April 21, 2025 • 56 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 (00:11):
What's up, everybody. Welcome to the latest edition of The
Stephen A. Smith Show, coming at you as I love
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(00:32):
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(00:53):
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(01:17):
com to get yourself a copy. Once again, that is
straight Shooter book dot com to get yourself a copy. Now,
let's get to the NBA. In the opening weekend of
the NBA Playoffs, we saw some tight games and some
blowouts in both the East and the Western Conference, and
I've got the perfect person to break it all down,
Ladies and gentlemen. He's a former head coach and an
(01:39):
analyst on NBA TV and Serious ExM. The latter two
he's doing right now. He's a former head coach. Please
welcome the one and only Sam Mitchell to the show.
What's up?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Sam?
Speaker 1 (01:48):
How you doing? Bro?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Another day above dirt? My man, he don't get much monte.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
I got you well, listen, listen. I like my life.
I like to live a long and healthy life, so
I got to keep myself alive by making sure I
do the obvious. Why even get into anything with you?
How's the wife? How's the family? I can't have them
saying I ain't asked about it? How's everybody doing.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
They're doing good? Man, Thank you for asking, because you
know the first thing they're gonna ask is, did he
ask about me?
Speaker 1 (02:15):
That's right, that's right because they know I call you
all the time because you one of the people that
just teach me more and more about basketball, and we
talk about it. We've been talking about it because we've
known each other for so many years. Sam, I gotta
admit to you, I got the Lakers winning this series
against Minnesota. I knew that Minnesota was I knew that
Minnesota was gonna win some games, but I didn't expect
Minnesota to walk into Crypto dot Com Arena in LA
(02:37):
and whip their ass. I did not see that coming,
Sam Mitchell, why did that happen?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Well, first of all, the leader of that team is
the biggest pelp that you can name, Anthony Edwards. I mean, dude,
he's not afraid of anything. And look a lot of
guys have tried to sell what Anthony Edwards is. You
know that persona but they tried to sell it, but
that's not who they really were. That's who this kid is, Steven.
I mean, he likes those challenges. You know. I listened
(03:05):
to you earlier this morning on ESPN, and you talked
about when he went at Kevin Durant, how many people,
how many basketball players have really win at Kevin Durant
on the basketball court, I find and give up six
seven inches in the meantime and do the work that
he did against Phinnich. And so I look at this
young man, and he's not afraid of Luca, He's not
(03:26):
afraid of Lebron. He relishes the challenge. And then when
you look at Minnesota, they're big, they're athletic, and they're younger,
and these guys have been through those battles before. And
then they got a coaching Chris French, who I loved
that said before the series, I'm not gonna match down
to the Lakers. We're a big team. We have our
most successful when we're big. I live by that philosopher
(03:49):
stephen A. You know this, you and I taught basketball
all the time for the past twenty five years, my brother.
And if your best lineup is your big team, why
am I gonna go down and match down to you?
Where my best lineup is big? Why am I gonna
go small when I know I'm playing your.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Game, playing the devil's advocate. My answer to that would be,
or I assume other people's answer to that would be, well,
you did, and you had some success with that last
year until you ran into Luca when he was a
Dallas Maverick and he beat y'all to death in the
conference finals, which propelled the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
Whereas now Luca's in the Lakers uniform and instead of
Kyrie Irving as a high kick, he's got Lebron James
(04:28):
as his guy. So I do answer that.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
The difference is they're big, but they're different. Julius Rander
asks a different element to this basketball team. Think about
it now, carl Anthon Towns was a score, He was
a finisher, He could pass and make plays. But what
does Julius Rander love the most? The biggest thing he
get criticized is he wants the ball. He wants to
be a facilitator, he wants to make plays. That's how
(04:54):
Julius Random feels he's worked as a basketball player. You play,
some guys get off back in a night, like Chauncey
Billups said, Camelo needed to score. The other guys get
off by having to have the ball facilitator. That's who
Julius Round is. And if you go back to game won,
this is what Mester Laker's so but that's small all lineup.
Austin reeds Man, I felt sorry for him. Julius Randall
(05:16):
and nov Reed was just beating him. But Jesus out
of them just backing him down, beating him up. And
then this is the thing, Stephen Ay, that you know
the game within the game that people that the television
and the commentators don't talk about. Every time that ball
go up on the glass. Austin Reed, Lebron, James and
Luca done. Gotta put a body on somebody. These guys
are younger, bigger, stronger, more athletic. And you know this
(05:40):
when you leaning on somebody for forty eight minutes, at
about forty two minutes of that game, your body's gonna
give in and give out. And so to me, people
did not think about all they get caught up in Lebron, Luca,
Austin Reed, the skill said, but they don't understand this
game is gonna be played in an alley. And Chris
Chris Finch is not gonna let this game going down
(06:00):
the court. He's gonna make a half court game because
he's gonna make the Lakers be physical. And when the
Lakers match up big, they're too little.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
So what you're trying to say, bro?
Speaker 2 (06:10):
I picked Minnesota off the rip, and I didn't think, yes,
go back in and as scales when we made our predictions,
and I told Gals guls, this is not gonna be
a tough, soft, hard series for Minnesota. It may go
six because Minnesota bigger, more athletic, and understand something. This
Minnesota team went to the Western Conference finals last year.
(06:32):
They had a taste and then look at their depth,
their bitch. And then I'm telling you, man, Austin Reves
got his hands for JJ Redick, and that coach is
that gotta figure out how do they want to match
up with Minnesota? How are you gonna Everybody kept saying,
how is Minnesota gonna match up? Think about this. Luca
had thirty seven. Now what look at this, look at
(06:53):
the game.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Well, I don't expect Lebron to have nineteen. Again, I expect.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Five, and they still would have got beat. Right if
I can count, Lebron could have had twenty five, twenty six,
twenty seven, they still would have got beat.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
So as a result of that, you're anticipating that the
Lakers are going home in the first round. And if
Lebron James and the Lakers go home in the first
round to the Minnesota Timberwolves, what does that say about
the Lakers, Sam Mitchell, what did we think that if
that happens?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Stephen, you know this, my brother. The playoffs are by matchups.
If you get the wrong draw, if you draw the
wrong team in the first round, that can be a
nightmare for you. I always go back to this analogy.
You remember when the Clippers were the worst team in
the NBA for twenty years. Well, when I played for
the Minnesota timber Woods, we could not beat the Clippers.
And when we finally clinched the playoff birth we beat
(07:46):
the Clippers in the Old Arena in LA and we
were celebrating and people were like, y'all are celebrating and
you beat the Clippers. Well, we had not beat the
Clippers in three years. They just had our number. And
I'm afraid to say this to you, Stephen, A. Minnesota
was the worst team that the Lakers could draw in
the first round.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Because of the size and the physicality.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Well, think about it that Lucas still got thirty seven,
but Minnesota is still gonna pick him up full court.
That's still long in the athletic Luca gotta work to
get his thirty seven. And then this is what the
Lakers did? What did they revert back to? This is
the problem. When you have Luke and Lebron. It's so
easy as a coach to just give them the ball
and watch them go to work. And then the regular
(08:27):
season that gets you a lot of wins. But in
the playoffs, when I got time to set my defense
and match up and focus on one team, and I say, okay,
Luca can get his thirty five, Lebron can get his
twenty five. Who else is gonna score? We're gonna lock
everybody else down. So guys who are my primary defenders
on those two guys, don't worry about it. If they
(08:49):
get theirs, we just not gonna let everybody else get theirs.
And then guess what we're gonna do. We're gonna pound
them on the glass when that ball go up. We're
gonna make Luca and Lebron do dirty work. We're gonna
make them box out, make them rebound, and they're Julius.
When you get the ball against Austin Reed, I want
you to beat him up with the basketball, take away
his legs and make Austin Reeds start thinking about defense
(09:12):
and rebounding other than scoring.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
If Lebron goes home in the first round, you know
there's a goat conversation that keeps circulating that all of
us are tied of talking about. You know where I stand.
It's Michael Jordan all day an all time, if we're
in the same ever, the whole nine. But if he
first round, right, well you do got it. But the
point is is that, you know, my question to you
(09:37):
is that when where does that leave the discussion, whether
it's on him, whether it's him and Luca and what
they'll do in to the future, whether it's the future
of the Los Angeles Lakers. What would a first round
exit with the Los Angeles Lakers mean in your estimation?
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Well, I think, look, they've had a very successful first season.
I think JJ Reddick has exceeded expectations as a coach.
The young he is improven. The young man has proven
he knows how to coach and more importantly, he knows
how to manage difficult personality. When you're coaching Lebron Luke
and others. And then look, the man coached this team
through catastrophic wildfires, lost his own home that he was
(10:15):
living there. So look, my respect for JJ Redick and
what he's done as a first year coach is beyond magic. Look, man,
I'm a Darbnham, He's a friend of mine. I didn't
like the way Darvin was fired, but look, when you
look at the proof is in the putting, JJ Redick
has done a better job. So we can lay that
argument to bed right now. But at the end of
the day, the playoffs are about matchups, and the Lakers
(10:36):
got the short end and the shitty end of the stick.
My brother by being Minnesota. Because again, and I hear
you say this all the time that after that was
dude like him or love him or whatever or dislike him.
He's a different kind of dude. Man. This stuff that
people talk about, all this stuff don't bother him. This
is a different kind of animal. Man. This team is
gonna take on the personality of one or two people,
(10:58):
either your head coach or your best player. And this
team has taken on Anthony Edward's personality. And look at
the swagger. Look at how they walked into that arena,
and Steven Ay, this is the thing that I was
looking at the whole night. It was never a doubt
in their mind or their body language. When they stepped
on that floor. They played like acting like look at
(11:18):
us that well eight for twenty two. He did have
a great game. Now think about.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Mister Porter because of the calves, the cramps.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
So think about when he goes fifteen for twenty two
what it's gonna look like. Because he's gonna have a
night like that. But this team is confident because they
know who they are. Steven Ay, and I'm just telling
you the Laker's gonna have to try to match up.
And when they do that, Jackson Hayes just too small.
He just not looks nothing in pads.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Let me move on to the next subject. I'll say
this last point about Anthony Edwards, other than he looks
Jordanskue at times and back to back years, if he
knocks Kevin Durant and then Lebron James and Luka Dancik
out in the first round, that's saying a lot. We
can't ignore that. We just can't ignore that. Let me
go on to a match where it isn't necessarily a nightmare,
and that's what the Golden State Warriors. They ended up
(12:05):
picking Houston. We know that Houston's bigger and longer than
more athletic. They are better rebounding team, They're formidable defensively,
but they struggled to score, and that haunted them last
night because when it really really counted, they didn't have
Steph Curry and they didn't have Jimmy Buckets as in
Jimmy Butler as in playoff. Jimmy, your thoughts about what
you've seen in Game one of this series thus.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Far not surprising. Look, I love Houston. I love Emmy Dooka,
what he's built, the culture of the defense. But they
can't score. They struggled to score the basketball. And I've
said it before the trade deadline for all the people,
ah Houston should wait. I thought it was one or
two people. Houston should have rolled the dice home. They
either should have win that Kevin Durant or Jimmy Butler.
Think about Kevin Durant or Jimmy Butler or Jimmy Butler
(12:48):
on this Houston team right now? Adding a legit guy,
Look at what Jimmy Butler has done in the playoffs.
Think about this, stephen A. You hold the Golden State
Warriors to under one hundred points and they still beat
the breaks off you. So if you're Houston, if I
hold them to under one hundred, but yet I can
only get to eighty eighty five, that is not a
(13:08):
good thing. So I think, look, it's square Houston right
in the face this offseason after they get beat by
four or five and four or five games by Golden State,
which is not gonna be an embarrassment because because they
they probably understood let's wait to see how this thing
was gonna pan out. But once they get beat, expect
them to go all in hard if Kevin Durant becomes available,
(13:30):
because if you add Kevin Durant to that team, that
physicality and the way they defend, they just need another
guy that makes everybody attention centers around him, which would
make everybody else on that team better.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
If you are the Houston Rockets, I think right now,
if the series goes long, you keep the team intact
in all likelihood because you're just young and you went
to you fell to an experienced team. If you continue
to struggle this way offensively, and glaringly and Jalen Green
(14:04):
can't do it for you like he couldn't do it
last night. Then I think if the Houston, if the
Phoenix Suns called and they say, listen, you want Kevin Durant,
we want our picks back, and Jalen Green, I think
you're the Houston Rockets. You got to strongly, strongly consider
that even though Kevin Durant is thirty five years of
(14:24):
age to that you say.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
What I say, yeah, because look, you're still keeping a court.
