack obamacain course at Duke
and these shoes. But he ain't been right ever since.
And I ain't been right ever since then. He hain't
been right since then. Wow, you have a nice little
stretch where you look like he's about to get right
and then it's something happened. He's That was pretty much.

(22:03):
That was pretty much it. He can't stay healthy under
any circumstances. We not three weeks until that. We barely
run into the year out and definitely with a hamstring.
You got a soft tissue injury to start the year.
You don't get healthier within the season like it don't
work like that. So he he already has a weight issue.

(22:27):
So you can't really work out like that if your
handstring is messed up like you know, every.

Speaker 4 (22:35):
Time gets skinny or gets trim, gets hurt, can't play,
gets big, rehabs, gets skinny, gets hurt.

Speaker 3 (22:48):
Same thing, so you know, you know it was he
his YouTube. I high. He's gonna live forever, you know,
you lights, and at least he can the second contract.
At least he was able to hold on to get
that second contract. Shout out to him, and you know,
hopefully him and Morian Mills can live off that for

(23:10):
the last Like as far as the Pelicans, it's funny
because the Pelicans, they didn't want to pay b out
this summer. They didn't want to give him a new deal.
Right here, it is, he's the only one that they
can depend on to get twenty at night, and he
can barely stay healthy. But you rather get sixty games

(23:33):
and b I, then you're gonna get forty games of
Zion and you paying forty five million, fifty million, So
you might as well give b I thirty five forty
million a year with like, what is it gonna hurt you?

Speaker 1 (23:47):
What else?

Speaker 3 (23:50):
Who else are you who you gonna get the money to?
Now you risk losing BI You damn, They're gonna have
to trade him to not let him walk for that thing.

Speaker 5 (24:01):
They'll trade them.

Speaker 4 (24:03):
I feel like that's probably going to be the biggest
name traded by the trade deadline. The Pelicans are obviously
being shown that this thing what we thought it was
going to be, and everybody got hurt. Everybody, Right, you
hold on to Jontre Murray because he just got here.

Speaker 1 (24:23):
Right.

Speaker 4 (24:25):
Zion's making a kajillion dollars and not sure if you
would get the value back that you would expect for
a Zion deal. But also, who's going to purchase the
the eighty inch flat screen with bullet holes all through
it in Denton? It fell off the back of the truck, right.

(24:46):
I truly think that BA is going to end up
maybe not even with the contender, maybe like a team
that is just deciding, hey, let's chip in some of
these young pieces for a little bit of an older
veteran who's proven made an All Star game, right to
add a little bit consistency maybe as a one A

(25:06):
or a one B scorer on their team. So I
do think this is the end of the Pelican story.
I look forward to seeing how this last pick ends
up coming to fruition or not, and then I will
officially start the funeral arrangements for that franchise. It's it's

(25:27):
the slow game, it's the long game. We've been very
patient over here in Laker Nation. There was a lot
of mean things said, a lot of mean things said
with the after that ad trade, and we will just
we'll just finish it once this last piece of this
transaction is done. So best of luck to you guys.

(25:48):
Stay warm, stay safe, and you know, support your local
health and rehab facilities out there in New Orleans.

Speaker 2 (25:56):
Wow, I gotta know, are you selling me Zion Stock.
Let's look, let's look a little bit into Zion. He
was drafted in twenty nineteen. Right, we're gonna talk about
him season by.

Speaker 5 (26:06):
Season at least, my Zion Stock.

Speaker 3 (26:08):
I'm dam with you.

Speaker 2 (26:10):
His rookie year, played just twenty four games, then was
out with the with the knee injury. The next season,
bubble year, he did play sixty one games, was hampered
by another knee injury towards the end of the season.
Twenty twenty one to twenty two season missed the entire
season due to a foot injury that required surgery.

Speaker 1 (26:28):
You know. The next year twenty.

Speaker 2 (26:29):
Twenty two to twenty three, played in twenty nine games
and then was sidelined for the rest of the season
due to a foot injury that flared up then last
year he played in a career high seventy games, wasn't
even injury like that averaged it astounding well, I guess
I don't necessarily says sounding, but average twenty three, six

(26:51):
and five, Okay, not too bad. And then this season
manage only to make it six games before his hamstring
blew out. So yeah, Zion has not been a beacon
of consistency in any measure of his career thus far.
We're talking five seasons in and he's missed over half
his games.

Speaker 1 (27:11):
I don't know how it gets better.

Speaker 2 (27:12):
Like I said, he's only getting older, he's only recovering
for more injuries. I don't see how this how this guy.
It's gonna be difficult. He's gonna be a hell of
a second half of his career to really turn this around.
But to Jody's point, he made that second contract with Rick,
I gotta know, did you sell the Zion stock here?

