Luka Magic Taking Hold For Lakers + SGA’s Historic Streak & Wemby’s Confidence

- Hello, welcome to Who Collective Podcast. We talk about the NBA which we're doing on Sunday afternoon.

“And I have expelled him from Los Angeles.”

He's back in New York City, where some say he belongs to him by the taps. - Hello, everybody. Join us from Dallas, Texas. I've expelled him from Los Angeles

and some say he's back where he belongs to Ann McMan.

- Howdy partners, never fear.

Not gonna be here long. I'm going to see some Los Angeles residents though, heading down to Houston. The red hot look out for those Los Angeles Lakers got a baseball series in the rockets.

- Oh, you wanna talk about Lakers' rockets? I thought you were gonna have your backup and ready to go here about Shay Jason, the 20-point streak at the end of this thunder. - Oh, no, we could get to that, listen.

Bad and senior, intentional fouling, didn't see any purposely misfreethos, so one from Austin Reeves, but that was to help win a game. - You said you learned from watching the heat. He said he learned from the heat, he said he learned from the future.

- Luke had a pretty famous one too, during the 60-point triple double. - Sure, damn, exactly the dance. - But no, Shay's not immune to the occasional stat chasing. It's just a little bit more within the flow, I would say.

- Well, AJ Mitchell, I mean, for first off,

the thunder, we were behind by the double digits to the timber wolves on Sunday afternoon. We'll just talk about in a minute. They came back in one easily, but Shay started the fourth quarter when he was sitting sat out.

He was the only at 10 points when he came back in with about seven minutes left. And the game was, you know, the double digit lead, but I actually don't think there was anything unethical to use what the kids say.

Unethical about him getting to 20. It was actually kind of cool that he got it on a play where he got fouled, and he fell down in front of the thunder bench and the whole thunder bench came over

to celebrate with him that he was gonna get his 20. I thought it was endearing, but you know, I know we're not allowed to have fun during games. - So we're not. - It's okay.

- It's okay. - There was also the fast break. Where was I three on one, just four in case when Wallace was pushing it, and she was out front, and Shay was kind of feeling the lane,

and Shay pointed it to Chad saying, you know, get it to him.

“So that was ethical, although I think by tiny pointed,”

the ball was already on its way. - No, it's just before. - Shay was gonna get his 20 though, and he did. - Yeah, absolutely well secured. I mean, listen, it took him hitting a three at the top

of the key, and then making this crazy shot over ant, and he was getting off the ball, while the walls were double on him, like the walls were determined to not let him get that record, if not they could extend that record, if nothing else, and it took him getting six points and two possessions

at the very end of the game to do it. - Well, AJ Mitchell, well, he took several shots while Shay was over there waiting for the ball to get his points. - AJ Mitchell, ethical basketball, he was not interested. He was like, "Well, when's my 20 point streak start?"

- Is it good to see AJ Mitchell back on the court after so many injuries this year? He and he's immediately come back and playing well again. - We'll talk about the wolves and the thunder a little bit. We are compelled that game on Saturday night,

nuggets at Lakers, one of the best games we've seen. I'll season over time when for the Lakers, the nuggets snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, thanks to some terrific plays by the Lakers under pressure and the clay, say what you want about the Lakers.

- Also, thanks to a bad whistle by the rest, last two minute report. - I haven't seen this yet. - Yes, they found nine point two seconds left that sent Austin Reeves to the Freethal line.

Spencer Jones had a clean strip. So, you know, the nuggets have beef, eh? - Get your conspiracy theories ready, but still, Austin Reeves played the end was a little luck and, you know, also awesome.

Lucas first game winner for the Lakers,

which honestly, that sounds weird. - You know, they've got a clear pecking order now. - Luca, Reeves and the Braun, two games in, since he's come back, but the Braun, being that number three option,

dive on the floor, dirty work guy, you know? - It's interesting.

“- Well, I think he's trying to play more of a role.”

He's trying to be comfortable while with the ball less JJ Reddick talked about meeting with him and discussing this. I think it's way too early to form any opinions, but LeBron is trying to fit into a role.

I will say that over the last couple of weeks, the plus minus, which has been used as sort of a whip against them against those three guys, it is turned positive and is continuing to progress in the right way.

And say what you want about the Lakers defense, it has been better over the last month, month to six weeks. And in the end of this game, the Nuggets had just multiple possessions where they could not get into their offense.

And I think some of it was due to the team, Yoka, I think. - I would say a lot of it was due to the football. - Well, both sides, both teams were, I mean, both teams were at the overtime,

- Well, and some of it was due to Jamal Murray fouling out after a horrific game, rough, rough day, or rough weekend for the Canadian national team back court. - Yes, I'm just gonna say that there was multiple possessions where the Nuggets couldn't even get the ball to Yokach

because the Lakers were defending it. And the Andre Aiden, however, you want to align him. - Backs.

“- A lot of it fair, Andre Aiden had several key defensive plays.”

I do not know what's gonna happen to Lakers, but I will tell you this. They've won either last 10 and 5 in a row. And that has put them in the three seed as they embark on this five game road trip,

or six game road trip with five brutal games to start.

- I'm not sure the first two of that brutal would be honest,

but even though they were the team right behind them in the West standing. - Okay, well, you want to, well, first off, I just want to talk about the Reeves missed free throw. How many times could he do that a 10

and have it fall that way again? Well, obviously he could miss it on purpose, but it's a one out of 25, one out of 50 type of, I say, maybe one out of a hundred. I mean, to have it ricochet off to the left,

to the perfect spot on the court where he could catch it and have a clear lane to get in easy, like little eight-foot floater practice shot. Like, you can't script the play better than that. - Well, but he did, but it was scripted.

The way that the box outs worked, where he missed it, how he missed it, you know,

“a lot of guys, they put kind of normal arc on it to miss it, right?”

He, like, his shot never got above the rim,

so he missed it to where it bounced down. - And it was clearly to the one side of the basket where they could, they could seal the box out, the suspension Jones had to come over to the other side. Like it, they did it perfectly,

but to do that perfectly is a ridiculous series of coincidences in a row. - The under, I don't know if it was Gordon or-- - Is he okay? - Is he okay, yeah.

- But, they brought eight and into the game and when Jones was on the other side, 'cause they're like, you know, he's like, all box out, briefs from this side. It was only eight and, and Yokech on that side

and they brought eight and in and he knew the play. He knew the orders was to seal Yokech to sort of a reverse box out, box them out, top box them out, and came off perfect. I mean, if I was in nuggets, I would've been spitting mad about that game getting over time, much less.

