December 4, 2024 • 41 mins
The guys were pleased to be joined by The Chasedown Pod host Justin Rowan for today's episode. The trio discussed just how sustainable this Cavs start remains and why this year's squad looks so different before broadening the conversation to the Magic, Grizzlies, Bucks and others!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, well, well, look at us. We're just about a
quarter of the way through the NBA season.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Some teams have fallen.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Back to the back of the pack, while others like
Milwaukee and Memphis are both on the move in the
right direction. But don't look now, Jack, I don't know
if you saw, but the Philadelphia seventy six ers. Yes,
they're on a one game winning hot streak of baby.
We're going to discuss that and the latest trends in
more with Calves podcaster Justin Rowan on today's episode. I'm
(00:29):
Miles Bray and I'm Jack O'Brien and this is Miles Miles.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Sez sorry, got it, look at the kitch ches.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Okay, there you go.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Indeed, driving Spinny Baby Fatter number eighteen.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
That's Trench Secure the Suffox or NBA Champions over the
pubble team.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Justin Rohan, you host the Chase Down pod for the
Cavs organization, and iHeart podcasts. You are also this is fantasic.
Is so serendipitous because last week's game of the Week,
the homework assignment we gave to listeners was we're watching
one game next week and all eyes are on the
Celtics at Calves. I hope everyone watched because we felt
this is aside from the other matchups, this felt like
(01:29):
a this was the test that we really wanted to
see this. Cleveland really got it. The Celtics continue to
just keep having it. But the game ended with a
fantastic win for the Caves one fifteen to one eleven.
I'm ecstatic. I thought that it's nice to see the
Celtics be mortal, and it was wonderful to see Darius
(01:50):
Garland absolutely just shackled Jason Tatum in that fourth quarter.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
It was fantastic to see.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
Yeah, and that's exactly what he's known for, right clamping
down the larger wings. No, it's you know, it was
part of an interesting strategy and something that Carter and
I have advocated for for a while because I think
even dating back to the Knick series, the Caves would
kind of overreact to primary initiators right like that, you know,
they're throwing doubles, they kind of get out of their
(02:19):
their set defense and they scramble too much. And what
we've just kind of been advocating for is, you know,
stay home, trust, trust the back line help that you have.
You have Evan mobiley. You have Jared Allen there. You know,
if they are able to force a switch, take that switch,
and you know, just kind of play it straight up.
And I think when it comes to the Boston Celtics,
(02:40):
you know, despite the Cavs winning that game, I think
it's still fair to say that they're in a tier
of their own when when it comes to both the
East and the NBA overall. But I think the key
to beating them is kind of baiting them into their
worst habits. And if you can bait them into consistent
ISO ball and trying to hunt those screens and just
kind of count on your guys the whole up defensively,
(03:00):
I think that that is a strategy that can bear
some fruit there. I probably wouldn't advocate for as much
soft switching as they did in that game. I thought
they let Jason Tatum get to Darius Garland a few
too many times. But you know, Tatum went six for
thirteen with Garland on him in that game. I think
you live with that, with the majority of those being
two pointers. In the previous game, when Darius Garland was
(03:24):
defending those switches, I think it was like zero point
seven points per possession.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
That Boston scored on.
Speaker 5 (03:30):
That, which is the same as like an Icicle Coro
spot up shot in last year's playoffs, which everyone you
know that got so much attention for him being left
alone and him not shooting. Well, It's functionally the same thing.
So I think when you're dealing with a lot of
bad options, which is what you have to do when
you're talking about slowing down that Celtics offense, I think
that that is a potential way that you can go.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (03:52):
My advice as a Sixers fan to my the players
of my team is also to stay home.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
But literally, I want, I want to say show.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Up, because that seems to be more of the problem
staying home. The problem is they are already staying home. Yeah. No,
I think I think they can stay home and we
can get Cooper flag. I'm just trusting the process. You know,
a lot of people are freaking out, and I'm just like, guys, guys, guys,
this is what we do. Baby lose in bunches.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yeah yeah, I mean they were really I mean they
were hunting Garland and yeah, it was nice just to
see him. Like I think after the game, Kenny Atkins
was like, dude, you can like you can do this,
like just step up and you.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Got this and sell were hunting Garland.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Yeah, they got on the Christmas spirit, right, but like, yeah,
Tatum would have had four points in the fourth quarter
and was like I think minus thirteen.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Basically it was not a great moment. But also Donovan
Mitchell was it twenty in the fourth quarter.
Speaker 5 (04:58):
Yeah, which was big because he had you know, pre
consecutive terrible halfs.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:03):
You know, I think he went five of twenty three
against the Atlanta Hawks. And you know that post Thanksgiving
afternoon game. I think anytime you have one of those
afternoon games, especially right after a holiday, that can be
a perfect recipe for some weird things to happen.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Yeah, but he had a very rough first.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
Half against Boston, and you know, it kind of echoed
what we saw in that first matchup where he didn't
shoot well in the first half. But then you know,
I had a strong second half in Boston. He had
a strong second half in Cleveland, and he joined Michael
Jordan now as the only two players that have history
to average over thirty points per game against the Celtics.
You know, as great as the Celtics perimeter defense is,
(05:42):
Donovan Mitchell does seem to have success against them.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Yeah, look at the first career.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yeah, wow, Michael had thirty point seven, Donovan Mitchell thirty
point two, Luca twenty eight point nine, Kareem twenty eight
point nine, Lebron twenty eight point eight, Wilt Chamberlain.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Twenty eight point seven. And you're like, yeah, that's that's
it's a rare air up there. Yeah, you know that.
Speaker 5 (06:04):
I always include him in that group, So it's fitting
to see him there.
Speaker 6 (06:08):
Jordan was playing against like ninety like mL CAR Celtics.
Speaker 7 (06:13):
You know, it wasn't it wasn't the cream of the crop.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
YEA, yeah, I would say, like Kareem is probably more
of like a better comparison given you know that era
of Celtics playing for Mike.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
You know they they moved the three point line closer
so you could shoot them there.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
There's a lot of factors there.
Speaker 7 (06:28):
That's right.
Speaker 6 (06:29):
So I've watched the Calves mostly play the Celtics. I've
watched the two Celtics games that I've seen highlights. Their
ranked number one in the league and offensive efficiency, what
have they figured out this year offensively?
Speaker 3 (06:42):
That? And like did you see this coming? This is
your chance to just lie, and so that you did.
Speaker 6 (06:48):
Because, like, I don't know, I thought they could be
like better and maybe like a four seed this year.
I didn't see this being like the team to beat
other than the Celtics in the league this year.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
But yeah, so great thing about podcast is you can
go back and listen to it. And I did say
coming into this year that I did think that this
was realistically the first season that the Cavs have had
with this group that they had a chance to win
a championship. I said, you know, it might only be
a five percent chance, and you know a twenty fifteen
Warriors type situation where you play four rounds and the
other team is missing their starting point guard in all
(07:25):
four rounds and you get some lucky breaks or whatever
to get there. But I did think that they were
going to be a whole lot better. And a large
part of that was I thought the leap that they
were going to make this season wasn't actually reflective of
where the team was at, because I thought it was
artificially deflated by last year, where you know, even in
the games that they had everybody, they weren't healthy. Garland
(07:48):
started the year with a hamstring injury and a shooting
hand injury. Mitchell had a hamstring injury. He missed the
entire post All Star Breaks stretch as well. You know,
karros laverdead injuries, mobilely missed time, were so banged up,
and I really kept pointing people back to, well, look
at twenty two to twenty three when they were healthy,
they had the seventh best offense in the league. They
(08:09):
had an elite defense, it just didn't translate to the playoffs,
and they were missing shooting. They brought that shooting in,
but they had a ton of injuries. So I thought
just getting back to where they were at in twenty
two to twenty three would have been, you know, would
have been a big leap.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
From last year.
Speaker 5 (08:25):
But I think the other factor is Darius Garland isn't
just back to where he was in twenty two to
twenty three.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
He's taken a step beyond that. He's been a big.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
Time difference maker and kind of that tie that raises
all boats on the offensive end. It was the same
thing when you look two years ago in that first
year with Donovan Mitchell, where when Garland was on the court,
they had a.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Top two offense in the league.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
When he was off the court, they had a bottom
two offense in the league. So I think it made
sense that when he wasn't healthy for basically all of
last year, the offense was going to struggle a lot.
And I think the other difference is Evin Mobley's and
a big step forward and they're running more offense through him,
And you know, I think they've been building off a
foundation of what was there. I don't think the sets
(09:08):
are dramatically different, but I think there's a different level
of buying and the individual pieces are playing at a
higher level than they were in the past.
Speaker 6 (09:15):
All right, yeah, so maybe i'll I'll maybe a three
seed I'll get I'll give you guys a three seed?
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Yeah sure, why not? Mitchell?
Speaker 6 (09:24):
So one big question that I have, like because I
root for the field against the Celtics, that's my main concern.
I would rather the Celtics lose than I would want
the Sixers to win.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Is true eating?
Speaker 6 (09:38):
I respect that truly just a six human being. Mitchell,
I feel like has had a couple playoffs in a
row where he's like not consistently as dominant as you
might expect. Was he injured in these past couple of
playoff runs because he has been like in his earl,
(10:00):
the like Utah playoff runs, he was really like awesome
in the playoffs.
Speaker 7 (10:05):
Like, how are you thinking about that heading into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Yeah, So going.
