 We did it. Our parlay finally hit. We almost canceled the entire show. 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, run it back, yeah. Good Tuesday morning, welcome to Run It Back. We are coming to you live from various parts. Well, almost this great nation because Chandler's in Cabo. I swear, Chan, you're living our lives. Love it so much. I'm Shirani, as always, stadium insider and any G on the end. So if we lose Chandler at any given moment, so be it. That's just the way it is, right? It's just like, I'm afraid to go. Apologize, apologize in advance. Don't apologize. You're living the lives we wish we had. All right, we got to get things started. Some good games, some weird games. How about this one though? Nets beating the Cavs. Their ninth straight win. Katie Kyrie each with 32. Darius Garland though, 46 and a loss. We will talk about that in a second. And Eddie, we will get to you, obviously, but Chandler, we talked a little bit Eastern Conference yesterday. Do you have the gumption to now put the Nets on the same level as Boston Milwaukee and Philly? Yeah, listen, they're the real deal. I mean, they've won, they're 15 and two and they're last 17 games. And it's all pretty much surrounding Kevin Durant. He's become this MVP candidate. He's dominating. And it just feels like the drama of the Nets is kind of somewhat behind them. And these guys are just getting better every single game. Even last night, they're missing Curry and Harris and they're just getting, they're getting a lot from everybody. And it starts with Durant. I hate to put it on Nash because, you know, who knows if it was his fault or not, but that's the type of move that I think gave this team closure. It made, you know, guys in the locker room happy. All the Ben Simmons, you know, drama, I feel like all the noise is kind of limited now. And these guys are just going out there and they're hoping and they're super talented. And yeah, I mean, they are, you know, they're right there. I don't think they're as good as a team as Milwaukee and Boston, but yeah, I'd love to see a series with them there. Yeah, I think this is for the first time in like four years throughout this the Kyrie, Irving, Kevin Durant era where it's literally been just basketball. They've been locked in for the last month or so and fault me because it might be too soon. But when I watched this team play, it reminds me a lot of the Celtics from last year. When you think about that team went through similar drama in the off season, Danny Ainge steps down, Brad Stevens steps down. They had a lot of questions about the roster and the fit. They were below 500 around Christmas. They got to above 500 in January. There were a lot of questions around that organization. They just like the Nets went on a nine game winning streak in February, turned their season around against some bad team, but picked up a lot of momentum. And that Celtics team had one of the best offensive ratings in the league. The Nets in December have had the best offensive rating in the league. So to me, this is a team that's picked up a lot of momentum against bad teams taking advantage. These are games that they were losing a year ago. So to be taking care of business, that's really what makes you a really dominant team. And I think town has never been the issue. So give Jack Vaughn a lot of credit. We know about what KD and Kyrie Irving bring to the table. But I think when you look at this team, Utah, Watanabe, you think about TJ Warren, Ben Simmons is playing his role, Nick Claxton. This is a team that's gaining a lot of confidence, a lot of momentum at a great time as we reach the midway point of the season. I know. I know Eddie wants to talk. Go ahead, Eddie. Go ahead. What do you want to talk? By the way, Colt, the cynic in me always cringes a little bit when we're like, the drama's behind them. It's just because I just feel like, oh, God, it's something to be around the corner. I know. That's the part that always gets me like, but seriously, Eddie, I know you're biased, but that's OK. That's part of being an awesome fan. What is the ceiling here, really? They're a championship contender. We always knew they were. And I'm just going to say the quiet part out loud because, yes, Jack Vaughn has been amazing. Yes, Kevin Durant has been amazing. Yes, Ben Simmons has continued to make strides. But the nets are better because Kyrie Irving looks like Kyrie Irving again. And with his eight games sabbatical for various reasons, we've talked about it a ton. He's gotten his legs back. He's gotten back to looking like him. He carried in the fourth quarter yesterday. He's done that several times over their winning streak as teams start to double Kevin leading games and trap him a little more. It opens up the floor for Kyrie. And he looks amazing. He looks like a top 20 player. He looks like the Kyrie Irving we've all come to know and love on the court. And it's absolutely transformed the team. Last night, Ben was great defensively. He struggled a little bit offensively. Jack Vaughn was trying to figure out where to play him in the fourth quarter as the Cavs defense played off of him. And it was Kyrie who picked up the slack when Kevin found out about three minutes to go. He's been amazing. And he's made them a true contender with his advancements this year. What I always wonder and what I told Kevin the other day before they left, I need to see them beat the Celtics. I have to see them beat that team. They've lost, I believe, seven straight to them, including the playoffs. A lot of close games, but they continue to lose to them. The size the Celtics have, the physicality, it bothers them. But the Milwaukee game and the Cavs game, those are good matchups for the Nets. And so I thought they would win those games. Whether it's a blasphemous or bias or not, I thought they would win those games because they just have nothing for Kyrie Irving and they have nothing for Kevin Durant. But the Celtics do. And that's the team I need to see them beat. They play them again in a couple of weeks in Barclays. And I'm waiting for that game. That's the obstacle. What do you think, Chandler, as far as the expectations on this Nets team? Is it