We are officially in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs after two games in the West of Conference went to game seven. Reportedly, the weakest conference, according to Nick, the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, both LA teams were eliminated from the playoffs last week in disappointing fashion. As we did last time and we needed to do our X interviews, what is one thing each team should focus on improving going into next week? And before we get into that, next week or next year?
Next season, I'm sorry. Yes, next season. Next week, they can't wait people. Thank you.
The Lakers as a three-seater never lost in the first round of the playoffs and the Clippers has acquired Paul George in 2019. I've only made another first round of the playoffs once and that is in 2020 to 2021. I would say this. The one thing that the Lakers need to do is just improve internally.
We saw what JJ Redick said about weight and stamina. So that's part of the reason why Luke is not traded. Luke has to be better. And here's the thing.
It's not about being a lockdown defender. It's about being a willing defender and not playing Ole defense. When you watch the likes of Steph Curry, Steph Curry has no defensive stalwart. However, he expands energy on the defensive side of the ball.
He gets scored on that time of course, and playoff match ups do they seek him out at times of course. But at the end of the day, he holds his own and Luca does it. So Luca needs to improve his, just his everything that's physical about him. I saw this one montage on Instagram where they were saying, young Luca, you know what I'm saying, had like 147 ducks his rookie year.
And like since the last four or five years, the man's barely half 50 ducks. So he needs to get more spry on his legs. He has old man game, but he looked like an old man already. So that's not a common thing.
That's his thing. Hey, he need to get on to LeBron James training and training. And for the Clippers, you got to trade James Harden, bro. James Harden is the issue.
And we'll talk about that in my power rankings as well. But James Harden is the issue. When it comes to elimination games, him stepping up and being the guy that he is typically throughout the regular season and non elimination playoff games, he just, I don't know what happens, but it doesn't look good. And he's the first player in NBA history to lose four game sevens or four different teams.
So that's not something that you want to be part of. You got to trade James Harden. People, I heard you mentioned a lot about Luca, but you didn't talk about any of the real issues with the Lakers, which is the others and LeBron. So you got to look at that.
I don't even mention one thing though. Ken said, what's one thing you would change? So that's one thing. I said one.
So that's the biggest thing that needs to change. And one thing that you would change is Luca needs to be in shape or play defense. By him being in shape, he'll have a stamina to play defense. I look at Luca as being Luca and he going to do what he's been doing this whole time.
So I look at more or less the others. Everybody has to step up on that team. Everybody, but the most part, you got to figure out who your others are going to be and make sure that you round out a team with players that can play the game as a whole. When you play a game where you only play in five players in the second half, that means you don't trust anybody on that team.
So you got to look at all those players. You got to have more than that to be able to manufacture wins in the lead and to advance. So we know what Luca is. We know what he's going to do.
And in Dallas, they structured everything around him. It was good enough to get to the finals. It was good enough to advance to the playoffs several times to get, you know, they're not made to the finals, but they still were able to win games with him doing what he's doing right now. So what you need to do is put players around him that are skilled players that make things happen.
You know, you have PJ, that's a shooter, a post player that can shoot and you have people that were aggressive around him. So you need to surround him with players like that and figure out what you're going to do with LeBron. But the Lakers need his big man. We all seen that.
What has to happen with the next season is JJ Reddy has a coach better. Like all of it, like he was, he was okay closing out the season. I know he won a strong run with some of those things like Sheldon talked about playing on five people in the second half. Like some of these things you just can't do as a coach.
And he has this like mentality where I've seen the media do a question before the game asking what's he going to consult with his assistants on the service. He got mad and walked out. Like JJ Reddy, the same way that he called out Luca and was talking about people need to be in the morning shape. He got to be a basketball coach.
It's better. It's one thing to know basketball, which he does. I'll give him that 100%. He probably forgot what basketball I know.
He's a very, I see, I've watched the podcast. I see how much you know about basketball. When we talk about strategy and what he needed to do to help the Lakers win some games in the playoffs, he couldn't do it. And we saw it and he got mad about it.
What about the Clippers? The Clippers, the Clippers, man. Like, who knows? Like, who knows?
