 Lonnie Freakin Walker. That's it. That's our open. Roll it. Run it up. Run it back. Run it up. Run it back. Run it back. Run it back. Run it up. Run it back. Good Wednesday morning. Why do I always doubt what day it is? This is a run it back and we are ready to talk some hoops. But before that, let me introduce you to my friends, my colleague, stadium insider Shamsharaniya in the black tea Chandler Parsons mixing it up for us today. A little double color there and I love the purple Eddie. Well done, sir. I'd like to give you that right there. I'm just postponing the inevitable because I think you guys know how we're going to start out the show and I swear to God, Corgi, if you don't get this right, we'll talk about that dog later. But Warriors at Lakers came for good Lord former spur Lonnie Walker 15 fourth quarter points leads the team big win over the Warriors. They now have a three one series lead. The fact that they all came in the fourth quarter and he became the first Lakers reserve since Kobe to drop 15 or more in the final frame of a playoff game that is not an awful list to be on Chandler. I mean, look, he was the the bell of the ball last night. What is a performance like that mean for a guy like Lonnie Walker? It means everything. This is a career defining game for this kid. This is a great game fourth quarter for anybody at any stage of their career. And for him, the fact that he's 24 years old, right? And was start. I think he started 30 something games this year after the deadline was just completely out of the rotation. This shows everything you need to know about his character, how he stuck with it, how he's so professional and still getting into gym and staying ready for his opportunity and the NBA and things like this happen every single season. And when your numbers called, you got to be ready and he answered the bell. He went from possibly, you know, out of the NBA to, you know, 29 other teams saw this performance last night and this was super impressive. The fact that he could do this, the Lakers lose this game if Lonnie Walker does not play this game. So the fact that he had just the maturity and the professionalism to stay ready and to put on a performance like this was honestly nothing short of incredible and I'm super happy for him. And you best believe he's going to be in the rotation come next game. Yeah, this is a guy who was the starting point guard for this team earlier in the season, who was completely played off the floor later into the season and into the playoffs. It's remarkable stuff. And, you know, it just, it just goes to show what can happen if you show a little bit in garbage time in a series and or even in during the, during the regular season. And the coach goes, hold on, he's got a little, you know, he's got a little bounce to him right now, a little pep to his step. If you know Lonnie Walker's story, it's an incredible moment to get here. Like Chandler said, a career defining moment and he's, he's, it's not a fluke. He was, he was great to start the season. He was one of the spark plugs for the Lakers start the season. They had a rough start to the season, a ton of turmoil, ton of things going on. But Lonnie was playing well. He can, he's active defensively. And when he's making his jumper, which is, which is so, so when you get a great night like last night, it changes things. And, you know, watching him play down the stretch, they don't win that game without him. And if they go on to win this series, they don't win the series without him. So I'm happy for Lonnie and the Lakers. They, they got the Warriors on the ropes and it's in large part to Lonnie Walker. Lonnie Walker's teammate said after the game, like we told him all along to stay ready. And it's, it's pretty remarkable because he started the years. There started, like Eddie said, like we all know, he was their third best scorer to start the season. And then he goes from that to being really totally out of the rotation. Once they got Malik Beasley, once they got Daniel Russell, Jared Vanderbilt, he didn't play at all. And then to start these playoffs, he still didn't play. And then to begin this series, you had two guys, Troy Brown, Jr. Malik Beasley, both got off the slow starts against the Warriors. So Darwin Ham in game three, he has a good close to game two in that blowout win by the Warriors. And then that's what it goes to show. Chandler's played in plenty of playoffs, even in those garbage time moments, those, these players that play well down the stretch, they get an opportunity in the next game. And he got an opportunity in game three, played well. And then last night, they don't win that game without Lonnie Walker and the performance that he had. So shout out to Darwin Ham for staying with him and making the move of going to a guy that's been out of your rotation for the last several weeks and months. Yeah, I hope Tiz was watching. We'll get to that. The free throws. Look, I don't know if you believe in scripts or conspiracies, but I'm just saying the Lakers 20 of 20 from the free throw line. They have shot as twice as many free throws as the Warriors have Eddie. Can you even keep up when the disparity is that big? Is there a chance? Yeah, you can make more threes. You can shoot better than 29 percent from three. The Warriors missed three free throws and he lost the game by three points. So they've done it. This is the this is the mark of both teams. I think Stan Van Gunny has done a great job throughout the series, kind of explaining the Lakers led the league in free throws. The Warriors were near the bottom of the league in free throws. This is how each team plays. This is what they do. They get to the line. They're physically imposing. They push and then they get to the rim. But yeah, the Warriors can shoot better than that's been their remedy for that all series long. They can get to the line. Disparity didn't happen until late in the fourth quarter. So it wasn't like this was a game that was called crazy lopsided. There was a few missed calls both ways. But the Lakers didn't win this game with free throws. They won this game with defense late. And they won this game with Lonnie Walker to be to be frank and LeBron James down the stretch free throws wasn't the story of this game. I'm kind of happy and I think Steve Kerr said that out the game as well. Like, let's not talk about free throws. We didn't execute. We didn't defend late and Lonnie Walker was incredible. So