Chris and Rob explain why it's foolish to suggest that James Harden's messy exit from the Houston Rockets should eliminate him from MVP consideration, and discuss if it's wise for an NFL team to trade away an entire draft class (or two) for Deshaun Watson. Plus, 3x NBA champion James Posey swings by to share his thoughts on Harden's MVP case, the juggernaut Brooklyn Nets, LeBron's MVP runner-up last season, and much more!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
to check us out live every weekday from seven pm
to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live
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(00:25):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Yeah, it is The
ID Couple. I'm Chris Bruce Hard alongside my partner Rob Parker,
(00:49):
and we're coming to you live from the Farmers Insurance
Fox Sports Radio Studio DOOD Live. Call one eight eight
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(01:10):
from survey data July to December twenty twenty. We are
take that for data. Yes, indeed, all right, speaking of data,
we got our man James Posey. I don't know what
that has to do with data, but James Posey coming
up at the bottom of the hour. That doesn't even
(01:31):
really go together. I just I'm used to saying it
so James Posey will join us. He's a three time
NBA champion, also host of the Polescast podcast. The Polescast
podcast on Basketball News dot Com. All right, Rob, what's
up man? How are you? I'm doing good? How are you?
Mister Chris Brossard? I'm great, man, I am well. I
(01:56):
can I cannot complain. So, so, of course, you know
I've been I told you I've been doing a lot
of stuff, getting uh stuff organized. So I wanted to
go join the Chris, you know I'm a clear member
at the airport? Are you clear? Yeah? I got clear.
If you travel a lot, clear is just the best.
I mean, basically, ask yourself, would you want to pay
(02:16):
twenty dollars to skip the line, right, Chris? That's really
to me? Right, right? Would you play twenty dollars to
skip the line or whatever? What's the other one? T
uh TSA, which is right, which is cheaper? But but
I don't do TSA. But yeah, but don't you get
to go ahead? No, you stay ahead, but you just
(02:37):
don't have to take off your stuff your stuff. That's
a difference. Yeah, okay, So but it's funny that you
say that because I had an appointment for TSA today.
So I get there at the appointment because I wanted both, Chris,
Now I won't have to take my stuff off and
jump the line. Oh wow, that is that's not bad.
But you did that so they know. Of course, the
(02:59):
one day I have my appointment, the computer system was down.
It's like, wow, that's why I don't have t say
at this point, because I was like, wait, I gotta
set up an appointment. Yeah, can I come like a
couple of hours before a flight, you know what I'm saying?
And then no, you got no. And then and then
I have another one for global entry. Have you ever
heard of that Global entry? That's that's so there's another one, Chris,
(03:23):
And guess what what's happen to that one? That's the
same thing where you don't have to go through you know,
like the agent when you come in from out of country.
Out of the country, you just go straight through. So
it's worth it. I'm thinking about I'm doing that. And
I got an appointment for that, and that's at the
airport in Detroit. That's the only airport I could do
with that. They didn't have one in LA. Can you
(03:44):
imagine I'm not having an office in La. Okay, that's it,
all right for the odd couple. All right, we're gonna
get right into this. Let's introduce the Crew DJ Alex
tie Shirt aka Alex the Vegan on the ones and
it's two's on the tight Shirt Tuesday. Also, what Rob,
this is a trash talking Tuesday, as always, your chance
(04:08):
to trash anyone anything in the world of sports. That's right,
that's the third hour of the show. So get your
takes ready. Just come strong. All right, we got super
producer Rob g running things and on the updates a
surprise for Tuesday, the Heisman himself, Steve this Sager, the
best update guy in the history of network sports talk radio.
(04:33):
See the SAgs already got you nowhere with this. I'm
just saying, he's as good as it get. He knows base,
he knows all the sports. He goes to games. I
don't even know. No, no, he's faking. Let's get right
into this, Rob G. I gotta ask you before we do.
(04:55):
Do we have the Brad Doherty sound? Okay? Uh? Rob?
We have talked about it before to a small degree.
Now we're gonna really dive in. James Harden. The year
started in a crazy manner for him trade demand Russell
Westbrook didn't want to play with him anymore. He didn't
(05:16):
want to play with Westbrook anymore, he didn't want to
play in Houston anymore. Comes out Drops, but forty four
in his first game, just killing it the first few games.
Houston's like, oh, don't forget right, and Houston's thinking, oh,
he got ball like this. Then we trade him, and
so he finally says, you know what, for them to
(05:39):
trade me, I'm gonna have to, uh like Les, let
lighten up a little bit down now. Now check this out.
He's still averaged twenty four and eleven assist close to
eleven ten and a half assist with Houston, but he
played eight of nine games, kind of dogged it for
a few of them even though he put up numbers,
(06:01):
and he got traded. And since he's been in Brooklyn,
he has been lighting it up so much. So last
night he goes for thirty fifteen was it fifteen rebounds
or fifteen assists? It was thirty points, fifteen assists and
(06:21):
fourteen rebounds. Triple ridiculous in twenty two games. How about
this the most triple doubles for a Nuts player in history?
In the season. In the season, he's already pass it.
Chris Well. Kid had twelve in a season. Oh I
thought they said he only had six from what I read. Okay, well,
(06:42):
but he will pass that in short order. But he
will pass that. But yeah, so he is lightening it
up so much so that Brad Doherty and for you youngsters,
Rob because the youngsters probably don't know. Brad Doherty was
a heck of a player. He had a bad hairline,
but he could ball out what they used to say,
had a three head or something. This is true they
(07:07):
made he had, but his hair lies gonna go ball
He didn't. His hair line almost touched his eyebrows. That's
how close his hair lied. Seriously, he didn't have a forehead,
Chris Well, that's what they said. He had a three
head or two. It wasn't. It wasn't a forehead because
I'm telling you, his hair line was right above his eyebrows.
(07:31):
It was unbelievable. Yes, but he was a really good player.
Play with Michael Jordan at North Carolina, then went to
the Cleveland Cavaliers and did damage, did work and a
back injury. I actually covered. I was the beat writer
for the Cavaliers the year he retired back injury. Yeah,
he had bad discs in his back and had to retire.
(07:53):
But he was robbed. He was probably on pace for
a Hall of Fame career. He was really nine for
his eight years or whatever he ended up. Some of
the millennials probably know him Chris for the for the NASCAR. Uh,
you know, he's a Nascar annoza like this the old network.
(08:14):
I saw him in the halls, but I never worked.
I worked with him several shows. Good guy, really a
lot of fun. Good guy and um. But anyway he's doing.
He's talking basketball somewhere and uh, here's what he said
about James Harden. I take back anything bad or negative
I said about James Harden. James Harden what No, No,
(08:36):
you could still say it's you can. J Harden is
the best player in the NBA. He is. He may
be the best offensive player I've ever seen. I'm telling
him he is at a whole time now I know
the playoff stuff and all that he is. It's unbelievable.
(08:57):
His his numbers are are gotten so easily. And I
was watching the game and I was thinking back to
watching him with Houston when he was kind of going
on about sixty five and it's still scoring thirty. I'm
telling you, man, this guy is unbelievable and I think
he is absolutely the best player in the NBA. M
(09:22):
That was our huge words for several reasons. Right Number one,
he called him the best player in the world. Number two,
this is a guy that faced Michael Jordans many times,
played with Michael Jordan at North Carolina, and faced him
several times in the NBA. And let me say this
to all those out there, because there's a lot of
(09:43):
people ride probably aren't even watching some of the games
and they're just looking in the box score and Kyrie's
playing tremendously, But if you just look at the numbers,
you might say, well, Kyrie's playing better. He's the leading scorer,
you know. You know with Durrand, James is doing everything
hardening and Harden is I mean he rob He is
(10:06):
looking like one of the best point guards we've ever seen.
