I remember ship in Golden State where used to used to bring that Louis backpack and you didn't give it smelled like you would just throw the weed in there. We didn't even smell like there's in a plastic bag. So this naked Jack would walk through the whole plane and I'd see him walk through the uh where the media is at, and they would kind of smell it
and look at each other. They need to motherfucker walked through the coaching section, and you know, Nellie didn't give a funk, but the rest of coach would kind of look and need to get up to us. And it's so loud. I'm sitting there like, goddamn, bro, did you just pour the wheat inside your Louis bagas or is it in a ziplock? Like? What is it? But Jackie used to carry around this brown Louis bag that just smell like a dumpe sack. I used to have my ship vacuum sealed, or I'd have it in an extra
baggy with either coffee or fabric softener. Jack didn't give a funk about disguising to smell at all. Jackie like funking. I had a contract. I negotiated my own contract on this team. I'm just gonna walk on this bitch with weed in my pockets. I don't give a fund. That's what you get when you let me playing having for you. Hey, we believe documentary is in the works. It's gonna be fun. A new week in the NBA and this is what's burning Jack. Katie is scheduled to take the next two
games off because of hamstring soreness or tightness. Thoughts about that, Yeah, I mean, you know, Katie worked hard to get back on this court man, and you know, I think it's just his body catching up with him, you know, missing games for COVID and coming back. You know, he's not in the full rhythm yet, and the team is not
in the full rhythm. But they need to find a way to get guys healthy and get back, you know, get back in the swing of things and trying to jail a little bit more, especially defense or whatever moves they're gonna make, they need to make them because it's coming to crunch time. And I think I think, uh, you know, Katie needs to get health in this team to start figuring things out. Well, I think you you know,
you hit it on the head. You know, Normally, coming back up a big injury like that, there's nagging things that are gonna happen. Luckily he's been able to avoid that. M Obviously he sat out with the contact tracing. UM. Now, I just think this is a little caution. I think, you know, early on he was up in that near that forty minute or a game range, which I kind of I personally think it's too high for someone coming off and achilles. Um. You know, so they've got to
slow him down, rev him down a little bit. And I understand there's still more than half the season left, you know, and it's still it's still a marathon, not a sprint. UM. As far as CHEMISTRYLD goes, it's tough. But at the same time, Katie's to me someone that comes in and just does his job, you know, so he's someone you can slide right back in and you
won't miss a beat. I think this is an important time for Kyrie and James to continue to build chemistry, which I think they're doing UM, which is probably the most important. And then tightened up on defense. And we all know defense is just energy and and and efforts. So they've started to clean those two areas up. I think when Katie gets back, Um, you know, he'll step in right where he left off in in the m v P conversation and his team will get rolling. Next up,
Anthony Davis aggravated his achilles tendonitis against dev the other night. Um, this is a scary situation, Jack. You know, achilles are obviously nothing to play with with Your thoughts on this, yeah, man, this is not nothing to play with it at all. I mean a lot of people are not talking about this.
Injury started in the finals last year. You know, he heard he heard the same achilles last year and he sat out a couple of minutes, and the way it looked, I didn't think he was gonna come back and play. But he came back and finished and won the championship. Now the season that started again real fast, and they got planning all these games, and there's a lot of way and tear on him. You know, he plays a lot of minutes and he does a lot for his team. So they got to be real cautious with this jury
because if he goes down, this team is in trouble. Yeah. I think it's you know, obviously the short turnaround, you know, similar to KD coming off an injury, but everything coming up so fast. You know, a D, like you said, injured it in the finals. We're creatures a habit. Were accustomed to having a certain amount of set time to let our bodies heal and then restart our engines and slowly but surely get the season going. It didn't happen this way. And um, I think Richard Jefferson was commentating
the game and made a great point. You can feel absolutely fine, run, jump, slide, move around, but if you're bumped awkwardly, um, at any given time, that's all it takes to aggravate something. And obviously that's what he is. Um. You know. Luckily, they have Judy over there, who was Kobe's right hand woman and she's full time with the Lakers now, so she's got some of the best hands in the game working on him. So I hope she
can figure it out. But that another concern is do you rant bronze minutes up for the absence of Anthony Davis. Obviously he's a machine. He's been playing great, um, but obvious there's a concern of you know, is it too much too early thoughts on his minutes possibly going up with the absence of a d well, it could be a good and a bad thing. But like you said, anything could happened on the court. If you look at Lebrons points, you know, the game's they do being out
At the last five games, he's averaging nine points. So, um, it's good to see the way he's playing. But you don't want that now. You want that in the end of the season. You want that in the playoffs, and they got to save some of that. But Lebronze playing was long and see healthy. You know, we we were saying, how's he doing this stuff right now? Year seventeen, Well, if he can do it all season, let him do it.
