December 3, 2024 • 55 mins
Vince reacts to the Cavs win over the Celtics at the Top of the East, and the Rockets win vs. the Thunder at the Top of the West. He says it is getting close to Panic Time in Philly, and gives his picks for NBA MVP, discussing SGA, Jayson Tatum and Anthony Davis. Then Vince gets into his thoughts on the proposed changes to the All-Star Game and what he would like to see with the Dunk Contest format and participants this season. Vince also discusses the Flag Planting issues in College Football over the Rivalry weekend, and how he would react if another team tried to stop on the Tar Heels logo!
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's the VC Show. It's the VC Show. It's the
VC Show. It's the VC Show.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Season two.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Yeah, we back again.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Got the world tune in there for show.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
So so with tell of friends, my heart got me
on the for us slam dumst winstle phone. Then kick
your feed up so you can listen. Jee, It's the
VC Show. It's the VC Show.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
It's the VC Show. It's Welcome to the VC Show.
I'm your host, VC. Welcome back. Basketball is heating up,
college football is heating up, the NFL is heating up.
It's a lot of good stuff going on, much news
(00:51):
to talk about. We're gonna dive into it. So kick
your feet up. The VC Show starts. Now you got
what they wanted going on. Everybody, welcome back to the
VC Show. As I talked about, the NBA is steady going.
(01:16):
The Cleveland Cavaliers are still doing their thing, and everybody,
I think in the beginning of the year wonder how
long can they sustain playing this way and how long
would they be the number one team or I'm sorry,
go undefeated And they're not undefeated, but yet there's still
the number one team. They faced the Boston Celtics, who
(01:38):
were the number two team in the East game with
the Cavs pulling the victory out. Donovan Mitchell, first and
foremost has been spectacular, outstanding, a leader, a go to guy,
(02:01):
all the above. I think he's doing everything that needs
to be done to still be one of the best players,
but still empowering your other guys. I think Darius Garland
is a huge piece to their success, allowing him to
be the all Star guard that he is that is
(02:21):
very capable of scoring, facilitating and making plays. And then
we got to give a shout out to Evan Mobley.
I think Evan Moldley. Evan Mobley has put the work
in this summer, has gotten better shooting the ball from outside,
shooting a three point shot. I mean he's only shooting
thirty one percent, but his zero hesitation with his shot.
(02:46):
And I enjoy watching this team playoffs pleasantly surprised. I mean,
I don't think anybody saw the Cleveland Cavaliers coming out
with the bang like that. I know they've lost out
of the three losses, they've lost twice to the Hawks,
but they've stayed the course and that's important. They've stayed
(03:07):
the course and they're not bored. I think they want
to show that they're very capable of saying. Donovan Mitchell
has a lot to prove this year, and he's going
about it the right way, getting guys involved early, allowing
himself to be the start of the years in the
second half, particularly in the fourth quarter. Then there's the
Boston Celtics. Yes, they lost their second in the East.
(03:31):
Right now, it's a great matchup. I think that matchup
throughout the year is going to go back and forth.
But I've said right now, the Boston Celtics are still
the team to beat. I think their two superstars have
a lot to prove. They want to prove to us
the world that they are still the best in the league.
(03:52):
And they want to get the bad taste, if you would,
from the summer out of their miles and and prove
to us that they were worthy of obviously minutes and
being in the on the Olympic team. So their team
is steady, Their team is solid. I mean, you you
implement for zingis that just makes them even better, even stronger.
(04:15):
I think that battle and we'll see them going back
and forth throughout the season, maybe not wanting maybe one
and two. I mean they're they're literally half a game.
It's not a game in that game, game and a
half if I'm not mistaken out away from each other.
So and then there's the Orlando Magic creeping up. I
want to talk about the Magic Real Quick, who are
(04:36):
third in the East right now. Their superstar they're all
star Powo ban Carro is out. But let me tell
you something, six game winning streak, has won nine out
of ten games without power. I think Jamal Mosley deserves
a lot of credit for this team buying in. I've
(04:58):
called some games a couple of years ag go, and
I was thoroughly impressed on his approach to the team.
And and they all, all these guys bought it. Yes,
it's a young crew, so you know, when you're young,
guys want to prove they're worse than where they stand
in the league. But he's he's allowing them to do that.
But at the same time, there's structure as guys buying in.
(05:22):
Franz has been playing outstanding basketball right now for for them,
taking over as the go to guy for this team.
He's hit some game winners, he's hit some big shots,
he's made big plays. And I mean not only he's
just hitting shots. He's getting to the free throw line.
They had a big winning against the Nets at at
(05:44):
at Brooklyn fourteen free throw attempts. Like that's that's big time.
That's that's superstar status, that's all star status. I'll say
so implementing Polo back in the mix. Now you have
two guys that can get the job done, plus all
of the young talented guys that has been there. They
have a core group of guys the magic that has
(06:04):
been together, that understand their role. That is important to
me that they understand their role. And if you talk
and think about the teams that are let's talk about
the top three that we just talked about. Everybody in
the Boston Celtics, they understand their role. You've now seeing
the Cleveland Cavaliers understand their role. The players understand their
role on the team. And if you play your role
(06:25):
to the best of your ability, you have success. And
you understand your superstars can be superstars, but your role
players can be superstar players in their role, and I
think these three teams are getting that out of their players.
I'm gonna jump to the West real quick. OKC Vers
the Houston Rockets played each other one nineteen one to
(06:46):
sixteen win. Rockets get that win at home versus a
very good OKAC team who I think is another team
that is playing or understanding their role. Houston Rockets, I
think now understanding their role. Two very good coaches coaching
(07:08):
their team with young guys. Well, I mean half the
league now is young. So when I say that, I
mean very young guy, not very young. But they have
young guys that are all buying in. They know who
their star players, they know who their go to guy is.
You know, especially if you look at OKC, you look
at SGA, you know he's the go to guy. But man,
let me tell you they are buying in there defending,
(07:29):
and that those guys are half a game away from
each other. So that's going to be another battle in
the West. SGA is doing SGA things. Jalen Williams I
think is playing great basketball. Hartenstein. I'm gonna give props
to Hartenstein. I think he had nineteen and fourteen in
(07:51):
that loss to Houston, but he is so valuable. I
personally think the Knicks are looking back, like, man, that's
a guy nineteen at nineteen and thirteen. I think they
looking back saying he's a guy that they am. They
shouldn't have let go. I mean, obviously they have the reasons,
but I feel like he would have been a great
compliment to Cat with the Knicks because you don't have
(08:13):
to run place for him. But that guy plays hard.
He defends any big that you want. He's a decent
defender against guards. He's decent in the pick and roll.
But he's gonna hustle, he's gonna play hard. He's gonna
get you extra possessions. Being that the game is like
it is this nowadays, with you want to shoot threes well,
being able to offensive rebound for kickout threes falls right
(08:35):
in line with what you want. And he does that
for the ok See Thunder just like he did for
the Knicks. Man, I tell you he's valuable. I think
he's a great pickup for Okay See. Then you have
that guy called Fred van Vliet. He's kind of the
old guy the group. He's the champion. He put up
(08:57):
numbers man, he understands what Jalen Green who By the way,
he's playing great basketball this year for those who've seen
video and him putting the work in this summer making
sure he's around talented guys and focusing on what he
needs to focus on. You can see his growth and
his improvement. He didn't have a great game, only six
(09:18):
shot attempts, two for six, but that's just their team. Well,
the next man steps up, well, usually it's Fred van Vliet,
the veteran who understands when I need to be a
facilitator and he understands when I need to go out
and score, and he did that. Shangoun is very good
basketball player. He had another big night, damn near a
triple double, and shout out to Jabari Smith. He kind
(09:42):
of falls in line with you know, I watched him
play periodically and obviously when Jalen Green's not having a
big night, Jabari kind of gets more touches and he
takes advantage of it when he does. He had a
big night of a double double fifteen to fourteen. So
they're a solid team. And of course Dylan Brooks, in
my opinion, is a wild part, but he's the he's
(10:05):
the emotional leader. He's a guy that can can score
a little bit, obviously can rebound, but he's going to
defend the best player. He's going to try to frustrate them,
take them out of their game. But and when he
needs to, he can get them buckets. So obviously when
he has big knights, that's kind of a next factor,
that's kind of a plus in their corner. So the
(10:25):
Houston Rockets are playing great basketball again. Their number two
in the in the West behind Okay. See, but let's
have some more in the West. I want to let's
touch on Memphis. Not well Memphis. Let's talk about Memphis
real quick. They're right there in the mix. They're third
in the West. They're just solid. They're just solid. We've
(10:48):
seen when joh goes out, they struggle a little bit,
but they still hold on. And obviously when Job comes back,
their dynamic Golden State worries. I think we can all
be honest, we weren't sure what we what were we
going to get from the the Warriors this year as
far as where would they fall, how would they sit?
(11:09):
At one point they were number one in the West. Uh.
They lose a dynamic player, a guy who was a
core core guy in in Klay Thompson. And I thought
it was a great pickup. He was a he's a
shooter like Clay Thompson. Hear me out a different player
but he's a movement guy. He's he plays, he fits
(11:31):
into the offense on how they play. He's just you
just now, bring another movement guy who can shoot dynamic
shooting a three off off the catch, off the move,
or stand still and he can put the ball on
the floor a little bit. And he defends, you know,
he tries to go out there and defend. He does
a pretty solid job. And I thought he had a splash.
He meaning Buddy Hill, had a splash coming out for
(11:52):
the Warriors early in the season and just giving them
that weapon that we weren't sure they had or lost.
And he comes in. He's played played well. Kaminga obviously
has been great for them. Steph is doing Steph things.
And I think also we should say Draymond has been
(12:13):
playing very good basketball. I think he's been more offensive minded,
shooting more threes. In my opinion, maybe it just looks
like that, but he's been a little more offensive minded
to He's taken to five threes their last game, so
he's he's kind of getting getting involved in. It's just
all hisnds on deck. Prazinski, Ah, Gary Payton. I think
(12:33):
Moses Moody, who didn't play a lot of minutes he's
I think his minutes are still up and down. It's
a guy who they had high hopes for, so I
think he's a hit or miss guy. Jackson Davis has
been solid rebounding, So they have a core group of guys.
But it falls in line of what I was saying earlier,
guys understanding their role, and I think that's important in
this league right now. Yes, sometimes you get a role
(12:56):
that that you're not in love with because you feel
that you can you can do more, or you even
want to do more and to see the team sees
different because of talent on the roster. But like if
you can buy into just that man, good things happen
to you as an individual and good things happen to
you as a team. Well. Obviously, Warriors plays the Suns
(13:17):
not too long ago and another solid team. I feel
like they they're eighth right now, the Suns, I feel
like their team that will they will work their way up.
They'll work their way up. But I think nobody imagine
(13:39):
the Clippers playing so well right now, who are seven
behind the Lakers who are six, or just you know,
up and down solid. Obviously AD's playing well, but Phoenix.