Look I coach Jalen Green in high school. I love
Jalen Green and if I love Imihdoka, but I will
put the ball more in Jalen Green's head as this series.
I will put him in a lot of picking rolls
and let him come off that high screen and row,
which would fourth Golden State to trap him, because if
you switch on to Jalen Green, he can break you down.
(14:47):
He made the move last night where he driven out
the shot clock and still made a reverse layup in
the against the gusts of the Golden State Warriors defense.
I thought was an unbelievable move. But he needs more
opportunities with the floor spread. But that being said, Look,
if you're Houston, you're gonna have to listen to it,
because again, what you may realize is that you're one
prolific score away from going deep into the playoffs and
(15:08):
having a chance to win the championship. Think about this.
Look at what OKC did the mepherence last night. Do
you honestly think if you have the inability to score,
what will OKC do to you and you can't score
the rock?
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Damn?
Speaker 2 (15:21):
I told people, hey man, people kept saying about oh, okay,
see don't have experience. I said, that can be negative,
and that can be a positive because sometimes the best
thing you know is what you don't know because you're
not afraid of it. It just go play.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Let me get let me, let me throw this trick,
Let me throw this question to you, this interesting question
to you. If you're Kevin Durant and you have a choice,
do you want to go to Houston or do you
want to go to OKAC? Not that OKAC would do it,
but they got everybody's picks. It seems like, I mean,
they got nothing but assets, and Phoenix is in desperate
need of them because they don't have a first round
pick available to themselves. Until two thousand and thirty. So
my attitude is is, if you're Kevin Durant and you
(15:57):
had a choice with these two teas Houston, Okay, se
considering the assets that they have available, where you think
he should go? Who should want to go?
Speaker 2 (16:06):
First? Thing I would do before I would consider Okay
See going back there, I would pick up the phone
and want to talk to Shay, because what that young
man has done at Okay. See the way he's brought
this team together, where all those guys pull for each other,
love or any and I know people who know Shay personally.
He loves Okay. See. He wants to win a championship
(16:27):
for Okay. See. So if I'm Kevin Durant, I gotta
make sure it's okay with him. Second, just looking at
it on from apples to autist, I would say, Houston,
from this standpoint, you got a coach in Email Doka
who's gonna hold everybody accountable. You got a coach in
Emmy Doka who gonna play you at that small forward
position because he don't want you playing that power forward
position where you're getting beat up every night when you
(16:48):
got to box out and rebound and all that dirty work.
I don't. I kept selling people at this day just
Kevin Durant game. You gotta keep him clean. You can't
let him get sacked. Don't play him at the power
or play him at the small four. So I know
if he goes to Houston in May, Dooker, who played
the game, it's gonna definitely use him the right way.
And he can minimize Kevin Durant getting beat up and
(17:11):
beat down because he plays him at that small forward
of at two guard position, where all he has to
really worry about his garden perimeter guys is scoring the rock.
So I would say, from a pure basketball standpoint, either
one of those places, but I would lean a little
bit towards Houston.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
How the hell was Phoenix this bad this year with
Booker Durant, Bill, you're thirty six and forty six. I
know they were like three and fourteen without Kevin Durant
missing the seventeen games, so that he missed I get
that part. But Frank Vogel, you're a former coach, not
just a former player, but the former coach. Frank Gogel.
Fogl wins a championship for the Lakers in twenty twenty
comes there one year in Phoenix, he gets booted out.
(17:48):
Mike Budenhozho wins a championship for Milwaukee against Phoenix twenty
twenty one. He comes there for one year, he gets
booted out. And I'm looking at these guys. Are you
gonna look at yourself? Coaches getting fired left and right,
and in two years on the job, ishbi a matter?
Speaker 2 (18:04):
It'sh be A.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
The owner for the Phoenix Suns gets rid of Monty
Williams who took him to the finals and two championship coaches,
and you've got Kevin Durant, You've got Bradley Beal with
a no trade clause, and you've got Devin Booker. Well,
how the hell is this situation.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Is bad because Stevens They then fill out the rest
of the roster around them properly. You're playing Kevin Durant
at the power forward at thirty six years old, with
the injuries that he's had. Really, do you really want
Kevin Durant? You want Kevin Durant got to go in
there and get ten twelve rebounds every night, boxing out,
hitting people. No, I want kd on the wing, playing
the two or the three. I want him shooting jumpers.
(18:40):
I want him posting a smaller guys shooting over I mean,
then when they put a bigger guy on it, I
don't care if we're cross checking. Coach as Oh, we're
cross checking. That's why he's got to go to big guys.
So what let them worry about us? Man? You gotta
when you got three all star caliber players, you walking
into the building with a bazooka, not a handgun, use
it second players. Everybody's got to know that role. I
(19:02):
would have went to Bradley Bill from day one and say, look,
you're gonna finish games, but I need to balance out
my roster. I'm neat, I'm gonna bring you off the bench. Right,
this is about competing and winning a championship. You made
your money, You've done everything in this league, but win.
Don't you want to win? Right? And so sometimes as
a coach, you gotta help players make the decision. I
(19:23):
kept hearing, well, they're letting Bradley decide. And no, that's
not leadership. Your job is not to be like, but
to lead. Your job is to be respected than to
be liked. Right, So lead this team put people in
that place that right there would have made Kevin Durant
and Devin Book and sit up in their shoes, and
it would have made everybody us in that locker room
stand at attention because they understand Coach Budd would have
(19:46):
been in the complete control. Then you build that roster
around him and you give everybody a role. Y'all job
is for these two guys to go score, keep them clean,
set screens, do the dirty work. The same thing we
did in Minnesota around KG. KG didn't have to get
griming until we got to the playoffs. During the regular season.
That was our job. I played for the NM pace
(20:06):
of Regie Miller. Regie Miller didn't have to get griming
until we got to the playoffs. Doing the regular season.
That was our job. So your role players gotta understand
their role, and they got to cherish it because you
got Book and Charac Durant and then you got Bill
coming off to this. So I just thought it was
because it was a better team. The coaches go in
there and try to have a conversation with people instead
(20:27):
of directing people and coaching people. And I tell people
this all time, Steven, though you know this, we as
coaches and basketball players our whole life We've been told
what what to do, what time to do it, and
how to do it. And I think coaches when they
come into a situation where supersars, they take a step
back and they get a little tentative and they start
(20:49):
negotiating instead of coaching.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
You brought up grinding, you know, grind to come playoff
time or whatever. I've been lamenting the fact that my
Knicks haven't looked like that this year and looked like
the same team that they were last year when they
had Randall before he got hurt, and then of course
you got Josh Hard and you got you know, I
mean Hartenstein before he departed for OKC, et cetera. But
they showed up in the playoffs against the Pistons and
they going to twenty one or nothing running that fourth quarter.
(21:15):
I like what I saw from my New York next
I'm very very pleased. This series, however, is something that
is one that I think could go seven games. Real quick,
your thoughts about it.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
I think you're right. I think this is a tough
matchup for the Knicks. Look, Detroit Pistons are not afraid
of the Knicks. They had success against him in the
regular season, and you could tell the way that game started.
And halfway through that game, Detroit kept picking control. The
Knicks just kept fighting. I think for the Knicks, they
got they figured out their formula how to play against Detroit.
He cut Aham, there's no one can guard him. And
(21:46):
when they put him at that high screening row and
bring that screen up high and he gets downhill at
seek take, it's a knight there for the Knicks. But
I think if you're the Knicks, you call Anthony Towns.
I was happy for car His defense was great. He
made some timeless but all the Knicks players showed up.
That was a great win for the Knicks right there.
O Giannanoby has been light side for him. If the
(22:07):
Knicks can beat the Pistons and the Five in about
six games and gain confidence, if the Knicks play like
they played in Game one going throughout the rest of
the playoffs, then I would believe this version of the
Knicks can scare Cleveland or the Bosston Celtics.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
I don't think they could scare Boston. Cleveland guests, I
don't think they can scare Boston. I think Boston is
just too low to got to. You can beat up
a little bit and I know get that with Jaylen
Brown and now Jason Tatum. So there's some concerns. I'm
just talking about the only reason.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
For this, and I know your Knicks be my only reason.
I give you a little pause for this. Remember, carl
Anfter the town's greatest assets offense. In order to beat
the Boston Celtics, you gotta have got to score. Guys
that you gotta score. You ain't beat there playing because
they can score. The Knicks can put five guys on
the floor that you gotta guard. Now they couldn't do
(22:59):
that in the past.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
I got you, I got you. I gotta move real
quick with these last couple of questions. Let me stay
within the Eastern Conference right now. I don't need to
talk about Boston Orlando right now. How much of a
legitimate threat are the Cleveland Cavaliers. I love Mitchell, I
love the way what I'm seeing from Garland Mobiley has
really elevated his level of play. Atkinson has really proven
himself to be a really quality coach. You know, they've
(23:22):
got some size, They defend the rebound. The pickup of
Hunter DeAndre Hunter was a big, big deal. I think
that if Cleveland handles their business in these first two
rounds and they face Boston in the conference finals, which
were all anticipating. I don't think it's a foe gone
conclusion that Boston gets to the finals, even though they
should be the favorites.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Your thoughts before the season. During the season, I kept saying,
before the trade does my only concern about Cleveland at
the four position, they wasn't big enough. When they made
that DeAndre Hunter trade, I said, okay, look out, he's
six eight and he can score and shoot the three.
And then when you look at Evan Mobley, who's sixteen,
who can defend? Perime the guys where Boston beat you
(24:02):
is though book can Ford was Tatum and Brown, no
one can match up to him. Now if you go
on the court and you put six eight DeAndre Haunter
and sixteen six' eleven the other kid out there that's
gonna be thirteen maybe ALL. Nba now we can. Defend
and this is the. Difference Evan mobley And DeAndre haunter
can go back at you. Offensively, Now so Now tatum
(24:24):
And brown will have to play some defense and they're
gonna have to box Out. Mobiley so this is a different.
Animal for The Boston celtics. DOWN i think when they
Added DeAndre, hunter that gave me a little bit more
life to, say hm, hm there longer at that two
at that two to three, position they can compete a little.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Bit two more questions BEFORE i let you go real, Quick,
SAM i love the. IDEA i love Seeing Damian lillard
And haliburton going at. It, Verbally i'm thinking, That i'm
loving thinking That Damian lillar is gonna come. BACK i
want to see what him And yiannis on the court
(25:02):
together for the first time in the postseason could do to.
Me if they win the, series we should be. Excited
If dame comes back and they, lose who knows What
joannis might want to do with his future looking At
milwaukee being who they.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Are your, THOUGHTS i think, one If dame can come,
back he's got to come. Back janni's. Knees, TWO i
Picked milwauk in this, series, right even though going against
my better judge after game. Won but if they're not
gonna win this series Unless dame comes back and Be
Dame lillard absolutely AND i think he's gonna come. BACK
i don't Think dame is the type person that's gonna
run his mouth knowing that he can't write the check
(25:38):
to try to back it. Up SO i think When
dame was running his mouth At halliburn and he was
kind of letting them, know all, Right, junr you gonna
see what the kind of series.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
He, Said i'm gonna bust your.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Ass so WHEN i say that you could playing, on
you're gonna see me in this. Series AND i would
be shocked if it Ain't game.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
Two and you believe they'll. Win If Damian lilla, comes,
WELL i picked.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
HIM i picked, him you. Know But indy has been. Good.
Yep they can. Score, now that's the one thing about the.
Pace if they get any defense at, all they can
fight out.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Score, listen you're talking about. SLEEPING i snored On Kawhi.
LEONARD i didn't care what he was. DOING i didn't
care that he was averaging over twenty five in a
month Of. March you fifty the field forty percent from
three point. RANGE i, said call, me come playoff, time
let me see if he gonna be on the court.
