 We were not scheduled to talk Lakers today, but they make it so hard. Run it back starts now. Run it up, do run it back, yeah. Run it up, do run it back, run it back. Run it up, do run it back, yeah. Run it up, do run it back, yeah. Good Tuesday morning, everybody. This is Run It Back. My name's Michelle Butle, joined as always by stadium insider Shom Sharania. Chandler Parsons with the serious face this morning and Eddie J. Eddie Gonzalez, chillin'. Guys, guess what we get to start the show with? Lakers, okay. But it's good news, because they blew a 17-point lead and I think that's actually a fun thing to start talking about. They lost to the Pacers on a buzzer feeder by the rookie. 17-point lead going into the fourth. The reactions to this game for you guys are what? Eddie? Um, Lakers are still bad. Oh, yay. They're still bad. Everybody's back and they're still bad. 17-point lead, it's a little misleading. That was 17 points, I think 9-37 left in the game. But yeah, you can't lose this game. You can't lose this game. He looked terrible down the stretch and then you give up this three, it's rough. I believe AD didn't attempt a shot in the final six minutes of the game. I saw Laker fan saying, Russ should have been benched. I saw Laker fan saying if Russ would have played more minutes, they would have won. It's just a mess over there. We tried to give them props yesterday and they put us right back to where we were. It's the Laker way, I guess. Yeah, this is a very, very bad, embarrassing loss. And it's not getting easier for them. But I mean, yeah, AD not touching the ball the last four to six minutes, not taking a field goal. What happened to that guy that was just so aggressive and dominating? At the end of the game was just so sloppy for them. They got Russ and LeBron just going ISO. And that last play is just first of all, they give up a wide open look to miles for the three and then they don't get an offensive rebound. It's just, I gotta be honest with you, Haley, I started doing the Christmas tree when they were up at the end of the quarter because I thought this thing was over and these are the games that the Lakers just can't lose. The team at home, they should beat up 17 in the fourth quarter and you blow a lead to this team. It's just these are the ones you look back and say, damn this, we missed the play-in because of this type of loss and looking at their schedule ahead. Look, it's their schedule is insane. There's seven and 12 and their schedule coming up is it's about to get really, really ugly for them unless they figure something out quick. About to get real shams. All right. Well, how did they lose? How did they lose this game? Why? Well, I was on the show yesterday talking about how the Lakers were taking care of business and winning the games that they weren't winning last year against teams like the Spurs. And then what happens is they blow a 17 point lead and I think a lot of it when you look, they just didn't keep their poise fully, right? You see a lot of celebrating in that fourth quarter and I don't ever blame that on like that's not the reason that they lost, right? Executing down the stretch is a reason not getting defensive rebound, not getting Anthony Davis to ball enough. I think only two shots in the fourth quarter, but you need to keep your poise down the stretch of games. And so for Indiana, they are a hard playing team and they execute well. Rick Carlyle has those guys playing at a high level. So you can never discount a team like that, especially when you take your foot off the gas pedal. And so for Indy, I think this is continues to show why there's a very real chance that this team could keep riding this out and seeing how competitive this team gets because at the end of the day in that market for that ownership group, being competitive and making the playoffs is a very big deal. And so this is another really gutty win for the Pacers. Yeah. And I gotta be honest. I don't think LeBron at this point should be taking more shots than Anthony Davis. I just feel like this is this is his team. He's the future. He's he's got to be that guy last week. That was dominating games. He even had a different feel a different look to him just watching the game. He felt everything was with purpose. Everything was more aggressive and you just you can't do that in the fourth quarter at home against this team. And the Pacers are the Pacers were solid. Look, Tyrese Halliburton has been playing so solid that he's got 40 assists and zero turnovers or something in the last three games. Like they play hard. They're young. Carlisle is a great coach, but this is a situation where AD they got to call a timeout and he's got to, you know, demand the ball. He's got to demand touches. They can't just he can't just sit there and watch LeBron and Russ do what they did in the fourth quarter because it's going to result in bad, bad losses like this to not very good teams. You know what's crazy is that last week we we kept thinking like what's going to happen to AD when LeBron returns and part of me was like, oh, nothing. They're professionals. They should continue to dominate, but surely it can't be that simple that LeBron returns and the math gets off and he it's just weird to watch, but I don't want to take away from what the Pacers did. They were six to 13 from three in the fourth currently sitting fourth in the East. Eddie, what does it say about them? What are you? What are you reading from this team when you see them play? Well, they're one of the more well-coached teams in the league, you know, Chandler knows about Rick Carlisle. He knows how he gets down and and he is just a mix of younger guys and younger vets as well as somebody like Miles Turner, Buddy Hill, who's not exactly like a graybeard just yet, but they play really fast. They got Tyrese Halliburton at the head of the snake kind of orchestrating everything. He sets an efficient player himself. They're just a well put together team. It's kind of funny looking back thinking that they should have been tanking when they hit on Benedict Mather and everybody pretty much knew he was going to be good coming out the draft and he was going to be the steal falling out of that, especially falling out of that top three and even falling behind Jaden Ivy. They run. They shoot