MJGMB #53: State of the Celtics, Playoffs and 90s Hoops with Mike Camerlengo

and this is Miles, Miles and Jabbar God. Hey, I'll know I'm doing it. Got bad boosts three on one Davis job driving Spinney Curry A three punters stop Curry from Gold Tell again hit the tests. All right, Mike Camera Lengo, Welcome through the show man. Really good to have you have, really great to have it. Thanks for having me. I was I was wondering if I should I did a podcast once where I'd like jumped into the intro by accident like that, and I was just like,

don't do it. It's not your turn yet, don't wait wait wait, So Mike, man, you're a big Boston fan. I know what I heard from the Boston area, right, Yeah, grew up in Massachusetts. It's kind of just like what you do around here. Are you watched Boston sports and trying not to get into fistfights outside of bars and stuff? No? I was never a fighter. Um oh, but are you really from Massachusetts? I mean, can you really claim that you're from that area if you weren't a fighter? Well,

I'm you can. There are guys that stand back with their arms crossed and kind of go, yeah, get them, you know, yeah, yeah, got you right? So, yeah, I grew up you know, we're talking before big Celtics run Antoine Walker Paul Pierce in the nineties. Yeah. If you if you grew up in you're a Celtics fan, you never tried the Antoine Walker shimmy, then what were you even doing? Right? You know, even as a degenerate Lakers fan,

I did the shm me a couple of times. I'm gonna be fun to try it at a moment for sure. You know, it was very good. It was very good. And again, like, you know, how are you feeling just overall this season of basketball, not not necessarily about the Celtics, but how have you you know, been engaging a lot. Are you are are you still very Celtics focused or what's how you kind of taking it in? Yeah? I feel good. I mean there's always a point in this season where my brain kind of lolls and kind of

it's just like is it the playoffs yet? Like, because I feel like, you know kind of what you have in these teams and then like, let's just get to it. That's kind of what's happening now. Mark the whole month of March. I'm kind of like, because you know, teams have ups and downs, the Celtics but we can talk about whatever you want. But you know, they started out real hot and then they were like wait are they

that good? And it's like they're good, Like let's just get to the playoffs and see the Bucks and the Celtics and the East. I love that I heard the Boston come out when you said it hot. Yep, like a little bit. You know, I have myself trained and then every now and then I'll bet rips up like I'll just you know, yeah, hey, what park do you like to go to? Which park would you say you like to go to? When I went to college many

many years ago, freshman year. They were like, uh that you had to go around and say, like what you did over the summer or something. And I worked at a park. I was like a park instructor. And I didn't even realize at the time. My accent was so deep. I was going I was going to pack instruct and they were like, what do you talk like? Nobody could understand me? Right, So that's a real that's a real moment. When you look back, you go, jeez, what was I doing? Yeah? Yeah, yeah.

And then also you're saying you lived in New York during the Lynn Sanity years. Did you catch that way where you just watched respectfully as a Celtics respectfully watched.

I was entertained. I was there for a while. I was in New York for fourteen years, so I mean, you know, there weren't that many ups, no offense to Knicks fans, but Lynn Sanity was crazy because at the time there was some kind of fight going on with like the one of the cable companies, so a lot of people weren't getting the Knicks games on their TV.

So it like brought even more people out. You gotta go to the bar, you gotta check it out, and it seemed like everybody was just watching this like, can you believe this again? Right? Two or three weeks stretch was unreal? Yeah? And where you living now? I'm back in Massachusetts' outside of Boston. Yeah. Yeah, so I had a kid. I fully embraced being washed up, you know, living that suburb life from take it back to where it all started, just faking in my backyard with a ball,

you know. Oh and again for I do know some people don't realize the reason I wasn't on this show is I was on parental leave myself. I just had my first child. Shout out to my son, who is almost eight weeks old. So this is a very new time for me, one in which, like everything I saw of the NBA felt like a fever dream. But I'm glad I'm back with everybody to catch up and Jabbari, you know, to help me realize, make you know, separate what I thought was a dream and what is actually

reality because it all blends together. But yeah, let's kick it off first, looking at none other than the Boston Celtics. I mean it looks, you know, look like you're locked in there. The two seed. Um you know, I it, you had it there. Like you said, there's been some ups and downs. You're up, you're down, you're up, you're down. But as of this recording seven and ten doing pretty well. Um, but for you, what's the biggest difference that you're seeing?

You know, like we casually talk about the Celtics and look, as Laker fans, we casually are just basically like, yeah, we'll see if they're that good forever and then we're crying. You're like, but for you as a fan, like, how you know, what's what's the biggest difference for you guys this year with the fantastic comedian Joe Missoula, who I would love to touch on after this sing, well, I

think they're shooting as much better. I mean, obviously when they I'm not a stats guy, so if you're actually, if you're like, actually it's down, I'm gonna be like, oh my bad. But the style of place seems like they're just chucking them up a bit more. And especially in the beginning to the mid season, they were just going on runs where they were hitting threes. I went to a game where they won by forty. It was incredible.

