WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:03.319 And we continue on Fred Rogan Rodney peaked on seventy 2 00:00:03.480 --> 00:00:06.400 LA Sports. Let at this how our Vick will be 3 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:09.439 along with the Haig coup. But now let's get into 4 00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:13.160 the Lakers, the Clippers, the NBA and a burning question 5 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:16.679 with our insider from the La Times, Dan Wiki. Dan, 6 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:18.359 how are you today? 7 00:00:18.359 --> 00:00:20.239 Guys? How did you know something was burning? I was 8 00:00:20.280 --> 00:00:25.239 just crushing my traps in the guys, I'm getting into 9 00:00:25.559 --> 00:00:28.559 just phenomenal playing shape for the SME season tournament coming up. 10 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:31.800 Guys, well, actually I am I talking about Dan. You're 11 00:00:31.800 --> 00:00:35.079 not even No, you're not doing anything. He is Trapp. 12 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:39.280 That's funny. Hey, all right, listen, I want to start 13 00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:42.679 with this Joel emb that's been at three games confrontation 14 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:46.159 with a columnist. First off, what do you think of that? 15 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:50.880 And second? What are the relationships like between writers and 16 00:00:50.920 --> 00:00:51.960 players these days? 17 00:00:54.280 --> 00:00:57.439 So that's uh okay, let's start with the second question. First, 18 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:02.039 I think the relationships I meen writers like traveling beat 19 00:01:02.039 --> 00:01:05.480 writers and players are generally fined. There was a clip 20 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:08.439 that went around after the Pistons game where I asked 21 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:11.079 Lebron some question about the Lakers without a D and 22 00:01:11.159 --> 00:01:13.879 he kind of you know, was like, what do you 23 00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:17.359 want me to say? Like it It wasn't tense by 24 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:19.319 any stretch, but the clip of itself was like a 25 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:23.239 little provocative. I caught a couple of text messages from 26 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:27.200 some people, including sometimes fellow host. Ryan Hollins was among 27 00:01:27.239 --> 00:01:29.959 the people who texted me about this, asking me kind 28 00:01:29.959 --> 00:01:31.799 of like, are you guys cool? And it's like, yeah, no, 29 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:37.159 we're totally fine. That happens, right. The columnists player relationship 30 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:39.879 is a little different, right, Like it's the commiss obb 31 00:01:39.959 --> 00:01:40.799 to be provocative. 32 00:01:41.799 --> 00:01:42.840 That's sort of what they do. 33 00:01:43.560 --> 00:01:45.959 And the sort of old school rule is that if 34 00:01:45.959 --> 00:01:48.640 you're going to rip somebody, you show up the next day. 35 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:48.959 Look. 36 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:52.799 Wait, wait, wait wait, that's exactly what I said. I said, 37 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:54.920 I can respect you all day long. I had a 38 00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:57.640 guy in Detroit that did that Mitch album My Man, 39 00:01:57.719 --> 00:02:00.879 and still to this day that told me, I'm hey, 40 00:02:00.959 --> 00:02:03.400 I'm gonna be hard on you, be hard on you, 41 00:02:03.480 --> 00:02:05.920 and he showed up. And those guys that show up 42 00:02:05.959 --> 00:02:08.120 the next day after they do that, I have nothing 43 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:10.400 but respectfully that I understand you got a job to 44 00:02:10.439 --> 00:02:11.599 do and that's what you're doing. 45 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:12.840 But don't don't. 46 00:02:12.919 --> 00:02:17.719 Yeah, yeah, you say your piece and then guess what, 47 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:21.360 Like the way adults handle this is that so I 48 00:02:21.479 --> 00:02:23.879 disagree with you, I can have that disagreement with you, 49 00:02:23.960 --> 00:02:27.280 and if it can get sometimes it gets verbal and heated, 50 00:02:27.719 --> 00:02:31.120 so be it right. It should never get physical. But 51 00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:35.800 the commist wrote about Joel's brother and about his son, 52 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:42.400 certainly I think crossed the line. Uh in messaging. I 53 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:49.280 don't think it was necessary said you don't put your 54 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:51.159 hands on another adult because. 55 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:59.919 Wait, and yeah, you're getting all muffled. Where are you 56 00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:01.919 because we want to hear it. You're kind of muffled. 57 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:07.639 Yeah, that's walking walking three suspension. You know he's gonna 58 00:03:07.639 --> 00:03:08.879 misclaim the Lakers. 59 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:12.639 Vic in the x f l A can you. 60 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:15.639 Hear us man floating it off the ground for him? 61 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:22.680 And now it's even because like I mean, like this 62 00:03:22.759 --> 00:03:26.400 is uh the XFL you don't handle it with physic 63 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:27.840 challenge that Kevin, you. 64 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:29.840 Should pull that. You should pull that so we can 65 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:33.240 play for Dan Dan you Harris Dann Can you hear us? 66 00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:39.520 Guys? Leave you guys, just run me down? 67 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:41.719 Stop? Where are you? 68 00:03:43.159 --> 00:03:45.759 Where am I now? I'm in Memphis? Bad bad reception. 69 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:50.879 It was so bad. What happened so bad? We were 70 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:54.719 yelling at you to stop because we couldn't understand you. 71 00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:01.039 So we have to do it again so we can 72 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:04.759 hear what you have to say. Now, we hung on. 73 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:06.439 We lost him. I'll get him back. 74 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:11.439 It was that was Vic at the Long Beat and 75 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:16.639 Long Beat, you know, at the XFL tryouts or whatever 76 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:18.000 the combine that he was at. 77 00:04:19.399 --> 00:04:21.120 Remember the winds were gusting. 