Speaker 1 (27:28):
Let the people here?

Speaker 3 (27:29):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (27:29):
Yeah, I sold it.

Speaker 4 (27:31):
I mean I think it officially was sold once I
saw his selection in Porn Stars, Like I think that's
when I had to finish the deal because like that,
that that was a thumbnail that just it just wouldn't
get clicked on. I think maybe once just to see
what in the fuck is going on, but that wasn't

(27:51):
getting nick done anyways.

Speaker 5 (27:53):
I Zion had.

Speaker 4 (27:55):
Several years to prove himself to just be one thing,
and that's healthy. And he did have the one season
that you mentioned, which was how many games sixty what seventy?

Speaker 2 (28:07):
It was seventy sixty games last season, career high seventy
games last season.

Speaker 5 (28:11):
There we go.

Speaker 4 (28:13):
I don't think Pelicans fans have a nickname like everybody
else has a nickname for Anthony Davis about always being injured,
but he's literally always.

Speaker 5 (28:25):
Injured, always bron But I don't hear him. Were not
one nickname for Zion and his injury issues. I just
checked it out.

Speaker 4 (28:33):
Anthony David sixty four games, sixty seven games, sixty eight games,
sixty one game, seventy five games, seventy five games for
the Pelicans, and that's how they treated him once he left.
In comparison to this box of scraps of a muscle
car and lot of people, we're supposed to show grace,

(28:54):
thoughts of prayers, hopefully he gets better and rehabs. But
then again, I'm just waiting for the funeral services. So
just ain't about Zion. Hopefully he can pull it together,
find a new franchise with the better rehab facilities. I
think the Sun's have really good rehab facilities. Not trying
to put him with Kadie and shit, but just as
far as getting healthy again. But yeah, man, I got

(29:15):
nothing for the Pelicans.

Speaker 5 (29:17):
Ask goodbye.

Speaker 1 (29:19):
We close the door on that. All right, ladies and gentlemen,
we're gonna take quick break. We come back.

Speaker 2 (29:24):
We'll shift our focus over to the Lakers. And we
had quite a lineup change that seems a little bit
familiar to last year. We'll take a deeper dive into
that in just a couple minutes with y'all Late Night
Lake Show.

Speaker 1 (29:35):
We'll be right back.

Speaker 5 (29:36):
Hey, what's going on y'all? Ricky with Late Night Lake Show?
Real quick.

Speaker 4 (29:40):
Just wanted to send some flowers, send some love to
one of our a one day ones friends of.

Speaker 5 (29:44):
The show prize picks.

Speaker 4 (29:46):
They've been rocking with us since this account and this
whole operation was in its infancy way before we have
grown to the production that we are here today, and
we can't thank them enough for believing in the engine
that is Ellen and Ls and to show our love.
We got a new promo code for y'all. Type in
the promo code c L and as c L and

(30:09):
AS for up to one hundred dollars deposit match.

Speaker 5 (30:13):
On your first deposit.

Speaker 4 (30:15):
That's right, you already know how prize fix is coming, man.
It is the number one daily fantasy experience. You make
your picks higher or lower. You make two to three selections,
and if you're hit, you might be able to cash
out on a nice little five, ten, eighteen, twenty five,
all the way up to one hundred times your deposit.

Speaker 2 (30:36):
Late Night Lake Show, We're back. The Lakers guys had
had a bit of a lineup shift.

Speaker 1 (30:41):
Cam Reddish. Cam Reddish has.

Speaker 2 (30:44):
Moved into the starting lineup with D'Angelo Russell coming off
the bench.

Speaker 1 (30:47):
So JJ Reddick is telling the reporters that they're just
looking for more.

Speaker 2 (30:51):
Bounce from the starting lineup with the defensive presence, and
then moving del to the bench will provide a bit
of an offensive top. You emphasize that this is not
necessarily permanent, nor is it an indictment on Russell's performance
to start the season, but he says it's just an
adjustment that he thinks would better balance the rotation.

Speaker 1 (31:12):
So, guys, we've seen it. We've seen it for what
two games now.

Speaker 2 (31:16):
Again, hey, we we saw this last year with Darvinham.
When you when you look at that back Coote, we
knew they're not the most athletic. They often struggle with
these smaller, faster guards, but you know when they played
well for the most part. But we saw Darbnham go
to this same uh lineup adjustment last year as well.
He had started Cam Raddish in the lineup to add

(31:37):
a little bit of defense. Seems to be working a
little differently now, I'm curious what are your thoughts on
the early lineup ship, moving Delo to the bench? How
do you guys feel about Cam Reddish's performance, and what
does it look like with our team and our makeup
on how this can move forward. Again, we got a
little bit momentum with this new roster change, so I'm
curious what do you guys thoughts. So, Jody, go ahead

(31:57):
and start me off. What are your thoughts on the
Lakers start Cam Raddish and moving d to the bench.