So I think that's what plagued them last year. I mean, obviously they were in into Golden State in the finals, but like they needed that, you know, extra shooter, whether that's broggedon or not. I mean, I think he really helps. But I think that's the difference. They have a little more shooting help and hopefully they don't kind of get stuck in the playoffs. I feel like the last couple of years they've had that thing where it's it's three four minutes left and you know who's going to take

the shot. Obviously Tatum's the guy, and I think he's continued. He's gotten better again every year he gets better. But I just think having like another option and Derek White, I mean, I think Derek White's really good, and so I think they have the pieces. I know, during like the trade deadline, there was some talking around here of like, you know, are they going to add anybody and you know they're going to add another wing or something like that.

But I think they have enough talent. It's just you know what they can do with it. To that point, I was wondering, because you know, I can be honest about it, when you guys got brogged in, I was, you know, I was hating from the outside of the club and yeah and acknowledging like yeah, that's kind of like the they need. But I'm just interesting, what is

your level of confidence heading into the postseason? Obviously you know we're not quite there yet, but if everything stays relatively the same and you guys are relatively healthy, him heading in, what you know, what's your level of confidence? I think I like it feels it sounds like an

insidious question from a laker. Yeah, your confidence? That sounds view him later on down the road, like a month from now, if the Celtics are out, I'm going to absolutely hit him on the timeline with remember when you said this. By the way, thank you for your time and everything. We really appreciate you bringing it, but this is you. So also don't but don't don't mention we crashed out of the plane either, But I don't worry about that. Yeah yeah, but yeah, so yeah, well how

are you doing? I think they should with the team they have, they should get to the Eastern Conference Finals. Now, if they lose to the Bus, they lose to the box. I mean last year they were able to get by the Bucks, but they h what's his name wasn't it got hurt? Um, Middleton wasn't playing, so there was that little bit of like, well, what would it have been different if he was there? Obviously he's a great player.

So I think if they get to the Eastern Conference Finals and lose to the Bucks, that's disappointing, but not like crazy, like the Bucks are a great team. But if they if they lose before that, if they lose in the second round, that's a bummer because I think they have a lot of talent and I think there's no reason why they shouldn't get to the Eastern Conference Finals. Okay, and then that's not a prediction, but I think they should.

Why not that's your assessment that you that you feel it's a fair Uh, I mean they're gonna be a two seed. They should. I don't think that's a hot take at all. I mean that's not a hot take. No. I feel like that's why my career is going nowhere. I don't have hot takes. I need to get better ones. Yeah, but he got hot takes. Thought I should. Yeah, it

should start some kind of that commercial. I think for a Dish Network when it was like that Boston Family, it was like the thing and I remember there's one where the guy comes out with like a dip from the oven. He's like hot, hot, hot, hot hot, and always I think that's why my ear is so dialed into that campaign. But what we can say to Bart, well, I'm gonna say shout out to our guy, you know,

former guests Ben Goliver for pointing this out. And I'm I promise I'm not going to be a wet blanket here. But if they do make the conference finals, it would be the first time in if I'm not mistaken, the last four seasons where we had to repeat conference final appear all right, So yeah, that in itself would be an accomplishment. Yeah. And I mean, look, you got right now your match up with the Bucks. You split two games on the final matchup going up as you know

tonight Thursday. Uh So, how like with that game coming up, you know, do you think do you think it's that important or do you feel it's time you can make you know, kind of put a sort of put a stamp on it by taking this game, or you just feel like, you know, look, there's there's there's plenty of opportunities ahead, or how you looking at it in terms of seating or like future like mental, yeah, mental, every Yeah. I mean, it wouldn't hurt obviously to win, but I

don't think. I think the Bucks know they can play with the Celtics, and I think if they lost, if they lost the season series two to one or whatever it is, um, they wouldn't be intimidated going in like, oh we can't just we just can't beat these guys. Like I think they're pretty confident against the Celtics, as they should be, and so social to the Celtics. So it would help, um, sure, give it a little bit of a boost, especially if you can kind of, you know,

keep your honest under control. But that was the thing with the playoffs last year. I mean, he was unreal and that's in that series against the Celtics, and it was one of those things where it was, I don't know, it was a series where you go, oh my god, thank god, we don't have to play him anymore. Whatever whatever. Golden State, Yeah, whatever, Golden State, Scott, Let's have it. And they just you know, they put the beat down on a butt. Sure. Yeah, man, they're tough. The Bucks

are tough. So yeah, I mean, and they're playing really well, we'll get to them and a bit later in the episode. You know the sixers three and oh looking pretty good, Jack would ard time accepting that part, especially with your love of the Patino Celtics or lack of love for that era. Um and then against the Calves one in three. Yeah, you know, but but is this do you think that's the toughest matchup? Yeah? I think, you know, they have

shown that they have problems against them. But I think with any of these things that with a seven game series, unless it's a huge matchup problem, I think that your best team is going to come out. And I still think, you know, in a seven game series against the Calves or you know whoever, Philly, even if it's a tough series, you know they'll they'll be able to play them. Well, I mean, I look at that, you know, it's the old uh what I don't even know what the word is.

