Welcome in to what's burning here with DeMarcus Cousins back back, ladies and gentlemen braved airplane issues. You are in a flight from Vegas to LA that was supposed to land in one airport. You circled into another airport. We circled in LA for an hour before we landed. I'm supposing land in Burbank. Burbank was like, we can't even handle pick somewhere else. But you're here now. Friends. We got to talk about the Warriors because the Splash Brothers they're back.
The boys are back. Right Saturday, Steph Powers that emotional overtime win Clay on Monday night, and I'll get these numbers right, thirty eight points in thirty four minutes. He's averaging a career high and scoring great. Right, everything's there. They're getting back in a form. The road record still not what anyone would hope, but you know, it seems like they're getting back into playoff form right at the right time. Except for Andrew Wiggins still out. He out
for personal reasons. Everyone's been very respectful in a great way. I've even seen I was a little worried about online because you know, once people get into the reddit. But people of Warriors fans have been great. I want to give them a lot of credit. They have been respectful about Andrew Wiggins and the fact that he's going through some shit personally. But there has been a little bit of a question of when he is coming back, because for a while the Warriors were like, when Andrew gets back,
when Wiggs gets back. The other night, this is what Steve Kerr said. He noticeably shifted his language. He said, quote, the hope is that we get Wiggins back, and the quote was if he's able to come back, that would be great, and if not, we will handle it accordingly. He was the second best player during the finals at times last year. Not through every game, but certainly at times. How does what you think Golden State can do in the postseason or even if they can get to the
postseason change if Wiggs does not come back. Well, obviously, you know Wiggs is a huge part to that team, but you know, this is a team that's been there, They've they've seen every season that could happen throughout a playoff rude. So as far as them preparing or adjustin I think that's more than capable. But obviously Wiggins is a huge piece, but they're still the Wards, They're still
the Warriors. I just worry because, I mean, he's a big body who does a lot of things for them, and just they're thin after him there at that position. But I can still say, even if I'm in the top of the West, right, I don't want to see the awards no matter what, No matter what, I don't care who's missing. Yeah you have an issue. Yeah, so did you see that game the other night. I mean,
he's incredible, ridiculous. He's turning thirty five. I think today he's got about another ten years to play if he wanted to, right, he really wants Yeah, No, I mean his dad played into his late thirties, so I think he certainly thinks he can. That's a good point about the fact that they've adjusted to so much over the years, they can adjust to this. Also, absolutely, I get that they do have a really big five game road road stent't coming up. I think starting with the Clippers here
in LA on Wednesday night. That's what. How is it possible to have that bad I think the fourth worst in the league on the road and second best in the league at home. How is it like? How is that possible. Explain how that works. It can happen, It can really happen. One thing about playing at home, it covers up a lot of your mistakes because of the energy and the building. Okay, so you can overcome a lot of mistakes just by the momentum. On the road,
it's not the same thing. Those mistakes they start adding up and building up. You don't you don't have the crowd to feed off of when it's a it's a ten point run. Does it really make that much of the difference. It's that much over the difference, It's that much. So it's understandable. But this is you know, the Warriors have been inconsistent. Oh yeah, inconsistent with health. Right, So with that being said, it's hard to find that chemistry
and comaraderie throughout a year on the road. That's what you lean on the most, right, So those are the results with their record. I don't know, man, I'm I'm fascinated as someone who has never played, so therefore I'm always asking people a million questions. The idea that you
could be that different. I mean, I understand difference, that different, but they are They're not reliable when it comes to that up and down of where they're playing, and if you look around the West, by the way, Maverick's huge questions like that with what's going on with them right now. Sons have injury issues, as we know, the Grizzlies have John Rant issues. I don't know how say that on
and on and on. And you know who is the most just going about their business team in the entire Western Conference right now, the Sacramento King one eight of ten. I can't believe I'm phrasing it this way, given the history of the franchise. Are they the most reliable team in the West? They are, right, they are were there, but the Nuggets have been healthy on here. But you know the Nuggets, I would say they're the most reliable and obviously the biggest surprise. Yeah, but health played such
