New Contracts for Luka & De'Aaron Fox & John Wall Retires

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is the Drive and Dish podcast. There's the Drive
and Click. Welcome to your moment to start it off.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
It's ten and justin let's go.

Speaker 3 (00:15):
You know, it's crazy when you start talking about and
this is part of and and for those on the stream,
obviously we have a guest on the podcast, Carlton is
with us. All do the full intro for Carlton here
in a little bit. But you know, it really is
crazy when you see the guys that get drafted and
that you remember getting drafted being an adult four start
to retire. And that's what's starting to happen when you're
Carlton and I's age. We're both actually a fun fact,

(00:37):
Carlton and I are a day apart from each other
birthday wise in October, which is always pretty fun. But
you know, we're both the same age, thirty four years old.
And we have a little bit of retirement news with
John Wall officially hanging it up. Colone quits this week.
Five time All Star, All NBA Third Team and twenty
six and twenty seventeen All Rookie Team in twenty ten,

(00:58):
twenty eleven, All Defense, twenty fourteen, twenty fifteen season. Obviously
spent the majority of his career with Washington. What he'll
be the most remembered for twenty ten to twenty nineteen.
He had a year with Houston, forty games with Houston,
and of course he had this come back come back
a few years ago with Clippers, thirty four games there,
number one overall pick in the NBA draft in twenty ten,

(01:19):
big time star at the University of Kentucky. I mean,
that's where it all broke out. But I don't know Carlton.
Like I had a buddy ask me if John Wall
was Hall of Famed the other day, and I definitely
don't think he's that. But I think he's one of
those players that as especially as you know NBA Twitter
makes the highlight tapes and the mixtapes and all that,
it's gonna age. Well, I think the kids are gonna

(01:41):
love him because John Wall's peak was high, like he
was any one of the flashiest players in the league.

Speaker 4 (01:46):
Right, No, definitely, it's peak. Definitely was I like you said,
were his age. It's what It's what my uncles used
to say. My uncles used to tell me you're not
old until the players you start watching become coaches and
hearing John Wong retired and stuff like that, It's like, yeah,
I remember vividly John Wall. Going to matter of fact,
fun fact, John Wall was the year that John Wall

(02:09):
the Marcus Cousins team Kentucky team. That was the year
I became a Kentucky fan because I hate Coach K
and you know it's Duke in North Carolina. I was like,
I don't like either of those.

Speaker 1 (02:20):
And at the time Coach K.

Speaker 4 (02:21):
You remember, he was the last one to get the
one and done players and they all came at Calipari
for that Memphis team with Derrick Rose and them. So
I'm just like, yeah, give me this guy. Give me
the guy who wants the one and done players. Like
if you if you have a guy that's good enough
to play one year they go to the NBA, give
me him. Like why you guys turn your nose of him.
So when when Cali far left from Memphis to Kentucky,
I followed them because you know, I'm a Hurricane span

(02:43):
of course, but they weren't good in basketball to a
couple of years later when they got laryn Naega finally
be respectable. So they were never really in the tournament.
If they were it was one and done. So yeah,
I remember John Wall's whole career and like just Heim,
he's crazy. I got mad at I got mad at
Washington cav because he could have been a Hall of Famer,
but bad organizations like John Wall. We never really got

(03:06):
to see John Wall on the biggest sketch stage. We
never got to see obviously him in the finals or
even the conference finals, like ball in his hand?

Speaker 1 (03:13):
Can he carry a team? Because they just put poorly.

Speaker 4 (03:17):
He's around them, the Andre Blatch, the Jabelle McGee's hey
not to call him domb, but the low IQ players.

Speaker 1 (03:23):
So it made me sad. It's just like, yeah, screw
Washington for now.

Speaker 4 (03:27):
I'm gonna have some imaginary beef with him, because like
what couldn't John Wall do?

Speaker 1 (03:31):
He was fast, fastest, lightning.

Speaker 4 (03:35):
His shooting wasn't there, but it wasn't quite what it
is now where everybody's shooting thirty thirty foot threes, So
he didn't him not being a three point shoot, it
didn't matter, and he was unselfish.

Speaker 1 (03:44):
He looked the past. He set up for other teammates.

Speaker 4 (03:47):
So John Wall had everything like if you build a
point guard, you probably are building John Wall with his
speed in afflisten, and then.

Speaker 3 (03:54):
He played defense, yeah well, and then right making the
All Defensive team. Like I think, if anything, he's a
super underrated defender. Like people remember, you know, the dynamic layups,
him being able to just get to the lane at will.

Speaker 2 (04:05):
But he was.

Speaker 3 (04:06):
He was a three level scorer, like you're right, not
a super great three point shooter. His best career percentage
for any season was thirty five. There was one where
he had thirty seven, but a way smaller sample size.

Speaker 2 (04:16):
But you're right. I think it's a combo of two things.

Speaker 3 (04:19):
I think it's the Wizards organization, who, to be fair,
I mean, obviously him and Bradley Beal super dynamic duo
like you had Beals athleticism and you know, we'll talk
about that. I think part of it was the injuries
more than the organization. Like John Wall, by the time
he was twenty nine years old, missed an entire season
with injury. I mean, he's only his last season. He
was only thirty two. Like I know, Lebron kind of

(04:41):
skews a little bit of aging in the NBA, but
like John Wall realistically should have had a much longer career,
especially because he came in the league so young, like
he was only twenty years old when he got drafted
and was the number one overall pick, Like you said,
a one and done at Kentucky. I mean, they were
competing for sure, like they were relevant around you know,
it was them. They were up against the Isaiah's Thomas
Boston teams, and then they just had your Heat and

(05:02):
then the Cavs once.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
Lebron went back to Cleveland.

Speaker 3 (05:05):
They always had a good squad in Washington, Like I think,
you know, they took Porter overall at three. He was solid.
He never became like a number three overall pick. But
like I remember the years with him and with n
Nay and with Court Todd, it was like they were
never bad teams. But you're right, like you never got
to see them on that national scale, whether injuries, whether
something else like it, it did feel like they were

(05:26):
always a piece away. And then obviously right towards the
end of the career, like Washington kind of am messed
their roster wise, like it felt like that was.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
A real short run at it.

Speaker 3 (05:34):
The other problem, like anybody else in the East and
that you know, you know all about, is it's just
like you become a victim of Lebron a little bit, right,
Like Lebron had such a reign of terror on the
Eastern Conference that it's like some of these teams that
we may look more highly on, and that we may
history may have looked more favorably on. If they get
to a conference finals, if they even have that loan
finals appearance, that just kind of goes away because you

(05:56):
gotta play Lebron every single year.

Speaker 2 (05:58):
So I think there's a little bit of that as
well that weighs in.

Speaker 4 (06:02):
Yes, no, for sure, And like you said, the injuries
played a part there. It's funny, you know, for the
people who don't know. Me and Keb used to work together,
and I don't know if you remember. One of our
favorite things used to do is look at old drafts
and see you see back. So when you mentioned Ano Porter,
I looked it up to see like who did they
pass on?

Speaker 1 (06:19):
Oh, this traft was trash. So it was the empty
minute draft.

Speaker 4 (06:22):
Where he goes, one of Oladuco goes too, and then
we have I just do the lottery. Cody Jaeler four,
Alex Lane, five Nerlans Noel for you guys. Six, Ben
Mplamore's seven, Contavis Colwell Pope who's still in the league.

Speaker 1 (06:38):
Fridayly even drafts.

Speaker 4 (06:41):
Yeah, he goes eight, Trey Burt nine, he to McCullum ten,
another one of you guys, Michael Carter Williams eleven, Steven
Adams twelve, and Kelly Olennick thirteen. The big one, which
how would they have known? Is of course Giannis went to.

Speaker 3 (06:55):
Right now, Yeah, and that's what it was like, right,
Giannis is still very much like I mean, even the
first because like that was I think, I mean when
we started the pod, that was the first draft. I think,
like we were coming off that draft or getting ready
for that draft, and yeah, right, like Giannis was still
like there was always that if he could be and
it just i mean even the first two three years,

(07:16):
Giannest was still very much a concept. Like That's why
it's remarkable that he's become the world destroyer that he
is today, like the MVP caliber candidate now, the first
ballot Hall of Famer, Like.

Speaker 2 (07:26):
The vision was always there. It's just yeah, it was
a very much a long game. Uh, that is a
weird draft.

Speaker 3 (07:32):
I mean, obviously Giannis number one in that redraft it's
it's a weird draft, though You're right, like Oladipo probably
should have gone number one overall at the time. He
still goes high in a redraft. But that's even a
guy a little bit who had his career kind of
shortened and limited for what it could have been via injuries.
And I mean that's kind of like even with Bradley Beal,
like that's the story with those Wizards, seems like going
back to John Wall like it was it's a team

(07:54):
because even like those last two seasons he was an
All Star in twenty seventeen, he only played forty one games.
Like after twenty he's seventeen, he didn't play more than
forty one games in a season like they were all
you know, the twenty twelve season he only played forty nine.
Like there were a lot of injuries there, and like
we always talk about just in general with the guys
who were more athletic like and aren't great shooters, that

(08:17):
it already is more difficult to age well, and then
went on top of it, when you put the injuries
and add all that in, it was it was just
a perfect storm of fatigue for John Wall.

Speaker 1 (08:26):
P Ban.

Speaker 3 (08:26):
Yeah, he's one of those players where if you watched
in the early twenty tens, just you look at the
highlight tapes and you go, yeah, he was absolutely electric.
He was a three level scorer, he's a great defender,
and I mean he just had those moments too, I mean,
especially early on in terms of like all the hype
around him.

Speaker 2 (08:41):
I mean he was one of those guys.

Speaker 3 (08:43):
I mean it all starts with, you know, the dance
in the Kentucky intro where he's doing the John Wall
and then he comes out with the with the greatest
douggie of all time in his first game as a wizard,
like in the uniform is the number one pick, like
they just you know, those teams will always be remembered
as good, not great. And I do I think history
as we you know, look back and in ages a

(09:04):
little bit over time and we start to go back
and look at John Wall's careers, I do think we'll
talk about him more as of what if, because that's
how he kind of feels to me, Like I don't
feel like he underachieved. I feel like he got kind
of robbed of that a little bit in a way.

Speaker 4 (09:17):
Right, agreed, agreed, And two things. One I'm gonna put
you on the spot with a quick question. But the
first thing I know you said later in his career,
I wish you know, we're seeing some of these guys
that probably got some left when they leave.

Speaker 1 (09:30):
I wish we could see more guys like John.

Speaker 4 (09:32):
Wall get get a chance to play, like the Sean
Livingston with Golden State. Like sorry, keep doing that, but yeah,
like I think John Waller is a backup point guard
for a championship contended team, veteran team, just to get
some minutes come off the bench, you know, like we say,
play defense, had IQ if you could stay healthy, I

(09:53):
would have loved to see that.

Speaker 1 (09:54):
I think he probably could have gotten signed.

Speaker 4 (09:57):
You know, he had the thing with Houston where he
didn't want to be there because he doesn't want to
be on the team that doesn't that's not trying to win.
You can't really blame him for that. Than God, don't
put you on the spot because I agree, not a
Hall of Famer, but we can start talking about best
point guards.

Speaker 1 (10:12):
With the Wizards. Are you taking John Waller jail with Arenas?

Speaker 2 (10:17):
Oh?

Speaker 1 (10:17):
Man?

Speaker 2 (10:17):
I dude, I ah, that's a good one.

