Me personally. I would love him to do it at a home game, uh, which probably gonna happen if it happened in front of you. Honest, I think that'd be great because that's not gonna do anything but motivated your honest and go out there and give who have a guarding him sixty and I think, welcome to what's burning. I'm here with Matt Barnes Stephen Jackson, and I'd like to announce this is the only time in my life that I'm taller than Stacks, So congratulations to me. I
like this whole arrangement. Stephen. You just do to stay where you are work. We're all good guys. I want to cat right into it by dr and Blazers, since they've had an interesting week already. On Sunday they totally fell apart against the Lakers. They coughed up that twenty five point halftime lead. Then they beat the Spurs on Monday, but there's still a bottom four team in the West, and Dame has been asked whether the Blazers need to
make a move with the deadline. I do want to note when he was in the presser for this, he answered politely twice he did answer the question. He basically said, hey, I'm in for whatever we have to do to get better. But the reporters did keep pressing him on whether they had to make a deal, and he got frustrated and he said this, take a listen. It's tough. You know. I don't know how else to describe it. It's definitely
not how I saw things happening. Um, you know, I think the bright side of it is it seems like if you win three games in the row, you in the mix with everybody, you know. So, Um, the way I'm looking at it is it's a lot of teams that didn't see the season going this way. The problems, you know, the struggles that we've had are obvious. But you know, I don't think it's I don't think it's fair for y'all to be asking me these questions right now. You know what I'm saying, Like, I don't. I think
that's kind of a weak move. Um. You know, it's our team is struggling, you know, and I've been transparent about our struggles and stuff that we could do better. But y'all put y'all put us, y'all putting me in a position to to you know answer questions that I don't think it's cool, man, because I certainly get why Dames said that. I mean, he can't really say we gotta trade my teammates and then play with them the
next day. But there is also the flip side that if the star doesn't publicly pressure the front office, sometimes nothing really happens. Matt. It's kind of like a damned if you do dam if you don't position. I mean, how should a player like Dame be answering that question right now? Will we know? Dame has stood on his loyalty from the beginning, through the good through the bad, and he's not someone who's gonna publicly do anything that's
not necessarily the way Dame litar moves. Obviously, for the last three or four years, everyone's been saying, like, you know, Dame is getting older. I mean he's currently thirty two. I don't necessarily see any light at the end of the tunnel with this roster and this team, unfortunately, because you know, we all here love our brother Chauncey Billups and and uh, you know he was kind of dealt
a tough hand. So um, I get the frustration to you know, if you if you're asked a question and you deliver the proper answer twice and they continue to ask. I mean, I would probably start accustom at the reporter. So you know, obviously Dame took took the high road,
a little higher road than I would have took. But you know, this guy wants to win and and it sometimes you know, I kind of feel like his loyalty is gonna end up hurting him from a standpoint of I think he's really gonna ride the ship to the ship sinks, which is unfortunately because I feel like, you know, Dame getting an opportunity to play in the finals, I think is what the world wants to see. I mean, Stack, do you think that at some point that's right, He's
just gotta say he hey, make it better. I'm getting out. I mean, well, at this point, you know, you gotta stick with your guns. He's been lawyers to this point. You gotta stick with your guns. Uh. This team is has definitely taken care of you, giving you all the money that you possibly can uh make and deserve. Um, he's just in a tough spot. Him in a tough spot. I feel Dames stop asking me the same damn question over and over and over. You know, I want to win,
but I'm not. I only get control so much of y'all know that, but y'all looking for clickbait. I'm not gonna give it to y'all. Know what y'are doing. I'm gonna continue to do my job, continue to stand behind this organization because they have taken care of me. But they know we need to get better, just like I know and Coach Chaunson know we need to get better. So there, It's been the same think for years, Rachel, they need to make a big move. They just happened. Stack.