Boston's ahead of them and there's no way around that? Or is there something that they can do to get past that and make it all the way? I mean, look, I think the expectation is to win a championship. I think, like I said, all the drama should be in the rear view mirror now and they need to move forward. They have so much talent. They have guys like TJ Warren now that are getting his legs back. They have a lot of shooting. Kyrie Irving is doing his thing. This is a team that has so many skilled players and so many ways to beat you. That yeah, I think that if they're clicking, they're healthy, they can beat anybody in a series. So I think the expectation is to compete for a championship, but they obviously know that he's stacked at the top. Okay, well, I hope for any sake all of this pans out. Look, we can't just skip past the fact that Darius Garland had 46 points. I know it was a loss, but 46 is still pretty impressive. And this is a calf squad that we all, the nation spoke very highly of just a couple of weeks ago. Are you still high on this team, Eddie? Do you still think that there's a lot of potential here or where would you put them at the moment? Yeah, I'm high on them. I think they could win a playoff series or two. I think there's obvious deficiencies with just how small their front court is or the back court is and the defense that they're gonna struggle to play at that position, and we saw that last night. We saw the net to be able to get off the point of attack over and over and over because then in a day there is Garland's smaller guard. Donovan Mitchell was just a smaller guard, and it is what it is. They also haven't figured out their small forward position. So yeah, they have some deficiencies. I think they also have room to make improvements in the trade market or even in the bio market. But I do think they're just a tier below those true contenders out East when you talk about the Bucks, you talk about the Celtics, and I guess you talk about the Nets too and Philly. But they get the right match up and they can shake some stuff out there. I just think they're not gonna be favored against either one of those guys out there. Yeah, I will say they're just not as skinny. They don't have as much star power. Sorry, go ahead, Shem. Yeah, I think the teams that Eddie mentioned are totally on point. I view those teams as kind of that next level. And Cleveland, I think they have a lot of work to do even internally when you think about the Dona Mitchell, Darius Garland. It's a great backcourt. I think we've all been praising them. But you saw last night Dona Mitchell struggled. I think he was the focal point of the offense. And then you saw Darius Garland kind of look at it and was like, listen, I gotta pick up the slack. And then he goes off. How do they figure out the dynamic of playing well off of each other? I'm curious how that transforms. Yeah, Chandler, how does that transform? I'm not gonna pick up the spot. I'm afraid we're gonna lose you. Okay, we have to talk about the Clippers game. It was an emotional rollercoaster for Steve Ballmer and anybody who roots for the Clippers. It's also bizarre a world because there's a stat here. So they go on a 13-1 run. They send the thing into overtime and they eventually win. PG has 32 and 11. But here's the stat. NBA teams were two and 12,873 when losing by 14 with three minutes remaining. I had to read that like seven times and also double check it. This is a crazy comeback win. Gotta feel for the pistons and their fans. But Chandler, have you ever been on either side of a comeback like this? I mean, not quite like this. This is pretty shocking. And obviously the pistons are in the Wimby's tweet stakes here and they battle at home but you can't imagine this was on purpose. No, I've never seen, I've never been up. I think we lost Chandler, Eddie. What do you think? Have you seen a comeback like this or a seesaw of this dramatic way? Good Lord. The one I could think of is that Rockets Clippers game in the middle of the three-one comeback and just the Lop City Clippers just absolutely collapsed. So it's kind of funny that they're the ones on the other side of it this time. I love that we won our parlay on this because it was a dramatic night. It just goes to show the power of the three-point boil in today's game. You never feel like a nine-point lead is what a nine-point lead used to be. Now, 13 should be a little bit better, 14 should be a little bit better, but I mean, if one team's trying to lose and one team's trying to win, anything can happen, I guess. I mean, that is dramatic. Go ahead, Shums. Yeah, the most epic comeback for me was, I mean, it's the Clippers against Memphis. I think it was in Memphis. I don't know if you guys remember, it was Swaggy, Pete was going crazy, making threes, that was my most favorite comeback of all time for sure. This one just, I also feel for the Pistons. I look, if this is all part of the tank, then it's very, very dramatic. And thank you for our parlay, by the way. But as far as the Clippers and where they sit in the West, I know everyone considers them one of the deepest, if not the deepest team in the league, but we still haven't really gotten to see them play as a whole all that much. They're fourth in the West though, considering. Chandler, as far as where they're going to finish, or if they're as good as Nuggets, Pelicans and Grizzlies, do you agree with that? Yeah, listen, they're a very good team. They're solid, and I think the healthier Kauai Leonard gets the better they are, but they're kind of like the Western Conference Cavs. Like they are very good. I like their team, but I just, you know, three or four or five of these other teams kind of made that push to kind of go ahead of them and buy eyes. And I think they, again, they'll win a series, maybe even two series. And they're so deep. Even last night looking at their game, you know, they have so many guys that can score the ball. They have so many guys that can switch and defend. And Kauai Leonard has got to, you know, continue to build and get his legs back. But this is a great team. I just feel like, you know, the Nuggets, the Pelbs, the Grizzlies, the Suns are all a lot