WEBVTT 1 00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:17.039 Welcome back in Drive time on a Friday afternoon Orter Larson, 2 00:00:17.079 --> 00:00:20.480 Andy Larson. It's Larson and Larson edition of the Drive 3 00:00:20.679 --> 00:00:21.440 Spence Checkets. 4 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:22.559 We'll be back with. 5 00:00:22.679 --> 00:00:26.280 You on a Monday, but we're recapping the first round 6 00:00:26.359 --> 00:00:28.320 of the NFL Draft. We'll hand it over to the 7 00:00:28.359 --> 00:00:33.000 second round in the five PM hour talking some PGA Tour, 8 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:36.840 NBA playoffs, and more. Our next guest will switch gears 9 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:40.880 a little bit and talk some NBA playoffs, Jazz offseason, 10 00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:44.600 and go from there. It is Zach Harper at Talk Hoops. Zach, 11 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:45.159 how are we? 12 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:45.560 My friend? 13 00:00:48.439 --> 00:00:52.280 Of the playoffs is always exhausting, but thankfully we had 14 00:00:52.359 --> 00:00:54.439 some of these teams willing to bow out early to 15 00:00:54.479 --> 00:00:56.039 ease up the schedule on some of us. 16 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:58.600 I was gonna say, there's there's a few series that 17 00:00:58.679 --> 00:01:01.240 are Last night it was it was looking iffy with 18 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:03.679 Memphis and Oklahoma City, but a big comeback by the 19 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:08.040 Thunder to kind of keep that one. I would say, 20 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:12.359 decided three to zero lead for Oklahoma City. So no 21 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:17.439 no questions there, Zach. First off, I do gotta ask 22 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:20.120 what is your what does your playoff coverage look like? Obviously, 23 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:24.840 the the eighty two game slate to me, feels longer 24 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:27.200 and longer every year. It feels like getting through the 25 00:01:27.239 --> 00:01:32.200 regular season is less of fun and more of a 26 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:34.599 chore to get to the postseason. It seems like this 27 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:38.239 is more accurate year by year. What changes for you 28 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:41.799 serious XM doing the the NBA stuff once we really 29 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:45.599 get in zero dark thirty motives? I think Lebron used 30 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:48.560 to call it playoff playoff time. What's it looked like 31 00:01:48.599 --> 00:01:49.200 for Zach Harper? 32 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:54.120 I think this might be a perspective thing when you're 33 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:57.239 when you're dealing with like a teardown and then a 34 00:01:57.280 --> 00:01:59.840 rebuild versus like, you know. 35 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:00.840 Just covering everything. 36 00:02:01.400 --> 00:02:03.519 I think it gets longer when you're dealing with, you know, 37 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:06.439 a sixteen win team versus dealing with everybody. Because I 38 00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:08.879 felt like the season flew by this year for me, 39 00:02:09.719 --> 00:02:11.680 where and sometimes it feels like a little bit of 40 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:13.719 a slog at certain points, but I felt like it 41 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:14.960 flew by and then all of a sudden, it was 42 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:19.080 the playoffs. It's weird because you know, we have a 43 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:22.520 lot a lot fewer games now, obviously, but it's it's 44 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:25.479 felt so intense over this last week that I feel 45 00:02:25.479 --> 00:02:28.599 like I'm working more even though I'm working way less and. 46 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:29.919 So I've been more. 47 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:32.400 Exhausted, and I don't know why. I think it might 48 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:36.000 just be more emotionally invested in all of this for 49 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:41.639 some reason. Also, you know they're horseheads now involved in 50 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:44.360 this with thanks to the wall at the Into It Dome, 51 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:47.080 and that's that's kind of terrifying. It's you know, Godfather, 52 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:49.719 you know, flashbacks and everything. 53 00:02:49.800 --> 00:02:51.240 So I just I think. 54 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:54.560 The intensity of it all, seeing Kawhi Leonard back, seeing 55 00:02:54.599 --> 00:02:57.960 what Denver has gone through, seeing comebacks, and seeing the 56 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:01.280 intensity of what like Nick's pissed, is like the coverage 57 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:05.759 it feels more tiring to me now than the regular season. 58 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:08.360 Regular season was actually kind of a breeze this year 59 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:09.000 for some reason. 60 00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:11.520 Well, like I've talked a Will Hardy about this a 61 00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:15.039 lot too. Like just playoff basketball is a different thing. 62 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:21.080 Like the amount of like matchup changes and adjustments and 63 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:26.199 teams going into different zone coverages and shading off the guys. 64 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:28.400 I mean, it just is tactically a different thing. And 65 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:31.360 so like for me watching playoff basketball, it's really fun 66 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:33.360 to notice all of those things on a possession by 67 00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:36.919 possession level. But like also it's a lot more taxing 68 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:39.759 because you're just there is so much going on at 69 00:03:39.800 --> 00:03:42.800 a strategic level that is just you know, you don't 70 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:45.800 usually see in the regular season, say for like a 71 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:47.280 few matchups every year. 72 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:50.719 Yeah, and it feels like you like in the coverage 73 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:54.080 of it, you have to recognize it quicker and pay attention. 