I totally, Chris, because you know, I've been I've been
focused in on that Brooklyn team. Every chance I get
a chance to watch them, I do, and I'm always
you know, trying to see how it fits, you know,
even without Durant and and uh, Harden has been tremendous.
I'm telling you, I don't even recognize this guy from
(10:29):
the guy who played to Houston. And I'm dead serious,
and I do. I remember him in Oksey and he
showed playmaking ability, unselfishness, all great passing skills, and he
showed him in Houston. I remember he led the league
and assist you I know, but but but but my
vision of him, yeah, he was. My vision of him
(10:51):
is just taking these threes and you know, drawing the
fouls and and just like holding onto the ball, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble,
put up at three. That's not where he is, Chris.
And if you're the Nets organization ownership coaching staff, you
are a static. Are you kidding that a guy of
(11:12):
that caliber could come join in and do what they've
been doing, which is they've lost one game, they lost
a game where only Harden played, Like, what was that
game they just got? They've they've won ten of their
last eleven or nine of their last ten, something like that,
sixteen and six in his twenty two games with the nets,
(11:34):
and remember a lot of that is without Durant. Those
played seven games, Chris, those three have only played seven games,
So it is phenomenal what he's doing. I think Rob,
and I'm an MVP voter, he's right there. I think Lebron, Harden,
(11:54):
and Joe LMB not in that order, but those are
the three front runners. I don't know in order at
this when. I mean, you don't need when at this
point of the see but but he's in the conversation.
He's in the conversation, and you know what you said it.
I think he's still below because of what Harden is doing,
but you you mentioned it before. Kyrie's balling out. He's
(12:15):
been Chris since he came back. I know he's missed
a couple of games. I think he's playing just like
he did before he left. But he's playing right because
you know he's doing He's been great the whole season
when he's there, no right, no doubt. But I'm just saying,
like when at first coming back, people were wondering where
his head would be after the layoff or whatever. He's
just picked up. You're right where he left off. It's
(12:37):
been fun to watch, Yeah, and the question now, and
I was on the First Things First this morning debating
with Nick Wright. Nick Wright wants to believe he feels
like hardened it is basically disqualified for MVP because of
what the four or five games he dogged it in Houston.
(12:57):
And I get it. If it's nipping, tuck and close,
that could be something you know you hold against him. Well,
this guy played all eighty two hard whatever. But to
think that that disqualifies him, I'm sorry, it doesn't. It
was like four five games. It wasn't a quarter of
(13:18):
the season. It wasn't certainly wasn't half of the season.
And if the Nets continue to play at this pace,
rob continue to decimate the other elite teams in the league,
and he continues to be the key. And he's the
key because his unselfishness rob him. Going there immediately taking
(13:40):
the third most amount of shots behind Kyrie and KD.
He set a tone. And then playing point guard, not
playing two, he set a tone of unselfishness. And you're
watching them, they all make the extra pass. All of
the role players are touching the rock. I mean, heck,
last night, this dude named Nick Claxton, who have no
(14:02):
idea somebody named Nicholas Claxton dropped like twenty one or
nineteen or something. But everybody's getting open looks. They get
open looks, and they're getting the ball. Chris, they're open,
the ball is coming their way. That's what I'm saying.
If you're coach, if you're the coaching staff, and you're
Steve Nash and those guys, you gotta be like, dude,
(14:23):
I'm loving this. You gotta be loving it because you
just mentioned it. All kinds of guys, Harris. All these
guys are coming up with big games. It ain't just
those two or three and Durant spin Out hasn't missed
a beat. When that guy comes back after the All
Star break'll there'll be a few nights when they don't
play well and they lose, But they're not gonna lose
(14:44):
that often, Chris. I don't think they will. And that's
the thing both you and I are like, Look, if
they run through the second half of the season really
put a ton of distance between themselves and whoever second
place in the East, it's gonna be hard to hold
the MVP trophy away from James Harden. And we'll see.
Like I said, I think Lebron still very much in
(15:05):
the hunt, Joel mbid and we'll see if anybody else
jumps up. There's thirty five games are so left, But
right now that dude is very much in the conversation.
We believe, So let's see what you guys think. Eight seven,
seven ninety nine on Fox eight seven seven nine nine
six sixty three sixty nine. Should the way James Harden
(15:27):
forced his way out of Houston, the way he threw
his teammates under the bus, the way he dogged it
for a few games, should that work against him in
the MVP voting? Or better yet, should it keep him
from winning the MVP Award under any circumstances? You're turned
away in with Chris and Rob the Eye Couple Fox
(15:47):
Sports Radio. Be sure to catch live editions of The
Odd Couple with Chris Brussar then Rob Parker weekdays at
seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
and the iHeart Radio app. Hey up, everybody, It's me
three time pro bowler Levarrington, and I couldn't be more
excited to announce a new podcast called Up on Game?
(16:08):
What is up on Game? You asked, along with my
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that's right, Plexico Birds. You can only name a show
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We're going to be sharing our real life experiences loaded
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(16:29):
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the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your
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Chris Brusar, Rob Parker, We're coming you live from the
Farmers Insurance Fox Sports Radio Studios. Call Farmers Today for
(16:50):
eight quote eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox. She'll
turn the way in. Uh, should James Harden be penalized
in the MVP race from what happened in Houston? And better? Yeah,
shouldn't be disqualified altogether from it? You'll turned away in
the eye. Come all right, let's kick it off with
(17:12):
Franz Waugh in Rochester, New York. You're on the odd
couple of Fox Sports Radio. What's up? Hey? How you
guys doing that? Doing good? Brother? How are you? I'm
doing well? Can't complain? I actually him calling because I
got a little bone to pick with Christy Shard. Chris,
what you do, just be ready because I picked back.
(17:35):
You know, you're my favorite in his favorite commentator. I
watch you all the time. But I caught him last
week and was the first to say that James turn
was the MVP, and I heard you on First Things
First and I was the first to say. I was
the first to said last week, you guys were talking
about the Nets to him being the MVP of the Nets.
I caught him was like, no, he's the MVP of
the league. I remember that, Chris, give him credit. I
(17:59):
don't remember all that. I don't. I mean, I remember
him calling in, but I don't know if he said
it before we talked about it, but I remember, I
don't know if you know what I mean. I do
remember a call where, you know, we're talking about him
being MVP of the NETS. I don't I feel like
we were like he might be the MVP of the
league too, right the way that he remember we did.
We did put it out there, right he I think
(18:21):
he called up and said it too, but we had
said he's the MVP of the Nets and he might
just be the MVP of the league. You know what
if they keep playing the way that they're playing, right,
so we were stealing your shine, but no, but we
appreciate that. Yes, friends, will I appreciate it. Paul and Colorado,
you're in the odd couple of Fox Sports Radio. What's up, Paul? Hey, guys,
(18:42):
how are you doing. I love listening to your show.
Thank you, buddy, thank you. Hey. I just got a
couple of things. I just think, you know, the character
has to play. I think a little bit of a
role in the MVP voting. But then, um, my second
point is if he took James Harden off the nets
how much or with the next day to say you
took and beat off the Sixers or Lebron out of
(19:03):
the Lakers. Well, I do agree that, and right, this
generally does work against guys. You know, if you have
even one other superstar, let alone two, it generally works
against you. But there are it's there incidents. Lebron won
two of his MVPs with Wade and Bosh automatically. First, yeah,
(19:26):
Kareem won his last one with Magic because Magic was
a rip. Automatical with Kareem. He won three at least
two with Kareem of his three bird won three in
a row with mchael and Parrish. You know what I'm saying.