But the Celtics fans always looking back to seven eight, right, we always bring up that championship. It was like three years ago. But anyway, that's the team. The team was so good, but they play I'm pretty sure the first first round series was seven game series against the Bulls. There's a couple of seven game series where teams are pushing them. So my point is just because like some of these teams could push you, yeah, you know you can.

They can, they have the team to do it. So we'll just prove out over the seven, right, like if you can figure if they can figure out how to score late in the fourth quarter and not turn the ball over. That was another thing last year in the playoffs they had they had just a couple of stretches where they would run into the middle of the lane.

And you know, Jalen Brown obviously has gotten so much better as a player each year as Tatum has, but his ball handling last year he would drive into the middle and kind of a lot of guys are doing it. They were, I think they were pressing, and I think they've gotten better with that this year. But we'll see because the playoffs, obviously everything goes up ten. Speaking of Tatum, that's actually where I was going to go with it.

You know, like I've thoroughly enjoyed the MVP conversation up until the time when I didn't, but it's it's a lot of fun, you know, as as someone that you know, kind of always appreciated Biggs. Don't get me wrong, you know, like I'm a guarded heart, but I've always appreciated big.

It's nice to see this, you know, this conversation. But I will ask you, why do you think Tatum, especially when you consider that it's generally the best player on one of the best teams, if not the best seam by record, is going to be in the conversation for MVP. Why do you think Tatum hasn't been getting any more love in this discussion? I think because there's a guy and Jaylen Brown who's right there with him. I mean,

Tatum's better, but Jaylen Brown. It's like when I feel like when there's a one two punch like that, people take away from the one. So you know, if some of those other guys had a guy right there with him, they'd be like, well he has so and so right. You know, I don't know if that happened to Jordan at all, Not to compare Tatum to Jordan, but like, you know, you have that guy Pippen or something with you that's like, I guess, yeah, exactly where you go,

Well he's got he's got that thing. So yeah, I mean, Tatum's been great, He's at a great year, and I don't know what the MVP thing is. Yeah, is it just best player on the best team? Is that like if you take that person off the team, is it a completely different conversation. What's gonna have like the Yeah, like if you take you know, Embid off the sixers, are they just gonna crumble who's more valuable to their team? Or is it just like best player best team, which

is fine. I just like you said, the conversation around it has been about two months old, and I'm like, jeez, let's talking about the playoffs. Yeah, Okay, let's put a pin in that because they're gonna come back because I do want to ask you something about your coach, Joe Massoula,

But that'll be right after this break. We'll be right back and we're back, and I gotta ask you, Mike, like, ever since Joe Missoula's comment about the royal family and you know, he was talking about Jesus, Marion Joseph with a straight face, and then we've seen like this very dry kind of comedy style from him, what's your assessment of Joe Missoula's like comedy stylings as somebody who's into

comedy and brings a performer themselves. Well, I think it's great because for most of the time, I don't know if he's being serious or not. I know me so much. It's like a it's like it's like, uh, what's the guy like Andy Kaufman. Yes, where it's like you're like, are you doing some kind of performance art. I thought at first he was dead serious on everything, and then

recently I was like, oh, I think he's messing. It's almost like, uh, Mike McDaniel the coach of the the Dolphins, the NFL team, but he is he has a little more of like a wink and a nod, right, whereas this is like this straight faced like so I like it. It makes me want to like watch every press conference. It makes me want people to ask him questions. Yeah. Yeah, so um, if it's a bit, it's a it's an

awesome bit. And if he's like being dead serious, then like I don't know, dude, then it just kind of feels like, oh, he's like one of these singular He's like, you have time to be funny because I'm just thinking ball all the time, and you're like, oh, okay, go ahead, you're like coaching. Yeah, you'd be like coach would you do this weekend? He's like, uh, nothing, just got up jumpers. You're like, oh, but did you go out? He's like no, and you're like, all right, we can't talk. Yeah, you know,

one of the right. So I feel like he's got a little bit of a man. He's kind of messing with people. But yeah, there's definitely there is. There's a bit of a wink to it all because especially like I feel like he's always kind of has a thinly cracked smile with a lot of the things he says. So anyway, we're waiting to hear from you, Joe. Is this in Andy Kaufman, you know kind of bit you're doing or are we just we're just basking in your genius. Well,

let's take things out West West, y'all Dallas. Before I had my baby, they were doing really well. Just about a week after my son was born, on you know, around mid February, they were the four seat and I was like, oh, okay, uh and then I remember it's like, oh, Kyrie's heading over there, and I was like, okay. Now I'm in the midst of parenting, like my first child.

