This is the baseline, discussing the hot button topics of the NBA. Welcome
everybody, your tune to the baseline. Cali Warrenshaw discussing the hot button topics
of the NBA. It is the month of February officially Black History Month,
and as always, for the love of the game, for the love of
the culture. It's always humbling to be a part of that premise of what
the Black History Month means. When you've got two brothers repping discussing the game,
a game that has been elevated by black people, you know, even
though it was invented by a white person. To see us take it to
the levels that it's been taken to, I think is remarkable. But it's
not just any one person, it's not just in many one community. And
if you look at the global brand of the NBA, you can honestly see
that it has a global effect, a positive effect, and it comes with
a little entertainment as well too. So it's out further doing. We roll
out the red carpet to my man Www Dot Show sportsat NPI, KUNAP and
c my Man Mister want Shot Repping out of Fort Laidaville, Florida, Happy
Black History Month, brother, nice way for us to uh to kick off
the Black History Month season first episode in February. Absolutely, and happy blackcatra
a month to you and tall our friends and fans of listeners out there as
well too. BHM is an important time of the year, but Black History
is all year. It should be year round celebration, but understanding that the
month is when we will pay the most attention to the traditions that the culture
has kind of made, if you will. But at the end of the
day, you know we're we're here to celebrate the sport of basketball. I
mean, as you alluded to, so many great contributions you know by from
a global global impact that the NBA continues to have around the world. So
I'm excited as always man to continue what we do here in the baseline getting
in here for BHM and then all months and everything moving forward. Absolutely all
right, So before we get in to our show, I wanted to make
sure that we take a quick moment to thank all of our listeners, to
thank those who are first time listening in, and to thank the basketball podcast
community. Unfortunately, we did not win the Best Basketball Podcast through the Sports
Podcast Group Awards. That's okay. I think we have We know that we
won, and we know that our listeners have won as well too. To
be in the same conversation as some of some of the most premier basketball podcasts
that are out there. Shout outs to the Draymond Green Show, shout outs
to Old Man and the Three. And then who was the show that that
took first show? Not Serrano show. He was wondering I remember right now,
but yeah, they Network. I was forgetting his name, but his
his Twitter name is network and he's been around for a very long justin conception
owned Jesus Wow, terrible. So his show did a really great job and
they've done, he's done. He's done an amazing job, I think,
working on ESPN, working at the Ringer and everything he's doing here now.
So his show definitely took home the gold, if you will, and definitely
shot shoutouts and congratulations and them for sure, absolutely, And you know,
we just I just wanted to make sure that we highlight and and profile the
fact that you know, whenever you're being in consideration for an award, whenever
you're being in consideration, you know by contemporaries is a quality show. We
take pride in that, and you know, no matter what the outcome would
have been, you know, we felt like all of the work that we've
been doing for as long as we've been doing it, it's what continues to
drive us in doing that work, and so being acknowledged by our contemporaries,
our colleagues, being acknowledged by fans and people alike, it's made it worth
the grind that we've been putting through, like we've mentioned in our Instagram posts
and our social media outlets, and we just want to thank everybody for putting
us in that position to even be in the conversation, putting into that position
where there was an opportunity for us to possibly win it. And while we
didn't win hoisting a trophy, I think we've won as far as showing people
that, no matter what you got going on on your every day, if
there's something that you do feel passionate about, something that you love, if
you have a voice for something and you're dedicated to making sure that that voice
is elevated and spoken to the masses, it will be heard. And I'm
just grateful that. You know, again, we always give our kudos,
but I think this is a great opportunity for us to kind of give those
kudos to the people who've taken the time to listen to our show whenever the
opportunity presented itself, and to give us that opportunity to be, you know,
on that stage to see if we could even your rub shoulders with the
big boys. Yeah. No, for sure. I am incredibly humble I
think by the experience in that of itself, and you know, for all
our fans and listeners who've been out there, I've been rocked with us from
day one to you know, year eleven, if you will, we are
incredibly incredibly humbled and grateful to have you E've ben been considered, you know
for this a single wish honor, and I think as you looted so put
so eloquently, you know, winning in terms of the title if you will,
is not necessarily what it was always about. I think it's just even
the recognitions to be to be honored amongst our contemporaries within this space. You
know, some folks who have and this isn't initiated in any capacity, but
just have larger names and we do by virtue of the things that they've been
able to accomplish you know, in their great lives as well too. And
you know, I think and Ess suggested being the being the in the in
the Ethosi fuel as something that we can always hang our hat on and be
proud of, but more so for our fans and listeners they can be proud
of because it goes to show that, you know, your support has propelled
us into a space that we didn't know we would ever be eleven years ago.
So thank you to everybody who did vote, and again, congratulations to
the winner. And I want to make sure we get it right. Six
Trophies with Jason Concepcion and Chase Erano. They were the winners of the Best
Basketball Podcast. So yeah, I was right in terms of the I want
to make sure to get their podcast name right. Six Trophies. Absolutely,
And listen, man, it's all family. It's a you know, we're
all part of, you know, a family where we're helping not just you
know, our own brand, but we're also helping the brand of basketball,
and we're giving basketball a viable voice where you know, in mainstream media these
days, it's it sometimes feels few and far between. It only seems to
suit it when it's based on ratings and national attention. We're giving it an
everyday voice so that it doesn't lose you know what I'm saying, the importance
of the luster for those who may not be interested in all of the other
sports that are out there, or only just highlighting you know, the more
attractive and entertaining aspects of the game. These other little nuggets is what continues
to keep the game elevated in that conversation space. So shout out to all
not just you know, the those who won, all of the finalists and
that you know, it was a page worth long of considerations, all of
them with unique styles and perspectives of how the game is discussed, how the
game is covered, how the culture is covered. We just want to say
thank you to all of you guys push us as hopefully we have been pushing
you, and this is why the community has opened up in the way that
it has well said, well said. So yep, see you next year
exactly. We already grinding this. So anyway, so we got a great
show up on tap. You know, we got some news and what's happening
in an association. We also want to talk a little bit about the NBA
All Star Reserves that have been selected. As we're just around the corner for
NBA All Star weekend, and then we got what we call our mid season
focus man. We're talking a little bit about some mid season perspective teams that
I think people need to be paying attention to. We'll look at who do
we think is the most dangerous team that can actually make noise should they make
the playoffs. If there's a team that's currently you know, the play ins
played right now, who would be considered the most dangerous team that could probably
knock off the goliath in the conferences respectively. So mid season focus man,
that's our our topic conversation as well too. So NBA All Star Reserves and
midseason focus is going to be what's on tap as always, be sure to
get at my Manshaw Ashraw Sports, NBA get at Me a game face lead.
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available and all of the great creators and the great content that is laid out
on a weekly basis. All right, seaw, so let's get right into
some news and notes. I wanted to get your take real quick before we
started talking about a couple of key injuries that have impacted the NBA. It
might also impact the NBA trade deadlining kind but I wanted to get your thoughts.
