Welcome to All the Smoke, a production of The Black Effect and our Heart Radio and partnership with Showtime. They do have to start off Paul with a bit of an apology. I am sorry. I want to say, I am sorry. My therapist told me to do this. It's good to apologize to people when you've wronged them. I am. I don't know if you know this A die hard New York Knickabocker fans die hard since I'm not one
of these, you know, New Vaux Reach fans. I've been, you know, riding with the Orangine Blue for quite some time. I have cursed you out in my mind for a very long time. I've said some very mean things about you mentally, all out of love, all out of respect as you broke my heart. But I just feel now that we're working together the truth of the Nose, I should apologize to you for all the mean and disparaging things I've said about you over the years. Internally, you
know what. I like to apologize to you. Thank you for all the things that I've been able to crush. The knicks you have I can't even debate, yes, so I apologize. No, it's all good. Thank you. For doing that. I appreciate that on behalf of all Knicks fans, We're glad that you are retired. Hello everyone, welcome to a very special edition of What's Burning here on the Showtime Basketball YouTube channel. I'm Marry Alwani And how about this, my friends, you talk about a special edition of the show.
Very special guest, the one and only Paul Pierce the Truth in the house. We're replacing the guys for this week only. I say this week only Paul because I feel like this is going to be the most watched episode and then it's gonna get awkward take over the show. They call you the Truth, they call me the Nose. This is the first episode of The Truth and the Nose. I don't know if you know this. I have a
very big nose, uh. And when I was young, everyone used to make fun of me, and I thought, Hey, why don't I disarm people if I start to call myself the nose. Hell, Wannie knows. I knows everything. I'm able to sniff out the news. Hence the nose. Remember back in the day, Bo knows, Remember that campaign Helwani knows? But no s E. You get it. The Truth and the nose right here. Showtime Basketball. This is gonna be
a fun show. I appreciate you doing this. We have a lot to talk about busy week ahead in the National Basketball Association, but I do have to start off, Paul with a bit of an apology. I am sorry. I want to say, I am sorry. My therapist told me to do this. It's good to apologize to people when you've wronged them. I am. I don't know if you know this a die hard New York KNICKO backer fan die hard since I'm not one of these, you know, New Veau Reach fans. I've been, you know, riding with
the Origin Blue for quite some time. I have cursed you out in my mind for a very long time. I've said some very mean things about you mentally, all out of love, all out of respect as you broke my heart. But I just feel now that we're working together, the truth of the knows I should apologize to you for all the mean and disparaging things I've said about you over the years. Internally, you know what. I like to apologize to you. Thank you for all the things
that I've been able to cush. The knicks you have I can't even yes so I apologize. No, it's all good. Thank you for doing that. I appreciate that. On behalf of all Knicks fans, We're we're glad that you are tired. All right, A lot to talk about. Let's stick with the Celtics, Let's stick with your squad. They have a busy week ahead West coast trip, playing the Lakers, playing the Clippers, of course, playing the Sons, who have had
an incredible start to the year. The beginning portion of their season did not go well, right, then all of a sudden we get this player's only meeting and then they turn things around. What's been the difference? I mean, I think it's always good to air out your differences. You know, That's why you don't because when you get into a locker room and everybody's talking behind each other back, it just creates, you know, animosity between each other's. I
think they aired it out, came together. And then also the emergence of Dennis Schroder. You know, since he's been in the starting line of lately when Jane and Brown went down, he'd been putting up some good numbers, and so I think that emerges of him. Uh. And the
only thing is if they can stay healthy. I think they're better than what their record says because they haven't played well at home and they've been solid on the road, and so they can somehow get healthy, get do the protocols, get you know, Jalen Janden Brown, you know, back healthy. He's in and out of the lineup. If Jason Tatum to start finding some consistency, they're gonna be a better a lot better than the record is showing right now. How do you feel about the job that the new
head coaching Mayoka has been doing. And that's the other thing, because it takes time. You know, you got a whole new coach, a whole new system, You've got some new players, new roles, and so it takes time to develop that. You usually know what the team is all about it who they are within the first games, I'd like to say every year. And so we're starting to find out who the Celtics really are. And I like what he's been doing. Players only meetings. We hear about these all
the time. How many times have you been a part of a players only meeting? Well, if you're having players only meetings, that means you're probably not that good. No, They weren't you know what I'm saying. Usually a players only meeting is like, oh, we're not that good. We're losing games, and you know, sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. But on the most part that that's usually in a bad locker room to where you know you're better than
what you are. We're trying to figure it out. But in the set this case, they figured it out, man, and so they turned it around. Hopefully they can be more consistent and keep it going. Can you take us inside? Oh man, look, ye I didn't heard some ship in the players You know I didn't. You know, I didn't heard guys call out guys like, man, you're going out too much. You've got girls here and you need to settle down, get the practice early, to get some shots up.
I mean, it's just a straight up clear air moment, like when stuff is going bad, it's like airing out everybody dirty laundry. So you've got guys in the room, we're going to tape roll coaches they're not allowed, and it's like, hey, you need to get more serious about this. You're partying too much or this you're doing this too much. Because every little thing gets gets picked out when we're losing, and so it's just like we're gonna come together and focus.
We gotta cut all this other stuff out. And so you know that's what players, aren't you? Or if a star ain't playing up to his capability, he's gonna get called out. You know, if you got a strong enough voice in the locker room. It's about everybody understanding they roll at the time and playing and being the star on your row. And so that all gets called out in the players meeting and either goes one way or the other. And see that you're gonna accept it. It's
gonna be an argument in a fight. Uh, you know, those are the things that can happen. I haven't seen a couple of square up in the in the real Yeah, punches throne, square it up, punch is thrown? Who is it? KG? No, I wouldn't. Ain't nobody call it. Everybody's scared the call that probably called him out before? Why did you call him out? No? I mean it was in the game. You know we can get to that story. But face to face, you know that boys, we are boys. What
do you call you out for? Man? Probably something on that. This is why they call me to know by the way. I mean, that's what it's all about. Brothers calling out brothers so you can get it right. And that's what we always did. We always got it right. Now, like you said, it could get incredibly awkward afterwards and it can almost break up the team. It seems like for the Celtics it brought them together. But like, literally minutes later you have market Smart calling out Tatum and Brown publicly.
