Clippers fans, Welcome to season two, episode eight of Clips in Dip.
I am one of the three hosts. I am Chuck Mockler, joined by
Adam Haslin. Will Updike as here as well. We're excited. Last week
if you missed it, we had Brian Seman on such a good time.
You can find us on iTunes, Spotify, all those good places. Please
review us. That helps us out. Today we're gonna be talking some fantastic
new threads that Adam is wearing that you can see if you're watching us on
YouTube YouTube dot com slash at Clippers Podcast. There we go. We're gonna
be talking the new threads. The schedule came out for the Clippers, and
I don't know what was worse, the schedule itself or the video to announce
the schedule. And then we're gonna talk Nick Batum retiring. We are all
pretty sure after this Clippers season. But first, Will, before we get
into Adam's fit, how are you doing today on the sweltering afternoon. I'm
well, all right, Will's in a great mood. Adam who bought you
these threads? And how excited are you to be wearing him on the pod?
Well, you put a bounty out someone buying this the reason you will,
I did not offer any money. That's not a bounty. I just
said someone should buy them. I didn't do a god damn thing. But
why why this apparel? Exactly because you thought it was so cool and I
looked like Bill Walton if I had this tie dye shirt on that goes with
everything. Yes, let's go with that. That's exactly nothing wrong with that.
What's that? Yeah? I also have the shorts on if you want
to see a little Oh wow, man, you too close enough to the
camera here, You're definitely way too close to the camera. The YouTube view
were getting unsubscribed by the second. Who bought you those? Did you get
their name? Queen? Give him a shout out. It was our friend
Aton, who is a big listener of clips and Dip met him at a
game once. He said, it's the best podcast inning distance, not just
Clippers podcast universally, Joe Rogan, eat your damn heart out. We're taking
over every He gets a lot of listeners. Whatever you think, I mean,
he does, yeah, better for worse. But I don't know.
I think this is gonna get really popular now. Is this is gonna sell
more than the New Barbie movie. I'm sure now that I'm wearing it,
I think you've set a trend and I think we can all look forward to
seeing an intuit dome full of people rocking the tide. I think it's supposed
to be like a midriff thing, but it's an Excel. But arms up,
buddy, lift the arms up. Oh is it women's size excel?
I don't know, it's it's definitely you could see a little something that hey,
you need, Yeah, you get a pair of scissors. We can
make that into a middrift, no problem. All right, Let's talk about
the second most important thing to happen this week for the Clippers. The schedule
came out and just as everyone I think kind of thought they would, they
hate it. It's a terrible schedule. Brian Windhorse had some funny things to
say about about it. I'm gonna run through the low lights and then we
can try and figure out some highlights. So fifteen back to backs twenty three
is that double the amount that we had last year. I think it's the
same. It's the same. It's the same, Okay, feel sure,
I'll take it. Uh twenty five three games and four nights instances, which
is the most in the NBA, ten mattenee home games, insane four five
and sevens, a seven and eleven stretch to close November and open December,
seventeen games in March, which for some reason is the most egregious thing to
me, and then eight games in the fourteen days that the regular season has
in April. If I didn't look so damn beautiful right now, I'd be
pissed. I don't I feel like the thing that's going on, whatever reason
sticking out the most to mean, it's just this four or five and seven
two days. We didn't have any of those last year, and there were
zero five and sevenths, And the Clippers are essentially playing a quarter of their
overall schedule in a single month, yeah, and a quarter of their home
games at noon. I mean, so it's terrible. This is the last
year of having to share the stadium with three other teams. Are what are
some highlights of the schedule? What are some easy parts of the schedule that
we could maybe highlight. I'll tell you what. I've been looking at it
for a couple of days, and I can't really find like a yeah,
stretch maybe the start you were combing the desert like in space balls, we
ain't found shit. Yeah, I had the big pick. Yeah, because
like the opening of the a lot of people are saying, like the first
ten games, you got Portland, Utah, the Spurs, Orlando for the
first four. They need to go turn in three. I know, hey,
Kawhi Leonards should be ready for training camp per Lawrence Frank, But yeah,
I'll take that. They need to win ten of the first thirteen games.
Brian Steeman touched upon it last week, but you look back historically,
teams that win championships get off two fast starts, and the Clippers at least
have the ability to do that with Portland, Utah, San Antonio, Orlando.
