Jeff Van Gundy

And now below welcome to the low post podcast here in Los Angeles We have about eight to ten games left in the regular season for every team The West race is completely inscrutable. It blows my brain away every single day We checked in with Jeff Van Gundy before the season in the middle of the season and now it's time for our end of season check in Where in the heck are we going in this crazy NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy? How are you sir? You and well, how are you?

I am hanging in so you were at the scene of the crime last night in Dallas a scene that I have never Witness anything like before one of the strangest things I've ever seen when the Mavericks thought it was their ball The Warriors figured out it was their ball and inbound it underneath the Mavericks basket with no Mavericks there and laid the ball in The Mavericks are going to finally protest saying that there was a communication breakdown at the very least I believe the video shows mark Cuban coming up to talk to you guys during the break What did he say? What did you hear like what the hell happened? So when the ball went out of bounds initially the official pointed that it was Warriors ball and they would have it under their own basket then he pointed to the Mavericks They say they were saying that it was just timeout Mavericks it was a you know automatic timeout The PA announced I believe said it was Mavericks ball. That was that's what I was gonna ask you did the announcer say I'm I had my headphones on but I had people tell me that the announcer said it was Mavericks ball Our NBA today production crew has the audio we're gonna play it on the show in a couple hours They are telling us the now announcer indeed says Mavericks ball which that's a mistake But it's allowed mistake everyone hears it right so Then there's confusion when they come out of the timeout the Warriors if you look at Looney He thinks he's going the other way He's gonna go to the wrong basket at the other end the Mavericks are a little bit stunned They think it's their ball.

So they're sort of milling around half court now. What should have happened is The official with the ball should have never unbounded it the lead official should have come and taking control and make sure that the Mavericks No, it's Warriors ball the ball is going this way so that everybody could get lined up that I don't I think the officials thought it too was going the long way and that the Mavericks were then going to defend the rock now They won't admit that no, but they totally mismanaged the situation and there's no chance that mark Cuban's winning the protest I think it costs ten thousand dollars. He's not gonna win the protest, but He has every right as does his team to be upset and they should be upset with themselves a little bit that they didn't react quicker Whatever, but the official officiating crew could have and should have managed the situation better What did mark say to you guys was he just outlining what their understanding of the situation was was there for fanity involved? How mad would I say I would say there is more beeps than other words, but basically I'm paraphrasing here Initially when we came back on, you know how they cut it short now where they you know Sometimes you come back in three seconds into a play.

Yeah, right off TV I don't know why that works the way it doesn't TV, but it does anyway They're playing a Steve Kerr timeout like video So on our screen and I was looking at the screen so I could hear what Kerr was saying There was no play show and so then when I looked up the Mavericks were taking the ball out and going up the court Which is what I thought was supposed to happen But then I noticed the score was different. I'm like how the score changed So then that's when you're starting like what really happened and we went back and we saw it and Cuban came over at the quarter and basically was saying that it was mismanaged and He told me and I said it on the air because he told me to say it like he wanted it out there that if they lost by two points or less that they were gonna protest and that's why I said it and You know, I think he's gonna go through with it He may change his mind, but you know I understand his frustration because as you highlighted to start every basket every quarter every half and every game It's so important to either making it or being in the play in or not making it at all Which is a you know a lot of money at stake I didn't realize that you broke the news on the air Jeff and gun Yeah, I was what I was on countdown last night So we had a million TVs going on the I think we were getting the audio from a different game I didn't realize you pretty scooped everybody well, I didn't really scoop. I just repeated But it's funny. That's a scoop that counts as a scoop.

No, but what's funny cuz I don't know these journalistic things People sent to me after the game like I guess tweets from different NBA people that said sources confirm that I'm like sources Mark human said it to me. I said it like of course, I mean, you know, he's a source You got the owner he's the pocketbook amazing. Yeah, so I agree with you I don't think they're gonna win the protest because the NBA will say no look at the if they already said it in the pool report Look at the official. He signals warriors ball It's not our fault that he then bang bang signaled the other way with like like like a first-down signal that maybe was indicating a Mavericks timeout But also looked like he's pointing that direction It's not the league's fault that the announcer then interprets that mistakenly and says Mavericks ball for the whole world to hear It's not the league's fault that the Mavericks line up in some weird way and that Jordan pool takes the ball from the ref Very smart but the best play of Jordan pool season by the way I think is taking the ball from the ref and inbounding it immediately the legal to say that's not our fault to communication breakdown across the board But I completely agree with you and if I were mark you and I would protest it too because I what I agree with is this It's the refs job to notice something is amiss and be like this is not normal This is the bit last night was the biggest game of the NBA season to this point It was the most important game the Warriors have another game of separation over the Mavericks They win the tiebreaker.

It's a massively important game It's a one-point game all the way down until curry makes that layup to put them up by three and then it becomes a little bit of a free-throw contest I would protest it too because the rest like yours you should know this is not correct Something is amiss. Let's get everyone on the same page fair play and go from there And I think it's not like a I think mark tweeted something like this the worst mistake I've ever seen in the history of earth like it's not that bad But it's bad and it's massively costly because we're gonna get to the west in a second But I don't need to tell you coach like the mabs are 36 and 37 They're four and eight in their last 12 games. They're three and six when Kyrie and Luca play together It's only nine games they lost jail and runs in a free agency Then because of that traded their third and fourth best players from last year's conference final steam to get Kyrie Irving Who by the way can walk in free agency? And if anyone thinks they know what that guy is gonna do in the offseason I would love to know because I don't think it's predictable and they're now ninth in the west Like if they lose in the play in and Kyrie Irving walks and I'm not saying either those things are happening or likely to happen That is a Defcon one situation in Dallas that immediately becomes a Flash bulb all eyes on the Mavericks.

