Rest Of Season NBA Outlook & Matchups | WHAT’S BURNIN | SHOWTIME Basketball

my phone liking? So I want my dog to kind of put that knee uh in his brain just like he did been asking I like that should be a good one. Draft Kings sports Book, the official Betty partner of the UFC, has a can't miss offer for new customers for this big fight that one dollar on the main event and get one hundred dollars in free bets. No matter the outcome of the fight. Your pick could miss, but Draft Kings will still give you a hundred dollars

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You know I'm gonna talk about yourself if somebody else don't get give me a break, give a break. What's burning, Jack? What's happening cooling? My brother? How you out there on the west side? Man, I'm doing good. I'm doing good, man stretch second half of the season, Man, I'm excited about this. Jack pushing p towards the playoffs. Let's touch on that Western Conference first. What's team or teams do you think benefit the most from CP three being down

for six to eight weeks. I gotta go with the Warriors. They're getting healthy and I think this is a chance to get the number one seed. You know a lot of people talk about homecourt advantage is not that important, but having the number one, see, there's a lot. It means a lot, and having home court all the way through the playoffs, especially in the Western Conference. I think every team on the West Conference wants that. So for them to be getting healthy and to be able to

gain some ground on Phoenix, why CP is hurt? I think that's big for the Warriors to go out and try to get a good field going into the playoffs. I love this Phoenix team, but they go as far

as CP three takes them. Obviously, big fan of book and what they're building over there, but CP is that leader, in that voice, that calming sense, um when when needed and um, you know, guys are still putting up nice numbers, but it's just you know, with CP, is is so much to that team that obviously his numbers are great, but that that that the day to day fan doesn't see.

But who do I feel benefits the most? I just think teams that are injured, that have important guys injured, Golden State being one of them, um, Draymond Green and Wiseman coming back. Um. And then Denver being another team where Jokers had an incredible season numbers surpassed what he had last year in his MVP season. Um, but he's got Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. Coming back. Crazy thing about it is Phoenix only needs to go five d to be a sixty win team, which is which

is crazy. But also what worries me about Phoenix is CP three has had had hand hand problems and you know, he's broke this thumb, this is his second time. But he's had other hand problems too. He had something clipped uh in l A with me and the Clippers. So it'll be interesting to see, man, you know those hands and and and how aggressive he is on defense and

the place he'd be making. Man, it'll be interesting to see me and if if like I said, Phoenix has a good shot to represent the Western Conference, but without cp uh they don't go anywhere. So well, what about eight and two? What about eight and two? He ain't

got paid? Yeah, this is still year. Still ain't got paid. Yeah, this is his year, but you also got to think like he more than anybody to me exactly but now, but but I I don't say that disrespectful to me Aiden and and he's played with a lot of and he's got a lot of big page I'm talking about CP. But Aiden is the most skilled by far. I mean he's got offense and defense, mid range, he can do it all. But he just benefited and looked like it was a whole different player when CP was out there

on the floor. Man. So definitely going into a contract year for him. Uh, he needs that voice CP out there. Eastern Conference, James Harden and Joel embed I want to hear what you have to say first, um about this, But there to a scary are the only being two games a scary two games start? Yeah, definitely scary two games start, um. And it was the right two teams Minnesota and Next to start off with, you know, perfect two teams to get it to get a good feeling.

You know what it would it be in his first two games? Definitely the nixt though, I gotta reiterate that. But now Matt all bullshit aside, They look good, bro, they look good. Um, I can't wait to see them against the top tier Eastern Conference Western Conference team. But they look good. We know what in be gonna do. Um definitely, you see the leading and be how he's embraced it hard into the team, allowed him to come

in and be the player he's always been. And I think, you know, having Doc Rivers and staff him selling that sideline is making that transition easier for them. They're gonna look. They're looking good, man, They're gonna be there. Yeah. I mean, people can say what they want about James when he's unhappy. You know, some people say he handsled the situations wrong, but we know when he's motivated, he's one of the

best players in the world. And and bead is having been having an m VP season James since coming over to averaging fourteen assists in high and rebounds. So when this dude wants to play, he's one of the best to do it. Something that sparks me with Philly is I've kind of doubted them because Harris is not a consistent third option, but I think the youngster Tyrese Maxie has jumped into that third role. Third score, third consistent score, but can also drop thirty for you young active. You know,

