I Promise

This is the place where sports opinions collide, dead in sports. We're back. It's August 1st. We were going for what?

A month? Yeah, by the month. Yeah, a lot has happened. And look, I don't know.

We're not going to get to all that. We're going to forget something. I'm sure. But nevertheless, over time, I'm sure.

The thing about sports is these storylines always come back around one way or the other. So, and then most of the stuff that happens basketball related. We obviously talk about the big stuff. But, you know, those smaller stories we'll get to it at some point.

So, but anyway... I think the last short recorded was with you Kyle and Penny. We all did the reaction to LeBron's side. Which happened the night that we finished the quarter.

We finished the quarter. Right. Right. I haven't even released that podcast yet.

Because it was just like... I just took a flick. Yeah. It was like, hey, man, I can't...

We spent all that time talking for nothing. Literally. It happened. It was freaking nuts.

But there was a good white Howard conversation. I do plan on taking out of that and putting it up. And I started to do that. But I don't want to tease the people and put up a show that made a whole lot of dentists' voices on the back.

And then we were kind of like that. But we're back now. Football season around the corner. Major League Baseball players around the corner.

They just wrapped up trade season. Which was freaking nuts. Yeah. And we're back in full swing, man.

So, we're going to get things off of before. I do that. Obviously, I got to do the promo. First of all, if you got to go to a game.

Because I need to go to a baseball game. I'm trying to go to a baseball game. I want to play. Yeah.

Check out the new stadium. It's pretty dope. You been? Yeah.

Remember that time I had post on Instagram? He was fast, wasn't he? Oh, yeah. That's right.

That's right. That's right. Yeah, man. That's amazing.

I went last September. I went to a tennis game. I wanted to take my boys up there. So, you know, before the season's out.

And they're contending. So, I think it'll be dope. The youngest one, obviously, as a single-day ball game. The oldest has been in like four or five years.

So, yeah. So, we're going to do that. If you guys are going to catch a game, make sure you guys use the code dead in with Ziki. No, you get $20 off.

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And you know, you forgot to mention? Cool. About us. We are dead in sports on Spotify.

Yes, sir. We are on Spotify now. That's right. Okay, it's Mike, so I'm going to be next.

But yes, you can now catch us. Not only just on iTunes and SoundCloud, but you can catch us on Spotify. So, please, we go anywhere. We out here, man.

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It goes one. Someone's going to be coming to the latest sports is now on Spotify. Checking the boxes. And B&I, we just launched the gaming show.

So, that'll be coming out. But listen, just to wrap this up, you guys can find all of this stuff on Dening Upop.com. Just go to the website, go to the Dending podcast. It's at the top of the page, Dending Podcast.

All the shows are there. Just hit that and check them out. We something like MediaMogos, ain't we? We something like that.

We trying, man. We're trying to. We're trying, but you know, just finding out the people and trying to, you know, put them out there. You know, so, I guess somebody has to give us a chance.

You know, we just want to find out dope content. That's not us. You know what I'm saying? Like, you know, everybody, like we can't cover everything, right?

But we can find other people that kind of have similar voices that can cover something that we can't cover. We just didn't get the time to cover. Like, Manny did a whole episode on the Tracies with Major League Baseball. We don't really talk baseball on here.

So, go listen to that. Because I listen to it. I agree with a lot of things he said. Just agree with a lot of it.

But, you know, it's great coverage. And, you know, some of the stuff we may have said here. So listen to that. You know, so he covers baseball where we don't really get a chance to talk about it as much.

And then we can talk about the guy's ass court. And he even talks about hockey. So, if we can't cover it, we'll find people that will or that does. And put it out.

And if we find it, we put it out, then we're signing off on it and telling you guys that it's legit. And that's how I go. So, yeah. So anyway, I don't even know what to begin, honestly.

So much has happened. And, you know, I guess we'll just start with the big news up front. And then we get to some of the most recent stuff. I don't know your thoughts on LeBron and the Lakers.

And every single way possible. I've heard every single thing possible. I just stopped listening after the walkers and the same thing. But I want to know, and what would start with you be?

So, the news broke, man, like, and it's been a while. You got a chance to sit on it. What do you thoughts, man, LeBron, LA? Purple or gold?

Yeah, man. I think this is just any person. I think this is just him setting up for life after basketball. And what better person that can set you up for life after basketball than Magic Johnson?

You know what I'm saying? We've all know how successful Magic Johnson has been after the game of basketball. After he was done playing the game of NBA, he's the house successful he is after NBA. NBA and I think you know what better person that can mentor LeBron into getting ready for that.