more dangerous at this point. Yeah, their depth is what's going to carry them. And they played 11 players last night legitimately and all, every one of them scored. And that's without Kauai Leonard. So that just shows how many NBA players they have. I mean, sometimes we joke watching the game, watch the Lakers and say, how many NBA players on this team? But the Clippers have that many NBA players. But I wonder about the matchups a little bit with them, with all their sides they have on the perimeter. It's going to bother most teams. The team I actually worry about them a lot with is the Warriors and all the stuff they do off-ball and all the running around Steph Curry is going to do. But outside of that, like, they're a tough matchup for everybody out West, not to be John Morant, but I think they're good out there. And the East, it gets a little bit different that you have the Celtics, you have Giannis as well, who I think will continue to give them issues. But yeah, this is a tough team. It's going to be a wild card all year long until we know Kauai Leonard can play three months of basketball in a row. And we don't know that. And I don't think we will know that until he actually does it. And that's just always going to be the question mark for them and there's no way around it. Yeah, I mean, look, he's played 13 games out of the 35 shams. I don't worry about Kauai Leonard as far as the switch that he has to turn things on and off, but what about the rest of the team? Like, one day you're a guy who's got significant minutes and points and the next day you're gone because Kauai's back in the lineup. Like, do we have any concerns as far as how that sort of chemistry play is going to pan out? Yeah, I think that's really the concern for the, that's been the concern for the Clippers all year, which is that you have all these guys in and out of the lineup. How does that impact you? And what we've seen is Tai Lu give them a lot of credit. This team has been treading water. They're a team that's a shoe in for the playoff birth. They're not really fighting right now. At least as of now for a play in, like that's a blessing for this team to have because of all the injuries they've went through with Paul George and Kauai Leonard. They've got the worst plus minus of any team in the top six at plus 0.2 because they're just literally just trying to get by. And I think the more wins they stack up, the more momentum they get. And I think getting Kauai Leonard to the point in the second half of the season where he might not be missing back-to-backs and he's going to stay healthy because as long as he's back on the floor and they manage him the right way, I think we all know Kauai Leonard is most lethal in the playoffs. He's most lethal when it matters most. I think Joel Embiid last week called Kauai Leonard, the Michael Jordan in the playoffs. So we know what he brings to the table is just getting to that point. And look, Tai Lu does a pretty good job of masking. I'm sure what has to be internal frustration. When asked about how many games it would take to really get a gauge, he just spit out 15. I mean, it's crazy to think that we may not get to see all of that. I don't know. Sometimes I wonder Eddie, like how the other teammates must feel as far as Kauai and the way this whole thing gets played out, how the Toronto Raptors must have felt the way that all played out as far as like what is deemed important regular season versus post. But hey, if it works, it works, right? Who am I to say? I can feel your spurs, Tai, tingling right now. I actually think it's a situation where everybody kind of knows what they're getting into. And maybe you don't like it, but you understand it. And I bet they're looking at it a lot like Psalms does. If we can get them back right by April, it doesn't matter because we can absolutely win 16 playoff games with this guy. We've seen him do it. We know he can do it. And so I'd imagine they're just accepting of it. And yeah, it's frustrating on a day-to-day, but if I'm Norman Powell, I get to play 30 minutes because Kauai is out and I can take all the shots I want. It's not so bad. It's not so bad as long as he's there when we need him most. And I think he will be. I think he will be. Yeah, I think he will be as well, which is scary for everyone else. This is the part of the show where Eddie gets to shine. We're going to talk a little T-wolves. Just going to put it up on a T and I'm going to let you take it away, Eddie. All right, so after a time-out. It's favorite player's favorite topic. It's brutal. They lose to the heat. It's, the heat are 11 and six and games decided by five or fewer points. But this was after a called time-out and they just, I mean, what happens here, Eddie? They butcher it. What's the problem? It's okay. So we're going to play in a second here, but everybody falls down, but it actually benefits them to Nazary, who's actually second in 3.0% is on their team and very underrated and unheralded player in league. He's wide open over there. And my guy doesn't even see him. Doesn't even think to look at him. I know JV was running the play and I get it, but man, if you see him, you get an open shot. It sucks. These guys didn't even get a catch or a shot. They had time too, two and a half seconds before this also Anthony Edwards, Mr. Free throw that could have cut the lead to. They had every opportunity to win this game. It hurts a little, little quiet. No, you notice that Rudy Gobert, the hundred million dollar man, he's not on the court right there. I don't think he should have been either down three, but not on the court. Just wonder if there's going to be some strive there. It's been a rough season for them. And they have no picks ever after this thanks to Rudy Gobert. So yeah, they need to turn around soon. Can they? Yeah. Can they turn around? If Nasred keeps playing this way, I think they'll be somewhat okay, but yeah, this was just brutal. This is a horrific way to lose a game. Again, the Rudy Gobert trade just a nice like this just keeps getting exposed and exposed. And I know Eddie loves it, but this is a bad, bad loss. This one's ugly. This one was ugly. By the way, no Jimmy Butler, no bam out