NBA Season Preview FT. Paul Pierce | WHAT’S BURNIN | SHOWTIME Basketball

The NBA season is BACK and so is WHAT'S BURNIN. The boys are joined by Paul Pierce to preview the upcoming season and give their picks for some major NBA awards. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Week seven already. Man, this season is moving by
another week. Another opportunity. With Draft Kings sports Book, the
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And there's over Bears anytime you can go with Tom

(00:41):
Braid over between like the Bears, they're still trying to
get identity. Good bet. I like the Rams and obviously
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(01:03):
with promo co Smoke this week at Draft Kings sports
book and official sports betting partner of the NFL. Listen,
if you put Westbrook on Phoenix and said of Chris
Paul did they go to the finals? Question? How you
got him over Chris? Because he's he brings more to

(01:24):
the table. He brings way more to the table. I
understand that. Yeah, he got got the Henni seed, the chips,
the pizza and all he's bringing all that. The mas potatoes, Yeah,
he's bringing all that. Chris bringing a straight dinner. Welcome
back to Showtime Basketball in this season to premiere of
What's Burning. We told you we wanted to continue to

(01:46):
evolve this show. So What's Burning is here. We're gonna
continue to evolve that all the smoke, we can continue
to do some dope out of the box ship Jack,
what's up with you? Bro? You good having to be back, Bro.
Welcome back, Welcome back to the pack. Life been treating
you sent you've been back, feeling good, looking good. Yeah,
gripping Wood understood that one of the newest members to

(02:09):
Showtime Basketball, one and only Paul Pierces here. Maybe you're here,
you're doing what's burning with us, but you're gonna be
across the Showtime platform in general. Welcome to the family.
Tell a roone where they see what you've got going
on with Showtime. I'm excited. First of all, I'm excited
to join the family. You know, you know, we always

(02:30):
been family, but you know, just helping to contribute with
Showtime Basketball. Also, you know, I'm gonna be involved in
some boxing, some Showtime boxing, and I know I'm a
huge boxing fan. Uh, I go to all the fights,
been there since day one. Moving into our first segment,
new faces in new places. Let's get it. The NBA
is right around the corner. A lot of moves this season,

(02:52):
a lot of impactful moves, a lot of big name movement.
I think that's why the NBA is the growth continues
to grow to a global game because of even when
the off season, we still still headlines. When Russell Westbrook
moves or you know, these big names continue to move.
It continues to keep the the attention of the fans. Um,
so let's get into this season and some of the
most impactful moves. We'll start with Russell Westbrook and Carmelo

(03:14):
Anthony coming to the Los Angeles Lakers. Jack, what do
you think? I mean, it's something that we've been hearing about.
It ain't it ain't just like you know, pop up
out the sky. We've been in about those moves being made.
But it's good to see Melo get a chance to
get a championship. And it's also good to see Russ
you know, and Lebron and a d get together. I think,
just just being a basketball fan and also form NBA player,

(03:37):
to see those three guys on the same court in
the same uniform, I was just exciting to see. But um,
if they don't want a championship, it's gonna be hell.
So it's all that, it's all or nothing. But my god,
you don't win the championship, it's gonna be hell. I mean,
this team has really given me that Karmelong, Gary Payton
that when they when they was with Kobe has did

(03:58):
that kind of feel. But you know, if they're healthy,
they should get to the finals. But that's the sign,
right there, How are you gonna house Westbrook gonna fit
with Lebron? Westbrook's been ball dominant, but Lebron goo had
a ball in his hands. I'm sorry, he's still twenty
six seven and seven to night. Can Westbrook make that adjustment?
And that's where we have to find out. Yeah, I

(04:20):
mean I think it's you know, only time will tell.
But when I look at these and when people try
to say stars the pieces that it matters and it
doesn't matter. But then I also look from a standpoint
of how you guys have to sacrifice when you play
for an Olympic team, or how you sacrifice, you know,
in the All Star Game, and somehow Stars seem to
make it work in those kind of situations. So again,
I think only time will tell. My biggest thing with
the Lakers is health, and I think they have to

(04:41):
understand and their fan base has to understand all with
all these big names, it's still a marathon with this
team because this is one of the older teams in
the league. Lebron going in his nineteenth year, you know,
everyone's a little bit older. Him and Meller the last
from the two thousand three class standard. If I'm not mistaken,
so this is gonna be you know, continue to find tune,
see what see with units, work patterns, work, continue to build.

(05:02):
You let me say not then, but look, if this
team gonna be something, Anthony Davis gotta be the n V.
He gotta be saying he got to carry the team.
Everybody still gonna have the role to play. Even with
those guys, it's gonna be a one one, A one
B and one seed guy. You know what I'm saying,
Who is that gonna because Lebron ain't gonna be one seed. No,

(05:23):
but Lebron you saw the first year that said he
really gave the keys to a d too. Like you know,
Carrien's through the regular season with all the energy. I
want all the rebounds, I want all assists, I wanted
all I think Russ had a point in his career.
I think he had a point right now, like he
gotta want to sacrifice. He'll sacrifice. I think he definitely will.
But I agree with Paul. I think, you know, if
there was talk that you know, Lebron told him last

(05:45):
year and it's probably a lot to handle now, but
this is his second year knowing that this is really
his team, no matter who's spilling to the team who
they added. Lebron is your teammate. Lebron has hand you
to the key. So now it's up to a D.
I agree with you guys. This year a D has
to step up and again the main thing with in
his health and then that's just that fired. I think
having someone like Russell Westbrook and Mellow and Braun is

(06:05):
gonna help like that fire on and as you know,
is a great player, but it just seems like he's
on cruise control. Sometimes you have that type of behind
you and his skill level. I think it's gonna be
great again. I think they should represent the West if
they could stay healthy all the time. You see a
D getting mad because he didn't win, to block and shot,
nobody got the rebound. Russ don't get it. Rust coming

(06:28):
a D not m VP candidate. I don't see this
team when he got to be he gotta be looking
at Greek freaking the eye and like, okay, I'm right
here with you because he has that type of skill.
Absolutely no question. Moving on with the Chicago Bulls, they
were active this offseason, picking up the margin Rosen Lanzo
Ball to go with Zach Levine and Vosovic Caruso Killer

(06:49):
is also in that mix of Paul talked to me
about the Chicago You know what, I like them. That's
kind of underrated. You know, they should be a playoff team,
you know, because you got the young stars Levine, Alonzo, Balls,
Cartoner coming to us own. He looked good in preseason
knocking them down. But then you got the Vets, the
Mare who's been through the wringer o G. When stuff,

(07:09):
stuff is tough, they can go to. Before it was
just they was learning as they went. They added some
Mozy Bosavic, you know, he's pretty much a o G
at this stage. And so they got the makings of
a playoff team and so we'll see how that goes.
It's all gonna be on their health. Like everybody else
in the coaching What do you think, Jack, It's good
to see them make moves to get better, but they're

(07:29):
still a seven six seven they see, Yeah, so to them, Yeah,
we're excited to see how that team can come together.
Got a lot of good parts. Uh could be a
piece away from really making noise in the Eastern Conference still,
but definitely off to a good start. Moving on with
the New York Knicks uh signing Kimba Walker. Uh Feigner, Jackie,

(07:50):
want to open it up with your favorite team. It's
good to see kim Walker go back home. We've seen
him do some amazing things in their garden from college
to now. So it's good to see him back. And
that's it. You ain't giving him nothing, Coach TIBs. They
then ocy back in the guard that that you want

(08:12):
to give him, Oh my gosh, I mean, I like that,
and that's underrated that that they got some underrated rules
if Kimba can get back to being Kimba, because Kimba
wasn't it self with Boston, you know, but rightfully so
Boston got two nine dynamic wings for near a shooter solid,
you know, and then coach Tibbs is the X factor

(08:33):
because you know, regardless think about that team, that team
wasn't ain't got that much talent. You know, the young
boy r J. He's pretty good and so quickly quickly. Yeah,
but they'll be a playoff team because they got good
coaching and they added, you know, a nice solid back court.
I still feel like they need and this is no

