WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>On the Drive.

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<v Speaker 2>Tim McMahon dropping dimes for your NBA daily assists.

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<v Speaker 3>Van mcman batted dude in all the Landtective blood as

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<v Speaker 3>Dick at Mud. He's a man, Van McMahon, Vanman the Man.

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<v Speaker 2>More than hour of the Drive is here, Order Larson,

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<v Speaker 2>Tony Parks filling in for Spence. Check its on this Tuesday.

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<v Speaker 2>We'll be with you once again tomorrow as we set

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<v Speaker 2>you loose for the Thanksgiving holiday. Before we do that, though,

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<v Speaker 2>of course, some more football chatter coming up on the

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<v Speaker 2>program as the week rolls along. Talk some NBA switch gears,

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<v Speaker 2>talk some hoops one. Tim McMahon of the ESPN of

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<v Speaker 2>course band McMahon joins the program now, as we appreciate

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<v Speaker 2>him for doing so each and every week.

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<v Speaker 1>What's up, Tim?

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<v Speaker 2>How are we.

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<v Speaker 1>How many days off does Spence get? Right? I mean

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<v Speaker 1>he's just going to take like the rest of football season.

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<v Speaker 2>I feel like we've done like the last two or

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<v Speaker 2>three of these.

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<v Speaker 1>Haven't We Maybe maybe get them back after the trade deadline,

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<v Speaker 1>maybe be able to unload a contract. Trade deadline.

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<v Speaker 2>I think we're hoping for around the holiday, around around Christmas,

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<v Speaker 2>and then you know, it's load management until then, and then,

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<v Speaker 2>as you know, Tim, it's the home stretch where we're

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<v Speaker 2>we're playing for seeding after that and going from.

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<v Speaker 1>There, Yeah, I think you would be playing for Lobbtery position.

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<v Speaker 2>What are he's saying? What he's saying, I'm just saying,

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<v Speaker 2>NBA Cup action tonight, Tim McMahon, give the folks a

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<v Speaker 2>little reset of the NBA Cup where we are right now? Because,

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<v Speaker 2>like me, I'm sure a lot of fans are are

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<v Speaker 2>they're following the NBA Cup, but they're also kind of

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<v Speaker 2>following them just as if they were one of eighty two.

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<v Speaker 2>Where are we with the groups, the teams that are

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<v Speaker 2>fighting for tonight a potential to clinch a knockout stage

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<v Speaker 2>and what we're seeing before the quarterfinals get going on

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<v Speaker 2>this Tuesday.

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<v Speaker 1>You didn't tell me I was gonna have to be

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<v Speaker 1>prepared for this, Like I don't have my NBA Cup

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<v Speaker 1>standings handy. I know Houston Minnesota is a good one tonight.

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<v Speaker 1>The Rockets two and oh, with the best point differential

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<v Speaker 1>in the West, can certainly put themselves in prime position.

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<v Speaker 1>I'll be honest with you, I'd have to look through

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<v Speaker 1>the rest to figure it out. I don't have the

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<v Speaker 1>Cup standings that will memorize.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, well it's okay because I got in front of me,

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<v Speaker 2>so we'll we'll go there.

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<v Speaker 1>Houston. Well, you ask me, you're the one who knows

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<v Speaker 1>the answer.

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<v Speaker 2>Tim, half a half of radio is asking questions I

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<v Speaker 2>know the answer to. But we'll get Houston. Houston today

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<v Speaker 2>clinches with a with a win, that is Group A.

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<v Speaker 2>Toronto is eliminated today with a Milwaukee win. Utah. Utah

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<v Speaker 2>is eliminated today with a loss, as is Washington. So

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<v Speaker 2>those are are kind of the game changers on tap tonight.

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<v Speaker 2>Of course, the schedule tonight TIM includes San Antonio and

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<v Speaker 2>the Jazz. We're gonna see teams mostly full strength. Of course,

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<v Speaker 2>Victor Wemenyama, Lowry Markinen to of the premier team players

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<v Speaker 2>on both of those teams have been dealing with some

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<v Speaker 2>injuries last couple of weeks.

