Little tune. She had a tweet that Red and I quote Luca Hoe, he was actually courtside yesterday to watch that fish fry that Luca put on their Phoenix Boys. He sat there and watch that that fish fry like a man. Um. Luca needs to send uh, Wayne and Jersey autographs from home from Hope. Welcome back to What's Burning? Jack? You're in l a still, bro, How are you? Huh? Oh? Yeah, I'm trying to shake it off. Man. I had a good time of the fight. Man, had a good weekend
with the press. Man. So I'm just trying to reboot man and getting myself back together. I don't know why, I'm I'm going to coming right now. Well, you know, we gotta do this goddamn show right now, So let's get to it. Man. Probably the biggest stunner in the playoffs thus far, the Dallas Mavericks smacked the ship out
of the Phoenix Suns. Little tune she friend of the pro rom, one of our favorites, had a tweet that Red and I quote Luca Ho just h he was actually courtside yesterday to watch that fish fry then Luca put on their Phoenix Boys. Thoughts on the tweet thoughts on him being courtside and just how much it makes this the game better. I mean, you know, when Luke, when Luca fish frown like that, I don't think you can do is get some tartar saws and join in and try to enjoy it. I think you know he
love you to seep. They go way back and when see people was playing in New Orleans even you know when when um terming all them, they're all real cool. So I think he just loyal to Cep, you know, win to lose. But he sat there and watched that that fish fry like a man um you know it was. I mean, that's all he could That's all he could call Luca. One thing I know about Lucas he liked that type stuff. He liked to step up and shut people up and and make those faces when he hit
the three. So but it was good to see for Luca. Man. Uh, I think Nat told me I had I had the um the MAVs winning. Nice. Luca needs to send uh Wayne in jersey autographed from home from home. So let's get to the game. Man. Luca scored the first eight points, never looked back. The starters had just fifteen points combined in the first half, Sons twenty seven at half Luca Dodge that had had twenty seven at half, Jack, what
happened with this game? Man? Man? You know, I just think like everybody is not meant for those big moments, Bro, everybody is not meant to step up and make shots and make plays in those big moments. I think Dallas was the more confident team going into this Game seven. They played more free the rest of the game, and Luca was the best player on the court. And that's
and that's your best player. If you were the best player on the court at the time, and you're the best player on the team and they call you one of the best players in the league, that's what you do. You take over game, especially on the road. I said that whoever's gonna win this series gonna win a game on the road. And Game seven was the perfect game of Dallas to win on the road. I mean, Luca was incredible. Uh And shout out j Kid too, man, he had he got these dudes together and you could
tell they had a different energy about them. Probably actually after they lost the first two, they started, you know, he was talking about who else was coming to the show and then they started really getting active on defense. Spencer Dinwoodie had a terrible you know, we're gonna call it what it is, a terrible series, but stepped up big and had hit four or five threes, had twenty one in the first half of it. I think he
ended up with thirty if I'm not mistaken. And Eric in my ear told me they're only the third duo in Game seven history to both drop thirty. The other two duels are Kobe and Shock and Cale and Bird. So that's great company. I knew it had to be some with some type of Boston Celtics something in the Yeah, that's why, that's why he gave it to us. Yeah, he probably wouldn't even said that if it was like m J and Pippen. And when Book in CP only had twenty one points combined in game seven, talk to
me just about this. I mean CPS game that's my guy. But this Game seven record, now he's owing seven in his last seven Game seven's uh, talk to me about him and Book just not stepping up and just does this damage CPS legacy. I wouldn't say damage. His legacy has done so much for the game of basketball. Has done so many great things, but he's not a champion. I mean, that's all you can really say. You know,
he's not a champion yet. Um. I think for him and Booker, Booker needs another star, younger star, to take some of that load off, because you know, you gotta, you gotta think Booker game is really um depending on his jumper. He don't really get to the basket like that. He don't really post up, he don't really make plays with people like that, especially when CP on the court. So I just think it was just too much pressure
on him. He carried the team a lot this year, and the moment, the moment was too big with some of those role player guys. I honestly think that, you know what, there, the moment was too big, and I think for eight and to be able to be guarded by those small guys and stuff like that, that probably drove Money crazy. You know what I'm saying. You that big and you let these guys I'll rebound, you push you out to paint and stuff like that, that can't happen.
