WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:03.600 Next on the Drive, Tim McMahon dropping dimes for your 2 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:05.040 NBA daily assists. 3 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:15.679 Ban McMahon, Ban mcman batted old Land, Texas, flood as tickets, 4 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:24.519 Mud He's and Man Ban McMahon Banman the Man. 5 00:00:34.520 --> 00:00:37.759 Playoff push for the Utah Jazz gets back in action 6 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:42.719 coming up on Thursday. Oklahoma State or excuse me, Oklahoma City. 7 00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:44.920 Obviously college basketball to mine. We'll get back to some 8 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:47.600 college ubes are the big one tonight. Well, let's do 9 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:51.359 a little jazz mostly just big picture NBA topics with 10 00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:55.479 our guy, Tim McMahon. Fresh off vacation on this Tuesday afternoon, Tim, 11 00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:56.240 how's your time off? 12 00:00:56.320 --> 00:01:02.039 Brother? Not long enough, but welcome. Just wish it lasted 13 00:01:02.079 --> 00:01:03.520 a little bit longer for sure. 14 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:06.480 Did you consume any of the festivities in the Bay 15 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:07.480 Area over the weekend. 16 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:12.000 I will be honest. I've seen a couple little clips 17 00:01:12.200 --> 00:01:15.359 on social media, but I watched zero seconds of All 18 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:16.640 Star Weekend Live. 19 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:19.159 Good for you, but we do have to do the 20 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:21.200 media thing where you and I talk about what a 21 00:01:21.239 --> 00:01:23.120 horrible product it is and how we're going to fix 22 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:26.280 the thing. So here here's where I'm at with it. 23 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:29.359 There's no fixing it. They've tried everything. I like the 24 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:33.040 US versus international idea, but hey, we've seen it before. 25 00:01:33.239 --> 00:01:36.359 I don't care if it's played in Russia or California 26 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:41.560 or Europe or wherever it's. The proof is in. These 27 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:43.879 guys don't give a rip, and I don't think there's 28 00:01:43.879 --> 00:01:45.920 any way to fix that. So for me, it's just 29 00:01:46.040 --> 00:01:47.920 kind of maybe time for the league to admit that 30 00:01:48.519 --> 00:01:51.799 this is the deal. It's a non serious celebration of 31 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:54.239 the National Basketball Association and that's it. 32 00:01:55.840 --> 00:02:00.840 Okay, Like, what d damn do? I mean? Does anybody 33 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:03.599 think the Pro Bowls like some kind of serious football game. 34 00:02:03.799 --> 00:02:06.760 I mean, I guess they're ain't playing, but like, you know, 35 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:10.639 are they throwing brushback pitches in the in Baseball's All 36 00:02:10.680 --> 00:02:14.240 Star Game? Is if Pete Rose still running over the catcher? Like, 37 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:16.560 I mean, what have we done? It's an All Star game? 38 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:20.360 You know, of course, the silly exhibition. I don't know 39 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:23.800 why the NBA keeps on allowing this to be some 40 00:02:23.960 --> 00:02:27.039 sort of crisis that exists. Oh my gosh, you know, 41 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:30.800 blood's not being spilled on the All Star Game? Who cares? 42 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:34.639 Is there a format that you actually think is good? 43 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:37.560 This is what I said earlier. Like, my preferred format 44 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:40.599 is the All Star game with players who play hard 45 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:42.960 like we used to have. That's my preferred all That's 46 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:43.960 my preferred format. 47 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:47.159 And look, it ain't like every All Star game has 48 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:49.560 been some kind of classic. I mean, there were forty 49 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:52.360 point blowouts, but Michael Jordan's on the wrong end of 50 00:02:52.520 --> 00:02:54.759 so let's not you know, I think one we kind 51 00:02:54.759 --> 00:02:57.759 of need to get over this good old days syndrome 52 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:00.280 thing to a certain agree. But yeah, East versus list 53 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:05.560 totally fine, US FAVORSUS International, Okay, interest in flavor, fine, 54 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:09.479 don't give me some first to forty tournament? I go, 55 00:03:10.280 --> 00:03:12.120 hold on, what are the rules again? Why is Kevin 56 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:14.840 Hart still yammering like I'm men, come on, man, like 57 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:17.800 you're doing too much trying to fix something that I 58 00:03:17.879 --> 00:03:21.120 don't think is some kind of massively serious problem. 59 00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:24.360 Yep, yep, And uh, you know that's kind of the deal. 60 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:26.400 That's kind of where we've landed today. And there's some 61 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:29.680 fun moments here or there. Is there anything that simply 62 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:33.400 an experience or keyanty George can do for him as 63 00:03:33.479 --> 00:03:36.680 far as being able to play on Sunday in that format? 64 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:38.719 Is there is there anything tangible he was the only 65 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:41.520 local rep. You know, is there anything you can take 66 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:43.479 from simply being part of the experience. 67 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:47.159 I am concerned you're gonna pull some sort of muscle 68 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:49.879 with that reach. I don't I'm not. 69 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:52.719 Sure you want to talk about Johnny Juzang's peer, Tim, 70 00:03:54.919 --> 00:03:55.560 Let's do that. 71 00:03:56.159 --> 00:03:59.080 I mean, listen, it can't be a negative for Kante. 