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<v Speaker 1>Alright, listen, I don't know how the NBA is gonna

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<v Speaker 1>be able to market the Cup, Semis and so on

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<v Speaker 1>in Vegas. If there's not the Jazz, the Wizards or

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<v Speaker 1>the rappings, it's gonna be challenging.

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<v Speaker 2>You're not wrong, all right, Spurs Jazz Victor webbin Yama

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<v Speaker 2>in town for folks who haven't seen this yet. Tim

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<v Speaker 2>This specimen of Victor Wembanyama give Jazz fans who might

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<v Speaker 2>be on site tonight a little bit of a pre

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<v Speaker 2>view of what they're going to see in Victor Wominyalla

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<v Speaker 2>compared to really any basketball player that they've seen in person.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, there's not been anybody who has his combination of

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<v Speaker 1>size and obviously in terms of height, athleticism and skill,

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<v Speaker 1>and he's still very much kind of in the process

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<v Speaker 1>of figuring out how to harness all that. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>he's seven foot four some five whatever he is, and

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<v Speaker 1>half the shots come from three point range. And listen,

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<v Speaker 1>sometimes he's going to hit eight out of sixteen, like

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<v Speaker 1>he did when he scored fifty against the Wizards. Sometimes

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<v Speaker 1>he's going to go, you know, three out of fourteen.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, I at some point I think that the

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<v Speaker 1>shot diet will be a bit better balanced, I would say,

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<v Speaker 1>But you know, he's he's still very much in the

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<v Speaker 1>early process in terms of developing and filling out his physique.

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<v Speaker 1>So it's it's easy to say, hey, you should be

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<v Speaker 1>down in the pay morts. It's more difficult to get

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<v Speaker 1>that position. But then honestly, Defensively, he's probably already the

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<v Speaker 1>best defensive player in the league. And it's not just

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<v Speaker 1>the size, the athleticism, the length, like the instincts are insane,

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<v Speaker 1>and he blocks shots that you can't even believe that

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<v Speaker 1>he's able to get to. So you know, when the

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<v Speaker 1>threes are going down. Offensively, he's awesome. You know, that's

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<v Speaker 1>kind of a hit or miss deal. Defensively on a

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<v Speaker 1>nights night basis, it's a site to behold.

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<v Speaker 4>You talk about defense, the Houston Rockets number one defense

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<v Speaker 4>of the last eight games, I know for sure it

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<v Speaker 4>might even extend beyond that. But the level that they've

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<v Speaker 4>played where they have a defensive rating that's like at

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<v Speaker 4>ninety seven, there's so many things to be impressed with

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<v Speaker 4>with the way that they play on that side of

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<v Speaker 4>the floor. As you kind of evaluate them and what

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<v Speaker 4>could be coming for them in the future, what jumps

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<v Speaker 4>out to you most also about other ways that they

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<v Speaker 4>could be possibly a bigger threat threat that we expected

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<v Speaker 4>before the season.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I mean, and defensively, you got to give email

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<v Speaker 1>Youdok a ton of credit because you know, the question

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<v Speaker 1>about Alfer and Shagoon is hey, can he can be

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<v Speaker 1>he anchor a good defense and you know they were

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<v Speaker 1>good last year, they're better this year. You know, it

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<v Speaker 1>helps to have a Dylan Brooks, it helps to have

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<v Speaker 1>Aman Thompson and Tory Brooks. I'm sorry, Tory Easton coming

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<v Speaker 1>off the bench. You know, Jabari Smith Jr. Is very

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<v Speaker 1>good defense. But they've got some good defensive personnel. But again,

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<v Speaker 1>to be able to do that with Chagoo as your

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<v Speaker 1>center is extremely impressive. And I think like in terms

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<v Speaker 1>of the Rockets having a real ceiling as a contender,

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<v Speaker 1>I do think they are a big move away from that.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, if you talk to people down there, they'll say, hey,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, maybe there's a group can grow into that.