a lot of threes and to the point where even if they're not making them all, they make enough and they take care of the ball as evidenced by Halliburton's quirky little stat. Chris Paul is that right there that that's Handler mentioned they're just a smart and well coached team when I watched them and they have a ton of firepower and it's hard to match that night in and night out. Crazy to because of so many rumors floating around shams. What is your take on this Pacers squad as constructed right now? Well, I think that they're going to keep like they're going to keep this team together as long as it remains competitive. And I think executives around the league really believe that this market in Indiana, they feel like making the playoffs is a monumental feat. And so if this team they're 12 and eight through their first 20 games, let's see how the next 10 to 15 game goes games goes. But I think right now the Pacers have a look of a team that can at least compete for a playoff board. Then if that's the case, that means guys like Miles Turner, Buddy Heald, TJ McConnell, other veteran players on this team would be off the trade market because they looked at a lot of different scenarios for a bunch of their guys right before the start of the season. And even still, if a deal comes together and someone gives them a crazy offer like the Lakers giving up two first on our pitch, which I don't foresee, you know, they could very well move these guys, but I don't think they're just going to be looking to trade them like they were before the season as much as they thought this team would just take care of business and not be that good. Probably like this team is showing that it's competitive right now. How the tables have turned. Look, the Lakers players may have left the crypto.com arena sad, but one dude did not. I love it when just some rando gets to win some cash. Half court shot. Although they got to give him a 10 day. Might as well, right? Third, third best shooter on the roster. I think he's already signed. Right. He has been waiting to celebrate. I mean, he just walks over to AD. 75 grand is no joke though, by the way, like I've seen these and this was right before the fourth quarter, right? Like, right? Yeah, this great. I'm watching the Lakers. Celebrating with this shooter. That was beyond half too. Like he didn't even get all the way. Usually everybody's toe on the line. He shot put it from 50 away. Like that's that's perfect. You're sitting here watching the team up 17 and celebrate this dude having no idea they're about to get crazy come back on them. Guys, the only way to play. I know you're up double digits, but to celebrate with this, I mean, literally the entire Lakers roster was celebrating with them right before the start of, you know, the quarter that they ended up losing the game in like it's it's actually crazy when you think back at it. Ridiculous does make me like the Lakers for a half second though, because they should celebrate 75 grand for hitting a shot. I mean, it's better than a lot of arenas. A lot of arenas are like, here's some hamburgers. Like that's that's awesome. Not the only game obviously last night Timberwolves all eyes on them because what is going on cat got injured. Porcingus with his career high 41. That was the moment however that we were talking about update. What do we have on that shawm so far on cat? Well, when constantly towns look back, that is a look of someone that feels like they just got kicked in the Achilles, but I'm told there was a lot of optimism and there was hope post game that this is just a bad calf strain. He's going to have full testing later today and there's going to be an update, but there are people around the organization that were that were hopeful that this will just end up being a calf injury. We'll see after he gets the full extent, but even if it's just a calf strain, that's going to sideline him for an extended period of time. Most likely, you know, calves, hamstrings growing like these are these are tough injuries to deal with and you don't just come back like that. So this is going to be something to monitor for a while, even if it is just a calf and call Anthony Towns avoided the worst in an Achilles tear. Yeah, this non-contact stuff is scary. It reminds me of KD in 2019 where they said, you know, calf strain and then it ended up being his Achilles. This is never good. This this is the scariest. I hope he's okay. But yeah, this is obviously a tough blow. He's kind of their focal point. You know, they've been struggling. Hopefully now they could, you know, it's a classic case of the where the best player goes out and these other guys are now going to get this opportunity to step up and kind of fill the holes, but yeah, you never want to see this happen to anybody. I mean, you do have a point there though. We have seen this this season alone where the best guy goes out and the team rallies and they do okay because right now as they are, they've lost three straight Eddie. So if cat is out for an extended period of time, what do you expect from this Timberwolves team? Yeah, we we joke about cat a lot on here. Chandler's MVP big, but they need that. They need his firepower. They need what he provides in spacing. Will they be able to play a more functional and traditional game with Rudy and spacing him out a little better? Yeah, but they're absolutely going to miss cat and what he brings. And you know, this Anthony Edwards chance to really step into that role that he clearly wants it and and show that he should be the guy on this team. You know, Rudy had great night last night. He killed my parlay. So, you know, maybe they'll be able to tread water for a while. The West is, you know, it's a mess right now. So all they got to do is, you know, go on a nice little streak here and they'd be fifth seed in no time. Yeah, it's tough because they're not really competing. They're not a contender with cat. Now you now you take him out of the lineup. It's tough. Like I just said, I think this is hopefully a blessing in disguise and this kind of gives aunt that opportunity to kind of be that number one guy. They go back to a more modern lineup with with just one big and it gives guys like McDaniels. Hopefully when he gets back and Noel, these other guys to get these reps and get