Then the Lakers, that'll be tough New York, Brooklyn, Dallas,
Memphis, Denver. Okay, that's tough, Houston, San Antonio twice,
so it eases up there. But I think they could start ten in three.
That's a possibility if they handle their business. One of the few right
spots to me is just that if the regular season needed to get their attention
for them to respect the regular season, this schedule will have to do that
big double bird right now, the Clippers to say pay attention to it.
Will said something a month ago that I scoffed at that I now have to
offer me a couple too. Will said, and there was even a comment
on it in our YouTube comments section, that he sees them as a play
in team. If they don't play to their capabilities and get up for this
schedule, they very well could be a playing team. They very well could
finish seventh through tenth in the West if they don't take this more seriously this
season. I mean, I the one wearing this and the only one that
doesn't have a nickname. Yet We're getting there. The shirt is nice,
but I mean, so that's a great point because I kind of wanted to
talk like obviously way too early record predictions. But where we at. So
let's say they make the hardened trade with you know whoever has gone to make
it work. We don't if you've somehow been living under a rock. James
Harden. Oh wow, Adam Adam just got the best nickname of all time.
Crop topsland is in the house. Go to YouTube to see these gems,
folks. So say we make the hardened trade. Say it's hardened.
After he said that, he will never be a part of Darryl Moore's organization.
Twice in front of children just wanting to play basketball with him at his
basketball camp in China, he was asked a question. He was probed,
if you watched the thing it was an instigation effort. Where do the Clippers
finish without James Harden? Say? We just trade? We do the Brockden
trade, which they are they've already kind of talked about again after they failed
to do it. Where's this team at if it's we get we swapped Morris
for Brogden in trouble? No, I think, I mean, I agree
with you. I don't know how many games are kawaiin Paul George playing?
Can they both play sixty this season? I think everyone would sign up for
that, right, I mean I'd sign up for it. But will When
are you putting the chances they plays? Man? I think given the current
trends with the roster as constructed right now, this team is fighting for five
or six like best case scenario as constructed currently. Yeah, I totally agree,
Adam. Where are you at? Like if they played sixty games?
I'd be a sight, But I don't. I just don't when you're looking
at winds totals. You have to take into account that. And I know
we say this every year, but I do believe the West is going to
be even better, even just slightly better, more competitive because Houston is not
going to be as bad as they were last season. San Antonio with Wemby,
it's not going to be as bad Portland. I guess they could get
worse and they could finish with a bottom two records. Oh, I will
say I'm terrified of Opening Night for Portland. I'm terrified of it is Dame
gonna be there, Scoot's gonna be there, That's all I'm I'm just I
don't know. It just feels like there's some Scot has a vendetta. You
guys didn't trade for me. It's like, no se that. I just
think it's an opportunity to maybe not come out as strong as they need you
on day one. That key. There's all the narratives. I agree.
I'm not saying it should after what was All the talking points this summer have
been about respecting the regular season and Coach Low talking with the stars about it
too. They have to get off and attack this schedule immediately and get off
to a good start. There's just no room for error because you look at
the rest of the Western Conference. Memphis, yeah, I don't think they're
going to be a two seed this season, and they're gonna be without Jaw
for some time. But they're still going to be really good and they've added
good pieces. The Phoenix Suns now together with Kevin Duran for an entire year,
plus they added Bradley Beale. The Sacramento Kings are young and getting better.
I don't know if there'll be a three seed, but they'll still be
really good three seeds what they were last in the range of what the Clippers
are fighting for. Sure, Golden State can be better than they were last
year. I think the Lakers will be better. They're going to be jockey
for position for a top three seed. Okayc might be in the running for
a top six seed this year. I really believe that. If Chet is
healthy and he looked great and blocking the living set to everybody during the summer.
But the Pelicans, if Zion plays fifty plus games, they're only getting
better. You can't flirt with disaster and get off to a slow start.
The easiest schedule or the most favorable part of the schedule might be the very
beginning of the season. There's no time to figure it out. There's no
time to tinker, there's no time to wait ten games or fifteen games with
certain lineups. The Clippers have to go into this season. I'm not saying
like the playoffs have already started, but with some desperation, with some urgency.