So it kind of like I would start checking in every few days, things have not been going very well, to the point that they are now out of the postseason, including the play on As of this recording, Jabari, what did I miss what happened? Because I mean, I get that it's not all Kyrie, but what's what is going on? Exactly that? And I'll be honest with you. And it's interesting that we have a Boston fan on with us, uh,

you know, for this conversation. But in my opinion, and you know, you know how I feel about it, like, yeah, yeah, Kyrie is a singular as an individual talent, isn't you know? It's still incredible, still incredible to watch till a heck of a lot of fun. But like when they made that move, it was a desperation move. It just, you know,

there's really no other way to describe it. I know that you're recently they've been coming out and kind of acknowledging that you know, behind the scenes, But the reality is, you know, this is not a Kyrie issue. This is a Dallas Mavericks issue, and it has been an issue for quite some time in my estimation. But I'm interested in Mike if you see anything different, I don't know. I haven't been. I didn't just have a child, so I don't have an excuse. But I also haven't really

been paying attention to the Mavericks. But I recently was like, oh, because when Luca did that thing at his press conference where he's like I'm not having fun like whatever he was saying, I was like, wait, what's going on in the MAVs? And yeah, they're just not doing well. They're not having fun. Is it Kyrie's fault? You know? I don't know, but yeah, I'm a salty Celtics fan. I guess. Even though it was funny when he when he tried to step on the everyone got that funny, but I

was so ridiculous. But uh yeah, I mean, like you said, Jabari, that's like kind of a desperation move to just throw him in the mix. He's obviously an awesome player, but does he match up well with the team, does he work with Luca? I don't know how any of that stuff's going. I don't is he playing well? Is is Kyrie playing well? He's playing well individually? Book and Luca have missed a couple of games here and there, like

like during the stretch. If I'm not mistaken, the team is three and one in the games where it's just Kyrie and that Luca. That's not that's a very small uh you know, a sample size, so you don't read anything to do that. But it really is a matter of like, yeah, the thought of Luca playing off ball.

Whoever thought that was gonna work? Yeah? Right, And in order for Kyry to be as effective as you want him to be, especially like in a series type situation, if you're if you're projecting out to the postseason, Like I'm trying not to be like, yeah, I told you, I told you, I told y'all. But when the move was you know, took place, that was my first thought. Like that on paper doesn't even make sense, let alone

like in you know, in practice. Yeah. Yeah, well, I mean it's it's funny because when I was like, oh, that could be interesting, but part of me, now i'm looking back, I'm like it was more fun when Luca had to put the whole team on him back no matter what, because that was at least he was like highlight tape every time. I mean, we could actually just talk about it, like just a second goal when they

played the Pacers. Uh, that pass that Luca through the baseline. Yeah, yeah, like an illegal water polo p asks or something that he did like the body control to be stuck in the corner and be like, okay, so y'all got me jammed up? Okay in his mind being like I have to elevate and then basically rotate my whole body and

whip this ball around. Uh. And then you know, thank god Jaden Hardy hit that three, because that like truly made it like the highlight worth talking about a really cool angle from behind Luca and you see him jump and throw it. And when he throws it, you're like, where's this ball going because there's the people on the way, And even when he's doing it, you're like, there are easier options, I think to throw this too, but he jumps in the ball. It's beautiful. Yeah, and he's hitting

the three. Obviously helps would the pass Luca able to chase it down? They got it trapped on the sideline, They fouled in a situation like a little more, how hard did he find Hardy? He found him had more importantly, Hardy hit the shot after they did find him. That's amazing. It's also crazy to think, you know, you look at guys like you know, whether it's Luca or like any of the guys that are commonly stated as oh they're not the most athletic, right, and that type of play

offers perspective. They may not be as athletic as some of the crazy athletes in the league, but you still have to have such a tremendous amount of athleticism and strength to be able to do that. It's not even funny. It basically just reminds me of how washed I am when I see a guy like lukea do it. Oh yeah, I threw my back out watching Yeah, like that kind of trunk rotation. I was like, oh no, no, no, no no, amongst seven to ten day you'll reevaluation. Yeah, that's a

lot of muscles being pulled right there. Yeah. And I think it kind of goes back to like how you even define athleticism because that's clearly athletic. I mean, sure, he's not the most explosive person, like he's not going zero to sixty like like some players, but you can't you can't take that away. Um. Let's also touched on Portland because the Blazers I was, I mean, you know, maybe some may maybe, but they have also appeared to

have bowed out. They they've only won one game in their last ten and they look like their head to the lottery. Um, yeah, what what? We asked this question all the time. But is this going to be the same I'm asking you, Mike, is this gonna be the summer where we finally get some move? You know, you know the move finally goes down of no, no, no, man, no, it's about the loyathin. And when I do that, I'm

