 Run it up, they run it back. Run it up, they run it back. Run it up, they run it back. Good morning and welcome to Run It Back. We're gonna do a show today. You can blame Chandler for the start of it because he's a vile, vile creature, but that is Taylor Parsons, Lou Will, Shyam Sharania, thank God you're getting us kicked off on the show today with the real news because we have real games and the camera will only go to you in the next few seconds. So that being said, we got Lakers tonight, but no LeBron. What's going on? LeBron James is out tonight against the Warriors coming off the All-Star break. He did play in the All-Star game, but played limited minutes. I'm told there's not concern about this being a long-term issue. He's 39 years old, 21st season. I think the Lakers are expecting that this will be a day-to-day situation that they'll manage. I could see a scenario where LeBron James does sit out tomorrow against the Spurs as well. This is literally something that they're managing day by day. Christian Wood also out tonight. He's going to be re-evaluated in two weeks with Nea Fusion. Anthony Davis is probable to play tonight, so they're expecting to have at least one of their of their main All-Stars available to play tonight. Probable, interesting. There are only 26 games left. There's a lot right now. You'd think they wouldn't want to be able to afford many more games without LeBron and or AD, but where are they on this? Obviously, you need all hands on deck with this team. I thought maybe it was a stomach virus going around L.A. Why he was missing this game. Why he was missing this game. It's just weird to me when you come off an All-Star weekend and you just played in the game, so what clearly is bothering is something serious, because obviously this is a team where they're built to win now. They're older LeBron, like John just said, he's 39 years old, so you don't want this to linger, you want to take care of it. This is a huge blow, but when you really look at the picture of the Western Conference, they're three and a half, four games back. I know, it's crazy. Right in the thick of things. That's realistically one to two weeks of a season where you can get hot, you can catch momentum, so they're by no chance, you know, dead and they are where they are. 26 games left. This is where kind of things start falling in place, right? This is where the French teams kind of either make that push or they really crumble. This is where the top teams kind of fall into order of where they're going to see. They start looking at match-ups, so this is a critical part of the season. Everyone's rested. No one's looking forward to the break anymore. You just had your break. Now it's all hands on deck, you know, till that last game, till the playoff start. Who steps up? For the Lakers, I think this is a great opportunity for Dan Whitty to start getting going. I know his debut didn't go as well as they wanted to, even though the team did just fine. So this isn't a great opportunity for him to step in. You know, Hotchimere had found a groove going into the break, shooting the ball well, averaging 20-plus points in the last five games. But I think it comes down to the usual suspects. AD has to play big. Austin Reaves got to give him that punch off the bench and D-Lo has to man the ship. And so, you know, at this point, with bringing Spencer Denwoodie in, I think they got enough and get over it. But I also like how the Warriors are playing it as well as right now. Yeah, and I think D-Lo is huge for the Lakers. Obviously, there's no more trade talks, right? The deadline's over. This is their team. He's comfortable. He's safe. He's here. And he's had the third best season of everybody. He's averaging, you know, 17.5, 6.5. He's having a better year than Austin Reaves on paper when you look at it. So I think he's great. And he's got that power that offensively, where he can go and get 40-point games. He can be the closer in the fourth quarter. And they can take turns. It's going to be AD a lot of nights. Obviously, he's going to be the focal point with LeBron James out. But I'm happy the way D-Lo played with all the rumors and all the stuff swirling around him. There's no way he thought he was going to be there. He's there now. Let's make a push to finish this game and then whatever happens, the summer happens. And there, I said, but this team plays completely different when LeBron is out of the lineup. They play faster. They play a little bit more up-tempo. And so, against the Golden State Warriors, this might be a style of play that they need for tonight. Yeah. It's kind of crazy to actually see the numbers, because there's not a huge discrepancy between one and nine. I mean, granted, it's nine games, but everyone's got 30 at least wins. And you've got the Warriors and Lakers sitting down there at nine and ten. Are they both in a position to make it into the playoffs? I don't think both make it. I think one of the two definitely for sure. But when you look at it, you know, you got the Dallas Mavericks and you got the Sacramento Kings who are, you know, considered still top teams in the Western Conference that are very dangerous at any point. I don't see both of them getting knocked out for the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors to have an opportunity to get in. They'll both make the play in. I think those five teams, they're the Jazz, the Rockets, Grizzlies, they're trying to lose now at this point, right? So I think they're going to have a chance, you know what I mean? Yeah, I read that wrong. Are they going to get in the actual playoffs and be a top eight team? That's going to be tough. You're going to have to be, you know, the Kings and Mavs are solid. Playoffs. Yeah, that's what I mean. So like it's, I think they get in there. I think that's safe. I think Utah down. I think they're going to start falling off. They're going to purposely be wrestling to try to lose. No, it's for the playoffs, the eight spots in the playoffs. So that means they got it, one of the two got to win the play in to get in. And it's tough because I think Sacramento and Dallas are both better than both of them. So if anything, I say one. Yeah. So maybe one. Okay. If anything. And we left off a lot of winning streaks as the break got here. And then we had a lot of problems before that happened. The Warriors had won six of their last seven games. So it looked like things were sort of heading back into a positive direction. What's the mood in Golden State? The Warriors are confident. I spent some time around multiple people around the Warriors at All-Star weekend. And there's obviously confidence. They won six of seven. They won eight of 10 before the All-Star break. They brought in