April 16, 2025 • 46 mins
Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
All right, folks, I need you all to stop what
you're doing and listen up. You know I love this
time of year, right, the NBA Playoffs, the NBA Playoffs
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(00:53):
dollar lineup. Prize Picks, Hey, hey, run your game today,
I'll give you my picks for Saturday's game between my below,
the New York Knicks, and of course the Detroit Pistons.
So let's get right to it. First up, will Jalen
Brunson of the New York Knicks score more or less
than twenty seven points. I'm going with more because he's
Jalen Brunson and it's the playoffs. I don't need another
(01:13):
damn excuse. Did you see him last year, then you
know what I'm talking about. Next up, will Cutting half
of the Pistons scored more or less than twenty seven
and a half points. You know why I gotta say
more on this to y'all because the brother averaged thirty
against the New York Nicks this year, thirty. They're gonna
push the ball. New York KNICKSNA try to slow the tempo,
but not bottom line, if they gonna get ample opportunities
(01:34):
at the baskets. This brother's got the green light to shoot.
He's going to so I ain't say he's gonna have
a high shooting percentage, but he's definitely gonna score twenty
more than twenty seven and a half points. I believe
that Next up will call Anthony Town score more or
less than twenty three points. I'm going with more because
Carl Anthony Town has been an All Star offensively for
the New York Knicks this year, all Star period. I'm
worried about him being the rough rider that he needs
(01:54):
to be in order to offset Detroit trying to emulate
the bad boy Pistons of oh Coming at.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
The New York Knicks.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Carl Anthony Town's gonna have to show up. I believe
he will. Next up, well, Detroitch Tobias Harris scored more
or less than thirteen and a half points. This was
tricky because sometimes he's deferential and not in lacking aggression.
That's one of the things that played in throughout his
years in Philadelphia in my personal opinion. But the brother
is gifted. He could score more than thirteen and a
half points. So I'm gonna go more with this too.
Next up, Will Michel Bridges scored more or less than
(02:22):
sixteen and a half points.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
You better.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
That's why I'm going with more. You better. Complaining about
playing too much, complaining about the bench being utilized a
little bit more coming in there the last game of
the season for six seconds just to ensure that you
played all eighty two games, which I didn't mind, by
the way, But you gotta go out there and score
more than sixteen and a half points if you. Michael
Bridges and I believe he will, and finally will Malik
Beasley scored more or less than fourteen and a half points.
(02:46):
Have you seen his brother shoot the basketball this year?
Have you seen the green light Beasley had? As you
see how he's been putting it up in bunches leak
Beesley's been special this year, Ladies and gentlemen, He's been special.
And because of that, I'm gonna say more for him.
Him too, so Jalen Brunson Cade cutting him, Karl Anthony Towns,
the bias, Harris mclbridge, is Malik Beasley?
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Oh more?
Speaker 3 (03:06):
More and more and more and more and more.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
That's what we're going with. Why because it's the prize picks.
We're allergic to the word less? You feel me? What's up? Everybody?
(03:30):
Welcome to the latest edition of the Steven A. Smiths.
Joe coming at you as I love to do, at
the very least three times a week over the digital
airwaves with YouTube and of course iHeartRadio. I'm not gonna
waste your time. I got a lot to get into today,
and the first thing on my mind is going to
be the NBA playoff picture. That's where we're getting started.
And he updated matchups in both conferences now after the
first playing games from last night. In the Eastern Conference,
(03:53):
the Orlando Magic are in the seventh spot after beating
the Atlanta Hawks. They'll play the Boston Celtics, the reigning
defending champion in Boston Celtics, who are the number two
seed in case y'all were living under a rock, of course. Meanwhile,
the Miami he faced the Bulls tonight in Chicago for
the right to play the Hawks on Friday. Whoever wins
Friday's game will be the eighth seed and we'll face
the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round. Good luck with that,
(04:14):
by the way. In the Western Conference, the Golden State
Warriors are now the seventh seed after beating the Memphis
Grizzlies last night. They'll play the Houston Rockets, who are
the number two seed but are underdogs in their first
round matchup against the Warriors. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks face
the Sacramento Kings to night. The winner of that game
will play the Grizzlies on Friday for the right to
play the top seeded Oklahoma City Thunder before they are
(04:39):
unceremoniously sent home. Joining me now to break this all
down is my partner in crime NBA Countdown. My brother
contributed a first take get up in all things ESPN
doing an outstanding job, and I'm one of the few
people in the world he absolutely loves and can make
him smile. The one and only Kendrick Perkins isn't a house.
(05:00):
What's going on, big boy? How you doing?
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Man?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
How's everything, big bro?
Speaker 3 (05:04):
What's happening? All right? Talk to me? Man?
Speaker 1 (05:07):
First of all, let's get right started with the Warriors
in the Grizzlies last night. Watching that game, are you
of the mindset now that the Warriors are in position
to make a run for the conference finals?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
I'm not. And here's his wife say. Think about this.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Eighty percent of the points had to come from Jimmy
and Steph Curry last night.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
They played a lot of minutes. They can't with help.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
They can't stand that playing against a young athletic Rockets team, who,
by the way, have more pesty defenders than the Memphis Grizzlies,
And so I'm looking at this situation and I'm saying
it took a lot out of them for them, took
out of Jimmy and Steph.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Look at those numbers to even get that victory.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
Now you're going against a Emyu Doka led team that
thrive on playing defense at the highest level level, one
of the best defensive and you're gonna go in and
say that I'm gonna rely on those two guys in
the seven game series that is gonna be physical.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
They need a third option.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
And here's what I want to ask you, what the
hell is going on with Steve Kerr and Jonathan Kamina.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
I just don't I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
I mean, listen cominga let me tell you this, right Kamena,
let me tell you this about Comena. He's averaging more
points against the Rockets than anybody else on the Warriors,
twenty one point three. I don't understand. He's the most
he's arguably the most athletic guy on the Golden State Warriors.
I don't understand how the hell this dude is. I
want to say street clothes, because he had on a sweatsuit,
(06:38):
the Warriors sweatsuit, but he clearly wasn't dressed to play,
and Steve Kerr would I, as far as I'm concerned,
pulled the Jason Tatum on them, telling them, yo, before
the game, we ain't gonna find any time for you.
What sense does that make, perk.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
It may it made no sense. And here's another And
here's the add on to what you're saying. This is
a young man that is in his contract year. So
now even when if Steve Kerr does decide to go
to him, which I believe he needs to in order
for Golden State to even have a chance of winning
this series against the Rockets, how do he bounce back
(07:12):
from this?
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Right? Like, now you're.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Testing this young man mental mental toughness, which I think
Jonathan Mainga is really mentally tough. But he's in this
contract year and as a former player with Steve Kerr
was you should understand that. And it's just like it's
like this ego of once you get stuck, once he
gets stuck in his ways, this is how he's gonna
(07:36):
go about things. But I'm gonna say this, if he doesn't,
if he chooses not to use Jonathan Kaminga, the Rockets
are gonna win that series.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
I will say this to you, Jonathan, Jonathan GAMINGA doesn't
have a player option, He's got a qualifying offer, And
so I'm looking at the number like whether they're saying,
here's ten point two million he's scheduled to make next year.
If I'm Jonathan Kmi and Steve Kurr doesn't play me
this summer, I want out. I want out that. I
don't think he should want to be a Golden State
(08:07):
Warrior if that's gonna happen. Let's go to the Rockets
for a quick second. What's made them so good this year?
And and why do you give them specifically, why do
you give them such a chance of beating the Warriors
in this series?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Well, well, one, I don't know who you voted for
for as your coach of the Year, but I voted
for Email you Doka this team.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
He was at my top three. He was at my
top three. I voted for bigger staff for Detroit.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
I'm not mad at that.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
I'm not mad at that the Rockets we were in
aleven spot last year, all of a sudden, they're in
the postseason. Okay, because of the identity and culture that
Email Udoka brings to a ball club that's number one,
number two. Well, we always talk about defensively and what's
the most important position in today's game. Always tell you
is say what the wing position? The wing position? Right,
(08:57):
they are loaded defensively at the wing position, from Dylan
Brooks to Tarry Easton to Aiman Thompson, who I believe,
by the way, might be the best two way player
in the nixt two to three years.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Okay, so they're going to They're going to get stops.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
And now you have afro Shane Goon, who, by the way,
last game was busting Draymond Green ass Okay, the last
game of the regular season where he had Dreymard throwing helbows.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
He is a problem.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
So when I look at the championship experience that they
have on the team, in the veteran locker room, I'm
looking at Fred van Fleet, I'm looking at Jeff Green.
I'm saying to myself, they got the right mixture of youth,
athleticism and veteran leadership along with an elite head coach.
They're going to be prepared for the Golden State Warriors.
(09:49):
It's going to be a blood bath. It's going to
be a physical ass series. I see it going six
or seven games.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Jalen Green, what are we to make of him at
this staging point in his career.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
I think I think that he's auditioning that say his
why we've been hearing the rumors right, We're hearing the
whispers right now, right, Kevin Durant getting together with the
Phoenix Suns to figure out what's next for him for
as you know, finding the team for an offseason so
that they can trade him.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Okay, cool on their list.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
We hear the MAVs on their list, and we also
hear the Rockets are on their list. The one thing
that we got to, the one concern that we all
have a thing about when it comes down to the
Rockets is who's.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Gonna be there closer? That's right, Jalen Green, this show
time and say it's his time? Am I line?
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Well, well, you're right, you're right, but only in this sense.
Let's let's play with this for a second. With what
they have, the young nucleus that they have. You already
got quality veterans in Jeff Green and Fred Van Vliet.
Dylan Brooks is like mid level veteran, Like you know,
he ain't some old tenior citizen cat. He's got plenty
(11:02):
of time left in this league. But he's been around
long enough and he's a rough rider. And when you
think about the culture that they have and what they
bring to the table, do you compromise that for Kevin Durant?
Speaker 3 (11:14):
I do. I do.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
But that's why that's why I said, That's why I
said and say, Jalen Green is auditioning right, because when
you look at the Rockets right now, what do they
struggle to do?
