WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:03.799 All right, let's get a drive time Thursday afternoon style, 2 00:00:03.879 --> 00:00:07.639 about fourteen minutes past the hour of two o'clock. It's 3 00:00:07.639 --> 00:00:09.880 in April day that feels like April, at least it 4 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:13.039 doesn't feel like February. We're approaching fifty degrees. It is 5 00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:15.439 cloudy here in downtown Salt. 6 00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:16.000 Lake City, Utah. 7 00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:17.800 High speed ahead to a little bit of a warmer 8 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:21.320 weekend and then a nice springtime week next week. 9 00:00:21.399 --> 00:00:22.079 So you're almost there. 10 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:24.480 If you're waiting for the sunshine like I am, and 11 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:26.960 as it is every single day, it's going to have 12 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:27.839 you along for the riots. 13 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:29.079 Bence check. It's beyond the mic. 14 00:00:29.239 --> 00:00:31.920 That is Porter Larsen behind the glass today producing the 15 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:35.799 program a lot to get to Big Night in pro basketball, 16 00:00:35.880 --> 00:00:39.560 Big night in the NBA, Big Night in Los Angeles, 17 00:00:39.560 --> 00:00:42.320 says the Warriors and the Lakers are going to play 18 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:44.240 a basketball game, and it looks like all of the 19 00:00:44.280 --> 00:00:47.759 players that are employed to play basketball for both organizations 20 00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:51.320 are going to play basketball and try to win. Because 21 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:53.600 this is like a sneaky big game seating on the 22 00:00:53.640 --> 00:00:57.119 line as we are high speed ahead to playoff basketball 23 00:00:57.159 --> 00:01:01.439 in the world of the NBA. Utah Jazz, Well, they 24 00:01:01.479 --> 00:01:06.040 showed up last night. Technically they were present. They played 25 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:08.280 the Houston Rockets. They lost by thirty eight, and it 26 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:11.280 really wasn't even that close. So five games left for 27 00:01:11.319 --> 00:01:14.480 the Jazz as the race to the bottom continues. The 28 00:01:14.519 --> 00:01:17.319 worst basketball team in Pro basketball plays. 29 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:19.079 It's basketball here in Salt Lake. 30 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:21.799 The Jazz are the worst team in the NBA, so 31 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:24.879 we'll talk a little Jazz basketball, talk a little NBA. 32 00:01:25.719 --> 00:01:27.879 The Cavs beat the Knicks last night. We talked about 33 00:01:27.879 --> 00:01:30.079 this prior to the end of the show. The Knicks 34 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:34.439 are now to eight against Cleveland and Boston, so the 35 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:37.280 Eastern Conference feels like it is a two team race. 36 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:40.640 Dallas Mavericks won again last night, so of course that 37 00:01:40.760 --> 00:01:46.079 prolongs the full time obligation of Alex Jensen landing here 38 00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:49.439 in Salt Lake to become the seventeenth head coach of 39 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:54.040 the Utah men's basketball program. Alex will finish off this 40 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:57.680 season with Dallas before he really turns his full time attention. 41 00:01:57.799 --> 00:02:00.560 Of course, Alex has been on the job and he's 42 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:02.799 made a couple of hires, and of course the news 43 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:06.920 broke yesterday that Keanu Dawes has withdrawn his name from 44 00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:10.800 the transfer portal, and we'll play for Utah next year. 45 00:02:11.400 --> 00:02:13.919 Now today, in case you didn't know, and you probably don't, 46 00:02:13.960 --> 00:02:17.680 because why would you. Today Mark's the first day of 47 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:22.199 a week long dead period in college basketball recruiting. Essentially 48 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:25.199 that means you can't have any in person visits, you 49 00:02:25.240 --> 00:02:28.800 can't have players visit on campus, but you can visit 50 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:31.599 with players via zoom. And a report that a young 51 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:34.599 man named Terrence Brown, who's a fairly Dickinson transfer, was 52 00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:37.039 on a zoom call with the Utah coaching staff today. 53 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:39.439 So got to hit the ground running. 54 00:02:39.479 --> 00:02:42.199 As the transfer portal opened a number of weeks ago, 55 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:45.560 and we already have heard decisions made by a lot 56 00:02:45.560 --> 00:02:48.599 of different basketball players about where they're going to play. 57 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:51.199 And you know, of course, if you're Alex Jensen, if 58 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:53.639 you're the University of Utah, got to try to get 59 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:56.360 talent as soon as you possibly can. Latest on the 60 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:58.879 transfer portal from Brigham Young. It was announced yesterday that 61 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:02.199 Dallen Hall is getting on down haul in the transfer portal. 62 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:05.400 Kennon Catchings in the transfer portal, So a lot of 63 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:08.800 rumors about who could be joining Kevin Young and BYU 64 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:13.800 basketball to replace some of the transfers BYU were, according 65 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:16.520 to most people that report on such things, as one 66 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:19.240 of the top three NIL payrolls in. 67 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:20.439 All of college basketball. 68 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:23.680 So I do not imagine attracting talent will be problematic 69 00:03:23.719 --> 00:03:24.879 for the near future. 70 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:25.479 Down to BYU. 71 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:26.360 Well. 72 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:28.400 So the latest out of the college basketball side of 73 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:30.520 things as we're high speed ahead to the Final Four 74 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:35.199 coming up on Saturday. All four number one seeds in 75 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:37.639 the Final Four for the second time in tournament history 76 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:39.439 and for the first time since two thousand and eight. 77 00:03:40.120 --> 00:03:42.879 Shout out to our guy Ken Pom. I didn't realize 78 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:45.159 this until I was looking at his metrics. Ken Palm 79 00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:49.080 called the Final four and the Elite Eight. The top 80 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:52.199 eight teams in Ken Palm ratings made the Elite Eight, 81 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:54.919 and the top four teams in Ken Palm ratings are 82 00:03:54.919 --> 00:03:58.199 now in the Final Four. So college basketball high speed 83 00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:00.759 ahead of the Final Four. Rayl Saw welcomes in the 84 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:04.560 LA Galaxy on Saturday at two thirty America First Field 85 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:07.360 in Sandy Apple TV. You'll have that covered. Go to 86 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:10.479 RSL dot com for single game tickets. The Utah Hockey 87 00:04:10.479 --> 00:04:13.840 Club welcomes in the LA Kings tonight at the Delta 88 00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:15.479 Center for a seven o'clock drop. 89 00:04:15.240 --> 00:04:17.639 Of the Puck Wild car Races over. 90 00:04:17.800 --> 00:04:19.560 It was fun while it lasted, but it's not going 91 00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:22.279 to be a reality this year. And now the Utah 92 00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:24.680 Hockey Club finishes off the season and looks dead to 93 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:29.120 a very important offseason. Kribill, Armstrong and his staff Gino 94 00:04:29.160 --> 00:04:31.519 Smith got paid today a couple of year extension with 95 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:35.800 the Vegas Raiders, so little NFL offseason stuff. Were only 96 00:04:35.800 --> 00:04:41.000 three weeks away from the NFL Draft, so we'll do 97 00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:43.600 some draft stuff on the show. Caleb Loner is in 98 00:04:43.720 --> 00:04:46.560 Dallas for the Dallas Cowboys Pro Day, so the Cowboys 99 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:49.680 looking to former youth Caleb Loaner. So a lot to 100 00:04:49.720 --> 00:04:53.279 get to on the program today. Alex Soovechkin scored again 101 00:04:53.959 --> 00:04:56.279 and he's getting closer to a record that once upot 102 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:59.399 of time felt unbreakable, the all time goal scoring record 103 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:02.800 won Wayne Gretzky. In the world of the NHL, speaking 104 00:05:02.839 --> 00:05:04.639 the NHL, our first guest right out of the gates 105 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:08.879 today is Neil Smith for our weekly conversation to talk 106 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:11.360 Punk Talk Hockey, Talk Utah Hockey Club. 107 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:13.040 Howard Beck rolls by. 108 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:15.279 For some NBA from the Ringer, the TV Voice the 109 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:17.879 Utah Jazz, Craig Bowler, Jack as our guest. Later on 110 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:21.439 an RSL club legend, key member of the front office, 111 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:24.759 my buddy Jason Chris in the four o'clock hour. We're 112 00:05:24.759 --> 00:05:27.079 gonna have to have an honest conversation about with Jay 113 00:05:27.079 --> 00:05:28.920 today about whether or not these players are going to 114 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:33.480 be signed prior to the primary transfer window closing, which 115 00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:37.639 is three weeks from today. So Neil Smith, Howard Beck, 116 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:39.680 Craig Bowler, Jack, Jason Christ. So we'll do a little 117 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:42.720 sports core with our friends from Handy and Handy coming 118 00:05:42.839 --> 00:05:45.120 up me, Spence, Jackets, all of you the great listeners. 119 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:46.759 I do want to give a shout out for all 120 00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:49.519 the simps that filled out brackets and picked all the 121 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:51.920 number one seeds to make the final four, because you're 122 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:54.800 probably winning your bracket if you don't really think very deeply. 123 00:05:54.839 --> 00:05:58.480 And let's welcome in Porter Larson. Happy Thursday, Pal. How 124 00:05:58.480 --> 00:05:59.360 are you doing I'm doing well. 125 00:05:59.360 --> 00:05:59.959 How are you, Spencer? 126 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:02.519 Are you winning our bracket challenge comfortably? 127 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:04.560 Yeah at the moment. And why is that? Who's your 128 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:05.079 final four? 129 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:06.519 The teams that are in it. 130 00:06:07.959 --> 00:06:10.000 All the number one seeds, Yeah, the teams that made 131 00:06:10.040 --> 00:06:11.959 the final four, the teams that I picked to me. 132 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:13.800 Yeah, yeah, all the number one seeds. 133 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:16.519 Also, And hey, just to be clear, I'm not only 134 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:19.759 up by a few points, but I'll leave that there. 135 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:22.040 So wait a second, is there any way anybody can 136 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:24.040 catch you? Who do you have winning these games? 137 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:26.879 I have Auburn winning the title. Auburn Houston is my 138 00:06:26.920 --> 00:06:30.480 match of Auburn Houston. If that is the title and 139 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:33.600 that is the matchup and Auburn wins, not only will 140 00:06:33.639 --> 00:06:35.519 I win the employee bracket. 141 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:36.480 I believe I win the whole thing. 142 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:37.879 So what is it? 143 00:06:37.879 --> 00:06:40.560 Can you? Are you eligible for the prize? I don't 144 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:41.759 think so. Oh that's too bad. 145 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:44.399 But yeah, if it goes Houston Auburn with Auburn winning, 146 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:47.360 I think I pass up everyone involved. But hey, like 147 00:06:47.399 --> 00:06:50.480 you said, Ken Palm ratings, if you want to want 148 00:06:50.519 --> 00:06:52.639 a good bracketology, that's a decent place to look. 149 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:55.399 Did you enter a bracket anywhere else outside of work? 150 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:57.600 I do have a ESPN bracket. 151 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:00.639 It's the same. I just did one bracket everywhere in 152 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:01.120 good shape. 153 00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:01.360 Though. 154 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:04.759 You know, all right, Final four coming up on Saturday, 155 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:07.120 And as I said yesterday, if it's not going to 156 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:09.240 be me, it needed to be somebody from the show. 157 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:12.279 So good job keeping our streak alive. I think that's 158 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:14.160 six straight years somebody from the show is once. 159 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:14.879 Good job. 160 00:07:14.920 --> 00:07:16.879 And I was gonna say one of those years if 161 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:18.959 maybe it was the year before, or maybe your first 162 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:20.879 year here. I won it there, So I think you 163 00:07:20.920 --> 00:07:24.600 and I we got the bragging rights in the afternoon. 164 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:26.079 All right, we'll take it. We'll take it. 165 00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:29.639 So some college basketball of course, Final four, both on 166 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:31.040 the men's and the women's side. 167 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:33.680 All right, Neil Smith will be our first guest. 168 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:36.040 Right out of the gates today, we'll do a little 169 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:38.920 hockey Utah, Little Utah Hockey Club before we get to Neil. 170 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:41.879 Courtesy of our good friends at Prize Picks, it is 171 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:43.319 time now for your opening tip. 172 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:46.959 Welcome to the Drive with Spence Check its on Utah's 173 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:50.360 number one sports talk. Now into the studios of ESPN 174 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:53.000 seven hundred to set the scene for the show. The 175 00:07:53.079 --> 00:07:55.079 opening tip of the Drive is brought to you by 176 00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:59.439 Prize Picks. 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All right, so, 192 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:42.559 as I referenced earlier, there's no reason that you would 193 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:44.759 know this, but today is the first day of a 194 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:49.519 seven day dead period in college basketball recruiting, and essentially 195 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:52.840 all that means is you cannot have players on campus. 196 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:56.080 There's no in person visits for the next week as 197 00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:59.519 the college basketball season wraps up, coming up this weekend 198 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:02.440 with a Final Four, and then on April the eleventh, 199 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:05.440 it will open up once again. So as we sit 200 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:08.960 here awaiting word on who else could potentially play for 201 00:09:09.080 --> 00:09:13.679 Utah basketball, YU Basketball next year. We're probably not going 202 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:15.480 to get a lot of news over the next week. 203 00:09:15.720 --> 00:09:18.519 We still could potentially get some news on the assistant 204 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:21.879 coaches and as Alex goes about his business filling his staff. 205 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:24.799 I was told by somebody yesterday that the Andre stuff 206 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:27.840 continues to simply be talked about. I don't think it's 207 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:31.480 as much of a slam dunk surefire higher that we 208 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:34.200 thought it was, maybe right out of the gates. No 209 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:37.919 information that is tangible and real on that just yet. 210 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:40.519 So I think they're still talking, and I think it 211 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:44.320 just comes down to Andrea's desire to come back to 212 00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:47.120 this market and live here and coach for his alma mater, 213 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:50.279 as opposed to kind of continuing his own journey. Because 214 00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:52.240 when you're a head coach in the G League, you know, 215 00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:55.120 you probably feel like you're one or two breaks away 216 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:56.480 from maybe being in the big show. 217 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:59.120 And I don't know where Andre's head is at just yet. 218 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:01.080 But the one piece of news that did come down 219 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:04.440 yesterday is that Kiana Daz has withdrawn his name from 220 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:07.759 the transfer portal and he will play for Utah basketball 221 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:11.320 next year. Hunter Erickson high speed ed to Hawaii. Shout 222 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:13.200 out to Hunter. He's going to spend his grad year 223 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:15.799 on the Rock. Good for him, and we await word 224 00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:19.039 on players like Ezara Sar or Mike shrab Jamps. 225 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:21.919 Or Jake Waaleen Mira, little players like that. 226 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:24.559 How many of those players Alex wants back is unclear, 227 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:26.600 and how many of the players actually want to be 228 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:30.639 here also unclear. Ezrasar has children, I believe in the Midwest. 229 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:32.000 I think he has a couple of kids he might 230 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:34.759 want to get back home there. So that's the latest 231 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:37.519 on the college basketball recruiting side of things for Utah. 232 00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:40.840 On the other side, for BYU, reports are floating out 233 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:44.559 there the Richie Saunders is seriously considering coming back to 234 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:47.399 play for Kevin Young and Provo next year with an 235 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:52.360 NIL offer that is seven figures. So it's interesting to 236 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:54.360 consider this if you're Richie, if you're part of his 237 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:58.440 support group, I'm sure he's got representation. All these young 238 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:01.399 men do at this point family around him. At the 239 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:03.840 age of twenty three, I think if you go through 240 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:06.679 the pre draft process, and anybody that is even kind 241 00:11:06.679 --> 00:11:10.080 of a fringe pro prospect should always go through the process, 242 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:13.000 because at the very least Brandon Carlson did this two 243 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:16.120 years ago, and I can remember when Brandon declared for 244 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:18.000 the draft I talked about on air. I'm like, I'm 245 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:20.679 not sure if he's an NBA guy, but Brandon might 246 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:23.480 as well go talk to as many NBA teams as 247 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:25.600 he possibly can, because what you do is you go 248 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:28.720 to all these pro days, you go to the combine, 249 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:31.240 and you have an opportunity to play in front of 250 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:33.919 coaches and in front of scouts, and then they all 251 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:37.559 give you feedback, so they'll say to it, Richie, Okay, 252 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:41.120 at the age of twenty three, the clock is ticking 253 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:43.360 to get to the second contract, which is always the 254 00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:46.639 goal if you're a pro basketball player. I mean, rookie 255 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:48.919 money is good money for normal people, but for pro 256 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:52.519 basketball players it is the second, third, and then eventually 257 00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:55.000 fourth fifth contracts, depending on how long you can stick 258 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:57.080 around and you're health cooperating. 259 00:11:57.159 --> 00:11:59.120 That's when the generational wealth kicks in. 260 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:05.000 Richie will get real accurate feedback, yeg Or Demon accurate feedback. 261 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:07.159 These BYU players, they are going to kick the tires 262 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:10.519 on playing in the pros. If we hear that jeg 263 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:12.799 Or Demon and Richie Saunders are coming back to play 264 00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:15.919 for BYU, simply means they went through the draft process, 265 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:19.080 didn't like what they saw and heard. And if you're 266 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:21.919 Richie Saunders and the feedback is late second round or 267 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:25.639 undrafted and BYU says, come back for one point seven 268 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:28.840 million or whatever it is, maybe you take the seven figures, 269 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:31.120 you play one more year at college basketball, then you 270 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:32.440 enter the draft next year. 271 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:35.639 Okay. So it is kind of an interesting spot. 272 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:38.000 Kevin Young finds himself in in a way that Alex 273 00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:40.519 Jensen up here just doesn't where he probably has to 274 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:45.639 wait to receive word from Yegor and Richie specifically because 275 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:49.720 fus Treori's graduating. Trevinell of course is graduating down Hall 276 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:53.159 in the transfer portal, they're losing a couple like I 277 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:55.879 think the Isaiah Stewart kids a senior, so they know 278 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:58.039 some of the players that are leaving. But I'm sure 279 00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:00.639 as Kevin Young goes about as big and trying to 280 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:02.720 fill out a staff, he's still waiting to hear from 281 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:05.159 Richie Saunders and Diego Demmt about what they're going to do. 282 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:08.240 And as we talked about yesterday, I have to wonder 283 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:11.759 if the Dollen Hall decision is kind of draped in 284 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:14.200 information that maybe Yegor demon is coming back, and of 285 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:16.399 course he'll be the starting point guard again next year 286 00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:19.279 and Dallan coming off the bench. Not sure how much 287 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:21.679 Dallan made to stay at BYU. He entered the transfer 288 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:23.399 portal a year ago. A lot of people thought he 289 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:25.720 was just going to go to Lexington and follow Mark Pope. 290 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:30.039 But down Hall probably for another couple of years of eligibility. 