 Back here again, another special NBA playoff edition in the zone. Knock down Jay Chris Broussard in the building dressed up for the occasion. Thank you, Chris Glad to be here. Gotta get the Barb started early. All right Let's get started Chris first topic the best player in the NBA right now Kevin Durant All right, he didn't stop me. He's on board Kevin. You might be he's playing great He might be Chris Broussard. I will start it with this Should Kevin Durant stay in Golden State assuming they win the title or should he go? Should he leave for Allegedly greener pastures in New York with the Knicks or perhaps Brooklyn or the LA Clippers Should he stay or should he go? I've said in the past that I think KD should stay one more year You're going into the new arena You go for four straight rings, which Michael Jordan magic Johnson Shaq Kobe none of these guys you're compared to has done that since Bill Russell He's the only one ever do it and that could you know separate you from a LeBron James and some of these other guys You're compared to not necessarily make you better But certainly give you something you've done that they never did three in a row would give him that over LeBron but As I watch this team play over time. I've changed my mind I think they are too mentally taxed to win four in a row. I think they're mentally taxed now I think they're their eye is on the destination and not the journey. It's just like man Let's win this thing. You know, we think KD is out of here You know, let's just go ahead and win this thing and you know start all over again next year So I just think that to bring them back. There's a reason Team no team since Bill Russell have one four straight Have had no team has even gone the four straight Other than or five straight like these warriors since Bill Russell and because it becomes so taxing Even Michael Jordan is mentally tough as he was he stopped after each three Pete Kobe and Shaq added Carl Malone and But they didn't win it but they they didn't win after their three in a row. They got tired It's tough. So I I think they would still be the most talented team in the league But I think they'd be mentally taxed and wouldn't win four straight So I only I would I wouldn't even pick them if they wouldn't it this year Kevin Durant returns I would not pick them to win it next year. Wow I'm not saying they weren't wouldn't be capable of doing it But I just think it would be so mentally draining that they wouldn't do it Secondly and I'll be quick on this point Even though KD would have won four straight guess who else would have won four straight Steph And it still would probably be viewed as Steph Curry's team Steph might be the finals MVP of the last two for all we know if they won four straight So it's not just like he built this team and they won four straight He still went to a team that was ready made and we went for I have more to say but I'll let you give you a point Yeah, I can't get on board with any of that Chris I get I mean the taxing part you're right in the regular season They look tax they don't look taxed in the ports postseason. These are two to the clippers You needed that wake-up call. I think they got it, right? They blew the fourth quarter lead and then blew I guess game five They should have won that since that I mean they were lights out in games one or two against the Rockets I didn't see a mentally taxed team I saw a team that had their eyes on the prize and they closed both fourth quarters They didn't appear mentally taxed in that but I get what you're saying. It's tough to win Well, they're ready now now it's playoff time It's like and you do your face in a legit threat not the clippers So they're all zoned in and they would be zoned in next year in the finals But I'm just saying that I just think it'd be such you already saw problems this year to go back to the Bill Russell days I'm over there 15 teams in the lead then something that travel was nothing that it is now the postseason I was looking at the numbers these warriors Last what four years in the finals have played basically a full another season So you're right the taxing is there physically and mentally is absurd and for Kevin Durant to leave going from here You go clay Steph. There's a lob to Dreymond to go into New York Frank Nillikina good luck with that jumper Kevin Knox. Can you not travel? I would never I would never recommend going to New York by yourself But if you go with Kyrie Irving now, you have a chance to really do something Does Kyrie want to play? Well, no, there has to what there? Look, I would never tell Kevin Durant go to New York by himself Even if they were like had a really good supporting cast. I just think he's not built for it by himself Okay, but I'm assuming if you go with Kyrie Irving or if you go to the Clippers Or if you go to Brooklyn with someone else my point is this Kevin Durant is beginning people are now talking about. Oh, can