April 22, 2025 • 48 mins
PLAYOFF CHAOS is underway! Matt Barnes and Rachel Nichols react to Weekend One of postseason hoops: Anthony Edwards' LA takedown, Steph Curry goes FULL Steph Curry, Houston Rockets’ missing piece & Russell Westbrook’s revenge against the Clippers.
Rachel weighs in on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s potential discontent in Milwaukee and the Boston Celtics’ handling of the Orlando Magic.
Matt reacts to Rachel’s NBA Awards ballot, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP margins, Jayson Tatum’s slept on superstardom & why the voting system needs a serious shake-up!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to another episode of unplug brought to you
by Draft Kings. The crown is yours, but I just
want to give a huge shout out to my brother
Deshaun Foster and UCLA Football. We got a chance to
team up with them this past Friday to do Friday
Night Lights. It was success, and the biggest success story
to come out of that is they landed their man,
(00:21):
nico Ia Maliava. Close enough, Nico he landed in Westwood
Man leading up to this. That's why every time I
saw him posted, I'd put UCLA Football underneath it. But again, man,
shout out to Deshaun and his team for landing the
number one quarterback recruit in the portal. Things are changing
over there and I'm really excited for him and I
(00:41):
were happy that All the Smoke was able to be
a part of that and definitely looking forward to working
with them more in the future. Shout out to my
girl Carrie Champion who came through and co hosted with
me and everyone. We talked to the Carnell Lake and
his son and my brother Mercedes Lewis got a chance
to talk to DK. A lot of people were out there,
(01:02):
a lot of former Bruin football players. So great event. Again,
shout out to my brother Dashaun and this guy Thomas
and everyone who made that event possible. Man, Huge success
and best luck this year to UCLA football. Playoffs are
finally here. And to dig into that a little bit,
I want to bring in my good friend Rachel Nichols. Rachel,
how are you. I've been seeing you everywhere You've been
(01:23):
in practice around You've shaken a bacon.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Huh yeah, you know, to keep it moving. Is that
time of the year, man, the best time of the year.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
First up, timber Wolves came into LA and beat the
Lakers by twenty two.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Were you surprised?
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I was very surprised. I wasn't surprised that they want
a surprise in the fashion which they won. And obviously
they're not going to shoot fifty percent from the three
point line the rest of the series. But fast break
points twenty five to six. That kind of concerned me
from a standpoint of Lakers just an older team and
if they can't slow down, normally the playoffs are slower.
But if you're able to get twenty six twenty five
(01:59):
fast break points in the place game, you're really doing something.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
So it was twenty six years old.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Well, Luca has never really been one for the lateral
speed or defensive I agree.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I'm just saying they're not an old team anymore, but.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
He still kind of moves like he's older on the defensive,
not on the offensive end. But what I mean, what
was your take from that? Obviously bron didn't shoot the ball. Well, yeah,
and again I think people like Gina who's in here,
who thinks, oh, it's over, Minnesota's gonna win. I don't
definitely don't want to go that far, but it was
definitely it opened my eyes a little bit.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
I thought the Lakers would end up winning this series
because I just thought that they would outgun Minnesota in
the end. That's how the Lakers are going to win
any playoff series this year. They're just going to pour
in so many points with such a you know, potent
offense that they can make up for their defensive deficiencies.
But where it falls apart is if you can have
someone who can really drive the lane and make you
(02:47):
pay at the basket, because they just don't have that
interior defense anymore. And Anthony Edwards, I was really impressed.
He was so disciplined because We saw him in the
Western Conference Finals last year, after having such a good
run through the first two rounds, kind of under the
pressure of playing on that stage, you know, a good
few games, but then kind of started to feel a
little wild, you know, that sort of thing, got tired,
(03:09):
but also just a little bit making that great decisions,
and he made excellent decisions in game one. He deserves
a lot of credit for that, and really just sort
of pinpoint attacked where the Lakers were weak. And you
say about the threes. Obviously they got to hit the threes,
but the Lakers defensive plan ever since the trade has
basically been leave three point shooters generally alone, the pack
(03:32):
the paint because they just don't have an ad type
presence anymore, and you can't hit them all. And the
Wolves hit them.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Yeah, they hit him, and obviously Lakers, I want to say,
Lakers hit fifteen threes. McDaniels, you know, had a very
solid game, twenty five points. I think Randall came back
to LA with a little bit of chip on his shoulder.
I think that missed the matchup between him and Braun.
Obviously that's a match up the Lakers have to win.
And what were your thoughts with just Braun not being
very aggressive early on.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I can't tell if he's a little bit hurt because
he tweaked you know, he sat out with that hip
pome thing and then it looked like he tweaked it.
Now that was you know, a good ten days ago
at this point, but still, you know, I can't tell
if his mobility is affected at all or just mentally
by making sure that he doesn't tweak it again or
anything like that. Yeah, And also you know, he is
(04:19):
a different role on this team now, and I think
he's very grateful for that. Yeah, but it is different
than we're used to seeing him. We're used to seeing him.
This is the first time he has ever in my memory,
played with a guy who he doesn't have to be
the guy in the fourth quarter. Do you remember? I mean,
I don't remember a team he's played on where it
wasn't down to him in the forest.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
And just so many times, Richard, it's the random stuff
with maybe the ball will be inbounded tobron, he'll just
toss it to lucer like right away, you know what
I mean. So it's just like I think this is
what he wanted, but obviously kind of figuring out how
to play within that will be interesting and if any
one can figured it out, it will be him, and
I know, knowing JJ, these guys will definitely be ready
for a Game two. But Minnesota came and did what
they had to do. Even if they you know, they
(05:00):
one one on the opponent's court, which is all they
have to do, they can lose next game and still
have home court heading back home, So it'll be interesting
to see how they come out the Lakers come out
next game. Thoughts on the series at this point I.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Thought going in and I still think it's the most
likely that the Lakers will overwhelm the Wolves with how
many points they can pour in Lebron will have a
great night. At one point in this series. Luca, of course,
already scored thirty plus he will do that again and
again we know he can drop fifty when he wants to. Indeed,
so we'll just have to see how much Ant can
take advantage of going to the basket. They're going to
(05:35):
still need more from Rudy Gobert. I don't know if
you think that's possible, and I just don't know if
the point totals are going to measure up because I
just don't see anyone who can guard Luca on that team,
and we saw it, by the way, yeah last season.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
One thing too, before we switched series. One thing I
think the Lakers did was they let go Bear off
the hook too much. He was out guard on the perimeter.
They didn't attack them. Yeah, and they have allowed him
to stay in the game and then he'll get a
lob every once in a while and kind of keep
that rim threat on the offensive end. So it'll be interesting. Obviously,
Jackson Hayzes only played eight minutes, so Jade didn't feel
he was very effective, so it'll be interesting to see
what the strategy is coming into game too. But I
(06:10):
still feel like the Lakers will get it. It won't
be in five, It'll probably be in six or seven,
which I don't think they want to do because obviously
they need as much time for Bron to rest and
heal if he's a little tweaked as possible. So it
would definitely be an interesting series going forward. Denver and
the Clippers. To me, this was my favorite series coming
into the playoffs, and Russell Westbrook somehow became the storyline
(06:35):
of this game, which I love because I thought he
got a bullshit rap for him somehow being the reason
why Malone was fired, and you know the booth situation.
But he was crucial down the stretch, caused a big turnover.
But what did you take from the Denver game and
the Clippers having twenty turnovers and having a double digit
lead in the second half and not being able to close.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
First of all, you and I both really like Russ personally.
He is a box chocolates though you do not know
what you're going to get, right. I mean, for every
game where he comes through, there is a game where
he takes a shot in the last seconds where you're.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Just like, please, what is going on right the ball?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
It's great that it worked out. We will see games
in the series where Russ does not work out, but
that's okay. They know what they have in him. Nicole
likes him, and I think that really important matters. I
thought this was a seven game pickum series. I had
no idea, did not pretend going into the series. I
knew who was going to win, and the fact that
the first game sort of went like this as you said,
and then went into OT I thought James Harden was fantastic.
(07:37):
We actually for all the smoke. Talked to him a
couple of days ago going into the series, and I
think it is underrated what he has done this season
because it's not a please, it's not a one to one. Okay,
it's not exactly the same scenario, but I look at
what happened in Philadelphia right where you had sort of
the guy who's considered the main guy, embid had this
(07:58):
unreliability health issues right, and nobody including Paul George unfortunately
could get And I think it can't really expect this
because he was coming into the team, but he couldn't
really get the guys himself, like all on the same page,
him and Tyrese to be able to be like great,
we're going to be fine without him, as long as
it is that kind of thing. You had pretty much
(08:19):
the same situation here in LA with first of all,
PG left, so you have all that scoring gone and
Kawhi was ah. I mean, we thought he might not
come back this season. We didn't know if he was
going to come back at all, right within it was
just a totally mystery. So you know the fact that
James from the very beginning before the preseason even like
got the guys together in Arizona, which is cliche, but
(08:41):
it does matter, I think, right, and like just kind
of through the entire thing, him and Tylu were like,
we're a team, We're going to be able to do this.
And obviously Zubac the way he developed, So I thought
James continued that through this game one. I thought Kawhi
looked not quite as we know playoff Kawhi can look
and the way frankly has looked in the last month,
(09:01):
so you know, so I thought that was something that
I wonder if they clean up and able to get
him in a better position, if they'll be able to
move forward.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Differently, twenty nine points off of twenty turnovers, it's never
going to be good. But to your point, I think
just the way James has been able to handle the
criticism and all the outside noise and kind of stay
focused on what is needed, whether he needs to be
the leading scorer, whether he needs to be the main facilitator.
He's reliable. How many games did he play this year?
Can we find out? I know he played a lot. Yeah,
(09:30):
he was the one constant, and then obviously Kawhi playing
well leading into the playoffs. I think he was twenty
two and six last game. Harden played seventy nine games
this year. Incredible, What is he thirty three thirty five?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
I believe he's thirty five.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
So I mean would he have thirty two eleven and six?
I mean he came out and did his thing. One
person I don't think talks about enough. We'll talk about
a little bit later. As Zubats though, I think he's
definitely in the running for most or he is a
finalist or Most Improved. But the way he's been able
to be a traditional big that in a game that
doesn't have traditional bigs. That's why I kind of gave
them the nod over this, because not that he was
going to slow down Yokic, but he's going to have
(10:03):
a lot of production from that position as well. So again,
similar to the Lakers series, it's a little different, but
I still feel like the Clippers are the better team.
I think they're just going to have to show it.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
I think they also have a huge coaching advantage. Yeah right,
Adaman may turn into one of the best coaches in
the league one day.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Oh yeah, his dad was really good.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah, but you know how many games in he's coached
four NBA games compared to Tyleru, who to me is
one of the best coaches in the league by far.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
So what adjustments do you see the Clippers making outside
of taking care of the ball that are going to
help them in Game two?