a huge factor in regular season. If you're healthy for the regular season, if you're starting five is healthy for the regular season, you have a great chance of being successful for that season. It goes beyond I mean, well, I don't know Nay has the numbers, producer, Nate, can
you put the numbers up there for me? Right? So, okay, here's the here's the health right, So Fox has played sixty out of sixty seven games, sabonas sixty five out of sixty seven games, Harrison Barnes every single game, Keegan Murray's sixty five, Kevin Hurder sixty four. Right, that's impressive. So, I mean, yes, regular season shout out to their training. Seriously, that's that's impressive. Right. Does that matter going into the playoffs or is that a regular season thing? I can
say that's definitely a regular season thing. Okay, the playoffs it's TPD in my opinion, playoffs is a whole another monster. It's adjustments his schemes, it's attacking weakness, is an entire game. I don't know. I just don't think regular season carries out. And we've seen it before. Obviously. It's teams that like the Warriors, who've dominated the entire season, they can come
out and dominating in the playoffs. That's why they are franchise, That's why they are with their dynasty, because they were able to do that. I just this, it's a lot of odds against them with the youth, with the inexperience. We'll see. Well, I mean, look, I do think there's something in chemistry, right, and there's something about like you know what the guy acrossing you without even saying anything. You just know by looking at him, where he's going
to be on the court, what he's gonna do. When you've guys got guys who played sixty five, sixty seven games together, you develop that that counts. And the bench is steel horrible. But I wasna, but then you got book and Katie coming at you. You know what I mean, Being able to look and know where your other guys defending. I don't know if that matters if you've also got the person you're defending, is Kevin Durrant like that kind of thing. I just I don't know. I do think though,
the reliability factor goes beyond health with them. You've been in that franchise and by the way, it way predates you. I mean, even the Kings were battling the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, there was not a stable team. There was so much drama with that team. There was drama when you were there. There is no drama with that team right now. Beyond health. Mike Brown has it
just sort of very steady. Everything's going. Does that matter when you get into the playoffs or again, it's just talent, it's just who's got the best players in the court. Well, that's the thing. Um, I don't know if that is a good thing, because regular season also prepares you for the playoffs. Regular season it's about up and down because then the playoffs it's ups and down. It's going to be up and down. The energy can literally shift from a single game, right. So, like I said, this is
a young team, they are inexperienced. They do have a championship coach in Mike Brown. Um, I don't, I just I don't. I don't see much success in the playoffs for the Kings this season. What do you remember about your first playoff games? Everything was like a thousand miles by really everything everything, everything's a thousand miles by hour. So um man, I just remember being singled out every
single possession with the pick and roll. Man, it's a it's a lot of schemes and play it's everything is skin. It's not just regular basketball. It's literally a scheme the entire game. And we talk about the Kings, they don't have Sybonus is an incredible talent, but he's not a defensive big. So he's gonna be He's gonna be a point of emphasis. When the playoffs starts, then I start we speak about the bench. They don't they haven't had a backup big all year. They're up and down with
how they feel about Rashaun Holmes. Uh so they've struggled with that. I keep speaking on the bench. They're gonna pick on the big Fela. Yeah, it does matter. They're gonna pick on the big Fela. So what happens if he's in foul trouble or he can't become a positive in those playoffs? What happens then? So I think those are real questions for that. That's why I speak on it's different in the playoffs. Yeah, I'm interested. I mean, well,
what was it like at halftime of your first playoff game? Man, I'm listening everything coach got to say because I'm trying to figure this thing out, like man, like coach talking me through this. Man, what's going on? Yeah, So it's definitely a different experience yea. And I mean with me, I it was it was a lot more difficult because I was injured, Yeah, in my first player Yeah, so it was everything, Like I said, everything was moving from me when I was comfortable got to play, you know,
it's but I've been there as well. It was you know, it's you know what to expect. Yeah, that first go around, it's some thousand miles by everything everywhere. I want to say, we were talking about that before it started. All right, I want to go to the East because of the Sixers have been hot, hot, hot. Joel Embiid insanity right his last twenty games thirty three, ten and four fifty four percent from the floor, leaves the league in scoring.