he catch LeBron? Yes, I can even be in the discussion with a Jordan the only way you get in there I was on the herd today and he said is Durant top 10 Every single player that we would put in the top 10 even if it differs with a few players Whether you don't have a keen somebody else has a keen somebody has Duncan somebody has Kobe Oscar whatever Every take a Oscar Robinson every other player has led their own team to the championship Kevin Durant that is an Asher. We're in this cancer in this cancer on my radio show the eye couple yesterday I asked he's a former teammate of KD's. I said look, we know KD is great argument The best player in the world top 10 all-time all that do to players. We've heard the media Let me finish let me fit we've heard media say it we've heard former superstars like Walt Frazier say There's a mental asterisk there. I said players do players feel that way? He said I've talked with players most players do feel like he has to go do his own thing there will always be he will never be LeBron James or Certainly not Michael Jordan if your legacy is you went to join a 73 win team That won a championship without you and one title you were great team that did not win They won 73 games cares about the regular. They were in the finals the Bucks won 60 games this year whoop the damn do Oh, you compare this Bucks team to that Warriors the Warriors lost. They needed Kevin Durant There's a reason they got it a plan. There's not a plug Kevin. We need Kevin is great No, they went to recruit Dwight Howard a couple years earlier when they were still a good team They didn't need him. He's a great player. He didn't need him twice. So was I drink with dollar So was James worthy. Does that mean he was better than magic? Is that so is Cedric Maxwell? Does that mean he was better than bird in that series fine? It's a team game and it doesn't mean this your team or the warrior who's team or the Please the best player. We know who's team are the warrior player on the word Kevin Durant. Nobody's in Isaac They did not need him. They didn't win against LeBron and Kyrie largely because Dre mine got suspended They didn't win. Let's keep it. I agree. They did not need as great as Kevin Durant is and look I'm not denying. He's arguably the best player in the world. He's arguably top-ten all time arguably top-ten all time They did not need him and and and whether okay, you disagree finals to Kyrie and okay You know what I flew out there to recruit Kevin Durant another fact who wouldn't come there another fact They went to titles facts, and he was the MVP twice look all facts Look, they did not need him. You know it. I know it. That's the perception Perception is off their reality who players media fan. Yeah. Yeah Yeah Oh really won't play That's who determines history players media fans That's who determines history prism of right now ten years from now. Nobody's gonna say Yeah, they will they're gonna say damn I just told you something that happened 30 years ago that Larry Bird had two eight-point games in the finals that cornbread Maxwell I just mentioned it nobody says Larry Bird had eight game eight points in the finals I just heard someone mention it on TV the other day I'm telling you right now Kevin Durant wins three finals in a row three finals MVPs Okay, he passes Kobe Bryant on the all-time greatness list. That's a fact. No, no, no, no We ain't next topic. We are not next topic What there is no way if Kevin Durant wants to be in the conversation with Michael Jordan if he wants to pass LeBron James He has got to go somewhere. No, let's look at up. He's only 31. He's 31 He's got to go somewhere else and lead a team to a championship Don't you dare as great as stop it as great as Kevin Durant is Don't you dare put his name in the same sentence with Michael Jordan? I have not uttered that man's name with Michael Jordan unless he leaves his own team Setting it so let me know the teams that Kevin Durant can go to and win a championship Sacramento go there KD win a title and then we'll respect you Resort to but that's what it sounds like stay in the ball. What should he do go to the Wizards? Take John Wall to a time. Have I ever mentioned the Kings or the Wizards? There's a where should he go fine. Let's do and Kyrie Irving should go to the next I don't think Kyrie wants to play with him. I don't think he doesn't go there Then either go to the Clippers or stay it would go see and now we're telling someone what to do with their career and Because Let's not have knock down Jay if we gonna bring life issues in but no We're not of course Kevin Durant can do whatever the heck he wants and we and I would bless you Okay, my bless you gonna respect me stays and go stop. Let me I can't talk if you're gonna be interrupting every thought Let's not bring a guy's family decisions a guy's personal feelings into it because of course Kevin Durant can go wherever he wants of course, and