(08:54):
disrespect to Julius Rando on the season he had I
still think they need a one A. I think Julish
Randall is a good one B. I think they're missing
to score. I wanted to do what accomplished, what the
story of that wing, that wingness, and you're talking about
if they get a one day they could be a
championship continue. Absolutely not, but I'm saying to be serious

(09:16):
in the Eastern Confees, definitely not saying that. I mean,
obviously we know who the clear cut there's there's teams
at the top, but I'm saying you just never know what,
especially the way the league has been with injuries and
people in and out. I think they're one play away
from really making some noise. And I'm gonna tell you
what they are, and I'm gonna keep it one hunted.
They want owner away from making more no straight up.
Once they get rid of Jim Dolan or he selled

(09:38):
the team, then you're gonna have some serious contention for
the because players agency don't want to come there because
New York is a big it's a big market, so
they they always one player away from being at the top,
and that's the owner's day. I'm rapping the Knicks as
soon as that happen. The day I will be how

(10:01):
big of an impact will Kyle Lowry be with the
Miami Heat this year? Good addition to go along with
Jimmy Butler BAM. I think Tyler Hero needs to have
a bounceback season. Um. Thoughts on the Miami Heat and
the move with Larry Does that do anything in your
mind to help them? Because to him a top contending
in the East. Yeah, I like to move another dog
with Jimmy Butler. Um, you know, they did some amazing

(10:22):
things the last two years. Obviously last year wasn't the
year they wanted to have because a lot of injuries.
But I think this was this was a great year.
That definitely a contend to coming out of the East
with the way BAM been playing all and all of
pieces to that puzzle. But Adam Kyle Lowry definitely gave
them an extra notch up to get out of the East.
Do they do they still got tragic or he gone?
He's gone right, But he's been beating up the last

(10:44):
two years. Yeah, he went from tragic to tragic. But anyway,
you know, I mean he didn't help him last year,
but Lowry great move that somebody who could take pressure
off Jimmy Butler. Hopefully the kid Hero can tell the
next step because when we saw from him in the
finals a couple of years ago, I don't feel like
he took the step that he needed to take. So

(11:07):
if they can find a great role for him, whether
to be a starter off the bench, I think the
kid does have potential. If he takes the next step,
then they got something because I put them in the
same boat right now in Atlanta ballstond Uh the second tier,
you know, but some of them players got to take
the next step, and he's one of Yeah. I think
it was an interesting him and Duncan Robinson. Uh, you

(11:28):
know what, Duncan would be one of the best shooters
in the game. They that they snuck up on the league,
but you know how much your name starts moving up
that scattering port and you're one of the first handful
of guys you talked about every night. We start taking
different things away, and I think that's what happened last
year more than kind of taking a step. And now
they have to understand what that is about and be hungry.
But it looked like Tyre Hero all I don't put
much water in the preseason has come out really aggressive

(11:49):
in the preseason, shooting the ball well. So if those
two guys can be there consistent outside threats, I definitely
think they're go man, make some noise in the East.
Moving on to the Ben Simmons saga, Clutch Sport released
a statement saying they're trying to get Ben into camp
at least to do what we'll discuss. But what if
you guys thought about this ongoing dilemma really since the
end of the East East playoffs last year. Par You

(12:11):
know what, what I'm seeing right here is the players
taking control of their own destiny. We saw James Harden
do it. But how would you feel and how would
you feel the coach throw you under the bus too?
And your your teammate who supposed to be your role dog,
you know, I mean he's feeling a certain kind of way.
This era is different. You know, Feelings get hurt, and

(12:32):
you know when Doc say, I don't know you could
be a championship point guard, When your second your best
players say something about you, it's like, damn, y'all really
all don't want me here. So I understand that part.
But at the end of the day, man, they are
a contender with him. They were the number one team
in the East last year, and I just think they
got to find a way to work it out, truthfully,

(12:53):
because I don't really see nowhere else where he's gonna
have that opportunity to be who he wants to be. Maybe,
but he was thriving in Philly, so you know, we'll see.
I hope it works out. I blame Brett Brown. Come
your g ass back from Australia and take all this
heat because you know, no bullshit, because you're the reason

(13:15):
why he never worked on his jump shot. You the
reason why he came into the game in the first
couple of years. He was content on just being the
player he was because you never asked him to get better.
You knew he was just coaching Australia. You've been knowing
him as a youngster, so you just let him go
as he wanted and never made him get better. So
he handicapped him from the jump. You see him shooting
them three hit him in the warm up, but don't

(13:36):
don't shoot him in the game, what I'm saying, But
that's on him. That's on Ben. You can't blame nobody
else for that. You know what I'm saying. But the
fact that Brett Brown never pushed him to games like
he shooting in the summertime and to be that player.
You know what I'm saying. Now, you've got other coaches
coming in and what you expect me to do if
I feel that this coach handicapped you, and you and
you ain't the point going that you should be because

(13:57):
you've been handicapped, I've not been to deal with. I'm
gonna tell you the truth. And that's basically what coaches,
every every um, what Doc we was saying, every coach
is saying. Everybody's saying, we're seeing it. Bro're not shooting
you handicapped for your team. You can't have one of
the dom the most dominant big men in the game
and you passed the ball and they can double him,
but kick it out to you and you're not gonna
shoot it. That kills the whole offense, right A wrong? Yeah,

(14:19):
I mean, I just think that the thing with Ben
is that mental block. And we've all seeing guys in
the summer killing the summertime and then when the games
come around either can't hit or won't shoot in Ben
Simmons case, and to me, it's just that mental getting
over that hurdle because he has to be okay with missing,
and I think that's what he's worried about his missing
or a well, if you think of everybody missed, everybody
miss you know what I mean. So he has to

(14:40):
get over that. So I mean, to me, that's his side.
And then to Paul's point, what Doc and and and
Joel said, it wasn't to me that was they were
even talking really shit. They were just speaking their mind.
It wasn't like they were trying to dog in. There
were just speaking their mind. But to me, as you said,
you know where his mentalist, we're not really sure. And
how he took that as he was offended by it.
So fast forward to that he's coming up on a

(15:02):
million dollars lost as of Monday. Now they're trying to
get him in the camp to see what they do.
So I don't know if the bridge can be mended
or welded or cemented, but it'll be interestant because also
they keep asking for a lot too, and they're trying
to trade him, and I don't necessarily think they want
to trade him, And that's why I think they're asked
or so over the top, because I don't really think
management wants to trade him, although he wants to be gone.

(15:24):
So we saw James Harden kind of go through this
last year, come in out of shape, not really wanted
to be there, and they were able to give him
to Brooklyn. You guys see him being moved. I'm saying,
but what if what if the seven cents phone is
not blowing up for Ben? For Ben Simmons? Yeah, what
if that's the reason they're trying to get him in camp?
Because the ain't nobody calling. Man, You don't nobody else
want to deal with a six points on the table.