I mean I grant it We're not I'm not sitting here saying oh, this is about to be LeBron You know going down peak years. I still think Brian gonna still probably put up You know 26 seven and seven, you know, I can see him still averaging these type of numbers in the next within this four years of his contract Um, I think definitely it's not a pressure thing for him. I think going here I don't think a lot of us basketball heads I mean and I'm speaking for people before even speak but I think we're not going to this like oh yeah He's gonna win championship like this roster is not a championship roster like right now So like I think the pressure of that and on top of him being in the Western Conference now, which is you know quote-unquote tougher I think I think now you cannot say oh, he's a Lakers They're gonna they automatically win championship. It's not like when Durant went to go to say it was like okay championship But so we know with this we have going to Lakers is not championship bus Well, they probably have a chance to play for championship within the next three or four years I believe that but going into this season is more of like a hey, let's see You know the narrative coaching is gonna go because you know Luke and LeBron were driving the same drive right?

Weird as hell. I don't think that's I don't know if that's ever happened, you know, we don't have statisticians like that I don't know that's kind of weird but the narrative out there is it is this a rebuilding year, right? And I think we got to take the re out of it. It's a building year when you have LeBron It's a build it's a progress to the champions You still gonna have more you still gonna have cap room for the next offseason because you get to go on that second for aging guy So no, it's not even now all of these one-year deals.

Yeah, all of you all You all right, no, it's I think Steve is in all of them Everybody that they sign except for the young yin's are on one year deals So so I think I think I to answer the question can I love the move It was kind of written it was written on a wall a little bit like we kind of We knew that the move that LeBron was gonna make had to be big right now. What's bigger than LA? Yeah, right New York has it one though, right, right? You know say they don't know York's history is because they're in New York Madison Square Garden What Frazier?

But the Lakers have won in damn near every decade of basketball right? Yeah, so so for LeBron to add to that Laker mantle adds to his legacy right because because LeBron at this point in his career Right ever since he got at least two trips is all about legacy right and where was he gonna go to further that legacy? I think you know, I said I love them in Philly, right? If he would have went there you got the young book you can move, you know, you have a long you and being got the same agent Exactly.

So so a lot of pieces I felt would have made sense, but going to LA, right? It's kind of like LeBron can't win because it's all about the rings But he didn't go to a championship team so all people have something to say But then he goes to a team that's you know poised to win a job You're doing it so he can't win But I love the LA move because if he's able to bring a championship to LA one just one with any next four to five Yes, if he just bring one chip, he's one in Cleveland, which nobody has one He did it came back down, you know, saying three one right? Hey, do you want me to pull out the text message? Don't make me pull out the text message on y'all right came back three one and he won in Miami Went to the final four straight years in Miami four straight years been to the final seven straight years, right?

Where is it eight seven nine straight years? I was a nine. I think it was eight eight. It's two.

It's better than seven right? Yeah, it's a twenty ten you been in the final. Come on. Yeah, it's twenty eight years, right?

So look LeBron wins. It's a win-win if he don't win we already know why? Katie Steph Clay dream on And I've been telling y'all unless everybody take a boogie deal you can't it's not gonna last one of them This is on fridge next season. Hey, they're gonna some bread.

Yeah, especially clay I think clagone definitely this is gonna be like first time to be contract So clagone was a break so you know go to save my land walk and he might get his bread somewhere else But yeah, and don't be surprised. I know we kind of get off to it But don't be surprised if I think if people talk about this don't be surprised next off season New York make a splash Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, make a splash. I really they don't have they don't have the root they're gonna have the cap space And a lot of guys that's gonna be up a contract next year. Kyrie's from New York I got about that.

He's from New York area. He can go back there with poor zingers and they had another superstar And look big market city. Yes, and let's not jump the gun that boy Kevin Knox looking nice. Yeah And if you add a Kyrie and a Jimmy you got Kevin as a we already said he wants to play with Kyrie yup Yeah, I want to play that's why he didn't read up on his Minnesota deal So yeah, so even go to my ego New York over there with his in Kyrie and some other pieces and I'm surprised look you're hearing first on Dade sports don't be surprised if New York make a splash next year in off season going back to LeBron I think what better move could he have made I think Philly you know is staying in the East continuing that legacy of making But what do you had enough to beat go this day and to piggyback to this you know people get on him about going to Miami?