I'm not gonna fault him for doing what he wants to do What's gonna make him happy personally? We are talking about Basketball wise don't bring anything else into it if Kyrie Irving wants to leave Brooklyn and go to freakin or Lando if that's what makes him happy fine I will judge it from a basketball standpoint So don't bring in what Kevin Durant wants to do to make him happy Of course do what makes it a basketball basketball standpoint legacy standpoint. There are people playing in the league now Listen people that didn't play in the league are playing in the league now former stars that will never give him his full credit I think he's phenomenal, but they will not give him his full 100% credit He deserves until he leads is are you one of those people There will always be I'll give him credit, but he can't like I just said He can't be in the conversation with Michael Jordan unless he goes He's only 31 years old we didn't start the LeBron Jordan stuff until he was 32 Jordan stuff started in freakin Cleveland. I didn't start that That's other people on TV pushing nonsense when he's in Cleveland at 25 years No, no people he was nobody said he had reached him because he had one championship But people started talking about LeBron Jays as a potential heir or Challenger to Michael Jordan when he was first in Cleveland for me. That's silly and dense Nobody had reached me when I was saying that's the potential Nobody's ever even thought Kevin Durant had the potential to be a Michael Jordan from my perspective and I will move on after this Kevin Durant if he still does this and tries this idea to go to a Nick's a Clippers And he fails it is worse to go and fail than to stay and succeed in Golden State My opinion is you stay you win for failing Golden State. You're not going to that team is too good I mean maybe an injury happen. I'm not winning the fourth straight. I don't think I mean We don't know the Rockets are gonna stay together. He's gonna be better Boston if Kyrie stays will be right there a lot of ifs Yeah, there's no way staying in there are ifs. There's ifs can nobody's ever won fourth straight That's why you do it. I Think it'd be great. I just don't think they do it. I think they went for so we figured out we'd get heated right out of the gate One nothing Jay back. So on to Ty Lou who today Chris Appears to be headed toward being the Lakers next head coach Monty Williams the other guy that the Lakers wanted he's going to Phoenix Is Ty Lou the right hire for the lake so many gets it they're gonna offer it to him in a few days I do think Ty Lou is the right hire number one It's not just bringing in LeBron's guy. This is a guy that's been the three finals This is a guy that's won an NBA finals It's a guy that came back from a 3-1 deficit to a the best regular season team in history This is a guy that before he took over as a head coach was considered one of the best young coaching candidates out there This is a guy that's been an assistant and a mentee to dock rivers who did one of the best coaching jobs We saw in the NBA this season. This is a guy that LeBron Jay's respects This is a guy that will challenge LeBron at a shoot around at a practice in the locker room in a film session What's not to like? Yes, Ty Lou is the right hire and it's not just like I said It's not just LeBron's boy. Of course you want LeBron on board with a hire The Phoenix Suns one Devon Booker on board with a hire So it's nothing wrong with your best player being on board with a hire. It's the right move. I My concern for the Lakers is you talked a lot about perception Right around the league in our last topic the perception around the league if Ty Lou goes to the I thought you didn't care about perception. Well, I'll tell you why it matters. Well, here's why it matters Ty Lou goes to the Lakers Every free agent to be oh LeBron got his guy. That's LeBron. Are they getting Kevin Durant anyway? No matter who's the coach if the real MVP Mama Durant was is the Kevin Durant Chris middle-team whoever Jimmy Know you're going to LeBron's team LeBron guy LeBron's coach Ty Lou I just don't know now other They're not getting Kyrie Irving they're not getting Kawhi Leonard no matter who's the coach All right. I don't know that for sure. Anthony Davis Ty Lou's Position there is not going to deter Anthony Davis from still wanting to join the day Kevin Durant totally blast the LeBron Circus We don't know if there's anyone who's going to want to come and be under LeBron and under Ty Lou The people who wanted to come when LeBron joins your franchise LeBron takes over the whole atmosphere. All right, Anthony Davis Anthony Davis still wanted to go there with Luke Walton as a coach. You think Ty Lou a champion is going to deter Anthony That's that's not Anthony Davis is Jimmy. I don't think it'll deter Jimmy Butler We'll I don't think it'll deter Kimba Walker. I know I don't think they get in the top four