Brandon Podzemski to start over Clay Thompson right before the All-Star break and I think that was a shot for everyone around the league. And I'm told that is something that the Warriors are going to continue for the foreseeable future. Brandon Podzemski is someone that the Warriors, Steve Kerr, really love. The fact that he can play multiple positions, ball handle, among the leaders in charges taken as well. So I would expect that trend to continue, but this is the Warriors team that obviously is confident. If they're healthy, they can make noise in the West. You clearly worked. It woke something up in Clay. The first part is probably the hard part, having to come off the bench at all. Do you like the move, keeping him there? Well, I like it because it's only happened one time and he had a hell of a game, right? So I think whatever that was, if that was motivation, if that was him pissed off, that was him angry, it worked. And I think they're in the situation now where they have to try everything. And kudos to Steve Kerr again for switching up the lineup, with Draymond in and out, with guys kind of banged up. While trying to develop the Kamingas and the Podzemskis, they have to do things like this. And again, I think just to salvage this season, you just got to ride it till the wheels fall off. You try and win as many big games as possible, like we talked about. They're going to get in that play and probably because those five bottom teams are not looking so hot and they're not going to want to finish in that area because they have no chance to contend this year, but once they get into the postseason, they can salvage this season by surviving and advancing. If not, there's a lot of pressure there because now we're literally looking at the end of the dynasty if they don't make some sort of noise this postseason. I'm not crazy about it, but like Chandler mentioned, you have a 35 point game the first time that you do it. It's hard to fight that. Even as a player, when you disagree with the coach and Steve Kerr's his ammo as well, look what you got out of it. I don't really like this with Clay Thompson, but at the end of the day, this is a team sport. Steve Kerr's doing what he thinks the best is for the team. They want to know while doing this, it's worked. So you got to stay with it. It's kind of crazy because depending on what happens in the next few games, do they change it back? Do they leave it this way for the last 20 whatever games? It's kind of something to watch. Steph Curry said he's still in the prime of his career. Yes? It's hard to argue. I'm sure his body doesn't feel like the prime like it did when he was 25, 26 years old, but yeah, he's ever 28, 5 and 5. He's just shooting very efficient in the field. In fact, he's shooting 42, 43%, which is one of the shots he takes from that level of difficulty and he's still shooting at that clip. It's insane. Like I said, every year that goes, I'm sure it's harder getting out of bed. I'm sure it's hard motivating going to shoot rounds in practice, but his production on the course is hard to ignore. It's a hell of a year. What is prime? How are we defining the prime window? I feel like it's usually, it used to be to be like an age. I think it changes. Obviously, LeBron James is not in his prime. He's 39 years old, but his production is unbelievable. His production is quite linear, he's no longer in his prime, but he's playing very good. We need a prime light, like a Twilight prime or something. Is this SGA's prime or is he going to be that much better in three years? It's impossible to know because he's so good right now. What was the age? It was a double overtime win for the Lakers. Lou, who wins tonight? This game was played at the chase arena for the Golden State Warriors. They're in a little better groove than the Lakers. Give it to the Warriors. Yeah, and no LeBron's. They're favored by six or seven points tonight. I got to go with the Warriors too. This is a time where they can be mature, they're rested, they're focused. I'm going to go with the LeBron, go in there 25 or so games left. Finish strong, I got the Warriors. If you're wondering, the games tonight are very good. In the next one. They are good. I don't really know. Clippers Thunder, that's another game you get tonight moving on up the rankings for this one. Two versus three. Only a half game separates the two. I know Lou's answer to this, but I'm going to ask anyways in case there's a better record when it's all said and done. It's going to be the Clippers, right? You said it. Coming out of the all-star break, you're going to start seeing these veteran teams wake up. The term that's going to be used is attention to detail. We got to play with some urgency. I think that's what you're going to start hearing these coaches spew out in their press conferences. Those are going to be two of the things of emphasis and I think the Clippers understand what says stake, playtime is over. Coming out of the break, they're going to be ready to roll. This is when rotation is short and everyone's roll is pretty much locked in. So you know going forward down this home stretch. This is my job. This is what I have to do. He's got attention to detail. What we have to do each night against each opponent just to get the win. This is the hell of a game again. Like you said, we have great games tonight. This is a tale of two different teams. This is an experienced team and the Clippers that are all guys kind of on their last leg that are happy, that are playing very well saying like this is an older team against arguably the youngest team in the NBA who's had the hell of a year who's got a star in SGA. So it's kind of a, it's two very deep teams, two well-coached teams. It's going to be a hell of a game. I'd love to see them in the postseason. SGA, Chet and Jalen Williams. How long before they surpass Kawhi, PG and Harden? If you're going to say last leg. We'll see. I saw this. Historically they have a lot of time left with the resumes those guys have. But like currently what big three is going to be better? As early as next year. I think those guys are so good. They're going to continue to grow. I'm talking next year on the court productivity, career-wise, resume-wise, they got a ways to go. We're talking about Hall of Fame careers that we're going up against the big three. But when you're talking about the production of a regular season, it's hard not to take those three next year. I was going to give you that. I was going to say you can make the case that those three guys are better this year for them to line up to these guys. They're going to need a few rings. Resume-wise, they're not even close. They're going to need a couple of MVPs and they're going to have to