Yeah eighteen, it's that's your eight one year older. But like you said, he you know, he's the he's the driver of that car. So it's gonna take everyone else stepping up. You know, this will be big. This is a chance for Montrese Harold to get some increased minutes, uh and step his role up. He's been playing really well and we got the trade deadline looming. You know, this is this a move that you know the Lakers possibly at look to add some depth on that front line.
We'll have to look for that and monitor these two injuries of A D and K D closely. Um, you know, over the next few weeks, who's hot and who's not. Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns are on fire, winning nine out of their last eleven, sixth straight in the fourth spot, only two games out of third. Their defenses has been flying around their fifth in the league. Devin Booker over the last eight or nine games is close
to twenty seven points a game. Jack. At the very beginning, we started talking about this was gonna be my surprise team to watch, and I thought that CP three, once him and Devin Booker got their chemistry going, that CP three was gonna be the best thing that could have happened to Devin Booker. That kind of looks like I'm right thoughts on the Suns right now and how CP three has got not only Devin Booker, but those sons playing on a whole nother level right now. Well, Devin Booker, man,
we already knew what he could do. You know. Yeah, he's been killing man and I I can honestly say I said that when he was in Kentucky, but I didn't think he was gonna be this good. But he's a killer man. But Matt, you were right. You were right about this team. But CP may not have the championships like Tom Brady, but he is Tom Brady on the court. He gets he's he's a he's a winner. He's a winner. He makes everybody win. That's why so
many teams wanted him through his career. He makes everybody win. He's a quarterback on that court. He does everything. He makes it so much easier for Booker, he makes it easier for Aid, He makes it easier for Monty Williams to coach because he's able to get everybody in their positions and coach on the court while he's coaching on the sideline. So I gotta salute Chris paul Man. I knew what he could do, but what he's doing right now with this team is amazing. Bro. Yeah, I mean
I love to see it at this age too. You know where they they said he was washed in Houston, that just wasn't a good fit. He went to Okay See, took them to the playoffs. Now he lands in Phoenix with the young up and coming team. Monty Williams is you know a friend of his. They go back from New Orleans, and he's just an extension of money on the court. You know, Cris being one of the most clever mind's, greatest basketball minds to this game has ever seen.
Like I said, was he put his veteran leadership in his knowledge on this young team. It can only go up. And you see Devin Booker benefited from that. Andre Aiden. You know, CP has a great history of of getting bigs paid and better. You know, he did it with Tyson Chandler, he did with DeAndre Jordan's, he did with Clint Cappella, and now Aidan who could be the best out of all the all four the three men I just uh mentioned uh is really benefiting. So this is fun.
I love to see what they're doing. Happy for Montie Williams, happy for CP, Happy for book because books careers kind of just been on life support over there. But it looks like they have some real hope right there and it's gonna be fun to see what they can do finishing out the season. Next up, Who's not hot? The Atlanta Hawks are ice cold, losing seven out their last ten. They're in the middle of the pack in every important statistical category and Jack I could just see this as
growing pains. This was another team. This was my Phoenix Suns of the Eastern Conference. Obviously they didn't grab CP three, but I thought this was a year for them to kind of break out and make a little bit of noise in the East. And they're struggling right now. Um, you know, so it's gonna be important for someone to step up as that leader. Obviously we know Rondo's over there, but Rondo's in and out of the the lineup. They need someone who's gonna consistently be playing to kind of take
that leadership role for that team. Thoughts on this just this young team trying to find their identity in their footing. I mean, you're exactly right. You know, still got a young coach, a young team. They added a whole bunch of new players. You know, I didn't I didn't expect too much from this team, and it is growing pains. You know, maybe they would have to switch the lineup of you know, like other teams been doing. Even brookelen
did it. They moved Kyrie to the two and put James at the one, start Rondo and let Trade play it too. He might be small, you might have some defense and some defensive mismatches, but still, you know, it might change the floor of the game. You gotta try some different things. But but nobody really expects his team to be there at the end. So I think now is the time to start experiment so these guys can grow and get about these growing things. You no, I agree.