guys I don't think they get in the four K's. Oh any of them. I don't think they were getting them with Ty Lou as the coach I don't think they're getting them with bad news. I listen. I would have gone with a neutral I would have gone for Mark Jackson Known as a LeBron guy, I would have personally gone outside of the LeBron circle Well, you have to admit Chris the keys to the franchise are now in LeBron's hands. I don't think that's the case LeBron's not involved with this. He's staying away from this culture. So you like this hire yet You're also now saying they're not gonna get any of those. I don't think they were getting them anyway Wow So who are the Lakers getting this summer? You thought they were getting Kevin Durant? No, but I thought Kyrie Irving couldn't be in play. I mean, I think there's a slim chance that Kyrie could decide to go I don't know the way Ty Lou and Kyrie Irving ended. Why we need to go there for Ty Lou? You read the story right as he was leaving. Their practices were ugly. There was arguments Ty Lou Kyrie Irving walked off the court and said hey tell LeBron. He had issues with LeBron too. Didn't they make up? They made up, but Ty Lou is going to be the coach. If he made up with LeBron, if LeBron made up to some degree with Dan Gilbert Dudes can make up. When you've been somewhere else, you find out the grass is not greener. Like I said, I don't think they're getting Kyrie I like the optimism. I don't think they're getting Kyrie. I'm not optimistic about them getting Kyrie I'm just saying I don't think Ty Lou is as much of a deterrent to it as you. I like Mark Jackson I agree. Look, the Lakers have botched this whole thing. Yes. I mean, they should have went out They should be on the phone right now with Masai Ujiri the president of the town. No, they got Kurt Rambas' wife She's running the show. That's my point, right? So that's what I'm saying. Like how are your front office then go get the coach? So you're right I would have had Mark Jackson in the running for the beginning. So I'm with you on that. I'm just saying, I think It's Ty Lou is right. Let's move on to a guy. You've been all over and you've been accurate on him Joe L&B totally dominating Toronto in Game 3. You don't like him, huh? I like I mean he was phenomenal in Game 3. No doubt about it. The injuries worry me Mark Jackson to bring his name up again the announcer during Game 3 said, you know, I think he went off the reservation This could be a top five Center all time. What exactly was the quote? He said it's a crime if bar if if this guy leaves a game for any other reason than Injury that he is not in the conversation as one of the greatest big men of all time Okay, 158 regular season games from Joe L&B and we're we're putting him in the discussion 15 playoff Discussion you just said we're looking at his potential and saying this guy could be one of the greatest big zappers That's all we're doing. Okay. After LeBron James had played 158 games before that Even people were looking at and saying this could be one of the greatest players of all time LeBron took the Cavs to the finals at what 21-22 and he didn't take them within 158 games Well, it's like his fourth season. He wasn't even getting as far as Joel Embiid is Joel Embiid missed the first two years with injury Which is my next one. LeBron James missed the first two years of his seat career of in the playoffs I'm shocked that an 18-year-old could not take it. No, but my point is that if you see Potential it's nothing wrong with saying potentially. He could be one of the greatest five centers or big man Nobody said top five What do you have Tim Duncan as power forward powerful, so we'll eliminate him Ken Joel Embiid health pending be better than Shaq. I can't believe you got to think about this He potentially Karim Abdul-Jabbar, but I'm gonna tell you I potentially could number one If Embiid, you know, we always count rings and it's not just rings But let's see if he wins a lot of rings then you he's in the conversation His number Shaq never led the league of scoring. Embiid could do both I mean, it's like a different That's just that's another thing that's easy. That's gives Embiid an advantage. He doesn't have a peer Shaq at least early in his career had a key melange. I was going to mention him David Robinson Tim Duncan Patrick Ewing who in the world is challenging Embiid I mean, Nikola Yoko just good, but he's a different type of player So you like there's nobody on Embiid's level a guy if he stays healthy. So a big if of course He hasn't played 65 beans in a season. But that's what Mark Jackson said. He said barring injury If this guy stays healthy, so you don't think it was hyperbole. He's got the no if he stays healthy That's a huge if to your point. He's defensively. He's great He rebounds the basketball He can score on anybody in the post mid range and his three point is going to get better and better I know what can