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 --> 00:00:14.800 Ban McMahon, Vanman Batted in all the Land, Texas flood 4 00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:23.079 a ticket Mud, He's Man Van McMahon, Van mcman the 5 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:24.320 band man. 6 00:00:32.920 --> 00:00:36.280 We got Smitty live in the studio. Man Richard Smith 7 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:38.600 will be be with us for an hour. Spend forty 8 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:43.079 years with the Utah Jazz Front Office. John Kimball, president 9 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:44.960 of ray Al saw Lake in a little bit of 10 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:47.479 breaking news. I'm told John will drop coming up in 11 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:51.000 a bit three o'clock hour Tuesday afternoon. It means it 12 00:00:51.079 --> 00:00:55.119 is time for our weekly visit with a very important 13 00:00:55.159 --> 00:00:57.520 media member who has been very busy as of late. 14 00:00:57.600 --> 00:00:59.679 You know him, you love him, Ban McMahon. Tim McMahon 15 00:00:59.719 --> 00:01:00.840 Hap Tuesday, Sir. 16 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:04.319 How are you pardy partner. I'm just swell hanging out 17 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:08.280 here in Oklahoma City, hoping that the sundric can make 18 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:11.079 this a quick one. I'd like some rest between series. 19 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:12.799 I don't think the Bruises can put up much of 20 00:01:12.840 --> 00:01:13.159 a fight. 21 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:16.239 I'm quite sure they'll make it a quick one. Tim, 22 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:18.079 do you think Game two is at least a little 23 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:19.239 more interesting than Game one? 24 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:22.159 I mean, I would hope if they could keep it 25 00:01:22.359 --> 00:01:26.560 a little bit closer than fifty one. You know, I 26 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:29.000 think we're probably going to see something in that fifteen 27 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:32.480 twenty twenty five point range. The Thestjase ain't a fair fight. 28 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:36.239 One team's really really good. One team's looking for a 29 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:37.959 nice vacation destination. 30 00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:40.319 You know, I was thinking about this when I saw 31 00:01:40.359 --> 00:01:42.840 your name on the rundown because pretty much, you know, 32 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:45.560 every week for the past three four months or so, 33 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:49.239 after Okase kind of established themselves as the dominant team 34 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:52.239 out west, I would ask you which team is keeping 35 00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:54.640 Mark Dagnoled up at night? And my question to you 36 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:57.640 now is is any team keeping Mark Dagnoled up at night? 37 00:01:58.840 --> 00:02:00.680 I don't know about keeping them up at night? I 38 00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:03.640 do like the Thunder aren't assuming they're just going to 39 00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:06.439 prove through the Western Conference. I think you know, they've 40 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:12.039 they've talked about their challenge, their challenge now being basically, hey, 41 00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:14.960 you know, it's a competition within themselves. Don't get their 42 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:17.840 heads gassed up after a fifty one point win. You know, 43 00:02:18.039 --> 00:02:21.319 stay sharp, stay focused, take care of your business here. 44 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:24.520 But man, whoever wins this four or five series is 45 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:28.680 going to be you know, some competition. The Clippers look good, 46 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:31.319 they look good. They look good for a while. Kawhi 47 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:35.039 looks like the dude who's been a Finals MVP. I mean, 48 00:02:35.080 --> 00:02:37.039 we'll see if you can stay healthy, boat Man. That 49 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:41.919 guy I saw last night was bouncy, was on fire. 50 00:02:42.840 --> 00:02:45.080 So I honestly think that the Clippers Thunder could be 51 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:47.479 a heckt of the series. Also with some crazy storylines 52 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:53.840 the Paul George trade trade that obviously helped launch this rebuild, 53 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:57.439 this unbelievable rebuilt in Oklahoma City, It can still pay 54 00:02:57.520 --> 00:03:01.560 off for the la Clips despite the site Paul George 55 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:03.719 is no longer there. Because about that, there's no Kuai 56 00:03:03.800 --> 00:03:06.759 And again why right now? Man, he's looking like a 57 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:08.520 guy that was worth giving up a whole lot of 58 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:09.120 stuff to get. 59 00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:12.719 Yeah, no doubt, and we'll get there in a moment. 