Like I said, I thought this was gonna be the year that people remember, you know, that they kind of put themselves on the map as a team on the rise. I still think feel like they're you know, two years possibly three years really from making noise in the Eastern Conference. But I love what you're saying, you know, mix it up now. Now is the time to find that chemistry in that rhythm, uh, with different lineups and experiments and guys in and out. So it would be interesting to
see how this plays out. You know, anytime you got Trey Yo, you've got a chance. You know, there's rumors of John Collins once we'll touch on later in the show. But I just think at the end of the day, this is growing pains and them trying to find who they are as a team. Someone who is definitely hot right now was scary Terry Rosier out there in Charlotte, um Jack, I like what this team is doing. Rosier in particular, you know, twenty seven points a game in
the month of February. Um he had to adjust his game. With Gordon Hayward coming over, who's you know at about twenty three points a game? Mellow? Who is you know? My rookie of the year. I think he's just ignited that team. They seem like they have a new energetic surge. Their enthusiasm, their energy, their effort, all of it is off the charge looks like they're having fun. But Terry rose Eero is something to take note of. This dude's
killing them late. Well, you know, and he's and he's the best defender, but just the thing, you know, coming in, Like you said, these guys had to figure each other out. Even the coach had to figure the line of that works best. And for me, they finally gave the ball to LaMelo. He's your point guard, Scary Terry is your to guard, and hey, what is your three guard? Now they fit. Now they're starting to figure out where they're gonna be, whether minute is gonna be with roads they're
gonna play. I think though, with those three guys they can make the playoffs in the East, maybe a fifth of six seed, but the way they playing, they can keep it going. They're gonna be a scary team with scary Terry, with scary Tarry. Like I said, I love the energy. It seems like, you know, obviously there's some great pieces over there. But to me, it kind of started when Melo was inserted in the starting lineup, and I think the energy and the effort and just the
fun of that team has taken off. So this is good. You know, it looks like Mike got got one right there with LaMelo. That's a great backcourt between LaMelo and uh LaMelo. When Terry Rosier, you know, they've got miles bridges with what they call them Airbnb. So they got they got, they got some pieces over there, and it's just fun to watch this young team figure it out. You know, obviously with with Gordon being a vet in him kind of finding his foot and get happy for him.
So you know, Charlotte is is in a good place right now and can definitely be a tough first round matchup for anybody they play. The week ahead, um as Brooklyn's out on their West Coast swing, They're heading to l a this week with two tough matchup the Lakers and Clippers. Um, you know, Katie is supposed to be back for that Laker game on Thursday. Oddly enough, this will be if Katie plays. The first time that Katie and lebron of match steps since the two thousand and
eighteen finals UM with Golden State in Cleveland. So this will be fun and interesting. You know, with with hamstrings and nagging injuries, they like to put numbers on them of games, but as players, we know it's all about field, you know what I mean. So hopefully within those two games or you know, these two games he has off, he's starting to feel better, but you know, I err on the side of caution. Um a D is out now, obviously we spoke on that with his achilles situation. These
are two teams we can possibly see at the end. Um, missing key guys right now, what do you do your thoughts on this game coming up this Thursday? Jack, It's gonna be exciting to see Himan. He's still got Kyrie, Irving Swerve and Irving and ustill ain't still got James Harden, you know what I mean? So the killer, So I mean it's it's still gonna be interesting. But both of these teams need to get ahold of these injuries nipped
them in the bug. Get these guys healthy so they can take off running the uh second half of the season, and that's what they really need to focus on. Yet, these games mean a lot, and these matchups mean a lot, and these wins mean a lot right now. But health is the most important thing for both of these teams. Absolutely, But I think you go back to the luxury of having three superstars on one team. You know, obviously Katie is a huge part of this team and moving forward,
they're gonna need him healthy. But you know, when Katie goes down, you still forget you have the luxury of having Kyrie, who's one of the best players in the world, and James Harden. You know, obviously, when the a D goes down with the Lakers, that's a big hit because it's just the lebron and obviously you know they have a very solid team built around them, but they only
have two stars there. So it'll be interesting to see, um if Katie's back, we don't expect a D to play UM, But like I said, I'm just excited because at the end of the day. There's still a lot of talent on that floor, and it's it's gonna be a great Thursday night game. So they got the Lakers Thursday Night. Sunday is the Clippers. Uh. We got a great game a few weeks ago in Brooklyn where they were able to uh beat the Clippers. But that was
a special game that went down to the wire. I'm excited about this game Sunday because there's so much star power in this game, you know, hoping that the Brooklyn has all three of their stars. The Clippers are playing really well right now. There should be a fun match up. You know, there's great matchups across the board in this game. It these the teams we want to see play and and these teams bring the best side of each other.
