Episode 72: Russell Westbrook deep dive with special guest Roosh Williams

How are you doing today? Man? Man, I'm doing well. I'm happy to be here, always down to talk basketball. So thanks for asking, thanks for asking me to come on. Yeah, of course. Man. It's a Saturday morning here, so I appreciate you coming on on a on a beautiful Saturday morning. Um.

You're in Texas. I'm in California out two hours ahead. UM. So first, like, I just want before we get into the Laker stuff, because I know everyone wants to kind of and unless the people listening want to get into Laker stuff, but I think it's important to go around the league. Um. It's very easy to just go get in this echo chamber and just talk about, you know, your own team. So I'm sure you've been watching Summer

League right like you've been watching some league. What are your thoughts on your Eastern Rockets summerly, because I think they have been the most like fun team and summer league like they've had the best team. To me, Jana Green could arguably have been the best play Like, what

do you think of your summer league team? Before we get into all the Lakers stuff, So I separate the summer league that the Rockets summer league team into the guys that are definitely like that we drafted that are on the team, and then the you know, the fringe players that are hoping to get like a two way or whatever. The fringe players hoping to get a two way unfortunately are not very good. Um, they just aren't. There's not really much to talk about when it comes

to them. The Rockets gave Matthew Hurt I think out of Duke a two way, so you know, who knows, maybe that turns into something at some point down the line. But as far as the guys that the Rockets drafted, man Jalen Green has been so much fun to watch. He's looked incredible Unfortunately he got hurt, so hopefully that's nothing too serious and they have enough time to rehab him before the actual season starts. But could not be

happier watching him. I mean, his stroke is incredible. Defensively, he was definitely active and there probably needs to get you know, um beef up a little bit at some weight, but all the tools were there. His handle looks very beautiful. We've got nice crossover, super quick, super explosive, and he started showing some flashes of creating off the dribble and out of the pick and roll, and that's like, that is what I wanted to see, So I was happy

with that. Alpain Shangoon. That dude is crazy. Uh. You know, the fan base was kind of split when the Rockets drafted him, but he's looked extremely talented, kind of like a like a Sabonis yokich S type player. Not to say that he's going to be as good as them necessarily,

but just a European Turkish. I consider Turkey to be in Europe different discussion, but up in big man, good touch, great skills, versatile, super high i Q. He just turned nineteen, and I don't think I've ever seen a big man at nineteen play like that, so I'm hoping that what he does will translate into the NBA. He looked pretty good against Evan Mobley, and I thought he held his own against Precious for Toronto, So really happy with that. And then um, Josh Christopher had some ups and downs.

I see the potential with with with Josh Christopher, so it was fun to watch kind of get get a chance to watch him going. And then Usman Garuba from Spain. UM only played one game and he came straight from like Tokyo, I think, and he was Jet lags. So I'm not gonna put much stock into that one game, but I'm excited man. And then as far as the rest of the Summer League goes Kaid's been popping off.

Evan Mobley's potential is definitely on display. Chris Duarte had a good game or two, Um Cam Thomas had a really good game. It's just nice to see young talent balling out. Yeah, for sure, man, So have you been to Summer League before? I have not. You were right, yes, So I was there. I've been there the last few years.

So I went when the Lakers had their lottery picks and that thing was filled like a playoff game, like to the bone when it was like brandon Ingram, Lonzo Paul you know what I mean, and Kyle Kuzma left I think was crazy. It was loud. It's funny going there now like kind of trickling and out. Um, it's not as loud. I want to ask you because when I was watching Green, I got to see a little bit of their little bit a little bit of him there. Um,

he reminds me a little bit of brandon Ingram. Do you see that a little bit in his game where like the ball handling at that size and like he's a better shooter already and he's already better at taking contact, but like I see that like that ability to kind of attack off the dribble, had the jumper as well, just the full complete offensive game. To me, he was the most like impressive guy that I got to see live. At least he just looked extremely comfortable on the floor.

Do you see a little bit of that? Like do you see him as like this like score kind of like this isolation score eventually that like Ingram has became now like this like go to guy. I definitely see him as an isolation score As far as comparing the two of them, I didn't see Brandon Ingram, but I will say that the similarity is their fluidity with the rock.

You know, like when they are getting to their to their moves and trying to get to their spots, they're so fluid, and they're both kind of lanky and skinny, um, but they're so quick at the same time that like when they make their move, they're decisive. It's there, and it's the kind of thing that you can't really stop. You can contest it, but you can't really stop it. UM. So I see that that kind of similarity. Obviously, Brandon Ingram is bigger um and has more ability to kind

of he's just longer, right. But yeah, I mean as far as being an isolation score, man, I was so impressed, like he looked it really looked like the G League preparation had him ready to just dominate the summer league. That's that's that was kind of my takeaway. Yeah, and his body looks a lot more NBA ready already than Ingram was even wasn't evenone, wasn't even close in that first year. Lam wasn't as comfortable either as a score, So it's cool to see him kind of go off

the dribble and yeah, it was fine. I got to see Kate a little bit as well. Kaide looks like a guy also ready for the NBA, like his body dudes coming out of college or like the top of the draft definitely has a chance to be special. Yeah, and the rest of the draft as well. But like those first three, I guess Jalen Suggs look pretty good too. Yeah, Scotty Barnes has some flashes. We'll see, we'll see if Toronto regrets taking Barnes over Suggs. But but yeah, man,

I mean it's fun. It's just fun to see high level basketball and to be excited about like the future, you know. Yeah, it's funny going to Summer League because I was there for Alonzo's first game, right and Alonzo. I don't know if you follow Alonzo like you see l A or whatever, but like there's a bunch of them people in there that obviously never watched Alonzo play, right in some releague such a like I don't know

how to explain it. It's like the crowd is on top of you, so like when someone screams, you can hear them, like that's how like, that's how it looks like the Drew. I don't know if you've been to the Drew. I haven't it, but it's a similar type. It feels like it's a similar kind of experience there. But yeah, like the crowds right there, they can hear

everything the crowds saying. So like Alonzo this is the first his first game, and he's like dribbling at the top up and you could just hear like the crowd is kind of silent a little bit, goes a little quiet, and they're like someone's like do something like where this is not Alonzo's game at all. And Alonzo, you know, a young guy, he's like trying to fulfill with the crowd wants. So Alonzo starts taking these step back threes and it just wasn't his game. So it's just funny.

Some of these is a cool place. I'd recommend you to go at least one time. I definitely want to, so hopefully I wish I would have gone this year. Honestly, um, I would even consider still going, but Jalen Green's done so because he probably won't Yeah, he probably won't play. He probably won't play next year. Uh, yeah for sure.