Six Ers have won five straight. As we sit here today, third in the East, there are only three games out of first and by the way, they're only one game back from Boston. I mean James Harden leading the league and assists. Are you ready to say I could pick them to come out of the East or you just think they're still behind wake your Boston. Um, I think those are the three teams. But that's not answer to my question. I didn't finish. But with that being said, UM,
I think Philly does have a great chance. They are they are a contender. Um. It's always been a question in the recent years with you know, Big Joe's health, and I think he checked that off this year. In this season, he's been healthy most of the season. He's dominated the whole season. He's led the team. James is in a comfortable place. He's playing his role and you know, being that pass frest guard for them and closing we need be Max. He's playing at a high level. They
have great pieces around them. So um, if Big Joe carries this type of performance over into the playoffs, they definitely have a great chance. Where where are you with him MVP versus Yoga Triannis. I think Big Joe's turn. We're gonna just put it like you do. I think the other two guys have had theirs. Okay, let's let's roar it is that part of it for you though, because there's there's certainly people who are like, no, it's just about the numbers this season and the other seasons
shouldn't come into it. Well, if it's just about the numbers in the season, it still leans towards Joe. He's leading the league in score, he's dominating out of all time high Like, get a big fellow as flowers. He deserves, he really deserves. And I'm not taking away anything from the other two guys if they've received their flowers. Yeah, not to say they won't get more in the future, but as of right now, Big Joe deserves its flowers.
It's so interesting too, because, like, if you say anything about one of these guys, the fan bases of the other two were like, how dare you? There's just this, this this feeling about the debate for MVP. It's gotten so toxic, and it's gotten so well, if you must hate this guy, if you like this guy type of thing. For me, it's always been a real question about is it about the best season, who's had the best season? Is about who the best player is? I think those
should actually be two separate things. If you look at the other leagues, like the NFL has changed its awards in the last twenty years to be like, hey, here's the MVP, that's who's the best guy. Here's the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. That's who's had the best offensive and defensive season. The NHL makes a difference between their MVP and their scoring champion. Like other leagues do this, we don't do it. Here is another year. Some years, by the way, the best season and the
best player are the same guy. But here is another year where I think you could ostensibly say those are two right, oh, co MVP. I don't think they be mad at that. I feel like the way they change the scoring. It used to be like just one vote for one person so you could get ties. Now I remember we had co Rookie of the Year with Grant Hill. Right, Who's who is a co Workie the Year with Grant Hill?
Jason Kidd? Right, there we go. You can't happen anymore because they do like three two one and then you get so many points for three third place vote, second place vote. But I don't know. I will keep everyone knows that's how you know. These my issue, but I will keep campaigning. I think we should. I think we should change the way the awards work because I think it's the debate every year. People are arguing over two
completely different criteria. It's becoming cold, like yeah, yeah, and it's the cold activity is coming from the media side. Well there's oh, there's so many hours of debate. Yeah, and it's really not about the talent or the performances, and it's well who likes who? Then who gives me to? You know, it's weird. So um, my vote for MVP this year is Joe ellenb There you go, all right, you heard it. They're It's complicated though. Two on who votes,
because the media votes. I know a lot of media who I mean, first of all, some media don't vote, refuse to vote because they don't want to be put in that position or their organization doesn't want to put them in that position. But there's really no one else to vote, and that every time they hand to vote to the players. Like the players got twenty five percent of the All Star vote, Go look at go back, it's available online. Go back and look at who they
voted for. Because you had guys voting for You had four votes for Chet Holmgren, who has not played a single minute in the NBA this season, Four players voted for him to make the All Star Game. You got guys voting for their teammates, guys voting for their bench guys. Like, you can't have the coaches vote because they obviously are extremely biased toward their players. So I don't know how we solve this who votes. I think we should just
create a committee. Yeah, so like maybe some former players possibly, Yeah, we should. Actually, I mean we obviously have fun yea create a commedtee? All right, would you be would you have that com I would love to be that. I would love to do you think a rules committee to might We're gonna come up next time, next time you come on listen, we're gonna have a list of committees. But because it's gonna spearhead, we can't talk about Philly
without also talking about Boston though. The little struggling five five and five in their last ten drop that game against the Rockets on Monday, despite forty points from Jaylen Brown, and they just I mean, if you look at it, they're fine, but they just don't look like themselves. I think they're in the bottom five in fourth quarter scoring. Are you starting to get worried at all about them? I'm not worried. No, Um, it's that time of year.
They've dominated the entire seasons. This is the part where guys starts sitting out once you get your place and in the playoffs, this is you know, this is that time of season. So to say I'm worried now, but like I said, they've dominated the entire season, it's I
get it. And look, March used to be dead in the NBA, and that's part of why the play in has been such a success because now you've got I mean, look at the West right now, you've got like eight teams who are trying to stay out of the play, end in the play and all that stuff. That being said, I do think it matters where you end up in a three team conference where the top three teams we just talked about it, or you know, kind of could
go in any order. If you face Philadelphia in the second round versus if you don't face them until the Eastern Conference finals. And by the way, if Boston, I mean Boston had the number one spot for most of the season until the Bucks went on that crazy run this last month, and Boston was looking at not having to face one of those teams until the Eastern Conference finals.