Remember he said they have to pass more, they have to distribute more. Did you like the fact that he did that. I don't like the fact he did it in the media because that's something that doesn't have to be in the media. But on the other hand, it seemed like it worked because if we brothers, that's something we can go to the locker room for, you know, and we could be like, hey, you need to pass the ball more, and you gotta do it in front
of everybody though, let them know. And so now you're making the star accountable because for most part stars, people don't talk to your superstar like that because that's the easiest way to get traded. You know what I'm saying. When the when the player talk to me like that, I like, hey, man, keep him out of here. We
could trade him. You know. You know what I'm saying, You don't talk to but at some point it wakes him up, and it's like, you know what, if he's a real star, he gonna be like, all right, that was real. That was real. I'm gonna do something to help change that. Now if I do this and we start winning, okay, But I'm open to hear any kind of criticism. And it's hard to really like, go at your superstar like that because you could be the one
out of there too. Did you agree with him? I'm not sure what I what I agree with, but they need to pass. But his role on the on the team is the score. But I understand that if he got a high usage, he got to be better and more responsible with the ball. So like, if his shots not going, okay, maybe it's time to find other guys
see if I can get them going. You know, So I'm talking you know I'm talking about and so, yeah, he do need to pass more because he got a lot of responsibility of the ball is in his hands more because every night you're not gonna be on fire, and so in that aspect, yeah, you gotta pass them more.
So you know, it's interesting speaking of trades. This week in the Boston papers, Uh, there have been several people who have been calling for Marcus Smart to be traded because basically, over the past hundred games for the Celtics, dating back to last week, their fifty and fifty, they are a true five hundred team. I'm not saying this as a Knixt lover, but it's like it's pretty much been them on a hamster wheel treading five hundred. Do you think it is time to blow this thing up?
And then how awkward would it be if that's the dude who gets traded, the one who called out the star. Yeah, you know what I think. When you're in a in a position like that, it can go two ways. It can go downhill or he can continue to climb. I think you add to the talent. They got talent in there and Marcus Smart. If you ask anybody in the league, if you did a survey about Marcus Smart and you ask every superstar coach, every team would love to play
with a guy like Marcus Smart. You know what I'm saying. He's hard, nos, he's a defender, he's accepted role, and he's a leader Like these are the type of guys you can win with. These are the type of glue guys you need on a championship team. He plays championship basketball the way he dives on the floor, the way he guards the best player on every team, the way he can knock down three, he's the way he's vocal. So if you want to trade Marcus Smart, he could
be the glue for another team. But you need guys like him to win the championship. I want to ask you, obviously the famed Celtics Lakers rivalry in a second. You played against him twice in the finals year a callie guy. But first, you know, the Lakers are going through their their own set of issues as well, some people recently calling for the firing of Frank Vogel, or at least saying they expect him to be fired very soon. How
do you feel about that not that long ago? Hey, that's hey, everybody got a short term memory, uh, in the league and in front offices, But like, how do you fire a coach that just won a championship a couple of years ago? Is I don't know, But at the end of the day, when you got a squad like that with a Lebron or Westbrook. It's more than the exs and those because I think the talent would take care of itself when you got the type of personality.
It's about managing the team. You know, at some point, like when me, KG and Ray was together, it wasn't about the excess, no we knew how to play. It was about how do you manage all these personalities so they can come together? And I think, I don't know a vocal is the guy that can manage these type of personalities. You know, he's he's a good coach, a really good coach, I believe you know. I've been around Frank in my time. He was a coach for the Celtics back in the day. And so somebody's got to
take the fall at the end of the day. And we all noticed. And when you got this much talented, a payroll that's two hundred million, it's like, you're not trading Lebron. You can't trade Westbrook. You're not getting rid of Anthony Davis. So who's gonna take the fall? Everybody has a fall guy, and it looks like he might be the guy. It may also be the fact, like Lebron is just getting older, right, Like, we can't expect the same out of him all the time. It might
be that we need to kind of curb our expectations. Right, He's an enigma and all of this, like, he could still put up the good numbers that the guy who needs to step up as Anthony Davis. I mean, he's the youngest guy. He's one of the most talented players in the league. And yes, Lebron will give you greatness in in shorter periods of time. Now, he is hard for him to sustain that for eighty two games season. As you get older, Well, he be rejuvenated when he
gets to the playoffs. Absolutely, he's saving it for the moment. But they need to get to the regular season because they're older. And if they can get to the regular season healthy and get into the playoffs, then the Lakers are gonna be dangerous. I do believe this will be the last time that the Celtics play the Lakers at the Staples Center before they changed the name to the Crypto dot Com Arena, which is very strange to say. I don't know if that's ever gonna sticks you, uh,
could you tell me as a fan? I'm putting on the spot here and the fan as a fan, favorite Celtics Lakers game as a fan one that you weren't involved in, And then I want to ask you about one that you were involved in. My favorite because you were rooting for the Lakers back in the day, right, I was rooting for the Lakers. So my favorite that I wasn't involved. Jeez, that's a tough one. Well, it had to be something to do with the Lakers winning
probably the as a Laker fan. My favorite Celtic lavorite Celtic Laker favorite moment as a as a Laker fan, that's right, that's right, when Magic hit the hook shot in the garden for the wind. Now as a player in my favorite Celtic Laker moment is when we whipped that ask by forty something in the Championship Game six. How weird was that? As a as a Laker fan to the because you probably grew up hating these guys? Was that strange at first? Did your boys make fun
of you? Did they even support you when you were playing? This is when I found out who my true friends was. You know what looks? So I invite one of my boys to the game, Staples, this is my boy, This is how you find out who really with you? He grew up a Laker fan too. But when I put him in like the I think I had him in the first or second row, he wore a Laker jersey and I was, damn, my guy, you tickets? How you
come here? And you know what? Let me let me put a little note right here and never invite him again. And did you know that that strange our relationship? Who's he wearing? Do you remember who's jersey? I think he wasna throw throwback magic jersey, I mean Dale, though I gave you two tickets. Come on, man, what you're doing? We're a white t shirt of song that is true or one of those like hapsy ones. You know, was it weird for you early on, like those first couple
of games as a rookie second year? Like did it take you some time to reprogram your brain into hating the Lakers and now you're, you know, a green and white guy. No, it didn't really take me no time because like now I'm drafted, they're paying me. Sure, I'm part of this culture. I'm part of this history now. So it was like right away, all right, listen, i'mppost to hate. This is the Lakers. Now I'm over here, right,
you're born into that. You know what I'm saying. Once you put on that cethic green you hate the Lakers, I'll put you on the spot. Both teams tied at seventeen championships. Who wins the title first? It looks like, Wow, that's tough because the Lakers got an opportunity. But I think they too. Oh, I think they too. Oh hopefully I think celthis gonna win another championship before the Lakers. I wanted to put some money on that. Yeah, how
much we could get some DraftKings odds on that next time? Okay, all right, there you have it, Draft Kings. Let us know what the odds are, the odds. Yes, So there you have it. So big week for the Celtics going up against the Lakers, the Clippers, the Suns as well. Let's switch things over to the East. Now, let's talk about the Miami Heat. Miami Heat, I'm still not sure where they are right now, because are they the bucks Nets territory? Are they in like the Hawks Bulls territory?