Speaker 5 (10:09):
Into last year, definitely, you know, as I said, he
missed basically the entire post All Star Break stretch. The
Cavs went eighteen and two into the All Star Break,
and unfortunately that was the last time we saw Donald
Mitchell in the regular season. The knee injury that he had,
the knee issue that he had prevented his movement and
you know, I'll honestly like, going into the contract talks,
(10:31):
the fact that Mitchell was able to be still pretty
effective as a score with some limited athleticism was an
encouraging sign. I didn't really know that he had that
in him. And you know, the year prior against New York,
I think he was mostly healthy. You know, no one's
one hundred percent going into the playoffs, but I just thought,
you know, the decision making wasn't particularly strong, the spacing
(10:53):
wasn't great, and you know, it just kind of all
fell apart, and you were going against a very good
defense in the New York Knicks, but I definitely think
that getting him healthy and keeping him healthy at the
right time of year has been a big focus. I
think that's why his minutes are way down and Kenny
Atkinson's using a nine to ten man rotation this year.
(11:13):
You know, even when you look from a touch a standpoint,
he's actually third on the team and touches, So it
really is, uh, we're getting you to finish plays this year,
and we're keeping your load a lighter and hoping that
that's going to bear fruit and that's going to allow
you to be healthier because you know, he was banged
up for a few of those years in Utah too,
where you know, some years were on, some years was off,
(11:35):
and I don't yeah, and I don't think it was
a coincidence that his best playoff run with Utah came
in the bubble where you know, they had time off
and he could go into that fully healthy. So I
think that has definitely been part of the mentality for
the Caves of all Right, we want Donovan Mitchell to be,
you know, at his best when we need it the most,
(11:56):
and the best way to do that is by you know,
empowering Evan Mobley continuing to run offense through Darius Garland
and get everybody else to the level where you know
he can kind of slot into his ideal role come
playoff time.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
All right, I mean maybe it may be a two seed.
Speaker 7 (12:12):
Maybe maybe I'll give you as a two seat.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
Uh in our way, but we're we're pulling for you
out here and uh anti Celtics Land.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Yeah, Like I said, it was a delight. I needed
that to hop off my holiday weekend.
Speaker 6 (12:26):
Should we uh, should we take a quick break and
come back and talk about the rest.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Of the league. Yeah, all right, we'll be right back.
Speaker 7 (12:41):
And we're back.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
We're back.
Speaker 6 (12:43):
And there's been some movers someone even say shakers in
the league over the past couple of weeks. Some of
that a lot of people. This is my main theme.
I did not see this coming the podcast Who is
dumb and doesn't know anything about basketball? I did not
(13:05):
expect Orlando to be fifteen and seven and winners of
twelve of their last thirteen. That's wild with Paolo out
for the majority of the season so far. Yeah, but yeah,
I mean they're just like that. It's kind of partially
what we saw in the playoffs last year, where it
(13:25):
was like there's they are just.
Speaker 7 (13:29):
A different thing.
Speaker 6 (13:30):
Like their defense is such a weapon, Like it feels
like something you only see in like football, where it's
like when they're on defense, they're actually more dangerous than
when they're on offense because they're going to turn you
over and then get a you know pick six, the
best twelve version, you know, breakaway.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
I was watching some of that Brooklyn game and then
there's one point where like Jalen Sugg just had such
a are like just all over, I forget who was guarding,
stole the ball, and then just ended it with a
three sixty dunk, and I was like, oh, like, you're
really on top. He kept looking around, He's like, oh yeah,
I got enough time for a three sixty. I'm becoming
such a Jalen Sugs fan. And it's not just because
(14:08):
we both have similar male pattern baldness, but it's because
it's nasty as a player. Although I shout out all
my players out there with similar male pattern baldness, but
maybe if he goes Derek White with it.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Then we'll know he means business. That's that's what we know.
Speaker 6 (14:22):
God a great basketball player who goes full male pattern
baldness and leaves the hair on the sides would be
so dope, Like, oh, and he's like twenty seven and
just fully looks like a forty five year old in
the Simpsons, you know, just like.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
A shout out Trey Young.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
But I feel like that would be so dope.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
No, I mean it is like one of those things
the same way like Michael Jordan was like, nah man,
you got to back your head at that point, like
and everyone's like, yep, those are the instructions. I do
want to see the guy who's like, nah man, just
let those let those sacks developed bite or your temples,
and that's what it's all about. Baby, that's that new swag.
You can't you're born with this. But yeah, he's he
is fantastic, and yeah, it's I yeah, obviously I think
(15:08):
we were both like, we'll see the magic could be great.
I mean, they added pieces like CACP and you're like, okay,
this could be something. But now that's it's fully I.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Didn't think it was going to be enough to be
this good.
Speaker 5 (15:20):
But again, the funny thing is CACP hasn't been that great, right,
Like he's been okay for them, but it's not like
he's the one moving the needle. And I'll give a
shout out to my co host Carl Rodriguez because he
was saying after the playoff series last year that, you know,
the Cats going seven games with Orlando's probably going to
look a lot better when we look back at it
in the future, because Orlando was right up there in
(15:41):
the standings to throughout like the first half of last year,
and then injuries hit and they kind.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Of slid back to the pack.
Speaker 5 (15:48):
But that's an elite defense man like Jalen Suggs, I
think is the best point of a tag defender in
the league. And you're right, like their defense really is
their offense. And I'm not surprised that they've been able to,
you know, continue to tread water and move up the
standings even without Polo, because that defense is so elite, right,
And when you're when you're making teams work that hard
to score every single bucket, it's going to wear them down.
(16:10):
It's going to make their defense worse because they're so
tired going up against your defense, right, So I think
it just gives them a really high floor. There's a
lot of talent there, there's a lot of length. They
beat the hell out of you, and like you know,
NBA seasons are so damn long, nobody wants to play
the Orlando Magic, like especially when a third game and
four nights or they're just going to beat the hell
(16:32):
out of you and it's no fun to play them.
And they're just you know, they're bringing something to the
table that you don't see most nights, and it doesn't
surprise me. I think that's definitely one of those teams
that's going to be around for a while with that core.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Yeah, well, I mean what happens when Poolo comes back?
Speaker 2 (16:48):
I know you're talking off Mike de Lake.
Speaker 6 (16:50):
Well, they're going to lose the game and everyone's going
to be like, see they're better without them.
Speaker 7 (16:54):
Move Plo maybe to my team.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Uh yeah, yeah, come on, by come on. But but yeah,
I mean, how do you see that like managing that?
Do you think it's because it's like sort of an
addition by subtraction kind of thing, or do you think
they'll be able to maintain this balance with his return? Oh?
Speaker 3 (17:10):
I think they'll be able to maintain this balance.
Speaker 5 (17:12):
I mean their offense is just abysmal with Frons off
the court, and you know, Polo, let's not get a
twisted He's still the best player on that.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Team, you know. I he went down so early in.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
The season, and their schedule was a little tough at
the beginning as well. That you know, sometimes we overreact
to the start of the season, like he even look
at the Milwaukee Bucks like they had such a bad
start to the year. But they played Boston twice and
they played Cleveland twice, like, you know, you lose those games.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
It is what it is.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
It's going to even out over eighty two, So I'm
not worried about that. You know, Polowe isn't why their
defense is great, like you know, but he's going to
elevate the offense and I think he's going to make
them a much better team and someone's going to really
hate playing them in the first round. So I'm happy
to see them move up the standings because I do
not want that to be the one eighth or the
(18:03):
two seven. But I'm continuing a penciling the Cows in
at number one because I'm a homer.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
God I love Yeah.
Speaker 6 (18:10):
Also, we should clarify first of all, because people are
probably distracted by how cool the way you say against us,
you say.
Speaker 5 (18:17):
Against the Canadian Turettes comes through every now and then.
Speaker 7 (18:21):
It's beautiful. Though.
Speaker 6 (18:22):
It's like the Canadian word that I feel like if
if I could pronounce it that way, I would.
Speaker 5 (18:28):
Really It's like the inglorious Bastards holding up three the
wrong way.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
I can probably pass and then I say against it
and then.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Whiskey, Hey, what's what's this knit hat I have on?
It's a two.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
It's a win.
Speaker 7 (18:49):
Winter hat.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Long fu. Thanks to everything, Julie Newmar, a fantastic movie.
Speaker 6 (18:56):
But I do also want to just clarify that you're
not from the city of Cleveland, so you don't have
that uh defeatism.
Speaker 7 (19:03):
You know, you're I do.
Speaker 5 (19:06):
That's what I do. That's what drew me to them
as a fan to begin with. And you know, Winnipeg
has its own curse sports history. We just lost, you know,
for our football team, just lost in the championship three
years in a row. Where so we're already the Buffalo
Bills of up North. So no, I'm I'm very familiar
with it.
Speaker 6 (19:25):
But yeah, the Bills of the further north, right, the Bills.
Speaker 5 (19:35):
Yeah, yeah, So I've got a healthy amount of that.
But for regular season, regular season, I feel good about
her her ability to to weather the storm. And uh,
you know, Boston, you get a little fat on your
success sometimes, and you know, guys like Porzingis are going
to need time off and whatnot. So I think the
Cats can do a decent job of holding on to
(19:56):
number one.
Speaker 7 (19:57):
We're all rooting for you, baby.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
It's okay if I call you baby, right of course,
as long as you do it softly like that. Yeah,
Harden put up thirty nine as the Clippers beat the
Nuggets over the weekend. The Clippers are seven and three
over the last ten and they're in sixth in the West.
A lot of people were counting them out, I think
(20:22):
heading into the season, and they.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Aggressively as a Lakers fan, but then man, Norm Powell
came back.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Shout out to my fellow bruin.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Norm Powell came back.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
He looked really great in that game, and I was like, man,
I hate seeing the Clippers do good in their brand
new stadium.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
And keeps talking about how cool Norman.
Speaker 6 (20:42):
How would be a good name for the male male
pattern bald in this guy? You know yea.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Yeah, yeah, Norm rocking the norm?
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Yeah baby, Oh yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
They're sixth the overall defensive efficiency with James Harden playing
a lot of minute, So hats off to their coaching
staff and just overall team and scheme twenty first in
offensive efficiency somehow. All right, Let's move on to the
seventy six ers of the Central Division, the Milwaukee Bucks, who,
(21:16):
similar to the seventy six ers, were seeing a real resurgence.