Over the last week and a half, there's been a lot of conversations
about the New York Knicks, a lot of hype being driven about the New
York Knicks and the potential of their success. And I know if people hear
me talking about this, they think that, you know, all I'm doing
is sitting here watching ESPN and watching Stephen A. Smith Orange of Blues Guys
Baby Orange Blues. But I am someone who is of a realistic mindset,
living up here in New Jersey and watching the murmurs and listening to all of
the sports radio talk shows and all of them who have now suddenly taken affinity
because you know, football season is basically over right, No Jets, no
Giants, you know what I mean, no Bills, right, only when
it suits New York City fans that the Bills actually live in New York and
want to, you know, bring them a part of that football family.
I find it interesting that all of a sudden, the Knicks have a successful
record with a very smart trade in og Ananobi, and have suddenly catapulted themselves
from we are going to be a solid team that can make a good run.
Right. They're good enough that they can make a good run in the
playoffs, and oh, I think we could contend in the East. I
think we can even win the Atlantic Division title, yo, man. And
then I'm watching this game against you know, the Knicks versus the Los Angeles
Lakers, And this is exactly the reason why it drives me nuts the level
of fandomness that happens with New York Knicks fans who don't seem to be properly
in touch with the reality of what it's gonna take for the team to be
in a championship mode, to be in championship position. It is not even
about the Lakers and prime time TV. It is about the team, the
team makeup, and everything like that. And I just wanted to get your
take if you had the opportunity to watch the game and all of the mummerings
I'm sure you've been getting, because you know how Miami Heat fans would be
like, oh of a sudden, we chop liver, like we're not considered
serious contenders down here, just because we've had, you know, a couple
of dips in our you know, losses, some ugly losses, things that
nature Like I just don't understand, Like, why is it so that Knicks
fans tend to just elevate their team because they have a ten game above five
hundred record, a fourteen game above five hundred record from being a legit team
that can make a run, no question, all of a sudden, saying
that we can start taking things that they have not shown that they have earned
the right to have that conversation. Just yet, at the end of the
day, we know what it is I think New York fans are one of
their more for both fan bases out there, not just in the NBA,
but I think in sports in general. There's a lot of excitement when the
Knicks are good. So their fan base hitches their tail to that wagon,
if you will, and they run and they run rampant with it. So
I think while we're trying to be based in well in some sort of some
summs of reality, like and hey, prove it before you go and make
these proclamations, right, that's what That's what makes sports fun, I think
in a lot of ways. And I and I completely get it. I
completely get it. But I also have been of the mindset and you know,
and I know this show because we've seen this with the Boss and Celtics.
You're not just playing with the fandom ness, you're also playing with history.
And history is reflective that the New York Knicks have not won a championship
in almost fifty something plus years, okay, And to get to that part
that point sort of speak for them to even be in that conversation, when
have they even been in the Eastern Conference finals? Right? When have they
been in the NBA? Right, It's been the turn of the century.
It's been that long, right. I'm of the mindset when I start seeing
you checking certain boxes is when I start buying into the idea that what you're
doing has sustainability and has elevated realistic accomplishments that can be had. I'm not
saying that I'm just skirting the next season aside, but watching that game against
the Los Angeles Lakers, to me, was a byproduct again of outside noise
making it way too more than what it needed to be, making it way
too more than what it needs to be for the players to do what is
necessary for their elevated positivity, for their confidence about how good of a team
they really can't potentially be because now you're squeezing everything in. It's confined,
and it just sucks sometimes, man, because just as easily as we elevate
them, they can very easily crash and crash hard, and then no one
is holding accountability. When these pundits, these commentators, these analysts, these
fans come telling, you know, just airing out their grievances about how disappointing
this team was when they never really saw and paid attention to what it's what
was required, what's needed for the team to continually be better, to be
good, to be viable in the grand scheme of what the current NBA looks
like to be championship worthy. Well, you know, fun fact for our
fans of listeners. So it's interesting we're having this conversation because obviously we're going
to talk about you know, surprise teams, you know, exciting teams,
dark horse teams, et cetera on the second half of the show. But
part of what I considered for the content this week was really talking about the
two hottest teams really in basketball right now, and the Cabs and the Knicks,
right you know, was looking to try to even get some some guests
on here, you know, covers those teams a little bit more closely to
even get this level of insight. But we're here now, right here,
not so let's let's have the conversation. I think in essence for the for
the Knicks and Lakers game, I would caution you to to read too much
into that. Remember no Anaobe and obviously know Julius Randall. So the fact
that they were able to pull off a couple of wins without both of those
guys in their most recent streak is a credit to their you know, to
the testament of the team that they've built. But I think you know,
when they lose, you're gonna say it's like, well, they didn't have
their full complement of players, and to two starters and one guy who was
actually an All Star of this year and Julius Randall. So to me,
I'm not going to read too much into that Lakers game. But I think
in the overall ethis of where the Knicks are trying to propel themselves in terms
of and should say their fans are trying to propel themselves if you will,
Yeah, it seems like a little aggressive, but you got to going into
the season improve it and go into the playoffs improve it. But let's not
take anything away from them. I don't I don't care that the Celtics were
able to push the Heat to the seven game series because to me, that
series was done, you know, basically after Game three, I was like,
well, yeah, and so while Boston forced a Game seven, I
don't think I don't think any team played the Heat better than the Knicks did
last year. And I think if you take that into consider now with some
of the changes that they've made in terms of their overall roster and shakeup,
and as a trade deadline looms here in a few days from recording of the
show, they can still even get potentially even better, and that I understand
why there's this level of optimism here right now. If Tibbs has a team
built within his image, like truly within his image and reinforcements can potentially be
coming back on the way Mitchell Robinson is apparently not done for the year and
could come back at the end of the season. Some bollstring to what Hartenstein
has been able to do, and he's been amazing, been amazing since starting
for them, right Not to mention, obviously, the conversations around Chillon Brunston
and whether or not he's a one A guy. I think we're done with
that at least for right now. So once they get Randall back and Anobe
comes back to the full his injury seems to be short term, I can
see why people are excited about this team. De Vincenzo, Josh hart They
all fit what Tibbs wants to do and if hey, they get the right
matchup, and we all know it's about that coming into the playoffs, this
next team has the potential to make a run. I'm not saying finals,
but if they left around and found themselves in the Eastern Conference finals, depending
on how the matchups went, that wouldn't be that surprising to me, I
think at this stage with how they played, but they got to do it
in the place and listen, and again, I want to make sure I'm
glad you brought up this point. I just want to make sure that I'm
preface this. I'm prefacing this by just saying that I'm not talking about the
team because I like the team, right, I love the team. I
love that they're actually making moves where you can realistically see the team's improvement as
you go through the season. The fact that you can have guys out there
competing when you don't have your full roster tells you more about how dangerous the
team can truly be. But that does not mean that they suddenly have been
catapulted to this elevated space of well, they should be among one of the
top three teams. And yeah, by record, but not by definition of
saying that they know how to beat the Celtics in the seven game series.