78 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:24.439 The winds were gusted, and he kept talking and kept talking. 79 00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:28.360 And yeah, yeah, it was great. We're yelling Vic, big big. 80 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:30.560 That was the same. That was Dajabu right there. It 81 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:33.839 was the exact same thing. As we try to get 82 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:35.360 Dan back. Can I just tell you a quick story 83 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:38.439 about Vic. Yes, I'm sure Vic is listening now. So 84 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:42.680 it was a bit baffling. Vic sends me a text 85 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:46.800 and well, all right, well let's bring Dan back first. Dan, 86 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:47.160 are you. 87 00:04:47.079 --> 00:04:50.920 There, guys, I'm sorry I ran through the stop sign apparently, listen. 88 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:51.839 I had no idea. 89 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:54.800 That was one of the great moments. It only can 90 00:04:54.839 --> 00:04:57.759 be topped by the number one moment like that where 91 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:02.079 Vic was at the XFL camp of some sort. We're 92 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:07.079 talking for ten minutes, couldn't hear us. We were screaming at. 93 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:08.600 Him and he just kept talking. 94 00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:13.199 It was like, wow, okay, so let's go back to 95 00:05:13.319 --> 00:05:14.439 the question. 96 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:16.800 Dan, Okay, let's do it all. 97 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:20.920 Right, the columnist, we did hear you say. We kind 98 00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:22.680 of lost you the point where you said he wrote 99 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:24.240 about his son and his brother. 100 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:27.759 Then well, yeah, that's off that's off limits. I mean, like, well, 101 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:32.079 it's unnecessary too write. It didn't strengthen the argument. It 102 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:35.759 was stupid for lack of a better term, you know. 103 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:40.959 But still to me, that doesn't it doesn't justify the 104 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:42.600 use of putting your hands on somebody. You have to 105 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:45.279 be smarter than that. You have you put your team in, 106 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:49.480 yourself at a disadvantage for that, You've got to be better. 107 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:53.279 And you know, over the past few years with the Sixers, 108 00:05:53.279 --> 00:05:56.160 it has been one thing or another. And this is 109 00:05:56.360 --> 00:05:59.959 just the latest chapter of it. Probably won't be the 110 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:00.879 ask either. 111 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:04.639 Dan, have you have you ever been in a situation 112 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:07.920 where it's gotten in you know, tense like that, not 113 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:10.079 not to the point where somebody's put their hands or 114 00:06:10.199 --> 00:06:12.319 wanted to put their hands on you. But but you 115 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:15.120 had to ask a tough question that you knew probably 116 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:17.800 that the guy was going to be a little sensitive 117 00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:19.079 to and. 118 00:06:18.839 --> 00:06:21.160 And you were yeah, it happened, and it happened in 119 00:06:21.160 --> 00:06:23.160 the trading complans going we had to ask Jackson his 120 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:26.639 about the team's video. Yeah, I mean, like, yeah, it happens. 121 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:29.399 It happens a lot, you know, and people aren't happy 122 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:32.560 about it. I think in that case, certainly Jackson understood 123 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:36.639 the question was coming, but like, yeah, no, it happens. 124 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:41.639 You know. I think it probably happened more when there 125 00:06:41.639 --> 00:06:44.959 were fewer cameras around earlier in my career. You would 126 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:50.480 get into stuff, you know. I had a a pretty like, 127 00:06:50.519 --> 00:06:52.800 in my mind, like a pretty strong exchange with the 128 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:56.319 player once after a game about something I tweeted during 129 00:06:56.360 --> 00:06:59.959 the game. You know, no, no cameras were there to cap. 130 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:02.639 It didn't go viral or anything like that. But it happens. 131 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:05.920 I think though, you know, usually you meet people on 132 00:07:05.959 --> 00:07:08.519 the common ground of like, you know, you're both human 133 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:10.879 beings and like you know, Ronnie, like you said, you're 134 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:12.519 trying to do a job, and I understand that they're 135 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:15.680 trying to do a job, and sometimes answering tough questions 136 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:18.319 are part of it. I think, you know, for me, 137 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:22.120 it's like you try not to make it personal. Yeah, 138 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:25.519 you know, And I think certainly, when you invoke the 139 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:29.079 memory of someone's you know, dead brother and their child, 140 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:32.079 it's it's about as personal as it gets, you know, 141 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:35.959 So I think that's that that's the misstep, right. I 142 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:38.000 think trying to be dispassionate about this stuff is usually 143 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:40.920 it will works best. But look, it's a it's a 144 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:43.720 space in which you know, right now, I think like, 145 00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:46.759 if you're not saying things that are loud or outrageous 146 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:49.360 or stuff like that, it's harder and harder to break through. 