make some real choices. Even for one game, I'm going with the older guys. I was talking about like a whole season. These guys are on the rise and the other guys on the clippers are kind of on the decline. It's kind of fun to watch that tonight. Knowing that this is the present slash past and this is the present slash future. Listen, the young guys are already calling them old out loud. So something is missing in the respect. They're openly saying, oh, they're just the old guys. If I'm the clippers, I'm ready to go every time I run into everybody for these last 26 games. Isn't it crazy that 35 is like ancient? It is? I mean, oh, yeah. It's crazy. You caught all the old things. So you like the clippers tonight on the road? I do like the clippers tonight on the road. So who is the best player on the court tonight in this game? Oh, dear. Listen, we got to stay consistent with the things that we say. We feel like he's an MVP finalist or he's going to be one of the guys in that conversation. Everything aside, he's the best player on the floor right now. You agree? I mean, he's been the second best player all season outside of Yolkets when he looked at it and now with Joel and B-Doubt. It's one game. No doubt Kawhi Leonard can be the best. Paul George can be. He's been the best player in this game, but yeah, I mean, when we're talking about a top two MVP favorite right now, it's hard to not pick him. Back to Shams, we go because the break, there was some stuff going on. PJ Tucker and Bones Highland. What's the latest? Yeah, right before the break, the clippers actually sent both players home for their game against the Warriors and they did not join the team on the road before their last game. Both players, PJ Tucker and Bones Highland reported back to the team for this game in OKC. I think after the trade deadline, there was a lot of frustration for both PJ Tucker and Bones Highland. I would expect both guys to transition back to the team. The NBA also fined PJ Tucker last week $75,000 for a public trade demand. So I would expect both PJ Tucker and Bones Highland to transition back, be modeled teammates for the second half of the season. I'm curious from Lou and Chandler's perspective, what would your advice be to both players doing the second half if you guys were teammates? I'm going to tell you from experience, Tyler is a vibe guy, right? If you come into a Tyler practice, the music is blaring, it's guys working out, there are people in the gym, it's a high energy type of environment. And if you come in there and your vibe is off, he's for sure going to send you home. That's the type of coach that he is. And he's also great at communicating. Listen, the vibe off. I know you're feeling how you're feeling. We feel how we feel. Go home for a while. We'll talk about it in a few days and we'll get back on the same page. That's the type of person that Tyler is. I wouldn't read much into these guys being out and now coming back. PJ Tucker is 38 years old. He's old. He's old, 12 million next year. He has an opportunity to take his money and chill and stay, he still wants to compete. Give him credit for that. Bones Highland, completely different situation. He's a young guy. I wish somebody would have told him, listen, this is not a great look for you. You still got a lot of basketball ahead of you. You should be in the gym every single time that the Clippers are in the gym. You're part of the team even though it's not going your way. And so that's my opinion with that. But knowing Tyler is sending him home, this is not as a big deal as it sounds. That's what I was going to say. I don't know what that reason is. And now you're going home again on the Clippers and both contending teams and winning cultures and situations. You're young, dude. You got a lot of basketball to play left. This should not be what we're talking about when it comes to a game. We're talking about how much of a bucket you are, how good you can score the ball off the bench, how you came in and saved the game in the fourth quarter. For some reason we're always talking about Bones Highland in a negative light, whether that's a personality trait, a locker room issue, whatever. But like Lou said, PJ Tucker is 38. He's got a million next year. Bones, figure it out. Because you're way too talented to be talked about being sent home at this age and this many times. I would love to know behind the scenes sort of how, I mean, they're both individuals, you guys are mentioning cases, but how it's being dealt with or how Bones Highland is dealing with it or sort of how you have to psych yourself back into a good attitude. Like I said, I don't think it's a big deal because I've been a part of this organization. I know how these things work. I mean, I don't know why this vibe is off, but when you're such a young player like a Bones, we don't want to see your name in the news for the wrong reasons, especially when you don't have control of the narrative. You don't have control. You don't have the platform to explain yourself and why things are going the way that they're going. And so we just, as people in the media, we have to just report on whatever it is that we see and give our opinions on it. So with that said, don't give us anything to talk about. And I got sent home in Memphis and that was a different situation. Like PJ Tucker almost, but I was on a tanking team. I was on a rebuilding team. I was on a max contract and I was hurt and I wasn't playing. So they basically gave me an option. Do you want to go to the G League or do you want to go home? And I was like, I'm going home. And so that was like a mutual decision that my agent, the front office, everyone agreed on. It wasn't on bad terms. It was just like I wasn't going to play. I wasn't thrilled. I wasn't stoked. I couldn't fake it. Like PJ Tucker clearly is unhappy. Sometimes it's better just to get away. But at this point, when you're on a good team and you're on a contending team, arguably the favorite in the West, I'd rather be there on the bench supporting my guys possibly getting a ring. I was in Memphis. We were rebuilding. They traded Mike Conley. They got rid of Marcus all. It was dumpster. It was a yard sale. This is different. They're both in a great situation for a team, maybe not individually, but ride it out. Don't do anything that's going to affect your off season. It's going to affect your free agency. Don't let teams see this negative light on you because then they're not going to trade for you because they think you're the issue. Like we said, you did your thing, how you stepped away from the team but you weren't in control of the narrative. The team could have threw you under the bus and they could have said whatever they wanted to say about