They know how to beat the Sixers in the seven game series. They know
how to beat the heat in a seven game series. They don't. And
those are the teams who have constantly been in the conversation of the Eastern Conference
semi finals in the Eastern Conference Finals. So until I see sustained success,
whether you want to use the regular season or you want to actually use their
playoff records, is a depiction of what the team needs to look like to
beat those teams. I'm gonna air on the side of their good to be
among one of the teams to put themselves in the best advantage possible so that
they can give themselves the best chance to win those series. But under those
circumstances, should we be elevating them in such a space like you're hearing these
conversations and saying, oh, well, what if Lebron James is available,
why do you need Lebron James? You know what I'm saying. If you
believe in the guys that you have, then make sure that those guys are
good, right, and get more guys that can come in and be good
with those are your guys right when we're talking about Randall Brunson and Anobe right,
and then you've got heart and Devincenzo. I'm not saying that if a
guy isn't really good and he's available and you don't have to give up a
ton of capital to do it. What I'm saying is is, don't get
caught in the glamour and the glitz of what the trade deadline can offer and
throw pieces in there that's throwing off what it's supposed to be being built up
as your core team. You know what I'm saying, Like, if you
at this point, if you're not sold on Julius random being a part of
this, then fine, any packages you have, you're saying you are getting
you a Kevin Durant type person to replace what Julius Randall has given you,
which you better make sure it works. You better make sure that TIBs makes
it work, because then what are we talking about now? And I think
that to me is the part that irritates me more than anything is the unrealistic
thought process that fans put. The whole idea that the Knicks have to go
through when you're watching it being exactly the way that they did in the nineties,
right, and I agreed, you can see the desperation, I guess
is what I'm saying, and it's just it's befuddling to me that even sports
media here in New York are just so egregiously out real unrealistic about what they're
trying to make the Knicks do that they don't have to be doing right now.
Well, I've heard it from all sides. I think over this last
week with the Knicks, as you alluded to, the over exuberance to maybe
to even some of the casting of doubt of saying, listen, we're getting
ahead of ourselves a little bit too, as you like to say, you
know, getting ahead of our skis. Right at the end of the day,
let the season play out. I don't know that they're going to do
anything drastic at the trade deadline. I think there was one or two names
out there that could have been potentially available in terms of big name pieces that
they could have looked to acquire, and I don't think anything is going to
happen in that space. Right one guy is injured and then the thing,
one guy is on another team that's doing just as well in them in Cleveland.
So you know, I think the Knicks are gonna more or less stand
pat with in terms of star making moves and maybe they make some things on
the edges, maybe Malcolm Brogden to back up Jalen Brunson. You know,
it's all him said. They no longer have quickly, you know, coming
off the bench, something along those lines. Something that could be a really
you know, Tiger Woods fist pump, solid move, but nothing that's gonna
be like, oh my god. You know, they've they've changed the entire
course of the Eastern Conference and the NBA by this star coming in, and
I think that's the path for them. They want to give this group a
chance to really kind of prove it to themselves, and I think TIBs and
company will allow that to happen, especially once they get everybody back healthy.
Absolutely your tunes to the baseline Cali Warrenshaw discussing the hot button topics of the
NBA and our topic mid focus man, Right, Like, all right,
so you mentioned that the other team that I think people need to pay attention
to and look out for are the Cleveland Cavaliers, And I'm glad you brought
that team up, Shaw, because ironically enough, this is a team like
what thirteen games, fourteen games, like I think like thirteen games above five
hundred, right, now and they are quiet Yeah, they are quietly you
know, making putting teams on notice that if they are the team, if
they are a team that's among top five right in the playoff running, they
are a team that you don't want to deal with for home field advantage.
And they're probably not the same same type of team that the Knicks handled easily
last year, just simply because I think there is a growing sense of confidence
that this team knows how to play together, knows how to compete together,
and you're seeing it by these these wins that they're putting up Now. Maybe
the schedule has been a little bit favorable for them to put that in its
position, And I think when we see on the back end of their you
know of after All Star weekend, where their schedule I think is going to
get a little bit more difficult and they're going to run into some a string
of really competitive matchups that are taking place, I think we'll really see whether
or not this team has grown leaps and bounds. But again, when you
talk about matchups and how that plays such a critical part when it comes to
the playoffs, this is a team that checks all the botches boxes where they
can be a matchup nightmare against any of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland Is found a way to survive When they lost Evan Mobley and Darras
Guard Garland basically within a day of each other, or I think it might
have even been the same dy might have been hours later. For the weeks
that they both were out, you thought this season could essentially be lost,
maybe Donovan Mitchell would be on the trade block, and it took them a
little while to to kind of get their bearings. But you know, they've
got a couple of G League and two Way guys to come in here and
contribute. Kris Vert has some hot, hot moments here too, but there's
been nobody more consistent than Donovan Mitchell, you know, I think in this
run basically playing point guard, being the playmaker and the lead score and everything
that they needed to do. And then Jared Allen has really picked things up
here over the last month. A lot of the conversation can he and Mobley
play together? Do they get in the way, kind of like in the
Miles turn of the Monta Simonis conversations, you know, some some years ago.
Different different skill sets for both, but again and just in terms of
like, hey do they just not compliment each other? Alan took off when
Mobile was out, and I think it's now Mobley is the guy who was
to figure out, hey can I play alongside you know, Jared Allen because
he's he's really hooping this this season. To me, this Calvs team and
more importantly with j. B. Beckerstaff has been able to do on the
sidelines, There's there's no I would say there's not a better story, but
I'd be hard pressed to find a better story than theirs given what they what
they've come up against two All star type caliber players. Listen, front line
is one thing. To have two starters gone front the line up. You're
talking about two, at least in theory, all star talible player caliber players,
mobly somebody who people thinking about defensive player of the Year coming into the
season. And they've just found a way to get it done. Thanks and
Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill and guys like that. Even Max shouts that that
signing has turned out to be immense for them this this this season. I
really love what the Calves have been able to do in the position that they
put themselves into. But they are another situation because they had a really great
one last year and then they got bounced unceremoniously by the aforementioned New York Knicks.
It was just a terrible matchup for them. So right now the Calves
are soaring and you know, listen, they can get as high as too,
and if the Celtics stumble, you never know, you know, could
they actually end up the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. But either
way, right now they've sent it to three as we're recording here today,
and I wouldn't put anything past them because I thought, bringing Mobile and Garland
back, I was all right, well, how is this gonna work?
Even in a couple of games that it's been, they figured it out thus
far. Yeah, And I think that's what you want to see. That's
the whole point of the season, right is being able to see how this
team can can pivot when adversity affects them, afflicts them, you know,
And I think we're seeing a little bit more of that. I think that
there's no question that this is a team that is playoff worthy, right,
they will be successful. I think what it comes down to is have they
grown? And you know, we saw this a little bit when Spider Mitchell
was playing as with the Utah Jazz. You looked at the roster that he
was surrounded by and with Quinn Snyder. I mean, he had those teams
overachieving the first two years that Spider Mitchell was a part of that roster.