Brian Semans said it. They have to keep that competitive integrity every single
night, regardless of who's playing. And the way the season closes makes what
you're saying even more important. Right the way we basically play a game every
other day to close out the season. You got seventeen games in March,
and you got however many I said, in April eight and the fourteen days
in April, so we're already like the end of the season is going to
be brutal for the Clippers. For people who think, oh you sule,
I mean yeah. For people who say, you guys complain about the schedule
every year, well, for one, there's a reason for that, no
shit. Yeah. Number two, though I didn't last season, I actually
thought that was a more favorable schedule, even with than playing the most games
ever before the all Star break because that meant they only had twenty one after
the All Star break and they have more time to figure things out before the
playoffs and get more rests for their veterans. I thought that was a favorable
schedule, obviously didn't take advantage of it. Now they have twenty nine games
after the All Star Break this season, so it could be trial by fire.
It could be a blessing in disguise, because they're going to be in
a dogfight all season long from the beginning of the year with how difficult this
schedule is, especially within the first month and a half. I posted that
fourteen game stretch from I think the middle of November through the start of December,
with the in season tournament being right in between, so there will be
two more games at least in there. And it's it's a gauntlet. It
is unforgiving. It's brutal. Yeah. I just retiring Warriors three times,
Kings twice, Denver Nuggets in there, couple back to backs, Okay,
see Boston, the Pelicans. They got to exercise regular season demons. Yeah.
And the thing that's tough too, is like Windhorse was on I don't
know whose pot it was, but he basically said the last two years a
Clipper scheduling has been particularly bad because they're on the way out, So we're
now I don't even know how we could get lower priority than we already have
at Staples Center, which the King's owned, by the way, For those
of you who may not understand that, but the Lakers fans always say Clippers
paying red now, Oh no, you are too. Now we are like
a rum below ourselves in terms of like it's like the Clippers and then like
the Clippers on their way out is where they are right now with the scheduling,
so like we're getting absolutely no love. But it makes the hardened trade
because I don't know what other top tier talent the Clippers are even in the
market for which I guess is a good thing. He considered the heart of
us though, and what he brings to this team, and I'm ripping down
the shelves. They need us when you have a schedule like this, they
really do they who's going to be available hopefully every day? I agree,
but Russ is on the team. Let's talk about guys who we could add
to the team because we need this help. It makes the Harden trade that
much more important is a team now it's right or am I wrong? I
means this is a hypothetical and it's it's a little bit of a tangent.
So I'll let you all railing the conversation after this. But is this team
currently constructed russ starting point guard one of Kawhi or PG out. Do you
pick that team to win over the currently constructed Portland Trailblazers in a regular season
game? In one game? Yes? They should be still be much better
defensively overall, Yeah, I would agree. I would agree, I go
sixty five percent chance on theory. Yes, in practice, well, no
onpending night. But Adam, do you think the schedule not that I don't
think. I don't think. I don't think like the schedule he's influenced how
hard the Clippers are gonna go for Harden. But I think it might change
some fans minds when it's like we need another guy who can sometimes obviously not
all the time, be the guy on that night. Yeah. I don't
know if it's something that the organization worries as much about or players talk about.
I feel like there were some murmurs the last season talking about the schedule
and how many games they had and how condensed it was before the All Star
break, so they're aware of it. Whether or not, that puts more
pressure on the front office to make a move to help raise the floor during
the regular season something certainly James Harden would be able to do, something Zach
Levine would be able to do. One of these other guys that we've brought
up here on Clips and Dip over the last couple of months. I just
I feel like there has to be some upgrade or you're counting on Bones Highland
taking a big leap, kJ Martin taking a big leap, so to speak,
a star, Kobe Brown playing this season and being in contention for Rookie
of the Year. Like, that's the type of stuff you're going to have
to rely on to get through this regular season. I think if you don't
have a massive talent upgrade or all of a sudden, the stars are able
to play seventy plus games, which we don't expect, well, you know,
I think it depends, but you know, you bring up some interesting
young names. I no, development hasn't been a huge part of this era
of the Clippers really ever, but if they want to extend their championship window,
They're gonna need some sort of Memphis youth resurgence. And I'm not saying
that they'll hit the same highs, but a thing where like, even with
you know, your best player missing thirty games, you're you've got a team
of a good enough talent and young guys who are looking for an opportunity hard
enough that you can remain competitive. And I think that that's that's going to
be a thing, regardless of the heart and trade or not. I think
that the future of this team's championship window beyond this season, which look,
man, I think that if they have a shot, if this isn't it,
you know, I don't know what is, but you know, and
that's that chance still isn't great. But if they want to extend that at
all, they are going to have to figure out how to keep it more
out of these younger players. They're gonna have to get them bigger opportunities.