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Make shots? They're one of the worst teams in the
league is making three.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Point shots and.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
Know they ain't k But what I'm saying is, if
I'm Jalen Green going into this postseason, I quiet the noise.
Oh no, okay, I'm gonna show you I could take
over a fourth quarter. I'm gonna show you I could
rough for a twenty point fourth quarter. Put the ball
in my hands, and watch me go to work. Y'all
talking about I'm hearing these whistles about Kevin Durant. Now,
I MA solids that noise right now, and he has
(11:56):
an opportunity right in front of him to do it.
And so if he does and show that and all
of a sudden, the Rockets beat Golden State, and they
get to the second round and then all of a
sudden were looking at this team in there in the
Western Conference Finals, then yeah, you kill that Kevin Durant conversation.
But if you get beaten the first round in this
because you don't have a closer, a guy that could
(12:19):
go toe to toe with a Steph Curry in the
fourth quarter when it's a position by position game, then yeah,
you might consider trading the Jalen Green of Jabari smid
Cam Whit package up to Kevin Durant in for next season.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Even if Kevin Durant is the kind of person that
you might not think is great for your locker room,
not because he's bad or cancers or anything like that,
but because he's a different kind of cat and just
marches to the beat of his own drum, you don't
worry about that with the nucleus and the culture that
you're building in Houston.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
You know why I don't worry about it because the
one thing got know, he made U Doka throw hands
in the locker room with a player.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Kevin Durant ain't gonna.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Come pulling that shit he been pulling in Phoenix with
he mail you Doka, he may you Doka go stay
in up fitness. And I think, and I know Kevin
Durant have enough respect for email you Doka that he's
not gonna.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Bring that BS over there.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Essay.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
See, that's what I'm saying, Ma, Dok is the one
that's going Kevin Durant line.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
I appreciate him having that kind of respect for a brother.
Clearly didn't appear to exist for a bulling Holes or
to a lesser degree of you know, of Frank Vogel.
I'm not blaming Kevin Durant for that. I don't want
to come across to saying that we've heard news that
Booker wasn't feeling Bullinghlezer either. But when you consider that
Kevin Durant is there and that, you know what Steve
(13:42):
Nash got let go uh you know when when he
was in Brooklyn, you got Kenny Atkinson that was let
go di Minty he arrived. You're looking at a situation
in Phoenix where Vogel's going, Now bulling Holes is going. Now,
what are we to make of Kevin Durant in your estimation?
You're his former teammate, you know him, Well, what do
you make of it?
Speaker 4 (14:00):
The same thing, The same thing I said when we
want to count down a couple months ago, when it
was you, Bob Myers, Malika and myself the ABC crew,
and I said, let's not ever put Kevin Durant in
the conversation with Steph Curry and Lebron James. It's levels
to this and I'm not taking away from Kevin durant greatness.
(14:23):
In my eyes, I believe Kevin Durant is the greatest
score of all time. But when it comes down to
that separation, when you talk about leadership, when you talk
about the professionalism, when you talk about the journey, the story,
we cannot put.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Him in the conversation with Steph and Lebron.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
I'm sorry, he say, like Steph and Lebron, like you know,
those are different type of animals. Now, Steph Curry, we
don't know him to be a vocal leader, but damn it,
we know him to be a culture center, right, and
that's leading by example.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Don't know. This is what I'm gonna asking you think
about this for sal I'm as sure this question.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Tell me why, Okay, tell me why John Moran got
the best out of Tyus Jones.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Who's with the Phoenix Sons.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Donovan Mitchell got the best out of Russ O'Neill, who's
also on the Phoenix Sons. Chris Paul got the best
out of Devin Booker, who's also on the Phoenix Sons.
Damian Lillard at one point got the best out of Nurkic,
who have problems in Phoenix, who was shipped to the Wizards.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Katie, Why you not getting the best out of those guys?
Speaker 4 (15:37):
If other superstars and other players around the league got
maximize those same guys, it just don't make sense to me.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Don't make sense to me either. Let me move on.
Is it a four gone conclusion that you believe the
Los Angeles Lakers are gonna beat the Minnesota Timbwolves.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
In seven games? I'm not. I'm not gonna, y'all. I
said six, but I'm gonna seven. I'm not confident.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
I'm not just saying that with my chest poked out,
that they're gonna just beat the Timber No, it's going
seven games. Anthony Edwards is like that. Anthony itw was
is waiting, And when I think about them, he is
that say, and when I think about Minnesota, to think
about this, the last part of the season, we saw
a chemistry and they started to where they started to
(16:26):
develop a chemistry. And I'm talking about Anthony Ellwards and
Julius raandam Julius Raanda was playing has been playing some
phenomenal basketball for them. Okay, now you move over to
who are the Minnesota Timberwoods. Their bunch of dogs defensively,
so they got a defensive identity that when they're locked
in their problem Okay.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Go ahead, but my problem is is is more as
formidable as they are defensively. Lucas the dude that they
have no answer for. We know he's he's done in
the Minnesota Timberwolves. Now we know that, I know.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
But think about this, right, I want you to think
about this.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
It's a lot different now with Luca versus the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Here's why Luca thrives at his best against teams when
he had what a legitimate live threat.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
See people see people didn't understand this last year.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
The things the reason that things were so wide open
for Kyrie Irvin and Luca in that Minnesota Timberwolves in
that in that series last year in the Western Conference
Finals was because of Daniel Gaffert and Derrick Globy, right,
It's just it's a different type, Like it's Jackson Hayes
gonna be that right, Like, I just can't see it.
(17:46):
Although he's been playing some good basketball, I just don't
see it happening. So now all of a sudden, it's
a it's a it's a Luca that's gonna have to
solely be set on step back threes. Because that's why
he was one of the live threat. It's so bad
on a consistent basis.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Houston or Golden State, who would have the better chance
versus the Los Angeles Lakers, And why.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
It would be Golden State, to be honest with you,
because we know you and I both know JJ Riddick
game playing defensively, and that was one of the things
I was concerned about, is that he showed his hand
a bit early in the season when we watched him
play called Anthony Towles Yokic. You know what, what do
(18:32):
the Lakers do? They packed the paint, take away driving gaps,
and they forced you to make shots, right, They forced
you to They forced you to make shots from the
three point line. You can't do that shit against Golden State.
You can't do that against Golden State. You're gonna get exposed.
So now it comes down to do you have the
(18:52):
perimeter defenders to chase around Steph curR? Do you have
the perimeter defenders to stop a Draymond Green?
Speaker 3 (19:00):
No.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
I think Golden State causes matchup problems for the Los
Angeles Lakers. I think if the Lakers play the Rockets,
that's perfect for the Lakers because the Rockets can't shoot
the damn basketball.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Oklahoma City has been to krem Dela Creme all year long.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
They number one seed.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
We know what, we know what shay Gil just is
what he brings to the table. And these brothers defend,
and we got to give them some love and some credit.
Who's the best matchup for them? Looking at the West
and how things unfold, is there one particular team that
you see beating them or at least pushing them to
a seven game series.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Oh, I'm scared of that second round. I believe.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
I believe the Clippers are gonna win against the Denver Nuggets,
and I'm scared of that second Rocket.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
So do I I believe that as well. I think
the Clippers is gonna beat the Nuggets, But I'm not
scared of the Clippers against OKAC. I think that's a
I think that actually is a bad matchup for the Clippers.
That's my first Lobion tell me what because because when
I look at OKC right, don't get me wrong, the
Clipper is gonna be formidable for anybody the way Kawhi
Lendon is looking right now. If he continues to look
(20:10):
this way, and James Harden's doing what he's doing, I'm
not knocking that, but you highlighted this best. Zubac has
been very formidable, played very well this year and deserves
a lot of respect from everybody. Well Hartstein with ched Holmgren,
I mean, that's something formidable to help deal with that.
Whereas Golden State is undersized against the Clippers, that's not
(20:32):
going to be Okac's problems. And so now you got
the ball players with the Clippers against these young lines
on a come up in OKC that felt the sting
of losing in their semifinals last year to the set
to the Dallas Mavericks and Luca. That's why I'm not
feeling that way about them disco around. I think they'd
be better, or they be even more ready. And I
actually think somebody with the experience of a Luca or
(20:54):
Lebron would be a greater threat to OKAC rather than
James Harden along with Normal Powell and Kawhi Lennard. Even
though I know there's some studs.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
But here's the thing too that goes that that that
we don't highlight enough. When it comes down to the Clippers,
they have some damn dogs defensively on that perimeter. Okay,
when you when when you think about Chris dunn Uh,
when you think about you know, Darrick Jones Jr. And
(21:27):
I'm looking at that, and I'm saying that causes some
problems because I was all those Steph Curry somewhat had
a good slash, you know, he had a good, solid
game against the Clippers, and that loss. Chris Dunne was
hell on him. I was watching them fight over them screens.
I was like, and Tyluke tylu actually called me said
he's one of the favorite, one of his favorite players
(21:49):
that he's ever coached because he wants to be that
defensive stopper.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
I'm not saying that they're going to beat him.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
I'm just okay, see I still got okay see going
to the to the final I'm just saying it scares
me as saying to what I've been seeing from the Clippers.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
And we both know Kawhi healthy, he.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
Has the chance of being the best player in any
series against anybody except for the Boston Celts.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Anybody that knows me knows I'm gonna always root for
the LA teams come post heasy time. That's where I
want to be in junior. That's why I want to
be in Juian time every day, whether the Lakers or
the Clippers, one of them, I'm still in LA. I'm straight.
I'm straight. Let me transition to the Eastern Conference because
I saw Orlando beat the Hawks last night. I know
Miami and Chicago about to go at each other with
(22:35):
the play in. I get all of that. Is there
anybody we should be thinking about in the East outside
of Boston and Cleveland?