Now you got to face if you if you stay in that number two spot or maybe slip to three, you got to face one of those teams in the second round and then face the other one again and then it's not like once you get through that, it's over. That to me is where this March slump kind of thing is a big deal where I say, Okay, it matters to me because I think playoff positioning is really important. I agree with that. I agree with that, but I think regardless they would end up seeing both teams either
second or right. Well, they'll see yeah, so it's yeah, those are the three best teams in the East. Well, here's here's what I would say if I'm Joe Zula, I would look at all my guys and saying, do you want to go seven games with Joel and James Harden? And even if you get through it, are you going
to get hurt or something? You know what I mean? Like, you're just upping your chances of something going wrong, even if you have confidence you could beat that team, which, by the way, I'm not try would have full confidence on that because we just talked about Philly. But like, even if you're sitting there in your locker room and you think we can beat anyone, you put yourself in that position. You don't know what's going to happen. Someone could get hurt, and that's the that's the beauty of
the playoffs. I can't wait. I'm looking for all of this in the East for sure, right in the East for sure. So I can't wait. I'm looking for all these headlines. The top of the East obviously better as a group top three than the top of the West overall, though with that playoff racket, the top eight ten teams. Do you think the East is a better group than the West or the West is still better? I say the East is better right now, but just because the teams are flowing. Yeah at the top the West, it's
like late in the season and this contenders still figuring tea. Yeah, well it's deeper. The West is deeper deep, but nobody chemistry. Yeah, everybody's struggling with chemistry right now. What's the opposite of depth. Yeah, there's not a lot of tops. So I think I think with the West, we could we could have a crazy surprise with who comes because it's just been so inconsistent all the Yeah, and now with Memphis too, Like
I don't I could. You could tell me anything is going to happen with Memphis in the playoffs, and I believe you. You can tell me they have a first round exit where they only win one game. I would believe you just because of the inconsistency, they're gonna walk into the playoffs with even if John is back by then, or you can tell me they win two rounds, Like there's job come back this year. You think there's a
chance he won't. I don't see him coming back this season really O come just the way with things playout when it comes to you know, weapons and how they feel about I just don't see I hope, yeah, I pray overcomes. I'm I'm rooting for the kid, but I don't. I don't see you playing out And obviously you have to said an example. I give you my cynical point
of view, though. I think there are a lot of very wealthy people invested in John Rant being on the court, of course, and I think that includes the league as a whole. I think that Jazz kind of one of the brightest lights we got as one of our young stars. I think that there is a big emotional investment in him being there when the playoffs start. I think that it's a different league than it was when someone when David Stern told Gilbernas to sit down for fifty games.
And I just you know, Nike and is very invested in and Poweraid like in the middle of all this stuff, like three days before the latest incident, but after the previous two, Poweraid signs this huge deal with John Rant. Like I just again, this is me being right now. I just think a lot of money there was not that. I mean, I love Gilbert, and I again, I grew up in the DC area and I worked in DC when he was there and all that, but there was not this kind of money Gilbert nas on the court.
That's very true, sounds very true. I don't know. I'm rooting for your kid. I hope you make it back. Yeah, I mean I say other thing too, By the way, I think everyone likes Jah by the way, and that's that's not a counterpoint to gil who I do love. But like jaw just now talking totally about job like, he's so likable. Yeah right, he's so fun. I think fans are willing to give him some room and some leeway. I don't think there's something. But technically he didn't do
anything well, he didn't break a law. He hasn't done anything wrong. He the NBA has its own rules about guns. Right. And then there's the question of how did he get the gun there? Right, This is not a question. I'm not a law enforcement officer. But unless he picked that gun up that afternoon in Colorado, which by the way, he could have. There's many available in Colorado, I believe at the Walmart. But like, uh, or did they stop selling guns? Am I wrong? Am I right? No? Yes,
very right, thank you. I think on Colorado you can go into like the seven to eleven and get a gun. I mean there's an open carry estate. So who whoever who? I don't know. But if he did bring it with him on the plane, that is illegal. But but I don't know, and he's not being that's not the question. I don't want to get off track, like he did
not break any any laws in Colorado. It is more of just, hey, this is a young man who obviously has had a series of issues, who there are a lot of people invested in, not just monetarily but emotionally, and just I think we all want Jot to succeed. And so the idea that he is now getting some help. It came out I think yesterday that he is in some program in Florida and um, just you know, get himself in a place where he can make the best decisions.