So I hear him, But number one, Rob Durant hasn't
been playing. If Durant had been playing this whole time,
(19:47):
we probably aren't thinking of hardness way because even though
you'd be playing great, you know, maybe Durant would be
even playing better, you know, like it would be different
your spot on. That makes a huge difference to having
missed him, right and and and hardens the reason why,
that's why you could look at him. Okay, So now
(20:07):
they're winning all these games, and if Durant comes back
and they're unbeatable, right right, right, then you go look,
look they were winning before Durant got you know, got back,
and now they're winning out even higher clip. So he
can still look good if he still puts up those numbers. Chris,
I really believe that. Uh. Let's go to Chuck in Pennsylentucky.
(20:31):
I mean in Kentucky. You're on the old couple of
Fox Sports Radio. Everything's not funny. What's up, Chuck, Chuck?
Where in Kentucky are you? Man? I mean I'm in
this small town. Uh, probably of Princeton, Kentucky. I don't
know what I have got. You know, I used to
(20:51):
live in Kentucky. I'm a Kentucky guy. You know what
I'm saying. Oh yeah, now we're it's all good in Kentucky. Man,
all right, So what you got? What you got now?
I think, you know, James harden Is is playing killer
this year. I mean, he's just he's saying, it's a
whole another level. And you know, I think I think
with the right combination, you get to the right fit
(21:13):
of people and think good things happen, especially with the coach.
But but you know, the situation with Houston, and I
kind of feel like if you remember, like when Kobe
Bryant had things like coming up against him, and all
he did was just play his way right out of
that stuff, and you know, people kind of in a
sense forgot about it because he was just playing, you know,
(21:33):
playing so well, and then become on the grass in
the league and Hardens just he's out there just dominating.
So I think people are going to quickly forget, you know,
this stuff whenever I mean, he continues to do what
you do. You can see his name right up there
at the top of the list, I agree. I mean
Rob beginning of the year, at least when he first
got to Brooklyn, I may have said I certainly wasn't
(21:55):
thinking of him as an MVP candidate, and I may
have even said somebody asked me at that point, oh,
with the way he left Houston, no, he won't get it.
But he's playing so well. At the end of the day,
it's about who's playing the best basketball, and he is.
But see, even even I'm gonna say this, but Nick Wright,
even his statement that he should be disqualified, could you
(22:19):
could tell he's not an NBA writer, Chris, because that
that doesn't disqualify you. Do you know what I mean
to just automatically say he's disqualified because in five games
in Houston he forced his way out. He was overweighed,
and you look at that. No, it's actually the other
way that he got hisself back to where he was
and elevated his game, changed his game, and became the
(22:41):
MVP of a team that already had two stars before
he got there. I think it's a more compelling story,
to be honest, Chris. I mean, look, I get why
people can be upset. Oh he quit on his team.
It was a few games and at the end, are
we gonna hold it against Anthony Davis? You know, I
mean Carmelo Anthony, Rob, remember he Carmelo Anthony and Anthony Davis.
(23:04):
Let's keep it real. They ruined the whole season. Thank you,
keep going. Umelo ruined a season in Denver and that
was a good team. Rob. Anthony Davis ruined an entire
season in New Orleans. James Harden were four or five games?
That's it? And so you know the next year, what
(23:25):
is there a grace period? Is it just that season?
Is it forever the rest of your career that you're penalized? What? So? Yeah,
we're on the same page with this one. All right,
we got James Posey coming up next, But first be
sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple with
Chris Broussar. Then Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm Eastern
four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeart
(23:47):
Radio app. Three time NBA champion has really done it
all at different levels in the NBA. Was a player,
great player, like I said, one championships. Also was a
coach in the league, an assistant coach, and now he's
the host of the poscast on Basketball News dot Com.
James Posey, Welcome to the Eye Couple. Brother, How are you?
(24:09):
What's happening? What's up? Fellers? How y'are doing? We are
great man, Great to have you on pose and right.
We're just we were just discussing how we believe James
Harden is right in the mix of the MVP races,
LMBI and all that. Right, and there are those that
(24:29):
think the way he left Houston, and we know he
kind of dogged it for four or five games, that
that pretty much should disqualify him from winning MVP this year.
Do you think that should work against him? What are
your thoughts on that? Well, unfortunately, that's that's the nature
of the business where players, you know, they could take
that route to sort of get what they want. I
(24:51):
wish I wish he hasn't He hadn't done it that way,
but it worked out in his favor. But in doing so,
changing teams and the the amount of eyes that's going
to be on the you know, the nets. You know,
he has to play and he's going to have to
win now. Um, and I just think that's just you know,
extra love motivation for him to get the critics and
(25:13):
the people off his back a little bit, and also
for him just to step up and make sure that
he plays a great brand of basketball or do you no? So,
I mean, as long as he's you know, he's he's producing.
But for me, I just think always Lebron James should
be the MVP. You know, he he's been a man
(25:35):
that's constantly in the finals and you know he's proven
to be the most valuable player for his team to
get him there, and that's where you want to be
at the end of the season. And I know the
MVP is a regular season war, but I think for
who's who's ever the Kennedy is if they make it
to the finals, and that's, like I said, that's the
ultimate goal. I think that should always be the be
the leader. And for myself, I just say Lebron James.
(25:57):
But if he's putting up crazy stat lines and you
can't deny him the MVP, then that player is well
deserving of it itself. What did you think when Harden
actually was traded to Brooklyn and they already had k
D and Kyrie? Did you think this was gonna work?
Because if you if you want to go back and
look at some of the Twitter timelines and what people
(26:18):
were saying that this team is not gonna work, there's
only one basketball, they're gonna be bickering, all this other stuff.
People couldn't have been more wrong about this mix. Where
were you on this team? I was like everybody else,
I was just waiting to see how it will work out.
I mean, for right now, they really haven't had a
steady dose of, you know, playing time together. But it
(26:40):
just reminds me of when I was in Boston with
the Big Three, Like it was a major sacrifice amongst
Kevin Garnett, Paul Pearson, Ray Allen and the point that
they were in their career, it was about winning and
doing the writing, trying to get itself an opportunity to
win a title, and they did so. And if they
understand that with you know, the fire party that they
have amongst each other and just the already you know,
(27:02):
the best talent that they have combined, they get themselves
a good chance. And as long as they continue to
play right, don't get bored with the process, and understand
that each night is gonna be a sacrifice. So every
night you're not gonna be able to get your numbers
and you got to be okay with that, with the
win or with the laws. So if that is expressed
to them and they understand that, they stand a good
(27:24):
chance of making it to the finals. Now there there's
a lot of talk. The question mark people have about
the Nets is defense. You know, will can they play
good enough defense? You were a defensive stopper, You were
a guy that like a three D guy. But when
you look at today's NBA, it just seems with the
floor so spread, you got so much more space to cover,
(27:46):
you can't head check anybody that it's hard. It's a
lot harder to stop people. Now, how is it fair
to say today, in today's NBA, the defense wins championships?
Or do you think that a team might not be
that great defensively but still can win the championship in
today's NBA, Well you got to play some defense. So
(28:09):
I say, as long as you put up a standing
fight defensively and give yourself a chance to get some
some stops. And with the Brooklyn Nests, they have firepower
across the board, so you got guys that could get
you know, thirty a piece. Or if you if you
look at those three right there, that's that's ninety points
in itself right there. And the way the league is now,
I mean, teams are scoring one hundred plus points and
(28:30):
you don't have those low scoring games. So as long
as they put up a fight defensively and get stops
when needed, I think they offensively they will be able
to outlast most teams because depend on who they're planned against.