And I think if he was if he would have played big in the series, the outcome might have been different. I thought he would have a big serious To be honest with you, Jack, for everything you said, I mean he's big. He had a great season. I expected him to somewhat. I mean, he's not like a dominant type dude, but I expected him to kind of have his way down there, um and he didn't. MAVs will face the
Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Last time these two teams met in the playoffs, you were in your bag two thousand seven. We believe team Uh. They were the number one seed. We were the number eight seed. First number eight seed to knock a number one seed off in a seven game series format in the NBA history. What are some of the storylines in this uh, this matchup, Jack,
Luca and Steph. I don't think Dallas has enough to keep up with Golden State of scoring wise, but I know for a fact that Jamond can't guard Luca, so he's gonna have to guard somebody else, and I'm pretty sure they might. I don't know. Lucas gonna win a lot of games by himself. Man, He's one of those guys that have been playing crazy in the playoffs, and I don't think it's gonna stop. I think you're gonna
have some big games in this series. But I just think that the experience and and go to States the deeper team, and I don't think UM Dallas will be able to keep up with the scoring. But it's gonna be a great series, bro, we gotta get to one of those games. Definitely. I mean, Lucas incredible. I mean, if you think about what he's done, this kind of reminds me of UM when AI pulled that seventy sixers team to the finals against the Lakers and still game one.
And and I say this will all due respect to the to the rest of the guys on both teams, there's just no one with you know, the accolades on Lucas team or or or you know, just the resume that you see the rest of these remaining teams that Luca is the only all Star on the team. No one else has any other type of accolades. And when he's been able to do with those guys, you know, I say that thought to respect because you know, Brunson
stepped up. Brunson is about to get paid this summer, but these other guys just stepped up for the moment. And again I take my hat off the j Ki because I think he had a lot to do. You could tell he was jumping up and down on the sidelines during the game like he was very into this, and I think his players fed off that. Now. I think this Warrior series series is gonna be a great series, um, and I agree. I think the Warriors experience in depth is going to help them out. But it's gonna be
a shootout ship. I can see it go six or seven games and I'm gonna have to pick which number uh later in the series. But I don't think there's anyone in the world that can guard Luca. You're gonna have to run different schemes and and give him different looks. Um. But he's a bad motherfucker man. To think this dude is only twenty three, he's really just scratching the surface when it comes to the NBA game, But he's been a pro for a long time. So it's gonna be
scary ears. But I still have the Warriors um edging Dallas out. But it's been a great I want to ask you something, Jack, because I I gotta do ESPN in a little bit, and they sent me a question that says, out of these four players ranked them in order they're left in the playoffs, Steph Tatum, Luca, Jimmy Butler, give me one through four. How you feel those players are. I'm going to Luca, Steff Tatum, Jimmy Butler. That's exactly how I listed it too. That's funny you said that. Yeah,
I mean, I gotta and that's hard to say. I mean, Steph is a motherfucker man. With you. We you know how much we love step But I feel like Luca right now out of that group. And that's saying alackas Tatum as a monster too. Jimmy Butler is a two way monster. But I don't think I mean Luca right and he and that's kind of been the knock on him is he hasn't been able to knock that get through that first round. So to me, it's hard to say Luca talent wise, where would you put where? Where
would you put him? I mean, again, I don't want to overhype it. It's one player from but Luca has been Luca and I feel like he's only going to get better. He's in the conversation with Janice and k D and b wherever you Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Whoever you have is your top five player in the league. Lucas got to be in it, no question. Now moving on to the East, my prediction came true Celtics in seven. They were able to move past Milwaukee Janice great fucking series.