They've won six in a row, which is more than
the one in a row that the seventy six ers
have won. Ten they are, yeah, which if you think
about it, and then like a lot of ways is close. Yeah,
both teams are on a trend and never lose again,
thank you. It is at a certain point. Our winning
(21:40):
percentage is one thousand percent. So the Bucks are in
fifth place after a lot of people spent the early
part of the season clowning them, and they're looking more
like the team that I think a lot of people
expected them to be coming into the season. And yeah,
I don't know, eighth in offensive efficiency, sixteenth and defensive efficiency,
(22:03):
which they got some gaps there, but Giannis is still incredible,
and yeah, it feels like early days was was more
of like God, they're they're still feeling some things out.
Speaker 7 (22:15):
They'll be all right.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Yeah, well, and I think also there was a lot
of it was easy, especially from like my very narrow
Lakers perspective, it was very easy for us to be
like and Darvin Ham, see what you did over there,
Look what you did, and then you're like, nah, you
forget that.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
They're actually pretty good.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
And I know, Middleton being Middleton's still out right because
he got he does he did the double dip double
ankle double yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, So I
mean there's still that, Like I feel like every season's
like and then then Chris Middleton will come back at
some point.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
And then don't look yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Yeah right right, but yeah, I mean were you were
you ever in I mean justin You're so smart that
you were even saying like, I mean, look it's eighty
it's an eighty two game season. Were like, no, it's
a six game season and they're at the bottom.
Speaker 5 (22:59):
Yeah, And I've been counting for as long as I
can remember, Man, I don't remember how many years. And
maybe I could learn how to count that, but yeah, no,
like I think they're going to end up being a
top five team in the East.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
I worry a little bit about.
Speaker 5 (23:14):
The playoff upside, Like I just think that the supporting
cast isn't good enough, and you know, the game gives
you a little bit of a target to attack on
the offensive end, right, Sure, Middleton will need to see
how good he is. Giannis has taken a little bit
of a step back defensively, but he's as awesome as
ever offensively. So I don't trust them as much as
(23:34):
I trust like, you know, obviously Boston, Cleveland, the Knicks,
even like I think that that the Knicks probably have
a little more playoff upside. But the tricky thing is,
it doesn't matter how your team's built. Sometimes when in
a playoff series, it comes down to who has the
best player. And the honest is still capable of being
the best player in any given series. I just don't
(23:56):
know if he can do it for straight at this
point and overcome all of it roster issues. But that's
also a team that I just wouldn't want to play
because I absolutely think that Joannis can can win just
about any series that he's in. Yeah, we call that
twenty eighteen Lebron syndrome, right where the team is very
flawed and you know, sometimes the best player is what matters.
Speaker 6 (24:16):
Yeah, right, It's really like a shame they I feel
like they could be near the top of the East
if Jiannis and Dama just worked out together over the break,
you know, they knew how many push ups the other one.
Speaker 7 (24:28):
Could do have, we'd be good.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Who was faster and a dead sprint on the beach.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (24:32):
Other than the six or the other streak, that I'm
most excited about is the Grizzlies having won six in
a row, three seed out West, sixth in offensive efficiency
fourth and defensive efficiency, second in point differential in the West.
I just think the league is more exciting when they're
in the mix and near the top. And it hasn't
(24:53):
even been like Jo's been out for about half of
these games, but Triple J has been leading the team
in scoring and just a great defender. And yeah, they
were a lot of people's sexy sleeper pick coming in
for a reason. They've you know, well, when they have
jaw and everybody's playing, they're they're they're tough.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
Yeah, I think they're you know, looking at Memphis as
an example is probably what Orlando is hoping for because
last year, with Job missing so much time, Jared just
got to like explore the space, right, like we often
don't have a full roster of NBA player, so we're
just going to have you go out there and lead
the team in scoring and make mistakes and kind of,
you know, fool around. But now coming into this yere, Okay,
(25:39):
we've got you know, Bain's back jaw you know, has
been back at times, but it's a more complete roster.
And you know, as you said, he's still leading the
team in scoring, but he's not doing it as many shots,
right like, it's more efficient. And Orlando's probably hoping that
similar thing happens with Franz right like that it's time
to kind of that lead number one option is going
(26:02):
to help him settle into a more complimentary role in
the future and expand his game.
Speaker 6 (26:07):
Yeah, any teams that we want to call out for
being on a bit of a downward trend, I guess
the Phoenix Suns three and seven over the last ten.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Yeah, the Lakers.
Speaker 6 (26:18):
Yeah, I mean the Lakers are five and five or
the last ten. It's not like A Well, I.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
Think it's more like Ron He's in a pretty bad
cold snap right now, and I think that's kind of difficult.
It's also wow to be like the stats like he
hasn't scored this little point since his rookie year, and
he's like averaging.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Like twenty two at forty and you're like.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
Yeah, it's just a it's a shame the position.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
That we're in with Lebron at the moment.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
I just didn't I wish it didn't have to all
center around him because I feel like he's a competitor
and what like relishes that.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
But also, you know, this is obviously a different era
for him, so.
Speaker 5 (26:52):
Yeah, but it never really to your point, it never
really shows up in the numbers because he's got the
ball so much. He impacts the game at so many levels,
right like the rebounding, the assists, all that. Even the
scoring is going to be there. But it's like there
were even times where it felt like he was coasting
and not playing well with the Cavs, especially in that
last year, and you couldn't point to the box score
(27:14):
because it's still, you know, as he said, twenty two,
seven and seven, and it's like, Okay, well, how much
can I really put on him? But you know, there's
just a different level when he has a rolling and
he's making that impact. But you know, I just I
think you hit the nail on the head where the
Lakers are still relying on him to be like a
certain level, and you know, it's just unreasonable to expect
(27:37):
at this point.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
And I don't like getting I don't want to be like,
what's wrong with Lebron. I'm like, he is, he's in
the twilight of his career. Like, there's nothing wrong with him.
He performs at a certain level, and he performs well.
But I'm like, the front office is app it's malpractice.
Speaker 6 (27:52):
I would say, I would just be constantly asking if
he's mad at me? If I was a part of
the organization, what's.
Speaker 7 (27:58):
Wrong with Lebron? Is he mad? What I do?
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Did I say something?
Speaker 1 (28:03):
I mean, looking on I mean, like obviously, you know,
Lebron's here untill I think twenty five, twenty six, the
end of that season. But what what was life like.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
In Cleveland both times he left?
Speaker 1 (28:14):
What were those those in between years like that?
Speaker 2 (28:16):
What was that effect?
Speaker 3 (28:17):
Oh you mean like in the stretch Warriors in Miami? Yeah, yeah, yeah,
just like what was just seeing justice?
Speaker 1 (28:23):
What was it?
Speaker 7 (28:24):
And then what was it like when he went to
the Lakers.
Speaker 5 (28:26):
I mean, it made me a better podcast, I'll tell
you that because you know, I never was sitting there
being like, oh, you know, this team's going to make
the playoffs even without Lebron, blah blah blah. Like I
didn't put the fly and blinders on to that extent,
but you know, in like saying, yeah, I think we're
going to win twenty two games this year. But here's
the reasons to care. Here are the reasons to be interested, Like,
here are the player development stories. Here are kind of
(28:48):
the trends that might mean something in the future. You know,
I think we were well ahead of the curve on
Darius Garland, or actually I should just say I was
because Carter kept comparing him to DJ Augustine.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
But I like, you know, I was.
Speaker 5 (29:02):
Like, look at this post All Star break stretch. Here's
how you can scale it up. Here's important things. The
high water marks are there, right, Like. I just think
that even with a lot of these rebuilding teams, there's
a lot of interesting stuff to talk about. And I
think I got a little bit lucky because in twenty eighteen,
I was like, you know what, I'm kind of okay
if Lebron leaves, like, let's just build something different. We
(29:23):
don't have any assets left in the cupboard. We spent
it all on this you know, four year final run.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
It was great. I appreciate it, but at.
Speaker 5 (29:31):
That time, I was like, I don't want the leading
segment of the jump every single beat day being the
Cavs are letting Lebron down, they are killing his legacy,
blah blah blah, the need they need to trade everyone.
You know, the Lakers can do that and not have
it be you know, the leading subject like, you know,
they're not going to get slammed as an organization in
(29:52):
the same way. But I was like, let's just try
to build something different. Let's try to build something fun.
I was hoping for, you know, our version of the
grit and grind grizzly that's not going to be able
to get over the top. I think that this core
maybe has a little bit more potential than that. But
I'm enjoying the hell out of this run, and I
think it was a little bit of dumb luck that
the Caws were able to turn things around it as
quickly as they did.
Speaker 6 (30:13):
Yeah, the Lakers ever had like a gritty, grimy team.
It just feels like I can't picture it because it's
been a showtime since the eighties and then Kobe and
Shack and then like.
Speaker 7 (30:25):
It's never been like the bad Boy Lost It.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Years were not there. The del Harris ears were not
like that. I mean, ye, Van.
Speaker 6 (30:34):
Exel was certainly like kind of had them for an edge,
but like, I don't think of the Lakers during that
time as being like, hey man, you don't want to
be playing them.
Speaker 7 (30:46):
They're gonna come away from.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
Better with bruises on a windy Friday night.
Speaker 6 (30:50):
Yeah, all right, should we take a break and come back.
Speaker 7 (30:55):
And round things out with the supposed to take a
podcast thing?
Speaker 3 (31:00):
Mm mmm mm hmm.
Speaker 6 (31:02):
Okay, well you asked for it, justin We'll be right back.
Did and yeah, baby back, yeah baby, Oh you were
just saying that.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
No, no, I was just saying that Jabari was saying
in that text said the baby Lakers.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Were scrappy, and I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 6 (31:28):
But the way there's come on, Jack, Muppet Baby was
there like a Muppet Babies spin off of the Lakers.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
The Muppet Baby.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
Anyways, it is time, that's right, the fourth quarter rapid
fire round of questioning justin Rowan, but before we.