Chandler and he wouldn't have had any platform to explain himself. If you're a young guy in the league, listen, put your tough face on, go in there and get your work in and just be a great teammate because I've been to Clipper games during games that he hasn't played and he's been a great teammate to his guys. You know, he's the first one up off the bench, slapping hands, supporting guys and so you want that to be what people notice from you and remembering when other teams come calling for you. Even if it's not real, fake it till you make it. You're too young, Bones. Too young. This is the time to fake it. All right, so the Thunder won the first game. Clippers won the second game. Clippers are the underdog for this one. What has to happen for them to win it? Don't say score more points than something else. Yeah, score more points. The normal score has to be higher than that. Thank you. Honestly, it's a tough matchup, really. I think it's going to be a great series. But the Clippers play very isodominant. If they're effective, if Kawhi learns getting to a spot, so they're getting to the foul line, they're a very tough team to beat. Zoo's hitting the offensive glass. I think he can really impose his will on a smaller chat. But that being said, I like the Thunder. I think the Thunder are going to be fresh, young. I think the Clippers are older guys. They took their private jets somewhere and I think the Thunder are going to get it done at home tonight. This is not a very technical game to me. Like you said, when you have a veteran team and you come in after the All-Star break, everybody know what they did during that break. I'm pretty sure they had a really spirited practice yesterday. They're ready to go today. So I like the Clippers. Good game to watch that one. We also get Sun's Mavs. Such a good return for the NBA tonight. Mavs have made a lot of moves in the last year. Is this, I don't know, is this the best team that Luca's had around him so far? We'll tell. We'll eventually find out and we'll see. But I love the moves that they made. I love P.J. Washington. He gives them that versatility where he can be that, you know, pick and pop four. He can play a wink and switch one through five. Daniel Gafford, like I said yesterday, he gives them another lob threat, another rim runner. So I do think it helps. And not to mention, he's got Kyrie Irving, who can relieve pressure of him, who can go get buckets, who can kind of share the basketball and not have to have his usage rate. That's a crazy dunk. That is a crazy dunk. Not have his usage rate so high. This is Luca's team. This is Luca's the guy. But it is nice to have a Tim Hardaway Jr. there. It's having a great year from three. It is nice to have guys like Jayden Hardy and Kyrie Irving that can go and create their own shots. He hasn't had that very often. So I do think this is a chance to be their good team. This is a team that's going to be dangerous in the playoffs. Lou, so we get Booker and Luca again. Just a reminder of what happened the first couple of times. Luca had 50 and 15 in the first game. Booker had 46 and Luca had 34, 34, eight, nine in the second. Not a lot of defense. No, no, no. But that's all right. It's fun to watch. What do you expect tonight? It's going to be a good matchup. I think it's going to be a good game coming straight out of the break. I think we're going to see a lot of good basketball across the board from guys just ready to go in that second part of the season. And so I think they have another couple of big games. But I'm curious to see what Kyrie is doing and Katie as well. All right. So we have the Sons in the fifth spot, the Mabs in the seventh spot, but only a game that separates the two. Let's fast forward when it's all said and done, who's got the better record? Penic Sons. I think they're the most dangerous, I think they're the most dangerous offensive team in the entire NBA. When they click and they're healthy and they add guys like Roy Sonio that can do all the little things. And Josh Akagi who plays defense, I think they have a chance to really, really make some noise. So when you look at the landscape, there's some really good teams with Denver, with the Clippers, with these surprise teams like Minnesota, OKC. The Sons are scary. Yeah, that's how we started. Picture having to guard those three guys like seven times. It's tough. That is the firepower that teams aren't used to scouting for. You can't scout for them. You can't take away everything with the way they play. And of course the variable has been Bradley Beale because sort of in and out shams, what is the latest on Bradley Beale? Yeah, keeping him healthy. Kevin Durant healthy, Devin Booker. That's obviously the key for the Phoenix Sons. If those guys are healthy, they're going to have a chance in the Western Conference playoffs. Bradley Beale had surgery on a broken nose over the All-Star break. So that's a counter for that's dealt with. But he also tweaked his hamstring right before the break. He's listed questionable tonight. They're going to be cautious with it. He could play tonight. I don't see this as a long-term issue for Brad Beale, but this is the second time that he's tweaked that hamstring this season. We know he's dealt with multiple issues. Ankle, the back. So this is now the third different body part that Bradley Beale has dealt with this season that has kept him out a period of time. So hopefully for him and the Sons, this is nothing significant. He's the one to keep your eye on. So look, they've split the two games they've played so far. Who wins tonight, Lou? Well, neither team has won at home yet. And this game has played in Dallas, so I'll take Phoenix. All right. Keeping the trend? Give me Dallas. I like Dallas. I'll look at you. You know what? I'll come off Ulster Break, too. I'll just go and say whatever else. I like having different pics of you. I think there'll be some fatigue early. You haven't emulated a real game in over a week. The Ulster game definitely wasn't that. It was not. So I think guys will be tired early on, but I think the home at court advantage in Dallas and then gets it done. Is that three picks? Three different answers for us? Yeah. Let's dance, Lou. Let's dance. I expected the text thread to light up with results. Shoms, we're going to go big picture for a second because yes, we are heading into some games finally again. What are people looking at talking about waiting for as we head into this final stretch? To me, it's the parody around the lead. You look at the Eastern Conference. You got Boston, Cleveland, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia, Miami. In the West, you have Minnesota, OKC, Clippers, Nuggets, Sons, Mavs, Lakers, Warriors. I think