EPISODE 19: Doomsday for Dallas?

post Thursday morning. Note it was already Thursday night when when when we recorded? And it dropped Friday morning. So yet another glimpse into my old age, Chris Haynes that I can't even keep the days straight. But that's where we are in the season. Basically two weeks of the regular season to go. Another very busy weekend in the Association. Some marquee returned to the court. Lebron James surprised us

came back earlier the week than we expected. Anthony and Edwards also made his return Sunday night, as a certain Chrispy Haines on Twitter told us was in the works Saturday. I think you tweeted it, and it happened Sunday with the Wolves at Golden State, which is just that game is just now winding down. We'll save that for the end of our recording here so we can actually discuss the final score and put that one in some context.

But look, I think the really the biggest story in the league right now is happening in the city where I live, the Dallas Mavericks. There in this mix of teams desperate for wins, you know, from basically four down to still twelve, I'm going to rule. Don't tell Dame I said this, but I'm going to rule the Damian Lillard Blazers out of the out of the play in mix so that they are done. I think, yeah, I think even he think even he would, I think even

he would wave that white flag at this point. But basically fourth through eleven, you know, still all these teams clumped together. Dallas Friday Night Charlotte at home Sunday in Charlotte, two of the most appetizing games left on their schedule, two must win games, and Dallas loses both gets off to a terrible start. I mean, Friday Night Charlotte is in here shorthanded you know they're missing you know, no LaMelo Ball, no Terry Rosier. I mean, they've got injuries galore.

They're depleted. There on the second night of a back to back, the MAVs have the rest advantage. They've got both Luca don chich and Kyrie Irving. MAVs lose it home to Charlotte, and then today, with an immediate chance to get some revenge, they fall behind thirty to twelve, lose again in Charlotte. I'm gonna say it. I'm this is typically not me. I'm usually a you know, let's make sure we use all the runway and let's see this thing through to the end. No two weeks left

to go. If the Dallas Mavericks, entering the final eight games of their season, lose two of the three gimmes, there's also a San Antonio game there at the end. But if you lose two of the three most appetizing games on the schedule, the Mavericks are eleventh. They're only a game behind number ten. Okay, see, but I'm gonna say it. Two weeks left to go in the season. We know our ten teams now, we know we obviously don't know a final order but eleven, number eleven, Dallas

number twelve, Utah, number thirteen, Portland. I don't think any of those three teams are jumping into the play in. So basically, the teams that wake up on Monday morning in the top ten are all going to the plan at least that is that is the way that I see it. Dallas is a game out of the tenth place for that final play in slot, and you have him ruled out already, How hold on before before you add more, how many games left Dallas has? They have?

Dallas has seven? Seven, okay, Lakers have seven. Luca, as you reported, he's going to miss the next game because he received what his sixteenth technical, right, So Lua, yeah, that was what made I mean Friday night was the costliest loss of Dallas' season, losing at home to depleted Charlotte with the rest advantage. But then that was quickly replaced by an even costlier loss in Charlotte Saturday afternoon, Mattinee because Luka Donte also picked up his sixteenth technical

of the season. It's not going to be rescinded on Monday. I think deep down the MAVs know that, and unless it is rescinded, Luca will be forced to stay out of the arena Monday night, when the MAVs play the second half of a back to back at Indianapolis against their old friend Rick Carlyle. So Luca can't even play in the second half of the back to back, and the sun the Sunday loss in Charlotte start that was stop number one on a five game East Coast swing

for Dallas. I mean, they've got Indiana on a second half of a back to back, then they still have Philly, Miami, and Atlanta after that. It only gets harder after the first two games. So that that's why I'm not even looking at tiebreakers. I'm just I'm just saying, if the MAVs can't win even one of two cracks at shorthanded Charlotte when they're in a must win situation, I don't think this road trip is going to be. You know, I don't see them winning in Philly, in Miami and

pulling out surprise wins that we don't see. That's what they're gonna have to do now to prove me wrong and make me look like an idiot. They're gonna have to win some games that frankly don't look very winnable on paper. And then Luca had some very interesting remarks after that, the last game that they lost, basically saying that he's not having fun. There's no joy. You know, there's no joy in the game right now that he's playing. And I see people cracking cracking jokes at Kyrie's expit.