of bio. The team is still 500. There's sitting ninth right now in the East. It's a team that I think has confused a lot of people, Chandler. And as far as this Miami Heat squad, do you expect anything out of them as the season goes on? I don't, I think they're a solid team. I think they're a dangerous matchup if they get in the playoffs. You know, they have the experience, they have the talent, they have the shooting. But no, I think the East kind of these teams we discussed earlier in the show have kind of made that leap. They're not really a contender. And they kind of been up and down. They're the one team that didn't really make a trade. They didn't really make a move. They put hero in the starting lineup that kind of finned their bench out a little bit. So Lowry's been struggling. I don't see it from them. I wouldn't want to play them in the first round, but I don't think they're really a contender at this point in the season though. I'm going to throw out a stat here, significance. And I want to see how big a deal it is to any of you guys. Duncan Robinson became the fastest player to hit 800 career threes last night. Eddie, how big a deal is that? Not that big a deal to me. There's another like really random player who keeps doing this too. It's just the way of the league now and somebody has to be the guy. By no means are you saying he's going to break Steph Curry's record or even get close to it. I think it's nice that he's doing this and it's cool. He has a great role in this league right now. But this is also a guy that his team decided he could not play in the playoffs. His team decided maybe we need to trade him at every opportunity we can. And as soon as he's on this contract was immediately overpaid. So shout out to Duncan for being a sniper. I love that for him. But that's just the league now and this will probably be broken soon. It's just how everybody's playing. He's crazy. He got $90 million off doing this and he's kind of been in and out of the rotation but basically this just means he can shoot. He is a sniper and it's pretty much all he does. He comes in there. He comes off handoff. He comes off screens. He can really shoot. It's a cool record. It's probably not even a big deal to him though to be honest with you. But it's cool to say that you got that in the bag though. Right. I mean it's cool to see that list and it's just your name all the way down it basically minus marketing. I think that's kind of cool. I don't know what you do with that. Yeah. Super cool. If you put it in the wall in your house or something maybe I have no idea but it looks cool-ish. Can we talk some Damian Lillard? I'm fascinated by the Damian Lillard story and I will continue to be as long as it plays out because who knows how it will ultimately play out but right now he is known as a man who is loyal. He's also now technically known as the greatest blazer surpassing Clyde Drexler on the scoring record. They did beat the Hornets 124-130 but he was honored after the game. That's what we're looking at right now. And it's been a big deal because he's made much of staying in Portland and it looks like he plans to do so but some people will say why. And Chandler I ask you this. Will it end up helping or hurting his all-time legacy staying in Portland? I think it helps when you look across the league and guys like Derrick and COVID these guys that Tim Duncan that have stayed with one team it just shows a lot about that you know their character and how much they've done that organization how much they've done for that community and he's made Portland a home and I'm super happy for him that he's now the all-time leading scorer and he's gonna go down as the greatest Portland Trailblazer of all times. That has a lot of impact and maybe he missed out on some opportunities in a bigger market or you know it doesn't look like he's probably gonna win a championship in the next couple of years in Portland so I don't know if that factors in but I think it's awesome and it's super impressive because not a lot of guys can do this not a lot of guys have longevity and you know shout out to Dane because that's extremely impressive and hard to do. Yeah I'm with Chandler I think this is dope I know we judge everybody on like the Jordan standard and this is rings culture and it's frustrating that he hasn't won a title and that's true and Dane wants to win a title but he's had great playoff successes he's carried this franchise on his back for over a decade and this is an iconic franchise and in a lot of ways this is a historic franchise and to be the far and away best player that's ever put on that jersey and the most prolific that matters so I mean like again you'd love to win a title but Dane will be going back to Portland until he's 80 and they'll be celebrating him every time he goes and that's what you play the game for that's the stuff you care about so you know I know this is the participation trophy era and all that stuff but this is worthy of this celebration he deserves this and I think it's dope that he stayed I hope he does but even if he leaves later in his career to try to get a ring I don't think it diminishes anything that he's done out there in Portland he'll get his statue out there and he'll be royalty for as long as he continues to go to Portland and I love that for him. Yeah Dane's a real one and like for me I just view his playoff successes like Eddie said I don't think, I mean he hasn't made to the NBA finals, he's made to the conference finals but some of the shots he's made the one against Paul George and OKC like these are moments that we're always gonna remember and I think with Dane Lillard he's had multiple chances to leave that organization, to ask out formally he's thought about it, he came very close to requesting a trade a couple off seasons ago he decided to play it out, let Portland have a chance to figure it out and revitalize the roster around him right now they have a group that I think can contend for something in the Western Conference I don't know if it's a championship but they can get by maybe in a round or so and just see where it goes from there but for Dane Lillard obviously it's become even more than just wins