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<v Speaker 1>But like the Jena and Green contract, they'll tell you

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<v Speaker 1>you they hope that there's a bigger deal in his

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<v Speaker 1>future for them. That contract what looks like a deal

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<v Speaker 1>that was made to be included in the trade. They've

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<v Speaker 1>got all those Suns picks and it's still got to

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<v Speaker 1>swap with the with the Brooklyn Nets in a couple

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<v Speaker 1>of years, and they've they've got extra picks to play with.

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<v Speaker 1>And there's a reason that the Rockets are one of

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<v Speaker 1>the teams that's coming up in every conversation about a

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<v Speaker 1>potential superstar type of trade, and you know they've been

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<v Speaker 1>linked with like a KD with a Jimmy Butler, guys

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<v Speaker 1>who hypothetically could become available those it's still in my

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<v Speaker 1>hypothetical sense. What I would tell you is, I'd be

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<v Speaker 1>surprised if it's somebody who's not still approaching or in

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<v Speaker 1>their prime, because they do have a bunch of young

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<v Speaker 1>players that you know, things break right for you and

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<v Speaker 1>they could eventually have a pretty long runway.

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<v Speaker 2>Tim Since you you kind of brought that up a

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<v Speaker 2>big move away team, I think there's a few teams

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<v Speaker 2>around the league that are probably in that camp. Has

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<v Speaker 2>your radar changed since the beginning of the year on

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<v Speaker 2>maybe players that you're looking out for when the trade

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<v Speaker 2>deadline does come about? Maybe you know teams that are

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<v Speaker 2>underperforming with a star that maybe you didn't think was

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<v Speaker 2>on the trade block before the season, but now maybe

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<v Speaker 2>you have a slightly bigger eye on, like Milwaukee. Well,

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<v Speaker 2>where's your your your trade deadline radar sitting as we

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<v Speaker 2>get closer to December and closer to January.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, you know, I don't know that it's changed. I

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<v Speaker 1>would be very very surprised. If Phoenix doesn't keep their stars,

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<v Speaker 1>that would definitely be like a drastic shift in plans

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<v Speaker 1>and direction. You know, Katie coming back tonight. I think

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<v Speaker 1>they'll get back to winning games. The Bucks actually have

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<v Speaker 1>started stacking some wins together. It's against the saw stretch

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<v Speaker 1>of schedule, but I just i'd be I don't think

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<v Speaker 1>Giannis he's going to barge into the front off and

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<v Speaker 1>demand the trade for the deadline, And I don't see

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<v Speaker 1>any way that they would consider trading him unless those

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<v Speaker 1>are the circumstances. You know, if if Milwaukee is going

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<v Speaker 1>to make a major move, I would think it would

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<v Speaker 1>be shopping Dame. But again, if they're able to continue

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<v Speaker 1>with the little bit of momentum they've built, and that

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<v Speaker 1>probably didn't have. You know, Jimmy Butler is the name

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<v Speaker 1>that's been coming up, and we'll see how that goes.

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<v Speaker 1>You look pretty good when the Heat beat the Mess

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<v Speaker 1>the other night. But and the other thing, like when

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<v Speaker 1>you start talking about all these trades, it's a lot

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<v Speaker 1>harder to pull off these kind of trades, especially mid season,

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<v Speaker 1>than it was under the previous CBA. So this, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>you never say never, especially this far out from the

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<v Speaker 1>trade deadline, but maybe there's not like a a star

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<v Speaker 1>caliber player that's moved for the deadline.

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<v Speaker 4>That's one reason why I asked about that too, is

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<v Speaker 4>it is tougher to do that. It's then also a

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<v Speaker 4>situation where you if you're going to spend something to

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<v Speaker 4>get a player in there, you have a team with

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<v Speaker 4>a defensive identity and a defensive culture and an established

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<v Speaker 4>set and expectation in the way that you would want

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<v Speaker 4>to play. Would you then also have to get very

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<v Speaker 4>specific about the player you're going to bring in because

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<v Speaker 4>it has to fit with that and they're going to

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<v Speaker 4>have to want to want to play that way.

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<v Speaker 1>About the Rockets in particular, Yeah, the Rockets.