147 00:07:49.399 --> 00:07:53.319 And I'm hoping that we'll course correct and we can, uh, 148 00:07:53.399 --> 00:07:59.800 we can have more civilized and nuanced discussions about these things. 149 00:07:58.680 --> 00:08:03.680 The league dinged in three games, and that's pretty serious 150 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:05.959 to get three games for that. Don't you agree they 151 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:07.319 want to cut this off right now? 152 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:08.879 Yeah? 153 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:10.360 You know, I mean I think at once, like when 154 00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:12.079 I saw it seemed like both a lot and not 155 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:14.959 enough at the same time, you know, because of just 156 00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:19.839 how unusual it is. Uh, but you know, I mean, look, 157 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:22.519 it's gonna cost him a million dollars in game salary, 158 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:28.959 Like that's a that's an expensive shove. Yeah, yeah, you know, 159 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:31.839 And and I just think again, like it's just you know, 160 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:33.799 I mean, that's a team that's not off to the 161 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:35.320 head the start. It wants to be off. They need 162 00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:36.879 to get their players on the court, they need to 163 00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:40.159 really get their seasons started in earnest and it's another hiccup. 164 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:46.039 Yeah, yeah, definitely hiccup. All right, so let's let's let's 165 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:47.440 get into the the Lakers. 166 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:47.879 Dan. 167 00:08:49.320 --> 00:08:52.440 You know, obviously we all heard the Anthony Davis comment 168 00:08:52.600 --> 00:08:55.080 of we don't know who we are and you know, 169 00:08:55.159 --> 00:08:58.000 one night with this, one night with that, and you know, 170 00:08:58.919 --> 00:08:59.960 what do you make of this team? 171 00:09:00.039 --> 00:09:01.440 It started off three and zero and. 172 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:05.720 Was it fools gold as they started and you know, 173 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:09.919 probably a lot of people overreacted to them starting off 174 00:09:09.960 --> 00:09:12.759 that way. And now they've come to earth, come back 175 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:15.720 down to earth, and we figure out this is a 176 00:09:15.799 --> 00:09:19.000 Laker team that is pretty media mediocre. 177 00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:22.080 Well, I just think we don't know what they are yet, right, 178 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:25.759 I mean I think where you know, just a handful 179 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:29.600 of games into the season, and you know, what's unique 180 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:33.639 about this group is that it's both you know, this 181 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:37.559 feels all very similar, but while it's everything is also 182 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:39.840 new too, right, Like they're playing with a new system, 183 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:42.320 they've got new standards on offensives to what they're trying 184 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:45.759 to accomplish there's some new roles and different things like that, 185 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:48.320 and you know, when you think of it that way 186 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:50.399 with the new coaching staff, like of course they're going 187 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:54.879 to be growing pains of course right now. Though I 188 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:57.840 think the tricky part is that this is also like 189 00:09:57.960 --> 00:10:01.480 functionally the same roster that it's been, and you know, 190 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:04.159 when you're running into some of the same problems that 191 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:08.320 you've run into in the past, uh, it feels the 192 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:11.759 problems feel more compounded. I think it's been you know, 193 00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:13.559 you mentioned that kind of by Anthony Davis. The thing 194 00:10:13.559 --> 00:10:16.440 that struck me is that, you know, I mean he's 195 00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:20.279 called these games must wins, you know, and I think, like, 196 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:24.279 like sure, you know, you know, after losing to Cleveland 197 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:27.919 and they got it was a butt kicking, like you know, 198 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:30.399 after that game, I think, you know, saying like the 199 00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:32.799 next three in this trip are must wins. You know, 200 00:10:32.919 --> 00:10:34.440 that's what you say when you want to like win 201 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:35.879 a road trip and stuff like that. But like he 202 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:38.039 said in a way where he meant it and like 203 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:40.759 to be honest, like they're not must wins, like you 204 00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:43.559 want to win them, of course, you know, but like 205 00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:48.720 this is the first week of November. This team's sort 206 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:51.200 of fortunes are going to be written over the next 207 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:55.720 six months. And you know, I think, like, like I 208 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:57.679 understand what eight is trying to do and and trying 209 00:10:57.679 --> 00:10:59.879 to get his team