Speaker 3 (22:43):
Yeah, the Milwaukee Books, Okay, and I get it.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
People are saying no, Damian Lillard, and I get all that,
But has anybody watched giannists the Coupo the last part
of the season, Stephen as he looked like the best
player in the league like I was. I was looking
up at twenty assists, fifteen assists, dominating, and he was
(23:08):
still getting his thirty and twelve, but he was getting
triple Dougles. And I actually got Milwaukee picked to win
that series against the Indiana Pacers solely because how dominate
Giannis atist Kupo has been. And I'm looking at the others,
Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter, Junior, Bobby Porters, and I'm looking
(23:28):
at Brook Lopez and I'm like, it's not gonna be sweet.
I know a lot of people leaning towards Indiana because
of the day, but Yannis is on a mission. Jannis
is and Yannis is gonna lead this team. They're going
to beat the Pacers in the first round.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
See, I'm not sure about that without Dame. If Dame
was there, I'll feel you, But without Dame, I just
think that I don't know if I trust that the
other Cats are gonna be there to support Giannis. And
that's my concern. And by the way, let's just go
against your position for a second here and work with
me on this level. If Yannis loses in the first round,
(24:04):
do you think he's gonna ask out of Milwaukee. I
don't think so.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
I don't think so. And if he do, he damn show,
He damn shows, shouldn't want to go to Miami. You know,
I'm always watching. I've been watching the first take all week.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
That that Miami. I love when Marcus Moore has been
bringing to the table. But I totally disagree with going
to Miami. Hell No, that's not the place for him
to go. There's other options out there for him. I
just don't see him asking Why would he asks, say,
uh want now asking out from Milwaukee when Milwaukee has
done everything that Yannis has asked them to do, right,
(24:43):
y'all could PRESI him on them to trade Drew Holliday
and bring in another superstar caliber player. They went out
and they got Damien Liwan right like, they're always making moves.
They never they're never waiting. So when you have an
organization that is trying to do everything, ain't getting their
power to satisfy you. And you know, y'all is the city.
(25:05):
He basically owns the city. Why would you leave? This
is the same thing that I just don't get about
the deal with Nuggets. Now they're making changes, but I've
been preaching and preaching, when do they go so round
Jokic with the necessary pieces for him to go at contend.
You don't just sit back and wait and say we're
gonna keep running it back with this same group Like No,
(25:26):
this offseason is gonna be important for them as well.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
At least both organizations got a championship to show for it,
because both the Jannas and Jokic have delivered the titles,
so at least they got that to show for it. Look,
I got a couple of more questions to ask you,
and I'll be right back. I don't want the audience
to go anywhere, but I got a couple of questions
that I got to ask you before I let you
get on out of here. I'll be back with the
one of only Kendrick Perkins after I pay these bills.
(25:52):
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run your game. Welcome back to Steven A. Smith show
Big Perk for I'll let you get on out of here, uh.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
My New York mixus.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
It's kind of hard, Big Perk. It's kind of hard
because I went from them acquiring Carl Anthony Towns and
being extend it right to being worried because they gave
up entirely two damn much five first round picks four
unprotected from Michel Bridges to me watching Michel Bridges complain
about the over usage of the starters. To Josh Hart,
(27:17):
allg you're doing the game with Thibbodeau to going from
the New York Knicks and fantasizing about them getting to
the conference finals against Boston to almost assuredly knowing they're
going home at the very latest in the second round
because they gotta play Boston and wondering whether or not
Tom Thiberdil is gonna be here next year. Those are
(27:38):
my thoughts about the New York Knicks.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
What are yours?
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Tims?
Speaker 4 (27:43):
You know, I love him, won a championship with them.
He's my boot to brother for life. But his ass
is on the hot seat. He gotta get to the
conference finals.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
It don't matter what we believe.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
If they could beat the Boston Celtics, they need to
believe it and they need to get it done. He
has to get to the conference finals. They got to
the second round last year. And like you just talked about,
you can't go out and get Michel Bridges and give
up first five first round picks. Go out and get
called Anthony Towns, sign Oganna Doobe, by the way, well
(28:16):
worth it to a two.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
Hundred, no doubt, worth it, worth it, worth it.
Speaker 4 (28:22):
Worth every pick twelve, and go out there and lose
again in the second round. No it's on record. It's
on record. We are the New York Knicks said they
are building up to compete with the Celtics. Here you are,
You're fully You're fully loaded, You're healthy. Mitchell Robinson is back,
(28:43):
Jay Le Bronson is back. You better get to the
conference finals. It don't matter if the world believed you
can beat the Boston Celtics, because if you don't, it's
not the players that are gonna be moved.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
There say, it's the coaches.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
I wasn't completely open with you. I said I was
worried about Boston. Yo, bro, I'm worried about them dead
Pistons and Pistons play. Bigger staff got them, brother, I'm
worried about Ky cutting Ham. Even you've been raving about that. Brother,
I can't dismiss the possibility that Detroit can beat them.
(29:17):
I got my next winning, but even then I got
the next winning in seventh perk. Why why are you
not that word? Why are you not that worried that game?
Speaker 4 (29:26):
That series not going past six? And say, let me
tell you they're gonna listen the new the Pistons, successful season,
most surprising team. I'm with you, Bigger staff, hell of
a job. Kay Cuttingham. I voted him First Team All
NBA on my valot. He got voted first Team All
NBA on my ballet. We can discuss that another day.
(29:49):
It's levels to this when you come to when it
comes to the postseason, that Scott Report gets this much right.
They're going to trap k cutting Hell. And you know
another thing that's been concerning me. I'm watching I'm watching
a happy Detroit team right now. And you know, I
follow a lot of those guys on social media and
(30:10):
stuff like that. You're happy, raving about the season as
they should be right there in the postseason. But I've
seen Malik Bee's not knocking nobody what they're doing. He
got a commercial that just came out. I just saw
Isaiah Stewart beefs through drop a rap video. He just
dropped me. He just dropped the rap video.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
No, no, no, no, no, no, just not the time for that.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
If you're locked in, If you're locked in, you don't
have time for that type of shit right now going
into the postseason. Your falls need to be off. I'm
ignoring family members all of that.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
That's why I.
Speaker 4 (30:49):
Got the Knicks, just because the experience and big body
Bronston is gonna be the best player in that series.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
Last question for you. You've been raving about Oklahoma's city
all year long. I've heard you say everything about them
but one thing, and one thing only, that they gonna
win the title, that they're gonna win the Tidy. You
ain't never said that because of them. Damn Boston Celtics.
Now we're hearing that Jalen Brown taking shots to the knees.
(31:17):
We don't know how much health, how how healthy he's
going to be. I'm talking about I don't know if
it's courts On shoperl or whatever the hell it is,
but I'm just saying he's getting knee treatment per se.
You know they are concerned about him being one hundred
percent for this postseason. You're still feeling as strongly as
you did about the Boston Celtics.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
You damn right, I am? You damn right? I am they.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
I mean, look, every single player on their team has
leveled up another notch. And I'm not even Jason Tatum, right,
I'm not even Jason Tatum.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
I think, right, this is his moment.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
I think he's he's going out for blood, right, I
think whether people agree with him or not. He feels
disrespected everything that happened with him and the off season.
Right cool, But Peyton Britcher, Luke Cornett, h Sam Housen,
old man, Al Horford's as too many times I'm looking
(32:14):
up and I see Al Horford then had twenty five points.
He's a year younger than me. He's a year younger
than me. So then I'm looking at Christoph Persingers. Did
you see the last game against the New York Knicks
that they played with time?
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (32:30):
I did, Yes, I did.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
How did Christin Persingers? Look?
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Don't remind me.
Speaker 4 (32:37):
I hate to bring up old stuff. The reason I
brought him up, and I'm an end on this. Remember,
Jason Tatum was on record and they asked them. They
asked him last year about like him and Christin Persinger's
who is he compared like those their comparison as a duo,
And he said who Kobe and Paul Gasol. So although
(32:58):
Jay and I brought that up because although Jaylen Brown
may be battling a little you know, a little injury,
a little pain in his knee, Krista prazingis still could
elevate and be that second option, which I believe he
can be for the Boston Celtics, which makes them still
dangerous and still the favorite of my eyes.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
Got you not giving Cleveland any chance? Is Cleveland been
the best reckon in the Eastern Conference all yalong.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
No chance I'm giving him a chance to make it
to the conference finals. It's just I'm what I've been
leaning on. Dontavin Mitchell and Darius Goaldan got to show me. Defensive,
they gotta show me because they're going to get picked on.
Speaker 4 (33:38):
And just like Steph Curry, it took Steph Curry think
about this and think about this.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
It took Steph.
Speaker 4 (33:44):
Curry to his fourth championship for him actually to buckle
down and defend like put on muscle. And when they
had that series against the Celtics, they were trying to
exploit Steph. They were trying to old stuff Al Horford
on them. Steph curried down there holding his damn ground,
not giving up, done getting stops, and I was like, oh, yeah,
(34:07):
he wonted. I don't know if Donovan Mitchell and Darris
Galdin got that in there. And you're gonna have to
have that in you because every single person on the
Boston Celtics in the start and five and then the
six include now Horford could do what they'll say, could
take your ass to that low block.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
No doubt, Big Perk love you, Appreciate you, brother, show
you for a few hours, my man, FNBA countdown.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
Man, we'll talk later, Okay later, Brother.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
No doubt, one and only Big Perk Kendrick Perkins Man.
I love that brother, so your true, true friend, and
I love working with him. Brother, smartest hell knows his basketball.
Like he said, he talks slow, but he's smart as hell.
It is the truth. That's the best thing he's ever
said about himself. Absolute, absolutely true. Can't wait to start
covering these playoffs with that brother. Make no mistake about
an NBA countdown. Me and Mann Big Perk together.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
We love it. We absolutely love it.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
My next guest is a six time Emmy Award winning
actor known for memorable roles in the films like What's
Love Got to Do With It? The Matrix, Remember ABC's Blackish.