(15:44):
So I don't care. What what the million dollars? It
was eight million a couple of weeks ago, right, I mean,
what miss that? I'm I'm gonna show up even if
I were practicing. Man, let me get that. I ain't
even know. Let me get that. I'm gonna already sit
on the sideline here. Though y'all see him being moved,

(16:05):
There's team is interesting. I just don't Obviously they add
the price is too high? Will he be there post
All Star break? I think the relationship is broken. Agree,
I think it's broken. I think it's too But I
don't think they at the point where they can't give
him away for nothing. And I think that's what that's
what it is right now, is not it's not gonna
get try to get him back in camp, first team,

(16:28):
all defense, lockdown, defender, bid on it if we can.
I mean, I think right now at this point, I can't.
I need to cast. At this point, he is who
were gonna be. I can put together a highlight tap
of him shooting threes like Steph Kurt. But like you said,
that mental block he in the game, when that crowd,

(16:49):
when the lights come on, when that popcorn popping, you
know how you changed. But but you know what, and
this for people that have never played in the game,
and it's just some free game for y'all, it's some shooters,
some of your favorite shooters. We you think that would
be in a three part content. When it comes to
the fourth quarter with the last couple of seconds, they
can't hit that house. They was in the kitchen. So
so that's just how it is. Even even though he

(17:10):
can make them in the summertime, everybody can make him
in the runt and the best shoots that played the game,
someone can't make them at the end of the game,
and that's just how at the side of the back
war the playoffs, they can't make them. What's up? You're
right about that job. That's a good point. Moving on
to the Los Angeles Lakers. We touched on them earlier,
but this this team is loaded. If this this roster,

(17:31):
if they had this roster ten years ago, they would
be the clear cut favorite running for several titles in
a row. But just to obviously Lebron James, Anthony Davis,
Russell West for Carlamelo, Anthony Dwight Howard, Kendrick Nunn, Malik Monk,
bas Moore, Ellington Rondo, DeAndre Jordan, Trevor Reesa, Morton Tucker.
I mean, the roster is deep, and I think really

(17:52):
the success of this team again is how they approach it,
you know how, and can they stay healthy? What are
the chances of this team being one of the older
teams in the league. A lot of experiences that can't
beat experiencing the playoffs. Can this team get themselves to
a point where they're gonna have enough soldiers on deck
to go to war come play all time? Man, Listen,

(18:13):
this is all a d and the main two guys
we're talking about is a D and Lebron, both of
them got to stay healthy. And Westbrook. If those three
are healthy going to the playoffs, I don't care about
the rest of them. You can replace the rest of
them if though, you can put us three back out
there with Lebron, A D and Westbrook and we'll be all.
If they're healthy them through, they should be in the finals.

(18:35):
I agree, totally agree. But that's the question mark every year.
Think about the champions who win it, it's something happened
with that. It's always healthy is always a concern. That's
Toronto win if Katie don't get hurt. You know, even
last year, do Phoenix make it to the finals if
A D was healthy or this person was healthy? Jamal Murray,
you know, injuries are always a factor. Every year we

(18:57):
lost in Game seven, Perk got hurt. You know, it's
always a factor every year, injury. So that's the biggest quote.
I want to ask this to kind of a different question.
Injuries weren't such a big concern while we were playing,
and it was always a goal of everyone in the
league at that time to play eight two games. Why
do you guys think fast forward? You know we've all
been moved, you know, going on five years now. But
why is injury such a big part of the game.

(19:19):
Are they playing too much basketball? Did the pandemic schedule
funk up? The rest Olympics all the other stuff? But
why is everything so hinging on injuries? And I don't
ever recall it being this determined on injuries at any
time in the history of the game. There's never been
spoken as much like it is now. But we want
a championship. In all three we played against, the Man's

(19:39):
would have hurt without dirt because Dirk was hurt, you
know what I'm saying. Fact, So I think from the
from the course of time, it's been more highlighted and
more highlighted of games, not that people not having their
stars and the star players getting hurt in crucial times
of the season. How can we kind of minimize this ship,
you know what I'm saying. And that's I think that's
how the conversation came about. I think it's gonna have

(20:01):
to be something where they go back to the drawing
board because I think that the pace of play, all
the other playing that the guys are doing with all
Star Games, Olympics, I think they may have to end
up shortening the season because, like I said that, the
pace is so much different than it was, you know
what I mean. And obviously it's a lot of TV money.
That's a whole another monster we're not going to get
into right now. But to me, how do we put
a premium on having our guys out there because everyone
wants to get mad at uh rest? What was that

(20:24):
should call when they rest? Uh? Rest? Management? Load? Man? Everyone?
This funk that? But at the end of the day,
like these dudes be getting hurt if they don't rest,
and it's like they like unlikely the rest is a
part of it. Something tell you girl when you want it?
When you don't want to have six right now? Management,
manage my manager's load real quick, little so we'll see again.

(20:50):
I think the key to the Lakers season is their
ability to stay healthy. Obviously excited to see Lebron in
your nineteen is to continue to define the odds of physics. Um,
but it's gonna be again to pault point, the Lakers
are gonna go as far as a d or take them. Well,
how would they be on the sideline without Jay Kid
this year too? Lebron is the coach that Nay. But

(21:19):
you gotta have that guy. You have the guy, that
guy on the sideline that can get that you can
throw to you. I'm saying, on that coach, And you
gotta have that one coach, even if it's not the
head coach. You gotta have that one coach that you
can talk to to get to the head coach. Was
it the college? Well, let's try to make sense about

(21:46):
the rest of the West. You know, we got the
Phoenix Suns, you taught Jazz, the Warriors, the Nuggets, Clippers
without Kauai, MAVs, Blazers. I mean, the West is always
heavier to me, is to you guys. There's anyone that
stands out. Obviously, the Jazz had a great season last year,
but I thought, again, if I thought I was crazy,
I thought they needed that second consistent twenty point score
with Mike Connie in and out. They didn't have that.
Do you guys see them as a threat in the West.

(22:07):
The Warriors are healthy, Clay should be back some time
in December. To me, I think the Warriors have a
lot of assets to possibly trade before the deadline to
bolster you know, their chance. The Nuggets. Jamal Murray is
gonna be some time. But you know, Michael Porter genius
sign in that new contract. They got the m v P. There,
don't know what to expect it with the Clippers without
Kauai um Luca Dame, with their respective teams. Thoughts on

(22:30):
the rest of the West, they all in the same boat,
all in because don't nobody outside the Lakers got two
All Stars on their team consistent when you talk about
Portland's game, when you talk about MAVs, it's only Luca, Like,
who else got two All Stars? Chris Paul, I don't
think it gonna be in the All Star Game this year.

(22:52):
So that's gonna move over the booker. So who's the
second guy? The Lakers the only one that could potistally
have two three All Stars. You need two All Stars
and make it to the finals minimum now, and so
they're all in the same boat. To me, if the
Lakers get injured, then now everybody in the same Yeah,
I mean, I can't agree. I can't disagree with that
at Allhis look at all the things. But you know, Memphis,

(23:15):
they're still trying to figure out who they are. Yeah,
Young and like you said, the rest of these teams,
they're coming into the season. Okay, we know what we
are and who we are. Let's just see how the
season going in you know what I'm saying, because it ain't.
It ain't like they're coming in with a new game
plan of doing something different. Portland the same team, Dallas
the same the same teams have been. They've been the
same way the last couple years. And we're not gonna

(23:36):
see nothing different from them. We know who they are
where they're gonna landed the season, so they agree with you,
But they're all in the same basket. To me, does
Dame Litar get traded or before All Star or this summer?
I mean, I think his whole thing and he's always
taking the high road. I want you to build this
team into me. They didn't. With all the respect to
the pieces they had, they didn't move the needle um
this offseason. Hell on this Dame wasted his good years

(23:58):
import And you're someone who you know had to cross
with your career, the star player. They weren't really adding
like you needed them to add. You hung out there
and ended up you know, getting KG and Ray winning
the championship. Is there any like at the end of
the tunnel for Dame in Portland. I don't see no.
I don't see no like in Portland. Um, you know
a great career, top fifty player. Ever, I think he's
gonna retire in Portland. There's no moves to be made

(24:22):
unless you compare him with who Greek freak like, which
is not gonna happen. That's the move if you can
get him the Portland. From Portland the Philly, that's the
only move. That's the only move. The game goes to Philly.
Where does that put them? With Brooklyn and Milwaukee? They
they contenders. They contend straight up, They contenders. They got

(24:43):
a closer and you gotta due. Got everything in between
an n B n B. They contended that pick and roll.
That's that's nasty, that's scary. I don't know that that
needs to happen. They get out of that. Wanted. I
just wanted to see Dave. But I get it. They're

(25:07):
not loyal upstairs. They players gotta do what they gotta do.
Thoughts on Kyrie Irving right now, I mean well publicized.
UH want to do more research and and and let