Healthy sure, enough he was. There he was, there had
twenty two, points but was a no show at clutch,
(26:34):
time only attempted two shots only made one was a
non fact that committed two pivotal. Turnovers And Russell westbrook
was that energize Of bunny For, denver who had the
benefit Of Jamal murray And jokic in the lineup. Together
your thoughts about that series real. Quick we slept on The.
Clippers but coaching, again Tylu Jeff Van gundy is your defensive.
Coordinator james hard has been. Bawling got to give him loving.
(26:56):
Credit he is in foul. Trouble still had thirty two
and eleven The.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
CLIPPERS i think The clippers is the team that everybody's
picking right now to be the team that can come
out The west sneaky. Right but, Again Kawhi leonard is
gonna have to step. UP i think when you look
at the coach, Staff tyler is gonna have to tweak some.
Things he's gotta Get kawhi better than touches in different
areas of the floor because they have. It, Look denver
has no one that can really Guard Kawhi, leonard like
(27:20):
Like La clippers have anyone to guard The. Joker but
the two people that everyone slept on with The, clippers
and you said, It James harden and Zuba. Man zubak
has quietly become the fourth or fifth best center in THE.
Nba and when you look At James, harden look. Man
Without James harden in the seventy nine games and the
way he played this, year we would not be talking
(27:40):
about The. Clippers but to your, point you're, right they
gotta Get kawhi back to Being kawhi at the end
of the. Game but this series can definitely go seven
because these are two evil and matched. TEAMS i Think
Denver David artiman is gonna do a good. Job he
was on my staff In. Minnesota he's smart and people
forget the up and don't fall far from the. Tree his,
dad it's d invented The Rick adams and that Guy David.
(28:05):
Adams WHEN i was In, minnesota we ran the corner.
Offense the first day we put it, IN i, said D,
a put Your dadd's offense in because you grew up
sleeping with.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
It that's, right my. Man Sam, mitchell FORMER Nba coach
of The, year now doing great work ON NBA tv
and On SERIOUS XM Nba. Radio appreciate, you love, you,
Bro good to see, you.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
Man you don't tell people this people don't be shocked
when he ran for office DOWN i keep don't be
and not just something That ricky he ain't trying to
be mayor Of, Scranton. Pennsylvania were talking about presidency And
i'm gonna leave it at.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
That you got me on do. It you got you
know if whatever you, do BECAUSE i like, YOU i
like my money too, much SO i ain't doing. It
but IF i ever decided to do, It i'll make
sure you got to invite to The White. House you know.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
That i'm gonna be on your, committee all, right but.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
Man appreciate. It, Bro thank you one and. Only Yah
mitchell right here with STEVEN a right here on the
Stephen Ate Smith. Show coming. Up there's been another week
of bad headlines For Defense secretary Mister Pete. Haigseth his
Heg seth already on the hot. SEAT i, Mean President,
trump Make america safe. Again we have to Make america safe.
Again we have to have competence in everything. Else what's going, on,
(29:21):
Sir we'll dive into all of, that plus some quick
hitters On WrestleMania and the UPCOMING Nfl. Draft don't go.
Anywhere Is STEVEN. A smith in The house don't touch
that Doll you don't want to miss this next Sagment. Hight,
everybody listen up with all the big time sports action
(29:41):
that's happening each and every, Day The Stephen Nate Smith
show wants to make sure you are taking advantage of it.
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first five dollars, Lineup prizpects run your. Game welcome back
to The STEPHEN. A smith, show let's get To, WASHINGTON, dc,
please and the troubling headlines tied To Defense secretary Mister Pete.
Hegseth in the wake of the signal chat, controversy Heg
(30:44):
seth made moves to essentially close ranks around his senior.
Staff top Advisors Dan caldwell was escorted from The, pentagon
and soon After darren Sel nick. Followed that same, day
nearly every single member of the To God's Defense Digital
service announced they were resigning as the week. Progressed, again
(31:07):
we're talking about just one. Week last, week Heg seth
quote unquote reassigned his chief of staff and then asked
The pentagon's former top, Spokesperson John elliott to. Resign and
just this, weekend two sources TELLING Nbc news that Heg
sith used his personal phone to send information ABOUT us
military operations In yemen to a thirteen person signal group,
(31:33):
chat including his wife and his, brother and according to the,
report Heg seth did so after an aid warned him
to be careful not to share sensitive information on an
unsecured communication system before The yemen. Operation so, here just
to help y'all, out here are just three moves from
(31:55):
the past month that had many inside Of pentagon and
Around washington questioning his. Leadership it started With Signal, gate
Where hegseth tried to debunk the reporting through a vague
denial that, quote nobody was texting war plans end. Quote
then A Wall street journal reported That hegseth brought his,
wife a Former Fox news producer by the, way into
two meetings with foreign military counterparts where sensitive information was.
(32:19):
Discussed and, finally The pentagon set up a top secret
briefing by The joint chiefs Of staff On china For Elon,
musk who still has extensive business interest In. China according
to a former top, Spokesperson John, elliott The White house canceled
that meeting after learning about. It does this sound like
(32:41):
competence to? You thirteen person chat threat national security? Information
having your wife and brother on that text chain showing
up to certain, meetings which? Wife how that? Sound ladies and,
(33:06):
gentlemen now, SEE i don't want to sit up there
and get in The pete hagg. Set he served our country.
Honorably he was a weekend host On Fox. News ALL
i ever said, was how do you go from a
weekend host On Fox? News to overseeing on national defense
As defense, secretary overseeing three and a half million. People
(33:29):
how are you qualified to do? That how are you
qualified to do? That that's ALL i ever. Said i'm
not wishing anything bad on. Him i'm not wishing him to.
Fail him failing is us failing as a, nation which
endangers all of us when you're the secretary Of, Defense
i'm feeling you on. THAT i got that. Part What
i'm saying is more importantly than anything. Else it puts
(33:51):
us in a position where we've got to Question Donald,
trump The president of The United. States i'm going to
hire the Best i'm gonna have the best, staff the
most people working for, me the most qualified people working for.
Me they're gonna be better than anybody you've ever seen
in The american. History all of this other, stuff what about? That,
see your fealty and your loyalty to The president of
(34:14):
The United, states how you want to deify, him as
questionable as that may, be if not flat out pathetic
in the eyes of, others really is not the. Point
the point is why does your loyalty or feilty towards
him extend to such a degree that we want to
put on blinders when it comes to people when he
(34:36):
ain't have in his, cabinet it's a fair. Question when
the plane collided with the helicopter and lives were, Lost
god rest their wonderful souls in that crash months, ago
the first words out of trump mouth was to BLAME
dei diversity equity and. Inclusion, well, sir mister, president do
(34:58):
you have any evidence of?
Speaker 2 (34:59):
That?
Speaker 1 (34:59):
Oh, NO i had to go on NATIONAL tv and,
SAY deei really should stand for. It didn't earn it
as a force of, diversity equity and. Inclusion but when
you look at what's transpiring right, now particularly as it
pertains to our security in this country or for this,
(35:21):
country there's a reason to be. Alarmed why DO i say,
that because the hits keep on coming For President trump's cabinet. Chest,
Yesterday Homeland Security Secretary Christy noles had a perse stolen
at a restaurant IN. Dc inside the purse was a,
passport a driver's, license and government access, badge three thousand
dollars in, cash and blank, checks according to the. Reports
(35:43):
according TO Usa, today, specifically The Secret services launched an
investigation to trace any use of her financial. Assets ladies and,
gentlemen pause for a, second pretty, please sugar on. Top,
dude is The secretary Of defense making these? Mistakes AND
(36:05):
i had a home land security just got, robbed, pickpocketed
not even Pickpocket they stole a, purse secret service around
the people like. That they still stole a. Purse how
hell it? Happened protecting the, country you can't protect yourself
from some of the most basically rudimentary things that you
(36:28):
should be able to avoid letting. Happen by the, way
this comes from the same. CABINET i, mean have you
Seen pete hakseeth speak in the. Past do you remember
when the whole email scandal Involving Hillary clinton that a
lot of people on the left, believe course of the
election because a week before a week or two before the,
(36:48):
Election James, comey then the head of THE, fbi decide
to announce that there was an investigation into emails That
Hillary clinton was using on a private, server thereby threatening
national security in the eyes of critics who wanted to
take her. Down, well guess, What pete Hegg saith the
(37:10):
Same pete Hegik. Sethsman we're talking about the Saint pete
Heek seth that got his wife and his brother in
text change with national security. Information Bet pete Heik, Seth
ladies and, GENTLEMEN i want to rewind the clock by
nine years when the Whole Hillary clinton thing was going,
down right prior to the, election lessen Of pete Hagg
seth talk About Hillary clinton at that particular moment in.
(37:32):
Time this Is pete Haik, seth and we are. Quoting
any security, professional, military government or otherwise would be fired
on the spot and criminally prosecuted for being so reckless
with this kind of. Information say, what say? What say?
What he actually said? That yes he, Did yes he.
(37:53):
Did he most certainly said. That put that Quarter peece
say Heyk seth up there. Again please put up on
that fullth screet. AGAIN i need thatbody to see. It
because this man who is The Defense secretary for The
United states Of, america who got busted exchanging information of
(38:14):
national security importance about The hoodies And yemen ultimately scheduled
to be bombed that same due set down About Hillary Rodal.
Clinton any security, professional, military government or otherwise would be
fired on the spot and criminally prosecuted for being so
(38:37):
reckless with this kind of. Information so that doesn't apply
to you, now, huh, sir.
Speaker 2 (38:45):
Not at.
Speaker 1 (38:45):
ALL i mean you just completely ensign on. This and
now you Got Homeland security secretary getting her. Personatched we
got The apartment Of defense And Homeland security being compromised
on personal levels involving security, matters and that, Too Donald
(39:09):
trump is telling us the trust without national. Security remember
What trump said About Hillary Rodham. Clinton this is going
to take a. Minute listen to the forty seventh president
of The United, states who he is, now when he
(39:30):
was in route to becoming the forty fifth president of
The United, states competing With Hillary Rodham clinton for the
election in twenty. Sixteen take a look At trump and
what his positions. Were let us, listen. PLEASE i think
the one.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
That you should really be apologizing, for and the thing
that you should be apologizing, for are the thirty three
thousand emails that you deleted and that you acid, washed
and then the two boxes of emails and other things
last week that were taken from an office and are now.
Missing And i'll tell you. WHAT i didn't think i'd say,
(40:06):
this But i'm going to say. It AND i hate
to say, it but IF i, WIN i am going
to instruct My Attorney general to get a special prosecutor
to look into your, situation because there has never been
so many, lies so much, Deception there has never been
anything like, it and we're going to have a special.
(40:27):
Prosecutor WHEN i, SPEAK i go out and. Speak the
people of this country are. Furious in my, opinion the
people that have been long term workers at THE fbi are.
Furious there has never been anything like this where emails
and you get a, Subpoena you get a, subpoena and
after getting the, subpoena you delete thirty three thousand emails
(40:49):
and then you ascid wash them or bleach, them as
you would, say a very expensive.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
Process so we're going to.
Speaker 3 (40:54):
Get a special prosecutor and we're going to look into,
it because you know, what people have been their lives
have been destroyed for doing one fifth of what you've.
Done and it's a disgrace and, honestly you ought to
be ashamed.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
Of, yourself needless to, Say Hillary. Rodham clinton followed that
up immediately by calling that a bunch of, lives encouraging
folks to fact check, her claiming that it was a complete, fabrication.
Etc and that was the same moment where she was
(41:28):
saying she, said thank, goodness somebody like him is not
our commander in chief and overseeing law enforcement in this.
Country and that was When trump, said, yeah because you'd
be in. Jail so that was the same you know
back and forth that happened in twenty. SIXTEEN i only
(41:50):
bring that up because Since trump is about law and,
order since he is about, competence since he is about,
transparency since he is about all of these, things what's
up with your? Peeps what's up with you, Know Christy.
Nolas that's not a fireable. Offense you're looking at The Secret?