You don't you're not going to have a steady diet
of those scoring uh players on that team. So you
might have one or two and that might account for
(28:50):
just half the points. But with those guys, they're capable
of thirty thirty points a piece. So like I said,
that's ninety and then your clue the role players is
chipping in here, year in there, and they they're able
to pull out most games scoring wise, but defensively, like
you said, as long as they put up some resistance,
then they have a chance. Earlier today, I wrote a
(29:11):
column for Dead Spinning. I said that Kawhi letter has
been a bust with the Clippers thus far. Is it
too soon to say that? I know it's a year
and a half. Okay, they didn't win the championship the
first year, but there's some pretty bad numbers about him
in the clutch moments of game for the Clippers this year,
he's really struggled. Is this gonna work out? Is there
(29:33):
a real chance that the Clippers will get to the
championship or have a chance to win with Kawhi? Yeah,
I think they have a chance. I mean, right now,
it's just a regular season. You got T Lou, you
know the head coach now and I know T Lou,
and he's just getting guys ready, you know what I'm saying,
just to have a you know, a great regular season
to put them in a chance for the playoffs and
(29:53):
then they're worried about that when they get there. Um
not big on stats, but they he does have to
be a big contributor for that LA team along with
Paul George. So right now, I'm not worried about the Clippers.
I just know in due time when the playoffs come,
they'll be ready. And Kauhi he's a proven player, he's
got it John before and he'll be ready. And it's
(30:13):
just a matter of getting um, you know, the new additions,
you know, on the same page, and the guys who's
been there, you know, on the same page, and and
and their mindset. As far as you know, you're racing
the memory from how the season at end of last
year to right now it's a new year and it's
a new opportunity for them to do something about it
real quick. I want to I wanted to ask him
about that you brought up. I know you and Jail
(30:35):
and Lebron James of Buddies. You think he should win
the MVP every year. You thought he should have won
last year during the regular season's regular season compared compared
to what Yannis did. Was Lebron James in the finals? No,
it's a it's a regular season award. Here's what I say,
(30:55):
season award. Because we hear you the finals MVP is
the most important. That means you won the championship. But
if they because a lot of people say they should
just wait till the you know, till the end of
the finals to give the MVP, right right, then it
would just be the finals MVP award, right, it's not
about the you know what I mean, It would diminish
the regular season award, which wouldn't even exist at that point.
(31:18):
So that's why we gotta do. I agree with you.
It's not in a vacuum. You know, you understand what
the guys have done in the past and in other
playoffs and all that. But that's why I'm firmly against
just making it after the playoffs because it would just
be the finals MVP. Right. So, if if the regular
season award, if the stats, if that's what it's going
(31:41):
to be based off, and that player deserves to be MVP, okay,
give or to him. So now if the player has
great stats and their team is not as good, do
you still award that player MVP. So so two years
ago when Lebron when the when the Lakers didn't make
the playoffs, if Lebron had the best stats the league,
you're saying he shouldn't have he shouldn't have got the MVP.
(32:03):
Right If that's what based on what everybody is saying.
If if you're saying the best stats for the most part,
it doesn't matter how far you take your team as
being the most valuable player. If that doesn't matter, then
yes you got to You gotta put that MVP on
the regular season stats and whoever has to bet, but
not just the stats. Your stats have to lead to
Winnie Brail will not get an MVP vote right, the
(32:29):
best regular season, that's what we're saying. Yeah, yeah, I
mean because we didn't know at that point, we didn't
know Lakers were going all the way to the finals,
Bucks were going out. Nobody had any idea of that,
right right, I mean nobody had to do. I mean,
I'm not trying to take anything away from Yannis, but
like I said, it's just one of those topics where
you could go back and forth and maybe it's some
(32:50):
change to it or maybe not. But if everybody understands
what it's based upon, then you shouldn't really have a
you know, issue with it. You know who pose as
you being bold? Man? Is Lebron to go? I mean,
since we're going there, we got a minute. Is Lebron
to go? It's what this is? Like a layout? Are
you kidding? He says you should win the MVP every year,
so obviously he's gonna say that. I don't know Post
(33:13):
Post saw Jordans, So who you got Post? I mean,
I grew up on Michael Jordan, was able to compete
against him a few times before he got out the league.
And for myself, you know, Jordan is to go to me,
but Lebron James oh, I'm calling Lebron, but I'm calling Lebrons?
Are you Kiddingsten? You could call Lebron James. And like
(33:35):
I said, the Bronze body of work has been impressed
of his all around game for the most part. But
like I said, I grew up on MJ and that's
what I knew. And so Lebron James kids in my
top in my top three. So therefore, so you two,
we got him too. I would get Lebron James number two. Yes,
who's three? Kobe we got k I got Kareem. I
(34:02):
don't know who Rob got, yeah, And I don't go
it up. But so like for myself, you know, and
not just a little bit of you know, Kareem, you
know saying you know he was up there as well,
but it's just not you know, being able to get
the full effect of his body of work. You know,
I'm seeing it from a far and just from you know,
old videos and things like that. Um, But I mean
(34:22):
I am a Kobe Bryant stand as well. So just
for me because I was able to see that night
in the night out and it's nothing else against those
you know, those other greats and the guys before me,
and before those players. But I just wasn't able to
witness it. You know, it's for myself. Pose, good work, man.
We put you on the hot seat, Grace. After you
(34:46):
got to get some texts, some calls and some after
all that, after all that, Lebron Sugar, I got a
tooth thing. Oh my god. All right, Pose, great stuff, man.
We'll talk to you some other time. All right. Thanks
for having your fathers. Yeah. Check him out on the Polescast.
That's on Basketball News dot Com. I Couple Keep it Locked.
(35:08):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Broussar then Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app. We are the I Couple of Chris and Rob.
We're coming to you live from the Farmers Insurance Fox
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(35:29):
This will be a quick one. Rob. There's talk, believe
it or not. Obviously everybody's talking about, you know, will
the Houston Texans trade Deshaun Watson. Rob. There is talk
throughout the league that a team or two is willing
(35:50):
to give up its whole draft class. So every pick
this year or next year or whatever, and in some
cases two draft classes was Deshaun Watson. Your thoughts, I
just think it's ridiculous. I think we've seen this before
where people go overboard. Uh. We saw it with the
(36:14):
Herschel Walker trade right Minnesota and Dallas, right, and we
saw it helped Dallas build it's dynasty, right, exactly that.
And uh, we saw it with Ricky Williams in New Orleans.
You remember that. But Mike Dicker was the coach. A disaster.
I think they won two games or four. He got
(36:34):
fired the next year. Dickon right, it was a it
was a total disaster, even worse than Ricky Williams in
a wedding dress on the cover of whatever magazine that was.
That was just an unbelievable cover. That was bad. I
felt Ricky, I don't know what he was doing. He
might have been uh, you know, he was one that
(36:55):
liked to smoke that stuff. Yes, he quit fall so
that he could smoke. Was going on right when he
got that dress. But anyway, um, I'm with you, look
as great as Deshaun Watson is, and we acknowledge he's great. Rob.
What were they last year with Deshaun Watson playing lights out?
(37:17):
They were four and twelve, right, right, as great as
he is, I mean, if you got nothing around him,
and he actually has some pretty decent receivers. Obviously they
lost their best one, DeAndre Hopkins. You had a JJ
Watte on the other end the side of the field,
and they still won four games. So look, as important
(37:39):
as quarterback is, right, I mean, we we do go overboard.
Quarterback gets too much credit, quarterback gets too much blame.
But don't get it twisted, folks. It is still a
team sport. It really is. And if you have now,
if you're a team that Rob is ready to win now.
And maybe that's what this team or two is. They
really don't need picks, you know what I'm saying. They
(38:01):
got everything in place. All we need is a QB
where young our guys are talented. Maybe maybe, but in
most cases, I mean it's a very few teams in
that situation. So I don't know, I'm with you. That's
a ton to give up. I just think it's too much.
It's just it's ridiculous. Yeah, that's a ton. But we
(38:25):
got two hours left. It is the Eye Couple, Chris
and Rob. Plenty to get into and plenty of good
guests too, plus trash talk. You know what to do, folks.