and losses in Portland and this is a legacy thing for him. Those Portland Trailblazers when I was 15 made me cry all the time, so yeah it's a team that means a lot to a lot of us as far as NBA fans are concerned take it a quick break, when we come back the latest on Tyrese Maxie cannot wait to hear from Shams on that and would Sidney Dean have won multiple MVPs? Ops, when Run It Back comes back and there was a tweet that raised some eyebrows Demona Sabonis suffering a fractured ligament in his right thumb, he will attempt to play through the injury, listed as questionable against Denver tonight, of course I'm like ooh that sounds really tough Shams playing through injury, what can you tell us about that injury and what it means? So it's an aversion fracture of the ligament in his thumb and basically from what I'm told he essentially the ligament in that thumb it fractured off the bone in his hand and tonight he listed a question where he's trying to play through this as opposed to getting surgery it's definitely a very difficult injury to play on and play with I think there definitely is potentially gonna be some brace involved here that he's gonna have to use to play with wouldn't surprise me if he ends up missing at least a game or two or three to make sure that he can get fully comfortable before getting on the court I know Chandler you've dealt with a lot of injuries in your time, what's been your experience with thumb injuries and also this particular one as far as what you've dealt with in your past? Yeah the thumb is tough right because every single play your thumb is involved you're dribbling with both hands you're passing catching the ball at least this is not his shooting hand but still as a big this is gonna be something again kind of like the Steph Curry shoulder that's going to linger I didn't know you could fracture a ligament I didn't know that was possible so I'm not sure medically what that is but yeah I'm assuming there's gonna be some sort of brace or a bunch of tape on his hand I'm sure he's gonna do injections I'm sure he's gonna do anything he can to kind of get through this but like I said I've never seen that and sounds like it's gonna need surgery but shout out to him for playing through this he's a tough dude and the Kings obviously need him but the thumb is no joke in every single play this is gonna kind of you could re-agitate it he could hurt it so this is a dicey situation for him. Guys if I fracture a ligament whatever that means I won't be on Zoom I wouldn't count me off I don't know how he's about to play basketball like this shout out to baby bonus they need them right now though they're in the playoff hunt and that team needs to break their playoff curse so I hope he's able to work through it and make it work even if with the off shooting hand like God bless him for doing that but you know how that goes you drive you get whacked on that hand one time in my injured week I'm telling you I've been playing with this wonky finger since Thanksgiving and it won't heal and it hurts anytime I touch anything and I'm not playing basketball so I have no idea how badly that's going to hurt but he's a tough dude tough dude tough tough tough I hope I don't know we say that good news on the other side I think right Tyrese Maxie for Sixers fans Shongs you've got something positive to tell us We haven't seen Tyrese Maxie since November 18th he suffered that small fracture in his foot he was only thought of to be three to four weeks it's been well over that now but I'm told he's gonna return this weekend likely on Friday in New Orleans against the Pelicans they also play on Saturday against OKC so if he's not ready by Friday it'll be Saturday but he will be back in a few days here this is 23 points per game back to their lineup over 40% three point percentage this is a guy that could you know you could argue is their second best offensive player from a pure scoring standpoint it'll be curious to see how he comes whether he comes off the bench is he gonna start how does Doc Rivers use him when he comes back into the lineup I think it is in play that he could come off the bench but he will also be on a minutes restriction when he makes his return This is huge news I feel like we should do a side side parlay because I think he comes back Saturday against Oklahoma City just seems like an easier comeback but Eddie what are you expecting I don't know a plan against Gilders-Out-Zenner's easier comeback but I'm expecting scoring points especially initially off the bench as it sounds like he might be his role in coming back but they need his speed they need that scoring points he provides and they're gonna welcome it he's a better player than Anthony Melton who has stepped in and played really well so if we're getting Super Charles Melton in that role then they're gonna be a better team they're welcoming their best player back they are one of the Consenders out east and they need to see what this element looks like with the role they're on as of right now with James being a true facilitator like just really focusing on that and scoring whenever need be this is gonna be great for them and he's got time to get ready and to get back into shape and you always worry a little bit with a foot injury with a foot fracture on top of that you need your feet for basketball but I think he'll be fine and I think he'll be transformative for them he'll help them a ton Not a doctor but you did know that you need your feet for basketball and that's the kind of insight that you're gonna wanna keep coming back for matter of fact we're gonna take a break now and when we come back who knows we're gonna do something and maybe Chandler will join us from Cabo maybe he won't the Wi-Fi gods have it in their hands let's be back Welcome back to Run It Back Chandler Parsons has left the building officially I don't think he's getting back on but hopefully we'll have him back tomorrow with a really good Wi-Fi but this is the Eddie Gonzalez hot seat edition of Convince Me because all the pressure is gonna be on you and Shams and I are just gonna attack so here we go first up Convince Me, Convince Us the cameras should be placed in select players jerseys