Nets Dominate West, Anthony Edwards Dunk, Fan Questions | WHAT’S BURNIN’ | SHOWTIME Basketball

bigger deal is Lebron hasn't missed a game yet. Obviously, eight D is down throughout the All Star break. To you, what is the best strategy? They continue to go all in and ride his shoulders or are they a team that seating doesn't really matter and they just need to get into the dance. I think a little bit of both. I mean, you want to let Lebron continue is great play, and because you need at least one of your stars out that's even have a chance to win some of

these games. And even having a number of guys you know, shoulder has been down as well. But it's no way you can replace a D. You can try to bring in guys and and and try to try to fill in the board with two or three guys, but it's it's hard, you know, missing a D. He's such a such a great player, such a big part of what

they do. I don't think it's anything they could do but try to get him healthy because at the end of the day, a championship is this goal for this team, and the championship is not feasible without a D. So all they need to be doing is worrying about getting him, getting him healthy and see what could happen. Yeah, I mean, does Lebron James hit walls? I know a lot of other human beings hit walls. Last game, statistically was his

worst shooting game from the field. I want to say he was like seven for twenty one and one for eight from the three point line, but it was still like a nineteen nine and nine game. That's one thing about him. And they d like they're bad games, they're still almost double doubles, you know. And I think another thing that's an important to say, and this is why I kind of had a D although he hasn't had that type of season at the top of the all or the m d P conversation early on, because I

knew how important he was to this team. If you take one of these guys away, this is the middle of the PAC team with all due respect, you know, and with with two of them their odds on favorite. So I think it just shows how important both Lebron and A d R and and and you know, you hear stuff about you know, Lebron was was felt slided in the m v P vote and possibly that's why he's been, you know, foot on the gas the whole entire season. But you know, in my opinion, year eighteen,

there's nothing to prove. Obviously he should have had more m vps in his pocket. Uh, this year is most likely going to be an m v P opportunity. He's at the top of the list. But we know they're definitely gonna need him full strength come playoff time or whatever full strength needs. So if you had a decision in it, if you're Lebron, what is your thinking right now as far as kind of pasting yourself knowing that

there's still a lot of season left. Yeah, I think uh, for them, you know, like I said, you got to pay yourself don't want to get hurt, but at the same time, he has to lead by example. You don't want to get in a sitch auation where you start losing games, going to a seven eight game losing streak, and then a week later a D he tried to come back and do more than he's expected to do

and he get hurt again. Not a season is over with, so you know, they gotta be real camp, they gotta be real coupled with this, but what Lebron is doing, he got to continue to do because the team needs more than anything, more than anything, right now, real quick, before we get out of this, I want to shout out Kyle Kuzma. He's at nineteen point five since a D has gone down at nearly from the field. Um

getting seventeen dots seven more than these normally is. I know he's someone that that looks to step in and feel some of those number. Like you said, you definitely can't replace a D as a player, but you gotta kind of collectively try to do it. Jack lastly, before we get out of here, you're hearing some names thrown around for possible targets for the Lakers late Griffin Um Boogie and p J tucker Um. Out of those three guys, who do you think fits best for the Lakers? I

would go Boogie. I would definitely go Boogie Man. I think for offensive purposes, for rebounding purposes, just for having that big guy in the paint. He's not at that as Anthony Davis, but he brings a lot of similarity. He could spread the floor and he's a tough minded guy. I think a guy like him will help him more than anything else. We'll have to see what they do. Decisions are coming up soon, and you know we're big Boogie fans. Next up on the radar jack. The standings

are really crowded, Uh, in both conferences. I wanted to read the stat Four games separate the fourth through the thirteen seed in the East and three games separate eight through twelve out West. Uh, it's heavy. I think the playing tournament is going to be exciting because of this reason.

Who do you think in the Eastern Conference has a chance to distance themselves and really make a statement in the conference, Because, like I said, it's pretty up for grabs once you start looking at number four down, I'm a realist. It don't matter anyway, because you know Brooklyn and and and Philadelphia gonna be the two teams at the end to but but but look, but look, check

this out there, Matt. But if any teams that can make some noise and get out of this and get in the playoffs and make them series, no, it's Boston, Boston and Miami Miami, and Miami has a lot of experience and they tend to thrive when the game slows down. They play better when the game slows down. Boston has been there, They got two young stars, and they can turn around at any moment. You gotta watch these two teams because they can get up out of that and

makes some and make some noise. But and then did answer about Brooklyn Afhilly to me? Anyway, I think it definitely is about Brooklyn and Philly. And I agree with the Celtics. I think they've hit a small wall um heading into the break. But you gotta remember back when we play these are like the dog days. Right now, this is like how January used to be for us, when we get all excited for the Christmas games, and January's as slow and long as fun, and some teams

lose their mental focus. So I think Boston will be all right. I think they'll pick up, they'll regain form post All Star Break. But instead of Miami, I think it's it's gonna be the Raptors. The Raptors are hot right now. Fredn uh pleet is playing on another level, and I think Miami kind of has that championship hangover. I mean, that's the only thing I can kind of put it on. You know, Jimmy has been in and out.