What do they do with their cap space situation in last night's game? Makes that situation X percent more likely because you know they're gonna have to win some games to get out of the play and now It's a huge huge loss Well, I think what you said is so correct. The league is going to say it's not our fault and it isn't the least fault the officiating crew There are a lot of things hard about officiating. That's not one of them last night that particular play is not one of them They thought the ball no matter what they will caught to or not They thought the ball was going to link to the court.

They got confused just like the teams were and that's where the avoidable mistakes Have to be dealt with and they I'm sure they will be dealt with and there will be a behind the scenes reprimand because as you said a hugely important game a totally avoidable mistake that was mismanaged by all three officials and Again, that's not the hard part the hard part is officiating all the contact and what's a foul? What's not? You know, I mean all those things are super hard that one isn't it was managed I would just love to see an official come out You know in those pool reporter things and kill it and say I screwed up the pool report was one question long But is that is that you get to ask one question and then like a group of henchmen is squirt you out the door and that's it Like I don't get a follow-up. You know the thing I've always I don't know if everyone would agree but like when you're coaching right and you're getting on a guy for a mistake and he says He really he takes it harder than you you even did like yeah, I screwed up That's my fault.

You don't keep going on the mistake you say okay Let's move on it's the people that try to avoid accountability for the mistake and pin it on somebody else I really wasn't my fault that was Johnny's fault Then you'll keep going if the if the official the lead official last night would have said hey Dallas it was gold State's ball. We miss managed a situation We feel awful about it. We must do better and we will try to do better This wouldn't even be a story. I didn't think Mark Cuban would have said yeah, you know mistakes like they happen all the time Coaches making players making officials making it's just I think for some reason officials or how they're taught to Like sort of in the moment not take accountability even though they may think they screwed up I don't agree with that.

I just think they should have just killed it last night and said we screwed it up Also some of these quick objections lately the Scotty Barnes won the Terrence man won the other night like can we just chill out with these like Instant just throw them all out. I disagree. I disagree. I think Again, I wasn't there for each one right so Scotty Barnes if he said you're cheating us What do you want the man?

What do you want? Why is Luca not ejected for the money signal that that's even worse? Yeah, I don't think they saw that I saw that I didn't I know what it means but like I didn't mention it because I You know to me sometimes trying to get into the intent of a player again it's out of control how some of these guys talk to officials and I Got into it a little bit with Dave Pash last night in a jokey manner But we're talking about God chips. Oh, thank you by the way Thank God for doing the people service in that debate because the guy is complaining after every single call and on call and just event of life Yeah, the people that complain every call coaches and players we start to praise them for like any little of humanity that they show The officials right or like respect whereas other guys who may not complain often the moment they raised their voice They're banged with a tee and maybe an ejection because it's not normal If I I think the objective of vision is to call it as Unbiosily impossible even though there are many biases out there everybody has them officials coaches players, right?

but fight yourself on your biases and When it comes to technical fouls have a line in the sand about what is and what's not a technical foul And I don't even mind like how you barns thing because it's late in a close game if that official says I'm not doing it now But I am going to screw you to start the next game. I tell you that right now take it back to you That's old school referee. I will get you when I when I can't but I'm not doing it right now because it punishes the whole team and the game so again, I think and I always say this on the air and probably too much I don't understand why the officials take what they take and I don't understand the inequality of what they take being dependent on a certain player I don't get it I don't think it's right I don't think it's fair and I think that if they would have set up a harsher and I hate when the players They say they won't even communicate with us some of them some of these players don't deserve communication because they're not respectful in their communication They what they want is and coaches too They want to be able to say in any tone of voice to a referee and then have that referee stand there in a calm manner and talk to them And I disagree with that if you want respect learn to give respect I guess I would say the players are competing and the referees are not competing their referees are competing with their selves in their own standards the players are trying to win a game so their temperament is gonna be a little different I don't want to get it to finish anything I agree with that when it comes to physical confrontation When it comes to player on player like I hate when they hit him with the double T's when it could have easily been like Hey, let's just separate and keep going but I do think there has been an uptick a huge uptick in the amount of verbal abuse the referees are subjected to and are expected to take I Guess the remedy for this protest were the maps to win it would be in a very short time period The season ends in like two and a half weeks to replay the last 13 minutes of the game with the score as it was in Dallas with the with the Mavericks aware that the words about the end on the ball I'll tell you I don't think it's gonna happen But it would be great theater It would get great ratings if we had to go back to Dallas and replay 13 minutes of the game with like that all of this I think the proverbial two spaces out of the tube and the mad's are just gonna have to take a very very big L on this one Yes, we ended a great job today They had that what seven winning pro or whatever it is in the last 50 years and it was fascinating To read about him the Shaquille on meal one was fascinating to me and he was traded So they went back and played the X amount of minutes, but I just it has no chance But it would be great theater. All right, let's do I don't even know how many big questions some amount of big questions With Jeff and Gandhi for the rest of the season.

Are you ready? Yeah question one? How worried are you about the Denver Nuggets recent slump particularly on defense and the framing of this is in all this chaos in the West It ain't gonna be in this chaotic every season some teams are gonna have their sh it together next season in the season beyond The teams that have their sh it together now Have a great window to win with the conference in total chaos like this the latest chaos being Paul George's injury Which we'll talk about so the pressure is on Denver. They so they feel like a rising feel good story They're here now.

They've had a kind of weird month their defenses slip They've rited the ship with wins over some bad Eastern Conference teams three in a row How worried are you about their defense with yolkach is the centerpiece of it? Well, I think you have to be concerned. They're gonna get good shots That's number one. They will get good shots against any team in the NBA yolkach is he's just that good there They you know Murray and Porter and Aaron Gordon have been terrific there because he knows he cuts he's gonna get the ball So I think they're gonna get great shots defensively.