Speaker 3 (32:03):
It was something you gotta do it because dlo Is
he's usually if he's not on offensively meaning making the
shots that you throw up. He's to e teeters on
that negative negative and Cam reddish he could possibly be
that negative as well, but he's bigger and athletic, so

(32:27):
he has more of a chance to at least impact
the game defensively, whereas offensively you can sit him in
a darker spot and make something work and get something
easy to the rim. Hey, if you're right there, you
can drop it off. If not, he can be there
to try to clean up the glass basically. But I

(32:48):
don't I just don't know that there's a spot on
this roster for what they're trying to do for Demo.

Speaker 1 (32:54):
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (32:57):
I don't know what what he's going to effectively bring
from a consistency level. The idea of DLO is great,
but the reality of what we get on a per
nite basis is just not sustainable when the margin of
error is not that great either. So you know, they

(33:19):
can address it up how they want to, but I
think we all know what we've seen from d LOO
in these moments, and this team and the games from
Ad and Brian are at the premium at this point,
so you know, you gotta do it what you can
with what you can. But hopefully Cam Reddish uses this
opportunity to kind of stay likeed in and he don't

(33:44):
taper off kind of like he did last year where
he would come on, come on strong, and have some
good moments and then kind of like taper off to
where it's like all of a sudden playable.

Speaker 1 (33:53):
Type of deal.

Speaker 3 (33:54):
So we gonna see, you know, hopefully they let Dlo
play enough to where he looks good enough to where
somebody's gonna want to accept him in some type of deal,
because I hope that d Loo is used as a
chip in some way to upgrade this roster, not as

(34:14):
a personal thing, because I think Delo is a good
locker room guy. I think they like him personally. I
just don't think that it's just gonna work out professionally.

Speaker 5 (34:24):
Because I noticed that too.

Speaker 4 (34:26):
D'Angelo Russell is ironically becoming more valuable as a locker
room guy and as a likable guy that his teammates
gravitate towards that that definitely you could see that, whether
in the post games or in the locker room footage

(34:47):
or even access backsage Lakers, He's definitely has proven to.

Speaker 5 (34:54):
Be a locker room guy.

Speaker 4 (34:57):
Which at the end of the day, that's still mean something,
even especially as you struggle to find your rhythm on
the court. It's always good to be liked, right, But
when you look at kind of what's happening with this offense,
Austin had the ball a lot in his hands when

(35:18):
they were both in the back or both starting together,
and you saw that that's kind of making D'Angel look
a little out of place, obsolete. Remember what he said
last year when he was moved off ball. I'm just
a hooper. I'm just a basketball player, right, I don't
have a position. This is technically what has happened again.

(35:40):
But his answer this year is, hey, I checked any
ego at the door to start this season. I'm here
just to make the team better. And yes, that could
just be expiring contract talk right, him not having as
many suitors in the offseason, he's kind of realizing where
he's at as far as his career. But hell, with

(36:02):
reality comes adjustments, and I think D'Angelo is definitely showing
that he's a willing excuse me to adjust to a
bench roll or coming off the bench, and if he
can be dangerous right from off the bench, that would
be mine up from heaven because the Lakers do not

(36:24):
have a bench scoring presence right now. So it's kind
of a little twofold Austin kind of has proven with
the ball in his hands, that's going to be a
situation the Lakers are gonna look forward to. Obviously Lebron
is going to have the ball in his hands a lot.
But in that second unit, D'Angelo, as long as you

(36:45):
were playing defense, is showing good effort orchestrate this shit
however the fuck you want, because right now, no one
else is providing any type of scoring fuel off the
bench for the Lakers.

Speaker 1 (36:58):
Yeah, I gotta agree with you, gentlemen.

Speaker 2 (36:59):
I you know, I look at this Rostered, especially that
starting lineup, and Dlo just always felt like the odd
man out.

Speaker 1 (37:05):
Again, they were putting the ball in Ar's hands. They're
putting the ball Lebron's hands.

Speaker 2 (37:09):
Ruy's got to get his touches or else he completely
disengages from the game. Andy Davis is the offensive hub,
so liked Lo felt like, and again he's not really
providing much else, he's not really providing defense. And again,
guards are the bot. It's a guards league, man. The
guards of this game are good they are quality, quality players,
and every night he's going against somebody who's got a
lot of talent, a lot of speed, whatever it may be.