They're gonna have to draw plays and create rotations that are going to optimize these
guys in ways that we haven't really seen. And I you know, I
know that we're I don't expect Terrin's to be back in the starting lineup.
I don't expect us to return to something like that, but there needs to
be a focus, especially if there's a stretch early where one of like Paul
George and Kawaiet is now where we pivot the game plan to giving some of
these guys bigger opportunities. And I'm not even saying that it'll always translate to
wins in the short term, but there needs to be some sort of thinking
beyond this season with the development of these players, or I think that window
could already be closed. So kJ Martin being in a contract year, I
think really helps your argument because KA Martin is gonna want to get paid,
but a sense like he's gonna be everyone knows in every sport, or it's
the contract year, guys tend to show out. I'm not knocking anyone who
does that, but like, this is the chance for kJ Martin to get
have to get talking about generational wealth, like I mean you're talking about well,
his dad was Kenyan Martin, but yeah, I mean for yourself in
your future. I mean like it's yeah, yeah, yeah, he's a
UFA, so like he can get an offers from anywhere next year. So
I'm hoping since he was the only player available to film anything for the schedule
release video that ken that kJ Martin after he's done taking smiling, He's like,
I'm gonna get a lot of play. This is gonna rule. I
gotta take this basketball to Chick fil A. Like I'm excited for kJ Martin's
year, more so after seeing the schedule. I can't really connect the dots.
Why, But I think you articulated pretty well. Yeah, and will
you kind of pointed to it's not just the very young guys like Kenyan Martin
Jr. Like Bones Highland. It's a twenty seven year old Terrence Man,
a twenty six year old Visa Zubos. How do you bring the best out
of them during this regular season? And what's interesting to me is even getting
James Harden. Now, if it puts more pressure on bringing in James Harden,
I don't know, but I think in one way it also means you
can't give up too much for him because you need to hold onto some of
this depth because it's going to be such a grind during the regular season and
James Harden might only be good for sixty games too, by the way,
but you really have to thread the needle and figure this out because I just
I don't know this regular season. I don't see how it could be worse
this schedule realistically. I mean, you could say they could play Denver eighty
two times, that would be worse, But realistically, I don't see how
it could be much worse or be much more difficult of a road than it
already is. I totally agree. I guess it's good they I mean,
one benefit, they don't play Done for four times bag bag Jack, not
in the PAC twelve twelve the Pact dive. I should say, well,
well, I'll tell you what the Pac Div this year we're gonna do.
We're gonna do a three hour special on how good the Pact div Is going
to be when we get closer to the season. But yeah, and now
when we talk to Harden trade a little bit, it should probably be hardening
another player. We can't be given up a three for one with the schedule.
I mean, I'm not saying like PJ. Tucker is like elite.
Obviously, I think most Sixers fans would love it if p J. Tucker
got traded. But we can't just bring in just James Harden well, and
they have to use all of their depth this season and put guys in a
position to succeed. If Rocco is still on the team, even if there's
a hardened trade, I think he's got to play. You're going to have
to save legs. Expand on this idea. What is this idea? It's
play Rocco. As the chant was at Krypto many times last season. Everybody
wants to see him out there. There was the article was it was the
interview with me. I'm shout out Law Marie fred and I guess he hasn't
talked with Coach Low since the season ended. Yeah, I kind of have
some this. This is nothing against Law obviously, who's fabulous. He's been
on the show before. I kind of have I feel like the way sometimes
these things get framed is it's like there's some sort of rift in the organization,
which could be the case. I'm not there. I haven't spoken to
both of them, haven't gotten them both in a room, you know,
just a classic. You haven't had a key key with Ty and Roco.
No, not yet, not yet. But I feel like if you were
to ask me on my three month vacation, if I had texted my boss
I'd be like, nah, man, we haven't talked since the friday I
left, Like, we'll probably talking about our back. I can see that,
Like I the not like, because what's Tyler gonna say, like I
didn't play you, like send the thumbs up emoji, like I don't know,
like drawn up some great sets with bar. Yeah. Well, hopefully
him only playing forty games or being out on the court for forty games to
this past season has saved his legs some and if he is on the squad,
they can use him and he is a weapon like he was when he
first came over from the Portland Trail Blazers. I mean he still ended up
shooting thirty nine percent on the season last mark the star in this schedule.