But let's be real Miami was like a 34 and 47 winning team when he went to when he went to Miami Wasn't like Miami was one game away from the finals or they was in the finals the last three or four years I mean when LeBron got there they didn't play the final since oh six when it went D way one it so you know When he went back to Cleveland they were like a 23 win team when he went back there I mean that Miami so it's not like he's going to these teams. That's like stock. Oh, that's like Katie did Yeah, like hey, he did so like people kind of get on about that It's like when he went to Miami Miami wasn't doing it No, let's be honest wasn't that the era of the big reading boss and do it first Why does Boston get credit because it was traded for versus the players saying y'all is do this because they roll At the end of the day let's be honest LeBron carried at Miami team. Yes or no No D way gave him the keys he gave me keys he gave me the key to this He gave me the key to this You're four You're too you're too you're too you're too Was carrying that team that first year you lost when he lost when he lost the Mavericks that The problem with it not you're too don't disrespect Exactly After they went on that 27-game wish But but that doesn't mean carried it like wait was Was that dude like he knew just answer this and please do it truthfully and don't answer with another question, please You take LeBron off that squad what do they do?

I mean with boss and everybody else might as wrong play off team at their play off team Not a fine thing you take you take the weight off that squad and you have brought in boss and everybody else What do they do? Oh nothing What is your talking about because we're talking about Chris Chris boss went to what I Was better than every single player on this Cleveland roster squat okay into point the point I made my point but you said that he carried him in year two yes, no And I was looking at him I was trying to get the basketball reference and you know and you distracted me but But no man, hold on wait, wait, wait, they went to the finals for straight time LeBron gave up a title so he calls the way way the title in year one when the way way was the man on that team Oh man, and then year two is when I played a young okay, so they were wait was the ball what was the first year of the big three? No, no, but what year we year oh 2010 2010 right so 2010 LeBron gets to Miami the way plays how many games can over under 75 over over yeah, 76 year two can over under 60 I can't even front because I'm looking right at it Wait people at half the season dog Because Isn't that the year they won 27 games straight? I'm sure he missed most of those games after LeBron is the reason why that team won a championship the way and also the reason why they lost one I give you okay You come on now, I'm not an apologist.

I call it. Hi. It is LeBron look like a JV player You roll the tape on that y'all I've been calling in that in that series I mean he plays 69 games a year three though, and he still put up the same amount of points, but then yeah I have similar points similar points, but but look at that signify the breakdown of the way that was it was a wrap After that he was a different player after year two. He's been on a decline He was still a lot of my children and year three when he played 70 games and he missed what maybe Santonio Yeah, that's a real hit the three.

Yes. Yes. Okay, so okay, so let me back track you know, okay You know, I'm getting off. I'm getting off a little bit.

Just a little bit just a little bit Year four is when he carries the team if you want to say you're two because of the amount of games where you played I find but he won't carry in the team in year three When they be saying yeah, you know, I mean Block but what you say what is that? I'm just saying and carry carry the team can't You know what it implies That's the reason why I bring out the block because because only only the most super humanness of people right what you need to make Play they make plays be way wasn't making plays like that. No way was making plays not like that No, can't you probably hold another level sometimes go back on YouTube and watch those can't look I'm not I'm not I'm not hating On you know what here's the thing when you say carrying when you say carrying the team I'm thinking of what he did in Cleveland the last two years when I say carrying the two You know what I mean what I mean by that is that you take that player off the squad They ain't doing what they did with him. That's carrying the team can you take LeBron off there?

Not a championship team. I don't know I don't agree with that definition So you carry the team is like he's just doing everything you think if D way was wasn't on that team you think they get past Indiana The mean the other thing is that was close that was getting close to him. No, so you think Indiana beat them if D way Went on that on the squad. Yeah, I think in the interview, but when he says when he says carrying the day I hate Indiana when he says carrying the team with me like there's nobody else doing anything.

No, no That's not what I mean what I mean. My definition is not all look B. Do you agree with me LeBron carry those teams? He was the number one scoring option on that thing He was the focal point on that was beyond that though But carrying the team like you You are responsible for damn near everything on the court Okay, but then we can't knock them for that he carried that team he carried the team can he may have carried boss But he can't wait Wait realized that they were bumping heads because they both were apples and the only way they were gonna succeed is for LeBron I don't think that they were bumping heads can I think that you know, he said he had to step out of the way I understand that but that doesn't mean that they were necessarily bumping heads because when you watch them play that was beautiful basketball Oh, it's amazing.