Speaker 1 (37:30):
And sometimes it feels like he struggles.

Speaker 2 (37:31):
A little bit, you know, when we have to put
Ar to guard their best offensive player. Not to say
Ar is a terrible defender. He gives effort, he tries,
but you know, he's just it's not quite the same.
So I really do like the infusion of Cam Reddish.
It feels like when we had Vanderbilt in our lineup,
he swapped out RUI like we had at least one
guy to really help bounce the line up. And I
think that's what the Lakers need to be honest with you.

(37:52):
I mean, when you have, like I said, offensive scorers,
you got lebron ad Ar Ruie. When you have those guys,
you need a defensive guy bounce that. Like I said,
even previously, when you have Vanderbilt in there instead of Ruie, again,
you still got four offensive guys and the guy who's
gonna play that defense due the hustle, plays all the
little small things and you need that. So honestly, I
got to give cam Reddish a lot of credit after

(38:13):
his media availability on Saturday. You know, they talked about
him being a star in his role, and he actually
made a great comment. You know, He's like, every team
is different, every coach is different. I just go out
there and do what the coaches tell me to do.
My past life, I was out there doing what I
wanted to do. But that doesn't necessarily work all the time.
He's like, be a star on my role, dude, I
can do to help the team win, whether that's one shot,
five shots, ten shots. I just go out there and

(38:34):
try to impact the game. And that's mentality needs and
I hope that the mentality is really absorbed coming into
this season. He's not gonna get a lot of offensive
possessions just giving the makeup of this team, but if
he's gonna go out there and give one hundred and
ten percent defend his ass off, I can't ask for
anything more in that. Like I said, at the end
of the day, we need effort guys, high energy guys
who are gonna do the dirty work. I think Cam

(38:55):
Reddish is one of those dudes. So again to your
point you made earlier, Jody, I hope that he can
keep the momentum going because he fell off after the
nd season tournament last year, after dominating that segment of hoops. So, man,
if he can really stay stay the course, I mean,
that's value on a vetman. But guys, I get a
little worried because I look at I look at d Loo.
He's just the odd man out. You know, he's on expiring.

(39:16):
It's kind of been a conversation over the last two years.
So you know, hey, unless he's going for six Man
of the Year, I think basically he's just playing for
He's he's doing auditions for his next team.

Speaker 5 (39:27):
So there he goes six man. Let's run it up.

Speaker 4 (39:31):
Do you know actually who has been affected the most
from this de lo benching or being sent to come
off the bench, it's Lebron. Lebron's usage has gone up
to now he is the most highest huge player since
since rating according to be Ball Index.

Speaker 5 (39:54):
Shout out our boy Kran just over there.

Speaker 4 (39:56):
He had posted this that for the first hamp the
games before dil was bench, Anthony Davis had the highest
Huster's rating since D'Angelo Russell's benching. It is now Lebron
James and obviously leball handling duty should take a ball
handler out of the starting lineup.

Speaker 5 (40:11):
Guess who's going to get the ball.

Speaker 4 (40:12):
More Bartholomew James. So I'm not saying it's good or bad.
I think, you know, in the whole spirit of keeping
Lebron as young, in spry as humanly possible, you kind
of like.

Speaker 5 (40:23):
To take the ball out of his hands.

Speaker 4 (40:24):
But at the same time, you know, it's it's kind
of hard to try to put a governor on Lebron
James and his impact when he's looking around and saying,
I think I need to orchestrate this right now.

Speaker 5 (40:37):
So we'll see.

Speaker 1 (40:39):
Yeah, and again we see that he's capable of doing it.

Speaker 2 (40:41):
But again he turns forty next one, gentleman, I don't
know how much we could have him with this high
a usage rate, but we'll see.

Speaker 1 (40:47):
Obviously, I think he's willing to do what's necessary for
him for the team.

Speaker 2 (40:50):
But man, it'd be really nice to get that man
some relief because we need him if we're trying to
cross that finish line.

Speaker 1 (40:55):
But let me take you to look down the Lakers roster.
Let's move down to Ricky's grandson.

Speaker 3 (41:00):
Man.

Speaker 1 (41:00):
Yeah, Max Christie, Man, what's going on with Max?