72 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:01.639 George Like to me, I don't know, what, how do 73 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:04.039 you spend his All Star Weekend with? You know, did 74 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:05.879 he try to pick the brains of guys who are 75 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:08.919 you know, who have been in that game over and 76 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:12.719 over again? Maybe there's some benefit there, you know, But 77 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:15.240 more did he go to a bunch of parties and 78 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:17.879 have a good time like the vast majority of people 79 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:20.079 good to All Star Weekend did? And if that's the case, 80 00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:21.720 they're sitting something wrong with that either. 81 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:25.800 So there's not the second half of the season entirely. 82 00:04:26.439 --> 00:04:28.720 Most teams have you know, have about thirty games left 83 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:30.759 a little bit less than that, but with the calendar, 84 00:04:31.399 --> 00:04:33.879 it's kind of halfway home for teams that are playing 85 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:36.319 for the postseason. And of course, the big story just 86 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:39.839 continues to be the Dallas deal with the Lakers and 87 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:41.800 how the Lakers are gonna Look. It's kind of interesting 88 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:45.160 because the Jazz have actually been the team that the 89 00:04:45.240 --> 00:04:47.680 Lakers have played twice since the deal went down, and 90 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:49.959 you know, they got got pretty good in La. Then 91 00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:52.519 they came here and the Jazz absolutely smoked them. But 92 00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:54.319 of course that's going to take some time to kind 93 00:04:54.360 --> 00:04:56.879 of gel down the stretch. What how do you think 94 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:59.879 the Luca Lebron thing is going to kind of manifest 95 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:02.160 itself now that they've been together for a minute, They've 96 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:04.720 had some time to digest and what are you looking 97 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:06.279 for kind of right out of the gates when they 98 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:08.600 get back going the Lakers start playing again. 99 00:05:09.319 --> 00:05:12.720 Well, I think the biggest question about that is, like, 100 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:16.399 is Luca going to be full speed? Does he still 101 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:19.000 need time to be ramped up after you know, a 102 00:05:19.079 --> 00:05:21.279 month and a half or so off with that cast strain. 103 00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:26.959 I mean, the two games against the Jazz were mega height, 104 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:30.399 preseason type of games for Luca. You know, like he's 105 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:33.720 on a twenty four minute limit and you know, obviously 106 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:37.680 he's trying to get his rhythm and so, you know, 107 00:05:37.720 --> 00:05:40.439 I don't know when we will see like full blast 108 00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:43.519 Lika Luca. I do have a feeling that will at 109 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:45.600 least get a glimpse of it February twenty fifth, when 110 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:49.560 the Master in la I think he'll be ready to 111 00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:53.560 ramped up for that one. But like the fit between 112 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:55.959 those guys, I mean, we're talking about two guys who 113 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:59.160 are basketball geniuses. They'll figure that out. I think it's 114 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:02.360 a flawed ross her And like, obviously the biggest flaw 115 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:05.360 is they don't have a legitimate big man on the roster. 116 00:06:05.480 --> 00:06:07.519 They try to address that with the Mark Williams thing. 117 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:10.680 Then they got to look at the physical and said, hey, 118 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:13.920 we can do this, and so you know, that's that's 119 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:15.519 an issue that they're going to have to fix over 120 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:19.600 the summer. But you know, so they're kind of they're 121 00:06:19.639 --> 00:06:24.560 not operating at full capacity because if you're going to 122 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:27.160 have Luca, you need to have that rim running dig 123 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:30.759 and you know, Jackson Hayes is a very poor man's 124 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:34.759 version of that. But I don't think you can consider 125 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:37.600 the way because any sort of real contender until they've 126 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:39.319 got a complete roster, and they're not going to be 127 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:40.199 a contender this year. 128 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:43.040 You were one of the first guests that we had 129 00:06:43.399 --> 00:06:45.279 to kind of point out, like, hey, just keep an 130 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:47.319 eye on Houston. You know, I don't know what it means, 131 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:49.439 but just keep an eye on what they've been doing. 132 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:52.240 And you know, Van Vlietz missed some time, and you 133 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:55.319 can tell that they really miss him in crunch situations 134 00:06:55.319 --> 00:06:57.680 when they're trying to close out games. But they have 135 00:06:57.879 --> 00:07:00.879 kind of come back down to earth, losing seven of 136 00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:04.079 their last ten. And I do have concerns simply about 137 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:07.480 their lack of experience. They've ever been in the postseason before. 138 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:09.399 They don't have a ton of great three point shooting. 