Yeah. Well, I mean it's interesting that you mentioned from BEFO four because
Cleveland, as you're discussing it, I said, well, let me take
a quick leak. They actually have the twentieth so I guess, tenth easiest
schedule, sorry, so tenth twentieth hardest, so tenth easiest schedule remaining,
so they could potentially stack up here. You know, a couple wins,
Boston ironically ends up having the second easiest schedule remaining, so you would figure
if they do what they're supposed to do, they can make their business conference.
But everybody above Cleveland, you know right now, they have had harder
schedules and they do so the Cabs are in a perfect position to get into
potentially as high as a two seed, you know, depending on a lot
of obviously a lot of things and anything can go wrong at any given moment.
But as we're having the conversation today and yeah, if they set themselves
up for what could be a potentially great run, and all the conversation about
whether or not Donovan Mitchell wants to be here, I think that will be
determined based on how well they finish off this season and do they try to
ultimately move him this this offseason. You know that remains to be seen.
But right now, I can't imagine Donovan Mitchell going anywhere with how well the
Caps are playing. Absolutely you're tunes to the base Cali Warrenshaw discussing the hot
button topics of the NBA are conversation mid mid season focus. Man, you
know what I'm saying with Jay z and through teams that we think are probably
gonna be the most dangerous and the ones you want to pay attention to.
So with that being said, shall let's go to the Western Conference? Right?
Which teams do we think are going to be the most dangerous and that
you need to pay attention to? Yeah, well, it's the most dangerous
team to me is a team that's also the most surprising team right now,
and I think it's Oklahoma City Thunder and not just trying to ride the proverbial
wave, right, but the biggest caveat hair is youth and the experience and
have they been there before? But you have a legitimate MVP candidate. They
are. They are basically eight nine deep throughout. They have the requisite shooting,
They play defense. Yes, they can. You lose a little bit
more size and a little bit more girth I think in the middle. And
maybe that gets addressed to the trade deadline. But to me, okay See
is equally the most surprising and and and easily the most dangerous team. I
think going into this year, the Ray manner of this year again, assuming
everything stays healthy, Chad has been phenomenal as a room protector. Skinny as
he is, he's been a great to turn inside there so they can get
a little bit more beef, but to back him up or to play alongside
him, the sky is really the limit for them. Man. And as
I said going into the season, you know, I'm a big friend of
you know, Jay Dubb, you know that Jilly Williams uh and you were
you were a little skeptical of my guy. But he is a certified bucket
getterer. I know he's got a little ankle thing going on right now,
but he he gives that team another dimension, and lou Dort just becomes like
superfluous. They don't even He's just kind of out there and yeah, he's
just kind of playing defense. Yeah, you know that's my young son.
You know that's my young son, right, And but I think Jay Dubb
has regulated him to really just a complimentary role, like Dort is not thrust
into some role that he'd be miscast for. And I think that has all
the makings of a of a really good basketball team. Not to mention Giddy,
who's just kind of hey, I'll get so I'll score every now and
then, but I'm here going to try to distribute, you know, rebound,
push the tempo a little bit. Yes, he's a little bit of
a liability on the on the three point arc. But ultimately, Giddy I
think has another level that he's not even having to reach out because Williams SGA
and should have been so great. Look, man, I love Lou Dork.
He he is a bulldog man. And I think you remember when we
had this conversation a couple of weeks ago, how I believe that the two
way player in many regards are caught in a crosswords is deciding about you know
what where should they continue to hitch their wagon in order to be relevant to
the contributions that they're making to their teams. As you get older, obviously
there's certain aspects of your game that becomes a little bit more diminished. And
if the system that you're playing in tends to put you in a compromising position,
meaning you know, you're not able to keep up with these younger guys,
you're not able to elevate us over some of these guys, you're not
able to defend and stay on some of these guys, it puts you in
a bad light, making it seem like, oh, you know, you're
you're done, You're washed right, you're washed out, you're washed up,
you know. And I don't think that's always been the case. I think
it comes down to the reliability factor for what you do bring to the table.
Whatever it is, you do, do it to the best of your
ability. And we've always said we've even said that about Drew Holliday, right,
And you can see how the Celtics are utilizing him. They're not asking
him to be a scorer, right, but he can score. They're asking
him to do the dirty work to show the younger guys and keep them honest
about continuing to do that dirty work for them to be a legitimately good defensive
basketball team which at times loses the Celtics. And the same thing that is
being asked upon from the goal of Oklahoma City Thunder is what they're doing with
Dork. He comes in and he gets you some shots. He gets you
some buckets, but he was never supposed to come in there and try to
score you twenty twenty five points a game. He gives you fifteen. But
everything else that he's giving you allows that team to play small, to play
their style where they're imposing their will against the opposition and not vice versa.
That's why he's there, That's why he's eating up an in a minute,
And that, to me, I think is the mark of a true coach,
understanding his roster and maximizing what the roster gives you. It almost is
kind of like masking, you know what I'm saying, people's perceptions that this
team is a lengthy team, a big team, But the players that they're
putting out there are assuming those roles and are doing those little things that may
not afford you the opportunity that the trade deadline can give you in order to
fill in those those quote unquote weaknesses that you need to shure up if you're
trying to make a legit run. Yeah, And I think how they'll do
those things. It's not really upsetting much of the roster itself. Is they
can maybe trade some truly truly end of the bench guys, but they have
so much drift capital based on all the air quotes tanking they did and then
also the whull that got back for sh all that progress, sure, all
that progress they were doing progress, call it that. So to me,
like they are just so poised to be so dangerous And if it's just a
matter of getting over the proverbial humps, if you will learning what it means
to truly play competitive basketball the beginning, middle, and deep into the playoffs,
that's going to be a huge thing. I don't want to just throw
that to the side or mention that cavalierly like it's a huge situation and a
big thing that's hanging over their proverbial heads once a playoff start. But to
me, like I said, they have all the makings in this, and
I'm just so enamored with the way they share the basketball amongst themselves. There's
not like, hey, I feel like I'm competing to be against SGA,
Like Jalen to Williams understands, Hey, I'm the number two guy here and
he distributes to basketball Too's that mautching four point five assists this year, he's,
you know, right behind Gidea at four point six. So the fact
that you're getting that from your wing player as well, in addition to what
SGA is giving and what Giddy is giving, that just shows to me that
this is a team that has it has their their proverbialation together. The fifth
and offensive rating, fifth and defensive rating, and second in a net rating,
just behind Boston ironically, So okay, see, he is definitely the
team to watch here for me going into the rest of the season. One
real quick question for you Shaw before we transfer over to the All Star Reserve.
I was really curious from your perspective playing teams that you find to be
the ones you say, I don't want any part of them if they get
into the play in situation, who are you who would you be looking at?