Speaker 2 (41:04):
So Max Christie in the ten appearances for the Los
Angeles Lakers is averaging a smooth three point eight points
per game, one point eight rebounds, one assist. And again,
we didn't expect Max Christy to, you know, put up
dynamite numbers anything. But it's where where you watch him play,
feels like he's a step slow, like he's he's not there,
feels like it's processing something's happening, where he almost looks

(41:26):
like a fish out of water, like he's almost like
shocked that he's on the NBA court with other NBA players.
So he's been benched, he's been relegated to playing with
the g lawers at the end of the games. Yeah,
he's he's suiting up with Bronni getting on the court
at the end of the games. You know, he he
We're expecting him to basically beat the first man off
the bench to really elevate the game. We were crying

(41:48):
for it last year. Hey we need max minutes, max minutes,
and we got the max minutes and it was it
was nasty. So gentlemen, I gotta know your thoughts. What
is Max Christie after he just got paid. Don't he
just made it?

Speaker 5 (42:01):
He just made Relax man and he's.

Speaker 1 (42:03):
Out here sticking it up.

Speaker 2 (42:05):
I don't know if he I mean, at this point,
I think his opportunities are only gonna come an injury
or in practice. I don't know how he's gonna work
his way back into rotation. But I's got to know
what your thoughts on Max Christy? Guys, Like, what are we?

Speaker 1 (42:16):
What are we? What are we looking at here? What
are we doing here?

Speaker 2 (42:19):
Joey, let's start the six to six guard out of
out of the local Illinois suburbs, really struggling to find
his way.

Speaker 1 (42:25):
What are your thoughts on on?

Speaker 3 (42:27):
Hen have to he got He's gonna have to go,
uh to somewhere to like basketball obscurity and and hopefully
his game gets better to where he can come out
to be, you know, a really good pro. But Max

(42:48):
on a random bench, like this team is grizz game.
It's like that's that's that's that's where Christie is like,
but this team is not the team for Max, Like,
this is not a team with Lebron and av this
the spotlight, this on the Lakers, That's not the type

(43:10):
of team for Max. Christie, kid, that's some really thought
that he was honestly overdrafted. You know, he barely played
last year. We were talking about how are you not
playing this kid to see what you have in him
in a career year. They still paint him and he's
falling out of their rotation. So it's like he's another

(43:33):
guy for like you got to sell high on play
him just enough to make people feel like he can
play a little bit and try to move him, like, yeah,
look at a three in d you know, kid, We
just it's just not a great situation for him and
trying to get as much as you can. But I
don't know, I don't know. I just don't think it's

(43:55):
it's it's right for him. I don't think we're.

Speaker 4 (44:03):
We're packaging like we're packaging cole slaw and broccoli, trying
to get back of steak like like hell, we're trying
to get back a sandwich, a hot sandwich. And between
Dilo and Max and us just you know, speaking truth
to fact, it's it's it's.

Speaker 5 (44:18):
Hard to say, oh, well he's gonna get shipped for what?

Speaker 4 (44:23):
But what Yes, Max has the age on his side
and probably a little bit of GM's thinking Laker's kind
of fuck up everything. Maybe maybe we got some out
here out of mister Maxwell and can turn it into
some You know, none of us would be surprised if
he ended up with his brother with the Clippers some way,
somehow and then ends up being a respectful, productive member

(44:46):
of society.

Speaker 3 (44:47):
But I I.

Speaker 4 (44:49):
Am, I'm frustrated on both parts because the court production
is not where we want it to be for Max.
Uh and also demand just got paid. Yes, that contract
is easily packageable, but.

Speaker 5 (45:03):
Brother Rayjon damn Stock.

Speaker 4 (45:05):
I mean, Max was never gonna be untouchable anyway, but
it's like, shoot, we need a little bit more than
just salary match out of you, brother, Like, come on,
come on pick it up for us, for yourself, for
your basketball career, or you're gonna be getting bounced past
from Brownie.

Speaker 5 (45:19):
Keep sucking around.

Speaker 4 (45:23):
Yeah, saying that a player thinking that much to the
G I guess you could.

Speaker 5 (45:28):
You could tell anybody down body anybody.

Speaker 1 (45:31):
But yeah, Max, it's it's sad man.

Speaker 2 (45:34):
I I think a lot of Lakers fans are really
hoping for that leap, that that jump for Max. And
I'll be honest, he looks worse than he did in
Stends last year, So I don't know if he's just
overthinking it. I don't know what's going on, but you know,
hopefully you get another chest some money. No way, right,
he probably like they've traded me anyway. Shit, enjoy my

(45:56):
time out.

Speaker 3 (45:57):
Here, and I was getting millions.

Speaker 1 (46:02):
Better believe it?

Speaker 2 (46:04):
Oh man, Well, I guess we'll see what happens with
with Ricky's grandson. We monitor the situation closely, see if
he gets another opportunity later this season to uh, you.

Speaker 1 (46:13):
Know, raise his stock a little bit, give us something
to look forward to.