He's been more consistent of late, but you haven't seen the same Tyler Hero or Duncan Robinson, Bams having a great season. But to me, I think it seems like Miami is stuck in the mud. I agree with you that, you know, after watching what Brooklyn does without k D and it came and swept the Western the Pacific, uh Division, They're scary to me. Um. But again, right right there too is Philly with and beat playing at an m

v P level. But I like the Celtics and the Raptors to also make noise in that conference in the Western. On the Western side it's Warriors, Grizzlies, MAVs, Pelicans, Kings. So I think that would be a fun little run right there with you know, seven through seven through ten playing to get in. Uh. You know, the Warriors are tough because if Steph Curry is done on the court, that's probably the worst offensive team in the league. Um. The Grizzlies are up and down with a young team.

Lucas starting to turn it on. He's been hot. We'll talk about him later. The Pelicans are tough, man, and Zion is not getting enough credit for the ship he's doing night in, night out. And then Sacramento to me is too unpredictable. Obviously, I love with Dear and Fox and some of their younger guys are doing, but they're too unpredictable for me. In the Western Conference thoughts on kind of that seventh through ten space to get in

the playoff tournament. You go to State and Dallas are scary. Man. Luca and Steph no telling what they can do. They can pull a rabbit out their hat and and you know how go to State offense and team gets going when step is on the court, and we know what Luca can do as well if they get healthy. Add a person to two. So um, I think both of those teams can be scary, and both of those teams can can make some upsets, you know, in the playoffs that they can get in. Yeah, I would like to

see what the young Pelicans can do. You know, Lonzo balls playing better. Brandon Eagram is the leading, you know, the leader of that team. But Zion is consistently night in, night out, putting up great numbers on efficient shooting. And the way he fucking ran over Tristan Thompson the other they looked like me running over the twins and Tristan Thompson. Tristan Thompson is strong, you know what I mean? Zion. Zion walked through that grown ass man and put mons

asking gotta ad one. So I'm kind of excited to see what these these these young Pelicans are uh can possibly do if they sneak in the dance question? Do you feel like the home court advantage is gone now? Because arenas are empty? On odds, I want to say the home the home team nearly win uh during the regular circumstances fifty six through fifty seven percent of a home games. Now it's down to uh right at fifty two?

Ish is the home court advantage obviously with the lack of fans gone kinda I mean, it's it's to me it's a different feeling, and certain players can make the shots. When we make a shot in the fourth quarter, when we have thirty thousand screaming, you know, it's it's a totally different games. And some of your best shooters in NBA history Matt can make them in the first three quarters, but they can't make them in the fourth quarter because the game is tight, so and and and the noise

in the stadium. So um, I definitely think that the crowd matters, you know, but at this point, you know what I mean, it should when you're the home team, you should be more confortaly anyway, because you're sleeping in your own bed, you're coming home, you're coming to the game from family. A good vibe most of the time. But uh, but I think for the most part, the guy, the guys at home should always be more comfortable. And not having fans in the in the stadium, I think

the home team that definitely has the advantage. Well, that ship that might be the problem. That might be a little too comfortable right now, because to me, it's a coin flip. To me, it's just like going playing au whatever Jim you win, whoever playing could do that that that crowd. That crowd ain't there for you no more. You know, you can make the fake noise and you can have a thousand people in there, when when you're just used to having thirty thousand, and the motherfucker's a

lot different. So right now it's just to me, it's whoever comes out and plays hard, it's gonna win no matter where you're at. On the week ahead, Jack, we got a big prime type game Saturday, Mas versus Nets. Uh, we know how how well the Nets are playing. Will touch on them after this, But first I wanted to touch on the MAVs and then finally finding their footing. Um, you know, Lucas hot over there. You know they're one