Like, yeah, Jake, get rid of James. Like, James, why I never going to do anything in a game seven. Just give him a change. That's what's about that.
When you talk about getting rid of James Harden, who are you replacing them with? They don't even matter. Whatever you can get. Whatever you can get back from.
Yeah. For me, it's too many things with either one of these teams. It's not one thing. But I will say the main thing.
I think asking JJ to be better is pointless because he's probably going to get fired in the next two or three years if that. Yeah, because look, once either LeBron's going to retire, he'll get fired or he'll get fired right before the Broncos. That's not a two to three year time. I think the main thing I guess for later is I can't even say conditioning because it's just fat boy.
You know what I'm saying? Like, at everybody on the team, he don't want to have a shape. And the reason why I call that shit out is because, Ken, if I told you, we'll pay you over a hundred million dollars or let's say 30 million dollars a year to play basketball, all y'all do is just stay in shape. I don't think that's much of an ask.
You know what I'm saying? He lost a hundred million dollars because he wasn't in shape. So you would think he'll be more excited to just, you know, get to do that. Again, like you said, people, he has to go into the LeBron James campus summer and get right.
I think people are going to put some on the bronze for like, why aren't you getting him in shape either? Like, this is supposed to be, you have to do it. I'm saying like, why is he helping him get in shape? Because LeBron, LeBron, I think it's like, what's supposed to do drag him off each?
Yeah, like, as a leader, like people look at, if you, LeBron is a leader, he's a leader to lead. So if he can't mentor Luca, who will? It ain't gonna be Jay Jay. It ain't gonna be Ron Palenka.
I was just, I think the thing about the Lakers and people giving Luca, who got a play defense a lot of crap is it's still because the team isn't built for Luca to be on the floor. Dallas was able to compensate and make it to the finals with Luca playing a defense like he did because they had rim protectors. The Lakers don't have nobody over six, eight in the game. So of course, Luca going to look a lot worse.
Playing against the same guy, that got to help him. But what did it look like in the finals when they made it and they played against Boston? It was only defense all over the place. It was like, I heard.
People came to the rest. Bro, but at the end of the day, he didn't have the stamina to look defenses all about resistance and basketball, right? And it's in that comes down to sheer will. We're not asking you to go lock people up.
What we're asking you to do is to make a person take an extra dribble or two or a step or two instead of just letting go right by you. Regardless if you got rim protection, like the rim or not. I'm with you. I'm with you.
I'm sorry, people. I'm with you on that. It's just what I'm saying though is that can't be your major problem if it was good enough to get into the finals. That's not your major problem.
Your major problem still has to be the others that if Luca being fat, not playing defense, being out of shape and all the things we talk about him, we're still able to get those numbers and guide that team single handedly if you want to put it that way to the finals. We know he can do it again with the right cast around. You just got to make sure you got the right people in place to help him to do so. Now I want him to do these things.
I want him to get in shape. He needs to. I agree he needs to. I want him to be a good player when you're talking about him being successful.
I just didn't want to skate pass. Nick point, you know what I'm saying? LeBron will be held accountable. He'll be started with a LeBron accountable.
That's kind of crazy. I'm only saying that not because it has anything to do with LeBron, but it's like he's the biggest star between the two. He may not be the best player between the two. That's arguable, but he's the bigger star and they're always going to put the onus.
Even when AD was there, people were always going to criticize LeBron more than anybody on the team. That's what I'm saying. If Luca doesn't get in shape, they're going to say, LeBron, what are you doing to help him? You know what I'm saying?
They're going to push blame. They're going to push blame off of Luca until LeBron leaves. I guess my pushback is coming more so from you. You believe that?
Should he have some responsibility in that? I can't let's what other people think. I guess LeBron is going to get. I would say 60, 40, 60, 40.
I would put a responsibility on LeBron. I mean, 40% of the LeBron 60 on Luca. I don't think that LeBron should be like, hey, bro, we're going to get for it. I need to be a big star.
That's a big star. That's not me. That's not me. Hold on.
He's the same way about Shaq's career. When he was with who? Go. He won chips.
I can't really say it was a failure. I can't say no. I would say that. But Shaq should have been better for longer.
They do it one three rings. What more do you gain? Shaq should have been better for longer. That's fine.