The Bucks Nets territory went healthy? Okay when healthy asterisk because their guy Batman of Bio who has had an incredible season, just went under the knife surgery on his thumb out and definitely that's a massive blow. That's a massive blow. But if he's not out for the year, because he's the one guy that you can put on Janice, you know, because if we're talking about going deep in the playoffs and you got to play the Bucks, you need them type of bodies on there. So that's a
massive blow for the regular season. But this team got enough depth to get them through the regular season until Bam gets back. But they're definitely in the upper echelon of teams in the Eastern Conference that you're gonna have to see late in the playoffs. Well, they got great coaching. For one, they got a leader in Jimmy Butler. They got a leader in Kyle Laurie who's been there. He's been to the mountain top. And then you know they're
young talent. Duncan Robinson, Tyler here are having really good seasons and so you know, they know they've been to the finals two so they got that experience. If they can keep Jimmy Butler healthy, Scott's a limit for this team because when you look at top the bottom coaching to their depth, they're they're one of the best teams in the league. You have an injury like that, a thumb injury, a finger injury, that cane that long. No, I haven't had any long term injuries. I'll fractured the
bone in my hand. Uh actual, the bone in my foot. But you know I was built different. You know I was back after a week. Yeah, I was like, man, they had to sit me down. No no surgeries, no major surgeries. No, no, in my whole life. But see, that's that's the key to having longevity in this league. You gotta be good and you have to be lucky, no, straight up, because they don't matter how talented you are, they don't matter how athletic you are to have longevity
in this league. For me to play nineteen years, I was not only good, I was lucky and not having to go under the night. But you have a situation where Bam is going to be out now, you can't still keep them in that bucks Nets territory for now, right like now we're gonna find out just how deep we're gonna see. Uh I mean yeah, I mean they're not in that category without Bam. Absolutely, he's all star.
He's one of the best defenders. Know, when you lose an All Star caliber player like that, you're not in that quarter. You're a tear below. Now now you're in the Atlanta Hawks Celtics. You know that bulls. No bulls is up there, Bulls with the put bulls with nets and bucks. Really, yes, I do over the heat went healthy. They're right there in the same thing. Four teams is in the same category nets, bucks, heat, bulls. Interesting, No
Sixers you mentioned Sixers. Yeah, man, they're missing something. Yeah, I know who they're missing. Some kid who's from Australia, right, I mean, so let's talk about the Sixers. What a great transition. Truth in the nose. We're just flowing here. This is like a two man We've all right, Sixers Warriors, Saturday Night, Curry versus Curry, both both guys, Steph Seth having tremendous seasons in their own right. You know, Seth really coming out of the shadows. No, you don't agree.
I mean, you know it's a good story for the family story, but you know, you got one on one level and another brother or another level. It's great, it's great for just the brother versus brother, but it's it's really a no, it's not really a great matchup. Oh but I mean like, for the longest time, we thought, you know, Seth was gonna be like the Charlie Murphy to uh two steps Addie Murphy. Like he wasn't quite you know. Still he's coming into his own. No, he's not.
I'm not taking nothing away from steps Step. I'm not. He's he's made a name for himself in the league because when he first came in, it didn't even look like he was gonna be at in the league. And so he was one ft in one and foot out. It was a lot of people that like, he's too slow, he can't you know, he can't even get it shot off.
He's you know when you look at his brother. But he's made himself into a player, and I think a lot of that had to do with his seeing his brother that elevated his game, working out with him in the summer, being around him, seeing his how he does things, and that elevated his play because coming out, Seth Curry wasn't even the best player on this duke team. You know, it was like Austin Rivers because I watched them, and and now he's made a name for himself to where
he's a a primetime role player in this league. Okay, maybe like the nastists and into the compos to the Stuff's be honest, you know what I mean, like a guy who's just there because it's the same as brother, you know what I'm talking about. He's not that guy anymore. Right, with all due respect of the Nassis. I mean we all know he's on the team just because No, yeah, yeah, he's on the team. Yeah, come on, respect um your boys with the Nassis. No, I'm not I don't want
to be enemies with them. No, I'm just telling it like it is over here. So Okay, Seth is playing great. Steph is playing great. The Warriors are playing great. Had a big win on Friday over the Suns to snap their winning street. Did you see this out of the Warriors, Like, did you think maybe we should have Maybe you know, they showed the signs at the end of last season, but did you think that they would turn into one of the powerhouses of the league. I did not see
this from the Warriors. No, I did not, because when you look at last year, they got put out the put in Game by the Memphis Grizzlies, and so I'm like, how is this a championship caliber team? And they didn't even make the playoffs last year and this is relatively the same team. But credit the Warriors, they developed their young guys. You know, Loony. You look what he's been doing, Draymond.
