Tatum & Brown, New NBA Awards, Nets & Pelicans Contenders? | WHAT’S BURNIN | Showtime Basketball

lead to push it to overtime. UM, before we get to the overtime, let's just talk about the back and forth and and and what we saw from Tatum, who to me is probably you know, should be the leading vote getter in the MVP ballot right now. And what we also saw from Lebron and a d and the Lakers with with with an amazing come back. I'll start with Tatum. Tatum right now probably be the best player in the league at that current at the current moment,

mad at that. I think you heard them talk on the West coach trip about, you know, how he shot away from what was going on in Golden State. It was the last trip game on their trip of the West Coast ring. You know, Lakers Celtics rivalry. I think he answered the bell, you know, I think the bell was ringing. There was trying to talk down on j T a little bit. Uh you know, Jalen Brown is

no longer even a Robin. I think those are two superheroes, Marvel Carroll characters, uh Dinger assembling and fighting with each other. There's not like a one Day or one b thing right now out of Lebron and a D. I see the fight, you know, I see a D fighting. It could be I thought a D would in the middle of this round, was gonna take you know, a few games off here there. He hasn't done that. You know.

It's kind of galvanized Lebron. And as like we talked about on the show before he had he how he has to take it from Lebron, and I see him taking it. And I see that Laker team fighting. They're starting to take on some of the mantras at Darvenham and um it looks like, you know, although you know a loss is a loss, I think you know, the Celtics and the Lakers are heading in the right direction for both programs. Uh man. I've whatever thing you said.

I definitely agree with the Tatum and Brown. Uh, you know they're both Batman's or One's Batman one Superman. These guys are incredible. They take turns while also involving the rest of their team, which isn't easy to do. Marcus Smart stepped up huge, hit some big shots. Um, Lakers, I love their fight. I just knew that over time wasn't where they wanted to have because they exerted so much energy to get to that point that they needed to win it in regulation. And I knew that they

were they They've all looked dead ass tired. Um and Boston did what they had to do in the fourth quarter. But I mean, I think for Laker fans, you see, you know I tweeted this last night. You see potential, You see hope. Um Russ has bought into his his role and his playing well. Um, they're going through a d while Lebron is still able to be his great self.

So UM, I'd be encouraged if I was. Again, there's no you know, a loss is a loss, like you said, but I would be encouraged, um from that performance last night, just to see that they have that in them still, and as they continue to build their chemistry, and and and and get their ship together. You know they're gonna be all right. Great Brown and Tatum the highest averaging duo in the league. Um again, I mean we just gave them a lot of praises. But you know, hats

off to these two young guys. You remember, you know, talking even up to last year and maybe two seasons ago, was you had to trade one of these guys, You had to trade Brown to get something else because these guys couldn't play together. They blocked all that noise out. And again are the best duo in the league. And you know, both option ones on the same team while while still sharing the ball with the rest of their team. So I'm excited for this team, man, and and and

the run they can make this year. Absolutely, you just you said it all right there. They're playing through their teammates as well. It's not just sometimes it is your turn, my turn, but in the middle of your turn, my turn, Williams. You know, Marcus Smart, other players are getting an opportunity to express themselves. Absolutely, Man, the Brooklyn nets eight and two over the last ten. Very impressive, Katie. Over that stretch,

it's thirty points, seven rebounds, six assists. Like shooting during that stretch. Um, how do you look at Brooklyn now that the outside noise have society? Uh, these guys are playing good basketball. Kyrie is playing good basketball. Katie is being kd Uh. These guys are you know, kind of getting their chemistry with with with the guys that were out before. Uh t J. Warren's back. Um, obviously they're shooters back. Um. Thoughts on Brooklyn and are you are

you a believer in them yet? Do you still need to see more? Just a lot of talent. I think we need to see it just a little bit more. But that's a lot of talent. Kad probably the most efficient score maybe an NBA history. Definitely Right now, Kyrie is getting a chance to, you know, uh, get all the ship and that's being office played basketball, just come out and played basketball and not worried about his brand and you know what I mean, really just going out

there and losing himself on the court. I see Jack Vonn again kind of similar to the Lakers. I see a new coach coming in and implementing new ideas and a new culture so to speak for for Brooklyn, and they've been through the most thing out of any team probably in the league the last couple of years. But I see this team, you know, peeking, They're peeking at

the right time. You know, we're coming after Christmas, you know, after Christmas, everybody there's another jump in the league before the All Star Break, and then All Star Break happens, and then the real league starts showing up. But I see them peeking or turning up at the right time. Yeah, I agree. I think on the boat, the last two teams we touched on, I think obviously right now is just kind of you see what you're getting, to see

what you have. But you know, we know post All Star Breakers when that real run starts, and I expect both these teams to you know, be in the mix. I'm not sure if they're contending. I think if one of these two teams contend, it would be Brooklyn. Um. That's saying a lot the East is powerful. But like in like, I agree, they're both trending in the right direction.