Well? I think to me, I don't care how bad they played,
and I'm gonna start out west. I want no part of the Warriors,
and in the playing situation, I know everyone's singing and dancing on their
proverbial graves, and they're not in the play in right now, right as
we recorded, so they're they're twelve. I think something like that, you
know in the West, right But if they were to creep up, that's
not a team I want to see the Lakers in the playing situation. Why
would you want to play Lebron Like? What what would give you that that?
Why would you want that death wish? If you will? And I
understand you can't fear him and you can't fear Steph Curry, but that's not
a matchup I think I'd be looking for if I'm any one of those one
or two teams, if I'm the one seed or two seeds, especially with
the one and two seed both being teams who are young and have yet to
have true playoff extended success right now in Okay, see in Minnesota right now
that ends up being a Clippers, that ends up being Denver, then maybe
that conversation is different. But to me, the Lakers and if the Warriors
end up getting their act together and then then somehow in the playing tournament,
those are the two teams I want no part of the Western Conference. Yeah,
I think they would be the ones who is surely upset the apple cart.
So yeah, if you're if you're a regular season team and you're in
the you know you're in the playoff conversation, you want to do everything you
can to keep those guys as far down the total pole as possible, like
literally out of it as as possible. You have no arguments there. You
know. It's kind of interesting too, Shaw, because when you think about
the idea that there has to be a belief in the young guys that both
teams have. Are you leaning more that Darvin ham buys more into his younger
guys than Steve Kerr? Or is Steve Kerr using his young guys more out
of desperation, recognizing the writing on the wall that he can't run with,
you know, the core group that that's got him to this particular point the
same way that he's done in years past. I mean, I think it
depends what you're determining young guys, right, and then the overall talent level.
To me, the kaminga of if of this is highly it's clearly how
the highest talented player of any of the young guys on either one of those
teams. So Kerr has no choice really, he's Kuminga has earned those minutes
and is going to continue to get those minutes, I think, pushing forward.
You know. From the Lakers side, it's like, oh, well,
you know, Jackson Hayes is a young guy, I guess, you
know what I mean, Like who we're really talking about there in that aspect,
you know, where Ham is just kind of mixing matching lineups just kind
of in general, young old, mid doesn't really matter. He's just trying
to figure it out to get them to some semblance of you know, consistency
and in general. So to me, you know, the Warriors are in
a better position because they have better talented young guys who they can put into
the lineup and potentially shirt some of the veterans that they have there. I'm
really interested to see if the Warriors line up right now as we're recording the
last couple of games remains Draymond Wiggins, Kaminga, Clay and Curry, Like,
is that the starting five to go with? Especially with Kaminga giving you
that that that that fresh breath, if you will, of youthfulness, if
you will, but you know the young rookie as well too on the port
Guardbodinski. He's a guy who gets a lot of minutes as well too,
And I think he's been a god said in a lot of ways. Curry
seems to have really tanked him, and he does a lot for them on
both sides of the basketball, even from an energy standpoint, but also from
a play creation. So to me, Golden State's better equipped with their younger
guys than the Lakers are. And the Lakers and in some ways understand that,
and I don't know that him has a whole lot of you know,
bandwidth to try to do anything other thing, anything different than what he accordingly
has with what he has on his roster. I think what's gonna be interesting,
Shaw is how those young guys are being utilized, because right now you
can make the argument that Steve Kerr has a lot more to play with uh
Kasminsky to me is the is their Swiss army knife. And I think to
me he would be more of the X factor that could that you would want
on either of your team. And I think Darvin ham is still searching for
his Swiss army knife when it comes to the young guys that he could plug
and play with versatility. I I feel like he's so refined by only the
skill sets that his young players can offer at this time that he has to
rely more on what the veterans are doing for him to be able to match
up more with the young guys so that there's something cohesive with Kerr. I
think it just really comes down to Kerr reading the room sort of speak and
knowing where these guys can be, maximizing what the Warriors need for them to
make the kind of run that's necessary for them to be playing worthy. And
we're not even talking about whether or not they're going to be good enough to
get to top five six teams in the NBA. That's not going to happen.
But I do think that he can get them right where even as a
play in team, the very worst getting knocked out by the play in still
helps the young guys at the very top of it is them helping Curriandos guys
make one last run coming out of the play in situation. Yep, Well,
all remains to be seen. I don't want any part of those teams
out in the Western conferences I alluded to, and the E is to me,
it's the Florida teams. If Miami and Orlando are you're seven and eighteen,
that's not a picnic for anybody. Nope. You know Orlando, especially
being as young as they are. And yes, you can say the experience
is a question, but they have size that basically all positions. They've been
battling and finding injuries all year long. So if they're fully healthy come playoff
time, you got to contend with Paulo Bancaro and Franz Wagner and Moe Wagner
and Wendell Carter and and everything that's happening I think within the front court and
in the back court for them as well too. That's just the team,
especially with how hard they play defense, that is going to be problematic.
And I don't think we need to run off the Miami Heats resume with their
smulls trend what they've done no matter where they're seated in the playing or wherever
they're seated in the playoffs. But if they're in that playing line, God
helped those number one and number two teams because that is not a problem that
you want to be trying to get over in the first round. Absolutely,
man, you are tuned to the baseline Cali Warrenshaw discussing the hot button topics
of the NBA mid season focus Man. Great conversation that we had about teams
that we're looking at in the mid season, who can potentially make noise in
teams that you obviously do not want to see in the play in situation or
even in the playoff tournament all together coming up. We got some news and
notes and some injuries going on, and we also need to talk NBA All
Star Reserves as the announcements were made, So don't want to miss out.
Be sure that you're locked in with us more baseline Cali warn shot, don't
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Cali Warrenshaw Baseline NBA podcast. Let's go soon through some news and notes right
now, Shaw, real quick. Zach Levine, it's been announced that he
is going to be done pretty much for the year four to six months ankle
injury I believe, or ankle surgery is going to be required. Yeah,
so what do we make of this? Obviously it's very disappointing. Even if
you're talking if you're a Bulls executive or if you're part of the Bolls franchise,
now you know you literally really can't do anything. If you do,
you probably have to pull like a Steven Adams. If your intent was to
move him. Somebody who's going to be taking a chance on him is looking
at it long term past this season, h certainly a situation you know that
Zach Levine would have wanted, as he's obviously trying to really weigh what's what's
left for the rest of his career moving forward. I'll say this passpect You
know, obviously Zach wanted to come back, seem like he was going to
acquiesce to the way the Bulls were moving in the in his absence earlier in
the year. So I guess he came back and think was I think six
games, and he played relatively well but was playing more team basketball and then
got hurt again. Uh. It sucks not only for his short term perspectives,
but I think also now, as you alluded to, it's a major
name, a big name that probably now does not get moved at the deadline.
I say probably, because anything can obviously still happen. But I think
even from the excitement of like, all right, well, where could have
his next destination been and could he have impacted winning wherever that goes? Wherever
that was, we probably won't. We won't know that now until next year,
and that's whether that's in Chicago or elsewhere. So we wish Zach obviously
is speed of recovery, but just to get lost season for this young man.