And that's that's what we all want, right, is that that him having autonomy over his own life and not having circumstances and other stuff he's getting into making those decisions for And we got to also realize this is a key. Yes, he's twenty three. Right, this is a baby I was doing so much stupid yeah now of me, right, but I mean, my stars, I can't imagine. I know,
I know people my age still make it dumb. Super So it's like like, obviously he has to and this is the this is the part of the business where it's tricky and it sucks for that endividually. You got to grow quicker than you really want. Yeah, maybe should have to, yeah, or or then you have to. And this is just a lesson for him to come to that realization. I have to grow up. Not a bad thing, not a knock to him. You go through your you know your obstacles in life. You got plenty of life
to live. Next year, we won't even remember this. I mean, like, I just think there's a big investment in the game on him getting back on track. I think we see him in the playoffs, get back. I think that he'll be everyone will be welcoming him back. There's no like, oh he's a thug. Like I mean, I've seen a little bit of that, but not within the game, not within the sport, right, And like I just think people want I want him to succeed, People want him to succeed.
This is just a grow up. Yeah, just grow up. That's all it is and nothing more. Yeah, but still creates a question. I don't know what what kind of team they're going to be. Steven Adams is still out by the way that you know, we'll see Yeah, all right, legendary moments presented to you. Buy top shot. We're gonna talk big man because I got a big man sitting right next to me. Um, the best highlights in today's NBA. I want to look at a few highlight driven centers.
Who's got the best highlights you think in today's game? Yeah, that's a big, It's a big. I might have a goal with zi. Yeah. What's your favorite on moment? Do you think of man? His energy at the end of the game where you did three sixty women? Yeah, I loved it, Yeah, yeah, I loved it. I was. I was a fan of that moment, So probably I will roll with that. He's I'm time of a likable He's so likable, Like when he smiles, you just want to like, go room great, wherever he wants to do. You're like,
all right, I'm on board, let's go, let's go. I like Yok's passing highlights obviously or there for me. I mean he does some shit where you're just like, come on, yeah, great highlights, Yeah, the highlight real as well. But anyone else, no one else. You're just like as big who You're just like, yeah, he's doing it right, you like watching Oh Joe. I think Joel is that the evolutionary player, right, and obviously yes too, But I'm talking about this like
the evolution of a big man score. Yes. I mean we've seen big that can pass, not that Yoka is right, yeah, so don't I know he has a cold too, don't jump Yeah, not a hist rate, but we've seen passing big before. We've never seen a big score away Joel does. Closest thing was probably dream yes, no, well, I get even that that part of his game has evolved, although you were one of the guys. I mean, I don't want to toot my own horn. I'm sitting here to
do that for you. And the way Joel is doing it too with the outside game also, I mean I would like to say I'm the dumb but he definitely evolved the game. Well, but I mean he can't do that without you having done what you did first and you know, I do think it's interesting when you were doing it, like, how many how many coaches do you have him on the way? Who told you like, don't shoot from there? Oh? My god? I mean I would love to speak on that. I mean, my first coach
in the league told me not to shoot. I just wanted me to be a screen, a screener. Who who are we talking about? Paul Westfall. He didn't want me to He didn't want me to shoot at all, Right, you just wanted me to be a screen. Well he actually didn't even want to draft me, but that's a different situation either here nor there. Yeah, but yeah, he didn't believe in me as a score, so he just wanted me to be And you know, I've I've always had this stigma of, you know, not being a coachable guy.
In that moment, I'm glad I wasn't coachable because I probably wouldn't done in my career. So yeah, uh, was there anyone coach you had along the way that really encouraged you to shoot, especially from out the three? Surprisingly? So, And I'm sure I'll get a tweet or something from later on mister Carl my guy, congrats on the Hall of fame, you old brumpy man. Look, but uh it was it was actually George, and it was more so
the fitted scheme of the offense. He didn't believe him feeding the post, so he just told me to shoot threes. He knew I would like, oh, okay, yeah, I shoot three to the point where it was, yeah, just stand on the outside. So it's been fun to have someone tell you could do that. Well, it was. It was a little manipulation behind you. I just know the guy. I just know the guy. I'm sorry, but um, you know, like I said, congrats on this Hall of fame, like,
well deserved. Do you think there's any room for the two of you to have a peaceful moment down the road. It's no beef. I'm I can't be for him, like I got respect for him. He's yeah, I can't beat for him. Okay, but no, he got it. I want when he got all the things right. So it's no bees. Well, I just didn't know if I gaged in my mind as you're talking, like maybe I could get George and Bog in the room one day. No, that's unnecessary, No, it's not really, it's not where we're going. Yeah, just
just leave things be. How long have you known me? You know me many never. I'm sure George is sitting on his porch in this rocking chair sipping lemonade. Leave them lemonade, that's what he's possibly lemonade was splendid or something. Who knows the shoe from the outside though, And I do think like we saw in like Porzingo's Joel, and we've seen the evolution of that um all the way through.