But but to that's about n b uh there. They may may not be a top seed And does anybody really want to see Brooklyn or l A if they get into the tournament at the end of the day eight seven, six, whatever it is, is anybody really work to see. Yeah, yeah at the work the work um headed out west to the Grizzlies have won six in a row with no bain. Grizzlies are coming uh coming out party was last year, you know, second in the West. Currently their second in the West. Um, what do you

see in this team? Do you do you see this team as a real Western Conference contender? Um? Do they need bang? Do they need another piece? Or do you like what they have? They need bang? They need all their pieces and they might not they might need another piece. We don't know what that piece is. We don't know who's sitting at home, or who's gonna be on the waiver wire or you know who's gonna move around and they trade theirline. But they are, you know, the class

of the West. Right now. The youth movement is taking charge of the beginning of the setting. And I think with the Pelicans, with the Grizzlies, we're seeing what the youth, the exuberance of youth brings to you in in today's league. I think these two teams, you know, both of them could use a manner to ur a mover to but right now, I mean they're jamming, you know, as long as they can stay healthy and their top players can continue to shine into the way that they have. They

might as well. You know, stand packs. Sometimes they're youthful. They don't know any better. They're just out there hooping. They're not getting any pressure or any of this other ship that you know, we talk about, you know, or the media talks about. So I would stay with this youth movement. These cultures are doing a good job, and I would ride this out right until you know the

trade deadline to see it. I would get the specific piece that I need, though, I would not take a gamble and just bring in the name just because it's a name. Yeah, no, I agree with UM. My only question with this team is being that true number two UM in the playoffs or is it Jaren Jackson? I mean, I think that would be a huge step for both these guys. Obviously during the ragular season. You know, Ban

is having a career high right now. I've always liked Jaren Jackson, But which one of those guys is really gonna step up and be that other twenty point score game in the playoffs. If one of those two guys can do it, I love this team. Um. If they're not, is that what they're missing to be consistent. But again, this team is different. This team is young, it's fun and you never really know where you're going to get it from this team. That way, what what makes them

so dangerous too? So obviously that Moran is that consistent, but I want to know who obviously being a step in that role. He's been injured of late step in that role this season, but can he be that piece during the playoffs with playoffs too, He's a clutch two way player in the playoffs, So go to be interesting to see. They've got a lot of good young pieces. Uh. Next up, Money Talks, presented to you by money Line,

the only money app you'll ever need. Along with so much money going on right now, um, I just think it's so important to have a plan. Money is getting thrown out to high school kids now and the n I L stuff and obviously college and then you know what kind of money the pros are bringing, so uh, very important time for people to have an institutional plan with this money. Thoughts on that bar institutional plan, you know,

that's what you have to have nowadays. You've got to keep your off the court together with social media, you know, there's an opportunity. Like I said, for you to make a bag. If he's head high school players can make a bag right now, you know, and and make a decision on where they go to college. You know what I mean. Really the read that can really control your journey.

If you can, you know, monetize this situation and learn how to take care of yourself and your family, you can limit a lot of bad decisions that have to be made during this process. If you're going to college, if you're going to the pros, if you're going overseas, whatever that is. You know, this n I L and this new institutional thinking of of the way to say to invest, to not spend money in the ways that we did. Um, that's just a new vibe right now.