Well, so how long is he composed? Wait? All right, wait,
let's get a quick We're gonna do a quick ad break and then I
actually, I really do want to talk about the marketing. That's a great
call. We have ads coming up. They've been too loud for you turning
down. Ads coming up and a couple again catch us on YouTube so you
can see Adams fit. We had ads coming up in three two one.
All right, we're back in the cliffs and dip. We've talked about the
hell that is the schedule. We'll touch a little bit on the hard and
tread, which is, you know, one of the biggest what ifs surrounding
the Clipper season. So I'm sure we'll come back to it, but right
now we're gonna focus on some guys actually on the roster and one who may
be leaving the roster after this season. But let's we teased it before the
ad break. Let's talk a little bit about Marcus Morris. One of the
most steep declines I think of a of a player, you know, a
non star player, to be sure, butting department, Yeah, one can't
go from zero to zero. One of the wilder declines that we've seen.
You know, we see coaches all the time. You got you gotta try
to sometimes let guys shoot through it. Where were you guys at? For
his place in this lineup on opening night? He has to be off this
team for both parties involved. He is not having a good time. As
evidence as we talked about it, when he's talked about Clippers fans on Instagram
or whatever, which he's not completely wrong about. People were photographed completely off
base on not completely off base, but it's still not the way to go
about it. Even because he's justified with all the incoming he got, it
doesn't make the situation any better. Correct. But if people were photoshopping your
face on Osama bin Laden and telling you that you suck at your job every
day because the coach plays you too much, I'm not saying those people are
wrong. We've said it all skin though, is what I'm saying. You
know what I know. I just don't know if it's the best way unless
it's somewhat of a power play to want to get out. He wants to
leave. I think it makes total sense for both, Like it makes sense
for both even without the Clippers hate. It makes sense for both parties to
end whatever's happening, right, The Clippers need to get them off. They've
literally already tried to trade him, and he doesn't like the mean part of
the fan section. So like, dude, if he's the starter on Opening
night, my belief is will be there. Can we see booze? Nah?
I don't think we'd see booze. If people are booing Marcus Morris on
Opening night, Dude, I would, oh you will, I would have
it you will. That'd be a pretty severe heel turn for this fan base.
Horrible, that would be a fucking nightmare that maybe. Yeah, not
everybody, though, is going to understand the full context of why he said
bum ass Clipper fans on threats. I would expect some booze if you say
something like that. I would expect it because not everybody's gonna know the big
picture or care like okay, but also in his defense, no one uses
threats. Yeah, well between bashing Marcus mort Yeah, Adam, where are
you at on this team's outlook? If Marcus Morris is starting when we play
the Portland Trailblazers, like we get to watch Scoot Henderson get the switch on
him and then just go right by him. I don't care. I just
want to talk about Zap the kuk no kidding, wait on the box marks
Facebook. It's a meta thing. I would just be shocked if he was
still on the team opening night. That that's my position on it as things
stand right now. That could change. Maybe there's a change of heart,
there's a sit down, there's a conversation, But I just like it's an
untenable situation. I agree with. I don't know how you men fences here,
especially because not just that and the Clippers fans and him talking on social
media, he was traded and then the trade was next And I don't know
if he's the guy that's going to be okay with that, knowing that the
team wanted to get rid of him. That doesn't seem to be in his
personality, which is fair. Also, like dude already trying to get me
to go, like moving for something, but he's got to be off and
off the team. Sounds like I'm not saying cut him, but like he
can't be starting for the Clippers on opening night, especially when we talk about
trying to get younger and having some infusion of youth. And I know you
can say but tomb and Rocco or older, but you have a mere coffee.
You have kJ Martin, guys who can conceivably play the three and the
four s and Kobe Brown. How do you do that if you have so
many of these veteran guys, who do you guys want to see at the
four opening night? I don't want to see Monster stays that it is because
you know, we can't sure addict the future obviously, I mean I can,
but I choose not to. You want to see Kuhi at the four?
If that means Terrence Man is in the starting lineup in the backcourt next
to us? Yeah? Interesting. I like that idea. I was in
too, but I didn't have a real reason other than maybe someone else is
at the two. I don't think it'll be Terrence. But oh, you
guys want to get a little smaller anyone but Morris, I guess as rough
as that is. But oh, will who do you want to see at
the four? Plumbly run Plumbly and zoo together? Huh? The dream two
bigsum zuoli? Uh No, I don't know. The Clippers are in such
a weird place right now, like we what is Harden's aid value? Darryl
Moorey is apparently unmoved by what he said, because Darryl Moorey, I don't
think. I don't anyway. But Joel Embiid takes sixers off of his bio.