Speaker 2 (46:16):
But unfortunately, I don't think, especially with the roster we
have and the players that we have, we don't really
have a lot of time for guys to develop and
get good, except for the guys that are really in
development the G League. We can't have Max trying to
develop his game in real time like we're trying to
win the championship here. We're not trying to get some
guys good. So unfortunately, I don't know.

Speaker 4 (46:35):
There's less minutes in a rookie like like his his
clunch is taken.

Speaker 5 (46:41):
It has been taken. It is this isn't a thing
like he is is now buried. This wasn't oh he
was in the rotation, and we'll like.

Speaker 4 (46:50):
Someone's going to have to get hurt if you are
now behind Cam Reddish in the depth chart.

Speaker 1 (46:55):
He's playing everybody. He's playing everybody before him.

Speaker 2 (46:57):
Like I said, he's the only people he's getting off
a bench before his Brownie James Maxwell Lewis. That's honestly,
that's probably it. Those are probably the only people that
he's getting off the bench before, and that is not promising,
so a little bit upsetting. But gentlemen, it's Tuesday. It's Tuesday.
You know what Tuesday is.

Speaker 4 (47:16):
And the taco to taco Tuday, I don't.

Speaker 1 (47:20):
I don't think he does that no more. But his
NBA Cup, the Emirates are they the new sponsor? I
think it is.

Speaker 2 (47:25):
I think it's the Emirates emer Cup now expensive guys
the Lakers last year. If y'all don't remember our NBA
Cup defending champions, I gotta, I gotta, I gotta give
some uh some curiosity to the NBA Cup. Seemed like
a lot of people were either it's either you hated
or you loved it. I feel like not a lot
of people were kind of in between. I'll be honest.

(47:47):
I enjoyed it. I thought it was a fun way
to spark up some basketball. I didn't really care for
the like the group stage where you're just playing random
games on the call for court. But once the game's mattered,
it was a single elimination like tournament style. I was
into it. I'm be honest, I was a little tuned in.
Those are some good games. I think the NBA has
hit on a lot of these experimental things. I know
people didn't like the plan. The plane's been jumping almost
every time it's been there, you know. I know people

(48:07):
didn't really like the NBA Cup. I thought it was
decel last year. People were hating only because the Lakers loss.
Had the Pacers beat us, it would have been a
whole different conversation.

Speaker 1 (48:15):
But I'm curious, y'all.

Speaker 5 (48:18):
Only because the Lakers won.

Speaker 1 (48:19):
Only because the Lakers won, it was discredited.

Speaker 3 (48:21):
They good for the NBA Cup. If we would have lost, Actually,
I agree.

Speaker 4 (48:26):
Yeah, right right, yeah, folks would have given who let
the thunder have taken the NBA Cup. That would have
been it is for the best up and coming team
that is next up in the league. Look at signs
the NBA Cup winners are more likely to go to
the Western and Eastern conference fight.

Speaker 5 (48:42):
All types of dumb shit Lakers win in it's like, oh.

Speaker 2 (48:46):
Doesn't matter either, do the jew like, damn man, that's
a bunch of less loser mentality.

Speaker 1 (48:52):
We try to win.

Speaker 2 (48:53):
We want to win anything that's in front of us. So, gentlemen,
I'm curious how your thoughts. Do y'all care about the
NBA Cup because it was talked down all season? Again,
I really just believe it is because the Lakers won. Obviously,
you know it doesn't. It's not like a it's not
a banner, it's not an NBA championship, but it is
a tournament win of sorts.

Speaker 1 (49:09):
So I'm curious do y'all care about it?

Speaker 2 (49:11):
And do y'all care if the Lakers repeat or do
anything in the NBA Cup.

Speaker 1 (49:15):
I'm curious you'all thoughts. Rick, go ahead, let me know
what you're thinking.

Speaker 4 (49:20):
I think you made a good point the group play,
Not really, I am. What I'm probably most looking forward
to is seeing the updated courts.

Speaker 1 (49:29):
You know.

Speaker 4 (49:29):
I mean, I'm a little bit of a court in
Jersey snob and what they spat out.

Speaker 5 (49:33):
Last year was it. It was just an abomination to just.

Speaker 4 (49:36):
Basketball, like you wouldn't even create some of these courts
on the PlayStation. Man, you wouldn't do it just designing
your uncle like your little cousins wouldn't even make courts
that ugly.

Speaker 5 (49:46):
So it seems like they tone it down.

Speaker 4 (49:49):
They realize that we will be watching these on high
definition TVs and we appreciate our retinas. So looking forward
to you know, new designs. But yeah, once we get
to the knockout stages, then we'll be locked in.

Speaker 5 (50:04):
I look back at it.

Speaker 4 (50:05):
The Lakers eliminated the Suns, which which was fun, right,
then they who they get to next?

