May 9, 2024 • 33 mins
Chris and Rob explain why Jalen Brunson's foot injury is just as bad for the the NBA at-large as it is for the New York Knicks, discuss why the injury bug seems to have hit the Knicks so hard in the playoffs and tell us what Luka Doncic is going to have to do to get himself back on track after a sluggish start to the postseason.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:24):
Let's get this, punies, you're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
All right, it is the Odd Couple.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Chris and Rob live from the tirerag dot com studios.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Tireg dot com will help you get there.
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They've got an unmatched selection, fast, free shipping, free road
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Rob Man sad up. I mean, it's always sad when
(01:01):
a player gets injured, but sad update from the Indiana
Pacers New York Knicks game.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Rob.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
In the first quarter, Jalen Brunson injured his foot. He's
only played or it's he's only played eight minutes in
the game. They're just a few minutes before halftime, three
minutes to about two and a half minutes left before halftime.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
He's only played eight minutes rob.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
And now he is questionable to return with a sore
right foot.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
So a playoffs that has.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Just been i mean defined essentially by injuries.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Now has the press, the prussing.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Just just I mean, let me go down the line
and it Boston Chris STAPs porzingis he'll be back, but
out now. You got the Knicks, Jay Brunson, Julius Ramdll
of course not their second best player last year was
their best player was all NBA. He is out for
the playoffs. Mitchell Robinson out for the playoffs of Philadelphia,
(02:15):
Joe LMB was hampered.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Jared Allen, their all star center is out right now.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
He should be back, but he's out, thankfully.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Tyrese Halliburton has been playing, but remember he was questionable
for Game one the back spasms. Johannis and Milwaukee obviously
out Dame Eve in some games. Miami had Jimmy Butler out.
That's just going through the East Rod, I mean, unbelievable.
Dallas Luca now has a spraying need that he's playing.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
He doesn't look good.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
Chris, Like, if he's gonna be hobbling like that, how
are they gonna win?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
They could be in Trump You're absolutely right.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Zion missed for the Pelicans in their first round series.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Phoenix was hold. The Lakers were essentially all.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
They had a few role players out Clippers of course,
Kawhi Leonard out, Oklahoma City thunder Route healthy and that's
been one of the big things for him this season.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Healthy, Minnesota healthy, Denver.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Jamal Murray's dealing with a cashtrain that he is playing through.
So Rob, we've said it before, We've never seen anything
like this, and I think this is where and I
don't know, We don't know, but we have to wonder, Rob.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Is it too much training? We've talked about that before.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Is it the style of play with the game to
spread out, you're covering too much ground.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I don't know, but something needs to be like investigated.
I think it's a combination, Chris.
Speaker 5 (03:51):
But I really do believe, like the overtraining, you know
what I mean, Like I do believe your body needs
to heal and it's okay to put on a paunch
or eight pounds Chris, you know what I mean in
the off season and then get back at it.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
No, I'm not.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
And they used to be out of shape and come
back and get back into shape. During training camp and
be ready for the season. These guys never get out
of shape. And I just wonder how much of that
personal trainers. You know, everybody has their own team and
they're doing all these things and trying to figure out
you know, you see them on social media, Chris with
(04:35):
the workout sessions, you know, and all that stuff, like
is that good?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I don't know if that's good.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
I mean you would think, but Rob, there is no
question it is not working. There is no question it
is not. I mean again, it's working in terms of
making them look like adonicis right right and and be
in all this incredible shape with their shirt off.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
But as far as being available to play staying healthy,
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
It's unfortunate. And now Rob, predictably, Indiana's up ten.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I mean New York.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
And the thing is this, Rob, And look we you
and I, even though we both worked in New York,
you're from New York.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
We are certainly not New York Knicks homers.
Speaker 5 (05:19):
No, if anything, people are mad at us. They think
that we hate the Knicks.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Ok, right, but there can be no denying that having
the Knicks not only play this.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Deep I mean that and of itself is good.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
But having a player do what the things that Jalen
Brunson has done, rob that's good for the NBA. Rob
G correct me if I'm wrong. Highest rated playoff game
this season the Knicks.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Correct, rob G, that is correct. Yeah right, I mean so.
Speaker 5 (05:52):
But that's what you know when they talk about Chris,
like the TV waitings and whatnot.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
You know, New York is a big city.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
If you can get people, and we talk about all
the time, New Yorkers are everywhere, LA all over. You know,
it's just so many people and if there's an interest,
and that's why, you know, leagues love to have the
big teams Chris, the big TV markets right in the mix.
They want La, they want Chicago, they do. And it's
(06:21):
not a knock on OKC or the Spurs. As great
as the Spurs are, Chris, I think that they before
you know, the pandemic and the numbers of television you know,
drastically dropped. But the Spurs had two of the worst
TV ratings for finals ever, Like the last two were
(06:41):
the Spurs and they were a great team.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Now there's the TV size yep. And so it's unfortunate.
Hopefully he'll be able to play, you know, games three
and onward. But my goodness, this is a blow, not
only to the Knicks. I think it's probably a death
knell for the next.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Rob But well, I'm not playing, He's not playing. Yeah, yeah,
And here you know this.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
I mean the Knicks already were I mean, they were
going seven deep, and then Mitchell Robinson gets hurt, so
they entered the game pretty much going six deep, and
now you're pretty.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Much five deep.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
It's crazy, Jalen Brunson, Robin and look, I mean I
can't even I mean, it's logical to say, is this
contributed to his injury the load he's had to bear?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Sure, but we just pointed out Robbed.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
There are a lot of guys playing a lot less
minutes who are also getting hurt.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
So I don't want to put it on.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
That, but rob he was averaging forty three point seven
minutes a game in these playoffs, and we know how
intense their games were. Josh Hart rob forty six point
six minutes a game.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
I mean, come on, you gotta give them a blow, Chris,
come on, let's.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Just OGNI Nobi forty one points up. So they got
three players over forty minutes.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
A game, but they can hurt you if they were
making gonna make a long run.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 5 (08:16):
Thinking you've talked about it before. Tip of those players
break down, don't they Yep.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
And that's the thing, Like I wasn't hoping.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
I certainly wasn't hoping for it, but I wasn't even
necessarily expecting an injury like this.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
But I was thinking.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Rob, that their lack of depth was going to come
back to bite them, and possibly in this series. That
was why, possibly in this series it could bite them.