to play with a sense of urgency, 210 00:10:59.879 --> 00:11:02.320 but like, I also think it leads to some overreaction 211 00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:05.360 when quite frankly, you know, like they had a really 212 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:09.720 bad night against Detroit, a really bad night. That happens 213 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:13.960 if they have a really bad night again tonight, you know, 214 00:11:14.039 --> 00:11:16.480 that's an issue. I think there are some emerging trends 215 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:21.159 that have these guys Anthony Davis, Lebron James, you know, included, 216 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:23.919 like a little worried. I think the bench production has 217 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:26.879 been one of them. It's been pretty bad. I think 218 00:11:26.919 --> 00:11:30.879 among the worst in the league right now. That's that's 219 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:33.279 something to be worried about. I think, you know, the 220 00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:36.159 defensive metrics have been pretty terrible. And for a team 221 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:39.320 that has Anthony Davis to be this bad defending at 222 00:11:39.320 --> 00:11:42.480 the basket, you know, that's not that's not a great sign, 223 00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:46.120 you know. So I think there is a little I 224 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:48.799 don't want to say panic, there's some worry about some 225 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:50.639 of the things that this team isn't right now. But 226 00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:53.960 I mean, guys, we have a lot of basketball left. 227 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:55.559 And I think here's the other thing to it. And 228 00:11:55.559 --> 00:11:57.320 this is going to sound like an excuse, and maybe 229 00:11:57.320 --> 00:12:00.840 it is, but you know, today is the the eleventh 230 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:04.159 game out of fourteen down in the preseason that the 231 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:09.440 Lakers have played away from Los Angeles. And you know 232 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:14.600 who knows that stat? My wife, my kids know that stat. 233 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:17.039 This team has not been like this has been a 234 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:22.200 really really long month, and like I said, I think 235 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:25.759 like I felt some of that in Detroit. Certainly, we'll 236 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:28.559 see where they're at tonight in terms of their attitude 237 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:30.240 and kind of their approach to this game and see 238 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:32.720 how they bounce back. But you know, this is a 239 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:34.919 team that's a little banged up. Guys are under the weather. 240 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:38.399 It's been a really long road trip, and you know, 241 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:41.720 for a team that's gonna be, you know, in the 242 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:44.159 mix of like that back half of the playoff race, 243 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:48.039 Like you know, that's that's probably how it should feel. 244 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:48.279 Now. 245 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:50.480 Did the first week of the season make people feel 246 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:52.039 like maybe this is a team that could be up 247 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:55.200 there with the thunder maybe a little bit, and and sure, 248 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:57.279 maybe you can get there again, But you know, this 249 00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:59.080 is a team that if it's gonna win, it's gonna 250 00:12:59.080 --> 00:13:01.600 be on the backs of its best players, and it's 251 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:03.360 going to be on the backs of its system, and 252 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:05.159 it's still really learning its system. 253 00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:08.440 Well, Dan, I look at it like this, and I 254 00:13:08.440 --> 00:13:12.200 think Lakers and Clippers different teams. Lakers better than the Clippers, 255 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:16.200 but both sort of this way. At any given night, 256 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:20.240 they're an average NBA team. They'll win some, they'll lose some, 257 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:25.200 but I don't sense a great deal of expectation of 258 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:27.440 either one of them winning the title. I mean, if 259 00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:30.919 you're objective at the beginning of the year, let's just 260 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:35.200 not be in the play in that's different. Then we 261 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:36.519 got a shot to win this thing. 262 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:41.840 So I think the Lakers, I think, I mean, I'm 263 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:43.559 not around the Clippers every day, so it's not fair 264 00:13:43.559 --> 00:13:45.559 to totally judge what their expectations are. But you can 265 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:48.279 just look at how they've acted, you know what I mean, 266 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:50.919 in terms of the moves they've made and not made, 267 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:52.399 and you can kind of tell kind of what kind 268 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:55.279 of team they think they can be. I think in 269 00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:59.360 the Lakers case, like you know, I mean, they want 270 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:03.159 to win, right, Like that's there is one goal for 271 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:05.559 this team, and now how realistic that goal is I 272 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:08.279 think is you know, to be determined. I think after 273 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:10.879 the first week and particular and even how they played 274 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:15.840 in Phoenix and a loss like that, this team thought, 275 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.159 you know, maybe our expectations for what for what we 276 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:21.840 could be maybe they were shifting a little bit. And 277 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:24.159 and I think that's why you hear things like, you know, 278 00:14:24.200 --> 00:14:27.679 the frustration in Anthony Davis's voice. You know, despite the 279 00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:30.759 fact that, like I said, they're they're about five hundred, 280 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:33.080 they're above five hundred, and we're in the second week 281 00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:36.840 of the season. You know, this is a team that's 282 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:39.000 gone off the very bad starts the past few years. 