291 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:32.480 Can receive five hundred and six hundred thousand dollars to 292 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:36.000 play college basketball, So we'll see where he lands. But again, 293 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:40.440 if you're hoping for Utah basketball recruiting news, BYU basketball 294 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:43.440 recruiting news, we have entered, as of today, the dead 295 00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:47.080 period in college basketball recruiting, where no in person visits 296 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:47.639 are allowed. 297 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:49.759 This is all virtual, it's all zoom. 298 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:52.759 And so we kind of a wait word on Alex's 299 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:54.679 staff and maybe some other pieces of the puzzle that 300 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:57.399 will come together. The Jazz were in Houston last night. 301 00:13:57.440 --> 00:14:01.039 They got absolutely stomped. They lost by thirty eight, and 302 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:03.279 it wasn't that close. The Jazz have five games left. 303 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:06.320 They'll be at Indiana coming up tomorrow. We'll do some 304 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:09.399 jazz basketball later on, but the Utah hockey club isn't 305 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:13.240 action tonight they welcome in the La Kings. Utah Hockey 306 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:16.879 Club welcomes in the La Kings tonight, seven o'clock drop 307 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:18.879 of the park down at the Delta Center here in 308 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:22.840 downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Our next guest joins us 309 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:25.559 on a weekly basis to talk about the world of 310 00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.200 pro hockey. 311 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:27.519 Little Utah Hockey Club. 312 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:29.480 Neil Smith good enough to give us some time on 313 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:33.200 this Thursday afternoon. Neil, Happy Thursday, sir, How are you. 314 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:37.360 I'm good. I'm very good. Thanks. Coming down the stretch 315 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:41.960 here of the NHL season and looking forward to seeing 316 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:44.600 who matches up in the playoffs. 317 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:47.200 Yeah, for sure. And we'll get to some big picture 318 00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:49.320 NHL stuff in a moment. And I don't know if 319 00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:52.840 it's the pressure of the wild card race essentially being over, 320 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:57.000 but ever since they're not officially eliminated, but if we're honest, 321 00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:59.480 it's not happening. But they've won their last two games 322 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:03.080 by a nine score of eight to three at Chicago 323 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:06.039 and then Calgary here, and of course Calgary is one 324 00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:08.240 of the teams they were trying to chase in the standings, 325 00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:11.039 and we'll see if Calgary can catch Saint Louis who 326 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:14.039 just doesn't lose all of a sudden But do you 327 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:16.519 think it's kind of just the pressure off this young 328 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:18.799 team that's allowed them to win a couple of games 329 00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:21.519 in a pretty impressive fashion ever since it became pretty 330 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:24.000 apparent that they weren't going to make the playoffs. 331 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:26.120 You know, there is a lot of pressure that comes 332 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:29.399 off of the players when they know one way or 333 00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:33.320 the other what's going to happen. And I've seen often 334 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:36.279 teams that are eliminated or know they're going to be 335 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:40.440 eliminated to play with a lot more ease and play 336 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:45.240 a lot more relaxed, So that definitely can happen. But 337 00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:48.159 I just want to remind you of one thing for 338 00:15:48.679 --> 00:15:53.399 you and your listeners about the season, because I had 339 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:56.440 said at the beginning what I thought would happen, and 340 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:59.080 you have to remember that last year the Arizona Coyotes, 341 00:15:59.080 --> 00:16:07.919 which is this year's TA Hockey club season, and Utah 342 00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:11.559 currently has eighty with seven games to go. So if 343 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:14.799 they get five hundred in those seven games, just to 344 00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:16.879 throw out a number, if they can go five hundred, 345 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:20.399 they'll end the season with eighty seven points. That's a 346 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:24.639 ten point jump from what they did last year, and 347 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:28.679 I think a pretty darn good improvement of the club 348 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:33.840 from a year ago. So if there's a bright, if 349 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:36.799 there's light at the end of the tunnel for this 350 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:40.240 hockey team, I think that's it. That they made improvements 351 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:42.000 and they're continually improving. 352 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:44.320 Really good point. 353 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:47.519 And also if we include in the dynamic the fact 354 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:49.639 that all of these people got a phone call that 355 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:53.720 said you live in Salt Lake, now you know, and 356 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:56.320 they were able to make the move and not allow 357 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:59.399 that to, you know, move the program in the wrong direction. 358 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:03.759 And you've been enough to outline how the ownership complications 359 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:07.039 in Arizona led to Ryan Smith being able to make 360 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:10.400 this happen with the cooperation, of course, of with Gary 361 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:11.559 Bettman and the NHL. 362 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:12.799 And you know, the commissioner. 363 00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:15.359 Betman joined our show and said, the first conversation he 364 00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:17.960 had with Ryan about this was in March, and suddenly 365 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:20.880 it was the first week of May and they're here. 366 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:23.599 So what does that say about the character of the 367 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:26.680 organization that they didn't And I know that there were 368 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:30.119 so many positives about the move, But you know, whenever 369 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:32.759 we talk about this, and of course this is based 370 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:35.039 off my background, I talk a lot about the personal 371 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:38.440 angle here where you're moving families and you're moving children, 372 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:41.400 and you're relocating, and you're selling a home and you're 373 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:42.160 buying a new home. 374 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:43.119 It's I know, a. 375 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:45.359 Lot of these people make a lot of money, and 376 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:48.920 so the complications might fall on deaf ears for normal folk. 377 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:50.640 But it doesn't matter how much money you have. 378 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:54.000 When you're moving around and you're kind of upsetting the 379 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:56.960 apple cart with your family and you're asking people to 380 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:59.680 settle into a new community, it can provide complications. So 381 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:02.920 what is say to you that even moving into a 382 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:06.880 new community, the hockey club was able to continue this 383 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:09.680 incremental growth that Bill Armstrong talks about all the time. 384 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:13.000 No, I think it's I think it's great. I think 385 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:16.480 it's a it's a It says a lot of things 386 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:20.079 about the ownership of the club, down to the management 387 00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:22.119 of the club, down to the character of the players 388 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:24.519 of the club, and of course the coaches. But that's 389 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:27.400 a big adjustment, and you think people don't often think 390 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:29.599 about it. You and I do because we've been through 391 00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:34.319 it together. But you know, you guy has to move 392 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:36.920 if he's got kids, they got to change schools, they 393 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:38.599 got to go and make all new friends and you 394 00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:40.920 know how tough that is on kids that you know, 395 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:44.240 they got their friends at school. It's a lot of 396 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:47.519 people their their wife is from the city that they 397 00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:50.759 were in, they met them earlier in their career, perhaps 398 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:53.720 in Phoenix or wherever, and now they've got to ask 399 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:56.720 them to leave there where they've lived their whole life 400 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:58.799 and go to a new place. So it's not just 401 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:02.680 the hockey player that it's you know, has to make 402 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:06.400 a big adjustments, but it's the family of the hockey 403 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:10.519 players that have to make a bigger adjustment because everybody's 404 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:13.839 doing what they can do to support dad in his 405 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:19.519 hockey career. And it is truly a big adjustment, and 406 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:23.200 one that goes unnoticed by the normal fan. All they 407 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:25.480 know is that, well, he used to be wearing a 408 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:27.599 coyote on the front of his jersey and now he's 409 00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:30.559 got Utah written down his jersey, and you know that 410 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:33.559 kind of thing. But it can be traumatic. 411 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:37.559 So I want to put you in Bill Armstrong's seat 412 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:41.359 as the roster constructor and the main decision maker. You're 413 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:44.519 viewing this, I would imagine as a successful season and 414 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:47.279 yet a you know, just another step in the right direction, 415 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:49.799 And at what point do you kind of start looking 416 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:52.559 ahead to start, you know, considering what decisions you need 417 00:19:52.599 --> 00:19:54.880 to make to make sure the progress continues the way 418 00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:55.519 you want it to go. 419 00:19:56.960 --> 00:20:01.240 I think he's doing it continuously. I'm sure he's doing 420 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:06.640 it continuously. So he's evaluating every day and every player 421 00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:09.079 and who's out there, and he's meeting with pro scouts 422 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:11.920 and finding out what their thoughts are about the guys 423 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:15.359 that could potentially be free agents or be gotten in 424 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:20.359 a deal. That exercise never stops for the GM. They're 425 00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:24.759 doing that all the time. Now. Obviously, Bill is going 426 00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:28.160 to focus more on the future now than the present 427 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:31.559 because of the fact that the president is sort of decided. 428 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:34.920 And I want to say one other thing about the 429 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:39.079 present being decided. The only reason it's been this clearly 430 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:42.960 decided is because you had a team win ten straight games, 431 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:45.519 and that's the sing of those Blues. They played Pittsburgh 432 00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:49.480 tonight looking for their eleventh straight. They separated themselves from 433 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:52.240 the pack by doing that. And if you remember when 434 00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:56.039 we spoke two three, four weeks ago about Utah and 435 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:58.240 their chances to get in I said, if they could 436 00:20:58.279 --> 00:21:01.319 get on a run, they could do it. And that's 437 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:05.599 what Saint Louis did and so and that's what separated 438 00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:07.920 them from the pac Minnesota has been pretty good all 439 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:10.000 year long, and now they've had a lot of injuries, 440 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:12.480 so they've slipped back a bit and they're in the 441 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:16.359 wild card. But it's not just Utah that couldn't keep 442 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:19.079 up with Saint Louis. The Vancouver Canucks won the Pacific 443 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:22.759 Division last year and just lost out in Game seven 444 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:25.319 in the first round of Edmonton and they're going to 445 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:29.480 miss the playoffs. And Calgary, who's had a remarkable season 446 00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:32.960 from what we expected, it looks like they're going to 447 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:36.440 make miss the playoffs. So it's really hard and it 448 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:41.039 would be very unfair to think that Utah Hockey Club 449 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:43.279 could keep up with a ten and oer record that 450 00:21:43.400 --> 00:21:46.480 Saint Lewis went on at this critical time in the season. 451 00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:50.039 Let me ask you about how Saint Louis did this, 452 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:52.920 because you know, as a result of my background, they're 453 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:55.240 one of the teams that kind of loosely follow and 454 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:57.759 for the majority of the season they were looking up 455 00:21:58.279 --> 00:22:00.519 at not just the Utah Hockey Club, a lot of 456 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:03.559 the other the other teams. What what what clicked there? 457 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:06.559 Because as you reference ten straight wins. It is the 458 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:09.319 longest winning streak in in the NHL by kind of 459 00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:11.519 a long shot. Dallas has won six straight, but Saint 460 00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:12.440 Louis with ten straight. 461 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:14.319 What what clicked for them? 462 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:17.440 Well, I think there's a number of things, but the 463 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:23.240 most visible thing is Jordan Bennington. They're start starting goaltender 464 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:26.599 who played in the Four Nations for Canada. He was 465 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:30.200 a starting goaltender for Canada in the Four Nations tournament. 466 00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:35.400 Canada won the tournament. Jordan Bennington was the winning goaltender 467 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:38.880 of the Four Nations tournament and since then he's been 468 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:42.720 eleven and one. He's won eleven and only lost one 469 00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:45.960 since the Four Nations. So when you've got a goaltender 470 00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:49.759 standing on his head like that, that's a huge part 471 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:52.039 of it. Now you've got to give credit to Jordan 472 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:56.079 Cairo and to Jim Montgomery the head coach, and so on, 473 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:58.640 and there's a lot of other pieces there, but the 474 00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:02.039 most visible piece to me is the outstanding play of 475 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:06.039 the goaltender Jordan Dinnington. He's playing like he did when 476 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:08.720 they won the Stanley Cup a number of years ago. 477 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:12.119 So to answer your question, that's what I think it is. 478 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:15.519 Dallas, I referenced second in the Central and Winnipeg is 479 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:19.480 still the class of that division. They're differentials plus eighty. 480 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:22.279 But Dallas has turned it on too. You reference them 481 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:24.200 not too long ago as a team to watch out for. 482 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:26.160 What's kind of click for them over the past couple 483 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:26.759 of weeks. 484 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:27.039 Neil. 485 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:30.680 Well I thinks is the goaltend. And of course I'm 486 00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:32.880 always going to start with the goaltender, because without goaltending, 487 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:35.000 you're not going to win, so you sort of got 488 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:38.079 to go there first. But I think Ottinger has been 489 00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:40.720 very good for them. They're doing this too without one 490 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:44.480 of their very best players, Nero Heaskin and the defenseman 491 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:46.920 who's a dynamic force for them, and if they get 492 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:49.599 him back for the playoffs, they're going to be even better. 493 00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:51.880 But I think there's been a number of things. Jason 494 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:56.680 Robertson is scoring goals, why at Johnson has been quite 495 00:23:56.960 --> 00:24:01.160 well developed, and now is putting pucks in all the time. 496 00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:04.400 They've got a good combination there that are all coming 497 00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:07.680 together at the same time. And you know, we've said 498 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:10.640 all season that Dallas is a good team. They seem 499 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:12.759 to be peaking at the right time. I like the 500 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:17.960 moves that Jim Nill did it before the deadline when 501 00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:21.640 he got Granlin and Cci from San Jose. He moved 502 00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:23.920 early and got those guys, And you know, there's still 503 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:26.880 a chance that they could catch Winnipeg. That's not out 504 00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:30.799 of the realm of possibility. That they're only four points 505 00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:33.240 behind them, and they have one more game than Winnipeg 506 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:36.759 to play, so you know it's not out of the 507 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:38.799 realm of possibility they could get there. It's going to 508 00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:42.240 be really tough for Colorado to catch Dallas. Now there's 509 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:45.240 six points back of them, So it looks at this 510 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:50.000 point like it'll be Dallas and Colorado in the first round. 511 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:54.359 And that's sort of sad Spence because they're both Stanley 512 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:56.680 Cup contenders and yet one of them is going to 513 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.880 be gone in the first round. 514 00:24:58.680 --> 00:25:02.160 Of course, a ton of attention on Ovechkin's chase to 515 00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:05.599 break Wayne Gretzky's record, and he's only three goals shy 516 00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:08.640 of doing that, and I think he's projected to do 517 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:11.519 that April twelfth or thirteenth, according to what I was 518 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:15.160 reading earlier on the ESPN coverage. But kind of lost 519 00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:19.559 in Ovechkin's chase is that he's doing it during a 520 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:21.680 good run for a team that has a chance to 521 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:23.680 make some noise in the East. I mean, oftentimes when 522 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:28.279 a player is aging and he's chasing stats, and I'm 523 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:32.240 thinking pro basketball, when Koreem broke his record and Lebron 524 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:36.119 broke the scoring record during a pretty you know, mediocre 525 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:39.640 year for the Lakers. Oftentimes, when a player is aging 526 00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:42.160 chasing a record like this, he's not playing for a 527 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:44.400 team that's contending. And I just kind of wonder what 528 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:47.440 your thoughts are on just the fact that Ovechkin is 529 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:49.759 close to breaking that record, but he's also doing it 530 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:51.640 for a team that's in the midst of a run 531 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:54.480 that could put them in contention to hoist the cup. 532 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:56.000 What are your thoughts on that dynamic? 533 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:59.440 Neal, I think that's a really good point. I remember 534 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:02.480 when Wayne was breaking a lot of records back in 535 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:04.799 his day with the La Kings. Is when he broke 536 00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:07.319 most of the records, that's what he got the book, 537 00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:11.759 the Gordy Howe goal scoring record, and the Kings, you know, 538 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:15.720 were not up and contending teams. So I think what 539 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:18.720 you're saying, and I want to agree with wholeheartedly, is 540 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:22.839 Sovekin's doing this and they haven't taken their eye off 541 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:25.519 the ball. The Capitals. They haven't said, well, let's do 542 00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:30.720 all this for Ov and back off on our defensive responsibilities. 543 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:33.599 Let's take every chance we have to get Ov the record. 544 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:37.039 They're still playing great hockey now. Last night they got 545 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:40.240 creamed by Carolina because they'd played the night before and 546 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:43.599 Carolina was right on their game. They lost five to one, 547 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:47.079 and guess who got the one goal. Ovechkin, of course. 