So Rob, now, let let.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Let me ask you this.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Uh, we are in a we are this is wow,
unprecedented situation for the end. Yeah, but let's look, I
want to.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Ask you something.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
We got Boston, Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown, We've got New York.
Let's let's throw Jalen Brunson in there right now. Indiana's
not gonna win a championship, Cleveland, let's just throw them out.
In the West, you got Denver, Jokic, Murray, but mainly Yokic.
(09:27):
You got OKC with SGA. You got Dallas with Luca
and Kyrie, mainly Luca. And I'll tell you the moment
why I keep saying mainly this, mainly that, and then
of course Minnesota You've got and Edwards, Kat, but mainly
Anthony Edwards. This is what I want to ask you, Rob,
of those guys, those teams so one, two, three, four, five, six,
(09:52):
six teams that are legitimate contenders to win the championship?
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Which guy or team? But mainly guy?
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Do you think it is best for the NBA to
have win this championship? Jokic to win his second straight? Oh,
we might have a dynasty Minnesota Anthony Edwards. Oh my gosh,
twenty two years old, the best player on the championship team,
Dallas Luca. Here it comes the Luca legend. You know,
(10:29):
era begins Okase. Oh my gosh, SGA just led the
youngest team ever to win a championship New York. Look
at Jalen Brunson. What in the world is going on?
Or Boston finally they get over the Hunk. Could the
Celtics become a dynasty? Which storyline, which situation do you
(10:52):
think would be best for the league.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
I'm gonna I'm gonna assume that it's Anthony Edwards. From
the standpoint of all the Jordan comparison, he's an American
born player, and not that you're gonna be mad the
European players Chris or players not born in the United States,
but that doesn't hurt, especially the way that they've dominated
(11:23):
the MVP voting.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Right, what is that now? Six years? Six years in
a row would be right?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Three?
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Who is? And m B who's not?
Speaker 5 (11:35):
He's a dual citizen now, but he wasn't born in
the United States. Yeah, so when you look at it
that I could look at at I'm sure most people
would think that the ant Man being a star and
Jordan like and all that kind of stuff would be
great for the league. But but I do also, Chris,
(11:56):
think that there are other storylines and and we shouldn't
not embrace them because maybe they're not born in the
United States or whatever. But my other storyline would be
off the heels of the Joker winning Chris the MVP
third time in four years. If they storm back and
(12:17):
beat Minnesota right in this series and then want to
go on and win the championship and repeat, then you
have a storyline and a player of a certain magnitude
that would raise people's interests, even if they're not from
Denver or whatever. You know and all that it would
be hard not to look at that guy and go, wow,
(12:39):
we're watching something really really special. So he has a
storyline too, But you gotta win, you know what I mean,
in order to make that storyline fit. So I say,
amp Man, but I'm saying the Joker has another story
that's as compelling if he were to come back and win.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
I'm with you, Rob, I think Anthony Edwards would be
best for the league. As you said, let's not count
out the American situation again, nobody's pulling against the Internet.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Nobody all that they're very popular.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
We we talked them up christ your favorite baseball players
from Japan.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
The best ever? Right, But yeah, I mean we look
we've been taking a beating.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
As you said, the last six MVP winners are not American.
Last year, we we don't, you know, win the Foeba
World Cup or whatever it was called. You know, Germany
beats us. We gotta send our big dogs over this year.
We'll see if they even win, you know.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
So I don't think it's so automatic.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
I'll tell you that, I know, especially with so many
of those guys being older and injury prone.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
So I do.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
And you said it Anthony Edwards just everybody would latch
on He's the next Michael Jordan. That would really become
a thing, you know, And so I agree with you.
I think Minnesota winning and him being so young robing
the same thing.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
You know, Cat's still young and do Bear is not old.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
They would have a chance to, you know, maybe become
like a dynasty.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Do something.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
But as you said, if Denver wins it, now you
do have that that big behemoth that some people would
root against. Some people would root four.
Speaker 5 (14:24):
And that's good, Chris, you know that that's good because
they would all.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
I don't want to see that guy win again.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
I hate Denver, like like that's not a bad thing
to have a team like that or a player, uh
that you just.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Don't want to see win.
Speaker 5 (14:37):
I mean that that's a great call on that, because
it would like three out of four, three out of
four MVPs and then a back to back championship would
be huge.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
That would be really huge. And you said you said
he'd be in the top ten. I think that would becoming.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
Well, christ the degree of difficulty, would you give me
a little leeway like being down two looking.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Away that they did, I mean, if they came back,
he could be on en route to the top ten.
I would not put him in there yet even if
they win. But but nah, I hear you. I mean,
and I think like you. I think that would become
a discussion, you know, but I think most people would
still be like, not yet. But in you know, we'll see.
(15:19):
But all these are good storylines that that's the truth.
But we agree to Ann is better. Let's start out
to the listeners A seven seven ninety nine on Fox.
What's the best storyline for the NBA as far.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
As champions this season?
Speaker 1 (15:35):
And Edwards, Nikola Jokic, SGA, Jalen Brunson, Jason Tatum, Jalen
Brown or Luka your thoughts next? Chris ROLDEYAKABL eight seven
seven ninety nine on Fox.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Hey, I'm Doug Gottlieb. The podcast is called All Ball.
We usually talk all basketball all the time, but it's
more about the stories about what made these people love
their sport and all the interesting interactions along the way.
We talked to coaches, we talked to players, We tell
you stories.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
You download it, you listen to it.
Speaker 4 (16:22):
I think you like it. Listen to All Ball with
Doug Gottlieb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever
you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
All right, it's the Odd Couple live from the TIRERG
dot Comm Studios. Rob seventy five sixty three Indiana leading
early first minute of the third quarter.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
But the good news for the Knicks, Jalen Brunson is playing.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
He did start the second half after playing just eight
minutes in the first half.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
He has a sore right foot.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Now it's early, but he's been off the ball so far.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Are and the thing is with his game is that,
I mean, what are you doing?
Speaker 5 (17:06):
I mean, we have to see you know what I mean,
like off the ball because he always has the ball.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
See that's what I was about to say, like his
hurky jerky you know, the moves he makes, and I mean,
I would think a sore foot is going to limit that,
and so can even Like right now, he's just running.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
You see him kind of making sure they're running a
straight line and he's just hanging out in the corner there. Yeah,
that's not him going to be able to be lateral
and all that. So if he can't be lateral and
be himself, then obviously they're in trouble. But so that
down by eleven would eleven to go and nothing?