283 00:14:39.399 --> 00:14:42.440 It's in better position on that front. I think it's 284 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:45.840 fair to say that, you know, they will grow more comfortable. J. J. 285 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:48.279 Reddick will grow more comfortable in the job that he's 286 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:53.039 tasked with. Those things will continue to kind of trend northward, 287 00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:55.440 and if they stay healthy, I think they'll be a 288 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:57.759 better team in a month than they are today. But 289 00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:01.840 but I think their expectations jumped really uh and I 290 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:03.559 think part of that has to do with the continuity 291 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:06.279 they have. You know, this is a core that went 292 00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:08.720 to the Conference finals two years ago. This is a 293 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:10.879 team that felt like if it could just get more organized, 294 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:12.879 if it could just have a better system to fall 295 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:17.080 back on, this could have clearer role definition, maybe they 296 00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:19.200 would have a better chance in that frunt and and 297 00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:21.320 I think they've gotten or there's a sense that they're 298 00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:23.679 going to get those things and so maybe maybe they 299 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:28.120 think more of it. I'm not there on them yet. 300 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:32.000 I mean, we'll see. You know, they've got some It's 301 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:35.039 got kind of an interesting stretch of schedule here where 302 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:37.639 you know, they can start stacking good ones. But to 303 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:39.240 your point, I mean they're good enough to I mean 304 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:41.279 they're good enough to lose to Detroit, Like that game 305 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:44.679 was never really in question, and the loss in Cleveland 306 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:47.360 was the same. You know, that game was never really 307 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:47.799 in question. 308 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:55.600 Now, So so where do you feel that they they are? Dan? 309 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:59.840 Is it just still a feeling out period until Christmas 310 00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:02.559 or the new year? And you know, Daj's kind of 311 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:05.639 getting his feet set and we're figuring out if Lebron 312 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:08.679 and a D can you know, continue on. Obviously those 313 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:12.799 two being healthy is the key to everything. But the 314 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:18.200 supporting cast is there a need for some help? Is there? 315 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:21.279 Is it the supporting cast is going to get better. 316 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:24.320 I mean, who has to get better in order for 317 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:26.799 this team to feel like or at least the fans 318 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:29.960 to feel like they can make a run come come March. 319 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:32.639 Yeah, I mean, I think they need to tick up, 320 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:36.879 you know, shooting the basketball. Austin Whos and Dangel Russell 321 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:38.679 have to shoot it better than they have to start 322 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:41.879 this season. I think, you know, they need to be 323 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:46.039 more consistently competitive on defense. They were really really physical 324 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:47.960 in the first couple of games of the season at home, 325 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:51.320 and they were physical against Phoenix in Phoenix and then 326 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:53.759 like you know, Cleveland kind of pushed them around. Detroit 327 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:57.159 certainly pushed them around. You know, we'll see the night 328 00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:59.840 how that goes. But I think that's the thing that 329 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:02.679 to keep an eye on. I mean, I think, you know, 330 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:06.119 it's it's interesting early on it. But like Lebron and 331 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:08.160 the first in the first three wins, right was like 332 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:13.440 a very clearly defined secondary offensive option, closer to being 333 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:15.799 on equal footing with some of the other players, Like 334 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:17.240 he took over the game for a couple of stretches 335 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:19.160 here and there. But but it really, you know, it 336 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:21.359 was a little slow out of the gates and it 337 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:24.079 opened up the door for Ruey Haachimura and different guys 338 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:26.880 to to really kind of get system baskets, while like 339 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:29.480 you know, in Cleveland, like Lebron kind of left the 340 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:31.920 system a little bit. So like, you know, how comfortable 341 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:33.599 is he going to be? And what JJ Reddick is 342 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:36.920 being is asking them how comfortable is D'Angel Russell and 343 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:39.119 that I think that stuff is all still being figured out, 344 00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:43.440 you know, honestly, and I think that's what you would expect, right. 