I think they wants to prove that he's not an empty contaries type of
guy, but will not give that opportunity the rest of the season. Yeah,
it really sucks Joel Embiid. It's been reported that he does have a
a torn meniscus, so you know he's going to be out for some significant
amount of time. You know, if the seventy six ers currently a believer,
second in the Eastern Conference, and you know, I don't know how
much they they've been. They have been dropped all the way down to fifth
as this recordings, as we're as we're recording this show. So you have
to feel bad for you know, not not just in bid, but you
just have to feel bad for the organization and the team. I know it's
a it's a big, big ask, you know, for Tyresse Maxis and
now fill in those shoes. But again, this is a great opportunity for
Nick Nurse, It's a great opportunity for Tobias Harris, great opportunity for that
roster to come together and you know, to make the most of the situation.
They've they've earned a little equity with the amount of wins that they've collected,
and we saw how that impacted, you know, a team like the
Brooklyn Next couple of seasons ago, we saw how this I'm sorry, last
year, we saw how it impacted the Boston Celtics. So it's not like
it's all totally lost. Obviously, the confidence that the Sixers can compete with
the Celtics or the Bucks or whomever has certainly been marginalized. Compromise, no
question, But if you're talking about sustain success, this is a great opportunity
for the Sixers is a team to really come together and not just prove to
themselves but also proved to Joel Embiid that him being fully healthy and being ready
to ride shouldn't unequivocally give people the good feels that this is a championship worthy
basketball team instead of the pie in the sky that always seems to happen that
as great as Embiid had even last year, there was no confidence that they
were the team that was going to be coming out of the East. So
this is an opportunity for the players themselves to, as our man Ryan Hollins
it said, stand on business and really show people that once in being comes
back, that is the missing piece, and this team goes where Embiid takes
them when he's fully healthy. Yeah, I'm a little more dubious and skeptical
I think than maybe you are. There was a lot of conversation that they
needed to make a move with him be there, and something needed to happen,
and again not superstars level, but something on the edges now without honessarily
knowing how long embiid is going to be out and then just how long does
it take it the ramp back up, I think there's a little bit of
a different tenor and it makes Daryn Morriy shop incredibly more convoluted going into the
trade deadline. Tobias Harris sure has the ability to play better than he has
been. I think you're seeing peak Maxie and have been seeing peak MAXI.
But now he doesn't have his pick and roll partner alongside him now for the
foreseeable future. So as defenses now can truly key on key and as MAXI
as a guy, how does he respond to that? Right? Can he
still average twenty seven a game on the efficiency in which in which he was
shooting? You take out thirty five a game? Twelve rebounds, six assists,
with two blocks, a steal and thirty nine percent usage from EMBIID.
I don't know how you you can't replace that, Like we know that I
agree with you. I'm not saying I'm not saying you can. I'm not
even saying that you can. But this is what I'm not saying that you
did as well too. But it's it's hard, like when it's that much
of what your production is, just trying to piece meal that out to other
guys, it doesn't it doesn't come as easy, at least not in my
opinion. Like that's a lot of usage and a lot of scoring, so
their identity almost changes dramatically for the next foreseeable however, many weeks in BEAD
is going to be out to determine, right what sense of a team are
we ultimately going to be? And you were You're a spot on in terms
of how does Nick Nurse coach this up? Now? What do you have
up your sleeve to now put people in different positions so that they can be
successful? Do you rely on your defense a little bit more? Do you
so the paste down a little bit more? In that sence because you don't
want as many positions going out there because you don't have that monster and Embid
who can just kind of save you with everything he does offensively and defensively.
Yeah. Well, the only thing that I'm gonna add to your point,
because all of your points were silient. But the point that I'm going to
add to you is if this does not light a fire in Daryl Moorey's ass,
because remember Darrin Morey got an extension, right, if this doesn't light
a fire in your ass, that this needs to be addressed, and it
should have been addressed. I don't know what will right because the current expectations,
regardless of you looking for a guy on the edges of Shaw, the
point is is that no matter what you do, you're never going to get
one hundred percent Embid. Even if you're trying to figure out a way to
get him back for this season, you know you're not getting him at one
hundred percent. He may be healed, but he's not going to be nearly
the player that you even had last year because this injury, I believe is
carrying itself back over from last year and to wear and tear. You know
what I'm saying. Everybody's making as much ado about the sixty five game minimum
and him, you know, losing the opportunity to be NBA. And I
want to make sure I preface this real quick, shaw. I think people
need to stop with this thing about the minimum and the MVP awards and all
this that this has got nothing to do with this, right this has to
do with you have Ligor arguably one of the greatest NBA centers of our generation
right now, who's been playing on one leg for how many years now,
okay? And I don't know what the motivation is for him to do the
things that he's doing to achieve the things that he's achieving, but at some
point you may have to slow him down and be like, look, man,
what's more important to you right now? Right this window where you can
actually get to an NBA finals maybe and win a championship and at the expense
we can only get you out there certain times, certain number of games and
things of that nature. Or this idea that you want to be the greatest
center and doing it, you're going out there not fully healthy, not really
taking care of your body in a way that's going to allow you to get
through an NBA season, And there's misrepresentation about where the priorities are. That,
to me is the concern you think about this, Shaw, go back
and think about what the Golden State Warriors had to do with Steph Curry and
the sacrifices they made it the early part of his year, knowing that he
had been playing with bad ankles, and what they had to do in order
to put him on a path where you're now seeing him in his fifteenth season.
If we continue with this trajectory of Joel Embiid, He's not getting to
fifteen NBA seasons, man, And I think that would be a disservice for
us to appreciate the big man and what he's been doing throughout the course of
his career. And that, just to me is that's the part that really
sucks, and I think we have to start recognizing it, even if it
means putting some extra bodies to alleviate what he's putting himself through right now at
the expense of not even getting to a conference finals or even an NBA finals.
I'm going to throw two names at you that I think are pseudo realistic
for Philadelphia, and you tell me you know would if you're Darren Moray would
you be interested right the Jontey Murray, who we've obviously talked about a lot,
and the Lakers are pretty much lusting after. I think at this point
everyone thinks it might be a fourgon conclusion because of the whole clutch situation,
but the Jontay Murray and then on the opposite side, Laurie market In wish
one of those two guys marketing potentially could be available would make the most most
amount of sense for Philadelphia Marketing because I think at some point, I don't
know what you continue to do if you still have Harris. Harris may want
to be there, but with marketing, you've got the versatility of a four
or five kind of guy and someone who can definitely eat up minutes and has
proven that he is he is on the better side of staying healthy for me
than what I think your expectations are going to be. If you're you're trying
to pair up this matchup with Maxy Murray and and and say Embiid, I
like more of where marketing is because I think there's gonna come a point where
you're gonna have to have a front court presence on the floor when Embiid is
not there and marketing in can fill that gap in We've seen the experiment with
the two guard situation right now in the current climate of the NBA, and
it will only get you so far with the makeup of how the Sixers currently
look. But again I could be wrong. I just believe a little bit
more marketing than I probably would with Murray. Well, I can see where
you're going there, and I think either one would make a lot of sense.