139 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:11.879 So what do you make of kind of maybe a 140 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:14.399 regression of the mean after a really great start to 141 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:16.399 the season for the Houston Rockets. What's kind of their 142 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:18.360 their max ceiling come playoff time? 143 00:07:19.399 --> 00:07:21.959 Well, I think you point out Van Bleet is a 144 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:24.360 smart observation, and I don't think I said that very 145 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:24.959 often about you. 146 00:07:25.160 --> 00:07:26.240 Well, so thank you. I'll take that. 147 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:29.319 You know, sun shine on dogs, but every once in 148 00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:32.399 a while type of situation here. But look, he's like, 149 00:07:32.680 --> 00:07:34.600 there's a reason they took such a leap when they 150 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:37.600 brought in him and Dylan Brooks, but especially Van Bleeed. 151 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:41.879 He's the captain, he's the organizer, you know, he's the conductor. 152 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:44.399 And his impact goes away. BEYI like, they look at 153 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:47.160 his shooting steady and shot the ball. Well, he's the 154 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:50.240 one who keeps everybody kind of you know, rolling in 155 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:53.879 the same direction, and they definitely need him to have 156 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:57.160 any kind of a chance to do playoff damage. But look, 157 00:07:57.480 --> 00:08:02.000 the Rockets have punched above their weight. I think this 158 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:05.199 year they're tough as hell. They're paying the button playing 159 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:08.079 on a night the basis they play hard, they play defense, 160 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:10.680 they rebound, they do all those things. They don't have 161 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:15.240 a good offensive team. They need an offensive engine, and 162 00:08:15.720 --> 00:08:19.399 not just a unorganized like Van Vliet, but a legitimate, 163 00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:23.680 big time number one option Offensely, they need a Devin Booker, 164 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:27.079 who they'd love to get. Booker doesn't want to leave Phoenix. 165 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:29.639 The Sons don't want to give him up. We'll see 166 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:31.600 if that changes at some point. I think it would 167 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:35.159 make a lot of sense for everybody involved, given that 168 00:08:35.240 --> 00:08:38.000 the Rockets are sitting there holding a whole bunch of 169 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:42.840 a future Phoenix drafts capital. You know, Darren Fox decided 170 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:45.240 he wanted to go to San Antonio. The Rockets weren't 171 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:47.919 quite ready yet, and then and they you know, they 172 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:52.600 also want to you know, they want to evaluate Hekjamen agreement. 173 00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:55.120 Let's let's see, there's gonna be some ups and downs 174 00:08:55.159 --> 00:08:59.200 this season. Where's their hope going to be after the playoffs? 175 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:03.679 On Jason Green's ability to grow into that role Aman Thompson, 176 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:05.919 I think he's going to be a star. I think 177 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:08.120 he's on his way to being a star. I don't 178 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:10.080 think he's going to be a number one offensive option. 179 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:11.840 You know, he can be a star and not a 180 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:15.720 number one offensive option. Honestly, they haven't given up hope 181 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:19.480 on Reed Shepherd being that guy, even though he's been 182 00:09:19.559 --> 00:09:22.240 out of the rotation for most of the season. But 183 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:25.679 at this point, I think the Rockets are going to 184 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:28.200 be a tough playoff matchup. But I don't think they're 185 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:31.600 a real Western Conference contender yet. I think they're on 186 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:33.879 the path to be in there. The question is that 187 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:35.320 they're gonna have to take a big swing in the 188 00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:38.879 trademarket to get there, or can that you know, that 189 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:41.320 legitimate go to guy be homegrown. 190 00:09:42.279 --> 00:09:45.080 Here's how I'll phrase this question. What sort of team? 191 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:47.279 Because I've listened to a bunch over the weekend of 192 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:51.360 you know, some mental gymnastics to try to make the 193 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:54.080 West as interesting as possible from a lot of people 194 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:56.399 who cover the league. But then they land the plane like, Okay, 195 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:59.200 Sea is impossible. So it's kind of an exercise and futility. 196 00:09:59.559 --> 00:10:02.559 I still think if Jamal's gonna Jamalmurry's gonna play like this, 197 00:10:02.759 --> 00:10:05.720 You've got to talk about the Nuggets because Jokic is Jokis. 