I mean, Kadi obviously is a different, different position, but you know the idea that he can play inside and outside of the way. Kagi was the first big run point yep. So I remember those playoffs. And when a young man named Victor comes over from France next year, I think we're going to see another leap, right. Have you watched him? I saw him in person. I saw him in the showcase in Vegas. Yeah, all right, so
what rundown? What the fuck? I mean, that's what it feels like, right when you're I saw this seven foot six dude do a one foot three pointer like like he was just shooting around in the gym. Yeah, that's he man, Not my problem, well right now, that's not my problem till next year. Ye, we'll see, we'll see, maybe they'll let me back in, who knows. But I mean in those years, this when he when he starts playing, and maybe not in the first two months, but I
expect him to evolve the game. And right now it's what the fuck? But five years, ten years after him, some others there will be there will be kids coming. I mean, because we looked at Steph Curry in twenty fifteen and we were like, come on, never, nobody else could, no one could ever do that whatever, And now we got a whole fleet of Steph Curries. I mean, let me right, that is a proper check one. That doesn't
mean that like the idea of shooting. I mean, look, even Damian Lillard, who whe a different player, but I mean the idea that you can shoot from back there. I mean I would trust Damian Lillard to shoot from that logos every single time he wants to launch them, and well and Staff maybe and Stef yeah, But but I just mean that you've got for every impossible player, and I think Victor Webanjama is going to be another
impossible player. Ten fifteen years later, there's a whole bunch of guys at least trying to play that spacial game. So that's true. Well, see, we also have to see where this ends up. Well that's true because we can see here. Yeah, where you get drafting matters. So I hope that goes well, phone, because I would love I want to see him with the Spires. That would be I think that's a great fan. I want to see him with the Spires, the person I think will turn
this dude into something crazy. Ye, So I want to see him with the Spurs me personally, the Rockets. Hell, no, god no, please don't do it. No, I think that's the spectrum of the possible team. Yeah, please, sirs would be amazing the Rockets. No, god no, no, it matters, right, it matters where you really matters. It really matters if they're playoff team and you know they their whole goal is to winning. Yeah, I can see it happening in a positive way for him. But going to a bad
team and developing Spurs, well, I don't know. You can start your NBA top shot collection today at NBA top shot dot com. Look for the big Man's top shots. Right. Look, don't don't just go to the guard ones. Don't just go to the guard moments, go to the big man moments, get closer to the game and players you love sign up today. All right, let's get to draft Kings because we found this prop bed that was pretty cool. Will there be a first time NBA champ crowned this season?