Speaker 5 (17:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Third, so let's start out to the listeners. Eight seven,
seven ninety nine on Fox.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
What's the best storyline for the NBA as far as
who wins this championship?
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Your thoughts? Next? All right, let's kick it off with
a dre in Michigan. You're on the eye couple of
Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
What up?
Speaker 3 (18:02):
Dray?
Speaker 6 (18:03):
Them two dudes?
Speaker 1 (18:04):
What's going on?
Speaker 7 (18:05):
Man?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
How are you here?
Speaker 5 (18:06):
Man?
Speaker 6 (18:06):
How are you not much waiting for May sixteenth when
that a new radio station comes from trade. You know
what I'm saying?
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Hey, Hey, you know what, Dred.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
The best part about it is that we're a Fox
Sports Radio affiliate, so you'll be able to hear Chris
and I every night from seven to ten on on
Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Chris, that's the best part. That's real talk. That's a
great thing.
Speaker 5 (18:32):
No, I appreciate it, and you know what we're it's
it's overdue and I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
And everything, and people seem to be excited about it.
Speaker 6 (18:41):
So thanks, Tray, will just send me a shirt so
I can promote it, you know what I'm saying. But
for me, it's Edwards And the reason why I say
that to me because he like, he's that bridge to
the yesteryear players that you stay with that to nasty
got a little grant grit to him, you know what
I'm saying, want to play off and got dog and
so I think that. But also what he would have
to go through to win that championship. He would have
(19:03):
to go through the past, the president and the future.
Because if you already took out Durant, who was the past,
he would have to go through yoga to who's the
president in the future, either Shaye or Jason Tatum or
somebody like that. Luca, I think that would make a
very good story fast.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
That's be really good.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
I hadn't thought about that, but you're right, he would
have gone through. That's a great way you put it
past president in future. Yeah, that means And I also
think this rob which we didn't bring up, Anthony Edwards.
If he were to win it, and he is a
guy that's like, man, I want to play eighty two, right, Like.
Speaker 5 (19:35):
I love everything about him, Chris. I just I love
his attitude. I just love that he wants to play
as a young guy, no baby, and just play.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Play both sides of the ball. So I think Rob
his disdain for low management could maybe you know, it's
a copycat league, Rob.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
When Lebron you know, went to Miami, then other stars
started looking the team up elsewhere, right, Like, it's a
copycat league. Steph with the threes now everybody wants to
shoot the threes, you know, And so maybe you know,
it'd be great if that sparked, you know, guys to
be like, look, man, that low management era is over.
(20:17):
We trying to beat this dude, and he wants to
play every night, you know, So that would be another
benefit to it.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Jalen Brunson's presence. They're now up five to the Knicks.
They were down ten and halftime. Now they're up five
midway through the third quarter. A lot of time ago off, Yeah,
but my goodness, I mean, what what a difference he's
made on the court, and he has he scored had
(20:56):
a three point play.
Speaker 5 (20:58):
Plus twenty two Chris with him, minus seventeen without him.
He's he's their valuable, most valuable play. He's the guy,
the engine that makes it work for them.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
It's just that simple. We all know that.
Speaker 5 (21:08):
Nobody that's no rocket science. That's why he's back out
there too, because they know how important he is. And
we'll see how long. You know what I mean, Sometimes
you can come out and get it spark, but make.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
It last all the way through the fourth quarter and
that that's right, You're right, it's far from over all, right, Rob,
Another series is far from over.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
It just started. Okay, see up one to zero on Dallas.
But luka Doncic.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Who has had Rob? I mean, individually, in terms of
individual numbers, there's very few who've had a better start
to their career than Luca. But obviously Rob, he's at
that point now where it's like, are you gonna win?
You know, I mean, it happens to him, all right,
happened to Jordan, happened to Lebron.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
People don't think that Jordan's didn't get get worked over Chris,
but he did.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
People were talking about, oh, he's a great player, doesn't
make anybody better, and he can't win.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
That's what people said.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
He's not magic a bird. They just care about winning.
He just wants points all doesn't pass the ball like no,
it was, there's no doubt. And Luca now robbing his
sixth season and last night when they fell the OKC.
He look, everybody has bad playoff games, but Luca last
(22:32):
night had the worst ever for him.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
When this is saying a lot because he still scored.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Nineteen points and had nine assists and six rebounds, but
he shot six for nineteen from the floor one of
eight from three. Rob and the Dallas Mavericks can't win
the championship or even win the West, or even probably
this series without Luka Doncic being near his best. We
(23:00):
know he's got the sprain right knee, but he's playing
and he's played forty two minutes of game since spraining
the knee. He's had a couple of really great games
since spraining the knee. So Rob, I'm not gonna play
this game of when he doesn't play, well, oh it's
the knee.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
When he does play well, you know, we don't say
anything about it, you.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Know what I mean, Like he's playing and he's playing
almost the whole game, so we're gonna judge him by that.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
But Rob, I think I would say what he needs
to do.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
If I'm on the Dallas Mavericks coaching staff, I'm saying, Okay,
lower injury to the lower extremities.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Your legs are a big part of your jump shot.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
And I know he you know, he's not jumping a
lot necessarily on his jumper, but still it can affect
you from your long range shooting. And so, Luca, you
still have been very efficient in the mid range, whereas
from three. Since the injury, you're shooting fourteen percent from three.