not clowning, Dame. I'm just clowning in the conversation around it. Well, I'm gonna say I think, yes, this is the summer. But I thought that the last couple I always think that he's gonna he's gonna be gone. And it's just I don't know. They shut him down for the year, right. I think it looks like they're about like they if I'm not saying to didn't play a couple of nights

ago and they they kind of shut everybody down. It looked like, man, all he would be so fun on a team making a run like he is so good, And I think, yeah, I mean he's getting old. I think it's time. Yeah, but I don't know he likes He just likes playing ball. I saw a cool video with him where he was like talking about I forget where it was cast or something, where they're asking about like winning rings and stuff. He's like, that's not all there is to playing basketball, He's like, And I thought

it was cool. It's kind of a fresh perspective because we all think about like, oh, your career glory and glory glory. Yeah. Yeah, your career is like a failure quote unquote if you don't have a ring. But um, you know, if you're happy with life and you're crushing it and making a lot of money and playing basketball, good for you. But obviously, if you make it to that level, there is a competitor in you that you see other guys who you're like, I'm way better than

these guys. I can't for a second believe that he's not like that it doesn't matter to win like a ring. But I get that he probably has a healthy mentality to say, but even if I don't, that's not to say that I'm not blessed to be even make it to the NBA and play at this level that I am. So I get objectively, But but you know, every single person who's in that league. Those are competitor. There's not a single person who does not dream of that. So

I'm not I'm a little bit dupe. I feel like it's a little dubious to be like it doesn't matter. But I get though, too. You don't, don't You don't have to have like the toxic mentality to say, well, then, Mike, there's no there's nothing except yeah in two Mike's point in that. In that same interview, he you know, he was very matter of fact about it. He said like, yeah, like, of course he's a competitor. Of course he wants to win. But the way he's able to keep himself balanced is

he goes home. He's got a kid, he's got kids, he's got a family, he lives a normal life outside of the basketball courts, And you know what, I aspire to have that sort of balance and the bank It would be nice. It would be nice. My podcaster who's jumped the jumper just looks nothing like his. But I try and keep it simple too, you know, And I've had a bad recording. You know, I'll go home, look at my son and just remind myself it's about more

than that. Mike out there and the retweets. It's not all about the download numbers unless the network's asking it. Which James were working and then moving along, Denver had a seven game lead in the West and that's been reduced to three. It's so tight in the West. It is so tight. That's like, that's why it's so frustrating. Even wats like being a Laker fan and we're like, oh, it could have been how many were what was the

math tobar that we could have jumped? Like how many places if there have been easily ten games this season that they have it where either they didn't show up or they simply played down to the level competition, which sounds crazy for a team that just finally made it to five hundred, you know, just a couple of days ago. But if they just win half of those games, they're in the five seas. I know, that's how frustrating it. And now we're in the nine and I'm like, I

don't want to play these monsters up top. That's not how we eke our way into some kind of a run, but I mean it is. What's the So I know you say you don't want to talk about it, but what do you guys feel like the Lakers have the talent to like make a little bit of a run. They're just a frustrating team to watch. I mean, the completely deluded fan in me believes we're hanging number eighteen up, you know, But the realistic, objective person who you hear when I go, I don't want to talk about that.

It's because there is obviously a crisis of confidence on my side. On my part of looking at it and just seeing some of the things we've done, like sitting Anthony Davis against the rockets, I was like, that's a prime example where you need to hit the pedal, put the pedal to the metal to try and get these done. And I get the risk to him, but you look at it in the long term, it's like, well, then where does that put us in terms of seating and then who do we have to get through to do something?

But you know, I'll be glad if we get in there and I see something that feels like a respectable, respectable performance. I'm not expecting much else from that. And that's exactly where I am with it. Like the reality is this, you get even a relatively healthy Anthony Davis and Lebron James in the series. It's a fun conversation no matter how no matter how it plays out, that you have an absolute chance. That's all I'm hoping for. Like, like I've given up on the Yeah we're hanging eighteen.

I don't give a hanging it. Just get in, have some fun, you know, the Westbrook class. Yeah, I mean I'll say this now, but you know, you know, fast forward two and a half weeks from now and they're in and I'm gonna be sitting there like, yeah, you damn right, we're gonna win this. Yeah, you'd like, get it ready, get it ready. They don't want to. They don't want to. I don't want to see us. They don't want to see when Yan gay reel definitely how

I feel for sure. So I do want to talk about a team that I believe is very scary when just one player is doing well, Yannis, but the Bucks. Chris Middleton led the Bucks with thirty four in a win over the Pistons, And okay, this is this is about the depth because Yannis and Drew were both they

were sitting. They were sitting pretty but you get thirty four from Middleton, then you got twenty four and fourteen from Brook Lopez, another twenty one and fourteen from Bobby Portis, and twenty two points on six of eight from deep from Javon Carter And my take always about the Bucks, It's like, well, if they got Chris Middleton going to then they got something. And now you're like, yeah, Chris Middleton, uh yeah, and Brook and Bob and Javon and then

Drewianness are just waiting in the wings. I'm like that is kind of nightmare fuel for sure. I feel like if you're happy to go up against that car has its carder rocking that dribble, get to the base line, ring boat gutting' got it? Yeah? They I mean they have the guys where if a couple of them get going, it's it's kind of it's all you wrote, like, you can't you know all of them. I know you can't.