He seems like he's re energized. And then Steph is playing at the m v P level, which he was doing last year, but he's a lot healthier this year. And then the fact that they don't even have Clay Thompson and Wiseman and they're the best team record wise in the league. This is scary. I didn't see this coming.
But then when you think back, you like the combination of Steph, Draymond, and Clay Thompson, that Big three before Durant one a lot of games, they won a championship, and so if you get them back together, you have to wonder their window it's probably still open for a few more years. I'm a little shocked you to mention Mapel Jordan's my guy, Andrew Wiggins. Yeah, those guys are playing great. They know they've done a great job. Better
than Harrison Burnes. They're better with Mapel Jordan than they were with Harrison Barnes back in the day predirect, how about that? Yet to see that we have yet Harrison Barnes won the championship. So put some the Harrison Barnes name first. All right, fair enough, How do you think it's gonna go with Clay coming back? I mean, I can't see anyway where it ruins the chemistry, where it ruins things, right, I mean, he's just such a great team guy. You know what I thought. I've been watching
the Wars? Do you bring Clay off the bench early on? I'm saying, though, look at the chemistry right now, that could be another weapon off the bench. And plus you know with the injuries he's had, you know, Achilles, do you bring him off the bench or do you insert him in that starting lineup? Because the chemistry is there. They whooping teams are average of fifteen every night without Clay, so now he could bring that spark off the bench. I think it was me I may bring him off
the bench at first, get him in shape. See how the chemistry is great right now? Nobody saw it coming, So keep it how it is, and then you add a piece and you bring Wiseman off the bench. I don't know, It's just a thought, right well, there are some guys who I think would not agree to that because of their ego. Clay doesn't. I don't know him personally, like he doesn't seem like the kind of GUYDA mind you think he would be down with that? I don't know.
I mean, like I said, he's coming off two major ends, he hasn't played and how many years a couple of years now, So I don't think he would mind just warming up to that just to see how I go. But how can you say something to what they've been doing right now? It's like say, say this happens, you throw play out there into the fire and to start line up. Then they go like six and four in the next ten. Then what are you thinking, Like, dang, we screwed this up. Maybe it'll turn around, but what
they got going is something good. I'll say, he's him in there and if he if they still winning and playing well, then that maybe his new role. By the way, you gave us just your your top four in the Eastern Conference, where do you put Golden State the number one? Right now? For that Golden State is helaked right now? They got the number one offense, Number one defense. I mean put him above Phoenix. Yeah yeah, right now they're above the statistic don't lie there, rated in all different
categories a little bit better than Phoenix. Now Phoenix is in there also my other teams. I like to say it gets tough after after those two. I think Utah Jazz is just a step under them. I think the Lakers weren't healthy are are right there because they haven't had a lot of games where everybody was healthy, and so after that, it's a crapshoot, man. I mean, I don't know who the Clippers are or if even if
they're gonna get Kauai back Denver. They lost Michael Porter Jr. A guy they just signed for a long term who was supposed to be, you know, up and coming superstar. And so Dallas that's just a one man show. Porzingis he's having a great year this year, but we don't know he's up and down to many years. So you know, right now, let's go to stay Phoenix. We're gonna talk specifically about Joel Embiid in a moment, but I do want to ask you, like, who are the Philadelphia seventy
six is? Right now? In your opinion, they lost some bead for a bit. He's working way back after the COVID stuff. Obviously, no Ben Simmons. Who are these guys? Like, where are they where? They are a team that if Ben Simmons comes back, or if they make the right move, that can be a contender because in my eyes and beat as an m v P caliber player, in order to win a championship, you have to have an m v P caliber player, and so right now we just don't know who they are. They got a bunch of
talented guys. Tobias Harry, Seth Curry is having a great year. Max He's, He's he's probably one of the most improved players in the league. And so, but without a second superstar in the Eastern Conference, they're just not at the level of these other teams unless they can find a way to implement Ben Simmons, which I think they're not gonna do. That relationship is broken, no chance, no chance, no chance again. He'll never play for them again. And so that's a team that's the middle of a pack,
team that is a player away, I believe. So it's interesting because early on they were playing well without them. Then they lose them be and clearly you lose em B that's a big deal. But I feel like now people are realizing, all right, you need a guy there, right, maybe the second guy to take the pressure off because MB. When you have a second superstar, then you don't put the pressure on this guy to performed great every night, which he is capable of doing because your role players
they're gonna be fifty fifty. But when you have another great player who's consistent with you, it takes you to the next level of the standings in an Eastern conference, as far as contending if you could put your GM had on for a second, the ultimate deal for the six Ers to make right now? You talk to dal More, you talked to Elton Brand, you know, because it's a weird one. They don't have a lot of leverage because everyone knows that the relationship is done. This is handled,
I mean, it's been handled pretty poorly. Right. You don't want to let the world know that we don't want this guy back, right, so everyone's gonna try to fleece you. But if you can pull off the ultimate deal right now, I think there's only one deal out there. I really true believe if the seventies. Sixers are serious about contending. They got to try to find a way to get Damian Lillard out of Portlands. I truly believe that Damon Lillard. If you watch the Portland Trail Blazers, they're going in
a whole other direction. They've been in the playoffs every year. He's been carrying on their back. But I just think it's time for a change of scenery for him. I think he needs an opportunity somewhere else to have a chance at a championship because it's not happening in Portlands.