so we can have a little POV Eddie go You know every once in a while we get like the referee camera or the pylon cam we need as many views as we can get of the court I think it'd be amazing I told you I'm a big advocate for micing everybody up and just giving us the edited feet not like the Christmas day everybody knows their mic they're hamming it up for the camera I mean like I'm cussing the ref out questioning their manhood that mic'd up and the same thing with the cameras let's see as much access to this board as we can it can only help I don't care if it's from a language it can only help let's do it I like this idea I wonder what the feet would look like though on that camera Well considering how Chandlers look today I'm gonna say 30% Might be bad late I know Shams I feel like the CBA would be I'm gonna trust the NBA's cameras more than the Kavo cameras personally you know I'm gonna go with the NBA's cameras I think their Wi-Fi's gonna be better Oh I would love it though I'd love it like some sort of headband like weird GoPro Okay Eddie this one I think everyone agrees convinces us that if a player complains about a call automatic tee What? Why is this a thing? No, no way Yes please Some of my favorite parts of the sport could you imagine how short the game would be if it's just like off right back to it we'd literally be watching 52 minute basketball games Fine I think the league sponsors would not like that they'd be into those long commercial breaks so we can see all are complaining Yeah I like that Luca is the pitcher of every one of these It's amazing He's earned this he's earned this reputation this is perfect proof How is Kevin leading league in text and not Luca? I just What do we do? What do we do? We're Dramon for that matter We get some now just from the bench like that's his new thing Dramon is Dramon rides the rest Right Like that would be fun I think if an automatic technical it's you'd end up with like three players per team per game almost nightly just because every single time it'd be I don't know let's try it why don't we try one night's docket of games with this rule and see how it plays out I like the football I like the football rules better like you can pretty much do everything tackle referee football and it's like yeah like whatever next play let's just do that that's better I don't know these games would be long but they would have to get rid of ejections right like there's no such thing as ejections if you can give out a technical file of every single reaction to the referee like there's no technical files players pick up like 10 texts in a game I might be down for that honestly Summer League rules I like it I like it too I'm all in OK this one is this is the every year argument how do we make it better Eddie convinces us that the dunk contest participants would be voted on by fans and unless you're hurt you have to go do you trust the fans though like you might end up with like you know Rudy Gobert in the dunk contest just people want to troll I do like the letting the fans pick I do like putting the onus on the players to really to really lock in and do this so yeah I'll say it we get a dud every couple of years cool but we'll get to watch John Moran and Zion Winston try to do a front flip in dunk or something so yeah let's let's do this like take the fan vote out of the all star game put it into the Saturday night stuff I think it's actually way better than the system we have now agree for it. I actually agree with that Shoms because the game itself will be fine it's the still it's the skills Saturday that tends to suffer I think from year to year so many years you're just like this was absolute garbage and I don't know why I wasted any my time watching it so I'm actually OK with that it's just the ebbs and flows though like they're not able to get those highlight nights right like the Zach Levine Aaron Gordon dunk contest that we had several years ago like we're not able to revitalize that but I don't know I actually like this idea so you know I don't know if we got the poll Michelle you might have to make this happen I don't have the poll you have the poll so get on the phone and call Adam and do whatever it is that you need to do make this happen because I do run it back yeah let's let's fix things OK Eddie this one's serious can convince us that players can be ruled out due to load management but only three times a season I like this I like putting a cap on kind of doing this but look who are we to say these guys aren't injured and aren't hurting and somebody like Kawhi the things he's dealing with with his knee and it seems they're going to do their due diligence they want those guys out there they want to win but I do like doing this and then you got to be a little more strategic and you also get to be a little more disrespectful when you say all right we're sitting in court against the pistons but not the Lakers or whomever else maybe not three three is a little low let's say five but I like having a cap on this I don't mind that either I don't I don't know Shoms if there would ever be a way obviously because now you're taking medical into it but it sure would be nice if there was some sort of a cap right so that you knew that and this goes for the stars thing and fans and all of it it would fix a few problems there's just no way the toothpaste out of the tube I don't know how you do it Yeah, I think I think this is a tough one because we saw what the Nets did a few weeks ago when they got fine 25 K and Indy they listed like eight players out with various different elements and I guess the league deemed that they were all load management or load managing because they they all you know, they basically basically called cap and gave them a fine so yeah, I mean I think I think teams will always find a way around it you know, you're always able to come up with something if you need to Yeah, that's true say whatever we want All right, Eddie convinced us that had he played in the league Sydney Dean from white man can't jump would have won multiple MPPs So if you remember he he had Michael Jordan out there on Venice Beach guarded them, went against them took them to the whole Billy and gave