60 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:14.879 But you know, I wanted to kick the tires with you. 61 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:17.560 And the best way I can describe this is you 62 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:21.520 remember the classic Jim Carrey comedy Dumb and Dumber nineteen 63 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:24.400 ninety four. You remember the movie yes him, Oh yeah, 64 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:29.400 Remember when Jim Carrey as Lloyd Christmas approaches Lauren Holly 65 00:03:29.479 --> 00:03:32.560 as Mary Swanson and gently puts his finger over her 66 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:34.840 lips to tell her to stop talking. You remember that scene. 67 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:38.240 I do, And every time you ask Nico Harrison a question, 68 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:40.039 I just want to walk up to him and put 69 00:03:40.120 --> 00:03:42.479 my finger over his lips and say, buddy, that's enough. 70 00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:47.000 What if anything over the course of the past, you 71 00:03:47.080 --> 00:03:50.400 know a little bit as you have been in some 72 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:52.719 other media members down in Dallas as well, been able 73 00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:55.199 to get access to Nico and ask him these questions. 74 00:03:56.159 --> 00:04:00.199 What are your main takeaways about where we're at with 75 00:04:00.280 --> 00:04:03.520 a situation with the Dallas Mavericks That really feels like 76 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:07.080 I hate to use the term unprecedented, but I don't 77 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:09.439 know that in my entire life around this league, I've 78 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:11.960 ever really experienced anything quite like this, because every day 79 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:13.759 it seems like there's another thing that comes out and 80 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:16.600 it's like, who is running the show over there? What's 81 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:18.000 this experience been like for you? 82 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:21.040 Well, I mean, the similar fact is Nicol Harrison has 83 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:24.639 been running the show and he's done. You know, it's crazy, 84 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:27.040 you know, I had the story yesterday that kind of 85 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:30.439 details just how Haywire things have been behind the scenes, 86 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:33.399 and just how some of the behind the scenes decisions 87 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:36.439 that he made drove birk away from the franchise, created 88 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:39.399 friction Malucas and you know, played a role in They're 89 00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:45.040 just medical catastrophy this season. The miracle here is that 90 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:48.120 this team made the finals. Last year, this franchise made 91 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:51.240 the finals with all the dysfunction, and it's a credit 92 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:55.920 and large part to Lukadosch's unbelievable talent, which makes it 93 00:04:55.959 --> 00:04:58.560 even more inexplicable that they decided to dump that guy 94 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:02.000 months later when he absolutely was planning on spending his 95 00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:05.360 entire career in Dallas. And look, you know, I know 96 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:07.759 people say, hey, Nico, just shut up, to shut up. 97 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:09.839 Well he did shut up for two and a half months, 98 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:13.040 and that didn't help either. Asard Dumont forceman do that 99 00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:16.040 weird you know, closed doors invite only thing. And I 100 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:17.839 was certainly a part of that. And you know got 101 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:22.040 my uh, I got, I got what I needed out 102 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:24.040 of that. I was not there yesterday. I'm up here 103 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:26.160 in Oklahoma City. I was playing on Meet the Mavericks here. 104 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:31.000 They didn't qualify for the playoffs, but yeah, yesterday. It's 105 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:34.959 just weird having him do two media availabilities back to 106 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:37.759 back when he really hasn't answered any of the questions. 107 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:42.199 But you know, he thinks he built the championship caval team. 108 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:44.480 It's all about you know, the injuries have prevented us 109 00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:50.560 from seeing that. Okay, but that's that It's championship or bus. 110 00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:55.040 That's the only way you could even convince yourself that 111 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:59.319 this trade was anything close to a success for the Mavericks. 112 00:05:59.399 --> 00:06:01.639 And that's an all the high bar to clears when 113 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:07.439 you've got two you know, thirty some odd franchise cornerstones 114 00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:10.639 and very long medical histories and one of those guys 115 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:14.720 is recovering from a torn acl right now, unpack. 