So that's what that's what happens to you when you team up with Kyrie. But I mean, there's a lot going on, he said, and I think he alluded to this as well about you know there's things going on off the court. I don't know, you know there's something going on, but you have to remember there's all these are human beings, these are individuals. There's always something going

on off the court. But the way Luca makes it sounds as if it's like if there there's really something serious that that has his attention, and so you know that can't be if you're Maverick Mavericks. Yeah, the Mavericks fans have have really been They've really had a tough weekend. They have they had a tough weekend, and I gotta I gotta feel for how tough the Mavericks have been taking it, you know on Friday when my story dropped with the interview I had with Jalen Brunson. So yeah, that, Yeah,

well we're gonna get to that for sure. I'm still mad. I'm I'm still mad that you can just you know, you can get Jalen on the phone and I can't. He's a great he's a he's a good individual style. That's that's all those two. Now, he's he's I loved watching the guy play. He gets better every year. And we will get to that in a second. What brought up, Yeah, go ahead, you brought up the Luca comments. Look, I was,

I was in the room when he said it. Luca is typically very guarded and non revelatory in his comments, so that was a definite surprise that he said that much about his unhappiness, which has been very very clear on the court. And you know he's alluding to some sort of off court discord that's you know, not helping the situation. Obviously, he's not going into any specifics. And

you know you said it. I mean, look, I wrote a story last Monday, pretty extensive piece kind of looking at Kyrie Irving's first six weeks as a mav and I mean it, Kyrie Irving is not the source of turbulence in Dallas right now. I mean, if you went around that locker room, he has been incredibly well received. The guys on the team really really like him. I mean when they won the game in LA, when they escaped and Moxi Kliba hit the game winning shot at

the buzzer. I mean, you heard, you heard Kliba just in two interviews lavish praise on Kyrie Irving that we haven't heard for a long long time, just about what a helpful teammate he's been to Moxi. So, I you know, it's natural. Look, you can't get around the record. They're seven and thirteen since the trade. It clearly has not gone well when the two of them have been in uniform. There's also been some injuries. So they're three and one. You know they I guess three and one when it's

Kyrie alone, oh and two when Lucas alone. So they've had to play six games since the trade where they've only had one of them. They've had three additional games where they had neither their one and two in those games. So, I mean, injuries have certainly been a factor as well. But I don't think Luca was in any way, shape or form alluding to anything with Kyrie. And obviously, as you said, you know, it wasn't just Twitter. I mean

there were reports about it that you know, there were reports. Yeah, I mean, I don't even want to dignify them by by giving them any more amplification than that, but there were certainly there were certainly plenty of dialogue the next day that you know, this was Kyrie related somehow, and and from my seat it was not. Um, but look, whatever is going on, you know, it definitely raised eyebrows

that Luca was willing to disclose it. Jason Kidd before today's game, you know, said it's on the organization to try to help him through whatever is going on. And after a really bad first quarter in Charlotte, you know, Luca did turn it on and suddenly manufactured a forty point game in this dreadful loss today. So um, you know, certainly, because this is now a subject that that he has shared publicly, there's gonna be presumably more questions and and

and more talk about it, for sure. But I mean, the map, the maps have the maps have so many issues. I mean, it just it's you know, it's getting getting Kyrie and Luca in every game, adding them more reps together, winning games when they're together. But I mean, even if it was going absolutely swimmingly with the two stars, I mean, they are so poorous defensively, so bad on the boards.

You just it's really hard to overcome that stuff. I mean, Charlotte just getting to the rim in the fourth quarter like there was nobody there and and you know, that was always the fear of you know, people who did not think the Mavericks should do this trade. You're you know, they're giving up the Mavericks in this deal. They're giving up Dorian Phinney Smith, who, next to Moxi Kleiba, is

their best defenders. So I mean they got even worse defensively, surrendering Dorian Phinney Smith with Spencer Ginwittie and a future unprotected first to twenty twenty nine for Kyrie going into free agency. So there is a lot of frustration in the city where I reside, and frankly, frankly, a lot of questions that don't have clear answer right now. I mean,

you tell me what you you know. I'm sure you when you I mean you've interviewed Luca to I just remember at the All Star Game you had a you had a little visit with him in Salt Lake City. I mean, what did you think when you saw that that clip? No, it was definitely alarming. It's alarming. I mean, you know, he, like you said, he doesn't he doesn't reveal too much at all of anything, let alone something of that magnitude. So it definitely, you know, it definitely