he do and you were early an early adapter and Embiid you were right I just want to remind you last year playoffs against the Celtics Al Horford Totally played him off the court and beat could not defend the pick and roll. Horford murdered him. I mean the guy Blocking a lot of shots. I'm just saying I think it's a little premature on Embiid I think we're a little bit early. I need to see more besides the help Was he if he stays healthy, he'll be in the converse He should be in the conversation Mark Gasol like he beats up everybody in the league He didn't beat up Horford last year in the playoff. Let's see what they do. Al Horford is a tremendous defender He's playing great against Yanis. I would like to see a ball to fill in with that All right, I'll give you that one because you were early on Embiid and you haven't won a point in a couple weeks All right, let's wrap up on this one chris boussard Brooklyn nets have gotten a couple mentions here today. New York nicks have gotten a couple mentions What's the more attractive destination right now for free agents brooklyn? Which has a decision to make with new york? nicks Without question now brooklyn has a better roster brooklyn is a better team better head coach better head coach atkinson He david, I wouldn't say that david fizzdale has done just as much as atkinson in the playoffs He remember I think take that for data. I think atkinson has done more with less But that's neither here. I mean in memphis. They're both good coaches fair. All right fizzdale has been more around superstars We haven't seen atkinson with that. Yeah atkinson might be a little engine that they could coach, you know, so This is why I say new york is is a better destination But they both they both Worst owner in the mba fine or they both have two max salary slots. That's key If you win in new york, it is so much bigger Than winning in brooklyn. You know you've lived in that area. You've worked in the area. You're born in bread in that area The nets i'm sorry. It's nice. They're a nice story But they are still far far far below the nicks To to the point earlier if kevin durant leads the nicks to a championship That will mean so much It will mean more if he I thought he was the best player in the world if he goes with kairi erving You're gonna tell me and a top draft pick that might be zion wilson. He can't lead new york to a championship As a nicks fan, I don't want it to happen because I know they're gonna find a way to screw it up But let me push back. Let me have a little heart. Brooklyn's roster is better and it's young You're gonna have to let the answer and i'm not denying that I'm totally with you. If i'm kevin durant Okay, if i'm kevin durant kairi erving And I put kevin durant kairi in brooklyn They have a better team and a supporting kairi Lover, dimwitty, the kid, jared allen, super nice But if I and I put him in new york though, let's see with zion You can keep the andre jordan is a good friend of kd's Even if I say brooklyn's team right at the start is better. This new york team is great and you know it If you win in new york, yes Winning it in brooklyn is not everything with the nicks is magnified. isaya thomas was far from the worst gms But because it happened in new york, it was magnified and that's what people think of it jerry mellin If he does that in brooklyn if he does those two months in sacramento milwaukie It's no lenis sanity. You do it in new york. He was on sports illustrator's cover twice But we're we're saying that is older I can't believe i'm just saying i'm an older gentleman But these young players grew up knowing the nicks have never been anything. It's not about the young player. I agree About 20 years since they went to the finals. I agree, but it's not about the young players It's about there's it's still the biggest media market in the world. It's still the key It's the yankees. So let's go to the other coast and the second biggest market in the country the los angeles more attractive right now Clippers young core jerry west doc rivers who I have as coach of the year or the lake Doc rivers has been phenomenal. I mean they took two games off the warriors Or the lakers the more key franchise of the nba. It depends on what kind of player you are if i'm kevin durant I'd rather go to the clippers because I need to establish I feel My own team rather than go join lebron and help him win more rings I'm i'm gonna beat lebron and win more you just made me think about something. Let me ask So if i'm kevin durant, that's how i'm feeling if i'm kawaii just knowing kawaii mean kawaii Could be a nice tandem with lebron, but I think he'll choose the clippers Uh, if i'm kairi if i'm going by myself I would rather go to the lakers if i'm kairi than the clippers And by myself you just said if you were kevin durant, you wouldn't go to the lakers It just hit me he goes to the lakers kevin durant Wins a title with lebron and durants