74 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:57.639 Like it almost feels like you're you're deeper into these 75 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:01.879 series covering it where you know, when when the when 76 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:04.639 the Clippers go into kind of the zone, or you know, 77 00:04:04.680 --> 00:04:07.240 they're playing Ben Simmons at center now, and so you 78 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:08.479 have to see, like, well, how are they going to 79 00:04:08.520 --> 00:04:10.520 defend Yokis with this? And he's just not going to 80 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:12.919 murder everybody. And so when you're trying to figure out 81 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:15.719 how they're covering this thing, or you're figuring out when 82 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:18.759 you know, the Pistons go into kind of a pseudo 83 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:21.160 zone against the Knicks whatever, like you're you're trying to 84 00:04:21.160 --> 00:04:23.240 figure out in real time, and it's you know, me, 85 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:25.959 I'm a lazy person. So this is an exhausting formation. 86 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:31.160 Let's talk about that. Where these playoffs are your stand 87 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:34.040 I mean to me, I guess maybe the easiest way 88 00:04:34.040 --> 00:04:36.319 to look at it is which of these series are 89 00:04:36.680 --> 00:04:38.600 over and we're just waiting for them to play out 90 00:04:38.920 --> 00:04:41.079 and which of them are still competitive and could go 91 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:41.480 either way. 92 00:04:42.279 --> 00:04:45.079 Yeah, I think we can call it on Calves heat. 93 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:46.959 I think we can call it on Celtics Magic. I 94 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:50.240 think we can call it on obviously on thunder Grizzlies, 95 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:54.120 you know, especially thunder Grizzlies, like maybe the Heat grab 96 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:57.240 a game. Maybe maybe the magic grab a game because 97 00:04:57.279 --> 00:04:59.199 the injuries that the Celtics are dealing with, But I 98 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:03.920 think all those are are done. The Rockets Warriors one 99 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:08.079 is probably the most interesting to me because this Warrior's 100 00:05:08.120 --> 00:05:10.600 team wasn't any good for fifty one change, you know, 101 00:05:10.680 --> 00:05:12.439 like they were just kind of an average team with 102 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:15.240 Steph Curry being awesome and Draymond Green being really good, 103 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:19.120 and then Jimmy comes and now it's, oh my god, 104 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:21.040 like this team could maybe win a title. Like you 105 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:24.639 start seeing, you know, this this thing forming in front 106 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:26.920 of your eyes, and all the stuff that Jimmy's done 107 00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:29.360 over the last five years and making Miami, you know, 108 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:33.560 relevant on a playoff level, and obviously what the Warriors 109 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:35.279 are capable of doing when they. 110 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:37.959 Have a third guy with Steph and. 111 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:40.600 Draymond, and so you see all that, you know, happening 112 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:42.079 in a short amount of time. You're trying to figure 113 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:44.360 out is this just a bump or is this like 114 00:05:44.439 --> 00:05:47.839 a championship contender bump in a really good conference. And 115 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:50.120 then on the other side of that, it's a Houston 116 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:54.439 team that is too young to realistically do anything in 117 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:57.399 the playoffs. And at the same time, that defense is 118 00:05:57.439 --> 00:05:59.959 so elite and they do have stuff to kind of 119 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:03.360 blow up what Golden State wants to do. And then 120 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:06.480 Jimmy takes that hard fall in Game two, and now 121 00:06:06.600 --> 00:06:07.360 you don't know what. 122 00:06:07.319 --> 00:06:07.839 It's going to be. 123 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:11.120 You don't know, you know what his pelvit contusion is 124 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:13.160 going to do to affect the series. So I went 125 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:15.360 from thinking, I think the Warriors can win the West 126 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:16.839 two we don't know if they're gonna get out of 127 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:19.399 the first round. And so I think that's super intriguing. 128 00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:23.439 I think the Clippers taking that, you know, the Clippers 129 00:06:23.480 --> 00:06:26.199 forever it was ah, they can be healthy. You know, 130 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:29.480 we've we've done that conversation so many times that it's 131 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:32.560 the boy who cried wolf, And now I think it's 132 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:36.240 an actual situation where they're healthy. I've been saying for years, 133 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:39.240 like I think Kawhi Leonard's season should like they should 134 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:41.959 just hold him out until January first, right, like all 135 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:44.040 that load management stuff is. You know, he's been the 136 00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:46.079 poster boy port but it's not that he doesn't want 137 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:48.439 to play. It's that he's hurt. It's at his knee 138 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:51.720 and his body can't hold up. And so he's his season, 139 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:53.920 you know, at least for a game started on January 