four or five their last games. Lucas at a nearly thirty seven eight nine and a half, shooting fifty eight percent from the field fifty two from the three. But more importantly too, is kp Is has found some time and rhythm on the court at nearly twenty three points, eight and a half rebounds and shooting fifty and forty one percent respectively from the three. Dallas has the number one offense over the last week. That pulls him up still to the middle of the pack, but they've been

hot of late. I think after what they did in the bubble, how good Luca was, all the hype at the preseason, I think it's finally starting to shake off and and and and the dust is starting to clear, and we're starting to see the team that we thought this team was supposed to be the whole entire season. Yeah, we know they're dangerous. We know lucas dangerous, and we know this team only goes as far as Luca. You know, I think KP is a big part of his team,

but I don't think he's the leader. And I think he really has to pick up his role on his team. You know, Yeah, he's he's robbing to batman, but at the same time, he has to become a more dominant robbing instead of just being in the shadows and not for his teams in not for his team to get the success that D call I one. I'm pretty sure that the players want. But uh, this team can be like I said, man, Luca. Luca knows he's a dominant player.

We all know he could take over games. And if it's a portecast picks it up and picks the level up to his level, then maybe we'll see this. This team makes some makes some um, what's the right I'm looking for, Matt some Uh So Noah's upsets upsets upset well, I mean, if you think about it, kind of thinking ahead of Dallas Nixon in the eighth and Utah stays in a one like there's no clear cut favor. I mean, as great as Utah's playing, we know what Luca can

do in the playoffs. Is this Utah team is you know, hasn't really done much in the playoffs. There could be an upset brewing right there. But like I said, glad to see him find his footing and the team kind of find some chemistry because there's a lot of high expectations on them early on. You know, no one's saying that they're you know, I'm gonna go to the finals or anything. But it's just good to see where they're at.

I still feel like they need a you know, a big piece to go with that, and I completely agree. KP has to step up his robbing efforts, moving along Harden and what he's been doing for the nets. Um, since he's really kind of starting to find what his position is on this team. You know, they swept the Pacific Division this last week, uh one four straight without KD.

You know, Kyrie is handed over the keys to James as far as who's the point and who's the two, which I thought was very important for not only them, but for the kind of the rest of the team to have an understanding. This team is fucking scary, bro And like I said, Katie was on the sideline last night. But it's just amazing to see James go on a six to ten point run and then he just bounced passes the ball over to Kyrie real quick, and Kyrie can give you twelve quick ones and then they both

can really pass. Like Kyrie is not a past first guy, but if you watched last night's game, he has some dimes and you all know how creative James is with the ball. Um, what do you think about this? Nets? I mean, we both picked them to go to the finals before James. They're starting to find their chemistry as a team. Uh you know, they're talking about bringing some

people in. We'll talk about that in a second, But thoughts on this team and James's ability to kind of adapt to what his role needs to be for this team to be the best they can be. That's just a testament to how good James Harden is. You have a lot of aspects to his game, but we all know him as a score you know, when we we when we've seen him be one of the top guys in assistant in the league. But he has became a complete point guard. He he is a complete point guard

his league. And not only that, his deepens has picked up being up knowing that he's going a lot of these guards. So I mean, I'm not surprised honestly with the way James is playing and the impact he's had on Brooklyn. He's one of the best players in the league. You know, it was a lot going on the beginning this season, but one thing we all knew that James gonna make any team he got to better, and now that he was Brooklyn, he's made them the clear favorites.

You know, his true shooting percentages at six, which would be a career high, and he's at eleven point a seven assists the game. So this team is fun to watch. Man. Like I said, we have them early on, James kind of stamp that. You know, Katie is in the process of getting better. Let's talk about you know, some pieces everyone kind of feels like they're, you know, a frontline piece away from really really solidifying that team. You're hearing

Andre Drummond, JaVale McGee, Bookie Cousins. Uh. Out of those three guys, what guy do you think fits best over in Brooklyn? I like Boogie, I even like Jamie McGee. Where's for read? I like throw for reading? I'd like to throw for reading there, you know what I mean. He's an energy guy, rebound, an athlete. I like to read. You know, I think they can they can get two solid, big rebounders in there, and and you know for reading,

the energy guy. You know what I'm saying, Jeff Green just went down, so we don't know how long he's gonna be down, you know, bringing for reading or somebody like that along with one of those big man that's definitely what they need. But I guarantee you, Matt, if they can add a solid big man that could catch and finish, it's gonna be It's just it's gonna it's