Speaker 6 (31:45):
Get to it, or maybe this can be one of
the round of rounds of one of the questions, we
got the game of the week.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
No, no, actually I think maybe this is Oh yeah,
should we make that a question?
Speaker 3 (31:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Maybe, Yes, it's gonna be hyper brother. Oh my goodness, sir,
hold on to your tuk because it might blow off
from this high intensity speaking. We're about to hit you with.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
This is time for the fourth quarter wrap a five
roundup question.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
This is the fastest question answer podcast segment in all
podcasting history. I and Jack Jack and I.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Will ask you a question.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
You respond as quickly as possible, as quickly as humanly possible.
If you do not, we will be that version of
rudeness that only Americans can.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
Achieve to you.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
So I just want you to be forewarned.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
Are you ready to accept?
Speaker 3 (32:28):
I'm ready. Fantastic.
Speaker 6 (32:29):
We'll like try out being rude and then we'll like
apologize for it a little bit.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Yeah, but I was like, was that too hard?
Speaker 3 (32:35):
Sorry? Was that hard? Sorry?
Speaker 7 (32:37):
Is he mad at me?
Speaker 3 (32:38):
Okay? O course, people don't even know about that. Is
he mad? Just ask him? Dude, I don't want to
ask Jack.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
Do you want to start?
Speaker 6 (32:49):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (32:49):
I would love to start, Miles.
Speaker 6 (32:50):
Okay, thank you so much for asking Hey, Justin Jack
from the podcast we've just been recording together.
Speaker 7 (32:57):
Quick question.
Speaker 6 (32:59):
So the Cavs Celtics game ended with a lot of
free throws seventeen and thirty four seconds. The final thirty
four seconds ended up taking close to a half hour,
and it raised this idea that's been tossed around, the
elam ending elam not elam musk, which eliminates the running
(33:19):
clock at the four minute mark of the fourth quarter.
From that point forward, the game is played to a
target score of seven points greater than the leading team's total.
So if Team A is winning one oh four to
one hundred with four minutes to play, the clock stops
and the game becomes a race to one hundred and
eleven points. I think we tried something similar with the
(33:40):
All Star Game not too long ago.
Speaker 7 (33:41):
Yeah, and it was fun.
Speaker 6 (33:42):
It was like intense when it got down to it,
like this would eliminate all the you know, fouling to
try and get the ball back to hit a three.
What are your thoughts on an idea like this?
Speaker 3 (33:52):
I love it, man.
Speaker 5 (33:54):
I go to CBL games, the Canadona Elite Basketball League
Winnipeg se Bears flag rape behind me. They have been
doing this target score ending what they do, as you said,
at the four minute mark, they add nine points. So
it does have to be a maximum of three possessions
right where you could have the three three state to
go win it. But I love it. I think it
(34:15):
makes it so intense. I think it forces both teams
to continue playing real basketball. I've seen some wild comebacks,
I've seen some wild blown leads, and it's a lot
of fun, and every.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Game ends on a game winning shot.
Speaker 5 (34:27):
It's a little anti climactic when there's fouls and you
know someone wins it at the free throw line, but
it's also anti climactic where eleven seconds takes a half hour.
So I think that the you know their strengths and
weaknesses on both sides from a history of the game standpoint.
Speaker 7 (34:43):
I don't know if you can change it, but.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
I do like the ilam ending.
Speaker 6 (34:47):
Yeah, it does eliminate my favorite thing where team's winning
by twenty and they have the ball and they're dribbling
it out and then they pass it to the rookie,
so he gets the turnover one time it expires, and
the best part about that is it doesn't actually get
attributed to either of them.
Speaker 3 (35:02):
Right like it gets a traded as the team turn
it over.
Speaker 5 (35:05):
Yeah, it's it's the funniest thing, but they you know,
they don't recommend it.
Speaker 7 (35:08):
Luck Yeah.
Speaker 6 (35:09):
Yeah, you look you look like a loser holding the
ball as things end. All right, great, great answer. Uh,
elam ending is the way it's pronounced, I'm told. Okay, Miles,
you're up.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
Justin what is the best and the worst Calves jersey
from history?
Speaker 5 (35:26):
Okay, so my favorite Calves jersey in history is the
the award to in the first Lebron era. It's like
the maroon one with the Calves hoop by logo. I
am a firm believer that the Cavs hoop b logo
is their best look and it's the best logo. A
new one's actually really grown on me. I like the
(35:47):
updated hoop fee. But that that one with the gold
trim and whatnot, I think that was my favorite one
in history. The worst, I will say, is the gray
like good Year one that they had in twenty eighteen
or maybe twenty Yeah, I think it was twenty twenty seventeen,
twenty eighteen with the land on it.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
The land I couldn't. I hated that jersey. That one
didn't land for me, didn't land for me.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
And that is how there it is. And that is
the daily double.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
All right.
Speaker 6 (36:23):
We are doing a thing where we have a game
of the week that we watch and evaluate and you know,
do really advanced analysis from you because oh no, man
as soon like Yshall a free throws, Tatum soft dog.
But all right, so our options, We've got four candidates
(36:47):
that we would love.
Speaker 7 (36:48):
For you to pick from.
Speaker 6 (36:49):
So Thursday night, we got the Nuggets at the Calves
on it and it is on NBA TV. Friday night,
got the Bucks at the Celtics on ESPN. Saturday Grizzlies
at Celtics on League pass or locally Sunday, Rockets and
Clippers on League passer locally.
Speaker 5 (37:07):
What are we picking here? I have a feeling. I
know it's gotta be Celtics Bucks on Friday. It's all
about the Cup, baby, NBA Cup action. You know, maybe
Milwaukee keeps that winning streak going into that game, but Jack,
we're rooting for Celtics losses here. Yeah, and I think
it is only appropriate that matters more than some now
(37:27):
as good as Nuggets Gas is going to be on Thursday,
that's cross conference play.
Speaker 3 (37:32):
And all all that stuff. We need to see Boston loose,
so for me to lose. Yeah, maybe we'll get a
fun Dame game. Maybe we'll get to see.
Speaker 6 (37:42):
Janis turn back the clock and shred them. Maybe we'll
get to see Jason Tatum be a little bit soft
in the fourth quarter. Who knows.
Speaker 3 (37:53):
Yeah, or we'll go on us. Yeah, yeah, we'll see. Anyway,
we'll see.
Speaker 1 (37:58):
Last question for those who never got to see him
play in the Cabs uniform, just how out of this
world and different was Robert Tractor Trailer?
Speaker 5 (38:07):
Oh baby, I mean Vancouver Chris Fludge right, yeah, yeah,
out of this world.
Speaker 3 (38:14):
Man. I don't have a lot to add I don't
have a lot to add there, but.
Speaker 1 (38:18):
I just remember he would come in and just like
the lebron would be out there and then tractor Trailer
come in and then be like, Okay, who's getting absolutely bulldozed?
And that was always fun to see the recipes. Robert
Tractor Trailer.
Speaker 5 (38:29):
We need, we need more guys with that body type
out there, and I think that's one of the things
that the NBA is missing, you know, the ultimate player.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Yeah, that's solid and male pattern baldness. That is that
is the alpha and Omegan.
Speaker 5 (38:43):
Just supreme athlete and that's that's that's what we really
need here. You know, too much conversation about too many
threes and all that kind of stuff. No, we need
more big bodied individuals, preferably ones that are bolding.
Speaker 3 (38:56):
Maybe yeah, there it is.
Speaker 1 (38:59):
Yeah, well justin Rowan those were actually as we check,
I got that one right, you got that one? You
know that one right?
Speaker 3 (39:05):
Answers?
Speaker 5 (39:06):
Oh yeah, yeah yeah, because I'm an expert accounting, I
know that that's four correct answers.
Speaker 3 (39:13):
There you go for four?
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Can I see? Can I see you put four fingers
up again? Oh?
Speaker 7 (39:18):
He's Canadian?
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Canadian who does it like this with their finger down?
What is this?
Speaker 5 (39:31):
I'm trying to do it with like my pinky finger
down and I just like my hand can't do that?
Speaker 3 (39:35):
Can You're just cramping?
Speaker 7 (39:36):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (39:38):
Well, thank you so much for joining us on my
House and Jackot mad Boosties. Where do the people find you?
Follow you, support you and listen to you all that
good stuff.
Speaker 5 (39:46):
Yeah, you can find me on Twitter or at Blue
Sky at Kazanaa just slap the calves in Canada and
you'll find me there. You can listen to our podcast
wherever you found this podcast. We go live on the
Caves YouTube channel twice a week during the season. And
you know where a fine podcast. That's where you find
the chase down.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
So so do that there, you're doing it right now.
Speaker 6 (40:05):
Podcast on to quote my parents, Well, and that's just
the internet.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
Yeah, what channel is that? Does it come with my
direct tv?
Speaker 2 (40:15):
You stop direct Tv?
Speaker 1 (40:18):
So make sure you follow us at the hashtag mad
Boosti's b W S t I E s S show links,
updates and the ways to get into our discord server
shout of everybody in the discord. Make sure you follow
us on Twitter and Blue Sky. I'm at Miles of
Gray on both.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
And me I thought that was too easy.
Speaker 6 (40:36):
So on Twitter I'm Jack Underscore O'Brien, but on Blue Ski,
I'm Jack ob the number one dot the sky. That's
social and that's gonna do it. We nailed it again.
I mean, what is happening?
Speaker 5 (40:52):
Swift perfect a streak that that the seventy six ers
are hoping.
Speaker 7 (40:56):
To live in one in a row.
Speaker 3 (40:57):
Baby, we did it that way. We did it.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
Thanks so much for listening to us. We'll be back
next week. It was more my Jack got bad Boost.