Speaker 2 (10:35):
I mean, I think they need to feature Zobots actually
a little bit more and kind of get him more
of the looks that we get a hicculla work. Yeah,
and I think that I think that Kawhi, you know,
Kawi knows how to take care of shit. I mean,
I think he's going to look at that tape and
know what he needs to do differently, and Ty's going
to continue to game plan. I mean he is. Jokic
is the best player in the world, and there will
(10:56):
be at least a game and possibly more where he
goes for fifty or sixty. And you know, Clippers are
one of the stingiest defenses in the NBA. But there
is gonna be one game I predict where it just
kind of all gets blown open. But then the Clippers
are vets Man, They'll come right back.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
I mean, with that being said about Yo Kicic, when
you spoke to James leading into Game one, there's a
consensus feeling around the league that the players I don't
want to get what did he say about how guys
feel about the MVP.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
I just asked him sort of, you know, what their
strategy was, and he talked about the defense, and I said, okay, well,
lets you'll catch the best player in the world. And
this is what he said, is he'll catch the best
player in the world.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, because he's he am passed the game
in multiple ways. You know, obviously scoring in basketball, but
his playmaking ability is rebounding. He's a hardcover, you know
what I mean. Obviously you put traditional fives on him
and he just you know, he shoots the three and
he does what he wants. So there's gonna be a
tough match up for us. Obviously we know what we're
(11:55):
in for, but I think we're prepared.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
I like that no hesitation. I feel like players will
across the league kind of recognize he's the best going
right now.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Yeah, I mean, obviously you know Shae who you don't
think you all you know things he deserves MVP just
because of their record and what he's been able to
do scorre and wise, but you tell my overall player
and how impactful he is in the game.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Yeah, of course, So.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
I thought that was an interesting distinction between Hey, most
of us players think this guy should be the MVP, which,
first of all, you know, I mean, y'all talk, right,
so I assume that that's a cop conversation, but also
that Joki is the best player in the world, which
is something that you guys know drives me fucking crazy
(12:39):
because we have you know, I filled out my awards ballot.
I had to decide who the seventh and eighth and
ninth best rookies were this season. That is going to
go down in history. Who was the ninth best rookie
for the twenty twenty five season? You know what's not
going to go down who the best player was? How
do we not keep track of that? And you can
(13:01):
sit there and say, look, we all know MJ was
the best player even when he didn't win MVP. We
knew bron was the best player when he didn't win
an MVP. But the truth is memory fades. There's a
lot of kids who never watched MJ play at this point,
and certainly back behind that and what we have were
the record books, Kobe is not going to be reflected
in the record books the way he should have. Absolutely,
(13:23):
and that's a guy who was definitely the best player
in the world at one point. We need to have
an award for this best player. And it is not
because I just can't decide between two guys who's going
to win MVP. It's because it's two different things. And
the fact that we don't mark that when I have
to vote for the ninth best Rookie for the year
(13:44):
twenty twenty five is ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
As someone who's been in the weeds and has had
the privilege of voting for a lot of the times,
do you feel like from year to year that the
goalposts move around a little bit?
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Totally? I mean Most Improved Player is a great example.
First of all, the history of that at ward is phenomenal.
Do you know what it is.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I don't know the history of the war, but I
just know if you're like a lottery pick or number
one pick, how do you ever get voted and most
improved like you're supposed to be the ship?
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Well, let me take you back. So this used to
be the comeback Player of the year.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Remember that that.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
You know why they had to stop naming it that
and giving it out. It kept going to guys who
had like cocaine problems in the eighties, and then they
would sort of clean up and come back, and the
league had to talk about it. Everyone had to talk
about why they were the comeback Player of.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
The Year the Powder Award.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Yeah, exactly, So that's where it used to be. Then
they made it most improved, which is confusing, very confused,
because guys take a leap. You know, you have coaches
who will tell me, I will never vote for a
guy in his third year because that is what is
supposed to happen. In fact, if you don't make the
leap in your third year, you're going to get left behind.
In the NBA, there are people who refuse to vote
(14:56):
for anyone who is a top ten draft pick, saying
you were supposed to be good, right, But is that
necessarily have anything to do with improvements, right, Like, you
can be supposed to be good and you can still
make a significant improvement. Those are two separate things. Then
you have people who vote based on, oh my god,
this guy was like coming out of nowhere from last
(15:16):
year and now he's making an impact, which is how
I tend to vote. But it's it's a total crapshoot
because we can't vote for the cocaine anymore.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
We're going to get into most Improved a little bit later,
but before we do, let's talk Warriors Rockets, And before
we talk about the game, do you have any insider
have you heard anything about Kaminga and why he hasn't
touched the floor in weeks?
Speaker 2 (15:42):
I mean I was going to say it's been the
way it's been going, yeah, and that was.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
A sixteen and five and how small that team is, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
You would think, yeah, right, So I don't know if
ste feels like, hey, it's been going really well since
the trade deadline. I mean all their numbers, not just
their records have been so phenomenal. Why am I messing
with that? And I respect that, But you are getting
a guy who has had confidence issues now and then
I don't know how you then activate him if you
(16:11):
need him later hard at.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
This point, you know, too hard at this point, because
you know he's young and he's mental. Yeah, everything is
going to be mental. But anyway to the series, Warriors
went in there and I don't think it was a
surprise to anybody. I think Houston was the one and
forty every year I feel like when young teams take
off early, there's older teams and be like, Okay, if
we play them in the first round, we'll be straight.
And unfortunately Houston was one of those teams. Although I
(16:33):
love e May and love this young team and what
their mentality and the way they play, Houston was the
one team that people are like, Okay, we can get them.
And Golden State went in there and showed that. Shout
out to Steve Kerr who got his hundredth career playoff win. Time.
They with Larry Brown steph thirty one six and three
hits some incredible shots. Great game for Golden State.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Did you hear that Kevin Harlan call? Uh yeah, one
of the stuff shots where he's like on the side,
Yeah yeah, and he was like that should not be
geometrically possible.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Crazy. It's just crazy what he is still able to
do for the game and just the excitement. I mean,
he had the twins like we couldn't really hear the
game because we got some music play and everything, but
he just hit some shots that had like our whole
house like, oh shit, yeah, like.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Still are your boys that were like we know him,
we hang out.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
With oh yeah, yeah, Yeah, they don't talk about it,
but yeah, they definitely hold that as an honor. Thoughts
on this series.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
I think the Rockets are a less talented and I
say less talented because they don't have Lukudancic, but a
less talented version in some ways of the Lakers now
hear me out. Obviously not in playing style or where
their strengths are, but they have one obvious hole that
they need to fix this summer. And their obvious hole
is obviously the opposite of the Lakers obvious hole. Right,
Houston needs more offense. They just need more offense, and
(17:49):
they've been hoping that it could be homegrown. I think
some of it has been. I think they were smart
not to shake up the team at the trade deadline
or try to rush it, like you want these young
guys to get the experience they're getting right now. But
they do need this summer to make a big trade
and go get someone who can just score the basketball.
Who's out there, Well, we know Kevin Brants out there
(18:10):
and his name has been connected with Houston a lot.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Now.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
He's not a completely different age timeline than those guys,
but I have argued forever Kevin can play almost as
long as he wants. Like his game does not age.
And if you look at his numbers this year, I
think if he had hit sixty five games, which we
can also get into when we talk awards, because I
think it's yeah, it's ridiculous, drives me crazy, he would
(18:33):
have been in contention for you know, some of those
all NBA spots or whatever on the third team. Like,
I just think that he is a guy, even though
he is a very different age than his teammates, would
be who could give them what they needed.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
What is thirty six Kevin? Yeah? And still what twenty seven?
And very efficient from the field.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
You know, the guy that would be perfect on the
Rockets Devin Booker, Mmm, whoa I mean? And by the way,
and they have a bunch of pieces right And by
the way, it's a good call. If Phoenix wants to
be better, they cannot do what Matt Ishbia has been
(19:13):
out in the press saying they want to do. It
is great that the owner sits there and says we're
going to keep winning. We're never going to tank, We're
always going to try to win. You have my word,
you know, to fans that this team will be trying
to win. That sounds good, It does not create a
winning basketball team in the time of this collective bargaining
(19:33):
right with the second Apron and the eighth Apron and
all the aprons and whatever. You cannot have a team
that has played the way Phoenix has and has the
salary restrictions they have and just continue to try to
make it work with other guys because guys can the contracts,
can't get traded, Guys have different you know, things going on.
(19:54):
You have to have balance, salary in, salary out all
the stuff. You cannot do that anymore. So the thing
you have to do is strip down the team, get
your picks back because they have no first round picks
to what twenty thirty one? Is that right, Phoenix, Phoenix, Yeah,
twenty thirty trade, I mean that's insane. And get some
of those picks back from the Rockets, by the way,
(20:15):
who have them. So you control your own fate there.
And look, I know that trading Devin Booker would be
a huge hit for them in terms of the fan
base and just sort of the loyalty factor. And you know,
Devin iiholizes Kobe. He wants to be the guy who
plays for one franchise the whole time, and he is
so wicked talented that you know, if he was surrounded
(20:37):
by the right pieces. Of course, he's young enough and
to still win a title and be the best player
on a championship team. I believe that, But I just
don't think there will ever be enough pieces around him
to do that in Phoenix. And he keeps saying, I'm loyal.
You know, I always want to be in Phoenix. I
always want to be there. If I were him, I
would say, trade me.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Put your GM hat on real quick. What would you
do with that team? Obviously KD is someone who was
most like he going to be out. You're saying trading
Booker is Beal the one person that kind of has
to stay because of his deal.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Look, it's going to be very interesting to see what
happens with Biale this summer, because what they are hoping
happens is they don't trade Devin Booker because they don't
want to and book doesn't want to, So I don't
expect that to happen. I just look at what book
could get if he went on the Rocket If like,
the Rockets are the perfect fit for him. He is
more on that timeline. He's older than those kids, but
he's still like more in the in.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
The age twenty eight Corgett points per game, career playoff average.
It could be at number one option on the best team, on.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
One of the best defensive teams in the league. Could
be I mean that start title contending at that point anyway.
But he's not going to ask out. The Sons don't
want to trade him. The question is Bale, right, So
they get rid of Kevin. That opens up some salary
and by the way, Kevin also, I think it sounds
like at this point wants to go elsewhere and Beal
still on your books. Is what's ham stringing so much
(21:58):
because you have no traffics right, So he has the
no trade clause. We know about that. They could do
the wave and stretch thing, but that is still on
the salary cap in places that are going to hurt them.
They need to see if they can get a trade
partner who just wants him. That is the first problem.
It's not the no trade clause. That's part of it.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Who wants Bradley?
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Who would like Bradley Beal on their team at that salary?
So you have to find a team that's willing to
eat some salary because they're rebuilding.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
How does Bradley beal thirty one? So he's still young too,
he'll be thirty two in June.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Well, this is what I will say about brad and
I know him really well from him time in Washington, DC,
is he is not anywhere near as bad a player
as he has been made out to be. He is
just not up to that contract between the money and
the no trade clause, and nothing has been fitting in Phoenix.
So he has been the scapegoat because he has sort
of been in this position and he isn't worth that
(22:56):
much money a year, but he is still an exceptional
guy to have.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Twenty plus point gay game guy. And that's why I
think sometimes it can be misleading because he was very
instrumental in Washington, but they were empty numbers because the
team was terrible, you know, once John Wall left, so
he was still putting up those solid numbers. Again, I
don't think and I think Brad Bill's a great play.
I don't think he's a number one option on anybody's team,
and he's getting paid number one option money. But to
(23:22):
your point, the number decreases, I don't think it's because
of his talent, it's because of just the pieces haven't
fit right.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
And he's not, as you said, he's getting paid number
one money, and people are just so focused on well,
he's not worth it that they forget that he is
worth something, and he's worth quite a bit. Yeah, it's
just not quite that. So they have to figure out
if they can get someone to take him. Then they
have to go to Brad of course and say, okay,
will you wave you trade caluse to go here. I
think Brad and I have not had this conversation with him.
(23:50):
I just haven't seen him in a couple of months.
But my impression from what he said publicly is that
he would be more ready to take a look at
stuff this summer than he was a trade deadline. You know,
he's got kids, doesn't want to pull in our school
in the middle of the year, all that stuff. And
then they started not playing him right, and the numbers
with him on and off the court were so specific
(24:11):
and remarkable that I think and they started benching him.