If you remember last game in Brooklyn, as you spoke up, we see James get down and make a stop at the end of the game, I take a tough shot. Kyrie was unbelievable in that fourth quarter. What he's known to do take over games, and nobody couldn't stop Katie. Katie was just the easiest sniper, you know, getting this points easy, doing the whole game. But seeing it's sit in round two. I think the clip is gonna be more inspired to get this dub at home. It's gonna
be another good game for us to watch. I ain't gonna miss it. I like where the Clippers are sitting. Um, you know, I said last year, being a former Clipper, there was too much hype on the Clippers. They're not used to hear in championship, you know what I mean. We gotta take baby steps when I say we obviously, you know, because I was a part of their organization. But I like where they're sitting. You know, they're in the third spot right now. Utah is making a lot
of headlines with the best record in the league. The Lakers are the Lakers, but the Clippers are consistently playing good basketball right now that they got their chemistry down. Uh, Tyler's got those guys playing at the top of their game. So this is gonna be a great matchup on Sunday. Um, Like we saw a great one in Brooklyn, I expect the one in l A to be nothing, uh, nothing less than great. And I'm excited about the game, So
we have to check that out on Sunday. Continuing to look ahead, Utah has headed to Hollywood this week, Jack with two big matchups against the Clippers. Uh Man, Utah has been playing their asses off. Salute to Quinn Snyder Donovan Mitchell, and we both said it when Shaq did what he did a few weeks ago. Some people took it as disrespect, hate, whatever, but we both thought it would be motivation. And since then, Uh Donovan Mitchell has been on fire. His team has been on fire, shooting,
shooting a three ball at a record pace. Um, defenses number two in the league, offenses number four in the league. And this guy's chemistry is really clicking, you know. Like I said, we said it before, said to me, they just remind me so much of those San Antonio Spurs teams, obviously minus a Tim Duncan figure, but just the situation and in the way these guys Jael and play together. Um, do you think they can come out here and get
two against the Clippers? Man, I don't know, but these are the games that they should have circle of their calendar, Lakers, Clippers, Brooklyn, all the top teams. Yeah, y'all rolling right now, y'all getting up to the best start of anybody in the league right now, And that's good. Y'all put yourselves in a great position, but it does not matter if you can't beat these teams and you can't compete with these teams comes into the season. So these are the measurement
games for them. You know, Like I said, I'm not I'm not trying to downplay the great start they'd be having, uh kudos to coach Schneider, But these games against the Lakers, Clippers, teams like that, these are games they really got a circle and buckle down because this this they test, this is gonna be to tell where they where they're gonna be at the end of the season. Yeah, no, I agree.
You know, it's all about the playoffs. Um, this team has been steady throughout the regular season for the past few years and stumbled in the playoffs and people kind of you know, some people agree with some people look at me crazy. It's like, you know, does Utah make a play before the trade deadline? You know, obviously their chemistry is great and normally you don't want to mess that up. But although they're playing this well, I still
feel like they're they're they're missing that piece. And that's with all due respect to everyone who's playing well on that team. I just kind of still feel like they're missing that piece. I hope they proved me wrong. But this will be a great test um getting you know, two games in a row against the Clippers in l A. You know someone would that we would that we figure will be there, uh come playoff time and the Clippers. So this is gonna be a great matchup and really
a good measuring stick. But you know, Utah is the hottest team in the league right now, and it's they're fun to watch. Headline looming. There's definitely some people who are being talked about a lot, and we'll start with Zach Levine, someone who's having an absolute career season twenty eight points a game from the field, forty from the three, six from the line, so he's flirting with that fifty forty nine. His team is on the outside looking in. Jack.
Is Lavine someone they're gonna build around or is he someone they're gonna be able to trade and get a lot of good assets for to build around their younger core. Well, I don't think the Bulls know what they're doing. I think we need the body to give them some ideas. They don't know what they're doing. And if I was Zach. I would trade the Bulls. I wouldn't let them trade me. I would trade them. Uh. He's having a hell of a year, Matt, a career year. I think he needs
to be somewhere we can help in contempt for a championship. Man. This kid doesn't need to be wasting these years and with the Bulls because they have no idea what they're doing over there. And hopefully he can get somewhere with where they appreciate his talents, because this kid is something special. Ship I can't even say what I mean. I'm with you, I'm with you. I'm happy to see how well he's playing,
but would love to see him help a contender. You know, he never really had a real opportunity to play on a winning team or for a winning franchise at this point. Um so that now he's at the top of his game, I'd love to see it. Next up Bradley Bill, who's leading the league at nearly thirty three points a game. Team isn't going anywhere, obviously, his name has been thrown around with a few teams Utah, as we mentioned earlier Denver, but why like like we continue to say he's always
gonna say and do the right thing. So publicly he's saying he wants to be a Wizard. Um, but the Wizards really aren't going anywhere. So do they try to trade him because obviously right now you'll be able to get a lot for him, or you know, do they write out this storm and you know he continues to put up amazing numbers on a terrible team. Yeah, well, we know he can fit in anywhere and he's super special.