Speaker 6 (41:04):
You see you that make sure you watch the game
of the week.
Well, well, well, look at us. We're just about a
quarter of the way through the NBA season.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Some teams have fallen.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Back to the back of the pack, while others like
Milwaukee and Memphis are both on the move in the
right direction. But don't look now, Jack, I don't know
if you saw, but the Philadelphia seventy six ers. Yes,
they're on a one game winning hot streak of baby.
We're going to discuss that and the latest trends in
more with Calves podcaster Justin Rowan on today's episode. I'm
(00:29):
Miles Bray and I'm Jack O'Brien and this is Miles Miles.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Sez sorry, got it, look at the kitch ches.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Okay, there you go.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Indeed, driving Spinny Baby Fatter number eighteen.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
That's Trench Secure the Suffox or NBA Champions over the
pubble team.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Justin Rohan, you host the Chase Down pod for the
Cavs organization, and iHeart podcasts. You are also this is fantasic.
Is so serendipitous because last week's game of the Week,
the homework assignment we gave to listeners was we're watching
one game next week and all eyes are on the
Celtics at Calves. I hope everyone watched because we felt
this is aside from the other matchups, this felt like
(01:29):
a this was the test that we really wanted to
see this. Cleveland really got it. The Celtics continue to
just keep having it. But the game ended with a
fantastic win for the Caves one fifteen to one eleven.
I'm ecstatic. I thought that it's nice to see the
Celtics be mortal, and it was wonderful to see Darius
(01:50):
Garland absolutely just shackled Jason Tatum in that fourth quarter.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
It was fantastic to see.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
Yeah, and that's exactly what he's known for, right clamping
down the larger wings. No, it's you know, it was
part of an interesting strategy and something that Carter and
I have advocated for for a while because I think
even dating back to the Knick series, the Caves would
kind of overreact to primary initiators right like that, you know,
they're throwing doubles, they kind of get out of their
(02:19):
their set defense and they scramble too much. And what
we've just kind of been advocating for is, you know,
stay home, trust, trust the back line help that you have.
You have Evan mobiley. You have Jared Allen there. You know,
if they are able to force a switch, take that switch,
and you know, just kind of play it straight up.
And I think when it comes to the Boston Celtics,
(02:40):
you know, despite the Cavs winning that game, I think
it's still fair to say that they're in a tier
of their own when when it comes to both the
East and the NBA overall. But I think the key
to beating them is kind of baiting them into their
worst habits. And if you can bait them into consistent
ISO ball and trying to hunt those screens and just
kind of count on your guys the whole up defensively,
(03:00):
I think that that is a strategy that can bear
some fruit there. I probably wouldn't advocate for as much
soft switching as they did in that game. I thought
they let Jason Tatum get to Darius Garland a few
too many times. But you know, Tatum went six for
thirteen with Garland on him in that game. I think
you live with that, with the majority of those being
two pointers. In the previous game, when Darius Garland was
(03:24):
defending those switches, I think it was like zero point
seven points per possession.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
That Boston scored on.
Speaker 5 (03:30):
That, which is the same as like an Icicle Coro
spot up shot in last year's playoffs, which everyone you
know that got so much attention for him being left
alone and him not shooting. Well, It's functionally the same thing.
So I think when you're dealing with a lot of
bad options, which is what you have to do when
you're talking about slowing down that Celtics offense, I think
that that is a potential way that you can go.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (03:52):
My advice as a Sixers fan to my the players
of my team is also to stay home.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
But literally, I want, I want to say show.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Up, because that seems to be more of the problem
staying home. The problem is they are already staying home. Yeah. No,
I think I think they can stay home and we
can get Cooper flag. I'm just trusting the process. You know,
a lot of people are freaking out, and I'm just like, guys, guys, guys,
this is what we do. Baby lose in bunches.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yeah yeah, I mean they were really I mean they
were hunting Garland and yeah, it was nice just to
see him. Like I think after the game, Kenny Atkins
was like, dude, you can like you can do this,
like just step up and you.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Got this and sell were hunting Garland.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Yeah, they got on the Christmas spirit, right, but like, yeah,
Tatum would have had four points in the fourth quarter
and was like I think minus thirteen.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Basically it was not a great moment. But also Donovan
Mitchell was it twenty in the fourth quarter.
Speaker 5 (04:58):
Yeah, which was big because he had you know, pre
consecutive terrible halfs.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:03):
You know, I think he went five of twenty three
against the Atlanta Hawks. And you know that post Thanksgiving
afternoon game. I think anytime you have one of those
afternoon games, especially right after a holiday, that can be
a perfect recipe for some weird things to happen.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Yeah, but he had a very rough first.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
Half against Boston, and you know, it kind of echoed
what we saw in that first matchup where he didn't
shoot well in the first half. But then you know,
I had a strong second half in Boston. He had
a strong second half in Cleveland, and he joined Michael
Jordan now as the only two players that have history
to average over thirty points per game against the Celtics.
You know, as great as the Celtics perimeter defense is,
(05:42):
Donovan Mitchell does seem to have success against them.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Yeah, look at the first career.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yeah, wow, Michael had thirty point seven, Donovan Mitchell thirty
point two, Luca twenty eight point nine, Kareem twenty eight
point nine, Lebron twenty eight point eight, Wilt Chamberlain.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Twenty eight point seven. And you're like, yeah, that's that's
it's a rare air up there. Yeah, you know that.
Speaker 5 (06:04):
I always include him in that group, So it's fitting
to see him there.
Speaker 6 (06:08):
Jordan was playing against like ninety like mL CAR Celtics.
Speaker 7 (06:13):
You know, it wasn't it wasn't the cream of the crop.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
YEA, yeah, I would say, like Kareem is probably more
of like a better comparison given you know that era
of Celtics playing for Mike.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
You know they they moved the three point line closer
so you could shoot them there.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
There's a lot of factors there.
Speaker 7 (06:28):
That's right.
Speaker 6 (06:29):
So I've watched the Calves mostly play the Celtics. I've
watched the two Celtics games that I've seen highlights. Their
ranked number one in the league and offensive efficiency, what
have they figured out this year offensively?
Speaker 3 (06:42):
That? And like did you see this coming? This is
your chance to just lie, and so that you did.
Speaker 6 (06:48):
Because, like, I don't know, I thought they could be
like better and maybe like a four seed this year.
I didn't see this being like the team to beat
other than the Celtics in the league this year.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
But yeah, so great thing about podcast is you can
go back and listen to it. And I did say
coming into this year that I did think that this
was realistically the first season that the Cavs have had
with this group that they had a chance to win
a championship. I said, you know, it might only be
a five percent chance, and you know a twenty fifteen
Warriors type situation where you play four rounds and the
other team is missing their starting point guard in all
(07:25):
four rounds and you get some lucky breaks or whatever
to get there. But I did think that they were
going to be a whole lot better. And a large
part of that was I thought the leap that they
were going to make this season wasn't actually reflective of
where the team was at, because I thought it was
artificially deflated by last year, where you know, even in
the games that they had everybody, they weren't healthy. Garland
(07:48):
started the year with a hamstring injury and a shooting
hand injury. Mitchell had a hamstring injury. He missed the
entire post All Star Breaks stretch as well. You know,
karros laverdead injuries, mobilely missed time, were so banged up,
and I really kept pointing people back to, well, look
at twenty two to twenty three when they were healthy,
they had the seventh best offense in the league. They
(08:09):
had an elite defense, it just didn't translate to the playoffs,
and they were missing shooting. They brought that shooting in,
but they had a ton of injuries. So I thought
just getting back to where they were at in twenty
two to twenty three would have been, you know, would
have been a big leap.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
From last year.
Speaker 5 (08:25):
But I think the other factor is Darius Garland isn't
just back to where he was in twenty two to
twenty three.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
He's taken a step beyond that. He's been a big.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
Time difference maker and kind of that tie that raises
all boats on the offensive end. It was the same
thing when you look two years ago in that first
year with Donovan Mitchell, where when Garland was on the court,
they had a.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Top two offense in the league.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
When he was off the court, they had a bottom
two offense in the league. So I think it made
sense that when he wasn't healthy for basically all of
last year, the offense was going to struggle a lot.
And I think the other difference is Evin Mobley's and
a big step forward and they're running more offense through him,
And you know, I think they've been building off a
foundation of what was there. I don't think the sets
(09:08):
are dramatically different, but I think there's a different level
of buying and the individual pieces are playing at a
higher level than they were in the past.
Speaker 6 (09:15):
All right, yeah, so maybe i'll I'll maybe a three
seed I'll get I'll give you guys a three seed?
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Yeah sure, why not? Mitchell?
Speaker 6 (09:24):
So one big question that I have, like because I
root for the field against the Celtics, that's my main concern.
I would rather the Celtics lose than I would want
the Sixers to win.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Is true eating?
Speaker 6 (09:38):
I respect that truly just a six human being. Mitchell,
I feel like has had a couple playoffs in a
row where he's like not consistently as dominant as you
might expect. Was he injured in these past couple of
playoff runs because he has been like in his earl,
(10:00):
the like Utah playoff runs, he was really like awesome
in the playoffs.
Speaker 7 (10:05):
Like, how are you thinking about that heading into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Yeah, So going.
Speaker 5 (10:09):
Into last year, definitely, you know, as I said, he
missed basically the entire post All Star Break stretch. The
Cavs went eighteen and two into the All Star Break,
and unfortunately that was the last time we saw Donald
Mitchell in the regular season. The knee injury that he had,
the knee issue that he had prevented his movement and
you know, I'll honestly like, going into the contract talks,
(10:31):
the fact that Mitchell was able to be still pretty
effective as a score with some limited athleticism was an
encouraging sign. I didn't really know that he had that
in him. And you know, the year prior against New York,
I think he was mostly healthy. You know, no one's
one hundred percent going into the playoffs, but I just thought,
you know, the decision making wasn't particularly strong, the spacing
(10:53):
wasn't great, and you know, it just kind of all
fell apart, and you were going against a very good
defense in the New York Knicks, but I definitely think
that getting him healthy and keeping him healthy at the
right time of year has been a big focus. I
think that's why his minutes are way down and Kenny
Atkinson's using a nine to ten man rotation this year.