Speaker 5 (50:12):
It was the Suns, then the good old Pelicans Elicans. Yeah,
they whooped the Pelicans eighty nine.

Speaker 4 (50:21):
He Lebron James in less than twenty three minutes, put
up thirty points, five rebounds, and eight assists. It was
it was not closed. Then the Lakers tapped up. The
Pacers won twenty three one o nine. Had the Pacers
at one, right, it would have been all about what's
to come. And you know how it's a great indicator
for young teams, but it's always good to defend what

(50:44):
you've gotten.

Speaker 5 (50:47):
I don't like the visuals of.

Speaker 4 (50:49):
Champagne popping and then it not repeating in June. But
that's that's just the fans perspective, right, help celebrate anything
you win. It's just I know what means come out
of that. So uh, I'm optimistic. I am warming up
to it, but like tomorrow being a a group stage game.

Speaker 5 (51:11):
I don't I don't care.

Speaker 2 (51:12):
So fair enough, fair enough, Joe, to your thoughts on
the NBA Cup, And do you care if the Lakers repeat?

Speaker 3 (51:20):
I mean it'd be cool because they win and they
win money, so you know, I like that they do.

Speaker 1 (51:26):
They get a bag.

Speaker 3 (51:28):
They need to put the money in cash and keep
it side of course, so they can give it to
make people want to look at it, especially because they
had it in Vegas. But I think it's cool. I
look at them as like another game. But the trophy
game is all right because you know, you actually win
something and ironically people don't realize it. You don't really

(51:51):
play that many games when you play sports. You really
don't play that many games where there's hardware for grabs.
At the end of the truth is, most of the
time you just you get bragging rights for however long
until you play another game in two days. But like,
you don't really play in that many games that actually

(52:12):
has something tangible at stake, So it doesn't mean something,
you know, how very much it means. That's to the
beholder what they think about it. Really, however you feel
about that's interesting.

Speaker 1 (52:30):
I gotta agree. I gotta agree.

Speaker 2 (52:32):
I mean, like I said, guys, I'm a fan of
the NBA Cup. I know it may not be the
most popular opinion. I think it's fun.

Speaker 3 (52:38):
Man.

Speaker 2 (52:38):
Like I said the group of stage, I don't really
care too much for it, but once you get into
the games where it's you know, single elimination, I was
tuned in all last year. I had a good time again.
I think it gives games in this part of the
season a little bit of meaning. And like I said, hey,
it's never a bad thing if the Lakers repeat, if
it lost, if they lose, I'm gonna say same thing
everybody else says, it doesn't matter. But you know, let
the Lakers lose and they gonna be talking bad about

(52:59):
us regardless.

Speaker 1 (53:00):
So it is what it is. That it comes with
the territory with you one of the best.

Speaker 2 (53:03):
So I get it, I get it right. It is
what it is, gentlemen. To round out the show man,
the Lakers got three games this week. We have tomorrow
with the or tomorrow the Grizzlies come visit us at home,
that we go on the road for two short games.
We got the Spurs and then the Pelicans after that.
To be honest, I'm gonna look, I look at these games.
I see three and oh, job's not playing for the Grizzlies.

(53:27):
I ain't scared of Wenby yet. And the Pelicans they
might ask us to suit up. So AD's back from
the eye injury. Seems like the planet fascy. Guys, He's
just gonna play through, or it's not really bothering them.
We don't really know Ad. You know, up and down,
He's always gonna be on the injury report. He's gonna
show uphen it's time to play.

Speaker 4 (53:44):
Guys, Can we add an amendment real quick, qualm for
the show unless something is physically broken or cut off
of eighty's body, We're just not gonna talk about the injuries.
We're just not gonna talk about these Nixon bruises. Will
have his eye gouged by some popcorn and the Colonel

(54:05):
is stuck in the back of the eyelid.

Speaker 5 (54:06):
Only because it's Anthony Davis.

Speaker 4 (54:08):
He is the master of freak injuries and Nixon bruises
in the history of the NBA, and I'm numb. I'm
numb to it. This is not against a d right,
there's not a knock on him. It's just you won't
see a reaction out of me no more. When he
falls to the ground, when he's down for twelve seconds
and misses the play and walks back and stuff. Be like,
all right, whatever, it's the equivalent now of the lebron

(54:29):
James frank Ankle.

Speaker 3 (54:31):
Just like if you all remember he like Eugene from Arnold, Yeah,
always Jack though he's just every time it's always some
goofy shit happened to Eugene, and that's safe.

Speaker 5 (54:47):
But Eugene makes it out every episode, figured it out.