It just really depends on where you know that that that they're trying to trade him to and where, you know what, what options he has as far as as winning the losing, because he can easily get traded to a team where he's in the same situation he's in in Washington. So, you know, I I understand what he's doing. I'm not gonna burn my bridges, you know what I mean. It said, I want to get out of here and go to somewhere worse. You know, I've been here, my
family's here. You know, I'm I'm I've been here in my whole career. So you know, I just really just see how things are playing out and continue to do my job. And that's what he's doing. Man, he's he's definitely the best player, having the best season in any player in the league right now. Yeah, I mean a consummate pro, someone who does the right thing on and off the court. Um. So as far as far as just with his individually achieving, I love to see it,
but I know it's got to be frustrating. You know, his wife tweeted out something a few weeks ago that they're tired of it. So although they're saying everything right publicly, Um, who knows what's going on behind the scenes. But like I said, I would love to see him getting in a situation where he could really contend for a title. The Hawks have a big decision. Uh. You know, there's talks about trading John Collins um to me, which doesn't
seem smart. Um, he's at eighteen points nearly eight rebounds from the field. Obviously his numbers are a little down now because they've added some frontline depth in Capella and a few other guys. Uh, Jack, do they pay him or did they trade him and get some assets for him? I think they're asking for a lottery pick for him. So thoughts on John Collins. You won't get a lottery pick, But I'm sorry, but one thing I like is that the Hawks are not pulling the auto porter. They're just
not gonna throw somebody in a hundred million dollars. Thank you for for appreciating your hard earn money to a lot of Hawks. Because look at this, like you just said, Matt, they got Cappella, they can they can get rid of him and get some more piece that then too. Let's be honest, his game is limited. He's a great athlete, but he only can do so much out there, and him and Trade do have a great chemistry. But you have Cappella who does more on the court. So he's
definitely expendable and they can get something for him. But I'm glad they didn't pay him becase that would have been a big mistake. But I want all these young men to get their money. But in Atlanta, now y'all trying to win, you gotta go. You gotta use that money somewhere else. So you think trade him before the deadline and get some assets. Yes, yeah, we're gonna have to wait and see. I mean, that's that's where you're at,
that's where you lay your head. You know that team pretty well, so it'll be interesting to see what kind of moves they make with him? Like I said, I think he's a young, up and coming talent. Um game hasn't fully developed yet, but he's still young, you know, so he's got some time. So we're gonna have to wait to see what they do with him. Are they gonna pay him or they're gonna get some pieces for him before the trade deadline. Someone else who there's talks
around is Kevin Love. He's only played two games this season, but hasn't played more than sixty games since the two thousand seventeen season. Healthy, He's definitely someone who can help a contender, but he hasn't seemed to be healthy then. I don't know if that's just not wanting to play in Cleveland. They paid him that big bread. Since Lebron's left, that team has been in a ship hole. Um, so is he just saving his legs for someone to comes save him or are these injuries starting to catch up
with him? And then also Andre Drummond, the Calves have decided not to play him anymore until they can find a trade partners. So they got to highly paid pieces sitting on that bench. What do they do with them? Jack Well, is anybody in the NBA L cool J because he the only one I know need love Kevin Love and he played no. I don't know how long you know. Okay, we've I've seen we played, and I've seen Kevin Love give Blake Griffin forty points in tw rebounds,
so I've seen that. But he's not that Kevin no more, and he hasn't been playing it. I don't think, you know, nobody wants to take on that big contract for a guy that they don't know if he's gonna be healthy or not. I'm a big time Kevin Love and he hasn't played. But I just don't I just don't see a team breaking it back to pick up Kevin Love Drummond. He's an energy guy. He can he has to find out where he's gonna play his role at. You're not
a star, Okay, you're not. You're not a two guys and I gonna drop the ball down to you twenty times a game, drumming. You're a great athlete. You need to start watching uh DJ with Brooklyn. How he plays, he rebounds, he catch lives, and he's an energy guy. I think once he comes into that role and realize he's not a drop down guy like in Beat, I think he'll start coming into his own as a player. Somebody has to bring up down to reality. Now. I
think that's a great point. And do you risk picking up Kevin Love with his you know, his injury record and then to drum and I think it starts back in the summertime because I like drumming. But everything I see of him in the summer, he's trying to play point guard and and and and and doing that. But that's not what he's really gonna play in the summer.