(42:11):
Service how you let somebody snatch your. Pocketbook but in
the case Of pete hegseth to find out that his
wife and his brother no national security, clearance there was
a part of these these, communications and you've got national
(42:34):
security folks appalled by. That something has to be said about,
That something has to be done about. That now A
White house is calling it fake, news these reports that's
saying they're looking to replace. Him according to everybody That
i've spoken, to Because I've i've cultivated a few sources
In washington over the past few. Months of, course they
say that you, know Knowing, trump he'll probably stick With
(42:57):
pete Hegg seth just because now media is trying to
compel him to let him, go And trump doesn't want
to ever be seen as somebody who caves in to such. Pressure,
nevertheless that is the situation right. Now there are numerous
reports IN pr came out with Something White house called
the fake, NEWS cnn said, something others have said something
(43:18):
in regards To pete Haig seth maybe approaching his final
days as The secretary Of defense for The United. States
The White house, says, no that's not the. Situation we'll
see who's, right who's telling the, truth and who's. Wrong
we will find. Out but what's undeniable and undebatable is
that at this moment in, time the inexperience Of pete
(43:38):
Haig seth has. Shown and that's All i've been. Saying you,
know to go from a weekend host On Fox news
to be in The secretary Of defense for The United
states Of america is a bit extreme of a. Push
and when you're willing to do something like, that you
don't get to turn to everybody else and talk ABOUT
dei being a. Problem you, know you're supposed to be
(44:01):
especially you're the president of The United. States you're supposed
to be making sure that people in these positions are
qualified to do the. Job that should be a priority
just as. MUCH i wouldn't say, more because loyalty to
the president does. Matter you have to have people in
your cabinet that you can, Trust So i'm not going
to dismiss. That but equally as important is their competence
(44:25):
and their professionalism and their. Integrity and right now people
believe they've got a. Question look At Pete hegseth and
question all of. That and in terms of Your Homeland
security secretary and Your secretary Of defense both being embroiled
in security, issues that doesn't seem like The president of
(44:49):
The United states has picked has picked the very best
and the very finest for the. Jobs it's All i'm.
Saying it's All i'm. Saying coming, Up John cena Reigned
supreme again at THE, wwe and what the hell is
going on With Shador sanders and his reported draft. Status
i'll get into all of that to close out the. Show,
(45:09):
plus If i'm in the, Mood i'll respond to some
of your. Tweets i'm not going ANYWHERE i do this
show several times a, week SO i might OR i might,
not depends on my. Mood stick. Around it's The STEVEN.
A Smith show back With Morning. Minute welcome back To
Steven Nate Smith. Show let's get into some quick hitter
as BEFORE i get on out here for. Today let's
get started with THE Nfl draft going down this. Week
(45:31):
by all, Accounts miami quarterback Cam ward is expected to
be the number one overall. Pick Shador sanders was considered
the next best quarterback in the, draft but the status
seemed to change since The combine And Colorado's Pro. DAY
i don't like this at. ALL i think IT'S. BS
i understand these kinds of things, happen but to, me
the downfall or the diminished status of his. Cachet his
(45:52):
value hit when he went to see The New York.
Jets and then you heard something along on the lines,
of you, know. ARROGANCE i don't want to say The,
jets but it could have been The. Jets it could
have been a couple of other teams as. Well but
you heard something about. Arrogance you heard something about him
being overly confident or. Whatever i'm, like you're a quarterback
in The National Football league or entering The National Foot.
(46:15):
League what are you supposed to? Feel what are you
supposed to? Feel and it just seemed to me like
it's just been an excuse to devalue this. Kid does
he have the arm strength or the wheels that Cam wood?
Has No but the brother can, ball brother, Dude damnar forty,
touchdowns brother has poison the, pocket he can make the requisite,
throws and he's the son of primetimes D. STATUS i
(46:37):
said that Before i'm gonna say it. AGAIN i think
the number one Thing shador saying this has gone up
against him is that people know to deal with, him
you're gonna have to deal with his father because his
father is one of the greatest athletes this world has ever,
seen an incredible football mind who knows the game better than,
most and he's not gonna let you take advantage of his.
(47:00):
Son and SO i think the fear of dealing With
Dion sanders has impacted to some degree the rhetoric that
you see being spewed by teams anonymously about his, Son.
Shador that's WHAT i. Believe, now that doesn't mean he's
not gonna get picked up at six by The raiders
or none by The saints or if he falls to twenty.
(47:20):
ONE i Know Dan Wellis steelers better grab l make no,
mistake Because god. KNOWS i don't know if there's anybody
that needs a quarterback on their squad more so than
The Pittsburgh steelers at this particular moment in. Time he
GOT Dk, metcalf you Got George, pickens you Got fried
mult at your tightest, spot you got an improved offensive.
Line you still Got warrant at the running back. Spot
even Though Naji harris is the part of for The,
CHARGERS i mean with The cats that they got available to,
them all you need is a damned. Quarterback they damn
(47:42):
well better make sure they draft, one make no. Mistake
BUT i just think that If Shador sanders Wasn't Dion sanders's,
SON i don't think we be hearing all of. THIS
i really really. Don't that's just my. Position BUT i
hope he gets. Drafted he better get drafted in the first.
Round AND i don't want to hear about a dart
on anybody else that's gonna go before. HIM i don't
want to hear. That that's Where i'm at with. It,
(48:04):
finally did y'all see the end Of Wressel media forty.
One last, night it was history in the, making. Y'all
that's Because John cena broke the record for all time
world championship victories and professional wrestling last night when he
Defeated Cody roades to win The UNDISPUTED Wwe. Championship the
previous record was held by The Nature, Boy Rick. Flair you,
(48:25):
know ALL i want to say is this congratulations To John.
Sena i'm a fan Of The. ROCK i love Me
The rock. Definitely So we've had a lot of great
wrestlers of our. History. LISTEN i go back to the
days Where Rick flair was in THE. NWA i go
back to the days where you had guys Like Magnum,
ta The American, Dream Dusty, rhodes you, know The Road
(48:49):
warriors tag, team my all time favorite tag, team all
of these. BROTHERS i, MEAN i loved. IT i mean
can't get enough of. IT i used to love. THAT i,
Know holgan before he became a Hoigh Hollywood, hogan which
was kind of cool and stuff like. That the Au
Traded Giants, listen ladies and, Gentlemen Jimmy Superfly. Snooker i'm
talking About reddy macho, Man, savage the Ultimate, warrior you.
(49:10):
KNOW i, mean listen all of these, cats, Okay undertaker
and everybody that y'all look. AT i get that my
all time. FAVORITE i, MEAN i love the rock and his,
entries his interest into the ring and stuff like. THAT
i love. THAT i love me Some Dwayne Rock, johnson no,
doubt AND i love him even better as A hollywood,
actor the Brother. Special i'm a fan of, his, okay
(49:32):
AND i respect the hell out of. THEM i always Loved.
Goldberg goldberg is his and his entrance because see the
entrance is two things THAT i love most from Restless.
OKAY i love the interest into the ring AND i
(49:53):
love this shit. Talking and nobody was the better shit
talking Than Rick. Flair he see you're talking to The
rolex wearing diamond ring wear. IT i ain't gonna go,
there whoo will? It dylon lemousine riding jet flying son
of a gun And i'm having a hard time holding
(50:14):
these alligators, Down Rick, flir there's only. One Paul cogan was.
COOL i am a real love. MARIAN i used to
love that. Stuff But goldberg and his entrance off the,
chain you used to. Love that's just. Me that's just. Me,
(50:35):
now let me get to y'all tweets FOR i get
on out of. Here please give it to me at
the sports, brawls, Right STEVID. A? Smith who is the
biggest what if IN nba? History at each? POSITION i
don't know IF i can say at each. Position i'll, try.
Though let me just give you my biggest what. Ifs
what If Derek roads were? Healthy what If Derek rose was?
(50:59):
Healthy Vince carter was, great the greatest in dunk in
game dunk of all? Time but what if he was
a killer Like? Kobe what about? That what? If what
If Alan iverson was six, six six' five instead of
(51:21):
six to one set of, six one? One sixty What
If alan iverson was six five six six two hundred,
Two ten lord? Have mercy What If greg odin had never?
Gotten hurt How about Brandon? Roy re my producer just
(51:42):
reminded me. Of that What about Brandon roy i'm just
saying it's. WORTH mentioning i really do think that's. The
case so those are just a few Names that i'm throwing.
Out there there's a. Few names let me tell you what.
Another one if, it's y'all go get on me, for
Hate and i'm. Not hating we just talk. A basketball
(52:03):
i'm answering.
Speaker 2 (52:04):
Your question.
Speaker 1 (52:06):
What If lebron james had never Gone. To miami What
If lebron james had never Gone to miami and paired
With d Wade And, chris bosh would he had ever won?
(52:26):
A championship barkley, was great didn't. Win, one nobody none
of NOBODY that i mentioned is going to be as
Great As Lebron james number two, All Time, Patrick's Ewan,
Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Sean Kemp clyde drexler's Of, The
(52:54):
world Phoenix, With Barkley, Kevin Johnson dan marley's Of. THE
world a lot of. What ifs that's What's where i'm.
Coming from, next question, Next tweet rather what? You got
this Is from Minecraft At Highlight KING. Stephen. A smith
choose Your, opponent Creeper, chicken Jockey. Ender man i'm gonna
(53:22):
go With. CHICKEN jockey I think i can knock the
top off of, them easily could chop them down. The
side i'm gonna go With chicken jockey on. THIS one
i have no, idea WHY because i know what in
none OF that i don't know what any of them,
can Do but i'm just gonna take a guess and
go With. Chicken jockey? All RIGHT do i have any?
More TWEETS do i have? One? MORE yes, I Do
(53:44):
trackull Eyes And, Zoe Right Steve. Nate smith if you
get nominated and eventually elected, for president who's the first
person you? Would pardon i'm the wrong person to ask.
THAT question i don't KNOW if i would. Pardon anybody
i'm a lor d a kind. OF dude, I mean
i gotta think. ABOUT it i don't see anybody in
(54:04):
JAIL that i wish were. Out it damn sure it
would it Be the, Menandes brothers i'll tell you. That
much i'm. Not knocking they have spent spen a year
in jail the last thirty. Five years, but hell they
did kill, their parents. You know but, THEN again i
don't know all, the details SO maybe i shouldn't. SAY
that i don't KNOW who i. WOULD pardon i don't know.
(54:26):
Who's who who's you know it's any. POLITICAL prisoners i
forgot the guy's Name. IN pennsylvania i. Forgot him. I'M
sorry i really am for somebody along. Those lines political.
Prisoner's year but THAT'S how i look. At it and by,
(54:49):
THE way i Don't think i'll be wearing a. Red
tie i'm not saying it would be, blue either probably
a mixture, of Both because i'm. An independent that's. Just
me but my suits would. Be fly they would be
mostly blue, and black and they would be pretty. DAMN
fly i will tell you that instead of some of
these corny shots these cats be wearing sometimes that's. Just
me let's get to the, last, one please last tweet for.
The day what is it AT five x, Drippy Right Stephen?
(55:12):
Nate Smith if steph wins ring number five WITH a
i GUESS, FINALS, MVP fmvp i guess that's what? That
means does that make him Better Than? Michael, jordan no it.
Does Not steph curry is already the greatest shoot a
god has. Ever created you can make a legitimate argument
that Even Though magic johnson is the greatest point guard who,
(55:32):
ever lived because he was on a fire of point
guard is supposed to be in terms of quin essentially
getting people involved a facilitating opportunities. For others when you
think about impact from the, guard position when you Look
At steph curry and how you got to keep your
head on the swivel because this brother could pull up.
FROM fifty i get, That part but the flip side
(55:53):
to it is that he had just won His ONLY
finals mvp in twenty twenty two when they beat The
Bosson celticschael jordan has six. Of, Those Also michael jordan
is a thirty point per game scorer during, The Playoff
steph curry and pull. That, Off Also michael jordan was
a Nine TIME All Nba defensive team player, as well
(56:15):
and would just take your heart right out. Your, CHEST
no i would Not Put steph Curry, above JORDAN but
i do think if he wins ring, number five it's
time to stop calling This the. Lebron era you gotta
call It. To, steph Ever if steph ends up with
a ring one more ring, than him but only if,
(56:36):
that HAPPENED which i don't think. IT will i think
they'll both be stuck on four once these playoffs. Are
done that tip of this edition To The stephen. AI
smister i hope you all. ENJOYED yourselves I know. I
did until, next, Time everybody i'm Signing off Piece of
love season
What's up, everybody. Welcome to the latest edition of The
Stephen A. Smith Show, coming at you as I love
to do at the very least three times a week
over the digital airways of YouTube and of course iHeartRadio.