the mvp over lebron that could easily happen because we know Nobody could guard durant. It could easily happen. That makes a lot of sense. No, because you go to la and do that Here's the problem Look you you circle and I admit the only reason in my mind and maybe kevin durant doesn't care about it He'll certainly say he doesn't care about it But the only reason for kevin durant to leave golden state in my mind is is legacy Is image legacy like they're still rightly or wrongly j mac And I never have criticized katie for going to golden state But rightly or wrongly there is the perception widely held that he joined the band wagon Rightly or wrongly and you have to admit that's the perception Not among that's a perception everywhere not every person believes it but in every group of people That's a perception. So why isn't the perception chris that lebron Created a super team in miami with a top ten player at dwayne wade and a top 15 top 20 player christmas And guess what here? We are 10 years later. Maybe eight years later. You know why it's kind of evaporated You know why i'd evaporate it because he went somewhere else and did it by himself or not by himself But his he led a team that wasn't ready made to win a championship I give i've said from the beginning What katie did was similar not the same exactly but very similar to what lebron did katie went to a More ready made situation by far But they were very similar and then when lebron went back to cleveland. He didn't just go to play with kairi Exactly and what i'm saying is look katie should not just go to new york by himself. No way that would be insanity Right, so just to make if you go with kairi or or kawai or a second star Then i think it's the move but let me let me tell you let me tell you why he shouldn't go to the lakers Because your perception your your image among many people Is that you joined the bandwagon? If you go and join the other best player in the world Then it's going to be the same thing even though the team it'll be more like what lebron did in miami Where yeah, we still had to build it and make sure it works together But you stacked. So if you go and join lebron, you're still going to another stacked team It's weird how people it's not gonna be the same the hedels. They were the fun They were the best show in in the end. Do you forget how much they got crushed the first year? I forgot and it's been well when they lost to the mavericks when he first went there Then when they the first year they were they shut him down in the finals. Yeah They were how history says because he won Because he went to cleveland and won and justified I can lead a team that's not ready made to the championship Well, they Kyrie Irving was the number one overall pick and kevin love was a top 10 player in the NBA How much did either of those guys win before they joined lebron? Less than zero. Thank you. But i'm saying kevin durant can say I don't need Kyrie Irving. I don't want to play with him. I'll play with lebron But lebron's a one three championships he's Some people think he's the best player of all time. He's still toward the tail end of his prime I'm just telling you for the perception If I was a buzzword of you know Kd has always wanted to compete with lebron beat lebron and prove he's better Why should he go join lebron and help lebron win more ring and show him who the better player is when You ain't gonna show it side by side Especially when lebron will be in his 17th year and it's side by side with steve curry He's a better player. Steph's not lebron and lebron's in his 17th year showing you're better than lebron And he's an old man. Is it the same? He was 27, 8 and 8. He was an mvp candidate this summer He's in his 17th year And and people around the league don't think he was the same player this year that he has been before Even though he put up the numbers. Why wouldn't you want to go and beat lebron? You already beat him the last two years. You beat him when you destroyed him You beat him with arguably the best supporting cast if I don't even want to call it supporting cast ever best team ever Yeah, they would you you were part of that. Can we put this down? We're gonna talk about these warriors versus jordan's bowls at some point I know we're on different sides. It's such a hard. This is such a dominant team So dominant i'm not betting against michael jordan because we never i'm not betting He's never signed We're stuck having to ran get beat. We've seen them blow both of them You know, you're right non-harper probably could shut down We saw him both of them blow three one leads Dreymond green versus denis rodman That would be fun. I love that. It'd be a great series I think that does it another episode in the books. You need another shirt uh sweating after that first debate, huh? So fun. So fun. All right, everybody. Have a good weekend. We'll be back next week Knock down jay. We'll talk to you then