We see some of that frustration on the court too with Dame. I mean, we got to talk about what happened with Pat ev at the end of that Laker game. You know how bad was like, mocking the whole Dame time celebration, putting the watch in his pocket. Afterward, Dame called Pat come and he said he was flipped from above the rim. I mean, what do you think of all that? I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. I mean, you know what Pat Beverley good at. He's good at trying to funk the game up, you know
what I mean, He's not that talented. So that's what some guys do. I mean, he's a great defender, and uh, he compete some defense, but he doesn't really stop anybody. I've been the defender for a long time and the NBA Rachel and you don't really stop none of these guys day that good. You just gotta try to make it difficult. And Pat Beverley is good at that some nights. But at the end of the day, I'm with Dame.
I'm not really paying attention to Pat Beverley. Um, you know, he called him flipped from a bottoroom, which I thought was hilarious, and uh, you know, it's good to see the competition like that, but you know past Pats a competitor, but we all know Dame's the better player, didn't didn't they on the Freethrow Line? Tell panel you know I
love that. I mean remember like like it came back to Hot Russell Westbrook when they got into it like mid season and a couple of years ago, and then Dame hit that crazy shot and he waved bye bye to him. Is it going to come back in hot Pat Bev? I mean, we'll see, we'll see if anyone had anything to haunt for right. I mean that's the question, right, I mean, you're either of these teams going to be in it. We know the Lakers are trying to make moves.
We're talking about the Blazers. The Lakers did make a trade. They sent the Wizards three second round picks and Kendrick Nunn for Grui Hachimura. And I mean he's a decent player, right, He's a decent scorer, career thirty six shooter from three medium defender, not gonna defend the lights out. I mean, Matt, does this actually get the Lakers closer to securing a playoff spot? Or when we talked about, oh, we'll see if they have any thing to do, I mean, are
they gonna even get there? Uh not? In my opinion. Um, you know, obviously, you know Rudy is a very solid young player. I think he's that about about thirteen points a game. But I don't I think the Lakers wanted more. I think the Lakers possibly wanted cuz you know, Kuzma
wants to get up out of there. I think the Lakers probably wanted, but I think the asking price was probably too high, so I think they settled for Rudy with all due respect, but you know, in my opinion, I don't think Rudy is gonna move that needle um and get them the extra games they need to to to leave frog some of these teams. But that's not to say with Anthony Davis coming back and you just you know, this whole unit healthy, that they're not gonna
be able to do that. But I think Rudy, as you know, uh, he could be a small piece to obviously a D coming back in this team getting better. Though well I don't know if stack you want them to do more. Do you think that with a D coming back they're good? Well, I mean, the only move that could make they couldn't make sense with Rachel was who was the Kyle Carver of the league right now? They need a Kyle Corver type guy that can knock down shots, and nobody didn't know who that guy is?
Is it is? It? Is it one in the league right now? Who knows? I think that was. I think he's the GM right now over in Atlanta. Jack there, I know what you're saying, what, Yeah, it ain't it ain't no more like him in the league at all, And and that's what they definitely need. Mat and I just feel like anything else don't make sense, right, They just need to get the guys. They got healthy build
around that team. They got a great coach, you know that They've they've shown a lot of signs of being that team that can dominate, but they need that one shooter and any other move they made just didn't make sense to me. Yeah, I mean, Ruey had Tomore is not a spacer, right, I mean it's shooting thirty four or thirty six percent from three at a great shot from three season last year, but he hasn't been repeating that. He's not getting you that stack. You're completely right, all right, guys.