(24:02):
You're still putting up nine threes a game, Luca, but
you're only hitting fourteen percent of them. Get in south, Yeah,
go into the mid range. I'm not saying you got
to go all the way to the basket, although you
could sometimes, but use your mid range skills. Because his body,
his craftiness, he can really still excel in the mid range.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
And I would tell him to do that.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Number one, Rob, And secondly, Kyrie has been great last night,
even twenty points on efficient. You know, I think he
was seven for fourteen from the floor. But I need
ky if Luca's ailing, I need Kyrie to be a
little more aggressive. I can't have fourteen shots. I might
need twenty four shots from Kyrie. And so I think
(24:49):
those are two adjustments that the Mavericks should make. Rob,
in light of Luca's being a little bit hampered.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
Yeah, I mean, is he gonna be alright, Chris? I
mean he looked, you know, so hot. I think he's
gonna play. I mean he played forty one minutes, you know,
But is he gonna be effective? I guess is what
I'm asking because you know, look the.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Clippers the pivotal Game five, he dropped thirty five and
he was banged up, like yeah, because he injured himself
in game three. So yeah, I mean, Rob, you gotta
fight through things like this, and you know, we've seen
players do it in the past.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
It's it's unfortunate. But now you look at look at
what Jamal Murray's trying to play through, like this is
really seems like a war of attrition this year, Rob, Like, who's.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
Gonna be healthy or healthiest? And the two younger teams
might be the most healthy.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Chris, Yeah, which said something I mean, rob Ben Asoda
looked like it was.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Playing at a different speed than Denver, right.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
And last night Oklahoma City kind of looked the same
way against Dallas, and Dallas isn't that old. But like
you said, the young teams, the energy, it is a
parent and we've talked about it like that. This isn't
a defensive era, right, it's more offensive. But the teams
(26:18):
that are able to really, yes, be offensive and put
the ball in the basket, but also play defense. That's
what Minnesota and Oklahoma City are rap and they're having
some success.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
So far, big time success. It's gonna be interesting to
see how it plays out. They look, you know, when
you've won every game, then what can you can't pick anything?
Speaker 3 (26:45):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 5 (26:46):
What I mean, what are you gonna say, like you
just keep looking and going, Well, they don't know, like
they're gonna lose a game, and then they lose a
game and then they might not win another game, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Like that's that's how it could be, right right, Well,
we talked about it.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
Obviously, Milwaukee's out, Philadelphia's out, Boston routed Cleveland in Game one,
and now New York their best player is playing. But
ailing is anyone Rob gonna challenge the Celtics in the East.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
We'll talk about that next A Couple Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
All right, it's The Odd Couple Chris and Rob live
from thetireg dot com studios, wrapping up a worship Wednesday.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
Shortly after the show, our podcast goes up, So if
you miss any of.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
Today's show, just check out the pod search I Couple
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I Couple wherever you get your podcasts, and you will
see today's show.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
Post it right after we get off the air.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Rop I here's my answer to the question, can anybody
in the East threaten the Celtics?
Speaker 2 (28:05):
No?
Speaker 3 (28:07):
No, I think the Knicks.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Knicks play hard, and I think they're a lot like Miami,
gutsy and gritty and and well coached and all that.
But I think they would at best make it a
six game series, but not beat the Celtics. And Rob,
now it's getting even worse because I don't know if
(28:32):
you saw, we know Rick Brunt or Jalen Brunson is
playing with a sore foot.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Og On Nunobi, who has been critical. I mean.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
This guy, Rob, they started winning when he came back
start or when they traded for him, started losing when
he got hurt, started winning when he got back in
the lineup, and he just looks like he pulled a
hamstring on a fast break.
Speaker 5 (29:00):
Rob.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
He's a guy said was averaging over forty minutes a
game in these playoffs. And here's what I want to
throw at you players used the question is, and it's
just what we've talked about. But are these guys not
in good enough shape or have they not built up
(29:22):
the resiliency in their body or are they covering too
much ground now to play forty minutes a night? Because Rob,
Michael Jordan for his career averaged forty.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
One to eight point eight minutes a game in the
playoffs for his career. All right, and.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
He we know was a two way player. He wasn't
resting on offense. Second year, forty five minutes a game. Now,
that was only three games in the playoffs, but when
they started winning championships, forty two minutes, forty one minutes,
forty two minutes, forty one minutes, forty two minutes, forty
(30:07):
one minutes. Like, so what the NBA is gonna have
to look into it? Because Rob, you talked about the injuries,
the type of injuries. They are.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
Run that down for the Knicks.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Because oj Onanobi is a hamstring we think soft tissue issue,
right injury, Mitchell Robinson is a stress reaction. So these
seem to be minutes or injuries of wear and tear.
And so that's the question, Rob, Are they playing too
(30:45):
many minutes? But why can't they play those minutes? YEA,
guys used to.
Speaker 5 (30:52):
I don't know what's happening. Because everything's better. Everything is
better than it used to be. Chris, the sneakers, the
training for they getting the massages, the equipment, the nutrition,
got chefs, the travels easier. I mean, like I remember
Sam Bouie sitting next to me. Sam Boy was a
seventh food for people who don't know. Chris sitting next
(31:14):
to me and coach heading to the NAT I don't
even know how he did it. I'm sick for I'm
uncovered seven foot wow. I mean and play a game,
you know what I mean? Like like it was this
is what you had to do. You had to sit
like that on the flight. It was crazy and I
can't get over it.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
Yeah, I don't know, Rob Gi, what is your thought
on this? Yeah?
Speaker 7 (31:41):
And what's tricky about this conversation is we've had multiple
former players, multiple trainers, doctors and so on, and almost
to a man, they all have different reasons, Like nobody
can pinpoint exactly what it is. Some of them have said, hey,
they're not practicing enough, they're not building up the calcium
whatever in their joints to last through these seasons. Other
people like carry Kittles and said, look, the pace in
(32:03):
space era that we play in is leading to a
lot of these hard movements that your body's just not
meant to do. And to your point, Rob, on top
of all of that, they're being asked now to play
and be in shape year round.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
Right where God used to be out of shape.
Speaker 7 (32:20):
Exactly to training camps, and now training camps like a
week and a half and then you start the preseason.
So you're not even really getting that ramp up like
you used to, So eventually somebody's going to figure out
exactly the reason for it. But I would tend to
agree with someone like Carrie who says that, you know,
(32:41):
playing forty five minutes in the two thousands and the
nineties when it was blocked to block is not the
same wear and tearing your body as it is when
you're running out to the corner, three, to the top
of the key, to the pinch post, all in the
same possession, and so it is just wild.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
I think too.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
I think the leagues, and I'm specific looking at the
NBA and the NFL, are putting money ahead of the players'
health and safety.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
Because you said it, Rob g.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Why now is training camp basically a week and a half, right,
and then they're playing games like why? And they aren't
playing in the preseason like they used to? Why in
the NFL do you keep up in the games?
Speaker 5 (33:24):
Now?
Speaker 3 (33:24):
We want eighteen? Right? First it was seventeen, which you got.
Now it's eighteen.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Like if you cared about the players' health, you wouldn't
be doing that. So I think that's an element too,
all right
Speaker 3 (33:33):
It's the odd couple we out, but keeping locked fire
is on the way.