198 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:08.799 We talked about that last week. What type of team 199 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:13.240 we'll give Okay see, the biggest issues come playoff time, 200 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:15.799 like what is their achilles heel if they have one? 201 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:18.840 Well, and you know, they did a great job of 202 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:22.480 addressing their achilles heels over the off season. One was 203 00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:25.480 they could get bullied, they could get pushed around. They 204 00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:27.559 went out and paid Isaiah Hartstein a whole lot of 205 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:31.720 money in free agencies to have the option of playing big. 206 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:35.200 Now chet Holman has just got back. Him and Hartstein 207 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:36.720 have played I don't know, what is it, three or 208 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:40.159 four games together something like that. But you know, now 209 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:43.399 when they play Joker with that big front line that 210 00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:46.799 the Nuggets have, they can go seven foot seven foot 211 00:10:46.919 --> 00:10:49.600 and then you know the other guys. So that that 212 00:10:49.799 --> 00:10:52.080 was one big thing. The other big thing was just 213 00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:54.159 a fit of Josh Gitty it was a bad fit. 214 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:58.080 They flipped him into Alex Caruso or just another you know, 215 00:10:58.279 --> 00:11:01.519 great role player, great defender. So I don't know that 216 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:03.960 they have an achilles heel. You know, if you look 217 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:05.759 at the numbers, you'll still say it's rebounded. But you 218 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:09.159 have to recognize that they've only had one or the 219 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:11.720 other of their seven footers for almost the entire season 220 00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:16.840 until very you know, basically until the trade deadline. Havn't 221 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:19.679 said all that, Like, what kind of team can beat 222 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:27.480 Oklahoma City? I think a very big, extremely skilled, recent 223 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:32.440 championship team that employees I think, very strongly arguably the 224 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:35.759 best player in the world would be the team that 225 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:38.159 would have the best chance. And oh, by the way, 226 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:40.679 the Denver Nuggets have won eight straight games coming out 227 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:41.480 of the All Star Break. 228 00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:44.320 Yeah, and I think that's the answer. I mean, if 229 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:47.159 I take Okase off the table, I still I mean, 230 00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:50.320 from what I've seen, I've been so incredibly impressed with 231 00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:52.639 the Thunder that I probably would pick them in seven 232 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:55.399 games right now over the Nuggets. But at this point, 233 00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:58.720 I think Denver's probably the only other team that I 234 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:01.000 would put in the same category. But let me ask 235 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:03.799 you about the Timberwolves because they've been better as of late, 236 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:08.759 and obviously around here everybody keeps their eye on the Timberwolves. 237 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:10.840 At one point, it's like, wait, are the jass getting 238 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:12.840 luck into a lottery pick? I never thought the t 239 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:15.720 Wolves were a lottery team. And you know, this is 240 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:18.080 a team that's not too far removed from a squad 241 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:20.000 that was probably in the mix to win it all. 242 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:22.320 They made the cat deal for Randall, which I just, 243 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:24.799 as somebody who watches the next all the time, I 244 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:27.799 understand the financial implications of it, But are you buying 245 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:30.600 kind of the improved play from Minnesota over the past 246 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:31.480 five or six weeks? 247 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:38.120 Improved play? Sure, you know Randall has been out, which 248 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:40.320 is right, you know, interesting kind of draw your own 249 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:45.840 conclusions there. I just I can't see the Wolves being 250 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:49.600 a real bona fide contender, And I think that does 251 00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:53.639 go back to the trade where they moved Carl Anthony Towns. 252 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:55.799 You know, they had a Western Conference finals team and 253 00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:59.799 they took away the second best player on that team, 254 00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:03.000 and not just second best player, but like the Wolves, 255 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:05.919 one of their huge advantages last year is that they 256 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:08.799 were huge. I mean, you know, they had go Bear 257 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:11.440 in Towns in their front line, and then you know, 258 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:14.600 if Gobert wasn't on the floor, it was Townsend Reed, 259 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:17.159 if Kat was on the floor, it was Towns in Gobar. 260 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:20.879 They were constantly just this massive team. And if you 261 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:24.879 look at the way that they played Joker in that series, 262 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:28.000 where look, Joker had some huge games, but they played 263 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:29.720 him well enough and they're able to win the series 264 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:33.759 in seven. Kat was the primary defender on Joker. Now, 265 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:37.279 did Cat shut Joker down one on one? Obviously not, 266 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:40.840 it's an entire team concept. But that allowed them to 267 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:44.600 play Rudy on Aaron Gordon and really just kind of 268 00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:49.519 be that Rover and you know, it's they don't really 269 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:53.759 have that option anymore, and that to me is just 270 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:58.919 a massive, massive difference if they get matched up with 271 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:03.960 the Nuggets. So, you know, I and I also, I 272 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:06.679 just don't think that the Wolves are going to be 273 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:10.000 good enough late in close games, you know, in those 274 00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:14.279 clut situations to make a deep playoff run. They're not 275 00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:17.639 the same dominant defensive team that they were last year. 276 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:22.360 You know, they kind of show that in ebbs and flows, 277 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:26.879 But yeah, I just I think that the ceiling for 278 00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:29.240 the Wolves is probably the second round. 