that's 14 teams. All those teams are going to go into the playoffs feeling like they have a chance and they have an ability to get either the conference finals or the NBA finals. Teams like the Kings, Pelicans, probably on the outer skirts of that, but it's the parody and the league to me going into the playoffs where all these teams feel like they have a chance to potentially win the championship. Cleveland is trying to advance further than just the first round. The Nicks are trying to get to the conference finals. And then out West, I think it's going to be an absolute bloodbath just based on the standings that we've seen so far. It's going to fly too, which is my favorite part of the season as we head into this. OK, guys, player under the most pressure in the final stretch. Luke, you're first. Steph Curry. Are you? OK. Steph Curry is under the most pressure. He has to get this team into the... How? He got to get them in the playoffs. I mean, good Lord, that's a lot. He got to get them in the playoffs. Everybody else has been doing that thing. He's right there on the bubble. He has to get them over that edge. It's going to fall on his shoulders. He says, still in this prime, I agree. I'd say that. Chandler agree. Now you got to get them in a position to be one of the top eight teams to get into the playoffs. Is yours the same? No. Call me crazy. I think it's Jason Tatum. I think they have the best team in the NBA. He also said he's the best player. Everyone, yeah. He's saying he's the best player in the NBA. He's the best team in the NBA. If you look at the Eastern... But he's there. He's the number one team. But if you look at the Eastern Conference, there's no pressure to perform. There's pressure to win. There's pressure to get a championship. You want to be a superstar MVP. Drain once. I think we'll mention it later. You got to win a championship. You've got a big... And everyone's saying this is the year. They've had great teams in the past. His team's a favorite. And the East is all over the place. Cleveland to take it out of the East. Milwaukee's banged up with the coaching change. Joellen beads out. The East is theirs for the taking. So I think there is pressure on Jason Tatum to carry that and get them to the finals. That's a great point. But if he loses, there's not going to be an outrage of criticism for Jason Tatum if they fall short. You don't think so? I don't think they'll be... But there won't be for Steph either. Steph, he's done everything he could. I think if the Warriors don't advance, I think Clay leaves. I think Clay leaves. I think Steve Kerr might leave. But I don't think... If anything's not falling on Steph Kerr. But he's going to be the guy that has to do it. So if he doesn't do it, Steve Kerr can possibly lose his job. He's going to lose one of his splash brothers. If Jason Tatum loses, we'll see. But what's crazy is he has been doing it. It's still not enough. Tatum's got to be... Tatum is in his prime. We were just talking about prime. He's in his real prime with the best team in the NBA. To your point, he put that pressure on himself. He did. And I respect it. So, okay. Then does that mean for you that the Celtics are the team under the most pressure? Or is that something wrong? You know what's funny? I think it's the Warriors. Okay, what is going on? I think it's the Warriors. I think as a team, we're talking about the end of a dynasty, right? It's not Steph Curry. It's not going to fall on Steph Curry. But I think as a team, we're talking about Clay Thompson. Deadass might leave. They might lose their coach. So yes, a lot of that does fall on Steph Curry. But he's going to do his part. But as a team, if they don't make the plan, or if they get pounded in the first round, there's going to be some real changes here. Then we're talking about rebuilding. Let's go through. If you say Celtics, who is your team under the most pressure? It's going to be the boss of Celtics. No, joking. It's going to be Milwaukee Bucks. Okay, yeah. Yeah, the Milwaukee Bucks, time's ticking. Now that you guys have opened that flood door for criticism, for people to have opinions about how your season is going, it's going to be on the Milwaukee Bucks as a whole. Kissing my coach. Oh no, here we go. Kissing my coaches. My coach with the most pressure is Doc Rivers. I agree with you on that. This is a guy who they made a change. He's publicly said I don't know why they're doing this. He really did. Griffin had a solid record when he was there. And this can go one of two ways. He can figure it out. He can make adjustments. And he can really make a run and look like a hero. Or he can be back working for ESPN again next year in the boot. It's going to go one of two ways. A lot of that pressure is going to fall on him. I had two coaches written down. He took one. And I'm going to say Chris Finch. Really? He's been sitting at number one all year. These teams are coming. You guys are hunted. And so now that you're the hunted, and everybody wants your spot, you're going to have to do an incredible job weathering that storm. See, I hate to disagree with you so much. I think they can, I think they can get swept in the first season. I think his job is safe. And the first round, I think his job is safe. I think there's no pressure. I don't think anything's happened. I don't think anything's happened. I mean pressure in the fact of, we're talking about wins and losses and competing and getting over the hump. My pressure is coming from a place of, you've been in number one all year. And if you lose that 70 games in, this is going to be a coaching thing. Yeah, but they're number one on the season, but I don't think there's expectation. I'm saying, but do we actually think they're going to win a championship? Do you think the Minnesota Timberwolves are going to win the championship? No. No, it's too much of a pause. No way. They're not going to. No chance. So I don't find them going to be, I'm going to leave him be by himself. He's just on an island. You think the Timberwolves are going to a championship this year? They have a chance just like anybody else. There's nine teams in the western conference with 30 plus wins. Did you just say they have just as much a chance as anyone else? There's nine teams in the western conference with 30 plus wins. Do you think any one of those nine teams could win the championship really? Your heart of hearts. I think it's about seven of them. Seven. I think it's the Clippers, Nuggets and Sons. I think there's only three teams that can win the championship. I think the Thunder are very good. They're young. I think the Timberwolves are surprised. Everybody, they're very, very good. They're on the right path. Lakers, Warriors, the fact that they