You just worry if does Murray become an issue for MAXI doesn't kind of
get in the way and the way that But he's not James Harden, right,
so I think he can figure that out a little bit better than the
hardened max and hardened MAXI pairing was. I think a Murray Maxie parent could
work a little bit more to obviously towards Maxi's to his favor if you will.
But marketing does make a lot of sense to especially with his his shooting
capability. So while EMBIID is operating from the mid post, uh, you
know, you're not worrying about marketing clogging things up, and he can be
a kickout threat for EMBIID as he's getting doubled and we're seeing Embid having the
best passing season of his NBA career, So to me, marketing would be
an amazing, amazing get for them. You don't know if that cost him
to cost him Tobias Harris or or not, but if they can get bring
marketing in or Murray, and I think Philadelphia once ab he gets back,
can be right there in the thick of this, hunt Man. But I
think they'll be two great potential editions for you for for that team. All
right, we would like the sign of that, all right, Callie Warrenshaw.
Based on NBA podcast Final News and Notes, Shaw, Jared Vanderbilt,
he's on the injured injury list. Big blows to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Yeah, huge, huge, huge. We're still waiting to see how long
it is. Wellj puts out a pretty ominous tweet and then reported on ESPN
as well that this could be season ending. So I need to get the
news on that ultimately. But I think I was reading something Darvin Ham was
talking to ad It was just like, at this point, like they're just
laughing at how much they've been injured, and they've had a lot of stuff
going on. They're not the most injured team. In the league. But
I think just in terms of virtue to where they are, what their expectations
were, those injuries have hurt them in a way that they just clearly didn't
expect. But to me, nobody's been more snak bitten than Memphis. But
at the end of the day, hopefully Vanderbilt is not done for the season.
Seems like he's going to a significant time one way or the other,
and if the Lakers can hold firm and at least get into that plane,
maybe he can return then and then give them that defensive presence that he's been
so known for throughout his NBA career this far. Yeah, this is a
great opportunity for again Darvin Ham to really work the young guys in And I
think if you're a Lebron James and you're that great leader that you know has
always been touted about you throughout your career, this is the time for you
to start working with some of those young guys. I don't think you have
to worry about Jared Vanderbilt. I think that, you know, it's just
a question of can he stay healthy enough to be able to give you the
max effort that he's been giving you all this time, you already know what
you're getting with him. But some of these other young guys like Christy,
you know what I'm saying, Reeves and these guys, they need the opportunity,
they need to work, They need the gameplay situation playing next to Lebron
because I guarantee you when it's clutch time. I'm not saying that Lebron doesn't
an anad, don't won't rely on Jared. I'm just saying that, am
I passing the ball to Jared Vanderbilt when I need those clutch shots? When
you know what I'm saying, when I need when I need for you to
make a certain play to put me in the best position. I'm looking at
some of these younger guys and I'm saying, hey, they're going to be
taking up some significant minutes, and it's to me a lot harder when they
don't know what that's like when they're not on the floor plane. So this,
to me is why I think it's just equally important that the Lakers use
this time. If you're not going to make a trade to get something of
equal value to what Jared Vanderbilt gives you, then you'd better be making sure
you're working those young guys to the maximum to get them ready so that if
Jared Vanderbilt isn't available or is available, you can work with all of the
components you have and not just the one player that's on the mend. All
right, sew. Finally, let's get into the NBA All Star reserves.
Announcements have been made. I don't want to be labor it. You know,
you can't really be disappointed in in who the selections are. But do
you find that there's anybody who felt was snubbed? Yeah, any of the
old lat Edge. If this person was stubbed, who you take off?
I get it. But to me, the Kings deserve some sums of representation,
whether that was Fox or Sibonis. I you know, I think they
just probably needed to be there. I wouldn't say if surprised Kawhi made the
team. I was surprised Kawhi and Paul George both made the team. I
guess if that makes sense, I can see maybe one and maybe not both.
But the Clippers are ahead of the Kings in the standing, so you
know, if you're gonna reward winning, then that's fine. But the Sons
are below the King and the signings. So but Devin Booker is a killer
and you know he's he's a crowd favorite, so you know those are just
and Anthony Davis Lakers are way below those guys in the standings, but the
understanding in terms of the talent level, nobody thinks Booker, Kawhi and Anthony
Davis are worse players than the bonus for Fox, So I think in essence
why they got missed, if you will. And then in the East,
I think Tree Young, you know, averaging a double double twenty five and
ten, you know, double double twenty seven and ten. I guess it'd
be exact. It is a little hard, especially but the guards are crazy
out there, but it looks like he'll ultimately get in there. I think
as a reserve with Embiid and Julius Randall both likely missing the missing the All
Star Game, so I think he gets in. I think the question is
and who will be the second guy that gets in that both of those guys
miss and that could be Jared Allen, maybe that could be christophs Worzengis if
you will. You know there are a couple of others in the Eastern Conference
who are well deserving Saudi Barnes too. I think it's been mentioned for that.
This is the reason why I've said that. You know, if this
is about the game, okay, right, understandable, Right, you're filling
the roster of the game. But why are we taking away or diminishing what
statistically is a representation of players playing at an all star level. You know,
I think Trey Young's an All Star. Why do I have to worry
about whether or not you're gonna play them or not play them in a damn
game that really no one cares about anyway, Right. What I care about
is, and especially what players should care about, is your numbers are a
representation of the caliber player that you are. When you sit at the negotiating
table and they want to compensate you for what it is that you did for
said organization or the next team you're going to play for that they are properly
compensating because they're looking at the numbers and they're looking at what it means and
what it meant to that team. Right, And that, to me is
the part that just just burns me more than anything. We shouldn't have these
kind of conversations about snubbing all Star caliber players because what they gave you was
all Star caliber numbers, right, they gave you those statistics regardless of whether
or not you're on a good or a bad team. Sometimes the position that
you're playing in and the organization and the system that you play for doesn't afford
you where you're standing out as an All Star next to the guy who's playing
with the team ten games above five hundred, and you're there arguably the best
player on that team, but collectively the team puts the numbers together to make
it look like, well, we would put all five of those players out
there, you know what I'm saying. So that's the reason why it just
burns me at times, man, because we are so far removed with the
way that the NBA has set everything up that we can differentiate guys who are
All Stars and guys who should be playing in the All Star Game. I
think we ultimately needs to happen is that they just need to expand the rosters,
and we keep talking about it, keep talking about it, Just do
it. You're willing to make so many changes and throw away the old guard
thinking, especially when it comes to the even All Star and the voting,
and now you have triple votes and all these other these just kind of like
gimmicky things. If you will, then you were trying to do the captains
or whatever. So why are we limiting it to those twelve guys? We
see people get left off this roster every single year who are ultimately deserving and
have the numbers in the case in essence to be what are all stars and
what fans would even people who players that fans would even want to see playing
in the game one where the other. So to me, a lot of
this gets sold if you just expand the rosters to fifteen people regardless, call
it a day, and then I think you're going to get less of these
conversations moving forward. And I just don't know why they haven't gotten to this
point yet. Yeah, it's it's amazing, just it literally is amazing to
me. But I'm on board with you with the snubs. I'm not disappointed
with the selections. I think it would have been a hard ask, but
even I would tell you I don't think Jalen Brunson is deserving of being an
All Star reserve. I think he should be in a conversation of being an
All Star starter. You know what, I'm saying with his conversation, he
should be the starter popularity count right exactly, And that to me again is
what marginalizes and diminishes the importance of the All Star Game because even before you
get to that point, you have already sullied the interpretation of what is considered
an All Star starter an All Star reserve because there's no clear definition to it.