You got to keep it locked at Fox Sports Radio
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
to check us out live every weekday from seven pm
to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching f s R.
(00:25):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Yeah, it is The
ID Couple. I'm Chris Bruce Hard alongside my partner Rob Parker,
(00:49):
and we're coming to you live from the Farmers Insurance
Fox Sports Radio Studio DOOD Live. Call one eight eight
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(01:10):
from survey data July to December twenty twenty. We are
take that for data. Yes, indeed, all right, speaking of data,
we got our man James Posey. I don't know what
that has to do with data, but James Posey coming
up at the bottom of the hour. That doesn't even
(01:31):
really go together. I just I'm used to saying it
so James Posey will join us. He's a three time
NBA champion, also host of the Polescast podcast. The Polescast
podcast on Basketball News dot Com. All right, Rob, what's
up man? How are you? I'm doing good? How are you?
Mister Chris Brossard? I'm great, man, I am well. I
(01:56):
can I cannot complain. So, so, of course, you know
I've been I told you I've been doing a lot
of stuff, getting uh stuff organized. So I wanted to
go join the Chris, you know I'm a clear member
at the airport? Are you clear? Yeah? I got clear.
If you travel a lot, clear is just the best.
I mean, basically, ask yourself, would you want to pay
(02:16):
twenty dollars to skip the line, right, Chris? That's really
to me? Right, right? Would you play twenty dollars to
skip the line or whatever? What's the other one? T
uh TSA, which is right, which is cheaper? But but
I don't do TSA. But yeah, but don't you get
to go ahead? No, you stay ahead, but you just
(02:37):
don't have to take off your stuff your stuff. That's
a difference. Yeah, okay, So but it's funny that you
say that because I had an appointment for TSA today.
So I get there at the appointment because I wanted both, Chris,
Now I won't have to take my stuff off and
jump the line. Oh wow, that is that's not bad.
But you did that so they know. Of course, the
(02:59):
one day I have my appointment, the computer system was down.
It's like, wow, that's why I don't have t say
at this point, because I was like, wait, I gotta
set up an appointment. Yeah, can I come like a
couple of hours before a flight, you know what I'm saying?
And then no, you got no. And then and then
I have another one for global entry. Have you ever
heard of that Global entry? That's that's so there's another one, Chris,
(03:23):
And guess what what's happen to that one? That's the
same thing where you don't have to go through you know,
like the agent when you come in from out of country.
Out of the country, you just go straight through. So
it's worth it. I'm thinking about I'm doing that. And
I got an appointment for that, and that's at the
airport in Detroit. That's the only airport I could do
with that. They didn't have one in LA. Can you
(03:44):
imagine I'm not having an office in La. Okay, that's it,
all right for the odd couple. All right, we're gonna
get right into this. Let's introduce the Crew DJ Alex
tie Shirt aka Alex the Vegan on the ones and
it's two's on the tight Shirt Tuesday. Also, what Rob,
this is a trash talking Tuesday, as always, your chance
(04:08):
to trash anyone anything in the world of sports. That's right,
that's the third hour of the show. So get your
takes ready. Just come strong. All right, we got super
producer Rob g running things and on the updates a
surprise for Tuesday, the Heisman himself, Steve this Sager, the
best update guy in the history of network sports talk radio.
(04:33):
See the SAgs already got you nowhere with this. I'm
just saying, he's as good as it get. He knows base,
he knows all the sports. He goes to games. I
don't even know. No, no, he's faking. Let's get right
into this, Rob G. I gotta ask you before we do.
(04:55):
Do we have the Brad Doherty sound? Okay? Uh? Rob?
We have talked about it before to a small degree.
Now we're gonna really dive in. James Harden. The year
started in a crazy manner for him trade demand Russell
Westbrook didn't want to play with him anymore. He didn't
(05:16):
want to play with Westbrook anymore, he didn't want to
play in Houston anymore. Comes out Drops, but forty four
in his first game, just killing it the first few games.
Houston's like, oh, don't forget right, and Houston's thinking, oh,
he got ball like this. Then we trade him, and
so he finally says, you know what, for them to
(05:39):
trade me, I'm gonna have to, uh like Les, let
lighten up a little bit down now. Now check this out.
He's still averaged twenty four and eleven assist close to
eleven ten and a half assist with Houston, but he
played eight of nine games, kind of dogged it for
a few of them even though he put up numbers,
(06:01):
and he got traded. And since he's been in Brooklyn,
he has been lighting it up so much. So last
night he goes for thirty fifteen was it fifteen rebounds
or fifteen assists? It was thirty points, fifteen assists and
(06:21):
fourteen rebounds. Triple ridiculous in twenty two games. How about
this the most triple doubles for a Nuts player in history?
In the season. In the season, he's already pass it.
Chris Well. Kid had twelve in a season. Oh I
thought they said he only had six from what I read. Okay, well,
(06:42):
but he will pass that in short order. But he
will pass that. But yeah, so he is lightening it
up so much so that Brad Doherty and for you youngsters,
Rob because the youngsters probably don't know. Brad Doherty was
a heck of a player. He had a bad hairline,
but he could ball out what they used to say,
had a three head or something. This is true they
(07:07):
made he had, but his hair lies gonna go ball
He didn't. His hair line almost touched his eyebrows. That's
how close his hair lied. Seriously, he didn't have a forehead,
Chris Well, that's what they said. He had a three
head or two. It wasn't. It wasn't a forehead because
I'm telling you, his hair line was right above his eyebrows.
(07:31):
It was unbelievable. Yes, but he was a really good player.
Play with Michael Jordan at North Carolina, then went to
the Cleveland Cavaliers and did damage, did work and a
back injury. I actually covered. I was the beat writer
for the Cavaliers the year he retired back injury. Yeah,
he had bad discs in his back and had to retire.
(07:53):
But he was robbed. He was probably on pace for
a Hall of Fame career. He was really nine for
his eight years or whatever he ended up. Some of
the millennials probably know him Chris for the for the NASCAR. Uh,
you know, he's a Nascar annoza like this the old network.
(08:14):
I saw him in the halls, but I never worked.
I worked with him several shows. Good guy, really a
lot of fun. Good guy and um. But anyway he's doing.
He's talking basketball somewhere and uh, here's what he said
about James Harden. I take back anything bad or negative
I said about James Harden. James Harden what No, No,
(08:36):
you could still say it's you can. J Harden is
the best player in the NBA. He is. He may
be the best offensive player I've ever seen. I'm telling
him he is at a whole time now I know
the playoff stuff and all that he is. It's unbelievable.
(08:57):
His his numbers are are gotten so easily. And I
was watching the game and I was thinking back to
watching him with Houston when he was kind of going
on about sixty five and it's still scoring thirty. I'm
telling you, man, this guy is unbelievable and I think
he is absolutely the best player in the NBA. M
(09:22):
That was our huge words for several reasons. Right Number one,
he called him the best player in the world. Number two,
this is a guy that faced Michael Jordans many times,
played with Michael Jordan at North Carolina, and faced him
several times in the NBA. And let me say this
to all those out there, because there's a lot of
(09:43):
people ride probably aren't even watching some of the games
and they're just looking in the box score and Kyrie's
playing tremendously, But if you just look at the numbers,
you might say, well, Kyrie's playing better. He's the leading scorer,
you know. You know with Durrand, James is doing everything
hardening and Harden is I mean he rob He is
(10:06):
looking like one of the best point guards we've ever seen.
I totally, Chris, because you know, I've been I've been
focused in on that Brooklyn team. Every chance I get
a chance to watch them, I do, and I'm always
you know, trying to see how it fits, you know,
even without Durant and and uh, Harden has been tremendous.