And it's okay. And I'm I know champion people like you who in stack myself, who have been transparent into the things that the mistakes that they made with their money so that people can learn from those mistake. We need to pass our information around to our communities. That's what's happening around with these young fellows. The world is being thrown them at their feet, and we have to

protect them. Buy exactly what you said, giving them the game so that you can learn how to institutionalize that money and make it work for them. Yeah, I mean I'll close up with this. I just think, uh, financial literacy is cool now, which is great. It wasn't something that was talked about when we were coming up, and obviously we made mistakes. So you know, obviously with us keeping it real and and and it being cool to kind of understand what's going on, kids will be fine

these days. So, uh, that's a rap for Money Talks, presented to you by Moneyline, the only money app you'll ever need. Next step, we got a new segment by our one of our newest sponsors, Welcome to the All the Smoking, What's Burning Family NBA Top Shot. So this new segment will be called Legendary Moments because that's what they're bringing to you. It's a digital collectible, authentic NBA Highlight Moments. Basically, the line is a digital trading card.

So gone are the days of the krusty gum inside the bubble gum inside the package of the cards and you losing cards, bending cards, losing value on the cards. These are digital collectibles that you can access pretty much anywhere, so they're always at your fingertips, and I guess this is just the new wave. I didn't really know too much about this. Uh and then they you know, we were told that they were coming out, so I kind of started looking it up and it's just super interesting

and super dope. And one thing I do know is, you know, I have friends that have talked to me about it and and and they're actually making real money off this stuff. So I'm excited to bring them into the fold and get into their uh, their space because I think, you know, obviously, you know it's a new wave of digital collectibles, and uh, I think it's dope. Yeah, this is uh, this is obviously what we're good at. There into legendary moments, and so are we, So this

is a good partnership. I'm from the old school of trading cards the back in magazine and putting the ship in the individual things and you know, trade in your cards and getting over on somebody, because you know, it

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sure you gott signed up today. Next up on the Radar, presented you by DraftKings Line, we got odds on favor right now for NBA Coach of the Year. Let start out there in Boston. Shout out Joe Missoula. He's odds on favorite right now plus one thirty. I mean, this guy's an interim coach. This team has had a lot of turmoil, uh in the off season, they've been able to turn it around. Had to have the best record in the league. So not only is the odds on

favor right now to win Coach of the Year. The producer in my ear just told me he could possibly be coaching an All Star team. Man, So we definitely gotta give this guy his flowers. Uh. Coming in in a tough situation, but you know, continuing to pick up where Emay left off from a standpoint of you know, this is a championship caliber team and Joe hasn't missed a step, asn't. You got to Deng Hoggs that you got two young Hoggs you gotta take care of too.

So he's continued on the winning, the winning tradition that they laid, the foundation that they laid, and he's added something because the boys look like they were just they with the ship now, so you know what I mean, maybe that's kind of fame. Yeah, they got a taste of it last year. Next up, my guy Willie Green over out there in New Orleans, UH at plus three fifty. Will Hardy, another New Coast that actually came from the Boston staff at over there in Utah's plus five fifty. Uh.

Mike Budenholzer UH plus one thousand. And then the Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown is also plus one thousand, so to be interesting to see. It's rounded out by Jack vand at plus fourteen hundred. But interesting to see. You know, obviously still early in the season, but you know a lot of uh deserving coaches up there and it will be intern see who pulls away with that. But that's uh on the radar presented you by Draft Kings. Alright.

Closing thoughts, uh, lone, we just dropped a documentary called Revolution where I was the first UM contestant. We have more to come, Uh, real dope learning experience, you know, for it being our first dot together. Uh you know, obviously areas we can get better in, but it was a good learning experience. Over I've been getting some pretty

positive feedback from it. UM dropped yesterday, so you guys can check this out on Apple and Amazon on and again, and it was it was definitely dope working with you. Obviously we're working together now you're feeling it for stack, but you know we also have you know, what we're doing behind the scenes to in content production. So uh thoughts on this and and how we can continue to evolve in this space just as an independent film trapping at the end of the day. We didn't have a big,

huge budget to work with. What we put together I thought was was beautiful considering we had a great director. Jocelyn is also the Showtime family in charge of my my mood, I'll du a roth uh docs. So we've always we're not even the same people we were when we started, right man, And I think we learned so much about the space, and we're already including other athletes and giving them a platform to collaborate with and bring their production companies with us, so it'll be an athlete

food blue thing moving forward. You know, I can't wait till we can make our announcements on you know, our production partners and some of the plans for the series moving forward. You know, we're athletes, were people of color. We were up against a lot of boxes and you know, and I just want to take my hat off for

you and thank you again for trust. And that's what being a part of this project, because like I said, you went first, you know, the constraints and everything where we worked against what we fought for, still fighting for to make it the series of all series. Obviously it was we welcome the critique because you know, we're in the space. We want to make things better. So I'm well, you know, it was. It was a great experience. It's everywhere Apple Voodoo, Uh, you know, to me, Xbox, you know,