And that's why I get, you know, I think with some of these guys in the summertime, like work on know your role, work on what you're gonna do in the game, like you're seven ft you're never gonna be. And this is not hating on him or we love to see everyone expand their game, but it's just not game like as Rico hunts, but saying like, no, you're a big picture, No your role, you know what I mean, work on things you know you're gonna get to do in the game. And I think DeAndre Jordan is a
great example. And I'll tell you a funny story I talked to DJ about that because when he started getting a little bit better with the Clippers, he wanted more touches. And the way I broke it down to alms like look at Tyson Chandler in New York. All he does is grab Rebrowns, block shots, ketch Lablin. He's an All Star, he's on the Olympic team, and he gets paid well. And you're a better athlete than him, you know. I mean, go take that to heart and do what you gotta do.
So someone needs to have a heart to heart with drum Me because there is a lot of talent there, but I think he has to focus it and tunnel it on what is actually gonna happen in the game and not thinking that he's a guard or someone that's gonna get a lot of touches. You've gotta be able to find your work with inside the game. But, like I said, two highly paid pieces sitting on that Cleveland bench, it will be interesting to see what happens with both
of them come Trade Deadline. All right, back with one of our favorite segments, fan questions, Jack, Let's get to it first. Up, Smokey Bail. If the league was planning to expand, what cities would you like to see an NBA franchise started in um me, I would just go back to the two cities. I'm familiar, Seattle in Vancouver. I enjoy both of them cities. Way we leave wing both those cities. They got a great tree in both those cities. I love Seattle. We got a chance to
play there with the Warriors. I think was that Katie's rookie year. That was like right before they moved. Um. I love Seattle. Never got a chance to go to Vancouver, but I heard a lot of great things. But I completely agree with you. If they were gonna pick up two cities, those are the two cities I pick up right there. That's an easy call. Fan question number two Michael m Villa. Do you think the Spurs can get into the postseason? Are the playing tournament in the tough
Western Conference? I do. I think they're sitting in six right now in the West. Um, you know, I think getting in they should be able to do that. You never want to underestimate a pop team. I don't see them really making noise once they get in, But I just love the way they got De John Murray playing. Obviously, the mar de Rosen is doing what he do, but those two have been playing extremely well this year, and you know, there are a team that no one's talking
about sitting at six. So that said, you know, hats off to popping what they've been able to do. But if they get in, I don't really see them making much noise outside the first round. Next question from Stinky Danky Underscore seven. Why is Johanna's not getting any m v P love cover in the conversation this year? It's all Lebron, Joki Embiid and k d Well because I think a lot of people have seen I think he's reached the selling. You know, people want to see him
get to that championship. People want to see him be a chap raised that troph and get to the next level, and he hasn't. We've seen so many players that's regular season players come come come through the league, you know, and they get their accolades, but they never they never become champions. Yeah, he's been an m v P but now people are like, Okay, yeah, you're good, but we want to see the next level. We haven't seen that, so there's no need for him to be an MVP
conversation no more. I mean, I completely agree. I mean, obviously, you know, we debated on this on the Jump a lot, where you know the m VP is based off just the regular season, but I think people are starting to smarten up to me, you can't be an m VP if in the playoffs down the stretch, I can't go to you for a bucket, like name a number the MVP he and the history of the game where he's not the go to guy or at least one a you know with Shaq and Kobe is a little different.