Yes, yes, and arguably one of the best duos ever right so me and B Right and I'm not necessarily comparing myself and beat to LeBron and and D weight at all But me and be got some game we got some real game and we met each other young enough right But there have been times where I'm like the guy and be understands that and there's been times where B is the guy And I'm like well, and I understand that and sometimes be carries the squad and sometimes I carry the squad But the thing about LeBron and no matter who's on the squad He's gonna carry the squad because like you said that's always been him his game lends itself to that And he's greater than D way if D way was greater than LeBron than that would have never happened Ken That would have never happened and the fact that D way continued to break down Yeah, health was a problem and it became a big problem during that run like I said They fell apart after that 27 game. So so so they were broken down during the street Just don't play it so then my thing is is that how are you denying the fact that LeBron carry when I say carry Does it disparage everybody else ain't that nobody other than nothing to win games use in the NBA? You still need guys to do things they were special when they went up against Indiana like them boys man Like the way to have some bad games against Indiana though. I'm throwing it out there I Gave to win a series You know when it made it I mean Second year LeBron In 2012 2013 yeah, it was heard that year Yeah, he got off.

Yeah, when he was healthy 2013, when he went back to back. Yeah, he only had one game where he scored under ten points. He scored 9, but everything else you got off. What's getting off, Ken?

13, 14 points and getting off, man. As he weighed, we're talking like top three shooting guards all time, right? I mean, you know, it's both was running a different. Excuse me.

Hey, that's not an iPad. That's just a book of excuses. a book of excuses. You just you just flipping the page and let me see which one can I tell me for the day.

Come on, can't come on, man. Come on. Anyway, I you know what? Um, look, everybody that's listening, if you haven't just go listen to my thoughts on this.

It was early was answering reaction. Just go listen to show idea with with Q and many. Um, not much has changed since they end up this. I'm starting to wonder if just maybe if he can get to the finals this year.

Yeah, I'm not expecting to say that every time he switches me. Yeah, but Miami, Nah, they're gonna need a year to jail Cleveland. Nah, they're gonna need to year to jail. And I know the West is completely different.

Yeah, but there's one person standing their way and when you look at Ross construction, what they're trying to do. So you think he's the one giving me a shot? No, really. I'm gonna tell you, I'm not gonna put it on any of the players.

I'm not gonna put it on magic. I think how far this thing goes is all on the quilton because the way this roster is constructed, you're gonna have to play a particular type of weight and that's the only way because if you look at the veterans that they got right now, Rondo, they got Lance Stevenson, they got Javell McGee, they got who else? Michael Beasley, right? He's getting paid, but he ain't playing.

Then you got the youngest, Brandon Ingram, who's my heart, Lonzo, you know what I'm saying? So that's a very interesting mix, right? Who starts who doesn't start? What's your play style?

Because it can't be let LeBron do his thing and then get shooters open because you only got maybe two people on this squad that can really knock down shots like that. So you have a team that magic is trying to build in a tough identity, right? Like that's the most. We are gonna be a tough defensive minded team, but everybody on this squad can either create for others or create for themselves.

That is unlike any team LeBron is ever played for. So it's gonna be interesting how they're gonna play. Now, I think that they need to obviously play defense, right? They're calling, that has to be the identity.

I always talk about it. I think it will be right. But how do they score? I think they got to score easy.

I think they got to get easy buckets. I think they got to run in transition. I think when you're on the end, Rondo and Lonzo. And Lance, you should say in the Brown already stated that he would like to play off the ball.

So I think that if they can get into a running transition type of team, play defense, we're gonna run get easy buckets. And in the half court, we're going to execute, get at the bronze, move them around, get them in spots, get them to pass the rock move, get the ball back, right? And everybody gets a touch and everybody can create, right? I think if they can execute that type of game plan, the Lakers will be formidable.

But I just don't know if they have enough overall talent when you look at all of the squads, right? And I think that a big part of it is going to be the progression of Brandon Ingram. Who has more talent? I do he am accused of one.

But outside of the words, who else has more talent than him? Outside of the warrior in the West. I would have to say OK, see, they have more proven talent, right? Because Russ and Russ and PG, they're proven.

LeBron's proven that was proven on that on that Lakers wide, right? Because we can put Rondo in that in the S. One champion played in the final swipes. Lance Stevenson with Tony Tohua LeBron.

Last Stevenson is third or fourth tier. I know, but I'm just we're talking about Rondo's like second third tier point guard now, right? Like, but what was he lacking? We knew he didn't have what was he lacking in Cleveland experience veterans that are you and I can you experience veterans.

Look at the J. R. Smith. Clarkson.

Nancy Jr. And who else? And Ronnie Hood. That's the only three guys that didn't have experience.

Jenny Jenny didn't play off experience. But everybody else did. George Hill. George Hill.