these minutes that hopefully they can stay afloat and stay in the playoff picture, you know, while cat is out. But this is a chance for D'Angelo Russell to kind of find a struggling all year long. So everybody in that locker room kind of has to take ownership. It's going to be a collective, a collective, you know, approach here with with, you know, cat missing this probably an extended amount of time on the other side of things for Zingas a career high 41 29 of those came in the first half. They're above 500 as a team, which means we have to ask the inevitable question are these three Corzingis, Beal and Kuzma. Is it enough to do any kind of competition in the East for them? Chandler? No, I still think they're a ways away and look, it's weird that this three some confuses me because they're they are very good. They're just they don't they're not good together. They're playing good. They have good games. This reminds me of a team where like they should trade one of these guys. A lot of teams want some one of these three players, but together the East is too good. These guys, I'm still taking teams like Miami over them in a series. I'm obviously Boston, Milwaukee are still much better, but Przingis, I'm sure Luca was watching this game last night like, damn, where was this guy when he was in Dallas? He's doing it all Kuzma is having big games and Beal is one of my favorite players. But yeah, I just don't think they have enough. I don't see it. They're going to have explosive nights like this where they're going to get some wins. But the East is too deep. The East is too good. And I don't think they have a chance to compete. Yeah, competing is tough. You you you wonder about how this team can defend. You wonder about deep this team is as well. Those three. I mean, that's a nice trio. Yeah, I think in the perfect world, you'd have a player better than all three of them on top of all of them really making the engine go maybe like a Luca Duncets. But yeah, they're a solid match. And what I like about them is they're they're also varied in how they score. They can get it in all three levels. It Kuzma KP. I think that's the difference for KP this year as well is that he's not just standing in the corner or just running pick and pop and throwing up threes. He's getting his post ups. He's flashing to the rim. He's he's getting it on the roll and he's gotten to a much better rhythm. I'm happy for him because it's been a wild stretch since that you that first year in New York with all the, you know, all the hoopla of being the guy for the mix. Oh, you mean the unicorn? Yeah, when you call a guy a unicorn before he's even done anything, that's a bit of pressure, which is why I freak out for women, Yama, but shams look, we're a couple of weeks away from where I assume trade things will start to happen. But as far as this wizards team, what do you see? So I actually think, you know, the question was, can they be competitive in the East in a playoff series? I don't think they can win, you know, a playoff series or, you know, against the upper echelon teams, but I do think this team can be competitive. I do like Bradby. I do like Porzingis. I do like the way Kuzma is coming on Kuzma and Porzingis, both, you know, Kuzma is going to be a free agent, most likely with a player option. Krisos Porzingis has a play option as well. You would figure that both guys enter free agency. So the wizards have a lot of decisions coming up with their organization. Do they look at potential trade packages? Phoenix has been a team that's reached out to them about how Kuzma has shown interest in them. A couple other teams have also expressed interest in Kuzma. What do you do with him when you know he's probably going to command 20 plus million dollars on the open market due to his play this year? Porzingis, another guy, the way he's played, he's going to command a lot of money, possibly even close to a max as well. So there's organizational decisions that are going to need to be made in Washington. But right now, I do think staying competitive and seeing what this team can build on is a first priority there. I can't wait till things start happening. Oh, it's going to be so good. Guess who's back guys? Joelle Envy got that MVP award in his sights, led his team to a 104-101 win over Atlanta, finished with 38 and 7. You know, Chandler, we all know that he wants that MVP award and he's going to do everything he can to get it. What did you see last night? Yeah, I saw him take over the game. You know, he scored the last 11 points for the Sixers. He absolutely took over and dominated the game. He put them on top super late in the game. He wants the MVP and he's going to carry the load while James and Tyrese are out. But this is huge for the Sixers because I think for them to contend in win a championship, they obviously need Tyrese Maxi. They need James Harden. But this is huge because I feel like when they all were playing together, it was just them three and no one else was doing anything. Now they have guys like Shake Milton, Nyang, D'Anthony Melton. They have these guys kind of like we were to talk about with the Minnesota team. These guys are now throwing this opportunity where they have a bigger role and they are taking full advantage of it. And you know, this is what they need to kind of stay afloat and they're going to win a lot of games because Joelle will dominate. Tobias Harris has been great for them being that kind of number one when Joelle is out, number two option when he's there, catching off the mid post, scoring in multiple different ways. They've become now this deep team that can hurt you in so many ways. But you know, the Hawks really tricked this game off last night. Trey had a bad turnover on the lob. They had the shot clock violation right before that. And then they just couldn't stop Joelle in the end of the game. But this is very, this is very promising for Philly. Obviously they want to do it when everyone's back. But man, having guys like I think I saw Sat Shake, Milton's averaging 23 with those guys out like he was barely playing earlier in the years. That's huge. Yeah, this is, this is the conundrum we spoke about before. Where they can play one style ball. Well, James isn't there and they have Joelle and they can play another style where they have