As always, before I get into this show, I like
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(00:32):
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(01:17):
com to get yourself a copy. Once again, that is
straight Shooter book dot com to get yourself a copy. Now,
let's get to the NBA. In the opening weekend of
the NBA Playoffs, we saw some tight games and some
blowouts in both the East and the Western Conference, and
I've got the perfect person to break it all down,
Ladies and gentlemen. He's a former head coach and an
(01:39):
analyst on NBA TV and Serious ExM. The latter two
he's doing right now. He's a former head coach. Please
welcome the one and only Sam Mitchell to the show.
What's up?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Sam?
Speaker 1 (01:48):
How you doing? Bro?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Another day above dirt? My man, he don't get much monte.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
I got you well, listen, listen. I like my life.
I like to live a long and healthy life, so
I got to keep myself alive by making sure I
do the obvious. Why even get into anything with you?
How's the wife? How's the family? I can't have them
saying I ain't asked about it? How's everybody doing.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
They're doing good? Man, Thank you for asking, because you
know the first thing they're gonna ask is, did he
ask about me?
Speaker 1 (02:15):
That's right, that's right because they know I call you
all the time because you one of the people that
just teach me more and more about basketball, and we
talk about it. We've been talking about it because we've
known each other for so many years. Sam, I gotta
admit to you, I got the Lakers winning this series
against Minnesota. I knew that Minnesota was I knew that
Minnesota was gonna win some games, but I didn't expect
Minnesota to walk into Crypto dot Com Arena in LA
(02:37):
and whip their ass. I did not see that coming,
Sam Mitchell, why did that happen?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Well, first of all, the leader of that team is
the biggest pelp that you can name, Anthony Edwards. I mean, dude,
he's not afraid of anything. And look a lot of
guys have tried to sell what Anthony Edwards is. You
know that persona but they tried to sell it, but
that's not who they really were. That's who this kid is, Steven.
I mean, he likes those challenges. You know. I listened
(03:05):
to you earlier this morning on ESPN, and you talked
about when he went at Kevin Durant, how many people,
how many basketball players have really win at Kevin Durant
on the basketball court, I find and give up six
seven inches in the meantime and do the work that
he did against Phinnich. And so I look at this
young man, and he's not afraid of Luca, He's not
(03:26):
afraid of Lebron. He relishes the challenge. And then when
you look at Minnesota, they're big, they're athletic, and they're younger,
and these guys have been through those battles before. And
then they got a coaching Chris French, who I loved
that said before the series, I'm not gonna match down
to the Lakers. We're a big team. We have our
most successful when we're big. I live by that philosopher
(03:49):
stephen A. You know this, you and I taught basketball
all the time for the past twenty five years, my brother.
And if your best lineup is your big team, why
am I gonna go down and match down to you?
Where my best lineup is big? Why am I gonna
go small when I know I'm playing your.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Game, playing the devil's advocate. My answer to that would be,
or I assume other people's answer to that would be, well,
you did, and you had some success with that last
year until you ran into Luca when he was a
Dallas Maverick and he beat y'all to death in the
conference finals, which propelled the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
Whereas now Luca's in the Lakers uniform and instead of
Kyrie Irving as a high kick, he's got Lebron James
(04:28):
as his guy. So I do answer that.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
The difference is they're big, but they're different. Julius Rander
asks a different element to this basketball team. Think about
it now, carl Anthon Towns was a score, He was
a finisher, He could pass and make plays. But what
does Julius Rander love the most? The biggest thing he
get criticized is he wants the ball. He wants to
be a facilitator, he wants to make plays. That's how
(04:54):
Julius Random feels he's worked as a basketball player. You play,
some guys get off back in a night, like Chauncey
Billups said, Camelo needed to score. The other guys get
off by having to have the ball facilitator. That's who
Julius Round is. And if you go back to game won,
this is what Mester Laker's so but that's small all lineup.
Austin reeds Man, I felt sorry for him. Julius Randall
(05:16):
and nov Reed was just beating him. But Jesus out
of them just backing him down, beating him up. And
then this is the thing, Stephen Ay, that you know
the game within the game that people that the television
and the commentators don't talk about. Every time that ball
go up on the glass. Austin Reed, Lebron, James and
Luca done. Gotta put a body on somebody. These guys
are younger, bigger, stronger, more athletic. And you know this
(05:40):
when you leaning on somebody for forty eight minutes, at
about forty two minutes of that game, your body's gonna
give in and give out. And so to me, people
did not think about all they get caught up in Lebron, Luca,
Austin Reed, the skill said, but they don't understand this
game is gonna be played in an alley. And Chris
Chris Finch is not gonna let this game going down
(06:00):
the court. He's gonna make a half court game because
he's gonna make the Lakers be physical. And when the
Lakers match up big, they're too little.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
So what you're trying to say, bro?
Speaker 2 (06:10):
I picked Minnesota off the rip, and I didn't think, yes,
go back in and as scales when we made our predictions,
and I told Gals guls, this is not gonna be
a tough, soft, hard series for Minnesota. It may go
six because Minnesota bigger, more athletic, and understand something. This
Minnesota team went to the Western Conference finals last year.
(06:32):
They had a taste and then look at their depth,
their bitch. And then I'm telling you, man, Austin Reves
got his hands for JJ Redick, and that coach is
that gotta figure out how do they want to match
up with Minnesota? How are you gonna Everybody kept saying,
how is Minnesota gonna match up? Think about this. Luca
had thirty seven. Now what look at this, look at
(06:53):
the game.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Well, I don't expect Lebron to have nineteen. Again, I expect.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Five, and they still would have got beat. Right if
I can count, Lebron could have had twenty five, twenty six,
twenty seven, they still would have got beat.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
So as a result of that, you're anticipating that the
Lakers are going home in the first round. And if
Lebron James and the Lakers go home in the first
round to the Minnesota Timberwolves, what does that say about
the Lakers, Sam Mitchell, what did we think that if
that happens?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Stephen, you know this, my brother. The playoffs are by matchups.
If you get the wrong draw, if you draw the
wrong team in the first round, that can be a
nightmare for you. I always go back to this analogy.
You remember when the Clippers were the worst team in
the NBA for twenty years. Well, when I played for
the Minnesota timber Woods, we could not beat the Clippers.
And when we finally clinched the playoff birth we beat
(07:46):
the Clippers in the Old Arena in LA and we
were celebrating and people were like, y'all are celebrating and
you beat the Clippers. Well, we had not beat the
Clippers in three years. They just had our number. And
I'm afraid to say this to you, Stephen, A. Minnesota
was the worst team that the Lakers could draw in
the first round.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Because of the size and the physicality.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Well, think about it that Lucas still got thirty seven,
but Minnesota is still gonna pick him up full court.
That's still long in the athletic Luca gotta work to
get his thirty seven. And then this is what the
Lakers did? What did they revert back to? This is
the problem. When you have Luke and Lebron. It's so
easy as a coach to just give them the ball
and watch them go to work. And then the regular
(08:27):
season that gets you a lot of wins. But in
the playoffs, when I got time to set my defense
and match up and focus on one team, and I say, okay,
Luca can get his thirty five, Lebron can get his
twenty five. Who else is gonna score? We're gonna lock
everybody else down. So guys who are my primary defenders
on those two guys, don't worry about it. If they
(08:49):
get theirs, we just not gonna let everybody else get theirs.
And then guess what we're gonna do. We're gonna pound
them on the glass when that ball go up. We're
gonna make Luca and Lebron do dirty work. We're gonna
make them box out, make them rebound, and they're Julius.
When you get the ball against Austin Reed, I want
you to beat him up with the basketball, take away
his legs and make Austin Reeds start thinking about defense
(09:12):
and rebounding other than scoring.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
If Lebron goes home in the first round, you know
there's a goat conversation that keeps circulating that all of
us are tied of talking about. You know where I stand.
It's Michael Jordan all day an all time, if we're
in the same ever, the whole nine. But if he
first round, right, well you do got it. But the
point is is that, you know, my question to you
(09:37):
is that when where does that leave the discussion, whether
it's on him, whether it's him and Luca and what
they'll do in to the future, whether it's the future
of the Los Angeles Lakers. What would a first round
exit with the Los Angeles Lakers mean in your estimation?
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Well, I think, look, they've had a very successful first season.
I think JJ Reddick has exceeded expectations as a coach.
The young he is improven. The young man has proven
he knows how to coach and more importantly, he knows
how to manage difficult personality. When you're coaching Lebron Luke
and others. And then look, the man coached this team
through catastrophic wildfires, lost his own home that he was
(10:15):
living there. So look, my respect for JJ Redick and
what he's done as a first year coach is beyond magic. Look, man,
I'm a Darbnham, He's a friend of mine. I didn't
like the way Darvin was fired, but look, when you
look at the proof is in the putting, JJ Redick
has done a better job. So we can lay that
argument to bed right now. But at the end of
the day, the playoffs are about matchups, and the Lakers
(10:36):
got the short end and the shitty end of the stick.
My brother by being Minnesota. Because again, and I hear
you say this all the time that after that was
dude like him or love him or whatever or dislike him.
He's a different kind of dude. Man. This stuff that
people talk about, all this stuff don't bother him. This
is a different kind of animal. Man. This team is
gonna take on the personality of one or two people,
(10:58):
either your head coach or your best player. And this
team has taken on Anthony Edward's personality. And look at
the swagger. Look at how they walked into that arena,
and Steven Ay, this is the thing that I was
looking at the whole night. It was never a doubt
in their mind or their body language. When they stepped
on that floor. They played like acting like look at
(11:18):
us that well eight for twenty two. He did have
a great game. Now think about.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Mister Porter because of the calves, the cramps.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
So think about when he goes fifteen for twenty two
what it's gonna look like. Because he's gonna have a
night like that. But this team is confident because they
know who they are. Steven Ay, and I'm just telling
you the Laker's gonna have to try to match up.
And when they do that, Jackson Hayes just too small.
He just not looks nothing in pads.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Let me move on to the next subject. I'll say
this last point about Anthony Edwards, other than he looks
Jordanskue at times and back to back years, if he
knocks Kevin Durant and then Lebron James and Luka Dancik
out in the first round, that's saying a lot. We
can't ignore that. We just can't ignore that. Let me
go on to a match where it isn't necessarily a nightmare,
and that's what the Golden State Warriors. They ended up
(12:05):
picking Houston. We know that Houston's bigger and longer than
more athletic. They are better rebounding team, They're formidable defensively,
but they struggled to score, and that haunted them last
night because when it really really counted, they didn't have
Steph Curry and they didn't have Jimmy Buckets as in
Jimmy Butler as in playoff. Jimmy, your thoughts about what
you've seen in Game one of this series thus.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Far not surprising. Look, I love Houston. I love Emmy Dooka,
what he's built, the culture of the defense. But they
can't score. They struggled to score the basketball. And I've
said it before the trade deadline for all the people,
ah Houston should wait. I thought it was one or
two people. Houston should have rolled the dice home. They
either should have win that Kevin Durant or Jimmy Butler.
Think about Kevin Durant or Jimmy Butler or Jimmy Butler
(12:48):
on this Houston team right now? Adding a legit guy,
Look at what Jimmy Butler has done in the playoffs.
Think about this, stephen A. You hold the Golden State
Warriors to under one hundred points and they still beat
the breaks off you. So if you're Houston, if I
hold them to under one hundred, but yet I can
only get to eighty eighty five, that is not a
(13:08):
good thing. So I think, look, it's square Houston right
in the face this offseason after they get beat by
four or five and four or five games by Golden State,
which is not gonna be an embarrassment because because they
they probably understood let's wait to see how this thing
was gonna pan out. But once they get beat, expect
them to go all in hard if Kevin Durant becomes available,
(13:30):
because if you add Kevin Durant to that team, that
physicality and the way they defend, they just need another
guy that makes everybody attention centers around him, which would
make everybody else on that team better.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
If you are the Houston Rockets, I think right now,
if the series goes long, you keep the team intact
in all likelihood because you're just young and you went
to you fell to an experienced team. If you continue
to struggle this way offensively, and glaringly and Jalen Green
(14:04):
can't do it for you like he couldn't do it
last night. Then I think if the Houston, if the
Phoenix Suns called and they say, listen, you want Kevin Durant,
we want our picks back, and Jalen Green, I think
you're the Houston Rockets. You got to strongly, strongly consider
that even though Kevin Durant is thirty five years of
(14:24):
age to that you say.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
What I say, yeah, because look, you're still keeping a court.