If we want to switch gears and talk about teams that are winning, I don't know, let's do that for a change. UM sixers red hot out East. They've won five in a row, sixteen and fourteen in the last twenty and it's interesting. And Beat is tied for the school wrongly, he's playing incredible, but Philly doesn't blow you away statistically. I mean, they're not top five in the major categories. Stack, what do you think is the reason
they're playing so well? Well? They always have spurts, you know, especially when this team is right and high, and everybody is healthy. They have these spurs, Rachels. But when somebody goes down, when somebody's in the phone, when somebody not happy with the coach, that's one of the things always
go wrong with this team. Everybody has been expecting this team to be at the top of the East, to be one of the best teams in the league, for James and and B to be just this just this start studded duo, and that's what we've been waiting on. But they show signs. But do they do? They have this duo, this batman, the Robbert type attitude and the playoffs, Rachel, to be the Eastern Conference champions, to make it to the finals. That's what we want to see. All this
other stuff doesn't matter with them because that's expected. Yeah, I mean, I think on paper, you know, everyone thought this was at least the top three team in the Eastern Conference coming into the season. They started off slow. Uh, they're started just to play better basketball. And you're right, Rachel,
they don't blow you away with anything in particular. You know, James is not the guy he used to be, but at the same time, he's still a twenty and ten guy Tyrese Maxie is at nearly twenty one points a game and Beat is what at thirty three points a game? Um, I think this is you know, this is on Doc river I think Doc Rivers is coaching for his job
right now. I think this team is underachieved the last handful of years, and um, you know something is going to have to change if they don't get over the hump. So is it, you know, do you trade James or or do you get rid of the coach? You know? And Beat is going to be the constant that will always be there in Philly. So I just think they're playing better basketball right now. They got a very talented roster on paper, and they've been able to you know,
translate that to wins on the court. Has what is what they've done lately. So I mean, when when you look at it all though James is not the James he used to be, He's still a very solid, solid NBA point guard. And Beat is one of the best big man, if not the best big man in the game. So they're gonna have a chance. But like Jack said, they're go in spurts. You know, they're gonna need to be more consistent, particularly on the defensive event, and we'll
see what happens. You know, I'm looking for to seeing a healthy Brooklyn with Kevin Durant coming back, a healthy Philly, and then Boston and in Milwaukee, and obviously Milwaukee getting healthy too with Middleton, and really see who the best team in the Eastern Conferences right now? I think it's Boston, but any of those four teams I mentioned have the talent to represent the Eastern Conference? All right, So what's over the hump for you? You say they got to
get over the hump? Does that mean they gotta get to the Eastern Conference Final? Yeah? I think they have to make a serious run this year. I think, you know, a first or second round exit for the for the roster they have, for the names and the money they're paying these players, isn't going to be acceptable. You know. Like Jack said a second ago, like we've we've all been waiting, and I'm sure their fan base and their
organization has been waiting too. So I think, you know, this has to be one of those real runs, uh, at least to the Eastern Conference finals, or I think they're going to be some shakeups over there. See, I don't know if you're talking about that. If you look at their perimeter defense, Like, to me, they're playing lights out in so many ways. I watched them when they played here in l A the other night. I mean the impressive I mean, Joel Ebid is just he is
really having a season. It's really only because Nikolaoka is doing all the crazy magic ship that he does that Joel is still kind of he still can't be the best center in the league with what's going on in Denver, but I mean he is just lights out. How Webver you got to defend in the playoffs, right, and you look at the perimeter defense that this team has. They've moved Maxie to the bench, they played without a little
bit because he's not a stronger defender. But still, even if you start melting there next to James, you're looking the playoff matchups with what Boston, You've got Smart and Brown trying to score on you. You've got Cleveland, You've got Carland and Mitchell scoring and trying to score on
those guys, Trey Young and Dijon Day Kyrie. I mean, how do you feel if any of those backcourts are coming at hardened, melting or Harden and Maxi or whatever they got right now, that's always that, that's always the knock against them with especially with Hard. You know, he
don't take those challenges and no big games. You remember the whole thing with Kyrie and Hard and uh In uh In Brooklyn Carby went at him and challenged him and and and he backed down from Kyrie when he when they when it's time to take those challenges and when they played when when James Harden got to Philly for the first time, Kyle took the challenge and really put it to him in so I think, you know, a lot of people know James don't take the challenge
like he should on defense, and people have been exploiting that a lot lately. And the only way they're gonna get out that rut rachel is if they start playing then taking pride all five guys, not just four out of five. And I think too uh, you know, it's not so much. I mean, I mean, I think the lockdown defenders in this league you can probably count on one hand. So it's not necessarily that one guy that's gonna take the challenge. It's just team defense. Uh, it's communication,
it's the second and third effort. It's being on the string, it's being on help side, it's doing all the little things to make you a good team defense, because again there's not very many individual lockdown defenders in today's basketball. All right, well that comes back to Doc then again, so I guess Doc Rivers Matt Barnes has you on the hot seat. So we'll have to check and goes.