I think they Should be concerned not because of the last month, but they're just not a gifted defensive team They they don't have a lot of natural gifts from their best players defensively scheme only can take you so far They're incredibly well coached, but it that can only take you so far I like what they did with Caldwell Pope Bruce Brown like they've done what they can do and now You know their best players have to be really really on point defensively. I think every Top the top three teams in the Western Conference if you told me they lost in the first round. I would not be shot Wow, so Denver Sacramento Memphis losing to some combination of the top four like a Phoenix plays the Clippers and let's just say everybody's help I think Phoenix is probably the most talented team in that scenario, but I mean if you're playing the Clippers with George and Leonard I mean you have to chance against anyone so it's I think the higher rated into the West are all Purple whereas in the East I don't see the you know top four seats losing I think they're gonna win Cleveland maybe a little bit vulnerable depending on the matchup at the top three seats We'll breeze in the first round. Yeah, I think before the Paul George injury on what is that Tuesday night?

I think the Clippers if it were even possible and it's just so tight that I don't know that you can manipulate things to this degree I think they would have loved to find a way to fall into the six seed and avoid the sons in the four five because that's a Heavyweight clash, but a given how crowded it is and all the tiebreakers involved It's really hard to be that choosy and now Obviously, you're just like we just got to hang in where we hang in without Paul George winning up games I've talked a lot about Denver lately I think their offense is just so good that I think it is possible to win a title with like an all-time grade offense and a slightly Above-average defense. I think you can win four playoff series that way the Mavericks are trying to if they get in Win with kind of a lesser version of that same model like all-time grade offense and their defenses Just I mean they are a teensy teensy teeny team. They are not a good defensive team. They're worse than Denver by a lot I think you can win it that way, but I do think maybe you're a little bit more vulnerable to the vicissitudes of matchups Than a team that's like fifth on offense and fifth on defense I think if you run into a team that can exploit your one glaring weakness or one of your weak spots and the Sun's Loom is that kind of team?

I think for Denver. I think that makes you a little more vulnerable, but look It's it's there for the taking it isn't it isn't I mean all these teams are not great But none of these teams are bad. Well, let's just go to the next question then The next big question for Jeff Van Gundy assuming Denver is a yes to this question How many teams right now to Jeff Van Gundy's eyes in the top? I guess we'll say top 12 of the West so from Denver to New Orleans How many do you think can realistically win the Western Conference and go to the finals?

You can start at the top and go down Denver Okay, Memphis Memphis is still a yes despite the jaw drama and the absence of Stephen Adams and Brandon Clark I'm taking everybody eyes that they're gonna be full strength well Brandon Clark's out right so I mean I'm talking full strength as far as who's possible to come back. Okay, Stephen Adams doesn't able to come back that with less than their chance of significantly to me So I'm gonna still put Memphis in there. I will say before you go down the standings in all the jaw mellow drama Which is serious stuff? I don't mean to minimize it.

It's serious stuff I think the Adams Clark injuries have just been totally under-discussed as Just they just tear away at what that team is the fabric of that team bruising ferocious rim attacking like it's it's a big gaping hole That they've managed to fill with all Dama and Roddy and Tillman who's just doing yeoman's work every game for them And most notably the other thing that's been under-discussed with them is Jared Jackson Jr. has blown up on offense and it's a trend that's been going on all season This has been his best offensive season and in the absence of Moran and then the absence of Clark and Adams He has ascended to another level and so I agree with you I can't count them out if Adams comes back because Jackson is reminding you Oh, yeah This this Moran Bay and Jackson thing is like a legit big three So I also if I think they need Adams because he gives them the offensive rebounding piece that they're really dependent on and they don't Have it without him, but if they get him back, I can't count him out in this conference there those three guys are that good Yeah, and They need that offensive rebounding, you know with all the dry attacking they do they need the offensive rebounding as big Come to help on the missus. Just you know clean it up and get you know second shot attempt So I think they can Certainly Phoenix could Golden State State could I want to say the Clippers, but I do I think they're full for whatever reasons They haven't put together Much good basketball this year and so I'm gonna give them the past you know golden state They are free season pick our mutual preseason pick the Clippers make a fun. Yeah I do like Golden State with an outside chance if Wiggins and Peyton get back if not they're not they don't have enough And I think that wraps it up.

Okay, so let's go through the teams you said no to you said no to Sacramento. Correct. Why? Defensively just don't think they don't think they have enough don't think they have enough I think they They've had an incredible year Fox has been great.

I love subonuses Sacramento's versions of yolkitch just incredible offensive talent. They surrounded them with more shooting You know the herder trade was you know, he's got to get back for them But the herder trade was under talked about I think mine have never done a fabulous job in my ground and his staff have as well I just remember back all the criticism they took for the Halliburton trade and No one's coming forth and saying all right. I miss judged it I miss judge not only how it was gonna unleash Fox not having to share the ball But I didn't really realize how great subonus was and I didn't realize I believe it Maybe in your one of your columns how much that trade allowed them to then go out and get herder as well So I think he's done an expert job in renovating that roster I just don't think they have enough defensive components to go through and win so to your point I just wrote a big thing on the Kings and I talked to Justin holiday and subonus who were both traded in that deal and they told me We were on the flight they were in Atlanta when they got traded from the Pacers and right away They flew from Atlanta to Sacramento to get their physicals like the Kings needed them immediately holiday was like I've never been traded and played this fast and they were like, you know what? Let's see what on the flight like let's see what the Internet is saying about this trade and they log on to Twitter or Instagram Wherever people under 30 are reading what the Internet says about a trade and they both are like oh my god Everyone hates this trade and subonus and how they look at each other like are the fans gonna boo us when we get there?