116 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:17.439 This Casey Smith story for me, Tim, that I just 117 00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:19.680 learned about based off of your reporting. I mean, it's 118 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:23.360 just another one of these scenarios and situations that just 119 00:06:23.480 --> 00:06:26.360 makes you wonder if Nico is really the right guy 120 00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:28.240 to be doing any of this. So I didn't know 121 00:06:28.279 --> 00:06:30.399 any of this until you reported it. Let's unpack this. 122 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:32.920 Well, I'll tell me you didn't read my book about 123 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:35.439 tell me you didn't read my book. My goodness, I'm 124 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:36.879 that's a shot to the heart. 125 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:38.240 We'll get there, Tim, I'll get there. 126 00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:41.839 It's actually this stuff was hit in the final chapter 127 00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:43.759 that didn't make the first print of the book. But 128 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:46.759 you can get it this with proof of purchase if 129 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:49.040 you check my x account and find out linking. So 130 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:52.639 long story short, Casey Smith as respected as anybody in 131 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:57.079 his field. Longtime had athletic trainer for the Mavericks, also 132 00:06:57.240 --> 00:07:01.240 for Team USA, promoted the executive nine after fifteen years, 133 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:07.959 extraordinarily respected in his field. Also one of Jurdonvisi's best friends. Right, 134 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:11.079 and so the long the cliff notes of the story 135 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:13.560 that I that I printed yesterday on ESPN dot com 136 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:17.800 is it's a big happy everybody's excited. It's Strk's Hall 137 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:20.639 of Fame weekend. Right, Casey Smith's there, Nicole Harrison's there, 138 00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:22.279 a bunch of other people in the Mapeston They all 139 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:25.720 fly up on the team playing fly back. Casey's got 140 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:28.040 to get out of town. Unfortunately, his mother was great 141 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:29.800 to deal. She's in the final weeks of her life. 142 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:34.680 So he heads to his hometown in Ohio days after 143 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:38.240 Dirks Hall of Fame induction, which is in August, a 144 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:41.199 couple of months after. Typically NBA personnel moves are made 145 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:43.560 because you give people the courtesy have been able to 146 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:45.560 go to summer league and look for the next job. 147 00:07:46.519 --> 00:07:48.920 Nickolarson reached his ouvocation and says, hey, we've got to 148 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:51.720 meet cases is I'm with my greatly ill mother. I 149 00:07:51.800 --> 00:07:54.959 can't meet you in person. I'm in Ohio. Okay, let 150 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:57.439 me zoom. That's how one of the most respected and 151 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:01.319 beloved figures over the last two decades, Dallas Mavericks, was fired. 152 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:03.720 That's why Dirk's like, I don't want anything to do 153 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:06.079 with this franchise. I'll be a Mavericks fan. I'm not 154 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:08.920 involved in the francise anymore. I'm out. I'm out on this. 155 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:13.000 He took their long time pr director Scott Tomlin, another 156 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:15.319 of Dirk's best friends. Like Dirt, Casey and Scooter were 157 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:18.160 kind of like the three amigos. Basically said, Scooter, come 158 00:08:18.199 --> 00:08:20.759 work with me. You're getting out of there. And you 159 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:25.959 know Luca, like Lucan the Dirt to Luca lineage, Like 160 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:28.120 Lukey didn't learn everything from Dirt, but he learned a 161 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:29.879 lot of things. And one thing he learned is that 162 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:32.080 dude put all of your trusts in facing like this 163 00:08:32.279 --> 00:08:34.399 is a dude. You think trus this is the dude. 164 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:36.240 He's always gonna look out for your best interest. He's 165 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:39.759 a good dude. And so yeah, that created some friction 166 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:41.639 with Luca. Now he said, wait, they went to the 167 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:45.360 finals last year. Well, there was also Jammy Holsapple, their 168 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:47.440 longtime strength coach. He was kind of able to be 169 00:08:47.559 --> 00:08:50.519 the point person between his quote unquote body team and 170 00:08:50.679 --> 00:08:54.759 Luca put together and the Mavericks. Well guess who also 171 00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:58.039 got fired not in twenty twenty three the days after 172 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:02.039 the finals run Jeremy holsopple cases fangs are a manual payables. 