Like the more you go down the line, you're like, oh yeah him to him too, and then you're like, oh no, this isn't good, and that's just leaving out the honest part. Yeah. So I feel like you honest is such a big vocal point obviously where you're like, gotta stop him, gotta stop got something but if those other guys are spotting up or like dishing and kicking for three, they just have they have enough guys who can turn it on. So if three or four of

them do, that's a real tough out. And then when the Celtics are going to be up against in the Eastern Conference finals, you know you have a question coming up later for boldest predictions. I appreciate that you keep throwing that particular prediction out there on the way you speaking to exist. Yeah, yeah, for sure. And then, uh, you know another thing. I haven't been able to talk about the Phoenix Suns with Kevin Durant because that was another thing. I was like, what what this is? Watching

that trade deadline was wild? But right now, Jabari, where are we at with them? How are they? How have they been performing? Bring me up to speed with them, because I know Katie has been not he hasn't been playing recently, right, go, yeah, he's been out with a foot injury. But the reality is this, And it's kind of like with the Lakers. And I know that people may hear this initially and say like, oh, no, you're just lumping them in, but no, like you look at

the reality of Katie. You look at the reality of CP three, you look at even the reality of Devin Booker. They need to be healthy. If they're healthy, I feel like it's going to be a hell of a run and I can't wait to see it, you know, especially if, in particular, if it doesn't come with the Lakers. Man. But no, I think it's gonna be a hell of

a run. But it really is a matter of if that's a big if you know, you're dealing with guys that are you know, especially with you know, with Katie uh, you know, returning from injury and CP three, you know, just traditionally that you know, for whatever reason, especially at this time of year, they may, you know, they maybe have some questions about their body. I'm hopeful and and and this is you know, tieing the sky admittedly, but I'm hopeful that we at least get a somewhat healthy

first round out of these guys. Beyond that, all bets are off. But it would be nice to see them make a run or at least see what they can do together. It is interesting to watch. I mean, as much as I like to your point, I don't want to go through them. I'm just like you know all three of them are injured, but also it'd be interesting to see all those three pieces clicking together and humming along, because I would definitely it's that. That's a fun basketball

one hundred per cent. Uh. And you know the bulls are back in the conversation. You know it's the playing Yeah, I mean yeah, but I mean just still just don't because it comes on the heels of Zach Levine just violating us at the crypt I do not want to. And then that whole game from that to just Pat Bev hitting Lebron with the too small it was just just just a it was a hard, hard experience to witness while holding a young child in your arms. I

will say that. All right, let's take another break and we'll be right back with the most coveted segment in all of sports podcasts in the hot seat right after this, and we're back and to close out the show like we always do, it's good to be back here. We got to bring it into the rapid fire round of questioning. Now, Mike, I gotta warn you, this is the fastest segment in sports podcasting that is an official NBA product in collaboration with iHeartRadio okay, and this whole whole point of this

segment is we're gonna hit you with some questions. Don't think, don't elaborate, not just I'm passing you chest right just chest, pass it right back. Don't don't do any finger spins or nothing like that. I'm just looking for an instant reaction. And it is on you to keep the show moving. So if I start, you know, bloviating or going on some tangent, you need to guy to steer this ship again. Okay, like right now, thank you, jabari, okay, um, it's everybody ready?

Okay um, I heard you know I was listening back. I don't. I'm not sure. The other rapid fire around is a questioning count because I never heard anybody start the clock, or at least a couple of them. Nobody did. So we were waiting for your triumph return. Oh are you well? It's not a rapid fire around a question unless we start there we go? Is this for both of us? Is that? No? For you? This is just for our exalted guest. Okay, are you ready? I'm ready?

Mike Cameron Lingo in the hot seat. Question number the first, is there a single NBA player you would take right now over the chance of taking wembin Yama with the first pick this summer. Um uh uh, Luca is too tall? Ok wow, Luca? Okay, we're just talking about him in that passage in my head. He's still young enough. Oh yeah, yeah, Yeahwa is awesome, by the way, but he did you know, he seems kind of tall. It's hard to know. I mean, you know Chad too, You're like, are we going in

on another big guy? Who? Anyway? All that to say, it feels like Luca too. His head might be turning, you know, he might. Let's see where here because we might be fighting over him, at least emotionally. Um. Yeah, okay, Mike, a better answers, I'm sure, but I didn't. I didn't think. I tried not to use my brain. Well, a better answer would have been a quicker, shorter answer that kept the second going. But Jabari, please go on, all right,