140 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:56.519 fourth this year, and look at him, like, this team 141 00:06:56.600 --> 00:07:00.399 looks legitimately great, and so I think like they can, 142 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:03.800 you know, maybe dispatch Denver quicker than we thought. And 143 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:07.600 I think those two are the most intriguing series out 144 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:10.800 there because of just just how many different ways they 145 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:11.240 can go. 146 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:15.319 What options does Denver really have. It seems like they've 147 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:17.079 kind of thrown a bunch of stuff at the wall. 148 00:07:17.959 --> 00:07:20.439 Obviously a new head coach in the last month, which 149 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:23.120 doesn't make playoff adjustments over the course of a seven 150 00:07:23.160 --> 00:07:27.160 game series all that easy. But it just seems like 151 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:30.399 the Clippers have all the cards in this series. And 152 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:33.319 and for Denver, you're kind of just waiting and hoping 153 00:07:33.399 --> 00:07:37.279 that Nikolayokich has forty point triple doubles and keeps you 154 00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:40.839 in these How do you see the remainder of maybe 155 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:43.800 scheme shifts happening over these next four games. 156 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:47.360 Yeah, I mean it's it's tough. Like I think their 157 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:51.399 best option is just Yokic is great, but great in 158 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:55.720 a way that gets Zubos into sound trouble early, right, Like, 159 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:57.639 like I don't I still don't know how many people 160 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:01.399 know outside of you know, LA and basketball, and there's 161 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:04.000 like how many people know how great Zubots has been 162 00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:08.560 this year, Like he's truly been an elite center, especially defensively, 163 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:10.240 and so if he gets into foul trouble, like they 164 00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:13.040 really it's Ben Simmons and it's you know, whatever's left 165 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:16.439 of Drew Eubanks, Like that's those are their options regarding Jokic, 166 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:19.399 And so if you can get Zubos into foul trouble early, 167 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:22.279 then I do think it sets off, you know, a 168 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:24.759 chain of events throughout the rest of the game where 169 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:28.399 the Clippers really have to scramble. But if that doesn't happen, 170 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:31.600 then you're just trying to match Toron Lou you know, 171 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:35.279 schematically throughout And yeah, like if Aaron Gordon's hitting corner 172 00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:37.879 threes and if Michael Porter Junior is engaged and Jamal 173 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:40.120 Murray has that two man game going, and you know, 174 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:43.039 Christian Brown's like out in transition, Like, yeah, there's stuff 175 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:44.879 that they do really well. And we saw in the 176 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:47.919 first two games how even that matchup can look. But 177 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:50.759 I still think we need to remember, like this team 178 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:53.519 was a mess a month ago, right, Like this team 179 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:55.480 was such a mess they fired their coach with three 180 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:58.919 games to go, such a mess internally, and like the 181 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:01.240 Wings were coming in because you Kis is the best 182 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:04.279 player in the world, but you can, like they're not 183 00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:06.320 a deep team. You can you can pull on that 184 00:09:06.440 --> 00:09:10.120 thread and get them to fray. And so it's possible 185 00:09:10.200 --> 00:09:12.879 Jokicic just is a superhero and pulls them through the 186 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:17.000 round and beats a really good Clippers team. And it's 187 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:20.159 also possible they lose the next two games and all 188 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:23.440 that craft from the owner, you know, saying I want 189 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:25.240 them to play with joy and we got to rediscover 190 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:28.000 our joy, Like this isn't eighth grade basketball, like this 191 00:09:28.039 --> 00:09:30.840 is this is the NBA, Like this isn't I just 192 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:34.440 don't think they really understood what they were doing. If 193 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:36.840 you want to fire Michael Malone, fine through the All 194 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:39.679 Star break, or do it when you're eliminated. Like doing 195 00:09:39.720 --> 00:09:41.679 it when they did it is just does it doesn't 196 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:42.120 make sense? 197 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:45.200 Yeah, I mean do it when you first had starting 198 00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:47.840 having those conversations with him and his coaching staff and 199 00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:51.919 everyone else, like at the in the off season. But anyway, Zach, 200 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:53.639 did you have a did you have a vote this year? 201 00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:56.639 I did? Cool? So did I. 202 00:09:56.720 --> 00:10:01.000 So that's fun. I had spots they did. 203 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:03.600 They didn't ask the college football pre game hosts. 