548 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:53.480 So it is remarkable what he's doing at his age 549 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:59.440 and how that is helping his team, perhaps when the 550 00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:03.480 President's Trophy, but certainly be a dominant force in the East. 551 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:07.119 And I think that they really want to have this 552 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:11.079 record broken at home. I think that you may see 553 00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:15.039 it work out that he scores that goal against Columbus 554 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:18.720 on the twelfth, or maybe against the I'm sorry, I'm 555 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:23.880 the thirteenth against Columbus, or that may work out that way, 556 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:28.119 or if he can score against Chicago and then at 557 00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:31.039 the Islanders, he could do it at home against Carolina. 558 00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:36.400 But I think he's about four games away from doing 559 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:39.720 it now, and if I'm right about that, that would 560 00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:42.039 put him right in line with doing it against Columbus 561 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:44.880 either there they played back to back twelfth and thirteenth, 562 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:48.279 so it would either be in Columbus or in Washington 563 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:54.599 against Columbus. So Mrs Lincoln's, who is the goaltender for Columbus, 564 00:27:54.599 --> 00:27:57.720 has that to look forward to, like I'm going to 565 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:59.640 be the one that's probably going to get beat for 566 00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:01.039 the record set a goal. 567 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:04.400 Well, we've been hyper focused on the wild card race 568 00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:06.480 out this way in the Western Conference to see if 569 00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:09.519 the hockey club can get it done. They're straight chaos 570 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:11.920 in the East, Neo, isn't there. Looks like Ottawa was 571 00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:14.279 gonna pull away and grab one of the spots, but 572 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:18.160 they've lost a couple in a row. Montreal's differentials minus 573 00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:18.839 twenty five. 574 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:21.119 Yet they're right there. 575 00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:24.599 But my guys, the Rangers, they've kind of resurrected their 576 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:29.079 playoff chances and they're tied with Montreal right now. Montreal 577 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:30.720 does have a game in hand. Who do you think 578 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:33.799 captures that second wild card? Looks like Ottawa was going 579 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.839 to grab the first. 580 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:38.319 I think because on strength of schedule, you've got to 581 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:43.680 go with Montreal only because they only have three more 582 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:47.079 games left against teams that are currently in the playoffs, 583 00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:51.279 and they have five games left against non playoff teams. 584 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:55.319 So and if you look at the Rangers schedule, they 585 00:28:55.359 --> 00:29:00.119 have five against playoff teams and only two against on 586 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:03.640 playoff teams, and those two come back to back. So 587 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:07.000 and I don't like the way the Rangers are playing. 588 00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:09.200 When I look at them, I think, with the talent 589 00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:11.559 they've got on the team, they should be a lot 590 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:14.480 better than they are. But their structure doesn't seem to 591 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:17.680 be there, and every night something goes wrong for them. 592 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:20.559 And even with the stirk and in net, you know, 593 00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:23.559 they squeak out wins like they did last night over Minnesota, 594 00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:27.880 but Minnesota got a point there. So I really do 595 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:31.400 think that the Montreal Canadians are on a mission to 596 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:35.200 make it. I would have if my heart dictated who 597 00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:38.759 would make it, Spence, I would have had Columbus Blue 598 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:42.920 Jackets make it because of what they've been through preseason 599 00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:46.599 and during the season for that franchise, losing Johnny Gidrou 600 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:50.440 and his brother Matthew. But your heart doesn't set the standings. 601 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:54.319 But I think it looks to me like the halves 602 00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:56.759 the Montreal Canadians are going to make that last spot. 603 00:29:57.359 --> 00:29:59.720 We always talk about this time of year when the 604 00:29:59.720 --> 00:30:02.599 player are right around the corner about teams that find 605 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:05.400 their form at the right time. So I want to 606 00:30:05.400 --> 00:30:08.119 go back to the Western Conference, and of course Winnipeg 607 00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:10.920 has been the class all year. We talked Dallas in Colorado, 608 00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:14.759 there's Vegas, the Kings are in town tonight. But based 609 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:17.759 off of what the Blues have done, do you change 610 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:19.799 the way that you kind of look at them heading 611 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:22.319 into the postseason since they have seen to capture the 612 00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:23.759 right form at the right time of year. 613 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:30.359 You know, they're at plus eighteen. They've really turned their 614 00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:33.400 season around. I mean that Ken and oh will end 615 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:36.160 at some point because they always do no matter who 616 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:39.480 the team is. But yeah, could they be a team 617 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:42.440 that goes into the playoffs now with nothing to lose 618 00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:45.000 because nobody expected them to make it? Could they do 619 00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:48.160 what they did back in twenty nineteen and come in 620 00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:51.759 and start surprising people? Well, sure, I don't expect that, 621 00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:55.160 but I think they could do that. I still think 622 00:30:55.720 --> 00:31:01.960 that the heavyweights are in Winnipeg, Dallas, call Colorado, and Vegas. 623 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:05.160 I think then after that, you've got Edmonton in LA 624 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:08.359 who looks like they're ready to play a fifth straight 625 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:11.799 first round against each other. If you can believe it 626 00:31:11.880 --> 00:31:18.279 in l A and Edmonton, but it'll it'll all be 627 00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:22.200 interesting which way it goes. And again out there, you've 628 00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:28.640 got those five really dynamic teams that have all got 629 00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:32.559 a shot in the In the East, you've got one division, 630 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:37.920 the Atlantic Division, that's got three Stanley Cup contenders Toronto, Tampa, Florida. 631 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:41.599 And then you've got in the Metro you've got Washington 632 00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:45.119 and Carolina. So you've got five in the East, five 633 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:50.440 in the West. It's it's not a it's I can't 634 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:54.279 say and be honest with you that it's it's anybody's game, 635 00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:57.240 like it's anybody's Cup. I think there's still favorites out 636 00:31:57.279 --> 00:32:00.480 of those ten teams I just mentioned, but it's going 637 00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:03.039 to be a hell of a series, hell of a playoff, 638 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:05.359 and you. 639 00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:06.960 Know, I mean, that's one of the great things about 640 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:09.839 this format. And I'm not sure why, and we'll wait 641 00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:12.200 into this area for a moment. I'm not sure what 642 00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:14.960 breeds upsets in the Stanley Cup playoffs in a way 643 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:19.559 that the NBA doesn't see, but we do oftentimes see upsets, 644 00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:22.400 and oftentimes home ice advantage doesn't mean the same that 645 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:26.440 home court advantage means any any thoughts on that, or 646 00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:28.640 you know, a new hockey market out here, why the 647 00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:32.160 Stanley Cup playoffs and professional hockey seem to breed upsets 648 00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:34.680 more often than pro basketball does. 649 00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:35.480 Any thoughts on that. 650 00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:41.319 Yeah, My thoughts are that there is a lot of 651 00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:46.480 pressure playing at home, and so it has turned from 652 00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:49.279 not being that much of an advantage anymore to play 653 00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:51.720 at home. I think because of the pressure. When you're 654 00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:54.279 on the road, it's you against the world. There's a 655 00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:57.240 traveling party of thirty people and it's thirty and twenty 656 00:32:57.319 --> 00:33:02.000 thousand others cheering for the other side. I do think 657 00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:05.039 that there can be a lot of pressure when the 658 00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:09.680 expectations are high for your team, and certainly the teams 659 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:13.240 that I just mentioned, they've all got very high expectations 660 00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:16.200 on them. If you take a look at Toronto for example, 661 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:18.759 Lenise and you know this Spence, they haven't won the 662 00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:22.920 Stanley Cup since nineteen sixty seven. So the Leaf fans 663 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:25.880 are just propping at the mouth to get them to 664 00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:28.559 do well in the playoffs and their whole season will 665 00:33:28.599 --> 00:33:32.160 be judged by the playoffs. And the Florida Panthers want 666 00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:35.519 to repeat the Washington fans are going to think that 667 00:33:35.559 --> 00:33:38.000 they've got a Stanley Cup team because they're way up 668 00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:41.079 in the standings. And we've already talked about these teams 669 00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:45.400 in the West, where you know Edmonton oiler fans think well, 670 00:33:45.400 --> 00:33:48.400 why shouldn't we win with Connor McDavid and Leon drysidele 671 00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:53.319 But to get to your point about upsets, I think 672 00:33:53.400 --> 00:33:59.279 that it's a pressure things sometimes when those expectations are 673 00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:02.279 that high, make you squeeze your stick a lot tighter 674 00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:06.440 and not play as loose as you should. So Winnipeg, 675 00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:10.599 for example, hasn't been successful in the playoffs. They've been 676 00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:14.239 successful in the regular season, and they're going to be 677 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:17.119 judged by their fans based upon what happens in the playoffs, 678 00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:20.239 and if they lose in the first round, well that 679 00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:23.719 six or seven months of regular season hockey will be 680 00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:24.400 out the window. 681 00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:28.840 So the Utah Hockey Club has announced that after their 682 00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:33.360 final regular season home game, which will be April tenth 683 00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:37.159 VERSUT Nashville, they're going to hand out their postseason awards. 684 00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:39.599 Fans can vote on it right now, so check that out. 685 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:42.719 If they asked you, Neil Smith, the MVP of the 686 00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:46.360 Utah Hockey Club this season, who would you go with 687 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:47.960 Clayton Keller is they're leading. 688 00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:50.920 He leads them in points kind of by a long shot. 689 00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:52.920 I know a lot of people close to the club 690 00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:55.320 would tell you, Serga chef should be an option. And 691 00:34:55.400 --> 00:34:59.079 when you look at the unsure nature of the goalie situation, 692 00:34:59.239 --> 00:35:01.960 because Connoring has not had a great year, maybe Vimelka 693 00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:02.719 is in the mix as well. 694 00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:04.280 Who do you think the UTA Hockey Club m VP 695 00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:04.840 is this year? 696 00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:07.599 Neil, You know, I'm going to go back where I 697 00:35:07.719 --> 00:35:09.719 was at the beginning of the year because I like 698 00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:12.280 this kid, Clayton Keller, the Saint Louis native. I mean, 699 00:35:13.800 --> 00:35:17.039 he's been the captain, He's had a fantastic year. But 700 00:35:17.159 --> 00:35:19.440 you've got so much growth going on there. I mean 701 00:35:19.719 --> 00:35:23.920 you've mentioned it. You've got Mamelka, who wasn't it was 702 00:35:24.039 --> 00:35:26.880 on a contract that was going to expire, gets a 703 00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:29.599 new contract and has played really well for them and 704 00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:33.320 has proven that he can handle the reins. This kid 705 00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:36.639 Dylan Gunter, what a player he is and what a 706 00:35:36.679 --> 00:35:40.679 shot he's got and able to score goals. He's got 707 00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:43.960 a fantastic future in front of him. So I guess 708 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:46.480 I would go with the captain and say that if 709 00:35:46.519 --> 00:35:48.880 I had to vote or had to say somebody who 710 00:35:48.920 --> 00:35:51.199 was their m VP, it would be Clayton Keller because 711 00:35:51.199 --> 00:35:53.840 he's done a good job in both his roles there. 712 00:35:53.880 --> 00:35:59.039 But and and you mentioned chev and Sergachev has been 713 00:35:59.320 --> 00:36:02.440 has been really a great acquisition by Bill Armstrong. And 714 00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:04.199 when I got to be honest with you, when I 715 00:36:04.280 --> 00:36:08.039 when they acquired him, I thought, I'm wondering if if 716 00:36:08.079 --> 00:36:12.400 they're getting damaged goods because you know, he'd had those 717 00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:16.000 injuries in Tampa, and boy, he has played great for 718 00:36:16.119 --> 00:36:21.239 them for Utah and has I think set A, you know, 719 00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:25.480 given them an element that they didn't have in playing 720 00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:31.039 tough and playing also good offensively. So you know, I 721 00:36:31.079 --> 00:36:33.480 think any one of those guys would be deserving. 722 00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:36.599 Before I say you loose, Neil, genuinely curious. You know, 723 00:36:36.679 --> 00:36:40.159 there's a debate around the NBA right now, and it's 724 00:36:40.199 --> 00:36:43.519 prevalent here in Salt Lake because the worst team in 725 00:36:43.559 --> 00:36:47.159 the NBA is the Utah Jazz, and they're not alone 726 00:36:47.239 --> 00:36:52.039 in their approach. There's about ten teams. If I'm being generous, 727 00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:54.239 I would say six or seven teams. But if I'm 728 00:36:54.239 --> 00:36:56.320 being honest, I would say about ten teams in the 729 00:36:56.440 --> 00:36:59.800 NBA have stopped trying players have been shut down, they 730 00:37:00.119 --> 00:37:02.400 playing the rest of the year. And the Jazz were 731 00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:04.920 in Houston last night they got smoked by nearly forty 732 00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:08.360 And that's kind of status quo. How prevalent, if at all, 733 00:37:08.599 --> 00:37:13.119 is tanking in the world of pro hockey, Well. 734 00:37:12.920 --> 00:37:15.760 You know, we have the lottery, and so therefore, even 735 00:37:15.800 --> 00:37:19.400 if you do tank, it doesn't mean that you're necessarily 736 00:37:19.400 --> 00:37:22.400 going to end up with not only not the first pick, 737 00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:26.599 but not even be in the top three. I do 738 00:37:26.719 --> 00:37:30.199 think I don't think there's anybody in the league that 739 00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:36.719 tanks here because I think the rebuilders are obvious. I 740 00:37:36.760 --> 00:37:40.119 think that you know, for example San Jose and Chicago 741 00:37:40.239 --> 00:37:42.599 or in the middle of a massive rebuild. I think 742 00:37:42.639 --> 00:37:45.400 that the Ducks are a little bit ahead of them 743 00:37:45.880 --> 00:37:48.920 in that. And you know they're over in the East. 744 00:37:49.239 --> 00:37:52.360 You got the Philadelphia Flyers that are in a rebuilding 745 00:37:52.400 --> 00:37:55.719 stage that they're not. Nobody's going to try to lose 746 00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:58.159 to get the first pick. It's not like when the 747 00:37:58.199 --> 00:38:02.239 old days, Mario lemu is going to become available. In 748 00:38:02.280 --> 00:38:05.880 New Jersey and Pittsburgh were the two candidates to be last, 749 00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:09.440 and New Jersey tried to win their games and Pittsburgh 750 00:38:09.440 --> 00:38:12.760 tried to lose theirs and guess who Mary Olemeu became 751 00:38:13.079 --> 00:38:15.920 iconic with this is the Pittsburgh Penguins. So it doesn't 752 00:38:15.920 --> 00:38:18.559 happen as much in the NHL. I don't think it 753 00:38:18.599 --> 00:38:21.360 would do them any good to do that because they 754 00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:26.039 wouldn't accomplish a lot. I think what you have in 755 00:38:26.039 --> 00:38:29.239 the league is you have teams that are rebuilding and 756 00:38:29.320 --> 00:38:31.519 know they're not going to win that season, so they're 757 00:38:31.559 --> 00:38:33.599 just trying to do whatever they can to build for 758 00:38:33.639 --> 00:38:34.199 the future. 759 00:38:34.719 --> 00:38:38.400 All right, Neil, where can everybody go find a podcast? 760 00:38:38.519 --> 00:38:42.519 It's on every podcast platform and it's NHL Wrap Around 761 00:38:42.559 --> 00:38:45.079 and we've been having a lot of fun with it 762 00:38:45.480 --> 00:38:47.840 and it's going to get even more fun in coming 763 00:38:47.880 --> 00:38:49.960 up in the future. So you get it on Apple 764 00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:54.000 or Spotify or YouTube or anywhere where you get your 765 00:38:54.039 --> 00:38:58.360 podcast called NHL Wrapround. Please subscribe, Please give us a hit. 766 00:38:58.639 --> 00:39:01.639 We need all the numbers we get and we need 767 00:39:01.639 --> 00:39:03.639 the word to get spread. But we do have listeners 768 00:39:03.679 --> 00:39:05.880 in Salt Lake City. I've been looking at that. There 769 00:39:05.880 --> 00:39:08.719 we go, this show. This show is helping us get 770 00:39:08.760 --> 00:39:11.000 listeners in the Salt Lake City, So I must be 771 00:39:11.039 --> 00:39:12.159 saying something right. 772 00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:16.000 Well, we appreciate your presence every week. You've been good 773 00:39:16.079 --> 00:39:18.159 enough to help us understand this sport. We're all trying 774 00:39:18.159 --> 00:39:19.880 to get used to Neil, So anything we can do 775 00:39:19.960 --> 00:39:21.880 for you, we're happy to do that because you do 776 00:39:21.960 --> 00:39:23.440 so much for us. So thank you for the time 777 00:39:23.440 --> 00:39:24.280 and have a great weekend. 778 00:39:24.320 --> 00:39:27.039 Okay, you two, thanks for having me on right. 779 00:39:27.119 --> 00:39:30.719 Neil Smith stops bat today courtesy reference at IFA Country Stores. 780 00:39:30.760 --> 00:39:34.199 At some point the weather will get warm consistently, which 781 00:39:34.239 --> 00:39:36.119 means now is the time to start thinking about your 782 00:39:36.199 --> 00:39:38.679 lawn and care for your lawn. So any drive to 783 00:39:38.719 --> 00:39:40.880 the basket begins with the first step on the court. 784 00:39:40.920 --> 00:39:43.280 That's the ultimate power move. IFA Step one. 785 00:39:43.320 --> 00:39:46.679 Crabgrass Preventer and lawn food is the first choice to 786 00:39:46.719 --> 00:39:48.920 give your yard the healthy, thick green look you desire. 787 00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:50.599 The neighbors will be green with envy. 788 00:39:50.920 --> 00:39:53.719 Shop IFA online at IFA dot co op, or stop 789 00:39:53.760 --> 00:39:57.599 by one of their eighteen Utah locations today. The Jazz well, 790 00:39:59.280 --> 00:40:02.719 they were in huge did last night. Technically they were present. 791 00:40:03.639 --> 00:40:06.079 It didn't go well, because you know that's the deal. 792 00:40:06.159 --> 00:40:09.639 Five games left for the Jazz. I would imagine broadcasters 793 00:40:09.760 --> 00:40:12.320 just like players and coaches in front office staff and 794 00:40:12.360 --> 00:40:15.679 everybody involved is kind of ready for this season to end. 795 00:40:15.800 --> 00:40:18.599 That's just my guess. Our next guest covers the. 796 00:40:18.639 --> 00:40:21.199 NBA for The Ringer, one of my favorite NBA riders 797 00:40:21.239 --> 00:40:22.400 for a long, long time. 798 00:40:22.440 --> 00:40:24.679 On a Thursday afternoon, it is Howard Beck. 799 00:40:25.079 --> 00:40:29.639 Howard, Happy Thursday, sir, How are you well? I wonder 800 00:40:29.719 --> 00:40:33.880 from your your your perspective and covering this league for 801 00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:38.079 so long, what it's like for an organization at the 802 00:40:38.159 --> 00:40:40.679 end of a season like the Jazz are going through 803 00:40:40.719 --> 00:40:43.360 for the first time in the fifty plus years of 804 00:40:43.400 --> 00:40:44.320 the Jazz history. 805 00:40:44.320 --> 00:40:46.239 They've lost more than sixty games. 806 00:40:46.280 --> 00:40:49.239 They are, by record and by eye test and everything else, 807 00:40:49.320 --> 00:40:53.239 the worst team in the NBA. And look, losing takes 808 00:40:53.280 --> 00:40:56.800 a toll on coaches and players in a different way 809 00:40:56.840 --> 00:40:59.360 than it takes on probably everybody else involved, because they're 810 00:40:59.400 --> 00:40:59.960 the main actor. 811 00:41:00.199 --> 00:41:02.360 They're involved, and these guys are competitors. 812 00:41:02.360 --> 00:41:06.519 But from just an organizational standpoint, what sort of toll 813 00:41:06.639 --> 00:41:08.400 do you think this takes? Because it just feels like 814 00:41:08.440 --> 00:41:10.079 everybody I talked to you down there is kind of 815 00:41:10.079 --> 00:41:11.639 ready for the season to end. 816 00:41:13.159 --> 00:41:17.039 It definitely takes its toll. And it's interesting because we 817 00:41:17.039 --> 00:41:19.599 can take the thirty thousand foot view, and obviously much 818 00:41:19.639 --> 00:41:21.360 easier for me to do so from a distance as 819 00:41:21.400 --> 00:41:25.320 a national writer covering the league. It's different when you're 820 00:41:25.519 --> 00:41:27.199 when you're there, if you're a Jazz fan, if you're 821 00:41:27.239 --> 00:41:29.719 working for the Jazz, if you're even a reporter covering 822 00:41:29.719 --> 00:41:31.800 the Jazz. I even know this just based on the 823 00:41:32.400 --> 00:41:35.000 you know, really bad years I covered the Knicks, where 824 00:41:35.639 --> 00:41:37.119 you know, I have no stake in the outcome, I 825 00:41:37.119 --> 00:41:39.920 have no emotional investment. But being around a team that 826 00:41:40.079 --> 00:41:43.320 is mired in you know, that kind of of of 827 00:41:43.400 --> 00:41:46.679 losing for months on end, it just it just makes 828 00:41:46.719 --> 00:41:50.679 for a really depressing environment. Right, So it's everybody, like 829 00:41:50.719 --> 00:41:53.159 the players, you know, the players you definitely feel it from, 830 00:41:53.159 --> 00:41:55.559 and the coaches you feel it from, but even support staff. 831 00:41:55.840 --> 00:41:58.320 It just it is just this cloud that hangs over 832 00:41:58.320 --> 00:42:01.079 an entire organization, and it and underscores why it's so 833 00:42:01.199 --> 00:42:03.480 tough to do and why it's so inadvisable perhaps to 834 00:42:03.519 --> 00:42:06.199 do what the Sixers did with the process ten years ago, 835 00:42:06.360 --> 00:42:09.039 because you do that year after year and you know 836 00:42:09.119 --> 00:42:11.760 that there's no end in sight. You know, this is 837 00:42:11.760 --> 00:42:13.840 sports it's supposed to be about. You know, Yeah, there's 838 00:42:13.840 --> 00:42:15.880 there's highs and lows, but it's supposed to be about 839 00:42:15.920 --> 00:42:17.719 the joys of the game, and that's all just robbed 840 00:42:17.760 --> 00:42:20.320 from you when you have a season like this, or 841 00:42:20.360 --> 00:42:25.360 especially multiple seasons like this. So it there's no question, 842 00:42:25.440 --> 00:42:27.719 without having talked to anybody there recently, that it's taking 843 00:42:27.760 --> 00:42:29.840 a toll on everyone involved. I'm just about to get 844 00:42:29.840 --> 00:42:32.320 out of my car here, so it's give me two seconds. 