That that relationship in Philly that's done. So if they swapped these two superstar Yeah, Damon is a little older, but it gives them a window now, and for most championship windows, the window is only open like for most three or four years. I think he has a three week four year period if he was on the Sixers. Now, since the Blazers are going in a whole different direction, you get a young talent moving forward because clearly the team as constructed, it's not gonna work as far as
winning the championship. So now you get a young talent there who you can build around and get the fans excited for the near future about all so who say that actually c J McCom would be the better you know, sidekick tempt as as opposed to Damian Lillard. What do you say to those people who are these people? How do you that the game that the game that their
games mesh better than if it's Lillard? N M, I got a closer and Lillard who's been deep in the playoffs, who has Ice cove Vanes, who's one of the seventy greatest players, And you're telling me c J match is better with and b No, if you're serious about a championship, you need a Damian Lillard. Okay, period, There's nothing against c J. He's just a tier below literally maybe a couple of tiers. Well, we're gonna talk about the Blazers in a bit because they've been going through a lot
as well. They just let go of Neel Littleha. They made it to the playoffs eighth straight years. But there's a lot going on over there. Let's stick with the Sixers for a bit because before they get to the Warriors, they go up against the aforementioned Utah Jazz. We need to talk about who's on the radar this week. Presented
by DraftKings. You got the Sixers and the Jazz on Thursday, So before the Sixers play the Warriors on Saturday night, they got to go through the Jazz on Thursday, and we got a battle of the big man in old school battle of the big Man. You got Rudy Gobert, who right now is a two to one favorite according to Draft Kings to win Defensive Player of the Year, and you got Joel Embiide and eighteen to one favorite to win the defensive Player of the Year according to
Draft Kings. I would imagine you're gonna take Rudy, but although it's worth taking a flyer on Joel here at eighteen to one, No, I'm not giving that to Joe. He got so many other responsible You know what this reminds me of. This is like the modern day, like a chema La Juan versus the kimba matambo. This is what that looks like. You know, both tembo, you know motambo being Gobert, who's a great defensive player, gave you
this on night and night out basis two times. I think he was a three time defensive player of the year. Uh maybe uh Motambo and then and be the modern day of Lajoi, who's capable of being a huge impact on the defensive end, but his offenses all world And so this is a great matchup because one guy is just the ultimately defending the other guy. He's probably the best offensive big man in the league scoring wise. Does go Bert get the respect that he deserves in the
league at this point? He should not know. He don't get the respect because his game is not that sexy. I mean, he goes, you know, he just go out there. He blocked shots, you know, he rim run and get dunks, you know, And so it's not appreciated because the modern day big man shoot threes, they dunking on you, more versatility to that game, and he's just more of a throwback. He is a throwback. But I feel like things the
tides may be changing a little bit. Look at what the Calves are doing right now with Jared Allen and Nevin Mobley. I feel like the big man might be coming back. Like the Rudy Gobert type of big man is kind of in vogue again. Am I crazy? Come on? Look what the Caves have been doing. I know the Cats aren't the Jazz, but you know, those dudes aren't shooting threes. Neither is Gobert. Listen, if your big man
ain't shooting threes these days, you can't win a championship. Really, So the Jazz aren't winning the championship as currently constructed, not as currently constructing. What do they missaying? I think they need a second superstar. Now Gobert is a different type of superstar. You just said he doesn't get the respect that he doesn't because he's not a superstar. No, I mean he's a defensive star. He's not a superstar.
That's franchise changing time start. They need another player they can rely on, consistent all star, m VP level player. You know, as constructed, that team can't win a championship. And now Donovan Mitchell has been great. They got tremendous dev Jordan Class, Clarkston conn Lee, they got depth, but that team can't win the championship as constructed. How weird is the situation with with the Sixers and Ben Simmons where you have his situation, you have John Wall situation
where he's not playing. Kimba just got really he can't even get like all these point guards not playing. It's weird, right, Yeah, it's weird. It's weird. The league is in a whole different place right now. There has to be a place for John Wall somewhere, you know, to just say he's on the team and can't play him. And then you got Kimba Walker who looks like he's unplayable according to tips,
Blake Griffin is unplayable. Like unplayable. I mean these guys have These are high i Q players and they find ways to help you win games for So for me to look at this and to say they're unplayable, it's mind boggling. Because to win in this league, you gotta have talent, but you gotta have high i Q. All the top teams. When you look at the top high i Q players, sons look at that high i Q team,
go to stay high i Q team. And the players we mentioned Wall, Kimba, Blake Griffith, although they may not be what they used to be, their high i Q and you can use them on a championship team. Who, ultimately, in your opinion, is to blame for what happened between the Simmons situation with with the six years management with Doc Rivers, Like, ultimately, who is to blame for There's
no one to blame. No, No, why is there? This is like some little kid arguing argument, Like if I say something about my kid and I criticize him, I want him to get better. Obviously he didn't take the words that Doc and and Be said about him. Okay, let's get better. Then they take stuff too personal to this, let's just get to blame all this. He took it too personally. I think he took it personal. And it's like everybody's feelings iss hurt coming. Everybody feelings is hurt. Man.
Look if coach tell me I need to get better, all right, Dan, that's not a knock on me. He's telling me I need to get better, all right, And I'm gonna going to this summer and get better. And I showed him. If they don't like the way I got better, than trade me. But I'm not gonna just sit out if the Trailblazers don't want to get rid
of the Lord? Is there another guy out there for embiid to realize his potential in this current you know window that he has right now because he is playing great when he's healthy and it looks like he's getting back on track. Is there anyone else out there that you think could help him. Yeah, I mean there's a lot of players that can help them, but you've got to be realistic of who's available. Where is that this
chrono star rat that John needs to get out? I mean John wall is good, but he's not at the same level. You know when we talk about Lillard. You need that that guard or that wingman that can take you to the next level. And who who could that be?
