Sam Cassell on Big Balls Dance, Coaching Rookie John Wall, Rockets and Celtics Championships

John and C.J. react to the first weekend of playoff basketball. Talking Knicks/Sixers, Lakers/Nuggets, Jamal Murray, Damian Lillard, Anthony Edwards, Mavs/Clippers, Pelicans/Thunder and Celtics/Heat. Plus Sam Cassell joins to discuss coaching John his rookie year in the league, the infamous "Big Balls Dance" as well as winning championships with the Rockets and Celtics and wanting to be a Head Coach in the NBA.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcome to Point Game with John Wall and CJ Toldonnald
presented by DraftKings. Don't forget DraftKings is your home for
all the action across the NBA and gets it closer
to the game we all love. The crown is yours.
Coming up on today's episode, we got three time NBA champion,
current Celtics sistant coach, and one of John's firs assistant
coaches in the league. We got Sam Cassell joining Point

(00:27):
Game now without further ado, I want to bring on
my co host, the one and only John Wall. John,
how you feeling, man?

Speaker 2 (00:34):
It was good, bro. I'm good man, just chilling watching
a lot of playoff basketball. That's really all going on
on my side.

Speaker 3 (00:41):
Brother.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
Listen, I know schedules are crazy, so we're literally recording
in the midst of the Knicks game, so we're gonna
We told our producers chiming if anything crazy is going on.
But it's a closer in between the Knicks and Sixers
right now. But we want to get on the mic
here and we wanted to talk about the first games
from round one. John, basketball is starting to really mean

(01:03):
something right now. What were some of your reactions from
the first games. And I know that some people say
they're overreactions, but I would love to see you know
what you're what you're thinking after watching those first games.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
I think it's been some good basketball. There's been a
lot of blowouts too. Yeah, I mean seeing teams down twenty,
down thirty. You wouldn't expect there early on, but then
teams are fighting back, and you know what I mean,
the first game is always like a fill out game.
Yeah yeah, I mean you never know what coverages team's
gonna do. Like I said before, role players play well
at home. So your main projective is try to take

(01:37):
the stars away see what their role players does. And
so far, early on, the role players have been doing
their job and playing well. You're seeing guys put up
some big numbers, I mean playing at a high level.
You see what Dames did other night. He had thirty
five the first half, so that betactical. I was a
little mad he did and scored them more than the
second half. I thought he was going for fifty. But

(01:58):
they got to win. They got to win, so that's
all that matters. But like, there's been a lot of
good basketball going on and I'm excited to see the
end of this next game, and then definitely the Lakers
Nuggets next.

Speaker 1 (02:07):
What's uh?

Speaker 3 (02:07):
What?

Speaker 4 (02:08):
What?

Speaker 1 (02:08):
What series are you watching the most or most excited for?
Like you're like, I can't miss that.

Speaker 3 (02:16):
Right now? I will say the Lakers and Nuggets. Really yeah,
well what's been.

Speaker 2 (02:24):
Interesting would have been I think that he would have
been my series, But you know, Jimmy's not healthy, you
know what I mean, and Terrogre has not been there,
so they're not a full healthy team, right so, you know,
like they always been that team that's underdog, that they're
always gonna play hard, they always got the identity always
gonna be in a fight, and I think I feel
like they just losing Jimmy they best played in losing
Terry A is a guy that can score the ball

(02:44):
and help them defentially, I kind of hurts them, but
you know they're gonna make adjustments and try to make
it a better game the next time around. But I
think that would be the series I'd be into. And
my other series I'm really locked into is the Lakers
Clippers in the Math. You know, I'm definitely locked into
that one. You know, I think those are two those
would be the three most locked in series I'd be
in too, But right now it's the Clippers, MAVs and

(03:07):
Lakers Nuggets. You know, I mean, just because Bron has
lost non straight to him. Yeah, you know what I mean,
including last year's playoffs and then this year regular season,
and it just seemed like they have their number, you know.
I mean those guys like Ady had a hell of
a game last game, Bron played great. I don't think
d Log goes six for twenty again and go one
for nine from three. But you just got that bug,
like can they get over them? Can they not get

(03:28):
swept again? Can they win the series? Trying to figure
that out?

Speaker 1 (03:31):
Yeah? Do you with the Lakers and Nuggets series? Yeah,
you look at the numbers with the eighty and Lebron
and they're doing their thing. Do you think that Delo
really is an X factor? Like if he hits those threes,
they're gonna be in those games and potentially be able
to win some of them.

Speaker 2 (03:46):
Well, last game they have the last game, they have
full control to the third quarter. Yeah, they have full
control of the whole game to the third quarter. So
you know, I mean the Nuggets win those teams. That's
a great third quarter team. And I mean, that's what
it is about those teams. They feel like they never
out of it no matter how much they're down because
they're a great third quarter team. I think they role
players have to play better. I mean those shots we've

(04:07):
seen d Lo making take all year long, I mean,
made big moments for those guys. So just got to
see where they stand if they can steal one tonight.
And I mean I think the Nuggets feel comfortable that
they have one in LA the last what a couple
of times they played there.

Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah, so they feel comfortable.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
So I mean the job for the Legacy is is
not home court for them, but they got to get
the job try to steal a win. And the same
thing if the Nuggets go up to Oh, They're gonna
want try to steal win those games in La if
not both.

Speaker 1 (04:35):
You were talking about Dame before too. I think a
lot of people were saying, just based on the regular
season record or series between the two, that the Pacers
and Bucks was gonna be in the favor of the Pacers,
especially since Yann is out. But like you said, I
know you're close with Dame. Can you talk a little
bit about what do you think is going on there?
With Dame by himself and going off and getting that
pretty easy win against the Pacers.

Speaker 3 (04:57):
Just think of Dame in Portland.

Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yeah, he went to Dame in Portland mode and like
he said early, like I think a lot of people
said he's not happy there or whatever's going on. But
like he said, it's a different year for him because
he's used to being at home with his family, you
know what I mean, going through divorcee used to be
on his family, used to seeing his kids every day.
That's a different adjustment. Also been on a new team,
like that's a new adjustment, new coach, So that's all

(05:21):
a big factor, you know what I mean. Like people
don't understand, like we're still humans. So outside of just
playing basketball, he has a life. He has to live
outside that to raise his kids and usually being with
his family, and it's a different dynamic now, you know
what I mean. So he probably feel a way about it,
and that's kind of trickling on him and listening to
the news about that. But when it come to playoff time,
and everybody know what Dame could do, you know what
I mean, Like he said, the last two years, I

(05:42):
think he'd been out the playoffs and I think last
year is his first time he ever went to Coachello.

Speaker 3 (05:47):
But I mean, we all know who Damian Lily is.

Speaker 2 (05:49):
How great especially is when it's crunch time, when it's
those big time moments.

Speaker 3 (05:54):
He lived for it.

Speaker 2 (05:55):
He's probably wanted to, if not the best, one of
the best clutch players in the league right now, and
has done that since his rookie year. So when you
get dangned by itself, you get danged with a lot
of picking rolls, you get dang with the basketball kind
of like he was in his Portland role. It's a
little bit different when you're honest there. I mean, so
they all trying to figure that void out and also
getting Chris Middleton back. He used to be in the
second guy on they team, So trying to figure out

(06:16):
the mess that together with him missing time this year
and then guys like Bobby portg you know, I mean,
I feel like he should be the sixth man of
the year. Oh the way he's been playing, and he
stepped up and played a big role for them in
the starting lineup.