I'm telling you, I don't even recognize this guy from
(10:29):
the guy who played to Houston. And I'm dead serious,
and I do. I remember him in Oksey and he
showed playmaking ability, unselfishness, all great passing skills, and he
showed him in Houston. I remember he led the league
and assist you I know, but but but but my
vision of him, yeah, he was. My vision of him
(10:51):
is just taking these threes and you know, drawing the
fouls and and just like holding onto the ball, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble,
put up at three. That's not where he is, Chris.
And if you're the Nets organization ownership coaching staff, you
are a static. Are you kidding that a guy of
(11:12):
that caliber could come join in and do what they've
been doing, which is they've lost one game, they lost
a game where only Harden played, Like, what was that
game they just got? They've they've won ten of their
last eleven or nine of their last ten, something like that,
sixteen and six in his twenty two games with the nets,
(11:34):
and remember a lot of that is without Durant. Those
played seven games, Chris, those three have only played seven games,
So it is phenomenal what he's doing. I think Rob,
and I'm an MVP voter, he's right there. I think Lebron, Harden,
(11:54):
and Joe LMB not in that order, but those are
the three front runners. I don't know in order at
this when. I mean, you don't need when at this
point of the see but but he's in the conversation.
He's in the conversation, and you know what you said it.
I think he's still below because of what Harden is doing,
but you you mentioned it before. Kyrie's balling out. He's
(12:15):
been Chris since he came back. I know he's missed
a couple of games. I think he's playing just like
he did before he left. But he's playing right because
you know he's doing He's been great the whole season
when he's there, no right, no doubt. But I'm just saying,
like when at first coming back, people were wondering where
his head would be after the layoff or whatever. He's
just picked up. You're right where he left off. It's
(12:37):
been fun to watch, Yeah, and the question now, and
I was on the First Things First this morning debating
with Nick Wright. Nick Wright wants to believe he feels
like hardened it is basically disqualified for MVP because of
what the four or five games he dogged it in Houston.
(12:57):
And I get it. If it's nipping, tuck and close,
that could be something you know you hold against him. Well,
this guy played all eighty two hard whatever. But to
think that that disqualifies him, I'm sorry, it doesn't. It
was like four five games. It wasn't a quarter of
(13:18):
the season. It wasn't certainly wasn't half of the season.
And if the Nets continue to play at this pace,
rob continue to decimate the other elite teams in the league,
and he continues to be the key. And he's the
key because his unselfishness rob him. Going there immediately taking
(13:40):
the third most amount of shots behind Kyrie and KD.
He set a tone. And then playing point guard, not
playing two, he set a tone of unselfishness. And you're
watching them, they all make the extra pass. All of
the role players are touching the rock. I mean, heck,
last night, this dude named Nick Claxton, who have no
(14:02):
idea somebody named Nicholas Claxton dropped like twenty one or
nineteen or something. But everybody's getting open looks. They get
open looks, and they're getting the ball. Chris, they're open,
the ball is coming their way. That's what I'm saying.
If you're coach, if you're the coaching staff, and you're
Steve Nash and those guys, you gotta be like, dude,
(14:23):
I'm loving this. You gotta be loving it because you
just mentioned it. All kinds of guys, Harris. All these
guys are coming up with big games. It ain't just
those two or three and Durant spin Out hasn't missed
a beat. When that guy comes back after the All
Star break'll there'll be a few nights when they don't
play well and they lose, But they're not gonna lose
(14:44):
that often, Chris. I don't think they will. And that's
the thing both you and I are like, Look, if
they run through the second half of the season really
put a ton of distance between themselves and whoever second
place in the East, it's gonna be hard to hold
the MVP trophy away from James Harden. And we'll see.
Like I said, I think Lebron still very much in
(15:05):
the hunt, Joel mbid and we'll see if anybody else
jumps up. There's thirty five games are so left, But
right now that dude is very much in the conversation.
We believe, So let's see what you guys think. Eight seven,
seven ninety nine on Fox eight seven seven nine nine
six sixty three sixty nine. Should the way James Harden
(15:27):
forced his way out of Houston, the way he threw
his teammates under the bus, the way he dogged it
for a few games, should that work against him in
the MVP voting? Or better yet, should it keep him
from winning the MVP Award under any circumstances? You're turned
away in with Chris and Rob the Eye Couple Fox
(15:47):
Sports Radio. Be sure to catch live editions of The
Odd Couple with Chris Brussar then Rob Parker weekdays at
seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
and the iHeart Radio app. Hey up, everybody, It's me
three time pro bowler Levarrington, and I couldn't be more
excited to announce a new podcast called Up on Game?
(16:08):
What is up on Game? You asked, along with my
fellow pro Bowler, t J. Hudshmansatta and Super Bowl champion. Yep,
that's right, Plexico Birds. You can only name a show
with that type of talent. On it. Up on Game
We're going to be sharing our real life experiences loaded
with teachable moments. Listen to Up on Game with me
(16:29):
LeVar Arrington, t J. Huschman Zatta and Plexico Birds on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your
podcast from. All right, you're tuned into the I Couple.
Chris Brusar, Rob Parker, We're coming you live from the
Farmers Insurance Fox Sports Radio Studios. Call Farmers Today for
(16:50):
eight quote eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox. She'll
turn the way in. Uh, should James Harden be penalized
in the MVP race from what happened in Houston? And better? Yeah,
shouldn't be disqualified altogether from it? You'll turned away in
the eye. Come all right, let's kick it off with
(17:12):
Franz Waugh in Rochester, New York. You're on the odd
couple of Fox Sports Radio. What's up? Hey? How you
guys doing that? Doing good? Brother? How are you? I'm
doing well? Can't complain? I actually him calling because I
got a little bone to pick with Christy Shard. Chris,
what you do, just be ready because I picked back.
(17:35):
You know, you're my favorite in his favorite commentator. I
watch you all the time. But I caught him last
week and was the first to say that James turn
was the MVP, and I heard you on First Things
First and I was the first to say. I was
the first to said last week, you guys were talking
about the Nets to him being the MVP of the Nets.
I caught him was like, no, he's the MVP of
the league. I remember that, Chris, give him credit. I
(17:59):
don't remember all that. I don't. I mean, I remember
him calling in, but I don't know if he said
it before we talked about it, but I remember, I
don't know if you know what I mean. I do
remember a call where, you know, we're talking about him
being MVP of the NETS. I don't I feel like
we were like he might be the MVP of the
league too, right the way that he remember we did.
We did put it out there, right he I think
(18:21):
he called up and said it too, but we had
said he's the MVP of the Nets and he might
just be the MVP of the league. You know what
if they keep playing the way that they're playing, right,
so we were stealing your shine, but no, but we
appreciate that. Yes, friends, will I appreciate it. Paul and Colorado,
you're in the odd couple of Fox Sports Radio. What's up, Paul? Hey, guys,
(18:42):
how are you doing. I love listening to your show.
Thank you, buddy, thank you. Hey. I just got a
couple of things. I just think, you know, the character
has to play. I think a little bit of a
role in the MVP voting. But then, um, my second
point is if he took James Harden off the nets
how much or with the next day to say you
took and beat off the Sixers or Lebron out of
(19:03):
the Lakers. Well, I do agree that, and right, this
generally does work against guys. You know, if you have
even one other superstar, let alone two, it generally works
against you. But there are it's there incidents. Lebron won
two of his MVPs with Wade and Bosh automatically. First, yeah,
(19:26):
Kareem won his last one with Magic because Magic was
a rip. Automatical with Kareem. He won three at least
two with Kareem of his three bird won three in
a row with mchael and Parrish. You know what I'm saying.