James there and they don't have Joelle. And it's like, which is the best and how do they make them? How do they make the right mix of the two? Since Joelle has come back from his illness 11 games ago, they have the best events in the league and then not so coincidentally that coincides with James being out as well. So what happens when James comes back and Tyrese Maxie comes back and your defense is just naturally worse. How do they keep this up? It's tough and they've made their decision. They've signed up for this for at least this year and further along to have this kind of weird amalgam of a team and Doc Rivers is going to have to figure out how to get this defense out of his full team when everybody's back. And I don't think he can with that personnel. That's the problem that they're going to face as they try to compete with the top of the East. But it looks great right now and Joelle's a monster. It's always nice to see him be a monster that we know he can be. But this is also classic Hawks too. It's like right when I start thinking they're a contender they go and lose to the Rockets. They lose to the short-handed Sixers. It's they have so much talent and I love their team but this is the only reason why I can't put Atlanta and the upper echelon team because of little games like this where they just have zero consistency. It's such a weird team and you know to do all that stuff to the Rockets and then lose that game after you're telling everybody and then you have young guys saying yo those guys are punks basically right. It's a weird team out there in Atlanta and try on shooting worse than he's ever shot in his career in to play that style and then still shoot bad and inefficiently. I know the true shooting percentage and all that and if you're shooting all those shots and you're shooting them under 40% it's tough to play with you and that's to me that's the biggest issue they have is crazy as it sounds. That's just a maturity issue on the side of Atlanta. I mean it looks like that on television like oh they just they have some talent. It's just the closing out in the maturity. Am I wrong in seeing that. Yeah I mean they're super young. I mean they've had guys that have played in big games before though but this is yeah this is all an excusable stuff because they have the talent. They have the depth. They have the scoring. They have the potential to be a good defense too. But yeah this is this is why that they're not an elite team yet and this is why that they're going to continue to lose games like this. You know talking about when everybody comes back that is the the million dollar question for a lot of teams when the big stars go out Doc can we play the same when everybody's back that will be the key for us. That is his quote. You guys have touched on it. If I just landed on the planet and I didn't know anything about basketball and you told me that one way they play with this guy the other way. You have to be able to figure that out. I mean is it not as simple as like shifts like when James Harden's out there we do this when and beads out there we do this because it cannot be a problem to have superstars on your team and it feels like it is at times like this Eddie and I I don't know am I nuts like it should this should be a blessing. Well that's roster construction right. That's what your general manager does. You want to find pieces that fit. It's not always as simple as we just get the most talent the biggest names the best stats and we throw them out there. There was an obvious fit issue when they went and got James that the good thing for them with with that trade is they didn't even have been Simmons to begin with. So it was an improvement in that aspect. There was always an obvious fit issue. You could see it last year as they were playing even when they were playing well. It's a lot of hot potato your turn my turn your turn my turn and there's no rhythm to that on top of the style of basketball James plays. And so it's tough. Now is there a world where you know deep in a playoff game. Yeah we go down to the big fella or we handle what James is doing or whatever. But it's a long season. You got to get to that playoff game. You got to get to that final three minutes to make those decisions. And it's just an outfit. In the day it's just an outfit. You know half that organization wants one guy have the organization wants another guy and now they have both and had to figure that out. And I honestly don't think they can especially with teams at the top of the East who can exploit that in the ways that they can. All right we got to talk to ramp. We waited. We put him off as much as we can 45 last night and you were front row literally Eddie we would like your full report right now go. I was watching Bowl Bowl. I was more excited about that. He's pretty amazing to see in person my first time seeing him. But you know what I told Kevin after the game was what made this performance so great is he scored in every kind of way. I mean we're watching it now. He's driving. He's hitting pull ups. He's he's hitting it in a fast break. He's he's getting it off the cross. He's getting off the catch 19 made field goals. He only had two free throws last night. I mean he shot he shot 80% from the field. He shot 60% from three. It was incredible watching that shooting display he put on. Ben went down early and they were a little more free flowing and offense in that sense. And yeah he showed Paolo who looked great as well and showed Bowl Bowl who also look great. It's a little bit of a difference. It's a little bit different when you get out there and see it up close to person. What Kevin told me after the game was he's got a lot of fun and you know it doesn't always look like it when he's leaving the league in Texan. He's yelling at his teammates but he's really having fun out there and feels like it's showing in his performance as well. And I agree it was incredible performance last night. Jaller very serious. Yeah look I don't want to get too excited about the net speeding the magic but KD was he was unbelievable. But again this team confuses me. They beat up on the Grizzlies with everyone out and they lose to the Sixers with everyone out. And now they beat up on a you know a pretty bad young magic team but yeah I mean KD was sublime. This