And I just think that he has gotten the message,
and it depends on who wants him. If someone wants him,
and if it's a decent place for him to go
live with his cham start.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Phoenix now and they have such a great fan base
and then a great city to play in, and it's
just these new owners have come in and done numbers
on some of these franchises moving along real quick. Boston, Orlando,
everyone you know pretty much has Boston when thirty people
have Boston coming out of the East. You know, Tatum
went down with the wrist injury. Hopefully he'll be okay.
He had a nice double double. White played really well.
(24:47):
One thing I wanted to touch on was Pallo and
how we're continuing to have the conversation about the face
of the league and who is going to be the
American player and we have our greats and Steph and
Katie and Brawn on the back side of their career,
and there's names. His name is not being thrown out, Rachel,
(25:07):
but he has been nothing but absolutely incredible. What does
he average twenty nine in the playoff? But I mean
big six', nine six,' ten, the versatility he's. A dog
Him and wagner have a nice connection, over there so
really more, than anything and obviously they'll probably they're going
to get Beat by boston the. First Round but i'm
a Big, fan apollo and he should definitely be in
the conversation of faces up the league in the next
(25:29):
three to.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
FIVE years i disagree with you by, The way rookie
Of the year launches you into that conversation from. The
START so i think that if he hadn't gotten hurt,
THIS year i think he would be in more of
these awards talks and therefore like just kind of in
that conversation more he Plays. In, orlando yeah like it
took a long TIME for nba fans to get Up
on shay yep because he played in the. Smaller market
orlando is not your typical eight seed, or sorry seven
(25:52):
seed is what they ended up after, the plan right? Seven, seens,
yeah yeah they're not your typical seven seed because if
they hadn't had the injuries that they had, this year
they would have been higher up in. The STANDINGS so
i feel like he can make a little bit of
noise in. THESE games i still Think the celtics are gonna,
win HANDILY but i do think that people will see
him in these playoff situations more and.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
More understand his talent and understand what. They, got agreed
best of luck finalist FOR The nba awards anounced first, Up,
right yeah Finalist For clutch player Of. The, Year Yes,
Jalen Brunston, anthony Edwards And. Nicola, yoki yep what do?
Speaker 2 (26:32):
You got So My clutch player Of the year Voting was, jalen,
First uh, nicola SECOND and i Actually Put trey. Young.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Third, wow okay.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Because of a. Few things first, of all his clutch numbers.
Are good his assists numbers in the clutch moments are
obviously leading. The league leads the league in, Assists ANYWAY
but i mean in those, moments PARTICULARLY and i do
believe that that has. SOME worth i would never have
put him one, or two but to just sort of
signify on my ballot that being clutch in the last
(27:04):
five minutes of a close game has to do with
more THAN just i scored. The basketball he doesn't get.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
Their respect he deserves the mind Does. Not atlanta he
needs to get Out. Of ATLANTA but, I agree I
think trey is a killer across. The Board So, JALEN
brunson I Had, anthony edwards, he.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Did and by, the way he was the other name
kind of in. The mix why do you?
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Have anything first and, clutch points, yeah first and clutch,
threes first and.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Defensive rebounds so that's THE reason i didn't end up
putting him on the ballot was first, of all when
you talk about, volume numbers that just means the team
is in those. Close games more it's really about clutch percentages,
to me right than the numbers of he is first
in this. Many points and then, in general one Of
the wolf's biggest weaknesses going into these playoffs was they
are terrible in. The clutch they've got to be last
(27:49):
of any playoff team in. The CLUTCH maybe i don't
know if some of these seven or, eight seeds but
like they that is Why the lakers will likely win.
This series on top of everything else we.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Talked about they're not but, he is and he May
get he may will his team to a. Couple wins
the team may not, be Shit but aunt has Has
really obviously he is.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
A superstar and being good in the clutch will obviously
be part of. His story but, this year with the
way his team, HAS been i couldn't end up putting
him On The About.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
Defensive player Of, the year, you got the Nominees Are, DYSON,
Daniels Yep draymond Green And. Evan mobley this is.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Very hard for Me because Victor webin yama should be
The defensive player of, the.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Year should be back.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
To back and this is one of those SITUATIONS where
i will ask you if you WERE a gm IN,
the nba would you Rather Have victor webinyama for forty?
Eight games would you rather have one of these other
guys you just named for sixty?
Speaker 1 (28:48):
EIGHT games i would have to go.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Just, Availability okay so you think that's the biggest.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
DECIDING thing i think that's the biggest thing is because
we need. That, Consistently okay and, you, know unfortunately, you
know glad to hear that he's doing well and he'll.
Be BACK but i thought he could have won it.
LAST year i thought could have won it. Last year
obviously him not qualifying. This year my Pick. IS draymond
i think this is his LAST and i think he
spoke to. US too i think this is his. Last window,
you know he's. GETTING older i think he's, thirty five
(29:14):
and there's a lot of young guns coming up that
aren't even obviously in the. Final three, you Know, lou
dort one of the Twins, from houston, you know and
Then Obviously. DYSON daniels i think he's going to grab
a handful of these awards before he's out of. This
LEAGUE but i really. Like Him His dyson daniels just
kind of coming out, of nowhere jumping on. THE scene, i,
mean he, you know moderate numbers, last year but made
(29:34):
a huge jump points per game and then three steals.
A game i mean that's serious on the. Defensive end
so it'll. Be interesting who.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Do You, dyson daniels by, the way is my pick For. Most,
improved okay he was at the top of my ballot. For,
that okay not only because he has the best nickname
going IN the nba. Right now you know what, it is.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
Uh huh So.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
He's australian you just mentioned the steals and all the.
Other Stuff The Great, barrier Thief The Great.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Barrier thief, come on that's. SO good i don't even
know He, was australian to be honest. With, you funny.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
So good obviously he was buried On That new, Orleans,
team yes barely saw. The court to be able to
go and play the way he has, THIS season i
thought that to me was what signified, most improved to
be able to go from that to that and, not
be as, you said a top three guy or something.
Like that we can get into that in, a minute
but THAT'S where I Put. DYSON daniels i did not
(30:26):
put him On My defense player Of the ear BALLOT
because i think for all the stuff, HE did i
think other guys. Did MORE so i would have given
Consideration To victor wibinyama if they gave it. To me
if they gave me. That chance i'm NOT saying i
would have voted. For him but this is one of
those things about the sixty five game RULE that i
can't stand because what if he played fifty five games
and it, was like.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Would you rather have? Six before he just.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Didn't, Qualitz no i'm not talking, about That but i'm just, saying,
that like what if it was because, We did by,
the way have guys. Like that what is? The NUMBER
the nba has said it as. Sixty Five if i'm a,
general manager there are certain transcendent guys in the league
you would, take LESS but i would take a less
of but to have them on my team for a
certain amount.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Of, Time yeah and so, you're saying what is?
Speaker 2 (31:09):
THAT number i don't know what that number.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
Isn't enough out of. Eighty TWO but i get what.
You're saying is it somewhere in, the fifties? Right, that
okay this is not for.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
Those, guys YEAH but I mean Victor, WEB special i
think is going to be a top ten player of.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
All time i'm not mad. At that so who is
who is your pick? For Defense?
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Evan Mobley Evan, mobley, OKAY yeah, i know.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
Super, TALENTED yeah i mean can.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Guard one through five in the end In A Victor
webin yama vacuum that, to me, and look, best team,
you know wire to wire In The eastern conference for,
a while best team in. The league he anchors, that
defense the way he has grown as a player in,
THAT respect i, just think, you know, to me when
you look, at choices none of which to me have. Complete,
(31:52):
Cases frankly, oh yeah, You know draymond was on, My
ballot but, you know if you look at the first
chunk of the season and mom was not playing at.
This level and we do have a little bit of
recency bias when it comes to, these awards but, in
theory every third of the season matters the same.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Agreed most improved and this is going to be. A
Conversation Obviously cad dyson And Then, ivan zubat who would you.
Pick up i'm stuck BECAUSE obviously i Love what kate
has been able to do for not only himself but,
this franchise you know them and obviously bigger staff been
able to kind of bring, this this this team out
of the gutter and, make them, you know a formulable.
(32:30):
Playoff team but at the, same time you're the number. One,
pick yeah you KNOW what, I mean SO obviously i
kind of look at that a. Little different no knock,
on him but you're supposed to be, the man and
he's been, the man like the no knock on it, this,
like oh this is crazy HE'S been i think last
year was what twenty four game and this year's. TWENTY
seven i was, gonna, say yeah so he's he's been really.
GOOD consistently i like everything you Said About, dyson daniels,
(32:52):
you know kind of being buried and then finding his Way.
With ATLANTA but i think someone that no one talks
ABOUT in. La too there's always, you know such big,
names stars but zubots what he's quietly been able, to
do not just just, a year but the last few
years is being a consistent double. DOUBLE guy i think
he's at nearly seventeen and thirteen a game and in
an old school with the new, school twist but like
(33:13):
postplay is kind, of gone and he's someone that can
be and he's not a, Liability EITHER like, i said
he plays complete games for. This TEAM so I think
i would Go with zubots to be honest, with you
Despite what kid has been able, to do and what
Despite what dyson has been able, to DO because i
think he's he's someone On that clipper team that has
been consistent and. Definitely.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Overlooked, WELL look i had all three of the finalists on,
MY ballot i just had them in a slightly. Different
ORDER so I Had dyson daniels. NUMBER one I had zubos.
Number two what are, We Saying, Zubach Zubots.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
Zuba, zubots yes oh It's, Not ivan i'm making up
names over here Or Via, Big Zoo, big zoo and Then, YOU.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
Yeah I had kate THIRD because i DO think i
agree with you, that again that third place on my
ballot is OFTEN where i FEEL like i want to
give someone recognition without giving them enough points to win.
The award and that's the way the awards. Are tabulated
you get like five points for first, place votes three
points for second, place votes one point for third. Place
votes so by giving someone my third, Place vote i'm
(34:23):
never really tipping the scales for them out of one.
Hundred voters i'm just saying from my sense, OF who
i thought this was the best. THE season i thought
he deserved the third spot on.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
That ballot coach Of The Year, chinny atkinson who smartly
Declined the charlotte job and Stayed With golden state one
a year and Got. TO. Cleveland, jb yeah someone who's
some people say was unjustly fired and then landed on
his Feet in detroit and helped bring them out. The
slums and Then, e may one of the best coaches in,
(34:54):
the game got, a young hungry team that has kind
of taken on his mentality as, a COACH which.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
I love what do, You, GOT well I have KENNY
and jb one. AND two i did give the third
Spot to tyleru and it was HARD because i thought
there were a couple worthy. Worthy Candidates he may would
definitely have been fourth on. My list, You, know look.
It's hard, everyone's, like Well Where's. Mark dagno and, you
know he did win the award when he took a
very young team and they made that big leap that
(35:21):
we're talking About with detroit And. EVEN cleveland i think
when you have the level of guys on your team
that he has at, This point i'm not sure coaching
is the. Main factor it is, a factor it is
not the. Main factor so that's why he was on.
My ballot, HE may, i think will win, this award possibly.
Next YEAR but i, THINK again I think tyleru is.
(35:41):
CRAZY underrated i think what happened To the clippers this
year is a Testament To, James yes zubats to a
lesser Degree and tyler, no question and to hold that
team together and get them to fifty wins was a
little bit of magic that deserved to me the. Third
place something.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
About it i'm not mad At that i'm Stuck between
kenny AND. And jb obviously the win increase for, both
SIDES but i just LOOK at jb and kind of
pumping life back into a. Lifeless team, You know detroit's
been at the bottom for, a while but They've could
they've slowly but surely been, putting young quality, pieces together
(36:20):
and they've seem like they have a coach at the
players believing and they're going to ride for and they're.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
Moving now so and they added some good vets this.