Right now? There's none available. Of course, you could say if they added Zach Levine, if they added them in book, and those guys aren't available though, so you have to be realistic of like, what guys can we bring in here that can help get the sixers and then met over the top. And there's not one guy out there realistically that's available. All right, So thank you very much to DraftKings for those odds. Now, let's secure the bag. Are good friends over at money Lying. I've been looking
forward to this segment the whole day. Yeah, well, I'm not about to carry the bag. I mean, I don't make any money, but I do like talking about the New York Knicks. The New York knickabaka is the Orange and Blue. Uh, it's been a weird season, to say the least. They pay all this money to Julius Randall guaranteed. I mean you talk about fifties six million guaranteed in that three year deal. You've got Kemba Walker with the two year deal, You've got Evan Fournier with his big contract,
You've got Derreck Rose with his big contract. And they're kind of hovering around five hundred. Uh. Kemba has been relegated to the bench, not not to the bench in terms of like six man, seventh man, not playing d NP city. What do you make of the state of the New York Knicks right now based on their contract situation, based on their players. You gotta get credit the tips
though he's done a remarkable job. Now, maybe they haven't made the smartest decisions as far as signing players, but I do believe Julius Randall All Star most implue player. Good great deal. Good deal when you based it upon what's guys have been paid around given a bit of a hometown discount as well. Yeah, and so no problem there. He hasn't. He hasn't like disappointed you because some people are saying teams are figuring him out. I mean he's
still consistently twenty and ten consistent. I'll take that. Yeah, But when you look at Walker's contract, now you're saying he's making nine million a year roughly guarantee it's like to not be playing. I'm not sure what they think about that now. The one thing that's positive is what he brings for that nine million. Great character, great leadership, great locker room guy. And now you ask yourself, is
that worth nine million? So some teams that is so the next they can't afford that they need production with that nine million, and so I'm not sure how much that's not really a good bargain for them. They need players out there. So what are you making the decision to, you know, relegate him DMP City. You don't move up Derrick Rows into at the starting lineup, who I think has been a great investment for them. I think I think he's worth every penny that he's been getting. He
plays really well with tips. Of course, you keep Rose and Emmanuel quickly on the bench. They have great chemistry. That second unit is doing great things. You move Alec Burk's who doesn't have a history of playing point guard, to the starting lineup. Do you like that decision, or should they have broke up Rosen quickly and just put Rose in the starting lineup. Like when you say these names, it sounds good, right, But this league is all about
the analytics. And so when you look at the analytics of having there's a reason Burke, who's not a point guard, it's thrown into the point guard situation because of the analytics. And with him in the lineup, there are better a lot better defensive team. He has some scoring, some versatilities, some versatility to when they're going to pick a role. He's big enough to switch on the bigger guys. That's
it's about that. It's about the analytics. Now, when you look at it on paper as a fan, you're like, dang, if they said Kimba shouldn't there, Rose should be, shouldn't he be starting point guard? But the analytics don't say that he's better coming off the bench. And so we've become an analytical league. Now. It doesn't matter what's your name is, how have you done in the past. When we look at these numbers, this doesn't work. And that's why we see guys like Kimba not even playing, Guys
like Blake Griffin not even playing. And that's what it is today. The two guys who I want to see step up Mitchell Robinson and r J. Barrett. Mitchell's progression and his evolution, his improvement has been a little slow. He gets injured a lot this year not so much. He makes some questionable decisions on defense. He is so long and good in the pain, but he's just I don't know, there's something very raw about him. Have you had a chance to watch him? And do you feel
like they need to upgrade? You know, obviously they're gonna do something with Kemba, but which position do they need? Maybe they need that other superstar as well, maybe a guy named Damian Lillard. How about Kemba versus Damian Lillard. That's the deal right there. No nobody's training. I love it though. The Nicks just need to grow for with them. Man got a solid foundation, you know, uh, they got leadership. They just need to grow with from within. I mean
r J. Barrett is a young talent. They need to try to find more young talent. You know, they're not a championship team anytime soon, so they just gotta continue to grow from within, you know, maybe through trade or draft picks. But you know the good thing about it, they're more exciting to watch. And that's all New York fans ever. Won is just getting an exciting team to watch. There are reports recently which state that the only team
Damian would leave the Blazers for are the Knicks. I just don't know if the Knicks have anything to offer the Blazers right now. No, not right now, And I mean it has to be a package revolved around their young guys, all J. Barrett, probably r J, probably Mitchell Robinson, Robinson. Yeah, so if the Blazers are willing to take that may I mean, he's getting a lot of money now he has to trade, right man. He had a great Olympics. Olympics.
When you when you do the US a team like that, I didn't seen a couple of players get the bag from great Olympics, and so I can't knock him. But we know Eving for you who he was before that spoken as a true Celtics fan right here, all right, coming up, Also, we've got to give a shout out to Matt and Stephen Jackson. They are the guys who usually yes, jack thank you, yes, respect Um. I would say my guys, but I've never met Matt and I've only met Stephen once, but he seems like a lovely individual.
They do this show. I don't know if you heard, it's called All the Smoke, All the Smoke. Yeah, have you been on it? Yeah? I've been on All the Smokes. The hottest show out Barne, regardless of sport, regardless of YouTube channel, regardless, All the Smoke. And our friend, our mutual friend, Jalen Rose, the big man from Detroit, is actually their their next guest. New episode draw this Thursday, December nine. Here's a teaser from that episode. How did
that commercial come about? So no question? Shout to his lovely wife Vanessa and prayers to the family. I saw them, um, yeah, at the Palms Hotel. I used to go there. I used to play craft Dash like the Gumbo there and we Lucy used to own the Kings or whatever. I used to be there a lot. And I think it was date night for him and the wife. And I saw them at the Telly. I mean I saw him at the restaurant, and of course I was gonna go over there and say what up? Because I used to
always going there, Like they just lost the dish. I used to like, and I was like, damn, they go cold, go say what to him? And I looked down at the table and they had a few martinis on the table. I was like, oh, yeah, I'm getting it in. Okay, good, you know, congratulations whatever whatever, And that image always stuck
with me, and I was like, all right. And so when the idea was pitched to me initially about doing a pie that Jane and versus everybody like like a spin about like being in the media and being a single dad and all of that was pitched to me. One of the things we thought about was doing something that related to the eighty one point game. And we were talking more and more about it, and I was like, let's let's pretend he like something about eighty one Martinez.