we'll keep this going. All right, Mike, you can go back in history and attaining any single game throughout NBA an outside of Game four, nineteen eighty seven finals, which one would you choose? Um? Uh? Can I do? Olympics? When Vince Carter jumped over the French. Yeah, yeah, disrespect. I was just talking about that too with Jack, but I think it was in the context of a deep

fake where it was Trump or something. Uh yeah that oh man, does anybody know anybody who is even at I mean why might even ask somebody who was in the Olympics. Yeah, yeah, yeah, good times. Even though I don't even know really what happened the rest of the game, but just that one moment I think would be worth it. It's yeah, it is like one of those those moments

where you're like your jaw falls on the floor. I remember, like this was like pre YouTube era, and I had like the gift of that dunk that I would just like open on my computer be like, do you all remember this back when gifts were YouTube? That's how old I am. Uh, Mike, you can take any former Celtic and pair him with the Jays. Which former Celtic are you bringing out of the cryo freeze to play with them? You know, I gotta go, Larry Bird. Look at that?

Look at that? You got Bird in the corner, Tatum in the other cornerball ma'am. Yeah. That was a small lineup keeping it going. What is your boldest postseason or even play in Predictions for this year bold, go bold, like we're at Del Taco, Go Bigger, go home. The Lakers are gonna win their first round ploffs. They're gonna make it to the second round of the playoffs. Stop the show, stop the count. Stop. We're good. At the

count stopping we are good. That's number eighteen right there. Spiritually, you heard it here first, you heard it here. We are so delusional and desperate that that's all we needed to feel better. I can see you, guys, I can see it in your eyes. You say, give me something about the Lakers, Mike, And as much as I like that answer, it wasn't fast enough. But I do have to keep the segment of going. Here's the question. You make some incredible sixty second recaps of movies and just

other iconic scenes from TV and et cetera. Uh sixty second classics dot Com check it out, which we highly recommend. But we have to ask, what are your top three basketball movies of all time? Um, white Man Can't Chump? Yes, Above the Rim, Yes, and I know there's another one I'm forgetting. No, I'm not up to you. This is this. There's no wrong answers Blue Chips, boot Chips, Yes, I'll say Sunset Park a park park, what time is it? Definitely number one? And uh and Above the Rooms a

close second. I love them, and then the other ones are kind of interchangeable. I think I like boot Chips, but I boot Chips the movie I've only seen a couple of times, whereas White Men Can't chump above the rim, I'll watch if I come across it by just really quickly. The original cast that they had in mind for The White Man Kanjo was Denzel in Keanu playing that play in those roles for Billy Hoe and and in Sydney d I don't know if Keanu could have pulled off.

I was just gonna say, look out, Kean, well, well what do harrise? I could really play a little bit like like Division three from them? Yeah, So I don't know. I guess that Westley thing with Wesley and so much like they had a lot of nice cuts, very very hospitable. I love that. Yeah, but in reality Wesley was like the real life version of denzil and carbon copy. That's wow.

And that washed reference brought to you by Draftking. Uh. And finally, Mike the most important question of the entire show, Miles or Jabari Miles, because uh, new dad so much, thanks so much, thank you so much. I will tell my son that even though he will not understand, Jabar, you can't look, you can't personally all right, you know honestly, Yeah, you know what's good school? You know what next episode, next episode, we're gonna tell the guests we both just

had kids. Just we can do a year and then we see, yeah, we'll disarm the guest of that whole personal way to get people on your side right away. If you're like, yeah, I just had a kid, and they're like, yeah, I'm sorry, it's cool. It is wild how much like it's so weird how in past instance in my life I've had family members pass away, people like you all right, like and then you're like, yeah, I just had a something like oh really, how you doing?

Is everything good? And like it's immediately the instant sort of understanding that is extended. I'm like, this is kind of addictive. I might have a newborn for seventeen years part honestly, other than you know, loving your kid and all that. Yeah, going it's like going into like a coffee shop with your kid or something. You get. You walk down the street by yourself, people are like yeah, whatever, like they don't look at you. Whatever I'm walking. I like,

got the stroller at people are like smiling. Coffee shop. They're like, oh hey, They're like wave. You're like you're the king of the town. So yeah, enjoy it. It was wild. I was out eating when my wife we had the stroller, and like these three middle aged white dudes were like pulling up and they all had like matching hats, like like they were at a bachelor party or something, and like they were like they clocked us from across this like restaurant patio and made a bee line.