But outside of those two, how can you not be able to go to the m v P down the stretch to get you a bucket when the game was on the line. And unfortunately Janice hasn't developed that side of his game. Now now he's one of the most scariest players we've seen in the history of the game in transition with the ball in his hands attacking the rim, there's no doubt about that. But we all know with
playoffs game by game adjustments shutting that pain down. Once you shut that paint down, you really slow him down and you forced everyone else to do stuff they're not necessarily accustomed to doing, which is stepping into that leader role. As far as the leading score So I I don't have a problem with him not being discussed as the m v P, because you know, he's one of the
great towns in the league. But he's not the best player in the game to me, and he's not someone you can go to down the stretch in the playoffs. And to me, that's what the m v P is, someone that can take his team at least to the conference finals, if not the finals, especially with kad back. Especially with Kadi back. Next fan question sports w Underscore Chris, how important do you think a good veteran is to a team's success? This is a great question, and it's
unfortunate because they don't have Vets no more. The league continues to get younger and younger, and we first came in, there was always always Vets on every team. Those guys are around thirty thirty six, you know, played fourteen fifteen years. Whether they're still getting minutes or not, they're very important to the development of the young players, important to the team staying on track, and just all around good guys. And you know they're still guys out there that could
be that. You know, Jamal Crawford's and and and and you know, guys like that, but they're just not getting a chanceing more because the league is so young. So I think it's unfortunately they don't have real vets on the teams anymore that you know, help you know, bridge the gap with new players and just kind of keeping the team as a whole in focus. Last question from Proof Underscore Greg, funniest non basketball story you've had while traveling with your team pro It's just pro for you
because you never went to college, so it says proer college. Well, I gotta ship. It's funny to me. Uh. I mean when I was in Charlotte, Man, when we had UH at a game. We had to leave that night to go on the West Coast, and you know how long that flight is, and I got out of the locker room late, so you know, I like the smoke I get on the plane. You know what I'm saying, smoke. We wanted to you know, it's a matter of fact.
I'm a matter of fact man. We was on the road for getting ready to go West Coast and uh as as as we get as we take the bus to the airport, we're about to get off, and I'm geeking, So I'm like man, what can I do? Bro? I went in the bathroom on the bus. Who lit up to my four? Look to my four? Five pulls? And I walked out right. And as I walked out, you know the bus driver always always is off the bus helping, you know, with the bags and stuff, getting the bags
on the plane. So as I get off, I'm walking up the steps on the plane, I look back and I see him coming out the bathroom. Bro, here is so mad dog oh man, But look at least he was high. He got a contact. I was high for the rest of my flight, you know what I mean. That's one of my crazy stories, man, And that's a win. I remember ship in Golden State where used to used to bring that Louis backpack and you didn't give it smelled like you would just throw the wheat in there.
We didn't even smell like there's in a plastic bag. So this niked Jack would walk through the whole plane and I'd see him walk through the uh where the media is at, and they would kind of smell it and look at each other. Then need motherfucker walked through the coaching section, and you know, Nellie didn't give a funk. But the rest of coach would kind of look and he'd get up to us, and it's so loud. I'm sitting there like, goddamn, bro, did you just pour the
wheat inside your Louis bagas or is it in a ziplock? Like? What is it? But Jackie used to carry around this brown Louie bag just smelled like a dope sack. I used to have my ship vacuum sealed, or I'd have it in an extra baggy with either coffee or fabric softener. Jack didn't give a funk about disguising to smell at all. Jackie like funk it. I'd contract. I negotiated my own contract on this team. I'm just gonna walk on this bitch with weed in my pockets. I don't give a fund.
That's what you get when you let me play in California. Man, Hey, we believe documentary is in your works. You'll be ready for It's gonna be fun. What's burning? Quick Hitters? The Portland's supporting cast has really stepped up since Nurkics and c J McCullum went down. Headed by Carmelo Anthony. He thought about nearly nineteen points a game over the last seven or eight games. We spoke about it a few weeks ago. He passed Oscar Robinson for twelve all time.
Jackie's surprised by what Melow's doing. I know, I'm not not at all. Man. We knew what he could do. He's still driving by guys still, Duncan Melo loves to play basketball, and not too many people work hard in the off season, So I'm not surprised he's gonna He's a future Hall of Famer. Like you said, he's continuing to get better. I'm not surprised with Mellow at all. Keeping keep in mind, he's only two five points away from passing the Chema A one in the eleventh spot.