Speaker 3 (10:20):
I like, yeah, it's interesting because I think. I mean,
Gilbert's probably a better score at his peak. But if
I'm looking at everything, I probably am leaning Wall a
little bit. Like I think John's gonna get his teammates
involved a little more. Like you said, on the defensive end,
I do think it goes Wall pretty heavily. Both of

(10:41):
them kind of yeah, kind of interesting career and like
for massively different reasons obviously, but you know, kind of
really strong peaks in their career that kind of went
away pretty quickly. I think I'm leaning John Wall off
the defense. But man, that's close. Yeah, Gilbert Gilbert, he's

(11:01):
scoring I mean.

Speaker 2 (11:04):
Game yeah.

Speaker 1 (11:06):
With them in the division.

Speaker 4 (11:07):
And then you know me living in Virginia for a
little bit, Washington's Virginia's team. That's to start the team
they root for. I've seen a lot of Gilbert Arenas
and stuff, and he he had some of that shooting
deep before it was before it was common.

Speaker 1 (11:20):
So like you said, Gilbert Arenas was a microwave.

Speaker 4 (11:24):
If he could go get fifty on a given night,
I mean I probably still go John Ball just becuse
to the complete player.

Speaker 1 (11:32):
But Gilbert was good.

Speaker 2 (11:35):
He was.

Speaker 3 (11:36):
Man, It's that three year run from like five to
or four to seven where I mean, yeah, he's making
all NBA teams. Here, he's getting NBA, he's getting MVP votes, like,
I mean, he was averaging twenty five almost thirty a game.
Then for five and then six he was just under
thirty a game, like you're right, definition of a microwave,

(11:56):
and you know what he's given. Honestly, he's getting his
teammates involved, probably more than than I'm giving him credit
for here. I mean, he was averaging six assists per
game per season. I mean, John Waller some perspective on
the scoring front. His highest scoring season ever was twenty
three and he only cracked that one time, a much
higher syst numbers though obviously, like he had multiple seasons
of over ten assists per game, so like he does

(12:18):
still have an advantage there.

Speaker 2 (12:20):
It kind of has to go back to the defense.
That's crazy though, that Gilbert's.

Speaker 3 (12:23):
Peak, because Gilbert's peak feels longer. But yeah, realistically, he
had three just absolutely elite seasons and then kind of
falls off a cliff a little bit due to injuries
and then due to obviously a number of other issues.
He had a few of those bench hears late. Yeah,
where wall i mean, Wall had a five year straight

(12:44):
run of being an All Star, only one All NBA
team though Gilbert's got three of them. So yeah, I mean,
I guess, yeah, it's like, what do you want? Do
you want the longevity or do you want the peak?
I guess if you want the peak, then you go Arenas.
If you want the longevity, I think you probably go
Wall there a little bit, but that's a good one.
I want to hear it sout off in the comments,
by the way, I want to hear somes on that.

Speaker 1 (13:04):
I'm trying to think.

Speaker 4 (13:05):
So, you said Gilbert got three All nbas got three
All nbas. John Wall did have better point guards with
him because Gilbert, when he was in the speak, he said,
so he had the Steve Nash.

Speaker 1 (13:18):
Who else was?

Speaker 4 (13:18):
Yeah, I think John Wall had better point guards because
who else I'm trying to think off the top of
my head, who else would would have been all in
All NBA That might have been this benefit too. Yeah,
I mean I think Baron Davis.

Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, I'm trying to think.

Speaker 3 (13:34):
Let me see, oh four he was All NBA third
team and four okay, so, oh four All NBA teams.
Guard wise, it was Shaq and AI first team, it
was Wade and Ray Allen's second team guards, and then
it was Gilbert and Kobe were third team that year.

Speaker 2 (13:52):
Oh wow, yeah yeah, Kobe Bean third. That that is crazy.

Speaker 3 (13:55):
I mean, oh five, I guess that that is the
year if it's going to be there. But like, right,
that does feel kind of crazy. Ray Allen and Seattle
there by the way, after he signed there for a
little bit, your boy, Wait, Wade twenty three years old,
we're getting that all second team right there?

Speaker 2 (14:08):
That was the year before.

Speaker 1 (14:09):
That's why I respect you. That's why I expect Gilber
to read.

Speaker 4 (14:12):
It's like, you know, Gilbert told a funny story where
Richards fans had so much before wait because they swore
Gilbert the Rens was just as good, which of course
was ridiculous.

Speaker 1 (14:21):
But Gilbert laughs about it now because you know, he
didn't guard Wade. So all this talks.

Speaker 4 (14:27):
So all we learned now that we're older to cap
all these players read off the Twitter, all the stuff
they like, they say, they ignore it, they do not.

Speaker 2 (14:35):
That's why way Kevin duran because Kevin Durant just embrace it.

Speaker 3 (14:38):
He's like, no, I'm in here arguing with you people
because LOGI everybody else just does all Burner acts like
they don't see it.

Speaker 2 (14:43):
They definitely see it, right.

Speaker 1 (14:46):
Yeah, So Waye, I never forget Wade.

Speaker 4 (14:48):
He dropped it would have dropped fifty, but I think
took him out because they're winning. But Wade just made
it his business to drive every single time. And it
was the young Waye that dunked. So it was just like,
have to find you to see you out tweet the
account and you that game where it's just highlight reel
dun'k have to highlight real dunk.

Speaker 2 (15:07):
Yeah, I mean shoot, yeah.

Speaker 3 (15:08):
You want to talk athleticism like Dwayne Wade early on,
especially like not many people have buddies like Dwayne Early,
Like you said, attacking the rim at will, there was
no stop in that as we saw, especially then the
year later. Still one of the greatest individual finals performances
we'll ever see. Probably Welcome everybody to the Driving NBA podcast.
My name is Kevin Rayfuse joining me this week Justin

(15:28):
Kuzart is off. Thank you again for the delay. I
myself have also been on vacation a little bit here,
but nevertheless we are back at it. Carlton is with
me this time. You, of course have heard him on
the podcast Carlton KB. Follow him on Twitter at Carlton
KB Underscore and like K and B like the initials there.
Also you got to followim on Instagram too, because we
got to talk about this. Carlton has been on a

(15:50):
run with this recently on Instagram at Smell Good Chronicles,
where Carlton has been doing all sorts of fragrance reviews.
We're talking like body butters, cologns, you name it. And
I can't confirm again Carlton and I worked together in
the past. We were friends longer than that too. Carlton
does smell good. He is qualified to talk about this.
This is not just you know, you always got to

(16:10):
ask what are the credentials here? Carlton confirmed smells great.
So I'm glad he's doing this. I mean, you know,
talk to us. So what what can people expect on
that page?

Speaker 4 (16:19):
Oh yeah, like I said, mostly mostly fragrances and most
uh I learned. I was gonna say mostly Manchlin. But
I tell you a secret, man, I tell you the
listen of the secret. We get the most compliments on
fragrances that quote unquote feminine leaning like this, I thought
it was crazy, but everyone I had that, I would say,
snug smells a little feminine.

Speaker 1 (16:39):
The compliments go crazy, like there I was at a
you know, at.

Speaker 4 (16:43):
A Colone shot, just looking at stuff and she's like,
I have something you should smell, and she spraysed birdbury
her on me. I'm like, what are you doing? And no, Lie,
I went there for lunch. No whe I go back
to work and everybody's like, did you have that on earlier?

Speaker 1 (16:56):
Like what is that? And I told her I like
it's burberry.

Speaker 4 (16:59):
Her and my coworkers like, no, I have burbari heard
it does not smell like that on me. So do
not be afraid of florals six quote unquote feminine leading.

Speaker 1 (17:11):
But yeah, it's just discovered.

Speaker 4 (17:12):
There's so many confragrances out here, all different price points.

Speaker 1 (17:16):
You know, you mentioned the creeds and stuff earlier.

Speaker 4 (17:18):
You don't have to spend a lot so trying to
find things in different different prices. I know, me and
Kemp didn't know each other for the college days, but
we worked at a job that.

Speaker 1 (17:26):
Desert wasn't paying us the big bucks.

Speaker 4 (17:28):
Yes, I would have appreciated some of these thirty andth
twenty five dollars clothes in those days.

Speaker 2 (17:35):
Yeah, listen, I mean you say I'm bringing up Creed,
and don't get me wrong, I know it is. I'm
still not buying Creed out here. Don't think, don't think
we got we glow upon you that hard. Yet we're
not quite there. But I mean, you talk to me.

Speaker 3 (17:46):
You mentioned like, I mean, obviously we're kind of towards
the end of summer right now going to the fall.
Temperature changed a little bit slower down there in Florida,
but you still get it a little bit. I mean,
it's a loaded question to be like, what's your favorite
cologne right now?

Speaker 2 (17:59):
That's a little too difficult.

Speaker 3 (18:01):
But you know, as we kind of start to turn
the page a little bit, you got any fall favorites?

Speaker 1 (18:05):
Oh yeah, so my favorite one.

Speaker 4 (18:07):
I do have a favorite just because it's smelled so
good and mind games French Defense, and it is not
cheap so expensive that I don't have a bottle of
it yet retail.

Speaker 1 (18:16):
I think it's like three somethings, so that sap thing.

Speaker 4 (18:19):
But yeah, Fall, it's a lot like the clothes, you know,
like you said, summer it's cool. You know, we could
wear shorts and t shirt things like that. But you
know where someone you could dress it up. You can
wear the coat jacket and the sweater vests and things
like that. That's the friggains is the same way where
you know it's just better for the fall and went
to the you know hoodie seasons clones that I like

(18:41):
to call them are better. But yeah, depending on your
price point. That's when your vanilla's and your cinnamons and
and things come up. I'm looking at us are almost
wanted intents. It's like a mix of vanilla and things
like that that's really good. And the John Paul Gautier
Lamela licksa that honey they have a honey note in
there that just gets compliments going crazy. So yeah, you

(19:04):
want to look for the darker sense that you know,
people like us kep were heavy sweaters. So in the
summer we can't wear that honey and those centiments and
stuff like that. But come this fall time, I got
to get up there in Philly, but yeah, it could
definitely get through those. You can watch an Eagles game,
it's smelled good the whole time and hopefully they play
well because I know how we're out of you you feel.

Speaker 3 (19:28):
Listen, I think everybody because and they always are giving
me a hard time, Like we'll believe you're not going
to be like frustrated about the Eagles of the season.
I'm the Eagles can do no wrong for me right now,
Like there is after the super Bowl last year, after
every the way is dominative or performance that was answering
all the critics on everything from quarterback to coaching. You

(19:48):
get Saquon from your one year rivals, and he literally
has the best rushing season of all time in his
first season. Like you know, there's always as sports fans,
you know, what's that quote from the office where it's
like you always you want to know if you're living
in the good old days. You never know if you
are or whatever.

Speaker 2 (20:03):
I'm firmly living in the good old days as an
Eagles fan right now.

Speaker 3 (20:06):
And as you can you know, we'll talk hockey later
on towards the end of the show, but like as
you know what the Panthers right now, I'm going back
to back, like it's impossible to complain right now, like
without just being ridiculous, Like they're so well run, they're
so likable, Like there's nobody on the team where I'm like, man,
I just hate rooting for that guy. Like it really
is easy to go out and yeah, it's a it's

(20:27):
a great time to be an Eagles fan right now.
Like it just feels like they're going to put a
competitive roster together every single year. You know, we'll see
what happens this year, but like, no matter what happens,
it's I'm on house money. Like we've won two Super
Bowls now in the past eight years. I went the
first twenty in change of my life watching them come
short every single moment, you know, ever since I got
over that hump beaten Tom Brady back in twenty eighteen,

(20:50):
you know, it's it felt like they've been there.