173 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:03.960 These are all people that are really close to Luca. 174 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:07.559 No shock, there's all kinds of fritsual Luca. And then, 175 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:10.919 by the way, the Mavericks can barely put eight guys 176 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:13.799 on a floor for big chunks of this season, they 177 00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:16.120 will replace them at the for the head of their 178 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:19.000 health and performance group and their head strength coaching, by 179 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:21.000 the way, is not even doesn't even have the required 180 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:23.840 certifications to be in that role. They're at each other's 181 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:27.080 throat the whole year. Somehow, Derek Lively the second goes 182 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:28.840 through a four. We turn to play work out and 183 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:30.919 they're like, hmm, maybe to get a cetsk and oh 184 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:35.120 that's strained ankle. There's actually a stress fracture in it. 185 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:40.080 I mean dude, the level of incompetence in the Mavericks 186 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:44.720 helping performance group this year is staggering. And so you 187 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:47.559 drive away the best player in franchise history of the legend. 188 00:09:48.679 --> 00:09:51.360 You create all kinds of friction before you decide to 189 00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:55.279 dump his successor the most talented player in franchise history. 190 00:09:55.320 --> 00:09:56.840 The guy just led you to the finals a few 191 00:09:56.840 --> 00:09:59.519 months ago, and you've got a medical crisis on your 192 00:09:59.559 --> 00:10:02.159 hands all season long. Yeah, I would say Niko Harrison 193 00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:06.039 has done one hell of a job creating a mess. Yeah. 194 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:08.919 It just every day it feels like there's something else 195 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:11.840 is coming down. Last thing here. It appears that you 196 00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:16.039 have redeemed yourself with Mavericks fans who at some point 197 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:18.120 wanted to run you out of town. Is that accurate? 198 00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:24.679 I mean, listen, I whatever post like. The simple fact 199 00:10:24.679 --> 00:10:27.360 of the matters is I haven't changed. I do my 200 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:31.759 job the same way. Sure, I am direct, I am aggressive. 201 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:35.200 My loyalties not to Mavericks fans. You know, when I 202 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:37.000 come to the Jazz, it's not the Jazz fans. It's 203 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:40.200 not to my sources, it's not just anybody. It's to 204 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:44.000 be true to getting to the bottom of stories and 205 00:10:44.360 --> 00:10:47.960 by the way. It's not just like swing a sledgehamer, 206 00:10:48.120 --> 00:10:51.639 like trust effort A lot about, for example, the brilliance 207 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:56.000 of Luka Danci on the floor, you know, like the 208 00:10:56.639 --> 00:10:58.559 you know, the brilliantly when I was coming to jazz 209 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:01.600 a lot, you know, the did the development, the emergence 210 00:11:01.639 --> 00:11:04.679 of Ruby will bears as a dominant defensive fours, historically 211 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:07.320 dominant defensive furs. I'm gonna okay See, I'm gonna be 212 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:09.519 right about okay See's defense. I'm gonna be right about 213 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:13.279 how ailsome Shakos Alexandrews. But when things go haywires, my 214 00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:15.399 job to get to the bottom of it. And it's 215 00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:17.759 not my job to even with the very best players 216 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:20.120 in the league. John Moran is here, for example, I've 217 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:23.080 written a lot of stuff on him. I've written about 218 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:25.720 how awesome he was, and I've written about how messy 219 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:29.360 it is off the floor, or certainly has it. And 220 00:11:29.559 --> 00:11:31.360 so I don't make a message. But it's my job 221 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:34.399 to figure out what happened, and it's not my job 222 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:36.600 to clean them. My job to point them out and 223 00:11:37.080 --> 00:11:39.600 figure out just how messages were made. When there are 224 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:40.480 messages that are made. 225 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:43.840 If Cooper flag is a jazz man. Next year, we're 226 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:45.879 going to see you at juniors a couple of times 227 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:48.080 as opposed to zero that we saw you this year. 228 00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:51.559 Well, yes, certainly I would say that Cooper flying. I 229 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:54.519 can assure you this Cooper flag will be getting coverage 230 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:57.919 from ESPN during a group of year in the NBA, 231 00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:00.799 and if he ends up in Utah, I would certainly 232 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:03.360 assume that I will be a large part of that coverage, 233 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:06.480 probably the point man on that coverage. And you can 234 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:10.399 absolutely find me a junior's you know, red rocks, Uh squattered, 235 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:13.639 there's man, I missed my spots. I might even I might. 