845 00:42:32.719 --> 00:42:35.280 Oh you're good. Howard Beck is our guest. The Utah 846 00:42:35.440 --> 00:42:37.960 Jazz were in Houston last night. They're going to be 847 00:42:38.159 --> 00:42:42.719 in Indiana coming up that is tomorrow for a Friday Tilts. 848 00:42:43.159 --> 00:42:45.119 Only five games left for the Jazz. Oh you're good. 849 00:42:45.239 --> 00:42:47.320 Only five games left for the Jazz. Howard Beck has 850 00:42:47.400 --> 00:42:50.880 joined us. So since you, uh, since you brought up Philly, 851 00:42:51.639 --> 00:42:55.440 what do they do? What does this offseason look like 852 00:42:55.480 --> 00:42:58.159 for the Philadelphia seventy six ers, Because it's not just 853 00:42:58.239 --> 00:42:59.519 can En beat ever stay healthy? 854 00:42:59.559 --> 00:43:00.559 It's a lot more than that. 855 00:43:02.400 --> 00:43:05.679 I think it starts with that though, because if you 856 00:43:05.760 --> 00:43:08.480 think about, you know, just the whole inflection point of 857 00:43:08.480 --> 00:43:11.719 this season and of their you know, their trajectory for 858 00:43:11.719 --> 00:43:14.119 the next few years, everything is just going to be 859 00:43:14.119 --> 00:43:16.599 about whether or not This next surgery that he's having 860 00:43:16.679 --> 00:43:19.400 on his knee does what it needs to do, clears 861 00:43:19.400 --> 00:43:22.119 everything up. If Embiid is even ninety percent of himself 862 00:43:22.159 --> 00:43:24.639 next season, a lot of other things fall into place 863 00:43:24.760 --> 00:43:26.840 right Like, yes, there will still be Paul George concerns 864 00:43:26.840 --> 00:43:30.079 because of his age and injury history. But a healthy, 865 00:43:30.400 --> 00:43:33.199 thriving Embiid means that Paul George only has to be 866 00:43:33.239 --> 00:43:35.559 your second or third best player, and not your best, 867 00:43:35.599 --> 00:43:37.719 which was the role he had to play first for 868 00:43:37.840 --> 00:43:41.559 parts of this season and not very well. Everybody's back 869 00:43:41.599 --> 00:43:44.719 in their proper place if Embiid is himself again. So 870 00:43:44.800 --> 00:43:47.960 there's the glass half full potential for the Sixers. Not 871 00:43:48.079 --> 00:43:49.960 to be pollyannish about it, but there is a glass 872 00:43:49.960 --> 00:43:53.840 half full possibility. So Mbi gets the surgery, Embiid returns 873 00:43:53.880 --> 00:43:57.119 to some semblance of his old dominance. Now you've got 874 00:43:57.119 --> 00:43:58.840 a player who's, you know, one of the top ten 875 00:43:59.079 --> 00:44:02.400 in the league. We know what Tyree Max is capable of. 876 00:44:02.440 --> 00:44:03.920 We know what Paul George, even at the stage of 877 00:44:03.920 --> 00:44:04.960 his career, is capable of. 878 00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:06.719 You saw a. 879 00:44:06.760 --> 00:44:09.679 Really nice debut from Jared McCain, their rookie before he 880 00:44:09.719 --> 00:44:11.840 got hurt. He was in line for potentially Rookie of 881 00:44:11.920 --> 00:44:14.400 the Year or certainly wasn't going to be in the 882 00:44:14.440 --> 00:44:18.519 conversation until he went down. They picked up Quenton Grimes 883 00:44:18.519 --> 00:44:20.800 from the Mavericks in a trade mid season. Grimes has 884 00:44:20.800 --> 00:44:23.280 been fantastic for them, So they've got some good role players, 885 00:44:23.320 --> 00:44:26.239 they've got some good youth, and they've got it looks 886 00:44:26.280 --> 00:44:28.079 like they're gonna have Now the lottery balls could be 887 00:44:28.079 --> 00:44:30.639 cruel to them. If the lottery balls knock them out 888 00:44:30.639 --> 00:44:33.199 of the top six, their pick goes to the thunder. 889 00:44:33.599 --> 00:44:37.199 But if the Sixers just simply keep their pick after 890 00:44:37.239 --> 00:44:40.039 the lottery, now they also have a top six pick 891 00:44:40.159 --> 00:44:43.360 to play with, like maybe that's another really good young player, 892 00:44:43.960 --> 00:44:46.480 or maybe because they're kind of still in a win 893 00:44:46.559 --> 00:44:48.679 now mode as long as you have Joel Embiid and 894 00:44:48.679 --> 00:44:52.559 Paul George, maybe they're flipping that pick for something else, 895 00:44:52.679 --> 00:44:55.360 for some immediate help. So there's a there's a there's 896 00:44:55.400 --> 00:44:57.239 a scenario here where the Sixers come out of this 897 00:44:57.280 --> 00:45:02.559 offseason in potentially good shape. But yes, everything still goes 898 00:45:02.599 --> 00:45:05.880 back to you. But can Embiid hold up, can he 899 00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:10.039 stay healthy and can he reclaim his dominance for any 900 00:45:10.079 --> 00:45:10.679 length of time? 901 00:45:11.159 --> 00:45:13.960 Do you think there's any thought, because it's kind of 902 00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:16.840 like the fool me wants thing like. And I know 903 00:45:16.920 --> 00:45:20.280 there were some conversations about Embiid maybe wanting out of 904 00:45:20.320 --> 00:45:24.760 Philly last off season, and you know, to your to 905 00:45:24.800 --> 00:45:27.840 your point, I mean, look, when he is fully healthy, 906 00:45:27.920 --> 00:45:30.559 he's as close to as impossible to cover as anyone 907 00:45:30.599 --> 00:45:33.239 not named Nicole Jokic, and so he is that guy. 908 00:45:34.480 --> 00:45:37.280 Is there a possibility that Philly does their calculation, it's 909 00:45:37.320 --> 00:45:39.599 like he just he's not going to stay healthy. It's 910 00:45:39.639 --> 00:45:41.719 time for us to move on. Because if they decided 911 00:45:41.760 --> 00:45:44.719 to do that, Howard, it just takes it just takes one, 912 00:45:44.760 --> 00:45:46.159 and I'm sure there would be a lot more than 913 00:45:46.239 --> 00:45:48.639 one lined up to try to grab Embiid if Philly 914 00:45:48.639 --> 00:45:50.239 decides to move on from him. 915 00:45:50.719 --> 00:45:53.559 I've gotten no sense that he wants to leave, and 916 00:45:53.599 --> 00:45:56.719 I've gotten no sense that the Sixers what would want 917 00:45:56.760 --> 00:45:59.840 to move on other than the obvious of you know, 918 00:46:00.239 --> 00:46:02.599 feeling like maybe there's a ticking time bomb there right there. 919 00:46:02.760 --> 00:46:04.760 But the sense I've gotten from the Sixers, you know, 920 00:46:05.000 --> 00:46:07.360 in recent months, has been that there's no reason to 921 00:46:07.360 --> 00:46:10.440 actually believe that this is some sort of chronic you know, 922 00:46:10.960 --> 00:46:14.239 or even worse an you know, a degrading injury, like 923 00:46:14.280 --> 00:46:15.920 I don't think it's the kind of thing where they're 924 00:46:15.960 --> 00:46:18.159 worried that he's never going to be Joel Embiid again. 925 00:46:18.199 --> 00:46:21.000 I think, you know, whether it's wishful thinking or whether 926 00:46:21.000 --> 00:46:22.920 it's just based on what their doctors are telling them. 927 00:46:22.920 --> 00:46:25.559 I think the Sixers still expect that Joel Embiid is 928 00:46:25.559 --> 00:46:30.400 gonna be pretty close to himself again, So I don't 929 00:46:30.440 --> 00:46:33.400 think there's any scenario where he's on the move or 930 00:46:33.440 --> 00:46:35.880 where they're even trying to move him. I also think 931 00:46:35.920 --> 00:46:39.239 that if you did decide to go that direction, it'd 932 00:46:39.280 --> 00:46:41.840 be really tough because I think of it in the 933 00:46:41.840 --> 00:46:44.199 same way I think of Zion, who's obviously much younger. 934 00:46:44.440 --> 00:46:47.239 But there's certain guys who like the risk reward potential 935 00:46:47.239 --> 00:46:49.800 makes it really hard to figure out what their value is. Like, 936 00:46:49.960 --> 00:46:53.079 if you're a team trying to acquire Joel Embiid, given 937 00:46:53.079 --> 00:46:55.760 the recent injury history, how much are you truly willing 938 00:46:55.800 --> 00:46:57.239 to give up on the risk that he's not going 939 00:46:57.320 --> 00:46:59.159 to be himself? And plus, if the Sixers are willing 940 00:46:59.199 --> 00:47:01.320 to move him, you have all that much more reason 941 00:47:01.360 --> 00:47:03.719 to think, well, they must want out of the Joel 942 00:47:03.760 --> 00:47:06.239 and Beat business for a reason. So now you're even 943 00:47:06.239 --> 00:47:08.280 more cautious. And if you don't want to give up 944 00:47:08.280 --> 00:47:10.039 that much, well then the Sixers aren't going to want 945 00:47:10.039 --> 00:47:12.760 to move him, right that You're not moving, you know, 946 00:47:12.840 --> 00:47:15.599 a player of his caliber, even with the injury history, 947 00:47:15.719 --> 00:47:18.400 unless you're getting a boatload in return, or at least 948 00:47:18.480 --> 00:47:20.960 enough in return that makes you think you can, you know, 949 00:47:21.119 --> 00:47:25.719 kickstart a new future. Now, all that said, what if 950 00:47:25.719 --> 00:47:28.360 the lottery balls really go their way and they end 951 00:47:28.400 --> 00:47:31.159 up with Cooper Flag? Is that a reason to keep 952 00:47:31.280 --> 00:47:34.519 everybody else and say that Cooper Flags now the missing piece. 953 00:47:34.519 --> 00:47:37.039 Who's going to you know, help Joel and b Paul 954 00:47:37.079 --> 00:47:41.159 George and Tyres MAXI make a deep run? Or is 955 00:47:41.159 --> 00:47:43.119 it now we've got our new guy to build around 956 00:47:43.119 --> 00:47:46.679 and that makes it more palatable to start over and 957 00:47:46.719 --> 00:47:51.000 maybe try to move Embiid. But again, I don't We're 958 00:47:51.039 --> 00:47:52.719 We're way ahead of ourselves. I don't think any of 959 00:47:52.719 --> 00:47:55.559 those things are particularly likely. And I also think that 960 00:47:55.880 --> 00:47:58.599 given the size of Joel Embiad's contracts, I don't know 961 00:47:58.599 --> 00:47:59.920 that a lot of teams are going to be willing 962 00:47:59.920 --> 00:48:01.920 to give up a ton to get him, even if 963 00:48:01.920 --> 00:48:02.920 he were made available. 964 00:48:02.960 --> 00:48:05.119 I think I may have asked you this about a 965 00:48:05.199 --> 00:48:08.559 month ago, and if I remember correctly, the answer was Shay. 966 00:48:09.960 --> 00:48:13.000 And it just, you know, watching the other night Jokic 967 00:48:13.079 --> 00:48:16.320 with a sixty point triple double, and every time I 968 00:48:16.360 --> 00:48:18.360 hone in on him and he has one of those nights, 969 00:48:18.440 --> 00:48:20.280 I just am seeing there. I'm like, I don't know 970 00:48:20.320 --> 00:48:22.559 that I've ever seen this in my entire life around 971 00:48:22.599 --> 00:48:24.440 the NBA. I'm not sure I've ever seen a player 972 00:48:24.519 --> 00:48:27.840 quite like him. He is unique in every way. Where 973 00:48:27.840 --> 00:48:30.480 are you at today on the MVP debate between SGA 974 00:48:30.519 --> 00:48:32.840 and Jokic, Yeah, I mean. 975 00:48:32.719 --> 00:48:34.960 Everything you just said about Yokich is obviously true. Like 976 00:48:35.039 --> 00:48:38.840 he's a truly unique figure in NBA history, incredibly dominant, 977 00:48:39.159 --> 00:48:41.519 and he's having another season that, by any number of 978 00:48:41.599 --> 00:48:43.719 different standards that you could apply, by any number of 979 00:48:43.800 --> 00:48:48.000 metrics you could apply, is historic and dominant and incredible. 980 00:48:48.679 --> 00:48:51.400 But Shay is also having a historic and dominant and 981 00:48:51.400 --> 00:48:54.199 an incredible season, and he's doing it for a team 982 00:48:54.440 --> 00:48:57.920 that is still on pace to potentially win seventy and 983 00:48:57.960 --> 00:48:59.800 if they don't win seventy, it's going to be sixty 984 00:48:59.760 --> 00:49:02.719 eight or sixty nine. Like the Thunder are going to 985 00:49:02.760 --> 00:49:05.719 have one of the greatest seasons in NBA history. Obviously, 986 00:49:05.760 --> 00:49:08.079 only two teams have ever cleared seventy. There aren't even 987 00:49:08.119 --> 00:49:10.000 that many that have won sixty seven or more. It's 988 00:49:10.000 --> 00:49:14.119 it's you know, a half dozen or so that matters 989 00:49:14.119 --> 00:49:15.800 to me. That has always mattered to me as an 990 00:49:15.840 --> 00:49:20.000 MVP voter, and so yeah, I don't think there's much 991 00:49:20.039 --> 00:49:22.800 doubt in my mind. I will always reassess everything before 992 00:49:22.840 --> 00:49:26.039 I actually fill out the ballot. But to me, it's 993 00:49:26.039 --> 00:49:28.119 been Shae for a bit here and it's still Shay. 994 00:49:28.679 --> 00:49:29.719 I've got to follow up. 995 00:49:29.760 --> 00:49:32.159 Since you are a voter, did you receive a sparkling 996 00:49:32.239 --> 00:49:35.360 package in the mail from our local basketball team encouraging 997 00:49:35.400 --> 00:49:38.199 to vote for Isaiah Collier as first Team All Rookie. 998 00:49:38.239 --> 00:49:40.719 It's all we got, Howard, That's all we got out here. 999 00:49:41.800 --> 00:49:44.079 It was a lighter package than some years. Yeah, I 1000 00:49:44.119 --> 00:49:47.119 did get that. I will say it's going to be 1001 00:49:47.159 --> 00:49:49.800 hard for any team to top. And I always think 1002 00:49:49.840 --> 00:49:52.039 these campaigns are a little goofy and they have no 1003 00:49:52.119 --> 00:49:52.920 bearing on how. 1004 00:49:52.760 --> 00:49:53.679 We've actually vote. 1005 00:49:53.760 --> 00:49:55.519 But it's gonna be hard for anybody to top the 1006 00:49:55.639 --> 00:49:59.400 Washington Wizards, who this year sent me three pints of 1007 00:49:59.800 --> 00:50:02.519 very flavored ice cream, and it's really good ice cream. 1008 00:50:02.719 --> 00:50:06.440 Oh man, I don't I don't even remember what they 1009 00:50:06.440 --> 00:50:08.679 were trying to get me to vote for with that 1010 00:50:08.719 --> 00:50:10.199 ice cream. I just can tell you that the ice 1011 00:50:10.239 --> 00:50:11.039 cream's really good. 1012 00:50:11.760 --> 00:50:13.639 We have the best ice cream in the world. 1013 00:50:13.719 --> 00:50:14.320 We blew it. 1014 00:50:14.400 --> 00:50:16.239 I mean, I guess by the time ice cream from 1015 00:50:16.320 --> 00:50:19.039 Utah gets to Brooklyn, it probably would be uh, it 1016 00:50:19.039 --> 00:50:20.159 probably would be melted. 1017 00:50:20.360 --> 00:50:22.440 And look, I don't know if you packed dry ice. 1018 00:50:22.599 --> 00:50:25.880 Oh, so there's a way to do it, apparently. 1019 00:50:25.960 --> 00:50:31.239 Okay, Look if Washington, if the Washington freaking Wizards are 1020 00:50:31.239 --> 00:50:33.440 doing things better than the Utah Jazz, we have an 1021 00:50:33.440 --> 00:50:36.519 issue out here. But look, if you don't have anything here, 1022 00:50:36.519 --> 00:50:39.960 we can punt move on quickly. This rookie class. I mean, 1023 00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:43.280 I love Stefan Castle. I was praying he would fall 1024 00:50:43.320 --> 00:50:46.760 to the Jazz. I loved him in college. You know, Rischache. 1025 00:50:47.639 --> 00:50:51.159 But when you look at what Collier has done, he 1026 00:50:51.280 --> 00:50:54.719 does have a case potentially for least being second team 1027 00:50:54.719 --> 00:50:56.840 All Rookie. I don't know how much you've dug on 1028 00:50:56.960 --> 00:50:59.159 he you know, dug in here, and if you haven't, 1029 00:50:59.199 --> 00:51:01.599 we can move on. But any thoughts on whether or 1030 00:51:01.639 --> 00:51:04.880 not you think he has a shot to make these teams. 1031 00:51:05.400 --> 00:51:08.480 I have not dug in that far. And this is 1032 00:51:08.599 --> 00:51:11.320 this is a tough rookie class in general, which probably 1033 00:51:11.360 --> 00:51:14.119 makes his chances that much higher because in a year 1034 00:51:14.159 --> 00:51:17.639 where there's not a lot of like spectacular rookies, it 1035 00:51:17.679 --> 00:51:19.119 means that people are going to go in a thousand 1036 00:51:19.159 --> 00:51:22.079 different directions, which means the boats will be split spread 1037 00:51:22.159 --> 00:51:24.400 so far that it might not you know, the part 1038 00:51:24.599 --> 00:51:27.880 to entry might be lower. So but I will get 1039 00:51:27.880 --> 00:51:29.559 to that, hopefully by the time we talk again. 1040 00:51:29.679 --> 00:51:31.760 So, as a guy who did you cover the Mellow 1041 00:51:31.840 --> 00:51:36.960 knicks some of those Okay, So you know, I felt like, 1042 00:51:37.000 --> 00:51:39.039 and I don't know if it was just me as 1043 00:51:39.079 --> 00:51:42.039 a Nick fan, you know, my childhood being intertwined to 1044 00:51:42.039 --> 00:51:45.480 that organization. Just appreciating that Mellow took on the New 1045 00:51:45.519 --> 00:51:47.519 York Challenge in a way that most stars seem to 1046 00:51:47.559 --> 00:51:49.760 be either afraid of or they didn't want to work 1047 00:51:49.800 --> 00:51:52.199 for that idiot owner a different topic, but Mello at 1048 00:51:52.280 --> 00:51:54.880 least embraced it, tried to do it, and did it 1049 00:51:54.920 --> 00:51:56.519 at a very high level. Never made it out of 1050 00:51:56.559 --> 00:51:58.800 the second round of the postseason, but for about I 1051 00:51:58.840 --> 00:52:00.920 don't know howard five or so years, I felt like 1052 00:52:00.960 --> 00:52:04.480 he was the best pure individual scorer in the game. 1053 00:52:04.519 --> 00:52:06.159 And I don't know if it's because he came out 1054 00:52:06.199 --> 00:52:09.719 when Lebron did and d Wade did, but it seemed 1055 00:52:09.760 --> 00:52:12.960 like whenever anybody talked about Carmelo Anthony and whether or 1056 00:52:13.000 --> 00:52:15.199 not he was a Hall of Famer, it was intertwined 1057 00:52:15.239 --> 00:52:17.119 in this whole, like he's never won it and he's 1058 00:52:17.119 --> 00:52:20.039 not Lebron, who he was drafted with. I think it's 1059 00:52:20.039 --> 00:52:22.320 a no brainer that he's a Hall of Famer. Of course, 1060 00:52:22.360 --> 00:52:25.800 it's not just the NBA. It's a national championship at Syracuse, 1061 00:52:25.840 --> 00:52:30.199 it's three gold medals with the with the US basketball team. 1062 00:52:30.239 --> 00:52:32.159 But your thoughts now that it's a fisher, the Carmelo 1063 00:52:32.199 --> 00:52:33.440 Anthony is a Hall of Famer. 1064 00:52:34.320 --> 00:52:36.519 Yeah. Also, by the way, really good dude. And he 1065 00:52:36.559 --> 00:52:38.679 was always really good to the media for sure, which 1066 00:52:38.719 --> 00:52:42.599 we all which we all appreciated, and kept his sense 1067 00:52:42.639 --> 00:52:44.880 of humor through good times and bad too, Like you know, 1068 00:52:44.960 --> 00:52:46.800 it was not all, you know, not all fun and 1069 00:52:46.840 --> 00:52:49.920 games with with with the Knis in particular, he's a 1070 00:52:50.039 --> 00:52:52.239 He's been a polarizing player and was in real time 1071 00:52:52.280 --> 00:52:55.760 as well. The Hall of Fame thing is is unquestionable, 1072 00:52:55.760 --> 00:52:57.719 like I don't no one can even I don't know 1073 00:52:57.719 --> 00:53:00.199 how anybody can question that, and you just you just 1074 00:53:00.199 --> 00:53:02.079 said it. People need to remember it's a basketball Hall 1075 00:53:02.119 --> 00:53:03.840 of Fame and not an NBA Hall of Fame, and 1076 00:53:03.880 --> 00:53:06.159 even by NBA Hall of Fame standards, if that were 1077 00:53:06.400 --> 00:53:09.280 a thing, he'd be in, but especially with the Basketball 1078 00:53:09.320 --> 00:53:12.039 Hall of Fame where your college resume matters, and he 1079 00:53:12.079 --> 00:53:14.480 did win a national championship as a freshman where your 1080 00:53:14.480 --> 00:53:17.639 Olympics matter, and he's got multiple gold medals, like all 1081 00:53:17.679 --> 00:53:20.960 of that is baked in, which made him just automatic 1082 00:53:22.480 --> 00:53:24.880 as a player for the Knicks, he was certainly polarizing, 1083 00:53:24.920 --> 00:53:26.519 like they did not have a ton of success, and 1084 00:53:26.559 --> 00:53:28.960 they certainly didn't have the success that they hoped to 1085 00:53:29.000 --> 00:53:30.800 have when they got him and paired him with a 1086 00:53:30.880 --> 00:53:32.880 Mari Statamaier, Maury couldn't stay healthy. 1087 00:53:33.039 --> 00:53:34.119 They brought a Tyson. 1088 00:53:33.920 --> 00:53:37.000 Chandler, you know, but they didn't have the means to 1089 00:53:37.079 --> 00:53:40.039 really fill out that roster, in part because Carmelo forced 1090 00:53:40.039 --> 00:53:42.800 a trade to the next instead of waiting for free agency, 1091 00:53:43.039 --> 00:53:44.800 and in doing so it robbed them of a lot 1092 00:53:44.920 --> 00:53:50.039 of you know, draft capital and trade ships and so, 1093 00:53:50.360 --> 00:53:53.920 like He's even mentioned at one point himself like yeah, 1094 00:53:54.079 --> 00:53:56.480 maybe maybe that that made it tough on them, and 1095 00:53:56.480 --> 00:53:57.880 it made it hard for them to build around me. 1096 00:53:58.480 --> 00:54:03.679 So you know, they had more i think frustrating seasons 1097 00:54:03.679 --> 00:54:06.119 than good ones with him here. They only made the 1098 00:54:06.119 --> 00:54:08.280 second round once. There were a bunch of seasons without 1099 00:54:08.280 --> 00:54:13.320 the playoffs. It felt I think like overall, like like 1100 00:54:13.320 --> 00:54:15.079 like that era was a bit of a bust in 1101 00:54:15.119 --> 00:54:18.119 some ways. And toward the end, Carmela was getting booed 1102 00:54:18.119 --> 00:54:20.920 at times because you know, of the obvious things like this, 1103 00:54:21.079 --> 00:54:24.039 his shot selection at times was questionable, and you know, 1104 00:54:24.079 --> 00:54:25.960 he liked to do a lot of one on one 1105 00:54:26.000 --> 00:54:28.199 and and uh, you know a lot of dribbling, a 1106 00:54:28.199 --> 00:54:31.599 lot of ISO and that style of play was also 1107 00:54:31.639 --> 00:54:34.039 starting to go out of fashion at that time. Like 1108 00:54:34.119 --> 00:54:36.840 his style of play does not really sell well in 1109 00:54:36.840 --> 00:54:41.280 today's NBA. You know, it's kind of a bruiser who's 1110 00:54:41.320 --> 00:54:43.400 going to you know, post up and have the ball 1111 00:54:43.400 --> 00:54:46.000 in his hands a lot in in the post area. 1112 00:54:46.159 --> 00:54:49.840 So still an incredible score, one of the best of 1113 00:54:49.880 --> 00:54:53.400 all time, and you know, the Hall of Fame, Nod 1114 00:54:53.840 --> 00:54:55.320 is absolutely deserving. 1115 00:54:56.199 --> 00:54:57.119 The Knicks fall too. 1116 00:54:57.199 --> 00:55:00.679 I think it's own seven against Cleveland and boss, is 1117 00:55:00.679 --> 00:55:03.719 that an accurate representation on kind of where they exist 1118 00:55:03.800 --> 00:55:07.039 in the ecosystem of the Eastern Conference this year. 1119 00:55:07.760 --> 00:55:10.360 I don't think the record lies. I just I think 1120 00:55:10.559 --> 00:55:12.639 it's not one where it's like, oh, they went two 1121 00:55:12.639 --> 00:55:15.199 and five against these guys, right, Like there's a mixed bag. 1122 00:55:15.440 --> 00:55:17.440 And granted, you know, the more recent losses are tough 1123 00:55:17.440 --> 00:55:19.800 because they've been without Jalen Brunton, who might be coming 1124 00:55:19.840 --> 00:55:23.199 back here soon. But yeah, the record is what it is, 1125 00:55:23.280 --> 00:55:25.760 and like, I think those teams are just demonstrably better 1126 00:55:25.760 --> 00:55:28.800 than the next and demonstrably better than Milwaukee and Detroit, 1127 00:55:28.840 --> 00:55:30.159 Indiana and everybody else. 1128 00:55:30.000 --> 00:55:30.480 In the East. 1129 00:55:30.599 --> 00:55:33.719 So there's a gap. It doesn't mean that the Knicks 1130 00:55:33.760 --> 00:55:35.480 at full strengths might not be able to take four 1131 00:55:35.480 --> 00:55:37.760 of seven from one of those teams. I mean, I 1132 00:55:38.599 --> 00:55:41.280 think they still got a better chance against Cleveland than Boston, 1133 00:55:41.559 --> 00:55:44.320 and they did beat Cleveland this this you know, this 1134 00:55:44.440 --> 00:55:46.599 version of Cleveland. A couple of years ago, the knickt 1135 00:55:46.599 --> 00:55:48.280 smoked them in the first round of the playoffs, and 1136 00:55:48.320 --> 00:55:51.480 I think that that was partially indication where the Cavs 1137 00:55:51.480 --> 00:55:53.639 were at that time, and you know, they're young guys, 1138 00:55:53.760 --> 00:55:56.159 hadn't been in the playoffs before. Mobley and Garland just 1139 00:55:56.239 --> 00:55:59.039 worked deer in headlights in that series, So they're a 1140 00:55:59.119 --> 00:56:02.320 much different team now. Obviously, you know the standings, you know, 1141 00:56:02.440 --> 00:56:04.599 are a test to that. The record attests to that, 1142 00:56:04.639 --> 00:56:07.440 they're they're play attests to that. So yeah, I think 1143 00:56:07.440 --> 00:56:10.119 the Knicks are a distant third in the East, but 1144 00:56:10.320 --> 00:56:15.239 with a puncher's chance, it's they've they've got. They've got 1145 00:56:15.280 --> 00:56:17.800 just enough to make it interesting and and to to 1146 00:56:17.800 --> 00:56:20.519 to make a plausible case. But I don't think what 1147 00:56:20.519 --> 00:56:22.320 we've seen the season in the case that they're that 1148 00:56:22.360 --> 00:56:25.119 they're ready to uh to get through Cleveland and Boston. 1149 00:56:25.280 --> 00:56:29.559 As a man with impeccable musical taste and an incredible 1150 00:56:29.639 --> 00:56:32.599 musical palette, I'm surprised I've never asked you for a 1151 00:56:32.639 --> 00:56:37.039 complete comprehensive breakdown of the musical chops of JD and 1152 00:56:37.079 --> 00:56:37.760 The Straight Shot. 1153 00:56:39.960 --> 00:56:41.760 If you want to, if you want a good laugh, 1154 00:56:41.800 --> 00:56:44.239 I hope it's a good laugh, go on the New 1155 00:56:44.280 --> 00:56:47.280 York Times website or just use Google Google my name, 1156 00:56:47.960 --> 00:56:51.199 UH and Dolan and JD in the Straight Shot, and 1157 00:56:51.239 --> 00:56:53.960 you'll find an absolutely preposterous piece I did at the 1158 00:56:54.000 --> 00:56:58.599 Times way back when, in which I used lyrics from 1159 00:56:58.639 --> 00:57:02.280 his songs on his new album as a means for 1160 00:57:02.400 --> 00:57:04.920 answering questions that he otherwise would not answer since he 1161 00:57:05.000 --> 00:57:06.559 was not meeting with the media. It was kind of 1162 00:57:06.559 --> 00:57:09.880 a Stephen Colbert rip off, where you know, Colbert would 1163 00:57:09.880 --> 00:57:12.719 pretend to have interviewed somebody by using other clips. That's 1164 00:57:12.760 --> 00:57:15.079 what I did, except I used lyrics from JD in 1165 00:57:15.119 --> 00:57:15.719 the straight shot. 1166 00:57:16.079 --> 00:57:18.599 Oh hell yes, Now there's nothing else I want to do, 1167 00:57:18.639 --> 00:57:20.079 and I've got two and a half hours left in 1168 00:57:20.159 --> 00:57:23.840 the show. Hey, before I say you know what, that's 1169 00:57:23.880 --> 00:57:25.800 an excellent idea. I should do that. But before I 1170 00:57:25.800 --> 00:57:27.599 say you loose, I want you to settle a debate 1171 00:57:27.639 --> 00:57:29.960 I was having with a buddy of mine who is 1172 00:57:30.000 --> 00:57:33.440 a Nuggets fan. As I'm watching Jokic, a sixty point 1173 00:57:33.519 --> 00:57:36.719 triple double is so dumb it never happens. And then 1174 00:57:36.800 --> 00:57:39.320 Russell Westbrook was like, Hey, good game, watch this and 1175 00:57:39.360 --> 00:57:43.280 just fumbles it away. Are the Nuggets? Are they in 1176 00:57:43.360 --> 00:57:46.159 danger of Andrew Luckiness? Where the the cults were never 1177 00:57:46.199 --> 00:57:49.000 able to surround Andrew luck with enough talent he got hurt. 1178 00:57:49.039 --> 00:57:51.960 He's like I'm out are the nugg Look, they did 1179 00:57:52.000 --> 00:57:54.119 win a championship and in Denver that's hard to do. 1180 00:57:54.159 --> 00:57:55.880 I'm not taking that away from them. But he is 1181 00:57:55.920 --> 00:57:58.920 so generationally special. Is he being failed by his team? 1182 00:58:00.519 --> 00:58:01.400 Oh boy? 1183 00:58:01.880 --> 00:58:05.079 I don't want to say yes yet. I think we're 1184 00:58:05.119 --> 00:58:07.840 in that zone. I think they're on that trajectory. I 1185 00:58:07.880 --> 00:58:10.119 think if it goes this way for another couple of years, 1186 00:58:10.679 --> 00:58:15.239 we're going to have that conversation in earnest. But I'm 1187 00:58:15.360 --> 00:58:18.360 hesitant only because we're only a couple of years removed 1188 00:58:18.360 --> 00:58:21.719 from their championship. We did just enter this new CBA 1189 00:58:22.000 --> 00:58:24.519 that made it tougher now. I think the Nuggets generally speaking, 1190 00:58:24.559 --> 00:58:26.440 have been kind of a cheaper organization. They don't like 1191 00:58:26.440 --> 00:58:28.880 paying the luxury tax anyway. But you know, they have 1192 00:58:29.039 --> 00:58:32.199 led talent the last couple of summers, and the system 1193 00:58:32.239 --> 00:58:34.639 as it is now makes it hard to replace that talent. 