Speaker 2 (20:53):
Now it feels like this.

Speaker 3 (20:54):
You know, the twenty eighteen team wasn't necessarily like as
equipped to potentially reap the way this squad is now.
It's like you look around, it's all the all the
same guys are back. They're all in their primes. Like
there are multiple positions right now where I go. Yeah,
these are like the best Eagles I've ever seen in
that position, you know, like Lane Johnson at tackle.

Speaker 2 (21:17):
You know, I'm trying to.

Speaker 3 (21:17):
Even like even a j Brown arguably already at receiver. Like,
I think there's a pretty strong case that he's the
best receiver the Eagles have ever had.

Speaker 2 (21:24):
So yeah, it's it's a great time to be about it.
There's no way around it.

Speaker 3 (21:27):
I don't think anybody's a bad I know the rep
doesn't go anywhere, but like, I think you're hard pressed
to find anybody in a bad mood with the Eagles
up here right now.

Speaker 1 (21:36):
Oh for sure.

Speaker 4 (21:36):
Hey, I say it all the time, Man, that twenty
eighteen Super Bowl is one of the best ever. I
you know how much I hate Tom Brady And I
don't have to tell you.

Speaker 1 (21:45):
Tom Brady was balling.

Speaker 2 (21:47):
In a and that five hundred and five yards.

Speaker 4 (21:50):
Bro, that's the best he's ever the super Bowls tom
Brady won, he should have lost.

Speaker 1 (21:55):
The ones he lost, he probably should have won.

Speaker 4 (21:57):
Yeah, he was oooper, But you got that's the best
time I've ever seen him play.

Speaker 3 (22:01):
We couldn't stop him, Like you go back and you
watch the footage of that game, and they got They
held him to a field goal on the first two drives.
They stopped him in the red zone and we got
bailed because that Gostowski. They botched the snap, and so
he missed the one They had the one drive stall
kind of because Brady dropped the trick play when they
low key ran the Philly Special before the Philly Special

(22:24):
and dude, after that, like we didn't stop, Like I
remember even when we scored, like Earth scores with two
and change left in that game, and you know we
have to go for two ugh five at that point
where Earth scores, and in my head, I'm going, yo,
we have to score the two point conversion, just even
have a chance, like I know they're scoring on the
next drive, Like it's not a matter of it's like

(22:44):
you got to even just have it, like let's get
to overtime and just keep the dream alive. And then
we missed that two point conversion and Amber was watching
that game with me. Bless Her was solo with me
during that like deserves the Metal of Freedom.

Speaker 2 (22:55):
Just off that alone.

Speaker 3 (22:58):
They were, I mean, she was like, why are you
so desponding? You got to lead, There's not that much
time left. I was like, you don't understand. I was like,
I'm about to watch Tom Brady lose, Like we're gonna lose,
Like it was drilled into my idea at first, play,
the Patriots get the ball back eight yard screen to Gronkowski,
I was like, yeah, here we go. I was like,
it's carey go, like, it's just already starting man Brandon

(23:18):
Graham still to this day, God blessed that guy.

Speaker 2 (23:20):
Dude.

Speaker 3 (23:21):
He made the play of his life when it mattered,
got through. We got we one turnover. They had one
turnover the whole game. It put us in field goal range.
You kick the field goal, you go up bait, even
on the hail Mary in that game. The last play
of that game, Gronk gets his hands on the ball
like we tipped it back god like, and at that
point again they still need the two, but you know
they're getting the two if they get that hail Mary, Like,

(23:42):
you're not telling me they're not scoring that two point
even stop them. Yeah, it's really crazy. I mean Gronk too,
that second half like just an absolute MVP performance. But hey,
you know, listen, you you exercise the live demons there
as an Eagles fan, obviously, Yeah, the go around this
time was a lot less stressful, more stressful than I

(24:03):
think people will remember in hindsight. But it when when
Cooper scores in hindsight, you go yo, all right, we
had it. It was it was pretty over since then. Yeah,
what a right, But like I said, no, no room
to complain here up right now. But again, yeah, check
out check out the cologne page for Carlton. There's a
lot of great stuff on there. Like I say, super
qualified to talk about that. There's there's a low key

(24:25):
I may sneak a few more in at the end
of the episode, so we may have to come back
to that a little bit. Uh leaves with you on iTunes.
Good about a read them on the podcast. If you're
not an Apple user, Google Play, story Speakers, Spotify, tune
in Amazon Music, player, FM, anywhere you get your podcast,
you can mind us watch the video streams of the
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Speaker 2 (24:46):
All right, so coming.

Speaker 3 (24:47):
Back, you know, last time we had an episode again
a few weeks ago.

Speaker 2 (24:51):
Thank you for the patients. Everybody here. We're happy to
be back.

Speaker 3 (24:54):
Michael Bridges had just signed the extension in New York.
That was the big one. Now a pair of bigger
extensions then, first one obviously being Luka Doncic three years,
one hundred and sixty five million dollars with the Lakers.
Felt like it was obviously trend in all that direction. Carlton,
I see you laughing. I know it's still hard to
believe too. It's just like, what a sentence.

Speaker 4 (25:15):
We're here, he pushing all it chips to tack to
sign Lucan at summer twenty twenty six.

Speaker 3 (25:23):
It's all right, man, he just you know, there's nothing
you could have done. Nico said, hey, we're giving him away.

Speaker 2 (25:28):
That's the plan.

Speaker 3 (25:29):
And I mean, after they got the number one pick
in the draft, they may have had it a little
bit of something else leaning on him too, But we
only need to put on the Timfoil hat just going
around here. But yeah, I mean, look like for Luca,
this is I mean, for the Lakers, this was the
last big question. I think everybody knew he was coming back,
especially when he talked about loyalty. I think that was
the biggest reason he was so hurt to leave Dallas.
You know, I think he was. It would have been

(25:50):
kind of surprising to see him start to leap around
like that. But he keeps him through twenty twenty eight
player option for the final season, he'll be eligible for
that big five year extension.

Speaker 2 (25:59):
Then a lot of.

Speaker 3 (26:00):
Teammates showing up for the conference press conference with him
getting introed, including a lot of the new guys uh
this year that they brought in DeAndre eight and among others.

Speaker 2 (26:09):
But yeah, I.

Speaker 3 (26:10):
Mean this is the official, like, you know, kind of
one of the big summer narratives that we've been talking
about is the shift from and they're still both there,
but from this being the Lebron show in LA to
this starting to be like now we're in Luca mode
and we're planning for Luca's prime and you know, we're
kind of building this team around Luca a little bit.

(26:30):
This is just another sign in that direction, right.

Speaker 4 (26:34):
Yeah, definitely, and they should, you know, love Lebron, ap
appreciate him.

Speaker 1 (26:39):
I've said I've said it million times.

Speaker 4 (26:41):
I keep saying it best player to ever played a
game in my opinion. But at some point it's time,
it's time to go, It's time to start moving on you.
Like you said, Nico, gift wrapping them, Gift wrap them
another superstar that you could go forward with for the.

Speaker 1 (26:55):
Next ten years.

Speaker 4 (26:56):
Like it's certain things like I say, Kobe and in
your mind on cav you could see the gold eight
and twenty four, and that's.

Speaker 1 (27:03):
How it's gonna be for the next ten years.

Speaker 4 (27:05):
And then with the next generation, you're just gonna be
able to see the old gold you say, Loca, and
it's gonna the mass Jersey's gonna fade and you're just
gonna see that gold seventy seven Jersey and then Staples Center.
You know, La, that's just a city for a superstar.
So Luca's gonna be well, you had to do it.
It was a good signing. By then. I love to
see I'm gonna love to see how they're gonna put

(27:28):
a build around them, especially after Lebron is gone.

Speaker 3 (27:32):
Well that's the big question, right is it's like, you know,
we'll see if this happens initially, like how quickly it moves.
I mean, I know Lebron Watch, it's been a thing
here for a little bit now. But and it's funny
you mentioned you know the impact. I mean, nobody it's
it's when Kobe was there the whole time. It's like,
obviously it's a little bit different. Luca won't have been
you know, mister Lakers starting his career there. But I

(27:53):
think even now when you compare him and Lebron like
Lebron weirdly has played the longest about his career in
a Lakers uniform. Like that's what's crazy, is I feel
like because it's his third team, because he had so
many signature moments with Miami and then obviously the ultimate
signature moment of his career coming back in Cleveland. Like
there's always been that weird part of like the Lakers

(28:16):
fan base that almost like hasn't accepted Lebron and he
hasn't been like a true Laker in their eyes, which
has always been insane to me. But you know, it
feels like there's that segment still. You know, I don't
think you'll see that with Luca as much. Obviously, like
Luca still being twenty eight years old, Like he's got
the potential to end his career there if we think
it'll go as well as a can like have a
ten plus year run, potentially is a Laker, you know, Look,

(28:41):
you're right, I'm interested to see how they see, how
they build around him, how they try to do this
like in between act right now right because they've already
got you know, this was a team that they were
up at the number three seed last year, but a
pretty disappointing playoff exit. They've got a lot of new
characters coming in here this season, but I mean, I
don't know, how do you how do you chart them
among the West right now? Because I know, at least

(29:02):
for me, it still feels like they're a piece or
two behind, like the true top dogs of the West,
the Okcs.

Speaker 2 (29:09):
The Denvers, the Houstons of the world.

Speaker 4 (29:12):
Yeah, now, they're definitely still trending to the sixth anywhere
anywhere from sixth seed to playing it's just tough. Like
you said, there's too many there's too many better teams,
and it all depends on Lebron really like not and
I'm not even talking about how he plays.

Speaker 1 (29:26):
I'm talking you. You know, Lebron's calculated.

Speaker 4 (29:29):
I I've watched Lebron leave Miami and then it's it's
like where all the signs were obvious, Like he literally
had trucks trucks packing all his cards when going to
Cleveland talk and we were convinced that was just for
the summer, Like you don't lead every car if you
just go there for the summer. So Lebron's very calculated.
He What's funny is I think he would love to

(29:50):
go back to you. So you always got to look
at the teams where Lebron that you can win.

Speaker 1 (29:54):
He needs that fifth ring, Like you gotta at least
ta Kobe.

Speaker 4 (29:58):
You're not catching Jordan at this point, you're definitely not
passing him. You got to at least tak Kobe and
Shack and those guys, and he knows it. I don't
think he will at this point unless something, you know,
a trade that we don't see. You know, he would
want to go back to Cleveland, but I don't think
Dan Gilbert wants them back. I've taught to Cleveland fans
that don't really want him back to surprisingly enough, like
I'm like, don't be stupid if that you take ahead

(30:19):
cav You know as well as I do. If you
could get a ring, you get a ring. I had
to forgive Belongs on morning. I didn't want him back,
and then he goes into six and makes eighteen blocks
in two seconds.

Speaker 1 (30:29):
I'm like, oh, yes, that's why you take him back.

Speaker 4 (30:31):
But my guess you know just how Lebron so calculated
is the the MAVs and Cleveland are the two teams
that he would try to try to get a trade
to that he would fit. It's just like what do
you get back from if you're the Lakers, and do
you make that trade? So that's what's gonna be the
most interesting. He obviously had no trade call, so you
can't trade them anywhere. You know, Lebron and Rich Paul

(30:53):
is their league. So that's the drama, Like where's Lebron
trying to force himself to force his way to and
go they take him, and then I mean, do you
take Bronnie KIV?

