WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.360 Just out of curiosity. 2 00:00:01.480 --> 00:00:05.160 Do you do you in xact discuss which horrible Pitbull 3 00:00:05.240 --> 00:00:07.960 track you're gonna play and ruin everybody's day? 4 00:00:08.039 --> 00:00:11.119 Or do you just choose one occasionally? But this one 5 00:00:11.160 --> 00:00:13.839 was uh, this one was me. So you'll have to 6 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:15.480 get the feedback from Zeke. 7 00:00:16.199 --> 00:00:18.440 Zach Harper on a Tuesday. You know what Tom it is? 8 00:00:18.440 --> 00:00:20.160 You already know because it's pit Bull. Do you do 9 00:00:20.199 --> 00:00:22.760 you have a like a mount rushmore of pitbull songs? 10 00:00:22.839 --> 00:00:24.760 Or do you celebrate their entire catalog? 11 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:27.760 I mean I do celebrate the entire catalog. I don't 12 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:30.960 know if I could tear it down to four that's 13 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:31.719 asking a lot. 14 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:34.039 Celebrate the entire catalog. Of course. 15 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:37.359 Office Space Michael Bolton reference too good of a movie 16 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:38.079 for cenaphobe. 17 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:39.920 I would imagine, yeah, way too good. 18 00:00:39.960 --> 00:00:41.439 Yeah, not even close to qualifying. 19 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:45.240 Okay, while while we're in this space, I have begged Porter, 20 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:48.119 my producer, to watch Off of Space for years and 21 00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:49.200 he simply won't do it. 22 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:51.439 Will you get my back please? Will you get my back? Please? 23 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:53.439 It's one of the funniest movies over. 24 00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:55.960 Thank you. See, I told you I'll watch what I'll 25 00:00:55.960 --> 00:00:56.200 watch it. 26 00:00:56.560 --> 00:00:58.320 I'll watch what's it today? 27 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:01.320 Yeah? Leave, just go, I'll watch it right now. 28 00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:02.640 You guys got this? 29 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:04.920 I very much don't. If he's not here, I don't 30 00:01:04.920 --> 00:01:05.519 know what I would do. 31 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:10.680 Zach Harper, Tuesday afternoon, better known as NBA Cup Championship Day. 32 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:13.760 What's the level of buzz for you for Bucks Thunder tonight? 33 00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:17.400 Oh? It's an eleven out of ten? Easily easily eleven 34 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:19.079 out of ten? How could you not be excited for this? 35 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:21.599 You know what I love about this this final, now 36 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:26.280 that we have our second one, is that it counts, 37 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:30.159 but it doesn't count right Like it counts for these 38 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:32.319 guys will win money. If they win, they get the Cup, 39 00:01:32.359 --> 00:01:35.280 they have to raise a banner. It sounds like no 40 00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:37.040 matter where you are. We saw that with the Lakers 41 00:01:37.079 --> 00:01:41.359 last year. But this is this is what we're like. 42 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:44.599 Giannice could score one hundred points tonight and it doesn't 43 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:46.760 count in the record books. And I love that. I 44 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:49.760 love that it's in this weird state of like limbo. 45 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:55.640 Yeah, it's uh, It's something that I'm sure will continue 46 00:01:55.680 --> 00:01:59.159 to evolve. I wonder if do you ever believe like, 47 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:03.359 twenty years from now, dudes will look at this as 48 00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:06.920 not close to the Larry O'Brien, but something that really 49 00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:10.800 has value because the parallel that's always drawn is like 50 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:13.560 the FA Cup in the Premiership, or it's the US 51 00:02:13.639 --> 00:02:15.080 Open Cup here with MLS. 52 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:16.759 I know you're a big soccer guy, so you're. 53 00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:20.439 Following me, right, and those trophies do have appeal, but 54 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:22.800 they don't have the same appeal as like winning the league. 55 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:27.080 What's the best case scenario for NBA basketball years from 56 00:02:27.080 --> 00:02:28.919 now with this project they've started. 57 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:31.520 Yeah, I mean, I think it will take time. I 58 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:34.960 think it will take a generation of fans coming through 59 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:37.199 and having this be a regular thing. Like you know, 60 00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:40.000 people like us. We can like it, we can be 61 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:43.120 excited about it, we can buy into it, but it's 62 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:46.240 never going to hold the feeling of a true like 63 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:50.039 championship for a tournament the way the way it does 64 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:53.000 in other leagues around the around the world. But it 65 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:55.159 doesn't it doesn't mean it won't hold value for the 66 00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:57.360 people who win it. I do think there will be 67 00:02:57.400 --> 00:02:59.080 a point where you're right, It's never going to be 68 00:02:59.080 --> 00:03:02.199 the Larry O'Brian troupe, but there will be times, you know, 69 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:04.319 I don't know, ten to fifteen, twenty years from now, 70 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:07.840 where yeah. Has it absolutely has meaning and the teams. 71 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:11.400 Won it all right, Well, we do have a good matchup. 72 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:13.240 I suppose it could be worse. But before we get 73 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:15.719 to the game, I did watch some of the semi 74 00:03:15.719 --> 00:03:19.439 final and it felt like a corporate all star crowd. 