YEAR too i thought that was really key because you
know that. That, knowledge yeah it's underrated in.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
The.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
League man we just.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Talked about we talked about That With reggie miller about
just how important. VETERANS are, i mean that's what we
can go on for ten minutes. About that, but, YEAH
no i agree that they've strategically made some nice moves
and put themselves in a position to obviously be in.
The playoffs so.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
Let me ask you a question as, a player how
much different is it to get from twenty wins to
forty wins versus getting that last forty to?
Speaker 1 (36:54):
Fifty, wins YEAH it's i think that last forty to
fifty is a, Harder, jump like you got to be
a really good team to get. Fifty, wins yes to
be fifty wins in. This league, BUT also i mean
it's not easy to pull a shitty team into, the
playoffs you KNOW what. I mean so it's, just LIKE
and i don't mean shitty in a disrespectful they just
haven't been good in a. Long time BUT like, i
(37:15):
said you you can see in the past few Years
what detroit has been, building towards and it's finally we're
starting to see. That product, absolutely yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
And some people will give it The COACH theater jb
because they feel like he gets a slice Of that
cleveland success, To right, we'll see there's no.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
Wrong answer, fairly last but, not LEAST. The, Mvp obviously
giannis can be in The con there's guys that could
be in the conversation. Every, year yeah, You, know STEPH,
could Kd could Lebron could lebron's on that backside, of
that but, you know obviously numbers and playing the right amount.
Of games And then giannis is another guy that every
single year will be in. That CONVERSATION but i think
(37:50):
it's really a two man race In between Shay.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
And ic there's no bad answer, here EITHER and i
think it's. Really interesting this was one of the hart
Artist's decisions i've ever had to make as, a Voter
and i've been voting for more than. A decade there
is such hair splitting that you have to do to
decide which category is more important to you because their
numbers across the board are just rockstar and every. EVERY way,
(38:14):
I mean yoka literally doing things we've never, Seen, before shay,
you know having a more complete argument in some cases
with both sides of. The, ball nicola, you know being
so exhausted by carrying that entire team that apparently was
such a mess they fired both the coach AND.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
THE gm, I mean nicola has better numbers this year
THAN his mvp years in.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
The past by, the way So, does janis who's the
third guy on. That list jannis can sit there and
say this is THE best i have, ever PLAYED and
i have MVPs in. My closet what?
Speaker 1 (38:42):
The? Fuck?
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Man, Yeah right what do.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
You think it is? With this do you think it
sometimes you've voted for over. A decade do you think
people get? Voter FATIGUE or i.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
ACTUALLY don't I think i think that is something fans
have kind of made up for why you didn't vote for.
THEIR guy i don't know anyone on that. VOTING panel
i don't know any of my who are not Dazzled By,
nikolai jokich who will not tell you they think he
is the best Player. ON earth i think that just
The way, james said that's kind of consensus, among players
but that's different from who SHOULD. Win mvp, HARDEN said
(39:12):
i think that across, the board this voting panel will
tell You That nikola jokic is the best Player. On
earth it's just how much of that did he deliver
this season compared To what shaye delivered. This SEASON and
i think what my prediction is that the voting totals
won't be as close as the. Vote was AND what
i mean by, THAT is i think that Every voter
(39:34):
i've talked to took it down to the wire of,
the wire some cases to the last hour the voting,
was opened because it was just so hard to make
that decision and it was such a. Tiny difference but
those tiny differences from THE voters i talked to and
some of the polls that are out there seem to
have Leaned. Towards SHAY so i think you Will see
shaye winning by more than fifty. ONE percent i think
(39:57):
it could even be as high as sixty sixty. Five
percent but that doesn't reflect close the fact that for
a lot, of voters for, most voters it was really a,
you know forty nine point eight and fifty point. Two,
split no.
Speaker 1 (40:10):
THAT'S incredible, i Mean and shay has been like, you
said there's no wrong answer what he's been able to
do and continue to develop. His game and my favorite
Thing about okay see is that team is. A, unit
yeah and you can tell they're. A unit they, celebrate
together they go up and. DOWN together, I mean i really.
Like that and can this be the year that you
know they're they're paying their dues finally. Pays, off well
who would you have? VOTED for I think i, Would
(40:32):
AGREE like, i said it's hard to Look past jokic
because he is. So incredible as numbers are better across,
the board he HAS to i feel like he has
to carry it obviously a heavier Load. Than shaye but
at the, same time you Can't fault shade for a
young and up and coming team that he's the leader
of that night in. Night OUT so i Would pick.
Shay two, BUT again i think to, your Point into,
(40:54):
james's point there's a difference between the best player in
the world AND, the mvp and maybe the legal start
listening and make.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
It just, say yeah that was one of.
Speaker 1 (41:03):
THE lt, i mean but both again both And again jannis.
Incredible season we haven't Talked about giannis. As much milwaukee's
kind of floating under the raidar On The, eastern Conference
and dame's heard and they might, get Bumped but jannice
every single year can be on, that, List.
Speaker 2 (41:18):
Absolutely and that's a case where they really need to
take stock this summer of that team because there's a
lot of pieces on that team that are frankly aged
out of being championship Level and giannis deserves a championship.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
Level team we've heard rumbles though that for a bigger Market.
For yiannis AND obviously i know, he's loyal, you know
similar to way the booker, is loyal but, you know
to to he's done everything you can do for that FRANCHISE.
One MVPs he's brought them. A championship just being able
to attract Players to milwaukee is not the attrack players
(41:50):
that any small markets. Not, easy yeah, you, know okay
he was able, to homegrown build and get trades to get.
Their players so it's just like to get a free
agent to come play with him is, not, likely Yeah,
In milwaukee so it'd be interesting.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
To SEE but i think that eventually we May see, yannis,
DECIDE hey i want to go. Somewhere else, You Know
new york is always in, that, conversation right and he
probably every once in, a while, you know. He's playful
every once in a while he'll, be, like oh what
did he say earlier? THIS year i think all the
foreign players should play in. BIG markets i think someone
asked HIM about i might be getting, this wrong but,
about Like is yokich not getting as much recognition because
(42:23):
he's a non dvor. OR something i, don't know but
he's said oshe he was, JUST like i think all
the foreign players should play in. Big markets and he
throws stuff like that out there once in. A WHILE
but i will, say this he wanted ding and they
went out and. Got ding he wanted to make. That
switch so the Fact that drew isn't there anymore and
you can, see it And that dame, got hurt, you
(42:44):
know obviously That's not yannis's Fault or dame's fault that
he has the deep. Vein THROMBOSIS but i Don't think
yannis is the type of guy to then turn around
this summer and, be, Like yeah. I'm bouncing you did
EXACTLY what. I, Wanted no and, you know by, the
way the last time his contract was up previous to
this one where they went And got dame was when
(43:05):
they went And. Got drew so they have been responsive.
To him But he ganis was injured, Last postseason dame
the last. Two postseasons, so again he's not the kind
of guy to me to right now, Say oh i'm out. Of,
here YEAH but i. DON'T think i. DON'T think i
(43:27):
think he may end up BEING. LIKE kg i think
that he might be there for a really long time
and then maybe realize at some point that this is.
What's best and, you know at some point fans do agree.
WITH you i think when you give everything to a
franchise and, Fancy, that okay it's not going to, happen
(43:48):
here they want you to go win. That, title, now
obviously to, varying degrees, You Know boston raybork was probably
the one the most where fans were, just, like yeah you,
go ahead go go. Do that but to varying degrees
people will. Do UNDERSTAND so i. DON'T know i will
say one thing and this will get me a lot
of flak on, the internet but is what. IT is
I think yan has had an. EXCEPTIONAL season i think
(44:10):
that that team did not coalesce around Him and dame
THE way i would have. Expected TO and I Think
jason tatum is UNDERRATED and i do not think that
that team. He was, you, know look there has been
questions both of those two guys, Whole career Brown. And tatum,
Who's better, Who's this? WHO'S that i, YOU know i
think it was right To give BROWN the mvp For
the finals, last YEAR but I think tatum has clearly
(44:31):
been more of the contributor to this team, this year
on a team that we are all picking to win the.
Finals again AND while I think janis had an, EXCEPTIONAL
season I think mvp is about a little bit more
than just what numbers did you? Put Up and tatum's
leadership on that team and the way he has been
the fulcrum of that team and steady and by the way.
(44:52):
He plays what has been his availability this season a.
Lot thing so, to me he was third on.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
My ballot i'm not mad. At that and if you
look at we talked about this a couple of, shows
ago if you look at Credentials from Shay, and tatum
they're the. SAME. Age yea by, The Way, jason tatum
shit is off, the, charts yes and we no one
can figure out when, you know, You know, paul said
because He's, in boston everyone hates. To sell, to me
it has to, be more because there's no way a
(45:21):
guy that is that talented and does everything right doesn't
get the respect. HE deserves i think it.
Speaker 2 (45:27):
IS more i. ACTUALLY think, I mean boston's a, big
market and we've had popular players from, big Markets including. Boston,
Before Right larry bird got a lot of national.
Speaker 1 (45:34):
He said because Everyone.
Speaker 2 (45:35):
Hates, boston well THAT'S what, i mean even though they've Been. In,
boston huh we, get through, get, Through right and you
don't even have to go as far Back As, larry,
Bird RIGHT so, i think, You know paul, certainly himself,
you know engendered a lot. OF netlove kg is a
lot of people's favorite player and they all played in One.
Speaker 1 (45:53):
In boston and he's a pretty skin light boy with
the rock star girlfriend and he has they have they
have a, kid together and, you know it's JUST that i,
DON'T know i don't know what. It is he's too
good not to get the at LEAST the i know
is peers. Respect HIM but i feel like the media
doesn't respect him. As much as.
Speaker 2 (46:08):
THEY should i think people don't know. HIM enough i
think his. Personality reality he's a. Great guy SO when
i say, his personality there's something.
Speaker 1 (46:16):
Wrong with This personal he just hasn't shown.
Speaker 2 (46:18):
THE world i just don't think he's an extrovert in
the Way That andy edwards is or some of these other.
GUYS are i Mean, even shay who has like a.
QUIETER demeanor i mean the.
Speaker 1 (46:27):
Way he dresses you still more sides.
Speaker 2 (46:29):
Of him he's, got. Swag right tatum is a, you
know he goes, to work does his job. Incredibly nice
he is a. Good guy he's a. Great father he's
been a great example. Of FATHERHOOD and i just don't
think people know him. Well ENOUGH and i think if
he ever decides to let people get into his personality a,
(46:50):
LITTLE more i think that that affection.
Speaker 1 (46:53):
Will come we'll figure. It out He's Still First TEAM. All,
nba yeah. Oh yeah these awards will be announced, this
week Starting with expand Of the Year. On, tuesday rachel
thank you for. Your time it's always, a pleasure and
we will catch up again before this.
Speaker 2 (47:06):
Is, over, all Right Come back player Of. The year
just remember we might need.
Speaker 1 (47:09):
It Back Come back claier Of the year before we
get out. Of HERE the, la community in the basketball community,
in particular loss to a landmark this. Past week rest
in peace to Our Brother. Mike law great, basketball mind
been around the game, for years but an even. Better
person in a DAY where au is slimy and trashy
(47:32):
and vindictive and just not a, Good Space mike law
was a breath of fresh air and he will dearly.