The man's been here before. He's one of the greatest
actors in American history as far as I'm concerned, and
it is an honor and a privilege to have him
(35:28):
back to one and only Lawrence Fishburne is on the
show right now. What's going on? Big time? How are
you managed everything? I'm listening. I can't wait to talk
to you. I can't wait to talk to you about
Sneaks in a second. But I mean, I'm just looking
at you. You've been doing a lot of work.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Man.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
You're supposed to be climbing up there, and you're supposed
to be you're supposed to be itching towards retirement. I mean,
you're working more than most people, Lawrence. I mean, what's
going on, man? What's up?
Speaker 2 (35:55):
Hey? Somebody gotta pay for the retirement? Baby?
Speaker 1 (36:00):
You got bills to pay, right, you got.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
The bills to pay ted.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
That's right. I definitely get you. I understand that, loud
and clear. Let's get to your new project, all right.
You know, the Sneaks. It's an animated sports comedy you
are producing. What's it all about?
Speaker 5 (36:18):
Talk to me about It is an animated thing that
we did with a lot of really talented people, Martin Lawrence,
Anthony Mackie. And it's about a pair of sneakers, and
the sneakers come alive and talk. It's the journey of
a pair of sneakers. A twenty fours that are brother
(36:39):
and sister and they get separated. They've been raffled off
at a gala at the Guggenheim in New York and
a young kid wins them, and the sneakers get separated
and a lot of chaos ensues. But it's a really
funny buddy movie about these two sneakers, an old head,
an old school sneaker and a brand new sneaker who's
(37:00):
like the hotness that everybody wants, and an odyssey of
them trying to get back to each other throughout New
York City.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
It's great.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
Well, listen, let me remind somebody and names you. You
just gave a couple of Mont Lawrence, you know, Anthony Mackie, Macy,
Gray's in there, Chloy Bailey's there, La is there, Quavo,
Rico rodri even the One and Only see CEP three
ce P three Chris Paul was a great pickup, no question,
no doubt. But what was this your idea? Was this
(37:30):
your idea or did somebody don't know? But I'm one
of the producers. I was, I was brought on board.
Uh my my partner and I Helen Sugland at Cinema gypsy.
She brought the piece to me and and she really
believed it, and I was like, Yeah, this is really
kind of interesting.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
We haven't seen this before.
Speaker 5 (37:46):
Like we've seen talking airplanes and talking cars, but we
ain't seen talking sneaks.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
I've heard a lot of things about I've heard a
lot about you throughout the years, but the one thing
I've never heard is that you were a big sports fan.
So I'm wondering, what was it about this particular idea
that appealed to you so much? Because I know that
you're forward thinking and you're a visionary. What was it
about this idea that appealed to you so much?
Speaker 5 (38:11):
Although I'm not a sports fan, I grew up in
New York, you know, in the sixties and the seventies,
and I'm not even a sneaker head, but I get it,
like I get sneaker culture, even as somebody who doesn't
really participate in it in that way. I used to
have friends who would see me and they when they
(38:32):
would see me wearing sneakers, they'd be surprised because for
a long time I just didn't wear them, and that
wasn't like a conscious choice. But there is something about
sneaker culture that I do understand and that I do
connect with. I'm always I've always been a big animation fan.
So anything animated always has my interest.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
And why have you been a big animated animation fan?
I am one too, But I'd like to know what
is it about it that appeals to you? You somebody
is star studied as you are, as accomplished as you are.
What is it about animation that does it for you?
Speaker 2 (39:06):
The thing about animation is growing up.
Speaker 5 (39:10):
Listening to There's one actor in particular who's probably one
of the greatest voice actors of all time, and that
was the late great Mel Blank. You know, Mel Blank
voiced bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck and fog Horn, Leghorn
and Porky Pig and Martin the Marshan and I can
keep going. So just as an actor, he had a
(39:35):
kind of skill and versatility that I.
Speaker 2 (39:38):
Always aspired to.
Speaker 5 (39:40):
But also, you know, just as a as as an actor,
being able to create characters with your voice and work
with you know, illustrations, to work with artists renderings of characters,
that's just that's.
Speaker 2 (39:58):
Just fun for me.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
Larsa. You reflect on your career and the illustrious career
that you've had. If you had to really really sit
down and think about anything that you wish you would
have done, something that might be on your bucket list,
something that you missed out on. I can't imagine that
you haven't done, because it seems like you've done every
damn thing. But is there something that you haven't done
(40:22):
in your career that you wish you had done? Project
anything like that.
Speaker 5 (40:26):
There's more than one thing on my career that I
wish that I have done that I haven't done. But
I try not to dwell on things that I haven't done.
You know, I don't think that's a smart thing to do.
I think it's much healthier to look forward and try to,
you know, get to do some of those things, or
do a version of those things you know, perhaps you miss.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
That's where I'm going. I'm sorry I asked the question wrong,
because I'm thinking something that you haven't done that you
still in line to do, like it ain't finished, Like
you just haven't done it yet, but you really doesn't.
Speaker 5 (40:59):
Want to do it. There's a lot of stuff I
haven't done that I you know that I would like
to do that I will get to do. Uh and
and I think it's it's also very important for me two,
you know, do the work that I.
Speaker 2 (41:14):
Need to do before I start talking about it. You know.
So I'm I'm going to manifest something.
Speaker 5 (41:18):
I got to get into the visualization of it, you know,
and this isn't the platform for that, This isn't the
space for that.
Speaker 2 (41:26):
Got you, you.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
Know, totally understand, Totally understand. I want to get into
something else too.
Speaker 5 (41:32):
Because there's involved things that I want to do that
I hope to do that I envision myself doing and
I'm working towards doing.
Speaker 2 (41:39):
Yes, totally understand.
Speaker 1 (41:41):
I want to get into a new project, you know,
one of your new projects. Actually it's not a new project.
I wanted to discuss your recent appearance on the PBS
Show because I was I was, I was reading something
about that Finding your Roots, hosted by Lewis Games, and
I understand it was very very revealing as it pertained
to you. You like talking about that for a second,
(42:03):
tell me sure what about you or what that experience
was like for you?
Speaker 3 (42:06):
Please?
Speaker 1 (42:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (42:07):
What was that about?
Speaker 1 (42:08):
What happened?
Speaker 2 (42:09):
It was a huge gift.
Speaker 5 (42:10):
I mean I basically was, you know, I got enough
information visa the DNA to actually find out who my
biological father was. As it turns out, mister Fishburne was
not my biological father, although he was my dad and
he was wonderful dad. You know, he showed up for
(42:31):
me in ways that were important, and he gave me
a great name, mister fishburn and I'm grateful to him
and his memory. But at the same time, I just
discovered that my biological father was a gentleman named William
Siegelbohannon who was born and raised in the city of Chicago,
(42:55):
and he passed away sadly in twenty seventeen before I
was able to get.
Speaker 2 (42:59):
To meet him.
Speaker 5 (43:00):
But yeah, it was a huge gift because I have
I have a whole new family. I have siblings I
did not know I had, and other people in my
lineage that I did not know about.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
And what's that?
Speaker 1 (43:14):
And what's that like? When you know, you walk up
to people and they come up to you and and
suddenly their family you know, yeah, well you know, I mean,
I mean, what what what is that like?
Speaker 5 (43:26):
Listen, Stephen, the reality of it in terms of you know,
our culture and our history as people of color in
this country.
Speaker 2 (43:34):
This is not new stuff. This is not new.
Speaker 5 (43:38):
You know the history of our families, and our family
history is as.
Speaker 2 (43:42):
Complicated as this country. So it's not new.
Speaker 5 (43:47):
It's something that happened to me, and I'm not the first,
won't be the last, And I'm just grateful that I
got a chance, you know, even at this, you know, mom,
in my life, you know, shall we call it the
third act of my life or whatever it is, to
meet people who are related to me and and who
(44:11):
love and embrace me. Just based on that alone, it's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (44:19):
I feel you. I just I just think about I
think about how beautiful that is in the way that
you describe, and it almost like gives you a new
lease on life. That's how I would take it anyway,
in a very very positive way. Of course, That's how
I look at it, and no question about it. So I'm
happy for you about it. Let me get back to
the business of you from from the standpoint of this
spot thriller, it's already out called The Amateur, starring alongside
(44:39):
Roby Mallock. Talk about the The Amateur. Talk about that
film for a second and what your role in that is.
Speaker 5 (44:45):
Yeah, So it's me and Rommy Malik Rummy Mallick plays
a CIA analyst whose wife gets killed in a hostage
type situation. He wants to seek vengeance. He goes to
the people at the CIA and says, you got to
train me be in the field operative. So they have
me as a colonel who comes in to train him.
And I immediately instruck by how inept I think he
will be at field operations. Uh a little movie that
(45:14):
I did with Romney, who I adore. He's so talented,
he's so interesting and so smart, and he's one of
the producers. And uh, we we think the movies, you know,
we think the movie is great, and a lot of
people seem to think the same thing.
Speaker 2 (45:29):
So I got you.
Speaker 1 (45:31):
Well listen, I gotta let you go. I gotta run myself.
I can't thank you enough for giving me some time
to talk to Just always wonderful to talk to you.
You know, I'm a I'm a huge fan, as I
have been for decades with your wonderful work. Man, It's
a lot of the privilege to talk to you.
Speaker 5 (45:45):
I'm coming to New York student to do something and
I want you to come and see me.
Speaker 2 (45:49):
I'll let you know about it.
Speaker 1 (45:51):
Please let me know about it, absolutely, brother, You take
it easier right, Lawrence, than my man, God, bless, God bless.
Speaker 2 (45:58):
Take you my best.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
Thanks to the great Lawrence Fishburn. Sneaks is in theater's
nationwide April eighteenth, and the Amateur is out now, as
we just heard us say, so be sure to check
out both of them. Please, it's Lawrence Fishburn. Why wouldn't you?