gonna be a lot of trouble. To see the way they play is kind of weird because you know Draymond or I mean, it starts a little further back but Draymond played the center position so well at what is that motherfucker's six four and a half? You know, when DeAndre goes out, it's either Kade, who's hurt right now, or Jeff Green playing center, which is obviously on the

offensive side. Mismatch. But then you know when the playoffs, when the game slows down a little bit, you know who's gonna guard and beat if DeAndre gets in foul trouble. You know, to me, that's that that that's my question, and um, they're definitely gonna need to address that. But as far as their chemistry coming along, guys knowing the roles, the team having fun, these guys really look like they're

having fun. They have the US against the world mentality, and this is gonna be dope to see them stay healthy and finish out the second half of the season. Post I'll start break fan questions. These questions have been I see these some of these questions on on our i G We post them and some of these ships are crazy, but you know we picked out some of the ones our team has liked to. Let's get right

to it and underscore Green. What's the locker room like after the game when a teammate gets posterized, or your teammate posterized the opponent. We'll just let me say this. If you get dun ugly, if you get ducked and you in the locker room with me and Matt, just know on when you get in the locker room, we're gonna be sitting there looking like this. Oh man, we used to make even real. Hey, sometimes it doesn't even wait to the locker room. It could be a time out,

it could be anything. It could be halftime. If you get shipped on, I don't give a funk what we're gonna let you know, you know, and I think you know on the flip side, that's the one of the things that kind of keeps people from going hard. Now I kind of see in this era is the social meme means you know what I mean, that's the social media memes. You get dunked down. Now, imagine you know what barn did to Cairo Linko was during the social

media era, you know what I mean. Or some of the ship or me tripping over the three point line was in the social media era, you know what I mean? Like ship like that is crazy, And I think kids these days don't want to be a meme. So I think it's a little less I mean it's a longer topic, but a little less energy on the defensive end. But you have to answer your question. If a motherfucker on

our team gets dunked on, we're letting them know. Maybe while we're running down the court, I got crossed off by Ai. Man. Hey, I'd rather be a I than one of you. Bombs in l A Thinness next fan question and at time with Lady Frosting, what y'all take on how flopping impacts the game and how do you think today's game slash players are compared to the era before flopping. I don't like flopping. I think we've stated

this several times. Um, but you know, you just got to give credit because that's where the game is now. And last night was a perfect example. I think it cost the Clippers the game. Kauai going down the middle with time running down and James sold the funk out of a push off and they called an offensive foul, And initially looking at it, you see him flay like, oh damn, maybe he did push off, But then when you're able to see the replay, he definitely exaggerated a

little bit and it cost the Clippers the game. So I'm not a fan of flopping by any means. But you know, like I said, we got to adjust it. And that's how I guess the guys that have mastered that because it's in the NBA now and I don't think it's going anywhere. Well, you know, I'm I'm I'm gonna go out little further with him, Matt. We definitely hated flopping. One. Flopping shows that you don't care about defense.

You can't guard nobody. That's a cop out too. It says a lot about the referees that they don't have no basketball experience, but keep blowing these whistles when these guys flopping. It's easy to see from players watching the game that it's a flop. But the referees that never played basketball, they're sitting right there and can't get it right. So you get you gotta give credit to the players

who's selling it. But referees, y'all need to watch games or play basketball before you become a referee, so you can be familiar with these situations. Speaking of referees, they've been on some bullshit laterly, I mean they ejected big get Reddy yesterday for throwing like a spin bounced pass back to the ref ejected Draymond down the stretch. And you know, although you know sometimes as players we gotta keep our cool, these refs gotta be have to keep

their cool more than that. And it's been ridiculous to see some of these bullshit ass calls they make that determined outcomes of games. And then later the NBA and their two many reports says, oh, well, this refer Most of the time they try to really side with them, but when it's so fucking blatant, they can't. And the two many report they'll meant the reference wrong. But what does that do you know the team that the team has lost the game. I think we need to be

more transparent with our refs. We need to be able to see, you know, what they score every with, what their stats are, because they're they're judged just like we are. Our stats are open to the world. Why can't we see what these judges are? These these referees, you know, great cards aliking or or when they funk up and do something wrong, how come they're not fined or suspended.