So I hear him, But number one, Rob Durant hasn't
been playing. If Durant had been playing this whole time,
(19:47):
we probably aren't thinking of hardness way because even though
you'd be playing great, you know, maybe Durant would be
even playing better, you know, like it would be different
your spot on. That makes a huge difference to having
missed him, right and and and hardens the reason why,
that's why you could look at him. Okay, So now
(20:07):
they're winning all these games, and if Durant comes back
and they're unbeatable, right right, right, then you go look,
look they were winning before Durant got you know, got back,
and now they're winning out even higher clip. So he
can still look good if he still puts up those numbers. Chris,
I really believe that. Uh. Let's go to Chuck in Pennsylentucky.
(20:31):
I mean in Kentucky. You're on the old couple of
Fox Sports Radio. Everything's not funny. What's up, Chuck, Chuck?
Where in Kentucky are you? Man? I mean I'm in
this small town. Uh, probably of Princeton, Kentucky. I don't
know what I have got. You know, I used to
(20:51):
live in Kentucky. I'm a Kentucky guy. You know what
I'm saying. Oh yeah, now we're it's all good in Kentucky. Man,
all right, So what you got? What you got now?
I think, you know, James harden Is is playing killer
this year. I mean, he's just he's saying, it's a
whole another level. And you know, I think I think
with the right combination, you get to the right fit
(21:13):
of people and think good things happen, especially with the coach.
But but you know, the situation with Houston, and I
kind of feel like if you remember, like when Kobe
Bryant had things like coming up against him, and all
he did was just play his way right out of
that stuff, and you know, people kind of in a
sense forgot about it because he was just playing, you know,
(21:33):
playing so well, and then become on the grass in
the league and Hardens just he's out there just dominating.
So I think people are going to quickly forget, you know,
this stuff whenever I mean, he continues to do what
you do. You can see his name right up there
at the top of the list, I agree. I mean
Rob beginning of the year, at least when he first
got to Brooklyn, I may have said I certainly wasn't
(21:55):
thinking of him as an MVP candidate, and I may
have even said somebody asked me at that point, oh,
with the way he left Houston, no, he won't get it.
But he's playing so well. At the end of the day,
it's about who's playing the best basketball, and he is.
But see, even even I'm gonna say this, but Nick Wright,
even his statement that he should be disqualified, could you
(22:19):
could tell he's not an NBA writer, Chris, because that
that doesn't disqualify you. Do you know what I mean
to just automatically say he's disqualified because in five games
in Houston he forced his way out. He was overweighed,
and you look at that. No, it's actually the other
way that he got hisself back to where he was
and elevated his game, changed his game, and became the
(22:41):
MVP of a team that already had two stars before
he got there. I think it's a more compelling story,
to be honest, Chris. I mean, look, I get why
people can be upset. Oh he quit on his team.
It was a few games and at the end, are
we gonna hold it against Anthony Davis? You know, I
mean Carmelo Anthony, Rob, remember he Carmelo Anthony and Anthony Davis.
(23:04):
Let's keep it real. They ruined the whole season. Thank you,
keep going. Umelo ruined a season in Denver and that
was a good team. Rob. Anthony Davis ruined an entire
season in New Orleans. James Harden were four or five games?
That's it? And so you know the next year, what
(23:25):
is there a grace period? Is it just that season?
Is it forever the rest of your career that you're penalized? What? So? Yeah,
we're on the same page with this one. All right,
we got James Posey coming up next, But first be
sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple with
Chris Broussar. Then Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm Eastern
four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeart
(23:47):
Radio app. Three time NBA champion has really done it
all at different levels in the NBA. Was a player,
great player, like I said, one championships. Also was a
coach in the league, an assistant coach, and now he's
the host of the poscast on Basketball News dot Com.
James Posey, Welcome to the Eye Couple. Brother, How are you?
(24:09):
What's happening? What's up? Fellers? How y'are doing? We are
great man, Great to have you on pose and right.
We're just we were just discussing how we believe James
Harden is right in the mix of the MVP races,
LMBI and all that. Right, and there are those that
(24:29):
think the way he left Houston, and we know he
kind of dogged it for four or five games, that
that pretty much should disqualify him from winning MVP this year.
Do you think that should work against him? What are
your thoughts on that? Well, unfortunately, that's that's the nature
of the business where players, you know, they could take
that route to sort of get what they want. I
(24:51):
wish I wish he hasn't He hadn't done it that way,
but it worked out in his favor. But in doing so,
changing teams and the the amount of eyes that's going
to be on the you know, the nets. You know,
he has to play and he's going to have to
win now. Um, and I just think that's just you know,
extra love motivation for him to get the critics and
(25:13):
the people off his back a little bit, and also
for him just to step up and make sure that
he plays a great brand of basketball or do you no? So,
I mean, as long as he's you know, he's he's producing.
But for me, I just think always Lebron James should
be the MVP. You know, he he's been a man
(25:35):
that's constantly in the finals and you know he's proven
to be the most valuable player for his team to
get him there, and that's where you want to be
at the end of the season. And I know the
MVP is a regular season war, but I think for
who's who's ever the Kennedy is if they make it
to the finals, and that's, like I said, that's the
ultimate goal. I think that should always be the be
the leader. And for myself, I just say Lebron James.
(25:57):
But if he's putting up crazy stat lines and you
can't deny him the MVP, then that player is well
deserving of it itself. What did you think when Harden
actually was traded to Brooklyn and they already had k
D and Kyrie? Did you think this was gonna work?
Because if you if you want to go back and
look at some of the Twitter timelines and what people
(26:18):
were saying that this team is not gonna work, there's
only one basketball, they're gonna be bickering, all this other stuff.
People couldn't have been more wrong about this mix. Where
were you on this team? I was like everybody else,
I was just waiting to see how it will work out.
I mean, for right now, they really haven't had a
steady dose of, you know, playing time together. But it
(26:40):
just reminds me of when I was in Boston with
the Big Three, Like it was a major sacrifice amongst
Kevin Garnett, Paul Pearson, Ray Allen and the point that
they were in their career, it was about winning and
doing the writing, trying to get itself an opportunity to
win a title, and they did so. And if they
understand that with you know, the fire party that they
have amongst each other and just the already you know,
(27:02):
the best talent that they have combined, they get themselves
a good chance. And as long as they continue to
play right, don't get bored with the process, and understand
that each night is gonna be a sacrifice. So every
night you're not gonna be able to get your numbers
and you got to be okay with that, with the
win or with the laws. So if that is expressed
to them and they understand that, they stand a good
(27:24):
chance of making it to the finals. Now there there's
a lot of talk. The question mark people have about
the Nets is defense. You know, will can they play
good enough defense? You were a defensive stopper, You were
a guy that like a three D guy. But when
you look at today's NBA, it just seems with the
floor so spread, you got so much more space to cover,
(27:46):
you can't head check anybody that it's hard. It's a
lot harder to stop people. Now, how is it fair
to say today, in today's NBA, the defense wins championships?
Or do you think that a team might not be
that great defensively but still can win the championship in
today's NBA, Well you got to play some defense. So
(28:09):
I say, as long as you put up a standing
fight defensively and give yourself a chance to get some
some stops. And with the Brooklyn Nests, they have firepower
across the board, so you got guys that could get
you know, thirty a piece. Or if you if you
look at those three right there, that's that's ninety points
in itself right there. And the way the league is now,
I mean, teams are scoring one hundred plus points and
(28:30):
you don't have those low scoring games. So as long
as they put up a fight defensively and get stops
when needed, I think they offensively they will be able
to outlast most teams because depend on who they're planned against.