(25:27):
me say personally, you know, I respect any decision whether
you want to get and Jack and I have had
the discussion whether you want to get the vaccination or
you don't want to get I respect because everyone has
their reasons. Obviously, his is making headlines because he is
a very key piece to a team that has a
chance to win a championship. On top of it, there's
forty million dollars on the table. UH. Coach Steve Nash
came out a couple days ago talking about we're gonna

(25:49):
have to just playing with them only half games. As
a star player on your team and a really important
player on your team, how would you take it, as
guys in the locker room if one of your best
players or your your side kick wasn't gonna be there
for you for the whole season. I think it's a conversation.
We gotta talk because you got your personal reasons. But
I'm saying, like, if you're telling me, if I don't

(26:11):
take this shot, it's gonna cost me what twenty million dollars?
Man give me that shot. Man, come on, I'm gonna
eat this even if I don't want to twenty million dollars.
I mean, it is what it is. I'm seeing my
teammates take it. I'm seeing they having no ill effects.
I'm seeing everybody around me not have no ill effects.
It can't be all that bad. If it's gonna cost

(26:32):
me a dub meal, yeah, I'll suck it up. Come on,
bring it right here, bring it right here. What are
your thoughts on that? Jack? I mean, you know, I'm
I mean, I totally get that. But I'm more like
to each his own, you know what I mean? That
that's how you fail. I'm I'm I'm a million right here, Jack,
take the shot. I'm just saying. I'm just saying this

(26:56):
just all I'm saying to see it to to eat,
to each his own, man, I mean, it's like, I'm, I'm,
I'm your friend all the time, right So with regards
what you choose to do, that's what you choose to do.
That's your decision. I respected regards high go. You know
what I'm saying. Well, either if I got to lose
you as a teammate for party games or are you

(27:18):
taking the job and you can you coming on and
you're playing with Either way, I love you the same
way I respect man. You know what I mean, I
ain't the one to you to think about your family decision.
Though Kyrie every didn't having no money problems with no time,
ain't no money. But that's an extra dub, like you
know what I'm saying, ain't having no money problems? No, no,

(27:40):
no doubt about that. Yeah, I definitely don't think it's
gonna it's gonna hinge on the money. He's done well, obviously,
very well off the court. To me, the question becomes,
you know, Kyrie, there's there. The past few years have
been off the court distractions have kind of overshadowed. And
that's saying a lot because when he is on the
court playing basketball, he's one of the greatest towns we've
ever seen, you know, of the last few years, it's

(28:01):
been personal reasons and this and we and we respect
the family moves and what he needs to do. And
to me, this is another this season again obviously with
with the vaccination, which I think is crazy. They're not
mandating it, but they're making it almost to the way
where you have to take it to to start moving
in this world. So that's the world we're headed towards
right now. But you know what about his obligation to

(28:21):
his team, because we've all been on teams and bro,
that's how we became families from our team, and you
have loyalty and family homies, you'll you know, you'll die
with from the team. So what about his commitment to
the Brooklyn Nets. I respect his his personal being and
it's his bodies for the rest of his life. But
he's also getting paid a lot of money. This is
it's still a two headed monster with Jane or with
Kevin Duran and James hardness to me second to none

(28:43):
in the league still, But with Kyrie is that third piece?
To say that Kyrie is the third piece is crazy,
like that is the recipe for multiple championships in my opinion.
So this, this vaccination ship is not going nowhere, but
this is going to be the same man the manager
are probably gonna be stricter next season, you know what
I mean. So where did they go as a team
knowing that one of the best players in the world

(29:04):
can only play half the game. And let's take a
step further, what if they play the Lakers in the finals?
You can't play in l A and you can't play
in New York with the vaccine, you know what I mean?
So what do you do when that happens? When this
this this matchup that everyone is hoping for these two
trains are gonna collide. What happens when they make it
with Kyrie only playing half the season and then then
the finals and he can't play. Retire? Retire, retire. You

(29:29):
don't want to this, This is happening, This is coming
at you. This is what's happening. If you're not feeling this, retire.
But I think from a fans perspective, like just those
three like everyone to me, that could be arguably the
greatest trio scoring trio in the history of the game.
I'm saying, how would you feel if you, as Kadi thought,
how would you personally feel like you, k d that's

(29:49):
his dog. But you gotta be called on, like come on, man,
just real quick, just like something like something I don't know.
So outside of the Buck and the Nets in the East, um,
we spoke to if Dame Lillard goes to the Sixers,
what happens? Uh? Anyone else you guys see making noise
in the Eastern Conference? Heat, Hawks, Celtics, Pacers, Bulls. Wait,

(30:16):
let me see if there's no Kyrie? Are they are
the Nets still heading shoulders better than these other teams?
Are they better than the Celtics with Jalen and Tatum
and Atlanta or another duel you would take over those two.
There's there's there's not another duel, not in the East.
But but team wise, I mean, I don't know. I mean,

(30:37):
you know, mill Walking is his head and shoulders ahead
of them chemistry wise. And then the champs. I mean,
it's not a guarantee without Kyrie that this team makes
to the finals, truthfully, because yeah, they got a dynamic duel.
They got a little deeper this year with their talent,
but they ain't really played together yet, and it's hard

(30:58):
to bring a team together a first year and say
all right, we're about to win it, right, But what
I will say is they were a big toneail away
from going to the finals without Kyrie, and it hurt
James Harden with just k D. Like you said, p J.
Tucker was a major piece of that defensive. You know,
Core that you're gonna have to stop with the stars.
So it'll be interesting to see, you know, how this
stuff plays out. It is definitely gonna be a fun season.

(31:20):
Next step, we have a happy seventy five anniversary to
the NBA, an organization that brought all of us a
lot of joy and and and and great careers and
and open doors. We couldn't imagine happy twenty or seventy
five birthday to that best part about being at Boston
Celtic and and the NBA player as a whole to you, Paul, Well,

(31:42):
for me, you know, just the journey it took me on,
you know, a kid out of Inglewood. Because of the NBA,
I got to travel. I had to travel of the world,
you know, I got to see places I never thought
all the see and uh you know, be around them
legends being a Celtic. Bill Russo read all back. Um,
I owe the NBA everything how my life has uh transpired,

(32:04):
and so I'm thankful for that. I'm thinking would be
a part of the seventy five anniversary. Excited to see
the Top seventy five. I know that because I remember,
I think All Star, because I remember when they did
the Top fifty. I think I was in high school
and they did it and announced it at All Star weekend.
And the one thing that stood out to me when

(32:24):
the Top fifty was like shock was like in this
second or third year and he was already a top
fifty player. And so it'll be interesting to see how
they remake this list because there are a lot of
current players that need to be a top seventy five
player all time and a lot of them are playing
still today that I will put in the top seventy
five all time. Jack. What the NBA do for your

(32:45):
your life, your career and in georgs his open post
career ship to Sugar changed my life, my family life. Uh,
just playing a game of basketball. You know what I mean,
you're playing the game. It changed my life. Opened a
lot of doors from me, um to be able to
do things, you know, like we're doing that. We have
the basketball, you know what I mean. So you know,

(33:07):
and then they basically did the same thing for everybody
to come from the areas we come from, you know,
change our lives, change our family lives, and gives us
opportunity to do other things in life. Yeah, I mean,
obviously the journey, the relationships, the doors is opened. Um
to think we got to to to play a sport
we got we played as a kid for a career,
I mean, to make make money off it and and

(33:29):
now still living a dream. So definitely a lot to
the NBA. How has the game changed? Obviously we had
the seventies, we had the eighties is obviously when we
kind of came into picture as far as fans the
nineties with the Bulls and the type of play we
all came into the late late nineties early two thousands,
which was a certain type of play. To where the

(33:51):
game is today, How do you feel like the game
has changed over the years since you were a fan
to where it is now? Well, the players are definitely
more skilled. You know, they're way more skilled, never than
I imagine that I'll be seeing seven foot or shooting
threes at this rate, getting ten assins at this rate.