1194 00:58:34.719 --> 00:58:37.159 But but that's the job. Like we can make all 1195 00:58:37.199 --> 00:58:39.880 excuses that we want about the CBA and second aprons 1196 00:58:39.880 --> 00:58:42.199 and all this, but like the job when you have 1197 00:58:42.800 --> 00:58:46.480 a superstar of his caliber generational talent is to do 1198 00:58:46.519 --> 00:58:49.000 everything possible to put them in the best possible position 1199 00:58:49.239 --> 00:58:51.840 to contend for titles, and I don't think you can 1200 00:58:51.880 --> 00:58:53.840 say that the Nuggets are in that position right now. 1201 00:58:53.960 --> 00:58:54.199 Now. 1202 00:58:54.719 --> 00:58:57.679 The West is weird. The thunder are the only you know, 1203 00:58:57.760 --> 00:59:00.159 like they're They're clearly the favorite by a mile, and 1204 00:59:00.199 --> 00:59:03.639 you can't make it a clear cut case for any 1205 00:59:03.679 --> 00:59:06.199 of the teams below them as the number two. 1206 00:59:06.320 --> 00:59:06.480 Right. 1207 00:59:06.480 --> 00:59:08.480 It might be Denver, it might be the Lakers, might 1208 00:59:08.519 --> 00:59:10.559 be it might be the Clippers, it might be the Warriors. 1209 00:59:11.400 --> 00:59:15.400 There's it's just kind of a mishmash, and they're all 1210 00:59:15.719 --> 00:59:18.239 they've all got a case to make. So maybe the 1211 00:59:18.320 --> 00:59:19.880 Nuggets make it, and maybe they make it at least 1212 00:59:19.880 --> 00:59:23.599 at the conference finals. But are they failing Jokics right 1213 00:59:23.639 --> 00:59:25.880 now by not giving him the right kind of supporting 1214 00:59:25.920 --> 00:59:31.000 cast to contend for titles. I think we're The conversation 1215 00:59:31.199 --> 00:59:35.000 is legitimate, and we'll leave it at that for doth. 1216 00:59:34.960 --> 00:59:36.960 Howard, Thank you, my friend, appreciate the time, have a 1217 00:59:37.000 --> 00:59:37.519 great weekend. 1218 00:59:37.519 --> 00:59:38.239 I'll chat soon. 1219 00:59:39.000 --> 00:59:40.000 Thanks, be touch you soon. 1220 00:59:40.119 --> 00:59:42.519 Howard Beck covers the NBA for The Ringer. Spent a 1221 00:59:42.559 --> 00:59:45.719 number of years with The New York Times. He was 1222 00:59:45.760 --> 00:59:50.159 with Sports Illustrated. He has been probably top three NBA 1223 00:59:50.280 --> 00:59:52.800 rider in my opinion for two decades, mostly on Blue 1224 00:59:52.800 --> 00:59:55.159 Sky Now, but you can find the links to his 1225 00:59:55.280 --> 00:59:57.719 work off on his Twitter x I don't know whatever 1226 00:59:57.719 --> 01:00:00.360 they're calling it. Doge website at Howard Beck is where 1227 01:00:00.440 --> 01:00:02.960 you find it. Howard Stops Spot Today brought to you 1228 01:00:03.119 --> 01:00:06.119 courtesy of our friends at IFA Country Stores. The weather's 1229 01:00:06.119 --> 01:00:08.320 about to get warm next week, and my guess is 1230 01:00:08.360 --> 01:00:10.800 it's probably gonna stay somewhat warm to the point where 1231 01:00:10.800 --> 01:00:12.840 you're gonna have to start thinking about your long care 1232 01:00:12.880 --> 01:00:15.719 and do it now. And any drive to the basket 1233 01:00:15.719 --> 01:00:17.280 begins with the first step on the court. 1234 01:00:17.320 --> 01:00:19.800 That's the ultimate power move. IFA Step one. 1235 01:00:19.840 --> 01:00:22.719 Crabgrass Preventor and Lawn Food is the first choice to 1236 01:00:22.719 --> 01:00:25.239 grab your yard the healthy, thick green look you desire. 1237 01:00:25.639 --> 01:00:27.159 The neighbors will be green with envy. 1238 01:00:27.239 --> 01:00:31.079 Shopifanline at IFA dot co op or stop by one 1239 01:00:31.119 --> 01:00:36.679 of their eighteen Utah locations today. Five games left for 1240 01:00:37.280 --> 01:00:42.639 your Utah Jazz after the Rockets beat the Jazz last 1241 01:00:42.760 --> 01:00:46.320 night by a lot of points by thirty eight at 1242 01:00:46.360 --> 01:00:51.039 Indiana Tomorrow, at Atlanta on Sunday home against Portland and 1243 01:00:51.079 --> 01:00:55.000 OKC before finishing off at Minnesota Sunday, April the thirteenth. 1244 01:00:55.079 --> 01:00:58.599 Our next guest is the TV voice of the Utah Jazz, 1245 01:00:58.639 --> 01:01:02.639 and I would imagine we find Craig Bowler Jack in Indianapolis, Indiana, 1246 01:01:02.639 --> 01:01:03.880 on this Thursday afternoon. 1247 01:01:03.920 --> 01:01:04.679 Is that correct, sir? 1248 01:01:06.119 --> 01:01:09.360 As it is, we touched down about an hour or 1249 01:01:09.440 --> 01:01:12.239 so ago, then bust in and trying to beat all 1250 01:01:12.239 --> 01:01:15.400 these storms around the Midwest. It's bad. The wind has 1251 01:01:15.440 --> 01:01:18.079 been really bad on all the stops, all the flights 1252 01:01:18.599 --> 01:01:21.880 so far on this road trip. And I guess spring 1253 01:01:21.920 --> 01:01:24.559 will bring that type of weather. But yeah, we got 1254 01:01:24.599 --> 01:01:26.320 on the ground. That's all the counts. And here we 1255 01:01:26.360 --> 01:01:29.760 are waiting for another another game tomorrow night. And as 1256 01:01:29.760 --> 01:01:34.119 you just set an early tip Sunday, late evening or 1257 01:01:34.400 --> 01:01:37.559 late afternoon against the Hawks and then back home before 1258 01:01:38.039 --> 01:01:40.079 we played two and then go up and see Gobert 1259 01:01:40.159 --> 01:01:43.119 and Jingle and Joe and Mike Colling and the Kiel 1260 01:01:43.159 --> 01:01:44.360 Alexander one more time. 1261 01:01:45.159 --> 01:01:47.639 Not going to make some corny analogy between the rough 1262 01:01:47.719 --> 01:01:49.000 weather and the Jazz. 1263 01:01:49.039 --> 01:01:49.800 I will not do that. 1264 01:01:50.440 --> 01:01:52.920 I'm just going to ask you this, Craig, how are 1265 01:01:52.920 --> 01:01:54.039 you man? How are you? 1266 01:01:54.039 --> 01:01:54.480 How are you doing? 1267 01:01:54.559 --> 01:01:58.400 Yeah, I'm you know what this is. This is a 1268 01:01:58.639 --> 01:02:01.440 challenge I'm not going to cut corners on that spence. 1269 01:02:01.559 --> 01:02:04.239 It is look. I like to win. I like to 1270 01:02:04.280 --> 01:02:07.880 call winning basketball. Who wouldn't. I think most of these 1271 01:02:07.920 --> 01:02:11.039 players want to win, but they also understand and bought 1272 01:02:11.039 --> 01:02:14.599 in on what the task at hand is. And you know, 1273 01:02:14.719 --> 01:02:17.039 that's what my job is too, to still try to 1274 01:02:17.079 --> 01:02:21.159 find some positives. It's hard. We've kind of rinsed and 1275 01:02:21.239 --> 01:02:24.400 repeat on occasion, you know, some of the talking points. 1276 01:02:24.400 --> 01:02:27.039 But each day is different. Man, It's an amazing thing 1277 01:02:27.679 --> 01:02:29.840 on who plays and who doesn't, and who has a 1278 01:02:30.079 --> 01:02:35.119 you know, excellent who's excelled. You know, you had Isaiah Collyer, 1279 01:02:35.159 --> 01:02:38.519 who you know was in the spotlight after passing John 1280 01:02:38.559 --> 01:02:42.000 Stockton's rookie assist record. I like what Isaiah has done. 1281 01:02:42.119 --> 01:02:45.000 He seems to have a focus that I didn't realize 1282 01:02:45.039 --> 01:02:48.239 that he had. And you know, he runs and he's 1283 01:02:48.440 --> 01:02:51.239 damn fast, and if you run with him, you get 1284 01:02:51.239 --> 01:02:55.039 some rewards. But right now it's about youth and minutes 1285 01:02:55.199 --> 01:02:57.039 and how they're going to fare. And now I think 1286 01:02:57.079 --> 01:03:00.199 the attention After talking to Justin Zenech last night on 1287 01:03:00.239 --> 01:03:03.360 the air, I wish he could have stayed longer. But 1288 01:03:03.440 --> 01:03:05.960 you know how you know how timeouts and all that 1289 01:03:06.000 --> 01:03:10.320 stuff goes. Spence, Yeah, I think he's going to join 1290 01:03:10.400 --> 01:03:14.519 us again Sunday in Minnesota. But you know, the focus 1291 01:03:14.599 --> 01:03:18.519 now really is where the lottery selection will be. I 1292 01:03:18.519 --> 01:03:21.719 think the lottery shows coming up on correct me if 1293 01:03:21.760 --> 01:03:24.880 I'm wrong, the twelfth of May, about a month five 1294 01:03:24.920 --> 01:03:28.519 weeks out. I think they will give the Jazz, obviously 1295 01:03:28.519 --> 01:03:31.920 in jazz fans, a direction of what's going down and 1296 01:03:32.400 --> 01:03:35.159 what they will do, and then the rest of it 1297 01:03:35.199 --> 01:03:39.599 plays itself out and in the draft. And I think 1298 01:03:39.639 --> 01:03:42.519 the picks that Danny has in that bucket, they're deep. 1299 01:03:42.840 --> 01:03:45.400 How does he use them? I do not know. Are 1300 01:03:45.440 --> 01:03:48.280 the Jazz a player in the trademarket? Most likely? Will 1301 01:03:48.280 --> 01:03:51.719 they try to bring in one or two pieces? I 1302 01:03:51.719 --> 01:03:55.280 would say, yeah. Do they want to try to work 1303 01:03:55.360 --> 01:03:59.400 next month next year's draft? I would guesstimate that that's 1304 01:03:59.679 --> 01:04:03.239 a real possibility. But again that's beyond my pay scale. 1305 01:04:03.280 --> 01:04:06.880 But you know, it's a tough task to build a 1306 01:04:06.920 --> 01:04:10.679 team through the draft and have to go through the 1307 01:04:10.679 --> 01:04:15.000 process spence of losing to get there. I wish the 1308 01:04:15.079 --> 01:04:17.840 NBA had another way, I really do, and we kind 1309 01:04:17.840 --> 01:04:20.159 of used this time on the road to discuss those, 1310 01:04:20.679 --> 01:04:23.920 you know, possibilities just to again entertain the fans because 1311 01:04:23.920 --> 01:04:27.320 they deserve it, and you know, it's hard, it's hard. 1312 01:04:27.320 --> 01:04:30.000 I think Adam Silber has a real task ahead of 1313 01:04:30.440 --> 01:04:32.960 how he wants to play this out with his new 1314 01:04:33.000 --> 01:04:38.800 television contract and making sure players play when fans come 1315 01:04:38.880 --> 01:04:42.079 to watch their favorite player play and that particular player 1316 01:04:42.079 --> 01:04:45.159 doesn't play. So's I've watched it on the road a 1317 01:04:45.159 --> 01:04:48.440 couple of times this past week, and you know, I 1318 01:04:48.440 --> 01:04:51.000 saw a kid the other night wanted to see one 1319 01:04:51.039 --> 01:04:53.719 of the jazz players and they had traveled in and 1320 01:04:53.960 --> 01:04:57.360 the guy's not there. So it's it's hard to explain 1321 01:04:57.440 --> 01:04:59.480 to him and you show you see the disappointment on 1322 01:04:59.519 --> 01:05:03.199 the young man face. But it's reality of what professional 1323 01:05:03.199 --> 01:05:05.880 sports is right now, and even in even the amateur 1324 01:05:07.559 --> 01:05:10.119 amateur game two spence. You know, that's what the portals 1325 01:05:10.119 --> 01:05:12.360 all about, right I want to go someplace else and 1326 01:05:12.800 --> 01:05:15.840 find a better home. So it's crazy world right now. 1327 01:05:15.880 --> 01:05:17.159 Crazy yeah. 1328 01:05:17.239 --> 01:05:21.320 I mean, look, the incentive structure as far as the 1329 01:05:21.320 --> 01:05:25.360 way that the NBA is set up is mandating that 1330 01:05:25.840 --> 01:05:29.039 the Jazz do what they're doing, right Like that's they're 1331 01:05:29.079 --> 01:05:32.039 doing what they have to do. As it's set up 1332 01:05:32.039 --> 01:05:34.960 with the current incentive structure of pro basketball, and the 1333 01:05:34.960 --> 01:05:37.519 hardest thing in the world is to convince very rich 1334 01:05:37.559 --> 01:05:40.119 people that are making a lot of money that they 1335 01:05:40.159 --> 01:05:42.119 need to do something different because they're going to be like, 1336 01:05:42.159 --> 01:05:45.480 why right, And you reference the NBA TV deal, So 1337 01:05:46.199 --> 01:05:48.480 I think it's a problem. You think it's a problem, 1338 01:05:48.519 --> 01:05:50.760 but I don't know that the NBA thinks it's a problem. 1339 01:05:50.800 --> 01:05:54.559 But I wonder, based off this incentive structure, you know, 1340 01:05:54.639 --> 01:05:57.679 based off of conversations that you have with Xanak and 1341 01:05:57.760 --> 01:06:00.840 Danny whoever else you have access to, if they have 1342 01:06:00.960 --> 01:06:04.239 become resigned to the fact that this is the only 1343 01:06:04.360 --> 01:06:08.400 option they have, because you know, early on first year 1344 01:06:08.440 --> 01:06:10.559 of this, I know we're supposed to say tear down, 1345 01:06:10.599 --> 01:06:13.840 but first year, I'll just say, of the post Quinn Snyder, 1346 01:06:14.000 --> 01:06:17.760 jazz Era Lowry's an All Star, A lot of that 1347 01:06:17.920 --> 01:06:20.360 was because he had some grown ups playing with him, 1348 01:06:20.440 --> 01:06:23.199 namely Mike Conley is his point guard, and I think 1349 01:06:23.280 --> 01:06:25.280 that may have given them a false sense of wait, 1350 01:06:25.360 --> 01:06:29.239 we still have a lot here, and maybe we're Michel 1351 01:06:29.280 --> 01:06:31.599 Bridges or a Paul George or a Drew Holliday or 1352 01:06:31.639 --> 01:06:34.320 Chris stapsportsing us away from kind of being back in 1353 01:06:34.719 --> 01:06:39.119 a competitive space. And you know, now it's a situation 1354 01:06:39.239 --> 01:06:42.280 where there's not a lot there there And I just 1355 01:06:42.360 --> 01:06:44.960 wonder if you feel like they've just become resigned to Okay, 1356 01:06:45.000 --> 01:06:47.360 we weren't able to get any of the big game 1357 01:06:47.480 --> 01:06:49.440 hunting done. We could not get any of these big 1358 01:06:49.519 --> 01:06:51.400 names that we were in the mix for. And so 1359 01:06:51.480 --> 01:06:54.000 does it feel like they're now resigned to this long 1360 01:06:54.039 --> 01:06:57.079 game pain tolerance based off of the you know what 1361 01:06:57.119 --> 01:06:58.119 we're seeing in front of us. 1362 01:06:59.119 --> 01:07:02.320 You know, I think they're in on that, as you 1363 01:07:02.559 --> 01:07:06.159 just outlined perfectly. I think that Justin and Danny, you know, 1364 01:07:06.239 --> 01:07:10.519 tore this team down for that particular reason. You know, 1365 01:07:10.599 --> 01:07:13.440 after a couple of conversations and a couple of interviews 1366 01:07:13.519 --> 01:07:17.400 and stories that are read concerning Donovan this year, you know, 1367 01:07:17.480 --> 01:07:20.960 having quote the window was he thought the window now 1368 01:07:21.079 --> 01:07:23.639 was kind of still open, but you know, the jazz 1369 01:07:23.760 --> 01:07:27.400 or he decided to go elsewhere. I think the twenty 1370 01:07:27.480 --> 01:07:30.920 twenty bubble was really kind of the end of it, 1371 01:07:30.960 --> 01:07:34.079 to be honest with you, I think we saw more issues. 1372 01:07:34.519 --> 01:07:37.480 ESPN did a great timeline of that night in Oklahoma City, 1373 01:07:37.480 --> 01:07:40.320 that big t and I were involved in, and yeah, 1374 01:07:40.400 --> 01:07:42.519 it kind of brought me back to saying, yeah it was. 1375 01:07:42.559 --> 01:07:44.679 It was a hellish night. But there was a lot 1376 01:07:44.679 --> 01:07:46.960 of things prior to that, which I think is where 1377 01:07:47.000 --> 01:07:52.599 we are today. It's been a five year journey, step 1378 01:07:52.599 --> 01:07:55.559 by step by step, I think, from where they were 1379 01:07:55.679 --> 01:07:58.079 the best record in the NBA and the bubble and 1380 01:07:58.159 --> 01:08:01.719 then just a slip slide on the slope and Danny 1381 01:08:01.760 --> 01:08:03.440 came in and said, hey, you didn't like the way 1382 01:08:03.519 --> 01:08:06.639 the guys responded, didn't think that they were competitive. I'm 1383 01:08:06.679 --> 01:08:10.079 just paraphrasing, not totally putting quotations around it, but I 1384 01:08:10.079 --> 01:08:12.559 think you know what I mean is that from his 1385 01:08:12.679 --> 01:08:15.079 sense of where he was as a player and how 1386 01:08:15.119 --> 01:08:19.800 he built Boston, that this team wasn't really connected. So 1387 01:08:19.880 --> 01:08:23.640 let's start again, and that's where we are. They were 1388 01:08:23.680 --> 01:08:27.720 too good for a year or two with Olennock, too good, 1389 01:08:27.760 --> 01:08:33.960 with Mike too good, even you know Simone Fontechio. They 1390 01:08:33.960 --> 01:08:37.640 get a first round to expense back in return, and 1391 01:08:37.800 --> 01:08:40.960 so here we are, and now we're gonna have They're 1392 01:08:41.000 --> 01:08:43.359 going to have to judge on who stays on this 1393 01:08:43.479 --> 01:08:45.880 roster and who does not, who stays in summer league. 1394 01:08:46.119 --> 01:08:47.680 Who do they want to take another look at and 1395 01:08:47.720 --> 01:08:50.159 who do they want to release? As Will Hardy said, 1396 01:08:50.239 --> 01:08:53.079 this is not an easy league and you better have 1397 01:08:53.239 --> 01:08:56.760 some strong you know. Well, let's you know what I 1398 01:08:56.840 --> 01:09:00.880 mean To survive in this league, You've got to be 1399 01:09:00.920 --> 01:09:04.760 a tough guy. And that's where they are. Who's going 1400 01:09:04.840 --> 01:09:08.319 to have the wherewithal to want to work hard to 1401 01:09:08.359 --> 01:09:11.399 improve their game and then have the attitude to actually, 1402 01:09:11.920 --> 01:09:13.800 you know, see it through and be a part of 1403 01:09:13.840 --> 01:09:17.039 what the Jazz want to become. It's a tough journey. 1404 01:09:17.199 --> 01:09:19.720 I think this year is you know, looking around, it's 1405 01:09:20.159 --> 01:09:21.319 worn on a lot of people. 1406 01:09:21.600 --> 01:09:21.840 You know. 1407 01:09:22.199 --> 01:09:24.920 I think I'd raise my hand to say, yeah, COVID 1408 01:09:25.000 --> 01:09:27.199 to the year of COVID. And after COVID, I think 1409 01:09:27.199 --> 01:09:29.720 we called a hundred games you know out the Jumbo 1410 01:09:29.800 --> 01:09:32.359 tront and I thought that was difficult, and this is 1411 01:09:32.840 --> 01:09:36.359 this is different because you're around players and you see 1412 01:09:36.359 --> 01:09:39.039 the emotions and the highs and the lows, and mostly 1413 01:09:39.039 --> 01:09:40.760 have been low. I haven't won a road game since 1414 01:09:40.880 --> 01:09:44.520 January fifth in Orlando. That's a long that's a tough thing. 1415 01:09:44.640 --> 01:09:47.399 Spence for a team to try to continue to be 1416 01:09:47.600 --> 01:09:50.680 motivated and go to practice, go to shoot around and 1417 01:09:50.760 --> 01:09:55.359 still be a professional, especially when you're nineteen, twenty twenty one, 1418 01:09:55.439 --> 01:09:58.520 twenty two years old. Right in the older days, you know, 1419 01:09:59.640 --> 01:10:02.279 you know you we're already twenty two coming out of college, 1420 01:10:02.800 --> 01:10:05.840 and now you're growing up in a totally different way. 1421 01:10:05.920 --> 01:10:09.640 I think that's what's a challenge for Will is to motivate, 1422 01:10:09.880 --> 01:10:14.439 try to motivate or keep some positive vibes going. And 1423 01:10:14.640 --> 01:10:19.560 I'll tell you he's a master of his verbiage. I 1424 01:10:19.560 --> 01:10:23.119 think he still shoots from the cough. He talks about disappointments, 1425 01:10:23.119 --> 01:10:25.640 the highs and lows, and he I think what he 1426 01:10:25.840 --> 01:10:28.680 is hoping that the players listen to what he says 1427 01:10:28.720 --> 01:10:31.279 in postgame comments because there's a lot of truth there 1428 01:10:31.560 --> 01:10:33.720 and a lot of things to ponder and think about. 1429 01:10:34.000 --> 01:10:39.680 So I want to follow up about Will because you know, 1430 01:10:39.479 --> 01:10:45.199 you can't be like for a year like this where 1431 01:10:45.319 --> 01:10:47.520 for the first time in the fifty plus years of 1432 01:10:47.680 --> 01:10:51.560 jazz history, they've lost more than sixty games. There's no 1433 01:10:51.720 --> 01:10:56.479 way Will every single night can be completely honest about 1434 01:10:56.479 --> 01:10:58.279 where he's at in this process. 1435 01:10:58.600 --> 01:11:00.600 He just know he would run out of energy. 1436 01:11:00.800 --> 01:11:04.159 I mean, but my guess is the way he expressed 1437 01:11:04.239 --> 01:11:07.920 himself after the last Houston loss following getting dumb truck 1438 01:11:08.000 --> 01:11:10.840 by Memphis, is more in line with the way he 1439 01:11:10.920 --> 01:11:14.119 actually feels than the way he presents himself every night. 1440 01:11:14.199 --> 01:11:15.159 But I totally get it. 1441 01:11:15.199 --> 01:11:17.359 He has to be measured, He has to try to 1442 01:11:17.399 --> 01:11:20.439 find positives. He has a young locker room where he's 1443 01:11:20.479 --> 01:11:24.399 got to be careful about running down players that are 1444 01:11:24.399 --> 01:11:26.640 being asked to do things that they're not ready to do. 1445 01:11:27.159 --> 01:11:30.000 But you're around him, You're around the team. 1446 01:11:30.039 --> 01:11:33.920 Like, honestly speaking, Craig, what sort of toll do you 1447 01:11:33.960 --> 01:11:36.880 think losing likes like this takes on a guy that 1448 01:11:36.920 --> 01:11:39.039 seems to win as much as Will wants to win. 1449 01:11:40.159 --> 01:11:45.600 Oh, it's look his staff and Will. I am amazed 1450 01:11:45.640 --> 01:11:49.079 at this point in the season that they're still putting 1451 01:11:49.119 --> 01:11:54.319 together shoot a rounds and off day practices, you know. 1452 01:11:54.920 --> 01:11:58.479 But he tells me and I watch practice and shoot 1453 01:11:58.600 --> 01:12:02.239 rounds on the road and at home, not practices, but 1454 01:12:02.239 --> 01:12:06.520 shoot arounds at home that he maintains and he's been 1455 01:12:06.640 --> 01:12:10.640 very consistent. Spence, I can say that straight up, man. Now, 1456 01:12:10.680 --> 01:12:13.479 behind the scenes, I'm not privy for that, but in 1457 01:12:13.560 --> 01:12:17.479 front of us and how he approaches it with his team. 1458 01:12:17.840 --> 01:12:19.960 He switched things up a little bit to try to 1459 01:12:19.960 --> 01:12:23.479 have more fun at shoot around, get away from some 1460 01:12:23.520 --> 01:12:27.680 of the just of the angles. And you know, you know, 1461 01:12:28.640 --> 01:12:32.880 pistol grip, whatever you want to call it. You know 1462 01:12:32.960 --> 01:12:35.279 I'm not you know in his in his verbiage, you 1463 01:12:35.279 --> 01:12:38.359 know of how he calls place. Instead, they'll do five 1464 01:12:38.439 --> 01:12:40.600 on five, they'll do some three on threes. And you know, 1465 01:12:40.600 --> 01:12:42.880 I saw a really competitive practice the other day where 1466 01:12:42.880 --> 01:12:45.640 the guys actually liked to get on the floor and 1467 01:12:45.720 --> 01:12:50.159 play against each other, but not the coaches. So I 1468 01:12:50.439 --> 01:12:53.640 give him credit for trying to keep it keep the 1469 01:12:53.720 --> 01:12:57.600 player's minds intact when a lot of them are drifting. 1470 01:12:58.159 --> 01:13:00.960 And I think that happens again too with the age 1471 01:13:01.399 --> 01:13:04.920 of the NBA announcements, where you just haven't really learned 1472 01:13:05.279 --> 01:13:08.439 how to be a professional. Sure you still got emotions, 1473 01:13:08.600 --> 01:13:11.840 Sure you want to win, and sure you're thinking about 1474 01:13:11.840 --> 01:13:16.600 your future and losing. Let's be honest, no matter what 1475 01:13:16.760 --> 01:13:20.439 business you're in, if your sales are down, or if 1476 01:13:20.479 --> 01:13:24.239 your ratings are down, or if your wins and losses 1477 01:13:24.720 --> 01:13:29.800 don't jive, then that puts added pressure and you're thinking 1478 01:13:29.840 --> 01:13:32.840 about your future. Now, am I going to make this 1479 01:13:32.920 --> 01:13:35.439 squad next year or am I out of the NBA? 1480 01:13:36.000 --> 01:13:39.520 Does someone see worse than what I do? And I 1481 01:13:39.560 --> 01:13:42.279 think will try to give them some directions on how 1482 01:13:42.359 --> 01:13:47.159 you make this journey and still survive it. But do 1483 01:13:47.199 --> 01:13:50.039 they listen. I don't know. And you know, some players 1484 01:13:50.039 --> 01:13:52.039 are going to be gone, Let's just be honest. That's 1485 01:13:52.079 --> 01:13:54.800 just the way it's going to be. And Justin and Dan, 1486 01:13:54.840 --> 01:13:57.840 you're going to pick five or six that they think 1487 01:13:57.880 --> 01:14:01.079 still have the ability to grow and developed during you know, 1488 01:14:01.880 --> 01:14:03.680 you know, a three year window. I would guess. I 1489 01:14:03.680 --> 01:14:06.960 think Walker probably passed the testy year right. Had it 1490 01:14:07.039 --> 01:14:09.600 given up on him after year two, the sophomore slump, 1491 01:14:09.960 --> 01:14:12.800 then you wouldn't see what Walker Kesser has really become. 1492 01:14:12.960 --> 01:14:16.119 Does he need work? Absolutely? Free throw line? You bet 1493 01:14:16.199 --> 01:14:18.479 He's going to be a three point shooter, doubtful. But 1494 01:14:18.560 --> 01:14:21.079 they want to give him an opportunity. So that's what 1495 01:14:21.159 --> 01:14:24.640 I've been watching Spence. It's it's a complicated eighty two 1496 01:14:24.760 --> 01:14:27.720 games that I've never been involved in in the worst 1497 01:14:27.720 --> 01:14:30.479 season of the Utah Jazz. That's fifty one years of basketball, 1498 01:14:30.600 --> 01:14:33.640 mind you, and no Jazz fan is used to having 1499 01:14:33.680 --> 01:14:36.800 sixty one, you know, losses in the column there. But 1500 01:14:36.920 --> 01:14:40.039 it is what it is, and probably things will calm 1501 01:14:40.079 --> 01:14:44.560 themselves down if the Jazz actually win the lottery, Right, 1502 01:14:44.720 --> 01:14:47.279 they've got the same they've got their's. Three teams that 1503 01:14:47.359 --> 01:14:49.880 have a fourteen is a zero point three percent chance 1504 01:14:50.680 --> 01:14:54.319 of grabbing the number one pick. Maybe everyone just kind 1505 01:14:54.319 --> 01:14:56.880 of says, oh, it was worth it. But if that 1506 01:14:56.920 --> 01:15:00.560 pick doesn't go the Jazz way, then you have to 1507 01:15:00.640 --> 01:15:04.960 ask what direction do they go? Right? What direction do 1508 01:15:05.039 --> 01:15:08.479 they go? And that's going to be interesting summer. Once again, 1509 01:15:08.560 --> 01:15:11.399 every summer's interesting, but this one's maybe the most intriguing 1510 01:15:11.439 --> 01:15:11.720 of all. 1511 01:15:11.880 --> 01:15:15.680 Well, the reason I ask about Will is in last night. 1512 01:15:15.720 --> 01:15:20.079 It's only a vacuum, it's only a moment. But we'll 1513 01:15:20.159 --> 01:15:22.520 use last night as an example. Like I'm watching the 1514 01:15:22.560 --> 01:15:26.920 game and sensibah and call your just blow it on 1515 01:15:27.119 --> 01:15:30.680 Like three straight dribble handoffs, like a really simple action 1516 01:15:31.399 --> 01:15:35.199 from Houston led to wide open three point shots on 1517 01:15:35.239 --> 01:15:38.359 three straight possessions for Dylan Brooks, Jalen Green, and I 1518 01:15:38.359 --> 01:15:40.479 think it was Cam Whitmore who nailed one. 1519 01:15:40.680 --> 01:15:42.319 Yeah, Cam had checked in right. 1520 01:15:42.239 --> 01:15:45.479 And all they were, Craig, were dribble handoffs and both 1521 01:15:45.520 --> 01:15:49.039 Bryce and Isaiah just like forgot to stick with one 1522 01:15:49.239 --> 01:15:52.640 or the other. And I'm just watching this through the prison, 1523 01:15:52.760 --> 01:15:55.039 like what does their head coach really think? Because it 1524 01:15:55.079 --> 01:15:58.319 feels like Craig every night. If Will wanted to be 1525 01:15:58.439 --> 01:16:02.159 really honest about what he's he could find because my 1526 01:16:02.319 --> 01:16:05.399 guess is Will and his staff are coaching how to 1527 01:16:05.520 --> 01:16:08.359 guard dribble handoffs, Like there's no way these players are 1528 01:16:08.399 --> 01:16:10.960 not learning how to do this. It's like coach Wit 1529 01:16:11.079 --> 01:16:12.880 says all the time, all I ask for my players 1530 01:16:12.960 --> 01:16:16.079 is are you physically capable of doing what we're asking 1531 01:16:16.119 --> 01:16:18.760 you to do? And mentally do you understand the ask? 1532 01:16:19.479 --> 01:16:22.600 And these players the Jazz have are certainly physically capable 1533 01:16:22.640 --> 01:16:23.439 because they're pros. 1534 01:16:24.079 --> 01:16:26.159 But I don't know if it's just lost in translation. 1535 01:16:26.319 --> 01:16:27.199 I don't know if they're young. 1536 01:16:27.319 --> 01:16:29.199 There are so many moments every night where I'm like, 1537 01:16:29.239 --> 01:16:31.680 this looks like a team that's never played together before. 