Speaker 1 (06:29):
Yeah, they're quiteting a lot of people with that. I
do love what you said, Like we do it on
the show a lot to remind people that players are humans,
and Dame had to come out and be like, hey, listen,
my situation here is great, but I got some personal
stuff I'm going through. So it was just it was
sick to watch him kind of just go off and
be like, I'm Dame Lillard, you know, and this is

(06:49):
the playoffs. I'm here and I'm gonna I'm gonna do
what I do. So that was fun to watch.

Speaker 3 (06:53):
Yeah, he bumped his chest.

Speaker 2 (06:54):
I think after he hit the three at the end
of the first he brought the chests and said, that's
why y'all brought me here.

Speaker 3 (06:58):
Yeah, like getting messed up, you know.

Speaker 2 (07:00):
I mean, I have sluggers in the game, got the
other personal problems I have to go through, but I'm
willing to get my all when I step between these lines,
and I'm here to compete and try to win a championship.
I think that's his mindset. Everybody knows that, and like
you said, he don't have nothing to prove to nobody outside.
As long as those fourteen other guys in the locker room,
that coaching staff believe in them, that's all you asked
for it because that's your team, that's your family. When

(07:21):
you're playing the outside noise, it's just people want to
stirve the pot and get whatever they can out of it.

Speaker 1 (07:27):
Did you have any any sort of like rituals or
traditions that I think Lebron did, like, you know, no
social media during the playoff times. Did you have any
sort of you know, traditions that you went through when
it can't playoff time?

Speaker 2 (07:40):
Nah, I just stick to what I was doing. I
din't really changed nothing for Yeah, I just I mean,
that moment is different, though, Man, playing the playoffs is different.

Speaker 3 (07:48):
Bro.

Speaker 2 (07:48):
You could just feel the energy for me, just watching
that hom you could just feel that electricity in the building,
you know what I mean. So I remember when I
went to the finals a couple of years ago with
Boston and the Golden State. Just being at Game three
and four was just electric. You could just feel it,
like the atmosphere different. Had a Game seven there, So
I definitely know how I feel. But the Finals is
a whole other level when everybody spotlight is on them

(08:10):
two teams.

Speaker 1 (08:11):
Yeah, Okay, a couple other series. I wanted to talk
to you about the Sun's Timberwolves. I think you know
we've obviously seen the Timberwolves have an incredible regular season,
but getting that win kind of a blowout. Like we
had mentioned earlier in ANT, what do you think about
that team? What do you think about Ant? What do
you think is also going through Kd's mind? You know,
he put together this squad and they're getting blown out

(08:32):
in game one. What do you think is going on
in this series?

Speaker 3 (08:35):
Well, it's a different level.

Speaker 2 (08:36):
I think ANT brings the old school mentality into the
new school. No friends competing on both ends of the floor,
and that's what you want from your superstars. He's not
backing down from any challenge. There's only one game, you know,
I mean, nobody can overreact this one game. Like I said,
you're all trying to figure out what the matchup was.
I was having a conversation with my friends and I

(08:57):
was telling them, I said, I had watched him play
that last game when Katie and them needed to win
so they getting the playoffs and not playing and playing tournament.
And I was like, you can't be putting kar Anthony
Towns on Grayson Allen, Like he's just not gonna work
because he got to close out so far to a shooter.
And Grayson Allen has improved. He can put a ball
on the floor. He was making players making floaters. Yeah,

(09:19):
I said, if they really want to take the beat them,
you have to put kat on ad. He has to
take the challenge. Like it's not an easy matchup. You
have to take that challenge. And they did that, and
I was, Okay, that's adjustment they made. And I say
another adjustment they can make at times. It's playing Canada
five and go small where Rudi's not on the floor sometimes,
or you can't have both of them on the floor
at all time.

Speaker 3 (09:39):
So they made some adjustments. You know.

Speaker 2 (09:40):
I mean, de Book didn't have a great game scoring
or shooting wise, but it's one game. I'm not going
to overreact on it. You I mean, you still got
three guys that can go get thirty and forty on
any given night. So it's about playing well, playing big,
So you know what I mean, That's a game like Minnesota.
They got to protect home court. That's their job. That's
what they're trying to do. They're taking the one game
at a time. But I love them as a young team.
That's another series I forgot to speak on because that's

(10:03):
gonna be a lectric find just because everybody wants to
see it, man play and we know you have those
three guys on the other side with Phoenix that's spectacling
and bring a crowd too, So that's gonna be a
fun series.

Speaker 1 (10:14):
Yeah, speaking on the young guys, the game that I
that I didn't realize was gonna probably be my favorite
of this round is the Thunder and Pelicans. You know,
you got two young teams. He had the Pelicans who
lost Zion, but God ended up getting into the play
and made that game ridiculously close. What are your thoughts
on Pelicans Thunder after that first game?

Speaker 3 (10:37):
I liked it. I liked it.

Speaker 2 (10:39):
Great game coming down to to the end, guys making
big plays. I mean, and I think it's gonna be
a lot of good basketball man, you know, I mean
a lot of people. It's counting thurn out just because
they're young, not I mean, don't think they have enough.
But Shay has been leading those guys all year, so
they've been figuring it out.

Speaker 3 (10:56):
They're doing the right things.

Speaker 2 (10:58):
Check had a hell of a block in the gaming,
Shay come down to get a three point play, and
then Case and Waller's doing a hell of a job
of locking up CG and making them take a tough shot.

Speaker 3 (11:06):
So I mean, you just.

Speaker 2 (11:08):
Wish every team had everybody healthy because I know it
would be a different matchup with Ion, but the young
guys in okay See is hooping and it's gonna be
a lot of great basketball. Mean, you can't do nothing
but to enjoy this moment, right and for those people
to be in that spotlight, you got to enjoyed.

Speaker 1 (11:21):
And I think you're in your man cave right now,
and you've described on the show you're set up here,
so you probably got the Knicks Sixers game on right now.
So I appreciate you for staying somewhat locked in. But
I also I'm like, John, what's going on the game?
Maybe give us your ear at the moment right now
it's seventy eight eighty five next leading what's going on
in that game? And how do you think this? What

(11:42):
does it mean if the next get game two here
against the Sixers.

Speaker 2 (11:45):
Oh, it's big for him, you know what I mean?
Like anytime you got home court, you want to protect
home court, you know, I mean because once the road
team is still one game, they have the advantage. Nowadays
the pressure is off them that can go home and
try to get two games. And with a home team
that lose one of those first two games, you gotta
try get him momentum back. But went to shout out
to my one of my old teammates, but Donovincha he
out did you here? Two big threes for him? I mean,

(12:06):
he's plays well. He was a great six man for
our team. But they role players are making shots, you know.
I mean, Josh Hart's playing, Greg Davin Cinzo's playing great,
h Mitchell Robinson's coming in. Harkenstein is doing his part.
So those guys are coming in and fight.

Speaker 3 (12:19):
You know what I mean.

Speaker 2 (12:20):
Right now the Sixers guys is not really I think
outside like really Embiid and Max He those only two
guys really playing well today. Yeah, but your role players
got to help you win the game. Still a game
where your stars got to be really stars the whole time. Yeah,
And that's what make playoff basketball fun because you see
something of the unexpected doing what you don't really see
them do. But once those spotlights are on, you come

(12:41):
in and play at the high level.

Speaker 3 (12:41):
You good.