The man playing for Santa's. I know I'm just I'm just trying to go back through it. OK, George Hill has play off experience. Deep play off experience.

J. R. Smith has deep play off experience. But K love.

And I mean, George Hill was. Yeah, but George Hill was terrible. But we're not talking about good. We're talking about experience.

He had guys. They didn't perform. They didn't perform. OK, they didn't perform.

But I still think there were OK, so it's almost eating that this band of bandits is any better than what he had in Cleveland. I think it was. I think it was. I think it was in that book.

Ken. I think a little bit more. I think I think I think look, there is a they look like a band of Mr. That's what everybody's saying.

But Rondo isn't antagonist. You know, he don't like Kerry. You know, get up all of them in Kerry's grill. We know what Lance Stevenson is.

Excuse me. To tell me, you know, but he's a score machine when he's not high. So and we know who's mother got the young talent. Like you said, Ingram and Coosmo will be key will be key.

Well, here's the thing. I think who's going to be fine. I think he has old man game already. He has old man.

He was only going to get better. I think Josh Hart looks like he's the real deal. They got called while Pope still. Oh, I forgot about him.

Yeah, like this. Like that's what they have. Like 11 guys that really deserve minutes on any NBA team. This is going.

That's why I says Google Walton. I agree because who you start. You know, I like to put my GM hat on. I don't know because I think it's a mistake.

We start all the veterans and I think it's a mistake. We start all the young. You know, I don't clearly they have a plan. We don't know what the plan is, but we're trying to figure out what it is.

But I would like to believe magic, polinka, all of these guys, they have a strategy for beating the Warriors and you know, I don't take time though. Yeah, it's going to take time. You can't do that in one year regardless of you got LeBron. And even if you got Kawhi, I'm not looking at LeBron.

I'm looking at I'm looking at. Rondo and the young young gunners like I don't think Lhas was going to be there by the time. The season is over. I think he'll be gone.

You are you think you think you'll be gone by trade? Trade in unless they plan on unless they don't. The only way yes, I do be the only way they'll keep him is if they have no intentions of keeping Rondo. And why?

OK, so let's look down. Let's look down the rabbit hole a little bit. Why would you want to keep Rondo overall over Lanzo? Because they do the same thing.

The only thing Lhas is is age and in a contract. But isn't that valuable and basketball? Is you? I don't know.

Maybe. I mean of course, Rondo got that toughness that dog in them. And hopefully he instilled that in lines. Oh, this is a good thing.

He rubs off on Lhas. Great. If he doesn't. Here.

Here's the you can't change somebody personality or character. How they are is how they are now. Can they improve certain things? Yes.

Right. But becoming a dog that shit don't that's that's not don't happen. You know what I'm saying? Lhaso is what Lhaso is the best thing to happen to a lot of those getting a little bar on James is getting a little little bit of James.

I'm telling you, it's going to be there's a high brain. I'm going to develop to it. It is like to see how you see the second best player on that team. In group.

In group. I think for this season. Yes. So it has to be.

I think look and I've been predicting I've been on the sports show now for several years. I've been saying it right. Every time I look at Brendan Ingram, I've told you where I feel he is in his magic. Because his trajectory though.

Exactly. What you say that through which you say to win? Five. Three five.

He's now. He's third year. Exactly. And if you look at his averages, they're on par with a koala.

What a Paul George. Well, all of the Greek Greek Greek. All of these quote unquote premier wing guys like positionless basketball guys. He's right.

He's on pace with that. He scored. He averaged 16 points last year. What?

You don't think he's going to get too extra buckets playing? Well, he's going to get five. And then you add Rondo and Lhaso to that. I think he I think he should be 18 to 22 again next year.

That's what he needs to be. We know LeBron's going to be 26 plus. Oh, and Rondo will get those buckets too. Exactly.

So I think from a scoring perspective and just a utilization perspective, he has to be the second best player. Do they need to hit all of the because we know scoring is a problem. We know the league is a three point shooting. They don't have a they don't have a dead eye shooter.

They don't. They don't call it over the. They need like the Lakers. She'll tell Lakers shoot a lot of three like that.

Oh, but when it's kind of going back to like we're still going to score without having to put up a lot of the shot. But you know what back then though, Ken, all you needed was one shooter maybe two. That's it. Now you need three four.

You need to have that type of spacing. Can they win with this squad? Yes, they can. I just have a feeling I have a sneaky suspicion they're trying to while everybody's zig and their zagging and it sounds like they're everybody's trying to.