Yeah, yeah, I don't think he's I don't think that's, you
know, some type of empty threat. You're saying, trade for Embiid if
you can. But I'm saying Mbiad is the next shoe to drop if they
lose James Harden if they don't get something significant back Mbiad's going to want out.
He already made the comments that whether our win with the Sixers or somewhere
else, he knows it's about his individual legacy. At the end of the
day, as a player, he would go anywhere to win a championship.
It doesn't matter. I'm sure he'd love to do it in Philly, but
yeah, he is the process. He's so. I talked about this a
little bit when Joey Lynn was here, But I think like that realization if
you're the Sixers and that like possibly not even possibly the future of Joel Embiid,
the reigning MVP, it depends on your return or lack thereof from the
Harden trade. I think that takes the Clippers fully out of the mix,
man, Like, unless unless there's a third team involved, like I just
we do not have the assets to get it. You mean, throw the
kitchen sink like Norm Terrence, Norm Terrence, the two picks like I and
whatever salary you have to fill in, Like, is that a championship contender
in the East? Like, I don't know, man, I don't really
I personally don't really see it you're onto something. I think you might be
onto something. I wonder if they would try to redirect things then to bring
in somebody else, because that's something Daryl Morey said, either we get a
star or I said with the caveat like without a third team. I do
see the way where the Clippers get in, like can really get involved in
a serious way. But how bad could it get if? I don't know,
man, I didn't think it would get to the point where Harden's like,
he's a liar. He's a liar. If he's not even showing up
and takes the fines, aren't you just better off trading him for anything?
What if he shows up and is just a goddamn nightmare. Well, he
was at the end of his tenure with Houston. He was dogging on the
court and he was calling them out post game. Nobody's better at this than
James Harden. He knows how to play his hand in these situations. It's
a quagmire, like every both sides are stuck and it's a nightmare situation for
everyone but James Harden really, because he opted in, so he's good,
you know what I'm saying. Philly knows that Joel Embiid isn't going to sit
out games if they lose James Hard He's still gonna play. He's still the
reigning MVP. He'll be trying to compete. I don't know how long that
promise from Darryl Morey would go with him of Hey, this summer, Tobias
Harris is coming off the boat, will be able to rebuild things. I
wasn't here when they let go of Jimmy Butler for Tobias Harris. That's not
on me. The other thing, though, that I could see happening is
to keep hardon. What if ownership stepped in and said, okay, Daryl,
you're out, that you were the one who reneged on the deal or
didn't keep your promise. We need James Harden to be happy because it's a
players league and we have the MVP and Joe L. Embiid that's more valuable
than having Darryl Moray. I don't know. I don't know what they're thinking
over there, but I would say everything should be on the table when you're
talking about making Joe L. Embiid happy. He's still in the prime,
in the middle of the prime of his career. I like that take of
like what if they're just like, we're everyone going to get a new gmrn
was the GM there anyways? Maybe they blow the whole thing out, But
conceivably he could just slide right back into the role he wasn't It's not like,
yeah, I think without a massive change, I think it's difficult to
repair the relationship. I don't know. I wouldn't say that it's an impossibility,
though, if you're if you're willing to go that drastic, yeah,
James have to be like damn, okay, they did that right, they
fired the GM for me, Like, yeah, if you can make James
Harden believe that it was for you and not for Joel Embiid, that would
be a great call on the Sixers part. I like Darryl Moore. I
do think he's a good GM. I don't. It's hard to know exactly
who to believe in these situations. But I don't think James Harden took eleven
million dollars less last year for no reason. I don't think it was just
the goodness of his heart to get PJ. Tucker in there. Something had
to have been set so of course like that, I mean, and for
him to turn on the guy that brought him in from OKC and made him
and believed in him being one of the great scores in NBA history. For
that relationship to go this sour, it must be pretty bad. Behind the
scene is between him and Darryl Moorey. That was a partnership forever and he
wanted to go to Philly because of him. So, I you know,
there's some smoke. There's it's not out of the blue or Jess hardened beings
and the players support him. PJ Tucker, who's on his team, had
like a supportive Instagram posts. That's what made me start to think if they
all turn on him, like, couldn't Darryl Moorey be the one that's whose
head is on the chopping block? I mean, it's certainly like from a
Sixers perspective, seems like an easier prospect to fire at GM than potentially trying
to deal to like franchise stewards. Yeah, one of it like who just
won the MVP, Like damn well. I hopefully we get some kind of
update on it soon. I hope the trade happens sooner rather than later.