I feel like they're middle of the pack right now.
I feel like they can work their way up into
a sixth seed. It depends on how healthy Memphis stays,
what the Clippers do, and obviously the Lakers. If the
(14:01):
Lakers remain solid throughout the year, because they've been up
and down, I mean, Lebron is playing solid, ads playing
at the MVP level. I just think they need Lakers
need their core group to continue to play well. Now
I said this to be consistent, Uh, the Lakers play,
(14:23):
I mean, guys outside of the they're two superstars, they're
they're there, They're bench and complimentary. Guys just have to
be solid all season for them to uh, to to
hang in there. Like I said, they're the sixth right now.
Who knows what happens. I mean we're talking about sixth
place when the Denver Nuggets are currently nine. Who's taking
(14:44):
a step back right now? But this is the team
that has championship pedigree, understands how to win. Will they
make a move to get a guy in Also, they've
been injured. Gordon Hurt I think is hurting them right now.
So this is the team that potentially can move up.
So Suns being solid. Lakers bench being solid is important
(15:07):
because some of these other teams later on in the
year can move up in the East. Well, I also
want to mention two more teams since we're in the West,
Timberwolves in Sacramento Kings. I go with the Timberwolves first,
who are in the eleventh place right now, out of
the play in as of now. Yes, it's early in
the season. I know you guys are saying, oh, it's
(15:28):
early in the season. Yes, just for context, there are
eleventh which is surprising to me, I think. But at
the same time, this is still that honeymoon phase that
I think. They've played nineteen twenty games Minnesota that is,
and they're still getting accustomed and used to a new
(15:48):
addition to their team and Julius Randall and how they
want to play, and they're right there. They're right there.
I just I thought they would be better. But there again,
it's early in the season and good things can happen.
Sacramento Kings are another team that I felt because of
the season they had last year, they kept their core
(16:10):
group of guys with a great, great pickup in my opinion,
in the rosan guy who can get you a bucket late. Obviously,
darreon Fox is playing outstanding right now. But I thought
DeRozan is a guy and he still think he is
a guy who you can get the ball to one,
can get you in the penalty because he can draw fouls,
(16:34):
and the guy who can just get you a bucket period.
And he takes some pressure off of Fox having to
be that score or even some bonus. So yeah, and
then Malik Monk has had a slow start. I know,
he was injured coming back, so they have a nucleus
of guys. Kevin Herder hasn't really played well so far,
but there again, they're nineteen twenty games into the season.
(16:56):
It's early. It's just the early critique on and what
these tams are doing. And hell, obviously the second half,
the middle portion to the second half of the season
is when you want to to get better and all
of course, after all Star you want to hit your peak.
So these teams have betteran guys who understand how this
works throughout the season. This is just it's not panic
(17:17):
time yet for these teams. Now when we talk about
panic time, we're gonna go to the East and we're
talking about the seventy six ers, as far as far
as panic time, and I know seventy Sixers fans. The
first thing said, oh, we've been injured, Yes you have,
and you haven't had your your your your your group,
your core group of guys, your superstar, your three headed
monster on the floor that bit in and out. I
(17:39):
think they've only played a few games together. It's just
it's just guys who are always bit by the injury. Boggin.
It's unfortunate because they're superstar players, some of the best
in the league. But when you're you're you're sitting in
fourteenth place with only four five wins. Man, when you
(18:01):
look at that team like you read them on paper
and you're just like, there's no way we should be
that bad right now. In the East, it's kind of
unfortunate when you have a Joe llenb when you have
a Paul George and I was Tyres Maxie, who I'm
a huge fan of. So I'm interested to see how it's.
(18:22):
Like I said, there are eighteen to twenty games into
the season, so I'm interested to see how they can
turn this around. Can they at least get themselves into
a play in It's plenty of time, But can they
play themselves into a play in tournament. Remains to be
seen as you move work your way up the East.
(18:44):
The Detroit Pistons right now are in tenth place who
are playing solid basketball. They're not that team that we've
typically seen at the bottom. It's just you still have
some core young guys and I think JB. Bickerstaff, who
I think is a very good coach. His time was
up in Cleveland, but he's now taken that strategy, his
(19:05):
style of coaching to Detroit and you're seeing a change
a turn. You're seeing a change in their culture and
how they're playing. Guys are buying in, and you still
have to go in there and go beat that team
if you're gonna win. Miami Heat are going to be
the Miami Heat. They're they're they're currently set where they
(19:26):
six right now, and they're just a solidid team. They're
not really talked about. They're just kind of just cruising along.
Those are the teams that scared me. Obviously. They have
playoff pedigree, you know, know how to win into the playoffs,
so they're just kind of coasting along. Those are those
teams are talking about veteran teams that understand middle to
the back end of the season is where they make
(19:47):
their push. So they're just kind of creeping around. Which
brings me to the Milwaukee Bucks. I'm still trying to
figure that team out. I mean, Giannis is playing h
lights out this year. He's doing his thing. It's just
it's just it's just the weird season seeing them play.
(20:12):
I mean, they're still above five hundred. I just don't know.
But there's a team that's that's I don't want to
say coasting, but like they're right in the hunt, fifth, sixth,
somewhere in there. Understand they hit their stride at the
back end of the season. Do they have enough? Are
they healthy? We shall see the Knicks the same. Uh.
(20:33):
I mean I was concerned with the Knicks. I thought offensively,
Carl Anthony, uh, it is a great pickup. I didn't
like the I didn't like to see him at the five.
That's why I thought Hartenstein. Obviously there are other bigs
(20:53):
right now are are injured, but I just thought Hartenstein,
what is a great pickup for him? Energy guy you
don't have to on places for because of his ability
to just defend and get you extra possessions. Metchell Robinson, right,
now still injured. He's a guy that's another defender, shot blocker,
(21:15):
so obviously when he when he gets back, they get
him implemented. They've changed. Like I said, they're still in
fourth right now. It's you know, these are just critiques
and just where they are. But I think they're obviously
very capable of doing making some noise in I should say,
making some noise in the East, sitting that fourth and
(21:36):
we don't even don't even have Obviously they're anchored defensively,
but they're getting it done that they're they're well above
five hundred. Like I said, fourth right now, they're probably
two and a half games out of third, which which
is the magic. So it's been it's been great. I
just wanted to kind of take a brief runt down
down the East and the West. I didn't mention the
Dallas Mavericks, who's been playing solid basketball. Kyrie has been great,
(22:01):
and they they are sitting at fifth and they didn't
even have Luca. Then Luca comes back and he puts
on the show. So I think the Dallas Mavericks are
another team that's gonna creep up uh in the in
the West, the sitting fifth, Memphis is at third, Golden
State at fourth, So some great basketball being played right now.
Keep keep watching, man, It's just it's just it's easy
(22:23):
to talk right now that we can date this. Then
go back in two three weeks, a month, maybe two months,
and look back and see if where teams are sitting,
who has made the move or not all because of
injury or just now hitting their stride, Because once we
get pasted. To me, I feel like the twenty five
game mark is when we start to see what these
teams are because the honeymoon phase of my opinion is
(22:45):
over with. Now you've passed. You know you passed well.
The twenty twenty five games you can get You've seen
a lot. You now know how teams are gonna play.
You have a general idea how teams are gonna play.
You with your your your your squad. Now you hit
your stride. So I feel like after the twenty five
game mark is when we'll see what some of these
(23:07):
teams are looking like, like a Minnesota, like a Knicks,
like a seventy six ers, I mean, those teams that
made big moves. We'll see We'll get to see what
Cleveland still looks like. In the East of where they stand,
so we have to stay tuned. Now. Now I wanted
(23:38):
to transition over to MVP. We talked about teams that
are playing extremely well, but let's talk about some teams
or player excuse me, that are in the MVP hunt
or front runners for the MVP race currently. I'll say
Tatum first of all, who's playing extremely great basketball, well deserving.
(24:06):
I've been a fan and I've vouched for for Tatum
many many years of possibly possibly winning the m v P.
Obviously Jokic and h m b ended up winning him.
But I think he's very capable. I think he's motivated
this year, so he's right there in the hunt. You
have to kind of you know, I know some people
will have pushed back, and that's fine, but the best
(24:28):
team in the in the league and the best team
in the East and Donovan Mitchell UH deserves a nod
right now. As far as talked about UH in the
East as the MVP candidate. Obviously, Giannis, I think who
is playing lights out his teams in the middle of
(24:50):
the pacso you know they're they're fit, so they're right there.
But I think he's playing at the m v P level.
I think their teams could be it should be better,
but he is doing what he needs to do. And
let's go into the East, I mean sorry, going to
the West. And then I'm gonna say SGA obviously best
team in the West, playing lights out right now, solid
(25:12):
as usual. He was right there for the race last
year and his name has been thrown in the last
couple of years. But this year, I think he's getting
it done. And then A d I know we talked
about eighty their six right now he's playing lights out.
Luca has been hurt, another guy who I think name
should be thrown into the MVP race as front runners
(25:34):
right now. So I think there's some talented guys will
will there be more coming along down the way. Possibly
I think a guy like Anthony Edwards is one guy
that I still keeping my eye out for who can
make a push. Jolkis is always very capable of making
a push. KD and possibly Booker is another guy making
(25:57):
a push that goes back to those teams in the
middle of the pack looking to rise late. I think
those guys are important to their teams so where they
can have an MVP look for moving up into the
race and their names being talked about as well. So
that's all I have for that. So what do you
(26:19):
think about that? And art should there be some more names?
Let me know. Let's chat a little bit about the
All Star Game and the changes that's being made in
(26:41):
the All Star Game. And the changes are, obviously is
the format on how the game will be played. Three
teams of eight All Stars and then there will be
one team of Rising Stars playing to playing to forty
(27:01):
in the semi finals and obviously the finals. I think
it's twenty to twenty five. So the motivation, I don't
know what the money is, but the motivation I think
more than anything for the Rising Stars to obviously get
a chance to get to the finals, to beat an
All Star team, to obviously give themselves a chance, but
for the All Stars to not lose to the Rising Stars,
(27:23):
and just making sure you don't give these young guys
confidence and whatnot, because a lot will be said. So
I think the NBA is just looking for better competition
in the All Star Game, for viewership, getting everybody to watch.
I don't know if you guys saw the video where
(27:46):
former President Barack Obama said to Hallen Burton about can
y'all just play harder, and I think that is a
consensus around the world as far as just wanting to
see a competition, and obviously for the viewership and having
the eyeballs in the game because it's a it's a
(28:06):
it's a fun time. All Star weekend. It's supposed to
be a time where you highlight the best players, the
big names or the players that are playing great throughout
the year, whether they're older guys or younger guys. Obviously
highlighting skills and athleticism and all of these different things.