So Rush is like my guy go to for all Houston Rockets for anything Houston um, and I wanted to get him on to talk about Russell Westbrook because I don't think there's that many people who know more about it. I know he played for the Wizards last year. I know that. I just like, when I go watch Russell Westbrook film on the Wizards, it's really weird to me because Russell westbrooks the one player where like watching him without a crowd is just a really strange thing, Like

it just really is. You see him screaming into like this abyss and I feel like it's just you just don't get the same kind of feel. So I watch more Russell Westbrook on the Rockets. I feel like that's more of the type of team. Rockets are more of a contender as well a winning environment. Before we get into like the encore, the basketball, he how we can't shoot all that stuff, Like what's like when your team gets Russell Westbrook, what does it do? Let's do for

your culture? Like what does that mean? I guess when you get Russell Westbrook on your team? Okay, I'm really excited to talk about this, so so thanks for having me in mind, and I agree with you, Russell Westbrook in Washington is not the best I guess fit or kind of piece of analysis for how he's going to

fit in Los Angeles. I will before I get into the nitty gritty, I will start by saying my overarching thought on Westbrook on l A and that is he is quote unquote the number three option remains to be seeing how that works and plays out. But on paper, he's your number three, and your number one is Lebron James and your number two is Anthony Davis. So talent wise, the Lakers are far and away better than anyone in

the West. I think the Lakers are a lock for the finals if they're healthy, and I think they have a very good chance to win the championship. So any criticism that I may give about Russell Westbrook, just keep in mind that I think l is gonna win it all um, if not get to the finals. So what does it mean when your team gets Russell Westbrook? Unfortunately, First and foremost, it means that there's going to be a divide among your fan base. You know, some people

are gonna just absolutely love what he does. Some people are gonna have some issues with it. Some people will be more so in between. Um, he is the type that he just plays a very binary game, right, He plays his game at all times. Sometimes that's good, sometimes that's bad. Um, there's no discretion with him, right. So

it's exciting. It is exciting, and it's love hate right, Like, that's kind of the theme it's for for people I think like you based on what I've seen from how you view the game and talk about the game, It'll be love hate. There's gonna be nights where he cos off and he saves the night. There's gonna be nights where no one has energy but he does and it's infectious. Um, there's gonna be nights where you're down ten with four minutes and Russell Westbrook goes on a tear and brings

you back into the game to win it. And then there's gonna be nights where he's just pulling up from the elbow over and over, or you know, his lack of shooting ability really stands out and teams are able to double off and you have to figure out a counter and all that type of stuff. So so yeah, um, I mean we can get into the positives and the

negatives and all that. But I think first and foremost, Russell Westbrook on your team means a polarized experience and you're gonna find yourself on both ends of it throughout this season for sure. So I was against the move, Like it was clear, like people are asking me. I was like, there's no way this happens. It doesn't make sense on the back on the basketball floor, like you know,

he's a super ball handler. Like we already saw how Phoenix defended us, Like they stayed in the paint, you know what I mean, Like they weren't even guarding us outside. Now you add another um, a nonshooter to it, and I agree with you, Like Russell Westbrook's coming here to be Russell Westbrook. Like I see a lot of people saying, oh, he can adjust his game. You don't trade for Russell

Westbrook to not get Russell to change Russell Westbrook. And when you're getting Russell westroom for him to be himself. So there's a lot of positives and negatives to that, But I guess, like I just want to stay a little bit like what it means. I guess, so like off the court kind of with the role players and stuff like you hear he's a great teammate and stuff like that. Did you see that where like he impacted kind of the Rockets role players I guess in a

way that they weren't doing before. Like obviously James Harden's the I guess, the leader of that team, no matter of Houston, He's the face of the franchise. But I guess like just for some of those role guys, like I hear Bam mclamar always like talks about it. I think um in front the other guy that got suspended

from the bubble. But I think, like, yes, heys House as well, So like did you see that as well when he was on Houston kind of how he helped the role players, Um, I guess, like with confidence and stuff like that. Yeah, so okay, Harden was not that type, right. Harden was the type that was like you'll give me the rock Um, I'm gonna score fifty and like that's all you need to know. Um. Not to like put Harden down. He just wasn't the vocal type of leader.

He was like a leader on the court more so by his by his example of play Yeah excuse me, um Westbrook. I think and this is what I think will work. For sure. His approach and work ethic I think will mirror that of Lebron's, and Lebron is very Lebron is very much a guy that's like, Yo, we're doing it my way because I'm Lebron James and it works and um, you know, if you're not on board, you can get shipped. Um. And Westbrook is also he's a he's a family man kind of guy. You know,

he comes in all business. His approach may not he may not approach the nuance of the game the way that we would like to if we were like playing a video game and you know, playing with Russell Westbrook for example, but he works hard and I think that

that definitely permeates to the rest of the team. Fun fact, when he was in Houston, I think part of the reason that him and Harden mutually agreed to kind of split into their own thing was because they realized that they were no longer like they were still friends, I think, but from from what I heard, they didn't really even have dinner much together during last season, even before COVID hit.

I think when Russ came there was like you saw that Tim McMann article where like oh, you know, Harden was late for film sessions where everyone had to wait for Harden to go on the PJ to Vegas or whatever it was. Um, and that stuff irked Westbrook because he does approach it more like Lebron does. Um. Yeah, so I you know, they kind of I think we're at odds in that respect, Harden and Westbrook, and I think that they kind of figured out, like, yo, this

isn't how I remembered it being. You know, we've kind of grown in separate ways since becoming superstars in our own right. Um. So yeah, I think it will help the team. And I think that him and Lebron will get along in that way from a leadership perspective and from how they approach the game and practice and things like that. And I think that's definitely gonna have a trickle down effect on the rest of the guys. Yeah

for sure. So, Like I feel like he'll be big for a D because a D the guy that really he can't Like he gets a lot of ship and stuff like that, but he really does can He can sometimes go through the motions, and I think Russ is not a guy that goes through the motions like Rest is. Just watching him, like he feels like a guy that's on all the time, Like even watching his Washington tape, like seeing him scream and an empty arena in Orlando.

You know, it's just like it's funny to watch like him kind of play play with that kind of motor. And I think that does a lot for the team. So I guess we can start like going onto the basketball fit. So let's to the negatives first, I guess. So like his jump shooting, how like I don't know how to ask this, like how reckless does it get? Game to game? Like I guess, Like how how he's

been in the league for a long time. I guess, But like that pull up jumper that he takes and stuff like that, it feels like he takes a lot of shots where like when the other team goes under the screen, um, he'll still fire even if he's hissed to hit his miss his last five. Like what do you think your most like concerns with with russ In l a like on a on the basketball floor, Like what's your biggest concern I guess with him is his shooting, like his shot select shin Like is it his defense?