caught your attention. But you know, as it pertains to the solution, like what is it? Because I know that's what a lot of Maverick fans want to know. And I see, you know, I look out Twitter. I kind of even though Twitter is not everything, you know, it kind of gives you a pulse on on a temperature, I should say, on just what it's being said. And you know, oftentimes, you know, social media pretty much goes

out and blames the coach. Nine times I tend to coach, but I'm seeing a lot of people not just blame the coach, but you know, I see I'm seeing a lot of people blaming Mark Cuban himself, the owner, and so you know, it's just it's an an interesting time here. With Dallas. They went for a big swing at the trade deadline, got Kyrie trying to do everything they can to give Luca that help to try to take the

team to the next level. You know, with this team, you know, not far removed from a Western Conference Finals appearance, and it is not working out. This season has been it's been tough. You know. JaVale McGee didn't turn out to be the player that they envisioned Javelle. I talked to Javille McGee. He feels like he still has it, you know. So it's just it's tough, man, It's tough.

I don't I don't know what what's going to happen, but obviously it has to be a little bit of a roster shake up in the offseason to to repair this. I'm not so I'm not so sure of against I You're you're there, you're right there, closer. I'm not so sure that they're completely out of it. They're going my dog barket again, Prince quiet, quiet, shooting down your MAV's optimism. That's what he's doing. Yeah, he's tell me, listen to you, that's what you say. Well, I think they definitely still

have a shot man, you got get the look. They're mathematically still there. The reason I've reached this, you know position, is because you again, if those two games were must wins, and okay, it happens once, but the same thing happens twice against Charlotte that has nothing to play for, and that is missing key players. This is it's not like this was LaMelo Ball and Rogier and Gore Hayward just

going to town. Yes they had Hayward, Yes they had PJ. Washington, but I mean this isn't even a full strength Hornets team and they just came into Dallas and embarrassed you. I mean, Dennis Smith Junior hit the game ceiling three on Friday night and was giddy beyond words. He did

not want I mean he did. He did a lengthy round of interviews outside the Charlotte locker room and you know, seeing a lot of old faces that covered him when he was in Dallas as a rookie, and you know, flat out said how much he enjoyed effing up the mav season. And then it happened again. He had to, you know, he Dallas cuts it to three minute and change left Dennis Smith all alone. Alleybdunk hornets back up five and he's just he's just chirped at the at

the MAVs bench. So I mean, those two I guess that's what I'm saying. Those two losses were so bad that I'm throwing out tie breakers and you know, what ifs and every you know, like the what ifs to me don't matter. Like if you can't even win one of those two games, that's beyond alarming, Like alarming isn't even enough. Well, I guess it's going to get worse because as you said, and as you claimed it stated, it's not getting any better. They're not going to be

in that top tier. So I hope. Well, and that's I mean, and that's and look and and you know, you said it. What's going to happen? You know, And that's the question everyone has. And look, it's to me it is still too early to call it. You know. I wrote in my piece last Monday that look, the early whisperers signals, indications, whatever you want to call them. You know, is is Dallas resigning Kyrie Irving to the multi year deal he wants. Is that feasible? Certainly it's feasible.

But even if the guard play was just working hand in hand in perfect concert. I mean, the reality is the JaVale McGee signing was a huge swing and a miss for Dallas, and they don't have many trade assets left and and how are they going to you know, A are they going to resign Kyrie Irving? And B how do they proceed rosterwise too? I mean, their their front line. They have to make some major upgrades on the front line given the problems they're having defensively rebounding.

I mean, they've they've been is talk Franco, who's an outstanding writer for d magazine here in town, who's actually Slovenia based, A did a piece recently there was really good, just kind of laying out how the MAVs have been. They've been kind of forced to play such small lineups because they're just not getting production from their bigs, and so they've played really small most of the year. It's

a dire picture. I can't sugarcoat it. And then you when everybody in Dallas is already in this mode, in this mode, there it goes Turner Sports Chris Haynes with a expansive Jalen Brunson interview where Jalen Brunson said, all kinds of stuff. What do he say? Stuh, Well, I think he said somewhere in there that he really wanted to stay in Dallas, So you know, I mean, didn't he He did say that, and I was not expecting I did not expect that reaction from mass Fast. Oh man,