I think there needs to be more transparency. Um when it comes to referees because they're determining outcomes a game than particularly in this season, where you know, every game means a lot more. These restaurant here fucking the game. Uh, referees. If any of you here there's just realized. No one comes to the game to watch y'all. They come to watch the players. The sign of a good good referee game is to know that you're not even there. Let's

keep that in und and then look who's critiquing the players. Man. Then this goes back to what I just said. What you just said the same thing. When j J spunt the ball, if you play basketball, you know how that ball is gonna spin. Every basketball player spunt that ball like that to his teammate. But the fact that he never played basketball, don't know how to ball spin. It went through his legs and he got he felt embarrassed.

That's not JJ's fault. If you knew anything about basketball how the ball spins, you would have caught the ball. But you penalize in JJ because the ball went through your legs and now you feel embarrassed. Be more familiar with the game instead of just blowing a whistle clown. Next up at long Loakes best locker room story from the We Believe Days. Damn good question. Oh my god, where can we start? We want to save something for

the documentary. I just started with this from that. We're all in the locker room getting ready for a big game, and we were warned. We were definitely warned that this No, no, no, no, we were definitely Yeah, that's something else. I know what you're talking about, though. Yeah, we were warned that this character was showing up to the game today, right, So we were totally warned. So we got to the game early enough to wait what to be there when he arrived.

So Baron Davis told us that Wild Wild West Baron was showing up to the game. So we didn't know something my birth This is on my birthday. I think I think this is your birthday. We had no idea who Wild Wild West Baron was. I've never met him. Ship he shows up to the game. Cowboy head, the brooch, the spur, the boots, the whole nine walked in the locker room and just stood there by five minutes and in the middle. Yeah, this ship was un fucking believable.

But you gotta think this is the same motherfucker that used to remember when he had his condo in Frisco. It's nigg He used to baby oil his chest and play the guitar because he lived. Bear lived in this dough fast little building. Uh but and then there was an alley, and then right next across the street there was a bar. This motherfucker baron used to take his shirt off, baby oil his chest and play the guitar in the window so bities to see it. And he

didn't even know how to play the guitar. Everyone be looking like, is that Bear Davis up there? You know? You know? But when you know why, I remember that was my birthday with the outfit, just because y'all came to my motherfucking birthday party. This nigga had the cowboy hat on and the spurs and the wranglers and the plaid shirt, and I was just like, this dude is

really a real life character. Rodney G Jr. One, what's your opinion on Damn there again disrespected our snub throughout his career when it comes to accolades, And why does the NBA invest enough as they shoot into him. That's a great fucking question, I think because Dame is a silent killer. He's not talking, he's not promoting itself. He's always let his game do his talking. And I think in an in an era where self promotion is weird

but works, that's the kind of stuff we're in. You know, he's not out there dancing after shots and the only thing he'll do is when he bush your ass at the end of the game, he'll wave goodbye to you. But outside of that, like, he's not really a self promoter, and I think that's kind of hurt Dame in this era of social media and look at me and that time of ship. Dame is just a throwback hooper that goes out every night and puts his team on his

shoulders and gets buckets. Uh. He was recently snubbed as an All Star starter, and even Lucas said he thought that Dame should have won that, Uh, you know, that the starting spot over him. But for some reason, unfortunately, Man, he's been overlooked. You know, he's consistently been should be in or you know, in the m v P conversations.

But you know, Dame is is is a soldier, someone you would definitely go to war with and if not the most clutch one of the top two or three touch players in the game today, when where you've got a lot of people that not never played an you gotta understand the NBA has their guys. They have their guys that they want to that they want to market. Why wasn't Ai all over the NBA commercials he was the best player in the league. He didn't fit their narrative.

So it's important for us to control our own narrative. And that's what Dame is doing. He's dropping his music, he's doing his Hulu commercials, but it's gonna be in the Whillhouse or what he wants to be in. He don't have to compromise anything. Then if the NBA don't get behind him saying and and and promote him like they do all these other players, then so be it. He could promote himself and he's still making good money.

Were promoting this up outside the court. But Dame is one of those guys I put in the AI category, one of the best players in the league, but he don't fit the NBA narrative. Next s up Biscuits underscore three well y'all top three songs before the game to get you hyped or get you ready for the game. I'm just gonna step in before you answered Jack real quick. And if I if I had control of the music, it wasn't a motherfucking option. You already knew what. We

was playing Poc all day. Every day, it was Park all day. And then I was with you. I was with you, man. I ain't gona lot. But one thing we did, and this is We're gonna talk about this on the documentary, but I'm gonna get y'all live. It's a movie called Snump the Yard And before every game we had a guy, Josh Power him and I used to like to dance a lot and that movie was high. So before every game we used to get in the huddle and we used to go we wrapped the warriors.