1538 01:16:31.680 --> 01:16:34.640 And I just imagine if Will wanted to every night, 1539 01:16:34.680 --> 01:16:36.760 he probably could blast them in the postgame presser. 1540 01:16:37.880 --> 01:16:40.359 Right. He hasn't, by the way, which I think is 1541 01:16:40.600 --> 01:16:43.199 brilliant on his point because he doesn't want to lose 1542 01:16:43.840 --> 01:16:46.439 one or two guys when they're when a coach will 1543 01:16:46.479 --> 01:16:49.960 bark out someone in the media in a post game 1544 01:16:50.039 --> 01:16:52.039 that's going to cause trouble down the road. But what 1545 01:16:52.079 --> 01:16:54.960 he tries to do is address them as a group 1546 01:16:55.720 --> 01:16:59.239 and not just single out one or two individuals on 1547 01:16:59.279 --> 01:17:04.279 a given night. Spence. You know, again, anybody who's played sports, 1548 01:17:04.439 --> 01:17:07.840 it is do you have the physical capabilities? Right? And 1549 01:17:07.880 --> 01:17:10.479 you just said it. You're in the NBA for a reason. 1550 01:17:10.600 --> 01:17:14.119 You're God given talent, right. The other part of it 1551 01:17:14.199 --> 01:17:16.560 is are you a quick learner? You know they always 1552 01:17:16.560 --> 01:17:19.800 talk about I always got basketball IQ. Where are you 1553 01:17:19.840 --> 01:17:22.600 in the learning process? And a couple of things too 1554 01:17:22.720 --> 01:17:26.840 this year that has come up is how were they trained? 1555 01:17:27.000 --> 01:17:32.039 How are players now trained coming up through team play 1556 01:17:33.800 --> 01:17:39.760 AAU ball and what is the fallout now? Spence, maybe 1557 01:17:39.800 --> 01:17:43.479 we're actually living it, not only the Jazz, but many 1558 01:17:43.520 --> 01:17:45.720 of the coaches around the league I've talked too have 1559 01:17:45.960 --> 01:17:49.000 kind of hinted to the same thing. Youth is one thing, 1560 01:17:49.600 --> 01:17:52.279 but do you come in and leave purely on your 1561 01:17:52.319 --> 01:17:56.039 athleticism and then you get sold to goods that we're 1562 01:17:56.079 --> 01:17:59.079 going to develop him? But I think there's a lot 1563 01:17:59.079 --> 01:18:03.119 of coaches that are concerned overall about where basketball is 1564 01:18:03.159 --> 01:18:08.399 going because the basics of basketball have been bypassed because 1565 01:18:09.119 --> 01:18:15.119 of TV great players who make it look easy Steph Curry. Okay, 1566 01:18:15.159 --> 01:18:17.680 I'm not going to blame him, but that's what he does. 1567 01:18:18.279 --> 01:18:21.479 And those are the highlights you see on a particular network. 1568 01:18:21.560 --> 01:18:24.720 And it started with Michael Jordan actually, in my opinion, 1569 01:18:25.159 --> 01:18:28.439 where that group started to see nothing but the greatness 1570 01:18:28.479 --> 01:18:30.359 of highlights. But you know, oh, by the way, the 1571 01:18:30.399 --> 01:18:33.399 Bulls lost by twelve, you know, but it was about 1572 01:18:33.399 --> 01:18:36.399 the highlight and the entertainment. And now the three ball 1573 01:18:36.439 --> 01:18:39.800 has become such an important piece. I think the Europeans 1574 01:18:39.800 --> 01:18:43.600 are taught at much younger age spens basic skills, how 1575 01:18:43.640 --> 01:18:47.159 to step, how to pivot, how to pass, how to 1576 01:18:47.199 --> 01:18:49.560 rebound with two hands, how to bullet pass it from 1577 01:18:49.600 --> 01:18:52.640 the chest down. And some of this stuff gets lost 1578 01:18:53.000 --> 01:18:57.199 because every young man thinks they have one skill and 1579 01:18:57.279 --> 01:18:59.960 so instead of learning to play the post or learning 1580 01:19:00.119 --> 01:19:02.800 play the two or the three. I know it's positionless 1581 01:19:02.840 --> 01:19:05.720 basketball now, but you still have to have basic skills 1582 01:19:05.760 --> 01:19:08.720 for all those things. And sometimes a kid is picked 1583 01:19:08.760 --> 01:19:10.680 out of a crowd just because he's a little bigger 1584 01:19:10.680 --> 01:19:13.279 than the other and the other guy always goes to 1585 01:19:13.279 --> 01:19:15.119 the point guard right because he's the shortest guy on 1586 01:19:15.159 --> 01:19:18.119 the floor. And you know, they're never really taught the 1587 01:19:18.159 --> 01:19:20.399 true skills of basketball, and I think that's a concern. 1588 01:19:20.479 --> 01:19:23.560 That's me, that's just me. I know, you know, you 1589 01:19:24.000 --> 01:19:26.920 learned it the right way. I had one year in 1590 01:19:27.000 --> 01:19:30.479 high school because I was more football minded. But boy, 1591 01:19:30.520 --> 01:19:34.039 I'd say the basics were pretty simple, you know, dribble pass, 1592 01:19:34.159 --> 01:19:39.000 rebound team. And again, I think strangely has been lost. 1593 01:19:39.199 --> 01:19:42.279 I really do. With the Europeans, I think are way 1594 01:19:42.279 --> 01:19:44.960 ahead of where the US players are, and they've gained 1595 01:19:44.960 --> 01:19:46.560 a lot of ground. I should say they've gained a 1596 01:19:46.600 --> 01:19:49.079 ton of ground. Look at some of the high level, 1597 01:19:49.079 --> 01:19:51.319 elite players in this league and the skill set they have. 1598 01:19:51.960 --> 01:19:55.039 That's that's proof. That's proof of this conversation. In my book, 1599 01:19:55.560 --> 01:19:56.319 I want to move. 1600 01:19:56.199 --> 01:20:00.399 Over now to your just kind of the feel on 1601 01:20:00.439 --> 01:20:03.560 the player side of things, because one of the things 1602 01:20:03.560 --> 01:20:06.800 that I don't understand, and I will admit sometimes I 1603 01:20:06.840 --> 01:20:10.159 read too much into body language and too much into 1604 01:20:10.920 --> 01:20:13.000 I just can't imagine get my head kicked in and 1605 01:20:13.039 --> 01:20:15.520 like laughing and smiling and walking over the bench. So 1606 01:20:15.720 --> 01:20:19.239 I look at the players and I watch the way 1607 01:20:19.279 --> 01:20:22.960 that they're digesting getting their doors blown off every night. 1608 01:20:23.479 --> 01:20:25.960 And I was actually told this by somebody over there, 1609 01:20:26.479 --> 01:20:28.880 and it tracks with what I'm seeing. Like the one 1610 01:20:28.960 --> 01:20:34.880 player that really feels like this sucks is Walker, And 1611 01:20:34.359 --> 01:20:37.560 I was told by somebody that's over there, like Walker's 1612 01:20:37.600 --> 01:20:39.159 the one that takes this really hard. 1613 01:20:39.239 --> 01:20:41.199 Does that track with kind of what you've noticed. 1614 01:20:42.159 --> 01:20:45.680 No, he loves to win, man, He's competitive. He has 1615 01:20:45.720 --> 01:20:48.199 put a lot of work in. I think all these 1616 01:20:48.239 --> 01:20:51.720 players are struggling right now just to say, Okay, I 1617 01:20:51.840 --> 01:20:56.520 get it, this is my job. But Spence, i'd be disappointed. 1618 01:20:57.920 --> 01:21:00.680 I can't speak for Danny and Justin, but I would 1619 01:21:00.760 --> 01:21:04.840 guess that they want their guys to be competitive. They 1620 01:21:04.960 --> 01:21:08.880 want this has to hurt. If it didn't, then get out. 1621 01:21:11.159 --> 01:21:13.720 But it's a tough balance, isn't it. I mean it 1622 01:21:13.800 --> 01:21:18.119 has to be. I'd go nuts, because you're taught in 1623 01:21:18.239 --> 01:21:21.520 sport that the work you put in, the blood, sweat 1624 01:21:21.520 --> 01:21:24.520 and tears that you go through with teammates, whether it's 1625 01:21:24.520 --> 01:21:27.319 on the bench, in the weight room, on the floor, 1626 01:21:27.359 --> 01:21:31.399 in the huddle, on the football field, whatever sport you choose, baseball, soccer, 1627 01:21:31.840 --> 01:21:36.119 whatever it may be, everyone's got a story about you 1628 01:21:36.680 --> 01:21:40.520 sacrifice because you're part of the team, but you also 1629 01:21:40.640 --> 01:21:44.680 have to individually sacrifice because you're working out, you're breaking 1630 01:21:44.680 --> 01:21:47.199 the body down and building a back up. Yeah, Walk 1631 01:21:47.279 --> 01:21:50.199 wants to win, man, he works at it as much 1632 01:21:50.239 --> 01:21:53.720 as anybody, and it does bug him not to play 1633 01:21:54.039 --> 01:21:56.840 and to lose. Right now, the team is at a 1634 01:21:56.880 --> 01:21:59.960 point that I think, you know again, you got five 1635 01:22:00.199 --> 01:22:02.239 less spence and it's going to be a good thing 1636 01:22:02.439 --> 01:22:05.560 for this team. Just to take a breath and get away, 1637 01:22:05.720 --> 01:22:07.840 work on a few things, stay in shape, and then 1638 01:22:07.880 --> 01:22:10.239 come back for summer league and we'll get a better 1639 01:22:10.279 --> 01:22:13.359 picture of what direction the Jats is going to go 1640 01:22:13.439 --> 01:22:16.000 and with whom right still don't know who's going to 1641 01:22:16.039 --> 01:22:19.439 be a part of this this continued process and how 1642 01:22:19.720 --> 01:22:22.239 how the draft lottery is going to turn out in 1643 01:22:22.279 --> 01:22:25.039 five weeks time. But now I'm with you. I see 1644 01:22:25.039 --> 01:22:27.439 a lot of guys who have hopes to be great 1645 01:22:27.479 --> 01:22:30.399 in this league, and this is not fun. This is 1646 01:22:30.439 --> 01:22:33.560 not a fun time right now. And there I think 1647 01:22:33.600 --> 01:22:36.840 Will and the rest we're hoping that many of them 1648 01:22:36.920 --> 01:22:42.079 would would learn the game better, become better because of it. 1649 01:22:42.199 --> 01:22:45.279 Because of the minutes and not having John Collins on 1650 01:22:45.319 --> 01:22:48.760 the floor, lowry market and sex and smissed his share 1651 01:22:48.800 --> 01:22:53.520 at Games two and not put the heavy hitters in JC, 1652 01:22:54.239 --> 01:22:57.479 you know, and let the young guys take. Probably since 1653 01:22:57.520 --> 01:22:59.840 the All Star Breaker, probably ninety percent of the minutes 1654 01:23:00.279 --> 01:23:03.479 are played by about nine guys. And are they going 1655 01:23:03.520 --> 01:23:05.800 to be better than they were when they started the season, Well, 1656 01:23:05.840 --> 01:23:07.600 you better hope so. If not, they're going to probably 1657 01:23:07.600 --> 01:23:10.640 be moved. And that's going to be the true story 1658 01:23:10.640 --> 01:23:13.359 when the season comes to an end, and those decisions 1659 01:23:13.399 --> 01:23:17.800 belong solely with Justin and Danny, and yes, Will Hardy 1660 01:23:17.880 --> 01:23:19.319 does have a voice in that group. 1661 01:23:19.880 --> 01:23:21.760 All right, Bowler, before I say you loose, we'll end 1662 01:23:21.800 --> 01:23:24.880 on a positive. Because you referenced Isaiah call. You're breaking 1663 01:23:24.960 --> 01:23:29.000 John Stockton's rookie assist record ten more last night beings 1664 01:23:29.000 --> 01:23:31.880 four to twenty nine, and by my calculation, he's only 1665 01:23:31.920 --> 01:23:35.279 fifteen thousand, three hundred and seventy eight away from John's 1666 01:23:35.279 --> 01:23:36.159 career record. 1667 01:23:36.680 --> 01:23:38.159 Oh I needed that laugh. 1668 01:23:38.199 --> 01:23:40.920 That's good man, And I'm not knocking on Isaiah. 1669 01:23:40.960 --> 01:23:43.560 I mean, ultimately, John played eighteen minutes a night as 1670 01:23:43.560 --> 01:23:46.159 a rookie. He played behind somebody named Ricky Green. He 1671 01:23:46.199 --> 01:23:49.239 only had five starts. But when you look at this 1672 01:23:49.399 --> 01:23:52.840 rookie class. I really love this Stefon Castle kid. I 1673 01:23:52.920 --> 01:23:55.319 was actually hoping he would fall to the Jazz, but 1674 01:23:55.600 --> 01:23:59.640 Zachary Reschache, Alex sarkleil Ware has played. 1675 01:23:59.359 --> 01:24:00.239 Well as of eight. 1676 01:24:01.000 --> 01:24:04.800 Jalen Wells and the Jazz have started this campaign to 1677 01:24:05.880 --> 01:24:09.520 encourage media members, including Howard Beck, our guest Last Hour, 1678 01:24:10.159 --> 01:24:12.479 to offer up a vote for Isaiah to make first 1679 01:24:12.479 --> 01:24:14.920 team All Rookie. I don't know that he can make 1680 01:24:14.960 --> 01:24:16.800 first team All Rookie. He feels more of a lock 1681 01:24:16.880 --> 01:24:20.159 for second team. But is there a shot? You think 1682 01:24:20.199 --> 01:24:22.520 that maybe, based off of the way Isaiah's kind of 1683 01:24:22.520 --> 01:24:24.960 responded to this challenge, that he could be or Rookie. 1684 01:24:24.960 --> 01:24:27.800 He's the only candidate the Jazz had for a postseason award. 1685 01:24:28.760 --> 01:24:31.119 Yeah, I think there's a shot. You know, with six 1686 01:24:31.159 --> 01:24:33.640 point two assists a game and some of the publicity 1687 01:24:33.680 --> 01:24:36.399 that came with the name John Stockton. And you make 1688 01:24:36.439 --> 01:24:39.600 a great point, John didn't start for three years. That 1689 01:24:39.760 --> 01:24:41.760 was a Jerry Sloan way. You have to earn it, 1690 01:24:41.960 --> 01:24:43.720 you know, That's what happened with d Will in the 1691 01:24:43.760 --> 01:24:46.760 early days of his career as a rookie. You know, 1692 01:24:47.279 --> 01:24:49.680 I'm starting coach, you picked me here, I'm gonna know, 1693 01:24:50.000 --> 01:24:52.119 got to wit your turn. And that's what happened to 1694 01:24:52.159 --> 01:24:57.760 Stockton behind Ricky, and so I think again, sometimes people 1695 01:24:57.800 --> 01:25:03.439 think that that record means it means a lot to Isaiah. 1696 01:25:03.600 --> 01:25:05.359 He put his eyes on it and he said, I'm 1697 01:25:05.359 --> 01:25:08.039 going after it. But but John didn't, like you said, 1698 01:25:08.359 --> 01:25:11.960 his starts weren't there, his minutes weren't there. And Isaiah 1699 01:25:12.000 --> 01:25:15.640 has taken advantage of his opportunity right to actually own 1700 01:25:15.720 --> 01:25:17.880 that record now because of the time he's been on 1701 01:25:17.920 --> 01:25:22.439 the floor, unlike John. But I think he's got a shot. 1702 01:25:22.720 --> 01:25:27.279 It's because I think his speed, his attitude. I think 1703 01:25:27.319 --> 01:25:31.920 he's I think with teams around the league. When I 1704 01:25:31.920 --> 01:25:35.199 talked to broadcasters, there seems to be a really intrigue 1705 01:25:35.199 --> 01:25:39.279 about him. Taken late twenty ninth, had the relationship with 1706 01:25:39.359 --> 01:25:42.640 Bronnie you know, at USC and he always comes back 1707 01:25:42.640 --> 01:25:46.039 to say, no, Bronni played with me, I didn't play 1708 01:25:46.039 --> 01:25:48.439 with him. You know. I like that because he's trying 1709 01:25:48.479 --> 01:25:52.399 to take a you know, his take his own credibility 1710 01:25:52.439 --> 01:25:56.399 to himself that he didn't write the Tales of one 1711 01:25:56.720 --> 01:25:59.960 Bronnie James. But I think he's got a shot. I think. 1712 01:26:00.239 --> 01:26:03.039 I think he's become a more of a liability for 1713 01:26:03.159 --> 01:26:05.680 teams to slow him down. They put more ball pressure 1714 01:26:05.680 --> 01:26:08.640 on him, you know, at half court, at the top 1715 01:26:08.680 --> 01:26:11.399 of the three point line. They seem to really try 1716 01:26:11.439 --> 01:26:14.199 to engage him. But man, that first step he'll blow 1717 01:26:14.239 --> 01:26:16.880 by a lot a lot of guys. And I think 1718 01:26:17.520 --> 01:26:20.640 teams are beginning to realize and appreciate just how good 1719 01:26:21.079 --> 01:26:23.479 he is developing in a very short period of time. 1720 01:26:23.800 --> 01:26:27.119 So yes, I think he's got a real shot. Is 1721 01:26:27.159 --> 01:26:30.560 it going to be you know, well, surprise me if 1722 01:26:30.600 --> 01:26:33.039 he's a second team er. No, but I think he's 1723 01:26:33.079 --> 01:26:34.520 got a shot at it. But you know, I thought, 1724 01:26:34.600 --> 01:26:37.000 you know, Oscar sibwe may be the G League MVP, 1725 01:26:37.119 --> 01:26:39.880 and he didn't win that. So that guy had a 1726 01:26:39.920 --> 01:26:41.840 tremendous year, by the way, and he's a great guy. 1727 01:26:42.439 --> 01:26:44.199 I'm anxious to see if the Jets have plans for 1728 01:26:44.319 --> 01:26:45.319 him to All. 1729 01:26:45.279 --> 01:26:48.119 Right, baller, well, enjoy the Windy City, have a good 1730 01:26:48.119 --> 01:26:51.960 call tomorrow and enjoy Atlanta. And yeah, man, five games left, 1731 01:26:52.000 --> 01:26:54.000 so get to that finish line. Thanks for the time, sir. 1732 01:26:55.000 --> 01:26:58.640 Yeah, we're trying to sprint down the finish line, you know. Yeah, 1733 01:26:58.760 --> 01:27:01.079 five to go, and it's good talking to your pelf. 1734 01:27:01.079 --> 01:27:03.600 See you soon, all right, The great Craig Bowler Jack 1735 01:27:03.600 --> 01:27:05.640 brought to you today by our friends at Prize Picks. 1736 01:27:05.640 --> 01:27:09.560 Spring time is here. Baseball seasons underway. 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You're gonna do a 1756 01:27:54.079 --> 01:27:57.680 little sports court today with our friends from Handy and 1757 01:27:57.720 --> 01:27:59.439 Handy coming a bit coming up in a bit, we'll 1758 01:27:59.479 --> 01:28:02.600 launching the five o'clock out of the program on this 1759 01:28:02.800 --> 01:28:06.600 up Thursday afternoon, little chili, little rainy outside here in 1760 01:28:06.640 --> 01:28:09.640 downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. RSL welcomes in the LA 1761 01:28:09.760 --> 01:28:14.520 Galaxy Saturday at two thirty. Forecast is okay, should be 1762 01:28:14.560 --> 01:28:17.319 all right on Saturday, a little early afternoon kick. And 1763 01:28:17.359 --> 01:28:20.439 our next guest is a club legend, and if I'm honest, 1764 01:28:20.479 --> 01:28:22.800 he's a life legend. Okay, so let's welcome him in. 1765 01:28:23.279 --> 01:28:25.880 Jason Christ Thursday afternoon, Jason, how are you, sir? 1766 01:28:27.319 --> 01:28:29.760 I'm great, spence, even better when you give me such 1767 01:28:29.840 --> 01:28:32.520 nice compliments like that. To start off with, well, I just. 1768 01:28:32.439 --> 01:28:36.479 Want people to accurately remember exactly who you are. 1769 01:28:36.560 --> 01:28:38.640 You are a legend, Jason. You understand that. 1770 01:28:38.680 --> 01:28:44.079 Yes, perhaps, But maybe even more understandable is the fact 1771 01:28:44.079 --> 01:28:45.880 it was a long, long time ago. And I guess 1772 01:28:45.880 --> 01:28:48.520 that's why we're concerned if people will remember it or not. 1773 01:28:48.920 --> 01:28:51.239 It was not a long it wasn't that long ago. 1774 01:28:51.520 --> 01:28:52.920 I mean you were the coach of a team that 1775 01:28:52.960 --> 01:28:54.840 won a title in two thousand and nine. You had 1776 01:28:54.840 --> 01:28:57.439 a good Conka cafroon. It wasn't that long ago, Jason, 1777 01:28:57.479 --> 01:28:58.720 give yourself some credit, please. 1778 01:29:00.199 --> 01:29:02.640 I don't know since I just keep feeling older and older. 1779 01:29:02.920 --> 01:29:05.439 Yeah, I know you're going to roll your eyes, but 1780 01:29:05.439 --> 01:29:08.640 I'm with you at this point as I continue to agent, what's. 1781 01:29:08.439 --> 01:29:09.720 The us the favorite? 1782 01:29:09.920 --> 01:29:12.800 What's what's the one goal that you scored throughout your 1783 01:29:12.800 --> 01:29:14.960 career when you're laying in bed at night you remember 1784 01:29:14.960 --> 01:29:15.359 that one? 1785 01:29:15.640 --> 01:29:16.720 Is there one that comes to mind? 1786 01:29:19.479 --> 01:29:23.000 That's a tough question. And the truth is I have 1787 01:29:23.159 --> 01:29:27.479 a very very bad memory, so I have oftentimes people 1788 01:29:27.720 --> 01:29:31.119 bring up things that happened in a game or instances 1789 01:29:31.159 --> 01:29:33.279 and I said, you remember that, and I, frankly, I'm like, no, 1790 01:29:33.359 --> 01:29:36.239 I don't. And it maybe it comes across the wrong 1791 01:29:36.279 --> 01:29:37.880 way A lot of times. I don't know what that is. 1792 01:29:37.920 --> 01:29:39.279 Maybe I got hit in the head too many times 1793 01:29:39.279 --> 01:29:42.359 with the ball or something. But if you had to 1794 01:29:42.560 --> 01:29:46.039 make me pull one, I'll pull u. The hundredth goal 1795 01:29:46.079 --> 01:29:50.079 actually at Rice Cycle Stadium. It was obviously a special 1796 01:29:50.079 --> 01:29:52.840 one of momentous occasion because it was the hundreds, but 1797 01:29:52.880 --> 01:29:54.640 it was also a pretty darn good goal left the 1798 01:29:54.800 --> 01:29:56.920 volley from outside the box that was laid down to 1799 01:29:56.920 --> 01:30:00.079 me by Chris Brown. So yeah, i'd say, abou. 1800 01:30:00.479 --> 01:30:03.119 Shout out to Chris Brown. I remember that goal. 1801 01:30:03.319 --> 01:30:05.640 Is that the only good memory you have about playing 1802 01:30:05.680 --> 01:30:07.000 soccer at Rice Cycle Stadium? 1803 01:30:07.039 --> 01:30:12.359 Be honest, I think yeah, I think so. 1804 01:30:12.600 --> 01:30:13.560 Yeah. 1805 01:30:13.000 --> 01:30:15.600 Well, no, I understand that was a rough time for 1806 01:30:15.640 --> 01:30:17.439 all of us, but hey, we live and learn and 1807 01:30:17.479 --> 01:30:21.680 we move on, all right, Jason, We got to start 1808 01:30:21.720 --> 01:30:24.520 with the progress. We had Pablo on a couple of 1809 01:30:24.560 --> 01:30:27.840 days ago, and last week Pablo hopped on and said 1810 01:30:27.840 --> 01:30:30.880 he was told they were about four days away from 1811 01:30:31.159 --> 01:30:34.960 potentially two different signings to add a little talent to 1812 01:30:35.000 --> 01:30:37.439 the attack. And I hate to break it to you, 1813 01:30:37.560 --> 01:30:40.119 here's my soccer analysis. We need to add a little 1814 01:30:40.159 --> 01:30:42.319 talent to the attack with this club right now. 1815 01:30:42.399 --> 01:30:43.920 So just give us the update. 1816 01:30:43.960 --> 01:30:45.760 Man, I don't want to puld your feet to the fire, 1817 01:30:45.800 --> 01:30:47.800 but our self fans wondering if these players are going 1818 01:30:47.880 --> 01:30:48.359 to be signed. 1819 01:30:49.319 --> 01:30:51.239 Wait, did you say that he said we would four 1820 01:30:51.319 --> 01:30:53.039 days ago or a week ago? We were supposed to 1821 01:30:53.039 --> 01:30:54.760 have it and four days later we didn't. 1822 01:30:55.000 --> 01:30:58.079 Which is it a week ago it was four days away, 1823 01:30:58.239 --> 01:31:01.199 and then a couple days ago have tapped out and said, 1824 01:31:01.199 --> 01:31:02.840 I'm not really sure where we're at at this point. 1825 01:31:04.439 --> 01:31:07.239 I think that speaks to how volatile these situations are 1826 01:31:07.600 --> 01:31:11.319 for us as a club. I think you know we 1827 01:31:12.039 --> 01:31:14.159 have it is not for a lack of trying, Spence. 1828 01:31:14.199 --> 01:31:16.000 I think all of us have been talking about it. 1829 01:31:16.079 --> 01:31:19.640 None of us have been lying. We are very intent 1830 01:31:19.720 --> 01:31:22.720 on adding a player or two in this window. We 1831 01:31:22.880 --> 01:31:25.720 have gone so far as to make offers. Some of 1832 01:31:25.720 --> 01:31:28.640 those have been rebuffed, some of those are still negotiations. 1833 01:31:29.119 --> 01:31:32.840 I feel quite confident that there will be additions. I 1834 01:31:32.960 --> 01:31:35.399 just can't be that confident on exactly how fast it 1835 01:31:35.439 --> 01:31:35.960 will happen. 1836 01:31:37.640 --> 01:31:40.520 So I know you have to be careful here. So 1837 01:31:40.520 --> 01:31:42.239 I want to be careful how I phrased the question. 1838 01:31:42.319 --> 01:31:45.039 And certainly I would never ask you or anybody else 1839 01:31:45.119 --> 01:31:48.079 to talk about a scenario involving people that literally sign 1840 01:31:48.119 --> 01:31:51.680 their paychecks. But they're clearly have been reports out there 1841 01:31:51.720 --> 01:31:55.000 that we're in the middle of another ownership transition. Is 1842 01:31:55.039 --> 01:31:58.159 it fair to say that that situation may be delaying 1843 01:31:58.399 --> 01:32:00.600 the potential of adding pieces to this puzzle. 1844 01:32:01.680 --> 01:32:04.199 No, I don't think that that's really been a consideration, 1845 01:32:04.359 --> 01:32:09.239 to be honest, We've had direction from really the moment 1846 01:32:09.279 --> 01:32:11.920 that we found out that Elias Manuel wasn't going to 1847 01:32:11.960 --> 01:32:15.079 be joining us. Even before that, you know, our direction 1848 01:32:15.199 --> 01:32:18.600 we were going to add another striker on top of him. 1849 01:32:18.680 --> 01:32:20.399 So the idea was to come into the season with 1850 01:32:20.439 --> 01:32:24.199 three strikers, one that would be the main guy, Elias 1851 01:32:24.239 --> 01:32:27.880 as a secondary figure to replace Anderson Julio, and then 1852 01:32:27.920 --> 01:32:30.159 we were adding a third young player, which we all 1853 01:32:30.279 --> 01:32:33.800 liked in rspol And so when we lost Elias, I 1854 01:32:33.800 --> 01:32:37.359 think that really sent us into a tailspin and kind 1855 01:32:37.399 --> 01:32:39.680 of thought made us think about whether we needed to 1856 01:32:39.800 --> 01:32:42.880 change that idea and go with more of one man 1857 01:32:42.960 --> 01:32:45.119 and then two younger ones. And so that's the direction 1858 01:32:45.199 --> 01:32:50.199 we've been taking since then. The change in ownership that 1859 01:32:50.359 --> 01:32:55.439 is imminent really hasn't had any conflicting opinion or conflicting 1860 01:32:55.479 --> 01:32:58.079 ideas as to that, So absolutely not, I would say 1861 01:32:58.119 --> 01:33:00.359 that that's not relevant to the situation. Suation. 1862 01:33:01.119 --> 01:33:04.119 The natural dumb guy follow up is what's the hold up? 1863 01:33:04.399 --> 01:33:06.920 I know these things are complicated, and believe me, I've 1864 01:33:07.640 --> 01:33:10.640 I've been a part of the scenario where feeling like 1865 01:33:10.720 --> 01:33:14.000 something was close and then visa this paperwork that player 1866 01:33:14.079 --> 01:33:16.920 change on mind that, so I know there are complications. 1867 01:33:16.920 --> 01:33:19.119 But what would you say to the fan base as 1868 01:33:19.159 --> 01:33:20.279 far as what the hold up is? 1869 01:33:21.520 --> 01:33:23.199 I would say it this way. Have you ever bought 1870 01:33:23.199 --> 01:33:23.600 a car? 1871 01:33:24.199 --> 01:33:25.760 I have, I have, yes. 1872 01:33:25.720 --> 01:33:28.319 Yeah, And you went to the dealership and you said, Okay, 1873 01:33:28.399 --> 01:33:30.600 I've got a budget in mind here that I need 1874 01:33:30.640 --> 01:33:33.880 to stay within, and you negotiate and you make an offer, 1875 01:33:33.920 --> 01:33:38.560 and oftentimes sometimes the answer is yes. They sail and 1876 01:33:38.600 --> 01:33:40.560 goes to the manager, and the manager comes back with 1877 01:33:40.600 --> 01:33:43.640 the salesman and says yes. But many times he says no, 1878 01:33:44.600 --> 01:33:46.520 or many times it's a no as of right now, 1879 01:33:46.560 --> 01:33:49.680 and then there's a negotiation. So I think the thing 1880 01:33:49.760 --> 01:33:52.600 that probably people need to understand is that we do 1881 01:33:52.720 --> 01:33:56.079 not have a blank checkbook here. We are not the 1882 01:33:56.199 --> 01:33:59.600 LA Galaxy, we are not into Miami, we are not 1883 01:33:59.760 --> 01:34:02.840 the clubs. We operate within a budget and we have 1884 01:34:02.960 --> 01:34:06.520 to we have to make budgetary decisions. So I think 1885 01:34:06.560 --> 01:34:09.479 that does tend to make things a little more difficult, 1886 01:34:10.439 --> 01:34:12.840 and and I think that has been the major delay. 1887 01:34:13.319 --> 01:34:15.520 The other piece of it is that sometimes you can 1888 01:34:15.560 --> 01:34:17.520 go down the road with a player that that you're 1889 01:34:17.560 --> 01:34:19.479 really high on and you may find out that that 1890 01:34:19.520 --> 01:34:22.439 player actually doesn't want to come to m LS. So 1891 01:34:22.840 --> 01:34:24.720 you know, there's there's just so many things that go 1892 01:34:24.800 --> 01:34:28.600 into these these decisions that make it complicated. It is 1893 01:34:28.680 --> 01:34:31.199 not because we are just sitting on our hands and 1894 01:34:31.600 --> 01:34:35.520 not trying to move forward or nervous about making decisions. 1895 01:34:35.560 --> 01:34:37.760 It's it's none of those things. It's just we have 1896 01:34:37.840 --> 01:34:40.159 to we have to get everything aligned and we have 1897 01:34:40.199 --> 01:34:41.520 to be within a budget. 1898 01:34:42.439 --> 01:34:44.840 I'll ask another dumb guy follow up. You've played eight 1899 01:34:44.880 --> 01:34:47.640 games in total, You've scored six goals. Do you feel 1900 01:34:47.760 --> 01:34:49.199 urgency to get this done? 1901 01:34:51.079 --> 01:34:53.199 Does the urgency go up? Is that what your question was? 1902 01:34:53.239 --> 01:34:53.800 Sorry I broke up. 1903 01:34:54.079 --> 01:34:56.720 Yeah, yeah, I mean like like it's it feels like 1904 01:34:56.800 --> 01:34:59.359 it's getting late early. It's not just lack of results, 1905 01:34:59.399 --> 01:35:01.800 it's really lack of quality chances and finishing. 1906 01:35:01.840 --> 01:35:02.520 I mean it's clear. 