them buckets and Mike told them pull up he wanted them to play in Chicago he wanted him bad on his team so I think Sydney was that nice had the handles at the shot was dunking on guys left and right even made his teammates better it took him eight tournaments in like a year and gambling debts and a whole bunch of drama but he even made Billy hole better so I'm gonna say yeah multiple MPPs I see that for Sydney Dean but he was just in love with their streetball he was true to the game bro, Wesley Snipes is listed on the interweb at five nine which means five seven OK, no way took them to the hole no chance took them to the you hear the story they're filming that movie like Wesley Snipes could not play basketball at all when he showed up that's why he looks so crazy in that movie so good he's athletic guy I do love that hat it's like the Karch Karai old school like beach volleyball cool hat I kind of love it now I kind of want to watch that movie again yeah it's pretty good I like how every year for Halloween a white guy shows up as Billy and one of his teammates shows up as Wesley Snipes I remember Russ and Nick Collison did it and it's been like every year ever since I like that that's a trend we need that trend could you make a movie today called white men can't jump I don't know I don't know that's the million dollar question I don't know what we're allowed to do anymore all right so guys we know about the Dirk Novitsky statue because it's amazing and we talked about it a little bit yesterday it was also the day they played the Lakers and so LeBron was asked about him and he said that Dirk is the greatest international player of all time it's a big statement Eddie considering do you agree there's names do you count Duncan I know there's always a debate about counting Duncan I don't think we count Duncan no but play for USA yeah because he's US Virgin Islands not BVI so he's okay he's still American but we're about to key Melangewan my vote is a team and I I think this is like a little bit of a Freudian slip when you say four guys you mean like white four guys and so the ender because then he said Manu and he didn't mention the team at all and I know he has respect for Hakeem he's played Hakeem cold hard cast to teach him how to play basketball a little bit better I think I think Hakeem but Dirk is right there I mean Dirk is a legend in his own right in ICON historic guy I believe he's the only foreign player to score 30,000 points which that in and of itself is worthy of that praise so he's up there he has that he has his argument I go Hakeem but yeah Dirk isn't too far off I get what bronze one for maybe he means you're a peon I think that's what he means he's served on his worst loss ever he's got to he's got to build him up a little bit to to make him so come out of that a little bit better but even if he met European where where is Manu Genovely from Argentina so he's Latin American oh yeah you're right OK then there's Tony Parker which I'm just biased but I also mocked he also mocked Dirk you better watch yourself yes he is but he also mocked Dirk Naveski and then suffered of an embarrassing finals loss right so I feel like there's an added element of you know putting Dirk up makes it even seem like a lesser I don't know if anybody benefits from propping Dirk up right and anybody out there respects Dirk it's going to be LeBron yeah so yeah so I'm going to and Hakeem are like no brainers those who are no brainers to me but what about Yannis and Nikola Yokic I mean he's too early to be talking about those two guys buying to be the best international player ever like I think they both have a shot especially Nikola Yokic goes three consecutive MVP awards and Yannis to me is on another type of a level as well obviously I don't he's only won a couple of MVPs defensive player of the year awards I mean he's going to go down is all time great too champion just like the way Dirk wanted Yannis wanted he just wanted earlier but I think both of those guys have the ability to surpass Dirk and or Hakeem as well I think I think you're right when it's all said and done I think they will be of course LeBron is not going to say that now he's also a prisoner of the moment you're in Dallas being asked about Dirk Novitsky the day statues revealed you're like but yeah I think those guys will definitely they're getting statues right like there's going to be a Yokic statue in Denver Yannis is I mean they're both a great point and Yannis is only 28 years old kind of easy to forget with his prolific and his kind of omnipresent as he's been the last decade of that resume 28 years old six all MBAs he's won a title he's got two MVPs the MVP defensive player of the year things that are final you're right he's on that today he's only got top 10 trajectory so he can absolutely be the best international player ever you know not just the European ones like like LeBron said now I want to do the greatest international squad versus the greatest American squad of all time put it together and see what we have okay we'll work on that in the break I'm sure we'll have it for you when we get back uh when we come back DeMar DeRosin clutch player most clutch player I don't know that's all happening when you run it back return welcome back to run it back little you buy in that time Eddie you're ready I'm ready alright let's do this it's Shams ready it's Shams ready is the better yeah it's a good question I'm buying anything that Michelle's selling so shoot alright well first of all I'm just gonna be full disclosure I'm not even selling this first one but let's do it anyway it's a Lamello ball doing great okay top 10 in assists and threes per game but Eddie are you buying that the Hornets could win a championship with ball who's on the team is it's Katie and Yannis on the team too it's stuck on the team too like who do we is he the best player on the team because I'm not buying that I watched him play last night and I love Lamello ball I love the ball family I've interviewed their pops I think you know he's he's a great story he watched the ball roll up the court for about 15 seconds down eight and it did the whole clock thing the wrong way and it was just like I guess