But Shaq, I get what y'all saying, but I feel like it's different because Shaq was still able to win a ring after he was still in his prime for a long time. LeBron isn't in his prime anymore. You know what I'm saying? Shaq wasn't in his prime for a long time.
He's going to be dominant. LeBron, right now, better than Shaq in Miami. 100%. He's not even close.
I'm not. But Kobe called Shaq out for not being in shape. I don't think the problem is going to call him. Shaq, Shaq, the whole thing was Shaq's thing is what Nick is saying.
He said, bro, look at the numbers. And I'm still in the rings. What do you complain? The result is when the championship is we're saying that the reason why they didn't go for it, they didn't get out the first round is because outside of JJ, Luca wasn't in shape and he didn't do his part when it mattered the most.
And they put some around that? They don't even want to be directing. I guess I'm still going to come out. The comparison was still be flawed because they had Phil Jax and they had a better all around team than what the Lakers team has right now.
Even what you're saying, you even talk about Big Shot Rob. So I mean, y'all like these pieces weren't there when they were winning. They don't have any of those pieces right now at LA. So I just want to see the point of putting this on LeBron.
I'm not putting a majority of anything on LeBron. If you're asking me personally. Would you stand there? What do you say?
I'm going off of what I believe will be the perceived notion as far as going into next season. If they get bounced out in the first round again. Why are you worried about the third part? You don't worry about what you're talking about.
That's right. We asked that. What franchise are we talking about? We're talking about LA.
All this shit matters, bro. The reason why Shaq let me know is because it was just, they was winning chips and he's still at because the thought process. That don't matter though. You're not going to blame LeBron if Luca come back out of shape.
You're not going to, I'm not, but I'm saying like I can see how this thing will go to shit quickly if he doesn't get into shape and I'm just laying out the different variables that are going to be brought up to say that this is the reason why they couldn't get things done. They're going to blame Luca for being like, it's like there's a lot of things that have to happen for my mind for the Lakers to get right. And one of them is Luca being in shape, but it's also again, it's JJ coach and better like you said, it's also them getting a better roster overall, which is on Rob Palenco. Even though you could argue he made the best move this whole season.
Did he? You could argue. There's a lot of things he just want Luca being in shape and Nico traded him because he seen and said he ain't getting in shape bro. He been here for all this time.
He ain't got in shape. He made it to the finals. He think the way that he doing it going to work it. You have to look at this trade a little bit different.
It played out just like Nico. You make a trade. You make a trade. Nottimes out of 10 regardless.
There's a path where Nico was right though. He's like, bro, we never go to a championship because let's say next year happens and he don't get in shape and he don't play the defensive job. Talking about each time that that happens, Nico looks more and more right and less like a crazy person. So two things, two things, right?
I will agree that adding to the narrative that you're talking about, even the teams in Spain and also his home country that he played for. You remember, he's been a professional since like 13, 14 years old. 16. Like David complaining about that aspect of him since then.
So this proceeds Nico into Dallas Mavericks, right? That's number one. And I think that's part of this thing is something you said. I had another point and I just forgot it like that.
But I'll just add to what you said in terms of it just being a bad look. Oh, the perceived notion of this being a good trade for Nico because of the issues that we see with Luca and Transpiring on the court. The only thing that is an issue with the trade is that he didn't probe for more. You know what I'm saying?
Like to me, not saying that, and remember, I'm one of the people that like the trade both ways. I think that they still could have got more in terms of jack compensation, but the player for what he is, like the way that Dallas is going to show that I feel that I get it. But at the end of the day, the one thing that I could definitely blame Nico for is not trying to get more. We can talk about that no more because we know that thing.
I still know that. I don't know that, bro. If he's reasoning, show him. If his reasoning was he's never going to get in shape and he can't play defense and it takes defense to win championships.
And we're talking about the same thing next year that go out the first round. Every year that happens, he's more and more right. Then anybody would have pulse makes him available to 31 or 30 other teams in the league. That's a different conversation.
That's the difference. The difference is that Luka is LeBron has no control over Luka. All he can do is extend the invitation. He has this is the NBA and he has no power to make somebody come train with him.