Speaker 3 (31:05):
Hey, listen, if I'm getting Lebron James and I'm close
to the top, like yeah, I'm totally taking Bronnie like
it's part of the back And here's the thing, like
Bronni showed me up in Summer League, Like I'm not
even trying to dump on Bronnie, Like I still think
there's enough there where he can be a back end guy.
Like I don't think this is like you know, I'm
trying to think that, like I don't want to like
be the typical guy, but it's like, I don't think

(31:25):
this is anassis where he's like just straight up steel
in a roster spot. It feels like like I do
think Bronni still can work into something It's just you know,
he just jumped ahead on the line a little bit.
You just will have to spend less time in the
g than he did. But you saw signs in summer League.
If Lebron forces out, he's got to go west, right
or not west? Excuse me, I'm saying exactly the opposite one.
I'm trying to say, he's got to go east right,

(31:46):
Like the East is so wide open now compared to
the like the Western Conference, you're going through three tough
series probably to get to the finals. The Eastern Conference
post Howe injury, post Jason Tatum injury, like other than
the n who is really scaring you in the Eastern
Conference right now?

Speaker 4 (32:03):
Well, that's that's what I wanted to say earlier when
you were talking about the Eagles. I know this is
a ridiculous things say because you're a comparing sports, But
what's weaker the NFC or the East? Like I had,
I don't think in our life we have ever seen
the East be this week. And like you said, injuries
has something to do with it. But the teams like, no, nobody,
you guys have injuries. Nobody scared of the heat and

(32:24):
Pacers and Celtics have injuries. I'm gonna be interesting to
see what JIMN.

Speaker 1 (32:29):
Brown does.

Speaker 4 (32:29):
You know, there's still there's still a good team, but
are they Are they scaring you? Are you saying, oh,
I don't want to see the Celtics even the next
like can we trust the next?

Speaker 3 (32:38):
Like this is I mean, this is what's crazy is
It's like, you're right, I think there are legitimate questions
and concerns about the Knicks, like not, I like the
Mike Brown higher. I have still a faith in that
core and if anything, I think their depth will be
a little improved now.

Speaker 2 (32:51):
But you're right, like, I.

Speaker 3 (32:52):
Don't think the Knicks are You know, when you talk
about like bona fide conference favorites, Boston a few years
ago felt like that. The heat going way back have
obviously felt like that at points, So you know, when
they had their Big three last year with OKC, you
know OKC felt like a definitive conference favorite where you're
like you look around and you go, yeah, that's a
complete team. I don't feel that way necessarily about the

(33:14):
Knicks the way I do or I'm like, yeah, no,
they are one hundred percent a lot. But even with that,
I just I do I think they're more complete than
anybody else in the Eastern Conference. Like, I just don't
even with their flaws, there's just no everybody else has
a bigger one. And that's kind of where I'm at, Like, yeah,
I think there's a few teams where it if everything
goes right, then I think they can compete with the

(33:35):
Knicks for that reason. Like yeah, if MB bounces back
to MVP form and Paul George gives you literally anything
and the young guys breakout, then sure, maybe you can
talk me into the Sixers. But like, listen, you know,
damn well, I am not about get down this podcast
in twenty twenty five and talk highly about the Sixers
chances to win anything. I think Cleveland is gonna be
a regular season darling again. But I've been saying for

(33:56):
the past few weeks that it's like I'm just so
jaded on Cleveland given how they exited the past.

Speaker 2 (34:02):
Few playoffs, like especially last year.

Speaker 3 (34:04):
Last year was lesgusting after that regular season, Like, I agree.

Speaker 4 (34:08):
I can't last year, they were supposed to make the
finals last year that that that is a disappointment that
they didn't make it or whatever.

Speaker 1 (34:16):
And as you were talking about it.

Speaker 4 (34:19):
If Yannis is as good as he wanted, if this
is Gianni, yeah, Nis needs to show us growing up.
You know, we've had superstars, like you said it was
joining before us. We've seen Kobe do it. We've seen
the Wade. You know, we've seen Shack in the early
two thousands to be the most dominant person. Not saying
he had If he comes up and goes up against
the OKC, if somebody, he should beat them. But Janie

(34:40):
is by far the best player in the East. You know,
with with Joe being hurt, go go get go make
the Finnels because you know a lot of people give
him the Lakers that ask their season for the lockout,
I give it to the Bucks.

Speaker 1 (34:52):
Like that lockout shortened season.

Speaker 4 (34:53):
You remember keV he he had just lost a month
ago and it was like they were already back.

Speaker 1 (35:00):
That was a quick rush season.

Speaker 4 (35:02):
You know, you had Trey Atlanta to actually think will
be better too, but you had the.

Speaker 1 (35:07):
Hawks versus Bucks in the Eastern Conference finals.

Speaker 4 (35:09):
Like, if that's not something it takes.

Speaker 3 (35:14):
I don't eve want to talk about the Sixers blew
that all and listen, I'm gonna sound like Atlanta hater.
I don't want to discredit that team, but like that's
the old That's that to me is still the.

Speaker 2 (35:22):
Ultimate Sixers blowing a moment.

Speaker 3 (35:23):
They had no excuse losing to the Hawks and that
in that series and just decided to I don't.

Speaker 4 (35:30):
Especially with Trey Young not playing good in Game seven.
I'm sorry, sorry, bro.

Speaker 3 (35:37):
I think the only reason this is how crazy and
this is how sick we are is when you're sports
fans like that.

Speaker 2 (35:43):
I was in the British Virgin Islands when we lost
that game, and I still didn't get any sleep about
it that night. We lost that Game seven because Ben
passed up that dunk, like you know, how messed up
in the head you have to be to not be
happy on a tropical island and just have these guys like,
oh my goodness, yeah, absolute failure by them.

Speaker 3 (36:01):
You're not wrong though about the Bucks in the sense
that you're right like with Giannis and I just I
don't like that roster. Like that's the reason I'm not
bullish on it is like they can't get any depth
now because you have the Dame contract stuff. Sure you
got Miles Turner, but like Miles Turner just kind of replaces.

Speaker 4 (36:16):
What did you like that signing? In that contract though,
like you take them from your rivals. I learned this
year that the Pacers were such big, big rivals, but like,
did you like that signing? Like, yeah, you could play well,
I guess like he's got but yeah, I mean, I.

Speaker 2 (36:33):
Mean Miles was great for them on that run.

Speaker 3 (36:35):
I mean I think I've anything. I'm still just more shocked.
It was like, yo, mister Indiana was like really he
bolted in Milwaukee the team right away, Like actually, like
you just went to the right. He even addressed it.
He's like Milwaukee fans, I finally like, y'all now, like
that's crazy. There was real beef there.

Speaker 2 (36:49):
That's been a right, a sneaky rivalry in the NBA
here the past few years. Look.

Speaker 3 (36:55):
I like Miles Turner in the sense that, like he's
a younger brook Lopez, but I don't like it in
the sense of, like that doesn't improve the roster really
because Brook is gone now, Like I think it gives
you a younger version of what Brooke was already giving you.
But we saw that team struggle with Brook Lopez last year,
like Bobby Portis is another year older.

Speaker 2 (37:12):
I didn't like the Kuzma trade.

Speaker 3 (37:14):
I just didn't feel like he was pretty inefficient and
maybe that'll get a little better.

Speaker 2 (37:18):
With a full offseason in the mix.

Speaker 3 (37:19):
But yeah, I mean it felt like they made you know,
they let franchise legend Chris Middleton go, who again dealt
with a ton of injuries. Like I understand the thinking there,
but it was like, man, you trade him for Kuzmo,
Like was that really the move to get over the top?
And so yeah, I don't know what the Bucks are
gonna do it. It feels like, I mean, again, they'll
have a chance, Like you said, Giannis is by far
the best player in the Eastern Conference right now currently

(37:42):
and so they should have a chance to get to
the conference finals based off that. But to me, it
is about the supporting cast a little bit and kind
of going back to like, you know, not to make
this a Lebron propaganda show, but it like now Lebron
is just Lebron, Like I don't know that anybody can
do that, Like he did it for so long and
did it for ten years that were like, yeah, maybe
anybody on that level could just drag them there every year,

(38:02):
but like especially now in a league full of parody,
like I think that is a little more difficult, or
we would have seen Yokic in the finals last year,
we would have seen Giannis and Steph in the finals
these last few years, like these guys have all won
their certified champions. But it's like you know, and now
with the apron, it is harder to get back then.
I think it's probably been at any time in our
fan hood right for.

Speaker 4 (38:23):
Sure, for sure, and it's it's making The thing that
I can respect is it makes you have to draft
well or drafts. Yes, draft stop, Like you know, one
of the one random thing we'll always say is he's
two years away from being two years to say that
to you in a wow, but like you can't you
can't afford to do stuff like that anymore.

Speaker 2 (38:43):
Yeah, shout to Bruno.

Speaker 3 (38:44):
Man, that was that was just like I think the
reaction with that really is when an all time NBA
draft Twitter reaction, it was just like people like this
is the only time I've had analysts just straight up go,
I don't know who this guy is, Like where did
they even find him?

Speaker 2 (38:57):
Like it wasn't even like I've never seen a mock draft.

Speaker 3 (39:00):
Where somebody wasn't on the mock draft and then the
wrong but like, shout out to him wherever he's at.

Speaker 2 (39:05):
I hope Bruno is doing well.

Speaker 3 (39:07):
The other big extension out west that I did want
to mention as well, here is Darren Fox with a
four year, two hundred and twenty nine million dollars extension
with the Spurs. Obviously, he was their big trade off
season acquisition last year as they kind of were making
the push to go a little more all in, and
then unfortunately the combo. I mean, Fox was dealing with
the finger injury all last year. I mean, I think

(39:28):
he even joked in the press conference he was like, well, yeah,
I'll be able to play with ten fingers next year.

Speaker 2 (39:32):
That'll be pretty fun.

Speaker 3 (39:33):
But and then once Wenby with the blood cloths, obviously,
like that throws the whole campaign off here real quick.
But you know, full off season now getting ready to go.
Now that question mark is dealt with, there's certainly a
lot of guards there in San Antonio, and with another
big one coming in with Dylan Harper with the number
two overall pick. But you know, where are you at

(39:54):
with the San Antonio squad?

Speaker 1 (39:55):
Now?

Speaker 3 (39:55):
You know Wenby's gonna be ready to go for Opening Night. Again,
this is a loaded Western in conference. I guess how
do you stack them up? And do you expect them
to kind of take the leap at all this year?

Speaker 1 (40:06):
Maybe I don't his thing.

Speaker 4 (40:09):
I'm a huge darn fox man, and maybe it might
be the Kentucky and Calipari thing. So I love Daron
Fox like I think he he's criminally underrated because he
was in Sacramento and another bad organization like the Widgets
that I start having these imaginaty beats with these organizations.
But one thing I've learned just watching things. I feel
like the Warriors taught me this keV and it's what

(40:29):
Heat fans have been complaining about. You have to pick
a window. So for instance, like with the Heat, it
was like are you gonna pay Jimmy Butler and just
go all in or are you're gonna start young? You know,
you have to tear it down. You have to pick
a window. So I don't like the giveing the Aaron
Fox that money. But then like you mentioned, you have
Dylan Harper and stuff on Castle and things like that,
Like I don't like that direction because you're gonna stunt,

(40:51):
You're either gonna make de Aaron Fox, not the Aaron Fox,
or you're gonna stunt their girl for them whatever, like
you have to, and you could get good pieces for
those like you couldn't trade the second pick and got
veteran pieces, you know, really good pieces to fit around
the team better if need be. Of course, we're helping
for health with Winby, but with Pop with Pop gone,
you know, I think I think the Spurs are still

(41:13):
going in the mindset like oh, Papa, figure it out.
I think teams organizations forget the obvious, like no, Pop
isn't here, like oh, Pop is still in the build it.