Be missed rest, In. Peace mike that's a wrap. Front
plug you can catch us on All The smoke productions
YouTube And The. DraftKings network we'll see you guys. Next
(47:53):
week
Welcome back to another episode of unplug brought to you
by Draft Kings. The crown is yours, but I just
want to give a huge shout out to my brother
Deshaun Foster and UCLA Football. We got a chance to
team up with them this past Friday to do Friday
Night Lights. It was success, and the biggest success story
to come out of that is they landed their man,
(00:21):
nico Ia Maliava. Close enough, Nico he landed in Westwood
Man leading up to this. That's why every time I
saw him posted, I'd put UCLA Football underneath it. But again, man,
shout out to Deshaun and his team for landing the
number one quarterback recruit in the portal. Things are changing
over there and I'm really excited for him and I
(00:41):
were happy that All the Smoke was able to be
a part of that and definitely looking forward to working
with them more in the future. Shout out to my
girl Carrie Champion who came through and co hosted with
me and everyone. We talked to the Carnell Lake and
his son and my brother Mercedes Lewis got a chance
to talk to DK. A lot of people were out there,
(01:02):
a lot of former Bruin football players. So great event. Again,
shout out to my brother Dashaun and this guy Thomas
and everyone who made that event possible. Man, Huge success
and best luck this year to UCLA football. Playoffs are
finally here. And to dig into that a little bit,
I want to bring in my good friend Rachel Nichols. Rachel,
how are you. I've been seeing you everywhere You've been
(01:23):
in practice around You've shaken a bacon.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Huh yeah, you know, to keep it moving. Is that
time of the year, man, the best time of the year.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
First up, timber Wolves came into LA and beat the
Lakers by twenty two.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Were you surprised?
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I was very surprised. I wasn't surprised that they want
a surprise in the fashion which they won. And obviously
they're not going to shoot fifty percent from the three
point line the rest of the series. But fast break
points twenty five to six. That kind of concerned me
from a standpoint of Lakers just an older team and
if they can't slow down, normally the playoffs are slower.
But if you're able to get twenty six twenty five
(01:59):
fast break points in the place game, you're really doing something.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
So it was twenty six years old.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Well, Luca has never really been one for the lateral
speed or defensive I agree.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I'm just saying they're not an old team anymore, but.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
He still kind of moves like he's older on the defensive,
not on the offensive end. But what I mean, what
was your take from that? Obviously bron didn't shoot the ball. Well, yeah,
and again I think people like Gina who's in here,
who thinks, oh, it's over, Minnesota's gonna win. I don't
definitely don't want to go that far, but it was
definitely it opened my eyes a little bit.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
I thought the Lakers would end up winning this series
because I just thought that they would outgun Minnesota in
the end. That's how the Lakers are going to win
any playoff series this year. They're just going to pour
in so many points with such a you know, potent
offense that they can make up for their defensive deficiencies.
But where it falls apart is if you can have
someone who can really drive the lane and make you
(02:47):
pay at the basket, because they just don't have that
interior defense anymore. And Anthony Edwards, I was really impressed.
He was so disciplined because We saw him in the
Western Conference Finals last year, after having such a good
run through the first two rounds, kind of under the
pressure of playing on that stage, you know, a good
few games, but then kind of started to feel a
little wild, you know, that sort of thing, got tired,
(03:09):
but also just a little bit making that great decisions,
and he made excellent decisions in game one. He deserves
a lot of credit for that, and really just sort
of pinpoint attacked where the Lakers were weak. And you
say about the threes. Obviously they got to hit the threes,
but the Lakers defensive plan ever since the trade has
basically been leave three point shooters generally alone, the pack
(03:32):
the paint because they just don't have an ad type
presence anymore, and you can't hit them all. And the
Wolves hit them.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Yeah, they hit him, and obviously Lakers, I want to say,
Lakers hit fifteen threes. McDaniels, you know, had a very
solid game, twenty five points. I think Randall came back
to LA with a little bit of chip on his shoulder.
I think that missed the matchup between him and Braun.
Obviously that's a match up the Lakers have to win.
And what were your thoughts with just Braun not being
very aggressive early on.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I can't tell if he's a little bit hurt because
he tweaked you know, he sat out with that hip
pome thing and then it looked like he tweaked it.
Now that was you know, a good ten days ago
at this point, but still, you know, I can't tell
if his mobility is affected at all or just mentally
by making sure that he doesn't tweak it again or
anything like that. Yeah, And also you know, he is
(04:19):
a different role on this team now, and I think
he's very grateful for that. Yeah, but it is different
than we're used to seeing him. We're used to seeing him.
This is the first time he has ever in my memory,
played with a guy who he doesn't have to be
the guy in the fourth quarter. Do you remember? I mean,
I don't remember a team he's played on where it
wasn't down to him in the forest.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
And just so many times, Richard, it's the random stuff
with maybe the ball will be inbounded tobron, he'll just
toss it to lucer like right away, you know what
I mean. So it's just like I think this is
what he wanted, but obviously kind of figuring out how
to play within that will be interesting and if any
one can figured it out, it will be him, and
I know, knowing JJ, these guys will definitely be ready
for a Game two. But Minnesota came and did what
they had to do. Even if they you know, they
(05:00):
one one on the opponent's court, which is all they
have to do, they can lose next game and still
have home court heading back home, So it'll be interesting
to see how they come out the Lakers come out
next game. Thoughts on the series at this point I.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Thought going in and I still think it's the most
likely that the Lakers will overwhelm the Wolves with how
many points they can pour in Lebron will have a
great night. At one point in this series. Luca, of course,
already scored thirty plus he will do that again and
again we know he can drop fifty when he wants to. Indeed,
so we'll just have to see how much Ant can
take advantage of going to the basket. They're going to
(05:35):
still need more from Rudy Gobert. I don't know if
you think that's possible, and I just don't know if
the point totals are going to measure up because I
just don't see anyone who can guard Luca on that team,
and we saw it, by the way, yeah last season.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
One thing too, before we switched series. One thing I
think the Lakers did was they let go Bear off
the hook too much. He was out guard on the perimeter.
They didn't attack them. Yeah, and they have allowed him
to stay in the game and then he'll get a
lob every once in a while and kind of keep
that rim threat on the offensive end. So it'll be interesting. Obviously,
Jackson Hayzes only played eight minutes, so Jade didn't feel
he was very effective, so it'll be interesting to see
what the strategy is coming into game too. But I
(06:10):
still feel like the Lakers will get it. It won't
be in five, It'll probably be in six or seven,
which I don't think they want to do because obviously
they need as much time for Bron to rest and
heal if he's a little tweaked as possible. So it
would definitely be an interesting series going forward. Denver and
the Clippers. To me, this was my favorite series coming
into the playoffs, and Russell Westbrook somehow became the storyline
(06:35):
of this game, which I love because I thought he
got a bullshit rap for him somehow being the reason
why Malone was fired, and you know the booth situation.
But he was crucial down the stretch, caused a big turnover.
But what did you take from the Denver game and
the Clippers having twenty turnovers and having a double digit
lead in the second half and not being able to close.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
First of all, you and I both really like Russ personally.
He is a box chocolates though you do not know
what you're going to get, right. I mean, for every
game where he comes through, there is a game where
he takes a shot in the last seconds where you're.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Just like, please, what is going on right the ball?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
It's great that it worked out. We will see games
in the series where Russ does not work out, but
that's okay. They know what they have in him. Nicole
likes him, and I think that really important matters. I
thought this was a seven game pickum series. I had
no idea, did not pretend going into the series. I
knew who was going to win, and the fact that
the first game sort of went like this as you said,
and then went into OT I thought James Harden was fantastic.
(07:37):
We actually for all the smoke. Talked to him a
couple of days ago going into the series, and I
think it is underrated what he has done this season
because it's not a please, it's not a one to one. Okay,
it's not exactly the same scenario, but I look at
what happened in Philadelphia right where you had sort of
the guy who's considered the main guy, embid had this
(07:58):
unreliability health issues right, and nobody including Paul George unfortunately
could get And I think it can't really expect this
because he was coming into the team, but he couldn't
really get the guys himself, like all on the same page,
him and Tyrese to be able to be like great,
we're going to be fine without him, as long as
it is that kind of thing. You had pretty much
(08:19):
the same situation here in LA with first of all,
PG left, so you have all that scoring gone and
Kawhi was ah. I mean, we thought he might not
come back this season. We didn't know if he was
going to come back at all, right within it was
just a totally mystery. So you know the fact that
James from the very beginning before the preseason even like
got the guys together in Arizona, which is cliche, but
(08:41):
it does matter, I think, right, and like just kind
of through the entire thing, him and Tylu were like,
we're a team, We're going to be able to do this.
And obviously Zubac the way he developed, So I thought
James continued that through this game one. I thought Kawhi
looked not quite as we know playoff Kawhi can look
and the way frankly has looked in the last month,
(09:01):
so you know, so I thought that was something that
I wonder if they clean up and able to get
him in a better position, if they'll be able to
move forward.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Differently, twenty nine points off of twenty turnovers, it's never
going to be good. But to your point, I think
just the way James has been able to handle the
criticism and all the outside noise and kind of stay
focused on what is needed, whether he needs to be
the leading scorer, whether he needs to be the main facilitator.
He's reliable. How many games did he play this year?
Can we find out? I know he played a lot. Yeah,
(09:30):
he was the one constant, and then obviously Kawhi playing
well leading into the playoffs. I think he was twenty
two and six last game. Harden played seventy nine games
this year. Incredible, What is he thirty three thirty five?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
I believe he's thirty five.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
So I mean would he have thirty two eleven and six?
I mean he came out and did his thing. One
person I don't think talks about enough. We'll talk about
a little bit later. As Zubats though, I think he's
definitely in the running for most or he is a
finalist or Most Improved. But the way he's been able
to be a traditional big that in a game that
doesn't have traditional bigs. That's why I kind of gave
them the nod over this, because not that he was
going to slow down Yokic, but he's going to have
(10:03):
a lot of production from that position as well. So again,
similar to the Lakers series, it's a little different, but
I still feel like the Clippers are the better team.
I think they're just going to have to show it.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
I think they also have a huge coaching advantage. Yeah right,
Adaman may turn into one of the best coaches in
the league one day.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Oh yeah, his dad was really good.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah, but you know how many games in he's coached
four NBA games compared to Tyleru, who to me is
one of the best coaches in the league by far.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
So what adjustments do you see the Clippers making outside
of taking care of the ball that are going to
help them in Game two?
Speaker 2 (10:35):
I mean, I think they need to feature Zobots actually
a little bit more and kind of get him more
of the looks that we get a hicculla work. Yeah,
and I think that I think that Kawhi, you know,
Kawi knows how to take care of shit. I mean,
I think he's going to look at that tape and
know what he needs to do differently, and Ty's going
to continue to game plan. I mean he is. Jokic
is the best player in the world, and there will
(10:56):
be at least a game and possibly more where he
goes for fifty or sixty. And you know, Clippers are
one of the stingiest defenses in the NBA. But there
is gonna be one game I predict where it just
kind of all gets blown open. But then the Clippers
are vets Man, They'll come right back.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
I mean, with that being said about Yo Kicic, when
you spoke to James leading into Game one, there's a
consensus feeling around the league that the players I don't
want to get what did he say about how guys
feel about the MVP.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
I just asked him sort of, you know, what their
strategy was, and he talked about the defense, and I said, okay, well,
lets you'll catch the best player in the world. And
this is what he said, is he'll catch the best
player in the world.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, because he's he am passed the game
in multiple ways. You know, obviously scoring in basketball, but
his playmaking ability is rebounding. He's a hardcover, you know
what I mean. Obviously you put traditional fives on him
and he just you know, he shoots the three and
he does what he wants. So there's gonna be a
tough match up for us. Obviously we know what we're
(11:55):
in for, but I think we're prepared.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
I like that no hesitation. I feel like players will
across the league kind of recognize he's the best going
right now.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Yeah, I mean, obviously you know Shae who you don't
think you all you know things he deserves MVP just
because of their record and what he's been able to
do scorre and wise, but you tell my overall player
and how impactful he is in the game.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Yeah, of course, So.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
I thought that was an interesting distinction between Hey, most
of us players think this guy should be the MVP, which,
first of all, you know, I mean, y'all talk, right,
so I assume that that's a cop conversation, but also
that Joki is the best player in the world, which
is something that you guys know drives me fucking crazy
(12:39):
because we have you know, I filled out my awards ballot.