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcasts. Be sure
to catch us live every weekday from seven pm to
ten pm Eastern four to seven pm Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Foxsports Radio dot com, or stream us live every
day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Let's get this, punies, you're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
All right, it is the Odd Couple.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Chris and Rob live from the tirerag dot com studios.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Tireg dot com will help you get there.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
They've got an unmatched selection, fast, free shipping, free road
hazard protection, and more than ten thousand recommend it installers.
Tirereck dot com is the way tirebine should be, all right,
Rob Man sad up. I mean, it's always sad when
(01:01):
a player gets injured, but sad update from the Indiana
Pacers New York Knicks game.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Rob.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
In the first quarter, Jalen Brunson injured his foot. He's
only played or it's he's only played eight minutes in
the game. They're just a few minutes before halftime, three
minutes to about two and a half minutes left before halftime.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
He's only played eight minutes rob.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
And now he is questionable to return with a sore
right foot.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
So a playoffs that has.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Just been i mean defined essentially by injuries.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Now has the press, the prussing.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Just just I mean, let me go down the line
and it Boston Chris STAPs porzingis he'll be back, but
out now. You got the Knicks, Jay Brunson, Julius Ramdll
of course not their second best player last year was
their best player was all NBA. He is out for
the playoffs. Mitchell Robinson out for the playoffs of Philadelphia,
(02:15):
Joe LMB was hampered.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Jared Allen, their all star center is out right now.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
He should be back, but he's out, thankfully.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Tyrese Halliburton has been playing, but remember he was questionable
for Game one the back spasms. Johannis and Milwaukee obviously
out Dame Eve in some games. Miami had Jimmy Butler out.
That's just going through the East Rod, I mean, unbelievable.
Dallas Luca now has a spraying need that he's playing.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
He doesn't look good.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
Chris, Like, if he's gonna be hobbling like that, how
are they gonna win?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
They could be in Trump You're absolutely right.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Zion missed for the Pelicans in their first round series.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Phoenix was hold. The Lakers were essentially all.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
They had a few role players out Clippers of course,
Kawhi Leonard out, Oklahoma City thunder Route healthy and that's
been one of the big things for him this season.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Healthy, Minnesota healthy, Denver.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Jamal Murray's dealing with a cashtrain that he is playing through.
So Rob, we've said it before, We've never seen anything
like this, and I think this is where and I
don't know, We don't know, but we have to wonder, Rob.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Is it too much training? We've talked about that before.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Is it the style of play with the game to
spread out, you're covering too much ground.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I don't know, but something needs to be like investigated.
I think it's a combination, Chris.
Speaker 5 (03:51):
But I really do believe, like the overtraining, you know
what I mean, Like I do believe your body needs
to heal and it's okay to put on a paunch
or eight pounds Chris, you know what I mean in
the off season and then get back at it.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
No, I'm not.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
And they used to be out of shape and come
back and get back into shape. During training camp and
be ready for the season. These guys never get out
of shape. And I just wonder how much of that
personal trainers. You know, everybody has their own team and
they're doing all these things and trying to figure out
you know, you see them on social media, Chris with
(04:35):
the workout sessions, you know, and all that stuff, like
is that good?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I don't know if that's good.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
I mean you would think, but Rob, there is no
question it is not working. There is no question it
is not. I mean again, it's working in terms of
making them look like adonicis right right and and be
in all this incredible shape with their shirt off.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
But as far as being available to play staying healthy,
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
It's unfortunate. And now Rob, predictably, Indiana's up ten.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I mean New York.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
And the thing is this, Rob, And look we you
and I, even though we both worked in New York,
you're from New York.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
We are certainly not New York Knicks homers.
Speaker 5 (05:19):
No, if anything, people are mad at us. They think
that we hate the Knicks.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Ok, right, but there can be no denying that having
the Knicks not only play this.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Deep I mean that and of itself is good.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
But having a player do what the things that Jalen
Brunson has done, rob that's good for the NBA. Rob
G correct me if I'm wrong. Highest rated playoff game
this season the Knicks.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Correct, rob G, that is correct. Yeah right, I mean so.
Speaker 5 (05:52):
But that's what you know when they talk about Chris,
like the TV waitings and whatnot.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
You know, New York is a big city.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
If you can get people, and we talk about all
the time, New Yorkers are everywhere, LA all over. You know,
it's just so many people and if there's an interest,
and that's why, you know, leagues love to have the
big teams Chris, the big TV markets right in the mix.
They want La, they want Chicago, they do. And it's
(06:21):
not a knock on OKC or the Spurs. As great
as the Spurs are, Chris, I think that they before
you know, the pandemic and the numbers of television you know,
drastically dropped. But the Spurs had two of the worst
TV ratings for finals ever, Like the last two were
(06:41):
the Spurs and they were a great team.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Now there's the TV size yep. And so it's unfortunate.
Hopefully he'll be able to play, you know, games three
and onward. But my goodness, this is a blow, not
only to the Knicks. I think it's probably a death
knell for the next.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Rob But well, I'm not playing, He's not playing. Yeah, yeah,
And here you know this.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
I mean the Knicks already were I mean, they were
going seven deep, and then Mitchell Robinson gets hurt, so
they entered the game pretty much going six deep, and
now you're pretty.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Much five deep.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
It's crazy, Jalen Brunson, Robin and look, I mean I
can't even I mean, it's logical to say, is this
contributed to his injury the load he's had to bear?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Sure, but we just pointed out Robbed.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
There are a lot of guys playing a lot less
minutes who are also getting hurt.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
So I don't want to put it on.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
That, but rob he was averaging forty three point seven
minutes a game in these playoffs, and we know how
intense their games were. Josh Hart rob forty six point
six minutes a game.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
I mean, come on, you gotta give them a blow, Chris,
come on, let's.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Just OGNI Nobi forty one points up. So they got
three players over forty minutes.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
A game, but they can hurt you if they were
making gonna make a long run.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 5 (08:16):
Thinking you've talked about it before. Tip of those players
break down, don't they Yep.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
And that's the thing, Like I wasn't hoping.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
I certainly wasn't hoping for it, but I wasn't even
necessarily expecting an injury like this.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
But I was thinking.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Rob, that their lack of depth was going to come
back to bite them, and possibly in this series. That
was why, possibly in this series it could bite them.
So Rob, now, let let.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Let me ask you this.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Uh, we are in a we are this is wow,
unprecedented situation for the end. Yeah, but let's look, I
want to.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Ask you something.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
We got Boston, Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown, We've got New York.