So the NBA is trying different ways to motivate players
(28:28):
to play harder, motivate ways to get guys to to
join in, uh to the festivities. If you know, you
listen to me, you can kind of see or feel
where I'm trying to go with that, and that's the
Dunk contest. So for me, I think now that the
NBA is kind of going to this kind of pick
(28:49):
up basketball style of play, and I pick my eight,
you pick your eight, y'all pick your eight. Once we
beat y'all, its next team up type of basketball, fast paced,
a lot going on, keeping guys engaged. I think that's
a cool format trying to bring that back. I think
it's been done a couple of times. I know how
(29:10):
they said Hockey has done it. So it'd be cool
to see how that works. And I feel like, if
you're going to do that, you're the NBA, You're going
to do that format. We have to find a cool
way to kind of implement that in maybe the dump contest.
Maybe let's go back to an old school style pickup format,
if you would, where you know, you're playing pickup and
(29:32):
guys get to talking about who has more hops and
who can you know, who can do this and who
can do that, and like, all right, showed me. So
everybody if you have five six guys, everybody has a ball,
everybody's on the court, and first man up. If I
go up there and dump, and it's just back and
forth and back and forth. And I'm thinking this all
right now, So I'm still not quite I don't have
(29:52):
it all kind of laid out, but it's kind of
like a you go, I go mentality and bringing up
you know, giving you the pickup basketball all mentality where
it's kind of the spur of moment you see a
guy go and he goes dunk, and then the next
man dunks and either you do it where it's time
where you guys go back and forth for a couple
of minutes, all five six guys in a minute. Maybe
(30:16):
minutes not enough, maybe it's five minutes. I don't know.
Whatever that whatever makes sense format or after each dunk,
it's a quick judge. After the guy dunks, you you
judge it, you get your score, you go to the
back lines. The next man up you go, and then
you kind of get a cumulative of three four dunks
and you kind of get your a cumulative score to
move on until the finals. Maybe that's something that kind
(30:38):
of keeps it fast paced and it kind of gives
you the same energy of what you're gonna see on Sunday.
Maybe that's a way to kind of get guys. I mean,
that's just the format more than anything. You have to
come up with a way to get guys involved. And
I just hope guys can put the pride aside, put
the brand aside, because I feel like your brand will
be taken care of if you go out there and
(31:00):
put on the show. Just put on the show. Like, yes,
we all want to win. Like my purpose for being
in a DUC contest was to win, but at the
same time, that was my purpose. So that's why I
enjoyed seeing Steve Francis and t Mack and Stackhouse and
guys with this type of athletic system to motivate me
and to push you know, that's how I pushed my brand.
(31:20):
I pushed my brand by going out there. Obviously winning helps,
but to push my brand and to put the best
product on the floor. And these guys, to me, have
the ability if you don't win, but you you create
a buzz and then you take that buzz that you
created and now you put that into the second part
of the season, and that you ride that way. That way,
(31:40):
I feel like that gives you that buzz. Yes, your
play always can speak for yourself, and winning helps. But
there's guys, if you look back Dominique Wilkins, his brand
wasn't hurt when he lost to MJ. Aaron Gordon brand
wasn't hurt when he lost to Levine. And there's other
guys who went up there to put on the show
(32:01):
to where you created an argument. Oh, we felt like
Aaron Gordon possibly should have won one. Nate Robinson going
out there putting on the show. Yeah, we talked about
the amount of ducks he did, but at the same time,
he created buzz because of what he talked about. So
I just hope guys can take a step back and
look at it that way. You also, you know, you're
worried about hurting your brand, but you can also help
(32:22):
your brand. Let's say, if you're not having a great season, well,
this is an opportunity to create your buzz and create
this brand that you're trying to establish. You know, we're
all looking for ways to get our brand started, whether
it's through social media or whatnot. Well, this is a
great opportunity for these young guys or guys in general,
and to create the buzz and show case who you
(32:43):
are and what you had have to offer athletically. You know,
I've told guys before. You know that, you know the
All Star Game that platform me doing what I did.
I mean, it just it changed my life. I mean
it just you know, being in Toronto at the time
where we didn't get a lot of buzz or a
lot of eyeballs on us, Mack and I were able
(33:06):
to go out there and do what we did. That
gave Team Mac an opportunity to be seen. There's a
guy who took advantage of his brand and he could
continue to ascend. We've had a darn good second half
of the season. He obviously he moves on and goes
to Orlando, and in the rest is history he became
you know, the All Star Superstar now Hall of Famers.
So the guys who has not won the dumb contest
(33:30):
but took advantage of that and piggybacked off that to
move on to become legendary. Everybody doesn't win the three
point contest, but if you go and put on the show,
it's always talked about, which you could piggyback off of
your brand. So I just want young guys to think
about that opportunity and just go out there and put
on the show. I know we as fans want to
see the big names. We want to see the big
(33:51):
names and the super athletes going out there, but I
also say, you know, for that to happen, I would
like to see guys that want to and I feel
like we get disappointed because of the name, but at
the same time you get wild in my opinion, by
guys that want to go out there and do it
and going to go out there and give it their
own and put that product on the court because I
(34:13):
feel like if once it goes there, it creates a buzz,
it becomes contagious after that because you'll see a guy
like a Mack McClung who not many people. I'm gonna
say a lot of people did not know him. Some
people who obviously knew him through YouTube, like I knew
him through YouTube, but a lot of NBA folks did
not know who Mac McClung was. But he created his
(34:33):
buzz because he wanted to be in a dunk contest
and he went out there and put on a show
to where I'm not saying he's a household name, but
he's a household name in that arena. Maybe not as
far as basketball playing, but when you talk about dunk contests,
some may forget about it, but when you see it's like, oh, yeah,
that's that kid I didn't know about. Who put on
the show, Who did this? Who did that. He's taking
(34:54):
advantage of that opportunity and hopefully he can continue to ascend,
and I think that could be for some guys who
are actually playing in the league now, who who are trying,
like I said, trying to kind of advance their opportunity.
So I just hope guys kind of hear this or
think about this, or you know, whatever the case may be,
and consider consider the dunk contests and go out there
(35:15):
and put yourself out there. Obviously, I'm passionate about the
Dunk Contest. I critique it, sit and watch it and whatnot.
And I would love to see the Dunk contests continue
to be what it's supposed to be. The All Star
Game is an All Star game. It's never a knock
at that because I was thankful to play in the
All Star Game on Sundays, but it was all about
(35:37):
Saturday night period. That's just what it is. It's like,
it's all about All Star Saturday Night, the Dunk Contest,
and I want to bring that back. Obviously. I'm hoping
that that the NBA and all of us together, we
kind of we put it out there, we throw it
out there, and we kind of find a way to
getting it back like it used to be. Man Like,
(35:58):
you know, I don't know, I know, I know everybody say, yeah,
such such such such has to do it, but you know,
and I hope they do. But if not, we just
got to get guys who are very capable and you know,
find some guys that we've never heard of. You know,
we just discover a new a new young man like
a mac mcclum who gets that opportunity and they can
battle it out with some of the talents of today.
(36:20):
So because I think there's a lot of talented dunkers
athletes in the game that I just hope that they're
not worried about their their brand, more something going out
there and making a name for themselves because this is
a great opportunity. I was able to take advantage of it,
and I hope they can too. I mean, I don't
want to put too much pressure on guys, but I'm
going to put pressure on guys because I would love
(36:41):
to see a couple of the names that I've quickly
thought of to set the tone at this point. You know,
I know the NBA is looking for for guys, you know,
six guys or whatever they can get. But like I was,
there's a couple of guys out there that I would
like for them to set the tone. And I think
when if they set the tone and I view them
(37:03):
as talented dunkers that I have have ability. Hopefully there's
others and even something that you people can name down
below for other names for the for the league to consider.
And I would definitely love to throw their name out there,
and I'm let's take it off the top of my head. Obviously,
Mac McClung. He's a guy who I think wants to
We all know John Morant. We throw his name out there,
(37:24):
so John, I hope you would consider it, you know,
dare I say Zion, I think he needs to get
healthy first. If he's healthy, come All Star time. I
would love to see him participate. We don't know what
that one. Jalen green Uh from Houston is another guy
that I think is very capable. Yes, he's a high jumper.
(37:51):
Listen to what I'm saying. When people are gonna name
people that jump really high, and then there's people who
has like who has some stuff to him, who has
like some tricks and stuff that These are a couple
of guys I feel like, not only jump high, that
has you know, some some tricks that that I think
translates in the dunk contest and that will wow us.
Shade Sharp is for sure a guy that I definitely
(38:15):
would love to see. I think he's very capable. I
think he will put on a good show and challenge
some of those guys. Uh, mister Edwards. Edwards, I think
you're another super athlete that has a lot of stuff
in your game, not just a high jumper. There's a
lot of guys we see, like you know that jump high,
but like has that stuff with him. Ant Edwards is
(38:36):
another one. And lastly, I'm gonna I'm gonna name Jalen
Johnson from the Atlanta Hawks another guy that has easy,
easy hops and watch some dude the windmill on the
breakaway in the last game. I can't remember who they
were playing, but it's just easy, easy, hot. So I
think he's a guy that has some tricks up his
sleeve that can wow us in the Duck Contest. So
(39:01):
there's what I think six guys right there who that
say shade and sharp, John Moran, Jalen Green, obviously, Matt mcclun,
Jalen Johnson, and Edwards. So there's six guys right there
that I think could set the tone. And if there's
a couple more, a group of eight guys, it would
(39:24):
be like the old days, eight guys going out there
showing their athleticism, bringing the Duck Contest back to what
it used to be being the feature for All Star
seven night. Well, I hope everyone had a very very pleasant,
(39:52):
fun eventful Thanksgiving. I know I jumped right into basketball.
I wanted to get in some of those cool topics,
but I wanted to take a step back and talk
about what has happened at other news and in sports,
and you know, everybody in there. Thanksgiving. I had a
great Thanksgiving with family and seeing seeing family and getting
the chance to watch a lot of football. There was
(40:13):
a lot going on, not just football, but there's a
lot of sports going on. But we sat and watched football. Obviously,
Bears Lions, and and for as much as we thought
I thought for short, Detroit blows them out. The Bears
put on a great show. Obviously we saw what happened
in the end. Giants Dallas was a very good one.
(40:35):
And then Packers handled their business. And then the next
day the Chiefs Raiders. How about that game? Crazy crazy,
So a lot of good, good, good football, good times
with the family. So I hope you guys ate good.
It's crazy hearing people talk about dressing and stuffing and
if you eat ham turkey and here some people say
they don't do the turkey and chicken that you chicken
(40:56):
instead and all this stuff. It's just crazy hearing that
because obviously I grew up in the family. We had
a little bit of everything, because all of our family
get it all, from turkey to ham, potato salad to dressing,
cranberry sauce. The whole night we had a spread. Uh
(41:17):
and and shout out to my cousin for and my
aunt's for for knocking it for for knocking it down
getting it done for us. We had a good time,
went home full. Had the iteis for sure, but a
lot of good football. NFL has been amazing right now. Obviously,
(41:37):
what the Chiefs are doing is just unbelievable. I mean,
playing in the sport, it's like when you're a team that, yes,
I mean I feel like you're you're playing with death.