Like what do you think is the biggest concern for you with with rust in l A. So I was just looking up his three point percentages so that I can make sure I have the correct data. Um Man, he can be reckless with the shot. So here's the thing, right, we're talking about Russell Westbrook. You made mention. You're like, yeah, you're not gonna get Russell Westbrook to try to make Russell Westbrook change, right, And he's been in the league for however many seasons. I don't know what it is now,

twelve thirteen came in. I think it's thirteen. Yeah, man, that's crazy. And so you have to realize when you have a guy that's played thirteen seasons at the usage rate of Russell Westbrook, meaning that he's just got the rock in his hand, doing his thing the way that he does it, and he's won an m VP doing so, and he's said all these crazy triple double records in the process. You're not going to change that guy. Um So you're you're getting Russ and you're getting all the positives.

But the caveat to that is that you're getting it on his terms. Now what that means is, um sometimes you just have to live with those shots, right, there are times where you need a get or you need a bucket to stop the bleeding, to get some momentum, or to stunt the momentum of the other team, and instead you get Russ pulling up from eighteen ft and it clanks, you know, or you get Russ doing He has this one shot. I don't know if you've seen this.

It blew my mind when he started doing it in Houston. He does a a fade away like a post fade away bank shot off one leg? Is that the one leg? One? Yes, it's one of the ugliest shots I've ever seen, bro. And it's just one of those things where you're like, dude, we're down three with four minutes left, why did you take that shot? You know? And so you'll see that it's gonna happen. It's inevitable. Now there's times where he pulls up and he gets in a rhythm and it's butter,

you know, and it's like he's really on um. In Houston, his three point percentage I think was the worst of his career twenty five point six percent, the worst of his career since his second year in the league um and since two thousand fourteen, he has shot under thirty from three, one, two, three, four five times in whatever that is seven seasons. I guess one to three, four, five, six,

and eight, So five times in eight seasons UM. Starting back into four fifteen, he shot twenty nine point nine percent twenty nine point six MVP season season, after that, twenty nine point eight season, after that in Houston eight, and then last season he upped it to thirty one on four attempts. I remember in Houston we used to say, man, if he can just shoot like thirty two from three,

we would do so much better. And I'm sure Lakers fans remember in that series in the bubble yall were probably like, dude, sag Off rust because he can't make it UM And I know we're talking about the positives here, but you asked about his shooting. So yeah, So so that's kind of you just have to live with it, what you have to hope for. To his credit, he

did change in Houston. Unfortunately, it required Houston trading Russell I'm trading Clint Capella to create that five out space because the lack of spacing really killed Houston and it killed their efficiency, especially after the Mike D'Antonio offense that they were known for. So once they did that, he was able to use his athletic tools and his first step and his burst UM to really become a force. And he was like, I think he had the best

two point percentage of his career. UM confirmed that yes he did by far is the only time. It was the second time in his career where he shot over from two he shot fifty one four. The second in his career is seen where he shot fifty point three percent and everything else is sub fifty. So he was able to make that adjustment, get into the paint and kind of dominate from that perspective. UM, the question in the issue is going to be can he do that with Lebron and a D. Lebron can shoot, a D

can kind of shoot from three. I wouldn't call it reliable, um, but there's only so much rock to go around, you know. UM. Now. The positive about all this, though, is that I think what l A wants and I think what Lebron wants is someone they can just give the ball to and say please take over, so that, you know, so Lebron can chow and he can do that. UM. The downside

to that though is in Houston. I know specifically the bench units they would stagger Harden and Russ at times right, and the bench units led by Russ with Harden on the bench, we're by far the worst lineups that Houston ran. UM. Yeah, because you know, think about it, it's basically at that point it turns into like a Russell Westbrook like Washington team. You know, he's just leading the pack, going full force and he's either on and getting his way or it's

kind of more so reckless, you know. So UM shooting. It's tough to watch him shoot threes, it really is. And it's not like he takes a low volume. UM. That was volume he's taken in like the last almost ten years is three point seven UM. In Houston he shot three point seven, which was his lowest over that span. In Washington he shot four point two. Four point two. Three is a game like there's no need you need there's no reason you need rust westn to do that

unless he's hitting right. So it's it's just a mixed bag. Man. He brings tons of positives, but he negates them on his own with shooting because in his mind he can shoot. He just doesn't rust the percentages or care for the percentages. So we'll see how that plays out. I think it's

gonna depend on the lineups that the Lakers run. Um. But yeah, so you brought up his percentages, like his three point percentages, Like I almost throw those out because, like, I don't expect him to shoot, well, I also don't expect people to guard him, you know what I mean, Like they're just not gonna garden he could shoot for a game, They're not gonna garden like he can hit

his last three. They're just hiring up. So like I'm already going into it knowing like they're not guarding Russell Westbrook. So my biggest concern is that, like, yes, a D can shoot right, like he can shoot jumpers, but if Anthony Davis is shooting jumpers, he's no longer Anthony freaking Davis. You know, he's he's a jump shooter. Like Anthony Davis generational skill is to be able to roll to the rim, be a lop threat, and also handle animals, you know,

but they wants to get to the rim. That's what a D wants to do. Lebron as well, Lebron can't shoot, but Lebron wants to get to the rim. Russell Westbrook wants to get to the rim. I don't know who we're starting at center, but like I think it's gonna be Marcus Sault, so maybe that gives you little spacing and then one shooter. So that's my kind of concern here. I think this team is gonna run. Um, it's gonna be in transition, try to get a lot of baskets off that. I know you said the Russ kind of

non hardened minutes were like really bad in Houston. I guess. I guess the only like caveat here is that, like I think he's gonna be paired with a d Like, I don't think you're gonna have a Russ line up without a d or Lebron on the floor. So I'm a little worried about the Russ Lebron and like, you know, nothing else on the floor there with no shooting. So that's my little concern there. But like I think I like him in transition, Um, I like him as that.

And then again it gives another ball handler. Dennis Shrewter just wasn't that I want to ask you about his playmaking. So this is like idea that he's that he assists hunts and and stuff like that. I see a guy that's an elite, elite playmaker. Like, I don't think you get eleven assist a game on accident. Now, there's things you can do here and there. But like, like, am I wrong in thinking like he's a really good like he understands the floor spacing. I guess like he understands

like how to get corner shooters their shots. Um, I feel like he's a really good dump off pastor, Like, and he's to me, he's one of the best law pastors ever? Is that wrong for me to saying like he's a really good law pastor at least for Steven Adams. He used to get Jeremy Grant cutting off corners a lot um in Oklahoma City. Um, I think he's really good at finding pigs that way. Like, what do you think about his passing? Like is it how much of it is like him trying to get assist or is

he really just this really great playmakers? Is somewhere in between there? I think it's somewhere in between, leaning towards being a great playmaker. The reason I say somewhere in between is because there are guys that see the play

developed ahead of time. Yeah, Ron, Chris Paul, James Harden, Like they're they're waiting for the action because they're waiting for what that action is going to spring open, right, Like they're waiting for that pick because they know when they get the pick at the top of the key, they're gonna take it. And they already know when that pick comes that what they're about to do is penetrate, draw the corner defender over, and then kick it to