If we get Lazy Hardened at the trade, deadline. I'm not super hyped,
but we'll cross the bridge and we get to it. Speaking of crossing
bridges, Nick whom is going to retire after the season? Where from so
Lily, But I'll rock it, bro, I got the whole timeline if
you read the breakdowns for once. I'm just trying so on the audience.
So we lost you or I did? Am I back? I want to
fight Zuck He's here. Cool. So Lily Batum posted a clip. Lily
Batoum is Nick Bottom's wife of Greg Popovich, and someone commented asking if that
would be the future for Nico, like you know, oh, would Nico
get coached by Greg Popovich? And Lily Batoum replied, for that, he
would have to continue in the NBA and that is absolutely not on the program.
Sorry or not. This French person replied, Nico does not want to
end his career in the NBA. Lily Batum replied, Niko decided to end
his career NBA and E d F which is the French national team, after
the Olympics. So this is his last season with the Clippers. So for
his significant other, I trust a little Batombs. I'm gonna say in this
situation. I'd probably trust the little batom. This sucks. It's not completely
unexpected. He's played a lot of basketball these like, you know with obviously
with what happened with the Olympics or what was that block he had it was
like the greatest play yeah on Luca, Like that was last year during the
Worlds. Yeah, so like he played in the Worlds. He's playing another
you know, kind of for the Feeble World Cup with France. Like it's
not totally unexpected, but kind of sucks, right, He's gonna be Yeah,
yeah, we love we love the Beatombs, who was a godsend when
the Clippers got him and both ways he said they saved him. I mean,
he hadn't been playing in Charlotte at all and a rejuvenated his career.
It was just a perfect match hand in glove for Patum in this organization and
the fans embrace him. But tumb Battalion, as he said, he's one
of my favorite players to watch because he's been there. Draymond, he does
all the little things. I still think he plays at a really high level.
A lot of people have talked about his fall off last year. He
still shot thirty nine percent from three. I know it was up and down
in streaky, but he's still shot thirty nine percent from three. And I
saw him lock up Kevin Durant on multiple possessions in that first round series,
And didn't he have a great second half to Game five when they were down
big the threes were raining from Nicholas Patoum to help get them back into that
game. He's clutch. Yeah, he was a little inn consist last year,
but yeah, like he's he's part of the identity for the Clippers.
But two, to me is one of those guys too who would benefit so
much from a resurgence to the young guys, like just a little bit less
of a dependence. Obviously, you know, he's been moved out of the
in and out of the starting lineup. I don't think that's really his place
anymore. I really don't think, like at his age and what he's expected
to do in terms of glue, he's really even an eighty two game guy
anymore. But I think like some of the load being taken off of him
and being able to, you know, even when he's on the court,
you know, have a little bit more in game rest and certainly like have
have younger guys step up Martin would be huge. I think that that,
you know, I'm not saying that he should all like ultimately change his mind
or anything, but I do think that that could end things on a very
good note for Batum. You know, yeah, what was he was if
we if we were able to reserve him a little bit more for when he's
best and he's able to be in the best shape and with as little fatigue
as possible. Uh, you know, when we get when we get late
into the season, it's do you mentioned the mentor thing, which is really
awesome because I think but Tom with kJ Martin, you know how good but
Touma is it cuts and all this stuff. But to him, if he
wants to, I'm not saying he has or anything. If he decides to
kind of mentor kJ Martin, it could really help kJ Martin's game in a
contract year. Sure, And Mussa, I don't think he'll get a bunch
of playing time with the first name, but all right, French the French
connection Musa starting four. Yeah, yeah, let's go back to that question.