come on, I miss him. I mean, look, they miss him. I mean because because that's the I mean, you can't understate how big a loss that was. Because not only has he gone to another level, not only has he you know, he's got the Knicks back into the East top five with his leadership, the dude was just super solid. He was you know, he was not a super vocal guy, but he was you know, I would say the most overt locker room influence that the MAVs had last season

when they went to the conference finals. And and he was great playing with or without Luca. He knew how to flourish when he was on the floor with Luca and when he wasn't, And and just a very underrated skill. And the Knicks got a bargain four years, one hundred four million for Jalen Brunson. Some people thought it was an overpay. I said, at the time it was not. But it's a bargain. Who had that? I mean he had that position. I mean it's he's just the dude

just oozes solidity. Man. But you're are you gonna like you get him? Like you guys are just like that. How he just gives you a ring? What's up? Man? Hey, No, I've been working on for a minute. I've been working on it for a minute. I had somebody, somebody said it up for me, and I think I said it. You know, I said it last our last part. He

called me at halftime. What texts me at halftime when the Knicks were playing the Orlando Magic in Orlando, Um believe that would have been Thursday, last Thursday, And he said he's gonna call me after the game. And I thought he was playing. I thought he was playing in that game. And I said, but get back out there on the floor. I said, he could worry about me later. He said, no, no, I'm actually sitting out this game. So I just wanted to make sure I hit you

back in he caught. Man, he hit me back after the game, you know, So that's we're talking. He called me probably eleven thirty, probably close to midnight his time in in Orlando, and so he gave me all the time that I needed, man, and he was he was very transparent. I wasn't sure because you know he you're not most of the time. You don't get much out of Jalen Like he's very polished, very polished. You know, he knows how to answer questions. He knows how to

answer questions without really giving you anything. And uh, he was just very transparent man. He and I appreciate I appreciate him. I didn't think he's gonna touch on the Dallas team. Ye, I didn't think he was going to touch on what Dallas offered. But you know, it's one of those conversations we had where he just went into it and we kind of and I kind of took it from there. And so he he was. He was more than willing, and he showed a lot of love to Dallas. But he also said, hey, that's on them.

They could they could have had me at a discount. I was more than willing to state there the rest of my career. He said he wanted to do that. He gave a shout out to JJ Barrere, who was his VET, and he said he wanted to be be in a row like JJ Baret, where you were just a Maverick staple, and it didn't get to happen for other reasons. So I know a lot of people say, like, why didn't they Why didn't they give him that contract? It was a four year, believe fifty five million at

the time. Yeah, So basically when the season started, both Jalen Brunson and Dorian Finney Smith were eligible for four year, fifty six million dollar deals. The rumble when the season started was Dallas wanted to wait because in case some sort of major trade came around that they would be able to trade those guys, because if you sign them to those deals, then they wouldn't be tradeable in season.

So nothing happened for a while. Rick Brunson later said, and I think Jalen alluded to this in your conversation with him. Rick Brunson, his father, now a Knick's assistant coach, told Tim mcman of ESPN that he went back to the Mavericks in January and said, we'll take that four fifty six now, and the MAVs still held off. Now, behind the scenes, there are some in Dallas who dispute that account. But Rick Brunson said it. You know, he

said he put his name on it. He put it out there, and you know, I think Jalen alluded to it as well. So you know, that's the version that is most known and best known. And if guys say it on the record, you know you take it at phase value. So the MAVs in January still no deal, trade deadline passes, Brunson and Dorian Finney Smith are still Mavericks. Dorian Finney Smith signs that four year, fifty six million dollar extension minutes after the deadline, almost immediately that deal

is done. But obviously by that point, Jalen Brunson is having a fantastic season. He knows he's able to get way more than that if he waits to go to the open market, and there was no way he was to be able to get that kind of deal. I mean, there was no way Dallas was going to convince him to take four to fifty six after the deadline passed. So the real issue, I mean the MAVs, I mean, they should have done it from the start of the season. They knew what they had. But I think one other

question that lingers for me. It became clear on once it. You know, in the week before a free agency it became clear that Brunson was going to the Knicks, especially on Draft night when the Knicks made all the moves they made to generate more cap space and they they shed contracts, and at that point it became clear that the Knicks were coming at Brunson with a four year

offer that was at least one hundred million. So look, the Mavericks could have offered five years and a crazy number one hundred twenty five million, one hundred and fifty million at that point they did didn't do that, and Jalen just went to the Knicks. I think one question that will always linger for me as an unanswered question, what would have happened if Dallas threw a last ditch hail Mary and said to Jalen, Okay, we know you want to go to the Knicks. We've messed this up.