Look I coach Jalen Green in high school. I love
Jalen Green and if I love Imihdoka, but I will
put the ball more in Jalen Green's head as this series.
I will put him in a lot of picking rolls
and let him come off that high screen and row,
which would fourth Golden State to trap him, because if
you switch on to Jalen Green, he can break you down.
(14:47):
He made the move last night where he driven out
the shot clock and still made a reverse layup in
the against the gusts of the Golden State Warriors defense.
I thought was an unbelievable move. But he needs more
opportunities with the floor spread. But that being said, Look,
if you're Houston, you're gonna have to listen to it,
because again, what you may realize is that you're one
prolific score away from going deep into the playoffs and
(15:08):
having a chance to win the championship. Think about this.
Look at what OKC did the mepherence last night. Do
you honestly think if you have the inability to score,
what will OKC do to you and you can't score
the rock?
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Damn?
Speaker 2 (15:21):
I told people, hey man, people kept saying about oh, okay,
see don't have experience. I said, that can be negative,
and that can be a positive because sometimes the best
thing you know is what you don't know because you're
not afraid of it. It just go play.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Let me get let me, let me throw this trick,
Let me throw this question to you, this interesting question
to you. If you're Kevin Durant and you have a choice,
do you want to go to Houston or do you
want to go to OKAC? Not that OKAC would do it,
but they got everybody's picks. It seems like, I mean,
they got nothing but assets, and Phoenix is in desperate
need of them because they don't have a first round
pick available to themselves. Until two thousand and thirty. So
my attitude is is, if you're Kevin Durant and you
(15:57):
had a choice with these two teas Houston, Okay, se
considering the assets that they have available, where you think
he should go? Who should want to go?
Speaker 2 (16:06):
First? Thing I would do before I would consider Okay
See going back there, I would pick up the phone
and want to talk to Shay, because what that young
man has done at Okay. See the way he's brought
this team together, where all those guys pull for each other,
love or any and I know people who know Shay personally.
He loves Okay. See. He wants to win a championship
(16:27):
for Okay. See. So if I'm Kevin Durant, I gotta
make sure it's okay with him. Second, just looking at
it on from apples to autist, I would say, Houston,
from this standpoint, you got a coach in Email Doka
who's gonna hold everybody accountable. You got a coach in
Emmy Doka who gonna play you at that small forward
position because he don't want you playing that power forward
position where you're getting beat up every night when you
(16:48):
got to box out and rebound and all that dirty work.
I don't. I kept selling people at this day just
Kevin Durant game. You gotta keep him clean. You can't
let him get sacked. Don't play him at the power
or play him at the small four. So I know
if he goes to Houston in May, Dooker, who played
the game, it's gonna definitely use him the right way.
And he can minimize Kevin Durant getting beat up and
(17:11):
beat down because he plays him at that small forward
of at two guard position, where all he has to
really worry about his garden perimeter guys is scoring the rock.
So I would say, from a pure basketball standpoint, either
one of those places, but I would lean a little
bit towards Houston.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
How the hell was Phoenix this bad this year with
Booker Durant, Bill, you're thirty six and forty six. I
know they were like three and fourteen without Kevin Durant
missing the seventeen games, so that he missed I get
that part. But Frank Vogel, you're a former coach, not
just a former player, but the former coach. Frank Gogel.
Fogl wins a championship for the Lakers in twenty twenty
comes there one year in Phoenix, he gets booted out.
(17:48):
Mike Budenhozho wins a championship for Milwaukee against Phoenix twenty
twenty one. He comes there for one year, he gets
booted out. And I'm looking at these guys. Are you
gonna look at yourself? Coaches getting fired left and right,
and in two years on the job, ishbi a matter?
Speaker 2 (18:04):
It'sh be A.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
The owner for the Phoenix Suns gets rid of Monty
Williams who took him to the finals and two championship coaches,
and you've got Kevin Durant, You've got Bradley Beal with
a no trade clause, and you've got Devin Booker. Well,
how the hell is this situation.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Is bad because Stevens They then fill out the rest
of the roster around them properly. You're playing Kevin Durant
at the power forward at thirty six years old, with
the injuries that he's had. Really, do you really want
Kevin Durant? You want Kevin Durant got to go in
there and get ten twelve rebounds every night, boxing out,
hitting people. No, I want kd on the wing, playing
the two or the three. I want him shooting jumpers.
(18:40):
I want him posting a smaller guys shooting over I mean,
then when they put a bigger guy on it, I
don't care if we're cross checking. Coach as Oh, we're
cross checking. That's why he's got to go to big guys.
So what let them worry about us? Man? You gotta
when you got three all star caliber players, you walking
into the building with a bazooka, not a handgun, use
it second players. Everybody's got to know that role. I
(19:02):
would have went to Bradley Bill from day one and say, look,
you're gonna finish games, but I need to balance out
my roster. I'm neat, I'm gonna bring you off the bench. Right,
this is about competing and winning a championship. You made
your money, You've done everything in this league, but win.
Don't you want to win? Right? And so sometimes as
a coach, you gotta help players make the decision. I
(19:23):
kept hearing, well, they're letting Bradley decide. And no, that's
not leadership. Your job is not to be like, but
to lead. Your job is to be respected than to
be liked. Right, So lead this team put people in
that place that right there would have made Kevin Durant
and Devin Book and sit up in their shoes, and
it would have made everybody us in that locker room
stand at attention because they understand Coach Budd would have
(19:46):
been in the complete control. Then you build that roster
around him and you give everybody a role. Y'all job
is for these two guys to go score, keep them clean,
set screens, do the dirty work. The same thing we
did in Minnesota around KG. KG didn't have to get
griming until we got to the playoffs. During the regular season.
That was our job. I played for the NM pace
(20:06):
of Regie Miller. Regie Miller didn't have to get griming
until we got to the playoffs. Doing the regular season.
That was our job. So your role players gotta understand
their role, and they got to cherish it because you
got Book and Charac Durant and then you got Bill
coming off to this. So I just thought it was
because it was a better team. The coaches go in
there and try to have a conversation with people instead
(20:27):
of directing people and coaching people. And I tell people
this all time, Steven, though you know this, we as
coaches and basketball players our whole life We've been told
what what to do, what time to do it, and
how to do it. And I think coaches when they
come into a situation where supersars, they take a step
back and they get a little tentative and they start
(20:49):
negotiating instead of coaching.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
You brought up grinding, you know, grind to come playoff
time or whatever. I've been lamenting the fact that my
Knicks haven't looked like that this year and looked like
the same team that they were last year when they
had Randall before he got hurt, and then of course
you got Josh Hard and you got you know, I
mean Hartenstein before he departed for OKC, et cetera. But
they showed up in the playoffs against the Pistons and
they going to twenty one or nothing running that fourth quarter.
(21:15):
I like what I saw from my New York next
I'm very very pleased. This series, however, is something that
is one that I think could go seven games. Real quick,
your thoughts about it.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
I think you're right. I think this is a tough
matchup for the Knicks. Look, Detroit Pistons are not afraid
of the Knicks. They had success against him in the
regular season, and you could tell the way that game started.
And halfway through that game, Detroit kept picking control. The
Knicks just kept fighting. I think for the Knicks, they
got they figured out their formula how to play against Detroit.
He cut Aham, there's no one can guard him. And
(21:46):
when they put him at that high screening row and
bring that screen up high and he gets downhill at
seek take, it's a knight there for the Knicks. But
I think if you're the Knicks, you call Anthony Towns.
I was happy for car His defense was great. He
made some timeless but all the Knicks players showed up.
That was a great win for the Knicks right there.
O Giannanoby has been light side for him. If the
(22:07):
Knicks can beat the Pistons and the Five in about
six games and gain confidence, if the Knicks play like
they played in Game one going throughout the rest of
the playoffs, then I would believe this version of the
Knicks can scare Cleveland or the Bosston Celtics.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
I don't think they could scare Boston. Cleveland guests, I
don't think they can scare Boston. I think Boston is
just too low to got to. You can beat up
a little bit and I know get that with Jaylen
Brown and now Jason Tatum. So there's some concerns. I'm
just talking about the only reason.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
For this, and I know your Knicks be my only reason.
I give you a little pause for this. Remember, carl
Anfter the town's greatest assets offense. In order to beat
the Boston Celtics, you gotta have got to score. Guys
that you gotta score. You ain't beat there playing because
they can score. The Knicks can put five guys on
the floor that you gotta guard. Now they couldn't do
(22:59):
that in the past.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
I got you, I got you. I gotta move real
quick with these last couple of questions. Let me stay
within the Eastern Conference right now. I don't need to
talk about Boston Orlando right now. How much of a
legitimate threat are the Cleveland Cavaliers. I love Mitchell, I
love the way what I'm seeing from Garland Mobiley has
really elevated his level of play. Atkinson has really proven
himself to be a really quality coach. You know, they've
(23:22):
got some size, They defend the rebound. The pickup of
Hunter DeAndre Hunter was a big, big deal. I think
that if Cleveland handles their business in these first two
rounds and they face Boston in the conference finals, which
were all anticipating. I don't think it's a foe gone
conclusion that Boston gets to the finals, even though they
should be the favorites.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Your thoughts before the season. During the season, I kept saying,
before the trade does my only concern about Cleveland at
the four position, they wasn't big enough. When they made
that DeAndre Hunter trade, I said, okay, look out, he's
six eight and he can score and shoot the three.
And then when you look at Evan Mobley, who's sixteen,
who can defend? Perime the guys where Boston beat you
(24:02):
is though book can Ford was Tatum and Brown, no
one can match up to him. Now if you go
on the court and you put six eight DeAndre Haunter
and sixteen six' eleven the other kid out there that's
gonna be thirteen maybe ALL. Nba now we can. Defend
and this is the. Difference Evan mobley And DeAndre haunter
can go back at you. Offensively, Now so Now tatum
(24:24):
And brown will have to play some defense and they're
gonna have to box Out. Mobiley so this is a different.
Animal for The Boston celtics. DOWN i think when they
Added DeAndre, hunter that gave me a little bit more
life to, say hm, hm there longer at that two
at that two to three, position they can compete a little.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Bit two more questions BEFORE i let you go real, Quick,
SAM i love the. IDEA i love Seeing Damian lillard
And haliburton going at. It, Verbally i'm thinking, That i'm
loving thinking That Damian lillar is gonna come. BACK i
want to see what him And yiannis on the court
(25:02):
together for the first time in the postseason could do to.
Me if they win the, series we should be. Excited
If dame comes back and they, lose who knows What
joannis might want to do with his future looking At
milwaukee being who they.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Are your, THOUGHTS i think, one If dame can come,
back he's got to come. Back janni's. Knees, TWO i
Picked milwauk in this, series, right even though going against
my better judge after game. Won but if they're not
gonna win this series Unless dame comes back and Be
Dame lillard absolutely AND i think he's gonna come. BACK
i don't Think dame is the type person that's gonna
run his mouth knowing that he can't write the check
(25:38):
to try to back it. Up SO i think When
dame was running his mouth At halliburn and he was
kind of letting them, know all, Right, junr you gonna
see what the kind of series.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
He, Said i'm gonna bust your.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Ass so WHEN i say that you could playing, on
you're gonna see me in this. Series AND i would
be shocked if it Ain't game.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
Two and you believe they'll. Win If Damian lilla, comes,
WELL i picked.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
HIM i picked, him you. Know But indy has been. Good.
Yep they can. Score, now that's the one thing about the.
Pace if they get any defense at, all they can
fight out.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Score, listen you're talking about. SLEEPING i snored On Kawhi.
LEONARD i didn't care what he was. DOING i didn't
care that he was averaging over twenty five in a
month Of. March you fifty the field forty percent from
three point. RANGE i, said call, me come playoff, time
let me see if he gonna be on the court.