(34:12):
They shoot the ball way better. And that's just the
involvement of the game when you look at it over
the years. How they're just evolving again, you know, and
a lot of us to say, you know, it's softer
and and the way the game is called. But they're
more skilled players more um, they're they're the i q
s is off the chart, and you're gonna continue to
see the game evolved to what level next? Because when

(34:34):
I look at as a whole, when you see guys
seven foot bringing the ball up, think about that when
you came in or think about that growing up. The
big man never even put the ball on the ground
to where they're shooting threes now, and so I love
the direction the game is going. We got young stars,
but the European players they're taking over the league. You

(34:55):
might have translated into a European game. If you think
about the top five player, there's three of them might
be European. And that just shows you how the game
is involved around the world. M HM. Thoughts of how
the game is changing your opinion from your your style
of players, how the game is played today. The game
is definitely faster, like I agree with and for the

(35:16):
most part, like these players are way more skilled shooting
one leg threes and like like just the way the
game has advanced and the different way these guys are
working out and preparing for the game and the drills
and stuff that they're doing now is totally different when
we was coming up. So I just think the preparation
that they're doing to play these games and and to

(35:37):
get better as a basketball player has changed to make
the game change. We came into where obviously late nineties
early two thousand's we caught the end of a really
physical defensive era to we were still able to play
some type of defense. Obviously, defenses is few and far
between um these days. Thoughts on that part of the game.
But then also I feel like the game has grown

(36:00):
because there is more scoring, there is more threes, there
is more dunk So we used to have games that were,
you know, eighty nine, seventy eight, you know, battle grinders.
Now games are up to where they're at now. Thoughts
on how the defense has kind of gone out the door,
but again the game and started to expand because of
all the offensive highlights. You can't touch nobody anymore. I
I really don't like that product. I like the physical

(36:22):
me personally. I like because it hypens up the competitive side.
You know what I mean. If you know that you
can go out there and Billy, if it's gonna defense,
to compete and try to shut somebody down, and knowing
you're not gonna be out the game in the first
quarter for two quick files, you know what I'm saying,
That the competition goes hi you. But at the same time,
I don't know too many guys in the league. And

(36:44):
I'm not saying everybody, but I don't know too many
guys in the league that's going out there to try
to stop somebody today anyway, you know what I mean.
So it was different from my time. Yeah, I agree
completely with you. Stack Uh, it's less competitive. And to me,
even though they're more skilled, the way I look at
it as almost as if the league has become a business.
You know, the money guys. When you got guys making

(37:05):
two D three hundred million. You know, now you've got
low management. It's like I gotta protect my brand, I
gotta protect my body. And it's making it a little more,
little little less competitive. I mean, like we prided ourselves
and playing every game. It's like now if you have
a small thy bruise, it's like, hold on, I can't

(37:28):
go out there like that. And that's the it's not
as competitive. And but we've made it that way. I
don't like it because think about this, when I look
at the league, how many competitive like think about a
competitive When I say competitive, it's only a few guys.
To me, Pat Beverley, I say, Draymond Green, I throw

(37:49):
Westbrook in there, Anti to Coompo, and then I can't.
I can't even think of a fifth. These are just
my top five, okay, Jimmy Butler top five most competitive
in the league. Where it's like in our you got
three of them right just sitting right here. Yeah, that's
you know right now, I can't even think of ten
guys when I say, damn he competitive is is here? Man?

(38:13):
It's a business different. But again you have to left behind.
It's like it's like it's a position like Okay, you
play guard, you play competitive because you're gonna be done
when to play. But that's why you see kind of
the last of a dying breeze with p J. Tucker
maybe Trevor Reason, like the last of kind of our

(38:33):
guys that were kind of hanging on where you really
got to lock in and that was your job and
you took pride. And then today it's more you know
about you score I score types. Not that they're not trying,
because they are, but it's just not a there's not
a focus on it and the way the game is
called you, if there was a focus on it, you
wouldn't be able to be effective in it. So moving on,
next up our segment on the Radar presented by DraftKings,

(38:57):
odds on favorite to win a championship this year and
dark Horses so odds to favorite. Let's go from the
top Brooklyn is at a plus two hundred, next with
the Los Angeles Lakers at a plus four hundred. The
defending champs, the Bucks are at a plus nine hundred.
Surprising right here for us. We were talking about this before,

(39:18):
Golden State at the plus eleven hundred, uh, the Jazz
plus fifteen hundred, the Clippers plus seventeen hundred, Phoenix seventeen hundred,
Philly so on, Denver plus two thousand, um, all the
way down to the Knicks at plus ten thousand. Obviously,
we know health is going to be a big factor

(39:38):
this year. The top two teams in the league Brooklyn
odds on favorite Lakers plus two hundred and plus four hundred, respectively.
Who are you guys taking, If you guys are betting
men this year? My title favorite, I'm going with the
We're going with the Nets. I mean I've been even
without Kyrie k d and hardness is too much. If

(39:59):
they're healthy, I got I'm going with them. M mmmmmmmmmmmm.
That's all my little brothers over with us. You ain't
gonna ask me the Nets going with the Nets? I'm torn,
you know. Obviously, being a huge Laker fan my whole life,

(40:20):
even while as a player's Laker fan. It's hard to
bet against Lebron. It's like brandany gainst Brady, right. It
always something comes back to bite you in the ass.
Can they stay healthy? To me, the Nets have a
better chance of staying healthy because their stars are younger. Um,
if they figure out how to bring Kyrie in the mix,
that's just more to the fire. So the Lakers are

(40:42):
right there for me. But I'm gonna have to take
the Brooklyn Nets plus two hundred. Never thought about he
might be healthy because they have a deeper team. He
wanted to do as much a d He always get
hurt because he has to do so much for that team.
He got a lot of people. He always get hurt

(41:03):
because I don't think he hit his body different, you
know and not. You know, he got a good friend,
But I don't think he he I don't think he
really just focused on the off season and the stuff
away from basketball, like how we see Lebron, you know,
because who takes a beating more Lebron take a beating.
But he's so conditioned. If a D follow Lebron on
that off season workout and what they do when they're

(41:26):
not practicing, hitting the weights, and doing all that, I
think he wouldn't see him get hurt as much. Yeah,
I mean that recovery is real. Again, that's just with
that era to in particular, a D was kind of
that first AU era where you were seeing guys coming
at a young age but all getting hurt early because
they had played so many AU games. Obviously, the wear
and tear of the league is night and day above
AU and your brief stop in college. That NBA is

(41:47):
a grind with the travel throwing in there and the
games and then and just all the ship we have
to do. So if a D is healthy, it's needed
next up, best bet to win in VP, and we'll
throw some dark horses in there. So they got again Luca.
If I'm not mistaken, it wasn't the odds on favorite
last year. Again, Luca at the top plus three eighty,

(42:10):
kat At plus six hundred and beat At plus seven hundred,
Janice plus nine hundred, Steph Curry plus nine hundred, Damian
Lillard plus fourteen hundred, the Joker the reigning m VPS
plus fifteen hundred, right there with Lebron James at the
same fifteen hundred James Harden plus two thousand, Tree Young,
Devin Booker hundred eight hundred, Kauai is out Westbrook plus

(42:34):
twenty five hundred, PG three thousand, Tatum at plus three thousand,
and Donovan mitchelled around that out at plus three thousand.
Who do you guys like? I mean, obviously, Luca is
an up and coming star, gonna be the greatest European
player barring injury. I think we've ever seen. Um, it's
hard to go against k d uh and beat is
in that mix, Greek freak, Steph went crazy, Dame always

(42:56):
goes crazy. Uh. Thoughts on potential MVP in dark horses,
I'm going James Harden. Last year, James Hard with the
one m v P. People have got hurt the way
he was averaging the triple double. Uh. He went over
the putting down back and he was winning. And you know,
I remember me and g talked about it. I had
if you wouldn't have got hurt last year, Dog, I

(43:17):
think he was. I think he had a good chance
to winning m VP. And if the fact that if
Kyrie doesn't play, he plays well without Kyrene, and that's
all that's not I'm not trying to start no fund
just and you gotta remember, even with Kyrie on the court,
he was the point guard, he was the playmaker, he
was doing all those things with Kyrie on the course.
So I got James hard I like that. It's a
nice dark horse, Paul, you got for me? Uh, dark horse, no,

(43:38):
best bet. I'm gonna go with Curry because I think
they're gonna have a better team. I think the Warriors
could be a top four seed. And if he has
the season this year that he had last year with
a better team, with a better team, I gotta go
with Curry. And then my dark horse something going on
with Jason Tatum. Uh. If Boston could be a top team.