We gotta talk top shots, So legendary moments. This season, NBA Top Shot has partnered with the Players Association Guys to identify the fifty players that have defined the season and the moments that define their greatness. So the first wave of ten players was selected based on their performance up until now. Here's the list. Anthony Davis, Devon Booker, John Morant, Stop me if you've heard of good any of these guys before, Jalen Brown, Jason Tatum, Katie and
the Luca s g A Steph. So once the list is said, the fans will get to vote on which moments most defined the season. But do you already have one, Matt, which moment would you like to see as one of them to that moment? I mean, obviously a great list of of who's who in this league. But I think that the show's stopper in the league this day these days is John Morant, And I think he had a dunk about a week or two ago on someone from the Pacers that was ship made, made the players mom cry.
Probably he dunked that thing so hard. So you know, we're picking the top shot moment. I would definitely pick a job, but there's a lot of the great candidates on that list. Yeah, I said that was the best dunk of the year, and I gotta argue with that. Aaron Gordon's dunk a couple of weeks earlier was better. That was tough too, but the job. But I mean Aaron Gordon is only nearly you know, six and eleven jaws a point guard going down the middle of the
paint and dunking on centers and power forward. So but although you know a g s dunk was special, m uh Jazz always gonna be the leader of highlights because you know, he's he's the only high flyer really right now, especially this side, making those plays and doing them on a consistent basis. Um, you know, how can you go against that? I Mean, I don't really see nobody making plays like that. As frequent as he is, and if if I had to make my bed, I'll go with
jow too. Rage dude, the freeze frame. I know, the highlights are always you know, the highlights are amazing, especially a big dunk, But I feel like the actual posters, I mean, we don't put up actual posters anymore, but if you look at that jaw dunk and you do the freeze frame, his body on the cock back is like it's like it's like this. I mean I even know he could bend backward that much. All right, No, I mean, he's he's a he's a freak of nature.
You know, he's some special in his athleticism along with his skill set makes him, you know, such a unique player to to to be able to, you know, work on the holes in this game where people said he couldn't shoot, Now he's got the shot down. There's nothing this guy really can't do. And you know, he's leading one of the best young teams in the NBA right now. So, as Jack said, you can never go wrong with John. All right, Well, Matt Stack, you guys have made your pick.
The players associations done their part, so now it's up to the fans. They got to decide your moment of the year. You all can go to NBA top shot dot com top Shot fifty vote for your favorite moment, and you can also enterf for a chance to win one of a hundred jerseys from this wave of inductees. So that's worth it right there. DraftKings also taking a look at what's going on right now in the league. They're looking Lebron going forward because as of Tuesday morning, gentlemen,
Lebron two points away from passion kareem scoring mark. We're getting close. The you know, when you do out the averages, they say, maybe at a home game against Oklahoma City at the beginning of February, maybe a home game against Milwaukee. How great would it be if he did it in front of the honest right, that would be pretty good.