236 00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:17.080 There's a chance I'll make it out for Salt Lake City, 237 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:22.159 you know. You know, hey, man, I don't mind me 238 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:23.320 some Salt Lake City. 239 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:25.200 Stuff, all right, we'd love to see. By the way, 240 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:27.559 did you need me to voice the audio book for you? 241 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:28.840 Did you need me to do that for you? 242 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:32.200 Listen, brother, it would have been better than this British 243 00:12:32.279 --> 00:12:34.679 dude that ended up doing it and misnounced some names 244 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:40.440 like Gobert. Oh, you don't get me started. All right, Okay, 245 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:43.799 we I think we've I think they've made the corrections. Uh, 246 00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:48.799 I've had some issues I've had. I've had a bit 247 00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:50.919 of frustration in that regard. 248 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:53.320 Okay, all right, well, Smitty, who's going to be in 249 00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:55.759 studio coming up next, wanted me to pass on that 250 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:58.159 he has read your entire book and he very much 251 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:01.120 enjoyed it. So there's little flowers for you, Tim on 252 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:03.879 a Tuesday. But let's go back to clips nugs. And 253 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:06.240 you know I talked about this earlier. I don't know 254 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:09.720 how many years Lebron was the best player in pro basketball, 255 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:12.120 if we call it fourteen or fifteen, I don't know, 256 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:14.840 something like that. And whenever the debate would come up 257 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:17.600 about who's second to Lebron, I think Durant was the 258 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:19.879 name the people would come up with, But for about 259 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:23.600 four or five years, it was Kawhi, And even to 260 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:26.080 the point where I'm not saying Kawhi was ever better 261 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:28.399 than Lebron, but there were nights where you'd watch Kawhi 262 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:29.879 and you'd be like, I don't know how many people 263 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:32.240 are better than he is a what he does, and 264 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:34.360 no matter what he does the rest of his career, 265 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:36.879 I'll always look back on Kawhi and wonder what could 266 00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:39.360 have been. He seemed like the perfect air apparent to 267 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:42.159 Tim Dunkan, he seemed like the perfect spur And then 268 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:43.759 I don't know if it's people around him or whatever. 269 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:46.120 Want to live in Los Angeles wins the title in Toronto, 270 00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:49.320 but at least for a snapshot moment last night, if 271 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:52.120 anybody forgot man, that's what that dude looks like when 272 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:55.559 he's right. So in a vacuum, how did you digest 273 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:57.440 that performance from Kawhi letterd last night? 274 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:00.399 Oh yeah, and the biggest things happened to Kawai. Forget 275 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:03.559 changing teams and all that. It's just that the knee 276 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:06.720 and the body has betrayed him. But he's healthy now, 277 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:09.639 and dude, it's a reminder like there's a reason that 278 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:11.600 they moved having on earth to get him. There's a 279 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:14.720 reason that they gave up all that they gave up. 280 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:17.320 And man, is it a lot shag of Alexander Jaden 281 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:21.720 Williams picks to come to get him via the Paul 282 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:24.879 George trade. You know again, it's the Paul George trade. 