But when you're a team like the Chiefs that can
obviously has won like they have, that knows that knows
how to win in the end. I mean you just
think about obviously the Patriots back in the day when
(41:58):
Brady was there. But it's some interesting football out there
right now what we're seeing this think the AFC Pittsburgh,
I mean, Mike Tomlin, Man, you are legendary eighteen years
and you continue to do what you've done a winning season,
(42:18):
find ways to win. I like a lot of people
question why rock the boat when you have something good
with Justin Fields, who was playing, you know, pretty good football.
They're winning football. And then you see the bigger picture
in what Russell Wilson could do and brings to the table,
and you still find a package for Fields and the play.
(42:38):
It's just it's just been unbelieva because we all sit like, man,
Mike tomlind crazy, but at the same time he say,
it's Mike Tomlin and you got to trust what he
says because he's proven. And it's just it's just it's
pretty cool to see what teams are doing. You seeing
the Texans, who were playing so great last year still
holding on to a position, the Ravens playing well early
(43:00):
kind of just falling down, down down. Look at the
Buffalo Bills what they're doing. Did you see the game
in the snow which was crazy against the forty nine ers.
A lot of a lot of young kids and people
who have aspirations of playing football, particularly if you end
up in the AFC, you could possibly have to play
in that, which is crazy, but it was. It was
(43:23):
a fun watch. Josh Allen is up there for the
m v P. I'm gonna get into that as well.
But and then you think about the NFC. What the
Detroit Lions are doing are just solid solid. I definitely
think they're super Bowl worthy. They have a chance to
being of being in the Super Bowl the Eagles. Like
(43:47):
imagine a NFC Finals maybe Lions and Eagles and then
AFC possibly Chiefs Bills maybe like that. That's that would
be crazy to watch. My Bucks are still holding on,
still have a chance to get there. The Falcons are
in there right now. Commanders, who's winning Rookie of the
(44:13):
Year and your thoughts, you know, put it down below
in your comments, But the Commanders, I think what that
young fellaw's doing Jayson Daniels over there has been spectacular
yet he he hit his rookie wall if you want,
had his thing, but he's still kind of bounced back.
Bow Nicks is playing great football right now. Who I
think is another a young fellaw who has an opportunity
(44:37):
to win offensive rookie year. And Caleb Williams is still
playing great football as well. So I love what we're
seeing in football, it's no runaway. I think obviously we
think playoffs, you think the Chiefs, and the Chiefs still
can get it dumb regardless of what we're seeing. They
still have the pedigree and they still just are solid
and find ways to win. So I'm tuned in. But
(44:58):
I mentioned MVP and who's in the MVP race right now.
I still think Josh Allen is the front runner. Saquon
back Barkley. I think their neck and neck, honestly, Saquon
and Josh Allen, who are playing great, then la Mark
Jackson is doing his thing. I think, you know, Derrick Henry,
who was doing what he was doing early in the year,
still is right there. He's probably not top four, but
(45:22):
if you five, he's probably right there in top five.
I mean, Jared Golf deserves something to talk about out there. So,
I mean, there's there's a lot of guys, there's a
lot of quarterbacks out there playing well. But I mean
it's it's also great to see nine quarterbacks two running
(45:42):
backs in my opinion, Saquon in Derrick Henry in the
mix as well for obviously offensive Player of the Year.
So uh, it was it was It's been great to
watch football. It's been very entertaining, especially being a basketball guy,
and I love my basketball, but I love some up
football as well, which leads me to college football, which
(46:06):
has just been a roller coaster. I mean, the twelve
team playoffs has drawn us all in watching more teams.
And typically we're looking at the top six to eight
teams being in the playoffs, and that's what we're thinking
to get into that four. Now we're looking at twelve,
so we're looking at more teams getting the opportunity to
(46:28):
get in. Shout out to what coach Prime Deon Sanders
has done with Colorado, giving them a chance. You're seeing
teams who stepped up to the play BYU stepped up
and got it done. Arizona State stepped up and got
it done, which knocked them out. But I mean we're
seeing great football. Ohio State big loss, Clemson big loss.
(46:53):
Who else? I mean, there was some big loss to
some teams that needed to solidify themselves to get in
to the playoffs in my opinion, or or get into
the the conference championship first of all, which in essence
knocks him out of the UH the playoffs race as well. Man,
(47:17):
what what are we talking about here? What is look
at Texas. I mean there's a lot of teams that
are still in it. Alabama, did they give themselves a chance?
I don't know. But which leads to Rivalry Week, which
I want to talk about more than anything. That the
games were insane. Obviously my Tar Hills fall to uh
(47:41):
NC State, I'm gonna start there. You know, uh well,
there was a lot of fights. There's a lot of fights.
There was a lot going on, a lot of testos
around around amongst the college football ranks during Rivalry Week,
and that's what it's all about. I mean, you know,
rivals going back and forth. There was a heartbreaking loss
(48:01):
for US thirty five thirty to NC State blah blah blah.
Obviously they plant their flag in the middle of the
field and that became a brawl. We all saw Florida
Florida State. I'm from Florida, so that is a big deal.
Florida Florida State. I grew up a Florida State football fan,
(48:22):
so see seeing them this year, you know, my family
split up, split up in Florida. Have some Florida fans
that have Hurricane fans, and then obviously a few of
us and my friends as well, who are Hurricane Florida
Florida State fans has just been that's been a great
rivalry for a long time. Who was the King of Florida?
You can now, I think, you know, slowly put UCF
(48:42):
in there. I think they're very worthy of being in
that mix. But Florida State takes a beating to Florida.
They plant the flag that became a fight we all
got to see live Michigan, Ohio State, which was an
all out brawl, which leads me to ask the question,
and what you guys think about the flag planting and
(49:03):
all that. I think the NCAA is going to do
something about it, gonna mix it for for what it did,
because it's on TV, and you know, I mean viewership.
I mean obviously some people are gonna say they love it,
they love the competitiveness, but like you know, you don't
want you don't want to see guys obviously getting maced,
(49:24):
getting hurt by any means. It's like it is what
it is. It's rivalary week. So it's it's different for
for us. I mean, obviously we couldn't stand in Duke
and you know, we wanted to beat duke, and it's
kind of leading up to it and so on and
so forth, and and that's the consistence. Like and on
the basketball side, but we don't really have plant flag planting,
(49:45):
so I guess more for us, it was kind of
a if you went on the opposing team floor, we
go and we start stomping and dancing and carroll on
on the court in the court, and you know, but
like the flag planning, I know it was done. It's
been done for a while. But I feel like the
n c a A is gonna Probably it was because
there were so many many fights from that. It's just
(50:11):
it's it's gonna be banned. Uh. You know, I know
a lot of coaches have their comments about it, and
you know social media fans are are on it. I watched,
like you see the interviews of some coaches saying or
giving their comments. You saw the player from Michigan give
his comments and immediately after you guys bring up receipts. Man,
(50:34):
it's kind of funny, but like you're just making people aware.
You can't say this without you guys being a culprit
of it as well. So you know, I love I
love what social media brings to the to the point
because they brought up a point of you know, a
Michigan player not with a flag, but he's taking his
cleats and I guess it was at Michigan State, you know,
(50:55):
stopping off out on their logo and how can you
say this, you know a couple of weeks later, so
I get it. I get it. So it's just it's
just the thing. It's just like when you lose, and
I know a lot of people say, oh, you know,
you can avoid it by going out there and just
win the game. You know, you win the game. They
can't do it, get it. But I just think of
the bigger picture, like we just kind of gotta get
(51:17):
a hold of it. I mean it was cool to
see obviously, when your team's not winning. You hate to
see it on your field playing and simple and I
know you're a kid and your cart in the moment,
it's a rivalry, so you know, I just feel like,
if anything, I'm okay, if you lose and your team
goes on our field, y'all start dancing and car know
(51:38):
in the middle of our thing. I mean, yeah, we're
gonna be pissed, probably want to fight. But I just
think the flag, the flag of planning is you know,
can get dangerous that they Ohio State player takes the flag,
the Michigan flag, and then if flang comes off and
then the pole, the poles kind of can swing it.
They're already fighting. A lot of bad things can happen,
(51:59):
is what I'm saying. So that's all I think. But
it was like it may it made for interesting TV.
I was in the store somewhere watching that thing, and
everybody kind of gathered on the TV to watch the
highlights of the of the of the fighting and obviously Michigan,
obviously the Michigan Ohio State and I'm watching this take
place with my team, and I watched Alabama art Auburn
(52:21):
get into it. So it was a lot. It was
a lot going on, but it was cool to watch,
you know, to Rivalry week, Rivalry Week is is like
no other than any sport. I'm thankful to be a
part of it. Professional ranks. I mean, there's a few
you know that that are are like that. I know
(52:43):
Bears Green Bay is kind of a big thing, but
it's nothing like it. But I just think then I'm sorry,
the n c a A is gonna kind of get a
hold of it. I'm okay, Like I said, with teams
having their moment because you go win, especially if you
go win on the road, you deserve to kind of
the stomp and do what you gotta do. But like
the flag thing, it just it becomes dangerous later on.
(53:05):
That's all I have to say. And that's my opinion
about that more than anything else. Lastly, college basketball is here.
It's just kind of reving up. I mean, we're seeing
some of the best of the best going down, like
Yukon my tar heels going down. But man, it's it's uh,
(53:31):
it's here. I love like I love the parody. Man,
it's if you we're getting to see other teams that
we don't we don't really get to see or know about,
you know, do their thing and like shout out to date.
Man what they did, uh you know they put up
They put my tar heels to the brink beat Yukon
(53:58):
Memphis looks good. I mean, I love the competitive nature.
I love like what we got to see out of that.
So I'm just interested to see down the line. I
know this the sec sec ACC Challenge coming up. There's
a lot of great matchups and now we're seeing the
best teams matching up with the best teams early, and
in the college basketball, I mean that means something. It
(54:20):
prepares you for the back end, particularly when you have
a lot of freshmen and young guys that you're playing
big minutes now who've never been a part of a
rivalry or or big games like that. You get them
that experience early, whether they're one and done or not.
You're preparing them for what the end of the season
(54:41):
is like, so at least they get that experience. I
look at the playing tournament in the NBA somewhat like
playing in some of these big games, these big challenges
and the Maui Invitational, or just playing in big games
outside of your Obviously your conference you're gonna play in
the team's very good in your conference, but some of
these out of conference schedules, you're playing some of the
(55:01):
best players, I mean, some of the best teams, and yeah,
somebody's gotta lose, but you get the experience of what
you can possibly see down the line come tournament time.