Speaker 1 (41:22):
It's a lot.

Speaker 4 (41:22):
Different when you're not on their coaching, like Pop has
to let that guy do his own thing. And I
know he's watched Pop and stuff like that. But I
could watch you. I could watch you do your job
all day, Cab. When it's my turn to do it,
I still have to I still have to prove it.

Speaker 1 (41:35):
So I'm not a big fan.

Speaker 4 (41:36):
I love Winby, I love the pieces individually, I'm not
sold on them as a team as a unit together.

Speaker 3 (41:42):
It does feel like they almost got forced to do
a too like weird like two prong timeline right now,
just because I mean they were pretty actively shopping the
number two pick, and I think with kd out there
with I mean Kad would have been a big push
and obviously given his age, but even with you honest,
like when Giannest was flirting with leaving, like san Antonio,

(42:04):
to me was one of the teams where it's like, hey,
this would make sense, like you have the pieces to
actually do it, Like I think they can go out
and get guys with some of the pieces they have now,
you know, even with like the Devin Vesselles and the
Calvin Johnsons of the world, where you know, you can
maybe go out and get that, you know, maybe another
wing player necessarily that can you know, push the timeline

(42:25):
in a little more.

Speaker 2 (42:27):
You're right though. The only I mean the worry I
have with Fox is good.

Speaker 3 (42:29):
The one we had kind of that we talked about
at the beginning of the show is that I think
the Aaron Fox like he's not a traditionally great shooter,
Like he is a guy who bases a lot of
his game in athleticism. And you're right, I think he's
been probably underrated as a whole here in the NBA
these past few years, and he'll have this chance to
shine in San Antonio. Like, I think the team with
him is better than they were last year. But you're right,

(42:50):
like a lot of this does involve like they're younger
guys developing and continuing to get better, and it's like, hey,
are you able to like, you know, win some games
now getting the spotlight. I'd also argue there's a little
pressure on Wemby now too, a little bit. It's like
Wemby is our alien generational prospect. We're at year three now,
and again your two cut a little bit short due

(43:11):
to no fault of his own, but and certainly on
the defensive side, we've seen it. But it is like, hey,
they haven't played meaningful games yet, Like I'd like to
see them start getting into the play in picture, you know,
But then you do, you look around and you go,
who's gonna drop? And you know, none of the top
six teams from last year really look to drop. I
don't think they've taken a big hit. You know, Golden

(43:31):
State's Golden State. They've got Jimmy still, They've got step still.
You know, we'll see what a new look Memphis looks
like post Desmond Baine. But I don't think they're going
to totally fall off a cliff. The Sacramento fade maybe
a little bit, Dallas fade, not as much of Anthony
Davis as healthy, and now with Cooper Flag, you know,
you still got a Kyrie question injury wise. But it's like,
you know, even a team like Portland looks to be

(43:53):
a little bit better, Like there just aren't those bad
teams in the Western Conference. Like it's always like who
do you think knocks out? You know, maybe of those
ten teams, teams that made the playoffs or playing last year,
like your two biggest candidates, they are Memphis and Sacramento probably,
but like I don't see any of them as a
lock to fall off. And even then, like you said,
you're contending with Portland, who should be a little better,
Like you're just not.

Speaker 2 (44:13):
The lock to take that spot.

Speaker 3 (44:14):
Even if the Pelicans can put it all together for
a season like they were in the playoffs a few
years ago. You know, it's just if this was the
Eastern Conference again, completely different story.

Speaker 2 (44:24):
I think they would be cruising into the Eastern Conference.

Speaker 3 (44:26):
But yeah, at some point I do, and I think
this is the move going to sign Fox, like you
do put the clock is tiken. Now to start winning
some games here.

Speaker 4 (44:35):
Right right, Yeah, the clock is ticking and that so
who's gonna step up? Like you said, you mentioned pieces,
I love Kelton Johnson as a as a championship contender,
piece like does he fit there? And same way I
call it, Jannis, it's time for Winby. Like your third year,
you know, you have the natural sophomore slump, but third
year is time. Like we we've seen him pretty much

(44:57):
be anointed as Defensive Player of the Year. You know,
not to don't pronot gambling, but if you were gonna
let go, it wouldn't be to say that the NBA
wanted to give it to him last year. But yeah,
Wimby has to carry the team now. So and then,
like we mentioned rookie coach. I know he's not technically
a rookie because he's been around and he's got some experience,
but it's his show now.

Speaker 3 (45:18):
Yeah, no, for sure, And I mean obviously, you know,
but pop has been and I think with the health concerns,
like there's been a lot more of a transition already
going on. Then probably like I don't think this is
just like a shock to anybody. I mean, I think
it's it's obviously extremely unfortunate that Pop is forced to
step away in these circumstances. We wish for somebody was
legendary of his career that it would be just any

(45:40):
little bit different. But I do think the organization has
probably been planning for this a little bit at least.
I mean, I think post I mean, the first health
scare was God, it was like a year and a
half ago almost at this point, So I think when
that happened, there was a little bit of a like, hey,
we need to kind of get our ducks in a
row behind the scenes, like you're never gonna run the
guy out obviously, nor should you, but a little bit

(46:04):
of of that. I just think, Yeah, like you said,
it probably happened a lot faster than anybody would have liked. Like,
I think there's always you know, you you try to
make the transition as smooth as possible.

Speaker 2 (46:14):
I mean the way pat Riley did for Spoe, right.

Speaker 4 (46:17):
Yeah, yeah, And I think that was the plans. You know,
we can all we can all have our conspiracies in
our head. But I do think Hop was on his
way out and then you get then he gets Wimby,
they get the number one pick. Yeah, David Robinson, I
got I got ten more.

Speaker 2 (46:35):
Years listen, yeah, I mean, can you blame him though,
Like that's the thing that franchised They were stuck. I
mean they had the LaMarcus Aldridge and those teams with
Derozen like they never were bad, but right like they
were never like when Kawhi left, the window was very closed,
and then yeah, you just congratulations. Here walk on down,
Victor Webbin Yama. Here we go.

Speaker 3 (46:53):
Here's one of the greatest NBA prospects we've ever seen.
I mean, look, the Spurs have the greatest lottery luck
of all time.

Speaker 2 (47:00):
It's unbelievable.

Speaker 3 (47:01):
Like they haven't even really been bad that long, for
that many years, but every time it's not just like, oh,
you get a number one pick. Like I watched the
Sixers get two number one picks. They may have been
two of the worst number one picks of all time.
Y'all got to write Tim Duncan, Victor weebn Yama, and
David Robinson.

Speaker 2 (47:16):
You can't make it up.

Speaker 1 (47:18):
You really can't.

Speaker 4 (47:20):
It's ridiculous, man, I'm hating them.

Speaker 3 (47:24):
I told I told CC straight up to his face.
And you are a guy. Chris Crawford, a huge Spurs fan,
Like it was like, are you kidding me? Young and Wenby,
I'm sick of you guys. Like yo, the Spurs fans
have never had any adversity. The first little taste of
adversity and they got to draft Victor webbn Yama and
like listen man, they've had.

Speaker 2 (47:39):
On the NBA pain meters. The Spurs are.

Speaker 3 (47:42):
Very much near the bottom of the NBA pain meters.
There's no doubt about it.

Speaker 4 (47:46):
They have one damn one ray shot that broke their hearts.
And what they do They went and beat us. They
went and beat Lebron back to Cleveland the very next year.

Speaker 2 (47:56):
Yeah, away, they got it back.

Speaker 3 (47:58):
They literally like right, and they don't even have to
wait a year, like I want to go back to
the Eagles, but like the Eagles are the Chiefs. We
had to wait a full year. We collapsed starting ten
to one before we got that shot again like the Spurs.

Speaker 2 (48:08):
Right, it was like, I mean, what was crazy.

Speaker 3 (48:11):
About that series of hindsight Carlton and all, because I mean,
obviously you were super invested in that heat fan.

Speaker 2 (48:16):
It was one one. That series was one one.

Speaker 3 (48:19):
In the first game Lebron had the Cramyo, it was
like it could have been too old.

Speaker 4 (48:23):
I was about I was just about to say that
not only was it one to one, it should have
been too old, if not not for the cramps and stuff.
And I me and my brother, you know certain things
when you when you're sportsman like as you remember random
conversations vividly.

Speaker 1 (48:35):
So I remember we.

Speaker 4 (48:36):
Had got killed game three I believe it was, and
my brother and I wasn't mad.

Speaker 1 (48:41):
I wasn't very. My brother was just like, well, that
was tough. I was like yeah, I mean, and I was.

Speaker 4 (48:45):
Like, if they keep shooting like that, we're just not
going again. They can't keep doing that. And then and
I just have I don't think Danny Green has missed
a shot.

Speaker 2 (48:54):
He did it.

Speaker 4 (48:57):
I have nightmares of just Danny Green and just running
point and nobody can stop them.

Speaker 1 (49:03):
I'm just like, what is going on?

Speaker 4 (49:06):
Looked like I was in Miami interning at the time,
and it's just like everybody everybody's just looking around like
you saw it before it happened. Just like, Yo, they're
really not gonna give to stop wards da, He's really
gonna hit another three and another three.

Speaker 1 (49:20):
Three was just like, yeah, we just losing.

Speaker 3 (49:22):
They just got into that flow like they just there.
There aren't many just every You're right, everything clicked and
it was like, I mean, because we've seen like better
individual squads like namely I'm thinking of the Kadi Warriors,
or it was just like, yo, these teams are there's
there's nobody beating this team.

Speaker 2 (49:36):
There's just nobody on earth beating this team. This that
Spurs team was for not being on paper quote unquote invincible,
like the way where it was just such a given
because they had so much better like bro, this obviously
like that he team is great and I know they
were the end of the four year run of them
making the finals. Like there's a little bit of fatigue
there too, but it was like there aren't many like
that sp They just were.

Speaker 3 (49:57):
They were dial like there is nobody on earth that
was beating that Spurs team that year. Post that Game three,
I mean, it's I've never seen.

Speaker 2 (50:04):
It like it was. It was it was art, Like
it was just straight up art.

Speaker 4 (50:08):
Here's the funny thing though, man, like you said, and
it's why you know, people were like, oh, the Celtics
won the championship, but it's the weakest thing and I's
like history doesn't remember that.

Speaker 1 (50:17):
So it's two teams I remember.

Speaker 4 (50:19):
Not to bring up their bad stuff, CAAV but the
year Kawhi hits that shot, that was y'all's title, Like
Jimmy was playoff Jimmy before we called him playoff Jimmy
like he did with Miami. Like y'all beat them, y'all
were gonna win the championship.

Speaker 1 (50:32):
People don't remember that.

Speaker 4 (50:33):
People don't remember that there's one team that could beat
the Spurs that year, and it was the James Harden,
d White Howard Houston Rockets and Dame Lillard broke their
hearts a few series before, and if he not do that,
I would bet money that that Houston team could have
beat the Spurs. I mean, and then I think we
would have beaten that Houston team because James Harden and
Dwhite Hart wasn't a good matchup for the Big three

(50:55):
Miami teams. So it's funny how well those those game
winning shots James things. But that's another reason why I
have beef with James Harden, because it's just like, dude,
you let Dame Lillitt screwed me out of.

Speaker 2 (51:09):
A three pet bro that was rookie Dame too. That
was crazy. That was yeah.