He can say, hey, man, I want you to train. He can say whatever you want to say, but he technically has no power in this situation. We know that. And another reason why I should explain fully because I know Ken has thoughts as well.
I want to say for the Clippers, yes, you should get rid of James Harden. I don't think it will work at this one. He need to blow up the whole team. I lost all my crypto currency, Sheldon.
On game seven. It was a coin flip game. No, really. I put a one that game.
It was going to come out again. Game six was basically game seven. I was a elimination game. James Harden showed up and he was at the press conference.
He got me hyped out. He was going to say I got it. He said I got it. He said I got it.
He said he can come out doing this. I got to. I got to. I got to.
Apparently it was a choice because he's seven points is nasty for a game seven. So I didn't need to blow up the whole team. Shout to Tyler. We even though he fucked up.
That's what I was about to ask you. Tyler fucked up because like I said, it should have been Clippers and Ford. It should have not even went to seven because game one they had to lead. They blew it and game four should not have dumped by Aaron Gordon.
Right now Aaron Gordon is arguably if the nuggets go far, he's going to be finals MVP because he's saving. He's saving. They see it right now. If you just look at the games, they're Jamal Murray this season in the playoffs.
He make it more clutch shots than Joker. That's all I'm saying. But for me with the Lakers, the reason why is like Lucas still has to resign with them long term. The reason why I'm talking about blame being put elsewhere is because JJ can't come out and say it.
He hasn't LeBron will be able to come out and say it because he's. Say that he is the problem and he needs to fix himself. But that's what he alluded to. If you ain't saying specifically, you ain't saying it all.
So my thing. And I think the message was never said. I don't think it's only received. It's only received.
It's only received. He was talking about the big part of this is Lucas supposed to be the Lakers next 10 to 15 years. Right. He's their stars.
It's supposed to be the superstar. So they're not going to heavily criticize him until the deal is an ink inside first and foremost. So that's what I'm saying next season. If he doesn't come in and if they replay his heart that this season somehow some way, people are going to put point fingers on the ground.
Even though they shouldn't, they will just because they're like we can't really sit on him just yet because he has a re-signed. If he hit the wrong leaves, this is the worst trade ever because Rob Palenka did all that to get him and he couldn't keep him. And he's supposed to keep franchise. So Nick, I will say this.
And this is the reason why timing is everything. Lakers have the leverage here. Luca doesn't anymore because he has the bird rights. Right.
Like we got traded. He could assign a supermax anymore because of the trade, but the Lakers could still sign up for the most money that any other team could sign up for. He already lost 100 million by getting traded. He's going to leave more money on the table by going to another team.
I don't see that happening. He's going to get his coins. And because of how the things have played out, he doesn't have the leverage to say I want to sign and trade. I don't see why the Lakers would accommodate him in that depending on what they're getting in return.
But from a money perspective, the Lakers have all the leverage in this instance. He's going to sign with the Lakers, bro. He can't leave. He'd be a fool for leaving more money on the table.
But if the run is gone and the roster is what it is because you can't have more than two. You got to get your money first, bro. This is the first real. I get you.
I get you. I understand. That's the conversation that I'm hearing is that he could possibly leave if he don't like the situation. That's a lot of money, bro.
I want to say that's the difference of 40 to 60 million. He already lost 100 million. So we're talking about over 150 million on the table now, bro. I just don't see it.
Now here's the thing. You understand my business and it's not about the money because you already rich as hell. Then do do do. I just don't see it from business perspective, bro.
I just I don't see how that is. It's never. It's never happened. Well, as everybody in the chat been pointed out, we know any of the same as obvious.
They can go get one. Will they be good? I don't know. I think it comes down to whether or not JJ can play tomorrow.
You know, so JJ clearly is the issue. It was a rookie season. He lost this series. When I look at it and he lost it when he decided to play his whole starting team the second half of 24 minutes, that was a series he lost.
You up 10 to passively call out the team and say that they need to be in better shape is total BS because they were in shape. I just don't believe any of that he's saying why don't he can't be direct because they need to get Luca back. So he don't want to call him out. But you know, he he said there are individuals that were in phenomenal shape.
there's certainly other ones that could have been in better shape. That's where my mind goes immediately is we have to get in championship shape. We know LeBron is in shape as the best shape he could be in at age 40. Those other guys are pretty much young.