But I think at the beginning I said that this was just gonna be too hard to do without Middleton. Middleton is not flashy, he's not loud. He just goes out and does me. He's like a twenty point six rebound, five assist guy. And normally down the stretch of all the games, it's Middleton and Janice running their picking rolls, and Janice is a dynamic roller and then Middleton get that mid range bag and knocked down three. So I
think this was tough to overcome. Talk to me about this series, Jack, and and what stood out to you the most, Well, what stood out to me the most On a lot of people talking about, Yeah, they have Middleton and that was a big miss. But you can't go into the these games in the playoffs with this team without having Middleton, and I'm not having p J. Tucker. That was two big parts of their team, you know
what I mean. Not now they're putting it so much pressure on Janice and try to put Bobby Porter's in a Pja Tucker position. That's not that, that is he's not Bill for They thought Grayson Allen was gonna be that because he was he was he was, he was having he was having a little success during the season, but he stunk it up during the playoffs. He was terrible and and he didn't show up. So it was
just too much pressure on Greek freak man. He still played well, didn't shoot well in the last game, but he still was dominant series. But like you said, just the combination of Brown and Tatum playing well together, that whole team with the best defense in the league. They they physical. It was just gonna be hard for them to do without Milton. Like you said, though, shout out Grant Williams. He had a big series UH in Game seven, scoring UH seven threes, most in Game seven history. But
he played great defensive or as good as defensive. You can't play on Yannie Yannice is you know, to me him and Luca, you throw a couple of other guys, probably the most unstoppable players UM in the league, and Grant made him work come fourth quarter. Luka looked like he was eating powder donuts. How he used to look when he came into practice. Luca was tired a ship.
He had that white ship in the corner of his mouth and you see it on TV and you'd be wiping your ship like, oh, you got the powder donuts. But Luca played his ass off. Man. Luca did everything he excuse me not Luka, you honest that everything he absolutely could do on both ends of the floor. He
was just a gas. So moving on to the conference finals, we got the Heat, the number one seed, who I kind of feel how it has been overlooked all season and now they're in the Eastern Conference Finals and a tough, young Boston team. What are some of the matchups that you feel like you're gonna stand out? Jack Well One, Lowry has to be Lowry needs to play. We don't know if he's gonna be back, and then I think
that's gonna be a big factor in this series. His experience, him Jimmy being able to play off the ball, and the way Larry's know how to make plays in these big games. I think he'll be big to have on the court. But Boston, man, I just think you know, they're kind of rolling right now. They was able to give Williams some rest, he might come back and play the rest in the East Converence Final. So I hate to go against Jimmy and them because I know they're
gonna be just as physical as Boston. But I think Boston is just on another level this year, and I think it's their time. They These guys had experience of big losses in the playoffs to Braun and As when they were young, and I just think just it's just their time right now. Jason Tatum is on another level. Robert Williams, I hated to even see him playing in the first round, to be honest with you, Jack, because
he had that meniscus injury. And although meniscus is the least of the serious severities as far as tearing ligaments in your knee, uh, it's still a surgery. That it's surgery. And this dude was back and I don't want to put dates on it because I'm not, but he was back really fast. And I know I had a very similar surgery when I was with the Lakers, and it took me like almost seven weeks to come back. But then even when I was back with the swelling was
out of control. It hurt like a motherfucker. I really couldn't do nothing. So I was really surprised to see him out there Game one. I'm glad that he's sitting down on to me. I just hope he gets all the way healthy. Funck come and back right now, because I feel like he has a really bright future and you just don't want to do that kind you know, reminds of remember when Brandon Roy did that ship. Brandon Roy came back and like what two weeks off a
knee surgery or off a scope or something. I'm just like, man, don't let don't get hyped into doing that kind of ship. Man, You've got a long career. But to the guh to this matchup, yeah, Miami is you know, they remind me of just just a well oiled machina san Antonio. You know, Spoiser done it has done a great job of just being able to plug and play, uh, making up for injuries. You know, Lowry hasn't been playing. I think he playing very well, but I agree with his experience and his
ability to let guys play off the ball. But his numbers are like six, five and four. If I'm not mistaken so that his numbers haven't been overwhelming, but I think his experience alone, his veteran leadership, his ability to play big and big games. Uh, Miami is gonna need that. Butler's been playing incredible. I haven't seen Jimmy Butler play this good maybe since the bubble. His Dude's been doing absolutely everything for this team, holding them afloat. Uh, you know,
BAM's gonna be Bam. It'll be interesting to see. Boston's defensive is tough and and what I love about it. Obviously Marcus Smart defensive Player of the Year, but Tatum and Brown really get after it on defense. These dudes are fighting over screens. They don't lay on screens, they don't call out switches. These motherfucker's are working on both fans and those of your most most talented offensive players.