yes, they can. They actually had a chance to win this game, which I'm sure we're going to talk about. But they're going to need to shoot way better in order to do that. Steve Kerr, I mean, he said a lot of things yesterday. He did comment on the officiating wasn't necessarily positive. He said that they had three or four legal screens called that was disappointing. The Lakers took flops and they were rewarded. That's the game. Chandler, do you agree? Was it was it a bit one sided at all? Well, here's the thing. Like I just said, it's not like the warriors are attacking the basket and not getting the whistle. These they settle for a lot of long twos, a lot of three pointers. So it's not like they're they're not getting the whistle every single play. And again, this game was about what the Lakers did and how they basically took turns. And Lonnie Walker took over this game in the fourth quarter. This had nothing to do with the free with the free throw situation. And at the end of the game, their dream on kind of got that movie screen. It was an illegal screen. Maybe did they sell it? Did I forgot who it was? Did it flop? Yeah, but he definitely stuck his butt out. You can even when they were watched in the broadcast, you could see, I don't think they had a challenge anyways, but the coach behind is basically saying it's it's which we shouldn't review that. Like, so it's I get it. You want the you want the calls to be close and you don't want to have the disparity so big. But at the end of the day, they didn't execute. They didn't make as many jumpers and they didn't get as many stops. And the Lakers did. And they and they allowed Lonnie Walker to go absolutely berserk. And this should be this should be about praising Lonnie Walker and what he's been doing, what he did last night. Not not the Warriors not getting as many whistles as they want. I just think it's a shot making league. And at the end of this game, the Lakers outscored the Warriors eight to two in the last three minutes after Clay hit it three to put them up ninety nine to ninety six. And Clay Thompson, Steph Curry, that Warriors team, they were one of five to finish the game. I mean, at the end of the day, that's just not going to get it done. You saw Clay Thompson, two errant shots, one in the final minute plus of the game, one with over three minutes left in the game, just off the mark. One came with about five seconds left from the shot clock. The other came with plenty of time left on the shot clock. You saw Steve Kerr's exasperation after that shot that Clay Thompson had with just under two minutes to go. But like at the end of the day, it's a shot making league. And if you don't make shots and if you're not capitalizing in moments and it's very uncharacteristic because this is a Warriors team. We've seen time and time again. They've they've come in in the clutch every single time. That's why they're four time champions. They did not get it done when it mattered most last night. And we keep waiting. I mean, I saw Steph Curry at one point look like Jordan Pool. I don't know the switch. We're waiting on the switch, Chandler. They're running out of time. How confident are you that they can do something in game five? I mean, I'm confident we all know they're they're much better at home. And this team is completely different on the road. But they have the experience that we all know they have the talent. They I'm sure we're getting to it next, but they have to figure out this Jordan Pool situation. They got to be better. They have to defend without fouling. There's a lot of adjustments that they have to make, but it's crazy. When you watch these teams before the series started, I had the Warriors, and I think their experience, their culture, their roster, their talent, they're a better team. And the Lakers are just having more will. Anthony Davis has been absolutely downright. I don't even think he blocked a shot last night, but he altered so many shots. They're getting it from someone different every single night, whether it's Schroeder and then Austin Reeves had a little run last night where he's been in a funk and then he gets out of it and goes off on a quick little run and then it became the Lonnie Walker show. But the Lakers are looking like a well balanced, dominating team that are defending even the best defensive team in the playoffs. And now they're showing that they have multiple guys that can hurt you on the offensive end. So it's it's concerning. And we could be looking at the end of this, you know, dynamic Warriors era because they lose this serious to the Lakers. They're not resigning both play a dream. I'll tell you that. So so this could be the end for them. Yeah, look, they should be very concerned. I mean, three one is a massive hole. It's a hole they know all too well. They've climbed out of it and they've been the victims of letting another team climb out of it. Luckily for them, two of the games are at home, including a potential game. Seven. The issue is this looks like a fracture team. Like there's there's just kind of no way around it. They do not look like a team that is enjoying themselves. And this is going back to the King series is going back to the season period. And we all know where it begins. And, you know, one of the players, one of their leaders, punched another one of their players who is kind of being scapegoated as we speak right now. And part of its duties play, but a part of his duties attitude as well. I see a report yesterday about he finally spoke to report. It has not spoken some time. He doesn't do the podium because he hasn't been playing well. We're talking about Jordan pool, obviously. And he did exactly give a ring and endorsement to the team or to the morale of the team. So there's a lot of tension there. And and like Chandler said, they got to figure out what they can get from Jordan pool because they lose every single minute. Steph Curry is off the floor and you would think he would be the guy who helped buoy them while he's out. It just seems like there's a lot going on there in a three one hole. It's tough. They've played well. This is a close game. This is a game they were up in late. You know, there's been two blowouts in this series and another close game that they they know they can beat this team. But to win three straight and to go back to crypto and win another one. You're asking a lot. They're going to need to shoot a lot better. They need to play a lot better on