75 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:22.759 Oh yeah, so I think that's a problem, Zach. I 76 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:24.560 don't know what the answer would be. 77 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:27.080 But since we're both smart basketball guys and we're still 78 00:03:27.080 --> 00:03:29.719 waiting for people to take us up on our, you know, 79 00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:32.520 our offer to come in and clean up the franchise 80 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:37.319 with our side hustle, could you do something like you 81 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:41.759 reward the fan bases for teams that have advanced and 82 00:03:41.960 --> 00:03:45.120 send I don't know, a couple thousand Hawks fans or 83 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:48.159 whatever to make it feel like it's not just a 84 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:50.759 bunch of corporate suits sitting on their hands or their phone. 85 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:53.960 I mean, the atmosphere was underwhelming for the semis. 86 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:56.560 For sure, it was super indowement. I think the games 87 00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:59.319 were great, but the atmosphere it didn't feel like anything right. 88 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:01.280 And I think, I think, you know, I actually have 89 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:03.800 this this here's a little preview of the bouncer free 90 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:08.680 newsletter at the Athletic for tomorrow. I actually asked Jason Concepcion. 91 00:04:08.759 --> 00:04:12.680 He's at Network on Twitter and all these social media spots, 92 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:16.399 does a great podcast called Six Trophies with h Serano. 93 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:19.079 Like Jason is really smart with the stuff. He follows 94 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:23.720 soccer even more than you and I do. And he 95 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:28.199 had this great suggestion of in in you know what, 96 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:31.120 the euro leagues in soccer and everything, they have these 97 00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:34.720 official and unofficial kind of fan clubs right for each team, 98 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:38.680 and when you get to these tournaments, they find ways 99 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:40.959 to get those people kind of what you're talking about, 100 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:44.439 to get those people into those matches in order to 101 00:04:44.920 --> 00:04:47.199 have a real environment. And the NBA absolutely has to 102 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:49.399 do that, Like this can't just feel like another All 103 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:52.000 Star crowd or anything like that. Like it has to 104 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:53.800 feel like something that's special for the fans in order 105 00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:55.399 for people to buy in. And I think that's a 106 00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:57.240 great way of doing it. And didn't they just sign 107 00:04:57.279 --> 00:04:59.439 a seventy six billion dollar deal. I think they could 108 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:01.959 afford to get the teams to like get a couple 109 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:06.040 thousand fans of theirs two Vegas to at least have 110 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:09.680 that moment and that support within the within the arena. 111 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:12.959 Speaking of the NBA's profit and lost statements. You know, 112 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:16.079 the hot button topic in media over the past week 113 00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:18.680 or so has been the ever declining ratings of NBA 114 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:22.680 regular season, And of course they are trying things. 115 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:24.279 It's not like they're not doing anything. 116 00:05:24.360 --> 00:05:27.959 But I'm of the opinion, Zach, the revenue streams created 117 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:30.800 with the international interest in basketball kind of allows the 118 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:33.879 NBA to look at the domestic ratings with a bit 119 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:36.959 of like a not necessarily we don't care, but we're 120 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:39.120 going to be fine no matter what. It is the 121 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:42.279 second biggest sport globally. The Sports Business Journal out a 122 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:44.680 good piece over the weekend. Soccer is still the world game, 123 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:48.800 as you know, and basketball is two. So really, you know, 124 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:51.279 people can bellyache about the ratings all they want, but 125 00:05:51.319 --> 00:05:54.399 it just feels like the money that comes in from 126 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:58.680 overseas that expedites potentially something compromising domestically just allows the 127 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:01.600 NBA to'll kind of laugh at conversations like this. 128 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:03.959 Is that is that fair to say? And is that 129 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:05.000 good business? 