Like they started to get worried that the Kings fans were gonna boo them because the Halliburton was so beloved And so let me ask you the devil's advocate about about Sacramento You have Denver as a yes Denver has the number two offense in the NBA and like the 15 16 defense the Kings have the number one offense in the NBA But they're 24th in defense Denver Kenwin and Sacramento can't is it just there their defense is a degree worse to you than Denver's and maybe their Experience level two is a combination all that stuff? I would say for me. It's a combination of home court all the way through so is number one yokich You know, he's gonna be the best player on the floor and to me and quite possibly every playoff game he plays in this year Oh Second round against Phoenix Well, we'll see it could I mean it's possible I can't say because I count durability a lot more than a lot of people I You know being available to me is important and that's not the discount You know obviously Durant's gonna go down as one of the all-time rates Booker is a Hall of Famer Chris Paul, you know, he doesn't you know, he's Hall of Famer I'm just saying yokich can be the best player on the floor. I don't mean by debate I mean in any one game gotcha he can play the best of any player on the floor every game and Durant can too by the way and Booker could too But I'm just saying when you have that You have a confidence about you like bring us home big fella, you know We'll figure out how to get a couple stops in there You just make every right play like you do and we'll ride you to the finish line So I do think there are more experience as well home court yokich and a little bit better defense You said no for the Los Angeles Lakers who are now one game under 500 We are going to get a LeBron health update today Our gave Mcmenemon has already reported on Sports Center that the health update will be a ramp up and that there is hope Within LeBron's camp that he could play in somewhere all of the last three games of the regular season before the play-in playoffs Whatever the Lakers end up playing in if anything after the season They have played quite well since the trade deadline without LeBron They are now starting Austin Reeves who is just been playing phenomenal for the last two months You really don't see a pathway with LeBron and AD and what's been going on there because I look around at these teams I'm like I mean my thing with the Lakers all year and with a lot of these teams have been You can win a playoff series like they're good enough to be any of these teams four games out of seven any talked about them I agree winning three is just a completely different animal But but no team has anywhere in the West has come to I kind of that Underlying that sort of line of thought was some of these teams will click into place and come together in a way that makes Them so formidable that that can't win three playoff series thing feels like a real thing that hasn't really happened Like I like I guess you're a no on the Lakers.

Well The Lakers with James and Davis Fisher haven't played particularly well I also read this turn into a free throw machine in the last two games. He's an excellent player I like shrewder mode more than than most. I love his intensity I love how they added I thought Rock the link and his staff did a terrific job adding energy and shooting To their lineup so there's most certainly tap more talented. I probably should give them Like a punter's chance at it.

So you're probably right. You got LeBron James and Anthony Davis and a new team that makes sense around And a much better team. I think you're right. They deserve a punter's chance.

I still don't see You know a high probability that no a they could stay healthy and be that They could win are you talking about when the whole thing or when the when the West let's stick with the West because those pieces I think the three teams in the East are gonna be whoever comes out to the prohibitive favorite no matter who comes out of the West other than Phoenix I think Phoenix has a if they're healthy. They have the depth of talent to match up with anybody But so yeah, I guess the Lakers do have a punter's chance I would just say behind those other teams in my mind. Yeah, Phoenix is my lately I've been pulling everyone on the podcast it based on what we know now health-wise Who would you pick to come out of the West Phoenix has been my default pick a suit My assumption is the rant will come back for a game or two or whatever it is at the end of the regular season You're a no on the Dallas Mavericks another defense depth. Yeah I mean like they have two phenomenal individual offensive players and They just don't have enough defense size rebounding I mean they got pounded on the glass last night by the Warriors who are very tiny team as well So I never playing big last night by Dallas standards.

That was like a big Dallas team. Yeah, they just had a lot you know The when you lose a player of Brunson's quality and you You don't evaluate your own roster correctly like you think you know they could have had him for 14 million Last you know for a long term 14 million per which would now would be an absolute steal But for whatever reason they weren't able they didn't either want to do it then or they didn't think they could do it then but that That leaving in free agency Started the whole process of what you've seen. I thought they were brilliant brilliant last year getting den Whitty So I thought they had enough then you know bigger during finish meant great versatility But now you look out there and you're just like Cleebot doesn't look healthy right now to me It's not moving particularly well shooting particularly well if they're gonna make a noise It's gonna have to be because Irving and Don should just make them unguardable Which is possible and then Cleebot to me has to give them like a defensive Presence where he can help with the rim protection can switch on some screens You know like he switched last night late curry to you know blue biam and green did a great job of sealing the help off in the lane Just you know shot away up so you know they would be cleebot even to me to even to win a series like They're gonna be in games. They're these two are phenomenal offensive players, but they're tiny and they're they've got no defensive presence Yeah, when they made the Irving trade understood why they made it sure my initial reaction was I Don't buy them as a title contender as is perk and I disagree on that one He called them a title contender I said I can't go that far and also I just said I would be out of the kairi business But that's just me but the other night against Memphis when Luca didn't play they played a lineup of kairi hardaway junior Jaden Hardy dabbas per tans and Christian wood and you're just like you just have no chance to defend or rebound zero All you're just praying that they miss and that you go you guys go crazy and they just play too many line up So you look around and like they have no chance on defense on the glass and else if it weren't for what Jaden Hardy is doing And I think this is a real thing.

I think Jaden Hardy looks like he's gonna be a player And I don't know if he's gonna be a 20-point scorer, but he's got game. He's got craft He's got guile. He's got a 6-9 wingspan. You can shoot it if it weren't for this I think there would be like a level of national media panic about the Mavericks right now But this is like a little feel good story that's keeping them a flow but yeah I've got them out we both have so no one Minnesota who got towns back last night and a no on Oklahoma City I have a feeling this is just a feeling that One of those teams is gonna get into the playoffs and Is gonna be like 2-2 in the first round against a powerhouse and maybe win a series and we're gonna be like oh my god What just happened Oklahoma City?

I'm real I am rooting so hard for the Thunder to get into the playoffs I think they're legitimately good. They're super fun to watch wing jail in Williams is a is a stud and With him and Giddy and Shay it's just relentless attacks on the rim creative coaching You mentioned Dagnol as a coach of the year candidate. I completely agree He's everyone's assuming my ground is gonna win. I think he's the favorite I have a vote so I'm not gonna say much more than that But I completely agree that Dagnol needs to be on like the short short short short short list I think I'm gonna just say it now one of those teams is gonna get in and make noise in the playoffs And it's gonna be super duper fun, but yeah, you can't win I don't think either one can win the title or win the west right?