But I think you're right, Well, I think but Chum as a
chance to leave a bigger impact than he already has on the Clippers. I
thought he brought really a nice identity when the when the Batoon Battalion was going
off all that stuff, it was like, Oh, this is a role
guy we can all rally around because he plays smart and he makes strong defensive
plays when he can. Like, that's the identity for the Clippers. That
that I like that Batoon brought. But I hope we sent them off on
a good note. I mean you could say something was born when they brought
in Nicholas Batoum in that training camp in twenty twenty. Guys, what has
something not been born? What is the what is the what is the thing
for something to not be born? Yeah? What do we do? We
watch Oppenheimer, great movie. It was great, better than sixty five slightly,
uh, and then any some other random Clipper news. Zoo is playing
an Olympic qualifiers for Croatia, which is great. I think international basketball in
the off season. Zoo is the best version of Zubots. We had a
good start to the season. We talked about having to rely on some people.
Let's rely on the iron Man a little bit. In this incredible schedule,
incredibly shitty schedule. We have right, like not crazy, but I'm
not saying he's option one, but hey, give the big fellow some more
touches. Well, now that they have Mason Plumley for coming into this season
backup, I think of visa Zubots can either pace himself more because he might
play less minutes, or you gotta find wild. If I could read,
I bet this was a weird time. But no, I you can say,
right beats the Zoo boss. But we saw what happened with the falloff
in play, and maybe it was injury related. He was banged up a
little bit actually the games last season, but from the start of the season
he was the reason they had that top five defense. The first couple of
weeks, it was all big Zoo anchoring that his effort was spectacular. We
were joking, like defensive player, that you're a big Zoo or and maybe
I brought up a few I think you were joking about that becauld he and
Musso win it this year. That's crazy googling if you can have code.
But yeah, I just want to make sure even you know, it's not
just about preserving your older guys. Sometimes if you have a chance, because
Mason Plumbley's there to take a little bit off of Big Zoo and what he's
responsible. Or you may get better effort or better energy or more energy out
of him in the minutes he is out there on the court because he's more
well rested. Yeah, last minutes for Zoo. Now, good thing.
I like that call. Not about kind of wraps up this Friday episode.
Do you guys everything else you want to talk about? Clippers? Fear wise?
We don't want to. I mean, Adam, I know you can't
say anything, but will What did you think of the schedule at least?
Hate the schedule? Oh? Terrible? I didn't watch the video. Well,
if you want to see kJ Martin drive a basketball to Chick fil A,
you should watch it. Very well, that's good. Way. They
didn't do the rolling a jar or that was on some stairs. That was
bad. The Bulls had a great one that was Pokemon themed, was very
good. The NBA, like really or the NFL really crushes it with these,
and I feel like that's one area where they have have kind of one
up to the NBA on the old social media experience. All Right, we're
gonna be back next week. Hopefully we're gonna have someone from the Philly side
to talk about some of this hardened stuff. Those guys are hard to get
ahold of. It's that damn time change. You'd probably love my ass,
all right, Adam taking shots in the whole city. I'm with it.
We're getting him on now, Bro, You get Bro, You get this
guy at Crop Top. He's unhinged. All right, We're gonna be back
next week. Reviews really help us. We appreciate him. Will Where can
these wonderful people find this podcast if they want to tell their family that they
have to listen to it? So you can check us out over on iTunes
or Spotify. Those are the best places to leave a review, which really
helps the show out. You can also listen to us on Google Podcasts.
We're on Amazon Music, We're on stitch Er, We're on deezer. Anywhere
you listen to podcasts, you can listen to show. Check us out over
on YouTube. We do some fun stuff. We mess around with the names
on the recording. We have a good time over there. You also chop
it up with us anytime. That's over at clippers Pot on Twitter. We're
still there until the thing burns down. Adam, Why don't you go ahead
and send us off. I'll tell you something that's burning this fire right now.
It's this midriff tidy shirt I got. Thanks again for everybody who listens.
Maybe this could be our new thing, new rules. If you send
it to me and it's Clippers related, I'll wear it. That rule,
now, that's the rule. If you it's appropriate. Nope, nope,
no, no, I mean I don't real skin. I just don't want
like a f this player shirt or anything like. Okay, it has to
be let's call it. Should we call it licensed clippers gear? No,
I wouldn't go that far. I want to go that far. How far?
It doesn't have to be official, be okay, doesn't that be official?
If you send Adam a Clippers of peril, it can't be derogatory of
the Clippers or a player or or you know, obviously nothing racists home for.
But anything like sure derogatory towards me. That's different, Yeah, bay,
towards any one of us. Adam is opening up some doors for this
thing. If you send it, Adam will wear it, much like Field
of Dreams, but a little more important. We thank you everyone listening.
To be back next week, and as always, let's go clips,