You're young guys who maybe are one and done or
just need that experience, get the experience early to be
prepared late in the season. So I'm loving it. It's
(55:21):
just been unbelievable sports a couple of weeks right now
with headlines, upsets, fights, the whole nine, breaking news, the
whole nine. So it's just been cool. So man, I
appreciate you always, as always listening to the VC Show,
rocking with me, kicking your feet up and enjoying the show. So,
as always, the VC Show is out and I will
(55:42):
see you guys next week. Let's go
It's the VC Show. It's the VC Show. It's the
VC Show. It's the VC Show.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Season two.
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Yeah, we back again.
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Got the world tune in there for show.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
So so with tell of friends, my heart got me
on the for us slam dumst winstle phone. Then kick
your feed up so you can listen. Jee, It's the
VC Show. It's the VC Show.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
It's the VC Show. It's Welcome to the VC Show.
I'm your host, VC. Welcome back. Basketball is heating up,
college football is heating up, the NFL is heating up.
It's a lot of good stuff going on, much news
(00:51):
to talk about. We're gonna dive into it. So kick
your feet up. The VC Show starts. Now you got
what they wanted going on. Everybody, welcome back to the
VC Show. As I talked about, the NBA is steady going.
(01:16):
The Cleveland Cavaliers are still doing their thing, and everybody,
I think in the beginning of the year wonder how
long can they sustain playing this way and how long
would they be the number one team or I'm sorry,
go undefeated And they're not undefeated, but yet there's still
the number one team. They faced the Boston Celtics, who
(01:38):
were the number two team in the East game with
the Cavs pulling the victory out. Donovan Mitchell, first and
foremost has been spectacular, outstanding, a leader, a go to guy,
(02:01):
all the above. I think he's doing everything that needs
to be done to still be one of the best players,
but still empowering your other guys. I think Darius Garland
is a huge piece to their success, allowing him to
be the all Star guard that he is that is
(02:21):
very capable of scoring, facilitating and making plays. And then
we got to give a shout out to Evan Mobley.
I think Evan Moldley. Evan Mobley has put the work
in this summer, has gotten better shooting the ball from outside,
shooting a three point shot. I mean he's only shooting
thirty one percent, but his zero hesitation with his shot.
(02:46):
And I enjoy watching this team playoffs pleasantly surprised. I mean,
I don't think anybody saw the Cleveland Cavaliers coming out
with the bang like that. I know they've lost out
of the three losses, they've lost twice to the Hawks,
but they've stayed the course and that's important. They've stayed
(03:07):
the course and they're not bored. I think they want
to show that they're very capable of saying. Donovan Mitchell
has a lot to prove this year, and he's going
about it the right way, getting guys involved early, allowing
himself to be the start of the years in the
second half, particularly in the fourth quarter. Then there's the
Boston Celtics. Yes, they lost their second in the East.
(03:31):
Right now, it's a great matchup. I think that matchup
throughout the year is going to go back and forth.
But I've said right now, the Boston Celtics are still
the team to beat. I think their two superstars have
a lot to prove. They want to prove to us
the world that they are still the best in the league.
(03:52):
And they want to get the bad taste, if you would,
from the summer out of their miles and and prove
to us that they were worthy of obviously minutes and
being in the on the Olympic team. So their team
is steady, Their team is solid. I mean, you you
implement for zingis that just makes them even better, even stronger.
(04:15):
I think that battle and we'll see them going back
and forth throughout the season, maybe not wanting maybe one
and two. I mean they're they're literally half a game.
It's not a game in that game, game and a
half if I'm not mistaken out away from each other.
So and then there's the Orlando Magic creeping up. I
want to talk about the Magic Real Quick, who are
(04:36):
third in the East right now. Their superstar they're all
star Powo ban Carro is out. But let me tell
you something, six game winning streak, has won nine out
of ten games without power. I think Jamal Mosley deserves
a lot of credit for this team buying in. I've
(04:58):
called some games a couple of years ag go, and
I was thoroughly impressed on his approach to the team.
And and they all, all these guys bought it. Yes,
it's a young crew, so you know, when you're young,
guys want to prove they're worse than where they stand
in the league. But he's he's allowing them to do that.
But at the same time, there's structure as guys buying in.
(05:22):
Franz has been playing outstanding basketball right now for for them,
taking over as the go to guy for this team.
He's hit some game winners, he's hit some big shots,
he's made big plays. And I mean not only he's
just hitting shots. He's getting to the free throw line.
They had a big winning against the Nets at at
(05:44):
at Brooklyn fourteen free throw attempts. Like that's that's big time.
That's that's superstar status, that's all star status. I'll say
so implementing Polo back in the mix. Now you have
two guys that can get the job done, plus all
of the young talented guys that has been there. They
have a core group of guys the magic that has
(06:04):
been together, that understand their role. That is important to
me that they understand their role. And if you talk
and think about the teams that are let's talk about
the top three that we just talked about. Everybody in
the Boston Celtics, they understand their role. You've now seeing
the Cleveland Cavaliers understand their role. The players understand their
role on the team. And if you play your role
(06:25):
to the best of your ability, you have success. And
you understand your superstars can be superstars, but your role
players can be superstar players in their role, and I
think these three teams are getting that out of their players.
I'm gonna jump to the West real quick. OKC Vers
the Houston Rockets played each other one nineteen one to
(06:46):
sixteen win. Rockets get that win at home versus a
very good OKAC team who I think is another team
that is playing or understanding their role. Houston Rockets, I
think now understanding their role. Two very good coaches coaching
(07:08):
their team with young guys. Well, I mean half the
league now is young. So when I say that, I
mean very young guy, not very young. But they have
young guys that are all buying in. They know who
their star players, they know who their go to guy is.
You know, especially if you look at OKC, you look
at SGA, you know he's the go to guy. But man,
let me tell you they are buying in there defending,
(07:29):
and that those guys are half a game away from
each other. So that's going to be another battle in
the West. SGA is doing SGA things. Jalen Williams I
think is playing great basketball. Hartenstein. I'm gonna give props
to Hartenstein. I think he had nineteen and fourteen in
(07:51):
that loss to Houston, but he is so valuable. I
personally think the Knicks are looking back, like, man, that's
a guy nineteen at nineteen and thirteen. I think they
looking back saying he's a guy that they am. They
shouldn't have let go. I mean, obviously they have the reasons,
but I feel like he would have been a great
compliment to Cat with the Knicks because you don't have
(08:13):
to run place for him. But that guy plays hard.
He defends any big that you want. He's a decent
defender against guards. He's decent in the pick and roll.
But he's gonna hustle, he's gonna play hard. He's gonna
get you extra possessions. Being that the game is like
it is this nowadays, with you want to shoot threes well,
being able to offensive rebound for kickout threes falls right
(08:35):
in line with what you want. And he does that
for the ok See Thunder just like he did for
the Knicks. Man, I tell you he's valuable. I think
he's a great pickup for Okay See. Then you have
that guy called Fred van Vliet. He's kind of the
old guy the group. He's the champion. He put up
(08:57):
numbers man, he understands what Jalen Green who By the way,
he's playing great basketball this year for those who've seen
video and him putting the work in this summer making
sure he's around talented guys and focusing on what he
needs to focus on. You can see his growth and
his improvement. He didn't have a great game, only six
(09:18):
shot attempts, two for six, but that's just their team. Well,
the next man steps up, well, usually it's Fred van Vliet,
the veteran who understands when I need to be a
facilitator and he understands when I need to go out
and score, and he did that. Shangoun is very good
basketball player. He had another big night, damn near a
triple double, and shout out to Jabari Smith. He kind
(09:42):
of falls in line with you know, I watched him
play periodically and obviously when Jalen Green's not having a
big night, Jabari kind of gets more touches and he
takes advantage of it when he does. He had a
big night of a double double fifteen to fourteen. So
they're a solid team. And of course Dylan Brooks, in
my opinion, is a wild part, but he's the he's
(10:05):
the emotional leader. He's a guy that can can score
a little bit, obviously can rebound, but he's going to
defend the best player. He's going to try to frustrate them,
take them out of their game. But and when he
needs to, he can get them buckets. So obviously when
he has big knights, that's kind of a next factor,
that's kind of a plus in their corner. So the
(10:25):
Houston Rockets are playing great basketball again. Their number two
in the in the West behind Okay. See, but let's
have some more in the West. I want to let's
touch on Memphis. Not well Memphis. Let's talk about Memphis
real quick. They're right there in the mix. They're third
in the West. They're just solid. They're just solid. We've
(10:48):
seen when joh goes out, they struggle a little bit,
but they still hold on. And obviously when Job comes back,
their dynamic Golden State worries. I think we can all
be honest, we weren't sure what we what were we
going to get from the the Warriors this year as
far as where would they fall, how would they sit?
(11:09):
At one point they were number one in the West. Uh.
They lose a dynamic player, a guy who was a
core core guy in in Klay Thompson. And I thought
it was a great pickup. He was a he's a
shooter like Clay Thompson. Hear me out a different player
but he's a movement guy. He's he plays, he fits
(11:31):
into the offense on how they play. He's just you
just now, bring another movement guy who can shoot dynamic
shooting a three off off the catch, off the move,
or stand still and he can put the ball on
the floor a little bit. And he defends, you know,
he tries to go out there and defend. He does
a pretty solid job. And I thought he had a splash.
He meaning Buddy Hill, had a splash coming out for
(11:52):
the Warriors early in the season and just giving them
that weapon that we weren't sure they had or lost.
And he comes in. He's played played well. Kaminga obviously
has been great for them. Steph is doing Steph things.
And I think also we should say Draymond has been
(12:13):
playing very good basketball. I think he's been more offensive minded,
shooting more threes. In my opinion, maybe it just looks
like that, but he's been a little more offensive minded
to He's taken to five threes their last game, so
he's he's kind of getting getting involved in. It's just
all hisnds on deck. Prazinski, Ah, Gary Payton. I think
(12:33):
Moses Moody, who didn't play a lot of minutes he's
I think his minutes are still up and down. It's
a guy who they had high hopes for, so I
think he's a hit or miss guy. Jackson Davis has
been solid rebounding, So they have a core group of guys.
But it falls in line of what I was saying earlier,
guys understanding their role, and I think that's important in
this league right now. Yes, sometimes you get a role
(12:56):
that that you're not in love with because you feel
that you can you can do more, or you even
want to do more and to see the team sees
different because of talent on the roster. But like if
you can buy into just that man, good things happen
to you as an individual and good things happen to
you as a team. Well. Obviously, Warriors plays the Suns
(13:17):
not too long ago and another solid team. I feel
like they they're eighth right now, the Suns, I feel
like their team that will they will work their way up.
They'll work their way up. But I think nobody imagine
(13:39):
the Clippers playing so well right now, who are seven
behind the Lakers who are six, or just you know,
up and down solid. Obviously AD's playing well, but Phoenix.
I feel like they're middle of the pack right now.