Um d K also has the odds of how he's going to break it, best odds with just a two point field goal against the Bucks on February nine, because you know, two point field goal, that's the most likely shot. Stack do you think that is in fact how he's going to break it? And then I also got to ask you, ideally, if you could just do it like on a video game. How would you like him to
break it? Um? Me, personally, I would love him to do it at a home game, uh, which probably won't happen if it happened in front of you, honest, I think that'd be great because that's not gonna do anything but motivated your honest and go out there and give whoever guarding him sixty And I think I think that
had happened that way. But for me, Um, I think it would have been awesome if they played um Boston or somebody like that Ottawarrior, somebody like that in l A and he was at it got filed and he had to make two free throws to to take the lead, where everything had passed, everything had passed for a minute, where everybody can really give him miss Flowers. Uh. I
like that set up, you know. I'm I'm someone who who firmly believes that, you know, everything is strategically done with Lebron and he's writing his storybook ending this way same way Jordan did, the same way Kobe did. So I'm always thinking that obviously he has more years, but this is gonna be a huge step obviously in his career. So I'm thinking along the lines of a big game against Milwaukee at home, UM, ideally or possibly in Golden State.
I mean, although the Lakers in Golden State. Yeah, the Lakers in Golden State haven't had that, I wouldad but Cleveland in Golden State have. So there's a lot of you know, there's a lot of rival between the players, um in that game. But I would love to see a breakaway signature Lebron early dunk, like one of his got back to this or or or his reverse or just something that is really a signature moment or a
signature type move to break the record. Um. But you know, it really just hats off to Lebron to think that this guy is gonna finish most likely top five and assist and the number one score of all time. I mean, it's hard to keep him from that that throne of you know who debates of who is number one. So, you know, just a tremendous career. It's obviously not over yet, and I think we're all looking forward to seeing in
what fashion does he break this record. Yeah. I want to dunk too, just because if that was kind of how he came into the league, right, and he's shown this year he can do it. Right, it's not like he's passed it, like he's been putting some crazy stuff down. But I also, I don't know we're focusing so much on how is he gonna break a record? What day is he going to break the record. He's not done, Matt, Like you said, I mean, he's still gonna put a lot of years of padding and scoring on top of this.
He said he still wants to play until his sons in the league. Like, I just think that we're talking about Luca already being on track to break what Lebron is doing. If you look at Luca's first three seasons, I think Lebron here's all that stuff. He knows everything that's going on the league. He wants to add some numbers to that. So it'll be a big deal next month when he breaks it. But then I think it's still gonna be a while until we see what his
total is because he wants to add to that number too. Agreed. Y'all watch football this weekend? Right, Yes we did? You were there, right, Matt, weren't you in that Caboys Niners game? I was at the game. I don't know who they played, but they I was definitely at the game. You don't know who, you don't know who they played. Wow, Stephen, you know I'm talking like that. I'm I'm gonna let him make race because I know, I know it was a type of game and they thought it was going
be Um. I know a couple of things. One with me, Dak Prescott is a good quarterback, but he's not a championship quarterback. Um Digs is a great, great defensive back, but he's not willing to put his body on the line and when the in the big moments, and he also dropped the big interception and to be considered one of the greats, you gotta make those plays. But all in all, I give more credit to the part of
Ninage for their their young quarterback. There for rookie quarterback the show poison to be able to win these big games, make the plays, not turn the ball over, not give a rattle, and being able to stand in there and do what needs to be done along with a great defense. So I got mixed emotions. Rachel, I buried my little brother recently. My little brother was a die hard, farty n A fan, and I told myself coming into this
game that I didn't care who won. You know, I felt good because the part of nine has played on my brothers. There my brothers funeral and they haven't lost sin so levin the roads and my brother's been dead. So I'm happy for the point of that point of downage just as well. I think that's Jack's way of just saying that he's gonna become a forty Niner fan and we will welcome you. Now. I will take you to some games and you can meet the team and send the owner's box with me and hang out and
be a not a fan bro. Just if you want to come over for accepting applications now before the NFC Championship, you gotta stake your claim. But no very solid gang. Uh you know it was it was really really a defensive battle and um, you know, Dac through some crucial interceptions. Um as Jack said, Purty played well. I mean in that system, you know, the quarterback's job is to just
you know, hit the passage you need to hit. You don't need to be a superhero, you know, with McCaffrey and Deebo being able to do a lot of different things. But I really I think but when it was was with San Francisco's defense, Uh, the ability to put pressure on Doc and and that just not to come through. You know, this guy has been, you know, a very solid regular season quarterback, and I think all Cowboy fans have been waiting for him to get over that hump.