I had to decide who the seventh and eighth and
ninth best rookies were this season. That is going to
go down in history. Who was the ninth best rookie
for the twenty twenty five season? You know what's not
going to go down who the best player was? How
do we not keep track of that? And you can
(13:01):
sit there and say, look, we all know MJ was
the best player even when he didn't win MVP. We
knew bron was the best player when he didn't win
an MVP. But the truth is memory fades. There's a
lot of kids who never watched MJ play at this point,
and certainly back behind that and what we have were
the record books, Kobe is not going to be reflected
in the record books the way he should have. Absolutely,
(13:23):
and that's a guy who was definitely the best player
in the world at one point. We need to have
an award for this best player. And it is not
because I just can't decide between two guys who's going
to win MVP. It's because it's two different things. And
the fact that we don't mark that when I have
to vote for the ninth best Rookie for the year
(13:44):
twenty twenty five is ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
As someone who's been in the weeds and has had
the privilege of voting for a lot of the times,
do you feel like from year to year that the
goalposts move around a little bit?
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Totally? I mean Most Improved Player is a great example.
First of all, the history of that at ward is phenomenal.
Do you know what it is.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I don't know the history of the war, but I
just know if you're like a lottery pick or number
one pick, how do you ever get voted and most
improved like you're supposed to be the ship?
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Well, let me take you back. So this used to
be the comeback Player of the year.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Remember that that.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
You know why they had to stop naming it that
and giving it out. It kept going to guys who
had like cocaine problems in the eighties, and then they
would sort of clean up and come back, and the
league had to talk about it. Everyone had to talk
about why they were the comeback Player of.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
The Year the Powder Award.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Yeah, exactly, So that's where it used to be. Then
they made it most improved, which is confusing, very confused,
because guys take a leap. You know, you have coaches
who will tell me, I will never vote for a
guy in his third year because that is what is
supposed to happen. In fact, if you don't make the
leap in your third year, you're going to get left behind.
In the NBA, there are people who refuse to vote
(14:56):
for anyone who is a top ten draft pick, saying
you were supposed to be good, right, But is that
necessarily have anything to do with improvements, right, Like, you
can be supposed to be good and you can still
make a significant improvement. Those are two separate things. Then
you have people who vote based on, oh my god,
this guy was like coming out of nowhere from last
(15:16):
year and now he's making an impact, which is how
I tend to vote. But it's it's a total crapshoot
because we can't vote for the cocaine anymore.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
We're going to get into most Improved a little bit later,
but before we do, let's talk Warriors Rockets, And before
we talk about the game, do you have any insider
have you heard anything about Kaminga and why he hasn't
touched the floor in weeks?
Speaker 2 (15:42):
I mean I was going to say it's been the
way it's been going, yeah, and that was.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
A sixteen and five and how small that team is, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
You would think, yeah, right, So I don't know if
ste feels like, hey, it's been going really well since
the trade deadline. I mean all their numbers, not just
their records have been so phenomenal. Why am I messing
with that? And I respect that, But you are getting
a guy who has had confidence issues now and then
I don't know how you then activate him if you
(16:11):
need him later hard at.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
This point, you know, too hard at this point, because
you know he's young and he's mental. Yeah, everything is
going to be mental. But anyway to the series, Warriors
went in there and I don't think it was a
surprise to anybody. I think Houston was the one and
forty every year I feel like when young teams take
off early, there's older teams and be like, Okay, if
we play them in the first round, we'll be straight.
And unfortunately Houston was one of those teams. Although I
(16:33):
love e May and love this young team and what
their mentality and the way they play, Houston was the
one team that people are like, Okay, we can get them.
And Golden State went in there and showed that. Shout
out to Steve Kerr who got his hundredth career playoff win. Time.
They with Larry Brown steph thirty one six and three
hits some incredible shots. Great game for Golden State.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Did you hear that Kevin Harlan call? Uh yeah, one
of the stuff shots where he's like on the side,
Yeah yeah, and he was like that should not be
geometrically possible.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Crazy. It's just crazy what he is still able to
do for the game and just the excitement. I mean,
he had the twins like we couldn't really hear the
game because we got some music play and everything, but
he just hit some shots that had like our whole
house like, oh shit, yeah, like.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Still are your boys that were like we know him,
we hang out.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
With oh yeah, yeah, Yeah, they don't talk about it,
but yeah, they definitely hold that as an honor. Thoughts
on this series.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
I think the Rockets are a less talented and I
say less talented because they don't have Lukudancic, but a
less talented version in some ways of the Lakers now
hear me out. Obviously not in playing style or where
their strengths are, but they have one obvious hole that
they need to fix this summer. And their obvious hole
is obviously the opposite of the Lakers obvious hole. Right,
Houston needs more offense. They just need more offense, and
(17:49):
they've been hoping that it could be homegrown. I think
some of it has been. I think they were smart
not to shake up the team at the trade deadline
or try to rush it, like you want these young
guys to get the experience they're getting right now. But
they do need this summer to make a big trade
and go get someone who can just score the basketball.
Who's out there, Well, we know Kevin Brants out there
(18:10):
and his name has been connected with Houston a lot.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Now.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
He's not a completely different age timeline than those guys,
but I have argued forever Kevin can play almost as
long as he wants. Like his game does not age.
And if you look at his numbers this year, I
think if he had hit sixty five games, which we
can also get into when we talk awards, because I
think it's yeah, it's ridiculous, drives me crazy, he would
(18:33):
have been in contention for you know, some of those
all NBA spots or whatever on the third team. Like,
I just think that he is a guy, even though
he is a very different age than his teammates, would
be who could give them what they needed.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
What is thirty six Kevin? Yeah? And still what twenty seven?
And very efficient from the field.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
You know, the guy that would be perfect on the
Rockets Devin Booker, Mmm, whoa I mean? And by the way,
and they have a bunch of pieces right And by
the way, it's a good call. If Phoenix wants to
be better, they cannot do what Matt Ishbia has been
(19:13):
out in the press saying they want to do. It
is great that the owner sits there and says we're
going to keep winning. We're never going to tank, We're
always going to try to win. You have my word,
you know, to fans that this team will be trying
to win. That sounds good, It does not create a
winning basketball team in the time of this collective bargaining
(19:33):
right with the second Apron and the eighth Apron and
all the aprons and whatever. You cannot have a team
that has played the way Phoenix has and has the
salary restrictions they have and just continue to try to
make it work with other guys because guys can the contracts,
can't get traded, Guys have different you know, things going on.
(19:54):
You have to have balance, salary in, salary out all
the stuff. You cannot do that anymore. So the thing
you have to do is strip down the team, get
your picks back because they have no first round picks
to what twenty thirty one? Is that right, Phoenix, Phoenix, Yeah,
twenty thirty trade, I mean that's insane. And get some
of those picks back from the Rockets, by the way,
(20:15):
who have them. So you control your own fate there.
And look, I know that trading Devin Booker would be
a huge hit for them in terms of the fan
base and just sort of the loyalty factor. And you know,
Devin iiholizes Kobe. He wants to be the guy who
plays for one franchise the whole time, and he is
so wicked talented that you know, if he was surrounded
(20:37):
by the right pieces. Of course, he's young enough and
to still win a title and be the best player
on a championship team. I believe that, But I just
don't think there will ever be enough pieces around him
to do that in Phoenix. And he keeps saying, I'm loyal.
You know, I always want to be in Phoenix. I
always want to be there. If I were him, I
would say, trade me.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Put your GM hat on real quick. What would you
do with that team? Obviously KD is someone who was
most like he going to be out. You're saying trading
Booker is Beal the one person that kind of has
to stay because of his deal.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Look, it's going to be very interesting to see what
happens with Biale this summer, because what they are hoping
happens is they don't trade Devin Booker because they don't
want to and book doesn't want to, So I don't
expect that to happen. I just look at what book
could get if he went on the Rocket If like,
the Rockets are the perfect fit for him. He is
more on that timeline. He's older than those kids, but
he's still like more in the in.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
The age twenty eight Corgett points per game, career playoff average.
It could be at number one option on the best team, on.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
One of the best defensive teams in the league. Could
be I mean that start title contending at that point anyway.
But he's not going to ask out. The Sons don't
want to trade him. The question is Bale, right, So
they get rid of Kevin. That opens up some salary
and by the way, Kevin also, I think it sounds
like at this point wants to go elsewhere and Beal
still on your books. Is what's ham stringing so much
(21:58):
because you have no traffics right, So he has the
no trade clause. We know about that. They could do
the wave and stretch thing, but that is still on
the salary cap in places that are going to hurt them.
They need to see if they can get a trade
partner who just wants him. That is the first problem.
It's not the no trade clause. That's part of it.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Who wants Bradley?
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Who would like Bradley Beal on their team at that salary?
So you have to find a team that's willing to
eat some salary because they're rebuilding.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
How does Bradley beal thirty one? So he's still young too,
he'll be thirty two in June.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Well, this is what I will say about brad and
I know him really well from him time in Washington, DC,
is he is not anywhere near as bad a player
as he has been made out to be. He is
just not up to that contract between the money and
the no trade clause, and nothing has been fitting in Phoenix.
So he has been the scapegoat because he has sort
of been in this position and he isn't worth that
(22:56):
much money a year, but he is still an exceptional
guy to have.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Twenty plus point gay game guy. And that's why I
think sometimes it can be misleading because he was very
instrumental in Washington, but they were empty numbers because the
team was terrible, you know, once John Wall left, so
he was still putting up those solid numbers. Again, I
don't think and I think Brad Bill's a great play.
I don't think he's a number one option on anybody's team,
and he's getting paid number one option money. But to
(23:22):
your point, the number decreases, I don't think it's because
of his talent, it's because of just the pieces haven't
fit right.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
And he's not, as you said, he's getting paid number
one money, and people are just so focused on well,
he's not worth it that they forget that he is
worth something, and he's worth quite a bit. Yeah, it's
just not quite that. So they have to figure out
if they can get someone to take him. Then they
have to go to Brad of course and say, okay,
will you wave you trade caluse to go here. I
think Brad and I have not had this conversation with him.
(23:50):
I just haven't seen him in a couple of months.
But my impression from what he said publicly is that
he would be more ready to take a look at
stuff this summer than he was a trade deadline. You know,
he's got kids, doesn't want to pull in our school
in the middle of the year, all that stuff. And
then they started not playing him right, and the numbers
with him on and off the court were so specific
(24:11):
and remarkable that I think and they started benching him.
And I just think that he has gotten the message,
and it depends on who wants him. If someone wants him,
and if it's a decent place for him to go
live with his cham start.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Phoenix now and they have such a great fan base
and then a great city to play in, and it's
just these new owners have come in and done numbers
on some of these franchises moving along real quick. Boston, Orlando,
everyone you know pretty much has Boston when thirty people
have Boston coming out of the East. You know, Tatum
went down with the wrist injury. Hopefully he'll be okay.