Speaker 1 (12:42):
I mean, yeah, we saw it in game on with Embiid.
He went down with the knee and he you know,
he's coming off injury. He hasn't been one hundred percent,
which is insane because he's got thirty one right now
at the top of the fourth and he's not even
fully he's not even fully healthy, and he's doing this stuff.
So I think it's another example what you said, like,
guys become different come playoff time. One question I did

(13:05):
ask I wanted to answer you, like, are you having
any communication with any players that are currently air playoffs?
Any tips or any just any year old you know, uh,
text chats going off talking playoff talk.

Speaker 3 (13:17):
Uh No, not with the players really, you know.

Speaker 2 (13:18):
I mean, I just try to let those guys lock
in and be tuning into the game, because you know,
that's a mindset I would want to be, you know
what I mean, unless I'm coming to a game and
when those guys see me at the game and I say,
what up? And maybe you grabbed dinner after the game,
before the game, like before the game something like that.
But other than that, I'm just sitting that being deserved. Yeah,
and just watching great basketball play, like watching these great
young guys and some of these older guys that are

(13:39):
still doing it, playing out level. It's just sighting just
to watch, you know, I mean, like with the Knicks,
you gotta think like Julius Renner go down, you tray
r J Bear, you bring Ojen and know we coming
in it was winning like ten in a row before
he got hurt. Then Josh Trot come in the line up.
Demon Chins are like those guys just stepping up Jaylen
Brust and playing at the MVP level for those guys
that finished them at two in the East, like nobody

(14:00):
expected him to be there.

Speaker 3 (14:01):
So with the moves that have been made of the.

Speaker 2 (14:03):
Trade deadline and the way that these guys are hooping,
you want to see, you know, I mean, because when
your stars go to the playoffs, they got to be
go to another level, you know what I mean. So
it's crazy because if you're averaging thirty in the regular seams,
you got a damn to average thirty five to thirty eight. Yeah,
in the playoffs. So you're really doing something. I mean
because you did thirty in the regular team, Like, okay,
we expect that. Can you have those bigger games for us?

(14:24):
And that's what the player is all about.

Speaker 1 (14:27):
Lastly, I wanted to ask you about that Caleb Martin
play the you know, he came crashing and it hit
Jason Tatum kind of in the air and Jason had
a hard fall. There's actually been there's been a lot
of conversation whether that was intentional or not. The NBA
actually came out and said they're not going to issue
it a flagrant or suspension. What do you think happened

(14:48):
on that play?

Speaker 2 (14:49):
Oh, Kayleb Martin, he plays hard man, you know, I mean,
just everybody plays for the heat, they play hard. I
don't think he was trying to be dirty or anything,
because he's one of those guys you ever see he's
always attacking the rim to get off his rebul and
try to do things like that. So I think he
just got call in the bath spot where he wanted
to go jump and realized he really couldn't jump, you know,
I mean, and you couldn't stop yourself like. I don't
think he tried to hurt him. But you know, I

(15:11):
wasn't in the game. I don't know what was said
throughout the game. I don't know what was going on.
So for those people that were there, they might be
a different perspective to what I see from watching it
from at home. So I don't think he was trying
to be dirty, but who knows what led to it,
what might have led to if it could have been
or not.

Speaker 3 (15:27):
For me my point of view, I don't think it
was dirty.

Speaker 1 (15:29):
No, that's what just as a fan, it's like, these
are two teams that have a bit of a history.
It's competitive, and things like this happen. And I think
Caleb even went up to Tatum to try to help
him up. So, you know, a lot of us, a
lot of people out there trying to like.

Speaker 3 (15:42):
I got a question for you, Okay, John, all right,
what do you think happening in a lot tonight in
his Lakers Nuggets game?

Speaker 1 (15:50):
Man? You know, I think the Laker I'm trying to
like secret and I kind of want the Lakers to
win this one because it makes it a serious to me.
But the team has sort of like broke my heart
a little bit over the season, to be quite honest,
Like we put it together and then you know, you
have a game where they lose and it looks like
they undo it. So really, like I said before, I

(16:12):
really do think it comes down to d Lo. You know,
Lebron is the vet and you know we've been wanting
to sort of like get the load, share the load
to the other players. And I think a d again
today he was like he gets no love on you know,
defensive Player of the Year, and I think.

Speaker 3 (16:26):
I don't want to stand that on. That was kind
of wicked for me.

Speaker 1 (16:28):
Crazy, it's crazy, and.

Speaker 3 (16:30):
He's kind of wicked for me.

Speaker 1 (16:31):
And the health too. Like the hate that Ad gets
from commentators and people and calling them street clothes. It's like, man,
look at this season of what he's done, you know.

Speaker 2 (16:41):
I think I think it just trigger lays back to
like what he's been known for his career, you know
what I mean, Like everybody knows when AD's healthy, Ads
easily a top five player in the league. I mean,
because he just does everything. Can shoot the three, can
post up, can score on the block and catch lobs,
can guard your guards, can block shots. He does it
all when he's healthy. But most of them go by
what he's been done lately. But you poll the go

(17:03):
by what somebody has done lately. And this year he
has played almost what seventy five games or I'm not mistaken,
and put up a hell of a number.

Speaker 3 (17:09):
So he should have been in that defensive player conversation
for sure.

Speaker 2 (17:13):
And I just don't like you not getting a love
you guy, And not just because I like a fuck
with a d or he's a good Tuchy guy anything
like that, but just what he's been able to do,
the level he's been playing this year and being healthy.
But you know, you always hear every time you fall,
all my guys adi getting up. He's not getting up.
To get through that and keep competing, you got to enjoyed.

Speaker 1 (17:32):
Yeah, man, And like you said, with the other teams,
it's like the playoffs, it really is role players. They
step up, and like the Lakers got those role players
d Lo, Austin Reevez, ruy Ha Chamara, Like we won
series off that last year, and so I think we
want to make a similar run of last year. We
got to be like, oh, man, Lonnie Walker game, you
know what I mean, Like, who's our Lonnie Walker this year?

(17:52):
Who's our you know, Austin Reeves, we gave him that
nice deal. Like we got to see these guys step up.
So I'm excited, you know for four games. If they
get tonight, I think my excitement definitely gets reignited.

Speaker 2 (18:04):
Yeah, that's like in this game right there, man, Like
the role players are playing well for them, Jalen Brunson
not even in the game, and they take their lead
up to eight, you know what I mean, Like Mbroad
just hit a big mid range jumper before and one,
so they playing well. So when he can get a
little bit of rest, that gives him my opportunity to
close the game out, which you really don't want to
see because he's one of those spectacular guys.

Speaker 1 (18:24):
Yeah, and not to bring up bad memories, but it's
like when you guys played Missoula in the tournament. It's
like you scout, you scout, you watch all games, but
that's when these guys who aren't heavily scouted are not
necessarily like dominate games. That's when they step up and
they win series. They win games.

Speaker 2 (18:41):
Yeah for sure, Like we scouted Missoula and we knew
what he could do, but he wasn't really a great
three point shoot in college, you know what I mean.
So we laid off and went on these screens, and
he played well even in transition, go offs, rebounds, defensive rebounds.
He's pushing the pace like it was more so a
half court team. I mean, so we're preparing for the
half courses.

Speaker 3 (19:00):
They pushing the pace. They doing that, They doing this,
So they did a hell of a job.

Speaker 2 (19:04):
So you like basically what you say the player that
you you don't never disrespect nobody because they are who
they are. They play college for a reason, because they're talented.
It's like i'd always tell people to fifteen play on
the bench. He can play in the NBA. He just
might not five minutes, but he can play. You're not
here for no reason, you know what I mean. There's
only been like five thousand big guys in the history
of basketball, So they ain't just giving our spots when

(19:25):
somebody that ain't really can play basketball, Like he might
not get a lot of minutes in the league, but
outsiders won't beat them one on one. I can tell
you that nine times out ten. But you just got
to be prepared to, like, you know, anybody know your scout.