Worries worries were to warries, worries worris But that but that came from that movie. Stumped the yard man with that. That's something we did a gut hyped for every game. But we always listened to Park put author U g K. Scarface was always my goal to but Pok Poc took over a locker room every game. Park definitely took over our locker room. And yes, them too big dancing Motherfucker's was in the in the circle before every game. Both

of the Motherfucker's at six Tiger Dance. They asses off too. Yes, sir, ain't doing enough. Back in December, Uh, myself, Jack and the All the Smoke family host to the high School Showcase out in Memphis. But it was so much more than basketball. Um, you know, it was civil rights museums. It was talks with the kids, that was mentoring these kids, that were seeing these talented kids play. Um, here's the trailer and a little tease of what we did. You

guys check it out. A lot of kids don't get a chance to talk to Actually, we're just trying to change the roles and do something different. You have do more than what we had. How does it feel will be black? You want to make any type of success in life, it all starts with how you treat me. So this whole session, this is anything in here you want. We're just doing our part. We say we are brothers people. Let's continue to do that, and that's how I feel

it will be back. She didn't come to our game ball a secondary walk away from this place with something to apply some of this stuff in their life and trying to help the next person to the birth of the movie. I made that seat. Now that's how I fear it will be black Jack. This all came about because of your connection to the Iverson Classic. Um, that trailer was dope. Tell us how this came about and

your feelings about what your song. Well, Um, the first year out an Obson game, he has his own high school Classic, the number one high school class in the country, and UM, I've been coaching it from year one where it was it was postponed this year and um, we had came up another idea of doing something in Memphis. We ran it by Brian and never all our team at showtime and it just came together, Man, to give these kids opportunity to play basketball showcase because with the COVID,

a lot of things are are being prohibited. Been planning their own cities and states. So we just wanted to give them an opportunity to play and show their skills and not have a waste a year. So, UM, we were able to go down to Memphis put on the great a great tournament with Bobby and Josh shout shout all of them. But we were also able to to give these kids some education. You know, we're able to go to the Mother to King Museum. We're able to

talk about civil rights, were we talking about racism. We're also able to teach them and tell them you only go as far as how you treat people, you know, a lot of things like that. If you want to, if you plan on treating people like ship, you then and in your life being ship. But if you treat them like like heaven and plan out your life being heaven, and that's just how it goes. So a lot of things we were able to to talk to these kids about and not just about basketball, and able to take

them to the Marlouke King Museum. You know, I would you know me, mad, I was in tears the whole time. So I hope they got something out of it. And and and when we're just doing something new man, trying to change the mold, and I'm just thinking that you and show Time were able to be that with me to to make this come true. Yeah, it was. It was definitely a dump experience. Shot out show Time, shout out everybody, you shouted out. Um, Like I said, just

showing these kids another way. You gotta see it to believe it. And I think what we did out there was amazing. The Lorraine Hotel experience, the Civil Rights Museum, Um, you know it's my second time there, but still learn so much more. It was just a great experience to to see that although we've come a long way, we definitely still have a long way to go. So I'm excited for you guys to see it. Check out Ain't doing enough Thursday, um, and see what me and Jack's

journey was like down there in Memphis. Winding down the show, let's get to our quick Jack Raptors the heart over the last three weeks, uh seven and three over that span, their defense is the number one rated defense in the league. Six guys and double figures. Can the Toronto Raptors make some noise? I just said earlier in the show, like they were my pick instead of Miami to possibly make some noise outside of the two big dogs in the East,

the Rats. But they have the experience. You know, we just wondered who was gonna step up, and Van has been playing well, you know, he stepped into that road to score to go to guy. But I love the way normal Powell has picked up and become his batman. Yeah, we all know Kyle Lowry is is the pit on the team. But Norman Brown, No, screw Norman Powell. He's been bawling bros. He's picked up his game on offense and defense. He's been the guy gardener, the star guy

on the other team. And I think the way he's picked up his scoring and he just picked up he's just total play is the reason why this team has been winning. They needed another guy, and Norman Power stepped up to be that guy. Yeah, Norman Pale's definitely stepped up. See y'all him, I see. I think you know, people understand that, you know, Siakam shined in that year to the finals because Kauai was the guy that everyone keyed on.