think the championship is nuts. So the one and two seeds right now, we're just throwing them in the wind. It does feel like we've been doing that all this time. It's weird. Yeah, it's weird. But yeah, like right now in a series, Clippers or Timberwolves, you're taking the Timberwolves, even though they're number one seed? No chance. No, you're taking them. No, I'm not. But I said they have a chance. Okay. Well, that's just optimistic and I don't like it. We're going to take a quick break, Shoms. Thank you for entertaining us through their debate right here. We appreciate you. We will see you too. I was just entertained. I know, right? Yeah, we do miss you, buddy. We'll hopefully see you soon. But thank you. We'll see you in the morning coming up another edition of You Buying That. Give a little MJ, a little AI in this one. Is that you? Yeah. You look so happy, bud. If you thought today was going to be a day without more Bucks quotes, you were silly, Lou. Giannis says he's Dame's biggest fan saying I ride with Dame until the effing end. Are you buying that? They're talking so much. I'm buying it, I guess. Seems like it. It feels like, you know, he's saying the right thing for a teammate. I know we were giving Dame some crap about not putting him in his five, but hey, that was Dame's five. And Giannis said he's riding until the end. Two guys can have different opinions about each other. That's fine. So I'm buying it. I'm not buying it. I think he's just saying this because he's trying to make it comfortable and he's trying to be the bigger man. But I don't know when he said it, so I'm just... It's recent. It's the result. It was a... It's basically him responding to Dame saying he's not just starting five. I think he's just saying it being the bigger man, being mature, which is a great leadership thing. And congrats on the championship in 2021, Milwaukee. The same guy that just discovered the bear. You're so on it today. Chandler, Dame, still with it, defended Giannis' brother. Giannis against internet trolls saying they wouldn't be able to beat him in a game of one-on-one. What? What's happening? So he could beat every Twitter troll. That's the question. Probably 11-0. And I hate when Twitter trolls... I hate when pedestrians and normal civilians that sit there in their mom's basement and they tweet mean, offensive things at professional athletes. They're far more talented and successful than you. Whoever you think is the worst part of the NBA, Giannis, if it's, you know, Kylian Hayes, who people shit on, say he's awful, who started NBA games, they would go to your local L.A. fitness. And I would love this. Your local planet, whatever the gyms are called these days. And they would bust you. You're showing your privilege, man. Whatever the gyms. Your privilege is peeking. My point is, they would all bust your ass. You think I was soft or stuck to basketball? I would destroy you. Any NBA player that makes millions of dollars playing basketball would dominate you. Stop. I shortened his name to Thanis and you made it something else. Thanasus. I'm gonna stay out of it. Why? Because you don't think he could? I like Thanasus. Yeah. Oh, no. But? Cool dude. But? Well, he is a cool dude. So you think someone right now, 24-hour fitness will give him buckets? I said I like that. Yeah, but I see where you're going. I didn't say anything about basketball. You're just trying to debate with me today. Both of y'all got it out for me. I'm trying to get a quotable out of it. You're the one who got it. You just said it. I said I like him. But could he beat every Twitter drill? Absolutely. Why'd you just text me? He's not very good though. Okay, Lou. Cam Thomas said he thought it was a prank. Oh, this is never a good start. When Sean Mark called to inform him about Jacques Vaughn being fired, why would that be a prank? Are you buying that he was upset to see him go? Yeah, I'm buying it. I mean, he's a young guy in a league. He doesn't really know much. You know what I'm saying? When it comes to coaching and coaching changes, I could be speaking out of turn. Maybe this is the only coach he's had in his career. I don't know if he was around for Steve Nash before this. This may be the only coach he's had. This is his first time going through a coaching change. So I'm buying that he probably was legit a little thrown off and upset. As much as it pains me to agree with him, I agree. I think Cam Tom, I think he has no idea. I think guys these days... Oh, that's just not a prank, though. Guys these days find out... He wouldn't disagree with me so bad. I'm like, I'm racking my brain. But guys find out they get traded via Twitter. Also true. Their agents don't know. Guys just pull the trigger and you're finding out on social media. It would just be a weird call from a GM to be like, we fired the coach. Just kidding. It could be worse. You could get off the phone with your GM and he can tell you're good. Take your nap, get ready for the game, and you get traded 10 minutes later. Well, that's just cutthroat. That's actually kind of mean. Chandler. Tell me about it. Yeah, that's not... I don't like that. Jalen Brunson said he twice told the Mavs he would sign the four-year $55 million extension and both times, both times they declined. Are you buying that they declined? Yeah. Yeah, I am. I know they did. I know that this is a real story. And that's why I thought it was weird yesterday how this went viral. I'm like, wasn't this public? I know. I thought we knew this. Wasn't this public knowledge? But when we were talking about the Mavs earlier, we were talking about, is it the best team ever? And now that he has finally... He had Jalen Brunson. He had Jalen Brunson had a bargain, by the way. That would be the best bargain of a contract in the NBA. Maybe in the history of the NBA, the way that Jalen Brunson is playing. We're talking about MVP candidate Jalen Brunson in a four-year $55 million deal. Amazing. Yeah, this mark is my guy. I love him, but he's smoked it on this one. But can we make the argument, and I've been making this argument, that had Jalen Brunson stayed in Dallas, we wouldn't necessarily get to see this Jalen Brunson. You can argue that for sure, and you can see even when the playoffs, when he was in Dallas and Luca went out and the stress, he was a killer. He averaged over 20 points. He was dominating the ball. He was doing what he was doing in New York just in a smaller sample size for like a month. So yeah, I think it would have maybe stunted his growth playing with a ball-dominate guy like Luca. But man, those two guys together, the way they play, it would have been troubling defensively, but you could have locked this guy up for that contract. No. It's a miss. He's in a