So I really appreciate and respect that. But I agree with you, man, It's to me, it's about who's hottest at the right time, who's playing well. Both these teams are playing well, but I'm gonna take Boston um, just because I just really believe in Tatum. I really believe in Tatum. I think you know, he's the future of this one of the faces of this league in the future, and announced this time to show it. Next up on
the Radar, presented you by Draft Kings, Uh Jack. They want us to try to predict the winner of the series and how many games, and we're gonna give the fans the odds. First. First, we're gonna take the Warriors over here. So the Warriors to win in seven games would be a plus three hundred. For them to win in six games, plus four fifty for them to win in five games, plus three thirty for them to win in four games games plus six fifty. For the Mavericks
to get it in seven is plus seven fifty. For them to win in six games plus five fifty for the Mavericks to get it in five is plus sixteen hundred. And for the Mavericks to make the biggest upset in history and sweep the Warriors in four, it would be a plus hundred. Jack, tell me who you got in this series and in how many games? Well, I would say it matters how they how they fared in regular season, because when we played we played against Dallas in regular season,
we beat them every time. And that's why we were so confident playing them in the playoffs, but the Warriors didn't have the three headed Monston, none of none of the big three was playing around the town. They weren't together. So I'm still going with the Wars. I think I'll go with the Warriors in six manus you know what, I'm to mind that a ball as That's what I wanted to do too, But I don't want to take the same bet as you. So I'm gonna go Warriors
in seven and plus three hundred. I think it's gonna be a good series. Warriors gotta play a lot better man. They can't turn the ball over the way they were doing, uh because Lucas gonna make him pay. Jordan Pool is gonna be big any series. Jordan Pool, who you ask a good question? Who you think is gonna be Who's gonna be the X factor for both teams? So you've got Jordan Pool for the Warriors. Who do you think the X factor for uh Dallas is Bronson? Bronson got
a score? Well, yeah, they've been He played Bronson and then with a lot together and uh also played uh Din with and Bronson with Luca off the ball against the Sun. So that'll be good to see next up Celtics and the heat. For the Celtics to win it in seven plus five hundred, for the Celtics to win it in six is plus two eighty. For the Celtics to win it in five is plus six hundred, and for the Celtics to sweep plus nine hundred. Let's go over to Miami. For Miami to win it in seven
is plus three fifty. From Miami to win it in six is plus seven fifty. From Miami to win it in five is plus eight fifty. And from Miami to Sweet these motherfucker's which ain't gonna happen is plus eighteen hundred. Jack, who you got in the series? How many games? And give me the X factor for both teams? Okay, Celtics beat them twice this year out of three games in the regular season. I'm going to go Celtics in six plus two eighty. You keep taking that that that's safe six.
That's where I was going again into So I'm gonna takes Stop asking me first, Yeah, your floor. I'm gonna take Celtics in seven at plus five hundred. X factor for both teams, start with Miami. X factor for me is Jaylen Brown. We know Tatum, gonna bring it. We know you're gonna play well when they get to thirty and thirty and thirty like nights like that they had to beat Miami. Um, it's gonna all bar down to Jimmy Butler man point point blank. He he has to
play on both ends of the ball. But I think this this series, he has a concentrate on scoring just as well as defense. A lot of times you put more focused on defense and try to make plays and the other guys score. But this but this series, these conference finals, he got to be that that that guy on both ends of the floor. So I'm gonna go with Jimmy Butler and Jaylen Brown. Yeah, Jimmy's got a
hydrate because he was killing last round. I want to say he averaged like he led the second round in scoring, if I'm not mistaken, Brown somewhere around thirty two points a game. So he was definitely putting numbers up on the offensive end this next round. So they're gonna need exactly the same in this Conference finals to advance to the finals. Closing thoughts, Jack, I heard something. I hope
it's just the rumor. Andre An He played seventeen minutes last night, no minutes in the fourth quarter when they talked to coach Money Williams. They said it was an internal issue. Jack. I heard that Money asked him if he wanted to and he said no, and Monty sat him the rest of the game. So I can't confirm if that's a fact or not. I'm just putting it out there. Almost feel bad putting it out there because it sounds absolutely crazy. I hope it's not the case,
but you never know. What do you think what is up next? For eight? And they didn't max him last year? Uh, They're gonna throw him an offer this year. He probably won't be happy with. You don't play in Game seven. You don't dominate in this series like they needed you to dominate. I want to hear your take on this. This should be good. Well, big fella, your time has ran out in paintings. Bro. Uh, if they wanted to
pay you, they would have been paid you. In fact, that's first and foremost, the first and foremost they would have been paid you. Second, me, madd and probably your whole team just knew this would be the series where you will be dominant. Dallas don't have nobody that's athletic like you, that that as strong as you, that has great that I can even stop you on that end.