Speaker 1 (19:36):
That's right, all right. We're gonna talk more playoff talk
at the end of the show, but I want to
wrap this segment because after the break, we're going to
bring on one of your old assistant coaches and the
current assistant coach of the number one team in the
league right now of the Boston Celtics. Sam Cassell is
joining us on Point Game. We'll be back after the
break that, sir, Welcome back to Point Game with John

(20:01):
Wall and CG. Told Donald, presented by DraftKings. We are
now honored to be joined by our guest, three time
NBA champion, the current assistant coach of the best team
in the NBA, currently the Boston Celtics. Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome Sam casselta Point Game. Sam What up?

Speaker 2 (20:17):
Man?

Speaker 4 (20:19):
Thank you for having me, Man, thanks for having me.
I got bequested to come on this show. Man my guy,
John Wall, I call it. He's like my son. He's
thank my oldest son. But when I got the bequest
to join the show, absolutely just find a time for
me and just get it done.

Speaker 1 (20:38):
Love that. So yeah, I mean, you started your coaching career,
you want a championship with the Celtics, and you started
your coaching career pretty quickly. And then John came and
I think a year after your first year. So can
you talk to us a little bit about what was
your first reaction. I mean, I'm sure you saw John
in college, so your first reaction seeing him as a
player and then getting to coach him in those early years.

Speaker 4 (20:58):
Well, I think I talked to John. I think what
the day you got drafted? On the day after, I
think that they beore the draft. I think I talked
to him and I just told him, I said, man,
like he didn't realize what he was getting this up
involved with, because you know, I think John lost like
three games. He's three games college in college, and I'm

(21:20):
just thinking, and people don't understand.

Speaker 5 (21:21):
I was like, well, he's gonna lose more than three games,
probably the first two weeks, in the first week of
the season, and I was thinking about the mental aspect,
his approach that he can take.

Speaker 4 (21:32):
But he had so much on the show that he
was the savior of the organization, and it was a lot.
It was a lot for him. I think as time
and time went on in some days he got real,
real frustrated. And I was there, Man, this side is
gonna be for a while to we get the team
that you need beside you. But once we get the
team you need beside you, you're gonna have an all

(21:53):
star career. And I told him the year we made
a playoff, I said, yoa, you can be an All Star
next year. It'll be all star because he understood what
it took to win the game of basketball as a
as a young guy in the league.

Speaker 3 (22:07):
Yeah, that's for sure. Twenty fourteen we did.

Speaker 2 (22:09):
But yeah, OLG, like I think you've been out here,
but what you're doing for the game dominated the point.
Cro opposition talk about your way, your journey that you
took to get to the NBA, it was it was
a longer journey.

Speaker 4 (22:22):
I went to junior college, then I went to Florida State.
Then I got drafted by the Houston Rockets. Iron I was.
That was the only team that really worked me out.
I had one workout. I had one workout, and some
guys right now they might have twenty workouts for each
team and probably each team in the NBA. But I
had one workout this for the Houston Rockets, and I

(22:44):
think we're the Tom Gentleman's was to coach at that
particular time, and I think he my toughness. You know,
I was fearless as a basketball player. As a young
basketball player, I didn't care if I missed him mate.
If I had the opportunity to make a play, I
was in make a play. And sometimes that the reticents
the wrong way. Sometimes bad. Completely confidence in myself and

(23:05):
maybe sometimes it was always the right decision, but it happens. Man.
I was never afraid, Like I just said, John, all
the time, Jo, they're gonna talk about you. If you
got thirty points, you got ten points, so hopefully let's
give him something positive to talk about. They can always
talk about you. So that was my posts when I
played the game of basketball. You know, some people like

(23:25):
my game. Some people didn't like my game, you know so, but.

Speaker 2 (23:28):
Yeah, I think you got I think you had a
great point right there. To like the game, you gotta
play it with confidence, you know what I mean. I
think that's one thing that you helped me with a
lot when I first came into the NBA, because you know, like, oh,
you don't shoot the ball where he does this, and
it's like, well damn if I missed this one, do
I take the next one?

Speaker 3 (23:44):
You know what I mean?

Speaker 2 (23:45):
You always just kept saying if you're working on it,
believe in it. And that's why I said, like, the
confidence is a key thing, and a lot of young
guys don't really understand it. Like I said, I was
blessed to have you as am point to play. The
position was great at your position and knew how to
master the spots that I need to get to to
master my game to go to another level. So it
was great to have that commoderate in that relationship early on.

Speaker 4 (24:06):
Like like I always told you, John, your whole thing
was like you so fast, and you might have got it.
This is crazy. I can still remember this. I'm the
only time he was playing. I know he was playing
a Cavalist and he was fourth quarters, like sevenths going
the game, and you were racing the ball up the
court and you told me it was a time off.

(24:26):
You came back to me and saying, hey, O g
you gotta get them to run with me now. I
looked at you. I said, they can't. We got control
your speed, I said, you just running up the down
the court like a mad man, and nobody's running with you.
I said, once I once we got that under control, John,
your speed, I said, once you figure out when to

(24:46):
go and not to go, when to change your speed
and direction, it was gonna be old for the league.
And once you mastered that aspect of the game, it
was fun coaching to get you and just fun watching
you play. Uh as a young kid get come to
this league. Being crowned the franchise ball player. You know,
that's a lot, that's a lot of pressure. You know,

(25:07):
a lot of guys don't get drafted that way anymore,
that you're going to be the franchise ball player. And
you know, you was drafted that way. And I thought,
you know, the team we had, and I was like, wow,
he's gonna go through a lot of losings before he's
do a lot of winning, you know, because I mean
just being having experience as a player and seeing and

(25:29):
knowing where to take the win in this league at
a high level. It was. It was crazy that the
teams you had, man, that he survived it.

Speaker 3 (25:40):
You know.

Speaker 4 (25:40):
The next year we got brad and we added travel
reasoning them guys, and they and March Scow tied and
that's when I say, oh, we ready to roll now.
And I think Bradley Whipman was a great, a real
real good coach to you because he taught you, you know,
the discipline other game. You know, he didn't take his
foot off your throat. And this time you got mad Adams.

(26:01):
But it's better than for you, man, because once you
get the discipline as a point guy, because you are
stitching him on the basketball court and y'all, y'all bump
his a lot. But you know, I think that all
your coaches you had as a member of the Wizards,
I guarantee you that he was your best coach because
he gave you your best results.

Speaker 2 (26:19):
Yeah, I think he pushed me to a Yeah, outside
of you and him, I think they pushed me to
another level to where, like my mom always tells you, like,
I'll give it, damn take care of him, but I
don't give it damn to get mad.

Speaker 3 (26:29):
You figured it out. Figure it out, Sam.

Speaker 1 (26:33):
I want to talk about you know, you came into
the to the NBA the early part of your career
in ninety four. You're part of obviously part of a
legendary team with a team, but you were you were young.
I'm referring to Game seven of nineteen ninety four against
the Sons when you took over. Can you talk about,
you know, what do you remember about that that game,
those moments and what was going through your head and
maybe relate that back to, like, you know, the mentality

(26:56):
where you've had a kind of a unique path in
your career.