- Yeah. - On the, and they missed some free throws, they didn't, they didn't execute well down the stretch. - Well, when you see the couple games recently, the cast fouled up three against the pistons,

the Anis Jenkins got a half-court shot off, came back to bite him, this game, it was 70 feet. - Oh, whatever. - The point is like, they got a flukey three shots out of it. Like again, like the Lakers, not a great three-point shooting team.

Like, you know, it's, it's far from a Garrett, well, we've talked a lot about foul up three, don't foul up three, like, it, what's pretty clear is there's not a foolproof way to do this. And we've seen a couple recent pretty high profile examples

of fouling, not working. - But let's zoom out some with the Lakers, right? When they like you said this is five straight wins, I think it's actually eight and nine. And when they, when they started off,

when they had three straight before a tough loss in Denver,

it was three bad teams, and I'm basically gonna look.

Their schedule's about to get a lot tougher. They've got a chance to prove something, though the little three game win streak didn't prove anything. They've got a chance to prove something. Well, they played Denver tough, they beat the nicks,

they beat the wolves, they beat the nuggets. I mean, again, five games, two weeks, whatever it is does not make a season, but there's no question that the Lakers have some serious momentum, they do with a bra on coming back.

The bra missed the next game and the wolves game, but with him coming back, he's been vocal, and you've seen it on the floor about, hey, I'm the number three guy, I've got to get in where I fit in as he said sacrifice except the role.

“- I think the bigger concerns, I think the bigger concerns now”

are how does that group hold up defensively, because offensively, they've seemed to have found something Luka is cooking, Reeves is cooking. And I told you guys, I think we've gotten to a point where Luka might actually be underrated, as where does that sound?

And well, got me really thinking about this, as Bontens, when you mentioned Kuala Leonard is the first team all in B.A. selection. No, I was like, hold on, hold on, I threw out a few names. I didn't even throw out Luka's name, and it was inadvertent.

But there is this idea that Luka might not be a first team all in B.A. selection, and I think that's pretty insane. It's easy to focus on his flaws, and I talk about the, the petulance as much as anybody, which the petulance leads to big time defensive problems, and that's a fair subject.

However, the guy is leading the league and scoring on very good efficiency while average in eight and a half assists in eight rebounds per game for a team that's a third seed in the Western Conference. If that's not at first team all in B.A.

player, I don't know what it is. - The thing about Luka, the reason, the criticism of him is that he doesn't get as much out of his gifts as he should because of these flaws. But that does not take away from the gifts of the has.

I've ever seen in my life. And that led the game winner. He was in a double team without anybody to screen. He avoided the trap, he got out of the trap, totally got the corner turned, and then went into his footwork

where he creates space with his step back, going left.

“The only thing I'll say about that is I think the nuggets”

completely didn't give him a way too much credit. Like they let him get to a practice shot. Like that, I mean, it was a great play by Luka, but like, get a wide open 15 footer for him. Like, yeah, but he had to earn that by getting out of a

double team and doing a step back. I mean, it was a pretty bad double team. Bruce Brown comes over from the middle and he just had the whole left side of the court to get to. It was a great play.

- He was a credit for that game. - He was a credit for that game. - He was a credit for that game. - He was a credit for that game. - Hey, I mean, for one thing, this guy's been

crapping all over people all week. He should stop saying anything about me. And again, it's a credit to Luka, but the nuggets, I thought they just botched it. Like that was as easy a shot as Luka's ever going to get in that spot.

- Okay, and he's abs in 32 and abs. - He's been a good even one. - I'll think for two. - Two percent true shooting.

I mean, last two games are his first game winner

in a 50 point triple double. I'd say he's playing that of his mind, which is great. - He is a really good one that Lakers are underrated. - So I can see why Luka is-- - Oh, and dude, I had, and one of my recent stops,

I'm talking to an all-store. And this guy was making the case to me that Luka shouldn't be first team. And I'm like, dude, I don't know, man. I get it.

If the Lakers are going to have home court advantage in the first round, this guy's leading the league and scoring it efficiently, I don't see how he could not be. - Well, some of this is also, there's a lot of competition for five spots.

Like, people are going to get really mad if you say Jalen Brown isn't a first CMOMBA guy. I don't think he is this year.

“But like, I think you can make an argument.”

Kading him might not be a first CMOMBA guy this year. He's been unbelievable. And Detroit's been unbelievable. Like, he's deserveding.

- But the Mitchell has been amazing.

Like, we're talking like 9 or 10 guys for five spots. Like, somebody has to get left off. At the end, we're just having to talk about him. He's having a great year, too. - I can't say this for sure, but I suspect

if Fontam's dead a straw pole of the all NBA race that Luca would be a strong participant of first team. That's, I'm not sure that that. I also, what you're saying, McMahon, if you're saying that the criticism of Luca

has potentially clouded a little bit, what has been a spectacular season. That's a fair statement. I do not think he would be voted first team all NBA and I don't think it would be close.

- Well, I mean, to McMahon's point, though, in the last straw pole, he was a distant fifth and barely had a Jalen Brown for sixth. I would say that sums up where he is, which is a borderline alt first.

- Yes, but I don't know how many of those guys are going to have 65 games.

“- So I think they're all the guys ahead of 'em.”

And you know, are certainly efforting to Jocers, efforting to win the, we'll get two haters very clearly after the thing too. But like, okay, killing hands, having a great year, he's not having a better year than Luca

and he's not a better player than Luca. - More who'd like to podcast after this? - But what I wanted to do is not the champion of the studio. The master by Tag Lab Topücher soft-behind the internet.

It's a master's, I'm really sorry. - I'm saying, you can't get back to it. - Yeah, you can't get back to the studio, right? - But I don't believe you. - egal!

- Ciao, Bavot, for Lustvortrag! - Make the whole thing like this. - And when they work, the house is closed. - Is it safe? - Safe? - Like this?

- Just take your money. - Now it's up to you. - So here's the Lakers Roadtrap. Actually, I want to get it in correct order.

The first two are going to be the Lakers

are going to be in Houston. Is it Monday Wednesday? - It's Monday, Wednesday. - It's not a hero. - If you want me to read it.

- I got it. Okay, so the Lakers upcoming games, six-game roadtrap, at Houston Monday, at Houston Wednesday, Thursday back to back in Miami, Yikes. Oh, I mean...

- Stop one. - West to East back to back in Miami, the heat did have their winning streak snapped by the magic. Speaking of the magic, they've won what seven and a row, eight in a row.

That's where the Lakers then go play Saturday. So rockets, rockets. - Well, Matt heat game, definition of schedule loss. 22 and a half hours later.