the corner. Right. Russ doesn't operate like that. Russ's m O first and foremost is I'm going to the basket and I'm gonna make my little crawl. I'm gonna use my burst and then maybe make like a quick crossover and I'm going to the basket. Now if somebody helps over at the last minute, he like figures it out on the fly. And it's both a gift and a curse, right, because sometimes it's incredible, it's like whoa how did how

did he react so fast and make that play? And other times it's like God, damn it, you know, um he just threw it away, or you know, like I remember, Chris Paul was really good at putting the ball in the shooters pocket because he was purposeful with it and intentful with it, intentional with it, right, he saw the play developing ahead of time. Westbrook doesn't really hit shooter pockets. He'll get you the ball, but not necessarily like where

you want the ball. So in Houston, if you notice, which is the excuse me, which is the first time, God damn, excuse me, sorry, in Houston, you'll notice, is the first time since Um, Katie left, Right when did Katie Lee? Fifteen sixteen? Yeah, so Katie left in the summer of sixteen. So two fifteen, two sixteen, Westbrook had tennis is per game. Him and Katie were working, you know,

they gave up their three one lead whatever. But ever since then, um, he has only had less than tennises per game once and that was in Houston when he had seven on the dot per game. Yeah. And it's also the only season that he's actually been on a winning team, um that that want to playoff series. All the other ones have not. So I don't know if there's a direct correlation there. I don't know if I'm being conclusory and just kind of like looking at the

result and then working backwards. But it just seems like there is a correlation between him having the ball lesson creating less and being used more as like just a propelled score that can also create, versus him being like the primary creator, which he's not going to be in l A. You mentioned transition, by the way, that's one thing he will do, um, and it is a positive

he will get in transition. He'll push the pace. There will be times where he just picks up three points because he just hits the turbo jets and there's nothing you can do. The downside to that is that in close games and in the playoffs, offense and games are one in the half court um, and that transition stuff

kind of goes out the window. I know a lot of Rockets fans would think, you know, oh, the points will lose from his bad three point shooting and from increased turnovers or whatever will gain in things like transition and so on and so forth, And that didn't really play out the way that you think. Maybe it works out like in terms of numbers, but like I'm saying, those last five to seven minutes, things change and you know, transition doesn't really win you the game. Um. But no,

he's a he's a great creator. Um. I just think that I think his presence gives the defense. His presence makes you have to adjust your game instead of forcing the defense to adjust. Now the defense can camp out and make you adjust if he's willing to move off ball. And there were times where he was and he would cut. For example, he'd be camped out in the corner and he would cut and Harden would flip him up an alley up and he'd finish it like that. Stuff will happen,

you know. Um, but he's not wired to do that, you know. And he wanted to leave Houston because he wanted the ball back in his hands, like he changed in Houston, but he didn't like the fact that Houston

asked him to change. And so and I know that internally there were some people thinking questioning the guy's commitment to wanting to be on a winning team because you know, he forced to trade and he would rather play in Washington and do what he does then, you know, be a part of a team that at least want a playoff series and had a potential future. Take of that what you will. But but yeah, it's just a very like polarizing, like there's gonna be times where you get

all the good. There's gonna be times where you get all the bad. I will say that. There's also times where you look up and you're like, man, he's killing it. He's got twenty seven, you know, ten and seven. But then you look at his attempts and you're like, oh, he's got twenty seven on like seventeen of three. You know, like is that? Yeah, that's good? But does that translate the championship basketball? I don't know one thing about him as well. To his credit, he doesn't get and this

will probably change in l A. So monitor this. He doesn't get as many foul calls as you think. Um he gets. He gets hit a lot at the rim and doesn't get the benefit of it. Um. And he's also been shooting poorly from the free throw line. Um, you know, sixty six percent this season sevent in Houston was decent sixty percent the year before that. The year before that he used to be an eight percent guy

from the line. So I don't know, I don't know what happened, but um, but yeah, for someone with his usage, which to confirm his usage, it has been thirty plus wow ten years. So pent usage in Washington, thirty four and a half percent usage in Houston. I imagine he'll be somewhere around like two in l A. We'll see. But that's the thing, right if if he's not being used, he's not as useful. Um. And that's kind of the Russell Westbrook conundrum is you've got to give him the

keys in order to get what you want out of him. However, when you give him the keys, is the ship getting steered the way that you wanted to get steered? For sure? And I think it's been pretty clear Russell Westbrook's been in the league thirteen years, right Like, I think it's pretty clear that Russell Westbrook as a super high usage player is probably not a championship winning formula, right Like,

it just isn't. We've seen the playoffs too many times. Um, him against Utah, you know what I mean, kind of shot them out of it Portland as well. He takes these personal matchups against Dame, he takes his Burnstal match against Donovan Mitchell, Um, even Ricky Ruby a little bit, right Like, you just see like there's a competitive fire there and there's like a double edged sword to it. But I think it's pretty clear, like him as a high usage, high ball handler is in the championship formula.

I totally agree with that. I think that's why this is so fascinated because I don't think he's ever like even with Katie and Oklahoma City, Katie wasn't the like ball handling type, right, Katie was like, let me run to the to the post, you know, let me, you know, come off these these these screens or you know, these floppy actions like Russell Westbrook at the ball in his hands and he's deciding where the ball goes, I think, And even with James Harden in Houston, UM, I'm like,

I don't know how much that helped as well, but like just him with Lebron and Anthony Davis, two guys that like, again you said Russ is the third option. I think he's the third best player, right, Like I think he's like he's probably still going to be the second option on most plays because you have the ball in his hands, Like it's just how basketball is gonna work. But I think this is the first time he's had two other players that I guess he thinks should have

the ball right that he should be feeding. Um. So that's why I'm interested if he can get that usage to like, but again, this is still Russell Westbrook, so it's interesting to see. But and he talked about him like he doesn't want to move off the ball. I thought Houston did some really good things in the playoffs where like I want to see this in l A as well, and you can kind of speak on this where they like inverted the offense right where like Russ

was the center, I guess um. But again that kind of moves a D to the perimeter a little bit. But I just think like there's things that can be open there. Him as a screener, and you know him and reportedly him uh Lebron and a D had a dinner together, you know, and they were like you, we're going to sacrifice and all that stuff is very easy to say, and you know in August or in July, you know, before before the cars kind of gets settled there.