We should have signed you long ago, but we're now going to offer you one twenty five over five or even more, just to see if there was a way to change his mind. Now, at that point, maybe there was no way. Maybe there was no way to change his mind, and he was dead set on going to New York and knowing that his dad was going to end up on the coaching staff, and he's gonna get a chance to play for Tom Thibodeaux, who he's known since he was a kid, and basically get to be

with his dad every single day. Maybe even an extra twenty five mill or more doesn't sway him at that point. But no, that's a what if that I would still kind of throw out there. How do we not know sty that they didn't get a chance to make that offer? And look, you're to my knowledge, it didn't happen. You're right, maybe you know, is it possible that it did? And it was never reported and and we never heard about it. You know, to my knowledge, I don't believe that happened.

But you know, maybe I need to take another run at it and see if it did. But um, the way it sounds like, you know, we're telling all these stories from from different sizes and different points of view. The way it sounds is that Jalen might have been a little you know, frustrated the way things handled that the way things were handled that he was going to leave regardless, right, yeah, and so and look and that and and that's and that's very possible too, that the

trade deadline comes and goes. He's still a maverick, and he might have just said at that point, I'm playing this out and I'm you know, I know that, Nick. I mean he knew, you know, Leon Rose is essentially family for Jaylen Brunson, So I mean he knew the Knicks we're going to be there waiting with a significant offer. And look, you have to say the move to New

York has has been fantastic for him. You know, I did wonder what was it going to be like for Jaylen Brunson as as as relentlessly solid and efficient and productive as he was in Dallas. There is a difference being the second best player on a team with Luca don Chich and going to New York and being the guy they talk about as the first point guard of repute that they've had in the twenty first century to now be the face of that team and you're the guy that people are going to point to if things

don't go well. And Jalen Brunson has faced that absolutely beautifully and has been, you know, again, better than ever. He's had the best ear of his career, had a very good All Star case, has an All NBA case, and has just been you know the guy again. He gets better every single year. So you know, I don't know if we'll ever get all the answers, but the answer that we have is Dallas misses him. That's what I saw some That's what I saw. I was. I was awakened to that on Friday. That's I didn't know.

It was that deep. I did not know Mark was chrisy was catching strays. I saw Mark qub he was catching he was catching straights. Off of that story right there. Sorry, are going through it, Sorry, mals season as a raveling, and here comes over comes Chris Hayes from the Bay Area with a one on one with Jalen Brunson. Mark. I didn't know. I had no clues. My bad. I know now I know now, all right, Well, a little closer to home for you, man. I believe Minnesota ended

up winning that game with the Warriors. I haven't been able to pay, but in Anthony Davis's return, Golden State takes a home l This West is still crazy, absolutely crazy. So Minnesota surging to thirty eight and thirty seven there within a half game of Golden State Golden State, clinging to a top six spot. New Orleans after a four game winning streak from nowhere. With no Zion, the Pelicans are back to five hundred and their eighth the Lakers. Now,

let's talk about the Lakers Lebron James. Earlier this week, you and other high profile reporters all reported that Lebron James was hopeful to come back in the last three to four games of this season. Lebron uncorked a tweet saying y'all sources basically saying no timetable has been disclosed. And then all of a sudden this morning and again we're recording this on Sunday night, and all of a

sudden this morning, the Lakers upgrade Lebron to questionable. And then he has a great pregame workout, throws down a massive dunk. Activated for the game, and Lebron James comes back with eight games to go. The Lakers have to be giddy at this prospect that Lebron is suddenly back earlier than they hoped. And then they lose it home to Chicago to Pat Pat beab You see Pat BEV putting his hands on his nose, saying the Lakers stink. How could I not say it's path? Man? Do you

knew Pat Bear was gonna act up? Did he he had the little floater over Lebron. Did he made the made the too small signal with his hand? You knew Pat Bell? I mean before before the game, Pat beb had the tweet Oh with him with some scharmon with some scharmon tissue in the car. So is he so? So he's saying the Lakers are saw I think that's I think that's what I think that's what he was getting at. I really do, man, I think that's where he was getting at. Yeah, Laker obviously Lakers don't. They