What way is everybody's we're going to get all these shooters. We're going to shoot a bunch of three's like the rock is going to shoot a bunch of three's when I score with them. And I think they were like, Nah, we're going to get some toughness. We're going to slow the game down.

But the right. See, I don't think I'm going to write a gun and spots unfair. I thought rockets in there because of the head coach that they got, right? Well, eventually got you know, because remember that was organizational decision.

But listen, originally when Dara Morri was there and they got the Celtic Hall of American, right? They played running gun. They played pick and roll Dwight James Harden, right? They got rid of Michael, they got rid of Dwight Howard.

They brought in who? They brought in, they're telling him. What does he do? He ain't running gun issue.

Oh, it wasn't because of Golden State is because you got James Harden. The best points guard was the best coach. Who else were you going to bring there to maximize James Harden? Tony was a perfect coach.

That was a match made of him for James Harden when he got there. That's why James Harden had like when his big season. Exactly. Because the organization did right by their superstar.

You know what? Look, we tried some. It didn't work. We tried to make it a duo.

We're going to get you the guy that's going to make it your squad and maximize what you do best. But I also think they added to what they and Tony does best. We don't know if it's seven seconds or less. They shot a lot of threes and fainters if I remember correctly.

Of course. But what did they do in LA? When he was the LA head coach? What did they do?

They didn't have the players for that. But then what did they do? They didn't get him the players, right? Right.

We've been on this podcast for a minute. I told you back then they should have traded for Josh Smith. They should have. There's so many trades that they could have made, right?

So become a D.N. Tony system. I said it back then. If you hire a coach like D.N.

Tony, you got to play his stuff. But how is it unfair to throw the Rockets in there when they're doing what D.N. Tony does best and what he does best is perfect for the league right now. What goal does they do?

Because you're trying to throw them in there like they're only doing this to keep up with goal to stay. They did it because it's D.N. Or another thing to keep up with going to say I think there are more is on the record with the same. Look, look, there are more is on the record of saying that it's arms race and you got to get talent.

But he didn't have to. He didn't have to hire the other did he get. I'm CP. You know, it's a guards base league.

You know, it's a weapons race in the NBA and you're either in the weapons race or on the sidelines and you know, we felt like this is with James Harden and his prime and Chris Paul and his prime, you know, this gives us a real shot to chase, you know, the juggernaut teams that are out there and puts us right there with them. And James Harden? You already had James Harden. You already had James Harden.

But he got CP. He traded for James Harden. But he just said it was arms race. Last year.

Yes. And the year before and then they got CP the year after. All I'm saying is this Ken, you're lumping in the rockets and trying to play Golden State style where I'm telling you that they're just playing the Antonio style because if you hot Ken, look, I have the prime examples. The Antonio was first hired by the Lakers.

They had buying them the saw. No, no, no, not buying them. They had White Howard, the saw Steve Nash and Kobe. Does that look like a D and Tony team?

No. Okay. So that means that the organization didn't do right by their players because at the end of the day is up to the GM to make the decision of head coach. And also if you if you pick the chef, you got to do the chef the right ingredients.

You can't go get a German chef and it'd be like a American hamburger and hot dogs. No, I see what you're saying. You're saying that regardless of the era, regardless of the play style of today, Dan Tony is going to play this way regardless. Like Don Nelson, but excuse me, but in addition to that though, we know that the way that Dan Tony plays and coaches is the way that Golden State has played in where they've won championships when people thought that you couldn't win with that style.

So once they figured out that this style of basketball fits what he does best, they acquired the pieces for him to compete the arms race. So I think that when I say that, I'm throwing them in there because it was like, this is it. We need to get all these people to shoot threes because this is what everybody's told. But when you're saying everybody know this is what you've been doing, it's almost like not like they doubled down because they didn't necessarily double down.

They got them the pieces that fit, but like more athletic, steam, and whatever. But it's almost like they, um, they added some extra ingredients to make it more flavorful. It's like, well, we already got this great thing. That's good.

But we're going to add, we're going to add some some extra ingredients to sauce it up a little bit to make it even better. Because we need that to fit into the style of because the style of play now isn't as, isn't foreign, then we're just going to, um, and I can't think of it augmented even more because we'll be able to compete now because this is all everybody does. They, they, they had to compete and I think that they added all of these extra pieces to do it. I don't know.

I just think that, you know, style styles make styles make fights and the Antonio has a particular style. And if you hire a coach like that, you got to get them as players. Just like if you hire a Phil Jackson, right? Like you got to get them his players.