1907 01:35:03.079 --> 01:35:05.720 Uh you know, Pablo, this week I asked them about Saturday. 1908 01:35:05.760 --> 01:35:08.479 Any outlined the potential of playing like a false nine 1909 01:35:08.880 --> 01:35:11.399 maybe and I'm like, well, that's tough because you know 1910 01:35:11.520 --> 01:35:13.800 that means you're not really thrilled with the nines you have. 1911 01:35:13.800 --> 01:35:15.520 There disposed at your disposal? 1912 01:35:15.640 --> 01:35:19.319 Is the is the front office approaching these negotiations with 1913 01:35:19.439 --> 01:35:21.760 urgency because you're leaving a lot of points on the table. 1914 01:35:21.880 --> 01:35:25.119 Jay. You know, Spence, there was a very good GM 1915 01:35:25.279 --> 01:35:28.239 who one time told me that you should not do harm. 1916 01:35:28.680 --> 01:35:31.199 So you should not out a player out of urgency 1917 01:35:31.319 --> 01:35:33.840 or out of out of the feeling like we have 1918 01:35:33.920 --> 01:35:36.279 to win this game on the weekend, because oftentimes when 1919 01:35:36.279 --> 01:35:38.760 you do that, you make more decisions, and so we 1920 01:35:38.840 --> 01:35:40.920 have to make a smarter decision that's going to be 1921 01:35:41.039 --> 01:35:43.359 for the good of this club for a long period 1922 01:35:43.439 --> 01:35:46.359 of time. And I think that that that's how we're 1923 01:35:46.399 --> 01:35:48.479 behaving right now. We certainly aren't going to be pushing 1924 01:35:48.479 --> 01:35:51.399 into any urgent situation. I would not want us to 1925 01:35:51.399 --> 01:35:53.239 add a player that I don't think is going to 1926 01:35:53.279 --> 01:35:56.079 be a major difference maker, because you only get to 1927 01:35:56.119 --> 01:35:59.439 add these types of players. You can only have three 1928 01:35:59.439 --> 01:36:01.000 of them on your own, and for us, we can 1929 01:36:01.039 --> 01:36:03.399 only have two because of the roster model we've chosen. 1930 01:36:03.520 --> 01:36:06.279 So we do not want to get this decision wrong. 1931 01:36:06.319 --> 01:36:08.680 We would hate to make a decision out of angst 1932 01:36:08.800 --> 01:36:11.079 or urgency and then six months from now say, actually, 1933 01:36:11.119 --> 01:36:13.439 this player isn't good enough. And by the way, we 1934 01:36:13.479 --> 01:36:16.479 can't just replace them. So we have to be diligent 1935 01:36:16.560 --> 01:36:18.119 in our process. 1936 01:36:18.000 --> 01:36:21.760 In quotations you don't want to add harm credited to 1937 01:36:21.920 --> 01:36:26.960 Steve Pastorino two thousand and five. Okay, moving on, all right, 1938 01:36:27.039 --> 01:36:32.239 so let's just focus on what has happened so far 1939 01:36:32.319 --> 01:36:35.000 and the players that are at Pablo's disposal. 1940 01:36:35.920 --> 01:36:36.920 What would you most? 1941 01:36:37.199 --> 01:36:39.840 Okay, So, if we removed what I perceived to be 1942 01:36:39.880 --> 01:36:43.239 a clear lack of quality at the striker position, what 1943 01:36:43.399 --> 01:36:46.960 else goes into this anemic offensive attack that has bred 1944 01:36:47.000 --> 01:36:49.359 six goals in eight games. 1945 01:36:50.000 --> 01:36:52.359 Well, some of it has to do with just creating 1946 01:36:52.399 --> 01:36:54.880 the chances, right, So the player that you're talking about 1947 01:36:54.880 --> 01:36:57.279 that you would like us to add is the finisher 1948 01:36:57.319 --> 01:37:00.399 of chances. And then if you step back and say, all, 1949 01:37:00.399 --> 01:37:02.960 in fact, we haven't created enough chances, well, then we've 1950 01:37:02.960 --> 01:37:05.640 got a different problem. And so I think that the 1951 01:37:05.720 --> 01:37:08.720 problem that we have isn't just about one player. I 1952 01:37:08.720 --> 01:37:10.600 think the problem that we've had is a little bit 1953 01:37:10.640 --> 01:37:14.039 of lack of consistency, a little bit of lack of 1954 01:37:14.359 --> 01:37:18.520 performance by a couple of individual players over those number 1955 01:37:18.520 --> 01:37:20.319 of games. I think some of the some of it 1956 01:37:20.319 --> 01:37:22.399 comes down to the fact that we had Champions Cup 1957 01:37:22.720 --> 01:37:24.720 and we rotated the team. I think some of it 1958 01:37:24.720 --> 01:37:27.680 comes down to getting an ejection early in a game. 1959 01:37:27.720 --> 01:37:29.479 In the very next game, you're really not in a 1960 01:37:29.520 --> 01:37:31.600 soccer game. You're more just in a in a war, 1961 01:37:32.079 --> 01:37:34.920 as we were at Minnesota. So I think that we're 1962 01:37:34.960 --> 01:37:38.079 just being a little bit a little bit anxious right 1963 01:37:38.119 --> 01:37:41.800 now about things. You know, we've only played six games. 1964 01:37:42.199 --> 01:37:44.920 There's there's still time in front of us. I think 1965 01:37:44.960 --> 01:37:48.560 also that if we all as supporters and family members 1966 01:37:48.600 --> 01:37:51.600 of the club start to talk about, you know, these 1967 01:37:51.680 --> 01:37:55.039 new players coming in, we forget that that that we 1968 01:37:55.119 --> 01:37:57.039 need to be focused on the players that are here 1969 01:37:57.960 --> 01:38:00.279 since focused on making sure that the players are here 1970 01:38:00.760 --> 01:38:04.319 are playing their best. And so I think there needs 1971 01:38:04.359 --> 01:38:06.560 to be a little bit more of a siege mentality here. 1972 01:38:06.960 --> 01:38:09.720 And this is something that your father taught me, that 1973 01:38:09.720 --> 01:38:12.640 that the players and the coaching staff needs to be 1974 01:38:12.680 --> 01:38:15.199 operating from the perspective that there is no more help 1975 01:38:15.239 --> 01:38:18.439 coming over that wall, and that we have to as 1976 01:38:18.479 --> 01:38:20.680 a group and as a team, we have to band 1977 01:38:20.760 --> 01:38:25.079 together to make this thing work. If we're constantly looking 1978 01:38:25.079 --> 01:38:27.279 for the next player and for the next help, and 1979 01:38:27.359 --> 01:38:29.039 we are going to be focused on doing what we 1980 01:38:29.119 --> 01:38:31.800 need to do to perform at our optimal level. 1981 01:38:32.720 --> 01:38:34.359 Okay, fine, I'll fall in line. 1982 01:38:34.479 --> 01:38:36.399 I hate interviewing people that have worked for my dad 1983 01:38:36.399 --> 01:38:38.000 because you bring that up and now I'm just going 1984 01:38:38.039 --> 01:38:41.000 to my room and I'm grounded for a week. Okay, fine, Jason, 1985 01:38:41.800 --> 01:38:44.520 we'll focus on the group that is here. Okay, we'll 1986 01:38:44.560 --> 01:38:50.680 have a siege mentality goodness, PTSD what what? I Ki'd 1987 01:38:50.760 --> 01:38:52.279 obviously love love you pops? 1988 01:38:52.479 --> 01:38:52.600 What? 1989 01:38:52.840 --> 01:38:53.159 Okay? 1990 01:38:53.239 --> 01:38:55.079 So the players that are here, what have you liked 1991 01:38:55.119 --> 01:38:57.960 if we let's w let's wax positive for a moment. 1992 01:38:58.039 --> 01:38:59.479 What are some of the things that have stood out 1993 01:38:59.479 --> 01:38:59.960 that are positive? 1994 01:39:01.279 --> 01:39:01.439 You know? 1995 01:39:01.720 --> 01:39:04.239 I think a couple of games ago Houston, we had 1996 01:39:04.279 --> 01:39:06.520 a performance by a striker that I felt like was 1997 01:39:06.560 --> 01:39:10.359 a very very high level performance in that game. And 1998 01:39:10.439 --> 01:39:13.159 we had a performance from two attacking midfielders that both 1999 01:39:13.199 --> 01:39:16.039 scored goals in the game. And we had a performance 2000 01:39:16.079 --> 01:39:18.359 and for many of those minutes where we did actually 2001 01:39:18.359 --> 01:39:21.439 create a very high number of goal scoring chances, we 2002 01:39:21.439 --> 01:39:23.560 didn't take them all. If we had, we would have 2003 01:39:23.600 --> 01:39:29.479 won that game, for one. But that's There have been performances, 2004 01:39:29.520 --> 01:39:32.960 There have been players showing what they're capable of, and 2005 01:39:33.000 --> 01:39:35.720 when they do, I think we have a high level team. 2006 01:39:36.159 --> 01:39:39.399 What we haven't had I don't think is real consistency 2007 01:39:40.079 --> 01:39:42.920 through that. So you know, have the players played well 2008 01:39:42.960 --> 01:39:45.399 and then the next game played better and I like 2009 01:39:45.439 --> 01:39:47.239 I went back to I think some of that comes 2010 01:39:47.239 --> 01:39:49.000 through the fact that we were having to or the 2011 01:39:49.079 --> 01:39:52.880 decision was made to rotate so many players and lineups, 2012 01:39:52.880 --> 01:39:56.760 complete lineups through kN KAKAFT Champions Cup, so there just 2013 01:39:56.920 --> 01:40:00.680 has not been any sort of rhythm or flow amongst 2014 01:40:00.680 --> 01:40:05.119 the best starting eleven to really kind of establish how 2015 01:40:05.199 --> 01:40:06.760 we want to play and who we want to be. 2016 01:40:07.279 --> 01:40:09.079 I would also say that I think in many of 2017 01:40:09.079 --> 01:40:12.960 the games we have been making tactical adjustments very early 2018 01:40:13.000 --> 01:40:16.199 on or even going into the game that were skidding 2019 01:40:16.239 --> 01:40:19.359 away from a little bit about the identity and the 2020 01:40:19.399 --> 01:40:21.399 game model that we formulated last year. 2021 01:40:22.840 --> 01:40:27.159 So you referenced early earlier. It's not just the finishing 2022 01:40:27.239 --> 01:40:30.000 of the chances. It is the chances that are created, 2023 01:40:30.119 --> 01:40:33.079 and on paper, it feels like, you know, with Diogo 2024 01:40:33.199 --> 01:40:37.199 and Diego, you have two very dynamic chance creators. I 2025 01:40:37.239 --> 01:40:39.920 want to go individually with both of them, and I 2026 01:40:39.960 --> 01:40:42.680 want to talk about Diogo because on paper he is 2027 01:40:42.720 --> 01:40:46.279 your designated player. Are you getting what you need from 2028 01:40:46.279 --> 01:40:48.960 that silo based off of the paycheck he's receiving. 2029 01:40:50.279 --> 01:40:52.159 Would say that at the beginning of the season, I 2030 01:40:52.199 --> 01:40:54.840 felt like he was sended in a really, really good direction. 2031 01:40:56.439 --> 01:40:59.359 I felt like three games ago, like I said, at Houston, 2032 01:40:59.840 --> 01:41:02.359 he scored a goal. He then had a chance he 2033 01:41:02.399 --> 01:41:05.560 probably should have scored. Diego scored a goal. We were 2034 01:41:05.600 --> 01:41:09.000 getting to the final third very very well, and I 2035 01:41:09.039 --> 01:41:11.520 felt like he was really starting to perform at the 2036 01:41:11.640 --> 01:41:14.399 level that we had wanted him to. And then we 2037 01:41:14.479 --> 01:41:18.159 had in the twenty fifth minute a silly ejection at 2038 01:41:18.199 --> 01:41:21.560 home to Dallas, and then we went to Minnesota in 2039 01:41:21.600 --> 01:41:25.239 the frozen tundra and hurricane that was supposed to be 2040 01:41:25.319 --> 01:41:29.840 a soccer game, and those types of players are almost 2041 01:41:30.039 --> 01:41:33.760 never going to have really effective games in those types 2042 01:41:33.760 --> 01:41:37.119 of conditions. So for me, the pot I would go 2043 01:41:37.199 --> 01:41:39.159 back and just say, I think we're we were moving 2044 01:41:39.199 --> 01:41:41.840 in a really positive direction, and I'm going to Holt 2045 01:41:41.880 --> 01:41:45.319 that that's just roll right into things on Saturday, and 2046 01:41:45.319 --> 01:41:47.520 then he continues to move in a positive direction because 2047 01:41:47.520 --> 01:41:50.239 I think it's in there Diego. 2048 01:41:51.079 --> 01:41:54.359 You know, Pablo himself on the program has implied like 2049 01:41:54.439 --> 01:41:56.319 this is kind of his show. You know, he kind 2050 01:41:56.319 --> 01:41:59.399 of gets the keys to the Lamborghini and let's go. 2051 01:42:00.199 --> 01:42:02.840 And you know he's had some national team call ups 2052 01:42:02.880 --> 01:42:05.039 and to start the season he was wearing that mask 2053 01:42:05.119 --> 01:42:07.920 because of the broken nose, and look, there's still so 2054 01:42:08.159 --> 01:42:11.199 much quality. He's one of those players, like a hobber. 2055 01:42:11.399 --> 01:42:13.319 When they get on the ball, you just get excited. 2056 01:42:13.479 --> 01:42:15.079 You kind of sit up and perk up and watch 2057 01:42:15.079 --> 01:42:17.439 a little bit in a way that you don't prior 2058 01:42:17.479 --> 01:42:18.960 to him receiving possession. 2059 01:42:18.960 --> 01:42:21.479 Are you getting what you need this year from Diego Luna? 2060 01:42:22.560 --> 01:42:24.439 I would say half of the games we have and 2061 01:42:24.520 --> 01:42:27.159 half of the games we have not, and that is 2062 01:42:27.159 --> 01:42:29.680 to no fault of Diego's. But I do think that 2063 01:42:30.199 --> 01:42:33.079 the fact that he was without soccer for a month 2064 01:42:33.720 --> 01:42:36.119 because of the broken nose that he took with the 2065 01:42:36.239 --> 01:42:40.039 national team in January that set him back. Then you 2066 01:42:40.119 --> 01:42:42.520 had a player out there wearing a mask who admittedly 2067 01:42:42.680 --> 01:42:47.079 afterwards said I literally can't see. So a player that 2068 01:42:47.119 --> 01:42:48.840 plays in this position that needs to have a three 2069 01:42:48.920 --> 01:42:53.000 hundred and sixty degree perspective all the time that you're 2070 01:42:53.039 --> 01:42:56.000 asking a lot. So I think that affected his performances. 2071 01:42:56.279 --> 01:42:58.159 Then when he moves the mask. I thought he had 2072 01:42:58.199 --> 01:43:01.520 a couple of outstanding games and so again it's a 2073 01:43:01.520 --> 01:43:05.439 player for me that we know the potential, we know 2074 01:43:05.560 --> 01:43:08.680 the capabilities, it's just a matter of him starting to 2075 01:43:08.680 --> 01:43:11.920 put those performances together back to back to back. 2076 01:43:12.720 --> 01:43:16.039 Same question about Mark Zouke, who you know during the 2077 01:43:16.039 --> 01:43:19.119 summer window last year, after you guys brought them on board, 2078 01:43:19.680 --> 01:43:21.800 it didn't take very long to see like, all right, 2079 01:43:21.840 --> 01:43:24.199 there's something there. Okay, there's some juice there with this kid. 2080 01:43:24.319 --> 01:43:26.600 Are you getting what you need from him? 2081 01:43:27.119 --> 01:43:31.159 Again? I think, same exact answer. So now I think 2082 01:43:31.199 --> 01:43:33.880 we're coming up to the answers to some of our 2083 01:43:33.960 --> 01:43:37.399 questions about why we're not creating enough goal spun chances 2084 01:43:37.439 --> 01:43:40.439 or why perhaps we haven't scored enough goals. Because these 2085 01:43:40.439 --> 01:43:42.800 players that are in these positions that are supposed to 2086 01:43:42.800 --> 01:43:47.600 be lifting us and creating attacking, attacking chances and scoring 2087 01:43:47.640 --> 01:43:49.319 goals as well, by the way, we need goals out 2088 01:43:49.359 --> 01:43:52.239 of these three positions, their performances have been a little 2089 01:43:52.239 --> 01:43:54.680 bit inconsistent and a little bit spotty. And there's a 2090 01:43:54.720 --> 01:43:56.359 lot of reasons for that. We don't just keep the 2091 01:43:56.399 --> 01:43:59.319 blame on the players and say, well that's not good enough. 2092 01:43:59.399 --> 01:44:01.640 No need to look at the reasons. We need to 2093 01:44:01.680 --> 01:44:04.239 work with those players. We need to coax them. We 2094 01:44:04.279 --> 01:44:06.239 need to bring their performances up. We need to draw 2095 01:44:06.279 --> 01:44:08.359 all the consistency out of them. We need to give 2096 01:44:08.399 --> 01:44:11.680 them some confidence. This this isn't just about them, and 2097 01:44:11.720 --> 01:44:14.760 then we all walk away. We identify the problems and 2098 01:44:14.760 --> 01:44:17.840 then we try to we try to address solutions. 2099 01:44:18.039 --> 01:44:20.000 Could keep going down the list, but I'll just ask you. 2100 01:44:20.039 --> 01:44:22.239 Are you getting what you need from anybody on the 2101 01:44:22.279 --> 01:44:22.960 team right now? 2102 01:44:24.960 --> 01:44:27.359 Yes? We are. In fact, I think we have one 2103 01:44:27.479 --> 01:44:30.239 elite performer in the team and his name is Rafa 2104 01:44:30.319 --> 01:44:30.920 cabral Ye. 2105 01:44:33.680 --> 01:44:33.880 Yeah. 2106 01:44:33.920 --> 01:44:35.680 No, I think I think he's been dying to bite kid. 2107 01:44:36.920 --> 01:44:39.560 Help me understand. And it could be just me being 2108 01:44:39.640 --> 01:44:44.039 unfamiliar with this uh Sam Junco kid, But there's there 2109 01:44:44.119 --> 01:44:47.119 there's a lot to like about Alex in my opinion, 2110 01:44:47.119 --> 01:44:49.800 Alex Katrontas, I was unaware that we were going to 2111 01:44:49.840 --> 01:44:51.399 be kind of in a battle in that position. It 2112 01:44:51.439 --> 01:44:53.399 felt like Katronos had locked it in. Can you help 2113 01:44:53.439 --> 01:44:54.119 me understand that? 2114 01:44:55.319 --> 01:44:58.279 Yeah? And again, I think this goes straight to what 2115 01:44:58.359 --> 01:45:01.359 I said earlier. I think some of the issues we're 2116 01:45:01.359 --> 01:45:03.840 having is because the beginning of our season was so 2117 01:45:03.920 --> 01:45:06.680 tumultuous and tumultuous. I mean, what I mean exactly is 2118 01:45:06.960 --> 01:45:09.840 we had four games in two weeks. Like nobody starts 2119 01:45:09.840 --> 01:45:12.720 the soccer season that way. You just can't from a 2120 01:45:12.760 --> 01:45:15.960 physical perspective, you can't build the fitness, the base fitness 2121 01:45:16.039 --> 01:45:18.880 level to ask your players to play four games in 2122 01:45:18.880 --> 01:45:20.800 two weeks in the very first two two weeks in 2123 01:45:20.840 --> 01:45:23.479 the season. So the decision was made, Okay, we're going 2124 01:45:23.560 --> 01:45:26.199 to rotate whole sale. So it was like, well, here's 2125 01:45:26.239 --> 01:45:28.119 one eleven is going to play the Conker CAF, here's 2126 01:45:28.159 --> 01:45:30.960 the other level is the other eleven that's going to 2127 01:45:30.960 --> 01:45:34.279 play the MLS season. And so you know, part of 2128 01:45:34.319 --> 01:45:39.479 that decision to have two left backs was because last 2129 01:45:39.520 --> 01:45:42.960 year we felt like what we ask from a physical 2130 01:45:43.000 --> 01:45:47.640 perspective of that position is borderline in humane. So we 2131 01:45:48.359 --> 01:45:51.039 have to have we have to have multiple players to 2132 01:45:51.199 --> 01:45:53.319 use in that spot. I still think that we have 2133 01:45:53.399 --> 01:45:55.199 to have multiple players to use in that spot every 2134 01:45:55.239 --> 01:45:58.119 single game because of what we asked. I'm not sure 2135 01:45:58.159 --> 01:46:01.479 there's a human being, or not too many anyways, that 2136 01:46:01.520 --> 01:46:04.720 are capable of performing at a high level when you're 2137 01:46:04.760 --> 01:46:07.039 asked to sprint up and down the field for ninety 2138 01:46:07.079 --> 01:46:09.600 minutes and you have to be on the highest line 2139 01:46:09.600 --> 01:46:12.079 in the attack and on the lowest line in defense. 2140 01:46:12.159 --> 01:46:16.000 So we brought in another player in fam to help 2141 01:46:16.079 --> 01:46:19.439 us alleviate some of that and compete with Alex. And 2142 01:46:19.479 --> 01:46:23.520 so I think that competition is one that is, you know, 2143 01:46:23.560 --> 01:46:26.720 it's pretty obviously open right now. The coaches have looked 2144 01:46:26.760 --> 01:46:29.840 at both players for a lot of minutes, and I'm 2145 01:46:29.880 --> 01:46:32.520 not sure that either player has really put their best 2146 01:46:32.520 --> 01:46:35.800 foot forward and said and essentially said to the coaches, 2147 01:46:35.920 --> 01:46:37.479 You're not going to get a choice because I'm going 2148 01:46:37.520 --> 01:46:39.279 to own this position, all. 2149 01:46:39.199 --> 01:46:41.720 Right, final one here, because I will ask you about 2150 01:46:41.840 --> 01:46:44.920 I'll say the two nines on the roster with respect 2151 01:46:44.920 --> 01:46:47.279 to the brave kid who came in as a sub 2152 01:46:48.000 --> 01:46:52.119 Piole got the red against Dallas out against Minnesota. Forrester 2153 01:46:52.439 --> 01:46:54.880 has been more or less the first choice nine, more 2154 01:46:54.960 --> 01:46:57.520 or less. But those are your two preferred nines as 2155 01:46:57.520 --> 01:46:59.600 of now. What do you see from them that at 2156 01:46:59.680 --> 01:47:02.479 least if you hope that they can maybe play better 2157 01:47:02.479 --> 01:47:05.640 as we step forward, You know, I. 2158 01:47:05.600 --> 01:47:07.239 Think I would I would want to go back just 2159 01:47:07.279 --> 01:47:09.760 a little bit here, Spence and say that that it's 2160 01:47:10.000 --> 01:47:14.800 it's not everybody's opinion that that and certainly I bet 2161 01:47:14.840 --> 01:47:17.439 you if you asked Hisses Breer, he'd tell you he 2162 01:47:17.560 --> 01:47:21.399 is a nine. He has some some capabilities to play 2163 01:47:21.479 --> 01:47:24.039 like a ten as well, but in college he played 2164 01:47:24.119 --> 01:47:27.800 majority as a nine, and so I see I see 2165 01:47:27.880 --> 01:47:30.960 qualities in him. Not not from a physical perspective, because 2166 01:47:30.960 --> 01:47:32.920 he's not a tall guy and he's not a super 2167 01:47:32.920 --> 01:47:35.359 fast guy, but he is a guy that's really good 2168 01:47:35.399 --> 01:47:37.159 around the goal, and he is a guy that's really 2169 01:47:37.199 --> 01:47:39.439 good with his hold up play, and on top of that, 2170 01:47:39.479 --> 01:47:42.359 he's really good at combining with other players around him. 2171 01:47:42.720 --> 01:47:45.600 I think he has similar characteristics to what I I 2172 01:47:45.720 --> 01:47:48.640 used to play as a striker, so he's a little 2173 01:47:48.680 --> 01:47:51.159 bit different, but I wouldn't I wouldn't qualify him as 2174 01:47:51.199 --> 01:47:53.359 a as a false nine in the way that Lionel 2175 01:47:53.439 --> 01:47:56.680 Messi has been asked to play that position. So I 2176 01:47:56.720 --> 01:47:59.600 see three three three players there. I think all of 2177 01:47:59.640 --> 01:48:02.840 them have had moments where you're like, oh, this looks 2178 01:48:02.840 --> 01:48:05.520 really good, and then all of them have had moments 2179 01:48:05.600 --> 01:48:08.520 like Wow, this looks really bad. And that's just part 2180 01:48:08.560 --> 01:48:11.880 of being young players. So you know, we have to 2181 01:48:12.039 --> 01:48:15.079 again appreciate who we are here. We are a club 2182 01:48:15.239 --> 01:48:18.000 that develops players. We are not a club that goes 2183 01:48:18.039 --> 01:48:21.039 out and signs ten million dollars forwards. We're a club 2184 01:48:21.079 --> 01:48:23.359 that goes out and signs players and turns them into 2185 01:48:23.399 --> 01:48:27.479 ten million dollars forwards. So are feel like he's the 2186 01:48:27.479 --> 01:48:30.359 one I was referencing against Houston. I thought he was 2187 01:48:30.399 --> 01:48:34.159 fantastic for you know, the seventy minutes that he played 2188 01:48:34.199 --> 01:48:36.800 and they subp them out for Forrester. But I thought 2189 01:48:36.840 --> 01:48:38.720 he really didn't put us so wrong. He was doing 2190 01:48:38.760 --> 01:48:41.520 everything that we asked off are nine. He just hadn't 2191 01:48:41.520 --> 01:48:42.800 had a goal in the game, but he had a 2192 01:48:42.840 --> 01:48:43.600 couple of chances. 2193 01:48:44.640 --> 01:48:46.520 Do you get nervous when you see me walk into 2194 01:48:46.520 --> 01:48:49.359 the one hundred lions dinner? Do? I? 2195 01:48:49.680 --> 01:48:50.600 No, absolutely not. 2196 01:48:50.720 --> 01:48:52.800 You make things Sonner, Okay, I felt like you were 2197 01:48:52.800 --> 01:48:55.000 mad at me after I peppered youth questions. But look 2198 01:48:55.359 --> 01:48:57.840 know what, okay, what good to hear? Good to hear man, 2199 01:48:57.920 --> 01:49:00.720 Thank you for the time. We'll be pulling for your Saturday, 2200 01:49:00.800 --> 01:49:02.039 and yeah, well chat soon. 2201 01:49:02.079 --> 01:49:04.880 Thanks check appreciate it. Guys, take all right. 2202 01:49:05.039 --> 01:49:08.439 RSL in action On Saturday, they welcome in the LA Galaxy, 2203 01:49:08.479 --> 01:49:11.399 who won MLS couple year ago. The Galaxy are off 2204 01:49:11.399 --> 01:49:13.600 to the worst start in the history of their organization. 2205 01:49:13.800 --> 01:49:16.960 They have zero wins, which quick math tells me is 2206 01:49:17.000 --> 01:49:19.439 not good, four losses, two draws. They have not won 2207 01:49:19.560 --> 01:49:22.439 yet this year, so hopefully oursel can get back to 2208 01:49:22.479 --> 01:49:24.640 their winning ways. Coming up Saturday with a two thirty 2209 01:49:24.720 --> 01:49:27.359 KICKARSL dot com is where you go for single game 2210 01:49:27.399 --> 01:49:30.359 and season tickets. A little rain a little earlier here 2211 01:49:30.399 --> 01:49:31.640 in downtown Salt Lake City. 2212 01:49:31.720 --> 01:49:32.880 Talk pretty chilly outside. 2213 01:49:32.920 --> 01:49:36.119 It's about forty forty one degrees as we make our 2214 01:49:36.159 --> 01:49:38.800 way towards the weekend. But as it is every single day, 2215 01:49:38.800 --> 01:49:40.680 it's good to have you guys along for the ride. 2216 01:49:40.720 --> 01:49:42.199 My name is Spence check Its. 2217 01:49:42.399 --> 01:49:45.239 The name of this program is The Drive with Spence 2218 01:49:45.319 --> 01:49:47.800 Checkets on ESPN seven hundred and ninety two NFM. We 2219 01:49:47.840 --> 01:49:50.840 are proud to be part of Utah's ESPN Radio network. 2220 01:49:50.880 --> 01:49:53.960 We've had a very busy show today. About an hour 2221 01:49:54.039 --> 01:49:56.560 left in the program today and then we'll break into 2222 01:49:56.600 --> 01:49:57.760 a little Grizzlies hockey. 2223 01:49:57.840 --> 01:50:00.279 Excuse jeuse me, Grizzlies basketball, Grizzly heat. 2224 01:50:00.279 --> 01:50:03.159 Tonight fun night in the NBA, we actually have a 2225 01:50:03.199 --> 01:50:06.279 game that matters between two good teams that actually are 2226 01:50:06.319 --> 01:50:08.800 employing basketball players that want to play basketball. 2227 01:50:09.000 --> 01:50:10.800 The Warriors and the Lakers tonight. 2228 01:50:11.199 --> 01:50:13.199 Both those two teams trying to jockey to stay in 2229 01:50:13.199 --> 01:50:16.319 that top six and therefore avoid the play in tournament. 2230 01:50:17.319 --> 01:50:21.119 The Jazz were smoked last night by the Houston Rockets. 2231 01:50:21.159 --> 01:50:23.680 They are going to be an action tomorrow against the 2232 01:50:23.680 --> 01:50:26.720 Indiana Pacers. Craig Bowler, Jack from the Road, will stop 2233 01:50:26.760 --> 01:50:29.199 by today to give us all the latest on the 2234 01:50:29.319 --> 01:50:33.560 Utah Jazz is. They're jockeying with the Washington Wizards for 2235 01:50:33.680 --> 01:50:35.520 the worst record in the NBA for the right to 2236 01:50:35.520 --> 01:50:39.319 get the number one overall pick and then hopefully draft 2237 01:50:39.399 --> 01:50:41.920 Cooper Flag. The five o'clock out of the program today 2238 01:50:42.000 --> 01:50:45.479 is brought to you by IFA Country Stores. It's going 2239 01:50:45.520 --> 01:50:47.399 to get a warm outside at some point. If you're 2240 01:50:47.399 --> 01:50:49.800 new to our fine market, this is kind of the deal. 2241 01:50:50.079 --> 01:50:52.239 You never know when it comes to March and spring weather, 2242 01:50:52.319 --> 01:50:55.159 and sometimes May and April and June, you never know. Okay, 2243 01:50:55.239 --> 01:50:57.960 So it'll get warm. Time now to start thinking about 2244 01:50:58.000 --> 01:51:00.760 your lawn to take care of it. So when he 2245 01:51:00.880 --> 01:51:03.479 drive to the basket begins with the first step on 2246 01:51:03.600 --> 01:51:06.399 the cord. That's the ultimate power move. IFA Step one 2247 01:51:06.479 --> 01:51:09.520 Crabgrass preventer and Lown Food is the first choice to 2248 01:51:09.520 --> 01:51:12.159 give your yard the healthy, thick green look you desire. 