130 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:09.040 I mean, yeah, I think that's fair to say. They 131 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:11.759 just signed seventy six billion dollars deal with low ratings, 132 00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:15.040 right right, Like I don't I gotta be honest, Like 133 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:17.879 I want people to to watch basketball. I want people 134 00:06:17.879 --> 00:06:19.720 to celebrate basketball. I want people to be into it 135 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:22.199 like I am and like you are, Like it matters 136 00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:26.639 to me. I just can't care about ratings anymore. Like 137 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:29.879 the league is doing really well. They just signed a 138 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:32.519 historic deal, not like, yes, they get their bus kicked 139 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:35.560 by the NFL every damn time there's there's any kind 140 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:37.399 of conflict and even when there isn't, Like you just 141 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:40.680 compare the numbers. It's not close. Fine, but yes, you're 142 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:43.040 you're right, Like internationally seems to make up for it 143 00:06:43.079 --> 00:06:45.519 and then some and then on top of that, aren't 144 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:48.439 they kind of like getting back in with China now, 145 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:52.240 like that that's more money that's gonna come in, right, 146 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:54.399 that's more interest. Like I just I think from a 147 00:06:54.439 --> 00:06:58.319 global standpoint, it's fine. I think from a US standpoint, yeah, 148 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:01.920 it's disappointing, but they're doing fine. Like the salaries are 149 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:04.199 going up, the salary caps going up, the league is 150 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:07.120 getting all this money. I just I don't think it's 151 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:10.800 an actual issue until they have to start peeling back 152 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:12.920 some of this financial progress. 153 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:16.839 Well, and it also comes down to you know where 154 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:19.240 your yard is at, where your feet are at. We 155 00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:22.759 we had Tom Haberstrow on your buddy Tom on yesterday, 156 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:26.120 and we were kind of reflecting back because if you 157 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:30.319 really pay attention to how profitable the business is based 158 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:32.079 off of what you just said with the TV deal, 159 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:35.639 and then you listen carefully, sometimes people on the inside 160 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:39.519 of the league, players and coaches and execs will say, 161 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:41.680 as the kids say, the quiet part out loud. And 162 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:44.279 when a couple of years ago, after the MAVs were 163 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:47.040 eliminated from the postseason and Jason Kidd took the dais 164 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:49.680 and said, what you guys don't get is we're millionaires 165 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:50.680 cheering for each other. 166 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:54.759 I just went, oh, like yep, Like we know, Jason. 167 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:57.959 But you know, like there is this feel from people 168 00:07:57.959 --> 00:07:59.560 that are in the league that kind of laugh at 169 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:02.560 everybody else to believe that because you're not the NFL, 170 00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:05.120 you're in trouble when these guys are essentially living the 171 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:06.319 life they always want to live. 172 00:08:07.319 --> 00:08:07.519 Yeah. 173 00:08:07.560 --> 00:08:10.600 I mean I saw I think Andrew Schleck, who's who's 174 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:13.759 a great, you know, thunder person for the Athletics, does 175 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:15.560 a great job with our audio and stuff. I saw 176 00:08:15.639 --> 00:08:17.480 him on a on a clip of something saying that 177 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:21.199 the next contract that Shake Gilders Alexander signs he's gonna 178 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:23.800 be the first eighty million dollar a year player. Do 179 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:26.120 you think shake Gilders Alexander thinks, like, oh no, these 180 00:08:26.199 --> 00:08:29.040 ratings are low, of course, not like Jason Kidd was 181 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:31.759 right about that, Like you're what you're saying is correct, Like, yes, 182 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:34.600 there could be a bubble that burst at some point. 183 00:08:34.759 --> 00:08:37.320 I do think the league does a poor job of 184 00:08:37.399 --> 00:08:40.679 marketing itself. They don't know what to do when it's 185 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:43.519 not Lebron and Stephan kd These are all issues. This 186 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:47.159 Thunder team should be super popular around the entire league, 187 00:08:47.240 --> 00:08:49.960 the entire world. Everything that Like, they have a bunch 188 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:53.000 of issues, but the money keeps rolling in. It's it's like, 189 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:55.399 you know, I've talked about this with with Trey Young 190 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:58.360 and Karl Anthony Towns and everything, where people are like, hey, 191 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:00.000 they should be better at this and they should be 192 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:03.240 doing this to you know, affect winning and change these habits. 193 00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:05.440 And I'm like, yeah, I'm with you, But when you're 194 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:09.080 signing two hundred three million dollar deals, how can I 195 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:12.240 tell you you're wrong in the way that you do this right? 196 00:09:12.360 --> 00:09:14.799 Like until the money stops coming in the way it is, 197 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:19.440 I just don't I don't see the actual fear of 198 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:21.159 these low ratings or any of the stuff. 