(11:13):
You know, even when you look from a touch a standpoint,
he's actually third on the team and touches, So it
really is, uh, we're getting you to finish plays this year,
and we're keeping your load a lighter and hoping that
that's going to bear fruit and that's going to allow
you to be healthier because you know, he was banged
up for a few of those years in Utah too,
where you know, some years were on, some years was off,
(11:35):
and I don't yeah, and I don't think it was
a coincidence that his best playoff run with Utah came
in the bubble where you know, they had time off
and he could go into that fully healthy. So I
think that has definitely been part of the mentality for
the Caves of all Right, we want Donovan Mitchell to be,
you know, at his best when we need it the most,
(11:56):
and the best way to do that is by you know,
empowering Evan Mobley continuing to run offense through Darius Garland
and get everybody else to the level where you know
he can kind of slot into his ideal role come
playoff time.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
All right, I mean maybe it may be a two seed.
Speaker 7 (12:12):
Maybe maybe I'll give you as a two seat.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
Uh in our way, but we're we're pulling for you
out here and uh anti Celtics Land.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Yeah, Like I said, it was a delight. I needed
that to hop off my holiday weekend.
Speaker 6 (12:26):
Should we uh, should we take a quick break and
come back and talk about the rest.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Of the league. Yeah, all right, we'll be right back.
Speaker 7 (12:41):
And we're back.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
We're back.
Speaker 6 (12:43):
And there's been some movers someone even say shakers in
the league over the past couple of weeks. Some of
that a lot of people. This is my main theme.
I did not see this coming the podcast Who is
dumb and doesn't know anything about basketball? I did not
(13:05):
expect Orlando to be fifteen and seven and winners of
twelve of their last thirteen. That's wild with Paolo out
for the majority of the season so far. Yeah, but yeah,
I mean they're just like that. It's kind of partially
what we saw in the playoffs last year, where it
(13:25):
was like there's they are just.
Speaker 7 (13:29):
A different thing.
Speaker 6 (13:30):
Like their defense is such a weapon, Like it feels
like something you only see in like football, where it's
like when they're on defense, they're actually more dangerous than
when they're on offense because they're going to turn you
over and then get a you know pick six, the
best twelve version, you know, breakaway.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
I was watching some of that Brooklyn game and then
there's one point where like Jalen Sugg just had such
a are like just all over, I forget who was guarding,
stole the ball, and then just ended it with a
three sixty dunk, and I was like, oh, like, you're
really on top. He kept looking around, He's like, oh yeah,
I got enough time for a three sixty. I'm becoming
such a Jalen Sugs fan. And it's not just because
(14:08):
we both have similar male pattern baldness, but it's because
it's nasty as a player. Although I shout out all
my players out there with similar male pattern baldness, but
maybe if he goes Derek White with it.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Then we'll know he means business. That's that's what we know.
Speaker 6 (14:22):
God a great basketball player who goes full male pattern
baldness and leaves the hair on the sides would be
so dope, Like, oh, and he's like twenty seven and
just fully looks like a forty five year old in
the Simpsons, you know, just like.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
A shout out Trey Young.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
But I feel like that would be so dope.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
No, I mean it is like one of those things
the same way like Michael Jordan was like, nah man,
you got to back your head at that point, like
and everyone's like, yep, those are the instructions. I do
want to see the guy who's like, nah man, just
let those let those sacks developed bite or your temples,
and that's what it's all about. Baby, that's that new swag.
You can't you're born with this. But yeah, he's he
is fantastic, and yeah, it's I yeah, obviously I think
(15:08):
we were both like, we'll see the magic could be great.
I mean, they added pieces like CACP and you're like, okay,
this could be something. But now that's it's fully I.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Didn't think it was going to be enough to be
this good.
Speaker 5 (15:20):
But again, the funny thing is CACP hasn't been that great, right,
Like he's been okay for them, but it's not like
he's the one moving the needle. And I'll give a
shout out to my co host Carl Rodriguez because he
was saying after the playoff series last year that, you know,
the Cats going seven games with Orlando's probably going to
look a lot better when we look back at it
in the future, because Orlando was right up there in
(15:41):
the standings to throughout like the first half of last year,
and then injuries hit and they kind.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Of slid back to the pack.
Speaker 5 (15:48):
But that's an elite defense man like Jalen Suggs, I
think is the best point of a tag defender in
the league. And you're right, like their defense really is
their offense. And I'm not surprised that they've been able to,
you know, continue to tread water and move up the
standings even without Polo, because that defense is so elite, right,
And when you're when you're making teams work that hard
to score every single bucket, it's going to wear them down.
(16:10):
It's going to make their defense worse because they're so
tired going up against your defense, right, So I think
it just gives them a really high floor. There's a
lot of talent there, there's a lot of length. They
beat the hell out of you, and like you know,
NBA seasons are so damn long, nobody wants to play
the Orlando Magic, like especially when a third game and
four nights or they're just going to beat the hell
(16:32):
out of you and it's no fun to play them.
And they're just you know, they're bringing something to the
table that you don't see most nights, and it doesn't
surprise me. I think that's definitely one of those teams
that's going to be around for a while with that core.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Yeah, well, I mean what happens when Poolo comes back?
Speaker 2 (16:48):
I know you're talking off Mike de Lake.
Speaker 6 (16:50):
Well, they're going to lose the game and everyone's going
to be like, see they're better without them.
Speaker 7 (16:54):
Move Plo maybe to my team.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Uh yeah, yeah, come on, by come on. But but yeah,
I mean, how do you see that like managing that?
Do you think it's because it's like sort of an
addition by subtraction kind of thing, or do you think
they'll be able to maintain this balance with his return? Oh?
Speaker 3 (17:10):
I think they'll be able to maintain this balance.
Speaker 5 (17:12):
I mean their offense is just abysmal with Frons off
the court, and you know, Polo, let's not get a
twisted He's still the best player on that.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Team, you know. I he went down so early in.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
The season, and their schedule was a little tough at
the beginning as well. That you know, sometimes we overreact
to the start of the season, like he even look
at the Milwaukee Bucks like they had such a bad
start to the year. But they played Boston twice and
they played Cleveland twice, like, you know, you lose those games.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
It is what it is.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
It's going to even out over eighty two, So I'm
not worried about that. You know, Polowe isn't why their
defense is great, like you know, but he's going to
elevate the offense and I think he's going to make
them a much better team and someone's going to really
hate playing them in the first round. So I'm happy
to see them move up the standings because I do
not want that to be the one eighth or the
(18:03):
two seven. But I'm continuing a penciling the Cows in
at number one because I'm a homer.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
God I love Yeah.
Speaker 6 (18:10):
Also, we should clarify first of all, because people are
probably distracted by how cool the way you say against us,
you say.
Speaker 5 (18:17):
Against the Canadian Turettes comes through every now and then.
Speaker 7 (18:21):
It's beautiful. Though.
Speaker 6 (18:22):
It's like the Canadian word that I feel like if
if I could pronounce it that way, I would.
Speaker 5 (18:28):
Really It's like the inglorious Bastards holding up three the
wrong way.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
I can probably pass and then I say against it
and then.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Whiskey, Hey, what's what's this knit hat I have on?
It's a two.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
It's a win.
Speaker 7 (18:49):
Winter hat.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Long fu. Thanks to everything, Julie Newmar, a fantastic movie.
Speaker 6 (18:56):
But I do also want to just clarify that you're
not from the city of Cleveland, so you don't have
that uh defeatism.
Speaker 7 (19:03):
You know, you're I do.
Speaker 5 (19:06):
That's what I do. That's what drew me to them
as a fan to begin with. And you know, Winnipeg
has its own curse sports history. We just lost, you know,
for our football team, just lost in the championship three
years in a row. Where so we're already the Buffalo
Bills of up North. So no, I'm I'm very familiar
with it.
Speaker 6 (19:25):
But yeah, the Bills of the further north, right, the Bills.
Speaker 5 (19:35):
Yeah, yeah, So I've got a healthy amount of that.
But for regular season, regular season, I feel good about
her her ability to to weather the storm. And uh,
you know, Boston, you get a little fat on your
success sometimes, and you know, guys like Porzingis are going
to need time off and whatnot. So I think the
Cats can do a decent job of holding on to
(19:56):
number one.
Speaker 7 (19:57):
We're all rooting for you, baby.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
It's okay if I call you baby, right of course,
as long as you do it softly like that. Yeah,
Harden put up thirty nine as the Clippers beat the
Nuggets over the weekend. The Clippers are seven and three
over the last ten and they're in sixth in the West.
A lot of people were counting them out, I think
(20:22):
heading into the season, and they.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Aggressively as a Lakers fan, but then man, Norm Powell
came back.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Shout out to my fellow bruin.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Norm Powell came back.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
He looked really great in that game, and I was like, man,
I hate seeing the Clippers do good in their brand
new stadium.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
And keeps talking about how cool Norman.
Speaker 6 (20:42):
How would be a good name for the male male
pattern bald in this guy? You know yea.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Yeah, yeah, Norm rocking the norm?
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Yeah baby, Oh yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
They're sixth the overall defensive efficiency with James Harden playing
a lot of minute, So hats off to their coaching
staff and just overall team and scheme twenty first in
offensive efficiency somehow. All right, Let's move on to the
seventy six ers of the Central Division, the Milwaukee Bucks, who,
(21:16):
similar to the seventy six ers, were seeing a real resurgence.