Speaker 4 (27:01):
I just thought at that time and it might be crazy.
But at that time, man, as a young player, I
just thought that I was the best player on the
basketball court. Even even though a Cameo Lodge one and
Charles Barker's on the court and Kevin Johnson all three
of them God was All Stars and Clyde Dregs, I
just thought I was the best player on the court,
especially I had the ball in my hand. So I
was just fearless, you know, and sometimes, you know, thinking

(27:24):
that way, I think allowed me to become a pretty
good ball player. I just knew that the King wasn't struggling,
but I knew that the the Phoenix Suns was you know,
keying on him. So I had opportunities go one on one,
and I just felt that no one on the Son's
team could stop me one on one. And I just
took advantage of that situation, you know, like really to

(27:46):
be starting saying about me, he said. One thing you
don't get with saying was even he's gonna be hot
or cold, there was no middle. There was no middle
with me. You would get one another, you know what
I'm saying. But you knew the coach knew where he
stood at with me, you know, like Sam ain't doing nothing.
It was like Sam doing Sam doing great or Sam
doing too much right now, you know, So it was
even even that with that. So it was no misunderstan

(28:11):
misunderstanding with people I got got the game, especially younger
younger in my career. I'm just I'm just going. I
was going hard an the opportunity I got the showcase.
I only had like twenty four minutes. The most is
Kase Smith was the starting point guard, so I had
twenty four minutes to get all I can get before
he come back at the game.

Speaker 2 (28:32):
So what like, what is your most valuable skills you
think took you took from being a basketball player to
come into being a coach. You know a lot of
people that's like a tough transition for some people.

Speaker 4 (28:42):
It wasn't tough because the one thing I took from
playing and coaching, you know another like I wanted to
try to think like I thought the game. I always
tell you, I know Howard m in this situation. I
want to see what you know how to do in
this situation. So us the biggest thing I took from
playing and coaching a lot of formal players, like I

(29:05):
just did this. You know what I'm saying, but that's
not your that's John Wahall. I don't have to speed
John wallhad. I don't have athleticism John wallhad. Could I
shoot better than y'all? I have to shoot beat than
John John John improving shooting Yessie did where he can
take big shots. It's funny in your fourth year when
you start taking big shots and making them because God

(29:26):
was telling you you prepared. I prepared you to make
these kind of shots. You know. We was in the
gym constantly. Remember the over seven drug we used to
be back in the day. I go to eighteen and eighteen.

Speaker 3 (29:37):
I was like, man, you gotta cut this drill out.
It was. It was to the point where, like and
I had a hitch at my shot when I first
came in. He was like, man, what the hell you doing?
You shooting on the way down every time.

Speaker 2 (29:48):
But it's like I was in there constry, like it
was before practice, after practice, and like I said, he
helped me get the comments like I can take this
shot because I'm working on it every day. If you
don't believe in it, team's gonna keep going. EI pick
and rolls like you're never gonna be able to progress
to the next level. So as I said, being able
to learn from somebody that was a master of the
mid grom range, you didn't have to have speed we
were just talking about before you got on. You didn't

(30:08):
have to have the crazy adlesson you had to have
to speed. He was crafty. I'm gonna get to my spots.
Another question I want to ask you, because you probably
got a guess, I don't know who you would say
who you think is the best point guard.

Speaker 3 (30:18):
That posts up nowadays? Because you was the mask for me,
I would say you the best one.

Speaker 2 (30:24):
And like two people I like to see you and Andre
Miller one Andre Mills on my team. How you getting
off with this slow ship? But he was crafty, he
knew it. Just think, like who you think right now?

Speaker 4 (30:37):
Right now to the game. Good post of guys, another
one of guys s g A is a good post
up point guard right now.

Speaker 3 (30:47):
It's not a lie.

Speaker 4 (30:48):
It's not a lie on Cuttinghams. Good point guard that
back towards the basket. It's not lie down right now, John,
It's not lie down.

Speaker 1 (31:00):
And why why do you think that? Like why why
is that part of that game? But you think there
will be a guy that I feel like it's a
cycle that that type of play.

Speaker 4 (31:08):
But Jalen Brunson that you know, he he's just he's
so crafty, you know what I'm saying. Just watching him playing,
like Wow, you know I call him Jalen Brunson Casell
because we had the same kind of speed. He can't.
He just he beats you with his mind. He's so
he's just so fundamentally sound. He's just so good and

(31:32):
he's just so crafty. He just makes me sick watching
him play because he plays just like me. But he's
left handed. Spot no matter where he's gonna get to
where he's supposed to get at. Man, it's just it's
just amazing. I just watched him play the other day.
He played and I was just like, wow, just get
this ridiculous. He's ridiculous, you know what I'm saying. Football player?

(31:54):
Football player?

Speaker 1 (31:56):
Can I ask you, Sam, because you're a part of
also that O Wait Celtics championship team, can you talk
about the difference between that Rockets championship team and eight
and kind of also like your role and how that
changed from early in your career as a championship you're
a champion and then you know in eight.

Speaker 4 (32:10):
Oh man, by the time I won that last championship
with something old man, I'm thirty years old, so I'm
hanging on. I'm just trying to get one to get
out the league. But it was just you know, and
I got here to Boston. Doc told me before I
got here, said, Sam, I want you help me win
one playoff game, just one playoff game. I was, I

(32:32):
could do that to win the championship. Sixteen had one
good game in the championship, one for us to win.
And I did Game one against the Capitalists in the
second round, and I think I scored Liken eleven or
twelve points in the full quarter. And right after the game,
he caught me this office say thank you, you did
your job just that step and said, you did your job.

(32:55):
You want help me win the game? And PJ. Brown
will me win a game? He said, you guys game
in the playoff with the champions. I did my job.
They did his job, and we became champions. But that
that that early Rocket team to this team were the
best defensive team. The Celtics was a great defensive team team,

(33:17):
but we had the best player in the league on
our team that was the kame of Loja won. So
we had a spade on our team, I think at
that time. I think Lebron James was the best player
in the league at that time and he was the
m v P and a height, I think he was
the m v P. Yeah, and so he was the
best player in the league at that particular time. So
the Caplins had a spade, but he was grinding, grinding.

(33:41):
Our team was for a lot of characters. You know.
We had Tony Allen, Paul Pearce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garna,
James Posey, you know, big baby Eddie House. So we
had a lot of We had a lot of good
guy sky Let Brainy who I was winning games. Leon Pole,

(34:02):
can't forget Leon Pol. We had big Kendick Purkis who
held the Buddles down. They don't get the credit he
deserved as a basketball player, you know, for that championship team,
he held the middle down for us. You know, we
never doubled no one in the game of basketball. If
you couldn't go on someone, you have to come up
the game, just that simple.

Speaker 2 (34:23):
So now you got one week into the playoffs start,
you had time off. I want to know this as
a player, as a coach, what you think is it
a good thing or a bad thing? They have like
that much time off?

Speaker 4 (34:34):
It depends, man, it depends if you beat up and everything.
You know, time off and late the season is never
a good thing. But you know you earned that right,
you know. I think our team is Our team is focused.
Our team has one goal, like every team in the playoffs,
trying to win the championship. I think our team is
made for that. It's pressure, it's pressure, but you know,

(34:58):
we just want to just absorbed the pressure, welcome the pressure.
You know, it's gonna be hard, supposed to be hard
winning the NBA Championship. It's not easy to trust men,
uh one three of them.

Speaker 3 (35:09):
It's not.

Speaker 4 (35:09):
It's not easy at all. There can be some ups
and down to keep going. And I think our guys
mentally and fiscally, I think they were ready to go.
You know, we just got to see what we gave
one brainstorm, you.