Here are the nominees? All right, so I'm gonna go through each team. You tell me Nuggets, Clippers, Grizzlies, Sons. This list was longer when you first gave it to me, Producer Nate. He gave me a long list. Can you say some of the other teams that were on there? He gave me a list this morning that was like eleven teams and there were some teams on There was a magic on there? Am I correct that the Magic
were on there? I was like, what are you smoking? Which, by the way, at showtime is a completely legit question, but unlike some of the other places I've worked. But the point is, the point is the nominees that are realistic, the Nuggets, Clippers, Grizzlies, and Sons. Yes is plus one forty five, I'm repeating, and no is minus one eighty. All right, so what where would you would you put your money on? Yes or no? Yes? Camp is Nuggets, Clippers, Grizzlies and Sons one of those teams. No, camp is
everyone else? Sis? But would you say yes or no that that any of them could even do it? Say, I would say no. If I'm placing this bad, I would say say yes. You would say yes. So you think the Suns. You have enough faith in the Suns that you would say yes, yes, over the Books or the Celtics or the Sixers. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. You're not worried about the health? No, I mean health is that's everybody's issue? Yeah, so you can't. That can
never be a factor. You've got Katie and Chris Paul, though, who are more prone to injury? Well, some of these Chris Paul can really just you know, do his job. I'm not, no, shade, it's not as much pressure on him being older. No, it's true. You got two good No. No, this is a great position for Chris to being Yeah, it is because so I don't think his body has taken as much of a beating as it has in the past. So yeah, okay, waiter coach. Money's a great coat. Yeah,
Money's great. I can see the signs pulling out. I can see them pulling this out. So go on DK sports Book and I guess push your money, yes on that, let me let me borrow yes, because you need That's that's true of the people in this room. You need to borrow money. Yeah, we're gonna Bohu Manu NBA and the wait, we know what. Before we leave this topic, I do want to an injuries in the suns. I gotta ask this question. I did ask you a little
bit before we started. But Kadi and the lows, the clue, the lowtops is where he hurt himself, and he's born lows forever. And by the way, half the week, half the league wears lowtops and anyone who pretends otherwise isn't paying attention. Kobe wore the lows, was like, you know, so, yes, that is part of basketball, But do you think it has anything to do with because there's been They've done
in depth studies and frankly, they've gone different directions. They did a huge in depth studies matter and they did a big in depth study and it said it didn't matter. So I don't know what to believe. I mean, I've been rolling my ankles my whole entire basketball career. When I was in high Tops and then I don't think that matters at all. I don't think it matters at all. But I just know somebody was fired for that west But the ball, the ball? Can you fire a ball kid?
Don't they work for free? Well, you're working for free somewhere else. It won't be in that arena. So I'm more concerned about the guy getting a new job the low Tops. Someone someone slipped. Was it a Komengo Jonathan comingo like the next two nights later or something the same exact thing. I just want we gotta find some guys passionate about keeping that flu works. You want to Kissing Garnette level passion. We were dealing with world class
athletes and they're slipping. More important than the shoes. I just need a little more passion for your job, That's all I'm asking. I mean, people just got really, I think I feel like taller lank your athlete's roller ankles and Lebron Ros's ankle every five minutes. I literally wrote at one point in my crew, I roll my ankle every game, really every game. It became like a rubber man r. I'm so serious. Yeah, literally every game. Sometimes
twice a game. I don't know. I think it might have something to do with, you know, the lankiness or whatever. But you'll be fine, all right, Well, yeah, you better be fine. You're betting on him to win the title. The NBA and the Players Association are in talks to add game a game's minimum for the major awards. Are you here for that? Absolutely? All right? Tell me why? Uh? It cuts out some of the politics. Yeah, that goes
into these awards yearly. Um, sometimes a guy can play noneimum amount of games and still be a candidate, and other times it's held against them. Right, just cuts out another politics. In my opinion, I like, I would say I would be against this only in that I like the fact that it's one more thing that a voter can take into account, not in the terms of like, oh did he play enough games? But I actually look
at it even at a different level. So when Joel Embiad was a rookie, I voted for him for Rookie of the Year, even though I think he only played thirty something games. I don't know off the top of my head, thirty one producer name it says because in my mind, and by the way, this is no disrespect to Malcolm Brogden who won that year, who I think is an excellent player and I really enjoy watching. I
still would have rather that year. I would have rather had Joel for thirty something games than rookie Malcolm Brogden, who was not the player he is today for however many he played seventy something games or whatever it was. I did that because in my head, if I had to pick, and that's what it is, right, then that's the decision you're making. I'm taken into account the games play.
But I would rather have had rookie joe El Embiid for thirty something games than the other two guys who were ahead of him finished ahead of him in the voting. So but then it takes away from what Malcolm did in that scause. Yeah, I mean arless of what happened with joe El. Malcolm had clearly no he absolute it. By the way, and that's another thing, you were just talking about one guy winning doesn't mean the other guy's trash, right, So yes, yes he did, and by the way, he
would Molcol that year. Malcolm was second on my ballot because by the way, after all, out of all the rookies. I thought he was the second most guy for the number of games he played that I would have wanted on my team if I was a gam But for me, Joel was such a force that I would rather have him for a third of the season than a guy who was less of a force for you know, five six. I mean, but I think that I was in the minority by the way. I could see that also coming
from who Joe El is now in today's game. So that's easy to speak back on him and be like, yeah, well this should have been Joe speaking back on I did it at the time. Thank you, thank you, get it. Okay. I'm just saying, so this is track it through history. I did at the time. You could look it up. I mean, but at the end, at the end of the day, adding this new layer to you know, make it it does make it simpler. It makes it simple.