I think There are no powerhouses in the West and I think You know we're talking about how close the teams are you know six through 12. I actually think The top three are closer to you know four five six type of seats in a normal year for whatever I point differential they are meet even the nuggets are like kind of a ho hum like and number one seed so Minnesota like I think Conley has brought us the ability to them I think he's sort of helped go bare and what was a challenging transition. I love Anthony Edwards I think Chris Finch is big time coach and well done together with you know towns 50 game absence and So I think they've done a good job They're talented and I agree something to be too, too And I think you're right my grounds most likely gonna win go to the air and deservedly You know you could never argue with that But I could see a chase being made for Oklahoma City having the rookie of the year the MVP Yes, oh my god the MVP well if you're it He's not gonna win no Shaco's out there's not any of you know he is he's on the show you might be I don't vote on this but if you went to the top five MVPs He'd be hard to keep off well you got the big three in whatever order you want You honest Luca, I was honest and be you'll joker and then Luca Tatum are probably penciled in as the four in the five I grew to chase comment. I'm telling you right now.

I think they could win a playoff series if they draw the right team I think that's under could win a playoff series I might be in crazy But I think they're gonna have to win a playoff series that I'm rooting hard for them to get in Hey sports fans the ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place the ESPN app is your home to thousands of live events ESPN shows and originals across every ESPN network in service and now you can check if you already have ESPN I'm limited as part of your TV package for no additional calls visit activate.aspn.com to learn how to access your account We're sign up then start streaming in the ESPN app all the ESPN all in one place sign up or activate now Okay, let's go to the next big question because we just we just mentioned anyway with eight games left Who's your MVP? You don't have a vote right? You know, but if you had a vote, who would you vote for? Can I tell you I am totally uninterested in that question and it's my Answer it, but I'm not gonna answer I'm not gonna answer I'm totally uninterested because what it's devolved to is Comparison has become the thief of joy in that every time someone says about player a they think should be MVP They immediately don't just stop at how well they played they then compare them and try to tear down the accomplishments of the guys They don't think should win and so I have I don't know who should vote for the MVP because when I look at all star Valley fans do an awful job Players take it as a joke coaches give it no thought and the media doesn't see enough Games, you know because you're not watching you can't watch every team every game, right?

So If you're a stat person an advanced that person you'll get just clearly going to win if you have a I think that's less clear now Then it was a month ago He's and beat us past him in a couple of whatever advanced metrics of your choice are he's passed him in a couple Yeah, but if you look at the totality of it to me and then you take the availability you take the availability to me That's all that's it's but again, I I'm just I'm starting to do what I don't want to do Which is I don't want to make a case for anybody But the recency thing if you're into the recency you're gonna look at like Indeed and say are you kidding me and Identical vote and if you don't really give a lot of weight towards availability Then you honest may have you know one of the great cases of all time So to me there's like it depends on how you look at it And I don't know I know it means a lot to the players and it should I just don't know who's qualified to actually Vote and we'll take the requisite time To study it all to watch it all and to take it serious And not come into where they want a certain person to win You know Tom Thibodeau he said after a game that they were talking to him about Barrett And he goes if you torture the numbers enough they'll confess to anything And I think that's how people like they just take whatever numbers they want to concentrate on and torture them to make a case I just I just think like I just don't even know who should vote for it Let alone like who should actually win it because I think everybody you're talking about and like I said Gil just Alexander I don't think anyone's done more for their team than he could like what he's done for their team It's amazing so tinder the thunder were here this week in LA I've been in LA all week They were here there still here they had three games here There are people around the thunder who are worried He's not gonna make any of the all NBA teams because they're just a 500 team I'm like he if he doesn't make an all NBA team. It's like a crime. He might make first team all NBA forget Any media media I'll say this I so you're just a big player you're abdicating the question and number one on your MVP ballot is joy and happiness That's what you're voting for. Yeah, I guess I think Again and I watch a lot But what happens is when you watch if you don't watch all every game of somebody's Season and and you just watch pockets which is what like I do like I don't watch every game of every team You see a guy on a good night or a bad night and your opinion is shaped versus if you watch every game like the like Doc Rivers knows What type of season in beats and he's seen every clip Michael Malone knows about yolkich and Joe Missoula knows about Tatum And bud knows about you know And they could all make compelling cases for their guy and so to me one of the reasons why I stopped voting was I just didn't feel like I Could see enough to give it the introspection that an award of that magnitude deserves and that's why I come back to I don't know who should vote for the MVP I think it's the coaches, but quite frankly when you see what they do at the All-Star sometimes I'm like they really pun it and spend no time So they fall into the other trap which is they've seen 82 games of MB then maybe three of yolkich right and so It's reputation so much is not done on that season, but you know Lifetime award achievements in the All-Star game I will say I mean I have about it and every year I think about giving it up And the reason I think about giving it up is the NBA needs to find another way to decide super maxes and all this stuff Or find another voting pool because the media should not be voting on all NBA given what it determines It's incredibly uncomfortable for the media.

It's bad for players. It's bad for teams We're sitting here within our hands collectively Jalen Brown's eligibility for a super max extension, which is not in Jason Tatum Whether this to is not just about Jalen Brown's money, which sucks to be even like point oh five percent responsible for as a voter It's now also about the Celtics ability to retain Jalen Brown long-term like the media should not be in a place where they're determining It's with any centilla of importance tilting the scales at all in the Celtics favor or disfavor of retaining a star player John Moran's super max is at stake in all NBA and he just got suspended for a game It's like we just shouldn't I don't and again. I haven't found the best solution for how the NBA should decide who gets the 35% max ahead of schedule It's not an easy question. They tied it to all NBA.