He had a nice double double. White played really well.
(24:47):
One thing I wanted to touch on was Pallo and
how we're continuing to have the conversation about the face
of the league and who is going to be the
American player and we have our greats and Steph and
Katie and Brawn on the back side of their career,
and there's names. His name is not being thrown out, Rachel,
(25:07):
but he has been nothing but absolutely incredible. What does
he average twenty nine in the playoff? But I mean
big six', nine six,' ten, the versatility he's. A dog
Him and wagner have a nice connection, over there so
really more, than anything and obviously they'll probably they're going
to get Beat by boston the. First Round but i'm
a Big, fan apollo and he should definitely be in
the conversation of faces up the league in the next
(25:29):
three to.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
FIVE years i disagree with you by, The way rookie
Of the year launches you into that conversation from. The
START so i think that if he hadn't gotten hurt,
THIS year i think he would be in more of
these awards talks and therefore like just kind of in
that conversation more he Plays. In, orlando yeah like it
took a long TIME for nba fans to get Up
on shay yep because he played in the. Smaller market
orlando is not your typical eight seed, or sorry seven
(25:52):
seed is what they ended up after, the plan right? Seven, seens,
yeah yeah they're not your typical seven seed because if
they hadn't had the injuries that they had, this year
they would have been higher up in. The STANDINGS so
i feel like he can make a little bit of
noise in. THESE games i still Think the celtics are gonna,
win HANDILY but i do think that people will see
him in these playoff situations more and.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
More understand his talent and understand what. They, got agreed
best of luck finalist FOR The nba awards anounced first, Up,
right yeah Finalist For clutch player Of. The, Year Yes,
Jalen Brunston, anthony Edwards And. Nicola, yoki yep what do?
Speaker 2 (26:32):
You got So My clutch player Of the year Voting was, jalen,
First uh, nicola SECOND and i Actually Put trey. Young.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Third, wow okay.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Because of a. Few things first, of all his clutch numbers.
Are good his assists numbers in the clutch moments are
obviously leading. The league leads the league in, Assists ANYWAY
but i mean in those, moments PARTICULARLY and i do
believe that that has. SOME worth i would never have
put him one, or two but to just sort of
signify on my ballot that being clutch in the last
(27:04):
five minutes of a close game has to do with
more THAN just i scored. The basketball he doesn't get.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
Their respect he deserves the mind Does. Not atlanta he
needs to get Out. Of ATLANTA but, I agree I
think trey is a killer across. The Board So, JALEN
brunson I Had, anthony edwards, he.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Did and by, the way he was the other name
kind of in. The mix why do you?
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Have anything first and, clutch points, yeah first and clutch,
threes first and.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Defensive rebounds so that's THE reason i didn't end up
putting him on the ballot was first, of all when
you talk about, volume numbers that just means the team
is in those. Close games more it's really about clutch percentages,
to me right than the numbers of he is first
in this. Many points and then, in general one Of
the wolf's biggest weaknesses going into these playoffs was they
are terrible in. The clutch they've got to be last
(27:49):
of any playoff team in. The CLUTCH maybe i don't
know if some of these seven or, eight seeds but
like they that is Why the lakers will likely win.
This series on top of everything else we.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Talked about they're not but, he is and he May
get he may will his team to a. Couple wins
the team may not, be Shit but aunt has Has
really obviously he is.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
A superstar and being good in the clutch will obviously
be part of. His story but, this year with the
way his team, HAS been i couldn't end up putting
him On The About.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
Defensive player Of, the year, you got the Nominees Are, DYSON,
Daniels Yep draymond Green And. Evan mobley this is.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
Very hard for Me because Victor webin yama should be
The defensive player of, the.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Year should be back.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
To back and this is one of those SITUATIONS where
i will ask you if you WERE a gm IN,
the nba would you Rather Have victor webinyama for forty?
Eight games would you rather have one of these other
guys you just named for sixty?
Speaker 1 (28:48):
EIGHT games i would have to go.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Just, Availability okay so you think that's the biggest.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
DECIDING thing i think that's the biggest thing is because
we need. That, Consistently okay and, you, know unfortunately, you
know glad to hear that he's doing well and he'll.
Be BACK but i thought he could have won it.
LAST year i thought could have won it. Last year
obviously him not qualifying. This year my Pick. IS draymond
i think this is his LAST and i think he
spoke to. US too i think this is his. Last window,
you know he's. GETTING older i think he's, thirty five
(29:14):
and there's a lot of young guns coming up that
aren't even obviously in the. Final three, you Know, lou
dort one of the Twins, from houston, you know and
Then Obviously. DYSON daniels i think he's going to grab
a handful of these awards before he's out of. This
LEAGUE but i really. Like Him His dyson daniels just
kind of coming out, of nowhere jumping on. THE scene, i,
mean he, you know moderate numbers, last year but made
(29:34):
a huge jump points per game and then three steals.
A game i mean that's serious on the. Defensive end
so it'll. Be interesting who.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Do You, dyson daniels by, the way is my pick For. Most,
improved okay he was at the top of my ballot. For,
that okay not only because he has the best nickname
going IN the nba. Right now you know what, it is.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
Uh huh So.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
He's australian you just mentioned the steals and all the.
Other Stuff The Great, barrier Thief The Great.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Barrier thief, come on that's. SO good i don't even
know He, was australian to be honest. With, you funny.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
So good obviously he was buried On That new, Orleans,
team yes barely saw. The court to be able to
go and play the way he has, THIS season i
thought that to me was what signified, most improved to
be able to go from that to that and, not
be as, you said a top three guy or something.
Like that we can get into that in, a minute
but THAT'S where I Put. DYSON daniels i did not
(30:26):
put him On My defense player Of the ear BALLOT
because i think for all the stuff, HE did i
think other guys. Did MORE so i would have given
Consideration To victor wibinyama if they gave it. To me
if they gave me. That chance i'm NOT saying i
would have voted. For him but this is one of
those things about the sixty five game RULE that i
can't stand because what if he played fifty five games
and it, was like.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Would you rather have? Six before he just.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Didn't, Qualitz no i'm not talking, about That but i'm just, saying,
that like what if it was because, We did by,
the way have guys. Like that what is? The NUMBER
the nba has said it as. Sixty Five if i'm a,
general manager there are certain transcendent guys in the league
you would, take LESS but i would take a less
of but to have them on my team for a
certain amount.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Of, Time yeah and so, you're saying what is?
Speaker 2 (31:09):
THAT number i don't know what that number.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
Isn't enough out of. Eighty TWO but i get what.
You're saying is it somewhere in, the fifties? Right, that
okay this is not for.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
Those, guys YEAH but I mean Victor, WEB special i
think is going to be a top ten player of.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
All time i'm not mad. At that so who is
who is your pick? For Defense?
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Evan Mobley Evan, mobley, OKAY yeah, i know.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
Super, TALENTED yeah i mean can.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Guard one through five in the end In A Victor
webin yama vacuum that, to me, and look, best team,
you know wire to wire In The eastern conference for,
a while best team in. The league he anchors, that
defense the way he has grown as a player in,
THAT respect i, just think, you know, to me when
you look, at choices none of which to me have. Complete,
(31:52):
Cases frankly, oh yeah, You know draymond was on, My
ballot but, you know if you look at the first
chunk of the season and mom was not playing at.
This level and we do have a little bit of
recency bias when it comes to, these awards but, in
theory every third of the season matters the same.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Agreed most improved and this is going to be. A
Conversation Obviously cad dyson And Then, ivan zubat who would you.
Pick up i'm stuck BECAUSE obviously i Love what kate
has been able to do for not only himself but,
this franchise you know them and obviously bigger staff been
able to kind of bring, this this this team out
of the gutter and, make them, you know a formulable.
(32:30):
Playoff team but at the, same time you're the number. One,
pick yeah you KNOW what, I mean SO obviously i
kind of look at that a. Little different no knock,
on him but you're supposed to be, the man and
he's been, the man like the no knock on it, this,
like oh this is crazy HE'S been i think last
year was what twenty four game and this year's. TWENTY
seven i was, gonna, say yeah so he's he's been really.
GOOD consistently i like everything you Said About, dyson daniels,
(32:52):
you know kind of being buried and then finding his Way.
With ATLANTA but i think someone that no one talks
ABOUT in. La too there's always, you know such big,
names stars but zubots what he's quietly been able, to
do not just just, a year but the last few
years is being a consistent double. DOUBLE guy i think
he's at nearly seventeen and thirteen a game and in
an old school with the new, school twist but like
(33:13):
postplay is kind, of gone and he's someone that can
be and he's not a, Liability EITHER like, i said
he plays complete games for. This TEAM so I think
i would Go with zubots to be honest, with you
Despite what kid has been able, to do and what
Despite what dyson has been able, to DO because i
think he's he's someone On that clipper team that has
been consistent and. Definitely.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Overlooked, WELL look i had all three of the finalists on,
MY ballot i just had them in a slightly. Different
ORDER so I Had dyson daniels. NUMBER one I had zubos.
Number two what are, We Saying, Zubach Zubots.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
Zuba, zubots yes oh It's, Not ivan i'm making up
names over here Or Via, Big Zoo, big zoo and Then, YOU.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
Yeah I had kate THIRD because i DO think i
agree with you, that again that third place on my
ballot is OFTEN where i FEEL like i want to
give someone recognition without giving them enough points to win.
The award and that's the way the awards. Are tabulated
you get like five points for first, place votes three
points for second, place votes one point for third. Place
votes so by giving someone my third, Place vote i'm
(34:23):
never really tipping the scales for them out of one.
Hundred voters i'm just saying from my sense, OF who
i thought this was the best. THE season i thought
he deserved the third spot on.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
That ballot coach Of The Year, chinny atkinson who smartly
Declined the charlotte job and Stayed With golden state one
a year and Got. TO. Cleveland, jb yeah someone who's
some people say was unjustly fired and then landed on
his Feet in detroit and helped bring them out. The
slums and Then, e may one of the best coaches in,
(34:54):
the game got, a young hungry team that has kind
of taken on his mentality as, a COACH which.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
I love what do, You, GOT well I have KENNY
and jb one. AND two i did give the third
Spot to tyleru and it was HARD because i thought
there were a couple worthy. Worthy Candidates he may would
definitely have been fourth on. My list, You, know look.
It's hard, everyone's, like Well Where's. Mark dagno and, you
know he did win the award when he took a
very young team and they made that big leap that
(35:21):
we're talking About with detroit And. EVEN cleveland i think
when you have the level of guys on your team
that he has at, This point i'm not sure coaching
is the. Main factor it is, a factor it is
not the. Main factor so that's why he was on.
My ballot, HE may, i think will win, this award possibly.
Next YEAR but i, THINK again I think tyleru is.
(35:41):
CRAZY underrated i think what happened To the clippers this
year is a Testament To, James yes zubats to a
lesser Degree and tyler, no question and to hold that
team together and get them to fifty wins was a
little bit of magic that deserved to me the. Third
place something.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
About it i'm not mad At that i'm Stuck between
kenny AND. And jb obviously the win increase for, both
SIDES but i just LOOK at jb and kind of
pumping life back into a. Lifeless team, You know detroit's
been at the bottom for, a while but They've could
they've slowly but surely been, putting young quality, pieces together
(36:20):
and they've seem like they have a coach at the
players believing and they're going to ride for and they're.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
Moving now so and they added some good vets this.