Why wouldn't you? I ain't even bring up miss in
the Possible Three because that brother was good in that movie,
great in that movie. You know, I've always watched Lawrence
Fishburn movies. I'm just letting y'all know I ain't faking
(46:21):
the funk. That brother's real. He's something special
All right, folks, I need you all to stop what
you're doing and listen up. You know I love this
time of year, right, the NBA Playoffs, the NBA Playoffs
years here and with all this action going on, The
Steven A. Smith Show wants to make sure you take
advantage of it all. That's why we've partnered with Prize Picks,
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Speaker 2 (00:31):
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dollar lineup. Prize Picks, Hey, hey, run your game today,
I'll give you my picks for Saturday's game between my below,
the New York Knicks, and of course the Detroit Pistons.
So let's get right to it. First up, will Jalen
Brunson of the New York Knicks score more or less
than twenty seven points. I'm going with more because he's
Jalen Brunson and it's the playoffs. I don't need another
(01:13):
damn excuse. Did you see him last year, then you
know what I'm talking about. Next up, will Cutting half
of the Pistons scored more or less than twenty seven
and a half points. You know why I gotta say
more on this to y'all because the brother averaged thirty
against the New York Nicks this year, thirty. They're gonna
push the ball. New York KNICKSNA try to slow the tempo,
but not bottom line, if they gonna get ample opportunities
(01:34):
at the baskets. This brother's got the green light to shoot.
He's going to so I ain't say he's gonna have
a high shooting percentage, but he's definitely gonna score twenty
more than twenty seven and a half points. I believe
that Next up will call Anthony Town score more or
less than twenty three points. I'm going with more because
Carl Anthony Town has been an All Star offensively for
the New York Knicks this year, all Star period. I'm
worried about him being the rough rider that he needs
(01:54):
to be in order to offset Detroit trying to emulate
the bad boy Pistons of oh Coming at.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
The New York Knicks.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Carl Anthony Town's gonna have to show up. I believe
he will. Next up, well, Detroitch Tobias Harris scored more
or less than thirteen and a half points. This was
tricky because sometimes he's deferential and not in lacking aggression.
That's one of the things that played in throughout his
years in Philadelphia in my personal opinion. But the brother
is gifted. He could score more than thirteen and a
half points. So I'm gonna go more with this too.
Next up, Will Michel Bridges scored more or less than
(02:22):
sixteen and a half points.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
You better.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
That's why I'm going with more. You better. Complaining about
playing too much, complaining about the bench being utilized a
little bit more coming in there the last game of
the season for six seconds just to ensure that you
played all eighty two games, which I didn't mind, by
the way, But you gotta go out there and score
more than sixteen and a half points if you. Michael
Bridges and I believe he will, and finally will Malik
Beasley scored more or less than fourteen and a half points.
(02:46):
Have you seen his brother shoot the basketball this year?
Have you seen the green light Beasley had? As you
see how he's been putting it up in bunches leak
Beesley's been special this year, Ladies and gentlemen, He's been special.
And because of that, I'm gonna say more for him.
Him too, so Jalen Brunson Cade cutting him, Karl Anthony Towns,
the bias, Harris mclbridge, is Malik Beasley?
Speaker 4 (03:06):
Oh more?
Speaker 3 (03:06):
More and more and more and more and more.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
That's what we're going with. Why because it's the prize picks.
We're allergic to the word less? You feel me? What's up? Everybody?
(03:30):
Welcome to the latest edition of the Steven A. Smiths.
Joe coming at you as I love to do, at
the very least three times a week over the digital
airwaves with YouTube and of course iHeartRadio. I'm not gonna
waste your time. I got a lot to get into today,
and the first thing on my mind is going to
be the NBA playoff picture. That's where we're getting started.
And he updated matchups in both conferences now after the
first playing games from last night. In the Eastern Conference,
(03:53):
the Orlando Magic are in the seventh spot after beating
the Atlanta Hawks. They'll play the Boston Celtics, the reigning
defending champion in Boston Celtics, who are the number two
seed in case y'all were living under a rock, of course. Meanwhile,
the Miami he faced the Bulls tonight in Chicago for
the right to play the Hawks on Friday. Whoever wins
Friday's game will be the eighth seed and we'll face
the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round. Good luck with that,
(04:14):
by the way. In the Western Conference, the Golden State
Warriors are now the seventh seed after beating the Memphis
Grizzlies last night. They'll play the Houston Rockets, who are
the number two seed but are underdogs in their first
round matchup against the Warriors. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks face
the Sacramento Kings to night. The winner of that game
will play the Grizzlies on Friday for the right to
play the top seeded Oklahoma City Thunder before they are
(04:39):
unceremoniously sent home. Joining me now to break this all
down is my partner in crime NBA Countdown. My brother
contributed a first take get up in all things ESPN
doing an outstanding job, and I'm one of the few
people in the world he absolutely loves and can make
him smile. The one and only Kendrick Perkins isn't a house.
(05:00):
What's going on, big boy? How you doing?
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Man?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
How's everything, big bro?
Speaker 3 (05:04):
What's happening? All right? Talk to me? Man?
Speaker 1 (05:07):
First of all, let's get right started with the Warriors
in the Grizzlies last night. Watching that game, are you
of the mindset now that the Warriors are in position
to make a run for the conference finals?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
I'm not. And here's his wife say. Think about this.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Eighty percent of the points had to come from Jimmy
and Steph Curry last night.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
They played a lot of minutes. They can't with help.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
They can't stand that playing against a young athletic Rockets team, who,
by the way, have more pesty defenders than the Memphis Grizzlies,
And so I'm looking at this situation and I'm saying
it took a lot out of them for them, took
out of Jimmy and Steph.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Look at those numbers to even get that victory.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
Now you're going against a Emyu Doka led team that
thrive on playing defense at the highest level level, one
of the best defensive and you're gonna go in and
say that I'm gonna rely on those two guys in
the seven game series that is gonna be physical.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
They need a third option.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
And here's what I want to ask you, what the
hell is going on with Steve Kerr and Jonathan Kamina.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
I just don't I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
I mean, listen cominga let me tell you this, right Kamena,
let me tell you this about Comena. He's averaging more
points against the Rockets than anybody else on the Warriors,
twenty one point three. I don't understand. He's the most
he's arguably the most athletic guy on the Golden State Warriors.
I don't understand how the hell this dude is. I
want to say street clothes, because he had on a sweatsuit,
(06:38):
the Warriors sweatsuit, but he clearly wasn't dressed to play,
and Steve Kerr would I, as far as I'm concerned,
pulled the Jason Tatum on them, telling them, yo, before
the game, we ain't gonna find any time for you.
What sense does that make, perk.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
It may it made no sense. And here's another And
here's the add on to what you're saying. This is
a young man that is in his contract year. So
now even when if Steve Kerr does decide to go
to him, which I believe he needs to in order
for Golden State to even have a chance of winning
this series against the Rockets, how do he bounce back
(07:12):
from this?
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Right? Like, now you're.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Testing this young man mental mental toughness, which I think
Jonathan Mainga is really mentally tough. But he's in this
contract year and as a former player with Steve Kerr
was you should understand that. And it's just like it's
like this ego of once you get stuck, once he
gets stuck in his ways, this is how he's gonna
(07:36):
go about things. But I'm gonna say this, if he doesn't,
if he chooses not to use Jonathan Kaminga, the Rockets
are gonna win that series.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
I will say this to you, Jonathan, Jonathan GAMINGA doesn't
have a player option, He's got a qualifying offer, And
so I'm looking at the number like whether they're saying,
here's ten point two million he's scheduled to make next year.
If I'm Jonathan Kmi and Steve Kurr doesn't play me
this summer, I want out. I want out that. I
don't think he should want to be a Golden State
(08:07):
Warrior if that's gonna happen. Let's go to the Rockets
for a quick second. What's made them so good this year?
And and why do you give them specifically, why do
you give them such a chance of beating the Warriors
in this series?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Well, well, one, I don't know who you voted for
for as your coach of the Year, but I voted
for Email you Doka this team.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
He was at my top three. He was at my
top three. I voted for bigger staff for Detroit.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
I'm not mad at that.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
I'm not mad at that the Rockets we were in
aleven spot last year, all of a sudden, they're in
the postseason. Okay, because of the identity and culture that
Email Udoka brings to a ball club that's number one,
number two. Well, we always talk about defensively and what's
the most important position in today's game. Always tell you
is say what the wing position? The wing position? Right,
(08:57):
they are loaded defensively at the wing position, from Dylan
Brooks to Tarry Easton to Aiman Thompson, who I believe,
by the way, might be the best two way player
in the nixt two to three years.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Okay, so they're going to They're going to get stops.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
And now you have afro Shane Goon, who, by the way,
last game was busting Draymond Green ass Okay, the last
game of the regular season where he had Dreymard throwing helbows.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
He is a problem.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
So when I look at the championship experience that they
have on the team, in the veteran locker room, I'm
looking at Fred van Fleet, I'm looking at Jeff Green.
I'm saying to myself, they got the right mixture of youth,
athleticism and veteran leadership along with an elite head coach.
They're going to be prepared for the Golden State Warriors.
(09:49):
It's going to be a blood bath. It's going to
be a physical ass series. I see it going six
or seven games.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Jalen Green, what are we to make of him at
this staging point in his career.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
I think I think that he's auditioning that say his
why we've been hearing the rumors right, We're hearing the
whispers right now, right, Kevin Durant getting together with the
Phoenix Suns to figure out what's next for him for
as you know, finding the team for an offseason so
that they can trade him.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Okay, cool on their list.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
We hear the MAVs on their list, and we also
hear the Rockets are on their list. The one thing
that we got to, the one concern that we all
have a thing about when it comes down to the
Rockets is who's.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Gonna be there closer? That's right, Jalen Green, this show
time and say it's his time? Am I line?
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Well, well, you're right, you're right, but only in this sense.
Let's let's play with this for a second. With what
they have, the young nucleus that they have. You already
got quality veterans in Jeff Green and Fred Van Vliet.
Dylan Brooks is like mid level veteran, Like you know,
he ain't some old tenior citizen cat. He's got plenty
(11:02):
of time left in this league. But he's been around
long enough and he's a rough rider. And when you
think about the culture that they have and what they
bring to the table, do you compromise that for Kevin Durant?