aren't in the same type of trouble as Dallas. But they're they're right there. They're right there. No, And that's the thing I think. I'm you know again, I'm you know, this might get me tweeted at, so maybe I shouldn't do this. But my presumption was that Lebron James is sitting there looking at this and saying this West is

even more wide open than I thought it was. I remember when Lebron turned thirty seven last season, I wrote a column this was last season that Lebron i can't believe I'm saying this, but the best birthday present that any of us could give you is the fact that

the West is more mid than it's ever been. That was last season, and then this season it's even more wide open, more team you know again, from Phoenix at number four, all the way down to number twelve Utah, just this clump of teams that are four games over five hundred to four games under five hundred. So there's the Lakers are right in the heart of this thing. So I'm I'm My presumption is that Lebron is sitting there saying, if I come back, now play these last

seven eight games, we can actually move up. I mean, the Lakers are only even with this loss, two and a half games out of the fourth seed. Now Phoenix is supposed to get Kevin Durant back this week. But you know, that's that's my presumption of what Lebron is saying, that this West is there for the taking. So in year, you know, he had his thirty eighth birthday in January. This, you know, the same column still applies. The best birthday present we can give him is the fact that the

West is there. But you know, I didn't you know they they're playing Chicago twice in a row. I didn't, you know, I didn't see today coming. I thought with Lebron coming back, even off the bench, they're beating the Bulls this afternoon. Shows you what I for sure at home too, like I don't. I don't think many foresaw that happening, and they gotta get together. I still like their team that they're They're definitely a better team as

constructed now. Lebron James will be returned to being a starter for the next game, so they have some work a D. I didn't I didn't expect Anthony Davis to have that type of performance. He wasn't aggressive at all during this game, so they're going to need him to be that a D that he was in the first half of the season to try to gain some ground. But it's going. It's going all the way to the end. That's what makes this exciting. It's going all the way to the end. We don't know how this is going

to play out against Stein. I'm still mass fans. I'm with you, mass fans. I'm I'm I'm going to say Dallas is not out of it. Stein is already put an obituary associated with you guys. He's already done it. He's already wrote the ABITCHU where it has it right, It's already on his substack already. He's just waiting to publish it. So I still think they have a shot because it's too unpredictable right now. And I guess that's

what makes everything exciting, man, Pat Bev. I mean, I can't you know, Yeah, I didn't see the whole Sharman thing till till well after the game, because you know, I'm not as you know, I'm not. I'm not as good with the social media as I need. I missed that until I missed that until after. I ain't got nothing but love for Pat Bev. I told, I told you the story of me and Pat Bev. Huh interaction we had beginning to tell it again? Or do you want to not? You don't have to. You brought it up,

not me. I want the record to show I did not. I did not bait you, and you know what, you know what I tried to bate you last episode and you didn't fall for it. I'm not falling for the old man and saw it from a mile away. What didn't you like about ESPN. I'll follow that's gonna be a whole step. But again you brought it up up. But look, I mean like Pat Bev is, he's going right. He's going right at the Lakers and going right at Lebron. I mean, you know, I did not like that acquisition

for them. I didn't think it was gonna go well, and it did not go well. I just I from minute one, I just thought Pat has two big and loud a personality to go in that locker room. I just I don't think I never thought that that Lebron and Ad wanted to hear all that. But you cannot deny the edge that Pat Bev gave Minnesota last season, and he's doing it again with a Bulls team that that you know, has been one of this season's more prominent disappointments. And you know he's that was the reason

they wanted him. When he, you know, Pat Bev gets traded on deadline day, gets a buyout, I think Minnesota fans really wanted the Wolves to bring him in. And I remember reporting that, no, the Wolves have no plans to sign Pat Bev, and I think I think a lot of Wolves fans are pretty disappointment because he was hugely popular with everything he gave Minnesota attitude wise last season, and he's got to give him credit. He's doing it again with Chicago because he's that was a that was

a very flat team. And maybe producer Ryan can confirm this while we're scuffling here. I mean, what are they nine and four with Pat Bev or you know the record, the record since they acquired Pat Bev is pretty good. Yeah, they're doing I mean Pat, Pat's that guy, man, He's that guy that you if you're a player, you love to play with him and you hate to play against

him because he's going to get under your skin. Uh. He may, he may, he may cause some type of altercation physical verbal, but you know he's going to have his teammates back in you know, I respect Patty man, I respect man. You know, I go talk about Pat Pat Patton's dress. He talked a little bit about our little interaction we had at the beginning of the season. He talked about on his pot they can find it there. Uh,