(43:59):
I've been seeing this kid get better every year, put
up multiple fifties last year. He's my dark horse. I
like that. You know, normally it's tough, they say when
there's you know, a group of stars, they kind of
cancel each other out. Um. I don't know if that
would be the case. Um, but you know, to me,
Katie is the best player in the game right now. UM,

(44:20):
and he's the guy I'm gonna go with. UM. Love
Luca just to know where their team is at. UM
loved the Harden pick. I loved that would be my
dark horse, Jack, and not even dark horse, to be
honest with you, because like for every reason he said,
he's not necessarily a dark horse. He's one of the
best players in the game. Um. Love the Jayson Tatum?
Uh you know, is it is he ready to take
that team to the next step? Because it's gonna have

(44:41):
to be on his shoulders. You know, if that team
is gonna make a step, it's gonna be on his shoulders.
With all respect to everyone else. So how is Westbrook
more favorite to win m v P ver Tatum? Because
Tatum is the guy and Westbrook on on the Lakers,
it's gonna be like third or four, Bob shad d
You know that's weird. We shall see next up something different.

(45:04):
We haven't really done. But Jack is they're a player
in the league today that reminds you of yourself? I don't.
I think the only guy that I can say that
reminds me of myself is t J. Warren. I think
I said that before he really made a name for

(45:25):
himself in the bubble, and uh he was injel Lash.
I think he broke his foot or something. But he's
a He's a guy, not just because he played for
the Pacers, but he plays hard on both ends and
he got a nice jump shot. Paul, I'm gonna go
with Jason Tatum. You know, you know, you remind me
a lot of myself. We got the step back in
this game. He getting stronger, going to the whole whole stuff,
just like you got the mad post game. I'm gonna

(45:48):
go with j T. That's a good car. I like that.
Which player you know me? I'm one of those last
of the breed and I think I mentioned earlier like
I'm a t A, you know, three and D Just
you know, that's why I think we were it to
last as long as we're good, because you could put
us anywhere, you know what I mean, you could plug
us in any system, any team, and we're gonna go
do our jobs. So to me, you know, Trevor is
a p. J. Tucker type player with just plugging play,

(46:10):
we're gonna be straight. Well you had you had a
jumper though, yeah, definitely got better. Which player do you
expect to make the big leap this year? Paul? The
big lead, big lead, Damn. I'm gonna go with uh Damn.
Who's gonna make the big lead that's a good when
they gotta be somebody young who just like, who's gonna

(46:32):
get to the Austar. I'm gonna go Alonzo Ball. I
think Alonzo Ball gonna prove a lot of people wrong.
I saw I saw some good things out of him
in preseason. The dropper looked right. He didn't win from
this ship. Now you know he he's dropper looking right.
I think he got a raw deal. I think if
you think about the process and you're being from l

(46:52):
AE kid drafted to the Lakers and your dad writing
checks before you even steps in magic like the next
great thing. I think he had a lot. So I
think the first step was a great movie getting him
out of l A because obviously the kid can play.
He showed flashes in New Orleans. I really think he
comes into his own in Chicago. You know he's away
from the right, from the crib um, new young team,

(47:14):
exciting team again. He's worked on this game tremendously, so
it'll be fun to see what he's able to do
this year. Jack, anybody stick out to you to have
a breakout season this year, it's hard. I would say
if anybody will have a breakout season, I would say,
Cam Reddish. He's been hurt all that ship and when
he got a chance to play a little bit, he
was bawling out. And he's getting off to a good

(47:34):
star this year too. In the previas, so I say, anybody,
because I live in Atlanta, I say, Camera, all right,
what's burning is bringing a new energy in a new
vibe this season. But that comes a new segments. Secure
the bag presented to you. Buy money Line the bank

(47:55):
for all you hard workers out there. You deserve a
bank that's helping you secure the bag, which is why
money Line as you go to for banking, saving, crypto
and more all in one app. Checking my nap store.
All right, So what contract most bang for your buck? Uh?
Coming up? I'm a listic a handful of players with
their deals. You guys tell me, is that a secure investment?

(48:17):
Or would you first stop Kyla Lowry before we go
to Kyle Lowry? Is her Hall of Famer? Oh ah, championship?
Was her one or two time All Star Man. There's

(48:38):
a lot of guys that didn't make Hall of Fame. Like, look, okay,
hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. I don't
think so you think, Okay, I'm just gonna put it
like this, I don't think so. Mochis and Hall of
Famer Chauncey Billers not so they all belong in that.
I'm saying, Moscheese Hall of Famer, you got an all

(49:00):
the favorite and Kyle Lowry not a All of Fame.
I'm saying, though, Mr big Shot, you got a nickname.
Mr big Shot is not in the Hall of Fame.
That name. Come on, then I can't put Carl Lowery
in there. That's facts, that's fact. I agree with that.
Moving on, Kyle Lowry got a nice deal whether he
goes or not. The year eight million to go to

(49:20):
get tanned on South Beach. Hopefully don't wear socks on
the beats like you Jack three years eighty five millions.
That a secure investment, Yes, sir, Yes, sir, you bring Yeah, Yeah,
you're making somebody's experience that want to play, that's gonna
play hard, and that that's the same type of player
as Jimmy, that has the same type of par rolly mentality.

(49:42):
Team We're coming to win with some dogs out there.
So if it's perfect, they couldn't find a better point
guard to fit in with those. That's good value. That's
good value. Not the best value based on the offseason signings,
but that's good value. Bringing a bad leader a champion,
Uh get a little so body who's gonna stabilize the
locker room a little more with Jimmy, it's a good value.

(50:05):
Next up, LUNs of ball cashed in this offseason four
years eighty million Paul Secure Investment, Secure Investment. Like I said,
I think he's gonna take the biggest leap. I think
he's gonna be recognized as um a very good point
guard somewhere along the lines, you know where I see
his kind of career going towards like a Drew Holiday

(50:26):
type career. You know, people we underrated Drew Holiday for
so many years. You know, a guy who hasn't been
to the All Star Game multiple years, but he's one
of the most respected point guards, like guys like him
and Mike Conley. I think Alonso is gonna fall into
that category. Really good player, really didn't get the get
to that All Star level, but he's gonna be right

(50:47):
there right there. Definitely someone too that that they plays
both sides of the ball. People forgot how I mean
he was picking up full court really, you know, making
people work Jack Lunds of ball four years, eighty million,
secure investment. Yeah, great pick up for them, something they needed,
you know, he got. He got a lot of great
qualities as a point guard as far as knowing how
to make plays. And also he's uh expanding his range

(51:09):
with his three point balls. So I think just having
him on the team, he's gonna take a lot of
pressure up to those other guys. I think they are
definitely gonna be in the playoffs with with with signing
him over there, the margin Rosen, same team, Chicago Bulls
three years, eighty one million, jack secure investment, great investment.
Another compliment, you know, to the rest of the guys
over there at the Bulls. I mean, how can you

(51:30):
not add the rose and the roses and one of
those guys you can guarantee eighteen twenty twenty three points
a game. Uh mid range. You know, I don't give
how old you get, uh what you add to your game.
You got a mid range shot, You're gonna last a
long time. And he wanted the best at it. So
and and he's reliable to I think um with him
the contract and it's gonna be more than numbers with

(51:53):
him this year than it has been in the past,
because you're asking him to kind of play second fiddle
to zackly Vine. But the value when he his value
is not gonna come in number. His value is gonna
come in, like I said, his experience, his leadership is
gonna have to be the defensive guy that's year too. Yeah,
but he's gonna he's gonna he's gonna have to put
that on the you know, he's gonna teach Levine how