Speaker 3 (11:14):
I do. I do.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
But that's why that's why I said, That's why I
said and say, Jalen Green is auditioning right, because when
you look at the Rockets right now, what do they
struggle to do?
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Make shots? They're one of the worst teams in the
league is making three.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Point shots and.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
Know they ain't k But what I'm saying is, if
I'm Jalen Green going into this postseason, I quiet the noise.
Oh no, okay, I'm gonna show you I could take
over a fourth quarter. I'm gonna show you I could
rough for a twenty point fourth quarter. Put the ball
in my hands, and watch me go to work. Y'all
talking about I'm hearing these whistles about Kevin Durant. Now,
I MA solids that noise right now, and he has
(11:56):
an opportunity right in front of him to do it.
And so if he does and show that and all
of a sudden, the Rockets beat Golden State, and they
get to the second round and then all of a
sudden were looking at this team in there in the
Western Conference Finals, then yeah, you kill that Kevin Durant conversation.
But if you get beaten the first round in this
because you don't have a closer, a guy that could
(12:19):
go toe to toe with a Steph Curry in the
fourth quarter when it's a position by position game, then yeah,
you might consider trading the Jalen Green of Jabari smid
Cam Whit package up to Kevin Durant in for next season.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Even if Kevin Durant is the kind of person that
you might not think is great for your locker room,
not because he's bad or cancers or anything like that,
but because he's a different kind of cat and just
marches to the beat of his own drum, you don't
worry about that with the nucleus and the culture that
you're building in Houston.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
You know why I don't worry about it because the
one thing got know, he made U Doka throw hands
in the locker room with a player.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Kevin Durant ain't gonna.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Come pulling that shit he been pulling in Phoenix with
he mail you Doka, he may you Doka go stay
in up fitness. And I think, and I know Kevin
Durant have enough respect for email you Doka that he's
not gonna.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Bring that BS over there.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Essay.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
See, that's what I'm saying, Ma, Dok is the one
that's going Kevin Durant line.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
I appreciate him having that kind of respect for a brother.
Clearly didn't appear to exist for a bulling Holes or
to a lesser degree of you know, of Frank Vogel.
I'm not blaming Kevin Durant for that. I don't want
to come across to saying that we've heard news that
Booker wasn't feeling Bullinghlezer either. But when you consider that
Kevin Durant is there and that, you know what Steve
(13:42):
Nash got let go uh you know when when he
was in Brooklyn, you got Kenny Atkinson that was let
go di Minty he arrived. You're looking at a situation
in Phoenix where Vogel's going, Now bulling Holes is going. Now,
what are we to make of Kevin Durant in your estimation?
You're his former teammate, you know him, Well, what do
you make of it?
Speaker 4 (14:00):
The same thing, The same thing I said when we
want to count down a couple months ago, when it
was you, Bob Myers, Malika and myself the ABC crew,
and I said, let's not ever put Kevin Durant in
the conversation with Steph Curry and Lebron James. It's levels
to this and I'm not taking away from Kevin durant greatness.
(14:23):
In my eyes, I believe Kevin Durant is the greatest
score of all time. But when it comes down to
that separation, when you talk about leadership, when you talk
about the professionalism, when you talk about the journey, the story,
we cannot put.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Him in the conversation with Steph and Lebron.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
I'm sorry, he say, like Steph and Lebron, like you know,
those are different type of animals. Now, Steph Curry, we
don't know him to be a vocal leader, but damn it,
we know him to be a culture center, right, and
that's leading by example.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Don't know. This is what I'm gonna asking you think
about this for sal I'm as sure this question.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Tell me why, Okay, tell me why John Moran got
the best out of Tyus Jones.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Who's with the Phoenix Sons.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Donovan Mitchell got the best out of Russ O'Neill, who's
also on the Phoenix Sons. Chris Paul got the best
out of Devin Booker, who's also on the Phoenix Sons.
Damian Lillard at one point got the best out of Nurkic,
who have problems in Phoenix, who was shipped to the Wizards.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Katie, Why you not getting the best out of those guys?
Speaker 4 (15:37):
If other superstars and other players around the league got
maximize those same guys, it just don't make sense to me.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Don't make sense to me either. Let me move on.
Is it a four gone conclusion that you believe the
Los Angeles Lakers are gonna beat the Minnesota Timbwolves.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
In seven games? I'm not. I'm not gonna, y'all. I
said six, but I'm gonna seven. I'm not confident.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
I'm not just saying that with my chest poked out,
that they're gonna just beat the Timber No, it's going
seven games. Anthony Edwards is like that. Anthony itw was
is waiting, And when I think about them, he is
that say, and when I think about Minnesota, to think
about this, the last part of the season, we saw
a chemistry and they started to where they started to
(16:26):
develop a chemistry. And I'm talking about Anthony Ellwards and
Julius raandam Julius Raanda was playing has been playing some
phenomenal basketball for them. Okay, now you move over to
who are the Minnesota Timberwoods. Their bunch of dogs defensively,
so they got a defensive identity that when they're locked
in their problem Okay.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Go ahead, but my problem is is is more as
formidable as they are defensively. Lucas the dude that they
have no answer for. We know he's he's done in
the Minnesota Timberwolves. Now we know that, I know.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
But think about this, right, I want you to think
about this.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
It's a lot different now with Luca versus the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Here's why Luca thrives at his best against teams when
he had what a legitimate live threat.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
See people see people didn't understand this last year.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
The things the reason that things were so wide open
for Kyrie Irvin and Luca in that Minnesota Timberwolves in
that in that series last year in the Western Conference
Finals was because of Daniel Gaffert and Derrick Globy, right,
It's just it's a different type, Like it's Jackson Hayes
gonna be that right, Like, I just can't see it.
(17:46):
Although he's been playing some good basketball, I just don't
see it happening. So now all of a sudden, it's
a it's a it's a Luca that's gonna have to
solely be set on step back threes. Because that's why
he was one of the live threat. It's so bad
on a consistent basis.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Houston or Golden State, who would have the better chance
versus the Los Angeles Lakers, And why.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
It would be Golden State, to be honest with you,
because we know you and I both know JJ Riddick
game playing defensively, and that was one of the things
I was concerned about, is that he showed his hand
a bit early in the season when we watched him
play called Anthony Towles Yokic. You know what, what do
(18:32):
the Lakers do? They packed the paint, take away driving gaps,
and they forced you to make shots, right, They forced
you to They forced you to make shots from the
three point line. You can't do that shit against Golden State.
You can't do that against Golden State. You're gonna get exposed.
So now it comes down to do you have the
(18:52):
perimeter defenders to chase around Steph curR? Do you have
the perimeter defenders to stop a Draymond Green?
Speaker 3 (19:00):
No.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
I think Golden State causes matchup problems for the Los
Angeles Lakers. I think if the Lakers play the Rockets,
that's perfect for the Lakers because the Rockets can't shoot
the damn basketball.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Oklahoma City has been to krem Dela Creme all year long.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
They number one seed.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
We know what, we know what shay Gil just is
what he brings to the table. And these brothers defend,
and we got to give them some love and some credit.
Who's the best matchup for them? Looking at the West
and how things unfold, is there one particular team that
you see beating them or at least pushing them to
a seven game series.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Oh, I'm scared of that second round. I believe.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
I believe the Clippers are gonna win against the Denver Nuggets,
and I'm scared of that second Rocket.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
So do I I believe that as well. I think
the Clippers is gonna beat the Nuggets, But I'm not
scared of the Clippers against OKAC. I think that's a
I think that actually is a bad matchup for the Clippers.
That's my first Lobion tell me what because because when
I look at OKC right, don't get me wrong, the
Clipper is gonna be formidable for anybody the way Kawhi
Lendon is looking right now. If he continues to look
(20:10):
this way, and James Harden's doing what he's doing, I'm
not knocking that, but you highlighted this best. Zubac has
been very formidable, played very well this year and deserves
a lot of respect from everybody. Well Hartstein with ched Holmgren,
I mean, that's something formidable to help deal with that.
Whereas Golden State is undersized against the Clippers, that's not
(20:32):
going to be Okac's problems. And so now you got
the ball players with the Clippers against these young lines
on a come up in OKC that felt the sting
of losing in their semifinals last year to the set
to the Dallas Mavericks and Luca. That's why I'm not
feeling that way about them disco around. I think they'd
be better, or they be even more ready. And I
actually think somebody with the experience of a Luca or
(20:54):
Lebron would be a greater threat to OKAC rather than
James Harden along with Normal Powell and Kawhi Lennard. Even
though I know there's some studs.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
But here's the thing too that goes that that that
we don't highlight enough. When it comes down to the Clippers,
they have some damn dogs defensively on that perimeter. Okay,
when you when when you think about Chris dunn Uh,
when you think about you know, Darrick Jones Jr. And
(21:27):
I'm looking at that, and I'm saying that causes some
problems because I was all those Steph Curry somewhat had
a good slash, you know, he had a good, solid
game against the Clippers, and that loss. Chris Dunne was
hell on him. I was watching them fight over them screens.
I was like, and Tyluke tylu actually called me said
he's one of the favorite, one of his favorite players
(21:49):
that he's ever coached because he wants to be that
defensive stopper.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
I'm not saying that they're going to beat him.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
I'm just okay, see I still got okay see going
to the to the final I'm just saying it scares
me as saying to what I've been seeing from the Clippers.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
And we both know Kawhi healthy, he.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
Has the chance of being the best player in any
series against anybody except for the Boston Celts.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Anybody that knows me knows I'm gonna always root for
the LA teams come post heasy time. That's where I
want to be in junior. That's why I want to
be in Juian time every day, whether the Lakers or
the Clippers, one of them, I'm still in LA. I'm straight.
I'm straight. Let me transition to the Eastern Conference because
I saw Orlando beat the Hawks last night. I know
Miami and Chicago about to go at each other with
(22:35):
the play in. I get all of that. Is there
anybody we should be thinking about in the East outside
of Boston and Cleveland?