better place. He's in a great place. You get to be the MVP. I don't know if it's better. No, it's better. It's better. Lou Allen Iverson said he would average 43 in today's... Random number. You think you just do a number out there or you think you actually thought about it? I think it was something to do with 33 points and add in 10 points on for... I think so. I'm not buying this because... Wow. The era of low management and injuries, the teams wouldn't allow him to play as many games with the things that he played with. I'm not buying it. Okay, not buying it. That's fair. I can't argue with that. Chandler, Richard Jefferson says, Richard Jefferson said nothing. I love when you make mistakes. He said that he would beat a 61-year-old Michael Jordan in one-on-one right now. Yeah, I mean, yeah, I think so. And by the way, they should put this type of stuff in the All-Star Weekend because that would be entertaining. Like when Charles raced... Dick Favetta? Dick Favetta, yeah. Dick Favetta? Isn't getting off this? No, I know. Not Michael Jordan. But I'm saying I'd be way more interested in this than Buddy Hill throwing a chess pass to a circle, you know what I mean? You can agree there. So I, yes, I think Richard Jefferson can beat him one-on-one right now. Like, I'm 61 years old. Who are there some... I don't want to say old. Older of that generation that would, that you think would be willing to come and do something like that. There's a couple guys. Because I would watch this. Michael Jordan, not one of them. No, he's not one. Not the billionaire. Not the billionaire. Yeah, no. Yeah. Everyone buying Michael Jordan. Pretty much everybody besides Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan are not billionaires would probably be interested. Oh, it would be such a good event. All right. Lou Draymond Green said he does not think that Jason Tatum's going to win an MVP until he wins that title because he's being punished for having so much success as a team early on in his career. Huh. Are you buying that? No, I'm not buying that. I mean, Russell Westbrook didn't have to win one. Yeah. Kevin Durant didn't have to win one. So no, I'm not buying that. If he just has an outstanding year and it's undeniable, I think he can still get an MVP without the title. Now, the title helps. Yeah. Dramatically helps. But I don't think him winning the title is hedged on him winning the MVP. So I'm not buying it. Yeah, I'm not buying it. But I do agree to the point. Like, if he does happen to win a championship this year, I do think for whatever reason that is, helps his odds going into next year as the returning champ and the MVP. I almost kind of puts him as the favorite starting next year if they win it all this year. Like, it's a weird obstacle that he's... Like, if the Celtics win it this year, their favorites to win MVP next year will be Jason Tatum. Okay. So I agree on that point. All right. Chandler, we don't usually talk stuff when we talk about clutch points. But here we are. He is leaving the league in clutch points. He's got 165 of them over 33 games. Wow. You buying stuff is the most clutch. It's him or Dame, right? It's hard to argue the most if... I just know if I'm a coach or if I'm a player and there's a shot with the game on the line, I would love Steph Curry taking the shot. It's hard to argue the greatest shooter is not who you want to have the ball in his hands at the end of the game. So Dame has obviously had some, you know, magical buzzer beaters, but Steph has done it too. And you're right. When I think clutch player, my head immediately goes to Dame Lillard, not Steph Curry, which is weird, but... It is weird. Then you watch that. Yeah. Unfortunately, being a clutch player is kind of a tricky thing to be because that means there's a lot of close games. A lot of... Yeah. I hate to see that. Yeah. But this year with this Warriors team, the fact there are that many... There's had to be clutch. I guess that's a good thing. Lakers have gone 6-1 in February, Lou, and they're shooting 40% from 3. So you're buying that this team now can shoot 3s. Now can shoot 3s? I mean, listen, the numbers say, yeah, right? So I guess I'm buying it. That's a funny question. I would like to see what they look like going into March in... What's that? April after March? There you go. Thank you. I'm bad with dates, but... All right. I'm buying it. Buying it? I mean, look, they got, like, Prince can make 3s. Reeves can make 3s. Delo can make 3s. Delo can make 3s. So if he's going to continue to shoot the way he's been shooting, then yes. Then yes they can. All right. Quick break. Next up, that man has a family, and it's a good one, because it's all the best dunks so far this season. When? Run it back. That's fun. That is fun. Run it off. Run it back. Run it off. Run it back. That man has a family, and the best dunks are the first half. I keep saying first half. It's, you know... Oh! That's my dope. Yeah, J.J. And like a... Great kid. Great kid. And Nate McMillan wouldn't even talk to him, man. Come on, Nate. You see this kid? He's staring him down, too. Great kid. Yeah, this kid's bouncy. He's had a bunch, too. Not just this one. Get up, J.J. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Going into the league one. Oh, heavens. Okay, I like that one. That one's the favorite. So far, that one's winning. Yep, that's the winner so far. Okay. I mean, he cocked that thing back. Yeah, it's like all the... First of all, that hurts my arm. Everybody did what they were supposed to do. That's a crazy cock. Back. Uh... Shindu. Oh, no. Zacky. Oh! I mean, that was nasty, too. The right foot in front of the left foot here. He has some moments. He's good. Yeah, he's good. He's good at basketball. I'm bomb. The best? Yeah. I mean, when I saw him play, Nicky was not the best player on the team. He is. He's better than Jaylen Green. He's better than Fred Van Vleet. By the way, you know it's Van Vleet. Hey! By the way, it's not Fleet. Yeah, we know that. Fleet. Only you're late. Oh, you're the only one. Only one. Anyway. Oh, not on Tosan. Yeah. Tosan. Tosan. Come on. Yeah. Luce, say his last name right now. Go. He's Wathman. That's perfect. Jaylen Green for my money. Jaylen Green for my money. Yeah, he also traveled, but he's got a fun, fun bounce. Yeah. Yeah. When he shoots, I get kind of irritated. When he does this all day, I love it. Yeah. He's OP. Some of the concrete takes are not beautiful. Get to the rim. Good. Get to the rim and jump over. Oh, how is she doing now? There's a slam dunk contest next year. Holy shingoon, great. This one. Coach of the East. Tell me about it. Look how much higher Wimby is than him. I mean, he started out that much higher. He only had a chance, catching him