But yeah, that's where I'm most interested. To me, So, like you talked about him off the ball and stuff like, was that stuff like Houston try to do and he really just wouldn't do it, I guess. Or is Mike D'antoni's offense gets a lot of like you know, flak for like it's pretty much an isolation heavy mismatch attacking offense where there's not much ingenuity to it. How much is that you know on Mike? Is that on Russ? Like it's not a hardened just wanting to continue to

do his isolations? Like how much do you think like that kind of contribute to him not being able to be as effective off the ball? Is that just who rust is? I guess in that it's a mix. I mean, Harden and D'Antoni definitely wanted to play that way, so you know, and Russ was coming into that scenario. So I don't know what those conversations were like, but just logically you have to think that Russ had to fit

himself into that um. But again, to be fair, they traded Capella to clear that space were him because it really wasn't working. Now, you saw in the in the in the bubble, right, they would double Harden, the Lakers would double Hardened, and they forced Russ to do something, and that is that's how you beat Houston. That's how they beat Houston that year. The difference this time is that you can maybe double Lebron. He gives it up

to Russ. Russ takes the offense five on four, um or four on three, I mean, and then he's got Anthony Davis to flip it up two over the top. So that is the difference. UM Houston did not have that. Houston had Russ going four on three and they were like, Russ, finish over Anthony Davis or kick it out for three. And so I think ultimately there are enough weapons and

tools that this will work. And I think that the one guy that can maybe not make him change, but rain him in or get the best, absolute best out of him is Lebron James Um. I just think like that's the one guy that can definitely do that. But Lebron is not gonna be moving off the ball. So that's what I'm mented to see, right in those moments where defenses are collapsing and you've gotta whip it to Russ and he's like, you know, one on one is mode.

What does the rest of the team do? I feel like Anthony Davis is the release valve over the top, and then you got a bunch of catching shooters um Areza Ellington. I forget all the names that the Lakers sign, but um so that's kind of the dynamic, Like what is what is that going to play out? Like, Um, I also think that you know, like I said, he will, I think he will move off the ball if if

it's there. But it's just about creating that space, Like you're now forced to create that space for him, and I'm just curious to see, like how how is that

going to play out? Um? Because like if he's standing in a corner, it's just it's just so much easier to defend, you know, you just know as the defense, Like Okay, we'll live with with Russ shooting the three and if you crashes like you can, I mean, there's only so many times he can crash the corner for the alley to doing a forty eight minute game, right, Like, but I think you're right. I think you will have the ball the most after the on just by virtue

of being the creator. Um. But I don't know, man, I don't know. I think I think it's gonna be interesting. Um, we'll see. There was something I'm trying to remember, but I'll let you speak as I try to remember. Point. So the Lakers last year, so what happened a lot was like their offense because people always beg for like a Lebron a D pick and roll. Right, They're like whenever, whenever we're down like five or six, you know, Laker fans just run the Lebron had he pick a role?

You know, and but like with that, just looking at it from basketball stints, like teams switch it, right because like, you know, who you have guarding a D, you're probably gonna want okay with guarding Lebrons, So they just switched that pick role. I'm hoping that and then our offense just turned to, okay, what's the mismatch? Very houstons, except for in the post, right, A D and Lebron are gonna be hitting you from step back threes or stuff

like that. But you know they'll attack you in the post. So like we'll just get a switch, throw it into a D. And again, a D s okay as a post player, but his points for possessions are pretty low in that in that sense, he's not a guy that you know, wants to just go down and to take jump hooks and stuff like that. So that's where the offense kind of melded to. And you see how ugly sometimes it looks. I'm interested to see if Russ can open up eighties kind of ball screen game. You know.

I know in Houston you traded your center and all that stuff. But I'm really interested because in Oklahoma City he was a ball screen guy. He was a guy that run a lot of actions with Steven Adams and stuff. Well, I think that Steven Adams had better hands than Capella in traffic, and um, I'm sure the A D also does. So I see your point there. I mean I think that it's logically it should makes sense, right, Rush should be able to run a screen and roll with a D and get um. So, I mean, I think that

will definitely work. It's just you'll see, and you're the only way to to learn or to figure it out is once it happens, right like, oh yeah, it all it all in your head. You're like yeah, yeah, for sure. But then once he starts breaking, you just start seeing like oh damn, you know, and about us. This is what I was gonna say, Um he is how old? Is he? Thirty two? I think too? Yeah, when does he turn thirty three? He turns thirty three in oh October twenty nine, so he'll bet oh yes, So it's

a thirty three year old season. Okay, so he'll be thirty three this season. Now, he was hurt in the bubble, he had like a quad strain or whatever. I guess he was healthy this year, so maybe it's a move point. But if he gets hurt, his game is so exclusively reliant on his burst that he becomes a negative by far. Whereas Lebron can roll his ankle come back, a d can roll his ankle be effective, Harden can pull his hamstring and still you know, take Milwaukee to game seven mm.

When Russ gets hurt, he loses that explosion and but he but he doesn't have the game to compensate for the injury, so he keeps playing his game. It's just not the same. And that's one thing to look out for if he gets nicked up at all, Like you're gonna get a much, a much lesser version of Russell Westbrook. And I think also, what we haven't talked about at all, and we tend to do this on NBA Twitter, We love offense. Yeah, I was gonna ask you about this

next actually defense. Yeah. So, and this is the thing with Russell Westbrook, Man, it's always you gotta talk yourself into it. You know, well he's got the tools. You know, Well if he just focuses, well, he's just he's he's a superstar, right like and in every sense of like what comes with that, Like he's a superstar. Maybe the production isn't it. But Russell Westbrook, whatever you want to

say about he's a star. So it's easy to talk to yourself into everything, you know, So it is you're right, go ahead here. No, no no, you're good. You're good, I mean, And that's what we like. It's just a natural progression. It's just funny for me because when the Rush Roomers started, I was watching you and Jason Timp and Jason Maples and like y'all were. I saw how y'all were reasoning your way through it, you know, and at first it's

oh god, no, no, no, no, everybody healed. And then it's like, okay, well you know, if X y Z, then okay, this could be all. You know. It's just funny to watch because that's the truth. And and that's kind of the underlying theme with Russell Westbrook is it could work. Some things are gonna have to fall in place, but it could work. Now. Defensively, he is just not

a good team defender. Okay, his game is really now. Again, this all comes with the caveat of if anyone can change him and tweak his weaknesses, it is Lebron James So and maybe Frank Vogel resonates with him in a way that you know, Mike D'Antoni didn't. I don't know, but he he's just so fixated on his game. He's a very me, me me kind of guy. Not in a not in a selfish way, but that's just how he's wired. You know, it's you, we're on offense. Okay, give me the rock? Right, can MVP doing that? MVP

doing that? So how do you change that? Like, if you were to explain to him, hey man, you need to change he'd be like, hey man, what the funk are you talking about? Like, go look at my career. Okay, thanks, And he's right. So it just is. It just is what it is. But you saw you mentioned Rubio against the playoffs, and okay, see right, remember that, you remember how he got so fixated on like his one on one with Rubio blowing it for the team, right, kind

of same thing. He's not intentionally blowing it. He's just a loof he ball watches. He instead of you know, noticing like, oh, hey, here's the pick, we need to make the switch. Let me communicate that to my teammate. Let me hedge real quick, cover your back, and then helped back over to my guy. He's more so like, oh, I think he's about to drive. Let me get this week's side block, you know, or oh, let me let me jump the lane and try to steal this pass.