They've won six in a row, which is more than
the one in a row that the seventy six ers
have won. Ten they are, yeah, which if you think
about it, and then like a lot of ways is close. Yeah,
both teams are on a trend and never lose again,
thank you. It is at a certain point. Our winning
(21:40):
percentage is one thousand percent. So the Bucks are in
fifth place after a lot of people spent the early
part of the season clowning them, and they're looking more
like the team that I think a lot of people
expected them to be coming into the season. And yeah,
I don't know, eighth in offensive efficiency, sixteenth and defensive efficiency,
(22:03):
which they got some gaps there, but Giannis is still incredible,
and yeah, it feels like early days was was more
of like God, they're they're still feeling some things out.
Speaker 7 (22:15):
They'll be all right.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Yeah, well, and I think also there was a lot
of it was easy, especially from like my very narrow
Lakers perspective, it was very easy for us to be
like and Darvin Ham, see what you did over there,
Look what you did, and then you're like, nah, you
forget that.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
They're actually pretty good.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
And I know, Middleton being Middleton's still out right because
he got he does he did the double dip double
ankle double yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, So I
mean there's still that, Like I feel like every season's
like and then then Chris Middleton will come back at
some point.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
And then don't look yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Yeah right right, but yeah, I mean were you were
you ever in I mean justin You're so smart that
you were even saying like, I mean, look it's eighty
it's an eighty two game season. Were like, no, it's
a six game season and they're at the bottom.
Speaker 5 (22:59):
Yeah, And I've been counting for as long as I
can remember, Man, I don't remember how many years. And
maybe I could learn how to count that, but yeah, no,
like I think they're going to end up being a
top five team in the East.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
I worry a little bit about.
Speaker 5 (23:14):
The playoff upside, Like I just think that the supporting
cast isn't good enough, and you know, the game gives
you a little bit of a target to attack on
the offensive end, right, Sure, Middleton will need to see
how good he is. Giannis has taken a little bit
of a step back defensively, but he's as awesome as
ever offensively. So I don't trust them as much as
(23:34):
I trust like, you know, obviously Boston, Cleveland, the Knicks,
even like I think that that the Knicks probably have
a little more playoff upside. But the tricky thing is,
it doesn't matter how your team's built. Sometimes when in
a playoff series, it comes down to who has the
best player. And the honest is still capable of being
the best player in any given series. I just don't
(23:56):
know if he can do it for straight at this
point and overcome all of it roster issues. But that's
also a team that I just wouldn't want to play
because I absolutely think that Joannis can can win just
about any series that he's in. Yeah, we call that
twenty eighteen Lebron syndrome, right where the team is very
flawed and you know, sometimes the best player is what matters.
Speaker 6 (24:16):
Yeah, right, It's really like a shame they I feel
like they could be near the top of the East
if Jiannis and Dama just worked out together over the break,
you know, they knew how many push ups the other one.
Speaker 7 (24:28):
Could do have, we'd be good.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Who was faster and a dead sprint on the beach.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (24:32):
Other than the six or the other streak, that I'm
most excited about is the Grizzlies having won six in
a row, three seed out West, sixth in offensive efficiency
fourth and defensive efficiency, second in point differential in the West.
I just think the league is more exciting when they're
in the mix and near the top. And it hasn't
(24:53):
even been like Jo's been out for about half of
these games, but Triple J has been leading the team
in scoring and just a great defender. And yeah, they
were a lot of people's sexy sleeper pick coming in
for a reason. They've you know, well, when they have
jaw and everybody's playing, they're they're they're tough.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
Yeah, I think they're you know, looking at Memphis as
an example is probably what Orlando is hoping for because
last year, with Job missing so much time, Jared just
got to like explore the space, right, like we often
don't have a full roster of NBA player, so we're
just going to have you go out there and lead
the team in scoring and make mistakes and kind of,
you know, fool around. But now coming into this yere, Okay,
(25:39):
we've got you know, Bain's back jaw you know, has
been back at times, but it's a more complete roster.
And you know, as you said, he's still leading the
team in scoring, but he's not doing it as many shots,
right like, it's more efficient. And Orlando's probably hoping that
similar thing happens with Franz right like that it's time
to kind of that lead number one option is going
(26:02):
to help him settle into a more complimentary role in
the future and expand his game.
Speaker 6 (26:07):
Yeah, any teams that we want to call out for
being on a bit of a downward trend, I guess
the Phoenix Suns three and seven over the last ten.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Yeah, the Lakers.
Speaker 6 (26:18):
Yeah, I mean the Lakers are five and five or
the last ten. It's not like A Well, I.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
Think it's more like Ron He's in a pretty bad
cold snap right now, and I think that's kind of difficult.
It's also wow to be like the stats like he
hasn't scored this little point since his rookie year, and
he's like averaging.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Like twenty two at forty and you're like.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
Yeah, it's just a it's a shame the position.
Speaker 2 (26:39):
That we're in with Lebron at the moment.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
I just didn't I wish it didn't have to all
center around him because I feel like he's a competitor
and what like relishes that.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
But also, you know, this is obviously a different era
for him, so.
Speaker 5 (26:52):
Yeah, but it never really to your point, it never
really shows up in the numbers because he's got the
ball so much. He impacts the game at so many levels,
right like the rebounding, the assists, all that. Even the
scoring is going to be there. But it's like there
were even times where it felt like he was coasting
and not playing well with the Cavs, especially in that
last year, and you couldn't point to the box score
(27:14):
because it's still, you know, as he said, twenty two,
seven and seven, and it's like, Okay, well, how much
can I really put on him? But you know, there's
just a different level when he has a rolling and
he's making that impact. But you know, I just I
think you hit the nail on the head where the
Lakers are still relying on him to be like a
certain level, and you know, it's just unreasonable to expect
(27:37):
at this point.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
And I don't like getting I don't want to be like,
what's wrong with Lebron. I'm like, he is, he's in
the twilight of his career. Like, there's nothing wrong with him.
He performs at a certain level, and he performs well.
But I'm like, the front office is app it's malpractice.
Speaker 6 (27:52):
I would say, I would just be constantly asking if
he's mad at me? If I was a part of
the organization, what's.
Speaker 7 (27:58):
Wrong with Lebron? Is he mad? What I do?
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Did I say something?
Speaker 1 (28:03):
I mean, looking on I mean, like obviously, you know,
Lebron's here untill I think twenty five, twenty six, the
end of that season. But what what was life like.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
In Cleveland both times he left?
Speaker 1 (28:14):
What were those those in between years like that?
Speaker 2 (28:16):
What was that effect?
Speaker 3 (28:17):
Oh you mean like in the stretch Warriors in Miami? Yeah, yeah, yeah,
just like what was just seeing justice?
Speaker 1 (28:23):
What was it?
Speaker 7 (28:24):
And then what was it like when he went to
the Lakers.
Speaker 5 (28:26):
I mean, it made me a better podcast, I'll tell
you that because you know, I never was sitting there
being like, oh, you know, this team's going to make
the playoffs even without Lebron, blah blah blah. Like I
didn't put the fly and blinders on to that extent,
but you know, in like saying, yeah, I think we're
going to win twenty two games this year. But here's
the reasons to care. Here are the reasons to be interested, Like,
here are the player development stories. Here are kind of
(28:48):
the trends that might mean something in the future. You know,
I think we were well ahead of the curve on
Darius Garland, or actually I should just say I was
because Carter kept comparing him to DJ Augustine.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
But I like, you know, I was.
Speaker 5 (29:02):
Like, look at this post All Star break stretch. Here's
how you can scale it up. Here's important things. The
high water marks are there, right, Like. I just think
that even with a lot of these rebuilding teams, there's
a lot of interesting stuff to talk about. And I
think I got a little bit lucky because in twenty eighteen,
I was like, you know what, I'm kind of okay
if Lebron leaves, like, let's just build something different. We
(29:23):
don't have any assets left in the cupboard. We spent
it all on this you know, four year final run.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
It was great. I appreciate it, but at.
Speaker 5 (29:31):
That time, I was like, I don't want the leading
segment of the jump every single beat day being the
Cavs are letting Lebron down, they are killing his legacy,
blah blah blah, the need they need to trade everyone.
You know, the Lakers can do that and not have
it be you know, the leading subject like, you know,
they're not going to get slammed as an organization in
(29:52):
the same way. But I was like, let's just try
to build something different. Let's try to build something fun.
I was hoping for, you know, our version of the
grit and grind grizzly that's not going to be able
to get over the top. I think that this core
maybe has a little bit more potential than that. But
I'm enjoying the hell out of this run, and I
think it was a little bit of dumb luck that
the Caws were able to turn things around it as
quickly as they did.
Speaker 6 (30:13):
Yeah, the Lakers ever had like a gritty, grimy team.
It just feels like I can't picture it because it's
been a showtime since the eighties and then Kobe and
Shack and then like.
Speaker 7 (30:25):
It's never been like the bad Boy Lost It.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
Years were not there. The del Harris ears were not
like that. I mean, ye, Van.
Speaker 6 (30:34):
Exel was certainly like kind of had them for an edge,
but like, I don't think of the Lakers during that
time as being like, hey man, you don't want to
be playing them.
Speaker 7 (30:46):
They're gonna come away from.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
Better with bruises on a windy Friday night.
Speaker 6 (30:50):
Yeah, all right, should we take a break and come back.
Speaker 7 (30:55):
And round things out with the supposed to take a
podcast thing?
Speaker 3 (31:00):
Mm mmm mm hmm.
Speaker 6 (31:02):
Okay, well you asked for it, justin We'll be right back.
Did and yeah, baby back, yeah baby, Oh you were
just saying that.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
No, no, I was just saying that Jabari was saying
in that text said the baby Lakers.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Were scrappy, and I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 6 (31:28):
But the way there's come on, Jack, Muppet Baby was
there like a Muppet Babies spin off of the Lakers.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
The Muppet Baby.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
Anyways, it is time, that's right, the fourth quarter rapid
fire round of questioning justin Rowan, but before we.