Speaker 1 (35:21):
Know, Yeah, Sam, I want to go back. One of
my favorite highlights of yours was the Big Balls celebration.
Uh can I can you tell us the celebrate or
like the origin of that celebration. Obviously We've seen a
lot of players do it after you. But what would
love to to hear where that came from.

Speaker 4 (35:39):
Oh, I got off the movie. I got that dance
off the movie Major League, I got I got that.
So when I started Major League, I said I got
to put that. I gotta put that, and I did it.
You know, it was fine. And Danny when I did it,
and I kept doing it, you know, the Lake commissioned
David Stewn got enough of it. You know, he just

(36:01):
told me what I got to cut it out.

Speaker 1 (36:04):
Did they call you? They call you and we're like,
you got to stop that? And then did you do
it again and get fined?

Speaker 4 (36:08):
Or I never got fined for because David told me
now he's not having that no more in his league.

Speaker 3 (36:15):
So they calling you for a fine, they don't want
to find they're gonna give you a warning.

Speaker 4 (36:18):
They gave me a warning, and I just stopped doing it.
It wasn't it was it wasn't worth it. You know,
twenty five thousand doing that worth it? You know, So
you know, like Goud think Kobe Brant, when Kobe did
it was fine because you know, Kobe a wealth he
was you know, he's a wealthy man at that particular time.
So you know he can handle it. He can handle that,

(36:40):
you know what I'm saying. And I doubt what they
find Kobe Brand twenty five thousand for doing that.

Speaker 3 (36:45):
No, they probably won't or you won't hear about it.

Speaker 2 (36:48):
Right, So you played with and coach a lot of
Hall of Fame players, you you played within coach a
lot of Hall of Fame players. What does it take
the player along beside them and what do you think
it takes to coach them?

Speaker 4 (37:01):
Like that's just like Chris Paul is like one of
my favorite point guards ever. You know, I think just
competing against Chris Paul as an individual, now I started
coaching him in his prime. He how he mastered the position.
Chris Paul is a guy who's gonna play the point

(37:23):
guard position the right way, no matter what you're telling them.
I number he's playing San Antonio Spurs in game six
in the playoffs, and me and him getting the cab
and go to the game early and I say, I said,
I call him captain. I said, captain eighteen points in

(37:44):
eighteen sists, ain't ain't gonna win this game for us tonight?
You want to get thirty and fifteen something like that.
He looked at me, say, yeah, he may be right.
He looked at me again. They said, but I'm still
gonna play the game the right way. So I'll say
I know that Cap. I just want to score the
ball because once he put his mind together to score

(38:05):
the basketball at that particular time in his career, he
could score the basketball. I saw it, and major playoff games.
Then he took over basketball games. And you know, did
that team under cheap? I don't think that team underachieved.
That team had the personnel to capability of winning the championship.
We just didn't throw it. That goes to show you

(38:27):
how hard it is to win the NBA championship. It's
hard to win an NBA championship.

Speaker 2 (38:33):
Yeah, I think, yeah, Like I've never been to that point,
but I think it's hard. I know it's hard, Like
just to get out the first round, second round, it's hard,
you know what I mean? You playing against great teams,
and I think a lot of people take it for
granted just because you be around so many great players,
are so many great teams that on paper looks great
and they should be able accomplish what they want to accomplished.
But it's not as easy it is if it was.

(38:54):
So many guys have so many rings that don't have
any right now.

Speaker 4 (38:57):
Yeah, think about John. We beat the Chicago Balls that
your first playoff. Beat the Balls, and the Boss was
supposed to beat us. We went four to one. We
went for a game and everyone was shot, and I
remember I said, I ain't shot. We can score the ball.
We had to score eight. The Balls was not a

(39:19):
high scoring team back then. I said, you scored ninety points.
You beat the Balls. We was abage one on four.
So all we had to do is average out. We
can win it, like ninety five ninety four points a game.
He said, we get our habits, we can win. On
the nights we lost, we can still win against them.
We said, score one hundred and four points and we

(39:42):
win four games to one, and everybody was excited. And
I told John said, we're supposed to beat them guys, man,
you know, and they smiles. Gonna be a problem for us.

Speaker 2 (39:53):
I remember running through the hallway jumping up and down
because they han't won the playoff season. In a minute,
I'm like ten years, ten years, you know, And like
you said, though, because like I felt like we wasn't.
I don't think I don't think we was better than
the Pacers. But we gave them a fight like a motherfucker.

Speaker 4 (40:08):
They had.

Speaker 3 (40:09):
But they just had more experience than us, for sure.

Speaker 2 (40:11):
And then they knew how to control the game in
the right situations and call the right players and get
in the right spots that we didn't know how to do.
And I'm still and I'm still hot about the game.
We was up between three and a half and then
Paul George came out here about six seven threes in
the third quarter.

Speaker 4 (40:26):
I remember it was down three games to one. That
pace serious. I know you remember this game five? Game five?
You walked in the game, You walked in the ring
and for shoot a round you hit that you were
struggling throughout the whole series.

Speaker 3 (40:39):
Won't making it?

Speaker 4 (40:39):
Rang And I said, we walked in the lock. I said,
what are you doing? I said, you're supposed to leave
this team and they see you come in this building
like this. What do you think they're doing? And he
just looked at me and said, I can't make a
shot right now. I said, do something else, John, Get
a steal for a lap, Get a couple of layups,
do something. You can't the game dictate how you're gonna

(41:01):
play because you're not making shots. There's so many other
ways you can impact the game of basketball. So do
something else, man. And the first quarter you had three
steals with six points. You finished thirty some points that day.

Speaker 2 (41:12):
Yeah, before I didn't even say a word. Remember I
walked into the game. After you talked to me, I
went home, I went back to hotel. I didn't say nothing,
Like I come into the game, I don't say nothing.
Seeing me working yard, I'm not saying ship. I'm just
locked in because he got me to a point where,
like you know what, Fucky. That's when I was like,
just scoring ain't gonna within your games. You can do
other things. And that's when I finally tell my game
to the level. So it's being a lockdown the find

(41:34):
and making other players, just putting pressure on the defense.

Speaker 3 (41:36):
So it goes a long way for sure.

Speaker 6 (41:38):
That's why I told you, I said do something that's
besides about schools. Okay, I said, I say steal a ball.
I said get a steal, get a layup, get a layup,
do something else. Ball goes through the basket.

Speaker 2 (41:50):
But that's what I say, I tell people all the time,
like it was a great relationship because you didn't give it.

Speaker 3 (41:56):
Damn you hurt my feelings.

Speaker 2 (41:57):
It was the wrong thing, they say, or the right
time to say it, because you've been in that position before,
and that's what I need. And I was like, just
imagine if I didn't have that, where do my career go?

Speaker 3 (42:05):
You know what I mean? So like I give a
lot of credits to you for that, because.

Speaker 2 (42:08):
Like you don't have that. I never really been I've
been coached before, but like I had. Only when I
had close to you that played that position was Rod Strickland.

Speaker 3 (42:15):
That was in college.

Speaker 2 (42:17):
I mean, now I'm in the pros where it's eighty
two games we probably lost.

Speaker 3 (42:21):
We started off oh and twenty eight on the road.

Speaker 4 (42:24):
Man, I meanber you came from crying tis crying. I
mean he was in a culture shop and he's going
through withdraws about winning and he came to my women.
I got where he was. That city was at what
I said.

Speaker 2 (42:38):
You know when I get what I told you, I said,
I said, oh, do you think I can get paid
to go back and play in Collegecause this.