he handled the ball most of the season. He's slidding over now and and and transition well with playing with James Harden. And one thing Embat has been saying too is playing with hard and he's never had so many open looks. You know. Obviously embiad and and Simmons had some work, you know, had some good runs, but James Harden is clearly the best player and Beat has ever played with. And he's just saying that is making his game so much more open. You know, the James ability

to score and assist um scary. But I think Tobias Harris, I don't know, like we've been waiting on him. He got all that money, We've been waiting for him to be you know, they chose him over Jimmy Butler, Jack, you know what I mean. And he hasn't really lived up to it. But it's it's not bad now if you have to have him as a fourth option, you know, because he because he does have the potential to be

someone who could really score. Thoughts on Kyrie uh and and and the nets hopeful uh that he'll be able to be cleared. They had some new mandate that was just dropped. But they said he can go to games but can't play. Like what kind of ship does that make? Like you're gonna let it do go to a game but not play, but then you're letting players from other cities come in to New York and still play, but

Kyrie can't play. But let's speak to uh Kyrie the way he's been playing big window the other night against the Bucks, and and the outlook for this team, um coming into the stretch run. Well, first, let me say, um, when you spoke on Tobias, Max, it can't be the third leading score, but who's gonna guard the big three guards and power forwards? Tobia's gonna to step his game, but they're not gonna have this season that they need to. Max is a great small guard, but who's gonna guard

Katie and the rest of these big guys? And b can't do it all? Uh, they got to what I'm calling not to cut you off? What's the young boys table? He's he's uh, he's he's nice on the defensive And I agree that Harris is definitely gonna have to step on the up on the defensive end. But yeah, I mean we've you know, we've been waiting, Like I think, if I'm not mistaken, he is still the highest paid player on that team. Man, It's just like damn, Like,

what's happening. Yeah, something got to change. But I'm but I'm happy to see that's a great possibility that Kylee will be back on the court at home and away games. You've seen what he means to Brooklyn. They went in Milwaukee and got a big win, you know, with Katie and Sam is not even on the court, you know what I'm saying. And Milwaukee had all they players, they had their whole team. I'm pushing of Brooklyn. I actually can get a good view of what this team gonna

look like when it all comes together. And if it works out with Kyrie is playing all in all the games and everybody's healthy back, you're gonna you're gonna see a real dangerous team. And I I actually d m and told Katie and Kyrie that that I can see it all coming together. No, it's gonna be scary because you gotta think. You know, this is the first time k D and Kyrie play with the past first point guard,

you know what I mean. Kyrie has been a point and made decisions, but all Ben wants to do is get his teammates off paulse You mean he wants to find his teammates and all their spots and he's gonna lock down on d. So it's just like I'm excited. I I still feel I still like Philly got the best player in the trade, but I feel like Brooklyn won the trade because they have so much depth. Now, you know, you get a start, you know, you get Seth Curry who's been shooting the ball well, and then

I think, uh, big fella is gonna play. Drummond is gonna pay major dividends. Although it be is Is, you know, had his way with him. I just think his depth and size is really gonna help this team. So Katie is days away, if not a week. Uh, Simmons is probably about ten days. Took two weeks away. Um, But when all these pieces come together, man, it's it's gonna be a fun run, not only to watch them, but again to continue to watch Philly run, Chicago get healthy. Miami.

Victor Olawadipo's on his way back from Miami. I forgot he wasn't even out there. Um this Eastern Conference, you know the Bucks, it's gonna be a real fun run down the stretch. On the radar presented by Draft Kings Jack, the Eastern Conferences tight one to six is separated by four and a half games. UM. Here are the odds on to win the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn Nets are plus two seventy five, Milwaukee's at plus three thirty, Philly's at

plus three seventy, Miami at plus four seventy five. Boston, who's kind of flown under the radar all season, but it's playing been playing good basketball plus one thousand, and the East in conference leader or there one or two are plus twelve Hunter, that's the Chicago Bulls. So you feel I mean we've touched on this a little bit. I mean, right there, those are I probably say any I think Boston in Chicago the two teams that I

don't have as much confidence in. UM, but any of those top four teams, Jack can come out of the East. How do you see the ash the East shaking down? I think it's gonna come down to it was definitely matters were seating, but I would like to see Brooklyn and Philly in the Eastern Conference finals. Were Brooklyn taking the Eastern Conference championship. That would be dope dope, dope jack. A lot of big games coming up this week in

the Eastern Conference. I'll run through them real quick and then you tell me who you're most likely are excited to see Heat at Bucks on Wednesday, Heat at Nets on Thursday, with Katie and and and Simmons close to returning Grizz at the Celtics Thursday. Celtics are twelve or twelve and three over their last fifteam, like I said a second ago, playing good basketball Bucks at Bulls Friday and Sixers at Heat Saturday, and to close it off,