It does make it simpler. Test well, that's the other so okay, so that's the second part of the question. Do you think there are guys and by the way, not just because their ego wants to win some of these awards, but there's contract incentives with money involved to win some of these awards. Do you think guys who may be on the fence of do I play these five extra games or whatever it is, would actually go play and push themselves a little harder if they put
this rule in. Absolutely, yeah, because you don't want to miss that award. If let's say it's sixty five game requirement, you play sixty four. You having a career year, Man, I'm gonna play these last five or the season. Yeah. Absolutely, you know it's not gonna be sixty five though that minimum. If they like forty exactly, we're gonna try to get him in. We're gonna squeeze them in. Everyone's like, oh, this is gonna five. Once this new story came out, I saw this stuff like a ha, this is what's
gonna fix load management. And I'm like, no one's putting it up. No one putting in a seventy game requirement. Friends, that's not happening. So just gonna be a disagreement, right, I want to tell you. So I don't know. I get it. I get all the reasons we're trying to get superstars to play. I know that. I mean even there's media people I know who are jaded and seeing a million games and they're still you know, you know, someone doesn't show up for a big game, you're kind
of disappointed. Right. It's kind of weird though, because it's like what the league is kind of asking for. They're taking away the competitive edge of the game. Yeah, but they want guys to still be competitive. So what do you mean they're taking away the competitive EDGI game? You can't even stareing god down. You can't touch anyone. If a God dunks me and they steer me down, right, you get called. In my head, I'm like, oh, I'm
about to go dunk this motherfucker back right now. I was like, I'm just waiting for him to get his take. I got you back like it. It's like, so the whole competitive nature is it's almost like a contradiction, Like you want us to compete, but you know, the fiery side of the game we don't want. So it's like, how do you what are you really asking for? You? I don't know, I don't know. I mean in every sport, that's what it feels like now. I mean I'm watching
in the NFL. I mean the NFL, we're talking longevity, We're talking these guys going back home to that family, So there's just a little more understandable. Yeah, the NBA, I thought that. I mean I thought we were in a great place. Competition, Yes, obviously, it's a business, and you know you're gonna tweak things here and there to make sure the business flourishes. But as far as the game in itself, I thought it was in a great place. Well, those text around it's hard to watch a game. Well,
you get back to the text question. You've got Luca. I think he's what two away from again, I'm like, I have the number in front of me, but he's just a couple of texts away from starting to miss every other game. I mean, starting to miss a game with every other tech you can get up to. I mean, I know, okay, Anna talking about tax here, So what is it? It's the sixteenth game? You start to get some around that nature. I can recall summer so long ago.
Who could possibly say, but Luca's close? Was it Dylan Brooks the other day? Who now was hit across that threshold? Yeah, I don't really understand him. Yeah, well he was going to dream on the other day. But he's going out a lot of guys. He's going out a lot of guys don't. I don't really understand it. Like it's and like I have no issue with the confidence. I have
no issue with the competitive nature. But it's once it begins to become where you're knocking down guys that did this before you or and we're talking about hall of fame game. This isn't just something guy at the end of the day, his last three targets have been hall of Fame, right, which is mind blowing to me. Relax, that's my advice. Just relax, Go be yourself on the or be that fiery competitive guy. But just relax. We's got to stay on the court to be Yeah you're
not you're not quite there yet. Relax, relax, you know, be you know, be the sidekick to you know, jaw and great piece of the team. We'll just relax. The extras aren't necessary. Yeah, alright, that's just my advice to I met the guy and it's it's not quite the same. It's not quite this. Just relax. Well, again, he's got to stay on the court with the text him, Luca has to stay on the court with the text. And you you do. You brought it up. You have a
little bit of experience with hitting that threshold. I mean, we'll go back to Rashid who had forty four tex in one year, but that was before they they hit the one game every other suspension one game sort of rule suppressive. She's that's a number, that's a god level of right now give and on that note, no, I I you are right when if a guy stares a guy down, he gets a tech and then she changes
the tenor of the game. But you know, we'll see, maybe things will get a little spice, Maybe they'll they'll have a little more room. Things can get a little spicer in the playoffs as we can rene toward it. I love that we get to talk hoop for these next few months. Buggy, thank you for your circling flight. I appreciate it. Y'all can catch What's burning available every week on Showtime Basketball YouTube. It's on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok at show Basketball. There you go, see yah,