(52:14):
to win, how to play the game, because you think
about it, they they got a lot of similarities. You know,
Levine got a three ball, but like they both athletic
wing guys, and he could really show them the ropes.
And so his value is not gonna be in his numbers,
but just being around the guys, and he's gonna have
nice to where hes gonna be the guy on certain
nights and that's where his value gonna come in. That.
I definitely think his value along with what you guys

(52:36):
said in the playoffs. You mean, he's someone who's been
there and this is a very young team that hasn't
really experienced playoffs success though, so you know, to be
to be the vet on this team is definitely gonna
serve him good. I agree, uh, Evan four and four years,
seventy three million dollars to the New York Knicks. P
secure investment. I think so because you know, normally I

(53:00):
wouldn't think so, but since you know there's a premium
on shooting in this league, you gotta need guys to
shoot the three, and you know, if you can knock
down some three, you're gonna get it back. And that's
definitely what he does. Play well in the Olympics. The
type of money is getting doesn't warrant that contract. I
don't know, not the best value, but I get it,

(53:22):
you know, based on they need more spacing for Rando
and r J and sou. Not a bad investment, but
not the best. Yeah, at all. I'm not secure at all.
I mean you want to You're coming off that money
right now with the young guys you got, and you're
trying to build around. You need to, like you said,
you need another star. You need somebody else that that's
been around, that's that wasn't stared but kind of diminishing

(53:42):
a little bit, and stidn't come in and help change
things or the outlook at this team. You know what
I'm saying, you bringing somebody in that nobody's gonna listen to.
Nobody's going I'm just being real, nobody's gonna listen to,
nobody's gonna respect. And he's not the type of guy
that's gonna come in and be the leader of that team.
You know, I'm saying, you need somebody to come in
that deck and stand, uh, stand next shoulder to shoulder
with a round them, you know what I mean, be

(54:03):
the leader. Not somebody's gonna come in and just walk
around and don't say nothing, you know what I'm saying.
So I think I think, you know, you gotta sign somebody.
You gotta spend that money. But I think they could
have got something else for that for seventy three million.
Speaking of Randall, he signed a four year extension for
a hundred and seventeen million. UH most improved Player last year.
Uh took the team to the playoffs. Didn't play well

(54:24):
in the playoffs, but I'm sure that's that first time
Jitter looked at him to bounce back this year. Jack
without a secure investment. Yeah, I mean, he deserved it.
He earned that money, you know, man, he watched you
out to the playoffs. And all that, But at the
same time, you got to understand how much more can
he grow? How much more can his game? Bro? You

(54:44):
know what I'm saying. We've been watching around it for
a minute now, you know what I'm saying, And I
don't I don't know if if his game has really changed,
But I just think he just got a better opportunity
in the in the next organization to be that guy
to get the ball and get more shots. But I
think this game has changed so and I think his
jumper got matter. But I'm just saying it hasn't changed
drastically like that, you know what I'm saying. So at
this point, Okay, you're paying him. He deserved the money.

(55:06):
Where is he gonna what's the next level for him?
You know what I'm saying. Is he gonna get to
that next level in the next four years? No? No,
you know, he will never be a one A superstar,
you know, and we understand that. But he made the
All Star team last year. But he's a good compliment
to that one and that's why wasn't sign You know

(55:26):
what I'm saying. What you think about I like Randall?
I as I said earlier, I think he's a great
one B. I think if you have some one B
and then possibly a four year as your third option
type two, you gotta you know, you got Kimba in
that mix, obviously, but I think they get that one
A and take some pressure off, because I think that's
what got to him last year, was that pressure me
and the guy that knowing that he had to put

(55:46):
the team on his back, he wasn't ready for it.
But I looked him again. I liked him a lot.
Look from the bounce back. Next step, last, and not
least Michael Porter jr. Um surprising to some. I'm a
big fan of this kid. But he got a five
year one seventy two with the possible two oh seven
max rookie extension, uh Paul secure investment. Yeah, because you're

(56:08):
basing this off his potential, and he got superstar potention.
I mean, right now, he reminds me of a poor
Man's k D. I mean he's six ten. Wow, he's
athletic poor Man's k D. I mean, you know you
know what I'm saying. He's six tiens. We think athletic.

(56:35):
He gotta work on this. He's creating his own shot.
But he athletic. He's six ten's jumper. He's a stretch four.
You can play him at the five, the three too,
if he gets some kind of handle, because Kate didn't
have that handle coming in. That's why I said, poor
Man's the potential is there. You know, everybody don't reach

(56:55):
their potential, you know, like poor Man's. Don't mean he's
gonna be KD, but he got those type of tools.
What do you think? I think? Um, Like you said,
the potential, what he what he's done, what you've seen
he can do. He earned that money, deserved him. Mother.
At the same time, he is not the toughest. He's
been hurt a lot, you know what I'm saying, And

(57:16):
I think the moments where they needed him most to
step up was when Murray was down and he couldn't
be that player consistently. He said, I think, but this
is his first time in that spot. He was his
first time in that spot. To Jack, I get you
know what I'm saying. I get it, I get it.
So but not stepping up to the place, stepping up

(57:36):
to that big moment, you know what I'm saying. Look
at Cole he air ball, no question all We're not
going fair. You gotta go. You gotta go through being
a young time, first time on that stage and young
you gotta you gotta go through the fan of him,
I think to me, I think he's uh, you know,
I see some tea making him some tea mack as

(57:58):
far as that, you know, the way he shoots, the
way it's up on the shooters athletes, explosive this when
gets to the basket. Uh. If he wants to lock
in on defense, to me, that that's the next step. Obviously,
continue involves the offensive game, but he has the tools
to be a six ten stopper on that wing along
with Aaron Gordon, which I think it's gonna take their Broy,

(58:24):
I'm sorry I didn't say nothing about your twin brother,
Patrick Beverly away Man, we love you, but I just
ain't saying nothing about you, Jack Man. I ain't saying
nothing about you, nothing about your twin today, Brodaa's come on,
I love you, Come on next up man, one of

(58:47):
our favorite segments. Jack, you can kick this off. We
got fan questions, alright, first fan question offseason, Dot Randazy,
how do you think Clay Thompson is going to play
this season after coming off to consecutive season and didn't
injuries twist him. I'm nervous because, as we see, normally
when you come back from one there there's a lot
of nagging stuff that happens. You know. He came back

(59:08):
off the uh, the knee and then toward his achilles.
So hopefully we're not doing this drastic of injuries. But
normally when you're coming back off stuff like that, something
else starts to nag. So I hope that he you know,
he's took a long time. We haven't seen Clay and
we almost three years. Its been a minute to and
a half, you know what I mean. So it's like
like for me, for him riding a bike, it's like

(59:30):
riding a bike. He just shoot right. He ain't never
losing that, Like we always want to to ride a bike.
I cannot ride a bike, But ten years I'm still
not a rod. He always gonna be able to agree. Well,
his his his his role is so fine tuned. My
my question is he was an underrated defensive player. He
took a lot of pressure off stuff. He's always guarding
the best player of the Dames. To see Jays that
you name him, he was guarding him will he still

(59:52):
be able to move latterly? Again, I'm a big fan
of Clay again his leg and like pasted, this game
is so specific, but he's so good at it. Can
he get back there? I think he in, But I'm
just hoping he's I think that's gonna be where you're
gonna take a hit that defensively, you know, when you
go through a c L S and Achilles can, you
ain't gonna move the same. You can't move the same.
I mean, that's where you're gonna take as big as here.

(01:00:14):
But shooting the ball, he's still gonna be able to
do that. Next step was a NAS thirty five underscore.
Do you think the Nets can win a championship without
Kyrie Paul? Without a question? You got the best duel
in the league. James Harden, who was an MVP candidate
this year, gonna be an MVP candidate. I mean he
was a MVP candidate last year, will be again this year.