204 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:08.240 I had Zubats on my All NBA third team this year. 205 00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:12.720 Like he's been that good and that critical for uh 206 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:16.000 for what the Clippers do, and he is, like the 207 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:18.240 advanced stats love him. The advanced stats have him as 208 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:20.639 like the top twenty player in the league. 209 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:21.759 Yeah he didn't. 210 00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:23.799 He didn't make my l NBA thirteen, but he was 211 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:27.000 one of the first ones left off like he that 212 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:30.519 was a really tough mission for me. He was, he 213 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:34.960 was my most improved player. He was All Defense second 214 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:38.360 team for me. I mean, he's just spectacular, like I 215 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:41.399 he he didn't just anchor one of the best defense 216 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:44.279 in the league. They run so much offense through him 217 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:47.720 right like and through secondary actions and he's a good 218 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:50.080 playmaker for them. It's not just all right, you know 219 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:52.279 we're gonna dump it off to you. Let's let's finish 220 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:54.639 high and and keep your hands tie and everything. Like, 221 00:10:54.679 --> 00:11:00.440 he is an exceptional big man who whether it's whether 222 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:02.879 it's advanced stats, whether it's the eye test, I mean 223 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:07.120 he is. He's one of the five six best big 224 00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:09.000 men in the league this year. I mean he's been 225 00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:11.600 he's been incredible. And I don't think, I don't think 226 00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:14.600 it's crazy to to say he's he's all NBA thirteen. 227 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:17.679 Like I was right there and just ended up edging 228 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:20.480 a couple of people over him. But yeah, I mean 229 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:23.440 I think, you know, I thought Norm Powell should have 230 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:24.399 been their All Star. 231 00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:28.360 Over James Harden. But if you're gonna. 232 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:29.919 Tell, you know, ask me who was their best player 233 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:32.960 all year? It's easily Zoobots for the entirety of the season. 234 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:35.120 I mean he's he's been the guy that's carried them. 235 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:37.919 Yeah, it's and you know, carry them to where they 236 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:40.840 are in the West. Speaking of awards, I want to 237 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:44.200 ask you one kind of general question based on what 238 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:47.120 we learned yesterday, and then a jazz specific question. Who 239 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:48.399 did you end up voting for a DPO. 240 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:48.679 Why? 241 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:50.000 For me? 242 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.600 I took Aman Thompson. 243 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:56.159 I took Mobiley. I just thought wired to wire. 244 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:59.919 You know, it was crazy to me when when when 245 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:02.759 he was still the option right before his season was ended. 246 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:05.159 He was such a heavy betting favorite. And look, he 247 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:07.200 was great, don't get me wrong. Like the block number. 248 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:11.960 He still led the league in total blocks despite missing 249 00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:14.080 the last two months. Like that's how far ahead he was. 250 00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:16.360 He still led the league in total blocks. He was 251 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:19.279 great defensively, but he would go through waves even throughout 252 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:22.240 games where he was just slow. The effort was, you know, 253 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:24.720 he was kind of still learning how to keep his 254 00:12:24.840 --> 00:12:27.600 energy high. I thought Mobley was right there with him 255 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:33.440 throughout that entire season until Wemby's season ended. It's really 256 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:37.679 hard for me to give it to a guard, give 257 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:40.200 it to a wing over a big man because of 258 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:42.960 the responsibilities. I'm not saying it's impossible, it's just really hard. 259 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:44.000 I thought Thompson. 260 00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:47.759 Was great, he's all He's on my All Defense first team. 261 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:51.440 But I just thought Mobley had the most consistent season 262 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:57.480 throughout because of the responsibilities, because of what he meant 263 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:01.080 like in the past past seasons, it was he was 264 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:04.480 really good defensively. But if Jared Jared Allen was on 265 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:07.600 the floor, you know, they fell off a cliff defensively. 266 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:09.000 Now it's the opposite. 