It's a 930 central to exit 21 and a half hours. So 930 central time game. So it's a 21 and a half hour turnaround. Go and East to West. So it's not a short flight.

I think there's, I would guess, a zero chance to bronze plays in the Miami game, a second out of a backed abat. - It might be his last trip to Miami. I don't think it will be.

- Speaking of that, can I just, can I just preview something? Coming Thursday, my retrospective on the heat's 27 game win streak

- Retros, effective. Well, I hope we see the bronze in that game

'cause I always like to see him play,

but I mean, that's a, that's a, that's the definition of a schedule loss. If they win that one, that's a hell of a win. - He just said retrospective. We got to celebrate that.

When he's got patches on that sport coat, I'm nail bows. - I had so much fun, I lived through it. I probably out of the 27 games, I probably was at 18 of them or so.

I was at, I was at the garden the night they actually lost it. But there was some great stuff that happened during that, during that 27 game win streak that I, you know, did research on and brought them all back to the surface.

So it was a lot of fun to report that story. And I, you know, unless you are like a Pacers fan or a Celtics fan, you probably will have good memories of that. - You know what's funny?

When we were in Vegas, on Tim's, you probably remember this.

“I was fearful that I think that I think it was like 16”

at that point for OKC. And I was very fearful that they were going to get that thing into the 20s and 1327. And maybe even 33 in that I was not going to be home for large, large, large, stretched there.

And the spurs took care of it. But that was also when there was a whole lot of talks. 74 can it be 75, 76 every will they win? - Yeah. - When did that many games is hard to do?

Maybe we should wait until January or February to get that excited about such a milestone again. - All right, so tough back to back. Rockets heat. And then day off and at Orlando,

who's one of the hottest teams in the league, then day off and then they finish it a week from Monday. - At the trip. - Actually, they don't finish it there. - That's the hard part.

- They finish it there. They play the Pacers the last game. - And they play the Pacers the last game. - And they play the Pacers the last game. - That's the soft landing.

“- So they've got a half game lead on Houston for the three seed.”

Now that victory over Denver was huge, obviously, for many reasons. Also in tie break, because that won them the tie break. And I will say, there's something interesting. We'll be talking about tie breaks more coming up.

Minnesota is in really bad shape on tie breakers.

They basically have lost the tie breakers pretty much

to everybody or behind in the tie breakers. Everybody, Minnesota is in bad tie break position. The lakeers tie break position is pretty good. We'll see what happens with the rockets games coming up. The tie breakers still up in the air there.

But one thing to point out and the sun, this is something for the sun's fans to keep an eye on. If you win your division and there are still divisions out there. Ladies and gentlemen, in the sun's and the lakeers are fighting, quote unquote, "Pacific division title."

That is a tie breaker in the case of multi-team ties. In other words, there was a three-team tie, which there very easily could be. And so the lakeers getting that victory over Denver, wins that tie break and puts them in,

keeps them in position to lead the Pacific division. - Think of being very charitable with that being a battle. - Oh, really?

“You don't think there's a chance of a three-way tie?”

And you don't think there's a chance? - No, no, no, no, no. - No, I think you're being charitable, saying the lakeers aren't going to win their division. That's what I'm saying.

- The sun's, the sun's have a billion injuries.

I don't think they're going to be able to keep up with the lakeers. That's what I was referring to. - Okay. - I would say it's a big factor the other way, that the lakeers, like the spurs are not being caught by Houston.

The thunder are not being caught by Minnesota in Denver. That is another huge feather in the lakeers cap. That they're all but certainly I think going to win the Pacific division. And that will trump any of these tiebreakers, which are all could very easily happen with all four of those teams.

- And this baseball series in Houston is big for a couple of reasons. Number one, obviously the lakeers have gotten themselves into the three-seat now and want to stay there. - The dimms between three and four, we can all figure out. It's pretty significant assume at OKC Hanks on,

which looks like they very likely will up three and a half games. You'd much rather wait until potentially the West Finals to see OKC and deal with an inexperienced Santa Antonio team in the second round. Also, if they can get the rockets a couple times,

you might be bumping the rockets down to six and I'm pretty sure of the possibilities here. The rockets are the team that these other teams in this three-six mix would most like to see. - Yeah, I talk to a, I talk to an executive

of a Western Conference executive this week who's on one of these top teams as can be used against people in the future. - And very good enough. - They said the target is, the target is used up.

- Yeah, that's not the team. - That's not the team. - Well, listen, one team is made the Conference Finals. - I'm just saying like, the other team has to call you OKC. - Well, no, everybody wants to pass.

- Look, Denver has to call you OKC, and is one a title. The other team as anti-airors is made the Conference Finals two years on a row, say what you want about, they're, well, how they did against the thunder. They still got there.

Last year, they smoked the lakeers in the first round and Houston has it won a playoff series that Shane Harden was there. Like, of course, they are the, of course, they're the target. - They're just lost by 25 to San Antonio

by more than I can do the math off top.

They had to weak out a win over the pelicans at home. They lost at home to a warrior's team

“that can't be to anybody without Steph and Jimmy.”

I mean, the rock, it's a really plain, uninspired basketball right now. There has to be a pecking order to these things. And obviously, Houston, if the lakeers right now could have the three seed and then get Houston,

it seemed to has won a playoff series as a group and San Antonio, the team that has won a playoff series as a group for his path to the Conference Finals, they would take that. Doesn't mean any criticism of anybody else,

but that, like, if they're the four seed and they have to play Denver, Minnesota, and then the thunder, that, like, it's just a much different path. You know, there's just no question about that. And look, again, the lakeers,

that was an incredible win last night, set aside,

whatever you want to say about Denver, you know, not Jim Almery, having a terrible game, having the game wanted the end anyway, any of that. It's a great win.

They've been playing really well. I think this goes back to what you said at the beginning, McMahon. I'm still unconvinced about their ability to guard in a really high, high level spot in the playoffs

with the roster they have. They're going to have to prove they can do that. They also are a team that's going to struggle to shoot the ball, especially outside of Austin and Luca, last night for as well as they play it, they hit 14 for 42 from 3.

Like those are the two questions.

“Can the other guys hit shots and can they guard enough?”

If they can do that in the playoffs, they'll have a chance with their star power to win a series or two. But it's going to need an inside straight of things to come together.

- Coming into today, this will be different by the time the pie comes out slightly. But coming into today, let me go over the toughest remaining schedules or the remaining schedule strength and the tiebreakers just real quick.