That's that. That's because because to me it was just two of them, and they probably had like four or five glasses, it looked like ten or left. Right, So that image always stuck with me because I never saw him have fun. Right, I never saw him have fun. I didn't, you know, I didn't. I didn't until you called me and I went out with him and Kobe. I brought him out and what was its me and get it in up like Jack Jack, what we're doing, Like do whatever? Cole want to go out? Cold, want
to go out? I would always go to my room and the smoke Milwaukee bro, Let's do something. And so literally, um, we asked him to be on NBA Countdown that morning. I think he had to arrive at like ten or eleven, and so we kind of wrote up the treatment and kind of sent them the idea of how I wanted to shoot the pilot. And he loved it. And the thing is that I love so much about it is I gave that away. If you look at it, it has no logos on it, It has no advertisement, Like
I paid for that. I shot it. I put it out. My name not even on it. Like people see it and try to clown me. Not that is mine, that I produced it. You see what I'm saying. I did that for him because like I'm such a fan of his. And he took that and met a guy that worked on my show Jalen and Your Kobe, and he hired him and that became a production partner that he used become a war winning producers. Appreciate that he hired him
to work force production. I love the backstory because I never had like, I was like, damn, they came with Jayden of that idea or that was cold, like I didn't know whose idea it was, but it was super creative. It was dope, all right. So Jalen Rose upcoming guests on All the Smoke, looking forward to that very much. Okay, we need to talk about the Portland Trailblazers. A little status check, if you will, on the Blazers. So they just fired Neil o'sha. Obviously they were a great, like
a model franchise in terms of consistency. They would make the playoffs eight straight years, longest streak in the in the game. They made the Western Finals not that long ago, two years ago. But it seems as though, you know, they're at a crossroads right now. They fire him after this internal investigation. Uh you you fire your head coach at the end of the last season, Terry Stotts, You bring in Chauncey Billups. Currently Jamian Lillard is injured. What
is the issue right now? I mean that question is, man, I think the best move going forward is for them to look to try to rebuild, rebuild it, blow it up. I mean, clearly, Damon Lillard. He's getting older, his window is closing. So if you can find him a happy place, Chauncey and up and coming coach. Uh. You know he has great character. I've been on Chauncey pretty much my whole life, and I knew what he would become a
head coach. But I just think with the situations around the whole, surrounding the whole Blazers franchise, I think it's time to blow it up truthfully, give Chauncey a fresh start, some young players that he can develop. Guys who have been in this system too long see that it's not working. There on a treadmill running in place, and I think it it'll just be a better environment, a better environment for everyone, just to clear clear the air, clean it
all up and start ash. I think that's the best move going forward because obviously things aren't working up their important Did you agree initially with the move to fire Terry starts Man Listen? Coaches longevity, Like I said, somebody has to get the blame where you're in a position and you're not getting over the top, and it's usually gonna be your franchise superstar or the coach. And so they made a choice. Damon Lennard meant too much to this team, to this community, stops in his own right.
Has been a great coach. But I've seen great coaches get fired. We we saw George carl win coach of the Year and got fired the next year. And so, but when the team isn't meeting expectations from a from the franchise point of view, it's time to move on. Chauncey recently called out the team for not giving enough effort. Man got blown out at home. They're they're a great team at home, They're a horrible team on the road.
It's like jacklin Hyde. But have from what you've seen, are they not playing, you know, up to their potential? Are they not giving him maximum effort? I think it's inconsistent effort. But you gotta understand it's easier to play at home. This is where you play every night. This is where you practice. Uh, this is where you're comfortable. Uh. The road is a different situation. You know, you you
only there once or twice a year. You're traveling, you're in different hotels, you don't get the same type of comfort you do at home. And so I don't think it's about effort because I've been on teams that were great at home bad on the road, and so you know, it's just role players play better at home than they do on the road. And check the statistics. It says it says that. But they could be a little more consistent, uh, if they want more in the role, but that's just
who they are right now. No consistency either way. Do you think Lillard gets traded before the deadline? I don't think Lillard gets traded before the deadline because a player of that caliber, it's hard to trade man season. You know, he would have to demand a trade. I think this is something that's gonna happen in the off season and so but if it does, it'll be very surprising. But I think they are in definite need of a shake up.