When you're the top guy on the top of the scouting report, as Siakam is now, it takes a little bit of time because they're focused on your every move. So I think he's starting to understand the pressure of being the number one guy on that team. Uh. Then Van Vleet has has definitely uh stepped up and done

his job. And then, like you said, Norman Powell um Young Bruin at nearly three points a game over this last three weeks span and then you know they got their their their their general and their leader Kyle Lowry. So this team has the experience and and it's also keep in mind they were they were the team that had to go to Tampa Bay if I'm not mistaken, uh and play their season because of restrictions due to COVID, So you know, they've had to endure a lot, and

I think they're starting to find their footing. You get hot at the right time, That's what Miami did. They got hot right at the right time. They're starting to find their footing going into All Star Break, which is great, and I'm excited to see what this team can do the second half of the season because, like you said, they definitely have the experience and going to the playoffs,

that's what you need. Jack. We may have witnessed the dunk of the year the other night with Anthony Edwards did to that boy in Toronto should have been illegal non playing. But this kid has really picked up his game over the last eight games at nearly seventeen points a game, five rebounds, four assist. D'Angelo Russell, who is the leader of the team, you know outside a cat, has been out a majority of that time, and this

kid has really stepped his game up. First thoughts on that dunk, which was crazy, but the way this kid is playing, I definitely think he's worked his way back into the Rookie of the Year conversation. Oh excuse man, I got some breaking news. Breaking news. Oh after that was has just been released from jail for attempted murder. They just let him out. He just he just made bonn They just let him out. Yeah, it was self defense, my guy. Bro. I mean, that's probably one of the

best ducts I've seen in my life. Bro. Like you said, you're talking about dreaming, I had dreams are jumping that high. But then again, Matt, I'm from im I live in Georgia, so I've seen I've seen him do this, do this a lot, and in the last couple of years, bro, And and this kid is definitely an athlete. Man. I think he's just he's just getting started. You're gonna see a lot of dunks, a lot of finishes like that

from from this kid. Man, he's the most athletic kid that I've seen come, you know, uh coming to the league like this man, This kid is fascial, bro. So I mean, I love what this kid's been doing. I think he's definitely played his way back into the Rookie of the Year conversation. You know, with him at nearly seventeen a game. Over the last eight LaMelo, since he's been inserted in that starting lineup, he's had about twenty

points a game. Both these kids are playing great and it's gonna come down to the wire for this Rookie of the Year and it could come down to whoever has uh their team sitting in a better position. So it's gonna be fun to watch. But you know, love what we're seeing with this kid. And like we both agree, this kid is just scratching the service that the Bets

that definitely yet to come. Jack Boogie and Uh the Rockets have decided to aren't ways teams oh and seven since Christian wood has Um went down with that ankle injury. This situation with Boogie is tough because he's getting healthy, but he's still not himself. Um, he's only he's at ten points, nearly a nine point six, seven point six rebounds, and two assists a game and only twenty minutes and eleven starts. I know there's been some frustration he wants

his role to step up. He wants to play more. What are your thoughts on first the boogie situation with coach Silas and then we'll talk about potential suitors for Boogie. Yeah, I mean Chris Wood, Christian Wood falling going out the lineup. It definitely hurt them. I think they complement each other.

He was able to be that center. You know, he can't move as much as he used to, so being able to catch the ball in black and have a afford that can spread the floor even he's still shooting threes, but having an afford that expanded for it made him that dominant center again. But just not getting an opportunity, you know, and not being able to get the looks

and the and the minutes that you want. It could be frustrating the time, but I understand what Steve, what Steve Silace is doing, you know, going young, trying to build for the future. You have John Ware, you have all the deepole, you have Christian Wood, you have a lot of young stars that you can build a round. I think Bill he needs to go to a team that's continuing to play championship somewhere like Brooklyn, someone like l A. We can go in and just play his role.

But at the same time he has to understand too, there's different strokes with different folks, there's different situations. Now that you didn't be injured a lot, you gotta go into everything. You gotta go into every situation with an open mind. And I think once team seed it, I think that the embracing want give him a better role than that he's expected. Yeah, I wanted to touch on what you said. This guy was arguably the best center in the game for a long time and one of

the best centers we've ever seen. And the line of injuries and bad luck um he's had is is unbelievable, you know what I mean. So even though he's feeling better and he'll give you flashes of that twenty seven and seventeen type nights that he had a few weeks ago, he's still not himself. And I think as a as a as a superstar at one point, how do you mentally handle that capacity because I'm sure that's kind of playing out right now. Of you know, he feels like

he needs more minutes and more time. The coaching staff doesn't see it that way. So that's gonna be you know, obviously, you know, a claim trained collision. So I agree, I definitely think he needs to go to a team that that has an opportunity to win, but with you know, veteran guys that you know can really helping help him