Of the teams fighting for 3 to 7, because the suns are still sitting there. The suns have the hardest of those schedules. The timber wolves have the second hardest, although maybe it's easier after the Oklahoma City

game is already up the books. The lakers have the third hardest. The nuggets have the fourth hardest and the rockets have the easiest schedule. So the nuggets and the rockets have more friendly schedules

coming in. When you look at the tiebreakers, this is a timber wolves tiebreak situation. Oh and three versus lakers. One and three, actually it might be oh and four knocks.

I think that was before yesterday. One and three versus nuggets. Oh and one versus rockets, oh and two versus suns.

And the lakers, I was always three versus lakers.

That, I'm sorry, take that back. Lakers, two and one versus nuggets, oh and one versus the rocket. So the tiebreaker will be determined in these two games and three and over a timber wolves.

So the lakers and timber wolves, I have that. So lakers in pretty good. If the lakers could really, if the lakers could sweep these two games, they would be in great position.

But even if they split, it's not so bad. But if they do split, heucing gets the tiebreak. So that's something. On Houston, so as two games left against Memphis, they have a game left against Chicago.

They have a game left against New Orleans. They have a game left against Milwaukee. They have a game left against Utah. They have a game left against Golden State, which is an April.

But Golden State is a shell of itself with from an injury standpoint. We'll see where stuff is at. They have a game left in April with Phoenix. Phoenix is also a shell of itself

from an injury standpoint. We'll see where Phoenix is at. And they have a game.

The third last game of the season is a home game against Philly,

which maybe they'll also guys back by the end or maybe they won't. So like, that's a lot of games. They'll bring you talk about the easy schedule down the stretch where there's several games in there. They should just, again, they barely beat the wizard

to talk a bit of a save at the, are the pelicans the other day. But they should win a bunch of these games. They're the quote unquote mark, which I hate even saying because now that just like sort of

guarantees the whip the lakers in those two games, that's what happens in the NBA. But say whatever you want about how they're playing, they have the easiest schedule. They could easily get a higher season six.

So, I mean, I was talking to another executive yesterday

“and I was like, boy, how do you see these teams coming down?”

I was like looking for a nuanced conversation about, you know, between Houston, lakers, nuggets, like, how was it going to, he's like, who's playing the most tankers? Is there a plan the most tankers is going to get the highest scene?

And that's not the lakers. Hey, there could be some jocking down the stretch. But like, you might be, yeah, teams might be hard to get to six and set a five, I'll put it like that. Well, it's just, I think it's going to be hard

without a bunch of these teams. All right, look, these teams have also been all over the place. I mean, we've talked about Minnesota all season. They, they've obviously had a bad week, but they've had some really high highs and like, yeah,

I mean, man is doing the, the up and down roller coaster motion with for people listening. And like they, they've had some horrendous losses. We've talked about them all season. You know, Denver, obviously is getting healthy,

thought air Gordon playing well in this Laker game was a huge thing. I mean, his 3-point shooting turn around. By the way, as it's totally separate aside, is one of the crazier things that we've seen in recent years. Like, him becoming this knock down 3-point shooter.

It's a huge thing for them. You know, but they've had some weird performances lately too. Now, obviously getting smoked by the next. They barely beat, they barely beat the jazz in one game.

Houston's had a lot of weird, like you said McMahon. They've had a lot of weird games. I mean, these teams, everybody after the spurs and let end thunder has been very up and down at different points. And right now it's an up for the Lakers.

And you know, if they could get these two wins against Houston, that would be pretty huge for their chances of really trying

to lock in a top four spot, and especially get into that third spot.

If you're a rock, it's fan, you're saying, how come you're not talking about how the fact that the temper rules are only a game ahead of the, the sons for the play it. You know, you're like, they've just, you know, dropped some, you know, they let us toss three or four on this road trip.

I think it was best for a trip.

“It was a really bad road trip, but I think all these teams”

are really lucky Phoenix is so banged up. Like, if they had Dylan Brooks and Mark Williams and these guys available, like, yeah, I would say they'd be live in it to get into the top six, but I think it's just going to be hard for them to keep up. Well, and they have the toughest schedule.

Yes, well, that's the other part. But the fact that they have the toughest schedule and injuries, it's, you know, they've had a great year, but I think it's a lot more likely they're sitting in the seven spot, probably playing the clippers.

We'll see how bad this Kawai ankle sprain is. But Booker at a 40 point game. Yeah, the clippers, right? As we were thinking like, oh, what could they do? And then they get steam rolled by the kings of all teams.

Well, and Kawai sprains is ankle. We'll see what that. It didn't look that bad. However, with Kawai, we'll see. Just got to say, you don't know exactly.

OK. So earlier on Sunday today, the one we're recording this, the fun we talked about the thunder, but that victory over Minnesota.

Minnesota was red hot in the second and third quarters

of this game. Shea started the game off shooting two of 10. I see, Minnesota has played-- we had a stat before the game over the last five years. Now, we're pushing it a little bit, but still,

it's kind of the Shea era. The timber wolves were 13 and 6 in the regular season against the thunder. No one has had as many wins over them. And that stretch is Minnesota.

There were two and one this year. You remember the last time they played, they played up in Minneapolis and hit that step back three to clinch the game over AJ.

“And this is over AJ, and that's what I think.”

Or maybe it was a wall, a skis and wall as well. That wasn't the same game that Finch got tossed from. Was it? I don't think so. That I don't remember.

I don't remember. It might have been. But I don't remember Finch, because Finch is absolutely been at the forefront of this critique. I'll call it, lightly.

Critique, artful, artful. Yeah, the whining, griping, critiquing. The way that OKC is officiated on both ends. He had the big thing last year where I'm paraphrasing

what he basically said, they're hacking away on defense

if you blow on Shea, he goes to the line on the other end. And you've heard a lot of that that's kind of been a theme. But early on in this game, it's just frustrated as I've seen Shea with the officiating. And that first quarter, there's at least twice.

Or he's like seriously. And including the shot at the quarter, we're like, usually Shea's not a guy who usually says much at all, that's the rest. Yeah, he's talking about this.

He doesn't think it's productive. Yeah, he was pretty missed.

“I wonder if Finch and you know, Finch, you know,”

we talked about when Finch got tossed in the first quarter. This was in December. It was the second, the third loss of the year for the Thunder. Not the last game that played in January. Right, that's right.

So Finch, that felt very calculated and, you know, plotted out. And I thought that they were getting away with some pretty physical defense on Shea today, which you can say, hey, maybe Finch's little lobbying efforts,

paying dividends. Perk Kendrick Perkins mentioned this during the halftime, is that when you're a star player like Ant, yeah. Sometimes you can get away with now the one play in particular, where he literally slapped him on the arm.