defense. The thing is, they had their magic trick yesterday with the pick and roll with Gary Payton and they got a ton of stuff with that. But it didn't matter at the end of the day, and they only scored 101 points. Well, the good news is and the only reason I was able to get out of bed this morning is there's a Corgi out there who is already determined how this whole thing is going to play out. And so far, this little angel is 100 percent, which means that even though the Lakers are up three one right now, as you're seeing, he called it or she called it. The Warriors are about to win three in a row. I ain't worried, you guys. It's going to be fine. I trust dogs. But Jordan Poole, not only is Jordan Poole being scapegoated, but he did. I mean, he's zero points, zero points. And he was very sort of one word short answered with the media afterwards. And the thing about it is he's got a target on his back because he got paid, Chandler. So now it's he's going to have to. I don't know why I'm going to you first, but he got paid a lot of money. Is he going to be dealing with a lot of crap from here on out? Yeah, but you got to take the good and the bad. And here's here's what he can't do. It's what he did last night after the game. He can't, you know, be facing away from the media. He can't be giving one word answers. If you're going to get the bag, there's expectations that come with that, especially when you're healthy and you're young and you're supposed to be going into your prime and you're supposed to kind of relieve this pressure when Steph Curry and Clay Thompson are done and gone. You're going to be the face of this franchise. There's responsibility that you have there. And yes, his play has been really, really poor. And the 10 minutes isn't the most opportunity. And it is kind of shocking. We're talking about a guy who just got into your max contract. He's getting benched for moody in a season defining, you know, situation. It's not good, but the last thing he should do is create negative energy and more distractions with how he's handling his teammates and how he's handling the media. He needs to just be professional. He needs to be ready to play. He needs to kind of take advantage of whatever opportunity he gets. I don't know if they're going to think about what the summer with the future, but they are they already showed him that they're investing in him. So get through this series, help this team as much as you can. But don't do anything like you're doing last night that's going to cause any sort of distraction or more attention because everyone knows about the Dremon situation, right? And everyone's on your side and Dremon was wrong. Don't let us flip the script and turn this on you, how you're the bad guy and how you deserved it or however whatever narrative else we want to create. You can't do that. You're playing, you're getting paid a lot of money and you're not playing good in the small minutes you're getting. Yes, I'm sure you want more opportunity and more minutes. It's not how it goes. You're not playing good defense. Your shot's not falling. There's other guys that they get curve things are more valuable right now. Don't let that bother you. He's young. He's got a great future, but he just don't do don't do the Brooks and create this this hostile bitter, you know, attitude with the media because that's only going to hurt his situation and make his teammates like him less. About 95 million do Jordan pull over the next three years. Look, the contract will age fine as the salary cap goes up. But this contract is going to reverberate league wide. You got Tyrese Maxey do it for a deal similar player. The Tyler hero deal, you kind of look at that a little iffy, similar players, similar aids and the whole nine. You're kind of wondering like these kind of combo guards who don't really defend and they're younger than everybody else on their team. You're you're wondering how bad do you need that guy on your team right now. The thing for the wears obviously is it's a very particular circumstance. It doesn't help that he's not playing well. This is a guy who started games. I think he started games in this series. He started games this year. This is a guy they viewed as the future of their franchise. And look, I can't help it. It all scales back to one incident in shams reported recently like, yo, Dreymon finally got his wings in that like in January where he was able to cuss Jordan pulled out one more time and then, you know, if you're him in that locker room, you're starting to feel a little isolated and a little just a little odd, just a little, you know, phased out and how could you not but I'm with Chandler. You got to be a pro. You got to step up on the court. You got to step up off the court. You got to be ready. They need him to win this series. Honestly, the amount of production they're getting from their bands, they absolutely need him to have a great game in game five and to continue to play great for the rest of the series. But that contract will linger and Chandler knows and locker room the very, very, you know, odd hierarchy of everybody knowing just exactly how much everybody gets paid and like, yo, you make $30 million next year. So I know you're going to play over most of Moody who makes eight, but it's it's always going to be there. And if you're a vet, if you're clay, you're looking like he's 30. I'm 38 or whatever it is and it's just going to be the situation going forward for this team. All I want to know is what he was looking at on his phone. That's that's that's all I want to know before the game, because he was so excited and I can only imagine I spice what it was. That's what I'm thinking. Look, the Lakers behind their leaders on ad are crushing all expectations. They are now plus 400 to win the title. They only trail the Celtics right now in us Chandler. What is happening? Do you see do you see that happening? Are we we're going to have a Los Angeles parade? I don't I don't think so. I don't see it. I like Denver better. I like Phoenix better. I like Boston and I like Philly. I think they all should have better out. I think all better teams, but you can't hate on them. It's they are playing well and the turnaround that they've had is unbelievable. And like I said in the last segment, it's someone different every single night. It's ad it's LeBron. It's Reeves. It's Schroeder and last night's Lonnie Walker. Like they now have a legitimate team where they can