And for him to not domin in this series, for Phoenis to have a great season, to win what sixt or four games and and and not make it to the Western Conference finals, I mean that that's a let down. But he did not step up. And for him, if he said that he did not want to go on the game in the game seven, that's not a good look at it. I mean, I don't know if any team will want to deal with that right at this point.
You know what I'm saying you, this is the big game, Game seven, and you say you don't want to go in. That's a that's worse than a bad look. Man. That that's that's words thin getting kicked out the game seven. Yeah, that's a that's tough. And again I hope that's just rumor, um, And if it is, I apologize for even bringing it up. But that's I've heard that from two different people, So um, we'll see if that's the case. And I agree with you. If they wanted, if they were going to match you,
they would have maxed you. I don't I think they still want him back, but it's not gonna be in for a max number. And you know, to be honest with you, with all due respect, again, it's you know, he's not putting on max numbers. He's solid, very solid, very talented, young big But yeah, it kind of just is what is I mean? You pretty much said it all, So we'll see what happens. I just found a trade form. Who are you trading? Trading him with Julius Random, Julius
Rando for him. At least Rand's gonna getze something. He's gonna play hard, you know what I mean. And then Donovan Mitchell is probably gonna go to New York too, So Donovan Mitchell and Aidan New York will be nice. And and the young boy who do you do well? See hey man. Before we get up out of here, we want to send our thoughts and prayers to Brittaney Griner. Um Vice has a piece coming out on Showtime um
about the situation. We want to wish her a safe return whenever that may be wishing, you know, praying for her family and friends. The w NBA has done a lot of showing love. Ejected situation is crazy. We don't have to get too deep into it, man. But you know, say whatever you want to say about this, b G. You know we got love you. B G is the homie man, And I hate she even going through any of this, but you know she got out of support.
She got a lot of support. Man, Just her up, get free, b G. Man, Let be you get home so quick to a family. Man. Enough is enough again. I mean, we're praying for you for a safe return. Take a look at this teaser vie coming out in showtime. You know, I'm I was scared for her. My stomach drops, you know, I like I teered up. It hit hard, and it and it hit hard because it literally could have been any of us. Briane January and Kayla McBride have played with and against Griner over the last decade,
both at home and abroad. We are constantly coming into different countries and you know, we're here by ourselves and just brings us back to you know why she was in that situation. Can you talk a little bit about why so many w NBA players do play overseas in the off season. It comes with playing professional women's basketball. Just supplement and um, that's the hardest thing to think about is that she feels like she has to still
be over here. We're talking about Britney Griner, Like, eat, what about BG We're talking about you know, like All Star, you know, USA Gold Olympians. Like it's just it's crazy to think that she feels like she still has to go over there. This all could have been avoided if we can stay home and make a living in the Writtney Grinder. The average w NBA player makes about a hundred and twenty thousand dollars a year in a career that only last a few years playing abroad, let's to
make the most of their earning potential. Grinder is a top talent, earning the w n b a's max salary of two eight thousand dollars. But you MMC at Katerinburg, where she's played since, reportedly pays her one million dollars a year. She was arrested while returning to Russia to play. Make sure you guys stay tuned. We have the Forgotten Season next seventy five dropping this Wednesday, and we have a special guest, our brother Penny Hardaway, Little Penny helping
us bring it to you. What's Burning is available every week on Showtime Basketball YouTube and on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and show basketball y'all. See y'all next week.