Speaker 3 (51:14):
I mean that was the big shot that made his year.
I mean one of the better rookie years I've ever seen.
That's man, I gotta go. I want to go back
and watch the tape on that now. I haven't truly
thought about those teams in a while. Just with with
Hardened and Dwight, I'm saying, I feel like the Rocket
teams I always default who are Hardened and Chris when
they were going up against the Warriors and in those
few years in like sixteen, seventeen, eighteen.

Speaker 2 (51:34):
And all that.

Speaker 3 (51:35):
But yeah, that's interesting. I want to go back and
watch the matchups from now that this year. You give
me the itch there. I mean, it is about matchups
a lot of the times, right, Like I think about
the fact that, I mean, I know Denver fans feel
that way. Denver fans are like we would have been
back in the finals and potentially like not even feeling
like they would have be Boston that year. But it's
like Minnesota was the perfect matchup for them just to

(51:55):
beat them. Like Minnesota uniquely had the personnel to beat
Denver that year with go bear with Towns and then
they go out and you know, Dallas runs them out
the next round, and a lot of Denver fans were like, man,
I wanted that shot against Dallas. We'd have felt better
against some of the at least, you know, maybe that
with how good that Celtics team was, maybe not as
much of a guarantee there, but uh, you know, certainly

(52:17):
again a big what if there and how things would
have changed.

Speaker 2 (52:21):
As for the Kawhi Raptors, You're like, yeah, if you
go back.

Speaker 3 (52:26):
It's only it's the only year they had it. Every
is the only year they were healthy. It's the ben
hadn't fallen off yet.

Speaker 2 (52:32):
And Jimmy was Jimmy like, that's what it And yeah,
I mean, shoot, you talk about what ifs. I mean,
Jimmy doesn't going to Miami. He wins that year. I
don't think there's no plaint they're leting jim.

Speaker 4 (52:42):
He already loved, loved Joel. You guys don't mind paying them.
You just won a championship.

Speaker 2 (52:47):
Yeah, yeah, God, I hate that so much. Uh wait
say it again.

Speaker 1 (52:56):
Kitchen Perkins said a funny thing.

Speaker 4 (52:57):
He was just like, you know, James Hard is a
terrible playoff performer, except for versus San Antonio, and.

Speaker 1 (53:04):
He's like everybody thinks he has Pop's number.

Speaker 4 (53:06):
He's like, no, san Antonio is just born, so he
can't go to strip club so he has plenty of energy.

Speaker 1 (53:14):
Historically, he's right like he plays good, like.

Speaker 4 (53:17):
Even at OKC when they made the finals, Like he
was balling versus when it was the Spurs. I thinking, okay, see,
like James Harden was having the best games of his life.

Speaker 1 (53:27):
Borden is off off the court.

Speaker 3 (53:29):
Like, I can't speak to the San Antonio strip clubs,
but I will. I will shoot San Antonio a little
bail there. I'm not gonna I had a great time
while I was in San Antonio.

Speaker 2 (53:37):
I'm not gonna lie.

Speaker 1 (53:37):
It was.

Speaker 3 (53:37):
It was food was great, Yeah, I mean listen the Alamo,
I enjoyed it.

Speaker 2 (53:43):
People complain about it being small. I don't know.

Speaker 3 (53:45):
I thought it was a good time. The river walk
is fun. It's definitely a little touristy, but like whatever is,
I don't know. I had a good time in San Antonio.
I'm definitely not complaining, but speaking the finals is past year.
Rick Carlisle signing an extension multi year extension is stay
as head coach of the Pacers. Not really a huge
surprise there if anything. You know, again, one of the

(54:07):
runs of many things from Indies run last year. But
I feel like one of the narratives that will get
lost is that, you know, Rick Carlisle.

Speaker 2 (54:15):
Will always be a coaching legend no matter what.

Speaker 3 (54:17):
For that twenty eleven Dallas run and now last year
with that Indie run certainly solidified. But the year before,
man he was He's pretty rough coaching wise against the Celtics,
Like I remember, you know, the Pacers blew multiple late
games in that series. I don't think they were gonna
win that series, but they should have at least won
two or three of them. It was pretty brutal these
games that they were blown left and right, and a

(54:38):
lot of it didn't feel like it was just the players.
It felt like was a little bit of coaching as well,
where it was like Rick just it felt like a
situational awareness went out the window. Phenomenal job last year,
like just completely threw those notions out the window. You know,
obviously one of the better coaching jobs that, in my opinion,
we've seen in the modern NBA. Give him credit too
for adjusting, Like those are two radically different styles in

(55:00):
the league from when you were making those runs from
twenty eleven to twenty twenty four.

Speaker 2 (55:05):
It's just interesting now.

Speaker 3 (55:06):
I mean Rick is obviously comfortable there, but you know,
with this Pacers team, you don't want to reset it,
but you almost just have to now with the Halle
punting year, like, this is a team that I think
you would have gone all in for with them making
that finals run, even if you feel like it was
a little flash in the panty. But uh yeah, just
uh it's I'm really intrigued to see what they do

(55:26):
here over the next year.

Speaker 4 (55:27):
Ish me too, Me too. And Rick Carlisle is the
only coach I've ever seen out coach bo. You mentioned
the twenty eleven finals. He's coached circles, rounds, bow and
Spo has said off the record, I think on the record,
you know he wished he would have had it back.
He made the adjustment too soon. I don't know if
you remember he's at the end of people don't remember

(55:49):
man Paigtoyakupics on that twenty eleven.

Speaker 1 (55:53):
He got a ring and he was washed so early
in the series.

Speaker 4 (55:58):
He was giving pages still a lot of minutes and
he took him out and if that.

Speaker 1 (56:04):
Was all the adjustment needed.

Speaker 4 (56:06):
So once Wide and Chalmers couldn't just run past the
corpse of Pagerestoy, I can beach anymore.

Speaker 1 (56:12):
And then for whatever reason, Spoke was insisting on playing
Mike Bibbie.

Speaker 4 (56:18):
He waited, Yeah he waited too late, but yeah that
was the only time, when you're right, he did.

Speaker 1 (56:23):
He had a rough series versus Boston and he made
up for it.

Speaker 4 (56:27):
If the Pacers were smart, like we said, okav you
break it down, they have a chance to get some
of that san Antonio, Luk Halli Burton's out from everything
out hear this is a strong draft coming up with
the Boozer twins.

Speaker 1 (56:39):
And the kid that went to b y U. I
would I would tank if you know me.

Speaker 3 (56:47):
They're not gonna win this year, so yeah, you absolutely
should tank. Like reset, the roster is automatically going to
take a step back with just Howie being out, with
Miles gone, now like you've got you know, the problem
is you're gonna be competitive a little bit, like you know,
Siakam and e Smith and like they all just like
they have too much depth to not be competitive. Even
the guys like the team like we mentioned and they

(57:11):
what and the East so that they don't have.

Speaker 1 (57:14):
No choice but competitive because the.

Speaker 3 (57:16):
Other teams that too, well, right, yeah, no exactly, And
that's the thing is.

Speaker 2 (57:20):
So it's like, I don't think it'll fall, but you're right.

Speaker 3 (57:22):
I mean I think they should absolutely be playing for
lottery picks this year. Yeah, because right, because then you
can reset, like if Aliburn comes back, You've still got
Siakam like he should. You know, it's not like he's
going to age out of his prime suddenly in the
next year like they in theory, if you keep the depth,
should be able to run it back here in a
few years with with another big piece.

Speaker 2 (57:39):
It reminds me.

Speaker 3 (57:40):
I mean, of course it didn't work out necessarily with
the Warriors with Wiseman, and it was like, yo, when
you had that when everybody got hurt post KD, when
you knew Clay was going to be out too, It's like, hey,
you reset, you get a high pick in theory, that
kind of you know, resets you a little bit in theory.
Obviously have to hit on the pick too there. But
I do want to flash back to again to give
you flashbacks here with the twenty eleven team. But like,

(58:03):
because you mentioned Paija, that was one of the things
about that team too, is like there were a lot
of peop obviously Dirk and what it meant for his
legacy and how much it just catapulted him up the
all time rankings, like that's the big story. But like
there are so many vets who got rings because of
that team that just wouldn't have otherwise, and that you
just are just like genuinely happy for, like you know,
beyond Jason Terry, it's like the Sean Marians of the World.

(58:25):
Tyson Chandler got a ring because of that.

Speaker 2 (58:27):
You mentioned the Pajo who Jon Yeah, no, right, that's
Jason Kidd's Hall of Fame career.

Speaker 3 (58:34):
Like, no, that reminds it reminds me of Gary Payton
getting a ring with you guys in six where it
was like Hall of Fame career, you get the late
boost one where it's like, yeah, you know, you definitely
deserve that a little bit.

Speaker 2 (58:43):
Jason Kidd especially too.

Speaker 3 (58:44):
I haven't been in the finals, you know, just going
up against those Kobe and Shaq Lakers teams, Like, not
really much you can do there, but yeah, I mean definitely,
you know, definitely a super great coaching job there by
Rick Carlisle that year, you know, and then quite the
redemption for you guys, and then the next year it start
that little bit of a run.

Speaker 2 (59:03):
But yeah, no, you're going back to Indy though.

Speaker 3 (59:06):
You're right, I think you know again, you look at
the Eastern Conference. The problem is is it's like it's
just got it's so bad, dude, And like there are
other teams that we haven't mentioned, like a few that
we haven't mentioned that are still going to compete. Like
I think Orlando is going to lead this year. I've
been pretty bullish on that. I do think Detroit's going
to be competitive again. I don't think they're going to
fall off a cliff. You mentioned Atlanta a little bit earlier.

Speaker 2 (59:27):
I'm with you.

Speaker 3 (59:27):
I really like what Atlanta's done this offseason. I think
they finally like you know, we'll see what they do
with Trey. But this to me is the roster at
least since that Conference finals run that makes the most sense.
Like they just have a lot of guys who can defend. Now,
like it just give Trey the ball if you have
four other good defenders around him, like if then it
allows you to take advantage of what I mean, he's
an elite offensive player. Like it's never the offense that

(59:48):
we're in question, it's just can you make up for
the other end. It feels like now they might be
able to, Like I don't know, Chicago always finds a
way to be mediocre. It doesn't feel like they'll fall
off a cliff.

Speaker 2 (59:58):
Like who are you tanking against.

Speaker 3 (01:00:00):
You're taking against Washington and Charlotte essentially maybe Brooklyn, but
you know that's Indy will be better than those teams,
I think. But the point is like you could very
much see this team like out of play in contention,
and yeah, if you really said, all of a sudden,
that looks a lot better with a high lottery pick,
the way I was for the Sixers this year when
everybody got hurt, Like when everybody got hurt, it was

(01:00:21):
going to the tank, and now we got bj edgecomb
hopefully works out. Like if you're not gonna win this year,
go get a guy, Go get a high end guy.
This feels like a year where listen, nobody would judge
any for punting this year, like it just is what
it is.

Speaker 4 (01:00:35):
Agreed, you agree, and also you know, I think it's
proven time for a lot of these guys that we
give pass to. You know, everybody gets on Zion rightfully,
so it's proven time. But I don't give you know,
I told you Sacramento and watching this franch that I
have bef with the.

Speaker 1 (01:00:53):
Horness is another one.

Speaker 4 (01:00:55):
I've always said, I don't give LaMelo Ball a pass
because I've seen what that's what that Memphis team looks
like without John Morant, and I've seen what they look
like with them, And there's no reason why LaMelo Ball
can't have a Jahn Morant type of impact on it
in the East if he was as good as they say,
So when are we gonna see something? When are we
gonna see I know his last name is Ball and
things like that, but when are we gonna see he's

(01:01:16):
as good as we've been told?