What else could you tie it to who's gonna vote it for? There's no great answers to this I just know It's a really crappy position for everybody involved to be in and you look at you and there's lobbying and it's just it's a complete mess And I sit here and vote all NBA and and I'm like this is just too There's too much writing on this outside of when it was just an honor Right with like with like some shoe contract stuff worked in like shoe contracts had bonuses for all in me It's but it was just mostly like an honor that was one thing now It's money and it's team-building and it just it just shouldn't be on the media's shoulders or the coaches I don't know who should be on but it's a really it's a bad system Well and the transparency I don't know if we're all NBA if you vote and it's revealed it is it is which sets up to me Confrontational and adversarial relationships that all it is is is an opinion. It's an informed opinion that you guys And I know like I'm sure you do the same but with my green votes. He like talks to people he I mean he really like stresses about it because all you say and and I just don't like I know the transparency is meant to be positive but I think in these cases It's negative.

I think they should go back to you vote and It's not revealed who you vote for and if a guy doesn't take it serious and and you have unilateral power in the NBA You ask somebody else to vote because I just think it just it's too much It's like people like and I don't blame them for taking a personal if they take it first all then their families take it personal They're agents take it personal and it's I don't know. I think it's I'm just glad I'm not in that business A couple let's do a couple more big questions since joy got your MVP but we'll have to move on to the next one joy Yes, I Has to take to ask this question, but just given Paul George's injury I think it's okay to at least start thinking about it if if the Clippers have already missed their best chance to win the title With Paul George and Kawhi Leonard and please Clippers fans know that I said if because this is a thought exercise They can still win it this year if he comes back in time I agree with you coach that they haven't really put together like a 10 or 15 game stretch They give you a ton of faith that they have a championship team in there But the talent is the talent but just pretend for the sake of just interesting conversation that their best chance was in the past somewhere Was the trade worth it for Paul George and Kawhi Leonard effectively all the picks all the swaps Shagiel just Alexander if it peaks at 2021 conference finals with Kawhi injured was it worth it? Well, I would think everybody would say no it wasn't I mean I don't even think if you have the advantage of hindsight hindsight then no, but I think when they did it it made complete sense and It it was brilliant actually that they were able to achieve what they were able to achieve getting you know which everybody wants is these huge wings that are multi faceted multi talented and And so it made absolute sense and some things make sense and just don't work out for a variety of reasons It's infuriating if you're a fan or if you're in management I'm sure for the Clippers or on the coaching staff because you see the possibilities and they've always kept trying to rework their roster to give them a better and better chance But if it does peak at a conference Champ or conference final I would say everybody would say no, they want it better They wanted more but one thing I wouldn't do if I if I was them is I'm disappointed with the results of what it is but I Would take a chance on two great wing players in their brines anytime And so I hope they don't ever regret that they went for it because I think going for it Takes huge basketball courage. They went for it and you know to now it's probably been disappointing for them and their fans But like you said If Paul I mean there's a lot of us But if Paul George gets back and if Kawhi Leonard can see his way to play in consecutive games and they get stable point guard play and they Have enough shooting.

I mean they can be dangerous Kawhi's been a top five player in the league for the last two months I mean he's back essentially to being Kawhi. I think you nailed the answer. I think you nailed it It's a really depends how you look at the question. I think if the results are this it was quote-unquote Not worth it and there is some chance that this ends up in a bust-ish scenario And by that I just mean this SGA is better than anybody thought he was gonna be SGA is a stud a superstar And he was the cause of that trade the draft equity going out the door the thunder control The Clippers draft picks this season via a swap that could come into play next season outright 2025 swap 2026 outright Another pick has already become jail in Williams who has a chance to win rookie of the year So there is a chance that this isn't Tatum Brown bad on the draft pick end of it, but it's still like bad.

It's still not great All that said I just like I Can't sit here and second guess the process. I think this is just a trade I will never forget someone in the wee hours of that morning. We're talking through the trade It was executive on another team said to me something that stuck in my brain forever It could go down as one of the worst trades in history of the league and it's a trade you absolutely have to make and I just thought that that nailed it And I also think coach The 2021 playoffs where the Bucks end up winning the title was a weird playoffs with like no crowds or like minimal crowds I can't remember exactly the crowd situation was about the end of that because I blacked out that whole period and so much of the attention on the Clippers run was The end of the jazz and how the Clippers without Kawai destroyed the Utah jazz as we knew them in a humiliating embarrassing fashion and then with Kawai hurt in the last part of that series and then The Phoenix Conference Finals was kind of a letdown like the Suns won for two Clippers were competitive But once we knew Kawai was likely out the rest of the way There was this sort of Daniel Daniel why then whatever you say that where it was just like the expectations were gone the assumption was the Clippers would lose to the Suns and I Think the Clippers part of that has been kind of a race from history a little bit They made their first conference finals ever Paul George rewrote the sort of mid-career narrative of his career as like a Choke which I thought was semi unfair to begin with but he rewrote it in that playoffs and if Kawai's healthy Are they the favorites to win the title that season if you know they've already gotten by you like I just think that part of it is kind of an erase and look you can keep Shay You can keep the picks and all that there's no guarantee that road map Which looks so sexy now because of how well Oklahoma City has set up There's no guarantee that road map ever leads you to the conference finals So I think I still think you got to do it But the results so far have been disappointing and I think we need to end this segment by saying it ain't over Let's fingers crossed the parade of the basketball gods PG comes back sooner than expected and they make a proper run at it Right and you can ask the same thing about the other l18 right if They didn't win that bubble championship great point would that have been like? I forgot the term you use for the Clippers a disappointment or above You know what they traded for Anthony Davis and James and all the you know the Westbrook trade then and all these different trades Put that together right?