Like he wants the big play. He wants the home run play um, And that translates to defense as well. Like he wants the home run play um, he'll lose his guy off the ball. Sometimes he might just kind of be aloof and drift over watching the play on the strong side and leave his his shooter open in the corner on the weak side. Like those things, those types of things just happen. I do think that l A should be good enough defensively to shore up his deficiencies.

But he he's got the type of tendencies that can break down a team scheme. Right, Like everyone's doing the right thing, and all of a sudden he's just ball watching. Wait until like jump the passing lane. Who that's about? This guy leaves him open, you know, those types of things. Yeah, so since the Lakers they ran a very much. They had like a bunch of ball hawk defenders, right, they had a bunch of like really high level point of

attack guards. Um, who pick up full core, you know, And I don't expect Russell Westerbrook could be picking up full court. I mean that's just he's Russell Westbrook. Like he's not gonna be doing that. But like, I think I want him on like a matchup where he has to he has to know that this guy can burn me, you know, Like I want him on that. I don't want him on like an off ball catch and shoot

shooter chasing around screens. Like, I just don't want him on those kind of players because I've seen he loses guys off ball. Um, he likes to attack the glass, right, So he's very much I think looking for rebounds, um, not a bad way. Like when he gets the board, he's off and running. So um, I think he goes for boy, I think he goes for offensive rebounds a

lot to um that that should help. But yeah, on on the defensive end, like I think he goes for rebounds a lot, trying to push the pace and can lose. His guy can go out shooters, so I liked him pointing the tech. I'm interested to see what the Lakers do if they keep in drop covers this year. Um, I don't think he's played with a big like a d behind him, so I'm interested to see how how

they kind of scheme that out. But interesting, Lakers are going through an identity shift, you know what I mean, all these the guards before where these like really like aggressive guards, and Russell Westbrook's aggressive in terms of like he goes for steals a lot. I see like he gambles a lot. I think, um, trying to play those passing lanes. So again, like thirteen years in, I don't

think you're gonna change the guy's spots. You might, you know, change a little bit here and there, but I think marginal fixes have huge, you know, implications for a championship level team, like you win titles on the margins sometimes, and I think in Westbrook can change a little bit that that can help. But I think expecting it too would be kind of false. You're getting Russell Westbrook for who Russell Westbrook is, which is in crazy player and Transition,

a crazy fired motor dude and there's negatives to it. Um, And I think you've kind of brought I guess like pulling like full circle here, like real quick? Can I comment on what you say? So, but you brought up a really good point. First of all, championships are one at the margins. YEA. Obviously you need top heavy talent. That's why the teams with top heavy talent making at the finals, and then whoever wins at the margins wins generally. Um, he is focused on rebounding, which can be a positive,

but that's kind of another theme with him. He's focused on the basketball right, both on offense and both on defense. So even on defense when he's ball watching, it's because he's focused on the basketball. And so that's kind of the trap he falls into, is like, oh, shots going up, let me like walk over, get ready for the rebound. Forgets to box out, or oh someone's swing in the corner, let me watch the ball, box the ball. Oh ship forgot my guy? You know. So that's the thing he's

his he said he's aggressive. He is aggressive him as a point of attack defender, he's he's I. He's intense, and he's like quick and jack you know. But The thing with quick guys is quick get joked, Yeah, because you're on you know, you're on your heels on defense. It's just hard one and you're done one move. Yeah.

And so he's kind of the same way like on paper again, like if you were to use him on two K and use his athletic attributes, like you could lock somebody down, but it just generally doesn't translate that way. So I just wanted to to kind of comment on those things. Um, and and I think your approach is right, You're not maybe he can make some marginal tweaks. I

think that's realistic. Yeah, you shouldn't view him as oh, if we can just make him change X y Z. Yeah, the appropriate way to view him is, Okay, given his weaknesses, if the rest of the team is able to shore up those weaknesses enough while extracting the positives that we can count on him bringing to the table, then what is the result we get? And I think that's the way to view him. But what were you going to

say about bringing it full circle? Yeah, because I was gonna say, like, so Lebron and a D is probably the biggest Like, um, how do you say, like gap? Right, it's it's kind of like they can fill in a lot of things. It's like you look at the Lakers. Look,

I love the Lakers team that won the title. I love the team last year as well, but you look at that roster like up and down, Like it's not like it's loaded with a crazy amount of talent, right like k C. P. Crusoe, they're really good players, like I love them, but but like Lebrono Nadie do paper over a lot of weaknesses. And I'm thinking, like I'm already expecting Russ to have five games, like I'm going into it knowing that, Like I think it's foolish to

think like he's gonna come here and just be this efficiency. God, it's it's not gonna happen. He's gonna have games like that. You know they're gonna be ugly games. Um. I don't compare him to like Andre Drummond, but like when Russ has a bad game, you know it right, it's loud. It's like he doesn't quietly go into the night. You know, ask Cruso. I could be like, oh, ask Truso shop too for ten tonight. I didn't realize I don't even know, No Russ. I'm going to know he's gonna be loud,

He's gonna be screaming. So I just think, like Canada, lebrono Eadie kind of paper over when those bad games happen, Like if those two are having good games, you can kind of fill the margins there. And that's where I'm really fascinating him, like bringing a kind of full circle here. He is now on a championship championship contender team. I think that Houston team was as well. This is gonna be his biggest buy in, I guess, Like, so how do you see it? Like do you see it working out?

Do you see the like clunks in the beginning? Like how do you think that fig I guess works um. And then as the season goes here, like do you do you think it's a pretty clean kind of early fit or are there's gonna be a lot of things that they're gonna have to kind of work through. I guess, just bringing it full circle offense, defense, everything, Yeah, So I mean, how do I see it working? Like I said, I think the Lakers will make the finals, if not

win at all. That that's I believe that because I believe Lebron James, is that good And to answer your question, I think, or to answer your philosophical question, I think that they will. They'll fill up the weakness is well enough because I believe Lebron and a D are that good. I'll push back on last year's Lakers roster not being that good. We're not having this conversation and you're not having the Russell Westbrook conversation if a D doesn't get

hurt because the Lakers probably go to the finals. Yeah, you know, They're probably go to the finals. They probably win at all um his buying, I think it will. I think they're gonna be really high highs right. I think there's gonna be like electric fast break dunks between him and Leron. I think there's gonna be some electric like Lebron darting from the corner finishing a Russ lob and just like times where you know, we look at this and say, no one's gonna stop these guys, and

then I think there will be low lows. Um you know, Russ shooting seven of twenty three for sixteen points. I don't know, right, um five turnovers. Also, by the way, we didn't really talk about this factor in his turnovers, because I think he's now going to be the the highest turnover guy on your roster. And some of those turnovers sometimes he'll like literally dribble it off his foot