score. They can beat you up inside. They can beat you up with the guard play their experience. They're old. They have shooting now. So this is a real championship contending team and they are handling the defending champs right now. So it's hard to knock them, but you just look at the other teams and you think they have the edge. But man, just the fact that we're even saying this and you know, a couple months ago, they were laughing stock and now that the second high sauce to win it all is it's pretty remarkable job that you know, pulling staff has done. Well, you can file them under the regular season doesn't matter. And now we segue to the other argument for the regular season doesn't matter. It's the Miami Heat. Ladies and gentlemen, they also have a 3-1 seriously right now. They were the 109-101-101 win last night over the next butler again. I mean, what else can you say about him out of bio showed up Jalen Brunson tried. He's doing his best, but the heat look like they're dominating this New York team. Eddie, why? What are they doing? I mean, they have the best player in the court that helps to have Jimmy Butler and that they just seem more poised as well. It's kind of crazy when we go back to talking about the play in tournament. We have two play in teams, a game away from the conference finals and two teams that were much forlined all season long and they really just need a shot. They just need to get in. It's the same thing for the Miami Heat. Even with the injuries they suffered in this playoffs, they continue to push through. They just have the intangibles and sometimes that matters. It just matters that they're more poised. It just matters that they defend. The Knicks just cannot make a basket with its beyond 10 feet. It seems it's not even like the heat shot them shot it out the out the gym yesterday, but they made just enough. They have this. They have this team on the ropes. They I think it's over in five and the Knicks they look deflated last night. So enjoy one last night at the garden this season and then you know the Miami Heat conference finals after after losing the initial playing game. That's insane. What happened, Chandler? I mean, look, let me ask you this butler. There are a lot of big games still left in these playoffs. Is he the best two way player still in this thing? Yeah, I mean, he is right now. Everything he's doing is unbelievable. The way he's scoring the ball the way he's getting to the free throw line. We all know how versatile is we can basically guard one through five. But what's disappointing for the Knicks here is this stage of the of the season. You don't want to be talking about effort. And these guys are talking about push game. They wanted it more. How is that possible when you're down to one in the season and the playoffs right now against them and and and you have a tough minded coach that I know is pushing them. But we're talking about effort in game four. That's not a good sign and you could just see there were certain plays last night like that is just a straight line drive where Jimmy Butler just gets right to the rim. No one puts him on his butt. No one even tries to contest the shot. And he just gets an easy two points. Be amounted by a three offensive rebounds. Jimmy three offensive rebounds. Martin three offensive rebounds. Kyle Lowry the smallest guy on the court had two offensive rebounds. That's effort. That's that's that's maturity. That's not blocking out and and those are all the things that the Knicks kind of hang their hung their hat on all season long. We're doing all those little things and they did them against Cleveland and now they kind of just they're facing a team that plays similar to them that box it down that's physical that's slow and they're just better at it. So they're just exposed because this is this isn't the Cavs. This isn't. This is a horrible matchup for them and this is what the Miami Heat are. They've created this tough culture. Jimmy Butler has been the best player. So it's it's a tough combo for the Knicks and they just they look like they're outmanned. How does how do you get here? I mean, how do you get out hustled without efforted? You know, you mentioned Kyle Lowry had offensive rebounds. Who do you blame? Is there one person to blame? Is it a team overall effort that they're not putting it? I don't know where to place the blame. Are you shocked that he's not trying, you know, fornia or throwing Derek Rose in there just to maybe inject some some change? I mean, is there a chance we see that at all Eddie? You would think so. But little tips has clearly made his decision that those guys aren't playable in his mind. I think one of this little bit of fatigue for that team. They've they've played a ton of minutes throughout the season. We know Tom Timbadoe's rotations. And I think it's just a little more veteran savvy. It's look like I said, it's the intangible. Sometimes it's that simple that he'd have a bunch of guys who have been there. Kyle Lowry is a champion. Kevin loves a champion. Jimmy Butler has made these runs over and over. Eric Spolster is probably the best coach in the NBA and he's a champion. And then we I joke about heat culture all the time. And then it just shows up in April and May in June, every single year. But they just look more prepared. They just look like they care more. Sometimes it's that simple. They're getting after it. And it's it's a little jarring after what we saw from the Knicks. They were that team in round one. They were that team winning every 50-50 ball. Josh Hart was getting 12 rebounds into seven offensive rebounds. And and it just looked like they were more active. But the heater playing small almost by design and because they don't have any other choice. And they're just flying all over the court. And you got guys like Max Strauss, who you don't see as one of these guys who is put in an effort as well because it's contagious. When you see Kyle Lowry doing the stuff he's doing, Max Strauss is going to do something like this. When you see Jimmy Butler on a bum ankle going after it the way he is. Bam added by an all-star. He's only having a great game last night. You can't help but do it. Plus if you don't you don't his ass on my punch you. I don't know how it works over there. But those guys are they're locked in. They smell it. They know what they've overcome so far this postseason and they're not going to waste it. And look, I got to just say if they get the if