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<v Speaker 4>In particular, because whenever a team is going to add, like,

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<v Speaker 4>you know, whatever it is, they're one move a way, okay,

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<v Speaker 4>but that cultural fit has to go to where someone

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<v Speaker 4>you know is in mental alignment with the type of

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<v Speaker 4>mindset that that team plays with.

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<v Speaker 1>Uh One, I would say, I think the Rockets, if

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<v Speaker 1>they're going to make a major splash in the trade market,

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<v Speaker 1>it's more likely to be a summer situation. Okay. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>for one simple fact of the extension signed by Jade

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<v Speaker 1>Greenman in particular. You know, it's complicated, very complicated, traded

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<v Speaker 1>guy in the final year of his rookie deal when

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<v Speaker 1>he signed that extension just because all the cat nerd stuff.

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<v Speaker 1>But you know, hey, Emodokah has gotten al parents and

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<v Speaker 1>Goon to play defense, He's gotten Jaden green to play defense.

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<v Speaker 1>I think always it's going to be important to to

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<v Speaker 1>have if you have a superstar, to have that superstar

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<v Speaker 1>b aligned with the coach's philosophy. But you know, I

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<v Speaker 1>think players in the league in general, if you show

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<v Speaker 1>them something can lead to success and can lead to winning,

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<v Speaker 1>they will jump on board. And you know the fact

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<v Speaker 1>that they we'll see what the Rockets end up record wise.

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<v Speaker 1>But you know, there are twelve and sixteen right now

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<v Speaker 1>that is, you know, just a couple of years out

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<v Speaker 1>of a complete teardown and rebuild. So like, why wouldn't

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<v Speaker 1>you want to, you know, kind of get on board

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<v Speaker 1>with the way that they've been handling their business.

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<v Speaker 4>And that's one reason why I wanted to go down

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<v Speaker 4>this exact area because the Utah Jazz are a team

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<v Speaker 4>in that kind of rebuild, wanting to start from the

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<v Speaker 4>very beginning of this. They have a lot to work with.

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<v Speaker 4>They have a number of options in front of them.

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<v Speaker 4>Defensive culture has to eventually start at some point and

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<v Speaker 4>get some good momentum going forward. So as you look

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<v Speaker 4>at them, does it look like an even bigger, longer

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<v Speaker 4>road ahead with that still being so far behind.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, I understand the question. I would say a

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<v Speaker 1>big part of their defensive culture unfortunately suffered a gruesome

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<v Speaker 1>leg injury when they came to Dallas round the season.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, like the Jazz being able to put together

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<v Speaker 1>a respectable defense, A lot of that was based on

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<v Speaker 1>Taylor Hendricks developing and e merging into the kind of

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<v Speaker 1>multi position defensive stopper that certainly they were optimistic that

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<v Speaker 1>he could give me. He was the guy who you know,

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<v Speaker 1>whether it was John Morant or Luka Doncic or you know,

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<v Speaker 1>Joanna Sannakoupo like I'm talking his name, three very different superstars,

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<v Speaker 1>and he was going to get that assignment. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>they had the weird Memphis Dallas Milwaukee road trip, like

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<v Speaker 1>those are the three guys he would have matched up

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<v Speaker 1>with to begin those games. So that's challenging. It's it's

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<v Speaker 1>going to be challenging when you've got as many young

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<v Speaker 1>players in the rotation as they do. You know, they've

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<v Speaker 1>at least got an anchor in Walker Kessler. And you know,

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<v Speaker 1>I think, well halready to ail of a coach. I

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<v Speaker 1>think that over time he'll figure it out. But part

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<v Speaker 1>of him figuring it out is going to have to

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<v Speaker 1>be either these young guys developing or probably a blend

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<v Speaker 1>of the young guys developing him just personnel upgrades.

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<v Speaker 2>Outside of that, Tim the Atlanta Hawks were fined one

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<v Speaker 2>hundred thousand dollars to Trey Young sitting in a Cup game. Obviously,

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<v Speaker 2>we've seen Joel Embiid, although he has been injured, take

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<v Speaker 2>some heat for some of the time he's missed. Obviously,

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<v Speaker 2>this is a conversation that is not new. But where

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<v Speaker 2>where are you know, NBA? NBA folks around the league.