Speaker 1 (01:01:17):
Like they were legit conversations.

Speaker 4 (01:01:20):
You know you mentioned wise man, it was a legit
question between Anthony Edwards Wiseman and LaMelo and Anthony Edwards
is night and day ihead of both of them. Well, yeah,
we know the story with Wiseman, but Ball as well.

Speaker 3 (01:01:34):
No, and it's been You've always got the flashes of
LaMelo like Oamelo gives you something every year to get
you to buy back in, and then it is it's
been a lot of injuries with him, like the way
Zion has. I mean, we're talking about the most he's
ever played in the season is seventy five games. Like
we're five years into his career now. At some point
that starts to be a very fair question.

Speaker 2 (01:01:52):
And it's not like like, look, Charlotte is Charlotte.

Speaker 3 (01:01:54):
We know the disfranchise and unfortunately just how they've been
over a few years, but like there's some talent there now,
like you've.

Speaker 2 (01:02:01):
Got a legit chance. You know, I really liked Brandon Miller.

Speaker 3 (01:02:04):
I know he dealt with injury issues last year, but
like he's a guy who's flashed a lot of potential there.

Speaker 2 (01:02:09):
Like you're right with those two.

Speaker 3 (01:02:11):
I'm not saying they're gonna start competing necessarily, but you're right,
I almost even start winning some games here, Like can
we push playing Like we've had Charlotte all the way
down at the bottom last year, and like you know, Washington,
we knew was kind of blowing it up even with
some of the higher picks, like with Sar last year,
for example. But yeah, right with Charlotte. It's like, I
want to start seeing them take the step. And I

(01:02:32):
think with LaMelo, like if we're gonna build around him,
we do it. We do need to see him be
able to not just like he's been there. It's not
just the scene, the winning too. At this point, he's like,
we gotta see you stay healthy.

Speaker 4 (01:02:43):
Right and why can't We've been speaking off podcasts about
how we's this. I'm a huge fan of Brandon Miller.
I thought before injuries he was the end of his
rookie year and stuff. He was looking really good and
then you know, he went to the Olympics to help
the the A team. LaMelo in this week in East
LaMelo and Brandon Miller is enough to get you at

(01:03:05):
least in the playoffs.

Speaker 3 (01:03:06):
Yeah, at least around the position. Like they're not going
to be fighting for playing right now. But you're right, like,
I think the way it's going this year again, it's
who do you knock out?

Speaker 2 (01:03:16):
It's tough.

Speaker 3 (01:03:17):
Like even with Boston without Tatum, I still think they're
going to compete with Jylen Brown and Derek White and
all those guys. I know there's still been some changes
where but you're right, like this would be like, this
would be the step I want them to take. And
I mean, hey, maybe they do.

Speaker 2 (01:03:30):
Like you know, can it will look great in Summer
League like they always joked like, hey they got a trophy.
Now they are the Summer League champs. That's huge.

Speaker 3 (01:03:38):
Like I don't know, you just you like to see
some development this year more importantly, though, You're right, you
want to see these guys be on the floor and
play together, like you just want to start, like you
know we saw last year with Detroit, Like I think
you know these other young guys you talk about with Kate,
I feel like it was getting to be proven time
with Kate a little bit as crazy as that sounds,
a few years in and he was phenomenal last year
really showed you like why he Hey, like this was

(01:04:00):
your reminder why I was the number one overall pick.
You're right, I think it's fair to say that the
Hornets are definitely there a little bit more than somebody,
like They're not like Utah, for example, where like I
don't think Utah has the guys yet necessarily to start winning,
Like there are a few teams out west a little
bit where you're right in the Eastern conference. There isn't
an excuse, like if everybody's healthy, you got to start winning.

Speaker 1 (01:04:21):
Some games here, right for sure.

Speaker 3 (01:04:25):
All Right, So before we get out of here, we've
obviously talked a lot of hoops. Big shout out to
our guy Carlton k B for coming on the podcast.
We'll give you the full outro here in a little bit.
We talked a little bit of football earlier. I gotta ask, well,
I mean, look, it's a real tale of night and
day in Miami sports that right now, right, because it's
like you got the Panthers coming off back to back
Stanley Cups. I told our guy Joe Remitt this off

(01:04:48):
the mic. You know last year, room for the Panthers
was easy because it's like, you know, first championship in
franchise history, like you always got a root, like I'm
always a big fan of that. Obviously, the only reason
back to back was me and because again I have
a lot of beyond you, like I have a lot
of genuine people that I like who are Panthers fans
and so like I want you all to enjoy the
back to back.

Speaker 2 (01:05:07):
It's sweet. The only thing is it's so tough to
be root from Marshan, man, like, I can't room and
he's so good. Brad Marshawn is so good.

Speaker 3 (01:05:13):
I get like the fact that he's going to be
forty three years old at the end of this six
year deal but people still want to sign him to
That shows how good he is. Like, I love that
he even dunked on the Bruins fans a little bit.
But like, man, I can't root for Brad Marshan.

Speaker 2 (01:05:26):
It's just like, so I can't root for that guy
to prosper, even though I know he's great and he's
probably going through Like, oh, man, I.

Speaker 4 (01:05:33):
Don't blame you, man, hey, that Panthers team man, Like
you know, I always tell you My favorite thing about
rooting for the Panthers just I don't watch much of hockey, Like,
so of course I knew who Brad Marshan was, but like,
if they're not a top player, I don't know who
they are. I don't know how good the other teams
are and things like that. So this Panthers team, because

(01:05:53):
the Panthers and the Eagles have a lot of similarities.
What happened with the Panthers never happens, like you on
every hot, high risk, low reward trade, like Sam Bennett
was a hit, Sam Ryan, it was a hit you
already had Alexander Barkoff.

Speaker 1 (01:06:08):
He traded for Matthew to Chuck or whatever, which.

Speaker 4 (01:06:12):
You know, it looks like it it looked like a
big deal at the time because you gave it away.

Speaker 1 (01:06:16):
We were done with Hupid. Do you remember I used
to complain about about.

Speaker 3 (01:06:21):
Though, yeah, you still that make it because like those
teams are good. They always lost to Tampa, but Tampa
was winning Cups. Like that's a big Like those are
the big swings you take as GMS to give you
over the top, like trading Huberto and Mackenzie Wiger, who
is a good player, Like he's been phenomenal since going
to Calgary. It's all he fell off. It's just yeah,
but obviously well has worked out.

Speaker 4 (01:06:42):
There was a pick as well. I don't remember if
it was a second round pick. It was a pretty
hot pick with that, so it did look like we
gave up a lot from Matthew to Chuck. But yeah,
it's worked out. And like just this roster man, like
this roster overall, I'm like, this is one of the
best teams.

Speaker 1 (01:06:57):
Like you know, of course I could top trash because
I was watching.

Speaker 4 (01:07:00):
Like man Mittel Gretzky the line it up versus like that,
like this team start to finish is good and the
best the thing that this team has going for him.
You know, like you said, you can't ask for too much.
I'm not asking for three feet. I'm watching this happy
and stuff like that. But somehow they're still in the rate.
They're still not being talked about. I'm I'm here in
Carolina be talked about. Of course Tampa is there, and

(01:07:21):
then you know, Toronto is hockey hockey guys, so they're
always going to talk about the Maple LEAs and stuff
like that.

Speaker 2 (01:07:28):
What are we doing? Are we gonna do that?

Speaker 1 (01:07:31):
Going under the radar, like I'm loving it.

Speaker 4 (01:07:34):
Like I the NHL is doing their ranks and they
rank Sam Bennett that's the twentieth That's that's center in
the league.

Speaker 1 (01:07:39):
I'm like, you're kidding me.

Speaker 2 (01:07:42):
Please phoebe fuel on my quest for three please. At
this point, it's like Carolina hasn't won a conference finals
game in the past, like twenty conference finals games they've
been in, Like Tampa is Tampa, Like you got to
give Tampa the respect. They want to talk and That's
what's crazy is because y'all are and Tampa have been
such a rivalry and it's like both of y'all beaty
each other and got cups on the board.

Speaker 3 (01:08:01):
Like that's multiple cups on the board. So that's definitely
been a crazy run. But yeah, I mean, like, I mean,
no matter what, you win one, you're a legendary team.
You went two, like you're already certified then as an
all time team.

Speaker 2 (01:08:13):
Back to back. I think I told you this is
a joke.

Speaker 3 (01:08:17):
I hope that your first two Cups in franchise history
don't go like the Flyers first two did because it's
been fifty years since we've won a Stanley Cup.

Speaker 2 (01:08:23):
They went back to back in the seventies and and
when anything since.

Speaker 3 (01:08:27):
So but yeah, I mean definitely, Like I mean, and
just being aggressive, like going out to get mar Shandon
is like, hey, we're trying to win this again. Like
we're not waiting, we're not letting resting on our laurels
and like letting our competition get better. It's like no,
We're we're actively making moves here to win and be aggressive.

Speaker 1 (01:08:43):
You have to you have to win. It was you know,
like you said nothing is ever easy to look.

Speaker 4 (01:08:48):
We were down to one to the maple leafs and
stuff like that, and like we said, hockey Carolina beat Washington.
Washington had given us fix, like ove can turn the
clock a little bit. Yeah, I was scared of Washington,
and then you know, naturally I was scared of the Oilers.

Speaker 1 (01:09:06):
But it was just so good beating me.

Speaker 4 (01:09:08):
Were not just beating them, destroying them like we did,
like we we gifted them in the game one where
what we throw when we throw the puck in the
restricted area yea, And it was closer than it is
of course in hindsight talking.

Speaker 2 (01:09:21):
It was game two.

Speaker 3 (01:09:22):
You broke the rolling game too. They just they never
really recovered from it.

Speaker 2 (01:09:26):
It was when that.

Speaker 4 (01:09:28):
It was like the twenty eleven series with the Spurs
and twenty thirteen with twenty fourteen with spurs and heat.
Like once they let us see blood, it was just
like they're still doing the same thing. They're running the
same play over and over. They're just like, oh, dry, subtle, McDavid,
go win. This one was like yeah, yeah, y'all can't
do this.

Speaker 2 (01:09:46):
They were It's crazy. I mean they could against both teams.

Speaker 3 (01:09:49):
That's what's crazy is it's like, but yeah, once you're up,
once you were up one to oh like they just
had because you're right, it becomes once you lose the championship,
it does become a mental game a little bit where
it's like that's with y'all the house, Like even if
you all had lost last year, it's like, okay, we're
even it's house money. Like once, yeah, once there was
that little bit of blood in the water because it
was it wasn't even close towards the end, and that's

(01:10:09):
what it was. And yeah, I mean obviously like for
success for you Oilers fans in complete hell right now,
like absolutely brutal losing back to back, Like I've seen
enough of my teams lose finals over the year like that.
I mean that was going into the Eagles Chiefs like
that was that was the one. But it's just like
I don't want to lose the Chiefs again, man, Like
I just don't. I don't want to lose the Chiefs again, like,

(01:10:31):
let especially after the way the first one ended, and
you know, thankfully don't have to deal with.

Speaker 2 (01:10:36):
That problem all as well. But the redemption chances are rare.

Speaker 3 (01:10:40):
It's even it's hard to just even get back again
and to get that chance against the same team and
so yeah, to strike out twice, like.

Speaker 1 (01:10:47):
It is it.