267 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:11.240 Now it doesn't matter if Jared Allen's on the floor, 268 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:14.519 they're great defensively when he's on, and then if if 269 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:16.720 he's off the floor and Jared Allen's on, they're like, 270 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:19.960 they're terrible. So I just I thought that that consistency 271 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:23.080 throughout it just belonged to motly. But but I like, 272 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:25.039 I don't have a problem with Doan Thompson getting votes 273 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:25.440 like he was. 274 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:28.600 He was awesome, and it like for me it was 275 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:30.960 eva mob we played so well and the Cavs defense 276 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:32.240 was so great at the beginning of the year and 277 00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:33.919 then just kind of fell off a little bit at 278 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:36.080 the end of the year. Yeah, that that, you know, 279 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:37.440 kind of pushed me to go and end up in 280 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:39.720 a different direction. But and then the kind of the 281 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:43.159 Jazz Award question I wanted to ask, is all rookies 282 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:45.639 second team or heck first team? Did you give any 283 00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:50.039 consideration to Kyle Philipowski or Isaiah Collier. Uh, the two 284 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:52.600 rookies here that I thought had a had a realistic 285 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:53.120 shot at it. 286 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:57.240 I didn't really consider Philipowski I just I like, he 287 00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:59.960 was fine, but I didn't think, like for the entire 288 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:03.799 of the season that he was really in the mix with. 289 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:04.279 The other guys. 290 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:06.159 I thought he had, you know, a good push at 291 00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:07.879 the end, but I just I didn't think it was 292 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:13.320 consistent enough. Collier, for sure was was in the mix 293 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:20.000 for me. I'm trying to remember if I picked him man, 294 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:22.480 Like I'm looking, I'm looking it up because I know 295 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:25.279 he was. He was on the edge for me at 296 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:28.120 the at the end, and I'm I'm trying to fill 297 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:30.399 time as I get to the same that the downloaded 298 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:31.559 a full time for you. 299 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:35.720 Like, So the way this works is you get we 300 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:38.440 got this media ballot, and we had like sixteen hours 301 00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:40.000 to actually fill it out, so which is actually not 302 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:42.799 a ton of time. And then once you fill it out, 303 00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:45.320 and like for me, I like crammed into the last 304 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:47.600 ten minutes, right, So I'm I'm trying to fill out 305 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:49.440 all these form fields in the last ten minutes and 306 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:51.120 I finally get it in at like four oh one. 307 00:14:51.159 --> 00:14:53.559 I'm not even trying made the deadline. And then once 308 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:55.559 it's done, it gives you like a PDF at the 309 00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:58.639 end so you can save and remember your results. For 310 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:00.480 moments like this when you talk about him on the 311 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:03.960 radio later. But I mean it's like that, the fifty 312 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:08.000 different players to you know, fifty different slots to choose 313 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:10.879 from here, no joke, And so I absolutely do not 314 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:13.600 blame you for not remembering your all rookie second team 315 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:16.240 and the worst you know, rookie class in recent memory. 316 00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:16.840 Yeah. 317 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:19.759 Yeah, No, my last two spots because it was between 318 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:22.039 three guys, and Kyllier was was one of those three guys. 319 00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:24.080 But my last two spots did go to Bub Carrington 320 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:27.279 and it went to Donovan Klingon. I thought Klingon had 321 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:30.240 had a slow start to the year, but I thought 322 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:32.240 he was excellent the second half of the season just 323 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:34.639 for what they needed him to do, Like they were 324 00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:37.000 pretty good defensively, and they were good when he was 325 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:39.240 on the floor. I know Bub Carrington didn't shoot well. 326 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:40.759 I thought he played really well, and I know the 327 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:44.879 Wizards were disaster, but I actually thought. 328 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:45.919 Like when he was on the. 329 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:48.759 Court for what they were trying to do development wise, 330 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:51.320 I thought he was really important to how the rest 331 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:54.120 of the young players played. Kyllier was really was really 332 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:56.559 good distributing the ball. I didn't see a whole lot 333 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:58.720 outside of that, right, and I don't know if I 334 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:00.639 can just give it based on like he racked up 335 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:03.159 some assists, I know, like the whole angle of oh 336 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:05.840 Brooke John Stockton's record, which sounds great until you, like 337 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:08.240 you put some context to it. I think if Collier 338 00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:11.799 had had thrown, I think Collier Collier had you know, 339 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:15.399 just been a little bit more consistent making shots throughout 340 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:17.639 the year, some of the decision making had been better 341 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:20.519 throughout the year. I think he I think he gets 342 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:23.399 that spot over Carrington. I think Klingon probably makes it 343 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:26.240 no matter what, but it was right there between between 344 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:27.720 those three for those last two spots. 