they get the Sixers and it's Joel is hurt or even with the Celtics, they match it well with the Celtics. You know, it's a dark horse, but they got a shot at making a finals run. And that was one of the more improbable stories we've seen in a long time if they make that run. Oh my God, Chandler. He's setting up a depressing scenario with Lakers fans and Heat fans. Also think about this. These are two physical teams and has there been one confrontation? Has there been one hard foul? Has there been one review of a tough play? I don't think so. Is that just the heat or just pumping them and the Nix just feel like they're kind of laying down. So I expect them to come out and they play a lot harder in game five. The garden should be jumping because this is it. Right. This is all cards on deck. I do expect make tips to maybe alter that. Maybe get D Rose in there. Have the crowd go crazy. Give them some sort of energy. That's for me to get some shot making. Who knows what? But you're not just going to get punched in the mouth at home and lay down. So I expect them to kind of come out better. But this series to me is over. I just love how Jimmy Butler shot one. I think 1.63 pointers a game in the regular season. Now you're shooting over for a game. He's it's like he's going against a scouting report threw everyone off in the regular season and then the postseason starts and then he really becomes Jimmy Butler. These guys have said it. He's been the best player in this series for sure. He was the best player in the Buc series. And then you go into whatever the Celtics or 76er series. He's not going to be favored. I'm sure people will say Jason Tatum, Elon Brown, Joellen Bede. Maybe James Harden might be better, but Jimmy Butler is the one guy who you can't count on this postseason. He's going to go into that series believing knowing feeling he's the best player on the court at all times. And I think that confidence that exuberance will will display throughout the team and we're seeing it so far this postseason. He really is playing like the one of the best if not the best player in the playoffs and his team is really feeding off of that every single night. Hell, I think he'll thrive. The more we talk about how everybody else is better than him, the more he comes out here and just shows everyone that we're wrong. Chandler says this series is over. Eddie, you given any shot to New York to pull this one out? I know the others are zero basically, but go. No, I think this is the clear series in the playoffs and Michelle, I'm going against you. I'd love an L.A. Miami finals. I'd love a L.A. Phoenix finals a little better of Miami Phoenix finals a little better, but yo, let's let's hit some games up. You're telling me you wouldn't love going Miami L.A. back to back in June. Come on now. Well, I mean, look, there'll be a lot of empty seats at least for most of the third quarter because nobody knows how to get to their seats in time. So yeah, maybe maybe that's a good idea. We'll sit court side for third quarter. Look, deal is this that we maybe we underestimate the heat, but maybe we're not at fault, right? Because the regular season are just sort of one of the teams and then we get here. But if they do do this, that's their third Eastern Conference finals in four years. I mean, at some point we should be talking about them the way we talk about the Celtics and the Bucks and the Sixers, right, Chandler? We should. It's an unbelievable run and let's not forget they're banged up as well. They're missing Tyler here. They're missing Victor Aladipo and they somehow find ways and they have the next man up mentality, but it starts with Spowe, right? This guy started in the film room and he's worked his way up. So he has that grit. He's got that work ethic. He's got that toughness and he's instilled that into this franchise and he's now arguably one of the best coaches in the NBA. And so I think it starts with him and the front office and Pat Riley and all those guys. They're tough. They don't take shit from anybody. Excuse my language. It's been a while here, but that's just who they are. And now you now I start believing Jimmy Butler that maybe he doesn't care about the regular season because he is just priming for the playoffs. They don't care what seat they are because they know they're going to go and outwork and play harder than anybody they come across. And that is valuable in the NBA. 90% of NBA players don't play hard, but 99% of the players on the Miami Heat play hard and that is valuable and talent can only get you so far. That was some really deep math and I'm going to write it down when I go back and watch this show for film later. It's time for Shom Scoops, which is obviously now we know Steve Kerr's absolute favorite segment of the entire show. Hey, Steve, I know you're out of the lineup sharing business, but is there? It's okay. Shoms is in the lineup sharing business. Did you tell him? I know we have a special correspondent within our organization who shares shares information apparently. Shout out Steve Kerr for promoing our show. We appreciate it. Shoms, you have any comment whatsoever? All I'll say is I, you know, I got bodies over. I got spies everywhere. So I got bodies everywhere. I'm just working. No, that's I just love it. Okay. We left the show yesterday wondering what Matt Ispia would say or not say classy dude. And then we find out Yolkich was fine. After all, 25 grand for the contact that was made in game for no suspension. Why did they decide to do that Shoms? Well, I think this is the situation where Nicole Yolkich had went into the crowd. There's clear guidelines. He would have been suspended, but this is this is happening courtside in real time. He obviously received a technical file in the moment. He doesn't have really a history of rap sheet to where you could look at what Nicole Yolkich has done. It's not he's known to be getting any into any incidents with anyone else. But you know, it's curious with Matt Ispia being the owner this situation where it's probably why this this isn't as as as heightened as it could have been. If this was just a normal fan that got contact could he have pressed charges? A lot of things could happen in a situation like this where you get pushed over. But Matt Ispia being an owner, him coming out in a statement saying I want this all to move on. I want everything to just be focused on game five. I think that for the league, I'm sure meant a good