Speaker 2 (54:53):
And ad hey, we got to give credit where credit
is due. He's battled through injuries, played through injury. He's
played himself back to health. He he's shown up when
we needed the most. Sure he'll miss a game here
and there, But he's not Joel Embiid, He's not Zion Williamson,
he's not these other guys. He's not Kawhi Leonard, these
other players who are much more worthy of the name
street close. I don't think Anthony Davis deserves that. I

(55:15):
don't think he earned it. I think he has been
Like I said, he's been a consistent player for us.
So hey, theyter's gonna hate, but it is what it is.
I think Anthony Davis has done a fantastic job of
showing up when we need him most.

Speaker 5 (55:27):
Joelle Embiid first game back twelve and five.

Speaker 1 (55:31):
Come on, man, ad will never do.

Speaker 4 (55:33):
You know what the streets would be saying about Anthony
Marshawn Davis Junior if at any point, at any point,
I don't care if he came back from a plane crash, if.

Speaker 5 (55:47):
He dropped twelve and five, they would.

Speaker 4 (55:50):
Be calling him washed and out of his Remember they
were saying, Anthony Davis is out of his prime.

Speaker 5 (55:55):
Yeah, done with the prime over He's on the back end.

Speaker 1 (55:59):
Now, nasty, that's the conversation.

Speaker 4 (56:04):
Look, look what happens when you just start putting offensive
strategy around your best player right now?

Speaker 5 (56:12):
So you know, hey, I'm over it.

Speaker 4 (56:14):
But yeah, Joe Lenbee, the foul merchant who is back
to doing his file merchant ship. The guy at six
' three apparently knocked him to the ground on an
inbounds play. I'm over it, man, This is your this
is your MVP NBA.

Speaker 5 (56:28):
This y'all gave it to big facing facing the league, right.

Speaker 4 (56:33):
I know Philly fans are sick that General Hospital they
got of a roster to gosh.

Speaker 2 (56:39):
Yeah, yeah, I gotta agree. I think Anthony Davis gets
unfair rap. But like I said, gentlemen, so we got
these three games this week. Let me get know you good,
let me get let me get y'all predictions to wrap
the show out?

Speaker 1 (56:50):
Do we dare? Say? We go three and Ozero against.

Speaker 3 (56:55):
And the Pelicans Spurs is not get that Felican's not healthy,
and uh, Memphis is gonna be a battle, but we
should be able to beat.

Speaker 2 (57:08):
This is crazy because I'll be honest, you think a
year ago, we're probably looking at these games A could
go either way, right, but we feel a little confident,
which is good.

Speaker 1 (57:17):
That's a that's a that's a telltale sign of the season.

Speaker 3 (57:20):
If they can get to nine and four, that's a
good start. That's five games over nine hundred.

Speaker 2 (57:26):
Right now, we're only what two and a half games
out of first So that kid, especially in the West,
you gotta beat these teams.

Speaker 1 (57:34):
West.

Speaker 2 (57:34):
These are three Western Conference teams that I think we
need to beat on. We gotta beat on our own
conference because these guys are gonna be good. So Rick,
let me get your let me let me get let
me get your forecast for this week?

Speaker 1 (57:44):
What do you think the Lakers are going.

Speaker 5 (57:48):
Three and oh?

Speaker 4 (57:50):
Trying to figure out what disrespect AD will do to
Wemby in their matchup.

Speaker 5 (57:55):
But I won't jinx it.

Speaker 4 (57:57):
I've talked a lot of cash these last couple of
weeks about Wemby, so let me not. Let me not
add too much when with the game right around the corner,
but let that boy not have a great game. Oh,
this next pot gonna be something. Oh, this next Wenby
you officially.

Speaker 5 (58:15):
In the bulls eye. My boy, you're in the scope.

Speaker 4 (58:19):
Okay, I'm on that ass, all right, I guess pause,
but I'm on that ass.

Speaker 1 (58:28):
Good luck. Hey, well there we go.

Speaker 2 (58:31):
We got three, three of us, all three of us
here saying that we're gonna go three and o this
on this stretch. So hey, next week we'll see if
we were right wrong. And you know, we'll eat grow
if we have to. But I'll do it for us
here on the late night Lake Show Podcast. I appreciate
you all for listening to us, taking the time. You
can find us wherever you find your great media. We're
on all the sites. You know what I'm saying. You
can find us everywhere and again wherever you can find

(58:53):
your good Lakers. Content will be continued to cover the season,
both the Lakers and around the NBA in general. But again,
Lakers at six four. Hopefully next time you hear us,
we are nine and four. So in the meantime, you
guys all enjoy your evening. Rick for Jody, for Kualm.
We have y'all see the next one.