Speaker 7 (42:44):
Ain't I said, John, I said, I forget it. I said,
he was crying. Tis you couldn't believe it. Like he
was like three and like twenty, you couldn't believe it.
He was like, he was trying.

Speaker 4 (42:57):
You only lost three games. Your whole college can now
you lost three games? You only won three games. It
looks like in December, sire I thought. I said, well,
I'll tell you what. I just watched the look right now,
small losing, small losing next year. But we're gonna get
your team.

Speaker 3 (43:16):
Man.

Speaker 2 (43:16):
The only thing that helped is it was lockout here.
So we had a little break. We started a little later.
We played sixty games.

Speaker 8 (43:22):
Yeah you know, and but yeah, it's some times, man,
I think that show you how much you mature, man like,
because it was sometimes it's like pull the teeth to
get you to get in gym.

Speaker 4 (43:37):
And I said, John, what if your speed go how
what kind of basketball playered you will be? He was like,
I don't know. I always had speed. I said, okay,
that's where going you're shooting. I just broke and I
said this in the case, not much your shot, but
we're gonna shoot the ball when you're going up study
coming down. We just did it. We just got wrapped,
after rep, after wrap, I said, come on, you never

(43:57):
round the corner from me. The first spot. I said,
I was coming.

Speaker 3 (44:00):
I said, thirty second, thirty second.

Speaker 4 (44:04):
I call you. I said, what you're doing playing a game?
I said, I'm playing. You're playing a game. I'm playing
the game. Said, let's go to gym for hours. It's Johnson,
all right. We did that, I said, and you start
to work, and you're seeing the be salts. You started
making like seven ten to pull up jump shot. You
start seeing to be solved. So he was like, I'm
gonna be start coming to me, Sam, get them off.
I'll be there early. I say, John's Friday night. You're

(44:28):
not coming here early, be here. I'll be here. I
be here. To your credit, you were day for the
first fifteen minutes. So I get you going. When you
got going, you got going. So I never had a
problem with you on the court doing your work. I said,
I always tell you. I said, if you're gonna party
like a rock star, come to jump b all star.

(44:49):
That's the only rue I gave you. I said, good
because the same after you get it night life, I'm
gonna get it out. You're here, I'm gonna get it out.
You're here, and you did it. So I never had
a problem you ran, saye Tavi Smaxi Austin Rivers. I haven't.
I never had a problem with that. The guys that
I put my hands on, that I actually put my
hands on as a young player. And I told all

(45:11):
y'all the same thing. I said, The year y'all make
the play off, y'all will be all stars. I said,
the year y'all make the playoff. Shay was a little
quicker because he went from Ampton, you know, eleven points
to twenty points, you know what I'm saying, and from
twenty to twenty six, twenty six to thirty points. You know,

(45:34):
so never understand, never thought that that may that may happen.
But y'all put the work in, man, y'all put the
work in. I told all your y'all can be rich individuals.
Told all y'all y'tna be rich? Really, I said, oh, y'all, man.

Speaker 3 (45:47):
You still got to take care of the tab, makes
time to go to dinner.

Speaker 4 (45:50):
Though, No, no, no, you god, no, you main more
mony than me.

Speaker 2 (45:55):
My coach is Hey, I got one more cuddy for you.
What's one more thing you want to accomplish in this.

Speaker 4 (46:00):
I want opportunity to be a head coaching.

Speaker 3 (46:02):
I knew it. I knew it.

Speaker 4 (46:04):
That's to be a head coach, because because I know
I can do it.

Speaker 2 (46:08):
I want you to get that. I know you could
do I know you can be a head coaching. That's
why I ask you that question, because I want to
see what.

Speaker 4 (46:14):
I just want an opportunity. I'm not bagging for it.
I just know if a good opportunity, I'm I'm gonna
be a good head coach. I understand what it takes
to get a plan going. You know where the player
want to hear it. You know, sometimes you gotta be
an asshole on the bench. You know, sometimes you don't.
That's the old school coaching right there. You know, you

(46:37):
got to know how to communicate to these guys. You know,
the league, the league is getting so young now that
the hard criticism may not work. You know.

Speaker 2 (46:48):
But I feel like you can have some old school
with the new school. You know what I mean, Like
an old school got an old school coach that got
the old school mentality but still know how to be
with the new school. I think nothing wrong with that
because it's the same as me as a point guard.
And you you know, some players I can yell at
on the court. Some players I gotta wait till I
get in the huddling and baby right because they might

(47:08):
not react to right.

Speaker 4 (47:11):
All the players that they want to be coached to
your coach, you know what I'm saying, anybody want to
be coach to? You coach them? You know, you know,
But I'm having a ball with this man. Like I've
been coaching for fifteen years as an assistant coach to
see like some of the guys I actually paid a
lot of attentions ten spend a lot of time with

(47:32):
and see them blossom to you know, fathers and got
their own families. Now to now of these guys was fathers.
You know what I'm saying, got kids, got kids. You know,
you know everybody got kids now, Austin got kids. So
all the guys I work with got kids. Now at
first they didn't have kids. And now I see the
maturity them guys have. You know, this is amazing. I'm

(47:55):
like they are. I call all them my sons. You
know what I'm saying, Hey, John, Ms Francis, that is
my girl. That was my girl. She used to call
me and say you get him, Sam, You tell that
you know all the time, all the time, all the time,
say miss Fans, I can't get him all the time
like that, I'm gon shoot off my bullets, off at them.
What I'm saying, I only got six got it's December,

(48:16):
mister John, Like, you get him, You tell him you can,
you get him? You know he don't listen to you.
You get him.

Speaker 3 (48:24):
For sure.

Speaker 4 (48:25):
I was like, Fans, I can't. It's like December, I
only got him. I got six shots. I can't use
all my six bullets in the month and December I
cain't no more.

Speaker 3 (48:34):
She wanted them going in the first two months.

Speaker 4 (48:36):
Kits are never guns an never gun. I'm sick of him.
That's my girl right there. That's my girl, Sam, My girl.

Speaker 1 (48:45):
It's been an honor and pleasure watching you as a
player and a coach. Good luck to you in these
playoffs and for coming game.

Speaker 4 (48:50):
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (48:51):
Oh gee, I just want to say thank you for
not only taking the time to join us for the podcast,
but for what you've done for me the game in general.
Your passion, your dedication, knowledge and commit me to the game.
You've been significant. So continue to do what you're doing.
You know, we watch you out in the playoffs. I'm
gonname catch a game, and I hope you.

Speaker 4 (49:06):
Get down kind of Miami did on You be kind
of Miami for.

Speaker 3 (49:09):
Sure, and I hope you get the opportunity.

Speaker 2 (49:11):
Oh and I pray you get the opportunity very soon
to be head coach because I know you do a
hell of a job of it, because you have that
mentality of somebody that played the game, know the old
school mentality, know the new school mentality. And I think
the players will relate to you. That's something that we
missing in a game a lot. His players can relate
to their coach, I understand, and will respect them the
way they need to.

Speaker 4 (49:29):
So doubt all right, man.

Speaker 1 (49:31):
Yanks, Welcome back to the Point Game with John Wall
and CJ. Told On are presented by DraftKings. Don't Forget
Fucking or Brick is brought to you by Draft Kings Sportsbook.
DraftKings Sportsbook is your home for all things NBA action
from player proft, the same game parlays. Check out everything
Draft Kings Sportsbook has to offer to make your NBA

(49:53):
experience even sweeter. The crime is yours now, John, Same
thing as usual, If you agree, it's a bucket. If
you disagree, it's a brick. I want an explanation for
either answer. So you ready for this?