Healthy sure, enough he was. There he was, there had
twenty two, points but was a no show at clutch,
(26:34):
time only attempted two shots only made one was a
non fact that committed two pivotal. Turnovers And Russell westbrook
was that energize Of bunny For, denver who had the
benefit Of Jamal murray And jokic in the lineup. Together
your thoughts about that series real. Quick we slept on The.
Clippers but coaching, again Tylu Jeff Van gundy is your defensive.
Coordinator james hard has been. Bawling got to give him loving.
(26:56):
Credit he is in foul. Trouble still had thirty two
and eleven The.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
CLIPPERS i think The clippers is the team that everybody's
picking right now to be the team that can come
out The west sneaky. Right but, Again Kawhi leonard is
gonna have to step. UP i think when you look
at the coach, Staff tyler is gonna have to tweak some.
Things he's gotta Get kawhi better than touches in different
areas of the floor because they have. It, Look denver
has no one that can really Guard Kawhi, leonard like
(27:20):
Like La clippers have anyone to guard The. Joker but
the two people that everyone slept on with The, clippers
and you said, It James harden and Zuba. Man zubak
has quietly become the fourth or fifth best center in THE.
Nba and when you look At James, harden look. Man
Without James harden in the seventy nine games and the
way he played this, year we would not be talking
(27:40):
about The. Clippers but to your, point you're, right they
gotta Get kawhi back to Being kawhi at the end
of the. Game but this series can definitely go seven
because these are two evil and matched. TEAMS i Think
Denver David artiman is gonna do a good. Job he
was on my staff In. Minnesota he's smart and people
forget the up and don't fall far from the. Tree his,
dad it's d invented The Rick adams and that Guy David.
(28:05):
Adams WHEN i was In, minnesota we ran the corner.
Offense the first day we put it, IN i, said D,
a put Your dadd's offense in because you grew up
sleeping with.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
It that's, right my. Man Sam, mitchell FORMER Nba coach
of The, year now doing great work ON NBA tv
and On SERIOUS XM Nba. Radio appreciate, you love, you,
Bro good to see, you.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
Man you don't tell people this people don't be shocked
when he ran for office DOWN i keep don't be
and not just something That ricky he ain't trying to
be mayor Of, Scranton. Pennsylvania were talking about presidency And
i'm gonna leave it at.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
That you got me on do. It you got you
know if whatever you, do BECAUSE i like, YOU i
like my money too, much SO i ain't doing. It
but IF i ever decided to do, It i'll make
sure you got to invite to The White. House you know.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
That i'm gonna be on your, committee all, right but.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
Man appreciate. It, Bro thank you one and. Only Yah
mitchell right here with STEVEN a right here on the
Stephen Ate Smith. Show coming. Up there's been another week
of bad headlines For Defense secretary Mister Pete. Haigseth his
Heg seth already on the hot. SEAT i, Mean President,
trump Make america safe. Again we have to Make america safe.
Again we have to have competence in everything. Else what's going, on,
(29:21):
Sir we'll dive into all of, that plus some quick
hitters On WrestleMania and the UPCOMING Nfl. Draft don't go.
Anywhere Is STEVEN. A smith in The house don't touch
that Doll you don't want to miss this next Sagment. Hight,
everybody listen up with all the big time sports action
(29:41):
that's happening each and every, Day The Stephen Nate Smith
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first five dollars, Lineup prizpects run your. Game welcome back
to The STEPHEN. A smith, show let's get To, WASHINGTON, dc,
please and the troubling headlines tied To Defense secretary Mister Pete.
Hegseth in the wake of the signal chat, controversy Heg
(30:44):
seth made moves to essentially close ranks around his senior.
Staff top Advisors Dan caldwell was escorted from The, pentagon
and soon After darren Sel nick. Followed that same, day
nearly every single member of the To God's Defense Digital
service announced they were resigning as the week. Progressed, again
(31:07):
we're talking about just one. Week last, week Heg seth
quote unquote reassigned his chief of staff and then asked
The pentagon's former top, Spokesperson John elliott to. Resign and
just this, weekend two sources TELLING Nbc news that Heg
sith used his personal phone to send information ABOUT us
military operations In yemen to a thirteen person signal group,
(31:33):
chat including his wife and his, brother and according to the,
report Heg seth did so after an aid warned him
to be careful not to share sensitive information on an
unsecured communication system before The yemen. Operation so, here just
to help y'all, out here are just three moves from
(31:55):
the past month that had many inside Of pentagon and
Around washington questioning his. Leadership it started With Signal, gate
Where hegseth tried to debunk the reporting through a vague
denial that, quote nobody was texting war plans end. Quote
then A Wall street journal reported That hegseth brought his,
wife a Former Fox news producer by the, way into
two meetings with foreign military counterparts where sensitive information was.
(32:19):
Discussed and, finally The pentagon set up a top secret
briefing by The joint chiefs Of staff On china For Elon,
musk who still has extensive business interest In. China according
to a former top, Spokesperson John, elliott The White house canceled
that meeting after learning about. It does this sound like
(32:41):
competence to? You thirteen person chat threat national security? Information
having your wife and brother on that text chain showing
up to certain, meetings which? Wife how that? Sound ladies and,
(33:06):
gentlemen now, SEE i don't want to sit up there
and get in The pete hagg. Set he served our country.
Honorably he was a weekend host On Fox. News ALL
i ever said, was how do you go from a
weekend host On Fox? News to overseeing on national defense
As defense, secretary overseeing three and a half million. People
(33:29):
how are you qualified to do? That how are you
qualified to do? That that's ALL i ever. Said i'm
not wishing anything bad on. Him i'm not wishing him to.
Fail him failing is us failing as a, nation which
endangers all of us when you're the secretary Of, Defense
i'm feeling you on. THAT i got that. Part What
i'm saying is more importantly than anything. Else it puts
(33:51):
us in a position where we've got to Question Donald,
trump The president of The United. States i'm going to
hire the Best i'm gonna have the best, staff the
most people working for, me the most qualified people working for.
Me they're gonna be better than anybody you've ever seen
in The american. History all of this other, stuff what about? That,
see your fealty and your loyalty to The president of
(34:14):
The United, states how you want to deify, him as
questionable as that may, be if not flat out pathetic
in the eyes of, others really is not the. Point
the point is why does your loyalty or feilty towards
him extend to such a degree that we want to
put on blinders when it comes to people when he
(34:36):
ain't have in his, cabinet it's a fair. Question when
the plane collided with the helicopter and lives were, Lost
god rest their wonderful souls in that crash months, ago
the first words out of trump mouth was to BLAME
dei diversity equity and. Inclusion, well, sir mister, president do
(34:58):
you have any evidence of?
Speaker 2 (34:59):
That?
Speaker 1 (34:59):
Oh, NO i had to go on NATIONAL tv and,
SAY deei really should stand for. It didn't earn it
as a force of, diversity equity and. Inclusion but when
you look at what's transpiring right, now particularly as it
pertains to our security in this country or for this,
(35:21):
country there's a reason to be. Alarmed why DO i say,
that because the hits keep on coming For President trump's cabinet. Chest,
Yesterday Homeland Security Secretary Christy noles had a perse stolen
at a restaurant IN. Dc inside the purse was a,
passport a driver's, license and government access, badge three thousand
dollars in, cash and blank, checks according to the. Reports
(35:43):
according TO Usa, today, specifically The Secret services launched an
investigation to trace any use of her financial. Assets ladies and,
gentlemen pause for a, second pretty, please sugar on. Top,
dude is The secretary Of defense making these? Mistakes AND
(36:05):
i had a home land security just got, robbed, pickpocketed
not even Pickpocket they stole a, purse secret service around
the people like. That they still stole a. Purse how
hell it? Happened protecting the, country you can't protect yourself
from some of the most basically rudimentary things that you
(36:28):
should be able to avoid letting. Happen by the, way
this comes from the same. CABINET i, mean have you
Seen pete hakseeth speak in the. Past do you remember
when the whole email scandal Involving Hillary clinton that a
lot of people on the left, believe course of the
election because a week before a week or two before the,
(36:48):
Election James, comey then the head of THE, fbi decide
to announce that there was an investigation into emails That
Hillary clinton was using on a private, server thereby threatening
national security in the eyes of critics who wanted to
take her. Down, well guess, What pete Hegg saith the
(37:10):
Same pete Hegik. Sethsman we're talking about the Saint pete
Heek seth that got his wife and his brother in
text change with national security. Information Bet pete Heik, Seth
ladies and, GENTLEMEN i want to rewind the clock by
nine years when the Whole Hillary clinton thing was going,
down right prior to the, election lessen Of pete Hagg
seth talk About Hillary clinton at that particular moment in.
(37:32):
Time this Is pete Haik, seth and we are. Quoting
any security, professional, military government or otherwise would be fired
on the spot and criminally prosecuted for being so reckless
with this kind of. Information say, what say? What say?
What he actually said? That yes he, Did yes he.
(37:53):
Did he most certainly said. That put that Quarter peece
say Heyk seth up there. Again please put up on
that fullth screet. AGAIN i need thatbody to see. It
because this man who is The Defense secretary for The
United states Of, america who got busted exchanging information of
(38:14):
national security importance about The hoodies And yemen ultimately scheduled
to be bombed that same due set down About Hillary Rodal.
Clinton any security, professional, military government or otherwise would be
fired on the spot and criminally prosecuted for being so
(38:37):
reckless with this kind of. Information so that doesn't apply
to you, now, huh, sir.
Speaker 2 (38:45):
Not at.
Speaker 1 (38:45):
ALL i mean you just completely ensign on. This and
now you Got Homeland security secretary getting her. Personatched we
got The apartment Of defense And Homeland security being compromised
on personal levels involving security, matters and that, Too Donald
(39:09):
trump is telling us the trust without national. Security remember
What trump said About Hillary Rodham. Clinton this is going
to take a. Minute listen to the forty seventh president
of The United, states who he is, now when he
(39:30):
was in route to becoming the forty fifth president of
The United, states competing With Hillary Rodham clinton for the
election in twenty. Sixteen take a look At trump and
what his positions. Were let us, listen. PLEASE i think
the one.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
That you should really be apologizing, for and the thing
that you should be apologizing, for are the thirty three
thousand emails that you deleted and that you acid, washed
and then the two boxes of emails and other things
last week that were taken from an office and are now.
Missing And i'll tell you. WHAT i didn't think i'd say,
(40:06):
this But i'm going to say. It AND i hate
to say, it but IF i, WIN i am going
to instruct My Attorney general to get a special prosecutor
to look into your, situation because there has never been
so many, lies so much, Deception there has never been
anything like, it and we're going to have a special.
(40:27):
Prosecutor WHEN i, SPEAK i go out and. Speak the
people of this country are. Furious in my, opinion the
people that have been long term workers at THE fbi are.
Furious there has never been anything like this where emails
and you get a, Subpoena you get a, subpoena and
after getting the, subpoena you delete thirty three thousand emails
(40:49):
and then you ascid wash them or bleach, them as
you would, say a very expensive.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
Process so we're going to.
Speaker 3 (40:54):
Get a special prosecutor and we're going to look into,
it because you know, what people have been their lives
have been destroyed for doing one fifth of what you've.
Done and it's a disgrace and, honestly you ought to
be ashamed.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
Of, yourself needless to, Say Hillary. Rodham clinton followed that
up immediately by calling that a bunch of, lives encouraging
folks to fact check, her claiming that it was a complete, fabrication.
Etc and that was the same moment where she was
(41:28):
saying she, said thank, goodness somebody like him is not
our commander in chief and overseeing law enforcement in this.
Country and that was When trump, said, yeah because you'd
be in. Jail so that was the same you know
back and forth that happened in twenty. SIXTEEN i only
(41:50):
bring that up because Since trump is about law and,
order since he is about, competence since he is about,
transparency since he is about all of these, things what's
up with your? Peeps what's up with you, Know Christy.
Nolas that's not a fireable. Offense you're looking at The Secret?