Speaker 6 (31:45):
Get to it, or maybe this can be one of
the round of rounds of one of the questions, we
got the game of the week.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
No, no, actually I think maybe this is Oh yeah,
should we make that a question?
Speaker 3 (31:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Maybe, Yes, it's gonna be hyper brother. Oh my goodness, sir,
hold on to your tuk because it might blow off
from this high intensity speaking. We're about to hit you with.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
This is time for the fourth quarter wrap a five
roundup question.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
This is the fastest question answer podcast segment in all
podcasting history. I and Jack Jack and I.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Will ask you a question.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
You respond as quickly as possible, as quickly as humanly possible.
If you do not, we will be that version of
rudeness that only Americans can.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
Achieve to you.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
So I just want you to be forewarned.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
Are you ready to accept?
Speaker 3 (32:28):
I'm ready. Fantastic.
Speaker 6 (32:29):
We'll like try out being rude and then we'll like
apologize for it a little bit.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Yeah, but I was like, was that too hard?
Speaker 3 (32:35):
Sorry? Was that hard? Sorry?
Speaker 7 (32:37):
Is he mad at me?
Speaker 3 (32:38):
Okay? O course, people don't even know about that. Is
he mad? Just ask him? Dude, I don't want to
ask Jack.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
Do you want to start?
Speaker 6 (32:49):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (32:49):
I would love to start, Miles.
Speaker 6 (32:50):
Okay, thank you so much for asking Hey, Justin Jack
from the podcast we've just been recording together.
Speaker 7 (32:57):
Quick question.
Speaker 6 (32:59):
So the Cavs Celtics game ended with a lot of
free throws seventeen and thirty four seconds. The final thirty
four seconds ended up taking close to a half hour,
and it raised this idea that's been tossed around, the
elam ending elam not elam musk, which eliminates the running
(33:19):
clock at the four minute mark of the fourth quarter.
From that point forward, the game is played to a
target score of seven points greater than the leading team's total.
So if Team A is winning one oh four to
one hundred with four minutes to play, the clock stops
and the game becomes a race to one hundred and
eleven points. I think we tried something similar with the
(33:40):
All Star Game not too long ago.
Speaker 7 (33:41):
Yeah, and it was fun.
Speaker 6 (33:42):
It was like intense when it got down to it,
like this would eliminate all the you know, fouling to
try and get the ball back to hit a three.
What are your thoughts on an idea like this?
Speaker 3 (33:52):
I love it, man.
Speaker 5 (33:54):
I go to CBL games, the Canadona Elite Basketball League
Winnipeg se Bears flag rape behind me. They have been
doing this target score ending what they do, as you said,
at the four minute mark, they add nine points. So
it does have to be a maximum of three possessions
right where you could have the three three state to
go win it. But I love it. I think it
(34:15):
makes it so intense. I think it forces both teams
to continue playing real basketball. I've seen some wild comebacks,
I've seen some wild blown leads, and it's a lot
of fun, and every.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Game ends on a game winning shot.
Speaker 5 (34:27):
It's a little anti climactic when there's fouls and you
know someone wins it at the free throw line, but
it's also anti climactic where eleven seconds takes a half hour.
So I think that the you know their strengths and
weaknesses on both sides from a history of the game standpoint.
Speaker 7 (34:43):
I don't know if you can change it, but.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
I do like the ilam ending.
Speaker 6 (34:47):
Yeah, it does eliminate my favorite thing where team's winning
by twenty and they have the ball and they're dribbling
it out and then they pass it to the rookie,
so he gets the turnover one time it expires, and
the best part about that is it doesn't actually get
attributed to either of them.
Speaker 3 (35:02):
Right like it gets a traded as the team turn
it over.
Speaker 5 (35:05):
Yeah, it's it's the funniest thing, but they you know,
they don't recommend it.
Speaker 7 (35:08):
Luck Yeah.
Speaker 6 (35:09):
Yeah, you look you look like a loser holding the
ball as things end. All right, great, great answer. Uh,
elam ending is the way it's pronounced, I'm told. Okay, Miles,
you're up.
Speaker 1 (35:22):
Justin what is the best and the worst Calves jersey
from history?
Speaker 5 (35:26):
Okay, so my favorite Calves jersey in history is the
the award to in the first Lebron era. It's like
the maroon one with the Calves hoop by logo. I
am a firm believer that the Cavs hoop b logo
is their best look and it's the best logo. A
new one's actually really grown on me. I like the
(35:47):
updated hoop fee. But that that one with the gold
trim and whatnot, I think that was my favorite one
in history. The worst, I will say, is the gray
like good Year one that they had in twenty eighteen
or maybe twenty Yeah, I think it was twenty twenty seventeen,
twenty eighteen with the land on it.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
The land I couldn't. I hated that jersey. That one
didn't land for me, didn't land for me.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
And that is how there it is. And that is
the daily double.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
All right.
Speaker 6 (36:23):
We are doing a thing where we have a game
of the week that we watch and evaluate and you know,
do really advanced analysis from you because oh no, man
as soon like Yshall a free throws, Tatum soft dog.
But all right, so our options, We've got four candidates
(36:47):
that we would love.
Speaker 7 (36:48):
For you to pick from.
Speaker 6 (36:49):
So Thursday night, we got the Nuggets at the Calves
on it and it is on NBA TV. Friday night,
got the Bucks at the Celtics on ESPN. Saturday Grizzlies
at Celtics on League pass or locally Sunday, Rockets and
Clippers on League passer locally.
Speaker 5 (37:07):
What are we picking here? I have a feeling. I
know it's gotta be Celtics Bucks on Friday. It's all
about the Cup, baby, NBA Cup action. You know, maybe
Milwaukee keeps that winning streak going into that game, but Jack,
we're rooting for Celtics losses here. Yeah, and I think
it is only appropriate that matters more than some now
(37:27):
as good as Nuggets Gas is going to be on Thursday,
that's cross conference play.
Speaker 3 (37:32):
And all all that stuff. We need to see Boston loose,
so for me to lose. Yeah, maybe we'll get a
fun Dame game. Maybe we'll get to see.
Speaker 6 (37:42):
Janis turn back the clock and shred them. Maybe we'll
get to see Jason Tatum be a little bit soft
in the fourth quarter. Who knows.
Speaker 3 (37:53):
Yeah, or we'll go on us. Yeah, yeah, we'll see. Anyway,
we'll see.
Speaker 1 (37:58):
Last question for those who never got to see him
play in the Cabs uniform, just how out of this
world and different was Robert Tractor Trailer?
Speaker 5 (38:07):
Oh baby, I mean Vancouver Chris Fludge right, yeah, yeah,
out of this world.
Speaker 3 (38:14):
Man. I don't have a lot to add I don't
have a lot to add there, but.
Speaker 1 (38:18):
I just remember he would come in and just like
the lebron would be out there and then tractor Trailer
come in and then be like, Okay, who's getting absolutely bulldozed?
And that was always fun to see the recipes. Robert
Tractor Trailer.
Speaker 5 (38:29):
We need, we need more guys with that body type
out there, and I think that's one of the things
that the NBA is missing, you know, the ultimate player.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Yeah, that's solid and male pattern baldness. That is that
is the alpha and Omegan.
Speaker 5 (38:43):
Just supreme athlete and that's that's that's what we really
need here. You know, too much conversation about too many
threes and all that kind of stuff. No, we need
more big bodied individuals, preferably ones that are bolding.
Speaker 3 (38:56):
Maybe yeah, there it is.
Speaker 1 (38:59):
Yeah, well justin Rowan those were actually as we check,
I got that one right, you got that one? You
know that one right?
Speaker 3 (39:05):
Answers?
Speaker 5 (39:06):
Oh yeah, yeah yeah, because I'm an expert accounting, I
know that that's four correct answers.
Speaker 3 (39:13):
There you go for four?
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Can I see? Can I see you put four fingers
up again? Oh?
Speaker 7 (39:18):
He's Canadian?
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Canadian who does it like this with their finger down?
What is this?
Speaker 5 (39:31):
I'm trying to do it with like my pinky finger
down and I just like my hand can't do that?
Speaker 3 (39:35):
Can You're just cramping?
Speaker 7 (39:36):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (39:38):
Well, thank you so much for joining us on my
House and Jackot mad Boosties. Where do the people find you?
Follow you, support you and listen to you all that
good stuff.
Speaker 5 (39:46):
Yeah, you can find me on Twitter or at Blue
Sky at Kazanaa just slap the calves in Canada and
you'll find me there. You can listen to our podcast
wherever you found this podcast. We go live on the
Caves YouTube channel twice a week during the season. And
you know where a fine podcast. That's where you find
the chase down.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
So so do that there, you're doing it right now.
Speaker 6 (40:05):
Podcast on to quote my parents, Well, and that's just
the internet.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
Yeah, what channel is that? Does it come with my
direct tv?
Speaker 2 (40:15):
You stop direct Tv?
Speaker 1 (40:18):
So make sure you follow us at the hashtag mad
Boosti's b W S t I E s S show links,
updates and the ways to get into our discord server
shout of everybody in the discord. Make sure you follow
us on Twitter and Blue Sky. I'm at Miles of
Gray on both.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
And me I thought that was too easy.
Speaker 6 (40:36):
So on Twitter I'm Jack Underscore O'Brien, but on Blue Ski,
I'm Jack ob the number one dot the sky. That's
social and that's gonna do it. We nailed it again.
I mean, what is happening?
Speaker 5 (40:52):
Swift perfect a streak that that the seventy six ers
are hoping.
Speaker 7 (40:56):
To live in one in a row.
Speaker 3 (40:57):
Baby, we did it that way. We did it.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
Thanks so much for listening to us. We'll be back
next week. It was more my Jack got bad Boost.
Speaker 6 (41:04):
You see you that make sure you watch the game
of the week.
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