Yeah, the play at the end of the first quarter, Shea was pretty heated and deservedly so. He got hit twice on the jumper or so. One thing I will say about this game from Minnesota. Julius Randall has been terrible by his standards

since the All Star Break. There are people who believe that it's his reaction to being floated and trade discussions or rumors for Janice. I don't know for sure, but I can tell you that before the All Star Break coming to come in,

this is before today's game. Before the All Star Break, he was averaging 22 points and shooting almost 50% from the field. And the 11 games since the All Star Break, he was averaging 13 points and shooting 39%

from the field before today's game. And he comes out with intent and has a 32 point game today. So maybe this is him breaking out of his shell a little bit, we'll see that could be a factor. That would help, but that's, you know,

considering how tight this all is, that's important.

Isaiah Hartinstein is back and AJ Mitchell, as we mentioned earlier, is back. Caruso, who had a hint to ask or watch in the game to him, is there any updated All and Jane Williams? I don't, I still don't have a field.

“I made a point on, I think it was Monday to watch his pre game.”

I did not see him doing anything explosive in his pre game workout. I didn't see a whole lot of like, you know, accelerate enough to dribble over the kind of things. As I was, you know, as watching his pre game,

try to get a feel like, is he on the verge? And he didn't look like he was on the verge, you know. So there's not been like any kind of official update. His reevaluation came and went. And they've just kind of kept it a radio silence.

He'll be back at some point. I could not tell you when that's going to be. Yeah, I mean, if there's any team that has the ability to be patient, it's them, now that AJ Mitchell's back, you know, they've got your McCain playing, they've got Caruso,

they've got case and wall, so they have all these guys that can play. But every game I watch the Thunder, I just see him sitting over there and some very expensive outfit, I keep wondering when he's going to play. I think maybe unnecessary glasses on.

How about the gold grill? That's a good case for him if I don't think he could do whatever he wants. So I'm just curious to see when he's back on the court. No, and so it's obviously, look, clearly they brought him back too early the last time. Right.

And his hammy was aggravated in a second game back, which the shame was,

he said that his wrist was feeling much better. And he was in the midst of an unbelievable game when he got hurt again. He was 11 or 12 from the floor of 20 minutes in Phoenix. But at this point, like they're 34 and eight without him. And that's not to say they don't need him.

But they can clearly manage without him during the regular season. They have a three and a half game cushion over the, over the spurs. So, you know, that it's not too tight there.

“I think really what you're hoping if you're okay with, with, with Janet Williams is that”

he has enough time to feel like he's in some kind of rhythm going in the playoffs. That means the bigger the kind of the, obviously his health first foremost is the biggest concern, but other than that, like you just want to make sure that he's got a chance to kind of get a little bit of a, of the groove going, you know, before April 19th or 20th or whenever they open the playoffs.

Well, let's be honest, they're, even if they're playing the clippers in the first round,

who probably on a better streak lately than Phoenix, it's still really about for them getting to the second round anyway. So, he's even got a couple more weeks to get going from there, but yeah, like, if it could end up being a positive for them, if the guy ends up getting, obviously, right, like down out there, but if he comes in having had 35 or 40 games this season, total played,

you'd think he'll be pretty fresh and ready to go for a long playoff round, which, you know, I had somebody earlier in the year, remember who it was, say, look, you look at Indiana last year that all these injuries throughout the year, they got healthy, late in the regular season. And it's sad I'm up to take off for this playoff, run.

Obviously, the thunder at the top of the conference, but with all the injuries, if had, maybe to end up having some fresher legs down the stretch than he would have otherwise. I will say that, Shay, I don't know how big of a feather it is for him for his MVP case, but the fact that he has still put up incredibly efficient numbers yet again without having

“him, you know, the balancing aspect of JW, you know, I think that's, it's, it's further”

his MVP case, so I would say. Jaly Williams is missed, so far this season, 42 games, AJ Mitchell's missed 23 games, Heart and Stines Miss 22 games, Carrusos Miss 24 games, like, I mean, those are all real players missing a lot of games and they're still chugging along. Yeah, they're not on pace to win 75 games, but like, they've continued to be awesome with

all these guys out. And like you said, Shay's a guard, shooting 55% from the field, like, you know, he's having an incredible season. Forget 55% his true shooting percentage and obviously it, it, it dipped with the 7 and 22 day against the wolves going into today.

This true shooting percentage was 66.9, that matches Steph Curry from his unanimous MVP season as the best ever for a guy, score in 30 plus per game. And that guy, like, 400 to three, that's he said, like, this is, just to be clear, Shaggle

just Alexander is about to become the fourth guy, I'm sorry, the first guy since Michael

Jordan have four straight 30 point per game seasons. Yeah, by the way, 30, 30 points per game, he's going to shoot over 50 and all four of those. He is a historically efficient scoring machine, like he, you know, obviously, when you break one of Wilts Records, you're getting an all-time great category.

MVP. I mean, this guy is early in his prime and is already established himself as an all-time great. And by the way, it's just real quick, because I, I just looked this up to double check it.

And Michael Jordan led the league in scoring seven consecutive seasons from 87 to 93.

The middle five of those seasons, he shot over 50 percent every time.

Like, yes, it's a different era. There were three shot then, obviously, Jordan was not a great through point shooter. But, like, that, that's the kind of people we're talking about. Like, score over 30, that many years as a guard, shooting it efficiently, that many years as a guard.

Like, again, just like any time you could say, Wilton, you was pretty good. Any time you could say, Michael Jordan, you is pretty good and Jay has a couple of those things.

“Well, and honestly, that's why the freedom merchant stuff, it's stupid.”

And like, I get it, you know, fans are going to fan and taunt and whatever. Like, it's not the worst thing in the world. But the idea that like, Jay is a great score because he gets some kind of friendly whistle. Dude. That's very silly.

Jay is shooting better than 60 percent on twos and a ton of those are created off the

grubble mid-range shots. I mean, like, it's like the shot he hit today to get to the 20 points. I mean, the wolves were doing everything they could to keep them from getting to 20. They were bracket on them. They're double-teaming them.

They try to get them off the ball. He hits that three to get to 17 and then the next time, a couple times later, he comes down and Edwards, who's a terrific on ball defender who desperately clearly didn't want him to get to the 20 knew it was going on was all over him and he hit an impossible. Yeah.

It was a nice team feet in the air. That shot. Yeah. I was crazy. I will say two things.

Number one, if you think you're going to bother Jay by calling a free throw merchant, I give you credit. So, chance to your heart's content. The second thing is, if you're going to complain about something with Jay, it's not the fouls that he gets to going to the line, it's the arm bar.