345 00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:29.960 I will say this, Bob Carrington is a legend here 346 00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:32.200 in Utah because of him making the game winner in 347 00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:36.080 Game eighteen and pushing the Jazz down to be the 348 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:39.320 worst team in the league, guaranteeing the top five pick 349 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.639 in this year's draft. 350 00:16:42.440 --> 00:16:45.000 Yeah, I mean, I think I think if you if 351 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:47.279 that puts him over the top for Collier All Rookie 352 00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:49.360 second Team, I think you've got to think. I think 353 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:50.399 Jazz fans will take that. 354 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:52.600 Right honorary Jazz Man for life. 355 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:53.639 Yeah, Carrington. 356 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:56.159 The other the other tough part about these like full 357 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:58.759 season awards, is that you're, especially in today's age, you're 358 00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:02.600 being asked to evaluate players based on an eighty two 359 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:05.839 game regular season slate where a lot of the best players, 360 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:09.039 literally a lot of the best players are waiting until 361 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:11.759 game fifty sixty seventy to really turn it on. Which 362 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:14.880 I've always thought the all the All NBA, the MVP, 363 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:17.720 like the big awards, should be like a full season 364 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:21.319 thing after postseason. But that's a different conversation, Zach. I 365 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:23.079 do want to I do want to ask a kind 366 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:28.119 of a two parter relating to this, the the MVP Award. 367 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:31.000 I think it's Shay's. We'll see how it goes. I 368 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:33.599 do want to ask you how that how that broke 369 00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:36.559 down in your ballot. But it's it's a two part 370 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:38.319 question because I want to I want to get your 371 00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:43.440 read yes on the MVP Award, but also on another debate, 372 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:46.799 another conversation around uh, who might be the best player 373 00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:49.680 in the world today? Because I listen, I know nikolea. 374 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:52.599 Jokic has held that crown, I think kind of undisputedly 375 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:55.839 for the last couple of years. Before that, it, if 376 00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:58.519 we're being honest, was probably fifteen years of Lebron James 377 00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:03.759 and right now, as of today, you know, you know, 378 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:07.559 Nicola still has a really really good argument. I don't 379 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:09.799 know if the way he played defense pretty much all 380 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:14.240 year can really allow you to give him that label. 381 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:16.400 But I'll just lay it out for you. Who is 382 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:19.920 your MVP and who is as of today twenty twenty five, 383 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:22.920 the best basketball player of the planet, because those are 384 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:23.880 two different things. 385 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:27.960 Yeah, Shaye won MVP for me. I like, look, Jokic 386 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:31.119 was phenomenal. He had a historic season. Shay also had 387 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:33.599 a historic season. No one, no one's ever had the 388 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:35.720 season that Shay had, and that's yeh. Something that I've 389 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:38.000 tried to keep into context is every time I had 390 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:40.960 a conversation with someone, whether in the league, whether friends, 391 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:44.599 whether colleagues, whatever, people like, man, but jokicch no one's 392 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:46.200 ever done this, I'm like, yeah, but no one's ever 393 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:49.000 done what she's doing, right, And so it's it's just different. 394 00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:51.319 Like a thirty point triple double, this is incredible. 395 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:52.640 Like the shooting numbers, the. 396 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:54.799 Three point percent, Yeah, it's all great, Like, don't get 397 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:57.599 me wrong, but when you also break down what she's doing, 398 00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:00.079 we're going to talk about historic seasons. We like it 399 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:03.039 all matters, right, Like, so it's just valuing certain things 400 00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:08.160 in certain ways. And to me, I didn't really fault 401 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:12.200