This dude is gonna be a top ten score of all time by the time it's said and done, I think, and I just love to see it. Um Next up, Cantor stepped up huge for Nurkics. Been a double double machine, nearly a thirteen rebounds a game. I love with his toughness brings to that team. Yeah, I mean that, that's the big part of his game. He don't back down from the body. You see the other day he took
an elbow, was licking the blood off his face. He had animal man, you know, and he come from a rough background, so you know, he shouldn't be afraid of anything. He's going out there. He's demanding his presence in the paint and that's something they need right right now with
guys down. So it's playing wealth for him. Definitely. Uh. Gary Trent Jr. Someone who played really well in the playoffs, struggled at the beginning of the season, but is that nearly twenty points a game over the last eleven stepping in for C. J. McCullum. I love when guys you don't anticipate doing well just kind of step up and do their thing. And he's definitely someone that plays on both end of the ball, shoots the ship out of
the three ball, and plays defense. Yeah. Well, the two guys we're talking about are both fielders guys you know, look at we're talking by Garrett Trent Jr. His dad was a fearless guy, a guy did everybody respect this, so he has that same DNA. So both of these guys are tough guys that they need right now with guys down, and when when they get to add those stars back, this team can really make some guards in the West. You know, this is something that no one
ever talks about. But Portland's just has terrible luck with injuries because, like we're talking about their supporting castles stepping up and playing well for guys that are very talented. Obviously with Nurkicchen and c J mcculluman, if they can ever just all stay healthy at the same time, they have one of the most talented rosters in the NBA. So we hope both these guys can come back healthy and these guys that have stepped up in their absence
continuing their good play. Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks make a statement last week saying that they will not play the anthem before the games. The NBA stepped in and put that fire out. Um. I love what Cuban was thinking, because if you know the history of the song the anthem, it's the bullshit. But the NBA stepped in. Jack thoughts on that shout out to Mark Cuban, man, and absolutely I appreciate them for having a gust to do it and and be a leader. But he said
the key thing that nobody's saying. I talked to my community. He talked to his community before he made that decision, and nobody stands behind that. This is not the land of the free. You know, this is not the land of the free. You know, nobody and a lot of people don't stand behind the national anthem. I just slude him for for jumping out there, you know, and and and and listening to the people around him, the people he worked with, the people that support him, and and
let everybody have a say so on that decision. Mark Cuban has always been on the front lines and always been awoke when it comes to social issues. So I definitely respect his movement and what he's about in the efforts he had to, like you said, listen to his community, but you know, the NBA thought otherwise. But definitely salute to Mark Cuban for thinking outside the box and really caring about what people around him think in the midst of Black History months. Jack, I know we both watched
Black Messiah this weekend. Shout out to us, Shaka King and my brother Ryan Klueger for a beautiful film. Thoughts on that film because I watched that ship last night and they had my fist clinched the whole time, hey Man, shout out to them brothers man of film. That definitely
was needed the next film, I need to roll in it. Um. But but I think, Matt, I I want to just start the whole movie over and watch it again, you know, especially with everything that that that transpired in my life the last year, you know, and and me meeting people you know that that that that lived their life similar to Fred happened Hampton, with my with my friend Zeke
and Detroit. So I think just the story being told, how they was treated, how they stood, you know, and and and and the connections, how he brought everybody together. All this stuff needed to all this stuff needed to be told, man. And and I'm glad I was educating it. And it was more motivation for me to see the things that I've been doing and know, I'm a lot of things that I'm doing. I'm doing it like some of the greats, and I'm doing I'm doing it in the in the right way. Man. This is good to
see for me. It was refreshing. Yeah, it was beautiful to see this story told. Obviously they've been trying to hide this story for years. To think that Fred Hampton was only twenty one when he was executed. Um, assassinated, but the Rainbow Coalition, you know what I mean. He took a lot of chances and going into areas that normal people wouldn't go in to bring people together. It didn't matter your color, and that's what I loved and
I think that's what they fear. Um. I hope this this film gets the critical acclaim it deserves because most of the times when you highlight the bullshit the cops have been on, the usually try to sweep in movie to the back. But this movie was definitely a statement.
It was a message, is something that everyone needs to be seen, and it just, you know, it confirmed on you know, policing was built on racism, and we're still you know that that that film took place, and I think, if I'm not mistaken, was a time period they captured that and here we are in one with the same kind of bullshit still going on. So I love that this kind of stuff is being brought to light. We
need to educate ourselves on this. You know something else that I thought was crazy, and it's kind of a side note. I think in Utah parents were allowed to take their kids out of black history and that ship just tripped me out because are we allowed to be taken out the white history. They a lot that they lie to us about, but they're giving parents in Utah the option for their children to opt out of Black history,
which is crazy. So I love the fact that they're finally starting to teach Black history, but it just shows what kind of country we're in where that the school is going to give parents the option to not let their kids learn Black history, but they don't give us the option not to learn the bullshit they're trying to teach us. So I think we've come far, but we still have a long way to go. And this is just a beautiful film. Again, big shout out to Shaka
King and Ryan Coogler on a great film. I hope it gets the praise and eyeballs and recognition to deserve because it's something that needs to be shown, it needs to be told, and they did a great job of doing that. And everybody that loved this film, especially us the people, we gotta support it because, like Matt said, a lot of time they try to overshadow and try to hide stories like this and try to hide the truth.
But if we can continue to support these people and change and that if it stand up with movies like this. Then we'll continue to learn the truth. That's a rap for this week. What's Burning could be found every Monday on Showtime, a baut basketball YouTube, and on Twitter at show Basketball. You Did