If you're going to, if you're going to petition for a change, stop letting him use the arm bar. And by the way, that's something we've talked about this a bunch. I went to the referee's thing in September. I asked about it then.

All the great players are doing that. Yadis, Tatum, Shay, they've all perfected. Lucas, great at it. Lucas, great at it. They're like, these guys are all big and strong and super smart and they've all figured out,

hey, if I do this, he'll little space, get room to go up and shoot.

“Like, I agree, I think that's the next thing that they need to change.”

And it's not, and that's, again, not just a shady thing. It's just to give the defender some level of chance to guard these guys, because otherwise it's impossible to guard any of them. Well, they don't have to change. I mean, you know, Lucas used it on Spencer Jones last night.

You know, on the last shot. I mean, not like dramatically like, sure, Spencer Jones. He got a game winner splash in his face by Shay on Monday to look at him last night, poor guy. I did look back and look since you mentioned that that was the play that Spencer, they

said he didn't fall on was the play where it was controversial that it wasn't a three-point shot. The nuggets are out by three. He inbound and he fouls Rees real quick, and they were, the Lakers and their fans were thought that it should have been a three point for three shots.

And in fact, what the league said was not only should it not have been for three shots, should have been for no shots. That's true. I thought it was pretty clearly not a shot, but I, you know, but yeah, I'm going to go on either way.

I understand one. Anyway, more who collect it podcast after this?

“Speaking of the MVP, this Shay, how about this quote from Victor Wembeignan?”

Now, Bonzams identified this while Wembeignan was still playing in France, finding these quotes that are low key arrogant, or not low key, not low key, just said in a polite way, but not low key arrogant, right now my mind is taking, my mind is on taking care of my body, because I also want to win MVP and defense of player the year. So I'm trying to press the gas from now until the end of the season.

Really take care of my treatment, take care of my sleep, take care of my routine, and show up for my team. Look, Victor Wembeignan Yava from the beginning has since he was 12 years old, has wanted to be the best player of all time, and has said that repeatedly, and to this point has largely followed through on the things that he said, and as we've talked about it, as you said, many

times, my favorite thing about him, beyond watching and play, which is always awesome,

is this guy says outlandishly arrogant things, but says it in a very polite kind of, you know, friendly, or just doesn't come off that way. They're not outlandishly arrogant, though, because they're factual, well, they're also factual, but yes, like he just says, it's true. Well, yes, I mean, it, but again, it's, he says things that people don't typically say

It's because he can do things that not only can't people typically do, people can't dream

“of doing for the most part, and it's, it's what, it's one of the many things that makes”

them so awesome, and it's one of the many things that potentially has a set up for a pretty

incredible era basketball ahead, because this guy desperately wants to be the best, and

is not afraid to say it, and is going out there and doing it, and it's awesome. And, you know, this is a week where we still got almost a month left for the regular season, but she has to be tough to catch for MVP, and this week where Bryce will record where he hits the game, the dagger against the Warriors, the game winner against the nuggets out of 35 points, 15 assists, no turnover, crazy efficient performance, crazy efficient, break

in the record against the Celtics, hit some big shots, they're just going to be tough to catch him. Yeah, again, I do think the only threat is disperse storming to the finish line, and taking the top seed, and when we're doing what he's been doing, let me just read to you his numbers from this home game, our home stand, it's a six game home stand, he's like, he's my

played in five, you know, sorry, sorry, we have to have the one game against the nuggets,

because there is, as he pointed out, and his, it is press conference after the game against the Hornets, there is one body part of his that has swelling right now. That's not what he said, he said, I have one body, he says, one body part that's inflamed. It's his ankle, just, yeah, we click. Well, he had to clarify that, there was a good follow-up question from you.

You know, we, it's his ankle, anyways, the guys averaging during this home stand, 33 points per game, shooting 55 from the floor, 47 from 3 point range, hitting 4.63's per game, and then doing his normal, you know, 11.4 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, 1.2 steals, 3.2 assists, the guys against the Hornets, he's throwing multiple lobs to look for net, I mean, yeah, he's all over the place, but dude, when be, I know, bond temps, you get mad every time

you see him shoot those three, that's not true, you know, it's not true, USWB, don't say

things about me. Oh, it's true, but you cannot just stick to him and down in a box, you can't put him in a box,

“he's been telling us all along, and he is, I'm telling you, I think what we're watching”

is this guy, yes, starting to grow into his offensive powers, he's already most dominant defense player, maybe I've ever seen, and I'm not saying it's going to have 33 moving forward, but I'm saying that we are watching the revolution right now. Well, listen, Victor is going to shoot 47% from 3 and make 4 1/2, 3 is a game, then they're going to be able to do whatever they want, like, honestly, that, like if he's shooting at that

level, like, then it, you're not, then it's not some, like, give back to the defense, then, right? Like, if he becomes a consistent 40% 3. shooter, like, yeah, then it's just over, like, then just give up at that point, I think, you know, and if he is going to shoot 47% over 5 game stretch, his numbers are going to be cartoonish, like that, like even more than normal,

because that does make him utterly unstoppable. I do think as we've talked about a lot, he can't have a direct quote of giving up a jumper as a win. It's because if he does the go-go gadget, dunk arm thing, it's like, that's a 100% shot, and like, you know, if he gets in a stretcher, he is, you know, if he's shooting 27% and

set a 47%, he's making two threes a game, then you at least have a chance, that's all, but like, if he's going to shoot like this, good luck. Did you see the dunk he had over Grant Williams was in Grant Williams for some strange reason, jumped with him, and when he looks over his shoulders, he's darted down the short, the court and chuckled at him.

It's like watching a guy in a video game a lot of the time. It's just like, you create this player in the video game and he just can do whatever he wants. I mean, that's what it looks like.

“I, I, I truly believe that he and the spurs have figured out something in terms of like”

getting him good looks at threes, getting him vibes, because the threes he's thrown up now, he's chucking up 10 per game on this home, so I think they're 10 and two now. He takes nine threes. They're like, they're still on the feed of when he has at least for anyways, but they're like a bunch of trade or threes.

They're a bunch of pick and pops and he mixes in just enough roles where you, you know, he got to be careful with that. I will say he's averaging seven free throws on these five games, too, so he's not just only hoisting. He is, but that's the other thing, especially when he's got a big on him and we saw this

for Jayden Durham, we saw it with Mr. Diabate and he and the threes, that much of a threat and then he's pumped fake in an attack and closed out, because they're so scared of him getting a decent look at a three, those guys are in hell and they're getting an early foul trouble, like, how many guys do you think Jayden Durham's had to guard in this life that could pump fake and go off the three point lines and do it, Diabate, like these

definitely, but going to be teams that just try to put a wing on him and get under them and all that, we'll see how the spurs deal with that, but, you know, they people in San Antonio will tell you, this guy's the best player in the league and they don't want to hear any argument, I'll argue SGA right now, but Wimbie is, if he's going to be doing what he's doing offensively, I don't, there's not going to be an argument too much longer.