YEAR too i thought that was really key because you
know that. That, knowledge yeah it's underrated in.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
The.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
League man we just.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Talked about we talked about That With reggie miller about
just how important. VETERANS are, i mean that's what we
can go on for ten minutes. About that, but, YEAH
no i agree that they've strategically made some nice moves
and put themselves in a position to obviously be in.
The playoffs so.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
Let me ask you a question as, a player how
much different is it to get from twenty wins to
forty wins versus getting that last forty to?
Speaker 1 (36:54):
Fifty, wins YEAH it's i think that last forty to
fifty is a, Harder, jump like you got to be
a really good team to get. Fifty, wins yes to
be fifty wins in. This league, BUT also i mean
it's not easy to pull a shitty team into, the
playoffs you KNOW what. I mean so it's, just LIKE
and i don't mean shitty in a disrespectful they just
haven't been good in a. Long time BUT like, i
(37:15):
said you you can see in the past few Years
what detroit has been, building towards and it's finally we're
starting to see. That product, absolutely yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
And some people will give it The COACH theater jb
because they feel like he gets a slice Of that
cleveland success, To right, we'll see there's no.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
Wrong answer, fairly last but, not LEAST. The, Mvp obviously
giannis can be in The con there's guys that could
be in the conversation. Every, year yeah, You, know STEPH,
could Kd could Lebron could lebron's on that backside, of
that but, you know obviously numbers and playing the right amount.
Of games And then giannis is another guy that every
single year will be in. That CONVERSATION but i think
(37:50):
it's really a two man race In between Shay.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
And ic there's no bad answer, here EITHER and i
think it's. Really interesting this was one of the hart
Artist's decisions i've ever had to make as, a Voter
and i've been voting for more than. A decade there
is such hair splitting that you have to do to
decide which category is more important to you because their
numbers across the board are just rockstar and every. EVERY way,
(38:14):
I mean yoka literally doing things we've never, Seen, before shay,
you know having a more complete argument in some cases
with both sides of. The, ball nicola, you know being
so exhausted by carrying that entire team that apparently was
such a mess they fired both the coach AND.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
THE gm, I mean nicola has better numbers this year
THAN his mvp years in.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
The past by, the way So, does janis who's the
third guy on. That list jannis can sit there and
say this is THE best i have, ever PLAYED and
i have MVPs in. My closet what?
Speaker 1 (38:42):
The? Fuck?
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Man, Yeah right what do.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
You think it is? With this do you think it
sometimes you've voted for over. A decade do you think
people get? Voter FATIGUE or i.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
ACTUALLY don't I think i think that is something fans
have kind of made up for why you didn't vote for.
THEIR guy i don't know anyone on that. VOTING panel
i don't know any of my who are not Dazzled By,
nikolai jokich who will not tell you they think he
is the best Player. ON earth i think that just
The way, james said that's kind of consensus, among players
but that's different from who SHOULD. Win mvp, HARDEN said
(39:12):
i think that across, the board this voting panel will
tell You That nikola jokic is the best Player. On
earth it's just how much of that did he deliver
this season compared To what shaye delivered. This SEASON and
i think what my prediction is that the voting totals
won't be as close as the. Vote was AND what
i mean by, THAT is i think that Every voter
(39:34):
i've talked to took it down to the wire of,
the wire some cases to the last hour the voting,
was opened because it was just so hard to make
that decision and it was such a. Tiny difference but
those tiny differences from THE voters i talked to and
some of the polls that are out there seem to
have Leaned. Towards SHAY so i think you Will see
shaye winning by more than fifty. ONE percent i think
(39:57):
it could even be as high as sixty sixty. Five
percent but that doesn't reflect close the fact that for
a lot, of voters for, most voters it was really a,
you know forty nine point eight and fifty point. Two,
split no.
Speaker 1 (40:10):
THAT'S incredible, i Mean and shay has been like, you
said there's no wrong answer what he's been able to
do and continue to develop. His game and my favorite
Thing about okay see is that team is. A, unit
yeah and you can tell they're. A unit they, celebrate
together they go up and. DOWN together, I mean i really.
Like that and can this be the year that you
know they're they're paying their dues finally. Pays, off well
who would you have? VOTED for I think i, Would
(40:32):
AGREE like, i said it's hard to Look past jokic
because he is. So incredible as numbers are better across,
the board he HAS to i feel like he has
to carry it obviously a heavier Load. Than shaye but
at the, same time you Can't fault shade for a
young and up and coming team that he's the leader
of that night in. Night OUT so i Would pick.
Shay two, BUT again i think to, your Point into,
(40:54):
james's point there's a difference between the best player in
the world AND, the mvp and maybe the legal start
listening and make.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
It just, say yeah that was one of.
Speaker 1 (41:03):
THE lt, i mean but both again both And again jannis.
Incredible season we haven't Talked about giannis. As much milwaukee's
kind of floating under the raidar On The, eastern Conference
and dame's heard and they might, get Bumped but jannice
every single year can be on, that, List.
Speaker 2 (41:18):
Absolutely and that's a case where they really need to
take stock this summer of that team because there's a
lot of pieces on that team that are frankly aged
out of being championship Level and giannis deserves a championship.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
Level team we've heard rumbles though that for a bigger Market.
For yiannis AND obviously i know, he's loyal, you know
similar to way the booker, is loyal but, you know
to to he's done everything you can do for that FRANCHISE.
One MVPs he's brought them. A championship just being able
to attract Players to milwaukee is not the attrack players
(41:50):
that any small markets. Not, easy yeah, you, know okay
he was able, to homegrown build and get trades to get.
Their players so it's just like to get a free
agent to come play with him is, not, likely Yeah,
In milwaukee so it'd be interesting.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
To SEE but i think that eventually we May see, yannis,
DECIDE hey i want to go. Somewhere else, You Know
new york is always in, that, conversation right and he
probably every once in, a while, you know. He's playful
every once in a while he'll, be, like oh what
did he say earlier? THIS year i think all the
foreign players should play in. BIG markets i think someone
asked HIM about i might be getting, this wrong but,
about Like is yokich not getting as much recognition because
(42:23):
he's a non dvor. OR something i, don't know but
he's said oshe he was, JUST like i think all
the foreign players should play in. Big markets and he
throws stuff like that out there once in. A WHILE
but i will, say this he wanted ding and they
went out and. Got ding he wanted to make. That
switch so the Fact that drew isn't there anymore and
you can, see it And that dame, got hurt, you
(42:44):
know obviously That's not yannis's Fault or dame's fault that
he has the deep. Vein THROMBOSIS but i Don't think
yannis is the type of guy to then turn around
this summer and, be, Like yeah. I'm bouncing you did
EXACTLY what. I, Wanted no and, you know by, the
way the last time his contract was up previous to
this one where they went And got dame was when
(43:05):
they went And. Got drew so they have been responsive.
To him But he ganis was injured, Last postseason dame
the last. Two postseasons, so again he's not the kind
of guy to me to right now, Say oh i'm out. Of,
here YEAH but i. DON'T think i. DON'T think i
(43:27):
think he may end up BEING. LIKE kg i think
that he might be there for a really long time
and then maybe realize at some point that this is.
What's best and, you know at some point fans do agree.
WITH you i think when you give everything to a
franchise and, Fancy, that okay it's not going to, happen
(43:48):
here they want you to go win. That, title, now
obviously to, varying degrees, You Know boston raybork was probably
the one the most where fans were, just, like yeah you,
go ahead go go. Do that but to varying degrees
people will. Do UNDERSTAND so i. DON'T know i will
say one thing and this will get me a lot
of flak on, the internet but is what. IT is
I think yan has had an. EXCEPTIONAL season i think
(44:10):
that that team did not coalesce around Him and dame
THE way i would have. Expected TO and I Think
jason tatum is UNDERRATED and i do not think that
that team. He was, you, know look there has been
questions both of those two guys, Whole career Brown. And tatum,
Who's better, Who's this? WHO'S that i, YOU know i
think it was right To give BROWN the mvp For
the finals, last YEAR but I think tatum has clearly
(44:31):
been more of the contributor to this team, this year
on a team that we are all picking to win the.
Finals again AND while I think janis had an, EXCEPTIONAL
season I think mvp is about a little bit more
than just what numbers did you? Put Up and tatum's
leadership on that team and the way he has been
the fulcrum of that team and steady and by the way.
(44:52):
He plays what has been his availability this season a.
Lot thing so, to me he was third on.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
My ballot i'm not mad. At that and if you
look at we talked about this a couple of, shows
ago if you look at Credentials from Shay, and tatum
they're the. SAME. Age yea by, The Way, jason tatum
shit is off, the, charts yes and we no one
can figure out when, you know, You know, paul said
because He's, in boston everyone hates. To sell, to me
it has to, be more because there's no way a
(45:21):
guy that is that talented and does everything right doesn't
get the respect. HE deserves i think it.
Speaker 2 (45:27):
IS more i. ACTUALLY think, I mean boston's a, big
market and we've had popular players from, big Markets including. Boston,
Before Right larry bird got a lot of national.
Speaker 1 (45:34):
He said because Everyone.
Speaker 2 (45:35):
Hates, boston well THAT'S what, i mean even though they've Been. In,
boston huh we, get through, get, Through right and you
don't even have to go as far Back As, larry,
Bird RIGHT so, i think, You know paul, certainly himself,
you know engendered a lot. OF netlove kg is a
lot of people's favorite player and they all played in One.
Speaker 1 (45:53):
In boston and he's a pretty skin light boy with
the rock star girlfriend and he has they have they
have a, kid together and, you know it's JUST that i,
DON'T know i don't know what. It is he's too
good not to get the at LEAST the i know
is peers. Respect HIM but i feel like the media
doesn't respect him. As much as.
Speaker 2 (46:08):
THEY should i think people don't know. HIM enough i
think his. Personality reality he's a. Great guy SO when
i say, his personality there's something.
Speaker 1 (46:16):
Wrong with This personal he just hasn't shown.
Speaker 2 (46:18):
THE world i just don't think he's an extrovert in
the Way That andy edwards is or some of these other.
GUYS are i Mean, even shay who has like a.
QUIETER demeanor i mean the.
Speaker 1 (46:27):
Way he dresses you still more sides.
Speaker 2 (46:29):
Of him he's, got. Swag right tatum is a, you
know he goes, to work does his job. Incredibly nice
he is a. Good guy he's a. Great father he's
been a great example. Of FATHERHOOD and i just don't
think people know him. Well ENOUGH and i think if
he ever decides to let people get into his personality a,
(46:50):
LITTLE more i think that that affection.
Speaker 1 (46:53):
Will come we'll figure. It out He's Still First TEAM. All,
nba yeah. Oh yeah these awards will be announced, this
week Starting with expand Of the Year. On, tuesday rachel
thank you for. Your time it's always, a pleasure and
we will catch up again before this.
Speaker 2 (47:06):
Is, over, all Right Come back player Of. The year
just remember we might need.
Speaker 1 (47:09):
It Back Come back claier Of the year before we
get out. Of HERE the, la community in the basketball community,
in particular loss to a landmark this. Past week rest
in peace to Our Brother. Mike law great, basketball mind
been around the game, for years but an even. Better
person in a DAY where au is slimy and trashy
(47:32):
and vindictive and just not a, Good Space mike law
was a breath of fresh air and he will dearly.
Be missed rest, In. Peace mike that's a wrap. Front
plug you can catch us on All The smoke productions
YouTube And The. DraftKings network we'll see you guys. Next
(47:53):
week
Hosts And Creators
Stephen Jackson
Matt Barnes
Popular Podcasts
40s and Free Agents: NFL Draft Season
Daniel Jeremiah of Move the Sticks and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Daily join forces to break down every team's needs this offseason.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.