There's certain coaches that need their guys. So you lumping it into, you know, them just trying to compete with the Warriors. That's why I disagree. When, when he had the Phoenix Suns, what the, the style of play was different, right?

I think you got Tim Duncan, you got Shaq, you had, you know, all these centers and stuff like that. And that, and that Phoenix squad team could play in this era basketball. Right. And because it's the end, but the argument was always you can't win a championship that way.

Well, the end, but you know what? Never mind. Let me, let me, let me wind up. It was because they didn't play defense.

Yeah, they didn't. And the difference that the difference between golden state and that field is going to say play defense and that's why I go. Houston was able to be successful because they added a defensive strategy to it because it's on record that when, um, um, back in the day, when Kerr went to Dantonia, he told him he's a defensive coordinator, then told him, like, no, I'm good. But this time he was like, all right.

Yeah, I'm good. I'm going to be a defensive coordinator. They went to five games. Right.

So, I mean, it can't. So we're coming to the teams in the West of Congress. So you say you think LA can make it to the finals or this year or just, I don't think that I was going to happen. So you say, what's the conference finals?

Is there peak? Look, look, look, everybody watching everybody listening to do not. This is not my official answer. This is, I'm leaning this way.

I'm wondering if this can happen. I'm about to name some West of Congress teams. Okay. So you got Houston, go to state.

Yeah. Portland. Yeah. New Orleans, I think they're going to take a step back.

San Antonio. Minnesota. Minnesota. They have some issues.

They won't be a problem. Denver. Okay. And the rest of your Clippers, LA one, LA one, 35 and 47 this past season.

Obviously, I'll see them making a 15 to 20 game improvement this season. I'll throw Houston in there because I will respect what they did last year. I thought even though they lost some key pieces. Yeah.

But I think you also have to respect San Antonio San Antonio one close to 45 games without Kawhi. That is true. And they're adding the Martin Rose who knows what popular to do with him. He's already working with him.

He's already working with him. And Kawhi to Toronto, the rose into San Antonio. Who would have thought? Who saw this coming?

Nobody's coming. But you know, honestly, I like it. And I'm going to tell you why. Really?

Yes. I like it for both parties. Let's talk about the Marfers. The reason why I like it for tomorrow is because you're going to play for an iconic coach.

You know, you have a better shot than you did in Toronto. Let's just be honest. Yep. Right.

Like this legitimized his, his stake in the NBA. You got to guide that, you know, in terms of Popovich, he has a head coach that's been a push him and he's going to distract everything he can out of the month. So I think the Marf is going to have one of his best seasons ever. I think they're going to have one of their best seasons.

I think they're going to be a top 14 in the Western. Tony Parker, Charlotte Hornet. I know that's weird. In terms of for Kawhi in Toronto, this is why I like it.

Toronto didn't want to pay or be under the Martero's contract. I think his time there, we saw what he is for Toronto, right? Like he maximized everything. They weren't going to get over the hump.

And he's still under contract for I believe like three or four more years. Who else was going to trade for? Right. Nobody.

Biggest question marks me in the league. I don't even know why or new head coach. New head coach. I don't understand why Colorado is even USA basketball.

To me, I just I don't believe in that guy like that, right? I just I don't think he has a clutch of jeans. He shows up real small and big moments every single year. We've seen it as documented.

I don't believe in Colorado. You look at Sir Joe Bocker, you look at the rest of that roster. Where's the future? They don't have one because they're built for right now, right?

If Kawhi walks, Kawhi and let's also talk about this. Kawhi is an improvement over tomorrow, right? Oh yeah. So that means that you should be a better basketball team.

If you're not a better basketball team, you start selling off to other pieces. You sell off the calories. You sell off the surgeon bop. You keep the OG on the nobies.

You keep the other young guy. I can't think of his name. I know you're talking about. Yeah.

And you keep that because you just re-up them. So now you rebuild and you have all of this cap space by not re-signing Kawhi by letting possibly Kawhi go. Maybe you might get some back contracts, but they might be expiring. You never know some job picks and you start building for the future.

So I think what this deal does for Toronto, it gives him a sigh and out. You know what? We brought him in. He's better than tomorrow.

You know, it just wasn't working. He basically created his own extension. Basically. Look, man, my size is a very smart guy.

I was saying the whole thing, the thing I don't like is the fact of deception. You tell Demar and his face number. We're not trading you. You're our franchise.

You're this year that next week you trade them. I don't like that. Right? Because to me, that's not how business is conducted.

And I think that for somebody like Demar to give so much of himself to Toronto wanting to be there, you owe him the professional courtesy to sit that man down face to face. I look, we are looking at possibly moving you. We don't know. You know, you have been our franchise.