but I ain't got number love for him, man. There was a few things that were left out, but it's all good. It's all good. I ain't got number love. Producer Ryan has looked it up and says the Bulls are now ten and five since signing Pat Batman, so it is definitely working for them. And producer Ryan has on it. Man, He's on it. He's gotta he's he didn't know what he signed up for when he got stuck with No. He didn't, No, he did. He thought he thought was gonna he thought he's gonna have a

set schedule dealing with us. That was a good stat But we're gonna sign off with a couple crazier stuff. I don't know if you saw this today. I tweeted these things earlier. But do you realize that if the MAVs cannot arrest this slide that they're on, and if the MAVs can't make it back to the playoffs through the playing rounde and remember the way the NBA does

its bookkeeping, play in does not mean playoffs. To be considered a playoff team, you have to advance in the playing round to get either the seventh or the A seed. If you're ninth or tenth, you are not a playoff team. Let's make that clear. If the Mavericks cannot arrest this slide, this will be the first time in league history that Texas, the lone star state with three NBA franchises, does not

send at least one to the postseason. The MAVs first season was nineteen eighty eighty one, so the end, there have been three Texas teams since eighty eighty one, so we're talking more than forty years. In all that time, at one of at least one of Dallas, Houston and San Antonio has reached the playoffs. The Rockets and the Spurs are already obviously out. Can Dallas force their way back in and make me eat my words and make make Chris Haynes their new number one fan look good?

The other the other amazing stat related to that is Sacramento is on the doorstep of the playoffs. There, you know, I think their magic number is one, so I mean they will clinch. They will officially clinch their first playoff spot in seventeen seasons this week if the Clippers and the Lakers and the Warriors can can all join them. And as of right now, entering Monday's play the Clippers are in the five seed, the Warriors in the sixth seed, the Lakers are in the ninth seed and would have

to do it via the playing route. But assuming that the Clippers and the Warriors and the la Akers can all join Sacramento, that would be the first time in NBA history that California sends four teams to the playoffs. And we've had four teams, four franchises in California since nineteen eighty five eighty six, when the Kings, of course moved from Kansas City to Sacramento. So those are those are my signoff stats today. On a miniature scale, it would be the first time the Kings and Wards have

made the playoffs in the same year. If if the Warriors are to get in, those two teams have ever made it at the same Well, that's why I guess, that's why the stats. That's why that statics. I thought you were gonna bring up best that I didn't know about. The all four Yeah, I mean all four because it's uh, that's good for your travel. You got four of the eight playoff teams in the West are in California. That is good for Chris. It is good for Chris says

if I'm assigned to the Western Conference. But I don't get the picky you'll be I don't get the pick, and I guess jinks do you will be at Philly Miami and round one. Yeah, so I will say this about my playoff schedule. I think I'm okay to say this. So usually years passed, you're assigned to a playoff, you're you're assigned to a series, stick with that series all the way throughout. This year is gonna be a little different.

I'll be hopping from game to game so I can be I can be dim can't wait to see the fits, can't wait to see the kills. You know, I'm gonna be hyper critical. I'm gonna be looking at everything. Couples still listen to start? Do you consider? Well, yeah, you got some stylefs, I'll give you that. I'm not gonna go there. I was gonna get a little bit critical of you. And you're a time No, no, you you're fine. No you you you dressed in the Italian suit. The custom,

the custom fits like you. You're ahead of your time at start. Hold on, I forgot everybody. Please, Oh, I don't want to give too much. So if I say too much, we'll cancel it and Ryan can just delete it. But you know, Stein is so European very so European from his style to where do you go every summer? Sty you have to go there every summer. Where do you end up going? Well, I go I definitely go to England at least once a year to watch soccer. That's that's a given. So I say all this to

say he is very European. Attire, everything, culture, everything. So I'm in Dallas and I believe I was working the game for TNT, and I asked Stein for a ride home. As stars like sure start start, It's like, sure, okay, he said, I don't know how much room I got in the car for you, And I'm like, well, who else is in the carpentrre? He said no, it'll just be us two. So in my mind, I'm thinking that's not gonna be a problem. Like I'm like, maybe he

just has a messy car. Maybe he's got a whole bunch of jump in this car that he has to move around to make a room for me. That's what I thought he was talking about. Star. So I get to the we I'm walking with Stein and he shows me his ride and this thing is probably the smallest vehicle I've ever seen in my life. Star, what type of car. Is this again? It is a Fiat one

twenty four spiders Wow, Because you are correct. I am a want to be European and I have to have my little Italian knowe not made for the former Friendsno Pacific shooting guard, not at all, not even by not even by scooting my seat all the way back. I was crammed up in there. I felt I was claustrophobic. It was. It was an experience that I didn't anticipate. And so no, he had a clean car, very clean car.