we gotta watch, we gotta wide net. Where's cast at? Tim ninety one has been a great partner. Uh you know, Dangerous Minds Media thirty four. We up. It's only go get better from here. And I'm just proud, Like I'm said, I'm proud to you. I'm proud to us, and like I like to give me your feelings about how you feeling about being in the space. You're in the space. But this is you know, this was this is your baby,

this is our baby. Yeah, you know, I mean it was obviously it was just learning the ins and outs of production. Was it was the crazy part, you know, working with a small budget and kind of showing improving, uh you know, throwing up some of my own money in the back and force and the stops and starts. So again, I think it was a great learning experience. I think we took our knox Um would still be

able to present, you know, a solid project. And again to me, you know, with the athletes coming next in the series and the Revolution series that people were partnering with. Uh, we're gonna up our games. So again, excited for everybody to see it. Make sure you check it out every word. Gilani said, all right, man, So the NBA decided to rename awards. Um, we're gonna talk about some of these name changes. Agree with some, don't agree with some. Um,

but let's close out. Um we're starting with Michael Jordan's MVP award. Not mad at that, very well, very well done. What else are we doing here? Very well play the NBA. Yeah, that was a good one. Akim Elijah on Defense Player of the Year award, Not mad at that. Rolling ling came to dream. He's a big the league. He used to be all about bigs. There's a couple of bigs on this list. But not mad at dream at all. Absolutely.

Next up, Will Chamberlain Rookie of the Year. Not mad about this one either, could job I mean, will do, Will do chick. We'll just do yep. Well, he's tough. H Next up the one I did not like, With all drue respect to Mr John have the check the six Man of the Year trophy. I don't agree one bit with this. I think that again, with all due respect to Mr Havelcheck and when he was able to do in his career. Jamal Crawford, Lou Williams, you know, the only three time UH six Man of the Year

Award winners. I think they could have did better naming this award. Considering you have guys that set the bar for the award, I have to agree these are the logical coach I know, disrespected to have the Check family and what John have. The check is done for the league. But it seems like you know, returning and starting to highlight some of our you know, more recent players and not that you know some of these haven't checked is a litt to older them. Well we're starting, you know,

it's it's time now. You know, those two deserve a lot of respect for what they did for the six man awar Um. I haven't seen a lot of have the Check footage, but I'm surety sure a lot of the people have seen a lot of Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams footage. So I would have to disagree on having to check six man at the ward here and I would like to nominate two brothers. How do you feel? Yeah? Agreed, agreed, agreed, agreed, uh, last, but not least, the most improved award will be named

the George Mike and Award. Um. I don't really have an issue with this, Like I said, Jamal and Lou jumped out because again they set the bar the only three time winners. To be honest, not very familiar with Mr Mike ins game. But you got to drill any any time you got to drink, you got the mic. Yeah yeah, So I a'm at. I like. I just like the fact that the NBA is starting to put some names behind some of the stuff. Um. You know,

I think it may be time to change the logo. Um. You know, obviously I posted something the other day about Kobe possibly actually had copy and pasted what Jamal said. Jamal was the one that brought it up. But I just reposted about Kobe possible being being a logo. You know, bron is leaving the NBA soon. What is he gonna be? Is he gonna be the new lego? No matter if that is, he gonna get an award named after him? He should so, Um, I like, uh, I like that

this kind of stuff is still up in the air. Um. You know, the NBA's standard is is evolved. So much since the beginning and since they first you know, came up with this Jerry West logo, and I think he's even on the record saying he doesn't mind it being changed. So I just like the fact. Yeah, I like the fact that the NBA is evolving and naming awards after players and you know, obviously helping their legacy continue to to live on. So, man, that's a rap. What's go ahead?

You got something? No, yeah, I was about to echo what you said. So part of being a part of the league that's you know, not uh working off antiquated models, and they're keeping up with the times and you know their fan base and you know the people that actually up and watching the game. So it makes me very proud to be alumni of the National Basketball Association. Less than five thousand of us on this planet, So I don't want to very very exclusive club. Uh Man, that's

a wrap for what's burning. You can catch this check us every week on Showtime Basketball YouTube and on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok and Show Basketball. We'll see y'all next week.