Let's let's throw Jalen Brunson in there right now. Indiana's
not gonna win a championship, Cleveland, let's just throw them out.
In the West, you got Denver, Jokic, Murray, but mainly Yokic.
(09:27):
You got OKC with SGA. You got Dallas with Luca
and Kyrie, mainly Luca. And I'll tell you the moment
why I keep saying mainly this, mainly that, and then
of course Minnesota You've got and Edwards, Kat, but mainly
Anthony Edwards. This is what I want to ask you, Rob,
of those guys, those teams so one, two, three, four, five, six,
(09:52):
six teams that are legitimate contenders to win the championship?
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Which guy or team? But mainly guy?
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Do you think it is best for the NBA to
have win this championship? Jokic to win his second straight? Oh,
we might have a dynasty Minnesota Anthony Edwards. Oh my gosh,
twenty two years old, the best player on the championship team,
Dallas Luca. Here it comes the Luca legend. You know,
(10:29):
era begins Okase. Oh my gosh, SGA just led the
youngest team ever to win a championship New York. Look
at Jalen Brunson. What in the world is going on?
Or Boston finally they get over the Hunk. Could the
Celtics become a dynasty? Which storyline, which situation do you
(10:52):
think would be best for the league.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
I'm gonna I'm gonna assume that it's Anthony Edwards. From
the standpoint of all the Jordan comparison, he's an American
born player, and not that you're gonna be mad the
European players Chris or players not born in the United States,
but that doesn't hurt, especially the way that they've dominated
(11:23):
the MVP voting.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Right, what is that now? Six years? Six years in
a row would be right?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Three?
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Who is? And m B who's not?
Speaker 5 (11:35):
He's a dual citizen now, but he wasn't born in
the United States. Yeah, so when you look at it
that I could look at at I'm sure most people
would think that the ant Man being a star and
Jordan like and all that kind of stuff would be
great for the league. But but I do also, Chris,
(11:56):
think that there are other storylines and and we shouldn't
not embrace them because maybe they're not born in the
United States or whatever. But my other storyline would be
off the heels of the Joker winning Chris the MVP
third time in four years. If they storm back and
(12:17):
beat Minnesota right in this series and then want to
go on and win the championship and repeat, then you
have a storyline and a player of a certain magnitude
that would raise people's interests, even if they're not from
Denver or whatever. You know and all that it would
be hard not to look at that guy and go, wow,
(12:39):
we're watching something really really special. So he has a
storyline too, But you gotta win, you know what I mean,
in order to make that storyline fit. So I say,
amp Man, but I'm saying the Joker has another story
that's as compelling if he were to come back and win.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
I'm with you, Rob, I think Anthony Edwards would be
best for the league. As you said, let's not count
out the American situation again, nobody's pulling against the Internet.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Nobody all that they're very popular.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
We we talked them up christ your favorite baseball players
from Japan.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
The best ever? Right, But yeah, I mean we look
we've been taking a beating.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
As you said, the last six MVP winners are not American.
Last year, we we don't, you know, win the Foeba
World Cup or whatever it was called. You know, Germany
beats us. We gotta send our big dogs over this year.
We'll see if they even win, you know.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
So I don't think it's so automatic.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
I'll tell you that, I know, especially with so many
of those guys being older and injury prone.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
So I do.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
And you said it Anthony Edwards just everybody would latch
on He's the next Michael Jordan. That would really become
a thing, you know, And so I agree with you.
I think Minnesota winning and him being so young robing
the same thing.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
You know, Cat's still young and do Bear is not old.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
They would have a chance to, you know, maybe become
like a dynasty.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Do something.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
But as you said, if Denver wins it, now you
do have that that big behemoth that some people would
root against. Some people would root four.
Speaker 5 (14:24):
And that's good, Chris, you know that that's good because
they would all.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
I don't want to see that guy win again.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
I hate Denver, like like that's not a bad thing
to have a team like that or a player, uh
that you just.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Don't want to see win.
Speaker 5 (14:37):
I mean that that's a great call on that, because
it would like three out of four, three out of
four MVPs and then a back to back championship would
be huge.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
That would be really huge. And you said you said
he'd be in the top ten. I think that would becoming.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
Well, christ the degree of difficulty, would you give me
a little leeway like being down two looking.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Away that they did, I mean, if they came back,
he could be on en route to the top ten.
I would not put him in there yet even if
they win. But but nah, I hear you. I mean,
and I think like you. I think that would become
a discussion, you know, but I think most people would
still be like, not yet. But in you know, we'll see.
(15:19):
But all these are good storylines that that's the truth.
But we agree to Ann is better. Let's start out
to the listeners A seven seven ninety nine on Fox.
What's the best storyline for the NBA as far.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
As champions this season?
Speaker 1 (15:35):
And Edwards, Nikola Jokic, SGA, Jalen Brunson, Jason Tatum, Jalen
Brown or Luka your thoughts next? Chris ROLDEYAKABL eight seven
seven ninety nine on Fox.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Hey, I'm Doug Gottlieb. The podcast is called All Ball.
We usually talk all basketball all the time, but it's
more about the stories about what made these people love
their sport and all the interesting interactions along the way.
We talked to coaches, we talked to players, We tell
you stories.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
You download it, you listen to it.
Speaker 4 (16:22):
I think you like it. Listen to All Ball with
Doug Gottlieb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever
you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
All right, it's the Odd Couple live from the TIRERG
dot Comm Studios. Rob seventy five sixty three Indiana leading
early first minute of the third quarter.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
But the good news for the Knicks, Jalen Brunson is playing.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
He did start the second half after playing just eight
minutes in the first half.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
He has a sore right foot.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Now it's early, but he's been off the ball so far.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Are and the thing is with his game is that,
I mean, what are you doing?
Speaker 5 (17:06):
I mean, we have to see you know what I mean,
like off the ball because he always has the ball.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
See that's what I was about to say, like his
hurky jerky you know, the moves he makes, and I mean,
I would think a sore foot is going to limit that,
and so can even Like right now, he's just running.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
You see him kind of making sure they're running a
straight line and he's just hanging out in the corner there. Yeah,
that's not him going to be able to be lateral
and all that. So if he can't be lateral and
be himself, then obviously they're in trouble. But so that
down by eleven would eleven to go and nothing?