is this is why I don't worry about the nets too much because they have this dude that can score an array of ways he can post up he can shoot over you. He was literally laughing at dude last night. As they as I can't wait to the I want to see them have a quality win against a good team. I want to see them I want to see them do that. They're beating up on the bad teams are losing to the bad teams are kind of all over the place. But man when KD plays like this it's no one in the world can stop that man. Yeah need 45 to beat those guys. It was it was they needed every single one of those to beat a really bad team so it's a little bit concerning but man it's fun to watch. No Jalen sucks. No Cole Anthony. No Mo Bamba. I mean it wasn't the full Orlando magic even so I hear you. I definitely hear you. Dom's these are some backhanded compliments if I've ever heard them. At least we're talking next basketball and not something else right jobs. Yeah I mean they they they need Kyrie Irving and Kevin Duran to score six over 60% of the team's points to beat the magic I think games like that with the magic having nine available players you want your role players you want the rest of your team like that's a night where you know Kevin Duran Kyrie Irving probably scored 1520 points each and the role players step up and help lead you to a win. That's usually what happens with elite teams against you know bat you know teams that are clearly on the bottom dwelling side and for the Nets it's like every game that they played in these situations those two guys have to be superhuman for them to win these games I think this is a problem that goes back to even last season you know after they traded James Harden so I think that's just an issue that this team is going to deal with and we'll see it's only going to get you know remedy if if players start to step up and we'll see if and when that time comes. You saw the video there of him chuckling in the face of defense OK so never say that Katie is not a student in the game he's listening he's watching he knows all that Javon Carter sound we played a few weeks ago when we remember it so does Katie. When do you know that you're in the rhythm for a binge like that. When I wake up. An homage how good is that the difference is I believe them I didn't believe. Former Brooklyn that's great Javon Carter. Maybe there's a little synergy there but now I mean I was over there before we had it out it was it was definitely good spirits. I was worried a lot the night before he turned his ankles making sure he was cool. He was joking with me in the morning is like you almost they're low managing me today. I'm not playing. I'm like bro don't play. I'm not driving out there. You're not playing. What are you talking about. He's like no I'm good. I'm good to go. And yeah he's definitely in good spirits and I saw him so I believe it. Yeah Jersey to Brooklyn. That's a commitment not going to just do that randomly. Look the magic they don't fit. They're young. We know that but they've got names that people are interested in like Ben caro and bull bull. They each had 24 points as far as the future and what they're trying to build there. Do we have confidence choms and what it is they're doing here. I think they have pieces in the development of bull bull definitely like he's a guy that dealt with injuries his first couple seasons in Denver. You didn't really know if he'd ever pan out. What do you have to spend time in the G League. What do you have to spend time abroad but they've really developed him so kudos to their organization. Palo Ben caro is a flat out player. We know what he's going to be in the league. I think what this team probably really misses is a guy like Markel Foltz. They need a lead guard so I don't know where that comes from is that scoot Henderson in the draft is that someone else but they need a guy who can really become that lead point guard and game management be dynamic. Maybe that guy is scoot Henderson if they get back up in the lottery. Yeah I think they're on the right path. Look they're still ways away but they have something with Palo they have something with bull bull watching bull bull players. He's got a lot of Victor in him where he shouldn't be able to do the things he does at his size and I love to see him flourish like the magic of my team. They've been my favorite team since I was a kid. They have no guards. Jalen Suggs has not been very good. Cole Anthony's been out. They're two highest paid players. Foltz and Isaac haven't played. So I think they're doing all they can do but they need they need players. They need more talent. Jamal Moseley he's the man. He's doing everything that he can do but they need to add a guard. They need they need to you know maybe make a package where they get rid of one of these pick. They have the Chicago Bulls pick this year too. So they're going to have two possibly top 10 picks. I like what they're doing. I just think they're still they need that guy. They need they need to make a they need to make a splash need to sign a free agent. They need to make a trade. They do something to package with you know these young guys that are developing. Yeah. One one more name to add to the shuffle there is Franz Wagner. He had a great game last night as well. He was in foul trouble but he ended up with 21 points and he looks the part. And if if Paolo is who you think he is and then you you get another top five pick this year and he can be your third guy even your fourth guy behind Bowl Bowl. They got a lot of talent. They're adding a ton of length. They're building on the front line. They're building that more modern basketball. Right. Everybody's six eight and up and then they all can dribble but it was amazing watching those guys in person. Bowl is gigantic. He is Victor right. It went when we saw him a few years back in high school. He's finally becoming that player in the league. He's had a tough go of it. He has a couple coaches didn't think he had it and people were thinking he was going overseas but watching him run around the court yesterday just being that nimble at that size and he's crossing people up. He's he's making long threes. He's you're owing in the lane and it's it's pretty insane. I'm happy for him that he's able to finally become that player that a