Speaker 3 (22:43):
Yeah, the Milwaukee Books, Okay, and I get it.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
People are saying no, Damian Lillard, and I get all that,
But has anybody watched giannists the Coupo the last part
of the season, Stephen as he looked like the best
player in the league like I was. I was looking
up at twenty assists, fifteen assists, dominating, and he was
(23:08):
still getting his thirty and twelve, but he was getting
triple Dougles. And I actually got Milwaukee picked to win
that series against the Indiana Pacers solely because how dominate
Giannis atist Kupo has been. And I'm looking at the others,
Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter, Junior, Bobby Porters, and I'm looking
(23:28):
at Brook Lopez and I'm like, it's not gonna be sweet.
I know a lot of people leaning towards Indiana because
of the day, but Yannis is on a mission. Jannis
is and Yannis is gonna lead this team. They're going
to beat the Pacers in the first round.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
See, I'm not sure about that without Dame. If Dame
was there, I'll feel you, But without Dame, I just
think that I don't know if I trust that the
other Cats are gonna be there to support Giannis. And
that's my concern. And by the way, let's just go
against your position for a second here and work with
me on this level. If Yannis loses in the first round,
(24:04):
do you think he's gonna ask out of Milwaukee. I
don't think so.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
I don't think so. And if he do, he damn show,
He damn shows, shouldn't want to go to Miami. You know,
I'm always watching. I've been watching the first take all week.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
That that Miami. I love when Marcus Moore has been
bringing to the table. But I totally disagree with going
to Miami. Hell No, that's not the place for him
to go. There's other options out there for him. I
just don't see him asking Why would he asks, say,
uh want now asking out from Milwaukee when Milwaukee has
done everything that Yannis has asked them to do, right,
(24:43):
y'all could PRESI him on them to trade Drew Holliday
and bring in another superstar caliber player. They went out
and they got Damien Liwan right like, they're always making moves.
They never they're never waiting. So when you have an
organization that is trying to do everything, ain't getting their
power to satisfy you. And you know, y'all is the city.
(25:05):
He basically owns the city. Why would you leave? This
is the same thing that I just don't get about
the deal with Nuggets. Now they're making changes, but I've
been preaching and preaching, when do they go so round
Jokic with the necessary pieces for him to go at contend.
You don't just sit back and wait and say we're
gonna keep running it back with this same group Like No,
(25:26):
this offseason is gonna be important for them as well.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
At least both organizations got a championship to show for it,
because both the Jannas and Jokic have delivered the titles,
so at least they got that to show for it. Look,
I got a couple of more questions to ask you,
and I'll be right back. I don't want the audience
to go anywhere, but I got a couple of questions
that I got to ask you before I let you
get on out of here. I'll be back with the
one of only Kendrick Perkins after I pay these bills.
(25:52):
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Big Perk for I'll let you get on out of here, uh.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
My New York mixus.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
It's kind of hard, Big Perk. It's kind of hard
because I went from them acquiring Carl Anthony Towns and
being extend it right to being worried because they gave
up entirely two damn much five first round picks four
unprotected from Michel Bridges to me watching Michel Bridges complain
about the over usage of the starters. To Josh Hart,
(27:17):
allg you're doing the game with Thibbodeau to going from
the New York Knicks and fantasizing about them getting to
the conference finals against Boston to almost assuredly knowing they're
going home at the very latest in the second round
because they gotta play Boston and wondering whether or not
Tom Thiberdil is gonna be here next year. Those are
(27:38):
my thoughts about the New York Knicks.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
What are yours?
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Tims?
Speaker 4 (27:43):
You know, I love him, won a championship with them.
He's my boot to brother for life. But his ass
is on the hot seat. He gotta get to the
conference finals.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
It don't matter what we believe.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
If they could beat the Boston Celtics, they need to
believe it and they need to get it done. He
has to get to the conference finals. They got to
the second round last year. And like you just talked about,
you can't go out and get Michel Bridges and give
up first five first round picks. Go out and get
called Anthony Towns, sign Oganna Doobe, by the way, well
(28:16):
worth it to a two.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
Hundred, no doubt, worth it, worth it, worth it.
Speaker 4 (28:22):
Worth every pick twelve, and go out there and lose
again in the second round. No it's on record. It's
on record. We are the New York Knicks said they
are building up to compete with the Celtics. Here you are,
You're fully You're fully loaded, You're healthy. Mitchell Robinson is back,
(28:43):
Jay Le Bronson is back. You better get to the
conference finals. It don't matter if the world believed you
can beat the Boston Celtics, because if you don't, it's
not the players that are gonna be moved.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
There say, it's the coaches.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
I wasn't completely open with you. I said I was
worried about Boston. Yo, bro, I'm worried about them dead
Pistons and Pistons play. Bigger staff got them, brother, I'm
worried about Ky cutting Ham. Even you've been raving about that. Brother,
I can't dismiss the possibility that Detroit can beat them.
(29:17):
I got my next winning, but even then I got
the next winning in seventh perk. Why why are you
not that word? Why are you not that worried that game?
Speaker 4 (29:26):
That series not going past six? And say, let me
tell you they're gonna listen the new the Pistons, successful season,
most surprising team. I'm with you, Bigger staff, hell of
a job. Kay Cuttingham. I voted him First Team All
NBA on my valot. He got voted first Team All
NBA on my ballet. We can discuss that another day.
(29:49):
It's levels to this when you come to when it
comes to the postseason, that Scott Report gets this much right.
They're going to trap k cutting Hell. And you know
another thing that's been concerning me. I'm watching I'm watching
a happy Detroit team right now. And you know, I
follow a lot of those guys on social media and
(30:10):
stuff like that. You're happy, raving about the season as
they should be right there in the postseason. But I've
seen Malik Bee's not knocking nobody what they're doing. He
got a commercial that just came out. I just saw
Isaiah Stewart beefs through drop a rap video. He just
dropped me. He just dropped the rap video.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
No, no, no, no, no, no, just not the time for that.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
If you're locked in, If you're locked in, you don't
have time for that type of shit right now going
into the postseason. Your falls need to be off. I'm
ignoring family members all of that.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
That's why I.
Speaker 4 (30:49):
Got the Knicks, just because the experience and big body
Bronston is gonna be the best player in that series.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
Last question for you. You've been raving about Oklahoma's city
all year long. I've heard you say everything about them
but one thing, and one thing only, that they gonna
win the title, that they're gonna win the Tidy. You
ain't never said that because of them. Damn Boston Celtics.
Now we're hearing that Jalen Brown taking shots to the knees.
(31:17):
We don't know how much health, how how healthy he's
going to be. I'm talking about I don't know if
it's courts On shoperl or whatever the hell it is,
but I'm just saying he's getting knee treatment per se.
You know they are concerned about him being one hundred
percent for this postseason. You're still feeling as strongly as
you did about the Boston Celtics.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
You damn right, I am? You damn right? I am they.
Speaker 4 (31:39):
I mean, look, every single player on their team has
leveled up another notch. And I'm not even Jason Tatum, right,
I'm not even Jason Tatum.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
I think, right, this is his moment.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
I think he's he's going out for blood, right, I
think whether people agree with him or not. He feels
disrespected everything that happened with him and the off season.
Right cool, But Peyton Britcher, Luke Cornett, h Sam Housen,
old man, Al Horford's as too many times I'm looking
(32:14):
up and I see Al Horford then had twenty five points.
He's a year younger than me. He's a year younger
than me. So then I'm looking at Christoph Persingers. Did
you see the last game against the New York Knicks
that they played with time?
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (32:30):
I did, Yes, I did.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
How did Christin Persingers? Look?
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Don't remind me.
Speaker 4 (32:37):
I hate to bring up old stuff. The reason I
brought him up, and I'm an end on this. Remember,
Jason Tatum was on record and they asked them. They
asked him last year about like him and Christin Persinger's
who is he compared like those their comparison as a duo,
And he said who Kobe and Paul Gasol. So although
(32:58):
Jay and I brought that up because although Jaylen Brown
may be battling a little you know, a little injury,
a little pain in his knee, Krista prazingis still could
elevate and be that second option, which I believe he
can be for the Boston Celtics, which makes them still
dangerous and still the favorite of my eyes.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
Got you not giving Cleveland any chance? Is Cleveland been
the best reckon in the Eastern Conference all yalong.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
No chance I'm giving him a chance to make it
to the conference finals. It's just I'm what I've been
leaning on. Dontavin Mitchell and Darius Goaldan got to show me. Defensive,
they gotta show me because they're going to get picked on.
Speaker 4 (33:38):
And just like Steph Curry, it took Steph Curry think
about this and think about this.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
It took Steph.
Speaker 4 (33:44):
Curry to his fourth championship for him actually to buckle
down and defend like put on muscle. And when they
had that series against the Celtics, they were trying to
exploit Steph. They were trying to old stuff Al Horford
on them. Steph curried down there holding his damn ground,
not giving up, done getting stops, and I was like, oh, yeah,
(34:07):
he wonted. I don't know if Donovan Mitchell and Darris
Galdin got that in there. And you're gonna have to
have that in you because every single person on the
Boston Celtics in the start and five and then the
six include now Horford could do what they'll say, could
take your ass to that low block.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
No doubt, Big Perk love you, Appreciate you, brother, show
you for a few hours, my man, FNBA countdown.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
Man, we'll talk later, Okay later, Brother.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
No doubt, one and only Big Perk Kendrick Perkins Man.
I love that brother, so your true, true friend, and
I love working with him. Brother, smartest hell knows his basketball.
Like he said, he talks slow, but he's smart as hell.
It is the truth. That's the best thing he's ever
said about himself. Absolute, absolutely true. Can't wait to start
covering these playoffs with that brother. Make no mistake about
an NBA countdown. Me and Mann Big Perk together.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
We love it. We absolutely love it.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
My next guest is a six time Emmy Award winning
actor known for memorable roles in the films like What's
Love Got to Do With It? The Matrix, Remember ABC's Blackish.