When over these last, over these last handful of games, he's, last five games, he's, he's 19 for 39 from three and so 39 total shots and 29 of them have been catching shoe shots, which again, that is what we've been talking about. The more times he is a play finisher, not trying to be a play creator, that is the ultimate

“endgame, I think, at least right now, maybe in the future he'll become somebody else.”

You include attacking close-outs is play finishing? Yeah, that's fine, yeah, like to some extent, yeah, like obviously, you know, it's not like he's not allowed to dribble, but it's when he's like trying to become a point guard is I think when the defense is really winning, but if it's like, hey, like I've said before, to me, at least today, he is Rudy on defense, but like obviously multiplied, like

best defense player in the sport and like to me, the goal right now should be dirt on

offense, who's one of the best offensive players of all time and as he's in his third

year in the league, he's going to get better handle in the ball. He's going to do more than dirt could at any point handle in the ball. I do, I do thoroughly enjoy when he basically catches a block shot, so it's a block and rebound all the one swoop in motion and the decides he's going to get out and start to break himself.

“Well, yes, that is unbelievable, and that's different, too.”

I'm talking about the half court when you can get loaded up on and he can have little guys coming and steal the ball for him, like him and transition like yawnuses and saying, it's like two steps and he's at the other three point, but yeah, like look, if he's making catching shoot threes at that kind of rate and three quarters of his shots, at least corner synergy are catching shoot threes, like that's a good shot diet and, you know, it's

it's why the spurs have a chance to buck the trend of all NBA history this year because like history would tell you they're not going to win and they're probably going to lose earlier than later, but this guy is already an anomaly from all of NBA history and he may be able to have him break past it. The dirt offense of comp is interesting.

I think when it might be a little bit more of a lob threat than dirt was, well, slightly, but I'm just talking about as a shooter, but yes, I mean, what he's again, the comparison there is two hall of favors, one of the best defense players ever, and one of the best

“offense players ever, and that's what we're talking about the guy's third season, it's completely”

insane all the way around Monday night, March 16th has been on the books as a very high attention game in Atlanta for weeks now. Everybody's been very, very focused on this site, you know, it's been, it's been promotions, it's been commented on the lead office, it's one of the most, yes, it's been one of the most impactful games on the schedule for the hall. Sure, it has been because it's the nine win Hawks, it with Hawks, whether it's of nine

and a row versus the magic, whether it's of seven or it's one of the games of the month,

going to have wings. I mean, what an incredible four site to have so much attention on this game.

So the Hawks have won nine straight games. I will say, can we just pause right there? So the Hawks have won nine straight games, but hold on. Oh, you're a WB alert. I'll let you say what you're going to say, I just want to print something out. Sure. I don't have ever seen a bit of schedule like the Hawks have had here, and I'm not even talking about who they're playing. I'll let you have that just hang on. Yep. This is their 11th out of 12 home games. So okay,

teams have stretches and schedules where their home heavy, that happens. Not only had they been no back to backs in this stretch. In this stretch of home games, they've had 13 days off. Yep. 13. Like not only have they had all of these friendly home games, but they've had a chance to rest. It's been amazing. So it's not surprising that they're playing quite well. Okay, now you can say who they've played. So since the all-star break, they're 10 in one. All right. This is their

schedule of games. Start out the all-star break. They're in Philly. No Joel and Beat Paul Jords. They went by 10. They didn't go home to play it. Play Miami. They lose by 31. That's our only loss since

he all-star break. Here's what they played. That was a back-to-back. Then back-to-back. It wasn't back

back the next night. Yes. But they win that game in the Philly. They lose second out of a back-to-back by a million at home to Miami. All right. That's fine. Then they have the nets at home. They win that one by 11. They have consecutive games at home against the wizards. They win them by a fine. With a game off in between, we have to relax. Right. But then they won by a billion points. They then play Portland at home. Portland in No Denny, Ovia. They win that game by 34.

that's Yannis played one game in six days. It was their one-road game. But they got six days right. They go to Milwaukee. Yannis is back. They win that game going away by 18. They then come home and play Philadelphia. A pretty competitive game. That's the game. Tyrese Maxi got hurt at the end of the game. They're one relatively competitive game. However, in the one relatively competitive game, no VGH come, no Joe Joel and bead suspended Paul George.

They're all missing for that game. Maxi's hurt by the end of it. Then they play Dallas at home. But nets at home and the box at home again. Like talk about the definition of the current

NBA. The team has played for a month. Is 10 in one and they've played basically no game against

the competitive team. The entire time. They're about to. They're about to. Right. And it's what makes this Orlando game so fascinating. Orlando is playing well. They've ripped off a bunch of wins.

“I think they're now into, I was going to double check. I think they're up to, they're up the fifth”

now because Toronto's falling off the map. And if Atlanta wins this game, they're now a game in a half out of fifth place in the Easter conference standings. Like fifth to ninth because Charlotte's falling off is within two and a half games. And Philadelphia with all their injuries is probably going to be at best. Night. So you're talking about Orlando Toronto Miami in Atlanta, all fighting for five date in the East and for an Atlanta team that was floundering for a while.

Obviously dealt with all the trade drama, everything else. This stretch is scheduled by taking advantage of it, not losing any of these games. This put them in a position to get up into the top six in the East, which we weren't talking about for months. Which they don't control their draft picks. So why would they even think about doing nothing? Right. Neither does Atlanta by the way. Orlando though, one Southern straight. You know, there's some there's some anchors in there,

“but there's also like they just beat Miami in Miami, I believe. And ever since Apollo and”

Jamal Mosley had that little, you know, back and forth via their individual press conference

thing. But basically confirmed everything we talked about of the word is there been headbutton

between them. Apollo has been playing great. And that's seven game one streak after you're in 26, nine rebounds, over five assists, you know, a massively positive, plus minus. I think he's playing as well as this is a good stretch. He's had and, you know, he had a Mark Spears did a story on the end. We're Apollo basically said, hey, I looked at the mirror that, you know, when the all stars came out and he was upset about it, but he was like, I didn't, I hadn't done enough to be an all star. So

it, you know, since from from Joe Glass, PR guy for the, for the, for the magic, two guys of average 25, nine of five says y'all start break, Palo and Nicole Yokech. It's pretty good. And Palo is also, uh, has also taken the third most shots within five feet of the basket. And he's made

“73% of them. There you go. Not settling, not settling for jumpers to your point. Big band, right?”