lot of people believe he could be and he's only going to get better. He's still he's still really young. Yeah. They got some stuff there and I think you guys are right. If they get that playmaker if they get that floor general somebody to keep it all in order you're building something nice over there in Orlando. And also selfishly saying bowl bowl as many times as possible is life. So we need more of that. Oh look we got to talk sons. It's a weird situation with the sons are sitting atop the standings in the West. They're top five offense top five defense last night. Devon Booker with 44 in a win over the Kings and yet I feel like they're not talked about. I don't know if it's because they play late from almost everybody in the country but Chandler as far as them being the best team in the West long term. Do you see that. Yeah I mean I think the Warriors are kind of put it together as well but yeah I mean we said that the West is deep but it's not really heavy at the top. But when you look at a team like the Suns who's a top five offense and top five defense. I mean that that's a championship statistic there. DeAndre Aten was player of the week. He's playing great. And when you see a guy like Chris Paul and Cam Johnson go out. I was a little concerned but Devon Booker has taken his game to the next level. I mean the guy was first team all NBA last year and he's even better now. He's killing. He's definitely making you know he doesn't get talked about like the Lucas or the job doesn't he just goes about his business. He's so smooth. The way he scores is just so beautiful to watch the guy could do everything. He gets to his spots. He rises over people on his little pull up. But yeah I mean this team is you know they're proven they've had great success the last couple of years. The West is deep and the only other contender I see out there for them is the Warriors as of now. Yeah this look I think the way last season ended soured a lot of people on this team. I think Chris Paul kind of leaves a lot of a lot of naysayers in his wake as well. But this is this is the number one city in the league last year. There was a reason they ran away with the one seat in their conference. There's their stack. They're deep. They're even missing and you know Cam Johnson right now who was supposed to help them as well and then the J. Crowder situation. But this is a team that wants to compete for titles. They just played in the finals two years ago. It feels like eternity ago. They know what it takes to get back there. They know how close they were to winning that. They're motivated in book. You know I don't know we do the top 10 rankings or whatever but he's one of the great offensive players in the league for sure. He can lock in on defense when need be their strong defensive team as a team. He's he's a gang changer man and I'm happy. You know he had those first couple years of his career was like yo good stats bad team whatever and I'm happy that he's doing it and winning games now and finally getting recognized. Well dark horse MVP candidate this year. Some rumblings last year when they're the one seed but he's been great and it's Chris Paul out. It's been fun to watch him do his thing as the lead dog out there. Yeah I don't know. I don't know what else book has to do to kind of start getting these clicks and this love like the dude carried them to a number one seed last year. He's doing his thing again this year. I will say Michael Bridges has become one of my favorite players in the NBA. This guy's literally the best two way player in the league in my eyes. He does everything. He guards the best player on the other team. He knocks down threes. He's getting to his bag a little bit and ISOs. He's dunked everything. This kid to me is the key to them. We know we know book is going to go give him 30. We know these other guys but Bridges man has been so impressive. Yeah it's just it's weird. We just don't talk about the way we talk about everybody else shams. You go get to work. And we will see you tomorrow. Thank you as always. Coming up next. Sisters change things up and PJ Tucker doesn't score but doesn't matter. We'll be back. Look at this. Anthony Simons baby Dame not a bad person to be compared to and the first part of our you buy in that segment here today. We're going to concentrate on Simons Chandler. You're up first. Look he's got 20 plus points in eight of his last 10 games. Are you buying that he can carry this Blazers offense when Danes out. Yeah this kid is a straight Hooper man. He's from my hometown. He he he is an absolute bucket. He can score in multiple different ways. He can shoot the ball. He's great ISOs. I mean he's averaging 23 points a game and the comp he the Blazers had so much confidence in him. They literally got rid of CJ McCollum because of this kid that they think he can kind of fill in and provide what CJ was doing. So they're nowhere near the team without without Dame. But yeah this kid is going to be the go to guy. He's already the second option on their team with Dame. So I don't think much changes but it'll be interesting to see him as the number one guy and can he continue to do this with teams solely focusing on him and throwing double teams at him and trapping him. But yeah I think he's a bucket and I think he's going to continue to score a lot of points for this team. All right so one down one bought Eddie. You've got Jalen Green 28 and 30 in his last two. All of his numbers up from his rookie season are you buying that the Rockets can build around this guy. Yeah absolutely. He's actually kind of a similar player to amp in that you know these are the modern guards right Chandler when we're growing up you weren't able to dribble into a shot. He was like no way. You got to catch that or it's got to be closer to a ramp. But these guys with their footwork and this they're just ability to be that shifty and he's so athletic that it's ridiculous. I know you didn't have the greatest showing in the contest last year but he's an absolute freak athlete. He's only going to get better average 18 points a game his rookie year which is crazier than I think people realize he's up to 21 this year. As he as he improves the shooter. He's up to 35 percent from three this year. He's only going to be even better. He's got a little