Speaker 3 (50:04):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (50:05):
All right.

Speaker 1 (50:05):
First one, we were talking about the Lakers top of
the show. But the Lakers are a plus four to
twenty five to win the series versus the Nuggets. So
if you bet one hundred, you win four hundred and
twenty five bucks. Well, I'm asking is bucket or break?
The Lakers will win at least two games in this
series versus the Nuggets. So two games?

Speaker 3 (50:21):
Ah, bucketter, brick, brick. I think they might get one. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (50:27):
I just feel like dem has a number. And like
I said, man, long as they guys are making shots,
it's tough to beat them because you have the double
team yoga. You can't guarden one on one like they've
tried all type of matches. Bro, he's just like that different.

Speaker 3 (50:40):
Bro. It's crazy like it's crazy like to be that
skill to where he conchrose the game. Bro, it's impactable.
It's great to see you.

Speaker 2 (50:48):
And what I want to say is a lot of
people don't get Jamal Murray enough credit. Bro oh Man,
he one of the best guards in the league. I'm
sure I give a little frustrated at times because I
know you never made All Star. I'm not sure if
you have made the NBA team. But he has to
be on one of them, like the Gold number one,
the number one team in the West last year to
go win the championship and then come back this year

(51:10):
a couple of injuries here and there, but still finish
top three and don't get no nods. I don't understand it,
like he's really that Dueo is tough.

Speaker 3 (51:19):
Because of him.

Speaker 2 (51:20):
You can't switch it big on him because he can
kill that matchup and then if you don't switch, then
he's just getting to his spots and printed pick and
roll with Yokish.

Speaker 3 (51:28):
So they're a tough dudo to deal with.

Speaker 1 (51:30):
No facts. I mean the when Murray takes over, it's
like the Lakers or any team really playing the Nuggets
can be up ten with three minutes left and Murray
can get a bucket, can get a bucket. I mean,
they got three shooters around him, besides those guys that
you kick it out MPJ, KCP. You know they're hitting threes.

(51:50):
It's it's I think in this series, and I'm a
Lakers fan, people are like, oh, what the Lakers got
to do. It's like if they lose, all credit goes
to the Nuggets. That's a that's an incredible team.

Speaker 2 (52:00):
Yeah, and I think a lot of people question them
because they lost Jeff Green and Who's Brown this summer,
you know what I mean? Those was great pieces, key
piece to their team. But I mean, Reggie Jackson, he's
healthy this year, he's playing well for them. Then you've
got the Christian Bron played well. You got Peyton Washington
has given them minutes. So like those young guys is
not probably not the same guys those guys, but Peyton

(52:21):
Washington's blocking shots great, definishly plays with a motor. I mean,
Christian Bron plays with the motor, you know what I mean. Like,
those guys all fit in. They and I just helped.
I think this whole year they got Last year they
built their confidence, but this year they built their confidence
to another level. Knowing that they're not just playing spot minutes.
They really getting minutes and they really are part of
the rotation and helped their team.

Speaker 1 (52:40):
Yeah, all right, moving on, So Bucke to brick Thunder.
The OKC Thunder will make the Western Conference Finals.

Speaker 3 (52:49):
Oh, No, Brick. Who you think they're playing with Clippers.

Speaker 2 (52:55):
No, I don't think so. And I'm not not discredit
them because I feel like they're a great team. They're
gonna be able to people with a lot of people.
I just don't I just don't think they're better than
those two teams. Like they do have the number one
team in the West. Don't get me wrong, but I
just think those two teams are special. I mean, like,
I just think those teams are better. I mean even
though even though they Okay, he has the number one

(53:16):
wreck in the league, I just think those other teams
are better.

Speaker 1 (53:19):
Okay, we'll see, all right, So Bucket or Brick. Jalen
Brunson has the best footwork in the NBA. Shout out
to Sam who shout him out and you best post
up blank guard, but best footwork in the NBA right now?

Speaker 2 (53:33):
No, Brick, I don't think he got the best, but
he got some of the best footwork. I mean, but
it's hard to kind of say because there's so many
guy has a great foot with Kyrie and Paul George
s g A, you know what I mean, those guys.
Tatum got great footwork. I think he got the best,
Luca got. Luker might have the best footwork up and

(53:53):
under the ball, fakes everything's man got great footwork, you
know what I mean. So we can't we can't forget
de Book, We can't forget I mean, you can't forget Brad,
can't forget KD. Like it's just so many great guys.
I don't think he has the best, but he's one
of the best with foot brick for sure, all right,
And he has and he's very crafty and you can't
speed him up.

Speaker 1 (54:14):
Yeah, okay, I'll take that answer, all right. Next one,
bucket or brick. The Celtics are going to sweep the heat.

Speaker 3 (54:23):
Bucket. I think missing Jimmy Butler is going to hurt
them alive. So yeah, bucket, okay, all right.

Speaker 1 (54:30):
Finally, and a lot of Lakers talk on this show,
But bucket or brick, Trey Young is the Lakers best
target this summer because immediately when.

Speaker 2 (54:43):
This is what I have, that's what I have is special.
I mean, the numbers he have put up throughout his careers,
it's special. Like not too many guys did that, you
know what I mean, especially now with the NBA, now
you can't really touch anybody so it's hard to guard him.
I mean, he got unlimited range, he has a nice floater.
I just think he needs the ball so much and

(55:03):
bron needs the ball, you know what I mean. So
it takes away from him being that Trey Youngkey wants
to be or needs to be.

Speaker 1 (55:11):
Yeah, So who do you think they go out and
get a place?

Speaker 2 (55:17):
I would love to see him where Darres Garland play at.
Not saying either one are going to leave their team
is with Wenby.

Speaker 1 (55:25):
Yeah, I think that's where a lot of plays. A
lot of players are looking at San Antonio right now.
There's something to build there. There's because I think a
lot of the complaints that everyone's having right now is
like no one knows how to play with Wenby. It
looks like two different teams over there, separated.

Speaker 3 (55:41):
So I think they kind of do. You know.

Speaker 2 (55:43):
The difference is Trey Jones is a great player. I
just don't think he's a starting point guard for them,
you know. I mean, he's a great player in NBA.
He's always going to be a player. I don't think
he's bad and don't need to get no minutes. I
just think he's a great come off the bench role player.
For them, you know what I mean. So him been
in that starting position, I don't think he really knows
how to get it, you know. And I think Pop

(56:03):
is also you know, Pop's a hell of each other,
one of the best coaches of me, if not the best. Yeah,
it's trying to figure out how to use them and
what players be there, you know. I mean, like at time,
Devin Fiziale is there, He's been out, you know what
I mean. So it's all trying to figure out what
works best. But you get like a true point guard
for them. I think it could be spectacular and special
for sure.

Speaker 1 (56:20):
All Right, John, another great episode of point Game. Anything
you want to leave the fans with on this episode.

Speaker 2 (56:26):
Oh Man, continue to watch out to the show, and
we've got some more great special cats coming on. Me
and CJ definitely trying to lock in and get in
the studio together to get alive NBA playoff games. Soe,
y'all enjoyed it. But I hope y'all enjoying this playoff basketball,
right Neil. I'm super excited to watch the end of
his next game, and I'm definitely ready for the next game.

Speaker 1 (56:43):
All right, Like rate subscribe, Tell people about the pod.
We'll be back on point game presented by DraftKings Peace
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(57:28):
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