Nets and Celtics, Kyrie back in Boston. Out of those games, any of those games intrigue you, Yeah, I mean definitely, Um, the Sixers Heat, that's gonna be a good game. But the Nets and Celtics on Sunday, you could possibly have everybody on the court that that game. So I'm looking forward to see Kyrie back in Boston. But the possibility of having everybody the old team back on the court against Boston would have playing a hot Boston team would

be a good a good game to watch. Yeah, definitely, I'm just looking forward to, like you said, everyone getting back take a look of an upcoming episode. This week on All the Smoke, we sat down with our brother Chandler Parsons enjoy. So, heading into free agency, you were looking to possibly stay in Dallas. I'm guessing that's what you wanted to do obviously. Yeah, and it didn't really work out that way. You in going to Memphis another

nice deal. What was that experience like? So that was I signed a three year deal in Dallas, but I had a player option in the third year and talking with Mark, talked with my agent, they said, listen, you played. I played good that year. You know, we went to the playoffs. They said, you can get a big deal and there's a lot of interest in you. So I'm like, all right, great, I'll opt out of my player option and he damn thing was like, basically, you're going to

get a max contract. And you know when he Dan says that, I'm fine, I believe you. But Cuban wanted me to opt into that third year because I had had just had a knee surgery, I had my second one, and I was still going into free agency, and so I didn't pick up my third year because Mark was like, look, just opt in and improve yourself that you can play and and then I'll sign I'll sign you to a

five year max the next year. And I'm like looking at it, I'm like and it was like seventeen million, and I'm looking at him like he's telling me to opt in now for seven team. But Dann Vegan, my agent, telling me I got guaranteed like ninety five. Like I'm like, Mark, if I was your son, Like, what would you what would you tell him? Like? Would you tell me to do this and take this guaranteed deal? And they knew I had like they knew I had the knee surgeries, right,

And so that was crazy. And that's another crazy story where I had to pitch meetings and I remember it was Orlando and New York offered max deal's but like two or three years. But the two big four ones were Memphis Grizzlies and the Portland Trailblazers. And Paul Allen came, Dame came, Terry Stotts came, their front office came, and we had a great meeting in Portland. And to be

honest with you, I was all in on Portland. I was like, we can cancel the Memphis, Like I'm going to Portland like this is play with Dame and c J like this, this is great, and I was like yeah. So I was like all right, like I'm in JB. Bickerstaff and Fizz who are my family? They were he had just got the head coaching job at Memphis. I said, you know what, let's just take the meeting, like I I love them, like let's see. And also they had gasol, they had Conley, they zbo t A like they had

a squad too, So I'll never forget. We're in this meeting, right and it's at Dan Fagan's house and we're in the Memphis meeting and I see like where Stacks sitting. Fagin's getting like red and like kind of getting weird. And then like five minutes later he asked, He's like, hey, let's take a break, and like you know, let's uh, well, we'll meet back up in five He's like, CP, come here. So I go to the I go to his room with him and he's like, you're going to Memphis and

I'm like, what do you mean? Like he goes, Portland's is going to give you a physical and because of like Greg Odin and Brandon Roy's injury history you might not pass. So I'm like, what do you mean, Bro, He's like, trust me, Like you don't want to go down that, Like if you do that and they read flag you, Bro, you're taking a minimum deal and you're smoked at. So I'm like, bro, like what Like in my head, I'm I'm on Zillo looking at houses in Portland,

like I was going, like I love them. I go back in there, Bro and I Oscar Performance Gold Oscar. I go back in there listening. Guys, I've never I've never been more sure of something in my life. Grit and grind to day I die. I'm like, I'm in, I'm gonna get. I was like, we can just stop it here. I'm signing. Literally, I'm like Blake Griffin. I wouldn't let them leave until I signed the deal. I

was like, I am going. So that was just another damn thing and crazy story where I was like, man, I've never told that story and so like that was nuts where I was like this man did it again. This week, check out the newest podcast to the Showtime Basketball Family Forgotten Seasons, as Jack takes dealing back to two thousand three in his Sano San Antonio Spurs championship run, Jack,