199 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:23.679 And this is always, Zach what I come back to 200 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:26.519 whenever anybody does the whole like, well, the game was 201 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:29.600 different in the nineties and people played more games in 202 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:31.559 the nineties. You want to know why players had to 203 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:34.080 pay for play for paychecks in a way they don't 204 00:09:34.120 --> 00:09:36.879 have to play for paychecks back now. Back then were 205 00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:39.320 they were their exceptions where they're the you know, they 206 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:41.759 were the You had the Jordans, you had the Ewings, 207 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:44.080 you had the guys that made big money, but you 208 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:47.159 had I can remember this vividly, you had a lot 209 00:09:47.159 --> 00:09:50.759 of players in real financial issues that had to get 210 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:53.759 paid twice a month. So therefore, yes, they were going 211 00:09:53.799 --> 00:09:56.279 to show up and play. The reason it feels different 212 00:09:56.440 --> 00:09:59.159 is because the money is different. You always follow the 213 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:00.000 money if you want the. 214 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:03.840 Yes, absolutely, like a perfect example, like you know, from 215 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:07.320 what ninety six to ninety eight or whatever, Jordan made 216 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:09.639 thirty a year, right, thirty million a year, and yes, 217 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:11.840 inflation all this, I get all that, Like, I don't 218 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:15.200 need that explained, but to put that in perspective, Ben 219 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:17.799 Simmons makes forty million dollars, this year and I was 220 00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:20.440 shocked he played as many as thirty one minutes last night. 221 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:23.159 That's where we are. That's where inflation is, right, Like, 222 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:26.320 that's that's just the case, Like you're right, they had 223 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:29.200 to play for their careers now, you know, back then 224 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:32.559 now it's you know, and I don't think it's any like. Look, 225 00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:34.480 there are parts of the nineties game and all the 226 00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:36.840 all the nostalgia stuff I love. There are also parts 227 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:38.919 where I look at him like that's a bad product, 228 00:10:39.080 --> 00:10:41.720 Like we romanticize it, right, And there are times with 229 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:44.279 the current NBA, I think this is great, and there 230 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:46.840 are times and like, yeah, that's a bad product at times, right, 231 00:10:46.919 --> 00:10:49.440 Like you're always going to have those ebbs and flows. 232 00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:52.279 But you can't tell me these players are in trouble. 233 00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:55.039 The league's in trouble when all this money keeps coming in. 234 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:55.600 Well. 235 00:10:55.840 --> 00:10:58.600 And also to add to that, you know, it's very 236 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:01.399 easy for anybody on the outside, whether it's fans or 237 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:05.720 media to criticize, you know, players that don't appear to 238 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:08.320 be motivated to play, or players that appear they're just 239 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:10.960 kind of going through the motions. Any one of us 240 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:13.320 with that type of money in the bank, Like if 241 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:16.159 I knew I had a seventy million dollar guaranteed deal. 242 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:18.360 Twice a week, I'd show up and make fart noises 243 00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:19.720 for four hours in the microphone. 244 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:22.600 Like I'm not, you know, I'd look like I looked 245 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:25.799 like Orlando Sean Kemp out there constantly. 246 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:29.679 Like it's it's it's hard to blame them when the 247 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:30.360 money's there. 248 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:32.200 So I'm not, I'm not. I'm not judging. 249 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:35.039 I guess what it is is from a basketball fan standpoint, 250 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:37.840 there's really nothing better than basketball when it's played by 251 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:39.399 the best players in the world who care. 252 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:41.600 And I would just I would like some more of 253 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:42.279 that is all. 254 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:45.279 Absolutely, I would too, Like, don't get me wrong, I'm 255 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:47.960 not absolving these players. I just understand it, right, that's 256 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:51.440 human nature. Like we've seen that, you know, for decades 257 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:54.039 and decades and decades, and and they're you know, yes, 258 00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:57.080 Like there was a game last night Denver Sacramento that 259 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:58.960 was one of the best games I've seen in the year. Yep, right, 260 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:02.360 it was incredible. Denver up big in the first quarter, 261 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:06.080 Kings come back the last seven possessions of the game 262 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:09.559 until Jamar DeRozan missed on the final play. Seven lead 263 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:12.720 changes on seven straight possessions like it was incredible, and 264 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:15.919 if we had more games like that, like, yes, you could, 265 00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:18.000 you could justify all this stuff. We don't. Those are 266 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:19.879 highs and lows. Like I said, the ebbs and flows 267 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:24.320 of it all. I just like people's watching habits are 268 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:28.399 different and we've just got to accept that. And I 269 00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:30.720 think the way to change that is for people to 270 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:34.000 make the games actually matter. That means the media. That 271 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:35.799 means the fans, That means the players, that means the coaches, 272 00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:39.000 that means the teams, that means the league, and the 273 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:42.440 league again just does a bad job of promoting itself. 