You don't you're not going to have a steady diet
of those scoring uh players on that team. So you
might have one or two and that might account for
(28:50):
just half the points. But with those guys, they're capable
of thirty thirty points a piece. So like I said,
that's ninety and then your clue the role players is
chipping in here, year in there, and they they're able
to pull out most games scoring wise, but defensively, like
you said, as long as they put up some resistance,
then they have a chance. Earlier today, I wrote a
(29:11):
column for Dead Spinning. I said that Kawhi letter has
been a bust with the Clippers thus far. Is it
too soon to say that? I know it's a year
and a half. Okay, they didn't win the championship the
first year, but there's some pretty bad numbers about him
in the clutch moments of game for the Clippers this year,
he's really struggled. Is this gonna work out? Is there
(29:33):
a real chance that the Clippers will get to the
championship or have a chance to win with Kawhi? Yeah,
I think they have a chance. I mean, right now,
it's just a regular season. You got T Lou, you
know the head coach now and I know T Lou,
and he's just getting guys ready, you know what I'm saying,
just to have a you know, a great regular season
to put them in a chance for the playoffs and
(29:53):
then they're worried about that when they get there. Um
not big on stats, but they he does have to
be a big contributor for that LA team along with
Paul George. So right now, I'm not worried about the Clippers.
I just know in due time when the playoffs come,
they'll be ready. And Kauhi he's a proven player, he's
got it John before and he'll be ready. And it's
(30:13):
just a matter of getting um, you know, the new additions,
you know, on the same page, and the guys who's
been there, you know, on the same page, and and
and their mindset. As far as you know, you're racing
the memory from how the season at end of last
year to right now it's a new year and it's
a new opportunity for them to do something about it
real quick. I want to I wanted to ask him
about that you brought up. I know you and Jail
(30:35):
and Lebron James of Buddies. You think he should win
the MVP every year. You thought he should have won
last year during the regular season's regular season compared compared
to what Yannis did. Was Lebron James in the finals? No,
it's a it's a regular season award. Here's what I say,
(30:55):
season award. Because we hear you the finals MVP is
the most important. That means you won the championship. But
if they because a lot of people say they should
just wait till the you know, till the end of
the finals to give the MVP, right right, then it
would just be the finals MVP award, right, it's not
about the you know what I mean, It would diminish
the regular season award, which wouldn't even exist at that point.
(31:18):
So that's why we gotta do. I agree with you.
It's not in a vacuum. You know, you understand what
the guys have done in the past and in other
playoffs and all that. But that's why I'm firmly against
just making it after the playoffs because it would just
be the finals MVP. Right. So, if if the regular
season award, if the stats, if that's what it's going
(31:41):
to be based off, and that player deserves to be MVP, okay,
give or to him. So now if the player has
great stats and their team is not as good, do
you still award that player MVP. So so two years
ago when Lebron when the when the Lakers didn't make
the playoffs, if Lebron had the best stats the league,
you're saying he shouldn't have he shouldn't have got the MVP.
(32:03):
Right If that's what based on what everybody is saying.
If if you're saying the best stats for the most part,
it doesn't matter how far you take your team as
being the most valuable player. If that doesn't matter, then
yes you got to You gotta put that MVP on
the regular season stats and whoever has to bet, but
not just the stats. Your stats have to lead to
Winnie Brail will not get an MVP vote right, the
(32:29):
best regular season, that's what we're saying. Yeah, yeah, I
mean because we didn't know at that point, we didn't
know Lakers were going all the way to the finals,
Bucks were going out. Nobody had any idea of that,
right right, I mean nobody had to do. I mean,
I'm not trying to take anything away from Yannis, but
like I said, it's just one of those topics where
you could go back and forth and maybe it's some
(32:50):
change to it or maybe not. But if everybody understands
what it's based upon, then you shouldn't really have a
you know, issue with it. You know who pose as
you being bold? Man? Is Lebron to go? I mean,
since we're going there, we got a minute. Is Lebron
to go? It's what this is? Like a layout? Are
you kidding? He says you should win the MVP every year,
so obviously he's gonna say that. I don't know Post
(33:13):
Post saw Jordans, So who you got Post? I mean,
I grew up on Michael Jordan, was able to compete
against him a few times before he got out the league.
And for myself, you know, Jordan is to go to me,
but Lebron James oh, I'm calling Lebron, but I'm calling Lebrons?
Are you Kiddingsten? You could call Lebron James. And like
(33:35):
I said, the Bronze body of work has been impressed
of his all around game for the most part. But
like I said, I grew up on MJ and that's
what I knew. And so Lebron James kids in my
top in my top three. So therefore, so you two,
we got him too. I would get Lebron James number two. Yes,
who's three? Kobe we got k I got Kareem. I
(34:02):
don't know who Rob got, yeah, And I don't go
it up. But so like for myself, you know, and
not just a little bit of you know, Kareem, you
know saying you know he was up there as well,
but it's just not you know, being able to get
the full effect of his body of work. You know,
I'm seeing it from a far and just from you know,
old videos and things like that. Um, But I mean
(34:22):
I am a Kobe Bryant stand as well. So just
for me because I was able to see that night
in the night out and it's nothing else against those
you know, those other greats and the guys before me,
and before those players. But I just wasn't able to
witness it. You know, it's for myself. Pose, good work, man.
We put you on the hot seat, Grace. After you
(34:46):
got to get some texts, some calls and some after
all that, after all that, Lebron Sugar, I got a
tooth thing. Oh my god. All right, Pose, great stuff, man.
We'll talk to you some other time. All right. Thanks
for having your fathers. Yeah. Check him out on the Polescast.
That's on Basketball News dot Com. I Couple Keep it Locked.
(35:08):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Broussar then Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app. We are the I Couple of Chris and Rob.
We're coming to you live from the Farmers Insurance Fox
Sports Radio Studios called one AA eight Farmers to switch
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(35:29):
This will be a quick one. Rob. There's talk, believe
it or not. Obviously everybody's talking about, you know, will
the Houston Texans trade Deshaun Watson. Rob. There is talk
throughout the league that a team or two is willing
(35:50):
to give up its whole draft class. So every pick
this year or next year or whatever, and in some
cases two draft classes was Deshaun Watson. Your thoughts, I
just think it's ridiculous. I think we've seen this before
where people go overboard. Uh. We saw it with the
(36:14):
Herschel Walker trade right Minnesota and Dallas, right, and we
saw it helped Dallas build it's dynasty, right, exactly that.
And uh, we saw it with Ricky Williams in New Orleans.
You remember that. But Mike Dicker was the coach. A disaster.
I think they won two games or four. He got
(36:34):
fired the next year. Dickon right, it was a it
was a total disaster, even worse than Ricky Williams in
a wedding dress on the cover of whatever magazine that was.
That was just an unbelievable cover. That was bad. I
felt Ricky, I don't know what he was doing. He
might have been uh, you know, he was one that
(36:55):
liked to smoke that stuff. Yes, he quit fall so
that he could smoke. Was going on right when he
got that dress. But anyway, um, I'm with you, look
as great as Deshaun Watson is, and we acknowledge he's great. Rob.
What were they last year with Deshaun Watson playing lights out?
(37:17):
They were four and twelve, right, right, as great as
he is, I mean, if you got nothing around him,
and he actually has some pretty decent receivers. Obviously they
lost their best one, DeAndre Hopkins. You had a JJ
Watte on the other end the side of the field,
and they still won four games. So look, as important
(37:39):
as quarterback is, right, I mean, we we do go overboard.
Quarterback gets too much credit, quarterback gets too much blame.
But don't get it twisted, folks. It is still a
team sport. It really is. And if you have now,
if you're a team that Rob is ready to win now.
And maybe that's what this team or two is. They
really don't need picks, you know what I'm saying. They
(38:01):
got everything in place. All we need is a QB
where young our guys are talented. Maybe maybe, but in
most cases, I mean it's a very few teams in
that situation. So I don't know, I'm with you. That's
a ton to give up. I just think it's too much.
It's just it's ridiculous. Yeah, that's a ton. But we
(38:25):
got two hours left. It is the Eye Couple, Chris
and Rob. Plenty to get into and plenty of good
guests too, plus trash talk. You know what to do, folks.
You got to keep it locked at Fox Sports Radio
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