279 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:32.240 Who'd you have in the Timmy Bontem's good time, Timmy 280 00:14:32.279 --> 00:14:34.679 Bontem stropol, who do you think the MVP is this year? 281 00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:35.120 And why. 282 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:38.279 We'll put it this way. A lot of Nuggets fans 283 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:41.720 are mad ato right now, and I think a lot 284 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:44.279 of Serbians are cussing at me. I've already I've been 285 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:48.039 getting cussed at the Slovenian recently for doing things like 286 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:50.360 reporting and the reasoning that the Mavericks made the most 287 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:54.440 shocked and trading in be a history. And now Serbians 288 00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:57.120 are out of me, and listen, I there's not a 289 00:14:57.279 --> 00:15:01.120 single thing I could or would say to tell you 290 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:04.759 why Joker's not deserving of winning his four straight MVP. 291 00:15:05.480 --> 00:15:09.240 Like the guy's case is incredible. I just think if 292 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:13.279 it's even you go with a guy who hasn't won 293 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:17.240 an MVP yet, whose team is by far the number 294 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:19.320 one seed in the conference, who is a lead in 295 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:23.279 the league in scoring not just average, but in points 296 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:27.000 per game or in total points by over two hundred points, 297 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:31.679 and in plus minus by over two hundred points, the 298 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:34.799 most important stats in basketball plus minus because that's the 299 00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:38.639 score and points because that's how you score. Jacobs, Alexander 300 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:41.480 has a two hundred and something point cushion over everybody 301 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:44.279 else in the league in both of those categories on 302 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:47.759 crazy efficiency while being a significant contributor on the number 303 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:51.080 one defense in the league, filling the stat sheet up 304 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:53.840 across the board for a team that's very likely in 305 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:56.159 the season with the best record. That's the hell of 306 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:57.919 a case for him to win his first MVP. And 307 00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:59.840 I forgot that. I went with, Yeah, it's. 308 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:02.600 One thing to have snot knows losers who use the 309 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:04.559 Internet to feel brave coming at you. I don't think 310 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:06.720 you want to get sideways with serbians. Bro, That's just 311 00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.679 a little piece of advice. 312 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:14.159 Listen, man, I've been over to the Balkans, beautiful hand 313 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:16.440 over there. I might not be a returning to the 314 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:17.080 antempt soon. 315 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:22.039 Okay, all right, fair enough, fair enough. Hey, let's before 316 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:23.879 I say you loose. Let's move over now to the 317 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:27.679 latest with the MAVs and what this entire citizens. You're 318 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:29.360 the guy that's been on this, and we've used your 319 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:32.120 reporting on the show to color the context of the conversation. 320 00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:35.279 Just because it's been a week, I mean, it seems 321 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:38.399 like they've got a ton of injury issues, so the 322 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:40.639 jury's going to be out as far as whether or 323 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:42.600 not they'll be able to do anything special this year, 324 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:45.000 because they still have a lot of talent. We've been 325 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:47.840 reminded of what Kyrie looks like when he's when he's 326 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:50.759 engaged in playing basketball. So just the latest with the 327 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:52.519 Dallas Mavericks, and now you think the rest of the 328 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:55.360 season plays out after making one of the wildest deals 329 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:57.399 in the history of pro sports. 