Speaker 3 (01:10:48):
It's because you don't know when you're gonna get back,
Like you talk about growing up and watching sports like
that is the one thing like you always you know,
you get eliminated as a kid, you go, oh, they're
going to be back, Like that was the always thing
with the Eagles in the two thousands, like I'll be back.
It's a point. The Flyers were always good. Although we back,
he'll definitely get over the hump. And then they just like,
don't sometimes you may never get that shot again. Like
you really got to take advantages of those situations when

(01:11:10):
you're there.

Speaker 4 (01:11:11):
Well, you know how sports fans are. We believe, we
believe the most ridiculous stuff. And I swear by Tom
will tell in the future. But I don't know if
you remember cap last year they asked they asked the
Oilers coach, I forget his name, but because you know,
we had just came off of losing the finals this
Stanley Cup the year before, you know, like, oh, do
you do you have a disadvantage because the Panthers just

(01:11:33):
came back And he was like well, ask Buffalo what
type of advantage they had, and now he's I was like,
I wouldn't want to compare anybody. I don't want to
speak speak things like that at the French conference. And
now they've lost too straight and I I love it too.
I know we've been all over the place in this
a long time.

Speaker 1 (01:11:48):
Keep moving. That's why I can't hate.

Speaker 4 (01:11:50):
My homes and the Chiefs because they keep meeting Buffalo.
I'm just like, yo, I love it. Every time Josh
Allen has hunted me. People don't remember Josh Allen. There
was questions if he was the guy because his first
two years he sucked you know who.

Speaker 1 (01:12:04):
He never slept against keV the Dolphins. He was tearing
us up.

Speaker 4 (01:12:09):
He was The Dolphins are a single reason why the
Bills still had hope for Josh Allen because it was
just like, well, look what he does Brusus Dolphins. If
he could just do that Forirs everybody else. Now he's
doing it verst everybody else. But everybody's like, man, Josh
Allen is so good. When did he get good? And
I'm just like, this is Josh Allen. I've always seen
like I didn't watch him in Wyoming. But I think
ever since I've known this guy, it was just like

(01:12:30):
I went from Brady to this damn guy. And it
doesn't help that. You know, Lamar Jackson is a South
Florida guy, and all the Dolphins fans want him. So
you see Lamar Jackson that you root for in Baltimore,
you got Josh Allen. Go for Brady Josh Allen and
I love to it, but he can't stay healthy. It's
just like we're just in quarterback hell because no dispecting
to it. But you have a South Florida guy, like

(01:12:52):
you said with Brandon Graham, I believe I read that
he was a Philly fan growing up. It just feels
better when it's a hometown kid. That's why you wanted
what was it, Michel Bridge?

Speaker 5 (01:13:01):
Yeah, Bridges was the perfect dude. He was literally grew
up as a Sixer. Span his mo words for the organization, Carls,
it was the most of all the unforgivable things the
Sixers have done over the past ten years. I still
maintain that that is unquestionably the most.

Speaker 2 (01:13:17):
That trade never made sense. That's it didn't even make
sense at the time. We punted for another year in
the future and we did need two. He's the perfect fit.

Speaker 4 (01:13:25):
Oh yeah, said the same thing with us. Like I
know people can say hindsight and stuff like that. You know,
running quarterbacks are hit and missing from college to pros,
but Lamar Jackson was always if you go back and
look at yeah, and it's just like you need a quarterback.
You have the hometown kid who who asked to get him.

(01:13:47):
The owner of wanted Lamar Jackson, and that's what that's
the thing. Like, you know, people get on Jerry Jones.
I know you you love him to hate him because
he's your rob on stuff like that. But if I
must spend billions on an organization, you know what, if
we're gonna lose, We're gonna lose because the dang it.
So like if the owner went in Lamar Jackson, I
just wish Stephen Ross the offense on him, just like, no,
it's my team, we're getting them, like things are so different.

(01:14:09):
So it's just like and then then of course he's
he's as good as advertised, like he's you know, of
course we want to see it in the playoffs and
he needs to get past Buffalo.

Speaker 1 (01:14:17):
But Lamar Jackson has been a successful pick. Was the
last pick in the first round, Like that's ridiculous.

Speaker 2 (01:14:24):
It's multiple MVP already, Like yeah, it's uh. I do
think it's a little bit. And I think.

Speaker 3 (01:14:30):
Lamar's playoff failures are overstated. I think they're very overstated, honestly,
words of Mark Andrews dropping multiple key passes last year
in the playoffs when they would have beat Buffalo. Like,
but I do think with the AFC, and it's hard
to fully ever root Kansas City, like rural Kansas City out.
I know they got smoked by us in the Super Bowl,
but like the earliest day of going out is the

(01:14:51):
AFC Championship. Like I'll believe it when I see it.
But we talked about like proved things for guys in
the NBA, Josh and Lamar got to get over them
hump this year, like you got to at least get
to the ball, like it's time. These teams are good,
like you're just like in my opinion, Baltimore, I mean
Baltimore especially, I think is probably the most complete roster
in the AFC right now, Like you unfortunately donned the

(01:15:13):
luxury of the Eagles, And that's why I am more
bullish as I said earlier on a repeat is because
I think the NFC just isn't that good. Like Washington
now has questions with Scary Terry. You gotta see if Jade.
I do think Jayden and Daniels is great, but it's
like the defense got older.

Speaker 2 (01:15:26):
Terry's on in camp.

Speaker 4 (01:15:28):
I think Jayden Daniels takes a CJ Straus sophomore slump.
We've seen it too many times. These quarterbacks take sophomore
slumps RG three, like Andrew. We we keep seeing it,
like why why why are we gonna keep following for that?
Like and I like Jayden Daniels and stuff. He was
the out of the quarterback, but he takes the sophomore slump.
We keep seeing it.

Speaker 2 (01:15:47):
You know, yeah, you got it. Well, you're right, we
have we have to see him not do it.

Speaker 3 (01:15:51):
I mean beyond that, like we'll see if the Niners
are healthy, that receiver room is a mess. If Rams
are healthy, I give the Rams a lot of credit.
They hit a lot on their picks last year. The
Rams are the closest to beating us last year. I
mean when Pooka catches that pass falling out of bounds,
like Jalen Carter saved the season. You forget that, like
Stafford and Stafford on that play had a receiver wide
open in.

Speaker 2 (01:16:09):
The middle on the slant.

Speaker 3 (01:16:10):
They were killing us over the middle on slants that
game in the snow, like you want to talk about,
like forget Washington, forget Kansas City, the team who had
closest to being the Egals in Super Bowl run.

Speaker 2 (01:16:20):
It was Rams by far. It was even close.

Speaker 4 (01:16:23):
And you mentioned you mentioned snow. It's not a it's
not an advantage, but it's also not a discipantage.

Speaker 1 (01:16:28):
You always gotta be scared of Green Bay.

Speaker 4 (01:16:29):
Because who wants to play in this negative thirteen degree
weather if they can all feel it? Like, it's so
ridiculous that that's that franchise will not build a dome,
Like I'm not even an NFC cab and I get
thissed off every time I think about it, Like build
a dome like two years ago when But.

Speaker 5 (01:16:46):
It's not football weather, Carlton, That's what they're gonna tell you.

Speaker 2 (01:16:49):
I'm football weather.

Speaker 4 (01:16:51):
The Dolphins lost the Chiefs two years ago and it
was the coldest game Eber. But what's more ridiculous about
that is you remember they delayed I think it was
the Bills and Ravens game that they laid five days
and that game was warmer than the game we played it.

Speaker 1 (01:17:04):
I'm like, you got delayed the warmer game.

Speaker 2 (01:17:08):
Our guy Russell.

Speaker 4 (01:17:09):
Can't playing the cold to a cant throwing the cold?
Who's throwing a negative thirteen degree weapon.

Speaker 3 (01:17:14):
Our guy Russell Colburn went to that game. He was
at that game. He's out in kse now he and
he tried to tell me it wasn't that bad. And
I was like, my brother, I watched a water bottle
instantly freeze as it came out of the freezer, Like
I don't care how many beers you got in a
parking lot like negative it was negative forty that You're
one hundred percent right, there's no plane. They should have

(01:17:35):
been playing that game. People got frostfighted at that game,
like what are we doing?

Speaker 2 (01:17:39):
Like what are you?

Speaker 1 (01:17:41):
You a from Miami and his thing? I know we
gotta go CA. This is two friends talking.

Speaker 4 (01:17:46):
I will never forgive the NFL because they they quote unquote,
wanted wanted to keep robbery. So when the Houston Texans
came into the league. I don't know if people ever
think about it, but you have new England, Buffalo, New
York Jets and in Miami and you send the Indianapolis
coach to the division with the Jacks the Texans.

Speaker 1 (01:18:08):
I mean, like, like what so I'm pissed.

Speaker 4 (01:18:12):
Every year it's just like, oh too, a camp playing
the colt Like why are we going to Buffalo in
New York into in December?

Speaker 1 (01:18:18):
Like why are we in the stand division?

Speaker 4 (01:18:20):
And meanwhile I see I see Jacksonville and the Texans
and stuff. I'm looking at them and that division has
been wide open four years and Tennessee, I'm like, we
should be in this division. Like I get mad. I
keep getting playing MVP caliber quarterbacks. I had to watch
Brady my whole career. Now I gotta watch josh All.
Was like, I shouldn't even be in this division? Who

(01:18:42):
and who's ill be playing camp Trevor Lawrence Like that's
who I need to be going to get give me him?

Speaker 2 (01:18:48):
I hear you. I mean it's the same thing with
our rivalry, low key. I mean, nobody really complains about
it because we've been on the right side of it.
But it's like you crack up. You look at the
you look at the NFC East, the NFC East, You
got Philly.

Speaker 3 (01:18:59):
New York and d See, which are a combined five
hours apart from each other.

Speaker 2 (01:19:03):
And then we got Dallas. We have Dallas. You go
down to Jerry Room Dallas. No, it would take me
two days.

Speaker 3 (01:19:09):
To drive to Dallas if I started driving to Dallas
right now, Like, it's just And what.

Speaker 2 (01:19:13):
Was even crazier is if you've been thinking about it.

Speaker 3 (01:19:14):
Back in the day, we had Arizona for the longest
time until they ran, when they had five teams.

Speaker 2 (01:19:18):
You had Arizona playing in the East every year. It
was just you gotta love it.

Speaker 1 (01:19:22):
It's so ridiculous.

Speaker 4 (01:19:23):
And then you got Buffalo fans and New York fans
talking about Mollo. Sometimes we have to go to the
New York. Oh oh, I'm sorry, bummer. I have to
go play in eighty two. I have to leave twenty
eight degrees to go play in eighty two. If that
a disadvantage, like, get out of here.

Speaker 3 (01:19:39):
I'm telling you, the Dome Truthers are kind of onto
something a little bit. Thank you everybody for listening to
this episode of Driving NBA Podcast. Appreciate you guys as always.
Carlton KB following on Twitter at Carlton Underscore KB.

Speaker 2 (01:19:53):
Like K and B.

Speaker 3 (01:19:54):
The letters K and B follow the Colone page at
Smell Good Chronicles. There's a lot of great stuff on
there that Carlton and I will go next time he's back.
We're talking even more in depth about that because I
think it's electric right now. Uh, just for some housekeeping notes,
we're gonna have another guest next week. Justin is actually
still on vacation. I promise he's Everything is good. He'll

(01:20:14):
be back soon, but so stay tuned for that. We're
gonna talk a little bit of schedule release, so stay
tuned for that in your feeds, and we will catch
you guys next time.

Speaker 4 (01:20:23):
I think we've done my dances today, so why don't
we dance Wednesday?

Speaker 1 (01:20:27):
See the star side?

Speaker 2 (01:20:28):
Okay, right, I think they get

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