You know, we spoked about the hump for Philly earlier in the show, but for that to be able to get over the humping and do it when the bright lights are on, when it means the most, and he hasn't been able to do it. So, you know, you hear a lot of talk about what's next for Dallas. You hear, you know, if they're serious, they need to go get someone like Aaron Rodgers or do some other things. But I don't know. It looks like, you know, the patients is running out for Cowboy fans and Dak Prescott
to perform on the biggest stage. I'm supposed to ask you who's gonna win the NFC Championship Game, But I have a feeling, Matt, what you'll say, Yes, it's bang bang here Jack? Who Jack? Who's gonna win it? Jack? Yeah? I told you I gotta jacket for you to Jack that has you write your name on and with marker and everything on the inside of it. It could be yours both wagon's got a seat, sir, No, sir, long Live Leadough, I'm just riding because long Live lead. Guilty
by association. Okay, Bengals Chiefs coming up this weekend. To Burrow has a three and oh record against Mahomes was just crazy when you say that out loud. Mahomes has that little injury, he's dealing with two draftings. As the Bengals a slight favorites over the Chiefs despite the fact that Cincinnati's on the road, What do you think who takes the FC? I mean, I'm I'm I'm I'm a big Chiefs fan. I really like Patrick Mahomes, but I
think that ankle sprain uh is gonna linger him. I'm sure he's gonna get obviously here around the clock treatment up until the game. But Burrow is just Mr Cool and has two of the best receivers in the game, a very good defense, and you know, this is the same matchup we had last year for the a f C Championships. So as much as I like my Homes and and Kelsey is a friend of the program, I think I'm going with Joe Burrow and Chase and and
then young Bengals. Yeah, the Bangers. The Bankers had just had their number the last couple of years, and you know their young team that's been that's gotten better over the years. Like he talked about the quarterback, he just he just paused and know what he's doing. And he's been one of those guys that that always thrive in those moments regardless of the weather. Rachel, he always shined. He could be colder hot, you know, Joe Barrel, go out there, go out there and get the job done.
So the Bengals that don't matter if there on the road. As you've seen, they know how to go on the road to get big winds. They've done that. Um, I gotta go with the Bankers too, because the Chase is definitely one of my favorite players in the league right now. And uh him and burrowers have a connection in the in the playoffs that's been almost at the top of
the charts. I mean we've seen quarterbacks like you know, Joe Cool all the way back to Joe Montana all that stuff, but Joe Burrow has fucking ice in his veins, right, I Mean, there's nothing that rattles is kid yeah, no, and and and I don't even think he gets the recognition and the credit that he deserves. And you know, I was, I was thinking to myself, I'm just like I've I've always known he's solid, but I just didn't realize how good this guy is. And and and he
consistently gets the job done. So again, I think it's gonna be a great a f C championship along with it. I mean, you know, let's not sell the Eagle short. They've had a great season and you know their young quarterback is playing really good football too. So I mean, both these championship games are gonna be cold as ship before the best teams in the NFL. Man, and it's gonna be a great you know, it's gonna be a
great championship weekend. Do you see that clip that's floating around now of Joe Burrow like introducing himself to the defensive opponents during the Super Bowl last year? He was like, Hi, it's nice to meet you. I'm a big fan, the modest He's modest, the modest star. What's burning y'all? Available every week on Showtime Basketball YouTube and on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok at Show Basketball Who see y'all next week. M