What sticks out to you most about that run? Kind of where you're at in your career and then how big of a role you played on a great team? First shout out to Dealing and forgotten seasons. Man, I'm so glad he's a part of the family. Man. He's going to do some great things, not only for for people like us. I, Man, I got a good eye for I got a good eye for talent. Bro. Not to cut you off, but I got a good eye

for talent. Bro. Yeah you did, Bro. He's solid and uh, he's gonna educate a lot of people that don't have education on who But I enjoyed it, Bro. I just think the experience and and the education I had was it was detrimental to my career, you know what I mean. I mean I the stuff I learned, the things I've been through, the how I was forced to be a

man and a professional in a short time. Uh. That that whole grinding and being around different players and from different places, and being around veterans, you know, that being illegal, it was just a gumball of everything you need as a young player going into the league, you know, and that being a part of a wink and winning the organization just did that experience along was it was along was a big reason why I had a fourteen year career.

Everything I learned that the real quick um as Pop comes up on passing our former coach Don Nelson um for the all time winning coach. I know you had kind of an up and down relationship with Pop. Can you speak to that real quick? Yeah, he basically made my career and ruined it at the same time. You know, gave me an opportunity to gave me an opportunity to start on the championship team where I can make a

name for myself and have a long career. And when I still had time left when I went back to him, when I've been back to Sanintown, you cut me right before the playoffs, and you know how that looked at the end of your career in any every team across the league get cut right before the playoffs. So um, but but the respect will always be there. Things happen, Uh. I'm thankful for the experience and to be able to say I'm in Bait champion and I wouldn't have got

that without him. So he is a legend. He's one of the best coaches ever. He's he's going to be the winning's coaches ever, and uh, I can't wait to congratulate him. Make sure you check out Forgotten Seasons this week wherever you get your podcast man closing out Jack, the Lakers gets smacked by the Pelicans, broad watched. I wanted to watch the Kanye I got done coaching the

Twins yesterday. I wanted to come home watch the Kanye duck, but the Laker game was on ESPN, so I watched it, and I really watched the whole game because I just wanted to really see I mean able to catch a whole game in a minute. That's a bad team, Jack. Yeah, it's just the body language, you know. Just they don't nobody's like they're playing for each other. I think one thing about us, even when we was having games, when we wasn't going to state we have games, we wasn't

playing well, we still played for each other. And they got us out of that phone. The reason why they're still in the funk is they're not playing for each other. They are playing for self. They're trying to find somebody to point the thing and I'm doing my job, but he not all all this is going on. With the talent you have, you can't blame it on a d being out. You still have enough guys to go out

there and win games. Man, I just think, you know, it's just it's just all going down here from the way they tried to point every us, you know to even with us taking the accountability, they still try to throw it on him, And I think it's everybody is accountable for the way this team has been playing all season.

This is just a loaded situation, and you know, everything is always bigger than basketball and LA But from Clutch sports having beef with the Lakers about not making moves, but from where we heard Clutch Sports is who brought the moves to l A. So it's just like who knows is that hearsay or that actual fact. Two, they want to make Frank Vogel the scapegoat, And I know you're not the biggest fan of him, but you can't coach effort and and and and will and energy like

that ship. You can't coach that's on individual players. So yeah, this team is not playing well, but to blame it on him for that type of ship, to me is is unfair. But at the same time. It looks like Jack and tell me if I'm wrong. He doesn't have that team. I don't know if he ever really had the team, but you can really tell now that he doesn't have the respect in the locker room. The motherfuckers don't care what he has to say. And I could tell by just looking at them. I really don't know

where this team goes. You know, A D he had a terrible, terrible, terrible ankle spring. They're saying he's supposed to be back in four weeks. We'll have to see about that. I think that is gonna be longer. Um, but what's that that the Vogo is not the guy? You know? I mean, you can look at this team right. You can look at this team right, and Matt, you can. They could have put me, you Rose and Gelani on that sideline and and we could have We could have

coached a D and Braun to the championship. If they're healthy, they're gonna get to the championship almost every year they're healthy. So it ain't too much coaching you can do to those two guys. They are already great, right, so we could have got them to the championship. So that's why That's why I've been saying he's he wasn't the coach, and now you see it because great coaches handle things, you know, and and and and and in tough times, you know what I'm saying. And you know pop Is

is doing something with San Antonio right now. Without Tim duncan you have Lebron James still, you have Russell Westbrook, You still have three Hall of Famers on your team. So so if you can't control that and keep that together, where your season can stay afloat, where as you see where your team is still looking respectable with all the injuries, and you're not coach that everybody thought you was. And