along the way, because it's gonna be tough. Like I said, this guy was one of the best centers in the game and now his role has kind of, you know, been diminished down to it, you know, a twenty minute a game guy. When he was a guy that could you know, play thirty forty minutes a game. So this is a tough transition mentally for him. Um, like we said obviously offend of the program, my little bro of homie, we hope him the best and and we hope that

he does land on his feet. And I think something key you said was being open minded because unfortunately he's not the boogie he was three years ago due to injury, and I think he's gonna have to reinvent himself and understand what is the most effective way for him to tell the team win. Wolves desired to fire Ryan saw Unders after getting off to a seven and twenty four record, which is tough because you know, cat being in out of the lineup. I think that Cats only played eleven

out of the thirty one games. But even with that said, what was more interesting to me was the Damon Lillard tweet and I'm gonna read it right here. He says, how the hell do you not hire David Vanderpool And he's right there on the bench. He has been in the front office successfully and on the front of the bench of a winning team successfully for seven years, and he also played a major role in developing a dominant backcourt. Shake my damn head, Jack, this is this is the

NFL's version of the Rooney rule bullshit. You know where black coaches aren't really getting that nod um. You know, congratulations to the Raptors and sister Chris Finch for the opportunity in Minnesota. But I think Dame tweeted what a lot of us are thinking. You know, I mean, you got a first assistant sitting right there, battle tested, waiting for his opportunity, and you go somewhere else to get

a head coach. Uh. Decisions like this from front offices are probably reason why the so this team ain't ship. This is why a lot of teams don't win mad this is why a lot of teams don't have success because you have guys like Vanderpool. He's just like Bernie Bigger Staff when we played, it's always coaches. It's a lot of coaches that played that players like us Matt, whether they coaches or not. Before the game, we speak at half court. They come say, what's up. You're doing good.

This is what you need to do in your game the coach. We respect guys that's played the game. Vanderpool is one of those guys that fall in that with Bernie Biggest Staff, with Tyler, all these coaches have been around for a while who we look up to. So I understand Damn Damon Lilli's frustrated, because I'm frustrated because he should have a job. What more can he do?

What more does he have to do? He's that he's the second he's assistant head coach on the team, and you bringing somebody else like that, you can't be you can't be more disrespectful to that. And and I think for players like Dame Lillett and other players, they need to start speaking up for guys like that, because these are guys that we want to be coached by. These

are the guys that we want to learn from. These are the guys have paid the dudes and belonged to be head coaches, and we gotta start fighting for these guys because we gotta remember they were once players too. You know, Minnesota kind of has a low key track

record of doing this. You know, Sam Mitchell re placed the great Flip Saunders after he had passed um as head coach, and instead of giving Sam a real run, they bring Ryan Saunders in, you know, with Sam's you know, coach of the Year underneath this belt, didn't really get a shot there. So this is a pattern in the Minnesota, but not only Minnesota. This is a pattern around professional sports.

People hire people who look like them, which is crazy because, like you said, these guys have definitely paid their dues. And today it's more about relating to players than anything else. It's such a player driven league now that if you can't relate to players, you're not gonna have a long time in this league. And I'm not saying that's what happened to Ryan Saunders, but I'm saying in in in Dames where being able to give Van Pool, Vanderpool a chance,

he's a players guy that players look up to. Players respect similar to the Tyler situation, you know where t Lou was that cool dude that everyone talked to respected, and now he's you know, he's got another opportunity with the Clippers, and as the Clippers playing well. So this is just an unfortunate situation that happens too often, not only in the NBA but across sports um as a whole, and something like you said, needs to be addressed. It

needs to be called out. We need to continue to call these teams out on their bullshit and biased views on hiring front office people and head coaches. And Ryan Sunders is one of my guys. I gotta send him a shout out, Matt. When I first got to Minnesota, the first person from the NBA are in the basketball world that reached out to me was Ryan sunder So. But if he ever ever be beat, my guy, and I gotta send him a shott And I appreciate him reaching out to me. Yeah, definitely, I'm sure he'll land

on his feet. A young coach, really young that they had a list the other day. There's like four team players or fifth team players that are older than him in the NBA right now. But he's young. He'll land on his feet, but you know, hopefully David Vanderpool will get a look one of these days from a team. What's Birden is available every Monday on Showtime Basketball. You you to and follow us on Twitter at show Basketball Peace