274 00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:45.759 But at the same time, all this money just came in. 275 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:47.919 How can you tell them they're doing a bad job. 276 00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:50.399 And that's always going to be the bottom line. 277 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:52.440 I can bark about their issues, they send me their 278 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:54.559 P and L statement, and then they just dropped the mic, 279 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:57.960 and I get it, right. You know Tom's point yesterday was, 280 00:12:58.039 --> 00:13:00.759 you know, basketball in the NBA is at its best 281 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:03.879 when there are compelling stories to be told. And you 282 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:07.200 reference to Oklahoma City, and I don't think their story 283 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:09.639 is being told enough because every time I dial in, 284 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:12.960 I just think this team. You know what, Sam Presty 285 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:15.480 has done, and you guys released the front office rankings 286 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:18.840 and OKAC was at the top deservedly. So what Sam 287 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:21.440 has done to build this thing to be awesome now 288 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:25.120 and potentially awesome forever with everything they have in their 289 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:28.000 back pocket is pretty stunning. And every time I hone 290 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:29.679 in on them, I do feel like we might be 291 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:32.720 high speed ahead. Even though we talk about the era 292 00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:35.600 of parody to OKAC in Boston, I'm not sure anybody 293 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:38.159 can do anything about it. Tim McMahon hopped on the 294 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:41.159 show earlier. He dropped the stat OKAC is seventeen and 295 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:44.120 two when they have a seven foot are available either 296 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:48.039 chet or heart and steam like they're they're insanely good. 297 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:50.559 What stands out most about not just in a vacuum, 298 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:52.639 but thirty thousand feet about what Sam has built. 299 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:57.480 I think it's the dominance right Like the versatility in 300 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:01.080 the dominance is just so apparent. Twenty wins right now, 301 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:04.360 seventeen of them are by double digits. They have a 302 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:08.000 net rating like think about the Warriors with Kevin Durant, 303 00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:12.600 think about the Boston Celtics last year, think about the 304 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:15.200 Miami Heat with the Big Three, think about all these 305 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:18.159 dominant teams we've seen over the last twenty years. There 306 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:21.679 are three teams in NBA history instead of a higher 307 00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:24.159 margin of victory than this thunder team. It's like the 308 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:27.480 seventy one Bucks, the seventy two Lakers, and the ninety 309 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:31.200 six Bulls. That's it. Like they are dominant no matter what. 310 00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:34.720 Chests out, No big deal. Isaiah Hartenstein's out, No big deal, 311 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:37.679 Shay's having an off night, no big deal. Like it 312 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:41.000 just doesn't matter. This team is so well coached, so 313 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:43.480 well run. Like I mean, I'll just throw this name 314 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:46.279 out there now because I didn't know who he was 315 00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:49.000 before the season. He's some rookie for them, and not 316 00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:50.799 even like a high draft pick or anything. This dude 317 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:53.360 aj Mitchell. I watch their games and AJ Mitchell comes 318 00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:56.080 in for like eight minutes and plays great basketball. I'm like, 319 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:58.399 who is this guy? How did they find him? Like 320 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:01.919 they just it doesn't matter who they play. There's few 321 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:04.720 teams around the league, you know, Boston's this way. Orlando 322 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:07.759 has become this way despite the injuries. Oka see is 323 00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:11.360 this way. It is truly like that cliche of next 324 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:14.639 man up. When someone's out, they embody it, they embrace it, 325 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:16.840 They thrive with it. And I think Oka See is 326 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:19.559 the best example of that right now. I think the 327 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:21.919 best thing that I like, I get markets and all 328 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:24.399 this crap. If you want the best basketball, the best 329 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:26.360 thing that could happen for the NBA right now as 330 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:29.639 things stand is Celtics Thunder in the finals. That would 331 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:31.440 be sort of the best basketball We'll ever get. 332 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:33.159 On board with that. 333 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:36.159 Man, give me seven games or not more if that's possible, 334 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:36.559 but it's not. 335 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:39.159 But for sure, I'd love to see those two teams play. 336 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:41.639 And you know, in the name of trying to tell 337 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:46.039 a compelling story, this is essentially my eighteenth year doing 338 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:49.120 live radio full time, my twenty second year doing any 339 00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:50.960 sort of radio part time for four years. 