We know what he's talking about. Everybody knows what he's talking about. But at the end of the day, this team should have beaten the world. And they did not and JJ made a lot of coaching mistakes.
So the one thing they need to fit is they need to go out and get a center. I just don't know that would be enough because LeBron will be a year older and unless Luke could come back looking like Larry Bird or somebody else, then they're gonna have the same issues over. Okay, Yarnas, they got they got Ronnie. What you mean, FIFA?
What are you doing in the G League this week? I was talking about the goddamn Lakers and y'all that ate up all day on time and now we got to move on. But y'all let the Clippers skate by. I told you I called him out.
I said, I don't fuck up. You said Tyler was the best coach in the league. I didn't say that. I didn't say that.
Like it's atrocious. And I just let this Clippers. What's been in the chat about them only been out of the first round. Okay.
The only person we really need to hear from is Nick. Nick. I'm trying to put a shit in him and here's your bitch. That's what you did.
I was like, bro, I was like, bro, game once in a half. I mean, it's easy to say that when you're wrong, like you're happy. I admit it. Let me get out in front of this.
I didn't get out of front of this. We got to talk about the talking points though, 18 to 21 that they came in. They were extremely hot. All right.
I'm going to leave multiple games in that series as the best coach. You said he had James Harden playing on his best basketball. You said that about Russell Westbrook last year. You would everybody was talking about Chris.
And all this time Lou is overrated as a coach. He got that one ring off LeBron. Tyler as I said and be a santa to and we call him about he is a modern day version. Tyrevers.
I'm sorry. Tyrevers. Tyrevers. No.
Taylor. Taylor. How does Mike? We got it.
It is. Look, let's go back. We have plenty of tape and tapes about this. He said this team was built to win a championship.
They are best Paul George best team ever. We couldn't wait. It never happened because the Clippers fucking failed. The Lakers and LeBron went on it got a title.
No matter how you look at it, the fact is they got to do a ring before the Clippers. And even since Dan had gone further than the Clippers. He like a bad hairline. You got to let it go.
He, um, and they had opportunity to overtake the Lakers and they just didn't get it done. I'm not disagreeing with most of what you're saying. I just can't never compare Tyler to the backgreens. I'm sorry.
They wasn't up three one. That's the reason why he's egregious because he was up. My thing is with Tyler Lewis. If I'm in most shooting, I'm the only one that's going to do that.
I always talk about how I'm not coaches. We got to do this. Tyler, um, Kawhi was hurt most of his tenure there. Now, Western Conference Finals.
It was a great series though. The Western Conference Finals appearance. And he didn't show, and Kawhi didn't show for Game 7 to him to be honest. The Western Conference Finals, Kawhi got hurt and I guess the last two seasons.
Kawhi was hurt. We don't know how those seasons went. Those are a lot of ifs. I'm not drinking, you know what I'm saying?
We already celebrated single day mile yesterday. So I got to do a rest day. But I think that if I am going to be honest and if I'm going to hold people to the fire, I think that's why I think you need to blow up the whole thing. I know they re-sign Kawhi, but that's why I just sell tickets with it.
It's not just hard. And they do have a good squad. And I know that if I was, as we were talking about the Lakers thing, I'm thinking who can they trade harder for to get back as a point guard that can do like a Darius Garland type of effort. You know what I'm saying?
Not been splashedy, but it's consistent enough for Kawhi to work off of. I don't have that guy who's not already committed to another team. And the other thing is the only matter time before hard turns on. What you got to show up with the guy we always try to trade for.
Get him in. I'll trade for you. I'll hate it. Why not?
He better than James Hardy and he don't shine away in a big moment. We know that's true. He's a small guard though. They're going to light them up.
He has defense behind him. And you got the other guys. He got help. That's really all he need.
You're going to need to help out on the offensive and him and Kawhi be a monster. No, no, no, no, no, but but but but but James Hardy can't come to San Land. That's what I was going to say. The strip club economy is about to be up a thousand percent.
All right. Well, that's that we'll leave it there, man. We'll be right back after this week.