But in all honesty, if there's a better option, we may look at that. You know, and Demar is signed under contract. He can't be on the holdout. I'm not going to play for you guys.

You know, he may give you a preferred list. But at the end of the day, if we don't pull the trigger, you're still here for an extended period of time. So I just, I don't understand that level of deception in the NBA business. I personally, if I was a GM, I wouldn't conduct myself that way.

That's the only thing that hurt me about the trade. I think that it works out long term and short term for both squat. You know, I wonder if, if like the deal fell through, then, you know, things are okay with Demar because he felt that you honor what you said. Um, kind of like what happened with, with Kyrie a little bit, like, you know, he didn't know anything about it until he started to leak out, but then we started to leak out and he got a little salty.

So, you know, in that respect, I think if, if news were leaked out about Demar, maybe tomorrow would have, you know, Harvard, you know, harsh fields against the organization later on down the road, like Kyrie did. So I think there are definitely lessons to be learned. Like you said, just be upfront. Everybody says it.

All the best of my players that say it, they know it. It's a business. And, you know, just hide behind that, you know, just be upfront. Like, hey, man, if something comes along, then we just have to get quiet, then, then great.

Um, I understand the long term moves. That's how I look at it with Kawai. I don't like it, at least for Kawai, because I think they're just going to be there for a year and then he's going to leave. But in terms of rebuilding, it makes a lot of sense.

Everything you just said makes sense. I'm on board with that. He leaves you just start over and you want to play your English. Yeah.

Yeah. And then you just, you know, plus if you're Kawai, like, you know, man, this, the East is wide open. Like you got a better player in the, in possibly a similar system in the East without LeBron. So, and if LaBrazo, if Kawai's on that Toronto team last year, would they beat the Cavs?

I think so. Possibly. It was way better matchup. But I think this begs the question who's the best player in the East now?

Is it Kawai? Is it the East? Kawai? Is it Greek freak?

Is it? I think it's why. You know, LeBron, you think Kawai's the best? Yeah.

You know, I can't really argue with that. But you know, we haven't seen him in two years. But, you know, if East, though, what he was, I, you know, I can't argue that. I can't argue that at all.

I love what it does for San Antonio, though, because it was only until he was like, I think this morning I started thinking about what Pop can do with Demar DeRosa. And you think about what he did with Kawai, Kawai had to want it. Like, Kawai had to go get better. And he did it.

But Demar is going to be motivated. Oh, yeah. Motivated to prove them wrong. And with Pop's tutelich and Pop only having two more years left.

Hey, man, like you said, 49 games without Kawai. And you're just plugging in Demar, they got Dejan Teemuri there. And LaMarkis, who knows? You know, Spurs always got like some guys tucked in somewhere where you'd be like, you've never seen them or heard of them in all of them.

You've never seen them or heard of them in all of them? Yeah. Gary Neal? Yeah.

Like, where is he now? You know what I'm saying? But just kind of moving on. Who is your guys' team that is going to surprise people, this upcoming season, kind of sleepers?

Sleepers team? I don't have the ultimate sleeper team. Let me see. Sleepers team is like, it don't matter which conference.

It doesn't matter. I'll go first. Sleepers as in like a team that didn't make the playoffs that's going to make a kind of a push this year or like... What's your name?

You got Rememphis. Rememphis has made a lot of moves that I really like. And it was 22 and 60 this past season. Wow.

They signed Colin Anderson from San Antonio. I like that move for them. They drafted, what's his name? Oh, Luke McConaughey.

Yeah. Look, I apologize to the guys that I said I was going to do the live show. Yeah, the summer league, look, life happened, man. Got married, renovations at the house, just a whole bunch of stuff.

I had training in Virginia for the job, so I apologize. But I was able to capture or watch some summer league enough to see that that dude is surreal. Look, I like what Memphis has. You're getting back at Healthy Miconally.

You know, Mark Bessal is what he is. It'll be interesting to see what happens with Chandler Parsons' contract. But I like the Colin Anderson move. They got Marcia on Brooks.

I like that. You know what? They're more athletic. They got Dylan Brooks.

Look, I like what they got going on, man. I really do. I think that they are going to make the playoffs and I think that they're going to push a contender. Because I don't think they're going to be high because I think the West is just too damn good.

But whoever they play, I'm not saying they're going to win that series depending on who they play, but if they play a better opponent, it's going to be six or seven. Okay. On the spot here, let's see who I can find somebody. I'm looking, man.