(42:11):
Service how you let somebody snatch your. Pocketbook but in
the case Of pete hegseth to find out that his
wife and his brother no national security, clearance there was
a part of these these, communications and you've got national
(42:34):
security folks appalled by. That something has to be said about,
That something has to be done about. That now A
White house is calling it fake, news these reports that's
saying they're looking to replace. Him according to everybody That
i've spoken, to Because I've i've cultivated a few sources
In washington over the past few. Months of, course they
say that you, know Knowing, trump he'll probably stick With
(42:57):
pete Hegg seth just because now media is trying to
compel him to let him, go And trump doesn't want
to ever be seen as somebody who caves in to such. Pressure,
nevertheless that is the situation right. Now there are numerous
reports IN pr came out with Something White house called
the fake, NEWS cnn said, something others have said something
(43:18):
in regards To pete Haig seth maybe approaching his final
days as The secretary Of defense for The United. States
The White house, says, no that's not the. Situation we'll
see who's, right who's telling the, truth and who's. Wrong
we will find. Out but what's undeniable and undebatable is
that at this moment in, time the inexperience Of pete
(43:38):
Haig seth has. Shown and that's All i've been. Saying you,
know to go from a weekend host On Fox news
to be in The secretary Of defense for The United
states Of america is a bit extreme of a. Push
and when you're willing to do something like, that you
don't get to turn to everybody else and talk ABOUT
dei being a. Problem you, know you're supposed to be
(44:01):
especially you're the president of The United. States you're supposed
to be making sure that people in these positions are
qualified to do the. Job that should be a priority
just as. MUCH i wouldn't say, more because loyalty to
the president does. Matter you have to have people in
your cabinet that you can, Trust So i'm not going
to dismiss. That but equally as important is their competence
(44:25):
and their professionalism and their. Integrity and right now people
believe they've got a. Question look At Pete hegseth and
question all of. That and in terms of Your Homeland
security secretary and Your secretary Of defense both being embroiled
in security, issues that doesn't seem like The president of
(44:49):
The United states has picked has picked the very best
and the very finest for the. Jobs it's All i'm.
Saying it's All i'm. Saying coming, Up John cena Reigned
supreme again at THE, wwe and what the hell is
going on With Shador sanders and his reported draft. Status
i'll get into all of that to close out the. Show,
(45:09):
plus If i'm in the, Mood i'll respond to some
of your. Tweets i'm not going ANYWHERE i do this
show several times a, week SO i might OR i might,
not depends on my. Mood stick. Around it's The STEVEN.
A Smith show back With Morning. Minute welcome back To
Steven Nate Smith. Show let's get into some quick hitter
as BEFORE i get on out here for. Today let's
get started with THE Nfl draft going down this. Week
(45:31):
by all, Accounts miami quarterback Cam ward is expected to
be the number one overall. Pick Shador sanders was considered
the next best quarterback in the, draft but the status
seemed to change since The combine And Colorado's Pro. DAY
i don't like this at. ALL i think IT'S. BS
i understand these kinds of things, happen but to, me
the downfall or the diminished status of his. Cachet his
(45:52):
value hit when he went to see The New York.
Jets and then you heard something along on the lines,
of you, know. ARROGANCE i don't want to say The,
jets but it could have been The. Jets it could
have been a couple of other teams as. Well but
you heard something about. Arrogance you heard something about him
being overly confident or. Whatever i'm, like you're a quarterback
in The National Football league or entering The National Foot.
(46:15):
League what are you supposed to? Feel what are you
supposed to? Feel and it just seemed to me like
it's just been an excuse to devalue this. Kid does
he have the arm strength or the wheels that Cam wood?
Has No but the brother can, ball brother, Dude damnar forty,
touchdowns brother has poison the, pocket he can make the requisite,
throws and he's the son of primetimes D. STATUS i
(46:37):
said that Before i'm gonna say it. AGAIN i think
the number one Thing shador saying this has gone up
against him is that people know to deal with, him
you're gonna have to deal with his father because his
father is one of the greatest athletes this world has ever,
seen an incredible football mind who knows the game better than,
most and he's not gonna let you take advantage of his.
(47:00):
Son and SO i think the fear of dealing With
Dion sanders has impacted to some degree the rhetoric that
you see being spewed by teams anonymously about his, Son.
Shador that's WHAT i. Believe, now that doesn't mean he's
not gonna get picked up at six by The raiders
or none by The saints or if he falls to twenty.
(47:20):
ONE i Know Dan Wellis steelers better grab l make no,
mistake Because god. KNOWS i don't know if there's anybody
that needs a quarterback on their squad more so than
The Pittsburgh steelers at this particular moment in. Time he
GOT Dk, metcalf you Got George, pickens you Got fried
mult at your tightest, spot you got an improved offensive.
Line you still Got warrant at the running back. Spot
even Though Naji harris is the part of for The,
CHARGERS i mean with The cats that they got available to,
them all you need is a damned. Quarterback they damn
(47:42):
well better make sure they draft, one make no. Mistake
BUT i just think that If Shador sanders Wasn't Dion sanders's,
SON i don't think we be hearing all of. THIS
i really really. Don't that's just my. Position BUT i
hope he gets. Drafted he better get drafted in the first.
Round AND i don't want to hear about a dart
on anybody else that's gonna go before. HIM i don't
want to hear. That that's Where i'm at with. It,
(48:04):
finally did y'all see the end Of Wressel media forty.
One last, night it was history in the, making. Y'all
that's Because John cena broke the record for all time
world championship victories and professional wrestling last night when he
Defeated Cody roades to win The UNDISPUTED Wwe. Championship the
previous record was held by The Nature, Boy Rick. Flair you,
(48:25):
know ALL i want to say is this congratulations To John.
Sena i'm a fan Of The. ROCK i love Me
The rock. Definitely So we've had a lot of great
wrestlers of our. History. LISTEN i go back to the
days Where Rick flair was in THE. NWA i go
back to the days where you had guys Like Magnum,
ta The American, Dream Dusty, rhodes you, know The Road
(48:49):
warriors tag, team my all time favorite tag, team all
of these. BROTHERS i, MEAN i loved. IT i mean
can't get enough of. IT i used to love. THAT i,
Know holgan before he became a Hoigh Hollywood, hogan which
was kind of cool and stuff like. That the Au
Traded Giants, listen ladies and, Gentlemen Jimmy Superfly. Snooker i'm
talking About reddy macho, Man, savage the Ultimate, warrior you.
(49:10):
KNOW i, mean listen all of these, cats, Okay undertaker
and everybody that y'all look. AT i get that my
all time. FAVORITE i, MEAN i love the rock and his,
entries his interest into the ring and stuff like. THAT
i love. THAT i love me Some Dwayne Rock, johnson no,
doubt AND i love him even better as A hollywood,
actor the Brother. Special i'm a fan of, his, okay
(49:32):
AND i respect the hell out of. THEM i always Loved.
Goldberg goldberg is his and his entrance because see the
entrance is two things THAT i love most from Restless.
OKAY i love the interest into the ring AND i
(49:53):
love this shit. Talking and nobody was the better shit
talking Than Rick. Flair he see you're talking to The
rolex wearing diamond ring wear. IT i ain't gonna go,
there whoo will? It dylon lemousine riding jet flying son
of a gun And i'm having a hard time holding
(50:14):
these alligators, Down Rick, flir there's only. One Paul cogan was.
COOL i am a real love. MARIAN i used to
love that. Stuff But goldberg and his entrance off the,
chain you used to. Love that's just. Me that's just. Me,
(50:35):
now let me get to y'all tweets FOR i get
on out of. Here please give it to me at
the sports, brawls, Right STEVID. A? Smith who is the
biggest what if IN nba? History at each? POSITION i
don't know IF i can say at each. Position i'll, try.
Though let me just give you my biggest what. Ifs
what If Derek roads were? Healthy what If Derek rose was?
(50:59):
Healthy Vince carter was, great the greatest in dunk in
game dunk of all? Time but what if he was
a killer Like? Kobe what about? That what? If what
If Alan iverson was six, six six' five instead of
(51:21):
six to one set of, six one? One sixty What
If alan iverson was six five six six two hundred,
Two ten lord? Have mercy What If greg odin had never?
Gotten hurt How about Brandon? Roy re my producer just
(51:42):
reminded me. Of that What about Brandon roy i'm just
saying it's. WORTH mentioning i really do think that's. The
case so those are just a few Names that i'm throwing.
Out there there's a. Few names let me tell you what.
Another one if, it's y'all go get on me, for
Hate and i'm. Not hating we just talk. A basketball
(52:03):
i'm answering.
Speaker 2 (52:04):
Your question.
Speaker 1 (52:06):
What If lebron james had never Gone. To miami What
If lebron james had never Gone to miami and paired
With d Wade And, chris bosh would he had ever won?
(52:26):
A championship barkley, was great didn't. Win, one nobody none
of NOBODY that i mentioned is going to be as
Great As Lebron james number two, All Time, Patrick's Ewan,
Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Sean Kemp clyde drexler's Of, The
(52:54):
world Phoenix, With Barkley, Kevin Johnson dan marley's Of. THE
world a lot of. What ifs that's What's where i'm.
Coming from, next question, Next tweet rather what? You got
this Is from Minecraft At Highlight KING. Stephen. A smith
choose Your, opponent Creeper, chicken Jockey. Ender man i'm gonna
(53:22):
go With. CHICKEN jockey I think i can knock the
top off of, them easily could chop them down. The
side i'm gonna go With chicken jockey on. THIS one
i have no, idea WHY because i know what in
none OF that i don't know what any of them,
can Do but i'm just gonna take a guess and
go With. Chicken jockey? All RIGHT do i have any?
More TWEETS do i have? One? MORE yes, I Do
(53:44):
trackull Eyes And, Zoe Right Steve. Nate smith if you
get nominated and eventually elected, for president who's the first
person you? Would pardon i'm the wrong person to ask.
THAT question i don't KNOW if i would. Pardon anybody
i'm a lor d a kind. OF dude, I mean
i gotta think. ABOUT it i don't see anybody in
(54:04):
JAIL that i wish were. Out it damn sure it
would it Be the, Menandes brothers i'll tell you. That
much i'm. Not knocking they have spent spen a year
in jail the last thirty. Five years, but hell they
did kill, their parents. You know but, THEN again i
don't know all, the details SO maybe i shouldn't. SAY
that i don't KNOW who i. WOULD pardon i don't know.
(54:26):
Who's who who's you know it's any. POLITICAL prisoners i
forgot the guy's Name. IN pennsylvania i. Forgot him. I'M
sorry i really am for somebody along. Those lines political.
Prisoner's year but THAT'S how i look. At it and by,
(54:49):
THE way i Don't think i'll be wearing a. Red
tie i'm not saying it would be, blue either probably
a mixture, of Both because i'm. An independent that's. Just
me but my suits would. Be fly they would be
mostly blue, and black and they would be pretty. DAMN
fly i will tell you that instead of some of
these corny shots these cats be wearing sometimes that's. Just
me let's get to the, last, one please last tweet for.
The day what is it AT five x, Drippy Right Stephen?
(55:12):
Nate Smith if steph wins ring number five WITH a
i GUESS, FINALS, MVP fmvp i guess that's what? That
means does that make him Better Than? Michael, jordan no it.
Does Not steph curry is already the greatest shoot a
god has. Ever created you can make a legitimate argument
that Even Though magic johnson is the greatest point guard who,
(55:32):
ever lived because he was on a fire of point
guard is supposed to be in terms of quin essentially
getting people involved a facilitating opportunities. For others when you
think about impact from the, guard position when you Look
At steph curry and how you got to keep your
head on the swivel because this brother could pull up.
FROM fifty i get, That part but the flip side
(55:53):
to it is that he had just won His ONLY
finals mvp in twenty twenty two when they beat The
Bosson celticschael jordan has six. Of, Those Also michael jordan
is a thirty point per game scorer during, The Playoff
steph curry and pull. That, Off Also michael jordan was
a Nine TIME All Nba defensive team player, as well
(56:15):
and would just take your heart right out. Your, CHEST
no i would Not Put steph Curry, above JORDAN but
i do think if he wins ring, number five it's
time to stop calling This the. Lebron era you gotta
call It. To, steph Ever if steph ends up with
a ring one more ring, than him but only if,
(56:36):
that HAPPENED which i don't think. IT will i think
they'll both be stuck on four once these playoffs. Are
done that tip of this edition To The stephen. AI
smister i hope you all. ENJOYED yourselves I know. I
did until, next, Time everybody i'm Signing off Piece of
love season
Host
Stephen A. Smith
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