it looks cool but what are you doing like and it just bothered me to know it that they Steve Clifford just went off on them like a week ago saying they're not playing winning basketball they're not trying they're not playing defense they're just playing selfishly and when you watch them they are and he's a part of the problem a incredibly skilled player put on a show in Sacramento not a show last night but put on a losing show so I don't know if he can lead the Hornets to the title he can be part of a title team at some point but I'm not buying him being the guy on the championship team sorry do we think like how hands-on is Michael Jordan like don't we think you'd like to see a team associated with Michael Jordan fundamentally be better just better right like I don't know they've been our wishes they've been ravaged this year though like it's hard for me to judge this Hornet it's like this year is a wash I mean Miles Bridges was their leading scorer last year they depended a lot on him he was set to get the hundred million dollar plus bag and then he has the domestic violence violence case that he was that he did a couple days for free agency like it's been an awful storm for the Hornets this year everyone in and out of the lineup so it's tough for me to judge this version of the team but it's clear like Eddie said who's on this team if Lamella is leading it to a title like you've got to have a stack fair question you've got to have a good group here yeah just be him all right Kyle Kuzma time averaging career high in points of game this season are you buying that he could be the missing piece that makes a team a contender Eddie yeah I think the Milwaukee Bucks can absolutely use him right now I think the Phoenix Suns can use I think the Brooklyn Nets all the teams that we view as contenders would be much better if they got Kyle Kuzma especially if they didn't have to give up much he only makes 13 million a year so it's not going to take much in the way of a trade you probably have to add some draft capital and you're going to deal with them this summer as you try to retain him but a guy at this size who could defend a little bit who could shoot he could grab and dribble he makes every contender better I think somebody's going to get him hopefully and he's going to he's going to shift one of these conferences it's crazy as it sounds I mean this guy was the ninth man on a title team two years ago but but he's improved that much and he is that good I believe in with the right group that will kind of slot him in the right spot and settle him a little bit because he only plays in one speed and sometimes it's a little out of control he can absolutely transform one of these contenders yeah Shams are those trade talks heating up at all no I really think the Wizards are waiting and seeing how this team develops over the course of this month coming up in January like we saw what the Wizards did last year right they moved Spencer Dinwiddie Montrez Herald few guys at the right at the deadline they wanted to see that team figure it out I think similarly this year Bradley Beal missed some time with the hamstring injury you want to see how Chris Osporzingis Kuzma and Beal continue to play with each other going into February if they don't turn it around then I think given Kuzma's status he's got a player option for next year there are teams interested Phoenix Atlanta he's going to have a marketplace for sure you know doesn't John Collins for Kuzma deal make sense sometime in in February if if John Collins starts to play a little bit better and Kuzma's continue to play the way he's playing I think the Wizards are going to keep an open mind but right now the way Kuz is playing you want to see this through DeMar DeRosan right now leading the NBA in clutch shooting Eddie you buying him as most clutch in the league well this is his year to actually get awarded for that if so he's up there we've seen him just knock down a game winner the other day he takes that role he takes it on his shoulders and he seems to come through more often than not so yeah I'm buying it I think this year is kind of we haven't seen as much of this I know we had the Shea game winner I've had a few others Josh Hart game winner but yeah I'll buy this one we haven't seen too much prolific stuff from the LeBron's of the world Steph has been out I'll go with DeMar I like that one Chicago kind of all over the place had a little win streak before last night Shams is there a chance that that team's going to shake things up I mean that's what the entire league is kind of honing in on I think even more particularly the Zac Levine question is what hosts of teams are keeping their eye on does he become available on the trade market because you know him as I reported last week him and the Bulls have not been seeing eye to eye throughout the course of the last several weeks and I think this is an issue that the Bulls got through last week they went 3-0 after everything that happened on Tuesday they had a even on Sunday last Sunday when they lost 150 I think the 126 they had a shouting match in the locker room area that got out there players spoke about it the coach spoke spoke about it that's not a good place to be in speaking about internal strife and then we know about the disconnects and the different issues that exist so this is a team that has issues they bounced back convincingly last week and then they have a dud last night against Houston we'll see again they're another team that's going to try to you know see what they have going into February before they make any decisions the Bulls is a circle on that roster right? that Bulls Zach Levine butchers a lot of guys on that team that do well on the other teams so we'll see I mean I think they're right to wait it out but a lot of teams are going to be ready for the fire sale if they start it by the way when Eddie references Vultures he's talking about himself because he's constantly shopping rosters to see how to make the nuts better that is going to do it for us on this fine Tuesday morning we will be back tomorrow bright and early tan eastern as we always are Mondays through Wednesdays for then Shoms, Eddie see you all tomorrow