2249 01:51:12.640 --> 01:51:15.560 The neighbors will be green with NV shop ifan line 2250 01:51:15.640 --> 01:51:17.880 at IFA dot co op or stop by one of 2251 01:51:17.880 --> 01:51:21.680 their eighteen Utah locations. Started things off with Neil Smith 2252 01:51:21.720 --> 01:51:24.960 today to kind of preview tonight's Utah Hockey Club game. 2253 01:51:25.039 --> 01:51:27.800 There is one local team in action tonight, that is 2254 01:51:27.840 --> 01:51:31.479 the Utah Hockey Club. They welcome in the La Kings 2255 01:51:32.119 --> 01:51:35.159 for a seven o'clock drop of the puck here at 2256 01:51:35.199 --> 01:51:38.000 the Delta Center in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. The 2257 01:51:38.079 --> 01:51:40.560 Kings are a really good team hockey club. They won 2258 01:51:40.600 --> 01:51:42.920 a couple of straight games, but they're not going to 2259 01:51:42.960 --> 01:51:46.600 make the wild card this year. We talked about this 2260 01:51:46.720 --> 01:51:50.239 couple weeks ago, even when they were three four points 2261 01:51:50.279 --> 01:51:52.920 back of the final wildcard spot, before the Saint Louis 2262 01:51:52.960 --> 01:51:56.800 Blues just took off. Lose have won ten straight games, 2263 01:51:56.840 --> 01:52:00.439 they have run their differential to plus eighteen, and right 2264 01:52:00.439 --> 01:52:03.199 now the hockey club nine points beyond both the Blues 2265 01:52:03.279 --> 01:52:06.319 and the Wild looks like the Blues in the Wild 2266 01:52:06.359 --> 01:52:08.920 are going to be the two wildcard teams. The Flames 2267 01:52:08.960 --> 01:52:11.479 do have two games in hand. Hockey Club Club beat 2268 01:52:11.520 --> 01:52:15.000 the Flames the other night. Flames are seven points beyond 2269 01:52:15.000 --> 01:52:16.439 both the Blues and the wild so it looks like 2270 01:52:16.479 --> 01:52:18.920 they're going to run away with it. The La Kings 2271 01:52:19.000 --> 01:52:21.680 right now are second in the Pacific. They are five 2272 01:52:21.720 --> 01:52:24.520 points behind the Vegas Golden Knights. The Golden Knights have 2273 01:52:24.640 --> 01:52:27.079 locked in a playoff spot, the Jets and the Stars. 2274 01:52:27.560 --> 01:52:30.039 Winnipeg Jets and the Dallas Stars have also locked in 2275 01:52:30.039 --> 01:52:33.119 playoff spots. Were the real chaos now exists in the 2276 01:52:33.159 --> 01:52:37.199 East with the wildcard race. There, the Rangers are tied 2277 01:52:37.199 --> 01:52:39.840 with the Canadians at seventy nine points. Both those two 2278 01:52:39.920 --> 01:52:44.279 teams are five points beyond the Ottawa Senators. The Columbia 2279 01:52:44.319 --> 01:52:46.760 Blue Jackets are two points beyond both the Rangers and 2280 01:52:46.800 --> 01:52:49.439 the Canadians. In the West, it seems like everything is 2281 01:52:49.479 --> 01:52:53.119 pretty much settled in Hockey Club did announce that after 2282 01:52:53.159 --> 01:52:57.399 their final home game of the regular season, as there's 2283 01:52:57.399 --> 01:53:00.199 only a handful of games left, they will handle out 2284 01:53:00.239 --> 01:53:02.439 their team awards. The final home game is going to 2285 01:53:02.439 --> 01:53:06.000 be Thursday, April the tenth. Nashville is in town, so 2286 01:53:06.039 --> 01:53:08.199 something to look forward to if you're a Utah hockey 2287 01:53:08.239 --> 01:53:09.920 club fan. But if you're going to the game tonight, 2288 01:53:10.000 --> 01:53:13.000 be safe and enjoy it, as only a handful of 2289 01:53:13.039 --> 01:53:16.640 games left before our first season as a hockey market 2290 01:53:16.840 --> 01:53:18.880 will be behind us. So that's kind of the main 2291 01:53:19.000 --> 01:53:22.880 local storyline today. We also brought in Howard back for 2292 01:53:22.880 --> 01:53:26.279 a little NBA basketball again. Kind of a big night tonight, 2293 01:53:26.359 --> 01:53:30.119 certainly on TNT where they will have Memphis Miami first. 2294 01:53:30.239 --> 01:53:32.000 You're going to hear that on our radio station. 2295 01:53:32.119 --> 01:53:33.920 Then the late night game will be Golden State and 2296 01:53:33.960 --> 01:53:36.079 the Lakers, and it is kind of a sneaky big game. 2297 01:53:36.119 --> 01:53:39.000 We only have five or six games left in the 2298 01:53:39.119 --> 01:53:42.720 NBA as the playoff chases behind us. As far as 2299 01:53:42.720 --> 01:53:45.920 the college basketball storylines, we discussed this a little bit earlier, 2300 01:53:46.359 --> 01:53:50.079 starting today. It's what it is what is known as 2301 01:53:50.159 --> 01:53:53.760 a dead period in college recruiting. On the basketball side, 2302 01:53:53.800 --> 01:53:57.760 it simply means there are no visits allowed in person, 2303 01:53:57.920 --> 01:54:01.319 no on campus visits. The University of Utah found out 2304 01:54:01.439 --> 01:54:04.600 yesterday that Keanu DAEs has removed his name from the 2305 01:54:04.640 --> 01:54:08.199 transfer portal and he will come back and play basketball 2306 01:54:08.239 --> 01:54:12.520 for Alex Jensen, Raphael Chileus, Wes Wilcox. But because it 2307 01:54:12.640 --> 01:54:15.159 is a dead period right now, we probably won't hear 2308 01:54:15.199 --> 01:54:18.479 a ton of news now. Terrence Brown is a transfer 2309 01:54:18.520 --> 01:54:21.279 from Fairleigh Dickinson. He was a twenty point per game 2310 01:54:21.359 --> 01:54:24.520 score a year ago for FDU, and there's a report 2311 01:54:24.520 --> 01:54:26.640 out there that he met with the Utah coaching staff 2312 01:54:26.680 --> 01:54:30.520 today via zoom. Okay, so we are still waiting word. 2313 01:54:30.960 --> 01:54:33.000 We only know that Hunter Erickson is going to spend 2314 01:54:33.039 --> 01:54:35.439 his final year in college in Hawaii as he should. 2315 01:54:35.520 --> 01:54:38.399 Good for him, and then Keanu DAEs is coming back 2316 01:54:38.439 --> 01:54:39.960 to play for Alex and his staff. 2317 01:54:41.000 --> 01:54:42.000 No news on. 2318 01:54:42.079 --> 01:54:45.439 Players like Jake Walleen or Miro Little or any of 2319 01:54:45.479 --> 01:54:47.439 the other players that have put their names in the 2320 01:54:47.479 --> 01:54:48.279 transfer portal. 2321 01:54:48.279 --> 01:54:50.880 Ezrasar is another name to watch for. 2322 01:54:51.359 --> 01:54:53.359 You think a lot of people believe that as is 2323 01:54:53.399 --> 01:54:55.520 a guy that AJ should look at to bring back 2324 01:54:55.520 --> 01:54:58.399 to play for the Utes next year, But no official 2325 01:54:58.439 --> 01:55:00.720 word just yet. Of course, if anything our way, we 2326 01:55:00.760 --> 01:55:02.960 will bring it to you Prior to signing off air 2327 01:55:03.600 --> 01:55:07.880 at seven o'clock tonight, BYU found out yesterday that Dallan 2328 01:55:07.960 --> 01:55:11.680 Hall has entered the transfer portal, joining Kennon Catchings. 2329 01:55:12.760 --> 01:55:15.600 So we'll have to wait to see where Dallen ends up. 2330 01:55:15.640 --> 01:55:18.039 I think Dallen leaves BYU as a player that should 2331 01:55:18.039 --> 01:55:20.640 be looked at as a real legend in a lot 2332 01:55:20.680 --> 01:55:23.399 of ways, a key coog for two NCAA tournament teams, 2333 01:55:23.439 --> 01:55:25.920 one of the first choice players off the bench for 2334 01:55:26.039 --> 01:55:28.159 Kevin Young for a team that went to the Sweet sixteen, 2335 01:55:28.279 --> 01:55:31.079 something that BYU has only done I think three times 2336 01:55:31.800 --> 01:55:35.640 in their history. BYU of course holds the unfortunate honor 2337 01:55:35.760 --> 01:55:38.640 of making the NCAA Tournament more times than any team 2338 01:55:38.640 --> 01:55:42.960 without advancing to the Final four. With aj Debanza in 2339 01:55:43.039 --> 01:55:45.720 the fold, with his Xavion Stanton kid from Vegas in 2340 01:55:45.760 --> 01:55:48.239 the fold, and the potential to bring back a bulk 2341 01:55:48.279 --> 01:55:50.840 of their roster, I think BYU could start pre season 2342 01:55:50.920 --> 01:55:54.880 top ten, top fifteen thereabouts. There are a lot of 2343 01:55:54.920 --> 01:55:59.159 conversations about negotiations, and that's what's happening now. These are 2344 01:55:59.239 --> 01:56:02.920 negotiations when it comes to trying to get these young 2345 01:56:02.960 --> 01:56:06.520 players come back and play for you, and BYU apparently 2346 01:56:06.640 --> 01:56:10.960 is prepared to pay Richie Sonders seven figures to come 2347 01:56:11.000 --> 01:56:14.239 back and play for them, which makes sense. Richie Sonders 2348 01:56:14.279 --> 01:56:16.239 played like a player that could start for some of 2349 01:56:16.239 --> 01:56:20.000 the elite teams in all of college basketball, and against Alabama, 2350 01:56:20.119 --> 01:56:22.239 he was like the only one that looked like he belonged. 2351 01:56:22.680 --> 01:56:25.000 And against some of the other teams at BYU faced 2352 01:56:25.000 --> 01:56:28.520 this year where they had elite strength and athleticism, Richie 2353 01:56:28.560 --> 01:56:31.279 was kind of the guy who shined. So what does 2354 01:56:31.319 --> 01:56:33.199 it mean for Richie Saunders, who at the age of 2355 01:56:33.239 --> 01:56:37.199 twenty three might be very ready to come back, or 2356 01:56:37.199 --> 01:56:38.880 excuse me, it might be very ready to get his 2357 01:56:39.000 --> 01:56:43.079 NBA experience started because the timeline. I mean, look, remember 2358 01:56:43.239 --> 01:56:46.840 Cooper Flag, this prospect who everybody is going all in 2359 01:56:46.880 --> 01:56:48.840 on to try to lose games in order to draft. 2360 01:56:48.920 --> 01:56:52.840 Cooper reclassified he turned eighteen, like three and a half 2361 01:56:52.880 --> 01:56:55.239 months ago. He should be a senior in high school. 2362 01:56:55.880 --> 01:56:58.720 And the deal is, if you're a college basketball player 2363 01:56:58.720 --> 01:57:00.840 with the NBA interest, you want to get the clock 2364 01:57:00.920 --> 01:57:04.640 ticking as soon as you possibly can on simply your 2365 01:57:04.680 --> 01:57:06.680 contracts so you can get to your first max deal 2366 01:57:06.720 --> 01:57:07.720 as soon as possible. 2367 01:57:08.079 --> 01:57:10.359 And I just have to wonder if Richie. 2368 01:57:10.039 --> 01:57:13.319 Saunders at the age of twenty three, is eager to 2369 01:57:13.399 --> 01:57:16.880 get that thing going, if he does get the feedback 2370 01:57:17.199 --> 01:57:20.199 during the pre draft process, and my guess is Richie 2371 01:57:20.279 --> 01:57:23.760 will go through the process just like Diegor Demon will 2372 01:57:23.920 --> 01:57:26.039 just like Brandon Carlson from the Utes did a couple 2373 01:57:26.079 --> 01:57:29.239 of years ago before deciding to come back. You go 2374 01:57:29.279 --> 01:57:32.880 through this draft process and you have the opportunity to 2375 01:57:32.920 --> 01:57:38.119 get invaluable feedback from pro scouts, pro coaches, pro general managers, 2376 01:57:38.319 --> 01:57:42.079 NBA front office people that will tell you exactly what 2377 01:57:42.159 --> 01:57:44.800 they think about your chances of being a pro and 2378 01:57:44.840 --> 01:57:46.840 they'll let you know whether or not you have a 2379 01:57:46.920 --> 01:57:49.960 chance to be drafted in the first round or even 2380 01:57:49.960 --> 01:57:52.520 if you're drafting the second round. But if Richie Saunders 2381 01:57:52.600 --> 01:57:56.000 goes throughout the pre draft process and the feedback is 2382 01:57:56.039 --> 01:57:59.760 your late second rounder undrafted, he could make more money 2383 01:58:00.039 --> 01:58:04.039 staying at BYU as opposed to leaving and trying his 2384 01:58:04.119 --> 01:58:08.479 hand at the pros. Conversations about whether players like Dawson Baker, 2385 01:58:08.840 --> 01:58:13.239 Mihailo Boskovich, that kid apparently is getting some nil interest. 2386 01:58:13.600 --> 01:58:16.279 Yegor Demon I think is probably gone. That's just my 2387 01:58:16.439 --> 01:58:20.119 gut because unlike Richie, Yegor is a first round lock, 2388 01:58:20.199 --> 01:58:22.159 and he might be a lottery lock depending on the 2389 01:58:22.159 --> 01:58:25.159 max you're looking at. Early on in the season, he 2390 01:58:25.239 --> 01:58:28.760 was struggling to make his threes and his outside shot 2391 01:58:28.800 --> 01:58:32.039 didn't look great, and he really cowered away from pressure 2392 01:58:32.199 --> 01:58:35.439 from teams like Iowa State or teams like Houston. I 2393 01:58:35.439 --> 01:58:37.680 think that affected his stock a little bit. Yegor at 2394 01:58:37.680 --> 01:58:39.640 this point, at the age of nineteen, is certainly a 2395 01:58:39.680 --> 01:58:43.039 prospect that you draft as a project, a player that 2396 01:58:43.119 --> 01:58:46.319 might play for you in three, four, five years BYU 2397 01:58:46.520 --> 01:58:49.960 will lose Trevin Nell, Mowatt mag as well as Fos 2398 01:58:50.000 --> 01:58:52.920 Treori and Trey Stewart. Those are the players that are graduating. 2399 01:58:53.920 --> 01:58:57.159 But what does it mean for a player like Kaba Keta. 2400 01:58:57.399 --> 01:58:59.640 Will KBA come back? Looks like he's probably got the 2401 01:58:59.680 --> 01:59:03.079 inside track to start for them at center. Canon Catchings 2402 01:59:03.119 --> 01:59:05.840 is rumored to be looking at North Carolina, and with 2403 01:59:05.960 --> 01:59:08.920 aj Debansa coming into the fold and the potential of 2404 01:59:09.000 --> 01:59:11.239 Richie Saunders coming back, this could be a case where 2405 01:59:11.239 --> 01:59:14.760 there just simply was not enough minutes for Cannon Catchings, 2406 01:59:14.760 --> 01:59:16.760 who has pro basketball potential and. 2407 01:59:16.720 --> 01:59:18.359 A desire to play in the NBA. 2408 01:59:18.560 --> 01:59:20.800 But as far as the college basketball recruiting news, it's 2409 01:59:20.840 --> 01:59:22.239 going to be quiet for a little bit at least, 2410 01:59:22.239 --> 01:59:24.359 that's my guest as a result of this quote unquote 2411 01:59:24.399 --> 01:59:30.000 dead period where you cannot have players on campus for 2412 01:59:30.159 --> 01:59:32.560 in person visits right now, it's all zoom calls, it's 2413 01:59:32.600 --> 01:59:36.119 all you know, virtual meetings, and we'll see if AJ 2414 01:59:36.319 --> 01:59:40.039 and his staff announce any players from the transfer portal 2415 01:59:40.119 --> 01:59:42.319 signing to play for the Utes. Of course, we'll be 2416 01:59:42.399 --> 01:59:46.720 tracking that interesting peace today from Jeremy Wu on ESPN 2417 01:59:46.800 --> 01:59:50.039 dot com. So, if you've listened to the show in 2418 01:59:50.039 --> 01:59:52.359 the past, first of all, thank you for that. Continue 2419 01:59:52.359 --> 01:59:54.720 to do that. We need your support, We like your support. 2420 01:59:54.760 --> 01:59:58.439 We appreciate your support. I don't love the player comp thing. 2421 01:59:58.640 --> 02:00:01.199 I don't love comparing the play in college to a 2422 02:00:01.199 --> 02:00:03.199 player that plays in the pros or used to play 2423 02:00:03.239 --> 02:00:07.159 in the pros. I just think it gives I think 2424 02:00:07.159 --> 02:00:10.840 it gives the fan base unrealistic expectations. If you're expecting 2425 02:00:10.880 --> 02:00:14.520 a prospect to be a generational player right away, reminds 2426 02:00:14.560 --> 02:00:17.000 you that there are very few eighteen year olds like 2427 02:00:17.359 --> 02:00:20.560 Cooper Flag, who is eighteen, who look like they belong 2428 02:00:20.680 --> 02:00:21.119 right away. 2429 02:00:21.159 --> 02:00:24.399 In fact, the list is very short. It's the unicorns. 2430 02:00:24.439 --> 02:00:29.359 It's guys like Lebron Garnett, who Tom Haberstrow has compared 2431 02:00:29.359 --> 02:00:32.560 Cooper Flag to had a good rookie season at the 2432 02:00:32.600 --> 02:00:35.119 age of eighteen, but didn't burst on the scene as 2433 02:00:35.159 --> 02:00:38.159 the ticket, as the KG that we all became to know, 2434 02:00:38.720 --> 02:00:40.960 we all kind of came to know and love as 2435 02:00:40.960 --> 02:00:45.520 an NBA player. So Jeremy went throughout his business of 2436 02:00:45.560 --> 02:00:49.279 talking to NBA scouts about who Cooper Flag reminds them of. 2437 02:00:49.359 --> 02:00:53.039 And as a Jazz fan, I continue to say, if 2438 02:00:53.039 --> 02:00:54.640 you want to know why the Jazz are doing what 2439 02:00:54.680 --> 02:00:57.600 they're doing, it's the right thing to do with the 2440 02:00:57.640 --> 02:01:02.239 infrastructure of what pro basketball offers, with the incentive structure 2441 02:01:02.279 --> 02:01:05.399 that the NBA is built. If you're the Utah Jazz, 2442 02:01:06.079 --> 02:01:07.840 you should have done this two years ago. But it's 2443 02:01:07.920 --> 02:01:10.680 better late than never. And I just think they've become 2444 02:01:10.720 --> 02:01:14.079 resigned to the fact that whether it's the modern day 2445 02:01:14.199 --> 02:01:16.600 and age of the NBA or simply what the NBA 2446 02:01:16.760 --> 02:01:19.319 is and has always been, if you're going to build 2447 02:01:19.319 --> 02:01:22.119 this thing, there is not a magic bullet. There's no 2448 02:01:22.279 --> 02:01:24.800 big game hunting. My guess is Danny Ainge will never 2449 02:01:24.920 --> 02:01:28.560 utter that phrase again. After they said we're going big 2450 02:01:28.560 --> 02:01:32.600 game hunting and then two months later signed Drew Vubanks. Right, 2451 02:01:33.600 --> 02:01:36.560 there are rumors that for whatever reason, people down there 2452 02:01:36.560 --> 02:01:38.680 thought that they could trade for mckel Bridges and sign 2453 02:01:38.720 --> 02:01:41.600 Paul George. I don't know what level of delusion that was, 2454 02:01:42.319 --> 02:01:46.199 but they clearly have been resigned to this reality that 2455 02:01:46.399 --> 02:01:50.560 in the infrastructure of the NBA and with the way 2456 02:01:50.600 --> 02:01:52.720 that the league is set up, this might be their 2457 02:01:52.760 --> 02:01:56.279 only chance possible. And I will say this if May 2458 02:01:56.319 --> 02:01:59.239 twelfth comes and goes and we're all watching the lottery 2459 02:01:59.399 --> 02:02:01.439 and the Jazz do win the thing for the first 2460 02:02:01.479 --> 02:02:04.560 time in jazz history. The Jazz have never had the 2461 02:02:04.800 --> 02:02:07.000 Lady Luck shot upon them, They've never had the ping 2462 02:02:07.079 --> 02:02:10.479 pong balls bounce their way. And if they do, I 2463 02:02:10.600 --> 02:02:13.199 will say that this has all been worth it, even 2464 02:02:13.199 --> 02:02:16.199 though it sucks. They're doing the right thing. It's just 2465 02:02:16.359 --> 02:02:19.159 really hard. So the comps that Jeremy goes over and 2466 02:02:19.199 --> 02:02:21.039 I'll encourage you to go to ESPN dot com to 2467 02:02:21.119 --> 02:02:22.840 read it if you want to learn more about Cooper 2468 02:02:22.840 --> 02:02:25.840 flag Kawhi Leonard is one that we've heard quite a bit. 2469 02:02:26.079 --> 02:02:27.399 He talks about lamar Odom. 2470 02:02:27.439 --> 02:02:29.720 Now before you roll your eyes, lamar Odom coming out 2471 02:02:29.720 --> 02:02:32.039 of high school and college was thought to be generational. 2472 02:02:32.520 --> 02:02:34.920 He just had some off court issues. They never really 2473 02:02:34.920 --> 02:02:37.039 fully allowed him to live up to his potential. But 2474 02:02:37.079 --> 02:02:39.680 he did have a good NBA career. I had never 2475 02:02:39.720 --> 02:02:41.920 heard the Jason Tatum comp, which I kind of like. 2476 02:02:42.000 --> 02:02:44.279 And Jason Tatum, of course a Boston Celtic who was 2477 02:02:44.359 --> 02:02:48.039 drafted by Danny Ainge. There's a Scottie Pippin' comp out there. 2478 02:02:48.119 --> 02:02:50.880 The one that I don't love is Andre Andre Kierlinko. 2479 02:02:51.640 --> 02:02:53.720 It feels like those are scouts that are looking at 2480 02:02:53.760 --> 02:02:56.159 measurables and measurements and just like, yeah, he's white, he 2481 02:02:56.239 --> 02:02:59.079 must be playing like Andre Kerlinko. Andre was a really 2482 02:02:59.119 --> 02:03:03.159 good player, an excellent player. But if you're drafting somebody 2483 02:03:03.239 --> 02:03:05.960 number one overall, you just want to make sure that 2484 02:03:05.960 --> 02:03:08.720 it's a better situation than drafting the next Andrea Karlko. 2485 02:03:08.760 --> 02:03:10.520 I'll due respect to Aka, who is a good player 2486 02:03:10.520 --> 02:03:13.079 here for a long time. So ESPN dot com is 2487 02:03:13.079 --> 02:03:15.399 where you find it. Good story by Jeremy Wu on 2488 02:03:15.479 --> 02:03:18.760 the pro comps for Cooper Flag. You know I'm okay, 2489 02:03:18.880 --> 02:03:21.319 Porter If a day in April feels like April, I 2490 02:03:21.399 --> 02:03:24.439 just don't need a day in April feeling like December 2491 02:03:24.520 --> 02:03:25.199 or February. 2492 02:03:25.479 --> 02:03:28.119 And it also kind of throws you for a loop 2493 02:03:28.119 --> 02:03:30.920 when you don't know what it's gonna look like when 2494 02:03:30.920 --> 02:03:33.039 you wake up and then two hours later it's sunny. 2495 02:03:33.399 --> 02:03:35.159 You go for a walk in the morning and it's 2496 02:03:35.239 --> 02:03:39.560 like nice seventy degrees, and then you're you know, you're 2497 02:03:39.640 --> 02:03:42.600 up for a little walk, and all of a sudden, 2498 02:03:42.680 --> 02:03:45.960 it's a blizzard that is springing Utah. So I guess 2499 02:03:46.000 --> 02:03:47.600 if you're not used to it, you haven't been here real. 2500 02:03:48.159 --> 02:03:52.600 Jan Brownstein, who kind of is in charge of the 2501 02:03:52.640 --> 02:03:57.560 golf portion of the radio station, has brought in our 2502 02:03:57.600 --> 02:04:01.239 list of golf courses. We are going to be giving 2503 02:04:01.279 --> 02:04:05.159 away rounds two starting on April the seventh. And all 2504 02:04:05.159 --> 02:04:07.560 it does today is depressed me because I look at 2505 02:04:07.560 --> 02:04:09.079 that list. I'm like, I want to play there. I 2506 02:04:09.079 --> 02:04:10.720 want to play there. I want I'm ready to get 2507 02:04:10.720 --> 02:04:11.199 out and play. 2508 02:04:11.439 --> 02:04:16.000 You're close, You're you're getting very close to that time. Obviously, 2509 02:04:16.039 --> 02:04:18.119 some of those courses are open, some of them are 2510 02:04:19.159 --> 02:04:22.680 ready for play, but I bet all of them will 2511 02:04:22.720 --> 02:04:24.520 be here in the next couple of weeks. 2512 02:04:25.000 --> 02:04:27.880 Well, we'll have to see. It's the Valero Texas Open 2513 02:04:28.000 --> 02:04:28.439 right now. 2514 02:04:28.479 --> 02:04:32.439 It's the final tune up before the Masters Augusta coming 2515 02:04:32.520 --> 02:04:34.800 up next week. Tony is in a good position at 2516 02:04:34.840 --> 02:04:38.079 the Valero. He's got a good year, so hopefully Tony 2517 02:04:38.079 --> 02:04:41.479 can show well at Augusta. Did you ever watch the 2518 02:04:41.600 --> 02:04:43.319 McDonald's All American Game growing up? 2519 02:04:43.399 --> 02:04:43.640 Yeah? 2520 02:04:43.880 --> 02:04:47.720 Yeah, I watched it pretty pretty intently. 2521 02:04:48.159 --> 02:04:51.479 I would say, I want to say. 2522 02:04:51.319 --> 02:04:55.800 Up until I was out of high school. I guess 2523 02:04:56.680 --> 02:04:59.760 it kind of kind of plays into you're really into 2524 02:04:59.760 --> 02:05:03.479 the mc donald's All American Game when you're you know, 2525 02:05:03.560 --> 02:05:08.840 thirteen fourteen and there's au ball going around, you're doing 2526 02:05:08.840 --> 02:05:11.479 the circuit stuff. That's kind of when I was mainly 2527 02:05:11.520 --> 02:05:14.079 into it. But I still check it out depending on 2528 02:05:14.560 --> 02:05:17.319 who's there. If there's a prospect like a Zion Williamson, 2529 02:05:17.359 --> 02:05:20.199 If there's a prospect like a Cooper Flag, for sure, 2530 02:05:20.239 --> 02:05:21.199 I'll check it out. 2531 02:05:21.199 --> 02:05:23.840 If if not, yeah we'll see. 2532 02:05:24.000 --> 02:05:27.239 Aj Debants is seventeen points five boards to assist to 2533 02:05:27.319 --> 02:05:29.800 lead the West to a one oh five ninety two 2534 02:05:29.840 --> 02:05:30.520 win over the East. 2535 02:05:30.520 --> 02:05:32.359 It was at Barclays. Seems good. 2536 02:05:32.560 --> 02:05:35.039 I always wanted to play in it. I used to 2537 02:05:35.079 --> 02:05:36.800 watch it when I was a kid. I'm like, oh man, 2538 02:05:36.800 --> 02:05:41.880 that would be so fun. Britton Johnson. The McDonald's game 2539 02:05:41.880 --> 02:05:44.800 that Britain played in was stacked. It was like Tracy 2540 02:05:44.880 --> 02:05:48.760 McGrady lamar odom I don't know how many Utahns have 2541 02:05:48.840 --> 02:05:51.239 played in the I think Frank Jackson played in it? 2542 02:05:51.279 --> 02:05:51.520 You did? 2543 02:05:51.560 --> 02:05:55.039 I think Britain did Frank Jackson? Is it? Aj Debants 2544 02:05:55.159 --> 02:05:58.479 is not a Utah. We can't count him as a Utah. 2545 02:05:58.560 --> 02:05:58.880 He's not. 2546 02:05:58.960 --> 02:06:01.079 But he played prep ball here and if that is 2547 02:06:01.119 --> 02:06:05.800 what your you know, what your litmus is, then in 2548 02:06:05.840 --> 02:06:09.800 some form he is. Now how he got here and 2549 02:06:10.119 --> 02:06:15.439 you know the workings behind that story. You know again, 2550 02:06:15.560 --> 02:06:18.079 money is doing a lot when it comes to the 2551 02:06:18.079 --> 02:06:20.039 sports world, the college sports world, and now even the 2552 02:06:20.079 --> 02:06:21.319 high school sports world. 2553 02:06:22.199 --> 02:06:24.159 So is he a Uton? 2554 02:06:25.640 --> 02:06:26.199 No? 2555 02:06:26.199 --> 02:06:28.920 No, but he played high school basketball in Utah. 2556 02:06:28.960 --> 02:06:31.760 That's something, claiming aj de Band says. A Uton is 2557 02:06:31.800 --> 02:06:34.920 like the golfers are like, Hey, Utah's Mike Weir like, 2558 02:06:35.119 --> 02:06:37.880 and he's not from East lives here, but he's from Canada. 2559 02:06:37.920 --> 02:06:40.520 There's a flag next to his name that's Canadian. Yeah, 2560 02:06:40.600 --> 02:06:44.239 our fifty first state. How the tariffs with Canada right now? Dude, 2561 02:06:44.319 --> 02:06:45.800 let's not let's not do that. 2562 02:06:45.880 --> 02:06:48.359 I was watching my four O one K today. 2563 02:06:49.359 --> 02:06:53.039 Not great, Bob, great, but hey, no, there's no hay, 2564 02:06:53.720 --> 02:06:56.399 there's no way to spin this positively. No matter what 2565 02:06:56.439 --> 02:06:58.600 the propaganda is you see on Fox News. All right, 2566 02:06:59.399 --> 02:07:03.239 let's say night. We've got the Grizzlies in the heat 2567 02:07:03.279 --> 02:07:05.760 coming up. It's a big one between the Lakers and 2568 02:07:05.800 --> 02:07:09.640 the Warriors. Two good teams that might have players that 2569 02:07:09.840 --> 02:07:12.439 are employed to play basketball show up to play basketball 2570 02:07:12.439 --> 02:07:15.239 and try to win. I know it's wild, all right, Porter, 2571 02:07:15.319 --> 02:07:17.159 what comes our way? Let's get our weekend started out 2572 02:07:17.159 --> 02:07:18.640 the right way and hopefully a day that has a 2573 02:07:18.680 --> 02:07:20.239 little more sunshine than today. 2574 02:07:20.239 --> 02:07:21.600 What comes away? On a Friday show. 2575 02:07:21.680 --> 02:07:24.399 On a Friday edition of The Drive, Zach Harper comes 2576 02:07:24.439 --> 02:07:26.520 your way for the NBA Daily Assists. We'll chat with 2577 02:07:26.520 --> 02:07:31.119 Paul Pugmyer. Of course, one week out from Augusta Thorton, 2578 02:07:31.199 --> 02:07:35.000 Nystrom drops by talking some NFL draft, a little offseason football, 2579 02:07:35.239 --> 02:07:39.279 and the Goat Adam Miklic joins the program on a Friday. 2580 02:07:40.079 --> 02:07:42.640 He is the goat, I'll be clear about that. And 2581 02:07:42.680 --> 02:07:44.279 by the way, a little Bertie is telling me that 2582 02:07:44.319 --> 02:07:47.119 Paul pug Meyer is on his way to Augusta National 2583 02:07:47.199 --> 02:07:49.680 Golf Club next week to enjoy a little Masters. 2584 02:07:49.680 --> 02:07:51.199 So we'll do that with Paul on a Friday. 2585 02:07:51.680 --> 02:07:53.800 Get your weekend started out the right way and join 2586 02:07:53.920 --> 02:07:55.800 us for a Friday Driving Well, say good night for 2587 02:07:55.880 --> 02:07:58.439 a Thursday edition of the show special thank you today, 2588 02:07:58.800 --> 02:08:01.640 Neil Smith, Howard Beck, Craig Bowlerjack and Jason Christ for 2589 02:08:01.880 --> 02:08:04.520 the sound that you may have missed from the radio 2590 02:08:04.680 --> 02:08:08.159 program today Good news. It's all up online for your 2591 02:08:08.239 --> 02:08:11.399 digital consumption. You have a few options. ESPN seven hundred 2592 02:08:11.399 --> 02:08:14.840 Sports dot com is the website on the world wide introwebs. 2593 02:08:15.640 --> 02:08:17.680 Download our mobile app and take us on the go. 2594 02:08:17.880 --> 02:08:19.960 It's the best way to listen to the station. 2595 02:08:20.039 --> 02:08:22.079 It's the way I do it. It's the ESPN seven. 2596 02:08:21.960 --> 02:08:25.239 Hundred app, available for free in the App Store and 2597 02:08:25.319 --> 02:08:27.520 the Google Play Store as well. Then, finally, for what 2598 02:08:27.600 --> 02:08:31.600 we do in our space, specifically every afternoon for four hours, 2599 02:08:31.640 --> 02:08:34.800 you can check out our podcast page, which is called 2600 02:08:34.800 --> 02:08:37.359 The Drive with Spence. Check its. It is available wherever 2601 02:08:37.399 --> 02:08:40.119 you get your shows. Please subscribe, rate, review, say nice 2602 02:08:40.159 --> 02:08:41.840 things in the comments, give us all the stars. It 2603 02:08:41.880 --> 02:08:44.680 helps hees porter. I'm Spence saying, and I enjoy your 2604 02:08:44.680 --> 02:08:47.720 Thursday evening, enjoy a little NBA action and we'll talk 2605 02:08:47.760 --> 02:08:50.439 to you on a weekend edition a Friday edition of 2606 02:08:50.479 --> 02:08:53.439 the program. So join us right here on ESPN seven 2607 02:08:53.520 --> 02:08:55.439 hundred ninety two ANDEFM. We are proud to be part 2608 02:08:55.479 --> 02:09:05.640 of Utah's ESPN Radio network at