Speaker 5 (17:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Third, so let's start out to the listeners. Eight seven,
seven ninety nine on Fox.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
What's the best storyline for the NBA as far as
who wins this championship?
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Your thoughts? Next? All right, let's kick it off with
a dre in Michigan. You're on the eye couple of
Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
What up?
Speaker 3 (18:02):
Dray?
Speaker 6 (18:03):
Them two dudes?
Speaker 1 (18:04):
What's going on?
Speaker 7 (18:05):
Man?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
How are you here?
Speaker 5 (18:06):
Man?
Speaker 6 (18:06):
How are you not much waiting for May sixteenth when
that a new radio station comes from trade. You know
what I'm saying?
Speaker 3 (18:12):
Hey, Hey, you know what, Dred.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
The best part about it is that we're a Fox
Sports Radio affiliate, so you'll be able to hear Chris
and I every night from seven to ten on on
Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Chris, that's the best part. That's real talk. That's a
great thing.
Speaker 5 (18:32):
No, I appreciate it, and you know what we're it's
it's overdue and I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
And everything, and people seem to be excited about it.
Speaker 6 (18:41):
So thanks, Tray, will just send me a shirt so
I can promote it, you know what I'm saying. But
for me, it's Edwards And the reason why I say
that to me because he like, he's that bridge to
the yesteryear players that you stay with that to nasty
got a little grant grit to him, you know what
I'm saying, want to play off and got dog and
so I think that. But also what he would have
to go through to win that championship. He would have
(19:03):
to go through the past, the president and the future.
Because if you already took out Durant, who was the past,
he would have to go through yoga to who's the
president in the future, either Shaye or Jason Tatum or
somebody like that. Luca, I think that would make a
very good story fast.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
That's be really good.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
I hadn't thought about that, but you're right, he would
have gone through. That's a great way you put it
past president in future. Yeah, that means And I also
think this rob which we didn't bring up, Anthony Edwards.
If he were to win it, and he is a
guy that's like, man, I want to play eighty two, right, Like.
Speaker 5 (19:35):
I love everything about him, Chris. I just I love
his attitude. I just love that he wants to play
as a young guy, no baby, and just play.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Play both sides of the ball. So I think Rob
his disdain for low management could maybe you know, it's
a copycat league, Rob.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
When Lebron you know, went to Miami, then other stars
started looking the team up elsewhere, right, Like, it's a
copycat league. Steph with the threes now everybody wants to
shoot the threes, you know, And so maybe you know,
it'd be great if that sparked, you know, guys to
be like, look, man, that low management era is over.
(20:17):
We trying to beat this dude, and he wants to
play every night, you know, So that would be another
benefit to it.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Jalen Brunson's presence. They're now up five to the Knicks.
They were down ten and halftime. Now they're up five
midway through the third quarter. A lot of time ago off, Yeah,
but my goodness, I mean, what what a difference he's
made on the court, and he has he scored had
(20:56):
a three point play.
Speaker 5 (20:58):
Plus twenty two Chris with him, minus seventeen without him.
He's he's their valuable, most valuable play. He's the guy,
the engine that makes it work for them.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
It's just that simple. We all know that.
Speaker 5 (21:08):
Nobody that's no rocket science. That's why he's back out
there too, because they know how important he is. And
we'll see how long. You know what I mean, Sometimes
you can come out and get it spark, but make.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
It last all the way through the fourth quarter and
that that's right, You're right, it's far from over all, right, Rob,
Another series is far from over.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
It just started. Okay, see up one to zero on Dallas.
But luka Doncic.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Who has had Rob? I mean, individually, in terms of
individual numbers, there's very few who've had a better start
to their career than Luca. But obviously Rob, he's at
that point now where it's like, are you gonna win?
You know, I mean, it happens to him, all right,
happened to Jordan, happened to Lebron.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
People don't think that Jordan's didn't get get worked over Chris,
but he did.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
People were talking about, oh, he's a great player, doesn't
make anybody better, and he can't win.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
That's what people said.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
He's not magic a bird. They just care about winning.
He just wants points all doesn't pass the ball like no,
it was, there's no doubt. And Luca now robbing his
sixth season and last night when they fell the OKC.
He look, everybody has bad playoff games, but Luca last
(22:32):
night had the worst ever for him.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
When this is saying a lot because he still scored.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Nineteen points and had nine assists and six rebounds, but
he shot six for nineteen from the floor one of
eight from three. Rob and the Dallas Mavericks can't win
the championship or even win the West, or even probably
this series without Luka Doncic being near his best. We
(23:00):
know he's got the sprain right knee, but he's playing
and he's played forty two minutes of game since spraining
the knee. He's had a couple of really great games
since spraining the knee. So Rob, I'm not gonna play
this game of when he doesn't play, well, oh it's
the knee.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
When he does play well, you know, we don't say
anything about it, you.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Know what I mean, Like he's playing and he's playing
almost the whole game, so we're gonna judge him by that.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
But Rob, I think I would say what he needs
to do.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
If I'm on the Dallas Mavericks coaching staff, I'm saying, Okay,
lower injury to the lower extremities.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Your legs are a big part of your jump shot.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
And I know he you know, he's not jumping a
lot necessarily on his jumper, but still it can affect
you from your long range shooting. And so, Luca, you
still have been very efficient in the mid range, whereas
from three. Since the injury, you're shooting fourteen percent from three.
(24:02):
You're still putting up nine threes a game, Luca, but
you're only hitting fourteen percent of them. Get in south, Yeah,
go into the mid range. I'm not saying you got
to go all the way to the basket, although you
could sometimes, but use your mid range skills. Because his body,
his craftiness, he can really still excel in the mid range.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
And I would tell him to do that.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Number one, Rob, And secondly, Kyrie has been great last night,
even twenty points on efficient. You know, I think he
was seven for fourteen from the floor. But I need
ky if Luca's ailing, I need Kyrie to be a
little more aggressive. I can't have fourteen shots. I might
need twenty four shots from Kyrie. And so I think
(24:49):
those are two adjustments that the Mavericks should make. Rob,
in light of Luca's being a little bit hampered.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
Yeah, I mean, is he gonna be alright, Chris? I
mean he looked, you know, so hot. I think he's
gonna play. I mean he played forty one minutes, you know,
But is he gonna be effective? I guess is what
I'm asking because you know, look the.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Clippers the pivotal Game five, he dropped thirty five and
he was banged up, like yeah, because he injured himself
in game three. So yeah, I mean, Rob, you gotta
fight through things like this, and you know, we've seen
players do it in the past.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
It's it's unfortunate. But now you look at look at
what Jamal Murray's trying to play through, like this is
really seems like a war of attrition this year, Rob, Like, who's.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
Gonna be healthy or healthiest? And the two younger teams
might be the most healthy.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Chris, Yeah, which said something I mean, rob Ben Asoda
looked like it was.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Playing at a different speed than Denver, right.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
And last night Oklahoma City kind of looked the same
way against Dallas, and Dallas isn't that old. But like
you said, the young teams, the energy, it is a
parent and we've talked about it like that. This isn't
a defensive era, right, it's more offensive. But the teams
(26:18):
that are able to really, yes, be offensive and put
the ball in the basket, but also play defense. That's
what Minnesota and Oklahoma City are rap and they're having
some success.