bit of playmaking flair as well. So he's just going to he's so young. He can't even drink yet. He can't even drink till like March. Absolutely you build around him. You got you got to he's great. You can't even drink yet. It's shocking. This is my this might be my favorite one. Chandler Tyrese Halliburton first player with 40 plus assists and zero turnovers over a three game span. Are you buying him as the best point guard in the league right now. No not even close but he that is a crazy stat and playing very good. You know he is he's a throwback point guard and the fact that he's a table setter and he's a floor dinner roll and these days point guards like Luca and John Dame their score for score first guards and he's a breath of fresh air though man. He's a creator for others. Seems like it's really really fun to play with. You can pair him with one of these scoring point guards and it would be a great fit. But no as long as Steph Curry is playing he's the best point guard of the NBA. But then you got these other guys that I still are thinking a little better than Tyrese but he's having a great year. He's got the keys to this team and he's as a point guard you don't want to turn the ball over and he is not doing that. That is very efficient. I love that. All right Eddie shake Milton averaging twenty two a game fifty five percent from the four are you buying that he should stay in the rotation once Maxi and Harden return. Yeah for sure and I know it gets a little jumbled there with Maxi and Harden as primary ball handlers but they have to find minutes for shake. He's been a bucket at every level basketball has ever played. He's been a bucket for the Sixers he's just been in and out their rotation. The way he's picked up the slack for them while these guys are hurt has been amazing. He's he has to be out there they have to find minutes for him this going back to what we're saying where that they have so much talent that they just need to find that style of play where they can make it work. He's a part of that puzzle as well. He should be backing up Maxi. They should find time for them to play together. He could shoot he could score on every level. You have to have him on the floor. You just have to so yeah let's get him 18 minutes a night. We can make that work. All right. We can make that work. We'll figure it out. How about Demar to Rosen 26 plus over his seven of his last eight. Chandler I love when we give you these lists because you're very matter of fact are you buying that he's a top 15 player in the NBA. No again. I think he's more in the 30 to 40 range. I think and that's not even knock on Demar. I think the league is just so talented now and there's a lot of guys that I would personally rank higher than him but yeah he's a buck. He's always tell us right now give us all the players you rank above. I mean if you name a team besides pretty much the spurs and the magic in the rocket there's someone on that team that I would rank higher than Demar to Rosen and that's I'd listen I he's the one of the last guys to still have the mid range scoring he's always been a bucket he's going to score points guys averaging 26 points a game but no top 15 top 15 we're talking no no chance I really think that we should give Chandler homework and you give us all of the we give you every team you give us the player better and then the 30 I want the top 30 I feel like this would be a good project I'll have it by tomorrow this is like we're on holiday we just need a show boom Shailer PJ Tucker again chef's kiss one field goal in his last eight games but he's plus 48 when he's on the floor Eddie does it matter are you buying it doesn't matter if he scores I hate plus minus is a stat so I don't like that's a line of that's like he's probably playing most these minutes what Joellen Beach Joellen Beets probably plus 40 in that time as well I understand the value of PJ Tucker I understand he's a versatile defender he's he's a culture guy he's all that good stuff I get it but yeah one bucket in eight games it's pretty absurd like that you almost have to try to do that so it does matter that he doesn't score and playoffs and that's going to swing games and swing series if he can hit three threes one night you know so yeah it matters I'm sorry I love P's though he's he's great I but he's got he's got to score more than once a month like let's try to do that one so many jokes it's Chandler I don't know they've say nothing you're working on your project all right next up is Darren Fox one out of Sacramento but more importantly does we chat all of that when run it back return and I think it's funny like you bring up DeMarcus he was here just for a year DeMarcus called me month ago and he said he said why am I not in the NBA? I said you want you want that answer he's like yeah I said because people are afraid of how you're going to act and he's like why I said well whatever the reason is and it's here now mm-hmm and and I like DeMarcus like you guys may know him or not like he's just I can't blame him for him because of all he's been through all right so DeMarcus cousins once back in the league should he be should a team take a chance on him Eddie um it's tough I mean I I Bob was kind of brutally honest here DeMarcus that has talent but you have the way if that's going to feed into your locker room which you're building with your team maybe you want to develop your young guys it's tough I think is the talent still being the league his personality kind of ran him out the league I I was in Sacramento and he was with the Kings and you know you hear stories and you kind of see what they what happens on that sideline and it's tough but he's a talented guy man and he's had a rough goal of it ever since that Achilles injury and I hope for the best for him I think there's a place for him in the league but I think Bob is right I mean I'm kind of shocked he said this publicly but I think Bob is right and that yeah you know some of this is kind of self-inflicted Yeah he's he's this just shows you that it's not all about talent and that can only get you so far he's just he's a distraction he's moody he's he's not what you want in the locker room it seems like everywhere he goes there's always issues he's always getting into it with the reps even when he went to Denver I