And that's again, man, we could talk all day long about how
successful it may look like via the TV ratings and the numbers and the popularity
of the voting, but in hindsight, the long term effect of this shaw.
I know we'll have this conversation again down the road, but I'm telling
you, the NBA needs to be very leary of these type of things that
they're doing because it is going to have long term repercussions about whether or not
people buy in the viability of why we're even doing this voting process and having
this All Star weekend and All Star Game, the things that you want to
highlight. People ain't buying it, man, They're just not buying it.
Well, I would to challenge you in esensica. Listen to our guy Gerald
Brown on the bottom Line Sports show and also on the ninetem Nion Network Heavy
in the paint. He's been challenging Knicks fans for the last couple of weeks
since it's y'all's fault. So it's interesting you started the show off, you
know, talking about Knicks fans and their overall exubers. He's like, y'all
are in the biggest biggest market in the in the in the world. Y'all
couldn't vote Jelen Brunson in y'all couldn't gather the votes to get Jelen Brunson to
be the All Star starter where it didn't even have to come down to you
know what it came down to and and got Dame in there. So I
think it's a really interesting, I think test case in New York overall fandom,
they're more excited about the team, and they should be. They shouldn't
care about All Star voting. I guess if you will, But it's interesting
for as exuberant as they are, that market wasn't able to kind of push
him over the proferbial hump with their votes, so to speak. But maybe
next year. But Jelen Brunson definitely deserve to be the All Star starter.
But you know, Dame is for now and hey, all all shouts the
name. He's playing good basketball. See this is Hey, this is what
happens when you move a team from Jersey into Brooklyn. They need to go
They need they need to go back, and they need to remind themselves.
You know what I'm saying, You need to reach back into New Jersey to
just start paying your paying, paying your respects. Them Jersey folks be helping
you. Sometimes you may not even know it. You know what I'm saying,
Hey, it's been you know, I think nothing but awesome about it.
So oh no, absolutely, he's he's been. He's been first class
about this situation and all of this hypeness. Again, man, you know,
strip it down to what it really, what it what it shows,
what it resonates to. And again, you know, people need to start
looking at themselves in the mirror. If you really want to understand whether or
not things are being impacted or changed, look at yourself in the mirror.
See whether whether or not you have helped impact it or made that change.
You know, instead of jumping on radio stations and yelping and complaining and pissing
and moaning, you know, They are very the same people that can help
other people outside of New York City buy into the legitimacy of Jalen Brunson as
an All Star. You know what I'm saying, That's how it all starts.
Look, Damian Liller was an All Star when he was in Portland,
for Christ's sake, you know what I'm saying, He's an All Star in
Milwaukee, right. That doesn't that isn't just manufactured. He was a global
brand, but it's incumbent upon the fan base from that city to start the
conversation, and at times their fans out here they missed that. And then
that's the reason why you know what I'm saying, it's all orange and blue
skies. I'm like, well, get off your purple haze and start doing
what's necessary to legitimize the players that you have and make them out to be
the real stars, all stars that they need to be. Maybe next year,
New York fans, maybe next year, Maybe next year. All right,
man, awesome show altogether, shaw a lot of stuff. We covered,
great content as always. Yeah, what a way to start the month
of February. My brother absolutely so. As always, I hope our fans
listeners enjoy the show. Make sure you're tapping with us on our socials at
NBA Baseline on x at NBA Underscore based line on Instagram, follow Sports NBA
Parlimic game Face Lead. We are so excited to have the conversation about All
Star and obviously who are some of your surprise teams, disappointing teams, dangerous
teams going into the second alfagus the season, but whatever, whatever we're currently
right now post All Star break, let's go ahead with that. Who you're
looking forward to seeing, you know, kind of maybe Hoists, Stary,
aer Roar and Trophy come come June. So I'm excited as always, brother,
and we'll have some awesome conversation. And I know if we're going to
have the trade deadline conversation come up later this week, special guests on tap
for that as well too, So make sure you stay tuned to the baseline
absolutely. One final thought, I wanted to to make sure I throw out
there Sew and I, you know, we grew up in this generation of
you know, great movies, great actors. Just recently Carl Weather's Apollo,
creed Man Action Jackson, That's who I remember him, you know, even
though he was, you know, remarkable as Apollo Creed, uh, the
great actor passed away at the age of seventy six. Just you know,
just just sucks, man, you know what I'm saying, It's just ironic.
You know, when you see people who have put together such a remarkable
resume of work in their industry when they're no longer there, you really begin
to appreciate, you know, what era and time you grew up in and
how their presence had impacted you. And I just wanted to make sure I
give a shout out man to you know, the Weather's family, our condolences,
but you know, he was just a great man all together. There
was not one person I didn't see through social media outlets who were given their
compliments, their kudos Adam Sandler. You know what I'm saying, Like people
like that just giving nothing but great memories and kudos to him. And he
was such a great actor, man, I just want to make sure we
didn't get lost on that. And then I think that's an amazing way to
you know, definitely kind of put almost a cherry on top of the show.
I definitely was a fan of his, of his acting, and obviously
he grew up on those rocky movies and what he was able to do.
So, you know, as he alluded to condolences to his family and those
who remain, But I'm gonna take us in one quick direction as well too.
On a more positive note, Shout out to our guy Jabari Davis put
out on Instagram. You know, former co host of The Baseline here,
a longtime friend and family member of the nineteen media group Family War one or
the other. You know, he got the nuptibles situated this past weekend,
So we're excited for Purple and golds guys. Baby, Purple and golds guys.
Put the tie on with the with the purple and gold. You know,
air forces, I believe, just just an exciting situation for him.
So shouts for our brother, you know, our family out there and Jabar
Davis and his lovely wife. So not only is he married to the game,
he is married to the Dame. I like it. I like it.
Shout out shraw our man, Jabbari man. Congratulations brother to you and
the family man. And listen man, we can't wait for you to to
come on, come on board. And you know what I'm saying, Air
out, air out your uh your what is now your union is your union
love. He'll be flashing a different type of ring front exactly you know what
I'm saying. Add that one up to the band as my brother. Add
that one up to the banner for the baseline, Cali warren Shaw. We
appreciate you guys, thanks for hopping off board with us this week, and
we'll catch up with you next time.