283 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:27.279 But the whole point of that trade was that's what 284 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:29.919 Kawi said, if you do this, I'm there. And so 285 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:33.639 that can still pay off and it's not like, hey, 286 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:35.600 Kawhi's just turn it off for the playoffs. You look 287 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:37.360 at like the last month month and a half of 288 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:40.120 the regular season, he was playing at a first team 289 00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:43.200 All NBA level, But you're watching it and you can 290 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:44.679 just see it. You can just see in the ways 291 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:46.360 move and you can see in the ways to elevate, 292 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:50.039 like he's back to being like springing and man, you know, 293 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:54.039 Kawhi has had some of the best playoff runs, and 294 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:56.159 like the playoff run in Toronto is unbelievable. He's not 295 00:14:56.440 --> 00:14:59.639 some of the best playoff performances even in a Clippers uniform. 296 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:02.720 You know, I remember they come to they come to 297 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:05.679 Dallas and it's a game six in Dallas, master up 298 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:07.440 three two in that series. You know, he's dealing with 299 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:12.600 Luka Doncic and Kawhi had forty some odd points crazy efficiency. 300 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:15.639 He's guarding Luca down the stretch of that game. The 301 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:18.600 Clippers pulled that game out, uh and ended up winning 302 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:23.039 the series and seven. But I I don't know how 303 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:26.960 many better playoff performances I've witnessed live with my own 304 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:30.360 eyes and than the one that night. So he obviously 305 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:31.679 hasn't been able to stay healthy. 306 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:32.080 Uh. 307 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:34.200 You know, they flamed out in the bubble that was 308 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:36.000 the best chance. He hasn't been able to stay healthy 309 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:39.840 for a playoff run since. But man, the Clippers have 310 00:15:40.039 --> 00:15:42.799 They've been playing really good basketball for a while. You know, 311 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:44.840 your old buddy Jeff Van Gundy's doing a hell of 312 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:47.679 a job as their defensive coordinator. You know, they they've 313 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:50.759 got Kawhi Harden's playing at the high level Zubos has emerged. 314 00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:55.240 Is like Zubots is really really really high level type 315 00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:57.399 of player. Like he wasn't an All Star, but that's 316 00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:59.639 the kind of impact that he had this year. And 317 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:01.519 I don't know if the Clippers are going to be 318 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:04.559 the Nuggets. Joker still a deep just player in the league. 319 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:07.039 I think it's gonna be elve series and then you 320 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:10.720 know the Clippers though, like dude, they're forced to be reckoned. 321 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:14.000 With I told our buddy Tom Habers show yesterday that 322 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:17.519 as somebody who was on the sidelines watching Jeff and 323 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:20.840 Gundhi hold on to Alonzo Morning's leg for dear life, 324 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:23.679 and then watching Jeff take a punch from Marcus Camby 325 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:26.360 trying to hold him back from Danny Ferry, seeing Jeff 326 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:30.720 hold on to the basketball and basically forced to jump 327 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:32.879 ball with Nikola Jokics brought a tear to my eye. 328 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:36.600 That was a beautiful, beautiful moment for me. Tim Well, he. 329 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:38.399 Had a little bit of help in that other assistant. 330 00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:40.200 But you know, Christian Brown said the joke had of 331 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:43.240 getting the weight room after that Van Gundy he was 332 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:46.279 holding on type boy. He wouldn't letting go. And unlike 333 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:49.879 Matteshpia a couple of years ago, there was no flopping. Nope, 334 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:52.879 he was holding his ground, no flopping. And listen, the 335 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:55.639 curse of that flop is haunting the Suns franchise. They 336 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:57.879 have not won a playoff game since that night. That's 337 00:16:57.919 --> 00:16:58.639 all I'm gonna say. 338 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:01.919 Do you think gets a head coaching job a look 339 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:03.919 at a job this offseason based off of what he's 340 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:04.559 done with the clips? 