I was like, what is about to go? All right off? Yeah I was, and they just said, hey, you know what, just want to say, you guys are doing a great job. It's not easy. We're all dads, you know what I mean. You guys are out here. Don't get down on yourselves. It's hard, but it's great. And I was like, oh wow, And I was like, wow, it's wild. How again the well wishes that come from people like that are other parents on the street. All that to say, I will

abuse that power. Okay, Mike thank you so much for joining us man on Miles and Joe Barry. You got mat boostis um. You know where can people find you, check you out and support your work. Yeah, you can go to sixty second Classics dot com. I know people don't go to websites anymore, but there's like, I think one hundred and seventy videos up there, just commentary on

movies and sports and all sorts of fun stuff. Social media is at m Camerlingo on Twitter and at sixty second Classics on TikTok which maybe bands soon, so I don't who cares whatever. Yeah, and you can see things like the iconic fight between you know, Slater and Zach Morris and broken down, broken down for you, or I love the annexation of Puerto Rico a Little Giants one of my favorite movies. Yeah, and scene of above the Room. Yeah, and Erkel and Grandmama who and you know what, it

is fun. Thank you. I appreciate that you guys like him. It is fun to go back and watch all this stuff because it's like, these are all things that I love, So it's right trying to make like jokes but also being like, oh no, this is like my favorite stuff, right, because well and because all the things you point out, like you could only really be clocking them if you didn't love it so much that you like, you know, every background movement of every shot. And I think that's

what makes these is. I'm like, no, dude, look how awesome this is? Yeah, this guy in the background. Nobody's playing attention to it exactly. Anyway. You can follow us at mad boost these m ad B double O S t i E s on Twitter and you know, let's get to our tweet of the week. We were asking polling again, jabari, where are we asking people? Who? Who are we shouting out? All right, so we went polling again. We wanted their final Player Award predictions and the you know,

the results are in. I'm not gonna live y'as a little bit. Marlins. Yeah, who are Marvel Spurts? First of all, obviously they're just as good as we are. Huh. Look, they should have votes, just like anybody else that has a vote right now, yes, and uh, you know, if the League office is listening to this, which they actually will, yeah, we're just kidding and you should give those folks okay, but also but also bring down the fifty point basket from Rock and Jock that hit. Can't keep. You can't

keep telling y'all this, I can't keep. I keep asking our liaison at the league. I say, get Adam Silver on the phone right now with me, and they say that can't happen, and put Dan Cortez on a roster now every time, it's as simple as that. I want Queen Latifa stealing the ball at half court. Yeah, I know, yeah, I remember one I used to go because it used to be at UC Irvine for a while. Uh. And I remember Method Man was wearing the Barry Sanders air

Zoom turf shoes during a basketball game. I was like, oh, that's tough, even though that is the absolute wrong shoot for a basketball court. But anyway, what were so what were the results? MVP? You ask deep the defensive player six man, et cetera. What do we got? I'll go through quickly, MVP. Forty eight percent of you guys now say it is MBI. That is very different from earlier and you know a little bit earlier in the season. Just twenty eight percent for Yoki Defensive Player of the Year.

Fifty four percent of you guys now say Brook thirty two percent for Triple j Okay six man, this was an interesting one because there's kind of you know, even evenly distributed, but thirty five percent at least, said Brogden, with twenty eight percent coming in for Portis. I still think it's to be Russ. I'm not mad at it. I'm not mad it's still gonna be rust I'm not backing down from that prediction from the beginning of the year six May. That's where the money was, all right,

Brook of the year eighty one percent Bank Carroll. We did. Really don't have to go there, but I will say shout out to Jalen Williams because he has been fantastic. While he's not going to get the award, it's good to see him, you know, developing there in ok see, most Improved. This is the one that actually surprised me. Look, I said earlier in the year, it wouldn't shock me if market and won it. But that's you know, specifically

because of the circumstances or whatever. But the reason why this surprised him is because sixty two percent, you know, said Marketing, and only twenty percent for SGA. Traditionally, I recognize what the what we think the award should mean, but like, let's say the last ten, they've pretty much gone to guys that were good, that went from the most star to all you know, all NBA and beyond the elite level superstar level. So that's you know that, That to me is the reason why I wouldn't be

shocked if you know SGA got it. Uh neither here nor there. Yeah, but I think marking in fits more like the spirit or at least how or like when you're playing organized sports and most Improved were like remember that scrub he hit every point or that one game and you're like yeah. And last, but not least Coach of the Year Mike Brown runaway seventy two percent. If you guys think he's gonna be the coach of the Year,

and I think he will be too. Okay, and Boostie's listener the week goes to at Bucks Hoholigan, who thinks, okay, see's Mark Dagoneau deserves some wow Coach of the Year love. Okay, all right, you're supposed to be a tanking team and they're right there, and a lot of tankinis that just did not come out that we thought we would this year. So that's why I say shout out to him, to old boy marking in. All Right, y'all, thank you so much for listening. We'll be right back, I mean right

back in a week for the next episode. Sorry, yo, I'm still rusty. I'm just getting back into the swing of things because I am a new dad and you can't go hard on me because I said that. But we'll be back next week with a new episode and hopefully maybe an entirely new looking you know, standings table. We'll see, well, we'll see where we're at, but I'm hoping for the best, preparing for the best too. All Right, we'll see you later. Bye bye.