I think we would be sitting here saying the same thing You know that it was still something they should have done and you know you give them credit for going for it But it just didn't work and they they won that bubble championship Which was you know sort of strange competition to begin with and you know it's so these things I think that executive who said you know it could be you know a bad trade, but you have to do it. I think sometimes you at some point you have to you know quit quote collecting assets and try to win and They did and I I give them credit for that. I Lawrence Frank to me Steve Ballmer like I don't know what it's gonna end up to be like you said Hopefully Paul George is healthy and they have a good chance to do whatever they're gonna do But I love the way they've done about it They keep trying to turn it and surround those two guys with whatever they think is best and they got an outstanding Coach in Tai Lu and sometimes You know Pat Riley's to say this sometimes you're just born at the wrong time You know like you just meet up against somebody that's just better than you like your Andy your Andy Roderick Yeah, you know like he used to say when he was Lakers It was the Dallas Mavericks a row black man and a choir and all those guys Derek Harper But this year when you look at the West if healthy This is what to me. They got to hold the rope on like we could win it We've had a bumpy year, you know guys are not in there in and out.

We we signed players. We released players we trade for players Some guys we thought to play a big role don't even play other guys were starters now They're coming off the bench Westbrook comes in late like it's all this and and yet when they start and I'll presume They're not gonna start with home court They could go on the road and win game one. They don't care about home court. I just don't care I mean they're good enough.

They can go they can they can run through it They could and that's I don't I don't think it'll happen But if I was a clipper fan, I would just hold on to that hope one day We'll go through all the draft moves and stuff because you said they've churned their roster and they have really done a nice job Turn their roster. There are some what ifs here and there they're interesting, but it's not over yet Two more quick big questions. Who is your pick to win the Eastern Conference as of today? I've been bossing all year And I'm gonna go to Milwaukee.

I thought you were Milwaukee with me preseason. You were why I changed it I've been Milwaukee all year. So you're going to Milwaukee. You're off Boston and onto Milwaukee.

Why I just think the depth of talent Yannas is just I guess he's just so Relentless in how he plays the game and they surround him with the you know, just great roster building They've got a great combination of offense and defense and I tell you I think it's it's They're not gonna have That second round whoever of those three teams Right like if both let's just say it's the standing state of same way in Boston and fill your mesh in the second round I mean, you know how well you're gonna have to play to come out of that and then go to Milwaukee and Milwaukee may have problems with Us saying that but I just think that in this case the home court of avoiding that's that second round Absolute power like the top three teams in the back and basketball this year or all in the east and only having to play one to advance The finals to me is huge I'm Milwaukee was my preseason pick and I'm just gonna quickly name check four guys who seem to be ascending at the right time Chris Middleton Starting to look like himself. I'm still concerned. I'm concerned. You're so concerned.

Tell you why just movements like I love Chris Middleton and I was So fortunate to be a part of USA basketball book the world come and the Olympics and to be around him and holiday and but Middleton twice I have just such respect for his game his attitude. Just who he is as a guy but he still seems particularly defensively not as sharp and as sure and So I'm gonna hold out on that. I agree with you. He's getting blown by a lot defensively and he doesn't seem to be moving quite as Explosively on offense He's never was explosive player But his elevation doesn't seem the same but I'm more concerned about his offense and his defense because I just think they have the ability to With holiday Lopez and Giannis they can they can absorb a subpar middleton postseason run on offense I think he'll deliver enough.

They need him in a two-man game late with he and not like it's by far You know, it's been there go to you know put Middleton in a pick and roll with Giannis and it's impossible with Giannis roll into the rim You're gonna get something good and so I hope you're right. I hope he's healthy and ascending I have so much respect for him They've been doing a little more of that in the last five games Which is one of the reasons I'm encouraged Brooke Lopez has been amazing as an offensive threat and not just a three-point shooter in the last six weeks Which I like Juman Carter It has had a really nice season and Joe Ingalls has given them more than I thought he would making shots passing all that Related to this can Philly win the title. Yes, I agree I've been saying it all your filly. I've been saying all your filly has everything they need to win the title The road's gonna be hard James Harden's got a show up in big games.

I said on NBA today all year They should be offended by how we've talked about I'm on the show as like this week third sister in the East behind the two Jogger not today They're not as proven as those two teams They maybe don't deserve the same level of benefit of the doubt They don't need harden to be Houston harden that guy is gone if he could be 20 and 10 harden They have everything they need to win the title. I agree In beat is so dominant such a foul drawer just like John is right which is to me what Boston is missing that guy who just lives at the line Which is such a weapon obviously but particularly in the playoffs, you know the play be able to set your defense because these guys are just just Relentless and they have done a great job putting in beat more at the nail and at the elbow and Man, he's just so good And I think he's a better passer from there than he was in the low post when facing double teams So yeah, I think they have everything they need they need to be mentally tough They need to be able to withstand some up and down play I think I'm worried about that for a whole league let it love just me one team, but the ability that's why I love Milwaukee to me They have a level of poise In their best players that are able to play through You know challenging times or difficult losses, but I love the toughness that Tucker's has brought Tobias Harris as a fourth option offensively has to come through You know, he has to give him space and he can maxi, you know is His speed is something that you have to you know, you better have somebody that can move with maxi And there's no one really that You can just say we're gonna disregard that plays in their rotation like and we're gonna just help and muck up In beat or hardens pick and roll, you know, even like a Tucker who's known more for He knows who he is right now Which maybe is one of his great strengths is he knows exactly what he does well and what he doesn't do well And I think his year in Miami really helped him offensively. He did more than just spot up He went into dribble handoffs. He did you know he sort of kept the offense churning in the right direction And I think you know harden interesting to me for a great player and a Sustained great player so much more with hardens talking about what he hasn't achieved than what he has and I think hardens let himself down sometimes In particular in the San Antonio series when they lost at home They didn't have winner.

They didn't have Parker. I don't know who else they were missing at that time Maybe you know we do it and played an inexplicably detached game, right? But you can focus so much on that That you don't see a guy who is just a master craftsman picking whole lives who when you ask somebody hey I want you to pass more dribble less get to your stuff quicker like they have in Philly That's what he's done. So I think sometimes You know, it's this choice that we all make we're either gonna focus on the 10% that we'd like to change in a player or concentrate On the 90% that we like I think certain players we gravitate towards what we'd like to change and other players We just accept the limitations and I think Hardens certainly has his limitations.