That wasn't a concern. That's why. That's why he didn't ask me, question me about if it was enough room in the car because of junk. It was because the size of the vehicle. I asked my first time, I wrote in the vehicle like that, and it will be the last time. It looks nice from the outside, looks nice on the outside. But a brother was cost to

phobic on that whole. I could wait from her. You know what, So you know what, since you are guaranteeing that the MAVs are going to roll back and get a playoff spot, and since I have so coldly written them off, if you are proven correct and the MAVs somehow fine thewhere in the playoffs, and if TNT decides that Chris Haynes need needs to cover a MAVs playoff

game in Dallas, I will. I will somehow arrange to have a bigger car so if I have to take you anywhere in town that you'll becoming I appreciate this time, but I get what you were going at I get what you were doing. You got the s It's a European car. Yes it looks nice, Yes it fits your style. But you got that car so nobody would ask you for a ride home. That's what you That's why you got the car. That is the perfect car to be like.

You're not being rude, but like Tim mc man, there is no way, Tim man, it's like two inches tall to me. He's sixty four. I'm six two. I'm not giving Tim. I'm not giving Tim McMahon a ride I gave. I gave Ray Ridder stretched out is five foot five feet on a great day, so he had no problems in that vehicle. That vehicle, right, boy, it took some work getting in and getting out. So I had to expose you a little bit. What's truly scary is I

don't even remember this. You don't remember this, which again just how we started this pod mean lamenting my old age. I can't even remember that that that it got so far that you actually squeezed into the little and I took you. I took you to your Posh Turner hotel. Yes, you did, I believe that were you? Were you part? You were like three floors high, and none of the stairs work, the escalatre, none the Escalaire stairs work, so we had to walk up physically up these stairs to

get to your ride. And you parked way over there in the corner. I don't know if that's all right. I can't I can't be having anybody danger. Okay, I see, I see. I don't know if that was your goal to spot you parked way over there in the corner. Yeah. I park in one of like three spots, and that girl like the same three. Even my kid knows, my my sixteen year old who's sometimes who sometimes works as my photographer at selected MAVs games when I can make

the schedule work. He even he knows that I'm so crazy that I'm going to park in the same two or three spots, whichever one I can find. So I'm not again, I'm not knowing that was your car. So all I know is that as we get up to that third floor, we're walking in that area and that car is the only car over there, and I'm just praying, no, no, I'm hoping, no, please help me. This is I was thinking. I was thinking, it looks nice. I just can't it looks nice. See, here's the thing. I fell in love.

I fell in love with those little Fiat Roadsters when I was a kid, and then Fiat amazingly came back and made them for a very short time between twenty seventeen and twenty twenty, so they haven't even made the car for three years. But you know, I love how unique it is. You don't. You don't see very many and you don't you definitely don't see very many like mine, So don't get it, don't get it. Twist the start is a lovely car, very lovely car. It's it's it's

a cool. Hey. When we signed up to do this podcast, I never promised you a normal podcast sidekick, So you you have signed up for all my weirdness and quirks, and that's just the way it is. It's too late now, I knew what I was getting myself into. All right, everyone, on a far too revealing edition of This League Uncut, where we've talked about way more than we should have. There you go. This is what Chris Haynes tries to do every episode. It's not an accident. Last time you

know who who Who? Don't you like it? ESPN? You know he tries to sneak in these jags. We're gonna go there, We're going to go there one day. I'm going to get you and now and now he just made us talk for fifteen minutes about my car. So there you go. Everybody, Please please please continue to listen, Please continue to rate, review, subscribe. Chris and I will be back in a few days with another episode of This League Uncut, amazingly two weeks until the playoffs. Everybody,

be good. We'll catch you soon and that'll do it for us. See you next time. This League Uncut is and I Heeart Radio Production, Christine and Mark Steyne, The Differ