amount. The Phoenix Suns deep down. Hey, it would be such a it would be such a flex if he offered to pay Yolkich's fine for the 25. He becomes the coolest owner of all time. Yeah, he should. I mean, so far he's that tampering. Is it? He's matching the charity or something. Yeah, do that. It's like the nicer thing that Cuban tries to do, but it feels much more altruistic if he does it that way. Oh, we're taking a quick break when we come back. So excited. He's standing by waiting to chat. Oh, yeah. He is. Demarcus, ladies and gentlemen. My God. Oh, this is a treat. Joining us this morning for time NBA All-Star. Demarcus. Cousins. Boogie. Long time no see. And look, we're going to dive into these games and get your opinion on everything. But first of all, you're coming to us live from Puerto Rico. How is it? Man, it's a vibe out here, man. I'm enjoying myself. I'm playing the game of basketball, the game I love. So I can't complain. Chandler, I know you have something to say. Hey, Boogie. I know you do. I miss you. I love you. There was this viral video about you getting banged down in high school by some scrawny white boy. Would you comment further on that? Or should we just leave it at that? The story is true, but there's no video evidence. Wait, hold up. Chandler, you dunked on him? We got to leave the past the past, man. That's the past. Leave it in the past. Yeah, I don't want to dwell on the past. I will just say it's highly offensive how surprised he was when it happened. I mean, I know who you were into the game. At the time, nobody knew, T. Nobody knew. That's fair. Chandler, making it racial. Always doing what he does. All right, Boogie. Look, we got the Lakers shocking the world right now. Three-one series lead. Against the defending champs. If there's a team out there that's capable of coming out of this hole, is it this Warriors team? Do they have what it takes? Absolutely. I mean, you can't, you can't deny the Warriors. You know, they have a track history. They have, you know, a championship, DNA. They've done this. They've dominated the past decade. Like this is a very well-oiled machine. So obviously there's a chance for them to make a comeback, but you also have to get credit to the L.A. Lakers. And they're playing at a high level. They're, and some people's eyes overachieving and, but you can't ignore their greatness either. You have LeBron James. You have, you know, Anthony Davis, a great supporting cast. I think it's just, I think it's a good, well-rounded series and, you know, the better team will win. DMC, there's always going to be perceptions about you, but for you, what's your mindset like? You're in Puerto Rico right now. You look like you're in great shape. What's your mindset when you think about NBA teams and what you want to show them about you being ready for really any role that's asked of you? Um, that's exactly what my mindset is. Um, you know, I've shown that I can accept any role. I can embrace any role given to me. Um, obviously I'm still on this, this long road of, you know, trying to change this narrative or, or name or cloud that's over my name for whatever reason. Some, some, my fault, some I can't take the blame for, but, um, for me, my mindset is just taking it a day at a time. Um, I have a project in front of me with, you know, playing for this, uh, this team in Puerto Rico and, um, my only goal is to help push them to a championship. Um, be the best version of myself so that I'm completely healthy, so that I could be the ultimate teammate in whatever setting I'm in. Um, so that I can, you know, improve the guys play around me, make my teammates better. Uh, you know, all of the things that are kind of, you know, stuck to my name in a negative way. So, uh, I just go out and try to, you know, improve myself up every day. And it's, it's kind of sick to say at the big age of 32, uh, still trying to prove that I'm dissing that as a, you know, professional basketball player, but you know, that's the, those are the cars that I've been dealt. So, um, you know, like I said, I'm taking it a day at a time and hopefully I can, you know, change some minds. So you're a co-star with Anthony Davis in New Orleans. You play with him with the Lakers. Uh, LeBron James last night called the best defensive player in the league. You were with him for such a long time. What makes him so great and for you, what do you see out of him that you're seeing him take the next step in being special? Honestly, it's just exactly what Bron said. Uh, he's probably the most talented two-way player to ever, you know, touch the floor. And, uh, when he's committed and when his mind is focused and in the right place, he's on any given night going to be the best player on the floor, on both ends. Um, just his versatility along. We've, we've praised his versatility since he's stepped foot in the league. We know what he is on the defensive side of the ball. Like I said, when he's locked in and focused and also when his health is in a good place, he's one of the best players to touch the floor. So, uh, we're witnessing that now. He's dominating in this series. He's a game changer every night for this team regardless if he's scoring or not. Um, he's just a special, special talent. He's shown it throughout his entire career. Boogie, we're going to solve the internet mystery real quick right here. You spent some time with the Lakers, uh, the bubble year. They won the title. You were recovering from a torn ACL. Uh, you didn't have a ring ceremony. So people aren't sure if you got a ring. I believe Jeannie bus says one was mailed. Did you get a ring for that championship? Do you have it? Do you keep it? Do you how's that work? What's the Denzel saying? So it was a little viral clip going around. I'm leaving him with something. I'm leaving him with something. Absolutely. Big rings. Big rings. Yeah. Wee. I did receive my ring from the Lakers. Um, family grateful for, uh, obviously, you know, I didn't play that year because of injury, but you know, I was a part of the team. So, uh, you know, I did get my ring that year. So speaking of, speaking of rings, but if the Lakers do happen to pull this thing off, do you think us and Pat Bev deserve to get a ring this year? Hell yeah. Why not? Why not? They were a part of the struggle at 1.2. They played a part of winning games there too. Why not? I'll be honest with you. Russell Westbrook should get four rings just because of the way they scapegoated him. So he