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<v Speaker 2>What are the rumblings you're hearing about how teams are

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<v Speaker 2>handling the way the league is addressing load management players

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<v Speaker 2>not being able to play. Maybe tricky language in the

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<v Speaker 2>the injury report to explain away why players are not playing.

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<v Speaker 2>What's your feel on on how teams are are handling

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<v Speaker 2>that and how they're discussing it with the league office.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, the Trey Young thing was interesting because Hawks actually

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<v Speaker 1>beat the Celtics that night. And you know, those load

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<v Speaker 1>management rules only apply to certain players, and I forgot

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<v Speaker 1>the exact language, but you know, they you have to

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<v Speaker 1>have some level of All Star are all NBA type

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<v Speaker 1>of accomplishments to be even be on that list. So

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<v Speaker 1>there's only certain players that have applied to But like,

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<v Speaker 1>for example, a guy like Joel Embiid, as long as

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<v Speaker 1>they don't like completely omit him from the injury report,

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<v Speaker 1>there's pretty wide leeway there, just because he does have

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<v Speaker 1>chronic medical issues, you know, And I think what the

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<v Speaker 1>Sixers have been guilty of is is, uh, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>either not putting him on an injury report or being

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<v Speaker 1>very evasive with the information on the injury reports. And

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<v Speaker 1>you know, but I honestly, outside of just the mess

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<v Speaker 1>in Philadelphia, and that's like there's a lot of mess

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<v Speaker 1>in Philadelphia, the in the load management, I don't feel

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<v Speaker 1>like it's been a massive part of the NBA conversation

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<v Speaker 1>this year. I mean, like with Kawhi Leonard, it's just

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<v Speaker 1>assumed like, okay, maybe he'll play at some point. The

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<v Speaker 1>Pelicans obviously have been just gutted by injuries. But it's

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<v Speaker 1>not by choice, like guys keep getting hurt. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>Zion is not a load management thing. He's a can

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<v Speaker 1>never stay healthy thing. So I think that the NBA

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<v Speaker 1>has pretty significantly cleaned up the perception issue on that.

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah, and that perception issue has been one where it

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<v Speaker 4>used to be talked about so much. Now it's just understood,

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<v Speaker 4>like you said, like it's just a normal part of

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<v Speaker 4>what goes forward in an NBA year. Boy Jay Crowder

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<v Speaker 4>set to join the Sacramento Kings. All right, talk about

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<v Speaker 4>the turnaround with the Kings headed for the Western Conference finals. No,

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<v Speaker 4>I'm kidding, But with that tmbing eight and ten, and

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<v Speaker 4>then also the Phoenix Suns, who have now dropped five

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<v Speaker 4>in a row. As you look at some of these

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<v Speaker 4>Western Conference teams that had bigger expectations that really haven't

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<v Speaker 4>they haven't lived up to in the early part of

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<v Speaker 4>the year, what are the things you would be concerned

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<v Speaker 4>about with, say, Phoenix and Sacramento, What are the things

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<v Speaker 4>that would give you enough patience to understand that they

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<v Speaker 4>can turn it around?

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<v Speaker 1>Well, I mean, Phoenix, it's real simple. Kdt's coming back, right,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, and like they were, they were a first

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<v Speaker 1>place team, when he went out and then Beal was

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<v Speaker 1>out along with it. Beal's also coming back to Let's

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<v Speaker 1>be honest, like, Beal's not not a superstar. Beel's not

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<v Speaker 1>an All star anymore. When KD is healthy, the Suns

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<v Speaker 1>are are pretty good. But he's not, they're not very good.

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<v Speaker 1>So that hey, if they can keep KD healthy, uh,

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<v Speaker 1>they'll be in the mix. And honestly, like maybe the

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<v Speaker 1>Kings had higher expectations. Did you think the Kings are

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<v Speaker 1>a playoffs team coming into the year?