I feel like they can work their way up into
a sixth seed. It depends on how healthy Memphis stays,
what the Clippers do, and obviously the Lakers. If the
(14:01):
Lakers remain solid throughout the year, because they've been up
and down, I mean, Lebron is playing solid, ads playing
at the MVP level. I just think they need Lakers
need their core group to continue to play well. Now
I said this to be consistent, Uh, the Lakers play,
(14:23):
I mean, guys outside of the they're two superstars, they're
they're there, They're bench and complimentary. Guys just have to
be solid all season for them to uh, to to
hang in there. Like I said, they're the sixth right now.
Who knows what happens. I mean we're talking about sixth
place when the Denver Nuggets are currently nine. Who's taking
(14:44):
a step back right now? But this is the team
that has championship pedigree, understands how to win. Will they
make a move to get a guy in Also, they've
been injured. Gordon Hurt I think is hurting them right now.
So this is the team that potentially can move up.
So Suns being solid. Lakers bench being solid is important
(15:07):
because some of these other teams later on in the
year can move up in the East. Well, I also
want to mention two more teams since we're in the West,
Timberwolves in Sacramento Kings. I go with the Timberwolves first,
who are in the eleventh place right now, out of
the play in as of now. Yes, it's early in
the season. I know you guys are saying, oh, it's
(15:28):
early in the season. Yes, just for context, there are
eleventh which is surprising to me, I think. But at
the same time, this is still that honeymoon phase that
I think. They've played nineteen twenty games Minnesota that is,
and they're still getting accustomed and used to a new
(15:48):
addition to their team and Julius Randall and how they
want to play, and they're right there. They're right there.
I just I thought they would be better. But there again,
it's early in the season and good things can happen.
Sacramento Kings are another team that I felt because of
the season they had last year, they kept their core
(16:10):
group of guys with a great, great pickup in my opinion,
in the rosan guy who can get you a bucket late. Obviously,
darreon Fox is playing outstanding right now. But I thought
DeRozan is a guy and he still think he is
a guy who you can get the ball to one,
can get you in the penalty because he can draw fouls,
(16:34):
and the guy who can just get you a bucket period.
And he takes some pressure off of Fox having to
be that score or even some bonus. So yeah, and
then Malik Monk has had a slow start. I know,
he was injured coming back, so they have a nucleus
of guys. Kevin Herder hasn't really played well so far,
but there again, they're nineteen twenty games into the season.
(16:56):
It's early. It's just the early critique on and what
these tams are doing. And hell, obviously the second half,
the middle portion to the second half of the season
is when you want to to get better and all
of course, after all Star you want to hit your peak.
So these teams have betteran guys who understand how this
works throughout the season. This is just it's not panic
(17:17):
time yet for these teams. Now when we talk about
panic time, we're gonna go to the East and we're
talking about the seventy six ers, as far as far
as panic time, and I know seventy Sixers fans. The
first thing said, oh, we've been injured, Yes you have,
and you haven't had your your your your your group,
your core group of guys, your superstar, your three headed
monster on the floor that bit in and out. I
(17:39):
think they've only played a few games together. It's just
it's just guys who are always bit by the injury. Boggin.
It's unfortunate because they're superstar players, some of the best
in the league. But when you're you're you're sitting in
fourteenth place with only four five wins. Man, when you
(18:01):
look at that team like you read them on paper
and you're just like, there's no way we should be
that bad right now. In the East, it's kind of
unfortunate when you have a Joe llenb when you have
a Paul George and I was Tyres Maxie, who I'm
a huge fan of. So I'm interested to see how it's.
(18:22):
Like I said, there are eighteen to twenty games into
the season, so I'm interested to see how they can
turn this around. Can they at least get themselves into
a play in It's plenty of time, But can they
play themselves into a play in tournament. Remains to be
seen as you move work your way up the East.
(18:44):
The Detroit Pistons right now are in tenth place who
are playing solid basketball. They're not that team that we've
typically seen at the bottom. It's just you still have
some core young guys and I think JB. Bickerstaff, who
I think is a very good coach. His time was
up in Cleveland, but he's now taken that strategy, his
(19:05):
style of coaching to Detroit and you're seeing a change
a turn. You're seeing a change in their culture and
how they're playing. Guys are buying in, and you still
have to go in there and go beat that team
if you're gonna win. Miami Heat are going to be
the Miami Heat. They're they're they're currently set where they
(19:26):
six right now, and they're just a solidid team. They're
not really talked about. They're just kind of just cruising along.
Those are the teams that scared me. Obviously. They have
playoff pedigree, you know, know how to win into the playoffs,
so they're just kind of coasting along. Those are those
teams are talking about veteran teams that understand middle to
the back end of the season is where they make
(19:47):
their push. So they're just kind of creeping around. Which
brings me to the Milwaukee Bucks. I'm still trying to
figure that team out. I mean, Giannis is playing h
lights out this year. He's doing his thing. It's just
it's just it's just the weird season seeing them play.
(20:12):
I mean, they're still above five hundred. I just don't know.
But there's a team that's that's I don't want to
say coasting, but like they're right in the hunt, fifth, sixth,
somewhere in there. Understand they hit their stride at the
back end of the season. Do they have enough? Are
they healthy? We shall see the Knicks the same. Uh.
(20:33):
I mean I was concerned with the Knicks. I thought offensively,
Carl Anthony, uh, it is a great pickup. I didn't
like the I didn't like to see him at the five.
That's why I thought Hartenstein. Obviously there are other bigs
(20:53):
right now are are injured, but I just thought Hartenstein,
what is a great pickup for him? Energy guy you
don't have to on places for because of his ability
to just defend and get you extra possessions. Metchell Robinson, right,
now still injured. He's a guy that's another defender, shot blocker,
(21:15):
so obviously when he when he gets back, they get
him implemented. They've changed. Like I said, they're still in
fourth right now. It's you know, these are just critiques
and just where they are. But I think they're obviously
very capable of doing making some noise in I should say,
making some noise in the East, sitting that fourth and
(21:36):
we don't even don't even have Obviously they're anchored defensively,
but they're getting it done that they're they're well above
five hundred. Like I said, fourth right now, they're probably
two and a half games out of third, which which
is the magic. So it's been it's been great. I
just wanted to kind of take a brief runt down
down the East and the West. I didn't mention the
Dallas Mavericks, who's been playing solid basketball. Kyrie has been great,
(22:01):
and they they are sitting at fifth and they didn't
even have Luca. Then Luca comes back and he puts
on the show. So I think the Dallas Mavericks are
another team that's gonna creep up uh in the in
the West, the sitting fifth, Memphis is at third, Golden
State at fourth, So some great basketball being played right now.
Keep keep watching, man, It's just it's just it's easy
(22:23):
to talk right now that we can date this. Then
go back in two three weeks, a month, maybe two months,
and look back and see if where teams are sitting,
who has made the move or not all because of
injury or just now hitting their stride, Because once we
get pasted. To me, I feel like the twenty five
game mark is when we start to see what these
teams are because the honeymoon phase of my opinion is
(22:45):
over with. Now you've passed. You know you passed well.
The twenty twenty five games you can get You've seen
a lot. You now know how teams are gonna play.
You have a general idea how teams are gonna play.
You with your your your your squad. Now you hit
your stride. So I feel like after the twenty five
game mark is when we'll see what some of these
(23:07):
teams are looking like, like a Minnesota, like a Knicks,
like a seventy six ers, I mean, those teams that
made big moves. We'll see We'll get to see what
Cleveland still looks like. In the East of where they stand,
so we have to stay tuned. Now. Now I wanted
(23:38):
to transition over to MVP. We talked about teams that
are playing extremely well, but let's talk about some teams
or player excuse me, that are in the MVP hunt
or front runners for the MVP race currently. I'll say
Tatum first of all, who's playing extremely great basketball, well deserving.
(24:06):
I've been a fan and I've vouched for for Tatum
many many years of possibly possibly winning the m v P.
Obviously Jokic and h m b ended up winning him.
But I think he's very capable. I think he's motivated
this year, so he's right there in the hunt. You
have to kind of you know, I know some people
will have pushed back, and that's fine, but the best
(24:28):
team in the in the league and the best team
in the East and Donovan Mitchell UH deserves a nod
right now. As far as talked about UH in the
East as the MVP candidate. Obviously, Giannis, I think who
is playing lights out his teams in the middle of
(24:50):
the pacso you know they're they're fit, so they're right there.
But I think he's playing at the m v P level.
I think their teams could be it should be better,
but he is doing what he needs to do. And
let's go into the East, I mean sorry, going to
the West. And then I'm gonna say SGA obviously best
team in the West, playing lights out right now, solid
(25:12):
as usual. He was right there for the race last
year and his name has been thrown in the last
couple of years. But this year, I think he's getting
it done. And then A d I know we talked
about eighty their six right now he's playing lights out.
Luca has been hurt, another guy who I think name
should be thrown into the MVP race as front runners
(25:34):
right now. So I think there's some talented guys will
will there be more coming along down the way. Possibly
I think a guy like Anthony Edwards is one guy
that I still keeping my eye out for who can
make a push. Jolkis is always very capable of making
a push. KD and possibly Booker is another guy making
(25:57):
a push that goes back to those teams in the
middle of the pack looking to rise late. I think
those guys are important to their teams so where they
can have an MVP look for moving up into the
race and their names being talked about as well. So
that's all I have for that. So what do you
(26:19):
think about that? And art should there be some more names?
Let me know. Let's chat a little bit about the
All Star Game and the changes that's being made in
(26:41):
the All Star Game. And the changes are, obviously is
the format on how the game will be played. Three
teams of eight All Stars and then there will be
one team of Rising Stars playing to playing to forty
(27:01):
in the semi finals and obviously the finals. I think
it's twenty to twenty five. So the motivation, I don't
know what the money is, but the motivation I think
more than anything for the Rising Stars to obviously get
a chance to get to the finals, to beat an
All Star team, to obviously give themselves a chance, but
for the All Stars to not lose to the Rising Stars,
(27:23):
and just making sure you don't give these young guys
confidence and whatnot, because a lot will be said. So
I think the NBA is just looking for better competition
in the All Star Game, for viewership, getting everybody to watch.
I don't know if you guys saw the video where
(27:46):
former President Barack Obama said to Hallen Burton about can
y'all just play harder, and I think that is a
consensus around the world as far as just wanting to
see a competition, and obviously for the viewership and having
the eyeballs in the game because it's a it's a
(28:06):
it's a fun time. All Star weekend. It's supposed to
be a time where you highlight the best players, the
big names or the players that are playing great throughout
the year, whether they're older guys or younger guys. Obviously
highlighting skills and athleticism and all of these different things.
So the NBA is trying different ways to motivate players
(28:28):
to play harder, motivate ways to get guys to to
join in, uh to the festivities. If you know, you
listen to me, you can kind of see or feel
where I'm trying to go with that, and that's the
Dunk contest. So for me, I think now that the
NBA is kind of going to this kind of pick
(28:49):
up basketball style of play, and I pick my eight,
you pick your eight, y'all pick your eight. Once we
beat y'all, its next team up type of basketball, fast paced,
a lot going on, keeping guys engaged. I think that's
a cool format trying to bring that back. I think
it's been done a couple of times. I know how
(29:10):
they said Hockey has done it. So it'd be cool
to see how that works. And I feel like, if
you're going to do that, you're the NBA, You're going
to do that format. We have to find a cool
way to kind of implement that in maybe the dump contest.