should get double or at least part of it. He went through. Yeah, you're right. You're right. Like, I didn't mean it's interesting. Two rings and an extra check. Yep. We're on the same page, but I like that. Oh, I love it. Hey, they put them through a lot, for sure. They really did. He definitely gets one. Let's go Sons for a second because they won games three and four without Chris Paul. And you know what the question's going to be? Are they better without him on the floor, at least in this series? Uh, that's hard to say. I mean, CP is a legend. He's done this. He's been a winning player his entire career. You can't sit here and say they're a better team without him because he's one of the top floor generals to ever touch the floor. So the things that he brings to the game, the trickery, the manipulation, all of those things in the game, like that only helps the son, the Phoenix sons in the long run. So I think they have figured out how to win without him right now in this moment. But if they're able to get past this series and move on to the next, I do believe they'll need him to finish this run out. In the markets, you spent some time with the Nuggets last year. I thought you had some really good run to be told. Yolkens takes a lot of crap. People saying he didn't deserve to be MVP. What's your take on Yolkens? You got to bang with them every day in practice. You got to play with them on the court. What's your take on him? Is he underrated at this point as a two-time MVP? Underrated? I don't think so. He's an incredible talent. Like, he's proven in every single night. He's continuing to prove it. So, you know, the haters for whatever reason, you know, it's the same thing as LeBron or Jordan. It's some people that love him. It's some people that hate him. It just comes with this game. Everybody is in the fan of your game. But I think he's getting everything he deserves. He's a dominant player. He continues to dominate year by year. You can say he's the best or he isn't the best or, you know, the next guy was better this year. My only issue with MVP is the criteria can't continue to change year by year or, you know, player by player. The criteria can't change for which player is dominating for the season or which guy you want to push for this season. That's my only issue with MVP. But as far as Yoke is receiving his MVPs, I mean, he's MVP talent. He will continue to be one every single year he's playing. He's that good and he's that talented. So, the hate, I don't really know where it comes from, but also hating critique can be, hating on a player and critiquing a player can be, you know, kind of misconstrued. So, I think that plays a part as well. Yeah, you also played briefly with Giannis and the Bucks and he said something interesting this year when they got eliminated by the heat that this season wasn't a failure. What's your take on that? Well, it might not have been a failure, but they definitely underachieved. So, why do you want to worry? I mean, I think Giannis is an incredible guy. He's an incredible leader. Obviously, his talent speaks for itself, but they definitely underachieved. Maybe this is a building block for them next season to bounce back and, you know, make another title run. Maybe that's what his mindset is. But as of this season, they definitely underachieved. Marcus, every NBA team is watching this show. What is your message to them about what they would get into Marcus' cousins this off season? I'm a great guy, man. I'm just going to smile like they bastard that, man. Look at this innocent smile, man. They look like I was home for a while. But nah, man, I just, I'm here to play basketball. I'm here to, you know, contribute to winning. I want to help any team I can in any way I can. I just need an opportunity. Get to know me for yourself. Stop believing the hype. Stop believing the stories or whatever the case may be. I've been around this league for a decade. I believe I'm at least a chance to, you know, be met or known on a personal level instead of, you know, what's being heard through the grapevine or whatever the case may be. So I just want to play ball. I want to, I'm going to play at a high level. I want to help a team win. Those are my only goals. You should be in the league full stop. I mean, I don't think there's any ifs, ands, and buts about it. A little bit I know about you. This is going to be kind of a little bit of a loaded question, but how many, how many centers in the league do you think are better? How many teams have a center better than the Marcus' cousins right now? Man, look, the type of person I am, I'm extremely confident. Regardless if you agree with me or not, this is what got me to this level throughout my entire life. So to expect a different type of answer or different result in whatever I say, I mean, that's foolish on your part. I'm a confident guy. I believe I can match up with anybody you put in front of me and I feel like I'm better than anybody you put in front of me. So regardless, and the only way I feel differently is if it's proven different. And I haven't seen that yet. So I'm going to continue to feel the way I feel that has nothing to do with me binding to any role or joining the team. My confidence is my confidence. When I step on the floor, if it's for 10 minutes or 30 minutes, I'm going to feel like I'm the best player on the floor and that's just how I operate. That's just how I work and that's how I operate. So I don't. And you should, big fella. Absolutely. So there's no knock to a person in front of me or to a teammate or to an MVP or whatever the case may be. That's just my confidence and it's not changed. You're my kindred spirit because I think at the end of the day, you and I are just highly misunderstood people, Boogie. I just want to throw that out there and one day, one day we'll get our chance of that being said, look, we know that the old guys think the league is what it is. We know the young guys think this version of the league is the best version. You have that blessing of sort of being right in the middle. Is this version of the NBA, as they say, just soft? Absolutely. Yeah, we're done. That's it. Yeah. When I came into the league, it was two bigs and one shooter on the floor. It's just a different league. The getting to the pain at will. I mean, you guys are basically just walking into the paint now. Like it's you got big men guarding point guards, point guards guarding bigs. The bigs can't even