Think we've always criticized about him. You've led the way on that is being a really inefficient

score. Well, he's an absolute load. Oh, is a tank. And if he's getting to the, to the basket and scoring in the paint, that's a path to him getting to the kind of efficiency he needs to have to take a real step forward. Who stats are these for the season? 23 points again. 10 point four rebounds of game. Eight assists again. Jalan Johnson, you always do this and think you can fool us. I mean, James feels the game. 50% shooting. Yeah. Jalan Johnson, you need the assist or what

give it away. I mean, Jalan Johnson is what forph in the league, I think. It assists per game. I don't really have that, but it sounds bad. The guys he's behind are Yo Kitch Cade, Luca and James Hart. By the way, speaking of Atlanta, Atlanta should be as annoyed with the tank up allus. Is anybody as the pelicans keep on thinking in the tank, if allus are the only ones that that group that are trying to win games, the Mavericks zoomed by all the jazz everybody's zoomed by them. First of all,

they're like, I think a half game right now ahead of Dallas and sixth, they've got Memphis doing an unbelievable tank job to grizzly. They're flying into the race. I think they're going to wind up in sixth the head of Dallas ahead of New Orleans away. They're going and Milwaukee has that like eight and one stretch where they win all those games without Yannis. Yannis comes back. They're playing right now against Indiana, obviously firmly in the tank race. I don't know if Milwaukee is one

since Yannis came back and they've now come back down to like ninth, they could end up with the eighth and ninth picks in this in the league. I imagine if they had lost all those games on Yannis so I mean, they would be like, they'd be behind New Orleans right now. But they had this one stretch. I guess she's head sizzling when I, when I declared the day Yannis was coming back to the books who would not win a single playoff game, I'll tell you a little secret. That's because I knew

while we're sitting here. They're down three right now at half time to to the Pacers. I suspect the

Pacers are probably hard to deal a loss from my job. No idea the Pacers are going to play in the second

Pacers that played Zubot 60 minutes in the first half. We'll see if he plays any more of it. I play 16 minutes in the second half. That's by, that's by assumption. So since we've just looking at our quick game log here, we're going to have this over the next press conference. I think the finals will come three days before it. So Yannis has played the five games that she's come back. 27 point loss to, uh, to Boston, an 18 point loss to Atlanta. Oh, when it gets Utah,

shock of all shocks, a 15 point loss to my am are to Phoenix and a loss to my amy on Thursday. So one in four in the five games that's just been back and maybe two in four with two wins

“against tankers. So it's where we're at. And you have to be right now. Just who's playing a”

tanker on the day? And then how are the tanker? Thomas says stats. That's why I'm saying like when you get two teeth, like the nuggets, the Lakers game is like, oh, yes, two good teams trying to win. There's it's just pure man from having basketball on. That's how I had to like I got to go see okay see play both nuggets and the Celtics. Jay them Brown's foul big commentary post game was pretty fun and a game each up 14 free those and chase shot none in the fourth quarter. Yeah.

Yeah, you're ready for the anti. I don't know what's going to happen in this game. Okay, the folks who listen and watch are going to know what they can check this. It's halftime right now. I was we're doing this. We're about to wrap up here. Aaron niece. This is going to be called the

anti-bamp. Ready? Aaron niece. There's 24 points in 20 minutes in the first half of this game.

How many points and how many minutes where a niece myth end up with? What's this? What's this? He's going off in injury. He got a rest. He's feeling good. I'm going to look up his career. I want to look. Let's just make a little one. I have like a lot of some. He's got these scored some in the past. Oh, is it? 31 is correct. At least the pain get his career. Okay. Will he score more than 32 points? No.

“No, I'm going hard. No on that one. Will he play in the fourth quarter of this game?”

I'm saying he does not play in the fourth quarter of this game. And Zuboch played 16 minutes. I say he plays. He might not play in the second. We don't know, but and it's all okay. And again, people were tanking are not bad people. They're good people. They're firing the audience. Yes, they're good people making, making, you know, strategic decision. They're not. That means the incentives. That's the problem. So I think if you do it, Ed. All right.

That was fun. Look forward to how, I hope you're you're back to your Houston roots there. Absolutely. It's going to be great. All right. We look forward to another Fed test a week of basketball. There's nothing going on in other basketball this week. We're going to stay focused on the NBA. All bond tips covers college is now. He was hanging out in Kansas City. I know, bond tips, bond tips. You were at, I can't believe, thank you for mentioning this. Yeah. We have that

bond tips went through the big 12 tournament for three days. I did. Where everybody else in the

“NBA was there. I saw, I think I saw 20 lead executives in person at the games might have been more.”

It was, everybody was there. What about the, the LED court that was abandoned midway trip? I mean, it was a disaster. I mean, I know Brett your mark for a long time, Brett your mark was the CEO of the nets for, he's the commissioner at that game. He's now the commissioner of the big 12. He's the guy who 20 years ago and like the, like I think it might have been the year they won 12 games at IZOT Center at the metal lands when he did the reversible

jersey promotion where it was all these jerseys of the star players on the other teams coming to play.

The nets that they were hanging out for all these games. Like he has never been shy about promotional

things and they did this promotional thing that the crazy thing about it is the big 12 tournament had as much of a talent as there's been an tournament in a conference tournament in probably since there were like eight teams playing the league because I mean there in the semi finals on Friday there might have been 20 guys who were playing the league playing across the 14s and it's by far the best conference basketball this year and then they do this LED screen court where guys are slipping

and sliding all over the place. This four kid Christian Anderson is going to probably adopt 20 pick in the draft this year. He's growing in the game hopefully he's not out for the tournament. So then they changed it back for the semi finals in the finals. Crazy part about it was I didn't even realize it was we were sitting court side but the court was like a foot higher when it was the LED court. They had all this cushioning and stuff in. So it became way easier to

see because the court literally was down the foot so like the people in front were just way lower. But yeah, made for a, made for a wild couple of days viewing wise. But the, the games were great and it was good to see a lot of people from the league many of whom commented on the podcast. It's got many listeners in the league. So shout out to them. Shout out to Doris Burt by the way who gave the podcast a shout out and specifically mentioned me and only me by being shout out Doris.

Any other shout out, Jackson, do you have any shout out you want? Mark this shout out?

All right. Thank you very much to Mark and Jackson and for putting this sucker together

“Thank you so much to McMahon and bottoms. Another great week of tremendous content coming”

your way. And thank you for listening and watching. Good luck with it.

How do you know some egos?