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<v Speaker 4>You know, the quality of play, I'll say, and the

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<v Speaker 4>way that I watched them like that's uh, I thought

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<v Speaker 4>it was kind of a in some ways lifeless performance

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<v Speaker 4>against the Clippers, right, Like, there's some things that just

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<v Speaker 4>look a lot worse than I thought they would. By

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<v Speaker 4>no means did I think they were, you know, hosting

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<v Speaker 4>the West Finals, But I did think that they would

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<v Speaker 4>be better in just overall watching them, they don't look

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<v Speaker 4>as good as I.

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<v Speaker 1>Thought they would. Well, the DeRozan thing, like, I get it,

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<v Speaker 1>when you're and you know, when you're Sacramento, you don't

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<v Speaker 1>necessarily get to be extremely selective about adding you know,

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<v Speaker 1>star caliber talent. I always thought the DeRozan thing was

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<v Speaker 1>kind of like a weird fit, you know, just they're

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<v Speaker 1>already the team to have pretty good offensive firepower. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>he certainly doesn't improve them on the defensive end of

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<v Speaker 1>the floor. You know, they do have like the Deer

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<v Speaker 1>and Fox. You know, there were financial reasons for him

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<v Speaker 1>not to agree to a contract extension, but still, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>we talked about stars who might become available at some point.

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<v Speaker 1>He's you know, he's left his options wide open. I'll

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<v Speaker 1>say that. Yeah, So you know that can kind of

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<v Speaker 1>hang over an organization. I mean, I tell you guys

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<v Speaker 1>that you look through the Donovan Mitchell uncertainty hanging over

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<v Speaker 1>the Jazz like a black cloud. But again, I just

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<v Speaker 1>like if they were in the Eastern Conference, I would

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<v Speaker 1>tell you they should be a playoff team. I don't.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't think they should be a playoff team in

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<v Speaker 1>the West. I don't think they're one of the best

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<v Speaker 1>eight teams in the West. They might not be one

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<v Speaker 1>of the best tens.

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<v Speaker 4>No for a team that won forty six games last

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<v Speaker 4>year too, And by all means were they not expecting

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<v Speaker 4>to host the hoist to Larry O'Brien, But they were

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<v Speaker 4>probably hopeful they could take a step forward, and it's

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<v Speaker 4>clear I don't see that happen. I think the big

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<v Speaker 4>thing with me is I'm stunned with how poorly they've

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<v Speaker 4>competed in a few of these games, Like that is

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<v Speaker 4>one thing that I look at. And then Mike Brown

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<v Speaker 4>obviously has had a chase down situation and issues with officials,

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<v Speaker 4>Like it's just there's there's too much there that that

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<v Speaker 4>has surprised me a bit.

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<v Speaker 2>It's also a testament to how good you have to

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<v Speaker 2>be to stay good in the Western Conference, right it's

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<v Speaker 2>year to year. You can't just kind of stan pat

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<v Speaker 2>or you're gonna fall backwards in the West. So we'll

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<v Speaker 2>follow that as it goes. Tim McMahon joining us for

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<v Speaker 2>the NBA Daily Assist as he does each and every

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<v Speaker 2>week courtesy of esp and Tim uh covering the the

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<v Speaker 2>NBA Cup from home tonight, or you you find your

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<v Speaker 2>way to an NBA arena.

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<v Speaker 1>I'll be sitting on the couch, have the league pass

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<v Speaker 1>fired up. Good Son, you got the YouTube quad box

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<v Speaker 1>thing go on? What a well, I mean, what a

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<v Speaker 1>wonderful invention. That is great.

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<v Speaker 4>It's a great way to spend the night.

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<v Speaker 1>Man.

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<v Speaker 2>Tim McMahon at ESPN Underscore McMahon of course, at ESPN

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<v Speaker 2>dot com, and on the television screen. Every once in

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<v Speaker 2>a while you'll you'll, uh, you'll look up and catch

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<v Speaker 2>old Tim McMahon on the big screen. Tim, appreciate your time.

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<v Speaker 1>As always. We'll chat you next week, all right, appreciate it. Brothers.

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<v Speaker 1>Thanksgiving to you,