340 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:52.360 You know the deal, you got to do part time 341 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:52.799 for a while. 342 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:57.080 And I don't think I've ever been more challenged to 343 00:15:57.159 --> 00:16:00.600 tell a compel, compelling story about our pro basket here 344 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:03.200 in Salt Lake. Look, man, I'm watching the game last 345 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:07.360 night and I never tap out. Hardin was shooting practice 346 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:09.879 three point shots. They were down like forty. I'm like, dude, 347 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:13.759 I'm not watching this. Yeah, is there a compelling story? 348 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:16.559 It's in three years they are starting front court is 349 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:20.440 Lowry Marketing, Cooper Flag and aj DEBANSA. Maybe that's compelling. 350 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:23.480 I don't know what's compelling about the Jazz this year, Zach. 351 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:24.240 I don't. 352 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:26.320 There was a point last so I you know, I'm 353 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:31.080 I'm locked into to Nuggets Kings last night, and it's 354 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:34.000 just this incredible finish that I couldn't believe the Rosen 355 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:36.039 missed that shot. You know, kind of a bunny, a 356 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:37.600 tough shot, but it's still kind of a bunny at 357 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:39.519 the same time, he should make that, and I'm just like, man, 358 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:41.679 I like even I was like, I need a cigarette 359 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:43.960 after this, right, Like that was basketball euphor you It 360 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:46.600 was great. And then the only game that's left is 361 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:49.240 Clippers Jazz, and I'll admit I hadn't watched the first 362 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:52.639 like forty minutes of it. I turn it on. The 363 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:56.799 Clippers are up thirty eight at that point, with about 364 00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:58.559 eight or ten minutes ago. I can't remember exactly what 365 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:00.320 it was, but they're up thirty eight and I and 366 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:05.039 I actually wondered. I thought, if they pulled three athletic 367 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:08.440 fans from the wall in that arena and had them 368 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:12.200 with two other Clippers players anyone's choice, could they keep 369 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:15.880 this thing above twenty for three minutes like that, And 370 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:18.279 part of that is the Clippers are playing really well, 371 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:20.440 and part of that is the Jazz. Just I don't know. 372 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:23.319 I don't know, man, Like I I've covered some bad 373 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:26.200 teams before, Like I covered the Kings during the you know, 374 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:29.519 the early Tyreek Evans years, which at least like he 375 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:32.640 was compelling. So there was that. I covered the Minnesota 376 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:35.119 Timberwolves to the point where I wrote about so many 377 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:39.119 twenty five point losses during the season that one night, 378 00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:41.279 I think against the Grizzlies, I just said I'm gonna 379 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:46.079 write about hand dryers in public restrooms instead, and eventually 380 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:47.920 found a tie in to the Timberwolves. But like I 381 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:50.039 was just ranking, like this is what I think is 382 00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:52.400 a good one. I hate that, like that one like 383 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:55.960 continuous cloth that just keeps going through this alleged sanitizer, 384 00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:58.000 Like that's like a typhoid rag to me, Like I 385 00:17:58.039 --> 00:18:00.839 hate that. Like there were all these things I wondered about. 386 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:04.200 But yeah, when you're covering a bad team, like there's 387 00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:06.079 just not a way to make them interesting unless there's 388 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:08.759 a player that supersedes all that, and they just don't 389 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:09.559 have that right now. 390 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:10.319 No, they don't. 391 00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:12.240 And we'll land on this because I read your piece 392 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:15.400 today at the gym Rear Delt Fly Day. It's not 393 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:17.319 a big deal. If you want my workout, I'll send 394 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:20.599 it to you. It's pretty impressive. I told you Saturday, 395 00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:22.160 I told you over the weekend. You know, if you 396 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:24.200 want before and after photos, you know, just hit me 397 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:24.799 up off air. 398 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:30.200 But I did read today that you wrote just you know, 399 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:30.880 keep your phone on. 400 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:34.559 Later on you wrote potential trades and you name three 401 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:38.559