thought all right at least fake it and try and act like you've changed and you've matured and he he can't he physically can't so I don't I don't see it I don't think there's room for something like that especially on already a championship contending team like why even bring in those possible issues when you can have a younger guy that there's you're not going to wonder which version of him are you going to get that day it's sad and it sucks because he's such a talent and he's such a huge the best big in the NBA for a long time it's just you know his personality and his bootiness kind of messed up his whole career yeah it's a bummer he used to do stuff with us at ESPN and he was great to deal with but then you read everything else and see everything else and it's very confusing he's obviously not the only guy that would love to be back in the league I mean let's be honest it's a heck of a gig Carmelo Anthony and Isaiah Thomas both also wouldn't mind another shot at the big show what more likely return if you had to put money on it and we know how great we all are at putting money on things here mellow Thomas or boogie who's going to see league action first Chandler I think it's mellow I think mellow should be in a league I mean I think he he played great last year and I mean he kind of had to revive this career of Portland he can still do it there's one thing mellow can do it's a bucket and a lot of teams could use him right now the Lakers could use him right now I don't see the Isaiah Thomas I don't see the boogie thing but mellow he is what he is and and if he's at least staying in somewhat shape he could still help a team and definitely score points off the bench and you great yeah I'm actually kind of shocked mellow isn't in the league right now I think he will be before the end of the season for sure you know the Isaac Thomas thing is I seen him on I forget what he was on but he said he was come on it I love it like everybody else but come on now but yeah I think mellow find his way back into the league and you know it the way the league treats these bets now it's kind of crazy you know the legit send you home and mellow was out of the league and showed he was good enough to play in the league and really had to work his way back we're talking about a Hall of Famer who's got a lot to offer so you know it's just the way the business as they say but yeah I think mellow be out there relatively so but what but why with the mellow thing especially because that projects already been done and it proved to be it worked so why is it that it seems like he has to start over again from scratch just to have another shot in the league like I'm not the biggest Carmelo fan but I'm with you guys like I don't understand why he's not on a roster already Chandler yeah this is a head scratcher because you know he's did the whole thing where like he's not coming off the bench and he wasn't accepting that role but but then he did and and he thrived in it and it's especially the Lakers like they signed all these guys that can't score that can't shoot meanwhile this guy is just sitting on the shelf over there ready to play so this one I mean listen he's never been a great defender he's he's he's always been the go to guy but he showed us that he's mature enough to accept that new role off the bench and I think he's got a sign with the team here soon by the season on NBA it's a simple statement true it's true we'll leave it at that that's just perfectly said we're taking a quick break when we come back it's your chance once again the bed against us and when some money when run it back returns so before we get to today's for like Parley this is this is last night Eddie Eddie Eddie Eddie did we learn anything from what we did last night here and also why why did you attack Rudy go there in such a way look I'm going to I'm going to throw somebody under the bus real quick no names but our producer when I sent in my my my my Parley legs here he said good stuff go bear unders are easy money they were not last night they were bad money so thanks so much for that seven for seven for 19 points ruined it all Rudy I understand why I'm blocked on Twitter I get it thanks wait I saw you really blocked on Twitter by wrote Rudy go bear yeah Nicola York it's lit him up and I just had to let him know so I'll never see another Rudy go very sweet it's fine it's cool I'll let you know if he says anything good by the way the producer's name is Danny Corralus I just want to make sure that that's out there so everybody gets their share of love though we do have we have one more chance they're letting us do it again someday they're going to figure this out but for like Parley Eddie your first give us your two I got Jeremy Grant over 21 and a half points today he's averaging 28 points a game with Damien Lillard out it should be easy money for my guy he's been killing it I'm all I'm all for it after that I has Spencer Denwitte over two and a half threes you have just seven threes attempts a night so come on let's make it happen Spence this is going to be a wide open game against the warriors be a lot of shots out there for you buddy channel you were perfect last night what do you have yeah Eddie you got to get your head out of your ass here come on but I like the Mavs I like the Mavs mine are a little weird here cause I like the Mavs plus one and a half against the warriors but then my second one is I like Luca under 32 and a half I mean that's a lot of points I don't care who you are that is that is a lot of points Eddie I think this might be the one I feel really really good about this I don't know if I agree really our pics are so crazy that we ran beetle off I right the worst part is I can still talk but you can't see me maybe it's because I'm so disgusted they couldn't hide my poker face but I'm still going to say this we need predictions for USA Iran later today we're patriots Eddie when you got go get the wind to move on right with the little slight hint of patriotism and say they get it one nothing oh I like it Chandler I got USA to nothing proper expert right there I know right like they've come to us for your world predictions it's to nil by the way but yes USA USA make it happen we'll be back tomorrow maybe I'll even show up on camera good luck on the parlays everybody