on the way down here. He literally. I like how he quick dunked him, too. That was smart. I literally almost missed the dunk because he's too high. He's too high. That is something else. He doesn't even look at it. He doesn't talk shit. I am French and you all know. Yeah. Business as huge. Yeah. I'm sure. Kevin Durant, let me see what you got. Hey. Blast on the past. Old man. We love to see it. Represent for the old head. I like it. KD. Time flies. We call it KD, an old hit. I mean, I'm not. You said no. You know what? We're going to trade Daniel Gafford after this. Get on out to Dallas. Shaden Sharp. Oh, this is going to be a. Dunk contest next year, Shane. Please. Please, please, please. I mean, he's a foot shorter than Walker Kester. Just run away after words to like, oh, yep. You got me. Look at him. What are you going to do? Yeah. We got to see this kid, the dunk contest. I agree. I still respect his move. Canceling last year after not making the rookie sophomore game. I mean, I love that move. The pettiness. Dunk finalist. The dunk. You can't fall. Second place dunk contest. You can't fall afterwards. Congratulations. Congrats on the kid though. Rudy Gobert having a kid. Oh. Good, good. Congrats on the sex, I guess. Yeah. We'll stay there. He had it or he's having one? Having. Yes. Yes. Sounds happy. The dunks. Good dunks. Is this something? New segment. Here we go. I'm going to give you guys a stat and you got to tell me. All right, here we go. Something. Lou, you're up first. Celtics ranked 26 in the NBA in points in the paint. First in the number of points they get. Three. Is this something come playoff time? No, it's not. This is part of their identity. You know, they don't. Jalen Brown is the one guy on that team that I think attacks the paint. Other than that, this is a three point shooting team. They're living and dying by the three. So nothing to be concerned. So nothing on that one. Okay. Chandler. Cavs. 36-17 so far this season. Second in the East. They're 13 and 15, however, against teams above 500. And if you're below 500, they're 23 and two. Is it something? I think it is something because they basically, it is what it is. They beat up on the bad teams. They beat up on Detroit, Washington, Charlotte, Toronto, Brooklyn. Those are a lot of easy wins in the Eastern conference. Unfortunately, you don't have to go through those teams on the playoff. So when you're the 2C, there's expectations to beat good teams. Can they beat Milwaukee? Can they beat Boston? I don't know. But when their records below 500 on winning teams, it's not a good sign. That is worrisome. It's worrisome. With 20-something games left in the season. So it is something. It is something. Lou, since January 1st, Damian Lillard is shooting 29% from three. He's fifth worst out of the 84 players with at least 100 attempts from three. Is this something? If we had, if we needed a three-pointer, Damian Lillard is going to be top two guys that I call for this shot. So is it something or not, Lou? So then it's nothing. So it's nothing. Okay. I don't care. He can shoot 10% from the field. I need a three. I'm calling Damian Lillard. Especially after the weekend, he just had Indianapolis, too. Bear also. Let it rip. Well, that is an interesting stat, then, for all of those things you guys just said. But you're right. I guess it would be nothing. We're basketball players. We hate numbers. Oh, you guys should do one of those TikToks. We're basketball players. We hate them. I know what you're talking about. First in the NBA and isolation possessions last and passes per game. Come playoff, team. No, I don't think it's something just like the Celtics. Shoot a lot of threes. This is how the Clippers score. Kawhi Leonard is not a facilitator. Move the ball. Go get a bucket. He's an ISO off the block. James Harden is the lawyer to sleep. ISO. Paul George. ISO. Norman Powell. ISO. So all their guys that score points are isolation players. So is it dangerous? Is it risky yet? Because you'd love to see as a coach ball movement and the flow of an offense transition. But this team is so talented and they're so good where they're going to live and die on isolations. I'm so excited to see what they do. I wish we could fast forward to the playoffs. Lou, the Thunder are the third worst rebounding team this season. Something? I'm having a hard time today. I'd like to know how many turnovers they force. Because maybe some of these stats can kind of be misleading. Sure. If you're forcing turnovers you don't really have to rebound the ball that much. I think this is something because I think their center is set at home grid and he's not a center. He's a power forward forced to play that with his frail body. Somebody was on like Bianco maybe. They got some side. Yeah, they did. It's an issue because they're really, really thin up front. Who the heck did? Oh no, it was Gordon Heyward I was thinking of. That's not it. That's not what you're talking about. All right, quick break time when we come back we will wrap things up. You think it's possible they sign two people? Or they will. I'm sure. But if it was worth mentioning we would remember it. Yeah, I feel like we would have known it. Well, we're talking rebounding. Connor, what the fuck it's even? Get in on all NBA buzzer beater ankle breakers and tomahawk jams with Fanduil America's number one sportsbook. Right now, new customers get 150 and bonus bets guarantee when you place a $5 bet the app is easy to use. There are so many different ways to bet like live, same game parlays find bets in a new Explorer tab. Make a parlay in the Parley hub. The best way to find popular parlays and more. So download the app and make your first bet a layup. Fanduil official partner of the NBA. Woo. He's college. Straight out of high school to the league. All right, Lou, I got a question for you. Allen Iverson recently said that Kyrie Irving is the greatest ball handler of all time. Ever? Do you agree? Man, that's a, um... What are you talking about? Like, I mean... I'm Allen Iverson. Right. Kyrie. Uh, Pete... Don't. Don't you pistol pee me. You can go Rob Strictly. Let me go a little Tim Hardaway. Tim Hardaway, right? Why is Steph Curry has handled this? Steph Curry. I don't know. This is, if you know AI, like I know AI, he's always showing homage to the next person, but I think he's one of the greatest ball handlers of all time. It's different. You're like, when you watch him, it's just like, it's poetry and motion. It's so nice. The way he handles the ball, the way he finishes is just the whole package. I think Kyrie is one of the greatest finishers of all time. Now, ball handlers, he's top five. The finishers, elite. All right. These guys are back tomorrow. I'll be an ass guy.