out of bounds. Sometimes he's just not looking and he'll pass it to a guy that he thought was in the corner that wasn't turnovers like that that kind of just makes you like stop and think, like God, damn, dude, what are you doing. So I think it'll I think it will take a second to fit. Like I said,

there'll be highigh. There gonna be some of those games early on, depending on who's on a schedule and who's playing in those games where they just run fools out the gym, you know, and like Lebron is spry and ready to start the season and they're just dunking and dunking and eighties swatting and Russ is yelling and pounding his chest and it's like, oh my god, these guys can't be stopped. And then, like I said, there's gonna be those nights where you can see the shooting as

a problem. The lack of shooting. Um, there's gonna be nights where maybe they are still struggling to figure out who's getting the ball in crunch time and who's doing what with it. I think we'll figure out how willing is Rus going to be to move off the ball. He was pretty notorious for not moving off the ball

in Oklahoma City. He didn't move much off the ball in Houston until they figured out, all right, when when Harden gets trapped at half court, Russ you get the keys or they made this adjustment, and like, I think it was like Game four when the series was basically over, but they started having Russ cut um early and it works, you know. So it just depends on how they implement him.

But I think it'll be clunky with some extremely high highs and some low lows and then but I think they're just gonna win, and so I don't think it will matter too much. I think they're just gonna There's just no one in the West that I think talent wives can stack with them. Yeah. Yeah, So I guess you kind of brought up your favorite to win the title this year. Um, I guess I guess Lakers nets

would be my kind of pick there. It's kind of interesting kind of clash of styles, right, I'll need to ask you about this as a as a hoops guy, because I think it's interesting. The Nets are kind of built on this like skill, you know, this like suit smooth jump shooting skill kind of team, and the Lakers are like, We're just gonna pound you at the rim. I'm gonna put in Dwight Anthony Davis trying to just beat you up at the rim. Just a just a cool kind of clash of styles, and that'd be nice

to the NBA can't kind of do that. But I agree with you. I think it's gonna be a little bit of an adjustment um for Rust coming here. I honestly thought Dennis Shooter like had a good year last year. It's kind of crazy what happened to him. But like that's kind of the good and bad of playing for the Lakers. I guess you kind of if if you do do bad, you can have a really really shoo. How do you feel about how he fits? Because Russ

isn't He's not. It would be disrespecting to call him Dennis Shrewder, but he is like a quick twitch, give me the ball dinner Shrewder can shoot a lot better than Russ. Believe that or not. Um, I mean in theory. Yeah, I mean shooters still shot I think from three UM, and it was even the worst in the play The thing about Shrewder, though, which I think really turned the Lakers off on him, is he looked scared in the playoffs,

like he looked legitimately feared to shoot UM. And he started shooting when we were started, when we were down twenty. But like, and people forget this, he had a good game two in Game three, like he really did. He had like twenty points or something, and we don't win those games without him. But just when a d went out, he really got scared to shoot. It sad because he had a good year to me, good defensive year. I

thought he was a good defensive player. UM. When they offered him four years eighty, like, I thought that was a good deal like that. I was hoping he took it. He didn't, and that's probably bad on him not to take it because because of what he ended up with. But like I thought, I thought he would had a good year. And it's crazy to see like even Laker fans kicking him out the door. I just thought like he had a better year. He got COVID twice UM, which again is is Uh, it's not a great thing

on his resume. But like he got COVID twice and he really struggled with that at the end of the year or not. I don't I don't know if he got COVID. I guess he was in COVID protocols twice. Um, and he was out for like two weeks. So um. But yeah, it sucks man, because like he had a really bad playoffs and that's sometimes what happens. The Lakers moved on, it was pretty clear, and then the whole league kind of moved on without him. But like you,

by the way, okay, yeah I felt lower. I think in the playoffs that might have been a lot lower. I'm guessing. Um, I know he missed a ton in the playoffs, but I guess it just didn't. He also has a really slow release, Like when you watch him game the game, his release is really slow, and he's a small point guard. He doesn't get separation as you think you should as that kind of quick titch twitch quick twitch garden with a d you want a guard that can kind of shoot off the dribble. Um, that's

kind of what I'm looking for. And uh, Shrewder really doesn't have the mid range game as he should. Um, he comes off it releases really slow, so teams can kind of chase him over the top and kind of, you know, making making him scared to kind of shoot that little jumper there. And him and a D didn't really have much of a connection. I think I saw us that he had one lob to a D the

whole year. Um, again, that's a lot of that's also on a D who came in out of shape, which he that's from his own words, um, and a D was never himself. So I hope we get an a D year this year. But from three in the playoffs, by the way, okay, yeah, that's I guess that's better than what But again, teams don't guard Denis Shooder either though, you know from from three, like even his percentages that kind of look at that and think like they're not going to guard him. So it's it's fascinting to see

what happening. But definitely keep an eye though. I really think Westbak's gonna start getting some love from the refs more so, okay, more so than he used to, because there were a lot of times in Houston where his poor field goal percentage would be would not be reflective of his game because he was getting hammered at at the rack. Okay, he'd get like three or four missed attempts because he was just getting hammered with no call.

Some of that's his fault, um, for not like for basically embracing the contact and not realizing like hey, you're not getting the call, or or for just hoping for the call and like, you know, feeling the contact and like going like oh like ah, you know, instead of like trying to finish through. So not entirely not his fault, but I do think that was one thing I remember watching him where I was thinking, how does this guy not get to the line more? Because he's definitely like

bullying at the rim. It will be a clash of styles with the nets um. I think the difference is that Anthony Davis and Lebron are very efficient with how they attacked the rim. Yeah, may or may not be, depending on what version you get, but again, I just think you have so much I mean a d and Lebron dude, Like, who's messing with that. I've been saying this and some people have been telling me I'm crazy, but I don't think the West is good this year.

It's very middling. Like we'll find out if Phoenix was for real, if that run was for real. Um, and even beyond whether or not the run was for real, we'll find out if they have enough to to run it back the way that they want to. Denver. You know, if Jamal Murray comes back and he's fully healthy, Okay, Denver, we'll get well, we'll be legit. But if he doesn't, I still think they're missing a piece to mess with the Lakers for sure. Um. Who else? Utah fraudulent until

further notice. They lost to the Clippers, they lost to the guy. They got bounced by Reggie Jackson and Terrence Man after having point lead. I was at that game, man, I was at that game six man. Watching watching Utah, like you know, melt live was just the most just fascinating to watch watch him pick on Rudy Gobert every single time was just a fascinating like switch of like what matters in the regular season, you know, and what doesn't.