330 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:00.919 Yeah, we're there and say if they gain simple fact 331 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:03.039 that they're not going to be healthy, probably not for 332 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:06.000 the rest of the regular season. Daniel Gafford has a 333 00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:10.519 Grade three sprain of his MCL, probably at the rest 334 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:13.759 of the regular season. There's no certainly that Dereklively, the 335 00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:17.039 second who has a stress factoring his right ankle, is 336 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:20.519 available for the rest of the regular season. We're looking 337 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:25.200 at still weeks before Anthony Davis is able to return, 338 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:29.279 and there's not like a firm certain timetable in place there, 339 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:32.160 so there's no if they can get healthy, they're not 340 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:34.079 going to be healthy. The vision that they have to 341 00:17:34.119 --> 00:17:37.759 this team of this huge, massive, ridiculously athletic front court 342 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:41.759 is not happening this season. And here's one of the 343 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:46.559 things about that trade is what you did was instead 344 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:49.319 of having this twenty five year old generational talent that 345 00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:51.839 you have, I don't know, they felt like the runway 346 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:53.519 wasn't going to be that long. You have potentially a 347 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:56.920 hent or twelve year runway left for Bukado, and you 348 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:59.640 crunch that down into three or four years. So you 349 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:01.680 can call bad. Look, you can call it whatever you want, 350 00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:04.519 but if it looks like injuries are really going to 351 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:08.799 mar this season for the Mavericks, that's twenty five to 352 00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:12.119 thirty three percent of the timeframe that you decided to create. 353 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:15.960 And you know that's that's part of the risk of 354 00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:19.440 trading twenty five for thirty one, and of trading the 355 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:21.240 guy that you're afraid is going to break down for 356 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:24.000 a guy who's got significant history of durability issues. 357 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:27.400 Yeah, well said, I can't wait for Kiante to come 358 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:30.359 back and average thirty five down the stretch and completely 359 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:33.359 give it all the credit to his experience in the 360 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:35.920 Rising Stars situation over the weekend, and then you and 361 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:38.519 I will have the conversation about exactly what that meant 362 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:41.319 for young Kyante George. That's my prediction for the rest 363 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:41.799 of the year for. 364 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:45.440 Jazz Kyanti is not going to average thirty five minutes, 365 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:48.839 much less thirty five points. So I would say that 366 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:53.160 my advice to Kiante George would be better start playing 367 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:56.759 as hard as it can defensively and locking into details. 368 00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:58.799 If you ever want to take your starting job back 369 00:18:58.839 --> 00:19:03.039 from Isaiah Callier, who you know right now, Will Hardy 370 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:05.400 is very happy with one of those guys, and it's 371 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.480 not Kante George. 372 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:09.480 I will stretch one more time to simply ask you this, 373 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:13.000 what's the most interesting story about the Jazz over the 374 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:14.519 final twenty eight games of the year. 375 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:20.400 I mean, I think like there's the obvious answer, and 376 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:22.799 it's the one that's not any fun to follow until 377 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:27.720 the night of the wattery. You know, Like listen, there's 378 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.720 just like Cooper Flag has a chance to be a 379 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:34.640 generational type of talent. This whole season is about maximizing 380 00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:36.799 your chance to get that guy. And if it's not him, 381 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:39.720 there's some other really good players at the top of 382 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:43.960 this draft. As far as I actually watching this team, 383 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:47.319 which I was a little bit surprised, I didn't move 384 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:49.559 any of the veterans. You know, I think when we 385 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:51.799 talked for the deadline, you and I set the over 386 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:55.000 under one point five and it ended up being zero, 387 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:59.920 So that surprised me. But it's still about like, hey, Isaiah, 388 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:04.359 you're getting this extended audition as a starting point guard. 389 00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:06.920 You know, what can you do with it? Deyontay George, 390 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:11.160 you had your audition. You know basically you got demotive. 391 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:13.519 How are you going to respond to that? You know, 392 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:19.480 Cody Williams, you know, it's been a fairly rough rookie season, 393 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:22.839 but everyone understood you were raw. You know that you're 394 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:26.160 nowhere near you finished product. What kind of progress can 395 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:28.640 you make down the stretch? And you know, kind of 396 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:31.640 on down the list of the guys, especially in these 397 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:33.559 I was going to say the young guys, but especially 398 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:35.839 in these last two draft classes. I think you have 399 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:40.200 an idea at this point kind of who Walker Kessel is, 400 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:43.759 what he can be. You know, it hasn't been like 401 00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:47.519