341 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:08.000 I think he deserves a look. Whether he gets one 342 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:11.839 or not, I can't say. You know, obviously, it's let's 343 00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:14.720 just be straight up. It's tough for a guy who 344 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:18.319 would kind of be perceived as a retread, you know, 345 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:22.720 like I know, like the Sun's one kind of a fresh, young, 346 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:26.880 energetic type of type of leader. This go round a 347 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:29.279 flaming out. You know, Vogel who By the way, thank 348 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:30.960 Vogal did a much better job than Gout sent it 349 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:36.160 for in Phoenix. Obviously the bove thing. But Man asked 350 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:38.559 TYLERU ask any of those Clippers players what kind of 351 00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:43.359 impact Jeff fan Guny's made there? I think there. I mean, 352 00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:45.640 we'll see how many jobs come availables the other thing. 353 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:47.759 But you know, I think you can do a lot 354 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:50.000 worse than having Jeff fang Gunny. He's read coach in 355 00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:50.440 the NBA. 356 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:54.440 Yeah, no doubt, no doubt. All right, So before I 357 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:57.160 say you lose, you're in ok. See, we've already talked 358 00:17:57.279 --> 00:18:00.720 Riz Thunder after that game one yes situation where she 359 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:02.759 didn't even play well and they still won by half 360 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:05.359 a hundred. So let's do a little tea Wolves Lakers. 361 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:09.440 You know, it was interesting Lakers going small and Coach 362 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:11.880 Finch deciding to sit Rudy and those of us around 363 00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:13.599 here know what that's like. But of course the work 364 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:16.880 nas Reed was good, and Minnesota just has so many big, 365 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:21.640 physical wing defenders. I didn't feel like Lebron responded at 366 00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:24.039 all to the physicality, and Luca got his. But what 367 00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:25.960 do the Lakers do tonight to get back into this 368 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:26.799 tim What do you think. 369 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:31.519 Yeah, I mean it is kind of this dance sometimes 370 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:34.279 with Luca when if he was really getting cooking early on, 371 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:37.039 you want to make sure everybody else still feels part 372 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:39.319 of the flow, and I think that that's something where 373 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:41.720 he'll try to figure out a way to strike that 374 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:43.960 balance a little bit better. But they just got a 375 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:47.119 hold on the rope. Like, dude, if this game, or 376 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:49.279 if any of these games are close down the stretch, 377 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:52.920 you really like the Lakers' chances because they've got two, 378 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:57.000 you know, premier closers, and the Timwolves don't have one. 379 00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:01.640 Like the Timboleves really struggle protectionally to those late punch 380 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:05.480 time situations, so they just can't let the Timbles run 381 00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:07.839 away in the third quarter like they did the other night. 382 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:12.359 Last thing, just because I'm contractually obligated. Do you have 383 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:16.000 anything on the Utah Jazz at all? Anything at all? 384 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:19.599 Yeah, I think that's the I really like the purple. 385 00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:23.160 I'm glad they've leaned back into it, you know, like 386 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:28.079 the mountains Man. Those are classic uniforms like that. The 387 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:30.519 high light of yellow is a tough deal. I think 388 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:33.480 the uniforms they've got that right, and now they got 389 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:34.319 to work on the roster. 390 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:37.359 Tim McMahon on the uniform beat for the Utah Jazz, 391 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:40.359 Thank you, my friend. Enjoy the game tonight. Appreciate it, brother, 392 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:42.839 Tim stops by a courtesy of our friends it Advanced 393 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:46.079 Window Products a great deal going on right now. If 394 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:48.440 you need your windows replaced. The good news is they 395 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:50.039 can get it done quickly and you could save a 396 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:53.400 grip of money. You save twenty twenty five hundred dollars 397 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:55.880 when you buy ten windows or more. 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