score against the point guards and it's just it's it's the league isn't weird. So it's definitely softer now. It kind of, you know, fits what we're trying to it fits the agenda with moving forward business wise, but it's definitely not the same physicality. That's just the facts behind it. That's fair. Boogie has been an absolute pleasure to see you again. Enjoy Puerto Rico. Chandler, do you want to say goodbye? I'm going to Bahamas Thursday. I'm going to be violently close. I may hit you up and slide through. Oh God. That's a threat. So if I ever heard what I'm locked in CP. I'm locked in CP. Going on loud. Keep your ass away. That's far away. Stupid, stupid boogie. Thank you so much, Shams. We're going to say goodbye to you as well. Chandler's just like, I got the jet. I'm ready. Just come on over. Yeah. This is this is it. We're never going to see Chandler again. We'll take a quick break here. We will we'll be back after this. We got games tonight. Sixers Celtics Chandler. Do you expect a hardened great performance or a hardened bad performance? I would love to see a great performance. I would love to silence all the critics about him not being good in the post season and he's shown flashes, but he hasn't put two back to back. So I expect him to come out aggressive. He's shown he can get to his spots. He shows he can get to his pull up to the foul line. He's kind of been in his complete bag all series and when he gets going, but he's also had some games where he's taken the back seat and he's been passive and he's not less aggressive. I don't expect that their seasons on the line tonight. They think if they win this game, it's over and Philly. And so I expect him to come out, get Joel involved early, but also look for his shot and be aggressive. I'm with Chandler. I think we're going to see Vintage James much like we did in game four, much like we did in game one. The Sixers know this is the game. This is the game that will decide this series in many ways and in many ways it's the most important game Joel and Bede's ever played in. It's the most important game James has played in in a long time. So I'm expecting him to be focused. I'm expecting him to be sharp big game from James. The question is, is that enough for them to win? We'll find out. We shall. We shall the later game tonight, of course, back to the Sun's Nugget series. Eddie, look, it's a strategy as old as time, right? Let the other guy score all he wants that just shut down the big man. Right? Do you like it? Do you like the fact that if you just shut Yoke's down, you can get it done? Yeah, like let is a little subjective, you know, let a guy get 53. But but but I do like the strategy of we're going to single him up. We were going to trust DeAndre. We're going to trust Jock Landale. We're going to trust this Mac Vianbo and we're going to go where that takes us because the data has showed all season long and pretty much his entire career that the more he scores, the better it is for the opponent in the sense that he's not getting everybody involved like he typically does. And those guys can't shoot lights out. They squeak by they squeak by in game four. But I do think that's how they'll approach it going forward. And, you know, it might take 60 to win. But the problem is he might get 60. So they're going to need to pick it up on the other end of the floor as well. Yeah, I agree with it, but they also can't stop nobody can stop him, right? So it's now it's it's up to Aaron Gordon. It's up to Michael Porter, Jamal Murray. There's an onus on those guys that they have to step up. Bruce Brown has to give them 12 to 14 points. I mean, like it's got to be somebody that is going to get open looks somebody that's going to have a Lonnie Walker type performance. That's going to kind of give them the edge. And we know what Yolkich can do. He's going to have a triple double. He's going to have over 30 points. That's just that's just how great he is. It's it's up to these other guys who they showed they can do it too. But they got knocked down shots. They have to they have to be relieving pressure off him because the Suns are too good offensively. They're going to score points. So the nuggets have to match that. And it's going to come from one of those other guys. Another great night of hoops. Guys are taking a quick break when we come back. We almost hit a parlay and by we I mean them. Oh, I love her disrespectful to Tom Holland. But I see experienced the NBA playoffs like never before with Fandall America's number one sportsbook joint Fandall today and get $150 in bonus bets when you place your first $5 bet. That's $150 in bonus bets. Win or lose. That means you can bet on the points spread player props or any of the other bets Fandall has to choose from. You'll still get $150 in bonus bets. Make every moment more with Fandall official sportsbook partner of the NBA. Well, we were back at it our parlay goodness yesterday. And good job guys. Anything you want to say? Anyone you want to thank? Yeah, so what happens when you bet with your heart? I know, but I was trying to will it into existence. I was going to just keep getting found at the end of the game and go over here. So I got extremely lucky Michelle. I'll tell you what, my dad is keeping track of everything you guys say on every show and I get updates. Jimmy Butler has 26 tell Chandler. I was like, he knows. All right. Today's parlay. What you got? I'm continuing my role player streak here. I'm going to go out for it over eight points. Hit a couple of threes. Get a quick couple buckets. I trust in it out tonight. I like that one. All right, Chandler. I think the nuggets get it done tonight at home. Must win. I think you'll get dominates. And by the way, I have a pen again with zero paper in front of me, Michelle. I literally thought I noticed that during the boogie interview and I there was nothing I could do but laugh at you silently. You look smart. I have Celtics and Moneyline against the Sixers. I know boring, but I'm just going to go for that. That's all I can do. It's we're going to try to make you guys. Yeah, just keep it. Grats, really. Yeah, money. Now that I know what Moneyline means, here we are. We're out of time, but here's the deal tomorrow. We have Nick's super fan and really quiet Demure and shy guy, Michael Rappaport on the show guys. So get your rest. You're going to need it and we'll be back tomorrow at 10 a.m. Eastern. Enjoy the games, guys. Run it, run it back.