Maybe let's go back to an old school style pickup format,
if you would, where you know, you're playing pickup and
(29:32):
guys get to talking about who has more hops and
who can you know, who can do this and who
can do that, and like, all right, showed me. So
everybody if you have five six guys, everybody has a ball,
everybody's on the court, and first man up. If I
go up there and dump, and it's just back and
forth and back and forth. And I'm thinking this all
right now, So I'm still not quite I don't have
(29:52):
it all kind of laid out, but it's kind of
like a you go, I go mentality and bringing up
you know, giving you the pickup basketball all mentality where
it's kind of the spur of moment you see a
guy go and he goes dunk, and then the next
man dunks and either you do it where it's time
where you guys go back and forth for a couple
of minutes, all five six guys in a minute. Maybe
(30:16):
minutes not enough, maybe it's five minutes. I don't know.
Whatever that whatever makes sense format or after each dunk,
it's a quick judge. After the guy dunks, you you
judge it, you get your score, you go to the
back lines. The next man up you go, and then
you kind of get a cumulative of three four dunks
and you kind of get your a cumulative score to
move on until the finals. Maybe that's something that kind
(30:38):
of keeps it fast paced and it kind of gives
you the same energy of what you're gonna see on Sunday.
Maybe that's a way to kind of get guys. I mean,
that's just the format more than anything. You have to
come up with a way to get guys involved. And
I just hope guys can put the pride aside, put
the brand aside, because I feel like your brand will
be taken care of if you go out there and
(31:00):
put on the show. Just put on the show. Like, yes,
we all want to win. Like my purpose for being
in a DUC contest was to win, but at the
same time, that was my purpose. So that's why I
enjoyed seeing Steve Francis and t Mack and Stackhouse and
guys with this type of athletic system to motivate me
and to push you know, that's how I pushed my brand.
(31:20):
I pushed my brand by going out there. Obviously winning helps,
but to push my brand and to put the best
product on the floor. And these guys, to me, have
the ability if you don't win, but you you create
a buzz and then you take that buzz that you
created and now you put that into the second part
of the season, and that you ride that way. That way,
(31:40):
I feel like that gives you that buzz. Yes, your
play always can speak for yourself, and winning helps. But
there's guys, if you look back Dominique Wilkins, his brand
wasn't hurt when he lost to MJ. Aaron Gordon brand
wasn't hurt when he lost to Levine. And there's other
guys who went up there to put on the show
(32:01):
to where you created an argument. Oh, we felt like
Aaron Gordon possibly should have won one. Nate Robinson going
out there putting on the show. Yeah, we talked about
the amount of ducks he did, but at the same time,
he created buzz because of what he talked about. So
I just hope guys can take a step back and
look at it that way. You also, you know, you're
worried about hurting your brand, but you can also help
(32:22):
your brand. Let's say, if you're not having a great season, well,
this is an opportunity to create your buzz and create
this brand that you're trying to establish. You know, we're
all looking for ways to get our brand started, whether
it's through social media or whatnot. Well, this is a
great opportunity for these young guys or guys in general,
and to create the buzz and show case who you
(32:43):
are and what you had have to offer athletically. You know,
I've told guys before. You know that, you know the
All Star Game that platform me doing what I did.
I mean, it just it changed my life. I mean
it just you know, being in Toronto at the time
where we didn't get a lot of buzz or a
lot of eyeballs on us, Mack and I were able
(33:06):
to go out there and do what we did. That
gave Team Mac an opportunity to be seen. There's a
guy who took advantage of his brand and he could
continue to ascend. We've had a darn good second half
of the season. He obviously he moves on and goes
to Orlando, and in the rest is history he became
you know, the All Star Superstar now Hall of Famers.
So the guys who has not won the dumb contest
(33:30):
but took advantage of that and piggybacked off that to
move on to become legendary. Everybody doesn't win the three
point contest, but if you go and put on the show,
it's always talked about, which you could piggyback off of
your brand. So I just want young guys to think
about that opportunity and just go out there and put
on the show. I know we as fans want to
see the big names. We want to see the big
(33:51):
names and the super athletes going out there, but I
also say, you know, for that to happen, I would
like to see guys that want to and I feel
like we get disappointed because of the name, but at
the same time you get wild in my opinion, by
guys that want to go out there and do it
and going to go out there and give it their
own and put that product on the court because I
(34:13):
feel like if once it goes there, it creates a buzz,
it becomes contagious after that because you'll see a guy
like a Mack McClung who not many people. I'm gonna
say a lot of people did not know him. Some
people who obviously knew him through YouTube, like I knew
him through YouTube, but a lot of NBA folks did
not know who Mac McClung was. But he created his
(34:33):
buzz because he wanted to be in a dunk contest
and he went out there and put on a show
to where I'm not saying he's a household name, but
he's a household name in that arena. Maybe not as
far as basketball playing, but when you talk about dunk contests,
some may forget about it, but when you see it's like, oh, yeah,
that's that kid I didn't know about. Who put on
the show, Who did this? Who did that. He's taking
(34:54):
advantage of that opportunity and hopefully he can continue to ascend,
and I think that could be for some guys who
are actually playing in the league now, who who are trying,
like I said, trying to kind of advance their opportunity.
So I just hope guys kind of hear this or
think about this, or you know, whatever the case may be,
and consider consider the dunk contests and go out there
(35:15):
and put yourself out there. Obviously, I'm passionate about the
Dunk Contest. I critique it, sit and watch it and whatnot.
And I would love to see the Dunk contests continue
to be what it's supposed to be. The All Star
Game is an All Star game. It's never a knock
at that because I was thankful to play in the
All Star Game on Sundays, but it was all about
(35:37):
Saturday night period. That's just what it is. It's like,
it's all about All Star Saturday Night, the Dunk Contest,
and I want to bring that back. Obviously. I'm hoping
that that the NBA and all of us together, we
kind of we put it out there, we throw it
out there, and we kind of find a way to
getting it back like it used to be. Man Like,
(35:58):
you know, I don't know, I know, I know everybody say, yeah,
such such such such has to do it, but you know,
and I hope they do. But if not, we just
got to get guys who are very capable and you know,
find some guys that we've never heard of. You know,
we just discover a new a new young man like
a mac mcclum who gets that opportunity and they can
battle it out with some of the talents of today.
(36:20):
So because I think there's a lot of talented dunkers
athletes in the game that I just hope that they're
not worried about their their brand, more something going out
there and making a name for themselves because this is
a great opportunity. I was able to take advantage of it,
and I hope they can too. I mean, I don't
want to put too much pressure on guys, but I'm
going to put pressure on guys because I would love
(36:41):
to see a couple of the names that I've quickly
thought of to set the tone at this point. You know,
I know the NBA is looking for for guys, you know,
six guys or whatever they can get. But like I was,
there's a couple of guys out there that I would
like for them to set the tone. And I think
when if they set the tone and I view them
(37:03):
as talented dunkers that I have have ability. Hopefully there's
others and even something that you people can name down
below for other names for the for the league to consider.
And I would definitely love to throw their name out there,
and I'm let's take it off the top of my head. Obviously,
Mac McClung. He's a guy who I think wants to
We all know John Morant. We throw his name out there,
(37:24):
so John, I hope you would consider it, you know,
dare I say Zion, I think he needs to get
healthy first. If he's healthy, come All Star time. I
would love to see him participate. We don't know what
that one. Jalen green Uh from Houston is another guy
that I think is very capable. Yes, he's a high jumper.
(37:51):
Listen to what I'm saying. When people are gonna name
people that jump really high, and then there's people who
has like who has some stuff to him, who has
like some tricks and stuff that These are a couple
of guys I feel like, not only jump high, that
has you know, some some tricks that that I think
translates in the dunk contest and that will wow us.
Shade Sharp is for sure a guy that I definitely
(38:15):
would love to see. I think he's very capable. I
think he will put on a good show and challenge
some of those guys. Uh, mister Edwards. Edwards, I think
you're another super athlete that has a lot of stuff
in your game, not just a high jumper. There's a
lot of guys we see, like you know that jump high,
but like has that stuff with him. Ant Edwards is
(38:36):
another one. And lastly, I'm gonna I'm gonna name Jalen
Johnson from the Atlanta Hawks another guy that has easy,
easy hops and watch some dude the windmill on the
breakaway in the last game. I can't remember who they
were playing, but it's just easy, easy, hot. So I
think he's a guy that has some tricks up his
sleeve that can wow us in the Duck Contest. So
(39:01):
there's what I think six guys right there who that
say shade and sharp, John Moran, Jalen Green, obviously, Matt mcclun,
Jalen Johnson, and Edwards. So there's six guys right there
that I think could set the tone. And if there's
a couple more, a group of eight guys, it would
(39:24):
be like the old days, eight guys going out there
showing their athleticism, bringing the Duck Contest back to what
it used to be being the feature for All Star
seven night. Well, I hope everyone had a very very pleasant,
(39:52):
fun eventful Thanksgiving. I know I jumped right into basketball.
I wanted to get in some of those cool topics,
but I wanted to take a step back and talk
about what has happened at other news and in sports,
and you know, everybody in there. Thanksgiving. I had a
great Thanksgiving with family and seeing seeing family and getting
the chance to watch a lot of football. There was
(40:13):
a lot going on, not just football, but there's a
lot of sports going on. But we sat and watched football. Obviously,
Bears Lions, and and for as much as we thought
I thought for short, Detroit blows them out. The Bears
put on a great show. Obviously we saw what happened
in the end. Giants Dallas was a very good one.
(40:35):
And then Packers handled their business. And then the next
day the Chiefs Raiders. How about that game? Crazy crazy,
So a lot of good, good, good football, good times
with the family. So I hope you guys ate good.
It's crazy hearing people talk about dressing and stuffing and
if you eat ham turkey and here some people say
they don't do the turkey and chicken that you chicken
(40:56):
instead and all this stuff. It's just crazy hearing that
because obviously I grew up in the family. We had
a little bit of everything, because all of our family
get it all, from turkey to ham, potato salad to dressing,
cranberry sauce. The whole night we had a spread. Uh
(41:17):
and and shout out to my cousin for and my
aunt's for for knocking it for for knocking it down
getting it done for us. We had a good time,
went home full. Had the iteis for sure, but a
lot of good football. NFL has been amazing right now. Obviously,
(41:37):
what the Chiefs are doing is just unbelievable. I mean,
playing in the sport, it's like when you're a team that, yes,
I mean I feel like you're you're playing with death.