I've been saying that. I agree on that part because like I said, you can't blame him for effort, energy and and just wanting to be out there. That ship shouldn't be able to slide under your watch like that. Many dudes on your team just want to play that way, you know what I mean. So that just shows like no one is really over there and everyone has different styles, you know, everyone has different styles to motivate people. I remember one thing, you know, Magic Johnson said, and then

you know the way Phil Jackson used to work. You know, you can't talk to everyone the same, you can't treat everyone the same, and everyone has different buttons. You have to press as a leader and as a coach. One more thing before we close out on this thing. Jack, someone I don't know who it was. It was this weekend or maybe on Friday, someone still said that Lebron is a great player, but he can't carry your team anymore.

What is your thoughts on that? I disagree. It's it's it's so many, it's so many scrubs in his league, and we're talking about Lebron James. Lebron James is gonna be a guy that can carry a team and do his part, you know, until he's out the league. I'm not gonna say he's gonna be the Lebron that can bring a team down from being down three one. I'm not saying he's that Lebron, but he's still good enough to carry a team where he can lead him and rebound, rebounds,

points and assists and get to a championship. I still think he's that guy. It's just a supporting cast. There's so much negativity going on, so many me, me, me, why me? Well, you know, it's just too much finger pointing over there. But Lebron still can do it. I don't know who said that. Yeah, so I don't know. This is kind of so that was my thing. Like still, I don't know who the fox said it. Lebron is definitely still doing his job and and and getting his numbers.

But that's what I mean, Like he's always until he's done, he's gonna be able to do his his job. But he was always able to do a lot of motherfucker's jobs before. And like I said, get teams through situations like this. And I don't think it's a knock at Lebron or or anything, but just age is catching up and he's had to do probably the one superstar has had to do a lot to maybe the most heavy lifting throughout a career. I know people are gonna go crazy over that, but he's just done a lot of

a lot for you know, teams. I just don't know if he still has that in him. Again, I think he's still a great player, a top two or three players in the league, but just his it takes a lot and I just think he has a lot of miles and for him to be able to he he's always been able to cover up for the rest of

the team's funk ups or insufficiencies or inabilities. And I just don't know it at thirty six, when you're eighteen, that's a lot of heavy lifting to do, and and and and maybe the gand it with less na, but not at the end. He couldn't even do. Remember when when Cole was at the end, the Lakers were dogshit, dogshit? Don't he stayed on the ship? No, I'm just talking about at this stage in his career. You know, thirty six years old, year eighteen, that's a lot to ask.

I think of Lebron earlier, he's been able to do his whole career. But maybe I agree. I agree with that man that knock on ship, that's just right. That's what I was trying to say. It's not even a knock on it. No, hell no, because he was so superhuman before, we just expect him to carry any team wherever. That ship is hard to do. Man, for what motherfucking dude to carry a whole team is a lot. And you know you're eighteen and thirty six years old, that

that that may be a heavier ask. That's what they thought bringing in a D would take a lot of the heavy lifting off Bron, so you can continue just to maximize him. But he's been having to do a heavy lifting with a D. So we'll see what happens to the labs. Man, I'm I'm I'm being a word playoff. You're heavy lifted. They thought a D was gonna come and take some of the heavy lifting off Braun. But what he should be is be with Braun to do some heavy lifting in the off season. Oh, word played.

You said he needed to get in the gym. Yes, you can catch what's burning available every week on Showtime Basketball YouTube and on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok and Show Basketball. All right, y'all, we'll see you all next week. Yeah. Our world, it has been transformed into an ultimate reality. Time has been broken. To save the future, we have to prepare the past. We are at a fork in the road two futures. You need to help each other. We're stronger together. M