So it's interesting because you said the best candidate to play alongside Dwell and Beat if you trade Ben Simmons would be Damian Lillard. But if you say he doesn't get traded this season, only in the off season, that means the Sixers are going the full season without Simmons and not rectifying. That's a mess to tie these two together that we just spoke about that if you. If you notice the Sixers also said they're not trading Ben Simmons until the season is over. Awesome, So that's why
I don't think nothing gets done. Okay, so you think ultimately he ends up there. I want him to for selfish reasons. I want to see Damon Litter have an opportunity to play with another great player, to have an opportunity to win the championship. And what about c J McCollum. Does he stay in this rebuilder? Of course, if you trade Damon, then you gotta find a home for CJ. Right, maybe, uh,
Boston Celtics. Who know? Interesting? Um? Could you again putting you on the spot here as I like to do, But is there an executive out there that you think would be good for this team? They're they're going through the search right now. Is there a name out there, young guy, someone that you know, A bright mind in the game, man, a bright mind and together than you, of course, because I would be a good one to you want to throw your name in the hat? Yeah, I mean that would be the end of the truth
in the nose. It would be pretty short lived, man, Some young bright minds out there. I mean, I would have to first, start thinking about like some former players who understand the game, Uh, maybe understand the business. Talk to Scott Perry from the next Scott Perry. I mean, Scott has been good. You know, he's slid, got great character, well known throughout league circles. Can I throw one out
there for you, the wild card? About this wild card I got, you know very well former Blazer turned into one of the brightest minds in the history of the game. From executive level. You with me here Number forty four, Danny ain't Danny. I don't think that. I don't think Danny is once. He doesn't. I don't think I think Danny's retired. He's enjoying this. I know he's not old, but he's he's enjoying his life right now, man, I think right now off the start, they should hire put
Chauncey in that role. Yeah, that doesn't work well, but historically it's been done many times, many times. His plane. Well, you understand, Chauncey got interviewed for GM positions before he got into coach positions, and so I think a dual
role for him. Uh. He understands the game, he understands I think how to mix the right pieces together, and uh, you know, I think that would be a great role for Chauncey because the coach always know what they need and what they want, you know, and then you hire a numbers guy who can, you know, do the numbers stuff. But a coach knows the needs of the team and the once more so than the GM. You just need a guy who can just understand the numbers and working
a certain type of trades out. All right, So we shall see how that whole situation plays out. This has been fun, my friend. This has been a lot. Have you had a lot of fun today? I have had a lot of fun, had a good conversation. Yeah, you enjoyed it and flowing, you know, proving to the world that a Nick and a Celtic can come together. I mean, of course I didn't play. I mean, I didn't play for the team, but I'm sort of like thirty years. That's what I hate about fans hate me. I thought you,
I thought we actually broke some tears. I can't say the royal we now, you can't say WoT in the locker room. I mean, you wasn't with them shooting in the gym. I was there rooting them on praying on their behalf. When Patrick breaks his wrist, I'm praying to the gods first bed recovery. Wow. Okay, see typical Celtics hater fan right over here. You guys need to get that. How come it can't be truth? I'm sitting right here. Yeah, true,
I'm sitting right here. Truth. It's true. When you cheer on a team for thirty years, can't Spike say well you hate the truth? Yeah? Literallytily, What about the work that we're doing here at showtime boxing basketball? You're doing some boxing work as well. Boxing and basketball culture go hand in hand because when you watch the fights over the years, you're seeing all the hoopers in the stands, and they're nice suits and they're nice pretty women and
go hand in hand. Or in the locker room you might have been in plenty of locker rooms or Pacia Mayweather. Boxing and NBA culture go hand in hand. You've been to a lot of fights over the years. Yeah, absolutely, that's when you've been to live biggest ones, live fight I've been to. I gotta say the fight between Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez favorite fights. It's one of my favorite fights I've been to live. Also, the Tarver, Roy Jones back in the day. Oh, man, I'd have been some
spectacular fights. But those two jumped to my mind. Who introduced you to boxing? Like had you become a fan? Man? Just family and friends. Growing up it was we was a boxing. We always tuned it in. Uh all the way back to Sugar Ray, Mike Tyson. I've always been excited about boxing, man, It's just always been part of the culture. Best fighter in uh in the NBA, who could be the best boxer because you the Ron Williams going over right? Yeah, I'm going to that be there.
You gonna be there too. Has boxer in the NBA right now who nobody would probably want to put hands with. I'm gonna say, uh damn, just straight up hands. Oh, I'm gonna say at the wing, Oh that's a good one. I'll throw one out. James Johnson. James Johnson, I'm like a seven time kickboxing His parents are kicking at seen it? Yeah, they talk about it. Where nobody got no foot I don't see what you call show us the footage or
we don't believe you anymore. I heard, I heard. But like if you talk about if you look on the court and you look at that the persona of the NBA players, and you'd be like, man, I've been here and knock some foods out. Yeah, I gotta say, man, you're honest. Brother looked pretty intimidated. Yeah, oh wait. Now the dude I just waterboy for the bucks. Look when there was in the playoffs, when he was standing by brothers, saw I looked like they wanted to get down with somebody.
I forget who it was. Okay, I'll give you a great tag team boxing matches. Doesn't happen onto the Kopa brothers against the Yok brothers. Those dudes, they don't want no smoker. Now, who's there the Yoker brothers. I want no smoke with the Greeks. What are you talking about? Have you seen those guys? Yeah, got tattoos for days. They're scary. Listen, just like sitting there in the front root the tattoo. You can put a thousand tattoos all
you look scary? Man? You don't think those dude look scary? Man? About the look when I look at the scoopfol brothers, Nay looks scary. I don't know about that. I'll take the Yoka brothers any day. Brothers. If you're out there, I'll love here. I don't know about this guy, um, but we'll see, we'll see. I'm looking forward to that. Darren Williams against Frank Or you're going you gotta go with you brother, we played together. I'm going with That's right,
all right? So that goes down December eight in Tampa. We're at a time. This has been fun. Any final thoughts, anything you want to say in conclusion, final thoughts, This has probably been the most fun you've ever had in your career right here. If you haven't checked out the KG doc. Checked that out Russell Westbrook Westbrook, that doc is pretty dope. And so uh you know, maybe I have one coming soon to Oh really can I executive
produce it? Well, we'll see, all right. This has been the first ever edition of The Truth in the Nose a K. What's Burning. It's available every week, not the Truth in the Nose for now, but What's Burning is available every week right here on the Showtime Basketball YouTube channel, on Twitter and Instagram and TikTok. By the way, are you on TikTok? Are your kids? Are you let them do it? The dancing and all that? I mean, the kids, but you're not there. You are on Twitter and Instagram.
On Twitter, I just started following you. Could I get a follow back? Alright? Come you know what I'm saying. All right, come on left me hanging Twitter on Instagram. I'm gonna block him now. Uh and TikTok check out show Basketball. Thank you so much to Matt and Stephen Jackson. Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson's the O G s of this channel for letting us sit in this week. They'll be back very soon. For now, though, we're at a time for Paul Piers The Truth. I'm Aria Hawani the Nose.
Thanks for watching. We'll see you next time. This is all a Smoke, a production of The Black Effect and Our Heart Radio in partnership with Showtime