This is you know I thought they had a great chance in Houston with Chris Paul They missed you know all those threes in game seven they had a double digitally in both games six and game seven that year But Paul was out those last couple games. So you'd have to say that was his best chance of winning But this this is a real opportunity for he and me and in beat to me has as much pressure to deliver and playoff games and fourth quarters Which he hasn't done great yet. He hasn't done great in finishing close playoff games So it's not just hard who has something on the line. It's in beat as well, but here's the difference With him beat.

He's going down fighting with him He's not ever gonna just disappear and shy away from the game if he if he has a bad fourth quarter in the playoffs He's gonna miss some shots. He's gonna miss him free throws But he's not going to say well, I just didn't get the ball the ball didn't come to me and the hard and stuff I just think I look he's an MVP's a top 75 player ball time There's no denying any of this I think the spotlight is fair because that San Antonio game you mentioned It would be one thing if that were a standalone anomaly He has like five games like that in really really high stakes moments including just last season in game six against Miami Which frankly was a Miami team that they should have been able to beat or at least push to game seven? I just think the scrutiny is not this made up thing He's got four five six games where you're like what happened to James Harden in like this game where the whole season is at stake And so I can I remember about that just a little bit though you may yeah And I'm not being a harden apologist right now because I have those like like what was that like type of moments But I believe he was wasn't he hurt last year a little bit he was dealing with the still I believe the leader He had hamstring or calf or whatever And so the one thing I would say about hard you also a big game's last year He had a massive game to help them beat Toronto in the first round like so was he hurt then I just never got no I agree things aim into that if you can't say guys help me when he has a great game and unhealthy when he has a bad game I think we all you know do that so I'm guilty as charged on that good job and holding me to account on that I was I was just asking no no I love to be held to a town because I don't even buy some of the stuff I say so I'm glad you did that But with him beat in particular, I think if you study his his playoff games and I gotta say I was disappointed Two years ago like when he he could have protected Simmons and he did and that that was blown up to be something much bigger than It was like that play that Simmons made and and everybody bailed to me on Simmons to cover their own butts and Just from afar. I thought it was BS And so it's the same thing like that was it was just one play But it was the culmination of Simmons disappearing fourth quarter after fourth quarter after fourth quarter after fourth quarter year after year Yeah But like we can just say to everybody enjoys and be more to they just like him and he's likable like but I think Just because we like him shouldn't mean that we less than just screw me I just think sometimes All of our biases come into play and who we hold to account for their play late and who we overlook and Give some outs to and I'm not saying Hardin listen, of course he feels great.

He's a great player Don't I just think like he and in Bead getting back they have a great chance Let's just cut through like they I think you said it before they have everything they need There's nothing now They're gonna have to go through two great teams to get to the finals and so if they come up short I don't think it's as much a statement on what they've done people to do if they lose in the first round You know then there's something that went haywire Yeah, there's losing and there's losing and the manner of it matters if they lose a competitive six or seven game series to Boston Where everyone shows up and fights in Boston just better? What can you do if they lose in five and something? Happens than you know someone doesn't show up that's a different story last big question It will be super quick the east six to ten We if the Pacers had lost in Toronto last night the East playoffs would have been preset just in terms of the identity of the ten teams The Pacers gave themselves a fighting chance Brooklyn six Miami seven Atlanta Toronto Chicago Miami may pass Brooklyn They have a chance to pass Brooklyn to get to six Brooklyn has a tiebreaker Toronto's played pretty well with pertile Chicago I just can't figure out to save my life Atlanta is Is ma is ma is of all those teams? Who has the best chance coach of making noise in the playoffs and keep in mind?

They're all gonna be playing one of those three teams in the first round well, that's why I think Miami's you know I'm gonna say Miami and because I think they could get to fifth too. I think they could catch New York They have another game with New York like New York that easily lose to Orlando tonight Orlando is I think Orlando has had a heck of a season And I think they have just like Oklahoma City. They have some real talent And they've done. Yeah, they got some real talent.

So I think Miami can still catch They could catch and I think whoever again people will say like it's being disrespectful to Cleveland And it's not Cleveland's had a incredible year like really a great year and they've got a tremendous starting lineup But they have a little bit of an experience as far as in their main guys Mitchell not with Sandy And I think New York or Miami whoever comes in fifth could Push Cleveland into a very good series. I don't think that's a hot I don't know Cleveland's got the best point differential in the East or whatever like I don't think that's a hot take those teams are good Am I a man? I'm gonna make it a hot take I'm just saying like what I see with my eyes like I don't think any of those teams that you mentioned has a chance in hell of beating the top three So it doesn't matter like I think Atlanta with Trey Young He could go win a game by himself because he's a wizard as far as passing but I don't see them defending well enough I just don't think those first three like I'll be surprised at any of the first round series with involving those top three Teams Go to six games. I just see him as you know The when the first two who's game three win game four and a tough hard-fought game pulls him out in game five and move on Yeah I think the answer has to be Miami just because of what they've done and how good butler is in the playoffs how good out of I always overall I think they need Kyle Lowry to start soon and he's been looking a little better coming off the bench When they have Vincent and hero on the floor at the same time.

They're just too vulnerable defensively. They're too small Kyle Lowry's not tall, but you know, he's like a brick wall and they can't post up Kyle Lowry I mean, I'm not even sure Hakeemalaju on composed up Kyle Lowry I'm being facetious, but I think it's a day good score on Kyle Lowry Okay, apologies to Hakeemalaju on I think I who I think actually is like really underrated in like when people discuss the top 10 or 12 players of all time You better mention a lot of one in that discussion. You better mention them It has to be it has to be my alright coach. You gotta go It's just a pleasure doing these check-ins with you.

We'll probably have to do another one I'll make you do another one in the finals at some point I try I know you're busy I try and keep them sparse, but this is three for the season They're all delightful. Thank you for being a scoops sir on the scene in Dallas last night and for all your work on TV It's tremendous. Thanks for thanks for slamming it here with me. You got it.

Thank you