Watching Reggie Jackson saying no, no, no, I got I got Rudy Gilbert on me, you know, like go stand out, Like what an insane kind of concept to think of a guy that just won, you know, defensive player even more insane. Good people still after that game or like, no, he's one of the greatest defensive players ever. It's like, yeah,

maybe by the metrics, homie. But Reggie Jackson, like what are we talking about here, Like, let's stop making it Terence Man, Like Terence Man was like, hey, leave it alone. I got Rudy Gilbert on me. So how disrespectful is that? It's insane. It's just like, let's stop making this complicated. Let's just watch the game and kind of take take the easy surface level stuff away, Like you can play that man off the court easy. So Utah's fraudulent, Portland's

you know, contender in my opinion, Dallas. Maybe Luca will will them to something, but I don't think they made any improvements, any material improvements. You know who else Golden State, maybe Clay comes back and he's legit and maybe cominga you know, Pops off and Auto port Or Jr. Is the perfect role player and all this stuff. Are they like a championship contender with the Lakers and the Nets? No, not to me? Um, Yeah, maybe, but I mean I

think they'll be good, but not like that level. So what, like, what are we left with after that? Memphis Clippers, Clippers without Kauai. You know, like Paul George put the team on his back, Reggie Jackson was amazing. They did what they did, But over the course of eighty two games in a regular season without Kauai, it's gonna look a lot different in my opinion. Um, Pelicans. You know, maybe they'll improve and like make the playoffs, but they're not

definitely not a championship contender. So by virtue of that alone, irregardless or sorry, regardless of how Russell Westbrook fits, l A is the favorite straight away. Everything else is gravy at that point. If Westbrook gives you what you want him to give you, it's gravy. If he takes away in the ways that we have discussed here. Yeah, even if he's a net negative, I still think LA is too good. So that's the way to just look at it. You're just too damn good. Um, if Westbrook pops off,

then you will be unstoppable, I think for sure. And I guess the thing I want to kind of close with going on an hour here, but like we've talked about this um off the pod and all that, um Chris Paul. You know that the Rockets cut kind of shame for like, you know, our people are saying Chris Paul wasn't worth the extension or whatever. Like, was it interesting to you watching because I thought they were gonna win. They went up to Oh, Chris Paul looked like he

was in control. Devin Booker looked like he was in kind of you know, he's in a groove. They lost, But like, what was it like watching Chris Paul? You know, like a year after you trade him? I guess, like, what was what are two years? Sorry? He played in Oklahoma City one year? What you think of like watching Chris Paul doing what he does a bittersweet, painful, you know, like damn. For me, it was vindicating because I I

hated trading him. Yeah, um, you know, so for me it was just kind of like hmm, it was just kind of like, man, that might go down as one of the worst trades of all time. Now, Phoenix lost. I was rooting for Phoenix to win. Phoenix lost and the Rockets got Jalen Green, So like we we quickly forget. And so the story was written a little bit differently, but yeah, man, I mean I remember I was studying

for the bar. I was chilling taking a break. I got the Woes notification on my phone that the Rockets traded for us, and I was like, oh my god, what And then I got the notification that they included first round picks and pick swaps, and I was just like, oh, we really traded the franchise away, hoping that this works,

you know, and and it didn't. Um So, but I was happy for Chris Paul because he gets a lot of disrespect and I think I think that he's obviously one of the greatest point guards of all time, and to do what he did with Phoenix, it's pretty incredible, you know, and like people love to hate on him. Before the series, I thought Milwaukee definitely was gonna take it. When Phoenix went up to Oh, I was still saying Milwaukee had some fight left in him, but I thought

Phoenix would eventually win. But I think it became apparent one Janice turned it on. They just didn't have an answer for Johannice Um because Milwaukee was so much more talented. Like that's what it is at the end of the day. Man top end talent. You know, you had book CP and and Aiten on one end, book top end talent. Aiten kind of like a middle level talent, um CP top end talent, but thirty six so negates it. And then you had Jannest and his prime, Middleton and his

prime and Drew Holiday. Even even with Drew Holiday going like four of twenty one or whatever, you still had his defense and his ability to at least create. So they were just two top end talented. But but yeah, man, I see Lakers Twitter always talking about SEP three. If Lakers had gotten CP three instead of Russ, no one is stopping the Lakers in my opinion. But yeah, I just want to let you get that off because I'm

also a big CP three guy. Like I'm a big fan. Um. I remember I went to my first ever end game, was going to see Chris Paul um he played the Lakers. It was my first every game. Chris Paul dropped like thirty five and ten. David West you remember David West was on those team. David West had forty five that night and uh and they beat us and they beat us in Staples. Yeah, it was it was so but watching him just live bro he's even back and owned.

I think this was oh nine, just his control, you know, I mean, like nose where everyone's on the floor, He's like lobbing the Tyson Chandler like it was. It was cool. So like it's cool to see him. Um, I hope he gets the credit he deserves. People are saying he choked, like Phoenix had no business being in this finals, you know, like they had no business. Eightan is in his third year. Mckel Bridges, Cam Johnson. Those dudes are super young, Like it's it's weird to watch him choke, but um, yeah,

it's cool to get Hopefully he gets some credit. He got resigned to a hell of a number. Was not expecting that three years, one twenty and I got the contract that people thought the Rockets gave him. Okay, yeah, because I mean basically meaning that people thought by the time he was thirty six that contract was going to be awful. Turned out, by the time he was thirty six, he took a team to the finals. Now by the time he's forty, that contract is going to be terrible

unless he defies all the odds. But I can't imagine he'll be forty and doing anything other than putting up like thirteen and eight or something, twelve and seven or something, you know, so you'll be getting the bag. But it was nice to see him kind of prove his haters wrong. Um, because dude, I saw it firsthand. Man, I saw what he did to that Rockets team. Him and Harden were unstoppable together, you know. So he's like my height, like barely taller than me. And just just to think that

he does that among giants and the NBA's ridiculous. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. I thought that series change when like Janice switched on to him, right and like it was has pretty much switched the series to me, be honest, switching to him and Devin Booker kind of really shut their water off. But yeah, it's cool to see him, um kind of get going. But yeah, ruche, we're going like an hour here. I'll kind of close it out. I appreciate you coming on. Man. Uh, we gotta have you

on again with Jason, We'll have we'll have you on. Yeah. I wanted to get into kind of Rockets team building or it just team Bill in generals and we have a long summer here, so um, like the NBA doesn't come back for a while, so I'll definitely have you on Rouche Working Working. The people find you man. Yeah, Man, Um, and hey, thank you for having me on. I appreciate it. Always a pleasure to talk basketball with some Lakers hommies. Um. You can find me on Twitter, r O O. S. H. Williams,

Ruce Williams, and UM The Noble and Ruth Show. You can find it anywhere you get. Your podcast hosted by Ball is Life. We have a ton of guests on. We just had Onyeka Okongu on from the Atlanta Hawks, a ton of NBA guests, journalists, so check it out. Yeah, man, go go follow Rouge, go listen to the podcast. UM does great work. Um, not just with Houston Rockets, just NBA analysis in general. UM just puts out videos as well.

So yeah, go give me and follow. I appreciate you coming on, man, appreciate it.