The man's been here before. He's one of the greatest
actors in American history as far as I'm concerned, and
it is an honor and a privilege to have him
(35:28):
back to one and only Lawrence Fishburne is on the
show right now. What's going on? Big time? How are
you managed everything? I'm listening. I can't wait to talk
to you. I can't wait to talk to you about
Sneaks in a second. But I mean, I'm just looking
at you. You've been doing a lot of work.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Man.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
You're supposed to be climbing up there, and you're supposed
to be you're supposed to be itching towards retirement. I mean,
you're working more than most people, Lawrence. I mean, what's
going on, man? What's up?
Speaker 2 (35:55):
Hey? Somebody gotta pay for the retirement? Baby?
Speaker 1 (36:00):
You got bills to pay, right, you got.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
The bills to pay ted.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
That's right. I definitely get you. I understand that, loud
and clear. Let's get to your new project, all right.
You know, the Sneaks. It's an animated sports comedy you
are producing. What's it all about?
Speaker 5 (36:18):
Talk to me about It is an animated thing that
we did with a lot of really talented people, Martin Lawrence,
Anthony Mackie. And it's about a pair of sneakers, and
the sneakers come alive and talk. It's the journey of
a pair of sneakers. A twenty fours that are brother
(36:39):
and sister and they get separated. They've been raffled off
at a gala at the Guggenheim in New York and
a young kid wins them, and the sneakers get separated
and a lot of chaos ensues. But it's a really
funny buddy movie about these two sneakers, an old head,
an old school sneaker and a brand new sneaker who's
(37:00):
like the hotness that everybody wants, and an odyssey of
them trying to get back to each other throughout New
York City.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
It's great.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
Well, listen, let me remind somebody and names you. You
just gave a couple of Mont Lawrence, you know, Anthony Mackie, Macy,
Gray's in there, Chloy Bailey's there, La is there, Quavo,
Rico rodri even the One and Only see CEP three
ce P three Chris Paul was a great pickup, no question,
no doubt. But what was this your idea? Was this
(37:30):
your idea or did somebody don't know? But I'm one
of the producers. I was, I was brought on board.
Uh my my partner and I Helen Sugland at Cinema gypsy.
She brought the piece to me and and she really
believed it, and I was like, Yeah, this is really
kind of interesting.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
We haven't seen this before.
Speaker 5 (37:46):
Like we've seen talking airplanes and talking cars, but we
ain't seen talking sneaks.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
I've heard a lot of things about I've heard a
lot about you throughout the years, but the one thing
I've never heard is that you were a big sports fan.
So I'm wondering, what was it about this particular idea
that appealed to you so much? Because I know that
you're forward thinking and you're a visionary. What was it
about this idea that appealed to you so much?
Speaker 5 (38:11):
Although I'm not a sports fan, I grew up in
New York, you know, in the sixties and the seventies,
and I'm not even a sneaker head, but I get it,
like I get sneaker culture, even as somebody who doesn't
really participate in it in that way. I used to
have friends who would see me and they when they
(38:32):
would see me wearing sneakers, they'd be surprised because for
a long time I just didn't wear them, and that
wasn't like a conscious choice. But there is something about
sneaker culture that I do understand and that I do
connect with. I'm always I've always been a big animation fan.
So anything animated always has my interest.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
And why have you been a big animated animation fan?
I am one too, But I'd like to know what
is it about it that appeals to you? You somebody
is star studied as you are, as accomplished as you are.
What is it about animation that does it for you?
Speaker 2 (39:06):
The thing about animation is growing up.
Speaker 5 (39:10):
Listening to There's one actor in particular who's probably one
of the greatest voice actors of all time, and that
was the late great Mel Blank. You know, Mel Blank
voiced bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck and fog Horn, Leghorn
and Porky Pig and Martin the Marshan and I can
keep going. So just as an actor, he had a
(39:35):
kind of skill and versatility that I.
Speaker 2 (39:38):
Always aspired to.
Speaker 5 (39:40):
But also, you know, just as a as as an actor,
being able to create characters with your voice and work
with you know, illustrations, to work with artists renderings of characters,
that's just that's.
Speaker 2 (39:58):
Just fun for me.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
Larsa. You reflect on your career and the illustrious career
that you've had. If you had to really really sit
down and think about anything that you wish you would
have done, something that might be on your bucket list,
something that you missed out on. I can't imagine that
you haven't done, because it seems like you've done every
damn thing. But is there something that you haven't done
(40:22):
in your career that you wish you had done? Project
anything like that.
Speaker 5 (40:26):
There's more than one thing on my career that I
wish that I have done that I haven't done. But
I try not to dwell on things that I haven't done.
You know, I don't think that's a smart thing to do.
I think it's much healthier to look forward and try to,
you know, get to do some of those things, or
do a version of those things you know, perhaps you miss.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
That's where I'm going. I'm sorry I asked the question wrong,
because I'm thinking something that you haven't done that you
still in line to do, like it ain't finished, Like
you just haven't done it yet, but you really doesn't.
Speaker 5 (40:59):
Want to do it. There's a lot of stuff I
haven't done that I you know that I would like
to do that I will get to do. Uh and
and I think it's it's also very important for me two,
you know, do the work that I.
Speaker 2 (41:14):
Need to do before I start talking about it. You know.
So I'm I'm going to manifest something.
Speaker 5 (41:18):
I got to get into the visualization of it, you know,
and this isn't the platform for that, This isn't the
space for that.
Speaker 2 (41:26):
Got you, you.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
Know, totally understand, Totally understand. I want to get into
something else too.
Speaker 5 (41:32):
Because there's involved things that I want to do that
I hope to do that I envision myself doing and
I'm working towards doing.
Speaker 2 (41:39):
Yes, totally understand.
Speaker 1 (41:41):
I want to get into a new project, you know,
one of your new projects. Actually it's not a new project.
I wanted to discuss your recent appearance on the PBS
Show because I was I was, I was reading something
about that Finding your Roots, hosted by Lewis Games, and
I understand it was very very revealing as it pertained
to you. You like talking about that for a second,
(42:03):
tell me sure what about you or what that experience
was like for you?
Speaker 3 (42:06):
Please?
Speaker 1 (42:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (42:07):
What was that about?
Speaker 1 (42:08):
What happened?
Speaker 2 (42:09):
It was a huge gift.
Speaker 5 (42:10):
I mean I basically was, you know, I got enough
information visa the DNA to actually find out who my
biological father was. As it turns out, mister Fishburne was
not my biological father, although he was my dad and
he was wonderful dad. You know, he showed up for
(42:31):
me in ways that were important, and he gave me
a great name, mister fishburn and I'm grateful to him
and his memory. But at the same time, I just
discovered that my biological father was a gentleman named William
Siegelbohannon who was born and raised in the city of Chicago,
(42:55):
and he passed away sadly in twenty seventeen before I
was able to get.
Speaker 2 (42:59):
To meet him.
Speaker 5 (43:00):
But yeah, it was a huge gift because I have
I have a whole new family. I have siblings I
did not know I had, and other people in my
lineage that I did not know about.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
And what's that?
Speaker 1 (43:14):
And what's that like? When you know, you walk up
to people and they come up to you and and
suddenly their family you know, yeah, well you know, I mean,
I mean, what what what is that like?
Speaker 5 (43:26):
Listen, Stephen, the reality of it in terms of you know,
our culture and our history as people of color in
this country.
Speaker 2 (43:34):
This is not new stuff. This is not new.
Speaker 5 (43:38):
You know the history of our families, and our family
history is as.
Speaker 2 (43:42):
Complicated as this country. So it's not new.
Speaker 5 (43:47):
It's something that happened to me, and I'm not the first,
won't be the last, And I'm just grateful that I
got a chance, you know, even at this, you know, mom,
in my life, you know, shall we call it the
third act of my life or whatever it is, to
meet people who are related to me and and who
(44:11):
love and embrace me. Just based on that alone, it's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (44:19):
I feel you. I just I just think about I
think about how beautiful that is in the way that
you describe, and it almost like gives you a new
lease on life. That's how I would take it anyway,
in a very very positive way. Of course, That's how
I look at it, and no question about it. So I'm
happy for you about it. Let me get back to
the business of you from from the standpoint of this
spot thriller, it's already out called The Amateur, starring alongside
(44:39):
Roby Mallock. Talk about the The Amateur. Talk about that
film for a second and what your role in that is.
Speaker 5 (44:45):
Yeah, So it's me and Rommy Malik Rummy Mallick plays
a CIA analyst whose wife gets killed in a hostage
type situation. He wants to seek vengeance. He goes to
the people at the CIA and says, you got to
train me be in the field operative. So they have
me as a colonel who comes in to train him.
And I immediately instruck by how inept I think he
will be at field operations. Uh a little movie that
(45:14):
I did with Romney, who I adore. He's so talented,
he's so interesting and so smart, and he's one of
the producers. And uh, we we think the movies, you know,
we think the movie is great, and a lot of
people seem to think the same thing.
Speaker 2 (45:29):
So I got you.
Speaker 1 (45:31):
Well listen, I gotta let you go. I gotta run myself.
I can't thank you enough for giving me some time
to talk to Just always wonderful to talk to you.
You know, I'm a I'm a huge fan, as I
have been for decades with your wonderful work. Man, It's
a lot of the privilege to talk to you.
Speaker 5 (45:45):
I'm coming to New York student to do something and
I want you to come and see me.
Speaker 2 (45:49):
I'll let you know about it.
Speaker 1 (45:51):
Please let me know about it, absolutely, brother, You take
it easier right, Lawrence, than my man, God, bless, God bless.
Speaker 2 (45:58):
Take you my best.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
Thanks to the great Lawrence Fishburn. Sneaks is in theater's
nationwide April eighteenth, and the Amateur is out now, as
we just heard us say, so be sure to check
out both of them. Please, it's Lawrence Fishburn. Why wouldn't you?
Why wouldn't you? I ain't even bring up miss in
the Possible Three because that brother was good in that movie,
great in that movie. You know, I've always watched Lawrence
Fishburn movies. I'm just letting y'all know I ain't faking
(46:21):
the funk. That brother's real. He's something special
Host
Stephen A. Smith
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