But when you're a team like the Chiefs that can
obviously has won like they have, that knows that knows
how to win in the end. I mean you just
think about obviously the Patriots back in the day when
(41:58):
Brady was there. But it's some interesting football out there
right now what we're seeing this think the AFC Pittsburgh,
I mean, Mike Tomlin, Man, you are legendary eighteen years
and you continue to do what you've done a winning season,
(42:18):
find ways to win. I like a lot of people
question why rock the boat when you have something good
with Justin Fields, who was playing, you know, pretty good football.
They're winning football. And then you see the bigger picture
in what Russell Wilson could do and brings to the table,
and you still find a package for Fields and the play.
(42:38):
It's just it's just been unbelieva because we all sit like, man,
Mike tomlind crazy, but at the same time he say,
it's Mike Tomlin and you got to trust what he
says because he's proven. And it's just it's just it's
pretty cool to see what teams are doing. You seeing
the Texans, who were playing so great last year still
holding on to a position, the Ravens playing well early
(43:00):
kind of just falling down, down down. Look at the
Buffalo Bills what they're doing. Did you see the game
in the snow which was crazy against the forty nine ers.
A lot of a lot of young kids and people
who have aspirations of playing football, particularly if you end
up in the AFC, you could possibly have to play
in that, which is crazy, but it was. It was
(43:23):
a fun watch. Josh Allen is up there for the
m v P. I'm gonna get into that as well.
But and then you think about the NFC. What the
Detroit Lions are doing are just solid solid. I definitely
think they're super Bowl worthy. They have a chance to
being of being in the Super Bowl the Eagles. Like
(43:47):
imagine a NFC Finals maybe Lions and Eagles and then
AFC possibly Chiefs Bills maybe like that. That's that would
be crazy to watch. My Bucks are still holding on,
still have a chance to get there. The Falcons are
in there right now. Commanders, who's winning Rookie of the
(44:13):
Year and your thoughts, you know, put it down below
in your comments, But the Commanders, I think what that
young fellaw's doing Jayson Daniels over there has been spectacular
yet he he hit his rookie wall if you want,
had his thing, but he's still kind of bounced back.
Bow Nicks is playing great football right now. Who I
think is another a young fellaw who has an opportunity
(44:37):
to win offensive rookie year. And Caleb Williams is still
playing great football as well. So I love what we're
seeing in football, it's no runaway. I think obviously we
think playoffs, you think the Chiefs, and the Chiefs still
can get it dumb regardless of what we're seeing. They
still have the pedigree and they still just are solid
and find ways to win. So I'm tuned in. But
(44:58):
I mentioned MVP and who's in the MVP race right now.
I still think Josh Allen is the front runner. Saquon
back Barkley. I think their neck and neck, honestly, Saquon
and Josh Allen, who are playing great, then la Mark
Jackson is doing his thing. I think, you know, Derrick Henry,
who was doing what he was doing early in the year,
still is right there. He's probably not top four, but
(45:22):
if you five, he's probably right there in top five.
I mean, Jared Golf deserves something to talk about out there. So,
I mean, there's there's a lot of guys, there's a
lot of quarterbacks out there playing well. But I mean
it's it's also great to see nine quarterbacks two running
(45:42):
backs in my opinion, Saquon in Derrick Henry in the
mix as well for obviously offensive Player of the Year.
So uh, it was it was It's been great to
watch football. It's been very entertaining, especially being a basketball guy,
and I love my basketball, but I love some up
football as well, which leads me to college football, which
(46:06):
has just been a roller coaster. I mean, the twelve
team playoffs has drawn us all in watching more teams.
And typically we're looking at the top six to eight
teams being in the playoffs, and that's what we're thinking
to get into that four. Now we're looking at twelve,
so we're looking at more teams getting the opportunity to
(46:28):
get in. Shout out to what coach Prime Deon Sanders
has done with Colorado, giving them a chance. You're seeing
teams who stepped up to the play BYU stepped up
and got it done. Arizona State stepped up and got
it done, which knocked them out. But I mean we're
seeing great football. Ohio State big loss, Clemson big loss.
(46:53):
Who else? I mean, there was some big loss to
some teams that needed to solidify themselves to get in
to the playoffs in my opinion, or or get into
the the conference championship first of all, which in essence
knocks him out of the UH the playoffs race as well. Man,
(47:17):
what what are we talking about here? What is look
at Texas. I mean there's a lot of teams that
are still in it. Alabama, did they give themselves a chance?
I don't know. But which leads to Rivalry Week, which
I want to talk about more than anything. That the
games were insane. Obviously my Tar Hills fall to uh
(47:41):
NC State, I'm gonna start there. You know, uh well,
there was a lot of fights. There's a lot of fights.
There was a lot going on, a lot of testos
around around amongst the college football ranks during Rivalry Week,
and that's what it's all about. I mean, you know,
rivals going back and forth. There was a heartbreaking loss
(48:01):
for US thirty five thirty to NC State blah blah blah.
Obviously they plant their flag in the middle of the
field and that became a brawl. We all saw Florida
Florida State. I'm from Florida, so that is a big deal.
Florida Florida State. I grew up a Florida State football fan,
(48:22):
so see seeing them this year, you know, my family
split up, split up in Florida. Have some Florida fans
that have Hurricane fans, and then obviously a few of
us and my friends as well, who are Hurricane Florida
Florida State fans has just been that's been a great
rivalry for a long time. Who was the King of Florida?
You can now, I think, you know, slowly put UCF
(48:42):
in there. I think they're very worthy of being in
that mix. But Florida State takes a beating to Florida.
They plant the flag that became a fight we all
got to see live Michigan, Ohio State, which was an
all out brawl, which leads me to ask the question,
and what you guys think about the flag planting and
(49:03):
all that. I think the NCAA is going to do
something about it, gonna mix it for for what it did,
because it's on TV, and you know, I mean viewership.
I mean obviously some people are gonna say they love it,
they love the competitiveness, but like you know, you don't
want you don't want to see guys obviously getting maced,
(49:24):
getting hurt by any means. It's like it is what
it is. It's rivalary week. So it's it's different for
for us. I mean, obviously we couldn't stand in Duke
and you know, we wanted to beat duke, and it's
kind of leading up to it and so on and
so forth, and and that's the consistence. Like and on
the basketball side, but we don't really have plant flag planting,
(49:45):
so I guess more for us, it was kind of
a if you went on the opposing team floor, we
go and we start stomping and dancing and carroll on
on the court in the court, and you know, but
like the flag planning, I know it was done. It's
been done for a while. But I feel like the
n c a A is gonna Probably it was because
there were so many many fights from that. It's just
(50:11):
it's it's gonna be banned. Uh. You know, I know
a lot of coaches have their comments about it, and
you know social media fans are are on it. I watched,
like you see the interviews of some coaches saying or
giving their comments. You saw the player from Michigan give
his comments and immediately after you guys bring up receipts. Man,
(50:34):
it's kind of funny, but like you're just making people aware.
You can't say this without you guys being a culprit
of it as well. So you know, I love I
love what social media brings to the to the point
because they brought up a point of you know, a
Michigan player not with a flag, but he's taking his
cleats and I guess it was at Michigan State, you know,
(50:55):
stopping off out on their logo and how can you
say this, you know a couple of weeks later, so
I get it. I get it. So it's just it's
just the thing. It's just like when you lose, and
I know a lot of people say, oh, you know,
you can avoid it by going out there and just
win the game. You know, you win the game. They
can't do it, get it. But I just think of
the bigger picture, like we just kind of gotta get
(51:17):
a hold of it. I mean it was cool to
see obviously, when your team's not winning. You hate to
see it on your field playing and simple and I
know you're a kid and your cart in the moment,
it's a rivalry, so you know, I just feel like,
if anything, I'm okay, if you lose and your team
goes on our field, y'all start dancing and car know
(51:38):
in the middle of our thing. I mean, yeah, we're
gonna be pissed, probably want to fight. But I just
think the flag, the flag of planning is you know,
can get dangerous that they Ohio State player takes the flag,
the Michigan flag, and then if flang comes off and
then the pole, the poles kind of can swing it.
They're already fighting. A lot of bad things can happen,
(51:59):
is what I'm saying. So that's all I think. But
it was like it may it made for interesting TV.
I was in the store somewhere watching that thing, and
everybody kind of gathered on the TV to watch the
highlights of the of the of the fighting and obviously Michigan,
obviously the Michigan Ohio State and I'm watching this take
place with my team, and I watched Alabama art Auburn
(52:21):
get into it. So it was a lot. It was
a lot going on, but it was cool to watch,
you know, to Rivalry week, Rivalry Week is is like
no other than any sport. I'm thankful to be a
part of it. Professional ranks. I mean, there's a few
you know that that are are like that. I know
(52:43):
Bears Green Bay is kind of a big thing, but
it's nothing like it. But I just think then I'm sorry,
the n c a A is gonna kind of get a
hold of it. I'm okay, Like I said, with teams
having their moment because you go win, especially if you
go win on the road, you deserve to kind of
the stomp and do what you gotta do. But like
the flag thing, it just it becomes dangerous later on.
(53:05):
That's all I have to say. And that's my opinion
about that more than anything else. Lastly, college basketball is here.
It's just kind of reving up. I mean, we're seeing
some of the best of the best going down, like
Yukon my tar heels going down. But man, it's it's uh,
(53:31):
it's here. I love like I love the parody. Man,
it's if you we're getting to see other teams that
we don't we don't really get to see or know about,
you know, do their thing and like shout out to date.
Man what they did, uh you know they put up
They put my tar heels to the brink beat Yukon
(53:58):
Memphis looks good. I mean, I love the competitive nature.
I love like what we got to see out of that.
So I'm just interested to see down the line. I
know this the sec sec ACC Challenge coming up. There's
a lot of great matchups and now we're seeing the
best teams matching up with the best teams early, and
in the college basketball, I mean that means something. It
(54:20):
prepares you for the back end, particularly when you have
a lot of freshmen and young guys that you're playing
big minutes now who've never been a part of a
rivalry or or big games like that. You get them
that experience early, whether they're one and done or not.
You're preparing them for what the end of the season
(54:41):
is like, so at least they get that experience. I
look at the playing tournament in the NBA somewhat like
playing in some of these big games, these big challenges
and the Maui Invitational, or just playing in big games
outside of your Obviously your conference you're gonna play in
the team's very good in your conference, but some of
these out of conference schedules, you're playing some of the
(55:01):
best players, I mean, some of the best teams, and yeah,
somebody's gotta lose, but you get the experience of what
you can possibly see down the line come tournament time.
You're young guys who maybe are one and done or
just need that experience, get the experience early to be
prepared late in the season. So I'm loving it. It's
(55:21):
just been unbelievable sports a couple of weeks right now
with headlines, upsets, fights, the whole nine, breaking news, the
whole nine. So it's just been cool. So man, I
appreciate you always, as always listening to the VC Show,
rocking with me, kicking your feet up and enjoying the show. So,
as always, the VC Show is out and I will
(55:42):
see you guys next week. Let's go
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