(01:00:35):
And k D is arguably the best player in the game.
That's more than enough to win the championship. Agreed at
BAM underscore Rubble and this is to you stack which
NBA player question will be a first time All Star.
Which NBA player will be a first time All Star?

(01:00:56):
Good question. I have no idea. John marn he didn't
make it last year. He hasn't made the All Star teams.
He I'm around. I go with John Muran because I
don't know who else first time? Yeah, r damn. He
already self proclaimings of the top five point guard in
the league. I'm looking forward to. Is he a top

(01:01:19):
five point guard in the league? Six seven? Not top
five yet? Right right right there? Not there yet there
six seven, six seven, alright, alright, brom six seven, the
top five point though. I don't know if he's there
right right right there. After this season, he could put
itself right there like his explosive. Don't know how real

(01:01:43):
he is. He would say that. He said that already.
So we got Chris Paul, Chris Paul in there, Luca Docs,
Luca James. Sorry, it's like James, you can't don't start, Okay,
you gotta put stuff. Let's go step staff order, steph
Luca dag dang same James, James in the top five.

(01:02:04):
Russell Westbrook, come on, Jack, come on, when you got
him over? But who you got him over? You just
said we didn't put him in the er no order,
But who you got him over Chris Paul? Yes, damn
we saw what Chris. I've seen what he did and
I also seen what he did in the finals. Alright, left,

(01:02:26):
So step Dame step Dame that James Harden James was
that fifth Lillard. No, I already put that Steph, Steph,
Dame Dame, James, James, Kyrie, Kyrie, about Kyrie Kyrie coming
off his best season two seven to night. You got

(01:02:51):
Russ in there, you got Rusted in there, the best
for him. But I want to see basketball. Motherfucking I'm
not top five, but you got Russell for Tray young
do sir? Yeah? I think Rust to me, I think
Russ's man big This mother gonna give you twenty a night.

(01:03:14):
I'm about to just pour this. I gotta wake up man.
Russe is an animals. I love Russ. I love Russ.
Who you love Brody bringing with Russe's bringing Nobody? Okay,
I don't want to finish that question. Nobody, nobody in
the games is bringing with Russ's broadcast? So who who

(01:03:34):
to who? We just listed? So we had we had
a baby, Steph, we had Steph Dame, Luca, Kyrie, and James.
We don't even have CP in there. So out of
those five, who did you put who you put Russ
in front of? I didn't have James as the point
go up and I just thought about it. He is
a point guard here, a point guard. He led the

(01:03:56):
League of Assists last year. I still like Chris Phoenix.
Go to this listen, if you put Westbrook on Phoenix
instead of Chris Paul, do they go to the finals? Question?
How you got him over Chris? Because he's he brings
more to the table. He brings way more to the table.
I understand that. Yeah he got that, forgot the Hennis seed,

(01:04:19):
the chips, the pizza and all. He's bringing all that,
the mash potatoes, Yeah, he bringing all that. But Chris
bringing a straight steak dinner. And so is it? Is
it because I'm bringing more if I'm bringing better? But
he bringing But he's bringing one fark and one cup
and it's all on the right side. He ain't putting
nothing on left. Everything you do, everything on the right

(01:04:41):
side can't up left. So everything you gotta do, you
gotta do with you right here. And he's rush. You
got a buffet remind you can go left right, duncan
do you want me to do with Chris everything? You
got to be on the rights of scissors buffet in
one steak from Morton's stake, Sisslors buffet. Are you want
the bash smart? I said? I said, Chris is a

(01:05:03):
smart and he's a Hall of Fame point guard, and
he's a he's a better leader on the court. But
as far as putting two players on the court, who's
gonna give you more? I mean clearly the stats, I
mean any more. I need, I need, I need, I got,
I like the like my floor general to be boom boom,

(01:05:25):
I q boom, cluss shots boom everybody you know. Yeah,
they both got to the finals. And that's what's gonna
be interesting. This is what's gonna be interesting. Where do
you gonna rank those two all times they do or
don't win? Like as afterday they both went to the finals.
Brodie got an m v P. They called him brody

(01:05:46):
baby Oscar. Who are they calling Chris? And so are
you saying that Westbrook all time is better than christ
Just I just made a statement. That's all you are
and all time rest above CP and all time rankings
and all time rankings. You got west Brush, Do you
have Rust ahead of CP and your all time rankings? No,

(01:06:10):
I wouldn't do that. What is your own your argument?
The last time? This is what I'm saying, is CPS
rest kind of players who CP is as a player, CPS,
we were respected. He's gonna be a Hall of famer
all ever, CP really want nothing. What is he done

(01:06:31):
for y'all? Just to put him above Rust? But you
just said you would put CP above Russ in the
all time rankings, all time rankings, because resting a notch's
creal over Chris create the over Rust is knocking on
the door to Rust. The rest Russ is gonna be
three the triple double face of basketball when he was tired.

(01:06:55):
Chris is gonna be a group point going. That's all claim,
even Jackie up, all right, that's the truth though, right, Um,
it's gonna be a hall of fame. Yeah for sure.
I mean, just like you know, Williams is the face
of the sixth man who lou Will lou Will Will

(01:07:20):
he got three he got three, four of them? No,
it was Jamal now is lou Willy? But I think
he got four now Mr underscore, Polo cash masview Matt
Who's going to surprise Who's gonna be a surprise team
this season? Last year, my surprise season with the team

(01:07:41):
was the Phoenix Suns. May surprised the fucking world. What's
this this year's surprise team. I want to see what
Memphis does. I think with the healthy Jaren Jackson, young
pieces again marants. From year to year, development continues to go.
I like that good young team they have over there.

(01:08:01):
They added um the big boy from Okay see New
Orleans Steven Adams centerpiece over there to hold sin see
what he can do a g Joseph One. Are Kay
cutting Ham and Jaden Green the real deal? Paul jenn
and Green the real deal? Question question? He didn't really

(01:08:24):
skilled player in the draft last year. He should win
Rookie of the Year because he's gonna every have every
opportunity in Houston because they're gonna be weak, and so
he's gonna play all the minutes. Kay Cunningham, he's good,
really good players should elevate the Pistons. But jann and
Green is gonna be that dude. I'm biased to like
wing Man's who can handle shoot stuff. He from Frasno ya,

(01:08:47):
he from County. I got a rock at the back.
I gotta because he has good here and I don't
want Jack to get over, but I was gonna say that.
Go ahead, Yeah, somebody were curly here, gonna win them
and closing. Good to be back. What's Burning? Great first show, Fellas.

(01:09:08):
We will continue to rotate guests again to try to
bring you a different perspective um this year with What's Burning,
you'll definitely see Paul here and all over the Showtime platform.
You know we're Jack and his wet hands will be
one more thing before you get up out of your fellas.
Random drug test for cannabis in the NBA have been lifted.

(01:09:28):
What was saying when we play? We know they was
testing when we was playing, so they're not testing. No
more thoughts. Good job, Matt, now myself pass next. I
think it's a big statman again because I mean we
you know, we we were not you know, we haven't

(01:09:48):
hidden the fact that we smoked, you know, through our
career for our reasons, and it was a job to
smoke in the NBA, you know what I mean, Like,
we really had to go to extra mile to make
sure we stayed flushed and hydra raided. Uh So I'm
glad it's just one less stress these guys have to
worry about. You know. To me, if you're an owner
a gym, you want your players out there sucking around
with whatever else is out there in the streets, and

(01:10:10):
you want them sitting back smugging to joint recovering. I
think that's how simple the question is. Uh being shout
out to the NBA players associated in the NBA for
getting your doctors and doing your homework. You know, myself
out Herrington. There's a handful of us that kept pushing
the line and pushing the envelope, and we're glad to
see that not only the NBA, but professional sports as
a whole has started to come along with the medical
the medical research has been given. So you guys are welcome.

(01:10:33):
I'm gonna coming to one of you guys hotel room
and smoke with you this year just because going off.
Also make sure you check out Russell Westbrook's new documentary,
Passion Play Russell Westbrook, available now on Showtime. We'll see
you guys next week.