345 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:46.119 I think a more troubling thing has been the bench 346 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:49.880 production generally speaking. Like you know, I think Max Christi 347 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:52.240 is off to a really rough start to the season, 348 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:55.079 and the Lakers had high hopes for him after signing 349 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:58.240 him the summer. I think Gave Vincent has done some 350 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:00.759 good stuff defensively, but it's not in a good offensive rhythm. 351 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:02.480 And that's a guy that I think they need to 352 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:05.400 put the ball in the basket a little bit. You know, 353 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:09.559 we'll we'll see here soon. On Jared Vanderbilt, you know, 354 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:11.160 as a guy who will help I think, you know 355 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:13.480 somewhat with that defensive identity in that second, you know, 356 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:16.160 but he's not gonna score, really, that's not him. So 357 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:19.640 it's you know, what, how are they gonna how are 358 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:22.440 they going to generate offense? You know in those stretches 359 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:24.519 and from where? Like can all of this really be 360 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:27.200 on their their top five? And you know, I think 361 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:28.839 that's a lot to ask of that group, right, Like, 362 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:31.039 I think they need more help. And so, you know, 363 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:34.559 I getting Dalton connect more involved, getting you know, Max 364 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:37.279 Christy more confident, and and you know, a guy who 365 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:40.960 can score seven points a game off the bench, just 366 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:43.880 kind of creating those those points by transition and you know, 367 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:47.960 making an open shot that'll go a long way. And 368 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:50.279 you know, those don't seem like huge adjustments, but like 369 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:53.680 they're gonna matter when they happen. And if they don't happen, 370 00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:55.160 this team is going to have to make changes. They're 371 00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:56.759 gonna have to add they don't have enough. 372 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:00.680 All right, One one quickly? Why we let you go? 373 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:03.400 One final? One seventy six ers in town to take 374 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:06.720 on the Clippers the return of Paul George. Do you 375 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:08.400 think do you think the Clippers made the right move 376 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:11.839 and letting him go? No, I don't either. 377 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:18.279 I don't I think, and I mean I understand the 378 00:19:18.359 --> 00:19:20.200 logic behind it, right, I mean, like this wasn't a 379 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:22.680 guy that was ready to play the start of the 380 00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:25.279 season either, right, Like, I mean, there's a lot of 381 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:27.000 money to commit and a lot of years to commit 382 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:30.039 to a player who's you know, hasn't been available, and 383 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:32.640 you know, you the pairing with Kawhi Leonard had sort 384 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:35.559 of run its course and stuff like that. But you know, 385 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:38.160 being it into a dome, I was there for the opener. 386 00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:41.400 I just you know, you just wanted more excitements in 387 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:43.480 the team. Like I love the spirit they play with. 388 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:45.640 They play so hard on the defensive end, guys like 389 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:49.599 you know, you know they have like they have the 390 00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:52.359 ability to like really junk up games and play with 391 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:54.200 a lot of fight like they did the other night 392 00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:59.839 that that huge comeback win, like they possessed that. You 393 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:02.079 just kind of wish there was more star power on 394 00:20:02.119 --> 00:20:04.519 the team, I think, And like, you know, like while 395 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:06.519 the basketball reasons for not bringing back Paul George are 396 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:09.839 probably good ones, I think you know, walking into that building, like, 397 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:12.720 you know, I I think it would be more fun 398 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:14.240 if it felt like a huge game every night. 399 00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:15.000 Yeah. 400 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:17.599 Yeah, have you guys been over there yet? 401 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:20.240