Speaker 5 (26:31):
So far, big time success. It's gonna be interesting to
see how it plays out. They look, you know, when
you've won every game, then what can you can't pick anything?
Speaker 3 (26:45):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 5 (26:46):
What I mean, what are you gonna say, like you
just keep looking and going, Well, they don't know, like
they're gonna lose a game, and then they lose a
game and then they might not win another game, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Like that's that's how it could be, right right, Well,
we talked about it.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
Obviously, Milwaukee's out, Philadelphia's out, Boston routed Cleveland in Game one,
and now New York their best player is playing. But
ailing is anyone Rob gonna challenge the Celtics in the East.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
We'll talk about that next A Couple Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
All right, it's The Odd Couple Chris and Rob live
from thetireg dot com studios, wrapping up a worship Wednesday.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
Shortly after the show, our podcast goes up, So if
you miss any of.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
Today's show, just check out the pod search I Couple
wherever you get your podcasts, and also follow, rate and
review the show in the pot. And again, just search
I Couple wherever you get your podcasts, and you will
see today's show.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
Post it right after we get off the air.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Rop I here's my answer to the question, can anybody
in the East threaten the Celtics?
Speaker 2 (28:05):
No?
Speaker 3 (28:07):
No, I think the Knicks.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Knicks play hard, and I think they're a lot like Miami,
gutsy and gritty and and well coached and all that.
But I think they would at best make it a
six game series, but not beat the Celtics. And Rob,
now it's getting even worse because I don't know if
(28:32):
you saw, we know Rick Brunt or Jalen Brunson is
playing with a sore foot.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Og On Nunobi, who has been critical. I mean.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
This guy, Rob, they started winning when he came back
start or when they traded for him, started losing when
he got hurt, started winning when he got back in
the lineup, and he just looks like he pulled a
hamstring on a fast break.
Speaker 5 (29:00):
Rob.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
He's a guy said was averaging over forty minutes a
game in these playoffs. And here's what I want to
throw at you players used the question is, and it's
just what we've talked about. But are these guys not
in good enough shape or have they not built up
(29:22):
the resiliency in their body or are they covering too
much ground now to play forty minutes a night? Because Rob,
Michael Jordan for his career averaged forty.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
One to eight point eight minutes a game in the
playoffs for his career. All right, and.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
He we know was a two way player. He wasn't
resting on offense. Second year, forty five minutes a game. Now,
that was only three games in the playoffs, but when
they started winning championships, forty two minutes, forty one minutes,
forty two minutes, forty one minutes, forty two minutes, forty
(30:07):
one minutes. Like, so what the NBA is gonna have
to look into it? Because Rob, you talked about the injuries,
the type of injuries. They are.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
Run that down for the Knicks.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Because oj Onanobi is a hamstring we think soft tissue issue,
right injury, Mitchell Robinson is a stress reaction. So these
seem to be minutes or injuries of wear and tear.
And so that's the question, Rob, Are they playing too
(30:45):
many minutes? But why can't they play those minutes? YEA,
guys used to.
Speaker 5 (30:52):
I don't know what's happening. Because everything's better. Everything is
better than it used to be. Chris, the sneakers, the
training for they getting the massages, the equipment, the nutrition,
got chefs, the travels easier. I mean, like I remember
Sam Bouie sitting next to me. Sam Boy was a
seventh food for people who don't know. Chris sitting next
(31:14):
to me and coach heading to the NAT I don't
even know how he did it. I'm sick for I'm
uncovered seven foot wow. I mean and play a game,
you know what I mean? Like like it was this
is what you had to do. You had to sit
like that on the flight. It was crazy and I
can't get over it.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
Yeah, I don't know, Rob Gi, what is your thought
on this? Yeah?
Speaker 7 (31:41):
And what's tricky about this conversation is we've had multiple
former players, multiple trainers, doctors and so on, and almost
to a man, they all have different reasons, Like nobody
can pinpoint exactly what it is. Some of them have said, hey,
they're not practicing enough, they're not building up the calcium
whatever in their joints to last through these seasons. Other
people like carry Kittles and said, look, the pace in
(32:03):
space era that we play in is leading to a
lot of these hard movements that your body's just not
meant to do. And to your point, Rob, on top
of all of that, they're being asked now to play
and be in shape year round.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
Right where God used to be out of shape.
Speaker 7 (32:20):
Exactly to training camps, and now training camps like a
week and a half and then you start the preseason.
So you're not even really getting that ramp up like
you used to, So eventually somebody's going to figure out
exactly the reason for it. But I would tend to
agree with someone like Carrie who says that, you know,
(32:41):
playing forty five minutes in the two thousands and the
nineties when it was blocked to block is not the
same wear and tearing your body as it is when
you're running out to the corner, three, to the top
of the key, to the pinch post, all in the
same possession, and so it is just wild.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
I think too.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
I think the leagues, and I'm specific looking at the
NBA and the NFL, are putting money ahead of the players'
health and safety.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
Because you said it, Rob g.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Why now is training camp basically a week and a half, right,
and then they're playing games like why? And they aren't
playing in the preseason like they used to? Why in
the NFL do you keep up in the games?
Speaker 5 (33:24):
Now?
Speaker 3 (33:24):
We want eighteen? Right? First it was seventeen, which you got.
Now it's eighteen.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Like if you cared about the players' health, you wouldn't
be doing that. So I think that's an element too,
all right
Speaker 3 (33:33):
It's the odd couple we out, but keeping locked fire
is on the way.
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